Transcribed from the [1862] John Pryse, Llanidloes edition by David Price, email ccx074@pglaf.org

SOME
SPECIMENS OF THE POETRY
OF
THE ANCIENT WELSH BARDS.

Translated into English,

WITH EXPLANATORY NOTES ON THE HISTORICAL PASSAGES, AND A SHORT ACCOUNT OF MEN AND PLACES MENTIONED BY THE BARDS.

BY THE
REV. EVAN EVANS, (IEUAN PRYDYDD HIR.)

“Vos quoque, qui fortes animas belloque peremptas
Laudibus in longum, Vates, dimittitis ævum,
Plurima securi fudistis carmina Bardi.”

Lucanus.

—“Si quid mea carmina possunt
Aonio statuam sublimes vertice Bardos,
Bardos Pieridum cultores atque canentis
Phœbi delicias, quibus est data cura perennis
Dicere nobilium clarissima facta virorum,
Aureaque excelsam famam super astra locare.”

Lelandus in Assertione Arturii.

REPRINTED FROM DODSLEY’S EDITION OF 1764.

published by john pryse, llanidloes, montgomery;
and sold by all booksellers.

TO
SIR ROGER MOSTYN,
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 generous principles of your renowned ancestors. The British Bards were received 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 preserved in your curious libraries. I hope, therefore, an attempt to give the public a small specimen of their works will not fail of your approbation, which the editor flatters himself with, from the generous 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,
EVAN EVANS.

PREFACE.

As there is a natural curiosity in most people to be brought acquainted 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 unacceptable 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 convince 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 ancient 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 English 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 them undoubtedly. The language of their oldest poets, it seems, is still perfectly intelligible, which is by no means our case.

The works of Taliesin, Llywarch Hên, Aneurin Gwawdrydd, Myrddin Wyllt, Avan Verddig, who all flourished about the year 560, a considerable time after Ossian, are hardly understood by the best critics and antiquarians 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 be wanting in poetical merit; and if I am not totally deceived in my judgment, I

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-mentioned 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 vellom 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 ANCIENT WELSH POETRY.

A poem composed by Owain Cyveiliog, prince of Powys, 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 North Wales, and Rhys-ap-Griffydd-ap-Rhys-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 given; the enemy gave an ominous presage; our men were stained with blood, after a hard contest; and the borders of Maelor Drefred were beheld with wonder and astonishment. 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 Owain’s hall was ever supported by spoils taken from the enemy; and in it thou hearest of the relief of thousands. There the gates are ever open.

O cup-bearer, who, with patience, mindest thy duty, forsake us not; fetch the horn, that we may drink together, whose gloss is like the wave of the sea; whose

green handles shew the skill of the artist, and are tipped with gold. Bring the best meath, and put it in Gwgan Draws’s hand, for the noble feats which he hath achieved: the offspring of Gronwy, who valiantly fought in the midst of dangers; a race of heroes for worthy acts renowned: and men, who, in every hardship they undergo, 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 reward 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, [10a] 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 purchase renown, flushed with liquor, and armed like Edwin; they paid for their mead, like Belyn’s [10b] men, in the days of yore. And as long as men exist, their valour shall be the common theme of Bards.

Fill thou the horn; for it is my inclination, that we may converse in mirth and festivity with our brave general; 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

would 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. [11a] Heard ye in Maelor the noise of war, the horrid din of arms, their furious onset, loud as in the battle of Bangor, [11b] where fire flashed out of their spears? There two princes engaged, when the carousing of Morach Vorvran [11c] 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; [11d] 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 foremost

with their crimson lances; the weight of their attack was not to be withstood; their shields were broke asunder with much force, as the high-sounding wind on the beach of the green sea, and the encroaching of the furious waves on the coast of Talgarth. [12a]

Fill, cup-bearer, as thou regardest thy life; fill the horn, badge of honour at feasts, the hirlas [12b] 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 off: 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, [12c] 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! O Christ! how pensive am I for the loss of Moreiddig, 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.

Pour, cup-bearer, from a silver vessel, an honourable gift, badge of distinction. On the large plains of Gwestun [13a] I have seen a miracle; 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 surges of the sea. [13b] They rescued a noble prisoner, Meurig the son of Griffydd, of renowned valour; they were all of them covered with blood when they returned, and the high hills and the dales enjoyed the sun equally. [13c]

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 defence of his just cause, the guards of Mynyddawc [13d] 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,

and the reward of the souls of those departed heroes. Of the numerous cares that surround princes, no one is conscious 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: O 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 given us equally before the bright shining tapers. Cup-bearer, hadst thou seen the action in the land of Llidwm, [14a] 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 [14b] 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.

A POEM

To Myfanwy Fechan [15a] of Castell Dinas Bran, [15b] composed by Howel-ap-Einion Lygliw, [15c] a Bard who flourished about a.d. 1390.

I am without spirit, O thou that hast enchanted me, as Creirwy [15d] enchanted Garwy. [15e] In whatever part of the world I am, I lament my absence from the marble castle of Myfanwy. Love is the heaviest burden, O thou that shinest like the heavens, and a greater punishment cannot be inflicted than thy displeasure, O beautiful Myfanwy. I who am plunged deeper and deeper in love, can expect no other ease, O gentle fair Myfanwy with the jet eyebrows, than to lose my life upon thy account. I sung in golden verse thy praises, O Myfanwy; this is the happiness of thy lover, but the happiness is a misfortune. The well-fed steed carried me pensive like Trystan, [15f] and great was his speed to reach the golden summit of Bran. Daily I turn my eyes, and see thee, O thou that shinest like the waves of Caswennan. [15g] Charming sight to gaze on thee in the spacious royal palace of Bran. I have rode hard,

mounted on a fine high-bred steed, upon thy account, O thou with the countenance of cherry-flower bloom. The speed was with eagerness, and the strong long-ham’d steed of Alban [16a] reached the summit of the highland of Bran. I have composed, with great study and pains, thy praise, O thou that shinest like the new-fallen snow on the brow of Aran. [16b] O thou beautiful flower descended from Trefor. [16c] Hear my sorrowful complaint. I am wounded, and the great love I bear thee will not suffer me to sleep, unless thou givest me a kind answer. I, thy pensive Bard, am in as woeful plight as Rhun [16d] by thy palace, beautiful maid. I recite, without either flattery or guile, thy praise, O 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 habitation, 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, O Myfanwy, [16e] that lookest like flakes of driven snow. My loving heart sinks with grief without thy support, O 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 daughter of a generous chief, I was so affected, that life and death were equal to me. I sunk away, and scarce had

time to make my confession. Alas! my labour in celebrating thy praises, O 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, O thou whose countenance is as bright as the flowers of the haw-thorn. O how well didst thou succeed in making me to languish, and despair. For heaven’s sake, pity my distressed condition, 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 Dinbrain; [17] many are the songs that I rehearse to celebrate thy beautiful form.

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 heights of poetry, and be inspired with the genius of Myrddin; [18a] that I may extol the praise of heroes, like Aneurin, [18b] 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. [18c] 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, [18d] 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 [18e] - - - - -

Many were the gashes in the conflict of war. Great was the confusion of the Saxons about the ditch of Knocking. [19a] 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. [19b] 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 action; no, Taliesin [19c] 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 wine, 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 protection of the saints.

A POEM

To Llewelyn the Great, composed by Einion the son of Gwgan, about 1244.

I invoke the assistance of the God of Heaven, Christ our Saviour, whom to neglect is impious. That gift is true which descendeth from above. The gifts that 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 maintainer 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. [20a] I have seen, and it was my heart’s delight, the guards of Lleision [20b] about its grand buildings; numberless 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 supported 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

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 enjoy the praise due to his valour. I will extol thee, and the task is delightful. Thou art like the eagle amongst 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. [21a] 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 mangled corse, the spear aimed at the breast in the country of Eurgain. [21b] The army at Offa’s Dike 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 warriors effected it; the prince of glorious and happy Mona. He is its ornament and distinguished chief.

The lord of Demetia [21c] 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 conflict. 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

Huadain. [22a] In Cilgeran [22b] they purchased glory and honour . . . In Aber Teivi the hovering crows were numberless . . . thick were the spears besmeared with gore. 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 [22c] 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. [22d] 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 [22e] in bestowing presents. Like valiant Huail [22f] in defying his enemy. He is like Rhydderch [22g] in distributing his gold. Let his praise resound in every country. He possesses a large territory and immense

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 [23a] in bestowing his favours. He is the subject of my meditation. I am to him as an hand or an eye. [23b] He is not descended from a base degenerate stock; and I myself am descended from his father’s courtiers. His fury in battle is like lightning when he attacks the foe: his heart glows with ardour in the field like magnanimous Gwriad. [23c] His enemies are scattered as leaves on the side of hills drove by tempestuous hurricanes. He is the honourable support and owner of Hunydd. [23d] He is the grace, the ornament of Arvon. [23e] 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 enemies, 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 sovereign of sea and land. He is a warrior that may be compared 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 appeased. He puts numerous troops of his enemies to flight like a mighty wind. Warriors crowded about him, zealous to defend his just cause; their shields shone bright

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 experienced 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 PANEGYRIC

Upon Owain Gwynedd, Prince of North Wales, by Gwalchmai, the son of Meilir, in the year 1157.

I will extol the generous hero descended from the race of Roderic, [25a] the bulwark 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 hoardeth 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, [25b] the other full of well-armed Lochlynians, [25c] making a grand appearance on the floods, the third from the transmarine Normans, [25d] which was attended with an immense, though successless toil.

The Dragon of Mona’s sons [26a] 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 consternation, and upon Tal Moelvre a thousand banners. There was an outrageous carnage, [26b] 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.

AN ELEGY

To Nest, [27a] the daughter of Howel, by Einion, the son of Gwalchmai, about the year 1240.

The spring returns, the trees are in their bloom, and the forest in its beauty, the birds chaunt, the sea is smooth, the gently-rising tide sounds hollow, the wind is still. The best armour against 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 Beli. [27b] 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 [27c] with slow steps. I sung the praise of Nest ere she died. Thousands have resounded her name, like that of Elivri. [27d] But now I must with a pensive and sorrowful heart compose her elegy, a subject fraught with misery. The bright luminary of Cadvan [27e] was arrayed in silk, how beautiful did she shine on the banks of Dysynni, [27f] how great was her innocence and simplicity, 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.

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 importunity of prayers, whenever mankind are destined to undergo its power. O generous Nest, thou liest in thy safe retreat, I am pensive and melancholy like Pryderi. [28a] 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. [28b] 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, [28c] 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 mansions of bliss. Heaven be her lot.

A POEM

To Llewelyn-ap-Iorwerth, or Llewelyn the Great; in which many of his victories are celebrated.

Composed by Llywarch Brydydd y Moch, a Bard, who, according to Mr. Edward Llwyd of the Museum’s Catalogue of the British writers, flourished about the year 1240; but 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 Red book of Hergest, 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, but some few remains of the Druids in that kind of verse called Englyn 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 Ptolemœus Philadelphus,

Έκ Διὸς αρχώμιθα, κι εις Δία λπyετε, Μοισαι.

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 circumstances, alluded to in their poems, must remain obscure to those that are best versed in the records of antiquity.

May Christ, the Creator and Governor of the hosts of heaven and earth, defend me from all disasters; may I, through his assistance, be prudent and discreet ere I

come to my narrow habitation in the grave. Christ, the son of God, will give me the gift of song to extol my prince, who giveth the warlike shout with joy. Christ who hath formed me of the four elements, and hath endowed me with the deep and wonderful gift of poetry—Llewelyn is the ruler of Britain and her armour. He is a lion-like brave prince, unmoved in action, the son of Iorwerth, [30a] our strength and true friend, a descendant of Owain [30b] 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. [30c] In Aber Conwy, ere my prince, the brave Llewelyn, got his right, he contested with David, [30d] who was a bloody chief, like Julius Cæsar. 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 rage. 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. [30e] 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

with blood, when we went to Porth 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 its 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 prancing steeds. Before Rhodri was brought to submission, the church-yards were like fallow grounds. When Llewelyn the successful prince overcame near the Alun [31a] with his warriors of the bright arms, ten thousand were killed, and the crows made a noise, and a thousand were taken prisoners. 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 [31b] 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, [31c] the feats of the renowned Ogrfan. [31d] Men fall silently in the field, and are deprived of the rites of sepulture. Thou hast

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. [32a] 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, [32b] the son of Cadfan. He is for recovering 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, [32c] the chief of Môn, has brought thee to a low

condition. Llewelyn has wasted thy land, thy men are killed by the sea - - - - He has entirely subdued Gwyddgrug, [33a] 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 [33b] 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 [33c] when he victoriously marches through your country. On its borders the enemy were routed, and the Argoedwys [33d] were furiously attacked, and covered with blood. We have two palaces now in our possession. Let Powys [33e] see who is the valiant king of her people, whether it argueth 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, putteth 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 Iago - - - - - A noble lion, the governor of Britain, and her defence, Llewelyn, numerous are thy battles, thou brave prince of

the mighty, 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 foreign countries, as well as in Môn the mother of all Wales. His army has made its way broad thro’ the ocean, and filled the hills, promontories, and dales. The blood flowed about their feet when the maimed warriors fought. In the battle of Coed Aneu, [34a] thou supporter of Bards, didst overthrow thy enemies. The other hard battle was fought at Dygen Ddyfnant, [34b] where thousands behaved themselves with manly valour. The next contest, where noble feats were achieved, was on the hill of Bryn yr Erw, [34c] where they saw thee like a lion foremost in piercing thy enemies, like a strong eagle, a safeguard to thy people. Upon this account they will no longer dispute with thee. They vanish before thee like the ghosts of Celyddon. [34d] Thou hast taken Gwyddgrug and Dyfnant by force, and Rhuddlan with its red borders, and thousands of thy men overthrew Dinbych, [34e] Foelas, [34f] and Gronant; [34g] and the men of Carnarvon, thy friends, were busy in action, and Dinas Emreis [34h] strove bravely in thy cause, and they vanquished with the renowned Morgant [34i] at their head all that stood before them. Thy pledges know not where to turn their faces, they cannot enjoy mirth or rest. Thou wert honourably covered with blood, and thy wound is a glory

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 Mechain [35a] and Mochnant. Happy was the mother who bore thee, who art wise and noble, and freely distributest rich suits of garments, thy gold 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 distinguished 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, [35b] 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 prince 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.

AN ODE

To Llewelyn, the son of Griffydd, last prince of Wales of the British line, composed by Llygad Gwr, about the year 1270.

in five parts.

I.

I address myself to God, the source of joy, the fountain of all good gifts, of transcendent majesty. Let the song proceed to pay its tribute of praise, to extol my hero, the prince of Arllechwedd, [36a] who is stained with blood, a prince descended from renowned kings. Like Julius Cæsar is the rapid progress of the arms of Griffydd’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 prosperous 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, [36b] 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

last. About Tyganwy [37a] 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 [37b] 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 generous Cymro descended from Beli Hir, [37c] if you enquire about his lineage. He generously distributeth gold and riches. An heroic wolf from Eryri. [37d] An eagle among his nobles of matchless 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 [37e] courage. He is a hero that with fury breaketh whole ranks, and fighteth manfully. His violence is rapid, his generosity overflowing. He is the strength of armies arrayed in gold. He is a brave prince whose territories extend as far as the Teivi, [37f] whom nobody 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 entertainer and encourager of Bards. Thou makest the

crows rejoice, and the Bryneich [38a] 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 [38b] prophecy that he shall have the government and sovereign power; every prediction is at last to be fulfilled. The shields of his men were stained with red in brave actions from Pwlffordd [38c] to the farthest bounds of Cydweli. [38d] May he find endless joys, and be reconciled 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, strengthen 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

best of governors, and the most generous. The eagle of Snowdon, and the bulwark of battle. He pitched a battle where there was a furious contest to obtain his patrimony on Cefn Gelorwydd; [39a] such a battle never happened since the celebrated action of Arderydd. [39b]

He is the brave lion of Mona, the kind-hearted Venedotian, 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 dragon in the conflict of Arfon and Eiddionydd, [39c] would have observed that it was a difficult task to withstand his furious attack by Drws Daufynydd. [39d] 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 hurricane over the desert main, thou warlike prince of Aberffraw. [39e] 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

warlike prince of Dinefwr, [40a] 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, [40b] 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 provinces.

V.

I 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. Numerous are the persons that congratulate him upon this success, 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, [40c] and in contests with the Normans, his impetuosity prevaileth. The offspring of Griffydd, of worthy

qualities, generous in distributing rewards for songs. His shield shines, and the strong lances quickly meet the streams of gushing gore. He extorteth taxes from his enemies, and claimeth another country as a sovereign prince. His noble birth is an ornament to him. He besiegeth fortified towns, and his furious attacks like those of Fflamddwyn [41] 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 generous 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.

A POEM

Entitled the Ode of the Months, composed by Gwilym Ddu of Arfon, to Sir John Griffydd Llwyd, of Tregarnedd and Dinorwig.

Why the Bard called this piece the “Ode of the Months” I cannot guess; but by what he intimates in the poem, which is that when all nature revives, and the whole animal and vegetable creation are in their full bloom and vigour, 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 slavery. It will not be amiss to give 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 Mr. Gray. Sir John Wynne, of Gwydir, a descendant in a direct line from Owain Gwynedd, mentions this particular, and says he searched all the records 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 that history 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 flourished a.d. 1400) I can find extant of my ancestors since the reign of Edward the first, who caused our Bards all to be hanged by martial law, as stirrers of the people to sedition; whose example being followed by the governors of Wales until Henry the Fourth’s time, was the utter destruction of that sort of men; and since then that kind of people were at some further liberty to sing, and to keep pedigrees, as in ancient time they were wont; since which time we have some light of antiquity by their songs and writings,” &c.

The following is taken from an old British grammar, written in English, by William Salesbury, printed at London, 1567. I have transcribed it faithfully according to the old orthography. “Howbeit when the whole Isle was commonlye called Brytayne, the dwellers Brytons, and accordingly their language Brytishe, I will not refell nor greatly deny; neither can I justly gainsaye, 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, barenest 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 remayne 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.

“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 uncertainty and the phantasticall vanities of their prophecies (which they call Bruts) or the doubtful race and kinde of their uncanonized saynctes: whom that notwithstanding they both invocate and worship wyth the most hyghe honoure and lowliest reverence. Adding and allegying in excuse thereof, that the reliques and residue 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 Glyndwr, were in like manner destroyed, and utterly devastat, or at the least wyse that there escaped not one, that was not uncurablye maymed, and irrecuperably torn and mangled.

“‘Llyfrau Cymru au llofrudd
Ir twr Gwyn aethant ar gudd
Ysceler oedd Yscolan
Fwrw’r twrr lyfrau ir tan.’

Gutto’r Glyn. a.d. 1450.

“The books of Cymru and their remains went to the White Tower, where they were hid. Cursed was Ysgolan’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 condition 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 man, taken from that skilful

and candid antiquary Mr. Robert Vaughan of Hengwrt’s notes on Dr. Powel’s history of Wales, printed at Oxford, 1663.

“Sir John Griffydd Llwyd, knight, the son of Rhys ap Griffydd ap Ednyfed Fychan, was a valiant gentleman, but unfortunate, ‘magnæ quidem, sed calamitosæ virtutis,’ as Lucius Florus saith of Sertorius. He was knighted by king Edward, when he brought him the first news of his queen’s safe delivery of a son at Carnarvon 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 discontented, 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.

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. O 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, [46a] is confined in prison. The valorous hawk of Griffydd, [46b] so renowned for ravaging and destroying his enemies, is deplored by the expert Bards, 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 land of the Angles. [46c] 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 vulgar do not reflect as I do on the time when my eagle shone in his majesty. I am pierced by the lance of despair.

Hard is the fate of my protector, Gwynedd [47a] 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 Achilles been stopped. The whole pleasant season of May is spent in dismal sorrow; and June is comfortless and cheerless. It increaseth 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 intermission to my pain. May I sink, O 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 Urien [47b] in battle. My meditation on past misfortunes is like that of the skilful Cywryd, [47c] the Bard of Dunawd. [47d] My praise

to the worthy hero is without vicious flattery, and my song no less affecting than his. My panegyric is like the fruitful genius of Afan Ferddig [48a] in celebrating Cadwallon [48b] of royal enterprise. I can no more sing 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 generosity. The world droops since thou art lost. There are no entertainments or mirth, Bards are no longer honoured: the palaces are no longer open, strangers are neglected, there are no caparizoned steeds, no trusty endearing friendship. No, our country mourns, and wears the aspect of Lent. There is no virtue, goodness, or any thing commendable left among us, but vice, dissoluteness, and cowardice bear the sway. The great and towering strength of Môn [48c] is become an empty shadow, and the inhabitants of Arfon [48d] are become insignificant below the ford of Rheon. [48e] The lofty land of

Gwynedd 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 contest for liberty.

Having finished the present small collection of the British Bards, I take this opportunity to acquaint the reader, that the time in which they flourished is not accurately 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 Archæologia Britannica. Indeed it is impossible to be so exact, as to fix the year when the Bards 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 Chronology of the Poems.

A SHORT ACCOUNT OF TALIESIN,

The Chief of Bards, and Elphin, the son of Gwyddno Goranhir, his Patron.

Gwyddno Goranhir, was a petty king of Cantre’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 famous Taliesin lived, whose birth and education is thus related in our ancient manuscripts. He was found exposed in a wear belonging to Gwyddno, the profit of which he had granted to his son, Prince Elphin, who being an extravagant 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 fishermen espied a coracle with a child in 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 introduced by Elphin to his father Gwyddno’s court, where he delivered him a poem, giving an account of himself, entitled, Hanes Taliesin, or Taliesin’s History; and at the same time another to his patron and benefactor Elphin to console him upon his 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 exposed infant. As it is probable that the prince’s affairs

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 Historiæ Britannicæ defensio. “Taliesinus quidem in odula, quam de suis erroribus composuit, sic inscripta Britannicè (Hanes Taliesin) videlicet errores Taliesini, ait se tandem divertisse ad reliquias Trojæ;

“‘Mi a ddaethum yma at Weddillion Troia;’

“neque dubitandum est hoc fuesse opus Taliesini: nam præter innumeros codices vetustissimos, qui inscriptionem hujusmodi attestentur, nullo reclamante, nullus est recentiorum qui vel phrasin illius tam antiquam, carminisve majestatem assequi potuit. Et ideo summus ille vates inter Britannos 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 μετεμψύχωσις, which accounts for the extravagant flights frequent 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 obsolete 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,

which anybody versed in the language 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. R. 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 imbibed. 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 account confined by his uncle Maelgwn. He likewise celebrated 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 Geirionnydd, in the parish of Llan Rhychwyn, in Carnarvonshire, and mentions therein his cotemporary, the famous Aneurin Gwawdrydd, author of the Gododin, an heroic poem on the battle of Cattraeth, of which some account is given in the Dissertatio de Bardis.

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 Linguæ Cymraecæ Institutiones Accuratæ; which, to save further trouble, I shall beg leave to transcribe here in his own words. “Cæterum nunc et propter eorum authoritatem, et quod huic loco inter alia maxime quadrant, non pigebit quædem antiquissima Taliesini Cambro-Britannica Carmina 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 Rhys, 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.

TALIESIN’S POEM

To Elphin, the son of Gwyddno Goranhir, king of Cantre’r Gwaelod, to comfort him upon his ill success at the Wear; and to exhort him to trust in Divine providence.

I.

Fair Elphin, cease to weep, let no man be discontented with his fortune; to despair avails nothing. It is not that which man 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-night.

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 gifts. 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 unmanly, 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, I shall do thee more good in the day of distress than three hundred salmons.

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 my 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
BARDIS DISSERTATIO;
in qua nonnulla
QUÆ AD EORUM ANTIQUITATEM ET MUNUS RESPICIUNT,
et ad præcipuos qui in cambria floruerunt.

breviter discutiuntur.

studio et opera

EVANI EVANS, CERETICENSIS.

Si quid mea carmina possunt,
Aonio statuam sublimeis vertice Bardos;
Bardos Pieridum cultores, atque canentis
Phœbi delicias, quibus est data cura perennis
Dicere nobilium clarissima facta virorum,
Aureaque excelsam famam super astra locare.

Joh. Lelandus in Assertione Arturii.

Insigni Viro

GVLIELMO VAVGHAN

De Cors y Gedol Armigero,

et

In Senatu Britannico

Pro Comitatu Meirionnydd Delegato, Provinciae

Praefeeto, Rotulorum Custodi,

Societatis Cymmrodorion Londini Praesidi Summo,

Caeterisque Ejusdem Societatis Membris,

Hanc De Bardis Dissertationem,

Summa, Qua Par Est, Observantia D. D. D.

Evanus Evans.

DE BARDIS DISSERTATIO;

Quum per multos annos non sine summa voluptate Bardos Britannos horis subsicivis evolverem, et quum hac ætate fere in desuetudinem abiere ejusmodi studia, et quicquid est Britannicae antiquitatis nostrorum pereat incuriâ, non potui quin hanc qualem qualem rudi Minerva dissertatiunculam in vulgus emitterem, quo exteris melius innotescat, quantum in his olim profecêre nostrates.

Bardi apud Celtas originem habuerunt; et Graeci, qui eorurn meminerunt, mira omnino de illis produnt, quae eo magis fidem merentur quod non solebant laudes suas in Barbaros effusè impendere. Cum alibi gentium hodie nulla eorum maneant vestigia nisi apud Cambro-Britannos et Hibernos, Celtarum posteros; è re fore duxi, si aliquid de antiquioribus qui apud nos extant, praelibarem, praemissis de iis in genere ex Scriptoribus Graecis et Latinis elogii, quò augustius in scenam prodeant; et inde venerandae antiquitatis auctoritatem sibi vindicent.

Unde Bardi nomen sunt sortiti, nondum mihi constat; Annii enim Viterbiensis regem Bardum, uti et omnia ejus hujuscemodi commenta, penitus rejicio. Non omnino abludit vox Bâr furor, modo sit ille poeticus quo se agitari fingebant Bardi. Si ea fuerit vocis origo, necesse est ut primitùs scriberetur Barydd. Utcunque sit, nos a multis retrò Seculis furorem illum poeticum voce Awen designamus, quae deduci potest a Gwên, risus vel lætitia: Poetae enim munus est ut homines cantu exhilaret. Non multum ergo contendimus an ea sit vocis origo, cum vocabulorum antiquorum, cujusmodi sunt hominum, officiorum, urbium, montium et fluviorum sit admodum obscura significatio.

His de Bardorum origine praemissis, ad eorum pergamus munus, prout Scriptores Graeci et Latini tradiderunt. Primus sit Diodorus Siculus, qui haec scribit. Εισι και παρ' αυτοις και ποιηται μελων, ους ΒΑΡΔΟΥΣ ονομάζουσι, ουτοι δε μετ' ορyάνων ταις λύραις ομοίων αδοντες, ους μεν υμνουσι, ους δε βλασφηουσι [60a] Non multum dissimile est quod de illis prodit Ammianus Marcellinus. “Bardi (inquit ille) fortia virorum illustrium facta heroicis composita versibus cum dulcibus lyrae modulis cantitarunt.” His Possidonii apud Athenaeum verba addere lubet, qui eorum munus graphicè depingit. Κελτοι πειάyονται μεζ' εαυτων, και πολεμουντες συμξιωτας ους καλονσι παρασιτους. ουτοι δε εyκώμια άυτων, και προς αθρόους λέyουσιν ανθρώπους συνειςωτας, και προς εκατον των καrα μέρος εκείνων ακροωμένων. τα δε ακόυσματα αυτων εισιν οι καλόυμενοι ΒΑΡΔΟΙ. ποιηrαι δε ουτοι rυyχάνουσι yετ ωδης επαίνοις λέyοντες. [60b] Hinc manifesto liquet eorum præcipuum munus fuisse Heroum laudes in cœlum evehere. Sed quum nulla Celticorum vel Gallicorum extent Bardorum opera, ex quibus quam dignè munus gesserint evincatur, operæ pretium est, alium ex eodem Athenaeo locum adducere, ex quo patebit haudquaquam iis defuisse sublime dicendi genus, quod Græci υψος vocant. Posidonius, Luernii, qui Bittitis pater fuit à Romanis profligati, opes cùm enarrat, tradit eum popularem gratiam ancupantem, per agros curru vehi solitum, aurúmque et argentum in turbas Celtarum innumeras eum prosequentes spargere; quin et septum eundem quadratum stadiorum duodecim aliquando cinxisse, in quo potione sumptuosa et exquisita pleni lacus essant, paratáque cibariorum copia, ut complusculis diebus liceret iis quibus placeret, ingredi, fruíque illo apparatu, cum assiduis ministrorum officiis. Epularum diem aliquando cùm ille constituisset, ac præfiniisset, barbarum quendam Poetam tardius caeteris eo commeantem illi occurrisse, ac canentem laudes ejus, excellentésque virtutes celebrasse, vicem verò suam doluisse, ac deflevise, quòd serius adventasset: illum cantu delectatum auri sacculum poposcisse, et accurrenti

cantori projecisse: quo sublato, poëtam ejus rursum laudes iterantem praedicasse currûs, quo vehebatur, impressa in terram vestigia aurum et beneficia procreare mortalibus. Sed praestat ipsa Athenaei verba apponere. Ἔτι ὁ Ηοσειδώνιος διηγούγενος κὶ τὀν Λουερνίου του Βιτύιτος πατρὀς πλουτον, του ὑπὸ Ῥωμαίων καθαιρεθέντος, φησὶ, δημαγωγουντα αὐτόν τὀυς ὄχλους ἐν ἅρμάτι φέρεσθαι διὰ τῶν πεδίων, κὶ σπείρειν χρυσὸν, κὶ ἄργυρον τοῖς ἀκολουθόυσαις τῶν Κελτῶν μυριάσι, φράγμα τε ποιεῖν δωδεκασάδιον τετράγωνον, ἐν ᾦ πληρὂυν ληνὸυς πολυτελοῦς πόματος, παρασκενάζειν τε τοσὂυτο βοωμάτων πλῆθος, ὥστε ἐφ᾽ ἡμἑρας πλειονας ἐξεῖναι τοῖς βουλομένοις τῶν παρασκευασζέντων ἀπολαύειν, ἀδιαλείπτως διακονουμένοις. Άφορίσαντος δ' αὐτοῦ προζεσμίαν ποτε τῆς θοινῆς, αφυςερήσαντά τινα τῶν Βαρβἀρων ποιητἠν αφικέσθαι, καἰ συναντήσαντα μετ' ᾠδῆς ὑμνεῖν ἀυτου τἠν ὐπεροχἠν, εαυτὀν δ' ὐποθρήνειν ὅτι ύσέρηκε τὀν δἐ τεφθέντα θυλἀκιον αἰτῆσαι χρυσίου, καἰ ῥίψαι ἀυτῶ παρατρέχοντι, ἀνελόμενον δ' ἐκεῖνον πάλιν ὑμνεῖν, λέγοντα, ΔΙΟΤΙ ΤΑ ΙΧΝΗ ΤΗΣ ΓΗΣ (ΕΦ ΗΣ ΑΡΜΑΤΗΛΑΤΕΙ) ΧΡΥΣΟΝ ΚΑΙ ΕΥΕΡΓΕΣΙΑΣ ΑΝΘΡΩΠΟΙ Σ ΦΕΡΕΙ. [61]

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 υψους exempla. Nequaquam suo genere 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? Quid, ut taceam de Arabicis et Brachmanicis, et in Europa boreali Scaldis? quid fiet, inquam, de antiquioribus illis Sacrosanctis poetis? quid fiet de Jobo; Davide, et siqui alii θεοδιδακτοι 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 stragem ediderint: adeo ut Bardi et historici verè antiqui, sint admodum rari. E nostris historicis qui Bardorum meminit, primus est Gildas Nennius, qui scripsit, uti ipse narrat, anno 858, et quarto Mervini regis. Sed is locus in nonnullis exemplaribus deest, et ejus auctor clarissimo Vaughano, Nennio

antiquior esse videtur, qui eum “vetustum Saxonicægenealogiae autorem” nominat. Sive verò is fuerit Nennius, quod mihi videtur, sive, uti ille mavult, aliquis eo vetustior, omnia quae ibi narrantur quam verissima sunt, quamvis scribentium oscitantia quam fœdissime sint depravata. Nec mendas castigarunt editores Gale et Bertram. Quæ ad Bardos sic se habent. “Item Talhaiarn Tatangen in poemate claruit, et Nuevin, et Taliesin, et Bluchbar, et Cian qui vocatur Gweinchgwant, simul uno tempore in poemate Britannico claruerunt.” Qui locus sic restitui debet. “Item Talhaiarn Tatangwn claruit, et Aneurin, et Taliesin, et Llywarch, et Cian qui vocatur Gwyngwn simul uno tempore in poemate Britannico claruerunt.” Ex iis quos hic nominat Nennius tres tantum extant, nempe Aneurin, Taliesin, et Llywarch cognomento Hen. Meminit tamen Talhaiarni Taliesinus in poemate cui titulus Angar Cyfyndawd, i.e. Concordia discors.

Trwy iaith Talhaiarn,
Bedydd bi ddydd farn.

“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.

Un maban y Gian o faen Gwyngwn.

“Unicus Ciani filius ex valido Gwyngwm ortus.”

Sed quum eorum opera aboleverit ætas, nihil ultra de iis dicere possumus. Hoc saltem constat, si Nennio fides adhibenda sit, eos suo seculo Bardos fuisse eximios. Aneurinus, Taliesinus et Llywarch Hen habent multa notatu digna, et quæ rei istius seculi historicæ multum lucis adferunt. Sed quum eorum sint rarissima exemplaria, intellectu sunt quam difficillima, quod sit partim ob scribentium oscitantiam, partìm ob linguam vetustam et obsoletam, quæ in nullo Lexico vel glossario inveniri potest. Unde fit, ut saepe non plus dimidio vel a peritissimo intelligatur. Taliesinus quem nostrates Pen Beirdd; i.e. Bardorum Coryphaeum appellavere, in aulis Britanniae principum vixit, et ibi clara eorum in bello facinora cantavit. Patronos habuit Maelgwyn Gwynedd, eum scilicet quem Gildas Maglocunum vocat, et Urienum Regedensem Cumbriae principem et Elphinum filium Gwyddno Garanir Dominum Cantref Gwaelod, cujus regio a mari absorpta est circa annum 540. Floruerunt Taliesinus et Aneurin Gwawdrydd Mychdeyrn Beirdd, i.e. Bardorum Monarcha, eodem tempore, circa annum 570. Aneurinus, in suo poemate cui titulus Gododin, refert se in bello juxta Cattraeth sub auspiciis Mynyddawc Eiddin, bellum adversus Saxones gessisse, et ibi omnes, tribus exceptis, inter quos erat Aneurinus, bello occubuisse. Fuerunt sub hoc principe in hac expeditione trecenti et sexaginta tres viri nobiles, qui eum ad bellum juxta Cattraeth sunt secuti. Fit hujus exercitus mentio libro Triadum in hunc modum. Teir gosgordd addwyn Ynys Prydain. Gosgordd Mynyddawc Eiddin Yng Cattraeth; a gosgordd Melyn a Chynfelyn; a gosgordd Drywon mab Nudd yn Rhodwydd Arderydd. i.e. Tres fuere nobiles exercitus Insulae Britannicae. Exercitus Mynyddawc Eiddin juxta Cattraeth; Exercitus Melyn et Cynfelyn: et Exercitus Drywon filii Nudd juxta Rhodwydd Arderydd.

Placuit hic nonnulla ex Aneurini Gododinio excerpere, quae licet ob vetustatem et dialecti varietatem sint admodum obscura (fuit enim si non Pictorum lingua, saltem Britannorum septentrionalium dialectus, et ideo hodiernis Cambro-Britannis minus facilis intellectu) attamen lectori baud injucunda fore judicavi, eo quod salvis Græcis et Latinis sit forsan antiquissimum in Europâ poema. Interpretationem in multis claudicare nullus dubito. Ii quibus plura exemplaria videre contigerit, ea felicius enucleabunt. Ego non nisi unum vidi a Thoma Gulielmo Medico practico scriptum, in quo quae sequuntur sic se habebant.

Caeawg Cynhorawg myn ydd elai,
Diphun ym mlaen bun medd a dalai,
Twll tal i rodawr yn i clywai awr,
Ni roddai nawd maint dilynai,
Ni chilia o gamawn, yn i ferai
Waed mal brwyn, gomynei wyr nid elai,
Nis adrawdd Gododin ar llawr Mordai,
Rhag 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:
Nec prius a bello destitit, quam sanguis effusè fluxerit,
Et eos qui non discedebant securi percussit;
Adeo ut non possit Gododin celebrare facta in aula Mordai
Ex Madoci castris quum domum profectus est
Unus tantum ex centum rediit.”

Caeawg Cynhorawg arfawg yngawr,
Cyno diwygwr gwrdd yngwyawr,
Cynran yn rhagwan rhag byddinawr,
Cwyddai bum pumwnt rhag eu llafnawr,
O wyr Deifr a Bryneich dychrawr,
Ugeincant eu difant yn unawr,
Cynt i gig i fleidd nog yt i neithiawr,
Cynt e fydd i fran, nog yt i elawr,
Cyn noe argyfrein e waed i lawr,
Gwerth medd ynghyntedd gan Liweddawr,
Hyfeidd Hir ermygir tra fo Cerddawr.

i.e.

“Caeawg Cynhorawg vir in bello armatus,
Et Cyno qui se strenuum gessit in dimicando,
Ceciderunt numerus ingens eorum hastis transfixi.
Prius lupo parabatur caro, quam nuptiali convivio;
Et corvo prius commodum fuit, quam Libitinæ.
Prius quam humi fluebat ejus sanguis
In aula Lliweddawr mulsum bibit;
Et Hyfeidd Hir celebrabitur, donec erit Cantor.”

Gwyr a aeth Gattraeth feddfaeth feddwn,
Ffurf ffrwythlawn, oedd cam nas cymhwyllwn,
I am lafnawr coch, gorfawr, gwrmwn,
Dwys dyngyn ydd ymleddyn aergwn,
Ar deulu Bryneich be ich barnaswn,
Diluw, dyn yn fyw nis gadawswn,
Cyfeillt a gollais, difflais oeddwn,
Rhugl yn ymwrthryn, rhyn rhiadwn.
Ni mynnws gwrawl gwaddawl chwegrwn,
Maban y Gian o faen Gwyngwn.

i.e.

“Viri festinabant Cattraeth, quibus mulsum erat potus,
Formâ eximii, quibus ingratus essem, si non meminerim.
Hastis armati turmatim rubris, magnis et incurvatis,
Pugnabant impetuosi bellatores.
Si mihi liceret [66] sententiam de Deirorum populo ferre,
Æque ac diluvium omnes una strage prostrarem;
Amicum enim amisi incautus,
Qui in resistendo firmus erat - - -
Non petiit magnanimus dotem a socero,
Filius Ciani ex strenuo Cwyngwn ortus.”

Yfeis i o win a medd y Mordai,
Mawr maint i wewyr,
Ynghyfarfod gwyr,
Bwyd i eryr erysmygai.
Pan gryssiei Gydywal cyfddwyreai
Awr, gan wyrdd wawr cyn i dodai,
Aessawr ddellt am bellt a adawai,
Parrau ryn rwygiad, dygymmynai
Ynghat blaen bragat briwai.

i.e.

“Ego bibi ex vino et Mulso Mordai,
Cujus hasta fuit immanis magnitudinis.
In belli congressu,
Victum aquilis paravit.
Quando Cydywal festinavit, exortus est clamor
Ante croceam auroram, cum signum dedit,
Scutum in asseres comminutos fregit,
Et hastis lacerantibus percussit,
Et in bello eos qui primam stationem sunt nacti vulneravit.”

Gwyr a aeth Gattraeth buant enwawd;
Gwin a medd o aur fu eu gwirawd,
Blwyddyn yn erbyn wrdyn ddefawd,
Trywyr a thriugaint a thrichant eurdorchawd,
O’r sawl yt gryssiassant uch gormant wirawd,
Ni ddiengis namyn tri o wrhydri ffossawd,
Dau gatci Aeron, a Chynon Daearawd
A minnau o’m gwaedffreu gwerth fy ngwenwawd.

i.e.

“Viri ibant ad Cattraeth, et fuere insignes,
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 bellum 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,
Aliter ad hoc carmen compingendum non superstes fuissem.’

Pan gryssiei Garadawg i gad,
Mab baedd coed, trychwn, trychiad,
Tarw byddin yn nhrin gymmyniad,
Ef llithiai wydd gwn oi angad,
Ys fy nhyst Ewein fab Eulad,
A Gwrien, a Gwyn, a Gwriad,
O Gattraeth o gymmynad,
O Fryn Hydwn cyn caffad,
Gwedi medd gloyw ar angad,
Ni weles Wrien ei dad.

i.e.

“Quando ad bellum properabat Caradocus,
Filius apri sylvestris qui truncando mutilavit hostes,
Taurus aciei in pugnæ conflictu,
Is lignum (i.e. hastam) ex manu contorsit,
Cujus rei sunt testes Ewein filius Eulad.
Et Gwrien et Gwyn et Gwriad.
Ex Cattraeth et congressu ibi,
Ex Bryn Hydwn ubi prius habitavit, oriundus,
Postquam mulsum lucidum in manu tenuerat,
Non vidit patrem suum Gwrienus.”

Cyfwyrein cetwyr cyfarfuant,
Ynghyt, yn unfryt yt gyrchassant,
Byrr eu hoedl, hir eu hoed ar eu carant,
Seith gymmaint o Loegrwys a laddassant,
O gyfryssedd gwragedd gwych a wnaethant,
Llawer mam a’i deigr ar ei hamrant.

i.e.

“Laudo bellatores qui congressi sunt omnes,
Et uno animo hostes adorti sunt,
Fuit eorum vita brevis, et longum amicis desiderium reliquerunt,
Occiderunt tamen ex Saxonibus plus scepties
Ex [68] aemulatione mulierum egregiè egerunt.
Et plurima mater lacrymas pofudit.”

Arddyledawc canu, cymman o fri,
Twrf tân, a tharan, a rhyferthi,
Gwryd ardderchawg marchawg mysgi,
Rhudd Fedel rhyfel a eidduni,
Gwr gwnedd, difuddiawg, digymmyni ynghat,
O’r meint gwlad yt glywi.

i.e.

“Debitus est tibi cantus, qui honorem assecutus es maximum,
Qui eras instar ignis, tonitrui et tempestatis,
Viribus eximie, eques bellicose
Rhudd 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 ysglyfion.
Or a aeth Gattraeth o aurdorchogion,
Ar neges Mynyddawg mynawg Maon,
Ni ddoeth yn ddiwarth o barth Frython,
Ododin wr bell well no Chynon.

i.e.

“Carmine debent celebrari nobiles proceres,
Qui post conflictum amnes ripas superare fecerunt. [69]
Ejus manus satiavit aquilarum fuscarum gulas,
Is et optime cibum paravit avibus rapacibus,
Ex omnibus enim eis qui ibant ad Cattraeth aureis torquibus insigniti,
Qui partem Mynyddawg in bello defendebant clari satellites,
Nullus ex Britonibus melius suum egit munus
In Gododin, (ex iis qui ex longinquo venerunt) quam Conanus.”

Truan yw gennyf i gwedi lludded
Goddef gloes angau trwy anghyffred
Ag eil trwm truan gennyf fi, gweled
Dygwyddaw an gwyr ni pen o dräed
Ac uchenaid hir ac eilywed
Yn ol gwyr pybyr tymyr tudwed
Rhyfawn a Gwgawn Gwiawn a Gwlyged
Gwyr gorsaf gwriaf gwrdd ynghaled
Ys deupo eu henaid hwy wedi trined
Cynnwys yngwlad nef addef afreued

i.e.

“Me maximè dolet post laborem amicos nostros
Subire mortis angorem more inassueto;
Et iterum me maximè dolet quod ipse vidi
Viros nostros in bello gradatim cadentes.
Gemitus est longus et opprobrium
Post homines alacres patriæ decus,
Rhyfawn et Gwgawn Gwiawn et Gwlyged;
Viri qui erant sustentacula (belli sc.) fortissimi et in angustiis magnanimi
Ascendant eorum animæ post pugnam
In regnum cœlorum ubi habitatio est sine ullo desiderio.”

Hæc de Aneurino sufficiant.

Floruere eodem seculo et multi alii Bardi inter quos eminet Myrddin Wyllt, id est, Merlinus Sylvestris, qui poema composuit cui titulus Afallennau, id est, pomarium, in quo patroni sui Gwenddolau filii Ceidio munificentiam prædicat.”

Afellen beren bren y sydd fad
Nid bychan dy lwyth sydd ffrwyth arnad
A minnau wyf ofnawg amgelawg am danad
Rhag dyfod y coedwyr coed gymmynad
I gladdu dy wraidd a llygru dy hâd
Fal na thyfo byth afal arnad
A minnau wyf gwyllt gerthrychiad
Im cathrid cythrudd nim cudd dillad
Neum rhoddes Gwenddolau tlysau yn rhad
Ac yntau heddyw fal na buad.

i.e.

“O arbos pomifera, dulcis et bona,
Non parvum fers onus fructuum;
Ego tui causa anxius et solicitus sum
Ne lignatores arbores ad cædendas veniant,
Et effodiant tuam radicem, et semen corrumpant,
Ita ut nunquam postea pomum feras:
Ego sum ferus, hominibus spectaculum,
Me occupat horor, et vestes me non amiciunt.
Gwenddolau dedit mihi gratis jocularia,
Et ipse est hodie non uti olim fuit.”

Fuit Merlinus Morfrynii filius et Albania oriundus, et alter fuit a Merlino Ambrosio qui vixit tempore Vortigerni, et eò 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. longævus, Urieni Cumbriæ principis consobrinus. Extant ab eo scripta poemata in quibus narrat se a Saxonibus in Povisiam pulsum fuisse, et sibi fuisse viginti quatuor filios auries torquibus insignitos, et omnes patriam defendendo bello occubuisse. Qui plura de hoc viro nobili et Bardo desiderat Cl. Llwydii Archaeologiam Britannicam consulat p. 259.

Vixerunt eodem tempore alii Bardi, sed cum eorum non extent opera, nomina tantum interserere sufficat Tristfardd, Bardd Urien Reged. Dygynnelw, Bardd Owain ap Urien, Afan Ferddig, Bardd Cadwallon ap Cadfan. Golyddan, Bardd Cadwaladr Fendigaid. Sunt in iis qui extant multa quae historico Britannico usui esse possunt: fuere enim Bardi rerum gestarum fidi narratores. Fuit eorum praecipuum munus

principum et magnatum laudes, et egregia in bello acta carminibus celebrare, quod et olim de iis observavit Lucanus.

Vos quoque, qui fortes animas belloque peremptas
Laudibus in longum vates dimittis aevum,
Plurima securi fudistis carmina Bardi. Lib.

“Bardi (inquit Lelandus in Assertione Arturii) soli musicis numeris, et illustri nobilium memoriæ conservandæ studebant, canebant illi ad lyram heroum inclyta facta, profuit hoc studium mirificè cognitioni, tanquam per manus posteritati traditae. Unde quoque contigit ut Arturii maximi nomen, fama, gloria utcunque conserventur.” Inventus est enim ejus sepulchrum in monasterio Glastoniensi juxta id quod Bardus cecinerat coram Henrico Secundo, quod satis demonstrat illos historicorum fidorum aequè ac poetarum munus egisse.

Habemus praeter hos quos supra citavimus Bardos, nonnulla carmina anonyma pervetusta, quae Druidum esse existimavit Edvardus Lluyd, cujusmodi sunt Englynion yr Eiry, y bidiau, y gorwynnion. Moris fuisse Druidis carmina almunos docere notavit Caesar: “Magnum 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; quod neque in vulgus disciplinam efferri velint, neque eos qui discunt litteris confisos minus memoriae studere, quod feré plerisque accidit ut praesidio litterarum diligentiam in discendo ac memoriam remittant.” Genus carminis quo in his usi sunt fuit Englyn Milwr.

Haec de antiquissimis quae nunc extant Bardis Britannicis

dicere sufficiat, ad illos nunc accedo qui durante Principum Cambriæ gubernaculo floruerunt. A seculo sexto ad decimum nihil quod novi extat scriptum, saltem non vidi, neque quid causæ esse potuit augurari possum, nisi frequens bellorum strages et Britannorum inter dissidia. In Hoeli Boni, nostris Hywel Dda, legibus fit Bardi aulici mentio, et quænam fuerit ejus ibi conditio, quæ, [73] temporis ratione habitâ, fuit perhonesta. Circa annum 1170 Gruffydd Ap Conan Cambriæ princeps legem Bardis praescripsit, in qua cautum erat ut nullam praeter suam exercerent artem, in qua et dona et pœnas constituit. Eos autem in tres classes divisit, Prydydd, Teuluwr, et Clerwr; et fixum unicuique secundum ordinem statuit stipendium. Eorum electio fieri solebat in solenni principum et procerum concessu, ubi unicuique secundum meritum assignatus est locus. Ille vero qui praecelliat, sellâ donatus est aureâ vel argentea, unde et Cadeirfardd dictus, i.e. Bardus qui sellam assecutus est.

Ab eo tempore multi eximii floruerunt Bardi, et a principibus admodum fovebantur. Meilir qui fuit Gruffini filii Conani Bardus, fuit et ejusdem miles et legatus uti et ipse in ejus epicedio refert.

Yfeis gan deyrn o gyrn eurawg
Arfod faedd feiddiad angad weiniawg
Yn llys Aberffraw er ffaw ffodiawg
Bum o du Gwledig yn lleithawg
Eilwaith ydd eithum yn negessawg
O leufer lliw camawn iawn dywyssawg
Bu fedd aur gylchwy yn fodrwyawg
Torresid gormes yn llynghessawg
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 Aberffraw, quod mihi decus et felicitas fuit.
Ex domini mei parte miles fui,
Et iterum legationem 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 perspumosarum
Portabant phaleras in littore sicco equi gestientes.”

Nec dedignati sunt ipsi principes hanc artem, animi relaxandi causa, colere, ut testantur Oweni Cyfeiliog principis Provisiæ et Hoeli filii Oweni Venedotiæ principis opera, quibus addere licet Llewellinum ultimum Cambriae principem. De eo enim sic Matt. West. circa natale domini Llewellinus accessit ad regem misericordiam non justitiam petiturus—et paulo post—Rex Edwardus vocalem principem diligenter instructum ad partes Walliae redire permisit. [74] Poematum argumenta erant egregia in bello facinora, libertas, hospitalitas et munificentia,

et si quae alia virtus, quae homines domi ornat, et foris hostibus tremendos reddit. Et fuit eorum in accendendis hominum ad clara incepta animis tanta vis, ut nihil aeque sonaret Tyrtaei musa quum suos ad honestam mortem oppetendam hortaretur. Et quaenam, quaeso, reipublicae tam utilis virtus, quum hostibus utrinque premeretur, et cum sola spes, salus et libertas esset in armis, quam magnanimus periculorum contemptus, et ad ea adeunda ardor egregius? Sed præstat Giraldum Cambrensem audire qui iis vixit temporibus, et fuit eorum quæ hic narrantur oculatus testis. “Nec ullo prorsus nisi martio labore vexantur, patriæ tamen tutelæ student et libertatis: pro patria pugnant, pro libertate laborant; pro quibus non solum ferro dimicare, verum etiam vitam dare dulce videtur. Unde et in thoro turpe, in bello mori decus putant. Ac illud poetæ dixerunt—procul hinc avertite pacem, nobilitas cum pace perit, nec mirum si non degenerant. Quorum enim hi reliquiae sunt Æneadae in ferrum pro libertate ruebant. De his igitur spectabile, quod nudi multoties cum ferro vestitis, inermes cum armatis, pedites cum equitibus congredi non verentur, in quo plerumque conflictu sola fiunt agilitate, et animositate victrices. Illis quorum poeta sic meminit, sicut situ sic natura non dissimiles.”

— Populus quos despicit arctos
Felices errore suo, quos ille timorum
Maximus haud urget leti metus, inde ruendi
In ferrum mens prona viris, animaeque capaces
Mortis, et ignavum rediturae parcere vitae.

Et nonnullis interjectis—“Illud in hoc loco notandum videtur, quod Anglorum Rex Henricus Secundus nostris diebus imperatori Constantinoplitano Emmanueli super insulae Britannicae situ ac natura, magisque notabilibus

litteris et nunciis inquirenti: inter caetera hoc quasi praecipue notabile rescripsit. In quadam insulae parte sunt gentes quae Wallenses dicuntur, tantae audaciae et ferocitatis ut nudi cum armatis congredi non vereantur, adeo ut sanguinem pro patria fundere promptissime, vitamque velint pro laude pacisci.” Hactenus Giraldus.

Non immerito Bardis tantus fuit habitus honor; ii enim heroum inclyta canentes acta, et majorum illustria proponentas exempla suos ad ardua incitabant, unde et patriae salutem, principibus et proceribus gloriam conciliabant; nec solum illustria aliorum canebant facta, verum ipsi in bello eodem quo in cantibus ardore incitati, multa praeclara fortitudinis exhibebant documenta. Gwalchmai filius Meilir se Cambriae fines adversus Anglos defendisse gloriatur in poemate cui titulus Gorhoffedd Gwalchmai, i.e. ejus Deliciæ. Stationem ejus juxta fluvium Efurnwy fuisse docet non pocul ab agro Salopiensi. Sunt multa in hoc poemate tam heroe quam Bardo digna. Postquam enim excubias per noctem totam egisset Gwalchmai, 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 Huan haf dyffestin
Maws llafar adar, mygr, hyar hin.
Mi ydwyf eurddeddf ddiofn yn nhrin
Mi wyf llew rhag llu; lluch fy ngorddin
Gorwyliais nos yn achadw ffin
Gorloes rydau dwfr Dygen Freiddin [77]
Gorlas gwellt didryf, dwfr neud jessin
Gwyrlain yn gware ar wely lliant
Lleithrion eu pluawr, pleidiau eddrin.

i.e.

“O sol æstive, cito oriens propera,
Suavis est cantus avium, et cælum sudum et serenum est.
Ego sum bona indole præditus, et in bello intrepidus,
Sum leo strenuus in fronte exercitus, et meus impetus est violentus,
Totam noctem pervigilavi fines tutando
Ubi sunt vada translucida juxta Dygen Freiddin
Ubi herba in loco solitario crescens perviridis est, et aqua limpida
Mergi ludunt in fluctuum lecto,
Quorum plumæ fulgent, et ipsi inter se certant.”

Non pigebit hic de alio Bardo, scilicet Cynddelw Brydydd Mawr, i.e. Condelao vate eximio, nonnulla ex Oweni Venedotiæ principis epicedio excerpere; fuit enim ille, uti ex historia constat, patriæ propugnator, et in bello fere semper victor. Vixit Cynddelw in Povisia, et fuit Madoci filii Maredudd, illius regionis principis, Bardus aulicus.

Gwersyll torfoedd tew llew lladdai,
Gorsaf tarf, taerfalch fal Gwalchmai,
Gorfaran Gwrfan gorfyddai,
Gwr yn aer yn aros gwaedd fai,
Bryd Erof gryd, arf greu a ddodai,
Brwydr eurgrwydr, eurgrawn ni guddiai,
Bradog waith gwynniaith gwynnygai,
Brys briwgad, brig bragad briwiai,
Brwysc lafneu ynghreu yngrhai celanedd,
Cymminedd cymmynai,
Gwyrdd heli Teivi tewychai,
Gwaedlan gwyr, a llyr ai llanwai,
Gwyrach rudd gorfudd goralwai,
Ar donniar gwyar gonofiai,
Gwyddfeirch tonn torrynt yn ertrai,
Gwythur naws fal traws au treifiai,
Gwyddfid Eingl ynghladd au trychai,
Gwyddgwn coed colled au porthai,
Gwyddwal dyfneual dyfnasai fy modd,
Fy meddiant a gaffaei.
Colleis Arglwydd call nim collai,
Corf eurdorf, eurdal am rhoddai,
Cof cadflawdd am cawdd, a’m carai,
Car cerddawr, cerddau ai cyrchai,
Gryd wascar, llachar, a’m llochai,
Grym dilludd Dillus fab Erfai,
Greddf Greidwyr, a Chywyr a Chai
Glew ddefawd glyw oesdrawd aesdrai,
Ystre hynt, wastad, westrei gwinfydig
Gwyn ei fyd bieufei.
Gwyth escor tra mor, tra Menai,
Gwlydd elfydd elwais o honai,
Tra fu Owain mawr ai meddai,
Medd a gwin a gwirawd fyddai,
Gwynedd wen Gwyndyd len ledpai,
Gwedi gwawr, cad fawr ai cadwai,
Pa wladwr, arwr arwyndai,
Pa wledig a wledych arnai?

i.e.

“Densas turmas in conflictu occidit leo
Qui fuit instar Gwalchmai acris ad fugandum hostes,
Superavit magnas 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 magnâ excanduit irâ;
Hastæ in bello furiosæ erant in cadaveribus occisorum
Et acies (gladiorum) se invicem contriverunt.
Viridis aqua Teivii pinguis facta fuit.
Fluxus virorum sanguinis et maris eum ripas superare fecit,
Et rubra [79] avis aquatilis, pro nagno hebebat emolumento,
Et per fluvios cruoris natabat,
Et alti marini equi (i.e. fluctus) plangebant in littore.
Magnanimus ille princeps eos instar tyranni oppressit,
Et Anglorum 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 lædit: 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 ingenium erat simile Greidwyr, Cywyr et Cai
Herois instar hastam gessit comminutam
Domi autem vitæ cursus erat tranquillus, hospes enim erat munificus
Et ad summam felicitatem pervenit.
Ille victorias reportavit violentus trans sestuarium Menai
Ubi terra est benigna, ex qua beneficium sum nactus:
Donec extitit Owenus magnus qui Monam possesit,
Mulsum, vinum et gwirawd [80] bibimus.
O Venedotia olim beata, Venedotorum tutatem asperum,
Post Heroem bellicosum qui te defendet!
Quis ex nostratibus heros in aedibus vivens magnificis,
Quis princeps te gubernare aequo ac ille valebit?”

Sed non semper in bellatorum laudes effusi erant Bardi; saepe etiam principum et magnatum fata indigna lugubriter canebant. Sed infinitum esset haec singulatim recensere. Unum sat est adducere exemplum, ex quo de aliis facile judicari potest. Leolino Gruffini filio, ultimo Cambriae principe, juxta Buellt dolo sublato, dici non potest quanto id Bardos dolore affecit. Inter quos Gruffydd ap yr ynad coch haec texuit admodum παθητικως.

Llawer llef druan, fal pan fu Gamlan,
Llawer deigr dros rann gwedi gronniaw,
O leas gwanas gwanar eurllaw,
O laith Llewelyn cof dyn nim daw,
Oerfelog calon, 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 ymg’weiriaw?
Poni welwch chwi’r haul yn hwylio’r awyr?
Poni welwch chwi syr wedi syrthiaw?
Poni chredwch i Dduw ddyniadon ynfyd
Poni welwch chwi’r byd wedi bydiaw?
Och 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 triger och! o’r trigaw,
Nid oes na chyngor, na chlo nag agor,
Na ffordd i esgor brwyn gyngor braw!

i.e.

“Frequens est vox lugubris, veluti olim in Camlan,
Multae lacrymae in genis accumulantur,
Eo quod occidit Cambriae sustentaculum, et ejus dominus munificus.
Ex quo occidit Leolinus de caeteris non curo;
Cor frigidum est sub pectore ob horrorem,
Et is qui prius hilaris erat, jam marcescit.
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?
Nonne videtis astra ex orbibus corruisse?
Cur Deo non creditis homines, vesani?
Nonne videtis mundi finem adesse?
Exclamabo usque ad te, o Deus, cur terram non absorbet mare,
Et cur diutius relinquimur in angore languere?
Nullus 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 Leolinum et multi alii Bardi insignes, inter quos eminet Llywarch cognomine Prydydd y Moch, qui Leolini Magni, nostris Llewelyn Ap Iorwerth, victorias multis celebravit odis, uti et fecere Dafydd Benfras, Daniel ap Llosgwrn Mew, Llewelyn Fardd ap Cywryd.

Floruit eodem tempore in Ceretia Phylyp Brydydd, qui Bardus fuit Rhys Geyg et Rhys Ieuanc ex familia Rhys ap Tewdwr oriundus.

Longum esset singulos recensere; de praestantioribus pauca praelibasse sufficit. Cum Cambriam in suam potestatem redegerat Edwardus primus, in Bardos saeviit tyranni instar, et multos suspendi fecit. Quid mirum, cum ipsum Leolinum principem et Davidem fratrem tam inhumaniter tractaverit? Sed Edwardus a Leolino olim in fugum pulsus, noluit illi nec asseclis ignoscere. Hinc illae lacrymae. Bardis objiciebatur quod cives in seditionem excitarunt, id est revera, quod eos ad vindicandum libertatem pristinam majorum more hortarentur. Bardi enim fuere Cambris idem quod olim Atheniensibus oratores, quos ut Graeciam in servitutem redigeret, sibi tradi voluit Philippus Macedo. Regum Angliae justiciarii post Edwardum in Cambria ejus exemplum secuti, Bardos legibus iniquis obnoxios ubique sustulerunt; unde fit ut admodum sint rari ab eo tempore usque ad annum 1400, quo, Anglorum excusso servitutis jugo, sub Oweni Glyndwr auspiciis, se in libertatem priscam vindicarunt Cambri. Hoc aevo multi claruere Bardi, inter quos Iolo Goch Oweni magnificentiam et victorias ad sydera tulit. Fuit enim Owenus Bardorum fautor et Maecenas, et eos undiquaque ad aulam liberalitate provocabat. Eo tempore floruit Dafydd ap Gwilym Bardorum longe venustissimus e Ceretia oriundus. Avunculum habuit Llewelyn ap Gwilym de Cryngae et Dôl Goch, qui eum liberaliter educabat. Patronus ejus fuit Ifor Hael de Bassaleg, 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 peragrationem et conventus, nostris Clera et Cymhortha celebrarent. Haec fuit causa cur multi hoc saeculo tam

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 Cambros saevitia. Ab eo tempore longa floruit Bardorum series, et in magnatum aedibus alebantur, ubi eorum genealogias et signa gentilitia texebant, eorumque virtutes, scilicet magnanimitatem, hospitalitatem et alias animi atque corporis ingenuas et honestas dotes debita prosequebantur laude. Mos enim fuit Britannis olim, uti et nunc Cambris, ut longam majorum seriem producerent, et Bardi qui hoc munere sunt functi Arwyddfeirdd sunt appellati, et carmen texuere “parasematicum, quod cum prosapia generisve serie, etiam et παρασήματα, id est insignia nobilium et generosorum describit ea, quae in vestibus et vexillis et hujusmodi aliis insignita conspiciuutur, quaeque 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 gloriae, vel ob propriam vel suorum majorum virtutem comparata.”—Vide Johannis Davidis Rhesi Linguae Cymraecae Institutiones accuratas pag. 146. Ex quo et haec de hujuscemodi Bardo transtulimus p. 303. “Pwy bynnag a ddywetto ei fod yn Arwyddfardd, gwybydded achoedd Brenhinoedd a Thywyssogion, a chyfarwyddyd oddiwrth y tri Phrifardd ynys Prydain, nid amgen, Myrddin ap Morfryn, a Myeddin Emrys a Thaliesin Ben Beirdd.” i.e. “Quicunque voluerit esse Bardus parasematicus, necesse est ut sciat regum et principum stemmata, et sit bene versatus in operibus Merlini Morfrynii filii, Merlini Ambrosii et Taliesini summi Bardi.” Et hoc fuisse antiquitus Bardorum munus annotavit Giraldus Cambrensis. “Hoc mihi notandum videtur, quod Bardi Cambrenses et cantores seu recitatores genealogias habent prædictorum principum in libris eorum antiquis et autenticis, eandemque memoriter tenent a Roderico Magno

usque ad Belinum Magnum, et inde usque ad Sylvium, Ascanium et Æneam, et ab ea usque ad Adam generationem linealiter producunt.”

Non abs re fore judicavi hic monumentum vetus inserere; quod in manuscripto Joh. Dav. Rhesi propria manu exarato inveni. Quod quidem manuscriptum dignum est omnino quod prelo mandetur: nostram enim linguam poesin, et alia vetusta monumenta adversus ignarum quendam calumniatorem, quorum messem innumeram hæc aeque ac superior aetas tulit, strenue vindicat. Hic tractatus in lingua Britannica eleganter scriptus est, et talium nebulonum inscitiam protervam facile retundit. Videtur vir doctissimus hoc monumentum ex vetusto aliquo scriptore nunc deperdito excerpsisse. Utcunque sit, id ego ex ejus autographo hic fideliter exscribere curavi. “Blethinus filius Cynvini patri in principatu Povisiæ successit. Hic templa, castra et maneria renovari fecit, leges Howeli observavit. Inter tres principes, videlicet, Gruffinum filium Conani principem Venedotiæ, Blethinum filium Cynvini principem Povisiæ, et Rhesum filium Tewdwr principem Suth-walliæ inquisitio magna fuit de armis et de regali sanguine antiquorum Britonum. Quibus conquisitis in ditione sapientium Walliæ; repertæ fuerunt tres lineæ regales, et quindecim lineæ de sanguine nobilium senatorum Britanniæ. Hic Blethinus primus omnium principum Povisiæ, in armis usus est leone rubeo in sulphure. Hic castrum de Dol y Forwyn fundavit, et apud Mifod sepultus est.”

Sunt in istis genealogiis multa quæ antiquario Britannico usui esse possunt; 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

mentem appulerunt. Erat in monasteriis uber historiarum, genealogiarum et poeseos collectio. Bardi enim ab abbatibus maxime fovebantur, et erant in festis solennibus ab iis laute excepti: uti constat ex operibus Gutto’r Glynn, Guttun Owain, Ieuan Deulwyn et Tudur Aled. Extant et nunc in nobiliorum ædibus innumera Epicedia, quæ nostrates Cywyddau Marwnad nuncupavere: fuit enim Bardi domestici munus, cum aliquis e familia obierit, ejus Epicedium concinnare, quod post exequias ad cognatos fuit delatum et coram iis a Rhapsodis quos nostrates Datceiniaid nominavere recitatum. Inter alia quæ in defuncti honorem sunt narrata, ejus genealogiam memorare tenebatur, ex quibus nobilibus ortus fuerit familiis, et quæ præclara fecerint ejus majores facinora. Hujuscemodi poematum multa vidi exemplaria pulchre exarata. Ab Elizabethae Reginæ tempore nullus fuit Bardorum legitimus consessus: unde fit ut nil sit deinceps accurate et secundum prosodiæ regulas scriptum: eousque ut jamdudum Bardorum et historicorum opera (ex quibus solis vera et genuina Britanniæ historia petenda est) in maximo sint periculo ne funditus pereant. Quod multas ob causas in seculo tam docto et sagaci maxime est deplorandum, sunt quidem hoc ævo qui hæc 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 linguae amore instigata, inter alia laude digna instituta, nonnulla veterum et recentiorum melioris notae Bardorum poemata typis mandare meditatur. Opus profecto omnibus Cambris ingenuis gratissimum et longe desideratissimum. Optandum est potius quam expectandum, ut ii qui habent aliquid in poesi vel historia notatu dignum in privatis bibliothecis reconditum, id in vulgus emittant, aut saltem ab iis qui hujusmodi rebus operam navant perlegi permittant. Sic enim suae famae et patriae commodo melius consulent quam vermibus et muribus committere.

Ego autem in Cambriae montibus degens a bibliothecis et museis procul, quod potui feci; utinam ii qui plus possint, et materiam uberiorem sunt nacti de Bardis, et caeteris Britannicae antiquitatis reliquiis, meliora cudant.

YCHYDIG
AWDLAU O WAITH YR HEN FEIRDD,
yn amser
tywysogion cymru;
WEDI EU CYFIEITHU I’R SAESONEG;

Er mwyn dangos ansawdd ein Prydyddiaeth i wyr cywraint, dysgedig, anghyfiaith: â nodau byrrion, i eglurhau enwau Dynion, a Lleoedd, a grybwyllir ynddynt; a hanes byrr o honynt, wedi ei gasglu allan o Drioedd Ynys Prydain, a hen Goffadwriaeth eraill; er dywenydd i’r oes hon, ac er adfer ei haeddedigawl barch i’r hen famiaith Gymraeg, ac i’n Gwlad; a’u dyledus glod i’w thrigolion dewrwych gynt.

Αιει τουτο Διος κόυραις μέλει, άιεν άοιδοις
Υμνειν αθανάτως, υμνειν αyαθων κλέα ανδρων.

Theocritus Idyll, xvi.

AT
RISIART MORYS, YSWAIN,
llywydd cymdeithas y cymmrodorion yn llundain;
A’I FRODYR,
LEWIS MORYS, YSWAIN, O BENBRYN,
yng ngheredigion; a
WILLIAM MORYS, O GAERGYBI, YM MON.

Ni bum yn hir yn myfyrio i bwy i cyflwynwn yr ychydig Awdlau sydd yn canlyn, canys ni adwaen i neb heddyw ag sydd yn eu deall cystal â chwi, na neb chwaith sydd yn coledd ac yn mawrhau ein iaith mor anwylgu Frutannaidd. I mae ein gwlad ni yn rhwymedig i bob un o honoch: i chwi y Llywydd, yn enwedig, am y gofal a gymmerasoch yn golygu argraffiad diweddaf y Bibl Cyssegrlan, er lles tragwyddol eneidiau ein cydwladwyr. Ef a dâl Duw i chwi am y gorchwyl elusengar yma, pan i bo’r byd hwn, a’i holl fawredd a’i wychder, wedi llwyr ddiflannu. Ac i mae’r wlad a’r iaith yn dra rhwymedig i’r Gwr o Benbryn, am gasglu cymmaint o Hanesion ynghylch ein Hynafiaid, na chlywodd y Saeson braidd son erioed am danynt. Ef a ddelwent ddilynwyr Camden, pei gwelynt fal i mae yn argyhoeddi ac yn ceryddu eu beiau, a’u tuedd gwyrgam, yn bychanu ac yn distadlu y pethau nad ydynt yn eu deall; ac o wir wenwyn yn taeru mai dychymmygion diweddar ydynt. Gobeithio i cawn ni weled y trysor mawrwerthiog yma ar gyhoedd; i beri

gosteg, ac i dorri rhwysg y cyfryw oganwyr ein hen hanesion. Nid bychan o les i mae y Gwr o Gaergybi ynteu yn ei wneuthur, trwy gasglu Gwaith yr hen Feirdd godidog gynt; ac ir wyf yn cyfaddef mai o’i lyfrau ef i cefais i y rhan fwyaf o’r odlau sydd yn canlyn. Ni fedrwn lai na dywedyd hyn am eich ewyllys da i’ch gwlad a’ch iaith; cynneddfau sydd, ysywaeth, mor brin ac anaml yn yr oes hon. Ef a ddichon hyn beri i’n gwlad agor ei llygaid, a defnyddio yn well rhagllaw yr hen ysgrifenadau sydd heb fyned ar goll. Ac os na wna hi hyny, i mae yn rhaid addef i chwi eich trioedd wneuthur eich rhan yn odiaeth. Hyn a’m hannogodd i roddi blaenffrwyth fy llafur, er nad yw ond bychan, dan eich nodded; a gobeithio nad ydyw Iwyr annheilwng i’w gyhoeddi, ag i daw rhywun cywreiniach i ddiwygio yr hyn sydd ammherffaith, ac i osod allan pethau 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 dâl ei ddangos i’r byd: a bod un o drigolion yr Uch Alban gwedi cyfieithu swrn o waith hen fardd; neu yn hytrach wedi addurno a thacclu rhyw waith diweddar, 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 mor henaidd: ond nid af i i ymyrryd ag ef ym mhellach yr awron. Y mae yn ddigon 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 llawen genyf 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 damunwn, yn ol fy ngallu, eich canlyn; a datcan, yngwydd yr holl fyd, fy mod, frodyr haeddbarch,

Eich Gwasanaethwr rhwymedig, gostyngeiddiaf,

EVAN EVANS.

AT Y CYMRY.

Pan welais fod un o Ysgodogion Ucheldir Alban, ac hefyd Sais dysgedig, wedi cyfieithu gwaith eu hen Feirdd i’r Saesoneg, mi a dybygais mai nid gweddus i ni, y Cymry, y rhai sydd genym Gerddi awduraidd, gorhenaidd, o’r einom, fod yn llwyr ddiymdro yn y cyngaws hwnnw: o herwydd, hyd i gwn i, dyna’r unig ragorgamp celfyddyd a adawodd ein hynafiaid ini, sydd heb ei cholli. I mae gwaith y Derwyddon, od oedd dim gwiwgof ganddynt wedi ei ysgrifennu, wedi myned ar ddifancoll; ac nid oes dim wedi dyfod i’n hoes ni oddiwrthynt, ond y Brydyddiaeth yn unig. I mae ein hen Fusic wedi ei llwyr ebargofio: nid yw’r cyweiriau cwynfanus sydd genym yr awron ond dychymmygion diweddar, pan oedd y Cymry yn griddfan tan iau galed y Saeson. Am gelfyddydau eraill, od oedd dim mewn perffeithrwydd, i mae gwedi ei lwyr golli. Nid oes genym ddim hanes am ein hynafiaid o’n hawduron ein hunain, ond oddiwrth y Beirdd yn unig, o flaen Gildas ap Caw; yr hwn sydd yn ein goganu, ac yn ein llurginio, yn hytrach nag ysgrifennu cywir hanes am danom; ond fo wyr hanesyddion yr achos: heblaw hyn, i mae ei waith ef wedi myned drwy ddwylo’r Meneich; gwŷr 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 Brenhinoedd, ac yn coffau 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 Brut y Brenhinoedd, yr hwn a ddarfu i Galfrid ap Arthur, o Aber Mynwy, ei gyfieithu o iaith Llydaw i’r Lladin, ac oddiyno yn

Gymraeg; fel i mae ef ei hunan yn cyfaddef mewn amryw hen gopiau ar femrwn, sydd etto i’w gweled yng Nghymru; ond ysywaith, e ddarfu iddo chwanegu amryw chwedlau at hanes Tysilio: Flamines ac Archiflamines, a phrophwydoliaeth Myrddin Emrys, a phethau eraill a fuasai harddach eu gadael heibio. Ped 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’r Saeson, o amser Camden, yn ei rhoi iddi; o herwydd i mae Nennius, yr hwn a ysgrifennodd drychant o flynyddoedd o’i flaen, yn rhoddi yr un hanes am ein dechreuad. Ir wyf yn amcanu, os Duw a rydd im’ hoedl ac iechyd, osod allan yr awdur hwn a nodau helaeth arno, gyd ag amddiffyniad o’r hanes; o herwydd efe yw’r hanesydd hynaf a feddwn yn Lladin, oddigerth y Gildas uchod, yr hwn nid yw deilwng ei gyfrif yn hanesydd; o herwydd nid dyna ei gyngyd na’i fympwy, yn ei Epistolæ de excidio Britanniæ. Ir wyf yn methu a chaffael copi iawn o Nennius, ac ir wyf yn meddwl nad oes un yng Nghymru a dâl ddim, ond yn Hengwrt: da iawn er lles y wlad a hanesyddion Prydain, i gwnai ei berchennog adael i ryw wr dysgedig ei gymharu. I mae genyfi ddau gopi, ond i maent yn dra ammherffaith; felly hefyd i mae’r rhai printiedig, 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 yn ei Britannia; a hyny yn unig, o achos nad oedd yn medru yr iaith yn well. A gresyn yw, nad oedd y Saeson, y rhai oeddynt yn ddiau (rai o naddunt) yn chwilio pethau yn dêg, 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

Llwyd o Ddinbych, a Rhobert Fychan o’r Hengwrt, fel i mae eu gwaith yn eglur ddangos. Ac yn ddiau, mae yn ammhosibl i undyn, bydded mor gywreinied ag i myno, wneuthur dim â ffrwyth ynddo, heb gaffael gweled yr hen ysgrifenadau, sydd yn gadwedig yn llyfr-gelloedd y boneddigion yng Nghymru; yn enwedig yn Hengwrt, a Llan Fordaf. Myfi a welais, ac a gefais fenthyg amryw lyfrau o waith llaw, yn llyfrgrawn yr anrhydeddus Robert Davies, ysgr. o Lannerch yn Swydd Dinbych; a Sir Roger Mostyn yng Ngloddaith, seneddwr dros Swydd Flint; a chan yr anrhydeddus William Fychan, ysgr. o Gors y Gedol, seneddwr dros Swydd Feirionydd; yr hyn ni fedraf lai nâ’i fynegu yma yngwydd y byd, er coffau eu cymmwynas a’u hewyllys da i’n gwlad a’n iaith, ac i minnau hefyd; yn ol arfer canmoladwy, a haelioni yr hen Frython 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 annogaeth gwyr dysgedig o Loegr; ac mi a ewyllysiwn wneuthur o honof hynny er clod iddynt; ond i mae yn rhaid im’ adael hynny ym marn y darllenyddion: ac nid oes genyfi ddim i’w ddywedyd, os drwg yw’r cyfieithiad, nad arnaf i yn llwyr i mae’r bai yn sefyll; o herwydd i maent y Beirdd yn ddiammau yn orchestol odiaeth; ond i mae’n rhaid addef hefyd eu bod yn anhawdd afrifed eu deongli, o herwydd eu bod yn llawn o eiriau sydd yr awron wedi myned ar gyfrgoll: ac nid ydynt wedi eu heglurhau mewn un Geiriadur argraffedig nac ysgrifenedig a welais i. Ir oedd yr Athraw hynod o Fallwyd, yr hwn a astudiodd yr iaith er lles cyffredin y wlad, dros holl ddyddiau ei einioes, yn methu eu deongli. Ac ni wnaeth y dysgedig Mr. Edward Llwyd o’r Musæum, gamp yn y byd yn y perwyl yma, er ei fod yn gydnabyddus â holl geinciau prifiaith Prydain. Ac yn ddiau o’r achos yma, nid oedd genyfi ddim ond ymbalfalu am ystyr a synwyr y

Beirdd, mewn llawer man, oddiwrth flaen ac ol. Ir wyf yn rhyfeddu’n ddirfawr am rai o’r Cymry sydd yn haeru fod gwaith Taliesin, a’i gydoesiaid Aneurin Gwawdrydd, Llywarch Hen, a Merddin Wyllt, yn hawdd eu deall. Yn ddiau nid wyf i yn deall mo honynt, ac i mae’r rhai dysgediccaf yn yr iaith, y to heddyw, yn addef yr un peth. I mae’r Beirdd, hir oesoedd gwedi hyny, sef ar ol dyfodiad Gwilym Fasdardd, hyd farwolaeth, Llywelyn ap Gruffydd, yn dywyll iawn; fal i gellwch weled oddiwrth yr odlau sydd yn canlyn. Hyn a barodd i mi beidio â chyfieithu chwaneg o honynt y tro yma, rhag ofn imi, trwy fy anwybodaeth, wneuthur cam â hwynt. Ond gan i’r Saeson daeru, na feddwn ddim mewn prydyddiaeth a dâl ei ddangos; mi a wnaethum fy ng’orau er cyfieithu y Casgliad bychan yma, i fwrw heibio, os yw bossibl, y gogan hwnnw: ac yn ddiau, os na wyddodd genyf wneuthur hyny, i mae yn rhaid i’r Beirdd, a’m cydwladwyr, faddeu imi; a gobeithio i derbyniant fy ewyllys da, herwydd na ddichon neb wneuthur ond a allo.—Heblaw hyn oll, i mae hyn o waith yn dyfod i’r byd, mewn amser anghyfaddas i ymddangos mewn dim prydferthwch; o herwydd i mae un o drigolion yr Uch Alban, gwedi gosod allan ddau lyfr o waith Ossian; hen Fardd, meddai ef, cyn dyfod Cristianogaeth i’w plith. Ac i mae’r llyfrau hyn mewn rhagorbarch 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 dynion, ac nad ydynt mor hen ag i mae ef yn taeru eu bod. I mae’r Gwyddelod yn arddelw Ossian megis un o’u cydwladwyr 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 dani; yn enwedig dyfodiad Gwyr Llychlyn i’r Iwerddon, yr hyn ni ddigwyddodd, meddai hanesyddion yr Iwerddon, cyn y flwyddyn 700. Ac ni ddaeth yr Ysgodogion chwaith i sefydlu yn yr Alban, o flaen Fergus Mac Ein, ynghylch

y flwyddyn 503; fal i mae William Llwyd, Esgob Caerwrangon, wedi ei brofi yn ddiwrthadl, yn ei lyfr ynghylch llywodraeth eglwysig. Ond pei canniatteid eu bod hwy yno cyn hynny, ni fyddai hynny ronyn nes i brofi Ossian mor hyned ag i dywedir ei fod. O herwydd ped fuasai, pa fodd i mae ei gyfieithydd yn medru ei ddeongli mor hyfedr? I mae gwaith ein Beirdd ni, sydd gant o flynyddoedd ar ol hynny, tu hwnt i ddeall y gwir cywreiniaf a medrusaf yn yr hen Frutaniaith. Pwy o honom ni a gymerai’r Gododin, gwaith Aneurin Gwawdrydd, Fychdeyrn Beirdd, a’i gyfieithu mor llathraidd ag i gwnaeth cyfieithydd Ffingal a Themora? Ir wyfi yn meddwl nad oes neb a ryfygei gymmeryd y fath orchest arno. Prin iawn i medreis i ddeongli rhai pennillion o hono yma a thraw, y rhai a ellwch eu gweled yn y traethawd Lladin ynghylch y Beirdd. A gresyn yw ei fod mor dywyll, o herwydd, hyd ir wyf fi yn ei ddeall, gwaith godidog ydyw. Yr un peth a ellir ei ddywedyd am Daliesin Ben Beirdd, nid oes neb heddyw, hyd i gwn i, a fedr gyfieithu yn iawn un o’i Awdlau na’i Orchanau. Myfi a wn fod amryw Frudiau ar hyd y wlad, wedi eu tadogi ar Daliesin a Myrddyn; ond nid ydynt ond dychymygion diweddar, gwedi eu ffurfeiddio ar ol marwolaeth Llywelyn ap Gruffydd. Yn enwedig yn amseroedd terfysglyd Owain Glyndwr, a’r ymdrech rhwyg pleidiau Efrog a Lancaster. I mae hefyd eraill, gwedi eu lluniaethu gan y Meneich, i atteb eu dibenion hwythau; ond i mae’r rhain oll yn hawdd eu gwahanu oddiwrth awduraidd waith Taliesin, wrth yr iaith.—I mae yn ddiammau genyf, fod y bardd yma yn odidog yn ei amser. Ir oedd yn gydnabyddus ag athrawiaith y Derwyddon am y μετεμψύχωσις, a’r Daroganau, y rhai oeddynt yn ddiammau, weddillion o’r Credo paganaidd; canys nid yw daroganu ddim arall ond mynegi pethau i ddyfod, oddiwrth y Ddar, yr hon ir oeddynt y Derwyddon yn ei pherchi yn fawr iawn. A chan ei fod ef yn wr llys, ac yn byw yn yr oes anwybodus

honno, ir oedd yr hyn a ddywedai yn cael ei dderbyn a’i roesawu gan y gwerinos, megis ped fuasai wir broffwyd. A hynny a ellir ei ddywedyd hefyd am Ferddin Emrys, a’i broffwydoliaeth. Mor anhawdd yw tynnu ofergoelion eu hynafiaid, oddiwrth un wlad neu genedl!

E ddichon rhai o honoch ysgatfydd ofyn, Paham na buaswn yn cyfieithu rhai o’r Beirdd godidog diweddar, a ysgrifenasant wedi diwygio yr hen gynghanedd? I’r rhain ir wyf yn ateb, fod y Beirdd yn amser y tywysogion yn fwy ardderchog a mawryddig yn eu gwaith; ac ir oeddynt eu hunain, rai o naddunt, yn dywysogion, ac yn wyr dyledogion; yn enwedig, Owain Cyfeiliog, tywysog Powys; a Hywel ap Owain Gwynedd, Bardd a rhyfelwr godidog: ac felly ir oeddynt yn fwy penigamp na’r Beirdd diweddar, o ran eu testunau. Canys ir oedd y Beirdd diweddar, fel i mae Sion Dafydd Rhys yn achwyn arnynt, yn gwenieithio i’r gwyr mawr, ac yn dywedyd celwydd ar eu cân; ac yn haeru iddynt dorri cestyll, lladd a llosgi, pryd ir oeddynt, eb ef, yn cysgu yn eu gwelyau, heb ddim mo’r fath feddwl nac amcan ganddynt. Eithr yn amser y tywysogion, o’r gwrthwyneb, ir oedd y Beirdd yn dystion o ddewredd a mawrfrydigrwydd eu tywysogion; ac ir oeddynt eu hunain yn filwyr glewion. Ir oedd Meilir Brydydd yn gennad dros Ruffydd ap Cynan at frenin Lloegr; ac ir oedd Gwalchmai, ei fab, yn flaenor câd ynghyffinydd Lloegr a Chymru; fel i maent ill dau yn tystiolaethu yn eu cerddi. Heblaw hyn, ir oedd y tywysogion yma yn fuddugawl yn eu rhyfeloedd â’r Saeson, ac ir oedd hynny yn peri i’r Beirdd ymorchestu, i dragywyddoli eu gweithredoedd ardderchog; ac i foli eu gwroldeb mewn achos 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 Feirdd ganu arnynt, ac yn fodd cymmwys i beri i’w deiliaid eu perchi a’u hanrhydeddu; canys ir oedd y cerddi

godidog yma yn cael eu datgan gyda’r delyn, mewn cyweiriau cyfaddas, mewn gwleddau yn llys y tywysog, ac yn neuaddau y pendefigion a’r uchelwyr. I mae Giraldus yn dywedyd, fod y Cymry mor ddrud a milwraidd yn ei amser ef, ag na rusynt ymladd yn noeth ac yn ddiarfog, â’r rhai arfog, llurugog; a’r pedydd yn erbyn y marchogion. Yn ddiau nid oedd un modd a ellid ei ddychymmygu well, i gynnal yr yspryd dihafarch yma yn ein hynafiaid, na chael eu moli gan y Beirdd. Ac e wyddai’r Saeson hynny yn dda ddigon; canys ar ol darostwng Cymru tan eu llywodraeth, e ddarfu iddynt ddihenyddu’r Beirdd trwy’r holl wlad. I mae llyfrau ystatud Lloegr, yn llawn o gyfreithiau creulon i’w herbyn, ac yn gwarafun yn gaeth iddynt ymarfer o’u hen ddefodau, o glera a chymhortha. Yn amser Owain Glyndwr, i cawsant ychydig seibiant a chynhwysiad i ganu; ond gwedi hynny, hyd ddyfodiad Harri’r Seithfed, ir oeddynt tan gwmmwl. Gwedi iddo ef ddyfod i lywodraethu, ac yn amser ei fab, Harri’r Wythfed, a’r frenhines Elisabeth, y rhai a hanoeddynt o waed Cymreig, i cawsant gynhwysiadau i gynnal Eisteddfodau: ond ni pharhaodd hynny ond ennyd fechan, o herwydd bonedd Cymru a ymroisant i fod yn Saeson, fel i maent yn parhau gan 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 gywraint a naturiol ag sydd ym Mhrydyddion Groeg a Rhufain; mal i gwyr y sawl a’u deallant yn dda.—Ymysg eraill i mae Cymdeithas y Cymmrodorion, yn Llundain, yn rhoddi mawrbarch iddynt; ac yn chwenychu cadw cynnifer o’n hen ysgrifenadau ag sydd heb fyned ar goll. A da i gwneynt foneddigion Cymru, ped ymoralwent am argraffu y pethau mwyaf hynod a gwiwgof mewn prydyddiaeth,

hanesion, ac eraill hen goffadwriaethau; o herwydd i maent beunydd yn cael eu difrodi, gan y sawl ni wyddant ddim gwell. Hyn, er lles ein gwlad a’n iaith, yw gwir a diffuant ddamuniad

Eich gostyngedig wasanaethwr, a’ch ewyllysiwr da,

EVAN EVANS.

I. HIRLAS OWAIN.

Owain Cyfeiliog e hun ai cant.

Gwawr pan ddwyre gawr a ddoded,
Galon yn anfon anfudd dynged,
Geleurudd ein gwyr gwedi lludded 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 foddhäed,
Y corn yn llaw Rhys yn llys llyw ced,
Llys Owain ar braidd yt ryborthed erioed,
Porth mil a glywi pyrth egored.

Menestr am gorthaw, nam adawed
Estyn y corn er cyd yfed,
Hiraethlawn am llyw lliw ton nawfed,
Hirlas i arwydd aur i dudded:

A dyddwg o fragawd wirawd orgred,
Ar llaw Wgan draws dros i weithred,

Canawon Goronwy, gwrdd gynnired gwyth,
Canawon hydwyth, hydr eu gweithred:
Gwyr a obryn tal ymhob caled,
Gwyr yngawr 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 llaw ddehau ein llyw gyflafan,
Lluch y dan ysgwyd ysgawn lydan,
Ar llaw Ednyfet llawr diogan lew,
Ergyrwayw trylew, trei i darian.
Terfysc ddyffysc ddeu ddiofn anian,
Torrynt torredwynt uch teg adfan,
Teleirw yngbyngrein ynghyfran brwydr,
Tal ysgwyd eurgrwydr torrynt yn fuan:
Tryliw eu pelydr gwedi penwan,
Trylwyn yn amwyn amwiw Garthan.

Cigleu ym Maelawr gawr fawr fuan,
A garw ddisgyrr gwyr, a gwyth erwan,
Ac ymgynnull am drull am dramwyan,
Fal i bu ym Mangor am ongyr dân:
Pan wnaeth dau deyrn uch cyrn cyfrdan.
Pan fu gyfeddach Forach Forfran.

Dywallaw di’r corn, canys myfyr gennyf,
Men ydd amygant medd a’n tymmyr,
Selif diarswyt orsaf Gwygyr,
Gogelet ai cawdd calon eryr!
Ac unmab Madawc, enwawg Dudur hael,
Hawl bleiddiad, lleiddiad, 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 diachyr,
Arfod llewod 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 uch 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 oll,
Gwirawd o ban, dy ben faddau,
Ar llaw Foreiddig, llochiad cerddau,
Cerddyn hyn i glod cyn oer adnau,
Dieithr frodyr fryd ucheldau,
Diarchar arial a dan dalau,

Cedwyr am gorug gwasanaethau,
Nid ym hyn dihyll nam hen deheu
Cynnifieid, gyrthieid, fleinieid, fleiddiau,
Cynfaran creulawn creulyd ferau,
Glew glyw Mochnannwys o Bowys beu:
O glew gwnedd arnaddunt deu,
Achubieit pob rheid, rhudd eu harfeu:
Echedwynt rhag terfysc eu terfynau,
Moliant yw eu rhann y rhei gwynnau;
Marwnad fu neud mi newid y ddau!
O chan Grist mor drist wyf o’r anaeleu!
O goll Moreiddig mawr ei eissieu.

Dywallaw di’r corn can nim puchant,
Hirlas yn llawen yn llaw Forgant,
Gwr a ddyly gwawd gwahan foliant,
Gwenwyn y addwyn, gwan edrywant,
Areglydd defnydd dioddefiant llafn,
Llyfn i deutu llym ei hamgant.

Dywallaw di fenestr o lestr ariant,
Celennyg edmyg, can urdduniant,
Ar llawr Gwestun fawr gwelais irdant,
Ardwy Goronwy oedd gweith i gant,
Cedwyr cyfarfaeth ydd ymwnaethant,
Cad ymerbynieid, eneid dichwant,
Cyfarfu ysgwn ac ysgarant aer,
Llas aer, llosget maer ger mor lliant:
Mwynfawr o garcharawr a gyrchassant,
Meurig fab Gruffydd grym ddarogant,
Neud oedd gochwys pawb pan atgorsant,
Neud oedd lawn o heul hirfryn a phant.

Dywallaw di’r corn ir cynnifieid,
Canawon Owain, cyngrein, cydneid,

Wynt a ddyrllyddant yn lle honneid,
Glud men ydd ant gloyw heyrn ar neid:
Madawc a Meilir gwyr gorddyfneid treis,
Tros gyferwyr gyferbynieid:
Tariannogion torf, terfysc ddysgeid,
Trinheion faon, traws ardwyeid.
Ciglau am dal medd myned dreig Cattraeth,
Cywir eu harfaeth, arfau lliweid,
Gosgordd Fynyddawc am eu cysgeid,
Cawssant y hadrawdd cas flawdd flaenieid;
Ni wnaeth a wnaeth fynghedwyr ynghalet Faelor,
Dillwng carcharor dullest foleid.

Dywallaw di fenestr fedd hidlaid, melus,
Ergyrwayw gwrys gochwys yn rheid,
O gyrn 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 ferth hewir,
Menestr mawr a gweith yd ioleithir
Gwyr ni oleith lleith, oni llochir,
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 Owain gylchwy enwir,
Pan breiddwyd Cawres, taerwres trwy dir,
Preidd ostwng orflwng a orfolir,
Menestr nam didawl, nim didolir,
Boed ym mharadwys in cynhwysir,
Can pen teyrnedd, poed hir eu trwydded,
Yn i mae gweled gwaranred gwir. Amen.

II. AWDL

I Fyfanwy Fechan, o Gastell Dinas Bran. Howel ap Einion Lygliw ai cant.

Neud wyf ddihunwyf, hoen Creirwy hoywdeg,
Am hudodd mal Garwy,
O fan or byd rwymgwyd rwy,
O 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,
Lle arlloes fre eurllys Fran.

Gwn beunydd herwydd herw amcan, ddilyd
Ddelw berw Caswennan:
Golwg, deddf amlwg diddan,
Gwelw, freich fras brenhinblas Bran.

Gyrrais a llidiais farch bronn llydan, hoyw,
Er hoen blodau sirian:
Gyrrawd ofal yr Alban,
Garrhir braisc ucheldir Bran.

Lluniais wawd, ddefawd ddifan, traul ofer,
Nid trwy lafur bychan:
Lliw eiry cynnar pen Aran,
Lloer bryd, lwys fryd o lys Fran.

Mireinwawr Drefawr dra fo brad im dwyn,
Gwarando fy nghwyn, frwyn freuddwydiad,
Mau glwyf a mowrnwyf murniad, huno heb
Gwrtheb teg atteb tuac attad
Mi dy fardd digardd, dygn gystuddiad Rhun,
Gyfun laes wannllun ith lys winllad.
Mynnu ddwyf draethu heb druthiad na gwyd
Wrthyd haul gymmryd, gamre 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 lwysle,
Mygrwedd haul fore eurne arnad.
Megis llwyr gludais llawer gwlad, yn ddwys,
Dy glod lwys, cynnwys pob datceiniad,
Mal hy oedd ymmy, am wyl gariad graen,
Myfanwy hoen blaen eiry gaen gawad.

Meddwl serchawl, hawl, lliw ton hwyliad welw,
Arddelw dygynnelw heb dy gynheiliad.
Modd trist im gwnaeth Crist croesdog neirthiad llwyr,
Wanwyr oi synwyr drwy lud senniad.
Murn 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 glyw gloyw luniad cyngaws,
Hoednaws nid anaws im am danad.
Meddwl ofeiliaint braint braidd im gad llesmair,
I gael yr eilgair wrth offeiriad.
Masw imi brofi, brif draethiad a wnawn,
Lle nim rhoddi iawn, ne gwawn, na gwad.
Mesur cawdd anawdd i ynad eglur,
Adrawdd fy nolur ddwysgur ddysgiad.
Modd nad gwiw, lliw lleuad rhianedd,
Nam gwedd hud garedd, nam hoed girad.
Meinir nith borthir, gwn borthiad poenau,
Yn nenn hoen blodau blawd yspyddad.
Medraist, aur delaist adeilad gwawd,
Im nychdawd ddifrawd ddyfrys golliad.
Meddylia oth ra ath rad, ith brydydd
Talu y carydd Duw dofydd dad.

Prydydd wyf, tros glwyf, trais glud, poen gwaneg,
Iaith laesdeg ith lwysdud:
Fynawg riain fain funud:
Fun arlludd hun eirllwydd hud.

Im neud glud, dy hud hydr, riain wanlleddf,
O’r wenllys ger Dinbrain:
Aml yw gwawd gynnefawd gain,
Om araith ith dwf mirain.

III. AWDL

I Lewelyn fab Iorwerth. Dafydd Benfras ai cant.

Gwr a wnaeth llewych o’r gorllewin,
Haul a lloer 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 Gwyndyd werin,
Gwynedd bendefig, ffynnedig ffin,
Gwanas deyrnas, deg cywrennin,
Gwreidd, teyrneidd, taer ymrwydrin,
Gwrawl ei fflamdo am fro Freiddin.
Er pan orau Duw dyn gyssefin,
Ni wnaeth ei gystal traws arial trin.
Gorug Llewelyn, orllin teyrnedd,
Ar y brenhinedd braw a gorddin
Pan fu yn ymbrofi a brenin Lloegyr,
Yn llygru swydd Erbin.
Oedd breisc, weisc ei fyddin,
Oedd brwysc rwysc rhag y godorin,
Oedd balch gwalch, golchiad ei laïn,
Oedd beilch gweilch, gweled ei werin,
Oedd clywed cleddyfau finfin,
Oedd clybod clwyf ymhob elin,
Oedd briw rhiw yn nhrabludd odrin,
Oedd braw saw Saeson clawdd y Cnwecin,