ANTIQUITIES. INSCRIPTION AT PENTREVOELAS. In the former volume of the CAMBRO-BRITON, page 359, a brief account was given of the Inscription discovered, about a year ago, in forming the new line of road to Holyhead, at Tre'r Beddau, near Pentrevoelas, in the county of Denbigh. Since that account was written the Editor has been favoured with two transcripts, or fac similes, of this curious relic of past times, and of which the following, it is hoped, will be found to be a pretty accurate representation. BROHOM SL' The stone, on which this Inscription appears, and which is now at Lima Hall, in the neighbourhood of the place where the discovery took place, is about five feet and a half in length, two feet in breadth, and four inches thick, and is quite rough and unpolished. As to the Inscription itself, it cannot, perhaps, be deciphered with any certainty at this distance of time, and in the absence of any probable information respecting the event, to which it relates. It may not, however, be uninteresting to subjoin the opinions of the two correspondents above referred to, and to each of which considerable plausibility may be attached. P. B. W. thinks, that the Inscription ought to be read thus:"Brohomael (or Brochmael) hic jacet (or jacit) et uxor ejus Canne.'-Brochmael lies buried here, and his wife Canne or Canna. But I cannot," he adds, "discover the meaning of the I A at the commencement of the second line, unless we take the Land the I from the first line, and then it will be read thus→→→ Brohomael Lia or Leia, or Junior, (as there may have been two Brochmaels) lies buried here, and his wife Cann, or Canne, or Canna;-for Canne, as well as Gwen, signifies white or fair." For one of these he owes his thanks to P. B. W., a gentleman, to whom the readers of the CAMBRO-BRITON have before been so much indebted, and for the other to Mr. Owen Pughe, who received it from his son, Mr. Aneurin Pughe, by whom the transcript was made.-ED. Mr. Owen Pughe, on the other hand, conceives, that the letters will bear the following interpretation:-" Brychymaeliat hic jacit et uxor ejus Cawne," Brychymaeliat signifying-One belonging to, or a descendant of, Brychmael, or a Brychmaelian. And he observes, what, I presume, is well known, that the letter Y, which he substitutes for the o in the original, was not in our alphabet at the period, to which this Inscription may be supposed to have reference. Should any of the readers of the CAMBRO-BRITON be able to throw any farther light on this subject, it is scarcely necessary to state, that their communications would be extremely welcome. SKETCHES OF SOCIETY. PRIDE OF ANCESTRY. There's not a Welshman, with a bed of leeks, Who traces not his pedigree to Adam.-ANON. PRIDE of pedigree has been a characteristic of the Welsh since the days of Giraldus Cambrensis; but it is now passing fast away. Among the middling and lower classes of society an example of this long retained custom may yet, indeed, be sometimes found, but under circumstances which render it ridiculous and amusing. A most curious instance of this innocent vanity existed in the person of an individual, who, seven or eight years ago, held a high official situation in the little town of Dolgellau, in Merionethshire. This person, however, has been dead some time; and, as no biographical account has appeared relating to him (a circumstance "marvellous in our eyes”), a short sketch of his arduous career and harmless eccentricities may, perhaps, be amusing. His birth, parentage, education, and titles are set forth at length in an advertisement, which was distributed, during his life time, to the strangers who visited Dolgellau;-and which I take the liberty of transcribing. "ROBERT EDWARDS," "Second son of that celebrated Tawer (Tanner), William Edwards, ap Griffith, ap Morgan, ap David, ap Owen, ap Llewelyn, "Genealogiam quoque generis sui," writes Giraldus, in his Cambria Descriptio, "etiam de populo quilibet observat, et non solum avos, atavos, sed usque ad sextam, vel septimam, et ultra procul generationem memoriter et prompté genus enarrat." ap Cadwalader, great, great, great grandson of an illegitimate daughter of that illustrious hero, Rice ap Thomas,-no less famed for his irresistible prowess, when mildly approaching under the velvet standards of the lovely Venus, than when sternly advancing with the terrific banner of the bloody Mars,-by Anne, alias Catherine, daughter of Howel ap Jenkin, of Ynys-y-maengwyn, who was the thirteenth in descent from Cadwgan, a lineal descendant from Bleddyn ap Cynvin, Prince of Powys. Since his nativity full four and eighty times hath the sun rolled to his summer solstice. Fifty years was he host of the Hen and Chickens, Pen-ypont, Dolgellau; twenty of which he was apparitor to the late. Right Reverend Father in God, John, Bishop of Bangor, and his predecessors. By chance made a glover, by genius and choice a fly-dresser and angler, is now, by the All-divine assistance, conductor to and over the most tremendous mountain, Cader Idris, to the stupendous cataracts of Cain and Mawddach, and to the enchanting cascades of Dol-y-melynllyn, with all its beautifully romantic scenery, Guide General, and magnificent expounder of all the natural and artificial curiosities of North Wales, professor of grand and bombastic lexicographical words, knight of the most anomalous, whimsical, yet, perhaps, happy, order of hairbrained inexplicables!" The worthy Robin, with all his accomplishments and oddities, is now gathered to those fathers, whose memory he so highly and piously venerated. I remember him well, and am indebted to him for many an entertaining hour during my childhood. He was a curious, but an honest, man; and he certainly fulfilled the duties of his several avocations with assiduity, integrity, and zeal. Robin's glory (good man) consisted in heading a party "to and over the most tremendous mountain, Cader Idris, to the stupendous cataracts of Cain and Mawddach; or to the enchanting cascades of Dol-y-melynllyn, with all its beautifully romantic scenery." On such occasions, habited in an old-fashioned blue coat, a family piece, no doubt,-ornamented with large metal buttons, his head covered with a most capacious and formidable equilateral cocked hat,-and his diminutive person, (the said person, by the way, affording an admirable representation of a slender rushlight under a full-sized extinguisher,) bestriding a pony as diminutive almost as himself, would the apparitor bravely take the van, and, "with all his blushing honours thick upon him," experience the enviable satisfaction, a Guide General always must experience, in the performance of the functions of his office. Then, indeed, would Robin boldly lead the way, followed by a "train of gentlemen and ladies gay," regardless of the salutations, with which he was wont to be constantly greeted by the merry urchins in the street;-regardless, I say, of the reiterated cries of Robin bach! (little Robert) your hat is on one side, or, your hat is falling off," the object of their mockery would. gallantly continue his course, contented with looking unutterable disdain upon the young fry, and heedless alike of the shouts of his tormentors, the uncontroled laughter of his own party, and the curvetting and plunging of his frisky little pony. Poor Robin had attained the patriarchal age of 88 before he was gathered to his fathers; and, full of years and of honesty, he went hence and was no more seen! But his memory, humble as was his rank in society, will not be despised: his eccentric manners, convivial temper, and just dealings, will not be forgotten by those whom fortune has placed in a loftier-but, perhaps, not happier-sphere of existence; and we may truly say of himFarewell! "Take him for all in all, we ne'er shall look upon his like again!" THE MISCELLANIST.-No. XII. R. LATIN EPIGRAM AND TRANSLATIONS-CHARLES EDWARDS. To the EDITOR of the CAMBRO-BRITON. SIR,-As you say you are in want of a fresh stock of Pennillion, I send you the following Epigram, with a translation in English and Welsh, which may, perhaps, should you think them worth your notice, supply the place of a Pennill or two. IN SOMNUM. Somne levis, quanquam certissima Mortis imago, Alma Quies, optata veni! nam sic sine vita Vivere, quam suave est; sic sine morte mori! Tho' Death's strong likeness in thy form I trace, "The above Latin Epigram," (says the St. James's Chronicle for June 29, 1813,) which appeared among the CARMINA QUADRAGESIMALIA, has been universally admired, and often attempted in English; but the translation, here given from the elegant pen of the Rev. Dr. Symmons, is unquestionably the best that has ever appeared."-The last line is certainly beautiful, but it may, perhaps, appear like minute criticism to object to the word "form," as well as to the jingle of "tori" and "mori" in the Latin.-Will you allow another attempt? Tho' Death's grim likeness in thy features shine*, Yet to thine arms, sweet Sleep, I gladly fly; O! that with thee to rest the lot were mine, Thus without life to live, and without death to die! Nor will you, perhaps, quite despise this in our native Welsh: A bydd bob nos fy ngyfaill cu: Ac, heb farwolaeth, marw, yw! Whoever inserted the Epigram in the St. James's Chronicle was mistaken in supposing it ever appeared among the CARMINA QUADRAGESIMALIA; but it was printed in a volume of Latin Poetry of later date, and is supposed to have come from the pen of the Rev. Thos. Warton, formerly Fellow of Trinity College, Oxford, and Poet Laureat. I remain, Sir, Your well-wisher and obedient servant, P. S. I should be obliged to you, or to any of your correspondents, if you would state in the CAMBRO-BRITON, who Charles Edwards, author of "Hanes y Ffydd," was, where born, and what other books were written by him, &c. Mr. Owen, in his Cambrian Biography, only says, that "he was a theological writer, who flourished from about A. D. 1660 to 1700, and that his principal work was Hanes y Ffydd, or the History of Christianity"+. • The Editor hopes Chwiliedydd will not accuse him of hypercriticism, if he objects to the strict propriety of this word, when applied to "Death's grim likeness". In every other respect the translation is most happy. + If any of the readers of the CAMBRO-BRITON will favour the Editor with a communication on this subject, it shall appear in the next Number. |