Translations into English Verse from the Poems of Davyth ap Gwilym/To the Lark

by Dafydd ap Gwilym

TO THE LARK.

HE ASKS THE LARK TO BE HIS ENVOY TO MORVYTH.

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Sentinel of the dawning light!
Reveller of the Spring!
How sweetly, nobly wild thy flight,
Thy boundless journeying,
Far from thy brethren of the woods alone,
A hermit chorister before God’s throne!
Oh, wilt thou climb yon heav’ns for me,
Yon starry turret’s height,
Thou interlude of melody,
’Twixt darkness and the light!
And find—(heav’n’s blessings on thy pinions rest!)
My lady love—the moonlight of the west?
No woodland caroller art thou,
Far from the archer’s eye,
Thy course is o’er the mountain’s brow,
Thy music in the sky!
Then fearless be thy flight and strong,
Thou earthly denizen of angel song^[1]!

1. In the original the imagery is so rich and diversified that it is almost impossible to give a close translation. The preceding must be considered therefore in the light of an imitation,—an expression of the leading ideas,—rather than as a complete and accurate translation.