[151c] Al. “from the place where he was once overtaken.”
[151d] This stanza evidently contains a reproof to one of the British chiefs, who turned coward on the field of battle. The circumstances mentioned in the two first lines, that his shield was pierced behind him, “ar grymal carnwyd,” (on the crupper of his horse) would indicate that he was then in the act of fleeing, holding his shield in such a position, as best to protect his back from the darts of his pursuers. Of this the Bard remarks “ni mad,” it was not honourable, “non bene.”
[152a] Lit. “placed his thigh on.” Llywarch Hen gives quite a different account of his own son Pyll;—
“Mad ddodes ei vorddwyd dros obell
Ei orwydd, o wng ac o bell.” (On Old Age.)Gracefully he placed his thigh over the saddle
Of his steed, on the near and farther side.
[152b] We may suppose that the Bard looks upon the dark hue of his accoutrements as ominous of a mournful and dishonourable result.
[152c] A sarcastic irony addressed to the coward himself, who probably had boasted of some heroic deeds that he would perform. Where are they? And where is this brave warrior? Not distinguishing himself on the field of battle; not entering cities in triumph; but in a cell gnawing the shoulder of a buck.
[152d] “Gell.” This word has a reference to “gell,” dark, and it may be that Aneurin regarded the one as typical of the other; that he thought the man who appeared in dark armour would eventually be found in a dark cellar. It is not clear whether this person secreted himself, or whether he was placed by his enemies in the “cell” here mentioned. If the former, we may regard his eating the venison as a further proof of his unwarlike character; if the latter, “cnoi angell bwch” may be considered as something tantamount to living upon bread and water in our days.
[152e] Al. “hwch,” a sow.
[152f] Al. “May triumph be far from his hand.”
[153a] See line 468. It may be inferred from this place that the person just spoken of had abandoned Gwen, which shows his character in still blacker colours.