in Cardigan Bay. Modern euhemerism treats it as defended by embankments and sluices, which, we are told, were in the charge of the prince of the country, named Seithennin, who, being one day in his cups, forgot to shut the sluices, and thus brought about the inundation, which was the end of his fertile realm. This, however, is not the old legend; which speaks of a well, and lays the blame on a woman—a pretty sure sign of antiquity, as you may judge from other old stories which will readily occur to you. The Welsh legend to which I allude is a short poem in the Black Book of Carmarthen,[1] consisting of eight triplets, to which is added a triplet from the Englynion of the Graves (also found on fo. 33a of the B. B.).
The following is a tentative translation of it: —
|Seithenhin sawde allan.
ac edrẏchuirde varanres mor.
maes guitnev rẏtoes.
Seithennin, stand thou forth
And see the vanguard of the main—
Gwyðno's plain has it covered.
Boed emendiceid ẏ morvin
aehellẏgaut guẏdi cvin.
finaun wenestir mor terruin.
Accursed be the maiden
Who after supping let it loose—
The well-servant of the high sea.
Boed emendiceid ẏ vachteith.
ae. golligaut guẏdi gueith.
finaun wenestir mor diffeith.
Accursed be the spinster
Who after battle let it loose—
The well-servant of the main.
- ↑ See Evans's autotype edition of the Black Book, fos. 53b, 54a.
