The busy day-the peaceful night,
Unfelt, uncounted, glided by;

His frame was firm-his powers were bright,
Though now his eightieth year was nigh.

Then with no fiery throbbing pain,

No cold gradations of decay,

Death broke at once the vital chain,

And freed his soul the nearest way.

く

LI.

THE BATTLE OF ARGOED LLYFAIN*.

-WHITEHEAD.

MORNING rose; the issuing sun

Saw the dreadful fight begun;

*The following is a translation of a poem of Taliessin, king of the bards, and is a description of the battle of Argoed Llyfain, fought about the year 548, by Goden, a king of North Britain, and Urien Reged, king of Cambria, against Fflamdwyn, a Saxon general, supposed to be Ida, king of Northumberland. It is inserted in Jones's Historical Account of the Welsh Bards, published in 1784, and is thus introduced by the author: "I am indebted to the obliging disposition, "and undiminished powers of Mr Whitehead, for the fol"lowing faithful and animated versification of this valuable "antique"

This is the last of the great battles of Urien Reged, celebrated by Taliessin, in poems now extant. See Carte's History of England, p. 211. and 213.

And that sun's descending ray

Closed the battle, closed the day.

Fflamdwyn pour'd his rapid bands,
Legions four, o'er Reged's lands.

The numerous host, from side to side,
Spread destruction wild and wide,
From Argoed's summits, forest-crown'd,
To steep Arfynydd's utmost bound.
Short their triumph, short their sway,

Born and ended with the day!

Flush'd with conquest, Fflamdwyn said,

Boastful at his army's head,

"Strive not to oppose the stream,

"Redeem your lands, your lives redeem,

"Give me pledges," Fflamdwyn cried ;

"Never," Urien's son replied.

Line 7th, A part of Cambria, the country of Prince Llywarch Hen, from whence he was driven by the Saxons. Line 8th, Some place on the borders of Northumberland.

Owen, of the mighty stroke,

Kindling, as the hero spoke,

Cenau, Coel's blooming heir,

Caught the flame, and grasp'd the spear:

"Shall Coel's issue pledges give

"To the insulting foe, and live!

"Never such be Briton's shame,

"Never, till this mangled frame

"Like some vanquish'd lion lie,

"Drench'd in blood, and bleeding die."

Day advanced: and ere the sun
Reach'd the radiant point of noon,
Urien came with fresh supplies.

"Rise, ye sons of Cambria, rise!

Line 1st, Owen ap Urien acted as his father's general.' Line 3d, Cenau led to the assistance of Urien Reged, the forces of his father Coel Godhebog, king of a northern tract called Godden, probably inhabited by the Godini of Ptolemy. Owen Ap Urien, and Cenau ap Coel, were in the number of Arthur's knights. See Lewis's History of Britain, p. 201.

10

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;

"Fflamdwyn never can sustain

"The force of our united train."

Havoc, havoc raged around,

Many a carcase strew'd 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 are Taliessin's rhymes,

These shall live to distant times,