pnîinilí^Milí^^H^^
CYMMRODOR,
EMBODYIÎÎG THE
TEANSACTIONS
ÜF THE HONOURABLE
SOCIETY OF CYMMEODOPJON
OF LONDON,
ETC.
EDITED BT THE
Eev. EOBERT JONES, B.A.,
TICAR OF ALL SAIÎTTS', BOIHEEHITHE.
VOL. 11. '^^
PRINTED FOR THE SOCIETY
BY
T. rJCHARDS, 37, GREAT QUEEN STREET, W.C.
1878. • •
-I>A
g Cpmmrolior, 1878.
CONTENTS OF VOL. II.
The National Music of Wales. líy John Thomas, Esq. (Pen-
cerdd Gwalia) . . . . .1
C:1a Gwraig y Pysgodwr. Gan y Parch. By John Blacrwell 20
The Song of the Fisherman's Wife. Translated by the Editor . 21
Private Devotions of the Welsh in Days gone by. By the Rev.
Elias Owen, of Ruthin . . . .24
Epigrams from the Old Poets. — No. 2. Y Bradwr . . 32
Archgeological Notes, rcad at the Meeting of the British Archseo- logical Association at Llangollen, August 29, 1877. By Pro- fessor Rhys, of Oxford . . . .33
The Eisteddfod of the Future. By Mrs. A. Walter Thomas,
and David Thomas, Esq. . . . .40
Letters Addressed by Lewis Morris (Llewelyn Ddu) to Edward
Richard of Ystrad Meurig {contiuued) . . .47
The Fountain at Portmadoc . . . .82
The Carnarvon Eisteddfod of 1877 , . . .84
Reviews of Books : —
Memorials of Charlotte Williams-Wynn. Edited by her SiSTER. With a Portrait. Longmans, Green and Co. London, 1877. . . . . .89
Grammadeg Cymraeg gan David Rowlauds, B.A. (Dewi Mou). Athraw yn Ngholeg Aberhonddu, Wrexham : [n.d.] Hughes and Sou . . . .95
Literary Announcements : —
The Bard and the Cuckoo. By Lord Aberdare . 9G
A Welsh-English Dictionary. By the Rev. D. Silvan EVANS . . . . .90
IV CONTENTS.
Dialogue between tlie Bard and the Cuckoo, from the Welsh of
Owain Gryffydd. By the Right Ilonourabìe Lord Aberdare 97
Dafydd ab Gwilym. By Professor Cowell of Cambridge . 101
On some Customs stiU remaining ìn Wales. By the Rev. Elias
OwEN, M.A., of Ruthin . . . .133
Letters addressed by Lewis Morris (Llewelyn Ddu) to Edward
Richard of Ystrad Meurig (continued) . . . 138
The Eisteddfodau of 1878 . . . . 161
Address of Mr. Lewis Morris, President on the Chair-day, at the Menai Bridge Eisteddfod . . .163
Welsh Address of Professor Rhŷs of Osford, at the same Eisteddfod on the sarae day . . . 1G7
President's Chair, at Menai Bridge : a Poem. By Mr. Lewis Morris ..... 180
Epigrams from the Old Poets. — No. 3. Craffder . . 181
Address of Lord Aberdare at the Birkenhead Eisteddfod, 1878 . 182
Reviews of Books : —
Lectures on Welsh Philology. By Professor Rhys . 195
A Dictionary of English Etymology. By Hensleigh AYedgwood . . . . .197
Original Letters and Papers of the late Viscount Strangford 197
The Ancient British Church. By Rev John Pryce, M.A. 198
Jeremiah, an Oratorio. By John Owen (Owain AlawJ . 198
The Art Union Jouiiial ând Joseÿh 'Edyfârds . . 199
Literary Announcemeut : —
Gwen : a Drama in Monologue. By Lewis Morris . 200
C K m m r 0 ìi 0 1\
JANUARY 18 78.
THE NATIONAL MUSIC OF WALES.
By JOHN THOMAS, Esq. (Pencerdd Gwalia).
In the mythological traditions of Pagan nations \ve fin<l the invention of their music and musical instruments attri- buted to their gods, or to superhuman beings of a godlike nature ; which may account for the art being called to this day — the divine art. Some of these traditions are not only interesting but highly amusing; and the following legend, as given by Carl Engel, in his Mijtlis and Facts, is worthy of notice : — " In the Finnish Mythology, the divine Vaina- moinen is said to have constructed the five-stringed harp, called Kantele, the old national instrument of the Finns. The frame he made out of the bones of the pike, and the teeth of the pike he used for the tuning-pegs. The strings he made of hair from the tail of a spirited horse. When the harp fell into the sea and \vas lost, he made another, the frame of which was of birchwood and the pegs of the branch of an oak-tree. As strings for tliis harp he used the silky hair of a young girl. Yainamoinen took his harp, and sat down on a hill near a silvery brook. There he played witli so irresistible an effect that he entranced whatever camo within hearing of his music. j\Ien and animals listened en- VOL. II. B
2 THE NATIONAL MUSIC OF WALES.
raptured ; the wild beasts of the forest lost their ferocity ; the birds of the air were drawn towards him ; the fishes rose to the surface of the water, and remained immovable ; the trees ceased to wave their branches ; the brook re- tarded its course, and the wind its haste ; even the moching echo approached stealthily, and listened with the utmost at- tention to the heavenly sounds. Soon the women began to cry, then the old men and the children also began to cry ; and the girls, and the young men — all cried for delight. At last Yainamoinen himself wept, and his big tears ran over his beard, and rolled into the water, and became beautiful pearls at the bottom of the sea.'^
Tliere was also the same tendency to immortalise those who ■ displayed transcendent genius in the art of music.
At the death of Pythagoras, the celebrated Greek philo- sopher and musician, so great was tlie veneration of his countrymen for him, that he received the same honours as were paid to the immortal gods ; and his house became a sacred temple.
Blegwryd ab Seisyllt, a British king, who flourished about 160 years before the Christian era, beiug a great musician and performer upon the harp, received the appella- tion of " God of Music^'.
With regard to the source whence Britain derived her music and musical instruments, there appears very little doubt but that tliey were brought from the East, either by the inhabitants, in their original migration, or by the PhcenicianSj who, as is well known, had commercial inter- course with Britaiu from the earliest times.
The Greehs are said to have derived their music, with other arts and sciences, from Cadmus, a Phoenician, and from Cecrops, an Egyptian, who settled in Greece about two thousand years before the Christian era. Consequently, as I have already suggested, if we did not bring our music
THE NATIONAL MÜSIC OF WALES. 3
and musical instruments with us, in our original migration from the East, in all probability, we are indebted for them to the Phoìnicians, who were of Hebrew origin — and were sup- posed to be none others than the Canaanites.
It is a remarkable circumstance, in support of this sup- Dosition, that the Welsh word Tchjmi, " to play upon the harp", is said to signify precisely the same in the Phceni- cian language. This might go far to account for the harp of David being our national instrument.
The harp, of all instruments, is the one which has been held in the most general esteem, and has for ages been the inse- parable companion of prophet, king, bard, and minstreL From the days of Jubal — " the father of all such as handle the harp aud organ " — it may be traced through all generations as holdiug the highest place amoug the Israelites, as is testified by the Holy Scriptures. For example, Laban reproaches Jacob, his son-in-law, iu the following wwds : — " Wherefore didst thou flee away secretly, and steal away from me ? and didst not tell me, that I might have sent thee away with mirth aud with songs, with tabret and with harp."
Samuel, in his instructions to Saiil, after having secretly anointed him king, says: "And it sliall come to pass, when thou ai-t come thither to the city (Bethel), that thou shalt meet a company of prophets coming down from the high place with a psaltery, and a tabret, and a pipe, and a harp belbre them."
Later on, in the days of King David, with whose event- ful life, from begiuning to end, it was associated in a re- markable degree, we fìnd the harp occupying a stiU more prominent position. The advice given to Saul by his ser- vants, will show the high estimation in whitíh this instru- ment was held in tliose days, especially in the hands of a skilful performer : — " Behold now an evil spirit from God troubleth thee. Let our Lord now command thy servants,
1:2
4 THE NATIONAL MUSIC OF WALES.
wliicli are before thee, to seek out a nian who is a ciinning player upon the harp^ and it shall corae to pass, when the evil spirit from God is upon thee, that he shall play with his hand and thou shalt be well."
On the very íirst occasion upon which David is pre- sented before Saul, we have the following account of the effect he produced upon that monarch, through the mediuni of his harp : — " And it came to pass, when the evil spirit from God was upon Saul, that David took an liarp and played with his hand : so Saul was refreshed, and was well, and the evil spirit departed from him." As a proof that the harp was David's constant companion in his worship of the Almighty, it is only necessary to quote a few, out of the in- numerable instances to be found in the Psalms : — "Awake iip, myglory, awake lute and harp, I myself wiU awake right early." " Then will I go unto the altar of God, unto God my exceeding joy : yea, upon tlie harp will I praise thee, 0 God." " By the waters of Babylon, there we sat down, yea, we wept when we remembered Zion. We hanged our harps upon the willows in the midst thereof, for they tliat carried iis away captive required of us a song. How sliall we sing the Lord's song in a strange land ? If I forget thee, O Jeru- salem, let my right hand forget her cunning." Tlie last sentence evidently alludes to playing upon the harp, and the whole of this beautiful passage shows that such was the love of the Israelites for this instrument, that it accom- panied tliem even in their captivity, although they had not the heart to awaken its sweet sounds. Even up to the time of the Christian era, the harp was regarded with pecu- liar veneration ; for we íìnd John the Apostle making fre- quent mention of it in the Eevelations, from which we select the following remarkable passage : " And I heard a voice from Heaven, as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder: and T heard the voice of harpers harp-
THE ^'ATlüNAL MUSIC OF WALES. 5
ing upon tlieir liarps." It is not to be wondered at, then, that the Welsh, as a people, shouhl have retained their fondness for their national instrument, if my conjecture, as to the source from Mdiich they derived it, be correct.
Eecent discoveries made in Egypt and Assyria, by Bruce, ' Layard, and others, show that the harp was equally popular in all these countries in ancieut times ; and it is to be found in every Eastern country, even to this day, in one form or another. It is generally found without the front piUar ; but Bruce, in a letter to Dr. Burney, also alludes to the repre- sentation of a harp upon a basso-relievo at Ptolemais, in Cyrenaicum, a city built by Ptolemy Philadelphus, where it is twice represented with fifteen strings or two octaves, and with the frpnt piUar ; the use of which he attributes to the additional strain of the extra strings — most other harps having less than that number,
Greek historians clearly show that the ancient Britons and the ancient Greehs were well known to each other ; and they mention Abaris, a British druid and philosopher, who visited Greece in the time of Pythagoras.
Himerius, a Greek orator, gives the following description of him : " Abaris came to Athens, not clad in skins like a Scythian, but with a bow in his hand, a quiver hangiug from his shoulder, a plaid wrapped about his body, a gilded belt encircling his loins, and pantaloons reaching from his waist to the sole of his feet. Moreover, he addressed us in our own tongue.^'
On the other hand, the Greeks appear to have been ac- quainted with the British Isles, from the following descrip- tion given by Diodorus Siciüus, half a century before the Christian era. He says : " There is an Island over against Gaul, the size of Sicily, under the Arctic pole, inhabited by the Hyperboreans, so called because they lie far north. Tliey say tliat Latona was born there, and therefore that they
6 THE NATIONAL MUSIC OF WALES.
worsln]3 Apollo above all otlier gods, because they daily siiig songs in praise of tbis god, and ascrihe to bim tlie lìighest houors. They say that these inhabitants demean themselves as if they were the priests of Apollo, who has 'there a stately grove and renowned Temple of a circular forra, beautiíìed with many rich gifts ; tliat there is a city lilcewise consecrated to this god, whose citizens are most of them harpers, who, playing upon the harp, chaimt sacred hymns to Apollo in th.e Temple, setting forth his glorious acts. The Hyperboreans use their own natural language ; but, of long and ancient time, have had a special kindness for the Grecians ; and more especially for the Athenians and the Delians ; and that some of the Grecians passed over to the Hyperboreans, and left behind them divers presents (or tliings dedicated to the gods) inscribed with Greek charac- ters ; and that Abaris formerly travelled thence into Greece and renewed the ancient league of friendship with the Delians."
Julius Cíesar, in liis Commcntaries, states that the Druids made use of the Greek characters and gives reasons for their doing so. In explaining the system of education adopted among their disciples, lie says : " They are taught to repeata great number of verses by heart, and often spend twenty years therein, for it is deemed unlawful to commit their statutes to writing ; though in other matters, whether public or prÌYate, they make use of Gi^eeh characters. They seem to me to follow this method for two reasons, — to hide their mysteries from the knowledge of the vulgar, and to exercise the memory of tlieir scholars."
It may be a circumstance worthy of remark that Abaris was a name peculiar to Arabian kings in ancient times, as much so as Ptolemy was to Egyptian monarchs.
In the fourth ceutury, Ammianus Marcellinus relates that the British bards celebrated the brave actious of illustrious
THE NATIONAL MUSIC OF WALES. 7
men in heroic poems, whicli tbey sang to the sweet sound
of the harp.
In this respect they resembled the Grecians, as is shown
hj Homer, in the 9th book of the Iliad (v. 245). In
the embassy sent by Agamemnon to Achilles, during his
retirement, after he had quitted the Grecian camp, he gives
the füUowing description :
" Amus'd at ease, the God like man they found, Pleas'd with the solemn harjj's harmonious sound ; (The well-wrought harp from conquer'd Thebse came, Of polish'd silver was its costly frame) ; With this he sootlies his angry soul, and sings Th' immortal deeds of heroes and of kings."
The most remarkable feature of all, in comparing the manners aud customs of the ancient Greeks with those of the ancient Britons, is to be found in the singular similarity between the Olympic games and the Eisteddfodau, which have been periodically held in Wales from time immemorial, and continued up to the present. It is true that athletic games are no longer included iu the programme of the Eisteddfod — in addition to music and poetry — as was the case in the Olympic games ; neitlier have we any instance of a challenge of skill between two musicians, and its being mutually agreed that he who was defeated should be tied to a tree aud flayed alive by the conqueror, as was the case between Marsyas and ApoUo; but the particular trials of strength mentioned in the Grecian contests, such as running, leaping, wrestling, boxing, and throwing the quoit, are aU included in the four-and-twenty games of the Welsh ; and in all probability, they were encouraged at the Eis- teddfodau in former times, aud until the more cÌYÜisiuff influence of music and poetry caused them to be discon- tinued.
The first Eisteddfod of which we ]iave any historical record, was held in the middle of the seventh century, pre-
8 THE NATIONAL MUSIC OF WALES.
sided over by King Cadwaladr ; — as it was a ijrerogative peculiar to tlie aiicient kings of Britain to preside at the Eisteddfod or Congress of the Bards.
A curious circumstance is related by two Welsh his- torians, Dr. John David Ehŷs and John PJiydderch, as having occurred upon that occasion : — " King Cadwaladr sat in an Eisteddfod, assembled for the purpose of regulating the bards, of taking into consideration their productions and performances, and of giving laws to music and poetry. A bard, who played upon the harp in the presence of this illus- trious assembly in a key called is-gywair, ar y hragod dtnmau (in the low pitch and in the minor or mixed key),which dis- pleased them much, was censured for the inharmonious effect he produced. The key in which he played was that of Pibau Morvydd [i.e., ' Caniad Pibau Morvydd sydd ar y bragod gywair' — ' The Song of Morvydd's Pipes is in the minor or mixed key.' He was then ordered, under great peualties, whenever he came before persons skilful in the art, to adopt that of Muupien Gwynedd, ' the pleasing melody of North Wales,' which the royal associates first gave out, and preferred. They even decreed that none could sing or play with true harmony but with Mwynen Gwynedd, because tliat was in a key which consisted of notes that formed perfect concords, whilst the other was of a mixed nature."
I am strongly impressed with the conviction that the above incident arose from a general desire to suppress an attempt to introduce into Wales the pentatonic, or so-called Scotch scale, where the fourth and leading notes of the key are omitted, which accounts for the peculiar, not to say startling effect, produced upon a cultivated musical ear by the Scotch bagpipe of the present day, upon which, the music written for it passes from major to minor, without the least regard for the tonic and dominant drones of tlie original key, which still continue to sound on to the end of the per- forinance.
THE NATIONAL MUSIC OF WALES. 9
Tlie relation of tlie above incident also sliows tliat the Welsh were already in possession of a scale or key, which, liy their own showing, consisted of notes that formed perfect concords ; whereas the other, which they objected to, was of a iuixed nature — neither major nor minor, but a mixture of the two, which is not altogether an inapt way of describiug the pentatonic, or Scotch scale.
I shall require to allude to this iucident in connection with a subject to be mentioned Later ; but there is a word used in the relation of this account, in the original Welsh, which I may as well poÌDt out at once, as having a signifìcation peculiar to the Welsh language. In ancient Welsh works, " io 2ìlay npon the harp" is expres3ed " to smg upon the harp" — Canu ar y Delyii. It is also the same as regards the crwth, an old Welsh instrument, which was so popular in Britain in ohlen times as to have been mistahen, by historians of the sixth century, for our national instrument. This form of ex- pression we appear to have derived from the Israelites ; for Ave find in Habakkuk, iii, 19, that the Prophet dedicates his last prayer — "To the ch.ì&isinger on my stringed Instruments".
At this period, the seventh century, according to the Yener- able Bede, the harp was so generally played in Britain that it was customary to hand it from one to another at their enter- tainments; and he mentions one who, ashamed that he could not play upon it, slunk away lest he should expose his igno- rance.
In such honour was the harp hekl in Wales that a slave might not practice upon it ; while to play on the instrument was an indispensable qualification of a gentleman. The ancient laws of Hywel Dda mention three kinds of harps : the harp of the king ; the harp of a pencerdd, or master of music ; and the harp of a nobleman. A professor of this favourite instrument enjoyed many privileges ; his lands were free, and his person sacred.
10 THE NATIONAL MUSIC OF WALES.
It was tlie office of the ancient bard to sing to his harp, before and after battle, the old song called Unbeniaeth Pryd- ain, or the "Monarchical song of Britain", which contained the exploits of the most worthy heroes, to inspire others to imitate their glorious example.
Diodorus Siculus also says : " The bards stept in between hostile armies, standing with tlieir swords drawn and their spears extended ready to engage, and by their eloquence, as by irresistible enchantment, prevented the effusion of blood, and preYailed upon them to sheath their swords."
In the eleventh century, Gryffudd ap Cynan, king of North Wales, held a Congress for the purpose of reforming the order of the Welsh bards ; and he im^ted several of the fraternity from Ireland to assist in carrying out the con- templated reforms ; the most important of which appears to have been the separation of the professions of bard and min- strel — in other words — of poetry and music ; both of which had hitlierto been united in one and the same person. In aU probability, it was considered that both poetry and music would be greatly benefited by the separation, each being thought sufficient to occupy the whole and undivided atten- tiou of one person.
The next was the revision of the rules for the composition and performance of music. The twenty-four musical mea- sures were permanently established, as well as a number of keys, scales, etc. ; and it was decreed that from henceforth all compositions were to be written in accordance with those enactments ; and, moreover, that none but those who were couversant with the rules should be considered thorough musicians, or competent to undertake the instruction of others. All these reforms were written down in books, in the Welsh and Irish languages ; as is shown by a manu- script now in the British Museum, copied in the fifteenth century from another book dating from the time when the
THE NATIONAL MUSIC OF WALES. 11
above reforms were instituted. In this manuscript will also be found some of tlie most ancient pieces of music of the Britons, supposed to have been handed down to us from the ancient bards. I have carefully studied the coutents, and find that the whole of the music is written for the Crioth, in a system of notation by the letters of the alphabet, with merely one line to divide bass and treble.
Dr. Burney, after a life-long research into the musical notations of ancient nations, gives the following as the result : — " It does not appear from history that the Egj'ptians, Phcenicians, Hebrews, or any ancient people who cultivated the arts, except the Greehs and Eomans, had musical cha- racters ; and these liad no other symbols of sound than the letters of the alphabet, which likewise served them for arithmetical numbers aud chronological dates.^^
The system of notation under consideration resembles tliat of Pope Gregory's in the sixth century, and may have found its way into this country about that period, when he sent Augustine and a number of musicians into Britain to reform the abuses which had crept into the services of the western churches.
The circumstance of Irish names being attached to tlie twenty-four musical measures in the ancient manuscript, has led many historians to the erroneous conclusion that "Wales derived the whole of her rausic from Ireland, at the time of Gruffydd ab Cynan ; when, as is alleged, the mea- sures were constructed. Even Welsli chroniclers, such as Giraldus Cambrensis, Caradoc, Powel, and others, have made this statement in their works upon the strength of the circumstance alluded to ; therefore, it is not surprising that modem writers, sucli as Gunn, Walker, Bunting, Sir John Hawkins, and others, should have been deceived by relying upon such apparently good authority. But, independently of the extreme dissimilarity of the Welsh and Irish music that
12 THE NATIONAL MUSIC OF WALES.
has been banded down to us, it so happens tbat otber parts of tbe same document bear ample testimony to tbe con- trary. Tbe AVelsb bad tbeir twenty-four metres in poetry as well as tbeir twenty-four atbletic games ; and tbe follow- ing circumstance will sbow tbat tbey also possessed tbeir twenty-four musical measures ceuturies prior to tbe Con- gress beld by Gryffudd ab Cynan.
Among tbe ancient pieces included in tbe manuscript, is one bearing tbe foUowing title, Gosteg yr Halen (" Prelude to tbe Salt"), and at tbe end is tbe foUowing account concerning it : " Tervyn Gosteg yr Halen, yr bon a vyddid yn ei cbanu o vlaen Marcbogion Artbur pan roid y Sallter a'r balen ar y bwrdd.^' " Here ends tbe Prelude to tbe Salt, wbicb used to be performed before tlie knigbts of King Artbur, wben tbe Salter was placed upon tbe table."
As one part of tbe manuscript must be considered as autbentic as anotber, tbe above composition takes us as far back as tbe middle of tbe sixtb century — tbe time wben King Artbur flourisbed ; and tbe composition is written in one of tbe twenty-four measures — 3íac Mum hyr — as may be seen by tbe copy wbicb I bave decipbered and publisbed in tbe second edition of tbe Myvyrian Arclimology. It is also asserted tbat even tbe keys used in Welsb music were broiigbt over from Ireland at tlie same time as tbe twenty- four measures — tliat is, in tbe reign of Gruffydd ab Cynan. Tbere are íive keys mentioned in Welsb music :
1. Is-gywair — tbe low key, or key of C.
2. Cras-gywair — tbe sharp key, or key of G.
3. Lleddf-gywair — i\\e,fiat key, or key of F.
4. Go-gywair — tbe key witb a flat, or minor tbird; tbe remainder of tbe scale, in every otlier respect, being niajor.
5. Bragod-gyymir — called tbe niinor or mixed key.
THE NATIONAL MUSIC OF WALES. 13
Another piece included in the mannscript is Caniad Pibau Morvydd, " The Song of Morvydd's Pipes," the composition already alhided to, as having heen performed on the harp hy a hard at the Eisteddvod presided over hy King Cadwaladr in the seventh century ; and it happens to he in one of the above keys ; Caniad Pibau Mowydd sydd ar y Brayod dannau, " The Song of Morvydd's Pipes is in the minor or mixed key." It is hoped, therefore, that the insertion of the ahove historical note may he considered a conchisive reply to such a mis-statement.
The twenty-four nieasures — which consisted of a given numher of repetitions of the chords of the tonic and dominant, according to the length of each measure — do not appear in the music of Wales after the date to which the manuscript refers (a.d. 1040), a circumstance which may he considered most fortunate ; for, although most ingeniously contrived and well adapted to the purpose for which they were intended at that early period, viz., for the guidance of performers on the harp and crwth — the latter heing used as an accompa- niment to the harp — had such rules remained in force, they would have had the effect of rendering our natioual music intensely monotonous aud uninteresting, and would have thoroughly destroyed all freedom of imagination in musical composition ; whereas, the national music of Wales is remarhahle for its heauty of melody, richness of harmony, and variety of construction. It is also exceed- ingly diatonic, wdiich evidently arose from the difficulty of modulating upon the ancient harp, which had hut one row of strings ; although it is said that the performer had a method of producing an occasional accidental, hy pressing the string with the thumb and first finger.
Davydd ab Gwilym, who flourished ahout the fourteenth century, alludes, with much enthusiasnij in one of his poems, to the harp strung with glossy black hair; supposed to
14 THE NATIONAL MUSIC OF WALES,
have been tlie instrument upon wliich the unclergraduates were obliged to study until they took a degree. He also mentions an Irish harp which had foimd its way into Wales in his time ; and he speaks disparagingly of it, on account of the ugliness of its shape and the harshness of its tone — being strung with wire and played upon, to quote his own words, '' with a horny nail of unpleasant form". The Irish harper allowed his nails to grow long, and cut them to a point, like the quills of a spinnet. Therefore, tlie severest punishment tliat could be inflicted upon him, was to cut his nails short, as it took a_ considerable time for them to grow long enough to admit of his playing again.
Between this time and the sixteenth century a great im- provement took place, in the invention of a harp with two rows of strings, consisting of the diatonic scale on the right side from the upper part down to tlie centre of the instru- ment, with another row of accidentals on the opposite side, to be played, whenever required, by putting the finger through ; and the diatonic scale continued on the left side, from the centre to the lower part of the instrument, with the accidentals on the other row on the opposite side. This arrangement shows that the harp was lield on the right shoulder, and played upon with the right hand in the treble and with the left hand in the bass.
Yincentio Galilei, in his Dissertation on Ancient ancl Modern Music, published at Florence in 1581, states that tlie double harp was common in Italy in his day ; and that it was derived from Ireland.
It is very difficult to conceive how the Irish could pos- sibly have ever possessed such an instrument, inasmuch as it has left no trace whatever upon their music, the peculiarity of the scale of which consists in leaving out all accidentals and notes which indicate the least modulation from key to
THE NATIONAL MUSIC OF WALES. 15
key, but ^yhicli notes would liave beeii available upon the in- strument alluded to.
A circumstance which lias recently come under my notice, (Toes far to show that it mio'ht have oriííinated in AVales. A bronze bas-relief by Donatello, forms part of the high altar in the Church of St. Antonio, in Padua. The date is about 1450. One of the figures is that of an angel playing the harp, and the shape of the instrument is precisely that of the Welsh triple harp. I accidentally discovered a plaister cast of the original bronze at the Kensington Museum, wliere it may be seen.
In any case, whether the double harp originated in Ireland or in Wales, the invention of the Welsh triple harp, with three rows of strings, naturally followed ; for, as music advanced^ the inconvenience of being circumscribed within tlie limited compass of only half the diatonic scale on either side of the instrument would soon be felt ; therefore, it was extended on each side to the fuU extent of the instru- ment, with a centre row of accidentals, accessible from either
side.
It is worthy of remark that the Welsh triple harp is the only instrument of the kind that has ever been known with the strings on the right side of the comb ; thereby necessitating its being tuned with the tuning-hammer in the left hand, which is exceedingly awkward to anyone who is not left- handed. This circumstance may also explain why it is held on the left shoulder, and played upon v/ith the left hand in the treble and the right hand in the bass, so as to have a fuU view of the strings ; otherwise the comb would inconveniently intercept the view, as is the case when Welsh harpers in the present day attempt to play upon the modern English pedal harp, — holding it on the left instead of the right shoulder, with the strings on the left side of the comb.
The science of music having so rapidly advanced within
16 THE NATIONAL MUSIC OF WALES.
the last centiiry, rendered it absolutely necessary that still further improvements should be made in the harp, that it might keep pace with other instruments. The difficulty of playing upon the inner row of strings of the triple harp in rapid passages, and the impossibility of playing in any other key than the one in which the instrument was tuned, gave rise to the invention of the pedal harp, M'hich is an immense improvement, in a musical sense, upon any former inven- tion ; as it admits of the most rapid modulation into every key, and enables the performer to execute passages and com- binations that wouhl not have been dreamt of previously. In the double-action harp, perfected by Erard, each note has its flat, natural, and sharp, which is not the case with any other stringed instrument; and this enables the modern harpist to produce those beautiful enharmonic effects which are peculiar to the instrument. Another remarkable advant- age has been attained by this invention — the reduction in the number of strings to one row ; which enables the per- former not only to keep the instrument in better tune, but to use a thicker string, and thus attain a quality of tone, which, for mellowness and richness, may be advantageously com- pared with that of any other instrument in existence.
To return to the Welsh triple harp. The increased re- sources attained by the invention of that instrument, as being so far in advance of any other instrument of its kind, up to that period, gave a powerful impetus to the progress of music in the Principality ; and may go far to account for the superior beauty, in an artistic point of view, of the national music of Wales over that of any other country. This fact is admitted by the most eminent writers on music ; and, lest I should be considered too partial, as a Welshman, witli regard to the music of my native country, I venture to quote Dr. Crotch^ a distinguished composer and learned his- torian, and, for some time, Professor of music in the Univer-
THE XATIOXAL MUSIC OF WALES. 17
sity of Oxford, and Principal of the Eoyal Academy of Music. In the first volume of his Sjjecimens of Yarious Styles of Music, referred to in his course of lectures, he writes as follows : —
" British and Welsh music may be considered as one, since the original British music was, with the inhabitants, driven into Wales. It must be owned, that the regular measure and diatonic scale of the Welsh music is more congenial to the English taste in general, and appears at first more natural to experienced musicians than those of the Irish and Scotch. Welsh music not only solicits an accompaniment ; but, being chiefly composed for the harp, is usuaUy found with one ; and, indeedj in harp tunes, there are often solo passages for the bass as well as for the treble. It often re- sembles the scientific music of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries ; and there is, I believe, no probability that this degree of refinement was an introduction of later times."
Further on, he continues : —
" The military music of the Welsh seems superior to that of any other nation, In the German marches, the models of the English, most of the passages are noisy, interspersed with others that are trifling, and even vulgar. In those of France also there is much noise, togetlier with chromatic and other scientific passages. The Scotch Highland marches, called Ports, are wild warbles, Mdiich might (and^ indeed, upon many occasions did, in a remarkable degree) inspire courage, but which could not answer the purpose of regulating the steps. But in the Welsh marches, ' The March of the Men of Har- lech', ' The Älarch of tlie Men of Glamorgan', and also a tune called ' Come to Battle^ there is not too much noise, nor is there vulgarity nor yet misplaced science. They have a suffìciency of rhythm without its injuring the dignified character of the whole, which, to use the words of the poet, is —
VOL. IL C *
18 THE NATIONAL MUSIC OF WALES.
" . . . Such as rais'd To height of noblest temper heroes of old Arming to battle ; and, instead of rage, DeUberate valour breath'd."
Par. Lost, Book I, line 551.
Dr. Crotcli, in his eulogium on Welsh music, specially mentions military mnsic only, whereas I think he would have been sure to have alluded to our plaintive music, had he been better acquainted with such melodies as " Davydd y Garreg Wen" (David of the White Eock), or " The Dying Bard to his Harp", " Morva Ehuddlan" (The Plain of Ehudd- lan), " Torriad y Dydd" (The Dawn of Day), and many others of the kind. I consider their great fondness for the minor key to be a very marhed characteristic of the Welsh people. Some writers have attributed this peculiarity to the iníluence of the circumstances under which their music was composed ; but, inasmuch as the same tendency exists in the present day, after centuries of peace and prosperity, I am inclined to lay it to the strength of the emotional feelings of the Welsh as a people ; for I have frequently witnessed their being so touched by the performance of one of their own plaÌDtive melodies, as to shed a tear of delight, — even in the presence of others, of a different nationality, who did not appear to have been afíected in the same degree. Nor are our pastoral melodies less worthy of admiration, — their varied character- istics being equally striking.
The Eisteddvodau have afíbrded the greatest encourage- ment to the study of music and poetry ; and the contests on those occasions have been the means of recognising real merit, and of suppressing mediocrity. The result being, that music occupies a mucli more elevated position in the Princi- pality at the present time than it has ever done at any former period. In proof of this, it is only necessary to call attention
THE NATIONAL MUSIC OF WALES. 19
to the wonderful progress raade in choral singing alone, and to the great number of choral societies formed throughout the Principality. It wouhl hardly be credited that, at an Eisteddvod held at Abergavenny on Easter Monday, 1874, as many as ten choirs, each niimbering, on an average, be- tween four and five hundred — making a total of between four and five thousand voices — competed for a prize of a hundred pounds ; and, as one of the adjudicators upon the occasion, I have no hesitation in stating their singing was in no way in- ferior to that of the choir which came up to London in 1872, and successfully competed for the prize of a thousand pounds at the Crystal Palace. I believe I am correct in saying that the ten choirs belonged to ahnost the immediate neighbour- hood of Abergavenny ; in every case Avithin a radius of twenty miles.
What other country in Europe, of the extent of Wales, can boast of as much activity in the cause of music ? The con- sequence is, that our choirs carry everything before them; our young vocalists carry ofí' the scholarships at the principal institution of this country, and perhaps of Europe, — the Royal Academy of Music ; our musicians ar6 beginning to take their musical degrees at the great Universities of the Empire ; we have established a University of our own in the Principality, and musical education has been inchided in its programme.
We are thus, I trust, proving ourselves worthy descendants of the bards and minstrels from whom we have inherited THE National Music of Wales.
[The foregoing paper was read by Mr. Thomas before the Honourable Society of Cymmrodorion on the 13th of March, 1878, in the Music Hall of the Êoyal Academy. — Ed.]
G 2
20
CAN GWRAIG Y PYSGODWR. Gan y parch. john blacrwell.
GoRPH\ATS Don ! dylifa ^n llonydd, Paid a digio ^rrth y creigydd ; Y mae Anian yn noswylio, Pam y byddi di yn effro ? Dwnd^^T daear sydd yn darfod, — Cysga dithan ar dy dywod.
Gorphw}^s Fôr ! Mae ar dy lasdon Un yn dwyn serchiadau 'nghalon ; Nid ei ran yw bywyd segur, Ar dy lifiant mae ei lafur ; Bydd dda wrtho, Fôr diddarfod, Cysga 'n dawel ar dy dywod.
Paid a gTwgnach, bydd yn ddiddig, Dyro ffrwyn ya mhen dy gesig A pha esgus iti fPromi ? Nid oes g^ynt yn mrig y Uwyni ; Tyr'd a bad fy ngŵr i'r diddos Cyn cysgodion dwfn y ceunos.
lawn i wraig yw teimlo pryder Pan bo 'i gŵr ar gefn y dyfnder ; Ond os cyffry dig dy donnau, Pwy a ddirnad ei theimladau ? 0 bydd diiion wrtli fy mhriod, — Cysga ^n dawel ar dy dywod.
21
THE SONG OF TtlE FISHERMAN'S WIFE.
Tkaxslated by THE EDITOR.
^o J
Eest, 0 wave, witbin thy deeps,
'NoT 011 augry rocks be breaking Twilight falls and Nature sleeps, Why shouldst thou be ever wahing ? Stillness broods o'er all the ì-ànà, — Sleep, then, on thy golden strand.
Rest, O Sea ! On thy bhie w\ave,
Tossed with ever ceaseless motion, Toils a spirit frank and brave, — Lord of all my heart's devotion ; Geiitly rock hini on thy breast, Hush him to his eveniug rest !
In the forest, on the pLain,
Not a zephyr now is breathing ; Chafe not then, 0 Sea ; restrain
Thy wild waves' tumultuous seething ; Night is darhening o'er thy straud, Bear his light-winged barq^ue to land.
Startles oft the tender wife
As she scans the smile of Oceau ; In its darker hour of strife,
"Who can tell her heart's emotion ? Sleep in peace, tempestuous Sea ; Briiig my loved one back to me !
22 CAN GWEAIG Y PYSGODWH.
Byddar ydwyt i fy yinbil,
Fôr didostur ! ddofn dy grombil !
Trof at Un a all dy farchog
Pan bo 'th donnau yn gynddeiriog ;
Cymmer Ef fy ngŵr i'w gysgod,
A gwna di 'n dawel ar dy dywod.
NoTE. — The Welsh poetry of the preseut century is of two kiuds. The one, Cyuiric iu diction, is also Cyniric iu thought, The other, though siuiilar in its outward dress of lauguage aud form, draws its iuner life from more diversiíied and wider sources. The former, homely aud ofteutimes simple, is yet replete with pathos and grandeur ; while the latter, of a broader and more universal character, aud gathering its wealth from the literature aiad languages of nations, is equally rich in all that constitutes genuine poetry. Betweeu the beauties of the two kiuds, the educated Welshmau fìnds it ofteu difBcult to decide.
Of the former, Lewis Morris ÇY Lîew) may be regarded as the rej^re- sentative. How beautiful, and yet how truly Welsh, is his ' Cauiad y Gog i Feiriouydd'! The following verses are especially a model of the idiomatic poetry of the lauguage : —
" Eidion du a dyn ei did,
Ond odid i ddyn dedwydd, I dorri ei g\vys ar dir ac íir
A braenar yu y bronnydd ; Goreu tyn, f e 'i gvvyr y tad,
Morwynion gwlad Merionydd,
" Pwy sydd lân o bryd a gwedd,
Ond rhyfedd mewn peutrefydd ? Pwy sy 'mliob hyswiaeth dda
Yu gwlwn gydá 'u gilydd? Pwy sy 'n ymyl dwyn fy ngho'?
Morwynion bro Meirionydd.
" Glân yw 'r gleisiad yn y llyn,
Nid ydyw hyn ddim newydd ; Glân y w 'r fronfraith yu ei thy,
Dau daeuu ei hadenydd ; Glauach yw, os d'wedai 'r gwir,
Morwynion tir Meirionydd."
THE SONG OF THE FISHERMAN's WIFE. 28
Pitiless, insatiate Sea,
Thou but mock'st my bitter weeping ; There is One who rides on thee, And has all thy stornis in keeping ; He will hear me and command Thee to rest upon thy strand.
Of the latter kiud of poetry, Blackwell is, perhaps, the chief expoaeut. While the lauguage of liis effusious is pure aud idiomatic, the thoughta bear all the impress of a high education and of acquaintance, not only with Celtic literature, but with that of other peoples and languages. He has ransacked the storehouses of English poetry aud trausferred uiuch of their wealth into his own Cymric tougue — uot in it.s crude, uudigested state ; but, by f usiug it in his alembic and mouldiug it iuto new forms, he has giveu us creationa that, retaiuing all the characteristics of their origiual coudition, are yet new in our Wekh literature.
The poem before us wiU, if carefully examined, prove our assertiou. We must caution our readers uot to form their judgmeut of the truth of these remarks from the translatiou. A right opiniou can be formed only by an exact criticism of the original.
The two kinds are concentred iu the poetry of Goronwy Owen, and in an extraordinary degree. Af ter ranging through the AYÌde fields of Grecian, Roman, aud English literature, he writes his strains in a purely Cymric idiom — fiising thought and language into one compound in his crucible.
24
PRIYATE DEYOTIONS OF THE WELSH IN
DAYS GONE BY.
By the REV. ELIAS OWEN, of Ruthin.
In tlie more secluded parts of Wales, up to a time remem- bered by the living, the evening devotions of the people con= sisted of prayers in rhyme, with the repetition of the Creed and Lord^s Prayer. These were usually uttered audibly in a reverent manner, and in a hneeling posture. One of the most common of these rhythmical prayers comnienced with " Mani wcn'. It is known as Breuddioyd Mair, Mary's Dream. I have collected several readings of this hymn, and, as it is curious, it is worth perpetuating.
The íìrst copy of Breuddwyd Mair I met with in 1863. It was given me by John Parry, a shoemaker, of Aber, in Car- narvonshire, an intelligent nian who was fond of talhing of old times, which he continued to regard, notwithstanding modern inventions, as the " good old times". He was taught it by an old female neighbour forty-one years before, when he was a child; and she also taught him his Padar (Pater), tlie Lord's Prayer. But I will give his own words : — "Dyma i cliwi riw beth ac ni wn i ddim o ba le y tarddodd e na pliwy yw ei awdwr, ac a ddysgodd hen gymdoges i mi 41 mlynedd yn ol gydar padar iw ddweud cyn myned ir gw^ely bob nos ac yr oedd y pryd hynn yn beth cyffredin." He says : — " Here I seud you something, but I do not know whence it sj)rang, nor who its author was, that was taught me by an old female neighbour forty-one years ago, together with the 'padar, to say nightly before going to bed, and it was theu a common thing." And then he writes as follows: —
rKIVATE DEYOTIONS OF THE WELSH IN DAYS GONE BY. 25
Mara wen Fair wyt ti 'n huno ?
Ydwf anwyl Fab yn breuddwydio.
Be ti 'n weld yn dy f ryuddwyd ?
Gweld dy ddal ath ddilyn ath hoelio ar y groes
Ac un dyn dall wedi 'r fall ei dwyllo
Yn dy bigo dau dy fron aswy,
Y gwaed auwyl bedigedig yn llifo ; Gwir yw bryuddwyd mam wen Fair.
Pwy bynag ai g^'jpo ac ai dywdo Uair gwaith bob nos cyn hyno
Y breuddwyd drwg ni nyith niwed iddo, Tir uffern byth nis cerddo.
I have adhered to the orthography ; in fact, have given a perfect copy of my friend's letter. The Welsh is tliat of Car- narvonshire, and this wiU acconnt for sonie of the verbal differences between the above and the versions that are to foUow. He ends his letter as follows : — "A dyna fel y bydda pawb ar ol dweud ei badar drosdo 3 gwaith ac yn wir i chwi pan y bydda y dy wydd yn oer byddwn i yn rhedeg drosdo yn
0 fuan ond niae yr hen dy soíl a gwell(t) yna wedi myned ar dan ers dahn gan lawer ar ysbrydoedd yn gadwedig drwyr anhywsder;" which, rendered into Engiish, is as foUows : — " And thus did everyone, after repeating the Patei' noster three times, — and, to tell you tlie truth, when the weather was cold,
1 ran over it pretty quickly, — but that old stubble-built and straw-thatched house has long since been burnt by many, and the souls saved tln'ough ditficulties." The concluding remark shows the estimation of sucli prayers by a geueration but one remove from that in whicli they were common.
"Without attempting to turu these lines iuto English verse, 1 will give a translation thereof, following the verses as given in Welsh : —
Mary, mother pure, art thou asleep?
1 am, dear Sou, I am dreaming.
What seest thou in thy dream?
I see thee caught, and followed, and nailed to the Cross,
26 PEIYATE DEYOTIONS ÜF
Aud oiic benighted iiian, deceived of Satan, inerciug thy left side, Aud thy dear, blessed blood flowiug.
True is the dream, Mary, mother pure.
\Vhoever it knows, aud repeats it Three times each night ere sleeping, The Avicked dreani shall uot hini hurt, Hell's domains shall he iie'er tread.
Tliere is poetry in the pictiire which these lines bring be- fore us. Tlie Saviour sees His mother in a troubled dream ; and, child-like, inquires whether slie is asleep ; she, alludiug to the horrors caused by her dreani, informs her Son that she had been asleep, and that she had had a dream. Then He aífectionately inquires what that dream might be that caused her those throbs of mental pain ; and she, in answer, informs Him, that she, in her dream, had seen him, her dear Son, tahen prisoner, rudely followed by the moching crowd, nailed to the Cross, and His side pierced with a spear, and that His precious blood spurted from the cruel wound. She had had portrayed to her mind the whole scene of the Cruci- fixion. Then she is told that her dream was to be a fact. The picture is drawn by an artist, and the thoughts of the dying Saviour, which the repetition of this would suggest, are such as might well be our last, after a busy day's labours. But the latter part of the piece is greatly inferior to the foriner portion.
The next version that I shall give was taken down from the lips of an old woman in Flintshire, a good while ago, by a cousin of the Eev. Canon Williams, of Llanfyllin, who hindly gave me a copy thereof a few months ago. It is as follows: —
Mam wen Fair, wyt ti 'u ddeffro ?
Nac ydw, uac ydw, f' anwyl fab.
Yr ydwyf fi yn huno ac yn breuddwydio.
Mam weu Fair beth a weli di
Yn dy f reuddwyd i mi ?
THE WELSH IN DAYS GONE BY. 27
ìíie welaf dy ddilyn, dy ddal,
Dy roi ar y groes, ar wialen wen
Yn dy law, a choron o ddrain ar dy ben.
Gwedi i'r Fall fawr dy dwyllo,
Dy daro di â ffon o tau dy fron,
Dy waed gwirion bendigedig sydd yn coUi.
Sawl a'i d'wetto ac ai medro Tair gwaith cyn y'i cysgo, Dwy waith cyn y'i cotto, Breuddwyd drwg byth na thrwblo, Tir uffern byth na cherddo — Gwir yw 'r gair, amen ac amen. A felly fydd,
Since tliere are so many slight differences betweeu tliis and the íirst, I will give a translation of this also : — ■
Mary, mother pure, art thou awake ? l"m not, I'm not, my dear Son ; I am sleeping and dreamiug.
Mary, mother pure, what dost thou see
In thy dream that coucerns Me ì
I see Thee followed, caught,
Placed on the Cross, a white rod
In Thy hand, a crown of thorns on Thy head,
After that the great Deceiver has tempted Thee,
I see Thee pierced in Thy side,
Thy iunoceut, blessed blood fiowiug.
Whoever says it, aud knows it, Three tüues before sleepiug, Twice before rising, The bad dream will not trouble him ; He shall never walk hell's la,nd.
It is true, it is true, amen and amen,
And so it shall be.
Both these readings are substantially the same. But the verbal differences are many. In the first line of eacli, the Yirgin is addressed as " Mam wen Fair'\ Both begin alike, Wen I have translated imrc, though, primarily, the word means white. I think I am justified in so translating it. After the
28 rEIYATE DEVOTIONS OF
first tliree words, tliere comes a difference. In the Aber rendering we have the question, " TFijt ti 'n huno?" " Âvt thou asleepr and in the Flintshire version it is, " Wyt ti 'n ddeffro?" "Art thou aivakeí" There are not two lines alike throughout the whole, and yet they resemble each other strongly. They are the same, changed by being carried along and learnt by heart, it is true ; but, nevertheless, they are one hymn. Few, in days gone by, could read, and what was committed to memory would be varied by each one who learnt it; and hence the difference of these two pieces. Upon comparing the language of these readings, we see that in the Flintshire one, the word trwUo (trouble) comes in, in- timating that there Engiish words were creeping in amongst the Welsh words, and ousting the equivalent AVelsh word. As a comparison of language, the differences in these render- ings are very interesting; but it was uot for this purpose tliat they were penned, and so I go on.
The following version of " Mary's Dream" was tahen down from the lips of an aged man who lived ou the hill above Penmaenmawr, near Llangelynin old church, by Mr. Richard Wynne Parry. The person who repeated it was ill at the time, and died shortly after Mr. Parry saw him. He stated that everybody used it when he was a child. It is as fol- lows : —
Mam wen Fair, a wyt ti 'n huno ?
Nac wyf, fy anwyl Fab, yr wyf yn breuddwydio.
Betli a welaist ti yn dy freuddwyd ?
Gweled dy hel, a dy ddal, a dy ddilyn,
L)y roddi ar y groes a'th groeshoelio ;
Yr luddew du dall oedd y fall a dy dwyllodd,
Gwin i borthi, dwfr i 'molchi.
Sawl a ddywedo hon bob nos dair gwaith cyn huno, Dim breuddwyd drwg wua uiwed iddo. Amen.
This, the Llaugelynin version, is more imperfect than the
THE WELSH IN DAYS GONE BY. 29
other two; but it contains one line of which they are deficientj
viz. : —
Gwin i bortlii, dwfr i 'molchi. Wine to feed, water to cleanse.
Alluding probably to the Sacraments.
There is also one pretty line in the Aber version which is
not in the rest, viz. : —
Gwir yw 'r breuddwyd mam wen Fair. True is the dream, Mary, mother pure.
In the riintshire version, also, there is one thing not to
be found in the other two, viz. : —
Dwy waith cyn y i cotto. Twice before he rises,
And this line shows that, as the day ended, so it was to be- gin with the repetition of the hymn — with this difference, however : that it was said there three times before going to bed, and twice iu the morning when lying on the bed.
AU these differences show that the copies are all incom- plete ; but if a number large enough could be picked up, it would appear that one would help the other, and by-and-by a perfect copy might be procured.
With one other version, I will bring Breuddwyd Mair to a close. The Yenerable Archdeacon Evans wrote the follow- ing out from memory; and, as far as it goes, it is very perfect, but it is only a part of the whole : —
Breuddwyd Mair.
Mam, wen Fair, pam rwyt ti 'n wylo?
Nid wylo roeddwn, fy Mab, ond breuddwydio.
Mam, wen Fair, beth oeddit yn freuddwydio ?
Gweld dy ddal, fy Mab, a'th groeshoeUo,
A dyn y fall, wedi dalhi a'i dwyllo,
Yn rhoi pig ei ffon dan dy fron,
Nes oedd dy waed sanctaidd yn llifo.
The number of renderings of this hymn shows liow univer-
30 PRIYATE DEYOTIONS OF
sally it was iised ; but it is not found in Montgomeryshire, and possibly it had its home among the hills.
The Eev. Canon Williams, of Llanfyllin, rememhered another rhythmical prayer, that I have never met with. Tlie reverend gentleman writes : — " When I was a small hoy, parish apprentices were the rule ; and I rememher that a little fellow used to come to the parlour door at Nant Meliden, and kneel down, on his way to bed, and repeat the foUowing, ending with T Poder : —
' Yn enw Duw i'm gwely yr af ; Duw a gadwo 'r iach a'r claf ; Mi rof fy mlien i lawr i gysgu, Mi rof fy enaid i Grist lesu, Ac yn enw Duw mi gysgaf.
' Pan ddelo dydd y foru Yn amser i mi godi, Rhag i'r gelyn yn ddiffael Gael arnaf ail i bechn.'
There seems something defective, but this is what I recollect."
The child's hymn is as follows : —
In God's name to my bed I go ; God keep the hale and those in woe ; I'll lay my body down to sleep, I'll give my soul to Christ to keep, And in the name of God I'll sleep.
The second verse is incomplete ; it contains a M^sh to be kept from sin on the following day.
I now know a farmer's wife who is in the habit of rehears- ing the Creed in her private nightly devotions ; and, a few years ago, an old woman, who had seen upwards of eighty years, told me that she had daily said her Pader and Credo^
• The use of the Pader and Credo is confirmed by the following anecdote : —
"An old woman of Aberdovey, while crossing the part of Cardigan Bay that lies between Aberystwith and Aberdovey, in an open boat.
THE WELSH IN DAYS GONE BY. 31
from infancy, and that, as long as she lived, she intended doing so — that she could not ahide the new-fangled ideas of the present days. The old lady has gone to her long resting- place, and ^dth her has died the old habit of repeating tlie Creed of an evening after the Lord's Prayer.
I do not for a moment suppose that these peculiar forms of devotion belong exclusively to Wales. They are in use in the present day in Catholic France, with a slight difiference. Instead of the Saviour, the angel Gabriel is made to ques- tion the Yirgin. The same answers, however, are returned in the French as in our Welsh versious.
In certain parts of England, too, some of these devotional rhymes are used with but little variation. The following is in common use in many parts, and answers to the boy's prayer in page 30 :—
Xow I lay me do'wn to sleep, I pray the Lord my soul to líeejî ; If I fchould die before I wake, I pray the Lord my soul to take.
If no other lesson is taught us by these " Devotions", they prove how truly the sayings and doings of ages long gone by are borne downwards on the stream of tradition. Eemains, as they are, of Eoman Catholic times, they are deserving of record, not only, as I have stated, for their curious character, but for the lesson they teach us with regard to tradition. They prove how accurately it hands down to our day the transactions and even the sayings of long centuries ago. Wales has renounced the faith of Eome for upwards of three hundred years ; and yet these echoes of her former creed are
found the passage so stormy, as to eause her to resort to earnest prayer for deliverai)ce. "\N'hen she landed at the latter place, she exclaimed with great delight :— ^^Moliant i Dduw am y ddaear las unwaith etto; nid oes achos am na phadcr no chredo ar hon.' ' God be praised for the green earth once more. There is no need of úì\ìqt pater or credo on this.'
32 EPIGRAMS FROM THE OLD POETS.
stiU heard in lier mountains and valleys. We are invited, consequently, to give tradition tlie importance it claims at our hands, nor deny it the authority which narratives like these so strongly uphold.
EPIGRAMS FEOM THE OLD POETS.
No. 2. Y B R A D W R.
O gwelwch ddyn a golwg Isel drem, yn selu drwg, A thafod esmwyth ofeg, I^r byd yn doidyd yn deg, Ac amd wên ar ei enau, — Heb wad ef wna frad yn frau.
ARCHiEOLOGICAL NOTES.
Eead at tlie Mecting oftJie Brítüh Archxological Association at LìangoUen,
Augrist 29<Ä, 1877.
By PROFESSOR RHYS, of Oxford.
Otiieiis may be tnisted to point oiit to tlie members of this learned Association the material remains of archíeological interest in this charniing district of Lhingollen ; bnt there is a sense in which tnmnli, earthworts, and cromlechs are no more facts than are words, and especially names. It is by directing attention to two or three of the tales snpplied by this part of the conntry, that I wonld attempt to do my part in welcoming this Association on its fìrst visit to North Wales.
One might begin by dwelling on the history of some of the neighbotiring churches, more than one of which commemo- mte the names of St. Germanns and St. Bride or Bridget, snch as Llanarmon and Llansantífraid. One of the lessons to be learned from those names seems to be that there has been a fashion in the case of saints, as in everything else.
Whether any of those alhided to are the ohlest names of the churches now so called, may be doubted ; at any rate, theíe are reasons for doubting that the churches called Llan- armon received that name during the period in which St. Germanus lived. But in the case of the church after wliich this parish is called, it is not so, for the Welsh have never allowed oblivion to cover the memory of the man who seems to have been the fìrst niissionary that laboured on the banks of the Dee, to turn our pagan ancestors to Christianity, and the name of CoUen will be remembcred as long as this place continues to be called Llangollen.
VOL. II. D
34 AECH^OLOGICAL NOTES.
This is not the time for a lesson on Welsh plionology, but
I always feel glad of an opportunity of learning a new sound ; and perhaps some of those attending the meeting of the Association would be glad to acquire the sound of the AYelsh
II before returning to Engiand. The directions need not be long. Discard the grotesque accounts of that sound in Eng- lish books, place your tongue in position for pronouncing l, and blow a good deal harder than need be for that consonant, then you have our II ; so long, hovvever, as you hear tlil, or clü, you may be sure you have not hit it_, as it is a single consonant and not a combination.
To return to St. Collen, it would be needless to trouble you with the legends usually attached to his name ; but I would call your attention to one which I have never seen published in English. I am indebted for it to one of our best Welsli archaîologists, the Eev. Owen Jones, of Llandudno. The foUowing is the substance of a Welsh letter with which he favoured me about a fortnight ago : —
" I have long been of opinion that our early Welsh legends are to be regarded as allegorical descriptions of bistorical facts ; and on one occasion, several years ago, I happened to be lodging at a farm house near Pentref-y-Dwfr, at the foot of Bwlcli-y-Ehiw-felen. In the morning the farmer, INIr. John Tudor, accompanied me over the Bwlch on my way to Llandegla, and in answer to my enquiries he related the foUowing legend, which he had heard when a boy engaged as a shepherd on the mountains there : — In some very early period there used to live on the top of this Bwlch a giantess, who used to mutilate and kill all who came that way ; at last, a man from the neighbouring Yale of LlaugoUen, made •up his mind to rid the country of her; he sharpened his sword in order to go to fìo;ht with her. After he had climbed to her court, she came out to converse with him, and tlie result was that they engaged in a severe combat. By and
ARCILEOLOGICAL NOTES. 35
by tlie man succeeded iii cuttiug oíî the riglit arm of the giantess, but she continued to fight as strenuously as ever. This went on until he managed to cut ofî her left arm also, whereupon tlie giantess began to call aloud to Arthur iu tlie rock of Eglwyseg, entreating him to come to her rescue, as the knave was murdering her. The end, however, was that she was killed, and that the man hurried away to wash him- self clean from her blood in a spring on the mountain, which is to this day known as CoUen's Well. The explanation," continues Mr. Jones, " which I ventured to give Mr. Tudor was the following : — By the giantess was meant a cruel and oppressive system of religion, which prevailed here before the introduction of Christianity ; it was the missiouary who first brought the Gospel into those parts, and to whose memory Llangollen was consecrated, that was represented by the man who came to fight the giantess. It was with the sword of truth that he broke the force of her influence, partially at first and more completely afterwards, and in spite of her appeal to the secular power, here represented by Arthur, she was killed so as to rid the country of her violence and cruelty. Perhaps," adds Mr. Jones, " the legend was iu- vented by one of the monks of Yalle Crucis Abbey, which is in that neighbonrhood."
So far his explanation is highly ingenious, as applied to the legend in its present form. However, I am inclined to think that it dates long before the time of Valle Crucis Abbey, and that most of the materials out of which it was constructed are even older than Christianity ; perhaps one might charac- terize it as a pagan legend fertilized by Christianity. I doubt whether we might venture to compare the giantess with the sphynx ; but if we substitute for her a dragon, we can con- nect it with a well-known class of legends, and at the same time discover a motive for the victorious slayer of the giantess hurrying away to a well to wash himself clean from her blood,
36 ARCH.EOLOGICAL NOTES.
for tliat may, as iii some oí' the dragon legends, have beeíi poisonoiis. It is hard to say, whether the reference to the well partakes more of the nature of a solar myth or of Chris- tianity, bnt certain it is that St. Collen, who by implication is the hero, represents Christianity. Consequently, Arthur appears as one who might be appealed to on the pagan side. This is, I am inclined to thinlc, the original character of Arthur as the Solar hero of Kymry and Bretons ; and it is easy to understand how, when they became Christians, he had to foUow suit, so as to become the good knight we fìnd him in the Mahinogion ; as such, one cannot without some difficulty thinli of him as paying no heed to the cries of a female in distress. On the whole it would seem that an Arthur who was neither Christian nor chivalrous was an older and more original character than the one pictured in medi- íeval romance.
The foregoing legend probably did not stand alone. Within the last few days I have succeeded in coUecting a few shreds of a nearly parallel one at Llanberis. Between Llanberis church and the pass, nearly opposite the house called Cwm- glas, under a large stone called Y Gromlcch, on the left hand side as you ascend, was the abode of a giantess called Canrig (or Cantr'ig) Bwt, which seems to have meant Canrig the Stumpy, and to have indicated that her stoutness was out of all proportion to her stature. Now Canrig Bwt was a can- nibal, and es]3ecially fond of feasting on children. So when the man came who was destined to put an end to her, and challeuged her to come out and fìght, she coolly replied, '' Wait tiU I have scraped this young skull clean." In the meantime lie placed himself on the stone under wliich she was to come out, aud chopped off her head with his sword when she niade her appearance in quest of him. He is said to have been a criminal sentenced to death, who had tlie alternative of trying his Iuck in conflict with the giantess.
AECH.'EOLOGICAL NOTES. 37
and tlie narae of Canrig Biot lias come down to our time only as a means of friglitening naughty cliildren ; but I am not sure that this is a sufficient proof that her ravages were con- fined to infants.
I would call your attention next to the name of the river yoii have lately crossed and re-crossed so frequently, theDee; in Welsh it is called Dijfrdiinj, a word which analyses itself into Dyfr-dwy, whereof the first syllable is a weakening of dwfr, water. But what is the other syllable ? Two answers are given. It is sometimes crudely guessed to be the same as the Welsh dii, black, which is phonetically impossible, and deserving of no further mention. The more popular etymo- logy identifies it with Welsh dwy, the feminine of dau, ' two', and treats the entire name as meaning the water of tv:o, that is of two rivers; and the two rivers supposed to form the Dee are pointed out in the neighbourhood of Bala. It would perhaps be no serious objection to this etymology, that Dyfrdwy would accordingiy be a name which cou.ld be lite- rally applied to almost all the rivers in tlie world ; but a little fact sufíìces to dissolve a great deal of conjecture. The former offers itself in one of the ways in which Giraldus Cambrensis spells the name of the river, namely as Deoerdoeu, where doeu is the same as the old Welsh doiu or duiu, the genitive of old Welsh diu, a god, It is not altogether un- known in its full form in later Welsh, as for iustance in dwyw-ol, diviue, now written and pronounced dwyfol ; but more commonly duiu or dwyiu is shortened into dwy as iu meiidwy, a hermit, literally serous dei : similarly an old name Guas-duiu, which also meaus servus dei, a]3i)ears later as Giuas-duy. So the phonology of Dyfrdwy is perfectly plain and simple, and the word would have to be regarded as meaning a^im dei, but for otlier evidence which makes me prefer treating dwy as here meaning goddess, whence Dyfrdwy would be aqua dea}. Who was the goddess I do not know^
38 ARCmîlOLOGICAL NOTES,
but most probably slie was a personifìcation of tlie river. In later Welsh poetry tlie latter is persouifiecl under the name of Äcrfcn, wMch would seem to mean a war divinity, or simply war ; and we learn froni Giraldus, that in times when our ancestors and the English were at war, the Dee had still some traces of its divinity pr6served, as it seems to have been treated as the arbiter of victory and defeat : if the Dee ate away its eastern bank, it betokened defeat to the Eng- lish, and vice versa. The words alhided to occur in the 1 Ith chapter of the second book of the Itinerarium Ramhriíe; tliey run thus: — "Item, ut asserunt accolee, aqua ista singulis mensibiis vada permutat ; et utri finium, Angliaí scilicet an Kambriaí, alveo relicto magis incubuerit, gentem illam eo in anno succumbere, et alteram pr8evalere certissimum prognos- ticum habent."
Now, according to the rules of Welsli phonology, the old Welsh duiu, the later divyvj, stand for an early Welsh stem dey or dêw, which is the same whence the Eomans had their Dêva, and the English their Dee. It is not my intention to dwell on river \vorship among the Celts ; and I would merely refer you to a valuable paper by M. Pictet in the Bevue Celiique, entitled " De quelques Noms Celtiques de Eivières qui se lient au Culte des Eaux"j in which the learned Celtist, who is now no more, not only calls attention to Gallo-Eoman votive tablets to sucli water divinities as Dea Sequana, Dea Icaune, Dea Bormonia, Deus Borvo, and the like, but finds traces in Spain, Gaul, Britain, and Ireland of rivers bearing the same names as the Dee in the forms of Dëva, Dîva, and Divona, and nearly related ones. {Rev. Celticjue, ü, pp. 1-9.)
In the same paper he notices the rivers known in Gaul as Matra and Matrona, that is, names intimately connected with the Gaulish form of the word for ' mother', and recalling the numberless Gaulish divinities entitled Matrcs in Gallo-
AIÍCILEOLOGICAL NOTES. 39
Eoman inscriptions. This leads me to snggest a possible ex- plauation of tlie name of the principal point in the Clwydian range of hills, namely, Mocl Famau. Now moel means bald, without hair or without horns, and as applied to a hill it sig- nifìes one with a round top, such, in fact, as Moel Famau is, but for the unfortunate Jubilee Tower on it. Faniau is a regular mutation of Mamau, apparently the plural of Mam, ' a mother', thus Mod Famau would mean the ' moel of mothers', which sounds, however, somewhat more indefinite than the majority of Welsh nanies of the kind, and suggests that the defìnite article here, as in so many other instances, has been dropped ; the name would theu in full be Moel-y- Famau, but that could only be a relic of the use of a dual number in Welsh, and should be rendered into English ' tlie Moel of the two Mothers'. But who were these mothers, whether two or more in number ? I am inclined to think that they were no human mothers, but imagiuary beings, possibly associated with, or personifications of springs of water rising in tlie Moel ; but whether further acquaiutance with the ground woiüd tend to confirm this somewhat vague conjecture, I am unable to say, as I have never had an oppor- tunity of examining it. On the other hand, it would be evi" dently unwise to neglect any traces in this country of cults wliich, it may be presumed, were once common among the Celts, both in the British Isles and on the Continent.
40
THE EISTEDDFOD OF THE FUTURE.
By Mrs. A. WALTER THOMAS, and DAVID THOMAS, Esq.
FoLLOWiNG 011 tlie lines of GwalcJwiai's lucid historical ex- planation, wliich appeared iii the last niiniher of the Cymm- roclor, of the pnrposes of the Eisteddfod of the Past, it may not be nnworthy of consideration wlietlier the time has not aiTÌved when one of the maiu features of the Eisteddfod should be developed and adapted to meet an acknowledged want of the present day.
As we have seen, tlie Eisteddfod originally exercised three functions : first, that of a legislatire assembly, for the enacting of laws : secondly, that of a judicial body, which interpreted and enforced them : thirdly, that of a learned body, which aimed at the advancement and eucouragement of learning, and notably of poetry, music, and art. By the statute of Ehuddlau in the reign of Edward I, the two first functions were absorbed by Parliament and the Courts of Justice re- spectively ; but the last function, for fulfiUing the duties of whicli no special legal provision was madcj lias never been superseded, and it may therefore fairly be argued that the powers of the Eisteddfod, qíioad hoc, still remain unrepealed and only in abeyance. They are, therefore, a Constitutional right l)elonging to the Frincipalíty.
Some recognition has been extended from time to time by British Sovereigns to the National Eisteddfod of Wales, but the aìithoritìj of aii Eisteddfodic body has long ceased to exist, although the popular feeling in its favour has increased.
The national acceptableness, the purposes, the prevalence
THE EISTEDDFOD OF TIIE FüTUIíE. 41
of Eisteddíbdau, indicate tliat so peculiar an institutiou should no longer exist without more marked recognition ; and that it should be enabled to carry out its mission for the benefit of the Principality in accordance with the advanced rec[uire- ments of this age.
While costly and complex machinery of every kind is pro- posed or utilised for advancing the civilisation and culture of the Welsh people, here is at hand an admirable engine, capable of being utilised for the purpose. Every county, every town, every village even has its literary meetings (generally under the name of Eisteddfodau), where niusic, poetry, art, and literature form subjects for healthy emula- tion. Once or twice a year the whole culminates in a more imposing and general meeting under the name of Yr Eistedd- fod, or Yr Eisteddfod Genedlaethol, the popularity of which is attested by the numbers and character of those who attend, or who take an interest in it, either as competitors for prizes, adjudicators, visitors, or patrons. Such a gathering, and for such a purpose, as was seen last year at Wrexham, and this year at Carnarvon, indicates a vast amount of intellectual activity in which the Welsh language plays no mean part.
Our Saxon frieuds have been told often, and told truly, that the English language is rapidly spreading in Wales, and that not a singie day-school teaches the Welsh lauguage. It might perhaps surprise them, were they further informed that, in spite of all this, there are issued in the Welsh lan- guage in the Principality no fewer than two quarterly and sixteen monthly periodicals, and thirteen weekly newspapers; that Welsh is now spoken by a nuniber of persons greater probably than in the days of the Heptarchy ; and that its Yocabulary is enriched daily by the addition of new words.
These facts and statistics suíîìciently indicate a reading public in Wales ; and not only is this the case in the present day, but the whole nation is pautiug for improvement, and
42 THE EISTEDDFOD OF TIIE FUTUllE.
looking out for some liaiid tliat will guide tliis intellectual
actÌYÌty wliicli finds its vent througli the mediura of the
"Welsh language. That ruling power should be found in the
Eisteddfod, for, as has been W'ell said by a German writer
(Möser in his OsncibrücTc History), all laws should be the out-
come, not of abstract theories, but of the history of a people ;
and that institution which has so deep a hold on the
hearts of the Cymry is surely best adapted to guide their
minds.
The Eisteddfod is the natural as well as the national insti-
tution of Wales. " The study of modern history", says
Shelley,^' "is the study of kings, financiers, statesmen, and
priests. That of the history of ancient Greece is the study
of legislators, philosophers, and poets : it is the history of
men, compared with the history of titles." And to this
latter description the Eisteddfod may proudly lay claim. High
as the clamouT may rise outside of political and religious
strife — so highj alas ! as almost to justify the old proverb,
" Ni bydd dyun dau Gymro" — within her walls it is hushed,
and men are content to forget their dift'ereuces for a time,
that each may sprinhle his incense on the altars of those
" Sisters of the sacred well That from beneath the feet of Jove doth spring."
If the Eisteddfod possesses such powers when, by those out- side the Principality, its existence tiU lately has only been recognised to be scofíed at, what would not be its influence when surrounded by the prestige of State authority ?
And here may be pointed out the one great disadvantage under which the Eisteddfod labours. It lacks one chief element of success — autlwrity. Any body of men, in any part of Wales, may claim Eisteddfodic powers. They may forthwith coUect funds, announce prizes, hold meetings, and
1 Fragment of an essay on the literature, arts, and mauners of the Atheuiaus.
TIIE EISTEDDFOI) OF TIIE FUTUEE. 43
confer rewards, ìrrespective of their qiialifications for the task. That under these circumstances so mucli unanimity should reign, and so many qualified persons should be willing to undertate Eisteddfodic duties, is highly creditable to the nation, and forms a just claini for the extension and consoli- dation of the power of the Eisteddfod.
It is not surprising that under the disadvantages we have mentioned, Eisteddfod committees should become too local in their management, and too comniercial in their actions. Local bodies have a tendency to identify the interests of kno\\ledge with the commercial interests of their own town or locality. They are more anxious to attract visitors, in order to cover the pecuniary risks that they guarantee, than to advance any permanent object embraced within the scope of an Eisteddfod proper. Nor is it to be supposed that tlie world will be ready to bow to such a self-elected body, changing as the scene changes. Dissatisfaction with, and disputes concerning, the adjudications and the disposal of surplus funds are too often the unfortunate but unavoidable results of the present system.
To sum up these arguments. If the Eisteddfod of the pre- sent, in the hands of varying and self-constituted bodies with no authority and very little responsibility, is a useful and a popular institution, how much more so might be the Eisteddfod of the future, with disorder reduced to order, anarchy to government, isolated efforts to centralisation ?
NiD DA, LLE BO GWELL. Many of the warmest friends of the Eisteddfod have long felt the force of this proverb,and have directed their efforts to tlie creation of a permanent and central committee.
The time is ripe for change : for a change that shall give fuU effect to our aspirations, But how can this be accom- plished ? Surely, by giving aiUhoritìj to the Eisteddfod. We conceive that this result might be brought about as follows.
44 THE EISTEDDFOD OF THE FÜTURE,
The Eisteddfod might be iucorporated as a society imder a royal charter, for the performance of the third function already alluded to, viz., the encouragemeut of poetry, music, and art (understanding art in its widest sense).
Suíficient permanent funds should be provided for worknig the machinery. A constitution, foUowiug on historical lines as far as possible, should be drawn up, defining the duties and powers of the Eisteddíbd and regulating the appointment of its central governing body.
This governing body or couucil should be carefiúly choseu from individuals of marh sujjìcient to give weight to their decisions. On Cj[uestions of music and philology there are certain Welsh names that at once present themselves, whose owners would anywhere be accepted as fully competent and Yaluable members of such a councü. Nor would it probably be difticult in time to form a Ford Gron, a round table, capable of doino- good and honest service to the cause of Welsh litei-a- ture generally. Other branches of literature might also be brought, for the benefit of Wales, within the scope of tlie Eisteddfodic Council : and there is no fear that tlie task of finding competent members of the couucü or worthy adjudi- cators woidd prove difficult, with the whole world to clioose from. The London or Scotch Universities (or any of the bodies incorporated for special objects) have never been at a loss for persons able to perform simUar duties, while they have money to command their services.
In this way security woiüd be taken that the prizes and degrees conferred — the mintmarks of approval — should guar- antee the work as standard gold, above suspiciou (and this wüuld necessarily be the case if competent adjudicators were elected by the central authority).
The secoud point to be carefully considered is, that room should be left witliin these safeguards for the play of that liberty eujoyed by local committees in the selection of the
THE EISTEDDFni) OF TIIE FUTUIíE. 45
place for holding tlie Eisteddfod, and even the method of con- ducting it, and the management (or mismanagement) of local funds.
Nor (and surely this is important) should the worhing man be discouraged — that class which in Wales takes so unique an interest in Eisteddfodau. The standard of excellence in the republic of letters is high and difficult of attainraent by those who earn their daily liread by the labonr of their hands. Bearing also in view tlie important fact that every degTee conferred should be worthily conferred, and no sham, the Eisteddfodic Council might institute degrees of various order, so giviug to all merit due recognition, whether it flou- rish in sunshine or in shadow.
Tlius, whether iu poetry, in art, in science, in classical or modern language, in mathematics or philology (for all these and more might be subjects for competition), the distinction given would be what it professed to be. In this way, room would be left for the action of the general and local bodies respectively. The distinction of higher and lower degrees was not imhnown to the historic Eisteddfod : witness the grades of Druid, Bard and Ovate : aud, coming from the source which we have indicated, there would be no gainsaying thera.
An authoritative centre— such a centre as would command at once the confidence of scholars and of the country — is an absolute necessity.
It is obvious therefore that some organised body must be appointed to act with effect in discussing and defiuing the constitution of the Eisteddfod of tlie future, its objects and duties, its general and local action : in a word, in furthering the appointment of a properly constituted Eisteddfod autho- rity. By such a proceeding, order would arise out of chaos, real merit be honoured, pretentiousness discouraged, learning promoted, Welsh literature receive due recognition ; and
46 THE EISTEDDFOD OF TIIE FÜTURE.
last, but hy no means least, care woiild be taken of tlie Eistedd- fod excliequer, that funds might not Le laching for its various purposes. Obtaining this, Wales would obtain what it has long sought. Such a body responsible for the collection and employment of public and private funds would thus inspire confìdence.
It would be presumptuous to attempt detaii or to lay down dogmatically what range of subjects shouM be embraced by the Eisteddfod, and whether its sweep should be broader or narrower than at present. Enough, if the writers have suc- ceeded in indicating a real necessity in connexion with our country's peculiar and honoured institution ; and in suggest- ing that some organised body would best set about its con- solidation.
It wiU be for such a body as we ]iave indicated to coii- sider, as a preliminary step, the desirability of seeking a Eoyal Commission, which should make enquiries and collect into one focus information as to the requirements and claims of the Principality, the ancient uses of the Eisteddfod, and its adaptability to modern purposes : or whether it would be better, on the otlier liand, to seek at once a Eoyal Charter of Incorporation, from which would arise a duly constituted body, having authority, " a local habitation and a name."
47
L E T T E R S
ADDRESSED BY
LEWIS MOliRIS (LLEWELYN DDU) TO EDWAED EICHAED OF YSTEADMEUEIG.
(^Continued from Vol. í, p. 170.)
TO EDWAED EICHAED.
" Penbiyn, June 22nd, 1760.
" Dear Sir, — We have flies that are begot, come to perfec- tion and play, engender tlieir kind, and lay their eggs and die in one day, and the next day a new brood comes, and goes on the same for the whole snmmer, generation after geueration ; and these do as much, and to as much purpose, as most of us that annoy and distress one another, as if we were to live for ever. How many ages of those ílies is it since I have heard from you and my little ones ? Is your library almost íìnislied ? and when will you put up the books ? God send that it is not iU-timed, for the taste of our age seems to be quite otherwise. If you had lived in the time of the Primitive Christians, some good might have been ex- pected from such a thing, and the Church would have sainted you for it ; but those days are over, and the like of them will never be, for our shepherds are turned wolves and foxes, and my son, perhaps, will see your successor incaj)able of reading the title pages of the books you coUect. Thus our schemes, though ever so well founded, are very narrow and shallow ; but an active mind must be doing of something, let it end where it will. Most of the ancient philosophers (except
48 LETTERS.
Diogenes tlie Cynic) were lovers of society, and livecl among tlie thickest of their fellow-creatnres, and iniparted their knowledge readily, as if you had lived at Aherystwith and taught tlie inhabitants of that jDlace common civility and letters : few of them, or none, have run to the tops of moun- tains to instruct sheep and deer. Among the first Christians indeed, there were a snrly kind of people who affected retire- ment and lived in caves, but they seldom did any good, ex- cept what they did to themselves in mortifying the flesh. Am not I a silly fellow for attempting to persuade you to leave Ystrad Meurig, and to live at Aberystwith ? that was my scheme, but I am afraid to no purpose, for you seem to be like the plant Chameemoras, who m'ÌLL live nowhere but on the top of Snowdon. My messenger who comes with shirts for the boys calls on me for the letter, and says it will be too late to stay longer. In my last meeting with Teuan Fardd I liave convinced him thaf it is in vain for him to attempt Nennius until he has a better copy than Archbishop üsher's Nennius in Llauuerch library, which is far from being cor- rect, and will lead the world into intolerable errors. Nothing will do it but \Lv. Robert Yaughan of Hengwrt's copy, which hath been compared with all the ancient copies in the public libraries, the Cotton, Bodleian, Cambridge, the King's Library, and with L^sher's own transcript from eleven ]MSS. ; but the difílculty is to come at it, for Mr. Yaughan will suffer no man to see it, though his father hath suffered me to make some extracts out of it, which is the test I have to try all other copies by. That was the only man that understood Nennius, and that knew wliat he wrote about him, I mean Mr. Eobert Yaughan, who was cotemporary with L^sher. If you, who have so critical a knowledge of the Latin tongue, would take such a translation in hand, it would make you immortal, and the history loudly calls to be turned into EngLish, being jnst expiring ; but you have a thousand excuses, though indolence
LETTEES. 49
is tlie real reason. I conelude tliis witli my respects to your íìreside, aud am, " Dear Sir,
" Your Friend and Servant,
" Lewis Mor.pjs."
" Peubryn, July 4tb, 1760.
" Dear Sir, — I haye yours of Dygwyl ffair fadr, witli Dr. Pliilipps' and Mr. Pegge's letters, whicli made me stare, and I now return them. Their compliments are so high, that they made me turn about like the drunken woman, whose cloaths had been changed whüe asleep, and I asked myself, Ai fi ydT^yf fi ? doubting much whether the ch'aracter fits me. Besides, there is an old proverb among us wliich says, ' A fynno glod bid farw'. According to this, either I am dead, or this is no praise. Last night I had no sleep, a summer cough (the worst of coughs) has seized me, and brought an inflam- mation of the pleura, whieh has been partly removed by bleeding, but am stiU very bad. Ped fai waeth i neb araü ond fy eppil fy hun.
'•' Our frieud leuan has sent me some of Aneurin's works that is worth its weight in gold. 0 bishops, 0 princes, 0 ye fat men of the land, why suffer ye that man to starve ? Do not flinch from your part of attaching Camden, or you mìU have a chance of being shot in the head. I will send you an account, when 1 have leisure, of some parts of his body that are not invulnerable, not about his heels, but about his head, Yours is the first edition of him, and therefore is the best, for there you have the author in his native simplicity before he hath called allies to his assistance. Have good courage, nid oedd ond dyn fal dyn arall. Pwy ond Dewi Fardd sy 'n dyfod ar llythyr hwn, ar ryw neges i leuan, ag i edrych noethni ^r wlad mae 'n debyg.
"Mr. Pegge and Dr. Philipps are welcome to copy my
voL. n. E
50 LETTERS.
letters, provided no use is made of them without my consent. During a correspondence of about two years I had with the late Mr. Carte, I had some disputes with him about our antiquities. He has printed in his book of the History of England whole paragraplis out of my letters, and never owned but one from whence he got the matter (which is in page 31), and even that without my consent or knowledge. It is dan- gerous to correspond with such antiq[uaries ; but what is worse, some points which he had given up in his letters to me, he maintains in his book, to the dishonour of our Ancient Britons, and indeed to his own shame. I have annotations upon my interleaved British copy of Tyssilio, but I despair ever to have health to undertahe a translation of it ; besides that, my collection of Celtic Remains, to wliich T am ahnost intirely devoted, keeps me from everything else ; and to encourage leuan to give us an English translation of Nennius is my great ambition. I am sure that neither Leland, Cam- den, Sehlen, Usher, Sir Simon D'Ewes, Dr. Gale, nor any of the moderns, ever understood him, though tliey have been all beating about the bush. All that we want is the great Usher's genuine transcript, which he collated with eleven MSS. We have a coj^y of it ; but it is not correct.
" Yours siucerely,
"Lewis Morris."
" Penbryn, July 6th, 1760.
" Dear Sir, — Yours wrote yesterday I received by Dewi Ddifardd. He is but short indeed ; ond rhaid i'r adar mân gael bwyd. He takes his flight to-morrow. Yea, yea, watch Camden, and give him a knock now and then when lie slips. If I have a little leisure next week I shall send you a few notes on liim for your guidance. Ask Mr. Pegge questions by all means, and exert yourself Knowledge is not a native
LETTERS. 51
plant of any one countiy more tlian anotlier : it may be in your closet as well as Mr. Pegge's. Pray, let me see Morgan Herbert's epitapli. Let me also into the secret of the dispute you have about some passages in Lillÿs Grammar, though I may not understand such high things. Well, now comes the jest of the cause. Lewis and John's mother longs for a sight of her sons for four days. Her pretence is, that they want to be patched and mended ; but they had a sort of promise to come when the fruit grew ripe, and in the shearing season, when feasting goes on after the manner of the old patriarchs ; and lo, here are horses to bring them this very day. You'll think it expressly agaiust the rules of the Christian religion to send for tliem on the seventh day ; but in the time of the primitive Christians they were not so nice, as I fìnd by the Gododin, where Aneurin makes one of the greatest characters of his northern heroes in Cattraeth do it.
" Yn lladd Saesson y seithfed dydd. " My cough is a little better to day. I had but three fìts of it last night. " I am, yours sincerely,
"Leavis Morris."
"Penbryn, July 13th, 1760. " Dear Sir, — The boys return after a stay of four days, and two days their mother kept them, for which I am not ac- countable : for though Scripture and the Church say man and wife are one, yet, if ever you are blessed with a wife, you will find yourselves to be two most commonly, esi^ecially in disputes about children. The bearer will bring me Morgan Herbert's epitaph, I suppose, and the song. Usher did not understand Nenuius, because he was a Welchman; not be- cause he wanted learning, &c. You say you are lazy, but that you are resolved to be lionest in your calling. You may read Camden and give me a little help, and be honest too.
E 2
52 LETTEIÍS.
Well, I liaye now in niy thoughts to write a letter, to be sent to Dr. Philipps and Mr. Pegge, by way of reprisals. It is not fair I should alM'ays be on the defence. It is about some Saxon affair. If coughing and death do not interfere you shall have it soon. I am really very bad as to my health, and jogg on by mere dint of strength of spirits only. Many an heroe would liave sunk under such inürmities. If the materials of my body wiU hold out, I am now in a fit humour to write what I know of natural philosophy and antiquities : for I am not fit for any active part of life, which requires strength and motion. For God's sake, make noexcuses. The world wants to know what you know, and are capable of knowing iii a more exquisite manner than others. You that are arm^d with aU manner of weapons can fight with more effect than a poor fellow with twcca carn corn, let him be ever so wiUing. Such a one am I. God be with you.
" I am, yours sincerely,
" Lewis Morpjs."
" Penbryn, July 27th, 1760. " Dear Sir, — By the nature of things I expected this sum- mer, after my iUness last winter, to be in tolerable health; but so it is that, considering everything, I am reaUy worse than ever. I cannot sit down for haU an hour to write ; I cannot walk about for want of breath. Tho' I endeavour to be with my haymakers hitherto, I can scarce be said to exist 'anywhere, and live merely by art. This is my case. The Herbert inscription was designed by a good hand, but mur- dered either by the stonecutter or the schoolmaster that copied it. I thank you for your translation of it. The ori- ginal should be, I think, as I wrote it in the inclosed copy. Pray, let me liear how far you have gone with Camden.
" I am, yours, whilst
" Lewis Moreis."
LETTEUS. 53
" Peiibiyn, July 28tli, 1760. "Dear Sir, — Tlie pleasure I had in meeting witli agreement of sentiments with mine in perusing Dr. Philipps and Mr. Pegge's letters hath produced tliis. They had no occasion to apologize for tahing copies of mine provided they go no fartlier. What I wrote in my late letters was an answer to some douhts of theirs about our ancient British anticj[uities, which was inth-ely within miue own sphere, and within my depth, having made it my study for many years, and conse- quently, I ought to be a tolerable master of it, haviug come at such materials and opportunities as but few men have met with, some lucky accidents conspiring to briug these things together. But as for my performing what they so earnestly wish — a translation of Tyssilios British History — it is very uncertain, tlio' I have been providing materials this 35 years, I thank Mr. Pegge for his hint about the giants. What I write uow is, in a manner, out of my deptli, and I apply to them as men of learning, as 1 was applied to as a Cambrian anti- quary. I have met with I think a British MS., a very great curiosity, whicli regards the Engiish more than the Welsh. Tlie Teutonic language and its branches is what I never made my study, except by a transient view of it, as it is pretty much mixed in ancient time with the Celtic. The Celtic in all its branches, the Welsh, Erse, Armoric and Cornish, has been my study froni my childhood, and for which I have the strongest inclination ; but I never had proper materials or opportunities to study the Teutonic ; and the slips of Mr. Camden, and his followers, who pretended to etymologize the British tongue, is a sufficieut caveat for me not to meddle or pretend to any extraordinary hnowledge in the Saxou, Danish, or any branch of the Teutonic lauguage, which I do not perfectly understand. This must be left to the learned English, the descendants of the Saxons, Danes, and Normans, M^ho have MSS. iu pleuty of the Teutonic lauguage iu tliüir
54 LETTEES.
public libraries, aud Üie observatious of learued meu upon
them, which I never saw. This is an advautage the Engiish
autiquaries have : they are many iu number, and they have
materials in great plenty, as far back as the time of Bede,
who I reckon as their first author of whom we can be certain.
My meeting with this ^IS., of which I shall give some ac-
count by and bye, confirms me in the opinion I have been
loug of, that the people of Germauy, and all the North about
the Baltic, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, spoke the same lan-
guage (the Teutouic), except a colouy of Cimbrians, that
once inliabited the Cimbric Ohersonuesus, who in process of
time mixed with our uncoucj[uered North Albauian Britons,
and incorporated themselves together under tlie name of
Brython, (called) by Latin writers, Picti, by the English
called Pights, and by the Welsh, Piclitiaid, but by their
own people, Brython, derived from the Celtic Brith, parti-
cularised as their own poet Myrddin ap Morfryn, the Cale-
donian testifies —
' Brython dros Saesson Brithwyr ai medd'.
Hoianan Myrddin.
Our Tyssilio also gives ns a hint of this incorporation, and the reason of it, as doth the Triades, so that the Pictish tongue, the language of these Cimbrian sea-rovers was Celtic, and nearly related to the British, tho' Bede, who was a stranger to both, thought otherwise ; but the rest of the nations about the Baltic were certaiuly Teutous, and were, as we fiud in old MSS., called by the Britons Llychlymwyr, i.e., Llychlyn men, aud so to this day we, iu Wales, call tlie iuhabitants of Norway and Sweden ; and the Irish call them Lochlonnach ; but the ancient Irish made a distinction be- tween some of the sea-rovers which came from those parts. The Danes they called Dubhlochlonnach, i.e., Black Lochlyn men, aud some other nation, the Finlauders perhaps, Fion- lochlonnach, i.c, White Lochlyn nieu. The word Loclüon-
LETTERS. 55
nacli amoiig tlie Irish signifies also a mariner in general; biit tlieir antiquaries don't know tlie derivation of it to be from tliose Lochlyn men's being formerly masters of the sea ; and this also gi\^es a reason why our old English writers calls tbe Danes the Black Nation, and the Black Army. Llychlyn is an ancient British word, compounded of Lewch and Llyn. Lum in Irish is standing water ; in Welsh, a lake or pool is called Llynn, so that the meaning of Llychlyn amoug tlie Gwyddelian Britons (now Irisli), the aborigiues of Britain, was a sea-lake ; and among the Britons who succeeded them here, the Lake of Lakes, which comes much to the same purpose, a proper name enough for the Baltic. You know that in the beginning of the llth century, Canutus, king of Denmark, who was called in his own language Cnut, after many years infesting the coast, and making use of the usual arts of princes, conquered England, and became king of Eng- land, Denmark, and ISTorway, and after many violent proceed- ings to fix liimself on the throne, thought it the safest way to please the people,to encourage the country^s religion. About the year 1030 he went to Eome, bribed the Pope with vast presents, and came to England to do the same by his sons, the bishops and abbots, by heaping gifts of lands upon tliem out of other men's estates, to wash away his former sins. I think there can be little doubt that he advanced his own friends to the profitable places in the Church, or that he propagated and encouraged the use of his own language, the Danish, in England. If there was a considerable difference between that dialect of the Teutonic and the Saxon, and one would think that the grants he made to the churches were wrote in the Danish language, these things are natural enough to an aspiring prince, who settled himself by bloodshed and force. Some learned men think that Danes and Normans, or Northmen, signified originally the same people, and it is said that Eollo, the Dane or Norman, first gave name to the
56 ■ LETTERS.
coiintiy called Normandy, in France, abont the year A.D. 900. But the Pictish Poet ]\Iyrddin mentions Northmyn, i.e., Nor- mans, abont the Baltic, about 300 years before this, and calls their country Normandi.
' Pan ddyffo Northmyn ar lydan lynn'.
Hoianan Myrddin.
i.e., when Normans or Northmen came from the broad lahe, &c. By all which, it seems that the nations who from time to time infested Britain from the North above the Baltic, whether Danes, Norwegians, Frisians, Angles, Jutes, or Saxons, M'ere all Teutons or Northmyn, and spolce the sanie language, tlio' differing in dialects, which, as I take it, was not yery different from our present English in its pronuncia- tion. These things premised, I come to give an account of the MS. I mentioned. A friend of mine is in possession of a Latin MS. of the Four Gospels, on velkim, wrote in a most beautiful hand in the ancient British letter, now com- monly called the Saxon letter. The MS. seems to me to be as okl as St. Hierome's time, with whose version, as in print, I find it to agree in most places. There is a note in it, in capital letters, in Latin, which loohs but modern in com- parison to the book, signifying that it was expounded by Mseielbrith Macdurnam, and the book was given by ^thel- stan, king of the Anglo-Saxons, to the Church of Canterbury; and in the margin, in (I tliinh) a stiU more modern hand in figures, -f- 925, which probably was inserted about the loth century, when figures were in use. I take the book to have belonged originally to the Britons, not only on account of the character (the same letters being to be seen on our ancient tomb stoncs in "Wales, erected before the Saxons had the use of letters), bnt also because Maeielbrith Macdurn was also a Briton, as plainly appears by his name ; and you may see in some cojDÌes of Gildas's Nennius that the Cambro-British kings used, on the first coming of the Saxons, the appellation
LETTERS. 57
of Mac, instead of "Ap and Map, tlio' now entirely disused in Wales, and kept only in North Britain aud Ireland (see Nennius, chap. 53, Gale's edition), tho' of late suult iuto the suruame there, as Macpherson, Macdonald, &c., so Ap aud Map is also generally lost of late iu Wales in the surnames among the gentry of Pryse ap Rhys, Powel for ap Howel, &c. Pbr the better apprehending this affair, I shall insert here the said note faithfully copied with my own haud out of the said MS., every letter in its form : —
MiEIELBRIDYS- MACDVRNANI"
ISTVTXTV PER TRlqVADRV.
DO. DIGNE. DOGMATIZAT' 925 ASTAETHEL STAN^S* ANGLOS^XAA.
+ REX- ET RECTOR- DORYERNENI'
METROPOLr DAT- P.EW : *
This note seems to be iu the Saxou character used iu the tiuie of Athelstaue; aud that the Saxons had not taken as yet the old British letter (now called Saxon), tho' they had all or most of the Loegriau British libraries in their possessiou, which they found iu the great schools aud coUeges on their couquest, or as mauy of them as they iii their fìrst blind fury did uot destroy. I also think that Ma3Ìelbrith Mac- durnam was not the writer of this note, but tliat it was some Saxou after tlie book was given by Athelstane to the Churcli of Canterbury, aud who knew that it had been in tlie hauds of Ma3Ìelbrith, aud that he had WTote some explauations in the margiu of the text. Now, that this may be better under- stood, the manuscript hath neither chapter nor verses, but there are refereuces from oue Gospel to another in the margin in red letters, done, I think with a peucil, in a good haud, but a little different frora the l)ook, always iuclosed tlius : —
58 LETTEHS.
which I take to be explanations or dogmas of Mseielbrith mentioned in this note. The meaning of which note I sup- pose is this, Mseielbrith, the son of Durnan, doth worthily expound this text by references, &c., but Athelstane, king and ruler of the Anglo-Saxons, makes a present of the book to the Metropolitan Church of Canterbury for ever. Here I call to my aid Dr. Philipps, Mr. Pegge, and yourself : for I fairly confess I don't know what to make of the words per tricjuadrum Dominum. So much for the note about Maeiel- brith and Athelstane. Now to other matters in the said MS. In this letter I have given it as my opinion that the character in which Maeielbrith's note is wrote was the Saxon letter used by the monks of Canterbury in the time of Athel- stane, about a.d. 900, and I suppose since the time of Augus- tine, uuder Pope Gregory ; but I find that the old British letter (the character in which the MS. of the four Gospels was wrote) was, about a hundred years after this, taken in, not only by the Saxons, but by the Danes also, for there are some grants and instruments wrote about the year 1035, after King Canute had returned from Eome, on the void leaves in this MS. in this very character, called since, Saxon ; and whether tlie language of this grant is Saxon or Danish, if tliere was any difference betweeu them, I am yet to learn, and hope to be informed by your learned correspondents. I think 1 find some words in Cnut's grant which I don't re- member to have met with in Saxon books ; but I have not sufíicient knowledge in the Teutonic language and its branches as to pretend to be any judge in the matter. Here followeth a copy of one of those grants which Cnut made to Christ Church in Canterbury, and which I presume was entered in this MS. of the Gospels, to give it the greater solemnity : —
Cnut cyncj jpet ealle mine by mine eoplaf 7 mine jepepan on selcepe fcij-epe a:'];elno^ aj-ceb jìle hiped aet cpifcef, &c.
LETTERS. 59
i.e. Cnut cyneg gret ealle mine B and mine eorlas and raine gereffan on sel cere scire the JEtlielnoth arcet and se hired £eet cristes eyrceanland habbath Freondliec, and ie cythe eow that ic geunan hî that he beo his saca and socna wyrthe and gruth brycas and hamscone and forstealas and Infanges tlieoffes and flymena fyrmthe offer his agene meu Binnam Bysig and Butan and offer Crystes Cyrcean and offer swa Stala thegna swa hic him to leetun heebbe, and ic nelle that íenig mann aht theeron teo buton he and his wicneras for than ic híebbe Criste halge rihta forgifen minre Sawle to ecare alysendness ac ic nella that íeftve senig man this al)recca be minum freondscipe.
" If your correspondents wiU favour me with an English transhition, word for word, of the above grant, ' I Cnut, king, greet all my bishops, and my earls, and my rives,' &c., and also their opinion about Mseielbrith's note, and the other doubts of mine in this letter, I shall give them a further account of the MS., and of the other instruments in it.
" I am, yours sincerely,
" Lewis Moeris."
" Penbryn, August Ist, 1760.
"Dear Sir, — I received yours of the 28th ulto.,and happeued to read that part of it to my wife that related to the Wells; it made such an impression on her that she has not given me a minute's rest till I promised to go there next. Perhaps (says she) Dr. Ptichards, as he was so good as to prescribe gratis, may be so good as to meet you at Llan Drindod and see that you drink the waters, and that you do not drink too much strong artificial liquors. Well, but without johing, I am resolved to go there, and, please God, I intend to set out either Tuesday or Wednesday after dinner, and to be at D.
60 LETTERS.
Jones's, of Cwmystwyth, that night. Who do you thiiik, of all the men in the worhl, offered his services to come with me and keep me company there ? ISTo less a man than Justice Griffiths, who dined here yesterday. ISTow it happened in those days that a great fair is kept on the hills of Ehos, and most colleges and schools in those parts keep a sort of a carnival during the week this fair falls upon. My wife, who is my director in these deep things, says it is a fact, and that Mr. Edward Eichard generally keeps a holy week on those occasions, and slips to Flynnon Cwm y Gof, or some such silent retreat, out of the noise of the crowd. If so, or if not so, cannot you come to Cwmystwyth a Tuesday or Wednes- day night ? If you cannot, will you come to Cwm y Gof a Wednesday or Thursday ? Let me know if you can possibly. Griffìths cannot fix till Sunday whether Tuesday or Wednes- day we shall set out. Let me know by the bearer if you will favour us with your company, how and where, and I wiU let you know by some one who goes to Rlios fair a Monday what day we shall be at Cwmystwyth. So much for the Wells. The Herbert inscription required a conjuror to understand it as the bungler had wrote it, and you are more like to be in the right than I am, for I am no conjuror at all. Cyfiawn is certainly better sense than Cyflawn; but if a man has a mind to write Cyflawn I cannot help it. Why do you say it is in indifferent Latin ? Why did you not put some of your best stuff in it ? You have enough of it. Digrif fydd gweled Pegge yn constrio Homer. What becomes of the 8th case ? Surely it is a mistake of the printer's. There are too many cases already. However, bad as I am in health, you will see by a letter that comes along with tliis that I have not been idle, a bod gennyf ewyllys i daflu pel ar do er nad allaf daro neppell. You see I interlard my letters with Welsh, while men of learning adorn theirs with Greek and Latin quota- tions. But this is the highest pitch of my learuing, except.
LETTERS. Gl
I tlirow in a dish of geometry and algebra, wLicli perhaps would be fitter for nie tlian to meddle with any language. The art of writing and speaking any language seems to nie a bottomless pit. I see no end of it. Custom has so liigh a hand over it that it is extream uncertain ; and the whims of manlíind in setting such arbitrary marks on our ideas hath niade a sad jumble of tliings, and I think the confusion of Babel is acted over and over eveiy day. To entice you to come to Fynnon y Cwm I shall bring some entertaining pieces of antiquity with me, &c., &c.
" I am, yours sincerely,
"Lewis Morris."
" Penbryn, Aug. 23rd, 1700.
" Dear Sir, — Fair y PJios draws near, at which time I unist send you a letter in course, as either my wife or servants call with you to enquire how the children do ; and as it is a rainy day, and the mangement of corn is not practicable, I have set down to my pen and ink to begin a letter, let it end where it wiU. News from the Wells is what you expect fìrst. I have too many things to say, aud therefore do not know where to begin or to end, but must leave them all for your entertainment when you come here, as you have pro- mised. The upshot of all is, that I am cent. per cent. better in health after drinking the waters, which I can never enough commend, and must leave the sea-water to tliose that have drauk less of it (and used it in other respects less) than I have. I brought with me a good microscope and proper apparatus to examine the salts of the different springs there before I ventured on either of them, and shewed the experi- ments to several gentlemen and ladies to their very great surprise. This determined my choice of the waters; and nature points each of them to their proper purposes from the
62 LETTERS.
veiy figure and make of their salts, whicli are better guides than all the experience of an undirected multitude. It is a pity there was not a treatise wrote on the waters by an experienced natural philosopher ; it would save thousands of lives. Delinden's book is a mere puff. I read it with great attention, but it made me never the wiser, nor will it make any body else, for he observes neither method, nor order, nor truth. If there was a practical treatise of the method of cure for the various diseases of mankind by these waters, it is my opinion these living waters would be the greatest panacea ever yet discovered by physicians. And what is all physic but a collection of experiments ? I wish any man of ability would make a collection of the cures performed by these waters, which were performed without even the direction of common sense ; it would surprise the whole world. As for my part, the inquiries that I have made in those few days that I was there astonish nie ; and the nostrums of balsams and pills seem to me to be mere squibs and meteors in comparison to these wonderful springs. The extraordinary cures performed on the poor who went there out of necessity and drank the waters in earnest, having been told by their neighbours, &c., that it cured them in the like cases ; but the misfortune is, an opinionated fellow may drink of a water directly contrary to his distemper, and so destroy himself by not following the beaten road of his neighbours, or tlie well advised judgment of a skilful person. There is no house so convenient for a patient to have tlie benefit of the waters as Thomas Jenkins's, which you recommended to me. But alas, it was a shocking sight to me the evening I arrived there, and I was afraid I should not have been able to live there till morning : it looked as if Tischer's corps had been there raising contributions, and had taken all the household stufî away, except an old man and his old wife, a sickly daughter, a few old chairs without bottoms, three broken tables, and
LETTERS. 6
o
had not left eitlier glass on tlie wiudows or a pair of bellows. My companion and I consulted for our own safety, and hy next morning we resolved to look on ourselves as patients in an hospital^ or prisoners at one of the French spas, and that it was best under these circumstances to bear with the custom of the place. My servant, being a carpenter, was sent to mend the tables and chairs, and a glazier was sent for, and between the glazier and carpenter the wiudows were made. AVe wanted an upholster, but there was none within reach, and very few feathers in the country. But the vicinity of the "Wells made amends for all : for we had the water as it came from the Creator's alembic, and we drank it at break- fast, at dinner, and at supper, and even in bed ; and now I would choose it for its taste before the best spring-drinking water I ever saw. I drank of the waters but six days. The third, I put on my shoes and stockings, which I had not been able to do for six months past. The 6th day, I mounted my horse without a horse block, and almost on a flat, which I had not been able to do for many years. Urgent business called me home the 7th day ; and I compute, if I had staid some weeks longer, I should have been 10 years younger for every week. Have you seen a copy of English verses wrote upon those waters some years ago ? They jDlease me much ; but I could not find who the author was. There w^as a few copies of them printed and handed about ; but as there was a little rub on the curate of Llandrindod, they were quashed. If you have not seen them I wiU send you a copy of them, that you may give me your opinion, whether there is not a strong poetical spirit through the whole. I met with nothing strange in that country, except a few Welsh names of fish, and a few uncommon plants. One piece of antiquity which I expected to have met with there is entirely lost with the common peoijle, I suppose, which is a country, or tract of land there, once called Gwarthynion. I have enquired amono-
64 • LETTERS.
others of a rnau 102 years olcl, and he had r.ever heard of such a territory ; aud yet in an ancient catalogue of the churches in Eadnorshire I find Llanvihaugel vach yn Gwarthynion ; and in Nennius we fiud a country hereabouts (I thinh) given to St. Garmon by way of attouement for the sius of Gwr- theyru, called Gwarthryniou, which the iguoraut scholiast upou Ncnnius derives from gwarth union ; but auy body with half an eye may see that tlie land was called GwrthejTuiawn, as from Ceredig comes Ceredigiawn (Cardigaushire) ; from Mervyn conies Mervyniou, etc. I had not time to go to Llau Avan Vawr to see the famous inscriptiou on tíe tomb- stone of Avan Beullt, who was cousin germau to Dewi (St. David), tlie first Archbishop of ]\íenevia, aud himself a bishop. If au Engiish autiquary could show such a piece of antiquity in the character or letter that was used in those days, what a noise would be made about it ! ! ! But we have several such in "Wales. Dou't you thiuk I am very idle, or at least verbose, wlien I can dwell so loug ou trifles ? Fare- well, and mahe haste to perform your promise of stayiug with me a couple of days.
" I am, yours siucerely,
"Lewis Moreis."
" P.S. — I believe my wife will pay you for the children."
"Peubryu, Sept. 8th, 17G0.
" Dear Sir, — Last night I received yours of the 2ud, whicli had like to have gone astray like that to Dr. Philipps. You caunot imagiue how sorry I am for that letter's miscarriage, for I fed myself with a fancy of receiving soou some very extraordiuary answers to my doubts aud queries, which now perhaps never may come, for I shall not liave the patience to make up such another letter, though I have the heads and chief materials of it in my Celtic Ecmains and other places.
LETTERS. 65
I hope Mr. D. Eichards wül be able to find the persou he gave it to before he goes to the d — 1, or else I do not know what will becorae of him, or of the poor Teiitonic grant either. Wele hai. Dyn a feddwl, Duw a ran. Diolch yn fawr i chwi am son am y Fynnon ddrewdlyd yn sir Frycheiniog, ond ni wn i etto pa le ymae. Mi glywais fodFynnon o'r fath honno yn agos i Fuallt, ai honno ydyw eich Fynnnon chwi ? Ac onide pa un ydyw ? Though the sulpherous water you describe may be a great deal stronger than my favourite black water in the Wern at Llandrindod, mine though less cloo-çred with sulpher, may be as good an alterative, and as effectual in chronical cases as the other, or more so ; therefore, till I try the other, mine is best. 77 must not be thrown out of the Dictionary, though hundreds of others fairly deserve it. It is a local word used in some parts of North Wales. There is a verb ilio which is iu English to work ale, and a vessel they Tise to that purpose is called Llestr ilio ; yfed y cwrw o'r il, is drinhinff ale out of the working tub. You ask does Llwch
o o
deserve a place in the Dictionary better than Gwy ? Gwy is properly the name, or (as grammarians speak) the proper name of a river, called in Englisli, Wye. Nobody before ]\Ir, Edwd. Llwj^d dreamed of Gwy being originally the word for water ; and Dr. Da^des very seldom takes notice of the names of rivers and mountains. Mr. T. Eichards, therefore, should have put it in his Dictionary on the credit of Mr. E. Llwyd. Dr. Philipps has too good an opinion of me, and so has Mr. Pegge. Such encomiums are enough to make a vain fellow stark mad with pride. You know very well that they shoot vastly wide of the mark. I know who were learned men ; I am sure I am not. Such a glorious epithet fits only a Scaliger, a Selden, a Halley, a Newton, &c. Such a sacred character is infinitely beyond my reach. " Na wrthod dy barch pan y cynnygier," is an excellent British proverb ; but God forbid that I should pretend to sit easy under such a great character VOL. II. F
66 LETTEES.
when I do not deserve it. I admire, and almost adore those great liglits and spirits of a snperior order, who were really learned men, and, for aught I know, iuspired ; but alas, they are so high above the common level, tliat I liave but a faint glimpse of their perfections. So much for comets with un- common orbits.
" Your Octavus Casus is an odd affair. I do not know what to think of such cases of nouns as the 7th and 8th, when the genius of the Latin tongue requires but six different endings (or cases), according to íìve different forms (or declensions) , to express a word in its various relations. The genius of the Celtic and Teutonic requires no such cases, having no variety in the ending of tlieir nouns ; and why should the Latin be loaded with more than is absolutely necessary ? I only write at random as the liglit of nature seems to direct me. If this is not common sense let me know. N"ow I speak of the Latin tongue, I wish you would inform me if ever you have raet with any Latin author, wrote before the invention of cases of nouns and conjugations of verbs. These niceities were not known at Eome till above 500 years after the build- ing of the city, when Crates Malotes, of Pergamus, set up a grammar school there. Mr. Edward Llwyd, in his letter to the bishop of Hereford {Archceologîa Brit., p. 268), mentions it as a known thing, that at a certain time the Latin verbs had no terminations of ant, ent, and unt, &c. Pray, explain this affair, and let me have your opinion of it : for nobody can do it better, since that language is mixed with your very blood and animal spirits. I am sorry a mason, one single mason, a mere illiterate mason, should be the cause of your not seeing me at Penbryn. What cannot a lord or an esquire do, when a mason, with his mortared íingers, can do so much ? I have had some friends who would have knocked down some half a dozen masons if they stood in their way to preveut their seeing me, I am almost asleep, and my words come out l)y
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pieces, called syllables — yea, monosyllables ; so good night, Farewell. " Yours whilst
" Lewis Moreis."
" Penbryn, Sept. llth, 1760. " Dear Sir, — \Yawch fawr 1 dyma hen wraigyn yn dy wedyd imi glowed o houi hi, Mr. Edwd. Richard ei hunan, â'i enau ei hunan yn dywedyd fod Llythyr y Dr. Philipps gwedi ei gael, a darfod ei yrru iddo o Nant Eos er mawr lawenydd i bawb a sydd wedi camgymmeryd y ffordd i'w yrru, oblegid yr oeddynt yn ofni yn eu calonnau fod dinystr yn dyfod am eu pennau am ei oUwng ar gyfrgoU. Yr oedd y wraig hon yn dywedyd fod matterion pwysfa,wr yn y Uythyr hwnnw, na bo'nd ei grybwyl ! a bod, &c., &c., &c. You have forgot Caniad y Bontfendigaid : and to answer my query, whether you have seen the poem on Llandrindod waters. She further teUs me, Mi waranti i mai Ffynnon Lhanwrtyd y soniodd Mr. Edwd. Eichard am dani; chwi a eUwch ei chlywed hi yn drewi o Aber Gwesyn. Pray, solve these difficulties, and whether Flynnon Graig Fawr, in the road from Ehos Fair to Rhaiadr, a little before you come to Llyn Teifi, be not equal to either of them. " Yours as before'\
" Sept. 13th. — The messenger just going off; all the coast clear ; no enemies appearing. My wife talks of sending for the boys home for two days, for she says the neighbours' chil- dren are aUowed breath now and then. But this request is not yet complied with."
" Penbryn, Sept. 15th, 1760, Monday.
" Dear Sir, — I have yourä of Monday morning, I suppose
this day sen'night, though it came here but last night. Pryse,
I believe, carried it in his pocket wherever he went. I am
glad the Teutonic letter is found. I wish you had let me
r2
68 LETTERS.
kno"w how the doctor liked the taste of it ; I am afraid not so well as he expected, by the description given by yoii of it when lost. That raised his expectations far above the valne of the thing when found. Phoe, phoe, says he, is this all, that we kept such ado about ? Well, did not he say so, tell me seriously ? I wish you would increase your family another way, that the world might have some of the breed preserved. I know your answer, 'G-well gennyf i fy mam na menyw arall yn y byd, ac mae pobl eraill yn eppilio digon a gormod, pa beth y mae hwn yn ei geisio gennyf ? Ceisio dro arall fy hudo i wreicca, ag i dorri ar fy holl lonydd- wch meddwl ; ni bu gennyf erioed flas yn y peth, ac mi eis yn hên.' Let it be so, if you cannot taste what is good for you. I cannot help it. God mend your taste ; he actually expected you to propagate your kind, and he has now ordered you to do it ; he lias provided you with all materials for that purpose. If you were to examine the Scripture close, I think we could fìnd there, that you are ordered to live at Aberyst- with rather tlian on the mountain. However, in spite of all I can say, or even the Scripture can say, I see you will go on your own way, and that with such strictness, that you cannot even bear the sight of the fruitful and pleasant valley of Melinddwr, which íloweth with, &c. I suppose leuan Fardd has got his nose in some vellum MS., and cannot possibly take it out, tiU he has snuffed it all up. I wish, for the sake of the Cambro-British people, that he was well pro- vided for. It is a shame for the whole body of us to suífer such a genius to trifle away his time by slaving so liard for a little drink : he gets nothing else by his labour.
" Sept. 16. — My wife tells me that she has ordered the boys liome with Evan William's son unknown to me, and that she expects them home by dinner time to-day. Dyna'r fath beth yw mam.
" A correspondent of mine, wliose parish hath been blessed
LETTERS. 69
lately witli a clergyman very miich Aiigiifiedj sencls me the foUowing query. AVhat does Mr. L — d mean when he reads in the Litany, oddiwrth falchder a gwag ogoniant a phîg sancteiddrwydd ? Pa fath big ydyw honno. Pray let me have a proper answer to this in your next, says my corre- spondent. What is to come next concerning spells or charms, called in Welsh S'wynion. I wish you would procure me the words of one of these Sioynioìis. Several old women and some old men have them, and cure distempers through their means. Eemains of Druidism.
" Sept. 17th, at night. — Wele hai ! dyma'r plantos newydd ddyfod adref yn llawen iawn, a dyma finnau gwedi bod yn chwilio rhinwedd dwfr y Graig Fawr. A chalybeate purgative spring, and good for certain diseases if drank with judgment. T have also your letter, which I begin to answer thus. If I live next summer I intend to visit Fynnon Llanwrtyd. You do not explain to me what Mr. Edward Llwyd means in the place I mentioned in his Archieol. Brit. about the plural ter- mination of verbs. I am inclmed to think it is literally true by what Fabius {Inst. Crat) says, that the Salian Priests in the Augustan age scarcely understood their own liymns, which were instituted by Numa. Let it be as it will, such a great master of languages must mean something. Tbough I know little or nothiug of these things, yet busy minds must be meddling. What shall I fill this paper with ? My case is not parallel to Dean Swift's. It was his ijride that made liim send to Sheridan for his boy's exercises, for he looked upon books to be as far below his notice as these children's works ; but it is not so with me. I am an humble admirer of all works of genius in what class soever they are, and look upon aU to be above me, and if your editor, Mr. 01iver, hath done you justice, I iiitend to feast on Caniad Pontfendigaid, and, as the man said of his mistress —
70 LETTEES.
• Digon o fwyd geiinyf i Goetian fy ngolwg atti,'
These are my classics ; fal y bô r dyn y bydd ei Iwdu.
" I have lately got six Englyns wrote by Morgan Herbert, on advice to bis son. I see in tliem a lively description of a sensible good man tliat understood the world, agreeable to his epitaph, and not a mean poet. If yon promise to put them into EugHsh heroic verse, 1 will send them you ; per- haps you had rather turn them into Latin. I'll send you also the poem on Llandrindod when I have more leisure than I have now. When you have read thus far you begin to scratch your head and rub your elbows, and talk thus to yourself, ' Doth this vain man think that I have nothing to do but to sit down and read his dreams and reveries ; have not I forty boys to look after, and have not I architects to direct, and have not I Camden to read, and have not I Homer to consult about the sound of the waves ? Must not I have time to eat and drink as well as other people who have no conscience, I thiuk?' Hold, hold, you need read no more here. I have just done, and am going to supper. Happy for you, or else I would have begun another half-sheet. Fare- weU. " Yours,
"Lewis Morris."
"Penbryn, Sept. 20th, 1760.
" Dear Sir, — I have yours by your servant, for which I am much obliged to you, and I don't doubt your being concerned for our misfortunes here, which I reckon as none, for they are the natural consequences of living in this world, and the lessons of the school of adversity. I cannot say we are out of danger yet, for open wounds and fractures are never out of danger, but we are in what the biük of the people call a fair way of recovery. A fever which belongs to fractiires may seize the boy, which he hath escaped hitherto, and the ulcer
LETTERS. Tl
011 my leg may turn pliagedíeuic or worse, through an iU hahit of body, or an irregular way of living, and may go beyond the skill of a Cardiganshire surgeon. The conse- quence is removing to a world where there is no occasion for snrgeons, a lle na chloddia lladron trwodd. Thirty days is the time allowed for the cure of the radius or ulna, and I shall not go beyond the common boundary, and then the boys sliall come and confound Latin tiU they are tired. I am afraid they make no hand at all of it, and that they are intended for the plough, they are so extreme duU, My pain is now very great while I write this, and I would advise satyrical writers to have always a sharp wound on their leg, which would certainly make them sliine. May it not l^e a question worth resolving, whether all iU-natured critics have not ulcers in some part or other that irritate their spirits ? Thomas Williams's performance, which I sent you, was stewed up in London ; but what I send you inclosed liere comes from Mona, the ancient seat of the Muses, and was carried there by one of the country, a disciple of Daniel Eow- lands, so that you are to look upon it as the excrenients of a Tal y Bont man, which he voided in a fìt of looseness at Bod Edeyi'ii, in Anglesey, where he is now a schoolmaster, to the dishonour of all Wales be it spoken. You see tliese vermin creep into all corners, through the least crevices; and even the seat of the Muses, the Temples of the Gods, and the Cabinets of Princes, are not exempt from them. Is our age more fer- tile in ignorance than the last, or is it because a leuan Fardd and a Gronwy have appeared in the world that these flies infest us and lay their eggs in every matrix they can meet witli ? They are not uulike indeed the aurelias of butterflies wdiicli eat our cabbages. He that hath no cabbage need not fear them ; and if neither Gronwy nor leuan had appeared, we sliould have none of these apparitions. By this time you stare about you for the explicatioii of the names of rivers and
72 LETTERS.
mountains, wliich I partly promised yoii, for as I can write so much low nonsense by wholesale, why not a little by retail of the other kind of nonsense ? Well, now for it. But to pre- mise, take notice that some of the most ancient and common names of mountains and rivers even in Wales, let alone Eng- land, are inexplicable in any of tlie Northern languages, Celtic or Teutonic ; and Mr. Edward Llwyd's making them Gwydd- elian British, for the language of the first planters, will not do, for they are not found in the present Gwyddelian or Irish, if ever they were there. Therefore I conchide such names to be the language of the first planters indeed, but what kind of language that was I dare not determine, or we may guess it to be the language of Gomer, as he picked it up at that great jumble at Babel, without rules, crder, or reason. This jargon was probably taken up by his descendants, the Celtic nation, and might be pretty well molded and trimmed before they came to Britain, when they gave their fìrst names to most mountains and rivers here from their nature and situations ; but as yet this language had not undergone the discipline and chains of grammar, therefore is not exactly what we now have. What a wild piece of work then is it to attempt to etymologise or rather to anatomise those ancient names, aud to bring them to the modern Celtic or any of its branches, viz., the Welsh, Irish, Erse, Armoric, or Cornish. Many an alteration by conquest, by mixt colonies, and by several acci- dents, hath the Celtic tongue sufíered from that day to this, and I know no man liviug that can tell me the meaning of a mouutain in Wales called yt Eifl, another called Puìnlumon, and many such. How then is it possible to explaiu the names of mountains and rivers in England, Erauce, and Italy, &c., tliough purely Celtic, when disfigured by time, by buugling transcribers, by foreign conquerors of the Teu- tonic race, and by the great tyraut, Custom ? The utmost we can do then is to compare such with the ancient and
LETTEES, 73
in-bred iianies of places in Wales, wliich have remained so time immemorial, and several of which we can trace in the works of our poets so far backward as near a quarter of the number of years towards the creation of the world. These are great things, and which no nation besides can pretend to do with that certainty as we can, from the very nature and structure of our language and poetry. Some of the names of mountains and rivers in couiitries which were once inhabited by the Celtic may have been in some measure changed by the conquerors, sornetimes new names imposed, and some- times translated into their language ; others may remain cor- rupted, and some few uncorrupted, but who can distinguish them ? If the Eiver Sheaf is a straight and swift river, I should be apt to think its original name was Sacth, an arrow, as Saethon, in Wales. An hasty antiquary would immediately pronounce the Eiver Dove to be called so from the British Dof, tame ; but if the Dove is not a tame river, tlie derivation is ridiculous, and you must look for the origin of it in the rivers Dyji and Toìüì, in Wales. AU these things considered, you may take my etymology of the names you sent in what light 5^ou will, they are mostly no better than mere guess work, because I am a stranger to tlie situation of the places, &c., but none of them are mere whims and trifles such as Mr. Baxter and others have run into. Etymology requires a great deal of modesty, and not to run headlong as Camden and others have done, when tliey had but very little know- ledge in the language they treated of.
" A native of Wales must look on the great Camden with an eye of indignation whcn he íìnds him asserting that the Gaulish Bagaudte, certain bands of rnen who strove in Gaul against the Eoman power in Dioclesian^s time, were so called from Beichiacl, which, he says, signiíies, in the Welsh, swine- herd. But every Welshman knows that Beichiad never signified swineherd in our language. The word is Mcichiad,
74 LETTERS.
from Moch, so Llywarcli Hen, about 1200 years ago, saiclj Bid layjcìi meichiad wrth uchenaid giüynt, because of tlie fall of acorns in that case. What then must become of INIr. Cam- den's swineherds ? IMight not j)loughmen and tradesmen form an army as well as swineherds ? But Mr. Camden should have told us that Baííaudse and Baíjoda had been also wrote by some authors Bagadíe ; and we know that Bagad, in tlìe British tongue, is a multitude; and in Armoric-British, to this very day, Bagacl signifies a troop or batallion : and to put the niatter out of dispute, iu the Irish or old Gwyddelian British, Bach is a battle, and Bagach, warlike. I shall oidy mention one thing out of Baxter's Glossary, who, not content vrúX\ murdering and dismembering old British words, murders and annihilates our very saints — men noted in the primitive Church of Britain for planting our religion. In tlie word Corguba, because it sounds like Cacr Gybi, he makes Caer- gybi to be read Caer Corb, which he says is an old Irish word for a cohort, and denies the very being of a saint of the name of Cybi. But neither his Corb nor his Cuba are to be heard of anywhere else. Kebius, called by the "Welsh, Cybi, was the son of Solomon, Duke of Curnwall. All our ancient MSS. agree in tliat. He was not only founder of this Church, but of several otliers in Wales : Llan Gybi in Lleyn, and Llan Gybi in Cardiganshire, Llan Gybi in Momnouthshire, which all exist. Are all these to change their names to please the Avhim of Mr. Baxter ? And Caer Cybi was a Church so called because within a Castrum still existing. Cybi lived at the time of tlie dissolution of the Eoman Empire in Britain, and was contemporary, and in great friendship, with St. Seirioel. What sets the matter above aU dispute is, that there are two ancient inscriptions upon stones in the \\'all of the Church of Caer Cybi (Holyhead) where Kebius is ac- knowledged the patron saint. There was no such scarcity of saints in Wales in those days to put them to the shift of
LETTEKS. 75
inveuting fictitious uames for their Cliurclies. Fynnon Grybi, Eisteddfa Gybi in Anglesey, and the ancient tradition and prorerb to this day in that island, Seirioel Wyn a Chyhi felyn, are also evidences of the strongest kind, so that we are as sure there was once such a man as Kybi as that Dewi, Teilo, Padarn, Curig, Padrig, &c., were once founders or patrons of those churches which bear their names. ^lien men of as great learning as Camden and Baxter can advance such in- coherent stiiff, is it a wonder that every smatterer in history thinks himself equal to them, and even that witticism and pims take place of solid knowledge, and that etymology hath so little credit ? As for my part, I am very cautious how I meddle with those things, and can say nothing positive, and abominate a fanciful derivation of an ancient name. If we can give a probable and gTave accoimt of a name, and back it by ancient authority or reason, it is all that can be expected, and we should stop there. Take the following accouut then of the names you sent me, and be assm-ed that few men besides yourself could have extorted so much out of me at this time. I could wish you, who have such a superior capa- city, would turn your head to these studies, and take the labouring oar out of the hand of such weaklings as have no strength to manage it. Dericcnt, the English name of some rivers in England. On one of this name, which runs through Sm-rey and falls into tlie Thames, was fought the first of Gwrthefyr's battles with Hengist aud Horsa, the Saxons, (mentioned by our British writers) in the 5th centmy. In that corrupt edition of Xennius, by Dr. Gale, this river is called Dererent and Deregwent. In our ancient V3llum manu- script of Galfrid's Latin translation of Tyssilio which I have, it is "super fluvium Derwende." In the Paris editions of Gal- frid, 1508 and 1517, it is "super fluvium Deriment." In the Heydelberg edition of Galfrid it is Derwent. There is a river Derwent that ruus thro' Derbyshire, another thro' Yorkshh"e,
76 ■ LETTERS.
on wbicli Antoniniis's Derventio, a Roman station, stands, seYen miles from York. In my ancient Britisli copy of Tyssilio's History of Britain, that battle is said to have been ar Avon Dewennydd, which, in the old orthography, was wrote, Derucnyt, and hence came Derwent. I know wliat Mr. Baxter says of Derventio ; that it comes from the Welsh Derwent and Dirwyn — all of a piece with Corguba, afore- mentioned ; inventions and boilings over of a fertile brain. The Welsh tongue never had the word Derwent, therefore his whole buildiiig is without foundation. I ha,ve traced it to its original British name, but will not attempt the etymo- logy of it. If it is from Derw Oak, why was not every river that ran through a forest caUed Dervennydd ? Eother ; if the bed of this river is reddish, it might originally be caUed Ehudder or Ehuddwr, i. e., Eedwater. Iber or Hyber ; there are rivers in Wales which have pêr, sweet, in their names, as Peryddon,Pergwm, &c.,and this might have been Hyber, easüy, sweet Amber, q. d., Amaeth ber, sweet nurse. So we have Amaeth aradr, UteraUy, plough nurse. Erwash, C. B. Er-wys, the river of heroes. Trent, wrote in our most ancient MSS. of Llywarch Hen, Tren ; but from whence derived I know not. Dove ; if a 'ri^er from a level ground, it had its name from the British Dof, tame ; biit if a swift river, it is of the same origin with the Dyfi in Wales and Tywi. Wye ; tlie old British name of this river was Gwy, and is stiU, which seems to have been the word for water in general among the first planters, as appears from the names of water fowl, having it in their compositious — Gwj'dda, goose ; hwyada, duck ; gwglan, a gull ; gwyach, a snipe ; gwyram, barnacles ; gwylog, a guülimot. A great many rivers iu Wales have Gwy, or Wye, in the composition of their names, as Dyfrdwy, Dyfrdonwy, Trydonwy, Llugwy, Mawddwy, Elwy, Dwyfawr, Dwyfach, Edwy, Efurnwy, Mynwy, Onwy, in Llywarch Hen, &c. Larhel ; we have rivers in Wales of the names of Par- chell and Marchell, i.e., pig-water and horse-water, l3ut whether
LETTERS. * 77
this is any of tliese originals, or from Llawreul, a narrow bot- tom, I don't pretend to determine. Dolee had its name pro- bably from Dolau, or Dolennau, windings. Sheaf might originally have been Saeth, an arrow.
" Of Hills. — Bunster might originally have its name from bann, high, or bryn, a hiU. But as I know not where it stands, I can say nothing of it. Chevin is probably the British Cefn, a back or ridge, as Cefn Nithgroen, Cefn y Gar- Ueg, and such high lands in waters. Cloud is probably the British Llwyd, as the EngUsh Clan for Llan. We have in Wales Llwydiartli y Bryn-Llwyd, Cefn Llwyd, Escair Llwyd, &c. Gun, I take to be corrupted from the British Gwyn, as Barwyn, y Cefn gwyn, Gwynfynydd, y Bryngwyn, &c. ; and the Appenine is nothing else but Epenwyn, or in modern ortho- graphy, y penwyn, the white topped. Mamtorr, may pro- bably ]iave been of the same origin with Maentwr, or with Mynyddtwr, of which name there is a mountain in Anglesea, q. d., Tower Mountain. Masson, if there were plenty of ash trees there, might be caUed by the Celtse Maes Onn, q. d., Ashfield. Morridg might probably be originaUy caUed in the British Mawrwydd, great wood, as Bronwydd, &c. Peak; this seems to be the Celtic Pic, now Pig, a biU from a rock, probably of that fìgure ; but we have no names of mountains in Wales to resemble it. Riber may have taken its name from the British Ehiwferr, if it is reaUy a short ascent, Several mountains in Wales have Rhiw in the composition of their names, as Rhiw Felen y Rhiw Goch, Rhiw Naut Bran, &c., and the Greek pLov, and Latin rupes, are of the same origin. Weverhül, of which name there is also a river in England, may have been taken from Gwefr, Amber, or Gwi- wair, a Scpiirrel, q. d., Squirrel Hill ; or rather from Gwiber, a flying serpent. It is high time to leave off, both for your ease and mine. " I am, dear sir,
" Your most humble servant,
" Lewis Moeris."
78 LETTERS.
" Oct. 15th, given at Penbryn, 1760. " Dear Sir, — The minute I put this pen to paper, my wife tells me, in great ífwdan, that her boys want breeches, stock- ings, and shirts, and her maid must go this minute to Ystrad Meurig ; so if T have a mind to write to Mr. Eichards it must be instantly. So I will. The matter of the greatest concern I have to impart to-day, that the fìrst .... son of David John 01iver, called here yesterday as drunk as a slater, who told me he had no letter from you, but he had his message in his head. ' Wliat is that', said I ? ' Here it is^ said he, and sung out, with a loud voice, an excellent song made on Pontfendigaid ; and before I could thank him, he brought me out another, saying, 'Dyma un arall a wnaeth ef i hoelion rhod;' and that being scarce done, 'Dyna un araU i nhad oedd a darn o drwyn ganddo a dreuli^vyd gan y Flagen, a dyma un arall i Bob, a dyma un araU i Gutto, a dyma un i Sionir Golau a dyma un i,' &c., &c. The Datgenydd deUvered them aU with great justice, and gave me great pleasure; and I could not help thinking of the Druidical bards of old, who spoke aU in verse, and the man looked wild, as if he had been possessed at Delphos. He promised to get me a copy on paper of some of those I admired most, and that he would bring them me next Sunday in exchange for a belly fuU of bottled ale. I long to liear from you. I am almost in the hyp, the worst of all diseases. I am extremely obliged to the discoverer of the waters of Llandrindod. I am twenty years younger than I was last winter ; but I shaU grow old by and by.
" I am, yours sincerely,
" Lewis Morris. " I have got lately a pareel of curious Pioman coins".
LETTERS. 70
" Penbryii, Dec. 2nd, 1760.
" Dear Sir, — This comes to call for my Snckers liome. Tlie old tree was like to have been blown down by a hurri- cane, and is now scarce alive — scarce indeed. On the 14tli Nov. a fiery pleuritic fever knocked me down flat. God left nie my senses ; and I bled about half a hundred ounces, . . . until I got it under, and also a spitting of blood attended it. Mr. Pryse was of great help to me ; I could trust nobody else to bleed me". But, says you, what is all tliis to me, fevers, colics, &c. ? N"o\v, if you were a goose, as I am, I would compare myself to our feathered geese, who, when they escape a dauger, wiU gabble for an hour together ; and it certainly gives them pleasure, and so it does me, tho' writing is ex- treme painful to my head. WeU, to continue my Clegar : On the 22nd, at ten at night, being in a violent sweat in the height of my fever, the chimney of my bedroom took fire, which in a few minutes blazed up to the clouds, or several yards high at least, with gTeat noise. It threw lumps of fire on a thatched liouse adjoining, aud dow^u tlie chmmey, even aU over the room and under my bed. As it pleased God, my servants were not gone to bed ; they foUowed my directions and immediately my room was aU afloat, and the fire extin- guished. I was as little able to bear water as fire, but both I was obliged, which gave my fever a compHcated turn, and for aught I know for the best. I have got over it, thank God ; but my head is as giddy as a drunkard's, and my body weak, and can scarce creep, having lost whole coUops of flesh, if it is loss. I liad an excellent nurse, whose iuterest w^as to save my Ufe ; and there is no stronger demonstration in the world than this, that no nurse is equal to a wdfe. Consider of this seriously. My case may be yours, and you may lose your life foelishly for want of such, or at least bear very great hardships. In the midst of my terrors in fire and wat«r
80 LETTEES.
I could not help tlniiking of David ap Gwilym's expres-
sion : —
Tán aml a dwr tew'n ymladd, Tan o lid, dwr tew 'n ei ladd.
" In sucli a case you would liave tliouglit of Homer ; but God defeiid you from sucli an accident, and take care of your cliimneys. I sliall endeavour to guard against sucli accidents for tlie future. This fever and fìre were two heavy blows ; but they were rods which God thought proper to shew with a gentle hand, for my good no doubt. I am glad your mother is on the recovery. An old tree will be long recovering new fìbrous roots. I wish you would let me see a catalogue of your books in your library ; I may have some duplicates or other which possibly I may throw in. I have also begun a library (no, a closet) for my few books ; but the pleurisy stood at the door with a drawn sword and threatened me. Nay, I have laid a plan for a cabinet to put up my natural curio- sities of fossils, shells, &c. ; but that same pleurisy told me, with a stern countenance, go to bed, and bleed and sweat, and consider of it. Now, I intend to have the other touch at it. My cabinet is to contain fìve or six thousand articles, which I have ready to put up, I hope I shall see you when that happens. Is not Mr. Pegge long a considering about an answer to my letter ? I cannot go to my bureau to return you his and the doctor's letters. Onid oes berw rhyfeddol yn fy mhen i o ddyn claf heb aUu na bwytta nag yfed ? I can write no more to-night. God be with you.
" I am, yours sincerely,
" Lewis ]\Ioeris."
" December 3rd, 1760. — I am much better if the weather would j)ermit me ; but as my head is a barometer I cannot expect to be well tiU the weather is good. Your observation about Mr. Pegge's Argolicum is just. His etymon is not
LETTERS. 8 1
according to analogy. The doctor lias a great opinion of liiin, and too gi-eat, indeed, of me ! I really blush at tlie high encomiums he gives me, though I see wliat it is owing to, \ìz., an excessive love of my country. You say that no trout ecjuals that of Llyn Teifì, and I say no oysters equal those of Pthos Colyn (in Anglesey) ; and so said the people of Pionie of those of the Lucrine Lake. Do not fail to send me your catalogue. Make no excuses, and as soon as I can get au amanuensis j'ou shall have a catalogue of my poor collection. I liave iiad a jjresent made me lately of a manuscript on veUum, but my head is not yet solid enougli to make a right judgment of it, aud it belongs more to a ^^Titer of ecclesias- tical history than to me. I am afraid there is little in it that suits my taste, though curious in its kind. I am tired once more, so must leave off, and perhaps shall have no fiirther opportunity to write any more before my messenger goes.
" Yours as before."
" Saturday, about 3 iu tlie morning, in bed.
" Yesterday a diarrhcea took me, which made me extream uneasy ; but by the help of my own garden rhubarb I liope it is carried off, for T feel the effects of it. This is like a cobler patching an old shoe whicli may last one winter more, or make a closen, or soaiething. David John 01iver has not been a man of his word ; I have not one song to divert me. Last post has brought me a letter from Mr. Pegge, which I suppose opens a correspondence for life. I have sent to Lon- don for a book he has published, that I may see hini in the book. " Yours very crazy,
" Lewis Mohris."
VOL. II. G
82
THE FOÜNTAIN AT PORTMADOC.
In accordance witli the intention we expressed in page 37 of the first volmne of Y Cijmmrodor, we revert to tlie subject of tlie development of the fine arts in their practical uses and bearing upon the Principality. We then recorded the "opening" of the Castlereagh Tower at Machynlleth, and ex- pressed our admiration of the beautiful edifice. We have now to record the erection of another, though less pretentious, architectural structure at Portmadoc — a fountain erected not only for adornment, but for the purpose of supplying the town with a flowing rill of pure mountain water. Its style is admirably adapted to the locality in whicli it stands, and to its intended purpose. The pedestal, six feet in height, is formed of two large blocks of Cornish granite, eacli weighing upwards of three tons, the front face being polished. The "axed" portion sparhles with felspar and mica. The basin is of highly polished Sicilian marble, and receives its jet of water from a bronzed lion's head. The whole is surmounted by an elaborate ornameutal pillar with brachets supporting three octagonal gas lamps.
The fountain was designed by Messrs. W. and T. Wills, and has been erected as a memorial of Mr. William Alexander Maddochs, the founder of Portmadoc, and in commemoration of the coming of age of his graudson, Mr. Francis William Alexander Eoche.
The ceremony of "the opening" was more than usually interesting. The water was turned on by Mrs. Breese, of Morfa Lodge, with a quiet grace that won her the applause of the crowd coUected around. The fountain beino- tlius proved to be complete, Mr. Breese, with a short but excellent
THE FOUNTAIN AT PORTMADOC. 8
o
speecli, handed over to tlie contractor a clieque for tlie amoiint of its cost. Mr. Morgan Lloyd, M.V., next spolce, and made some telling remarks on the excellence of water as a beve- rage, compared with iutoxicating driuhs. The Kev. Eobert Jones, of Eotherhithe, followed with some Welsh lines appro- priate to the ceremony, and ended with recitiug the following yerses written for the occasion : —
Daugliters of the glen aud mountain,
When to this bright silvery rilL, Bubbling from its rocky fountain,
Ye your yessels corae to íill, May its lirapid gush recalüng
Memories of a nobler tide, Tell you of the life-blood falling
From a dying Saviour's side !
Be your life, ye gentle daughters,
Active as its running streara ; Pure and bright as Iiving waters
Sparkling in the noon-day beam ; Calm each thought as vv^hen the heavea
Mirrored lies in glassy seas, Gently thus shall tides of even
Bear you o'er their waves in peace.
A few speeches in Welsh followed ; after which the con- eourse, Mdiich had come to wituess the ceremouy, quietly separated.
It would be as uujust as it would be uugenerous were we not to notice the effectual help rendered by Mr. Breese, uot ouly towards the erection of this fountain, but towards the carrying out of various improvements in the town and neigh- bourhood of Portmadoc ; and we were glad to find how highly, in cousequeuce, both he and Mrs. Breese were greeted by the inhabitants. In the same words that we spoke of David Howel at Machyulleth, we would speak of Edward Breese at Portmadoc. We would hold him up as an example of Mdiat a single individual, when uuiuflueuced by selíishness, can do for the locality in which he moves and for the people among whom he lives. G 2
84
THE CAERNARFON EISTEDDFOD OF 1877.
We have little to record of this Eisteddfod. In some points it was a grand success ; in otliers, it hardly reached medio- crity. Tlie crowded attendance on most of the days proved how popnlar the old institution is with the masses of the people ; and it was a matter of deep regret to every patriot there that so splendid an audience should not have been treated witli a richer intellectual feast.
There were great drawbacks. Tlie pavilion which had been erected for the Eisteddfod was on too gigantic a scale : its form, too, an oblong, was, in our opinion, but ill suited for the conduct'of sound. On most of the days we visited the farther end of the building for the purpose of testing its acoustic character, and from that quarter the business on the platform was little better than dumb show. The patience of the per- sons seated there had to undergo a severe ordeal. We give the greatest credit to our countrymen for the extreme good huniour with which their negation of what should have been most interesting was borne. We doubt that an English audi- ence would have done so with the same equanimity.
The absence of Mynyddog as conductor ^yas a great calamity. Alas ! poor Yorick. He lies in his quiet grave hard by the old Chapel of Llanbrynmair, and the wit and jest and humour with which the Eisteddfod rang when he, its ruling spirit, directed its movements, were sadly wanting at Caernarvon. Estyn and Llew Llwyfo did their best ; but all their energies seemed but to provoke a comparison with former Eisteddfodau. Some of the trivialities, too, they enunciated from the platform were unworthy of themselves.
THE CAERNARFON EISTEDDFOD OF 1877. 85
to say iiothing of the tliousands who had come together for, we trust, something higher and better. Eight thousand people gathered and brought together — some from remote parts of the country — demanded a better programme, and a more faithfal carrying out of it, than was found at Caernarvon.
Some of the " old familiar faces", too, of the Eisteddfod were away — some who, in the hours of its greatest need, had been its firm and unselfish friends. Brinley Eichards was not there. John Thomas, Pencerdd Gwalia, was absent. How was this ? Professor Macfarren, unused as he was to Eisteddfodau, deplored their absence, and, iu his own cpiiet gentlo manner, rebuked the directing body for not having secured their attendance.
But what struck us more than all was the absence of the county families from tlie gathering. At Wrexham, in the previous year, there was a no mean sprinkling of the aristo- cracy. Sir Watkin WiUiams Wynn was there, a host in him- self, with Lady Williams Wynn, and his daughters ; the Lord Lieutenant of the County and Mrs. West ; the Bishop of St. Asaph, with many others of a high station ; but at Carnarvon the same support was not given to the Eisteddfod. Lord Penrhyn was present on the day in which he presided, and there were on the several days one or two others of the gentry of the neighbourhood ; but that was all. We regret this ex- ceedingly ; at the same time, we congratulate Caernarvou on the presence of tlie " thews and sinews" of the land. The people were there in all the grandeur that numbers and vast- ness give to an assembly.
The several Presidents made, on the whole, excellent speeches. The ]\Iayor of Caernarvou spoke well and seusibly on the first day. Lord Penrhyn brought his usual amount of good common sense to bear on his subject ; and there were utlier efrective utterances — such as those of Mr. Henry lìichard, ^I.P., whose speeches, and he delivi'red two, wcm
86 THE CAERNARFON EISTEDDFOD OF 1877.
sparldiug witli gems. Nor must we pass by tlie speech of Mr. Breese, the chairman of the Thiirsday's concert. He spoke some homely truths in no ungentle or bitter spirit. Mr. Breese was triúy eloquent as he uttered the following passage : —
1 hope I shall not be considered ungrateful if I express disappoint- ment at the absence of our most distiuguished Welshmen. I for one sadly miss at this, a great national gathering of the Cymry, not only the presence, but the souud and honest advice, and the brilliant touch ou that iustrument (pianoforte) of the gifted composer of our second national anthem, Brinley Richards, who has done so much for "Welsh music and Welsli musicians. I would also we could hear those magic straius which are evoked from our national instrumeut by the cuuniug íìngers of that priuce of harpists, Jolin Tliomas, who has so ofteu dis- coursed most eloqueut music to us —
"lu notes, with many a wiudingbout, Of liuked sweetness long drawn out."
^o
But our Presideut this moruing explained that the Committee wished to have rejîresentati^es of Euglish, Irish, and Scotch talent amongst us, and it may be well for us to listen to them, though not to the ex- clusion of our own. For I f ear we are prone as a nation to place our music and all our achievemeuts in literature and art on too liigh a com- parative pedestal. For myself, I see nothing but beauty in our clustering hills and secluded vales, in our placid lakes aud turbuleut streams. I am proud of the ancient literature aud music that have consecrated every hill and every dale. But we niust remember there is a world out- side Wales, and a big one, which many of us have seen, and in which there are mountains higher and more majestic — valleys deeper aud more secluded — lakes broader and in grander settiugs — and larger rivers, ever hurrying ou through wider channels to pour themselves into bluer seas. The poetry and the prose, the miustreky and the art of other couutries have a wider range than our own. But for all this, we may be proud of our owu, aud foster theui with every care. One of our airs — the well-kuowu " Hob y deri daudo" — is said to be the most aucieut known tune, and to have been composed by the Druids. Auother of our melo- dies, many centiu-ies old, carries us back in its plaintive wail to the defeat on Morfa Rhuddlan. We may be justly proud of Dr. Burney's remarks in his great history of music, that it was in the quiet Welsh valleys (though he adds " among a semi-barbarous people") the first souud principles of harmony were fouud. But we should be more proud
THE CAERNARFON EISTEDDFOD OF 1877. 87
of that progress and refiueraent of later days wbich have given its our Edith Wynue, om- Brinley Richards, aud our John Thomas, and wliicii have niade us all more fitting and appreciative receptacles for sweetest sounds.
There were other speeches ; but if we except that of Hwfa Mon, and even he was not himself, they were not equal to the occasion.
The conipetition for the several prizes, as well as the adju- dications, were of the usual character. The music was no worse, and, most certaiuly, it was no better, than we have heard at other Eisteddfodau. Oue musical composition, by a late talented pupil of the University College of Wales, Mr. David Jenkius, seems to be a superior eÖusion of genius. The chair prize poem, too, was an excellent one. AVe have since made a farther acquaintance with it, and our first im- pressions are confirmed. The following lines to ' The hirk' are very beautiful : —
Hudol wyd Avyl Ehedydd, — blygeiniol Nabl, genad boreuddydd ; Yn rhoi fry mewn ter froydd Fawrwych dôu i gyfarch dydd.
Nor less so are the following, ' To a young maiden with her milk-pair: —
Ar y fron draw 'r forwynig — a welir, Wylaidd dlos enethig ; Drwy coed, yn troedio 'r cwm, Mor hoyw mae a'r ewig.
Edrydd ei cherdd wrth odro, — ni cheir briw Na chur brou î'w blino ; Gwefr yw ei hiaith, — creig y fro Ar y wendeg sy 'u gwraudo.
With respect to the other compositions, there was lacking that enthusiasm which overflows when genius sj)arkles and talent al:)Ounds in the compositions.
Altoírether, the Eisteddfod at Caernarvon was uot wìmt we
88 THE CAEKNAKFON EISTEDDFOD OF 1877.
slioiüd desire our countrymen to look up to. We would not set it up for a model, but rather use it as a beacon to warn tliem off the slioals and quicksands whereon Eisteddfodau, if their present course be persisted in, wiU assuredly be wrecTîced.
There is one point on which we would give this Eisteddfod and its managers the highest praise. The fìnancial arrange- ments, expenditure, and division of surplus, do them the greatest credit. "We are not going to quarrel about a few petty items, seeing how well they have managed to dispose of the great bulk. Unlike Wrexham, Caernarvon has come out of the crucible of audit unscathed by the fire. All honour, we repeat, to it ! In giving its hundreds to the University College of Wales, it will be a notable example to future Eisteddfodau, not to spend their gains on their own petty local matters, but to regard national gatherings as bound in honour to promote national objects.
The huge structure of the pavLlion is to be a permanent erection for the holding of meetings at Caernarvon. We sin- cerely hope it will answer its inteuded purpose. We are sadly afraid, however, that it will turn out " a white ele- phant". The constant repairs required in such a structure will form a serious drawback to its fìnancial success.
iaelìtcUìö of îSooUö.
Me.morials of Charlotte Williams-Wyxx. Edited l)y her SiSTER. Witli a Portrait. Longmans, Green, and Co., London. 1877.
Any literary production written by a lady so closely con- nccted with the house of Wynnstay as Miss Wynn, must exact the deep interest of every one connected with the lite- rature of the Principality. It may not treat of tradition, or of language, nor yet of the rich poetry in which our old Celtic tongue abounds, and which contains such yaluable though unappreciated fragments of undeveloped history. It may relate to neither art nor science ; but we are sure that it wiU be something worthy of our perusal and study. The stock from which an author descends may not be a guaranty for bis genius or learning ; but we may be assured that the work of his pen will be replete with good taste, generous thought, and honourable feeling, and, in most cases, with the scholastic attainments which are the result of a high education.
Who that ever knew the late Piight Honourable Charles Watkin Williams-Wynn, will for a moment doubt that of such a kind would be his daughter's efforts in literature ? The friend of Southey — his benefactor at a time when the world had not yet learut to ajopreciate his genius as a poet, or his almost unequalled talents as a writer of prose — ]Mr. Wynn, out of a not overflowing income, bestowed effectual lielp on the rising author, by giving him a no mean share of his own, thus enabling him to devote his energies to the works wliicli liave now beconie classic in our language. Xor was tliis a solitary instance of Mr. Wynn's generosity. Wales is deeply iudebted to him for a large share of his Indian patronage,
90 REYIEWS OF B0OKS.
wlieii lie was for years President of the Board of Control, We know of at least four sons in one faniily on whoni he bestowed cadetships in the Indian army.
One little incident is deeply touchiug. Professor Ehnsley, a ripe scholar, and a genius as transcendent as Oxford ever nurtured in her lap, died in early manhood. His works had made him a high name in the University, and his death was deeply deplored. His last resting-place, however, remained unhonoured. Not a line marked the spot, and he seemed forgotten. One quiet Sunday moruing, as bells were answer- ing bells, calling to prayer, we wended our way to the Cathe- dral, as the University sermon was to be preached there on that day. Not a cap or gown was yet visible, and, until they were coUected for service, we wandered through the venerable pile, reading the inscriptions on the several monuments raised in honour of some of Oxford's most talented sons. All at once we came on a newly-erected monument of white marble. Large and of elegant form, it was as pure as tliough it had been of alabaster. It had been raised to the memory of poor Elmsley. One of Cambria's generous sons had, at his own cost, erected the memorial. At the close of the inscription, w^hich was worthy of the man wliose talents and virtues it recorded, was the simple sentence : — "Erected by his friend and school-fellow — C. W. AV. AV." The initials were too pecu- liar, as well as familiar, not to recal at once to our niind, " Charles Wathin Williams-Wynn."
Nor was Mr. Wynn himself undervalued in Oxford. His portrait, a striking likeness, by the late Sir Martin Archer Shee, graces the dining-hall of Christchurch.
How well do we remember him ! Tall and dignified, and of aristocratic bearing, his countenance was an index of the benevolence that leavened his whole constitution. When he and his brother, the late Sir Wathin Williams-Wyun, appeared togethcr in public, they were as Saul among^ the chiefs of
EEYIEWS OF BOOKS. 91
Israel. Out-topping tliose aroimd tliem, tlieir dignified yet gentle demeanour won them tlie respect and liomage of every sjíectator.
Witli all tliis loftiness and elevation of character, j\Ir. AVynn possessed a most genial temperament. He was face- tious and amusing in conversation, and wouhl occasionally descend to phiyfuhiess, and to smart, if not severe, repartee. After the sharp, though decisive contest for his Montgomery- shire seat in the election of 1831, when he was returned by a large majority, he invited the chief townsmen of Lhmfyllin to dinner and a day's shooting tlirough the pheasant pre- serves of LLangedwin. Sir Wathin was also present. Among the guests were two gentlemen wlio, with their other voca- tions, exercised that of preaching their Master's gospeL They belonged to the sect of the Independents. An attorney from Llanfyllin, wlio had also been invited, fancied he had found an opportunity of mortifying his dissenting neighbours ou the score of their religion ; and when the wine was circulatijig after dinner, he introduced the subject of baptismal registra- tion, saying that such were the informal registrations now made in every petty chapel through the country, that ere long it would be impossible to trace a pedigree or niahe out a title to any property in the Principality. Mr. Wynne discerned at once — as he knew his guests — for whom the covert shaft was intended. He turned round to the sj)eaker : "Yes," he said, "the question of registration is at the present time in a very unsatisfactory state. I have myself heard of a clergyman and his clerk so rechless of the parish register book, as to tear out its leaves to light their pipes with." The attorney, being thus quietly set down, his intended victims chuchled not a little.
It may be asked, why dwell on the characteristics of tlie fatlier, when it is the daughter's book that calls for criticism ? AYe reply tliat, independently of his connexion with the
92 KEVIE\VS OF IJOORS.
authoress of the woi'k before us, liis identification witli Wales, her literature and her language, will not allow us to pass by the friend of Heber, Mackintosh, Southey, Henry Hallam, aud other such men, and especially in a work devoted to Welsh interests.
Miss Charlotte Williams-Wynn was a lady of extraordinary powers both of thought and expression. Had she devoted her talents to literature, she would have raised herself to the highest rank among tlie authors of her day. If her letters and unpremeditated journals are so replete with gems of thought as the present vohime indicates, we can well fancy the excellence to which her more fìnished productions would have reached. Let the reader open the volume wherever he will, he is sure to find something to instruct and refresh him — not the gleanings of antiquated sayings, nor yet proverbs and bye-gones dressed up anew, but fresli and sparhling thoughts, bubbling up in spontaneity and copiousness from the rich fountain of her own mind. Our readers must not fancy that we are speahing extravagantly. Our praise is by uo means excessive. To prove that it is not so, we bring the testimony of a few passages selected at random out of her book. How neatly expressed, for instance, is lier opinion of her friend, Mr. Eio, a Breton, who ever claimed kinship with the Welsh :—
It is curious that a month ago I complained in this very book of being weary of theological discussions, and that no one spoke of religion from their hearts, but rather froui their head. A few days after I meet a man who talks only from his heart, and I am no longer weary. His faith is beautiful, and his convictiou is so deep and sincere, that it is most touching. His conversation was to me like some church bell — it always produced a feeling of devütiou in my miud. What cau I say stronger V
How admirable, again, are the following remarhs on Goethe ! Writing from Llangedwin in October 1841, she says : —
EEYIEWS OF BOOKS. 93
It would be diíRcult for me to express how mucli I delight in Goethe! My new edition is so small, that I can always carry a volume when I walk ; and he is the most companionable of authors, suiting all moods and all humours. Not to be obliged (as is the case with most writers) to wiud oue's self up to some particular key, before one cau enjoy and understand him, is to me a great charm. Then, the seemingly careless, concise manner in which he allows obseryations and opinions to flash oufc which open a new world of thought to one, is very fascinating. But the principal efîect his works have on me I cannot myself understand. He comforts, he consoles me ! How, I know not ; and it is a happiness which I never expected to have gained from theui ; for, as you know, his way of thinking was very diíîerent from all I have hitherto looked up to.
Tlie descriptions of scenes in Eome, Florence, and Yenice, are more tlian commonly interesting ; Lut we must pass tliem by. We cannot, however, do so witli jNIiss WiHiams Wynn's reminiscences of Heidelberg; its beautiful valley seems to liave afforded her more enjoyment than any of the places she visited ; and she concludes her interesting narra- tive thus graphically and feelingiy : —
I shall be very sorry to leave this place, which I enjoy intensely. My walks on tlie heath-covered hills far above the castle wiU remafn in my memory long after I have left them. Such walks are in truth, to use Biblical language, " times of refreshing". I have found tliat there is a deeper teaching in Nature than in any jjrofessor's book. The misfortune is, that one so seldom has the opportunity of coniing into communion with her. How I wish that vou were here, that we mieht talk over all the " thick-coming faucies" that are the result of my long moruings on the hill-tops !
We have rarely read a book written by a lady that bears so strongly the impress of a thoughtful mind as these " Memo- rials." The trivialities of every-day life are unnoticed, that she may grapple with intellectual pursuits of tlie highest kind. Xor are her effbrts in vain, although the subjects are oftentimes out of the reach of common minds, and such as engage the powers of the giants of literature. Wliat a host of bright names, too, forms the phalanx of her friends ! There,
94 r.EVIFAVS OF EOOKS.
are Hegel, Bunsen, Yarnliagen von Ense, Döllinger, Monta- lembert, De Tocqueville, Lamartine, Carlyle, Mackintosh, Sydney Smith, Brookfield, Maurice, and others of equal status. That she also was appreciated by them we can have no doubt. The foUowing is Baroness Bunsen's testimony to her high worth, as given in a letter to one of her sisters. It is dated Carlsruhe, May 14, 1870 :—
If I could but paint such a portrait of her as some of the ancient painters have left us of persons often without name, of whom we know nothing, and yet into whose very soul and life we seem to enter, whose capabili- ties of action, whose principles and feelings we take in by intuition, not needing further testimony, satisfied by internal evidence and intense conviction of moral power and equipoise — then, indeed, the demands of your affection might be duly met, and an image transmitted to posterity worthy of that enshrined in our memory. But what I can say in words is so tame and colourless, that I shrink from the attempt to note it down, and wish that some othér mind than my own would make clear to me the wliy and the Tiow she could be so feminine and yet so forciblc, so decisive and yet so mild ; so considerate of others, of their feelings, of their shortcomings, and yet so positively herself ; so dignified, not in manner and carriage only, but in elevation and grasp of mind, and yet no abstraction ; so full of humau sympathies, aud yet not melting away into unsubstantiality.
We deeply regret our inability, from sheer want of space, to give larger extracts from these "Memorials." We can only express our wonder that amid her many ailments — for her héalth was never good — the authoress was enabled to serve her generation so faithfully, and yet preserve intact the vigour of mind and intellect displayed everywhere throughout this autobiography, even to its close.
An excellent portrait faces the title, and the work, as is always the case with the publications of the Longmans, is beautifully printed, and forms an elegant volume.
JÉl JJeL ^ :^ 2k. ììt. ^
rf^ f\-i j^ fP f^ *!* ^
Since the foregoing pages were written, we have received intelligence of the lamented death of ]\Irs. Lindesay, tlie editorof this volume. She was tlie last surviving daughter
EEYIEWS OF BOOKS. 95
of the Iliglit Honourable C. W. W. Wynn, and tlie widow of John Lindesay, Esq., oí' Loughrea, in the county of Tyrone.
Wliile Miss Charlotte Willianis-Wynn rests beneath the green, quiet pines of Arcaehon, her sister, Harriot Hester, lies ahnost under the shadows of our great metropolis, where —
Daily the tides of life go ebbing and flowing beside her.
How truly are the beautiful words of our Welsh poetess ex- emplified in their case : —
They grew in beauty side by side,
They fill'd one home with glee : Their graves are sever'd far and wide
By moiint, and stream, and sea !
Grammadeg Cymrâeg gan Dayid Eowlands, B.A. (Dewi Mon) Athraw yn Ngiioleg Aberhonddu. Wrexham : [n.d.] Hughes & Son.
We have perused this little book with considerable satis- faction. Grammar, as a science, while requiring a more exact study has of late enlarged its boundaries, and it now deals with questions which it neYer touched on in the past. It seems inclined also to treat words and phrases more logi- cally than heretofore. To keep pace then with the exigencies of the present day Mr. Eowlands has compiled his little manual, and as an epitome of Grammar, or rather a rudimentary treatise, we are bound to add, that the young Welsh student ought to feel deeply grateful to him — it will put him in the right way, and keep him free of the errors which are so pre- yalent in modern composition. AVe haYe been particularly pleased with the part deYoted to prefixes and affixes. With a few things, indeed, we do not agTce ; but they are of such little moment as compared with the excellencies of the ])ook
96 LITEOAEY ANNOUNCEMENTS.
in general, tliat we thinlc it almost a pity to mar our otlier- wise unqualified praise by mentioning them.
The book is neatly got up by the publisher, Mr, Charles Hughes of Wrexham — its only fault is, that it is without date. We always look with suspicion on an undated publi- cation — it savours generally more of the 1)ookseller than of tlie author. This book deserves a date. We can prophesy its exliaustion long before it becomes antiquated.
îLtterarp ^ínnoimcemeutö.
OuR readers will be gratified to learn that the next part of Y Cymmrodor will contain a poetical translation, by Lord Aberdare, of " The Bard and the Cuckoo", a poem written by Owain Gruffydd in the early part of the last century.
It is with no little satisfaction tliat we announce the early pi^blication of the Welsli-English Dictionary, so long in pre- paration, by the Eeverend D. Silvan Evans. While the work will be brought out under tlie auspices of the Honour- able Society of Cymmrodorion, the onus of publication will be taken up by a number of gentlemen connected with the Principality who are anxious for its appearance, knowing, as they do, its value for the opening up of the old Welsh litera- ture. The want of such a Lexicon has been long felt. The high character of the compiler, than whom no man living is more suited, both by talents and attainments, for the work, will, we trust, ensure it not only a large and remunerative circulation, but the gratitude of the Welsh student, whom we heartily congratulate on the prospect of possessing so valuable an instrument for tlie digging and delving into the old poetry and the ancient manuscripts.
^7
Cî^mmroìior*
JUL Y 1878.
DIALOGUE BETWEEN THE BAHD AND THE
CUCEOO,
FEOM THE WELSH OF OWAIN GRUFFYDD. By THE RIGHT HONÜURABLE LORD ABERDARE.
The following translatiou of tlie Welsli Poem The Bard and the Cuclioo appeared in the columns of the Merthyr Guardian in 1835, with the signature H. A. Bruce (now Lord Aber- dare). The freshness of thonght with which the origiual poem teems has been admirably conveyed into English by this elegant translation. It demands, therefore, a place and perpetuation in the Cymmrodor on grounds iudepeudent of the eminence the translator has attained as statesman, aud of his conuection as President with the University College of Wales.
The autlior of the Welsh poem was born in 1643, aud died in 1730. He was a native of Llanystumdwy, in Car- narvonshire, where he appears to have offìciated as parish clerk. Despite his humble origin and occupatiou, he was not only a poet of genuine merit, but is said to have accjuired much curious learning, especially archseological, according to the lights of that age, and eveu some knowledge of Greek and Latin. The reference to the age at which the Yirgiu
YOL. II. H
98 , dialoCtUE betweex the
IMary rlied, might appear to have proceeded from a Eoman Catholic pen. Bnt this supposition would not only be in- consistent with Owain's office of parish clerk, but the re- ference itself is quite in keeping with the character of the religious belief tlien prevailing in many parts of the Princi- pality. In the words of Mr. Lecky's excellent synopsis of the religious condition of Wales in the eighteenth century/ before the great outburst of Methodism : — " The Welsh were passionately musical, passionately wedded to tradition, and, like the Higlilanders of Scotland, they preserved many relics of Catholicism, and even of Paganisra. They crossed them- selves in sign of horror ; they blessed their beds in the name of the four E^ançfelists. When a dead man was lowered into
O
his grave, liis relations knelt upon its border, and prayed that he might soon reach heaven. Many poetic legends were handed down from generation to generation, and were looked npon as almost as sacred as Scripture,"
The Bard.
Goodraorrow^ to thee, sweet and beauteons bird ! Once more thy cheerful song at morn is heard ! Late, roaming o'er the primrose-spotted plain, I paused and listened for thy wish'd-for strain ; I asked — nor I alone — "WTiy sleeps the note "Which oft as spring-tide smiled was wont to float ? The Earth is fresh and green, the fields rejoice, And yet no valley echoes to thy voice ; The genial Sun roUs through the cloudless skies, And Flowers spring up ; arise, sweet bird, arise!"
The CucJcoo. Thou gentle Bard ! oh ! why should I obey The voice that chides me for my lingering lay,
^ England in the EtghteentTi Centnnj, vol. ü, pp. 602-3.
BARD AND THE CUCKOO. 99
Xor wait Hìs just cominand, wliose awful name
None saye with deep-felt reverence may proclaim ?
Por His I am, to Him my strains belong,
Who gave that voice, who swells that vernal song î
Like me, in deep humility of mind,
Yield grateful homage, to his will resign'd ;
Thou canst not learn of earthly things the cause ;
Be mute and lowly, and revere His laws !
The Bard. Bird of the dark-brown hue ! and art thou come With summons stern to tear me from my home ? Say, dost thou chant thy monitory lay In sounds prophetic of my Life's last day ? And must those tones, just welcom'd with delight, Heralds of Death, my trembling soul afifright ? Say, must I now, while spring is swelling here, Quit these bright scenes. so lovely and so dear ? Oh, let me still, while yet the joy remaius, Gaze on these sunlit woods, these flowery plains !
The CucJcoo. Fair is the Earth, and glorious are the skies ! Yet seek not pleasnres which thy God denies ! In Him alone repose thy hopes and fears, And mark, oh mark ! how fleet thy number'd years ! Already threescore spriugs and three are past, And life is short — theu think, how^ near thy last ! Yes, at this age, oh Bard ! the blessed Maid, Christ's hûly Älother, in the grave was laid ; Grim Death smote her, who gave th' Immortal birth, The Judge of all, the Saviour of the Earth !
The Bard. And ere that time be come, no more the form,
Erect and firm, resists as once the storni 1
h2
100 DIALOGUE BETWEEN THE BARD AND THE CUCKOO.
And ere tliose years be fled, tlie failing eye
And shrunken sinew tell us "Man must die'!"
Deign, bounteous Bird ! to guide my erring ways ;
How shall I learn the number of my days ?
Vast is my debt, and empty is my hand ;
I dare not thus before my Saviour stand !
How when the trumpet breaks the death-like trance,
Shall I, a sinner, meet His piercing glance ?
The CucJcoo.
For every foolish thought, for every crime,
Eepent while yet for penitence is time !
Leave fancied pleasures, leave Earth's tinsel toys,
For endless rapture, and undying joys !
So shall true Yirtue sootlie thy tranquil end,
So Christ Himself shall on thy steps attend ;
And, Victor o'er thy spiritual foes,
Heaven shall be thine and Zion's blest repose.
One boundless bliss, one stream of deep delight.
While seraphs waft thee to thy Master's sight !
The Bard.
Oh, God ! behold me by Thy mercy mov'd, Eegret the hateful faults which once I lov'd ! That I have sinn'd and spurn'd thy bounties high, I can not and I would not now deny ! Look on me, Father, for I am but weak ; Crush'd with the weight of woes, thy aid I seek ! Not through the merit of my own vile deeds, But lo ! for me the blessed Saviour pleads ! Oh ! by His latest pangs, His dying love, Eeceive thy suppliant to the realms above !
101
DAFYDD AB GWILYM.^
Bt PROFESSOR COWELL, of Cambridge,
Dafydd ab Gwilym lias a peciüiar interest to an Englisli student of Welsli from the fact that he was so nearly coii- temporary with Chaucer (1328-1400), the Welsh poet having been born about 1 340, and having probably died shortly be- fore the end of the century. Their lives were, therefore, passed in the same stirring time. I need only mention a few of their contemporaries to show what a stirring time it was.
Piienzi became tribune of Eome in 1347; he was killed tliere in 1354. The Popes retui-ned from Avignon to Eome in 1377; and the great schism of the West commenced in 1378, which was only finally settled by the Council of Con- stance in 1418. Petrarch and Boccaccio were the gTeat luminaries in Italy, and the monk Barlaam first revived the hnowledge of Greek by his celebrated lectures on Homer at Avignon in 1339, where Petrarch was one of his pupils. Nearer home, the great event was the commencement of the hun- dred years' war between England and France in 1337. Crecy was fought in 1346; Poitiers in 1356, and all our possessions in Guienne were lost by 1377. It is this last series of events which alone has left some traces in the poetry of Ab Gwilym. For this great struggle was one of the things which first began to unite Wales and England into a living body, not a dead, mechanical mass ; for Englishmen and Welshmen fought side by side at Crecy and Poitiers. Lin- gard expressly mentions that among Edward the Third's in- ' Read before the Cyinmrodoriou, May 29tb, 1878.
102 DAFYDD AB GWILYM.
fantry tliere was always a large proportion of Welshmen, armed witli lances and dressed in uuiform at tlie king's ex- pense: — " Tliese, proved of great utility whenever the country was mountainous and ill-adapted to the operation of cavahy." We can still hear the distant echoes of these French wars in Ah Gwilym, as, for instance, in his Ode to the Ship which bore Morfudd's hushand to France, when he sailed in com- pany with a detachment of tbree hundred men under Hhys Gwgan, to join the army of Edward III, probably in the later war of 1369 or 1370. Ab Gwilym is beHeved to have died before the stormy days of Owen Glendwr began under Henry IV, as no allusion to them occurs in his poems.
Of Ab Gwilym's own life we have many legendary details, but I doubt how far they are to be accepted as historicaUy true.
He was no doubt the illegitimate scion of a noble faniily, and he was brought up by his uncle Llewelyn ab Gwilym ; and, when he grew up, he lived at Maesaleg in Monmouth- shire, in the house of his kind patron Ifor Hael, a relation of his father. He seems to have been líbr Hael's steward as weU as his bard ; and he is also said to have acted at one time as tutor to his daughter; but, as the youug tutor and pupil became attached, the daughter was placed in a nunnery in Anglesea. It is remarhable, however, that this suj)posed amour did not break oft the intimate relations betweeu the poet and his patron. His poems are chieíly amatory, and it is not, there- fore, surprising that the legends of his Hfe chiefly relate to the various lacües whose names are more or less celebrated in his writings. The three most promineut names are Dyddgu, Hunydd, and, above aU, ]\forfudd, to whom 147 odes are said to be devoted; but it is curious that in Ode clxvi, where he reckons up the names of his difí'erent mistresses just as Cowley does in his Chronicle, Morfudd merely appears as one of the crowd, with no special niark to distinguish lier
DAFYDD AB GWILYM. 103
from the rest. Most of tlie legends naturally are connected with her name. She was the daughter of ISIadog Lawgam, a gentleman of Anglesea ; and she and the poet are said to have been married by the bard jNIadog Benfras in the wood ; but her relations, not approving the union, married her to a weahhy decrepit old man, Cynfrig Cynin. The poet con- stantly lampoons him as Eiddig and Bwabach in his odes, and frequently describes himself as still meeting Morfudd clandestinely in the woods.
These traditions regarding Dafydd ab Gwilym's relations with Morfudd are very singular ; and it is not to be won- dered at that they have been geuerally accepted as historical certainties. Many of them seem to be supported by passages in his own poems ; and if these poems are to be regarded as autobiographical sketches, they may well be quoted to throw some little light on the obscurity of the poet's life. But are we justified in tlms using thern ? Was the poet, when he wrote them, laying bare the secrets of liis heart to us, or was he only deceiving us by a j)retended confidence w4iich really meant nothing ?
I must here remind my hearers that these legendary detaüs of a great poet's life are, by no means, peculiar co Ab Gwilym. Similar traditions cluster in abundance round many others. I need only specify here Yirgil, Shakespeare, and the Persian poet, Háfiz; and in each of these three cases we can dis- tiuctly prove that they are mostly but the idle gossip which naturally gathers round a great name when there are few or uo certain facts to supply its place. Men caunot bear to be utterly ignorant concerning the details of that life in which they are so deeply interested ; and stories seem to rise up spontaneously in an uncritical age, none knows how, to supply the want of actual biography, just as it is the loneliness and the silence which make us seem to hear those
104 DAFYDD AB GWILYM.
" Airy tongues which syllable men's names Oii sauds and shores and desert wildernesses."
Biit I tliink in Ab Gwilym's case, we liave soine very strong reasons wliich may well make us hesitate before we accept these extraordinary adventures as actual facts. These stories are said, in the preface to tlie first edition of the poet's works, to rest chiefly on local tradition, and especially as col- lected by lorwerth Morganwg. But, on the other hand, we liave the distinct testimony which comes through the bard Watkiu Powel (1580-1620), that Ab Gwilym was a very quiet man, and particulaiiy reserved in conversation ; and we also have in Provençal literature a close parallel which, I thiiik, may help us to understand mucli in the poet's life, which, in itself, seems extravagant and immoral. I trust that my audience wili liere kiiidly bear with me while I digress for a few minutes into this little-trodden field, as I hope to fìud there some interesting illustrations for the subject of my lecture to-night.
Provençal literature was in its giory between 1150 and 1290 ; and the poetry of the troubadours for a time gave the law of taste to all Europe. We can trace their influence in the eaiiy literature of Spain, Italy, Prance, Germany, and Eng- land ; and, to quote HaUam's words, " the soiigs of Provence were undoubtedly the source from whicli poetry for niany centuries derived a great portion of its habitual language". The troubadours at one time fiUed very much the same posi- tion at the haUs of the nobles of Languedoc and Provence, which the bards fìUed in Wales ; they were not only liberally rewarded for their poems, but they frequently enjoyed the intimate friendship of their patrons. Even men of knightly birth were sometimes troubadours; and we expressly read of Eaimbaut de Vaqueiras tliat he was originally a musiciau or jongleur, which was an inferior rank to tlie troubadour ; but he attached himself to the court of Boniface, Marquis of Montserrat, who made him a kiiii'lit.
DAFYDl) AB GWILYM.- 105
Kow one of the inost strilcing features of Provençal poetry is tlie fact tliat nearly erery love-poem, — and these form one lialf of the literature, — is addressed to the sister or ^vife of the poet's patron. This strange form of homage became tlie universal fashion of the courts ; and it was considered a higli lîonour to the lady who was immortalised hy the poet's praise. Occasionally, there is reason to fear, these relations led to evil ; but in the vast majority of cases the}^ were perfectly innocent ; aud, however the poet might siug of his lady and boast of her kindness, it was the liead, not the heart, which dictated the verses, and there was an impassable line Í3xed by fashion as well as virtue, which separated the proud lady of the castle from the troubadour, however gifted and re- nowned. We read in the biography of Eaimbaut de Yaquei- ras that, for years, lie had celebrated the beauty of Beatris, the sister of his patron Boniface, and wife of the Lord of Del- carat. He liad given her the name Bd-cavalier iu his poems, in allusion to his having once seen her playing with her brother's sword, when, thinhing that she was unobserved, she had unsheathed it, and amused herself with making passes in the air. After awhile he, in some way, ofíended the lady, and she withdrew her favour from him ; until her brother, the Marquis, found out the cause of the poet^s dis- tress, and himseK begged her to receive him into her favour again. Such an incident would liave been impossible, if this 'chivalrous homage had liad the slightest tendency to be- coming a serious passion. In one of his poems he represents the lady as saying to him : — " Thou art such a good knight, that there is no lady in the world who woiüd not williugiy clioose thee as her friend. Thus I have seen Madanie de Saluces accept the love of Pierre Yidal; the Countess of Burlatz, that of Arnaud de ]\Iarveil ; jNIadame Marie de Ven- tadour, that of Gaucelm Faidit ; and the Yiscountess of MarseiUes, the wife of the Lord Barral, that of Folquet of Marseilles."
]06 DAFYDD AB GWILYM.
The resemblance between Ab Gwilym's poems and the chansons of the troubadours, will strike anyone who compares the two. Ab Gwilym is a greater poet than any troubadour, and his lyre has some deeper notes than theirs; but the essence of their music is the same.
I have also noticed some curious minor resemblances. Thus, Diez expressly notices that a superficial hnowledge of the worhs of Ovid, especially of his Metamorphoses, comprises all the classical learning of the troubadours ; and, I believe, Ovid will similarly be found to be responsible for all Ab Gwilym's classical allusions.
Some sixteen pages in Ab Gwilym's works are taken up with the " Cy wyddau yr Ymryson" between him and Gruffydd Grug; these form a curious parallel to the tcnsons of the Provençal poets, where two rival poets meet to discuss some point of love or politics, with the fiercest personal spite and auimosity.
Similar to these, and easily springing from them, are the dialogues between two lovers or two rivals, These, of course, difí'er from the former, because they are the work of one poet, not of two ; but the vivacity of the dialogue is the same iu both. There are several very celebrated Provençal poems of this kind, as, for instance, the dialogue between Eaimbaut d'Orange and his mistress Beatrix, Countess of Die ; and that between Peyrols and LoYe^ who reproaches him for haviiig deserted his service ; and that between Eaimbaut de Vac[uei- ras and a Genoese lady, who remains obdurate to his flat- teries. Ab Gwilym has several dialogues of this kind. I need only mention here the dialogue with a maiden (No. CLXXx), that under a maiden^s window (No. CLii),the wonder- ful dialogue between the bard and liis shadow (No. clxxi), and that with the cuckoo (JSTo. ccx), as well as that with the same bird (No-. Lxx), when it tells him that Morfudd is mar- ried. One of the most curious parallels which 1 have uoticed
DAFYDD AB GWILYM. 107
between Ab Gwilym and tbe Provençal poets, may be acci- dental in itself; but I mention it because it so singularly ilhistrates tbe comparison wbicb I bave tried to institute be- tween tbem. In Poem xcix Ab Gwilym describes Bwa-bacb as sailing to Prance witb a detacbment of tbree hundred men, under tbe command of Pthys Gwgan^ to join tbe army of Edward III, and be utters bis wisbes tbat be may be drowned on his voyage or hilled by a French 'arcber. I q[uote the lines in Mr. Artbur J. Johns' translation : —
" Soon shalt thou pay the debt I owe To Jealousy, the poet's foe. Like bird of ocean he shall whirl From wave to wave aud shoal to shoal, As the wild surges fiercely cuii Around the shores, O sordid soul ! May Hwynyn, demon of the sea, Thy headsman on the voyage be ! And thou, cross-bowman, true and good, Thou shooter with the faultless wood, Send me an arrow througli liis brain, (Who of his fate will e'er complain?) — Haste with thy stirruji-fashioued bow, And lay the hideous varlet low ! "
Guillaume Adbémar has a similar poem, in wbich he ím- plores Alplionse IX, tlie King of Lëon (who died in 1230), to start on a crusade. " If King Alpbonse, tbe best count in Christendom, would but raise an army against tbe Saracens, and carry with hini tbe jealous busband wlio heei^s my lady a close prisoner, tliere is no sin of wbich be sbould not get tlie pardon ! "
A portion of bis Odes are so like Provençal chansoìis in their subject-matter, that one might almost believe they were direct imitations. Tbese are tbose somewhat wearisome semi- metaphysical disquisitious on tbe nature and lineage of love, the golden hair of Morfudd, " Yr Hiraeth", etc. Tbese are the staple of Provençal poetry ; but in Ab Gwilym tbey are only a very small portion.
108 DAFYDD AB GWILYM,
I have already saicl tliat we find abundant traces of the in-
fluence of tlie troubadour poetry of Provence in France, Ger-
many, and Italy. In France, we especiaUy find it in the
works of tlie early lyric poets of the thirteenth century ; in
the course of which century at least 136 song-writers are
known to have flourished, Their chansons are modelled, as
to form, on those of Provence; and in many cases the subject-
matter also clearly reveals tlie troubadour influence. In
Germany, we find it in the works of the Minnesingers. I
have no time to enter upon this at length this evening ; but
I would refer any of my audience who would wish to ex-
amine the question further to a very interesting article in
the Cornliill Magazine for June 1876, on Walter von der
Yogelweide, the Minnesinger, who lived between 1170 and
1235. I read the article with great interest, and I was espe-
cially struck by the strong resemblauce between the German
poet and Ab Gwilym. Each had the same deep love of
nature, especially in Spring and May; and some of the
poems translated in the article might have passed for trans-
lations from Ah Gwilym. Of course in this case there could
be no direct communication ; but tlie resemblance was the
family likeness between two sisters, each reproducing the
features of the common parent, but modifying them to suit
her own individual type of development. In Italy, the
troubadour influence is still more marked ; the word trovare
was constantly used as the Italian for " writing poetry", and
tromtore for " a poet" ; and in Dante and Petrarch we have
the very apotheosis of the Provençal idea. The poetry of
Provence, at its best, was feeble and artifìcial ; it was a deli-
cate hot-house plant nursed by court patronage and shielded
from all the rough winds of real life, and striking its roots
into a soil of fancy and sentiment, so that its shoots always
betray tlie original weakness of the stock,
" Invali<lique patrum referunt jejuuia nati,"
DAFYDD AB GWILYM. 109
But in Italy the transplanted slioot íbund a more fertile soil, and struck its roots down deep into the very heart of human nature and reality ; and though Dante's " Beatrice" and Pe- trarch's " Laura" were originally the reflections of Provençal poetry, the genius of Dante and Petrarch have created them anew, and made tliem symbols of beauty for alb time. And so Ab Gwilym seems to me to have similarly borrowed the Provençal idea, and then reproduced it as a new creation by his own genius. We can thus trace in him a new line of Provençal influence, derived, I suppose, through France or Italy. I have already pointed out some of tlie points of resemblance; and, I believe, that it is also this Provençal in- fluence which must bear the blame of the somewhat immoral shadow whicli hangs over parts of Ab Gwilym's poetry. The essential feature of so much of the best of Provençal song centres round the poet's poetical afîection for a married woman ; and, I think, we trace tliis evil influence in Dante and Petrarch as well as in Ab Gwilym. May we not trace it further still ? Am I wrong in suggesting that Shakes23eare's Sonnets are the latest and, perhaps^ greatest instance of this Provençal influence ? For my own part, I do not believe in the legends spuu by critical Arachnes, out of the slender and obscure hints of Shakespeare's Sonnets, any more than I believe in the real love of Ab Gwilyni for Ifor Hael's daughter, or for Morfudd ; in both, I believe, it was the working of the spell thrown by the magic of Provence, — it was the glamour exercised by that evil Vivien, which, for a time, held even Shakespeare under its fatal sway.
Ab Gwilym is said to have introduced the cyvjì/dd into Wales. If so, T canuot but think that this is an echo of Pro- vençal poetry, as the chanson is generally one continuous poem and is written in rhyming lines of eight or seven syllables ; but it is possible that the cywydd may be far older than his time and a native product of Welsh invention. Of
110 DAFYDD AB GWILYM.
course it is interestiiig to trace tlie early history of aiiy new
experiment in poetry, to watcli tbe progress of the new idea
as it passed on from the land of its birth to a foreign soil ;
but, after all, this is only a secondary matter, as compared
with the much more real interest which is associated with
the poet's own history and character. Dafydd ab Gwilym
interests us this evening as the great poet of Wales ; and it
is this which is to be our special subject. I cannot help be-
lieving that he borrowed tbe first idea of his new form of
poetry from the troubadours of Provence ; but, Hhe all great
poets, he reissued the okI bullion as a new coinage, stamped
with his own image and mint-mark. No one can read his
poems without being struck by the originality aud native
Yigour which everywhere pervade them ; nothing seems bor-
rowed or second-hand ; everything speaks of the master's
own hand and worhinanship.
I -was very much struch, from the first, with the entire
absence of any references to Classical mythology in his
poems. The troubadour poets, as I have said^ seldom go
further than Ovid for their Classical stories, but the Meta-
morphoses supply them with many a poetical allusion ; Ab
Gwilym hardly contains one. He knows Ovid by name;
thus, he says, in his poem to the nightingale (No. Lxxxiv),
" prid yw ei chof gan Ofydd", " valuable is her mention in
Ovid", and he calls the thrush " bard of Ovid's faultless
song" ; but almost the only definite allusion to Classical
mythology which I have noticed is that found in Ode xxix,
wliere he compares Morfudd to tlie three famed heroines of
ancient days : Polyxena, Deidamia, and Helen,
" Yr hon a beris yr ha A thrin rhwng Groeg a Throia."
He has a romantic literature to refer to, as the heroic back- ground behind the present ; but it is the age of Arthur aud the Ruights of the Eound Table, not that of Thebes or Troy.
DAFYDD AB GWILYM. 111
His Elen, for instance, is generally the Elaine of the Arthiir- ian legend, not Menelaus' faithless wife ; and his mythology is drawn froni the earliest Mabinogion and faint remini- scences of Druidical superstitions, not from the foreign myths of Greece and Rome. Some of these references to old British legends are very striking. Thus we have Myrddyn's ship of glass referred to more than once. Thus in Ode XLVii, he says, of the grove of broom (y banadl-lwyn) : —
" I will make here to allure her An enclosure of the green delicate broom, As Myrddyn, with his love-inspired architecture, Made a house of glass for his paramour."
In the same poem we have a beautiful allusion to the
Mabinogi of Manawyddan fab Llyr, where Dyfed is covered
by a mist through the enchantment of Llwyd the son of
Kilcoed : —
" And to-day in the green wood Such shall be this court of mine beneath the broom."
In other Odes we have references to Hu Gadarn's oxen and Neifion's ship; but one of the most beautiful is that in Ode CLXXXiii, " Achau y dylluan'^, which seems to me a master- piece in its way. We often hear those old lines of Barne- field's to the nightingale highly praised, — and they weU deserve it : —
" Ah, thought I, thou mourn'st ìn vain, None takes pity on thy pain ; Senseless trees, they canuot hear thee, Ruthless beasts, they wiU not cheer thee ; King Pandion, he is dead, AU thy friends are lapped in lead. All thy fellow birds do sing Careless of thy sorrowing : Even so, poor bird, like thee None alive wiU pity me."
But beautiful as the lines are, they seem to me far inferior to Ab Gwilym's splendid address to the owl, where he makes
112 DAFYDD AB CnVILYM.
lier shame Iiim for his rude and thoughtless insolence, by reminding him of her ancient ^voes, how that she, now a
" Creature of the world of gloom, Owlet with the dusky plume," and
""Destined by its fate To endure the agony Of sad peuance, and the hate Of all birds beneath the sky,"
had once been the Blodeuwedd or "flower face", of old romance — of whom we read in the tale of Math, the son of Math- onwy, that " they took the blossoms of tlie oak and tlie blossoms of the broom, and the blossoms of the meadow sweet, and produced from them a maiden, the fairest and most graceful that man ever saw. And they baptized her, and gave her the name of Blodeuwedd." But at last, for her falseness, Gwdion, the magician, changed her into an owl ; " because of the shame thou hast done, thou shalt never shew thy face in the light of day henceforth; and that, through fear of all otlier birds. For it shall be their nature to attack thee, and to chase thee from wheresoever they may fìnd thee."
One of the finest of these old allusions seems to me to be that in Ode ccviii, where the poet laments his ill-luck to be lost in the dark night on the hills, until he is guided into safety by the appearing of the stars. He describes himself as caught in the mountains as in a trap : —
" Like luckless warrior whom his foes Fiercely in hollow gleu euclose, I crossed myself, and gave a cry Of terror and of agony."
And then this suggests the splendid comparison of the marshalled hosts of the midnight sky : —
"Every pair exactly arranged, The battle of Camlan re-euacted in the broad gray sky ! "
DAFYDD AB (iWILY.M. 113
I have said that Ab Gwilym was a conteraporaiy of Chaucer, and I do not dovibt that a careful comparison of the two poets wouhl bring out some interesting iüustrations for each. I wül only mention three or four, but they may be taken as specimens of many others, which would probably reward a more careful search. Thus iu the poem on the thunder whicli scared away Morfudd from her trysting-place we have guns mentioned : —
"I went wild aud ray liair all awry At the roaring of the gun of the air."
" Gwyllt yr awn a'm gwallt ar ŵyr Gau ruad (jwn yr awyr."
Guns are said to have been first used by Edward III, at
the battle of Crecy, in 1346, and Chaucer uses gonnc in the
House of Fame : —
" Ywent this foule trumpes soun As swift as pellit out of gonne When fire is in the poudir ronne,"
and the Legend of Good Women (Cleopatra) : — •
" With grisly soune out goith the grete gonne."
So, too, Barbour (whose date is 1375) talks of crahMs of luer for cannon in Book xix, 399, and gynisfor crakMs, i.e. — engines for noises, in Book xvii, 250.
Ab Gwilym's allusion is therefore an early contemporary one, and is interesting for literary history.
Again, Ab Gwilym several times mentions siopau Sieh as his very ideal of splendour and magnificence ; the phrase shews how the fame of the glories of Cheapside had spread even in those days to Wales, and it is paralleled by such liues as those in Chaucer, where he describes the landlord of the Tabard as " a fairer burgeis is there non in Chepe", or, when he describes the merry cook : —
" He loved bet the tavern than the shoppe, For whan ther any riding was in Chepe, Out of the shoppe thither wold he lepe,
VOL. TI. I
114 DAFYDD AB (iWILYM.
And til tliat he had all the sight ysein And danced wel, he would not come agein."
In Chaucer's Nonnes Preestes Talc \ve read of tlie wido\v's
cock : —
" Wel sikerer was his crowing in his logg Than is a clok or any abbey orlogg."
The first striking clock is said to have been made hy De Wick for Charles V, of France, about 1364 ; and it is an interesting ülustratiou of contemporary history to notice two references to this newly discovered invention in Ab Gwilym. Thus in the poem (No. CLix), to the owl, he calls it : — " Cloc eìhjU, ceìliog gwylliaid''\
" The goblin's clock, the witches' cock", if cloc does not here
mean "bell"; and in ccxvi we have a poem to the Awrlais
in the monastery, which woke the poet when he was dreamiug
of his mistress : —
'• Shame on that clock on the side of the embankment, With its black face, which woke me. Worthless be its head and its tongue, And its two ropes and its wheel ; Its weights, its dull balls, Its enclosures, and its hammer, Its ducks ever thÌDking that it is day, And its restless mills. ('ncÌYÌl clock, its noise is crazy, — Drunken cobler, cursed be its face ! With its false entrails fuU of lies And its dog's joints knocking against a bowl ! A double curse be on its clatter For briuging me here from heaven."
Again, in the prologue to Chaucer's Millers Tale, the
drunken miller is described : —
" He n' old avalen neither hood ne hat Ne abiden no man for his curtesie, But in Pilate's vois he gan to crie ; "
i.e. — in such a rough voice as Pilate vv'as represented with in the mediíçval mysteries. I think I liave found an exactly
DAFYDD AB rnvTT.v^r. 115
pnriTllel i^lirase in Ab Gwilyni, for, in one of liis niany poems of invective against tlie owl (Xo. CLix), he describes her : —
" She was like an ape's neck for causing terror, A thin hoarse little wonian for calling, The screaming of the heron of the Aran, Like the man with the bag every word she sings."
(Gwr y god hoh gair n ffàiì.)
I can only suppose that this refers to the Judas Iscariot in the sanie plays. I remember to have heard that the bag was the great mark of the traitor among the twelve disciples in the representation of the Ammergau play, and that the character was a very unpopuL^r one^ and it was very difficult to find anyone wlio would undertake it.
Another point of a different nature in which Ab Gwilyni illustrates Chaucer is the strong animosity which both feel to the monks and begging friars. Chaucer is always sup- posed to have been favourable, like his great patron the Duke of Lancaster, to the movement for reform begun by Wickliffe; and his poems abound with satirical allusions to the ecclesi- astical abuses current in his time. Ab Gwilym is a staunch believer in the doctrines of the Eoman Catholic Church, Ì3ut he is a bitter enemy of the priests and monks. Several of his Odes are composed of dialogues between himself and some gray brother (brawd llwyd), and the dialogue generally ends in some fierce invectives against the whole order. These are interesting, because they shew how liostility to the arro- gance and corruption of the ecclesiastical authorities was spreading through Wales as w^ell as England, 150 years before the Eeformation movement began in earnest. At the same time Ab Gwilym is a devout Catholic in his wiy ; and he is fond of introducing allusions to the gorgeous ritual of the medi8eval Church. Thus in one of his poems to the moon (No. Li), he addresses it thus : —
i2
llíi l.)AFVL»D AB (iWILY.M.
'^ From me nor treachery nor time
Nor autumn's blast at random driyen, Can snatch thy guardian light sublime ; Blessed wafer, lif ted up iu heaven."
(Afrlladeii o nen y ncf.)
There are several beautiful passages wliere he compares
the bircls in the wood, siuging in all the ecstasy of the early
summer, to the quire of some great cathedral, and the thrush
and the nightingale are the miuistering priests : —
" I heard the thrush read to the parish boldly The gospel withou!; stammering ; He raised for us on the laills there The wafer made of a fair leaf ; And the beautiful nightingale, slender and tall, From the corner of the glen near him, Minstrel of the dingle, sang to a hundred, Aud the bells of the mass continually did ring."
If I were asked to describe in a few words Ab Gwilym's position among the renowned poets of the -\vorld, I should characterise him as especially the poet of the fancy. He oc- casionally has bursts of imagination, and occasionally he has tender touches of pathos and sentiment ; but if my view of his genius at all approaches to the reality, we ought not to expect much imagination or pathos in such an artificial world of poetry as that in which he lived. Ab Gwilym was not a Burns, and we must not look in him for those intense utterances of passion whicli we find in Burns. Aristophanes tells us that old ^schylus' lines were so weighted with meaning, that a hundred Egyptian slaves could not lift them ; but we should look in vain in Ab Gwilyni for such concen- trated outbursts as these.
Ab Gwilym's world is a bright world of fancy ; and we must not bring into it the stern laws and feelings of daily life. We read his odes hopelessly wrong, if we try to date them and to localise them, instead of leaving them in their original vagueness, — idylls which happened in the Greek
DAFYDD AB GWILYM. 117
Calends, and some uumapped region of Arcadia. iSTo poet, wLo really felt as Burns felt, could send his message by a trout, an eagle, or a swan ; this imagery belongs essentially to íìction, aud tliose have wholly mistahen his meaniug who would reduce it to fact. In fact, we have here one of Ab Gwilym's peculiar triumphs as a poet of the fancy, that he struck out an entirely new kind of poetry. The idea of sending animals and birds and fìshes on a love-errand has been common enough iu Welsh poetry since his time ; it has been, in fact, the story of Cohimbus and the egg over again ; but who thought of the idea before him ? Persian poets continuaUy send a message by the hree^e; but they have never gone beyond this very obAÌous impressment of natural agents. One of the most celebrated Sanshrit poems is the Meghadúta, and its very celebrity shows how new and unexpected was the appeal which it made to the sympathies of the Indian public. Rálidása there describes a demigod who has been banished from his home in the Himalaya, for a year, to a mouutain in the south of ludia. Whüe wanderiug in his place of exile, he observes the great clouds rising from the Indian Ocean, which, at the beginning of the rainy season, are borne along by the steady current of the southern mon- soon, and traverse the whole extent of the Indian Peninsula from south to north, and finally pour their watery treasures on the slopes of the Himalayas. He invokes this huge mass of vapour, and, in a highly poetical address, describes the path which it is destined to travel, as it passes over the various classical spots of Hindu antiquity ; and he finally transmits by the cloud a tender message of affection to his wife, whom he has left in the deep recesses of the mountains of tlie north. But these addresses to natural agents are only rare and occasional in other literatures. Ab Gwilym was the first poet wlio raised these isolated attempts into a new kind of poetry.
118 DAFYDD AB GWILYM.
But it is essential to tliese addresses tliat tliey sliould speak tlie language of the fancy, not the iniagination. If we weight our inanimate or irrational messenger too severely, he will faint
" With the burden of an honour Luto Avhich he was not born."
It is just the same here as in fable. Fable has been a de- lightful extension of the world of human experience ; and daily life seems to gain new wisdom and intuition when it reads human virtues and vices in the gTotesque disguises of the animals in tlieir native woods and morasses. But the deception loses its charm if the fable rises to too higli a level, if we make our animals aspire to solve other problems than those of selfishness and animal ingenuity ; because these latter alone belong to the true plane of animal cunning, and we are turning our animals into men in disguise if we put those higher thoughts into their mouths.
In the same way it is fatal to tlie poetry of the fancy, if it ever makes us utter Milton's words in Lycidas : —
" That strain I heard was of a Itiylur mood."
It is essential to the poetry of the fancy that it should keep to its own level; and Ab Gwilym rarely allows the poetic Äwen to carry him beyond tlie limits of the fanciful world of idyllic poetry in which he felt that his genius found its true home.
To iUustrate my meaning, I will dwell somewhat at length on two of his poems, Nos. xxxii and xxxiii, in which the poet represents himself as actually slain by the cruelty of his mistress. In the former he describes himself as buried in the woods, and I am glad that I cau quote from such an excellent translation as that by Mr. Johns : —
" To-inorrow shall I in my grave be laid, Aniid the leaves and floating forest shade
DAFYDD AB GWILYM. 119
Iii yon ash grove — my yerdaut birchen trees Shall be the mourners of my obser|UÌes ! My spotless shroud shall be of summer flowers, My cofBn hewn from out the woodland bowers ; The flowers of wood and wild shall be my pall, ^ly bier eight forest brauches green and tall ; And thou slialt see the white gulls of the maia In thousands gather there to bear my traiu ; And e"en the very wood-mice shall be seen To haste and join the sad funereal scene ! The thicket of the rocks my church shall be, Two nightingales (enchantress, chosen by thee), The sacred idols of the sanctuary ! "
Tliis is all iiure idyllic faucy ; it is batliecl iu tlie warm
suushiue of poetry, but it is uot deep passiou ; there is
liere
" Xo voice of weeping heard and loud lament."
One cau hardly read this beautiful eft'usiou of faucy ^vith- out being reiuiuded of those liues of Webster, the " Laud- dirge",of which Charles Lamb says : — " I nerer sa\v auythiug like this fuueral dirge, except the ditty which remiuds Fer- dinaud of his drowued father in the Tempest. As that is of the water, watery ; so this is of the earth, earthy."
'' Call for the robin redbreast and the wren,
8iuce over shady groves they hover,
And with leaves and flowers do cover The frieudless bodies of unburied men.
Call unto his funeral dole,
The ant, the field-mouse, and the mole ; To rear him hillocks that shall keep him warm, And (when gay tombs are robbed) sustain no harm."
Tlie other is the poem where he supposes that Ifor Hael's daughter, in tardy repentance for haviug caused his death by lier obduracy, will set off on a pilgrimage froui her monastery in Anglesea to St. David's. This poem has never been really translated into English before (as lolo Morgauwg's so-called translation is au outrageous paraphrase), aud I venture to give a faithful \-ersiou of this l)eautiful poem. Tlie origi-
120 DA1-Y])D AB GWJLYiM.
ual exactly, to my iiiiiid, represents Ab Gwilym's genins, — the ever-varying faucy, the liglit touch, the half pathetic turn; but even here \ve can cletect the absence of that deeper passion which would have abruptly stopped his light corus- cations of fancy, and would have rather made him veil his face in silent anguish with Agamemnon in the old picture of Timanthes : —
Ab Gwilym, xxxin.
The Laúìj's Pilgrimage to St. David''s.
" The nun has started on her way, The silent luaid, her vows to pay Before St. David in his shrine, His mother, and the host divine ; Fain would her heart conceal her woes, .- Bright dawn of comfort where she goes. She starts from Môn, iu hope to win A tardy pardon for her sin, For cruel words of cold disdain, And a true heart unjustly slain. All penitent and woe-begone, She journeys downcast and alone, Pale are her cheeks and sad her brow, — Her poet's songs are silent now ! May Menai spread a fostering care, Its dangerous tide run low for her ; May famed Traeth Mawr spell-bound retreat And ebb away before her feet ; May Bychan Draeth be wellnigh dry, And Ertro flow unrufíied by. Glad would I pay the Barmouth fee, That she might safely ferried be ; l^ysyny, with thy stream like wine, Leave a small strip of wavelets nine ; But Dyfi's shiyeriug waves are deep, — Say, wiU the maid her purpose keep ? Rheidiol, for honour's sake give heed, And let thy streara flow soft as niead ; Nor, Ystwyth, try to stop her way, — Swell thy deep waters as they may.
DAFYDD AB GWILY.M. 121
Acron, tliy flood's impetiious niass Rolls boiling on, — but let her jjass. Aud Teifi, stream surpassed by noue, GoBsamer-gleaming in the sun, Graut lier safe escort, succour seud. Tliat she uiay reach her journey's eud. ^Mother, if in St. David's pile Thou hast thy far-famed doniieile, In piirple clothed of costliest dye, — List to my interceding cry. She killed me, as too ■well I know, — But then the crime was long ago ; 'Tis now too late to aveuge my fall ; And oh ! her journey cancels all ! INIary, my gentle sea-guU spare, Thougli she was merciless as fair; Ere her excuses half are said, I shall have pardoned the bright head !"
A peciüiar feature of Ab Gwilyin's genius is tlie entliusias- tic outpouring of liis emotions, wlietlier of joy or sorrow, of praise or blame, love or enmity, wlienever lie is once fairly roused by liis subject. There is sometbing, at times, almost Shakespearian in his rapid flow of imagery, pouring out as from an inexhaustible river-god's urn. Sometimes we have in one ode a series of beautiful images, following one another in rapid succession, like the colours in a kaleidoscope ; an- other ode will give us an equally vivid series of grotesque images like the incoherent fancies of a feverish dream. He rarely dwells long on any suggested thought ; his muse has a light touch that jiist throws a bright passing illumination on the object, and then flits off to another part of the landscape like a ray of April sunshine. One of these very remarkable odes is that to the snow, No. ccv.
The poet begins by lamenting that he cannot stir froni his
horne, nor keep his appointment with his mistress in conse-
(|uence of the snow : —
" Thcre is uo world nor ford nor hill-slope, ]So upoii s])ace uor ground to-day."
122 DAFYDD AB GWILYM.
He soou bursts out into a volley of abuse agaiust tlie suow, aud I quote a few of the more striking lines : —
"There is not a spot under the wood without its white dress, ííor a bush without its sheet ! A bright veil over the grove of trees f ull of sap, A burdeu of chalk overlying the wood. A very thick shower of foaui, Lumps bigger than a man's fist ; Through Gwynedd do they pass, White are they, very bees of paradise ! AVhere does heaven throw together such a plague ? Where is there such an appearance ì It must be the feathers uf
the geese of the saints ! 'Tis a dress of silver made by the ice for a time, — 'Tis all quicksilver, the coldest in the world. A dress of cold, disappointing is íts stay— A deception on hill, hollow, and fosse ! A coat of thick steel, — an earth-breaking weight,— A pavement larger than the grave of the sea."
[Palment nnry na mynicent mor.)
It is daugerous for a foreigner to criticise particular liues
in a poet of a strauge language ; but I cannot help reraarlc-
ing here that this last line strihes me as almost sublime. It
brings out so vividly the immense tract of white barren snow
and ice covering the whole surface of the land, large enough
to be tlie gravestone of the sea. It reminds me of Keats'
lines, though, of course, they contain a very difîerent image
to describe the same phenomenon, where he addresses the
bright star in the wintry sky as
" Gazing on the soft white new-fallen niask Of snow upon the mountains and the moors."
Another of these odes, iu which the grand and the gro- tesque are so curiously miugled, is Ode xliv, wliich describes how Morfudd and the poet nieet in the wood, but are fright- ened by a thunderstorm. In tlie opening of the poem he is serious, and I give a few of the liues where he describes the thunder by a succession of similes, as some of these are re- markable : —
DAFYDÜ AB GWILYM. 123
" 'Tiö a crasli tliat all thc world hears inccssantly, A hoarse bull shattcring the rocks ; Tlmnder which brings trouble to us, Like the uoise of arms in the sky beyoud our bounds ! ^ I heard aloft (I retreated for fear) — The giant voice of the trumpet of the beating rain, A tliousand giants raving wildly From the chains of the consteUations."^
These last two lines remind one of tlie grand verse in Job : " Canst thou loose the bands of Orion?" which is generally interpreted to mean " Canst thou loose the bands of the giant ?", Kcsil or Orion being conceived as an impious giant bound uj)on the sky. I have been often puzzled as to how Ab Gwilym could have got this image. It could not have been suggested by the passage in Job, for the Yulgate has only gyrum Arcturi poteris dissijmre ? It must have been, therefore, a casual coincidence. The resb of the poem falls below the high level on which it began, and one is vexed to descend to such lines as — " A red-haired witch shriekiní; while shut up"; " An ugly hag clashing lier pans"; or " The breaking of old brewing-tubs".
A more pleasant example of these descriptive odes is that delightful one to the brooni (No. xlvii), which I shall quote in Mr. Jolins' translatiou. It is entitled " Y banadl-lwyn". He first describes the grove of broom in its winter dress, and tlien he foretells its glories in the next spring : —
" When ]\Iay steps lightly on tlie trees To paint her verdant liveries, Gold on each thread-hke sprig wiU glow To honour her who reigns below ! Grceu is that arbour to behold, And on its withes thick showere of gold.
' Cf. Virgil, Geor[/., i: — "Armoruiu sonitura toto Gcrmania coelo audiit."
'^ M'ú fawr yn ymleferydd O gadwynau syguau sydd.
124 DAFYDI) AB GWILYM.
Oh, flowers of noblest splendour,— these
Are summer's frost-work on the trees !
A field the lovers now possess
With saíîrou o'er its verdure roUed,
A house of passing loveliness,
A fabric of Arabia's gold,
Bright goldeu tissue, glorious tent,
Of Ilim wlio rules the firmament,
"With roof of yarioiis colours blent !
An angel, mid the woods of May,
Embroidered it with radiauce gay, —
That gossamer with gold bedight,
Those fires of (ìod — those gems of light !
Amid the wood their jewels rise,
Like gleams of star-light o'er the skies,
Like golden bulliou, glorious prize !
How sweet the flowers tliat deck that floor,
In one unbroken glory bleuded, —
Those glittering branches hovering o'er,
Yeil by an angel's hand extended."
I will now give a short account of some of tbe more striking poems in Ab Gwilym, as tbis will give tbe best idea of tbe peculiar form of his poetry. It is impossible to divide his odes into classes ; tbey bave at once too mucb like- ness and too mucb diíference to submit easily to any sucb classifîcation. In one sense, tbey are nearly aU specimens of tbe Provençal clianso, aud a strong general similarity runs tbrougb tbem all ; in another sense, eacb bas its own indivi- dual cbaracter, as Ab Gwilym has far too much ûvertìowing originality to need often to repeat bimself.
In XXXIX and lr' we bave two poems on a mist wbich hindered bim from keeping bis appointment with Morfudd ; tbey more closely resemble each otber tban his poems gene- rally do. I give a prose rendering of part of the fìrst, as it is a good example of Ab Gwilym's volley of indignaut epitbets, when facit indignatio versum : —
" As I was going betimes to wait for her, There sprang up a mist. a birth of the night ;
PAFYDD AB GWILYM. 125
Cloiid-mantles darkened the way
As if I had been in a cave.
All trace of the sky was covered,
A close mist arose reaching to the sky's vanlt.
Ere I had walked a step in ray wandering,
Not a spot of the country could be seen more, —
No birch on the cliff, no border,
No hìlls, mountain, nor sea !
Fie ou thee, great tawny mist,
Dark-brown cassock of the air,
Smoke of the ignis-fatuus of the pit,
A pretty habit thrown over this world !
Like an exhalatiou of the floor of hell, that far-o£E furnace.
Smoke of the world growing from afar ;
High-topped spider's web,
Like a flood filling every place.
Thou art thick and greedy, father of rain,
Thou art its home, aye, aud a mother to it ;
Heavy blanket of bad weather,
Black web from afar, wrapping the world.
Unloved, ungenial crop,
Sea-calf hurdle between me and the sun ;
Day becomes night, thou hurdle of drops,
Day in night, art thou not graceless ?
Thick with snow aloft, cuvering the hill,
Grandfather of hoar f rost, father of thieves !
Litter of January's abundant snow,
A conflagration of the wide air, —
Creeping along, scattering hoar frost,
Along the hills ou the dry brushwood of the heath."
Anotlier veiy cliaracteristic poem is No. lxxxiv, called Maiol ir Eos, but ratlier " The Niglitingale and the Crow". The poet describes himself as wandering in Eytun Wood, and lie coraes upon a nightingale " on her soaring journey under a mantle of leaves": —
" Delicately she sings her first grave note, The ' mean' and ' treble' in her toil ; The happy melody of a refined glad maiden, Climbing through the branches, the bright cementing of lûve. Yaluable is her mention in Ovid, Poetess, weaver in tho trees, —
12G 1)AFVI)D AB CWII.YM.
She is glad by day aiid by uight, —
A voice with no stainmering, good, bright, and fair."
As he liears lier siug in lier glade, it reminds him of a mass-service, a not unfrequent topic of comparison with him : —
" The mass under the fair leaves Performed by the oi^en air liandmaid of love.
" When behold, the cheerless raven on the tree-top,— Loud, rapacious, with its armful of flesh, Leading an assault, whilé spreading out her tail, Against the palace of the dear, bright russet bird.
" Came the raven from some excursion aloft, An unprepared song compared with the other, — Resolute with three notes, no happy business, — - 'Rain! rain!' quoth the wretch from the bush!
(" Gwlaw, Gwlaw'\ medd y haw o'r berth.)
" She checked our supreine happiness, With her trailing f eathers and her ready cries, Yea, she made the family party of the leaves, With the glorious nightingale on the sprays, Sadden yonder and grow silent,' With the brazen impudence of that black Jewess."
The poet, enraged at the raven's interruption, pours forth a volley of abuse against it, and ends by bidding it fiy away to feast on the carcase of an ox lying on a distant field : —
"The bird believed my words to be true, And I enjoyed from the glossy grey wing (Happy occupation !) voices which were better !"
In another Ode (No. CLXXXii), we have an adventure with a fox. Tlie poet was resting under the trees, when he ob- served a fox at some distance : —
" It made a set at me, to my shame, I saw him when I looked yonder,
» Compare Tennyson's Pelleas and Ettarre,
" And all talk died, as in a grove all song Beneath the shadoAV of sonie bird of prey."
DAI'YUD AH aWIl.YM. 127
In shape like a moiikey, I did not like his place, A red fox — the dog's form is no frieud of his, — Sitting like a town-hog Near its hole, on its haunch."
The poet aims liis bow of yew at the intriider : —
' ' I drew my shot mth cruel aim Past the side of my face — wholly past — Alas ! suddenly flew my bow Into three pieces — a cruel misfortune ! "
Of course this mishap provokes him, and he proceeds to Avreak his vengeance by abusing the innocent cause ! In the midst of the torrent of abuse, the fox hears the sound of the hunters, and leaps down the rock and flies away in the far distance to escape his pursuers.
Anotlier singular poem is one to which I have ab-eady alluded — the dialogue between the poet and liis shadow. Tlie poet represents himself as wandering in the glade and sheltering under a birch tree, wlien he sees, in the late after- noon, his own shadow stretched out in gigantic proportions.
The bard crosses himself at the sight of the spectre, and
asks who it is. It answers : —
" Myíì — gad dy ymofyn, Dy gysgod — hynod y w hyn ! "
' ' Thus all nakedly to glide, Gentle poet, by thy side, Is my task, my heart's desire ; I have feet that never tlre, And am bouiid by secret spell AU thy wanderings to tell, To espy each wile and art, Fairest jewel of my heart !"
Ab Gwilym at once begins his usual storm of epithets. The exhaustless wealth of his vocabulary of scorn reminds one of Shahespeare's endless torrent of vituperation in the mouth of Thersites in Troíliis and Cressida, or Timon in Timon of Athens. I liave ouly time for a few lines as a specimen : —
128 DAFYDD AB GWILYM.
" Whence, whence art thou, giant's child? Shape of darkness, huge and wild ; Bald of brow as aged bear, Bloated uncouth form of air ; More hke iiuages that scud Tlu-ough our dreams thau flesh and blood ; Shaped like stork on frozen pool, Thin as palmer (waudering fool !) Long-shanked as a crane that feeds Greedily among the reeds ; Like a black and shaven mouk Is thy dark and spectral trunk, Or a corpse in winding-sheet."
And so it goes on for more tlian a page, till at last the
provoked sliadow retorts by tlireatening its substance with a
very substantial vengeance : —
" By my faith, if I were to tell To some who kuow (something) this that I know, 'Tis a sure fate, ere the excitement had ceased In. Christendom, thou wouldst be hanging ! "
I cannot help feeling that liere Ab Gwilym missed his opportunity. The idea in itself is a most original one, and we can easily picture what a grand poem Keats or Wordsworth would have made of it. The idea of the gigantic and seem- ingly supernatural shape dogging the poet, — his personified conscience, as it were, accusing liim of his sins, — might have furnished the material for a splendid outburst of imaginative poetry ; but it should not have been treated in a ludicrous spirit. It is at such times as these that we feel the truth of Goronwy Owain's criticism in one of his letters : — " Ab Gwilym was perhaps the best Welshman that ever lived for ludicrous poetry ; but, though I admire and even dote upon the sweetness of his poetry, I have often wished he had raised his thoughts to something more grave and sublime."
The only poet, as far as I remeniber, who ever had the same conception come into his mind, is the great Spanish dramatist, Calderon; but he has treated it in a very different way. The passage occurs in the Purgatory of St. ratrich.
DAFYDD AB (IWILY.^r. 129
LudoYÌco Ennio lias been for some time ^vatcliing to kill an enemy ; a cloaked figure coutinually crosses his patli, and calls Lim by name, but, on liis foUowing, constantly dis- appears. At last, Ennio resolves that this strange intruder shall himself fall a victim ; ^vhen he next appears wrapped in a cloak as usual, and addresses him hy name, Ennio strikes at him with his sword, but wounds only the air. The fìgure retreats; he pursues. At last they re-enter in a lonely spot, and Ennio thus addresses him : —
" Cayalier, the street already We have left ; if aught prevented There our combat, here we stand, Man to man, ■with none beside us.
" Since agaiust thy frame my weapon Strikes in vain, I dare to ask thee Who art thou, strange being'? Speak ! Art thou mortal, spectre, devily StiU no answer ! thus I dare, tlieu, Cast aside that cloak of thine, And discover —
[//e piill-^ open the clonlc eind eHscovers a sleleton.
" God protect me ! What is this ? oh, fearful image ! Horrid vision ! mortal terror ! AYhat art thou, gaunt corpse, that, crumbled Into dust and ashes, stiU Livest'?"
Voicefrom the Slceìeton. " Know'st thou not thyself ? See in me thine own resembla,nce — I am Ludovico Ennio ! '' \_Disappears.
Ladoüico. " Aid me, heaven ! what do I hear?
Aid me, heaven ! what do I see ? "^
Compared with this scene of Calderon, Ab Gwilym's light and wayward playfulness
" Is as moonlight unto sunlight, or as water unto wine."
' .1 borrow this translation from an old article in ihe Mouthì ij Chronìcle.
VOL. IL K
130 DAFYDD AB GWILY^M.
I have been ratlier severe on Ab Gwilym for his unworthy treatment of the splendid subject of the diologue with the shadow ; it is only fair that I should conchide with an ode where he has worthily treated a good subject, — I mean his beautiful and thoroughly characteristic ode to the woodcoclc (Xo. LXXii). It has never been translated into English be- fore, and I therefore venture to give a versiou of my own : —
" Good morrow, bird of gentle throat, Though thine 's at times an angry note, Bold plunger iu the river's wave, Or shall I call thee falsely braye ? Light slender woodcock, tell me now, Whitherward bound thus fliest thouV"
" The cold is keen, the frost binds fast, I, by my faith, am off at last ; Far from my summer haunts I flee ; 'Tis the wild snow that huri-ies me ; Cold winter scares me with its gloora, Its snowdrif ts drive me from my home."
" Say not a word, but bend thy flight AVhere yonder lives my lady bright ; The fiercest winds shall pass thee by, Safe in that sheltered sauctuary, Where gleam the waves beneath the hill, And the warm sunshiue hngers still.
c^
" Bird of long beak, yet even there Are deadly perils to beware ; Thy life is lost, if near thee go The fowler with his bolt and bow ; Heed not his call, nor close thine eye, But from his wiles thy fastest fly ; Let every bough thy shelter be From bush to bush and tree to tree. And if by chance some snare, concealed Beueath the trees that skirt the fleld, Should catch thee in its prison light, Be not too flurried in thy flight, But with thy stroug beak boldly draw The horsehairs out that bind thy claw.
DAFYDD AB GWILYM. loL
" 'Tis the old bird of mouriiful mood, AVho roams the glens in solitude ; Rather do thoii, bright wing, to-day To Rhinwallt's bower pursue thy way ; Bear to the fair-haired lady there My secret anguish and despair, And by St. Cybi tell me sooth, If she stiU keeps her plighted truth. Stay near aud watch beside her gate, Ánd on her every movement wait ; And to assist thee, songster mine, I will reveal to thee a sign ; She is a lady white as snow, But just a wife, the more the woe !
" I love her every feature still, Her image on the old gi-een hill, As much as in that vanished time, Yea, more than in her maiden prime ; O, make her love her bard no less, Poor victim of her faithlessness.
" I waited in the frost ; more wise, Another carried off the prize ; Cold o'er me blew the freeziug wind, As I stayed waiting, left behind. That proverb now too well I know, Some wrecked hope's utterance long ago ; ' I marked a forest tree my own, Another's axe has cut it down !' "
Tliere is a cliarming series of similar poems addressed to different animals whom he thus sends as his llattai to the poetical mistress who, in Provençal fashion, rules his song, if not his heart. Birds, beasts, fishes, all interest him; we have poems to the lark, the seagull, the salmon, the swal- low, the eagle, the trout, the swan, and the wind ; and every poem has its own peculiar touch. Thiis, in that to the sea- giül we have a remarhable couplet, where he says : —
" Lightly thou fìiest over the wave of the deep, Like a piece of the sun, — o (jauntlet of the sea .'"
In that to the wind, we have tlie line, —
k2
132 DAFYDD AB GWILYM,
" The worLrs bold tyraut, without foot, without wing ;"
and again, in tliat to the swan, —
" A gallaut work is thy horsemauship of the wave, To lie iu wait for the fish froui the deep, Thy augliug-rod, beautiful creature, Is in sooth thine own long fair neck ! "
But the time warns me tliat I must draw tliese imperfect remarks to a close. It is impossible, in a siugle lecture, to do more tlian point out some of the more prominent charac- teristics of this remarlíable author; and I have especially tried to look at him, not merely as a great Welsh poet, but as a member of the wider community of European poets, in- íîuenced, like his contemporaries, by the 'great currents of thought and feeling which stirred his age.
I canuot, however, close without one remark especially addressed to the scholars of Wales. It is surely incumbent on them to prepare a critical edition of Ab Gwilym's works. The two editions whicli we have, are not edited with any critical care ; and a scholarly edition of the text, with the yarious readings of the oldest MSS., would be indeed prized by all who are interested in medÌ8eval Welsh literature. Ab Gwilym abounds with hard passages and obscure allusions ; but the best of all commentaries is a carefully edited text ; for every student knows, to his cost, what it is to spend his strength uselessly in attempting to solve some enigma which at last turns out to be no dark saying of the poet, but some duU blunder of a scribe !
■^
u
133
ON SOME CUSTOMS STILL EEMAINING
IN WALES.
By the REV. ELIAS OWEN, M.A., of Ruthin.
CusTOMS that date from Homeric days still remaiu in AYales. I well remember "srlien my own dear mother was lying in her cofíìn, and I was gazing for the last time upon all tliat was mortal of her that was so dear to us all, that I was de- sired by one of the women bystanders to touch her forehead and to give her a last kiss, which I did. I was afterwards told by these women, that by so doing I should not be troubled by the spirit of her, whose spirit, I may say, was ever with her ehildren when she was alive. I was not then aware that touching the forehead of the dead had its origin in ages long, long ago. It was sorne time afterwards that I found au allusion to a similar custom iu the Iliad. Thus, in Book XXIV, line 712, ' A.TrróiJieyaL Ke(^akr}<í of the departed was a custom even in those early times, and it remains in Waies to our days.
Another custom that prevails in Montgomeryshire iu refer- ence to the dead and is observed there, but I have never heard of it in other parts of Wales, is the placing of salt on the body when it is in the coffin. I forget the meaning of this, or rather the reason for so doing.
The night before a funeral, in most parts of Wales, a re- ligious service is held in the house of the deceased, which at present is conducted as foUows : a hymn is sung, a portion of scripture read, and then a prayer is offered up wliich is fol- lowed by a hymn, and alternate prayer and hymn follow for about an hour. This is how the waìcc, or wylnos, as the
13'1 0X SOME CÜSTOÎiIS STILL
service is callecl, is conducted by tlie Nonconformists ; but when the deceased belonged to the Church, and the service is conducted by the Vicar or other clergy of the parish, it is iisual for the officiating clergynian to give out the hymns and expound a portion of scripture, as well as to ofíer up the prayers both while opening and at the end of the service. AU the friends of the departed, and neighbours generally, attend this meeting, and the relations never fail being present on this solemn occasion. After the religious service is over, the parish clerk, should he happen to be present, or someone else, announces the hour of the departure of the funeral on the following day, I need hardly say that tears flow freely at this meeting upon every alhision, should any be made, to the deceased, or even the singing of the plaintive hymn is enough to open the tìood-gates of pent-up sorrow, Before separating, the friends of the departed take a last look at the dead, and go quickly honie. Thus is the wylnos now held. But it was differently conducted a hundred or a hundred and twenty years ago. An old friend of mine, John Evans, Llanrwst, as he was called, told me some fifteen or twenty years ago, that it was customary to invite some well-known singer to the wylnos, and it was expected that he would come prepared with an elegy, of his own composing, upon the deceased. This information, John Evans, who was about sixty years old when he told me of it, had had from an old man named Edward Prichard; and Edward Prichard told Johu Evans that he remembered an old man in Llandeerai parish, who was in the habit of frequenting wylnomu, as a hired, or at least specially invited, singer ; and he was ex- pected by his song to comfort the relatives upon the sad occasion. The song usually described the departed's personal appearance and his many worthy qualities. It was, in fact, a lamentation over the dead — an elegy. This is also a very ancient custom. We find such a custom prevailed in the
REMAINING IN WALRS. 135
earliest times, and bards aiid poets liave vied with eacli other in singing of the great departed. Biit in Wales, so late as the last century, everyone had some one to speak a kind word of him or her who was no more. The poetry possibly was not very strihing, but, such as it was, it was often enshrined in the memory. John Evans, whom I have already mentioned, repeated a few lines to me which had been uttered by the hired singers. In these lines reference is made to " tlie curly hair, and the yellow, grizzled beard" of tlie dead. In later times, I have heard of some lines sung at a wylnos, which I give, as an example of these productions of local poets. I have been assured that tlie words were actually sung at a place iu Angiesey, where mats were, if they are not now, made. Tlie lines run tlius : —
" Baban bach sy' wedi marw, A'i dad ai fam yn crio 'n arw, Gobeithio bod o'n well ei gartre Na bod yn N yn gwneud mattie."
These lines express a hope that the baby, after whom the father aiìd mother were crying, was better oíf wliere he was than being in ISÍ ch making mats.
There are various kinds of fuueral offerings in Wales. I will mention some that have come under my own notice. There is, íirst of all, the offering made to the nearest relatiye of the departed. The neighbours, friends, and relatious, send what is necessary for the meal whicli is given before the funeral procession starts. The presents are sent the day before the funeral. Then, on the day of the funeral, all those present place a coin on the coffin as it stands on the bicr. This money goes to tlie widow. I have seen tlie oíferings given to the relict as she sits by the fire-side, with her liead covered with a sliawl. This is done when offerings are not made over the dead. This way of showing respect for de- parted friends has its origin in aucient days. From Thucy-
136 ON SOME CUSTO.MS STILL
dides it appears that a siuiilar ciistom prevailed in liis days in Greece. When describing the preparation for the funeral of those who had first falleu in the war, he writes (Book ii, chap. 34), Kai iirLcfyépec tŴ avTOv e^aaTO'i, rjv Ti ^ovKriTai,. Hence it seenis that in Greece there was a custom of pre- senting something to relations on the occasion of a funeral, that each one gave what he pleased.
There are, besides the offering now referred to, two others : the one made to the clergyman, the other to the parish clerk. These offerings occasionally are very large. I have heard of cases in which they have amounted to several pounds, even so much as £15. But this is a very exceptionally large oftering, and is given upon the pccasion of a well-known, greatly respected gentleman, whose funeral is attended by a large number of rich friends. Usually, the amount oftèred depends upon the social position of the departed. It is, consequently, sometimes very small, not reaching more than a few shillings, or even less. The offering to the clergyman is made in the church, The first to ofí'er are those that are by blood or marriage connected with the deceased. These walk up to the communion table, aud place their offerings thereon, and when they liave reached their seat, then those present at the funeral go up in a streani ; maintaining, how- ever, a kind of order, the returning body walk on one side the aisle, whilst those who go up walk along the other side. lu this way, confusion is avoided. In some churches there is a small fiap-table attached to the rails that surround the commuidon, on which the offerings are placed. The oífering to the parish clerk is made in the porch as the funeral leaves tlie church. Generally, a penny is placed on the plate which he holds, and for w^hich he thanks the giver. At the grave he receives the offering of the relations, who retain their nioney until there. lu some parishes, the parish clerk re- ceives the offerings over the grave, on a spade. I knew an
KEMA1NIXG IX WALES. 137
old clerk who, wlieu tlie ofierings weve small, wonld exclaini, "Ah! love is cooling, love is cooling!" I have no doubt he received many a sixpenny bit, lest he should say " Love is coolino;".
There was a curious custom, which has disappeared in the life-time of the middle-aged, at marriages. It may be called, " Eunning for the wedding-cake". This custom was common in Carnarvonshire. Marriages used formerly to be attended by a large number of young persons : twenty couples, or more, used to march to church, and the churches were generally well filled with well-wishers, or sight-seers. A good number of young men were also present, but they presented them- selves for the purpose of competing in a race for the wedding- cake. AYhen the clergyman pronounced the young couple man and wife, these young men rushed out of the chiirch to the house of the bride, aud the one who fìrst arrived there received the wedding-cake, which became his own. Some- times this race was a long one, and mauy started as competi- tors. My old friend, Mr. Eichard Parry, Plasuchaf, Llau- llechid, tüld me that lie once ran four miles against thirty young men, and won the cake. ]\Iy friend told me tliat lie was dressed on the occasion in breeches and brown stockings, and that it was at that wedding that he met his wife, and, added he, " AVe all got our wives upon such occasions".
The marriage party in those days sang hymns in church, and a marriage was a festal day. It was quite a holiday for young men and young lasses, and lustily did they enjoy its festivities.
138
L E T T E E S
ADDRESSED BT
LEWIS MOlìEIS (LLEWELYX DDU) TO EDWARD
EICHAED OF YSTEADMEUEIG.
{Gontinued from page 8 L )
TO EDWAED EICHAED.
" Penbryn, December 21st, 1760. " Deae Sir, — I have yours whicli canie witli tlie boys, wbo, ever since tbey came bome, have been bard at work in copy- iug, etc. ; so tbat, if I am able to bridle tbem in tiU tbeir re- turn, tbey will improve considerably in writing and commou sense. Tbey seem to take a pride in outdoing lads of tbeir standiug. Wben I wrote to you last, it was like a lucid in- terval. I bave been since very bad, tbe fever lurking in my blood, and my liead quite muddy. But a letter froni ]\lr. Pegge last post bas given me some life. He bas answered tbe Teutonic letter as well as I expected, and seems to be a fair candid man, aud a sensible man, except in pronouncino- me a scbolar, wbo am no more tban a glow-worm, and you know it, wbo are better acquainted witb me. I bere return your catalogue, and sball send you sometliing by way of fìll- ing up, or, as tbe masons say, Ccrrig llanw. I also bere returu you Mr. Pegge's Octawji Casus and Dr. Pbilii:)ps' letters. I am quite crazy in body, and fit for notbiug, baving not yet been out of tbe bouse since tbe 14tb of November. I must take pbysic, etc, and bring myself low, in order to rise.
" I am, yours sincerely,
"Lewis Morjîis."
LETTEIÎS. 139
"Penbryn, Jan. 24tli, 1761, to tlie 31st.
" Dear Sir, — My wife tells me slie must, one of these days, send the boys' shirts, etc. ; and I, like a faithful corre- spondent, loohed out immediately for paper and ink to keep to my usual way of crefu am glod, nid oes neb arall ond y chwi a rydd imi ddim.
" It is as good as a cordial to my drooping spirits. There is nobody but you that tells me to my face (I raean of my acquaintance) that I am somebody, and I wish your letter was legible that I might show it to my wife, that she might also think so. Your last letter was such a scrawl, that really if I had not known it was sense, I could hardly make it out. But such is the pride of all great men, that there is hardly one of them that writes a legible hand. There is your corre- spondent, Dr. Phillipps ! ! In your next letter write your best hand, and tell me plaiu downright that I am a very clever fellow, and a wonder of a man, that my wife may read it ; for she wiU believe that it is really so. Lewis XIV used to say, that no man was thought an hero by the servants of liis bed-chamber ; for when a person is seen stark naked, he looks but like another man. And if you were to see me naked, you would not take me to be either AYitheriugton or Dafydd ab Gwilym. "Well, once more I beg of you for a translation in Latin verse of the ynidrech rhwng Llyicelyn a'r ipesioch.
" I know, and am sure you can do it, so as to give life to the original. ]\Iy children, when you and I are dead and gone, wül divert themselves by the fire-side, of a long winter's night, with the ijroduction of their father and master. And why should you be against such innocent amusements ? P^le mae 'r Caniad a addawsoch cliwi ?
" This poetical immortality is not to be despised ; it raises an ambition to do greater things. Wele hai mae ^n rhaid imi bellach rui eli icln\i wrth eich llaw ddrwu.
140 LETTERS.
" My old friend, Mr. Ambrose riiillipps, tlie poet, used to say, that soiind wit and sense need no embellisliraents, and that nonsense, thoiigh wrote by a writing-master, woiild be nonsense stiU. This is a truth tliat wanted no proof; my own assertion w^ould have been suffìcient ; but I heard this of a certain preacher, who used to prove out of the scripture that we must all die. So far I have filled up this paper with- out anybody's assistance ; but here I must call to my aid all the old women in the neighbourhood, and have not a word more of my own to say, but that I am in great truth,
" Your most humble servant,
"Lewis Moeris.
"P.S. — When the old women come you shall know what they say.^'
" Penbryn, February llth, 1461.
" Dear Sir, — I had yours of Monday morning, query, what month or year. Yes, yes ; and I have also received Canu 'r bont.
" I had a poet at my elbow when I opened it, who, after I had read it, gave his opinion, that it was either one of Hugh Morris's songs, or one that imitated his manner very strictly. I wish you joy of Hugh Morris's Avjen, and may it breah out in flashes like phosphorus, till you quench it with ale as he did. I am obliged to you for the Doctor's packet of letters ; were not you bewitched, wlien you sent him all my foolish letters, which I had wrote to you as a successor of Hugh Morris, the bard, and which were not fit to be seeu by learned doctors ? However, I am exceedingly obliged to the Doctor for his concern for a poor mortal on the point of death. He shewed a great deal of good nature and humanity, an un- common tliing in the country of Ceredig ap Cunedda Wledig. I have wrote at last to Mr. Pegge ; and have shewed my wife your letter witb your best haud, where you call me a
LETTERS. 141
clever fcUow, Lut, to my great coufusiou, what do you tliiuk stie said ? ' This is ouly a coutrivance betweeu you ; I am sure you are not clever, aud this correspondeut of yours is not Mr. Eichard, for he never wrote so good a hand, for I can read this, and no woman can read his, for his is full of Latin aud crooked letters.' It was in vain to contradict her, and there the matter is like to stand. Hark ye, you need uot be made of iron, like the King of Prussia, to enable you to translate his Couflict with the Hector of France.
" Do, pray you, that I may have a little praise under the shadow of your wiug, for I am sure my Welsh verses wiU live if you make a Latiu version of them. ISTo, no ; I am not on the top of the liiU above you ; I am in the valley below ou the other side. I do uot know wliere Mr. Pegge is^ perhaps ou the top of tlie Peak of Derby. We shall see bye-aud-bye. You see, I am not ashamed to shew you my weak productious (and to crave assistance), though you are possessed of the spirit of Hugh Morris. But it is that makes you so stiff. Imagiue yourself Eichards of Llanvyllin for ouce. Dr. Trapp says he was the best Latiu poet siuce Horace's time. AVlio more likely to be possessed of his Aiüeii — by transmigration than his uame-sake ? Aud where is tlie poor fatherless muse to be entertaiued, unless you give her a lodgiug ? The old man is gone, aud has left her to your care. I wish you would leave her to my son, when you have doue with her. Pooh,pooh! all my niatter is gone; I have not so niuch stuíî' in me as will finish this paper with any grace.
" I have been moidered here witli poets, musicianSj and
antiquaries for some days past, who have drained my under-
standing, if I had any, and woe is me that I have ever studied
these things. Farewell till T recruit again, and believe me to
be yours siucerely,
"Lewis MOIIRIS."
1 i2 LETTERS.
"Penbryn, Marcli lltli, 1761.
" Dear Sir,— Cliwedl y Barcld Cwse : ' Ar fore teg o Fawrth rliywiog, a'r ddaear yn las feichiog mi gymmerais ben yn fy llaw i ysgrifennii at un or dynion tewaf yn Ghymru, os gwir a ddywaid y bobl. le, oedd gwreigdda deimladwy gyda mi ddoe yn ciniawa ac yn trugarhau wrthoch ac yn cwyno drostoch.'
"It is an unw^holesome fat, meddai un. He is bloated, meddai 'r llaU ; fe fydd marw o eisiau gwynt, meddai 'v Uall ; gresyn oedd, meddai gwraig o Aberystwyth na buasai yn dyfod attom ni i farw. Gw^ae íi na fuasai yn dyfod attoch chwi i fyw, meddwn innau,
" However it is, I wish you would be so good as to step over here to undeceive a body, and shew that you are not such a monster with a Saracen's head, like Sir Eoger de Coverley. Mae agendor fawr rhyngof i a chwi, fal na allaf i ddyfod hyd yna, byddai 'n hawdd i chwi ddyfod yma gyda 'r goriwared.
" I have nothing new or strange to tell you, but that I have a new correspondent in Oxford, who, I expect, will make a good Welch poet, being a man of fortune and a scholar, with a strong inclination to understand our ancients. This very day I was told you had a scholar from Llaiì Gollen, who was born a poet, aud can hardly speak in prose ; pray, send me some account of him. This account came from Aberyst- wyth. You will be as noted bye and bye for breedino- of poets as Gruffudd Hiraethog was in Queen Elizabeth's time, or as Mr. Williams of Pont-y-seiri is for breeding of sheep and wild horses. I have also some thoudits of ta^in-T the spawn of a poet into my service to keep the old British custom. These wild thoughts have led me I do not know where, and I had almost forgot the chief errand of this letter, which is to borrow the boys for tlie holidays, aud I do hereby
LETTERS. 14o
covenant, proniise. grant, and agree, tliat they sliall return when their mother thinlcs it convenient. The fireside takes me up intirely. I am neither fit for grafting, planting, uor the desk. I ani under the discipline of the fygydfa, night and day ; in some parts of North Wales it is called, Y ]VIinnau rhag gormod o hono.
" I have had a letter from Mr. John Jones of Hertfordshire, a sensible, ingenious man. A correspondent of mine is about pulDÜshing tlie natural history of the birds of Britain, and wants the Welch names of birds. If you will take the trouble of- writing down the Welsh names of birds in your neighbourhood, I shall be obliged to you ; I may possibly meet with an uncommon name among them.
" I am, yours sincerely,
"Lewis Morpjs."
"Penbryn, 26th March, 17G1. I should reckon it a sin against the rules of correspondence to suffer these lads to return without their credentials along with them, and their mother tells me they must go in a few days ; therefore I must set my letter in the stocks, so that it may be ready to be launched when they go. I have hardly time to talk with them this bout, so that I do not know whether they have improved anything since Christmas or not. I v>'arrant you expect some fire or spirit in this letter, because it comes from a warm Dyfí'ryn, and because you mis- take our smoak and fog here for fire. But, alas ! I know, to my sorrow, that fogs and mists are not warm, and when you consider tliat I am here encompassed with six of my own children, and having another in the loom just coming out, you cannot well expect either warmth of body or mind, for both are drained of their spirit. Do not you really long to be in my condition, capable of leaving tliis kind of im- mortality behind you ? Well, I will tantalize you no more
144 LETTERS.
(Talii tân), — but wish you a wiíe and .six or seven children, thougli perhaps you choose the business of mahing poets, rather than mahing children. Your pupils made me very merry the other day ; you know as well as I do, tliat they cannot express tliemselves in any language. I asked them about your poetical pupil, whether he made any verses, and whether they could recoUect any of them ? ' Na fedrwn i (said they) ond fe fydd meistr ag yntau yn gwneuthur Pry- dyddin (meaning Prydyddiaeth) bob nos wrth y tân'.
" I asked if there were any women with tliem, ' na fydd yno neb ond Modryb Gwen a'r forwyn'; well, this is~excellent, 'gwneuthur prydyddion heb help merched'. ISIow I am upon the subject of gwneuthur prydyddion, pray has your pupil the qualifications of a modern Welch poet, fel i gwypir a ellir prydydd o hono, chwedl Statut Gruffudd ap Cynan ?
" Is he in raptures with a cup of good ale ? Does he prefer his own works to any of tlie ancients or moderns ? Dotli he despise all other languages and learning ? Doth he afíect low company and greedily swallow the praises of tinhers and coblers ? Would he get out of bed to sing with the harp, as Gronwy used to do when with me ? Is he naturally inclined to buffoonery, dirty language, aud indecent expressions ? These are the standing characteristics of a modern Welch poet, and are a kind of excrescences which must be lopped off' in the mouthing of hini. And theuj perhaps, you niay lead him on in the plan of Yirgil, the great and modest. What have I been doing all this while ? Teaching a master rider to ride tlie great horse. Dysgu i mam ferwi Ilymru. Wele hai ! mi dawa finnau am heno, mae fy llygaid i yn ddarn- gauad, a'm pen i yn yscafu wrtli besychu, felly nos da 'wch.
" Eich gwasanaethwr,
" Lewis Moreis.
" Tuesday, 31st March. — Last night I had a line from Evan
LETTElíS. 145
Williams of Gargoed, signifyiug tliat liis son John is to be buried to-morrow. As very ]ikely you will be going to the funeral, and as I should like my boys also to go, I would be glad if you would restrain them from going to the house, for such a YÌolent fever may likely be epidemical, which tender youth are very apt to catch. However, their mother is very anxious on that head, wliatever may be my opinion ; I long to see your poet in embryo, it is an uncommon bird."
'' Penbryn, April I7th, 1761.
" Dear Sir, — I received yours yesterday by way of Aberyst- wyth, though signed on Monday, the misfortune of cross posts. I am obliged to you for the Englynion by Sinion Jones, which gives me a better notion of the person's parts and abilities than if whole volumes had been wrote by others to describe him. You do right to check his Welsh Awcn. It should be tied down till he is a tolerable proíìcient in the Latin, for without Latin he cannot understand the great master of our language and poetry, John David Ehŷs — witli- out he had the opportunity of reading abundance of our ancient poets in MSS., which would do as well. But he will never make any proficiency in our language or in our poetry without the help of John David Ehŷs, or those old MSS. from whence the old Doctor picked his flowers. I fìnd the young man hath fire and good stufî in him, but, like a rough diamond, there are but few that can distinguish between him and Carrcg Iwyd y rhych, for want of being polished. A jeweller in London had a stone in his show-box which he took to be a pebble ; an ingenious Jew came by and asked him what he would take for that rough diamond. ' I will not dispose of it at present,' said the jeweller, and upon trying it on the wheel it turned out to be a diamond of immense
VOL. II. L
146 LETTERS.
value. Even so yoiir pupil will, wlien lie is polished. He must not meddle witli Welsli poetry till he is master of ortho- grapliy, otherwise he will build upon sand. To convince him of this, I will insert here a few errors in orthography in his Englynion and title. Oudd should be wrote Oedd ; ddaith read ddaetb ; Chefrol read Chwefror ; Canlin read Canlyn ; Clowes read Clywais ; leithodd, cenhedlodd, read leithoedd ; a madrodd read ag ymadrodd, and that spoils the poetry ; Clws read tlws, which spoils the jingle ; Saesnaig, etc, read Saesneg, etc. ; Bygeiliaid read Bugeiliaid ; blain read blaen ; CynhwyUin read Cynhwyll}Ti ; ddiwisgiU read ddewiscáll ; Cyfnewydiog read Cyfnewidiog ; escis read escus ; Signo read Sugno ; deliau read diliau ; i gyredd read gyrraedd ; Ame read Ammau ; Caere read Caerau ; drwi read drwy ; Uyfre read llyfrau ; nau read na'u.
" As for errors in synwjT and cynghanedd, I shall not touch upon tliem at present ; it is sufíicient to show that the foundation should be at least good upon which aU the structure depends. With much to-do we drove off the ague from Jack, but it will return again if he catches cold. The quotidian which he had was of the worst kind, and hardest to fìght with. I intend to-morrow for Cardigan, and hope they wül send the boy with this to you on Sunday. Mr. Pegge is a fair and an honest correspondent ; I cannot as yet spare his letters. I must have Lewis home to copy them, for fear of accidents, for they are valuable. We are gone no farther than Copenhagen, for sonie authors lately pubUshed there ; dyna ddynion yn chwilotta ! ni adawant gornel o^' byd heb ei hedrych.
" My service to the Eginyn Bardd, and you may tell him for his encouraçrement that he wiU make an exceUent Welch poet by and bye, if he lays it entirely by for the pre- sent, and lets it take a nap. He need not fear its growing
LETTEES, 147
rusty ; it wiU rise with fresli vigour, wlien it has dreamed a little about the ancieuts. I heartily wish you well,
"And am, sincerely yours,
" Lewis Moreis."
" Penbryn, April 25th, 1761.
" Dear Sir, — Though I cough without ceasing, and can hardly hold my pen, and have not one perfect idea of any- thing in my head, owing to this excessive flux on my hmgs, I cannot help striving to write to you, in hopes to squeeze from you an answer, which will give me some relief, which is a hind of food to a relaxed spirit. Besides, I am like a cask filled with new liquor, ready to burst for want of vent. Who is fittest to hear my complaints and to administer re- lief but the guardian of my family, or the tutelar God of my chimney. I told you in my last, which I sent by Jack, that I intended to go to Cardigau. I did so, in order to appear for my friend, and with a view of meeting with a person per- chance of my own taste. Adar o'r unlliw a ymgasclant i'r unlle.
" I knew that about half the gentry in these parts of Wales were to assemble there at the election, and I had a good chance of picking up either a mathematician, a naturalist, or an antiquary. These arts are in England reckoned the neces- sary qualifications of a gentleman. But, 0 my countrymen, how are we fallen! You are a curious man, and want to know the event of my researches. I will tell you. After the strictest enquiry, and now and then dropping my bait, I met with nothing in the world but Bambalio, Clango, Stridor, tarantara, murmur, not so much as a piece of a Welch poet to be seen or heard of, no manner of relief to a weatber- beaten muse, except I had been a duck, everybody's view seeras to have been the wetting his bill. Much offended with
l2
148 LETTERS.
the men and place, I returned homewards, and took leisnre enough to observe the country, a shocking prospect of poverty and idleness, neglect and ignorance. What have I now to say, but God deliver us from all this veil of darkness.
" I am, yours sincerely,
" Lewis Morris,"
" The letter-carrier sets out, or else I would have told you what I met with, as well as what I did not meet with. I hear nothing of our friend Evans's success or otherwise ; let me know if you have any account of him."
"Penbryn y Barcut, May Ist, 1761.
" Dear Sir, — You are always in my debt a letter or two, thougli you have an army of writers at your back to assist you. Cannot you tell or command one of the meanest of them to answer my trifling letters, since you cannot spare time yourself ? If it had not been for the coldness of the weather you should have been pestered with more of them. But I am so chilly that I cannot sit above three or four minutes together, so you may thank the weather for that. Wliy did not you let me know whether it was proper to send a horse for the bard ? Perhaps you expected a Cywydd, as that from William Cynwal to Sion Tudur i geisio benthyg Ehys Gryther. But my vein for Cywydds is all spent, digon o waith imi yw gwneuthur pennill trwscl gwirion.
" Naturalists, when they meet in their travels with a scarce or curious plant, especially a nondescript, immediately seud to all their correspondents an account of it ; in like manner I cannot help letting you know that in my road to Cardigau I met at Llannarth a thing in the shape of a man, designed for a poet, and containing very good stufî, if he liad fallen into good hands to be remodelled. He hath travelled, he hath seen St. Paul's and Westminster Abbey, and hath sung to
LETTEES. 149
the King, God stand witli his Grace (Duw safo gyda 'i Eas), though he never saw hini. He hath read our polemical writers, he hath Stackhouse and TiUotson at his fingers' ends, and he showed me a printed paper, called by some a ballad, wherein he answers the queries of a certain Welch clergyman about predestination and free will. The poetry is tolerable, and the matter excellent. When I showed him some incor- rectness in the style, and some faults in orthography, he immediately swallowed it by wholesale, 0 nid rhaid i chwi ddywedyd gair ychwaneg ; mi a'i gwelaf fy hun.
" He would stand a quarter of an hour in one posture, like the statue of the gladiator at Mr. Sylvanus Bevan's, and make an excellent figure, though by trade but a little slender shoe- maker ; he is not above fifty years of age, and his intellect 's very strong, therefore may be licked up into the form of a poet with little trouble ; he is known by the name of Evan Thomas, y Crydd a Phrydydd. So nmch for this piece of curiosity. How long am I to keej) the boys at Whitsuntide ? I have heard nothing yet from our old friend Evans ; dyma hwb etto, gwedi bod yu peswch ag yn heppian uwch ben fy mhappur.
" Sleep is not only a resemblance of death, but is real
death, and hath its resurrection, like the other. Who knows
how often we are to transmigrate after this manner ? We
are no eternal beings, and I suppose immortalno farther than
we are upheld by our Maker. But we shall know more of
these things when we are stripped of this body of flesh.
Now I think of it, I send you enclosed Evan Thomas's
ballad ; pray return it me when you have perused it. My
garden calls me out ; it wants seeds of flowering plants,
etc. So farewell at present.
" Yours,
"Lewis Morris."
150 LETTEES.
" Penbryn, May 20tli, 1761.
" Dear Sir, — I sit down with my pen and ink in liand^ not because I have anything to write to you, but because these young chaps are like to set out to-morrow íbr Ystrad Meurig, where they long to be, since they are not allowed to play ball here, and because they are obliged to run on errands, and are often told they are íìt for nothing but to make shep- herds and miners. Pray, have you heard anything of our friend E. Evans ? I wonder Llan Badarn is not supphed with a vicar before this. From this paper I was called to dinner, where I acted the glutton ou a rock-fawn {alias pastai myn gafr), a dish which few of the greatest men of England ever see on theh' tables, and, in my opinion, excelling all their dainties. This continent is the great chain that holds the world together. Llyn Teivy trout, and some sauce out of Horace, is, with you, tlie most savoury dish in the world. Our constitutions are fitted for the food the country affords. The Hudson Bay Indian,with the same goust^ drew the bladder through his teeth, wliich had held his train oü, as a Londoner w^ould devour an Ortolan. I have no news to give you. I am sure I am not to live long, for even scribbling is become a pain to me ; several times have I been obliged to get from my desk since I began this scrawl. Old age and infirmities of several kinds have laid a siege to me, and it is probable that even the capital must surrender soon ; then, farewell. I wish you all the happiness that the climate affords, and I wish for a little warm weather to make my cough easier. Here is an old Pennill fiill of nature ; pray, turn it iuto the same verse in Latin : —
' Blodau 'r flwyddyn yw f' auwylyd, Ebrill, Mai, Mehefiu hefyd ; Llewyrch haul yn t' wynuu ar gyscod, A gweuithen y genethod.'
LETTERS. 151
" Tliis is but a small boon I ask ; ancl yet I see you slirug your slioulders, and endeavour to fìnd an excuse for your laziness. Good night to you ; God be witli you.
" I am, yours sincerely,
"Lewis Morris.
" I was favoured lately witli the company of a mountain
poet,wlio prided liimself on being a wanderer like the ancients.
He is known by the name of Hugh Jones of Llangwm; he is
truly an origmal of the first order, and worth seeing, hath a
natural aversion to Saxons and Normans, and to all lan-
guages but his own. 21st. My journal (diurnal) continues ;
a windy day, inclining to be stormy. The mother will not
sufifer the sons of her youth to go to-day, lest they should be
lost in Piheidiol, on which a bridge is wanted more than at
Ehyd Yendigaid. Besides that, she wants them to go and
fetch home some geese and goslings, which are better eating
than Ovid's E^nstlcs, aud such dry food. 22nd. A very stormy
day, as variable as wind can make it, — as changeable as a
woman, except in this case there is more bad than good. I
have this day got from Ireland a curious treatise on the
Ancient State of Ireland. The author nameless ; nor can I
guess who it might be. He strikes out several new lights on
tlie history of the British Isles. Why have not we a disser-
tation of that Idnd ? We have ten times more niatter than
the Irish have ; but we are all lazy like you, that pretends
to be dead.
" Yours once more.
" Dubün : Printed by James Hoey for the Editor, ]Mr. Michael Eeüly. 1753.
" 23rd. This, I hope, is the last codicil to tliis letter ; for, notwithstanding all our resolution, it was carried by a great majority of the house, that the expedition should be put oif
152 LETTERS.
till to-morrow, wlien, by general consent, the Castle of Ystrad
Meurig should be beseiged in form, and battering engines are
jjroYÌded accordingly.
" Yours again and again."
" Penbryn, June tbe 5th, 1761. " Dear Sir, — I thank you for yours, which, like all your letters, is fuU of life, wit, and spirits, and you shew more in denying that you have any, than others wdien they stretch their utniost to shew you it. Let a fine girl affect to wear a dish-clout for a handherchief, — she will stiU be a fine girl ; but let me and others of the low species of mortals plume ourselyes as much as we can, we are still but common stuff, without life, without energy, without edge. Well, since I know you expect some matter in this letter to keep up a correspondence, and for you to work upon, I herewith send you a packet of as much sense, wit, and humour, as I have been able to find in North Wales. It is a Ca . . . up . . . on a dark grey horse, by the name and title of Evan Evans or leuan Fardd ag Offeiriad. Make much of him, and take as much out íjf him as is necessary for you, to save me the trouble hereafter to pretend to write anything like wit or sense to you. Cannot you take a bellyfull that will last you a twelve month ? perhaps I may not live longer than that. Then, between you be it. I have not a syllable more to say. All my store is drained ; but, however,
" I remain, yours siucerely,
"Lewis MoRras."
"Penbryn, June 13th, 1761.
" Dear Sir, — I liave been struck with the palsy some time
ago, and am in a very bad way. Tlie fever hath left me ;
but, as I gather strength, the bad symptoms increase. It is
a doubt with me, whether ever I shall recover. God's will
LETTERS. 153
be cloiie ; He liatli given, and lie takes away, and dotli as He pleases witli His own creatures. I wisli you healtli and liappiness. " Yours,
"Lewis Morfjs.
" If I grow worse, I shall send for the hoys."
"Penbryn, August 3rd, 17G1. " Dear Sir, — The great shock that I had lately from a fit of the palsy, hath brought me so low that I recoyer but very slowly, and another strohe like this would finish me. God knows how soon that may happen, as I am on the decline as well in years as constitution. The situation of my poor children has given me a good deal of uneasiness, and under these circumstances the method I have taken in the education of my boys that are with you, will by no means do hereafter; for I can never foresee that classical learning wiU bring them iu this country any livelihood under their mother's manage- ment after my decease. But some insight into accounts and the arts requisite in the busy scenes of life, may make theni, with the assistance of their friends, fit to be clerks in offices, or something that may get them a bit of bread under the tyrants of this world. I am, therefore, determined to send them immediately to some school to attempt to learn writing and accounts, and, if I recover this stroke, I intend to bring them afterwards to you, to ground them in the Latin tongue, which may be of use to them. But all our schemes are wild, and have no solid foundation, for God disposes of works as lie pleases, after a most surprising manner. I send by the bearer £12, to pay for the boys ; their year is up, I think, about this time, or will be soon ; and if there be anything remaining for books, let me know, and I will send it you. Let them come home with the bearer, that I may fit theni out for their intended journey, which must be where the
154 LETTEES.
mother chooses. The frequent returns of some of the symp- toms which the palsy hath left behind it, makes me expect a relapse, so that I am, in the language of this worhl, within a clearer view of Eternity and those glorious, glorious regions of immortality, than those whose eyes are dazzled with the lustre of temporal things ; and it is impossible for me to ex- press to you the satisfaction I had in a ìate glimpse of it, which I am certain was far from enthusiasm. God be with you and yours.
"I am, yours sincerely,
"Lewis Moeeis."
"Penbryn, Nov. 7th, 1761. "Dear Sir, — The accounts you have, that the folks at Penbryn are in health and high sphits, are far from truth. Here is neither health nor spirits, nor any tlioughts or hopes of ever tasting of either of them. My constitution is not only broken, but ruined. A ride I took lately in order to defend my property against the attachs of a tyi-ant, hath, instead of helping my health, shattered it. I cannot sit to my pen a quarter of an hour together, nor can I fix my eyes on a book for half that time, but am taken with a vertigo ; so that the dread of an apoplectic fit gives me some uneasiness, and would drive me distracted, if I was not thoroughly convinced of the goodness of my great Preserver and Maker, who best •knows when to dispose of me. The whole world seems to me a well-regulated family, governed by its great Father, and though we are not sharp-sighted enough to see the use of what we call evils, yet they have certainly their proper places in the management of the wliole, and the day will come that Ave shaU see that plainly, which we see now but faintly. Some beings are placed low in the scale of felicity, for what reason we do not know ; and some are seemingly near the top of the ladder. Are those below placed there, that they
LETTEES. 155
may have tlie more pleasure to climb up ? These things are too deep for my weak understanding. You inquire after the progress your quondam scholars make. Very little, I am afraid, in the languages ; but they have improved greatly in their writing. No ; not so able an instructor in languages as yourself, nor to be compared ; but if I have an inclination to make my children chimney-sweepers, they have no chance to learn that art in your school, and they must learn it when they are young. I am glad you have read Camden's Britannia, which will enable you upon a second reading to open his wounds to the quick, and they should be seared with hot irons. This is the great oracle of the Engiish, and is swallowed without chewing, because the pill is gilt. Take off the gilding and you will find sad stuff under it. The design was great, the structure magnificent, but the perform- ance or execution poor and shabby, notwithstanding that it was covered with great learning and industry. But the case is, the foundation was bad, and truth has suíîered to serve a national pride. The memory of the ancient inhabitauts is endeavoured to be darhened, and their names obscured, and every shadow of occasion is taken to revile them and their writers and noble actions in war, while the con(j[uerors and rulers are cried up when there is scarce a coiour for it. It will be better if you can come at Gibson's translation of Camden's Edition in 1607 (I think), for there he has fiourished much more than in the first edition, 1586, which you have. I long to hear from my friend Evan Evans, how he goes on with Nennius, and how he stands with the Barrington family. I hope they will give him a lift at hist to some purpose. There is a new edition of Nennius made at Copenhagen. I want to send him an account of it. But I am not sure my direction to him is right. My memory is prodigiously im- paired since my being attached with the palsy, and since my cough and asthma have gathered strength. The messenger
156 LETTEES.
goes, and I must close my letter, and defer wliat I intended to say to anotlier opportunity, and can only tell you that
" I am, yours sincerely,
"Lewis Moekis."
" Penbryn, Marcli 27th, 1762.
"Dear Sir, — Yonr letter of the 16th, which came to my hands just now, gives me a great deal of pleasure, when I reflect that one worthy man of uncommon sense and under- standing covets my correspondence. Surely, says I, there is something in me which others see, and I do not. Upon my word, I cannot fìnd what it is that is worth notice. I look back and see nothing in all my actions but vanity of vauities, not a solid act or deed among them. Trifles, flights, and wüd vagaries, owing to a superabundance of spirits that kept no bounds. In the body's evening, the soul perceives the dawn- ing of common sense, and as one w^eakens the other gTows stronger. I have done thus far half asleep, and just escaped a fall. Why do not you say something about my song and hymn (quoth he) ? I wiU give you my opinion franhly, but do not shew it to anybody, or else we shaU fall out, for there are people wicked enough to persuade you that my remarhs are owing to ül-nature, because you write better than me ; keep it to yourself, and we shall agree well enough. Both your Songs on the Bridge are exceUent South Wales songs, exceeding everything I ever saw done in that country, had they but one ingredient, which is purity of diction. The misfortune is, and a great loss to the world^ that you under- stand the ancient Greehs and Eomans better than the ancient Celts and Britons. The Songs of tlic Briclge would have out- done the best things of Hugh Morris, if you had been correct in the language ; but stül, I say, for South Wales songs, they bear the laureL I am not so nice as to measure aU poetry
LETTERS. 157
by Nortli Wales rules and grammatical exactness. I know that these countries, wbich were formerly diÔerent Princi- palities, had also diíferent dialects, industriously kept up, to know the natives by. If South Wales men had wrote gram- mar, we should haye proper pbjral terminations instead of, an, etc, etc, and abundances of licences of the like kind. But now, in strict ^rating, it is otherwise, because in South "Wales they busied themselves in fighting more than -writing. Besides, the British of South Wales is notoriously mixed with English, and, as the children learn it of their mothers, they transmit it to their children. Wlio can help all this ? This has given their poets a language distinct from iS'orth Wales and Powysland, which in Prydydd y Bont hath outshined everything. A surly critic would ask how dìjn athrist could be dyn didrist. I confess it staggered me a little at first, until Tom Pryse, who was better versed in the South Wales dialect than I was, told me that tristo was to trust, as helongo to belong, etc, etc. It is true that in this dialect the poet has a greater scope for rhymes than Hugh Morris took ; but the pictures here are stronger and far better drawn than any of Hugh iMonis's; but so much as the Soutli Wales poet was better acquainted witli tlie learning of the Greeks and Piomans, who certainly were the greatest masters that way. I took oÊf my pen and found myself, unawares, launched into the sea of criticism, and now let me go out of it as well as I can. I need not tell you that song writing is a modern thing, in imitation of the English and Frencli, and Hugh IMorris is the only writer of ours that ever shone in it. He has taken some liberties with the language which tlie MTÌters of the 24 3Iesurau, did not dare to broach, for fear of an excommuni- cation, and, as he is the standard of soug %\TÌting, being born before us, so, like Homer, he will keep his ground with all those little blemishes. But, certainly a man may possibly write even a good song in good language; and you would have
158 LETTERS.
done it liad you studied your mother's tongue more, by read- ins: the ancients that excelled in that knowledo;e. Some of the blemishes iu your song are these : Tanbed, for tanbaid ; Ui, for Uif ; adre, for adref ; pentref, made to rhyme to crysau ; cafan and dafan, for cafn and dafn ; causay Angl., causey ; gefel, for gefail — the plural is gefeiliau ; eiff, for â ; hynny, made to rhyme with Teiíì ; trwscwl, for trwscl ; dafan, for dafn; co, for cof ; carnedd and mwynedd, for carnaidd and mwynaidd ; cregin, for cregyn ; diwedd ar y gân gyntaf ; yr ail gân ; clywed, made to rhyme with ochenaid ; crynnu and Teiíì, made to rhyme ; bennydd and cy wilydd, made to rhyme with deurudd and cystudd, in strictness should not be, though Hugh Morris shews the way; pentref and eistedd, rhyme with hossanau; pantane, for pentanau; dolau and cartref, eithin and eirin, with aderyn and brigyn — an excellent pennill for all that ; cegin and cardottyn ; bonheddig and tebyg ; cafan, for cafn; pared and Uymmaid; gweiniaid and arbed ; trwyddi and i foru — excepting these little blemishes in dialect, I give it as my opinion, that I know no songs equal to these two. The boys are well^ and I send for them to-morrow or next day. I am obliged to you for your kind enquiry after them ; the post (an old woman) is very surly and wiU not stay ; so farewell.
"Yours sincerely,
"Lewis Moreis,"
"Penbryn, May 29th, 1762.
"Dear Sir, — Yours of the 12th hath given me infinite pleasure, for I always thought you above writing criticisms, and that you looked on our authors as not worth looking into, when, in the meantime, you are better acquainted with the prince of song-writers (Hugh Morris), than ever I was in my life, and can see his imperfections as well as his excel- lencies, which few men can do. You have taken more pains with him than ever I did, though you are pleased to attribute
LETTEES. 159
mucli to me ; and no wonder you sliine so mucli in CaniaàaiCr Bont, wlien you had sucli a pattern in your eye. I am stiU of opinion, as far as I can trust my memory, tliat Hugli Morris is the first song-writer in our language that copied ÜSÎ'ature, or that wrote anything tolerable. Sion Tudur, "William Cynwal, William Llŷn, and the rest of the writers of Queen Elizabeth's age, were, in a manner, strangers to it. And I do not remember to have seen anything in the shape of a song tiU the merry reign of Charles 2nd, about which time song-writing began to sprout, in imitation of the English and Erench, and all good, substantial Cywydds and Awdlau (Odes) about that time hid their heads. It is true Hugh Morris wrote a little in the time of Charles Ist and 01iver, but it was very loose and incorrect, and I suppose you have hit upon some of his youthful pieces in the picture you drew of him. There is also an allowance to be made to merry, jocose, light subjects, in which a prudent mixture of languages looks pretty enough. I adniit song-writing to be of very ancient date in all languages, and I do not except the ancient Celtíe, whose bards did certainly make use of it. But the Britons fell into a kind of heroic poetry when we came to be Eoman provincials, which was new modelled by Gruffudd ap Cynan, and, as it were, religiously followed till the time of Queen Elizabeth, when it began to dwindle, and song-writing occupied its place soon after, much in the taste we have it now, though not in that perfection. This is the light I see things in ; perhaps you see them through better glasses, and I am sure you have better eyes. Now, since I see you allow of great liberties in song-writing, nay, even claim them as your own undoubted right, not only as an ancient nation, but as descendants from Troy, I will venture to lay one of these funny songs before you for your approbation, and in expecta- tion, I warrant you, of a little perfume. The subject is a parti- cular friend of mine, a Eellow of Jesus CoUecre, Oxon., who.
160 LETTERS.
according to tlie laws of the College, diirst not marry witliout losing the benefit of his Fellowship, and also losing the chance of having a fat College living, which he has waited for these 30 years. At last, abont two years ago, a rich benefice fell to him at Nutfield, in Surrey, and he soon took to him a wife in that neighbourhood, which action of his, in his old age, produced the inclosed song, The loss of him in Anglesea is a very heavy one, for he was a real good man, gave freely to the poor, and sliined in good works. I never ventured upon Hugh Morris's long, heavy measures ; they are too laborious for me. A little Triban, or short-winded double couplet, is the utmost of my ambition in song-writing. I hate slavery
and imitation. The D 1 owed me a grudge, as well as
Parson Ellis, and he, or somebody, inveigled me to suffer Hugh Jones of Llangwm to publish my foolisli productions in verse, which he is now doing in London by subscription for his owu benetìt, together with the works of Gronow Owen and Hugh Hughes. When that wise affair comes public, 0 ! how I shall be torn to pieces by critics ! then will be the tirne for such a strenuous assertor of Licentia Foctica (poeti- cal licence) as you are, for I am sure I shall want a de- fender. "NYas I not a weak fellow for runniug the gauntlet for the diversion of the public, when I might have died in peace with some little character in poetry, had I kept the fool wdtliin ? 0 ! fie upon it ! how happened this weakness ? Dear Sir, if you knew how troublesome it is to me for to write, you would excuse me, and not expect a long letter, and there are few men in the world (I do assure you) that I would take pains to write so much for their diversion, for wliat is all this but to raise your spirits, and to make you laugh heartüy, to see a man without the gifts of uature or art in any perfection, endeavour to please one of the most accomplished scholars in his country ; but, for all this, believe me to be, your obliged friend and servant,
" Lewis ]\roiìr.is."
161
THE EISTEDDFODAU OF 1878.
EiSTEDDFODAü are multiplying and becoming ubiqiiitous. Two hav6 been held during the present year, and with fair success : one at Porthaethwy (]\Ienai Bridge) in Augast, and one ou English ground at Birkenhead in the month of Sep- tember. "We would we could record improvement in the conduct of the business of the several days ; but that consum- mation, though devoutly wished for, has yet to come. The adjudications were, perhaps, more condensed,' and conse- quently less wearisome than heretofore. But the great evil of too many prizes of a trifling value, not only exhausted the patience of the audience, but aided to increase the already too abundant worthless compositions which the Eisteddfod fosters.
There was a decided improvement in the choral singing at both places. The eompetitions for the great prize at Birken- head were marvellous feats — almost perfect. If literature has not advanced, music and song have made rapid strides towards the highest excellence. We except, of course, from this roll the higher literary prizes, such as that of the Chair Prize at Birkenhead, which produced a poem worthy of the occasion.
To chronicle the whole work of the Eisteddfod would be little more than tlie reiteration of what has been said of pre- vious gatherings. It is amazing how determinedly the bards keep to the old ways. As we look back on the several Eisteddfodau lield at Pwllheli, Wrexham, Carnarfon, Menai Bridge, and Birkenhead, they seem, as in a dissolving view, to blend or rather melt into one another, so that no distinct
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102 TIIE ElSTEDÜi'ODAU ÛF 1878.
impression of any one is left on tlie retina of tlie miuJ. This sameness of character and of action offers no high promise of continuing success. In fact, it points out a want, the supply of wliicli can alone make the Eisteddfod prosperous and enduring — an elected governing body to control its ope- rations. This was admirably pointed out in an earlier nuni- ber of Y Cymmrodor by ]Mr. and Mrs. Thomas. Until it is done, tbe Eisteddfod will be held Iiere and there at random ; obsolete performances will be continued ufique ad nauseam ; and the most devoted patriot and Iover of the institution grow weary of its horse-in-tlie-mill iterations.
The Chairs at both places were efifìciently filled — at Menai Bridge by Eichard Davies, Esq., M.P. ; Morgan Lloyd, Esq., M.P.; Lewis Morris, Esq. (the author of the Epic of Hades) ; and the Lord Bishop of Bangor. The several addresses by the Presidents were wortliy of themselves, and of the Eis- teddfod.
We liave no room for them in Y Cymmrodor. But tbere are circumstances connected with the appearance of Mr. Lewis Morris that must not be passed by.
The great-grandson of Llewelyn Ddu o Fon, whose bardic compositions have become almost household words on the lips of the Welsh people, and whose antiquarian and philolo- gical researches were positiveIy marvelIous in a century when neither of these sciences ha,d as yet emerged out of its early and rudimentary state, Mr. Morris's presence at the Eistedd- fod bespoke for it a new life. We could almost fancy that the shade of his honoured ancestor hovered over the chair on which his descendant sat, to cheer and to welcome him. But this is not all ; Mr. IMorris has already raised himself to fame by his own brilliant exercises in the arena of song. As the Poet Laureate, in increasing spleudour and glory, descends toward the horizon, j\Ir. Morris^s achievements point him out as the light which rises in the eastern sky to illumine
TIIE EISTEDDFODAU OF 1878. 163
ancl cheer iis iu tbe comin<í time. For the lionour of Wales "\ve pray that it may be so.
Mr. Morris was enthusiastically cheered ou rising to ad- dress the audience. Having thanked them for the Idnd man- ner in which he had been received, he said there were a great many reasons why he sliould not come to the present Eis- teddfod. He was conscious that he had never attended an Eisteddfod before, and this, together with the fact that he was but partially acquainted with the Welsh language, were some reasons why he should not attend. On the other hand, there seemed to him very good reasons why he should put aside all such objections, and come amongst them that day. One reason was, that great honour had been done him by re- questing him to take the chair ; though this might not have been a suffìcient one to win him from habits of seclusion. He came there, feeling that honour was done to his great ances- tor, Llewelyn Ddu o Von, and his great friend the illustrious poet, Goronwy Owain. If this be the true view of the reason why he came there, perhaps it might not be out of place for him to give a short sketch of the Morrises of Von. They were, in the beginning, in comparatively humble circum- stances, and had but few educational advantages oífered them ; biit yet they all attained very considerable eminence. WiUiam Morris, who was ComptroUer of customs at Holy- head, was a very true friend of all Welsh poets, and had a very large collection of Welsh manuscripts ; and any appeals made to him for literary support, were, he believed, never refused. Eichard Morris, his brotherj was a more distin- guished man. It was he who revised the Welsh Bible and Prayer Book. As regards the Welsh version of the Bible, he was weU aware that it formed the maiu literature of their coun- try ; and apart from its sacred character, he thought there was no'Welsh book more admirable as a literary work than the Welsh Bible. He was also the fouuder aud president of the
M 2
IGt THE EISTEDDFODAU OF 1878.
Cymmrodorion Society in Lonclou, of whicli he (tlie president) saw before liim a most active member iu tlie person of the Eev. Eobert Jones of Rotherhithe, a Society, which he was glad to learn, had recently revived. In coming to Lewis Morris, he thought he might say, without exaggeration, that he was oue of the most thoroughly accomplished men that Wales had ever seen. They, no doubt, had heard how varied his attain- ménts were. They also knew that, as a hydrographer, he was very emiuent iudeed, aud it was only yesterday that he (the speaker) was informed that the cliarts made by Lewis Morris for the Admiralty were now in use on tliese shores. As a miueralogist, he was one of the most eminent men of the day, and succeeded in acbumulating a very great fortune for others, although he (the President) was sorry to say that he accumulated uo fortune for himself aud descendants. It was Lewis Morris who discovered, aud worked uuder the Crown, the great lead mines of Cardiganshire. Another fact, per- haps not generally known, was this, — he shouhl not have known it himself had he not read au essay on his life, which obtained a prize in the Eisteddfod of 1874, — that Lewis Morris was the first to set up a press for printing Welsh books ; aud although, perhaps, such an uudertaking did not pay iu those days, it was a very noble effort on his part in the cause of Welsh literature. There was another very interesting fact connected with this matter. The Eev. John Wesley — a name dear to many there, and who, he had no hesitation in saying, was a saint, if there ever was one — was once passiug through Holyhead^ but was there detained by contrary winds, and could not get to Ireland. That reverend gentleman, thereíbre, utilised his time by writing two tracts, for the purpose of benefiting the Welsh people, and these were probably priuted at Lewis Morris's place at Holyhead. Agaiu, in the priuciples of natural science, Lewis Morris was one of the best teachers of the day, and not only that, he
THE EISTEDDFODAU OF 1878. 165
was also a very eminent philologist, and corresponded witli many of the leading phüologists in Europe. But, of course, all these things did not give him the claim for that honour which he possessed. He was a bard, and a popular bard — who might be called the "Burns of AYales" — and his songs were all remembered up to the present day. He (the speaker) did not know of anyone who did not remember the song, Mormynion Glân Meirionydd. Having read the first stanza, the President w^ent on to say that it bore all the characteris- tics of a good popular song, and as such it was well known and sung everywhere where Welshmen çongregated. But even this, he thought, did not give to him the great and one claim to honour w'hich endeared him to his countrymen. It was because he and his brothers were, through tiieir lives, patrons and helpers to the unhappy Goronwy Owain, who was, beyond doubt, the greatest poet of Wales. He (the Presi- dent) was familiar with the fact that Lewis Morris and his brothers had been of very great assistance to Goronwy 0 wain ; but he never knew until he read the life of Goronwy Owaiu, now being issued by the Eev. líobert Jones, of the great generosity and constant care which those three brothers seemed to manifest towards him during his chequered and gloomy career. It was a remarkable fact, that Goronwy Owain appears to have corresponded but rarely with any- one except these brothers. AYhen Gorouwy ^^-anted advice or assistance, he seems to have resorted immediately to them. "What he asked of them that day was to di-aw the moral from the fact that those men, who have been dead this last century and a half, were stiU living influences in this Wales of ours. As a descendant of one of these men, he felt as if he were coming home on visiting Angiesey. He felt familiar here, His smaU reputation had preceded him there. What did this really mean ? It meant this — that a true and strong feel- iug of patriotism and national unity still existed. It pleased
160 TIIE EISTEUDFODAU OF 1878.
Lim to tliink that tliere still existed a nation wliicli was full of patriotism. He ridiculed the conclusion amved at by some classes that the Welsh nation and its lauguage were rapidly decliniug. What he advised them to do was to make the best out of their language in its conuection with the Eisteddfod. He thought this Eisteddfod of theirs was a most entertaining festival. There were two sides, of course, to the Eisteddfod. The one was the recreative side, and the other the educational side. The recreative side was very w^ell carried out, and he had thoroughly enjoyed it onthat and the previous day. Every nation had its own way of amusing its people. The Greehs had tlieir Olympian games, and he was tempted to think they must have been very much like the Eisteddfod. The English also had their games. Having entertained the audience by reading an account of the manner in which a section of the pojjulation of London enjoyed themselves on i)ank Holiday, the President said he was very glad that the hardworking people of London had thus enjoyed themselves by witnessing the performances of cIom'us, and others ; but woiúd anyone say that this was a more rational amusement than the amusement afforded in the Eisteddfod ? Loohing at the educational aspect of the question, he ventured to suggest the advisability, as was referred to on the previous day, of connecting it with the educational system of the country, by ofíéring prizes iu the elementary schools. This, no doubt, would produce very good results. There was one thing which he thought ought to be, and could be done. It was his great privilege to attend a meeting of the Cymmrodorion Society, when a lecture was delivered by Mr. Gladstone — whom he was sure all ihere respected — it was his privilege, he said, to listen to a lecture by him on the history of pottery iu Wales. jlr. Gladstone had described to them a particular manufacture of pottery called " Swansea Pottery", which was some years ago in great favour, but had now become quite extinct. Tlie
THE EISTEDDFODAU OF 1878. 167
most curioiis thing was, that the Swausea plates were bought in London for ten guineas. He asked why this art had been allowed to decay ? It would be a very fair question for the promoters of their Eisteddfodau to appoint a committee, or something of the sort, to try and tìnd out whether there were in Wales the possibilities of reviving this neglected art. He advocated the affìliation to the Eisteddfod of a Social Science Department, and expressed his belief that, if this were done, a greater future would await that institution. In conchid- iug, he again begged to tliank all for the exceedingiy kind reception accorded him, and for the honour conferred upon him by inviting him to preside that day ; and if they asked him to come at any future time, he would come again (loud and prolonged cheers).
It was to-day that Professor Ehŷs of Oxford delivered an address fuU of practical good sense, commingled with keen criticism on many Eisteddfodic proceedings. Severe as some of his strictures were, the audience, as well as the persons against whom his fulminations were hurled, received them with becoming approval. Mr. Ehŷs spoke with fervour and eloquence.
" Mr. Llyw^' dd, Boneddigesau, a Boneddigion, — Y mae wedi bod yn beth lled gyffredin i ddyn wrtli gyfodi i anerch y Cymry mewn Eisteddfod ymgymeryd â seboni ei wrandawyr a gwneuthur a allo i feddalu eu penau a'u gyru i feddwi o hun- anfoddhad. Yn ol pob ymddangosiad, barn y cyfryw ydyw mai gwirioniaid ydym, ac mai gwastraff amser fyddai ymresymu â ni fel pobl yu eu hiawn bwyll ; a gellid meddwl mai eu harwyddair ydy w geiriau y Saeson ar y dydd cyntaf o Ebrill : ' Send the fool further.' Yr wy^ fi yn benderfynol o'r farn mai anmharch ar y Cymry yw hyn, ac nid wyf yn teimlo unrhyw rwymau arnaf i osgoi llwybrau p^^yll a synywr cy- ffredin wrth ymdrechu eicli anerch. L)vuw\(ldodd i nii vclivtl-
168 THE EISTEDDFÜDAU OF 1 87S.
ig amser yn ol gyfarfocl m\ o brif haneswyr a beirniaid y Saeson, a thrôcld yr ymddiddan ar y Cymry a'r Eisteddfod, pan ofynodd i mi paham yr oeddwn mor ffol a gwastraffu amser i fyned i Eisteddfod, a pha dcliben oedd i mi ddyfod o fíaen pobl na wrandawent ar ddim ond canmoliaeth wag iddynt eu hunain. Eelly cefais gyfle i'w argyhoeddi fod y bobl gyffredin yn Nghymru yn llawer mwy deallgar a hoíf o lenyddiaeth na'r un dosbarth o Saeson ; ac mai bai y gau- brophwydi sydd yn ein plith ydyw fod Uif-ddyfroedd gweniaith a ffolineb yn ymdywallt ambell dro oddiar Iwyfan yr Eis- teddfod ; ond, ar y llaw arall, fod pob gwrandawiad mewn Eisteddfod i bob un sydd yn amcanu gwneuthur lles iV wrandawyr, hyd y nod pe na byddai ei eiriau yn felus a hyfryd iddynt ar y pryd ai peidio. ' A phaham,' meddwn, ' y soniwch am ífolineb Eisteddfodol : nid oes amser maith er pan ddygwyddodd i mi fod yn bresenol mewn cyfarfod a gynhelid yn mhentref prydfertli Llangollen gan gymdeithas henafiaetliol o Lundain oedd wecli dyfod i lawr i lewyrchu yn nhywyllwch Cymru, ac ar air a chydwybod nid wyf yn meddwl ddarfod i neb o archynfydion yr Orsedd Eisteddfodol lefaru nac ysgrifenu dim yn ystod yr ugain mlynedd diweddaf a ddaliai ei gymharu o ran ífolineb âg un o'r traethodau a Avrandawyd yn astud gan y gymdeithas ddoeth a dysgedig hono. Bernwch drosoch eich hunan,' meddwn, gan fy mod yn dygwydd gwybod fod y chwinc Sais-Iuddewig sydd yn ymledaenu yn Lloegr yn poeni ei ysbryd er's blynyddau — ' bernwch drosoch eich hunan : y testun ydoedd tarddiad cenedl y Cymry o offeiriaid eilunaddolgar y brenhin Omri, un o olyuwyr Jereboam fab Nebat, yr liwn a wnaeth i Israel bechu.' ' Rhaid', eb efe, ' fod Cymry glanau y Dyfrdwy yn ddynion gwahanol iawn i Owain Glyndwr a^i gydoeswyr i fedru ymatal rhag llabyddio â nieini y fath nythed o loerigion haner luddewig',
" Ond nid dyna ddiwedd yr yniddiddan, canys aethum yn
THE EISTEDDFODAU OF 1878. 169
mlaen i ddangos iddo fod yr Eisteddfod yn rhan o hanes y Cymry, ac yn dal pertliynas agos âg addysg lenyddol y genedl : a dyna y pynciavi y carwn siarad ycliydig am danynt wrtliych ar hyn o bryd. Un o brif nodweddion yr oes neu y ganrif hon ydyw, mai ynddi y darganfyddwyd neu y gosodwyd seiliau amryw o'r gwyddonau mwyaf pwysig a blodeuog, yn enwedig y rhai cymhariaethol sydd yn ymwneyd â hanes yr hil ddynol, neu ryw ganghenau o'i hanes, megys ieithyddiaeth gymhariaethol, a'r dull cymhariaethol o efrydu chwedloniaeth, deddfau, ac arferion gwahanol genhedloedd. O'r rhai hyn, y bwysicaf â'r flaenaf ar y maes ydyw ieithyddiaeth gym- hariaethol, ac un o brif gasgliadau ieithyddwyr yr oes ydyw y Ifaith fawr a gydnabyddir gan hoU ddysgedigion y byd fel y cyfryw, y gellir, y tu yma yn mhell o ran amser i ddechreuad yr hil ddynol olrhain gwahanol geuhedloedd y byd i nifer bychan, mewn cymhariaeth, o darddiadau neu gyfíìau. Un o'r rhai hyn yw y cyff Semitaidd, i'r hwn y perthyn yr luddewon a'r Árabiaid. Un arall yw y cyff' Ariaidd, neu Ind-Ewrop- aidd, i'r hwn yr ydym ni yn perthyn : y cenhedloedd sydd yn perthyn agosaf i ni ydyw y Llydawiaid, y Gwyddelod, a Gaeliaid Ucheldiroedd yr Alban — perthynasau go dlodion, fel y gwelwch ydyw y rhai hyn, ac o ganlyniadd bydd ar rai gywilydd eu harddel. Ond y niae genym ni berthynasau eraiU sydd yn well arnynt yn y byd, canys brodyr i ni o'r un cyff" Ind-Ewropaidd ydyw y Saeson, er nad mynych y cry- bwyllir hyny mewn Eisteddfod, gan mai arfer rhai ydyw cymeryd arnynt mai gelynion i ni yw y Saeson, yr hyn sydd wedi rhoddi achlysur i'n cydgenedl y tu arall i Glawdd Ofí'a i ddychymygu mai Ue ydy w yr Eisteddfod i feithrin bradwriaeth ac anfoddogrwydd. Brodyr i ni hefyd ydyw prif genhedloedd y Cyfandir, megys y Ffrancod, yr Italiaid, y Groegiaid, a'r Sclafoniaid; ac y mae i ni frodyr yn y Dwyrain, sef yr Armeniaid, y Persiaid, a'r Uwythau mwyaf gwareiddiedig o'r Hiudwaid.
170 THE EISTEDDFüDAU OF 1878.
" Ar ol i ieitliyddwyr broíì roai i'r iiu cyíf cyntefig y per- tliyn y'cenhedloedd a enwais, a bod eu hieithoedd, er gwaeth- af eii holl amrywiaeth, yn dwyn olion diymwad o'u tarddiad cyffredin, awd yn mlaen i chwilio am olion cyífelyb yn eu chwedhiu, eu harferion, a'u deddfau, a buwyd mor llwydd- iannus yn y cyfeiriad hwn fel y gelUr erbyn hyn ddywedyd fod y fath ganghenau o wybodaeth yn bodoli a chwedloniaeth gymhariaethol a deddfyddiaetli neu arferiaeth gymhariaethol. Ceir, er engraifft, fod yr un elfenau yn treiddio dr^yy chwedlau a chwedloniaethau y cenhedloedd lud-Ewropaidd o ddyfroedd y Ganges hyd lynoedd yr Iwerddon. Yn yr un modd ceir fod yr un pethau yn nodweddu deddfau ac arferion cym- deithasol yr hen Gymry, y Gwyddelod, y Saeson, y Sclafon- iaid, ac eraill o'r un cŷfí", a bod hyn i'w obhain i'r un ffynhonell batriarchaidd yn y cynfyd peU.
" Ond heb fyned i fanylu ar y pynciau yna, deuaf i lawT at yr hen Gymry o fewn y cyfnod hauesyddol : gellir dywedyd am danynt y byddai eu llysoedd yn cyfarfod, nid yn uuig i gospi troseddwyr, neu i benderfynu materion arianol, ond y byddai eu ty wysogion yn arferol hefyd, o bryd i bryd, o gynal math o sesiwn, ar ol rhybudd digonol, i benderfynu pwy oedd yn addas i'w hystyried yn addysgwyr y genedl yn y gwahanol ganghenau o wybodaeth oedd mewn bri yn eu plith : yr enw wrth ba un yr adwaenom y sefydliad hwn ydyw yr Eisteddfod. Gyda golwg ar gyfausoddiad y Uys trwyddedol hwn, yr oedd ei gyfansoddiad yn bur syml : y tywysog oedd â hawl ganddo iV alw yn nghyd neu i gyhoeddi Eisteddfod, oedd y pen, ond cai ei gyuorthwyo gan bersonau cymwys a phrofedig yn y gwahanol bethau yr ymorchestid ynddynt. Md wyf fi, wrth hyny, am awgrymu y dylasai pobl y Borth yma aros a disgwyl heb Eisteddfod nes y buasai i Ardalydd Mon weled yn dda gyhoeddi uu a Uywyddu ynddi. Y mae yr Eisteddfod, fel pob sefydliad araU er gwell neu er gwaeth, wedi ymweriuoli yn ddirfawr er yr amseroedd niwUog a eUw^ anfoddogion yr
THE EISTEDDFODAU OF 1878. 171
oes hon yn ' good old times ;' pa fodd bynag, gwelwch ei bod yn rhan o hanes y Cymry, er y caulyn o hyn nad gwiw disgwyl am fawr o wyhodaeth na hysbysrwydd am ei dechreu- ad. Oüd hehlaw traddodiadau lled hen, y mae genym hanes gweddol gyíiawn am yr Eisteddfod a gynhaliwyd yn Aberteiû yn y ddeuddegfed ganrif, dan nawdd yr Arglwydd Ehŷs, Hwyrach nad hysbys i bawb o honocli fod }ti yr Eisteddfod hono ddwy gadah' — un i'r bardd buddugol ac un i'r cerddor goreu. Pa bryd a phaham y deuwyd i'r penderfyniad y gallai y cerddor wneuthur heb gadair, nis gwn ; ond digon tebyg fod rhywbeth a fynai cythraul y canu â'r mater. Hwyrach mai gyru y cerddor i syrtliio allan â'r bardd a wnaeth, ac i hwnw, dan nawdd Ceridwen, ddymchwelyd ei gadair am byth.
" Er hyny, mae yn lled anhawdd gwneyd allan i drwch y blewyn pa faint o farddoniaeth a pha faint o gerddoriaeth oedd yn Eisteddfod Aberteifi, o herwydd fod y gair 'canu' yn ein gadael mewu amheuaeth. Y rheswm am hyny, yn ddiau, ydyw mai peth diweddar, mewn cymhariaeth, yn mhlith y Celtiaid ydoedd canu neu gerddoriaeth leisiol, fel peth ar wahan oddiwrth lefaru, neu ganu yn yr ystyr farddonol o'r gair : ceir awgrymiad o^r un peth yn mysg y cenhedloedd Germanaidd, gan mai yr un ydyw tarddiad y geiriau Seisnig say a sing. Nis gall fod amheuaeth nad offerynol ydoedd y gerddoriaeth gyntaf yn mysg y cenhedloedd o'r cyff Ind- Ewropaidd, gan y gwyddis oddiar seiliau ieithyddol fod tànau yn cael eu defnyddio gan y Ilwyth o'r hwn y deilliant a hyny ar adeg foreuol pan nad oedd eto na Cliymro na Sais, na Groegwr na Hindw. Ond am y math o ofíeryn tànau a elwir genym ni yn delyn, nid oes genym lawer o'i hanes, llai mewn gwirionedd näg am y crwth. Eto y niae Ue ciyf i gasglu fod y delyn yn hen iawn yn mysg y cenhedloedd Celtaidd, gan y gellir cyfeirio yn ddiddadl at air o'r un tarddiad â'n gair ni, telyn, yn iaith rhai o'r cenhedloedd Sclafonaidd y clywsom
172 THE EISTEDDFODAU OF 1878.
gymaiut am danynt mewn cysylltiad â'r rhyfel diweddar : os í'elly, mae yn bur debyg fod rhyw fath o delyn yn cael ei defnyddio yn mhlith ein cyndeidiau ni amser maith cyn iddynt gyrhaedd i^r gorllewin i olwg Ynysoedd y Cenhed- loedd,
" I ddychwelyd at Eisteddfod Aberteifi, yr ydys yn cael fod talentau Cyniru, yn y ddeuddegfed ganrif, yn gorwedd yn debyg fel y maent yn y bedwaredd ar bymtheg ; gŵr o'r Deheu a farnwyd yn fuddugol fel cerddor, a Gogleddwr a gafodd y gadair farddol. Llawn o fiwsig a chanu yw bechgyn y Deheu o hyd, a hwyrach eu bod yn tueddu i redeg yn or- modol ar ol cerddoriaeth, ac i esgeuluso pethau eraill, ond nid wyf yn bwriadu ymhelaethu ar y pen yna, gan mai wrth Ogleddwyr y mae genyf yr anrhydedd o siarad ar hyn o bryd. Eu perygi hwy, y Gogleddwyr ydyw addoli jt awen yn rhy fynych, ond teimlaf fod hwn yn bwnc sydd yn gofyn medrusder mawr i'w drin. Ar y naill law, ni fynwn er dim ddywedyd gair o duedd i ddigaloni neu ddigio unrhyw lanc a fyddai yn debyg o dyfu i fyny i brofi ei hun yn olynydd teilwng i Oronwy Owain ac yn un o brif feirdd Cymru, ag y byddai yn golled i'n llenyddiaeth fod heb gynyrchion ei athrylith. Ar y llaw arall, mae yn berygl na bydd yma yn fuan nac afon na nant, na mynydd na thwmpath, wedi eu gadael i feirdd y ganrif nesaf i gymeryd eu henwau oddiwrthynt gan gymaint y gofyn sydd am danynt i ddiwallu uchelgais beirddion bychain düifedi yr oes hon. Ac ymddengys i mi y gallai geifr, ceüiogod, llwynogod, a lloi Cymru benbaladr ymdaro yn Ued gyfforddus am oes yr iaith Gymraeg ar a gawsant eisoes o englynion ; a gobeithio fod engiyn deg a chwech y "SA'iwer ddoe yn gorphen y rhestr. Nid yn unig niae lle i ofni fod llawer o'r mân bethau milodaidd hyn heb ryw lawer o deilyngdod barddonol, ond fod llawer o^u cyfansoddwyr yn rhy brysiu' yn hannos a hela cydseiniaid i gael amser i ddarllen a diwyllio eu meddyliau ; gorinud o awydd sydd arnynt i osod
THE EISTEDDFODAU OF 1878. 173
ar Çfhn ^t liyn a wyddant i gael liamddeu i ddysí^u yr liyn na "syyddant ac felly parliant drwy eu hoes, fel ceffyl mewn chwimsi, yn troi byth a hefyd yn yr un man. Hwyrach fod pob Cyraro yn brydydd ar un adeg yn ei oes, sef pan fydd yn teimlo ' yr iasau byw sy 'n dyrysu'r bardd,' a phan fydd ei galon yn dechreu agor yn y cyfeiriad carwriaethol. Ond bydd gan rai ddigon o synw}T cyffredin i ganfod nad ydynt yn debyg o ragori fel beirdd, a byddant yn cael nerth i anghofio yr awen gyda'u cariad cyntaf ; ond y mae yn eglur fod eraill yn aros yn y cyflwr bachgenaidd a difarf yna drwy gydol eu bywyd, er mawr benbleth i feirniaid eisteddfodol a golygwyr newyddiaduron a chylchgronau Cymreig. Nid oes dim, efallai yn peri mwy o ddigalondid i ewyllyswyr da }nc eisteddfod na gweled cyn lleied, mewn cymhariaeth, o ym- geiswyr fydd yn ymafael yn y testynau rhyddieithol sydd yn gofyn darllen ac ymchwTÜad. Y mae yn gystal genyf i a neb weled awdl neu bryddest dda, oud ymddengys y mân farddoni diddiwedd yma yn beth mor ddigrifol a chwithig i mi a gweled lluaws tref yn troi allan i cliwythu soa^ Imbbles neu i bysgota penbyliaid.
" Ond hw}Tach fod ar law yr Eisteddfod wneyd rh}^'beth i ddwyn oddiamgylch agwedd wahanol ar bethau yn y cy- feiriad yma, ac ymddengys i mi fod pwyllgor }t eisteddfod hon yn haeddu llawer o glod am yr amrywiaeth sydd yn eu testynau ; un o'r rhai sydd genyf yn neillduol mewn golwg ydyw y traethawd ar ' Olion a thraddodiadau henafol Ynys Mon.' Eisiau mwy o destynau fel yna y sydd, a mwy o amser i gyfansoddi arnynt, ac i'r wlad gael ei pherswadio na M'obrwyir oni bydd teilyngdod, neu ôl ymchwiliad a llafur ar y traethodau, Os rhyw ddeg neu ddeuddeng mis o amser a roddir, dylid peidio rhoddi gormod o faich i'r un cystad- leuwyr.
" Er engraifft, gellid gwneuthur amryw destynau o'r un hwn, megis (1) Traethawd ar gromlechydd a henafiaethau
17 1 TIIE EISTEDDFODAU OF 1878.
cyffelyb Mon ; (2) Un arall ar gaerydd ac olion amddiffynfeydd yr ynys ; (3) Traethawd ar lianes eglwysi Mon ; (4) Casgiiad o enwau lleol rhyw ran o Fon ; ac y niae hwn yn destyn o natur y busai yn ddymunol ei gefnogi yn nihob eisteddfod nes dihysbyddu y defnyddiau; (5) Casgiiad o chwedlau a hen goelion sydd heb fyned ar ddifancoll o'r ynys : mae eu hanes yn rhan o hanes yr hil ddynol, ac nid rhaid i neb edrych yn gilwgus ar y sawl sydd yn cofnodi pethau o'r fath, gan na bydd hyny, cyn belled ag y cyrhaedd, ond moddion i wneyd i'r rhai sydd yn credii ynddynt gywilyddio, os oes pobl o'r fatli i'w cael yn Mon heddyw ; (6) purion hefyd fuasai gwobr am Ddesgrifiad o feddfeini henafol yr ynys : liwyrach nad oes un o bob cant yn y gynnulleidfa hon wedi clywed erioed son ani gareg bedd y brenhin Cadfan yn Llangadwaladr, ger Aberffraw, ac nid yw hono ond un. Md oes ond ychydig fìsoedd er pan ysgrifenodd un o'r hynafiaethwyr sydd yraa yn beirniadu ar y testyn y soniais am dano, hanes darganfyddiad arch a gafwyd yn y Ehuddgaer, gyferbyn a Cliaernarfon, yn dwyn enw rhyw un o'n cenedl ni oedd yn gynefín yn arnser y Ehuf- einiaid, neu yn fuan ar ol eu hymadawiad oddiyma, ag ymddangosiad gwyneb ' Mon a'i thirionwch'. Pe byddai augen am destynau y tu allan i'r cylch dan sylw, puriön peth fyddai cynyg gwobr am Draethawd ar neillduolion y Gymraeg fel y siaredir hi yn Mon, a buasai yn ddymunol iawn pe dewisid testynau o'r fatli yn fwy cyffredin yn rhanau eraill o Gymru, " Yr wyf yn crybwyll y pethau hyn fel yn perthyn i ddos- parth 0 bynciau cymhwys iawn i gael lle go fawr yn ein heisteddfodau. Y mae pob modfedd o wybodaeth leol o'r fath y gellir ei chasgiu yn Mon, neu unrhyw ran arall o Gymru, 0 ddefnydd a dyddordeb neillduol i efrydydd y gwyddonau cymhariaethol y cyfeiriais atynt eisoes, a gwaith da fyddai dwyn yr eisteddfod i gysylltiad byw ag un o symudiadau mwyaf pwysig yr oes, sef yr ymgais a wneir o bob cyfeiriad i daflu goleuni ar hanes boreuol gwareiddiad yn y rhan hon o'r
TIIE EISTEDDFODAU OF 1878. 175
byd. Bydclai hyny yn foddion i roddi bywyd newydd yn yr hen sefydliad drwy greu mwy o ddyddordeb yn yr ieuenctyd yn haues eu gwlad. Arwynebol iawn ydyw Uawer o'r sel y bydd rhai yn cymeryd arnynt ei deimlo mewn pethan yn dâl perthynas â Chymru ; pa faint, er engraifft, o'r bobl sydd yn arfer crochlefain, 'Oes y byd i'r iaith Gymraeg', sydd yn barod i wneyd rhywbeth tuag at goledd yr iaith ac at gyílwyno i oesoedd i ddyfod allweddau Uenyddiaeth y Cymry ? Hwyrach y cawn w^eled cyn hir, canys yr ydys yn deall fod y Cymro hybarch a dysgedig Daniel Silvan Evans w^edi cysegru rhan fawr o'i oes i gasgiu ynghyd ddefnyddiau at.waieuthur geir- iadur cyflawn o'r iaith a theilwng o'i roddi yn nwylaw ieith- yddwyr y wdad hon a'r Cyfandir ; y mae y gwaith ar ben, a'r peth nesaf yw ei gyhoeddi, ac y mae yn debyg gan fod hyny yn gostus y byddir yn apelio at y Cymry ani eu henwau fel tanysgrifwyr. Gobeithio fod rhif y rhai sydd yn caru y Gymraeg mewm gwirionedd, ac nid ar air yn unig, yn ddigon lluosog i alluogi yr awdwr llafurus i ddwyn ei waith mawr drwy y wasg, onide bydd yn rhaid iddo, mae yn ddigon tebyg, aros heb weled goleuni dydd hyd nes y cyfodo oes mwy goleu- edig a hoffach o weithio na gwneuthur trw^st a Uuchio Uwch i'r awyr.
" Ond cyn y gellir disgwyl rhyw lawer o les o'r eisteddfod^ bydd yn rhaid cael diwygiad mewn amryw bethau ; yn mhlith eraill rhaid cael mwy o drefn ar gynhal eisteddfodau a mwy o gysylltiad rhyngddynt â'u gilydd, niodd y galler cyhoeddi 'r testynau mwyaf pwysig yn nghynt nag y gwneir yn awr. Gyda 'r eithriad o Eisteddfod Gadeiriol Mon sydd yn cael ei chynal yn rheolaidd bob blwyddyn, ac un neu ddwj arall hwyrach, nid oes na threfn na chylch ar y cyfar- fodydd hyn, ond eisteddfod y fan yma ac eisteddfod y fan draw ar draws eu gilydd, nes y mae yr hen sefydliad mewn perygl o gael ei wneyd yn fath o geffyl pren i gwacyddion Ueol. Bydd pobl o bell yn synu yn aml pwy a ddichon fod wedi
176 THE EISTEDDFODAU OF 1878.
deor y meddylddrycli fod yn angenrheidiol cynhal eistedrlfod yn y lle a'r lle, yn y mis a'r mis, ond byddir yn fynych yn cael lle i gasglu mai nid prif bwnc y pwyllgor fydd cefnogi llenyddiaeth a dwyn allan dalent, yn gymaint a hudo pobl at eu gilydd er clod a gogoniant i lenor dimai a bardd cocos y lle, ac er lles i dafarnwyr yr ardal a pherchenogion gwelyau gweigion. Naturiol i rai felly feddwl mwy o gael rhyw reffyn o Sais i ddifyru y Uuaws â rhigymau y mae segurwjT Music Hcdls y brif ddinas wedi alaru arnynt, na gweled g^vynebau y Cymry sydd wedi bod drwy eu hoes yn llafurio er dyrchafu eu cenedl mewn llenyddiaeth, cerddoriaeth, a phethau eraiU sydd yn addurn i genliedloedd o wareiddiad uchel.
" Ond pa fodd y gelUr gwneyd pen am rith eisteddfodau o'r fath ? A pha fodd y mae rhwystro y neb a fyno i gychwyn Eisteddfod ? Y mae y feddyginiaeth yn bur syml ac yn hoUol yn Uaw y wlad, o herw^^dd anaml yn y rhan hon o Gymru y byddai i neb anturio cyhoeddi eisteddfod, oni fyddai iddo yn gyntaf gael gan foneddigion y gymydogaeth addaw swm digonol 0 arian i warantu dygiad yr amcan i ben. 0 ganlyn- iad dylai y rhai a fyddont yn myned i danysgrifio chwiUo i foddlonrwydd pa beth yw diben yr Eisteddfod a'r perwyl yr amcenir yr elw a aU ddeiUio o honi iddo. Ond y mae yn hoUol wybyddus nad yw hyn yn ddigon, canys pa beth sydd i rwystro ffurfiad pwyUgor, y byddo pobl ddiegwyddor yn y mwyafrif ynddo, ac iddynt ranu arian y cyhoedd rhyngddynt eu hunain yn rhith talu am amrywiaeth o wasanaeth i'r genedl nes y byddo cynyrch arianol jy auturiaeth wedi myned yn ddim neu y nesaf peth i ddim. Nid son yr wyf, deaUwch, am bethau posibl ond anhebyg o ddigwydd, er na byddai yn ddymunol bUno pobl Mon sydd yn arfer dwyn eu heisteddfod yn mlaen mor anrhydeddus a Uwyddianus, a hanes pechodau pobl eraiU. Y fíordd i ragflaenu y drwg y cyfeiriaf ato ydyw, i'r wlad beidio tanysgrifìo heb gael sicrwydd digonol ar y penau canlynol. Yn gyntaf, mai amcan yr Eis-
THE EISTEDDFODAU OF 1878, 177
teddfod y bwriedir ei cliynal y\v cefnogi llenyddiaetli a phetliau eraill o dnedd i ddyrcliafu y genedl. Yn ail, fod y dibenion y bwriedir defnyddio cynyrch arianol yr Eisteddfod atynt yn hysbysedig rhagllaw, Yn drydydd, fod personau cymhwys "vvedi eu penodi i edrych drwy gyfrifon y pwyllgor ac i chwilio i briodoldeb eu treuliadau. Y^n bedwerydd, ei bod yn ddealledig fod y pwyllgor yn rhwym o ddychwelyd eu harian i'r tan- ysgrifwyr os ceir na bydd y cyfrifon y fath ag y gall yr auditors eu pasio. Ehyw delerau fel yna, ond wedi eu gosod allan mewn duU cyfreithiol a diamwys, a fuaswn i yn gynyg, ac os na clieid gan bw}41gorau Eisteddfodol eu derbyn, yna bod iddynt hwythau fod heb ddimai goch o arian tanysgrifwyr. Wrth gwrs ni byddid felly yn gosod un rhwystr ar ffordd y neb a ewyUjsiai danysgriíio lieb delerau yn y byd i wneyd hyny, os byddai arno awydd i ddangos ei gymwynasgarwch i bobl dda Tref y Cacwn, neu pa le bynag y dygwyddo yr yspryd rhith-eisteddfodol fod yu trwblio, fel y dywedir; yn unig, bydded yn amlwg iddo na bydd drwy hyny yn gwneuthur dim yn uniongyrchol i gefnogi llenyddiaeth y genedl, a bydded yn ddealledig i bawb mai Eisteddfod Bara a Chaws trigolion Tref y Cacwn ydy w, ac nid Eisteddfod Genhedlaethol y Cymry. Oni cheir rhyw drefn fel hyn ar gylch yr Eis- teddfod yn Nghymru bydd i oreugwyr y genedl droieu cefnau arni a'i gadael i suddo i ddirmvçr ac anfri,
" Ond hwyrach y dannodir i mi nad ydy w yn werth y drafferth i ni ddiwygio yr Eisteddfod er mwyn creu mwy o ddyddordeb yn y genedl mewn efrydiau o natur henafìaethol, gan nad oes iddynt bris arianol na marchnadol ; ond dyna yn union y rheswm eu bod mewn perygl o gael eu diystyru a'u hanghofio, er ei bod yn anwadadwy fod diffyg dyddordeb yn- ddynt yn brawf o safle isel cenedl mewn gwareiddiad — dyna oedd barn yr ysgrifenydd Ehufeinig Tacitus, dyna farn pob dyn 0 ddiwylliad eto; ac nis gallaf feddwl am arwyddair mwy cymhwys a destlus i'r ganghen hon o'r Eisteddfod na 'r
VOL. II. N
178 THE EISTEDDFODAU OF 1878.
geiriau a ganocld eiu hybarch fardd Gwilym Hiraethog flyn-
yddau yn ul : —
" ' Olrheiniaf, holaf helynt
Hanes a gwaith hen oes gynt.'
" Ond addefaf yn rhwydd nad wyf wedi cyffwrdd ond megys âg un gongl fechan o'r pwnc o gysylltiad yr Eisteddfod âg addysg yn Nghymru, ond nis gallaf anghofio fod pwyllgor yr Eisteddfod hon wedi gweled yn dda gysylltu ei hun âg achos addysg yn fluríiol a llythyrenol drwy addaw rhan o'i chynyrch arianol i gynorthwyo y coleg yn Aberystwyth, y sydd, fel y gwyddoch, wedi ei sefydlu gan ddyrnaid o fon- eddigion haelionus a Uafarus dan arweiniad Mr. Hugh Owen, gwr 0 Fon, y gall gwyr Mon anturio dywedyd yn unllais o Borth Euthwy i Ben Caergybi am dano, na fagodd Mon mam Gymru erioed wladgarwr mwy, neu fwy dirodres a didroi yn ol. Ond hwyrach y gellid cysylltu yr Eisteddfod yn agosach fyth ag addysg y genedl, sef drwy ei gwneuthur yn foddion effeithiol i lenwi rhieni Cymru â brwdfrydedd ac awydd i yru eu plant i gael addysg yn y coleg hwnw a'r colegau a'r ysg- olion ereiU rhagorol sydd genym yn ein gwlad ar hyn o bryd. Pe buasai amser yn caniatau buaswn yn anturio eich anerch ar y pen hwn, er fod yn auhawdd dros ben cael dini newydd i'w ddywedyd ar bwnc mor aduabyddus. Yn mhlith pethau ereiU nid anmhriodol fuasai dwyn ar gof i chwi y byddai .rhai o honoch gynt yn gwneyd esgus eich bod yn drwg-dybio dylanwad Egiwys Loegr yn ysgoUon gwaddoledig Cymru, ond er pan sefydlwyd y Coleg yn Aberystwyth yr ydych wedi coUi yr esgus hwnw, pa sail bynag oedd iddo ; a'ch dyled- swydd yn awr ydyw dyfod aUan yn unfrydol i lenwi sefyd- Uadau ein gwlad â'ch plant mor foreu ag sydd bosibl ; ac os bydd awydd a gaUu ganddynt i fyned rhagddynt gyrwch hwy i Eydychain, ac na ofelwch pa un a fyddo genych aur ac arian i roddi yn eu UogeUau os geUir rhoddi dysg yn eu penau. Nid rhyw fynych iawn mewn cymhariaeth y bydd yr heu
THE EISTEDDFODAU OF 1878. 179
atlirofa liono yii cael llawer o glod na gogoniant ar ddwylaw plaut cyfoetliogion y deyrnas. Ei lioff waith gan liyny ydy w cynortliwyo becligyn tlodion i gyrliaedd enwogrwydd. A chofiwch nad oes gan neb yno hawl erbyn hyn i ofyn gair iddynt yn nghylch eu golygiadau crefyddol.
" Ond pe dygwyddai i ambell un o honynt ddewis yn y diwedd fyned yn offeiriad, peidied neb a ffronii yn aruthr : y niae yn ddiddadl fod yn well i'r genedl gael offeiriaid dysgedig na rhai anwybodus o wehilion y bobl yn coledd a meithrin arferion isel a drwg anwydau gwehilion y bobl ; a chofiwch o ba le y daeth Charles y Bala a chanwyllau eraill y Cymry. Gwnewch, ynteu, bob aberth i roddi i'ch plant yr addysg goreu a mwyaf trwyadl sydd iV gael yn y deyrnas, gan adael iddynt yn y diwedd farnu drostynt eu hunain ar bynciau crefyddoL Nid oes genyf i un hawl i'ch anerch mewn capel nac eglwys, ond teimlaf fy mod yma yn sefyll ar dir canolog uwchlaw holl fariaeth yr ymraniadau crefyddol sydd yn ein plith, a chymeraf yr hyfdra o alw eich sylw at yr hyn a ddysgir gan Darwin ac ereill sydd wedi ymgydnabyddu yn fanwl â deddfau natur yn y byd anianyddol, sef mai ei harwyddair mawr a gwastadol ydyw ' The survival of the fittest', neu Oruchafiaeth i'r Cymhwysaf. Felly hefyd y mae, yn ol fy marn i, yn y byd moesol a chrefyddol ; ac nis gall neb sydd yn credu yn Ehagluniaeth lai na chydsynio â mi yn ddifloesgni, y bydd yn y diwedd i'r ffurf hono o'r grefydd Gristionogol a brofo ei hun y fwyaf effeithiol i wneuthur Ues i ddynolryw gael yr oruchafiaeth ar bob ffurf arall yn Nghymru a phob man arall o'r byd. Byddwch gan hyny yn esmwyth ar y pen hwnw, meddyliwch fwy am Iwyddiant a dedwyddwch y genedl fel cyfangorph nag am fri a gogoniant unrhyw ran neu enwad neillduol o honi, ac ymwrolwch heb betrusder yn y byd i osod eich plant ar y ffordd i enwogrwydd ; ond i chwi wneyd hyny ni bydd arnaf ofn na bydd i gynifer o honynt ei gyrhaedd fel na byddo angen byth mwy i neb sydd yn teimlo eiddigedd
N 2
180 THE EISTEDDFODAU OF 1878.
dros ei genedl yniwregysu, dan amgylclnadau lled anffafriol,
i wrthbrofi haeriadau anghariadus rhai o'r newyddiaduron
Seisnig am ein distadledd, gan y byddai y Cymry yn fuan }ti
debyg o dori eu nod a'u hargraph yn ddwfn ar lenyddiaeth y
hyd, ac yn abl i herio gwaethaf tonau amser i ddileu oddiar
dywod hanesyddiaeth ein hen arwyddair a dyhewyd ein
henaid —
" ' Tra mor tra Brython !' "
We regret, we repeat, our inability to give a full account of the many excellent speeches delivered at this Eisteddfod. On the last day Mt. Samuel Morley and Mr. Henry Pàchard acquitted themselves admirably and to the great satisfaction of the audience.
We must not, however, close without presenting to our readers the foUowing graceful tribute to the Eisteddfod by Mr. Lewis Morris : —
PEESIDENT'S CHAIE, MENAI BEIDGE,
AuGUST 8th, 1878.
The close-ranked faces rise
"N^'ith their watching eager eyes, And the banners and the mottoes flai'e above ;
And without, on either hand,
The eternal mountains stand ; And the salt sea-river ebbs and flows again, And thro' the tbiu-drawn bridge the wanderiug winds complain.
Here is the congress met,
The bardic senate set, Aud youug hearts flutter at the voice of fate ;
All the fair August day
Song echoes, harj^iers play ; And on the accustoiued ear the strange rennillion rise and fall through change and counterchange.
Oh, Mona, land of song ! Oh, mother of Wales ! how long From thy dear shores an exile have I been !
TIIE EISTEDDFODAU OF 1878. 181
Still from thy lonely plains,
Ascend the old sweet straius, And by the miue, or plougli, or humble home, The dreaming peasant hears diviner music come.
This inuocent, peacef ul strife,
This struggle to fuller life, Is still the one deliglit of Cyniric souls.
Swell bleuded rhythms stiU
The gay paviÌious fill ! Soar, oh, young voices, resonaut and fair ! Still let the sheathed sword gleam o'er the bardic chuir !
The Meuai ebbs and flows, Aud the song-tide wanes and goes, And the singers and the harp-players are dumb : The eternal mountains rise Like a cloud upon the skie3, And iny heart is full of joy for the songs that are stiU : The deep sea, and the soariug hills, and the steadfast Ouuiipolent will.
EPIGRAMS FEOM THE OLD POETS.
No. 3. C R A F F D E R.
A wua angall o ddeiigair, Lluuier i gall liauer ^air.
182
ADDRESS OF LORD ABERDAEE AT THE BIREENHEAD EISTEDDFOD, 1878.^
Ladies and Gentlemex, — I beg to tliaiik the committee veiy heartily for tbe kiiid, tbe only too kincl and flattering language tbat tbey bave addressed towards me. Wben I look at tbis vast building and see tbe audience, many of wbom are so far removed from nie, I cannot but wisb tbat, like tbe bero in one of Dryden^s poems, I bad a voice like a silver trumpet. Unfortunately tbe cbange of weatber we bave bad bas visited me, and affected even tbose sniaU natural powers of voice wbicb I possess. I must ask, tbere- fore, tbe consideration of tbose w^bo bave got one of tbe most diffìcult tasks I know of, and tbat is to listen patiently to a public speaker witbout being able to bear one word be says. I am bappy to bave beard froni all quarters bow en- tirely successful tbe visit of tbis great AYelsb institution to your Englisb neigbbours bas been. Tlie AYelsb bave desceuded, as tbey used to do a bundred years ago, from tbeir mountains, aiid carried ofî tbe Saxon spoil in large quantities. On tbis occasion, I am bappy to tliink tbat
^ Several motives have urged us to give an enduring place to thia speech in Y Cymmrodor ; not the least of which has beea the practical good sense it brings to bear ou the Eisteddfod. Lord Aberdare speaks from a standpoint whence English prejudice and Welsh laudations are equally excluded. He holds and adjusts the scale with impartiaüty, It is well, occasionally, to have our Aveaknesses iaid bare ; and we, of all people, may well say with Burns : —
" O, wad some power the giftie gie us, To see oursels as others see us ! "
ADDRESS OF LOKD ABERDARE. 183
tlie spoil has been williugly siirrendered — (laugliter) — and that it M-ill be a satisfaction to the Saxon if they hear that it has heen ample and in all respects remunerative. (Applause.) Ladies and gentlemen, I feel that in the lan- guage addressed to me just now there was, amongst other qualities, a great deal of Christian charity, hecause it is well known that some twenty years ago I took upon myself to utter rash and, perhaps, presumptuous words of advice to the conductors of Eisteddfodau — words that have not been, on the whole I think, very accurately represented, but which I spoke at that time with the most sincere desire that these Eisteddfodau might be, even more than in the past, a means of educating and elevating the people of Wales. (Applause.) At that time a great controversy was wagiug in the press, and whilst some persons fastened entirely upon the merits of the institution, others, with even less of justice, fastened en- tirely on its defects. I could not but admit that there were defects in Eisteddfodau. There are still, probably the most judicious supporters of this institution will admit, defects in the institution, but it is an institution full of life and growth; and being full of life and growth, it needs constant attention, in order to develop its fuU usefulness. ÜSTow, ladies and gentlemen, I think it may be said of all the amusements of our people that they are, I am sorry to say, brutal, or innocent, or instructive, or even elevating. The brutal amusemeuts, I am happy to think, are becoming less and less in their number. Bull-baiting and bear-baiting are thiugs of the past' and if cock-fighting is practised — as I am afraid it is, not far from Birkenhead occa- sionally — it is done surreptitiously. I speak at any rate from ofiìcial know]edge, which came to me as to practices in the county of Chester some years ago, when, I think, they were patronised not only by the comnion people, but even by a magistrate or two — (laughter) — mIio had given into the irre-
184 ADDRESS OF LOlìD ABERDARE AT
sistible attractions of what had been the amnsement of his early yoiith. Well, they are disappearing. I am sorry to say some amusements of a brutal character still remain. We have stiU among us a good deal of dog-fighting, and we have stiU what I suppose must be considered a popular diversion amongst the most degraded of our classes, and that is^ a little wife-beatiug. (Laughter.) As to pleasures in general, to my mind they are absolutely necessary to manhind. Life, in my opinion, would be intolerable if it were not relieved from time to time by its pleasures ; and it is the duty of those who are more happüy situated to do all they can to promote and to extend innocent amusements for the people. I know that perhaps the very greatest of modern Welshmen — who, how- ever, had the misfortune to be born on the wrong side of the Wye — I mean Sir George Cornewall Lewis — once said that " life would be very tolerable if it were not for its amuse- ments"; but when he said that, he had in his eye the frivolous amusements of fashionable life, in which he found but little pleasure. He had his own amusements and diversions,which were to him what an Eisteddfod, no doubt, is to a Welshman, or what an occasional game of crichet is to a couutry rector, who wishes to recall the happy days of Eton and of Oxford. It was during the time that he held the seals of the Home Office that he roused himself by writing a work upon the astronomy of the ancients, and it is reported that within a fortnight of the time that he took the seals of the War Of&ce, some friend of his, on calling at the oífice, found on his desk a treatise on'the " Defensive Armour of the Lyca- donians" — a treatise which it must be presumed he was studying rather for amusement and diversion than for any assistance it might render him in providing proper arms for the English forces. But with respect to the Eis- teddfod, it does not seem to me to fall within the third category I have mentioned, as an amusement which can be
THE BIREENIIEAD EISTEDDFOD, 1878. 185
turuecl into an instruction, and also into an elevation of the national character, especiaUy if properly used. Now, if there is one expression in that very kind address to which I have listened with which I find fault, it is, perhaps, that 1 think the educational side of the Eisteddfodau is rather tûo much dwelt upon. It has its educational side ; but let us be bold and manly, and say that it has also, and to a very great extent, and perhaps principally, the object of popiüar amusement. But we want to make even our amusements instructive and educational. ISTo doubt it may be said that music is much more than au amusement ; that, if properly followed, it niay be made, like poetry or anything else, an instrument of education; but, on the whole, music as practised is a refiuiug amusement, and I am happy to say that iu my day 1 have seen a most extraordinary advance iu the cultivatiou of music, aud that advance throughout Wales has been very largely due to the Eistedd- fodau, to the competitions, aud to the meaus they afíbrd to each choir of seeiug what progress other choirs have made, aud, above all, to the judicious aud often courageous advice, such as has been tendered to the various choirs during this meeting by Professor Macfarreu, and by other distiu- guished members of the musical world. I wish to say most emphatically that, living as I do iu a thick popula- tiou of the working classes, T have found the cultivatiou of music to have a most admirable efíect ou tlie people. lu the village of Mountain Ash, which is a creation of yesterday you may say, we have a very considerable number of choirs, and I think I should hardly be exaggerating if I said that in a iDopulation of some 8,000 people there are at least 800 who devote tliemselves steadily to their im- provement in the knowledge of music. I would also say that among those eight hundred there are hardly any who might not be considered as most excellent and credit-
186 ADDRESS OF LORD ABEIiDARE AT
able specimens of tlie working classes. It used to be sup- posed tliat the practice of music led to effeminacy, or occa- sionally to profligacy ; tbat it conducted almost immediately to tbe public-bouse. But we find exactly tbe contrary, and tbat tbere are no persons more self-respecting tban tbose wbo beloug to tbe various cboirs. And I may also add — and I tbink it wiU not be witbout interest to some of my bearers — tbat my family, being extremely fond of music, bave been witbin tbe last year or two bonoured by tbe visits of two of tbe most eminent professors of music in tbis country — I mean Signor Eandegger and Mr. Jobn Farmer of Harrow, On eacb occasion I invited tbe neiobbouringf cboirs to come and perform before tbem, and tbey bad in private assured nie, not only of tbe pleasure witb wbicb tbey bad listened to tbem, but of tbe admiration and surprise tbey bad experienced in seeing so mucb progress made against so many difficulties and witb so few advantages. In one of tbe competing cboirs tbe otber day — tbe Aberdare cboir — out of one bundred and fifty members some fifty- six came from tbis village of Mountain Asb. Well, I ani sorry tbey were beaten. But I am told, for tbe credit of Wales, tbat tbere was a clioir wbo could beat so good a cboir. I felt sometbing like tbe Spartan lady of old, wbo, wben ber son was brougbt bome dead to ber on bis sbield, said sbe tbanked God tbere were in Sparta still remaining five bundred at least as good as be. And if tbe Aberdare clioir (with tbe Mountain Asb cboir) bas attained, as it justly bas attained, a very considerable re- putation in South as I believe in Nortb Wales, it is a credit to tbe Principality tbat tbere bas been one found to give tbem a sound beating. And I may add, wbat perbaps may be considered presumptuous in me to add, tbat I most entirely concurred with tbe criticisms oíîered by Pro- fessor Macfarren on tbat occasion. Tbe defects tliat lie
THE B1KKENIIEAD EISTEDDFOD, 1878. 187
observed were jiist tlie defects that I had observed ; and I have no doubt that they wiU derive a useful lesson from the advice which he so kindly tendered to them.
Now with respect to the literary side of Eisteddfodau, about that I know opinions vary very much. Some say that so much eífort is made in all directions to obtain prizes — the various literary prizes ofPered — that it cannot but have a good eff'ect upon the national character; and, upon the whole, I must say I ani inclined to that view of the question. But then it is of the utmost importance that a high and correct staudard of excellence sliould be constantly maintained, and it was with reference to that that I ventured to make some observations wliich were then very much misunderstood. The two points on which I objected to Eisteddfodau, as I understood them, were that there was too niuch a habit of self-laudation. Like Addison, all we Welshmen were expected to sit and attend to our own plaudits. We heard that it was cjuite true that England had produced very great men ; there was Shakespeare, there was Milton, there was Cromwell, and there was the Duke of Wellington ; but in all of these there was a trace of Welsh blood in their veins, without wliich they would uot have been the men they were. (Laughter.) And although I have a strong feeling myself for the heroes that our country has produced, it is to me a matter of congratulation and pleasure that I have not in the speeches which I have read during the last three days ob- served one singie reference to Caractacus or Sir Thomas Picton. Nor, again, have I seen or heard — wliat I have often read and heard — a comparison, very unjust in it- self, between the popular amusements of the Welsh and those of the English. On the one side you took the Eis- teddfod in its most elevating aspect, and on the other you took düg-fighting and cock-fighting, and said, " There is the amusement of the English." (Laughter.) Now, I
188 ADDRESS OF LOPJ) ABERDARE AT
tliink all those sort of disparagiug comparisons are niost injurious. No doubt a Welsliman may be fairly proud of the Eisteddfod, but let liim be proud without disparaging his neighbours. Let us be modest, and remember what- ever natural gifts the Welsh may hare, at this time Wales, perhaps from no fault of her own, does not hold a very distinguished place in the educational statistics of tliis country. Takiug such means as we have of com- paring the educatioual advancement of different parts of the country — I mean the signing of tlie marriage register, which is one, almost the only test we can apply — it appears that Wales and Lancasliire, who are now brought together iu this room, are at tlie very bottom of the list. A very eminent friend of mine suggested to me the reason why the Welsh showed so badly was on account of the inteuse national modesty of the brides and bridegrooms, who were well able to sign their names, but shrank froni doing so in the excitement of that particular moment ; and also because they were afraid of not doing it well, and there- fore preferred not doing it at alL I have never observed among tlie defects of my countrymen any exaggerated sense of modesty. It seems to me they have always had a great deal of self-possession, much more so than the English ; aud I should say most Welshmen were more self-possessed thau Englishmen. Englishmen have a more robust mind, but it is more slow. I cannot, therefore, accept that solution. I believe that iu matters of education Engiand, on tlie whole, is considerably in advauce of Wales, and that these are com- parisons which it is useful to make. It is not for us to exalt ourselves for the possessiou of certaiu advantages, but to iu- stitute a natural comparison, in order to see in wdiat points we are wanting, and to see that those points are reduced to the lowest limit ; and I have no doubt myself that the progress which will be made during the next teu or
TIIE BIRKEX1IEAD EISTEDDFOD, 1878. 189
twenty years in national education, uncler the Elementary Educatiou Act of 1870^ will soon place the people of Wales in a creditable position, as compared with other parts of the country. I wish I couhl say as much for our higher education, because there arise difficulties which we have been able to overcome with respect to popular element- ary education. The country, rich and all alike, have gener- ously put their hands in their pochets to provide a system of national education for the poorer classes, for those who needed assistance. But we cannot expect them to do so, except perliaps in a very limited degree, to provide education for the richer and easier classes. What has been the result in England ? Enormous sums have been left by generous persons from time to time for endowing grammar schools; and the result has been that the country is pretty well covered with a network of schools, many of wliich have fallen into neglect, but which, by the judicious legislation of past years, have been reformed. Wales has its share, but a much smaller share, and the provision made for what are called the middle classes of the country are very inadequate. Our higher classes have no difficulty in going to the best public schools in England, but you cannot expect the chihlren of our struggiing middle classes to cross tlie border in the same manner as the chihh-en of the richer classes. If we want to have an effective system of middle class education, we must provide it for ourselves ; and remembering that after all that is the class that on the whole directs the industry of the country, and even directs the morality of the couutry — for we look to that class for the supply of all our most energetic business men, and we look to that class for the main supply of our ministers of religion — it is of the highest importance that those nien sliould have the means of an excellent education. But not only have we no means of educa- ting them iu our schools or preparing them for a higher
190 ADDRESS OF LOED ABERDARE AT
eclucation, but the means of higher educating tlieniselves have up to this time been most lamentably wanting. It is quite true that primarily for the benefit of the Church of England in Wales the coUege of St. David's, Larapeter, was founded by Mr. Harford, an Euglishman, but that was for young clergymen. It is also quite true the trustees of that esta- blishment have nobly and generoüsly thrown open their coUege to all who go there, whether they wish to enter the church or not, and they are enabled to do so without any interference with their religious belief ; but we know tliat it has received the stamp of a Church of England college, and practically I believe three or four at the outside go to St. David's, Lampeter, for the purpose of receiving a good lay education. Then an attempt has been made, which I hope will be a successful attempt, and I hope that a second will soon be made, to found a good secular college at Aber- ystwith. It is by the extension of such coUeges as that at Aberystwith that I look for the intellectual elevation of my countrymen, and for full justice being done to our natural abilities. Let me put before you, as a question which is only one among many — what are the dif&culties that the Nonconformist ministers of our country have to go through who wish to provide themselves with a good education, iu order that they may command influence with their flocks ? "Wliat can they do ? Eew of them can afford to go to the good schools in England. In Wales, the schools are by no means sufíìcient to give them a good education up to the time they enter a university. They do as they can. They struggle on, and present themselves to a theological college, go through three or four years of such instruction as they receive there, and are then entered on the ministry. A certain proportion of themj at least geuerally the most distin- guished of them, strive by winning scholarships founded by generous persons to obtain the means of going to a Scotch
TIIE BIKKEXHEAD EISTEDDFOD, 1878. 191
uniyersity, and yoii will tìud that a large proportion of the educated clergy iu AYales ]iave received their educatiou at Glasgow and Edinburgh. Why ? Because in Scotland there are eminently popular institutions. They are made to take those up who have been educated at the national schools of the country, to receive them at the early age of íìfteen or thereabouts, and to complete their education by nineteen. Now at tlre Engiish universities, on the contrary, the position is quite different. The education begins in the English univer- sities at nineteen and íìnishes at about twenty-three, and no man has the slightest chance of obtaining the honours, the distinctions, and the rewards of the great English univer- sities of Oxford and Cambridge, who up to the age of nineteen has not received the very best education which tliis country is capable of giving him. Well, how can we expect the poorer classes, out of whom so many of our Dissenting ministers are drawn, to find the means of an exceUent educa- tion up to nineteen, and then to send them all to universities like those of Eugland ? There is nothing more striking — and I say it has occurred to me long ago, but I was glad to see the other day that the point had again been referred to in the interesting controversy tbat is now going on with respect to the future of Jesus College — there is nothing more in- teresting, and at the same time more distressing, than the comparison between the literary j)osition of Wales two hundred years ago and its present one. There is a book well known in the literary world, Wood's Äthen^ Oxonieiisis, which I think was published about one hundred and fifty or two hundred years ago, which contains an accouut of the men who had distinguished themselves at the university of Oxford. Turn over the pages of that book and you will hardly turn over one in which you wiU not find the name of one or two or three Welshmen. The preparation of Welshmeu who attained distinction at Oxford in those times is truly astonish-
192 ADDRESS OF LOED ABEEDARE AT
ing, and very difíiciilt of explanation. But one advantage, at any rate, tliey had tlien wliicli they have not now, and that is that education, not being so prolonged as it is at jDresent at the universities, they were enabled to go froni the country grammar schools to Oxford at the age of fifteen, and to complete their education at nineteen. All those means of education are now withliehl, nnd there is probably at this moment not only in the whole Dissenting community of ISTorth and South Wales hardly a single minister who has availed himself of the advantages of those great institutions, while a very large proportion of tlie clergy of the Church of England in Wales have also been unable to pursue their studies there. AVell, now, this is a great national misfortune so far as Wales is concerned, and it behoves us, it seems to me, to bring lionie to our people the means of a cheap educa- tion, one suited to their present position and to their future objects in life. And tliat can only be by providing them with a higher education, whicli shaU cease, so far as the public teaching is concerned, at the time when the teaching at the Engiish universities begins. Tliat has been the object of the excellent men who bestirred themselves to found the college at Aberystwith ; and when I use that epithet you will at once understand that I am not tahing any credit for being one of those men, because I joined the movement after it had already attained considerable success. But it seemed to me a wise and excellent plan, and I hope, old as I am, to live to see the time when, not ouly the college of Aberyst- with sliall have received a very large extension, but when similar coUeges shall have been founded in various parts of Wales. Is it not monstrous — does it not reflect dis- grace upon the Principality which, once poor, has become almost as wealthy as any other part of the empire — that Scot- land has its four universities, each of which contains many schools, whilst Wales has only one coUege set aside for general
TIIE BIRRENHEAD EISTEDDFOD, 1878. 193
teacliing in secular knowledge, unless we also include Lam- peter, wdiich to a certain extent now fulíìls tliose conditions, but it is subject to the observations I have ventured to make upon it. This matter having been brought fairly before the Welsh people, will they allow it to remain where it is ? I have seen predictions, I cannot understand why, that even this first attempt at Aberystwith is about to fail. Ladies and gentlemen, do not believe it. It will not fail. (Applause.) It shall not fail, (Eenewed applause.) On all sides we are receiving marks of sympathy — practical marks of sympathy. Every year we are receiving benefactions of generous persons ; every week almost we are receiving some notice that at some future time there will be somethincf for tliis struo-oling insti-
o oo o
tution in South Wales. I believe all we want to do is to understand what our objects are ; that we are not supplanting Oxford or Cambridge, not preventing Welshmen from going to Oxford or Cambridge to get an education ; that w^e throw no impediment in the way of enjoying the advant8.ges of Oxford and Cambridge ; but that what we are doing is to bring home to the hearths and homes of our own people the means of possessing an education equal to that which is given to the people of Scotland and Ireland. Tliere is sometimes a danger that iustitutions like these Eistedd- fodau sliould divert the mind from the really serious and hard work of education. We are apt to think that becanse we have this sort of literary institution among us we are doing great things ; but, ladies and gentlemen, mucli as I sympathise with all these efforts, believe me, the amouut of work and the amouut of talent required for winning a prize at Eisteddfodau is not tliat which wilL qualify a man for the arduous work of life. One likes to sec the efíbrt made ; one likes to see the exhibition of talent ; Init we know very well that real education implies heavy, long, steady, and con- tinuous labour, aud without that nothing can be done ; and VOL. II. 0
194 ADDEESS OF LORD ABERDARE.
it is jiist tlie means of that steady contiuuous labour in higher education in which Wales is entirely wanting. Now I confess that I rose fuUy prepared to pass from the subject of Eistedd- fodau into the subject of national education in Wales ; but I did not intend to divert your attention so long from the proper objects of the Eisteddfod, in which amusement is joined with instruction, to these more serious subjects. The reason why, after the long interval of twenty years, I have consented once more to preside at an Eisteddfod, was my sentiment of gratitucle to the people of Wales for the feeling they have shown at recent Eisteddfodau towards this effort we are mahing to improve education in Wales. (Hear, hear.) The Carnarvon Eisteddfod forwarded to us a sum of no less than £600. (Applause.) At other great Eisteddfodau — T forget at this moment the names — similar sympathy and liberality has been shown. I say nothing about the present Eisteddfod. Let those who conduct it act as they think right. I liope it wiU be a profitable one. I have no doubt that the money, whichever way it is employed, will be useful for the benefìt of the people of Wales ; but, having seen at these Eisteddfodau marks of sympathy with a true liberal educa- tion in Wales, I could not, when my friend Mr. Eobert Jones and other gentlemen asked me to preside at this Eisteddfod, refuse to show my respect for an institution to which I am so much beholden. (Loud applause.)
Eebíe\t)ö of ^ooíiö.
Lectures on Welsh Philology. By Peofessor PiHYS. 2iid Edition. Londoii : Trübner & Co. 1878.
Its great publisliing liouses are some of the maryels of Lou- doii. The intelligence they bring to bear on the conduct of their business is such as the outer world has little conception of. Experience, it is true, aids them in avoiding rocts and shoals ; but without a keen insight into the future, its tastes and requirements, they would but ill discharge their duty to themselves or to the innumerable readers of their publications. Through their extraordinary acumen certain houses have acquired the confidence of the publie ; and the vahie of a book is enhanced or depreciated by the name of the fìrm on its title-page. In the fìrst half of the present century, the name of Pichering stamped a book with high value, and it stiU continues to do so. Auctioneers of literary property and second-hand boohsellers record it in their catalogues almost as they do that of Elzivir or Aldus. In the present day the names of publishers such as the Longmans and John Murray, not only give an additional value to a publication, but greatly increase its circulation.
We doubt, however, that among them all there can be found a more enterprising publisher than Mr. Trübner. While the larger houses consult the prevailing taste, and sail down with the popular current, responding to the exi- gencies of the million, Mr. Trübner, as though he looked witli indifference on botli profit and popularity, confines his energies to the exigencies of science, literature, and language. Would the philologist, ethnologist, antiquary, or scientific scholar fìud the works essential to his craft, he wends his
196 . EEYIEWS OF BOOKS.
way to Mr. Trübner, almost witliont fear of disappointment. As a proof of our statemeut, ^\13 have now on our table three worlcs of high character, but whicli must necessarily be con- fined in their circulation to the class for whom they are specially intended — Mr. Ehŷs's Lectures, Letters and Pajjcrs on PJiilology by Lord Strangford, and a Dictionary of Enfjlish Etymolügy by Mr. Hensleigh Wedgwood.
Of Mr. Ehŷs's Lectiires we have already spolren when his íìrst edition appeared. It would be impossible to exaggerate the importance of this work to every Cymric student. Like a subtle key, despite innumerable and intricate wards through which it turns, it unlocks the mysteries of Celtic philology aud reveals the rich treasures of etymology hidden in our grand old tong},ie. But we must refrain, that we may notice some of the peculiarities and additions contained in this new edition.
The larger extracts from Latin, without expunging the original text, are translated into English.
Mr. Rhŷs had been challenged by M. d'Arbois de Jubain- ville on the subject of ancient British numismatics, on the supposition that they made against his theory of the classifi- cation of the Celts ; but, as far at least as tlie coins are con- cerned, Mr. Ehŷs has turned the tables on his opponent, fol- lowing very much in the direction of Dr. John Evans's book on tlie coins of the Ancient Britons.
But as we begin to enumerate the changes and improve- ments in the present edition, we find we are overwhelmed with their number. They occur on almost every page. Though in themselves small aud sometimes of a trifling cha- racter, they form a whole of considerable importance. Most advance has perhaps been rnade in the early Brythonic in- scriptions. The number of epitaphs has been increased — several of them are quite new — while the readings of others have been completed. Mr. Rhŷs seems to have been very anxious to render the minutire of his book as perfect as
REYIEWS OF BOOKS. 197
its more important parts. Tliese, wliile costing perliaps an infìnity of troiible, will be appreciated only by tlie exact philological student. We trust that many an edition will be called for, wben this second one shall have been exhausted.
A DiCTiON'ARY OF English Etymology. By Hensleigh Wedgwood, Avith an Introduction on the Origin of Lan- guage. 3rd Edition. London : Trilbner & Co. 1878.
This is an excellent edition of a very valuable book, which has been carefully revised and enlarged. We notice it, how- ever, for its Celtic, and more especially for its Cymric etymo- logies. ]Mr. Wedgwood has made considerable advance in this particular field of enquiry ; though, in common witli all English etymologists, he has still much fallow ground to break up. The want of a more thorough knowledge of the Celtic family of languages keeps our lexicograj)hers in con- tinual thraldom. They search for roots anywhere rather than where they would be patent to them. Space precludes us from gÌYÌng instances ; but we must mention one as a testi- mony of our indictment. VJ^e turn, in ]Mr. Wedgwood's Didionari/, to Bctstarcl, of which he speaks as foUows : "Ap- parently of Celtic origin from Gael — haos, lust, fornication." But there he stops. Of the latter syllable, tard, he gives no explanation ; but a mere tyro in Celtic etymology would see at once that it is nothing else tlian au Anglified form of tlie Cymric has, base, and tcirddu, to spring from. Bastard being simply base-born.
Original Letters and Papers of the late Viscount Straxgford upon Philological axd Kindred Subjects. Edited by Yiscountess Strangford. London : Trübner and Co. 1878.
These papers are very interesting ; aud in some parts touch upon Cymric philology and phonology. In a letter addressed
198 REYIEWS OF BOOKS.
to Mr. Freeman, whicli will be found at page 160, Lord Strangford makes some original remarks on tlie terms Cym- ric, Gwyddyl, Gael, etc. We can only call our readers' atten- tion to the book itself, wliicli, like everything else that comes from the pen of Lord Strangford, is worthy of a care- ful study.
The Ancient British Chürch : a Historical Essay. By JOHN Pryce, M.A., Yicar of Bangor. London: Long- mans, Green, & Co. 1878.
This is an excellent History of the Early Church in Britain, and written in a broad loving spirit. We congratulate Mr. Pryce, not only on the lucid, masterly style in which his history is couched, but on the admirable arrangement of his facts and dates. He has been not only industrious, but painstaking in dealing witli the subject, and we trust his reward will be a very numerous class of readers. The notes, which are as extensive as the text, are very interesting, and wiU repay a careful perusal.
But what strikes us as most admirable in the book is the care with which the author refers abnost every incident he relates to the source whence he has derived it. He leaves nothing unproved. And what a host of witnesses has lie summoned to bear testimony to his narrative. They are almost a legion. "We trust to recur to this book again.
Jeremiah : AN Oratorio. By John Owen (Owain Alaw). London: C. Jefferys, Berners Street.
This work is interesting as a duoglott ; the words are in both Welsh and English. The oratorio — and some of the melodies are very beautiful — testiíìes to the hand of a master. The rhapsodies of the old Hebrew prophet are excellently ex- pouuded by the music of Mr. Owen.
EEYIEWS OF BOOKS. 199
The Art Journal for January 1856, June 1856, Januaiy 1864, Januaiy 1867, and January 1870.
In a vroYk like tlie Gymmrodor, dedicated to Art as well as to Literature, it ■would be unpardonable not to give prominence to tlie many liigh-class works of art that have sprung into Hfe under the chisel of our national artist — Joseph Edwards. And yet we feel that we are treading on delicate if not danger- ous ground, — such is our love for the man, for his high cha- racter and noble, loving heart, and more especially for his self- sacrifice in the cause of some whom he deems it a sacred duty to assist, though not bound by either ties of relationship or gratitude.
Our review must necessarily be of a retrospective charac- ter ; but it is with no little pride that we draw attention to three or four beautiful examples that have been fitly repre- sented by exquisite engravings in the Ärt Journal. Two of these appeared in the year 1856 — " Eeligion Consoling Justice", and " The Last Dream". These pictures are full of pathos, which is again enhanced by the delicacy wherewith they have been worked out. A delightful tenderness floats about tliem. His " Yision", which appeared in the same journal in 1864, is remarkable for the grace of its figures and their artistic grouping. The "Angel of Light" — January 1870 — is, however, our ideal of the genius of the sculptor.
We are afraid, we repeat^ of being deemed too eulogistic of a national artist. Let the Art Journal, then, speak for us. The following paragraph, to which our attention has been caUed just as we were going to press, appeared but a few weeks ago, and will be found at page 174 : —
" Ä Bust hy Joscjjh Fdwards, although a work of consider- able merit, will be little noticed among the crowd in the sculpture passages at the Eoyal Academy. It will not be so when it reaches its destinatiou in South Wales. It is the
200 REYIEWS OF BOOKS.
bust of an eminent and largely-gifted Welsh scholar, Thomas Stephens, and is prodiiced as a corapliment from his conntry- men, admirers as well as friends of the author of The Litera- ture of the Gymry. The Welsh are proverbially clan-ish — we cannot say what word they would use to denote the reso- lution with which they help one another — and that is surely not a fault. They may well be proud of their countr}Tnan, Joseph Edwards. There are artists who will make as good busts, but there is no living sculptor who can produce monu- mental work so pure, so refined, so essentially holy. There seems to be in his mind and soul a natural piety that mani- fests itself in his work ; an out-pouring of a lofty religious sentiment ; a true conception of what is just and right. There is no one to whom we would so instantly assign the task of perpetuating in marble what is lovely and of good report; he gives a sweet repose to death, and makes the change a sure indication of happiness. Perhaps that is the highest, as it is certainly the holiest achievement of the sculptor's art. If we desired evidence to confirm our opinion as to the genius of Mr. Edwards in this especial and most important branch of art, we should refer to several engraving3 given in the Art Journal during years past. The artist is in the prime of life. Yes; "Wales may well be proud of the Welshman, Josepli Edwards."
jl3oííce ûf fortíjcomuìg 93ooît,
It is with no little pleasure that we announce a new work by our talented countryman, Mr. Lewis Morris. What gives us peculiar satisfaction is, that it will be a Drama on a Wdsh subject. Its title is Gwen, and it will be dedicated to the Eight Honourable John Bright, M.P. If we mistahe not, our readers will find that Mr. Morris has, in this new poem, excelled all his previous achievements.
îlíport
OF THE
COUNCIL OF THE HONOURABLE SOCIETY OF CYMMRODOPJON,
For the Year ending the 9th of Novemher, 1878.
DuEiXG the year ten new members have been admitted.
By tlie lamented deatli of Mr. Jolm Griffitli (Gohebydd), the Society has suffered a loss they can hardly hope to repair. The proposal to reYÌve the Society in 1873 was made by him. He also rendered valuable assistance in organising the i-e- vived Society; and ever maintained a deep interest in its welfare and progress.
Eeference was made in our last Annual Eeport to a de- cision to obtain a Medal for the Society, which might be awarded for the encouragement of certain objects coming within the scope of the Society's aim. The Couucil have the gratification of announcing that one of their ]\Iembers, ]\Ir. Joseph Edwards, has designed a Medal of siogular merit and appropriateness,which the Council have unanimously adopted. A full description of this design will, in due time, be commu- nicated to the Members.
Four Papers, of great interest, were read before the Society during the past year, namely : —
1. By Professor McKenny Hughes, M.A., " On the Prehistoric Eaces of Britain." Chairman, J. Ignatius AVilliams, Esq.
2. By Profes.sor Eudler, F.G.S., " On the Mineral
YOL. II. P
202 REPORT.
Wealtli of Wales." Chairman, tlie Rev. Eobert Jones, B.A., Yicar of AU Saints', Eotlierliitlie.
3. By Jolm Thomas, Esq. (Pencerdd Gwalia), Harpist to Her Majesty the Qiieen, " On the National Music of Wales." Chairman, ]\Iajor W. Cornwallis West, Lord Lieutenant of Denbiíîhshire.
4. By Professor Cowell of Camhridge, " On Dafydd ab Gwüym." Chairman, B. T. Williams, Esq., Q.C., M.P.
With Y Cymmrodor for the past year there were issued to the Members the remaining portion of the reprint of Wyllyam Salesbury's Dictionary, and a large selection of the Worl'si of lolo Goch, Poet Laureate of Owain Glyndwr, as well as a continuation of the History of the Cymmrodorion Society.
Arranoements were made with the Committee of the Bir- kenhead Eisteddfod for attaching to that Eisteddfod a " Cymmrodorion Section", in connection with which Meetings were to be held, and Papers read on subjects embraced by the objects of this Society. The management of the Section was delegated by the Council to a Committee composed of the foUowing gentlemen : — Professor T. McKenny Hughes, M.A. (Chairman) ; Mr. Stephen Evans ; Mr. Ivor James ; Eev. Eobert Jones, B.A. ; IMr. Lewis Morris, M.A. ; Mr. Hugh Owen ; ]\Ir. T. M. Williams, B.A. ; and Mr. Howel Thomas, who acted as the Honorary Secretary of the Section.
At the fìrst meeting of the Sectiou, Sedley Taylor, Esq., M.A. of Cambridge, delivered a Lecture " On the Acoustics of Music." This Meeting was fairly attended; but the attendance subsequently was not such as to encourage the holding of further Meetings during that Eisteddfod. The Council do not, however, doubt that the work of the Section may be resumed at the next National Eisteddfod with the confìdent hope of success.
The Council desire to express theú' strong sympathy with
EEPORT. 203
tlie efforts whicli are beiug made to oppose the proposed alienation from Wales of those Scholarships and Exhibitions at Jesus CoUege, Oxford, which, in accordauce with the Wills of the Founders, have hitherto beeu restricted to natives of the Priucipality ; aud they have pleasure iu stating that a Meeting of the Members of this Society will shortly be convened to consider the subject, aud to determiue ou the best measures to be adopted for protecting the right- fiü heritage of the Welsh iu connectiou with the College iu questiou.
A Statement is appeuded to this Eeport, shewing the Ee- ceipts and Expeuditure of the Society duriug the past year. The total Eeceipts (with the balance brought forward from the pre^dous year) amounted to £206 13s. 8d., aud the Ex- penditure to £197 Os. 4d. There is, therefore, a balauce of £9 13s. 4d. standing to the credit of the Society.
Signed, on behalf of the Council,
STEPHEN EVANS,
7, Queen Yictoría Streei, Chaimian.
9tk Novemher, 1878.
204
OFFICEES AND COUNCIL OF THE SOCIETY.
President. SiE Wateins Williams "Wynn, Barfc., M.P.
Vice-Fresidents. The Right Hon. Earl Powis The Right Rev. The Lord Bishop of St. Asaph The Right Rev. The Lord Bishop of Bangor The Right Rev. The Lord Bishop of St. David's The Right Rev. The Loi-d Bishop of Llandaff The Righfc Hon. Lord Penrhyn The Righfc Hon. Lord Aberdare
Sir Thomas D, Lloyd, Barfc., Bronwydd
Charles Bath, Esq., Ffynone, Swansea
RiCHARD Davies, Esq., M.P.
Morgan Lloyd, Esq., Q.C., M.P.
G. OSBORNE MORGAN, Esq., Q.C., M.P.
LovE JoNES Parry-, Esq.
Mr. Serjeant Parry, Temple
J. H. PULESTON, Esq., M.P.
The Very Rev. Dr. Stewart Perowne, Dean of Peterborough
Henry Richard, Esq., M.P.
E. M. RicHARDS, Esq,
Captain Edmünd Vernet, R.N., Rhianva
H. HüssEY ViviAN, Esq., M.P.
W, Cornwallis-West, Esq., Lord Lieutenant, Co. Denbigh
GwiLYM Willums, Esq., Pontypridd
Charles W. Williams Wtnn, Esq., M.P.
Gouncil. Stephen Evans, Esq., Old Change (Ghairman) Agabeg Aviet, Esq., Temple BowEN, J. W., Esq., Q.C., Temple
LIST OF OFFICERS AND COUNCIL. 205
Dayies, JüiiN, Esq., Loudou Road Dayies, JoHxNr, Esq., The Treasury Dayies, The Rev. D. J., Merchant Taylors' School Dayies, Wm., Esq. {Mynorydd), Euston Road Edwards, Joseph, Esq., Robert Street, N.W. Griffith, John (Gohehydd), (deceased) Hamer, Thomas, Esq., Wood Street James, Ivor, Esq., Thornton Heath Jeneins, R. Henrt, Esq., AbchurCh Lane Jeremt, W. D., Esq., Lincohi's lun JONES, The E,ev. Etan, Welsh Church JONES, The Rev. Robert, B.A., Rotherhithe JONES, WiLLiAM, Esq. (Gwrgant) Lewis, David, Esq., Temple MoRGAN, Rev, J., M.A., Clapton Morris, Lewis, Esq., 89, Chancei'y Laue OwEN, Hugh, Esq., Queen Victoria Street OwENS, JOHN, Esq., India Office RíCHARDS, Brinlet, Esq., Kensington RoBERTS, H. Llotd, Esq., Temple RoBERTS, T. A., Esq., Lincoln's Inn Fields Thomas, Howel, Esq., Local Government Board Thomas, Jühn, Esq. (Pencerdd Gioalia) Williams, B. T., Esq., Q.C., Temple WiLLiAMS, J. Ignatiüs, Esq., Temple Williams, Dr. John, University College WiLLJAMS, The Rev. R. (Hwfa Mon) Williams, T. M., Esq., B.A., Hackney
Editor of Transactions, Rev. ROBERT JONES, B.A.
Äuditors. TuoMAS Hamer, Esq. Howel Thomas, Esq.
Secretary.
C. W. JONES, Eöq.
206 LIST OF MEMBEES.
* Banhers.
ThelMPEEiALBANK(Liinited),WestminsterBrancli,VictoriaStreet.
Corresponding Memhers for North Wales. Tlie Rev. D. Silyan Eyans, Llanwrin Eectory, Machynlleth The Rev. David Howell, The Yicarage, Wrexhara J. Ceiriog Hughes, Esq., Caersws, Mont. Tegeein Hughes, Esq., Llanerchymedd *
* Gorrespondmg Memhers for South Wales.
W. DowNiNG EvANS, Esq., Sohcitor, Newport, Mon.
The Rev. John Griffith, Rector of Neath
J. M. JoNES, Esq. (loan Cunllo), Rhydlewis, Llandyssil
W. RossEE, Esq., Ynyscynon, Aberdare
Corresponding Jleipher for Oxford. Professor Rhts.
Corresponding Memher for Bristol. OwEN Paeey, Esq.
MEMBERS.
Aberdare, The Rt, Honble. Lord, Dnffryn, Aberdare Agabeg, Aviet, Esq., Temple, E.C.
Alaw, Owain, Chester
Asaph, St., The Right Rev. The
Lord Bishop of, The Palace, St. Asaph
Bath, Charles, Esq., Ffyuone, Swansea. Bangor, The Right Rev. The Lord
Bishop of, The Palace, Baugor.
Bedhngtou, P. R., Esq., Aberdare
Bennett, N., Esq., Glanyravon, Caersws
Berringtou, A. D., Esq.j Pant-y-Goitre, Abergaveuny
Breese, Edward, Esq,, Morfa Lodge, Portmadoc
LIST OF MEMBEES.
207
Bowen, J. W., Esq., Q.C.,
Bowen, Mrs.
Brigstock, Thomas, Esq.,
Cartwi'ight, C. S., Esq.,
Dayid's, St., The Right Rev. The
Lord Bishop of, Davies, Rev. D. Jones, M.A., Davies, David J., Esq.,
Davies, Hugh, Esq.,
Davies, Rev. John,
Davies, John, Esq.,
Davies, John, Esq.,
Davies, Morgan, Esq.,
Davies, Owen, Esq.,
Davies, Richard, Esq., M.P.,
Davies, R. Esq. [Mynyddog),
(deceased), Davies, WilUam, Esq. (Mynorydd), Davies, W. Cadwaladr, Esq., Doulton, Henry, Esq.,
Edisbury, James Fisher, Esq., Edmondes, Rev. Professor C. G., Edwards, Joseph, Esq.,
Edwards, Rev. T. C, Ehas, John P., Esq., Evans, Alcwyn C, Esq., Evans, David, Esq., Evans, The Rev. D. Silvan, Evans, Henry Jones, Esq., Evans, Humphrey, Esq., Evans, John, Esq., Evans, Richard, Esq.,
2, Paper Buildings, Temple
Welbeclc Street
12, Queen Yictoria Street, E.C
Abergẅili Palace, Carmarthen Merchant Taylors' School, E.C 8, Loudoun Grove, Prince's
Road, Liverpool Wrexham
Belsize Sq., Hampstead, N.W. The Treasury, Whitehall, S.W. 103, London Road, Southwarlc, London Hospital, E. [S.E.
Carlisle Street, EdgwareRd.,W. Treborth, Bangor
Cemmes
208, Euston Road, N.W.
Bangor
Lambeth, S.E.
Wroxhara
St. David's College, Larapeter
40, Robert Street, Hampstead
Road, N.W. Aberystwyth Pentraeth, Anglesey Carmarthen
24, Watling Street, City, E.C Rectory, Llanwrin, Machynlleth Whitchurch, near Cardiíf Threadneedle Street, E.C Highbury New Park, N. Llandudno
208
LIST OF MEMBEES.
Evans, Stephen, Esq., Evans, Mrs. Stephen, Evans, William, Esq., Evans, W. Downing, Esq., Edwards, Eev. Daniel,
Ffoullces, R., Esq.,
Francis, Col. G. Grant, F.S.A.,
Old Change, City, E.C. Bryntirion, Hornsey Lane, X. Inner Temple, E.C. Newport, Monmouthshire Cefn, St. Asaph
Birkenhead Swansea
Denbigh
Hyères (Var), France
Rectory, Neath
Gee, Thomas, Esq., Griffith, Griffith, Esq., Griffith, The Rev. John, M.A., Griffith, John, Esq. (Gohebi/dd),
(deceased), 96, High St., Ishngton Green, N.
Griffith, J. L. Lloyd, Esq., Hulyhead
Griffiths, G. J. Esq., Christ's College, Cambridge
Griffiths, William, Esq., 120, Waterloo Road, S.E.
Gwalchmai, Llandudno
Hamer, Edward, Esq., Hamer, Thomas, Esq., Hamer, Mrs. Thomas, Hancock, Thomas W., Esq., Hancock, W. St. J. H., Esq., Hilton, Thomas, Esq. Howell, The Rev. David, Howell, Hemy, Esq. Howell, David, Esq., Hughes, J. Ceiriog, Esq., Hughes, W. Tregerin, Esq., Humphreys, Hugh, Esq.,
James, Ivor, Esq.,
James, Rev. T.,
Jenkins, R. Henry, Esq.,
Jeremy, W. D., Esq.,
Jones, C. W., Esq., Secrefari/,
Abersychan, Pontypool
12, Wood St., Cheapside, E.C.
Ditto
Llanrhaiadr-yn-Mochnant
5, Furnivars Inn, E.C,
Yicarage, Wrexham
Machynlleth Caersws, Mont. Llanerchymedd, Anglesey Carnarvon
2, Myrtle Yillas, Thornton Heath Netherthong, Huddersfield Abchurch Lane, City, KC. 10, New Sq., Lincohi'sInn,W.C. Local Güvernment Board
LIST OF MEMBERS. 209
Jones, Ellis, Esq., 138, Queen Victoria Street, E.C.
Jones, Erasmus, Esq., 3,GeorgeYard,LombardSt.,E.C.
Joues, The Rev. Evan, 324, City Road, E.C.
Jones, Evan, Esq., Aberdare
Jones, Eyton, Esq., Wresham
Jones, Frederick W., Esq., Newington Green Road, Isling-
ton, N. Jones, John W., Esq., Ystrad House, Carmarthen
Jones, J. 'SL, Esq. (loan Cunlló), Rhjd-Lewis, Llandyssul, S.
Wales Joues, The Rev. Robert, B.A., All Saints' Yicarage, Rother-
hithe, S.E.. Jones, ]\Irs. Robert, Ditto
Jones, Robert, Esq., Broad Street, Y\",
Jones, Thomas G., Esq., LlansantfFraid, Oswestiy
Jones, T. Moreton, Esq., Lincoln's-Inn-Fields, W.C.
Jones, WilUam, Esq. (Giorgant), King's Arms Yard, Coleman
Street, E.C. Jones, Jabez, Esq., Metal Refinery, Southwark
Jones, J. W., Esq., LlandoYcry
Eelsey, Johu, Esq., 8, The Grove, Hackney, E.
Renyou, The Hou. George T., Hanmer, Whitchurch, Salop
LlandafiF, The Right Rev. The
Lord Bishop of, Bishop's Court, Llandaff
Lewis, David,.Esq., Temple, E.C.
Lewis, Owen, Esq., Morningtûn Road, Regent's
Park, N. W.
Lloyd, Morgan, Esq., Q.C., M.P., 4, King's Beuch Walk, Temple,
Lloyd, Sir Thomas D., Bart., Bronwydd, Carmarthen [E.C.
MacRosty, Alexander, Esq., jun., King's Arms Yard, City
MacRosty, Mi's. Alesander, West Bank, Esher
Marks, R. S., Esq., 40, Fitzroy Square, W.
Marsden, George, Esq., Queen Street, City, E.C.
Marsh, Miss Margaret E., Caruo, Mon.
VOL. n. Q
210
LÎST OF MEMBEllS.
Miller, Arthur W. K., Esq. British Museum, W.C. Morgan, G. Osborue, Esq., Q.C.,
M.P., 20, Bolton Street, W.
Morgan, Rev. John, M.A., Clapton Square, Clapton
Morris, E. R., Esq., Homestay, Newton, Mont.
Morris, Lewis, Esq., 89, Chancery Lane, W.C.
Morris, William J., Esq., Portmadoc
01iver, W. D., Esq.,
Owen, A. C. Humphreys, Esq.,
Owen, Rev. David,
Owen, Hugh, Esq.,
Owen, Hugh, Esq., jun.,
Owen, J. Isambard, Esq.,
Owens, John, Esq.,
Parnall, Henry, Esq.,
Parry, Love Jones, Esq., Parry, Mr. Serjeant, Parry, Owen, Esq., Penrhyn, The Rt. Honble. Lord, Perowne, The Very Rev. Stewart, Peter, Rev. Professor, Phillips, Edward, Esq., Philhps, J. Cambridge, Esq., Powell, Joshua, Esq., Powell, Thomas, Esq., Powis, The Rt. Honble. Earl Price, WiUiam, Esq., Prichard, Rev. Hugh, M.A., Pugh, E]iezer, Esq., Pugh, Hugh, Esq., Puleston, J. H, Esq., M.P.
Rhys, Professor,
Richard, Henry, Esq., M.P.,
Temple, E.C. Glansevern, Garthmyl Charlotte Street, N.
7, Queen Yictoria Street, E.C. Local Government Board, S.W. Gloucester Gardeus, Hyde Park, India Office, S.W. [\V.
187, Bishopsgate Street, With-
out, E.C. Madryn Castle, Carnarvonshire
8, King's Bench Walk, Temple, l,Broad Street, Bristol [E.C. Penrhyn Castle, Bangor, N.W. Newnham Lodge, Cambridge Bala (deceased)
Rupert Street, Haymarket, ^V.
Brecon
Rhyd-Lewis, Llandyssul
Fairwater, Taunton
Powis Castle, Welshpool
Llanfoist, Abergavenny
Dinam, Gaerwen, Anglesey
Liverpool
Carnarvon
30, Abingdon St., Westminster
Oxford
22, Bolton Gardens, West Brompton, S.W.
LIST OF :^IEMBERS.
211
Ricliards, Brinley, Esq.,
Richards, E. M., Esq., Roberts, Askew, Esq., Roberts, D. D., Esq., Roberts, H. Llo^d, Esq., Roberts, T. Archibald, Esq.,
Roberts, J. F., Esq., Roberts, Owen, Esq., M.A., Roberts, Peter, Esq., Roberts, Rev. William, Roberts, William, Esq., Rosser, W., Esq., Rowlaud, William, Esq., Rowlands, Rev. Daniel, M.A., Rudler, Professor F. W., F.G.S.
6, St. Mary Abbott's Terrace,
Kensington, W. Swansea Oswestry
42, Trinity Sq., Borough, S.E. 4, Essex Court, Temple, E.C. Selborne Chaml:>ers, Bell Yard,
Lincoln's Inn Fields Manchester Cloth Workers' Hall SufFolk Lane, E.C. Abergele Manchester Ynyscynon, Aberdare Manchester
Normal College, Bangor Aberystwyth
Salisbury, Eev. E. E. Baylee, B.D., Thundersley, Rayleigh
Thomas, Mrs. A. W., Thomas, Rev. D. R., M.A., Thomas, Edward T., Esq., Thomas, James L., Esq., Thomas, Howel, Esq., Thomas, John, Esq. {Pencerdd
Gioalia), Thomas, Rev. Llewelj^n, Thomas, Rev. Owen, Thomas, Thomas J., Esq., Thomas, W\ A., Esq., Traherne, George M., Esq., Trevor, Arthur, Esq.,
Llandegai, Carnarvonshire
Meifod, Mont.
Saltaire Place, Hackney, E.
Exeter
Local Government Board
53, W^elbeck St., Cavendish Sq.,
Jesus College, Oxford [W.
Liverpool
138, Queen Yictoria St., E.C.
East Road, City Road, N.
St. Hilaiy, Cowbridge
Lewisham
University College of Wales, Aberystwyth
Yerucy, Captain Edmund, R.X., Rhiaufii, Bangor, N.W.
212
LIST OF MEMBERS.
Vivian, H. Hussey, Esq., M.P., Swansea Yon, Andreas 0., Mold
Walter, James, Esq., West, W. Comwallis, Esq., Williaras, B. Francis, Esq., Williams, B. T., Esq., Q,C., Williams, Edward, Esq., Williams, Gwilym, Esq., Williams, Howel Waltei*, Esq., Williams, Dr. John, WiUiams, J. Ignatias, Esq., AYilliams, Peter M., Esq., Williams, Piichard, Esq., Williams, Richard, Esq., Williams, Richard, Esq., WilUamSjThe Ptev. R. (Hwfa Jlon),
WiHiams, T. M., Esq., B.A., Wynn, Charles W. W., Esq., M.P.,
Wynn, Sir Watkin W., Bart., M P., Watkins, Jonah, Esq.,
47,Eaton Pl.,Belgrave Sq.,S.W.
Temple, E.C.
4, Harcourt Buildings, Temple,
Wrexham [E.C.
Miskin Manor, Llantrissant
Swansea
28, Harley Street, W.
Goldsmith Buildings, Temple,
Carnarvon
Denbigh
St. Andrew's Hill, E.C.
Newtown, Montgomeryshire
10, Claylands Road, Soiith Lam-
beth, S.W. Downs Park Road, Hackney, E. 2, Lower Berkeley Street, Port-
man Square, W. 18, St. James's Square, S.W. Llandovery
213
THE HONOURABLE SOCIETY OF CYMMRODORION.
Statcmcnt of Rcceipts and Erpeiiditnre, From 9th Xovember, 1877, to 9th Novembkr, 1878.
Dr. £ s. d.
To Balauce from last
year ,, Subscriptions
16 4 2 190 !i 6
£20(3 13 8
Cr. £ s. .].
By Y Cifmmrndor ... 112 G 6 ,, PrintÌDg & Station-
cry ... ... 11) 10 0
,, Eire of Rooms and
other Expenses of
Lectures 16 líS "
,, Secretary's Salary
and E.xpenses, in-
cluding Arrears for
1877 :ì.T 0 0
,, Rostages and Petty
Expenses ... 1.5 19 4
197 0 4 ,, Ealauce in hand ... 9 1."! 4
£206 m 8
Examiued and fouud correct. Noc. 2o?/í, 1878. HowEL Thomas.
VOL. II.
R
4
THE WORES
lOLO GOCH,
SEETCH OF HIS LIFE.
EDITED BY THE
REV. ROBERT J 0 N E S, B.A.,
TICAB OF AIL SAIÎíTS', EOTHEEnlIHE.
PRINTED FOR
THE HONOURABLE SOCIETY OF CYMMRODORION,
BT
T. RICHARDS, 37, GREAT QUEEN STREET, LONDON.
1877.
THE WORKS OF lOLO GOCH.
EELIGIOUS POEMS.
I.
AWDL CYFFES Y BAEDD.
1. CiiAiR^ cred, ced cynnydd, Creawdr llii bedydd,- Crist, Fab Duw Ddofydd;^ Cynnydd dybedd ;*
Gan na wn pa bryd, Pa awr, pa ennyd, Y'm dyccych o'r byd — Ddiwyd^ ddiwedd ;
Argiwydd Dad mad, mawr, Eurgledd^ nef a llawr, 11. Ergiyw fi bob awr,
Gwawr'' gwirionedd.
1 Crair cred, ' the ornameut of ^ Ddiwyd. If this word be taken our faith'. Crair also means, as as a compound of gu-ŷd, ' vice', Dr. Davies tells us, the thing taken ' passion', it "will imply that sin up by the hand to swear by. termiuates with dcath.
2 Lhi hedìjdd, ' the host of bap- « Eurghdd. Eurglo.— MS. The tised ones'; the whole body of former term is signiíicant of God as Christians. holding the golden sword of justice.
' Ddofydd. Dofydd — MS. ' Gicaicr, ' the dawn', whence
* Cyn dydd dy hedd. — MS. light springs. It regards God as Cyn dydd dialedd. — MS. the source of all righteousness.
a
lOLO GOCH.
I Ti cyffesaf, Ac yr acldefaf, Canys wyd benaf,^ Naf tangnefedd.
*t5*
A bechais i 'n llwyr^ 0 bob gwall synwyr,! Ehwng llawT ag awyr, Llwyr argy wedd f
21. Saith briod bechawd/ Glythni, a meddwdaw^d/ Chwant cnawd, cas ceudawd,^ Cadarn chwerw^edd ;
Moethiant,'' giythineb, Gwneuthnr godineb, Casineb'^ cudeb,
Cadarn salwedd f
Balchder, syberwyd,^ Torri d'iofryd,^ 31. Cym'ryd bwyd ammhryd,^ Aniryw faswedd f
s Can's wyd benaf Naf sion', according to lolo Morgan-
Nawdd tangnefedd. — MS. wg.
^ Am a bechais i 'n Uwyr. — MS. ' Methineb, ciideb.— MS.
> O bob rhyw synwyr.— MS. ' Gadw fy salwedd.— MS.
- Ärgyiccdíl, ' detriment', ' mis- ^ Balcbder, seguryd. — MS.
chief '. ' Torri yr ympryd.— MS.
3 Saith brif-ffordd pechod.— jMS. ^ Bwyd amryd.— MS. Ammhryd,
Saitli brif wỳd pechod.— MS. ' at unlawf ul seasons', such as days
" Rhythui a meddwdawd. — MS. of fasting.
5 Ceudawd. Geudawd.— INIS. ^ Fasicedd is here ' poUution',
• Methiant, glothineb.— MS. though it is often used to signify
The former term signiíies ' omis- ' pleasure', ' enjoyment'.
liELIGIOUö rOEMS. 3
Gogaiiu, tybiaw, Llesgu/ dymunaw, Llidiaw, a digiaw,^
Dygn greulonedd ;
Colli pregetliau Ac ofierenau,*'
Maddau y Suliau,''' •
Meddwi â salwedd ;
41. Gair meddwl anghred, Cilwg, camgerdded,^ Gweithred dynwared,^ Gwaith anwiredd ;
Cyhuddaw gwirion, A cham ddych 'mygion, Cadarn draws holion,^ Hylith daeredd ;
Gochel maddeuaint, Digio mewn hir haint,- 51. Sathru maddau 'r saint, Braint brenhinedd f
* Llesged. — MS. ' Brenhinedd, ' royalty'; the ab- ' Anllaclrwydd, llidiaw, stract, perhaps, for the concrete — to
Llid greulonedd. — MS. euhance the strength of the term. Dygn wythlonedd. — MS. Braint brenhiuoedd. — MS.
^ Offerennau, ' masses'. The expressions here used prove
' MadJau y Suìiau. The par- the devotedness of the bard to the
dons or absolutions pronounced on Roraan Catholic religion. The for-
the Sundays. giveness of even the saints he
^ Golwg am gerdded. — MS. deems a privilege worthy of
^ Di/nwared, iiere ' moclíery'. kings.
> Drau-s holiou^ ' cross question- ■• Creiriau, see page 1, line 1.
iug', or ' examinatious'. Some MSS. have Ijj'rau iustead of
* Digio rhag hir haint. — MS. crcirian.
4 lOLO GOCII.
Tyiigu aiuidonau Ar werthfawr greiriau,'*^ Camgredu ac ammau Geiriau gwiredd ;
Trais, twyll, brad, cynnen, Murn,^ lledrad, absen, Llid, a chynfigen,
Ehan pob rhiuwedd.*^
61. Gwag gynuwys,''' glwys Glyw, Gwawr mawr meirw a byw,* Gwirion Dad, rhad rhyw,^ Llyw Uaweredd ;
Dy rad a geisiaf, Dy nerth a archaf, Dy nawdd a alwaf, Naf nefol-wledd ;
Ehag cwyn gwenwynig,^ Ehag cŵn dietìigj 71. Ehag cynnen dremig,^ Ddig ddygasedd f
' ^fur/ì, ' a foul deed', 'murder'. of grace to some, but the sovereign
^ lihag pob rhiedd. — MS. of the mariy.'
■ There is considerable difficulty ^ Rhag hun gwenwyuig. — MS.
iu this passage. Gwag gynincys is ^ Bremig. Drennig. — MS.
probably an allusion to his own * Dig dygasedd. — MS.
emptiness or wants, inasmuch as * Mirg migntrern, ' the exhala-
he immediately afterwards asks for tions of a quagmire or bog'; a no
the blessing he needed. uncommon expression of the me-
* Clod mawr marw a byw. — diseyal poets.
MS. 5 Caith for caeth.
^ Rhnd rhyu\ Radryw. — MS. Gwaith gaith gethin-wern. — MS.
We conceiye the bard's mcaning to '^ Drewiant gern uffern.
be : ' The (ìod of truth is the giver Effaith ddygnedd. — MS,
IIELIGIOUS POEMS.
Eliao' drwí>' iìiwíí iniíTu-werii,*
O i^ O O '
Trwy waith caitlr'' cetliern, Drewyanf^ cyrn uffern, Affaith cldygnedd ;
Ehag trais trag 'wyddawl . Tan trwch callestrawl, Tan llwyth'^ ufíernawl Ffyrnig dachwedd f
81. Ehag tanllyd sybwUj
Tanllwyth fílani gyndwll,^
Tinllwm trwcli rliwdbwU/
Rhydar lesgedd ;-
Rhag uffern boenau, A'i phoethion beiriau, Cadwynau, rhwyniau, Dreigiau drygwedd ;
4
Ehag uffern byllfa, 91. A'i gweision^ gwaetha', Ufíern-Uid Adda,
Dryma' dromwedd ;
Ehag poen a tlnydar Poeth-ferw tân Uachar;*' Pwll byddar daear — •'' Duoer fignedd.
■> TanUwytJi, tanawl.— MS. » Drydar llesgedd.— MS.
* Tuchindd, ' endiug'. ^ ^^'i fft'ilsiou dyrau. — MS.
9 ù'i/ndwU, gymwll. — MS. ■• Taullwytli táu llachar. — MS. > lihwdhwU, drewbwU.— MS. Pell fyddar ddaear.
Taullyd trwch trydwU. — MS. Duocr ddyguedd. — MS.
6 lOLO GOCH.
Eliag llitli llwytliau bliii Llys uífem fegin,^ Llin Acldaf fyddin — Gwerin gwyredd.
101. Breuhinawl Fab Mair, Brenhin loyw-grair, Brenliin nef y'th gwnair, Gair gorfoledd.
Ti a faddeuaist, Da y meddyliaist Y dydd y'm prynaist Ar bren crogedd •"}
Dy boen a'th alaeth, A'th ferthyrolaeth, 111. Y rhai a 'i gwnaeth, Eurfaeth^ orfedd.
Wrth hynny, Arglwydd, Cadarn da dramgwydd- Cydrwydd cyfyngrwydd Coloferedd.
^ Uffern fefjin. The Cymric be seen that the poet is constantly
bards frequently iutroduce the changing the termination of words
term megin, ' bellows', in their de- to suit his rhyme and cynghanedd.
scriptions of hell. Wiliam Wyn 2 Errors have crept into these
says : — poems by transcription, and of so
"A'ianadldiadlam dwyn graye a character, as abiiost to
Yn meginaw mwg annwyn." (jefy our arriving at their true
Llafar gwlad applies the term me- meauing. It is difficult to say at
gin nffern to one who creates dis- this time what the poet means by
sension, an inciter of quarrels. Cadarn da dramgwydd. Should it
' Ar bren palmwedd. — MS. not be Cadarn dy dramgwydd ?
> Eurfuclliy for eurfaith. It will Cuhfcreddì coel oferedd.
RELIGIOUS POEMS. 7
Gwna, Ddofydd, faddau Fy holl bechodau, A'm dwyn i^th ddeau Dau yu y diwedd.
121. Fal y maddeuwyf
A wnaethpwyd trwy nwyf Ar fy nghawd o glwyf, Glew ddigllonedd.
0 drais golled,
0 gawdd,^ o godded,^
0 bob eniwed,
Cyred^ caredd.
Eich diau deugrin'' Y bwyf gynnefin, 131. Cyn rh^^ym daearin, Erwin orwedd.
Lle mae lle difrad
Ar lawr llethr gwen-wlad,"
Lle mae goleuad^
Ehad anrhydedd ;
Lle mae diddanwch, A phob rhyw degwch, Lle mae dedwyddwch Dilwch^ orsedd.
* Cawdd, ' offence'. g7-ìn is manifestly a corrupted forni.
* Codded, ' tribulation'. Hence it is scarcely possible to
* Cyred for cyrid, ' adulterous say with ■what object the bard loTe'. Gyred garedd. — MS. hopes to be accustomed before his
^ Equal difficulty attends the dcscent to the grave. deciphering of this stanza. Deu- " 'Theslopesof thebeautifulland.'
8 lOLO GOCIl.
141. Lle mae cywirdeb, Lle mae diweirdeb, Lle dibechod neb/ Lle da buchedd f
Lle mae gorphywys^ Yn ngwlad Baradwys, Lle mae mirain Iwys* Lle mae mawredd.
Lle mae nefolion, Lle mae m^ddolion,^ 151. Llnaws angylion,
Gwirion garedd.^
Lle mae eglurder," Lle rnae dwyfolder, Lle mae ynifer^ Nefol orsedd ;
^ ' Where its honours emit light Une. If mirain, however, be
or splendour.' changecl into miraint^ ' beauty', it
^ Deilwng orsedd. — MS. will in a measure vanish. Its
i To render this line intelligible, qualifying adjective in that case
it is necessary to divide dibechod would naturally be ghcys : but see
into two words, di hcchod, so that note 9. neb may apply to the latter only. ^ This term denotes that the
3 The short adjectives qualify poet believed in rank and order in
sometimes the preceding and some- the lieaveuly world. times the following noun. There is ^ This line stands in beautiful
consequently some diííìculty in opposition to the I28th, where we
giving the exact rendering. If da have [/yrid garedd. cjualifies the preceding word ZZe, the ' He here describes the abode
renderingof thebardwiUthen be,'A of the blessed, with its brightness
good place f or life', or 'to enjoy lif e'. and glory and redeemed multitude.
' Gorjjhìju-ys for gorphowys, or ^ Ynifer. In the old poets nifer
gorphwys, ' to rest'. is sometimes ynifer, anifer, and
^ There is great difficulty in this enifer.
EELIGIOUS POEMS. ft.
Ehif cred, ced cadair Arglwydd pob cyngrair, Erglyw fì, j\Iab Mair,
Berthair,9 borthedd ;^"
IGl. Cyd bwyf bechadur, Corphorawl natiir/ IHiag tostur, dolur, Mawr ddialedd.
Canys wyd Frenhin Ar ddeau ddewin^ Hyd y gorllewin — ^
Llywiawdr mawredd.
Canys wyf gyffesol* Ac edifeiriol, 171. A Mair i'm eiriol Am oferedd.
Wyd frenhinocaf.^ A dyledocaf, Can's wyd oruchaf ;
Naf, na 'm gomedd.
^ Berthair, the name of Gocl give tlie essential doctriues of
spoken to Moses from the bush was, Koman Catholics as compared with
' I am'. Protestauts : ' Couf ession, penauce,
>» Borthedd, the portal of peace. ^ud the intercessiou of the Yirgiu.'
, Tr- ± XI, i í J.1 ® The poet rises with his sub-
> His uature was that of the ^
, , xi xr. £ J.-1. • -j. iect, aud his adoration becomes
body rather than oi the spirit. ■' ' „
lofty :— " Ihou art most royal ; to
-^ On the right hand of Divinity. ^,^^^ ^jj f^^^^y j^ ^^^ . ^^^^^^ -j^j^^^.
^ '-To the going down of the Highest, refuse me uot." And uob
sun." a wliit less gi'and is tlie yerse that
* This and the lines that follow follows.
b
10 lOLO GOCH.
Er dy ddiwedd-loes, Er dy greuloii-gToes, Er poenau 'r pumoes — ^ BumustF cliwerwedd ;
181. Er y gwayw efydd^ A 'th frathodd elfydd Dan dy fron, Ddofydd, — Ddwyfawl agwedd ;
Er dy weliau, Clyw fy ngweddiau, Er dy grau angau Yn y diwedd ;
Er dy farw loesion Gan ddurawl hoelion, 191. Er y drain-goron,^
Dod druoaredd.^
"O"
Er dy buni weli,-
Er dy gyfodi,
Crist Celi, â 'th piTsi^
Ehwym fi i'th orsedd.
Er dy ddigoniad'' Ar ddeau dy Dad, Dod im' gyfraniad
0' th wlad a 'th wledd.
" Pumocí^. ' Five periods.' A quisitely •wrought by means of the
term used in theology to denote conipound terms he uses — terms,
the ages previous to our Lord's each containing withiu itself a
Adveut. These were divided into poem.
five. » Dy drugaredd. — MS.
^ Biimustl, ' hemlock', ' oxbane'. « lu His hands and feet and side.
^ Gwayw e/i/ild. ' brazen spear'. ^ Feìsì, ' mercy'.
ä This litany of the bard is ex- * See Isaiah liii, 11.
liELIGIOUS POEMS.
11
II.
CYWYDD I DDEWI SAXT.
Dymunaw da i'm enaid — Heueiddio ^r wyf,^ hyn oedd raid — Myned i'r lle croged Crist Cyu boed" y ddeu-droed ddidrist f Me^'u tryg}'ff y mae 'n trigaw'*' Ni myu y traed myned draw ; Cystal am ordal' yni' yw Fyned deirgwaith i Fynyw"^ A myued, cynnired'' cain, Ar hafoedd hyd yn Rhufain. 11. Gwyddwn lle mynnwn fy mod, Ys deddfawl yw 'r eisteddfod,
' This poem — its coutest iu- forius us — was written in advauced life. It is necessary to bear this iu miud for its right understaudiug.
' Boed for bod. When Gram- mar aud Cynghanedd compete, the old bards kcep true to the jírinciples of tbeir distiuctiye art. Too ofteu is the sense aláo sacrifìced to the same end. Oue MS. has ' Cyd boed'.
ä Ddidrist. There is some diffi- culty as to the meaniug of this term. If it alludes to 'a pilgrimage on feet weary with age', ddidrist wiU apply to the life beyond the grave ; but if , on the coutrary, his ulluöioü be to a pilgrimage to be made ere old age iucapacitates him
for it, we must — unwilHugly — amend the text aud use ddydriat.
* He was, he tells us, hale in body ; but his limbs refused to perform their office.
^ Ordal, ' satisfaction', ' atone- meut'. leuau ab Rliydderch ab leuau Llwyd, a contemporary bard, has : —
" Cystal am ordal i mi Dwywaith fyued at Dewi, A phe deuwu i Rufaiu."
One jNIS. has : —
" Cystal am ofal ym 'yw."
6 IFijHijic, ' ]Meuevia', St. David's, the seat of the holy Archbishop. "^ Cjiiiiind, ' visit'.
12 lOLO GOCII.
Ym maenoF Dclewi 'm Mynyw — Mangre gain, myn y grog, yw — Yn Nglyn Ehosyn^ mae 'r iessin/ Ac oliwydd a gwŷdd gwin : Ademmig^ musig a moes, A gwrlef gwŷr â gorloes,^ A cliytgerdd hoyw, loyw lewych,'* Ehwng organ achlân a chlych ; 21. A thuriblwm^ trwm, tramawr, Yn bwrw scns^ i beri sawr ; Nef nefoedd yn gyhoedd gain, Ys da dref, ysdâd Eufain ;7 Paradwys Gymru Iwys, lefn, Por dewis-drefn, pur dwys-drefn.^ Petrus fu gan Sant Patrig^ Am sorri Duw — amser dig ; Am erchi hyn, ammharch oedd, Iddo o'r lle a wnaddoedd •}
8 Macnol, ' a hamlet', ' a farm'; David's was in the same condition
here it refers to the Archbishop's as, or equal to, Rome.
church and home, with perhaps the » This reading is mauifestly cor-
surrouudiug religious houses. rupt ; but it is the best we can uow
" Yn Ncjììjn Rhosyn, the Yalley of offer.
llhos. " San' Patrig.— MS. St.Patrick
i lessin, probably ' jessamine'. is said to have been of W elsh origiii,
î Äclcmmicj. This word is a puzzle. and to have chosen as the field of
The dictionaries have nothing even his ministrations the district sur-
like it. rounding RoseYale — Gìyn Rhosyu,
3 Ag arloes.— MS. in Deyfed— Demetia. While there,
* Leunjch, ' brightness', ' brilli- tradition has it that au augel ap-
ancy'; a term often applied to peared to hira, telling him ' tliat
music, although in its origiual in- that place was not for him, but
tention it ref ers to light only. for a child to be boru some thirty
5 rÄîíriò/it'm, 'thurible', 'censer'. years later'. On heariug the mes-
® Scns, ' inceuse'. sage, St. Patrick becarae surprised,
' Ysihtd, ystàd, Bufciin ; the sorrowful, and angry. The child
meaning probably is that St. thus predicted was St. David.
IIELIGIOUS rOEMS. 13
31. ryiied ymaith o Fynyw
Cyii geiii Dewi, da yw ;
Sant oedd ef o nef i ni
Cynwynol cyn ei eni ;
Sant giân oedd pan ei ganed
Am lioUti 'r maen graen i gred.~
Sant ei dad^ diymwad oedd.
Pennadnr saint pan ydoedd.
Santes gyd-les lygadlon
Ei fam yn ddi nam oedd Non f 41. Ferch Ynyr,^ fawr ei chenedl,
Lleian*^ wiw, uwch ydiw 'r ch^vedl.
Un bwyd a aeth yn ei ben — '
Bara oer a beryren —
Ag aeth ym mhen Non wen wiw ;
Er pan gaed penaig ydiw^
Holl saint y byd gyd gerynt^
A ddoeth^ i'r Senedd^ goeth gynt
' Wiiadiìocdi/, for wnaeth ; tbis ^ Gynyr, tbe fatherof Non, was
form is now obsolete. auobleman of tbe clistrictof Pebid-
" iSîox, in tbe throes of birth, iog, in ■whicb tbe town of St.
pressed her hands against a stone, David's is situated.
Avhicb took the inipression as though ^ Lleiax, a daugbter of Bry-
it bad beeu wax. In some myste- chan Brycheiniog, aud au auces-
rious way it condoled with the tress of Non.
sorrowing mother; part of it, then, "• From the time of her concep-
leaped over her head and fell at ber tion, Nou Hved on bread aud water
feet as sbe was bringiug fortb. A ouly. Hence, St. David was re-
cburch was afterwards built ou the garded as abstemious from the
spot, and the stone placed in the womb. lolo Gocb, however, adds
foundations of its altar. 'a cress' to his food in the next line.
3 Eí dad ; Sandde, tbe fatber of ^ Ydiir for ydyw, to meet the
David, wasson of Ceredig, a prince exigeucies of the rhyme.
from whom Ceredigion, or Cardi- ^ Geì-ynt — ? for geraint.
ganshire, derives its name. ' Ddoeth for ddaetb in tbe dia-
* Nox, tbe mothcr of David, was lcct of Soutb Wales.
a nuu, aud held iu bigli reputc for ^ j^ synod held at Llauddewi
holy life, Breíì, wbicb St. David, aftcr
14
lOLO GOCH.
I wiandaw yn yr un-dydd Ei bregetli a plieth o'i ffydd.
51. Lle dysgodd llu dewis-goetli^ Lle bu ^n pregethu yn goeth. Chw^e-mil saith-ugein-mil saint Ag un-fil. Wi ! o^r genfaint.^ Ehoed iddo fod, glod glendyd,^ Yn ben ar holl saint y byd. Codes*" — nid ydoedd resyn — Dan draed Dewi Frefi, fryn. Ef yn deg a fendigawdd Cantref o nef oedd ei nawdd ;'''
61. A'r enaint^ twym arennig IS'i dderfydd, tragywydd trig. Duw a rithiawdd, dygn-gawdd di Ddeu-flaidd o anian ddieflig Deu-MT hen oedd o Dir Hud,^ Gwydro^ astrus a Godrud,
(T O'
repeated solicitatious, attended ; he preached there, it was said, the law and the gospel of Chiist so clearly and plainly, that it seemed as if he spake to them with a silver trumpet. He was heard by the furthermost per- sou in tliat great assembly, aud seen, too, as clearly as tlie sun is seen at mid-day.
■^ The synod was composed of saints and the most distiuguished of those who held office in the church.
* Genfaint, ' assembly' or ' con- gregation'.
* Ghd gìendijd ; Glod gleinyd. — MS. ' Tlie praise', in the sense of ' the reward uf huUness'. I)avid
was elected by the Synod to be chiof or prince of the saints of Britaiu.
fi When the multitude assem- bled would have taken him to the top of the hiU to preach, he excused himself , aud said he would have no place to staud on but the flat ground. But as he was hold- ing forth, the ground arose as a high mount under his feet in the presence of the assembly.
^ ' He blessed with blessiugs from heaven a district that was uuder his protection'; Uterally, ' that was his protection'.
^ Enuint, ' the unction' ; that is, the blessiug.
^ Dir //«(/, ' rembrokeshire'.
RELIGIOUS POEMS.
15
Am wneuthur, clrwg antur gynt,
Piyw beclìod a rybuchynt."^
A'u mam : ba ham y bai hi
Yn fleiddiast ? oerfel iddi ! 71. A Dewi goeth a^u dug hwynt
O'u hir-boen ag o'u herw-bwynt.^
Diwallodd Duw ei allawr ;
Ei fagi'* a wnaeth miragl mawr;
Yr aradr, gwyllt o redeg,
Yrrai i'r tai, fy ior teg !
A'r ceirw osgl-gyrn, chwyrn a chwai,
Gweision uthr, a'i gwas 'naethai.'
Dyw jMawrth, Calan Mawrth,^ ym medd
I farw aeth ef i orwedd. 81. Bu ar ei fedd, diwedd da,
Cain glêr yn canu gloria ;
Engylion nef yn nglan nant
Ar ol bod ei arwyliant. I bwll uffern ni fernir''
Enaid dyn, yn anad tir,
' GWYDRO anrl Odiîud. Xo authentic account has been hauded down of these persons, nor yet of the particular sin they committed. The lives of St. Dayid, in The Camhro- British Saiuts, donot mention them.
2 lìi/huchyììt, ' deyised', ' medi- tated'.
3 líerw-hwìjnt, 'prsedatory state'. Dr. Davies translates pH'ynt, ' vale- tudo', ' convalesence', a meaniug scarcely to be found in Wm. O. Pughe.
* Fagl, ' crozier'. ^ If \ve may he pardoned for a remarlí or two, we would draw at-
teution to this beautiful passago. Nowhere can truer i^oetry be found than in the account here given of St. David's miraculous life and triumphant death ; where white- robed choirs are described as sing- ing over his entombment, and heaven's angels as hovering around the spot haliowed by his relics.
^ Dyw ^lawrth, Caìan Mawrth. The saint died on Tuesday, in the calends of March. Ilence, the first day of March has been dedicated to St. David, and the festival is kept to the present day.
' The reverence in which St.
10 lOLO GOCH.
A gladcler, di-ofer yw, Ym monwent Dewi Mynyw. Ni sang cythraul brychaulyd Ar ei dir byth, er da 'r byd. 91. Hyder a wnaeth canhiadu Gras da y Garawys du ; I Frytaniaid, Frut wyneb,^ Y gwnaed rhad yn anad neb.
Pe bai mewn llyfr o'r j)abir,^ Peunydd mal ar haf-ddydd hir, Nottri Pcòlig^ un natur, A phin a du a phen dur,^ Yu ysgrifenu, bu budd,^ Ei fuchedd ef o'i achudd,* 101. Odid fyth, er daed fai Ennyd yr ysgrifenai Dridiau a blwyddyn drwydolP A wnaeth ef o wyniaeth olL
David was held may be gleaned lic', ' a ready writer'. Nottri
from what the bard here says— and Pheblig. — MS.
he was doubtless but echoing the ^ ^ pJien dur ; au enthusiast
sentiments of the country — of the would regard this as a prophecy of
sacredness of the ground where the the steel pen.
good man was buried — no evil ^ Bu hudd^ 'a being of good or
spirit ever daring to visit or ap- advantage'; or itmaybetheverb Jîí.
proach the place. ■• Acîiudd, 'cloister'; thatis, from
^ Frut icìjneb, ' having the fea- the time that St. ravid appeared
tures of Brutus'. in public to take command in the
^ Pabir, 'papyrus'. Church.
I Nottri Peblig, ' A notary pub- ^ ggg g^_ John xxi, 25,
HELIGIOUS POEMS.
17
III.
CYWYDD I'R DIÎINDOD.i
Duw, lor^ y duwiau eraill, Dofydd a Lly wydd y llaill ; Dawn^ llawn — Duw yw ^n Uawenydd — Duw a weddîwn bob dydd. Dawn^ yw gweddio Duw Xaf, Duw byth, nis diobeithiaf ! Heb Dduw ym' dysg, heb ddim dawn ; A Duw agwrdd,* a digawn . ^ Mwyaf yw pwys fy mywyd,*^ Ar Dduw byth, nag ar dda 'r byd.
' This poem is given as tran- scribed by Rhys Jones, of Tyddyn Älawr, Meirion, in his celebrated •work, Gorchestion Beîrdd Cyìnru. "We have taken the liberty, how- ever, of amending the text, where we found it mauifestly incorrect. Rhys Jones was a poet and a no mean scholar ; we consequently defer to his judgment on many points ; but his book was printed in London, and bears evident marks of having passed through an Eng- lish compositor's hands.
2 lor, ' Lord', ' Prince'.
* Daicn. In the third line this term is used in its first intentiou, signifying, ' a gift', ' a present' ; but in the fifth, it means ' a gift by way of abiHty to accomplish any mental function with effect';
as Dcarn llefaru., ' the gift of elo- quence'; dawn gweddio^ 'the gift of praying'.
* Agwrdd, 'potent', 'powerful'.
' These two lines, it will be seen, are the Bard's poetical version of the well-kuown old proverb : —
" Heb Dduw, heb ddim ; Duw a digon."
« ' The weight of my life', that is, my dependence, ' is ever upon God, not on the good things of the world'. There is a rough kind of devotion to be f ound throughout the whole of the Bard's composi- tions. According to the light of his day and the peciüiar tenets of his Church, he is by uo means deficient iu religious knowledge. A glance at his Cijffes lolo will prove this.
18
lOLO GOCH.
Eliodd yw, rliai addewynt, Rhaid yw yni' wybod ar hynt, Pwy ddeil gof ? pa ddelw y gwn ? Pa Dduw ? pwy a weddiwn ? Pybyr Greawdr'' pob hoywbeth, Pob rhai l)yw, pob rhyw o beth. Pwy a wnaeth y nef hefyd ? Pob rhyw, feirw a byw, a byd ? Pwy sy 'n cynnal, grwndwaP grym, Llawr yr adail Ue 'r ydym ? Pwy a oedd Ddiiw ? pwy a ddaw ? Pwy sydd piau sy eiddaw ? Tri 'n y nef a gartrefan' — ^ Tadwys,^ Mab, Yspryd glwys Glân. Tri Pherson, undôn^ Unduw, Ag nid un, onid un Duw. Nid oes fry, yn eu dwys frawd, Ond yr ünduw a'r Drindawd.
' Greaicdr. The orthograpliy of this term, whether it be that of the Bard or of his Editor, is much to be preferred to that of Greawdwr — the a&xf/ẃr not being applicable to the Godhead.
* Gricììdwal, ' ground - wall ', ' foundation'. lolo Goch is uot solitary iu the use of the word. Lewis Glyn Cothi writes : —
"Daw o rwndwal lorwerth Drwyudwn ;"
and Dr. John Davies also has, " Grwudwal pob iaith", ' the basis of every language'. The bards, both of this and the two suc- ceeding centuries, ofteu introduce Cymricised forms of English words. This has been avoided
in the last and present cen- turies.
^ Whatever were the errors into which the Roman Catholic Church had fallen, it ever held fast the doctrine of the Trinity. Tiie ex- phcit declarations the poet here makes are second only to those of the Athanasian Creed. So in- volved is this doctrine with that of the atonement, that we hail its presence with satisfaction in any Church, however erroneous in other matters.
' Tadwys, — from tad aud gi'cl/s. The abstract is here used for the concrete — 'fatherhood' for 'father' — a not unusual mode of diction among the poets.
* Undôn, ' one in utterance'.
6
RELIGIOÜS POEMS. 19
Triudawd yr Undiiw ydynt ;
Ag un Duw — gogoned ynt.
Un feddiant yu eu glândy,
Un gadernyd, un fryd fry ;
Un fraint, un feddiaut, uu frys,^
Un allu, uu ewyUy.s ;
Un dôu, uu wath,* da 'u un wedd,
Un Duw ynn' yu y diwedd.
Gair^ oedd yn y Goreu-dduw,
A'r Gair a ddaeth o'r gwir Dduw.
Gwnaethpwyd o'r Gair gwenith-bwys'
Gnawd glân, Mab gogoned glwys ;
Ag o ryw y Goreuair
Y ganed Mab o guawd ]\Iair ; Ym Metlüem o'i fam wythlwys''
Y gaued ef, Fab gwyn dwj^s : A'i eui 'u Fab, anian fwyn, O'r wyryf Fair, wir forwyu.
•^ Frijs, ' readiness', ' quickness', ^ Gwenith-hwys. We can but con-
' promptitude in performance'; as jecture the poet's meaning. 'Aa
exemplifìed iu tliat particular act Mheat-corn is pre-eminent amongst
of creation in which " God said, all other grain, so is our Lord
' Let there be light' ; and tliere among all other beiugs.' This use
was light". of the term gwenith ■will be found in
* Gwath, ' intent', ' design'— a ^^^ ^^'orks of other poets. We
term not to be found iu Dr. Oweu liave it in the old penuiU :—
Pughe"s Lexicon. " Blodau "r flwyddyn yw f'
5 Gair. The poet uses this term anwylyd—
as a narne of our Lord. He does -EbnU, Mai, Mehefiu hefyd ;
not say Y Gair. This accords with Llewyrch haul yn t'wynu ar
the similar use of Crist when used Sjsgod,
wiihout the definitive article. The ^ gwenitheu y genethod."
article, however, is used in the fol- ' Wythlwys, the ouly meauing
lowing line in accordance with we can attach to this term is, ' Eight
Scripture. times beautiful'.
20 lOLO GOCH.
Nid 0 natui' dyn yttoedd,
Eitlir 0 Ddiiw medd Athrodd oedd ;
Ag o radd y Goreudduw
A'r Ysbryd Glân buan, byw.
Graddau y Mab goreuddoeth
0 allu Duw oll y doeth f
Dau a gyssylltwyd mewn dawn,
Duw a dyn, diwyd uniawn.
Duw yn ein mysg,^ dawn a'n medd
A dry gair, o'i drugaredd,
I'n dwyn i nef dau ei nawdd —
Ddofydd a ddioddefawdd.^
s Docih for claetTi. to its former Editor. Rhys Jones
^ Yn ein mysg^ ' Imraanuel, God was a careful transcriber, as is
■with us'. manifest from the text he has here
• This poem has, comparatively, giveu of this poem of lolo Goch.
few difficulties. We are iuclined We sliall see more of this care iu
to ascribe this in a great measure tlie poem that follows.
liELIGIOüS POEMS.
21
IV. CYWYDD I'E BYB.
Yr un bai ar ein bywyd Ar bawb, a hudol yw ^r byd ; Hud ar ddyn, hyder ar dda, Hudol anneddfoP noddfa. Malu^ y Sul, melus son, Marwol bechodau niawriou ! Balchder yw ein arfer ni, Digio, cybydd-dra, diogi^ Cynfigen, bresen^ heb rodd,'* 10 Godineb — gwae adwaenodd ! Glothineb y glwth enau, Nid mwyn, mi a wn nad mau ; Md trem fawr,^ nid trwm ei fod,*' Nid baich, onid o bechod.
' Annedd/ol, 'lawless', unlawful', ' immorar.
2 Malu, literally ' to grind'. Its secondary signification here is ' to work out laboriously'.
3 Bresen, a Cymricised form of tlie Englisli word ' present'. The term seems to have been introduced into our language at an early date. Taliesin has : — " Nid aeth neb i nef er benthyg y bresen:" 'No one has gone to heaveu for the lend- ing of his present'. Presen, the root of presennoldeb, is the same word ; but in the former meauing of ' a present', it has come to us through the English.
* Heh rodd, ' a bootless or un- availing gift'.
* Trem faicr, ' lofty look', ' the look of pride'.
^ Trwm ei fod, ' burdensome his existence'.
Älany of the poet's lines are "dark sayings"; and we must attribute to the exigencies of cyn- (jTianedd much of the difficulty that attends their wordiug. lolo Goch, however, is uot so wedded to the former as ou all occasious to sacri- fice sense to it. In the poem be- fore us he violates the bardic rules by twyll odl.
' Naw pwys ryfcl, In the spiritual
22 lOLO GOCH.
Naw pwys ryfeF ein gelyn
Yw 'r naw pwys, a ŵyr neb hyn ?
Dêl i'w cof adail a'u cudd,
Dioddefaint Duw Ddofydd.
Duw i'r liawl, a da yw rlio'm
A drwsiodd Mab Mair drosom ;
Mawr gur a gafas, mawr gŵ}Ti,
Mawr farw un Mab Mair forwyn !
A'i boen — ar Wener y bu —
Ar un pren er ein prynu.
I nef yr aeth yn ufydd
At y Tad deugeinfed dydd ;
Yn Dad, yn Fab, Bab y^ byd,
Yn oesbrafí7 glân yn Ysbryd -^
Yn un nifer hynafiaeth,
Ag yn un gnawd, gwn i'n gwnaeth.-
Duw 'n cyfoeth,^ dawn a'n cyfyd
Y dydd y bo diwedd byd.
Dydd a bair ofn fydd dydd brawd,
Dydd tri-llu,^ diwedd trallawd.
■\varfare the soldier is weighed down of the Godhead. He is Father,
by the uine besetting sins the poet Son, and Holy Spirit.
has just enumerated, — worldliuess, 2 There is much difficulty in
Sabbath-breakiug, pride, hatred, these Hnes. The solution proba-
covetousness, idleness, envy, adul- bly is : ' He made us partakers of
tery, aud gluttony. his eternity and of his mauhood.'
8 Bah y hjd. The poet's loyalty ^'" gu-naeth. ' Ein gwnaeth.'
to his spiritual Head is shown by * ^* must be remembered that
his applying the name 'Pope' to the poet is speaking altogether of
the Saviour. Christ. As the Sox of Max he is
^ Oeshraff., ' of prolonged or our wealth, and the one who will
ample life'. raise us up at the last day.
^ This and the previous line con- ^ Trillu. Gorouwy Owen's lines
firm the orthodoxy of the poefs ^^ Cyicydd y Farn will explain the
Yiews regarding the Trinity. Our "se of this term.
Lord ascends into heaven, aud ap- " Try allan ddynion tri-llu,
pears there the only representatire Y sydd, y fydd, ac a f u."
RELIGIOUS POEMS.
23
Diau fydd, drwg a da fo,
Ufudd iawn a fydd yno ;
A'r dyfyn^ a'r wŷr Dofydd,
A fu, ac etto a fydd :
Yn rhawor i'n rhvwoí;aeth
Y nef a'r bresen a w^naeth.
Pum archoll'^ i'u arfoU ni,
Pum aelod y pum weli ;
A'n rhoi yn iach, ein rhan oedd,
Wnai Siesws'' yn oes oesoedd.
Bid yn wtos,^ bod yn rasol,
Bid yn nef, bod yn ei ol.
Er ei gof hir a gyfyd
Er ei loes dros bumoes^ 1iyd ;
Er ei lun a'r oleuni^
Er a wnaeth a'i roi i ni,
Er ei wyneb ar Wener,^
Er ei boen fawr ar y ber,^
® Dìjfyn, ' summons'.
* Piiìíi archoll. In the Saviour's hands, feet, and side. Roman CathoHcs are careful iii the enu- meration cf the acts and incidents of our Lord's life, and especially of those of the Crucifixion.
^' Siesics, 'Jesus'.
* Bld yn icres. The meaning of the poet probably is : ' Be it our warm object to obtain his grace ; be it our heaven to follow him.'
^ Bttmoes. See page 10, note 6. Dafydd Benfras also uses the term in the same meauing : —
" Achaws pumoes byd y bu iddaw, Uchelwr mirain, bêr draiu drwyddaw."
' For the sake of the five ages of the world, glorious lofty Oue, spikes of thorn pierced him.'
1 A^r oleuni. It is impossible to extract sense out of this expres- sion. Were the text amended with some such word as aiu\ making aur oleuni, it would be intelli- gible.
* Er ei tcyneb ar Wener, The agony, doubtless, imprinted on his face on the day of his crucifixiou.
' Bêr, literally ' spit' ; here used for the cross.
* Gìcedd. So various are the meanings of this word, that it is scarcely possible to make sure of the poet's drift. Sometimes ' couu- tenance', sometiraes ' connexion', aud ofteutimes ' team' or ' yoke';
2^ lOLO GOCH.
I'r un gwedd,^ er eiu gweddi,
Y nef a brynodd i ni.
Y marw ni ŵyr ymorol
Am y wnaetli ; y mae yn ol ; Nid edwyn, yn nodedig, Na 'i phlaid trwm^ na ph'le y trig. M ch}Traedd yn iach arian, Nid oes ond a roes o ran,'' Llaswyr'^ Fair yn llaw lesu, Lle fydd erbyn y dydd du ; Unpryd Wener offeren^ O'n dig byth a'n dwg i ben ; A'm gwlad fyth a'm golud fo I'w 'mgeledd, Duw a'm galwo ! Doed y Gair, deued i gof, Trwsiad o law Dduw trosof ; Er ei fedd, a'i chwerwedd chwŷs, A'r anfad farn,^ a'r enfys,^ Un doeth rwysg,^ Un Duw a Thri, Un Duw dêl i'n didoli.
vfe shali in this instauce leave our ' Psalter', although he makes uo
readers to choose their own mean- mention of this signifìcation. The
ing. poet may have been (]riven by the
^ Na 'i phlaid trwm. The poet's exigencies of the cymjhauedd to use
meaning is again a matter of cou- the peculiar form here given.
siderable doubt. It is probable « tt- ^ rr.i t-. • i .
.,;, ^ ^ ^ Tlewer offeren. The Friday s
that Khys Jonesgave the best text n, ,1. t i- , t •■
, . •' f , . JMass — the day on which our Lord
m his power, thoua-h sometimes .^, -,
, . ,,..,, ,. ,^ was crucmed. scarcely intelngible to himself.
« The same remarfcs apply to ' -'^''' ""^^«'^ ■^«'■"' ' *^« ^°-
this and the previous line also. "gliteous judgment of Pontius
- Lhmrur Fair. Owen Puglie ^ ^'^^^-
trauslates the former word, ' an ' -'^'^ enfys, 'the halo' around
aërial f reshness' ; iu that case, it t^ie Saviour's countenance.
wculdapply toMary"scouutenance. ^ TJn doeih rwysg, ' one whose
But we apprehend that the term is uniform career was wise': literally,
a corrupted form of Sallwyr, ' oue of wise career'.
EELIGIOUS P0EM3. 25
CYWYDD I DDUW.
Myeye wyf yn ymofyn, 0 Dduw, betli orau i ddyn : Ei eni er Uenwi llid, Naws gwywnoeth,^ ai nis genid, Wrth ddeallt araitli ddiwyd 0 bregeth ? neu beth y w 'r byd ? Pur olaf, pa ryw eilyn ? Diana 'r^ ddaear yw dyn. I^r farn, pan fo gadarnaf, O'i lys rhydd^ a^i les yr â. Angau a ddaw, distaw don,* IV ddwyn o fysg ei ddynion. Gado 'r wlad i gyd a'r wledcl, A'i farw, er niaint ei fawredd ; Ehyw gyfle, rhew gafaeloer,^ Ehaw a chaib a wuai rych oer f Ac yno, yn ol dolef, "Ber yw 'r oes", y bwrir ef;
' Girywnoeth. Gwyw, gwyico, ' to ^ Gafaelocr ; an allusion to ' tlie
wither'. cold grasp of death'.
2 Diana. The text of this poem ^ The term rhjch is a favourite
is very inaccurate. What the poet expression with the Welsh when
means we cau but conjecture. spcating of the grave. It poiuts
2 BJiydd, in opposition to the to the resurrection. As the seed-
grave, where man may be said to corn is tlirown into the fur-
be bound and f ettered. row in anticipation of a future
* Distaw don. A highly poetical harvest ; so our bodies are, as it
espression, whence many a simile were, planted in the furrow of the
may be extracted. grave to await the resurrection.
d
26 lOLO GOCH.
A'i gladdu dan graian gro, Ner addwyn ! a wnair iddo ;• A'i genedl, a'i ddigoniant, A'i arfau, oedd gynnau gant. Os gwirion sy o gariad^ Oes dira ond lesu a'i Dad. Gwae neb o'r cwbl a fegyd Byth ymddirietto i'r "byd ! Gwae a goUo naw-bro^ Ner, Duw nef, er doniau^ ofer ! Gwae ^n enw Uid, a wnel llys Fry 'n ol i'r fro annilys !^ Gwae a gred^
Ddim mwy ond i Dduw mawr ! Y gŵr a ddichon i gyd,
0 Fair wyryf, fawr wryd.^ Gostwng y gwynt, hynt hynod, A phaidio, pan fynno fod.
Nid credu, haenu^ henaint,
1 goelau, swynoglau''"' saint ;
1 These two lines are manifestly Museum does not even give the
corrupt. eudiug of this liue.
„ ,T 7 rrii j-i „ „„ ^ Wriid, ' mauhood'. As we
8 Naic-hro. These are the man- -' '
sionsof theA^mr-mẃ/,ortheuine ^^^^ elsewhere stated, however
grades or rauks of the heavenly erroneous the creed of the bard
, . , may have beeu respecting other
hierarchy. ■' »,.»., , ,.
tenets of his faith, the doctriue of
9 Donìau literally 'gifts'; here ,, „, • ., , • • ,.
•' * the Iriuity, and, m conjunction
probably ' pleasures are meant. ^^.^^^ .^^ ^^^^ ^^ ^j^^ manhood of the
■ Ännilys, ' uucertaiu'. Can the j^^^^ j^.gyg^ stands out in bold re-
bard, in the use of this term, refer jjgf throughout his works. The
to Purgatory ? That such an in- .^^^.^ ^^^ ^f ^g^y God' is also very
terraediate state lay within the ni^n of verv man.
scope of his creed we caunot , ^/„^.„„ henaint, ' To the be-
^"^'^*- smearing of old age'.
The MS. copy in the British s ,S'«'^?iO(/Za?í, 'amulets', 'charms'.
2
EELIGIOUS POEMS. • 27
Neu gredau i'r niyrriau, maeth I freucldwyd gwracli afrwyddiaeth ; Neu gredu ymhi amlwg*^ I lais y dry w annlles drwg ; Neu lais y frân yn canu, Llef ormes luddewes ddu ! Na chedwn gred^ ddiognef I neb ond i Dduw o'r nef ; Duw orau, uwch daearydd,^ Duw lesu fu ag a fydd : Duw fydd o herwydd hir-oed,^ Difai ras, Duw fu erioed. Dydd brawd i geudawd^ gadarn Diau fydd Duw a farn. Duw a'n dycco, o'r diwedd, I'r wlad dragwyddol a'r wledd ! Duw draw a'n gwnel yn llawen Gyda Mair- i gyd ! Amen.
• Ymlu amlwg. We confess our tiou'. Tliis term is an ancient one. inability to cope with tlie difficulties We read in the Mahinogion,
of this phrase, and we fall back on " Naw ciwdawd a wledycha
a corrupt text as our apology. Rhufain." ' There are niue uations
' Ddwcjìujred^ 'ddwngred'.— MS. that inhabit E,ome.'
^ Uwch daearydd, ' above the * Gyda Mair ; f aithful to Mary,
earth's iuhabitant': that is, 'the in- the bard seems toregard the blessed-
habitaut of a higher world'. ness of heaveu to consist in a mea-
^ Hir-oed, ' the Ancieut of Days'. sure in the presence of its queen
* Giwdawd, '■ tribe', ' clan', ' na- there.
28 lOLO GOCH.
VI.
CYWYDD I SANT ANNA, A'I MAB, CEIST, A'ü
P0BL.1
Saint y Cait a Saint Cytus, Siosim lieudad Siesus ; Pendefig, bonheddig liael,
0 Nas'retli ag yn Israel,
Y^n dair rhan — ef ag Anna — Ehinwedd ddoeth^ a rannai 'dda : Ehoi yn hyf rhan o'i gyfoeth
1 dŷ Dduw — pand ydoedd ddoeth ? — A'r ail ran, ar ol ei raid,
Ar unwaith roe i weiniaid.
Efallai yn hawdd felly
0 drain y da drin ei dŷ.^
ISÍid oedd etifedd neddyn
O'i gorph yn aberth Duw gwyn.^
Y gŵr oedd gorau o'r iaith,*
O'r deml a yrrwyd ymaith,
> It is very diíBcult to resolve Aaron, iu which the priesthood these uames iuto their origiual was vested.
'o^
■« laith is here probably used for ' natiou', or ' people'. Nations and hiììguages are ofteu coupled iu the same sense.
forms. Cait or ' Kate', St. Catha- rine ; and Cytus^ ' Kit' or Christo- pher, are probably the persons iu- tended. Siosim, ' Joachim', Siesiis,
2 0 drain y da. O draen y da. ' ^^^ ^^^''''^ ^^^^ g^^^^ ^^ P™"
-MS. Da ar draen, 'goods or bably of moukish inveution.
wealth in circulatiou'. So aiir ar ® This line also bears evident
draen meaus ' gold spread abroad', marks of a corrupted text.
or ' circulated'. ' Porth euraid, ' the golden gate';
2 Thefailureof issue was deemed probably oue of the gates of the
a uo slight misfortuue by the tribes temple, which were ornamented
of Israel, and especially by that of with gold and silver.
RELIGIOUS POEMS. 29
A ddug ei ddynion a'i dda
Wrtli hyn oddiwrtli Anna :
Cyrcliawdd, ni ffaelawdd ei ffydd,
I'r man uchaf o^r mynydd ;'
Crio a wnaeth, carai nawdd,
Ar y Creawdr y criawdd ;
Gweddiodd am rodd o ras f
Yn y gof hynny a gafas ;
Duw a ddanfones i'w dad
Deg iawn hyd atto gennad :
" Dos di, Dywysog dy iaith,
At Anna etto unwaith ;
Hi a fydd blaenwydd dy blaid
I'th aros yn y porth euraid."'^
Adref daeth i dref ei dad —
Drych ef — m.v,'j fu 'r drychafiad,^
Bu ddawnus^ bywyd Anna,
Beichioges y dduwies^ dda ;
I Anna^ merch a aned
A honno yw Mair, crair cred.^
Bu' Mair o'r Gair yn ddi gel
Yn feichiog o nef uchel ;
Mal yr haul y mclir hon
. . . drwy wydr i'r ffynnon.**
Yn 'r un modd, iawn-rodd anrheg,
Y daeth Duw at fammaeth deg f
^ This line is diíficult in the ex- ^ Crair cred. For an elucidation
treme. It would scarcely be im- of this term, see page 1, note 1.
proved were we to substitute, There it is applied to our Lord,
" Drych ef mwy i'r drychafiad." here to His mother.
ä JJdaicnus, ' gifted', * The exact transcriijt of the line
* Dduiüies. The application of is given. We will not, however, the term ' goddess' to the Virgin pretend to decipher it.
Mary proves our poet to have been ^ Famaeth deg. The poet regards
a devoted Romau Catholic. the Yirgin as chosen for the lofty
* Anna is regarded throughout honour conferred on her on accouut the poem as the mother of Mary. of her beauty.
30 lOLO GOCH,
Gorau mam, gorau mammaeth, Gorau i nef y Gŵr wnaeth. Cyflawn oedd, cyflawn addwyn, TreF i Dduw, tra fu i'w ddwyn. Angylion gwynion yw 'r gwŷr, Oedd i Wen'' ymddiddanwyr.*^ Wrth raid mawr, er athrodion, Y ganed Duw o gnawd hon. Hon a fagawdd o'i bronnau, Hynaws mawl yr hanes mau.^ Baich ar ei braich ei Brawd A'i baich a'n dwg o bechawd.^ Ei Thad oedd yn y gadair, A'i Mab oedd yn hŷn na Mair.^ Mair a wnel, rhag y gelyn, Ymbil â Duw am blaid dyn ; Ar ein Duw^ Ef a wrendy Neges y Frenhines fry. 0 chawn ni 'n rhan drwy Anna, Mwy fydd ein deunydd* a'n da.
® Tre/i Z>(/?«r, 'theabode of the Virgm bore on her arm, was her
godhead'. Tref is here used iu its brother ; and that burden relieves
íirst intention— ' a home'. us from the burden of siu,' is the
^ Wen^ ' white'; hence, ' holy', poet's meaning.
'sinless'. .- ,,..,,
o ^. ^ , , • , ,, ^ rJor are these hnes less beauti-
"^ üu-cumstances belonging to the „ , , tt t- .,
,.£ P T 1 ì. ■ íul- Her Father was on the
liie 01 our Lord are ofteu intro- ^, , , o
j j • X XI ^ r ., -tr- • , throne : and her Son was older
duced mto that of the Virgm. As ^, , . , ,
. ^, . ,, , ° , tnan his mother.
m the agony in the garden, angels
came to uphold and comfort Jesus, ' ^''^^^^^ °^ *^^ ^^^ '^^^ ^^^'
so in this hour of her need, when '^ '
slanderous tongues were busy, they ' ^"^ ^"^ '^ ^"^ ^^ ^ wrendy'.
are said to have come and com- Dmu^ ' Christ'.
forted Mary. ^/, ' the Father'.
^ ' The subject of my narrative'. * Dtumjdd for defìiijdd. The
' This and the former line are concrete is here used for the ab-
truly poetical. ' The burden the str&ct—defuyddioldeb.
RELIGIOUS POEMS. 31
VI í. CYWYDD ACHAU CEIST.i
Daioni Duw~ a aned 0 Fair wyryf,^ grair arf i gred ; Ferch lohasym, fab grym gra, Pan torrwr pan pant ira f Fab Pante f fab Pwynt eirior ; Fab Elsi ; fab Eli bor ; Fab Mattham digam degwch ; Fab loseb fíel ateb fflwch ; Fab Mathari, gloywri glân, Digaeth fab Amos degan f Nefawl fab Näwn afudd ; Fab Eli ; fab Naggi nudd ;^ Fab Maath ; fab Mathathei, 0 symaeth mydr fab Semei ; Fab loseb, fab wynebloy w ; Fa Siwda ; fab lohanna loyw ;
* This poem is at best but a lite- * These lines are manifestly cor-
rary freak. The bard could scarcely rupt ; and no emendation can now
have imagined a wilder thought be suggested which would give the
than that of weaving into cyug- meaning of the bard.
Tianedd the uncouth Jewish names ^ It is impossible to account for
that form the pedigree of our Lord. Ihese names. They do not appear
Still lolo Goch's Works must be in the geuealogies either of Mat-
complete. thew or Luke. There is a hiatus
2 Diaoni Dnw, ' Christ'. also in the bard's list — some im-
ä Wijryf. If this term were portant names being left out.
altered to wÿr/, ' pure', 'fresh', and 6 These lines are clearly cor-
applied as an epithet to Mary, the rupt.
line would be reduced to its proper "^ Nudd. Nudd Hael ab Seisyllt
number of feet. There is no doubt was one of the three generous ones
but this was the original reading. of the Isle of Britain. Hence
32 lOLO GOCH.
Fab Resa; fab oreuserch Sorobabel, siweP serch ; Fab Salathiel, bu sel saut ; Moddus fab Ner, meddant ; Fab hoyw Elmodam ; fab Er ; Luniaidd fab lesu loywner ; Fab Elieser ; fab Sioram ; Bu hoíf fab Matthat ba ham f Fab Liw ;^ fab Simeon wiwiaith, Baun^ rhyw fab luda ben rhaith : Fab loseb, wiw wynebwr ; Fab lona — wel dyna wr '^ Fab Eliassym^ rym rwymiaith ; Fab Melea ; fab Mena maith ; Fab Mattatha, âch wrda chwyrn ;* Diog fab Nathan dëyrn ; Fab Dafydd frenin, gwin gwŷdd, Broffwyd; fab lesse broffwydd; Fab Obeth, difeth ei dôn, Salmwr ; fab Bos ; fab Salmon ; Fab Nason, wron arab, Da bwyU ; fab Aminadâb ;
Nudd is used as a term to signify j^aun^ ' a peacock', as an emblem of
anyoneof generousbloodanddeeds. a chieftain or prince occurs in
* Siìcel. Our lexicogTapbers take most of tbe Cymric jDoets. Tbis
no cognizanceof tbisterm. Webave beautiful bird, witb its ricb, ele-
already mentioned tbat Engbsb gant plumage is not an inappro-
words were f requently Cymricised priate represeutative of royalty and
by tbe poets of tbis and tbe two suc- its trappings. Englisb poets, bow-
ceediug centuries. Siwel is doubt- ever, regard it in a different ligbt.
less ' jewel'. Witb tbem it is an emblem of wbat
ä Names are again passed by. is gaudy and ijreteutious.
Probably tbe bard was unable to ^ Tbe poet seems to be in a great
weave tbem into bis verse. strait bere to meet tbe deiuauds of
' Liw, ' Levi'. bis cyngJianedd.
^ Paun. Tbe frequeut use of * ' Of tbe stem of an active hero'.
lîELIGIOUS POEMS.
33
Fab Aroin ; liii Esroiu les ; 0 pliery gwir, fab Pliares ; Tab luda ; fab ni wna nag Eisoes lacob ; fab Isag ; Fab Abram, bab o rym bwyll f Fab Thare, deidie'^ didwyll; Fab Naclior, fab clodfor^ clau ; EliugP fab Saruch ; fab Rhagau ; Fab Phaleg, diofeg dwyll f Heber íiib Sale hoywbwyll ; Fab Cainan, wrdran^ eurdrem ; Fab syw Arphacsad ; fab Sem ; Fab No hen i^ lên a'i liw, A adeiliodd rhag diliw ; Fab Lameth, fab difeth drem ; A'i sel, fab Methusalem ; Fab Enog, fwya 'i bennwn ; Fab lareth, heleth^ fu hwn ; Fab Malalel, mawl eilwaith, Cariad mil fu 'r eiried* maith ;
* Bnh 0 njm Innjìì., ' a Pope in strength of mind'.
* Deidie for deidiau.
' Clodfor for clodfawr.
* Rlmgl., ' dexterous', ' ready'.
^ Diofeçi dinjll. The meauing of the bard seems to be : — ' without deceit of mind'.
i Wrdran. Whether this word is the offspring of a corrnpt text, or one that, iu the coui'se of long ages, has become obsolete, it is now difficult to say. AU we can say in its favour is, that it supplies the needs of the cipìjhaìiedd.
Howcver cijiigìianedd may be
disparaged, it has undoubtedly assisted in the prcservation of our language. Some vaUiable, though qnaiut remarks on this subject by Lewis Morris will be found in his Notes on Cijinjdd ij Farn Fairr., by Goronwy Owen. See London edition of the Works of the latter, Vol. i, page 37.
2 7 is f requeutly used by the old bards for ei.
■■' Heleth for helaeth.
* Ciried, ' beneficence', ' kind- ness'.
^ Ddirjfan ddifeth. The name Cainan occurs twice in the genea-
34 lOLO GOCH.
Fal) Cainan, ddwyfan"^ ddifeth, Oes liir ; fab Enos ; fab Setli ; Fab Addaf, gloyw eurnaf glwys, Priodor tir Paradwys ; Fab DUW ei hun, Gun gwrawl, Tad pybyr Fab pob rliyw fawl ;ö Brawd Ues i Addaf bryd llwyr, A'i -wrol Daid a'i Orŵyr ;^ Brawd i Fair ddiwair ddwywaith,^ A'i Thaid a'i IMab, enaid maith. Brawd i bob Cristion o brudd Du dwyfawl,^ a'i Dad ufudd. 0 hil Addaf, hylwydd-ior, Yr ŷm yn geraint i'r lor. Arglwydd uwch law arglwyddi 0 nef yw 'n Pencenedl ni.^ Gwelais faint graen^ a galar A oedd gaeth Adda i'w gâr. Cymmerth ar groes dromloes draw, FawT dristyd, i farw drostaw. Cyfodes, cyfa-^ Jtb'"^% Droedwyu Fab, dradwy^ yn fyw ;
loíry. Thc elder Cainan lived to ^ 0 hrmld chi dwyfairì. Can
the age of 910 years ; hence the the bard mean to identify religion
words oeíf liir. with gloom in this place ? It seems
« Fab pob rhywfawì, 'a son de- so.
serying of every kind of praise'. ^ Quaint though these lines may
• lolo IMorganwg has ventured be, they are very beautiful, and
on a note here: — " lesu Grist yn make amends for the weariness of
Frawd i Addaf, &c." — lolo Aíorg. the geuealogy.
8 Ddiwair ddwywaifh, ' doubly * Gracn, ' pungency', ' asperity',
chaste'. Whether thesewords ap- ^ Cÿ/o, 'perfect'.
ply to 'the exceeding chastity of * Dradwy, like tranììocth, has
the Yirgin', or to ' the immaculate probably come to us through the
conception',ourreadci-smustdeter- Latin. It is one of those words
mine for themselves. that, while they prove the afììnity
EELIGIOUS POEMS.
35
I ddwyn ei daid wiwddawii, dwys,
0 bryder i Baradwys ; A'r sawl urddasol o'r saint Ag a rodd I)\iw, a'i geraiut.
1 Fair 3' diolcliaf fi, A Duw, lon y daioni, Am fagu lesu oesir, Bronwyn Guu, Brenin y gwir ; A brynawdd â gwaed breininwl I deulu fc) ; dylai fawl/
of the Latin aiid the Celtic iii tht'ir source, show that the seyercd streams have at some period beeii agaiu partially re-united. While the etymons of trannoetli and trad- icy are purely Celtic — trairí< nos and trairs dijdd — their forms are more easily derived from the Latin tran< nocfciii and trans dicni. espe-
cially when we bear in mind that the ct of the Latin makes tìi in the Welsh.
* While the poet's meaning iu this line is tolerably clear, its ex- pression, to say theleast, is clumsy. Tlie poem, hoNvever, as a wliole, is less burdened with difficulties thau most of lolo Goch's effusious.
36 lOLO GOCH.
VI lí. CYWYDD I'E OFFEEEN.
0 Dduw, am yr liyn oedcl dda I ddyn, pawb a'i hadduna ; I wneiithur Awdur ydwyd^ Tra fai a minnau tra fwyd ; Gwir-ddal y ff'ydd a gerddodd Gatholig, fonheddig fodd ; A bod, gwae ef oni bydd Gair ofn, yn gywir ufydd. Oed bydd o bob rhith i l)en, Oreu ffair,^ yw ^r Ofíereu. Dechreu mau godych-wrych.-'^ lawn waith yw cyfí'esu 'n wych. Off'eren dan nen i ni, Air da iawn, yw 'r daioni ; A'i hojfis aml ddewiso"* I bawb o'r deunydd y bo ; Ai o'r Drindawd ddoethwawd ddwyn, Ai 0 Fair, wirion Eorwyn ;
' With a text unintelligible in * Ffair, 'market', ' fair'. Here
some parts of the poem, it is still it must be taken in the seuse of
impossible to exchide an effusion ' profit'.
of lolo Goch that contains such ^ The third, fourth, ninth, and
distinctive characteristics of his this line are so corrupt as not
faith as tlie present. In Roman to be deciphered in the present
Catholic worship the sacnfice of day.
the Masít (Offeren) holds the most ■» HoJJìs^ ' office', or Koman Ca-
prominent phice. tholic ' Service'. There are the
Ydwj^f. MS. — rhyming with Oífices of ' the Trinity', of ' the
Jwi/fia thc next line. Yirgin', and others.
liELIGIOUS POEMS. o7
Ai o'r Yspryd, glendyd glân :
A'i o'r dydd'' mae air diddan ;
Ai o'r Grog oediog ydiw ;
Mawr yw'r gwyrth, ai o'r meirw gwiw ;
Ai o lafer,*^ rhwydd-der rhad,
Modd arall, meddai iiriad.'''
Llawer ar yr Offeren
Ehinwedd, medd Mair ddiwair wen :
I)yn wrthi Duw a'i nertho ;
Ni hena, ni fwygla^ fo.
A gyrch, drwy orhoíf goífa,
Olferen, daw i ben da.
Angel da a fydd yngod,^
Yn rhifo, cludeirio^ clod,
Pob cam, mydr"^ ddi ddammeg,
O'i dŷ hyd ei Eglwys deg.
Os marw, chwedl garw i gyd,
O'i sefyll yn ddisyfyd f
Os cyfraith, loywfaith heb lid,
Dduw yn ol dda a wnelid,
Annodd i arglwydd yna
Ddwyn un geiniogwerth o'i dda.
Y bara Offeren ennyd,*
Da fu 'r gost, a'r dwfr i gyd.
A'n pair^ cyspell** yw felly
\"n gymmunol freiniol fry.
* Dyd'l, the office of ' the day', • Cludeirio, ' to heap up', ' to
such as saints' days. gather togetlier',
" Lafcr, ' laver', the baptismal * ^l'jdr, ' a nietre' in poetry.
fout. One MS. has /««•fr. Here, perhaps, it represents 'a
^ Uriad, 'elder', and probably a saying'.
corruption of heiiurìad. ^ Y» ddisyfi/d, ' suddenly', as iu
» Nifwygla; ' he wiU not grow our Litany.
luke\varni'. ■• OJfcr<ìi ennyd ; the form is
ä r«f/of/, '/«.;•<((",' closc by'. properly y/íÿí/. r>ul ymjd, '• ührow
3.8 lOLO GOCH.
Fe wuai r Oftëreu — Fair fwyn— O ddwfr gorph ei ]\Iab addfwyu.
0 waith Prelad a'i Ladin, A'i waed beudigaid o wiu ; Teiriaith hybarch ddiwarchae Ym mewn Offeren y mae :
Y Ladiny berffaith loywdeg,
Y Gryio, Ehryio, a Ch^öeg? Ehaid yw tân wrth ei chanu ; Pilio Duw dilwfr a dwfr du. Mi awu pam ond damunaw,
Y mae 'u rhaid tâu^ cwyraid caw.^ Wybren oedd ar gyhoedd gynt
1 dduo byd a ddeuynt ; Ehaid yw felly gwedy gwad Arglywais^ gael goleuad ; Llyma 'r modd pam y rhoddir, Da frawd, yu y gwiu dwfr ir : Dwfr 0 frou íesu wiwsain,
A ddoeth gyda ^i waed oedd ddaiu.
Sunday'; Mawrth t/ìiyil, ' Shrûve line : — "Y luae ynia ryw wall
Tuesday'. luawr neu auwybodaeth."
5 PrtíV, 'acauldron'. Noanioiiut ^ ^""7 liere in the seuse of
of search has euabled us to eluci- ' hght .
date the poet's raeaning. " Cici)ntkl caic. The term caw
« Cyspell, 'propinquity, « com " i^ used for so many purposes that
pactness'. '''^ "^'^^ ''^* ^^^^ ^^ ^™P^«y ^^- i"
,, , , , conjunction with cwiiraid, as de-
' It would almost appear that, ^. ^ i- 1 , '
, . , ■'^. , , ' uoting ' wax lights .
instead of three, as mentioned l)y , , , • r,., -,-m ^
, ,- , Argyhrais. Ihe difficulty of
the poet, four Janguages are íound ^, . ,. . , ^
, ' , , ?' ^, , t">s hne is great. Some emenda-
in the Mass ; but J hriiw and ,. . ,, , , .„ ,
-,. • tiou of the o/nghaiìedü wúl be : —
Gröeg are the same. W e susjject ' '
that the exigencies of his cynijh. Arglywais gair goleuad.
aiuihl demanded the duplicatiou: But a better \vay of meetiug the
lülo Morganwg has a note on this difficulty will. ^jcrliaps, be to re-
RELIGIOUS POEMS.
39
Pa ham y codir wir waitli I fj'nii niodd fau fwyniaitli. Yni nibob Ue, pan ddarllëer FyngiaP pwyll Efengyl pêr ? Er ein bod yn barod berwyl I ymladd ryw radd yr wyl, A'r neb diwyneb uniawn. A ffalsai nill na'? a wnawn. Pell i rym, pan nid pwyll raid, Pen dewin, pan y dywaid Yr oífeiriad ei hader,^ Yn ol d}T.xba corpb ein Ner,^ Er dysgu a fíynnu 'r fí"ydd Ini efo yn ufydd. Aro pam yr ai eraiU O'r Ihi i 'Eengyl i'r UaiU, Yn ol Agnus ni rusia Dei, Cytolus^ Deus da. Arwydd tangnefedd eirian, A maddeu, mwygl eiriau mân. Ucha ystâd, nis gwad gwŷr, Ar y Pab, eiriau pybyr, EiUio tröeU' weUweU wiw Ar ei siad, eres ydiw.
gard the verb argbjwais, ' I have heard', as parenthetical. 2 Fyngial^ ' a muttering'.
* Nill nai. There is no deciph- ering of these words.
* Bader. The term is taken from the Latin ' Pater' at the commencement of the Lord's prayer.
' The elevation of the Host. the bard tells us, is for our teaching
and the strengthening of our faitli.
« Ctjtohis, 'Catholic' Hterally. It is here used for ' the CathoHc Church'.
■ Eillio troell. The poet refers to the ' tonsure'. Roman Catliolic priests of certain orders have a round patch shaven on the crown of the head. This the bard calls here ' a wheel'.
* Wijllì rìjm meddygìniaeth. Tlie
40
lOLO GOCH.
0 son am Lêr Offeren, Pur ei bwyll an pair i ben ; Wyth rym mecldyginiaeth^ raid Yw ar unwaith i'r enaid,^ Arwydd-der a gwarder gwiw, Gywir fîawd, i'r corph ydiw.^
determinate number is nsed for an nndetermiuate or multitudiuous one.
* ThÉ! Sacrifice of the Mass, he considers as a medicine for internal and external eyils — a healing both of body and soul.
' A re-examination of the poem, even after the pains that have been taken with it, is in no way satis- factory. Errors of transcriptiou, added to the use of obsolete terms, reuder the work of deciphering the poet's meaning more thau usually difficult. It may be asked, Why
deal with such poems? Would it iiot be wiser to allow theni, like the crumbling ruins of our old Welsh castles, to perish altogether, seeing that they are beyond restoration ? We reply, îso. They still retaiu gems of thought of an exquisite kiud for the poet. They present interesting ground into which the philologist may dig and delve. And they contain iiivaluable frag- ments of undeveloped history. We would not for these reasons, leaving others unmentioned, discard oue of them.
HELIGIOUh; POEMS. 41
IX.
AWDL MAIR.
Maiiî edrycli arnaf, ymerodres ; Morwyn bennaf wyd, Mair unbennes, Mair diornair,! Mair dëyrnes, Mair oleudrem, Mair ly wodres ; Miserere mei^ moes eryres ; Prydlyfr^ gweryddon^ wyt a'u priodles, A ffenestr wydrin nef a'i phennes, A mam i Dduw yn ymorddiwes,^ A nei'th un-brawd, briffawd'^ broffes, A chwaer i'th un-mab wyd a chares ; Ys agos o beth, dywysoges, Y deiryd dy Fab yt nid eres. Ysta'' dorllwyth fu ystad iarUes, Y' enaid yw 'r augel a anfones Yr Ysprýd attad, gennad gynnes, Efo a chwegaii'^ a'th feichioges ;
• Diornair^ literally ' unchal- ^ Pryd-lyfì\ ' a book f or medita-
lenging'. May not the term be an tion', ' a mirror for virgins, for
allusion to the Virgiu's meek ac- example or pattern'.
quiescence in the high houour, * Gwenjddon, ' maidens', or ra-
with its accompanying trials, ther ' TÌrgins'.
■which God conferred upon her? ^ Yii ymorddiwes, ' advancing
Diornair may here, also, signify thyself to an equality'.
' irreproachable ' ; without re- "£;■///««•(/,' highest happiness'.
proach in her apparently dubious '^ Ysta; ys and í/a, a common
position. compouud in the old poets.
"^ ' Have mercy on me', a sen- * Clnccgair. These were pro-
tence in frequent use in Roman bably the words of the ' saluta-
Catholic prayer books. tion'.
/
42 lOLO GOCH.
Buw o fewn aeth yn dy fynwes, Mal yr â drwy 'r gwydr y terydr^ tes Megis bagad^ o rad rhodres. Tair cneuen wisgi tri y tröes : Yn Dad trwy gariad y rhagores, Yn Fab rhwydd arab, araf cynnes, Yn Yspryd gleinyd^ Glân ymddiwes.^ Gwedi geni ei Mab gwyn y digones Diareb rhwydd a dieres : " Heb groen yn esgor Por perffeithles, Heb friw o'i arwain, nef briores f Heb ddim godineb i neb o nes, Neu ogan awr nid oes neges," Ef a orug nef, faerdref feurdres ; Ef a orug uffern, nef gair cyíîes ; Seren grou gyson ymddangoses I^r tri brenin gwyn, hyn fu ^r hanes, I ddwyn rhwydd gyílwyn^ yt rhag afles, Aur, thus, a myrr, ni syrr^ Santes. Sioseb o'r preseb, gwir fu 'r proífes, Cof ydyw cennyf^ a^i cyfodes. leuan Fedyddiwr, gŵr a'n gwares, Tad bedydd dibech, trech y tröes Yn nwfr Eurdonnen ;^ yno y nofies. Cref y megaist Ef, megis Dwyfes,^
^ Terydr, ' swift', 'raijid', ' ar- ^ Syr r for sorra, from sorri, 'to
dent'. displease' or ' offend'.
' Bagad o rad rhodrcs, ' a mul- ' Eurdonncn. The conversion
titude of exceediugly beautiful into thia beautiful word of the
gif ts'. name Jordan, is a happy effort of
2 Glehiyd, ' hallowiug'. the bard. He makes it ' the gol-
^ Ynìddhces, ' she produced'. den rippled'.
^ Briores, ' prioress'. ^ Dicijfes, ' goddess", from the
" Gì/Jíicyn, ' gift'. root dwyf, Dmc or ' God'.
RELIGIÜUS POEMS, 43
Ar dy fron hygu, Iry frenliiues,
Oddi yno y buost, y ddewines,
Ti a Ôoest ac Ef tua ffelesS
I'r Aifft, rhag angraifíV a rhag ingoes.
Rhyfedd fu 'r gallu, fawr gyfeilles,
Ymddwyn yn forwyn, Fair f ' arglwyddes :
Morwyn cyn ymddwyn, fwyn fanaches f
Morwyn yn ymddwyn, gorllwyn geirlles ;
Morwyuaidd etto a meiriones,^
Byw ydwyd yn nef fal abades.^
Yn dy gorpholaeth, hoywgorph haules,
Gyda 'r gŵr brawdwr a'th briodes,
A theilwng ag iawn i'th etholes
Iddo i'w lywio yn gywelyes.^
® Taa ffeles. The corrupt text ^ Meiriones, 'a superintendent',
here reuders it impossible to getat ' one at the head',
the right meaning. * Ahades, ' abbess' or ' superior
• Angraiff't., ' correction', here over the heavenly host'. 'hurt'. s Gywehjes, 'consort'.
* Fanaches, 'nun'.
HISTORICAL POEMS.
CYWYDD MOLIANT SYE EOSIEE MOETIMElí/
lAELL Y MAES.
Syr Eosier, asiir aesawr,- Fab Eosier^ Mortimer mawr ; Eosier ieuangc, planc* plymlwyd,^ Sarph aer o bil Syr Eaff' wycl.
• Syr Rogeu Mortimer was the fourth Earl of Mareh, and twelfth Lord of ^Yigmore, being the eldest son of Edmund, the third Earl and eleventh Lord, who died at Cork in 138L Richard 11 made him Lord Lieutenant of Ire- land, and in virtue of his descent from the r>uke of Clarence (see page 49, lihe 2) he was declared heir to the throne. His military service was confined entirely to Ireland, where he was slain. He was succeeded by his son Edmund, who died in 142.5, aged 24 years. With hini ended the male line of the Mortimers of "NN'igmore. It will be well to note that Roger Mortimer, the eightli Lord of Wig- more, was creatcd Earl of Marcli in 1328.
- Asiir aesairr, ' the bearer of an azure shield'.
2 Fah Rosier. He was the grandson of Rosier, or Roger, Mortimer. Mah here, therefore," must signify ' grandson', or ' de- scendant'. The names of Roger and Edmund occur alternately for some generations in the pedigree of the Mortimers of Wiguiore.
* Planc, ' a young steed'. The epithet is here used to denote the youthful ardour and powers of the poet's hero.
* PlymJiri/d, for phjmnwtjd^ say the lexicographers, means ' con- fiict'. It is congenital with, if not derived from, the Greek polemos and the Latin heìlum.
" Sijr Ru(ì\ or Ralph Mortimer, flourished about the middle of the
46
ÍOLO GOCH.
Eos arglwydd, Rosier eurglaei', Rhyswr^ cwncwerwr can caer j Colon^ engylion^ Engiont, A'i phen, cynheiliad, a'i phont ; Perbren^ dawn, pair- ûbry^ ^n da^ Por gwyn^ ìîlaguryn Buga ;* Edling-walch^ o deilyngw^aed, Eryr trin oreuraid traed f Arwraidd dy luniaidd law, Wyr burffrwytli''' ior Aberffraw.^ Draig ynysoedd yr eigiawn, Dragwn aer, darogan iawn.
12th century. He was the first lord of NYigmore. The fifth lord, who died in 124C, bore the same Christian name,
■^ Rhysior, ' champion', ' combat- ant'.
8 Colon, for colofyn.
^ Eììgylion. Could the bard have beeii conversant with the quaint saying of ' Non Angli, sed angeli'? It is not at all impro- bable. The term, however, here must be used in the sense of ' am- bassadors' as well.
' Perbren, 'pear-tree'. .
^ Pair ' cause' or ' instrumen- tality'.
' Obry, ' beueath'; here, perhaps, ' secret' or ' underlying'.
* Buga. It is impossible now to make out whom the poet meant by Bugn. It could scarcely have been ' Boadicea', as Mortimer — his very name implies it — seems to have been of Norman extrac- tion.
' Edling-icalch for edlin-walch, in reference, probably, to Roger Mortimer being heir-apparent to the English throne.
" Oreuraid traed. Many of the allusions in this poem are to the armorial bearings of the Mortimers. The golden-legged eagle may have been the crest on his banner.
' Wyr hurffrwyth, ' the lawful grandson'. It must, however, be noted that the term wyr is con- stantly used in the Mahinogion and the Seint Greaì, as well as in later centuries, to signify ' descendant'. Burffrwyth, it is probable, stands here in opposition to hastardd.
^ lor Aherffraw, ' the lord of Aberíîraw'. Inasmuch as this town was in ancient times the re- sidence of the Princes of Wales and had its royal palace, we must give the designation of our hero here used a wider scope than simj)ly ' lord of that place'. It seems to convey the idea of ' the lord of the territory of Aberffraw*.
HISTOEICAL POEMS.
47
Ydcl wyf madws^ yt ddyfod, I Gymry rliyglyddyi glod. Mab fuost, daethost i dir f Gŵr bellacli a grybwyllir f Gŵr grym, myu gwyar y grog,* Balc^ arnad, bual corniog !'' Nid arf, ond eisiau arfer'^ 0 arfau prydferth nerth Ner. Gwisgo arfau, o gwesgir,^ A'u cynnydd fal corn hydd hir f A thorri myn di mewn dur Paladr^ soccedgadr- cadgur.^ Arwain hëyrn* yn chwyrn chwerw. A marchogaetli meirch agerw.^
® Mculìcs^ ' Ligh time'. We ap- preheiid, however, that the word bears auother meaning liere, — ' pleased', ' gratified'. DerÌTÌng it fi-om nìo.d, we may venture to give it this siguification.
• Rhii(jlij(ld»j for rlnjglyddi^ ' to "Wales thou wilt bring renown'.
2 Daethost i dir, It is diflBcult to arrive at the poet's true meau- ing. The phrase luay be a poetical mode of saying, ' Thou hast arrived at maturity'; or, perhaps^ it is a simple statement of his having landed in Ireland.
^ ' One whose deeds shall heuce- forth be deemed worthy of com- memoration'.
• Gicyar, 'gore'; the blood of the cross.
• Balc, ' balk' ; heuce, ' promi- nency' or ' eminency'.
« Bual, ' wild ox', ' buflFalo'.
"^ The poet plays on the words arf and a)-/er — a rare thing in our literature at this early time.
* Ogwes(jir, ' if pressed', bybeing compelled to put on armour.
" Corn Injdd hir. The horn, espe- cially in Iloly Writ, is an emblem of strength, and thence of pro- sjjerity.
> Paladr, ' shaft'.
^ Socced-gadr, ' firm in its soc- ket'.
' Cadgiir, ' tlie throe of bjittle'.
* Arwain heyrn, ' dirècting wea- pons'. Arwain arfau also signifies ' to bear arms', as in the Mahi- ìiogion, "Arwain cleddyf ar ei ystlys".
^ Mcirch agerw, ' steeds with steaming nostrils', 'foaming steeds'. We cau hardly suppose that the ois poetica was so strong in the bard as to predict the steam engine.
48 - lOLO GOCH.
Ymwan'^ ag ieiill diaramhwynt, Ymwrcld, ymgyfwrdd ag hwynt. A'th yswain" a'th lain o'th flaen, Pennaeth wyd — pwy ni 'th adwaen ì A'th hengsmen^ hoyw a'th loyw laif Ar gwrser a ragor-saif ; A'th helm Iwys a thalm o lu I'th ol ar feirch, a theuhi.^ A cherdd o'th íiaeu, o raen rwyf,^ A chrydr^ a'r pelydr palwyf.^ ]\Iawr ystâd larll y ISIars doeth ; ]Mawr y cyfenw, mwy yw 'r cyfoeth. !Mawr o fraiut wyt, myn Mair fry, ]\Iawr dy deitl ; mwy roed ytty ! larll Mars, gorau larU ym myd, larll Llwdlo,"* ior Uaw waedlyd f larU CaerUëon,^ dragon drud, Iyrl o AMster,'' ior Iwys-drud.
6 Ymwaií, ' to combat'. came to him through his grand-
7 Yswain, ' armour-bearer'. mather, the heiress of Genville.
8 Hengsmen, 'henchmen\ 'pages', He died in lo6ü, beiug at the time ' attendants'. commander of the English forces
9 Thenhi, ' retinue ' here ; al- in Burgundy. Ärch. Camh., áth though the word generally signifies Seìies, vol. v, jMcie lü2.
' family' or 'tribe'. ^ lor Uaic icaedhjd, ' the lord of
1 Ricyf, ' commander', ' ruler'. the red hand'. The red or bloody
•2 Chrydr, 'armour'; arfau ani hand was oftentimes the crest of
icr, says Richards. Welsh chieftains, the emblem of
3 Pahcyf for jmìahcijf, ' the blood shedding ; it has furnished
linden tree'. au expressive term for murder—
■» larll Lhcdlo. This was Roger llawruddiaeth, ' red-handedness'.
the tenth Lord of Wigmore— the « larll Caerllëon. From the time
grandfather of the subject of the of Henry III, when the series of
present poem. He served Edward earls descended from Hugh Lupus
III in France ; recovered much of terminated, tbe tarldora of Ches-
the Welsh property. and added to ter has been vested in the Crown,
it Ludlow, another estate, which or in the hands of members of the
HISTORICAL POEMS.
49
Henw arall o liyn orau,
O Ffrens Dug o Clarens clau ;
llenw da, g\vr heu a'i dieingl,
Wyr Syr Leiwnel,^ angel Eingl.
Dragon yw a draig i ni
A lunia 'r gwaith yleni.
O ben y llew,^ glew ei gledd,
Coronir carw o Wynedd.
Pam mae 'r llew crafang-dew, cryf,
Mwy nog arth ? myneg wrthyf.
Yn awr gwaisg ar dy fraisg fraich,
Wyr^ brenhin Lloegr a'r Brynaich."-
Pen arglwydd wyd, paun eur-glew,^
O eginin a llin llew.
Pennaf fyddi gwedi gwart,
Ail rhyswr ar ol Ehisiart.*
royal family. Roger Mortimer, as heir apparent, might therefore be coDsidered potentiaJ, if not actual. Earl of Chester — larll CaerUeon.
' Iyrl 0 Wlster. Lionel, grand- father of Roger Mortimer, married EHzabeth, daughter of WiUiam Burgh, Earl of Ulster ; hence the allusions here and elsewhere to that title.
8 Syr Leiwnel. Lionel, Duke of Clarence, was the third son of Edward III. His only daughter, PhiHppa, married Edmund i\Ior- timer, third Earl of March, father of the hero of the poem, who was therefore ẃyr or grandson of Sir Lionel.
* O ben y llew. The allusion is to our hero's coat of arms.
' Wyr, here, ' great grandson'.
^ Brynaich, was that portion oí Scotland that lies between the river Tyue and the Firth of Forth.
The Rev. D. Ellis» in his tran- scriptiou of the poem in Y Piser Hir^ calls the inhabitants of Bry- naich ' Cymry 'r Gogledd'; and he was in a measure right, But that people included not only the men of the East of Scotland, but those of the West as well, on the banks of the Clyde, and whose chief city was ' Dun-briton' or ' Dumbarton'. The Latin form of the word, aud perhaps the English, is ' Bernicia'.
* Gwart, ' guard'.
* lìhisiart — the first Richard, doubtless; Coeur-de-hon.
5 Erllognrydd, a corrupted form, probably, of haerlhigricydd.
y
50 lOLO GOCH.
Gwnaed ieirll Lloegr giiwd erllogr\A'ydd/
A fynnon' o son i'w swydd ;
Teilwng oedd yt' gael talaith
Aberíìraw, ymandaw^ maith.
Amserawl mi sy lierod'^
Yt ddeffroi i gloi^ dy glod.
Pa ryw ystyr,^ par osteg,
Y rhoed i'r arfau tau teg ?
Pedwar-lliw"^ pedair iarlleth
Sy daUj pwy piau pob peth.
Asur sydd yn dy aesawr,
larll Mars, gyda 'r eur-lliw mawr f
Sinobl ac arian glân gloyw
Im' yw 'r ysgwyd amrosgoyw.^
Pedair cenedl di edliw
A ddeiryd yt' Gwyndyd* gwiw :
Pfrancod, Saeson, wychion weilch,
Gwyddyl, meib cynfyP cein-feilch,
Gwaed Pfraingc, gwiw a da ei ffrwyth,
Ydyw èurlliw diweir-Uwyth ;
8 Ymandaw. This word is trans- banner of the Earl of Marcli wcre
latcd by Pughe, ' the keeping one's azure and gold, with gulos argeiit.
self inanattitudeof hstening'. One ' y-W'U'^ amrosgoiju\ ' the flut-
]MS. gives ymadaic. It is difficult tering in various directions' of the
to extract a meaning from either. silver and yermilion banner. The
^ Herod, för hcrodyr, ' a lierald'. bard seems to have been well versed
, , , in heraldic devices.
8 r^,7oí, here, ' to complete. - . ^ ,7 ii i. xi,
' ' * (Vír!/«//ÿf/usualIyrepresentsthe
» Pa rwy ystyr? ' of what are people-Yenedotians ; and Gwyn-
thinearmsemblematical?' ^/,^,^^ ^j^^ country-Gwynedd or
1 Pedwar-lliw, the four colours Yenedotia. Ilere, however, wc represented the four earldoms in opine that the term is used in its the possession of our hero, as men- etymological meaning : ' Four na- tioned above: viz., those of March, tions ungrudgingly bestow on thee Ludlow, Chester, and Ulster. a beautiful territory'.
2 The prevailing colours in the ^ Cynfyl, ' strife'.
HISTOliICAL POEMS. " 51
Urddedig arwydd ydiw
Breniu yn ngwlad y gwinö gwiw ;
A chwbl o'r Gien,'^ pen pant,
Fyddi mwy fydd dy íbddiant ;
Tau liyd ymylau Maeloegr,^
A bid tau 'r lle gorau 'n Lloegr.
Yn achen y Ddraig wen wiw,
Eawnllaes, y 'mae 'r arian-lliw.
Bw^ i Loegr a mablygad,^
Anwyl iawn wyd yn y wLad.
lon 0 Wigmor^ enwog-mawr,
A Iyrl y ]\Iars, arlwy mawr.
Gw'awdrydd^ cerdd, gwaed y Ddraig goch
Yw 'r'sinobl y sy ynoch."*
Am hynny bydd hy, baedd hoyw,
Aro^ etto, aur ottoyw.*^ .
Cael dâr" yw coel dy arwydd.
Cael gorfod rhagod poed rhwydd.
Gras Arthur a'i groes wrthyd,
A'i lŷs, a'i gadlys i gyd.
• Yn n<j!c!ad ;/ (jwin, Trauce', or ^ Wigmor, ' Wigraore', a castle ia
more particularly, perhaps, ' Bur- Herefordshire. gundy'. ^ Gwaicdrijdd. We can give this
" Gien, Guienne, in France, word its raeaning ouly by a para-
^ Maehegr. It is now imjjossible phrase : ' Thou idol of the flowing
to say what region is raeaut by this muse'.
narae. In forra it approaches * \Ve cannot but choose to no-
Maclor. Can it signify — from tice the beauty of these lines :
MaelanáLlocgr — the parts of Eng- ' The blood of the Red Dragon is
land more especially devoted to the yerrailion that flows iu thy
merchandise ? vcins.'
ä Bic, ' terror', ' dread'. ^ Aro is an- adverb of entreaty ;
1 Mahlyyad, ' the pupil of the such as ' pray do'. eye'. IMortimer was in fact their ^ Otloyu\ ' spur'. ■ He addresses
terror and their darling. They his hero : ' Thou of the gohleu
l)üth feared and loved hiui. Ile spur'. wus ' the api)le of their eye'. ^ Dûr, ' the oak'.
52 lOLO GOCH.
Gorau lle, ail GaerH'ion,^ Y sydd iwch' o'r ynys hon. Ehyw Gwyddyl, rhywiog^ addas, Yw 'r asur, lliw gloyw ddur glas. Glewaf grwndwal go galed Yw 'r dur glas-lym, grym i gred ; Glewach wyd nag ail Galath ;^ A^th hychwayw- hoyw, loyw lath, 1- 0 hyder o uchder iach,
Hy goresgynny Gouach.^ Dos drwy 'r môr a distryw 'r Mydd^ 0 flaen y wlad afloiiydd. Tref tad i tithau yw Trum,^ Tau gastell teg ei ystum. Tegwch gwlad Fatholwch^ fu Calon y Werddon oerddu. Dyrchaf dy stondardd, hardd hwyl, Di-archar^ y w dy orchwyl ; Gwna fwysmant,^ bid trychant trwch, Maccwy mawr, a Mac Morwch.^ Tor, rhwyg, a brath tu rag bron Draw a Galys^ drwy 'i galon.
8 G'aoilëon, the seat of Arthur's ^ Qo„ach, ' Connaught', an Irish palace and court. province.
9 Rhyw Gwyddyl rhyicio[/, ' of a * Mydd, ' Meath'.
fine Irish kind'. Gicyddyl is said " Trum, « Triin', an Irish town
by Dr. Owen Pughe to be derived and county.
from Gicydd. Its meaning is ' of * Gwlad Fathohcch, ' Ireland'.
the woods'. See Mahinogion iii, 81, Bronwen
1 Galath, one of the Rnights of Yerch Llyr.
the Rouud Table. See the ' Seint ' Di-archar, ' unrebukable ',
GreaV passim. ' dauntless', 'dariug'.
2 Hychwayw, ' a pushing or driv- ^ Fwysmant, 'ambushment', 'am- ing spear" ; the spear used in the buscade'.
wild boar hunt. ^ Mac Morwch, 'au Irish prince".
HISTORICAL POEMS.
53
t
Brysia a chleiniia âch L\ii Gwlad Wlster, glod Elystan ;" Llyngca gyfoeth llawn geu-íalo, Myn di yn dau niin Dwn Dalc f Yn ol dâl Grednel/ fy ner ; Ci fí'alst yw — cyÔ' o \Mster. Ti a leddy, clochdy clod, Bobl Wlster bob ail ystod.^
1 Gdhjs, ' Galway'.
^ Ehjÿtan^ a Welsh priuce of re- nown. He ruled over the territory lying between the Severn and tlie Ẁye.
^ Dun Dalc, ' Duudalk' iu Ire- land.
* Grednel, an Irish foe, doubt- less of note ; but we can trace no rccord of him.
5 Sir líoger Mortimer, the sub-
jectof thc poeni, wasshiin in 1.398. lolo Goch must, cousequently, have written the poem before the close of the 14th century.
At the end of one MS. copy of this poem, lolo jNIorganwg has the following quaint remark : " lolo Goch a'i cànt. Pei 'r Diawl a'i cânt, ni allasai ganu yn fwy gwaed- gar, yn fwy Iladdgar, yn fwy rhy- felgar, nac yn fwy aurhaithgar."
54
lOLO GOCII.
CYWYDD I SYE HYWEL Y FWYALLi YE HWN
OEDD YN NGHASTELL CEUCCIAITH YN
EIFIONYDD.
A ẄELAI 'r neb- a welaf Yn y nos pand iawn a wnaf ? Pan funi mwyaf poen a fu^ Yn huno anian henu. Cyntaf y gwelaf mewn gwir Caer fawrdeg acw ar fordir,* A chastell gwych gorchestawl,^ A gwŷr ar fyrddau, a gwawl, A glas-for wrth fur glwys-faen,*' Garw am groth twr gwrwm^ graen ;
» Syr Hywkl y Fwyall, ' Sir Ilowel of the Battle-axe', a son of Einiou ab Gruffydd ab Hywel, a iiative of Eifìonydd, was a hero celebrated for liis prowess in the battle of Poitiers, w^hither he had followed the Black Prince. He is said to have dismounted the French King, haviug cut off his horse's head at a blow. He was knighted on the íìeld of battle, and made Constable of the Castles of Cruc- ciaith and Chester.
^ A icclaí 'r mb. ' A welai neb.' — MS.
^ Pau fu 'n fwya poen a fu. — MS.
■* Thc castlc of Crucciaith stands on the sea coast between Pwllheli aud Portmadoc. Its ruins mav
.stiU be seeu crowuiug a lofty mound. One MS. has: —
' Cadair fawrder acw ar fordir.'
* One ÄIS. has the niuth and tenth line placed before the seventh and eighth — a better arrangemeut, we think.
' The same MS. has : — ' A glas for wrth fur-glwys faen
Garw o amgylch tir grwmgaen.' The picture drawn by lolo Goch of the castle, washed by the blue waves, is remarkably graphic. Nor less so, aud eveu more interestinçr. are the scenes within, enlivened as they are by music and the presence of fair ladies, who are en- gaged in the weaviug of si]k.
" Girrum^ ' bendiug'; lience twr
HISTORICAL POEMS.
yo
A cherdd chwibenygP a chod, Gwawr hoenus, a gŵr hynod ; Ehianedd, nid rhai anhdyw,'^ Yn gwau y sidan^ glân gloyw ; Gwŷr beilch yn chwareu gar bartli- Tawlbwrdd^ a secr* uwch tal-barth f A'r gwynllwyd wr, treiglwr trin^ Nawswyllt yn rhoi Yerneiswiu,^ Mewn gorfiwch^ aur gorauryn, O'i law yn fy llaw yn llyn ; Ac ystondardd hardd hir-ddu Yn nlial twr^ da filwr fu ; A thri blodeuyn^ g^'yn gwiw, O'r un-llun ddaiP arian-lliw. Eres^ nad oes henuriad Ar law Gwynedd, wledd-fawr wlad !^
guTwm inay meau ' round tower'. The bard describes the waves as washing the rough walls that sur- rounded the lower portions of the castle.
s Chriheni/gl, plural of chwiha- nofjl, 'a flute' or ' flageolet'; the ad- dition of a cliod would poiut to ' the bagpipes'.
^ Anlioyw. The double negative gives great force to the affirmative ' sprightly'.
1 Yn y sidan glàn gloyw. — MS. We can scarcely think they would be weaving silk at that early period. If f/wan, however, is used, we must give it the meaning of ' to net'.
2 Gar barth, ' near the fireplace'.
3 Tawlbicrdd, ' a gaming table'.
* Secr ' chequered', as for chess.
* This and the previous liues are thus given iu one MS. : —
' Gwŷr beilch yn gware ar barth Tawlbwrdd a duon talbarth'.
" A gŵr gwnllwyd trwclilwyd triu . — ]MS.
Treifjìicr trin, ' the hero that rolls back the tide of battle'.
7 Terjíc/sií.'znorBerneiswin, 'Yer- uacia, Yernago, a kind of Italian wine. See Du Cange under !>?•- nachia, Yernacia.
One MS. gives these lines thus : ' A g^YT gwyullwyth, twrch trwyth trin Nowswyllt yu rhoi Barneiswin.'
8 Gorflwch, ' a goblet', ' a bowl'.
ä Yn nhal twr, ' on the height and front of the tower'.
' Probably three silver Jleurs- de-ìijs.
2 Ddail. Dail— M.^.
^ Ercü, ' strange', 'wouderful'..
56
lOLO GOCH.
Oes eb yr iin syberwyd
Breuddwydio obry ydd wyd.^
Y wal deg a wely di,
Da dyddyn ydoedd iddi ;
O'r Gaer egiur a^r grog-lofft,®
A'r garreg rudd ar gwr grofft,'''
Hon yw Crucciaith â'i gwaith gwiw,
Hen adail honno ydiw ;
A'r gŵr Uwyd cadr, paladr-ddellt,^
Yw Syr Hywel, mangddeP mellt.
A gwraig Syr gwregys euraid
Hyw^el, ion rhyfel,^ i'n rhaid ;
A'i llaw-forwynion, ton teg,^
Ydd oeddynt hwy bob ddeuddeg,
Yn gwau sidan o'r glan-liw
Wrth haul belydr drwy 'r gwydr gwiw.
Tau olw^g ti a welud^
Ystondardd ys hardd o sud,^
* Some MSS. have the follow- ing lines iuserted here : —
' O gwbl a fetro gwybod Pettwn lle mynnwii fy mod.'
But neither the Peniarth MS. nor that of the Piser Hir recognise them.
^ The Piser Hir gives these lines thus : — ' Oes heb yr un syberw wyd
Breuddwydio obry ddydwyd.'
« Grog-lofft was the gallery or platform over the screen at the entrance of the chancel. But we must give it a different meaning here. The crown of the tower hung over its shaft, hence its upper room would bear this appropriate
name. In our day the term has degenerated,and signifies 'anykind of attic'.
■^ Grofft^ probably the English ' croft', a small meadow near a resi- dence.
^ Paladr-ddellt, ' shaft of cloven wood'.
' Maiìgddel, mangnel, 'battering ram'.
1 lon rhyfel, ' god of war'.
2 Toti teg, ' of fair skin'.
3 OneMS. has:—
' Tafolwc ti a weîyd Ystondardd ys hardd o hyd.'
* Sud, ' form', ' shape'. ' Pensel was the grand standard, says Dr. Owen Pughe ; HalHwell,
HISTORICAL POEMS,
PenseP Syr Hywel yw hwn ;
Äfyu Beimo,^ mae 'n ei Lennwn
Tri fíl\vr-de-lis7 oris erw,
Yn y sabl nid ansyberw.
Anian Mab Gruffudd, rudd ron,^
Ymlaen am ei elynion ;
Yn enneiniaw gwayw mewn gwaed,
Anniweir-drefn ion eur-draed,
Ysgythrwr cad ail Syr Goethrudd,^
Esgud ei droed, esgid rudd.
Ysgithredd baedd ysgethring,
A.sgwrn hen yn angen ing.
Pan rodded trawsged rhwys-gaingc^
Y fír\vyn yn mhen Brenin Ffraingc,^
Barbwr* fu fal mab Erbin,^
A gwayw a chledd tromwedd trin.''
on the contrary, describes it as ' a small banuer'. Lookiug at the etymology of the word, wliich is purely Celtic, it is impossible not to agree with the former.
s Beuno^ a saint of the seventh century who, assuming the mouas- tic habit, retired to Clynnog in Caernarvonshire, where he built a church and founded a college.
' Ffìwr-de-lis. Sir Howel as- sumed the Jleurs-de-lys, as the con- queror of the King of France, whom he is said to have dismounted in battle.
8 Rôn, ' spear'.
ä ' The spirit of the son of Gruf - fydd, of the red spear, is to rush forward on his foes.' Without some such paraphrase, it would be imjpossible to give effect to the
strong compressed language of the bard.
' Sì/r GoetJirudd, oue of the Knights of the Kound Table.
2 Rhwys-gaingCi an epithet of trawsged, but scarcely intelligible now.
^ John, King of France, was made prisoner, and continued a captive for some five years.
* Barhwr, ' a tonsor', uot of boards like Rhitta Gawr, but of lieads.
^ Mah Erhiu, Geraiut, a cliief- tain or prince of Dyfnaint, or Devon, in the fifth century. The story of Geraint ab Erbin will be found in the MaUnogion.
« Tromwcdd trin, ' the heavy weapons of battle'.
^ Benuau a barfau y bu. — MS.
h
58 TOLO GOCH.
Eillio, o'i nerth a'i allu, Fennau a barfau^ y bu ; A gollwng, gynta' gallai, Y gwaed tros draed trist i rai.* Anwyl fydd gan wyl Einiort, Aml ei feirdd a mawl ei fort. • Cadw 'r bobl mewn cadair bybyr,^ Cedwi 'r castell gwell na 'r gwŷr. Oadw dwy lirs,^ ceidwad loensiamp,^ Cadw 'r ddwywlad, cadw 'r gad, cadw 'r gamp ; Cadw 'r môr-darw cyd a'r mor-dir, Cadw 'r môrdrai, cadw 'r tai, cadw 'r tir ; Cadw 'r gwledydd oll, cadw 'r glewdwr, A chad\v 'r gaer — iechyd i'r gŵr I
8 After this line tlie foUowing lucubrations on this pocm to Syr
couplet ajipears in one MS. : — Hyicel y Ficijcill, we cannot help
, ^ - , , expressiníî our deep regret at the
'Gwardenyw,garwdeunaw-osgl, '..^. 'u ^,,,. ^^^^_
A maer yn y drwsgaen drosgl, . ,. ,
scni^ts of the poem are so yarious
8 CöJair ?^ÿ%r, ' firm throne'. — no two MSS. being alike — and
, ^ , , ,. T , theyhavebeensocarelesslywrought,
> Cadw dwy hrs. In a note, •' j o j
that a correct text cannot now be
made. We haye deemed it a more
Letüis Glyn Cothi, vii, iv, 59, lir is
translated ' livery', That, probably,
. .^ , , honest, if not a wiser course, to
is its meanmg here, „ ' . ' ,
^ö
allow passages to remain unravel-
' Locììsiamp or lorsiamp, ' a coat . ]^;(j, than to hazard conjectures—
of raail'; from Jorica and campus. oftentimos proyed by new elucida-
SeeGlossarytoDafyddabGwilym's tions to b'; wide of the mark—
Works, page 545. which mig it mislead and disap-
In coucluding our wearisome point.
HISTORICAL rOEMS.
59
CYWYDD MOLIANT I EDWARD III, BEENIN LLOEGE, WEDI AEEFA CPtESSI.i
Edwakt ap Edwaht, gwart gwŷr, AL Edwart auian Bedwyr -^ Edwart ^yyr^ Edwart ydwyd, Trydydd Edwart, Uewpart llwyd ; Ar awr dda,'* arwraidd ior, Aur gwnsallt,? erjr Gwineor,^ Y'tli aned o'th ddaioni ; Na fetho turn^ fyth i ti ! Cael a wnaethost, post peisdew,^ Calon a Uawfron y llew. A fîriw^ lygliw/ olyg-loyw,^ A phryd dawn,^ a phriod hoyw.
* Aerfa Cressi. Eclward inyaded Frauce to make good his claim to the Crown. He defeated the foe at Crecy. and took Calais. He died at llichmond in 1377.
2 Bedwìjr was one of the brayest knights üf King Arthur's court, and was the pentruUiad, ' chief butler'.
^ Wyr is here literally ' grand- son'. The term, however, is more generally used by the poets of this age, to siguify ' descendant'.
< Ar aicr dda. In other words — ' His star was in the ascendant'.
* Gìoisallt, ' a military garment', ' a general's robe'.
^ Eryr Gicinsor. Edward III was surnamed 'of Windsor'. It was the place of his birth.
' Turn. We could almost fancy this word to be a corrupted form of teyrn, ' sovereiguty'. We must, however, iu deference to high au- thority, strip it of the dignity, and give it tbe huinbler siguiíication of ' a good turn'.
** J^ost peisdew. Pais is * coat'; pais-ddur, 'a coat of mail'. It must be regarded here as a robe of distinction.
" Fj'riw, ' mien', ' countenance'.
' Li/gliic, ' dusky', ' dark'.
2 ()hj{/-lnyw, ' bright-eycd'. Thc
60
lOLO GOCII.
A pliob iaith, cydymaith caclr ; Eiigyhiidd wyd, fy ngwaladr.^ Cefais gost, cefaist gysteg,^ Yn nechreu d' oes yn wychr^ deg ; Yn ostwng pawb anystwyth, Lloegr a Ffraingc, lle gorau ffrwyth. Cof cyfedliw''' heddiw hyn — Eob ail brwydr gan bobl Brydyn.** Difa eu llu lle bu 'r baicli, Dâl brenin, dileu Brynaich/ Dolurio rhai, dâl eraill, Llusgo 'r ieirll oU, llosgi 'r llaiU. Curaist â blif,^ ddylif ddelw/ Cerrig Caer Ferwig-^ fur-welw.^
portrait our poet draws of Edward is grapliic iu tlie extreme. The dark couuteuance animated by a clear, brilliaut eye ; the body ap- parelled iu a coat of heavy mail, and enclosiug the heart and cour- age of a liou ; together forui a uo meau picture of combiued heroism and royalty. As he proceeds, the bard scems to warm towards tlie Euglish monarch, until at last he makes him somethiug more than human, aud iuvokes him as liis lord. Aud to a certain extent he was right. Edward III was " every inch a king".
^ A phrijd daw. — MS.
* Fy 7igiculad)\ ' my sovereign', ' my leader'.
^ Gijsteg^ ' affliction', ' paiuful labour'. The early years of Ed- ward liad beeu tempestuous. Tlie shock he muí;t have felt at the executiou of his uncle, the conduct
of his mother, who cohabited openly with the Earl of March, his own gallaut arrest of Mortimer aud the briuging him to trial aud execu- tiou, were severe incideuts iu so young a life. All occurred before he reached his majority.
^ Wychr, 'stout', ' cheerful', ' re- solute'.
' Cof ojfedUic^ ' a memorial of reproach', ' a disgrace'.
^ Brydyn. The allusion is to the hing's wars in Scotland.
^ Brynaich. See note 2, p. 49.
• Blif ' a kind of catapult for throwiug large stones.
- Ddylif ddelw, ' in the mauuer of a dehige or torrent'.
=" Caer Fericig. ' Berwick-on- Tweed'. From the taking of the town by Edward it has remaiuHd iu the possession of the Euglish to the ijresent time.
HISTORICAL POEMS. 61
Ehoist ar gythlwug, rhwystr gwytMaM-n,^
Ar for Udd aerfa fawr iawn.
Gelyn fuost i'r Galais,^
0 gael y dref, goleu drais.
Perygl fu i byrth Paris/
Trwst y gâd lle 'i t'rewaist gis.^
Grasus dy hynt yn Gressi f
Gras teg a rydd Grist i ti !
Llithiodd dy fyddin, lin leni,
Prain by w ar frenin Böem ;^
Ehedaist, mor hy ydwyd,
Hyd y nef ; ehed}Ti wyd.
AYeithian ni 'th ddi-g}'woethir,
Ni thyn dyn derfyn dy dir.
Gwna dithau — doniau dy daid — ^
Doethineb da i'th enaid ;
Cymmod â Duw, nid cam-oes^
Cymmer jn dy giyfder groes.^
* Fnr-ìcchr, ' of decaying or was appealed to by a messenger
crumbling walls'. for help, he refused with the words:
5 Môr U'ld, ' the English Chan- — " Let the boy win his spurs." nel'. The King stood on an eminence
6 Galais is the name, or rather whence he could survey the whole the form of it, which is generally field, aud was aware, doubtless, found in ancient MSS. that the Prince was in no inextri-
' Edward led his army on to- cable difficulty.
ward Paris, and the city was ^ Böem, ' Bohemia'. The lau-
thrown into a panic. It was saved guage of the Bard in this passage
only by the most strenuous exer- is highly poetical : — "Thinearmy,
tions aud the help of German a fierce brood, enticed the ravens
knights. on tbe King of Bohemia."
8 6'ẁ, ' a blow', ' a stripe'. * Dy da'ul. The first Edward,
9 Gressi. This battle was vir- ^ Groes. We must not suppose tually fought by the Black Prince, that lolo would have his hero take who was at one time so hardly up the cross iu the sensc that our pressed, as to be doemed in pcril Divine Master used the words. As by his foUowers. When Edward the context shows, he calls on iiim
62 lOLO GOCH.
Od ai i Eoeg, mae darogan, Darw glew, y ceffi dîr giân, A'r luddew-dref arw ddidrist, A theimlo grog a theml Grist ; A goresgyn a'r grwys-gaith* Gaerusalem, Fethle'm faith. Tarw gwych, ceffi 'r tir a'r gwŷr ; Torr fanw^aith tai Ehufeinwyr ; Cyrch hyd yn min Constinobl ; Cer bron Caer Bab'lon cur bobl. Cyn dy farw y cai arwain
Y tair coron cywair cain,
A ddygwyd gynt ar hynt rhwydd ; Ar deir-gwlad er Duw Arglwydd ; Tirion-rhwydd a'r tair anrheg A'th wedd, frenin teyrnedd teg. Teilwng rhwng y tair talaith Frenin Cwlen^ fawr-wen faith. I wen-wlad nef ef a fedd,
Y doi yno 'n y diwedd.
to join the Crusades, describing the * Gni'ys-gaitîi. Gaith, says llich-
state iu which he would find ards, is the same as caeth. These
Greece, Jerusalem, Bethlehem, and -n'ords must then be trauslated: —
so on. Edward's prowess in Scot- ' ^Mth the captive cross' — the cross
land aud France led the Bard to that -was then in the power of the
expect great results in the East Saracens. also from his achievements. ® Cwlen, ' Cologne'.
HISTOEICAL rOEMS,
63
CTWYDD I BEDWAR MAB TUDUR LLWYDi O BENMYXY^DD MOX.
Myn'd yr wyf i dîr Mon^ draw — Mynycli ini' ei ddymunaw — I ymwybod^ â meibion Tudur fy naf/ Mordaf ^ Mon : Gronwy, Ehys, ynys hynaif,^ Ednyfed, Gwilym lym laif.''' Eliys, Ednyfed rodd-ged rwy,^ Gway wlym graen^ Gwilym Gronwy ■}
' Tudur Lìwyâ was of the stock whence descended Owen Tudur, the founder of the Tudor dyuasty in Englaud.
* lolo tíoch was a native of the county of Deubigh. His home was thus a considerable distauce from Anglesey.
* Ymwybod. Independeutly of the exigencies of the cynyhanedd, the use of this tenu is very appro- priate here. While ymwelcd — the word that usually denotes ' to visit' — in its etymological meaning, simply impMes ' to see aud to be seen', ymwyhod couveys the idea of 'to know and to be kuowu, as froui intercourse', 'to bccome personally acquaiuted'.
< Naf, ' lord'.
* Mordaf was oue of tlie tliree generous chieítaius of the Isle of
Britain. It is uot uuusual with the ^Velsh bards to make the name of a renowued chieftaiu or lady aa epithet of the persou of whom he is then siuging. Nor is this prac- tice coufiued to tbem. The name MecsBuas, for instance, is given frequently to a patron of poets and literati. lu his beautiful verses on the marriage of Sir Richard Bulke- ley, Jolm Blackwell complimeuts the bride with the name of Nest: —
" Ystanley sy Nest hoeulon Iddo, a merch uewydd Mon."
^ Hynaif ' aucestors'; here, per- haps, ' patriarchs' or • rulers'.
7 Llaif ylaif ' sharp weapon', ' a glaive'.
^ Ru-y, ' excess'; here, probably its mcaning is ' abundant'.
* O'racn, ' aspcrity', ' bolducs.s'.
' Thc bard, to avoid giving uu-
64 lOLO GOCH.
Eclnyfed, Gronwy rhwy Ehun,"
Rhys, Gwilym ail rwysg Aluu/'^
Gwilym Gronwy yw ^n gwaladr,*
Ednyfed, rhoes ged Rbys gadr ;
Pedwar eglur pedroglion^
Angelystôr^ gar môr Mon.
Pedwar Nudd'^ — Pedr i'w noddi — •
Poed ar awr dda mawr i mi !
Pedwar-maib — pwy a'u dirmyg ?
Plaid ni âd im ddim plyg^
laith o figion^ iaith fyged,
Gwynedd pedwar cydwedd ced.
Plant Tudyi', fy eryr fu,
Peunod haelion pen teulu ;
Aerfa^ 'r Uu ar for Uiant,
Aur dorllwyth yw 'r blaenífrwyth bhmt ;
Teirw ergryd^ haerllyd eurllin,
Terydr^ aer taer ar y drin.^
due prominence to any j)articular quadrature', or ' square', as for
one, mingles the names of the four battle.
sons promiscuously. 6 Ancjehjstor, ' evaugelist', of
2 lìhun. There were several dis- ^yhom there v/ere four, as there tinguished men of this name. Tlie -were here four sons.
principal were PJum, a son of , p^^j^^,^^, ^,^^^_^_ g^^ ^^^^ ^ ^^ Maeìjicn Gwijnedd, who succeeded ^^^ preceding page.
his father; Ehun, tìie son oî Pere- „ ^, . , , „ „
, j. w xi 1 his and the lollowmg Ime are
dur, who was restored to the so- .^ , t • •
. ^ , , , , 1 » T 1 1 mamíestly corrupt^ It is impossible
vereignty ou the death oi idwal ; , , , ,
1 r.7 n 1 1 n / r ii- XI • 1 to uuderstaud them as they are
and Bhun Baladr Bras (oi the thick . "'
shaft), who succeeded his father,
LleonGaior. ' ^4«/«, ' battle-field'. ' The
3 Alun, here 'the river Alun'. battle-fìeld of the host ou ocean's The rush of Gwilym was like that "öod •
of the stream or torrent. > Ergryd, for ergrydr, ' causing
* Gwaladr, ' a disposer'; hence, to trerable'.
' the head' or ' leader of a people'. ^ Terydr, ' ardent workers'.
* Pedroglion, ' meu to form a •■' Drin, ' Battle'.
r
DA Y Cymmrodor
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