LII. BOOK OF ANEURIN II. Text, vol. ii. p. 93. Notes, vol. ii. p. 390. HERE BEGINNETH THE GORCHAN OF TUDVWLCH. HEY assemble in arms, the ranks are formed, tumult approaches; In front are the warlike, in front the noble, in front the good; While the trenches are full of motion, around are heard the curved horns, and are seen the curved falchions; To the praise of the king with the host whose presence is devastation. I saw dark gore arising on the stalks of plants, on the clasp of the fetter, On the bunches, on the sovereign, on the bush, and the spear: And ruddy was the sea-beach; and on the sea-beach, and in Ewionydd And Gwynheidyd splendid excess prevailed. The crowd made a firm stay before the ceremony, like the checking of excess. 10 Uplifted were the shields around the front of the aged when the excess prevailed. A wolf in his lifetime was Bleiddiad, unrestrained in his bravery. Active were the glittering shafts with the aspect of a serpent, from the radiance of serpents. Wounded thou art, commander of rulers, and delight of females. Thou lovedst partly to live: I wish thou livedst, O thou of victorious energy! Unjustly oppressed bull (of conflict), I deplore thy death, thou who wert fond of the tumult! In the face of the sea, in the front rank of men, around the pit of battle Bran combats in Cynwyd. A wave burst forth which afflicted the world. He refused to the tribes of the country, and for the benefit of the infantry, 20 Four multitudes, four military troops of the world. The shields were in splinters, and the blade in the hair of one from the square, The man who poured the expressed mead out of the blue horns, A man of quality, surrounded with purple, the stay of armies. It was the performance of Tudvwlch of severe aspect, whose standard was of the colour of the blood of grapes. By reason of mead free drunk, a multitude went over the boundary. In the action at the goal, for the preservation of law. Tudvwlch and Cyvwlch made breaches in the heights of With Mynyddawg disastrous did their wassails prove. 30 A year of longing for the men of Catraeth is cherished by me ; Their steel blades, their mead, their vehemence, and their fetters. They assemble in arms, the ranks are formed; do I not hear the tumult? AND SO IT ENDETH. LIII. BOOK OF ANEURIN IV. Text, vol. ii. p. 94. Notes, vol. ii. p. 392. HERE NOW BEGINNETH THE GORCHAN OF CYNVELYN. WERE I to praise, Were I to sing, The Gwarchan would cause high shoots to spring, Monstrously savage, bursting and thrusting through, When he was attacked in the river Carn Gaffon burst through, 10 Those that delighted in war, Whose bones were short, their horsemen shorter. Gylvach burst through The assaults of heroism. Fury against the Angles is just ; It is right to kill; it is right to crush those who are crushing. Before the congenial splendour There will be light for furthering the project, And ability to descend To every daring enterprise, 20 Through nail, through snare, Of the splendid yellow mead; Again there will be blood around him Will the graceful ones return, Sovereign of the land of song! It is mine to lament him, 40 Until I come to the silent day! The foe asked for A long-handled weapon! More powerful than the highly-honoured lays Is the Gwarchan of Cynvelyn. The Gorchan of Cynvelyn, to make the region weep. A man of fortitude from Gwynedd has departed his country! The brave are lamented; Let the Caer of Eiddin deplore The dread and illustrious men clothed in splendid blue. 50 Brilliant is thy ruddy gem-is it not precious? Flowing panegyric is due to the horses Of Eithinyn-are they not splendid? Has he not, for a man, performed a reasonable part? His heavy spear, adorned with gold, he bestowed on me ; Be it for the benefit of his soul! His son Tegvan shall be honoured In numbering and in partitioning, the grandson of Cadvan, The pillar of ardency. 60 When weapons were hurled Over the heads of battle-wolves, Soon would he come in the day of distress. To the conflict of Catraeth went forth h; Of those who hastened From the mead of the cup-bearers, three only returned,— Cynon, and Cadreith, and Cadlew of Cadnant; And me, on account of my blood they deplored, 70 Of pure gold, and steel, and silver. For their heroism they received no protection. The Gwarchan of Cynvelyn will celebrate their contribution. HERE ENDETH THE GWARCHAN OF CYNVELYN. LIV. BOOK OF ANEURIN V. Text, vol. ii. p. 97. Notes, vol. ii. p. 394. Every ode of the Gododin is equivalent to a single song, according to the privilege of poetical composition. Each of the Gwarchans is equal to three hundred and sixty-three songs, because the number of the men who went to Catraeth is commemorated in the Gorchans; and as no man should go to battle without arms, so no bard ought to contend without that poem. Here now begins the Gwarchan of Maelderw. Taliessin sung it, and it is a privileged ode. His three Gwarchans are equal in poetical competition to all the odes in the Gododin. The noise of two Abers around the Caer! |