Part 4 (1/2)

Go and Dig a Grave for me.

Go and dig a grave for me, This is but a world of woe: Vanish all the joys of life, Like the clouds which come and go: And the weary finds no rest Save within the grave's cold breast.

Go and dig a grave for me, Weary pilgrim here am I, Through life's dark and stormy ways Wandering with a mournful cry.

Nought to clasp to my poor breast Save the staff whereon I rest.

Go and dig a grave for me, 'Neath some green and shady tree, Where the kindly breeze will make Mournful music over me.

Oh how pleasant 'twill be there For the weak, lone wanderer!

Go and dig a grave for me, For my journey's nearly o'er; Of life's sweets I've freely drunk, Of its wormwood even more.

Now to earth farewell I cry-- Weak and faint, I long to die.

Go and dig a grave for me All life's pleasures now are past; Memories of the joys that were Darker shadows round me cast.

Through death's portals I will fly Far to peaceful worlds on high.

Go and dig a grave for me, Though my dwelling will be dark; Needs not for this mortal frame Stone or sign its place to mark.

There 'twill rest till stars shall fall At the last great trumpet call.

Go and dig a grave for me, Broken is my life's frail thread; Hasten, dig for me a grave, Draweth near the stranger dread.

Low, ay low my head be bent, Till the heavens in twain are rent.

Go and dig a grave for me, I can stay no longer here, Fare you well--my weak heart faints 'Neath the dark king's fatal spear.

I am ready for the grave-- Christ receive me, help and save!

CEIRIOG.

John Ceiriog Hughes was born September 25, 1832. He was for many years clerk in the Goods Station, London Road, Manchester, and was afterwards stationmaster on the Cambrian Line at Llanidloes, Towyn and Caersws successively. He died at Caersws April 23rd, 1887. He published during his lifetime 'Oriau'r Hwyr,' 1860; 'Oriau'r Bore,' 1862; 'Cant o Ganeuon,' 1863; 'Y Bardd a'r Cerddor,' 1863; 'Oriau Ereill,' 1868; and 'Oriau'r Haf,' 1870. These are now published by Messrs. Hughes and Son, Wrexham, and ought to be in the possession of every Welshman, and of everyone desirous of learning Welsh. A posthumous volume was published in 1888, 'Oriau Olaf' (Isaac Foulkes, Liverpool).

Songs of Wales.

Songs of Wales live in our ears Through the swiftly pa.s.sing years; Moaning stormwinds as they blow Murmur songs of long ago; Voices of our dead ones dear In our country's airs we hear.

Whispering leaves in every grove Murmur low the songs we love, Sings the sea 'neath roaring gales s.n.a.t.c.hes of the songs of Wales, And to Kymric ears they sound Through creation all around.

Myfanwy.

Myfanwy! thy fair face is seen In primrose and clover and rose, In the suns.h.i.+ne, unsullied, serene, And the starlight's untroubled repose.

When rises fair Venus on high, And s.h.i.+nes 'twixt the heaven and the sea, She is loved by the earth and the sky, But thou art, Myfanwy, far brighter, far fairer to me, A thousand times fairer to me.