HomeResources
Wales and the French Revolution Series
|
(Welsh Poems) France’s Revolution (selection)by David Davis, Castellhywel (Dafis Castellhywel / Dafydd Dafis; 1745–1827)Location: Welsh Poetry of the French Revolution 1789–1805, rhif / no. 13 SCROLL DOWN FOR ENGLISH TRANSLATIONAll un swyn roi ffrwyn i Ffrainc, – i’w dofi  ’defyn main ungainc? Ofer i filwyr ifainc Byth anturio ffrwyno Ffrainc. ... Troes Ffrainc orseddfainc gŵr swyddfawr – ac aur Ei goron i’r priddlawr; Ble’r aeth parch y monarch mawr? Darfu mewn amarch dirfawr! Bellach Ffrainc ar fainc a fydd – yn hynod Frenhines y gwledydd; Hed myrddiynau o’u rhwymau’n rhydd, O dan ei mwyn adenydd. Caiff caethion deillion, o dwllwch, – olwg Ar heulwen diddanwch; Daw dyddiau llawn dedwyddwch Ar waelion llwydion y llwch. ... Nid prelad, ’ffeiriad, na ’fferen – ddylem Ni ddilyn yn llawen; Mab Duw, nid Pab yw y pen Cydpwys i fod ein cadpen. Pob cribog c’ronog, cryned; – pob trawsedd, Pob treisiwr, dychryned: Boed drist anghrist ac anghred, A dyrchafer cryfder Cred. Moled gwŷr synnwyr y senedd, – roddai Lawn ryddid heb omedd, I’w mwynhau gan bawb mewn hedd, Heb wa’n rhwng gwrêng na bonedd. ... Chwi Frython rhyddion, rhoddwch, – yr eurglod I’r Arglwydd, dangoswch; Orfoledd, na ryfelwch Â’r llaw a gwyd fyrdd o’r llwch... TRANSLATION Can any charm curb France and tame her with one single thin thread? It is futile for young soldiers ever to venture to bridle France. ... France turned the throne and golden crown of an eminent man to the dust; Where did the respect of the great monarch go? It came to an end in great dishonour! France will now be seated on a throne as remarkable queen of nations; myriads fly free from their bonds under her gentle wings. Blind prisoners in darkness will see the sunshine of consolation; days full of contentment will come to the lowest of the low. ... We should not blindly follow a prelate, a priest, or mass; God’s Son, not a pope, is head and fit to be our captain. Let every crested, crowned head quake; let every violent oppressor be afraid: may the godless and faithless be sad, and may Christendom’s strength be exalted. May men praise the good sense of the senate which gave full liberty without restriction to be enjoyed in peace by everyone, without distinction between plebeians and nobility. ... You, free Britons, give golden praise openly to the Lord; rejoice, do not go to war with the hand which raises hosts from the dust...
|
