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EARLY WELSH POEMS and/or INTERPRETATIONS
Most Welsh history has been handed
down by poetry which has been learned by each generation and passed down to the
next, as the written word was virtually absent or has been destroyed over the
years. There follows some of these poems in the original Welsh with English
interpretations by Professor Joseph Clancy and others.
7th. Century -
Anonymous
Marwnad Cynddylan
Dyhedd deon diechyr ...
Rhiau a Rhirid a Rhioedd, A Rhygyfarch lary, lyw eiriasedd. Ef
cwynif oni fwyf i'm derwin fedd O leas Cynddylan yn ei fawredd.
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Lament for Cynddylan Invincible Lords' distress ........ Rhiau and Rhirid and Rhioedd, And kind Rhygyfarch, fervent leader.
I shall mourn till I enter my oaken grave Cynddylan slain at
his power's height.
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Mawredd
gyminedd a feddyliais Myned
i Fenai, cyn ni'm bai fais. Caraf
a'm ennairch o dir Cemais. Gwerling
Dogfeiling, Cadelling drais. Ef
cwynif oni fwyf i'm derw llednais O
leas Cynddylan, colled anofais.
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Height of
sword-strife I considered it,
Going to Menai,
though no ford was mine. I love him who greets
me from Cemais' land, King of Dogfeiling, Cadell's forceful heir. I shall mourn till I
enter my quiet oak Cynddylan slain, loss
that pierces deep.
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Mawredd
gyminedd, i feddyliaw Myned
i Fenai, cyn ni'm bai naw. Caraf
a'm ennairch o Aberffraw, Gwerling
Dogfeiling, Cadelling ffaw. Ef
cwynif oni fwyf i'm derwin taw O
leas Cynddylan,a'i luyddaw.
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Height of
sword-strife, to consider
Going to Menai,
though no swim was mine. I love him who greets
me from Aberffraw, King of Dogfeiling, Cadell's renowned heir. I shall mourn till I
enter my silent oak Cynddylan slain, and
his warriors.
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Mawredd
gyminedd, gwin waredawg, Wyf
colledig wén, hen, hiraethawg. Collais
pan amwyth alaf Pennawg Gwr
dewr, diachar, diarbedawg. Cyrchai
drais tra Thren, tir trahawg. Ef
cwynif oni fwyf yn ddaear fodawg O
leas Cynddylan, clod Caradawg.
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Height of
sword-strife, pouring forth of wine,
I am left with smile
lost, aged by longing. I lost when he fought
for Pennawg's land A valient man,
savage, sparing none. He launched the
assault past Tren, proud land. I shall mourn till I enter steadfast earth Cynddylan slain,
famed as Caradawg.
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Mawredd
gyminedd, mor fu daffawd A
gafas Cynddylan, cynran cyffrawd; Saith
gant rhiallu yn ei ysbyddawd; Pan
fynnwys mab pyd, mor fu barawd! Ni
ddarfu yn neithiawr, ni bu priawd. Gan
Dduw py amgen plwyf, py du daerawd? Ef
cwynif oni fwyf yn erwydd rawd O
leas Cynddylan, clod addwyndawd.
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Height of
sword-strife, how it has been undone What Cynddylan won,
lord of warfare! Seven hundred horses
behind him, When the lad sought
peril, how keen he was! No bridal took place,
he died unwed. Why the changed
parish, the dark burial? I shall mourn till I
enter circling staves Cynddylan slain, famed for majesty.
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-
Mawredd gyminedd, mor wyf gnotaf,
Pob
pysg a milyn yd fydd tecaf.I
drais a gollais, gwýr achasaf,
Rhaiu
a Rhirid a Rhaidaf, A
Rhygyfarch lary, iôr pob eithaf. Dyrrynt
eu preiddiau o ddolau Taf; Caith
cwynynt; brefynt, grydynt alaf. Ef
cwynif oni fwyf yn erw penylaf
O
leas Cynddylan, clod pob eithaf.
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Height of sword-strife, how I keep high custom,
Each fish and beast
will be the fairest! In violence I lost,
men most valient, Rhaiu and Rhirid and
Rhaidaf, And kind Rhygyfarch,
lord of all borders. They would drive
their spoils fromTaff's meadows; Captives would wail;
cattle lowed, bellowed. I shall mourn till I
enter the field's surface Cynddylan slain, each borders renown.
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Mawredd
gyminedd, a weli di hyn? Yd
lysg fy nghalon fel etewyn. Hoffais
feuedd eu gwýr a'u gwragedd, Fy
ngomedd ni ellyn'. Brodyr
a'm bwyad, oedd gwell ban fythyn'. Canawon Arthur fras, dinas dengyn, Y
rhag Caer Lwytgoed nis digonsyn'. Oedd
crau y dan frain, a chrai gychwyn. Briwynt calch ar drwyn feibion
Cyndrwynyn. Ef
cwynif oni fwyf yn nhir gwelyddyn O
leas Cynddylan, clodlawn unbyn.
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Height of
sword-strife, do you see this?
My heart is burning
like a firebrand. I praised their men's
and their women's riches: They could not deny
me; Brothers fed me, better it was when they lived Sturdy Arthur's cubs, steadfast stronghold. At Caer Lwytgoed they
were not sated: There were blood-stained crows, fresh plundering.sons They pierced shield with
spike Cyndrwynyn's I shall mourn till I
enter earth's bed Cynddylan slain, lord
of high renown.
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Mawredd
gyminedd, mawr ysgafael Y
rhag Caer Lwytgoed, neus dug Morfael. Pymthecant
muhyn, a phum gwriael, Pedwar
ugain meirch, a seirch cychafael. Pob
esgob hunob ym mhedeirael Nis
noddes, na mynaich llyfr afael.
A
gwyddwys yn cu creulan o gynran claer Nid
engis o'r ffosawd brawd ar ei chwaer. Dihengynt
â'u herchyll trewyll yn nhaer. Ef
cwynif oni fwyf yn erw trafael
O
leas Cynddylan, clodrydd pob hael.
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Height of
sword-strife, great the plunder
At Caer Lwytgoed,
Morfael captured it, Fifteen hundred
cattle, and five bondsmen, Fourscore stallions,
and noble trappings. Not a single bishop
in four regions Has he spared, nor
bookholding monks. One felled in their
fight by a bright prince Came not from the
strife, brother to sister. They came back with
their wounds from battle. I shall mourn till I
enter travail's acre Cynddylan slain,
praised by all patrons.
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Mawredd
gyminedd, mor oedd eiddun Gan
fy mryd, pan athreiddwn Pwll ac Alun! Irfrwyn
y dan fy nhraed hyd bryd cyntun;
Pludde
y danaf hyd ym mhen fy nghlun. A
chyd ethwyf yno i'm bro fy hun,
Nid
oes un cár; neud adar i'w warfun. A
chyn ni'm dycai Dduw i'r digfryn,
Ni
ddigones neb bechawd cyhafal fy hun.
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Height of sword-strife, how delightful it was
For me, when I came
to Pwll and Alun! Fresh rushes beneath
my feet till bedtime, Fresh pillows beneath my buttocks. And though I went
there, to my own land, Not one friend remained; birds forbid them. And though God bring
me not to doomsday's mount, He committed no sin equal to mine.
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( The beginning of this poem is
missing. It is an eligy in bardic style telling of the death of Cynddylan,
Prince of Powys and dates from about 875 recording the loss of Pengwern. There are many
poems about Cynddylan who became the subject of legends. Rhiau, Rhirid and
Rhiadaf were originally sheep or cattle herders and Rhygyfarch an army comander.
)
Englynion Cadwallon
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1
Katwallawn kyn noe dyuot
ae gorue an digonot.
pedeir prifgat ar dec am brifdec brydein.
a thrugein kyuaruot.
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Cadwallon before his ?death
achieved ?our success:
fourteen chief battles around great, fair Britain
and sixty clashes.
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2
Lluest catwallawn ar geint.
lloegyr ar dres armes etneint.
llaw dillwng ellwng oed vreint.
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The encampment of Cadwallon by the Caint:
England in affliction, ?tribulation from birds of prey,
a released hand – letting go was a privilege.
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3
Lluest gatwallawn ar ydon.
auar anwar yw alon.
llew lluydawc ar seasson.
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The encampment of Cadwallon by the Idon:
ungentle grief of his enemies,
a lion with hosts against the Saxons.
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4 Lluest gatwallawn glotryd.
yg gwarthaf digoll uynyd.
seithmis a seith gat beunyd.
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The encampment of fameworthy Cadwallon
on the summit of Digoll Mountain:
seven months with seven battles daily.
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5
Lluest gatwallawn ar hafren.
ac or tu draw y dygen.
[breitin] llosgi meigen.
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The encampment of Cadwallon by the Severn
and from the opposite side to Dygen
Freiddin the burning of Meigen.
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6
Lluest gatwallawn ar wy.
maranned wedy mordwy.
a diliuat kat kylchwy.
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The encampment of Cadwallon by the Wye:
treasure
after a voyage over water
and the arranging of the battle of the border.
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7
Lluest gatwallawn ar ffynnawn uetwyr.
rac milwyr magei [iawn]
dangossei gynon [yno dawn].
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The encampment of Cadwallon by Ffynnon Bedwyr.
before soldiers he nurtured his right.
Cynon there showed skill.
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8
Lluest gatwallawn ar daf.
ys lluossawc y gwelaf.
kywrennin [llu cat] vreisc naf.
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The encampment of Cadwallon by the Taf:
it is numerous that I see
the powerful host of the lord strong in battle.
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9
Lluest gatwallawn ar dawy.
lleidyat adaf yn adwy.
clotryd keissydyd kestwy.
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The encampment of Cadwallon by the Tawy:
the hand of a smiter in the breach,
praiseworthy, one seeking to chastise.
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10
Lluest gatwallawn tra chaer.
kan bydin a channwr taer.
kan kat a thorri can kaer.
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The encampment of Cadwallon beyond Caer:
one-hundred armies with one-hundred ardent warriors,
one-hundred battles and the destroying of one-hundred fortresses.
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11
Lluest gatwallawn ar gowyn.
llaw lludedic ar awyn.
gwyr lloegyr lluossawc eu kwyn.
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The encampment of Cadwallon by Cowyn:
a weary hand on the reins,
multitudinous the laments of English warriors.
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12
Lluest gatwallawn heno.
tra thir yn tymyr pennvro.
ani nawd uawr anhawd y ffo.
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The encampment of Cadwallon tonight
is across the land in the region of Penfro.
Unless
there was great support their fleeing was difficult
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13
Lluest gatwallawn ar deiui.
kymysgei waet a heli.
angerd gwyned gwynyg[I].
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The encampment of Cadwallon by Teifi:
blood mixed with salt water.
He
kindled the passion of Gwynedd.
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14
Lluest gatwallawn ar dufyrd auon.
gwnaeth eryron yn llawn.
gwedy trin dynineu dawn.
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The encampment of Cadwallon by Dufyrdd river:
he made eagles full;
after battle corpses were their reward.
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15
Lluest gatwallawn vym brawt.
yg gwertheuin bro dunawt.
y uar annwar yn ffossawt.
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The encampment of Cadwallon my brother
on
the heights of Dunawd’s land:
his anger was not gentle in battle.
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16
Lluest gatwallawn ar ueirin.
llew lluossawc y werin.
twrwf mawr trachas y ordin.
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The encampment of Cadwallon by Meirin:
a lion with numerous soldiers,
a great host, very cruel its assault.
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17 O
gyssul estrawn ac anghyfyawn ueneich
dillyd dwfyr o ffynnawn.
tru trwmdyd am gatwallawn.
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Because
of the counsel of a foreigner and unrighteous monks
water flows from a fountain.
Wretched the day of mourning for Cadwallon.
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18
Gwisgwys coet keindudet
haf. dybryssit gwyth wrth dyget
kyueruydom ny am eluet.
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The woods have put on
the fair mantle of summer;
the fierce one makes haste to battle.
May we fight around Elfed.
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Comment.
The same key to text is applied above
as to the previous poem and is attributed under the same heading of Canu Heledd.
Both poems are thought to have been written down in the nineth century from word
of mouth remembrance. Cadwallon appears to have risen to
power after the demise of Cynddylan but only lasted some half
dozen years, during which time he was forced to flee to Ireland before
returning and reclaiming most of the land except Shropshire and Hereford, which
was by now part of Mercia.
The Canu Heledd poems name many
identifiable places in the script, so making them much more reliable or factual
than some others. Licence must be given to the reality that they are poems and
exaggeration must be taken as a requisite part.
Some of the places and people named in
the Cadwallon poem which can be identified through the family history are Digoll
Fynydd (Long Mountain), Hafren (Severn), Freiddin (Breidden Hill), Wye (river),
Taf (river), Caer (Caersws) and Meirin (at the foot of Breidden).
In verse 17 the line ‘Because of the counsel of a foreigner and
unrighteous monks’ could well reflect on Cadwallon asking a Saxon army for
help and being double-crossed, leading to his death.
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Heledd by Adlais
Heledd
hwyedic am kyueich,
O
Duw! Padiw yth rodir gurumseirch.
Kyndylan
ae bedwardeg meich.
Adlais
is reputed to be a poet of antiquety.
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Heledd by Adlais
?Wandering
Heledd greets me,
O God, to whom are given the dark trappings
Of Cynddylan and his fourteen steeds?
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The following two poems were found in
their English interpretation and cannot be found in their original Welsh, so
have been produced side by side to save space. The left hand one refers to Cynan,
the son of Brochfiel and father of Cynddylan, being credited to Taliesin. The
second is a further Cynddylan poem which is credited to Heledd, Cynddylan's
sister.
In Praise of Cynan |
Heledd
Remembers
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Cynan,
war's bulwark,
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This mountain, though it is tall,
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Poured
on me prizes,
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I'll not curse it as I lead my cow.
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For
his fame is not false,
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It's
thin, what's left of my cloak.
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Manor's
great master.
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A
hundred swift steeds,
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Till
my blanket was the hide of a tough goat
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Silver
their trappings,
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Hungry for holly,
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Hundred
heather-hued cloaks
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It
made me drunk, the mead of Bryn.
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Cut
equally long,
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Hundred
armlets in my lap
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Till my blanket was the hide of a tough goat,
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And
fifty brooches,
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oung goat fond of holly,
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A
sword, jewelled sheath,
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It made me drunk, the mead of Tren.
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Gold-hilted,
none better :
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These
came from Cynan ;
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After my brothers, in Hafron's regions,
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No
wrath could one see !
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On the banks of Dwyryw,
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Ah God, I go on living !
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Cadell's
descendant,
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Steadfast
in battle,
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After well-groomed stalions and scarlet garments
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Made
war on the Wye,
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And great plumes of gold,
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Spears
without number :
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Lean my leg, no mantle have I.
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He
slew men of Gwent
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With
a blood stained blade.
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Edeirniawn's cattle would not go astray,
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In
Mon, mighty battle,
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With
no one would they go,
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Superlative
praise,
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While
Gorwynion lived, comely man.
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Crossing
the Menai :
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Quite
easy, the rest !
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Edeirniawn's cattle would not go astray,
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War
at Crug Dyfed,
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With
none would they wander,
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Aergol
on the run,
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While Gorwynion lived, prudent man.
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Never
any before
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Seen
heading his herd.
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A good drover stands guard, way barred ;
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Brochfael's
son, broad realmed,
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For what may happen, his is the blame.
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Bent
on dominions,
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It is I who know what's good,
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Menaces
Cornwall,
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The bond of blood, noble man.
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Casts
doubt on its fate,
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Brings
on it distress
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Had Gyrthmwl a wife she'd be weak today,
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Till
it pleads for peace.
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Loud would be her lament,
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My
patron, Cynan,
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She in one piece, her men rent.
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First into battle,
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With bright flame far-spread
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The turf of Ercal on fearless men
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Setting
soaring fires,
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Of
the line of Morial,
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War
in Brychan's land :
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Once it moulds them, molders them.
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Hill
fort, a mole hill !
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Pathetic
princes,
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Heledd the hawk I am called.
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Cringe
before Cynan !
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O God ! to whom are given
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My brothers steeds and their lands ?
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Breast
plate in battle,
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Dragon by nature,
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My eyes have gazed long at a gracious land
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Akin
to Cyngen,
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From Gorwynion's Grave-mound.
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A
broad realm's bulwark,
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Long the sun's road : longer my musings.
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He heard men saying
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Wherever
they spoke,
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All
the world is called
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This poem would reinforce the arguement that the
family lands stretched
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Captive
to Cynan !
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as far East into modern day
Shropshire as the Ercal and the Wrekin.
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SOME FURTHER NOTES
The Weaver River and the Trent rise a
short distance north of Market Drayton and between these and the Tern to the
south lie Market Drayton, Longslow and Longford. The centre of Market Drayton is
built on a steep escarpment, ideal to defend. Tern Hill, three miles to the west
is also on the edge of the Tern.
Reference to Ercal at this time does
not necessarily mean the hill attached to the Wrekin and is more likely to mean
a large area of land north of the Wrekin and including such comotes as Childs
Ercal, Ercal Magna, High Ercal, Ercal Heath, etc.and it is thought at one time
there was a river Erch.
It was thought that St Tysilio, a
junior son of Brochfael Ysgithrog had followed the fashion of the time by
entering the church but this is not so as he is described in poems as a warrior
of some distinction.
Selyf, on our tree Cynddylans father,
is recorded in verse as having been killed at the Battle of Chester in 613. This
would appear to mean that Cynddylan was a babe in arms at this time if he died a
young man.
Although Mercia eventually took over
the Shropshire and Herefordshire lands of Powys it is thought that they were
basically friendly towards each other and that the big conflict was between
Powys and Northumbria. This is strengthened with the theory that Cynddylan had
an alliance with Penda when he was killed at a place called Winwaed, at which
Cadafael then king of Gwynedd deserted them to his shame. Is it also possible
that Heledd was married to Cadafael and so blamed herself for Cynddylans defeat?
In c45 Cymbeline, king of the
Brythonic tribe from the Midlands to the mountains in the west (roughly the
Shropshire, Herefordshire area) died and his son Caratacus, then currently
leading the army, took over. He later fled to the Silures where he fought
defending ‘Wales’ for nine years until he was betrayed and taken to display
in Rome. Four hundred years later when the Romans left Britain this kingdom
became part of ‘Wales’. The Romans later conquered the lowlands around the
edge and boxed in Wales but left the central highlands.
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