TO share the festal joy and song, | |
| Owain’s train we move along; | |
| Every passion now at rest | |
| That clouds the brow or rends the breast; | |
| But oppression’s foes the same, | 5 |
| Quick to kindle into flame, | |
| Setting off from Mostyn, say | |
| Whither shall we bend our way? | |
| |
| Quick despatch thee, boy; take heed | |
| That thou slack not of thy speed, | 10 |
| Or with idle gossip greet | |
| The loiterer thou mayst chance to meet, | |
| Onward push, and look not back; | |
| Let naught divert thee from thy track. | |
| To Keri hie thee, lad, and say, | 15 |
| Thither will we bend our way. | |
| |
| Keri greeted, onward haste, | |
| Thy time will not admit of waste, | |
| With no vulgar message sent, | |
| On thy duty be intent: | 20 |
| Dread our anger to excite, | |
| Lest our vengeance on thee light. | |
| Then announce that in our rounds | |
| We visit next Arwystli’s bounds. | |
| |
| Thy errand told, stay not long, | 25 |
| Herald of a princely throng: | |
| But onward still thy steps pursue, | |
| Ceredig’s confines in thy view, | |
| Thither with speed increasing go, | |
| Swift as arrow from a bow: | 30 |
| And to Penwedig tidings bear, | |
| Of our approach and visit there. | |
| |
| Hence without delaying, boy, | |
| To toil familiar by employ; | |
| Scorn fatigue, and unsubdued | 35 |
| Be thy painful march renewed; | |
| Then with shout as hunter’s loud, | |
| Publish this our message proud: | |
| That Meirion’s mountains shall detain | |
| The course of our convivial train. | 40 |
| |
| Quick proceed, the mountain crost, | |
| That not a moment may be lost; | |
| Fast by the margins of the deep, | |
| Where storms eternal uproar keep. | |
| The road to shorten mend thy pace, | 45 |
| Be thy speed contracting space; | |
| And faithful to thy message, say | |
| We take Ardudwy in our way. | |
| |
| No delaying, boy, push on, | |
| Ardudwy visited, be gone, | 50 |
| Haste the region to survey | |
| Which Mervyn gloried erst to sway, | |
| To Nevyn go, inquire for Nest, | |
| And lodging there become her guest, | |
| By which untold it may be seen, | 55 |
| That we are on our road to Lleyn. | |
| |
| Messenger, set off again, | |
| Forerunner of our gallant train, | |
| Hurry at our chief’s command, | |
| Prince of liberal heart and hand: | 60 |
| And as through Arvon winds thy way | |
| Armed knight, we charge thee stay, | |
| That having journeyed many a mile, | |
| We mean to visit Mona’s isle. | |
| |
| We are Owain’s princely host, | 65 |
| Spoils of foes the wealth we boast, | |
| Tyrant Lloegyr overthrown | |
| Gives us title to renown, | |
| Then our toilsome marches o’er | |
| Can we want an opening door? | 70 |
| Shall we not find in Rhos a bed | |
| Whereon to lay the weary head? | |
| |
| Thy prince commands thee to depart, | |
| (Except the mistress of his heart | |
| Haply thou shouldst chance to meet,) | 75 |
| With strictest orders none to greet; | |
| But quickly mount the fleetest steed, | |
| Not confiding to thy speed; | |
| To Llanerch tidings to convey | |
| That we shall stop there on our way. | 80 |
| |
| Off again, that region face, | |
| Nurse of a renowned race, | |
| Who, for many a gallant deed, | |
| Deserve the horn, the hero’s meed; | |
| Thither haste with our commands, | 85 |
| Quitting Tyno Bedwal’s lands, | |
| And say we purpose to regale, | |
| And taste of social joys at Iâl. | |
| |
| But tarry not, no respite take, | |
| This witching region quick forsake, | 90 |
| Howe’er her sons, to charm thy stay, | |
| May throw temptation in thy way; | |
| We forbid thy lingering there | |
| Beyond the opening of the year, | |
| To Maelor then thy steps direct, | 95 |
| That she our coming may expect. | |
| |
| This performed, yet loiter not, | |
| Be thy very food forgot: | |
| Every hindrance put away, | |
| All that can create delay. | 100 |
| To stop at Maelor ’s not allowed, | |
| For further still extends thy road; | |
| To visit Kynllaith we propose, | |
| Then haste the message to disclose. | |
| |
| Thy progress then, with counsel due, | 105 |
| And forms that suit our rank pursue, | |
| Worthy of our commission prove, | |
| For not like petty tribes we move; | |
| Prompt to discharge the duty go, | |
| And borrow fleetness from the roe, | 110 |
| That Mechain in her turn may hear | |
| Of our intended visit there. | |
| |
| What though our prince, with prosperous rounds, | |
| Has measured Cambria’s lovely bounds, | |
| Though conquered realms enrich our train, | 115 |
| Heaven’s kingdom yet is ours to gain, | |
| Which to possess may we aspire, | |
| Faith lending pinions to desire; | |
| Where we, our earthly journeys past, | |
| May find eternal rest at last. | 120 |
| |
