Y Gododdin: Difference between revisions
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'''Y Gododdin''' is the earliest known British poem, and is attributed to [[Aneirin]] in about 600 CE. The poem describes warriors feasting in a great hall before setting out to die in a heroic battle against the Saxons from which none returned. | '''Y Gododdin''' is the earliest known British poem, and is attributed to [[Aneirin]] in about 600 CE. The poem describes warriors feasting in a great hall in or near what is now the city of [[Edinburgh]], before setting out to die in a heroic battle against the Saxons from which none returned. (''"Never was there such a host/From the fort of Eiddyn,/That would scatter abroad the mounted ravagers."'') | ||
In the 1869 translation by William Skene <ref>[http://ftp.fortunaty.net/text/sacred-texts/neu/bard/tgp.htm translation of "Y Gododdin"]</ref>, the first verse reads: | |||
In the 1869 translation by William Skene, the first verse reads: | |||
<blockquote> | <blockquote> | ||
Revision as of 07:17, 14 September 2008
Y Gododdin is the earliest known British poem, and is attributed to Aneirin in about 600 CE. The poem describes warriors feasting in a great hall in or near what is now the city of Edinburgh, before setting out to die in a heroic battle against the Saxons from which none returned. ("Never was there such a host/From the fort of Eiddyn,/That would scatter abroad the mounted ravagers.")
In the 1869 translation by William Skene [1], the first verse reads:
- Of manly disposition was the youth,
- Valour had he in the tumult;
- Fleet thick-maned chargers
- Were under the thigh of the illustrious youth;
- A shield, light and broad,
- Was on the slender swift flank,
- A sword, blue and bright,
- Golden spurs, and ermine.
- It is not by me
- That hatred shall be shown to thee;
- I will do better towards thee,
- To celebrate thee in poetic eulogy.
- Sooner hadst thou gone to the bloody bier
- Than to the nuptial feast;
- Sooner hadst thou gone to be food for ravens
- Than to the conflict of spears;
- Thou beloved friend of Owain!
- Wrong it is that he should be under ravens.
- It is evident in what region
- The only son of Marro was killed.