Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, ed. Poems of Places: An Anthology in 31 Volumes.
England: Vols. I–IV. 1876–79.
The Battle of Argoed Llwyfain
By Taliesin (c. 534–c. 599)M
Saw the dreadful fight begun;
And that sun’s descending ray
Closed the battle, closed the day.
Legions four, o’er Reged’s lands.
The numerous host from side to side
Spread destruction wild and wide,
From Argoed’s summits, forest-crowned,
To steep Arfynydd’s utmost bound.
Short their triumph, short their sway,
Born and ended with the day!
Boastful at his army’s head,
“Strive not to oppose the stream,
Redeem your lands, your lives redeem.
Give me pledges,” Fflamddwyn cried;
“Never,” Urien’s son replied,
Owen of the mighty stroke:
Kindling, as the hero spoke,
Cenau, Coel’s blooming heir,
Caught the flame, and grasped the spear.
To the insulting foe, and live?
Never such be Briton’s shame,
Never, till this mangled frame
Like some vanquished lion lie
Drenched in blood, and bleeding die.”
Reached the radiant point of noon,
Urien came with fresh supplies.
“Rise, ye sons of Cambria, rise,
Spread your banners to the foe,
Spread them on the mountain’s brow,
Lift your lances high in air,
Friends and brothers of the war,
Rush like torrents down the steep,
Through the vales in myriads sweep,
Fflamddwyn never can sustain
The force of our united train.”
Many a carcass strewed the ground:
Ravens drank the purple flood,
Raven plumes were dyed in blood;
Frighted crowds from place to place
Eager, hurrying, breathless, pale,
Spread the news of their disgrace,
Trembling as they told the tale.
These shall live to distant times,
And the Bard’s prophetic rage
Animate a future age.
Child of sorrow, child of pain,
Never may I smile again,
If till all-subduing death
Close these eyes, and stop this breath,
Ever I forgot to raise
My grateful songs to Urien’s praise!