prisoners since the time of Claudius Caesar.[1] Why should we then, after such singular advantages, leave the enemy in quiet possession of (at least) three Centuries & a half? I mean from the time of Merddin Wyllt to that of Meilir Brydydd. My project then is to throw this present Poem, like a bomb, into the midst of that wide chasm, & so retake from the enemy (at least) one whole Century. One thing more I have to advise you of, viz. that in the copying I have not scrupulously kept the old orthography, because I thought it would be too puzzling even to an Antiquarian. Besides, what modern could remmember always to write t for dd, u for f, ss for s, gg for ng, &c. I have illustrated it with a few necessary notes out of my own critical headpiece, & every now & then put such a word in the Margin, in the original orthography with a Sic legitur in Mso; & all this to show my profound knowledge in Criticism. I should likewise let the courteous reader know that the Measure is the true genuine Audolical metre used by all the Ancients; but it concerneth neither him nor me to know how this Metre was called. The Cynghanedd is the old Braidd gyfwrdd, & in those times it made no great Matter, whether there was any Cynghanedd at all, if the number of Syllables were right, the words poetical, & the Prifodl kept inviolable. Braidd gyfwrdd is thus:
Arddwyreaf Hael o hil Yago.
Now hael & hil made a most exquisite delightfull jingle & harmony to primitive ears. Vale de fruere. Danghoswch hwn i'r Llew da chithau, a gofynnwch iddo pa faint gwaeth Cymraeg sydd yn Lloegr heddyw nag oedd ynGhymru saith gan mlynedd i heddyw? I'r Gwr o'r dollfa, sef Gwilym Cybi, y mae diolch am y pattrwm. Efe a yrrodd yma'n ddiweddar Lyfr yn cynnwys 58 o Awdlau, o waith amryw o'r hên Feirdd gorau yn y Blynyddoedd 1100, ag oddi-yno hyd 1300; a'r Llyfr hwnnw a ysgrifennasai yntau ai law ei hun allan o Lyfr Gwernygron. Gobeithio na elwir byth am hwnnw adref ac ni eilw yntau byth am hwn, oblegid dyna'r ammod mae'n addo
- ↑ Meaning the three Roman Monuments, I should imagine that Poor Gronwy found in the Parish of Wroxeter near Salop, one being for Caius Mannius a Prætorian Legate of the 20th Legion, & another for Marous Patronius a Standard bearer of the 19th Legion.
