Chapter I: Preface

To those who are no strangers to the Language and Spirit of the Originals, and who would feel disposed to welcome their adaptation to changed circumstances, the Author submits these Translations:[1] and he does so with a measure of trust that they may not be altogether powerless in renovating and sustaining impressions produced by those Originals.

And believing that there are others--English Christians--who confidently anticipate good to the Church from any reciprocation of the diversely-developed expressions of One Spirit, this introductory effort at presenting, in their language, a specimen of Welsh Devotional Song (in which a few English Originals are included), as illustrating its characteristic genius, is, to them also, respectfully offered, with the view of realising, in however humble a degree, the Desired Good.

An Index of the First Lines of the original Welsh Hymns, arranged in the order of the Translations, will be found at the end of the Work.

The Metres of the Originals are retained in every case where a departure from them, is not specified. Their own thrilling minor MELODIES ought to accompany them.

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[1]The principle adopted in the preparation of this Work may be aptly
expressed, with slight modifications, in the language of a late
Translator of Horace: "I [have endeavoured] to give not only the exact
sense, but also the manner, the spirit, and [generally] the numbers of
the original; while I have also aimed at giving [the] performance the
freedom and ease of native compositions in [the English]
language."--Preface to "Arundines Devae;" by a Scotch Physician: Edin.

GENERAL CLASSIFICATION OF CONTENTS.

I. Jesus _page_ 1-10.
II. The Soul 10-24.
III. The Church 24-27.
IV. Death 27-29.
V. Judgement 29-31.
VI. Heaven 31-35.

... It has been endeavoured in the following pages so to develop and unite these several Themes as to present the unity of Anthems, as it were, in an Anthem.

FAVOURITE WELSH HYMNS.

JESUS.

PRELUDE.

I would sing Thy love, my Saviour,
O, how can I silent be!
Though more sweetly, more sublimely
Many touch the chords to Thee.
In thy mercy in abundance,
Not a stream but boundless main:
Let me but rehearse the riches
JESUS doth for worlds contain!

I.
EARTH'S CROWN.

Thorns had the Saviour of mankind
His only Crown while here below:
Could Earth no other garland find
With which to deck his holy brow?

Was he a King? yea; to his throne
Heaven, Earth, and Hell allegiance owe;
Nor glory his, nor power alone,--
What heart such depths of grief can know?

Should Earth, dear Lord, crown me with thorns,
Give strength to glory in the shame;
To feel that every thing adorns
My brow, if Jesus wore the same.

I now behold Him on a seat
Of majesty o'er angels raised;
The crowns of heaven laid at his feet,
His Holy Name by myriads praised.

And, Lord, among the crowns which heaven
Adoring, at thy footstool lays,
By contrite Earth may soon be given
A chaplet--not of shame, but praise.

For Thou hast crownèd her with flowers,
And, more than all, with saving love:
What debt so great can be as hers;
What diadem may worthy prove?