s its
capability for the purpose of narration, let him peruse the Welsh
Historical Triads, in which are told the most remarkable events which
befell the early Cumry; and whosoever doubts its power for the purpose of
abstruse reasoning, let him study a work called Rhetorick, by Master
William Salisbury, written about the year 1570, and I think he will admit
that there is no hyperbole, or, as a Welshman would call it, _gorwireb_,
in what I have said with respect to the capabilities of the Welsh
language.

As to its sounds--I have to observe that at the will of a master it can
be sublimely sonorous, terribly sharp, diabolically guttural and
sibilant, and sweet and harmonious to a remarkable degree. What more
sublimely sonorous than certain hymns of Taliesin; more sharp and
clashing than certain lines of Gwalchmai and Dafydd Benfras, describing
battles; more diabolically grating than the Drunkard's Choke-pear by Rhys
Goch, and more sweet than the lines of poor Gronwy Owen to the Muse? Ah,
those lines of his to the Muse are sweeter even than the verses of
Horace, of which they profess to be an imitation. What lines in Horace's
ode can vie in sweetness with

"Tydi roit a diwair wen
Lais eos i lysowen!"

"Thou couldst endow, with thy dear smile,
With voice of lark the lizard vile!"

Eos signifies a nightingale, and Lysowen an eel. Perhaps in no language
but the Welsh, could an eel be mentioned in lofty poetry: Lysowen is
perfect music.

Having stated that there are Welsh and Sanscrit words which correspond,
more or less, in sound and meaning, I here place side by side a small
number of such words, in order that the reader may compare them.

WELSH SANSCRIT

Aber, a meeting of waters, an Ap, apah, water; apaga, a river;
outflowing; Avon, a river; Aw, a Persian, ab, water; Wallachian,
flowing apa

Anal, breath Anila, air

Arian, silver Ara, brass; Gypsy, harko, copper
Aur, gold {30}

Athu, to go At'ha; Russian, iti

Bod, being, existence Bhavat, bhuta

Brenin, a king Bharanda, a lord; Russian barin

Caer, a wall, a city Griha, geha, a house; Hindustani,
ghar; Gypsy, kair, kaer

Cain, fine, bright Kanta, pleasing, beauti