Translation please

[Mair]

Dave

Found this little snippet of information.  OW could be for Owen Williams and this is from the biography on-line section of the NLW web site.

http://yba.llgc.org.uk/en/s-WILL-OWE-1790.html

The dates fit and the translation pounding goes on too!

Mair

[buckaroo]

Hello Dave,

I think I can help, I've translated most of it, but a couple of words are unfamiliar to me, I'm getting these checked out.

I should be able to post it here next week.

Regards,
Buckaroo

[DaveT]

Thanks for all your efforts Buckaroo.

I thought it was just an ordinary inscription not a poem.  Is this usual or something special to have had done.

Regards
Dave

[Taffy Lee]

I don't think it's unusual, I've seen similar before - it's probably more common to have an exerpt from a psalm or something else religious.  But, I guess if the poet had a connection with the deceased or the area, then it would be unsurprising to have a few of his lines on the headstone.

I think it's good to have these locally originating englyns on headstones, as it makes sure they have a life beyond that of the poet.

[DaveT]

Thanks for the answer Taffy.

I neglected to mention that my ancestor was the parish clerk for St Mary's Llanbeblig for quite a few years.  I couldn't find his headstone to take a photo so I could post it.  I did find his predecessor's headstone on a pile outside the front door of the church.  Apparently they were moved from their original sites due to vandalism.  How anybody can do that to a burial ground is beyond me.  The same is happening at my local cemetery where yobs just like to push over the headstones or spray them.

sign of the time I suppose, sad really.
Dave

[buckaroo]

Dave,
Here’s the best I could make of it, bear in mind that when poems are translated lose all of their poetic sensibility and their flowing nature.  I’ve translated more or less word for word so that you can use your own judgment.

Un addfwyn ei gybeddfau – ydoedd,
One gentle though miserly – he was,
I’w adael yn ddiau,
To leave was doubtless,
Tra mawr gwyn, trwm ei oer gau,
While great suffering, heavy his cold captivity,
Wr byddiol, yn nhy’r beddau.
Man daily, in the graveyard.

Regards,
Buckaroo

[DaveT]

Thanks buckaroo.  You are correct when you say it loses something in translation.  I suppose it's meant to say something really moving.

Regards
Dave

[blueboy]

I sent this to a Reverend who attends classes regarding translation of an englyn.

He said this was a particularly difficult one but this is his interpretation.

He was gentle by nature
He was sadly missed
Whilst strong and honest yet unaccustomed and cold in death
A useful man housed within a grave

He thoroughly enjoyed the challenge by the way

Mandy