William Williams (Caledfryn) 1801-69
Gwylim Eryri came to my mind when I saw the inscription on Caledfryn’s tombstone.
In peace amongst these gravestones lies
The noble Caledfryn
Never was a more highly praised,
Pure and jovial man
Concealed by the valley’s earth
In his “Rothsay”, the sound of grief – the ship
And the wretched men spun by the sea -
On the wings of the storm – a terrible
Destructive ordeal – we hear the wailing voices
Caledfryn was admired by north and south
But he returned to his earthly home to rest:
His beautiful rhymes and harmonious odes
Gave his name majesty from the beginning
Throughout his life his golden seat – handsomely filled
By a king lay on the hill of honour.
Thomas Evans (Telynog) 1840-1865
He was born at Cardigan in the year 1840, son of Thomas Evans a boat maker. When he was eleven he went to sea on a costal vessel but could not cope with this type of lifestyle. He went to live at He came to Aberdare and went to work as a miner in Cwmbach Aberdare when he was twelve years of age. At an early age he started writing poetry, gaining his 1st success with a pryddest entitled “Gostyngeidd-rwydd" in an eisteddfod held under the auspices of the Baptist chapel in Cwmbach where he was a member. He composed freely both in free and strict metres, gaining many successes at local eisteddfodau under the adjudication of poets of such eminence as Islwyn and Cynddelw.
Winter and Summer (Telynog)
All the sweetness of nature was buried in black winter’s grave,
and the wind sings a sad lament with its cold plaintive cry;
but oh, the teeming summer will come, bringing life in its arms,
and will strew rosy flowers on the face of hill and dale.
In lovely harmony the wood has put on its green mantle,
and summer is on its throne, playing its string music; the willow,
whose harp hung silent when it was withered in winter,
now gives forth its melody-Hush! Listen!
The world is alive.
Carw Coch Death (by Cynonwyson)
Our dear Carw is sleeping - in death.
Great is the anguish/mourning for him
He was
A friend worth remembering.
Ceiriog Hughes said on the death of Alaw Goch
O flaen dy wyneb Alaw Goch, To your face, Alaw Goch
Canmoliaeth nid yw weddus; Praise is not appropriate;
Ond yn dy gefn di, dyna’r fan But behind your back,that is the place
Mae mawl yn anrhydeddus. Where praise becomes truly honourable.
Am garu’th iaith a charu’th fam For your love of your language and of your mother mother.
A charu’r hen fynyddau, And your love of the old mountains
Dyna’r rheswm, dyna’r pa’m That is the reason why
Y cara Cymru dithau. Wales loves you.
CALEDFRYN on the death of Alaw Goch
Wele arwyddion galar – a gyrchwyd: Behold the signs of mourning which have gathered.
Mae gorchudd anhawddgar, There is an unattractive cover
O dew gwmwl digymar, of incomparable thick clouds
A braw dwfn dros Aberdâr. and a deep fright over Aberdâr.
Wyla ei wraig o alaeth, - na welodd, His wife weeps from grief –of which
Un o’i ail, ran hiraeth; no one has seen hiraeth like it;
Ei blant a wylant o aeth, his children weep from sadness
O weled ei farwolaeth. on seeing his death.
Wylo am un o’r haelion – a welir: Weeping for one of the generous ones
Wylo wna y tlodion; is what we see:
Deau law yr ardal hon, the poor people weep;
O’i fawredd aeth at feirwon. the right-hand man of this entire district
from his greatness has joined the departed.
Wyla yr awen ddilon – am Alaw, The sad muse weeps for Alaw
A mil o gerddorion; and so do a thousand musicians;
Ar ei ôl ef a’i fydr lon, in memory of him and his cheerful poetry
Dde law’r bardd, wyla’r beirddion. the poets weep for their right-hand man
Pa ŵr, ie, pwy eroch, - yn ei oes, What man, yes who for you, during his life
A wnaeth gymaint drosoch? did so much for you?
Ar ei ôl, wedi’r eloch, After him, even when you’ve gone
Wylo geir am Alaw Goch. What man, yes who for you, during his life.
TO GRIFFITH JONES (CARADOG) AND HIS TWO FRIENDS (by Carw Coch)
Gruffydd, clutching his bow, - gave us
Charming entertainment;
And Iorwerth gave delight
And crippled Tom*, a bright flame.
They shrugged convention - in the way they arranged
Their brilliant music;
These worthy men weaved
Enticing heavenly tunes
*confmed to sitting
THE EPITAPH OF GUTO NYTH BRAN (by Alaw Goch)
Gruffydd was always a champion - a strong
And cheerful runner
A dear man, he slipped under the shroud
From our hands, like a leaf
Although greatly praised, as swift - as the hind
Or the breeze on a hill;
A man as fragile as dust
Cannot escape the call of death.
Hirwaun (by Alaw Goch)
On Hirwaun, above the Werydd,
On its bounty, we shall spend the day,
Here we see a crowd,
Living amiably without a frown;
The old and the young
All dearly united in praise;
The brave and cheerful sons,
And the valiant men enrich the feast
Made virtuous
By those from Hirwaun.
Everyone is tender hearted,
Every expression fair, frown less.
United in thought and manner,
This is one characteristic to rejoice in.
These qualities are great
They will surely give you long life.
All the sons ever born
Pure since birth,
It is a blessing to be in their company,
In the hope of meeting them;
And to their advantage they will grow
And prosper.
A healthy host, on high Hirwaun
Today we shall plainly see.
Everyone has done well
And more decent people
We shall be.
You must be praised - with sincerity,
United in peace;
Our task is to protect you from indiscretion
To honourably roam till death take us.
CRAWSHAY BAILEY ESQ (by Alaw Goch)
A thousand welcomes to the great Crawshay - our Bailey
Live happily, and illustriously;
He made a tiller from the colossus in the ground,
To the multitude, his goodness is immense.
He brought his secrets to light - unfailingly
From the depths far below;
Ore ripped from the abyss
O fine gentleman, coal from the heart.
His renowned machines - built
For his mighty mills;
By releasing their whirling wheels,
Coarse iron bolts will be woven.
A man for all the Cynon Valley - is Bailey,
A living vision and spirit;
His is an angel in his Lord's lap
Enhancing the welfare of men.
His talents and his `gold' attract them - thousands
Praise him for sure,
Hear heaven from Glo-Nant
The hero, adored by all.
Aberaman, with its fair contracts - will
Rise up in mighty wonder;
Ore of the valley, in demand and praised
In the primed melting pot.
Let his children be blessed, - and his grandsons
Forever successful be;
He shall belong to his men for many years,
And his smiles a bastion of glory.
MR. EVAN EVANS (by Carw Coch)
Furnace Manager. Llwydcoed December. 1866 (On the occasion of presenting him with a gift)
To Evans, without his asking - we give a watch
Of pure gold, and a chain;
A proof of the man's wisdom
And his men's wellbeing.
Tonight we remember a remarkable man, - as a guardian
Against adversity throughout the years;
Doubtless a fair man, we see
His intrepidness, a good man through and through.
A pleasant and capable foreman and guardian, - his tasks
Performed with diligence and purpose;
Very amiable, without prejudice,
And wise in any company.
Esteemed in every true cause, - he was delightful
That will be his boast;
His enthusiasm beyond question
He elicits co-operation, not ineptness.
He does not have any obvious enemies - that
Oppose him
Good true words about him
Abound throughout the whole valley.
Every success, fortune and peace to Evans
And wonderful serenity,
Until he stumbles into his grave
And his greatness passes away. Poem on Dr. Thomas Price (Carw Coch)
[On his return to Aberdar having toured America for 9 months]
Welcome gracious doctor,
from knowing old cheerful faces
to your home in the gentle heavenly town,
we praise thee
We hold out our outstretched arms,
Joyously to our elbows we shake (hands),
we offer obvious signs of warm heartedness
and we further praise faultless kind Amelia
as she returns to her beloved country;
truly she is the subject of love,
and a profound shield for her tender father
The poem on the death of Carw Coch (by Cynonwyson)
Our dear Carw is sleeping - in death.Great is the anguish/mourning for him
He was
A friend worth remembering.
Our dear Carw is sleeping – in death,
Great is the mourning for him
He was
A friend worth remembering.
Our dear patriotic friend – possessed
A fine and cultured muse,
His hardworking lifestyle devoid of anger,
Ridding the world of violence.
Our famous friend – an emancipator through and through
He trod this earth with delicate footsteps,
A valiant man without (hidden infirmity}
A man of few words
Our lovable friend desired to free the world
From vile slavery
His faith and disposition always eager
That beat an open face
Cynonwyson