{"collection":"Northern European Mythology","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/neu/celt/fab/fab126.htm","path":"neu/celt/fab/fab126.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/neu/celt/fab/fab126.htm","text":"I. BRIGHT are the ash-tops; tall and white will they be\n When they grow in the upper part of the dingle;\n The languid heart, longing is her complaint.\nII. Bright is the top of the cliff at the long midnight hour;\n Every ingenious person will be honoured.\n It is the duty of the fair one to afford sleep to him in pain.\nIII. Bright are the willow-tops; playful the fish\n In the lake; the wind whistles over the tops of the branches;\n Nature is superior to learning.\nIV. Bright the tops of the furze; have confidence\n In the wise; and to the unwise be repulsive;\n Except God, there is none that divines.\nV. Bright the tops of the clover; the timid has no heart;\n Jealous ones weary themselves out;\n Usual is care upon the weak.\nVI. Bright the tops of reed-grass; furious is the jealous,\n And he can hardly be satisfied;\n It is the act of the wise to love with sincerity.\nVII. Bright the mountain-tops; from the bluster of winter,\n Withered and drooping is the tall grass;\n Against famine there is no bashfulness.\nVIII. Bright the mountain-tops; intruding is the cold of\n Winter; brittle are the reeds; rime is over the grave;\n Imprudence committed violence in banishment.\nIX. Bright the tops of the oak; bitter the ash-branches;\n Sweet the cow-parsnip, the wave keeps laughing;\n The cheek will not conceal the anguish of the heart.\nX. Bright the tops of the dogrose; hardship has no formality;\n Let every one preserve his purity of life.\n The greatest blemish is ill-manners.\nXI. Bright the tops of the broom; let the lover make assignations;\n Very yellow are the clustered branches;\n Shallow ford; the contented is apt to enjoy sleep.\nXII. Bright the tops of the apple-tree; circumspect is\n Every prudent one, a chider of another;\n And after loving, indiscretion leaving it.\nXIII. Bright the tops of the apple-tree; circumspect is\n Every prudent one; in the long day a stagnant pool is malarious;\n Thick is the veil on the light of the blind prisoner.\nXIV. Bright the hazel-tops by the hill of Digoll;\n Unafflicted will be every squabby one;\n It is an act of the mighty to keep a treaty.\nXV. Bright the tops of reeds; it is usual for the sluggish\n To be heavy, and the young to be a learner;\n None but the foolish will break the faith.\nXVI. Bright the tops of the lily; let every bold one be a servitor;\n The word of a family will prevail;\n Usual with the faithless, a broken word.\nXVII. Bright the tops of the heath; usual is miscarriage\n To the timid; water will be intrusive in front of the shore;\n Usual with the faithful, an unbroken word.\nXVIII. Bright the tops of rushes; cows are profitable,\n Running are my tears this day;\n Comfort for the miserable there is not.\nXIX. Bright the tops of fern, yellow\n The charlock; how reproachless are the blind;\n How apt to run about are youngsters!\nXX. Bright the tops of the service-tree; accustomed to care,\n Is the aged one, and bees to the wilds\n Except God, there is no avenger.\nXXI. Bright the tops of the oak; incessant is the tempest;\n The bees are high; brittle the dry brushwood;\n Usual for the wanton to laugh excessively.\nXXII. Bright the tops of the grove; constantly the trees\n And the oak-leaves are falling;\n Happy is he who sees the one he loves.\nXXIII. Bright the tops of the oaks; coldly purls the stream;\n Let the cattle be fetched to the birch-enclosed area;\n Abruptly goes the arrow of the haughty to give pain.\nXXIV. Bright the tops of the hard holly, and others; let gold be distributed;\n When all fall asleep on the rampart,\n God will not sleep when He gives deliverance.\nXXV. Bright the tops of the willows; inherently bold\n Will the war-horse be in the long day, when leaves are abounding;\n Those that have mutual friendship will not despise one another.\nXXVI. Bright the tops of rushes; prickly will they be\n When spread under the pillow;\n The wanton mind will be haughty.\nXXVII. Bright the tops of the hawthorn; confident is the sight of the steed;\n It is usual for a lover to be a pursuer;\n May the diligent messenger do good.\nXXVIII. Bright the tops of cresses; warlike is the steed;\n Trees are fair ornaments for the ground;\n Joyful the soul with what it loves.\nXXIX. Bright is the top of the bush; valuable the steed;\n It is good to have discretion with strength;\n Let the unskilful be made powerless.\nXXX. Bright are the tops of the brakes; gay the plumage\n Of birds; the long day is the gift of the light;\n Mercifully has the most beneficent God made them.\nXXXI. Bright the tops of the meadow sweet; and music\n In the grove; bold the wind, the trees shake;\n Interceding with the obdurate will not avail.\nXXXII. Bright the tops of the elder-trees; bold is the solitary songster;\n Accustomed is the violent to oppress;\n Woe to him who takes a reward from the hand.","title":"Four Ancient Books of Wales: X. Poems Attributed to Llywarch Hen.: CXI. Red Book of Hergest IX.","type":"page"}