GORWYNION Y GAUAV. THE BRILLIANCIES OF WINTER. Last of flowers, in tufts around Red, through leaves of glossy green. Brightly, as on rocks they leap, Shine the sea-waves, white with spray; Brightly, where the torrents bound, Bright the hearth, where feast and song Spring to purple conflict calls Swords that shine on Winter's walls. Llywarch's song was applauded, as presenting a series of images with which all present were familiar, and which were all of them agreeable. Merlin sang some verses of the poem which is called AVALLENAU MYRDDIN. MERLIN'S APPLE-TREES. Fair the gift to Merlin given, On a green hill-slope that lies Just beneath, the pure stream flows; Lovely green their leaves in spring; Gloyad, nymph with tresses bright, Him, whose keen-edged sword no more War has raged on vale and hill : That fair grove was peaceful still. There have chiefs and princes sought Solitude and tranquil thought: There have kings, from courts and throngs, Turned to Merlin's wild-wood songs. Now from echoing woods I hear Lovely trees, that long alone Well I know, when years have flown, Then again shall flowers and fruit On my new-born apple-trees. This song was heard with much pleasure, especially by those of the audience who could see, in the imagery of the apple-trees, a mystical type of the doctrines and fortunes of Druidism, to which Merlin was suspected of being secretly attached, even under the very nose of St. David. Aneurin sung a portion of his poem on the battle of Cattraeth; in which he shadowed out the glory of Vortimer the weakness of Vortigern, the fascinations of Rowena, the treachery of Hengist, and the vengeance of Emrys. THE MASSACRE OF THE BRITONS. Sad was the day for Britain's land, A day of ruin to the free, When Gorthyn* stretched a friendly hand But not in pride the Saxon trod, Nor force nor fraud oppressed the brave, Closed o'er the blessed hero's grave.‡ The twice-raised monarch § drank the charm, Keen spear, strong shield, and burnished blade. "Come to the feast of wine and mead," Hard by the sacred temple's site, * Gwrtheyrn: Vortigern. + Hengist and Horsa. Gwrthevyr: Vortimer: who drove the Saxons out of Britain. § Vortigern who was, on the death of his son Vortimer, restored to the throne from which he had been deposed. Ronwen: Rowena. ¶ Hengist. The sacred ground, where chiefs of yore The solemn pledge of safety bore, And breathed not of the treacherous sword. The amber wreath his temples bound; None but the noblest of the land, The flower of Britain's chiefs, were there : Three hundred chiefs, three score and three, Before the dweller of the sea: They went; and three alone returned. Till dawn the pale sweet mead they quaffed: His hand was on his dagger's haft, And through the throng he cleft his way, And hundreds hurried to the fray, From towns, and vales, and mountains high. But Britain's best blood dyed the floor Within the treacherous Saxon's hall; Of all, the golden chain who wore, Then clashed the sword; then pierced the lance; Even as the flame consumes the wood, The spoilers from the fane he drove ; He hurried to the rock-built tower, Where the base king,† in mirth and love, * Eidiol or Emrys: Emrys Wledig: Ambrosius. † Vortigern and Rowena. The storm of arms was on the gate, So swift, that ere they feared their fate, They died for them no Briton grieves; And time the avenging day brought round Was reared on Caer-y-Cynan's height. The song of Aneurin touched deeply on the sympathies of the audience, and was followed by a grand martial symphony, in the midst of which Taliesin appeared in the Circle of Bards. King Arthur welcomed him with great joy, and sweet smiles were showered upon him from all the beauties of the court. Taliesin answered the metrical and mystical questions to the astonishment of the most proficient; and, advancing, in his turn, to the front of the circle, he sang a portion of a poem which is now called HANES TALIESIN, The History of Taliesin; but which shall be here entitled THE CAULDRON OF CERIDWEN. * Hengist. |