This is the English translation of the Tristan poem fragments Dau Ddarn o Chwedl Trystan (Two Fragments of Tristan's Legend?) from the the Llyfr Du Caerfyrddin (Black Book of Carmarthen). It is rendered as close as possible to the original using my font, Mabinogi Celtic which is free for anyone to download and install. This is one of the earliest surviving portions of Tristan's (Drystan's) tale.

Two Fragments of Drystan's Legend

 (a)

Although he loved the sea-shore, he hated the sea
Why does [its] wave cover the hero's rock?
Brave, splendid, courteous, generous hero
The mounting-block of poets, be it a beneficial shelter
the dispenser of fame has done an ill-omened favour
Until Judgement Day his grief will endure

Although he loved the sea-shore, he hated the wave
The violence of the wave caused a cold wound between us
He shall lament whilst he lives because of this
A lively deed, the washing over me, who is not a hero
As far as it fills the mind it does not excite the heart
And in the trail or Cyheig let there be a reconciliation between us.

I am repentant because of his missives.
When the shining soldier hastened afar to his death
We two were brave and splendid in our company.
At the place where the water transports the leaves


(b)

Drystan is enraged at your tribe.
He will not accept my casting out
For my part I sold the gifts of March

My desire, to avenge Cyheig.
Because of his sweet discourse
Alas, dwarf, your wrath was hostile to me



Follow these links for the original version of the poem and the modern Welsh version of the poem.




The poem given above are transcribed directly from the Llyfr Du Caerfyrddin (Black Book of Carmarthen), with reference to Blodeugerdd Barddas o'r Bedwaredd Ganrif ar Ddeg edited by Dafydd Johnston and to AHO Jarman's diplomatic edition of the text. Letters or words obviously missing from the text are enclosed in square brackets [ ] and letters or words that are either superfluous to the metre or which are erroniously copied in the original are indicated in italic text.