Eryr Pengwern

Eryr Pengwern is the name given to stanzas 40-44 of Canu Heledd, a saga from the ninth century.

The text is from Canu Llywarch Hen, ed. Ifor Williams (Caedydd [Cardiff]: Gwasg Prifysgol Cymru, 1945), 38. The translation is from Welsh Poems: Sixth Century to 1600, tr. Gwyn Williams (Berkeley, CA: University of California, 1974), 21.

Text

Eryr Penngwern penngarn llwyt [heno]

Aruchel y atle[i]s,

Eidic am gic [a gereis].

Eryr Penngwern penngarn llwyt [heno]

Aruchel y euan.

Eidic am gic Kynndylan.

Eryr Penngwern pengarn llwyt [heno]

Aruchel y adaf.

Eidic am gic a garaf.

Eryr Penngwern, pell galwawt heno

Ar waet gwyr gwyla[w]t.

Ry gelwir Trenn tref difawt.

Eryr Penngwern, pell gelwit heno

Ar waet gwyr gwelit.

Ry gelwir Trenn tref lethrit.

Translation

Eagle of Pengwern, grey-crested, tonight

its shriek is high,

eager for flesh I loved.

Eagle of Pengwern, grey-crested, tonight

its call is high,

eager for Cynddylan's flesh.

Eagle of Pengwern, grey-crested, tonight

its claw is high,

eager for flesh I love.

Eagle of Pengwern, it called far tonight,

it kept watch on men's blood;

Trenn shall be called a luckless town.

Eagle of Pengwern, it calls far tonight,

it feasts on men's blood;

Trenn shall be called a shining town.