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Once More a Sense of Nationhood
One of these, Cofia'n Gwlad (I will remember my Country) was called the second national anthem of Wales due to its popularity and patriotic sentiments. Another popular hymn written in English, and therefore much better-known, is "The light of the Morning is Breaking." In 1890, Elfed published his study of Welsh hymns and their authors: Sweet Singers of Wales.
After Elfed, under the influence of John Morris Jones, a new group of poets came on the scene that set out to recover the classical tradition. Some prominent names in the literary revival that was a reaction to the moralizing tone and pedagogic sermonizing that had permeated much Welsh Literature at the end of the century (in addition to Morris-Jones) are Robert Roberts, T. Gwynn Jones, R. Williams Parry, W.J. Gruffydd, and T.H. Parry-Williams.
The first of this group, Robert Roberts (Silyn), was born in 1871 in Llanllyfni, Gwynedd. After working in the slate quarries of his native district, he attended the University at Bangor and the Bala Theological College. Along with W.J. Gruffydd, in 1900 he published a volume of poetry "Telynogion" (Lyrics), and two years later his "Trystan ac Esyllt a Chaniadau Eraill" (Tristan and Isolde and other Songs). His translations into Welsh of popular works of the time: Welcoming Winds (Gwyntoedd Croeson) and The Goat Shepherd of Lorraine (Bugail Geifr Lorraine) were followed by Cofarwydd, (Remembrances), a collection of verses published after his death in 1930.
Silyn's colleague, W.J. Gruffydd (188l-1954), a quarryman's son, was also born in Gwynedd. He was fortunate enough to receive a scholarship to Jesus College, Oxford, where he came under the spell of Owen M. Edwards, the fervent nationalist and author. In 1906, Gruffydd entered Cardiff University where he was appointed Professor of Celtic (later named Welsh) in 1918. For just under thirty years he edited the influential magazine Y Llenor (the Literateur), using his position to strongly defend the language and culture of Wales in an often-hostile climate.
In 1926, at thoroughly Anglicized Cardiff, Gruffydd wrote that "the University of Wales was further from the thought and culture of its own nation than any other university in the world." The same year: "We have had no architecture, hardly any painting, and very little music until quite recently; the culture of Wales has always been a literary culture, and it depends on the Welsh language and the use that is made of it." One year later, he agonized over the increasing anglicization of literary works: "And as for Anglo-Welsh literature, I blush for my country at seeing any of it in print."
Chapter 21 Continued
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