Notes

GDG 1

This poem, which takes the form of an awdl, addresses a Crucifix whose location is not revealed. Judas's betrayal is mentioned as is Christ's passion. Although the poem is not used as a vehicle for personal devotion Christ's blessings to mankind are readily acknowledged.

The awdl opens with an englyn unodl union followed by a sequence of 19 toddaid. The word byd links the last line of the englyn with the first line of the first toddaid, and Siesus in the last toddaid links with Iesu in the opening line.

The awdl is extant in 38 copies and the general agreement in readings suggest that they ultimately derive from the same common source. However, the correspondence between the copies does not extend to line order. The awdl was recorded in its entirety in BM 29, Pen 64, Pen 312, G 4, NLW 872 and Ll 47 which were all copied during the second half of the 16th c. and the early years of the 17th. Four toddaid couplets are absent in H 26 and M 146 which otherwise follow the same line order, and four are also absent in Gw 25 (but those omitted in H 26 / M 146 and Gw 25 do not match exactly). Thomas Parry's edited version does not correspond to any of the known manuscript versions in line order.

The poem is attributed to Dafydd ap Gwilym in most copies but uncertainty as regards authorship was evident from an early stage; the piece is not attributed to any poet in Pen 312 and Simwnt Fychan noted in his copy in Pen 64 'Annwybod ym' (Unknown to me). Llywelyn Siôn of Glamorganshire attributed the awdl in his two copies to Gruffudd Llwyd (Ll 47 and C 5.44) although Gruffudd's most recent editor, Dr Rhiannon Ifans, declined to argue in favour of his authorship, see GGLl 79 (footnote 16). Thomas Parry was well aware of the contrasting manuscript evidence but did not share this information with his readers in GDG.

The manuscript evidence casts doubt on the validity of the attribution to Dafydd ap Gwilym. T. D. Crawford also expressed his misgivings; he listed in EC xxvii (1990), 301–36, ten stylistic features which are not characteristic of Dafydd ap Gwilym's awdlau.

4. pumoes byd   For further references to the five ages of the world, see GPC 2928; GIBH 8.8n.

25. naw   Lewys Morgannwg also suggests that Christ was captured in Gethsemane by a group which numbered nine, see GLMorg 101.24n.