an that of cultivation.
{120d} The Bard, according to his general custom, is here contrasting
the two aspects of his hero's character, the domestic and the martial.
{121a} A person of the name of Gwenabwy is mentioned in the Hoiannau of
Merddin.--Myv. Arch. v. i. p. 137.
{121b} Llywarch Hen had a son of the name of Gwen: see his Elegy on Old
Age, where he speaks in rapturous terms of the youth's valour.
"Pedwar meib ar ugaint a'm bu,
Eurdorchawg, tywysawg llu;
Oedd Gwen goreu o naddu," &c.
Four and twenty sons I have had,
Wearing the golden chain, leaders of armies;
Gwen was the best of them.
{121c} "Mai y _mead y gathleu_." There seems to be a playful allusion
in these words to _mewian_ and _cath_, the mewing of a cat.
{121d} "Meirch," suggested by the name "Marchleu."
{121e} Al. "Maenor," stones.
{121f} Or "by the commander on his prancing charger." "Llemenig," might
be a proper name, for we find that one of "the three free guests of the
court of Arthur," was so called. Nevertheless, as it would in that
character appear somewhat out of place here, we have chosen the
etymological sense in preference.
{121g} "Vym am," i.e. vy mam, as it occurs, though with the addition of
am vyrn, in 6.
{121h} The Bard would here pay an indirect compliment to his own
gallantry.
{122a} "Bedryolet." Al. "Spears of quartered ash were scattered from
his hand."
{122b} "Veinnyell." Al. "veingel," qu. narrow shelter?
{122c} Mygedorth is mentioned by Llywarch Hen,--
"Yn Llongborth gwelais i vygedorth
A gwyr yn godde ammorth
A gorvod gwedi gorborth."
In Llongborth I beheld a solemn pile,
And men suffering privation,
And in a state of subjection after excess of fruition
It is likewise alluded to in the Triads,--
"Cornan, march meibion Elifer Gosgorddfawr, a ddwg arnaw Gwrgi,
Peredur, Dunawd Fyr, a Chynfelyn Drwsgl, i edrych ar fygedorth
Gwenddoleu yn Arderydd."
Cornan, the horse of the sons of Elifer with the great retinue,
carried Gwrgi, Peredur, Dunawd Fyr, and Cynfelyn the stumbler, to see
the funeral pile of Gwenddoleu in Arderydd.
"Falsely was it said by Tudlew,
That no one's steeds would be overtaken by Marchleu;
As he was reared to bring support to all around,
Powerful was the stroke of his sword upon the adversary;
Eagerly ascended the ashen spear from the grasp of his hand,
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