Bugeilio'r Gwenith Gwyn
"Bugeilio'r Gwenith Gwyn" (English: Watching the White Wheat) is an 18th-century traditional Welsh love song.
It describes the tragic love affair between Wil Hopcyn and Ann Thomas (The Maid of Cefn Ydfa) from the village of Llangynwyd in Glamorganshire. Ann belonged to a wealthy farming family but Wil was only a farm labourer. Ann's mother rejected Wil and forced Ann into a marriage with Anthony Maddocks, the son of a local squire.
A few days before the marriage took place Wil left Llangynwyd. Months later Wil had a dream in which Ann's new husband had died, so he returned home. However, when he arrived he discovered that in fact it was Ann who was dying, from a broken heart. Ann died in his arms that day.
Maddocks inherited the Thomas' estate and soon re-married. Wil died in 1741, never having married. Both he and Ann are buried at Llangynwyd.
Lyrics
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Welsh Wikisource has original text related to this article:
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- Welsh
- Mi sydd fachgen ieuanc ffôl.
- Yn byw yn ôl fy ffansi
- Myfi’n bugeilio’r gwenith gwyn,
- Ac arall yn ei fedi.
- Pam na ddeui ar fy ôl,
- Rhyw ddydd ar ôl ei gilydd?
- Gwaith ‘rwyn dy weld, y feinir fach,
- Yn lanach, lanach beunydd!
- Glanach, lanach wyt bob dydd,
- Neu fi â’m ffydd yn ffolach,
- Er mwyn y Gŵr a wnaeth dy wedd,
- Gwna im drugaredd bellach.
- Cwnn dy ben, gwêl acw draw,
- Rho i mi’th law wen dirion;
- Gwaith yn dy fynwes bert ei thro
- Mae allwedd clo fy nghalon!
- Tra fo dŵr y môr yn hallt,
- A thra fo ‘ngwallt yn tyfu
- A thra fo calon yn fy mron
- Mi fydda’n ffyddlon iti:
- Dywed imi’r gwir dan gel
- A rho dan sel d’atebion,
- P’un ai myfi neu arall, Ann,
- Sydd orau gan dy galon.
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- English (literal translation)
- I am a young and foolish lad
- Who lives as I please
- I lovingly tend the ripening wheat
- And another reaps it.
- Why not follow me
- Some day after another?
- Because I see you little lass,
- Purer and purer each day!
- Purer and purer are you every day,
- Or I with my faith more foolish,
- For the One that created your countenance,
- Be compassionate towards me now.
- Lift your head, look over there,
- Give me your dear white hand;
- Because in your lovely breast
- Is the key to the lock of my heart!
- Whilst the water of the sea is salty,
- And whilst my hair is growing
- And whilst there is a heart in my bosom
- I will be faithful to you:
- Tell me the truth in secret
- And give under seal your answers,
- Whether it is I or another, Ann,
- Which is preferred by your heart.
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The original has two extra verses:
- Welsh
- Codais heddiw gyda'r wawr,
- Gan frysio'n fawr fy lludded
- Fel cawn gusanu ol dy droed,
- Fu ar hyd y coed yn cerdded:
- Cwyd fy mhen o'r galar maith
- A serchus iaith gwarineb,
- Cans gwell na byd i'r mab a'th gar
- Yw golwg ar dy wyneb.
- Tydi yw'r mab a garaf mwy,
- Ti roddaist glwy' i'm dwyfron
- A serch tuagatat sy'n mawrhai
- A llanw ciliau'm calon:
- Awn I Langynwyd gyda'r dydd
- Er profi'm ffydd cadarna'
- Cei roddi'r fodrwy'n sel o'th serch
- I'r ferch o Gefen Ydfa.
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External links