[Unhwch of Dunawd and Urien]
Unhwch the fierce told unto me:
Wrathful in his anger,
'Better to slay than beg concord.'
Unhwch the fierce told unto me:
were the confilct of battle caused
the joy of an army, to be led well
Unhwch the firerce told unto me:
He said, at the pass of Llech
'Dunawd son of Pabo will not retreat'
Unhwch the firerce told unto me:
His loud laughter thundering
The tumult of battle, [victorious lord]
Urien Rheged, passionate one, of the eagle's grasp
foe of Unhwch, generous and brave
enraged in battle, victorious prince
Urien [Rheged], passionate one, of the eagle's grasp
foe of Unhwch, great his wealth
Llŷr's larder, its inlets fine, overflow the tables for his men
[Urien's Head]
A head I bear by my side
an attacker between two forces
proud son of Cynfrch, was its posessor
A head I bear by my side
head of Urien, generously did he lead his host
and on his white breast a raven, black
A head I bear upon my belt
head of Urien, generously did he lead his court
and on his breast, so white, do ravens feast
A gead I bear within my hand
The shepherd of Erchwydd was he
His princely breast pierced by a staff
A head I bear upon my thigh
He was the shield of his realm, a stallion in battle
He was a support in battle, a foeman's net
A head I bear upon my left
Better be he alive than in his grave
The refuge of his old age.
A head I bear from the realm of Pennawg
Far-flung his campaigns
[The head of] Urien. far is told his fame
A head I bear upon my shoulder
Though I bear no disgrace for its taking
Woe be to this hand that struck my lord.
A head I bear upon my arm
that which subdued the realm of Bernicia
He who was once a hero, now a litter-burden borne
A head I bear within the grasp
of my hand, generous lord, leader leader of his realm
Leader, pillar of Prydain, stolen away
A head I bear, which sustains me
He departed, to my loss
Woe be this hand, that did the severe deed
A head I bear from the hilly realm,
Upon his jaws a foam
of blood; woe be to Rheged from this day
Deadened my arm, my breast is stirred
My heart was broken
The head which I bear sustains me
[The Corpse of Urien]
A gentleman's corpse shall be interred this day
'Neath sod and cairn
Woe this hand that struck the father of Owein
A gengleman's corpse shall be interred this day
amongst the soil and ancestors
Woe this hand that struck my cousin
A gentleman's corpse shall be interred this day
Beneath a cairn was he left
Woe this hand, the sad lot alloted me
A gentleman's corpse shall be interred this day
amongst the soil and turf
Woe this hand that struck Kynfarch's child
A gentleman's corpse shall be interred this day
beneath a grave and a marker stone
Woe this hand that struck my lord
A gentleman's corpse shall be interred this day
Beneath soil and sand
Woe this hand, the fate that befell me
A gentleman's corpse shall be interred this day
Beneath soil and nettles
Woe this hand, that stole-away my fate
A gentleman's corpse shall be interred this day
'Neath soil and blue-stone covers
Woe this hand, that stole-away my fate
[A Wonder]
A wonder, when in judgement we shall gather
By drinking horns, by wine vessels
The lord's host, the host of Rheged
A wonder, when in judgement we shall gather
By drinking horns, by the feast tables
The lord's host, men of Rheged
[Efrddyl] (Urien's Sister)
From Efrddyl, sadness comes this night
And numerous hosts,
For at Lleu's estuary was Urien slain.
If saddened is Efrddyl from her tribulations this night
And the fate that befell me
At the mouth of the Lleu was her brother slain.
[Rhun]
On Friday did I see the sad event
The great force of the christened
Like a swarm of bees without a leader
If I give not unto Rhun of Great Wealth
A hundred companies and a hundred shields
And one force was better than great nakedness
If I give not unto Rhun, fair leader
A hundred towns and a hundred camps
And one town was better than all the others
In the life of Rhun, battle-leader
A re-taking of our realm shall be
The wicked captive on horses
[Wound]
Great, I know, my wound
In summer each man (but me) to battle goes
No one knows anything about me.
[Two Factions]
Dunawd reflects, girded knight
on the morning when death was dealt
against Owein's onrush
Dunawd reflects, lord of his lands,
on the morning when battle was joined
against Pascent's onrush
Gwallawg reflects, battle knight
on the morning when death was dealt
against Elffin's onrush
Brâan son of the Mellryn reflects
My banishment, the destruction of my hearths
A wolf howling by the entrance
Morgant reflects, he and his men
My banishment, the burning of my lands
Shrews who scratch at a cliff face
I reflected when Elgno was slain
He flayed a blade on the enclosing walls
of the tents and marquees from his realm
Again I saw, after the combat of battle
a shield on Urien's shoulder
support was there from Elgno the Old
To Erchwydd they went from need
from the death of a knight from a spear-blow
Will there ever be another Urien?
As bald my lord, as brave his nature
He received not the love of his troops
The hosts of the Protector were destroyed
The abilities of Urien are a sadness to me
They who attacked each region
in the footsteps of Llofan Llaw Diffro.
[The Wasting of the Hearth of Rheged]
Silent the breeze over the relm of Hirglyw (long slope)
A rare thing is worthy of praise
Never again will be Urien's like
Many a brave dog and and powerful hawk
Were fed upon the ground
Before there was a
Llys, now there are only mounds.
This place with its grey-straw mantle
Upon its floor many used to,
ask of drink and drunkenness
This place, was never hid by nettles
Whilst its guardian lives
* * *
This place, was never hid by bugloss
During the lives of Owein and Elphin
Her spoil-cauldrons boiled.
This place, was never hid by grey chickweed
The food of its existence,
Fierce, fearless, swordplay
This place, was never hid by pleated briers
Burning logs were there
The men of Rheged dwelt there
In this place, there never were thorn-bushes
Many warriors dwelt here
For the favour of Owein's companionship
In this place, there never were anthills
Whilst lit by many rush-lights
Bright, and loyal compatriots [at the feast]
In this hall, never grew dock-leaves
Upon its floor many used to,
ask of drink and drunkenness
In this place, never did pigs furrow
Whilst there was the ring of merry shouts
Men about the mead horns of carousal
In this place, never did pullets scratch
None knew the suffering of violence
During the lives of Owein and Urien
This iron pillar, and the one there
About it many a time there were
merry shouts and the porgress of servers