Adorned with his wreath, leader of rustic warriors, [82b] whenever he came
By his troop unattended, [83a] before maidens would he serve the mead;
But the front of his shield would be pierced, [83b] if ever he heard
The shout of war; no quarter would he give to those whom he pursued;
Nor would he retreat from the combat until blood flowed;
And he cut down like rushes [83c] the men who would not yield.
The Gododin relates, that on the coast of Mordei, [84a]
Before the tents of Madog, when he returned,
But one man in a hundred with him came. [84b]
III.
Adorned with his wreath, the chief of toil, his country’s rod [84c] of power,
Darted like an eagle [84d] to our harbours, [84e] when allured
To the compact [85a] that had been formed; his ensign was beloved, [85b]
More nobly was his emblazoned resolution [85c] performed, for he retreated not,
With a shrinking mind, [85d] before the host of Gododin.
Manawyd, [85e] with confidence and strength thou pressest upon the tumultuous fight,
Nor dost thou regard [86a] either spear or shield;
No habitation rich in dainties can be found,
That has been kept out of the reach of thy warriors’ charge. [86b]
IV.
Adorned with a wreath was the leader, [87a] the wolf [87b] of the holme,
Amber beads [87c] in ringlets encircled his temples; [87d]
Precious was the amber, worth a banquet of wine. [87e]
He repelled the violence of men, as they glided along;
For Venedotia and the North would have come to his share,
By the advice of the son of Ysgyran, [88a]
The hero of the broken shield. [88b]
V.
Adorned with his wreath was the leader, and armed in the noisy conflict;
Chief object of observation [88c] was the hero, and powerful in the gory field,
Chief fighter [88d] in the advanced division, in front of the hosts;
Five battalions [89a] fell before his blades;
Even of the men of Deivyr and Bryneich, [89b] uttering groans,
Twenty hundred perished in one short hour;
Sooner did he feed the wolf [90a] with his carcase, than go to the nuptial feast; [90b]
He sooner became the raven’s prey, than approached the altar; [90c]
He had not raised the spear ere his blood streamed to the ground; [90d]
This was the price of mead in the hall, amidst the throng;
Hyveidd Hir [90e] shall be celebrated whilst there remains a minstrel.
VI.
The heroes marched to Gododin, and Gognaw laughed, [91a]
But bitter were they in the battle, [91b] when they stood arranged according to their several banners;
Few were the years of peace which they had enjoyed;
The son of Botgad caused a throbbing by the energy of his hand;
They should have gone to churches to do penance,
The old and the young, the bold and the mighty; [91c]
The inevitable strife of death was about to pierce them.