The Roebuck
You roebuck with fleeing haunch,
sky-flier with grey-white leggings,
take this swift and refined letter
4 on your bare rump for the sake of God in heaven.
With your leaping breast you are the fastest
messenger, sweet singer.
By God, roebuck, I must ask
8 you to do the work of a love-messenger for me.
Lair of heather above the white rock,
the untamed head grazes on meadow grass.
Fine courteous requester of payment,
12 leaper of the hillside, his antler is sharp.
He leaps like a bare-rumped lamb
up the slope, fair is his face and nostril.
My fine servant, you will not be betrayed,
16 no dogs will kill you, tall fair baron.
Praiseworthy destination, don't let any greyhound
catch you after heat.
You are my noble-natured love-messenger
20 and my poet to fair noble Dyddgu.
Take this journey to her father's house,
you lovely trotter.
Don't fear a sharp arrow,
24 nor any pursuing dog if you get a chance to leap.
Watch out for Pali, the red-legged dog,
and Iolydd, the bronze-red dog.
If what sounds like the cry of hunting dogs
28 comes after you to the land of Tywyn
make for the bog, chooser of hindrance,
have resort to Ovid's method.
Jump over an old gap
32 to the open field and don't linger any longer.
You who have ever been foster son of the fair trees of the
glen,
slim-legged one, demand a kiss.
Beware, don't let yourself be seen,
36 run over hill to a clump of ferns.
Come by night past the ditches
under the branches of the forest and its trees
with a kiss for me, the straight-backed girl won't disappoint
me,
40 [from] Dyddgu the colour of snowflakes with bright plaits.
Make for that place, you splendid roebuck,
where I would love, where I long to be.
No hand will skin you, be well and carefree,
44 your coat will not clad an old Englishman,
nor your antlers, my dear one, nor your hooves,
and the false Jealous One will not have your flesh.
May God, wise guardian,
48 and Cynfelyn's arm keep you from treachery.
I too, if I live to be old,
will bless you, hip-coloured face.