MR. ERNEST RHYS ON WELSH BARDS AND ENGLISH REVIEWERS. door into a chamber, and before they could recover from their mistake they were suffocated. For want of light they perished in the smoke and darkness. So need perish none who come to Christ. He is thy Light. I heard the voice of Jesus say: "I am this dark world's Light; Till traveling days be done. Amen, MR. ERNEST RHYS ON "WELSH BARDS AND ENGLISH RE VIEWERS." On March 8th, Mr. Ernest Rhys, well known in English literary circles as the editor of the Camelot Series and other publications, read a paper before the London Honorable Society of Cymmrodorion on "Welsh Bards and English Reviewers." Mr. Rhys opened his paper with the following typical quotation: "It is amusing to observe," says an English reviewer, "with what perseverance and success the Celts are proceeding in their endeavors to deserve that character which has been so liberally bestowed upon them by the most contemptuous of their opponents. Everyone must remember the emphatic epithets with which Pinkerton in particular has branded this illfated race. According to him a Celtic understanding, is sui generis, it readily embraces and believes whatever is rejected and laughed at by the rest of mankind." The spirit, the urbanity of this and other similar passages in old Quarterly Reviews, though dating back 90 years, is characteristic of a common attitude among English critics. It may be said that the attitude has of late changed for the better. Partly, no doubt, but not altogether. A recent parliamentary reference to 237 "Welsh intellect" shows that it is possible for critics in 1893 to be after three generations of strenuous education-even precisely as intelligent as were the Pinkertons and the other reviewers of 1804. It is well, Mr. Rhys thought, to rather insist upon the temperamental incapacity of à certain order of Saxon mind for understanding their fellow-subjects of Celtic race. Pinkerton, no doubt, is too crude to be quite a typical reviewer, and it may be objected that he was Scotch and not English. Here, however, all who in the issue between Welsh and English speak or write from the English side must be counted with the English reviewers. Such criticisms as those referred to show at once some of the difficulties that beset the national study of Welsh literature, and discount even to this day any effective interpretation of the Welsh bards, who capably and modernly treated, have so remarkable a contribution to offer to our international literary wealth. One of the commonest retorts of the cultured Englishman to any preference of the claims of Welsh poety is-if that poetry has the rare and fine quality of the great poetry of other tongues how is it that it does not bear translation into English? How indeed? is it to say nothing of the earlier and more difficult bards, how is it that Davydd ap Gwilym has never been even remotely well translated; while in England one may have all kinds of translations from comparatively second rate German poets-poets for instance like Chammisso and Platen. Ap Gwilym. who, Mr. Rhys ventured to say, is no second rate poet, but the equal of Heine and Beranger, of Herrick and Burns, remains untranslated. What a satire upon the contemporary study of Celtic, what a conclusion to the literary amenities of a century of National Eisteddfods! How Turning from the reviewers to the bards, Mr. Rhys dealt at some length with the poems of Dafydd ap Gwilym. Quoting George Borrow's praises of the bard as those of a Saxon of genius, a Saxon of rare and unusual sympathy with Wales and the Welsh, he pointed out that Burrow's efforts at translating ap Gwilym do not by any means serve to show the superlative qualities of the poet, and indeed only prove the great difficulty of attaining the desired approximation between Welsh and English. In some unrhymed translations (specimens of which were given) Dafydd's distinctive note and quality were shown to be preserved. But when in addition to the delightful ideas called up in the English rendering the reader could have the original exquisite metrical effects, the delightful assonance and rhyme, in which word and thought are wedded in the most inimitable way, it was then he could conceive something of the entire beauty of Ap Gwilym's poetry. It is a genuine addition to our store of poetry, and it is mortifying to find a genius so rare practically locked up from the outer modern world, and only known in the most narrowly national way in Wales itself. And this is due not only to the ineptitudes of English reviewers, but to the somewhat exclusive spirit of Welsh culture, and to the want of any modern treatment in Wales of the particular art and craft of Dafydd ap Gwilym. The same applies very largely to the other Welsh bards and poets, his predecessors, contemporaries and immediate followers. Taliesin, for instance, in his dual identity, his varying chronology, and other critical embarrassments, has always been a rallying point for the reviewers, but the time has surely come to protest against the rich and delightful treasures of old Welsh poetry being only used (as they have been back to the days of Nash and Edward Davies) for secondary purposes of philology, history, ethnology, and the like. Over and above their historical and scientific significance, and their exact academic purport, which learned men and great Celtic scholars of our day have done a great deal to bring to light, there is the study of Welsh poetry and romance for their own sake a study that will well repay the undertaking thereof. In conclusion, Mr. Rhys pointed to the need of a new and contemporary approach to the whole subject of Celtic literature, and of the discovery surely not impossible of a new understanding, and a modus vivendi, so to speak, between Welsh poetry and English criticism. The present is peculiarly the breaking up time of old racial prejudices and of old bounds between the literatures of nations. English literature has learnt at other times to be plastic to the classical and other languages, and has gained greatly by these international influences. Surely, then, it is absurd that it should still (in spite of the eloquence of Mathew Arnold, and in spite of the Oxford Chair, which Prof. Rhys has made of European repute) remain to all general intents and purposes blind to the delights and the palpable uses of that Celtic literature for which it ought to have the nearest and most intimate feeling of all. On the other hand, Wales, if it would win its full modern recognition at last, must be not only national but international-that is to say, since English reviewers do not master Welsh as Welsh writers master English, we must see to it that we secure a full hearing, not in England only, but in Europe, for our Welsh bards and poets. Is it too much to think that if the false appearance of only half an Ossian in the 18th century would have its effect on European literature, POPULATION OF WALES. Aberystwith Brecon Carmarthen. Newport. Pembroke that the real presentation of Taliesin Aberdare... Wales what the author of "Marmion" THE POPULATION OF WALES. MAY 19, 1893. INTERESTING RETURNS. The returns giving the result of the census of England and Wales for 1891 have just been issued. Appended are the figures for the Welsh counties: Males Fem'les Total 175,836 23,941 26,157 50,098 516,966 360,250 326,968 (with Co. Bor Monmouth ough of New-. port... Montgomery.. Pembroke Radnor...... Swansea.... 239 40,917 6,725 5,646 128,915 10,300 32,034 58.080 11.113 54,707 14,978 90,349 PRAYER, A CHRISTIAN DUTY. BY REV. MORIEN MON HUGHES, PH. D., The Scripture affords us many examples of prayer. These examples are worthy of imitation, and happy shall we be if we imitate them. Moses and Samuel, David and Solomon, and Elijah, Paul, Peter and Stephen; in short, patriarchs, prophets, evangelists and apostles could say "Prayer is the Christian's vital breath, The Christian's native air; His watch ward at the gates of death, He enters heaven with prayer." The primitive Christians and Israelites, the martyrs to Christianity, and all holy men of old were prayerful. In a word, the truly pious in all ages and countries have offered prayers and thanks to the Author of all good. Happiness in time and eternity, therefore, is made to depend very much on the exercise of prayer. Prayer is entreaty, and God has so constituted men that they naturally and universally betake themselves to entreaty when they would obtain favors from one another. And is it not reasonable to believe that He requires that towards Himself which He 49,212 prompts us by our natures to offer to our fellow-men? Prayer consists not so much in words uttered by the organs of speech as in thought and feeling. The words of prayer are merely the external signs of the feeling within. There is in them no virtue or holiness independently of the feeling that gives them utterance. It 687,218 347,011 133,633 124,421 258,054 5,121,013 892, 256 879 195 1,771,451 The following shows the population in 1891 of some of the chief towns in South Wales: is, therefore, in feeling that prayer essentially and principally consists. From this view of the subject it is manifest that to be prayerful we must be spiritually regenerated. "Prayer is the contrite sinner's voice Returning from his ways, While angels in their songs rejoice And cry, Behold, he prays.' He who is spiritually regenerate will be prayerful; he will aspire after holiness; he will "hunger and thirst after righteousness;" he will believe in the Scripture; he will have faith in the Saviour. Prayer is "without ceasing" when made periodically, as, for instance, when made daily, in the morning and again in the evening, or when offered weekly on the Sabbath day; for although in these cases intervals of time occur between one exercise of it and another, yet it ceases not to be made when the usual time of making it returns. It ceases indeed for a while but not entirely, for it is to be again renewed. Are we ashamed of prayer? Let them reflect that the Saviour was more honorable than they, and that he humbled himself, praying with humility and fervency. Are any in doubt. whether prayer is availing with God? If they will but have the spirit of prayer, their doubts will be removed, for the efficacy of prayer is proved not only by reason and the Scriptures, but by personal experience. "I love to steal awhile away From every cumbering care, And all my cares and sorrows cast of the New World whose existence he certainly first heralded to Europeans. The idea that Vespusius himself had anything to do with the bestowal of that name is just as erroneous as is the popularly received notion that he in any way sought to detract from the credit due to Columbus. Three European scholars named Lud, Ringmann and Waldseemuller, in 1508 made preparations to produce all the then latest geographical disa revised edition of Ptolemy, in which coveries were to be embodied. They obtained an authentic account of Ves pucius' third voyage and incorporated it into the work. Several copies of this volume are still in existence, and it enjoys the distinction of being the first publication wherein the name of America is linked with that of the Novus Mundus. of the earth's inhabited surface into After having treated of the division the author (Waldseemuller) speaks three parts-Europe, Asia and Africa Translated from the original, this is of the discovery of the fourth part. what he says: more extensively explored and another "But now these parts have been fourth part has been discovered by Americus Vespusius (as will appear in what follows), wherefore I do not calling it Amerige or America, i. e., the see what is rightly to hinder us from land of Americus, after its discoverer, Americus, a man of sagacious mind, since both Europe and Asia have got their names from women.” Although the name of America was thus connected with the discoveries in the western ocean, it will be seen from the accompanying maps, made subsequently to this, that there was WHY OUR COUNTRY WAS CALL- anything but a definite idea of the ED AMERICA. And now as to the manner in which the name of Americus Vespucius became so indissolubly linked with that actual extent of the continent, while the existence of North America was entirely ignored. In fact, subsequently to the use of ADAM'S WILL. the name America in connection with Vespucius' discoveries south of the equator, many maps were produced that ignored that name entirely, and it was not until 1541 that Gerrard Kauffman, better known as Mercator, having digested the vast and confused ADAM'S WILL. BY ROBERT DAVIES, (BARDD NANTGLYN.) Robert Davies (Bard Nantglyn) was born at Henfryn, Nantglyn, Denbighshire, Wales, in 1769, a bardic pupil of "Twm o'r Nant," a chaired bard and a member of the Gwyneddigion Society, London. He published two or three volumes of poetry, among them "Diliau Barddas," also a Grammar of the Welsh Language. The following poem was composed in his early life, under the influence and in the style of the Interludes of Twm o'r Nant, and became quite popular at the time in North Wales. He died at Nantglyn, Dec. 1, 1835. ENGLISH VERSION BY HENRY ROWLAND, LLAN- If you'll attend unto my story, Some men will think at the beginning With clothes unclean and not worth wearing. 241 mass of geographical discovery made. up to that time, produced a map which rudely, but with considerable accuracy, outlined the entire Western hemisphere, and gave to the whole of it the general name of America.San Francisco Chronicle. EWYLLYS ADDA. GAN ROBERT DAVIES, NANTGLYN. Os gellwch chwi wrando chwedel. Geill llawer ddweyd wrth ddechreu, A'r cwbl yn frodyr, 'r un pen a gwaed, Ac i'r neb sy'n gweithio lleia' Ond rhoes gymaint o dwyll, rhagrith a chelwydd, Ac o chwantau'r galon i bawb fel eu gilydd; A rhoes bawb 'r un pellder oddiwrth y ne,' Yn y gole' tan yr un g'wilydd. A rhoes gymaint balchder i'r tlota o'i deulu Ag i'r brenin, ond ni roes o ddim byd i'w brynu; Mi rown genad rwy'n meddwl i dori 'mys. A'i blant pan ddechreu'sant gynta' ymlwy5raeth, Gosododd hwy i redeg gyrfa naturiaeth ; A'u hwynebau i le anobaith Dyna lle'u gadawodd i gydymdrabaeddu, Yn filoedd wrth gyd drafaelu. |