Cylchgronau Cymru

BARDD Y BRENIN, IOLO MORGANWG A DERWYDDIAETH. VII ERBYN Relicks 1808, sef y trydydd argraffiad o'r gyfrol gyntaf o waith triphlyg Edward Jones, newidiwyd 'The Bards were originally a constitutional appendage of the druidical hierarchy' i 'the Bards were the constitutional origin of the Druidical hierarchy'.1 Er bod Edward Jones wedi derbyn yn The Bardic Museum (1802) mai'r beirdd oedd y dosbarth mwyaf hynafol o bobl ym Mhrydain a'u bod o flaen y derwyddon, ni dderbyniwyd yno mai i gyfundrefn farddol y perthynai'r derwydd, oblegid dywedir: 'These Beirdd, or Bards, were afterwards a branch of the Druidical institution in Britain, and in ancient Gaul; and were called Derwyddveirdd, or Druid-Bards: The Druids were divided into three different classes, who applied to different branches of learning, and performed separate parts in the offices of religion.'2 Mae'n wir fodd bynnag i'r telynor ddefnyddio'r term 'System of bardism' unwaith fel a ganlyn: 'The system of Bardism having fallen into almost total oblivion, Poetry, and Music are now the only characteristics preserved, by which the ancient Bardd is recognized. In the early state of mankind, the Bards were the most learned and skilful, therefore they were appointed ministers of state, and legislators. 3 I'r graddau hyn yn unig y dengys y telynor yr un cymysgu ag a welir unwaith hefyd yn Relicks 1794. Ystyrier felly y dyfyniad a ganlyn o Relicks 1808: 'It is evident, from our ancient Chronicles, that the Bards were the original, or initiated system, from which the Derwydd, and Ofydd; or priest, and artist branched out. No one could officiate as a priest, or Druid, but such as belonged to the Bardic order; neither were any permitted to follow what the Britons called Celvyddyd Rydd, or Liberal Art, but the Ovyddion. So that the order of the Bards bore an exact analogy to the Levites under the Mosaic dispensation; for according to the law of Moses, the functions of the priesthood belonged exclusively to the Levites, in the same manner as the Bards were the constitutional origin of the Druidical hierarchy.'4 « Cydnabu Edward Jones ar waelod y ddalen yn argraffiadau 1794 ac 1808 mai William Owen Pughe oedd yn gyfrifol am yr adran hon o'i draethawd. Gellid yn deg ddal mai trwy ymyriad personol William Owen mewn adran yr oedd ef yn gyfrifol amdani ac yr oedd ganddo bob rheswm dros ei newid y rhoddwyd deunydd newydd 1808 i mewn. Trioedd ffug Iolo Morganwg a gyhoeddwyd yn The Bardic Museum yw 'Our