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THE LIBRARY
OF
THE UNIVERSITY
OF CALIFORNIA
LOS ANGELES
/
SOME'
SPECIMENS
OF THE
POETRY
O F T H E
ANTIENT WELSH BARDS;
TRANSLATED INTO ENGLISH,
WITH
Explanatory Notes on the Historical Passages,
And a fliort Account of Men and Places mentioned by the BARDS,
In order to give the Curious fome Idea of the Tafte and Sentiments of our Anceftors,
and their Manner of Writing.
By the Rev-J Mr. EVAN EVANS,
Curate of Llanvair Talyhaern in Denbighshire.
" Vos quoque, qui fortes animas belloque peremptas
" Laudibus in longum, Vates, dimittitis aevum,
♦' Plurima fecuri fudiftis carmina Bardi."
LUCANUS.
" Si quid mea carmina polTunt
" Aonio ftatuam fublimes vertice Bardos,
" Bardos Pieridum cultores atque canentis
" Phoebi delicias, qulbus eft data cura perennis
" Dicere nobilium clariffima fafla virorum,
«' Aureaque excelfam famani fuper aftra locare."
Lelandus in AlTertione Arturii.
LONDON:
Printed for K. and J. D O D S L E Y in Pall-Mall.
M.DCC.LXIV.
T
SIR ROGER MOSTYN,
O F
MOSTYN AND GLODDAITH, Bart.
Reprefentative of the County, Lord Lieutenant, and Lieutenant
Colonel of the Militia of Flintshire.
I
S I R>
HOPE you will pardon my prefumptlon in prefixing your
name to the following fmall colledion of Britifh poems, to
which you have a jufl claim, as being lineally defcended from thofe
heroes they celebrate, and retain in an eminent manner the worth
and generous principles of your renowned anceftors. The Britifh
Bards were received by the nobility and gentry with diftinguiflied
marks of efteem, in every part of Wales, and particularly at Gloddaith
and Moftyn, where their works are ftill preferved in your curious
libraries. I hope, therefore, an attempt to give the public a fmall
fpecimen of their works will not fail of your approbation, which the
editor flatters himfelf with, from the generous manner with whicli
you treated him, particularly by lending him fome of your valuable
books and manufcripts.
a 2 That
♦ G23343
[ iv ]
That you may long continue to be an ornament to your
country, and a pattern of virtuous adtions, and a generous patron of
learning, is the fincere wifh, of,
SIR,
Your obliged
Humble Servant,
EVANEVANS.
*ru
[ V ]
The following curious Commi/Jiojt fuhlijtoed and inferted in fame of the
Copies of Dr. Brown's Difjertation on the Vnion^ &c. of Poetry and
Mufc, and commujiicated from a Manufcript Copy in my PofeJJion,
having fo near a Relation to the Family of the noble Patron of thefe
Poem., I thought it right to reprint it on this Occafion>
" By the Queen,
*' TT^LizABETH, by the Grace of God, of England, France, and
-*— ' " Ireland, Queen, Defender of the Faith, &c. To our
** trufty and right well beloved beloved Sir Richard Bulkely, Knight,
" Sir Rees Griffith, Knight, Ellis Price, Efq. Dr. in Civil Law,
*' and one of our Council in the MarcheiTe of Wales, William
" Moftyn, Jeuen Lloyd of Yale, John Salifbury of Rhug, Rice
" Thomas, Maurice Wynne, William Lewis, Pierce Moftyn, Owen
" John ap Hnwel Fichan, John William ap John, John Lewis
«' Owen, Morris Griffith, Symmd Thelwat, John Griffith, Ellis ap
"William Lloyd, Robert Pulefton, Harri ap Harri, William Glynn,
«• and Rees Hughes, Efqrs. and to every of them Greeting."
" Whereas it is come to the Knowledge of the Lord Prefident,
" and other our Council in our MarchefTe of Wales, that vagrant and
" idle Pcrfons naming themfelves Miti/lrels, Rythmcrs, and Bards, are
" lately grown into fuch intolerable Multitude within the Principality
« of North Wales, that not only Gentlemen and others by their
" Jhamelefs Diforders are oftentimes difquieted in their Habitations,
" but alfo the expert Minflreh and Muficians in Tonge and Cunynge
" thereby much difcouraged to travaile in the Exercife and Pra(5lire
" of their Knowledg, and alio not a little hindred (of) Livings and
" Preferment; the Reformation whereof, and the putting thefe
5 " People
[ vi ]
" People in Order, the faid Lord Prefident and Council have thought
'' very neceflary : And knowing you to be Men of both Wifdora
" and upright Dealing, and alfo of Experience and good Knvpledg
" in the Scyence, have appointed and authorized You to be Commif-
«' fioners for that Purpofe : And forafmuch as our faid Council, of
" late travailing in fome Part of the faid Principality, had perfed Un-
<' derflanding by credible Report, that the accuftomed Place for the
" Execution of the like Commiffion hath been heretofore at Cayroes
" in oar County of Flynt, and that William Moftyn, Efq. and his
" Anceftors have had the Gift and beftowing of the Sylver Harp ap-
" pertainin<T to the Chief oi that Faculty ^ and that a Tears Warning
" (at leaft) hath been accuftomed to be given of the Affembly and
«' Execution of the like Commiffion ; Our faid Council have therefore
" appointed the Execution of this Commiffion to be at the faid Town
" of Cayroes, the Monday next after the Feafhof the BlefTed Trinity
"« which fliall be in the Year of our Lord 1568. And therefore we
" require and command You by the Authority of thefe Prefents, not
" only to caufe open Proclamation to be made in all Fairs, Market-
«' Toumsy and other Places of /Ijfemhiy within our Counties of Aglere,
" Carnarvon, Meryonydd, Denbigh and Flynt, that all and every
«' Perfon and Perfons that intend to maintain their Living by name
" or Colour of Minjirels, Rythmers, or Bards, within the Talaith of
" Aberffravv, comprehending the faid five Shires, fliall be and appear
♦' before You the faid Day and Place to Jhew their Learnings accord-
" ingly : But alfo, that You, twenty, nineteen, eighteen, feventeen,
" fixteen, fifteen, fourteen, thirteen, twelve, eleven, ten, nine, eight,
" feven, or fix of you, wherof You the faid Sir Richard Bulkely,
" Sir Rees Griffith, Ellis Price, and William Moftyn Efqs. or three
«' or two of you, to be of the number ; to repair to the faid Place the
<< Days aforefaid, and calling to you fuch expert Men in the fliid Fa~
" cidty
[ vii ]
" ciihy of the Weljl Mufick as to You fliall be thought convenient, to
*' proceed to the Execution of the Premifes, and to admit fuch and
" fo many, as by your Wifdoms and Knowledges you fliall find
" ivorfhy, into and under the Degrees heretofore (in Uje) in femb)a-
" ble Sort to ufe, cxercife, and Jol/ow the Sciences and Faculties of their
" TrofeJjionSy in fuch decent Order as (liall appertain to each of their
" Degrees, and as your Difcretions and Wildoms Ihail prefcribe unto
" them : Giving ftreight Monition and Commandment in our Name
" and on our Behalf to the reft not worthy, that they return to fome
<* honeft Labour, and due Exercife, fuch as they be moft apt unto
*< for Maintenance of their Living, upon Pain to be taken as fturdy
•' and idle Vagabonds, and to be ufed according to the Laws and
" Statutes provided in that Behalf; letting You with our faid Coun-
" cil look for Advertifement, by Certificate at your Hands, of your
" Doings in the Execution of the faid Premifes ; forefeeing in any
" wife, that upon the faid AfTembly the Peace and good Order be
" obferved and kept accordingly ; afccrtaining you that the faid
<' William Moftyn hath promifed to fee Furniture and Things necef-
" fary provided for that Aflenfibly, at the Place aforefaid."
«< Given under our Signet at our City of Chefler, the twenty
*' third of Odober in the ninth Year of our Reignj 1567."^
" Signed
" Her Highnefs's Counfail
" in the MarchelTe of Wales."
« N. B. This Commiffion was copy'd exadly from the Ori-.
" ginal now at Moftyn, A. D. 1693: Where the Silver
" Harp alfo is."
Si/ice
[ viil ]
Since this CommiJ/ion has been in the Prefs, the Author has had an
Opportunity to fee the following Account of what has been done in
Confeguence offuch a Commifjion in the tejith Tear of the Reign of
^een Elizabeth. T'his is tranflated from the Original in
Wel(h.
KN O W all Men, by thefe Prefents, That there is a Congrefs-
of Bards, and Muficians, to be held in the Town of Caerwys,
in the County of Flint, on the twenty-lixth Day of May, in the
tenth Year of the Reign of her Majefly Queen Elizabeth, before
Ellis Price, Efquire, Dodlor of the Civil Law, and one of her Ma-
jefty's Council in the Marches of Wales, and before William Moftyn,
Peres Moftyn, Owen John ap Hywel Vaughan, John William ap
John, John Lewis Owen, Morris Griffith, Simon Thelwat, John
Griffith Serjeant, Robert Pulefdon, Evan Lloyd of Jal, and William
Glyn, Efquires.
And that we the faid Commiffioners, by virtue of the faid Com-
miffion, being her Majefty's Council, do give and grant to Simwnt
Vychan, Bard, the degree of Pencerdd j and do order that Perfons
receive and hofpitably entertain him in all Places fit for him to go
and come to receive his Perquifites according to the Princely Statutes
in that Cafe made and provided. Given under our Hands, in the
Year J 568.
PREFACE.
PREFACE.
As there is a natural curiofity in moft people to be brought'
acquainted with the works of men, whofe names have been'
conveyed down to us with applaufe from very early antiquity ; I
have been induced to think, that a tranflation of fome of the
Welfli Bards would be no unacceptable prefent to the public. It is
true, they lived in times when all Europe was enveloped with
t^Te dark cloud of bigotry and ignorance ; yet, even under thefe
difadvantageous circumftances, a late inftance may. convince us,,
that poetry flione forth with a light, that feems aftonifliing to
many readers. They who have perufed the works of Offian, as
tranflated by Mr. Macpherfon, will, I believe, be of ray opinion.
I MEAN not to fet the following poems in competition with
thofe juil mentioned; nor did the fuccefs which they have met
with from the world, put me upon this undertaking. It was firfl:
thought of, and encouraged fome years before the name of Ofllan
was known in England. I had long been convinced, that no na-
tion, in Europe polIefTes greater remains of antient and genuine
B pieces
il PREFACE.,
pieces of this kind than the Wehh ; and therefore was inclined,
in honour to my country, to give a fpecimen of them in the English
•language.
A s to the genuinenefs of thefe poems, I think there can be no
doubt J but though we may vie with the Scottifh nation in this
particular, yet there is another point, in v/hich we muft yield to
them undoubtedly. The language of their oldeft poets, it feems,
is flill perfedtly intelligible, which is by no means our cafe.
The works of Taliefin, Lywarch Hen, Aneurin Gwawd-
rydd, Myrddin Wyllt, Avan Verddig, who all flouriflied about
the year 560, a confiderable time after Offian, are hardly un-
derftood by the beft critics and antiquarians in Wales, though- our
language has not undergone more changes than the Erfe. Nay,
the Bards that wrote a long while after, from the time of Wil-
liam the Conqueror to the death of prince Llewelyn, are not
fo eafy to be underftood ; but that whoever goes about to
tranflate them, will find numerous obfolete words, not to be found
in any Dictionary or Gloffary, either in print or manufcript.
What this difference is owing to, I leave to be determined by
others, who are , better acquainted, than I am, with fuch circum-
ftances of the Scottlfli Highlands, as might prove more favour-
able towards keeping up the perfed knowledge of their language
for fo many generations. But, be that as it may, it is not my in-
tent to enter into the difpute, which has arifen in relation to the
antiquity of Oflian's poems. My concern is only about the opinion
the world m.iy entertain of the intrinfic value of thofe which I
offer. They feem to mc, though not fo methodical and regular
in
PREFACE.
m
in their compofition 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 fliall have no reafon to repent of the pains I have taken
to draw them out of that flate of obfcurity, in which they have hi-
therto been burled, and in which they run great rifque of moulder-
ing away.
It might perhaps be expedled, that I fliould fay fomething of
the Bards in general on this occafion ; but as I have treated that
fubjed: in my Latin Differtation, which I fliall annex to thefe tranf-
lations, it will be fufficient to obferve here, that the ufual fubjeds of
their poems were the brave feats of their warriors in the field, their hof-
pitality andgenerofity with other commendable qualities in domeflic life,
and elegies upon their great men, which were fung to the harp at their
feafls, 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 fliewn at large in the above-mentioned treatife,.
which I intend to publifh.
The following poems, from among many others of greater length,
and of equal merit, were taken from a manufcript of the learned
Dr. Davies, author of the Diftionary, which he had tranfcribed
from an antient vellum MS. which was wrote, partly in Edward the
fecond and third's time, and partly in Henry the fifth's, containing
the works of all the Bards from the Conqueft to the death of Lle-
welyn, the laft prince of the Britifli line. This is a noble treafure,
and very rare to be met with ; for Edward the firft ordered all our
Bards, and their works, to be deftroyed, as is attefted by Sir
John Wynne of Gwydir, in the hiftory he compiled of his anceftors
at Carnarvon, What remained of their works were conveyed in his
B 2 tiii^s
IV
PRE FACE.
time to the Exchequer, where he complains they lay In great confuiion,
when he had oceafion to confult them.
As to the tranllation, I have endeavoured to render the fenfe of
the Bards faitlifully, without confining myfelf to too fervile a ver-
fion ; nor have I, on the other hand, taken liberty to wander
much from the originals ; unlefs where I faw it abfolutely nccelTary,
on account of the different phrafeology and idiom of language.
If this fmall colledion has the good fortune to merit the atten-
tion of the public, I may, in feme future time, if God permit me
life and health, proceed to tranflate other feledl pieces from the fame
manufcript. The poems, in the original, have great merit ; and if
there is none in the tranllation of this fpecimen, it mud: be owing
intirely to my inability to do the Bards jullice. I am not the only
perfon who admires them : Men of the greatefl fenfe and learning in
Wales do the fame. '
It mud be owned, that It Is an arduous task to bring them to
make any tolerable figure in a profe tranllation ; but thofe who have
any candor, will make allowances. What was faid of poetry in ge-
neral by one of the wits, that it is but Profe rim mad, may very juftly
be applied to our Bards in particular: For there are not fuch extra-
vagant flights in any poetic compofitions, except it be in the Eafiern,
to which, as far as I can judge by the few tranllated fpecimens I have
feen, they bear a great refemblance.
T HAVE added a few Notes, to illuflrate fome hiftorlcal facls al-
luded to in the poems, and a (hort account of each poem, and
the
PREFACE. V
the occarion it was written upon, as far as it could be traced
from our ancient manufcripts.
I HAVE been obliged to leave blanks in fome places, where I
did not underfland the meaning in the original, as I had hut
one copy by me, which might be faulty. When I have an op-
portunity to collate it with other copies, I may clear thefe ob-
Icure paflages.
I. A POEM
m:
I.
A POEM compofed by Owahi Cyvdliog, prince of Powys, entitled by
him H I R L A s, from a large drinking horn fo called, ufed at
feajis in his palace. He was driven out of his country by Oivain Gwy~
nedd, prince of North-wales, andRhys-ap-Grifith-ap-Rhys-ap-Tewdwr,
prince of South-wales, A. D. 1 167, and recovered it, by the help of the
Normans and Englifo, under Henry the fecond. He fom-iJ}:ed about
A. D. 1 160, in the time of Owain Gwynedd aiid his fon David. This
poem was compofed on account of a battle fought with the EngliJIi at
Maelor, which is a part of the counties of Denbigh and Flint, according
to the modern divifion.
WHEN the dawn arofe, the fiiout was given ; the enemy gave an
ominous prefage ; our men were flained with blood, after a hard
conteft; and the borders of Maelor Drefred were beheld with wonder
and aftonifliment. Strangers have I driven av»ay undaunted from
the field with bloody arms. He that provokes the brave man, ought
to dread his refentment.
Fill, Cup-bearer, fill with alacrity the horn of Rhys, in the
generous prince's hall ; for Owen's hall was ever fupported by fpoils
taken from the enemy ; and in it thou heareft of the relief of thou-
fands. There the gates are ever open.
O Cup-
8 SPECIMENS OF ANTIENT Poem I.
O Cu P-E K AR F. R, who, with patience, mindeft thy duty, for-
fake us not ; fetch the horn, that we may drink together, whofe
glofs is like the wave of the fea ; whofe green handles fhew the
fkill of the artill, and are tipped with gold. Bring the beft meath,
End put it in Gwgan Draws's hand, for the noble feats which he
hath atchieved : The offspring of Gronwy, who valiantly fought
in the midft of dangers; a race of heroes for worthy adls renown-
ed : And men, who, in every hardfhip they undergo, deferve
a reward ; who are in the battle foremofl : The guardians of Sa-
brina. Their friends exult, when they hear their voice. The
fcftal fliout will ceafe when they are gone.
Fill thou the yellow-trpped horn, badge of honour and mirth,
full of frothint^ meath j and if thou art defirous to have thy life
prolonged to the year's end, flop not the reward due to his virtue ;
for it is unjuft ; and bring it to Griffith, with the crimfon lance.
Brino- wine in the tranfparent horn; for he is the guardian of *Ar-
wyftli, the defence of its borders ; a dragon of Owain the generous,
whofe defcent is from Cynvyn ; a dragon he was from the beginnings
that never was terrified in the battle ; his brave adions fliall follow
him. The warriors went to purchafe renown, fluflied with liquor,
and armed like Edwin; they paid for their mead, like f Belyn's
men, in the days of yore. And as long as men exifi:, their valour
fnall be the common theme of Bards.
Fill thou the horn; for it is my inclination, that we may con--
verfe in nfirth and feftivity with our brave general ; put it in the hand
* Arwyftli, the name of one of the brians, in Biyn Ccnau in Rhos, in the
cantrcds of Powys. County of Denbigh ; probably he was
t Bclyn, a i»reat man from Lleyn one of Cadwallon's generals ; it is weil
in Carnarvon (lifre, mentioned in the Icnown, and confeflcd by Beda himfclf,
Triades, and is faid there to have fouglit th:itThat prince was a terrible fcourge to
with Edwin, king of the Noithum- the Saxons.
of
Poem I.
WELSH POETRY.
of the worthy Ednyfed, with his fpear broken to pieces, and his
fliield pierced th rough. Like the burfting of a hurricane upon
the fmooth fea In the conflift of battle,
they would foon break in pieces the fides of a golden-bordered
fhield : Their lances were befmeared with gore, after piercing the
•heads of their enemies 5 they were vigorous and adlive in the defence
of delightful ^ Garthan. Heard ye in Maelor the noife of war, the
horrid din of arms, their furious onfet, loud as in the battle of ^ Ban-
gor, where fire flaflied out of their fpears ? There two princes en-
gaged, v#ien the caroufing of Morach Vorvran •= happened.
Fill thou the horn; for it is my delight, in the place whera
the defenders of our country drink mead, and give it to Selyf tha
' Garthan, the name of a fort or caftle
fomewhere near the Severn.
'' This was the famous battle of Ban-
gor-is-y-coed in Flintfhire, after the
murder of the monks, at the inftl^ation
of Auflin, the firft converter of the Sax-
ons to Chriflianity. This is the account
Humphrey Lloyd gives of that affair:
*' lUe vero [Augultinus S.] ob hanc
contumeliam, & quod archiepifcopo Can-
tuarias a fe conftituto, & quod cum Ro-
mana ecclefia in quibufdam non conve-
nirent, Anglorum odium ita in cos con-
civit, ut pauIo port (ut dixi) ab Ethel-
fredo, Ethelberti, Cantiae regis, ob Au-
guftino incitati, opera & auxiliis, mona-
chi pac-m pctentes, crudeliter occifi ; &
poffea Britanni duce Brochwelo Powifias
Rege, viiiti funt, donee tandem Bletrufii
Cornavi;« ducis, Gadvanni Northwallise,
Mereduci Suthwnlli.-^ re;?;um copiis ad-
juti, & Dunoti abbatis viii dofliffimi
concione animati, quique jufHt (ut noftri
annales referunt) ut unufquifque terram
ofcularetur, in memoriam communionis
corporis Dominici, aquamque ex Devi,
fluvio manu hauftam biberet, in memo-
riam facratiflimi fanguinis Chrifti pro eis
effufis, & ita communicati, memorabili
proelio Saxones, oceifis (ut Huntingtonen-
fis refert) ex eis MLXVI. Cadvanumquc
in civitate Legionis regem creavere. "
Britan.Defcript. Commentariolum, p. 90,
& 91, Mofes Williams's Edition. This
battle is called in our annals fometimes
Gwaith Caerlleon, that is, the battle of
Cheflcr, and is faid to have been fought,
A.D. 633.
' We have no account at prefcnt, that
I know^ of, who this Morach Vorvran
was, nor the ocradon of his joy and
feftivity, alluded to in this p«em ; proh.j-
blv it was upon the defeat of the.Saxot;?
at Eangor y Gwygyr.
C . fer.rkr^
10 SPECIMENS OF ANTIENT Poem L
feorlefs, the defence of ^ Gwygyr ; woe to the wretch that offends
him, eagle-hearted heroe : And to the fon of Madoe, the famous
and generous Tudur, like a wolf when he feizes his prey» is his af-
fault in the onfet. Two heroes, who were fage in their counfels, but
adive in the field, the two fons of Ynyr, who, on the day of battle,
were ready for the attack, heedlefs of danger, famous for their ex-
ploits J their afTault was like that of flrong lions, and they pierced
their enemies like brave warriors, they were lords of the battle, and
rufhed foremoft with their crimfon lances ; the weight of their attack
was not to be withflood ; their fliields were broke afunder with
much force, as the high-founding wind on the beach of the green
fea, and the encroaching of the furious waves on the coaft of ^ TaU
garth.
Fill, Cup-bearer, as thou regardeft thy life; fill the horn,
badge of honour at feafls, the ''hirlas drinking-horn, which is a token
of diflindion, whofe tip is adorned with filver, and it's cover of the
fame metal ; and bring it to Tudur, the eagle of battles, filled with
the befi: wine ; and if thou dofl not bring us the beft of all, thy head
fhall fly off: Give it in the hand of Moreiddig, encourager of
fongs, whofe praife in battle is celebrated ; they were brethren of a
diflant clime, of an undaunted heart, and their valour was obfervable
in their countenance. Can I forget their fervices ? Impetuous
warriors, wolves of the battle, their lances are befmeared with
gore J they were the heroes of the chief of ^ Mochnant, in the re-
gion of Powys. Their honour was foon purchafed by them both j
they feized every occafion to defend their country, in the time of
* The name of a place, but where fitu- ' Hirlas, the epithet of the horn, from
ated, I know not. hir, long ; and glas, blue, or azure.
•-• Talgarth, the name of many places « Mochnannwys, in the original, he
in Wales; but this muft be fomcwhcre calls himfeif prince of the Mochnannwys,
near the fe.v or inhabitants of Mochnant.
jieed.
Poem I, WELS-HPOETRY. ' n
need, with their bloody arms, and they kept their borders from ho-
flile invafion. Their lot is praife j It is like a mournful elegy to mc
to lofe them both ! O Chrift ! how penfive am I for the lofs of
Moreiddig, which is irreparable.
Po u R thou out the horn, though they defire it not, the drinking
horn, hirlas, with chearfulnefs, and deliver it into the hand of Mor-
gant, one who deferves to be celebrated with diflinguiflied praife. It
was like poifon to me, to be deprived of him, .and that her was
pierced — by the keen fword. ■
•
Pour, Cup-bearer, from a filver veflel, an honourable gift, badec
of diflindtion. On the large plains of ^ Gweftun I have feen a mi<.
racle j to ftop the impetuofity of Gronwy, was more than a tafk
for an hundred men. The warriors pointed their lances, courted
the- battle, and were profufe of lifej they met their enemies in the
conflict, and their chieftain was confumed by fire near the furges of
the fea K They refcued a noble prifoner, Meurig the fon of Griffith
of renowned valour ; they were all of them covered with blood
when they returned, and the high hills and the dales enjoyed the
fun equally ''.
Po u R the horn to the warriors, Owain's noble heroes, who were
equally aftive and brave. They alTembled in that renowned place,
•> Gweflun, the name of a place fome- town,
where in Powys. ■ " Sun equally, that is, at noon day,
' By this circumftance, it feems, they which added niu,ch to the merit of the
refcued the prifoner from fome maritime adion.
C 3 where
12 SPECIMENS OF AN TIE NT Poem I.
where the fhlning fteel glittered, Madoc and Meilir were men ac-
cuftomed to violence, and maintained each other in the injuries they
did to their enemies ; they were the fhields 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 juft
caufe, the guards of ' Mynyddawc about their diftinguiflied chief.
They have been celebrated for their bravery, and tlieir fpeedy march.
But nobody has ever performed fo noble an exploit as my warriors, ia
the tough land of Maelor, in refcuing the captive.
Pour out. Cup-bearer, fweet and wcll-flrained mead, (the
thruft of the fpear is red in the time of need) from the horns of
wild oxen, covered with gold, for the honour, and the reward of the
fouls of thofe departed heroes. Of the numerous cares that furround
princes, no one is confcious here but God and rayfelf. 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 tafk to entreat him j his men will not
ceafe dealing death around them, till he is mollified. Cup-bearer,
our {hares of mead are to be given us equally before the bright
fliining tapers. Cup-bearer, hadfb thou feen the adlion in the land
' The guards of Mynyddaw Eiddin, bravery, were reckoned among the three
or of Edinborough, in the battle of Cat- noble guards of the kingdom of Bri-
traeth, which is celebrated by Aneurin tain ; the other two being the guards^
Gwawdrydd, in his heroic poem enti- or, as the word Gofgordd may be tranf-
tled the Gododin. Mynyddawc was a lated, the clans of Melyn the fon cf
prince of the North, he is mentioned in Cynvelyn, and the guards of Drywoa
the Triades of Britain ; and his guards, the fon of Nudd, in the battle of Rho-
who were famous for their loyalty and dwydd Arderydd.
of
Poem I. WELSH POETRY.
n
of " Llidwm, the men whom I honour have but what is their juft re-
ward. Cup-bearer, hadft thou feen the armed chiefs, encompafling
Owain, who were his fhield againft the violence of his foes, when
" Cawres was invaded with great fury. Cup-bearer, flight not my
commands : May we all be admitted into Paradife by the King of
kings ; and long may the liberty and happinefs of my heroes conti-
nue, where the truth is to be difcerned diftind;Iy.
"" Llidwm, the name of aplacefomg- " I do not recoiled what country this
where in Maelor, place is in.
II. A
14 SPECIMENS OF ANTIENT PoemII.
IT.
A P O E M
T.0 ' Myfanwy Fechan of ^ Caftell Dinas Bra7t, compofed
by ' Howel-ap-Einion Lygliw^ a Bard who flouripoed
about A. D. 1390.
I A M without fpirit, O thou that haft enchanted me, as ^ Creirwy
inchanted " Garwy. In whatever part of the world I am, I
lament my abfence from the marble caftle of Myfanwy. Love is
the heavieft burden, O thou that fhineft like the heavens, and a
greater puniftiment cannot be inflidled than thy difpleafure, O beau-
tiful Myfanwy. I who am plunged deeper and deeper in love,
can exped no other eafe, O gentle fair Myfanwy with the jet eye-
brows, than to lofe my life upon thy account. I fung in golden
\erfe thy praifes, O Myfanwy ; this is the happinefs of thy lover,
* I cannot recolleft who Myfanwy count of their black ftreams ifTuing
Fechan, the fubje(S of the poem, is, but from turfaries. There are ftill remains
guefs her to be defcended from the prin- of the ruins of this caftle.
ces of Powys. ' Howel-ap-Einion Lygliw was 2.
*> Caftell Dinas Bran, or Bran's Caftle, man of note in his time, and a celebrated
is fituated on a high hill near Llan- Bard. Dr. Davies thinks he was uncle
gollen in Denbighfliire. Mr. Humphrey to Gruftudd Llwyd-ap-Dafydd-ap-hi-
Llwyd, th^Antiquarian, thinks it took nion Lygliw, another famous bard, who
its name from Brennus ; but Llwyd of fiourifhed, A. D. 1400.
theMufeum, more probably, from Bran, '' Creirwy, a lady of great beauty
the name of a river that runs thereabout, often mcntiojied by the bards.
Bran fignifies a crow, and is the name of "^ Garwy, one of king Arthur's
fevcral rivers in Wales. I fuppofe on ac- knights.
2 but
Poem II. WELSH POETRY. 15-
but the happinefs is a misfortune. The well-fed fleed carried me
penfive like '' Tryftan, and great was his fpeed to reach the golden
fummit of Bran. Daily I turn my eyes, and fee thee, O thou that
fliinefl: like the waves of k Cafwennan. Charming fight to gaze on
thee in the fpacious royal palace of Bran. I have rode hard, mount-
ed on a fine high-bred fteed, upon thy account, O thou with the
countenance of cherry-flower bloom. The fpeed was with eager-
nefs, and the ftrong long-ham'd fteed of ^ Alban reached the fum-
mit of the highland of Bran. I have compofed, with great ftu-
dy and pains, thy praife, O thou that fliineil like the new-fallen
fnow on the brow of ' Aran, O thou beautiful flower defcended
from '' Trefor. Hear my forrowful complaint. I am wounded, and
the great love I bear thee will not fuffer me to fleep, unlefs thou giveft
me a kind anfwer. I, thy penfive Bard, am in as woeful plight as
^ Rhun by thy palace, beautiful maid. I recite, without either
flattery or guile, thy praife, O thou that ftiinefl: like the meridian fun,
with thy fl:ately fleps. Shouldft thou, who art the luminary of many
countries, demand my two eyes, I would part with them on thy ac-
count, fuch is the pain I fufi'er. They pain me while I look on the
glofiy walls of thy fine habitation, and fee thee beautiful as the morn-
ing fun. I have meditated thy praife, and made all countries refound
with it, and every finger was pleafed in chanting it. So afl'edling are
the fubjedls of my mournful tale, O Myfanwy ■", that lookefl: like
f Tiyftan - ap -Tallwch, another of perhaps defcendents) now live near Caf-
king Arthur's knights. tell Dinas Bran.
E Cafwennan, the name of one of ' Rhen, fon of Maelgwn GwyncdJ
king Arthur's fliips, which was wrecked king of Britain, A. D. 570. I do not
in a pLice denominated from her Go- remember the ftory alluded to here by
ffrydau Cafwennan. the Bard.
'' Alban, Scotland. It fecms the Bard "' I fuppofe Myfanwy Fechan was
rode upon a Scotch fteed. defcended from Tudur Trefor earl of
'Aran, the name of two high moon- Hereford, of one fide. The worthy fa-
tains in Merionethftiire. mily of the Moftyns of Moftyn and Gio-
* Some of the Trefor -family (and ddaith, are defcended from Tudur Trefor.
flakes •
f6 SPECIMENS OF AN TIE NT Poem II.
flakes of driven fnow. My loving heart finks with grief without
thy fupport, O thou that hafl the whiteneA ef the curling waves.
Heaven lias decreed, that I fliould fufier tormenting pain, and wifdom
and reafon were given in vain to guard againft love. When I faw thy
fine Oiape in fcarlet robes, thou daughter ot a generous chief, I was
fo affefted, that life and death were equal to nie. I funk away, and
fcarce had time to make my confeffion. Alas ! my labour in cele-
brating thy praifes, O thou that fhinefl like the fine fpider's webs on
-the grafs in a fummer's day, is vain. It would be a hard tafk for any
man to guefs how great my pain is. It is fo afflifting, 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 whofe
countenance is as bright as the flowers of the hav/-thorn. O how
well didft thou fucceed in making me to languifh, and dcfpair. For
heaven's fake, pity my diflirefled condition, and foften the pennance of
thy Bard. I am a Bard, who, though wounded by thee, fing thy
praifes in well-founding verfe, thou gentle maid of flender fhape,
who hindereil me to fleep by thy charms. I bring thy praifes,
bright maid, to thy neat palace at " Dinbrain ; many are the fongs
that I rchearfe to celebrate thy beautiful form.
" Dinbrain, ths fame as Dinas Bran.
A N
Poem III. WELSH POETRY. 17
III.
AN ODE
Of David Benvras to Llewelyn the Great y Prince of
Wales y A. D, 1240.
HE who created the glorious fun, and that cold pale luminary
the moon, grant that I attain the heights of poetry, and be
inspired with the genius of * Myrddin ; that I may extol the praife of
of heroes, like '' Aneurin, in the day he fung his celebrated Godo-
din ; that I may fet forth the happinefs of the inhabitants of Vene-
dotia, the noble and profperous prince of Gwynedd, the flay and
prop of his fair and pleafant country. He is manly and heroic in the
battle, his fame overfpreadeth the country about the mountain of
' Breiddin. Since God created the firft man, there never was his
* There were two Myrddins, or Mer- on the battle of Cattraeth, Is extant ;
lins, as they are wrongly written by the but by reafon of it's great antiquity, is
Englilh, viz. Myrddin Emrys and Myr- not eafily underftood at this diftance of
ddin Wyllt; the ] aft was a noted poet, time, being upwards of twelve hundred
and there is a poem of his extant, end- years old : However, it appeas, from what
tied Avallennau, or the Apple-trees. is underftood of it, to have been a very
'' Aneurin Gwawdrydd Mychdeyrn fpirited performance.
Beirdd, i. e. Aneurin the monarch of ' Craig Vieiddin, is a high hill in
Bards, v/as a celebrated poet of North Montgomeryfliire,
Britain. His poem, the Gododin, up-
O equal
i8 SPECIMENS OF ANTIENT Poem III.
equal in the front of battle. Llewelyn the generous, of the race of
princes, has ftriick terror and aftonifhment in the heart of kings.
When he fttove for fuperiority with Loegria's king, when he was
wafting the country of '' Erbin, his troops were valiant and nume-
rous. Great was the confufion when the fhout was given, his
fword was bathed in blood ; proud were his nobles to fee his
army; when they heard the clafliing of fwords, then was felt the
agony of wounds '- ---- ~-
Many were the gaflies in the confli(ft of war. Great was the con-
fufion of the Saxons about the ditch of Knocking *". The fword was
broke in the hand of the warrior. Heads were covered with
wounds, and the flood of human gore gufhed in ftreams down the
knees.
Llewp.lyn's empire is wide extended, he is renowned as far as
« Forth Yfgewin. Conftahtine was not his equal in undergoing
hardflv.ps. Had I arrived to the height of prophecy, and the great gift
of antient poefy, I could not relate his prowefs in adlion ; no, ^ Taliefin
himfelf was unequal to the taiTc. Before he finiflies his courfe in
this world, after he has lived a long life on earth, ere he goes to
the deep and bone-beftrewed grave, ere the green herb grows over
* I know not where this country is. or thereabout, under Maelgwn Gwynedd
« Some lines arc wanting in the ori- king of Britain, called by Gildas Ma-
filial, glocunus. Many of Taliefin's poems
' Knocking, I fupppofe, is fomwhere are extant, but on account of their great
near OfFa's ditch. antiquity are very obfcure, as the work
? Forth Yfo-cwin is near Chepftow, in of his cotemporarics are. There is a
Monmouthfhire or Glamorganfliire. great deal of the Druidical Cabbala in-
" Taliefin Ben Beridd, or the chief termixcd in his works, efpecially about
«f Bards, flourilhcd about the year 560, the tranfmigration of fouls.
his
Poem III. W E L S H P O E T R Y. fg
his tomb, may he that turned the water into wine, grant that he
may have the Almighty's protedion j and that for every fin
with which he hath been ftrained, he may receive remifilon!
May Llewelyn, the noble and generous, never be confounded or
afliamed when he arrives at that period ; and may he be under the
protedion of the faints.
D 2 IV. A
zo
SPECIMENS OF ANTIENT Poem IV.
IV.
A P O E
To Llewelyn the Great ^ compofed by Ei7iion the So?i of
Gwga?t, about 1 244,
I INVOKE the afiiftance of the God of Heaven, Chrlfl: out Saviour,
whom to neglefl; is impious. That gift is true which defcendeth
f.om above. The gifts that are given me are immortal, to difcern,
according to the great apoftle, what is right and decent ; and, among
other grand fubjeds, to celebrate my prince, who avoids not the
battle nor it's danger; Llewelyn the generous, the maintainer of
bards. He is the difpenfer of happinefs to his fubjefts, his noble
deeds cannot be fufficiently extolled. His fpear flaflies in a hand
accuflomed to martial deeds. It kills and puts it's enemies to flight
by the palace of Rheidiol ^. I have feen, and it was my heart's de-
light, the guards of Lleifion '' about it's grand buildings ; number-
lefs troops of warriors mounted on white fleeds. They encompafled
^ RheiJiol is the name of a large '' Lleifion was one of the palaces of
river in Cardiganfhire, and Glafgrug, the princes of Powys, corruptly now call-
one of the palaces of the princes of ed Llyfm ; and the park about it is call-
South-walcs, is very near it, about a ed LI) fin-park, the patrimony of lord
>neafured mile from Aberyftwyth, and Powys.
at prefent the property of the Rev. Mr.
William Powel ofNanteos.
Poem IV. WELSH POETRY. 21
our eagle : Llewelyn the magnanimous hero, whofe armour gliftered ;
the maintainer of his rights. He defended the border of Powys, a
country renowned for it's bravery, he defended it's fteep pafics, and
fupported the privileges of it's prince. Obftinate was his rcfiflancc
to the treacherous Englifh. In Rhuddlan he was like the ruddy fire
flaming with deflrudivc light There have I ken Llewelyn the
brave gaining immortal glory. I have feen him gallantly ploughing
the waves of Deva, when the tide was at it's height. I have feen
him furious in the conflift of Chefter, where he doubly repays his
enemies the injuries he fuffered from them. It is but juft that he fliould
enjoy the praife due to his valour. I will extol thee, and the talk
Is delightful. Thou art like the eagle amongft the nobles of Britain.
Thy form is majeftic and terrible, when thou purfuert: thy foes.
When thou invadeft thy enemies, where Owain thy predecefTor in-
vaded them in former times ; full proud was thy heart in dividing
the fpoils, it happened as in the battles of Kulwydd and Llwyvein %
Thy beautiful fleeds were fatigued with the labour of the day, where
the troops wallowed in gore, and were thrown in confufion. The
bow was full bent before the mangled corfe, the fpear aimed at the
breaft, in the country of Eurgain"*. The army at Offa's Dike pant-
ed for glory, the troops of Venedotia, and the men of London,
were as the alternate motion of the waves on the fea-lliore, where
the fea-mew fcreams j great was our happinefs to put the Normans
to fear and confiiernation. Llewelyn the terrible with his brave
warriors efFeded it ; the prince of glorious and happy Mona. He
is it's ornament and difbinguifhed chief.
" The battle of Llwyvein was fought entitled Gwaith Argocd Llwyvein, :. c.
by Urien Reged and his Ion Owain, the battle of Argoed Llwyvein.
iigainft Id.i king of the Northumbrians. ^ Eurgain, Northop in Elintfliirc, fa
It. is celebrated by Taliefin in a poem, called from Eurgain, the daughter of
Maelgwn Gwyncdd.
The
22 SPECIMENS OF A NT IE NT Poem IV.
The lord of Demetla ' muftered his troops, and out of envy-
met his prince in the field. The inhabitants of Stone-walled
Carmarthen were hewn to pieces in- the conflidl. Nor fort, nor
caftle, could withftand him : And before the gates the Englifh were
trampled under foot. It's chief was fad, the unflieathed fword
flione bright, and hundreds hands were engaged in the onfet at
Llanthadian *". In s Cilgeran they purchafed glory and honour
; . . . .In Aber Terior the
hovering crows were numberlefs . . . thick were the
fpears befmeared with gore. The ravens croaked, they were greedy
to fuck the proftrate carcafes. Llewelyn, may fuch fate attend thy
foes. Mayeft thou be more profperous than the noble ^ Llywarch
with his bloody lance. Thy glory fliall not be obfcured. There is
none that exceedeth thee in beftowing gifts on the days of folem-
nity. In battle thy fword is confpicuous. Wherever thou goefl
to war, to whatever diflant clime, glory follows thee from the
rifing to the fetting fun. I have a generous and noble prince,
the lord of a large territory. He is renowned for his coolnefs and
condudl. Whole troops fall before him ; he defendeth his men like
an eagle. My prince's brave adlions will be celebrated in the
' Demetia. This expedition of Lie- and coufin german to Urien Reged kins
welyn-ap-Iorwerth was againft the F"le- of Cumbria, he was a great warrior, and
inings and Normans, of which there is fought fuccefsful againft the Saxons ; but
an Bccount in Powcl's Hiftory of Wales, fortune at laft favouring the Saxons, he was
p. 277, 278. obliged in his old age to retire to Wales.
f Llanhuadein the name of a place in He had twenty-four fons,who wore golden
Pcmbrokefhire. chains, and were all killed in battles
« Cilgeran the name of another place againft the Saxons. Llywarch-hen was
in the fame county, near the river a notcdBard, his works are extant, where-
Xicvi. ill he celebrates tlie noble feats of his fons,
''Llywarch-hen, the fon of Elidir and bewails his misfortunes, and the
I-ydnwyn a nobleman of North Britain, troubles of old age, cfpecially in diftrefs.
country
Poem IV. W E L S H P O E T R Y. 23
country by Tanad '. He is valorous as a lion, who can vcfid bis
lance ? He is charitable to the needy, and his relief is not
fought in vain. My prince is drefled in fine purple robes. He is
like generous "^ Nudd in beftou'ing prcfent. Like valiant ' Huail jn
defying his enemy. He is like '" Rhydderch in diftributing his gold.
Let his praife rcfound in every country. He poireiles a large terri-
tory and immenfe riches, wherever you tuin your eyes. In wealth he
is equal to Mordaf; like him he opens his liberal hand to the B.ard.
He is like warlike " Rhun in beftowing his favours. He is the fubjed
of my meditation. I am to him as an hand or an eye. He is not
defcended from a bafe degenerate flock; and I myfelfam defcended
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 p. His enemies are fcattered as leaves on the
fide of hills drove by tempeftuous hurricanes. He is the honourable
fupport and owner of Hunydd 'i. He is the grace, the ornament of
Arvon^ Llewelyn, terror of thy enemy, death ifTued out of thy
hand in the South. Thou art to us like an anchor in the time of
ftorm. Proteftor of our country, may the fliield of God pro-
tedl thee. Britain, fearlefs of her enemies, glories in being ruled by
' Tanad is the name of a river in fary to him as one of thofc members to
Montgomcryfliirc, which cmptieth itfelf tiie body, to celebrate his martial feats,
into the Severn. p Gwriad, is the name of a hero men-
'' Nudd.Hael,or the Generous, was a no- tioned in the Gododin.
bleman of North Britain remarkable for '' Hunydd, the name of a woman, pro-
his liberality. bably the prince's miftrefs. The Bards
' Huail was a brother of Gildas, the had no great afFcflion for Joan the prin-
fon of Caw, and a noted warrior. His cefs, daughter of king John, becaufe flie
brother Gildas was the author of the was an Eng!i(hwoman, and not faithful
Epiltle De excidio Britaftniae. to the prince's bed.
. ■" Rydderch Hael, or the Generous, ' Arvon, the county of Crnarvon, Co
was another nobleman of the North, called, becaufe fituated oppofuc to M6n,
noted for his liberality. or Anglefca. Arvon, literally Supra
" Rhun, the fon of Maclgwn Gwinedd Monani, from the particle Ar, fupcr, and
king of Britain, a great warrior. Mon, Mona.
* As an hand, 5cc. i, e. I am as neccf-
I him
24 SPECIMENS OF ANT IE NT Poem IV.
him, by a chief who has numerous troops to defend her ; by Llewelyn,
who defies his enemies fromftiore to fhore. He is the joy of armies,
and like a lyon in danger. He is the emperor and fovereign of fea and
land. He is a warrior that may be compared to a deluge, to the furge on
the beach that covereth the wild falmons. His noife is like the roar-
in o- wave that ruilieth to the fhore, that can neither be flopped or ap-
peafed. He puts numerous troops of his enemies to flight like a
mighty wind. Warriors crowded about him, zealous to defend his
iufl caufe ; their fhields fhone bright on their arms. His Bards make
the vales refound with his praifes ; the juftice of his caufe, and his
bravery in maintaining it, are defervedly celebrated. His valor is the
theme of every tongue. The glory of his victories is heard in diftant
climes. His men exult about their eagle. To yield or die Is the fate
of his enemies — They have experienced his force by the fhivering
of his lance. In the day of battle no danger can turn him from his
purpofe. He is confpicuous above the reft, with a large, ftrong, crim-
fon lance. He is the honour of his country, great is his generofity,
and a fult is not made to him in vain. Llewelyn is a tender-hearted
prince. He can nobly fpread the feaft, yet is he not enervated by
luxury. May he that beftowed on us a fliare of his heavenly revela-
tion, grant him the bleffed habitation of the faints above the ftars.
V. A
PoemV. welsh poetry.
25
A PANEGYRIC
upon Oivain Gwynedd^ Pi-ince of North Wales^ by
Gwakhmaiy the Son of Melir^ m the Year 1157.
I WILL extol the generous hero defcended from the race of ^ Ro-
deric, 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 ar-
rived, veflels of the main, three powerful fleets ofthefirft rate, fu-
rioufly to attack him on a fudden. One from ^ Iwerddon, the other
full of well-armed "^ Lochlynians, making a grand appearance on the
floods, the third from the tranfmarine ^ Normans, which was at-
tended with an immenfe, though fuccefslefs toil.
' Owain Gwynedd, prince of North " Lochlynians, the Danes, fo called
Wales, was defcended in a direct line from the Baltic, which our anceftors
from Roderic the Great, prince of all called Llychlyn. Llychlyn is the name
Wales, who divided his principality of Denmark and Norway, and all thofe
amongft his three fons. northern regions mentioned in the works
''Iwerddpn, the Britiftiname of Ireland, of our Bards,
hence the Hibernia of the Latins, and <■ Normans. Mofes Williams in his
'l oi'fl and 'laipi/ia of the Greeks, probably noteson the^rae CambroBritannicgegives
fo called from the Britifli Y Werdd the following account of this battle.
Ynys, i. c. the Grecnjfland.
E The
26 SPECIMENS OF ANTIENT Poem V.
The Dragon of Mona's « fons were fo brave in aftion, that there
was a great tumult on their furious attack, and before the prince
hinifelf, there was vafl confufion, havock, conflid, honourable death,
bloody battle, horrible confternation, and upon Tal Moelvre a thoufand
banners. There was an outrageous ^ carnage, and the rage of fpears,
and hafty figns of violent indignation. Blood raifed the tide of the
Menai, and the crimfon ofhuman gore ftained the brine. There were
glittering cuirafles, and the agony of gafhing wounds, and the mangled
warriors proftrate before the chief, diflinguifhed by his crimfon lance.
Lloegria was put into confufion, the conteft and confufion was great,
and the glory of our prince's wide-wafling fword fliall be celebrated
in an hundred languages to give him his merited praife.
"■ Normanni, qui in hoc loco Frainc
*' appellantur, erant copias quas Henrirus
♦ ' Secundus in Monam mifit A. D.
" MCLVII. duce Madoco filio Mare-
«' dudii Powifiae principe. Hi ecclefias
" SS. Mariae et Petri (ut annales nollri
" refevunt) fpoliavere. Idx vero ecclefiae
*' in orientali Monse plaga funt, unde
" liquet locum Tal Moelvre diftum ali-
*' cubi in Mona cfTe, fortafTc etiam baud
*• procul ab ecclefiia pnedidlis : omncs
" vero qui navibus egrcdiebantur aMonse
" incolis interfeili funt." Vide Anna-
les a Powclo ediclos, p. 206, 207.
It feems by Gwalmach's poem to have
been a very large fleet, which came part-
ly from Ireland, partly from the Baltic,
and the reft from Normandy, to invade
the principality. It is plain that it's
firces were numerous, as they came
from fo many countries ; but it fecms
tht-y met with a very warm recep-
tion, from the prince and his fons ; and
that they were glad to fail away as foon
as poffible.
' Owen Gwynedd had many fons noted
for their valour, efpeciaily Hovvel, who
was born of Finno^ an Irifh lady. He
was one of his father's generals in his
wars againft the Englilli, plemings, and
Normans, in South Wales, and was a
noted Bard, as feveral of his poems, nov»r
extant, teftify.
^ It fcams that the fleet landed in fome
part of the hrth of Menai, and that it was
a kind of a mixt engagement, iome fi;;ht-
ing on fhore, others from the fhips. And
probably the great flaughtcr was owing to
it's being low water, and that they could
not fet fail : otherwile I (ee no reafon,why
when they were worfted on land, they
fhould continue the fight in their (hips.
It is very plain that they were in great di-
{Ircfs, and that there was a great havock
made of them, as appears from the re-
mainder of this very Ipirited poem.
VI. A N
Poem VI. W E L S H P O E T R Y. 27
VI.
AN ELEGY
To \ Nejl^ the daughter of Howel by Einion the fon of
Gwakhmai, about the year 124c.
TH E fprlng returns, the trees are in their bloom, and the foreft
in it's beauty, the birds chaunt, the fea is fmooth, the gently-
riling tide founds hollow, the wind is ftill. The beft armour againfl
misfortune is prayer. But I cannot hide nor conceal my grief, nor
can I be ftill and filent. I have heard the waves raging furioufly towards
the confines of the land of the fons of ''Beli. The fea flowed with force,
and conveyed a hoarfe complaining noife, on account of a Gentle Maiden .-
I have paiTed the deep waters of the Teivi ' with flow fteps. I fung
the praife of Neft ere fhe died. Thoufands have refounded her name,
like that of Elivri **. But now I muft with a penfive and forrewful
* Who tiiis lady was is not known at ' Teivi, the name of 2 large river in
prefent. Cardiganfliire.
'■ What country this is I cannot re- ^ Elivri, the name of a woman, but
colledt. who fiie was, or when fhc lived, is not
cle;ir.
E 2 heart
'38 SPECIMENS OF ANTIENT Poem VI.
heart compofe her elegy, a fubjedl fraught with mlfery. The bright
luminary of • Cadvan was arrayed in filk, how beautiful did (he fhine
on the banks of ^ Dyfynni, how great was her innocence and fimpli-
city, joined with confummate prudence : (he was above the bafe arts
of diffimulation. Now the ruddy earth covers her in filence. How
great was our grief, when fhe was laid in her ftony habitation. The
burying of Nefl: was an irreparable lofs. Her eye was as fharp as
the hawk, which argued her defcended from noble anceflors. She
added to her native beauty by her goodnefs and virtue. She was the
ornament of Venedotia, and her pride. She rewarded the Bard ge-
•neroufly. Never was pain equal to what I futfer for her lofs. Oh
death, I feel thy Aing, thou haft undone me. No man upon earth
regretteth her lofs like me ; but hard fate regardeth not the impor-
tunity of prayers, whenever mankind are deftined to undergo it's
power. O generous Neft, thou lieft in thy fafe retreat, I am penfive
and melancholy like « Pryderi. I ftore up my forrow in my
breafl, and cannot difcharge the heavy burden. The dark, lonefomc
dreary veil, which covereth thy face, is ever before me, which co-
vereth a face that (hone like the pearly dew on Eryri ''. I make my
humble petition to the great Creator of heaven and earth, and my
petition will not be denied, that he grant, that this beautiful maid,
who glittered like pearls, may, through the interceffion of Holy'Dcwi,
' CaJvan is the faint ofTowyn Mciri- Eryri and Mynydd Eryri, i. e. the
onnydd. rocks and monnt;iins of fnow, from Eiry,
f Dyfvnni, is the name of a river that which fisinifies fnow. As Niphatcs the
runs by Towyn. name of a mountain, from a word of
s I cannot recoIie<Ll at prefent who the fame fignification in Greek.
this perfon is, nor the occafion of his ' Dewi, St. David, a bifhop in the
grief, though it is mentioned in fome of timeof kintj Arthur, and the patron Saint
■our manufcripts. o.' Wales,
Eiyri SnowJon, called Creigian,
be
Poem VI. WELSH POETRY.
29
be received to his mercy, that flie may converfe with the prophets,
that flie may come into the inheritance of the All-wife God, with
Mary and the Martyrs. And in her behalf I will prefer my prayer,
which will fly to the throne of Heaven. My love and affedlioii
knew no bounds. May flie never fuffer. Saint Peter be her pro-
tcdlor. God himfelf will not fuffer her to be an exile from the
manfions of blifs. Heaven be her lot.
VII. A
3P SPECIMENS OF ANTIENT Poem VII.
vir.
A P O E M
T'o Llyweiyn ap yorwetlj^ or Llywelyn the Great j
In which many of his viBories are celebrated;
Compojed by Llywarch Brydydd y Moch, a Bard, who, according to Mr.
Edward Llwyd of the Mufau77is Catalogue of the Britijl:) writers, foii-
rijhed about the year 1 240 j but this poetjz is certainly of more antient
date ; for prince Llywelyn died in the year 1240. However that be,
the original was taken from Lyfr Coch Herge/l, or the Red book of
Hergeft, kept in the Archives of Jefus College, Oxon. I have 7W
apology to make for the Bards method of beginning or concluding their
poems, but that it was their general cuflom ever f nee the introduSlion
of Chriflianity to this if and, which was very early. We have no poems
that I know of before that period, but fame few reitiains of the Dndds
in that kind ofverfc, called Englyn Milwr. It was the cujiom of
the heathen poets themfelves to begin their poems with an invocation of
the Supreme Being. As for inftance, Theocritus in the beginning of
hii Idy Ilium, in praife of Ptoletnctus Philadelphus,
But If:all not here enter into a critical dijjcrtation oj their merits cr
dfeSls; my bufinefs, as a tranfator, beingtogiveasjaitlfidaverfion
4 fi-om
-«■..
Poem VII. WELSH POETRY. 31
from the original as IfoJJibly could at this dijlance of time; when many
of the matters of faSl, the manners of the age, and other circumjlances,
alluded to in their poems, miift remain ohfciire to thofe that are bejl verfed
in the records of antiquity.
MAY Chrift the Creator and Governor of the hofts of heaven
and earth defend me from all difafters ; may I, throup-h his
affiflance, be prudent and difcreet ere I come to my narrow habita-
tion in the grave. Chrift, the Son of God, will give me the gift of
fong to extol my prince, who giveth the warlike fliout with joy.
Chrift who hath formed me of the four elements, and hath endowed
me with the deep and wonderful gift of poetry — Llywelyn is the
ruler of Britain and her armour. He is a lion- like brave prince, un-
moved in adlion, the fon of ^ Jorwerth, our (Irength and true friend,
a defcendant of '' Owain the dcflroyer, whofe abilities appeared in
his youth. He came to be a leader of forces, dreffed in blue, neat
and handfome. In the conflidts of battle, in the clang of arms, he
was an heroic youth. When ten years old he fuccefsfully attacked
his kinfman^ In Aber Conwy, ere my prince, the brave Llywelyn,
got his right, he contefted with "* David, who was a bloody chief,
like Julius Casfar. A chief without blemifli, not infulting his foes in
diftrefs, but in war impetuous and fierce, like the points of flaming
fire burning in their rage. It is a general lofs to the Bards, that he
" Jorwerth, furnamccl Drwydwn, or principality of North Wales, in right of
with the broken nofe, the father of Lly- his father Jorwerth, and accordingly put in
welyn, was the eldeft fon of Owain Gwy- his claim for it, and got it from his uncles
nedd, but was not fuft'ercd to enjoy his David and Rodri, when lie was very
right on aw-the account ot that blemi/h. youno;.
•> Owain Gwynedd, prince of Noith *" David, the fon of Owain Gwynedd,
Wales. who fucceeded his father as prince of
' Llywelyn was the lawful heir of the Wales.
is
32
S P E C I xM E N S OF A N T I E N T Poem VII.
is covered with earth. We grieve for him. — "= Llyvvelyn was our
prince ere the furious conteft happened, and the fpoils were amaffed
v/ith eagernefs. The purple gore ran over the Inow-white breafts of
the warriors, and there was an univerfal havock and carnage after
the fliout. The parti-coloured waves flowed over the broken fpear,
and the warriors were filent. The briny wave came with force,
and another met it mixed with blood, when we went to Porthae-
thwy on the fteeds of the main over the great roaring of the floods.
The fpear raged with relentlefs fury, and the tide of blood rudied
with force. Our attack was fudden and fierce. Death difplayed
itfelf in all it's horrors : So that it was a doubt whether any of us
iliould die of old age. Noble troops, in the fatal hour, trampled on
the dead like prancing fleeds. Before Rhodri was brought to fub-
miffion, the church-yards were like fallow grounds. When Llywe-
lyn the fuccefsful prince overcome by '^ Alun with his warriors of the
bright arms, ten thoufand were killed, and the crows made a noife,
and a thoufand were taken prifoners. Llywelyn, though in battle he
killed with fury, though he burnt like outrageous fire, yet was
mild prince when the mead-horns were diftributed _ _ _
he a - - - - he gave generoxjfly under his
waving banners to his numerous Bards gold and filver, which he re-
gardeth not, and Gafcony prancing fleeds, with rich trappings, and
and great fcarlet cloaks, fliining like the ruddy flame : Warlike, fl:rong,
well-made deftroying fleeds, with fl;reams of foam iifuing out of their
mouths. He generoufly befl:oweth, like brave Arthur, fnow-white
lleeds by hundreds, whofc fpeed is fleeter than birds.
' This battle is not mentioned by any of the main is a poetical expic/fion for
of our hillorians. The defcription is fliips.
very animated in the original, and very ' Alun, the name of a river in Fiint-
cxpreflive of fiich a fcene. It was fhire, where there was a battle Aju^ht by
fought near I'orlh Acthvi?y. The ftecds Llywelyn againil the Eng!i(h,
Tllou
Poem VII. W E L S II P O E T R Y.
Thou that feedeft the fowls of the air like e Caeavvg the hero, the
valiant ruler of all Britain, the numerous forces of England tumble
and wallow in the field before thee. He bravely atchieved above
^ Deudraeth Dryfan, the feats of the renowned Ogrfani ". Men fall
filently in the field, and are deprived of the' rites of fepulture. Thou
haft defeated two numerous armies, one in the banks of Alun of the
rich foil, where the Normans were deftroyed, as the adverfaries of
Arthur, in the battle of Camlan''. The fecond in Arfon, near the
fea-Hiore - ----- And two ruling
chiefs, fludied with fuccefs, encouraged us like lions, and one fu-
perior to them both, a ftern hero, the ravage of battles, like a man
that conquers in all places. Lly welyn with the broken blade of the
gilt fword, the wafter of Lloegr, a wolf covered with red, with his
warriors about Rhuddlan. His forces carry the ftandard before him
waving in the air. Thou art poffefl'ed of the valour of ' Cadwallon,
the fon of Cadfan. He is for recovering the government of all Bri-
tain. He kindly ftretched his hand to us, while his enemies fled to
the fea-fhore, to embark to avoid the imminent deftrudion, with
B Caeawg Cynnorawg, is the name of abfent on a foreign expedition. King
a hero celebrated by AneurinGwawdrydd Arthur, accordingtoour antienthiftorians,
in the Gododin. flew Medrod with his own hand ; but re-
*> Deudraeth Cryfan, is the name of ccived his death -wound himfelf, and retir-
fome place near the fea, there are many ed to Ynys Afallon or Glaftenbury, where
places in Wales called Deudraeth. But he foon afterwards died. His death was
where this in particular is fituated I politically concealed, leaft it {hould difpi-
cannot guefs. rit the Britons. Hence arofe fo many fa-
'■ Ogrfan Gwr, an antient Britifh prince, buious flories about Jr.
cotemporary with king Arthur. ' Cadwallon, the fon of Cadfan, is that
* Camlan, the name of a place fome- viftorious king of Britain, who was a
where in Cornwal, where the decifive terrible fcourge to the Saxons. Beda in
battle between king Arthur, and his trea- his ecclefiafticalhiftory calls him tyrannum
cherous nephew Medrod happened, who faevientem, an outrageous tyrant.
had ufurped the fovereignty while he was
F delpair
34 SPECIMENS OF ANTIENT Poem VII.
defpair in their looks, and no place of refuge remained, and the
crimfon lance whizzed dreadfully over their brows. We the Bards
of Britain, whom our prince entertaineth on the Firft of January,
fliall every one of us, in our rank and ftation, enjoy mirth and jollity,
and receive gold and filver for our reward - _ _
"> Caer Lleon, the chief of Mon, has brought thee to a low condi-
tion. Llewelyn has wafled thy land, thy men are killed by the fea
He has entirely fubdued " Gwyddgrug, where the Englifh ran away,
with a precipitate flight, full of horror and confternaticn. Thy fields
are miferably wafted, thy cloifter, and thy neat houfes, are afhes. The
palace of " Elfmer was with rage and fury burnt by fire. Ye all
now enjoy peace by fubmiting to our prince, for wherever he goeth
with his forces, whether it be hill or dale, it is the pofleffion of one
fole proprietor. Our lion has brought to Trallwng three armies that
will never turn their backs, the refidence of our enemies ever to be
abhorred. The numerous Bards receive diverfe favours from him.
He took Gwyddgrug. See you who fucceeds in p Mochnant when
he vidorioufly marches through your country. On it's borders the
'" Caer Lleon Chcfter, fo called, as our the Anticnt Britons chofe fuch for their
liiftorians relate, from Lleon Gawr, or kings.
king Lleon, and not from Ca{lra legi- " Gwyddrug Mold, in Hintfliire, fo
onum, as modern writers will have it. called from Gwydd high, and Crag a hill.
•Cawr anticntly fioinified a king, as Benlli Mold is a corruption of Mons alti.s.
Gwr, is called by Nennius, cap. 30, Rex " Elfmer, the name of a town in Shrop-
{kiilli ; but now it fignifies a giant, or fhire.
a man of an extraordinary ftrength and p Mochnant is a part of Powys.
ftature. It is not iniprybuble but that
enemy
Poem VIL W E L S H P O E T R Y. 35
enemy were routed, and tlie 1 Argoedwys were fuiioufly attacked,
and covered with blood. We have two palaces now in our poflef-
fion. Let ' Powys fee who is the valiant king of her people, whe-
ther it argueth prudence to act treacheroufly. Whether a Nor-
man chief be preferable to a conquering Cymro. We have a
prince, confider it, who, though filent about his own merit,
putteth Lloegr to flight, and is fully bent to conquer the land that
was formerly in the polTeflion of Cadwallon, the fon of Cadian, the
Ion of Jago ____ _>__
A noble lion, the governor of Britain, and her defence. Llywelyn,
numerous are thy battles, thou brave prince of tlie mighty, that
putteft the enemy to flight. Mayefl; thou my friend and benefadlor
overcome in every hardlhip. He is a prince with terrible looks who
will conquer in foreign countries, as well as in Men the mother of all
Wales. His army has made it's 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^CoedAnea,
thou, fupporter of Bards, didfl: overthrow thy enemies. The other
hard battle was fought at ' Dygen Ddyfnant, where thoufands behaved
themfelves with manly valour. The next conteft, where noble feats
were atchieved, was on the hill of '■" Bryn Yr Erw, where they faw
1 Argoedwys, the msn of Powvs, cording to the divifion made by Rhodri
from Ar above. Coed wood. The Pow- RIawr, as appears Tiom t!<e Wellli hif-
yfians are called, by Llywarch, Hen tory.
Gwr Argoed. As GwyrArgoed erisd ' Coed Anea, the name of a place, but
am porthant, i. e, I was ever maintained where fituated I cannot guefs, where a
by the men of Argoed. battle was fought.
' The princes of Powys adhered to the ' Dygen Ddyfnant, anothsr place whofe
kings of England, and the Lords Marchers, fituation I am ignorant of, where another
ao^ainft their natural prince, to whom they battle was tought.
were to pay homage and obedience, ac- " Byn V'r Erw another p'a^e unknown.
F 2 thee
2,6 SPECIMENS OF ANTIENT Poem VIT.
thee like a lion foremoft in piercing thy enemies, like a ftrong eagle,
a fafeguard to thy people. Upon this account they will no longer
difpute with thee. They vanifli before thee like the ghofts of * Ce-
lyddon. Thou haft taken Gwyddgrug and Dyfnant by force, and
Rhuddlan with it's red borders, and thoufands of thy men overthrew
^ Dinbych, y Foela?, and ^ Gronant ; and the men of Carnarvon
thy friends were bufy in acftion, and Dinas ^ Emreis ftrove bravely in
thy caufe, and they vanquifhed with the renowned ^ Morgant at their
head all that flood before them. Thy pledges know not where to
turn their faces, they cannot enjoy mirth or reft. Thou wert honour-
ably covered with blood, and thy wound is a glory to thee. When
thou didft refift manfully the attack of the enemy, thou wert ho-
noured by thy fword, with thy buckler on thy fhoulders. Thou didft
bravely lead thy forces, the aftonifhment of Lloeger, to the borders
of ' Mechain and Mochnant. Happy was the mother who bore
thee, who art wife and noble, and freely diftributeft rich fuits of
garments, thy gold and filver. And thy Bards celebrate thee for
prefenting them thy bred fteeds, when they fit at thy tables. And
1 myfelf am rewarded for my gift of poetry, with gold and diftin-
gulftied refpedt. And fliould I defire of my prince the moon as a
prefent, he would certainly beftow it on me. Thy praife reacheth
as far as** Lliwelydd, and Llywarch is the man who celebrates with
" Ctlyddoii, the Britifh name of that ' Gronant, the name of a fort or caftle
part of North Britain, called Caledonia in Flintfhire.
by the Remans. ^ Dinas Emreis or Emr)'s, the name of
' Dinbych, Denbin;h. a place in Snowdon, near Bedd Celhert, ^
y Focla'f, or Y Foel las, i. e. the green where Gwerthenea attempted to build a '
fumtr.it, which is the name of a place in caftle.
Denbighfhire, where there is an old fort, '' Morgant, the name of one of Llywe-
now in the poffeffion of Watkyn Wynn, lyn's generals.
Kfq. colonel of the Der.bighfhire militia), ' ' Mochain, a part of Powys.
whofe feat is near iu ■' Caer Liwelydd, Carliflc.
A. his
Poem VII. WELSH POETRY.
37
his fongs __-__-
My praifes are not extravagant to thee the prodigy of our age, thou
art a prince firm in battle like an elephant. When thou arriveft at
the period of thy glory, when thy praifes ceafe to be celebrated by
the Bard and the harp, my brave prince, ere thou comeft, before thy
laft hour approaches, to confefs thy fins, after thou haft through thy
prowefs vanquillKd thy enemies, mayft thou at laft become a glo-
rious faint.
VIII. AN
38 SPECIMENS OF ANTIENT Poem VIII.
VIII.
AN ODE,
In Five PARTS,
To Llewelyn^ the fin of Grufludd, laft prince of Wales of
the Britifi line^ cofnpofed by Llygad Gwr^ about the
year 1270.
I ADDRESS myfelf to God, the fource of joy, the fountain of all
good gifts, of tranfcendent majefly. Let the fong proceed to pay
it's due tribute of praife, to extol my hero, the prince of " Arliechwedd,
who is flained with blood, a prince defcended from renowned kings.
Like Julius Casfar is the rapid progrefs of the arms of Gruffudd's heir.
His valour and bravery are matchlefs, his crimfon lance is flained
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 fuccefsful and glorious prince, I would not ex-
change on any conditions. I have a renowned prince, who lavs
Arllechwydd a part of Carnarvonfliire.
England
Poem VIII. W E L S H P O E T R Y. ^g-
England wafte, defcended from noble anceftors. Lly welyn the de-
flroyer of thy foes, the mild and profperous governour of Gwynedd,
Britain's honour in the field, with tiiy fceptered hand extended on
the throne, and thy gilt fword by thy fide. The lion of ^ Cemais
fierce in the onfet, when the army rufheth to be covered with red.
Our defence who flighteth alliance with ftrangers, who with violence
maketh his way through the midft of his enemies country. His
juft caufe will be profperous at laft. About = Tyganwy he has
extended his dominion, and his enemies fly from him with maimed
limbs, and the blood flows over the foles of men's feet.. Thou dragoi)
of ^ Arfon of refiftlefs fury, with thy beautiful well-made flieeds, no
Englifhman fhall get one foot of thy country. There is no Cymro
thy equal.
11.
There is none equal to my prince with his numerous troops in
the confliifl of v/ar. He is a generous Cymro defcended from ' Beli
Hirj if you enquire about his lineage. He generoufly diftributeth
gold and riches. An heroic wolf from ^ Eryri. An eagle among
his nobles of matchlefs prowefs ; it is our duty to extol him. He is
^ Cemais, the name of feveral places in ^ Arfon, the country now called Car-
Wales. The Bard means here a cantred of narvonfhire.
that name in Anglel'e:^. ^ Beli. This was probably Bell Mawr,
■^ Tyganvy, the name of an old caftle to whom our Bards generally traced the
near the mouch of the river Conway to pedigree of great men.
the e.irt ; it was formerly one of the royal ' Eryri, Snowdon, which fome fiippofe
palaces of IV'Iaelgwn Gwynedd, king of derived from Mynydd eryrod, the hill of
Britain, and was, as our annals relate, eagles, but more probably from Mynydd
burnt by lightning, ann. Sii.but was yr errv, the hill of fnow. Snowdon, in
afterwards rebuilt, and won by the earls Englifh, fignlfies literally the hill of fnow,
of Chcller, who held it for a confidera- from Snow and Down, that being ftdl a
ble time, but was at laft retaken by the common name for a hill in England, as
princes of North Wales. Barham Downs,-Oxford Downs, Buiford
Downs, Jcc.
chd'-
40 SPECIMENS OFANTIENT Poem VIIL
clad in a golden veil in the army, and fetteth caftles on fire. He is the
bulwark of the battle with ^ Greidiawl's courage. He is a hero that
with fury breaketh whole ranks, and fighteth manfully. His violence
is rapid, his generofity overflowing. He is the llrength of armies
arrayed in gold. He is a brave prince whofe territories extend as far
as '' Teifi, whom no body dares to punifh. Llywelyn the vanquiflier
of England is a noble lion defcended from the race of kings. Thou
art the king of the Mighty, the entertainer and encourager of Bards.
Thou makeft the crows rejoice, and the ' Bryneich to vomit blood,
they fearted on their carcafes. He never avoided danger in the ftorm
of battle, he was undaunted in the midft of hardrtiips. The ^ Bards
prophefy that he fliall have the government and fovereign power ;
every predidion is at laft to be fulfilled. The fliields of his men
were ftained with red in brave adions from ' Pulford to the farthefh
bounds of ■" Cydweli. May he find endlefs joys, and be reconciled
to the Son of God, and enjoy Heaven by his fide.
^ Greidiawl, the name of a hero men-
tioned by Aneurin Gwawdrydd in his
Gododin.
'' Teifi, the name of a large river in
Cardiganfhire.
' Bryneich, the men of Bernicia, a
province of the Old Saxons in the North
of England. The inhabitants of Deira
and Bernicia are called by our antient hif-
torians, Gwyr Deifr a Bryneich.
'' It was the policy of the Bntifh princes
to make the Bards foretell their fuccefs in
war, in order to fpirit up their people to
brave aftions. Upon which account the
•vulgar luppofcd them to be real prophets.
Hence the great veneration they had for
the prophetical Bards, Myrddin Emrys,
Taliefin, and Myrddin Wyllet. This
accounts for what the Englifh writers fay
of the Welfh relying fo much upon the
prophecies of Myrddin. There are many
of thefe pretended prophefies ftill extant.
The cuftom of prophefying did not ceafe
till Henry the Seventh's time, and the rea-
fon is obvious.
' PwlfFordd, is the name of a place in
Sliropfliiie. There is a bridge of that
name ftill in that county.
"' Cydweli, the name of a town, and
Comot, in Cannarthenfliirc.
III. We
Poem VIII. W E L S H P E T R Y. 41
III.
We have a prudent prince, his lance is crimibn, his fliield is flii-
vered to pieces ; a prince furious in adtion, his palace is open to his
friends, but woe is the lot of his enemies. Llywelyn the vanquiflier
of his adverfaries is furious in battle like an outrageous dragon ; to be
guarded againfl: him availeth not, when he Cometh hand to hand to
difpute the hardy conteft. May he that made him the happy go-
vernour of Gwynedd and it's towns, flrengthen him for length of
years to defend his country from hoilile invafion. It is our joy and
happinefs that we have a brave warrior with prancing fteeds, that we
have a noble Cymro, defcended from Cambrian anceftors, to rule
our country and it's borders. He is the befl: prince that the Almighty
made of the four elements. He is the beft of governours, and the
moft generous. The eagle of Snowdon, and the bulwark ot battle.
He pitched a battle where there was a furious conteft to obtain hi^j
patrimony on " Cefn Gelowydd j fuch a battle never happened fince
the celebrated aiflion of ° Arderydd.
He is the brave lion of Mona, the kind-hearted Venedotian, the
valiant fupporter of his troops in Bryn Derwyn. He did not repent of
the day in which he aflaulted his adverfaries ; it was like the aflault of a
" Cefn Gelorvvydd, is the name of fome princes of the North, againft Rhydderch
mountain, but where it is fituatcd I Hael, king of Cumbria, who got the
know not. battle. Myrddin Wyllt, or Merlin, the
" Arderydd, is the name of a place Caledonian, was fevcrely handled by
fomewhere in Scotland, perhaps, Atte- Rhydderch Hael, for fiding with Gwen-
rith, about fix miles from Solway Frith, ddolau, liis patron, which he complains
This battle is mentioned in the 'I'riadcs, of in his poem, entitled, Afallennau, or
and was fought by Gwenddolau ap Apple-trees.
Ceidiaw and Aeddan Tradawg, petty
G hero
42 SPECIMENS OF ANTIENT Poem VIII.
hero defcended from undaunted anceflors. I faw a hero difputing
withhofts of men like a man of honour in avoidinedifsrace. He that
faw Llywelyn like an ardent dragon in the conflift of Arfon and
F Elddionydd, would have obferved that it was a difficult talTc to with-
fland his furious attack by i Drws Daufynydd. No man has ever
compelled him to fubmit : May the Son of God never put him to
confufion.
IV.
Like the roaring of a furious lion fn the fearch of prey, is thy
thirll: of praife, like the found of a mighty hurricane over the de-
fart main, thou warlike prince of ' Aberffraw. Thy ravage is furious,
thy impetuofity irrefiftible, thy troops are enterprizingin brave adtions,
they are fierce and furious like a conflagration. Thou art the war-
like prince of * Dinefwr, the defence of thy people, the divider of
fpoils. Thy forces are comely and neat, and of one language. Thy
proud Toledo fword is gilt with gold, and it's edge broke in wai".
Thou prince of' Mathrafal, extejifive are the bounds of thy domi-
nions, thou rulefl: people of four languages. He ftaid undaunted in
battle againft a foreign nation, and it's ftrange language. May the
p Eiddionydd, now Eifionydd, the name ' Dinefwr, the name o*" the prince of
ofaCommot,ordiftrid,inCarnarvonfl-iire. South Wales's palace, pleafontly fituated
1 Drws Daufynydd, ia the name of a upon a hill above the river Tou'i, in
pafs between two hills, but where it lies Carmarthenfliire, now in, the pofTcffioa
I know not. Drws Daufynydd fignitics, of George Rice, of Newton, efquirc,
literally, the door of the two hills. There member of parliament for that county,
are many palTts in Wales denominated ' Mathrafal, the feat of the prince of
from Drws, as Drws Ardudwy, Drws Powys, not far from Pool, in A'lontgo-
V Coed, Bwlch Oerddrws, ?ic. mcryfliirc, now in tlie poilcilio.n of the
' AberfFraw, the name of a prince's carl of Powys.
chief palace in Anglefea.
great
Poem Vllf. W E L S H P O F T R Y. 43
great King of Heaven defend the jufl cau(e of the warlike prince of
the three provinces.
V.
I make my addrefs to God, the fource of praife, in the beft man-
ner I am able, that I may extol with fuitable words the chief of
men, who rageth like fire from the flafhes of lightning, who ex-
changeth thrufls with the burnifhed fteel. I ftand in armour by the
fide of my prince with the red fpear in the conrlidt of war, he is a
brave fighter, and the foremoft in adion. Llywelyn, thy qualities
are noble, I will valiantly make my path broad with the edge of my
fword. May the prints of the hoofs of my prince's fteeds be feen as
far as Cornwal. Numerous are the perfons that congratulate him
upon this fuccefs, who is a fure friend. The lion of Gwynedd, and it's
extenfive territories, the governour of the men of Powys, and the South,
who hath a general afTembly of his armed troops at Chefter, who ra-
vageth Lloegr to amafs fpoils. In battle his fuccefs is certain, in killino-,
burning, and in overthrowing caftles. In " Rhos and Penfro, and
in contefts with the Normans, his impetuofity prevaileth. The
offspring of GrufFudd, of worthy qualities, generous in diflributing
rewards for fongs. His fliield fliines, and the flrong lances quicklv
meet the ftreams of gufliing gore. He extorteth taxes from hi? ene-
mies, and claimeth another country, as a fovereign prince. His
noble birth is an ornament to him. He befiegeth fortified town?,
and his furious attacks like thofe of '^' Fflamddwyn reach far. He
is a profperous chief vv'ith princely qualities, his Bards are comely
" Rhos and Penfro, the names of two prince, againft whom Uricn, king of
Cantrcds, in Pembrokelhire. Cumbria, and his fon Owain, fought the
* FEamddwyn, the name of a Saxon battle of Argoed Lhvyfein.
G 2 about
44 SPECIMENS OF ANTIENT Poem VIII.
about his tables. I have feen him generoufly diftributing his wealth,
and his mead-horns filled with generous liquors. Long may he
live to defend his borders with his fliarp fword, like Arthur with the
lance of fteel. May he who is lawful king of Cymru endued with
princely qualities have his fliare of happinefs at the right hand of
God.
IX. A
Poem IX. W E L S H P O E T R Y. 45
IX.
A P O E M.
Intituled the Ode of the MoJtths^ compofed by Gwilym Ddu
of Arfon^ to Sir Grtiffiidd Lhvyd, of T'regarmdd and
Dinorweg,
Why the Bard called this piece the " Ode of the Months" I cannot guefs -,
but by what he intimates in the poem, which is, that when all ?iature
revives, and the 'whole animal aitd vegetable creation are in their full
bloom and vigour , he mourned and pined for the decay dfiate of his
country. 'The hero he celebrates muiie a brave but fuccefslcfs attempt to
refcue itfromjlaveiy. It 'will not be amifs to give ajhort account of
that inhuman maffacre of the Bards made by that cruel tyrant Edward
the Firfl, which gave occafion to a very fine Ode by Mr. Grey. Sir
John Wymne, of Gwydir, a defcendant in a direct line from Oivain
Gwynedd, mentions this particidar, and fays, he fearched all the re-
cords in the Exchequer at- Carnarvon, and in the Tower of London,
for the antiquities of kii country in general, and of his own family
in particular. I fcall fet down his own words, as. I find them in a
very fair copy of that hiflory lent me by Sir Roger Moflyn, of Glcddaith
i\. and
46 SPECIMENS OF ANTIENT Poem IX.
{ind Moftyriy Bart, a perfon no kfs eminent for his generoia commu-
fiicative temper ^ than for many other public and private virtues.
" This is the mojl antient fong (i. e. one of Rhys Goch ofEryri's,
'•' a Bard /who flourijhed A. D. 1400) / can find extant of my
" ancefi.ors fince the reign of Edward the Firjl, ivho caifed our Bards
" all to be hanged by martial law, asftirrers of the people to fedition ;
<' ivhofe txatnple being followed by the governors of Wales until Henry
" the Fourth's time,' was the iitier deJlruBion of that fort of men ; and
<■' fit hence that kind of people were at fome further liberty to fmg, and
'^ to keep pedigrees, as in antient tiine they tvei-e wont ; fince which time
" .we have fome light of ajitiqiiity by their fongs and writings," &c.
It is not improbable that our Bard might have been one of thofe
issho fuffcred in the caufe of his countiy, though he had the good luck
to efcape Edwards Jury. Iwifi I fnay be fo happy as to convey fome
faint idea of his merit to the Englifj reader. The original has fuch
touches, as none hut a perfon in the Bard's condition could have exprefed
fo naturally. However not to anticipate the judicious reader's opinion,
to which If ubmit mine with all deference, I fall now produce fome
account of this great man, taken f-om thatfkilful and candid antiquary
Mr. Robert Vaughan of He?2gwrfs jiotes on Dr. Powel's hijlory of
Wales, printed at Oxford, 1663.
" Sir Gruffudd Llwyd, knight, ihe fin of Rhys ap Griiffudd ap
" Ednyfed Fychan, was a valiant gentleman, but imjortunate, " mag-
" na quidem, fed calamitofce lirtutis," as Lucius Florus faith of
*' Sertorius. He was knighted by kifig Edward, when he brought
<' him the fir/l news of his queen's fafe delivery of a [on at Car-
" narvon Cafllc; the king was then at Rhuddlan, at his parliament
" held there. This Sir Gruffudd afterwards taking notice of the
" extrcfne
Poem IX. W E L S H P O E T R V. 4^
" extreme opprejion and tyranny exercijed by the EngUjh officers, ej~
'* pecially Sir Roger Mortimer, lord of Chirk, and jujiice of North
«' Wales, towards his cmtrymen theWelJk, became fo far dijcontented,
" that he broke into open rebellion, 'verifying that faying of Solomon,
" OpprrJJion maketh a ivife man fuad." " He treated Sir Edward
" Bruce, brother to Robert, then king of Scotland, who had con-
" qziered Ireland, to bring or fend over tnen to ajiji him in his
" ^'fS'^ againft the Englif} ; but Bruce" s terms being conceived too
^^- unreafonable, the treaty came to nought; ho^vever being defperate,
^^ he gathered all the Joj-ces he could, and, in an infant, like a candle
'•" that gives afiidden blaze before it is out, overran all North Wales
" and the Marches, taking all the caflesand holds ; but to little pur -
" /#' frfoon after he was met with, his party difcomfited, and him-^
'■'■ felf taken prifoner. This was in the year of our Lord 1322."
T thought fo much by way of introduSiion neceffary to cofnmemorate
fo gallant a perfon ; what became of him afterwards is not mentioned
by our hijlorians. However the Jollowing poem refnains not only as a
monument of the ha-ve's bravery, but of the Bard's genius.
EFORE the beginning of May I lived in pomp and grandeur,
but now, alafs ! I am deprived of daily fupport, the time is as
diftaftrous, as when our Saviour Chrift was taken and betrayed.
How naked and forlorn is our condition ! We are expofed to anxious
toils and cares. O bow heavy is the Almighty's punifliment, that
the crimfon Iword cannot be drawn ! I remember how great it's lize
was, and how wide it's havock ; numerous are now the opprefied
captives who languifh in gnafliing indignation. Our native Eards
are excluded from their accuflomed entertainments. How great?.
48 SPECIMENS OFANTIENT Poem IX.
flop is put to generofity fincc a munificent hero, like Nudd % is
conEned in prilbn. The valorous hawk of' GrufFudd, fo renowned
for ravaging and deftroying his enemies, is deplored by the expert
Bards, who have lofl: their feftivity and mirth in the place where
mead was drunk. I cannot bear to think of his injurious treatment.
His hofpitality has fed thoufands. He is, alafs ! in a forlorn prifon,
fuch is the unjuft oppreflion of the ' land of the Angles. Years of
forrow have overwhelmed me. I reck not what becomes of the af-
fairs of this world. The Bards of two hundred regions lament that
they 'have now no Protedlor. This is certain, but a fad truth. Though
the unthinking vulgar do not refledl as I do on the time when my
eao-le flione in his raajefly. I am pierced by the lance of defpair.
Hard is the fate of my protestor, ** Gwynedd is in a heavy melan-
choly Tnood, it's inhabitants are opprefled becaufe of their tranfgref-
lions. Long has the bright fword, that flione like a torch, been
laid afide, and the brave courage of the dauntlefs Achilles been Hopped.
The whole pleafant feafon of May is fpent in difmal forrow ; and June
is comfortlefs and chearlefs. It increafeth my tribulation, that
Gruffudd with the red lance is not at liberty. I am covered with
chilly damps. My whole fabric fliakes for the lofs of my chief I
find no intermiffion to my pain. May I fink, O Chrifl: ! my Saviour,
into the grave, where I can have repofe ; for now, alafs ! the office
of the Bard is but a vain and empty name. I am furprized that my
defpair has not burfl: my heart, and that it is not rent through the
= Nudd Had, or the Generous, one Fychan, fenefchall to Llywclyn the great,
of the three liberal heroes of Britain men- and a brave warrior,
fioncd in the Triades, and celebrated by "^ The land of the Angles, i. e.
Tr.liefin. England.
•> GrufFudd Llwyd, the hero of the "^ Gwynedd, the name of the country,
pocni, was the fon of Rhys, the fon of calletl by the Romans Vcnedotia, but by
Gruft'ndd, (the fon of the famous Jidnyfed the Englifti North Wales.
midfl
Poem IX.
WELSH POETRY.
4^9
midft in twain. The heavy ftroke of care afTails my memory, when
I think of his confinement, who was endowed v/ith the valour of
" Urien in battle. My meditation on part misfortunes is like that of
the fkilful ' Cywyrd the Bard of Dunawd e. My praife to the wor-
thy hero is without vicious flattery, and my fong no lefs affcfting
than his. My panegyric is like the fruitful genius of '' Afan
' Urien Reged, a famous king of Cum-
bria, who fought valianily with the
Saxons, whofe brave actions are cele-
brated by Taliefin and Llywarch Hen.
He is mentioned by Nennius, the anci-
ent Britifh hiftorian, who wrote about
A. D. 858. This writer is terribly
mangled by his editors, both at home and
abroad, from their not being verfcd in
the Briti(h language. I have colledled
fome manufcripts of his hiftory, but can-
not meet a genuine one without the inter-
polations of Samuel Beulom, otherwife I
■would publifli it. I have in my pofl'eflion
many notes upon this author, collefled
from ancient Britifh manufcripts, as well
as Englifti writers, who have treated of
our affairs. This I have been enabled to
<lo, chiefly by having accefs to the cu -
rious library at Llannerch, by the kind
permiffion of the late Robert Davies,
efquirc, and fince by his worthy fon
John Davies, efquire, which I take this
opportunity gratefully to acknowledge.
f Cywryd, this Bard is not mentioned
either by Dr. Davies or Mr. Edward
Llwyd, in their catalogues of Britifli
writers. It feems he Hourifhed in the
fixth century, as did all the ancient Bri-
tifli Bards we have now extant. Here
let me obviate what may be objeftcd to me
as mentioning fo many hiits, and perfons
who lived in the fixth century, within the
courfe of this performance. It was the
h& period our kino;s fough; "with, any
H
fuccefs againfl the Saxons, and it was
natural, therefore, for the Baids of thofe
times, to record fuch gallant adb of
their princes, and for their fucceflors to
tranfmit them to poflerity. Every per-
fon, though but fligiitly verfcd in the Bri-
tifli hifiory of that time, knows that Cad-
waladr was the laft king of Britain.
Since his time there are no works of the
Bards extant till after the conqueft, as I
have fhewed in my Diilcrtatio de Barciis.
s Dunawd, the fon of Pabo Poft Pry-
dain, one of the heroes of the fixth cen-
tury, who fought valiantly with the
Saxons.
'' Afan FerdJig, was the Bard of the
famous Cadwallawn, fon of Cadfan king
of Britain. I have got a fragment of a
poem of his comnoution on the death of
his patron Cadwallawn; and as far as I
underfliand it, it is a noble piece, but very
obfcure on account of it's great antiquity ;
as are the works of all the Bards who wrote
about his time. It is as difficult a talk,
for a modern Welfliman to endeavour to
underfiand thofe venerable remains, as
for a young fcholar juft entered upon the
fcudy of the Gr^ek language to attack
Lycophron or Pindar, without the help
of a dictionary or fcholiafl:. How Mr..
Mackpherfon has been able to tranflatethe '
Erfe ufed in the time of Offian, who lived
a whole century at leaft before the ear-
liefl: Britifli Bard now extant, I cannot
comprehend. I wifli fome of thofe that
Ferddig
50 S P E C I M E N S O F A N T IE N T Poem IX.
Ferddig in celebrating ' CadvvalKvn of royal enterprizes. I can no
raore fing of the lance, in well-laboured' verfe. Since thou doeft
Eot live, what avails it that the world has any longer continuance ?
Every region proclaims thy gcnerofity. The world droops fince thou
art loft. There are no entertainments or mirth, Bards are no longer
honoured : The palaces are no longer open, ftrangers are negleded, there
are no caparizoned fteeds, no trufty endearing frienddiip. No,
our country mourns, and v/ears the afpedtof Lent. There is no virtue,
goodnefs, or any thing commendable left among us, but vice, difTolute-
nefs, and cowardice bear the fway. The great and towering ftrength
of ^ AUon is become an empty fliadowj and the inhabitants of
Arfon ' are become infignificant below the ford of Rheon". The lofty
land of Gwynedd is become weak. The heavy blow of care ftrikes.
her down. We muft now renounce all confolation. We are con-
fined in a clofe prifon by a mercilefs unrelenting enemy ; and what
avails a bloody and brave conteft for liberty.
are well verfed in the Erfe or Irifti Ian- or the Privileges of the men of Powys,
guage, would be fo kind to the public, which is in my cuftody.
as to clear thefe matters ; far I can hard- "^ Men, the Mona of the Latins, call-
ly believe that the Erfe language hath ed by the Englifli Anglefey, in which at
been better preferved than the BritiQi. a place called AberfFraw, was the palace
' Cadwallon, the fon of Cadfan, the of the princes of Nortk Wales. The
moft vicloiious king of Britain, fought Bard feems here to hint at the lofs of
many battles with the Saxons; and, LJywelyn ap Gruffudd the laft prince of
;;mong the reft, that celebrated one of Wales of the Britilh line.
Meigin, in which he flew Edward king ' Arvon, the country now called Car-
of Mercia, where the men of Powys be- narvonftiire.
havcd themfelves with diftinguiflied brave- "■ Rheon, the name of a river in Car-
ry ; and had from thence feveral privi- narvonfliire, often mentioned by the
eges granted them by that brave prince. Bards ; but it muft have altered it's name,
Thefe privileges are mentioned by Cyn- fmce, for I do not recollect any fuch ri-.
ddelw Brydydd Mawr, a Powyfian Bard, vcr which bears that name at prcfent.
in a poem, intituled Breiniau Gwr Powys,
F I N I S;
Poem IX. W E L S H P O E T R Y.' 51
TJ A V I N G fnified the prefcnt fmall colk^isn of the Britifi Bards^
I take this opportunity to acquaint the reader, that the time in
•which they JiouriJJied is not accurately fet down, by Dr. Davie s, at the
end 0} his DiBionary, nor by Mr. Llivyd, of the Mufeiim, in his Cata-
logue of Britifi Writers, in the Archaologia Britannica. Indeed it is
impofjible to be fo exaB, as to fix the year when the Bards wrote their
federal pieces, unlefs the cSlions they celebrate are mentioned in our Annals^
becaufe fome of them lived under feveral pi-inces. T^ois I thought proper to
mention, left any Jlmild blame the tranfiator for his inaccuracy ^ in fettling
the Chrofiology of the Poems,
H 2 A poor i
5« SPECIMENS OF A N T I E N T
A port Account of TA L I E S I N, the Chief of
Bards, and ELP HI IV, tloe Son of GIFT DD NO
GARANIR 1m Patro?2,
GWyddno Garanir, was a petty king of Crantre'r Gwaelod, whofe
country was drowned by the fea, in a great inundation that hap-
pened about the year 560, through the careleflhefs of the perfon into
whofe care the dams were committed, as appears from a poem of
Taliefm upon that fad cataftrophe. In his time the famous Taliefin
lived, whofe birth and education is thus related in our ancient ma-
nufcripts. He was found expofed in a wear belonging to Gwyddno,
the profit of which he had granted to his fon, prince Elphin, who
being an extravagant youth, and not finding the ufual fuccefs, grew
melancholy; and his fifliermen attributed his misfortune to his
riotous irregular life. When the prodigal Elphin was thus bewail-
ing his misfortune ; the fifliermen efpicd 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 befl: education, upon which he became the mofl:
celebrated Bard of his time. The accompliflicd Taliefin was intro-
duced by Elphin to his father Gwyddno's court, where he delivered
him a poem, giving an account of himfelf, intituled, Hanes Ta-
liefin, or Taliefin's Hifi:ory ; and at the fame time another to his
patron and benefaftor Elphin, to confole him upon his paft misfor-
tune, and to ex)iort him to put his trufl in Divine Providence. This
is
W E L S H P O E T R Y. 53
is a fine moral piece, and very artfully addrefled by the Bard, who
introduces himfelf in the perfon and chara(5ler of an expofed infant.
As it is probable that the prince's affairs took another turn fince that
period ; this was done with great propriety. Sir John Price men-
tions the poem, that Taliefin delivered to king Gwyddno, in his
Hiftoriae Britannicse defenfio. " Taliefinus quidem in odula, quam
" de fuis erroribus compofuit, fic infcripta Britannice (Hanes Taliefin)
" videlicet errores Taliefini, ait fe tandem divertiflTe ad reliquias
" Trojas ;
" Mi a ddaethum yma at Weddillion Troia."
«■' neque dubitandum efl hoc fuifi*e opus Taliefini : nam prater innu-
" meros codices vetuftiffimos, qui infcriptionem hujufmodi atteften-
*' tur, nullo reclamante, nullus efl recentiorum qui vel phrafin illius
" tam antiquam, carminifve majeftatem afiTequi potuit, Et ideo funi-
" mus ille vates inter Britannos cenfetur et nominatur." I never
could procure a perfedl nor corred copy of this poem of Taliefin,
otherwife I would gratify the curious with a tranflatlon of it. It is
certain from his hiftory, that he was a very learned man for his time,
and feems to have been well verfed in the doftrine of the Druids, par-
ticularly the [xsTifi-^livx^o-i?, which accounts for the extravagant flights
frequent in his poems. I have now in my pofieflion above fifty of
them ; but they are fo very difficult to be underfi:ood, on account of
their great antiquity, and numerous obfolete words, and negligence
of tranfcribers, that it is too great a tafii for any man at this difiance
of time to go about a tranflation of them. However I have feleded
this ode, as a fpecimen of his manner of writing, not as it is the
beft in the colledion, but as it is the only one I could throughly undcr-
iland. There are many fpurious pieces fathered upon this Bard, in
a great many hands in North Wales ; but thefe are all forged either
hy
54 SPECIMENS OF ANTIENT
by the monks, to anfwer the purpofes of the church of Rome, or by
the Britlfli Bards, in the time of the latter piinces of Wales, to fpi-
•rit up their countrymen againfl: the Englifb, which any body verfed
in the language may eafily find by the flyle and matter. It has been
my luck to meet with a manufcript of all his genuine pieces now
extant, which was tranfcribed by the learned Dr. Davies, of Mallwyd,
from an old manufcript ort vcUom of the great antiquary Mr. R.
Vaughan, of Hengwrt. This tranfcript I haiC fhewn to the beft an-
tiquaries and critics in the Welfli language now living. They all
confefs that they do not underftand above one half of any of his
poems. The famous Dr. Davies could not, as is plain from the
many obfolete words he has left without any interpretation in his
didionary. This fliould be a caveat to the Englifli reader concern-
ing the great antiquity of the poems that go under the name of
Oflian, the fon of Fingal, lately publiPned by Mr. Mackpherfon.
It is great pity Taliefin is fo obfcure, for there are many particulars in
his poems that would throw great light upon the hiftory, notions, and
manners of tlie ancient Britons, cfpecially of the Druids, a great part
of whofe 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 viftorious king of allJBri-
tain, with Elphin his patron, whom he redeemed with his fongs
fi-om the caftle of Tyganwy, where he was upon fome account con-
fined by his uncle Maelgwn. He likevvife celebrated the vidories of
Urien Regen, king of Cumbria, and a great part of Scotland, as
far as the river Clyde. In (hort, he was held in fo great efteem by
poflerity, that the Bards mentioned him with the greateft honour
in their works. In his poem, intituled, Aurheg Urien, or Urien's
prefcnt, he fays, that his habitation was, by Llyn Geirionnydd, in
fhe parifli of of Llan Rhychwyn, in Carnarvonfliire, and mentions
thereia
WE L S II PO E T RY. " $s
therein his cotemporary, the famous Aneirin Gwawdrydd, author of
the Gododin, an heroic poem, on the battle of Cattraeth, of which
fcme account is "iven in the Difl'ertatio de Bardis.
A wn ni envv Aneirin Gwawdrydd Awenydd
A minnau Daliefin o lann Llyn Geirionnydd.
i. e. I know the fame of that celebrated genius Aneirin Gwaw-
drydd, who am Taliefin, whofe habitation is by the pool Geirion^
nydd.
Having finlflied this fliort account of our author, I fliall now
proceed to his poem, intituled, Dyhuddiant Elphin, or Elphin's
Confolation, which I offer now to the public.
D R. John David Rhys quotes it at length in his Lingus
Cymraecse Inflitutiones Accuratas; which to fave further trouble'!
fhair beg leave to tranfcribe here in his own words. " Csterum nunc
" et propter eorum authoritatem, et quod huic loco inter alia maxime
" quadi-ant, non pigebit quaedam antiquiflima Talieiini Camfbrc-
" Britannica Carmina fubjungere, &c."
I HAVR nothing more to acquaint the reader with, but that I have
ufed two copies in my tranflation, one in print by the faid Dr. John
David Rhys, the other in manufcript by Dr. Thomas Williams. I
have followed the copy I thought moft corredl, and have given the
diiferent reading of the manufcript in the margin.
X, TAL IE SIN'S
j6 SPECIMENSOFANTIENT PoemX.
X.
TALIESIN'S POEM
T'o Elphin^ the Son of Gwyddno Garanir^ king of Cajitrer
Gwaelody to comfort him upon his illfuccefs at the Wear \ »
and to exhort him to trufl in Divine Providence:
*•■
i *
I.
FAIR Elphln, ceafe to weep, let no man be difcontented with
his fortune; to defpair avails nothing. It is not that which
man fees that fupports him. Cynllo's prayer will not be ineffectual.
God will never break his promife. There never was in Gwyddno's
Wear fuch good luck as to-night.
II.
Fair Elphin, wipe the tears from thy face ! Penfive melancholy
will never profit thee ; though thou thinkefl: thou haft no gain ; cer-
tainly too much forrow 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 feas and mountains, and from the bot-
tom of rivers, God fends wealth to the good and happy man.
= Wear is made with hurdles, generally cither in the fea or near the mouth of
great rivers, to catch fifh.
J ' III. Elphin
Poem IX. WELSH POETRY. 49
III.
Elphtn with the lovely qualities, thy behaviour Is unmanly, thou
oughteft not to be over penfive. To truft In God Is better than to
forebode evil. Though I am but fmall and llender on the beach of
the foaming main, I fliall do thee more good In the day of diftrefs
than three hundred falmons,
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 protedlon, thou
needeft not fear any difafter. If thou defireft the affiftance of the
ever blefled Trinity, nothing can do thee hurt.
D E
• D E
BAR D IS
DISSERTATIO;
I N QJJ ANONNULLA
Quae ad eorum antiqultatem et munus refpiciunt,
Et ad pra^cipuos qui in Cambria floruerunt,
BREVITER DISCUTIUNTUR.
STUDIO ET OPERA
EVANI EVANS, Cereticenfis.
Si quid mea carmina fojjiinty
Aonio ftatnam fublimi vertice Bardos ;
Bardos Pieridum cultores, atque canentii
Fhoehi delicias, qiiihus eft data cura perennis
Dicere ?iobiIium clariftima faSia virorum,
Aureaque excelfam famam Jitper a fir a locare.
JoH. Lelandus in Affertione Arturii.
INSIGNI VIRO
GVLIELMO VAVGHAN
DE CORS Y GEDOL ARMIGERO,
E T
IN SENATV BRITANNICO
PRO COMITATV MEIRIONNTDD DELEGATO,
PROVINCIAE PRAEFECTO, ROTVLORVM CVSTODI,
SOCIETATIS CTMMRODORION LONT>lNl
PRAESIDI SVMMO,
CAETERISQVE EIUSDEM SOCIETATIS MEMBRIS,
HANC DE BARDIS DISSERTATIONEM,
SVMMA, QVA PAR EST, OBSERVANTIA
D. D. D.
EVANVS EVANS.
[ 63 J
D E
B A R D I
DISSERTATIO;
OUUM per multos annos non fine fumma voluptate Bardos
Britannos horis fubficivis evolverem, et quum hac aetate fere
in dcfuetudinem abiere ejufraodi fiudia, et quicquid eft Bri-
tannicK antiqultatis noftrorum pereat incuria, non potui quin hanc
qualem qualem rudi Minerva diflertatiunculam in valgus emitterem,
quo exteris melius innotefcat, quantum in his olim profecere nol-
trates.
Bardi apud Celtas originem habuerunt ; et Grasci, qui eorum me-
minerunt, mira omnino de illis produnt, quae eo magis fidem me-
rentur quod non (blebant laudes fuas in Barbaros effuse impendere.
Cum alibi gentium hodie nulla eorum maneant veftigia nilj apud
Cambro-Britannos et Hibernos, Celtarum pofteros ; e re fore duxi,
fi aliquid de antiquioribus qui apud nos extant, praelibarem, pras-
miflis de iis in genere ex Scriptoribus Grsecis et Latinis elogiis, quoi
5 auguftiu-j
64 DISSERT A TIO
auguftius in fccnam prodeant, et inde venerandae antiqultatis au6tori-
tatem fibi vindicent.
— -UNDEBardi nomen funt fortiti, nondiim mihi conflat) AnxNii enini
ViTERBiENSis regeni Bardum, uti et omnia eyas hujufcemodi com-
menta, penitus rejicio. Non omnino abludit vox Bar furor,, modo
fit ille poeticus quo fe agitari fingebant Bardi. Si ea fuerit vocis ori-
go, neceffe eft ut primitus fcriberetur Barydd. Utcunque fit, nos a
multis retro Seculis furorem ilium poeticum voce Awen defignamus,
qusB deduci poteft a Gwen, rifus vel Icetitia : Poets enim munus eft
ut homines cantu exhilaret. Non multum ergo contendimus an ea
lit vocis origo, cum vocabulorum antiquorum, cujufmodi funt ho-
minum, ofBciorum, urbium, montium et fluviorura fit admodum
obfcura fignificatio.
His de Bardorum origine praemifiis, ad eorum pergamus munus,
prout Scriptores Grseci et Latini tradiderunt. Primus fit Diodorus
SicULUS, qui h£C fcribit. 'Eitrt aat vcc^' dvloTi; koCi Ttoiy^ui ixbXuv, Q;
BAPAOTD cvojj-a,^iia-i, iirot S\ f^tr' i^yocvcav TuTg Xv^etig of^otcov a,^6vlsi, ^s
fjSju ui^via-i, a? cii l3xixer(p^fA.^a-i\ Non multum diffimile eft quod de
illis prodit Ammianus Marcellinus. " Bardi (inquit ille) fortia
" virorum illuftrium fadta heroicis compofita verfibus cum dulcibus
" lyrse modulis cantitarunt." His Possidonii apud Athenaeum
verba addere lubet, qui eorum munus graphice depingit. Ke/7"
Tre^iuyovlxi jwe^' tavjcHv, Kct) •jroXiy.SnBg (rvy.&ico]ct; iff KxXS<ri Trupxtr'nag.
iroi Si lyKut^ia, dvjuv, kxi tt^os dd^om Xiyainv avS-^UTTug (ruve^uiTaf, kx)
■TTfiog iKccTov Tuv Kojct fii^og iKilvuv dn^oufAivuv. T» Si d}Cii(r/j,KTix dv]uv imv
ci KuX^i^oi BAPAOI. •sroi'^d'i Si jsroi Tvyx°^^i^<''' f^-f' V^'^iS 'f^rxivag Xiyofjif ^.
» P. 213. H. Steph. Edit. 1559. ' P. 246. D.
Hinc
D E B A R D I S. 65
Hinc manifdlo liquet eorum prjecipuum munus fuiffe Heroum laudes
in ccelum evehere. Sed quum nulla Celticorum vel Gallicorum ex-
tent Bardorum opera, ex quibus quam digne munus geflerint evincatur,
operse pretium eft, aliuna ex eodeni Athenaeo locum adducere, ex
quo patebit hautquaquam iis defuifle fublime diccndi genus, quod
Grasci v]po( vocant. Pofidonius, Luernii, qui Bittitis pater fuit a Rg-
manis profligati, opes cum enarrat, tradit eum popularem gratiam au-
cupantem, per agros curru vehi folitum, aurumque et argentum in
turbas Celrarum innumeras eum profequentes fpargere : quin et
(eptum eundem quadratum ftadiorum duodecim aliquando cinxifle,
in quo potione lumptuofa et exquifita pleni lacus ejfTent, parataquc
cibariorum copia, ut complufculis diebus liceret iis quibus placeret,
ingredi, fruique illo apparatu, cum alTiduis miniftrorum officii.^.
Epularum diem aliquando ciJm ille conftituifTet, ac prje hniillet, baj-
barum quendam Puetam tardius ceteris eo comnieantem il!i occur-
rilTe, ac canentem laudes ejus, excellentefque virtutes celebralle,
vicefu vero fuani doluifle, ac deflevifle, quod ferius adventairet : il-
ium cantu deledlatum auri facculum popofcilfe, ct accurrenti cantoii
projecifie : quo fublato, poctam ejus rurfum laudes ilerantem prsdical-
lecurrus, quovehebatur, imprefla in terram veftigia aurum et beneficia
procreare mortalibus. Sed praeftat ipfa.ATHENAEi v.erba apponer.c.
.vTTo 'P!^fA.o.i'j)V na9cii^idii^@^, (pxTt, onifxciyuy^ylK cumv r^g o)(^?^cv; c* ctpy.d]:
(pe^s^ did r TJEalaiVy k (r%ii^i,v ^^i/a-oc, ii ct^yv^ov ?? ciKoXou^Jc-aii r KsXTi-y
.fiv^clin, (p^yixoc, rs ■srcieiv /^xcBKA'^-cldiov nr^yuvcv, cai a> zs-'AijoSv /.'.;i'-s-; 33-
XvjiXcug ■viTOfJc.ctll^, sr«g^<rx^a,(^f«v x£ Tt<riTS (^o'jfxa.rui' TirXtQl^, a^-rc sA' >;-
XiiTrjuq Qi^Ktvcv,'.^ct;. 'Atp^^t<raPiOg S' cwrS ^^oSicri^ixv 7zS,e.rrj^ (loi\ir,g, d^v~
'=ripf,(ruvlci riva tuv Bcto(ioc^u\i TicfJi'^v dpitcktB-eci, tea; iT[j'^a.vJ',(jravjci,\iMT\ u^rjc
iuvHi) nufS rr^J V7n^o^r,v, iotJpiOV.S' .uTroSpijW.inri- C.^U7;x.i--._.xe.st Sl-.xi^^X-^-^x
c^ D-ISS^RTATIO
■7r<i.Ut Jper^ ■ktyo'^Ay AIOTI TA IXNH THS THS (E<I> HS APMA-
THAATEI) XPri:ON KAI ETEPrEIIAS ANePXinOIS OEPEF.
PIaec funtquse (ut pote cui ad Bibliothecas aditus non patet)de an-
tiquis illis in medium prdferre licuit. Ad noftros js,mvenio in quibijf
non defunt veri et genuini u'-^-ar exempla. Nequaquam fuo gener?
Graecis et Latinis poetis cedunt noftri Bardi, quamvis ad eorum nor-
mam carmlna non texerunt. Quid enim nobis cum exteris ? An
eorum modulo et pede noftra poemata metenda funt ? Quid, ut ta-
ceam de Arabicis et Brachmanicis, et in Europa boreali Scaldis ?
quid fiet, inquam, de antiquioribus illis Sacrofandtis poetis ? quid fiet
de JoBO, Davide, et iiqui alii SeoSi^aKJoi poetie ? Sed hsc a pro-
pofito noftro aliena flint.
QuuM res Britonum, ingruentlbus PIdis, Scotis, et Saxonibus, labe-
rentur, diei non poteft, quantam libris et veteribus nollrorum mo-
numentis ftragem ediderint : adeo ut Bardi et hiflorici vere antiqui,,
fint admodum rari. E noftris hifboricis qui Bardorum meminit, pri-
iims eft GiLDAs Nennius, qui fcripfit, uti ipfe narrat, anno
858, et quarto Mervini regis. Sed is locus in nonnullis exempla-
ribus deeft, et ejus au(5tor clariflimo Vaughano, Nennio antiquior
effe videtur, qui eum " vetuftum Saxonies genealogias autorem" no-
minat. Sive vero is fuerit Nennius, quod mihi videtur, five, uti
jlle mavult, aliquis eo vetuftior, omnia qure ibi narrantur quam ve-
riffima funt, quamvis fcribentium ofcitantia quam fcediffime fint de-
pravata. Ncc mendas cafligarunt editores Gale et Bertram.
Quae ad Bardos fic fe habent, " Item Talhaiarn Tatangen in
" poemate claruit, ct Nuevin, et Taliesin, et Bluchbar, et
<♦ ClAN
D E B A R D I S. 67
*« CiAN qui vocatur Gweinchgwant, fimul uno tempore in
" pocniate Britannico claruerunt." Qui locus fic reftitui debet.
«' Item Talhaiarn Tatangwn claruit, et Aneurin, ct Ta-
** LiEsiN, et Llvwarch, et Cian qui vocatur GwyNowN fimul
" uno tempore in poemate Britannico claruerunt." Ex iis quos hie
nominat Nennius tres tantum extant, nempe Aneurin, Taliesin
et Llvwarch cognomento Hen. Meminit tamen Talhaiarni
Taliesinus in poemate cu'i titulus ^figar C^i/y?2{ia'wJ, i. c. Co?2cordia
dijcors.
Trivy jaiih TalhaiaRN,
^edydd bi ddydd jam.
« Ex Talhaiarni fententia
Expiatio erit per baptifmum in die fupremo^"
Uti ct GiANi in eodem poemate.
Cian pnn ddarfa
Lliaws gyfolu.
" Quando Cian us multos carmine celebraret."
Meminit et ejudem Aneurinus in fuo poemate Heroico, cui nomen
Gododin,
Un mabany Gian ojaen Gwyngivn,
*' Unicus Cian I filius ex valido Gwyngwn ortus."
K 2 Sed
6$ D I S S E R T AT I O
Sjtd quum eorum opera abolcverifjetas, 'nihil ultra de iis diCers
poiTumus. Hoc faltem conffat, fi Nennio fides adhibenda fit, eos fa o
feculo B-irdos hvAii eximios. Aneurinus, Taliesinus et Lly-
WARCH Hen habent multa notatu digna, et quse rei iftius fecuU
hifloric:^ multum lucis adferunt. Sed" quum eorum fint rarifiima
•exemplarla, iniclkdu funt quam difficillirria, quoc3 fit partlrii ob'
fcr'bcntiurn ofcitantiam-, partlm ob linguam vetuiHm et cbfoletam,
tjuae in nullo Lexico vel glofTaiio inveniri poteft. Unde fit, ut fepe
■:c/i plus dimidio vel a peritifTimo intelligatur. Taliesinus queni -
noftrates Pen Beirdd ; i.e. Bardorum Coryphsuni appellavere, in.
;iulis Britannice principum vixit, et ibi clara eorum in bellu facinora
cantavit. Patronos habuit Maelcwn Gwynedd, eum fcilicet
quem Gild as Maglocunom vocat,- et Urienum- Regedenfem
CumbrifE principoax et ElphiniUM filium Gwyddno. Garanir
Dominum Cantref Gnu/aehd, cujus regio a mari abforpta eft circa an-
rann 540. Floruerunt Taliesin.us; , et Aneurin GwAWJ>RYDa
Mychdcyrn Beirdd^ i. e. Bardorum Monarcha, eodem tempore, circa
annum 570. Aneurinos, in fijo poemate cui titulus Gododin,
refert fe in bello juxta Cattraetb fub-aufpiciis Mvnyddawc Eiddin,
belkim advgrlus ^axones gefiifle, et ibi omneSj tribus ,exceptis, inter
quos erat Aneurinus, bello occubuifle. Fuerunt fub hoc principe
in hac cxpeditione trecenti ct fexaginta tres vici nobiies, qui eum ad
helium juxta Cattraetb funt fecuti. Fit hujus exercitus mentio in libra
'Triadwn in hunc modum. Teir gofgordd addwyn Ynys Prydain.
Gofgordd Mynyddawg Eiddin Yng Cattraetb^ a gofgordd Me-
LYN a Chynfelyn ; a gofgordd Dry won mab Nudd yn Rhod-
•wydd Arderydd. i. e. Tres fuere ncbiles exercitus Infulae Britannicae.
Exercitus Mynyddawc Eiddin juxta Cattraetb; Exercitus Me-
2 LYN
D E B A R D I S.
69
jfcVN et Cynfelyn -, et Exercitus Drywon filii Nudd juxta
Rhodivydd Arderydd,
Placuit hie nonnulla ex Anburini Gododinio excerpere, qu£
licet ob vetuftatem et dialedti varietatem fint admodum obfcura (fuit
enim fi non Pidtorum lingua, faltem Britannorum feptentrionalium
dialedlus, et ideo hodiernis Cambro-Britannis minus facilis intelleilu)
attamen le<flori hand injucunda fore judicavi, eo quod falvis Graecis et
Latinis lit forfan antiquiflimum in Europa poema. Interpretationem
in multis claudicare nullus dubito. li, quibus plura exemplaria vi-
dere contigerit, ea felicius enucleabunt. Ego non nifi unum vidi a
Thoma Gulielmo Medico pra(^ico fcriptum, in quo quae fequun-
tur fie fe habebant.
Caeawg Cynhorawg myn ydd e!ai,
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 Ma dog pan atcorei
Namyn un gwr o gant yn y ddelai^
1. e.
" Caeawg Cynhorawg? nbicunqueivit, .
" - - . _ - - hydromeli dedit>
" Scutum ejus fuit perforatum, ubicunque audivit
^ Clamorem, hoiiibus non pepercit, ct eos infecutiis ell i
«*--Nec
^o D I S S E R T A T I O
" Nee prlus a bello deftitit, quam fa-nguls effuse fluxerlt, *
<■' Et COS qui non difcedebant fecuri percuffit j
" Adeo ut non polTit Gododin celebrare fadta in aula Mordai.
" Ex Madoci caftris quum domum profedlus eft
<' Unus tantum ex centum rediit."
Gabawg Cynhorawg arfawg yngawr,
Cyno diwygwr gwrdd yngwyawr,
Cynran yn rhagwan rhag byddinawr,
Gwvddai bum pumwnt rhag eu llafnavvr,
O wyr Deifr a Bryneich dychfawr,
. Ugeincant eu difant yn unavvr,
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 Lhoeddaiar'i
HvFEiDD HiR ermygir tra fo Cerddawr.
i. c.
" Caeawg Cynhorawg vir in bello armatus,
^ '< Et Cyno qui fe ftrenuum gefllt in dimicandoj
'< Ceciderunt numefus ingens eorum haftis transfixi.
" Prius lupo parabatur caro, quam nuptiali convivio ;
" Et corvo prius commodum fuit, quam Libitina3.
" Prius quam humi fluebat ejus fanguis
" In aula Lliweddaivr mulfum bibit,
*' Et Hyfeidd Hir celebrabitur, donee erit Cantor."
' Deipnof. p. 152,
OvTfT
.) P E B A R D I S, 74
Gwyr a aeth Qattraeth feddfaeth feddwn,
Ffurf fFrwythlawn, oedd cam ivas cymhwylhvn,
I am lafnawr coch, gorfawr, gwrmwn,
Dvvys dengyn ydd ymleddyn aergwn,
Ar deulu Brymich be ich barnafvvn,
Diluw, dyn yn fyw nis gadawfwn,
Cyfeillt a gollais, difHais oeddwn,
Rhugl yn ymwrthryn, rhyn rhiadwn.
Ni mynnws gwrawl gwaddawl chwegrwn,
Maban y Gian o faen Gwyngwn^
1. e.
VIri feftlnabant Cattraeth, quibus mulfum erat potus^
Forma eximii, quibus ingratus eflem, fi non meminerim.
Haftis armati turmatim rubris, magnis et incurvatisj
Pugnabant impetuofi bellatores.
Si mihi liceret ^ fententiam de Deirorum populo ferre,
^que ac diluvium omnes una ftrage proftrarem ;
Amicum enim amifi incautus.
Qui in refiftendo firmus erat - ^- '-
Non petiit magnanimus dotem a focero,
Filius CiANi ex Hrenuo Gwyngwn ortus."
» Fortafle, *' Vindiftam in Deirorum populum," &c..
Yfeis^
72 D I S S E R T AT I O
Yfeis i o win a itiedd y Mordai,
Mawr maint i wewyr,
Ynghyfarfod gwyr,
Bwyd i eryr eryfmygai.
Pan gryffiei Gydyvtal cyfddwyreai
Awr, gan vvyrdd wawr cyn i dodai,
Acflawr ddelk am bellt a adawai,
Parrau ryn rwygiad, dygymmynai
Ynghat blaen bragat briwai.
J. e.
'^' Ego blbl ex vino et Mulfo Mordai,
" Cujus hafta fuit immanis magnitudinis.
" In belli congrefta,
'< Vidum aquilis paravit.
<' Quando Cydywal feftinavit, exoftus eft clamor
" Ante croceam auroram, cum fignum dedit,
" Scutum' in ifleres comminutos fregit,
" Et haftis lacerantibus percufllt,
*' Et in bello eos qui primam ftationem funt nadti vulneravit.
.,. ^ ^
■Gvfyr a acth Gattraeth buant enwavvd ;
Gwin a medd o aur fu eu gwiravvd,
Blwyddyn yn erbyn wrdyn ddefawd,
Trywyr a thriugaint a thrichant eurdorchawd,
O'r fawl yt gryflialTant uch gormant wirawd,
Ni ddiengis namyn tri o wrhydri fFofiav/d,
Dau gatci jieron, a Ciiynon Daearawd
A niinnau o'ni gwacdffrcu gwerth fy ngwcnwav/d.
Vifi
D E B A R D I S. 7$
i. e.
•" Viri ibant ad Cattraeth, et fuere Infignes,
" Vinum et mulfum ex aureis poculis erat eorum potus.
" Trecenti et fexaglnta tres aureis torquibus infigniti erant,
" Ex iis autem qui nimio potu madidi ad bellum properabant,
" Non evafere nifi tres, qui iibi gladiis viam muniebant,
" Sc. bellator de Jero?! et Conanvs Daearawd,
" Et egomet ipfe (fc. Bardus Aneurinus) fanguine rubens,
" Aliter ad hoc carmen compingendum non fuperlles fuiflem.
Pan gryfliei Garadawg i gad,
Mab baedd coed, trychwn, trychiad,
Tarw byddin yn nhrin gymmyniad,
Ef Uithiai wydd gwn oi angad,
Ys fy nhyft Ewein fab Eulad,
A GwRiEN, a GwYN, a Gwriad,
O Gattraeth o gym my n ad,
O Fryn Hydivn cyn cafFad,
Gwedi medd gloyw ar angad,
Ni weles Wrien ei dad.
i. e.
" Quando ad bellum properabat Caradocus,
" Filius apri lylvellris qui truncando mutilavit hoftes,
" Taurus aciei in pugnae coofiidlu,
" Is lignum (i. e. haftam) ex manu contorfit,
" Cujus rei lunt teftes Ewein filius Eulad,
" EtGwRiEN et Gv/YN et Gwriad.
L "Ex
^^ DISSERTATIO
"Ex Cattraeth et congreflu ibi,
" Ex Bryn Hydwn ubi prius habltavlt, oriundus,
" Poftquam mulfum lucidum in manu tenuerat,
" Non vidit patrem fuum Gwrienus.
Cyfwyrein cetwyr cyfarfuant,
Ynghyt, yn unfryt yt gyrchaffant,
Byrr eu hoedl, hir eu hoed ar eu carant,
Seith gymmaint o Loegrwys a laddaffint,
O gyiryffedd gwragedd gwych a wnaethant,
Llawer mam ai deigr ar ei hamrant.
i. e.
" Laudo bellatores qui congrefli funt omnes,
« Et uno animo hoftes adorti funt,
" Fuit eorum vita brevis, et longum amicis defiderium reliqueruntj
" Occiderunt tamen ex Saxonibus plus fcepties
" *> Ex contentione mulierum egregie egerunt,
<' Et frequens erat mater lacrymas profundens.
Arddyledawc canu, cymman o fri,
Twrf tan, a tharan, a rhyferthi,
Gwryd ardderchawg marchawg myfgi,
Rhudd Fedel rhyfel a eidduni,
Gwr gwnedd, difuddiawg, dygymmyni ynghat,
O'r meint gwlad yt glywi.
* Quid fibi vult hie Bardus non mihi conftat.
^ *' Debltas
D E B A R D I S.
75
1. e.
" Debitus ert: tibl cantus, qui honorem aflecutus fes maximum,
" Qui eras inftar ignis, tonitrui et tempeflatis,
*' Viribus eximie, eques bellicofe
" Rhudd Fedel, bellum meditaris.
*' Licet vir flrennuus adoriatur, eum fuperabis in bello
•* Ex quacunque regione eum advenifle audieris.
Arddyledawc canu claer orchorddion,
A gwedi dyrraith dyleinw afon,
Dimcones loflen ben eryron llwyd,
Ef gorau bwyd i yfglyfion.
Or a aeth Gattracth o aurdorchoglon,
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 poft conflidum amnes ripas fuperare ^ fecerunt.
** Ejus manus fatiavit aquilarum fufcarum gulas,
" Is et optime cibum paravit avibus rapacibus,
*' Ex omnibus enim eis qui ibant ad Cattracth aureis torquibus infigniti,
•< Qui partem Mynyddawg in bello defendebant clari fatellites,
•• Nullus ex Britonibus melius fuum cgit munus
*« In Gododin, (ex iis qui ex longinquo venerunt) quam Con anus.
' Sc. cruore fiifo.
I, 2 Truaa
75 DISSERTATIO
Truan yw gennyf i gwedi Uudded
Goddef gloes angau trwy anghyffred-
Ag eil trwm truan gennyf fi, gwekd
Dygwyddaw an gwyr ni pen o draed
Ac uchenaid hir ag eilywed
Yn ol gwyr pybyr tymyr tudwed.
Rhyfawn a GwGAWN GwiAWN a Gwlyged
Gwyr gorfaf gwriaf gwrdd ynghaled
Ys deupo eu henaid hwy wedi trined
Cynnwys yngwlad nef addef afreued*
i. e.
" Me maxime dolet poft laborem amicos noftros
" Subire mortis angorem more inaffueto ;
*« Et iterum me maxime dolet quod ipfe vidi
*• Viros noflros in bello gradatim cadentes-.
" Gemitus eft longus et opprobrium
" Poft homines alacres patriae d^^cus,
*« Rhyfawn et Gwgawn Gwiawn et Gwlyged,
" Viriquierantfuftentacula (bellifc.) fortiflimietinanguftiis magnaninu
" Afcendant eorum animas poft pugnam
«< In regnum coelorum ubi habitatio eft fine ullo defiderio.
Haec de Aneurino ftifficiant.
Floruere eodem feculo et multi alii Bardi inter quos eminet
Myrddin Wyllt, id eft, Merlin us Sylveftris, qui poema com-
pofuit cui titulus ylfalhinau, id eft, pomarium, in quo patroni fui
Gwenddolau filii Ceidio munificentiam pricdicat,
Afallcn
D E B A R D I S. -jj
Afallen beren bren y fydd fad
Nid bychan dy Iwyth fydd ffrwyth arnad
A minnau wyf ofnawg amgelawg am danad '
Rhag dyfod y coedwyr coed gymmynad
I gladdu dy wraidd a Uygru dy had
Fal na thyfo byth afal arnad ■ ■ ' i
A minnau wyf gwyllt gerthrychiad
Im cathrid cydirudd nim cudd dillad
Neum rhoddes Gwenddoleu tlyfau yn rhad .
Ac yntau heddyw fal nabuad..
i. e.
" O arbos pomifera, dulcis et bona, '
" Non parvum fers onus fru(ftuum ;
<' Ego tui caufa anxius et folicitus fum,
" Ne lignatores arbores ad caedendas veniant,
" Et effodiant tuam radicem, et femen corrumpant,.',
" Ita ut nunquam poftea pomum feras :
" Ego fum ferus, hominibus fpedlaculum,
" Me occupat horor, et vefles me non amiciunt,
" Genddolau dedit mihi gratis joculariay
" Et ipfe eft hodie non uti olim fuit. ,,■ ,
FuiT Merlij>ius Morfrynii filius ..et, ^Ibanid. oriundus, et
alter fuit a Merlino Ambrosio qui vixit tempore Vortigerni,
et eo quod nepotem cafu interfecerit in infaniam incidit et in Cakdo-
niam receffit fylvam feri inftar, ubi, cum animi compos cfiet, fortem
fuam carminibus deploravit.
Floruit
yt
DISS EU TAT I O
'Fi-OKurr hoc feculoet Llywarch-hen, i.e. iongsivu^, Uiueni
■ Ciimhrits principis confobrinus. Extant ab eo fcnpta poemata in
■quibus narrat le a Saxonlbus in Povijiam pulfum fuiffe, et libi fuifie
•viginti quatuor filios aureis torquibus infignitos, et omnes patriam de-
-fcndendo bello occubuiire. Qai plura de hoc viro nohiii et Bardo
Jefiderat CI. Llwydii Archaeologiam Britannicam confulat p. 259.
VixERUNT eodem tempore alii Bardi, fed cum eorum non ex-
tent opera, nomina tantum interferere fufficiat. 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
quce hiftorico Britannico ufui effe poffunt : fuere enim Bardi rerum
geftarum fidi narratores. Fuit eorum prascipuum munus principum
et mafrnatum laudes, et egregia in bello adla carminibus celebrare,
quod et olim de iis obfervavit Luc anus
Vos quoque, qui fortes animas belloque peremptas
Laudibus in longum vates dimittitis asvum,
Plurima fecuri fudiftis carmina Bardi. Lib.
"Bardi (inquit Lelandus in Affertione Arturii) foli muficis
" numeris, et illuftri nobilium memoriiE confervandte ftudebant, cane-
«' bant illi ad lyram heroum inclyta facta, profuit hoc fludium mirifice
" cognitioni, tanquam per manus pofteritati tradits. Unde quoque
" contigit ut Arturii maximi nomen, fama, gloria utcunque con-
" ferventur." Inventus eft enim ejus fepulchrum in monafterio Glajh-
mejT/i'pxta. id quod Bardus cecinerat eoram Henrico Secundo, quod
fatis
D E JB A R D r S.
79
fatis demonftrat illos hiftoiicorum fidorum seque ac poetarum munus
egille.
Habemus praeter hos quos fupra citavimus Bardos, nonnulla car-
mina anonyma pervetufta, qutc Druidum efle exiftimavit Edvardus
Li.uvD, ciijufmodi funt Englynion yr Eiry, y bidiau, y gori/uynnion.
Moris fuille Druidis Garmina alumnos docere notavit Caesar :
" Magnum ubi verfuum numerum edicere dicuntur. Itaque non-
" milli annos vicenos in difciplina permanent, neque fas elle exifti-
" mant ea litteris mandare, quum in reliquis fere rebus publicis pri-
'* vatifque rationibus, Grscis litteris utuntur. Id mihi duabus de
♦' caufis inftituiile videntur j quod neque in vulgus difeiplinam efterri
" velint, neque eos qui difcunt litteris confifos minus memoriae ftu-
•« dere, quod fere plerifque accidit ut prsfidio litterarum diligentiam
" in difcendo ac memoriam remittant." Genus carminis quo in his^
ufi funt fuit Evglyn Milwr.
Haec de antiquiffimis qujB nunc extant Bardis Britannicis dicere
fufficiat, ad illos nunc accedo qui durante Princlpum Cambriac guber-
naculo floruerunt. A feculo fexto ad decimum nihil quod novi extat
fcriptum, faltem non vidi, neque quid caufae efle potuit augurari pof-
fum, nifi frequens bellorum ftrages et Britannorum inter diflidia.
In HoELi BoNi, noftris Hywel Dda, legibus fit Bardi aulici men-
tio, et quasnam fuerit ejus ibi conditio, ^ quae, temporis ratione habita,
fuit perhonefla. Circa annum 1170GRUFFUDD ap Conan Cam-
•' " Qiii Harpatorem in manum per- chio colle<nas — Unde patet quanto in
" cufferit, componat ilium quarta parte honore apud exteros ctiam Bardus et Har-
" majori compofitione quam alteri ejuf- pator (idem enim plcrunque fuit munus)
♦' dem conditionis homini." Inter Legg. habitus eflet. PraJter harpam aliud in-
Ripuarioium etWcfinorum a Lindenbro- ftrumcnti genus fibi peculiare Norwallen-
brice.
^^
So D,I 8 S E R TAT I O
bricT princeps legem Bardis prsfcripfit, in qua cautum erat lit nnHaen
prater luam exercerent artem, in qua et dona et poenas conftituit.
Eos autem in tres clafles divifit, Prydydd, Teuluwr et Clerwr ; et
fixum unicuique fecundum ordinem ilatuit flipendium. Eomm
eledlio fieri folebat in folenni principuni et procerum concelTu, ubi
unicuique fecundum meritum afllgnatus eft locus. Ille vero qui prse-
celliat, .fella donatus eft aurea vel argentea, unde et Cadeirfardd
didlus, i. e. Bardus qui fellam ailecutus eft.
Ab eo tempore multi eximii floruerunt Bardi, et a principibus ad-
modum fovebantur. Meilir qui fuit Gruffini filii Conani
Bardus,: fuit et ejufdem miles et legatus uti et ipfe in ejus epicedio
tefert.
' Yfeis gan deyrn o gym eurawg
Arfod faedd feiddiad angad weiniawg
Yn llys Aberffraw er ffaw ffodiawg
Bum o du Gwledig yn lleithawg
■ Eilwaith ydd eithum yn negeffawg
O leufer Uiw camawn iawn dywyflawg
Bu fedd aur gylchwy yn fodrwyawg
"Torrefid gormes yn Uyngheffawg
Gvvedi tonnau gwyrdd gorewynnawg
Dyphuthynt eu feirch meirch rhygyngavvg.
fes.vindicant, quod Crw^i-/ vocant — Hinc fuetudinem abiit, et violino ceffit. — ^Ex
verlnim Aiiglicum Crowdero apud Hudi- fex chordis felinis conftat, nee eodem
b'.aftum pro Fiddler or Player upon the modo quo violinum modulatur, quamvis
f'ioUn, ad quod CrW^-Zprincipium dediffe a figura baud multum abludat : In Sud-
1 vidctur. Hoc inftrumenti genus fere in de- wallia penitus ignoratur :
" Romanufque Lyra plaudat tibi, Barbaras Harpa,
" Grcecus Achilliaca, Crotia Britanna canat."
Venantius. Lib. 7. Carm. 8.
" Dedit
D E B A R D I S. 81
I. c.
Dedit mihi potum ex cornu deaurato princeps,
Cujus impetus erat inftar apri ferocis in bello, cujus
Manus erat liberalis
In aula Aberffraw, quod mihi decus ct felicitas fuit.
Ex domini mei parte miles fui,
Et iterum legationem obii.
Quum a bello cruento difcederet princeps egregius.
Mulfo ex poculo aureo bibebatur in circulo,
Hoftium enim invafionem navalem repulimus,
Et poft refluxionem undarum viridium perfpumofarum
Portabant phaleras in littore ficco equi geftientes.
Nec dedignati funt ipfi principes banc artem, anlmi relaxandi caufa,
colere, ut teftantur Oweni Cvfeiliog principis Povifia et Hoeli
filii Oweni Venedotice principis opera, quibus addere licet Lle-
WELLiNUM ultimum Cambrias principem. De eo enim fie Matt.
West, circa natale domini Llewellinus acceffit ad regem miferi-
cordiam non juftitiam petiturus — et paulo pofl — Rex Edwardus vo»
calem principem diligenter inflrudum ad partes Walliae redire permifit ^
Poematum argamenta erant egregia in bello facinora, libertas, hofpita-
litas et munificentia, et fi qua^ alia virtus, quse homines domi ornatj et
foris hoftibus tremendos reddit. Et fuit eorum in accendendis hoi>-
minum ad clara incepta animis tanta vis, ut nihil a?que fonaret
TyjRTaei mula quum fuos ad honeftam mortem oppetendam hor-
taretur. Et quxnam, quxfo, rcipublicas tarn utilis virtus, quum
hoftibus utrinque premerctur, et cum fola fpes, falus et libertas
.ejlet in arniis, quam magnanimus periculorum contemptu?, et ad
" ViJ. PRYNNE'b Coll. of Record?, Vol. III. p. /214.
xM ea
S2 DISSERTATIO
ea adeunda ardor egregius ? Sed prseftat Giraldum Cambrensem-
audire qui iis vixit temporibus, et fuit eorum qux hie narrantur ocu-
latus teftis. " Nee uUo prorfus nifi martio labore vexantur, patriae
" tamen tutelae ftudent et libertatis : Pro patria pugnant, pro liber-
" tate laborant ; pro quibus non folum ferro dimicare, verum etiam
" vitam dare dulce videtur. Unde et in thoro turpe, in bello mori
" decus putant. Ac illud poetae dixerunt — procul hinc avertite pacem,
" nobilitas cum pace perit, nee mirum fi non degenerant. Quorum
*♦ enim hi reliquije funt olim, vEneads in ferrum pro libertate ruebant.
" De his igitur fpetlabile, quod nudi multoties cum ferro veftitis,
" inermes cum armatis, pedltes cum equltibus congredi non verentur,
" in quo plerumque conflidla fola fiunt agilitate, et animofitate
" vidlrices. Illis quorum poeta fie meminit, ficut fitu lie natura
<* non diflimiles."
Populus quos defpicit ardos
Felices errore fuo, quos ille timorum
Maximus haud urget leti metus, inde ruendi
In ferrum mens prona viris, animteque capaces
Mortis, et ignavum redituras parcere vitae.
Et nonnullis interjedis ** Illud in hoe loco notandum vide-
*' tur, quod Anglorum Rex Henricus Secundus noflris diebus impe-
*' ratori Conftantinoplitano Rmmamielt fuper infulae Britannicse fitu ac
" natura, magifque notabilibus litteris et nunciis inquirenti : Inter
" caetera hoc quafi pra;cipue notabile refcripfit. In quadam infui'cE
*♦ parte funt gentes quse Wallenfes dicuntur, tantne audacue et fero-
** citatis ut nudi cum armatis congredi non vcreantur, adeo ut fan-
** guinem pro patria fundere promptiffime, vitamque velint pro laude
" pacifci." Hadenus Giraldus.
5 Non
D E B A R D I S. St
A
NoN immerito Bardis tantus fuit habitus honor ; ii enim heroum
inclyta canentes adla, et majorum illuftria proponentes exempla fuos
ad ardua incitabant, unde et patriae lalutem, principibus et proceri-
bus gloriam conciliabant ; ncc folum iJluftria aliorum cancbant fadta,
verum ipfi in bello eodem quo in cantibus ardore incitati, multa
pra?ciara fortitudinis exhibebant documenta. Gwalchm ai filius Mei-
LiR fe Cambrice fines adverfus Anglos defendifTe gloriatur in poemate
cui titulus Gorhoffedd Gwalchm a i, i. e. ejui Delicice. Stationem
ejus juxta fluvium Efiirnivy fuiffe docet non procul ab agro Salopienfi.
Sunt multa in hoc poemate tarn heroe quam Bardo digna. Poft-
quam enim excubias per nodlem totam egiflet Gwalchmai, ad
lucem diei appropinquantis la^tus, loci et rerum circumjacentium pul-
chritudine deledatus, omnem curam et folicitudinem amovit, et phi-
lomelae cantui, et aquse juxta labantis murmuri, et arborum herba^
rumque virori attendit, imminens ab hofte periculum contemnens,
Marti sque ac Mercurio paratus, firmum mehercle et generofuni
pedus !
Poema in hunc modum incipit.
Mochddwyreawg Huan haf dyffeftin
Maws llafar adar, mygr, hyar hin.
Mi ydwyf eurddeddf ddiofn yn nhrin
Mi wyf Hew rhag llu, lluch fy ngorddin
Gorwyliais nos yn achadw ffin
Gorloes rydau dvvfr ^ Dygen Freiddin
Gorlas gwellt didryf, dwfr neud jeffin
Gwylain yn gwarc ar wely lliant
Lleithrion eu pluawr, pleidiau eddrin.
* Dygcn Freiddin, hodie Craig Freiddin, eft rupes alta et praerupta In agr. Salopienji,
non procul a Sabrinu^
M 2 « O fol
DISSERTATIO
1. e.
O fol asftive, cito oriens propera,
Suavis eft cantus avium, et caelum fudum et ferenum eft.
Ego fum bona indole prjeditus, et in bello intrepidus,
Sum leo ftrenuus in fronte exercitus, et meus impetus eft violentusa
Totam noftem pervigilavi fines tutando
U'bi funt vada tranflucida juxta Dygen Freiddin
Ubi herba in loco folitario crefcens perviridis eft, et aqua Hmpidft
Mergi ludunt in fludluum led:o.
Quorum plumse fulgent, et ipfi inter fe certant.
NoN pigebit hie de alio Bardo, fcilicet Cynddelw Brydydd'
Mawr, i. e. CoNDELAo vate eximio, nonnulla ex Oweni Venedo-
dotia principis epicedio excerpere; fuit enim ille, uti ex hiftoria con-
ftat, patri propugnato ftrenuus, et in bello fere femper vidor. Vixit
Cynddelw mPovifm, et fuit Madoci filii Maredudd, ilHus rc.-«.
pionis principis, Bardus aulicus.
Gwerfyll torfoedd tew Hew lladdai,
Gorfaf tarf, taerfalch fal Gwalchmai,
Gorfaran Gwrfan gorfyddai,
Gvvr yn aer yn aros gwaedd fai,
Bryd Erof gryd, arf greu a ddodai,
Brwydr eurgrwydr, eurgrawn ni giiddiai,
Bradog waith gwynniaith gwynnygai,
Brys briwgad, brig bragad briwai,
Brwyfc lafneu ynghreu ynghrai celanedd,.
Cymminedd cymmynai,,
Gwyrdd
D E B A R D I S. 85
Gwyrdd heli Teiji tewychai,
Gwaedlan gwyr, a llyr ai llanwai,
Gwyach 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 dyfnafai fy modd,
Fy meddiant a gafFaei.
Colleis Arglwydd call nim coUai,.
Corf eurdoif, eurdal am rhoddai,
Cof cadflawdd am cawdd, a'm carai,.
Car cerddawr, cerddau ai cyrchai,
Gryd wafcar, Ilachar, a'm llochai,, .
Grym dilludd Dillus fab Erfai,.
Greddf Greidivyr, a Chywyr a Chai ;
Glew ddefawd glyw oefdrawd aefdrai,
Yftre hynt, waflad, weftei gwynfydig
Gwyn ei fyd bieufei.
Gwyth efcor tra mor, tra Menai,
Gwlydd elfydd elwais o honai,
Tra fu OwAiN mawr ai meddai,
Medd a gwin a gwirawd fyddai,
Gwymedd wen Gwyndyd Icn ledpai,
Gwedi gwawr, cad fawr ai cadwai,
Pa wladwr, arwr arv/yndai,
Pa wledig a wledych arnai ?
i. e.
'- Denfas turmas in conflidu occidit leo,
« Qui fuit inflar Gwalchmai actis ad fugandum hofles ,
♦^ Superavit
^fe D IS S E R' TAT 10
" Superavit magnas copias Gsvrfanni.
" Fuit in bello vir qui tubam expedabat,
" Similis Erof bellicofo, qui telum cruentum daxit.
" Ex bello rediens, in quo aurum nadus eft, thGlauium non recondit,;
" In hoftes dolofos certans magna excanduit ira ;
" HaftsE in bello furiofas erant in cadaveribus occiforum
*' Et acies (gladiorum) fe inyicem contriverunt.
" Viridis aqua Teivii pinguis fad:a tuit,
" Fluxus virorum ianguiniS et maris eum ripas fuperare fecif,
" Et ^ rubra avis aquatilis, pro magno habebat emolumentOj
" Et per fluvios cruoris natabat,
" Et alti marini equi (i. e. fludlus) plangebant in littore.
" Magnanimus ille princeps eos inftar tyranni opprcffit,
" Et Anglorum cumulos in fofla truncavit.
" Sylveftres canes amiferunt opfonatorem,
<« Quibus in denfis vepribus affolebat effe vidus, neque meo affenfu,
" Neque auxilio indigebat.
" Perdidi dominum prudentem, qui rtie non neglexit,
" Cujus corpus erat auro amiftum, quique mihi aurum dedit,
« Cujus memoria (mortui) me laedit : qui me dilexit :
" Amicus enim erat Bardo, et eum appetebant carmina
" Ille qui homines in bello diffipare fecit, et cujus impetus erat violen-
" tus me fovit,
" Cujus robur erat ineludabile inftar Dill us filii Erfai,
" Et cujus ingenium erat fimile Greidwvr, Cywyr et Cai.
" Herois inftar haftam geflit comminutam
^* Domi autem vitje curfus erat tranquillus, hofpes enim erat munificus
" Et ad fummam felicitatem pervenit.
;' Quaenam fit haec avis mihi non conftat.
" Ille
D E B A R D I S. 87
" Ilie vi<5lorias reportavit violentus trans aefluariufn Menai
" Ubi terra eft benigna, ex qua beneficium fum naftus:
" Donee extitit Owenus magnus qui Monam poffhCity
" Mulfum, vinum et ^ gwirawd bibimus.
" O Vcnedotia olitn beata, Venedotorum tutamen afperu,
" Poft Heroem bellicofum qui te defendet !
" Quis ex noftratibus heros in tedibus vivens magnificis,
" Quis princeps te gubernai'e aequo ac ille valebit ?
Sed non fern per in bellatorum laudes efFufi erant Bardi ; fepe
etiam principum et magnatum fata indigna lugubriter canebant. Sed
infinitum effet h^ec fingulatim recenfere. Unum fat eft adducere
exemplum, ex quo de aliis facile judicari poteft. Leolino Gruf-
FiNi filio, ultimo Cambriae principe, juxta Buellt dolo fublato, dici
non poteft quanto id Bardos dolore affecit. Inter quos Gruffudd
AP YR YNAD cocH liasc texuit admodum TruBt^uHi.
Llawer lief druan, fal pan fu Gnmlari,
Llawer deigr dros rann gwedi gronniaw,
O leas gwanas gwanar eurllaw,
Olaith Llywei-yn cof dyn nim daw,
Oerfelog calon, dan fron a fraw,
Rhewydd, fal crinwydd y fy'n crinaw,
Poni welwch chwi hynt y gwynt ar glaw ?
Poni welwch chwi'f 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 fyr wedi fyrthiaw ?
* Potus genus apud veteres Britannos.
Poni
m D I S S E R T A T I O
^ 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 ffbrdd i efgor brwyn gyngor braw !
i. e.
" Frequens eft vox lugubris, veluti olim in Camlan,
" Multae lacrymse in genis accumulantur,
" Eo quod occidit Cambrias fuftentaculum, et ejus dominus'
*' munificus,
-" Ex quo occidit Leolinus de caeteris non euro;
*' Cor frigidum eft fub peftore ob horrorem,
" Et is qui prius hilaris erat, jam marcefcit.
" Nonne videtis venti et imbris curfum ?
" Nonne videtis quercus in fe invicem ruentes ?
" Nonne videtis mare terram vaftans ?
" Nonne videtis folem ex curfu aerio dofle<-tentom ?
" Nonne videtis aftra ex orbibus corruifle ?
" Cur Deo non creditis homines, vefani ?
" Nonne videtis mundi finem adeffe?
" Exclamabo ufque ad te, o Deus, cur terram non abforbet mare,
" Et cur diutius relinquimur in angore languere ?
" NuUus eft locus, quern petamus sgri,
" Nullus locus, in quo habitemus miferi,
" Nullum reftat confilium, nullum efFugium,
*• Nulla via, qua evitemus fatum ludtuofum.
5 ^ Fi.0RUERE
DEBARDIS. 89
Floruere a tempore Gruffini Conani filil ad hunc Leolinum
et multi alii Bardi infignes, inter quoseminetLLVWARCH cognomine
Prydydd y Moch, qui Leolini Magni, noftris Llewelyn av
JoRWERTH, vidtorias multis celebravit odis, uti et fecere Dafvdd
Benfras, Daniel ap Llosgwrn Mew, Llywelyn Fardd
AP Cywryd.
Floruit eodein tempore in Cerefia Phylyp Brydydd, qui
Bardus fuit Rhys Gryg et Rhys Jeuanc ex familia Rhys ap
Tewdwr oriundus,
LoNGUM effet fingulos recenfere ; de pra:ftantioribus pauca prteli-
bafle fufficit. Cum Cambriam in fuam poteflatem redegerat Ed-
wardus primus, in Bardos faeviit tyranni inftar, et multos fufpendi
fecit. Quid mirum, cum ipfum Leolinum principem et Davidem
fratrem tarn inhumaniter traftaverit ? Sed Edwardus a Leolino
dim in fugam pulfus, noluit illi nee afleclis ignofcere. Hinc ilte
lacryms. Bardis objiciebatur quod cives in feditionem cxcitarunt,
id eft re vera, quod eos ad vindicandum libertatem priftinam majorum
more hortarentur. Bardi enim fuere Cambris idem quod olim Atbe-
nienfibm oratores, quos ut Grseciam in fervitutem redigeret, fibi tradi
voluit Philippus Macedo. Regum Angliae jufticiarii poft Eduardum
in Cambria ejus exemplum fecuti, Bardos leglbus iniquis obnoxios
ubique fuftulerunt ; unde fit ut admodum fint rari ab eo tempore
uique ad annum 1400, quo, Anglorum excuffo fervitutis jugo, fub
Owen I Glyndwr aufpiciis, fe in libertatem prifcam vindicarunt
Cambri. Hoc zevo' multi claruere Bardi, inter quos Jolo Goch
OwENi magnificentiam et vidtorias ad fydera tulit. Fuit enim Ovve-
Nus Bardorum fautor et M^cenas, et eos undiquaque ad aulam libe-
N ralitate
90
D I S S E R TAT I O
nrlltate provocabat. Eo tempore floruit Dafydd ap Gwilym Bar-
donim longe venufliflimus e Ceretia oriundus. Avuiiculum habuit
Llywelyn ap Gwilym de Cryngae et Do\ Gocl\ qui eum libera-"
liter educabat. Patronus ejus fuit Ifor Hael de Baffaleg, cujus mu-
nificentiam et magnanimitatem multis profequitur laudibus. Cum
Owen I retro laberentur res, Cambros more inaudito opprefilt Hen-
Ricus IV. et patrise fatum fubiere Bardi. Lege enim cautum erat ne
annuam peragrationem et conventus, noflris Clera et Cywhortba, cele-
brarent. Hsc fuit caufa cur multi hoc fasculo tarn obfcure fcriplerint :
multis enim cantibus Cytvydd Brut, i. &. Car minis fati did nomen in-
didere; quod et fecere poftea cum inter Eborace?7fes et Lancaflrenfes
gralTaretur fadio. Henricus V. multum a paterna remifit in Cam-
bros fasvitia. Abeo tempore longa floruit Bardorum feries, et in mag-
natum asdibus alebantur, ubi eorum genealogias et ligna gentilitia tex-
cbant, eorumque virtutes, fcilicet magnanimitatem, hofpitalitatem et
alias animi atque corporis ingenuas et honeftas dotes debita profeque-
bantur laude. Mos enim fuit Britannis olim, uti et nunc Cambris, ut
longam majorum feriem producerent, et Bardi qui hoc munere funt
fundti Arwyddfeirdd funt appellati, et carmen texuere " parafe-
" maticum, quod cum profapia generifve ferie, etiam et 7ra^a(rr,f^oilac,
*' id efl: infignia nobilium et gcneroforum defcribit ea, qu^ in veftibus
" et vexillis et hujufmodi aliis infignita confpiciuntur, qua^que fiunt
" aiit feruntur, ita ab iis difcreta ut nofci poffint quorum Tint, five ad
" quos pertineant, more antiquorum bene meritis tributa, et tanquam
" ornamenta laudis et glorias, vel ob projiiiam vel luorum majorum
" virtutem compurata." — Vide Johannis Davidis Rhesi Lingus
Cvmraeca3 Inftitudones accuratas pag. 146. Ex quo et ha;c de hu-
iufccmodi Bardo tranftulimus p. 303. " Pwy bynnag a ddywetto et
'■'■ jod yn yirwyddjardl, givybydded acboeddBrcnhinocdd a I'hywyJJcgion, a
" cksjarwyddyd oc'diwrth y tri Fhrifardd ynys Prydain, ?iid amgen,
" Myrdlmn
D E B A R D I S. 91
" Myrddin ap Morfryn, a Myrddin Emrys a Thalie&in
" Ben Beirdd." i. e, " Quicunque voluerit efle Bardus parafenia-
" ticus, necefle eft ut fciat regum et principum ftemmata, et fit bene
" verfatus in operibus Merlini Morfrynii filii, Merlini Am-
" BRosii et Taliesini fummi Bardi." Et hoe fuifle antiquitirs
Bardorum munus annotavit Giraldus Cambrensis. " Hoc mihi
'' notandum videtur, quod Bardi Cambrenfes et cantores feu recitato-
*' res genealogias habent prsdidorum principum in libris eorum anti-
" quis et autenticis, eandemque memoriter tenent a Roderico
" Magno ufque ad Belinum Magnum, et inde ul'que ad Sylvium,
*' AscANiUM et ^Eneam, et ab ea ufque ad Adam generationem
" linealiter producunt."
NoN abs re fore judicavi hie monumentum vetus inferere, quod in
manufcripto Joh. Dav. Rhesi propria manu exarato inveni. Quod
quidem manufcriptum dignum eft omnino quod prelo mandetur.:
uoftram enim linguam poefin, et alia vetufta monumenta adverfus
ignarum quendam calumniatorem, quorum meflem innumeram haec
aeque ac fuperior aetas tulit, ftrenue vindicat. Hie tradlatus in lingua
Britannica elcganter fcriptus eft, et talium nebulonum infcitiam pro-
tervam facile retundit. Videtur vir doftiffimus hoc monumen-
tum ex vetufto aliquo fcriptore nunc deperdito excerpfifle. Utcun-
que fit, id ego ex ejus autographo hie fideliter exfcri here curavi.
"Blethinus filius Cynvini patri jn principatu " Pcvijue
" fucceffit. Hie templa, caftra et maneria renovari fecit, lege:
-' HowELi obfervavit. Inter tres principes, videlicet, Gruffi-
" NUM filium CoNANi principem Vcnedoti(€, Blethinum filium
" CvNviNi principem Povisi.^, etRnESUM filium Tewdwr prin-
" cipem ^z^/zi-w^/Z/i? inquifitio magna fuit de armis et de regali fan-
*' guiue antiquort|,m Britonum. Quibus conquificis in ditione fa-
,, ■ N 2 " pientium
p2 DISSERTATIO
" pientium Walliae J reperta; fuerunt trcs linese regale;, et quindeelm
" line-cfi de fanguine nobilium fenatorum Britaiinis. Hie Bleth!NU§
" primus omnium principum Pcvifice, in armis ufus eft leone rubep
" in fulphure. Hie caftrum de Dol y Forwyn fundavit, et apud Mi/od
"■ fepultus eft."
Sunt in iftis genealogiis multa quae antiquario Britannico ufui efte
poflunt ; nihil enim apud noftrates vel antiquius vel magis autenti-
cum extat, et nihil quod magis noftram illuftrat et confirmat hifto-
riam. Nonnulli enim ex Bardis non folum rei poeticje, verum etiam
hiftoricas mentem appulerunt. Erat in monafteriis uber hiftoriarum,
genealogiarum et poefeos colle<flio. Bardi enim ab abbatibus maxime
fovebantur, et erant in feftis folennibus ab lis laute except! : uti con-
ftat ex opeiibus Gutto'r Glynn, Guttun Owatn, Jeuan
Deulwyn et TuDUR Aled. Extant et nunc in nobilioruni a;dibus
innumera Epicedia, quse noftrates Cywyddau Marwf?ad nuncupavere :
fuit enim Bardi domeftici munus, cum aliquis e familia obierit, ejus
Epicedium concinnare, quod poft exequias ad cognates fuit dclatum
et coram iis a Rhapfodis quos noftrates Datceimaid nominzverc reci-
tatum. Inter alia quae in defundli honorem funt narrata, ejus gene-
alogiam memorare tenebatur, ex quibus nobilibus ortus fuerit fami-
liis, et quae prseclara fecerint ejus majores facinora. Hujufcemodi
poematum multa vidi exemplaria pulchre exarata. AbELizABETHAE
Regin?B tempore nullus-fuit Bardorum legitimus confefllis : unde fit
ut nil fit deinceps accurate et fecundum profodis regulas fcriptum:
coufque ut jamdudum Bardorum et hiftoricorum opera (ex quibus
folis vera et genuina Britannias hiftoria petenda eft) in maximo fint
periculo ne funditus pereant. Quod multas ob caufas in leculo tani
dodo et fagaci maxime eft deplorandum, funt quidem hoc a3vo qui
haec ftudia velLnt rediviv?, et qui plus ipfi poflint in re poetica atque
r hiftorica
D E B A R D I S. 93
hiftorica quam quos fuperior tulit astas. Inter quos focietas Cymmro-
dorion Londini, patriiE atque maternae lingua: amore inftigata, inter
alia laude digna inftituta, nonnulla vcterum et recentiorum melioris
notfE Bardorum poemata typis mandare meditatur. Opus profedo
omnibus Cambris ingenuis gratifllmum et longe defideratifilmum.
Optandum eft potius quam expedandum, ut ii qui habent aliquid in
poefi vel hiftoria notatu dignum in privatis bibliothecis reconditum,
id in vulgus emittant, aut faltem ab iis qui hujufmodi rebus operam
navant perlegi permittant. Sic enim fuae famae et patriae commodo
melius confulent quam vermibus et muribus committere.
Ego autem in Cambria montibus degens a bibliothecis et mufeis
procul, quod potui feci ; utinam ii qui plus poffint, et materiam
uberiorem funt nadti de Bardis, et cceteris Britannicae antiquitatis re-
quiis, mcliora cudant.
FINIS.
Y C H Y D I G
A W D L A U
O waith yr hen Feirdd, yn amfer TYWYSOGION CYMRU,
Wedi eu cyfieithu i'r S A E S O N E Gi
Er mwyn dangos anfawdd ein Prydyddiaeth i wyr cywraint,
dyfgedig, anghyfiaith : a nodau byrrion, i eglurhau enwau
Dynion, a Lleoedd, a grybwyllir ynddynt ; a hanes byrr o
honynt, wedi ei gaiglu allan o Drioedd Tnys Prydain, a hen
Goffadwriaethau eiaill ; 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.
Theocritus Idyll, xvi.
m
[ 97 ]
A T
RISIART MORYS, Yfwain,
Llywydd Cymdekhas y Cymmrodorion yn Llundain j
A ' I F R O D Y R,
LEWIS MORYS Benbryn, yng Ngheredigion, Yfwain;
WILIAM MORYS o Gaer Gvbi, ym Mon,
Nrbum yn hir yn myfyrio ibvvy i cyflwynwn yr ychydig Awdlau
fydd yn canlyn, canys ni adwaen i neb heddy w ag fydd yn eii
deall cyftal a chwi, na neb chwaith fydd yn coledd ac yn mawrhau
ein laith mor anwylgu Frutannaidd. I mae ein Gwlad ni yn rhwyme-
dig i bob un o honoch : I chwi y Llywydd, yn enwedig, am y gofal
a gymmerafoch yn golygu argraphiad diweddaf y Bibl CyJfcgrJan, er
lies tragywyddol eneidiau ein cydwladwyr. Ef a dal Duw i chwi am
y Gorchwyl elufengar yma, pan i bo'r byd hwn, a'i holl fawredd
a'i wychder, wedi IKvyr ddiflanniu Ac i mae'r Wiad a'r laidi yn
dra ihwymedig i'r Gnor o Benbryn, am gafglu cymmaint o Tlanefion
O ytiglyykh
I 93 J
ynghykb eiii Hynafiaid, rw chlywodd y Saefon braidd fon erioed anr
danynt. Ef a ddelwent ddilynwyr Camden, pei gwelynt fal i mae yn
argyhoeddi ac yn ccryddu eu betau, a'u tuedd gwyrgam, yn bychanu.
ac yn diftadlu y pethau nad ydynt yn eu deall ; ac o wir wenwyn yn
taeru mai dychymmygion diweddar ydynt. Gobeithio i cawn ni
weled y tryfor inawrwerthiog' yjna ar gyhoedd:; i beri gofteg, ac i:
dorri rhwyfg y cyfryw. oganwyr cin hen Hanefion. — Nid bychan o
les i maey Gicr c Gaer Gybi ynteu yn ei vvneuthur, trwy gafglu Gwaitb
yr hen Fez rdd godidog' gynt ; ac ir wyf yn cyfaddef mai o'i lyfrau ef
i cefais i y rhan fvvyaf o'r odlau fydd yn canlyn. Ni fedrwn lai ni'.
dywedyd hyn, am eich ewyllys da i'ch Gwlad a'ch laith ; cynneddfau.
fydd, yiywaeth, mor brin ac anaml yn yr oes hon. Ef a ddichon hyn
beri i'n Gwlad agor ei Uygaid, a defnyddio yn well rhagllaw yr hen.
yfgrifenadau fydd heb fyned ar goll. Ac os na wna hi hynny, i mae
yn rhaid addef i chwi eich trioedd wneuthur eich rhan yn odiaeth.
Hyn a'm hannogodd i rcddi blaenffrwyth fy llafur, er nad yw ond
bychan, dan eich nodded ; a gobeithio nad ydyw Iwyr annheilwng i'vv
gyhocddi, ag i daw rhywun cywreiniach i ddiwygio yr hyn iydd
amniherffaitb, ac i oiod allan bethau eraill godidoccaeh. Nid oedd
genyfi ond torri'r garw, gobeithio i daw eraill i lyfnhau a gwaftattau y
balciau. Yn ddiau ni fuafwn i yn cymmeryd yr Orcheft yma arnaf,
ond darfod edliw o'r Saejbn, nad oes genym ddim mewn Prydyddiaeth
a dal ei ddangos i'r byd : a bod un o drigolion yr Uc/j Alban, gwedi
cyfieithu fwrn o Waith hen Fardd ; neu yn hytrach wedi addurno a
thacclu rhyw Waith diweddar, a'i ofod allan yn ei enw ef. Chwi a
wyddoch yn dda, oddiwrth Waith' ein hen Feirdd awduraidd ni,
fydd ttto 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.
I mae yn ddigon genyfi roddi hyn o brawf o'n hen Feirdd ein hunain
i'r byd ; ac os darfu i mi wneuthur Cyliawndcr iddynt, dyna fi wedi
cyrraedd
[ 99 ]
cyrraedd fy amcan. Pa fodd bynnag i digwyddo, I mae'n llavven genyf
gael odfa i dyftiolaethu, fy mod yn mawrygu yn ddirfawr eich Cariad
a'ch traferch chwi at cich Gwlad a'ch lakh ; yn yr hyn i damunwn,
yn ol fy ngallu, eich canlyn ; a datcan, yngwydd yr hoU fyd, fy
mod, frodyr haeddbarch,
Eich Gwafanaethwr rhwymedig, goftyngeiddiaf,
EVAN EVANS.
O 2 AT Y
[ lOI ]
A T Y.
C Y M R Y.
PAN welais £od un o TJgodogion Ucheldir Alban, ac hefyd Sais
dyfgedig, wedi cyfieithu Gwaith eu hen Feirdd i'r Saefoneg ;
mi a dybygais mai nid gweddus i ni, y Cymry, y rhai fydd gcnym
Gerddi awduraidd, gorhenaidd, oV einom, fod yn llwyr ddiymdro
yn y cyngaws hwnnw : o herwydd, hyd i gwn i, . dyna'r unig
ragorgamp celtyddyd a adawodd ein hynafiaid ini, fydd heb ei cholli.
I mae Gwaith y Derwyddon, . od oedd dim gwiwgof ganddynt wcdi
ei yrgrifennu, wedi myned ar ddifancoll ; ac nid oes dim wedi dyfod
i'n hoesni oddiwrthynt, ond y Brydyddiaeth yn unig. I mae ein hen
Fufic wedi ei llwyr ebargofio : nid yw'r cyweiriau Cwynfanus fydd
genym yr awron ond dychymmygion diweddar, pan ocdd y Cymrv
yn griddfan tan iau galed y Saefon. Am Gelfyddydau eraill, od oedd
dim mewn perfFeithrwydd, i mae gwedi ei Iwyr golli.. Nid oes ge-
nym ddim Hanes am ein Hynafiaid o'n hawduron ein hunain, ond
oddiwrth y Beirdd yn unig, o flaen Gildus up Caw, yv hwn fydd yn
ein goganu, ac yn ein llurginio, yn hytrach nag ylgrifennLi cyvvir
Hanes am danom; ond fo wyr Hanelyddion yr achos : heblaw hyn,
i mae ei waith ef wedi myned drwy ddwylo'r Maieicb; Gvvyr a fedrai .
yn dda ddigon, dylino pob peth i'vv dibenion eu hunain. — Y Beirdd
fali tyftia G/'r^A/w Arch-diacon Brycbcimog, oeddynt yn cadw Arhau
y Brenhinoedd, ac yn coffau eu gweithredoedd ardderchog ; ac oddi-
wrthynt hwy yn ddiammau i deryw i Dr/^/Vo fab Broclm^el Tfgytbi-cg,
tywyfog-^
,iQ2 AT Y C Y U R Y.
tywyfog Poivys, yfgrlfennu'r Hufies fydd yr awron yn myned tan enw
Brut v Brenhinoedd, yr hwn a ddarfu \ G Wilfrid ap Arthur, o
Aber Mynwy, ei gyfieithu o laith U\daw i'r Lladifi, ac oddiyno yn
'Gymracg ; fel i mae ef ei hiinan yn cyfaddef, mewii amryw hen go-
piau ar femrwn, fydd etto i'w gweled yng Nghymru ; ond yfywaeth,
e ddarfii iddo chwancgu amryw chwedlau at lianes TyJUio : Flajwucs
ac jlrchifamines, a phrophwydoliieth Myrddin Emryi, a phethau
craill a fuafai harddach eu gadael heibio. Ped fuafai yn dilyn y
IBeirdd, e fuafai genym gywiracli Hanes nag fydd genym yr awron r ond
fel ag i mae, ni haeddai yn gwbl mor gogan i mae'r ^aejon, d arrTfer
■Cnmde??-, yn el rhoi iddi ; 6 hervvydd i maeAVw/m, 'yr'hwn a yfgri-
■fennodd drychant o flynyddoedd o*i Haen, yn rhoddi'yrtin Hane's am
•ein Dechreuad. Ir wyf yn amcanu, os Duw a rydd im'hoedl ac
icchyd, ofod allan yr awdur hwn a ncdau helacth arno, gyd ag
amddifFyniad o'r Hanes ; o herwydd efe yw'r Hancfydd hynaf a
feddwn yn Lladin, oddigerth y Gildas uchod, yrhwn nid yw deilwng
ei gyfrif yn Hanefydd ; o herwydd nid dyna ei gyngyd ha'i fympwj',
yn ei Epijlolce de excidio Britannic^. Ir wyf yn methu a chaffael copi
iawn o Nemiius, ac ir wyf yn meddwl nad oes un yng Ngliymrii a
dal ddim, ond yn Hengwrt : da iawn er lies y Wlad a Hanefyddion
Prydain, i gwnai ei Berchennog adael i ryw wr dyfgedig ei gymhiiru.
I mae genyfi ddau gopi, ond i maent yn dra ainrnherffaiih ; felly
hefyd i maeV rhai printiedig, o eiddo'r Dr. Gale a Bertram. Ni
vvivv i Saisy na neb dicithr, bydded mor ddyfgedig ag i mynno, oni
ddeall ef Gymraeg yn iawn, ac oni chaiff hefyd weled ein hen yfgri-
fenadau a'n Beirdd ni, gytcam a'r fath waith. Nid yw Camden, er
dyfgedicccd, diwytted, a manyled gwr ydoedd, ond ymleferydd am
lawer o bethau yn ei Britannia; a hynny yn unig, o achos nad oedd
yn mcdru yr iaith yn well. A grefyn yw, nad ocdd y Sacfon, y rhai
ocddynt yn ddiau (rai o naddunt) yn chwilio petiiau yn deg, ac yn
ddiduedd dros ben, y cyfryw ag ydoedd Leiand, Vpcr^ a Selden, yn
deall
AT Y C Y M R Y.
103
deall ein laith, a medru gwneuthur defnydd o'n hen Lyfrau : o
herwydd hyn, nid ocddynt, er cymmaint eu dyfg a'u dawn, ddim
i'w cyfFelybu ag Wmffre Llwyd o Ddinbycb, a Rhohert Fschan o'r
Hcngwrt, fel i mae eu gwaith yn cglur ddangos. Ac yn ddiiu, mae
yn ammhofibl i iindyn, byddcd mor gyvvreinied ag i mynno, wneuthur
dim a fFrwyth ynddo, heb gaffael gweled yr hen yfgrifenadau, fydd
yn gadwedigyn llyfr-gelloeddy boneddigionyng Nghymru; yn cnwe-
d.'\gyviHe!igwrt ,^ LIcjn Fordaj. Myfia welaiSjacagefais fenthyp- amryw
Jyfrau o waith Haw, yn llyfrgrawn yr anrhydeddus Robert Davies,
yfg"'. o Lannerch yn Iwydd Ddinbych; a Syr Roger Mojlyn yng
Nghddmtl\ feneddwr dros Swydd Ffint-, a chan yr anrhydeddus Wil-
iam Fychmi, yfg'. o Gors y Gedol, feneddwr dros fwydd Feirionydd; yr
hyn ni fedraf lai na'i fynegi yma yngwydd y byd, er cofFau eu Cym-
mwynas a'u hevvyllys da i'n Gwlad a'n laith, ac i minnau hefyd j vn
ol arfer canmoladwy, a haelioni yr hen Frython gynt.
Ond i ddyfod weithion at y Beirdd, y rhai a adawlom arol. Ef
a ddarf'u imi gyfieithu ychydig odlau o'u Gwaith, trwy annoo-aeth
Gvvyr dyfgedig o Loegr ; ac mi a ewyllyfiwn 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 drvvo-
yw'r cyfieithiad, nad arnaf i yn llwyr i mae'r bai yn fefyll ; o herwydd
imaent y Beirdd yn ddiammau yn orcheftol odiaeth ; ond i m:ie'n
rhaid addef hefyd eu bod yn anhawdd afrifed eu deongli, o herwydd
eu bod yn Uawn o eiriau fydd yr awron wedi myned ar gyfrgoll : ac
nidydyntwedieuheglurhau mewn unGeiriadur argraphedig nac yfari-
fenedig a welais i, Ir ocdd yr Athraw hynod o Falkvyd, yr hwn a
aftudiodd yr laiih,. er lies cyfFredin y wlad, dros ho'.l ddyddiau ci
einioes, yn methu eu deongli. Ac ni wnaeth y dyfgedig Mr. Edward
Llivydo'v Mi/fftum, gamp yn y byd yn y per'.vyl yma, er ci fod yn
gydnabyddus a holl geinciau priiiaith Prydain. Ac ya ddiau o'r
2 acho3
304 AT Y CYMRY.
achos yma, nid oedd genyfi ddim ond ymbalfalu am yftyr a
fynwyr y Beirdd, mewn llawer man, oddiwrth flaen ac ol. Ir
wyf yn rhyfeddu'n ddii-fawr am rai o'r Cymry fydd yn haeru fod
owaith TrJicfn, ai gydoefuid Ancurin Gwawdrydd^ Llywarch Hen,
a Merddiii Uyllt, yn hawdd eu dealL Yn ddiau nid wyf i yn
^deall mo honynt, ac i mae'r rhai dyfgedlccaf yn yr laith, y to
heddyvv, yn addef yr un peth. I mae'r Beirdd, hir oefoedd gwedi hyn-
ny, fef ar ol dyfodiad Gwilyni Fqfdardd, hyd farwolaeth Llyioelyn ap
iGruffydd, yn dy wyll iawn ; fal i gellwch weled oddiwrth yr odlau fydd
yn canlyn. Hyn a barodd i mi beidio a chyfieithu chwaneg o honynt
y tro yma, rhag ofn imi, trwy fy anwybcdaeth, wneuthur cam a
hwynt. Ond gan i'r Saefon daeru, na feddwn ddim mewn pry-
•dyddiaeth a dal ei ddangosj mi a wnaelhum fy ngorau er cyfieithu y
Caf^liad bychan yma, i fwrw heibio, os y w boflibl, y gogan hwnnw :
ac yn ddiau, os na Iwyddodd genyf wneuthur hynny, i mae yn
rhaid i'r Beirdd, a'm Cydwladwyr, faddeu imi ; a gobeithio i derbyn-
iant fy ewyllys da, herwydd na ddichon neb wneuthur ond a alio.
Heblaw hyn oil, i mae hyn o waith yn dyfod i'r byd, mewn am-
ler anghyfaddas i ymddangos mewn dim prydferthwch ; o herwydd i
mae un o drigolion yr Uch Alban, gwedi gofod allan ddau lyfr o
Waith Ojjian ; hen Fardd, meddai ef, cyn dyfod Criilianogaeth i'w
plith. Ac i mae'r llyfrau hyn mewn rhagorbarch gan foneddigion
dyfgedig y Scicfon. A rhaid addef eu bod wedi eu cyfieithu yn odidog:
ond i mae arnafi ofn, wedi'r cwbl, fod yr Tjgodog yn bwrw hug ar
lygaid dynion, ac nad ydynt mor hen ag i mae ef yn taeru eu bod.
I mae'r G-uyddclod yn arddelw 0/jian megis un o'u Cydwladwyr
hwynt ; ac i mae amry w bethau yn y Cerddi a gyhoeddwyd yn ci
enw, yn dangos, yn fy nhyb i, oes ddiweddarach nag i mae'r cyli-
eithydd yn fon am dani ; yn cnwedig dyfodiad Gwyr Llycblyn i'r
1-joerddon, yr hyn ni ddigwyddodd, meddai Hancfyddion yr Jti:;(?;-<^rt'(?«,
cvn y flvvyddyn 700. Ac ni ddaeth yr Tjgodogion chwaith i fefydlu yn
yr AlbiVi, o'iiacn Fcrgia Mac Bin, ynghylchy flvvyddyn 503 ; fal i
mac
AT Y C y M R Y. ib5
''tWditWiliam Llwyd, Efgoh Cacr 7Vra;2gony Avedi eibrofi yn ddiwrthadi,
\yH ei lyfr ynghylch Ilywodraeth eglwyfig, Ond pei canniatteid eu
bod hwy yno cyn hynny, iii fyddai hynny ronyii nes i brofi Offian
mor hyned ag i dywedir ei fod. O herwydd ped fuafai, Pa fodd i
mae ei gyfieithydd yn medrii ei ddeongli mor hyfedr ? I mae gwaith
ein Beirdd ni, fydd gant o flynyddoedd ar ol hynny, tu hwnt i
ddeall y Gwyr cywreiniaf a medrufaf yn yr hen Friitaniaith. Pvvy
o honom ni a gymmeral'r Gododin, Gwaith Aneurin Gwawdrydd^
Fycbdeyrn Beirdd, a'i gyfieithu mor llathraidd 4g i gv/naeth cyfiei-
thydd Ffmgal a Themora ? Ir wyfi yn meddw! nad oes lieb a ryfygei
gymmeryd y fath orcheft arno. Prin iawn i medrais i ddeongli rhai
■pennillion o bono yma a thravv, y rhai a ellwch eu gweied yn y trae-
thawd Lladin ynghylch y Beirdd. A grefyn yw ei fod mor dy wyll, o
herwydd, hyd ir wyf i yn ei ddeall, Gwaith godidog ydyw. Yr un
peth a ellir ei ddywedyd am Dalle/in 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 amry w Frudiau ar hyd. y wlad, wedi eu tadogi ar
Daliefm a Myj-dditi -, ond nid ydynt ond dychymygion diweddar,
gwedi eu ffurfeiddio ar ol marvvolaeth Llywelyn ap Gntffydd. Yn
-tnwedig yn amferoedd terfyfglyd OwainGIyndwr, a'r ymdrech rhwng
pleidiau EJrcg a Lancafter. I mae hefyd eraili, gwedi eu lluniaetha
gan y Meneich, i atteb eu dibenion hwythau ; ond i mae'r rhain oil
•yn hawdd eu gwahanu oddiwrth awduraidd waith Taliefm, wrth yr
laith.— I maeyn ddiammau genyf, fody Bardd yma yn odidog yn ci
amfer. Ir oedd yn gydnabyddus ag athrawiaetli y Dcriayddon am y
■ {4.f,tfi\^vzu(rii, a'r Daroganau, y rhai oeddyntyn ddiammau weddillion
o'r Credo paganaidd ; canys nid yw-daroganu ddini aral! ond raynegi
pethau i ddyfod, oddiwrth y Ddar, yr hon ir oeddynt y Dcrwyddon
:yn ei pherchi yn fawr iawn. A chan ei fod ef yn vvr llys, ac yn byw
lyn.yr oes anvyybodus hon no, ir oedd yr hyn a ddywedai yn cael ei
'P dderbyn
ic6 AT Y" C YMR Yo.
dderbyn a'i rocfawu gan ygwerinos, mcgis'pcd faafal wir brofFvvycf.'
A hvnny a ellir ei ddywedyd hefyd am Ferddiii Emrys, a'i broffwyd-
oliacth. Mor anhawdd vw tynnu ofergaelion eu Hynafiaidj oddiwrth
un Wlad neu Genedl !
E DDiCHoN rhai o honocli yfgatfydd ofyn, Pahatn na buafwayii
cyfieithu rhai o'r Beirdd godidog divveddar, a yfgrifenafaht -\vedi
diwygio yr hen gynghanedd ? I'r rham ir vvyf yn atteb/ fod y Beirdd
yn amfery Tywyfogion yn fwy ardderchog a mawryddig yn euGwaith;
ac ir oeddynt eu hunain, rai o naddunt, yn Dywyfogion, ac yn Wyr
dyledogion ; yn enwedig, Owain Cjfeiliog, Tywyfog Pcwys ; a Hywel
cp Oibain Gicynedd, Bardd a rhyfehvr godidog r ac felly ir oeddynt yn
fwy penigamp na'r Beirdd diweddar, o ran eu tefttinau. Csnys ir oedd y
Beirdd di wed dar, tel i mae SionDaJyddRhys yn achwyn arnynt,yn gvven-
ieithio i'r Gwyr mawr, ac yn dywedyd celwydd ar eu can ; ac yn
haeru iddynt dorri ceftyll, lladd a llofgi, pryd ir oeddy-nt, eb ef, yn
cyfo-u yn eu gwelyau, heb ddim mo'r fath feddwl nac amcan ganddyjit;
Eithr yn amfer y Tywyfogion, o'r gwrthwyneb ; ir oedd y Beirdd yn
dyftion o ddewredd a mawfrydigrwydd eu Tywyfogion ; ac ir
oeddynt eu hunain yn filwyr glewion. Ir oedd Meih'r Brydydd yn
gennad dros Ruffydd ap Cynan at Frenin Llovgr; ac ir oedd Gwalchmdi^
ei fab, yn Flaenor cad ynghyffinydd Lloegr a Chymru; fel i maent ilf
dau yn tyftiolaethu yn eu Cerddi. Heblaw hyn, ir oedd y Tywyf-
ogion yma yn fiiddugawl yit eu rhyfeloedd a'r S'aefoti, ac ir oedd
hynny yn peri iV Beirdd ymorcheftu, i dragywyddoli eu gwcithred-
cedd ardderchog ; ac i foli eu gwroldcb, mewn achos mor glodfawr
ag amddiffyn cu Gwlad a'u Rhyddid, yn erhyn Eftron genedl, a'u
difuddiafei o Dreftadaeth eu Hynafiaid. Ir oedd y rhain yn ddiau yn
DeAunau gwiw i Feirdd ganu arnynt, ac yn fodd cymmwys i beiri
i'w Deiliaid eu perchi a'u hanrhydeddu ; Canys ir oedd y cerddi godi-
dog yma yn cael eu datgan gyda'r Delyn, mewn Cyweiriau cyfaddas,
mewn
A^-Y C Y M R Y.'-
107
■ riiewn Gwlcddau yn Llys y Tyvvyfog, ac yii Neuaddau y Pendc-
figion a'r Uchelwyr. I mae GiraUus yn dywedyd, fod y Cymry mor
■ ddfud amilwraidd yn ei amfer ef, ag na rufynt ymladd' yn noeth ac
yn ddiarfog, a'r rhai arfog, llurigog ; a'r Pedyd<l yn erbyn y Marchog-
ion. Yn ddiau nid oedd un modd a-ellid ei -ddychymmygu well,
i gynnal yr yfpryd dihafarch yma yn ein Hynafiaid, nachael eu moli
gan y Beirdd. Ac e wyddtri'r Saejbn bynny yn dda ddigon ; Canys ar
ol daroftwng Cymru tan eu llywodraeth, eddarfu iddynt ddihenyddu'r
Beirdd trwy'r hoU Wlad. I mae llyfrau yftatud Llocgr, yn llawn o
Gyfreithiau creulon i'w herbyn, ac yn gwarafun yn gaeth iddynt
ymarfer o'u hen Ddefodaii, o Glera a chymhortha. Yn amkr Owain
Giyndwr, i cawfant ychydig feibiant a chynhwyfiad i ganu ; ond
gwedi hynny, hyd ddyfodiad Harri'r Seithfed, ir ceddynt tan gwm-
mwl. Gwedi iddo ef ddyfod i Lywodraethii, ac yn amfer ei fab
Harri'r Wythjed^ a'r Frenhines Elijdbeth, y rhai a hanoeddynt o vvaed
Cymreig, i cawfant gynhwyfiadau i gynnal Eifleddfodau : ond ni
pharhaodd hynny ond ennyd fechan, o herwydd Bonedd Cymru a
ymroifant i fod yn Saefon, fel i maent yn parhau gan mvvyaf hyd y
dydd heddyw.
Ond i mae rhai yn yr oesyma yn chwenychu eu cadw a'u coledd,
er mwyn eu hiaith ddigymmyfg, ac er mwyn gwell gwybodaeth o
foefau ac anfawdd ein Flynafiaid ; ac er mwyn eu teilyngdod eu bun-
ainj o herwydd i mae yn rhai o'uHawdlau a'uCywyddau, ymadrodd-
ion mor gywraint a naturiol ag fydd ym Mhrydyddion Groeg a
Rhujain ; mal i gwyr y fawl a'u deallafit yn dda.— -Ymyfg eraill, i
mae Cymdeithas y Cymmrodorion, yn Lhmdain, yn rhoddi mowrbarch
iddynt ; ac yn chwenychu cadw cynnifer o'n hen yfgrifenadau ag fydd
heb fyned ar goW. A da i gwneynt Foneddigion Cymru^ ped ymo-
xatwent am argraphuy pethau mvvyaf hynod a gwiwgof mewnPry-
P 2 dyddiaethj
10? AT Y CYMRY.
dyddiaeth, Hanefion, ac eraill hen GofFadwriaethau ; o herwydd i •
maent beunydd yn cael eu difrodi, gan y fawl ni wyddant ddim:
gwell. Hyn, er lies ein Gwlad an laith, yw gwir a diiFuant dda*
muniad.
Eich goftyngedig- wafanaethwr, a'ch ewyllyfiwr da, ,
E VA N E VA :N 8*^.
HI R LAS
C «09 ]
I.
HIRLAS QWEINi
Owein Cyfeiliog e hun ai cant,
GWA WR pan ddwyre gawr a ddodedj
Galon yn anfon anfudd dynged^
Geleurudd ein gwyr gwedi lludded trwm,^
Tremit gofwy mur Maelawr Drefred^
Deon a yrrais dygyhyfled,^
Diarfwyd a'r frwydr arfau goched,
A rygoddwy glew gogeled rhagddaw,
Gnawd yw oi ddygnaw ddefnydd codded J '
Dywallaw di feneftr gan foddhaed,'
Y Corn yn Haw Rhys yn Uys llyw ced,
Llys Owain ar braidd yt ryborthed erioed," ^^
Forth mil a glywi pyrth egored.
Meneftr am gorthaw, nam adawed
Eftyn y Corn er cyd yfed,
Hiraethlawn am llyw lliw ton nawfedj
Hirlas i arvvydd aur i dudded :
Adyddwg
no BARDDONIAETH. Awdl L
A dyddwg o fragawd wirawd orgred,
Ar Haw TVgan draws dros i weithred,
Canawon Goronwy, gwrdd gynnired gwyth,
Canawon hydwyth, hydr eu gweithred :
Gwyr a obryn tal ymhob caled,
Gwyr yngawr gvverthfawr gwrdd ymwared,
Bugelydd ii<7/ri.';z balth eu clywed,
Bugunat cyrn medd mawr a wna neued.
Dywallaw di'r corn argynfelyn,
Anrhydeddus, feddw, o fedd gorewyn, ■
Ac o'r mynnl hoedl hyd un blwyddyn,
Na ddidawl i barch, can nid perthyn,
A dyddwc i Rujff'udd waywruddelyn,
Gwin a gwydr goleu yn ei gylchyn.
Dragon jirwyfili, arwyfll terfyn.
Dragon Owain hael o hil Cytifyn,
Dragon iw dechrexi, ac niw dychryn cat,
Cyflafan argrat cymyw erlyn.
Cetwyr ydd aethant er clod obryn :
Cyfeddon, arfawc, arfau Edivyn,
Talaflant i medd mal gwyr Belyn gynt,
Teg i hydrefynt tra fo undyn.
Dywallaw di'r corn, canys amcan cermyf,
•ydd ymgyrryw glyw gloyw ymddiddan,
Ar Haw ddehau ein llyw gyflafan,
Lluch y dan yfgwyd yfgawn lydan,
Ar Haw Ediiyfet llawr diogan lew,
Ergyrwayw try lew, trel i darian.
".•'■■ • Tcrfvfc
AWDL I. B A R D D O N I A E T H. m
Terfyfc ddyfFyfc ddeu ddiofn anian,
Torrynt torredwynt uch teg adfan,
Teleirw ynghyngrein ynghyfran brwydr,
Tal yfgwyd eurgrwydr torrynt yn fuan :
Tryllw eu pelydr gwedi penwan,
Tryhvyn yn amwyn amwiw Garthan.
Cigleu ym Maelawr gawr fawr fuan,
A garw ddifgyrr gwyr, a gwyth erwan,
Ac ymgynnull am druU am dramwyan,
Fnl i bu ym Mangor am ongyr dan :
Pan wnaeth dau deyrn uch cyrn cyfrdan,
Pan fu gyfeddach Forach Forfra7i,
Dywallaw di'r corn, canys myfyr gennyf,
Men ydd amygant medd a'n tymmyr,
5^/)/'diarfwyt Orfaf Gwygyr^
Gogelet ai cawdd calon eryr !
Ac unmab Madawc, enwawg Dudur hael,
Hawl bleiddiad, Ileiddiad, lluch ar yfgyr,
Deu arvvreidd, deu lew, yn eu Cyngyr,
Deu arial dywal dau fab T/tyr,
Dau rydd yn nydd cad eu Cyfergyr,
Cyfargor diachor camp diachyr,,
Arfod Ilewod gwrdd, gwrddwan cadwyr,
Aer gunieid, lunieid, coch eu hongyr,
Treis erwyr yn ffwyr ffaw ehegyr,
Trei eu dwy aefawr dan un yftyr,
Corfu gwynt gwaeddfan uch glan glasfyr,' .
Gorddwy dau tonnau Talgarth yflyr,
Dywallaw
212
BARDDONIAETH. Awdl f.
Dywallavv di feneflr na fyn angau,
Corn can anrhydedd ynghyfeddau,
Hirlas buclin, breint uchel hen ariant,
Ai gortho nid gorthenau :
A dyddwg i Diidur, eryr aerau,
Gwirawd gyfTefin o'r gwin gwinau,
Oni ddaw i mewn o'r medd gorau oil,
Gwirawd o ban, dy ben faddau,
Ar Haw Foreiddig, llochiad cerddau»
Cerddyn hyn i glod cyn oer adnau,
Dieithr frodyr fryd ucheldau,
Diarchar arial a dan dalau,
Cedwyr am gorug gwafanaethau,
Nid ym hyn dihyli nam hen deheu
'Cynnifieidj gyrthieid, fleinieid, fl^iddiau,
Cynfaran creulawn creulyd ferau,
'dew glyw Mochnamiwys o Boivys beu :
:0 glew gwnedd arnaddunt deu,
Achubieit pob rheid, rhudd eu harfeu :
Echedv/ynt rhag terfyfc eu terfynau,
-Moliant yw eu rhann y rhei gwynnau;
Marwnad fu neud mi newid y ddau !
O chan Grift mor drift wyf o'r anaeleu!
O goU Moreiddig mawr ei eiffieu.
Dywallaw di'r corn can nim puchant,
Hirlas yn llawen yn Haw Forgatit,
"tjwr a ddyly gwawd gwahan foliant,
.Gwenwyn y addwyn, gwan edrywant,
AwDL I. BARDDONIAETH. . J13
Areglydd defnydd dioddefiant Ilafn, -
Llyfn i deutu Ilym ei hamgant.
Dywallaw di feneftr o leftr Arlant,
Celennyg edmyg, can urdduniant,
Ar llawr Giveftim fawr gwelais irdant,
Ardwy Goronwy oedd gweith i gant,
Cedwyr cyfarfacth ydd ymwnaethant,
Cad ymerbynieid, eneid dichwant,
Cyfarfu yfgwn ac yfgarant aer.
Lias aer, llofget maer ger mor lliant:
Mwynfawr o garcharawr a gyrchafTant,
Meurigjab Gruffy dd gvym ddarogant,
Neud oedd gochwys pawb pan atgorfant,
Neud oedd lawn o heul hirfryn a phant.
Dywallaw di'r corn ir cynnifieid,
Canawon Owain, cyngreln, cydneid,
Wynt a ddyrllyddant yn lie honneid,
Glud men ydd ant gloyw heyrn ar neid :
Madaivc a Meilir gwyr gorddyfneid treis,
Tros gyferwyr gyferbynieid :
Tariannogion torf, terfyfc ddyfgeidj
Trinheion faon, traws ardwyeid.
Ciglau am dal medd myned dreig Cattraeth,
Cywir eu harvaeth, arfau lliweid,
Gofgordd Fynyddawc am eu cyfgeid,
Cawffant y hadrawdd cas fiawdd flaenieid ;
Ni wnaeth a wnaeth fynghedwyr ynglialet Faelor,
. pUlwng Carcharor dullefc foleid.
Q^ Dywallaw
114
BARDDONIAETH. Awdl I.
Dywallaw di feneflr 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 namyii Duw ac ai dywaid.
Gwr ni dal ni dwng, ni bydd wrth wir,
Daniel dreig cannerth, mor ferth hewir,
Meneftr mawr a gweith yd ioleithir
Gwyr ni oleith lleith, oni llochir,
Meneftr medd ancvvyn an cydroddir,
Gwrdd-dan gloyw, goleu, gwrddloyw babir
Meneftr gwelud dy gvvydi yn Llidwm dir
Y gwyr a barchaf wynt a berchir.
Meneftr gwelud dy gajchdoed Cyngrein,
Ynghylchyn Owain gylchwy cnwir.
Pan breiddwyd Cawres, taerwres trwy dir,
Preidd oftwng crflwng a orfolir,
Meneftr nam didawl, nim didolir,
Boed ym mharadwys in cynhwyfir,
Can pen teyrnedd, poed hir eu trwydded,
Yn i mae gweled gwaranrcd gwir.
Amen.
AWDL
AwDL II. B A R D D O N I A L T IT. nj
If.
AWDL
/ Fyfa7twy Fechan o Gajlell D'mas Bran,
NE UD wyf ddihunwyf, hoen Creirwy hoywdeg,
Am hudodd mal Garvvy,
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,
Foen ath gar afar ofwy, ^
Poen brwyn ei ryddwyn i ddwy,
Q^ Gorwydd,
ii6 B A R.D D O N I A E T H. Awdl II.-
Gorwydd, cyrch ebrwydd, ceirch ebran addas,
Dwg driftwas, dig Dryftan,
Llwrw buoft, farch Uary buan.
Lie arlloes fre eurllvs Fran.
Gwn beunydd herwydd hervv amcan, ddilyd
Ddehv berw Cafwennan :
Golwg, deddf amiwg diddan,
Gwehv, freich fras brenhinblas Bran.
Gyrrais a Ilidiais farch bronn llydan, hoyw,
Er hoen blodau firian :
Gyrrawd ofal yr Alban,
Garrhir braifc ucheldir Bran.
LIuniais wawd, ddefawd ddifan, traul ofer,
Nid trwy lafur bychan :
Lliw eiry cynnar pen Aran,
Lloer bryd, Iwys fryd o lys Fran.
Mireinwawr Drefawr dra fo brad im dwyn,
Gwaiando fy nghwyn, frwyn freuddwydiad,
Mau glwyf a mowrnwyf murniad, huno heb
Gwrtheb teg atteb tuac attad
Mi dy fardd digardd, dygn gyftuddiad Rhun,
Gyfun laes wannllun ith lys winllad.
Mynnu ddwyf draethu heb druthiad na gwyd
Wrthyd haul gymmryd, gamre wafdad.
Mynnud hoyw fun loyw oleuad gwledydd,
Glodrydd, gain gynnydd, nid gan gennad,
Maint
AwDL II. B A R D D O ^M A E T II. i vj
Maint anhiin haelfun hwylfad, em cyfoeth
Ddoeth, fain olcugoeth, iy nau lygad,
Mcdi'on boen goroen nid digarad was,
Heb ras, mau drachas om edrychiad.
Magwyr murwydr hydr, hydreiddiad Iwyfle,
Mygrwedd haul fore eurne arnad.
Megais llwyr gludais llawer gwlad, yn ddwys,
Dy glod Ivvys, cynnwys pob datceiniad,
Mai hy oedd ymmy, am wyl gariad graen,
Myfanwy hoen blaen eiry gaen gawad.
~ Meddwl ferchawJ, hawl, lliw ton hwyliad welw,
Arddelw dygynnelw heb dy gynheiliad.
Modd trift im gwnaeth Crifl: croefdog neirthiad llwyr,
Wanwyr oi fynwyr drwy lud fenniad.
Murn boen a mi om anynad haw),
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 llefmair,
I gael yr eilgair wrth offeiriad.
Mafw imi brofi, brif draethiad a wnawn.
Lie nim rhoddi iawn, ne gwawn, na gwad.
Mefur cawdd anawdd i ynad eglur,
Adrawdd fy nolur ddwyfgur ddyfgiad.
Modd nad gwiw, lliw lleuad rhianedd,
Nam gwedd hud garedd, nam hoed girad.
4 Meinir
ii8 B A R D D O N I A E T II. Awdl II.
Meinir nith borthir, gwn borthiad poenau,
Yn nenn hoen blodau blawd yfpyddad.
Medraift, aur delaift 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,
laith laefdeg ith Iwyfdud :
Fynawg riain fain funud :
Fun arlludd hun eirllwydd hud.
Im neud glud, dy hud hydr, riain wanlleddf,
O'r wenllys ger Dinbrain :
Ami yw gwawd gynnefawd gain,
Om araith ith dwf mirain.
Howel ap Einion Lygliw ai cant.
AW D L
AwDL III. BARDDONIAETH. \ig
III.
AWDL
A gant Dafydd Benfras^ i Lewelynfah Jorwerth.
GW R a wnaeth llewych o'r gorllewin,
Haul a lloer addoer, addef ieffin.
Am gwnel, radd uchel, rwyf cyfychwin,
Cyflawn awen, awydd Fyrddin,
I ganu moliant mal Aneurin gynt,
Dydd i cant Ododin.
I foil gwyndawd Gwyndyd werin,
Givynedd bendefig, fFynnedig ffin,
Gwanas deyrnas, deg cywrennin,
Gwreldd, teyrneidd, taer ymrwydrin,
Gwrawl ei fflamdo am fro Freiddin.
Er pan orau Duvv dyn gyflefin,
Ni wnaeth ei gyftal traws arial trin»
Gorug Llywelynt orllin teyrnedd,
Ar y brenhinedd braw a gorddin
Pan fu yn ymbrofi a brenin Lloegyr^
Yn Uygru fwydd Erbiji,
Oedd breifc, weifc ei fyddin,
Oedd brwyfc rvvyfc rhag y godorin,
Oedd balch gwalch, golchiad ei lain.
Oedd
120
BARDDONIAETH. Awdl III.
Oedd beilch gweilch, gweled ei werin,
Oedd clywed cleddyfau finfin,
Oedd clybod clwyf ymhob elin,
Oedd briw rhiw yn nhrabludd odrin,
Oedd braw faw SaeJ'on clawdd y Cnwccht,
Oedd bwlch llafn yn Haw gynnefin,
Oedd gwaedlyd pennau, gwedi gwaedlin rhwy,
Yn rhedeg am ddeulin.
Llywelyn, ein llyw cyffredin,
Llyvviawdr berth hyd Borlb Tfgeivin,
Ni ryfu gyftal Gwjlennin ag ef,
I gyfair pob gorllin.
Mi im byw be byddwn ddevvin,
Ym marddair, ym mawrddawn gyflefin,
Adrawdd ei ddaed aerdrin ni allwn,
Ni allai Daliejin.
Cyn adaw y byd gyd gyfrin,
Gan hoedyl hir ar dir daierin,
Cyn dyfnfedd efcyrnwedd yfcrin,
Cyn daear dyfnlas, arleflin,
Gwr a wnaeth o'r dwfr y gwin,
Gan fodd Duw a diwedd gwirin,
Nog a wnaethpwyd trais anwyd trin,
Ymhrefent ymhryfur orllin :
Ni warthaer hael am werthefin nos,
A nawdd faint boed cyfrin.
C A N U
AwDL IV. B A R D D O N I A E T H. 121
IV.
AN U
J Lynoelyn fab lorwertb. Einiawn fab Gwgawjt at
ca?it»
GYfarchaf o'm naf, am nefawl Arglwydd,
Crlft Cell culwydd, cwl i ddidawl,
Celfydd leferydd o le gweddawl,
Celfyddydau mau ni fo marwawl :
I brofi pob peth o bregeth Bawl,
I foli fy rhi, rhwyf angerddawl,
Rhyfel ddiochel, ddiochwyth hawl,
Llytvelym heilyn, hwylfeirdd waddawl,
Llawenydd i ddydd, i ddeddf ai mavvl,
Llewychedig llafn yn Haw reddfawl,
Yn Uadd, dy wrthladd iwrth lys Rheidiawl^
Gweleis a gerais ni gar mantawl,
Gwelygordd LMjJion llyfToedd gweddawl,
Lluoedd arwoloedd ar weilw didawl,
R Llawiwvr
122 BARDDONIAETH. Awdl IV.
Llawrwyr am eryr yn ymeiriawl,
Llywelyn lleyn, Uyw ardderchawl,
Lluriglas, gwanas, gwanau a hawl,
Gwenwyn yn amwyn am dir breiniawl Powys,
Ae diffiwys, ae glwys a glyw ei hawl,
Ef dynniad ynghad, Ei?/gl frad freuawl,
Ef dandde rhuddle Rhuddlan is gvvawl,
Gweleis Lywelyn, eurddyn urddawl,
Yn urddas dreigwas dragywyddawl,
Eil gweleis i dreis dros ganol Dyfrdivy,
Yn y trei tramwy llanw rhwy, rhwydd hawl
Gweleis aer am gaer oedd engiriawl,
Talu pwyth dydd gwyth, canyseawl,
Ni ryweleis neb na bo canmawl,
O'r ddau y gorau a fo gwrawl.
Mi ath arwyre, ath arwyrein myfyr,
Eryr yn rhywyr, prifwyr Prydein.
Prydfawr Lywelyn pryd dyn dadiein,
Prydus, diefcus, efcar ddilein.
Efcynnu ar llu ar lie Ewein,
Yfgymmod gorfod, gorfalch am brein,
Yfgymmyn gwerlyn, gwerlid gofiein,
Yfgymydd clodrydd, Kulwydd a Llwyfein,
Lluddedig edmyg, meirch mawrthig mein ;
A lluoedd yngwifcoedd yn ymofcrein,
Ar llinyn ar dynn ar du celein,
A llinon rhag Bron rhag bro Eurgein,
Tyrfa Clawdd Offa clod yn hofficin,
A thorfoedd Guynedd a gwyr LlundeiHy
Cyfran
AwDL IV. BARDDONIAETH.
123
Cyfran tonn a glan, glafdir gwylein,
Golud mowr yftrud, yfgryd Norddmein^
Llywelyn terwyn, torf anghyngein,
Biau'r gwyr gorau, bachau bychein,
Priodawr mwynglawr Mon glod yfcein,
Areul golud pentud, Pentir Guychein.
Gwawr Dehau gorau, gwyr yn dyrein,
Gwenwyn a gwanar y ddau gar gein,
Ae lyw cyferyw, cyfwyrein a thrin,
A thrychieid gwerin Caer Fyrddin fein,
Ni fefis na thwr, na bwr, bu crein.
Nag argoed, na choed, na chadlys dreln,
A rhag pyrth bu fyrth Saefon ynghrein.
Oedd trift maer, oedd claer cleddyf heb wein,
A chan llu pannu, pen ar ddigrein,
A chan Haw lludwaw Llan Huadeint
Cil Geran achlan, a chlod goelfein,
A chlwyr ar dyhedd, mawredd mirein,
Yn j^ber Teifi tew oedd frein uch benn,
Yn yd oedd perchen parchus gyfrein.
Oedd tew peleidr creu, creuynt gigfrein,
Calanedd gorwedd gorddyfnafTein,
Llywelyn boed hyn boed hwy ddichwein,
No Llywarch hybarch, hybar gig wein.
Nid celadwy dreig, dragon gyngein,
Nid calan cyman gwr y gymein,
Hydwf yngnlf ai lif o lein,
Hyd ydd el yn rhyfel hyd yn Rhufeirit
Ai raglod ai rod o riw Feddgein,
Hyd i dwyre haul hyd y dwyrein.
R 2 y»
124 B A R D D O N I A E T H. Awdl IV.
Ys imi rwydd Arglwydd, argleidrad,
Argledr tir, a gwir a gwenwiad,
Ys imi or cyngor cyngwafdad,
Cywefti peri peleidrad,
Ys imi ri ryfel ddiffreiddiad,
DifFryd gwyr, eryr ardwyad,
Ys imi rwydd Arglwydd, erglywiad
A glywir o'r tir gar T'anad,
Ys imi glew, a Hew a Ileiddiad
Yn rhyfel a rhon orddyfniad,
Ys imi wr a wared i rad,
I reidus, galarus, geilwad.
Ys imi ner yn arwyn ddillad,
Yn arwein yfgin yfgarlad,
Ys imi Nudd^ hael fudd, Hueii feiddiad,
Ar Lloegr ryllygrwys heb wad.
Ys imi Rydderch, roddiad aur melyn,
Molitor ymhob gwlad.
A mawrdud olud olygad,
A Mordaf am alaf eiliad,
Ys imi Run gatcun gytcam rad,
CydgafFael, a hael, a hwyliad
Ef imi y meddwl difrad,
Mi iddaw yn Haw yn Hygad,
Ni henyw o afryw afrad,
Mi hanwyf o henwyr ei dad,
Llachar far, aerfar, erfynniad,
Llachar fron o frydau Gwriad. ■
Lluchieint gweilch am walch gynniliad,
Fal Huchynt eftrawn wjnt IjlJrad.
4 Hunydd
AwDL IV. B A R D D O N I A E T H. 125
Hunydd nen perchen parchus fad, . ^^^^ j
Parch arfawr, Arjon angoriad.
Llywelyn dreis, eriyn drwffiad,
Dros Dehau angau oth angad,
Angor mor y mawr gymynad, .
Angawr llawr llurig Duw am danad. -\
Rhy chyngein Prydcin yn ddibryder,
I Briodawr llawr yn llawn nifer.
Llywelyn gelyn yn i gahver
I gelwir am dir am dud tymer.
Llawenydd lluoedd Hew ymhryder,
Llywiawdr ymmerawdr mor a lleuferj
I ddylif cynnif cynhebyccer
I ddylann am lann, am leiffiaid fFer.
Terfyfc tonn ddilyfc ddyleinw aber :
Dylad anwafdad ni ofteccer.
Terwynt twrf rhy wynt yn rhyw amfer,
A rhialluoedd lluoedd llawer.
Torfoedd ynghyhoedd ynghyflawnder
Tariannau golau mal i gweier :
Ry folant anant, anaw cymer,
Ry molir i wir i orober,
I wryd yn rhyd yn rheid nifer,
I orofn gwraf yn ydd eler,
I orfod gorfod glod a glywer,
I wyr am eryr ni amharer,
I warae orau pan waraer,
I wayw a orau yn ddau banner,
Dinidr
126 BARDDONIAETH. Awdl IV.
Dinidr yn nyddr brwyd yn yd brofer,
Dinoding perging, pargoch hydrfer,
Dinas, dreig urddas, eurddawn haelder
Dinag o fynag pan ofynner,
Dyn yw Llywelyn llywiawdr tyner,
Doeth coeth cywrennin, gwin a gwener,
A'r gwr ai rhoddes ni ran o'r pader,
Ai rhoddo ef gwenfro gwynfryn uch fer.
ARWYRAIN
AwDL V. BARDDONIAETH.
127
V.
A R W Y R A I N
Owain Gwynedd» Gwakhmai at cant.
ARddwvreaf hael o hil Rodri,
Ardwyad gorwlad, gwerlin teithi,
Teithiawg Prydain, twyth arfdwyth Owain,
Teyrnain ni grain, ni grawn rei.
Teir lleng i daethant, liant leftri,
Teir praff prif lynges wy bres brofi,
Un o'r Insoerddon, arall arfogion
Or Llychlynigiony llwrw hirion Hi.
Ar drydedd dros for o Norddmandiy
Ar drafFerth anferth, anfad iddi.
A dreig Mon mor ddrud i eiflillyd yn aer,
A bu terfyfc taer i haer holi,
A rhagddaw rhewys dwys dyfyfci,
A rhewin a thrin a thranc Cymri,
A'r gad gad greudde, a'r gryd gryd graendde,
Ac am dal Moelfre mil fannieri,
5 A'r
128 B A R D D O N I A E T H. Awdl V.
A'r ladd ladd lachar, ar bar beri,
A ffwyr fFwyr fFyrfgawdd ar fawdd foddi,
A Menai heb drai o drallanw gwaedryar,
A Uiw gwyar gwyr yn heli :
A llurygawr glas, a gloes trychni,
A thrychion yn nhud rhag rheiddrudd ri,
A dygyfor Lloegt\ a dygyfranc a hi,
Ag ei dygyfwrw yn aftrufi,
A dygyfod clod cleddyf difri,
Yn faith ugain iaith wy faith foli.
^uA'd ;..^-:c! >(V/ eaj.'
AW D L
AwDi, VI, BARDDONIAETH.
129
VL
A W D
A gant Einiawnfab Gwalchmaiy i Nejl ferch HyweL
AM S E R Mai maith ddydd, neud rhydd rhoddi,
Neud coed nad ceithiw, ceinlliw cell!,.
Neud llafar adar, neud gwar gweilgi,
Neud gwaeddgreg gwaneg, gwynt yn edwi,
Neud arfeu doniau, goddau gwedi,
Neud argel dawel nid meu dewi,
Endeweis i wenyg o Wynnofi dir, .
I am derfyn mawr meibion Belt.,
Oedd hydreidd wychr Ilyr yn llenwi,
Oedd hydr am ddylan gwynfan genddi,
Hyll nid oedd ei deddfhi hwyreddf holi,
Hallt oedd i dagrau, digrawn heli,
Ar helw bun araf uch bannieri ton,
Tynhegl a gerddais i gorddwfr T^eifii .
Ceintum gerdd i N^Jl cyn noi threngi,
Cant cant i moliant mal Elifriy
Canaf gan feddwl awrddwl erddi, .
Caniad i marwnad, mawr drueni !
S Canwyll
i»
13©
15ARDDONIAETH. Awdi. VI.
Canwyll Cadfan Ian o lenn bali.
Canneid i fynnieid gar Dyfymn,
Gwan, wargan, wyrygall, ddeall ddogni,
Gwreig nid oedd un frad gariad genthi,
Gweryd rhudd ai cudd gwedi tewi,
Gwael neuedd maenwedd mynwent iddi,
Golo Nejl goleu ddireidi.
Golwg gwalch dwythfalch o brif delthi,
Gvvenned gwawn ai dawn oi daioni,
GTO_)';W<ianihydedd, oedd rhaid wrthi,
Nid oedd ffawd rhy gnawd rhin y genthi,
Gnawd oedd dal eur mal er i moli,
Ki ryfu dognach er i dogni poen,
Penyd a fo mwy no'r meu hebddi,
Neum gorau angau anghyfnerthi,
Nid ymglyvv dyn byw oV byd fal mi,
Ni chyfeirch angen iawlwen ioli,
Er neb rhy barther i rhyborthi,
Nejl ya ei haddavvd, wenwawd weini,
Ydd wyf pryderus fal pryderi.
Pryderwawd ceudawd, cyfnerthi ni wnn,
Nid parabl yw hwn ni fo peri.
Lien argel iffel y fy'm poeni,
Lludd Gu^en Uiw arien ar Eryri.
Archaf im Arglwydd culwydd celi,
Nid ef a archaf arch egregi.
Arch, ydd wyf un arch yn i erchi,
Am archfein riein, rcid y meini,
Trwy ddiwyd eiriawl deddfawl Deivl,
A deg cymmeint feint fenedd Freji,
Am
AwDL VI. B A R D D O N I A E T H. 131
Am fun a undydd i hammodi,
A'r gyfUwn pryffwn y prophwydi,
Ar gyfoeth Duw doeth i detholi,
Ar anghyweir Meir a'r merthyri,
Ag yn i goddau gweddi a ddodaf.
Am dodeis nwyf im addoedi.
Ni bu ddyn mor gu gennyf a hi
Ni bo poen oddef, Pedr wy noddi,
Ni bydd da gan Dduw i diddoli,
Ni bo diddawl Neji, nef boed eiddi.
S 2 Llywarch
n^
BARDDONIAETH. Awdl VII.
VII.
Lilyvcarch Brydydd y Moch ai cant^
I Lywely?! fab 'Jorwerth.
CRIST Greawdr, llyvviawdr Uu daear a nef
Am noddwy rhag afar,
Crifl: ccli, bwyf celfydd a gwar,
Cyn diwedd gyfyngwedd gyfar.
Crift fab Duw am rhydd arllafar,
I foli fy rhvvyf rhwyfg o ddyar,
Crift fab Mair am pair o'r pedwar defnydd,
Dofn awen ddiarchar.
Llyivelyn llyw Prydain ai phar,
Llew a glew a glyw gyfarwar.
Fab yorwerth ein cannerth an car.
Fab Oivain fFrawddiein, fFrwyth cynnar,
Ef dyfu dreig llu yn llafar ddillat,
Yn ddillyn cyfarpar,
Yn erfid, yn arfod abar,
Yn arfau bu cenau cynnar,
Yn ddengmlwydd hylwydd hylafar
Yn ddidranc ei gyfranc ai gar,
Yn ylbcr Cojiwy, cyn daffiir fy ily w,
Llywelyn athrugar,
A BafydiU denuvd Ul Qiifar,
Difai
AwDL VII. B A. R D D O N I A E T H. 13^
Difai ddraig, ddragon adwyar,
Difwlch uddd difalch i efgar,
Difwng blwng blaen ufel trwy far,
Dybryd in feirdd byd bod daear arnaw,
Ac arnam i alar.
Ef yn Uyw cyn Hid gyfyfcar,
Yfglyfion yfglyfiynt Ilwrw bar,
Oedd rynn rudd ebyr or gwyr gwar»
Oedd ran feirw fwyaf o'r drydar,
Oedd amliw tonnau, tvvnn amhar eu neid,
Neud oeddynt dilafar.
Ton heli ehelaeth i bar.
Ton arall guall, goch gwyar.
Forth Aethwy pan aetham ni ar felrch mordwy,
Uch mowrdwrf tonniar,
Oedd ongyr, oedd engir ei bar,
Oedd angudd godrudd gwaedryar,
Oedd enghyrth ein hynt, oedd angar,
Oedd ing, oedd angau anghymar,
Oedd ammau ir byd bod abar o honam,
O henaint lleithiar.
Mawr gadau, anghau anghlaear,
Meirw fengi, mal feri lathar,
Cyn plygn Rodri, rwydd efgar, ym Mon
Mynwennoedd bu braenar.
Pan orfu pen llu llachar,
Lly-welytt Ilyw Alun athafar,
Myrdd bu lladd, llith brein gorddyar,
O'r milwyr, a mil yngharchar.
Llywelyn cyd lladdwy trwy far,
2 Cyd
134
BARDDONIAETH. Awdl VII.
Cyd llofgwy, nid Uefg ufeliar,
Llary deyrn, uch cyrn cyfarwar
Lhvrvv cydfod ir clod is claiar,
Ry llofies rwyf treis tros fanniar i feirdd,
Oedd fawrllwyth ir ddaear,
Gwifci aur ag ariant nis car.
Gwarcwynfeirch goffeirch, gofathar,
Yfginfawr gorfawr, gorwymp par,
Yfcarlad lliw ffleimiad, fflamiar,
Meirch Mawrthig, fFrwythig, fFraeth, anwar,
Ffrawddus, a phreiddiau ewiar.
Mwth i rhydd, arwydd yngwafcar,
Mai Arthur cein fodur cibddar,
Cann a chann, a chein wyllt a gwar.
Cant a chant a chynt nog adar.
jidar weinidawg, caeawg Cynran drud,
Dreig Frydein pedryddan,
Addod Lhegr, lluofTawg am bann,
Addaf b?r la herwydd calan,
Adwedd teyrnedd tir nis rhan,
A dan fer ys fef i amcan,
Adnes i franhes i frein bann,
Dychre dycbrein gwyr ynghreulan,
Gwrdd i gwnaeth uch Deudraeth Dryfan,
Gwr hydvvf, gwrhydri Ogyrfan
Dygvvydd gwyr hcb lafar heb Ian,
Dygoch llawr dwygad fawr faran,
Un am fro Alun, elfydd can,
A Ffra'im
AwDL Vir. BARDDONIAETH. 135
A Ffrainc yn ffrawddus mal Camlan ;
Ar eil yn Arfon ar forfan,
Yn undydd an un Duw in a ran,
A dwy dreig ffeleig, ffaw gymman
Mal deulew ein dylochaffan,
Ag un traws gatcun, treis faran,
Fal gwr yn gorfod ymhobman,
Llyivelyn llafn-eur anghyfan,
Lloegr ddiwreidd, Ilu rhuddfleidd Rhiiddla?i,
Liu rhagddaw a Haw ar llumman,
Llwybr yn wybr yn ebrwydd allan,
Llvvrw ddawn Cadwallaum Jab Cadfan.
I mae am Brydain yn gyfan,
Llary ni ddel ei law ettaw attan,
Llyried tra myned tramor dylan,
Rhag Ilaith anolaith anolo llan,
A llafnawr Uedrudd uch grudd a gran,
Ninnau Felrdd Prydein, prydus eirian berth,
Gwyr a byrth fy rhwyf ymhob calan,
Er digabl barabl gan bawb oi fan,
Digrifwch elwch elyf egwan,
Oi ariant gormant gorym ni drudran,
O'i alaf ai aur ai ariant can.
Gan i ddwyn dychryn a ddechreuo bleid,
Uch blaenwel yn oed Ho,
Gnaws achaws yn ych cyn adfo,
Gnawd i ladd ni Iwydd i abo.
Caer Lleon llyw M071 mwyn Fabo ath dug,
Ef ath dwg ynghodo,
LlyiveJ^^i
J. 6 BARDDONIAETH. Awdl VII.
J
LlyweJyn ef llofges dy fro,
Lias dy wyr dra Ilyr, dra llvvyfo,
Llwyr dug y Wyddgrug, nid ffug fFo,
Lloegrwys i llugfryd i fynnio,
Llewdir teyrn lluddiwyd yn agro,
Lias i glas, i glwyftei neud glo,
Llys Elftner, bu ffer, bu ffwyrngno,
Llwyr llofged i thudwed ai tho,
Llvvrw gwelwch neud heddwch heno
Gan fy rhwyf, nid rhyfedd cyd bo,
Hyd i del i dorf ar dyno a bryn,
Udd breiniawg bieufo,
Llew ai dug, ai dwg pan fynno,
Ir Tralliong trillu anvvofgo,
Llys efnys, afneued tra fo.
Lies i fyrdd o feirdd ai cyrcho.
Addug y Wyddgriig ai dycco,
Gwyliwch gwylyddwr, pwy ai lluddio,
Llwrvv Focbnant edrywant ar dro,
Llwytcwn llwyth Ilithiwyd am honno,
Lletcynt Argoedivys, gwys greudo,
Llys a dvvy neud einym ni heno.
Edryched Pcwys pwy fo,
Brenin breifg werin, brwyfg agdo,
Ai gwellygio pwyll rhydwyllo :
Ai gwell Ffranc no ffrawddus Gymro.
Llyw y ^y ym, fynniwch cyd tawo,
Lloegr gychwyn, a fynn a fynno,
Llwyr i dyd i fryd ar fro Gadivallawn
Fab Cadjan, fab lago,
Llary
AwDL VII. CARDDONIAETH. 137
Llary yfpar ys penyd iblo,
Llwrw efpyd yfpeid anolo,
Llew prydfavvr llyw Prydain ai chlo,
Llyivclyn lliaws ei fran fro,
Llary deyrn cedyrn, cad wofgo j ynghur
Ys fy nghar a orffo.
Gorfydd Udd dremrudd, dramor Uiant,
Ym Mon Mam Gyniru bedryddant,
Gorllwybr llu llenwis ewyngant,
Gvvarthaf bryn a phenrhyn a phant,
Gorllanw gwaed am draed a ymdrychant,
Amdrychion pan ymdrechafTant,
Cad y Coed Anau., Cadr anant borthi,
Burtliiaifl: wyr yii nifant.
Ail gad trom i tremynallant,
Udd addien uch Dygen Ddyfnanty
Eil miloedd mal gwyr dybuant,
Eil yrth gyrth in gwrthfynnallant,
Eil agwrdd ymwrdd am hardd amgant bre-
'Bron yr Eriu i galwant,
Cynwan llu fal llew yth welfant,
Cadr eryr ith wyr yn warant.
Can hynny cynhennu ni wnant.
Can wyllon Celyddon cerddant.
Dugoft y Wyddg7'ug, a dygant i dreis
Adryfledd cyfnofant,
A Rhuddlan yn rhuddliw amgant,
Rhun can clawdd adrawdd edrywant
T A Dinhycb
,38 BARDDONIAETH. Awdl VII.
A Dlnbych wrthrych gorthorrant ar fil,
Ar Foelas a Gronant
A cbaer yn jirfon, a charant yngnif,
Yngnaws coll am peiriant,
A Dincis Emreis a ymrygant,
Anirygyr ni wneir na wnant
Neur orfydd dy orofyn nad ant
Ith eibyn ith erbarch feddiant
Neu'r orfuwyd yn orenw Morgant
Ar filwyr Frydain pedryddant
Dy gynnygii iii gennyw cwddant,
Ni gaifF hoen na hun ar amrant,
Mad ymddugoft waed, mad yth want,
Arall yn arfoll yfgarant,
A chleddyf, a chlodfawr yth wnant,
Ag yfgwyd ar yfgwydd anchwant,
Mad tywylTaifd dy lu, Loegr irdant,
Ar derfyn Mechain a Mochnant,
Mad yth ymddug dy fam, wyd doeth,
Wyd dinamj wyd didawl o bob chwant,
O borffor o bryfFwn fiiant,
O ball ag aur ag ariant,
O emys gochwys gochanant dy feirdd,
Yn fyiddoedd i caffant.
Minnau orn rhadau rhymfuant,
Yn rhuddaur yn rhwydd ardduniant :
O bob rhif im Rhwyf im doniant,
O bob rhyw im rhodded yn gant
Cyd archwyf im llyw y lloergant yn rhodd,
Ef am rhydd yn gcugant.
I Liiivclydd
AwDL VII. BARDDONIAETH.
LU'welydd lledawdd dy foliant,
Llywelyn, a Llywarch rwy cant.
Munerawd ym marw fy mwyniant fal yn byw
LleiJJiawn ryw Run blant.
Nyd gormod fy ngair It gormant !
Teyrn wyd tebyg Eliphant,
Can orfod pob rhod yn rhamant.
Can folawd a thafawd a thant.
Cein deyrn, cyn bych yngreifiant,
Can difwyn o yfgwn efgarant.
Can Dduw ren yn ran weftifiant
Can ddiwedd pob buchedd, bych fant.
^9
T 2 L L Y M A
I40 BARDDONIAETH. Awdl VIII.
viir.
L L Y M A
B U M A W D L
A ga?it Llygad Gwr^ i Lywelyn fab Gt^uffudd.
I.
CY FA R C H A F i Dduw, ddawn orfoledd,
Cynnechreu doniau, dinam fawredd,
Cynnyddu canu, can nid rhyfedd dreth,
O draethawd gyfannedd,
I foli fy Rhi rhwyf Arllechoeddy
Rhuddfaawg freiniawg o frenhinedd,
Rhyfyg udd CaiJ'ar, treis far trofledd,
Rhuthrlym, grym Gniffydd etifedd,
Rhwyfg frwyfg, freifg, o freint a dewredd,
Rhudd barau o heri cochwedd,
Rhyw iddaw diriaw eraill diredd,
Rhwydd galon, golofn teyrnedd.
Nid vvyf wr gwaglaw wrth y gogledd,
O Arglvvydd gwladlwydd, glod edryffedd,
Nid newidiaf naf un awrwedd a neb,
Anebrwydd dangnefedd.
m Llyw
AwDL VIII. BARDDONIAETH. 141
Llyw y fy ym ys ami anrhydedd,
Lloegr ddifa o ddifcfl fonedd,
Llyivelyn gelyn, galon dachwedd,
Llary wledig gwynfydig Givynedd,
Llofrudd brwydr, Brydein gywryfTedd,
Llawhir falch, gwreiddfalch gorledd,
Llary, hylwydd, hael Arglwydd eurgledd,
Llew Ccmmaisy llym dreis drachywedd,
Lie bo cad fragad, friwgoch ryfledd,
Llwyr orborth hyborth heb gymwedd.
Gnaws mawrdraws am ardal dyhedd,
Gnawd iddaw dreiddiaw drwyddi berfedd.
Am i wir bydd dir or diwedd,
Amgylch Dyganivy mwyfwy i medd,
A chiliaw rhagddaw a chalanedd creu,
Ag odduch gwadneu gwaed ar ddarvvedd.
Dreig Arfon arfod wythlonedd
Dragon diheufeirch heirddfeirch harddedd,
Ni chaifF Sais i drais y droedfedd oi fro,
Nid oes o Gymro i Gymrodedd.
II.
Cymmrodedd fy llyw lluoedd beri,
Nid oes rwyf eirioes, aer dyfyfgi,
Cymro yw haelryw o hil Belt hir,
Yn herwydd i brofi.
Eurfudd ni oludd, olud roddi,
Aerfleidd arwreidd o Eryriy
Eryr
!42 B A R D D O N I A E T H. Awdl VIII.
Eryr ar geinwyr gamwri dinam,
Neud einym i foli.
Eurgorf torf tyroedd olofcr,
Argae gryd, Greidiawl wrhydrl,
Arwr bar, taerfar, yn torn cadau^
Cadarnfrwydr yftofi.
Aer dalmithyr, hylithr haelioni,
Arf lluoedd eurwiigoedd wifgi
Arwymp Ner, hyder, hyd Teiji feddiant,
Ni faidd neb i golpi.
Llywelyn Lloegrwys feiftroli,
Llyw breiniawl, brenhinedd teltlii,
Llary deyrn cedyrn, yn cadw, gwefti cyrdd,.
Cerddorion gyflochi.
Coelfein brein Bryneich gyfogi,
Celennig branes, berthles borthi,.
Ciliaw ni orug er caledi gawr,
Gvvr eofn ynghyni.
Parawd fydd meddiant medd Beirdd im Rhij
Pob cymman darogan derfi,
O Biolffordd ofgordd yfgwyd gochi hydr,
Hyd eithaf CydwelL
Can gafFael yn dda dra heb drengi,
Gan fab Duw didwyll gymmodi,
Ys bo i ddiwedd ddawn berchi ar nef,
Ar neillaw Crift Geli.
Llyw
AwDL Vlir. BARDDONIAETH.
H3
III.
Llyw y fy'n fynhwyrfawr riydd,
Lliwgoch i lafnawr, aefawr ufwydd,
Lliw deifniawg, llidiawg, lledled fydd ei bias,
Llwyr waeth yw ei gas noi garennydd.
Llywelyn gelyn, galofydd,
Llwyrgyrch darogan cymman celfydd,
Ni thyccia rhybudd hael rebydd rhagddaw,
Llaw drallaw drin wychydd.
Y gwr ai rhoddes yn rhvvyf dedwydd,
Ar Wynedd arwynawl drefydd,
Ai cadarnhao, ced hylwydd yn hir,
I amddefFyn tir rhag torf ofwydd.
Nid aniw, nid anhoffgynnydd,
Neud enwawg farchawg, feirch gorewydd,
I fod yn hynod hynefydd GymfOy
A*r Gymry a'u helfydd.
Ef difeiaf Naf rhy wnaeth Dofydd,
Yn y byd o bedwar defnydd,
Ef goreu riau reg ofydd a wnn,
Eryr Snaivtiv?: aer gyfludwydd.
Cad a wnaeth, cadarn ymgerydd.
Am gyfoeth, am Gefn Gelorwydd,
Ni bu gad, hwyliad hefelydd gyfred,
Er pan fu weithred waith Arderydd.
Breifclew Mon, inwynfawr Wyndodydd-,
Bryn Derivyn clo byddin clodrydd.
Ni
J 44
BARDDONIAE T H. Awdl VIII.
Ni bu edifar y dydd i cyrchawdd,
Cyrch ehofn effillydd.
Gwelais wawr ar wyr lIuofTydd,
Fal o'wr yn gvvrthladd cywilydd,
A welei Lyivelyn, lawenydd dragon,
Ynghymyfc Affon ac Eiddionyddj
Nld oedd hawdd Hew aerflawdd Uiiydd,
I dreiffiaw gar Drws Daufynydd,
Nis plygodd Mab Dyn bu doniawg ffydd,
Nis plycco Mab Duw yn dragywydd.
IV.
Terfyfc taerllew glew, glod ganhymdalth,
Twrf torredwynt mawr uch mor diffaith,
Taleithawg deifniawg dyfniaith Aberffranv^
Terwyn anrheithiaw, rhuthar anolaith.
Tylwyth, fFrwyth, fFraethlym eu mawrwaith,
Teilwng blwng, blaengar fal goddaith,
Taleithawg arfawg aerbeirh Dinefwr,
Teilu hyfgwr, yfgwfl anrhaith.
Telediw gad gywiw gyfiaith,
Toledo balch a bylchlafn eurwalth,
Taleithawg Mathrafal, maith yw dy derfyn,
Arglwydd Lywelyfi, lyw pedciriaith,
Sefis yn rhyfel, dymgel daith,
Rhag eftrawn gencdl, gwyn anghyfiaith,
Sefid Brenin nef, brciniawl gyfraith,
Gan eiirwawr aerbeir y teir tuleith.
A Cyfarchaf
AwDL Vlir. BARDDONIAETH. 145
V.
Cyfarchaf i Dduw o ddechrau moliant,
Mai i gallwyf orau,
Clodfori o'r gwyr a geiriau
I'm pen, y pennaf a giglau,
Cynnwrf tan, lluch faran llechau,.
Cyfnewid newydd las ferau,
Cyfarf wyf a rhwyf, rhudd lafnau yngnif,,
Cyfoethawg gynnif cynflaen cadau.
Llyivelyn nid llefg ddefodau,
Llwybr ehang, ehofn fydd mau,.
Llyw yw hyd Gernyw aed garnedd i feirch,
Lliaws ai cyfeirch, cyfaill nid gau,
Llew Givynedd gwynfeith ardalau,
Llywiawdr pobl, Powys ar De/jaUy
Llwyrwys caer, yn aer, yn arfau,
Lhegr breiddiaw am brudd anrheithiau,
Yn rhyfeJ, ffrwythlawn, dawn diammau,
Yn lladd yn llofci yn torri tyrau,
Yn Rhos a Phenfro, yn rhysfiiau Ffrainc^
Llwyddedig i ainc yn lliayddau.
'HiXGruffudd, grymmus gynneddfau,
Hael gyngor, gyngyd wrth gerddau,
Hylathr i yfgwyd, efcud barau gwrdd,
Hylym yn cyhwrdd cyhoedd waedfFraUi
Hylwrvsr fwrw far, gymmell trediau,
Hawlwr gwlad arall gwledig riau,
U Harddedd
146
B A R D D O N I A E T H. Awdl VIII.
Hardi^edd o fonedd, faen gaenu drelfddwyn,
Hifbell fal Fflamddwyn i fflamgyrchau.
Hwylfawr ddreig, ddragon cyfeddau,
Heirdd i feirdd ynghyl^h ei fyrddau,
Hylithr i gwelais ddydd golau i fudd,
Ai feddgyrn wirodau.
Iddaw i gynnal cleddyfal clau,
Mai Arthur wayw dur i derfynau,
Gwir frenin Cymru cymmreifc ddoniau,
Gwrawl hawl boed hwyl ddehau.
!♦ L Y M A
AwDL IX. BARDDONIAETH.
147
IX.
L L Y M A
ODL AU'R MI SOEDD,
A gant Gw'ilym Ddu Arfon^ i fyr Gruffudd Llwyd
Dref-garnedd a Diitorweg yji Arfo?i ; alla7i or Llyfr
Coch Hergejiy yngholegyr Iefuy?t Rhyd Tche?i,
NE U D cyn nechrau Mai mau anrhydedd,.
Neud aeth yfgwaeth a maeth a medd,
Neud cynhebyg, ddig, ddygn adrofledd drift,
Er pan ddelid Crift, weddw athrift vvedd !
Neud cur a lafur im wylofcdd,
Neud cerydd Dofydd, nad rhydd rhuddgledd.
Neud cof fy ynnof, ys anwedd ei faint,
Neud cywala haint, hynt diryfedd.
Neud caeth im dilyd Hid llaweredd,
Neud caith Beirdd cyfiaith am eu cyfedd.
Neud caethiwed ced, nad rhydd cydwedd Nicdd^
Cadrwalch Rnffiidd, brudd, breiddin tachwedd,
Neud cwyn Beirdd trylwyn, meddw ancwyn medd,
Neud cawdd im anawdd, meneftr canwiedd,
Neud carchar anwar enwiredd Eingl-dud,
U 2 Acrddraigr
B A R D D O N I A E T H, Awdl IX.
Aerddraig Llan R7:>y /J a J funud fonedd.
Neud nim dyhudd budd, bum aiygledd,
Neud nam dilyd Hid, lliaws blynedd.
Neud nam dawr, Duw mawr, maranedd, Ne fglyw,
Neud nad rhydd fy llyw, Hew Trcfgarnedd,
Neud trwm oi eifiau dau digyfedd.
Neu'r wyr Beirdd canvvlad, nad rhad rheufedd,
Neud ef arwydd gwir, neud oferedd gwyr,
Wrth weled f eryr yn ei fowredd ;
Neud truan im gwaii gwayw Hedfiydedd,
Neud trwydded galed im amgeledd.
Neud trymfryd Gwyfiedd, gwander dyedd braw :
Neud hwy eu treifiaw am eu trolledd.
Neud trahir gohir gloyw babir gledd,
Oedd trablwng echwng Achel ddewredd.
Neud trai cwbl or Mai, mawredd aHwynin,
Neud Mis M-ehefin weddw orHin wedd.
Neud Mis Mehefin, mau hefyd gyftudd,
Neud nam rhydd Grujfudd wayvv rhudd yn rhyd.
Neum rhywan im gwan gwayw cryd englriawl,
Neud am Ddraig urddawl didawl im dyd.
Neum erwyr om gwyr im gweryd Crill Ner,
Neud arfer ofer, Beirdd nifer byd.
Neud arwydd nam Hwydd Hedfryd im calon,
Neud eres nad tonn hoiin ar ei hyd.
Mau ynnof mowrgof am ergyd gofal.
Am attal arial Uren yngryd.
Mai cofain cywrain Cyii-ryd, fardd Dmaivd,
Mcu im Dreig priawd gwawd ni bo gwyd.
Mau gwawdgan Afan, ufuddfryd ffrwythlawn,
4 Ogof
H9
AwDL IX. B A R D D O N I A E T H.
O gof Gadwallawn, brenhinddawn bryd.
Ni wn waith gwaywdwn, gwawd ddihewyd clod,
A thi heb ddyfod pa dda bod byd ?
Neud wyr pawb yn llwyr, lleyrfryd gynnat,
Nad hylithr aur mal mal oddiwrthyd.
Nid oes nerth madferth ym myd, oth eifiau,
Gwleddau na byrddau na Beirdd ynghlyd.
Nid oes lys ylbys, efbyd neud dibeirch,
Nad oes meirch na feirch na ferch hyfryd.
Nad oes wedd na moes, maffw ynyd yw'n gwlad,
Nad oes mad eithr gwad a gwyd.
Neud gwagedd trofledd, travvs gadernyd Mon,
Neud gweigion Arfon is Reon ryd.
Neud gwann Wynedd fann, fenn ydd ergyd cur,
Neud gwael am fodur eglur oglyd.
Neud blwyddyn i ddyn ddiofryd a gar,
Neud blaengar carchar, grym aerbar gryd.
Gvvilym Ddu o Arfon ai cant, yn y Flwyddyn 1322.
L L Y M A
?5«
BARDDONIAETH. Awdl X,
X.
L L Y M A
DDYHUDDIANT ELPHIN.
I.
ELPHIN deg taw ath wylo
Na chabled neb yr eiddo
Ni wna les drwg-obeithio
Ni wyl dyn ddim ai portho
Ni fydd goeg gweddi Cynllo
Ni thyrr Duw ar addawo :
Ni chad yngored Wyddno.,
Erioed cyftal a heno.
II.
Elphin deg fych dy ddeurudd
Ni weryd bod yn rhy brudd
Cyt tybiaifb na chefaift fudd
Nith wna da gormod cyfludd
Nag ammau wyrthiau Dofydd
Cyt bwyf bychan wyf gelfydd,
foroedd ag o fynydd
Ag o eigion afoiiydd
1 daw Duw a da i ddedwydd.
J ■• Elphin
AwDL X. B A R D D O N I A E T H.
^Sl
III.
Elphhi gynneddfau diddan
Ai)filwraidd yw d' amcan
Nid rhaid yt ddirfawr gvvynfaa
Gwell Duw na drwg ddarogan
Cyd bwyf eiddil a bychan
Ar fin gorferw mor dylan
Mi a wnaf yn nydd cyfrdan
Yt well no thrychan maran.
IV.
Elphin gynneddfau hynod
Na forr ar dy gyfFaelod
Cyt bwyf gwan ar lawr fy nghod
Mae rhinwedd ar fy nhafod
"Tra fwyf fi yth gyfragod
Nid rhaid yt ddirfawr ofnod
Drwy gofFau enwau'r Drindod
Ni ddichon neb dy orfod.
Taliesin ai dywawd.
It may noi be improper to inform the Reader^ that the Orthogra-
phy ufed in thefe Poems is the Orthography of the MSS.
and not that of the Welsh Bible.
D I W E D D.
[ ^s:^ ]
APPENDIX,
N°. I.
A Method how to retrieve the ancient Britifli language, In or-
der that the Bards of the fixth century may be underftood,
and that the genuinenefs of Tyffilio's Britifh Hiftory, which was
tranilated from the Armoric language inttf Latin by Galfridus Arturius
of Monmouth may be decided} and concerning a new edition of
Gildas Nennius's Eulogium Brittannis, with notes, from ancient Bri-
tifh MSS. This old Britifh writer has been fhamefully mangled by
Dr. Gale, his editor, in the Scriptores Britannic! j and not much
mended by Mr. Bertram in his late edition of it at Copenhagen.
Whether the ancient Britifli language can be fo far recovered as
to underftand the moft ancient Britifh writings now extant, is, I think,
a confideration by no means beneath the notice of a fociety of Antiqua-
rians, and of all learned men in general. There has been, it is
true, an attempt of this nature made by the very learned Mr. Edward
Llwyd, of the Mufeum, and in part laudably executed in his Archa;-
ologia Britannica, which refle(fts honour on thofe worthy perfons who
X fupported
154 APPENDIX.
fupported him In his five years travels Into Ireland, Scotland, Corn-
wal, BafTe Bretagne, and Wales. But as his plan was too extenfive
to bring every branch of what he undertook to perfedlion, I think
a continuation of the fame, retrained within certain limits, might flill
be ufeful. — Natural hiftory is itfelf a province fufficient to engrofs a
man's whole attention j but it was only a part of this great man's
undertaking : and the learned world is abundantly convinced of the
uncommon proficiency he made in natural philofophy ; and how
induflrious he was in tracing the dialeds of the ancient Celtic lan-
guage. But flill it muft be acknowledged that he did very little to-
wards the thorough underftanding the ancient Britifli Bards and hifto-
rians. And indeed he owns himfelf that he was not encouraged In
this part of his Intended work, as appears by his propofals. Far be
it from me to cenfure thofe very learned men who generoufly contri-
buted to fupport the Ingenious author In his travels^ and didlated to
him the method he was to purfue. But, after all, I cannot help la-
menting that he did not pay more attention to the old MSS. and
compile a glofTary to underftand them. What he has done of this
nature Is very imperfedt, few words being added to what there are
in Dr.Davies's didionary, and thofe chiefly from writings of the four-
teenth and fifteenth century. Indeed it appears he had not feen the
works but of one of the Bards of the fixth century, and that in the
red book of Hegefl, In the Archives of Jefus's College, Oxon. He
complains he could not procure accefs to the colledions at Hengwrt
and Llan Fordaf, and without perufing thofe venerable remains, and
leifure to collate them with other copies. It was impoflible for him
to do any thing efFedual. — Now the method I would propofe to a
pcrfcn that would carry this projedt into execution, is, that as foori
as he Is become mafler of the ancient Britifli language, as far as it
I can
APPENDIX. 155
can be learned, by the afllftance of Dr. Davlcs's ditSlionaiy, and
Mofes Williams's gloflary at the end of Dr. Wotton's tranflation of
Howel Dda's laws, he lliould endeavour to procure accefs to the great
colleftions of ancient Britifli MSS. in the libraries of the Earl of
Macclesfield, Lady Wynne of Wynflay, the Duke of Ancaflcr, Sir
Roger Moftyn at Gloddaith, John Davies, Efquire, at Llannerch,
Mifs Wynne of Bod Yfcallen, Wiliam Vaughan, Efquire, at Corfy
Gedol, and in other places both in South and North Wales in pri-
vate hands. By this means he would be enabled in time to afccr-
tain the true reading in many MSS. that have been altered and
mangled by the ignorance of tranfcribers. I am fatisfied there are
not many copies of the Bards of the fixth century extant, nor indeed
of thofe from the conqueft to the death of Llywelyn. But two or
three ancient copies on vellom, if fuch can be met with, will be fuf-
ficient ; for in fome tranfcripts by good hands that I have feen, they
are imperfedl in fome copies. This would in a great meafure enable
our traveller to fill up the blanks, and help him to underftand what,
for want of this, mufl: remain obfcure, if not altogether unintelligi-
ble. We fliould by the means of fuch a perfon have a great many
monuments of genius brought to light, that are now mouldering
away with age, and a great many paffages in hiflory illuftrated and
confirmed that are now dark and dubious. Whole poems of great
length and merit might be retrieved, not inferior, perhaps, to Oflian's
produdions, if indeed thofe extraordinary poems are of fo ancient
date, as his tranflator avers them to be. The Gododin of Aneurin
Gwawdrydd is a noble heroic poem. So are likewife the works of
Llywarch Hen about his battles with the Saxons, in which he loft
twenty-four fon?, who all were diftinguiilied for their bravery with
golden torques's. Aiirdorchogion.
X 2 Taliksin's
A.
i^ APPENDIX.
Taliesin's poems toMaelgwn Gwynedd, to Elphin ap Gvvyddno,
to Gwynn ap Nudd, and Urien Reged, and other great perfonages
of his tinfie are great curiofities. We have, befides thefe, feme re-
mains of the works of Merddin ap Morfryn, to his patron Gwenddo-
lau ap Ceidis, and of Afan Ferddig to Cadwallon ap Cadfan ; and,
perhaps, there may be in thofe colleftions fome befides that we have
not heard of. All thefe treafures might be brought to light, by a
perfon well qualified for the undertaking, properly recommended by
men of charader and learning : and I think, in an age wherein all
parts of literature are cultivated, it would be a pity to lofe the few
remaining monuments now left of the ancient British Bards, fome of
which are by their very antiquity become venerable. Aneurin
Gwawdrydd above-mentioned is faid, by Mr. Robert Vaughan of
Hengwrt, to be brother to Gildas ap Caw, author of the Epiftle de
excidio Britannia, which is the moft ancient account of Great Bri-
tain extant in Latin by a native. — No manner of eftimate can be
made of the works of our Bards and Hiftorians that have been de-
ftroyed from time to time ; nay fome very curious ones have been
loft within this century and a half. 1 think, therefore, it would be
an ad becoming the Antiquarian Society, and all patrons of learn-
ning in general, to encourage and fupport fuch an undertaking,
which would redound much to their honour, and be a fund of a
rational and inftrudlive amufement. — Nor would thofe benefits alone
accrue from a thorough knowledge of our Bards, but ftill more,-
folid and fubftantial ones. For who would be better qualified than
fuch a perfon to decide the controverfy about the genuinenefs of the
Britifh Hiftory, by Tyflllio, from the oldeft copies of it now extant,
which differ in a great many particulars from the Latin tranllation
of
APPENDIX^ 157
of Gulfrid, who owns that he received his copy from a perfon who
brought it from Armorica ; and why may there not be ibme copies
of it ftill behind in fome monafleries of that country, and of other
works flill more valuable ? Mr. Llwyd, of the Mufeum, intended
to vifit them all, in order to get a catalogue of them to be printed ia
his Archaeologia Britannica ; but he was prevented by the war which
then broke out, of which he gives an. account in a letter to Mr.
Rowlands, author of Mona Antiqua reftaurata, and which is publifhed
at the end of that treatife. Who can be better qualified to fucceed la
luch an undertaking than a perfon that is thoroughly well verfed in all
the old MSS. now extant in Wales. I find that the Armoric hiflorians,
particularly Father Lobineau, quote fome of their ancient Bards to
confirm hiftorical fads. This is demonftration that fome of their
oldeft Bards are ftill extant; and who knows but that fome of the
books they took with them when they frfl: went to fettle in Gaul,
under Maximus and Conau Meiriadoc, may be ftill extant, at leaft
tranfcripts of fome of them ; for that fome were carried over is plain,
by what Gildas himfelf fays, " qu^ vel fi qua fuerint, aut ignibus
" hoftium exufta, aut civium exulum clafTe longius deportata non
" compareant." So that I would have our traveller pafs two years
at leaft in Bafle Bretagne, in order to make enquiry after fuch ancient
monuments, and I make no doubt but he would make great difco-
veries. — Thus furnifhed, he might proceed to the Britifh Mufeum,
the Bodleian library, and the library of the two Univerfities, and
elfewhere, where any ancient Britifh MSS. are preferved. We mi^ht
then have better editions of BritiHi authors than we have had from
the Englifli antiquaries, though in other refpeds very learned men ;
but, being unacquainted with our language, Bards, and antiquities,
they have nothing but bare con edures, and fome fcraps from the
Roman
158 APPENDIX.
Roman writers to produce. No one likewife would be better qua-
lified to fix the ancient Roman flations in Britain, as they are fet down
in Antoninus's intinerary, and their ancient Britifh names. — I wifli
learned men would think of this ere it be too late ; for one century
makes a great havock of old MSS. efpecially fuch as are in the
hands of private perfons, who underftand not their true value, or
are fuffered to rot in fuch libraries, where nobody is permitted to have
accefs to them.
APPENDIX,
t 'i9 ]
APPENDIX,
N°. II.
Infert after Sir John Wynne of Gwydir's account of the dif-
perfion and maflacre of the Bards, in the introdudion
to the ode infcribed to Sir John GrufFudd Llwydj p. ^r,
the following addition :
T is taken from an old Britifli grammar, written in EngliHi, by
Wiliam Salelbury, printed at London, 1567. I have tranfcribed
t faithfully according to the old orthography. " Howbeit when
' the whole Ifle was commonlye called Brytayne, the dwellers
' Brytons, and accordingly their language Brytiflie, I will not refell ,
« nor greatly deny ; neither can I juftly gainfaye, but their tongue
' then was as copious of fyt woordes, and all manner of proper
' vocables, and as well adornated with woordiipful fciences and ho-
' nourable knowledge as any other of the barbarous tongues were.
' And fo fiill continued (though their fceptre declined, and their
' kingdom decayed, and they alfo by God's hand were driven into
' the moft unfertyl region, bareneft country, and mofl defart pro-
' vince of all the ifle) untyll the conqueft of Wales. For then, as
' they fay, the nobles and the greateft men beyng captives and brought
' pryfoners to the tower of London, there to remayne during their
l' lyves^,
i6o
APPENDIX.
•* lyves, defired of a common requefl:, that they might hav^ with
" them all fuch bokes of their tongue as they moil: delited in, and
" fo their petition was heard, and for the lightnefs foon granted,
" and thus brought with theoi all the principalleft and chiefeft
" books, as well of their own as of other their friends, of whom
" they could obtain anye to ferve for their puqiofe. Whofe mynde
" was none other but to pafs the time, and their predeftinate perpe-
" tual captivitie in the amenous varietie of over reading and revo-
" luting many volumes and fundry books of divers fciences and
" ftrange matters."
«' And that is the common anfwer of the Wehhe Bardes (for fo
*« they call their country poets) when a man fliall objedl or cafl in
" their teeth the foolylh uncertainty and the phantafticall vanities
" of their prophecies (which they call BRUTS) or the doubtful
*' race and kinde of their uncanonized fayndles : whom that not-
" withftanding they both invocate and worfhip wyth the moft hyghe
<' honoure and lowliefl reverence. Adding and allegyng in excufe
*' thereof, that the reliques and refidue of the books and monuments,
*' as well as the fayndles lyves, as of their Brutyfh prophecies and
" other fciences (which periflied not in the tower, for there, they fay,
" certain were burned) at the commotion of OWAIN GLYNDWR,
<« were in like manner deftroyed, and utterly devaftat, or at the leafl
«' wyfe that there efcaped not one, that was not uncurablye maymcd,
" and irrecuperably torn and mangled.
" Llyfrau Cymru au llofrudd
" Ir twr Gwyn aethantar gudd
" Yfceler oedd Yfcolan
" Fwrw'r twrr ly frau ir tan.
Gutto'r Glyn. A. D. 1450.
2 " The
APPENDIX. i6i
<« The books of Cymru and their remains went to the White
" Tower, where they were hid. Curfed was Ylgolan's adt ia .
" throwing them in heaps into the fire."
The Author living at a diftance, from the Prefs, the following ^^
infcriptions of two of the Odes were by miftake omitted in their .
proper places :
ODE II. Page 14.
To Mifs Williams of Peniarth, on the Banks of Dysynni,
this Ode is infcribed by her
Moft Obedient
Humble Servant,
E VA N EVANS,
ODE VI. Page 27.
To Mifs PuGH, of CoETMOR, the following Poem is infcribed
by her
Mod obedient
Humble Servant,
EVANEVANS.
Y 7o
i62 APPENDIX.
To the Note about Sir Gruff udd Llwyd, Page 48, add:
" Edward Philipp Pugh, Efqj of Coetmor, in Carnarvonfhire, is
*' a. defcendant in a diredl line from Ednyfed Fychan, and has in
" his cuftody a grant from prince Llywelyn the Great of fome lands
" in Creuddyn given to the faid Ednyfed, and his pofterity, with the
" prince's feal in green wax affixed to it. To this worthy gentle-
" man, and his lady, I am much obliged for their civility when I
*< lived in thofe parts. — The royal family of the Tudors are likewife
*' defcended from Ednyfed Fychan, as appears by. a commiffion that
*' was fent to the Bards and Heralds of Wales, to enquire into the
«' pedigree of Owain Tudor, king Henry the Seventh's grand-
«« father."
FINIS.
ADDENDA ET CORRIGENDA.
Page
ii
Jii
14
17
i8
^9
20
*3
25
26
28
31
3*
3$
34
35
Line
9 /or Lywarch r. Llywarch
»5 ifiJIeaU of (an is attcfted by Sir John
Wynne of Gwydir in tlic hilloiy
he compiled of liis anceftors at Car-
narvon) injcrt wliich is attcfted by
Sir Jolni Wynn of Gwydir in the
hiftory he compiled cf his ancellors
fiom the records at CaniaiTon,
which were conicyed in his time to
the Exchequer, where he complains
they lay in great confufion.
1 in the notes, for Mynyddaw r. My-
ryddawc
I in the notes, for defcendents) r, de-
fcendants)
3 for Rhen, r. Rhun,
8 dele of
5 in the notes, for appeas, r. appears,
16 for Conftahtine r. Conftantine
4. i» the notes, for fomsvhere, r. fome-
where,
8 for Beridd, r. Beirdd
3 for drained, r. ftained,
7 for fom r. from
1 for gliftered j r. gliftened ;
2 for border, r. borders.
7 for Llanthadian. r. Llanhuadtin.
S for Terior r. Teivi
10 in the notes, for T\evl. r. Teivi.
1 1 for Llydnwyn r. Llydanwyn
4 Jor border r. borders
I in the notes, forKydderch r. Rhydderch
ihiJ. for Crnai-von, r. Caernarvon,
4- for Melir r. Meilir
8 and the mangled dele the
1 5 in the notes, for Gwalmach's r.
Gwalchmai's
9 in the notes, for Creigian, r. Creigiau,
9 for Lyfr r. Llyfr
I in the notes, for Drwydwn, r,
Drwyndwn,
5 dile an
15 for ovecome by Alun r. overcame near
the A\li:n-- -an. I line 18 aj'ter yet r.
he
4 for Orgfani >-. Orgfan
4 /';; the ?iotes, for Cryfan, r. Dryfan,
6 in the notes, for Gwr r. Gwyr
18 for Anco, r, Aneu,
Page Line
33 4 //; the notes, for Gwr r. Gwyr
ibid. Jor eried r. erioed
4, 5 infieadof Coed Anca, tlie name of 1
place, but where filuatcd I cannot
guefs, where a battle was fought,
infert, Co.d Aneu, near Llan-
nerchmedd in Anglefey, where 2
battle was fought.
10 /or Byn )■. Bryn
36 5 for Gwerthenea, r. Gwrtheyrn
Gwrtheneu,
38 4 for Gi-ufludd, r. GrufFudd,
in the note, for Arlleclivirydd r,
Arllechwedd
39 4 /«rf?H5to,yirTyganvy, r. Tyganwy,
7 fi'' enemies country r. enemy's coua«
9 /or eny, r. eiry,
40 3 in the notes, for Wyllet. r. Wyllt.
41 1 6 _/oj' Gelowydd J r. Gelorwydd ;
ult. in the notes, for Tradawg, r. Fradawg,
41 10 for a prince's r. the prince's
43 12 for who is a fure friend, r. for he is ft
fure f] lend,
48 8 for I reck not c. I reckon not
12 for this is cerain r. this is a ceitaia
49 4 for Cywyrd r. Cywryd
50 I for Cadwallwn r. Cadwallon
II for Allon r. Mon
ult. in the notes., for Gwr r. Gwyr
52 it for Cranu-e'r r. Cantre'r
54 25 /or Regen r. Reged
28 for Aurheg r. Anhreg
65 5 fo'' hautquaquam r. haudquaquam
71 lO yor GWYNCWN. r. GWYNGWN.
75 I for fes r. es
10 I /« /if «i>/^/, for Crwdd r. Crwyth, ««c/
line 4 the fame
8 1 8 for Mullb r. Mulfum
10 yi))- rcfluxionem r.. refluxum
8; 9 dele olim
87 5 for afperu r. afperum
88 18 for doflecaentom ? r. defleiSenterar
90 II for abeo r. ab eo
93 13 _/or requiis, ?•. reliquiis,
126 I yor nyddr bnvyd r. nydd bi-viydr
144 18 for aerbeith r. aerbeir
148 4yo'' Ne fglw, r. Nef glw,
27 for Uren r. Urien
«
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