XXIX. The Verses of the Graves. Black Book of Caermarthen XIX.

XXIX.

THE VERSES OF THE GRAVES.

BLACK BOOK OF CAERMARTHEN XIX.

I. THE graves which the rain bedews?
Men that were not accustomed to afflict me:-
Cerwyd, and Cywryd, and Caw.

II. The graves which the thicket covers?
They would not succumb without avenging themselves:
Gwryen, Morien, and Morial.

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III. The graves which the shower bedews?
Men that would not succumb stealthily:--
Gwen, and Gwrien, and Gwriad.

IV. The grave of Tydain, father of the Muse, in the region of Bron Aren:
Where the wave makes a sullen sound
The grave of Dylan in Llan Beuno.

V. The grave, of Ceri Gledyvhir, in the region of Hen Eglwys,
In a rugged steep place
Tarw Torment in the enclosure of Corbre.

VI. The grave of Seithenhin the weak-minded
Between Caer Cenedir and the shore
Of the great sea and Cinran.

VII. In Aber Gwenoli is the grave of Pryderi,
Where the waves beat against the land;
In Carrawg is the grave of Gwallawg Hir.

VIII. The grave of Gwalchmai is in Peryddon,
Where the ninth wave flows:
The grave of Cynon is in Llan Badarn.

IX. The grave of Gwrwawd the honourable is
In a lofty region: in a lowly place of repose,
The grave of Cynon the son of Clydno Eiddyn.

X. The grave of Run the son of Pyd is by the river Ergryd,
In a cold place in the earth.
The grave of Cynon is in Ryd Reon.

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XI. Whose is the grave beneath the hill?
The grave of a man mighty in the conflict--
The grave of Cynon the son of Clydno Eiddyn.

XII. The grave of the son of Osvran is in Camlan,
After many a slaughter
The grave of Bedwyr is in Gallt Tryvan.

XIII. The grave of Owain ab Urien in a secluded part of the world,
Under the sod of Llan Morvael;
In Abererch, that of Rhydderch Hael.

XIV. After wearing dark-brown clothes, and red, and splendid,
And riding magnificent steeds with sharp spears,
In Llan Heledd is the grave of Owain.

XV. After wounds and bloody plains,
And wearing harness and riding white horses,
This, even this, is the grave of Cynddylau.

XVI. Who owns the grave of good connections?
He who would attack Lloegir of the compact host--
The grave of Gwen, the son of Llywarch Hen, is this.

XVII. Whose is the grave in the circular space,
Which is covered by the sea and the border of the valley?
The grave of Meigen, the son of Run, the ruler of a hundred.

XVIII. Whose is the grave in the island,
Which is covered by the sea with a border of tumult?
The grave of Meigen, the son of Run, the ruler of a court

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XIX. Narrow is the grave and long,
With respect to many long every way:--
The grave of Meigen, the son of Run, the ruler of right,

XX. The grave of the three serene persons on an elevated hill,
In the valley of Gwynn Gwynionawg--
Mor, and Meilyr, and Madawg.

XXI. The grave of Madawg, the splendid bulwark
In the meeting of contention, the grandson of Urien,
The best son to Gwyn of Gwynlliwg.

XXII. The grave of Mor, the magnificent, immovable sovereign,
The foremost pillar in the conflict,
The son of Peredur Penwedig.

XXIII. The grave of Meilyr Malwynawg of a sullenly-disposed mind.
The hastener of a fortunate career,
Son to Brwyn of Brycheinawg.

XXIV. Whose is the grave in Ryd Vaen Ced
With its head in a downward direction?
The grave of Run, the son of Alun Dywed.

XXV. The grave of Alun Dywed in his own region,
Away he would not retreat from a difficulty--
The son of Meigen, it was well when he was born.

xxvi. The grave of Llia the Gwyddel is in the retreat of Ardudwy,
Under the grass and withered leaves
The grave of Epynt is in the vale of Gewel.

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XXVII. The Grave of Dywel, the son of Erbin, is in the plain of Caeaw;
He would not be a vassal to a king;
Blameless, be would not shrink from battle.

XXVIII. The Grave of Gwrgi, a hero and a Gwyndodian lion;
And the grave of Llawr, the regulator of hosts.
In the upper part of Gwanas the men are!

XXIX. The long graves in Gwanas--
Their history is not had,
Whose they are and what their deeds.

XXX. There has been the family of Oeth and Anoeth--
Naked are their men and their youth--
Let him who seeks for them dig in Gwanas.

XXXI. The grave of Llwch Llawengin is on the river Cerddenin
The head of the Saxons of the district of Erbin
He would not be three months without a battle.

XXXII. The graves in the Long Mountain--
Multitudes well know it--
Are the graves of Gwryen, Gwryd Engwawd, and Llwyddawg the son of Lliwelydd.

XXXIII. Who owns the grave in the mountain?
One who marshalled armies--
It is the grave of Ffyrnvael Hael, the son of Hyvlydd.

XXXIV. Whose grave is this? The grave of Eiddiwlch the Tall,
In the upland of Pennant Twrch,
The son of Arthan, accustomed to slaughter.

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XXXV. The grave of Llew Llawgyffes under the protection of the sea,
With which he was familiar;
He was a man that never gave the truth to any one.

XXXVI. The grave of Beidawg the Ruddy in the vicinity of Riw Llyvnaw;
The grave of Lluosgar in Ceri;
And at Ryd Bridw the grave of Omni.

XXXVII. Far his turmoil and his seclusion;
The sod of Machawe conceals him
Long the lamentations for the prowess of Beidawg the Ruddy.

XXXVIII. Far his turmoil and his fame--
The sod of Machawe is upon him--
This is Beidawg the Ruddy, the son of Emyr Llydaw.

XXXIX. The grave of a monarch of Prydain is in Lleudir Gwynasedd,
Where the flood enters the Llychwr;
In Celli Briafael, the grave of Gyrthmwl.

XL. The grave in Ystyvachau,
Which everybody doubts.
The grave of Gwrtheyrn Gwrthenau.

XLI. Cian wails in the waste of Cnud,
Yonder above the grave of the stranger--
The grave of Cynddilig, the son of Corcnud.

XLII. Truly did Elffin bring me
To try my primitive bardic lore p. 315
Over a chieftain--
The grave of Rwvawn with the imperious aspect.

XLIII. Truly did Elffin bring me
To try my bardic lore
Over an early chieftain--
The grave of Rwvawn, too early gone to the grave.

XLIV. The grave of March, the grave of Gwythur,
The grave of Gwgawn Gleddyvrudd;
A mystery to the world, the grave of Arthur.

XLV. The grave of Elchwith is by the rain bedewed,
With the plain of Meweddawg under it;
Cynon ought to bewail him there.

XLVI. Who owns this grave? this grave? and this?
Ask me, I know it;--
The grave of Ew, the grave of Eddew was this,
And the grave of Eidal with the lofty mien.

XLVII. Eiddew and Eidal, the unflinching exiles,
The whelps of Cylchwydrai:
The sons of Meigen bred war-horses.

XLVIII. Whose is this grave? It is the grave of Brwyno the Tall,
Bold were his men in his region.
Where he would be, there would be no flight.

XLIX. Who owns this grave--not another?
Gwythwch, the vehement in the conflict,
While he would kill thee, he would at thee laugh.

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L. The grave of Silid the intrepid is in the locality of Edrywfy;
The grave of Llemenig in Llan Elwy,
In the swampy upland is the grave of Eilinwy.

LI. The grave of a stately warrior; many a carcase
Was usual from his hand,
Before he became silent beneath the stones;
Llachar, the son of Run, is in the valley of the Cain.

LII. The grave of Talan Talyrth
Is at the contention of three battles,
A hewer down of the head of every force,
Liberal was he, and open his gates.

LIII. The grave of Elisner, the son of Ner,
Is in the depth of the earth without fear, without concern;
A commander of hosts was he, so long as his time lasted.

LIV. The grave of a hero vehement in his rage
Llachar the ruler of hosts, at the confluence of noisy waters,
Where the Tawne forms a wave.

LV. Whose are graves in the fords?
What is the grave of a chieftain, the son of Rygenau,
A man whose arms had abundant success.

LVI. Whose is this grave? The grave of Braint
Between Llewin and Llednaint--
The grave of a man, the woe of his foes.

LVII. Whose is the grave on the slope of the hill?
Many who know it do not ask;
The grave of Coel, the son of Cynvelyn.

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LVIII. The grave of Dehewaint is on the river Clewaint,
In the uplands of Mathavarn,
The support of mighty warriors.

LIX. The grave of Aron, the son of Dewinvin, is in the land of Gwenle;
He would not shout after thieves,
Nor disclose the truth to enemies.

LX. The grave of Tavlogau, the son of Ludd,
Is far away in Trewrudd; and thus to us there is affliction;
He who buried him obtained an advantage.

LXI. Who owns the grave on the banks of Ryddnant?
Run his name, his bounties were infinite;
A chief he was! Riogan pierced him.

LXII. He was like Cyvnyssen to demand satisfaction for murder,
Ruddy was his lance, serene his aspect:
Who derived the benefit? The grave of Bradwen.

LXIII. Whose is the quadrangular grave
With its four stones around the front?
The grave of Madawg the intrepid warrior.

LXIV. In the soil of the region of Eivionydd,
There is a tall man of fine growth,
Who would kill all when he was greatly enraged.

LXV. The three graves on the ridge of Celvi,
The Awen has declared them to me:--
The grave of Cynon of the rugged brows,
The grave of Cynvael, and the grave of Cynveli.

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LXVI. The grave of Llwid Llednais in the land of Cemmaes,
Before his ribs had grown long,
The bull of conflict brought oppression thither.

LXVII. The grave of the stately Siawn in Hirerw,
A mountain between the plain and the oaken forest,
Laughing, treacherous, and of bitter disposition was he.

LXVIII. Who owns the grave in the sheltered place?
While he was, he was no weakling:--
It is the grave of Ebediw, the son of Maelur.

LXIX. Whose is the grave in yonder woody cliff?
His band was an enemy to many;--
The bull of battle--mercy to him!

LXX. The graves of the sea-marsh.
Slightly are they ornamented!
There is Sanawg, a stately maid;
There is Run, ardent in war;
There is Earwen, the daughter of Hennin;
There are Lledin and Llywy.

LXXI. The grave of Hennin Henben is in the heart of Dinorben;
The grave of Aergwl in Dyved,
At the ford of Cynan Gyhored.

LXXII. Every one that is not dilatory inquires--
Whose is the mausoleum that is here?
It is the grave of Einyawn, the son of Cunedda;
It is a disgrace that in Prydain he should have been slain.

LXXIII. Who owns the grave in the great plain?
Proud his hand upon his lance:--
The grave of Beli, the son of Benlli Gawr.