Cylchgronau Cymru

Chwiliwch trwy dros 450 o deitlau a 1.2 miliwn o dudalennau

Januahy 18th, 1890. OYMRU Fü. 115 years ago informed Mr. Waugh, publisher of a Guideto Monmouth, &c, that the family of Symonds, of Pengethley, in Herefordshire, formerly oWned "Ewersfield," in Gloucestershire, and exacted a small toli from parties who " used their private road" near the rock, and that the name thus arose. But Hewelsfield (which I suppose ìs meant by " Ewersfield'') is a long way from the " Yat," and there is no proof that the Symonds family ever had as private the use of any road near the " Yat." I am,therefore, of opinion thatthe abové " explunation " is not satisfactory. Another story is that an old man named Symonds lived, liermit like, in a cottage near the summit of the cliff. Souie two miles to the west of the " Yat " rock there is a large oak, said to be the oldest in tlie Forest of Dean, and this tree is called " Jack of the ¥at," though it can have no possible connection with the rock. Ina little guide book, A Week's Holiday in the Forest of Dean, Mr. John Bellows, of Gloucester, suggests that "Yat" never meant " gate," and that it was derived from the Celtic word "allt," which signified an elevated place, the "állt " ' being modeini*ed into " height," and "height " corrupted into " Yat;" just as tlie country folk of the neighbourhood transform " head " into "yead." Äs to "Symonds,'' he- refers to the ridge of the Cotswold Hills, between Dursley and Tetbury, known as " Symonds' H»1J." Tiiat this name of " Symonds " should be applied to both these lofty places in Gloucestershire is a curious coincidence. " Symonds' Halle" is, it seems, mentioned in Domesday Book. Here we have the " Hall" very closely appioaching the sound of " allt.'' The real derivation of the singular title, however, will probably never be known. We must be satisfied to know that the queer name is connected with scenery of the most magnihcent character. The description of the New Weir scene, in Burke's Sublime and Beautiful, has been often re-printed. W. H. Gbeene. 70, Commei'cial-road, Nexcport. MEN WHOM I HAVE IÍNOWN. By Charles VVilkins, F.G.S. Talibsin Williams ("Ab Iolo Morganwo.") Everyone has heard of " Iolo Morganwg," n tnuch-doubted, very able, and unjustly suspected man. The "Iolo" manuscripts, published by the Welsh MSS. Society, and his poems, published by himself, remain, nothwithstanding doubt and suspicion, the treasured heirlooms of Wales, and tlie keener tlie investigation made the stronger becomes his reputation. " Iolo " was a pleasing versifier and an enthusiastic patriot, a good antiquary and historian. Born in the Vale of Glamorgan, trained up as a stonemason, he rose to distinction as a bard, and, after passing some years of his life in London, travelled about Wales, gleaning tlie colleetion of historic facts and tradif'ons which are now associated with his name. RtCOLLECTIONS OF TALIESIN. My earliest recollections of Taliesin are of a stronglj-built, stetn-faced man.the leadingschool- master of Merthyr Tydtìl. He walked with a sedate, dignified gait, as became the man in whose mind was siored so much learning, and his favourite attitude was with his thumb in the arm of his waistcoat, his fingers exposed and expres- sive in their movements. He had come from Neath, where he had also been a schoolmaster, but the greater prize of Merthyr tempted hitn thither. He was a severe disciplinarian, and believed that the grammar and the cane were natural associates. If a boy had any capacity he brought it out, and it is a remarkable fact that most cf tbe men of the district who became eminent had their tuition in hiâ school. In boyish parlance, the school was known as " Tally's," and a good school it un- questionab!y was. One of his old scholars—now a justice of the peace tor the county—tells me, as an illustration of his rigid discipline, that directly the clock struck for school his ponderous watch was brought out and placed on the desk, and every boy coming in late had to go up, read aloud the time, and take the punishment. Just as John Thomas (" Ieuan Ddu"), the schoolmaster of the "people," was occupied during hours of tuition in versifying or in musical composition, and William Morris in news- paper correspondence, so "Tally" was not so wrapt up in schooling as to be oblivious of other things. The special bias of his' mind was Welsh history and antiquity. He had inherited the Druidîc leanings of his father, "Iolo,"and believed that it was his mission in lifo to hand down all that" Iolo'' had collected. Or, again, he, too, was versifying and anon compiling bis " Colyn Dolphin," or the equally interesting " Cardiff Castle." LORD ABERDABE AS A TRANSLATOR. One of his ablest productions was an ode on the British Druids, a translation of which won the £10 prize atthe Gwentand Dyved Royal Eisteddfod, of 1834. And who do you think was the trans- lator ? No other than Lord Aberdare, then Mr.