{111c} This appears to have been the compact entered into by the
different tribes of the Britons, for the purpose of withstanding the
usurpation of the common foe. See line 32.
{111d} "Ermygei," which might also, and perhaps more literally, be
rendered _he paid respect to_. The other reading "dirmygei," would mean
_he spurned_, or _dishonoured_.
{111e} "Blaen Gwynedd," the borders of North Wales, whither the Saxon
encroachment had already extended.
{112a} "Fawd ut," i.e. ffawddyd, from ffawdd, radiation, splendour. We
may also render the sentence as follows,--
"I fell by the radiant rampart, (ffin)"
the epithet _radiant_ having a reference to the arms of the soldiers.
{112b} Or, as a moral reflection,--
"A hero's prowess is not without ambition."
There are various readings of the word which is here translated
_prowess_, e.g. cobnet, colwed, eofned, but all of them are capable of
that construction, thus "cobnet" comes from _cobiaw_, to thump, "colwed,"
from _col_ a sting, or a prop, whilst "eofned" literally means
fearlessness.
{112c} In Maelderw's stanzas thus,--
"When all went up, thou didst go down."