Letter to John Boson
Contents
Original
An tiz na vaze en plew Germo, en Pow Kernow, pa Triga dadn doar, en wheliow sten, vedn towl avez Gurhall da, nighies en Mor, heb own gwir, an Deu po an Laha gerriow remma an tiz an Loundrez a credgi boz gwir, mez tho ve gawas gobaith (Welsh) (note kymerra spi -Breton) hedna drok-ober Lemmyn yw uncouth etre Gy, rag an Karenz ve gawas rag an Pow ma.
Yu hemma screpha Kernuack da? Rag ve adzhan me mez nebes a’n Tavas ma,
SWF
An tus na vas en pluw Germo, en Pow Kernow, po triga 'dadn dor, e'n hwelyow sten, a vedn towla 'ves gorhel da, neyjys e'n mor, heb own gwir a'n Duw po a'n lagha, geryow an re ma an dus a Loundres dhe greji dhe vos gwir, mes yth ov vy kawas [gobaith] hedna drog-ober lemmyn yw ankoth yntra ji, rag an kerensa vy kawas rag an pow ma.
Yw hemma skrifa Kernowek da? Rag ny ajon'vy mes nebes a'n tavas ma.
Translation
The men that are no good in Germoe Parish, in the land of Cornwall, or living underground in the tin works, will cast away a good ship, floated in the sea, without any fear of God, or of the law, and the words of these that the men in London believe to be true, but I have hope that they will not be found a crime for this country (or that the crime will not be found henceforth in this land).
Is this good Cornish writing? For I know but little of this tongue.
Links
References
- OC 1.10, Oct.1929, 22-23 corrections 11.12 1936 p34
- The Cornish Language and Its Literature, Peter Berresford Ellis, 1974. p96.
