[123g] If we take this “clawdd” to be the Catrail, we must look for Offer and Maddeu towards the extremity most remote from head quarters, i.e. the fort of Eiddin, (Edinburgh) and it is rather remarkable that, whilst the Catrail is generally supposed to terminate southward at the Peel-fell, some eminent antiquaries have fixed its furthest point at Castle Over, where there is a British fort, and others have thought that they could trace it in the Maiden-way near the Roman wall, though it must be confessed that these supposed continuations are by a third party regarded as Roman roads. The similarity between the words Offer and Over is very obvious. Baxter identifies Over with Oliclavis, which is naught else but ol y clawdd the extremity of the rampart.
[124a] Al. “There was no young offspring that he cut not to pieces, no aged man that he did not scatter about.”
[124b] “Murgreit.” The title is ascribed by Taliesin to the Deity.
“Trindawd tragywydd
A oreu elvydd,
A gwedi elvydd,
Addav yn gelvydd;
A gwedi Adda,
Y goreu Eva;
Yr Israel bendigaid
A oreu Murgraia.”The eternal Trinity
Made the elements;
And after the elements
Adam wonderfully;
And after Adam
He made Eve;
The blessed Israel
The mighty Spirit made. (Gwawd Gwyr Israel.)
[124c] Gwyddneu or Gwyddno Garanhir, lord of Cantrev y Gwaelod, A.D. 460–520. Three poems attributed to him are preserved in the Myvyrian Archaiology. A character mentioned in the Mabinogion, goes by the name of Gwyddneu ab Llwydau.
[124d] Mr. Davies thinks that this warrior was the son of Cunedda, who gave his name to Ceredigion. As Cunedda, however, flourished in the early part of the fifth century, the martial age of his son Ceredig would not well coincide with the date of this poem. There was another Caredig, who succeeded Maelgwn Gwynedd as king of the Britons, about A.D. 590.
[125a] “Lletvegin;” lit. a domestic animal. We have another example here of the Bard’s favourite practice of contrasting the different qualities of the person whom he celebrates.
[125b] Or “When the appointed time of his departure is at hand,” q.d., “gar cyrdd,” from “cerdd” a walk. The adopted reading, however, is very strongly corroborated by passages in other poems, where “cyrdd” is unmistakeably used as the plural of “cerdd,” a song, e.g.—
“Cyrdd a cherddorion
A chathleu englynion.”Songs and minstrels,
And Angel’s melodies. (Taliesin.)“Ys cad ffyrdd, ys car cyrdd cyflef.”
“He is the roads of battle, he is the friend of harmonious songs.” (Cynddelw.)
“Llary deyrn cedyrn yn cadw gwesti cyrdd,
Cerddorion gyflochi.”A mild prince of mighty men keeping festivals of songs,
And equally protecting the minstrels. (Llygad Gwr.)“Arddelw cain ffyrdd cyrdd cyflef,
Urddedig wledig wlad nef.”Claim the splendid paths of harmonious songs,
Consecrated governor of the kingdom of heaven. (Bleddyn Vardd.)
[125c] A favourite saying of a person of that name has been preserved in the following triplet;