The Misfortunes of Elphin

THE MISFORTUNES OF ELPHIN

on the Hydaspes. œAinsi conquesta Bacchus l’Inde,B [thus Bacchus conquered India] as Rabelais has it.

CHAPTER IV 9 The basket of Gwythno Garanhir was actually one of the thirteen precious things in Britain.

10 Ochenaid Gwyddnau Garanhir Pan dross y don dros ei dir.

CHAPTER V 11 a small boat of basketwork, sheathed with leather.

12 Mor drist ac Elffin pan gavod Taliesin.]

CHAPTER VI 13 From the Cambro-Briton, II (March 1821), p. 293; the next reference, from the Triads of Poetry, comes from ibid., I (November 1820), p. 100; the triad for Chapter IX: ibid., I (April 1820), p. 284; the triad for Chapter XII: ibid, II (1821), p. 387; the triad for Chapter XIV: ibid., p. 291; the triad for Chapter XV, ibid.

14 This is also constitutes the maxim for Part II of Peacock’s Memoirs of Percy Bysshe Shelley.

15an eidouranion is an orrery, a mechanical device for representing the motion of heavenly bodies.]

16Snowdon.]

17B.G. VI, XVI. a fuller note will be added later. CHAPTER VII 18 Spenser, The Faerie Queen, VI. VII,

XXXIX

19 Who went to rape Lucretia. a fuller note will be added later.

CHAPTER IX 20 This poem has little or nothing of Taliesin’s Canu y Gwynt, with the exception of the title. That poem is apparently a fragment; and, as it now stands, is an incoherent and scarcely intelligent rhapsody. It con-

121

THOMAS LOVE PEACOCK

tains no distinct or explicit idea, except the proposition that is an unsafe booty to carry off fat kine, which may be easily conceded in a case where nimbleness of heel, both in man and beast, must have been of great importance. The idea from which, if from any thing in the existing portion of the poem, it takes its name, that the whispers of the wind bring rumours of war from Deheubarth, is rather implied than expressed.

[Peacock’s literal translation of Taliesin’s Canu y Gwynt first printed in The Halliford Edition of the Works of Thomas Love Peacock, edited by H.F.B. Brett-Smith & C.E. Jones vol. VIII (1934), p. 455 ff.

A whisper has come to me from Lime Monnt [a] Of disgrace in South Wales, liberally famed for spoil. Good it bestows on the brave, cruelty to the faith. [b] Full is its vale, of joyous increase, mild its multitude of of energy, other region is mild; of molestation conflict extreme of violence is the event: Scarcely any of the Cymmry [c] that may declare it. Dyved be it approached by the kine of the son of Idno; and it was not dared by any one to resist, notwithstanding the paying of a hundred kine for me, a single calf. Destroyed are thy kindred, hemmed in thy country, like the fire of heated vapour in corn that may be. When we proceeded on our course upon the land of Gwyddno, there was a copse slenderly-fair between the gravel and pebble-ridge. When evening returned from the shore of its region, a cow did not low to her calf. Mabon will offer greeting from other region of battle, when Owain protects the kine of his territory: a battle in the ford of Alclyd, a battle in Gwen . . . a battle

122

THE MISFORTUNES OF ELPHIN

against Rhodawys, a snow-white scene, of spears and side sling; a battle by a gleaming place of a sturdy leader with oaken staff, shields in hand, onset in terror, that was seen by Mabon on Rhanwen Rheidawl. Before the kine of Rheged they would have commingled, unless it were with wings they did fly. Before Mabon without carnage longer they would not go: from the meeting, descent, and onset of battle, the country of Mabon was separated without devastation. When Owain descended, before the kine of his father, there broke out lime and wax and hawthorn. Not a safe booty for any to take away bald [d] kine though guarded before men of crimson lances, against four fold fire of conflagration, against a mighty hue of concentrated torrent, against gore on flesh, against a dismal overspreading. A whisper has come to me from the bright lands of the South, the speech of chieftains, splendid, generous--- œthou wilt not be greeted by a base rabble, œ for a free passage for alder-shafts to the multitude of battle.B When there was caused the conflict of the chief, the dragon leader, nor clogged, nor wild, were kine before Mabon. from the meeting of Gwrgun there was a strewed carnage of such as opposed, there was joy that came to ravens. High the discourse of men after the gloom of conflict. There did not escape the shield of Owain; a shield like a bulwark in the conflict of confusion. There would not be a frisking of cattle without a red face: red ones the panting kine, and great their worth. Gore let it be laved over the side of the head; and on the face of a fair leader there will be found a bloody casque, while self-arraying. The herd of the praiseworthy Gwentions, a noise-echoing herd, a herd

123

THOMAS LOVE PEACOCK

before an eager combat of eager mutual strangers, a herd of the summit of Cyvylchi, the splendid place of shields. Great the brandishing of blades about the side of the head, in the battle before Owain, great of rage; where they were there fell the men defending a country supremely impelling of gain from their father. a Dunstable q.? b. baptism c. Welsh. d hornless. ]

21 The spider weaving in suspended armour, is an old emblem of peace and inaction. Thus Bacchylides, in his fragment on Peace:

En de sidarodetois porpaxin Aithan arachnan erga pelontai.

Euripides, in a fragment of Erechtheus:

Keisth3 doru moi miton amphiplekein Arachnais.

And Nonnus, whom no poetical image escaped: (Dionysiaca, L. XXXVIII.)

Ou phonos, ou tote dLris; ekeito de tLlothi charmLs Bakchias hexaetLros arachnio3sa boein.

And Beaumont and Fletcher, in the Wife for a Month: œWould’st thou live so long, till thy sword hung by, And

lazy spiders filled the hilt with cobwebs?B

[Valerio to Menallo:. . . Would’st thou live so long, till thy strength forsook thee? Till thou grew’st only a long tedious story Of what thou hadst been? till thy sword hang by, And lazie spiders fill’d the hilt with cobwebs?B (Act II. sc. I) ]

A Persian poet says, describing ruins:

œThe spider spreads the veil in the palace of the Caesars.B

124

THE MISFORTUNES OF ELPHIN

And among the most felicitous uses of this emblem, must never be forgotten Hogarth’s cobweb over the lid of the charity-box.

CHAPTER XI 22 œHis shade returns that had departed.B Inferno, IV. 81

CHAPTER XII 23 Caerlon on Usk, in Wales: London in England: and York in Deira and Bernicia.

24 œThe Boy and the MantleB in Bishop Thomas Percy’s Reliques of Ancient British Poetry Series III, Book I (1765):

In the third day of May, To Carleile did come A kind curteous child, That cold much of wisdome.

A kirtle and a mantle This child had uppon, With brouches and ringes Full richelye bedone.

He had a sute of silke About his middle drawne; Without he cold of curtesye, He thought itt much shame.

œGod speed thee, King Arthur, Sitting at thy meate: And the goodly Queene GuLnever I cannott her forgett.

œI tell you, lords, in this hall, I hett you all to heede, Except you be the more surer, Is you for to dread.B

He plucked out of his poterner, And longer wold not dwell; He pulled forth a pretty mantle, Betweene two nutshells.

œHave thou here, King Arthur, Have thou heere of mee; Give itt to thy comely queene, Shapen as itt is alreadye.

œItt shall never become that wiffe, That hath once done amisseB Then every knight in the kings court Began to care for his.

Forth came dame Guénever; To the mantle shee her hied; The ladye shee was newfangle, But yett shee was affrayd.

125

THOMAS LOVE PEACOCK

When shee had taken the mantle, She stoode as shee had beene madd: It was from the top to the toe As sheeres had itt shread.

One while was it gule, Another while was itt greene; Another while was it wadded; Ill itt did her beseeme.

Another while was it blacke, And bore the worst hue: œBy my troth,B quoth King Arthur, œI thinke thou be not true.B

Shee threw downe the mantle, That bright was of blee; Fast, with a rudd redd, To her chamber can shee flee.

She curst the weaver and the walker That clothe that had wrought, And bade a vengeance on his crowne That hither hath itt brought.

œI had rather be in a wood, Under a greene tree, Then in King Arthurs court Shamed for to bee.B

Kay called forth his ladye, And bade her come neere; Saies, œMadam, an thou be guiltye, I pray thee hold thee there.B

Forth came his ladye, Shortlye and anon; Boldlye to the mantle Then is shee gone.

When she had tane the mantle, And cast it her about, Then was shee bare Before all the rout.

Then every knight, That was in the kings court, Talked, laughed, and showted Full oft att that sport.

She threw downe the mantle, That bright was of blee; Fast, with a red rudd, To her chamber can shee flee.

Forth came an old knight Pattering ore a creede, And he proferred to this little boy Twenty markes to his meede,

126

THE MISFORTUNES OF ELPHIN

And all the time of the Christmasse, Willinglye to ffeede; For why this mantle might Doe his wiffe some need.

When she had tane the mantle, Of cloth that was made, Shee had no more left on her, But a tassell and a threed: Then every knight in the kings court Bade evill might shee speed.

Shee threw downe the mantle, That bright was of blee; And fast, with a redd rudd, To her chamber can shee flee.

Craddocke called forth his ladye, And bade her come in; Saith, œWinne this mantle, ladye, With a litle dinne.

œWinne this mantle, ladye, And it shal be thine, If thou never did amisse Since thou wast mine.B

Forth came Craddockes ladye, Shortlye and anon; But boldlye to the mantle Then is shee gone.

When she had tane the mantle, And cast it her about, Upp att her great toe It began to crinkle and crowt: Shee said, œBowe downe, mantle, And shame me not for nought.

œOnce I did amisse, I tell you certainlye, When I kist Craddockes mouth Under a greene tree; When I kist Craddockes mouth Before he marryed mee.B

When shee had her shreeven, And her sines shee had tolde, The mantle stoode about her Right as shee wold,

Seemelye of coulour, Glittering like gold: Then every knight in Arthurs court Did her behold.

Then spake dame GuLnever To Arthur our king; œShe hath tane yonder mantle Not with right, but with wronge.

œSee you not yonder woman, That maketh her self soe cleane? I have seene tane out of her bedd Of men fiveteene; œPriests, clarkes, and wedded men From her, bedeene: Yett shee taketh the mantle, And maketh her self cleane.B

127

THOMAS LOVE PEACOCK

Then spake the little boy, That kept the mantle in hold; Sayes, œKing, chasten thy wiffe, Of her words shee is to bold:

He brought in the bores head, And quitted him like a man. He brought in the bores head, And was wonderous bold:

He said there was never a cuckolds kniffe Carve itt that cold.

Some rubbed their knives Uppon a whetstone: Some threw them under the table, And said they had none.

King Arthur and the child Stood looking upon them; All their knives edges Turned backe againe.

Craddocke had a little knive Of iron and of steele; He britled the bores head Wonderous weele, That every knight in the kings court Had a morssell.

The little boy had a horne, Of red gold that ronge: He said there was œnoe cuckolde Shall drinke of my horne, But he shold it sheede, Either behind or beforne.B

Some shedd on their shoulder, And some on their knee; He that cold not hitt his mouthe, Put it in his eye: And he that was a cuckold Every man might him see.

Craddocke wan the horne, And the bores head: His ladie wan the mantle Unto her meede. Everye such a lovely ladye God send her well to speede.]

25 Mor llawen ag Ngdolig yn Nghaerlleon.

128

THE MISFORTUNES OF ELPHIN

CHAPTER XIII 26 œAll in the world live by deception, some to a freater extent, some to a lesser, and the fullblooded man dissimulates when necessary, rejoices when he can, believes what he wants to believe, laughs at the fools, and pictures the world as he desires.B

27 A popular song, by Thomas Haynes Bayly, begins: [I’d be a butterfly, Born in a bower Where roses and

lilies and violets meet!]

CHAPTER XIV 28 According to the British Chronicles, Brutus, the great grandson of Aeneas, having killed his father, Silvius, to fulfill a prophecy, went to Greece, where he found the posterity of Helenus, the son of Priam; collected all the Trojan race within the limits of Greece; and, after some adventures by land and sea, settled them in Britain, which was before uninhabited, œexcept for a few giants.B

29 Gwrtheryn: Vortigern. 30 Hengist and Horsa. 31 Gwythevyr: Vortimer.

32 Vortigern, who was, on the the death of his son Vortimer, restored to the throne from which he had been deposed.

33 Ronwen: Rowena.

34Hengist.

35Eidiol or Emrys: Emrys Wledig: Amrosius.

36Vortigern and Rowena.

37Hengist.

[The Misfortunes of Elphin was first published in 1829]