Home

Resources

Wales and the French Revolution Series
(Welsh Poems)

A cywydd composed in the time of war between us and France (selection)

by Edward Evan (Iorwerth ab Ioan; 1716–98)

Location: Welsh Poetry of the French Revolution 1789–1805, rhif / no. 2

SCROLL DOWN FOR ENGLISH TRANSLATION



Pa bryd, Arglwydd, daw’r swydd sâl
Eto i gael ei hatal?
Sef rhyfel, nid ffel heb ffydd,
Hynod a mawr ddihenydd
Ar ddynion hoywon yn haid,
Tro annoeth, fel trueiniaid;
O waith balchder, trawster trwch,
Flin wedd a’i aflonyddwch,
A thrachwant, aflwyddiant flin,
Anwiredd sy’n y werin;
Yw’r achos, heb os, tyb i
A luniwyd heb oleuni
I dywallt gwaed i’r diwedd,
Yn lle ceisio hwylio am hedd.

Plant i’r un tad, roddiad rydd,
Gwelwn yn lladd ei gilydd!
Duw pob cariad, llwyddiad llon,
O’u mebyd yn magu meibion
Llawn o lid, mewn gwrid gwradwydd,
A balchder, ansyber swydd;
Trachwant am ffyniant di-ffydd,
Ymlidio’n fawr am wledydd.
Gadewch bellach, sothach sâl,
Nodwch am wlad anwadal;
Diolchwch, gwelwch mai gwych
Gannaid yw’r hyn sy gennych;
Lluniwch i roddi llonydd
I bob gwlad mewn rhodiad rhydd.
...
Heddwch Duw sydd wycha’ dawn
A rennir i’r rhai uniawn.
Fe ddaw heddwch, llawndrwch, llon,
Gwawr osteg, i’r gwir Gristion:
Yn amser Duw, byw’n ddi-ball,
Hyderwn am fyd arall,
Am bob peth yn ddifethiant
Trwy Grist nefol, siriol sant.
I Dduw Naf dan ffurfafen,
Gogoniant, moliant, Amen ...

TRANSLATION
When, Lord, will the contemptible calling
again be prevented?
That is, war (without faith there is no knowing sense),
remarkable and great destruction,
which is a plague on happy men,
an unwise event, making them like wretches;
because of pride (atrocious oppression),
its angry nature and adversity,
and destructive greed,
there is dishonesty amongst the people;
to my mind, this is the cause, without doubt,
which was constructed without light,
to spill blood to the end
rather than attempt to prepare for peace.
We see children of the same father (a free gift)
killing each other!
God of every love (happy fortune)
nurtures men from their youth
who are full of anger, in a shameful flush,
and pride, uncivilized calling;
and also greed for faithless prosperity,
in great pursuit of lands.
Hereafter, leave all contemptible dross,
and consider a fickle country;
give thanks, see that what you have is
pure and excellent;
plan to give peace on an easy course
to every country.
...
God’s peace is the most excellent gift
that is shared between the just.
Happy and complete peace,
silent dawn, will come to the true Christian:
in God’s time, living faultlessly,
we put our trust in another world,
for everything without fail,
through heavenly Christ, happy saint.
To God the Lord of everything under the heavens,
be the glory and praise, Amen ...


Next article: Englynion on the present war in France 1794 (selection) .
List all Welsh Poems