Tudalen:Llythyrau Goronwy Owen.djvu/63

injudicious with a witness to swell his Book needlessly with the same word three or four times over, where but one reading is true, and all the rest to be rejected as corruptions v. g. Myrddyn. H. S. See Murddyn, and so on to Merddyn, Murddun, &c. Dictionaries are or should be, made to understand Authors by, and to teach us to write correctly in imitation of them, and not to acquaint us with the different corruptions that words may be perverted to by the lisping prattle of Nurses and Children, and vicious phraseology and pronunciation of Clowns and Rusticks. The word addfed is pronounced afddyd by the greatest part of Denbighshire People. What then? Were I to compile a Dictionary, would it be commendable or even sufferable in me to write afddyd or afdded (tho' I should find it in a MS. Collection of words) and then add, see addfed? You will say, why not? Because it is not so found in any approved Writer, (and what ought to have more weight) because Etymology is against it the word being compounded of add and Medi. Most of the Writers and Collectors of those Glossaries and Collections of words for additions to Dr. Davies, are not to be depended upon, because they took all uncommon words, as they found them, and that commonly out of the mouths of illiterate. People; well or ill pronounced made no matter; their being New to their ears and understanding gave them a sufficient title to a place in the collection; Witness Tat a Swine in Llwyd's Archæl: Brit: and many more that I could quote, had I Books. And as most of them are not to be depended upon, so they are all to be suspected; for Most or all have an itch for establishing and propagating their own whims and conceits, (as flies have to blow Maggots) which it is every body else's interest to destroy. A Glossary writer had rather turn a Language topsy turvy, than quit a few etymologicial conjectures, the productions of his own dear brains and a bad Poet had rather write and pronounce fifty words wrong to secure his Cynghanedd than be obliged to alter one favourite faulty line.—It is a specious Ornament to a Title page to promise several Thousands of words, more than are in Dr. Davies's; but perhaps all those Thousands by the time