OR, RULES OF POLITENESS AMONG THE ANCIENT BRITONS. To the Editor of the Monthly Ma- vility:-welcome, protection, and genuine politeness.rtya SIR, gazine. I HAVE translated the following 4. The three charms of civility vocal song, instrumental song, and information as to wisdom and amusement. 14% 5. The three graces of civility: wisdom, knowledge, and kind ness. article from the Welsh Triads, presuming that you will permit its insertion, as affording a curious specimen of antiquated rules of politeness; and you probably may be somewhat surprised at finding any 6. The three greetings of civilithing in the style of a Chesterfield, ty compliment, inquiry as to the as having existed in old times a state and welfare of the person and mong the rude mountaineers of his family, and an offer of enterWales. But, whatever comparison tainment. with the modern maxims of polite behaviour these triads may stand in, they present to our observation an important picture of the social habits of the ancient Britons; which, by being preserved in the Monthly Magazine, will become useful matter of record for the future illustration of our history. I thought it might be presuming too much on the forbearance of yourself and your readers, or I should have gratified my own wish, by having the originals printed along with the translation, in order, by such examples, to extend the information of our possessing such various lite rary compositions, in a language that is neglected, and nearly unknown to the world. Dec. 1, 1817. MEIRION. Triads of Civilized Life; translated from the Original, in the Welsh Archaiology, vol. iii. p. 278. 1. The three pillars of civility: a respectful greeting, agreeably to manners and customs; an affectionate and welcome reception; and a polite demeanor, pleasing to the object of respect. 2. These three are the soul of civility:respect, generosity, and pleasure. 3. The three indispensables of ci 7. The three salutations on meeting that are due, agreeably to civility :-those are. "be the blessing of God upon you,” or, 66 on your work and occup tion;" whatever time it may be of the day," be it good to you ;" and, "may God be with you.' 8. The three salutations at parting: God be with you;" the day, according to its period, be it good to you," and, "fare you well." 9. The three primary gifts of civility-food, protection, and infor mation. 10. The three universalities of lodging, agreeably to civility; food, a bed, and a harp. 11. Three sorts of travellers, who should be variously accompanied, according to the modes and forms of civility, and the dignified usage of the nation of the Cymry: behind such as may be better, acquainted with the way; before such as may be unacquainted with the way; and to give the right-hand side to such as may travel in company, as also to such as may be met on the way, and politely greeting in passing. 12. Three genteel usages that appertain to civility;—a inutually joining in song, a mutual consultation, and mutual conversation. 13. Three things, agreeably to civility, which ought not to be en. been. quired after of such as shall be lodg ed :—from whence he came, his spect and honour to him: a female, wordly concerns, and his journey. as meriting kindness and protection and a child, as meriting protection and' instruction. 14: The three claims of civility, and that from the last invitation, by such as shall Todge a guest :-three days' protection, maintenance, and kindness. 15. The three superadditions of civility: dainties, mirth, and pre sents. 16. The three gains of civility: love, and honour, and protection, when there may be need. 28. The three privileges of nobility, originating from the civil institution of the nation of the Cymry: the privilege of primogeniture, of learning and sciences, and of praiseworthy achievements for the country and nation. 29. The three treasons against civility to accuse the person ta17. The three superadditional re- ken in to be lodged; to divulge his wards of civility:-the favour of secret; and to break the three days God, the favour of man, and the sa- protection, which protection shall be tisfaction of the heart and consci- from the time when he is received to ence of him who puts it in practice. the end of three days, and thence to 18. The three influences of civi- the end of sixty hours from the time lity love, gaiety, and generosity. of saying, God prosper you," or, 19. The three objects of civility: the stranger, the pre-eminent, and the strayed from his way. 20. The three claimants of civility the poor, the feeble, and the female. 21. The three leading ones to demand civility-the afflicted, the female, and the stranger. "God be with you," or, "may God increase his grace towards you." 30. The three common privileges of civility-the protection of God and his peace, natural compassion, and the urbanity derived from the dignity of the nation of the Cymry. 91. The three peculiar privileges of civility kindness from affec22. The three that take the lead tion, such as exists towards a feof the leading ones, as to civili- male; instruction as towards a child, ty: the feeblest, the poorest, and and any other that is ignorant; and the one whose language is not a propriety of respect, as is due to known. an ingenious and splendid act,-as 23. The three primary disposi- of a warriour who shall achieve an tions of civility lodging, fidelity, exploit, and the wise and skilful in tand charity. improving siences. Pam 24. The three interrogators allowed by civility-a chief, a female, and a fellow stranger. 23 The three privileged ones of civility a learned man, a religious inan, and a child. 26. The three demands for the sake of which, with civility, cannot be refused: for the sake of God and his peace, for the sake of him who demands, and for the sake of what may be possible by accident and chance. 27. Three persons towards whom civility is due, under the privilege of politeness: a gentleman, out of re 32. The three things, agreeably to civility, which ought to take place towards guests:a kind-hearted reception, a ready supplying of wants, and friendly conversation. SS. Three things appertain to guests on taking their departure:satisfied as to victuals and drink, directed as to their journey, and an increase of respect and good will 34. The three whom a man ought to introduce at meat and in society with his guests:-his wife, his eldest son, and his eldest daughter, or such of those as may be, and he himself superintending. 7 55. The three usages first observ- welcome, agreeably to the rules of ed where guests resort -water for civility the showing of generous washing the feet, a salutation of kindness; the showing of what shall welcome by the heads of the family, satisfy, with respect to food and and a chair at the fire-side. rest, so far as there may be occasion; and the arms returned back into the hand of the owner." 36. The three things next to those:-his arms returned to the guest, a refreshment of meat and drink, and his bed shown to him, so that he may take the requisite bodily repose. 37. The three things mutually becoming in a host and a guest :the being affable, the being silent, and the being unsuspicious. 44. The three traits of civility," according to which guests ought to 7 be received:generous compassion, the established maxims of polite. ness, and orderly and inoffensive mirth. 45. The three beauties of hospitality and civility gentleness, domestick order and prudent be-te 38. The three protections of hospitality: the protection of God haviour. : and his peace, the protection of 46. The three blemishes of hosjustice and charity, and the protection of the laws of politeness and civility of the nation of the Cymry. 39. The three salutations of blessing between a host and a guest :at entering in, "the blessing of God in the house?" while in it, for every favour and friendly office, "the blessing of God be to you,' or, "God bless you ;" and, on departing, come with God's blessas an invitation for every pitality :-the being over-inquisi- 24. tive, luxurious, and defamatory. ing," civility. 99 40. The three answers of blessing" the blessing of God upon you; the blessing of God in grace to you;" and, "go and the blessing of God be with you." 41. The three customary usages of guests a salutation under the protection of God and his peace, the putting off their arms, and the giving them into the hand of his host, and the declaring of his necessity and occasion, so that it may be known how to act towards him, and for him. 42. The three things which it is polite for a guest to give where he may come his arms, his name, and his origin; and, where he doth so, he has a right to the three protections of guests, whether he be native or a stranger. a 43. The three primary graces of 47. The three dignities of hospi tality :-the benignity of customs and manners, agreeably to the dictates of politeness; praiseworthy and dignified sciences, and correct pronunciation, void of degeneracy, as to the sense and purity of the language of the Cymry and its phraseologies. 48. Three things unseemly and uncivil in a man, of every sort and degree whatever, and wheresoever, lo and whensoever he may be these are, slothfulness, churlishness, and ignorance with respect to his rank and condition. 49. Three traits that are unhandsome, uncivil, and unpolite:-a habit of swearing, a habit of lying, and malicious slander. 50. The three uncivilities, that all demon is not worse than he who commits them the divulging of secrecy; unpoliteness towards one? who gives lodging and entertain-t ment agreeably to the rules of liberality and benevolence; and ingratitude, where it may be required from him a return of hospitality. 51. The three unpolite acts which entirely repress civility: the being rude towards a female, the being rude towards one eminently wise and learned, and the being rude to wards a man devoted to religion and piety 62. The three primary objects of honour, in every salutation of politeness and civility: a female, a man devoted to learning and science, and a man exercising the privilege and authority of a country. 58. Three most becoming qualities in a guest and a host: cleanli ness of person and dress, cleanliness of discourse, and cleanliness of manners and habit; since there cannot be civility and politeness without these qualities. 59. Three things that no one ought to accept payment for, from a 53. There are three sorts of men stranger, or a person on his journey, exercising the privilege and authori- who may ask for them milk, salt, ty of a country and civil society and bread; but for other saleable men attached to government, as are things it is not uncivil to accept the sovereign of the commonwealth payment, where they are solicited. and his orderly and invested men for pay. of office; men orderly devoted to 60. Three things that ought to be religion and piety; and teachers of had freely, without pay or reward, civil arts and sciences, where they by every man who goes On his jourare invested with privilege and of- ney:-water, fire, and shelter from fice; so that without these there the storm. can be no civilization in a country or nation. 61. Three charity gifts that are due to every stranger, and necessitous 54. Three things disrespectful person:-food, protection, and diand disgraceful in a householder, to rection. be seen by day-light and his chimney smoaking;-a barking dog in the court-yard, thorns on his stile, or his gate shut, and a salutation at his door unanswered. 62. Three devilish and uncivil characteristicks in a person :-tyranny, envy, and pride. 65. Three things from civility ought to be politely thanked for: invitation, benefit, and present. 55. Three things unseemly in one (who receives hospitality :-a telling 64. Three things that are due toof lies, an obscene expression, and wards guests, as a token of respect: a criminating or accusing of another, to go and receive them kindly at when not required by any person, a distance, where their coming shall nor by orderly cause and impelling be known; to welcome them com necessity. placently and honourably with all cheerfulness and generosity while they tarry; and obligingly and condescendingly to send them on their way when they depart. And thus conclude the Triads of civilized society and I these were extracted from the book of the old Sir Edward Stradling, of St. Donat's Castle, by me Thomas ab Ivan, of Tre Bryn. 1685. THERE is a story of a learned the Pope at the year of Jubilee, refriar in Italy, famous for his piety paired to Rome a good while before and knowledge of mankind, who the day appointed, to see the fashion being commanded to preach before of the conclave, and to accommo date his sermon the better to the the unsuitableness of this beha solemnity of the occasion. At viour, he made this reply-"Surely, length, when the day came, having holy father, if a cardinal may go to ended his prayer, he, looking a long heaven abounding with wealth, hotime about, at last cried out, with a nour, and preferment, and living at loud and vehement voice, three ease, and wallowing in sloth and in times, "St. Peter was a fool! St. luxury, seldom or never preaching, Peter was a fool! St. Peter was a then certainly St. Peter was a fool, fool!" and then came down from who took such a hard way of tavelthe pulpit. Being afterwards ques- ling thither, by fasting, preaching, tioned before the Pope, concerning abstinence, and humiliation." ON that interminable space, Where souls advanced to blessedness, From camp, from senate, or from court, From earth's dispersing mists, to heaven's ethereal blue. II. Firm fortitude IV. Of counsel, or of field, Or with the many or the few, To reason or to yield. Such was the veteran, such his praise; But few are found like him, in these degenerate days. V. For not the virtues that impart Sincerity of thought, and truth of word, What throng is that, and whence the crowd,* The care of justice to the brave, That swells the gratulation loud, From every world they come, From Britain's self, though half his fame came Yet not the less her heroes burn, High welcome to bestow in turn, And hail him to the happy bowers, And unstain'd honour drew his guardian] sword. VI. Her urn of light, fair science amply pour'd, That ever broke upon mankind: The gorgeous palaces of heaven, and the im- That doth from station high, and long experi mortal towers. III. Heroes and patriots from each clime This side the boundary of time, While on this earthly stage, Of purest fame; Yet like yourselves the same, For daring all the good we do, ence rise. Ascend bright shade, VII. And while the human form is laid, An emblem of the debt that must We know that thy immortal sense, Which late has left this little orb of ours, In an existence high, With those that heretofore have been Th'obscuring smoke of hell, AND BARK OF The glory of our world, and sublunary scene. THE CERBEREAN HOUND! * About the new arrived in multitudes, The ethereal people ran, to hear and know. -Hither as to their fountain other stars, Par. L. B. G. v. 26. |