Throughout the volume I have been more solicitous to inform than to instruct; to state facts than to advance speculations; to allow our ancient remains to make their own impression, than to make out a case for them; and to supply the reader with materials wherewith to frame his own opinions, than to furnish him with thoughts ready made. Of such a work, the specimens must of necessity form a most important part; in adhering as closely as possible to the originals, I have been in most cases, compelled to give unrhymed translations; but where metrical versions, such as those of Mrs. Llewelyn, which were kindly placed at my disposal, were also distinguished for fidelity, they have been given in preference. In my own translations, I have derived much valuable assistance from the Dictionary of Dr. Pughe, the translations of the Rev. Evan Evans, and the paraphrases of the Rev. Thomas Price. I am also under considerable obligations to the works of the Rev. Edward Davies and the Rev. Walter Davies. Many errors may naturally be expected to have crept into the pages of one, whose life has been spent within the shadows of his native mountains, and whose scanty information has been, as chance directed, picked up on the out-skirts of the empire of intelligence. For the correction of many of these, I am much indebted to Lady Charlotte Guest, whose suggestions, as well as those of Mr. Rees, the Publisher, offered while the sheets were coming through the press, have been gratefully received, and generally adopted. Merthyr Tydfil, July 2nd, 1849. CONTENTS. SECTION I. Historical Sketch of Cambrian Literature prior to the twelfth century. Aneurin, Taliesin, Llywarch, Merddin, Golyddan, Cadwaladr, SECTION II.-History of Poetry, from A.D. 1080 to A.D. 1194. Meilir, 19 SECTION III.-Welsh Music. Gruffydd ab Kynan. Irish teachers. Bag SECTION IV.-Incipient Drama. Hud a Lledrith. Poetical dialogues. 79 SECTION I. Bards and Bardism. The bards, their social position, sincerity, numbers, morals, distinctions, learning, and patriotism. Messengers of 94 176 SECTION II.-Poetry from A.D. 1194 to A.D. 1240. Kynddelw, Llywarch ab Llywelyn, Prince Madoc, Einion ab Gwgan, Davydd Benvras, Elidir Sais, Phylip Brydydd, Gwynvardd Brycheiniog. Other bards 129 SECTION III.-Mythological Poems, usually attributed to Taliesin. Belong SECTION IV. Poems fictitiously attributed to Merddin and others. Identity of Merddin Emrys, and Merddin ab Morvryn. Kyvoesi Merddin-its age. The Avallenau and Hoianau, composed by Prydydd y Moch. The Gorddodau composed by Gruffydd ab Yr Ynad Coch. Classification of the Poems of Taliesin. Poems erroneously ascribed to Taliesin, Golyddan, Meugant, Aneurin, and Llywarch SECTION V.Prose Literature. The Chronicles. Geoffrey not the inventor of all the fables in his book. Walter Mapes. Caradoc. Liber Lan- davensis. Effects of Geoffrey's History. The mental idiosyncrasy of the SECTION I.-Historical Survey from A.D. 1080 to 1322. Visible Improve- 332 SECTION II.-Welsh Poetry from A.D. 1194 to A.D. 1240. Llygad Gwr, Einion ab Madawe Rhahawd, Y Prydydd Bychan, Hywel Voel, Bleddyn Vardd. Gruffydd ab Yr Ynad Coch's Elegy on Prince Lle- Elidir Sais, Llewelyn Vardd. SECTION IV.-The Mabinogion; classified. Arthur, a creation of the Armori- can Kymry. Cambrian Stories lost. Authors of the Mabinogion. Lady Charlotte Guest's translation. Influence of the Normans. The Church. Character of these Tales. Scarcity of copies. The Greal SECTION V. The Triads. Character. Antiquity. Historical value 446 SECTION II.-Welsh Poetry from A.D. 1280 to A.D. 1350. Gwilym Ddu. CHAPTER I. HISTORICAL SKETCH OF WELSH LITERATURE PRIOR TO THE TWELFTH CENTURY. THE facts of history, apart from the circumstances from which they sprang, can afford no instruction; for our knowledge of effects is not complete, until we add to it some acquaintance with their causes. And therefore, as the phenomena visible in the twelfth and following centuries, are the products of agents set in operation in a previous era, it becomes of importance to ascertain what those were, and what the state of literature was, when we commence our criticism. It is said that there are remaining some portions of genuine Druidic lore; but as I am able neither to deny nor confirm that assertion, it will be wiser to abstain from giving any opinion upon the subject, and proceed at once to the Bards of the sixth century. The genuineness of the compositions, which go under the names of these bards, was denied many years ago by Mr. Malcolm Laing, and the Critical Review; but as they could have known nothing of the matter, their opinions were not of much value. Mr. Sharon Turner', an Englishman of great learning and rare impartiality, has devoted an extensive Essay to this enquiry; and as he has ratified the conclusions of Welsh critics, we 1 Vindication of the British bards by Sharon Turner, F.A.S. B may now take it for granted, no one disputes that such persons as Aneurin, Taliesin, and Llywarch lived at the time stated. Many of the pieces imputed to Taliesin are undoubtedly not older than the twelfth century, as will be hereafter shown; but it is also equally evident that other pieces must be referred to a much earlier date. The bards who lived in the sixth century, were Aneurin, Taliesin, Llywarch, Myrddin, Kian, Talhaiarn, Meugant, and Kywryd. The poems of Llywarch Hen are undoubtedly old, and in referring to an age of whose manners we have but few other transcripts, are very valuable; nor are they destitute of poetic excellence. Though a warrior, and treating of warriors, his forte does not lie in heroic poetry; his descriptions of manners are happy, and the incidental allusions are strikingly illustrative of the age; but his chief power lies in pathetic lamentation, and his elegies have many fine sentiments. He cannot however take a high rank in bardic literature; for either from want of capacity, or in compliance with a bad usage, he begins long strings of verses with the same words, such as "Eryr Pengwern," "Eiry Mynydd," "Eglwysau Bassa," and with better effect, "Ystavell Kynddylan." He has some very affecting verses with this commencement, many of which bring out the facts of the time with great clearness. The hall of Kynddylan is dark to-night Without fire, without songs, Tears afflict the cheeks. From this we learn that the order of the bards existed in his days. Aneurin takes a higher position in the roll of poets, and his Gododin, a poem detailing the adventures of the Ottadini, a tribe of the Kymry, before their immigration from Cumberland and the adjoining country to that portion of 1 Owen's Heroic Elegies of Llywarch Hen, p. 78. The original runs thus,— Ystafell Cyndylan Ys tywyll heno, Heb dan, heb gerddau, Digystudd deurudd dagrau. |