Madoc

Preface

. The historical facts on which this Poem is founded vany be related in few words. On the death of Owen Gwyneth, king of North Wales, A. D. 1169, his children disputed for the succesr sion. Yorwerth, the eldest, was set aside with, out a struggle, as being incapacitated by a blemish in his face. Hoel, though illegitimate, and born of an Irish mother, obtained possession of the throne for a while, till he was defeated and slain by David, the eldest son of the late king by 3 second wife. Ths conqueror, who then succeeded without opposition, slew Yorwerth, imprisoned Rodri, and hunted others of his brethren into Three things must be avoided in Poetry j the frivolous, the obscure, and the superfiuouSi The three excellencies of Poetry j simplicity of language, simplicity of subject, and simplicity qf invention.

The three indisfiensible purities qf Poetry ; pure truth, pure language, and pure manners. Three things should all Poetry be ; thoroughly erudite, thoroughly animated, and thoroughly natural. \ Triads. COME, LISTEN TO A TALE OF TIMES OF OLD ! COME, FOR YE KNOW ME ! I AM HE WHO SUNG THE MAID OF ARC ; AND I AM HE WHO FRAMED OF THALABA THE WILD AKD WONDEROUS SOUG. COME, LISTEN TO MY LAY, AND YE SHALL HEAR HOW MADOC FROM THE SHORES OF BRITAIN SPREAD THE ADVENTUROUS SAIL, EXPLORED THE OCEAN WAYS, AND QUELLED BARBARIAN POWER, AND OVERTHREW THE BLOODY ALTARS OF IDOLATRY, AND PLANTED IN ITS FANES TRIUMPHANTLY THE CROSS OF CHRIST. COME, LISTEN TO MY LAY I MADOC IN WALES. CONTENTS.