The Nightingale
DAFYDD AP GWILYM
Madog ap Gruffudd, heir of the woods,
you are master of fine praise, bright weapon of metre,
promoter of Mordaf or Rhydderch,
4 plane of sense and love,
you were more skilled than any other,
tuning-string of all skilfulness.
You came to Dafydd ap Gwilym
8 with strong free-flowing praise.
Do you remember at all our companionship
and our complaint about the dear birch-grove?
I fear that the Jealous One
12 (a curse on him!) has despoiled it
without fighting or killing or burning,
with his pick and his shovel-damn his rapaciousness!
MADOG BENFRAS
There is no need for you to grieve
16 for any tree or birch in the world
whilst God leaves the holly-bush.
No man will burn it or strip its leaves,
and whatever bad weather comes
20 it will never be bare or limp or withered.
DAFYDD AP GWILYM
You would complain, indeed, most bitterly
if what happened to me (my keen anger)
happened to you, world's terror,
24 fearful blow to my great distress.
I had no delight
or solace (wicked greed)
or song on a fine bright birchtree
28 except the pretty bright grey-coloured nightingale.
A man from my country caused it
to be indicted so that it went to you.
Take good note of it if you see it,
32 bold weaver of metre in a strong fort.
Amorously she sings beneath the leaves
a fine psalm under a helmet of branches.
Exile, gentle promise,
36 good piper in a secluded glade,
lovers' mass-bell,
clear, sweet and fair is its voice.
Its pre-eminent song is resonant
40 on the tip of the green branch,
love's morning singer, refined girl,
pure black face above tables of thorns;
Cuhelyn's sister, lovely little creature,
44 mistress of the organs of Maestran,
a whistle six times more fluent
than a hundred others, it sings from the treble string.
When she went she did not leave
48 in Gwynedd (it gets ever worse),
a single love-messenger, none was better,
the little thief with the grey tail.
MADOG BENFRAS
May all those who indicted it
52 be put on the pillory
in Eutun Woods for all time,
so be it, amen!
DAFYDD AP GWILYM
May it stay as long as it wishes in the region,
56 there to spend Christmas.
Wherever it is will be most pleasant.
Fine gittern, God save it!