Pa radau gânt? Pryd a gwedd ; Rhag cledd llachar a tharian; ODLIG 10. Εἰς τὸ δεῖν πίνειν. Η γῆ μέλαινα πίνει. tion, means 'patience', 'forbear- "Os pwyll canwyll rhag cynnen, Goreu canwyll yw pwyll pen !" Iolo Goch, we think, uses the term in a rather different sense. Has it not something of the nature of intrepidity' in the following lines?— "Pur yw ei gledd, Por y Glyn, Pwyll rwysgwr pell oresgyn". 6 We suspect strongly that pwyll is a cognate of the Greek Bouλn, the will, counsel, discretion. Gwaneg, a wave, a surging billow. In this sense Dafydd ap Gwilym uses it in the lines: "Amrant ar y memrwn teg, In a secondary sense it means ‘im- 5 William Morris gives this translation as it was first written by our author : Yfed y mae y ddaear Y gwlith a wlych rych yr âr; Φιλῶ γέροντα τερπνόν. HOFF ar hen yw gwên a gwawd ;7 Hen yw ei ben lledpen, llwyd, A synwyr iau sy 'n yr iad." Gan syched gwynias achor, lines: Hoff ar hen yw gwên a gwawd, traed. 8 An-nien. We have made some remarks on the compound dien in page 92, 3. Another negative prefix is here used. It might at first be thought that a second negative would restore the word to its original value; but that is not the case. The effect of the negation is to intensify the word before which it is placed, and that each time it is used. The immortal youth', to which dien is equivalent, becomes, under the influence of the negative particle an, 'mortal' or 'dying old age'. 9 Iad, the temple, or, according to some, the whole head', or skull'. Davydd ap Gwilym says:— AWD L O BRIODAS GERD D I ELIN MORY S.1 UST! tewch oll! Arwest2 a chân, Gawr hai, ac orohian ! Melus molawd, A bys a bawd, Llon lwyswawd llawen leisiau, A cherdd a chân. 1 Elin Morys was the daughter of Lewis Morys, then resident at Gallt Fadog, in Cardiganshire. She was married to Richard Morys of Mathafarn, in 1754. Our author, writing to William Morris, speaks disparagingly of this Priodasgerdd, or 'Wedding Song': "Mae arnaf agos gywilydd gweled yr Awdl wirionffol yma; ac mi amcenais beidio a'i gyru wedi ei hysgrifenu. Da chwithau, na ymheliwch ddangos mo honi i neb." Disparagingly, as Goronwy speaks of this song, it is of a highly poetical character. Sweet, tender, and yet dignified, it unites some of the bard's highest qualities, both as poet and master of the Welsh language. Its cynghanedd, which is elaborately minute and musical, scarcely interferes with the expression of its thoughts; and these are always gladsome and appropriate to the day. What can be more charming than his citation of the bride at early morn? He addresses her as though she were another Aurora. Lower down, indeed, he so names her: "Arise from thy east, bright fair one; give no place on thy brows to sleep; smile, shine, fair maiden of sylphlike form; he that loves thee now seeks thy hand. United to him, sweetly-speaking one, ye shall be blessed." We must add that our remarks, laudatory as they may seem, are in no way exaggerated. He who is acquainted with Greek choric poetry, will perceive a close affinity between this bridal song and some Tros y rhiw torres yr haul, Wên boreu, wyneb araul; Mae 'n deg min dydd, O'r nentydd arien1 untarth; Ni cheidw gwŷdd o chaid gwarth; "Na ad le i gwsg yn d' ael; gwên, E 'th gais a 'th gâr, Dyn geirwâr, dawn a gerych, Yw 'n cerdd a'n cân. Na arho hwnt yn rhy hir, Waisg Elin; e 'th ddisgwylir; Dwg wisg, deg ael, Ddawisg ddiwael: Dwg urael diwyg eurwerth, of the effusions of Eschylus and Greece and Rome. As we listen to 2 Arwest, vocal music. |