The following ode to Llewelyn, the great defender of Welsh liberties, is a fine example of the class of heroic poems, to which it belongs. It was written about the middle of the thirteenth century, by Einion ab Gwgawn, on the occasion of a victory gained by Llewelyn over the English forces.

About him gather warriors,
Zealous to defend his cause
Brightly shine their shields.
His bards with his praises
Make the vales resound.
His valor is of every tongue
The theme-in distant climes
The glory of his victories is heard.
No danger in the day of battle
Him from his purpose can turn.
Above the rest he is conspicuous
With a lance, large, strong, and crimson.
Great is his generosity :

No suit is made to him in vain;
A tender hearted prince is Llewelyn.
Nobly can he spread the feast,
Yet is not enervated by luxuries.
May He who permitted us

Of his heavenly revelation to share,
Grant him the blessed habitation
Of the saints above the stars!

Among the brightest ornaments of this era were Owain Cyveiliog and Cynddelw. The former was a prince of Southern Wales; and was actively engaged, during the most of his life, in the warlike contests of that period. As a bard he is entitled to a high rank among his contemporaries. His most celebrated production is the Hir-Lâs, which is an ode in commemoration of a victory gained by him over the Saxon invaders. This poem is one of great power and beauty, abounding in striking imagery and vivid thought a few passages will be sufficient

to convey some general conception of the whole:

The poems of Cynddelw are also remarkable for great liveliness of thought and expression. One of the most spirited and beautiful is a hymn in praise of his patron, Rhys ab Gruffydd, the last sovereign of Southern Wales. The following passages are somewhat indicative of its general character:

The third era of Welsh poetry embraces a period commencing in the earlier part of the fourteenth century, and terminating at the final coalition of Wales and England. In the turbulence and anarchy of those troublous times which preceded the Conquest, the bardic order lost most of their foothold in the nation. The continual incursions of the English forces made self-preservation the most prominent object of

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Welsh Poetry.

253

thought and solicitude; and poetry and its sister arts were consequently neglected, and almost forgotten. Towards the middle of the fourteenth century, however, it began to reässume its wonted lustre; and when the nation had begun to recover from the effects of their severe and protracted contest, it again burst forth with as pure and clear a light as ever. Although the bards of this era failed to retain their original position in the palaces of the nobles, they were far more numerous than those of any preceding age; and the great activity which they displayed in perfecting their metrical system, and in the many productions of that period, furnishes ample evidence that the spirit of the bards of other and better days still glowed in their bosoms.

Among the poets of this era, Davydd ab Gwilym is confessedly the chief. Notwithstanding the great diversity in point of time and circumstances, he strongly resembles in the cast of his mind the poet Burns. His productions are often marked by an exquisite beauty of thought and expression, but more especially by a ceaseless flow of deep and tender feeling. Far the greater portion of his poems are amatory, more than a hundred songs dedicated to Marvudd, a fair favorite of the poet, being still extant. His remaining writings are much more miscellaneous in their topics and general character, than those of any other bard of his age. He also excelled every other poet of his times in the extraordinary finish and taste of his productions. The following beautiful poem to a lark, written about the year 1375, admirably displays some of his peculiar characteristics:

The poems of this bard were first published about the beginning of the present century. At the same time nearly all of the more valuable specimens of ancient Welsh poetry were issued in several volumes of a work, entitled ARCHAEOLOGY OF WALES. To this work those who are desirous of examining these productions in the original, are referred. It is impossible to preserve in any English translation the peculiar sweep and melody of the original tongue. The singular effects of the rhythmic and alliterative system, as well as much of the spirit and force of the poetry itself, must of course be lost in the emasculating process of translation. VOL. VII. No. 26.

22

And seek with day's first dawn upon thy crest
My lady-love-the moonbeam of the west!

No woodland denizen art thou;

Far from the archer's eye,

Thy course is o'er the mountain's brow-
Thy music in the sky;

Then fearless float thy path of cloud along,

Thou earthly caroller of angel song!

The limits of this article forbid any further notice of the numerous other bards, who flourished in and about the times of Davydd ab Gwilym. From that period to the present hour, poetry has continued, with a few brief intervals, to be a prominent source of enjoyment among the Welsh people. Their poetic spirit has survived the destructive tendencies of five centuries of change and revolution; and in spite of the failing condition of their language, and of the fetters of their metrical system, it still lives and flourishes in the heart of the nation. Bardic sessions, after the ancient models, have been frequently held particularly within the last half century; and many efforts are continually making to keep alive the poetic feelings of the people. In every village and hamlet, in every valley and on every hill-side, the voice of harmony is ever swelling upward over land and sea, as if it were an echo of the wonderful melodies breathed forth by the inspired bards of other and happier ages.

ARTICLE III.

THEOLOGY OF DR. EMMONS.

By Rev. E. Smalley, D. D., Worcester, Mass.

Or some men the highest eulogy is their works. They live to bless their race; and when they 'rest from their labors, their works do follow them. They can afford to dispense with the praises of men, for they are sure of the honor which cometh from God, and which is imperishable. If misrepresented and even maligned while living, they possess their souls in patience, and calmly 'bide their time.' As the sun appears brighter when the clouds that obscured it have passed away, so character becomes more beautiful when the prejudices which had clung to it have disappeared.

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Existence and Attributes of God.

255 These remarks indicate the estimation in which we hold him, whose name is placed at the head of this article. He claimed for himself, and advocated for others 'the right of private judgment.' In the fearless exercise of this right he carefully examined whatever was proposed to his belief, and accepted no statements which evidently contradicted his own reason. Believing that it is hard to make valuable discoveries by following others, he was fond of pursuing independent investigations in untravelled paths. Like all original thinkers, he sometimes reached conclusions that startled by their boldness; but if they harmonized with his first principles and with the teachings of inspiration, it sufficed for his free spirit, whether others assented or demurred. Not unfrequently misrepresented, he could afford to be patient, for he had no doubt that the great principles of his system accorded with both reason and Scripture. As he approached the grave, this faith sustained and cheered him. Thus attended, 'he feared no evil' when called to pass 'through the valley of the shadow of death.' Now that he is gone, he needs not praise from men; for his best eulogy is the statement and defence of his views.

The following synopsis of Dr. Emmons's theological teachings may be instructive to the student, and not uninteresting to the general reader. The points on which his opinions were in precise accordance with those of other evangelical divines, may be lightly passed over; while those which he made prominent in his system and on which his views are thought to be peculiar, will require a more minute statement and a fuller elucidation. That he had his peculiarities and attached great importance to them, need not be denied. That he loved independent investigation and is entitled to the merit of a true originality, must be conceded. At the same time, it is remarkable to what an extent his theological speculations agree with those of the divines who lived before him, whose praise is in all the churches. Let the following condensed view of them verify the truth of this assertion.

§ 1. Existence and Attributes of God.

These he argued, not indeed with mathematical demonstration, but with logical certainty, from the works of creation. Because a man is without the Bible, it did not seem to him that he must necessarily be without a knowledge of God. It appeared to him that there is so much of God in the heavens above and the earth beneath, in the utterance of day unto day' and of 'night unto night,' that every one who has an eye and an ear with a soul behind them, must see his hand and hear his voice, and tremble at the greatness of his power. From