Part 8 (2/2)
Adorned with his wreath was the leader, and armed in the noisy conflict; Chief object of observation {88c} was the hero, and powerful in the gory field, Chief fighter {88d} in the advanced division, in front of the hosts; Five battalions {89a} fell before his blades; Even of the men of Deivyr and Bryneich, {89b} uttering groans, Twenty hundred perished in one short hour; Sooner did he feed the wolf {90a} with his carcase, than go to the nuptial feast; {90b} He sooner became the raven's prey, than approached the altar; {90c} He had not raised the spear ere his blood streamed to the ground; {90d} This was the price of mead in the hall, amidst the throng; Hyveidd Hir {90e} shall be celebrated whilst there remains a minstrel.
VI.
The heroes marched to G.o.dodin, and Gognaw laughed, {91a} But bitter were they in the battle, {91b} when they stood arranged according to their several banners; Few were the years of peace which they had enjoyed; The son of Botgad caused a throbbing by the energy of his hand; They should have gone to churches to do penance, The old and the young, the bold and the mighty; {91c} The inevitable strife of death was about to pierce them.
VII.
The heroes marched to G.o.dodin, Gwanar {92a} laughed, As his jewelled army {92b} went down {92c} to the terrific toil.
Thou slayest them with blades, when there is not much chattering; Thou, powerful supporter of the living law, producest the silence of death. {92d}
VIII.
The heroes marched to Cattraeth, loquacious was the host; Blue {93a} mead was their liquor, and it proved their poison; {93b} In marshalled array they cut through the engines of war; {93c} And after the joyful cry, silence {93d} ensued!
They should have gone to churches to perform penance; The inevitable strife of death was about to pierce them.
IX.
The heroes marched to Cattraeth, filled with mead and drunk, Compact and vigorous; {94a} I should wrong them were I to neglect their fame; Around the mighty, red, and murky blades, Obstinately and fiercely the dogs of war {94b} would fight; If I had judged you to be of the tribe of Bryneich, {94c} Not the phantom of a man would I have left alive. {94d} I lost a friend, myself being unhurt, As he openly withstood the terror of the parental chief; Magnanimously did he refuse the dowry of his father-in-law; {94e} Such was the son of Cian {95a} from the stone of Gwyngwn.
X.
The heroes marched to Cattraeth with the dawn; Their peace was disturbed by those who feared them; A hundred thousand with three hundred {95b} engaged in mutual overthrow; Drenched in gore, they marked the fall of the lances; {96a} The post of war {96b} was most manfully and with gallantry maintained, Before the retinue of Mynyddawg the Courteous. {96c}
XI.
The heroes marched to Cattraeth with the dawn; Feelingly did their relatives {96d} regret their absence; Mead they drank, yellow, sweet, ensnaring; That year is the point to which many {96e} a minstrel turns; Redder were their swords than their plumes, {97a} Their blades were white as lime, {97b} and into four parts were their helmets cloven, {97c} Even those of {97d} the retinue of Mynyddawg the Courteous.
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