Geraint filius Erbin
Before Geraint, afflictor of the enemy,
I saw white steeds with fetlocks bloodstained,
and after the battle-cry—grievous death.
Before Geraint, disinheritor of the enemy,
I saw steeds with fetlocks stained from battle,
and after the battle-cry—grievous reflection.
Before Geraint, oppressor of the enemy,
I saw steeds, white their skin,
and after the battle-cry—grievous silence.
At Llongborth I saw wrath
and biers more than many
and men blood-red before the rush of Geraint.
At Llongborth I saw hewing,
men in battle with heads bloodied
before great Geraint, son of his father.
At Llongborth I saw spurs
and men who would not retreat before spears
and drinking wine from bright glass.
At Llongborth I saw the weapons
of men and blood flowing,
and after the battle-cry—grievous burial.
At Llongborth I saw Arthur
(brave men hewed with iron),
emperor, ruler of battle-toil.
At Llongborth were killed Geraint’s
brave men from the Devon lowlands,
but before they were killed, they killed.
Swiftly there ran under Geraint’s thigh
long-legged horses, fed on wheat,
red, with the rush of speckled eagles.
Swiftly there ran under Geraint’s thigh
long-legged horses, grain was theirs,
red, with the rush of black eagles.
Swiftly there ran under Geraint’s thigh
long-legged horses, grain scattering,
red, with the rush of red eagles.
Swiftly there ran under Geraint’s thigh
long-legged horses, grain consuming,
red, with the rush of white eagles.
Swiftly there ran under Geraint’s thigh
long-legged horses, with the leap of a stag,
with the roar of a blaze on a mountain waste.
Swiftly there ran under Geraint’s thigh
long-legged horses, grain greedy,
gray tipped, their hair like silver.
Swiftly there ran under Geraint’s thigh
long-legged horses, deserving grain,
red, with the rush of blue eagles.
Swiftly there ran under Geraint’s thigh
long-legged horses, grain their food,
red, with the rush of gray eagles.
When Geraint was born, open were
the gates of Heaven; Christ gave what was asked—
a noble form, Britain’s glory.