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Updated: May 31, 2025
The Bardd Cwsc was first published in London in 1703, a small 24mo. volume of some 150 pages, with the following title-page "GWELEDIGAETHEU Y BARDD CWSC. Y Rhann Gyntaf. The text followed in this volume is that of Mr. Isaac Foulkes' edition, but recourse has also been had to the original edition for the purpose of comparison.
"I would sooner hear your own tale," said I, "than all the visions of the Bardd Cwsg." Peter shook, bent his form nearly double, and covered his face with his hands. I sat still and motionless, with my eyes fixed upon him. Presently Winifred descended the hill, and joined us. "What is the matter?" said she, looking at her husband, who still remained in the posture I have described.
But admitting so much, the Bardd Cwsc still remains a purely Welsh classic; whatever in name and incident Ellis Wynne has borrowed from the Spaniard he has dressed up in Welsh home-spun, leaving little or nothing indicative of foreign influence. The sins he preached against, the sinners he condemned, were, he knew too well, indigenous to Welsh and Spanish soil.
What do you call it—the Bardd Cwsg?’ ‘Yes, the Bardd Cwsg. You pronounce Welsh very fairly; have you ever been in Wales?’ ‘Never,’ said I.
I have never heard of that book before." "Heard of it before; I suppose not; how should you have heard of it before! By-the-bye, can you read?" "Very tolerably," said I; "so there are fairies in this book. What do you call it the Bardd Cwsg?" "Yes, the Bardd Cwsg. You pronounce Welsh very fairly; have you ever been in Wales?" "Never," said I.
"Yes," said Peter, "in his sleep; and on that account the book is called Gweledigaethau y Bardd Cwsg, or, Visions of the Sleeping Bard." "I do not care for wonders which occur in sleep," said I. "I prefer real ones; and perhaps, notwithstanding what he says, the man had no visions at all they are probably of his own invention."
"If I do not believe in devils, why am I here at the present moment?" "You know best," said I; "but I don't believe that fairies are devils, and I don't wish to hear them insulted. What learned men have said they are devils?" "Many have said it, young man, and, amongst others, Master Ellis Wyn, in that wonderful book of his, the Bardd Cwsg." "The Bardd Cwsg," said I; "what kind of book is that?
Borrow himself took no great pains to preserve the veil. For instance, in the preface to his translation of "Y Bardd Cwsg" in 1860, he says that it was made "in the year 1830 at the request of a little Welsh bookseller of his acquaintance" in Smithfield.
Many a guilty conscience has the Bardd Cwsg aroused with its dreadful sights, its strong sighs, its puffs of smoke from the pit, and its showers of sparks from the mouth of the yet lower gulf of Unknown—were it not for the Bardd Cwsg perhaps I might not be here.’ ‘I would sooner hear your own tale,’ said I, ‘than all the visions of the Bardd Cwsg.’
George Borrow sums up his comments upon the two authors in the following words: "Upon the whole, the Cymric work is superior to the Spanish; there is more unity of purpose in it, and it is far less encumbered with useless matter." The implication contained in the foregoing remarks of Borrow that the Bardd Cwsc is encumbered to a certain degree with useless matter, is no doubt well founded.
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