Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB

38

RELICKS OF THE WELSH BARDS.

[ocr errors]

Llywarch, the Bard of Llewelyn the Great; Einion ab Gwalchmai; and Gruffydd ab yr Ynad Cóch; are now extant, and ascribed with certainty to their authors. The most distinguished inftrumental composers were Cyvnerth, domestic Mufician to Prince Maelgwn, Cubelyn ab Caw. Corferch, mufical Bard to Heilyn; Davydd Athro; Morvydd; and Cynwrig Bencerdd; who all flourished about the fixth century. The following ten flourished about the year 1100: Alban ah Cynan; Rhydderch Voel; Alaw Gerddwr ; Carfi Delynior; Cellan Bencerdd; Gwrgan; Talgrych; Ivan ab y Gov; Llewelyn Delynior; máb Ivan ab y Góv. And the following flourished about the twelfth century: Davydd Gam, Delynior; Einion Delynior; Gwyn Bibydd; Gruffydd Vardd; Alban Bridr; Y Pibydd Moel. Cyhelyn Vardd ab Gwyn-vardd'; Cadwgan: and Gruffydd ab Adda ab Davydd, Prydydd a Thelynior, flourished about 1390. All these were celebrated Muficians: we have a few remains of their compofitions in an old manufcript; and only the names of others are preserved, by fome flight mention in the pages of fucceeding poets.

"Since Writing and practical Mufic have become feparate profeffions, the celebrity of the poor Mufician has died with the vibration of his strings. The voice of acclamation, and thunder of applause, pass away like vapours; and those hands that were most active in teftifying temporary approbation, fuffer the fame of thofe, who charmed away their cares and forrows in the glowing hour of innocent delight, to remain unrecorded "." Some of the musical productions of this period are to be found in the prefent collection; and fome far more ancient. I decline the task of pointing them out by any decifive opinion, because the ori ginal titles have often been changed, or loft, and they are now known by other names, fubftituted by later Bards in compliment to later patrons. This remark is minute, but neceffary; for without it, the age of fome of the best remains of Welsh Mufic might inadvertently be mistaken.

Early in the twelfth century, Mufic and Poetry had approached their utmost degree of perfection in Wales. Nor, by the common fate of the Arts in other countries, did they fuddenly fall from the eminence they had attained. If in the progress of the fucceeding age they showed any symptoms of decay, remedy was fo diligently applied by the skill of the Eisteddvod to the declining part, that they preferved their former vigour, and perhaps acquired new graces. And had not the fatal accident, overwhelmed, in the hour of its prosperity, the hereditary princedom of Wales, which involved in the fame ruin its Poetry and Mufic, our country might have retained to this day its ancient government, and its native arts, in the bosom of those mountains which protected them for ages. The Poets of these memorable times added energy to a nervous language; and the Musicians called forth from the harp its loudeft and grandeft tones, to re-animate the ancient struggle of their brave countrymen for freedom, and the poffeffion of their parent foil. What was the fuccefs of their virtuous and noble purpose, the history of the æras when they flourished, can best explain. It is no flight proof of their influence, that when the brave, but unfortunate prince Llewelyn the last, after the surrender of his rights, and the facrifice of his patriotism to his love, was treacheroufly flain at Buellt :Edward I. did not think himself fecure in his triumph, till he added cruelty to injustice, and gave the final blow to Welsh liberty in the maffacre of the Bards". In this execrable deed, Edward imitated the policy of Philip of Macedon, who demanded from the Athenians, as a condition of amity, the furrender of their The maffacre was general; and, as fome of our most eminent Bards must have perished, it is probable that many of their works, and of the remains of their predeceffors, were also destroyed, and are for ever loft. This lamentable event has given birth to one of the nobleft Lyric compofitions in the English language: a poem of such fire and beauty as to remove, as a late writer has thought ", our regret of the occafion, and to compenfate in fome degree for the lofs. But in heightening our regret confifts the great merit of this admirable ode: and without beftowing on it any extravagant praife, I may boldly affirm,

orators.

The works of most of the early Bards are to be found in the Myvyrian Archaiology of Wales, lately collected from the oldeft Welsh MSS. extant, and published in three large octavo volumes, which contain most of the Ancient Welsh Poems, Chronicles, Proverbs,&c. of the Ancient Britons; being the monuments of Ancient British History, through the space of about 1200 years; which is an invaluable work, happily rescued from oblivion, by the praise-worthy and liberal act, of Mr. Owen Jones, merchant, of Thames-street, and a great admirer of his native language.

Chwaer Cyhelyn bevrddyn bách, Chaibanogl, chave' buanach.
Davydd ap Gwilym.

• Dr. Burney's Hiftory of Mufic, vol. II. p, 70.
• See Wynne's Hiftory of Wales, edit. 1774, P, 183.

10 See Guthrie's Hiftorical Grammar. Carte's Hiftory of England, vol. II. p 196. And Evan's Specimens of Ancient Welih Poetry, p. 46.

"King Edward the Firft, about the year 1271, a fhort time before he afcended the throne, took his Harper with him to the Holy Land; and this musician must have been a close and conftant attendant on his mafter; for when Edward was wounded with a poisoned knife at Ptolemais, the Harper hearing the struggle, rushed into the royal apartment, and killed the affaffin. This fignal fervice from his Bard, did not however incline the monarch afterwards to fpare his brethren in Wales." "Ruin feize thee, ruthless king " -Gray's Ode. Burney's Hift. vol. II. and Fuller's Hiftory of the Holy War, book IV. chap. 29.

There is an act of Edward the First, and another of Henry the IVth; to prohibit all Bards and musicians from pursuing their profeffion within the principalities of Wales. See Leges Walliace, p. 543, 547, and 548, of the Appendix.

386.

"See the Hon. Daines Barrington's Mifcellanies. p. 343. and that

that the Polyolbion of Drayton 3, and the Bard of Gray, have contributed no lefs to the reputation of their authors than to the glory of Wales, and are the only modern productions worthy to alleviate the loss we fustained in so immenfe a waste of literary treasures, and fuch irreparable ruin of genius.

After the diffolution of the princely government of Wales, fuch was the tyranny exercised by the English over the conquered nation, that the Bards, who were born" fince Cambria's fatal day," might be faid to rise under the influence of a baleful and malignant ftar. They were reduced to employ their facred art in obfcurity and forrow, and constrained to suppress the indignation that would burst forth in the most animated strains against their ungenerous and cruel oppreffors. Yet they were not filent, or inactive. That their poetry might breathe with impunity the spirit of their patriotism, they became dark, prophetick, and oracular. As the Monks of the Welsh Church, in their controversy with Rome, had written, to countenance their doctrines, feveral religious poems which they feigned to be the work of Taliefin, the Bards now afcribed many of their poetical writings to the fame venerable author, and produced many others as the prophefies of the elder Merddyn. Hence much uncertainty prevails concerning the genuine remains of the fixth century, great part of which has defcended to us mutilated and depraved: and hence that mysterious air which pervades all the Poetry of the later periods I am now describing. The forgery of those poems, which are entirely fpurious, though they may have paft unquestioned even by fuch critics as Dr. Davies, and Dr. J. D. Rhys, may, I think, be presently detected. They were written to ferve a popular and a temporary purpose, and were not contrived with fuch fagacity and care as to hide from the eye of a judicious and enlightened scholar their historical mistakes, their novelty of language, and their other marks of imposture. While the Bards were thus cramped in their poetical department, they had greater scope and leisure for the study of heraldry, and their other domeftic duties. Every great man had under his roof and patronage fome eminent Bard, who, at his death, compofed, on the subject of his defcent, his dignities, and the actions of his life, a funeral poem, which was folemnly recited by a Datceiniad in the prefence of his furviving relations "3. Hence it has happened that pedigrees are fo well preserved in Wales.

By the infurrection, however, in the reign of Henry IV. the martial spirit of the Awen, or Welsh Mufe was revived, to celebrate the heroic enterprises of the brave Owen Glyndwr 14. Like him, the Bards of his time were "irregular and wild :" and as the taper glimmering in its focket gives a fudden blaze before it is extinguished, fo did they make one bright effort of their original and daring genius, which was then loft and buried for ever with their hero in the grave. Yet though Poetry flourished, Learning suffered: for such was the undistinguishing fury of that celebrated partifan, and his enemies, against the monasteries that withstood them, that not only their cells, but alfo their libraries and MSS. were destroyed ".

The following Ode to Owain Glyndwr, by his favourite Bard, Sir Gruffydd Llwyd, happily transfused into English verfe by Mr. Williams, of Vron, claims a distinguished place in this hiftory, for the genius of the author, and the skill of the translator.

[blocks in formation]
[blocks in formation]

The Praife of Owain Glyndwr.

I.

Cambria's princely eagle, hail!

Of Gruffydd Vychan's noble blood!
Thy high renown fhall never fail,

Owain Glyndwr, great and good!

Tour in Wales, Vol. I. p. 325. 330.

16 Pennant's Tour, p. 311.

"Owain Glyndwr, defcended from the ancient race of British priffces, first appeared in arms against Henry IV. in the year 1400. He directed his attack against the lands of his enemy Lord Grey, and immediately recovered what he had unjustly been difpoffeffed of by him, and foon after caused himfelf to be proclaimed Prince of Wales. His chief Bard, Gruffydd Llwyd regretting his abfence, chants his praife, and predicts the fuccefs of the war in a Cywydd, or Ode, which is elegantly verfified from the Welsh by the Rev. Mr. Williams, of Vron.

Aer

40

THE PRAISE OF OWEN GLYNDWR.

Aer y Glyn, meistr rhoddlyn rhydd,
Dyvrdwy vawr, dwvr diver ydd.
Llavar ymannos nofwaith
Oeddwn wrth gyvedd Medd maith,
Vy nghrair i'th aml gellweiriaw
Pth lys, lle cawn win o'th law.
Medd vynny mwy oedd v
oedd v'anvoes,
A gwaeth dros vy maeth vy moes.

2.

Ner mawlair naw rym milwr,
Nag, ar vynad, arnad wr,
Yr awr i'r aethoft ar wyth
I Brydain darpar adwyth,
Bu
agos i biraeth gaeth gad
A'm dwyn i varw am danad!
Nid aeth dy gov drofov draw,
Aur baladr, awr heb wylaw!

3.

Dagrau dros vy ngrudd dygrych,
Dyvry gwlaw val dwvr a'i gwlych,
Pan oedd drymav vy nbravael
Am danad, mab y tad hael,
Clywais o ben rhyw gennad,
Cei rás Duw, cywir ystad!
Cael yn yr aer, calon rwydd,

O honod, vawr glod v3 Arglwydd!

4.

Daroganawdd drymlawdd dro,
Duw a dyn, o doid yno ;

Venaid, uwch Dyvrdwy Vaenawr,
Vy Nér vwrw llawer r's llawr.
Dewin, os mi'r dywawd,
Van yma gyvrwyddav gwawd.

Lord of Dwrdwy's fertile vale,
Warlike, high-born Owain, hail!
Dwrdwy, whose wide-spreading ftreams,
Reflecting Cynthia's midnight beams,
Whilom led me to thy bower;

Alas! in an unguarded hour!

For high in blood, with British beverage hot,
My awful distance I forgot;

But foon my generous chief forgave
The rude prefumption of his flave.

2.

But leave me not, illuftrious lord!
The peaceful bow'r, and hospitable board,
Are ill exchang'd for fcenes of war,
Though Henry calls thee from afar.
My prayers, my tears were vain;
He flew like lightning to the hostile plain.
While with remorfe, regret, and woe,
I saw the god-like hero go!
I faw, with aching heart,

The golden beam depart.
His glorious image in my mind,
Was all that Owain left behind.
Wild with despair, and woe-begone,
Thy faithful Bard is left alone,
To figh, to weep, to groan!

3.

The sweet remembrance, ever dear,
Thy name, still usher'd by a tear,
My inward anguish speak;
How couldft thou, cruel Owain, go,
And leave the bitter ftreams to flow

Down Gruffydd's furrow'd cheek?

I heard, (who has not heard thy fame?)
With extasy I heard thy name,

Loud echo'd by the trump of war,

Which spoke thee brave, and void of fear;

Yet of a gentle heart poffefs'd,

That bled within thy generous breast,
Wide o'er the fanguine plain to fee
The havock of hostility.

[blocks in formation]

}

18 The omen alluded to was a ftar, and fiery dragon; which, according to the interpretation of Merddyn, predicted the reign of Uthur, afterwards furnamed Pendragon, from having caufed two golden Dragons to be made, one of which he prefented to the cathedral of Winchefter, the other he carried along with him in his wars; or, what is more likely, wore it by way of a crest on his helmet. His fon Arthur adopted the fame. See Jeffrey of Monmouth, p. 254. 257.283.

Cevailt

Cevaift rammant yn dantur,
Uthr Bendragon, ddwyvron ddur:
Pan ddialawdd, goddev

Ei vrawd, a'i rwyfg, a'i vrwydr ev.

5.

Llywiaift fiwrneaist helynt,
Owain ab Urien gain gynt;
Pan oedd vuan ymwanwr,
Y marchog diviog o'r dwr :
Duroloedd wrth ymdaraw
A phen draig ar ei ffon draw;
Gwyr vuant er llwyddiant llu,
Gwrdd ddewrnerth gwewyr ddarnu.
Tithau Owain, taith ewybr,

Taer y gwnaed dravn lavnwaed lwybr.
A'th hyrddwaew rudd, cytbrudd cant,
A theg enw, a'th ddigoniant.

6.

Brawd unweithred i'th edir,
Barn hóff, i vab Urien hir.
Gwelai bawb draw o'th law lân,
Gwiw vawldaith, gwaew gavaeldan,
Pan oedd drymav dy lavur,
Draw, yn ymwriaw ar mur,
Torres dy onnen gennyd,
Tirion grair, taer yn y gryd:
"Dewr ffon, dur oedd ei phen,
Dros garr yn dair yfgyren.

7.

Hyd ddydd brawd medd dy wawdydd,
Hanwyd o veilch, hynod vydd,
Dy lavn glwys dau-viniog glain ;
Hel brwydr, da hwyli Brydain;
Wrth dorri brifg a'th wifg wen,
Ath ruthr i'r maes, a'th rethren.
Peraift vy nav o'tb lavur

Byft mellt rhwng y dellt a'r dur.

And vindicate his wrongs; His gallant actions still are told

By youthful Bards, by Druids old, And grateful Cambria's fongs.

5.

On fea, on land, thou ftill didft brave
The dangerous cliff and rapid wave;
Like Urien, who fubdu'd the knight,
And the fell dragon put to flight,

Yon mofs-grown fount, befide;
The grim, black warrior of the flood,
The dragon, gorg'd with human blood,
The waters' fcaly pride,

Before his sword the mighty filed:

But now he's number'd with the dead,
Oh! may his great example fire
My noble patron to aspire
To deeds like his! impetuous fly,
And bid the Saxon fquadrons die :
So fhall thy laurel'd bard rehearse
Thy praise in never-dying verfe;
Shall fing the prowess of thy fword,
Beloved and victorious Lord.

6.

In future times thy honour'd name
Shall emulate brave Urien's fame!
Surrounded by the num❜rous foe,
Well didft thou deal th' unequal blow.
How terrible thy afhen spear,

Which shook the braveft heart with fear!

Yon hoftile towers beneath!

More horrid than the lightning's glance,
Flush'd the red meteors from thy lance,

The harbinger of death.

Dire, and more dire, the conflict grew;
Thousands before thy presence flew;
While borne in thy triumphal car,
Majestic as the god of war,

Midst charging hosts unmov'd you stood,
Or waded thro' a sea of blood.

[blocks in formation]

42

ODE ON OWEN; AND OF THE BARD DAVYDD AB GWILYM.

8.

Clywfom ddinam ddaioni,

Hort teg, gan berod i ti;.

Gyrraift yno, gwrs doniog,
Yllu, gyrriad ychen llog;

Bob ddau, bob dri rhiv rhyvawr,
A'r dorv oll o'r dyrva vawr:
Drylliaift, duliaift ar dalwrn

Dy ddart hyd ym mron dy ddwrn ́;
O nerth ac arial calon,

A braich ac yfgwydd a bron.

.9.

Gwych wyd ddiarfwyd ddurfiamp,
A chlod i Gymro ar gamp;
A gwawr drift o'r garw dro,
Brydnawn ar Brydain yno.
A'r gair i Gymry by hwyl,
Wrth archoll brwydr o'tb orchwyl,
A'r gwiw rwyfg, a'r gorefgyn,

A'r glod i'r Marchog o'r Glyn !--

But terrible in war thou art,

And fwift and certain is the dart,

Thou hurleft at a Saxon's heart.

8.

Loud Fame has told thy gallant deeds,

In every word a Saxon bleeds;
Terror, and flight, together came,
Obedient to thy mighty name :

Death, in the van, with ample stride,
Hew'd thee a paffage deep and wide.
Stubborn as steel, thy nervous cheft
With more than mortal ftrength poffefs'd:
And every excellence belongs

To the bright fubjects of our fongs.
9.

Strike then your harps, ye Cambrian Bards;
The fong of triumph best rewards
An hero's toils. Let Henry weep;
His warrior's wrapt in everlasting fleep:
Succefs, and victory are thine,
Owain Glyndwrdwy divine!
Dominion, honour, pleasure, praise,
Attend upon thy vigorous days!

And, when thy ev'ning fun is fet,

May grateful Cambria ne'er forget
Thy noon-tide blaze; but on thy tomb
Never-fading laurels bloom *!

Though heroic Poetry was afterwards no more attempted in Wales, a long series of Bards fucceeded, who by their elegies and odes have made their names memorable to ages. Among these Davydd ab Gwilym', the Welsh Ovid, poffeffes a deserved pre-eminence. He often adds the fublime to the beautiful; of which his Cywydd y Daran. or Ode of the Thunder, is a noble proof. It is the picture of a well-chosen scene, admirably varied: it opens with placid ideas, and rural images; a lovely maiden, and a delightful prospect: then fucceeds a fudden and tremendous change of the elements; the beauties of nature overshadowed and concealed; the terror of animals, and the fhrieks of the fair-one. A thousand instances of fimilar excellence might be produced from the writings of this elegant Bard, and his contemporaries. Let those who complain, that by the present scarcity of works of genius, they are reduced to bestow on Horace, Pindar, and Gray, a tenth perufal, explore the buried treasures of Welsh Poetry, and their fearch will be rewarded with new sources of pleasure, and new beauties of language and fancy.

Full many a gem of pureft ray ferene,

The dark unfathom'd caves of Ocean bear:
Full many a Flower is born to blush unseen,
And waste its sweetness on the defert air.

• The feal of Owain Glyndwr, as described in a MS. was, the effigy of Owain fitting in a chair of ftate, holding a fcepter in his right hand, and a globe in his left; and by his fide were three lions, two and one on the other fide, he is represented on horseback.

Davydd ab Gwilym, flourished about the year 1370. All this Bard's poems are published in an octavo volume, with an account of his life, in English. The title is, Barddoniaeth Davydd ab Gwilym; and fold by Williams, Bookfeller, in the

Strand.

[ocr errors][merged small]

Gray's Elegy

makes them peculiar to him, and Virgil, and fays, that no other poet ever reached this point of art.

66

Davydd ab Gwilym, if I mistake not, has also a strong claim to this excellency. You must either allow of the atomical philofophy; or that, copying nature by its own light, he intended his Cywydd y Daran fhould found what it really is a description of thunder and lightning, though in his love poems, and other foft fubjects (of which I have now by me near a hundred), he is as fmooth, and glides as eafy, as an Italian fong.

"Let those who are not over partial to the school languages, and are proper judges of ours, compare this poem in its founds, and the loftinefs of its metaphors, with the best paffages of this kind in the above authors; and I doubt not but they will deem this boldness of comparison excufable, let Homer's character be ever so facred." Tiyfau'r hên oefoedd.

ODE

« AnteriorContinuar »