846. Robert Southey to Charles Watkin Williams Wynn, 28 October 1803*

Dear Wynn

If a Lieutenant Colonel who has all the volunteers of two huge countries command,¹ can find leisure for those researches which entitle him to the degree of F.A.S.² he may help out a poem³ which certainly ought to entitle me to the Poet Laureatship of the Principality.

What was the dress of the Welsh? I have given Ririd⁴ at a venture a shirt of fine linen – a tunic – an embroidered girdle – a mantle bordered with fur – & a fur cap – & he looks very well in it. Supposing that they had assimilated to Saxon decency I would have given him breeches, but neither breeches, small clothes, indescribables, pantaloons, nor galligaskins could be put in in English <verse>. Stockings may have been in use then, but could not when the King has a Pedifer to chaf his feet as he sate at table.⁵

I am going to carry Madoc to Bardsey.⁶ if you have Powell⁷ or Warrington⁸ at hand do tell me which of the old Kings were buried there. Owen Gwynedh⁹ & his father Gryffedh¹⁰ were buried at Bangor. I could make a swelling & sonorous passage about the old gentlemen & their worthinesses – if I knew them. The extract which I made at Wynnstay from the Royal Tribes¹¹ & the Gwydir History¹² are become very useful. twas unfortunate that we did not visit Bardsey – I feel it now. this Welsh part of the poem¹³ will be very Odyssey-like. I am weaving into it all the collectable circumstances of the time & manners of the peoples in this order. Journey to Mathrafal – the Hirlas Horn – the Grave of Jorwerth at Pennant Melangel the Meeting of the Bards. Dinevor & the Embassy of Gwgan of Caer Einion from the Royal Tribes.¹⁴ thus far is done. then come Bardsey & Llewelyn. the child of Hoel. the Excommunication of Owen Cyveilioc¹⁵ at Bangor for not crusading – & the Priest detected by Madoc in digging a hole from his fathers grave thro into the church yard to eject his body, he having died under the censure of the church (from Giraldus¹⁶ & your friend Mr Yorke.¹⁷ ) this will tell well & Madoc shall carry over the bones of Owen to America. I shall then try my strength with Camoens¹⁸ & Valerius Flaccus¹⁹ (who was a man of far more genius) – in the embarkation scene. I can find a place for only one picture – & that will be taken from the Llanberris scenery – about the village – not the Lake. Dinevor is such mere English scenery that I have but hinted at it to contrast it with glens & mountains. but the Towey had beavers in the days of Giraldus²⁰ & I have shown Madoc one poor hermit one to put him in mind of his own countrymen.²¹ I wish your brother²² would colonize the Dee with some of these old Welshmen. there is something to me very affecting in the extirpation of so interesting an animal.

Hei mihi²³ that I have written no song! whether it be that Madoc has monopolized my whole stock of ideas – or that my gift is in singing songs not writing them – My feelings when I have been trying are either the contempt that would make “vile ballads” about of mockery, or a forefeeling of triumph ready to break out into prophetic hymns of victory. I begin to fear they will not attempt invasion.

This war with Portugal²⁴ affects me in both senses of the word. of course it will drive my Uncle to England & so somewhat influence my choice of an abiding place. it cuts off all supply of books reducing me to feed upon the charity of great new libraries – for I have no resource but in Lord Bute²⁵ – & it ruins the pleasantest hope I entertained – that of speedily crossing over to the land I love. God-a-mercy that a fellow²⁶ whelped in Corsica & living in France should interfere with the studies of a poor historian by the side of Lake Derwentwater!

God bless you. I am well & active both in body & mind – but hæret lateri!²⁷ yet I am the better for it – it seems to have connected me with the other world – given me new relations to it & loosened my roots here.

RS.
Friday night. 28 Oct. 1803.