The Hall of Cynddylan translation by Michael R Burch

“Stafell Gynddylan” (“The Hall of Cynddylan”) belongs to the cycle of Welsh englyn or englynion (three-line stanzas) traditionally called “Canu Heledd” (“The Song of Heledd”). The Welsh “dd” is pronounced “th.” Cynddylan is pronounced KahN-THIHL-aeN. Stafell Gynddylan (“The Hall of Cynddylan”) Welsh englynion circa 1382-1410 translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch The hall of Cynddylan lies dark tonight. Lacking fire and a bed, I will weep awhile then lapse into silence. The hall of Cynddylan lies dark tonight. Lacking fire or a candle, save God, who will preserve my sanity? The hall of Cynddylan lies dark tonight. Lacking fire, lacking light, grief for you overwhelms me! The hall of Cynddylan’s roof is dark. After the blessed assembly, still little the good that comes of it. Hall of Cynddylan, you have become shapeless, amorphous. Your shield lies in the grave. While he lived, no one breached these gates. The hall of Cynddylan mourns tonight, mourns for its lost protector. Alas death, why did you spare me? The hall of Cynddylan trembles tonight, atop the shivering rock, lacking lord, lacking liege, lacking protector. The hall of Cynddylan lies dark tonight. Lacking fire, lacking mirth, lacking songs. My cheeks are eroded by tears. The hall of Cynddylan lies dark tonight. Lacking fire, lacking heroes, lacking a warband. Abundant, my tears’ rains. The hall of Cynddylan offends my eyes, lacking roof, lacking fire. My lord lies dead, and yet I still live? The hall of Cynddylan lies shattered tonight, without her steadfast warriors, Elfan, and gold-torqued Cynddylan. The hall of Cynddylan lies desolate tonight, no longer respected without the men and women who maintained it. The hall of Cynddylan lies quiet tonight, stunned to silence by losing its lord. Merciful God, what must I do? The hall of Cynddylan’s roof is dark, after the Saxons destroyed shining Cynddylan and Elfan of Powys. The hall of Cynddylan lies dark tonight: lost, the race of the Cyndrwyn, of Cynon and Gwion and Gwyn. Hall of Cynddylan, you wound me, hourly, having lost that great company who once warmed hands at your hearth. Keywords/Tags: Hall, Cynddylan, Welsh, translation, englyn, englynion, fire, bed, candle, light, grief, sanity, dark, grave, mourns, mourning, rock, songs, tears, heroes, dead, death, death of a friend, warriors, Elfan, gold, lord, god, hearth, Cyndrwyn, Cynon, Gwion, Gwyn