ld Age.)

The mention made of Aeron in the foregoing stanza naturally led the Bard
to speak in this of a chieftain connected therewith.

{170a} Were it not for the anachronism we should be induced to regard
this lady as none other than Elen the daughter of Eudav, prince of Erging
and Euas, and wife of Macsen Wledig; heroine also of a Romance entitled
"The Dream of Macsen Wledig." As Macsen, however, is known to have been
put to death as early as the year 388, Elen's life could not possibly
have been so protracted as to enable her to take a part in the battle of
Cattraeth.

{170b} "Dieis." Al. "her thrusts were penetrating."

{171a} "Meiwyr," men of the field. Al. "Meinir," the slender maid,
which might refer to the daughter of Eudav.

{171b} The Gorchan Maelderw clearly indicates that the fire was kindled
in the presence of the army, and not for religious purposes before the
Deity.

{171c} This stanza explains the expression used in line 116. Seven
days, then, we may suppose, formed the whole space of time during which
the events related in the Gododin occurred. The action of Homer's Iliad
occupied nearly fifty days.

{171d} The daily operations are somewhat differently stated in the
fragments of the Gododin, which are appended to "Gorchan Maelderw."
There they are as follows,--

"On Tuesday they put on their splendid robes;
On Wednesday bitter was their assembly;
On Thursday messengers formed contracts;
On Friday there was slaughter;
On Saturday they dealt mutual blows;
On Sunday they were pierced by ruddy weapons;
On Monday a pool of blood knee deep was seen."

{172a} See lines 27, &c. It would appear as if the three lines at the
end of the stanza were appended to it by some compiler, merely on account
of their uniformity of rhyme.

{172b} Lit, "At the early arising morn," or "quickly rising in the
morning."

{172c} "Aber;" the junction of rivers; the fall of a lesser river into a
greater, or into the sea. By metaphor, a port or harbour.

{172d} Or more definitely,--"Occurred the battle of Aber in front of the
course."

{172e} Or "a breach was made, and the knoll was pervaded with fire."

{172f} The stanza is imperfect, which accounts for the omission of the
hero's name. From the Gorchan Maelderw we would infer that he was Gwair
one of the three "taleithiawg cad," or coronetted chiefs of battle.
(Myv. Arch. ii. 12.)

{172g} Probably, the valuables