CVIII. Red Book of Hergest VI.

CVIII.

RED BOOK OF HERGEST VI.

I. USUAL is wind from the south; usual is noise;
In the village usual for the weakling to be slender;
Usual for a man to inquire after news.
Usual for a foster-child to have dainties.

II. Usual is wind from the east; usual for a man with swelling breast to be
Proud; usual for the thrush to be among thorns; p. 572
Usual against oppression is an outcry;
Usual for crows to find flesh in a nook.

III. Usual is wind from the north; usual for maids to be
Lovely; usual, a handsome main in Gwynedd;
Usual for a prince to provide a feast;
Usual after drinking is derangement of the senses.

IV. Usual is wind from the sea; usual for the high tide to
Overflow; usual for a sow to breed vermin;
Usual for swine to turn up the ground for earth-nuts.

V. Usual is wind from the mountain; usual a plash
In the plain; usual to find thatch in the meadows
.    .    .    .    .    .    .    .    .    .    .    .    .    .
Usual are leaves, tender shoots, and trees.

VI. Usual an eagle's nest in the top of the oak,
And in the congress-house, men of renown;
The eye of the fond one is on whom he loves.

VII. Usual is the day with a. blazing fire in the hurried season
Of winter, with the eloquent men of spears;
Usual for the hearth of the faithless to be a desert.

VIII. Dried is the reed; there is flood in the brook;
The commerce of the Saxon is with money;
Unhappy is the soul of the mother of unfaithful children.

IX. The leaf is driven by the wind;
Woe to it as to its fate;
It is old--this year it was born.

p. 573

X. Though it may be small, yet ingeniously
Do the birds build in the summit of trees
Of equal age will be the good and the happy.

XI. Cold and wet is the mountain; cold and gray the ice;
Trust in God--he will not deceive thee;
Persevering patience will not leave thee long afflicted.