The Sea

Surrounding

These selections are taken from A Celtic Miscellany translated by Kenneth Hurlstone Jackson, Penguin Classics, reprinted 1982

The dim night is silent, and its darkness covers all Snowdon; the sun in the bed of the sea, and the moon silvering the flood.

Welsh englyn; Gwallter Mechain; 1761-1849

One stormy night when I went out to walk on the shores of the Menai, silently pondering, the wind was high and the white waves were wild, and the sea was dashing over the walls of Carnarvon.

But the next day in the morning when I went out to walk to the shores of the Menai, all there was at peace; the wind was quiet and the sea was gentle, and the sun was shining on the walls of Carnarvon.

Welsh; traditional verses; seventeenth century?

Look before you to the north-east at the glorious sea, home of creatures, dwelling of seals; wanton and splendid, it has taken on flood-tide.

Irish; attributed to 'Finian'; ninth century?

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