any other that is equally ancient. I'm persuaded the main difficulty in the Gorhoffedd is, if the stanza be as intelligible as any modern piece, and the next perhaps as uncouth and unintelligible as the Pictish language or that of Utopia, that very few MSS in any language have escaped being corrupted from time to time by some means or other, sometimes by the negligence and, oscitancy, but most frequently by the ignorance of the transcribers. And I can't see by what privilege our language above all others. can plead for an exemption [from the common] fate? Besides, all books of value in most other languages (except Irish and few besides) have been preserved in print for several centuries past, but in ours they have not. So that upon the whole, I think if the true reading could be restored the rest would be easy. 'Rydych bellach, nid oes ammeu, yn disgwyl dau neu dri o Gywyddau yn iawn am fy esgusodion, ac achos da paham. Ond os coeliwch y gwir, ni fedrais unwaith ystwytho at Gywydd nac Englyn er pan ddaethym i'r fangre yma. Nid oes genyf lyfr yn y byd na Chymraeg na Saes'naeg, ond y Bardd Cwsg yn unig; ond gobeithio y caf fy llyfrau ataf cyn y b'o hir. Mae rhyw achos yn fy llestair i mi fyned yn nghyd a dim Prydyddiaeth nes y catwyf fy llyfrau yma, a hyny yw, because Llangynhafal and Evan Brydydd Hir have made some objections against my Cywyddau, viz., that they had not a sufficient variety of Cynghaneddau. This Mr L. Morris informs me of, and as I have never a one of 'em by me at present, nor a Grammar to consult, I can't answer that objection, but am resolv'd to write no more till I am better assur'd of the truth of their criticism, and better guarded from a slip for the future. How should a man use all the vast variety of Cynghaneddau that knows not one of 'em all? Another reason that suspends my muse is, that I intend, when I have the J. D. Rhys's Grammar, to try whether our language will bear a Heroic Poem, and so am loath to exhaust any good subject or jade my muse before I undertake it. If I have any spare time no man's ill-nature or criticising humour shall hinder me from writing. But I'll see what I do write. One would not willingly be holden to every rifraff pedant for mending a hole in one's stocking. After all, I know not
