That as many as
300 commanders should issue from Eiddin, can only be explained on the
supposition that, because of its proximity to Cattraeth, it formed the
principal station of the allied forces.

{108d} Lit. "golden kings wearing chains." The manner in which the
greater and lesser numbers are placed in juxtaposition (lines 184-187)
makes it very probable that the latter designate the commanders of the
troops there mentioned. And we may well suppose that the statement from
line 188 to line 191 is a mere continuation of the character of the
"three bold knights."

{108e} _Lead_, being heavy, answers to "trwm" in the preceding line.

{108f} A reference to the armour of the soldiers.

{109a} Or "who were Brython." The Brython were the third "social tribe
of the Isle of Britain," who "came from the land of Llydaw, and were
descended from the primitive tribe of the Cymry," (Triad 5, third
series.) Being the third principal tribe that settled in Britain, it is
probable that their original inheritance was Alban, one of the "three
principal provinces of the Isle of Britain," (See Triad 2) which they
must have occupied prior to the time of Prydain the son of Aedd Mawr.
Dunbarton is Dun Bretton, i.e. Dinas y Brython.

{109b} Cynon was the son of Clydno Eiddin, and one of the three
counselling warriors of Arthur.

"Tri chyngoriad varchawg llys Arthur; Cynon ab Clydno Eiddin, Arawn
ab Cynvarch, a Llywarch Hen ab Elidyr Lydanwyn." (Triad 86, first
series.)

He was also one of the "three ardent lovers," on account of his passion
for Morvydd, daughter of Urien Rheged.

"Tri serchawg Ynys Prydain; Caswallawn mab Beli am Flur merch Fugnach
Gorr, a Thrystan mab Tallwch am Essyllt gwreig March Meirchiawn ei
ewythr, a Chynon ab Clydno Eiddun am Forwydd verch Urien." (Tr. 53.)

Cynon ab Clydno Eiddin was educated at the college of Llancarvan, and is
said to have answered one of the seven questions proposed by Cattwg
Ddoeth, the President, as follows,--

"Pa gamp decav ar ddyn?
Atteb. Cyweirdeb." (Cynan ab Clydno Eiddin ai dywawd.)

What is man's fairest quality?
Answer. Sincerity.

His grave is recorded in the Englynion y Beddau. (Myv. Arch. vol i. p.
79.)

{109c} We adopt this as a proper name, because it makes up the number
three. A person of that name is mentioned in the following stanza;--

"A glywaist ti chwedl Cynrain,
Pen cyngor Ynys Prydain,
Gw