e man," as here
described.

{143b} Or, "of fair observation:" probably the very individual who
warded off the birds. The Gorchan Maelderw would indicate that Syll was
an incorrect transcript of _pelloid_ or _pellwyd_, which word would
supply the blank after _brwydryat_, and make the line rhyme with the
preceding. The passage would then be, "and drove away the roving birds.
Truly, Mirain," &c.

{143c} A river so called, which cannot now be identified, as there are
several in the South of Scotland, which would admit of this Welsh form;
such as, the Leith, the Lugar, &c. Perhaps it is the same with Aber
Lleu, where Urien Rheged was assassinated, and Aber Llyw mentioned in the
"Elegy on Old Age" by Llywarch Hen.

{143d} "In the day of conflict." _Gorch. Mael_.

{144a} Al. "look."

{144b} "Gwyr nod;" this expression has two significations, it means both
"men of note" and "slaves." The lines that follow seem to restrict it
here to the latter sense.

{144c} The word Din indicates it to have been a camp or a fort.

{144d} "We may suppose this to refer to the property that was collected
within the camp on the summit of the hill.

{144e} "Dinas," a fortified town. In these lines we have a graphic
picture of the panic stricken state of that portion of the army in which
Aneurin happened to be at this particular time; and it is a fitting
prelude to the account of his incarceration which he gives in the
succeeding stanza but one. But whilst the bard exposes his own
incapacity, he pays an indirect compliment to the skill and courage of
Gwynwydd; such a state of affairs, he seems to say, was owing to the
absence of that hero on the heights.

{144f} Meaning, perhaps, that had he himself been present, this
cowardice would not have been manifested. We may, however, render the
line thus,--"Vines are not named when they are not found," and regard it
as a proverb intended to illustrate the truth of the foregoing
statements, viz. that no mention would have been made of such things had
they not really existed. Truth was a necessary element of Welsh Poetry.

{145a} "Ceny," i.e. cyni. Llywarch Hen has introduced a stanza into his
"Elegy on Old Age," very similar in some of its expressions;

"Adwen leverydd cyni
Vran; pan disgynai yn nghyvyrdy
Pen gwr, pan gwin a ddyly."

{145b} "Talben," a fixed charge, or a tax. A very natural reflection
from the head of a family!

{145c} "Gorddin;" what impe