Ag o'r don egr hyd annwfn
Af ar y dafl i for dwfn.
Here is a charming opening for you, to describe the country you go to,
and the wonders of the deep; and something like the following lines might
be inserted:
Lle mae'r morfil friwfil fron,
A'r enwog _forforwynian_,
To proceed:
A fynno Gwen ysplennydd
Yn ddiau o'm rhwymau 'n rhydd,
Ni chaf gur, ni chaf garu
Na phoen gwn, na hoffi 'n gu;
Ni roddaf gam i dramwy,
I gred i'th ymweled mwy:
Dyna'r modd dan wir i mi,
A dyr unwaith drueni.
The expression _Dan_ _wir_, is too local, and is not understood all over
Wales. Local expressions must be avoided as much as possible. Suppose
you said then,
Oni chaf heb warafun
Dy fodd fyth difeiwedd fun.
After all these corrections, which are not very material, you have this
comfort, (and I mention it that you may not be discouraged,) that I do
not know a man in our country who can write a poem which shall want as
few corrections. So make poetry and antiquity (when you can come at
materials) branches of your study; and, depend upon it, you will make a
figure in the world. There are flights and turns in this poem, which
even David ab Gwilym would not have been ashamed of.
I would have you write to my brother, and let him know the reason of your
not going to London, and that you are alive. If you send him this poem,
he will be pleased with it.
Is there any hopes of your seeing the Llyfr Coch o Hergest? Who is
keeper, or under-keeper, of Jesus-College Library? And who is principal;
and who are the fellows? perhaps I may know some of them; or can make
interest some way or other for you to get the use of those MSS.
But it ought to be considered, that you are to mind the main chance of
reading the classics, in order to come to a tolerable being, before you
launch too far into any other studies; and you must only take a snatch by
the bye, which will serve to whet your genius; _oblegid mae newid gwaith
cystal a gorphwyso_.
When you can come at Llyfr Coch o Hergest, or any other ancient MSS., I
will send you directions to read it, and understand it: the chief
difficulty being in the orthography: the language of all Britain (even
Scotland) was the same as it is now in Wales, 1200 years ago.
I wrote to you lately, which I suppose you had not received when you sent
your dateless letter. I desire your answer when convenient.
Yours sincerely,
LEWIS MORRIS.
_Galltvadog_, _July_ 14, 1751.
* * * * *
The same to the same.