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Updated: June 1, 2025
‘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.’
‘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? 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.
"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?
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.
I will, however, quote from "The Sleeping Bard, or Visions of the World, Death and Hell," his translation of Elis Wyn's "Y Bardd Cwsg."
"They are substantially true, young man," said Peter; "like the dreams of Bunyan, they are founded on three tremendous facts, Sin, Death, and Hell; and like his they have done incalculable good, at least in my own country, in the language in which they are written. Were it not for the Bardd Cwsg perhaps I might not be here."
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.
"Not been in Wales; then, of course, you don't understand Welsh; but we were talking of the Bardd Cwsg yes, there are fairies in the Bardd Cwsg the author of it, Master Ellis Wyn, was carried away in his sleep by them over mountains and valleys, rivers and great waters, incurring mighty perils at their hands, till he was rescued from them by an angel of the Most High, who subsequently showed him many wonderful things."
"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.
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