Gwaith Ieuan Brydydd Hir/Marwnad Lewis Morris
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MARWNAD LEWIS MORRIS.
WORTHY Sir,[1]—It was but a fortnight go that I heard the melancholy news of your brother's death, which you may be assured was very grievous to me on many accounts, as I have lost a very valuable friend as well as a curious correspondent, and an encourager of my researches into the history of Britain, and everything else that related to the honour of our country and the support of its language. I have, indeed, myself been so far out of order this last winter, by the gravel, and a grievous nervous headache and fever, that I was in doubt whether I should see another summer; but blessed be God, I am now pretty well recovered. I hope you enjoy perfect health, the greatest blessing, next God's grace, under heaven.
Inclosed I send an Elegy upon your brother, as a token of the great regard I had for him. This, as you will see by the motto, is the last piece of poetry I shall in all probability ever compose. My attention is at present fixed upon things of more serious nature, though at the same time, the history of our ancestors, and due regard to its Bards, shall never be out of date with me while I breathe; but I have no encouragers of these studies after your brother, and indeed, but very few competent judges of them. But when I seriously consider matters, I find there are things of far greater consequence, considering the small, short, and transitory enjoyments we poor mortals enjoy here below. In such a situation nothing can give a person any solid satisfaction, but a conscientious discharge of his duty. When I consider how things stand now in Wales, how poorly we are provided with religious books, and those we have at present almost all worn out with age, and no new ones succeeding, but some paltry translations, which a mere Welshman can make nothing of, I would fain if possible, notwithstanding the present discouragement from persons who ought to know and do better, undertake something for the instruction of our poor countrymen; some plain practical expositor of the New Testament translated, would, in my opinion, be of great service. I think I may, without vanity, claim so much ability as would carry me through such a task, so as to give general satisfaction, provided God gives me life and health. You, who have access to some of the chief promoters of the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, might, perhaps, upon application, get me proper encouragement, and they likewise, if so disposed, may best inform me what would be of most use, if what I proposed be not approved. I have had the correction of two translations lately: one was that of Kettlewell's Practical Believer; the other, entitled The Christian Instructed. Though I have taken great pains and altered abundance in their translations, I cannot say they are master pieces. A man must new-model the whole, like pulling down an old building, or an ill contrived new one, before anything of purpose can be done in such cases; but this was too much for me to do and for them to expect. I have spoke to you before about Llwybr Hyffordd i'r Nefoedd. I wish that, or Dr. Davies' translation of Father Parsons' Resolution, were reprinted. They are excellent books, and very pure Welsh. Pray, are there any of Griffith Jones of Llan Ddyfwr's books still with the printer in London? Let me know who translated the pamphlet entitled A Serious Address to the Methodist. Let me have a long-winded epistle from you as soon as possible.
I am, yours sincerely,
EVAN EVANS.
CYWYDD MARWNAD
LEWYS MORYS, YSWAIN.
O Benbryn, yn swydd Geredigion; prif Hanesydd Brydain Fawr, o barthed ei Chymmrodorion, eu Henwau, eu Hachau, a'u Hansawdd; Amgeleddwr godidawgwiw yr hen Frytaniaith, a'i Beirdd; Prif Oruchwyliwr Mwngloddiau y Brenin o fewn Talaeth Gymru; Darluniwr celfyddgar Ebyr ein Gwlad, o For Udd i For Iwerddon; Philosophydd Anianol cywrein-ddoeth manyl-ddysg; mwy hynod am bob Dawn a Gorchest benigamp na neb o'i Gydwladwyr y to heddyw; teilwng o'i goffau gan bawb a garont eu Gwlad a'u Hiaith. Wedi ei gyflwyno gan yr Awdur i'r Anrhydeddus Benllywydd, a Llywydd Hybarch Gymdeithas y Cymmrodorion yn Llundain, ac ereill ei Haelodau; er mwyn cwyno y Golled gyffredinawl a gafodd y Beirdd, a Hanesion ein Gwlad am dano.
Extremum hunc, Arethusa, mihi concede laborem.[2]
—VIRG. Ecl. x.
GWAE heddyw a gyhoeddir,
Mor dost yw i Gymru dir,
Golli Lewys, gell Awen,
Dwyn ei pharch, ei dawn, a'i phen!
E dynwyd iaith dan y dwr
Gladdu ei hamgeleddwr:
Caled yw colli colofn,
Penciwdawd cerdd ddidlawd ddofn,
A fedrai yn wiw fydrawl
Holl gampau mesurau mawl.
Merddin neu Daliesin dysg,
Homer oedd â mawr addysg,
Am brydu, canu mewn côr,
Aneurin yn ei oror:
Bu gerddgar ddigymar gynt,
Apolo ym mhob helynt.
Mae 'i ddoniau a'i gampau i gyd
Yr awran mewn oer weryd;
A'i waith amherffaith, am hwn
I'n cenedl iawn y cwynwn:
Prudd yw ei grudd, pridd a gro,
Hanes holl Gymru heno!
Aeth weithian yn wan o wedd
Ein hynod hen Freninedd.
Pwy a ddadgan, darian dur,
Un o wyrthiau hen Arthur,
Neu Urien dien fal dâr,
Neu Faelgwn, gawr rhyfelgar,
Neu Gadwallon gwaed-ollwng,
Pen cadau, mal bleiddiau blwng.
Drwy ynni a drywenynt
Seison yn waew-gochion gynt?
Bellach fyth na chrybwyller
Na son am anian y ser;
Llewyrch nef a'i gynnefod,
Cylchau a rheolau'r rhod;
Na'r llwybr yr a haul wybren,
Llyw y dydd, na lleuad wen;
A gradd pob un o naddynt,
A'u harwydd a'u hyrwydd hynt.
Pwy a wybydd, pa obaith,
Duw Ion a'i wyrth mawrion maith,
O ddyn hyd at bryfyn brau,
A'u rhyw hynod, a'u rhiniau,
O goedydd mawrfrig adail
Hyd lysiau mân deiau dail?
Duw a roes, a da ei rodd,
Medrus gymen ymadrodd;
Cafodd, a da fu'r cyfoeth,
Sylwedd o ddysg Selyf Ddoeth.
Cynnes oedd ei amcanion,
Mor frwd ei ddiamhur fron,
I Gymru, rhag i amraint
A malais Sais, megys haint,
Ddwyn, a mynych y cwynwn,
Ein bri, a'n sori â'u swn.
Torrodd eu dannedd taerion,
Difyr erioed, da fu'r fron.
I Gamden y rhoes sen sur,
A'i Frydain, ofer awdur;
Sef, y dangoses hefyd,
O'i fawr bwyll, ei fai i'r byd.
Darfu cynnydd dydd canu,
Och! feirdd, eich harddwch a fu
Heddyw nid oes ddyn hoew-ddawn;
Pwy a gais ddysg ym mysg mawn?
Du yw gwlad Cymru, a dall,
Yr awran ni cheir arall.
Ni welir yno eilwaith
Un gwr mor enwog ei waith.
Oer wyler am a aderyw,
Gwae mor oer i Gymru yw!
Ni chanaf fi na chân fwyn,
Nod uchel, onid achwyn:
Ac ni chân, drwg yw'r waneg,
Un bardd da yn beraidd deg,
Neu eos bert hynaws big,
Nac adar yn y goeawig:
Bydd cân gan ddylluanod;
Gwae i'r Cymry felly fod!
Carolau, rhigymau gant,
O oer ddaawrdd a udant:
Cywydd o geinciau Awen,
Gwywodd eu hoen fal gwŷdd hen;
Ni chlywir i'n tir hynt iawn,
Na doniau ym mysg dyniawn;
Gan i Lewis gain lywydd
Ddarfod, gwae ddyfod ei ddydd!
Hir a fydd a rhyfeddod
A glwys y cenir dy glod:
Ni ddaw, tra byddo Awen,
Na doniau, na llyfrau llên,
Cymro iawn, cymar ei waith;
Teilwng i'n bro, it' eilwaith.