ENGLISH POETRY. TRANSLATION OF THE PRECEDING ODE BY HYWEL AB OWAIN*. I love the summer's sultry day, yon orchard trees appear A greener, lovelier garb to wear : Then, with shining buckler vain, Away I go to tumult dire; For I have loved with fond desire, CERIDWEN, comely, shapely, fair, * The Welsh reader will perceive, that some liberties have been taken in this translation, and especially towards the conclusion, where, from the ambiguous brevity of the original, it became necessary to guess at the poet's meaning. This, however, it is hoped, has been preserved throughout with tolerable fidelity, although it is necessarily amplified in the English lines, in which the elliptical conciseness of the Welsh could not possibly be retained. This Ode appears to have been addressed to a lady, by whom the poet had been slighted; and it may be inferred from the commencement, that he was about to renounce her for the toils of war, though he seems to have relented towards the close. If a comparison might be drawn between Hywel and either of the classical writers, it would probably be with Catullus, whom he much resembles in the delicate conceits of his love sentiments. It should be mentioned, however, that the poems of Hywel are far from affording the most favourable specimens of the awen of the twelfth century, adorned, as that æra was, by the productions of Gwalchmai, Llywarch ab Llywelyn, and Cynddelw. ED. Thus young, thus charming to the view, It were a virtue fair and meet, As free to give as she is sweet. my love, A suppliant pilgrim I repair in Heaven TRANSLATIONS OF THE PENNILLION. LXVII. LXVIII. Hears with joy his wheeh tůr round; LXIX. And travel many a mile, Nor know to choose the while: LXX. There's no one now for love enquired, VOL. II. T STANZAS ON THE LATE EISTEDDFOD AT WREXHAM*, COME sound the string, Our native Cymru's praise : Of her mountain lays. Hail tuneful band Who erst consigned to fame Cymru's quenchless fame. Then was the hour, Inspir'd each bardic shell. From each vale and dell. And still shall they, Of Cymru's gifted land, Swell the patriot band. * The irregularity of these stanzas is owing to the peculiar style of the melody, and is intended to convey to the English reader an idea of some of the Welsh Pennillion. The stanzas were sung at the Eisteddfod by Mr. Parry. WALES. . METROPOLITAN CAMBRIAN INSTITUTION.-At the last General Meeting of this Society it was proposed, that a silver medal should be offered for the best Welsh translation of Gray's. celebrated Ode, entitled the “ Bard,” the compositions to be transmitted to the secretary before the 1st of March, and the prize to be awarded on the 22nd of May, the Society's anniversary. And, should the project of an Eisteddfod on the last-mentioned day be adopted, it is in contemplation to propose another subject for an original poem, and also two subjects for English essays, to be decided at the same time. Meanwhile every exertion, compatible with the means of the Institution, is made towards carrying into effect the laudable objects, for which it was established. Several books and some MSS. have already been purchased, which, if the society should ever experience the patronage it so amply merits, may prove the foundation of a valuable national library. It should also be mentioned, that two or three patriotic individuals have made donations of books. It is proposed, that the library shall be established at the Welsh School in Gray's-Inn Lane, as soon as a room can be prepared for the purpose ; in which event the books and MSS., already deposited there, will be incorporated with those belonging to the Institution. EISTEDDFOD AT WREXHAM.—The Editor feels a pleasure in being able to lay before his readers the following account of the musical competition at the late Eisteddfod in Powys, not only because the writer was an ear-witness of what he relates, but because he is, in other respects, so competent a judge of the subject of his communication. It is gratifying to find, from the latter part of his letter, that the cultivation of Welsh music is likely to meet, in the metropolis, with the encouragement it so well deserves : and it is to be hoped, that none of those natives of Cymru, for whom “ the mazy running soul of melody" has any charms, will omit this opportunity of testifying their attachment to their own mountain airs. To the Editor of the CAMBRO-Briton. SIR, -A circumstance occurred at the Wrexham Eisteddfod, which ought to be noticed particularly in its relation to Welsh music. No less than ten persons performed on the triple (or Welsh) harp for the prize, five of whom were very respectable players, viz. Richard Roberts, Benjamin Connah, Henry Humphreys, William Hughes, and Owen Davies. The contest, however, ran between Roberts and Connah. It was very evident, that the former was considered, by the company, to be the better performer; but the umpire, Mr. E. Jones, was loath to decide, because he considered Connah to be the more scientific player, and that he also produced the best tone of the whole number. The consequence was, that both were called upon to play three times, before it was declared in favour of Roberts. I beg to observe, that Roberts and Connah had thus a better opportunity of displaying their abilities than the others had, who, under an impression that they were to be called upon more than once, performed merely simple airs. Humphreys and Hughes , are very young men, and with, at least, twenty years' less experience and practice; yet they executed Pen Rhaw with variations in a very masterly manner, and, if they continue to study, they will shortly be among the first performers on the Welsh harp. Owen Davies, who belongs to the Denbigh militia, is a very good harper, but he, (expecting that he should play more than once,) selected a very indifferent air, which made no impression on the company, My object, in noticing this circumstance, is to suggest that the harpers at an Eisteddfod ought to be divided into classes, according to their age and experience. A man, who has had the advantage of a musical education, ought not to be placed in competition with a poor blind mountain minstrel, who, in ten instances out of twelve, is taught the harp by another blind person, totally unacquainted with even the rudiments of music. I would allow those harpers only to perform, who are in the habit of playing the Welsh airs, as they are sung by the Dudgeiniaid, or singers. The umpire ought to hear the whole, previous to the exhibition, and, according to the number and value of the prizes, place those, whom he might deem nearly equal in point of talent, in the same class, reserving the best for the last, as is the case in regard to the poetical compositions. I cannot quit this subject without recommending to the Cambrian Societies, which have lately been formed with a view of promoting Welsh Literature, History, Poetry, and Music, that, when a promising young man, possessing talents, and what is |