Page:The Siege of Valencia.pdf/315



The Gorseddau, or meetings of the British bards, were anciently ordained to be held in the open air, on some conspicuous situation, whilst the sun was above the horizon; or, according to the expression employed on these occasions, "in the face of the sun, and in the eye of light" The places set apart for this purpose were marked out by a circle of stones, called the circle of federation. The presiding bard stood on a large stone, (Maen Gorsedd, or the stone of assembly), in the centre. The sheathing of a sword upon this stone was the ceremony which announced the opening of a Gorsedd, or meeting. The bards always stood in their uni-coloured robes, with their heads and feet uncovered, within the circle of federation.—See 's Translation of the Heroic Elegies of Llywarc Hen.

met our bards of old?—the glorious throng, They of the mountain and the battle-song? They met—oh! not in kingly hall or bower, But where wild Nature girt herself with power: They met—where streams flash'd bright from rocky caves, They met—where woods made moan o'er warriors' graves,