Page:Le Morte d'Arthur - Volume 1.djvu/24

Rh The next manuscript to be mentioned is one of approximately the same data as the last-mentioned: I allude to the Book of Taliessin, where an obscure poem occurs, headed Kat Godeu. There, near the end, we have the following couplet:

Another allusion to Arthur in the Book of Taliessin runs thus :—

Who the Heilyn mentioned here was does not appear, but he may be supposed to have been a priest or a bard.

Other references to Arthur occur in the Book of Taliessin, but the most important by far is the poem known as Preiddeu Annwfn, or the Harryings of Hades, which I subjoin, so far as it is in point, with an attempt to translate into English, as follows:—

Golychaf wledic pendeuic gwlat ri. py ledas y pennaeth dros traeth mundi. bu kyweir karchar gweir ygkaer sidi. trwy ebostol pwyll aphryderi. Neb kyn noc ef nyt aeth idi yr gadwyn tromlas kywirwas ae ketwi. A rac preideu annwfyn tost yt gent. Ac yt urawt parahawt yn bard ivedi. Tri lloneit prytwen yd aetham ni idi. nam seith ny dyrreith o goer sidi.

I adore the noble prince and high king Who extended his sway over the world’s strand. Perfect was the captivity of Gwair in Caer Sidi, Through the warning of Pwyll and Pryderi.