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

264
The Bard proceeds to describe the expedient of arming
these trees, or plants, to the munber of twenty-four or,
five; to discriminate between their several dispositions^ and
the various talents tliey exerted ; to inform us_, that some of
them came forward vohnitarily, and joined the battle, when
others were armed with diihculty, and after a long interval.
In this part of the piece, the metaphors are sometimes
Ijroken, so as to admit a few rays of light, between the
chinks. The Bard is, at one moment, gravely engaged 'n\
arming his trees; the next, he touches upon the subject, as
a magical device, — a system of symbols, an invention of
Givyddion, or the Sages ; and he occasionally hints,,
that this invention, or device^ Λvas of the highest anti-r
qiiity.
A'm swynwys sx'wydd
Sywyddon, cyn \>yi\.
'^ I was marked by the Sage
Of Sages, in the primitive Avorld."
We have, afterward<j some account of the armies oi thesp
Vfpetable leaders.
Pedwar ugein cant
A gweint, ar eu chAvant :
Nid ynt hyn, nid ynt iau
No mi, yn eu banau.
i* Tour-score hundred
Arranged themselves, at their pleasure
Tiiey are neither older nor younger
Than myself, in their articulations"