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The Praise of Urien
Dadolwch Uryen, sometimes translated as 'The Satisfaction of Urien', describes the reunion of Taliesin with his most beloved patron, Urien, after an imagined separation. The word dadolwch, a derivative of W. golwch 'praise' (which also appears in diolch 'thanks'), was used in the later Middle Ages to refer to a poem sung by a bard in order to regain the favour of his patron and its basic meaning today is 'appeasement' or 'reconciliation'. Here, however, there is little to suggest a loss of favour and the poem merely seems to be expressing the bard's loyalty to his generous patron.
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Lleuuyd echassaf, mi nyw dirmygaf Uryen a gyrchaf, idaw yt ganaf Pan del vy gwaessaf, kynnwys a gaffaf A'r parth goreuhaf y dan eilassaf Nyt mawr ym dawr byth gweheleith a welaf Nyt af attadunt, ganthunt ny bydaf Ny chyrchaf i Gogled armei teyrned Kyn pei am lawered y gwnelwn gynghwystled Nyt reit ym hoffed, Uryen ny gomed Lloyfenyd tired, ys meu eu reufed Ys meu y gwyled, ys meu y llared Ys meu y delideu ae gorefrasseu Med o vualeu, a da dieisseu Gan teyrn goreu, haelaf rygigleu Teyrned pob ieith yt oll yd ynt geith Ragot yt gwynir, ys dir dy oleith Kyt ef mynasswn gweyhelu henwn Nyt oed well a gerwn kyn ys gwybydwn Weithon y gwelaf y meint a gaffaf Many y Duw uchaf nys dioferaf Dy teyrn veibon, haelaf dynedon Wy kanan eu hyscyrron yn tired eu galon |
Most valiant chief, I will not slight him Uryen I will seek, to him I will sing When my warrant comes, welcome shall I receive And the best place under the chieftain I care not much what [bidding I get] I will not go to them, I will not be with them I will repair to the North at the beck of the princes Though it were for much that I gave a pledge I need not reckon it, Uryen will not refuse me The lands of Llwyfenydd, mine is their wealth Mine is their courtesy, mine is their bounteousness Mine are their feasts and their luxuries Mead out of horns and good things without stint From the best prince, the most generous I have heard of The princes of all nations are all thrall to thee In thy advance there is wailing, thou must be evaded Though I had wished it ... There was none I love better before I knew him Now that I see how much I obtain I will no more foreswear him than the most high God Thy princely sons, most generous men Get their booty in the lands of their foes. |
~ J. Morris-Jones (1918) Taliesin