not divided. The third version
appears in a book containing a variety of poems and articles in prose, of
which, however, the writer or copyist is not known, though one "Davydd
Thomas" is mentioned in a poor modern hand as being the owner. Our poem
is therein headed "Y Gododin. Aneurin ae cant. Gyda nodau y Parchedig
Evan Evans." These "nodau" are marginal notes, and evidently the
different readings of another version.

The different copies or versions used are distinguished as follow;--

Myvyrian 1 E. Evans 5
D. Ellis 2 P. Panton 6
Ditto 3 E. Davies 7
D. Thomas 4 Dr. Meyer 8

Nos 1 and 6 are those which are printed in the Archaiology of Wales, vol.
i. All words that differ in form or meaning, though not in orthography,
from those of No. 7, are duly arranged at the foot of the page {0l}, from
which it will be seen that 1, 2, 3, 5, generally agree one with the
other, whilst 4 and 6 also for the most part go together.

It is to be observed, moreover, that though we have taken No. 7 as our
text, we have not servilely confined ourself to it, but that wherever any
of the other versions have been considered preferable, we have
unhesitatingly adopted them. The different meanings, however, are
generally inserted in the notes.

INTRODUCTION

The country situate between the Humber and the Clyde in North Britain
was, for the most part, originally occupied by the Cymry, who here, as
well as in the west, displayed no mean valour in opposition to the Roman
arms. The latter certainly prevailed; nevertheless it is to be noticed
that they did not finally destroy, nor indeed to any material extent
alter the national features of Prydyn. This is evident from the manner
in which the conquerors thought fit to incorporate into their own
geographical vocabulary many of the local names, which they found already
in use; and above all from the purely ancestral character which the
native chieftains exhibited on emerging from the Roman ruins in the fifth
century. Indeed to permit the defeated princes, under certain
restrictions, to enjoy their former rights and jurisdictions, was
perfectly in accordance with the usual policy of the Romans, as we may
learn from the testimony of Tacitus, who remarks, in reference to the
British king Cogidunus, that they granted to him certain states according
to ancient custom, and the reason assigned is that they might have even
kings a