The Four Ancient Books of Wales [Black Book of Carmarthen, Book of Haneirin, Book of Taliesin, Red Book of Hergest] Containing the Cymric Poems Attrib

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1868 edition. Excerpt: ... L. the gododin poems. li. book of aneurin I. Text, vol. ii. p. 62. Notes, voL ii. p. 359. This Is The Gododin. Aneurin Composed It. I. CtsF manly disposition was the youth, Valour had he in the tumult; Fleet thick-maned chargers Were under the thigh of the illustrious youth;-A shield, light and broad, Was on the slender swift flank, A sword, blue and bright, Golden spurs, and ermine. It is not by me That hatred shall be shown to thee; I will do better towards thee, To celebrate thee in poetic eulogy. Sooner hadst thou gone to the bloody bier Than to the nuptial feast; Sooner hadst thou gone to be food for ravens Than to the conflict of spears; Thou beloved friend of Owain! Wrong it is that he should be under ravens. It is evident in what region The only son of Marro was killed. Ii. Caeawg, the leader, wherever he came, Breathless in the presence of a maid would he distribute the mead; The front of his shield was pierced, when he heard The shout of battle, he would give no quarter wherever he pursued; He would not retreat from the combat, until he caused Blood to stream; like rushes would he hew down the men who would not yield. The Gododin does not relate, in the land of Mordai, Before the tents of Madawg, when he returned, Of but one man in a hundred that came back.. Caeawg, the combatant, the stay of his country, Whose attack is like the rush of the eagle into the sea, when allured by his prey; He formed a compact, his signal was observed; Better was his resolution performed: he retreated not Before the host of Gododin, at the close of day. With confidence he pressed upon the conflict of Manawyd; And regarded neither spear nor shield. There is not to be found a habitation that abounded in dainties, That has been kept from the attack of...