THE Poet he dreamt that he sat by his fire,
And with him some six of his friends,
There was Iorwerth Glan Aled, and who need enquire
If Rhydderch, his comrade, attends?
Creuddynvab, Glasynys, Talhaiarn, were there,
And R. Ddu o Wynedd profound,
The harp strikes the strains of a weird plaintive air,
And the weed" and the wine are passed round.
Talhaiarn recited his Ode to the Sun
And some satire in rhyme and in prose,
Whilst Iorwerth Glan Aled his chaplet well won
With his beautiful lines to the Rose.
Penillion were sung, while the orators spoke,
And "yarns," grave and comical, spun,
Quaint songs of the Cymry, the quip and the joke,
Pass'd the time till 'twixt midnight and one.
Anigh to the Poet resided a King,
With his daughter so fair, tall, and young,
Princess Fame was she called, but 'twas said some vile thing,
Like a curse, to the King's palace clung.
When the Monarch was told that these bards were so near,
He exclaimed, "I will summon them all
One by one and perchance this dread mystery clear
That envelopes my house like a pall.
As the feast of the poets attained its full height
Came a light, gentle, tap on the ear;
And the host, as he peer'd out into the night,
Said, "A woman-like spirit is here:
She is clad in a shroud and her features unseen,
No mortal her fair face may see:
But, ah! 'tis no spirit, but the Princess, I ween,
And enquiring, friend Iorwerth, for thee."
And Iorwerth in wonder, in doubt, and in fear,
Obeyed the fair lady's command,
And followed her hence through the night dark and drear
O'er the vale to the King's unknown land.
The thread of our discourse we picked up anew,
Interrupted a moment before,
And although the small hours with rapidity flew
Our pipes were soon lighted once more.
Again at the door came a tap soft and light,
I dauntlessly asked who was there,
Again came the gleam of that face into sight
Through its covering snow-white and rare;
"I am sent by the King to bring Rhydderch with me
And R. Ddu of Wynedd as well."
So Rhydderch and Rhisiart obeyed the decree
And, following, bade us farewell.
Talhaiarn, uprising, said "One bottle more
Of rich wine and then let us away,
'Tis meet that our Bacchanal orgie were o'er:
Let us not be surprised by the day."
A knock for Creuddynvab, and he like a bard
Bowed low to his guide and obeyed,
When Tal. said, "I go, too, and who shall retard
My purpose. I'll follow the maid.”
And now there were left but Glasynys and I,
Our spirits with sadness o'ercast.
Once more came the knock, lo! the Princess is nigh:
Glasynys is summon'd at last!
Another fair maiden, Aurora her name,
I beheld and awoke, it was day:
'Twas the daughter of Death, and not Princess Fame,
That had taken my old friends away.
