Y Gododin: A Poem of the Battle of Cattraeth Part 33

{169b} Or, "From the region."

{169c} Al. "Men of privilege."

{169d} "Llogell;" a receptacle, a depository, a closet. It might here refer more particularly to the room which contained the viands.

"Llogail" would be a wattled room.

{169e} The frequent repet.i.tion of the word "byd" in this stanza is remarkable.

{169f} Lit. "not without ambition."

{169g} Eidol is specified by name as being the most indefatigable in his pursuit after mirth. A person of that name and character is mentioned in a poem attributed to Cuhelyn. See Myv. Arch. i. 164.

{169h} Or, "the grandson of Enovant." Al. "One out of a hundred,"

Cynddilig might have been the son of Cor Cnud, whose grave is recorded in the Englynion y Beddau. (Myv. Arch. i. 11.)

"Kian a ud diffaith cnud.

Draw o tuch pen bet alltud Bet Cindilic mab Corknud."

Or the son of Nwython, mentioned in the Bruts, (Myv. Arch. ii. 321) and Genealogy of the Saints. (Iolo MSS. 137.) Or else he might have been the son of Llywarch Hen,-

"Och Cynddilig, na buost wraig!"

Oh, Cynddilig, why wert thou not a woman!

(Elegy on Old Age.)

The mention made of Aeron in the foregoing stanza naturally led the Bard to speak in this of a chieftain connected therewith.

{170a} Were it not for the anachronism we should be induced to regard this lady as none other than Elen the daughter of Eudav, prince of Erging and Euas, and wife of Macsen Wledig; heroine also of a Romance ent.i.tled "The Dream of Macsen Wledig." As Macsen, however, is known to have been put to death as early as the year 388, Elen's life could not possibly have been so protracted as to enable her to take a part in the battle of Cattraeth.

{170b} "Dieis." Al. "her thrusts were penetrating."

{171a} "Meiwyr," men of the field. Al. "Meinir," the slender maid, which might refer to the daughter of Eudav.

{171b} The Gorchan Maelderw clearly indicates that the fire was kindled in the presence of the army, and not for religious purposes before the Deity.

{171c} This stanza explains the expression used in line 116. Seven days, then, we may suppose, formed the whole s.p.a.ce of time during which the events related in the G.o.dodin occurred. The action of Homer's Iliad occupied nearly fifty days.

{171d} The daily operations are somewhat differently stated in the fragments of the G.o.dodin, which are appended to "Gorchan Maelderw."

There they are as follows,-

"On Tuesday they put on their splendid robes; On Wednesday bitter was their a.s.sembly; On Thursday messengers formed contracts; On Friday there was slaughter; On Sat.u.r.day they dealt mutual blows; On Sunday they were pierced by ruddy weapons; On Monday a pool of blood knee deep was seen."

{172a} See lines 27, &c. It would appear as if the three lines at the end of the stanza were appended to it by some compiler, merely on account of their uniformity of rhyme.

{172b} Lit, "At the early arising morn," or "quickly rising in the morning."

{172c} "Aber;" the junction of rivers; the fall of a lesser river into a greater, or into the sea. By metaphor, a port or harbour.

{172d} Or more definitely,-"Occurred the battle of Aber in front of the course."

{172e} Or "a breach was made, and the knoll was pervaded with fire."

{172f} The stanza is imperfect, which accounts for the omission of the hero's name. From the Gorchan Maelderw we would infer that he was Gwair one of the three "taleithiawg cad," or coronetted chiefs of battle.

(Myv. Arch. ii. 12.)

{172g} Probably, the valuables collected within the encampment on the hill.

{173a} This word may be taken either in its literal sense, as alluding to the birds of prey that devoured the dead bodies, or else metaphorically as denoting the warriors themselves. In the latter sense Casnodyn uses it in the following pa.s.sage;

"Cynan- Eryr tymyr gwyr, gweilch disaesneg."

Cynan, the eagle of the land of men, who are heroes with no English.

In this sense "gwrwnde" would necessarily allude to the colour of the men's habiliments.

{173b} The stanza is thus varied in Gorchan Maelderw,

"At the early dawn of morn they marched To conflict, headed by the king in front of the course; Gwair was greeted by the fluid gore In the van of the battle; He was a beloved friend.

In the day of distress The wealth of the mountain, the place, And the forward beam of war, wore a murky hue." (_Gorch. Mael_.)

{173c} "Eilin;" in a second; another reading has "meitin," a word of similar import, signifying a s.p.a.ce of time.

{173d} "Aber;" ut supra.

{173e} The Catrail, or else the vallum of our hero's camp.

{173f} That is, single handed he faces a hundred men of the enemy.

{174a} That you should have committed such a slaughter with the same coolness and indifference, as if you were merely revelling over your mead.

{174b} "Dynin," the dwarf, who had killed the British herald, contrary to the law of war. Al, " * * * with the edge and stroke of the sword, the fierce warrior."

"It was such a thrust to the little man." (Gorch. Mael.)

{174c} "Mor ddiachor;" it may be also translated "how unrestrainedly."

The Gorchan Maelderw has it "mor diachar," _how unamiably_, which seems to be required by the rhythmical run of the pa.s.sage;

"Oed mor diachar Yt wanei escar."

{174d} It is not quite clear whether this person be the same with the one mentioned in stanza lli. or whether another event, of a similar character with that described therein, be not here introduced. We are inclined, however, to consider both pa.s.sages as referring to the same act of treachery.

{174e} Probably from the top of the rampart.

{174f} "Cynyt," (cynnud) fire wood. The bushes growing out of the sides of the vallum checked not his fall. Al. "Cywydd," his song; though this word derived from _cy_ and _gwydd_, may likewise have the same meaning as the former.

{174g} "Cywrenhin," (cywreinin) accurate, elaborate; well formed, handsome. If it may be taken actively, the meaning in this place would be skilful or talented, which epithet would apply well to him as a bard.

{175a} It will be recollected that the "gorgeous pilgrim," (line 534) broke down the encampment; on the supposition, then, that he was identical with the "foe" mentioned in the last stanza, we may imagine him encountering Owain with his badge of truce at the very breach he was making, and that he then and there put him to death. It is not impossible, however, but that Owain was another herald who renewed the offer of peace, after the death of the "delight of the bulwark of toil,"

and that both were dishonourably slain by the same perfidious messenger.