Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, ed. Poems of Places: An Anthology in 31 Volumes.
England: Vols. I–IV. 1876–79.
The Lament of Llywarch
By Llywarch Hên (6th century)
T
When she has fled from the pursuit of the Hawk,
And condoles with me at the waters of Ciog.
It is the season when heroes hasten to the field of war:
But I cannot go; infirmity will not suffer me.
Of the strong-scented hounds in the desert:
Again the birds are heard to warble.
The moon shines out; it is the cold hour of midnight;
And my heart droops under its lingering cares.
And dash from rock to rock?
O my weak heart! may my senses be granted me to-night!
Before I used a staff, I was comely and eloquent:
I was a free and welcome guest in the palace
Of Powys, the paradise of Wales.
My spear was of the largest size; its thrust was terrible:
But now my years are many; I am feeble, I am miserable.
The furrows are red, and the tender blades spring forth:
Thou art to me instead of my lost kindred, when I look upon thy beak.
And I will arm myself with my shield.
My mind must be disordered ere I give way.
Blow thou the horn which I gave thee,
Whose mouth is tipped with gold.
Blood streamed from his hair
On the bank of the rapid Ffraw.
When they singled out their adversaries,
Pyll rushed with the violence of flames through the streams of Llifon.
He halted at the door of his tent,
The wife of Pyll gloried in her husband.
Thou hadst no roof to cover thee,
But didst traverse, cold, the banks of Morlas.
My thoughts are bloody because thou art slain:
Relentless was he that slew thee.
Thou wert the attack of an eagle
At the mouths of mighty rivers.
Since this fatal deed has been perpetrated!
Alas! my Gwên! in my trembling age have I lost thee.
He was the nephew of Urien.
He was slain by the Ford of Morlas.
All leaders of armies, all decked with the golden torques:
Gwên was the bravest of them all.
All princely chiefs, all decked with chains of gold.
But compared with Gwên, the rest were children.
The favorites of bards;
And fair is their renown.