This poem, though not absolutely the earliest in point of date, is the
longest of the numerous poems produced among the Kymry of the north of
England during the sixth and seventh centuries. Two translations have
already appeared in English; one by the Rev. Edward Davies, the author
of _Celtic Researches_, and the other by a gentleman named Probert. Of
these the latter, though very imperfect and extremely defective, is the
only one which an English reader should consult; the version given by
Davies is only a very ingenious misrepresentation. The poem has no more
reference to Hengist than it has to the man-in-the-moon; and GOMER
might have suspected that a version which, without rule or reason,
deprived historic personages of their reality, could not have been
correct. _Every proper name mentioned in the Gododin may be shown
without any alteration to be those of persons living between 577 and
642._ The proof of this assertion, when carefully examined, is all but
overwhelming; but here I can only cite a few of the most tangible facts.
The design of the poem is thus described by the bard himself:--
"O ved O vuelin,
O Gattraeth werin,
Mi a na vi Aneurin
Ys gwyr Taliesin,
Oveg cyvrenhin
Neu cheing Ododin
Cyn gwawr dydd dilin."