By my friend Mr. Williams, rector of Weston, Staffordshire, I have been
informed of the great attention you have bestowed on British Literature,
and the pains you have taken to rescue the productions of your ancient
Bards from oblivion. Though I have not the happiness to understand, yet
I have a great veneration for, the ancient language of this Island, and
have always had a great desire to see some of the most early and most
original productions in it. I could never yet obtain a proper
gratification of this desire; for, to their shame be it spoken, most of
your countrymen, instead of vindicating their ancient and truly venerable
mother tongue from that contempt, which is only the result of ignorance,
rather encourage it by endeavouring to forget it themselves. Besides my
friend Mr. Williams, whose constant residence in England has deprived him
of the means of cultivating his native language so much as he would have
done, I never met with one native of Wales, who could give me any
satisfactory account of the literary productions of his own country, or
seemed to have bestowed any attention on its language and antiquities.
Not so the Scots:--they are everywhere recommending the antiquity of
their own country to public notice, vindicating its history, and setting
off its poetry, and, by dint of constant attention to their grand
national concern, have prevailed so far, as to have the broken jargon
they speak to be considered as the most proper language for our pastoral
poetry. Our most polite ladies affect to lisp out Scottish airs; and in
the Senate itself whatever relates to the Scottish Nation is always
mentioned with peculiar respect. Far from blaming this attention in the
Scotch I think it much to their credit, and am sorry, that a large class
of our fellow-subjects with whom we were united in the most intimate
union for many ages, before Scotland ceased to be our _most_ inveterate
enemy, have not shewn the same respect to the peculiarities of their own
country. But, by their supineness and neglect, have suffered a foolish
and inveterate prejudice to root itself in the minds of their
compatriots, the English,--a prejudice which might have been in a good
measure prevented, had the Welsh gentlemen occasionally given them
specimens of the treasures contained in their native language, which may
even yet be in part removed by the same means.
You have translated, I am informed, some of the Odes of your ancient
Bards. I wish you would proceed and make a select collection of the best
of them, and so give them to the world. You have probably heard what a
favourable reception the public has given to an English version of some
Erse Fragments imported from the Highlands of Scotland, and, if you have
never seen them, I will send them to you. I am verily persuaded, an
elegant translation of some curious pieces of ancient British Poetry
would be as well received, if executed in the same manner. I may
modestly pretend to have some credit with the booksellers, and with Mr.
Dodsley in particular, who is my intimate friend. I shall be very happy
to do you any good office with him, and shall be glad to make such an
attempt as profitable to you as, I am persuaded, it will be reputable
both to you and your country.
I have prevailed on a friend to attempt a Translation of some ancient
Runic Odes, composed among the snows of Norway, which will make their
appearance at Mr. Dodsley's shop next winter. My very learned friend and
neighbour, the Rev. Mr. Lye, editor of Junius's Etymologicon, and of
Ulphila's Gothic Gospels, (whose skill in the northern languages has
rendered him famous all over Europe,) is now rescuing some valuable
remains of Saxon Poetry from oblivion, and I can perhaps obtain leave of
him to let you see one of these odes by way of specimen, accompanied with
his version. I have not been altogether idle myself; but my attention
has been chiefly bestowed on the languages spoken in the southern parts
of Europe. I have collected some curious pieces of ancient Spanish
Poetry, and when I have translated a select collection of them, may
perhaps give them to the public. Amidst the general attention of ancient
and foreign poetry it would be a pity to leave that of the Ancient
Britons forgotten and neglected, and therefore, when I heard that a
person so capable was employed in collecting and translating those
valuable remains, it gave me a very sensible pleasure, and I could not
help expressing in a _volunteer_ letter to you, the sense I entertain of
the obligation, which you will undoubtedly confer on all real lovers of
literature and the productions of antiquity.
If you will favour me with a line containing a more particular account of
what has been the object of your labours, I shall be able to form a more
exact idea of the success, that may be expected from them than I can at
present. I will also communicate them to several eminent Literati of my
acquaintance, and to mention one in particular, Mr Johnson, the author of
the Dictionary, Rambler, &c., who will, I am sure, be glad to recommend
your work, and to give you any advice for the most advantageous disposal
of it. If you take these voluntary offers of service in good part, you
will please to favour me with a line, and I would wish also a specimen of
your labours, together with a full direction where to write to you. I am
a Clergyman, and shall receive any favour of this kind, that is enclosed
under a cover to the Right Honourable Henry Earl of Sussex, at Easton
Maudit Castle, by the Ashby Bag, Northamptonshire.
I am Sir, though unknown,
Your very faithful obedient servant,
THOMAS PERCY.
_Easton Maudit_, _July_ 21, 1761.
P.S. I am told you are acquainted with Mr. Gray, the poet. Pray has he
any foundation for what he has asserted in his Ode on the British Bards,
viz. that there is a tradition among the inhabitants of Wales, that our
Edward the First destroyed all the British Bards that fell into his
hands? The existence of such a tradition has been doubted.
* * * * *
The same to the same.