Cywydd y Farn
At WILLIAM MORRIS, Mai 7, 1752.
DEAR SIR,—NAGE, Fy Anwyl Gydwladwr, dilediaith, a ddylaswn ddywedyd, eithr os chwi a'm hesgusoda am hyn o dro, chwi a gewch o Gymraeg y tro nesaf.
I am exceedingly obliged to you and Mr. Ellis for your good opinion of my poor performance. As to the printing of it, it is to me a thing indifferent. I am in no way fond or ambitious of appearing in print and commencing author; for now, thank God. I have no vanity to be gratified in so doing. And if I ever had, my own sense, as I grew up, overtopped and mortified it; and this troublesome world, with my narrow circumstances in it, has now effectually killed it, root and branch.
Mr. Lewis Morris was pleased to favour me with an examination of it, and marked out some few slips in it as to the poetry, which I have since endeavoured to correct; but with what success, I have not yet heard; and I am unwilling that anything of mine should be made public without the consent and approbation of my tutor.
Perhaps, if God enables me, and the world. allows me time, I may make something that may be thought at least equal to Cywydd y Farn. If I had time to spare, my chief desire is to attempt something in epic poetry; but the shortness of the measures in our language makes me almost despair of success. I have not a turn of genius fit for ludicrous poetry, which I believe is best
