O^acnsU HntttetBitg SItbtatg 
 
 Jt^aca. ^tm Qark 
 
 BOUGHT WITH THE INCOME OF THE 
 
 FISKE ENDOWMENT FUND 
 
 THE BEQUEST OF 
 
 WILLARD FISKE 
 
 LIBRARIAN OF THE UNIVERSITY 1868-1883 
 1905 
 
 ~ej — ' — "aF— 
 
Cornell University Library 
 PB 2281.E92 1862 
 
 3 1924 026 877 294 
 
h Cornell University 
 J Library 
 
 The original of this book is in 
 the Cornell University Library. 
 
 There are no known copyright restrictions in 
 the United States on the use of the text. 
 
 http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924026877294 
 
SOME SPECIMENS OF THE POETRY OF THE 
 ANCIENT WELSH BARDS. 
 
SOME 
 
 SPECIMENS OF THE POETEY 
 
 THE ANCIENT WELSH BAED8. 
 
 ®tansIat<D into 'StiiUif), 
 
 WITH EXPLANATORY NOTES ON THK HISTOEICAL PASSAGES, AMD A SHORT 
 
 ACCOUNT OF MEN AND PLACES MENTIONED 
 
 BY THE BARDS. 
 
 REV. EVAN EVANS, (lEUAN" PRYDYDD HIE.) 
 
 " Vos quoque, qui fortes animas belloque peremptas 
 " Landibus in lonerum, Vates, dimittitis eevum, 
 " Flarima securi fudistis carmina Bardi." 
 
 Luc ARCS. 
 
 ' Si quid mea carmina possunt 
 
 " Aonio statuam sublimes vertice Bardos, 
 " Bardos Fieiidum cultures atque canentis 
 " Phcebi delicias, qnibus est data cura perennis 
 " Dicere nobilium clarissima facta virorum, 
 ' ' Aureaque excelsam famam super astra locare." 
 
 Lelahdvs in Asseitioue Arturii. 
 
 EEPEINTED FROM DODSLEY'S EDITION OE 1764. 
 
 PUBLISHED BY JOHN PRYSE, LLANIDLOES, MONTGOMERY; 
 AND SOLD BY ALL BOOSSELLEBS. 
 
 ■(■; 
 
TO 
 
 SIE ROGIEE M08TYN, 
 
 OF 
 
 MOSTYN AND GLODDAITH, BART., 
 
 Representative of the County, Lord Lieutenant, and 
 Lieutenant Colonel of the Militia of Flintshire, 
 
 Sir, 
 
 I HOPE you will pardon my presumption in prefixing- 
 your name to the following- small collection of British 
 poems, to which you have a just claim, as being- lineally 
 descended from those heroes they celebrate, and retain in 
 an eminent manner the worth and g-enerous principles of 
 your renowned ancestors. The British Bards were re- 
 ceived by the nobility and gentry with distinguished 
 marks of esteem, in every part of Wales, and particularly 
 at Gloddaith and Mostyn, where their works are still pre- 
 served in your curious libraries. I hope, therefore, an 
 attempt to g-ive the public a small specimen of their works 
 will not fail of your approbation, which the editor flatters 
 himself with, from the g-enerous manner with which you 
 treated him, particularly by lending him some of your 
 valuable books and manuscripts. 
 
 That you may long continue to be an ornament to your 
 country, and a pattern of virtuous actions, and a generous 
 patron of learning, is the sincere wish, of. 
 
 Sir, 
 Your obliged 
 
 Humble Servant, 
 EYAN EYANS. 
 
PEEF AOE. 
 
 As there is a natural curiosity in most people to be brought acquaint- 
 ed with the works of men, whose names have been conveyed 
 down to us with applause from very early antiquity, I have been induced 
 to think, that a translation of some of the Welsh Bards would be no un- 
 acceptable present to the public. It is true they lived in times when all 
 Europe was enveloped with the dark cloud of bigotry and ignorance ; yet, 
 even under these disadvantageous circumstances, a late instance may con- 
 vince us, that poetry shone forth with a light, that seems astonishing to 
 many readers. They who have perused the works of Ossian, as translated 
 by Mr. Macpherson, will, I believe, be of my opinion. 
 
 I mean not to set the following poems in competition with those just 
 mentioned ; nor did the success which they have met with from the world, 
 put me upon this undertaking. It was first thought of, and encouraged 
 some years before the name of Ossian was known in England. I had long 
 been convinced, that no nation in Europe possesses greater remains of an- 
 cient and genuine pieces of this kind than the Welsh ; and therefore was 
 inclined, in honour to my country, to give a specimen of them in the Eng- 
 lish language. 
 
 As to the genuineness of these poems, I think there can be no doubt ; 
 but though we may vie with the Scottish nation in this particular, yet 
 there is another point, in which we must yield to thera undoubtedly. The 
 language of their oldest poets, it seems, is still perfectly intelligible, which 
 is by no means our case. 
 
 The works of Taliesin, Llywaroh Hen, Aneurin Gwawdrydd, Myrddin 
 Wyllt, Avan-Verddig, who all flourished about the year 560, a consider- 
 able time after Ossian, are hardly understood by the best critics and anti- 
 quarians in Wales, though our language has not undergone more changes 
 than the Erse. Nay, the Bards that wrote a long while after, from the 
 time of William the Conquerer to the death of Prince Llewelyn, are not so 
 easy to be understood ; but that whoever goes about to translate them, 
 will find numerous obsolete words, not to be found in any Dictionary or 
 Glossary, either in print or manuscript. 
 
 What this difference is owing to, I leave to be determined by others, 
 who are better acquainted, than I am, with such circumstances of the 
 Scottish Highlands, as might prove more favourable towards keeping up 
 the perfect knowledge of their language for so many generations. But, 
 be that as it may, it is not my intent to enter into the dispute, which has 
 arisen in relation to the antiquity of Ossian's poems. My concern is only 
 about the opinion the world may entertain of the intrinsic value of those 
 which I offer. They seem to me, though not so methodical and regular in 
 their composition as many poems of other nations, yet not to he wanting 
 in poetical merit ; and if 1 am not totally deceived in my judgment, I 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 shall have no reason to repent of the pains I have taken to draw them 
 out of that state of obscurity, in which they have hitherto been buried, and 
 in which they run great risk of mouldering away. 
 
 It might perhaps be expected, that I should say something of the Bards 
 in general on this occasion ; but as I have treated that subject in my Latin 
 Dissertation, which I shall annex to these translations, it will be sufficient 
 to observe here, that the usual subjects of their poems were the brave feats 
 of their warriors in the field, their hospitality and generosity, with other 
 commendable qualities in domestic life, and elegies upon their great men, 
 which were sung to the harp at their feasts, before a numerous audience of 
 their friends and relations. This is the account that the Greek and Roman 
 writers have given of them, as I have shown at large in the above-mention- 
 ed treatise, which I intend to publish. 
 
 The following poems, from among many others of greater length, and of 
 equal merit, were taken from a manuscript of the learned Dr. Davies, 
 author of the Dictionary, which he had transcribed from an ancient vel- 
 lom MS. which was wrote, partly in Edward the Second and Third's time, 
 and partly in Henry the Fifth's, containing the works of all the Bards 
 from the Conquest to the death of Llewelyn, the last prince of the British line. 
 This is a noble treasure, and very rare to be met with ; for Edward the 
 First ordered all our Bards, and their works, to be destroyed, as is 
 attested by Sir John Wynne of Gwydir, in the history he compiled of his 
 ancestors at Carnarvon. What remained of their works were conveyed in 
 his time to the Exchequer, where he complains they lay in great confusion, 
 when he had occasion to consult them. 
 
 As to the translation, I have endeavoured to render the sense of the 
 Bards faithfully, without confining myself to too servile a version ; nor 
 have I, on the other hand, taken liberty to wander much from the originals ; 
 unless where I saw it absolutely necessary, on account of the different 
 phraseology and idiom of language. 
 
 If this small collection has the good fortune to merit the attention of the 
 public, I may, in some future time, if God permit me life and health, 
 proceed to translate other select pieces from the same manuscript. The 
 poems, in the original, have great merit; and if there is none in the 
 translation of this specimen, it must be owing entirely to my inability to 
 do the Bards justice. I am not the only person who admires them : men 
 of the greatest sense and learning in Wales do the same. 
 
 It must be owned, that it is an arduous task to bring them to make any 
 tolerable figure in a prose translation ; but those who have any candour, 
 will make allowances. What was said of poetry in general by one of the 
 wits, that it is but Prose run mad, may very justly be applied to our Bards 
 in particular : for there are not such extravagant flights in any poetic 
 compositions, except it be in the Eastern, to which, as far as I can judge 
 by the few translated specimens I have seen, they bear a great resemblance. 
 
 I have added a few Notes, to illustrate some historical facts alluded to 
 in the poems, and a short account of each poem, and the occasion it was 
 •written upon, as far as it could be traced from our ancient manuscripts. 
 
 I have been obliged to leave blanks in some places, where I did not 
 understand the meaning in the original, as I had but one copy by me, 
 which might be faulty. When I have an opportunity to collate it with 
 other copies, I may clear these obscure passages. 
 
SPECIMENS OF MCIENT WELSH POETEY. 
 
 A POEM composed by Owain Cyveiliog, prince of Pomys, 
 entitled by him Hirlas, from a large drinking horn so 
 called, used at feasts in his palace. He was driven out 
 of his country by Owain Gwynedd, prince of Worth 
 Wales, and JRhys-ap-Griffydd-ap-Bhys-ap-Tewdwr, 
 prince of South Wales, A.D. 1167, and recovered it, by 
 the help of the Normans and English, under Henry the 
 .second. He flourished about A.D. 1160, in the time 
 of Owain Gwynedd and his son David. This poem was 
 composed on account of a battle fought with the English 
 at Maelor, which is a part of the counties of Denbigh 
 and Flint, according to the modern division. 
 
 WHEN the dawn arose, the shout was g'ivenj the 
 enemy g-are an ominous presag-e; our men were 
 stained with hlood, after a hard contest; and the borders 
 of Maelor Drefred were beheld with wonder and astonish- 
 ment. Strangers have I driven away undaunted from 
 the field with bloody arms. He that provokes the brave 
 man, ought to dread his resentment. 
 
 Fill, cup-bearer, fill with alacrity the horn of Rhys, in 
 the generous prince's hall; for wain's hall was ever sup- 
 ported by spoils taken from the enemy; and in it thpu 
 hearest of the relief of thousands. There the gates are 
 ever open. 
 
 cup-bearer, who, with patience, mindest thy duty, 
 forsake us not; fetch the horn, that we may drink to- 
 gether, whose gloss is like the wave of the sea; whose 
 
10 SPECIMENS OF ANCIENT WELSH POETRY. 
 
 green handles shew the skill of the artist, and are tipped 
 with g-old. Bring- the hest meath, and put it in Gwg-an 
 Draws's hand, for the noble feats which he hath achieved: 
 the offspring of Grbnwy, who valiantly fought in the 
 midst of dang'ers ; a race of heroes for worthy acts re- 
 nowned : and men, who, in every hardship they under- 
 go, deserve a reward ; who are in the battle foremost : the 
 guardians of Sabrina. Their friends exult, when they 
 hear their voice. The festal shout will cease when they 
 are gone. 
 
 Fill thou the yellow-tipped horn, badge of honour and 
 mirth, full of frothing meath ; and if thou art desirous to 
 have thy life prolonged to the year's end, stop not the re- 
 ward due to his virtue, for it is unjust ; and bring it to 
 Griffydd, with the crimson lance. Bring wine in the 
 transparent horn ; for he is the guardian of Arwystli,^ the 
 defence of its borders ; a dragon of Owain the generous, 
 whose descent is from Cynvyn ; a dragon he was from the 
 beginning, that never was terrified in the battle ; his brave 
 actions shall follow him. The warriors went to pui'chase 
 renown, flushed with liquor, and armed like Edwin ; they 
 paid for their mead, like BelynV men, in the days of yore. 
 And as long as men exist, their valour shall be the com- 
 mon theme of Bards. 
 
 Fill thou the horn ; for it is my inclination, that we 
 may converse in mirth and festivity with our brave gen- 
 eral ; put it in the hand of the worthy Ednyfed, with his 
 spear broken to pieces, and his shield pierced through. 
 Like the bursting of a hurricane upon the smooth sea 
 in the conflict of battle, they 
 
 1 Arwystli, the name of one of the cantreds of Powys. 2 Belyn, a great man from Lleyn 
 in Carnarvonshire, mentioned in the Triades, and is said there to have fought with Edwin, 
 king of the Northumbrians, in Bryn Cenau in Rhos, in the county of Denbigh ; probably 
 be was one of Cadwallon's generals; it is well known, and confessed by Beda himself, that 
 that prince was a terrible scourge to the Saxons. 
 
SPECIMENS OE ANCIENT WELSH POETRY. 11 
 
 trould soon break in pieces the sides of a golden-bordered 
 shield: their lances were besmeared with gore, after 
 piercing- the heads of their enemies; they were vigorous 
 and active in the defence of delightful Garthan.' Heard 
 ye in Maelor the noise of war, the horrid din of arms, 
 their furious onset, loud as in the battle of Bangor/ where 
 fire flashed out of their spears ? There two princes en- 
 gaged, when the carousing of Morach Vorvran^ happened. 
 
 Fill thou the horn ; for it is my delight, in the place 
 where the defenders of our country drink mead, and give 
 it to Selyf the fearless, the defence of Gwygyr;* woe to 
 the wretch that offends him, eagle-hearted hero: and to 
 the son of Madoc, the famous and generous Tudur, like a 
 wolf when he seizes his prey, is his assault in the onset. 
 Two heroes, who were sage in their counsels, but active 
 in the field, the two sons of Ynyr, who, on the day of 
 battle, were ready for the attack, heedless of danger, 
 famous for their exploits ; their assault was like that of 
 strong lions, and they pierced their enemies like brave 
 warriors ; they were lords of the battle, and rushed fore- 
 
 1 Garthan, the name of a fort or castle somewliere near the Severn. 
 
 2 This was the famous battle of Bangor-is-y-coed in Flintshire, after the murder of the 
 monks, at the instigation of Austin, the first converter of the Saxons to Christianity. This 
 is the account Humphrey Lloyd gives of that affair: " Ille vero [Augustinus S.] ob banc 
 contumeliam, & quod arcbiepiscopo Cantuariae a se constituto, & quod cum Homaoa ecclesia 
 in quibnsdam non convenirent, Anglorum odium ita in eos eoncivit, ut paulo post (ut 
 dixi) ab Etfaelfredo, Ethelberti, Cantiae regis, ob Augustino incitati, opera & auxiliis, mona- 
 chi pacem petentes, cnideliter occisi ; & postea Britanni duce Brochwelo Powisiae Bege, 
 victi sunt, donee tandem Bletrusii Cornaviae ducis, Cadvanni Nortbwalliae, Mereduci 
 Suthwalliae regum copiis adjuti, & Dunoti abbatis viri doctissimi concione animati, quique 
 jnssit (ut nostri annales referunt) ut unusquisque terram oscularetur, in memoriam commun- 
 ionis corporis Dominici, aquamque ex Deva fluvio manu haustam biberet, in memoriam 
 sacratissim isanguinis Christi pro eis effusis, & ita communicati, memorabili proeiio Sax- 
 ones, Decisis (at Huntingtonensis refert) ex eis MLXVI. Cadvanumque in civitate Legionis 
 regem creavere." Britan. Descript. Commentariolum, p. 90, & 91, Moses Williams's 
 Edition. This battle is called in our annals sometimes Gwaith Caerlleon, that is, the battle of 
 Chester, and is said to have been fought, A. D. 633. 
 
 3 We have no account at present, that I know of, who this Morach Vorvran was, nor the 
 occasion of his joy and festivity, alluded to in this poeift; probably it was upon the defeat of 
 tiie Saxons at Bangor. 
 
 jU!hfljnamejti£a nlrn-g. hut, whnrfl aitnated. T kn ow not. 
 
12 SPECIMENS OF ANCIENT WELSH POETBT. 
 
 most with their crimson lancesj the weight of their attack 
 was not to be withstood ; their shields were broke asunder 
 with much force^ as the hig-h-sounding- wind on the beach 
 of the green sea, and the encroaching of the furious waves 
 on the coast of Talgarth.' 
 
 Fill, cup-bearer, as thou regardest thy life; fill the 
 horn, badge of honour at feasts, the hirlas^ drinking-horn, 
 which is a token of distinction, whose tip is adorned with 
 silver, and it's cover of the same metal ; and bring it to 
 Tudur, the eagle of battles, filled with the best wine ; and 
 if thou dost not bring us the best of all, thy head shall fly 
 ofi": give it in the hand of Moreiddig, encourager of 
 songs, whose praise in battle is celebrated; they were 
 brethren of a distant clime, of an undaunted heart, and 
 their valour was observable in their countenance. Can I 
 
 forget their services ? Impetuous warriors, 
 
 wolves of the battle, their lances are besmeared with gore; 
 they were the heroes of the chief of Mochnant,^ in the 
 region of Powys. Their honour was soon purchased by 
 them both; they seized every occasion to defend their 
 country, in the time of need, with their bloody arms, and 
 they kept their borders from hostile invasion. Their lot 
 is praise ; it is like a mournful elegy to me to lose them 
 both ! Christ ! how pensive am I for the loss of Mor- 
 eiddig, which is irreparable. 
 
 Pour thou out the horn, though they desire it not, the 
 drinking horn, hirlas, with cheerfulness, and deliver it into 
 the hand of Morgant, one who deserves to be celebrated 
 with distinguished praise. It was like poison to me, to be 
 
 deprived of him, and that he was pierced by 
 
 the keen sword. 
 
 1 Talgarth, the name of many places in Wales ; but this must be somewhere near the sea . 
 
 2 Hirlas, the epithet of the horn, from hir, long; and glds, blue, or aiure. 
 
 3 JMochnannwys, in the original, he calls himself prince of the Mochnannwys, or inha- 
 bitants of Mochnant. 
 
**- SPECIMENS OF ANCIENT WELSH POETRY. 13 
 
 Pour, cup-bearer^ from a silver vessel, an honourable 
 gift, badg-e of distinction. On the lai'g-e plains of ' Gwes- 
 tun I have seen a miracle j to stop the impetuosity of 
 Gronwy, was more than a task for an hundred men. The 
 warriors pointed their lances, courted the battle, and were 
 profuse of life ; they met their enemies in the conflict, and 
 their chieftain was consumed by fire near the surg-es of 
 the sea.^ They rescued a noble prisoner, Meurig- the son 
 of Griffydd, of renowned valour j they were all of them 
 covered with bldod when they returned, and the hig-h hills 
 and the dales enjoyed the sun equally.^ 
 
 Pour the horn to the warriors, Owain's noble heroes, 
 who were equally active and brave. They assembled in 
 that renowned place, where the shining- steel glittered. 
 Madoc and Meilir were men accustomed to violence, and 
 maintained each other in the injuries they did to their 
 enemies; they were the shields of our army, and the 
 teachers of warlike attack. Hear ye, by drinking mead, 
 how the lord of Cattraeth went with his warriors in de- 
 fence of his just cause, the guards of Mynyddawc* about 
 their distinguished chief They have been celebrated for 
 their bravery, and their speedy march. But nobody has 
 ever performed so noble an exploit as my warriors, in the 
 tough land of Maelor, in rescuing the captive. 
 
 Pour out, cup-bearer, sweet and well strained mead, 
 (the thrust of the spear is red in the time of need,) from 
 the horns of wild oxen, covered with gold, for the honour, 
 
 1 Gwestnn, the name of a place somewhere in Fowys. 
 
 2 By this circumstance, it seems they rescued the prisoner from some maritime town. 
 
 3 Sun equally, that is, at noon' day, which added much to the merit of the action. 
 
 4 The guards of Mynyddawc Eiddin, or of Edinborough, in the battle of Cattraeth, which 
 is celebrated by Aneurin Gwawdrydd, in his heroic poem entitled the Gododin. Mynyddawc 
 was a prince of the North : he is mentioned in the Triades of Britain ; and his guards, who 
 were famous for their loyalty and bravery, were reckoned among the three noble guards of 
 the kingdom of Britain ; the other two being the guards, or, as the word Gosgordd may be 
 translated, the clans of Melyn, the son of Cynrelyn, and the guards of Drywon, tbe son of 
 Nudd, in the battle of Rhodwydd Arderydd. 
 
14 SPECIMENS OF ANCIENT WELSH POETEY* 
 
 and the reward of the souls of those departed heroes. Of 
 the numerous cares that surround princes, no one is con- 
 scious here but God and myself. The man who neither 
 gives nor takes quarter, and cannot be forced by his 
 enemies to abide to his word, Daniel the valiant and 
 beautiful : cup-bearer, great is the task to entreat him ; 
 his men will not cease dealing- death around them, till he 
 is mollified. Cup-bearer, our shares of mead are to be 
 g-iven us equally before the bright shining tapers. Cup- 
 bearer, hadst thou seen the action in the land of Llidwm,' 
 the men whom I honour have but what is their just 
 reward. Cup-bearer, hadst thou seen the armed chiefs, 
 encompassing Owain, who were his shield against the 
 violence of his foes, when Cawres^ was invaded with great 
 fury. Cup-bearer, slight not my commands : may we all 
 be admitted into Paradise by the King of kings; and long 
 may the liberty and happiness of my heroes continue, 
 where the truth is to be discerned distinctly. 
 
 1 Llidwm, the name of a place somewhere in Maelor. 
 
 2 I do not recollect what country this place is in. 
 
A POEM 
 
 To Myfanwy Fechan} of Castell Dinas Bran^ composed 
 by Honel-ap-Einion Lygliw^ a Bard who flourished 
 about A.B. 1390. 
 
 I AM without spirit, thou that hast enchanted me, as 
 Creirwy* enchanted Garwy.'' In whatever part of the 
 world I am, I lament my absence from the marble castle 
 of Myfanwy. Love is the heaviest burden, thou that 
 shinest like the heavens, and a g'reater punishment cannot 
 he inflicted than thy displeasure, beautiful Myfanwy. I 
 who am plung-ed deeper and deeper in love, can expect no 
 other ease, g'entle fair Myfanwy with the jet eyebrows, 
 than to lose my life upon thy account. I sung- in golden 
 verse thy praises, Myfanwy ; this is the happiness of 
 thy lover, but the happiness is a misfortune. The well-fed 
 steed carried me pensive like Trystan,^ and great was his 
 speed to reach the golden summit of Bran. Daily I turn 
 my eyes, and see thee, thou that shinest like the waves 
 of Cas^ennan.'' Charming sight to gaze on thee in the 
 spacious royal palace of Bran. I have rode hard. 
 
 1 I cannot recollect who Myfanwy Fechan, the subject of the poem, is, but guess her to 
 be descended from the princes of Powys. 
 
 2 Castell Dinas Bran, or Bran's Castle, is situated on a high hill near Llangollen in Den- 
 bighshire. Mr. Humphrey Llwyd, the antiquarian, thinks it took its name from Brennus ; 
 but Llwyd of the Museum, more probably, from Bran, the name of a river that runs there- 
 about. Bran signifies a crow, and is the name of several rivers in Wales. I suppose on 
 account of their black streams issuing from tnrfaries. There are still remains of the rnins 
 of this castle, 
 
 3 Howel-ap-Einion Lygliw was a man of note in his time, and a celeW-ated Bard. Dr. 
 Davies thinks he wasnncleto Griffydd Llwyd-ap-Dafydd-ap-Einion Lygliw, another famous 
 bard, who flourished A,D. 1400. 
 
 4 Creirwy, a lady of great beauty often mentioned by the bards. 
 
 5 Garwy, one of king Arthur's knights. 
 
 6 Trystan-ap-Tallwch, another of king Arthur's knights. 
 
 7 Caswenuan, the name of one of king Arthur's ships, which was wrecked in a placq 
 denominated from her GoflTrydau CaswennaB. 
 
16 SPECIMENS OF ANCIENT WELSH POETKY. 
 
 mounted on a fine hig-li-bred steed, upon thy account^ 
 thou with the countenance of cherry-flower bloom. The 
 speed was with eagerness, and the strong long-ham'd 
 steed of Alban' reached the summit of the hig-hland of 
 Bran. I have composed, with g-reat study and pains, thy 
 praise, thou that shinest like the new-fallen snow on 
 the brow of Aran.^ thou beautiful flower descended 
 from Trefor.^ Hear my sorrowful complaint. I am 
 wounded, and the g-reat love I bear thee will not suffer me 
 to sleep, unless thou g^ivest me a kind answer. I, thy pen- 
 sive Bard, am in as woeful plight as Rhun* by thy palace, 
 beautiful maid. I recite, without either flattery or guile, 
 thy praise, thou that shinest like the meridian sun, with 
 thy stately steps. Should'st thou, who art the luminary 
 of many countries, demand my two eyes, I ■would part 
 with them on thy account, such is the pain I suffer. They 
 pain .me while I look on the glossy walls of thy fine ha- 
 bitation, and see thee beautiful as the morning sun. I have 
 meditated thy praise, and made all countries resound with 
 it, and every singer was pleased in chanting it. So 
 affecting are the subjects of my mournful tale, Myfan- 
 wy,^ that lookest like flakes of driven snow. My loving 
 heart sinks with grief without thy support, thou that 
 hast the whiteness of the curling waves. Heaven has 
 decreed, that I should suffer tormenting pain, and wisdom 
 and reason were given in vain to guard against love. 
 When I saw thy fine shape in scarlet robes, thou daugh- 
 ter of a generous chief, I was so affected, that life and 
 death were equal to me. I sunk away, and scarce had 
 
 1 Alban, Scotland. It seems the Bard rode upon a Scotch steed. 
 3 Aran, the name of two high mountains in Merionethshire. 
 
 3 Some of the Trefor-family (and perhaps descendants) now live near Castell Dinas Bran. 
 
 4 Rhun, son of Maelgwn Gwynedd king of Britain, A.D. 570. I do not remember the 
 story alluded to here by the Bard. 
 
 5 I suppose Myfanwy Fechan was descended from Tudur Trefor earl of Hereford, of one 
 side, I'he worthy family of the Mostyns of Mostyn and Gloddaith, are descended from 
 Tudur Trefor. 
 
SPECIMENS OF ANCIENT WELSH POETBY. 17 
 
 time to make my confession. Alas! my labour in celebrat- 
 ing' thy praiseSj thou that shinest like the fine spider's 
 webs on the grass in a summer's day^ is vain. It would 
 be a hard task for any man to guess how great my pain 
 is. It is so afflicting, thou bright luminary of maids^ 
 that my colour is gone. I know that this pain will avail 
 me nothing towards obtaining thy love, thou whose 
 countenance is as bright tis the flowers of the haw-thorn. 
 how well didst thou succeed in making me to languish, 
 and despair. For heaven's sake, pity my distressed con- 
 dition, and soften the penance of thy Bard. I am a Bard, 
 who, though wounded by thee, sing thy praises in well 
 sounding verse, thou gentle maid of slender shape, who 
 hinderest me to sleep by thy charms. I bring thy praises, 
 bright maid, to thy neat palace at Dipbrain -^ many are 
 the songs that I rehearse to celebrate thy beautiful form. 
 
 1 Dinbrain, the same ai Siuas Bran. 
 
AN ODE 
 
 Of David Benvras, to Llewelyn the Great, Prince of 
 Wales, A.D. 1240. 
 
 HE who created the glorious sun, and that cold pale 
 luminary the moon, grant that I attain the heig-hts of 
 poetry, and be inspired with the genius of Myrddin;^ that 
 I may extol the praise of heroes, like Aneurin,* in the day 
 he sung- his celebrated Gododin ; that I may set forth the 
 happiness of the inhabitants of Venedotia, the noble and 
 prosperous prince of Gwynedd, the stay and prop of his 
 ♦fair and pleasant country. He is manly and heroic in the 
 battle, his fame overspreadeth the country about the 
 mountain of Breiddin.^ Since God created the first man, 
 there never was his equal in the front of battle. Llewelyn 
 the generous, of the race of princes, has struck terror and 
 astonishment in the heart of kings. When he strove for 
 superiority with Loegria's king, when he was wasting the 
 country of Erbin,* his troops were valiant and numerous. 
 Great was the confusion when the shout was given, his 
 sword was bathed in blood; proud were his nobles to see 
 his army ; when they heard the clashing of swords, then 
 was felt the agony of wounds^ - - - _ _ 
 
 1 There were two Myrddins, or Merlins, as they are wrongly written by the English viz, 
 Myrddin Emrys and Myrddin Wyllt; the last was a noted poet, and there is a poem of his 
 extant, entitled Arallennau, or the Apple-trees. 
 
 2 Aneurin Gwawdrydd Mychdeyrn Beirdd, i. e. Aneurin the monarch of Bards was a 
 celebrated poet of North Britain. His poem, the Gododin, upon the battle of Cattraeth is 
 extant; but by reason of its great antiquity, is not easily understood at this distance of time 
 beingupwardsof twelve hundred years old: however, it appears, from what is understood 
 of it, to have been a very spirited performance. 
 
 3 Craig Vreiddin, is a high hill in Montgomeryshire. 
 
 4 I know not where this country is. 
 
 i Some lines are wanting in the original. 
 
SPECIMENS OF ANCIENT WELSH POETRY. 19 
 
 Many were the gashes in the conflict of war. Great was 
 the confusion of the Saxons about the ditch of Knocking.^ 
 The sword was broke in the hand of the warrior. Heads 
 were covered with wounds, and the flood of human gore 
 gushed in streams down the knees. 
 
 Llewelyn's empire is wide extended, he is renowned as 
 far as Porth Ysgewin.^ Constantine was not his equal in 
 undergoing hardships. Had I arrived to the height of 
 prophecy, and the great gift of ancient poesy, I could not 
 relate his prowess in actionj no, Taliesin' himself was 
 unequal to the task. Before he finishes his course in this 
 world, after he has lived a long life on earth, ere he goes 
 to the deep and bone-bestrewed grave, ere the green herb 
 grows over his tomb, may He that turned the water into 
 ■v^ine, grant that he may have the Almighty's protection, 
 and that for every sin, with which he hath been stained, 
 he may receive remission. May Llewelyn, the noble and 
 generous, never be confounded or ashamed when he 
 arrives at that period ; and may he be under the protec- 
 tion of the saints. 
 
 1 Knocking, I suppose, is somewhere near Offa's ditch. 
 
 2 Forth Ysgewin is near Chepstow, in Monmouthshire or Glamorganshire. 
 
 3 Taliesin Ben Beirdd, or the chief of Bards, flourished about the year 560, or thereabout, 
 under Maelgwn Gwynedd king of Britain, called by Gildas Ma^Iocunus. Many of Taliesin's 
 poems are extant, but on account of their great antiquity are very obscure, as the work of 
 his cotemporaries are. There is a great deal of the Druidical Cabbala intermixed in his 
 works, especially about the transmigration of souls. 
 
A POEM 
 
 To Llemelyn the Great, composed by Einion the son of 
 Gmgan, about 1S44. 
 
 I INVOKE the assistance of the God of Heaven, 
 Christ our Saviour, whom to neg-lect is impious. That 
 gift is true which descendeth from above. The gifts tliat 
 are given me are immortal, to discern, according to the 
 great apostle, what is right and decent; and, among other 
 grand subjects, to celebrate my prince, who avoids not the 
 battle nor its danger ; Llewelyn the generous, the main- 
 tainer of Bards. He is the dispenser of happiness to his 
 subjects, his noble deeds cannot be sufficiently extolled. 
 His spear flashes in a hand accustomed to martial deeds. 
 It kills and puts its enemies to flight by the palace of 
 Rheidiol.^ I have seen, and it was my heart'^s delight, 
 the guards of Lleision^ about its grand buildings; number- 
 less troops of warriors mounted on white steeds. They 
 encompassed our eagle : Llewelyn the magnanimous hero, 
 whose armour glistened; the maintainer of his rights. 
 He defended the borders of Powys, a country renowned 
 for its bravery; he defended its steep passes, and sup- 
 ported the privileges of its prince. Obstinate was his 
 resistance to the treacherous English. In Rhuddlan he 
 was like the ruddy fire flaming with destructive light. 
 There have I seen Llewelyn the brave gaining immortal 
 glory. I have seen him gallantly ploughing the waves 
 of Deva, when the tide was at its height. I have seen 
 
 1 Rbeido! is the name of a large river in Cardiganshire, and Glasgmg, one of the pala- 
 ces of the princes of South Wales, is very near it, about a measured mile from Aberystwith 
 
 . and at present the property of the Rev. Mr. William Powel, of Nanteos. 
 
 2 Lleision was one of the palaces of the princes of Powys, corruptly now called Llysio ; 
 and the park about it is called Llysin-park, the patrimony of Lord Powys. 
 
SPECIMENS OF ANCIENT WELSH POETRY. 21 
 
 him furious in the conflict of Chester^ where he doubly 
 repaid his enemies the injuries he suffered from them. It 
 is but just that he should 6njoy the praise due to his 
 valour. I will extol thee, and the task is delig'htful. 
 Thou art like the eag'le amoug'st the nobles of Britain, 
 Thy form is majestic and terrible, when thou pursuest thy 
 foes. When thou invadest thy enemies, where Owain thy 
 predecessor invaded them in former times ; full proud was 
 thy heart in dividing' the spoils, it happened as in the 
 battles of Kulwydd and Llwyvein.' Thy beautiful steeds 
 were fatigued with the labour of the day, where the troops 
 wallowed in gore, and were thrown in confusion. The 
 bow was full bent before the mang-led corse, the spear 
 aimed at the breast in the country of Eurgain.* The army 
 at Offa's Bike panted for glory, the troops of Venedotia, 
 and the men of London, were as the alternate motion of 
 the waves on the sea-shore, where the sea-mew screams ; 
 great was our happiness to put the Normans to fear and 
 consternation. Llewelyn the terrible with his brave war- 
 riors effected it ; the prince of glorious and happy Mona. 
 He is its ornament and distinguished chief. 
 
 The lord of Demetia^ mustered his troops, and out of 
 envy met his prince in the field. The inhabitants of 
 Stone-walled Carmarthen were hewn to pieces in the con- 
 flict. Nor fort, nor castle, could withstand him: and 
 before the gates the English were trampled under foot. 
 Its chief was sad, the unsheathed sword shone bright, and 
 hundreds of hands were engaged in the onset at Llan 
 
 1 The battle of Llwyvein was fought by Urien Reged and his son Owain, against Ida 
 Mng of the Northumbrians. It is celebrated by Taliesin in a poem, entitled Gwaith Ar- 
 goed Llwyvein, i. u. the battle of Argoed Llwyvein. 
 
 a Eurgain, Northop in Flintshire, so called from Eurgaio, the daughter of Maelgwn 
 ' Gwynedd. 
 
 3 Demetia. This expedition of Llewelyn-ap-Iorwerth was against the FJemings and 
 Normans, of which there is an account in Powel's History of Wales, p. 277, 278. 
 
22 SPECIMENS OF ANCIENT WELSH POETRY. 
 
 Huadain.^ In Cilgeran^ they purchased g-lory and honour 
 
 . . In Aber Teivi the hovering- crows 
 
 were numberless . . . thick were the spears besmear- 
 ed with g-ore. The ravens croaked, they were greedy to 
 suck the prostrate carcases. Llewelyn, may such fate 
 attend thy foes. Mayest thou be more prosperous than 
 the noble Llywarch' with his bloody lance. Thy glory 
 shall not be obscured. There is none that exceedeth thee 
 in bestowing gifts on the days of solemnity. In battle 
 thy sword is conspicuous. Wherever thou goest to war, 
 to whatever distant clime, glory follows thee from the 
 rising to the setting sun. I have a generous and noble 
 ■prince, the lord of a large territory. He is renowned for 
 his coolness and conduct. Whole troops fall before him ; 
 he defendeth his men like an eagle. My prince's brave 
 actions will be celebrated in the country by Tanad.* He 
 is valorous as a lion, who can resist his lance? He is 
 charitable to the needy, and his relief is not sought in 
 vain. My prince is dressed in fine purple robes. He is 
 like generous Nudd^ in bestowing presents. Like taliant 
 HuaiP in defying his enemy. He is like E.hydderch'' in 
 distributing his gold. Let his praise resound in every 
 country. He possesses a large territory and immense 
 
 1 Llan Huadain, the name of a place in Fembrokesbire. 
 
 2 Cilgeran, the name of another place in the same county, near the river Teivi. 
 
 3 Llywarch Hen, the son of Elidir Lydanwyn a nobleman of North Britain, and consin 
 german to Urien Reged kiog of Cumbria ; he was a great warrior, and fought successful 
 against the Saxons ; but fortune at last favouring the Saxons, he was obliged in his old age 
 to retire to Wales. He had twenty-four sons, who wore golden chains, and were all killed 
 in battles against the Saxons. Llywarch Hen was a noted Bard, his works are extant 
 wherein he celebrates the noble feats of his sons, and bewails his misfortunes, and the trou- 
 bles of old age, especially in distress. 
 
 4 Tanad is the name of a river in Montgomeryshire, which emptieth itself into the Severn. 
 
 5 Nudd Hael, or the Generous, was a nobleman of North Britain remarkable for his 
 liberality. 
 
 6 Huail was a brother of Gildas, the son of Caw, and a noted warrior. His brother Gildaa 
 was the author of the Epistle De excidio Britannis. 
 
 7 Rhydderch Hael, or the Generous, was another nobleman of the North, noted for bis 
 liberality. 
 
SPECIMENS OF ANCIENT WELSH POETRY. S3 
 
 riches, wherever you turn your eyes. In wealth he is 
 equal to Mordaf ; like him he opens his liberal hand to the 
 Bard. He is like warlike Rhun^ in bestowing* his favours. 
 He is the subject of my meditation. I am to him as an 
 hand or an eye.* He is not descended from a base de- 
 g'enerate stock; and J myself am descended from his 
 father's courtiers. His fury in battle is like lightning- 
 when he attacks the foe: his heart g-lows with ardour in 
 the field like mag-nanimous Gwriad.^ His enemies are 
 scattered as leaves on the side of hills drove by tempest- 
 uous hurricanes. He is the honourable support and 
 owner of Hunydd.* He is the grace, the ornament of 
 Arvon.^ Llewelyn, terror of thy enemy, death issued out 
 of thy hand in the South. Thou art to us like an anchor 
 in the time of storm. Protector of our country, may the 
 shield of God protect thee. Britain, fearless of her en- 
 emies, glories in being ruled by him, by a chief who has 
 numerous troops to defend her; by Llewelyn, who defies 
 his enemies from shore to shore. He is the joy of armies, 
 and like a lion in danger. He is the emperor and sover- 
 eign of sea and land. He is a warrior that may be com- 
 pared to a deluge, to the surge on the beach that covereth 
 the wild salmons. His noise is like the roaring wave that 
 rusheth to the shore, that can neither be stopped or ap- 
 peased. He puts numerous troops of his enemies to flight 
 like a mighty wind. Warriors crowded about him, zeal- 
 ous to defend his just cause; their shields shone bright 
 
 1 Rhun, the son of Maelgwn Gwynedd king of Britain, a great warrior. 
 
 3 As an band, &c., i. c. I am as necessary to him as one of those members to the body, 
 to celebrate bis martial feats. 
 
 3 Gwriad is the name of a hero mentioned in the Gododin. 
 
 4 Hunydd, the name of a woman, probably the prince's mistress. The Bards had no 
 great affection for Joan the princess, daughter of Mng John, because she was an English- 
 woman, and not faithful to the prince's bed. 
 
 5 Arvon, the county of Carnarvon, so called, because situated opposite to Mdn, or Angle- 
 sea. ArvoD, literally Supra Mosam, frem the particle Ar, super, and Mdn, Mona. 
 
24 SPECIMENS OF ANCIENT WELSH POETEY. 
 
 on their arms. His Bards make the vales resound with 
 his praises; the justice of his cause, and his bravery in 
 maintaining- it, are deservedly celebrated. His valour is 
 the theme of every tongue. The glory of his victories is 
 heard in distant climes. His men exult about their eagle. 
 To yield or die is the fate of his enemies- — they have ex- 
 perienced his force by the shivering of his lance. In the 
 day of battle no danger can turn him from his purpose. 
 He is conspicuous above the rest, with a large, strong, 
 crimson lance. He is the honour of his country, great is 
 his generosity, and a suit is not made to him in vain. 
 Llewelyn is a tender-hearted prince. He can nobly 
 spread the feast, yet is he not enervated by luxury. May 
 he that bestowed on us a share of his heavenly revelation, 
 grant him the blessed habitation of the saints above the 
 stars. 
 
A PANEGYEIO 
 
 Upon Omain Gwynedd, Prince of North Wale*, by 
 Gwakhmai, the soi\ of Meilir, in the year 1157. 
 
 I 
 
 WILL extol the g-enerous hero descended from the 
 race of Roderic^^ the hulwark of his country, a prince 
 eminent for his good qualities, the glory of Britain, Owain 
 the brave and expert in arms, a prince that neither hoard- 
 eth nor coveteth riches. — Three fleets arrived, vessels of 
 the main, three powerful fleets of the first rate, furiously 
 to attack him on a sudden. One from Iwerddon,* the 
 other full of well-armed Lochlynians,' making a grand 
 appearance on the floods, the third from the transmarine 
 Normans,* which was attended with an immense, though 
 successless toil. 
 
 1 Owain Gnynedd, prince of North Wales, was descended ia a direct line from Roderie 
 tile Great, prince of all Wales, who divided his principality amongst his three sons. 
 
 2 Iwerddon, the British name of Ireland, hence the Hibernia of the Latins, and "lepvij 
 «nd,"I»6pwa of the Greeks, probably called from the British Y Werdd Vnysy i. e. the 
 Green Island. 
 
 3 Lochlynians, the Danes, so called from the Baltic, which our ancestors called Llyeblyn. 
 Llychlyn is the name of Denmark and Norway, and all those northern regfions mentioned 
 in the works of oar bards. 
 
 4 Normans. Moses Williams, ia his notes on the ^rse Cambro Brittanicae, gives the 
 following account of this battle. , 
 
 " Normanni, qui in hoc loco Frainc appellantur, erant copis quae Henricus Secundus in 
 Monam misit A.D. MCLVII. dace Madoco filio Maredudii Powisiae principe. Hi ecclesias 
 SS. Mari« et Petri (ut annales nostri referunt) spoliavere. Istae vero ecclesis in orientali 
 Monae plaga sunt, unde liquet locum Tal Moelvre dictum alicubi in Mona esse, fortasse 
 etiam baud procul ab ecclesiis prsdictis : omnes vero qui navibus egrediebantur a Monie 
 inoolis interfecti sunt." Vide Annales a Powelo editos, p. 206, 207. 
 
 It seems by Gwalchmai's poem to have been a very large fleet, which came partly from 
 Ireland, partly from the Baltic, and the rest from Normandy, to invade the principality. 
 It is plain that its forces were numerous, as they came from sp many countries; but it seems 
 they met with a very warm reception from the prince and his sons, and that they were glad 
 to sail away as soon as possible. 
 
26 SPECIMENS OF ANCIENT WELSH POETBY. 
 
 The Dragon of Mona's sons^ were so brave in action ^ 
 that there was a great tumult on their furious attack, and 
 before the prince himself, there was vast confusion, havoc, 
 conflict, honourable death, bloody battle, horrible conster- 
 nation, and upon Tal Moelvre a thousand banners. There 
 was an outrageous carnage,^ and the rage of spears, and 
 hasty signs of violent indignation. Blood raised the tide 
 of the Menai, and the crimson of human gore stained the 
 brine. There were glittering cuirasses, and the agony of 
 gashing wounds, and mangled warriors prostrate before 
 the chief, distinguished by his crimson lance. Lloegria 
 was put into confusion, the contest and confusion was 
 great, and the glory of our prince's wide-wasting sword 
 shall be celebrated in an hundred languages to give him 
 his merited praise. 
 
 1 Owain Gwynedd had many sons noted for their valour, cspecisdiy Howel, who was bom 
 of Finnog, an Irish lady. He was one of his father's generals in his wars against the En- 
 glish, Flemings, and Normans, in South Wales, and was a noted Bard, as several of his 
 poems, now extant, testify. 
 
 2 It seems that tne fleet landed in some part of the firth of Menai, and that it was a tind 
 of a mixed engagement, some fighting on shore, others from the ships. And probably the 
 great slaughter was owing to its being low water, and that they could not set sail : other- 
 wise I see no reason why, when they were worsted on land, they should eontinne the fight 
 in their ships. It is very plain that tbey were in great distress, and that there was a great 
 havoc made of them, as appears from the remainder of this very spirited poem. 
 
AN ELEGY 
 
 To Nest^ the daughter of Hoi»el, by Mnion, the son of 
 Gwalchmai, about the year 1240. 
 
 THE spring- returuS; the trees are in their bloonij and 
 the forest in its beauty, the birds chaunt, the sea is 
 smooth, the g-ently-rising tide sounds hollow, the wind is 
 still. The best armour ag^ainst misfortune is prayer. But 
 I cannot hide nor conceal my grief, nor can I be still and 
 silent. I have heard the waves raging- furiously towards 
 the confines of the land of the sons of Bali.* The sea 
 flowed with force, and conveyed a hoarse complaining 
 noise, on account of a gentle maiden. I have passed the 
 deep waters of the Teivi^ with slow steps. I sung, the 
 praise of Nest ere she died. Thousands have resounded 
 her name, like that of Elivri.* But now I must with a 
 pensive and sorrowful heart compose her elegy, a subject 
 fraught with misery. The bright luminary of Cadvan^ 
 was arrayed in silk, Ijow beautiful did she shine on the 
 banks of Dysynni,® how great was her innocence and sim- 
 plicity, joined with consummate prudence: she was above 
 the base arts of dissimulation. Now the ruddy earth covers 
 her in silence. How great was our grief, when she was 
 laid in her stony habitation. The burying of Nest was 
 an irreparable loss. Her eye was as sharp as the hawk, 
 which argued her descended from noble ancestors. She 
 added to her native beauty by her goodness and virtue. 
 
 41 
 
 1 Wiio this lady was is not known at present. 
 
 2 What country this is I cannot recollect. 
 
 3 Teivi, the name of a large river in Cardiganshire. 
 
 4 Elivri, the name of a woman ; but who she was, or when she lived, is not clear. 
 
 5 Cadvan is the saint of Towyn Meirionydd. 
 
 6 Cysynni is the name of a river that runs by Towyn. 
 
28 SPECIMENS OF ANCIENT WELSH POETRY. 
 
 She was the ornament of Venedotia, and her pride. She 
 rewarded the Bard generously. Never was pain equal to 
 what I suffer for her loss. Oh death, I feel thy sting, 
 thou hast undone me. No man upon earth regreteth 
 her loss like me ; but hard fate regardeth not the import- 
 unity of prayers, whenever mankind are destined to under- 
 go its power. generous Nest, thou liest in thy safe 
 retreat, I am pensive and melancholy like Pryderi.^ I 
 store my sorrow in my breast, and cannot discharge the 
 heavy burden. The dark, lonesome, dreary veil, which 
 covereth thy face, is ever before me, which covereth 
 a face that shone like the pearly dew on Eryri.^ I 
 make my humble petition to the great Creator of heaven 
 and earth, and my petition will not be denied, that he 
 grant, that this beautiful maid, who glittered like pearls, 
 may, through the intercession of Holy Dewi,' be received 
 to his mercy, that she may converse with the prophets, 
 that she may come into the inheritance of the All-wise 
 God, with Mary and the Martyrs. And in her behalf I 
 will profer my prayer, which will fly to the throne of 
 Heaven. My love and affection knew no bounds. May 
 she never suffer. Saint Peter be her protector. God 
 himself will not suffer her to be an- exile from the man- 
 sions of bliss. Heaven be her lot. 
 
 1 I cannot recollect at present who this person is, nor the occasion of his grief, though it 
 is mentioned in some of our manuscripts. 
 
 2 Eryri, Snowdon, called Creigiau Eryri and Mynydd Eryrj, i. e. the rocks and mount- 
 ains of snow, from Eiry, which signifi^ snow. As Niphates, the name of a mountain, from 
 a word of the same signification in Greek. 
 
 3 Dewi, St. David, a bishop in the time of king Arthur, and the patron saint of Wales^ 
 
A POEM 
 
 To Llewelyn-ap-Iormerth, or Llewelyn the Great ; in which 
 many of his victories are celebrated. 
 
 Composed by Llynarch Brydydd y Moch, a Sard, who, ac' 
 cording to Mr. Edward Llrvyd of the Museum's Catalogue 
 of the British writers, flourished about the year 1240; 
 hit this poem is certainly of more ancient date, for prince 
 Llewelyn died in the year 1240. However that be, the 
 original was taken from Llyfr Coch o Hergest, or the Bed 
 hook of JSergest, kept in the Archives of Jesus College, 
 Oxon. I have no apology to make for the Bards' method 
 of beginning or concluding their poems,but that it was their 
 general custom ever since the introduction of Christianity 
 to this island, which was very early. We have no 
 poems that I know of before that period, hut some few 
 remains of the Druids in that hind of verse called 
 JSnglyn Milwr. It was the custom of the heathen poets 
 themselves to begin their poems with an invocation of 
 the Supreme Being. As for instance, Theocritus in 
 the beginning of his Idyllium in praise of Ptolemeeus 
 Philadelphus, 
 
 But I shall not here enter into a critical dissertation of 
 their merits or defects ; my business, as a translator, 
 being to give as faithful a version from the original as I 
 possibly could at this distance of time ; when many of the 
 matters of fact, the manners of the age, and other cir- 
 cumstances, alluded to in their poems, must remain obscure 
 to those that are best versed in the records of antiquity. 
 
 MAY Christy the Crftator and Governor of the hosts of 
 heaven and earth, defend me from all disasters ; may 
 I, throug-h his assistance, be prudent and discreet ere I 
 
30 SPB0IMENS OF ANCIENT WELSH POETRY. 
 
 come to my narrow habitation in the grave. Christy the 
 son of God, will g-ive me the g-ift of song- to extol my 
 prince, who giveth the warlike shout with joy. Christ 
 who hath formed me of the four elements, and hath en- 
 dowed me with the deep and wonderful g-ift of poetry- 
 Llewelyn is the ruler of Britain and her armour. He is 
 a lion-like brave prince, unmoved in action, the son of 
 lorwerth,^ our strength and true friend, a descendant of 
 Owain^ the destroyer, whose abilities appeared in his 
 youth. He came to be a leader of forces, dressed in blue^ 
 neat and handsome. In the conflicts of battle, in the 
 clang- of arms, he was an heroic youth. When ten years 
 old he successfully attacked his kinsman.^ In Aber 
 Conwy, ere my prince, the brave Llewelyn, g-ot his right, 
 he contested with David,* who was a bloody chiefj like 
 Julius Csesar, A chief without blemish, not insulting- his 
 foes in distress, but in war impetuous and fierce, like the 
 points of flaming- fire burning- in their rag-e. It is a 
 general loss to the Bards, that he is covered with earth. 
 We grieve for him. — Llewelyn was our prince ere the 
 furious contest happened, and the spoils were amassed 
 with eagerness.' The purple gore ran over the snow-white 
 breasts of the warriors, and there was an universal havoc 
 and carnage after the shout. The parti-coloured waves 
 flowed over the broken spear, and the warriors were silent. 
 The briny wave came with force, and another met it mixed 
 
 1 lorwertb, surnatned Drwyndwn, or with the broken nose, the father of Llewelyn, was 
 the eldest son of Owain Gwynedd, but was not suffered to enjoy his right on account 
 of that blemish. 
 
 2 Owain Gwynedd, prince of North Wales. 
 
 3 Llewelyn was the lawful heir of the principality of North Wales, in right of his father 
 lorwertb, and accordingly put in his claim for it, and got it from his uncles DaviOand 
 Rodri, when he was very young. 
 
 4 David, the son of Owain Gwynedd, who succeeded his father as prince of Wales. 
 
 5 This battle is not mentioned by any of our historians. The description is very animated 
 in the original, and very expressive of such a scene. It was fought near Forth Aethwy. 
 The steeds of the main is a poetical expression for ships. 
 
SPECIMENS OF ANCIENT WELSH POETEY. 31 
 
 with blood, when we went to Forth Aethwy on the steeds 
 of the main over the great roaring- of the floods. The 
 spear raged with relentless fury, and the tide of blood 
 rushed with force. Our attack was sudden and fierce. 
 Death displayed itself in all itg horrors: so that it was a 
 doubt whether any of us should die of old age. Noble 
 troops, in the fatal hour, trampled on the dead like pranc- 
 ing steeds. Before Khodri was brought to submission, the 
 church-'yards were like fallow grounds. When Llewelyn 
 the Buccessful prince overcame near the Alun^ with his 
 warriors of the bright arms, ten thousand were killed, and 
 the crows made a noise, and a thousand were taken prison- 
 era. Llewelyn, though in battle he killed with fury, 
 though he burnt like outrageous fire, yet he 'was a mild 
 prince when the mead-horns were distributed - - - 
 ----- he gave generously under 
 his waving banners to his numerous Bards gold and silver, 
 which he regardeth not, and Gasgony prancing steeds, 
 with rich trappings, and great scarlet cloaks, shining like 
 the ruddy flame: warlike, strong, well-made destroying 
 steeds, with streams of foam issuing out of their mouths. 
 He generously bestoweth, like brave Arthur, snow-white 
 steeds by hundreds, whose speed is fleeter than birds. 
 
 Thou that feedest the fowls of the air like Caeawg* the 
 hero, the valiant ruler of all Britain, the numerous forces 
 of England tumble and wallow in the field before thee. 
 He bravely achieved above Deudraeth Dryfan,' the feats 
 of the renowned Ogrfan.* Men fall silently in the field, 
 and are deprived of the rites of sepulture. Thou hast 
 
 1 Alun, the name of a river in Flintshire, where there was a battle fought by Llewelyn 
 against the English. 
 
 2 Caeawg Cynnorawg is the name of a hero celebrated by Aueurin Gwawdrydd in the 
 Gododin. 
 
 3 Deudraeth Dryfan is the name of some place near the sea. There are many places in 
 Wales called Deudraeth ; but where this in particular is situated I cannot guess. 
 
 4 Ogrfan Gawr, an ancient British prince, cotemporary with king Aurthur. 
 
32 SPECIMENS OF ANCIENT WELSH POETRY. 
 
 defeated two numerous armies, one on the banks of Alun 
 of the rich soil, where the Normans were destroyed, as the 
 adversaries of Arthur in the battle of Camlan.' The 
 second in Arfon, near the sea shore ------ 
 
 And two ruling- chiefs, flushed with success, encouraged 
 us like lions, and one superior to them both, a stern hero, 
 the ravage of battles, like a man that conquers in all 
 places. Llewelyn with the broken blade of the gilt sword, 
 the waster of Lloegr, a wolf covered with red, with his 
 warriors about Rhuddlan. His forces carry the standard 
 before him waving in the air. Thou art possessed of the 
 valour of Cadwallon,^ the son of Cadfan. He is for re- 
 covering the government of all Britain. He kindly 
 stretched his hand to us, while his enemies fled to the sea 
 shore, to embark to avoid the imminent destruction, with 
 despair in their looks, and no place of refuge remained, 
 and the crimson lance whizzed dreadfully over their brows. 
 We the Bards- of Britain, whom our prince entertaineth 
 on the first of January, shall every one of us, in our rank 
 and station, enjoy mirth and jollity, and receive gold and 
 silver for our reward ------- 
 
 Caer Lleon,* the chief of Mon, has brought thee to a low 
 
 1 Camlan, the name of a place somewhere in Cornwall, where the decisive battle between 
 king Arthur, and his treacherous nephew Medrod happened, who had usurped the sover- 
 eignty while he was absent on a foreign expedition. King Arthur, according to our 
 ancient historians, slew Medrod with his own hand ; but received his death-wound himself 
 and retired to Ynys Afallon or Glastenbury, where he soon afterwards died. His death was 
 politically concealed, lest it should dispirit the Britons. Hence arose so many fabulous 
 stories about it. 
 
 2 Cadwallon, the sun of Cadfan, is that victorious king of Britain, who was a terrible 
 scourge to the Saxons. Beda, in his ecclesiastical history, calls him tyrannum sEvientem, 
 an outrageous tyrant. 
 
 3 Caer Lleon, Cheater, so called, as our historians relate, from Lleon Gawr, or king Lleon, 
 and not from Castra legionum, as modern writers will have it. Gawr anciently signified a 
 king, as Benlli Gawr, is called by Nennius, cap. 30, Rex Benlli; but now it signifies a 
 giant, or a man of an extraordinary strength and stature. It is not improbable but that 
 the Ancient Britons chose such for their kings. 
 
SPECIMENS OF ANCIENT WELSiE! POETRY. 38 
 
 condition. Llewelyn has wasted thy land^ thy men are 
 killed by the sea _ - - - - 
 He has entirely subdued Gwyddgrug'/ where the English 
 ran away, with a precipitate flight, full of horror and 
 consternation. Thy fields are miserably wasted, thy 
 cloister, and thy neat houses, are ashes. The palace of 
 Elsmere^ was with rage and fury burnt by fire. Ye all 
 now enjoy peace by submitting to our prince, for wherever 
 he goeth with his forces, whether it be hill or dale, it is 
 the possession of one sole proprietor. Our lion has brought 
 to Trallwng three armies that will never turn their backs, 
 the residence of our enemies ever to be abhorred. The 
 numerous Bards receive divers favours from him. He 
 took Gwyddgrug. See you who succeeds in Mochnant* 
 when he victoriously marches through your country. On 
 its borders the enemy were routed, and the Argoedwys* 
 were furiously attacked, and covered with blood. We 
 have two palaces now in our possession. Let Powys* see 
 who is the valiant king of her people, whether it /irgueth 
 prudence to act treacherously. Whether a Norman chief 
 be preferable to a conquering Cymro. We have a prince, 
 consider it, who, though silent about his own merit, put- 
 teth Lloegr to flight, and is fully bent to conquer the land 
 that was formerly in the possession of Cadwallon, the son 
 of Cadfan, the son of lago - - - - - - 
 
 A noble lion, the governor of Britain, and her defence, 
 Llewelyn, numerous are thy battles, thou brave prince of 
 
 1 Gwyddgrug, Mold, in Flintshire, so called from Gwydd, high, and Crug, a hill. 
 Mold is a corniption of Mons altas, 
 
 2 Elsmere, the name of a town in Shropshire. 
 
 3 Mochnant is a part of Powys. 
 
 4 Argoedwys, the men of Powys, from Ar, above. Coed, wood. The Powysians are called 
 by Llywarch Hen, gwyr Argoed. As, "Gwyr Argoed erioed a'm portbant," i, e. I was 
 «ver maintained by the men of Argoed. 
 
 5 The princes of Powys adhered to the kings of England, and the lords Marchers, 
 against their natural Prince, to whom they were to pay homage and obedience, according 
 to the division made by Rhodri Mawr, as appears from the Welsh History, 
 
84 SPECIMENS Of AWCtEN* WHLSH tOE^Rli". 
 
 the mig-hty, that puttest the enemy to flight. Mayest 
 thou my friend and benefactor overcome in every hardship. 
 He is a prince with terrible looks who will conquer in for- 
 eig-n countries^ as well as in Mon the mother of all Wales. 
 His army has made its way broad thro' the ocean, and 
 filled the hillSj promontories, and dales. The blood flowed 
 about their feet when the maimed warriors foug-ht. In 
 the battle of Coed Aneu/ thou supporter of Bards, didst 
 overthrow thy enemies. The other hard battle was foug-ht 
 at Dyg'en Ddj'^fnant,^ where thousands behaved themselves 
 with manly valour. The next contest, where noble feats 
 were achieved, was on the hill of Bryn yr Erw,' where 
 they saw thee like a lion foremost in piercing- thy enemies, 
 like a strong- eag-le, a safeg-uard to thy people. Upon this 
 account they will no long-er dispute with thee. They 
 vanish before thee like the g-hosts of Celyddon.* Thou 
 hast taken Gwyddgrug- and Dyfnant by force, and Rhudd- 
 lan with its red borders, and thousands of thy men over- 
 threw Dinbych,'"' Foelas," and Gronant f and the men of 
 Carnarvon, thy friends, were busy in action, and Dinas 
 Emreis* strove bravely in thy cause, and they vanquished 
 with the renowned Morg-ant^ at their head all that stood 
 before them. Thy pledg-es know not where to turn 
 their faces, th«y cannot enjoy mirth or rest. Thou wert 
 honourably covered with blood, and thy wound is a glory 
 
 1 Coed Aneu, the name of a place near Llanerchymedd, in Anglesea. 
 
 2 Dygen Ddyfnant, another place whose situation I am ignorant of, where another 
 battle was fought. 
 
 3 Bryn yr Erw, another place unknown. 
 
 4 Celyddon, the British name of that part of North Britain, called Caledonia by the 
 Houians. 
 
 5 Dinbych, Denbigh. 
 
 6 Foelas, or Y Foel las, i. e. the green summit, which is the name of a place in Denbigh- 
 shire, where there is an old fort, now in the possession of Watkyn Wynn, Esq., colonel of 
 the Denbighshire militia, whose seat is near it. 
 
 7 Gronant, the name of a fort or castle in Flintshire. 
 
 8 Dinas Emreis or Emrys, the name of a place in Snowdon, near Bedd Gelert, where 
 Gwrtheyrn, or Vortigern, attempted to build a castle, 
 
 9 Morgant, the name of one of Llewelyn's generals. 
 
SPEeiMENS OF ANCIENT WELSH POETRY. 35 
 
 to thee. When thou didst resist manfully the attack of 
 the enemy, thou wert honoured by thy sword, with thy 
 buckler on thy shoulders. Thou didst bravely lead thy 
 forces, the astonishment of Lloegr, to the borders of Me- 
 chain^ and Mochnant. Happy was the mother who bore 
 thee, who art wise and noble, and freely distributest rich 
 suits of g-arments, thy g'old and silver. And thy Bards 
 celebrate thee for presenting' them thy bred steeds, when 
 they sit at thy tables. And I myself am rewarded for 
 my gift of poetry, with gold and disting-uished respect. 
 And should I desire of my prince the moon as a present, 
 he would certainly bestow it on me. Thy praise reacheth 
 as far as Lliwelydd/ and Llywarch is the man who 
 celebrates with his songs ------ 
 
 My praises are not extravagant to thee the prodigy of our 
 age, thou art a prffice firm in battle like an elephant. 
 When thou arrivest at the period of thy glory, when thy 
 praises cease to be celebrated by the Bard and the harp, 
 my brave prince, ere thou comest, before thy last hour 
 approaches, to confess thy sins, after thou hast through 
 thy prowess vanquished thy enemies, mayest thou at last 
 become a glorious saint. 
 
 I Mechain, a part of Powys. 2 Caer Liwelydd, Carlisle. 
 
AN ODE 
 
 To Llewelyn, the son of Qriffydd, last prince of Wales 
 of the British line, composed by Llygad Gnr, about 
 the year 1270. 
 
 I. 
 
 IADDEESS myself to God, the source of joy, the 
 fountain of all g-ood gifts, of transcendent majesty. 
 Let the song proceed to pay its tribute of praise, to extol 
 my hero, the prince of Arllechwedd,^ who is stained with 
 blood, a prince descended from renowned kings. Like 
 Julius Caesar is the rapid progress of the arms of Gri- 
 ffydd's heir. His valour and bravery are matchless, his 
 crimson lance is stained with gore. It is natural to him 
 to invade the lands of his enemies. He is generous, the 
 pillar of princes. I never return empty-handed from the 
 North. My successful and glorious prince, I would not 
 exchange on any conditions. I have a renowned prince, 
 who lays England waste, descended from noble ancestors. 
 Llewelyn the destroyer of thy foes, the mild and prosper- 
 ous governor of Gwynedd, Britain's honour in the field, 
 with thy sceptered hand extended on the throne, and thy 
 gilt sword by thy side. The lion of Cemmaes,^ fierce in 
 the onset, when the army rusheth to be covered with red. 
 Our defence who slighteth alliance with strangers, who 
 with violence maketh his way through the midst of his 
 enemy's country. His just cause will be prosperous at 
 
 1 Arllechwedd, a part of Carnarvonshire. 
 
 2 Cemmacs, the name of several places iu Wales. The Bard means here a cantred of 
 that name in Anglesea. 
 
SPECIMENS OF ANCIENT WELSH POETRY. 37 
 
 last. About Tyganwy^ he has extended his dominion 
 and his enemies fly from him with maimed limbs, and the 
 blood flows over the soles of men's feet. Thou dragon of 
 Arfon^ of resistless fury, with thy beautiful well-made 
 steeds, no Englishman shall get one foot of thy country. 
 There is no Cymro thy equal. 
 
 II. 
 
 There is none equal to my prince with his numerous 
 troops in the conflict of war. He is a g-enerous Cymro 
 descended from Beli Hir,^ if you enquire about his lineage. 
 He generously distributeth gold and riches. An heroic 
 wolf from Eryri.* An eagle among his nobles of match- 
 less prowess ; it is our duty to extol him. He is clad in 
 a golden vest in the army, and setteth castles on fire. He 
 is the bulwark of the battle with Greidiawl's* courage. He 
 is a hero that with fury breaketh whole ranks, and fight- 
 eth manfully. His violence is rapid, his generosity over- 
 flowing. He is the strength of armies arrayed in gold. 
 He is a brave prince whose territories extend as far as 
 the Teivi,® whom nobod}'^ dares to punish. Llewelyn the 
 vanquisher of England is a noble lion descended from the 
 race of kings. Thou art the king of the mighty, the en- 
 tertainer and encourager of Bards. Thou makest the 
 
 1 Tyganwy, the name of an old castle near the moath of the river Conway to the east ; it 
 was formerly one of the royal palaces of Mael^wn Gwynedd, king of Britain, and was, as 
 our annals relate, burnt by lightnings ann. 811, but was afterwards rebuilt, and won by the 
 Earls of Chester, who held it for a considerable time, but was at last retaken by the princes 
 of North Wales. 
 
 2 Arfon, the country now called Carnarvonshire. 
 
 3 Beli. This was probably Beli Mawr, to whom our Bards generally trace the pedigree 
 of great men. 
 
 4 Eryri, Snowdon, which some suppose derived from mynydd eryrod, the hill of eagles, 
 but more probably from mynydd yr eiry, the hill of snow. Snowdon, in English, signifies 
 literally the hill of snow, from Snow and Down, that being still a commom name for a hill 
 in England, as Barham Downs, Oxford Downs, Burford Downs, &c. 
 
 5 Greidiawl, the name of a hero mentioned by Aneurin Gwawdrydd in his Oododin. 
 
 6 Teivi, the name of a large river in Cardiganshire. 
 
38 SPECIMENS OF ANCIENT WELSH POETRY. 
 
 crows rejoice, and the Bryneich^ to vomit blood, they 
 feasted on their carcases. He never avoided danger in 
 the storm of battle, he was undaunted in the midst of 
 hardships. The Bards' prophecy that he shall have the 
 government and sovel-eign power ; every prediction is at 
 last to be fulfilled. The shields of his men were stained 
 with red in brave actions from Pwlffordd^ to the farthest 
 bounds of Cydweli.* May he find endless joys, and be re- 
 conciled to the Son of God, and enjoy Heaven by his side. 
 
 III. 
 
 We have a prudent prince, his lance is crimson, his 
 shield is shivered to pieces ; a prince furious in action, his 
 palace is open to his friends, but woe is the lot of his 
 enemies. Llewelyn the vanquisher of his adversaries is 
 furious in battle like an outrageous dragon ; to be guarded 
 against him availeth not, when he cometh hand to hand 
 to dispute the hardy contest. May he that made him 
 the happy governor of Gwynedd and its towns, strength- 
 en him for length of years to defend his country from 
 hostile invasion. It is our joy and happiness that we 
 have a brave warrior with prancing steeds, that we have 
 a noble Cymro, descended from ^Cambrian ancestors, to 
 rule our country and its borders. He is the best prince 
 that the Almighty made of the four elements. He is the 
 
 1 Bryneich, the men of Bernicia, a proviuce of the Old Saxons in the North of England. 
 The inhabitants of Deira and Bernicia are called by oar ancient bistorians, Gwyr Deifr a 
 Bryneich. 
 
 2 It was the policy of the British princes to make the Bards foretell their success in war, 
 in order to spirit up their people to brave actions. Upon which account the vulgar supposed 
 them to be real prophets. Hence the great veneration they had for the prophetical Bards, 
 Myrddin Emrys, Taliesin, and Myrddin Wyllt. Tljs accounts for what the English writers 
 say of the Welsh relying so much up(jn the propnecies of Myrddin. There are many of 
 these pretended prophecies still extant. The custom of prophecying did not cease till Henry 
 the Seventh's time, and the reason is obvious. 
 
 3 Pwlffordd, is the name of a place in Shropshire. There is a bridge of that name still in 
 that county. 
 
 4 Cydweli, the name of a town, and Comot, in Carmarthenshire, 
 
fetEClMENS OF ANCiENt WELSH i>OETEt. SO 
 
 best of governors, and the most generous. The eag-le of 
 Snowdon, and the bulwark of battle. He pitched a battle 
 where there was a furious contest to obtain his patrimony 
 on Cefn Gelorwydd ;^ such a battle never happened since 
 the celebrated action of Arderydd.^ 
 
 He is the brave lion of Mona, the kind-hearted Vene- 
 dotian, the valiant supporter of his troops in Bryn Derwen. 
 He did not repent of the day in which he assaulted his 
 adversaries : it was like the assault of a hero descended 
 from undaunted ancestors. I saw a hero disputing^ with 
 hosts of men like a man of honour in avoiding disgrace. 
 He that saw Llewelyn like an ardent drag-on in the con- 
 flict of Arfon and Eiddionydd/ would have observed that 
 it was a difficult task to withstand his furious attack by 
 Drws Daufynydd.* No man has ever compelled him to 
 submit : may the Son of God never put him to confusion. 
 
 IV. 
 
 Like the roaring" of a furious lion in the search of prey, 
 is thy thirst of praise, like the sound of a mighty hui^ri- 
 cane over the desert main, thou warlike prince of Aber- 
 ffraw.® Thy ravage is furious, thy impetuosity irresistible, 
 thy troops are enterprising in brave actions, they are 
 fierce and furious like a conflagration. Thou art the 
 
 1 Cefn Gelorwydd, is the name of some mountain, but where it is situated I know not. 
 
 3 Arderydd, is the name of a place somewhere in Scotland ; perhaps, Atterith, about six 
 miles from Solway Frith. This battle is mentioned in the Triads, and was fought by Gweu- 
 ddolan ap Ceidiaw and Aeddan Fradawgf, petty princes of the North, against Rhydderch 
 Hael, ting of Cumbria, who got the battle. JMyrddin Wyllt, or Merlin, the Caledonian, 
 was severely handled by Rbydderch Hael, for siding with Gwenddolau, his patron, which 
 he complains of in his poem entitled Afallenau, or Apple-trees. 
 
 3 Eiddionydd, now Eifionydd, the name of a Comot, or district, in Carnarvonshire. 
 
 4 Drws Daufynydd, is the name of a pass between two hills, but where it lies I know 
 not. Drws Daufynydd signifies, literally, the door of the two hills. There are many passes 
 in Wales denominated from Drws, as Drws Ardudwy, Drws y Coed, Bwlch Oerddrws, &c. 
 
 5 Aberffraw, the name of the prince's chief palace in Anglesea, 
 
40 StECiMEi^S OF INCIENT WELSH tOEfEY. 
 
 warlike prince of Dinefwr/ the defence of thy people, the 
 divider of spoils. Thy forces are comely and neat, and of 
 one language. Thy proud Toledo sword is gilt with gold 
 and its edge broke in war. Thou prince of Mathrafal/ 
 extensive are the bounds of thy dominions, thou rulest 
 people of four languages. He staid undaunted in battle 
 against a foreign nation, and its strange language. May 
 the great King of heaven defend the just cause of the 
 warlike prince of the three pi ovinces. 
 
 1 make my address to God, the source of praise, in the 
 best manner I am able, that I may extol with suitable 
 words the chief of men, who rageth like fire from the 
 flashes of lightning, who exchangeth thrusts with the 
 burnished steel. I stand in armour by the side of my 
 prince with the red spear in the conflict of war, he is a 
 brave fighter, and the foremost in action. Llewelyn, thy 
 qualities are noble, I will valiantly make my path broad 
 with the edge of my sword. May the prints of the hoofs 
 of my prince's steeds be seen as far as Cornwall. Numer- 
 ous are the persons that congratulate him upon this suc- 
 cess, for he is a sure friend. The lion of Gwynedd, and its 
 extensive territories, the governor of the men of Powys, 
 and the South, who hath a general assembly of his 
 armed troops at Chester, who ravageth Lloegr to 
 amass spoils. In battle his success is certain, in killing, 
 burning, and in overthrowing castles. In Rhos, and 
 Penfro,^ and in contests with the Normans, his impetuos- 
 ity prevaileth. The offspring of Griffydd, of worthy 
 
 1 Dinefwr, the name of the prince of South Wales's palace, pleasantly situated upon a 
 hill above the river Toviry, in Carmarthenshire, now in the possession of George Rice, of 
 Newton, Esquire, memher of parliament for that county. 
 
 2 Mathrafal, the seat of the prince of Povf ys, not far from Pool, in Montgomeryshire, 
 now in the possession of the earl of Powys. 
 
 3 Rhos and Penfro, the names of two Cantreds in Pembrolceshire6 
 
SPECIMENS OF ANCIENT WELSH POETRY. 41 
 
 qualities, g-enerous in distributing- rewards for song-s. 
 His shield shines, and the strong- lances quickly meet the 
 streams of g^ushing gore. He extorteth taxes from his 
 enemies, and claimeth another country as a sovereign 
 prince. His noble birth is ' an ornament to him. He 
 besieg-eth fortified towns, and his furious attacks like 
 those of Fflamddwyn' reach far. He is a prosperous 
 chief with princely qualities, his Bards are comely about 
 his tables. I have seen him generously distributing- his 
 wealth, and his mead-horns filled with g-enerous liquors. 
 Long- may he live to defend his borders with the sharp 
 sword, like Arthur with the lance of steel. May he who 
 is lawful king- of Cymru, endued with princely qualities, 
 have his share of happiness at the right hand of God. 
 
 1 Fflamddwyn, the name of a Saxon prince, agrainst whom Urien, Idngr of Cumbiia, and. 
 bis sou Owain, fought fba battle of Argoed Llwyfein. 
 
 6 
 
A POEM 
 
 Mntitled, the Ode of the Months, composed by GmlymBdu 
 of4rfon, to Sir John Oriffydd Llwyd, of Tregarnedd 
 and j)in0rmig. 
 
 Why the Bard called this piece the " Ode of the Months" 
 I cannot guess ; but by what he intimates in the poem, 
 which Im^ that when all nature revives, and the whole 
 animal and veg-etable creation are in their full bloom 
 and vigQur, he mourned and pined for the decayed state 
 of his country. The hero he celebrates made a brave 
 but successless attempt to rescue it from slarery. It 
 will not be amiss to g'ive a short account of the inhuman 
 massacre of the Bards made by that cruel tyrant 
 Edward the first, which gave occasion to a very fine 
 Ode by IVTr. Gray. Sir John Wynne, of Gwydir,_ a 
 descendant in a direct line from Owain Gwjmedd, men- 
 tions this particular, and says he searched all the re- 
 cords in the Exchequer at Carnarvon, and in the Tower 
 of London, for the antiquities of his country in general, 
 and of his own family in particular. I shall set down 
 his own words, as I find them in a very fair copy of 
 thatjhistory lent me by Sir Roger Mostyn, of Gloddaeth 
 and Mostyn, Bart., a person no less eminent for his 
 generous communicative temper, than for many other 
 public and private virtues. 
 
 "This is the most ancient song (i. e. one of Rhys Goch 
 of Eryri's, a Bard who fliourished A. D. 14Q0) I can 
 find extant of my ancestors since the reign of Edward 
 the first, who caused our Bards all to be hanged by 
 martial laAv, as stirrers of the people to sedition; whose 
 example being followed by the governors of Wales until 
 
StJEClMENS OP ANCIENT WELSH tOETRY. 43 
 
 Henry the Fourth's time, was the uttet destruction of 
 that sort of men; and since then that kind of people were 
 at some fui'ther liberty to sing-, and to keep pedig-rees, 
 as in ancient time they were wont ; since which time 
 we have some lig-ht of antiquity by their soug-s and 
 writing's," &c. 
 
 The following" is taken from an old British grammar, 
 written in English, by William Salesbury, printed at 
 London, 1567. I hare transcribed it faithfully accord- 
 ing to the old orthography. " Howbeit when the whole 
 Isle was commonlye called Brytayne, th%dwellers Bry- 
 tons, and accordingly their language Brytishe, I will 
 not refell nor greatly den}'^ ; neither can I justly gain- 
 saye, but their tongue then was as copious of syt 
 woordes, and all manner of proper vocables, and as well 
 adornated with woorshipful sciences and honourable 
 knowledge as any other of the barbarous tongues were. 
 And so still continued (though their sceptre declined, 
 and their kingdom decayed, and they also by God's 
 hand were driven into the most unfertyl region, baren- 
 est country, and most desart province of all the isle) 
 untyll the conquest of Wales. For then, as they say, 
 the nobles and the greatest men beyng captives and 
 brought prysoners to the tower of London, there to re- 
 mayne during their lyves, desired of a common request, 
 that they might have with them all such bokes of their 
 tongue, as they most delited in, and so their petition 
 was heard, and for the lightness soon granted, and thus 
 brought with them all the principallest and chiefest 
 books, as well of their own as of other their friends, of 
 whom they could obtain anye to serve for their purpose. 
 Whose mind was none other but to pass the time, and 
 their predestinate perpetual captivitie in the amenous 
 varietie of over reading and revoluting many volumes 
 and sundry books of divers sciences and strange matters. 
 
44 StEClMENS O? ANCIENT WELSH POEl-KY. 
 
 "And that is the common answer of the Welshe 
 Bardes (for so they call their country poets) when a man 
 shall object or cast in their teeth the foolysh uncertain- 
 ty and the phantasticall vanities of their prophecies 
 (which they call Beuts) or the doubtful race and kinde 
 of their uncanonized saynctes : whom that notwith- 
 standing they both invocate and worship wyth the most 
 hyg-he honoure and lowliest reverence. Adding" and 
 aHeg-ying- in excuse thereof^ that the reliques and resi- 
 due of the books and monuments^ as well as the 
 saynctes lyves^ as of their Brutysh prophecies and 
 other sciences (which perished not in the tower, for 
 there, they say, certain were burned) at the commotion 
 of OwAiN Glyndwb, were in like manner destroyed, 
 and utterly devastat, or at the least wyse that there 
 escaped not one, that was not uncurabtye maymed, and 
 irrecuperably torn and mangled. 
 
 "^Llyfrau Cymru au Uofrudd 
 Ir twr Gwyn aethant ar gudd 
 Ysceler oedd Yscolan 
 Fwrw'r twrr lyfrau ir tan.' 
 
 Gutto'r Glyn, A.D. 1460. 
 
 "The books of Cymru and their remains went to the 
 White Tower, where they were hid. Cursed was Ys- 
 golan's act in throwing them in heaps into the fire." 
 
 It is not improbable that our Bard might have been 
 one of those who suffered in the cause of his country, 
 though he had the good luck to escape Edward's fury. 
 I wish I may be so happy as to convey some faint idea, 
 of his merit to the English reader. The original has 
 such touches, as none but a -person in the Bard's con- 
 dition could have expressed so naturally. However not 
 to anticipate the judicious reader's opinion, to which I 
 submit mine with all deference, I shall now produce 
 some account of this great jnan, taken from that skilful 
 
SPECIMENS Of ANCIENT WELSH tOETRY. 45 
 
 and candid antiquary Mr. Eobert Vaug-han of Hen- 
 gwrt's notes on Dr. Powel's history of Wales, printed 
 at Oxford, 1663. 
 
 "Sir John GriflPydd Llwyd, knig-ht, the son of Rhys ap 
 Griffydd ap Ednyfed Fychan, was a valiant gentleman, 
 but unfortunate, 'mag^iiEe quidem, sed calamitosse 
 virtutis,' as Lucius Florus saith of Sertorius. He was 
 knig-hted by king' Edwaud, when he brought him the 
 first news of his queen's safe delivery of a son at Car- 
 narvon Castle; the king- was then at Rhuddlan, at his 
 parliament held there. This Sir Griffydd afterwards 
 taking notice of the extreme oppression and tyranny 
 exercised by the English officers, especially Sir Roger 
 Mortimer, lord of Chirk, and justice of North Wales, 
 towards his countrymen the Welsh, became so far dis- 
 contented, that he broke into open rebellion, verifying 
 that saying of Solomon, 'Oppression maketh a wise 
 man mad.' He treated with Sir Edward Bruce, brother 
 to Robert, then king of Scotland, who had conquered 
 Ireland, to bring or send over men to assist him in his 
 design against the English; but Bruce's terms being ^ 
 conceived too unreasonable, the treaty came to nought ; 
 however being desperate, he gathered all the forces he 
 could, and, in an instant, like a candle that gives a 
 sudden blaze before it is out, overran all North Wales 
 and the Marches, taking all the castles and holds ; but 
 to little purpose, for soon after he was met with, his 
 party discomfited, and himself taken prisoner. This 
 was in the year of our Lord 1322." 
 
 I thought so much by way of introduction necessary 
 to commemorate so gallant a person ; what became of 
 him afterwards is not mentioned by our historians. 
 However the following poem remains not only as a 
 monument of the hero's bravery, but of the Bard's 
 genius. 
 
46 SPECIMENS OF ANCIENT WflLSH POBTBV. 
 
 BEFORE the beginning' of May I lived in pomp and 
 grandeur^ but now, alas ! I am deprived of daily 
 support, the time is as disastrous as when our Saviour 
 Christ was taken and betrayed. How naked and forlorn 
 is our condition ! We are exposed to anxious toils and 
 cares. how heavy is the Almighty's punishment^ that 
 the crimson sword cannot be drawn ! I remember how 
 great its size was, and how wide its havoc; numerous 
 are now the oppressed captives who languish in gnashing- 
 indignation. Our native Bards are excluded from their 
 accustomed entertainments. How great a stop is put to 
 generosity since a munificent hero, like Nudd,' is confined 
 in prison. The valorous hawk of GrifFydd,* so renowned 
 for ravaging and destroying his enemies, is deplored by 
 the expert Eards, who have lost their festivity and mirth 
 in the place where mead was drunk. I cannot bear to 
 think of his injurious treatment. His hospitality has fed 
 thousands. He is, alas ! in a forlorn prison, such is the 
 unjust oppression of the laud of the Angles.' Years of 
 sorrow have overwhelmed me. I reckon not what becomes 
 of the affairs of this world. The Bards of two hundred 
 regions lament that they have now no protector. This 
 is a certain, but a sad truth. Though the unthinking vul- 
 gar do not reflect as I do on the time when my eagle 
 shone in his majesty. I am pierced by the lance of des- 
 
 1 Nudd Hael, or the Generous, one of the three liberal heroes of Britain Mentioned in the 
 Triads, and celebrated by Taliesin. 
 
 2 Griffydd Llwyd, the hero of the poem, was the son of Rhys, son of Griffydd, the son of 
 the famous Ednyfed Fychan, seneschal to Llewelyn the great, and a brave warrior. Ed- 
 ward Fhiiipp Pugih, Esq., of Coetmor, in Carnarvonshire, is a descendant in a direct line 
 from Ednyfed Fychan, and has in his custody a grant &om prince Llewelyn the Great of 
 some lands in Creuddyn given to the said Ednyfed, and ms posterity, with the prince's seal 
 in green wax affixed to it. To this worthy gentleman, and his lady, I am much obliged for 
 their civility when I lived in those parts. — The royal family of the Tudors are likewise des- 
 cended from Ednyfed Fychan, as appears by a commission that was sent to the Bards and 
 Heralds of Wales, to enquire into the pedigree of Owain Tudor, king Henry the Seventh's 
 grandfather. 
 
 3 The land of the Angles, i, c., England. 
 
SPECIMENS OF ANCIENT WELSH POETRY. 47 
 
 pair. Hard is the fate of my protector^ Gwynedd' is in a 
 heavy melancholy mood, its inhabitants are oppressed 
 because of their transgressions. Long has the bright 
 sword, that shone like a torch, been laid aside, and the 
 brave courage of the dauntless Achillea been stopped. 
 The whole pleasant season of May is spent in dismal sor- 
 row J and June is comfortless and cheerless. It increas- 
 eth my tribulation, that Griffydd with the red lance is not 
 at liberty. I am covered with chilly damps. My whole 
 fabric shakes for the loss of my chief. I find no inter- 
 mission to my pain. May I sink, Christ ! my Saviour, 
 into the grave, where I can have repose ; for now, alas ! 
 the office of the Bard is but a vain and empty name. I 
 am surprised that my despair has not burst my heart, and 
 that it is not rent through the midst in twain. The heavy 
 stroke of care assails my memory, when I think of his 
 confinement, who was endowed with the valour of XTrien^ 
 in battle. My meditation on past misfortunes is like that 
 of the skilful Cywryd,* the Bard of Dunawd.* My praise 
 
 1 Gwynedd, the name of the country, called by the Homans Veqedotia, but by the 
 English North Wales. 
 
 2 Urien Reged, a famous king of Cumbria, who fought valiantly with the Saxons, whose 
 brave actions are celebrated by I'oliesin and Llywarch Hen. He is mentioned by Nennius, 
 the ancient British historian, who wrote about A.D. 858. This writer is terribly mangled 
 by his editors, both at home and abroad, from their not being versed in the British language. 
 I have collected some manuscripts of his history, but cannot meet a genuine one without the 
 interpolations of Samnel Beulan, otherwise 1 would publish it. I have in my possession 
 many notes upon this author, collected from ancient British manuscripts, as well as English 
 writers, who have treated of our affairs. This I have been enabled to do, chiefly by having 
 access to the euwu^ library at Llannerch, by the kind permission of the late Robert Oavies, 
 Esquire, and since by his worthy son, John Davies, Esquire, which I take this opportunity 
 gratefbllji to acknowledge. 
 
 3 Cywryd. This Bard is not mentioned either by Mr. Davies op Mr. Edward Llwyd, in 
 their caM>gues of British writers. It seems he flourished in the sixth century, as did all 
 the aiwievt Britkh Batds we have now extant. Here let me obviate what may be objected 
 to me as mentioning so many facts, and persons who lived in the sixth century, within the 
 course of this performance. It was the last period oiir kings fought with any success against 
 the Saxons, and it was natural, therefore, for the Bards of those times, to record such gallant 
 acts of their princes, and for their successors to transmit them to posterity. Every person, 
 though but slightly versed in the British history of that time, knows that Cadwaladr was 
 the last king of Britain. Since his time there are no works of the Bards extant till after the 
 conquest, as I have shewed in my Dissertatio de Bardis. 
 
 4 Ouaawd, the son of Pabo Post Prydain, one of the heroes of the sixth century, who 
 fought valiMlly with the Saxons. 
 
48 SPECIMENS Of ANCIENT? WELSH tOETRY. 
 
 to the worthy hero is without vicious flattery, and my 
 song- no less affecting- than his. My paneg-yric is like the 
 fruitful g-enius of Afan Ferddig^ in celebrating- Cadwallon* 
 of royal enterprise. I can no more sin^ of the lance, in 
 well-laboured verse. Since thou doest not live, what avails 
 it that the world has any further continuance ? Every 
 region proclaims thy g-enerosity. The world droops since 
 thou art lost. There are no entertainments or mirth, 
 Bards are no long-er honoured : the palaces are no long-er 
 open, strangers are neg-lected, there are no caparizoned 
 steeds, no trusty endearing- friendship. No, our country 
 mourns, and wears the aspect of Lent. There is no virtue, 
 g-oodness, or any thing- commendable left among- us, but 
 vice, dissoluteness, and cowardice bear the sway. The 
 g-reat and towering- strength of Mon^ is become an empty 
 shadow 5 and the inhabitants of Arfon* are become insig- 
 nificant below the ford of Rheou.^ The lofty land of 
 
 1 Afan Ferddi^, was the Bard of the famous CadwallAD, son of Cadfan kifigf of Britain. 
 I have got a fragment of a poem of his composition on the death of his patron Cadwallon; 
 and as far as I understand it, it is a noble piece, but very obscure on account of its great 
 antiquity ; as are the works of all the Bards who wrote about this time. It is ae difficult a 
 task, for a modern Welshman to endeavour to understand those venerable remains, as for a 
 young scholar just entered upon the study of the Greek language to attack Lycophron or 
 Pindar, without the help of a dictionary or scholiast. How Mr. Macpherson has been able 
 to translate the Erse used in the time of Ossian, who lived a whole century at least before 
 the earliest British Bard now extant, I cannot comprehend. I wish some of those that are 
 well versed in the Erse or Irish language, would be so kind to the public, as to clear these 
 matters ; for I can hardly believe that the Erse language hath been better preserved than 
 the British. 
 
 2 Cadwallon, the son of Cadfan, the most victorious king of Britain, fought many battles 
 with the Saxons ; and, among the rest, that celebrated one of Meugen, in which he slew 
 Edward king of Mercia, where the men of Powys behaved themselves with distinguished 
 bravery ; and had from thence several privileges granted -them by that brave prince. These 
 privileges are mentioned by Cynddelw Brydydd Mawr, a Powysian Bard, in a poem entitled 
 " Breintiau Gwyr Powys," or the Privileges of the men of Powys, which is in my custody. 
 
 3 M6n, the Mona of the Latins, called by the English Anglesea, in which, at a place 
 called Aberffraw, was the palace of thejrinces of North Wales. The Bard seems here to 
 hint at the loss of Llewelyn-ap-Griffydd, the last prince of Wales of the British line. 
 
 4 Arfon, the country now called Carnarvonshire. 
 
 5 Rheon, the name of a river in Carnarvonshire, often mentioned by the Bards; but it 
 nHist have altered its name since, for I do not recollect any snch river which bears that 
 name at present. 
 
Specimens of ancient welsh poetry. 4d 
 
 tGrwynedd is become weak. The heavy blow of care strikes 
 her down. We must now renounce all consolation. We 
 are confined in a close prison by a merciless unrelenting 
 enemy ; and what avails a bloody and brave con,test for 
 liberty. 
 
 SAVING Jiniahed the present small collection of the 
 Sritish Sards, I take this opportunity to acquaint the 
 reader, that the time in which they flourished is not ac- 
 curately set down by Dr. Davies, at the end of his 
 Dictionary, nor by Mr. Llwyd, of the Museum, in his 
 Catalogue of British Writers, in the Archceologia 
 Dritannica. Indeed it is impossible to be so exact, as 
 to fix the year when the Sards wrote their several pieces, 
 unless the actions they celebrate are mentioned in our 
 Annals, because some of them lived under several princes. 
 This I thought proper to mention, lest any should blame 
 the translator for his inaccuracy, in settling the Chron^- 
 ology of the Poems. 
 
A SHORT ACCOUNT OF TALIESm, 
 
 The Chief of Bards, and ElpUn, the son of Gwyddno 
 Goranhir, his Patron. 
 
 GWYDDNO GOEANHIR, was a petty kin^ of Can- 
 tre'r Gwaelod, whose country was drowned by the 
 sea; in a great inundation that happened about the year 
 560, through the carelessness of the person into whose 
 care the dams were committed, as appears from a poem of 
 Taliesin upon that sad catastrophe. In his time the fam- 
 ous Taliesin lived, whose birth and education is thus re- 
 lated in our ancient manuscripts. He was found exposed 
 in a wear belong-ing- to Gwyddno, the profit of which he 
 had granted to his son. Prince Elphin, who being an ex- 
 travagant youth, and not finding the usual success, grew 
 melancholy; and his fishermen attributed his misfortune 
 to his riotous irregular life. When the prodigal Elphin 
 was thus bewailing his misfortune, the fishermea espied a 
 cortide with a child ia it, enwrapped in a leathern bag, 
 whom they brought to the young prince, who ordered care 
 to be taken of him, and when he grew up gave him the 
 best education, upon which he became the most celebrated 
 Bard of his time. The accomplished Taliesin was intro- 
 duced by Elphin to his father Gwyddno's court, where he 
 delivered him a poem, giving an account of himself, en- 
 titled, Hanes Taliesin, or Taliesin's History ; and at the 
 same time another to his patron and benefactor Elphin, 
 to console him upon hia past misfortune, and to exhort 
 him to put his trust in Divine Providence. This is a fine 
 moral piece, and very artfully addressed by the Bard, who 
 introduces himself in the person and character ^of an ex- 
 posed infant. As it is probable that the prince's aflFairs 
 
SPECIMENS OF ANCIENT WELSH POETRY. 51 
 
 took another turn since that period, this was done with 
 great propriety. Sir John Pryse mentions the poem that 
 Taliesin delivered to king Gwyddno, in his Historise Brit- 
 annicee defensio. '^Taliesinus quidem in odula, quam de 
 suis erroribus composuit, sic inscripta Britannic^ (Hanes 
 Taliesin) videlicet errores Taliesini, ait se tandem divert- 
 isse ad Teliquias Trojse ; 
 
 IC( 
 
 Mi a ddaethum yma at Weddillion Troia f 
 
 "neque duhitandum est hoc fuesse opus Taliesini : nam 
 prseter innumeros codices vetustissimos, qui inscriptionem 
 hujusmodi attestentur, nullo reclamante, nuUus est recen- 
 tiorum qui vel phrasin illius tam antiquam, carminiave 
 majestatem assequi potuit. Et ideo summus ille vates 
 inter Bl'itannos censetur et nominatur." I never could 
 procure a perfect nor correct copy of this poem of Taliesin, 
 otherwise I would gratify the curious with a translation 
 of it. It is certain from his history, that he was a very 
 learned man for his time, and seems to have been well 
 versed in the doctrine of the Druids, particularly the^ 
 /ifT-E/iif/tSxwff'E, which accounts for the extravagant flights fre- 
 quent in his poems. I have now in my possession above 
 fifty of them ; but they are so difficult to be understood, 
 on account of their great antiquity, and numerous obso- 
 lete words, and negligence of transcribers, that it is too 
 great a task for any man at this distance of time to go 
 about a translation of them. However I have selected 
 this ode, as a specimen of his manner of writing, not as it 
 is the best in the collection, but as it is the only one I 
 could thoroughly understand. There are many spurious 
 pieces fathered upon this Bard, in a great many hands in 
 North Wales; but these are all forged either by the 
 monks, to answer the purposes of the church of Rome, or 
 by the British Bards, in the time of the latter princes of 
 Wales, to spirit up their countrymen against the English, 
 
62 SPECIMENS OF ANCIENT WELSH POETBY, 
 
 which anybody versed in the lang-uag-e may easily find by 
 the style and matter. It has been my luck to meet with 
 a manuscript of all his genuine pieces now extant, which 
 was transcribed by the learned Dr. Davies, of Mallwyd, 
 from an old manuscript on vellum of the great antiquary 
 Mr. E. Vaughan, of Hengwrt. This transcript I have 
 shewn to the best antiquaries and critics in the Welsh 
 language now living. They all confess that they do not 
 understand above one half of any of his poems. The 
 famous Dr. Davies could not, as is plain from the many 
 obsolete words he has left without any interpretation in 
 his dictionary. This should be a caveat to the English 
 reader concerning the great antiquity of the poems that 
 go under the name of Ossian, the son of Fingal, lately 
 published by Mr. Macpherson. It is a great pity Taliesin 
 is so obscure, for there are many particulars in his poems 
 that would throw great light on the history, notions, and 
 manners of the Ancient Britons, especially of the Druids, 
 a great part of whose learning it is certain he had imbibe 
 ed. This celebrated Bard was in great favour with all 
 the great men of his time, particularly with Maelgwn 
 Gwynedd, the warlike and victorious king of all Britain, 
 with Elphin his patron, whom he redeemed with his songs 
 from the castle of Tyganwy, where he was upon some ac^ 
 count confined by his uncle Maelgwn. He likewise cele^ 
 brated the victories of Urien Reged, king of Cumbria, and 
 a great part of Scotland, as far as the river Clyde, In 
 short, he was held in so great esteem by posterity, that 
 the Bards mentioned him with the greatest honour in their 
 works. In his poem entitled Anrheg Urien, or Urien's 
 Present, he says that his habitation was by Llyn Geirion- 
 nydd, in the parish of Llan Rhychwyn, in Carnarvonshire, 
 and mentions therein his cotemporary, the famous An^ 
 eurin Gwawdrydd, author of the Gododin, an heroic poem 
 on the battle of Cattraeth, of which some account is given 
 in the Dissertatio de Bardis, 
 
SPECIMENS OF ANCIENT WELSH POETRY. 53 
 
 A wn ni enw Aneurin Gwawdrydd Awenydd 
 A minnau Daliesin o lann Llyn Geirionnydd. 
 
 i. e. I know the fame of that celebrated genius Aneurin 
 Gwawdrydd, who am Taliesin, whose habitation is by the 
 pool Geirionnydd. — 
 
 Having- finished this short account of our author, I 
 shall now proceed to his poem, entitled, Dyhuddiant 
 Elphin, or Elphin's Consolation, which I offer now to the 
 public. 
 
 Dr. John David Rhys quotes it at length in his Linguae 
 Cymraecse Institutiones Accuratse; which, to save further 
 trouble, I shall beg leave to transcribe here in his own 
 words. " Cseterum nunc et propter eorum authoritatem, 
 et quod huic loco inter alia maxime quadrant, non pigebit 
 qusedem antiquissima Taliesini Cambro-Britannica Car- 
 mina subjungere," &c. 
 
 I have nothing more to acquaint the reader with, but 
 that I have used two copies in my translation, one in 
 print by the said Dr. John David Ehys, the other in 
 manuscript by Dr. Thomas Williams. I have followed 
 the copy I thought most correct, and have given the 
 different reading of the manuscript in the margin. 
 
TALIEJSIN'S POEM 
 
 To Mphin, the son of Chvyddno Goranhirj king of Cantre'r 
 Owaelod, to comfort him upon his ill success at the 
 Wear ; and to exhort him to trust in Divine providence. 
 
 FAIR Elphiri; cease to weep, let no man be discon- 
 tented with his fortune ; to despair avails nothing'. 
 It is not that which raan sees that supports him. Cynllo's 
 prayer will not be ineffectual. God will never break his 
 promise. There never was in Gwyddno's Wear such good 
 luck as to-nig-ht. 
 
 II. 
 
 Fair Elphin, wipe the tears from thy face! Pensive 
 melancholy will never profit thee ) though thou thinkest 
 thou hast no gain ; certainly too much sorrow will do thee 
 no good ; doubt not of the great Creator's ' wonders ; 
 though I am but little, yet am I endowed with great g'ifts. 
 From the seas and mountains, and from the bottom of 
 rivers, God sends wealth to the good and happy man. 
 
 III. 
 
 Elphin with the lovely qualities, thy behaviour is un- 
 manly, thou oughtest not to be over pensive. To trust in 
 God is better than to forebode evil. Though I am but 
 small and slender on the beach of the foaming main, T 
 shall do thee more good in the day of distress than three 
 hundred salmons. 
 
Sf ECIMENS OP ANCIENT WELSH POETRY. 55 
 
 IV. 
 
 Elphin with the noble qualities^ murmur not at thy 
 misfortune : though I am but weak on my leathern couch, 
 "there dwelleth a gift on ray tongue. While I continue 
 to be thy protection, thou needest not fear any disaster. 
 If thou desirest the assistance of the ever blessed Trinity, 
 nothing can do thee hurt. 
 
DE 
 
 EAEDIS DISSEETATIO; 
 
 IN QUA NONNUtLA 
 
 mm AD EOEUM ANTIQUITATEM ET MTJNUS RESPICIUNT, 
 
 ET AD PH^CIPUOS QUI IN CAMBEIA FLORUERUNT, 
 
 BREVITER DSSCUTIUNTUR. 
 
 STUDIO ET OPERA 
 
 EVANI EVANS, CERETICENSIS. 
 
 Si qvid mea carmina possunt, 
 Aonio statuam sublimeis vertice Bardos ; 
 Bardos Pieridum cultores, atque canentis 
 Phcebi delicias, quibus est data cura perermis 
 Dicere nohilium cJarissimaJacta virorvm, 
 Aweaque exoelsamf amain sv/per astra locare. 
 JoH. Lelandus in Assertione Artubil 
 
Inaigni Viro 
 
 GVLIELMO VAVGHAN' 
 
 De Cors y Gedol Armigero, 
 
 et 
 
 In Senatu Britannico 
 
 Pro Comitatv, Meirionnydd DeUgato. Provinciae 
 
 Praefeeto, Botulorum Custodi, 
 
 Sooietatis Cymmrodorion Londini Praesidi Summo^ 
 
 {/deterisque ^usdem Societatia Membris, 
 
 Sane De Bardis Disaertationem^ 
 
 Sumtnaj Qm Par MJst, Ohservaniia D. D. It, 
 
 M>anua ■Evans. 
 
DE BARDIS DI8SEETATI0; 
 
 aUtJM per multos annos non sine summa voluptate 
 Bardos Britannos horis subsicivis evolverem, et 
 quum hac aetate fere in desuetudinem abiere ejusmodi 
 studia, et quicquid est Britannicae antiqttitatis nostrorum 
 pereat incuria, nqn potui quin bane qualem qualem rudi 
 Minerva dissertatiunculam: in vulgus emitterem^ quo ex- 
 teris melius innoteseat, quantum in his olim profecere 
 nostrates^ 
 
 Bardi apnd Celtas originem habuerunt j et Graeci^ qui 
 eorum meminerunt, mira omnino de illis produnt^ quae eo 
 taagis fidem merentur quod non solebant laudes suas in 
 Barbaros eflFiise impendere. Cum alibi g-entium hodie 
 nulla eorum maneant vestigia nisi apud Cambro-Britannos 
 et HibernoSj Celtarum posteros ; e re fore duxi, si aliquid 
 de antiquioribus qui apud nos extant^ praelibarem, prae- 
 missis de iis in g-enere ex Seriptoribus Graecis et Latinis 
 elogiis, quo augustius in scenam prodeant, et inde vener- 
 andae antiquitatis auctoritatem sibi vindieent. 
 
 TJnde Bardi nomen suat sortiti, nondum mibi constat | 
 Annii enim YitEebiensis regem Bardum, uti et omnia 
 eju& hmjjisceBaQdi commenta, penitus rejicio.' Non omnino 
 abludit vox Bdr furor, modo sit ille poetieus quo se agitari 
 fingebant Bardi. Si ea fuerit voeis origo^ necesse est ut 
 primitus scriberetur JBarydd. Uteunque sit, nos a raultis 
 re.tpo Seculis furorem ilium poetieum voce Awen designa- 
 mus, quae deduci potest a Gwen, risus "vel leetitia: Poetae 
 enim munus est ut homines cantu exhilaret. Non multum 
 ergo contendimus an ea sit voeis origo, cum vocabulorum 
 antiquorum, cujusmodi sunt hominum, officiorum, urbium,, 
 montium et fluviorum sit admodum obscura signification 
 
60 DISSERTATIO DE BARDIS. 
 
 His de Bardorum origine praemissis^ ad eorura perga- 
 mus munus; prout Scriptores Graeci et Latini tradiderunt. 
 Primus sit DiODORUS SlCULUS^ qui haec scribit. 'EktJ xai 
 
 Trap' avroig Kal TTOtjjTat jueXur, ovg BAPAOYS bvofjtaXovfft, ovroi dt ^er' bpydvtov rate 
 \ipat£ o/ioiuiv qSovTiQ, ovg fi'ev ifivovai, 8w£ dk pXaafrinovai. NoH IBUltUIU 
 
 dissimile est quod de illis prodit Ammianus Marcel- 
 LINUS. " Bardi (inquit ille) fortia virorum illustrium 
 facta heroicis composita versibus cum dulcibus lyrse mod- 
 ulis cantitarunt." His Possidonii apud Athenaeum 
 verba addere lubet^ qui eorum munus graphice depingit. 
 
 KiXroi irepiayovrai |^ey iavTwv, Kal TroXefiovvrig av/itiiordg oii£ KoKovai vapaaiTovg. 
 ovroi Si iyKi!>iiia AvtSiv, Kai npbQ d0p6oii£ Xkyovaiv av^piiirovg itvvi'sixiTaQ, Kai jrpoj 
 eKarov tSiv kutci. iiipog iKtivuiv aKpo<>>iiev<i)v. rd. Si aKovajiaTa avrwv iiaiv bi 
 KaXoufiivoi, BAPAOl. voitjTal di ovtoi Tvyx&vovai jitr ifdrje iiraivovQ Xiyovrtg. ' 
 
 Hinc manifesto liquet eorum praecipuum munus fuisse 
 Heroum laudes in coelum evehere. Sed quum nulla Celti- 
 corum vel Gallicorum extent Bardorum opera^ ex quibus 
 quam digne munus gesserint evincatur^ operse pretium est, 
 alium ex eodem Athenaeo locum adducere, ex quo pate- 
 bit haudquaquam iis defuisse sublime dicendi genus, quod 
 Grseci Hog vocant. Posidonius, Luernii, qui Bittitis pater 
 fuit a Romania profligati, opes cum enarrat, tradit eum 
 popularem gratiam aucupantem, per agros curru vehi 
 solitum, aurumque et argentum in turbas Celtarum innu- 
 meras eum prosequentes spargere: quin et septum eundem 
 quadratum stadiorum duodecim aliquando cinxisse, in quo 
 potione sumptuosa et exquisita pleni lacus essent, parat- 
 aque cibariorum copia, ut complusculis diebua liceret iis 
 quibus placeret, ingredi, fruique illo apparatu, cum assiduis 
 miinistrorum officiis. Epularum diem aliquando cilm ille 
 constituissetj ac prsefiniisset, barbarum quendam Poetam 
 tardius caeteris eo commeantem illi occurrisse, ac canen- 
 tem laudes ejuSj excellentesque virtutes celebrasse, vicem 
 verb suam doluisse, ac deflevisse, qu6d serius adventasset : 
 ilium cantu delectatum auri sacculum poposcisse, et accur- 
 
 . 1 p. 213. H. Steph. Edit. 1559. 2 P. 246. D, 
 
DISSERTATIO DE BARDIS. 61 
 
 renti can tori projecisse : quo sublato, poetam ejus rursum 
 laudes iterantem praedicasse currus, quo vehebatur^ impres- 
 sa in terram vestigia aurum et beneficia procreare mor- 
 talibus. Sed praestat ipsa Athenaei verba apponere. 
 
 "En o lioaetSiivwg Siriyov/icvoe ^ rbv AovipvLov rov HiTviTog irarpbg vXovtov, row 
 ^TTo ^Vtajiaibiv KaOatgsOkvroQt ^j/tri, S7ifiay(ttyovvra avrov Tbvg o^Xovq ev a^fxari 
 <pifi(iBai Sid tUv iriSiiov, ^ aTTtipetv xpvabv, i^ dpyvpotl rote aicoXoiiBoiKratE twv KtKrSiv 
 livpidai, (ppdyfia re ttoieIv SuStxa'^dSwv rtrpayiovov, Iv iji vXripovv \t]vbvg ttoXw- 
 rsXoBc irofiarog, irapaaKivd^Hv re tobovto /Spwfiarwj/ irX^0og, &eTt 10' ruiipag 
 7r\etovae k^Eivai rdlg PoyXofitvoig tZv vapanKivaaSrivTuv dvoXavciv, dliaXilirTiits 
 diaKOvovfisvoig. 'AipopiffavTog d* aiiTov Trpo^sfffiiav Trore Ttjg 9oivi]g, d^v*7tpy]ijavTd 
 Tiva tS>v Sap^dpmv Troitjriijv dtpiKsaSrai, Kai avvavrriaavra jut (^Srjg vjivuv dvTov 
 Trjv viripoxi^v, iavrbv f vvoBpiiveiv '6ti v^ipriKi rbv Si rip^^svra 6v\dKi.ov 
 dirrjaai j^puffiou, Kal pi\l/ai dvTif iraparpixdvTi, dviXofiivov S" Ikhvov TrdXiv v/ivtiv, 
 Xkyovra, AIOTI TA IXNH THS THS (E* H2 APMATHAATEI) XPYSON KAI 
 
 EYEPrEsiAS ANepanois *epei. » 
 
 Haec sunt quae (ut pote cui ad Bibliothecas aditus non 
 patet) de antiquis illis in medium proferre licuit. Ad 
 nostros jam venio in quibus non desunt veri et genuini 
 v^povg exempla. Nequaquam suo g-enere Graecis et Latinis 
 poetis cedunt nostri Bardi, quamvis ad eorum normam 
 carmina non texerunt. Quid enim nobis cum exteris ? An 
 eorum modulo et pede nostra poemata metenda sunt? 
 Quidj ut taceam de Arabicis et Brachmanicis^ et in 
 Europa boreali Scaldis ? quid fiet, inquam, de antiquioribus 
 illis Sacrosanctis poetis ? quid fiet de JoBO^ Datide^ et 
 siqui alii QioSiSaKToi poetae? Sed haec a proposito nostro 
 aliena sunt. 
 
 Quum res Britonum^ ingruentibus Pictis^ Scotis^ et 
 Saxonibus, laberentur^ dici non potest, quantam libris et 
 veteribus nostrorum monumentis strag-em ediderint : adeo 
 ut Bardi et historici vere antiqui, sint admodum rari. E 
 nostris historicis qui Bardorum meminit, primus est Gil- 
 das Nennius, qui scripsit, uti ipse narrat, anno 858, et 
 quarto Mervini regis. Sed is locus in nonnullis exempla- 
 ribus deest, et ejus auctor clarissimo Vaughano, Nennio 
 9 
 
62 DISSERTATIO DE BARDI8. 
 
 antiquior esse videtur^ qui eum " vetustum Saxonieaeg'eneal- 
 ogiae autorem " nominat. Sive verb is fuerit Nennius, quod 
 mihi videtur, sive^ uti ille mavult, aliquis eo vetustior, omnia 
 quae ibi narrantur quam verissima sunt, quamvis scriben- 
 tium oscitantia quam foedissime sint depravata. Nee men- 
 das castigarunt editores Gale et Bertram. Quae ad 
 Bardos sic se habent, " Item Talhaiarn Tatangen in 
 poemate claruit, et Nuevin, et Taliesin, et Bluchbar, 
 et dan qui vocatur Grveinchgwant, simul uno tempore in 
 poemate Britannico claruerunt." Qui locus sic restitui 
 debet. " Item Talhaiarn Tatangmn claruit, et Aneurin, 
 et Taliesin, et Llywarch, et Cian qui vocatur Grvyngmn 
 simul uno tempore in poemate Britannico claruerunt." 
 Ex iis quos hie nominat Nennius tres tantum extant, 
 nempe Aneurin, Taliesin, et Llywarch cog-nomento Hen. 
 Meminit tamen Talhaiarni Taliesinus in poemate cui 
 titulus Angar Gyfynddwd, i. e. Concordia discors. 
 
 Trmy iaith Talhaiarn, 
 Bedydd hi ddydd Jam. 
 
 "Ex Talhaiarni sententia 
 
 Expiato erit per baptisum in die supremo." 
 
 Uti et CiANi in eodem poemate. 
 
 Cian pan ddarfu 
 Lliaws gyfolu. 
 
 "Quando Cianus multos carmine celebratet." 
 
 Meminit et ejudem Aneurinus in suo poemate Heroico 
 cui nomen Gododin. ' 
 
 Tin mahan y Gian o faen Grvyngmn. 
 "Unicus CiANi filius ex valido Gwyngnm ortus." 
 
DISSERTATIO DE BAKBIS. 63 
 
 SeD quum eorum opera aboleverit setas^ nihil ultra de 
 lis dicere possumus. Hoc saltern constat^ si Nennio fides 
 adhibenda sit, eos suo seculo Bardos fuisse eximios. Aneue- 
 ]]sus, Taliesinus at Llywaech Hen habent multa not- 
 atu dig'na, et quae rei istius seculi historicee multum lucis 
 adferunt. Sed quum eorum sint rarissima exemplaria, 
 intellectu sunt quam difficillima, quod sit partim ob scrib- 
 entium oscitantiam, partim ob ling-uam vetustam et obso- 
 letam, quse in nullo Lexico vel g-lossario inveniri potest, 
 Unde fit, ut saepe non phis dimidio vel a peritissimo 
 intellig-atur. Taliesinus quem nostrates Pen Beirdd; 
 i. 6. Bardorum Coryphaeum appellavere, in aulis Britan- 
 niae principum vixit, et ibi clara eorum in bello facinora 
 cantavit, Patronos habuit Maelgwyn Gwynedd, eum 
 scilicet quem Gildas 'Maglocuntjm vocat, et Ukienum 
 Regedensem Cumbriae principem et Elphinum filium 
 GwYDDNO Gabanir Bominum Cantref Gnaelod, cujus 
 reg-io a mari absorpta esti^irca annum 540. Floruerunt 
 Taliesinus et Aneukin Gwawdeydb Mychdeyrn Beirdd, 
 i. e. Bardorum Monarcha, eodem tempore, circa annum 
 570. Aneurinus, in suo poemate cui titulus Gododin, 
 refert se in bello juxta Gattraeth sub auspiciis Mynydd- 
 AWC EiBDiN, bellum adversus Saxones g'essisse, et ibi 
 omnes, tribus exceptis, inter quos erat Aneurinus, bello 
 ocoubuisse. Fuerunt sub hoc principe in hac expeditione 
 trecenti et sexag"inta tres viri nobiles, qui eum ad bellum 
 juxta Gattraeth sunt secuti. Fit hujus exercitus mentio 
 libro Triadum in hunc modum. Teir gosgordd addwyn 
 Ynys Prydain. Gosgordd Mynyddawc Eiddin Yng- 
 Gattraeth ; a gosgordd Mklyn a Chynfelyn ; a gosgordd 
 Dbywon mab Nudd yn Bhodrvydd Arderydd. i. e. Tres 
 fuere nobiles exercitus Insulae Britannicae. Exercitus 
 Mynyddawc Eiddin juxta Gattraeth; Exercitus Melyn 
 et Cynfelyn : et Exercitus Dbywon filii Nudd juxta 
 Bhodwydd Arderydd. 
 
64 DISSERTATlO DE EABDIS. 
 
 Placuit hie nonnuUa ex Aneurini Gododirdo excerpere^ 
 quae licet ob vetustatem et dialecti varietatem sint admo- 
 dum obscura (fuit enim si non Pictorum ling-ua, saltern 
 Eritannorum septentrionalium dialectus, et ideo hodier- 
 nis Cambro-Britannis minus facilis intellectu) attameii 
 lectori baud injucunda fore judicavi, eo quod salvis Grgecis 
 et Latinis sit forsan antiquissimum in Europa poema. 
 Interpretationem in multis claudicare nuUus dubito. li 
 quibus plura exemplaria videre contig^erit^ ea felicius 
 enucleabunt. Eg-o non nisi unum vidi a Thoma Guliel- 
 MO Medico practico scriptum, in quo quae sequuntur sie 
 se habebant. 
 
 Caeawg Cynhorawg inyn ydd elai-, 
 Diphun ym mlaen bun medd a dalai^ 
 TwU tal i rodawr yn i clywai awr, 
 Ni roddai nawd maint dilynai, 
 Ni cbilia o gamawn, yn i ferai 
 Waed mal brwyn, g-omynei wyr nid elai^ 
 Nis adrawdd Gododin ar Uawr Moedai, 
 Ehag pebyll Madog pan atcorei 
 Namyn un gwr o gant yn y ddelai. 
 
 i. e. 
 
 ^' Caeawg Cynhorawg ubicunque ivit, 
 
 ' - - - hydro meli dedit. 
 Scutum ejus fuit perforatum^ ubicunque audivit 
 Clamorem, hostibus non pepercit; et eos insecutus est : 
 Nee prius a hello destitit^ quam sanguis effus^ fluxerit, 
 Et eos qui non discedebant securi percussit j 
 Adeo ut nonpossit Gododin celebrare facta in wH^Mordai 
 Ex Madooi castris quum domum profectus est 
 tJnus tantum ex centum rediit." 
 
 Caeawg Cynhorawg arfawg yngawr, 
 Cyno diwygwr gwrdd yngwyawr, 
 
biSSERTAtiO DE BAEDIS. 65 
 
 Cynran yn rhag-wan rhag byddinawr, 
 Cwyddai bum pumwnt rhag' eu Uafnawr, 
 
 wyr Deifr a Bryneich dychrawf, 
 XTgeincant eu difant yn unawr, 
 Cynt i gig i fleidd nog- yt i neithiawrj 
 Cynt e fydd i fran, nog' yt i elawr, 
 Cyn noe arg'yfrein e waed i lawr^ 
 Gwerth medd yng-hyntedd gan lAweddamr^ 
 Hyfeidd Hvr ermygir tra fo Cerddawr. 
 
 i. e. 
 
 " Caeawg Oynhorarog vir in bello armatus, 
 Et Cyno qui se strenuum gessit in dimicandoj 
 Ceciderunt numerus ingens eorum hastis transfixi. 
 Priua lupo parabatur caro^ quana nuptiali convivio ; 
 Et corvo priua commodum fait, quam Libitinse. 
 Prius quam humi fluebat ejus sanguis 
 In aula Llimeddawr mulsum bibit^ 
 Et Hyfeidd Sir celebrabitur, donee erit Cantor." 
 
 Gwyr a aeth Gattraeth feddfaeth feddwn, 
 Ffurf fifrwythlawn, oedd cam nas cymbwyllwn, 
 
 1 am lafnawr coch, gorfawr, gwrrawn, 
 Dwys dyngyn ydd ymleddyn aergwn, 
 Ar deulu Bryneich be ich barnaswn, 
 DiluWj dyn yn fyw nis gadawswn, 
 Cyfeillt a goUais, difflais oeddwn^ 
 Rhugl yn ymwrthryn, rhyn rhiadwn. 
 
 Ni mynnws gwrawl gwaddawl chwegi'wn, 
 Maban y Gian o faen Grvyngwn. 
 
 *'Viri festinabant Gattraeth, quibus mulsum erat potus, 
 Forma eximii^ quibus ingratus essem^ si non meminerim. 
 Hastis armati turmatim rubris, magnis et incurvatis, 
 ' 10 
 
66 DISSERTATIO DE BARDlS. 
 
 Pug-nabant impetuosi bellatores. 
 
 Si mihi liceret' sententiam de Deirorum populo ferre^ 
 
 JEque ac diluvium omnes una strage prostrarem; 
 
 Amicum enim amisi incautus, 
 
 Qui in resistendo firmus erat - - - 
 
 Non petiit mag'nanimus dotem a socero, 
 
 Filius Ciani ex strenuo Creyngwn ortus." 
 
 Yfeis i win a medd y Mordai, 
 Mawr maint i wewyr, 
 Yng-hyfarfod gwyr^ 
 Bwyd i eryr erysmyg'ai. . 
 Pan gryssiei Gydywal cyfddwyreai 
 Awr, gan wyrdd wawr cyn i dodai, 
 Aessawr ddellt am bellt a adawai, 
 Parrau ryn rwygiad, dyg-ymmynai 
 Ynghat blaen bragat briwai. 
 
 i. e. 
 
 "Ego bibi ex vino et Mulso Mobdai, 
 
 Cujus hasta fuit immanis magnitudinis. 
 
 In belli congressu^ 
 
 Victum aquilis paravit. 
 
 Quando Cydywal festinavit^ exortus est clamor 
 
 Ante croceam auroram, cum sig-num dedit, 
 
 Scutum in asseres comminutos freg-it, 
 
 Et hastis lacerantibus percussit, 
 
 Et inbello eos qui primam stationem sunt nacti vulneravit." 
 
 ' J 
 
 Gwyr a aeth Gattraetk buant enwawd : 
 Gwin a medd o aur fu eu g-wirawd, 
 Blwyddyn yn erbyn wrdyn ddefawd, 
 Trywyr a thriug-aint a thrichant eurdorchawd, 
 
 1 Fortasse, " Vindictam in Deirorum populum," &c. 
 
DISSERTATIO DE BAKDIS. 67 
 
 O'r sawl yt gryssiassant uch g-ormant wirawd, 
 Ni ddiengis namyn tri o wrhydri ffossawd^ 
 Dau gatci Aeron, a Chynon Daeabawd 
 A minnau o'm gwaedfFreu gwerth fy ngwenwawd. 
 
 i. e. 
 
 ^^ Viri ibant ad Cattraeth^ et fuere insig-nes, 
 Vinum et mulsum ex auries poculis erat eorum potus, 
 
 Trecenti et sexaginta tres auries torquibus insigniti erant, 
 Ex iis autem qui nimio potu madidi ad bfcllum properabant, 
 Non evasere nisi tres^ qui sibi gladiis viam muniebant^ 
 Sc. bellator de Aeron et Conanvs Daearawd, 
 Et egomet ipse (sc. Bardus Aneurinus) sanguine rubens, 
 Aliteradhoc carmen compingendum non superstes fuissem.' 
 
 Pan gryssiei Garadawg i gad^ 
 Mab baedd coed, trycbwn, trychiad, 
 Tarw byddin yn nbrin gymmyniad, 
 Ef Uithiai wydd gwn oi angad, 
 Ys fy nhyst Ewein fab Eulad, 
 A Gwriek, a GwYN, a Gwriad, 
 Gattraeth o gymmynad, 
 Fryn Hydvm cyn cafFad, 
 Gwedi medd gloyw ar angad, 
 Ni weles Wribn ei dad. 
 
 i. e. 
 
 "Quando ad bellum properabat Caradocus, 
 
 Filius apri sylvestris qui truncando mutilavit hostes, 
 
 Taurus aciei in pugnee conflictu, 
 
 Is lignum (i. e. hastam) ex manu contorsit, 
 
 Cujus rei sunt testes Ewein filius Eulad. 
 
 Et GwRiEN et GwYN et Gwriad. 
 
68 DI3SERTATI0 DE BABDIS. 
 
 Ex Cattraeth et congressu ibi, 
 Ex Bryn S-ydrm ubi prius habitavit, oriundus,, 
 Postquam mulsum lucidum in manu tenuerat, 
 Non vidit patrem suum Gwrienus." 
 
 Cyfwyrein eetwyr cyfarfiiant^ 
 Yn^hyt^ yn unfryt yt g-yrcbassant, 
 Byrr eu boedl^ hir eu boed ar eu carant^ 
 Seith gymmaint o Loegrwys a laddassant, 
 gyfrysaedd gwragedd gwycb a wnaethant, 
 Llawer mam a'i deigr ar ei hamrant. 
 
 i. e. 
 
 " Laudo bellatores qui congressi sunt omnes, 
 
 Et uno animo hostes adorti sunt^ 
 
 Euit eorum vita brevis, et longum amicis desiderium 
 
 reliquerunt, 
 Occiderunt tamen ex Saxonibus plus sceptics 
 Ex' aemulatione mulierum egregie egerunt. 
 Et plurima mater lacrymas pofudit." 
 
 Arddyledawc canu, cymman o fri, 
 
 Twrf tan^ a tharan^ a rhyferthi, 
 
 Owryd arddercbawg marchawg mysgi^ 
 
 Rhudd Fedel rhyfel a eidduni^ 
 
 Gwr gwnedd, difuddiawg, digymmyni yngbat, 
 
 O'r meint gwlad yt glywi. 
 
 i. e. 
 
 "Debitus est tibi cantus, qui bonorem assecutus es 
 
 maximum, 
 Qui eras instar ignis, tonitrui et terapestatis, 
 
 1 Quid sibi vult hie Bardu9 non mihi constat. 
 
DISSEKTATIO DE BARDIS. 69 
 
 Viribus eximie, eques bellicose 
 
 Ehudd Fedel, bellum meditaris. 
 
 Licet vir strenuus adoriatur^ eum superabis in bello 
 
 Ex quacunque regione eum advenisse audieris." 
 
 Arddyledawc canu claer orchorddion, 
 A gwedi dyrraith dyleinw afon, 
 Dimcones loflen ben eryron llwyd, 
 Ef gorau bwyd i ysg-lyfion. 
 Or a aeth Qattraeth o aurdorcbogion, 
 Ar neges Mynyddawg mynawg Maon^ 
 Ni ddoeth yn ddiwarth o bartb Frython, 
 Ododin wr bell well no Chynon. 
 
 i. e. 
 
 " Carmine debent celebrari nobiles proceres, 
 
 Qui post conflictum amnes ripas superare fecerunt.' 
 
 Ejus manus satiavit aquilarum fuscarum gulas, 
 
 Is et optime cibum paravit avibus rapacibus^ 
 
 Ex omnibus enim eis qui ibant ad Cattraeth aureis torqui- 
 
 bus insignitij 
 Qui partem Mynyddawg in bello defendebant clari 
 
 satellites, 
 NuUus ex Britonibus melius suum egit munus 
 In Gododin, (ex iis qui ex longinquo venerunt) quam 
 
 CONANUS." 
 
 Truan y w gennyf i gwedi lludded 
 Goddef gloes angau trwy angbyffred 
 Ag eil trwm truan gennyf 6, gweled 
 Dygwyddaw an gwyr ni pen o draed 
 Ac ucbenaid hir ac eilywed 
 Yn ol gwyr pybyr tymyr tudwed 
 
 1 Sc. craore fuso. 
 
70 DISSEETATIO DE BAEDlS. 
 
 Ehyfawn a GwGAWN GwiAWN a Gwlyged 
 Gwyr g-orsaf gwriaf gwrdd yng-haled 
 Ys deupo eti henaid hwy wedi trined 
 Cynnwys yngwlad nef addef afreued 
 
 i. e. 
 
 " Me maxime dolet post laborem amicos nostros 
 
 Subire mortis angorem more inassueto ; 
 
 Et iterum me maxime dolet quod ipse vidi 
 
 Viros nostros in bello gradatim cadentes. 
 
 Gemitus est longus et opprobrium 
 
 Post homines alacres patriae decus, 
 
 Ehyfawn et Gwgawn Gwiawn et Gwlyged ; 
 
 Viri qui erant sustentacula (belli sc.) fortissimi et in 
 
 angustiis magnanimi 
 Ascendant eorum animse post pugnam 
 In regnum coelorum ubi habitatio est sine uUo desiderio." 
 
 Hsec de Aneurino sufficiant. 
 
 Floruere eodem seculo et multi alii Bardi inter quos 
 eminet Myeddin Wyllt, id est, Meelinus Sylvestris, 
 qui poema composuit cui titulus Afallmnau, id est, pomar- 
 ium, in quo patroni sui Gwenddolau filii Ceidio munifi- 
 centiam prsedicat." 
 
 Afellen beren bren y sydd fad 
 
 Nid bychan dy Iwyth sydd firwyth arnad 
 
 A minnau wyf ofnawg amgelawg am danad 
 
 Ehag dyfod y coedwyr coed gymmynad 
 
 I gladdu dy wraidd a Uygru dy had 
 
 Fal na thyfo byth afal arnad 
 
 A minnau wyf gwyllt gerthrychiad 
 
 Im cathrid cythrudd nim cudd dillad 
 
 Neum rhoddes Gwenddolau tlysau yn rbad 
 
 Ac yntau heddyw fal na buad. 
 
DISSEllfATlO DE BARDIS. ?1 
 
 1. e. 
 
 " arbos pomifera, dulcis et bona^ 
 
 Non parvum fers onus fructuum ; 
 
 Ego tui causa anxius et solicitus sum 
 
 Ne ligfnatores arbores ad csedendas veniant, 
 
 Et eifodiant tuam radicem, et semen corrumpant, 
 
 Ita ut nunquam postea pomum feras : 
 
 Eg-o sum feruSj hommibus spectaculum, 
 
 Me occupat horor^ et vestes me non amiciunt. 
 
 GwENDDOLAU dedit mihi gratis jocularia, 
 
 Et ipse est hodie non uti olim fuit." 
 
 Fuit Meelinus Morprynit filius el Albania oriundus, 
 et alter fuit a Meelino Ambrosio qui vixit tempore VoR- 
 TiGERNij et eo quod nepotem causu interfecerit in insaniam 
 incidit et in Caledoniam recessit sylvam feri instar, ubi, 
 cum animi compos esset^ sortem suam carminibus deploravit. 
 
 Floruit hoc seculo et Llywarch-hen, i. e. longsevus^ 
 Urieni Cumlrice principis consobrinus. Extant ab eo 
 scripta poemata in quibus narrat se a Saxonibus in Povis- 
 iam pulsum fuisse, et sibi ftiisse viginti quatuor filios auries 
 torquibus insig'nitos^ et omnes patriam defendendo bello 
 occubuisse. Qui plura de hoc viro nobili et Eardo desiderat 
 CI. Llwydii Archaeolog-iam Britannicamconsulat p. 259. 
 
 Vixerunt eodem tempore alii Bardi, sed cum eorum 
 non extent opera, nomina tantum interserere sufficat 
 Teisteaedd, Bardd Urien Eeged. Dygynnelw, 
 Bardd Owain ap Urien, Afan Eerddig, Bardd Cad- 
 WALLON ap Cadfan. Golyddan, Bardd Cadwaladb 
 Eendigaid. Sunt in iis qui extant multa quae historico 
 Britannico usui esse possunt : fuere enim Bardi rerum 
 gestarum fidi narratores. Fuit eorum praecipuum munus 
 
^2 DiSSEBTATIO DE BAEDlg. 
 
 principum et mag-natum laudes, et egregia in bello acta 
 carminibus celebrare, quod et olim de iis observavit 
 
 LUCANUS. 
 
 Vos quoque^ qui fortes animas belloque peremptas 
 Laudibus in long'um vates dimittis aevum, 
 Plurima eecuri fudistis carmina Bardi. Lib. 
 
 " Bardi (inquit Lelandus in Assertions Arturii) soli 
 musicis numeris^ et illustri nobilium memorise conservandse 
 studebant^ canebant illi ad lyram heroum inclyta facta^ 
 profuit hoc studium mirifice cognitioni^ tanquam per 
 manus posteritati traditae. Unde quoque contigit ut 
 Aetueii maximi nomen^ fama, gloria utcunque conser- 
 ventur." Inventus est enim ejus sepulcbrum in monas- 
 terio Glastoniensi juxta id quod Bardus cecinerat coram 
 Heneico SecundOj quod satis demonstrat illos historico- 
 rum fidorum aeque ac poetarum munus egisse. 
 
 Habemus praeter hos quos supra citavimus Bardos^ 
 nonnuUa carmina anonyma pervetusta, quae Druidum 
 esse existimavit Edvaedus Lluyd^ cujusmodi sunt Mtg- 
 lynion yr Eiry, y bidiau, y gorwynnion. Moris fuisse 
 Druidis carmina almunos docere notavit Caesae : " Mag- 
 num ubi versuum numerum edicere dicuntur. Itaque 
 nonnulli annos vicenos in disciplina permanent, neque fas 
 esse existimant ea litteris mandare, quum in reliquis fere 
 rebus publicis privatisque rationibus, Graecis litteris 
 utuntur. Id mihi duabus de causis instituisse videntur j 
 quod neque in vulgus disciplinam efFerri velint, neque eos 
 qui diacunt litteris confisos minus memoriae studere, 
 quod fere plerisque accidit ut praesidio litterarum diligen- 
 tiam in discendo ac memoriam remittant." Genus car- 
 minis quo in his usi sunt fuit Englyn Milwr. 
 
 Haec de antiquissimis quae nunc extant Bardis Bri- 
 
DISSERTATIO DE BARDIS. 73 
 
 tannicis dicei-e suflBciat, ad illos nunc accedo qui durante 
 Principum Cambrise gubernaculo floruerunt. A seculo 
 -sexto ad deciraum nihil quod novi extat scriptum, saltern 
 non vidij neque quid causae esse potuit augurari possum, 
 nisi frequens bellorum strages et Britannorum inter dis- 
 sidia. In Hoeli Boni, nostris Hywel Dda, leg-ibus 
 fit Bardi aulici mentio, et qusenam fuerit ejus ibi conditio, 
 quae/ temporis ratione habita, fuit perhonesta. Circa an- 
 num 1170 Gruffydd ap Conan Cambrise princeps leg-em 
 Bardis praescripsit, in qua cautum erat ut nuUam praeter 
 suam exercerent artem, in qua et dona et poenas consti- 
 tuit. Eos autem in tres classes divisit, Prydydd, Teulurvr, 
 •et Cler^vr; et fixura unicuique secundum ordinem statuit 
 stipendium. Eorum electio fieri solebat in solenni prin- 
 cipum et procerum concessu, ubi unicuique secundum me- 
 ritum assig-natus est locus. Ille vero qui praecelliat, sella 
 -donatus est aurea vel arg-entea, unde et Cadeirfardd dic- 
 tus, i. e. Bardus qui sellam assecutus est. 
 
 Ab eo tempore multi eximii floruerunt Bardi, et a prin- 
 cipibus admodum fovebantur. Meilir qui fuit Grufpini 
 filii CoNANi Bardus, fuit et ejusdem miles et leg-atus uti 
 et ipse in ejus epicedio refert. 
 
 Yfeis g*an deyrn o gym eurawg- 
 Arfod faedd feiddiad ang-ad weiniawg 
 
 1 "Qui Harpatorem in manum percasserit, componat ilium quarts parte majori eomposi- 
 tione quam alteri ejusdem conditionis hominl." Inter Legg, Kipuariorum et Wesinorum a 
 Lindenbrocbio coUectas— Unde patet quanto in Honore apud exteros etiam Bardus et Har- 
 jjator (idem enim plerunque fuit munus) habitus esset. Freeter barpam aliud instrument] 
 genus sibi peculiare Nomallenses vindicant, quod Crwth vocant — Hinc verbum Anglicum 
 •Crovidero apud Hudibrastum pro Fiddler, or Player upon the Violin, ad quod Crwth prin- 
 'Cipinm dedisse videtur. Hoc instmmenti genus fere in desuetudinem abiit, et violino cGssit. 
 — Ex sex cbordis felinis constat, nee eodem modo quo violinum modulatur, quamvis a figura 
 baud multiim abludat: in SudwalliSl penitus ignoratur : 
 
 "Romanusque Lyr^ plaudat tibi, Barbaras HarpS, 
 Graecns Achilliaca, Crotta Britanna canat." 
 
 Venantius. Lib. 7. Carm. 8. 
 11 
 
74 DISSERTATIO DE BARDIS. 
 
 Yn llys Aherffraw er ffaw ffodiawg' 
 Bum du Gwledig yn lleithawg- 
 Eilvvaith ydd eithum yn neg-essawg 
 leufer lliw camawn iawn dywyssawg- 
 Bu fedd aur g-ylchwy yn fodrwyawg- 
 Torresid g'ormes yn Uynghessawg* 
 Gwedi tonnau gwyrdd gorewynnawg- 
 Dyphuthynt eu seirch meirch rhygyngawg-, 
 
 i. e. 
 
 " Dedit mihi potum ex cornu deaurato princeps, 
 Cujus impetus erat instar apri ferocis in bello, cujus 
 Manus erat liberalis 
 
 In aula Aberffram, quod mihi decus et felicitas fuit. 
 Ex domini mei parte miles fui; 
 Et iterum legation em obii. 
 
 Quum a bello cruento discederet princeps egregius. 
 Mulsum ex poculo aureo bibebatur in circulo, 
 Hostium enim invasionem navalem repulimus, 
 Et post refluxum undarum viridium perspumosa- 
 
 rum 
 Portabant phaleras in littore sicco equi gestientes." 
 
 Nee dedignati sunt ipsi principes banc artem, animi re- 
 laxandi causa^ colere, ut testantur Oweni Cyfeiliog 
 principis Povisice et Hoeli filii OwENi Venedoti^ princi- 
 pis opera^ quibus addere licet Llewellinum ultimum 
 Cambriae principem. De eo enim sic Matt. West, circa 
 natale domini Llewelmnus accessit ad regem misericor- 
 diam non justitiam petiturus — et paulo post — Rex Ed- 
 wARDUS vocalem principem diligenter instnictum ad partes 
 Walliae redire permisit.^ Poematum argumentag erant 
 egregia in bello facinora^ libertas^ hospitalitas et munifi- 
 
 1 Vid. Pbynne's Coll. of Records, Vol. III. p. 1214. 
 
DISSEBTATIO DE BAKDIS. 75 
 
 ceiitia, et si quae alia virtus, quae homines domi ornat, et 
 Ibris liostibus tremendos reddit. Et fuit eorum in accen- 
 dendis hominura ad clara incepta animis tanta vis, ut nihil 
 aeque sonaret Tyetaei musa quum suos ad honestam 
 mortem oppetendam hortaretur. Et quaenam, quaeso, 
 reipublicae tam utilis virtus, quum hostibus utrinque pre- 
 meretur, et cum sola spes, salus et libertas esset in armis, 
 quam magnanimus periculorum contemptus, et ad ea 
 adeunda ardor eg'reg'ius? Sed'prsestat Giealdum Cam- 
 BRENSEM audire qui iis vixit temporibus, et fuit eorum 
 quae hie narrantur oculatus testis. " Nee ullo prorsus nisi 
 martio labore vexantur, patriae tamen tutelse student et 
 libertatis : pro patria pug'nant, pro libertate laborant; 
 pro-quibus non solum ferro diraicare, verum etiam vitara 
 dare dulce videtur. Unde et in thoro turpe, in bello mori 
 decus putant. Ac illud poetse dixerunt — procul hinc aver- 
 tite pacem, nobilitas cum pace petit, nee mirum si non de- 
 generant. Quorum enim hi reliquiae sunt ^neadae in 
 feri'um pro libertate ruebant. De his ig-itur spectabile, 
 quod nudi multoties cum ferro vestitis, inermes cum arma- 
 tis, pedites cum equitibus congredi non verentur, in quo 
 plerumque conflictu sola fiunt agilitate, et animositate 
 victrices. lUis quorum poeta sic meminit, sicut situ sic 
 natura non dissimiles." 
 
 Populus quos despiqit arctos 
 
 Felices errore 8uo,quo8 ills timorum 
 Maximus hand nvget leti metus, inde ruendi 
 In ferrum mens prona viris, animaeque capaces 
 Mortis, et ignavum rediturae parcere vitae. 
 
 Et nonnuUis interjectis — " Illud in hoc loco notandum 
 videtur, quod Anglorum Eex Henricus Secundus nostris 
 diebus imperatori Constantinoplitano Emmanueli super 
 insulae Britannicae situ ac natura, magisque notabilibus 
 
76 DISSEETATIO DE BAEDIS. 
 
 litteris et nunciis inquirenti : inter caetera hoc quasi 
 praecipue notabile rescripsit. In quadam insulae parte 
 sunt g-entes quae Wallenses dicuntur, tantae audaciae et 
 ferocitatis ut nudi cum armatis congredi non vereantur, 
 adeo ut sanguinem pro patria fundere promptissime, Vi- 
 tamque velintpro laude pacisci." Hactenus Giraldtj&. 
 
 Non immerito Bardis tantus fuit habitus honor ; ii 
 enim heroum inclyta canentes acta^ et ma,jorum illustria 
 proponentes exempla suos ad ardua incitabant, unde et 
 patriae salutem^ principibus et proceribus g-loriam conci- 
 liabant ; nee solum illustria aliorum canebant facta, verum 
 ipsi in hello eodem quo in cantibus ardore incitati, multa 
 praeclara fortitudinis exhibebant documenta. Gwalch- 
 MAi filius Meilir se Cambriae fines adversus Ang'los 
 defendisse gloriatur in poemate cui titulus Oorhoffedd 
 GwALCHMAi, i. e. ejus JDelicia;. Stationera ejus juxta 
 fluvium Efurnwy fuisse docet non pocul abagro Salopiensi. 
 Sunt multa in hoc poemate tam heroe quam Bardo dig-na. 
 Postquam enim excubias per noctem totara eg-isset Gwal- 
 CHMAi, ad lucem diei appropinquantis laetus, loci et rerum 
 circumjacentium pulchritudine delectatus, omnem curam 
 et solicitudinem amovit, et philomelae cantui, et aquae 
 juxta labantis murmuri, et arborum herbarumque virori 
 attendit, imminens ab hoste periculum contemnens^ Marti 
 aeque ac Mercurio paratus, firmum mehercle et generosum 
 pectus ! 
 
 Poema in hunc modum incipit. 
 
 Mochddwyreawg Huau haf dyfFestin 
 Maws Uafar adar, mygr, hyar bin. 
 Mi ydwyf eurddeddf ddiofn yn nhrin 
 Mi wyf Hew rhag llu, Uuch fy ngorddin 
 Gorwyliais nos yn achadw ffin 
 
DISSERT ATIO DE BARDIS. 77 
 
 Gorloes i-ydau dwfr Dygen Freiddiv} 
 Gorlas g'wellt didl-yf, dwfr neud jessin 
 Gwyrlain yn g'ware ar wely Ui&nt 
 Lleithrion eu pluawr, pleidiau eddrin. 
 
 i. e. 
 
 *' sol sestive, cito oriens propera, 
 Suavis est cantus avium, et caelum sudum et serenum est. 
 Eg'o sum bona indole prseditus, et in bello intrepidus, 
 Sum leo strenuus in fronte exercitus^ et meus impetus 
 
 est violentus^ 
 Totam noctem perVig'ilavi fines tutando 
 Ubi sunt vada tran?lucida juxta Dygen Freiddin 
 TJbi herba in loco solitario crescens perviridis est, et 
 
 aqua limpida 
 Mergi ludunt in fluctuunjL lecto, 
 Quorum plumae fulgent, et ipsi inter se cei'tant," 
 
 Non pigebit hie de alio Bardo, scilicet Cynddelw Bry- 
 dydd Mawb, i. e. Condelao vate eximio, nonnulla ex 
 Oweni Venedotiee principis epicedio excerpere ', fuit enim 
 ille, uti ex historia constat, patriae propugnator, et in bello 
 fere semper victor. Vixit Cynddelw in Povisia, et fuit 
 Madoci filii Maeedudd, illius regionis principis, Bar dug 
 aulicus. 
 
 Gwersyll torfoedd tew Hew Uaddai, 
 Gorsaf tarf, taerfalch fal Gwalchmai, 
 Gorfaran Gwbfan gorfyddai, 
 Gwr yn aer yn aros gwaedd fai, 
 Bryd Erof gryd, arf greu a ddodai, 
 Brwydr eurgrwydr, eurgrawn ni guddiai. 
 
 1 Dyeen Freiddin,hoA\a Craig Freiddin, estrupes altaet praeruptainagr. Salopiensi, nou 
 procul a Sabrina, 
 19. 
 
78 DISSERTATIO DE BAEDIS. 
 
 Bradog waith g-wyimiaith g-wynnyg-ai^ 
 Brys briwgad, brig- brag-ad briwiai^ 
 Brwysc lafneu yng"hreu yngrhai celanedd^ 
 Cymminedd cymmynai, 
 
 Gwyrdd heli Teivi tewychai, 
 Gwaedlan gyvyr, a Uyr ai llanwai, 
 Gwyrach rudd g-orfudd g-oralwai; 
 Ar donniar g-wyar gonofiai, 
 Gvvyddfeirch tonn torrynt yn ertrai; 
 Gwythur naws fal traws au treifiai^ 
 Gwyddfid Mngl yng-hladd au trychai^ 
 Gwyddgwn coed colled au porthai, 
 Gwyddwal dyfneual dyfnasai fy modd^ 
 
 Fy meddiant a g-afiPaei. 
 CoUeis Arglwydd call nim collai, 
 Corf eurdorf, eurdal am rhoddai^ 
 Cof cadflawdd am cawdd, a'm carai, 
 Car cerddawT; cerddau ai cyrchai, 
 Gryd wascar, Uachar^ a'm llochai, 
 Grym dilludd Dillus fab Eepai^ 
 Greddf Greidrvyr, a Chymyr a Chai 
 Glew ddefawd g-ly w oesdrawd aesdrai, 
 Ystre hynt, wastad; westrei g-winfydig- 
 
 Gwyn ei fyd bieufei. 
 
 Gwyth escor tra mor, tra Menai, 
 Gwlydd elfydd elwais o honai, 
 Tra fa Owain mawr ai meddai, 
 Medd a g-win a g-wirawd fyddai, 
 Gwynedd wen Gwyndyd len ledpai, 
 Gwedi g-wawr^ cad fawr ai cadwai^ 
 Pa wladwr^ arwr arwyndai^ 
 
 Pa wledig- a wledych arnai? 
 
 i. e. 
 
 " Densas turraas in conflictu occidit leo 
 
DISSERTATIO DE BABDIS, 79 
 
 Qui fuit instar Gwalchmai acris ad fug-aiidum hostes^ 
 
 Superavit mag-nas copias Gwrvanni. 
 
 Fuit in bello vir qui tubam expectabat^ 
 
 Similis Erof bellicoso^ qui telum cruentum duxit. 
 
 Ex bello rediens, in quo aurum nactus est, thesaurum 
 
 non recondit; 
 In hostes dolosos certans mag'na excanduit ira; 
 Hastse in bello furiosee erant in cadaveribus occisorura 
 Et acies (g'ladiorum) se invicem contriverunt. 
 Yiridis aqua Teivii pinguis facta fuit. 
 Fluxus virorum sang-uinis et maris euni ripas superare 
 
 fecit, 
 Et rubra^ avis aquatilis, pro nag'no hebebat eraolumento, 
 Et per fluvios cruoris natabat, 
 
 Et alti marini equi (i. e. fluctus) plang-ebant iu littore. 
 Magnanimus ille princeps eos instar tyranni oppressit, 
 Et Ang'lorum cumulos in fossa truncavit. 
 Sylvestres canes amiserunt opsonatorem, 
 Quibus in densis vepribus assolebat esse victus, neque 
 
 meo assensu, 
 
 Neque auxilio indigebat. 
 Perdidi dominum prudentem, qui me non neglexit, 
 Cujus corpus erat auro amictum, quique mihi aurum 
 
 dedit 
 Cujus memoria (mortui) me leedit : qui me dilexit : 
 Amicus enim erat Bardo, et eum apetebant carmina 
 Ille qui homines in bello dissipare fecit, et cujus impetus 
 
 erat violentus me fovit, 
 Cujus robur erat ineluctabile instar Dillus filii Erfai, 
 Et cujus ingeniumerat simile Greidwyr, Cywyr et Cai 
 Heroia instar hastam gessit comminutam 
 Domi autem vitae cursus erat tranquillus, hospes enira 
 
 erat munificus 
 Et ad summam felicitatem pervenit. 
 
 1 Quaenam sit hasc avis mihi' non constat. 
 
80 DISSERTATIO DE BARDI8, 
 
 Ille victorias reportavit violentus trans sestuarium 
 
 Menai 
 Ubi terra est benig-na, ex qua beneficium sum nactus : 
 Donee extitit Owen us mag-nus qui Monam possesit, 
 Mulsuni, vinum et gmirawd} bibimus. 
 Venedotia olimbeata, Venedotorum tutatem asperum, 
 Post Heroem bellicosum qui te defendet ! 
 Quis ex nostratibus heros in aedibus vivens maghificis^ 
 Quis princeps te gubernare aequo ac ille valebit?" 
 
 Sed non semper in bellatorum laudes efFusi erant Bardij 
 saepe etiam principum et mag-natum fata indig-na lugTibri- 
 ter canebant. Sed infinitum esset haec singulatim recen- 
 sere. Unum sat est adducere exemplum, ex quo de aliis 
 facile judicari potest. Leolino Gruffini filio, ultimo 
 Cambriae principe^ juxta Buellt dolo sublatp, dici non po- 
 test quanto id Bardos dolors afFecit. Inter quos Gru- 
 ff YDD AP yr ynad coch haec texuit admodum vaS/tiT^KSyQ. 
 
 Llawer Uef druari, fal pan fu Gamlan, 
 Llawer deigr dros rann g-wedi gronniaw, 
 leas gwanas gwanar eurllaw, 
 laith Llewelyn cof dyn iiim daw, 
 Oerfelog calou, dan fron o fraw, 
 Rhewydd, fal crinwydd y sy'n crinaw, 
 Poni welwch chwi hynt y gwynt ar glaw ? 
 Poni welwch chwi'r deri yn ymdaraw ? 
 Poni welwch chwi'r mor yn merwino'r tir ? 
 Poni welwch chwi'r gwir yn ymgf weiriaw ? 
 Poni welwch chwi'r haul yn hwylio'r awyr? 
 Poni welwch chwi syr wedi syrthiaw 1 
 Poni chredwch i Dduw ddyniadon ynfyd 
 Poni welwch chwi'r byd wedi bydiaw? 
 
 1 Potfls genus apud veteres Britannos. 
 
DISSERTATIO DE BAEDIS. 81 
 
 Ocli hyd attat di Dduw na ddaw mor tros dir 
 
 Pa beth in gedir i ohiriaw ? 
 
 Nid oes le i cyrcher rhag- carchar braw 
 
 Nid oes le i trig-er och ! o'r trig-aw^ 
 
 Nid oes na chyng-oFj na chlo nag Qgor, 
 
 Na fiFordd i esg'or brwyn g-yng-or braw ! 
 
 i. e. 
 
 " Frequens est vox lug'ubris^ veluti olim in Camlan, 
 
 Multae lacrymae in g-enia accumulantur^ 
 
 Eo quod oecidit Cambriae sustentaculum, et ejus dominus 
 
 munificus. 
 Ex quo oeeidit Leolintjs de caeteris non euro ; 
 Cor frig-idum est sub pectora ob horrorem, 
 Et is qui prius hilaris erat, jam marceseit. 
 Nonne videtis venti et imbris cursum ? 
 Nonne videtis quercus in se invicem ruentes? 
 Nonne videtis mare terram vastans ? 
 Nonne videtis solem ex cursu aerio deflectentem 1 
 Nonne videtis astra ex orbibus corruisse ? 
 Cur Deo non creditis homines, veaani 1 
 Nonne videtis mundi finem adesse ? 
 Exclamabo usque ad te, o Deus, cur terram non absorb- 
 
 et mare, 
 Et cur diutius relinquimur in ang^ore languere ? 
 NuUus est locus, quem petamus aegri, 
 Nullus locus, in quo habitemus miseri, 
 Nullum restat consilium, nullum efFugium, 
 Nulla via, qua evitemus fatum luctuosum." 
 
 Floruere a tempore Gruffini Conani filii ad hunc 
 Leoxinum et multi alii Bardi insig-nes, inter quos eminet 
 Llywaech cognomine Prydydd y Moch, qui Leolini 
 Magni, nostris Llewelyn ap Iobwbrth, victorias multis 
 celebravit odis, uti et fecere Dafydd Benfras, Daniel 
 AP Llosgwrn Mew, Llewelyn Fabdd ap Cywryd. 
 
82 DISSERTATIO BE BAEDIS. 
 
 Floruit eodem tempore in Ceretia Phvlyp BKYDYDDy, 
 qui Bardus fuit Ehys Gryg et Rhys Ieuanc ex familia 
 Rhys ap Tewdwe oriundus. 
 
 Longum asset sing'ulos recensere ; de praestantioribus 
 pauca praelibasse suflScit. Cum Cambriam in suam potest- 
 atem redeg^erat Edwabdus primus, in Bardos saeviit ty- 
 ranni instar, et multos suspendi fecit. Quid mirum, cum 
 ipsum Leolinum principem et Davidem fratrem tam in- 
 humaniter tractaverit ? Sed Edwardus a Leolino olim 
 in fugum pulsus, noluit illi nee asseclis ig"noscere. Hine 
 illae lacrymae. Bardis objiciebatur quod cives in seditionem 
 excitarunt, id est revera, quod eos ad vindicandum liber-- 
 tatem pristinam majorum more hortarentur. Bardi enim 
 fuere Cambris idem quod olim Atheniensihus oratores, 
 quos ut Graeciam in seryitutem redig'eret, sibi tradi yol- 
 uit Philippus Macedo. Reg'um Ang-liae justiciarii post 
 Edwardum in Cambria ejus exemplum secuti, Bardos leg- 
 ibus iniquis obnoxios ubique sustulerunt j unde fit ut ad- 
 modum sint rari ab eo tempore usque ad annum 1400, quo, 
 Ang-lorum excusso servitutis jugo, sub Oweni Glyndwr 
 auspiciis, se in libertatem priscam vindicarunt Cambri.^ 
 Hoc aevo multi claruere Bardi, inter quos loLO Goch 
 Oweni magnificentiam et victorias ad sydera tulit. Fuit 
 enim Owentts Bardorum fautor et Maecenas, et eos undi- 
 quaque ad aulam liberalitate provocabat. Eo tempore 
 floruit Dapybd ap Gwilym Bardorum longe venustissi- 
 mus e Ceretia oriundus. Avunculum habuit Llewelyn 
 AP Gwilym de Oryngae et D61 Goch, qui eum liberaliter 
 educabat. Patronus ejus fuit Ifor Hael de JBassaleg,. 
 cujus munificentiam et magnanimitatem multis prosequitur 
 laudibus. Cum Oweni retro laberentur res, Cambros 
 more inaudito oppressit Henricus IV. et patriae fatum 
 subiere Bardi. Lege enim cautum erat ne annuam pera- 
 grationem et conventus, nostris Clera et Cymhortha cele- 
 brarent. Haec fuit causa cur multi hoc saeculo tam 
 
DISSERTATIO DE BARDIS. 88 
 
 obscure scripserint: multis enim cantibus Cywydd Brut, 
 i. e. Carminis fatidici nomen indidere; quod et fecere 
 postea cum inter Eboracenses et Lancastrenses grassaretur 
 factio. Henricus V. multum a paterna remisit in Cam- 
 bros saevitia. Ab eo tempore long a floruit Bardorura 
 series, et in mag^natum aedibus alebantur, ubi eorum gen- 
 ealogias et signa gentilitia texebant, eorumque virtutes, 
 scilicet magnanimitatem; bospitalitatem et alias animi 
 atque corporis ingenuas et honestas dotes debita prose- 
 quebantur laude. Mos enim fuit Britannis olira, uti et 
 nunc CambriS; ut longam majorum seriem producerent, et 
 Bardi qui hoc munere sunt functi Arwyddfeirdd sunt ap- 
 pellati, et carmen texuere "parasematicum, quod cum pro- 
 sapia generisve serie^ etiam et ^apaariftara, id est insig'nia 
 nobilium et generosorum describit ea, quae in vestibus et 
 vexillis et hujusmodi aliis insignita conspiciuntur, quae- 
 que fiunt aut feruntur, ita ab iis discreta ut nosci possint 
 quorum sint, sive ad quos pertineant, more antiquorum 
 bene meritis tributa, et tanquam ornamenta laudis et glor- 
 iaC; vel ob propriam vel suorum majorum virtutera compar- 
 ata." — Vide Johannis Davidis Ehesi Linguae Cymrae- 
 cae Institutiones accuratas pag. 146. Ex quo et haec de 
 hujuscemodi Bardo transtulimus p. 303. " Pwy hynnag a 
 ddywetto eifod yn Arrvyddfardd, gwyhydded acJwedd Bren- 
 hinoedd a Thywyssogion, a chyfarmyddyd oddimrth y tri 
 Phrifardd ynys Prydain, nid amgen, Myrddin ap Moe- 
 FRYN, a Myrddin Emrys a Thaliesin Ben Beibdd." 
 i.e. "Quicunque voluerit esse Bardus parasematicus, necesse 
 est ut sciat regum et principum stemmata, et sit bene 
 versatus in operibus Merlini Morprynii filii, Merlin i 
 Ambrosii et Taliesini summi Bardi." Et hoc fuisse 
 antiquitus Bardorum munus annotavit Giraldus Cam- 
 BRENSis. "Hoc mihi notandum videtur, quod Bardi 
 Cambrenses et cantores seu recitatores genealogias habent 
 prsedictorum principum in libris eorum antiquis et auten- 
 ticis, eandemque memoriter tenent a Koderico Magno 
 
84 DISSEBTATIO DE BARDIS. 
 
 usque ad Belinum Magnum, et inde usque ad Sylvium, 
 AsOANiUM et ^neam, et ab ea usque ad Adam g-enera- 
 tionem linealiter producunt." 
 
 Nou abs re fore judicavi hie monumentum vetus inse- 
 rere^ quod in manuscripto Job.. Day. Rhesi propria manu 
 exarato inveni. Quod quidem manuscriptum dignum est 
 omnino quod prelo niandetur : nostram enim linguam 
 poesin, et alia vetusta monumenta adversus ignarum 
 quendam calumniator em, quorum messem innumeram haec 
 aeque ac superior aetas tulit, strenue vindicat. Hie trac- 
 tatus in lingua Britannica eleganter scriptus est, et talium 
 nebulonum inscitiam protervam facile retundit. Yidetur 
 vir doctissimus hoc monumentum ex vetusto aliquo scrip- 
 tore nunc deperdito excerpsisse. Utcunque sit, id ego ex 
 ejus autographo hie fideliter exscribere curavi. '^Ble- 
 THINUS filius Cynvini patri in principatu Povisice suc- 
 cessit. Hie templa, castra et maneria renovari fecit,.leges 
 Howeli observavit. Inter tres principes, videlicet, Grtj- 
 FPINUM filium CoNANi principcm Venedotite, Blethinum 
 filium Cynvini principem PovisiiE, et Rhesum filium 
 I'ewdwU principem Suth-walliee inquisitio magna fuit de 
 armis et de regali sanguine antiquorum Britonum. Quibus 
 conquisitis in ditione sapientium Wallisej repertse fuerunt 
 tres lineae regales, et quindecim lineee de sanguine nobilium 
 senatorum Britanniae. Hie Blethintjs primus omnium 
 principum Povisice, in armis usus est leone rubeo in sul^ 
 phure. Hie castrum de JDol y Forwyn fundavit, et apud 
 Mifod sepultus est." 
 
 Sunt in istis genealogiis multa quae antiquario Britan- 
 nico usui esse possuntj nihil enim apud nostrates vel 
 antiquius vel magis autenticum extat, et nihil quod magis 
 nostram illustrat et confirmat historiam. Nonnulli enim 
 ex Bardis non solum rei poeticae, verum etiam historicae 
 
DlSSfiHTATlO DE BARDlS. S§ 
 
 mentem appulerunt. Erat in raonasteriis uber historiar- 
 unij g-enealog'iarum et poeseos coUectio. Bafdi enim ab 
 abbatibus maxime fovebantur, et erant in festis solennibus 
 ab iis laute excepti: uti constat ex operibus Gutto'r 
 Glynn, Gutttjn Owain, Ieuan Deulwyn et Tudur 
 Aled. Extant et nunc in nobiliorum gedibus innumera 
 Epicedia, quae nostrates Cywyddau Marwttad nuncupa- 
 vere: fuit enim Bardi domestici munus, cum aliquis e 
 familia obierit, ejus Epicedium concinnare, quod post 
 exequias ad cognatos fuit delatum et coram iis a Rhapso- 
 dis quos nostrates Datceiniaid nominavere recitatum. 
 Inter alia quae in defuncti honorem sunt narrata, ejus 
 genealogiam memovare tenebatur, ex quibus nobilibus 
 ortus fuerit familiis, et quse prseclara fecerint ejus majores 
 facinora. Hujusceraodi poematum multa vidi exemplaria 
 pulchre exarata. Ab Elizabethae Reg'inge tempore 
 nuUus fuit Bardorum legitimus consessus : unde fit ut nil 
 sit deinceps accurate et secundum prosodise reg-ulas scrip- 
 turn: eousque ut jamdudum Bardorum et bistoricorum 
 opera (ex quibus solis vera et g-enuina Britannise historia 
 petenda est) in maximo sint periculo ne funditus pereant. 
 Quod multas ob cauwas in seculo tam docto et sag-aci max- 
 ime est deploraudum, sunt quidera hoc sevo qui hsec studia 
 velint rediviva, et qui plus ipsi possint in re poetica atque 
 historica quam quos superior tulit aetas. Inter quos 
 societas Cymmrodorion Londini, patriae atque maternae 
 ling-uae amore instigata, inter alia laude dig-na instituta, 
 nonnuUa veterum et recentiorum melioris notae Bardorum 
 poemata typis mandare meditatur. Opus profecto omni- 
 bus Cambris ingenuis gratissimum et longe desideratissi- 
 mum. Optandura est potius quam expectandum, ut ii qui 
 habent aliquid in poesi vel historia notatu dig-num in pri- 
 vatis bibliothecis reconditum, id in vulgus emittant, aut 
 saltern ab iis qui hujusmodi rebus operam navant perlegi 
 perraittant. Sic enim suae famae et patriae commodo 
 melius consulent quam vermibus et muribus committere. 
 14 
 
86 DISSERTATIO DE BABDIS. 
 
 Eg-o autem in Cambriae montibus degens a bibliothecis 
 et museis procul; quod potui feci; utinam ii qui plus 
 possintj et materiam uberiorem sunt nacti de Bardis^ et 
 caeteris Britannicae antiquitatis reliquiis^ meliora cudant. 
 
YCHYDIG 
 
 AWDLAU WAITH YE HEN FEIEDD, 
 
 YN AMSER 
 
 l'TWTi©©3I®M (OTMIElCrs 
 
 WEDI EU CYFIEITHTJ I'E SAESONEG; 
 
 Er mwyn dang-os ansawdd ein Prydyddiaeth i wyr cyw- 
 raint, dysgedig-^ anghyfiaith : a nodau byrrion^ i 
 eglurhau enwau Dynion^ a Lleoedd, a grybwyllir 
 ynddyntj a hanes byrr o honynt^ wedi ei gasglu allan 
 Drioedd Ynys Prydain, a hen GoflFadwriaeth eraillj 
 er dyweaydd i'r oes hon, ac er adfer ei haeddedigawl 
 barch i'r hen famiaith Oymraeg, ac i'n Gwladj a'u 
 dyledus glod iV thrigolion dewrwych gynt. 
 
 'Aui TOUTO Aibg Kovpaig fikXii, aiiv aoiSoiq 
 'YlxvtZv aSavdrois, vfivtiv ayaSiSiv KKia dvlpuv. 
 
 Theocritus Idyll, xvi. 
 
AT 
 
 RISIART MOEYS, Y8WAIN, 
 
 LLYWIDD CYMDEITHAS Y CYMMRODOKION YN LLUNDAIN; 
 
 A'l FKODYK, 
 LEWIS MOEYS, YSWAIN, BENBETN, 
 
 YNG NGHEREDIGION; A 
 
 "WILLIAM MOEYS, GAERGYBI, TM MOK 
 
 NI bum yn hir yn myfyrio i bwy i cyflwynwn yr ych- 
 ydig Awdlau sydd yn canlyn, canys ni adwaeii i neb 
 heddyw a^ sydd yn eu deall cystal a chwi, na neb chwaith 
 sydd yn coledd ac yn mawrhau ein iaith mor anwylg-u 
 Frutannaidd. I mae ein g-wlad ni yn rhwymedig- i bob 
 un bonoch: i cbwi y Llywydd, yn enwedig", am y g-ofal 
 a g'ymmerasoch yn g'olyg-u argraffiad diweddaf y Bibl 
 Cyssegrlan, er lies trag-wyddol eneidiau ein cydvvladvvyr. 
 Ef a dal Duw i cbwi am y g-orchwyl eluseng'ar yma, pan i 
 bo'r byd hwn, a'i boll fawredd a'i wycbder, wedi llwyi- 
 ddiflannu. Ac i raae'r wlad a'r iaith yn dra rhwymedig- 
 i'r Grvr o Benbryn, am g-asg-lu cymmaint o Hanesion 
 ynghylch ein Hynqfiaid, na chlywodd y Saeson braidd son 
 erioed am danynt. Ef a ddelwent ddilynwyr Camden, pei 
 gwelynt fal i mae yn arg-yhoeddi ac yn ceryddu eu beiau^ 
 a'u tuedd g-wyrgam^ yn bychanu ac yn distadlu y pethau 
 nad ydynt yn eu deallj ac o wir wenwyn yn taeru mai 
 dychymmyg'ion diweddar ydynt. Gobeithio i cawn ni 
 weled y trysor mawrwerthiog- yma ar g-yhoedd; i beri 
 
90 AT RISIAET MORYS, YSW., &C. 
 
 gosteg-, ac i dorri rhwysg y cyfry W og-anwyr ein hen hanes- 
 ion. Nid bychan o les i mae y Gwr o GaergyU ynteu 
 yn ei wneuthur, trwy g-asglu Qwaiih yr hen Feirdd g-odidog" 
 gynt ; ac ir wyf yn cyfaddef mai o'i lyfrau ef i cefais i y 
 rhau fwyaf o'r odlau sydd yn canlyn. Ni fedrwn lai na 
 dywedyd hyn am eich ewyllys da i'ch gwlad a'ch iaithj cyn- 
 neddfau sydd^ ysywaeth^ raor brin ac anaml yn yr oes hon. 
 Ef a ddichon hyn beri i'n gwlad agor ei Uygaid^ a defn- 
 yddio yn well rhagUaw yr hen ysgrifenadau sydd heb 
 fyned ar goll. Ac 03 na wna hi hyny^ i mae yn rhaid addef 
 i chwi eich trioedd wneuthur eich rhan yn odiaeth. Plyn 
 a'm hannogodd i roddi blaenfFrwyth fy llafur, er nad yw 
 ond bychauj dan eich nodded ; a gobeithio nad ydyw Iwyr 
 annheilwng iV gyhoeddi; ag i daw rhywun cywreiniach i 
 ddiwygio yr hyn sydd ammherffaith^ ac i osod allan peth- 
 au eraill godidoccach. Nid oedd genyfi ond torri'r garW; 
 gobeitho i daw eraill i lyfnhau a gwastattau y balciau. 
 Yn ddiau ni fuaswn i yn cymmeryd yr orchest yma arnaf, 
 ond darfod edliw o'r Saeson, nad oes genym ddim mewn 
 Prydyddiaeth a dal ei ddangos i'r byd : a bod un'o drigol- 
 ion yr Uch Alban gwedi cyfieithu swrn o waith hen fardd ; 
 neu yn hytrach wedi addurno a thacclu rhyw waith di- 
 weddar, a'i osod allan yn ei enw ef. Chwi a wyddoch yn 
 dda, oddiwrth waith ein hen feirdd awduraidd ni^ sydd eto 
 i'w gweled^ nad ydyw ddim tebygol fod y bardd gogleddig 
 nior henaidd : ond nid af i i ymyrryd ag ef ym mhellach yr 
 awron. Y mae yn ddigou genyfi roddi hyn o brawf o'n 
 hen feirdd ein hunain i'r byd '■> ac os darfu i mi wneuthur 
 cyfiawnder iddynt, dyna fi wedi cyrraedd fy amcan. Pa 
 fodd bynnag i digwyddo, i mae'n Uawen geuyf gael odfa i 
 dystiolaethu fy mod yn mawrygu yn ddirfawr eich cariad 
 a'ch traserch chwi at eich gwlad a'ch iaith ; yn yr hyn i 
 damunwHj yn ol fy ngallu, eich canlyn ; a datcan, yng- 
 wydd ^r boll fyd, fy mod, frodyr haeddbarch, 
 
 Eich Gwasanaethwr rhwymedig-, gostyngeiddiaf, 
 
 EVAN EVANS. 
 
AT Y OYMm. 
 
 PAN welais fod un o Ysgodogion UcheUir Alban, ac 
 hefyd Sais dysg-edig-, wedi cyfieithu g-waith eu hen 
 Feirdd i'r Saesoneg, mi a dybyg-ais mai nid gweddus i ni 
 y Cymry, y rhai sydd g-enym Gerddi awduraidd, g-orheii- 
 aidd, o'r einom, fod yn Uwyr ddiymdro yn y cyno-aws 
 hwnnw : o herwydd, hyd i g-wn i, dyna'r unig ragorg-amp 
 celfyddyd a adawodd ein hynafiaid ini, sydd heb ei cholli. 
 I mae gwaith y Derwyddon, od oedd dim gwiwgof ganddynt 
 wedi ei ysgrifennu^ wedi rayned ar ddifancoll • ac nid oes 
 dim wedi dyfod i'n hoes ni oddiwrthynt, ond y Brydydd- 
 iaeth yn unig. I mae ein hen Fusic wedi ei llwyr ebar- 
 gofio : nid yw'r cj^weiriau cwj'nfanus sydd genym yr 
 awron ond dychymmygion diweddar, pan oeddy Cymry yn 
 griddfan tan iau galed y Saeson. Am gelfj^ddydau eraill. 
 od oedd dim mewn perffeithrwyJd^ i mae gwedi ei lw\-r 
 goUi. Nid oes genym ddim hanes am ein hynafiaid o'n 
 hawduron ein hunain^ ond oddiwrth y Beirdd yn unig, o 
 flaen Gildas ap Carv ; yr hwn sydd yn ein goganu, ac yn 
 ein Uurginio, yn hytrach nag ysgrifennu cywir banes 
 am danom ; ond fo wyr hanesyddion yr acbos: heblaw 
 hyn, i mae ei waith ef wedi myned drwy ddwylo'r Men- 
 eich; gwyr a fedrai yn dda ddigon dylino pob peth i'w 
 dibenion eu hunain. — Y Beirdd, fal i tystia Giraldus, 
 Arch-diacon Brycheiniog, oeddynt yn cadw achau y Bren- 
 hinoeddj ac yn coiFau eu gweithredoedd ardderchog ; ac 
 oddiwrthynt hwy yn ddiammau i deryw i Dysilio fab 
 Brochwel Ysgythrog, tywysog Powys, ysgrifennu'r hanes 
 sydd yr awron yn myned tan enw Bkut y Beenhinoedd, 
 yr hwn a ddarfu i Golf rid ap Arthur, o Aber Mynwy, 
 ei gyfieithu o iaith Llydaro i'r Lladin, ac oddiyno yn 
 
92 AT y CYMBY. 
 
 Oymraeg; fel i mae ef ei hunan yn cyfaddef mewn amryw 
 hen g-opiau ar femrvvn^ sydd etto iV g-weled yng Nghym- 
 ru ; ond ysywaith, e ddarfu iddo chwanegu amryw chwedl- 
 au at hanes Tysilio : Flumines ac Archiflamines, a phro- 
 phwydoliaeth Myrddin Emrys, a phethau eraill a fuasai 
 harddach eu g-adael heibio. Fed fuasai yn dilyn y Beirdd^ 
 e fuasai genym gywirach hanes nag sydd genym yr 
 awron : ond fel ag i mae^ ni haeddai yn gwbl mo'r gogan 
 i mae'i" Saeson, o amser Camden, yn ei rhoi iddi ; o her- 
 wydd i mae Nennius, yr hwn a ysgrifennodd drychant o 
 flynyddoedd o'i flaen^ yn rhoddi yr un hanes am ein de- 
 chreuad. Ir wyf yn amcanu, os Duw a rydd im' hoedl ac 
 iechyd^ osod allan yr awdur hwn a nodau helaeth arnOj 
 gyd ag amddiffyniad o'r hanes; o herwydd efe yw'r hanes- 
 ydd hynaf a feddwn yn Lladin, oddigerth y Oildas uchod, 
 yr hwn nid y w deilwng ei gyfrif yn hanesydd ; o herwydd 
 nid dyiia ei gyngyd na'i fympwy, yn ei Epistolce de excidio 
 Britannicc. Ir wyf yn methu a chafFael copi iawn o Nen- 
 nhis, ac ir wyf yn nieddwl nad oes un yng Nghymru a 
 dal ddim^ ond yn Ilengmrt: da iawn er lies y wlad a han- 
 esyddion Prydain, i gwnai ei berchennog adael i ryw wr 
 d3'sgedig ei gymharu. I mae genyfi ddau gopi, ond i 
 maent yn dra ammherffaith; felly hefyd i mae'r I'hai 
 printiedigj o eiddo'r Dr. Gale a Bertram. Ni wiw i Sais, 
 na neb dieithr^ bydded mor ddysgedig- ag i mynno, oni 
 ddeall ef Gymraeg yn iawn, ac oni chaiff hefyd weled ein 
 hen ysgrifenadau a'n Beirdd ni, gytcam a'r fath waith. Nid 
 yw Camden, er dysgedicced, diwytted, a manyled gwr 
 ydoedd, ond ymleferydd am lawer o bethau j-n ei Britan- 
 nia^ a hyny yn uuig, o achos nad oedd yn raedru yr iaith 
 yn well. A gresyn yw, nad oedd y Saeson, y rhai oedd- 
 ynt yn ddiau (rai o naddunt) yn chwilio pethau yn deg, 
 ac yn ddiduedd dros ben, y cyfryw ag ydoedd Leland, 
 Usher, a Selden, yn deall ein iaith, a medru gwneuthur 
 defnydd o'n hen lyfrau : o herwydd hyn, nid oeddynt, er 
 cymaint eu dysg a'u dawn, ddim i'w cyffelybu ag Wmffre 
 
AT Y CYMRT. 93 
 
 Llwyd Ddinhych, a JRhobert Fychan o'r Hengwrt, fel i 
 mae eu g'waith yn eglur ddang-os. Ac yn ddiau, mae yn 
 ammhosibl i undyn^ bydded mor g-ywreinied ag i myno, 
 wneuthur dim a ffrwyth ynddo, heb g-afFael gweled yr hen 
 ysgrifenadau, sydd yn g-adwedig yn Uyfr^elloedd y 
 boneddig'ion yng" NgTiymru; yn enwedig' yn Hengwrt, a 
 Llan Fordaf. Myfi a welais, ac a g'efais fenthyg' amryw 
 lyfrau o waith Uaw^ yn Uyfrgrawn yr anrhydeddus Sohert 
 Davies, jsg\ o Lannerck yn Swydd Dinbyoh ; a Sir Roger 
 Mostyn yng Ngloddaith, seneddwr dros Swydd Flint; 
 a chan yr anrhydeddus William Fychan, ysg'. o Govs y 
 Gedol, seneddwr dros Swydd Feirionydd ; yr hyn ni fedraf 
 lai na'i fynegu yma yug-wydd y byd^ er cofFau eu cym- 
 mwynas a'u hewyllys da i'n g'wlad a'n iaith, ac i minnau 
 hefydj yn ol arfer canmoladwy, a haelioni yr hen Fryth- 
 on gynt. 
 
 Ond i ddyfod weithion at y Beirdd^ yr rhai a adawsom ar 
 ol. Ef a ddarfu imi gyfieithu ychydig' odlau o'u gwaith, 
 trwy annog'aeth gwyr dysg-edig- o Loegr ; ac mi a ewyllys- 
 iwn wneuthur o honof hynny er clod iddynt j ond i mae 
 yn rhaid im' adael hynny ym marn y darllenyddion : ac 
 nid oes g'enyfi ddim i'w ddywedyd, os drwg- y w'r cyfieith- 
 iad, nad arnaf i yn llwyr i mae'r bai yn sefyll; o herwydd 
 i maent y Beirdd yn ddiammau yn orchestol odiaethj ond 
 i mae'n rhaid addef hefyd eu bod yn anhawdd afrifed eu 
 deongli^ o herwydd eu bod yn Uawn o eiriau sydd yr 
 awron wedi myned ar g-yfrg-oU: ac nid ydynt wejli eu 
 heg'lurhau mewn un Geiriadur arg'raflfedig' nac ysgrifened- 
 ig- a welais i. Ir oedd yr Athraw hynod o Fallwyd, yr 
 hwn a astudiodd yr iaith er lies cyffredin y wlad; dros holl 
 ddyddiau ei einioes^ yn methu eu deong'li. Ac ni wnaeth 
 y dysgedig Mr. Edward Llmyd o'r Musceum, gamp yn y 
 byd yn y perwyl yma, er ei fod yn gydnabyddus a holl 
 geinciau prifiaith Prydain. Ac yn ddiau o'r achos yma, 
 nid oedd genyfi ddim ond ymbalfalu am ystyr a synwyr y 
 15 
 
94 AT y CYMRY. 
 
 Beirdd; mewn Uawer man^ oddiwrth flaen ac ol. It wyf 
 yn rhyfeddu'n ddirfawr am rai o'r Cymry sydd yn haeru 
 fod g-waith Taliesin, a'i g-ydoesiaid Aneurin Gwawdrydd^ 
 Llymarch Hen, a Merddin Wyllt, yn hawdd eu deall. Yn 
 ddiau nid wyf i yn deall mo honynt^ ac i mae'r rhai dysg- 
 ediccaf yn yr iaith^ y to heddy w, yn addef yr un peth. I 
 mae'r Beirdd^ hir oesoedd g-wedi hyny^ sef ar ol dyfodiad 
 Owilym Fasdardd, kyd farwolaeth^ Llywelyn ap Grvffydd, 
 yn dywyll iawn ) fal i gellwch weled oddiwrth yr odlau 
 sydd yn canlyn. Hyn a barodd i mi beidio a chyfieithu 
 chwaneg- o honynt y tro yma^ rhag* ofn imi, trwy f}"^ an- 
 wybodaeth^ wneuthur cam a hwynt. Ond g-an i'r Saeson 
 daerU; na feddwn ddim mewn prydyddiaeth a dal ei ddang- 
 os; mi a wnaethum fy ngorau er cyfieithu y Casg'liad 
 bychan yma, i fwrw heibio, os y w bossibl, y gogan hwnnw: 
 ac yn ddiau^ os na Iwyddodd genyf wneuthur hyny, i mae 
 yn rhaid i'r Beirdd, a'm cydwladwyr^ faddeu imi ; a go- 
 beithio i derbyniant fy ewyllys da^ herwydd na ddichon 
 neb wneuthur ond a alio. — Heblaw hyn oil, i mae hyn a 
 waith yn dyfod i'r byd^ mewn amser anghyfaddas i ym- 
 ddangos mewn dim prydferthwchj o herwydd i mae un o 
 drigolion yr JJch Alban, gwedi gosod allan ddau lyfr o 
 waith Ossian • hen Fardd^ meddai ef, cyn dyfod Cristian- 
 ogaeth i'w plith. Ac i mae'r Uyfrau hyn mewn rhagor- 
 barch gan foneddigion dysgedig y Saeson. A rhaid addef 
 eu bod wedi eu cyfieithu yn odidog : ond i mae arnafi ofn^ 
 wedi'r cwbl, fod yr Ysgodog yn bwrw hug ar lygaid dvn- 
 ion, ac nad ydynt mor hen ag i mae ef yn taeru eu bod". I 
 mae'r Gwyddelod yn arddelw Ossian megis un o'u cyd- 
 wladwyr hwynt; ac i mae amryw bethau yn y cerddi a 
 gyhoeddwyd yn ei enw, yn dangos, yn fy nhyb i, oes 
 ddiweddarach nag i mae'r cyfieithydd yn son am danij yn 
 enwedig dyfodiad Gwyr Llychlyn i'r Lverddon, yr hyn ni 
 ddigwyddodd^ meddai hanesyddion yr Intrddon, cyn y 
 flwyddyn 700. Ac ni ddaeth yr Ysgodogion chwaith i 
 sefydlu yn yr Alban, o flaen Fergus Mac Ein, ynghylch 
 
A* Y CymrY. ^5 
 
 y flwyddyn 503 ; fal i mae William Llroyd, Esgob Caer- 
 mrangon, wedi ei brofi yn ddiwrthadl^ yn ei lyfr ynghylch 
 llywodraeth eglwysig". Ond pei canniatteid eu bod hvvy 
 yno cyn hynny^ ni fyddai bynny ronyn nes i brofi 
 Ossian mor hyned ag- i dywedir ei fod. berwydd 
 ped fuasai, pa fodd i mae ei g'yfieithydd yn medru 
 ei ddeongli mor hyfedr? I mae g-xtaith ein Beirdd 
 ni, sydd gant o flynyddoedd ar ol hynny, tu hwnt 
 i ddeall y g-wir cywreiniaf a medrusaf yn yr hen Frutan- 
 iaith. P-wy o honom ni a g-ymerai'r Oododin, g'waith 
 Aneurin Gmawdrydd, Fychdeyrn Beirdd, a'i. gyfieithu 
 mor Uathraidd ag' i gwnaeth cyfieithydd Ffingal a Themora? 
 Ir wyfi yn meddwl nad oes neb a ryfygei g-ymmeryd y fath 
 orchest arno. Prin iawn i medreis i ddeongli rhai pennill- 
 ion bono yma a tbraw, y rhai a ellwch eu g'weled yn y 
 traetbawd Lladin yng-hylch y Beirdd. A gresyn yw ei 
 fod mor dywyll, o berwydd, byd ir wyf fi yn si ddeall, 
 g'waitb g-odidog- ydyw. Yr un peth a ellir ei ddywedyd am 
 JDaliesin Ben Beirdd, nid oes neb heddyw, byd i gwn i, a 
 fedr g-yfieitbu yn iawn un o'i Awdlau na'i Orchanau. 
 Myfi a wn fod amryw Frudiau ar byd y wlad, wedi eu 
 tadogi ar Daliesin a Myrddyn ; ond nid ydynt ond dych- 
 ymygion diweddar, gwedi eu fFurfeiddio ar ol marwolaeth 
 Llywelyn ap Gruffydd. Yn enwedig- yn amseroedd terfysg- 
 1yd Owain Glyndwr, a'r ymdrecb rbwyg- pleidiau Efrog 
 a Lancaster. I mae befyd eraill, g-wedi eu Uuniaethu gan 
 y Meneicb, i atteb eu dibenion bwytbau ; ond i mae'r 
 rbain oil yn bawdd eu g'wabanu oddiwrth awduraidd 
 waith Taliesin, wrtb yr iaith.— I mae yn ddiammau genyf, 
 fod y bardd yma yn odidogf yn ei amser. Ir oedd yn 
 g'ydnabyddus ag- athrawiaith y Derrvyddon am y iiiTt,i.<^ix<»me, 
 a'r Darog-anau, y rhai oe Jdynt yn ddiammau, weddillion o'r 
 Credo pag-anaiddj canys nid yw darog-anu ddim arall 
 ond mynegi pethau i ddyfod, oddiwrth y Ddar, yr hon ir 
 oeddynt y Derrvyddon yn ei pherchi yn fawr iawn. A 
 chan ei fod ef yn wr Uys, ac yn by w yn yr oes anwybodus 
 
96 AT Y CYMEY. 
 
 honnOj u* oedd yr hyn a ddywedai yn cael ei dderbyn a'i 
 roesawu g'an y g-werinbs, meg-is ped fuasai wir broffwyd. 
 A liynny a ellir ei ddywedyd hefyd am Ferddin Emrys, 
 a'i brofFwydoliaeth. Mor anhawdd yw tynnu ofergoelion 
 eu hynafiaid, oddiwrth un wlad neu g-enedl! 
 
 E ddichon rhai o honoch ysg-atfydd ofyn, Paham na 
 buaswn yn cyfieitbu rhai o'r Beirdd g"odidog' diweddar, a 
 ysgrifenasant wedi diwygio yr hen gyng-hanedd? I'r rhain 
 ir wyf yn ateb^ fod y Eeirdd yn amser y tywysog-ion yn 
 fwy ardderchog" a mawryddig* yn eu g-waith ; ac ir oeddynt 
 eu hunain^ rai o naddunt, yn dywysogion^ ac yn wyr dy- 
 ledogion ; yn enwedig"; Owain Cyfeiliog, tywysog' Pomys ; 
 a Hywel ap Owain Gwynedd, Bardd a rhyfelwr g'odidog- : 
 ac felly ir oeddynt yn fwy penigamp na'r Beirdd diwedd- 
 ar, ran eu testunau. Canys ir oedd y Beirdd diweddar^ 
 fel i mae Sion Dafydd Rhys yn achwyn arnynt, yn g-wen- 
 ieithio i'r g-wyr mawr, ac yn dywedyd celwydd ar eu can ; 
 ac yn haeru iddynt dorri cestyll, Uadd a llosg"i^ pryd ir 
 oeddynt^ eb ef^ yn cysgu yn eu gwelyau^ heb ddim mo'r 
 fath feddwl nac amcan g'anddynt. Eithr yn amser y ty- 
 wysog-ion, o'r g-wrthwyneb^ ir oedd y Beirdd yn dystion 
 o ddewredd a mawrfrydig'rwydd eu tywysogionj ac ir 
 oeddynt eu hunain yn filwyr glewion. Ir oedd Meilir 
 Brydydd yn g'ennad dros Bvffydd ap Gynan at frenin 
 Lloegr ; ac ir oedd Gwalchmai, ei fab^ jrn flaenor cad yng-- 
 hyflSnydd Lloegr a Chymru ; fel i maent ill dau yn t3rstiol- 
 aethu yn eu cerddi. Heblaw hyn^ ir oedd y tywysog-ion 
 yraa yn fuddugawl yn eu rhyfeloedd a'r Saeson, ac ir oedd 
 hynny yn peri i'r Beirdd ymorchestu^ i dragywyddoli eu 
 gweithredoedd ardderchog; ac i foli eu gwroldeb mewn 
 aches mor glodfawr ag" amddiffyn eu gwlad a'u rhyddid, 
 yn erbyn estron genedl^ a'u difuddiasei o dreftadaeth eu 
 hynafiaid. Ir oedd y rhain yn ddiau yn destunau gwiw i 
 Eeirdd ganu arnynt, ac yn fodd cymmwys i beri iV deil- 
 iaid eu perchi a'u ham'hydeddu ; canys ir oedd y cerddi 
 
A^ Y cymrY. 97 
 
 godidog yma yn cael eu datg-an g'yda'r delyn^ mewn 
 cyweiriau cyfaddas^ mewn gwleddau yn llys y tywysog-, 
 ac yn neuaddau y pendefigion a'r uchelwyr. I mae Gir- 
 aldus yn dy wedyd, fod y Cymry mor ddrud a milwraidd yn 
 ei amser ef, ag na rusynt ymladd yn noeth ac yn ddiarfog-, 
 a'r rhai arfog, llurugog ; a'r pedydd yn erbyn y marchog- 
 ion. Yn ddiau nid oedd un modd a ellid ei ddychymmygu 
 well^ i gynnal yr yspryd dihafarch yma yn ein hynafiaid^ 
 na chael eu moli g-an y Beirdd. Ac e wyddai'r Saeson 
 hynny yn dda ddig-on ; canys ar ol darostwng Oymru tan 
 eu llywodraeth, e ddarfu iddynt ddihenyddu'r Beirdd 
 trwy'r hoU wlad. I mae Uyfrau ystatud Lloegr^ yn Uawn o 
 gyfreithiau creulon i'w herbyn, ac yn g-warafun yn g-aeth 
 iddynt ymarfer o'u hen ddefodau, o g'lera a chymhortha. 
 Yn amser Orvain Olyndwr, i cawsant ychydig seibiant a 
 chynhwysiad i g-anu ; ond g'wedi hynny, hyd ddyfodiad 
 Sarri'r Seithfed, ir oeddynt tan g-wmmwl. Gwedi iddo ef 
 ddyfod i lywodraethu, ac yn amser ei fab, Sarri'r Wyth- 
 fod, a'r frenhines Elisabeth, y rhai a hanoeddynt o waed 
 Cymreig", i cawsant gynhwysiadau i g-ynnal Eisteddfodau: 
 ond ni pharhaodd hynny ond ennyd fechan, o herwydd 
 bonedd Cymru a ymroisant i fod yn Saeson, fel i maent 
 yn parhau g-an mwyaf hyd y dydd heddyw. 
 
 Ond i mae rhai yn yr oes yma yn chwenychu eu cadw 
 a'u coledd, er mwyn eu hiaith ddigymmysg, ac er mwyn 
 gwell gwybodaeth o foesau ac ansawdd ein hynafiaid ; ac 
 er mwyn eu teilyngdod eu hunain ; o herwydd i mae yn 
 rhai o'u Hawdlau a'u Cywyddau, ymadroddion mor gyw- 
 raint a naturiol ag sydd ym Mhrydyddion Groeg a Rhuf- 
 ainj mal i gwyr y sawl a'u deallant yn dda. — Ymysg 
 eraill i mae Cymdeithas y Cymmrodorion, yn Llundain, 
 yn rhoddi mawrbarch iddynt j ac yn chwenychu cadw 
 cynnifer o'n hen ysgrifenadau ag sydd heb fyned ar goU. 
 A da i gwneynt foneddigion Cymru, ped ymoralwent am 
 argraiFu y pethau mwyaf hynod a gwiwgof mewn pryd- 
 
98 AT Y CYMRY. 
 
 yddiaeth, hanesion, ac eraill hen gofFadwriaethau ; o her- 
 wydd i maent beunydd yn cael eu difrodi^ g-an y sawl ni 
 wyddant ddim gwell. Hyn^ er lies ein g-wlad a'n iaitb, 
 yw gwir a diffuant ddamuniad 
 
 Eich g'ostyng'edig' wasanaethwr, a'ch ewyllysiwr da, 
 
 EVAN EVANS. 
 
HIRLAS OWAIN 
 
 Owain Cyfeiliog e hwn ai cant. 
 
 GWAWE. pan ddwyre gawr a ddoded, 
 Galon yn anfon anfudd dyng'ed; 
 Geleurudd ein gwyr gwedi Uudded trwm, 
 Tremit gofwy mur Maelawr Drefred. 
 
 Deon a yrrais dygyhyssed, 
 Diarswyd a'r frwydr arfau goched^ 
 A rygoddwy glew gogeled rhagddaw, 
 Gnawd yw oi ddygnaw ddefnydd codded ! 
 
 Dywallaw di fenestr gan foddhaed^ 
 Y corn yn Haw Rhys yn llys llyw ced, 
 Llys Owain ar braidd yt ryborthed erioed. 
 Forth mil a glywi pyrth egored. 
 
 Menestr am gorthaw^ nam adawed 
 Estyn y corn er cyd yfed^ 
 Hiraethlawn am llyw Uiw ton nawfed^ 
 Hirlas i arwydd aur i dudded : 
 
 A dyddwg o fragawd wirawd orgred, 
 Ar Haw Wgan draws dros i weithred. 
 
100 BARDDONIAETH. 
 
 Canawon Goronwy, gwrdd gynnired gwyth, 
 Canawon hydwyth^ hydr eu gweithred : 
 Gwyr a obryn tal ymhob caled^ 
 Gwyr yng-awr gwerthfawr gwrdd ymwared^, 
 Bugelydd Hafren balch eu clywed, 
 Bugunat cyrn medd mawr a wna neued. 
 
 Dywallaw di'r corn argynfelyn, 
 Anrhydeddus, feddw, o fedd gorewyn^ 
 Ac o'r mynni hoedl hyd un blwyddyn^, 
 Na ddidawl i barch, can nid perthyn, 
 A dyddwc i RufFydd waewruddelyn^ 
 Gwin a gwydr goleu yn ei gylchyn, 
 Dragon Arwystli, arwystl terfyn^ 
 Dragon Owain hael o hil Cynfyn, 
 Dragon iw dechreu, ac niw dychryn cat^ 
 Cyflafan argrat cymwy erlyn. 
 Cetwyr idd aethant er clod obryn: 
 Cyfeddon^ arfawc, arfau Edwyn, 
 Talassant i medd mal gwyr Belyn gynt^ 
 Teg i hydrefynt tra bo undyn. 
 
 Dywallaw di'r corn, canys amcan cennyf^ 
 Ydd ymgyrryw glyw gloyw ymddiddan, 
 Ar Haw ddehau ein Uyw gyflafan, 
 Llucb y dan ysgwyd ysgawn lydan, 
 Ar Haw Ednyfet Uawr diogan lew, 
 Ergyrwayw trylew, trei i darian. 
 Terfysc ddyfFysc ddeu ddiofn aniau, 
 Torrynt torredwynt uch teg adfan, 
 Teleirw ynghyngrein ynghyfran brwydr, 
 Tal ysgwyd eurgrwydr torrynt yn fuan i 
 Tryliw eu pelydr gwedi penwan, 
 Trylwyn yn amwyn amwiw Garthan. 
 
BlBDDONIAETH. 101 
 
 Cigleu ym Maelawr gawr fawr fuan, 
 A g-arw ddisg-yrr g-wyr^ a gwyth erwan, 
 Ac ymgynnull am druU am dramwyan, 
 Fal i bu ym Mangor am ougyv dan : 
 Pan wnaeth dau deyrn uch cyrn cyfrdan, 
 Pan fa gyfeddach Forach Forfran. 
 
 Dywallaw di'r corn^ canys myfyr gennyf, 
 Men ydd amygant medd a'n tymmyr, 
 Selif diarswyt orsaf 6hvygyr, 
 Gogelet ai cawdd calon eryr ! 
 Ac unmab Madawc, enwawg Dndur hael, 
 Hawl bleiddiad, Ueiddiad, lluch ar ysgyr, 
 Deu arwreidd, deu lew, yn eu cyngyr, 
 Deu arial dywal dau fab Ynyr, 
 Dau rydd yn nydd cad eu cyfergyr, 
 Cyfargor diachor camp diacbyr, 
 Arfod Uewod gwrdd, gwrddwan cadwyr, 
 Aer gunieid, lunieid, coch eu hongyr, 
 Treis erwyr yn ffwyr ffaw ehegyr, 
 Trei eu dwy aesawr dan un ystyr, 
 Gorfu gwynt gwaeddfan ucb glan glasfyr, 
 Gorddwy clau tonnau Talgarth ystyr. 
 
 Dywallaw di fenestr na fyn angau, 
 Corn can anrhydedd ynghyfeddau, 
 Hirlas buelin, breint uchel hen ariant, 
 Ai gortho nid gorthenau: 
 A dyddwg i Dudur, eryr aerau, 
 Gwirawd gyssefin o'r gwin gwinau, 
 Oni ddaw i mewn o'r medd gorau oil, 
 Gwirawd o ban, dy ben faddau, 
 Ar Haw Foreiddig, Uoehiad cerddau, 
 Cerddyn hyn i glod cyn oer adnau, 
 Dieithr frodyr fryd ucheldau, 
 Diarchar arial a dan dalau, 
 16 
 
102 BABDDONIAETH. 
 
 Cedwyr am gorug gwasanaethau, 
 Nid ym hyn dihyll nam hen deheu 
 Cynnifieid, gyrthieid, fleinieid, fleiddiau, 
 Cynfaran creulawn creulyd ferau, 
 Glew glyw Mochnannmya o Bowys beu: 
 glew gwnedd arnac^unt deu, 
 Achubieit pob rheid^ rhudd eu harfeu: 
 Echedwynt rhag terfysc eu terfynau, 
 Moliant y w eu rhann y rhei gwynnau ; 
 Marwnad fu neud mi newid y ddau ! 
 chan Grist mor drist wyf o'r anaeleu ! 
 goU Moreiddig mawr ei eissieu. 
 
 Dywallaw di'r corn can nim puehant, 
 Hirlas yn Uawen yn Haw Forganty . 
 Gwr a ddyly gwawd gwahan foliant^ 
 Gwenwyn y addwyn, gwan edrywant, 
 Areglydd defnydd dioddefiant Uafn, 
 Llyfn i deutu llym ei hamgant. 
 
 Dywallaw di fenestr o lestr ariant, 
 Celennyg edmyg, can urdduniant, 
 Ar Uawr Grvestun fawr gwelais irdant, 
 Ardwy Goronwy oedd gweith i gant, 
 Cedwyr cyfarfaeth ydd ymwnaethant, 
 Cad ymerbynieid, eneid dichwant, 
 Cyfarfu ysgwn ac ysgarant aer, 
 Lias aer, Uosget maer ger mor lliant : 
 Mwynfawr o garcharawr a gyrchassant, 
 Meurigfab Gruffydd grym ddarogant, 
 Neud oedd gochwys pawb pan atgorsant, 
 Neud oedd lawn o heul hirfryn a pliant. 
 
 Dywallaw di'r corn ir cynnifieid, 
 Canawon Owain, oyngrein, cydneid, 
 
BARDDONIAETH. 103 
 
 Wynt a ddyrllyddant yn lie honneidj 
 
 Glud men ydd ant gloy w heyrn ar neid : 
 
 Madame a Meilir gwyr gorddyfneid treis, 
 
 Tros gyferwyr gyferb3mieid : 
 
 Tariannogion torf, terfysc ddysgeid, 
 
 Trinheion faon, traws ardwyeid. 
 
 Ciglau am dal raedd myned dreig- Cattraeth, 
 
 Cywir eu harfaeth^ arfau Uiweid, 
 
 CrOBgordd Fynyddawc am eu cysgeid, 
 
 Cawssant y hadrawdd cas flawdd flaenieidj 
 
 Ni wnaeth a wnaeth fyng-hedwyr ynghalet Faelor, 
 
 Dillwng carcharor dullest foleid. 
 
 Dywallaw di fenestr fedd hidlaid, melus, 
 
 Ergyrwayw gwrys gochwys yn rheid, 
 
 gym buelin balch oreuraid, 
 
 Yr gobryn gobrwyau henaid ; 
 
 O'r gynnifer anhun a borth cynnieid 
 
 Nis gwyr namyn Duw ac ai dywaid. 
 
 Gwr ni dal ni dwng, ni bydd wrth wir, 
 
 Daniel dreig cannerth, mor fertb hewir, 
 
 Menestr mawr a gweith yd ioleitbir 
 
 Gwyv ni oleith Ueith, oni Uochir, 
 
 Menestr medd ancwyn a'n cydroddir, 
 
 Gwrdd-dan gloyw, goleu^ gwrddloyw babir 
 
 Menestr gwelud dy gwyth yn Llidwm dir 
 
 Y gwyr a barchaf wynt a berchir. 
 
 Menestr gwelud dy galchdoed Cyngrein, 
 
 Ynghylchyn Orvain gylchwy enwir, 
 
 Pan breiddwyd Cawres, taerwres trwy dir, 
 
 Preidd ostwng orflwng a orfolir, 
 
 Menestr nam didawl, nim didolir, 
 
 Boed ym mharadwys in cynbwysir, 
 
 Can pen teyrnedd^ poed hir eu trwydded, 
 
 Yn i mae gweled gwaranred gwir. Amen. 
 
11. 
 A W D L 
 
 I Fyfanwy Fechan, o Gastell Dinas Bran. Howel ap 
 JEinion Lyglim ai cant. 
 
 NEUD wyf ddihunwyf, hoen Creirwy hoywdeg-, 
 Am hudodd mal Garwy, 
 fan or byd rwymgfwyd rwy^ 
 fynor gaer Fyfanwy. 
 
 Trymmaf yw cariad tramwy, hoen eurnef^ 
 
 Hyn arnaf dy faccwy, 
 Dy far feinwar Fyfanwy, 
 Ar ath gar ni fu far fwy. 
 
 Gofyn ni allawdd namyn gofwy cur, 
 
 Dyn mewn cariad fwy fwy, 
 Fynawg- eirian Fyfanwy, 
 Fuchudd ael fun hael fyw'n hwy. 
 
 Eurais wawd ddidlawd, ddadl rwy adneuboen, 
 
 Adnabod Myfanwy, 
 Poen ath gar afar ofwy, 
 Poen brwyn ei ryddwyn i ddwy. 
 
 Gorwydd, cyrch ebrwydd, ceirch ebran addas, 
 
 Dwg dristwas, dig Drystan, 
 Llwrw buost, farch llary buan, 
 Lie arlloes fre eurllys Fran. 
 
BAEDDONIAETH. 105 
 
 Gwn beunydd herwydd herw amcan^ddilyd 
 
 Ddelw berw Caswennan : 
 Golwg, deddf amlwg' diddan, 
 Gwelwj freich fras brenhinblaa Bran. 
 
 Gyrrais a Uidiais farch bronn Uydan, hoyw, 
 
 Er boen blodau sirian : 
 Gyrrawd ofal yr Alban, 
 Garrhir braise ucheldir Bran. 
 
 Lluniais wawd, ddefawd ddifan, traul ofer, 
 
 Nid trwy lafur bychan : 
 Lliw eiry cynnar pen Aran, 
 Lloer bryd, Iwys fryd o lys Fran. 
 
 Mireinwawr Drefawr dra fo brad im dwyn, 
 Gwarando fy ngbwyn, frwyn freuddwydiad, 
 Mau glwyf a mowrnwyf murniad, huno heb 
 Gwrtbeb teg- atteb tuac attad 
 Mi dy fardd dig-ardd, dyg-n gystuddiad Rhun, 
 Gyfun laes wannllun ith lys winllad. 
 Mynnu ddwyf draethu heb druthiad na gwjd 
 Wrthyd haul g-ymmryd, g'amre wasdad. 
 Mynnud hoyw fun loyw oleuad gwledydd, 
 Glodrydd, gain gynnydd, nid gan gennad, 
 Maint anhun haelfun hwylfad, em cyfoeth 
 Ddoeth, fain oleugoeth, fy nau lygad, 
 Medron boen goroen nid digarad was, 
 Heb ras, mau drachas om edrychiad. 
 Magwyr murwydr hydr, hydreiddiad Iwysle, 
 Mygi'wedd haul fore eurne arnad. 
 Megis Uwyr gludais Uawer gwlad, yn ddwys, 
 Dy glod Iwys, cynnwys pob datceiniad, 
 Mai by oedd ymmy, am wyl gariad graen, 
 Myfanwy been blaen eiry gaen gawad. 
 
106 BAEDDONIAETH. 
 
 Meddwl serchawl, hawl, Wiw ton hwyliad welw, 
 
 Arddelw dygynnelw heb dy gynheiliad. 
 
 Modd trist im g-wnaeth Crist croesdog neirthiad Uwyr, 
 
 Wanwyr oi synwyr drwy lud senniad. 
 
 Mum boen a mi om anynad hawl, 
 
 Serchawl eneidiawl un fynediad. 
 
 Mul i bwriais, trais tros ddirnad Duw gwyn, 
 
 Tremyn ar ddillyn porphor ddillad. 
 
 Megis ti ferch rhi, rhoddiad gymmyrredd, 
 
 Mwyfwy anrhydedd; wledd wledychiad. 
 
 Marw na byw, nwyf gly w gloy w luniad cyng-aws, 
 
 Hoednaws nid anaws im am danad. 
 
 Meddwl ofeiliaint braint braidd im g'ad Uesmair, 
 
 I g'ael yr eilg-air wrth ofFeiriad. 
 
 Masw imi brofi, brif draethiad a wnawn, 
 
 Lie nim rhoddi iawn, ne g-wawn, na gwad. 
 
 Mesur cawdd anawdd i ynad eg'lur, 
 
 Adrawdd fy nolur ddwysgur ddysg'iad. 
 
 Modd nad gwiw, Uiw Ueuad rhianedd. 
 
 Nam gwedd hud garedd, nam hoed girad. 
 
 Meinir nith borthir, gwn borthiad poenau, 
 
 Yn nenn hoeu blodau blawd yspyddad. 
 
 Medraist, aur delaist adeilad gwawd, 
 
 Im nychdawd ddifrawd ddyfrys goUiad. 
 
 Meddylia oth ra ath rad, ith brydydd 
 
 Talu y carydd Duw dofydd dad. 
 
 Prydydd wyf, tros glwyf, trais glud^ poen gwaneg, 
 
 laith laesdeg ith Iwysdud: 
 Fynawg riain fain funud : 
 Fun arlludd hun eirllwydd hud. 
 
 Im neud glud, dy hud hydr, riain wanlleddf, 
 
 O'r wenllys ger Dinbrain : 
 Ami yw gwawd gynnefawd gain, 
 Om araith ith dwf mirain. 
 
III. 
 A W D L 
 
 / Lewelynfab lorwerth. Dafydd Benfras ai cant. 
 
 GWR a wnaeth Uewych or g-orllewin^ 
 Haul a Uoer addoer, addef iessin, 
 Am gwnel, radd uchel^ rwyf cyfychwin, 
 Cyflawn awen, awydd Fyrddin, 
 I ganu moliant mal Aneurin gynt, 
 
 Dydd i cant Ododin. 
 I foli gwyndawd Ghnyndyd werin, 
 Qwynedd bendefig', ffynnedig ffin, 
 Gwanas deyrnas, deg cywrennin, 
 Gwreidd, teyrneidd, taer ymrwydrin, 
 Gwrawl ei fflamdo am fro Freiddin. 
 Er pan orau Diiw dyn g-yssefin, 
 Ni wnaeth ei gystal traws arial trin. 
 Gorug' Llewelyn, orllin teyrnedd, 
 Ar y brenhinedd braw a g-orddin 
 Pan fii yn ymbrofi a brenin Lloegyr, 
 
 Yn llygru swydd Erhin. 
 Oedd breisc, weisc ei fyddin, 
 Oedd brwysc rwysc rbag y godorin, 
 Oedd balch gwalch, golchiad ei lain, 
 Oedd beilch gweilch, gweled ei werin, 
 Oedd clywed cleddyfau finfin, 
 Oedd clybod clwyf ymhob elin, 
 Oedd briw rhiw yn nhrabludd odrin, 
 Oedd braw saw Baeson clawdd y Cnweoin, 
 
108 BARDDONIAETH. 
 
 Oedd bwlch llafn yn Haw g-ynnefin, 
 
 Oedd g-waedlyd pennau, g-wedi gwaedlin rhwy, 
 
 Yn rhedeg am ddeulin. 
 Llewelyn, ein Uyw cyfFredin, 
 Llywiawdr berth hyd Borth Ysgewin, 
 Ni ryfu gystal Gwstennin ag ef, 
 
 I gyfair pob gorllin. 
 Mi im byw be byddwn ddewin, 
 Ym marddair, ym mawrddawn g-yssefin, 
 Adrawdd ei ddaed aerdrin ni allwn, 
 
 Ni allai Daliesin. 
 Cyii adaw y byd g-yd gyfrin, 
 Gan hoedyl hir ar dir daierin, 
 Cyn dyfnfedd escyrnwedd yscrin, 
 Cyn daear dyfnlas^ arlessin^ 
 Gwr a wnaeth o'r dwfr y gwin, 
 Gan fodd Duw a diwedd g-wirin^ 
 Nog a wnaethpwyd trais anwyd trin^ 
 Ymhrefent ymhrysur orllin : 
 Ni warthaer hael am werthefin nos, 
 
 A nawdd saint boed cyfrin. 
 
IV. 
 
 C A N U 
 
 / Lervelyn fab lorroerth. Einiaron fah Gwgawn ai cant. 
 
 CYFARCHAF o'm naf, am nefawl Arglwydd, 
 Crist Cell culwydd^ cwl i ddidawl, 
 Celfydd leferydd o le g'weddawl, 
 Celfyddydau mau ni fo iparwawl : 
 I brofi pob peth o breg'eth Bawl, 
 I foli fy rhi, rhwyf ang-erddawl, 
 Rhyfel ddiochel, ddiochwyth hawl, 
 Llewelyn heilyn, hwylfeirdd waddawl, 
 Llawenydd i ddydd, i ddeddf ai mawlj 
 Llewychedig- Uafn yn llaw reddfawl, 
 Yn lladd, dy wrthladdTiwrth lys Bheidiarvl, 
 Gweleis a gerais ni g-ar mantawl, 
 Gwelygordd Lleission llyssoedd g'weddawl, 
 Lluoedd arwoloedd ar weilw didawl; 
 Llawrwyr am eryr yn ymeiriawl, 
 Llewelyn Ueyn, Uyw ardderchawl^ 
 Lluriglas, g-wanas, gwanau a hawl^ 
 Gwenwyn yn amwyn am dir breiniawl Pomys, 
 Ae diffiwySj ae glwys a glyw ei hawl, 
 Ef dynniad yng'had, Mngl frad freuawl, 
 Ef dandde rhuddle Rhuddlan is gwawl, 
 Gweleis Lervelyn, eurddyn urddawl^ 
 Yn urddas dreigwas drag'ywyddawl, 
 Ell g-weleis i dreis dros ganol Dyfrdwy, 
 Yn y trei tramwy llanw rhwy^ rhwydd hawl 
 Gweleis aer am gaer oedd eng-iriawl; 
 17 
 
110 BARDDONIAETH. 
 
 Talu pwyth dydd gwyth, canjseawl, 
 Ni ryweleis neb na bo canmawl, 
 O'r ddau y gorau a fo g'wrawl. 
 
 Mi ath arwyre^ ath arwyrein myfyr, 
 
 Eryr yn rhywyr, prifwyr Prydein. 
 
 Prydfawr Lewelyn pryd dyn dadiein^ 
 
 Prydus, diescus^ escar ddilein. 
 
 Escynnu ar Uu ar He Ewein, 
 
 Ysgymmod gorfod^ g-orfalch am brein, 
 
 Ysg-ymmyn gwerlyn, gwerlid gofiein, 
 
 Ysgymydd clodrydd^ Kulwydd a Llmyfein , 
 
 Lluddedig edmyg-, meirch mawrthig- mein ; 
 
 A Uuoedd yngwiscoedd jm ymoscrein, 
 
 Ar Uinyn ar dynn ar du celein, 
 
 A Uinon rhag- Bron rhag- bro Eurgein, 
 
 Tyrfa Clawdd Offa clod yn hoifiein, 
 
 A thorfoedd Gwynedd a g'wyr Llundein, 
 
 Cyfran tonn a g'lan, glafdir g-wylein, 
 
 Golud mowr ystrud, ysgryd Norddmein, 
 
 Llewelyn terwyn, torf ang-hyngein, 
 
 Biau'r g'wyr g'oraU; bachau bycbeiu, 
 
 Priodawr mwynglawr Mon g-lod yscein, 
 
 Areul golud pentud^ Pentir Gmychein. 
 
 Gwawr Dehan gorau^ gwyr yn dyrein, 
 
 Gwenwyn a gwanar y ddau gar gein, 
 
 Ae lyw cyferyWj cyfwyrein a thrin, 
 
 A thrychieid gwerin Caer Fyrddin fein, ' 
 
 Ni sefis na thwr^ na bwr, bu crein^ 
 
 Nag argoed, na choed, na chadlys drain, 
 
 A rhag' pyrth bu syrth Saeson ynghrein. 
 
 Oedd trist maer, oedd claer cleddyf heb wein, 
 
 A chan Uu pannu, pen ar ddigrein, 
 
 A chan Haw Uudwaw Lla% Huadein, 
 
 Cil Oeran achlan, a chlod goelfein, 
 
 A chlwyr ar dyhedd, mawredd nairein, 
 
BABDDONIAETH. Ill 
 
 Yn Aher Teifi tew oedd frein uch benn, 
 Yn yd oedd perchen parchus gyfrein. 
 Oedd tew peleidr creu, creuynt gigfrein, 
 Calanedd gorwedd gorddyfnassein, 
 Llewelyn boed hyn boed hwy ddichwein, 
 No Llywarch hybarch^ hybar gigwein. 
 Nid celadwy dreig, dragon gyngein, 
 Nid calan cyman gwr y gymein, 
 Hydwf yngnif ai lif o lein, 
 Hyd ydd el yn rhyfel hyd yn JRhufein, 
 Ai raglod ai rod o riw Feddgein^ 
 Hyd i dwyre haul hyd y dwyrein. 
 
 Ys imi rwydd Arglwydd, argleidrad^ 
 
 Argledr tir, a gwir a gwenwlad, 
 
 Ys imi or cyngor cyngwasdad^ 
 
 Cywesti peri peleidrad, 
 
 Ys imi ri ryfel ddiffreiddiad, 
 
 Diffi-yd gwyr, eryr ardwyad, 
 
 Ys imi rwydd Arglwydd, erglywiad 
 
 A glywir o'r tir gar Tanad, 
 
 Ys imi glew; a Hew a Ueiddiad 
 
 Yn rhyfel a rhon orddyfniad, 
 
 Ys imi wr a wared i rad, 
 
 I reidus, galarus, geilwad. 
 
 Ys imi ner yn arwyn ddillad, 
 
 Yn arwein ysgin ysgarlad, 
 
 Ys imi Nudd, hael fudd, Hueil feiddiad, 
 
 Ar Lloegr ryllygrwys heb wad. 
 
 Ys imi Mydderch, roddiad aur melyn, 
 
 Molitor ymhob gwlad. 
 
 A mawrdud olud olygad, 
 
 A Mordaf am alaf eiliad, 
 
 Ys imi Bjun gatcun gytcam rad, 
 
 Cydgaflfael, a hael, a hwyliad 
 
112 BAEDDONIAETH. 
 
 Ef imi y meddwl difrad, 
 Mi iddaw yn Haw yn Uy^ad, 
 Ni henyw o afryw afrad, 
 Mi hanwyf o henwyr ei dad, 
 Llachar far, aerfar, erfynniad, 
 Llachar fron o frydau Orvriad. 
 Lluchieint g^weilch am walch g-ynnifiad, 
 Fal Uuchynt estrawn wynt Ystrad. 
 Hunydd nen perchen parchus fad, 
 Parch arfawr, Arfon angoriad. 
 Llewelyn dreis, eriyn drwssiad, 
 Dros dehau ang-au oth angad, 
 Angor mor y mawr g-ymynad, 
 Angawr Uawr Uurig- Duw am danad. 
 
 Rhy chyng-ein Prydein yn ddibryder, 
 
 I Briodawr Uawr yn Uawn nifer. 
 
 Llewelyn gelyn yn i galwer 
 
 I gelwir am dir am dud tymer. 
 
 Llawenydd Uuoedd Hew ymhryder, 
 
 Llywiawdr ymmerawdr mor a lleufer, 
 
 I ddylif cynnif cynhebyccer 
 
 I ddylann am lann, ami leissiaid iFer. 
 
 Terfysc tonn ddilysc ddyleinw aber : 
 
 Dylad anwasdad ni osteccer. 
 
 Terwynt twrf rhywynt yn rhy w amser, 
 
 A rhialluoedd Uuoedd Uawer. 
 
 Torfoedd yng-hyoedd ynghyflawnder 
 
 Tariannau golau mal i g-weler: 
 
 Ry folant anarit, anaw cymer, 
 
 Ey molir i wir i orober, 
 
 I wryd yn rhyd yn rheid nifer, 
 
 I orofn g-wraf yn ydd eler, 
 
 I orfod g-orfod glod a g-lywer, 
 
 I wyr am eryr ni amharer, 
 
 I warae orau pan waraer, 
 
BARDDONIAETH. 113 
 
 I wayw a orau yn ddau banner, 
 Dinidir yn nydd brwydr yn yd brofer, 
 Dinoding- -perging, pargocb hydrfer, 
 Dinas, dreig urddas, eurddawn haelder 
 Dinag o fynag" pan ofynner, 
 Dyn yw Llewelyn Uywiawdr tyner, 
 Doeth coetb cywrennin, gwin a gwener, 
 A'r gwr ai rhoddes ni ran o'r pader, 
 Ai rboddo ef g-wenfro gwynfryn uch ser. 
 
AEWYRAIN 
 
 Owain Gwynedd. Gwalchmai ai cant. 
 
 ARDDWYEEAF hael o hil Sodri, 
 Ardwyad g-orwlad^ gwerlin teithi, 
 Teithiawg" Prydain, twyth arfdwyth Onain, 
 Teyrnain ni grain^ ni grawn rei. 
 Teir Ueng- i daethant^ liant lestri^ 
 Teir praff prif lyng"es wy bres brofi, 
 Un o'r Iwerddon, arall arfog'ion 
 Or Llychlynigicn, llwrw hirion Hi. 
 At drydedd dros for o Norddmandi, 
 Ar drafFertb anferth^ anfad iddi. 
 A dreig Mon mor ddrud i eissillyd yn aer, 
 A bu terfysc taer i haer holi, 
 A rhagddaw rhewys dwys dyfysci, 
 A rhewin a thrin a thranc Cymri^ 
 A'r g'ad gad greudde, a'r gryd gryd graendde, 
 Ac am dal Moelfre mil fannieri, 
 A'r ladd ladd lachar, ar bar beri, 
 A ffwyr iFwyr iFyrfgawdd ar fawdd foddi, 
 A Menai heb drai o drallanw gwaedryar, 
 A Uiw g'wyar gwjrr yn heli : 
 A Uuryg-awr glas^ a gloes trychni, 
 A thrychion yn nhud rhag- rheiddrudd ri, 
 A dygyfor Lloegr, a dygyfranc a hi, 
 Ag ei dygyfwrw yn astrusi^ 
 A dygyfod clod cleddyf difri, 
 Yn saith ugain iaith wy faith foli. 
 
VI. 
 
 A W D L 
 
 I Nest fercli Hywel. Einiawn fab Gwalchmai ai cant. 
 
 AMSER Mai maith ddydd^ neud rhydd rhoddi^ 
 Neud coed nad ceithiw, ceinlliw celli^ 
 Neud Uafar adar, neu g'war gweilgi, 
 Neud gwaeddgreg" gwaneg-, gwynt yn edwi; 
 Neud arfeu douiau, goddau gwedi, 
 Neud argel dawel nid meu dewi, 
 Endeweis i wenyg- o Wynnofi dir, 
 
 I am derfyn mawr meibion Beli, 
 Oedd hydreidd wychr Uyr yn Uenwi, 
 Oedd hydr am ddylan g-wynfan genddi^ 
 Hyll nid oedd ei deddf hi hwyreddf holi, 
 Hallt oedd i dagrau^ digrawn heli, 
 Ar helw bun araf uch bannieri ton, 
 
 Tynhegl a gerddais i gorddwfr Teifi, 
 Ceintum gerdd i Nest cyn noi threngi, 
 Cant cant i moliant mal Elifri, 
 Canaf gan feddwl awrddwl erddi, 
 Caniad i marwnad, mawr drueni! 
 Canwyll Cadfan Ian o lenn bali. 
 Canneid i synnieid gar Dysynni, 
 Gwan, wargan, wyrygall, ddeall ddogni, 
 Gwreig nid oedd un frad gariad genthi, 
 Gweryd rhudd ai cudd gwedi tewi, 
 Gwael neuedd maenwedd mynwent iddi, 
 Golo Nest goleu ddireidi. 
 Golwg gwalch dwy thfalch o brif deithi, 
 
116 B ARDDONIAETH. 
 
 Gwenned g'wawn ai dawn oi daioni^ 
 Onynedd anrhydedd, oedd rhaid wrthi, 
 Nid oedd fFawd rhy g"nawd rhin y g'enthi, 
 Gnawd oedd dal eur mal er i moli, 
 Ni ryfu dognach er i dogni poen^ 
 
 Penyd a fo mwy no'r meu hebddi, 
 Neum g-orau angau ang-hyfnerthij 
 Nid ymglyw dyn byw o'r byd fal mi; 
 Ni chyfeircli angen iawlwen ioli, 
 Er neb rhy barther i rhyborthi, 
 Nest yn ei haddawd, wenwawd weini, 
 Ydd wyf pryderus fal pryderi. 
 Pryderwawd ceudawd^ cyfnerthi ni wnn, 
 
 Nid parabl yw hwn ni fo peri. 
 Lien argel issel y sy'm poeni, 
 Lludd Gwen lliw arien ar Eryri. 
 Archaf im Arglwydd culwydd celi, 
 Nid ef a archaf arch egregi, 
 Arch, ydd wyf un arch yn i erchi, 
 Am archfein riein, reid y meini, 
 Trwy ddiwyd eiriawl deddfawl Dewi. 
 A deg cymmeint seint senedd Frefi, 
 Am fun a undydd i hammodi, 
 A'r gystlwn pryfFwn y prophwydi, 
 Ar gyfoeth Duw doeth i detholi, 
 Ar anghyweir Meir a'r merthyri, 
 Ag yn i goddau gweddi a ddodaf, 
 
 Am dodeis nwyf ira addoedi. 
 Ni bu ddyn mor gu gennyf a hi 
 Ni bo poen oddef, Pedr wy noddi, 
 Ni bydd da gan Dduw i diddoli, 
 Ni bo diddawl Nest, nef boed eiddi. 
 
vii. 
 A W D L 
 
 t Lewelt/n fab lorwerth. Llywarch Brydydd y Mock 
 
 ui oanL 
 
 CRIST Greawdr, Uywiawdr Uu daear a nef 
 Am noddwy rhag- afar^ 
 Crist celi, bwyf celfydd a gwar, 
 Cyn diwedd g'yfyng'wedd gyfar. 
 
 Crist fab Duw am rhydd arllafar^ 
 I foli fy rhwyf rhwysg- o ddyar, 
 Crist fab Mair am pair o'r pedwar defnydd, 
 
 Dofn awen ddiarchar. 
 Llewelyn Uyw Prydain ai phar, 
 Llew a glew a gly w gyfarwar, 
 Fab lorwerth ein cannerth an car, 
 Fuh Orvain ffrawddiein, flfrwyth cynnar^ 
 
 Ef dyfii dreig Uu yn Uasar dillatj 
 Yn ddillyn cyfarpar, 
 Yn erfid, yn arfod abar, 
 Yn arfau bu cenau cynnar, 
 Yn ddengmlwydd hylwydd hylafar, 
 Yn ddidranc ei gyfranc ai gar, 
 Yn Aber Conwy, cyn daffar fy Uyw, 
 
 Llewelyn atbrugar, 
 
 A Dafydd, defawd J77 Caissar, 
 
 Difai ddraig, ddragon adwyar, 
 
 Difwlch udd difalch i esgar, 
 
 Difwng blwng blaen ufel trwy far, 
 
 Dybryd in feirdd byd bod daear arnaw, 
 
 Ac arnam i alar. 
 1ft 
 
118 BABDDONIAETH. 
 
 Ef yn Uy w cyn Hid gfyfysg-ar, 
 Ysg'lyfion ysg-lyfiynt Uwrw bar^ 
 Oedd rynn rudd ebyr or g'wyr g-war, 
 Oedd ran feirw fwyaf o'r drydar, 
 Oedd amliw tonnau, twnn amhar eu neid^ 
 
 Neud oeddynt dilafar. 
 Ton heli ehelaeth i bar, 
 Ton arall g"uall, g-och gwyar. 
 Porth Aethw^ pan aetham ni ar feir'ch mordwy, 
 
 Ucb mowrdwrf tonniar, 
 Oedd ongyr, oedd eng-ir ei bar, 
 Oedd angudd g-odrudd g"waedryar, 
 Oedd enghyrth ein hynt, oedd angar, 
 Oedd ing-, oedd angau ang-hymar, 
 Oedd ammau if byd bod abar o honam.; 
 
 henaint Ueithiar. 
 Mawr g'adau, ang-hau anghlaear, 
 Meirw sengi, mal seri satbar, 
 Cyn plygu Bodri^ rwydd esgar, ym Mon 
 
 Mynwennoedd bu braenar, 
 Pan orfu pen llu llachar, 
 Llewelyn Uyw Alun atbafar, 
 Myrdd bu Uadd, Uitb brein gorddyar, 
 O'r milwyr, a mil yngharcbar. 
 Llewelyn cyd Uaddwy trwy far, 
 Cyd Uosgwy, aid llesg ufeliar, 
 Llary deym, ucb cyrn cyfarwar 
 Llwl'w cydfod ir clod is claiar, 
 Ey llofies rwyf treis tros fanniar i feirdd, 
 Oedd fawrllwyth ir ddaear, 
 f, Gwisci aur ag ariant nis car. 
 
 Gwascwynfeirch gosseirch, gosathar, 
 ^Tsginfawr gorfawr, gor\irymp par, 
 Yscarlad lliw ffleimiad, fflamiar, 
 Meirch Mawrtbig, ffrwythig, iFraeth, anwar, 
 Ffrawddus, a pbreiddiau ewiar. 
 
BAEDDONIAEttH. 119 
 
 Mwth i rhydd, ar\*'ytld ypgfwascar, 
 Mai Arthur cein fodur cibddar, 
 Cann a chann, a chein wyllt a gfwar, 
 Cant a chant a chynt nog- adar 
 
 A^faT weinidawgj caeawg* Cynran drud^ 
 
 Dreig Prydein pedryddan, 
 
 Addod LloegPj lluossawg am bann, 
 
 Addaf hir in herwydd caian^ 
 
 Adwedd teyrnedd tir nis rhan/ 
 
 A dan ser ys sef i amcan^ 
 
 Adnes i franhes i frein bann^ 
 
 Dychre dychrein gwyr yngTheulan, 
 
 Gwrdd i gwnaeth uch Deudraeth Dry fan, 
 
 Gwr hydwf, gwrhydri Ogyrfan 
 
 Dygwydd gwyr heb lafar heb Ian, 
 
 Dygoch llawr dwygad fawr faran, 
 
 Un am fro Alun, elfydd can, 
 
 A Ffrainc yn ffrawddus mal Camlan ; 
 
 Ax eil yn Arfon ar forfan, 
 
 Yn undydd an un Duw in a ran, 
 
 A dwy dreig ifeleig, ffaw gymman 
 
 Mal deulew ein dylochasaan, 
 
 Ag un traws gatcun, treis faran, 
 
 Fal gwr 301 gorfod ymhobman, 
 
 Llemg^n llafn-eur anghyfan, 
 
 Lloegr ddiwreidd, Uu rhuddfleidd Bhuddlan, 
 
 Liu rhagddaw a Haw ar llumraan, 
 
 Uwybr yn wybr yn ebrwydd allan, 
 
 Jjlwrw ddawn Cadmallaivn fab Cadfan. 
 
 I mae am Brydain yn gyfan, 
 
 Llary ni ddel ei law &ttaw attan, 
 
 Llyried tra myned tramor dylan, 
 
 Rhag llaith anolaith anolo Han, 
 
 A Uafnawr Uedrudd uch grudd a gran, 
 
 Ninnau Feirdd Prydein, prydus eirian berth. 
 
120 BAEDDONIAETH. 
 
 Gwyr a byrth fy rhwyf ymhob calan, 
 Er dig-abl barabl gan bawb oi fan, 
 Digrifwch elwch elyf egwan, 
 Oi ariant g-ormant gorym ni drudran, 
 O'i alaf ai aur ai ariant can. 
 
 Gan i ddwyn dychryn a ddecbreuo bleid, 
 
 TJch blaenwel yn oed Ho, 
 Gnaws achaws yn ych cyn adfo, 
 Gnawd i ladd ni Iwydd i abo. 
 Caer Lleon Uyw Mon mwyn Pdbo ath dug", 
 Ef ath dwg' ynghodo, 
 Llewelyn e-f llosg-es dy fro, 
 Lias dy wyr dra Uyii, dra Uwyfo, 
 Llwyr dug- y Wyddgrug, nid fFug ffo, 
 Lloegrmys i llug'fryd i synnio, 
 Llewdir teyrn Uuddiwyd yn agro, 
 Lias i glas, i glwystei neud glo, 
 Llys Elsmer, bu ffer, bu fFwyrng-no, 
 Llwyr Uosg-ed i thudwed ai tho, 
 Llwrw gwelwch neud heddwch beno 
 Gan fy rhwyf, nid rhyfedd cyd bo, 
 Hyd i del i dorf ar dyno a bryn, 
 Udd breiniawg bieufo, . 
 Llew ai dug, ai dwg pan fynno, 
 Ir Tredlrong trillu anwosgo, 
 Llys efnys, afneued tra fo. 
 Lies i fyrdd o feirdd ai cyrcbo. 
 Addug y Wyddgrug ai dycco, 
 Gwyliwch gwylyddwr, pwy ai Uuddio, 
 Llwrw Fochnant edrywant ar dro, 
 Llwytcwn llwyth Uithiwyd ara honno, 
 Lletcynt Argoedwys, gwys greudo, 
 Llys a dwy neud einym ni heno. 
 Bdryched Pomys pwy fo, 
 Brenin breisg werin, brwysg agdo. 
 
BAKDDONIAETH. ISl 
 
 Ai gwellygio pwyll rhydwyllo : 
 Ai gwell Ffranc no fFrawddus Gymro. 
 Llyw y sy ymj synniwch cyd tawo, 
 Lloegr gychwyn, a fynn a fynno, 
 Llwyr i dyd i fryd ar fro Gadwallawn 
 Fab Cadfan, fab logo, 
 Uary yspar ys penyd iblo, 
 Llwrw espyd yspeid anolo^ 
 Llew prydfawr llyw Prydain ai chlo, 
 Llewelyn Uiaws ei fran fro, 
 Llary deyrn cedyrn, cad wosg-o j ynghur 
 Ys fy nghar a orffo. 
 
 Gorfydd Udd dremrudd, dramor lliant, 
 Ym M6n Mam Gymru bedryddant, 
 Gorllwybr llu Uenwis ewyng-ant, 
 Gwarthaf bryn a phenrhyn a phant, 
 Gorllanw gwaed am draed a ymdrycbant, 
 Amdrychion pan ymdrechassant, 
 Cad y Coed Anau, Cadr anant borthi, 
 
 Burtbiaist wyr yn nifant. 
 Ail gad trojn i tremynasant, 
 Udd addien uch JDygen Ddyfnant, 
 Eil miloedd mal gwyr dybuant, 
 Eil yrth gyrth in gwrthfynnassant, 
 Eil agwrdd ymwrdd am hardd amgant bre 
 Bron yr Erm i galwant, 
 Cynwan llu fal llew ytb welsant, 
 Cadr eryr ith wyr yn warant, 
 Can hynny cynbennu ni wnant, 
 Can wyllon Celyddon cerddant, 
 I^iigost y Wyddgrug, a dygant i dreis 
 / Adryssedd cyfnofant, 
 A Bhuddlan yn rbuddliw amgant, 
 Rhun can clawdd adrawdd edrywant 
 A Dinhych wrthrych gorthorrant ar fil. 
 
12S BABDDONIAETH. 
 
 Ar Foelas a Gronant 
 A chaer yn Arfon, a charant yng-nif, 
 
 Yngnaws coll am peiriant^ 
 A Dinas JEJmreis a ymryg-ant, 
 Amrygyr ni wiieir na wnant 
 Neur orfydd dy orofyn nad ant 
 Ith erbyn ith erbarch feddiant 
 Neu'r orfuwyd yn orenw Morg-ant 
 Ar filwyr Prydain pedryddant 
 Dy g-ynnygn ni gennyw cwddant^ 
 Ni gaifF hoen na hun ar ainrant, 
 Mad ymddugost waed^ mad yth want, 
 Arall yn arfoll j^sgarant, 
 A chleddyf, a chlodfawr yth wnant, 
 Ag ysgwyd ar ysgwydd anchwant, 
 Mad ty wyssaisd dy lu, Lloegr irdant, 
 Ar derfyn Mechain a Mochnant, 
 Mad yth ymddug dy fam, wyd doeth, 
 Wyd dinam, wyd didawl o bob chwant, 
 borifor o bryffwn fliant, 
 bali ag aur ag ariant, 
 emys gochwys gochanant dy feirdd, 
 
 Yn fyrddoedd i cafFant. 
 Minnau om rhadau rhymfuant, 
 Yn rhuddaur yn rhwydd ardduniant, 
 bob rhif im Ehwyf im doniant, 
 bob rhyw im rhodded yn gant 
 Cyd archwyf im Uy w y Uoergant yn rhodd, 
 Ef am rhydd yn geugant. 
 Lliwelydd lledawdd dy foliant, 
 Llewelyn, a Llywa/rcTi rwy cant. 
 Munerawd ym marw fy mwyniant fal yn byw 
 
 Lleissiawn ryw Mun blant. 
 Nyd gormod fy ngair it gormant ! 
 Teyrn wyd tebyg Miphant, 
 Can orfod pob rhod yn rharaant, 
 
BARDDONIAETH. 123 
 
 Can folawd a thafawd a thant. 
 Cein deyrrij cyn bych yngreifiant^ 
 Can difwyn o ysgwn esgarant, 
 Can Dduw ren yn ran westifiant 
 Can ddiwedd pob buchedd, bych sant. 
 
VIII. 
 
 P U M A W D L 
 
 / Lewelyn fab Gryffydd. Llygad Gmr ai cant. 
 
 CYFAECHAF i Dduw, ddawn orfoledd, 
 Cynnechreu doniau, dinam fawredd, 
 Cynnyddu canu, can nid rhyfedd dreth, 
 
 draethawd gyfannedd, 
 I foli fy Ehi rhwyf Arllechwedd, 
 Ehuddfaawg freiniawg o frenhinedd^ 
 Ehyfyg udd Caissar, treis far trossedd, 
 Ehuthrlym, grym Orvffydd etifedd, 
 Ehwysg frwysg, freisg", o freint a dewredd, 
 Ehudd barau o beri cochwedd^ 
 Ehyw iddaw diriavv eraill diredd, 
 Ehwydd g'alon, g-olofn teyrnedd. 
 Nid wyf wr g-waglaw wrth y gogledd, 
 Arglwydd gwladlwydd^ glod edryssedd, 
 Nid newidiaf naf un awrwedd a neb, 
 
 Anebrwydd dangnefedd. 
 Lly w y sy ym ys ami anrhydedd, 
 Lloegr ddifa o ddifefl fonedd, 
 Llemelyn gelyn, galon dachwedd, 
 Llary wledig gwynfydig Gwynedd, 
 Llofrudd brwydr, Brydein gywryssedd, 
 Llawhir falch, gwreiddfalch gorsedd, 
 Llary; hylwydd; hael Arglwydd eurgledd, 
 Llew Cemmais, Uym dreis drachywedd, 
 
BAKDDONIAETH. 125 
 
 Lie bo cad fragad, friwgoch ryssedd, 
 Llwyr orborth hyborth heb gymwedd, 
 Gnaws mawrdraws am ardal dyhedd, 
 Gnawd iddaw dreiddiaw drwyddi.berfedd, 
 Am i wir bydd dir or diwedd, 
 Amgylch Dyganny mwyfwy i medd, 
 A chiliaw rhagddaw a chalanedd creu, 
 Ag- odduch gwadneu gwaed ar ddarwedd. 
 Dreig Arfon arfod wythlonedd 
 Dragon diheufeircb heirddfeirch harddedd, 
 Ni chaiff Sais i drais y droedfedd oi fro, 
 Nid oes o Gymro i Gymrodedd. 
 
 II. 
 
 Cymmrodedd fy Uyw Uuoedd beri, 
 ?f id oes rwyf eirioes, aer dyfysgu, 
 Cymro y w haelry w o hil Beli hiv, 
 
 Yn herwydd i brofi. 
 Eurfudd ni oludd, olud roddi, 
 Aerfleidd arwreidd o Eryri, 
 Eryr ar geinwyr gamwri dinam, 
 
 Neud einym i foli. 
 Eurgorf torf lyroedd olosci, 
 Argae gryd, Greidiawl wrhydri, 
 Arwr bar, taerfar, yn torri cadaii, 
 
 Cadarnfrwydr ystofi. 
 Aer dalmitbyr, hylithr haelioni, 
 Arf Uuoedd eurwisgoedd wisgi 
 Arwymp Ner, hyder, hyd Teifi, feddiant, 
 
 Ni faidd neb i gospi. 
 Llewelyn Lloegrmys feistroli, 
 Llyw breiniawl, brenhinedd teithi, 
 Llary deyrn cedyrn, yn cadw gwesti cyrdd 
 
 Cerddorion gyflochi. 
 Coelfein brein Bryneich gyfogi, 
 19 
 
136 BABDDONIAEtH- 
 
 Oelennig' branes, berthles borthi, 
 Ciliaw ni orug er caledi g-awr, 
 
 Gwr eofa ynghyni. 
 Parawd fydd meddiant medd Beirdd im Rhi; 
 Pob cymman darogan derfi, 
 
 Brvlffordd osg-ordd ysg-wyd gochi hydr, 
 
 Hyd eithaf Cydrveli. 
 Can galFael yn dda dra heb drengi, 
 Gan fab Duw didwyll gymmodi, 
 Ys bo i ddiwedd ddawn berchi ar nef, 
 Ar neilliaw Crist Geli. 
 
 III. 
 
 Llyw y sy'n synhwyrfawr riydd^ 
 
 Lliwgoch i lafnawr, aesawr uswydd, 
 
 liliw deifniawg-^ Uidiawg-, lledled fydd ei bias, 
 
 Llwyr waeth yw ei g-as noi garennydd. 
 Llewelyn gelyn, galofydd, 
 Llwyrgyrch darogan cymman celfydd, 
 Ni thyccia rhybudd hael rebydd rhagddaw, 
 
 Lla\t drallaw drin wychydd. 
 Y gwr ai rhoddes yn rhwyf dedwydd, 
 Ar Wynedd arwynawl drefydd, 
 Ai cadarnhao, ced hylwydd yn hir, 
 
 1 amddeffyn tir rbag torf oswydd. 
 Nid aniw, nid anhoff gynnydd, 
 
 Neud enwawg farchawg, feirch gorewydd, 
 
 I fod yn hynod hynefydd Gymro, 
 
 A'r Gymry a'u helfydd. 
 
 Ef difeiaf Naf rhy wnaeth Dofydd, 
 
 Yn y byd o bedwar defnydd, 
 
 Ef goreu riau reg ofydd a wnn, 
 
 Eryr Snatutwn aer gyfludwydd. 
 
 Cad a wnaeth, cadarn ymgerydd, 
 Am gyfoeth, am Gefn Gelorwydd, 
 
BABDDONIAETH. 127 
 
 Ni bu g-ad, hwyliad hefelydd g'yfred^ 
 Er pan fu weithred waith Arderydd. 
 
 Breisclew Mon, mwynfawr Wyndodydd, 
 Bryn Derwyn clo byddin clodrydd^ 
 Ni bu edifar y dydd i cyrchawdd, 
 
 Cyrch ehofn essillydd. 
 Gwelais wawr ar wyr lluosydd, 
 Fal g-wr yn gwrthladd cywilydd, 
 A welei Lemelyn, lawenydd drag-on^ 
 
 YngbymysG Arfon ac Eiddionydd, 
 Nid oedd hawdd Hew aerflawdd lliiydd, 
 I dreissiaw g-ar Drws Daufynydd^ 
 Nis plyg'odd Mab Dyn bu doniawg ffydd, 
 
 Nis plycco Mab Duw yn dragywydd. 
 
 IV. 
 
 Terfysc taerllew glew^ glod g-anhymdaith, 
 Twrf torredwynt mawr uch mor diffaitb, 
 Taleithiawg deifniawg dyfniaith Aherffram, 
 Terwyn anrheithiaw, rhuthar onolaith. 
 Tylwytbj fFrwyth^ ffraethlym eu mawrwaith, 
 Teilwng- blwng-, blaengar fal goddaitb, 
 Taleitbawg- arfawg aerbeir Dinefnr, 
 Teilu hysg'wr, ysg'wfl anrhaith. 
 Telediw g-ad gfywiw gyfiaith, 
 Toledo balch a bylchlafn eurwaith, 
 Taleitbawg Mathrafal, maith yw dy derfyn, 
 Arg-lwydd Lewelyn, lyw pedeiriaith, 
 Sefis yn rhyfel, dymgel daith, 
 Rhag' estrawn genedl^ gwyn anghyfiaith, 
 Sefid Brenin nef, breiniawl g-yfraith, 
 Gan eurwawr aerbeir y teir taleitb. 
 
 V. 
 
 Cyfarchaf i Dduw o ddecbrau moliant, 
 Mai i gallwyf orau;, 
 
128 BARDDONIAETH. 
 
 Clodfori o'r gwyr a geiriau 
 
 I'm pen, y penaf a g"ig"lau, 
 
 Cynnwrf tan, Uuch faran llechau, 
 
 Cyfnewid newydd las ferau, 
 
 Cyfarf wyf a rhwyf, rhudd lafnau yngnif, 
 
 Cyfoethawg' gynnif cynflaen cadau. 
 Llewelyn nid Uesg" ddefodau, 
 Llwybr ehang-, ehofn fydd mau, 
 Llyw yw hyd Gemyw aed garnedd i feirch, 
 
 Lliaws ai cyfeirch^ cyfaill nid g'au, 
 Llew Gmynedd gwynfeith ardalau, 
 Llywiawdr pobl, Porvys ar Dehau, 
 Llwyrwys caer, yn aer, yn arfau, 
 Lloegr breiddiaw am brudd anrheithiau, 
 Yn rhyfel, ffrwythlawn, dawn diammau, 
 Yn Uadd yn Uosci yn torri tyrau, 
 Yn Bhos a Phenfro, yn rhysf aau FfrainCj 
 Llwyddedig- i ainc yn Uiiyddau. 
 Hil Gryffydd, grymmus g-ynneddfau, 
 Hael gyng-or, gyngyd wrth g'Crddau, 
 Hylathr i ysgwyd, eseud barau g-wrdd, 
 
 Hylym yn cyhwrdd cyboedd waedflFrau, 
 Hylwrw fwrw far, g-ymmell trethau, 
 Hawlwr gwlad arall gwledig riau, 
 Harddedd o fonedd, faen gaerau dreisddwyn, 
 Hirbell fal Fflamddwyn i fflamg-yrcbau. 
 Hwylfawr ddreig-, ddragon cyfeddau, 
 Heirdd i feirdd ynghylch ei fyrddau, 
 Hylithr i gweleis ddydd golau i fudd, 
 
 Ai feddgyrn wirodau. 
 Iddaw i gynnal cleddyfal clan, 
 Mai Arthur wayw dur i derfynau, 
 Gwir frenin Cymru cymmreisc ddoniau, 
 Gwrawl bawl boed hwyl o ddebau. 
 
IX. 
 
 ODLAU'E MISOEDD, 
 
 I Sir Gruffydd Llwyd o Dref-gwrnedd a Dinormeg yn 
 Arfon ; allan or Llyfr Coch o Hergest, yngJioleg yr lesu 
 yn Bhyd Ychen. Gwilym Ddu o Arfon ai cant. 1322. 
 
 NEUD cyn nechrau Mai mau anrhydedd, 
 Neud aeth ysgwaeth a maeth a medd, 
 Neud cynhehyg, ddig-, ddyg-n adrossedd drist, 
 Er pan ddelid Crist^ weddw athrist wedd ! 
 Neud cur a lafur im wylofedd, 
 Neud cerydd Dofydd, nad rhydd rhuddg-ledd. 
 Neud cof sy ynnof, ys anwedd ei faint^ 
 Neud cywala haint, hynt diryfedd. 
 Neud eaeth im dilyd Hid Uaweredd, 
 Neud caith Beirdd cyfiaith am eu cyfedd. 
 Neud caethiwed oed, nad rhydd cy<lwedd Nudd, 
 Cadrwalch Buffydd, brudd, breiddin tachwedd, 
 Neud cwyn Beirdd trylwyn^ meddw ancwyn medd, 
 Neud cawdd im anawdd, menestr canwleddj 
 Neud carchar anwar enwiredd Eing-1-dud, 
 Aerddraig" Llan Bkystud funud fonedd. 
 Neud nim dyhudd budd, bum arygledd, 
 Neud nam dilyd Hid, Uiaws blynedd. 
 Neud nam dawr, Duw mawr, maranedd, Nef glyw, 
 Neud nad rhydd fy Uyw, Hew Trefgarnedd, 
 Neud trwm oi eisiau dau digyfedd. 
 Neu'r wyr Beirdd canwlad, nad rhad rheufedd, 
 Neud ef arwydd gwir, neud oferedd gwyr, 
 Wrth weled f ' eryr yn ei fowredd ; 
 Neud truan i'm gwan gwayw lledfrydedd, 
 Neud trwydded galed im amgeledd. 
 
130 BARDDONIAETH. 
 
 Neud trymfryd Gmynedd, gwander dyedd braw : 
 Neud hwy eu treisiaw am eu trossedd. 
 Neud trahir g-ohir gloyw babir g-ledd^ 
 Oedd trablwng echwng Achel ddewredd. 
 Neud trai cwbl or Mai, mawredd allwynin, 
 Neud mis Mehefin weddw orllin wedd. 
 
 Neud mis Mehefin, mau hefyd gystudd, 
 Neud nam rhydd Griiffydd wayw rhudd yn rhyd. 
 Neum rhywan im gwan gwayw cryd engiriawl, 
 Neud am Ddraig- urddawl didawl im dyd. 
 Neum erwyr om gfwyr im gweryd Crist Ner, 
 Neud arfer ofer, Beirdd nifer byd. 
 Neud arwydd nam Uwydd Uedfryd im calon, 
 Neud eres nad tonn honn ar ei hyd. 
 Mau ynnof mowrgof am ergyd gofal, 
 Am attal arial Urien yngryd. 
 Mai cofain cywrain Cymryd, fardd Dunawd, 
 Meu im Dreig- priawd g-wawd ni bo gwyd. 
 Mau gwawdgan Afan, ufuddfryd ffrwythlawn, 
 g'of Gadwallarm, brenhinddawn bryd. 
 Ni wn waith gwaywdwn, gwawd ddihewyd clod, 
 A thi heb ddyfod pa dda bod byd ? 
 Neud wyr pawb yn Uwyr, lleyrfryd gynnat, 
 Nad hylithr aur mal mal oddiwrthyd. 
 Nid oes nerth raadferth ym myd, oth eisiau, 
 Gwleddau na byrddau na Beirdd ynghlyd. 
 Nid oes lys ysbys, esbyd neud dibeirch, 
 Nad oes meirch na seirch na serch hyfryd. 
 Nad oes wedd na moes, masw ynyd yw'n gwlad, 
 Nad oes mad eithr gwad a gwyd. 
 Neud gwagedd trossedd, traws gadernid M6n, 
 Neud gweigion Arfon is Beon ryd. 
 Neud gwann Wynedd fann, fen ydd ergyd cur, 
 Neud gwael am fodur eglur oglyd. 
 Neud blwyddyn i ddyn ddiofryd a gar, 
 Neud blaengar carchar, grym aerbar gryd. 
 
DYHUDDIANT ELPHIN. 
 
 Taliesin di dywarod. 
 
 I. 
 
 ELPHIN deg taw ath wylo 
 Na chabled neb yr eiddo 
 Ni wna les drwg-obeithio 
 Ni wyl dyn ddim ai portho 
 Ni fydd g'oeg' gweddi Cynllo 
 Ni thyrr Duw ar addawo : 
 Ni chad yngored Wyddno, 
 Erioed cystal a heno. 
 
 II. 
 
 Elphin deg sych dy ddeurudd 
 Ni weryd bod yn rhy brudd 
 Cyt tybiaist na cbefaist fudd 
 Nith wna da gormod cystudd 
 Nag amraau wrthiau Dofydd 
 Cyt bwyf bychan wyf gelfydd, 
 
 foroedd ac o fynydd 
 Ag eigion afonydd 
 
 1 daw Duw a da i ddedwydd. 
 
 III. 
 
 Elphin gynneddfau diddan 
 Anfilwraidd yw d' aracan 
 Nid rbaid yt ddirfawr gwynfan 
 Gwell Duw na drwg ddarogan 
 
132 BARDDONIABTH. 
 
 Cyd bwyf eiddil a bychan 
 Ar fin gorferw mor dylan 
 Mi a wnaf yn nydd cyfrdan 
 Yt well no thrychan maran. 
 
 IV. 
 
 Elphin g-ynneddfau hynod 
 Na sorr ar dy g-yffaelod 
 Cyt bwyf gwan ar lawr fy nghod 
 Mae rhinwedd ar fy nhafod 
 Tra fwyf fi yth gyfragod 
 Nid rhaid yt ddirfawr ofnod 
 Drwy goffau enwau'r Drindod 
 Ni ddichon neb dy orfod. 
 
 It may not he improper to inform the Reader that the 
 Orthography used in these Poems is the Orthogra- 
 phy of the MSS. and not that of the Welsh Bible. 
 
APPENDIX. 
 
 ) . A method how to retrieve the ancient British language, in order that 
 the Bards of the sixth century may be understood, and that the genuineness 
 of Tyssilio's British History, which was translated from the Armoric lan- 
 guage into Latin by Galfridus Arturius of Monmouth may be decided ; 
 and concerning a new edition of Gildas Nennius's Eulogium Brittannise, 
 with notes, from ancient British MSS. This old British writer has been 
 shamefully mangled by Dr. Gale, his editor, in the Scriptores Brittanniei ; 
 and not much mended by Mr. Bertram in his late edition of it at 
 Copenhagen. 
 
 Whether the ancient British language can be so far recovered as to under- 
 stand the most ancient British writings now extant, is, I think, a consider- 
 ation by no means beneath the notice of a society of Antiquarians, and of 
 all learned men in general. There has been, it is true, an attempt of this 
 nature made by the very learned Mr. Edward Llwyd, of the Museum, and 
 in part laudably executed in his Archaeologia Britannica, which reflects 
 honour on those worthy persons who supported him in his five years tra- 
 vels into Ireland, Scotland, Cornwal, Basse Bretagne, and Wales. But 
 as his plan was too extensive to bring every branch of what he undertook 
 to perfection, I think a continuation of the same, restrained within certain 
 limits, might still be useful.— Natural history is itself a province suiBcient 
 to engross a man's whole attention ; but it was only a part of this great 
 man's undertaking : and the learned world is abundantly convinced of the 
 uncommon proficiency he made in natural philosophy ; and how industrious 
 be was in tracing the dialects of the ancient Celtic language. But 
 still it must be acknowledged that he did very little towards the 
 thorough understanding the ancient British Bards and historians. And 
 indeed he owns himself that he was not encouraged in this part of his in- 
 tended work, as appears by his proposals. Far be it from me to censure 
 those very learned men who generously contributed to support the in- 
 genious author in his travels, and dictated the method he was to persue. 
 But, after all, I cannot help lamenting that he did not pay more attention 
 to the old MSS. and compile a glossary to understand them. What he 
 has done of this nature is very imperfect, few words being added to what 
 there are in Dr. Davies's Dictionary, and those chiefly from writings of 
 the fourteenth and fifteenth eenitury. Indeed it appears he had not seen 
 the works but of one of the Bards of the sixth cent-ury, and that in the 
 red book of Hergest, in the Archives of Jesus's College, Oxon. He com- 
 20 
 
134 APPENDIX, 
 
 plains he could not procure access to the collections at Hengwrt and Llan 
 Fordaf, and without perusing those venerable remains, and leisure to col- 
 late them with other copies, it was impossible for him to do anything 
 effectual. — Now the method I would propose to a person that would carry 
 this project into execution, is, that as soon as he is become master of the 
 ancient British language, as far as it can be learned, by the assistance of 
 Dr. Davies's dictionary, and Moses Williams's glossary at the end of Dr. 
 Wotton's translation of Howel Dda's laws, he should endeavour to procure 
 access to the great collections of ancient British MSS. in the libraries of 
 the Earl of Macclesfield, Lady Wynne of Wynstay, the Duke of Ancaster, 
 Sir Roger Mostyn at Gloddaith, John Davies, Esquire, at Llannerch, 
 Miss Wynne of Bod Yscallen, William Vanghan, Esquire, at Cors y Gedol, 
 and in other places both in South and North Wales in private hands. By 
 this means he would be enabled in time to ascertain the true reading in 
 many MSS. that have been altered and mangled by the ignorance of 
 transcribers. I am satisfied there are not many copies of the Bards of the 
 sixth century extant, nor indeed of those from the conquest to the death 
 of Llewelyn. But two or three ancient copies on vellom, if such can be 
 met with, will be sufficient ; for in some transcripts by good hands that I 
 have seen, they are imperfect in some copies. This would in a great 
 measure enable our traveller to fill up the blanks, and help him to under- 
 stand what, for want of this, must remain obscure, if not altogether unin- 
 telligible. We should by the means of such a person have a great many 
 monuments of genius brought to light, that are now mouldering away 
 with age, and a great many passages in history illustrated and confirmed 
 that ar« now dark and dubious. Whole poems of great length and merit 
 might be retrieved, not inferior, perhaps, to Ossian's productions, if indeed 
 those extraordinary poems are of so ancient date, as his translator avers 
 them to be. The Gododin of Aneurin Gwawdrydd is a noble heroic 
 poem. So are likewise the works of Llywarch Hen about his battles wfth 
 the Saxons, in which he lost twenty-four sons, who all were distinguished 
 for their bravery with golden torques's. Aurdorchogien. 
 
 Taliesin's poems to Maelgwn Gwynedd, to Elphin ap Gwyddno, to 
 Gwynn ap Nudd, and Urien Reged, and other great personages of his time, 
 are great curiosities. We have, besides these, some remains of the works 
 of Merddin ap Morfryn, to his patron Gwenddolau ap Ceidis, and of Afan 
 Ferddig to Cadwallon ap Cadfan ; and, perhaps, there may be in those 
 collections some besides that we have not heard of. All these treasures 
 might be brought to light, by a person well qualified for the undertaking, 
 properly recommended by men of character and learning : and 1 think, in an 
 age wherefti all parts of literature are cultivated, it would be a pity to lose 
 the few nemaining monuments now left of the ancient British Bards, some of 
 
APPENDIX. 13S 
 
 Which are by their very antiquity become venerable. Aneurin Gwtawdrydd 
 above-mentioned is said, by Mr. Robert Vaughan of Hengwrt, to be 
 brother to Gildas ap Caw, author of the Epistle de excidio Britannice, 
 •which is the most ancient account of Great Britain extant in Latin by a 
 native. — No manner of estimate can be made of the works of our Bards 
 and Historians that have been destroyed from time to time ; nay some very 
 curious ones have been lost within this century and a half. I think, 
 therefore, it would be an act becoming the Antiquarian Society, and all 
 patrons of learning in general, to encourage and support such an undertak- 
 ing, which would redound much to their honour, and be a fund of a ration- 
 al and instructive amusement. — Nor would those benefits alone accrue 
 from a thorough knowledge of our Bards, but still more solid and substan- 
 tial ones. For who would be better qualified than such a person to decide 
 the controversy about the genuineness of the British History, by Tyssilio, 
 from the oldest copies of it now extant, which differ in a great many par- 
 ticulars from the Latin translation of Galfrid, who owns that he received 
 his copy from a person who brought it from Armorica; and why may there 
 not be some copies of it still behind in some monasteries of that country, 
 and of other works still more valuable ? Mr. Llwyd, of the Museum, in- 
 tended to visit them all, in order to get a catalogue of them to be printed 
 in his Arcbaeologia Britannica; but he was prevented by the war which 
 then broke out, of which he gives an account in a letter to Mr. Rowlands, 
 author of Mona Antiqua restaurata, and which is published at the end of 
 that treatise. Who can be better qualified to succeed in such an under- 
 taking than a person that is thoroughly well versed in all the old MSS. 
 now extant in Wales. I find that the Armoric historians, particularly 
 Father Lobineau, quote some of their ancient Bards to confirm historical 
 facts. This is demonstration that some of their oldest Bards are still 
 extant; and who knows but that some of the books they took with them 
 when they first went to settle in Gaul, under Maximus and Conau Meir- 
 iadoc, may be still extant, at least transcripts of some of them; for that 
 some were carried over is plain, by what Gildas himself says, "quas vel si 
 qua fuerint, aut ignibus hostium exusta, aut civium exulum classe longius 
 deportata non compareant.'' So that I would have our traveller pass two 
 years at least in Basse Bretagne, in order to make emquiry after such 
 ancient monuments, and I make no doubt but he would make great dis- 
 coveries. — Thus furnished, he might proceed to the British Museum, the 
 Bodleian library, and the library of the two Universities, and elsewhere, 
 where any ancient British MSS. are preserved. We might then have 
 better editions of British authors than we have had from the English anti- 
 quaries, though in other respects very learned men ; but, being unacquaint- 
 ed with our language. Bards, and antiquities, they have nothing but bare 
 conjectures, and some scraps from the Roman writers to prpduce. No one 
 
136 APPENDIX. 
 
 likewise would be better qualified to fix the ancient Roman stations in 
 Britain, as tliey are set down in Antoninus's intinerary, and their ancient 
 British names. — I wish learned men would think of this ere it be too late ; 
 for one century makes a great havoc of old MSS. especially such as are 
 in the hands of private persons, who understand not their true value, or 
 are suffered to rot in such libraries, where nobody is permitted to have 
 access to them. 
 
APPENDIX. 137 
 
 2. The following curious Commission puhlislied and inserted 
 in some of the copies of Dr. Brown's Dissertation on the 
 Union,^c., of Poetry and Music, and communicated from 
 a Manuscript Copy in my possession, having so near a 
 Relation to the Family of the noble Patron of these 
 Poems, I thought it right to reprint it on this occasion. 
 
 " By the Queen, 
 
 "~[7LIZABETH, by the Grace of God, of Eng-land, 
 _I_J France, and Ireland, Queen, Defender of the Faith, 
 &c. To our trusty and right well beloved Sir Richard 
 Bulkely, Knight, Sir Rees Griffith, Knig-ht, Ellis Price, 
 Esq. Dr. in Civil Law, and one of our Council in the 
 Marchesse of Wales, William Mostyn, leuan Lloyd of 
 Yale, John Salisbury of Rhug, Rice Thomas, Maurice 
 Wynne, William Lewis, Pierce Mostyn, Owen John ap 
 Howel Fychan, John William ap John, John Lewis Owen, 
 Morris Griffith, Symwd Thelwal, John Griffith, Ellis ap 
 William Lloyd, Robert Puleston, Harri ap Harri, William 
 Glynn, and Rees Hughes, Esqrs. and to every of them 
 Greeting. « 
 
 "Whereas it is come to the Knowledg of the Lord 
 President, and other our Council in our Marchesse of 
 Wales, that vagrant and idle Persons naming themselves 
 Minstrels, Rythmers, and Bards, are lately grown into 
 such intolerable Multitude within the Principality of 
 North Wales, that not only Gentlemen and others by 
 their shameless Disorders are oftentimes disquieted in 
 their Habitations, but also the expert Minstrels and 
 Musicians in Tonge and Cunynge thereby much discour- 
 aged to travails in the Exercise and Practice of their 
 Knowledg, and also not a little hindred (of) Livings and 
 Preferment ; the Reformation whereof, and the putting 
 these People in Order, the said Lord President and 
 
188 Ai>PfiNDlX. 
 
 Council have thought very necessary : And knowing yoU 
 to be Men of both Wisdom and upright Dealing, and also 
 of Experience and good Knowledg in the Scyence, have 
 appointed and authorised You to be Commissioners for 
 that Purpose: And forasmuch as our said Council, of late 
 travailing in some Part of the said Principality, had per- 
 fect Understanding by credible Report, that the accus- 
 tomed Place for the Execution of the like Commission 
 hath been heretofore at Cayroes in our County of Flynt, 
 and that William Mostyn, Esq. and his Ancestors have 
 had the Gift and bestowing of the Syher jHarp appertain- 
 ing to the Chief of that Faculty, and that a Year's Warn- 
 ing (at least) hath been accustomed to be given of the 
 Assembly and Execution of the like Commission ', Our said 
 Council have therefore appointed the Execution of this 
 Commission to be at the said Town of Cayroes, the Mon- 
 day next after the Feast of the Blessed Trinity which 
 shall be in the Year of our Lord 1568. And therefore 
 we require and command You by the Authority of these 
 Presents, not only to cause open Proclamation to be made 
 in all Fairs, Market-Towns, and other Places of Assembly 
 within our Counties of Aglere, Carnarvon, Meryonydd, 
 Denbigh and Flynt, that all and every Person and Per- 
 sons that intend to maintain their Living by name or 
 Colour of Minstrels, Bythmers, or Bards, within the Tal- 
 aith of Aberffraw, comprehending the said five Shires, 
 shall be and appear before You the said Day and Place 
 to shew their Learnings accordingly : But also, that You, 
 tM'^entj'', nineteen, eighteen, seventeen, sixteen, fifteen, 
 fourteen, thirteen, twelve, eleven, ten, nine, eight, seven, 
 or six of you, whereof You the said Sir Richard Bulkely, 
 Sir Rees Grifiith, Ellis Price, and William Mostyn, Esqs. 
 or three or two of you, to be of the number j to repair to 
 the said Place the Days aforesaid, and calling to you such 
 expert men in the said Faculty of the Welsh Music as to 
 You shall be thought convenient, to proceed to the Exe- 
 
APPENDIX. 139 
 
 cution of the Premises, and to admit such and so many, 
 as by your Wisdoms and Knowledg-es you shall find 
 worthy, into and under the Degrees heretofore (in Use) in 
 semblable Sort to use, exercise, and follow the Sciences 
 and Faculties of their Professions, in such decent Order 
 as shall appertain to each of their Deg'rees, and as your 
 Discretions and Wisdoms shall prescribe unto them : 
 Giving streig-ht Monition and Commandment in our Name 
 and on our Behalf to the rest not worthy, that they 
 return to some honest Labour, and due Exercise, such as 
 they be most apt unto for Maintenance of their Living, 
 upon Pain to be taken as sturdy and idle Vagabonds, 
 and to be used according to the Laws and Statutes pro- 
 vided in that Behalf 5 letting You with our said Council 
 look for Advertisement, by Certificate at your Hands, of 
 your Doings in the Execution of the said Premises; foi*e- 
 seeing in' any wise, that upon the said Assembly the 
 Peace and good Order be observed and kept accordingly ; 
 ascertaining you that the said William Mostyn hath 
 promised to see Furniture and Things necessary provided 
 for that Assembly, at the Place aforesaid. 
 
 " Given under our Signet at our City of Chester, the 
 twenty third of October in the ninth Year of our Eeign, 
 1667. 
 
 " Sig-ned 
 Her Highness's Counsail 
 in the Marchesse of Wales." 
 
 " N.B. This Commission was copied exactly from the 
 original now at Mostyn, A.D. 1693 : where the Siher 
 Harp also is." 
 
140 APPENDIX. 
 
 3. Since this Commission has been in the Press, the Author 
 has had an opportunity to see the following Account of 
 what has been done in consequence of such a Commis- 
 sion in the tenth Year of the Reign of Queen Elizabeth. 
 This is translated from the Original in Welsh. 
 
 KNOW all Men, by these Presents, that there is a 
 Cong-ress of Bards, and Musicians, to be held in 
 the Town of Caerwys, in the County of Flint, on the 
 twenty-sixth day of May, in the tenth Year of the Eeign 
 of her Majesty Queen Elizabeth, before Ellis Price, 
 Esquire, Doctor of the Civil Law, and one of her Majesty's 
 Council in the Marches of Wales, and before William 
 Mostyn, Peres Mostyn, Owen John ap Hywel Vaughan, 
 John William ap John, John Lewis Owen, Morris Griffith, 
 Simon Thelwat, John Griffith Serjeant, Robert Pulesdon, 
 Evan Lloyd of lal, and William Glyn, Esquires. 
 
 And that we the said Commissioners, by virtue of the 
 said Commission, being' her Majesty's Council, do give and 
 g-rant to Simwnt Vychan, Bard, the degree of Pencerdd ; 
 and do order that Persons receive and hospitably entertain 
 him in all Places fit for him to g-o and come to receive his 
 Perquisites according- to the Princely Statutes in that 
 Case made and provided. Given under our Hands, in the 
 Year 1568. 
 
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF THE AUTHOE 
 
 Of the preceding Work. 
 
 " In the ohuroh-yard of Llanfihangel Lledrod, situated at some distance from Crosswood, 
 an the other side of Ystwyth, are deposited, without stone or epitaph, the remains of the 
 ReY. Evan Evans, the author of ' Specimens of the Poetry of the Ancient Welsh Bards,' 
 &c., and equally distinguished for his genius as a poet, and his knowledge of the British 
 language and antiquities. He was born at Cynhawdref in this parish, about the year 1730, 
 and received the first part of his education at the Grammar School at Ystrad Meirig, then 
 under the care of the celebrated IWr. Richards. Hence he removed to Jesus College,^ Oxford, 
 towards the beginning of 1751. He afterwards took orders, and served successively several 
 churches in the capacity of curate, but was never fortunate enough to hold a living of his own. 
 His disappointment in his profession preyed considerably on his mind, and led him to seek an 
 oblivion to his vexation in excesses which impaired bis health and greatly limited his use- 
 fulness. He devoted considerable attention in early life to the study of his native language, 
 in which be composed several poetical pieces. Some of these, as appears from a correspond- 
 ence inserted in the ' Cambrian Register,' were submitted to the criticism, and received the 
 corrections of Mr. Lewis Morris, who speaks highly of Mr. Evans's talents and promise of 
 future excellence. His chief literary productions are the 'Specimens,' above mentioned, 
 which were published in 4to. in 1764. In these he has given a literal prose version of the 
 writings of some of the earlier Welsh bards. For the copy-right he received thirty pounds. 
 He wrote also several English pAems, and a great number of short poems in 
 Welsh,, (some of which are inserted in the following pages,) and a translation 
 into Welsh of two volumes of sermons, selected out of Tillotson and other eminent di- 
 vines. A great part of bis life was spent in collecting and transcribing ancient Welsh 
 manuscripts. He was admitted to the collection of Sir Roger Mostyn, which preserves a 
 very great number of ancient manuscripts, of great value : he likewise copied the works of 
 the oldest bards, from a very large vellum manuscript, called ' Y Llyfr Coch,' in the 
 library of Jesus College, Oxford. He thence also copied several valuable historical tracts of 
 the 12th century. He, besides what has been mentioned, explored every corner of Wales, 
 in quest of manuscripts, and met with considerable success ; but the neecessary encourage- 
 ment, which was solicited towards putting a part of what he had thus collected to press 
 was withheld from him." — Partly extracted from Tlees's Historical description ef South Wales. 
 
 We are told that the ancient Welsh MSS. which our industrious author collected and 
 transcribed, occupy upwards of eighty volumes. They were purchased by the late Paul 
 Panton Esq., of Plasgwyn, Anglesea. 
 
 Mr. Evans had a lengthy correspondence with Bishop Percy and other eminent anti- 
 quaries ; the most interesting portions of which will be found in the following pages, to- 
 gether with selections from his poetical works. He was of tall stature, — hence his Bardic 
 name of Prydydd Hir, (the tall poet.) He was very benevolently disposed, and highly 
 national and patriotic, and as might be expected, was most averse to the appointment of 
 English prelates to Welsh dioceses. That will partly account for his stationary position in 
 the Establishment. His excessive love of the ' wine cup' may also have had something to 
 do in preventing his appointment to a more lucrative position in the Church, Mr. Evans 
 died suddenly in the month of May 1789 ; some say that he perished on a mountain ; 
 others say that he died at, or near his native home; but none deny that poverty and 
 sorrow hastened the death of our talented but unfortunate author. 
 
 21 
 
AN ELEGY 
 
 On the Death of the Bev. E. Evans, (leuan Prydydd 
 Sir,) by the Bev. B. Williams, (Companion to Mr. 
 Pennant in his Welsh tours.) 
 
 ON Snowdon's haughty brow I stood^ 
 And view'd afar old Menai's flood j 
 Carnarvon Castle, eag-le crowned 
 And all the beauteous prospect round } 
 But soon each g-ay idea fled, 
 For Snowdon's favourite bard was dead. 
 Poor bard accept one g-enuine tear, 
 And read thy true eulogium here ; 
 Here in my heart, that rues the day, 
 Which stole Eryri's pride away. 
 But, lo, where seen by Fancy's eye 
 His visionary form glides by. 
 Pale, ghastly pale, that hollow cheeky 
 That frantic look does more than speak. 
 And tells a tale so full of woe, 
 My bosom swells, my eyes o'erflow. 
 On Snowdon's rocks, unhomed, unfed. 
 The tempest howling round his head ', 
 Far from the haunts of men, alone, 
 Unheard, unpitied, and unknown. 
 To want and to despair a prey, 
 He pined and sighed his soul away. 
 Ungrateful countrymen, your pride. 
 Your glory, wanted bread, and died t 
 Whilst ignorance and vice are fed, 
 Shall wit and genius droop their head ? 
 Shall fawning sycophants be paid. 
 For flattering fools ? while thou art laid 
 
AN ELEGY. 143 
 
 On thy sick bed, the mountain heath, 
 Waiting the slow approach of death, 
 Beneath inhospitable skies. 
 Without a friend to close thine eyes. 
 Thus shall the chief of bards expire, 
 The master of the British lyre ', 
 And shall thy hapless reliques rot, 
 Unwept, unhallowed, and forgot ? 
 No ! while one grateful muse remains. 
 And Pity dwells on Cambria's plains. 
 Thy mournful story shall be told. 
 And wept, till time itself grows old. 
 
 SELECTIONS 
 
 FROM THE 
 
 POETICAL WORKS & CORHESPONDENOE 
 
 OF THE 
 
 EEY. EYAN EYANS, (lEUAN PRYDTDD HIE.) 
 
 A PAEAPHEASE OF THE 137^^ PSALM. 
 
 VN Alluding to the captivity and treatment of the Welsh 
 Bards hy King Edward I. 
 
 SAD near the willowy Thames we stood, 
 And curs'd the inhospitable flood ; 
 Tears such as patients weep, 'gan flow. 
 The silent eloquence of woe. 
 When Cambria rushed into our mind. 
 And pity with just vengeance joined j 
 Vengeance to injured Cambria due. 
 And pity, ye Bards, to you. 
 
144 SELECTION'S. 
 
 Silent, neglected, and unstrung-^ 
 Our harps upon the willows hung", 
 That, softly sweet in Cambrian measures'^ 
 Used to sooth oar souls to pleasures, 
 When, lo, the insultingf foe appears. 
 And bid us dry our useless tears. 
 
 "Resume your harps," the Saxons cry, 
 "And chang-e your g-rief to songs of joy } 
 Such strains as old Taliesin sang-. 
 What time your native mountains rang 
 With his wild notes, and all around 
 Seas, rivers, woods return'd the sound." 
 
 What ! — shall the Saxons hear us sing". 
 Or their dull vales with Cambrian music ring'? 
 No — let old Conway cease to flow, 
 Back to her source Sabrina g-o: 
 Let hug-e Plinlimmon hide his head. 
 Or let the tyrant strike me dead. 
 If r attempt to raise a song 
 Unmindful of my country^s wrong. 
 What ! — shall a haughty king command 
 Cambrians' free strain on Saxon land ? 
 May this right arm first wither'd be. 
 Ere I may touch one string to thee, 
 Pi;oud monarch ; nay, may instant death 
 Arrest my tongue and stop my breath. 
 If I attempt to weave a song, 
 Eegardless of my country's wrong! 
 
 Thou God of vengeance, dost thou sleep, 
 When thy insulted Druids weep. 
 The Victor's jest the Saxon's scorn, 
 Unheard, unpitied, and forlorn ? 
 Bare thy right arm, thou God of ire. 
 And set their vaunted towers on fire. 
 
SELECTIONS. 145 
 
 Remember our inhuman foes, 
 When the first Edward furious rose, 
 And, like a whirlwind's rapid sway, 
 Swept armies, cities. Bards away. 
 
 "High on a rock o'er Conway's flood" 
 The last surviving poet stood. 
 And curs'd the tyrant, as he pass'd 
 With cruel pomp and murderous haste. 
 What now avail our tuneful strains. 
 Midst savage taunts and galling chains ? 
 Say, will the lark imprison'd sing 
 So sweet, as when, on towering wing. 
 He wakes the songsters of the sky, 
 And tunes his notes to liberty ? 
 Ah no, the Cambrian lyre no more 
 Shall sweetly sound on Arvon's shore, 
 No more the silver harp be won. 
 Ye Muses, by your favourite son ; 
 Or I, even I, by glory fir'd, 
 Had to the honour'd prize aspir'd- 
 No more shall Mona's oaks be spar'd 
 Or Druid circle be rever'd. 
 On Conway's banks, and Menai's streams 
 The solitary bittern screams ; 
 And, where was erst Llewelyn's court, • 
 Ill-omened birds and wolves resort. 
 There oft at midnight's silent hour. 
 Near yon ivy-mantled tower, 
 By the glow-worm's twinkling fire, 
 Tuning his romantic lyre, 
 Gray's pale spectre seems to sing, 
 " Ruin seize thee, rtithless King." 
 
THE PENITENT SHEPHERD. 
 
 A PENSIVE Shepherd, on a summer's day, 
 Unto a neighb'ring- mountain bent his way, 
 And solitary mus'd, with thoughts profound, 
 Whilst ev'ry thing- was silent all around ; 
 The firmament was clear, the sky serene. 
 And not a cloud eclips'd the rural scene. 
 Not so the Shepherd, all was storm within. 
 He mourn'd his frailty, and bewail'd his sin ; 
 His soul alone engross'd his utmost care, 
 Decoy'd by cursed Satan to his snare ; 
 (Alas! with what success he tempts mankind, 
 And leads them to their ruin with the blind !) 
 Awhile he stood, as one in woeful pain ; 
 At last, he broke in melancholy strain. 
 And cried, — 
 
 " great Creator, ever good and wise, 
 I dare not lift to thee mine eyes — 
 Thy violated laws for vengeance call, 
 And on offenders heavy judgment fall; 
 Which hurl them flaming to eternal pains. 
 To suffer ever on infernal plains. 
 The terrors of thy justice make me fear. 
 For who can everlasting torment bear? 
 My soul with grief is rent, Oh ! stop thy hand, 
 Shivering before thy Majesty I stand ; 
 Long have I trod the 'luring path of vice. 
 And tire thy patience, and thy grace despise. 
 Before thy throne I bow with suppliant knee. 
 Grant gracious God, thy pardon unto me : 
 In solitude my follies I repent. 
 The life so long, so viciously, I spent. 
 
SELECTIONS. 147 
 
 God ! I wish undone my wicked deeds, 
 
 My contrite heart with inward sorrows bleeds. 
 Thou, my God ! art witness of mj^ g-rief, 
 And thou alone canst g'rant me a relief. 
 
 1 promise faithfully to sin no more, 
 
 (I sue for mercy, and thy g-race implore^) 
 
 And spend my life, for ever, in thy fear, 
 
 Thy laws to keep, thy holy name revere." 
 
 Thus plain'd the pensive Shepherd, and his moan, 
 
 Christj his Mediator, brought before the throne ! 
 
 Him g-raciously answer'd God to Sire, 
 
 His face resplendent with a globe of fire: — 
 
 " My Son hath paid thy ransom, g-o in peace, 
 
 Eternal justice bids thee be at ease ! " 
 
 He said, and all the choir of ang-els sung*. 
 
 Harmonious melody, their harps the}' strung". 
 
 And heaven's Empyreum to 'their music rung-, 
 
 Such is the joy when a poor sinner turns, 
 
 That with uncommon glow each seraph burns. 
 
 Thus I may compare small things with g-reat, 
 
 The Prodig'al his tender father met ; 
 
 Such as the Gospel paints in tatter'd weed, 
 
 Willing- with husks to satisfy his need : 
 
 And none would give them, though the hungry roam, 
 
 Till he returned unto his Father's home ; 
 
 Who kill'd the fatted calf, and spread the feast. 
 
 Where wine and minstrelsy his joy exprest. 
 
 The Shepherd thus refresh'd with heavenly grace, 
 
 Return'd with joy eternal in his face ; 
 
 The Saviour's wond'rous love to man he prais'd, 
 
 And thus his voice with gratitude he rais'd : — 
 
 "All glory to the gracious Son of God, 
 Who hast alone the grevious wine-press trod, 
 To satisfy his justice, and for me 
 Hast wrought endless salvation on the tree ', 
 
148 SELECTIONS. 
 
 Who hast redeem'd us, and destroyed our foes. 
 That neither death nor g-rave can work our woes 
 Hast overthrown the drag-on, and no more 
 Hell; nor its g-ates have terrors left in store !" 
 
 Thus did the Shepherd testify his joy, 
 A theme that mig-ht an angel's tongue employ; 
 He praised Christ, who for mankind did diej 
 His praise let all resound, to all eternity. 
 
 VERSES 
 
 On seeing the Huins of Ivor HaeVs Palace. 
 
 AMIDST its alders Ivor's palace lies, 
 In heaps of ruins to my wondering' eyes ; 
 Where greatness dwelt in pomp, now thistles reig-n. 
 And prickly thorns assert their wide domain. 
 
 No longer Bards inspired, thy tables grace. 
 Nor hospitable deeds adorn the place ; 
 No more the generous owner gives his gold 
 To modest merit, as to Bai'ds of old. 
 
 In plaintive verse his Ivor — Gwilym moans, 
 His Patron lost the pensive Poet groans; 
 What mighty loss, that Ivor's lofty hall, 
 Should now with schreeching owls rehearse its fall ! 
 
 Attend, ye great, and hear the solemn sound. 
 How short your greatness this proclaims around, 
 Strange that such pride should fill the human breast, 
 Yon mouldering walls the vanity attest. 
 
CORRESPONDENCE. 149 
 
 A Letter from Mr. Thomas Carte to the jRev. Evan Evans. 
 
 Dear Sir, 
 
 I cannot sufficiently acknowledge Sir Thomas Mostyn's kindness, in the trouble he has 
 taken, of sending up the catalog^ue of his historical MSS. and in his obliging' offer af com- 
 municating' them to me. Those which I am desirous to se« more than the rest, are these, viz, — 
 
 "The Annals of the Abbey of Chester, to A.D. 1297. 
 
 " Beda de Gestis Anglorum, if it be a different work from his Chronicon and Eccles- 
 iastical History. It is the same. 
 
 " History of England, from William the Conqueror to the 6th of Edward the 6th. 
 
 " Annales Cambria ignoti autoris, et Chronica Cambriae ; both which seem to be in the 
 same volume, which begins with a Welsh history of the Kings of the Britons and Saxons, 
 and Princes of Wales, to the time of Edward 4th. 
 
 " A chronology from Vortigern downwards, supposed to be collected by Robert Vaughan, 
 of Hengwrt, Esquire, which seems to be in the volume beginning with Sir John Wynne's 
 pedigree of the family of Gwydir. 
 
 "Treatises concerning the courts of wards and chancery." 
 
 As Sir Thomas proposes to come to town soon, I hope he will be so good as to bring 
 those MSS. with him (as Sir W. W. Wynne will several others, that he has found at Llan- 
 vorda) because they will be very useful to me as I conceive, for my first volume. 
 
 There are some others I should be glad to look over, but shall^have more time for it. 
 Were I on the spot, I should be very curious to consult the MS. of Froissart, though that 
 author's history, so favourable to the English, is printed. My edition of it is that of Paris, 
 1520, which I take to be the last of any : but there is a MS. finely wrote and illuminated of 
 this author, in the monastery called Elizabeth, at Breslaw, in Silesia, which contains a 
 third partmore than any printed edition.. Count Bicklar, a Silesian nobleman, who was at 
 Paris, A. D. 1727, promised me to get a printed edition of Froissart collated with that MS. 
 but he could find no monk in the monastery, or any about the place, capable of doing it. I 
 desired him to buy a MS. that seemeth useless to the convent, at the price of 200 ducats, but 
 my offer made them fancy it the more valuable, and they would not sell it. I have seen a 
 MS. in the king's library at Paris, and that of the capuchins at Rouen, but they contained 
 no more than my edition : I should be glad to know if Sir Thomas's does. I gave the 
 Benedictine, who has the care of the new collections of French historians, notice of the MS. 
 at Breslaw, that he might make use of it in his new edition of Froissart; but I have not 
 heard whether he has got the MS. collated, and the supplement copied. 
 
 Adredus Rievallensis, Robert of Gloucester, Caradoc of Llancarvan, and Geoffry of Mon- 
 mouth, are printed ; and I have examined several MSS. of the case in the Cotton, Oxford, 
 and Cambridge libraries 4 so are the MSS. of Giraldus Cambrensis; but if Sir Thomas's 
 MSS. contain more than the printed editions, I shall be extremely glad to see them, as also 
 Trussel's original of cities, and antiquities of Westminster, as also the digression left out of 
 Milton's history. The tracts of state in the times of Elizabeth, James I., and Charles I. I 
 shall be very glad to see : but they, as well as some others, I can the better stay for, because 
 they relate to more modern times. 
 
 Fray make my humble service and acknowledgments acceptable to Sir Thomas ; which 
 will oblige me to be more, if possible, than I am. 
 
 Dear Sir, 
 
 Your affectionate, and obedient servant, 
 
 Gray's Inn, Nov. 14, 1744. Thos, Caste, 
 
 OO 
 
ISO COERESPONDENCE. 
 
 Mr. Lewis Morris to the Bev. Evan Evans. 
 
 Dear Babi>, 
 I received your's last post, without date, with a Cowyctd Merck, for which I am very 
 much ohliged to you. I canoot see why you should be afraid of that subject being the fa- 
 vourite of your Awen. It is the most copious subject under heaven, and takes in all others ; 
 and, for a fruitful fancy, is certainly the best field to play in, during the poet's tender 
 years. Descriptions of wars, strife, and the blustering part of man's life, require the great- 
 est ripeness of understanding, and knowledge of the world ; and is not to be undertaken but 
 by strong and solid heads, after all the experience they can come at. 
 
 Is it not odd, that you will find no mention made of Venus and Cupid amongst our Brit- 
 ons, though tbey were very well acquainted with the Roman and Greek writers? That god 
 and his mother are implements that modern poets can hardly write a love-poem without them : 
 but the Britons scorned such poor machines. They have their Essyllt, Nyf, Enid, Bronwen, 
 Dwynwen, of their own nation, which excelled all the Roman and Greek goddesses, — I am 
 now, at my leisure hours, collecting the names of these famous men and women, mentioned 
 by our poets, (as Mr. Edward Llwyd once intended,) with a short history of them; as we 
 have in our common Latin dictionaries, of those of the Romans and Grecians. And I 
 find great pleasure in comparing the Triades, Beddau, Milwyr Ynys Prydain, and other old 
 records, with the poets of the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries ; which is the time when our 
 Britons wrote most and best. 
 
 Let me have a short Cowydd from you now and then ; and I will send you my observa- 
 tions upon them, which may be of no disservice to yon. That sent in your last letter, I here 
 return to you; with a few corrections. It doth not want many: use them, or throw them 
 in the fire, which you please. Do not swallow them without examination. The author- 
 ity of good poets must determine all. 
 
 Y forwyn gynt, fawr iawn gais. 
 Beg aruthr erioed a gerais. 
 
 The word Aruthr, though much used, in the sense yon take it, seems not proper here ; 
 yet Dr. Davies translates it Mirua. I cannot think but the origmal impart of the word is 
 terrible ; and they cannot say in Knglish of a woman, she is terribly fair. Rhuthr, from 
 whence Aruthr is compounded, I dare say had that sense, at least :-~ 
 
 " y cythraul accw luthrwas." 
 
 W. Lleyn, 
 
 Deg wawr erioed a gerais, 
 
 may do as well, and sounds better. 
 
 A roist ofal I'm calon, 
 A br&th o hiraeth I'm bron: 
 Ni wyr un ar a anwyd 
 A roist o gur, oa teg wyd ; 
 Enwa anhunedd yn henaint 
 A yr wyn fyth yr un faint. 
 
 The first line of the last couplet is too long, and I shonid write both thus : 
 
 Enwa'n hunedd yn henaint 
 E yr wyn fyth yr uu fatat. 
 Again : 
 
 Cyrchaf, ac ni fynnaf au, 
 I dir angov drwy angau. 
 
 The last eonplet is a beautifnl expression ; but it hath too much sweet in it ; what our poets 
 call Eisiau Cyfnemd Bogail. Ang, ang, is a fault, which our musicians term too many 
 
COREESPONDENCE. 151 
 
 concords; and therefore they mix discords in music, to make it more agreeahle to the ear. 
 So the rhetoricians call the same fault in their science, Caniad y g6g. Therefore, suppose 
 you wonld turn it thus : 
 
 O dlr ing af drwy angeu. 
 Again : 
 
 Xjle bo dyfnaf yr afon, 
 Ar fy hynt yr af i hon, 
 Oni roi, Gwen eurog wedd, 
 ^ Drwy gariad ryw drugaredd. 
 
 Eurog wedd is no great compliment to a fair woman ; for Gwen, a Flavia, loves to be 
 •called white ; and the last line hath gar — gar, therefore I would write thus, or the like : 
 
 But I do not like ir ei gwedd. 
 
 An excellent expression — 
 
 Oni roi, Gwen ir ei gwedd, 
 Yn gywrain, ryw drugaredd. 
 
 Af i graig fwyaf o gr§d 
 Y m6r, i gael ymwared, 
 Ag o*r graig fawr i'r eigion 
 Dygaf gyreh i dyrch y din— 
 
 Ag o'r d6n egr hyd annwfn 
 Af ar y dafl i fSr dwfn. 
 
 Here is a charming opening for you, to describe the country you go to, and the wonders of 
 the deep; and something' like the following lines might be inserted : 
 
 Lie mae'r morfil friwfil fron, 
 A*r enwog fSrfomynion, 
 To proceed : 
 
 A fynno Gwen ysplennydd 
 
 Yn ddiau o'm rliwymau 'n rhydd, 
 
 Nl chaf gur, ni chaf garu 
 
 Na phoen gwn, na hoffi 'n gu; 
 
 Ni Toddaf gam i dramwy, 
 
 I gred i'th ymweled mwy : 
 
 Dyna*r modd dan wlr i mi, 
 
 A dyr unwaith drueni. 
 
 The expression TDan wir, is too local, and is not understood all over Wales. Local ex- 
 pressions must be avoided as much as possible. Suppose you said then, 
 
 Oni chaf lieb warafun 
 
 J)y fodd fyth difeiwedd fun. 
 
 After all these corrections, which are not very material, yon have this comfort, (and I 
 mention it that you may not be discouraged,) that I do not know a man in our country who 
 can write a poem which shall want as few corrections. So make poetry and antiquity 
 (when yon can come at materials) branches of your study ; and, depend upon it, you will 
 make a figure in the world. There are flights and turns in this poem, which even David 
 ab Gwilym wonld not have been ashamed of. 
 
 I would have you write to my brother, and let him know the reason of your not going to 
 London, and that you are alive. If you send him this poem, he will be pleased with it. 
 
 Is there any hopes of your seeing the Llyfr Coeh o Hergest ? Who is keeper, or under- 
 keeper, of Jesns-College Library? And who is principal; and who are the fellows? Per- 
 haps I may know some of them ; or can make interest some way or other for you to get 
 the nse of those MSS. 
 
 Bnt it ought to be considered, that you are-to mind the main chance of reading the clas- 
 sics, in order to come to a tolerable being, before you launch too far into any other studies; 
 and you must only take a snatch by the bye, which will serve to whet your genius ; oblegid 
 mae newid gwailh cystal a gorphwyso. 
 
152 CORRESPONDENCE. 
 
 When you can come at Llyft Coch o Hergest, or any other ancient MSS., I will sendT 
 you directions to read it, and understand it: the chief difRculty being in the orthography : 
 the language of all Britain (even Scotland) was the same as it is now in Wales, 1200 years ago. 
 
 I wrote to you lately, which I suppose you had not received when you sent your dateless- 
 letter. I desircyour answer when convenient. 
 
 Yours sincerely, 
 Galltvadog, July 14, 1751. Lewis Monnis. 
 
 The same to the same. 
 
 Dear Evan, 
 
 Your letter of the second instant, I received this day ; and I was very glad 
 to hear that you had procured leave to go to the private library in Jesus College. It is 
 charming to get into conversation with Llywarch Hen, Aneurin, Merddin, &c. They are 
 most pleasing old companions. 
 
 I understand that my copy of Brut y Brenhinoedd is not the same with that in Llyfr 
 Cock Hergest. Mine was copied out of five MSS. three of them upon vellum, very an- 
 cient ; but the transcriber, not understanding the occasion of the difference between the 
 copies, stuffed all into this, that he could find in all the MSS. Had he known that some of 
 those MSS. were from Walter the Archdeacon's original translation of the history, out of 
 the Armoric ; and some again from his second translation from Galfrid's Latin, he would 
 have kept the copies separate. The transcriber of my copy mentions sometimes — " thus in 
 uch a MS. and thus in such a MS.," but it is impossible to find which is which. 
 
 Brut 2/ Ti/wi/so^jon is only the history of Caradoc of Llancarvan, which was Englished 
 by Humphrey Lloyd, and published by Dr. Powell ; and afterwards a very bad edition by 
 Mr, W. Wynne. I would not have you take the trouble upon you to transcribe that; for 
 there are many copies of it. What is most worth your care is the works of the poets ; es- 
 pecially that part of them that is historical, as some of Taliesin, Merddin, Llywarch Hen's 
 are. Merddin mentions the war in Scotland, between Rhydderch Hael, Aeddan ab Gafran, 
 Gwenddolau ab Ceidio, &c., and Taliesin mentions several battles, that none of our historians 
 ever so much as heard of. These are matters of great curiosity — Llywarch Hen in one of 
 his Elegies, mentions Eglwysau Bassa, that was destroyed by the Saxons. Nennius says, 
 that one of the twelve battles fought by Arthur against the Saxons, was upon the river 
 Baseas, Who is that great Apollo among our historians who knows anything of these 
 affairs? — Is there ever a MS. of Nei^nius, which you can come at? I wish that book was 
 translated into English : it is but small. However, since you are now about the Llyfr Coch, 
 I would have you first to write an index of the contents of it, and send it me, sheet by sheet, 
 and I will give you my opinion what is best to transcribe, and is most uncommon or curious. 
 I do not remember whether the book is paged ; let it be as it will, you cannot be long in 
 making such an index, with the first line of each piece. There are some other curious MSS. 
 there ; some Bueheddau (Lives) as far as I recollect. But the silly copy of Brut y Brenhin- 
 oedd, in a modern hand;there, is not worth talking of. — How do you know it is the same with 
 the Bodleian? I presume, that the Brut y Brenhinoedd, in Llyfr Co<^, is not the original 
 translation from the Bretonic copy ; for I think it mentions Galfrid's translation in the con- 
 clusion of it. — But it is many years since I saw it. I shall ask some questions about certain 
 passages in it, when I have leisure to look into my own copy. I have written abundance 
 of notes, in defence of mine, since you saw it; and the more I examine into it, the better I 
 like it. I had at first but a poor opinion of it; being prepossessed with the character given it 
 by English writers ; but when I find the poets, and our genealogies, and ancient inscriptions. 
 
CORRESPONDENCE. 153 
 
 %m(l coins agree witli it ; and some foreign writers, I do not wonder that tlie inveteracy of 
 ^he old Saxons should still remain against it, as long as Bede is in being. I shall only ask 
 "you now, — whether the son of Ascanius is called Sifius or Si/vtus, in Llyfr Coch? It is in 
 the beginning of my copy, which begins — Eneas gwedi ymladd Troya, &c. Mine is not 
 ■divided into chapters or boolcs, I have time to write no more, but that 
 
 I am, 
 
 Yours sincerely, 
 
 GalUvadog, Oct. 13, 1751, Lewis Morris. 
 
 The same to the same. 
 
 ■Sib, 
 
 I happened to come upon business to this place ; and being so near you, and having 
 ian hour's leisure, I could not belp sending this to remind you that there is such a one alive, 
 "who wishes you well, and who is really glad you have got into such a worthy family. I 
 ^ope that you will make the best use of your time ; you will not be able to see how precious 
 it is till most part of it is gone. This world (or this age) is so full of people that take no time 
 to think at all, that a young fellow is in the greatest danger as can be to launch out among 
 them. The terrestrial part of men being piedoniinant, is as apt as a monkey to imitate everything 
 that is bad. So that the little good which is to be done, must be done in spite of nature. 
 
 I expected a line from you upon your being settled, and that you had time to look about 
 yon; and when you have leisure, I shall be glad to hear of your doing well. I make no 
 -doubt but you will follow your British studies, as well as other languages : for I suppose it 
 will hardly leave you, whether you will or no. Therefore to whet your parts, and in order 
 to improve yourself that way, I propose to you a correspondent, a friend of mine, an An- 
 glesea man ; who will be glad of your acquaintance, and I daresay yon of his ; especially 
 when yon have seen some of his performances. His name is Gronw Owen; and you may 
 'ilirect to him at Donnington, near Salop ; he keeps a school there, and is curate of a place 
 hard by. He is but lately commenced a Welsh poet ; and the first, ode he ever wrote, was 
 an imitation of your ode on melancholy. His Cowydd y Warn is the best thing I ever read 
 in Welsh: You will be more surprised with his language and poetry than with anything you 
 ever saw. His ode is styled The Wish, or Gofuned Gronw Ddu o Fon ; and is certainly 
 "equal, if not superior, to anything I ever read of the ancients. 
 
 I have shared the dominion of poetry in Wales among you. He shall have the north, 
 and you the south. But he has more subjects, a hundred to one, than you have, unless 
 Glamorgan affords some. 
 
 Mr. Gronw Owen has been for some years laying a foundation for a Welsh rational Gram- 
 mar, not upon the Latin and Greek plan, but upon the plan that the language will bear. 
 It would be unreasonable to expect an old archbishop to dance a jig and rigadoon with boys 
 «nd gills; it is certain that the Greek and Latin are such when compared with the Celtic. 
 He has desired of me to biing you acquainted together ; and here I do it, unless it is ysur 
 own faults. He does not know how to write to you, nor 1 neither ; but direct this at a 
 Venture. 
 
 1 am, 
 
 Your assured friend. 
 And servant, 
 
 Llandeilo Vawr, April 23, 1752, Lewis Mohkis. 
 
 OR 
 
154 COBBESPONDENCF. 
 
 The same to the same. 
 
 Dear Sir, 
 
 My brother gave me yours of the third, with au excellent ode to the King of 
 Prnssia. The faults in it I take to be owing to your careless writing of it; for they are- 
 snob as cannot be from want of knowledge, as the ode itself shows. However, as you 
 desire my corrections (which seems to be a sort of menial office, like a plaisterer, who daub* 
 mortar on a grand piece of building, designed by a great architect) I give you my labour 
 for nothing, and choose whether you follow my opinion or no ; for I am no oracle. 
 In my last alterations, in Cowydd Teifi, your line— 
 
 Dy lit y loywaf afon— 
 
 is certainly best. I only wrote something that came uppermost, to egg you on to do better," 
 Your notion of Maelienydd is wrong. You have been imposed upon by Camden, Selden, or 
 perhaps, by Girald. Cambrensis ; or by some of those strangers that knew nothing of the- 
 matter. Maelienydd was the country to the Eouth and east of those mountains. But this is 
 besides my purpose. Well, as you think the unity of design, scene, and action of your poem 
 was about Llyn Teifi, I shall not urge the description of Teifi as low as the sea (for there 
 it goes.) And I could have wished you had done it ; for nobody else in Cardiganshire is able 
 to do poor Teifi that kindness. As for your sheltering under Horace's adage, I mind it as 
 nothing. He was a stranger to our methods, handed down to us by his masters, the druid- 
 ical bards ; who knew how to sing before Rome had a name. So never, hereafter, mention 
 such moderns as Horace and Virgil, when you talk of British poetry. Llywarch Hen, 
 Aneurin, and followers of the Druids, are our men ; and nature our rule. 
 
 With respect to your borrowing Gronw's manuscript, you may make yourself easy about 
 it. I dare say he would sooner part with his wife, and, for aught I know, children too ; 
 but his wife I am sure. Your sentiments of Gronw's capacity as a poet, are I believe just; 
 for he has had greater opportunities than any poet since the Norman Conquest. But, if your 
 take my word, you vrill not be behind him, if you stick to it. And, that yon may not com- 
 plain for want of the necessary requisites, as soon as ever I have any leisure, I will send you 
 an ode or two of the ancients, which are not in Gronw's book, ±o whet your Awen with. 
 I have a fine collection of the eleventh and twelfth centuries, which I value more than- 
 their weight in fine gold. 
 
 Your most humble Servant, 
 
 London, Nov. 13, 1756. Lewis Morris. 
 
 The same to the same. 
 
 Dear Sir, 
 
 It is now almost an age since I heard from yon. From an annual animal it would' 
 be a proper expression ; and I am but little better, as I change for the worse every year, till' 
 I shall be no more. 
 
 I was glad to hear you had got to Llanrhychwyn ; a place scarcely ever heard of by the 
 inhabitants of the level countries; where you roll I suppose, in ancient MSS. and curiosi- 
 ties; and where the arms of the invaders hardly ever reached. 
 
 Mr. W. Wynne was with me one night lately ; and it seems he hath as many ancient 
 MSS. as other people have printed books : Gwyn «t fyd I I was very much out of order 
 when he was here, which deprived me of the pleasure I should otherwise have had. 
 
COEnESPONDENCE. 165 
 
 t hdd a visit paid me lately by John Bradford, of Glamorganshire (darn o brydydd, &c.) 
 It seems that country is entirely drained of its valuable anti(^aities ; or else, their MSS, are 
 buried amOD^ the rubbish of old libraries unheeded. 
 
 The more I look into Nennias the difficulties encrease : for he has been so mangled by 
 ignorant or unskilful readers and transcribers, and by Gale the editor, that, without a body 
 had a sight of all the manuscript copies of it in the public libraries, or elsewhere, there is 
 no attempting to interpret it. iVEr. R. Vaughan's MS. at Hengwrt would be a vast help ; 
 but I see no likelihood to come at a sight of that. Any ancient copy of it on vellum, which 
 has not been dabbled with, or compared with the Cambridge, the Oxford MSS. &c.; 
 that is, one which we might call a virgin manuscript, which hath not been ravished by 
 Camden, Markham, Sir S. D'Ewes, or Usher, would give great satisfaction ; but where is 
 that to be found 1 That which Sir, J. Pryse had may possibly exist somewhere ; and that 
 which Humphrey Lloyd had, may likely be m the neighbourhood of Denbigh still. 
 
 I have not had a week's health since I saw you, and therefore have been in no good 
 humour to read or write. 
 
 Have you, among Taliesin's works, Ymddyddan rhwng Ugnach ah Mydno o Gaerleon a 
 Thaliesin o Gaerdyganwy? If you have it not, I will send it you. It is from the Llyfr 
 Du Gaerfyrddin. 
 
 My chief business of late has been to put the names of men and places in an alphabetical 
 order, and to prepare tliem for my Celtic remains, from Taliesin's works. Sir J. Pryse's 
 Cambria, the Triades, the Gododin, Beddau Milwyr, Aera Cambr. Brit. L. G. Cothi, and 
 extent of Anglesea. 
 
 Remember that you promised me'the remainder of the Gododin, and never performed it. 
 The last lines of the fragment which I have, are 
 
 Tymor tymhestyl 
 Tymhestyl dymor 
 Y beri rhestr rhac rhialla. 
 
 I am now out of the way of all curious antiquities; and you who have an opportunity of 
 seemg every body's treasures, keep them all to yourself. ' I long to see the Legends of our 
 Welsh Saints (Bnchedd y seintiau). 1 forgot to tell yon, that I am at this very time put- 
 ting the names of all the parishes in Wales into alphabetical order, for the above purpose. 
 But I find my catalogue of the parishes is not very correct; therefore I must desire the assis- 
 tance of some that hve near the places that are doubtful, and have their correction, or opinion 
 efthem. One of them isLlangynsarn. I never heard but of three Plwy'rCreuddyn. Is there 
 a Llangedol near Bangor ? Are there parishes called Llangedyrn, Bodfrenin, Llandydwen, 
 Betwnog in Lleyn, or how otherwise called? Is there a parish called Llansilien, near Cor- 
 wen in Edeyrniou 1 Or is it Llansilian, or Tyssilio 1 Are there parishes called Llanelidan, 
 and y Fynechdid, in Cantref DyflPryn Clwyd : and what is the etymology of them ; and 
 also of Lla nhychen ; and whence is Llanferrys yn lal derived; and who is Trillo, and 
 Trillo Caenog ; and what is the common opinion of the derivationof the name of Gyffylliog? 
 
 I shall stop here at present ; and leave Flintshire, Montgomeryshire, &c. to another time ; 
 and shall hint only what is come just now into my head. 
 
 I think you have a vote for a knight of the shire, in this county ; if you have not made a 
 positive promise to Mr. Vangban, or that party, I would advise you to do yourself greater 
 service than you expect at their hands ; and I believe you know, that 1 would not advise 
 to any thing but what would be of advantage to you. Let me hear from you about this point. 
 
 I am surprised Dewi Fardd does not come with his books, to deliver to the subscribers. I do 
 not hear that they are come to Aberystwith. He has murdered a good book, by inserting 
 in it the works of the greatest blockheads of the creation, and the most illiterate creatures 
 that bear human shapes ; such as Robert Humphrey, &c., &e.— Ifei ffei o honynt I Or 
 were they put as beauty spot?, to set you and others off? If itis otherwise, yon are alive, 
 
15 g COBilESPONDENCE. 
 
 and may defend yourself, for standing in such company ; but I am heartily sorry fOr jloof 
 Hugh Morris. |Ifhe knows of this, that he must stand in spite of his teeth, in company with 
 people that were not worthy to carry the feathersof his quill ; and the room which his 
 poem should have filled up, taken by persons as far below him as a Crijihor Crwih Trilhiant 
 is below Corelli or Vivaldi. 
 
 Let me have your opinion upon the names of the parishes as soon as you can. 
 
 I am, 
 
 Yours sincerely, 
 
 Penbnjn, Dec. 20, 1759. Lewis Morbis. 
 
 7'he same to the same. 
 
 Sear Sir, 
 
 I received your kind favour by Dewi, with the remaiuder of the Gododin, and some of 
 the Corchanau. Be so good as to let me know from whence these have been copied, and 
 whether I can depend upon their being correct. I suppose it is your mistake in writing Sreint 
 mab Bleidgi, for Bteidig. It seems the Gododin was not one entire piece, but was written in 
 distinct odes ; or else what means the preface to the Gorchanaul But where are the dis- 
 tinctions in the copy 1 I wish we had a correct' one : I can make little or nothing of this, 
 
 David Jones tells me of a Llanerch copy of Brut y Brenhinoedd, in folio on paper, writ- 
 ten by Edward Kyffin, for John Trefor, of Trevalun. I wish I had the beginning and 
 ending of it, as I took off the vellum book, that you brought here; and if you would do the 
 same by the other copies there, I should be glad to see it. By this management we shall be 
 able to distinguish between Galfrid's, Walter's translation, and Tyssilio's original. 
 
 I thank you for the inscription at Llanfor, and that at Foel-las. I dare determine nothing 
 about them as yet; only that Mr. Edward Llwyd's reading is only the froth of a fertile brain. 
 When you copy inscriptions, cut a bit of chalk into a pencil, and trace the letters. In old 
 inscriptions there are often natural lines in the stone; and sometimes lines worn out, which 
 must be supplied with chalk. I suspect you had no chalk at Llanlbr; and that your 
 ENIARCH may be Llywarch, or LYVARCH. I wish I could see it. Are you sure, 
 there is not part of it covered still with lime? 
 
 I thank you also for John Owen's Elegy — a good one— I had got it from the navy office^ 
 and also Mr. W. Wynne's. 
 
 Mr. Pegge, in a letter lately to Dr. Phillips, says that he has borrowed a MS. of Mr. 
 Davies of Llanerch, which Mr. Pegge has now in his study; and which he says will be of 
 good use to him. Pray what can it be? I have converted Mr. Pegge from the Camdenian 
 faction; and we shall by and by see whether he is an ally of consequence. He is perfectly 
 satisfied with my defence of Tyssilio; and wishes to see a translation of his hook. Mr. 
 Davies knows something of him i suppose. 
 
 I am glad your spitting of blo()d is over ; take care, your life is precious, whether you have 
 a fat living or no. Dont despair; some men of sense may take notice of you; though, even 
 among the ancient Britons, canonization went seldom out of great families, as appears by ■ 
 Bonedd y Saint, which I have at last completed, as far as my materials reached. I now 
 plainly see that the Llanerch MS. of Bonedd is but a fragment; for there is not a syllable 
 of the Brychan family in it; and but very little of the Caw family. I have reduced the 
 
CORKESPONDENCE. 157 
 
 whole into genealogical order; and they take but a very narrow compass. I shall have 
 some difficulty in fixing the times of these saints ; for there is some confusion among them, 
 occasioned by the blunders of transcribers. 
 
 They have been all hunting after the Llanerch MS. of Bonedd, even Dr. Thomas Wil- 
 liams, and the Anglesea Man, as well as Thomas Wynne, and Thomas ab Llewelyn, &c., 
 any have stumbled in the reading of it, as now plainly appears to me ; and what, if I tell 
 yon, that you and I also have slipped in one place : 1 am sure we have. 
 
 I am tired now, and have no more to say, but I cough a little less than I did a week ago ; 
 and am likely to live till winter at least, unless some unforeseen accident happens. It will be 
 a hard battle, if 1 hold out all the winter. You ai e now in your bloom of body and spirit ; 
 do not lose a moment ; you will be sorry if you do, God be with yon, and keep you. 
 
 I am yours sincerely, 
 
 Penlryn, July 4, 1760. Lewis Meaais. 
 
 The same to the same. 
 
 Deab Sib, 
 
 It is a long while since I heard from you, and really I don't know when ; for 
 my long and dangerous illness has eradicated all former transactions out of my memory, so 
 that I have but a very faint idea of my former letters sent or received. From the beginning 
 of November to this time, I have been struggling with death at his door ; and in the very 
 height of my fever, an accident by fire had likely to have destroyed me and mine. Such 
 shocks are terrible, and enough to deface all correspondence. I am now beginning to be 
 able to sit down to write a little, and but very little ; for 1 am severely troubled with an 
 asthma, which I suppose will finish me one day or other. Chwilio, chwilio a ffaelio cael 
 etch llyihyr diwaeihaf mewn modd yn y byd. At the time when a pleuretic fever knocked 
 me dovrn, I was fitting np a new closet for my books and papers, and ever since everything 
 has been in confusion, so that I am as long finding out a book or paper, as if I was in 
 Mostyn Library. 
 
 Now I think on it, my brother of the navy oflSce tells me, that you have lately met with two or 
 three copies of Brut y Brenhinoedd at Mostyn. I shall be very much obliged to you for an ex- 
 tract of the beginning of each, and of the conclusion, to see if we can come at a genuine copy, 
 which hath not been mixed with Galfrid or Walter; and should be glad to know if you have 
 met with any British books written in the old letter (called now the Saxon), besides a line or 
 two, in the beginning of the Welsh Charter, in Liber Landavensis, which you sent me; and 
 whether all that charter be not written in the same character, or any thing else in that 
 book. This seems to me to be the case with respect to that character, that it was the one 
 which the Druids used, and all Britain and its islands, before the Boman conquest. That 
 the provincial Britains, immediately under the Roman power took the Roman letters; there- 
 fore we are not to look for the old character among the Loegrian Britains, nor the Armori- 
 cans, nor the Cornish. That the Druids taking their shelter in Wales, Ireland, and the 
 highlands of the North, the British party there retained the old character ; but the Roman 
 party took to their new letter; and in process of time, both the Roman and British charac- 
 ters were mixed ; as we find them upon some tombstones in Wales, (but not in England) 
 soon after the Saxon conquest. The Irish still retain their old letter ; but it seems the Bri- 
 tains laid it quite aside, about the time of the Norman conquest, or before. The North Bri- 
 tains retained it for some time, as appears by those ancient verses, which Mr. Edward 
 Llwyd mentions, and which he takes to be the Fictisb. The inscriptions on Pabo'sand lestin's 
 tcmbs, are proofs of what I say; and that of Catamasus, in Llangadwaladyr, of the mixed 
 9A 
 
168 CORRESPONDENCE. 
 
 letter. Mr. Thomas Carte, who had the loan of the Liber Landav. sent me word, that it 
 was written in the Saxon character. It seems he only dipt into the beginning of it, and 
 took all the rest to be the same, or perhaps there may be passages in it here and there, which 
 are in that character. You told me that all the old grants were written in a good strong hand, 
 like my Cnute's grant, but better rather; and yet in the donation of ludhail, which you sent 
 me, I iind some of the old characters. I also observe that if all the book is written in the 
 same strong good hand, it is not an original; for it is impossible to find persons to write the 
 same hand for hundreds of years successively; and if 1 remember well. Sir John Pryse, ia 
 his defence of British History, mentions some grants, which were scarcely legible in the 
 Liber Landav. in his time; and yet you say, that there are donations therein down to bishop 
 Herwaldus, about 1104. Doth not that shew that the book is only a copy, taken after the 
 Norman conquest, with some notes of later date? 
 
 Set me right in these things; for I am at an entire loss about them. This is all I have 
 leisure to write at present, and should be glad to hear from you— who am. 
 
 Yours sincerely, 
 
 Lewis Morris. 
 Penbryn, February 4, 1761. 
 
 The same to the same. 
 
 Dear Sir, 
 
 A person told me lately, that he had seen you at Hengwrt, in your 
 way home from me ; and that you were permitted to look over what MSS. you pleased ; ' 
 and that you translated them offhand into English, as if they had been the common text of 
 the Welsh Bible. 
 
 I was very glad of this, and I hope you have met there with the so much desired copy of 
 Mennius, which has had the benefit of Mr. Robert Vaughan's band, and whieb must be the 
 test to all others ; and then we shall see a genuine Nennius come out in English, . as far as 
 the nature of the thing will bear. 
 
 If I can be of any service to you in this arduous task, nothing of my endeavours shall be 
 wanting ; and for God's sake begin to translate into English, as fast as yon can, and let me 
 see it as you go on, perhaps I may help you to some notes, or some illustrations or other. I ' 
 have Nennius and Tyssilio much at heart, and I cannot be long on this side the grave. 
 
 Inclosed I send you the old papers, you talked of when here. I never looked into them 
 till now; and cannot guess at the authors quoted therein, except G. for Galfrid; T. W. 
 Thomas Williams, and H. Lb. Humphry Llwyd. What is Scr. So., and H. C? 
 
 Be sure to keep up your correspondence with that very curious and valuable man, 
 Mr. Percy. I am afraid that there are not many such learned critics in the kingdom. 
 
 I was heartily sorry to see you in those foolish difficulties, when you were here last. For 
 heaven's sake, for your own sake, and for the sake of us all, do not run yourself into those 
 excesses ; but shew the world that you have not only learning and knowledge, far above the 
 common herd ; but that you have also discretion. and prudence, without which no man will 
 ever arrive at greatness. Nennius will set you up out of the reach.of little folks, if you 
 stick to him. 
 
 I am yours sincerely, 
 
 Lewis Morris. 
 Penbryn^ June 36/1763. 
 
CORRESPONDENCE. 159 
 
 Sev. W. Wynn to the Rev. Evan Evans. 
 
 lolo Goch, Goed Pantwn, yn Mhlwy Llan Nefydd yn Sir Ddinbych ; y mae yno glwt 
 o dir a elwir, y dydd heddyw, Gardd lolo. — Tbe tradition is fresh in the neighbourhood. I 
 have read in the little book many good C. of D. ap Gwilym since I saw you, tho' there are 
 some very poor ones amongst them. What I had then read nere looked over in haste, and 
 it is impossible to form a right judgment of such things, without a careful perusal, especially 
 when there are uncommon words or various readings to disturb the attention, as there are 
 many in this book, I desire you'll dash out of my Cywydd y Fam — Tawdd y mellt greigiau 
 geUtydd, and insert these two in their stead — Rhed filfil rhawd ufelfellt, Rhua drwy'r main 
 rheieider mellt — See Edm. Pr. and Wm. Cynwal, Cyw. 29. I have had access to Llannerch 
 library for three days successively, where there are a great many MSB., though few to your 
 taste or mine. — English history, exploded philosophy, monkish theology, and such trash in 
 abundance, written on fine vellum, in a most carious manner. Three good pedigree books, 
 six or seven volumes of Welsh poetry, but for the most part very incorrect. Some of them 
 are most shamefully mangled by the transcribers, I have borrowed one large quarto, trans- 
 cribed about the conclusion of Queen Elizabeth's reign, by an ignorant, slovenly fellow, who 
 has murdered the orthography in a most barbarous manner. Yet I think' it valuable, be- 
 cause, upon collating some parts of it with other copies, I found it in the general more 
 genuine than the common run, notwithstanding the barbarity of the orthography. Where 
 tarw gariu occur, this scribblei always robs the line of a syllable, which is the greatest injury 
 he commfts. I have transcribed Duchan Gwyddelyn, o waith lolo. Marwnad Mad. ap 
 Gr. Mailor, 1236, by Ein. Wan, Mar, Tywysog Llew. ap Gr. by Gwgon, Mar. Ow. Goch ; 
 a g&nt Bleddyn Fardd ; Cyw. merch da, o waith G. O. ; Cyw, da i ofyn Cledd, o waith 
 G. O.; Mar, Lleucn Llwyd, o waith I. LI. G. M. H, Mar, LI. G. M. H., o waith lolo. 
 
 There is at Llannerch a little old rag, coDsistingiof about 20 p'siges accurately writtenj-out 
 of which I have transcribed a curions ode if nottwoi It begins thus: Nid wyf ddihynwyf 
 hoen. Kreiruiy hoywdec am hudawdd mat Garwy. After eight Englyns, there is a blank, 
 without the author's name, and below that begins either another ode of the same person's, 
 or a remainder of the foregoing, beginning thus : Mireinwawr drefawr dra vo brad ymddwyn, 
 and subscribed Howel ap Eignion ai cant i Vevanwy vechan o Gastell Dinas Bran. After 
 the last stanza is written Mireinwawr drefawr, with a dash, which makes mo suppose they 
 are two poems, though on the same subject ; because it is common to conclude an ode with 
 a repetition of the first stanza. — Quore, Whether the first of these is not the same with your 
 Awdl Myfanwy? I cannot recollect, but I think it is longer thanyoars ; it ends thus : 
 
 Lliw eiry cynuar pen Aran— 
 Lloer bryd Iwys fryd o lys Vran. 
 
 I lately borrowed a quarto, fairly written by a man of learning and great knowledge in 
 antiquities, but ignorant of the Welsh prosody, for which reason it is not very correct. 
 There are many of D. G, in it, Owdl Fair, by I, R, I. LI, of Gogerddan ; one quarter of 
 which is Latin. I have seen the same in another book given to D. N — , Mawl Edw, 3 ryw 
 bryd gwedi Aerfa Cressi, o waith lolo. — That battle was fought in the year 1346.— Edw. 
 Illd. died 1377. — This is demonstration that lolo ought to have been placed much higher in 
 chronology than the year 1400; and by his own testimony we find he was a mere Cleiriach 
 before the commencement of the 15th century, though he lived about ten years -after. This, 
 though in lolo's usual style, I think the most ancient Cywydd I ever saw, excepting one of 
 D, Ddu, Digam gwnaeth Duw oi gymwyd; and even this is, by some, fathered upon lolo. 
 Mar. Tywysog LUwelyn—Gvisiith Bleddyn Fardd — lolo Goch was of the family of the Pan- 
 tons, of Coed Panton, and Flas Panton^ in the parish of Llan Nefydd, Denbighshire, The 
 Latin version in Saphics of Taliesin's ode Ef a vmaeth Panton^ and some goodCywydds of 
 lolo's, that I never saw before, M.D, ap Gr. ap Lkw^alhs ya y Mwythig, a gant 
 
160 CORKESPONDENCE. 
 
 Bleddyn Fardd, Dadolwch Rhys, ap Gr. ap Rhys ap Tewdwr, Gwelygorddian Powys, 
 Breiaiau Powys : those three by Cynddelw Br. Mawr. 
 
 A small volume was lately given me collected by Mr. Ellis Wynne, ofLasynys, 
 it contains a great many fragments of British prophecies; by Rys Fardd eight; by 
 Ithel Bardd y Bendro one ; by Merddin (wyllt I presume) nineteen ; by Robin 
 Ddu two; by leu. Drwch y Daran one; by Bercam one; by Adda Fras ; by Gronwy 
 Ddu ; by Jonas Mynyw one ; Proffwydoliaeth Dewi St. Bardd Cwso nine ; by Taliesin, on 
 various subjects, fifteen. The matter of those that bear tlie name of Merddin, may he his, 
 but I judge they are not his compositions by the style, though it is not modern. Some 
 called Taliesin's, I believe were forged by the Monks, others I thinlc genuine. The pro- 
 phecies are worth reading, on account of the style and names of places, 
 
 I have the constitutions of the Cymmrodorion, and am highly pleased with their scheme. 
 I will contribute something in money, the I have children, towards promoting it, and witii 
 pleasure do all in my power as a corresponding member. Gronwy's ode is an excellent 
 thing ; but what he calls Cadwyn fyr is erroneous, because it is in reality Cadwyn gyflawn. 
 I do not blame him for this, because Dr. IDR's imperfect rule and false examples led him 
 "into this error. Some, perhaps, may be offended because the ode part is not unirythm, 
 which it is supposed to be by the very name ; but I do not lite the poem the worse for 
 that. I shewed you the true Cadwyn fyr in W. LPs grammar, and likewise in S. F's.— I 
 have since had the same in a book of-Gr. Hirs, who was the chief professor of the age and 
 a perfect master of the faculty, though, in my opinion he had no extraordinary genius. His 
 tutor was Tudur Aled, who was nephew and pufHl to D. Edm., yr hwn a ddychymygawdd 
 y mesur Cadwyn fyr. 
 
 It were false concord to call it Cadwyn fyr. D. ap Edmund's tutor was Mered. ap Rhys 
 of Rhiwabon, witness G. Gl. — Y mae genyf bedwar pedwar ar hugain cerdd Dant Crwth, 
 — Ar 24 cerdd dant telyn, a hanes yr eisteddfod gyntaf yn Nghaerwys.— To-day I saw aa 
 account of Merddin a' Mhorfryn's being buried in Ynys Enlli. Here patience and papet 
 end together. Remember me to my old neighbours. 
 
 Yours affectionately, 
 
 Wm. Wvnk. 
 
 LI. Gynhafal, Dee. 13, 1755. 
 
 Dr. Percy, late Bishop Dromore, to the Bev. Evan Evans, 
 
 Sir, 
 
 By my friend Mr. Williams, rector of Weston, Staffordshire, I have been in- 
 formed of the great attention you have bestowed on British Literature, and the pains you 
 have taken to rescue the productions of your ancient Bards from oblivion. Though I have 
 not the happiness to understand, yet I have a great veneration for, the ancient language of 
 this Island, and have always had « great desire to see some of the most early and most 
 original productions in it. I could never yet obtain a proper gratification of this desire- for, 
 to their shame be it spoken, most of your countrymen, instead of vindicating their ancient and 
 truly venerable mother tongue from that contempt, which is only the result of ignorance 
 rather encourage it by endeavouring to forget it themselves. Besides my friend Mr. Wil- 
 liams, whose constant residence in England has deprived him of the means of enltivating 
 
CORRESPONDF.NCE. 161 
 
 BIS natire langnage so much as he would have done, I never met with one native of Wales, 
 who could give me any satisfactory account of the literary productions of his own country, or 
 seemed to have bestowed any attention on its language and antiquities. Not so the Scots:— 
 they are everywhere recommending the antiquity of their own country to public notice, 
 vindicating its history, and setting off its poetry, and, by dint of constant attention to their 
 grand national concern, have prevailed so far, as to have the broken jargon they speak to 
 be considered as the most proper language for our pastoral poetry. Our most polite ladies ^ 
 affect to lisp out Scottish airs; and in the Senate itself whatever relates to the Scottish Na- 
 tion is always mentioned with peculiar respect. Far from blaming this attention in the 
 Scotch, I think it much to their credit, and am sorry, that a large class of our fellow-sub- 
 jects, with whom we were united in the most intimate union for many ages, before Scotland 
 ceased to be our most inveterate enemy, have not shewn the same respect to the peculiarities of 
 their own country. But, by their supineness and neglect, have sutTered a foolish and inveterate 
 prejudice to root itself in the minds of their compatriots, the English,— a prejudice which 
 might have been in a good measure prevented, had the Welsh geutlemen occasionally giveu 
 them specimens of the treasures contained in their native language, which may even yet be 
 in part removed by the same means. 
 
 You have traoslated, I am inform«d, some of the Odes of your ancient Bards. I wish 
 you would proceed and make a select collection of the best of them, and so give them to the 
 world. You have probably beard what a favourable reception the public has given to an 
 English version of some Erse Fragments imported from the Highlands of Scotland, and, if 
 you have never seen them, I will send them to you. I am verily persuaded, an elegant tran- 
 slation of some curious pieces of ancient British Poetry would be as well received, if execu- 
 ted in the same manner. I may mode»lly pretend to have some credit with the booksellers, 
 and with Mr. Dodsley in particular^ who is my intimate friend. I shall be very happy to 
 do you any good olSce with him, and shall be glad to make such an attempt as profitable to 
 you as, I am persuaded, it will be reputable both to you and your country. 
 
 I have prevailed on a friend to attempt a T: anslation of some ancient Runic Odes, com~ 
 posed among the snows of Norway, which will make their appearance at Mr. Dodsley's 
 shop next winter. My very learned friend and neighbour, the Rev. Mr. Lye, editor of 
 Junius's Etymologicon, and of Ulphila's Gothic Gospels, (whose skill in the northern lan- 
 guages has rendered him famous all over Europe,) is now rescuing some valuable remains of 
 Saxon Poetry from oblivion, and I can perhaps obtain leave of him to let you see one of these 
 odes by way of specimen, accompanied with his version. I have not been altogether idle 
 myself; but my attention has been chiefly bestowed on the languages spoken in the southern 
 parts of Europe. I have collected some curious pieces of ancient Spanish Poetry, and when 
 I have translated a select collection of them, may perhaps, give them to the public. Amidst 
 the general attention of ancient and foreign poetry it would he a pity to leave that of the 
 Ancient Britons forgotten and neglected, and therefore, when I heard that a person so ca- 
 pable was employed in collecting and translating those valuable remains, it gave me a very 
 sensible pleasure, and I could not help expressing in a volunteer letter to you, the sense I en- 
 tertain of the obligation, which you will undoubtedly confer oa all real lovers of literature 
 and the produetions of antiquity. 
 
 If yon will favour me with a line containing a more particular account of what has been 
 the object of your labours, I shall be able to form a more exact idea of the success, that may 
 be expected from them than I can at present. I will also communicate them to several 
 eminent Literati of my acquaintance, and to mention one in particular, Mr. Johnson, the 
 author of the Dictionary, Rambler, &c., who will, I am sure, be glad to recommend your 
 work, and to give you any advice for the most advantageous disposal of it. If you take 
 these voluntary offers of service in good part, you will please to favour mo with a line, and 
 I would wish also a specimen of your labours, together with a full direction where to writa 
 to you. I am a Clergyman, and shall receive any favour of this kind, tnat is enclosed under 
 
162 CORRESPONDENCE. 
 
 a cover to the Rig'ht Hononrable Henry Earl of Sussex, at Eastoii Mau(fit Ciistle, by the 
 Ashby Bag, Northamptoushire. 
 
 I am Sir, though unlcnowii, 
 
 Your very faithrol obedient servant, 
 
 Easion Maudii, July 21, 1761. Thomas Percy. 
 
 P. S. I am told yon are acquainted with Mr. Gray, the poet. Pray baa he any foun- 
 dation for what be has asserted in his Ode on the British Bards, viz. that there is a tradition 
 among the inhabitants of Wales, that our Edward the First destroyed all the British Bards 
 that fell into bis bands? The existence of such a tradition has been doubted. 
 
 7'Ae same to the same. 
 
 Dear Sir, 
 
 That I have so long defer'd answering your very obliging letter has been 
 altogether owing to the following cause. I proposed sending you a Saxon ode, accompanied 
 with a Latin literal and an English free version; the former done by my very learned friend 
 Mr. Lye, from out of whose curious collections I transcribed both it and the original. But, 
 having left it with him to give it a revise, he has unfortunately mislaid both the original 
 and copy, so that, although he has for this month past occasionally endeavonr'd to recover 
 them, he has not been able to succeed. As soon as they emergpe from the immense ocean of 
 his papers, yon may depend upon receiving this curious specimen of Saxon poetry. In the 
 mean time I would not defer any longer returning you thanks for the curious and valuable 
 contents of your letter. I admire your Welsh ode very much; it contains a large portion of 
 the sublime. The images are very bold and animated, and poured forth with such rapidity, 
 as argues an uncommon warmth of imagination in the bard, whose mind seems to have beea 
 so filled with bis subject, and the several scenes of the war appear to have so crowded in upon 
 him, that he has not leisure to mark the transitions with that cool accuracy, which a fee- 
 bler genius would have been careful to have done. It is one continued fiery torrent Of poetic 
 flame, which, like the eruptions of Etna, bears down all opposition. 
 
 You must pardon me if I think yonr critical friend quite mistaken in his remarks on this 
 ode. He confounds two species of poetry as distinct and different as black and white. Epic 
 poetry delights in circumstance, and it is only in proportion as it is circnmstantial that it has 
 merit; the very essence of it (as its name implies) is narration. So a narrative, devoid of all 
 circumstances, must be very jejune, confused, and nnsatisfactory. But here lies the great 
 art of the epic poet, — that be can be minute and circumstantial without descending from the 
 sublime, or exciting other than grand and noble ideas. Thus, when Homer describes the 
 stone, which Diomede threw at .lEneas, bad be only told us in general terms, that it was a 
 large one, 
 
 TuSuStie, litya cpyov, 
 
 had he stopped here, as many an inferior poet would have done, should we have bad so 
 great an idea of the hero's strength or vigour, as when he adds the following particular and 
 striking circumstances? 
 
 O ow Svu) y avSpe ^ipouv. 
 
 Oioi vvv /3porst ua', o St |ttv pea vaXKe xai aio£. 
 
 Iliad E. I. 304. 
 
CORllESPONDENCE. 163 
 
 Od the other herd, it is the essence of ode to neglect circumstance, beiogr more canfiu'd in 
 its plan, and having the sublime equally for its object. In order to attain this, it is obliged 
 to deal in general terms, to give only such faints as will forcibly strike the imagination, from 
 which » e may infer the particulars ourselves. It is no demerit or disparagement in your 
 bard to have neglected the minute circumstances of the battle, because it would have been 
 impossible for tiim to have described them within the narrow limits of his ode. Here lies 
 his great merit, that he hints, he drops, and the images he thi'ows out, supply the absence 
 of a more minute detail, and excite as grand ideas as the best description could have done. 
 And so far I agree with your critical friend, that no poet ever hit upon a grander ima^e 
 than that of "A Menai heb drai o drallanw," &c., nor could take a nobler method to ex- 
 cite our admiration at the prodigious CHuse of so amazing an effect. So mach for criticism. 
 
 Soon after I receive'l your letter I was down at Cambridge, where I had the good fortune 
 to meet with Mr. Gray, the poet, and spent an afternoon with him at his chambers. Onr 
 discourse turned on you and the Welsh poetry : I shewed hiin your letter, and he desired leave 
 to transcribe the pas.sage relating to King Edward's massacre of the Welsh bards. All the 
 authority he had before, it seems, was only a short hint in Carte's history: he seemed very 
 glad of this authentic extract. Webothjoin'd in wishing a speedy conclusion to your his- 
 torical labours, that you might be at leisure to enter upon this far more noble field of ancient 
 British poetry. Excuse me if 1 think the recovery of paiticuiar facts from oblivion, any 
 further than as they contribute to throw light upon compositions, not half of so much conse- 
 quence to the world, as to recover the compositions themselves. 
 
 Your nation and ours are now happily consolidated in one firm indissoluble mass, and it is of 
 very little importance, whether Llewelyn or Edward had the advantage in such a particular 
 encounter. At least very few (even learned and inquisitive readers) will interest themselves 
 in such an enquiry, — whereas the productions of genius, let them come from what quarter 
 they will, are sure to attract the attention of all. Every reader of taste, of whatever coun- 
 try or faction, listens with pleasure, and forms a higher or meaner opinion of any people, in 
 proportion as they are affected by this exertion of their intellectnal powers. To give an in- 
 stance, that is parallel to your own case, tfae Danes and Swedes have, for this century past, 
 been rescuing their ancient writings from oblivion ; they have printed off their Icelandic 
 Histories, and collected what they could of their ancient Runic Poems. The latter have at- 
 tracted the attention of all Enrope; while the former are do otherwise regarded, than as 
 they contribute to throw light on the latter. A very celebrated Frenchman has lately tran- 
 slated some curiousspecimens of them into his own language; and iVIr. Dodsley will soon print 
 a curious Spicilegium of the same kind in English, of which I will procure a copy and send 
 you when printed off. But who will he at the pains (except a few northern antiquaries) to 
 give a careful perusal to the other? I have this moment a voluminous corpus of them 
 (lately borrowed ) before me. Even curious and inquisitive, as you are yourself, into his- 
 torical facts, let me ask you if you would be willing to read 800 pages folio, in a barbarous 
 literal Latin version, concerning the exploits of King Haqnin Sarli ; the mighty achieve - 
 ments of Ghorfinne Harlecefni, and of twenty other valiant barbarians? Yet, when you 
 come to read the native nndenied poetic descriptions of the ancient Runic Bards, their for- 
 cible images, their strong paintings, their curious display of ancient manners, I defy the 
 most torpid reader not to be animated and affected ; and then we are content to make some 
 enquiry after the history of these savage heroes, that we may understand the songs, of which 
 they are the subjects. In like manner, with regard to your own Owain Gwynedd, without 
 intending the least disrespect to so valiant a prince, I believe few readers will desire to know 
 any further of his history, than as it will serve for a cMnment to Gwalchmai's very snblime 
 and animated Ode. After all, I would not have any historical monuments perish, or he to- 
 tally neglected. They may come into use upon a thousand occasions, that we cannot at 
 present foresee, and therefore I am glad, that the northern nations have been careful to 
 secure even the above (to us uninteresting) narratives from destruction. And I should be 
 very glad to have the same eare taken of those of the ancient Britons. But I think the first 
 
164 CORKESPOIfDENCE. 
 
 care is due to these noble remains of ancient genius, which are in so much greater danger of 
 perishing, because so much harder to be understood. 
 
 How strongly is our curiosity excited by the mention you make (in your letter to Mr. 
 Williams), of the Epic Poem, written in A.D. 578, and the other works of Aneurin 
 6wawdrydd. What a noble field for literary application to rescue such a fine monument of 
 antiquity from oblivion : to which every revolving year of delay will most certainly consign 
 it, till it is lost for ever 1 Hi« Labor, hoc opus. I hope, dear Sir, you will take in good part 
 the freedom, with which I have ventured to advise you on a subject, of which you are so 
 much a better judge than myself; but my zeal, though it may be blind, is well meant. I 
 would fain excite you to direct that application, which you so laudably bestow on your an- 
 cient language, in such a manner as may be most profitable to yourself, and most reputable 
 to your country. 
 
 Macpherson goes on furiously in picking up subscriptions for his proposed Translation of 
 the ancient Epic Poem in the Erse Language ; though hardly one reader in ten believes the 
 specimens produced to be genuine. Much greater attention would be due to an editor, who 
 rescues the original itself from oblivion, and fixes its meaning by an accurate version. I 
 entirely agree with you, that a Latin version, as literal as possible, should accompany such 
 ancient pieces, but then I would also have you subjoin at the same time a liberal English 
 translation. By this means your book will take in all readers, both the learned and the 
 superficial. This method of publication has been attended with great success among the 
 northern nations, where all their Runic Pieces have been confronted both with a literal ver- 
 sion in Latin, and a more spirited one in the modern languages either of Sweden or Denmark. 
 Were you to endeavour to collect into a corpus all the remains of your ancient poetry, and 
 print it by subscription begun among your own countrymen, and warmly recommended by 
 them to us, it would certainly pay well, and be a very valuable present to the public ; but 
 then you ought to send forth a few select pieces into the world, previous to such an under- 
 taking, to bespeak the good opinion of mankind, and this, whenever you please to execute 
 it, shall be attended with my warmest services. In the mean time I hope you will continue 
 to favour me with specimens of your ancient poetry as often as your leisure will permit; 
 and, if any thing else that is carious should occur in the course of your studies, you will 
 confer a great pleasure by imparting it to. 
 
 Dear Sir, your very faithful and obedient servant, 
 
 Boston Maudit, Oct. 15, 1761. Thomas Percy. 
 
 N.B. I shall defer sending a specimen of Runic Poetry till I send you the whole collection 
 printed, which you may depend on. May I hope to see your Latin Essay on British Poetry? 
 
 The same to the same. 
 
 Dear Sir, 
 
 I know not whether the favour you have done me, in having wrote to me 
 once or twice, entitles me to address you with the familiarity of a near acquaintance ; but I 
 have ventured to trouble you with a voluntary letter. I presume you have received a very 
 long one from me through the medium of Mr. Williams. In that I requested to know if 
 you had any good old popular ballads in the Welsh language on historical and romantic 
 subjects. This was not a random question. I have in my possession a very ancient MS. 
 collection of such pieces in our own language, some of which will throw great light on our 
 old poets. I have selected two for your inspection, which, when perused, do me the favour 
 to return, and inform me whether you can remember any on the same subjects in the 
 
CORRESPONDENCE. 165 
 
 t!!aml>rian tODgue. I have reason to believe both the inclosed pieces are of great antiquity. 
 The fragment is certainly more ancient than the time of Chaucer, who took bi& Old Wife 
 <ot Bath's tale from it, as any one upon perusal will be convinced, and consequently that the 
 song was not taken from Chaucer. I cannot help thinking many of these pieces, about 
 King Arthur, translations from the ancient British tongue ; and it is in order to receive in- 
 formation on this subject, that I now apply to you. I am going to print a select collection 
 of these old pieces, not only on account of the merit of the poetry which they contain, (and 
 even these display proofs of great invention,) but also as conducing to illustrate our best old 
 poets,, who frequently allude to these compositions. As the press waits, I would intreat the 
 favour of a speedy answer. I shall soon be able to send you a specimen of some Runic poe- 
 try ; which, you will find, bears a surprising similitude to your own Welsh songs, more 
 specimens of which, at your leisure, will oblige. 
 
 Dear Sir, your most faithful servant, 
 
 Easton Maudit, Nov. 22, 1761. Thomas PEiicv. 
 
 The same to the same. 
 
 Sear Sib, 
 
 I received the favour of your obliging letter and the valuable present of the 
 ^wo British Odes translated into English. They have afforded me great pleasure, and they 
 display a rich vein of poetry. I think a select eollectiou of such pieces, thrown into a shil- 
 ling pamphlet, would not fail to prove as acceptable to the public as the Erse Fragments, 
 «nd would be far more satisfactory, because you could remove all suspicions of their genu- 
 ineness, which, I am afraid, Mr. Macpherson is not able to do. I observe with you a re- 
 markable similarity between our Runic and your British pieces. As our Runic Poetry will 
 be fit for publication towards Michaelmas, I wish you could get ready such another Collec- 
 tion of British Poetry to follow it in due time, while the curiosity of the public is fixed on 
 these subjects. And, when all these pamphlets have had their day, then throw them into a 
 volume under some such title as this, " Specimens of the Ancient Poetry of different 
 Nations." 1 have for some time had a project of this kind, and, with a view to it, I am 
 exciting several of my friends to contribute their share. Such a work might fill up two 
 neat pocket volumes. Besides the Erse Poetry, the Runic Poetry, and some Chinese 
 Poetry, that was published last winter, at the end of a book called " Han Kirn Choaan," 
 or the Pleasing History, 4 vols.,— besides these, I have procured n- MS. translation of the 
 "Tagrai Carmen," from the Arabic; and have set a friend to translate Solomon's Song 
 afresh from the Hebrew, with a view to the Poetry. This also is printing off, and will 
 soon be published in a shilling pamphlet. Then I have myself gleaned up specimens of 
 East Indian Poetry, Peruvian Poetry, Lapland Poetry, Greenland Poetry ; and inclosed I 
 send you a specimen of Saxon Poetry. The subject is a victory gained by the Anglo-Saxon, 
 Atbelstan, over the Dane Anlafe and his confederate Constantins King of Scotland. If you 
 compare it with the Runic Ode of Regner Lodbrog, you will see a remarkable afiinity be- 
 tween them, some of the phrases and imagery being common to both, as the play of arms, 
 &o., &c. The Latin version falls from the pen of my very learned friend Mr. Lye, who has 
 made many important emendations in the ori^al. The English was a slight attempt of my 
 own, to see if one could not throw a little spirit into a literal interlineary version, but I have 
 no reason to boast of my success. I believe the best way would be to publish the English 
 by itself, Bke the Runic Odes, and throw the two columns of Latin and Saxon to the end. 
 Give me your opinion of my proposal, with regard to the various specimens mentioned 
 above, and the share I would recommend to yourself in particular. Be pleased also to re- 
 turn my Saxon Ode, when perused, for I have kept no copy. 
 
166 CORRESPONBENCE. 
 
 I suppose you have no British Poetry extant, that was written before the conversion Up 
 Christianity, as we have of the Runic, and as they affect to have of the Erse ; if not, then 
 the most ancient you have is to be chosen. Could not you give some of the Poetry of Tal- 
 iesin and Merddin ? I must observe one thing, that your Odes will require a few explana- 
 tory Notes, chiefly with regard to the proper names ; and, if you would not think it too 
 great an innovation, I could wish you would accommodate some of your ancient British 
 names somewhat more to our English pronunciation. This is what the Erse translator has 
 done, and, I think, with great judgment. The word might be a little smoothed and liqui- 
 dated in the text, and the original spelling retained in the margin. Thus Macpherson has 
 converted Lambhdearg into Lamderg, Geolchopack (a woman's name) into the soft word 
 Gealcossa, &c. This is a liberty assumed in all languages ; and indeed, without it, it would" 
 not be possible for the inhabitants of one nation to pronounce the proper names of another. 
 
 You tell me you have read Bartholinus's book of Danish Antiquities; it is a most excel- 
 lent performance. There is a celebrated Frenchman, the Chevalier Mallet, historiographer 
 to the present King of Denmark, who has lately published a work in French on the same- 
 subject, at the end of which he has given a French translation of the famous Edda or Al- 
 coran (if you suffer me to use the word) of the ancient Teutonic nations. If thave health, 
 and leisure, I intend to translate this book into English, though it is a formidable under- 
 taking, being a quarto of no small size. I have got the book, which is a capital performance. 
 
 I should have one advantage over most others for such an attempt, which is, that my 
 learned neighbour, Mr. Lye, has got the Islandic original of the Edda, and would compare 
 my version with it. I have one thing still to mention, and then I have done. I have lately 
 been employed in a small literary controversy, with a learned- friend, about the original and 
 antiquity of the popular notion concerning Fairies and Goblins. M y. friend is for fetchingL 
 that whimsical opinion from the East, so late as the time of the Crusades, and derives the 
 words Elf and Goblin from the Gnelfe and Gibbeline factions in Italy. But I think it 
 would be impossible for notions so arbitrary to have obtained so universally, so uniformly, 
 and so early (see Chaucer's Wife of Bath's Tale), if they had not got possession of the 
 minds of men many ages before. Nay, I make no doubt but Fairies are derived from the 
 Daergar or Dwarfs, whose existence was so generally believed among all the northern 
 nations. Can you, from any of ynur ancient British writers, enable me to ascertain any of 
 these disputed points, or any resemblance to the name of Fairy, Elf, Goblin, in your lan- 
 guage ? I should think, that these popular superstitions are aboriginal in the island, and. 
 are remains of the ancient Pagan creed. Favour me with your opinion on this subject wheu. 
 you write next, which, as your Utters are so extremely curious and fraught with entertain- 
 ment, I beg may. be soon. 
 
 I. remain. Sir, your very faithful servant, 
 
 Thomas Pebcv.. 
 
 The same to the same. 
 
 Dear Sir, 
 
 . I received your obliging letter, which is so curious, that I cannot but request' 
 
 the repetition of such valuable favours. 1 am going to draw up a short Essay on the origin 
 and progress of our English poetry, in which I shall have occasion to be very particular in 
 my account of our metrical Bomances; and, as I believe many of these are drawn from old 
 British fables, if not downright translations from the ancient British language, I should be- 
 sxtremely obliged to yon, if you.would give the titles, and, if possible, a short account.of the- 
 
CORRESPONDENCE. 167 
 
 jsoBjects, of all such Romances, as are contained in the vellum manuscript, which you men- 
 tion, or any other, which you may remember to have seen. I have a notion, that wc have 
 many of them translated into English and thence into French and other southern languages. 
 
 Inclosed I send you a little Essay on the origin &c. of the English drama. Bishop 
 Warburton has handled the subject before me in the 5th vol. of his Shakespeare ; but, as be 
 derives all bis mformation from the French critics, and his instances from the French stage, 
 you will conclude, that he is often wide of the mark and generally superficial. Yet he has 
 one extract from Carew's Survey of Cornwall, relating to the old Cornish plays, which I 
 recommend to yonr notice ; because I could wish to know, (not now, but at any future 
 leisure,) whether you have any thing similar in Wales. The passage from Carew is this. 
 " The Guary IMiracle, in English, Miracle-Play, is a kind of interlude compiled, in Cor- 
 nish, out of some scripture history. For representing this they raise an earthen amphi- 
 theatre, in some open field, having the diameter of this inclosed plain some 40 or 50 feet. 
 The country people flock from all sides to see and hear it : for they have therein devils and 
 devices to delight as well the eye as the ear. The players conne not their parts without 
 books, but are more prompted by one called the Ordinary, who followeth at their heels, 
 with the book in his hand." In an act of Parliament, 4th Hen. IV., mention is made of 
 certain Wastours, JVIaster Rimours (Rimers) and IVtinstrels^ who infested the land of Wales, 
 to make commorths or gatherings upon the people there. Query the meaning of this? I 
 am afraid, lest I should be too troublesome with my queries, and, therefore, reserve what 
 you please to answer at an; future hour; only send me an accoant of your romances now, 
 which will oblige, dear Sir, your affectionate and faithful servant, 
 
 Thomas Pehoy. 
 Boston Maudit, March, 20, 1763; 
 
 The same to the same.. 
 
 Deab Sir, 
 
 I have been many months indebted to you for a very obliging letter. I de- 
 layed to answer it, in expectation of seeing yoar curious Specimens of the Ancient British 
 Poetry advertised, from the press before this time. Permit me to enquire, what forwardness^ 
 that intended publication (which you gave me hopes in your last of seeing speedily printed) 
 is in? From the translations, you have already favoured me with a sight of, I conceive a 
 very favourable idea of the merits of your ancient bards, and should be sorry to have their 
 precious relics swallowed up and lost, in the gulph of time; a danger which they will incur,, 
 if yon, that are so well acquainted with their beauties, and so capable of making them un- 
 derstood by others, neglect this opportunity of preserving them. I can readily conceive, 
 that many of their most beautiful peculiarities cannot possibly be translated into another 
 language but even through the medium of a prose translation one can discern a rich vein 
 of poetry, and even classical correctness, infinitely superior to any other compositions of that 
 age that we are acquainted with. Certain I am, that our own nation, at that time, produ- 
 ced nothing that wears the most distant resemblance to their merit, 
 
 I have lately been collecting specimens of English poetry, through every age, from the 
 time of the Saxons, down to that of Elizabeth, and am ashamed to show you what wretched 
 stuff our rhimers produced at the same time that your bards were celebrating the praise ofi 
 Llewelyn, with a spirit scarce inferior to Pindar. Inclosed I send you a specimen of an. 
 Elegy on the death of Edward I.— that cruel Edward, who made such havoc among the- 
 Cambrian poets. I know not whether you will be able to decipher these foul scrawls,, ob 
 distinguish them from the marginal explications, with which I have accompanied. thenst. 
 
168 CORRESPO.NDENCE. 
 
 But you will see enougrh to be coovinced of the infinite superiority of your own bards; nO( 
 do I kaow, that any of the natioaa of the continent (unless perchance Italy, which now 
 about began to be honoured by Oante) were able at that time to write better than the 
 Knglish. The French, I am well assured, were not. One thing is observable in the Elegy 
 on Edward the First, which is, that the poet, in order to do the more honour to his hero, 
 puts his eulogium in the mouth of the Pope, with the same kind of fiction as a modern bard 
 would have raised up Britannia or the genius of Europe, sounding forth his praises. Con- 
 sidering the destruction which our merciless monarch made among the last sons of ancient 
 genius, it may be looked upon as a just judgment upon him, that he bad no better than 
 these miserable rhimes to disgrace his memory. 
 
 With regard to your Specimens, should they not yet be put to the press, I should take it 
 for a great favour if you would indulge me with a sight of them in MS., or at least the 
 Dissertation to b% prefixed to them ; an indulgence that would not be abused, and which, 
 under whatever restrictions you please, would oblige, dear Sir, 
 
 Easton Maudit, Dec. 31, 1763. 
 
 Vour very afi^ectionate and faithful servant, 
 
 Thomas Percy. 
 
 The same to the same. 
 
 Dear Sir, 
 
 It is with pleasure I perform all your requests: inclosed you have the trail' 
 script from Wormius which you desired. As his book relates only to the Runic letters aud 
 ancient manner of writing, it did not fall within his subject professedly to treat of the Islan- 
 dic prosody ; be has, therefore, only described one species of verse out of innumerable others, 
 and this, as it were, by the bye and by way of specimen. He refers to the Edda, or old 
 Islandic book of prosody, for the rest ; this book I have not seen.— There is another Edda, 
 which I have, that explains the Islandic mythology, and of this I shall publish, ere long, a 
 translation, with some curious notes and dissertations of M. Mallet, the present historiogra- 
 pher to the King of Denmark, as you may remember I have hinted in the preface to my 
 specimens of Runic Poetry. 
 
 When may one hope to see your Dissertatio de BardisJ I am fond of the subject, and 
 have great expectations of your manner of handling it. I thank you for your friend's preface; 
 though he is not much master of English style, the particulars he produces are curious. I 
 have turned to my learned friend Mr. Lye's edition of Junii Etymologkon Anglicanum for 
 the etymology of such words as your friend mentions, and I find nothing, that does not con- 
 firm his derivations ; I have not time now to descend to particulars, bnt shall be glad to hear 
 from you as soon as agreeable. One so much master, as you are, of British antiquities, 
 whether historic or poetical, can never want means of entertaining. 
 
 Dear Sir, your very affectionate servant, 
 
 EasUm Maudit, April 10, 1764. Thomas Percy. 
 
 P. S. Pray, are the Welsh romances, you have described, in prose or verse ? If they are 
 in prose, then let me ask if you have ever seen any in verse? I take it, these subjects were 
 treated in verse before they came to plain prose in most nations. This, at least, I find to be 
 the case in the old Erse and Islandic languages, as well as in the more modern Italian, 
 French, Spanish, and English tongues, I have got curious specimens in the last I mention- 
 ed. Pray is the word St. Great, or St. Greal, in the first article of your curious letter ? 
 
WELSH PEOVEEBS. 
 
 It appears that the Rev. E. Evans ( leuan Prydydd ftirj, had prepared 
 for publication a Collection of our Ancient Welsh Proverbs ; for a writer 
 in the second volume of the " Cambrg Briton," gives the following tran- 
 slation of the Latin Preface prefExed to the MSS., which we here reprint. 
 
 Haviho discovered Dr. Davies of Mallwyd's Latin Translation of our Welsh Proverbs 
 among many other ancient MSS. in the library at Llanvorda, and soon after having found, 
 also, the original, from which his was transcribed, among the same valuable collection, I 
 thought I could not undertake a more useful work to my country, than to publish the same, 
 and dedicate it, as the first fruits of my labours, to my munificent patron. Sir W. W. VVynn. 
 The exict time when that ancient bard and philosopher, called by the Welsh Hen Gyrys o 
 Ml, flourished, cannot be accurately ascertained. Two collections of Proverbs, made by 
 him, and written on parchment, are now extant in the above library, and, at the end of the 
 said book, a fair copy of Hywel Dda'o laws ; and from the best judgment, which can be 
 formed from the appearance of the said MSS. and the mode of writing, or form of the 
 hand, it may with safety he pronounced to be about five hundred years old. To the former 
 of these two collections is annexed the following note respecting the author: "Mabieith 
 Hen Gyrys o 1^1, yr hwn a elwit Bach Buddugre a Gado Gyfarwydd, a Gwynfarch Gyfar- 
 wydd, a'r hen wyrda a ddyvawt y Diarhebion o Ddoethineb, hyd pan veint gadwedig, 
 gwedy hwynt, i roddi dysg i'r neb a synio arnynt ; canys crynodeb parablan Ilawer a syn- 
 wyreu y cynghoreu doethbnid a ddangosir ar vyrder, i'r neb a'u dyallo yn y diarhebion." 
 lai, where this celebrated old Cyrys resided, is a mountainous district, containing five 
 parishes, situated towards the north-east corner of the county of Denbigh ; and Buddigre, 
 where he lived, is near, if not within, the limits of the parish of Bryn Eglwys. It is evi- 
 dent, that this collection of Proverbs was made from various works of a great number of old 
 hards, living in different ages; for many of them are taken from the compositions of Lly- 
 warch Hen (Llywarch the Aged), and from the poems of Aneurin and Taliesin, and several 
 from those of other bards much more ancient, whose effusions have unfortunately perished. 
 
 It is more than probable, that many of these pithy sentences and proverbial sayings, 
 these aphorisms of wisdom and axioms of prudence, were the productions of the venerable 
 Druids^ and they exhibit, in the present imperfect form, in which they have been delivered 
 to us, no despicable specimens of those verses mentioned by Caesar, in the seemingly enig- 
 maljcal mysteries of which their pupils were initiated, and spent many years in acquiring 
 and committing them to memory. And he farther informs us, that, notwithstanding these 
 learned sages made nse of Greek characters in transacting both their public and private 
 affairs yet their disciples were not permitted to write these verses, principally, (as tt ap- 
 peared to him,) for two reasons; in the first place, because, if they were allowed to do so, 
 the mysteries of their profession would soon be divulged : and, secondly, if these aphorisms 
 were committed to writing, the noviciates, confiding in such artificial aids, would no longer 
 be at the pains of sufficiently exercising their memories. Many of these poetical proverbs 
 are composed in that peculiar kind of metre, which is distinguished by the name of Englyn 
 Milwr, and these verses are possessed of such strong internal marks of antiquity, that I may 
 with safety pronounce them to be the genuine productions of the Druids. And, as they are 
 hy no means unworthy of being considered as the real effusions of those learned sages and 
 philosophers, it will not, I hope, be deemed a digression, or by any means irrelevant to the 
 object of this introduction, to gratify the reader with a specimen of one of these oracular 
 compositions, together with a close literal Latin version. The first two lines of these poet- 
 
 27 
 
170 WELSH PROVEEBS. 
 
 ioal triplets seem to contain some of the privileges of the Druids, and the third generally 
 exhibits some maxim of wisdom or axiom of prudence. The following were transcribed 
 from the Red Book of Hergest, in the library of Jesus College, Oxford :— 
 
 1. 1. 
 
 Marchwiail bedw briglas, Virgulta betute viridis 
 
 A dyn fy nhroed o wanas; Meum pedem e compede solvent ; 
 
 Nao addef dy rin i wis. Secretum tuum juveni ne reveles. 
 
 2. 2. 
 
 Marchwiail derw mewn Ilwyn, Virgulta quercfls de luoo 
 
 A dyn fy nhroed o gadwyn: Solvent pedem meum e catenS: 
 
 Nac addef dy rin i forwyn. Ne reveles secretum tuum virgini. 
 
 3. 3. 
 
 Marchwiail derw deillar, Virgulta querela frondoss 
 
 A dyn fy nhroed o garchar ; Pedem meum e carcere liberabunt; 
 
 Nac addef dy rin i lafar. Ne reveles secretum tuum homini loquaci. 
 
 The foregoing stanzas, as well as many others of the same description, are still extant in 
 the above mentioned hook, called Llyfr Coch o Hergest, and likewise in several MSS. in 
 the libraries of Llanvorda near Oswestry, and Hengwrt near Dolgellau ; and, on account of 
 their having accidentally been discovered among the compositions of that ancient bard 
 Llywarcb Hen, Dr. Davies and Edw. Llwyd have hastily and inconsiderately pronounced 
 them to be some of his productions; but the frequent recurrence of the oak, their favourite 
 tree, and the dark allusions to the drnidical rites and privileges, most evidently and convin- 
 cingly, (in my opinion,) denote their origin to be from that source. But here it may be 
 objected, that the Druids could not, (as Ceesar declares it was not their usual practice,) 
 have committed these verses to writing. Granted it was so in his time ; yet it is manifest 
 from the poems of oar celebrated bard Taliesin, that, in subsequent times, they did not 
 strictly adhere to this resolution ; for many of their pretended mysteries are divulged in his 
 compositions. It is also evident, that, in these early ages, the Druids were not the only 
 persons, who were thus cautious of revealing their secrets to the vulgar ; but the Bards 
 also endeavoured to conceal their poetical rules and metres, from the public ; for their book 
 of prosody, containing the intricacies of the art, is distinguished by the name of Cyfrinach 
 y Beirdd, (i. e. The Secret of the Bards,) and they were strictly prohibited from explaining 
 these, except to their own noviciate disciples, which continued to be their practice nearly to 
 our own times. But, notwithstanding these strict prohibitions, it is well known, that the 
 poetical compositions of the bards were publicly recited ; and it is evident that, after the 
 commencement of the Christian sera, the Druids were not so scrupulously cautious with 
 respect to these rules of secrecy, which may be proved from some stanzas, which I have 
 seen in an ancient MS,, denominated Englynion Duad, probably from a bard or druid of 
 that name. Some few of the lines I shall here subjoin, for the inspection of the reader. 
 
 Bid gogor gau \kt. 
 Bid gan lew drydar. 
 Bid oval ar a'i cSir; 
 Bid tdu calon gan alar. 
 
 These lines have been introduced into our Welsh proverbs ; and the following remark is 
 made on them at the end of Dr. Davies's MS. copy. 
 
 " Gwyl y rhagory sydd rhwng y rhai hyn ar rhai sydd yn Llyfr Coch, a hen gopiau 
 eraill ; a gwybydd fod y gerdd hon yn hen iawn ; gan fod cymmaint o ymrafael rhwng yr 
 hen gopiau." i. e. Advertat lector quam variant inter se exemplar Hergestianum et alia 
 exemplaria in hoc cantioo, et sciat, hoc carmen ob differentias praedictas esse vetustissimum. 
 
 Those learned men are, therefore, mistaken, who suppose, that the Druids never commit- 
 ted any of their compositions to writing ; when it is evident, that these and others of their 
 productions have been conveyed down to us. Taliesin, as I have before hinted, informs as. 
 
WELSH PBOVERBS. 171 
 
 that he was instructed by them in many of their mysteries, particularly in that of the 
 IxiTtixif/uxiiicie, and in many other rudiments of their philosophy. And hence it is, that his 
 works are more obscure than those of any other of the ancient bards. 
 
 There is also a certain degree of obscurity in the very words and language of Taliesin • 
 and the same may be observed of the compositions of Aneurin Gwawdrydd and other bards 
 of the same age, a catalogue of whose works may be found in the learned Edward Llwyd's 
 Archaeology, collected from the notes of William Maurice, Esq., of Cefn y Braich. But 
 JVIr. E. Llwyd never saw any of the poetical compositions of Taliesin, Aneurin, and other 
 early bards, except those of Llywarch Hen, which he found in Ltyfr Cech o Hergest: and 
 the works of these ancient authors will afford us very material assistance, not only in the 
 investigation ot our ancient British language, but also in examining historical facts, and in 
 tracing the origin of the various tribes, who inhabited this island during that early period. 
 Taliesin, in a poem, of which the following is the title, "Cerdd am Feibion Llyr ap Brych- 
 ■wel Powys," mentions three separate nations, who had taken possession of different parts of 
 Britain, previous to his time, viz., Gwyddyl (Celts or Gauls,) Brython, and Romani, 
 (Romans.) 
 
 Gwyddyl, a Brython, a Romani, 
 
 A wna hon dyhedd, a dyfysoi; 
 
 Ac am derfyn Prydein, cain ei threfl. 
 
 And they are represented as exciting war and tumult on the borders of this fair isle, and its 
 beautiful towns and cities; and it appears evidently from this poem, that the first inhabitants 
 were Gwyddyl or Celts, which circumstance Mr. Llwyd and others have proved most satis- 
 factorily, from the names of mountains, rivers, &o. But by the word Gwyddyl Taliesin 
 must, by no means, be understood to mean the modern Irish ; for their language at present 
 contains a very considerable mixture of Cantabrian and Spanish, and differs very materially 
 from the ancient genuine Celtic and British, which clearly appears from the writings of the 
 old bards, and the ancient British Proverbs. For, if any person were vain enough to sup- 
 pose, that he could discover the meaning of some of our obsolete British words, by con- 
 sulting an Irish Dictionary, he would soon find himself woefully disappointed, and I am 
 clearly of opinion, that the ancient genuine Celtic dialect had a very near affinity to the old 
 Welsh or British. I believe, that the persons, denominated Gwyddyl by Taliesin, were ge- 
 nuine CeltEE, and inhabited this island previous to the arrival of the Britons, and probably soon 
 after the general deluge, and that these Celtse were the progeny of the Titans ; for the Curetes 
 and Corybantes, who were their princes and nobles, are clearly identified with the Cowri of 
 the British history, written by Tyssilio (the bishop), which Geoffrey of Monmouth has very 
 improperly translated Giants. And this blunder of his has been the source of endless mis- 
 takes ; for the word Cowri evidently means princes, generals, nobles, or persons of great 
 eminence. The Curetes are therefore, our Cowri; and the Corybantes (i. e. Cowri-Bann) 
 were princes or persons of great eminence, as the expression denotes; and, what is still more 
 to our purpose, the word gwyddyl also implies any thing conspicuous, and is nearly synony- 
 mous with Cowri, which is the usual term, even to the present day, to designate persons of 
 uncommon stature or great bodily strength. The Curetes, therefore, were evidently our 
 Cowri, and the Corybantes (i. e. Cowri-Bann) imply princes or leaders, or persons of the 
 most eminent rank and consequence : and, in order to corroborate this assertion, it may be 
 observed here, that there is a very high mountain near Towyn, in the county of Merioneth, 
 which, to this day, bears the name of Gwyddyl Fynydd ; and the highest peak or summit 
 of Snowdon, is denominated Yr Wyddfa, (i. e. the highest eminence or the most conspicu- 
 ous,) and by the common people, even at this time, is known by no other name. And 
 Gwydd Grug means a high hiW, or eminence; Gwydd Fryniau, high banks; and Trum 
 Gwydd, the ridge of a mountain ; and many others, which it would be tedious and useless 
 to enumerate. And it may also be observed here, that the KcXrai and TaXarai of the 
 Greeks, and the Celtiz and Galli, of the Latins, appear to me to bear no other import. For 
 Gallt and AUt are clearly synonymous with Gwyddel, and denote any thing high or eminent, 
 though the word Gallt is, at present, restricted to designate the steep ascent of a hill, or a 
 
172 WELSH PROVERBS. 
 
 declivitjr; but, that the word Gallt was anciently used to denominate high mountains majr 
 be justly inferred from the word Alpi, which is evidently compe'sed of two Celtic words, 
 Gallt-ban, or pen, i. e. Allt-ban, Al-pen, or Alpine, which commutation or cbang-e of initial 
 letters will appear easy to any person acquainted with the British language, and perfectly 
 justified by the rules of grammar, as the mutations of radical letters in Welsh are well known 
 to be nearly endless. It would not be difficult to prove, that the ancient Britons are des- 
 cendants of the Celtee, and a close connection and affinity may be traced between their lan- 
 guage not with the ancient Celtic only but also with the Greek; and, it is at the same time 
 very evident, that their dialect differed materially from that of the aboriginal inhabitants of 
 this island, and whom on that account they denominated Gaillt and Gwyddyl. The British 
 language retains to this day many woods purely Greet, such as Haul, HXioe, the sun, 
 Dwfr, YSup, water, and many others, which have been pointed out some time by the 
 learned Pezron. But, that the Britons had other words of the same import purely Celtic 
 may be proved from the works of the ancient bards; for huan is made use of by lorweith 
 Vychan, and many other bards, to signify the sun, — 
 
 Llewyrch ebyr myr, morfeydd dylan; 
 
 Pan lewych himn ar fann fynydd. 
 
 lorwerth P^yckan. 
 Coiuscatio portuum aquarum, et paludum marinarum; 
 Gum sol splendet ab excelso monte. 
 
 And the old bard, Avan Verddig, in his elegy on the death of Cadwallon, the son of Cad- 
 van, makes use of ber for water, instead of dwr or dwfr. 
 
 "Goluchav glew, hael, hilig Nav NSr, 
 
 Aded gynt, etliynt, hyd yn irfer hallt." 
 
 ^van Ferddig. 
 Exorabo potentem et liberalem Dominum Creatorem, 
 Iverunt ad madidam aquam salsam. 
 
 And from hence it is manifest, that huan and bSr are two ancient Celtic words ; but, if 
 any one were to consult an Irish lexicon in hopes of finding the expressions, he would be 
 disappointed; yet he may discover bir among the obsolete words in that language. The 
 names of moors, meadows, and rivers, in diflerent parts of Wales, may also be produced as 
 an additional evidence that ber and mer originally signified water,— for instance, Bereu Ber- 
 wenydd, near Snowdon, Castell y Berau, in Llanfihangel y Pennant, in Merionethshire, 
 where many mountain torrents meet. Aber, a confluence, seems also to justify this opibion, 
 and inwr, in the Erse dialect. 
 
A TRAN8LATK)N OF 
 
 CYWYDD MARWNAD LLEUCU LLWYD, 
 
 BT LLEWSLVM GOCH A? MEIRIG HEN. (a BA11.D OF THE POBRIEEMTH Om<T«IlY.)l 
 
 AN ELEGY, 
 
 TO THE MEMORY OF LLEUCU LLWYD, THE PAIR NYMPH OF PENNAL, 
 
 Lleuou Llmyd, a great heauty, was a native of Pennal, in 
 Comit. Meirion ; she rvaa greatly beloved by Llewelyn 
 Goeh ap Meirig Hen o Nannau, and died when he nas 
 gone on a journey to South Wales ; upon his return, he 
 composed this Elegy; which is a master-piece in its 
 kind. 
 
 "Llyma hqf llmm i hoew-fardd, 
 A llyma fyd llwm i farddf ^c. 
 
 0, to the jocund Bard, here's a barren sumnier ; to 
 the Bard the world is desolate. 
 
 How is Venedotia bereft of its bright luminary ? How 
 its heaven is enveloped with darknesS) ever since the full 
 moon o/ beauty has been laid in the silent tomb! Mournful 
 deed I a lovely Fair, in the oaken chest ; my speech can 
 find no utterance since thou art gone, thou of shape 
 divine ! Lamp of Venedotia ; how long hast thou been 
 confinad in the gloomy grave ! Arise, thou that art 
 dearer to iHe than life ; open the dismal door of thine 
 earthly cell ! Leave, fair one, thy sandy bed ; shine 
 upon the face of thy lover. Here by the tqmb, generous 
 maid of noble descent, stands one whose mirthful days 
 are past, whose countenance is pale with the loss of thee j 
 even Llewelyn Goch, the celdlirater of thy praise, pining 
 
174 Art ELEGY. 
 
 for the love of thee, helpless and forlorn, unequal to the 
 task of song*. 
 
 I heard, thou that art confined in the deep and dis- 
 mal grave, nought out of thy lips but truth, mj speechless 
 Fair ! Noug-ht, O'thou of stately growth, fairest of vir- 
 gins fair ! But thou hadst promised, now unfeeling to 
 the pangs of love, to stay till I came from South Wales ; 
 lovely silk-shrouded maid ! The false Destinies snatched 
 thee out of my sight j it nought concerns me to be exposed 
 to the stormy winds, since the agreement between thee 
 and pensive me is void ! Thou ! thou ! lovely maid, wert 
 true ; I, even I was false ; and now fruitlessly bemoan ! 
 From henceforth I will bid adieu to feir Venedotia. It 
 concerns me not whither I go. I must forego my native 
 soil for a virtuous maid, where it were my happiness to 
 live, were she alive ! thou whose angelic face was 
 become a proverb ; thy beauty is laid low in the lonesome 
 tomb ! The whole world without thee is nothing, such 
 anguish do I suffer ! I, thy pensive Bard, ramble in 
 distress, bewailing the loss of thee, illustrious maid ! 
 Where, where shall I see thee, thou of form divine, 
 bright as the full moon ! Is it on the Mount of Olives, 
 loveliest of women ? Ovid's love was nothing in comparison 
 of mine, lovely Lleucu; thy form was worthy of heaven, 
 and my voice hath failed in invoking* thy name. Alas ! 
 woe is me, fair maid of Pennal. It sounded as a dream 
 to me, to hear that thy charms were laid in the dust ; 
 and those lips which I oft have praised, excelled the 
 utmost efforts of my Muse. my soul, whiter than the 
 foam of the rapid streams, mjy love, I have now the 
 heavy task of composing thy Elegy. 
 
 Lovely virgin ! How are thy bright shining eyes closed 
 in everlasting sleep in the stony tomb! Arise to thy 
 pensive Bard, who can smile no more, were he possessed 
 
AN ELfiGY. i?6 
 
 of a king'dom j arise in thy silken vestj lift up thy coun-' 
 tenance from the dismal g-rave ! 
 
 I tell no untruth, my feet are benumbed by walkings 
 around thy dwelling- place, Lleucu Llwyd, where here- 
 tofore, bright lamp of Venedotia^ I was wont to celebrate 
 thy beauty in fine flowing verse, where I was ti^ont to 
 be merry in praising' thy delicate hand and tapering- fin- 
 g-ers, ornamented with rings of g-old, lovely Lleucu, deli- 
 cate sweet-tempered Lleucu ! Thou wert far more precious 
 than reliques to me ! The soul of the darling- of Meir- 
 ionydd is g-one up to God, its original Author, and her 
 fair corpse is deposited in the sanctuary of holy ground, 
 far, far from me in the silent tomb ! The treasure of the 
 world is left in the custody of a haughty black man. 
 Longing and melancholy dirges are the portion of my 
 lot. I lament with faltering accents over the lovely 
 Lleucu ! whiter than the flakes of riven snow. Yesterday 
 I poured down my cheeks showers of tears over thy tomb. 
 The fountains of my head are dry, my eyes are strangers 
 to sleep, since thou art gone ; thou fair-formed speechless 
 maid hast not deigned to answer thy weeping Bard. 
 How I lament, alas, that earth and stones should cover 
 thy lovely face ; alas that the tomb should be made so 
 fast, that dust should ever cover the paragon of beauty, 
 that stony walls and coffin should separate thee and me, 
 'that the earth should lock thee fast in her bosom, that a 
 shroud should enclose a beauty that rivalled the dawn of 
 the morn ; alas that strong doors, bolts, and stately locks 
 should divide us for ever ! 
 
 Evan Evans, alias Ieuan Prydydd Hir. 
 
OYWYDD MAEWNAD LLEUOU LLWYD. 
 
 Lleucu Llwvd ydoedd rian rinweddol, nodedig am ei glendid a'i phrydferthwch, ya byw 
 yn Mhennal, ar Ian yr afon Dyfi, oddeuta pedair milltir o Alserdyfi, ar ffordd MachynFleth, 
 yn y 14eg canrif. CerLd hi 4 cbariad pur gan Llewelvn Goch ap Meirio Hen, o'r 
 Nannaa, gerllaw Dolgellau. Oud nid oedd ei tbad mewn an modd yn foddlawn i'r garwriae^b, 
 ac acbubfti bob cyfle i yru anngfaariad rhvrng Llencu a Llewelyn. Un tro, dygwyddodd 
 i Lewelyn Goch fyned ar daith i'r Debenbarth, a daetb ei thad at Llencu, a dy wedodd 
 wrtbi, er mwyu diddyfnu §i sercb oddiar y bardd, fod Llewelyn tredi ymbflodi yno k mercb 
 arall. Fan glywodd Leucu yr ymadrodd hyn, bi a syrthiodd mewn llewyg, ac a drengodd 
 yn y fan I Dychwelodd Llewelyn adref ; ac ofer ceisio darlunio ei deimladan pan ddeallodd 
 fod hyfrydwcfa ei lygaid wedi hnno yn yr angau ; a than ei deimladau cySrous ar yr achlysur, 
 efe a gyfansoddod yr alarnad ganlynol, am yr bon, er boll gloffrjarymau'r gyngbanedd 
 gaetb, y gellir dywedyd, megys y dywedodd Daniel Ddu am alargwyn Bums ar farwolaeth 
 ei Highland Mary, mai cerdd ydy w a fydd byw ses bo i hoU dyrau dawn syrtbio i lynclyn 
 annghof tragwyddol. 
 
 Yr oedd yr anffodus Lewelyn Goch yn fardd penigamp yn ei ddydd ; a chyfrifir ei fod yn 
 ei flodau o'r flwyddyn 1330 i 1370. Argraffwyd chwech o'i gyfansoddiadau yn y gyfrol 
 gyntaf o'r Myfyrian Archaiology of Wales; ac y mae amryw o bonynt yn aros hyd ynfayn 
 mewn llawysgrifen heb weled goleuni dydd. Nid ydys yn gwybod fod yr alarnad a ganlyn 
 wedi ei bargraffu erioed o'r blaen. Y mae yn ein meddiant gyfieitbiad Saesonig o boni 
 mewn rhyddiaetb, o waith leuan Brydydd HIr; ac efelycbiad o fesnr cerdd, yn yr un iaitb, 
 o waith y diweddar Risiart Llwyd, Bardd Eryri. Ysgrifenwyd marwnad Llewelyn Goch 
 ei bun gan lolo Gocb. 
 
 Y mae, neu o leiaf yr oedd, caead arch un Llencu Llwyd, yr hon a fu farw yn y flwyddyn 
 1402, i'w weled yn Eglwys Llaneurgain, yn sir Ff lint ; ond nid ymddengys mai Lleucu 
 Llwyd o Bennal y w y rhian a gofl^eir yno. Yr oedd Lleucu Llwyd Llaneurgain yn ferch 
 i Rys ab Rhobert, o'r Cinmael, ac yn wraig i Hywel ab Tudur, o'r Llys, ynmblwyf Llan- 
 eurgain, ac yn nith i'r ba»dd Dafydd Ddu o Hiraddug. Hywel ab Tudur ydoedd un o 
 beaaliaid y teuluoedd presenal sy'n dwyn yr euw Mostyn 
 
 y mae Llewelyn a Lleucu, yn gystal testyn cerdd a Romeo and Juliet ; ond pa le mae'r 
 Shacspear Cymraeg i ysgrifenu trychwawd arno?— Y Brython, 
 
 LLYMA haf llwm i hoew-fardd, 
 A Uyma fyd llwm i fardd ! 
 Nid oes yng- Ng-wynedd heddiw, 
 Na lloer, na llewyrch, na lliw, 
 Er pan rodded— r^trwydded trwch — 
 Dan lawr dygn dyn loer degwch. 
 Y ferch wen o'r dderw brenol, 
 Arfaeth ddig yw'r fau o'th ol! 
 
CYWYDD MARWNAD. 177 
 
 Cain ei llun, canwyll Wynedd, 
 Cyd bych o fewn caead bedd ! 
 F* enaid ! cyfod i fynu, 
 Agor y ddaiar-ddor ddu ! 
 Gwrthod wely tyfod hir, 
 A gwrtheb f wyneb, feinir ! 
 Mae yma, hoewdra hydraul, 
 Uwch dy feddj hoew annedd haul, 
 Wr Uwm ei wyneb hebod, 
 Llewelyn Goch, g'loch dy glod; 
 Yn cynnal, hyd tra canwyf, 
 Cariad amddifad ydd wyf ; — 
 Ud-fardd yn rhodio adfyd 
 Dduw gwyn ! hyd hyn o hyd. 
 Myfi, fun fwyfwy fonedd, 
 Echdoe a fiim uwch dy fedd, 
 Yn fifollwng deigr lied eigr-brafF 
 Ar hyd fy wyneb yn rhalF: 
 Tithau, harddlun y fun fud, 
 O'r tew-bwll ni'm hatebud! 
 Tawedawg ddwysawg ddisercl;, 
 Ti addawsud, y fud ferch, 
 Fwyn dy sud fando sidan, 
 Fy aros, ddyn loew-dlos Ian, 
 Oni ddelwn, gwn y g'wir, 
 Er dy hud, o'r Deheudir, 
 Ni chigle, sythle saeth-lud, 
 Air na bai wir, feinir fud, 
 lawn-dwf rhianaidd Indeg, 
 Onid hyn o'th eneu teg. 
 Traia mawr! ac ni'ra tawr i ti! 
 Toraiat ammod, trist irai, 
 Tydi sydd yn y gw^dd gwan 
 Ar y gwir, ddyn deg eirian ! 
 Minnau sydd uthrydd athrist 
 Ar y celwydd — tramgwydd trist ■' 
 
178 CYWYDD MARWNAfi; 
 
 Celwyddawg' iawn, cul weddi^ 
 Celwydd lais a soniais i. 
 Mi af Wynedd heddy w^ 
 Ni'm dawr ba faenawr i fyw: 
 Fy myn foneddig' ddig-awn, 
 Duw'n fach, petid iach nid awn! 
 P'le cafj ni'm doraf dioer, 
 Dy weled, wendw' wiw-loer? 
 Ar fynj'dd— sathr Ofydd serch— 
 Olifer^ yn oleu-ferch. 
 F' enaid yno a'n fynych, 
 O'th wela', ddyn wiwdda wych. 
 Lleucu d^g' wan eg wiwnef ! 
 Llwyr y dyhaeraist fy lief j 
 A genaisj Uyg-orn Gwynedd ! 
 Eiriau g-wawd i eiry 'i g-wedd^ 
 O'r geneu yn qrganawl, 
 A ganaf, tra fyddaf, fawl. 
 F' enaid hoen g-eirw afonydd ' 
 Fy nghaniad dy farwnad fydd. 
 Uiw-galch rian oleugain, 
 Rhy gysg'adur o'r mur main ! 
 Rhiain fain^ rhy anfynych 
 Y'th wela', ddyn wiwdda wych. 
 Cyfod i orphen cyfedd, 
 I edrych a fynych fedd ; 
 At dy fardd ni chwardd ychwaith, 
 Erot^ dal euraid dalaith ! 
 Dyred^ ffion ei deurudd, 
 I fyny o'r pridd-dy prudd / 
 Anial yw f ol^ canmoleg, 
 Nid twym yw fy neudroed t^g, 
 Yn bwhwman gan annwyd 
 Cylch drws dy dy, Lleucu Llwyd ! 
 A genaiS; lygorn Gwynedd, 
 eiriau gwawd i eiry 'i gwedd. 
 
CYWYDD MARWNAD. 179 
 
 Lief dri-och, Haw fodrwy-aur, 
 Lleucu ! llawenu lliw aur. 
 Cymhenaidd, gvoew, loew Leucu ! 
 Ei chymnayn, f anwyl-fun, fu 
 Ei henaid, gralr g-wlad Feiriawn, 
 I Dduw Dad — addewid iawn; 
 A'i mein-g'orffj eiliw'r mang'ant, 
 Meinir, i g'yssegr-dir sant : 
 Dyn pell-g'wyn doniau peill-g-alch, 
 A da byd i'r gwr du balch ; 
 A'r hiraethj cywyddiaeth cawdd, 
 I minnau a'i cymmynawdd. 
 Lleddf ddeddf ddeuddaint ogyfuwch, 
 Lleucu Llwyd, lliw cawod lluwch \ 
 Pridd a main^ g-lain g-alar chwerw^ 
 A gudd ei deurudd, a derw. 
 Gwae fi dryrader y gweryd 
 A'r pridd ar feistres y pryd ■ 
 Gwae fi fod arch yn gwarchae^ 
 A thy main rhof a thi mae ! 
 Gwae fi, ferch wen o Bennal, 
 Brudded yw briddo dy dal ! 
 Clo du derw — galar chwerw gael — 
 A daiar, deg- ei dwyael • 
 A throm-g-oed ddor, a thrym-g'ae, 
 A Uawer maes, rhof a'i lliw mae ; 
 A chlyd fur, a chlo dur du, 
 A chlicied — yn iach, Leuctj • 
 
 Llewelyn Goch ap Meirig Hen. 
 
THE FEUDAL SYSTEM. 
 
 JOHN JENKINS, Esq. 
 
 ^As much of the preceedisg Work relates to Feudal times and usages, the following 
 able Paper from the pen of a modern writer cannot be otherwise than acceptable to the 
 reader. — Ed.] 
 
 A CLEAR idea of the Feudal System is in the highest 
 degree interesting* to the inhabitants of modern 
 Europe, as it was the first form of society which suc- 
 ceeded ancient civilization, and is the foundation of most 
 of our modern laws, systems, and institutions. Without 
 a definite idea of this system, much or most of the present 
 regulations of civilized life would be unintelligible. 
 
 But I have spoken of ancient civilization. What did 
 this term mean? What does it comprise? I believe, it 
 means that progressive or advancing state of human 
 society, which existed among the various nations and 
 empires of the world previous to the dissolution of the 
 Roman Empire. The countries where this civilization 
 reached its highest stage are well-known. History pre- 
 sents them in bold relief on its pages. They were Persia, 
 Assyria, Chaldea, Egypt, Greece, and Rome ; aad, in an 
 inferior dfegree, China and Hindoostan. In these coun- 
 tries the inhabitants had substituted a stationary for a 
 wandering life, had acquired the notions and defined the 
 limits and rights of property, had entered the bonds sind 
 enjoyed the benefits of society, had extended their ide^s 
 beyond supplying the rude necessities of life, had acquired 
 a taste for the comforts and even luxajries of social life, 
 29 
 
182 THE FEUDAL SYSTEM. 
 
 had begun to cultivate the arts and science^, had built 
 vessels whereby they could traffic by sea, and had erected 
 towns and cities (some of costly mag-nificence) on land. 
 The bulk of the people had forsaken the sword for the 
 ploug'h, and exchang-ed the spear for the pruning--hook. 
 They dwelt peaeeably and securely in their villag-es, towns^ 
 and rural homes. They divided their employments The 
 land was cultivated, the stock of living' animals was fed,, 
 and commerce carried on. A parliament or congress of 
 the chief inhabitants assembled, and deliberated on the 
 affairs of State. Laws were enacted, and justice adminis- 
 tered in the public courts. The spiritual interests of the 
 people were also provided for, and mag'nificent temples, 
 churches, and cathedrals were built and adorned the land. 
 A regular g'radation of nobles or chiefs was established, 
 to whom the people at larg'e looked up, while a King, 
 Sovereig'n, or Emperor g-overned the whole. These are 
 the leading ideas connected with ancient civilization. 
 These elements flourished largely in the last of the old 
 empires, or that of Rome^ which before its fall had tran- 
 scended all that went before in commerce, civilization, 
 learning, refinement, science, art, as well as in grandeur 
 and extent of territory. 
 
 We have spoken of the fall of the Roman Empire. 
 This occurred in the beginning of the fifth century. We 
 will just glance at the state of Europe immediately before 
 the dissolution of that vast empire. The Roman Empire 
 (which comprised Italy and the adjacent territories) was 
 at that time and had been for centuries the only kingdom 
 in Europe where the arts of peace and civilization reigned. 
 All the vast countries north of the Alps, west of the 
 Mediterranean, and east and north of the Adriatic seas, 
 were in a state of comparative, if not complete barbarism. 
 Among the people who inhabited these countries we may 
 name the Franks, who occupied Gallia or modern France; 
 
THE FEUDAL SYSTEM. 188 
 
 the Goths, Vandals, and Germanic tribes, who occupied 
 modern Germany ; the Scythians and other Sclavonic 
 races, who occupied modern Russia j the Visigoths, who 
 occupied Spain ; the Celts, who dwelt in Great Britain 
 and Ireland; and the Scandinavians, who occupied the 
 north of Europe, or Lapland, Sweden, and Norway. 
 These various populations were, during- the zenith, and 
 down to the fall of the Roman Empire, in a state of semi 
 if not perfect barbarism. A g'reat portion of them were 
 nomadic or roving- tribes, and had in their career of de- 
 vastation and conquest traversed the vast plains of Asia 
 and eastern Europe, before taking- up a more settled 
 thoug-h not permanent abode in the broad plains and forests 
 of Germany, Spain, and Russia. The Goths, Scythians, 
 and Sclavonic tribes who thus poured into Europe, were 
 emigrants from Asia. The native races who inhabited 
 eastern Europe were unequal to repel the savage invasions 
 of these formidable marauders, who inundated Europe 
 with their fierce and unsettled bands. If we may credit 
 the account given of the^e tribes by the Roman writers 
 of the period, their manners were savage, their habits of 
 life simple, but of a roving and predatory character. By 
 the Roman historians they are invariably styled — the 
 Barbarians. They cultivated not commerce, they built 
 not cities, they dwelt not in luxurious towns. Their abode 
 was the vast forest or plain, their occupation hunting and 
 war, their food the produce of the chase or the plunder 
 of war, their dress the skins of beasts and articles of the 
 rudest manufacture. Yet in their spirit was energy, in 
 their hearts a love of conquest and aggrandisement. 
 After having for ages in vain withstood the conquering 
 arms of Julius Caesar and other Roman commanders, they 
 in turn became the assailants. After the reign of Augus- 
 tus Caesar the military spirit of the Romans decayed, 
 their energy declined, their ambition was lost. The chief 
 people surrendered themselves to all the enervating eiFects 
 
184 THE FEUDAL SYSTEM. 
 
 of pleasure and luxury. No valorous chief led the army 
 in the field, no Cato or TuUy thundered alarm in the 
 Capitol; to summon the inhabitants to glory or even de- 
 fence : — they were rather found revelling in riot and de- 
 bauchery at home. No Porapey governed in Spain j no 
 Sallust was Praetor in Numidia. The race of the wise 
 and mighty had departed. The infection had reached the 
 common people, who were equally given up to indolence, 
 license, riot, debauchery, and sloth. In this state was 
 Eorae and the Romans, when the barbarians rose in the 
 north under Alaric, King or Chief of the Goths, descended 
 the Alps with the rapidity and force of the avalanche, 
 overthrew the empire, and possessed Rome. Then was 
 presented a scene the most unexampled the world ever 
 beheld. The chief or warrior who a few months before 
 held his counsels in a hut or wigwam on the banks of the 
 Danube or Rhine, was seated on the throne of the Csesars 
 —the herdsman of the forest inhabited the palaces of 
 Rome. The savage hid himself in the fine linen of the 
 Roman citizen — the barbarian covered himself with patri- 
 cian gold. The effeminate luxury of the Empire had 
 yielded all to the insatiate energy and ambition of the 
 North. 
 
 But even the nomadic tribes of central Europe found 
 the miseries and inconveniences of a wandering and pre- 
 datory life. The Saxons, Goths, and Scythians experienced 
 the comforts and enjoyments of a settled and stationary 
 life. They even grew weary of conquest, and knew the 
 hazard of warlike achievements. They therefore wished 
 to settle down upon some fixed and definite territory. 
 They determined to appropriate a place which they could 
 call their home, and to inhabit a country which they 
 could call their own. They saw the precarious subsistence 
 which awaited those who depended on the spontaneous 
 produce of the earth, and the greater riches which would 
 
THE FEUDAL SYSTEM. 185 
 
 accrue from a cultivation of the soil. They therefore 
 resolved on a stationary life. But this new life must 
 have order and laws. There must be a Head to whom 
 they should look up, a law or rule which they should obey. 
 The warrior or chief under whose guidance the tribe had 
 conquered and become powerful, was chosen Head of the 
 community, and Lord paramount of the soil. The lesser 
 warriors or captains were placed next in degree and 
 power. The people at large were in a state of vassalage 
 and dependence upon the Lord paramount and his Esquires 
 and Deputies. The Lord paramount built and fortified a 
 castle on some eligible spot in the domain. This castle 
 was used for the residence of the Lord and his family in 
 time of peace, and for the hospitable reception of his 
 retainers and dependents. But in time of war the castle 
 was the refuge and resort of all the inhabitants of the 
 domain. There they retired before the superior number 
 or power of the enemy, and were generally safe. Thence 
 arose the rights and duties of chief arrd people. The 
 chief owed to the people protection and security from 
 foreign enemies, as well as arbitration and counsel. The 
 people on the other hand owed the Lord suit and service 
 in time of war to repel the common enemy, and allegiance 
 at all times. For these purposes in time of peace the 
 vassals or people farmed and cultivated the domain for 
 their own benefit, paying to the Lord rent, suit, and ser- 
 vice. The Lord reserved for his own use a large tract in the 
 vicinity of his castle. Should any dispute arise between 
 the tenants or vassals respecting the ownership or cultiva- 
 tion of their respective tracts of the domain, or otherwise, 
 the Lord was arbiter or judge. Afterwards and in process 
 of time the Lord called bis chief dependents or vassals 
 to assist him in the arbitrament of his subjects' disputes. 
 These tribunals were subsequently called the Baron's 
 Court, or Court of the Manor, and were the only tribunals 
 of justice in tihe earlier period of the feudal society. The 
 
186 THE FEUDAL SYSTEM. 
 
 Lord presided, and was assisted by his principal tenants 
 or vassals. The Baron or Manorial Court was of the 
 utmost importance in those rude times, for there were 
 recorded all the transactions relating- to the land within 
 the manor; and there assembled all the tenants who had 
 rent, suit, or service to pay or r&nder, or who had com- 
 plaint to make of disturbance, injury, or grievance, from 
 a fellow tenant, or vassal. The decision of this court was 
 final, the disobedience of which was punished by heavy 
 fines, forfeitures, and disqualifications. 
 
 We thus see that the feudal society arose not more 
 from choice than from the necessity and circumstances of 
 the time. At this unsettled and warlike period, protection 
 was required for the tribe or clan from the enmity or 
 rapacity of neig-hbouring hordes. The tribe therefore 
 united under one common chief to defend their own terri- 
 tory and people, and when necessary, to make war on a 
 neighbouring' or distant community. Eule and internal 
 government were also necessary for the comfort and 
 security of the tribe itself. These were therefore the 
 circumstances which induced, or rather compelled the 
 various tribes or hordes of the barbarian population of 
 mediaeval Europe to enter the feudal society. And in 
 this manner sprung up, soon after the dissolution of the 
 Roman Empire, that vast net-work of feudal society, 
 which eventually extended itself from Cape Trafalgar to 
 the Euxine Sea, and from the Gulf of Bothnia to the 
 Pillars of Hercules. 
 
 It was among the vast forests and plains of Russia, 
 Hungary, Germany, and France, and by a people just 
 emerging from barbarism, that the feudal system arose, 
 and that about the fifth century of the Christian era; 
 thence it was carried by the Continental invaders into 
 their newly conquered territories. But in no country 
 
THE FEUDAL SYSTEM. 187 
 
 was the system more predominant; than in Gaul, or France, 
 whence it was carried by their Duke of Normandy, or 
 our William the Conqueror, after the battle of Hastings 
 in. the eleventh century into Britain, and was more rigor- 
 ously established here for the protection of the conquerors 
 and the subjection of the native races than it had ever 
 been in Normandy itself. The Conqueror parcelled out 
 all the richest parts of the territory among seven hundred . 
 of his Captains or warlike retainers, and erected each into 
 a Barony. The Barons rented a portion of their domains 
 to their Knights, which were denominated knights' fiefs, 
 and were 60,316 in number j — these again sub-let part of 
 their fiefs to. their Esquires. The cultivation of the soil 
 and all kind of manual labor were carried on by the vas- 
 sals, or villeins, who formed the mass of the people. 
 Each class owed rent, suit, and service to their superiors, 
 and the whole were subjeet to the Lord paramount, or 
 Sovereign, to whom the right to the soil of all the land 
 in his kingdom was reserved, and the herbage or surface 
 alone was granted to the Barons and their tenants, on 
 condition of yielding suit and service to the King, failing 
 which the land reverted to its original owner — the Lord 
 paramount. The wily Conqueror thus founded a super- 
 structure of government which proved impregnable to all 
 assaults from the vanquished races, and reared a cordon 
 of despotism strong and compact from withifl, and unas- 
 sailable from without. 
 
 The object of this superstructure being military 
 strength, each Norman Baron erected a stately castle 
 fortified by walls, towers, and, if available, a moat, on the 
 strongest site or position within his manor. Here the 
 Baron dwelt, with his domestics, and a chosen body of his 
 warlike vassals, who always bore arms, and watched and 
 were prepared by day and by night at any alarm to sally 
 forth to any summons of conquest or defence. In times 
 
188 THE FEUDAL SYSTEM. 
 
 of peace the chief occupation of the Baron and his prin- 
 cipal retainers was the chase, and the game on the manor 
 was preserved with the greatest care, and its destruction 
 guarded against hy the forest laws, which were the most 
 cruel of any enactments on record, inasmuch as the pun- 
 ishment for killing a deer or even a hare was the taking 
 out the eyes of the delinquent ; while at the same time 
 the punishment of homicide, or murder, was only a small 
 pecuniary fine, and when perpetrated by the Baron or 
 any of his retainers on an inferior vassal was seldom 
 enforced. In short, under this system there was then no 
 appeal or redress by an inferior for any crime or wrong 
 perpetrated by his superior in rank ; and the vassals, or 
 people at large, were in a state of the greatest subjection 
 and most abject slavery, inasmuch as the will and pleasure 
 of the superior liege formed the only law of the land. 
 
 It is certain that the feudal system after the Norman 
 model never existed among the Saxons in this island, or 
 on the continent of Europe, previously to the Norman 
 Conquest. Their Kings were mostly elected to the throne j 
 and the land was possessed principally by their military 
 chieftains, called Thanes. This order was at first confined 
 to military supremacy ; but in process of time successful 
 merchants and others who had acquired wealth were ad- 
 mitted into the rank. The Thanes resided in large irregu- 
 lar halls upon their estates, in a coarse but very hospitable 
 manner : their halls were said to be generally filled with 
 their neighbours and tenants, who spent their time in 
 feasting and riot. The great distinction between the 
 Anglo-Saxon nobility and the Norman, according to 
 William of Malmesbury, was, that the latter built magni- 
 ficent and stately castles ; whereas the former dwelt in 
 large but mean houses, and consumed tiieir immense 
 fortunes in riot and hospitality. Nevertheless this social 
 communion, combined with the hearty generosity and 
 
THE FEUDAL SYSTEM. 189 
 
 manners of the Saxon nobility, made them extremely 
 popular among^ their tenants and vassals, between whom 
 yas established a spontaneous and steady attachment. 
 The next in degree were called Ceorles, and were freemen. 
 These conducted most of the occupations on the land and 
 in trade; — they formed the most numerous class of the 
 Anglo-Saxon population, and enjoyed all the rights of 
 freemen, as these were understood in those times ; — they 
 had a voice in the national councils, served on juries in 
 the County and other Courts, and their rights and liberties 
 were protected, and generally enforced by fines against 
 each other, and even against their superiors. The Anglo- 
 Saxons rejoiced in their system of trial by jury, and 
 boasted it as their peculiar institution. It was also a law 
 among them that none should be tried except by his equals 
 in the government. These institutions, with the historical 
 open-heartedness of the Thanes and landed proprietors, 
 secured to the Ceorles or freemen as much of real liberty 
 and justice as those rude times might admit. 
 
 But the Saxon government is defaced by the odious 
 vice of slavery. The slaves were those whom they had 
 conquered in battle j and the Anglo-Saxons introduced 
 them into this island. They were household slavesj per- 
 forming menial duties, and predial or rustic slaves who 
 labored on the soil. The proprietors sold their slaves 
 with their estates, and they were regarded as chattels : 
 yet the master had not unlimited power over his slave, for 
 it was ordained that if he beat out his slave's eye or teeth, 
 he gained his liberty ; and if he killed him, he paid a fine 
 to the King. Yet, notwithstanding this protection, and 
 although the slaves were confined to races vanquished in 
 battle, yet the practice formed a dark stain on the Saxon 
 institutigns. 
 
 The government of the Ancient Britons, or Cymri, 
 
190 THE FEUDAL SYSTEM. 
 
 corresponded much with the Anglo-Saxorij except that 
 their King- was hereditary, arid that they were always 
 free from the odious institution of slavery. Sovereign 
 power was inherited among- the Cymri, according- to the 
 present rules of descent in Eng-land^ from whom it was 
 probably derived. The chief people were the Princes 
 or large land-proprietors, who dwelt in magnificent style, 
 and exercised unbounded hospitality in their halls upon 
 their estates. Here they received their retainers and 
 tenants, to whom they dispensed the greatest liberality :: 
 here also dwelt the Bards, Priests, and Literati of the 
 period — the Taliesins, Aneurins, and Dafydd ap Gwilyms 
 — in the enjoyment of the most profuse favors and pro- 
 tection from Iheir munificent patrons. Hence also the 
 spontaneous and faithful attachment of the whole to their 
 Princes, — as exemplified in the poems of the Bards, and 
 the warlike records of the Cymric nation. Besides the 
 Princes, were a large number of independent landowners 
 or Esq^uires distributed over the whole island. The great 
 mass of the people, as in every community, labored on the 
 land, or were employed in domestic and mercantile occu- 
 pations. Slavery or even abject servitude was unknown 
 among them : every class enjoyed the rights and exercised 
 the privileges of freemen, and seldom failed in obtaining" 
 redress for any crime or wrong. In their freedom from 
 slavery, and their full enjoyment of cinl rights and immu- 
 nities, the Cymri of ancient times formed a striking con- 
 trast with all the European nations. 
 
 The effects of the Norman Conquest varied altogether 
 as it respected the Anglo-Saxons and the Cymti» The 
 former were entirely subjected to> the feudal systein, and 
 their lands forfeited and parcelled out among the Norman 
 chiefs. The forest laws and other odious jmrts of the 
 feudal system were executed in all their rigor against the- 
 vanquished Saxon t hemce the sanguinary feuds and mor- 
 
THE FEUDAL SYSTEM. 191 
 
 tal enmity which for several centuries existed between 
 the Saxon and I^orman race. The former, repelled by 
 the feudal system from open war, retaliated by private 
 and secret murders and injuries upon their Norman op- 
 pressors : no Saxon impeaching-, the murder or crime was 
 never discovered, and the perpetrator unpunished. At 
 length the Normans, being decimated by this practice of 
 stealthy revenge, passed a law that every Saxon in the 
 parish should answer for every Norman found killed 
 within its limits. This law, which would have been rigor- 
 ously executed, at last suppressed the Saxon retaliation ; 
 nevertheless the hostility between the two races continued 
 for ages, and was only inflamed by the contempt and op- 
 pression of the Norman oil all occasions evinced. The 
 Cymri on the other hand remained free in their mountain 
 fastnesses and plains west bf the Severn and Dee,, and 
 unaffected by the Norman invasion and conquest. They 
 even rejoiced at the change, inasmuch as it supplanted a 
 foreign and adverse race — the Saxon — by a kindred and 
 more congenial people; for the Normans were Celts de- 
 scended from the same Cimbric origin,, and had many 
 qualities of mind and heart in common with the Ancient 
 Britons: whereas the characteristics of the Saxons, and 
 of the Teutonic race in general, were entirely opposite. 
 The Normans celebrated the anniversary feasts and 
 cherished the memory of the Cymric King Arthur of the 
 Eound Table, whose chivalric fame they regarded as much 
 their own as the Cymri, for he ruled the Celts of Gaul as 
 well as of Britain. The Cymri therefore looked on with 
 placidity and satisfaction at the mutual enmity and repri- 
 sals of Normans and Saxons, for they remained uncon- 
 quei'ed and unmolested in their upland homes. We find 
 them occasionally under their Princes making inroads 
 iilto England, and conqtiering and retaining much border 
 teiritory. The Norman Kings therefore established on 
 the Welsh borders the Lords-marchers, or Lords autho- 
 
192 THE FEUDAL SYSTEM. 
 
 rised to conquer and hold by the sword land in Wales ; 
 and erected a chain of castles and fortresses from Chester 
 throug-h Shrewsbury and Gloucester to Pembrokej for the 
 defence of the frontier, and the repression of sorties from 
 Wales. Hence the Grosvenors, De Greys, Cliffords, and 
 Mortimers of border chivalry. Hence also the border 
 wars between them and GrufFydd ap Conan, Owain 
 Gwynedd, Llewelyn, and other Princes of Wales, wherein 
 great courag-e and chivalry were displayed on both sides, 
 and seldom to the advantage of the Norman. At last, 
 after ages of bloodshed and war, and repeated failures, 
 the subjection of the Principality was accomplished, a.d. 
 1283, by Edward the First, who, to extinguish the last 
 embers of patriotic fire, massacred upwards of one hundred 
 Welsh Bards, in addition to many Cymi'ic Princes. But 
 the Cymri were still discontented and given to insurrec- 
 tion, until a monarch of their own Tudor blood was placed 
 on the British throne in the person of Henry the Seventh, 
 A.D. 1485. Henceforward they became more reconciled 
 to the larger and dominant race, and at length subsided 
 into peaceful submission and attechment to the British 
 throne and laws. 
 
 But to return to the feudal system strictly so called, 
 we find the Lords and Barons were all-powerful within 
 their dominions, and had the power of giving or taking 
 away the life, liberty, and property of their retainers and 
 vassals. They often made war upon each other, the con- 
 sequences of which were frequently awful in the streams of 
 blood which flowed, and the murder, rapine, and spoliation 
 which ensued. Evidences of these internal wars are seen 
 in the ruined castles and dismantled towers which cover 
 our own country and the contiaent of Europe. The 
 Barons would frequently league together, and make war 
 upon the King or Sovereign, in which they often tri- 
 umphed. A remarkable instance of this is found in 
 
THE FEUDAL SYSTEM. 193 
 
 Eng-lish History, when the Barons joined in opposing- 
 King- John, and wrested from him Mag-na Charta at 
 Runnymede. The De Veres, Bohuns, Mowbrays, Ne- 
 villes, Howards, Percys, and Somersets often oversha- 
 dowed their sovereign lieges in England; while the 
 powerful families of Douglas and Scott for ages held the 
 Kings of Scotland in awe. The Kings and Sovereigns 
 were more in fear and had greater apprehensions of the 
 feudal Barons, than from the mass of their subjects, and 
 were therefore often completely obsequious to their wills. 
 But ever and anon would arise an Edward or a James, 
 who, defying the enmity of the feudal chiefs, diminished 
 their powers and restrained their excesses. Yet this was 
 never done, or even attempted, without the greatest 
 opposition and danger, and never but by a brave and 
 formidable Prince. 
 
 Each of the great Barons kept a Court, and indulged 
 in a style of pageantry corresponding in an inferior degree 
 to that of Royalty, of which he occasionally affected in- 
 dependence. When the great Earl Warrenne was ques- 
 tioned respecting the right to his vast land possessions, 
 he drew his sword, saying that was his title, and that 
 William did not himself conquer England, but that his 
 ancestor with the rest of the Barons were joint adventur- 
 ers in the enterprise. As the Barons were so powerful, 
 the Sovereign never made war or undertook any other 
 great enterprise without first convoking and consulting 
 them, as their co-operation was necessary to his success. 
 In fact, such was their position in the realm, that no 
 change in the laws or government, nor any great act of 
 administration, could be accomplished without their advice 
 and consent. Hence they formed with the ecclesiastical 
 hierarchy, the sole and supreme legislative council of the 
 Sovereign. Independently of the necessity for their ad- 
 vice and co-operation in national enterprises, the Sove- 
 
194 THK FEUDAL SYSTEM, 
 
 reign waa desirous of convoking the Barons to his coun- 
 cils at stated periods, as a badge of fealty, and to remind 
 them of their allegiance to Royalty ; which in the auto- 
 cratic retirement of their castles, and the solitude of their 
 manors, they were prone to forget. Whensoever any 
 of the Barons rebelled against the royal authority, the 
 Sovereign assembled the other Barons to assist him in 
 suppressing the mutiny. If on the other hand any Baron 
 should be unable to repel the encroachments of a neigh- 
 bor, he appealed to the Sovereign as the supreme liege 
 for help to resist and punish the aggression, which with 
 the aid of other chieftains was generally granted. The 
 Sovereign therefore stood in the same relation to the 
 Barons of the whole realm, as they individually to their 
 vassals, the feudal theory being, that all land was held 
 ultimately from the Sovereign in return for military and 
 other services, failing which it reverted to the Crown.^ 
 
 The Barons, as may be supposed, exercised unlimited 
 power within their domains, as the Sovereign never inters 
 posed in questions between the Lord and his vassals, so 
 long as the chief rendered the services required by the 
 Crown. Hence the power of each Baron was absolute 
 within his dominions ; and from his acts there was no 
 appeal, much less redress. He even aifected Royalty by 
 obliging his principal vassals to give attendance upon him, 
 in like manner as he and the other Barons paid court to 
 the King, and by establishing Courts and Judges of his 
 own to administer justice to his vassals. In short, every 
 Barony was a miniature Kingdom, with an army of re- 
 tainers, a train of officials, and other insignia of State 
 ^andeur corresponding with the wealth and power of the 
 chief. To maintain this condition, the Baron was under 
 the necessity of raising a large revenue from his Baronyj 
 and as a great display of power was essential for the 
 chief, his exactions from the vassals and all within his 
 
THE FEUDAL SYSTEM. 195 
 
 power were consequently heavy. This revenue was ob- 
 tained from heriotSj fines, and tolls; which being' arbitrary, 
 the amount depended on the want which called it forth, 
 or on the conscience of the chief. A heriot of the best 
 horse, or certain head of cattle, or a fine of so many 
 marks, were payable to the Baron on the marriag-e or 
 death of his vassal, and on each fresh succession to the 
 fief. These exactions were not confined to the immediate 
 vassals and villains, but extended to the whole population 
 within the limits of the Barony. The towns were in this 
 era small, consisting principally of villages, which, as 
 they were situate within some Barony, were equally sub- 
 jected to fiscal burdens. These, in addition to heavy fines 
 demanded for any building, liberty, or encroachment qn 
 the manor, consisted of tolls and duties imposed on the 
 exportation or importation of g-oods, and on the sale of 
 horses, cattle, or stock which, to increase the revenue, 
 were prohibited being sold outside the vills, or except in 
 the fairs and markets there licensed to be held, whereupon 
 the tolls attached. By this means the Baron raised a 
 considerable revenue to support his power and state. But 
 as the Baron was more hostile to the trading community 
 or the population of towns, than to his own military vas- 
 sals and tenants on the soil, as being less serviceable to 
 his warlike power, and more antagonistic to, and discon- 
 tented with his seignioral privileges, — he imposed on the 
 former heavier fiscal burdens, and spared no opportunity 
 of oppressing them with the most odious extortions. The 
 military and mercantile spirits have always been antago- 
 nistic and hostile, and the germs of that great conflict 
 which has since existed, and in recent times been so 
 grandly developed between the two elements, are plainly 
 discernible in this era — the cradle of its history. 
 
 But as the boroughs increased, the towns multiplied, 
 and commerce extended, an antagonistic principle or ele- 
 
196 THE FEUDAL SYSTEM. 
 
 meut to the powers and privileges of the feudal nobility 
 grew up. The reig'ning- power having- so much cause for 
 dread of the Barons, was desirous of conciliating- the 
 burg-her nobility, or the population of towns, and from 
 time to time made larg-e concessions or grants in their 
 favor. This was done as much to foster a rival power or 
 influence to the feudal nobility, as to win over the towns 
 to the interest of the King-. These grants consisted in 
 charters of incorporation, that the towns might be freed 
 from the rule of the landed nobility, and might accomplish 
 their own government j and grants of fairs, and markets, 
 and tolls, as well as the rights of representation in parlia- 
 ment. Thus in times past the Kings of Britain were 
 ohen in friendlier alliance with the towns and burgher 
 nobility, than with the feudal Barons and landed aristo- 
 cracy. By this means the power and privileges of the 
 feudal nobility, which up to the fifteenth century were 
 nearly absolute and uncontrollable, were much reduced, 
 and are in the present reign nearly taken away. This 
 result has been owing almost entirely to the growing 
 importance, influence, and intelligence of the burgher or 
 trading population. It is thus that in political society as 
 in nature and the material world, results are accomplished 
 by the antagonistic operation and conflict of rival or op- 
 posing principles, elements, or influences. 
 
 The other great influence which counteracted the feudal 
 spirit from an earlier period, and mitigated its severities, 
 was religion, or the Church. This was natural and inevi- 
 table; for the overwhelming influence of religion over the 
 human mind in all ages and nations is the universal de- 
 duction of history. It appears to strike its root even the 
 deeper, in proportion to the strength and ruggedness of 
 the mind on which it operates, as plants are more luxu- 
 riant from the rankness of the soil where they grow. The 
 fulminations of Sinai or the dulcet harps of Zion have 
 
THE FEUDAL SYSTEM. 197 
 
 seldom failed in moving* the heart of man^ and exciting- 
 its tenderest and best emotions. We find this verified 
 even in the darkest times, and among- the most ferocious 
 nations. Clovis, Charlemange, and William of Normandy- 
 are magnificent illustration^. The first, from being one 
 of the most ruthless and savage warriors and conquerors 
 at the head of the Franks ever known in history, no 
 sooner heard the preaching' of the Gospel through the 
 instrumentality of his wife Clotilda, than he immediately 
 embraced its truths, and by the most abject humility and 
 self-denying' sacrifices for the remainder of his life endea- 
 vored to atone for his past cruelties. His great successor, 
 Charlemange, less barbarous and with higher capabilities, 
 at the head of his Germans vanquished continental Europe 
 after innumerable and ferocious wars ; yet succumbed his 
 lofty spirit to the influence of Christianity, and prepared 
 by his sword a way for its missionaries. We also find 
 that William the Conqueror, by the deepest penitence and 
 remorse, and by large munificence to the Church, sought 
 to make recompense for the cruelties and excesses of his 
 reign. 
 
 It was therefore inevitable that in the middle ages the 
 influence of the Church should operate on the feudal 
 Barons, and soften the rigors of their power. In the 
 vicinity of the Baronial castle arose a village, whose in- 
 habitants were generally dependent on the Lord. In the 
 village sprung up a church and a pastor. The village 
 Priest generally ministered to the inmates of the castle, 
 as well as to the inhabitants of the hamlet ; and as learn- 
 ing, or even the rudiments of scholarship, were then con- 
 fined to the clergy, the religious minister was also the 
 secretary, teacher, and counsellor of the Baronial family. 
 He thus acquired influence and mastery over the youth 
 and age of the circle, and seldom failed to seize the ad- 
 vantage in imbuing them with his benign creed. Hence 
 
198 THE FEtJDAL SYSTEM. 
 
 the contrast presented in those ag'es between the chieftain 
 in the camp and field^ where he was all vig'or and ferocity, 
 and in his own hall, where he displayed many virtues of 
 the christian life. Hence also the g-enerally milder 
 character of the heir apparent and future wielder of the 
 Baronial power, than of the sire. To this source we may 
 also in a great measure ascribe the diminishing* severity 
 of each succeeding Baron, and the much more humane 
 and improved conduct and manners of the late than early 
 chieftains. 
 
 But this is reg'arding' relig-ion in its private and spon- 
 taneous, yet in its best influence, in subduing- the rigors of 
 the feudal chiefs. It had a separate, more worldly, but yet 
 powerful influence in the Church. Constantine the Great 
 made the Church (which was previously a voluntary and 
 spontaneous association of christian people) a national and 
 compulsory institution, and a fundamental part of the 
 imperial fabric : he added it to the Roman Empire ; suc- 
 ceeding Emperors maintained itj and it became a prepon- 
 derating influence in the State. It was feared that after 
 the irruption of the Barbarians and their conquest of the 
 Empire, although private belief and individual creeds 
 might remain and be preserved, yet the Church as a 
 political element and fabric would inevitably fall and 
 perish in the imperial ruin. But in this the anticipations 
 of men failed ; for we find that the Goths, Vandals, and 
 Scythians were equally susceptible of the influence of the 
 religion of Christ, which many of them and especially 
 their chieftains embraced, and often aided its progress 
 ■with the sword. We also find that as soon as the barbar- 
 ian conquest of Rome settled into distinct nationalities 
 and governments, the powers followed the example of the 
 great Constantine, and added religion to the State, and 
 constituted the Church a political fabric. In this manner, 
 before and at the commencement of the middle ages. 
 
THE FEUDAL SYSTEM. 199 
 
 every European state had its National Church. This 
 polity existed equally in Britain, where the Church be- 
 came a rich and powerful corporation, often rivalling and 
 occasionally transcending the feudal Barons in wealth, 
 dignities, and influence. The Prelates of the Church 
 were by law Barons of the realm. Anselm, in the reigns 
 of William Rufus and the first Henry, — Thomas a Becket, 
 in that of the second, — both Archbishops of Canterbury, 
 and Cardinal Wolsey, in the reign of Henry the Eighth, 
 are illustrations of the great wealth, power, and dignity 
 which the ecclesiastical hierarchy from time to time 
 enjoyed in this country. 
 
 The extensive wealth and influence of the Church exci- 
 ted the jealousy and enmity of the feudal Barons, between 
 whom were continual disputes, which sometimes led to 
 violence and war. In th^ir pmgfess we find the Bishops 
 and dignitaries of the Church occasionally substitute the 
 mitre by the helmet, and the crosier for the sword, and 
 rivalling the feudal chieftains in their military exploits. 
 We also find the Church generally allied with Royalty or 
 the sovereigft' power in their differences with the feudal 
 Baronsj but occasionally with the latter in curbing the 
 royal prerogative and power. The Church generally cast 
 its influence into the scale of either power which might 
 happen to be weakest, and for the purpose of counterba- 
 lancing the opposite power from which there was greatest 
 apprehension and dread of usurpation and wrong. The 
 ecclesiastical influence and power were also much courted 
 and cherished in general by the Kings and Queens of 
 Britain, as a support to themselves, and a restraint on 
 the feudal cbiefsj an<J tbey often, when practicable, seized 
 opportunities of enriching the ecclesiastical order, and 
 adding" to their powe?. The Chtif cb also sometimes lent 
 its aid and influence to the popular triumph and cause. 
 
SOO THE FEUDAL SYSTEM. 
 
 It is, therefore, evident that the feudal system met 
 with much antagonism and counteraction from the 
 Church, and that its rig-ors were much diminished in con- 
 sequence. The beneficial effects which followed were not 
 always owing- to the purest motives, or the benevolence of 
 the Church; but more frequently from the desire of main- 
 taining its own privileges and wealth. But the results to 
 the nation and its liberties were the same as if the eccles- 
 iastical hierarchy had been actuated by higher motives 
 and a purer spirit ; and the well-being of the community, 
 was equally promoted. 
 
 The Church and the boroughs, in conjunction with 
 the royal power, therefore served to subdue the feudal 
 spirit, and restrain and diminish the powers and privile- 
 ges of its chiefs. 
 
 The effects of the Commonwealth under Cromwell must 
 also have struck fatally at the rigors of the feudal system, 
 in common with many other oppressions, from which they 
 never revived. The spirit of the Commonwealth was 
 d.eeply hostile to all kinds of ancient tyrrany ; and as the 
 feudal law was one of the greatest, it received a serious 
 check. The genius of Puritanism rebelled against the 
 feudal distinctions, as the spirit of liberty which was then 
 triumphant overcame its oppressions. The Baron could 
 no longer at the sound of his horn assemble his ferocious 
 retinue of vassals and retainers, to march to the conquest 
 of political foes, or the suppression of uprising liberty. 
 The Knight could no more ride abroad in his panoply of 
 steel, feared and unopposed by a rabble of villeins and 
 serfs. The spirit of the nation was aroused to its inmost 
 depths in the great struggle for emancipation, and states- 
 men and warriors arose from its lowest estates. The 
 popular Fairfax overcame the princely Eupert ; while the 
 great Commoner — Cromwell — overthrew Royalty itself. 
 
THE FEUDAL SYSTEM. iSOl 
 
 Chivalrj' had to surrender its crest at Newbury, Marston 
 Moor, and Naseby, to popular bravery and relig-ious zeal. 
 The ancient order of things was entirely chang-ed, and 
 new institutions everywhere took its place, founded on the 
 democratic power. Brewers and butchers now occupied 
 the seats in the Senate formerly held by Barons and 
 Knig-hts; while Fleetwood and Harrison commanded the 
 army of Manchester and Essex. No g-reater contrast 
 existed than that of the Puritan captain with his skull 
 cap, buff coat, and leather buskins, and the Cavalier with 
 plumed hat; velvet cloak, and silk hose. Not more oppo- 
 site were they in character than attire : the former a 
 grave, stern, austere, g-loomy, and relig-ious democrat ; 
 the latter a g-ay, lively, free-thinking", licentious, and 
 haughty aristocrat : the first was the impersonation of 
 religious faith and prowess ; the last of feudal pride. It 
 was therefore inevitable, that in the course of that great 
 struggle between the two elements whieh ended in the 
 triumph of the popular cause and the establishment of the 
 Commonwealth, feudal arrogance and oppres^sion received 
 a fatal shock. 
 
 The leading principle or idea embodied in the feudal 
 system was that of a head, or chief, with dependence by 
 the vassals and retainers. The same principle pervades 
 our laws and institutions, and is in a great measure the 
 fruit or effect of the feudal polity. Among other instances 
 of its operation we may mention the law of primog'enittire, 
 the object being to create a family chief. The property 
 qualifications necessary for parliamentary rights and re- 
 presentation, for the magistracy, and other' stations of 
 power and dignity, are illustrations of the same effedti 
 The Peers sit and vote in the Upper House of Parlianient 
 as Barons of the Realm ; while the Members for counties 
 in the other House are returned as EnigMs of the Shire ; 
 and the Judges of the latid are designated Barons of the 
 
202 THE FEUDAL SYSTEM. 
 
 Exchequer, or Knig-hts' Justices ; and the parliamentary 
 Members for boroug-hs are styled Burgesses, — thus still 
 retaining- their feudal distinctions. The preponderance 
 everywhere g-iven to property in land, over wealth in 
 money, trade, or other moveable goods, is a result of the 
 same policy. Indeed it may be said, that the leading 
 principles which govern property in this Kingdom, have 
 their main origin and foundation in the feudal system j 
 although the legislation of the last half century has done 
 much to abolish the enormities with which it was thereto- 
 fore disfigured. 
 
 But it may be asked, what were the effects of the sys- 
 tem which we have briefly sketched ? Were they good 
 or evil? Did they advance or retard human society and 
 civilization ? These are difficult and important questions, 
 in the solution of which probably few will entirely agree. 
 
 That the feudal state was rendered necessary by the 
 circumstances of the period, we have, we think, sufficiently 
 shown. That its influence has been in some respects 
 beneficial is also incontestible. The predominant fea- 
 ture of the feudal dominion was force — physical force ; 
 and this was the only one suited and practicable for the 
 barbarian population of Europe in the middle centuries. 
 Reason and right were terms unknown and foreign to the 
 masses then emerging from uncivilized life. Force was 
 their own law, and by this must they themselves have 
 been ruled. The Baron or Lord, in enforcing the severi- 
 ties of the feudal code, therefore instructed his vassals in 
 a vocabulary which they understood j he governed them 
 by the only suitable rod. To have addressed them as 
 citizens, and moral and accountable beings, and to have 
 explained to them their duties and rights from a descrip- 
 tion of the nature, condition, and destinies of man, would 
 have been to have spoken to them in an unknown tongue 
 — in a language they could not have understood. 
 
tHE FEUDAL SYSTEM. 208 
 
 Moreover, the very relation in which the vassals stood 
 to their Lord, and the services and duties which they 
 were compelled to perform, taug-ht them obedience! — 
 trained them to docility and submission. It induced them 
 to reflect on others than themselves, — to reg-ard the wants 
 and rigfhts of others beside their own. This was a g-reat 
 point gained in subduing* and training' the barbarian just 
 leaving" his roving- life in the forest or on the mountain. 
 This was a step to further improvement, and to a milder 
 and more rational rule; by this he was trained for a 
 gentler g-overnment, and better laws. 
 
 The feudal institutions g-ave birth to chivalry, which 
 exercised so predominant a sway throug-h the middle 
 ages, and in what lig-ht soever it is regarded, was bene- 
 ficial in its influences. It conjures up to our mind the 
 brilliant scenes and magnificent achievements of the pe- 
 riod, whether viewed in the enchanting pages of romance, 
 or the more sober records of history. It brings before 
 our minds the mail-clad warrior dispensing refined hospi- 
 tality in his armor-hung hall, to a princely retinue of 
 retainers and guests, or mounted on his fiery steed, pres- 
 sing forward to the mortal encounters of honor. The 
 Knight is equally interesting, whether we look at him 
 armed to avenge in single combat the maiden's dishonor 
 or orphan's wrong, or we follow him into the stately tour- 
 nament, there to encounter in the perilous and sometimes 
 fatal lists. In either case we see displayed the highest 
 qualities of man — courage, honor, dignity, fidelity, skill, 
 and manly strength. We find the same characteristics 
 accompany him into the tented field, where amidst hills 
 of carnage, and at the close of a doubtful day, the bleed- 
 ing knight contends bravely under the shadow of the red- 
 eross banner. The crusades were a magnificent effect of 
 the religious aspiration of chivalry, whatsoever opinion 
 may now be formed of the policy of those great contests. 
 
i304 THE FEUDAL SYSTEM. 
 
 No sig-ht more glorious can be imagined than the chivalry 
 of the West marching triumphantly through the heart of 
 Europe to avenge the wrongs and indignities of the Cross 
 upon the Infidel, and contend against four-fold odds under 
 the walls of Antioch and Jerusalem, to recover the Holy 
 Sepulchre from the pollution of Moslem hands. Whatso- 
 ever opinion the sober philosophy of history may now 
 pronounce on these great wars, they were dictated by the 
 highest aspirations, and ennobled by the most heroic 
 actions, and they stand out nobly on the headlands of the 
 past as monuments of human grandeur. 
 
 Although we have only viewed the institution of chi- 
 valry in its outward and more attractive aspects, yet it 
 inculcated a high code of personal morality, very benefi- 
 cial in the feudal ages. In this era the law was feeble, 
 and its administration so often fruitless, that the greatest 
 restraint on power, and the best security for the rights of 
 individuals, and more especially of the weak, was personal 
 honor ; and this in its highest sense was generally char- 
 acteristic of the barons and knights. They as frequently 
 armed to redress the wrongs of the weak as to avenge 
 their own personal injuries. The maiden's wail, the or- 
 phan's cry, were to them the most potent spring of action 
 for the most fatal rencontres. The faithless knight who 
 might happen to injure virgin purity, or oppress unarmed 
 and defenceless people, roused the resentment of the whole 
 order of chivalry, and was pursued from castle to cloister, 
 and from land to land, till his blood atoned for his lust or 
 cruelty. Chivalry inculcated upon its members the high- 
 est honor, fidelity, truth, and justice ; and in the absence 
 of strong public law, administered equally with a power- 
 ful and impartial hand, formed the best code of law and 
 morals in the feudal times* We find examples of faithless 
 barons and recreant knights, as there are exceptions to 
 every rule, and blots upon every picture; yet in the main 
 
THE FEUDAL SYSTEM. 205 
 
 tlie very code in which they were instructed, and the 
 habits which they acquired had a most beneficial influence 
 in the formation of their characters, and furnished many 
 illustrious examples of human virtue, and public renown. 
 
 The feudal system was, moreover, fertile of the military 
 spirit, and this in its fullest vi^or was necessary for the 
 defence of the nation, as well as of individuals, in the 
 dark ag'es. The feudal polity was first established by the 
 sagacious Conqueror, as a military structure to overawe 
 the vanquished Saxon ; and thoug'h its rigor became re- 
 laxed in after reigns, yet its very existence rested on 
 military organization, and the education of the soldier 
 was its chief aim ; the cultivation of the soil and the pur- 
 suits of commerce, being regarded as secondary and in- 
 ferior occupations, and were treated with disdain by the 
 feudal chiefs. Hence the universal predominance of mil- 
 itary power and rank in the middle ages, and their mono- 
 poly of distinction and wealth. Hence also the paucity 
 of mercantile greatness in those times. 
 
 As the martial discipline and organization of his retain- 
 ers and vassals was necessary to the supremacy of the 
 Baron, so the co-operative forces of the Barons were neces- 
 sary for the maintenance of the throne, and the safety of 
 the kingdom. The former was in continual peril from 
 domestic ambition and discord, and the latter from foreign 
 foes. A Montfort and a Neville, a P«rcy and a Douglas, 
 were only restrained from subverting the royal power, and 
 grasping the sceptre in their own hands, by the support 
 given by the other Barons to the sovereign^-'evinced on 
 many a well-fought field. The invasion of the kingdom 
 by continental armies, was only prevented by the confed- 
 erate array of the King and his Barons. 
 
 In the ab^Bce of that division of employmeat which 
 85 
 
80 THE FEUDAL SYSTEM. 
 
 in modern times produced a standing' array^ the feudal 
 org-auization with its martial aspect alone supplied the 
 nation with its defence, ^o sooner did the Frank or 
 Northman display his banner on the wave, for the con- 
 quest of Britain, than hill signalled hill, from Devon to 
 the Orkneys, to summon the united Barons to the defence 
 of the realm. With such alacrity was the alarm obeyed, 
 that before a hostile flag could be planted on the headlands 
 of the island, the enemy was driven into the sea, or to 
 the refuge of his ships ; leaving full many behind to attest 
 the folly of the expedition. Not less ready were the feu- 
 dal chiefs to follow the British ensign into foreign wars, 
 there to sustain the glory of its fame. Poictiers and 
 Azincour, Steinkirk and Landen, Bamilies and Blen- 
 heim, witnessed the heroic prowess of English chivalry on 
 their hard-fought fields, while the terrible charge of the 
 British infantry passed into the proverbs of those lands. 
 From this system sprang an Essex and a Raleigh, a 
 Chandos and a Churchill,, with other great captains of the 
 British hosts, who, by the military organization and dis- 
 cipline which it afforded to the nation, were enabled 
 during the reigns of the Plantagenets, the Tudors, and 
 the Stuarts to preserve our soil inviolate from a foreign 
 foe, and to force entire Europe into respect and homage 
 of the British name. 
 
 It is also true that the Baron, his family, domestics, and 
 retainers, were in this era the only persons who possessed 
 any scholarship, learning, or even good manners. The 
 interior of the castle was graced with beauty, order, and 
 comparative refinement. There letters and learning were 
 sought after, if not largely acquired. Good manners and 
 regularity prevailed. The Baron himself spent much of 
 Lis time in the bosom of his family, and must have been 
 improved in the gentler circle which there assembled. He 
 for a time lost the bluntness and ferocity of his warlike 
 
THE FEUDAL SYSTEM. 207 
 
 life. A prie&tj or minister of religion, was also g-eneruUy 
 an appendage of the castle ; and his profession^ being- an 
 improving, learned, and pacific one, must have acted 
 beneficially on those with whom he associated. The in- 
 struction and example of the inmates of the castle must 
 therefore have been beneficial to the whole feudal society 
 around : to which may be added the historical fact that 
 after the introduction of the feudal system, and by the 
 sanction and encouragement of the Barons, were compiled 
 the only literary works of the period of which we have 
 any account. In the solitudes of the baronial castle 
 were composed the only chronicles of that era which have 
 descended to us. Within the walls of the castellated abode 
 generally dwelt the priests, bards, and other literati of the 
 time ; where they had leisure and encouragement to pur- 
 sue their avocations ; and thence issued forth their chro- 
 nicles, poems, and productions. These influences must, 
 therefore, have tended greatly to the civilization and im- 
 provement of the whole feudal society. 
 
 On the other hand, we must not overlook the fact that 
 the feudal state was decidedly hostile to general freedom 
 — its very nature militated against general liberty — its 
 existence was inconsistent with progress and the spread of 
 freedom and intelligence. The continuance and influence 
 of the feudal dominion depended on the passive submission 
 of all the inhabitants of the domain. Every manifestation 
 of discontent or uneasiness on the part of the latter was, 
 therefore, watched by the chief with a jealous eye ; every 
 attempt at disobedience was punished with severity. The 
 chief warded off all principles dangerous to his own mon- 
 opoly of power. All struggles for general liberty were 
 crushed with an unrelenting hand. The great and only 
 desire of the Baron was to perpetuate the then existing 
 system. Every attempt at amelioration was alike inimical 
 to his wishes and power. 
 
208 THE FEUDAL SYSTEM. 
 
 The feudal dominion was also extremely prejudicial to 
 the nation in the inveterate hostility which it manifested 
 to commerce, agriculture, and productive industry. Mili- 
 tary power and streng'th being- its chief aim, all pursuits 
 which tended to divert the people from martial exercises 
 and display were discourag-ed by the feudal chiefs. Hence 
 the cultivation and improvement of the soil was but feebly 
 prosecuted, while the pursuits of commerce and mercan- 
 tile enterprise were opposed and repressed, from a suspicion 
 of their antag'onism to the feudal dominion. The Baron 
 delig-hted in extensive chases, and parks studded with 
 trees, and covered with brushwood, where g-ame might 
 take refug-ej and in vast forests and barren uplands, 
 where the deer and the hare mig-ht wander undisturbed j 
 while the furrow of the corn-field and the hedg-e-row were 
 restricted to the smallest dimensions consistent with the 
 necessities of the population of the manor. The hound 
 was more valued than the sheep-dog- ', the fowling'-piece 
 than the sickle j while herds of wild deer browsing- the 
 slopes were more estimated than the oxen on the plain. 
 The huntsman and g-amekeeper held higher rank than the 
 ploughman and reaper ; while all the prizes of ambition 
 lay open to martial enterprise alone. 
 
 But to none was the hostility of tbe feudal chiefs more 
 rancorous than to the pursuits of commerce. The most 
 odious of sights was the tall chimney of a manufactory 
 peering through the oak and elm of the chase ; while the 
 pollution of mills and workshops on the banks of pellucid 
 streams was not to be borne. The mines of the mountain 
 were closed, lest their produce might destroy the salmon 
 and trout of the rivers ; while houses and ships were left 
 unbuilt, that the forests be not denuded of their stately 
 timber. 
 
 The hostility of the feudal chiefs to mercantile progress 
 
THE FEUDAL SYSTEM. S09 
 
 Was the more inveterate, from a feeling' and knowleg'e 
 of its antag-oiiism to their own irresponsible power. Every 
 manufactoiy which was set up bore a brow of hostility to 
 the castle ; while every town was in feud with the manor* 
 In every war or tumult the towns and commercial villag-es 
 rang-ed their forces in opposition to the Baron and his 
 clan ; and whensoever an opportunity offered for suppress- 
 sing" and subverting^ the feudal dominion and privileges, 
 the mercantile community never failed to raise the axe 
 and strike at their root. 
 
 The Barons, therefore^ manifested the utmost dislike 
 and hostility to the progress of manufactures and towns * 
 Seldom could a fitting site for a village or manufactory be 
 found except within the limits of a manor ; and the lord, 
 if he even conceded the liberty for the erection, never fail- 
 ed to burden the grant with exorbitant rents and exactions, 
 and to fetter it with the m6st oppressive restrictions. 
 These grants would never have been made, Only for the 
 temptation of gold. The feudal chiefs werCj from their 
 ostentatious power and display, mostly podr ; and in ex* 
 change for a high rent or large purchase money, they 
 were induced to grant tracts of land to the manufacturer 
 and merchant, whose money capital was the only bait for 
 the cupidity of the proprietor. Hence, from the reign of 
 Edward the First onwardSj the conflict of capital represen- 
 ting commerce, and territorial interest representing the 
 lords of the soiL The former power, feeble at first, grew 
 steadily under the more favorable reigns of succeeding 
 monarchs, and in modern times has made sttch strides, as 
 to equalj if not surpass^ the ancient dominioii of the fief. 
 
 Moreover, the excessive power of the Barons Was full of 
 danger to the peace and security of the realm. Where 
 the dominion and government of the mass of the people 
 were in so few hands^ the peril of the fiation was ^eat 
 
SIO THE FEUDAL SYSTEM. 
 
 from the discontent or ambition of one or more of the 
 chiefs. A Mowbray, Bohun, Mortimer, or Clifford, could 
 at the head of his clan disarrange the affairs of the entire 
 king-dora, and plunge the nation into war. This danger 
 was also increased from the turbulent disposition of the 
 Barons. The feudal chiefs dwelt apart in the strongholds 
 of their castles, and the solitude of their manors, and 
 exercised unlimited dominion and sovereignty over the 
 inhabitants of their domains. Their mode of life and 
 irresponsible power generated an independence and insub- 
 ordination which could ill brook restraint or abridgment 
 even from the sovereign, setting aside from another chief- 
 tain, and which often broke out in open rebellion, defying 
 even the power of the crown. Hence the insurrection of 
 a Leicester, a Warwick, and a Northumberland, which 
 required the utmost force of the sovereign and his confed- 
 erate Barons to subdue. Hence also the intestine com- 
 motions and civil wars which were so prevalent in the 
 feudal ages, and which from time to time paralysed the 
 progress of the nation, and occasioned the sacrifice of in- 
 numerable lives. 
 
 The feudal dominion vs'as, in the last place, very unfavor- 
 able to art, science, and discovery. Its chiefs had little 
 leisure from foreign wars and domestic tumult for their 
 prosecution, and had less inclination to encourage their 
 promotion by others. Their attention was absorbed in 
 schemes of territorial aggrandisement and political in- 
 trigue, as to devote little time to the improvement of the 
 mind. The only learning which they patronised was the 
 mummeries of monkish superstition and priestly adulation. 
 True science was neglected, or even discouraged. We do 
 not find one name throughout the dark and stormy reigns 
 of the Plantagenets which may rank in the first class of 
 scientific merit. We must descend to the Tudors before 
 we meet with any light to dispel the Egyptian darkness 
 which enveloped science. It was the reign of the virgin 
 
THE FEUDAL SYSTEM. 211 
 
 Queen Elizabeth which waa embellished by that g'alaxy 
 of illustrious stars iu the firmament of discoveryj which 
 mapped out new and more useful paths for investig-ation, 
 and will shed everlasting light upon science. It was in 
 this epoch when the feudal dominion had been shorn of 
 much or most of its pristine g"lory, and when commerce 
 and manufactures were encouraged, and the liberty of the 
 subject was more secure — that a Bacon, a Raleigh, a Cam- 
 den, and a Davis, arose to delight and bless mankind with 
 their magnificent discoveries. The paths shadowed out 
 by these great names were afterwards pursued under still 
 more auspicious reigns, throughout which we find a joint 
 alliance and equal progress between mercantile grandeur 
 and civil freedom, and their hand-maiden science. In 
 these latter times we meet with a Newton, a Davy, a Watt, 
 and a Stephenson, whose discoveries and works have yoked 
 matter to accomplish the purposes of man, and made the 
 elements tributary to his designs. It is likewise more 
 than probable that had the human mind in modern times 
 not emancipated itself from feudal servility and thraldom, 
 Britain and the world would have been deprived of these 
 universal blessings, and our own glorious island would at 
 pi-esent hold little or no higher rank in Europe than be- 
 nighted Spain, or the Italian peninsula. 
 
 Now that the pomp, glory, and circumstance of the 
 feudal state have, passed away, we may leisurely look back 
 on its history, contemplate its features, and observe its 
 effects and tendencies. In this retrospect we are encou- 
 raged by the better condition of the age in which we live, 
 and the brightening prospects of the future. But in all 
 our inquiries and wanderings let us never forget that man 
 has in all ages been inconstant, and human nature imper- 
 fect, and that the best of all institutions are probably those 
 which approximate the laws that Solon gave t« the 
 Athenians; who said, "My laws are not the best ones pos- 
 sible, but they are the best which the Athenians can V-ear." 
 
iVill be Published as soon as Subscribers for 300 copies ore obiairted, in one Volume 
 Demy 8vo., Price 12s., 
 
 THE WELSH WOEKS OF lEUAN PKTDYDD HIE, 
 
 (Barddoniaeth, Fregethau, a Llythyrau). 
 
 The Volume will contain upwards of SOO pages of letter-press ; and the Work will b 
 Edited by ONE OF THE MOST EMINENT WELSH LITERATEURS. 
 
 Subscribers' names should be sent with as little delay as possible to JOHN PBYSEj 
 PUBLISHER, LLANIDLOES, 
 
 tB,tmm> SY OWEN MILM> LLANIDLOES. 
 
A LIST OF SUBSCRIBERS. 
 
 Printed in the order in wliicb they were registered during the years 1360 and 1861. 
 
 Rev. David Evans, Penarth, Llanfair. 
 
 W. Llewelyn, Esq., F. G. S., Glanwern, 
 
 Pontypo il, 
 Miss Davits, 12, Hai per Street, Bloomsbnry, 
 
 London. 
 Rev. James Rhys Kilsby Jones, 10, Priory 
 
 Street, Camdeotown, Loudon. 
 Mr. R. Peregrine, Llanelly. 
 
 — Thomas Hamer, Llanidlues. 
 
 — T. G. Jones, Llansaintffraid, Oswestry. 
 
 — W. Jones, (a descendant of the author) 
 Vspytty Ystwith, Cardiganshire. 
 
 Andrew Janes Brereto^i, F.SCJ., (Andreas o 
 
 fin,) Mold. 
 Rev. D. Rowlands, M.A., Llanidloes. 
 
 — J. Edwards, iM.A., Rector of Newtown. 
 Bernard Quaritoh, Esq., 15, Piccadilly, 
 
 London, 12 copies. 
 
 R. Richardson, Esq., Maes Cottage, Rhay- 
 ader. 
 
 T. Richardson, Esq., Dolgroes, Vspytty 
 Vstwith, Cardiganshire. 
 
 Rev. J. 13. Evans, B.D., Vicar of St. Har- 
 mon, Radnorshire. 
 
 Mr. James Evans, Postmaster, Lampeter. 
 
 T. T. Gri£Sths, Esq., Wrexham. 
 
 Messrs. R. Hughes, & Son, Wrexham. 
 
 Mr. John Mendus Jones, Llanidloes. 
 
 Rev. D, Davies, Incumbent of Dylife, Mont- 
 gomeryshire. 
 
 N. Bennet, Esq., Glanyrafon, Trefeglwys. 
 
 Rev. Thomas Williams, (a descendant of 
 the author) Curate of Llaawrin, Mont- 
 gomeryshire. 
 
 Mr. David Williams, Dyfngwm Mines, 
 Dylife. 
 
 John Jenkins. Esq., Llanidloes, 2 copies. 
 
 Frederick J. Beeslon, Esq., Glandwr, Llan- 
 idloes, aud 16, St. George's Place, Hyde 
 P.irk, London, 2 copies. 
 
 \Y. Chambers, Esq., Hafod, Cardignnshire. 
 
 Hbv. W. Jones, Ci escent Street, Newtown, 
 
 Rev. Owen Wynne Jones, (Glasynys,) 
 Curate ot'Llangristiolns, Bangor. 
 
 Mr. W. Walter, Mount Pleasant, Trallwn, 
 Pontypridd, Glamorgaoshire. 
 
 John Biddulph, Esq., Dderw, Swansea. 
 
 Mr. W. Lloyd, Warrington. 
 
 Arthur James Johnes, Esq., Garthmill, 
 Welshpool, 3 copies. 
 
 Robert Edwards, Esq., Mayor of Aberyst- 
 with. 
 
 W. H. Thomas, Esq., South Place, Aber- 
 ystwith. 
 
 Rev. C. D. Rees, M.A., Rhayader. 
 
 John Jones, E«q., Cra//iaiarn,J Battlesden, 
 Woburn Beds. 
 
 Mr. Robert Isaac Jones, Tremadoc. 
 
 Wynne, Esq., Coeil Coch, Abergele. 
 
 \Ir. C. D. Bynner, Llangadvan. 
 
 Rev. T. James, (Llallawg,) Netherthong, 
 Huddersfield. 
 
 Rev. John .Mills, 40, Lonsdab Square, Is- 
 lington, London. 
 
 John Jesse, Esq., F. R. S., Llanbedr Hall, 
 Ruthin. 
 
 Rev. John Davies, Walsoken Bectory, Wis- 
 
 The Right Honourable the Earl of Powis, 
 
 jPowis Castle, "Welshpool. 
 
 The Right Honourable Lord Llanover, 
 
 Llauover Park, Abergavenny, 2 copies. 
 George Hammond Whalley, Esq., M. P., 
 
 PlSs Madoc, Ruabon, 
 Mr. Thomas Benbow, New York. 
 John Maurice Davies, Esq., Barrister at 
 
 Law, Crygie, Aherystwith. 
 Rev. Richard Jenkins, B. A., Abermagwr 
 
 Cottage, Crosswood Park, Aberystwith. 
 W. P. R. Powell, Esq., M. P., Naateos, 
 
 Aberystwith, 3 Copies. 
 Rev. David Williams, Llanedwy Rectory, 
 
 Llanelly, Carmarthenshire. 
 Lady Augusta E. Marshall, Ruabon, 2 copies 
 Rev. Charles Williams, D. D., Principal 
 
 of Jesus College, Oxford. 
 Rev. D. Silvan Evans, Llangian, Pwllheli. 
 
 — J. Williams, ("46 /(Ae/,^ Llanymowddwy 
 Rectory. 
 
 — Lewis Evans, Head Master of Ystrad- 
 meirig School, Cardiganshire, 2 copies. 
 
 — Owen Jones, Vicar of Towyn. 
 Thomas Wright, Esq., F. R. S., 14, Sydney 
 
 Street, Brompton, London. 
 
 William Jones, ( Gwrgant,) 20, King's Arms 
 Yard, London. 
 
 Rev. Robert Williams, M.A,, Rhydycroesau, 
 Oswestry. 
 
 George Osborne Morgan, Esq., 2, Stone 
 Buildings, Lincoln's Inn, London. 
 
 J. W. Szlumper, Esq.,C. E. Milford Haven. 
 
 James Davies, Esq., Rhosrhydgaled, Aber- 
 ystwith. 
 
 John Jones, Esq, Dinorben, St George's, 
 St Asaph. 
 
 Mr. W. W. Jones, (Gwilym o Fin,) Towyn. 
 
 — Owen Mills, Llanidloes. 
 
 — T. J. Lloyd, Machynlleth. 
 
 Rev. James Griffiths, Vicar of Llangynmor, 
 Carmarthen. 
 
 Juhn Scott, Esq., Corbet Arms Hotel, Aber- 
 dovey. 
 
 Rev. Thomas Jones Hughes, Vicar of Llan- 
 asa, Holywell. 
 
 Jo'io Dendy, Esq., B.A., 36, York Street, 
 Manchester. 
 
 Rev. D. Parry, B.A., Darowen Rectory, 
 Machynlleth. 
 
 William Price, Esq., Llanffwyst, Aberga- 
 venny. 
 
 John Jones, Esq., 26, North Parade, Aber- 
 ystwith. 
 
 John Evan Thomas, Esq., F. S. A., 7, 
 Lower Belgrave Square, London. 
 
 Rev. Henry J. Evans, Cnrate of Dowlais. 
 
 — David Lloyd James, Vicar of Pontrobert, 
 Montgomeryshire. 
 
 Mr. Richard Mills, the Green, Llanidloes. 
 Miss Sarah Mills, Llanidloes. 
 Thomas Stephens, Esq., Merthyr Tydvil. 
 W. H. Reeoe, Esq., F, A. S., New Street, 
 
 Birmingham. 
 James Rees, Esq., Carnarvon. 
 En.°ign E. Powell, Trewythen, Llandinam. 
 Mr. Thomas Hughes, 10, Croston Street, 
 
 Liverpool. 
 .Mr. D. J. Roderic, Llandovery. 
 
 — Evan Jones, Machynlleth. 
 
 — John Beavan, Newtown. 
 
CONTENTS., 
 
 The first figures refer to the TranaUitions^ the tecond to the OrigiriBlsi. 
 
 A Poem by Otram Cyfeiliog ....... 
 
 A Poem by Howel-ap-Einion Lygrliw . . . . . . . 
 
 An Ode of David Benfras to Llewelya tbe Great ..... 
 
 A Poem to Llewelyn tbe Great, by Einioo tbe son of GwgtLU . . . > 
 
 A Panegyric upon Owain Gwynedd, by Gwalcbmai the son of Meilir 
 
 An Elegy to Nest, tbe d^ugbter of Howel, by Einion ab Gwalcbmai . .. . 
 
 A Poem to Llewelyn the Great, by Llywareb Brydydd y Moeb . 
 
 An Ode to Llewelyn tbe last Prince of Wales, by Llygad Gwr . . . 
 
 A Poem entitled Tbe Ode of tbe months^ by Gwilym Dda o Arfoa. 
 
 Ashort account of Taliesin and Elphin bia Patron . . ... 
 
 At Rhisiart Morys, Ysw., a'i Frodyr ..... 
 
 At y Cymry .......... 
 
 A Method how to retrieve tbe Antient British Ijaagaage, &c. 
 
 A Curious Commission issued by Queen Elizabeth ..... 
 
 A Biographical sketch of leuan Prydydd Hir . . . . . , 
 
 An Elegy on his death by the Rev. R. Williams- ..... 
 
 A Paraphrase of the 137th Psalm^ by the Rev. E, Evans, (ieuan Prydgdi Hir). 
 
 An Elegy to tbe Memory of Lleuca Llwyd, the fair nymph of Fennal, by Llew- 
 elyn Goch ap Meirig Hen ........ 
 
 A List of Subscribers ........ 
 
 dedication to Sir Roger Mostyn, ....... 
 
 De Bardis Dissertatio . ....... 
 
 Preface ........... 
 
 Taliesin's Foem ......... 
 
 The Penitent Shepherd, by the Rev. E. Evans, (Isaan Prydydd Hir) . . 
 
 The Feudal System, by J. Jenldns Es^. ...... 
 
 The Welsh Worki of lenan Prydydd Hir, proposal to print them by Subscription 
 
 Versesonseeing the ruins of Ivor Htiers Palace, by tiie Rev, E, Evans, (J««um 
 Prydydd Hir) .......... 148, 
 
 eOREESPQNDEKCE. 
 
 A letter from Mr. Thomas, Carte, to tiie Rev. E. Evans .... 149 
 
 A Letter from the Rev, W. Wynn to the Rev. E. Evans . . . 159 
 
 Letters from Mr. Lewis Morris to the Rev. E. Evans ISO, 15S, 1S3, 154, 155, 1S6, 157, 1£8 
 Letters from Bishop Percy to tbe Rev. E. Evans . . 160, lfi2, 164,. 166,, 167, 168, 
 
 THE END, 
 
 9. 
 
 9» 
 
 15, 
 
 10* 
 
 18, 
 
 107 
 
 20. 
 
 10& 
 
 26. 
 
 114 
 
 27, 
 
 115. 
 
 29. 
 
 117 
 
 39, 
 
 124. 
 
 42, 
 
 129. 
 
 
 50 
 
 
 89^ 
 
 
 91 
 
 
 133 
 
 
 138 
 
 
 141 
 
 
 142 
 
 
 143: 
 
 173, 
 
 176 
 
 
 313 
 
 
 5 
 
 
 57 
 
 
 7 
 
 S4. 
 
 131 
 
 
 149 
 
 
 181 
 
 
 sia 
 
EVERY VIoITOIv TO 2JID-WALES SHOULD PROCURE 
 
 A COPY OF 
 TO THE 
 
 BRECONSHIRE AND RADNORSHIRE 
 
 Part I. (Breconshire) is from the pen of the Rev. James Rhys Jones (Kilsby.) Part II. 
 (Radnorshire, &c.,) has been compiled by the Publisher. The two chapters on the Me- 
 dicinal Properties of the Waters are from the pen of R. Richardson, £sq., L.F.P.S.G.. 
 Fellow of the Obstetrical Society of London, Surgeon, Rhayader. 
 
 Opinions of tje ^^ws?. 
 
 "This Is a very interestin^Uttle buuk; in a very small compass, It contains a great deal of use- 
 fal and interesting information relative to the \\ elsh mineral springs, coupled with a variety ol 
 legendary and antiquarian lore ; description* of scenery, and the various other adjuncts necessary 
 to make up a good guide book. Every one ^vhu purposes visiting the springs should procure a 
 copy, and even those who do not intend visiting the localities described, will find a variety of 
 entertaining matter in this very agree:ible and pleasant little book. We ought to mention that a 
 portion of the work has been compiled by the Rev. J. R. Jones, (late of Kilsby,] and that it con- 
 tains a valuable chapter on the medicinal projpertiea of the various springs, from the pen of R, 
 Richardson, Esq., Surgeon, of Rhayader." — Shropshire Conservative. 
 
 "The caprice of fashion has rendered famous many old corners of the earth, while others more 
 deserving the notice of the great world lie hidden in unmerited obscurity, or at the most have ob- 
 tained but a mere local celebrity. The spas of Germany are frequented by quite as many of the vo- 
 taries of dissipation, and Rouge ei JVoir, as of the seekers after the blessings of health ; but there 
 are secluded valleys in our own country which are to the full as deserving of the visits of the lover 
 of the beautiful, and the tired out workman in the world's great treadmill, while to the invalid 
 they offer medicaments of nature's own composition, and scenes untainted by the follies of the 
 frivolous, or the vices of the designing, who throng the gilded saloons of Hamburg and Haden to 
 pre/ upon the gay and gilded butterflies of fashion. To such the little book whose title we quote 
 above will prove a faithful, and we believe a welcome guide— for its unpretending pages contain 
 not merely a great amount of information, but also a considerable fund of recreative reading. 
 Almost every line of the chapters comprising the first part betrays the writer's well-know hand. 
 Unlike as Charles Lamb and Carlyle are to each other, and unlike as he is to either, there is 
 much in his s-tyle that reminds us of both ; there is much of the genial quaint humour of the one, 
 and much, very much, of the eccentricity of the other. There is no mistaking the pen, whether 
 it is employudia graphically sketching with a few -rapid touches the picturesque scenery of wood- 
 land glen, or wide expanse of solitary moor, or glorious mountain side grand with precipice, and 
 beautiful with heather bloom — or wnether it is rendering homage to the memory of some worthy 
 of ottier days, who first saw light among those hills— or whether it is with the frolic humour of a 
 Cerfantea giving a vivid word-picture of an exploring expedition, mounted on a batch of Aber- 
 gwessin ponies— it is still obiqinal, and will be recognised alt over Wales as wielded by no other 
 hand than that of "Kilsby," by which designation the Rev. James Rhys Jones is by common 
 consent distinguished from the ten thousand and one of his compatriots who rejoice in the sam^ 
 surname. We can scarcely conceive the possibility of his doing anything and not doing it earnest- 
 ly, but this has evidently been a labour of love, for is it not a description of that Valley of the 
 Irvon which be thus apostrophises? — 
 
 " 'Thou birth-place and resting pHce of my humble forefathers, wisely and not too well have I 
 loved thee; when I sojourned in the land of the noble and generous Saxon thou wert my thought 
 by day and my dream by night; it was my uppermost wish to close my life in thy bosom; 1 have 
 loved thee with a love second only to that of woman, and a passion which sober men pronounce 
 madness: it matters not, for I can pray ipith the Westmoreland Bard. ** Thou valley embrace 
 me, and ye mountains shut me in." * 
 
 " The remaining portion of the book is chiefly a compilation, but one that has been well and 
 judiciously performed. Mr. Fryse has suceeeded ia getting from a variety of sources pretty 
 nearly everything that can possibly interest, inform, or amuse, in connection not only with the 
 mineral springs, out also with the beautiful district in which they are situated. For the invalid 
 he hasbrought together the various analyses of the waters, made from time to time, with the 
 opinions of medical men as to the beet rules for their administration; for the scientific he hu 
 produced the opinions of geologists as to the causes of the impregnation of tne waters, with their 
 health-giving constituents ; for the antiquarian he has collected all that remains of the annals of 
 the ruined abbeys and castles within a wide circuit, especially alt that is kuowrrof the history of 
 the last hours of the gallant Llewellyn, last native Prince of Wales, whose sad fate has given such 
 melancholy interest to the vicinity of Builth; and for the poet and the lover of the marvellous hft 
 has recorded the wondrous legends, which in days gone by, were supposed to account for the 
 healing powers of the springs without resorting to the philosophic theories of the Murchisons 
 or Richardsons of those times. In short, he has produced a " Handbook," the possession of 
 whiob ^ill doubly enhance the pleasure of a summer ramble amid the scenes which it describea." 
 — 7Vi£ M<mmouthshive Merlin. 
 
 This Handbook is got up in various styles, so as to suit the pockets of every visitor. In stiff 
 paper covers the price is ls.6d.; bound in strong cloth Uoards the price is 2s; bound tcextn 
 doth, gilt edges, and lettered on the side, the price is 3s. 6d. All post free for value in stampi. 
 
 ]?UBLISU£D & SOLD BY JOHN FiRVSS, BOOKSELLER, LLANIDLOES. UOMTGOUEBY. 
 
the Vale of Taff, a Poem, by John Thomas, price Is. ; yr Arweinydd Cerddorol, gan fl. 
 Wills pris 4s. 6d. ; The Cambrian Melodist, price 6d.; the Educational State i.i Wales, by 
 the Rev. J. R- Kilsby Jones, price 2d. ; Gwaith Eoa Ceiriopr, pris 6s. ; Testameot W. Salis- 
 biirv, pris 7s-! Williams's Gems of Choral and Snored Music, price 3s. 
 A list of other Boolts graus, au<l lost free. 
 
 ^ *?.= St.-. 2sz^iiS>|l^:Sl^-j§Sg ° K ^".".t « I £ g-l 
 
 . ^ _ "-■ >. ?- Q ij a- . as? tD^. a*!>i^ S '^ Si-oo u ea ^S 
 
 ri =111 11 mi'mwMit i III! I : % 
 
 
 a ^ 
 
 BiS 
 
 » i-, ft hi^- S.« " 33= a at! s-oi g "^ .« S-S. o S 
 
 's -S i 1 «- T.f.a" I 
 
 "5 a e- 1 
 
 The followin? Books are preparinif for public ition, subscribers' names for which will oblige. 
 Camaiiau Snn»i a'h AiioorAD, g-an R. Mills, pris 12s. ; Gwaith Bapddcinawl Davydd 
 AP GwiLVM, gan Dr. Owen Pughe, pris fi<. 6d.; the Cambrian Travelleb'sCompanion — 
 BioKraphical and Topographiral Sketcncs, collected by John Pryse; price Is. 6d., 
 the JEsoMSH Poetical \Vc;nKs of I("- ivino^.vwm tiri.-. Ss.