[182e] “Trusi;” al. “trin;” “he placed a thick cover in front of the battle.”
[182f] The effects of his toil in battle.
[182g] Al. “O goledd,” by arrangement, being actuated by the same motive as that which induced Gwrgan the Freckled long before to “enact a law that no one should bear a shield, but only a sword and bow;” hence it is said, “his countrymen became very heroic.” (Iolo MSS. p. 351.)
[183a] Lit. “the strand supported.” Traeth means also the extremity of a district, and may accordingly be applied here to the boundary line between Gododin and the British dominions.
[183b] “Periglawr;” one who has to do with what is extreme, or dangerous; one who administers extreme unction; a parish priest.
[183c] Al. “penifeddawr,” giddy-headed. Al. “penufuddawr” having an obedient head—rein-obeying.
[183d] Al. “The mounted spearman.”
[183e] Another reading gives “Odren” but the one adopted above suits the rhyme better.
[183f] There is a reference here to some pagan ceremonies to which the Saxons had recourse, for the purpose either of propitiating their gods, or of receiving omens at their altars.
[184a] A body of British soldiers under the command of Nwython son of Gildas, and nephew of Aneurin, seem to have taken advantage of the peculiar position of the enemy, who were now probably unarmed, and to have attacked them, which caused the latter, as usual, to seek refuge by flight in one of the neighbouring forts. That we are right in adopting Nwython as a proper name would appear, moreover, from two different passages in the fragments of the Gododin subjoined to Gorchan Maelderw, where “the son of Nwython,” is distinctly mentioned as one of the heroes that fell at Cattraeth.