To those who are no strangers to the Language and Spirit of the
Originals, and who would feel disposed to welcome their adaptation to
changed circumstances, the Author submits these Translations:[1] and he
does so with a measure of trust that they may not be altogether powerless
in renovating and sustaining impressions produced by those Originals.
And believing that there are others--English Christians--who confidently
anticipate good to the Church from any reciprocation of the
diversely-developed expressions of One Spirit, this introductory effort
at presenting, in their language, a specimen of Welsh Devotional Song (in
which a few English Originals are included), as illustrating its
characteristic genius, is, to them also, respectfully offered, with the
view of realising, in however humble a degree, the Desired Good.
An Index of the First Lines of the original Welsh Hymns, arranged in the
order of the Translations, will be found at the end of the Work.
The Metres of the Originals are retained in every case where a departure
from them, is not specified. Their own thrilling minor MELODIES ought to
accompany them.
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[1]The principle adopted in the preparation of this Work may be aptly
expressed, with slight modifications, in the language of a late
Translator of Horace: "I [have endeavoured] to give not only the exact
sense, but also the manner, the spirit, and [generally] the numbers of
the original; while I have also aimed at giving [the] performance the
freedom and ease of native compositions in [the English]
language."--Preface to "Arundines Devae;" by a Scotch Physician: Edin.