An lavar goth

Original

An lavar coth yu lavar guîr
Bedh darn nêver, dhan tavas rê hîr
Mez dên neb dawaz a gallaz i dîr.

An lavar goth ewe lavar gwîr
Ne vedn nevera doas vâs a tavas re hîr
Bes den heb tavas a gollas e dîr

An lavar koth yw lavar gwir
Bedh dorn re verr dhe'n tavas re hir
Mes den heb tavas a gollas y dir.

An lavar goth yw lavar gwir:
Na vedn nevra doas vas a davas re hir;
Bus den heb tavas a gollas y dir.

What's said of old, will always stand:
Too long a tongue, too short a hand,
But he that had no tongue, lost his land.

The old saying is a true saying:
No good will ever come from too long a tongue;
But a man without a tongue has lost his land.

Edward Lhuyd
PBE says this is based on the Welsh englyn style, in contrast to the eight-syllabled lines of Gwavas and Boson based on English rhythms. Also says Lhuyd's Cornish poem is more a product of a Welsh speaker than a Cornishman.