should I desire of my prince the moon as a present, he would certainly bestow it on me.  Thy praise reacheth as far as Lliwelydd, [35b] and Llywarch is the man who celebrates with his songs - - - - - - My praises are not extravagant to thee the prodigy of our age, thou art a prince firm in battle like an elephant.  When thou arrivest at the period of thy glory, when thy praises cease to be celebrated by the Bard and the harp, my brave prince, ere thou comest, before thy last hour approaches, to confess thy sins, after thou hast through thy prowess vanquished thy enemies, mayest thou at last become a glorious saint.

AN ODE

To Llewelyn, the son of Griffydd, last prince of Wales of the British line, composed by Llygad Gwr, about the year 1270.

in five parts.

I.

I address myself to God, the source of joy, the fountain of all good gifts, of transcendent majesty.  Let the song proceed to pay its tribute of praise, to extol my hero, the prince of Arllechwedd, [36a] who is stained with blood, a prince descended from renowned kings.  Like Julius Cæsar is the rapid progress of the arms of Griffydd’s heir.  His valour and bravery are matchless, his crimson lance is stained with gore.  It is natural to him to invade the lands of his enemies.  He is generous, the pillar of princes.  I never return empty-handed from the North.  My successful and glorious prince, I would not exchange on any conditions.  I have a renowned prince, who lays England waste, descended from noble ancestors.  Llewelyn the destroyer of thy foes, the mild and prosperous governor of Gwynedd, Britain’s honour in the field, with thy sceptered hand extended on the throne, and thy gilt sword by thy side.  The lion of Cemmaes, [36b] fierce in the onset, when the army rusheth to be covered with red.  Our defence who slighteth alliance with strangers, who with violence maketh his way through the midst of his enemy’s country.  His just cause will be prosperous at

last.  About Tyganwy [37a] he has extended his dominion, and his enemies fly from him with maimed limbs, and the blood flows over the soles of men’s feet.  Thou dragon of Arfon [37b] of resistless fury, with thy beautiful well-made steeds, no Englishman shall get one foot of thy country.  There is no Cymro thy equal.

II.

There is none equal to my prince with his numerous troops in the conflict of war.  He is a generous Cymro descended from Beli Hir, [37c] if you enquire about his lineage.  He generously distributeth gold and riches.  An heroic wolf from Eryri. [37d]  An eagle among his nobles of matchless prowess; it is our duty to extol him.  He is clad in a golden vest in the army, and setteth castles on fire.  He is the bulwark of the battle with Greidiawl’s [37e] courage.  He is a hero that with fury breaketh whole ranks, and fighteth manfully.  His violence is rapid, his generosity overflowing.  He is the strength of armies arrayed in gold.  He is a brave prince whose territories extend as far as the Teivi, [37f] whom nobody dares to punish.  Llewelyn the vanquisher of England is a noble lion descended from the race of kings.  Thou art the king of the mighty, the entertainer and encourager of Bards.  Thou makest the

crows rejoice, and the Bryneich [38a] to vomit blood, they feasted on their carcases.  He never avoided danger in the storm of battle, he was undaunted in the midst of hardships.  The Bards [38b] prophecy that he shall have the government and sovereign power; every prediction is at last to be fulfilled.  The shields of his men were stained with red in brave actions from Pwlffordd [38c] to the farthest bounds of Cydweli. [38d]  May he find endless joys, and be reconciled to the Son of God, and enjoy Heaven by his side.

III.

We have a prudent prince, his lance is crimson, his shield is shivered to pieces; a prince furious in action, his palace is open to his friends, but woe is the lot of his enemies.  Llewelyn the vanquisher of his adversaries is furious in battle like an outrageous dragon; to be guarded against him availeth not, when he cometh hand to hand to dispute the hardy contest.  May he that made him the happy governor of Gwynedd and its towns, strengthen him for length of years to defend his country from hostile invasion.  It is our joy and happiness that we have a brave warrior with prancing steeds, that we have a noble Cymro, descended from Cambrian ancestors, to rule our country and its borders.  He is the best prince that the Almighty made of the four elements.  He is the

best of governors, and the most generous.  The eagle of Snowdon, and the bulwark of battle.  He pitched a battle where there was a furious contest to obtain his patrimony on Cefn Gelorwydd; [39a] such a battle never happened since the celebrated action of Arderydd. [39b]

He