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ATODIAD II.
(Wele rai sylwadau wedi eu pigo o lythyrau Goronwy Owen ar lenyddiaeth ei oes,—oes yr ymdrech rheng ysgol sur feirniadol goeg—ddysgedig Pope ac ysgol addfwyn naturiolach Addison, oes dechreu darganfod mawredd Milton, oes gwawr gyntaf y Cyfnod Rhamantaidd a'r Deffroad Cymreig.)
THE BRITISH AWEN.
[At Richard Morris, Chwef. 21, 1753]
WELSH has its own proper idioms as others have; and, consequently, when it is tied down to keep pace with another, it is strained and fettered, like David in Saul's armour; and like him, would prefer its own sling and stone— the meanest of weapons to being armed cap-à-pie in such armour as it has not proved and knows nothing of. Thus, with regard to translalations, it fares with all languages; but more especially where there is such a very great, I had almost said irreconcilable, difference between the proprieties and idioms of two languages, as confessedly there is between ours and the English. The difficulty, great as it is, is again doubly augmented, when our translation is required to be in verse. There, besides the usual difficulty of making what is a beautiful thought in the one appear like common sense in the other, we are tied to find out and range in order letters and syllables. What an exquisite nicety is required in this "literal" muster, if I may so call it, you very well know; so that it is sufficient for me
