PRINCE MADOC'S FAREWELL 241 But long as Arvon's mountains shall lift their sovereign forms, And wear the crown to which is given dominion o'er the storms, So long, their empire sharing, shall live the lofty tongue To which the harp of Mona's woods by freedom's hand was strung!" PRINCE MADOC'S FAREWELL WHY lingers my gaze where the last hues of day Lies far o'er the measureless worlds of the deep! Why rise on my thoughts, ye free songs of the land Where the harp's lofty soul on each wild wind is borne? Be hushed, be forgotten! for ne'er shall the hand Of minstrel with melody greet my return. -No! no-let our echoes still float on the breeze, And my heart shall be strong for the conquest of seas! "Tis not for the land of my sires to give birth Unto bosoms that shrink when their trial is nigh; Away! we will bear over ocean and earth A name and a spirit that never shall die. My course to the winds, to the stars, I resign; But my soul's quenchless fire, O my country! is thine. A HOWEL'S SONG [HOWEL AB EINION LLYGLIW was a distinguished bard of the fourteenth century. A beautiful poem, addressed by him to Myfanwy Vychan, a celebrated beauty of those times, is still preserved amongst the remains of the Welsh bards. The ruins of Myfanwy's residence, Castle Dinas Brân, may yet be traced on a high hill near Llangollen.] PRESS on, my steed! I hear the swell 8 Sweet floating from the holy dell O'er woods and waters round. I feel her presence on the scene! O fair as ocean's curling foam !9 Lo! with the balmy hour I come The hour that brings the wanderer home, The weary to repose! Haste on each mountain's darkening crest The glow hath died, the shadows rest, The twilight star on Deva's breast Gleams tremulously bright; CASWALLON'S TRIUMPH Speed for Myfanwy's bower on high ! Though scorn may wound me from her eye, 243 CASWALLON'S TRIUMPH ["CASWALLON (or Cassivelaunus) was elected to the supreme command of the Britons, (as recorded in the Triads,) for the purpose of opposing Cæsar, under the title of Elected Chief of Battle. Whatever impression the disciplined legions of Rome might have made on the Britons in the first instance, the subsequent departure of Cæsar they considered as a cause of triumph; and it is stated that Caswallon proclaimed an assembly of the various states of the island, for the purpose of celebrating that event by feasting and public rejoicing."-Cambrian Biography.] FROM the glowing southern regions, Where the sun-god makes his dwelling, Of a conqueror's march were telling. But his eagle's royal pinion, Bowing earth beneath its glory, Our wild seas and mountains holy ! Bear a vanquished world the story! Lords of earth! to Rome returning, OWEN GLYNDWR'S WAR-SONG ["THE year 1402 was ushered in with a comet or blazing star, which the bards interpreted as an omen favourable to the cause of Glyndwr. It served to infuse spirit into the minds of a superstitious people-the first success of their chieftain confirmed this belief, and gave new vigour to their actions."-PENNANT.] The heavens looked down on Freedom's war, And lit her torch on high! Bright on the dragon crest * It tells that glory's wing shall rest, Let earth's pale tyrants read despair And swell the rushing mountain air With songs of Glyndwr's name. * "Owen Glyndwr styled himself the Dragon; a name he assumed in imitation of Uthyr, whose victories over the Saxons were foretold by the appearance of a star with a dragon beneath, OWEN GLYNDWR'S WAR-SONG 245 At the dead hour of night, Marked ye how each majestic height Red shone the eternal snows, 10 O eagles of the battle,1o rise! The hope of Gwynedd wakes! * It is your banner in the skies Through each dark cloud which breaks, And mantles with triumphal dyes Your thousand hills and lakes ! A sound is on the breeze, A murmur as of swelling seas! Lo spear and shield and lance, From Deva's waves with lightning glance But who the torrent-wave compels A conqueror's chain to bear? Let those who wake the soul that dwells Of us they told, the seers And monarch bards of elder years, Who walked on earth as powers! which Uthyr used as his badge; and on that account it became a favourite one with the Welsh."-PENNANT. * Gwynedd, (pronounced Gwyneth,) North Wales. |