THE JUVENILE ADVENTURES OF PWYLL, PRINCE OF DYVED.

not fpeak to me ?" faid he.

twelve months." <<

29

"I will tell you," faid fhe; "I have not spoken in this place as much these Why," fays he, " have we been fo referved about speaking?" "Shame befall," faid fhe, "fince last night twelve months, when we went to bed, we have neither fondled, nor chatted, nor did you turn your face to me, nor take any notice of me." Then he mufed with himself: "Surely" fays he, "I have had the bravest and chastest of champions." Then faid he to the queen, "Blame me not, Lady; I have neither flept nor lain with you fince last night twelve months :" and then he told her all his adven"Certainly" faid fhe, " you had a ftrong hold on your companion, fince he was able to refift temptation, and behave fo honourably to you." Lady," fays he, it was that I was thinking of while I was filent."" It is wonderful," faid fhe.

tures.

Pwyll, Prince of Dyfed, arrived in his own dominions, and enquired of the Nobility how his government had succeeded that year, in comparison to what it had done before.

My Lord," said they, "you never displayed more understanding, nor governed in a milder manner; neither did you fquander your money, but proved yourself an excellent economist." "Indeed" faid he, "it were fit you should thank him that was with you :" and he then related the whole adventure. "Thank God" faid they, "for the good friendship you have met with, and the good government we have had: You will not demand from us what we procured by last year's management." By no means," said he. From thenceforward they established a firm friendship, and fent prefents to one another of greyhounds, and hawks, and every jewel they thought would be agreeable to each other. And because of his living at Linnwvyn that year, and having governed it fo fuccefsfully, as to bring two kingdoms in one day under fubjection, by his courage and bravery, the title failing, defcended to him, and 'ever after he was styled Pwyll Pen Annwn; or Pwyll, the head of Annwn.

On a certain day, being at Arberth, his royal palace, a banquet being prepared for him and his nobles, after the first courfe, Pwyll got up to walk, and went to the top of a hillock that overlooked Arberth, which was called Arberth hill. "My Lord," faid one of his courtiers, "this hill has this peculiar quality that whatever prince fits upon it, cannot go away without either of these two things, viz, being wounded or shot, or feeing a wonder." "I am not afraid" faid Pwyll, "I am not afraid" faid Pwyll, " of being wounded or shot amidst so great a number: I should like to see a wonder. I will go and fit upon the hill." When they had fat down, they faw a lady in bright shining gold-embroidered garments coming along the highway that leads from the hill, mounted upon a large, tall, grey fteed, coming along at a gentle pace, as they imagined. When the came opposite the hill," Friends," fays Pwyll, "does any of you know that lady?" " No, my Lord," faid they. "Let one go to meet her, to know who he is." One of them got up, but when he came near her, she galloped by in an instant. He followed her as well as a man a-foot could do: the more speed he made, the farther off fhe would be. When he found it was in vain to pursue her any longer, he returned to Pwyll, and said, "My Lord, it is in vain for any man on foot to pursue her." "Ay," faid Pwyll; "go to the palace, and take the swifteft horfe, and go after her." The man took horse, and the more he fpurred him, the farther off she would be, though her horfe went on with the fame pace as at first. When the man found his horfe knocked up, he returned to Pwyll." My Lord," fays he, "it is in vain for any one to pursue that princess; I know not a fwifter horfe in your dominions than this, yet it availed me nought to pursue her." "Ay," faid Pwyll; "there is certainly fome juggling in it: let us go to the palace." There they paffed that day, and the next till meal time. When this was over; faid Pwyll, " Let as many of us as were upon the hill yesterday go there to-day; and do you," faid he to one of the lackeys, "take the fleetest horse you can find, and be ready on the plain." The lackey did fo, and up the hill they went. As they were fitting, the lady appeared at a diftance, riding the fame horfe, and in the fame drefs. "There goes the lady," said Pwyll," be ready, that we may know who she is." My Lord, I will do my endeavour;" faid the lackey. By this time the lady bounded by them, and left the lackey at a distance. She rode no faster than the first day; the lackey rode gently, imagining he should foon be up with her—all in vain-having given his horse the reins, he was not a whit nearer than when he trotted:, the more he fpurred, the farther she would be, though she went on as usual. Finding it to no purpose to purfue her any longer, he returned to Pwyll. "My Lord," said he, "the horse could do no more than you faw." “I saw,” said he, "it was to no purpose to pursue her. Before God, she has some business with one of us, if her modesty would permit her to reveal it. Let us go towards the palace." There the night was spent in songs and mirth. After they had dined, faid Pwyll, " About this time yesterday, and the day before we were upon the hill." "Yes, my Lord," faid they. "Let us go there and fit to-day. Do you faddle my horfe, and lead him to the plain, and bring my fpurs along with you," faid Pwyll to his groom.

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THE JUVENILE ADVENTURES OF PWYLL, PRINCE OF DYVED.

The groom did fo; they had not waited long ere the lady came as ufual. "I fee the lady coming," faid Pwyll; "bring me my horfe." Before he mounted, the lady paffed by him; Pwyll turned his capering high-bred steed after her, imagining he would overtake her at every step. He rode as fast as his horfe could go all to no purpofe-he was not a bit the nearer. At laft he called to her, and faid, "Lovely maid, for the fake of him you love most, stay for me." "With all my heart," said fhe; it would have been better for the horse if you had asked me fooner." Then he stayed for him, and took off her veil, and converfed with him. Lady," faid he, "where do you come from? and where do you journey ?" "I am going upon business," faid fhe; "however I am glad to fee you." "You are very welcome," faid Pwyll, who fancied every other damfel's complexion disagreeable, in comparison of her's. "Fair lady, will you inform me as to fome part of your business?" "Yes, willingly," fays fhe: " my principal bufinefs was to see you." "That is the most agreeable business" faid Pwyll, " I should wish you to come upon. Will you inform me who you are?" "Yes," faid fhe; "I am Riannon, the daughter of Eveidd Hen; they are going to give me away to a man against my will, and I have refufed every one for the love I bear to you; and am still resolved to have no other, if you refuse me not; and to know your mind am I come."

"Before God," fays he, "this is my answer: if I had my choice of all the maids in the world, I would prefer you." "If that is your choice," fays fhe, " make an appointment with me before I am given to another." "The fooner the better, for my part," faid Pwyll;-" fix the appointment wherever you please." "I will, my Lord," faid fhe; "this night twelve months there will be a feaft prepared for you in Eveidd Hên's palace."-" With all my heart," said he, "I will certainly be punctual to my appointment.” "Fare you well, my Lord; be fure to be punctual; I muft leave you :" fo they parted, and Pwyll came to his companions*.

you:"

An EPIGRAM, afcribed to JULIUS CAESAR': or to
CAIUS GERMANICUS CAESAR.

1

Thrax puer aftricto glacie dum ludit in Hebro,
Frigore concretas pondere rupit aquas;
Dumque imæ partes rapido traherentur ab amne
Abfcidit Heu! tenerum lubrica tefta caput,
Orba quod inventum mater dum conderet urna,
Hoc peperi flammis, cætera dixit, aquis.

Englished by the late GEORGE COLMAN, Efq. 19th of
July, 1785.

On Hebrus froze, a Thracian boy at play

Felt, from his weight, the treach'rous ice give way;
His limbs beneath the glaffy furface dropp'd,
His little head was from his body lopp'd:
That found; when in the fun'ral urn
The childless mother laid, to burn;
She figh'd, and thus she said:

"To thy dear limbs a briny grave
"The waters gave;

"To flames I give thy head!"

The following is faid to be the first English Epigram; and attributed to Sir THOMAS MORE, about A. D. 1530.

"A Student at his boke fo plaft,

That welth he might have wonn,

From boke to wife did flete in hafte;

From welth to wo to run.

Now who hath plaid a feater caft,
Since jugling first begunn?
In knitting of himself so fast,
Himself he hath undone."

The above narrative is a faithful translation from a Welsh manuscript in the Author's collection; and a great part of the British original may likewise be found in the Red Book, in the archives of Jefus College Library, Oxford.

I had the above epigrammatic relique from the portfolio of a gentleman, who was an intimate friend of the late Mr. Colman. See alfo Ovid's Fafti; and Phillips's Theatrum Poetarum.

5

DYHUDD

DYHUDDIANT ELPHIN.

The Confolation of Prince ELPHIN, by TALIESIN:

Literally tranflated from the Welfh; which ought to have been previously inserted in page 19. This poem is fuppofed to have been one of Taliefin's firft Effays when a boy. See, alfo, the firft Volume, page 18. and 21.

Fair Elphin, ceafe thy weeping; let no man be discontented with his fortune: despondency will not avail thee; man fees not his fupporter. Kynllo's prayer will not be fruitless; God will never break his promise. There never was found in Gwyddno's wear fo goodly a prize as at present.

Fair Elphin, wipe off thy tears! over much forrow brings no relief: though you think you had no profit ; certainly too much affliction avails nothing. Miftruft not God's providence; though I am little, I am endowed with genius. From feas, and from rivers, God fends wealth to the good and happy.

Good-natured Elphin, thy difpofition is not cruel; although I am feeble and tender, on the brink of the foaming fea; I fhall be a more valuable acquifition in time of need than three hundred falmon'. You need not complain fo bitterly; God's providence is better than bad prognostications.

Elphin, poffeffed of rare qualities, be not displeased with your fortune: although I am weak and proftrate, my tongue is inspired. While I am in your cuftody, you need not be in any fear; if thou craveft the affiftance of the Trinity, nothing can overcome thee.

Cynllo was one of the primitive Welsh Saints: whence is derived Llangynllo, a village in Cardiganfhire.

7 When the prodigal Elphin was bewailing his misfortune, the fishermen efpied a coracle in the wear, with a child in it, enwraped in a leathern bag, whom they took up, and brought to the young prince, who ordered it to be taken care of, and had him liberally educated; which proved afterwards to be the treasure of knowledge, Taliefin, who lived to recompence his benefactor, by the magic of his fong. See more in the firft Volume of the Welsh Bards, page 18, &c: and in page 19 of this Volume.

Awdl Fraith Taliefin.

This Poem was tranflated into Latin Sapphic, from the Welsh, by the Reverend Dd. Jones, Minifter of Lianvair Dyffryn Clwyd, in Denbighshire, about A. D. 1580.

Cuncta cum rerum fapiens Creator,
Vi fui verbi, ex nihilo creâffet;
Ex luto format Adami caducum
Corpus in Hebron.

Quinque centennos ibi manfit annos,
Valle defpectum fine cultu et arte,
Antequam vitalem animam perennem
Traxerit ore.

Ne foret folus, fociam juvantem
Elohim fecit, fpeciofa Virgo,
Prodit è cofta Paradifo in almâ,
Quam fibi duxit.

Quem locum feptem tenuêre læti,
Ambo vix horas, fceleratus hoftis
Donec oppreffit Satanas, qui ad ima
Tartara ducit.

The Hiftoric and Predictal Ode, by TALIESIN.

The following literal Profe Translations of four of the Poems by Taliefin are extremely curious; because they convey to us fome of the Primitive Hiftory, as well as the Myftical Notions of the Druids, and of the Tranfmigration of the Soul; of Taliefin's Belief of the Deity, and Religion; of his Comminations; and Predictions. (Taliefin wrote from the latter end of the fifth, till about the middle of the fixth century.)

"Rapt into future times the Bard begun."

Panton formed the human body in the fandy vale of Hebron,

With his own fair hand, where it lay five hundred years before it was endued with a living foul.

And, that Man might not be alone in Paradife, God, of the left rib of the body, made a beautiful Female.

They occupied the garden but feven hours before 'they were accofted by Satan, the agent of hell.

$ I have omitted the original Welsh of thefe poems, as they are to be found among feveral collections of ancient Welsh Manufcripts: viz. at Griffith Vaughan's, Efq. of Hengwrt, in Merioneth fhire; at Paul Panton's, Efq. in Anglefey; at Thomas Jones's, Efq. of Havod, in Cardiganshire; at the Welsh School, in London; and among my own collections, &c.

Poftea

THE HISTORIC AND PREDICTAL ODE, BY TALIESIN.

HISTORIC AND PREDICTAL ODE, BY TALIESIN.