Favourite Welsh Hymns Translated into English   By: Joseph Morris

FAVOURITE WELSH HYMNS TRANSLATED INTO ENGLISH.

BY JOSEPH MORRIS, NARBERTH, PEMBROKESHIRE. ( Formerly of Coward College, London. )

"From the top of the Rocks I see HIM: From the Hills I behold HIM."

CARMARTHEN: W. SPURRELL. LONDON: WARD & CO., PATERNOSTER ROW. 1854.

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.

[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.