Pa un ai ci á genyw hydd, Ai rhwyd gan vaedd rhwygedig sydd- ENGLISH POETRY. PRYDEINIAD. TRANSLATION OF THE PRECEDING LINES FROM CYNDDELW TO OWAIN CYVEILIOGt. Nunc est bibendum.-HOR. Yonder, Digoll's hill beside, Owain's frequent horn goes round, As, in never ebbing tide, Sparkling wine and mead abound. * Cynddelw was among the most noted of the Welsh poets of the twelfth century, during the latter half of which period he is said to have flourished. He was, as appears from this poem, chief bard to Owain Cyveiliog; and his former fame may be inferred from the appellation of Cynddelw Brydydd Mawr, or Cynddelw the Great Bard, by which he was generally distinguished. There are about forty of his pieces preserved in the Welsh Archaiology, and most of them of considerable length. The one here translated is among the shortest, and seems to have been composed on the occasion of some of those Bacchanalian festivities, not infrequent, as may be collected from other testimony, with the Princes of Powys, and particularly Owain Cyveiliog. † Owain Cyveiliog was Prince of Powys during the close of the twelfth century: and he was not only a prince but a poet, as well as a general patron of the bards. A fine effusion of his muse, e, under the title of Hirlas, or the Drinking Horn, is printed in the Archaiology, and versions of which, both in Latin and English, have already appeared. This poem confirms the conclusion, which may be drawn from the lines of Cynddelw, here translated, that Owain was one of the most convivial and hospitable of the Welsh princes. He died in the year 1197. The Hirlas, or drinking horn, was generally tipped with silver or gold: VOL. II. 00 Hither flows the precious stream, Gift of his fair hand to me: I his chief of minstrelsy*. Bounteous still shall he bestow Goblets crown'd with mantling wine: Teeming bowls will e'er be thine. Gentle Owain, gladly still Swell thy cups near Havren'st side; Still I see thy bounty glide. Gentle Owain, though thy ire On the foe like lightning speed, Thy full horns of generous mead. Lo, the chieftain's sparkling store Circles 'neath the moonlight beam! Prouder we near Havren's stream. Lo, it comes the golden flask, Borne by Owain's bounteous hand ; Richer boon no kings command. But, see him now ascend his car; What foe, so lion-like, so bold, To strike, with fruitless lance, his mail of gold? the one, here alluded to, appears to have been ornamented with the latter metal as well from an expression towards the close of these lines, as from the following in the poem of Owain Cyveiliog himself, adverted to in the preceding note: « Dywallaw di 'r corn argynvelyn." Pour out the horn with the glistening yellow top. * The original is Pencerdd, of whose office an account may be seen, in the Laws of Hywel Dda, in a preceding part of this Number. + The Severn. | The name of a mountain. THE CANORION SONG. A TRANSLATION OF “ ERDDIGAN Y CANORION," IN THE LAST NUMBER, tristia vite Solamur cantu. 1 IF to this great city, from meads far away, Nor linnet*, nor lark, nor sweet nightingale stray, But voices,-50 wild and so tuneless their sound, Through street, lane, and alley are heard all around, How pleasant, Canoriont, to see this kind band Meet to cherish the strains of our old native land: With our glass, harp, and song, then, content let us be, While our hearts are all jocund, united, and free. 2 Let the wealthy take care of their gold and their gain, Let the great still contend with our troubles in vain, Let our parties still wrangle and clamour away, While our state-menders brawl yet more loudly than they; But we, blithe CANORION, our minds all at ease, In harmony taste of life's joys as we please : With our glass, harp, and song, then, content let us be, While our hearts are all jocund, united, and free. 3 Ye minstrels, ye bards, ye of learning profound, * The original is cuckoo, a bird, which seems always to have been in great favour with the Welsh bards, though it is not very easy to discover for what reason, since it cannot have been for its musical qualifications. This partiality for the cuckoo reminds one of the Irishman in Joe Miller, who had all his life mistaken the owl for the nightingale. + Literally, SINGERS. An account of the establishment of this Society appeared in Number 15. p. 141. WALES. METROPOLITAN CAMBRIAN INSTITUTION.-It appears from an advertisement on the wrapper of this Number, that an alteration has taken place in the subject proposed for the Prize Poem of this institution. Instead of a translation of Gray's "Bard," as originally intended*, the subject will now be the re-establishment of the Cymmrodorion: and the writer of the best Ode will receive a silver medal on the 22nd of May next, the Society's Anniversary. The project of an Eisteddfod, at the same time, as alluded to on a former occasion, appears to be relinquished, in consequence of the near approach of that, which is to take place at Carnarvon, and with the interest of which a previous meeting in London might possibly interfere. According to a new regulation, the General Meetings of this institution will, in future, take place quarterly, instead of monthly, and the Meetings of the Council, instead of taking place, as before, every week, will be held, on the first Saturday in every month only. James Evans, Esq. has recently been appointed Secretary to this institution on the resignation of Mr. Parry. CYMMRODORION IN GWYNEDD.-A meeting of the Committee of Management of this society took place at Carnarvon on the 29th of Decemher last, when it was resolved, that an Eisteddfod should be held, at Carnarvon, in the ensuing autumn, and that prizes and premiums should be given for the best productions on following subjects: The ENGLYN. "In memory of the birth of the first Prince of Wales of English blood (Edward 2nd) at Carnarvon Castle." The AwDL." Minstrelsy." The CYWYDD." The accession of the Family of Tudor to the throne of Great Britain." First ENGLISH ESSAY.-" On the existence of the art of alphabetical writing among the Celts; and on the form and number of their characters." Second ENGLISH ESSAY." On the ancient orders of Bard, Druid, and Ovate." See No. 15, p. 139. The advertisement on the wrapper of this Number will explain the other particulars. It is but justice to add to this account, that the Joint-Secretaries, J. Goddard, Esq. and the Rev. J. Jones, evince an indefatigable zeal in promoting the patriotic objects of this institution, and in which they appear to be very ably supported by the nobility and gentry of that portion of the Principality. Mr. Parry, editor of " Welsh Melodies," and the Editor of the CAMBRO-BRITON have been elected honorary members of this Society. The former gentleman is to conduct the musical department at the ensuing EISTEDDFOD: and from the able and unremitted exertions, which he made last year at Wrexham, there is every reason to anticipate the most beneficial result from his co-operation on the present occasion. And it may also be hoped, that the national spirit, which now seems to pervade every part of the Principality, aided by the patriotic activity of the gentlemen in Gwynedd, will cause the Carnarvon Eisteddfod to rival in interest either of the similar meetings, that have preceded it. GWYNEDDIGION SOCIETY.-The following is a list of the Officers of this Society for the present year. Llywydd (President) Mr. Thomas Jones, Bardd Cloff. Rhaglaw (Vice-President) Mr. John Phillips. Trysorydd (Treasurer) Mr. Edward Jones. Cofiadur (Secretary) Mr. Owen Williams. Cynghor (Council.) Mr. Edward Edwards. Mr. E. R. Thomas. Mr. Henry Jones. Mr. Hugh Edwards. The new appointment of Secretary and Treasurer took place on the resignation of Mr. Thomas Roberts and Mr. Thomas Edwards, by whom the duties of their respective offices had been so long and so creditably discharged. CYMREIGYDDION IN LIVERPOOL.-The annual festival of this society took place at the Castle Inn on the 1st of last month. The chair was filled by Mr. O. Williams; and a numerous and respectable company attended on the occasion. The national ac companiment of the harp, to which, as usual, several Pennillion |