Blair Collection > Celtic researches, on the origin, traditions & language, of the ancient Britons

259
The word g^ydd, when plural, signifies fr^is; if singu-
lar, a sage, ox philosopher.
From this passage, it becomes the main business of the
poem, though interspersed with mysterious hints, to describe
the allegory of arming the symbolical trees, or plants, and
bringing them out, in order of battle. The device is not
without sublimity, though of rather a wild and singular cast; —
but this poem is not the only piece, which touches upon
the subject.
There is an senigmutical account, of the same battle, in
the first volume of the Welsh Afchaology, P. 167, to which
I refer the Reader for the original : the following is a
literal translation.
*' The history of thfe battle of the trees"—
*' These are the versicles which Λvere sung, at the battle
of the trees, or, as others call it, the battle of Achren, [I.
Crann, a tree; whence, cranchar, ά lot, or token, i.e. a
tender tree, or sprig.'] It happened, on a<!'count of a white
roebuck, and a xvhelp, which came from the lower region,
and were taken by Amathaon^' [from Math, kind, species,
and honi, to discriminate,'] " the son of Don," [genius. 'I
*' For this reason, Amathaon, the son of Don, engaged
mux Arazuu," [eloquence, the facidti/ of speech,] " king of
the lower region."
" And there was a man, in the battle, who could not be
conquered, till his name was known: and, on the other
side, there Λvas a w^man, called Achren, [a tree,] whose
party could not be overcome, till her name was discovered.
R 2.