I Bont ar Fynach

Yn burlan uwch y berwlif - y sefi

I Bont ar Fynach
(Yn hon a elwir Pont y Gwr Drwg)
Yn burlan uwch y berwlif - y sefi,
    Uwch safn cwm
        y mawrlif;
  Lle y llam yr hylla' llif
  Ddeugeinllath yn ddig wynllif.

Wyt gadwyn yn dwyn dywenydd, -
      a chlod
    Gwych lydan trwy'n broydd;
  A rhaff, na ddaw byth yn rhydd,
  Wyd i fwnwgl dau fynydd.

Danat heb baid
      naid ofnadwy - raiadr
    Gan ruo trwy'r adwy, -
  A chan nerth ei ryferthwy,
  Gwna y llif y graig yn llwy.

Mae anian ddiran yn gynddeiriog - wytllt,
    A'i gwedd yma'n llidiog;
  Ei tharan sy'n gytheririog,
  A'i gryddiau yw creigiau crôg.

O'th ben, bont fwynwen
      fanol, - edrycher
    I drachwith bant ffrydiol;
  Pa enaid na naid yn ol
  O sydyn fraw arswydol!

Mi a wn mai rhwy ymenydd - cadarn
    Fu'n rhoi cydiad celfydd
  Y Bont addien ysblennydd,
  Uwch ceudod yn syndod sydd.

Llesiol wyt, trwy'r holl oesoedd, -
      da waith,
    I deithwyr, aml filoedd;
  Camfa lân uwch cwm â'i floedd
  Nwyfus yn cyrhaedd nefoedd.

Gwir draws yw rhoi i'r Gwr Drwg -
      y moliant
    Am haeledd mor amlwg;
  I ni dda mae'n wir na ddwg
  Etifedd cas y tewfwg.

Daniel Evans (Daniel Ddu o Geredigion) 1792-1846
Gwinllan y Bardd 1831

To Pontarfynach
(That which is called the Devil's Bridge)
Purely above the boiling flow - it stands,
    Above the jaws of the valley
        of the great flow;
  Where leaps the most ugly flow
  Two score yards as an angry white flow.

Thou art a chain bearing delight -
      and brilliant
    Broad praise through our vales;
  As a rope, which will never come free,
  Thou art to the neck of two mountains.

Beneath thee without ceasing
      a terrible leap - a waterfall
    Roaring through the gap, -
  And with the strength of its torrent
  The flow makes the rock a ladle.

The undivided nature is furious - wild,
    And its countenance here angry;
  Its thunder is threatening,
  And its cheeks are hanging rocks.

From thy head, a gentle, white,
      detailed bridge - is to be seen
    To a vehement, gushing hollow;
  What soul would not leap back
  From sudden horrific terror!

I know that some mind - firm
    Did put a crafty joint
  The fine, splendid Bridge,
  Above the hollow which is an astonishment.

Beneficial art thou, through all the ages, -
      a good work,
    For travellers, many thousands;
  A pure step above a valley and its lusty
  Shout reaching heavens.

Truly contrary is giving to the Devil -
      the praise
    For generosity to evident;
  For our good it is truly not the evil
  Hated legacy of the thick fog.

tr. 2016 Richard B Gillion

The middle column is a literal translation of the Welsh. A Welsh translation is identified by the abbreviation 'cyf.', an English translation by 'tr.'

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