THE LOST NAME OF THE TERRIBLE CHIEF-DRAGON: SAWYL IN THE UTHER ELEGY

Shiloh Tabernacle (Artist's Reconstruction)

When I first began exploring the possibility that Eliwlad son of Madog (son of Uther, father of Arthur) could be a Welsh reflection of Matoc Ailithir, son fo Sawyl Benisel of Ribchester, I happened upon the currently accepted emenation of 'kawyl' in the Uther elegy.  This happened to be Sawyl [1]. 

While initially delighted with the correspodence, it also occurred to me that kawyl could be from kan(n)wyl(l), a word that could mean 'star' (like Uther's dragon-star) or, figuratively, 'leader.' Dr. Simon Rodway said that Sawyl "is marginally better, as it involves less emendation." 

I had not returned to the subject until the other day, when a further examination of the line in question suggested a contextual problem exists with cannwyll.

Once again, here are the relevant lines from the elegy:

a’m rithwy am dwy pen kawell.

May our God, chief of the sanctuary, transform me.

Neu vi eil Sawyl yn ardu:

It’s I who’s a second Sawyl in the gloom [or 'who's like Sawyl in the gloom']

If we assume for the sake of argument that kawyl is supposed to be cannwyll, which has both the meanings of 'star/sun/moon/planet' or candle, etc., AND fig. 'leader',  what sense would the 'eil' make here?  I mean, it seems to me that in typical poetic language, Uther would have said he was a star or a leader in the gloom.  He would NOT have said he was like a star/leader or he was a second star/leader.  I feel I am right in this assessment.  'Eil' in this instance would serve only to diminish Uther's magnificence - and that would run contrary to the purpose of the praise poem.  

For examples of what I mean, we need only go to either the Irish 'Song of Amergin' or to the Welsh 'Cad Goddeu.'  There we find many examples of the poets referring to themselves as being literally this or that object, element, etc.  

See Patrick's Ford's translation of the 'Cad Goddeu' here: https://books.google.com/books?id=DeaGo-Qkf2kC&q=cad+goddeu#v=snippet&q=cad%20goddeu&f=false.

For Amergin, see John Carey's translation from The Celtic Heroic Age (2003) http://celticmythpodshow.com/Resources/Amergin.php.

I am a wind in the sea (for depth)

I am a sea-wave upon the land (for heaviness)

I am the sound of the sea (for fearsomeness)

I am a stag of seven combats (for strength)

I am a hawk upon a cliff (for agility)

I am a tear-drop of the sun (for purity)

I am fair (i.e. there is no plant fairer than I)

I am a boar for valour (for harshness)

I am a salmon in a pool (for swiftness)

I am a lake in a plain (for size)

I am the excellence of arts (for beauty)

I am a spear that wages battle with plunder.

I am a god who forms subjects for a ruler...

If, then, Sawyl is the best reading for kawyl, God as 'chief of the sanctuary' (kawell for cafell) would be a reference to the Biblical sanctuary at Shiloh.  And this would point directly to the Biblical Samuel, who received his calling as God's prophet at Shiloh.  And, indeed, if kawyl is not for Sawyl, it is difficult if not impossible to apply any relational significance to God's epithet in the previous line.  

All of which would be confirmation that the Terrible Chief-dragon = Sawyl Benisel of Ribchester, a chieftain considered to be like Samuel or even a second Samuel. 

Sawyl as Arthur's father doubtless represents the original, historically accurate Welsh tradition that was later submerged by the fictional account of Geoffrey of Monmouth. 

[1]

From Marged Haycock's "Legendary Poems from the Book of Taliesin", Note to line 7 of the elegy:

eil kawyl yn ardu G emends kawyl > Sawyl, the personal name (from Samuelis

via *Safwyl). Sawyl Ben Uchel is named with Pasgen and Rhun as one of the

Three Arrogant Men, Triad 23, as a combative tyrant in Vita Cadoci (VSB 58);

and in CO 344-5. Samuil Pennissel in genealogies, EWGT 12 (later Benuchel),

Irish sources, and in Geoffrey of Monmouth. Other Sawyls include a son of

Llywarch, and the saint commemorated in Llansawel: see further TYP3 496,

WCD 581 and CO 104. Ardu ‘darkness, gloom; dark, dreadful (GPC), sometimes

collocated with afyrdwl ‘sad; sadness’ (see G, GPC).