Y Gododin: A Poem of the Battle of CattraethAneirin
History
Y Gododin: A Poem of the Battle of Cattraeth
Aneirin
Cattraeth, Battle of, Catterick, England, ca. 600 -- Poetry
{89b} Deivyr and Bryneich, (_Deira and Bernicia_) are situated on the
eastern coast of the island, the river Humber, as we learn from the
Triads, (Myv. Arch. vol. ii. p. 68) flowing through a portion thereof.
In a document which has been published in the Iolo MSS. Argoed
Derwennydd, (Derwent wood probably) and the river Trenn or Trent, are
mentioned as the extreme boundaries of the region. The triads moreover
speak of the three sons of Dysgyvedawg, (or Dysgyvyndawd) viz. Gall,
Difedel, and Ysgavnell, under the appellation of the “three monarchs of
Deivyr and Bryneich,” (Ibid. p. 64) about the period, as it would appear,
of our Poem.
It is clear from the above passage in the Gododin, as well as from those
lines, (78, 79.)
“Ar deulu brenneych beych barnasswn
Dilyw dyn en vyw nys adawsswn.”
If I had judged you to be of the tribe of Bryneich,
Not the phantom of a man would I have left alive;
that the people of those countries were not at the time in question on
friendly terms with the neighbouring Britons; which circumstance is
further apparent from the contemporary testimony of Llywarch Hen, who
speaks of Urien as having conquered the land of Bryneich;
“Neus gorug o dir Brynaich.”
This, it is true, might have a reference to the Saxon tribes, who had
succeeded at an early period, in establishing themselves along the coast
in that part of the island, yet the disparaging manner in which the grave
of Disgyrnin Disgyfedawt, evidently the father of the “three monarchs,”
is spoken of in the Englynion y Beddau, inclines us strongly to the
belief that it was the Aborigines themselves who were thus guilty of
treason to the common weal.
“Cigleu don drom dra thywawd,
Am vedd Dysgyrnyn Dysgyveddawd,
Aches trwm angwres pechawd.”
Hear the sullen wave beyond the strand,
Round the grave of Dysgyrnyn Dysgyveddawd,
Heavy the burning impulse raised by sin.
(Myv. Arch. vol. i. p. 78.)
{90a} An allusion to the name of our hero’s father, (Bleiddan) and
probably to his own standard.
{90b} “Neithyawr.” Al. “than go to the altar.”
{90c} Al. “elawr” a _bier_, “than obtained a bier.” He was devoured by
the birds of prey ere he could be removed for interment.
{90d} Or, “Ere he received his nuptial dowry, his blood streamed down.”
{90e} Hyveidd Hir was the son of Bleiddan Sant, of Glamorgan, (the
celebrated Lupus.) According to the Triads he was one of the three alien
kings, upon whom dominion was conferred for their mighty deeds, and for
their praiseworthy and gracious qualities.
“Tri eilldeyrn ynys Prydain: Gwrgai vab Gwrien yn y Gogledd, a
Chadavael vab Cynvedw yng Ngwynedd, a Hyveidd Hir vab Bleiddan Sant
ym Morganwg: sev y rhodded Teyrnedd iddynt am eu campau a’u
cynneddvau clodvorion a rhadvorion.” (Triad, 26, third series.)
Taliesin, in his Ode to Urien, speaks of Hyveidd in conjunction with
Gododin;—
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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