Tri Priv Ledrithiawg Ynys Prydain:

The three chief Enchanters of the Ifle of Britain:

Coll, mab Collvrewi; Menyw, mab Teirgwaedd; a Drých, Coll, the fon of Collvrewi; Menyw, fon of eil Cibddar.

Trioedd 33.

Teirgwaedd; and Drych, the fucceffor of Cibddar.

The three Holy Lineages of the Ifle of Britain:
The Lineage of Jofeph of Arimathea *;
The Lineage of Cunedda Wledig † ;

And the I ineage of Brychan Brycheiniawgt.

*Arrived in Britain, A. D. 63.

+ Reigned about A. D. 350.
Reigned about A. D. 440.

The three Family Beauties:

A Mill, a Wear, and an Orchard ||.
(These things ought not to be feparated nor re-
moved, because their produce is to be divided
amongst thofe who have an intereft in them) The
reason they are called the three Family Beauties, is,
because all of the tribe can participate in them.

There is a lawful price on every apple-tree in an orchard.

There are three Animals whofe foot is as valuable as their body:

A Horse, a Hawk, and a Greyhound.

The three lawful Weapons:

A Sword, a Spear, and a Bow with twelve arrows.

The three honourable Feafts of the Ifle of Britain: The Banquet given by King Cafwallon, after repelling Julius Cæfar from Britain;

The Feast of Aurelius Ambrofius, after he had conquered the Saxons **;

And the Feast of King Arthur, after his conquests ††.

Cafwallon, or Caffibelan, in a pitched battle gave Cafar a complete overthrow, in which Cæfar made a fpeedy retreat, and embarked in his flattered fleet about midnight for the Continent, leaving all his baggage behind him Lucan fays, "Territa quæfitis oftendit terga Britannis;" i. e. He fought the Britons out, and then he fled. And Propertius fays, " Te manet invictus Romano inarte Britannus;" i. e. By Roman force unconquered vet. See an account of the Banquet in page 6, note 5.-Harleian Library No 6067, pp. 7, 8, and 22. Drychy Priv Oefoedd. Dio Caffius, cit a C. p. xliii. And Samines Britannia, p. 193.

Julius Cæfar was very fond of jewels, and all forts of curious toys, which he frequently gave to his favourite ladies. Pearls were then the great mode, and there was a fishery of them in Britain; partly on which account he was faid to have visited this ifland. He made a prefent of one of them to his beloved Servilia, valued at no less than £.50,000. Blackwell's Memoirs of the Court of Auguftus, Vol. III. p. 270.

**Emrys Wledig, or Aurelius Ambrofius, a warlike monarch over all Britain, about A. D. 487. After his conquest of Hengift, and other Saxon chiefs, he fummoned all the nobility and clergy of Britain to Mount-Ambri, in Wiltshire, to celebrate a grand feaft of Pentecoft, the folemnity whereof he continued the three following days. Gildas C. 26. Tyfilio's Hift. of British Kings, B. 8. C. 12. Bede, L. 1. c. 16. And Lewis's Hift. of Brit. p. 169

++ Arthur, fon of Uthur Pendragon, after he overcame the Saxons in 12 battles, was made chief fovereign over all Britain and Ireland. He took Norway, and placed Lot on the throne; he then fet fail for Gaul, to affift his nephew Howel against Frollo. whom he flew in fingle combat, and after that took the city of Paris. When Arthur returned to Britain, he inftituted The order of Knights of the Round Table; and further, to celebrate his victories, he gave a magnificent Pentecost feaft to all the nobles of Britair, and those of other countries where he had conquered; which was held at Caer-Lleon, on the river Ufk, in Monmouthshire, about the year 530. See more in page 37. Brut y Breninoedd. Enderbie's Hiftory of Wales, p. 195. Lewis's Hiftory of Brit. p. 186. And Mundy's Chronicle.

Tair priv Lys Arthur:

Caer-lleon ar Wyfg, y Nghymru;

Celliwig, yn Nyvnaint, neu y Nghernyw;

A Phearbyn Rhionedd, yn y Gogledd. Trioedd 57.

Tri Dŷn a gyvannedda llŷs:

Bardd Caw, Bard Tant, a Bardd Cruth.

The three chief palaces of King Arthur:
Caerlleon, on the river Usk, in Wales;
Celliwig, in Devonshire, (or Cornwal);
And Penrhyn Rhionedd, in the North.

There are three privileged perfons who frequent
palaces:

The Enfign Bard, the Bard of the String, or Harp, and the Bard of the Crwth.

Meddwl yn dda, a dywedyd yn ddd, a gwneuthur yn ddá. To think well, to speak well, and to act well.

Milgi hwyr; a Bardd annigriv; a Gwraig hagr ddrwg. A flow Greyhound; a Bard without pleasantry; and

Feuenctid i ddyfgu; Côv i gadw'r addyfg; a Synhwyroedd Youth to learn; Memory to retain inftruction; and

Cyvlawn ddynodiant ar bob peth; cyvlwyr vanegiant; Strength of imagination; profundity of learning;

Grymufder athrylith; cyvlawnder dyfg; a glendid ei Profound difcrimination of all things; complete illuftration; and luminous compofition.

* Poetic Triads, in a Differtation on Bardism, p. lxv. of the Preface, to the Heroic Elegies of Llywarch Hén, by Mr. W. Owen.

Tri diben Cerdd:

Gwelldu'r deall; gwelldu'r galon;

a diddanu'r meddwl.

Tri pheth a bair cassâu Cerddawr:
Cybyddiaeth, Dyvrllydrwydd, a goganu dynnion dd.
Y pethau hyn a ddyly Cerddor eu gochel:
Llynna, Putteinia, a Chlerwriaeth.

Tri anbepgor gŵr-wrth-gerdd:

Lldw, a Throed, a Chluft.

Tair dwy fogaeth Serchog:
Digrivwch, Haelioni, a Syberwyd.
Tair ymlidiad Serch:
Cowydd, Englyn, a Llatai.

Tri llavarwch Serchog :
Hávddydd; Cóg; a Llatai.

Tri chyvodiad ferch: Annerch, Caru, a Chufan.

Tri o wŷr y cyngan ferch arnynt :

Gur digriv diwladaidd; Gŵr hael dewr; a Gŵr bonbeddig têg.

Tri Bardd Caw y fydd:

Priv-vardd; Pof-vardd; ac Arwydd-vardd.

The three intentions of Song:

To improve the Understanding; to correct the Heart; and to foothe the Mind.

Three things that will cause a Mufician to be hated: Covetousness, Sottifhnefs, and Slandering good men. These things a Mufician ought to refrain from: Drinking, Fornication, and Strolling.

The three indifpenfibles for an inftrumental Mufician:
A Hand, a Foot, and an Ear.

The three conductors to Love:
Mirth, Liberality, and Elegance.

The three procurers of Love:

A Poem, a Song, and a Confidant.

The Lover's three incitements to Eloquence:

A Summer's day; the Cuckoo's note; and a Meffenger with Love-gifts.

The three exciters to Love:

A Prefent, a Courtship, and a Kifs.

The three perfons who fhall prosper in Love: A man that is merry, without ill manners; a Gallant liberal man; and a Handsome man, of noble birth.

There are three enfign Bards, or Bards of the
bandage:

The primitive, or chief Bard; the lyric or modern
Bard; and the heraldic Bard *.

* The primitive Bard, and heraldic Bard are extin&t; the harp Bard, and Poetic Bard are thofe that remain.

Tri rhyw gerddor y fydd: Clerwr; Teuluwr; a Phrydydd.

Tri pheth à berthyn ar Glerwr: Goganu; Gwartbruddio; ac Ymbil.

Tri pheth à berthyn ar Deuluwr:

Haelioni; Digrivwch; a Derbyn dá heb ymbil.

Tri pheth à berthyn ar brydydd:

There are three forts of Songfters:

The provincial, circuit, or itinerant Songfter; the
family Songster; and the hiftoric Poet.

Three things belong to the circuit Songfter:
To lampoon; to put one to the blush; and to intreat,
Three things appertaining to a family Songster:
To promote Liberality; Pleasantry and Wit; and to
receive Gifts becomingly.

Three things requifite for a Poet:

Clôdvori, Digrivbau, a Gwrthwynebu gogangerdd To celebrate, to delight, and to oppose the fatire of

the itinerant rhapfodifts.

The three principal kinds of Welsh Metres:
Unirythm or close Metre; Parallel Metre; and the
Ode, or Lyric. See page 30.

The three Effences of vocal Song:
Senfe; Metre; and Confonancy, or Alliteration.
Three things belonging to Compofition :
Clearness of ftyle; adherence to the rules of the
Doctors of the Art; and to be a true standard for the
Difciples.

There are three Gradations in poetical Compofitions:
That of the head Bard, or Mafter; that of the
Difciple; and that of the lowest order, or Poetafter.
Three things proper for a Counsellor:
Learning; bearing good will; and fluency of speech.

Llymma

These are the choice things of man:
His King juft, his Lord generous;
His Horse vigorous, his Greyhound fwift,
His Hawk full of defire; his Land fertile,
His Oxen strong, his Sheep of a good breed,
His Swine long: his Victuals healthy,
His Drink pure, his Fire bright,

His Clothes comfortable, his House dry,
His Bed eafy, his Wife chaste;

His Maid notable, his Servant induftrious,
His Son orderly, his Kinsman affectionate,
His Neighbour without deception; his Mill near,
His Church far off; his fpiritual Father wife,
And his God merciful..

The Seven Excellences which a man ought to poffefs:

To be an Inftructor in his House;

To be a Lamb in his Chamber;

To be a Bard at his Table;

To be Devout in his Church;

To be Wife in Debate;

To be a Lion in Battle;

And Vigorous in his Bed.

The Seven Liberal Sciences.
Grammar.

Rhetoric.

Logic.

Darbwylleg, neu Ddadlyddiaeth.

Cerddoriaeth.

Rhivyddiaeth.

Meidroriaeth, neu Daear-vefuriaeth.

Séryddiaeth.

Mufic.

Arithmetic.

Geometry.

Aftronomy.

OF THE POETS.

ACCORDING to the Welsh, the Metrical Bards were divided into three Claffes; and the Subjects they treated of were as follows.

The Clértor, or Circuit Vocal Song fter*; and his Profeffion comprehended the following particulars:

¡To Satirize;

To Ridicule, or Taunt;

To Mimick, or Take off;
To Sue for, or Intreat;
To Lampoon;
To Reproach.

"Two Clêrwýr usually stood before the company, one to give in rhyme a the other's Extempore, to excite mirth and laughter with their witty quibbles."

This fatyrical poet generally touched upon, and corrected, in fharp and invective verfe, the vices of men, and of the times; which is called Ymfennu, Dychan, or Gogannu; i. e. Lampooning, and Cenfure. It is not only written, but is compofed extempore, with wonderful quick nefs, both of memory and genius, by the gymnaftic, or controverfial poets of this kind. This is alfo called, by the common people, Canu Serthedd, a Brynti, a Mafwedd; to ridicule reciprocally, to fing colloquially, to mock, and to disgrace; vulgarly termed, to ling levities, or obicenities.

The

The Teuluwr, Family Songfter, or Bard To dwell with, and to folace, his patron; that is, to divert of Domestic Eloquence §; whofe pro- and enliven the time by mirth and pleasantry. To infufe liberafeffion required the following branches: lity, to receive guefts, and to folicit, in a polite becoming manner. § The province of the Domestic Bard is wit; he expreffes, in most facetious verfe, thofe things in particular which excite laughter and delight beyond expectation, by fome happy double entendre. It is commonly called Canu Digriv-gerdd, a 'Theftynniaw try eirieu ammwys, ac ymddyvalu yn ddigriv gwers tra gwers; that is, to compofe fongs of mirth, to pun with equivocal words, and to characterife in dialogues. The poets of this clafs compofed as well extempore, as in writing. They alfo fang love fongs, or Amatory verses, in every kind of metre, with delicacy and elegance, without giving offence; fuch as honeft arguments, tales of lovers, and married folks; and are called Canu Cerdd o gariad, neu Gordderch-gerdd; that is, to fing courteously, to fing of love, or to wooe, To Teach aright:

Prydydd, a Bardd; or a Poet, and Bard; whofe occupation was verfifying, &c. to which appertained the following branches; viz.

Metaphyfical, and that, either,

He was to commend a pleasant difpofition of mind; to praise Liberality; and to celebrate the Science of Mufic, and the Art of Poetry.

To delight his hearers; to oppofe the bitter invective of the Clerwyr; and to avoid fatirizing any other perfon. To be obedient, liberal, chafte, and to make himself perfectly beloved.

He was to avoid fteadily the feven deadly fins; which are, Extortion, Theft, Pride, Fornication, Gluttony, Indolence, and Envy; because, thefe things deftroy the Genius, Memory, and Imagination, of the Poet.

+ Prophetic, confifting of verfes that foretel events, or foothfaying; and by thofe who, conceiving in their minds divine impulfes, think they forefee things that will happen, called Prophwydoliaeth, or Darogan. Such are the compofitions of thofe whom we call Myrddin Wyllt, Myrddin Emrys, Taliefin, chief of the Bards; Rhobin Ddâ, of Anglefey; Rhys, the Bard, &c.

Theology was alfo recited in every fort of verfe, whatever relates to God, and the knowledge of things divine. This is termed Canu o Dduw a'i Saint, ac o Ddaioni, ac yn erbyn pechawd; to fing of God and his faints, in praise of good, and deteftation of evil; as are the Poems of John Cent, Cynddelw, Teilo, Taliefin, &c.

Hiftory was recited in all kinds of verfe; and comprized the actions, together with the praife, or cenfure, of noble perfons. These poets are vulgarly called Pos-veirdd.

Heraldic, which defcribes the pedigrees and genealogies of noblemen and gentlemen, together with the arms and bearings upon their dreffes and standards; what different actions they have themfelves performed, and the quarterings received from others; that the rewards of their merits, after the custom of the ancients, which were heaped upon them as ornaments of praife and glory, or on account of their own valour, or that of their ancestors, may be known and afcribed to their refpective owne. The poets that record this fubject, and bestow thefe rewards, are called Arwydd-veirdd, or Heraldic Bards; who fhould be well skilled in the genealogies of kings, and in the histories of the three primitive Bards of the ifland of Britain.

Elegiac, mournful, or Songs of Lamentation or Sorrow, in which the Welsh, at their funerals, lament the lofs of the deceased. This is commonly called Cerdd Marwnad, and Cywydd, neu Awdl Marwnad, neu Alar-gerdd. Epitaphical, is alfo placed on the monuments of the dead, to commemorate, or as an encomium on them; and that is called Bedd-gerdd, or epitaph.

Ethic, and Gnomologic, in which not a few moral precepts, or laws, are written by the Bards, in rhyming verses.

Mathematical, in which many things relating to Geometry, Mulic, Arithmetic, Aftronomy, and Aftrology, are celebrated by the Welsh Poets and Bards.

Phyfiological, in which difcourfes are made of nature, in Welsh poetry: not a few of our countrymen have handled these matters in their native tongue, which are commonly cali.d Cerdd anianawl.

Georgical, in which many of our poets have treated of fishing, hunting, agriculture, together with the times and feafons of country matters; and of Mechanical employments.

Neither have there been wanting among the Welf, ancient poets in the comic, tragic, buffoon, and medical, line; many of whofe works are ftill preferved by our countrymen in ancient manufcripts. They have alfo written innumerable works of Welfh poetry not to be defpifed, many of which still remain among us.

By these things, it appears,

that there were three branches

of Vocal Song, which are,

(Clerwriaeth, the calling of an Itinerant Mufician.

Teuluwriaeth, the calling of a Family Mufician, or Bard of Domestic manners.
Prydyddiaeth, the calling of a Poetical Rhapfodift.

Prydydd, a Poet;

The three Edifying Songfters were, Bardd, a Bard;

Hanefydd, an Historian.

Three things are the effects of an edifying fong: it cherishes the mind; increases the memory and affection; and fuppreffes evil thoughts.

There were three frivolous

Songfters, Pfeudo Bards, or
Minstrels :

Clertor, the low Itinerant Minstrel:

Bardd y Blawd, the Mcal Minstrel :

Hudawl, the Juggler, or performer of Legerdemain.

And the consequence of these trifling Songfters or Minstrels were; their fongs, being vulgar, and defective of fenfe, tended to corrupt morals and increase fin,Tranflated from Dr. J. D. Rhys's Welsh and Latin Grammar.

The