The enemies, as before observed, were the Saxons, aided on this occasion by
many of the Lloegrians, namely, such of the natives as had submitted to their
sway in the provinces they had already conquered. They concentrated their
forces in Gododin, and marched westward in the direction of the great fence,
where the Britons were awaiting them. Aneurin has not thought fit to record
the names of any of their generals, with the single exception of Dyvnwal
Vrych, {7a} who, to entitle him to that distinction, must have figured
prominently on the field of battle.

The engagement commenced on a Tuesday, and continued for a whole week, the
last four days being the most bloody. {7b} For some time both parties fought
gallantly, and with almost equal success; fortune perhaps upon the whole
appearing to favour the Cymry, who not only slew a vast number of their
adversaries, but partially succeeded in recovering their lost dominions. {7c}
At this critical juncture a dwarfish herald arrived at the fence, proposing
on the part of the Saxons a truce or compact, which, however, was indignantly
rejected by the natives, and the action renewed. {7d} The scales now rapidly
turned. In one part of the field such a terrible carnage ensued, that there
was but one man left to scare away the birds of prey, which hovered over the
carcases of the slain. {7e} In another, where our Bard was stationed, a
portion of the allied army, owing to the absence of its general, became panic
stricken. {7f} Aneurin was taken prisoner, hurried off to a cave or dungeon,
and loaded with chains. {7g} At length a conference was submitted to, which
was held at a place called Llanveithin, at which Aneurin, who had been
forcibly liberated by one of the sons of Llywarch Hen, insisted upon the
restoration of part of Gododin, or the alternative of continuing the fight.
The Saxon herald met the proposal by killing the British Bard Owain, who was
of course unarmed. {7h} Such a violation of privilege excited then the whole
energies of the Cymry, who rose as one man, and gave the entire scene a more
bloody character than it had yet presented.