Symbol. The Origin Of Letters, Roll
*
"The Barddas of Iolo Morganwg, Vol. I.", ed. by J. Williams Ab Ithel, [1862],
p. 9
p. 10 p. 11
Bardism
The Origin Of Letters, Roll, And Paper.--the Virtue Of Letters.
May it please your information, my beloved teacher; pray, tell me who was the first that made a Letter?
Einiged the Giant, son of Huon, son of Alser, 1 son of Javan, 2 son of Japheth, son of Noah the Aged, after the death of his father, for the purpose of preserving a memorial of what he did, and of his praiseworthy actions, warranted in respect of credibility and information. And because it was on wood (pren) that such belief was first placed, both the letters, and what they were inscribed on, were called "Coelbren". 3
p. 12 p. 13
Who was the first that made a Roll 1 in connection with letters?
p. 14 p. 15
Bran the Blessed, 1 son of Llyr of Defective Speech, learned that mode at Rome, and brought it with him to Britain, where he taught it to the Cymry, as well as the manner of dressing the skins of kids and goats, so as to be suitable for written letters. And that mode became customary, so that the Bards alone practised, as it were by bare rescue, the old style of inscribing letters on wood, for the purpose of preserving the memorials of the old and primitive sciences of the nation of the Cymry; thence it came to be called "Coelbren of the Bards". At present there are only the Bards that keep it in memory, by engraving their songs and records on wood, according to the ancient art, with the view of preserving in reliable memory the primitive sciences of the nation of the Cymry.
Who was the first that made paper?
A man from Constantinople, named Moran; he ground flax, which on its being thinly spread out, became paper.
What is the virtue of letters?
They are mute organs that speak--a body without a soul, and without life, guiding thought--dead ones, knowing more than the living--a hand speaking better than the tongue--an eye hearing better than the ear, without either noise or sound--speech without a tongue--hearing without an ear--
p. 16 p. 17
language without words--form of voice--a messenger uttering the truth, without knowing it--the dead teaching the living--memory with no one guiding it--the understanding of the dead--the principal skill of the art of the living--the preservation of all arts and sciences--and the demonstration of all that is demonstrable.
Footnotes
11:1 p. 10 Probably the same as Elishah, in Gen. x. 4.
11:2 It is remarkable that, contrary to the popular notion which represents Gomer as the progenitor of the Cymry, Nennius, the Genealogy of Gruffydd ab Cynan, in the 2nd volume of the Myvyrian Archaiology--and other Pedigrees registered by Lewis Dwnn, all support the view of the text as to the descent of that people from Javan. Nennius, indeed, asserts positively that his information was derived "ex traditione veterum, qui incol in primo fuerunt Britanni."
11:3 That is, "wood of credibility". The ancient mode of cutting letters on wood is frequently alluded to in the poems of the Bards, both early and medieval. Thus;
Taliesin, 520--570.
Wyf llogell cerdd wyf lle ynydd (llenydd),
Caraf y "gorwydd" a "gorail" clyd.
I am the depository of song, I am a reader,
I love the "sprigs" and the compact "wattling".
Buarth y Beirdd.
p. 11
Gwydion ap Don--
A rithwys "gorwyddawd" y ar plagawd.
Gwydion, son of Don--
Formed "wood knowledge" upon plagawd.
Kadeir Keridwen.
Rhys Goch Ab Riccert, 1140-1170.
Bu "bwyall brenn" bardd anghymmen
Yn "naddu" can i Wenllian.
The "wooden axe" of an unpolished bard
Has been "hewing" a song to Gwenllian.
Cynddelw, 1150-1200.
O ffyrfioli tri o draethaut berffaith
Oe "gwyded" ieith oe "gwydaur". p. 12
From composing three complete treatises
Of "wood" language--of "wood letters".--Canu i Dduw.
Davydd Ab Gwilym, 1300-1368.
Hwn fydd ar "wydd" i'w hannerch.
This will address them on "wood".
O myn wawd orddawd arddof
Aed i'r "coed" i "dorri" cof.
If he would have an encomium of gentle character,
Let him go into the "wood" to "cut" a memorial.
I Ruff. Grug.
Haws yw cael lle ho gwael "gwydd"
"Saerni" dwfn "saer" na defnydd.
It is easier to obtain, where the "wood" is poor,
The "carpentry" of a skilful "wright", than materials.--Ib.
Iolo Goch, 1315-1402.
Arwain i Owain a wnaf
Ar eiriau mydr ir araf
Peunydd nid "naddiad gwydd gwern",
Pen "saerwawd".
I will bear for Owain,
In metrical words, fresh and slow,
Continually, not the "hewing of alder wood"
By the chief "carpenter of song".--I. O. Glyndwr.
Rhys Goch Eryri, 1330-1420.
Ni welir mwy ol "bwyall"
Flodau "saer" ar gerddgaer gall.
No longer will be seen the mark of "the axe"
Of the flower of "carpenters" on a song-loving and wise one.
Mar. Gruff. Llwyd.
Llywelyn Moel Y Pantri, 1400-1430.
Pan glywyf hiraethwyf hoed
"Pensaergerdd" pain is "irgoed".
When I hear, I regret the delay,
The "chief carpenter of song"--a peacock beneath the "green wood".
Gwilym Tew, 1430-1470.
Llun ei gorph yn darllain "gwydd".
The form of his person reading "wood".
Ieuan Du'R Bilwg, 1460-1500.
Aed dy fawl, ydwyd filwr,
Ar "wydd" hyd mae dydd a dwr.
May thy praise go--thou art a soldier
Upon "wood", as long as day and water continue.
p. 13
Lewys Mon, 1480-1520.
\"Bwyall" gerdd pan ballai gant
Byth "naddai" beth ni wyddant.
The "axe" of song, when a hundred failed,
Always "hewed" what they knew not.
Mar. Rhys Nanmor.
Sion Tudur, 1560-1602.
Ni wnai brydydd na brawdwr
Roi "gwydd" gwael ar gywydd gwr.
No poet or judge
Used better "wood" for a poem to man.
Mar. Sion Brwynog.
Rhys Cain, 1580.
Yscerbwd mewn cwd, nid min call--a'i mawl,
Llyfr moliant bardd cibddall,
Anhawdd yw ei iawn ddeall,
Fe wna i ddyn a fo'n ddall.
A skeleton in a bag--the lips of the wise will not praise it,
The eulogistic book of a purblind bard,
It is difficult to rightly understand it,
It will do for a man who is blind.--I lyfr pren.
A long string of similar quotations might be adduced, but the foregoing are sufficient to show that the practice in question was known to the Bards from the 6th down to the 17th century.
It may be observed that several words in the Cymric language, which relate to knowledge or literature, have a primary reference to wood. Thus; "arwydd", a sign; "cyfarwydd", skilful; "cyfarwyddyd", information; "cywydd", a species of versification, also revelation; "dedwydd", having recovered knowledge, happy; "derwydd", a Druid; "egwyddawr", a rudiment, an alphabet; "gwgddawr", a rudiment; "gwyddon", a man of science; "gwynwyddigion", men of sacred knowledge.
13:1 Though Roll, as in the text, primarily refers to the schedule that was turned up with the hand in the form of a pipe, it came also to denote a system, or arrangement, as in the phraseologies, "Rhol y Crythor", "Rhol y Telynor", "Rhol y Mesurau", "Rhol Iolo Goch", "Rhol Achau", "Rhol Cof a Chyfrif", and "Rhol y Beirdd". It is alluded to by many of the Bards; thus--
Davydd Ab Gwilym, 1300-1368.
Bydd yr un "Rhol" ag Iolo
Ddefod hardd, hen fardd y fro.
He will be of the same "Roll" as Iolo,
Fair usage--the old Bard of the district.
Gruffydd Ab Ieuan Ab Llywelyn Vychan, 1470.
Y rhai na wyppont eu "Rhol"
Yu csgud aent i ysgol. p. 14
They who know not their "Roll",
Let them quickly go to school.
Huw Ap Davydd Ap Llywelyn Ap Madawc, 1480-1520.
Goreuro "Rhol" geiriau rhawg,
"Grafio" dadl gref odidawg.
He gilt a "Roll" of long words,
He "engraved" a controversy, strong and excellent.
Mar. Tudur Aled.
Harri Ap Rhys Ap Gwilym, 1530.
Graddau a Rhol "gorwyddawd",
Gwraidd gwybodau er gwau gwawd.
The degrees and Roll of "wood-knowledge",
The root of sciences, for the weaving of a song of praise.
Mar. Gwilym ap Ieuan Hen.
Davydd Benwyn, 1550-1600.
Eurai bwnc oran bencerdd,
Arail gwawd a "Rhol" y gerdd. p. 15
He embellished a subject--the best chief of song--
He attended to encomium, and the "Roll" of song.
Mar. Lewys Morgan.
Lewys Ap Hywel, 1560-1600.
Rhin gwawdiaith a'i rhoi'n gadarn,
"Rhol" beirdd yn rheoli barn.
The charm of panegyric, firmly placed,
The "Roll" of the Bards ruling judgment.
Mar. Iorwerth Vynglwyd.
Sion Tudur, 1560-1602.
Ai "Rhol" achau rhy lychwin.
And their "Roll" of pedigrees, too much covered with mould.
15:1 Father of the celebrated Caractacus. Bran is said to have remained at Rome for seven years as hostage for his son. (Tr. 35. Third Series). It was then that be acquired the information imputed to him in the text.
"The Barddas of Iolo Morganwg, Vol. I.", ed. by J. Williams Ab Ithel, [1862],
p. 9
p. 10 p. 11
Bardism
The Origin Of Letters, Roll, And Paper.--the Virtue Of Letters.
May it please your information, my beloved teacher; pray, tell me who was the first that made a Letter?
Einiged the Giant, son of Huon, son of Alser, 1 son of Javan, 2 son of Japheth, son of Noah the Aged, after the death of his father, for the purpose of preserving a memorial of what he did, and of his praiseworthy actions, warranted in respect of credibility and information. And because it was on wood (pren) that such belief was first placed, both the letters, and what they were inscribed on, were called "Coelbren". 3
p. 12 p. 13
Who was the first that made a Roll 1 in connection with letters?
p. 14 p. 15
Bran the Blessed, 1 son of Llyr of Defective Speech, learned that mode at Rome, and brought it with him to Britain, where he taught it to the Cymry, as well as the manner of dressing the skins of kids and goats, so as to be suitable for written letters. And that mode became customary, so that the Bards alone practised, as it were by bare rescue, the old style of inscribing letters on wood, for the purpose of preserving the memorials of the old and primitive sciences of the nation of the Cymry; thence it came to be called "Coelbren of the Bards". At present there are only the Bards that keep it in memory, by engraving their songs and records on wood, according to the ancient art, with the view of preserving in reliable memory the primitive sciences of the nation of the Cymry.
Who was the first that made paper?
A man from Constantinople, named Moran; he ground flax, which on its being thinly spread out, became paper.
What is the virtue of letters?
They are mute organs that speak--a body without a soul, and without life, guiding thought--dead ones, knowing more than the living--a hand speaking better than the tongue--an eye hearing better than the ear, without either noise or sound--speech without a tongue--hearing without an ear--
p. 16 p. 17
language without words--form of voice--a messenger uttering the truth, without knowing it--the dead teaching the living--memory with no one guiding it--the understanding of the dead--the principal skill of the art of the living--the preservation of all arts and sciences--and the demonstration of all that is demonstrable.
Footnotes
11:1 p. 10 Probably the same as Elishah, in Gen. x. 4.
11:2 It is remarkable that, contrary to the popular notion which represents Gomer as the progenitor of the Cymry, Nennius, the Genealogy of Gruffydd ab Cynan, in the 2nd volume of the Myvyrian Archaiology--and other Pedigrees registered by Lewis Dwnn, all support the view of the text as to the descent of that people from Javan. Nennius, indeed, asserts positively that his information was derived "ex traditione veterum, qui incol in primo fuerunt Britanni."
11:3 That is, "wood of credibility". The ancient mode of cutting letters on wood is frequently alluded to in the poems of the Bards, both early and medieval. Thus;
Taliesin, 520--570.
Wyf llogell cerdd wyf lle ynydd (llenydd),
Caraf y "gorwydd" a "gorail" clyd.
I am the depository of song, I am a reader,
I love the "sprigs" and the compact "wattling".
Buarth y Beirdd.
p. 11
Gwydion ap Don--
A rithwys "gorwyddawd" y ar plagawd.
Gwydion, son of Don--
Formed "wood knowledge" upon plagawd.
Kadeir Keridwen.
Rhys Goch Ab Riccert, 1140-1170.
Bu "bwyall brenn" bardd anghymmen
Yn "naddu" can i Wenllian.
The "wooden axe" of an unpolished bard
Has been "hewing" a song to Gwenllian.
Cynddelw, 1150-1200.
O ffyrfioli tri o draethaut berffaith
Oe "gwyded" ieith oe "gwydaur". p. 12
From composing three complete treatises
Of "wood" language--of "wood letters".--Canu i Dduw.
Davydd Ab Gwilym, 1300-1368.
Hwn fydd ar "wydd" i'w hannerch.
This will address them on "wood".
O myn wawd orddawd arddof
Aed i'r "coed" i "dorri" cof.
If he would have an encomium of gentle character,
Let him go into the "wood" to "cut" a memorial.
I Ruff. Grug.
Haws yw cael lle ho gwael "gwydd"
"Saerni" dwfn "saer" na defnydd.
It is easier to obtain, where the "wood" is poor,
The "carpentry" of a skilful "wright", than materials.--Ib.
Iolo Goch, 1315-1402.
Arwain i Owain a wnaf
Ar eiriau mydr ir araf
Peunydd nid "naddiad gwydd gwern",
Pen "saerwawd".
I will bear for Owain,
In metrical words, fresh and slow,
Continually, not the "hewing of alder wood"
By the chief "carpenter of song".--I. O. Glyndwr.
Rhys Goch Eryri, 1330-1420.
Ni welir mwy ol "bwyall"
Flodau "saer" ar gerddgaer gall.
No longer will be seen the mark of "the axe"
Of the flower of "carpenters" on a song-loving and wise one.
Mar. Gruff. Llwyd.
Llywelyn Moel Y Pantri, 1400-1430.
Pan glywyf hiraethwyf hoed
"Pensaergerdd" pain is "irgoed".
When I hear, I regret the delay,
The "chief carpenter of song"--a peacock beneath the "green wood".
Gwilym Tew, 1430-1470.
Llun ei gorph yn darllain "gwydd".
The form of his person reading "wood".
Ieuan Du'R Bilwg, 1460-1500.
Aed dy fawl, ydwyd filwr,
Ar "wydd" hyd mae dydd a dwr.
May thy praise go--thou art a soldier
Upon "wood", as long as day and water continue.
p. 13
Lewys Mon, 1480-1520.
\"Bwyall" gerdd pan ballai gant
Byth "naddai" beth ni wyddant.
The "axe" of song, when a hundred failed,
Always "hewed" what they knew not.
Mar. Rhys Nanmor.
Sion Tudur, 1560-1602.
Ni wnai brydydd na brawdwr
Roi "gwydd" gwael ar gywydd gwr.
No poet or judge
Used better "wood" for a poem to man.
Mar. Sion Brwynog.
Rhys Cain, 1580.
Yscerbwd mewn cwd, nid min call--a'i mawl,
Llyfr moliant bardd cibddall,
Anhawdd yw ei iawn ddeall,
Fe wna i ddyn a fo'n ddall.
A skeleton in a bag--the lips of the wise will not praise it,
The eulogistic book of a purblind bard,
It is difficult to rightly understand it,
It will do for a man who is blind.--I lyfr pren.
A long string of similar quotations might be adduced, but the foregoing are sufficient to show that the practice in question was known to the Bards from the 6th down to the 17th century.
It may be observed that several words in the Cymric language, which relate to knowledge or literature, have a primary reference to wood. Thus; "arwydd", a sign; "cyfarwydd", skilful; "cyfarwyddyd", information; "cywydd", a species of versification, also revelation; "dedwydd", having recovered knowledge, happy; "derwydd", a Druid; "egwyddawr", a rudiment, an alphabet; "gwgddawr", a rudiment; "gwyddon", a man of science; "gwynwyddigion", men of sacred knowledge.
13:1 Though Roll, as in the text, primarily refers to the schedule that was turned up with the hand in the form of a pipe, it came also to denote a system, or arrangement, as in the phraseologies, "Rhol y Crythor", "Rhol y Telynor", "Rhol y Mesurau", "Rhol Iolo Goch", "Rhol Achau", "Rhol Cof a Chyfrif", and "Rhol y Beirdd". It is alluded to by many of the Bards; thus--
Davydd Ab Gwilym, 1300-1368.
Bydd yr un "Rhol" ag Iolo
Ddefod hardd, hen fardd y fro.
He will be of the same "Roll" as Iolo,
Fair usage--the old Bard of the district.
Gruffydd Ab Ieuan Ab Llywelyn Vychan, 1470.
Y rhai na wyppont eu "Rhol"
Yu csgud aent i ysgol. p. 14
They who know not their "Roll",
Let them quickly go to school.
Huw Ap Davydd Ap Llywelyn Ap Madawc, 1480-1520.
Goreuro "Rhol" geiriau rhawg,
"Grafio" dadl gref odidawg.
He gilt a "Roll" of long words,
He "engraved" a controversy, strong and excellent.
Mar. Tudur Aled.
Harri Ap Rhys Ap Gwilym, 1530.
Graddau a Rhol "gorwyddawd",
Gwraidd gwybodau er gwau gwawd.
The degrees and Roll of "wood-knowledge",
The root of sciences, for the weaving of a song of praise.
Mar. Gwilym ap Ieuan Hen.
Davydd Benwyn, 1550-1600.
Eurai bwnc oran bencerdd,
Arail gwawd a "Rhol" y gerdd. p. 15
He embellished a subject--the best chief of song--
He attended to encomium, and the "Roll" of song.
Mar. Lewys Morgan.
Lewys Ap Hywel, 1560-1600.
Rhin gwawdiaith a'i rhoi'n gadarn,
"Rhol" beirdd yn rheoli barn.
The charm of panegyric, firmly placed,
The "Roll" of the Bards ruling judgment.
Mar. Iorwerth Vynglwyd.
Sion Tudur, 1560-1602.
Ai "Rhol" achau rhy lychwin.
And their "Roll" of pedigrees, too much covered with mould.
15:1 Father of the celebrated Caractacus. Bran is said to have remained at Rome for seven years as hostage for his son. (Tr. 35. Third Series). It was then that be acquired the information imputed to him in the text.
