Papurau Newydd Cymru

Chwiliwch 15 miliwn o erthyglau papurau newydd Cymru

Cuddio Rhestr Erthyglau

5 erthygl ar y dudalen hon

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MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING.

Newyddion
Dyfynnu
Rhannu

MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING. It is very commonly believed that editors, in their profound regard for the integrity of their own journals, have a distinct averse- ness to owning up to their little journal- istic peccadilloes. My dear sir," the American editor is reported as saying, we admit that it is unfortunate that in error we announced your death this morning but to ask us to contradict our own statement is unreasonable. To be perfectly fair with you, however, we are willing to include your name to morrow morning among the Bly-ths With these thoughts in my mind, it is not without misgiving that I timorously approach the sanctum sanctorum of the CELT with a wish to point out that in the caste of the play (" Cambro-Britons performed at the Theatre Royal, Haymarket, in 1798) about which I had something to say last week one of the characters is given as Lady Griffiths' spade." This should have been Lady Griffith's shade." The Lady Graffydd-wife of Gruffydd ap Llewelyn ap Iorwerth, and mother of Llew- elyn ein llyw olaf and Prince David- was in her tomb when the events of the play were happening, and it was when the brothers, who were now on terms of enmity with each other, had met by accident in front of her shrine in the Abbey at Chester, and were engaged in bitter altercation, that the shade of the departed mother appeared to them, and was the means of re-cementing them in the bonds of brotherhood. Mr. James Boaden, the author of the play, intro- duced the supernatural agent into the piece (as he explains in the Preface) for the pur- pose of bringing about a reconciliation between the brothers, notwithstanding that it was a departure from the strict historical narrative, and the scene (Act II) must have been of an effective character, for as well as the crumbling away of the upper part of the tomb "with a mighty noise," and the emergence of the Shade from its centre, a Chorus of Spirits sang the following verse- Dear is the incense that repentance flings, And cherubs waft it heavenward with their wings Grateful the voice that bids your hatred cease- A mother's mandate of eternal peace." Then the scene is thus described- Here the funeral dress falls off; drapery of a fine cerulean colour gradually unfolds itself her figure seems glorified; and through the open window she is drawn, as it were, into the air, while music, as of immortal spirits, attends her progress. The brothers gaze silently after the vision, and the curtain drops." The Author, as I have hinted above, apologises in the Preface for this little ex- cursion into the realms of fancy, but says that otherwise he is unconscious of any very material departure from historic record, and the following sentiment of his at once gains one's admiration If I have not conducted Llewelyn to his miserable end, I shall have the thanks of every man who, as a patriot, wishes that he may triumph who seeks to maintain the independance of his country." Among the players were a Mr. Johnstone and a Mr. Johnston they are both given a final e in last week's CELT. The part of the Bard was taken by Mr. Johnston. But to correct this is perhaps pushing matters to the point of punctilio. Interpreting by anticipation, the mental attitude of the Editor of the CELT towards this long-drawn rigmarole, I have borrowed from Shakespeare the title which stands at the head of this letter.-Ap N. A BRACE OF QUERIES. 1. There was printed at Chichester in 1789 (by J. Sea- grave) a bulky quarto volume of about 600 pages bearing the following title Primi- tive History from the Creation to Cadmus. By W. Williams, Esq., formerly of St. John's College, Cambridge." Can any reader of the CELT tell me who this author was ? His name is not to be found in the D.N.B. 2. Who was the author of a two- volume historical novel, published in London in 1857 by Saunders and Otley, Conduit- street, entitled, Vendigaid, or the Blessed One A Tale of the Thirteenth Century ? -Ap N.

Y DYFODOL.

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