The pilot and transcript. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1840-1841, 1840-09-02

/
consulted upon any doubtful event they roar out
violently, are rendered beside themselves, ana
! become, as itwere, possessed Dy spirit Ni'ey
do not deliver the answer to what IS requiIsu III
| connected manner, but the person VINO Skiiiuiiy
| examines them, will find, after many preameles,
and MANY nugatory and incohereht, though orna-
mented speeches, the desired explanation con-
viewed in some turn of word; they are then
| reused from their extacy, as from deep sleep,
| (Querc-AnImal MagnetismO and, as it were,
by violence are compelled to return to their pro-
| per senses. After having answered the questions,
they do not recover till violently shaken by 9TH
er people, nor can they remember the replies
they have given. If consulted second or third
| time ON the same point, they will make use OF
expressions totally different; perhaps they speak
by the means of fanatic and ignorant splnts!-
| These gifts are usually conferred upon them III
| dreams; some seem to haze sweet lnllk OF money
poured ON their lips; others fancy that written
schedule is applied to their mouth, and on awak-
ing, they publicly declare that they have receiv-
| ed this gift They invoke, during their proPhe-
cies. the true and living God, and the Holy
Trinity, and pray that they may not, by their
sins, be prevented from finding the truth"
After the suppression OF LT9idical rites, anu
the introduction Of the irish Harp, the Welsh
and Awendi rose to the standing OF harpers and
singers, or minstrels In the reign OF Edward ],
bv their prophecies of the return al Merlin, Ar
thur, &c these excited a rebellious spirit, which
caused the monarch to fetter their tongues, SO
that until the last century, the spirit Of prophecy
slept. Alas, in how unpoetIcal and degraded
form did it awake in the persons OF the male ana
female Jumpers
The practice was warmly encouraged, how
ever, and the preachers of mysticism, Daniel
Rowland, Howell Harris, sc. have embaimea
their names forever What was the nature oil
the things done by the modern Awendi! 1t may
be asked. When noisy hymn had been sung,
and screamed, and shouted, over and over, the
people or Jumpers, like field of standing corn,
as It has been aptly said, would move to and fro
as though swayed by the passing gusts OF wind,
worked by the motion into frenzy, some Would
sing couplets Of their own composition and jump
with oy-the women, suhliplated on arnoro,ls
couplets, Jump with love, and others ancying
themselves non-elected and among the damned,
would lump out Of wretchedness and despair -
During ali this revery of excitementmany would
fall tofbe Ground: Such were the Jumpers, mis-
taking frenzy for religious zeal. When religion
is thus prostituted into an unreasonable enthu-
siasm. well NAV mankind tremble at its poweF-
but only till then. i
A letter-writer would surely render himself
subject to eensure il not ridiculous, by attempt
ing to convey in a single letter, an impression oil
the magnitude and Importance of the literature oil
the Welsh It must be remembered that their
WRITER'S in modern times, have been greatly in
strunental in swelling the body of English lItera
ture and it would be easy task to separate their
works from the mass, as to form due esti-
mate of their achievements. The Bards oil Cam
bria are traceable by name as far back as l0OO;
they were, from time to time, SUBJECT to penal
enactment, Ibut as literature and song have now
| little influence, comparatively, what was at an
earlier time licensed by law is now sanctioned
by custom Their writings are numerous.
yery large collection is to be found in the Myly-
rian Archaeology, first volume; the specimens,
there, embrace nothing OF the epic order, but
consist of simple strains on simple subjects
Some of the antiquarians, it is said, show speei-
mems at sangs composed in the siyth century, but
they are, probably, fictitious. Tie history OF
fine Welsh Bards, so far as ] have been able to
gather, fairly commences, as important 10 iitera-
ture, IN the time of William Rufus QlOOO when
architecture, costume, arboriculture, ana militia
nv pageants were introduced by the Norman setz
tiers. have been kindly iurhished with some
specimens OF the muse Of 0wan Cyieiliog, prince
of Po0wys, who fiourished A. d. ITO. They
are spirited productions, and display no common
invention.
The father of Welsh poetry aourished, A. D.
1850, His name was David alb Gwilym. lie
appears to have been nobly descended, and was,
Internationally. well educated. seIhe Fair Pill
grim,n about hundred lines, is beautiful pro-
duction. 1t commences, thus:-
"The charmer of sweet Mona's Isle,
With Death attendant onher smile,
Intent on pilgrimage divine,.
Speeds to ST. Davids holy shrine,
$50 conscious al a sinful mind,
And hopes she may forgiveness Ind.
What hast thou done, thrice lovely maid?
What crimes can to thy charge be laid!
Didst thou contemn the suppiiant poor,
Drive helpless orphans from thy door,
Unduteous to thy parents prove,
Or yield thy charms to lawless love!
No, Morvid, no! Thy gentle breast
Was formed to pity the distressed
Has meier one thought, one feeling known
That virtue could not call her own;
Nor hast thou caused parent pain
Till quitting now thy native plain.
| Yet, lovely nymph, thy way pursue
| And keep repentance full in view;
| Yield not thy tongue to cold restraint
| But Law thy soul before the saint
o tell him that thy lover dies
On deaths cold bed unpitied lies,
| Murdered by thee, relentless maid,
| And to the untimely grave conveyed"
The Poet then proceeds with dying blessing,
/ tells her to repent, andhear her lovers prayer:
$50 that the Saint with ear benign
Sweet Penitent, attend to thine;"
then in fancy. attends her on her pilgrimage,
| and in strains of sweet personifcation call upon
the streams, the bays, and dangerous passes
about to be crossed by the pilgrim, to facilitate
her progress. His verses exhibited so much ia
miliarity with the scenes, and there is such
/ warmth in his addresses, that they seem like let
tiers of introduction for the fair Pilgrim to the
/ bard's intimate acquaintances. Here are two OF
i these, as a sampled
eeAbermo, from thy rocky bay,
1 Drive each terrific surge away:
/ Though, sunk beneath thy pillows, lie
i Proud fanes that once assaiied the sky
4 Dashed by thy foam, this vcstal braves
The dangers Of thy bursting waves
o, CIVIC, see my lovely fair
Consigned to thy paternai care;
Rebukc the raging seas, and land
4 My Morvid on yon friendly strand.