Y Gododin: A Poem of the Battle of Cattraeth Part 12

It is well that Adonwy came to the support of Gwen; {153a} Bradwen {153b} abandoned the foaming brine, And fought, slaughtered, and burned, though Morien She did not surpa.s.s in martial deeds.

Thou didst not regard the rear or the van Of the towering, unhelmetted {153c} presence; Thou didst not observe the great swelling sea of knights, That would mangle, and grant no shelter to the Saxons. {153d}

LII.

G.o.dodin! in respect of thee will I demand {154a} The dales beyond the ridge of Drum Essyd; {154b} The slave, {154c} greedy of wealth, cannot control himself; By the counsel of thy son, {154d} let thy valour shine forth.

The place appointed for the conference Was not mean, {154e} in front of Llanveithin; {154f} From twilight to twilight he revelled; {154g} Splendid and full was the purple of the pilgrim; {154h} He killed the defenceless, {154i} the delight of the bulwark of toil, {154j} His inseparable companion, whose voice was like that of Aneurin. {155a}

LIII.

Together arise the foremost fighting warriors, {155b} And in a body march to Cattraeth, with noise and eager speed; The effects {155c} of the mead in the hall, and of the beverage of wine.

Blades were scattered between the two armies By an ill.u.s.trious knight, in front of G.o.dodin.

Furze was set on fire by the ardent spirit, the bull of battle. {155d}

LIV.

Together arise the expert warriors, And the stranger, {155e} the man with the crimson robe, pursue; The encampment is broken down by the gorgeous pilgrim, {156a} Where the young deer were in full melody. {156b} Amongst the spears of Brych {156c} thou couldst see no rods; {156d} With the base the worthy can have no concord; {156e} Morial {156f} in pursuit will not countenance their dishonourable deeds, With his steel blade ready for the effusion of blood.

LV.

Together arise the a.s.sociated {156g} warriors, Strangers to the country, their deeds shall be proclaimed; There was slaughtering with axes and blades, {157a} And there was raising large cairns over the heroes of toil.

LVI.

The experienced {157b} warriors met together, And all with one accord sallied forth; {157c} Short were their lives, long is the grief of those who loved them; Seven times their number of Lloegrians had they slain; After the conflict their wives {157d} raised a scream; {157e} And many a mother has the tear on her eyelash.

LVII.

No hall was ever made so faultless; Nor was there a lion so generous, a majestic lion on the path, so kind {158a} As Cynon of the gentle breast, the most comely lord.

The fame {158b} of the city extends to the remotest parts; It was the staying {158c} shelter of the army, the benefit of flowing melody. {158d} Of those whom I have seen, or shall hereafter see On earth, engaged in arms, the battle cry, and war, {159a} the most heroic was he, Who slew the mounted ravagers with the keenest blade; Like rushes did they fall before his hand.

O son of Clydno, {159b} of lasting {159c} fame! I will sing to thee A song of praise, without beginning, {159d} without end.

LVIII.

After the feast of wine and the banquet of mead, Enriched with the first fruits of slaughter, The mother of Spoliation, {159e} Was the energetic Eidol; {159f} He honoured the mount of the van, {160a} In the presence of Victory.

The hovering ravens, Ascend in the sky; {160b} The foremost spearmen around him thicken, {160c} Like a crop of green barley, {160d} Without the semblance of a retreat.

Warriors in wonder shake their javelins, With pouting and pallid lips, Caused by the keenness of the destructive sword; From the front of the banquet, deprived of sleep They vigorously spring forth, {161a} upon the awaking Of the mother {161b} of the Lance, the leader of the din.

LIX.

From the feast of wine and the banquet of mead, they marched To the strife of mail-clad warriors; {161c} I know no tale of slaughter which records So complete a destruction.

Before Cattraeth loquacious was the host; But of the retinue of Mynyddawg, greatly to be deplored, {162a} Out of three hundred {162b} men, only one returned.

LX.

From the feast of wine and the banquet of mead, with speed they marched, Men renowned in difficulty, prodigal of their lives; In fairest order {162c} round the viands they together feasted; Wine and mead and tribute {162d} they enjoyed.

From the retinue of Mynyddawg ruin has come to me; {163a} And I have lost my general {163b} and {163c} my true friends.

Of the regal army of three hundred men that hastened to Cattraeth, Alas! none have returned, save one alone.

LXI.

Impetuous as a ball, {163d} in the combat of spears, was Present, And on his horse would he be found, when not at home; Yet illusive {163e} was the aid which he brought against G.o.dodin; For though apart from the wine and mead he was unrestrained, He perished {164a} on the course; And red stained warriors ride {164b} The steeds of the knight, who had been in the morning bold.

LXII.

Angor, {164c} thou who scatterest the brave, And piercest {164d} the sullen like a serpent; Thou tramplest upon those who in strong mail are clad, In front of the army; {164e} Like an enraged bear, guarding and a.s.saulting, {164f} Thou tramplest upon the furious, {165a} In the day of capture, In the dank entrenchment; {165b} Like the mangling dwarf, {165c} Who in his fury prepared A banquet for the birds, In the tumultuous fight.

Cywir {165d} art thou named from thy righteous (_enwir_) deed; Leader, director, and bulwark (_mur_) of the course of battle {165e} Is Merin; {165f} and fortunately (_mad_) wert thou, Madien, born.

LXIII.

It is inc.u.mbent to sing of the complete acquisition Of the warriors, who at Cattraeth made a tumultuous rout, With confusion and blood, and treading and trampling; Men of toil {166a} were trampled because of the contribution of mead in the horn; {166b} But the carnage of the combatants {166c} Cannot be described even by the cup of bounty, {166d} After the excitement of the battle is over, Notwithstanding so much splendid eloquence.