Cad Goddeau – The Battle of the Trees, originally from the Book of Taliesin by Gwion

[Taikunping avatar ~ Julie Parry]

 Winter Trees – Julie

The tops of the beech tree have sprouted of late,
Are changed and renewed from their withered state.

When the beech prospers, though spells and litanies
The oak tops entangle, there is hope for trees.

I have plundered the fern, through all secrets I spy,
Old Math ap Mathonwy knew no more than I.

For with nine sorts of faculty God has gifted me,
I am fruit of fruits gathered from nine sorts of tree–

Plum, quince, whortle, mulberry, respberry, pear,
Black cherry and white, with the sorb in me share.

From my seat at Fefynedd, a city that is strong,
I watched the trees and green things hastening along.

Retreating from happiness they would fein be set
In forms of the chief letters of the alphabet.

Wayfarers wandered, warriors were dismayed
At renewal of conflicts such as Gwydion made;

Under the tongue root a fight most dread,
And another raging, behind, in the head.

The alders in the front line began the affray.
Willow and rowan-tree were tardy in array.

The holly, dark green, made a resolute stand;
He is armed with many spear-points wounding the hand.

With foot-beat of the swift oak heaven and earth rung;
“Stout Guardian of the Door”, his name in every tongue.

Great was the gorse in battle, and the ivy at his prime;
The hazel was arbiter at this charmed time.

Uncouth and savage was the fir, cruel the ash tree–
Turns not aside a foot-breadth, straight at the heart runs he.

The birch, though very noble, armed himself but late:
A sign not of cowardice but of high estate.

The heath gave consolation to the toil-spent folk,
The long-enduring poplars in battle much broke.

Some of them were cast away on the field of fight
Because of holes torn in them by the enemy’s might.

Very wrathful was the vine whose henchmen are the elms;
I exalt him mightily to rulers of realms.

Strong chieftains were the blackthorn with his ill fruit,
The unbeloved whitethorn who wears the same suit.

The swift-pursuing reed, the broom with his brood,
And the furse but ill-behaved until he is subdued.

The dower-scattering yew stood glum at the fight’s fringe,
With the elder slow to burn amid fires that singe.

And the blessed wild apple laughing in pride
From the Gorchan of Maeldrew, by the rock side.

In shelter linger privet and woodbine,
Inexperienced in warfare, and the courtly pine.

But I, although slighted because I was not big,
Fought, trees, in your array on the field of Goddeu Brig.

 

The above poem, an early Celtic work of great antiquity also known as “The
Battle of the Trees,” was originally composed by Gwion and is found in
the Book of Taliesin, a Thirteenth Century Welsh manuscript. The work
documents a battle between Arawn, King of Annwfn and a ploughman named
Amaethon. The hostilities ostensibly arose through an act of theft
committed by Amaethon. The crux of the poem centers on the use of a
magical staff which transforms trees into fighting men and is believed
to be the recordation of the powers ascribed to the trees at that time.

There are many varied
translations of the original version…the one which appears here was
taken from “The White Goddess” by Robert Graves.

***

The White Goddess: a Historical Grammar of Poetic Myth is a book-length essay on the nature of poetic myth-making by the English writer Robert Graves. First published in 1948, the book is based on earlier articles published in Wales magazine; corrected, revised and enlarged editions appeared in 1948, 1952 and 1961. The White Goddessrepresents an approach to the study of mythology from a decidedly creative and idiosyncratic perspective. Graves proposes the existence of a European deity, the "White Goddess of Birth, Love and Death", much similar to the Mother Goddess, inspired and represented by the phases of the Moon, who lies behind the faces of the diverse goddessesof various European and pagan mythologies.^[1]

Graves argues that "true" or "pure" poetry is inextricably linked with the ancient cult-ritual of his proposed White Goddess and of her son.

wikipedia

[ënagualí~ᏉL𝐀ᗪἇ ኔጡ።]

Not read this before so thanks for something new to me..however the picture on the frount of the book with the 3 flying geese & the 3 sisters & the snake etc I have seen that before,but not sure exactly where now..

[Taikunping avatar ~ Julie Parry]

As trees seem important to us both I recalled posting this piece on FOL so shared it here just in case you hadn't come across it before Vlada