The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #39865   Message #567287
Posted By: sian, west wales
08-Oct-01 - 04:46 AM
Thread Name: Help: Guide me, O thou great Jehovah Welsh
Subject: RE: Help: Guide me, O thou great Jehovah Welsh
"Arglwydd, arwain" is the basis of Guide me.

IM sure (and others in the office agree) that it isn't a William Williams Pantycelyn hymn but one by Ann Griffiths (early 19th C.) Beautiful words. And an exceptional story behind their creator. She was considered one of the great mystic poets of Wales and wrote very little down. Much of what we have today was remembered by her maid. I really hate translating (I never get it exactly right!) Who said that poetry is what gets lost in translation? Anyway, a rough attempt

Behold, standing amidst the myrtles
The worthy object of my existence
Although I know scarcely know Him
He transcends all else in this world
Hail the morning
When I shall see Him as He truly is.

... which is a travesty compared to the original. Still, you get a sense of how the words run.

Sian