Some Specimens of the Poetry of the Ancient Welsh Bards Part 21

Richardson, Esq., _Surgeon_, of Rhayader."-_Shrops.h.i.+re Conservative_

"The caprice of fas.h.i.+on has rendered famous many old corners of the earth, while others more deserving the notice of the great world lie hidden in unmerited obscurity, or at the most have obtained but a mere local celebrity. The spas of Germany are frequented by quite as many of the votaries of dissipation, and _Rouge et Noir_, as of the seekers after the blessings of health; but there are secluded valleys in our own country which are to the full as deserving of the visits of the lover of the beautiful, and the tired out workman in the world's great treadmill, while to the invalid they offer medicaments of nature's own composition, and scenes untainted by the follies of the frivolous, or the vices of the designing, who throng the gilded saloons of Hamburg and Baden to prey upon the gay and gilded b.u.t.terflies of fas.h.i.+on. To such the little book whose t.i.tle we quote above will prove a faithful, and we believe a welcome guide-for its unpretending pages contain not merely a great amount of information, but also a considerable fund of recreative reading. Almost every line of the chapters comprising the first part betrays the writer's well-know hand. Unlike as Charles Lamb and Carlyle are to each other, and unlike as he is to either, there is much in his style that reminds us of both; there is much of the genial quaint humour of the one, and much, very much, of the eccentricity of the other. There is no mistaking the pen, whether it is employed in graphically sketching with a few rapid touches the picturesque scenery of woodland glen, or wide expanse of solitary moor, or glorious mountain side grand with precipice, and beautiful with heather bloom-or whether it is rendering homage to the memory of some worthy of other days, who first saw light among those hills-or whether it is with the frolic humour of a Cerfantes giving a vivid word-picture of an exploring expedition, mounted on a batch of Abergwessin ponies-it is still ORIGINAL, and will be recognised all over Wales as wielded by no other hand than that of "Kilsby," by which designation the Rev. James Rhys Jones is by common consent distinguished from the ten thousand and one of his compatriots who rejoice in the same surname. We can scarcely conceive the possibility of his doing anything and not doing it _earnestly_, but this has evidently been a labour of love, for is it not a description of that Valley of the Irvon which he thus apostrophises?-

"'Thou birth-place and resting place of my humble forefathers, wisely and not too well have I loved thee; when I sojourned in the land of the n.o.ble and generous Saxon thou wert my thought by day and my dream by night; it was my uppermost wish to close my life in thy bosom; I have loved thee with a love second only to that of woman, and a pa.s.sion which sober men p.r.o.nounce madness: it matters not, for I can pray with the Westmoreland Bard, "Thou valley embrace me, and ye mountains shut me in."'

"The remaining portion of the book is chiefly a compilation, but one that has been well and judiciously performed. Mr. Pryse has succeeded in getting from a variety of sources pretty nearly every thing that can possibly interest, inform, or amuse, in connection not only with the mineral springs, but also with the beautiful district in which they are situated. For the invalid he has brought together the various a.n.a.lyses of the waters, made from time to time, with the opinions of medical men as to the best rules for their administration; for the scientific he has produced the opinions of geologists as to the causes of the impregnation of the waters, with their health-giving const.i.tuents; for the antiquarian he has collected all that remains of the annals of the ruined abbeys and castles within a wide circuit, especially all that is known of the history of the last hours of the gallant Llewellyn, last native Prince of Wales, whose sad fate has given such melancholy interest to the vicinity of Builth; and for the poet and the lover of the marvellous he has recorded the wondrous legends, which in days gone by, were supposed to account for the healing powers of the springs without resorting to the philosophic theories of the Murchisons or Richardsons of those times. In short, he has produced a "Handbook," the possession of which will doubly enhance the pleasure of a summer ramble amid the scenes which it describes."-_The Monmouths.h.i.+re Merlin_.

This Handbook is got up in various styles, so as to suit the pockets of every visitor. In stiff paper covers the price is 1s. 6d.; bound in strong cloth boards the price is 2s.; bound in extra cloth, gilt edges, and lettered on the side, the price is 2s. 6d. All post free for value in stamps.

PUBLISHED & SOLD BY JOHN PRYSE, BOOKSELLER, LLANIDLOES, MONTGOMERY.

A List of Books Published or Sold by John Pryse, Bookseller, &c., Llanidloes, Montgomery. All post free for their value in stamps; when not to be had from a Bookseller, please send to the Publisher.

THE CAMBRIAN MINSTREL, by John Thomas, (Ieuan Ddu.) Small 4to, (Merthyr Tydfil, 1845,) in 13 Parts, paper covers, price 6s. 6d. "The Work is equally interesting to Welsh readers, as nearly all the matter contained is inserted in both languages."

A Melody for Cristmas or New Year's Eve, by R. Lowe, Price 1d.

Williams's Epitaphs for Grave-stones. Price 9d.

The Inundation of Cardigan Bay, by the Rev. G. Edwards, M.A., Price 9d

Will be published as soon as Subscribers' names are received for 400 copies, price Half-a-crown.

THE HISTORY OF THE ANCIENT BRITONS,

by the late Rev. Theophilus Evans, sometime vicar of Llangammarch, and discoverer of the Llanwrtyd Mineral Waters, &c. Translated from the Welsh, with notes from the works of modern writers. The book will be printed on good paper, and st.i.tched in paper covers,

Will be published as soon as Subscribers' names are received for 250 copies, price 5s.

THE HISTORY OF WALES,

by Caradoc of Llancarvan, translated from the Welsh. The publisher has long noticed the want of a reprint of this most interesting History; it having become very scarce, he ventures to hope to have at once sufficient Subscribers to enable him to issue the book forthwith

DRYCH Y PRIF OESOEDD,

yn ddwy ran, Rhan I, sy'n traethu am hen Ach y Cymry, o ba le y daethant allan; y Rhyfeloedd a fu rhyngddynt a'r Rhufeinwyr, y Brithwyr, a'r Saeson; a'u Moesau cyn troi yn Gristionogion. Rhan II, sy'n traethu am Bregethiad a Chynydd yr Efengyl yn Mhrydain, Athrawiaeth y Brif Eglwys, a Moesau y Prif Gristionogion, Gan y Parch, Theophilus Evans, gynt vicar Llangammarch, yn ngwlad Fuellt a Dewi, yn Mrycheiniog. Yn nghyda Rhagarweiniad a nodau eglurhaol, gan y Parch, Rhys Gwesyn Jones, un o awdwyr y "Gwyddoniadur Cymreig," &c. Adargraffiad o'r argraffiad a gyhoeddwyd gan yr awdwr yn 1740, Pris mewn papur (i Danysgrifwyr) 2s, Cloth Gilt, 3s

The Love Songs and War Songs of the Ancient Britons,

BREEZES FROM THE WELSH MOUNTAINS

A Sc.r.a.p Book of Cambrian Prose and Poetry, compiled by John Pryse. The book contains translated specimens of the works of the most eminent Welsh Bards, Warriors, and Philosophers. Price 1s, 6d

Y Llyfr Rhataf yn Nghymru!! Newydd ei Gyhoeddi, Pris 6c, Y CYFAILL I BAWB, Yn cynwys yr "Almanac Tragwyddol," y dull newydd i olchi dillad, wrth yr hwn y gellir cwblhau golohiad chwech wythnos cyn boreufwyd, Hefyd, yn agos i 300 o gyfarwyddiadau ereill yn dangos y ffordd oreu i drin anifeiliaid, ac i wheyd llawer iawn o bethau gwerthadwy, yn nghyda _chatalogues_ am filoedd o lyfrau, a hysbysiadau am lawer iawn o bethau nas gellir eu henwi yma. Y ffordd i gael y llyfr-rhowch 6 o stamps llythyrau (yn nghydag enw eich trigfa) mewn llythyr, wedi ei gyfeirio at John Pryse, Bookseller, Llanidloes, Montgomery, a chyda throad y post fe anfonir y llyfr yn rhydd.

IF YOU WISH TO RESTORE YOUR HEALTH AND INVIGORATE YOUR SPIRITS, you cannot do better than take a trip to one or other of the Welsh Mineral Springs. Before you leave home, send for a copy of Pryse's Handbook to the Brecons.h.i.+re and Radnors.h.i.+re Mineral Springs, which contains the History of _Llandrindod_, _Llandegley_, _Llanwrtyd_, _and Builth Wells_, with full directions for using the _waters_ by a thoroughly qualified medical Gentleman; topographical, antiquarian, and geological notes and exerpts from the writings of the most eminent authors; an Hotel and Lodging-house directory; and descriptive journeys from nearly all the princ.i.p.al towns within a circle of 50 miles. The reader will also find in its pages much amusing and interesting reading for odd leisure hours, all of which is calculated to add to the enjoyment and amus.e.m.e.nt of the visitor and tourist. The book is neatly bound in cloth, and although it contains above 200 pages, it is not too bulky for the Lady's reticule or the Gentleman's pocket. _How to obtain it_,-Send 24 penny stamps to JOHN PRYSE, BOOKSELLER, LLANIDLOES, MONTGOMERY, and it will be sent Post free to any address.

A Short Familiar Catechism, by the late Rev. T. Charles, of Bala. Price 2d. or thirteen for 2s

Everett's Catechism, translated into English by the Rev. R. Thomas.

Price 1d, or one hundred for 6s

The Mother's Gift, (Welsh or English,) 1d, or one hundred for 6s

English and Welsh Letter Writer. Price 6d, and 9d, in cloth, 3d, extra

The Welsh Interpreter. Price 6d, and 9d, bound in cloth, 3d, extra

Everybody's Friend; containing a valuable collection of Receipts, Proverbs, &c. Price 6d,

Gweledigaethau y Bardd Cwsg, (The Visions of the Sleeping Bard,) by E.

Wynne, with Life, Price 1s.

Pughe's Beauties of English Poetry, with a literal translation of each piece into Welsh. Price 14 pence

Motives for Progression, by the late D. L. Pughe, with life. Price 6d

The Unity of the Christian Church, by the Rev. R. G. Jones. Price 6d

The Good Old Time is come at last, (Song & Music) by H. Jones. 2d

J. Jenkins, Esq. (Solicitor) on the Nature, &c. of Friendly Societies.

2d

The Vale of Taff, a Poem, by John Thomas, price 1s.; yr Arweinydd Cerddorol, gan R. Mills, pris 4s. 6d.; The Cambrian Melodist, price 6d.; the Educational State of Wales, by the Rev. J. R. Kilsby Jones, price 2d.; Gwaith Eos Ceiriog, pris 6s.; Testament W. Salisbury, pris 7s.; Williams's Gems of Choral and Sacred Music, price 3s.

A list of other Books gratis, and Post free.

The following Books are preparing for publication, subscribers' names for which will oblige. CANIADAU SEION A'R ATTODIAD, gan R. Mills, pris 12s.; GWAITH BARDDONAWL. DAVYDD AP GWILYM, gan Dr. Owen Pughe, pris 6s. 6d.; the CAMBRIAN TRAVELLER'S COMPANION-Biographical and Togographical Sketches, collected by John Pryse; price 1s. 6d.; the ENGLISH POETICAL WORKS OF IOLO MORGANWG, price 5s.