This poem, though not absolutely the earliest in point of date, is the longest of the numerous poems produced among the Kymry of the north of England during the sixth and seventh centuries. Two translations have already appeared in English; one by the Rev. Edward Davies, the author of _Celtic Researches_, and the other by a gentleman named Probert. Of these the latter, though very imperfect and extremely defective, is the only one which an English reader should consult; the version given by Davies is only a very ingenious misrepresentation. The poem has no more reference to Hengist than it has to the man-in-the-moon; and GOMER might have suspected that a version which, without rule or reason, deprived historic personages of their reality, could not have been correct. _Every proper name mentioned in the Gododin may be shown without any alteration to be those of persons living between 577 and 642._ The proof of this assertion, when carefully examined, is all but overwhelming; but here I can only cite a few of the most tangible facts. The design of the poem is thus described by the bard himself:-- "O ved O vuelin, O Gattraeth werin, Mi a na vi Aneurin Ys gwyr Taliesin, Oveg cyvrenhin Neu cheing Ododin Cyn gwawr dydd dilin." These lines may be thus translated:-- "Of mead from the mead horn, Of the host of Cattraeth, I, Aneurin, will do What is known to Taliesin, A man of kindred disposition. Will I not sing of what befell Gododin, before the break of day?"