A grievous descent was made upon his native territory;
He [136d] suffered an encroachment—he fixed a limit;
His spear forcibly pushed the laughing chiefs of war;
Even as far as Ephyd [137a] reached the valour of the forward Elphin:
The furze was kindled by the ardent spirit, the bull of conflict.
XXXVIII.
A grievous descent was made upon his native territory,
The price of mead in the hall, and the feast of wine;
His blades were scattered about between the two hosts;
Illustrious was the knight in front of Gododin;
The furze was kindled by the ardent spirit, the bull of conflict. [138a]
XXXIX.
A grievous descent was made in front of the extended riches, [138b]
But the army turned aside, with trailing [138c] shields,
And those shields were shivered before the herd of the roaring Beli. [138d]
A dwarf from the bloody field hastened to the fence; [139a]
And on our side there came a hoary headed man, our chief counsellor, [139b]
Mounted on a prancing iebald psteed, and wearing the golden chain.
The Boar [139c] proposed a compact in front of the course—the great plotter;
Right worthy [139d] was the shout of our refusal,
And we cried “Let heaven be our protection,
Let his compact be that he should be prostrated by the spear in battle, [139e]
Our warriors, in respect of their far famed fosse, [139f]
Would not quarrel if a host were there to press the ground.”
XL.
For the piercing [140a] of the skilful and most learned man, [140b]
For the fair corpse which fell prostrate on the ground,
For the cutting [140c] of his hair from his head,
For Gwydien, the eagle of the air, [140d]
Did Gwyddwg [141a] bring protection to the field, [141b]
Resembling and honouring his master.
Morien of the blessed song, brought protection
To the ruined hall, [141c] and cleft the heads
Of the first in youth, in strength, and in old age.
Equal to three men, though a maid, was Bradwen; [141d]
Equal to twelve was Gwenabwy, the son of Gwen. [141e]
XLI.
For the piercing of the skilful and most learned woman,
Her servant bore a shield in the action,
And with energy his sword fell upon the heads of the foe;
In Lloegyr the churls cut their way before the chieftain. [142a]
He who grasps the mane of a wolf, without a club [142b]
In his hand, will have it gorgeously emblazoned on his robe. [142c]
In the engagement of wrath and carnage,
Bradwen perished,—she did not escape.