Part 8 (1/2)

XCVI.

Am drynnv drylav drylen Am lwys am diffwys dywarchen Trihuc baruaut dreis dili plec hen Atguuc emorem ae guiau hem Hancai ureuer uragdenn At gwyr a gwydyl a phrydein At gu kelein rein rud guen Deheuec gwenauwy mab gwen

XCVII.

Am giniav drylav drylen Trym dwys tra diffwys dywarchen Kemp e lumen arwr baruawt asgell Vreith edrych eidyn a breith.e.l.l Goruchyd y lav loften Ar gynt a gwydyl a phryden A chynhyo mwng bleid heb pren Eny law gnavt gwychlaut ene lenn Prytwyf ny bei marw morem Deheuec gwenabwy mab gwen

THE G.o.dODIN.

I.

He was a man in mind, in years a youth, {79a} And gallant in the din of war; Fleet, thick-maned chargers {79b} Were ridden {79c} by the ill.u.s.trious hero; A s.h.i.+eld, light and broad, Hung on the flank of his swift and slender steed; His sword was blue and gleaming, His spurs were of gold, {80a} his raiment was woollen. {80b} It will not be my part To speak of thee reproachfully, A more choice act of mine will be To celebrate thy praise in song; Thou hast gone to a b.l.o.o.d.y bier, Sooner than to a nuptial feast; {80c} Thou hast become a meal for ravens, Ere thou didst reach the front of conflict. {80d} Alas, Owain! my beloved friend; It is not meet that he should be devoured by ravens! {81a} There is swelling sorrow {82a} in the plain, Where fell in death the only son of Marro.

II.

Adorned with his wreath, leader of rustic warriors, {82b} whenever he came By his troop unattended, {83a} before maidens would he serve the mead; But the front of his s.h.i.+eld would be pierced, {83b} if ever he heard The shout of war; no quarter would he give to those whom he pursued; Nor would he retreat from the combat until blood flowed; And he cut down like rushes {83c} the men who would not yield.

The G.o.dodin relates, that on the coast of Mordei, {84a} Before the tents of Madog, when he returned, But one man in a hundred with him came. {84b}

III.

Adorned with his wreath, the chief of toil, his country's rod {84c} of power, Darted like an eagle {84d} to our harbours, {84e} when allured To the compact {85a} that had been formed; his ensign was beloved, {85b} More n.o.bly was his emblazoned resolution {85c} performed, for he retreated not, With a shrinking mind, {85d} before the host of G.o.dodin.

Manawyd, {85e} with confidence and strength thou pressest upon the tumultuous fight, Nor dost thou regard {86a} either spear or s.h.i.+eld; No habitation rich in dainties can be found, That has been kept out of the reach of thy warriors' charge. {86b}

IV.

Adorned with a wreath was the leader, {87a} the wolf {87b} of the holme, Amber beads {87c} in ringlets encircled his temples; {87d} Precious was the amber, worth a banquet of wine. {87e} He repelled the violence of men, as they glided along; For Venedotia and the North would have come to his share, By the advice of the son of Ysgyran, {88a} The hero of the broken s.h.i.+eld. {88b}

V.