[1] See the opening of Speed's "Chronicle."
[2] The historian of our land in the solemnity of his high office,
unwilling that an obscure Welsh prince named _Prydain_ should have
left his immemorable name to this glorious realm, as a Welsh triad
professes, was delighted to draw the national name out of the native
tongue, appositely descriptive of the prevalent custom. But when,
seduced by this syren of etymology, our grave Camden, to display the
passion of a painted people for colours, collects a long list of
ancient British names of polysyllabic elongation, and culls from each
a single syllable which by its sound he conceives alludes to blue, or
red, or yellow, our sage, in proving more than was requisite, has
encumbered his cause, and has thrown suspicion over the whole. The
doom of the etymologist, so often duped by affinity of _sounds_,
seems to have been that of our judicious Camden.
[3] Evelyn's "Numismata." Pinkerton has engraven ten of these
Britannias struck by the Romans in his "Essay on Medals."
[4] Milton.
[5] See Mr. Turner's able "Vindication of the Genuineness of the
Ancient British Bards."
[6] Warton draws his knowledge from Rowland's "Mona Antiqua;" Geoffry
of Monmouth would have extended his inquiry. Camden, judicious as he
was, has actually bestowed the kingdom, as well as the princess, on
this Roman general; and Gibbon has sarcastically noticed that Camden
has been authority for all "his blind followers." The source of this
sort of history lies in the volume of the "Monk of Monmouth," where
Gibbon might have found the number of the numerous army of Maximus.
Rowland's "Mona Antiqua Restaurata" is one of the most extraordinary
pieces of our British Antiquities. It is written with the embrowned
rust of our old English Antiquaries, where nothing on a subject seems
to be omitted; but our author, unlike his contemporary antiquaries,
is sceptical even on his own acquisitions; he asserts little and
assumes nothing. One may conceive the native simplicity of an author,
who having to describe the Isle of Anglesey, opens his work with the
history of Chaos itself, to explain by the division of land and water
the origin of islands. I have heard that this learned antiquary never
travelled from his native island.
[7] "L'Art de verifier les Dates," article _Bretagne_, is thrown into
utter confusion. It seems, however, to indicate that there were many
migrations; but all is indistinct or uncertain.
[8] Verstegan has finely engraved these idols in his "Restitution,"
so delighted was this Teutonic Christian with these hideous
absurdities of his pagan ancestors, and so proud of his Saxon
descent.
[9] Turner's "History of England during the Middle Ages," iv. 326.
[10] "Britannia after the Romans." The literary patriotism of Wales
has been more remarkable among humble individuals than among the
squirearchy, if we except the ardent Pennant. Mr. Owen Jones, an
honest furrier in Thames-street, kindled by the love of father-land,
offered the Welsh public a costly present of the "Archaeology of
Wales," containing the bardic poetry, genealogies, triads,
chronicles, &c. in their originals: the haughty descendant of the
Cymry disdained to translate for the Anglo-Saxon. To Mr. William Owen
the lore of Cambria stands deeply indebted for his persevering
efforts. Under the name of Meirion he long continued his literal
versions of the Welsh bards in the early volumes of the "Monthly
Magazine;" he has furnished a Cambrian biography and a dictionary.
Some years ago, a learned Welsh scholar, Dr. Owen Pughe, issued
proposals to publish the "Mabinogion," accompanied by translations,
on the completion of a subscription list sufficient to indemnify the
costs of printing.--See Mr. Crofton Croker's interesting work on
"Fairy Legends," vol. iii. He appealed in vain to the public, but the
whole loss remains with them. Recently a munificent lady [Lady
Charlotte Guest] has resumed the task, and has presented us in the
most elegant form with two tales such as ladies read. Since this note
was written several cheering announcements of some important works
have been put forth. [Many have since been published.]
[11] See Warton and Ellis. "Poesies de Marie de France" have been
published by M. de Roquefort, Paris, 1820.
[12] "The translators do the triadist an injustice in rendering _Tri_
by '_The Three_' when he has put no _The_ at all. The number was
accounted fortunate, and they took a pleasure in binding up all their
ideas into little sheaves or fasciculi of three; but in so doing they
did not mean to imply that there were no more such."--"Britannia
after the Romans."
[13] As these artificial associations, like the topics invented by
the Roman rhetoricians, have been ridiculed by those who have
probably formed their notions from unskilful versions, I select a few
which might enter into the philosophy of the human mind. They denote
a literature far advanced in critical refinement, and appear to have
been composed from the sixth to the twelfth century.
"The three foundations of genius; the gift of God, human exertion,
and the events of life."
"The three first requisites of genius; an eye to see nature, a heart
to feel it, and a resolution that dares follow it."
"The three things indispensable to genius; understanding, meditation,
and perseverance."
"The three things that improve genius; proper exertion, frequent
exertion, and successful exertion."
"The three qualifications of poetry; endowment of genius, judgment
from experience, and felicity of thought."
"The three pillars of judgment; bold design, frequent practice, and
frequent mistakes."
"The three pillars of learning; seeing much, suffering much, and
studying much." See Turner's "Vindication of the Ancient British
Bards."--Owen's "Dissertation on Bardism, prefixed to the Heroic
Elegies of Llywarc Hen."