Letter to William Gwavas
Letter to William Gwavas
En levra coth po vo Tour Babel gwres
Scriffas, Gomar mab Japhet vo en Beas
Ha Dotha Tavaz Kornooack vo Res.
Lebbn (Ellis lebben) duath Tavaz coth ny en Kernow
Rag kar ny Jenkins gelles durt an Pow
Vor hanow taz ny en Eue tha Canow.
Descans ony gen hemma, an Brossa es
Desces en Tavazow, ha dorha Brez
Ha Pedn ffeera ha Moy Skeeans Res.
Ancho vedn gweel an Dean eu wella
Cotha dadn Daor pokare an Ezella
Meer a Kol-Ry termen them tha Hoola.
Contents
SWF
En levrow koth pan veu Tour Babel gwres
Skrifas Gomer mab Jafet veu e'n bes
Ha dhodho tavas Kernowek a veu res.
Lebmyn diwedh tavas koth ni yn Kernow
Rag kar ni Jenkins gyllys dhort an pow
?
Deskans on ni gen hemma, an brassa eus
Deskys en tavosow, ha [...] bres
Ha pedn furra ha moy skians res.
Ankow a vedn gwul an den yw wella
Kodha 'dadn dor pekar an isella
Meur a goll - ry termyn dhymm dhe ola.
English
In old books, when the Tower of Babel was made
Written Gomer, son of Noah, was in the world
And to him Cornish language was given.
Now ends our old tongue in Cornwall
For our friend Jenkins gone from the land
?
Lesson we are with this, the greatest there is
Learned in languages, and [...] mind
And a wiser head and more knowledge gave.
Death will make the man who is best
Fall under the earth like the lowest
Much of loss - give me time to weep.
Another translation
Williams says J Boson provided a translation, although LENGUAS Y LITERATURAS CELTAS: ORIGEN Y EVOLUCIÓN give this as a translation by P Beresford Ellis. More likely this is Boson's translation
At building Babel's Tower as books to tell
Did Gomar grandson unto Noah dwell
To whom the ancient Cornish language fell.
Cornwall now mourns thy tongue just lost and gone
Jenkins our Cornish bard is fled among
the saints to sing his everlasting song.
Learn we hence the finest flight of wit
Well skilled in language, with judgement fit.
A thoughtful head, much knowledge joy'd to it.
Must yield to sweeping death that levels all
The oaks and cedars tall, the suburbs withal
Great is the loss. Permitting tears to fall.
Links
- Modern Cornish http://moderncornish.net/late-texts/Boson-John-lettertowilliamgwavas.html
- Gwavas Collection
- John Boson 17th Feb 1712
- Nicholas Williams "The Cornish Englyn"
- Boson includes with translation. A lament of four stanzas for James Jenkins of Alverton. Williams suggests Boson has imitated the style of Lhuyd's lament for William III.
