Introduction

As discussed in the textual notes on this poem of praise for Beuno, only 24 lines survive, and it is likely that over half the poem has been lost, as well as the ascription. What survives is a rather conventional poem in which the poet praises the saint’s lineage (ll. 5–8), his holiness (9–12) and his building work (13–16) before listing some of his miracles (17–24). What prompted the poem may be alluded to in the first two couplets, namely the poet’s intention to praise Beuno because of his faith in the saint’s ability to heal. The poet may have been ill.

The poem’s main interest lies in two couplets that refer to miracles not found in the saint’s life, one concerning his staff and the other an unlocated causeway, both of which are mentioned by other poets (see ll. 17n, 19–20n).

Date
The loss of an ascription hinders precise dating, but both the straightforward style and frequent use of cynghanedd groes (see below) suggest c.1475–c.1525. The poem’s possible association with a version of Bonedd y Saint found in Pen 127 may point to 1510–23 or soon after (see ll. 5–6n).

Previous editions
Jones 1929: 47; ap Huw 2001: poem IX.

Metre and cynghanedd
Cywydd, 24 lines (incomplete). Cynghanedd: croes 75% (18 ll.), traws 13% (3 ll.), sain 4% (1 l.), llusg 8% (2 ll.).