Translated from the Original text, the Kat Godeu
Welsh, 12th century
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The Battle of the Trees, Cad Goddeu, is attributed to Taliesin, who partook of a most unusual battle when Gwydon the enchanter summoned up the plants and trees of Britain against an otherworldly force marshaled by Peblig the Strong, and ultimately led it against Arawn, King of Annwn. This encounter is sometimes called the Battle of Achren.
The poet Robert Graves put forth the idea that the trees represent alphabetical concepts that were related, as in Irish oghams, to musical notes, seasonal cycles, and various other correspondences. It has also been put forth that the garbled text of the Cad Goddeu contains the remains of pre-Christian druidic beliefs about sacred groves. This can, of course, only be guessed at because Celtic druidism was transmitted orally in the form of story and song.
In the complete version of the Cad Goddeu there appears to be an intermixing of several poems, and several speakers as well, including Blodeuwedd (Blod eh weth), the maiden composed of flowers.
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When plants and trees were sent to war
Warriors against Peblig's power.The Alder tree was at the fore,Willow and Rowan, tardy both
plum sharp, starved for death.Briar scarred a host in wrathbramble's rampart spared no foes.
Ivy snared, bean-fostered ghosts.Sea gorse was a source of woes.
Cherry mocked, Birch armed late a foreign tree wore foreign shape.
Fir was foremost, royal by right
before kings, Ash took the field.Loyal Elm would never yield.Hazel, there for war, was steeled.
Hedge plants fought like bulls of battleGreen Holly showed its mettle,Hawthorn was not gentle.
Fern and Broom, trodden and plundered
manner less gorse made foes surrender.
Heather, a handful, pursuing a hundred.
Mighty oak, doom's door, heaven and earth before him cower
but chestnut shamed the princely fir.
This battle was said to have been fought to obtain three creatures from the underworld. These three creatures were a dog, a roebuck, and a lapwing. The dog was the guardian of the secret, the roebuck hides the secret, and the lapwing disguises the secret.Dark of darkness, leveled craigs
fire of wood, force of waveit was then the Great Shout was made
Within the ranks of Arawn's forces were a number of mighty warriors, and one of these was invincible as long as his name remained a secret. It was the clever Gwydion who finally guessed it, saying these words:
Sure-hoofed my spurred horse
on your shield alder sprigs
Bran is your name, Bran of the branchessure-hoofed my horse of waron your hand are sprigs of alder
Bran you are, by the branch you bear
Thus the battle was won by Gwydon the enchanter and his army of the trees.
tips of beech sprout anewgreen again whatever grew
and oaks from the Gorchan of MaeldrewRegarding the secret powers possessed by the otherworldly dog, roebuck, and lapwing, it is said in the Triads:
Three primary essentials of genius
an eye that can see nature
a heart that can feel nature
and a boldness that dares follow it."