ence the reason why Aneurin uses the expressions "Gwyr a aeth
Gattraeth," and "Gwyr a aeth Gododin," as synonymous.

The enemies, as before observed, were the Saxons, aided on this occasion
by many of the Lloegrians, namely, such of the natives as had submitted
to their sway in the provinces they had already conquered. They
concentrated their forces in Gododin, and marched westward in the
direction of the great fence, where the Britons were awaiting them.
Aneurin has not thought fit to record the names of any of their generals,
with the single exception of Dyvnwal Vrych, {7a} who, to entitle him to
that distinction, must have figured prominently on the field of battle.

The engagement commenced on a Tuesday, and continued for a whole week,
the last four days being the most bloody. {7b} For some time both
parties fought gallantly, and with almost equal success; fortune perhaps
upon the whole appearing to favour the Cymry, who not only slew a vast
number of their adversaries, but partially succeeded in recovering their
lost dominions. {7c} At this critical juncture a dwarfish herald arrived
at the fence, proposing on the part of the Saxons a truce or compact,
which, however, was indignantly rejected by the natives, and the action
renewed. {7d} The scales now rapidly turned. In one part of the field
such a terrible carnage ensued, that there was but one man left to scare
away the birds of prey, which hovered over the carcases of the slain.
{7e} In another, where our Bard was stationed, a portion of the allied
army, owing to the absence of its general, became panic stricken. {7f}
Aneurin was taken prisoner, hurried off to a cave or dungeon, and loaded
with chains. {7g} At length a conference was submitted to, which was
held at a place called Llanveithin, at which Aneurin, who had been
forcibly liberated by one of the sons of Llywarch Hen, insisted upon the
restoration of part of Gododin, or the alternative of continuing the
fight. The Saxon herald met the proposal by killing the British Bard
Owain, who was of course unarmed. {7h} Such a violation of privilege
excited then the whole energies of the Cymry, who rose as one man, and
gave the entire scene a more bloody character than it had yet presented.

Victory, however, at length proclaimed in favour of the usurpers, and so
decisively, that out of the three hundred and sixty three chieftains that
went to the field of Cattraeth, three only returned alive, Cynon, and