mate companions, each of whom wrote an elegy on his death. One was Madog Benfras, occasionally mentioned before, who had a soul congenial with that of our bard, and like him was a favourite with his fair countrywomen[1]. The other was Gruffydd Gryg, of Anglesea, a bard of great genius and learning[2]. Between Davyth ap Gwilym and the latter there appears to have been a rivalship for fame, which gave rise to a poetical contention that began in consequence of a poem written by Gruffydd Gryg, ridiculing our bard for being so great a slave to the charms of Morvyth. This dispute produced several masterly compositions, of which a specimen will be found in this collection[3]. After the contest had been carried on for a long time, and excited the attention of the whole country, though each party was unwilling to give way, one Bola Bauol laid a wager with another person that he would effect an accommodation between them. To bring about his purpose Bola Bauol went into North Wales and industriously spread a report that ‘Davyth ap Gwilym, the Demetian bard, was dead.’ On hearing this
- ↑ Madog Benfras, of Maelor, was the son of Gruffydd ab Jorwerth ab Einion Goch o Sonlli, ab Jeuaf ab Llywarch ab Nyniaw ab Cynwrig ab Rhiwallon ab Dingad ab Tudur Trefor, earl of Hereford.
‘Ar ol rhoi o’r ail rhiain
I Fadog het fedw cain,
Gwen á roes o gae, ni rydd
Hyd efell o gae Dafydd.’
Dafydd ab Edmwnt, 1460.
- ↑ His mother was an Irishwoman,—‘Gwyddelyn march cregyn cryg’.—Iolo Goch.
- ↑ David Jones of Lanfair had seen twenty-two of these poems.—Coll. Brit. Poetry, p. 164.
