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The Wave (poem)

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140:, description by the use of many far-fetched and imaginative metaphors and images, which might be seen as the main purpose of the poem; the poet expresses both admiration and fear of the wave, turning in the dialogue section into comic deference when he realizes that it has come from his lady. But "The Wave" is also a love poem in which the beloved, unusually for a medieval poem, is seen as potentially inconstant. She is described in other poems by Gruffudd as having eyes the colour of a ripe berry or a cow, coral and gold cheeks, a neck whiter than a swan or a seagull, and a fine mouth which delivers wise words. He calls her here by the name Goleuddydd, as does Dafydd ap Gwilym when in his elegy for Gruffudd Gryg he describes his friend as the "bard of water-bright Goleuddydd". 75:
poet converse. The wave says that it has been sent to him by the maid Goleuddydd, who has long grieved for him, to ask if he is still alive. The poet replies that she has been the cause of much sorrow to him, and asks for news of her. Is she true to him? The wave says that she will not remain true if he does not return to her soon, for love at a distance cannot last. The poet again addresses this
120:, who reigned from 1369 to 1379. For most of Henry II's reign Castile and England were enemies, making Santiago too dangerous a destination for English and Welsh pilgrims, but there was a brief truce from 1375 to 1377. Gruffudd Gryg's most recent editors believe that his pilgrimage must have taken place in 1376. 116:, whose accession in 1399 would on this reading mark the earliest date the poems could have been written. The discovery in 1957 of legal documents from the 1330s which name Gruffudd Gryg, apparently as an adult, rendered this hypothesis implausible, but the Henry in question has more recently been reidentified as 103:
at Santiago de Compostella. The other two are an address to the moon reproaching it for causing a storm at sea on his outward journey, and a nostalgic description of the island of Anglesey, written in Spain. The poem to the moon contains the only clue to the dating of this group, a reference to the
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In the first section the poet describes a terrific wave in the ocean off Spain, comparing it to a rampart, a wound, a dragon, a mountain, the sea's brain, and "yeast for the ale that the whales brew". He also expresses the feelings of fear it provokes in him. In the second section the wave and the
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which deserve to be placed on a par with Dafydd's finest work". Sir Ifor Williams went even further, considering its mastery of description to be not just as good but perhaps better. Gruffudd's most recent editors have claimed that it is " of the most extraordinary
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There are several references to pilgrimages and to the Santiago grave of St James in medieval Welsh poetry, for example in Dafydd ap Gwilym's poem "A Girl's Pilgrimage". "The Wave" was seen by the scholar
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Some of the greatest figures in Welsh Studies have bestowed high praise on "The Wave", comparing it to Dafydd ap Gwilym's poems. Thomas Parry wrote that the poem's
128:"The Wave" is a poem expressing Gruffudd's homesickness as, on board a ship in a Spanish harbour, he awaits favourable weather for his return journey. It is also a 41:
poem, which is to say one in which an animal or inanimate object is sent bearing a message of love. In this case an ocean wave is sent by the poet's beloved in
209: 49:. It is thought to have been written in or about the 1370s. "The Wave" is a widely acclaimed poem, and has been compared favourably with the finest poems of 381: 320: 169:
or messenger, and "The Wave on the River Dyfi", which resembles Gruffudd's poem not just in its subject but in points of phrasing and imagery.
594: 132:, a love poem in which a non-human messenger is sent to the beloved, in this case one of the massive North Atlantic billows for which the 206:
The only complete translation of "The Wave", by H. Idris Bell, appeared in the volume for the 1942 session (published in 1944) of
766: 945: 257:. Cyfres Beirdd yr Uchelwyr, 37. Aberystwyth: Canolfan Uwchefrydiau Cymreig a Cheltaidd Prifysgol Cymru. pp. 68–70. 100: 978: 862: 633: 262: 857:. Cyfres Beirdd yr Uchelwyr, 37 (in Welsh). Aberystwyth: Canolfan Uwchefrydiau Cymreig a Cheltaidd Prifysgol Cymru. 983: 899: 832: 802: 735: 522: 330: 601:(in Welsh). Adran y Gymraeg, Prifysgol Abertawe/Chanolfan Uwchefrydiau Cymreig a Cheltaidd Prifysgol Cymru 968: 512: 181:
showed all his "intricate skill", and Dafydd Johnston that it was "every bit as inventive" as his
988: 46: 621: 881: 292: 150: 189:
was of the opinion that "The Wave" was one of "a handful of highly original and exceptional
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as being a poem very much in Dafydd's manner, resembling him in its use of humour and
895: 858: 828: 798: 731: 629: 518: 326: 258: 386: 50: 672: 398: 922: 885: 852: 822: 792: 788: 725: 252: 231: 186: 162: 87:. Will it bear him back to his lover? If so, he swears he will wander no more. 517:. Binghamton: Center for Medieval & Early Renaissance Studies. p. 83. 390: 76: 957: 918: 668: 227: 133: 109: 34: 316: 673:"Gruffudd Gryg, an Anglesey bard of the second half of the 14th century" 949: 891: 762: 63: 405: 84: 80: 42: 622:"The Aftermath of 1282: Dafydd ap Gwilym and His Contemporaries" 538: 29: 429: 562: 480: 45:, and reaches him as he returns by ship from a pilgrimage to 679:. Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru/The National Library of Wales 492: 794:
Aspects of the Poetry of Dafydd ap Gwilym: Collected Papers
574: 441: 53:, who is often considered the greatest of the Welsh poets. 771:
The Transactions of the Honourable Society of Cymmrodorion
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by Gruffudd Gryg relating to his pilgrimage by sea to the
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A Bibliography of Welsh Literature in English Translation
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and Thomas Roberts as meaning England under the rule of
649: 628:. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. p. 123. 550: 470: 468: 453: 417: 362: 360: 358: 210:
Transactions of the Honourable Society of Cymmrodorion
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Y Bywgraffiadur Cymreig/Dictionary of Welsh Biography
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renders this as "Yeast for the ale sea-horses brew".
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Celtic Culture: A Historical Encyclopedia. Volume 5
236:. Caerdydd: Gwasg Prifysgol Cymru. pp. 137–139 730:. Cardiff: University of Wales Press. p. 69. 955: 851:Lewis, Barry J.; Salisbury, Eurig, eds. (2010). 251:Lewis, Barry J.; Salisbury, Eurig, eds. (2010). 917: 568: 544: 498: 411: 850: 486: 447: 435: 165:", which, like "The Wave", uses an elemental 385:(online ed.). Oxford University Press. 136:is known. It involves a lengthy passage of 927:(in Welsh). Caerdydd: Gwasg Prifysgol Cymru 624:. In Evans, Geraint; Fulton, Helen (eds.). 108:, "Henry's land". This was interpreted by 824:Dafydd ap Gwilym: Influences and Analogues 626:The Cambridge History of Welsh Literature 325:. Santa Barbara: ABC-CLIO. p. 1770. 787: 723: 667: 655: 619: 423: 924:Cywyddau Dafydd ap Gwilym a'i Gyfoeswyr 820: 580: 556: 459: 382:Oxford Dictionary of National Biography 233:Cywyddau Dafydd ap Gwilym a'i Gyfoeswyr 123: 956: 797:. Cardiff: University of Wales Press. 510: 95:"The Wave" is one of a group of three 880: 767:"Translations from the Cywyddwyr. II" 705:. University of Wales/Prifysgol Cymru 366: 761: 511:Loomis, Richard Morgan, ed. (1982). 474: 315: 595:"Nodiadau: 51 - Y Don ar Afon Dyfi" 592: 214: 13: 104:storm having thrown his ship onto 14: 1000: 940: 921:; Roberts, Thomas, eds. (1935) . 230:; Roberts, Thomas, eds. (1935) . 161:were Dafydd's work, notably his " 946:Complete translation of the poem 724:Reynolds, S. Rhian, ed. (2005). 67: 62:This is based on the version by 717: 691: 661: 613: 586: 504: 372: 346: 309: 286: 201: 1: 887:A History of Welsh Literature 755: 33:by the mid 14th-century poet 399:UK public library membership 302: 172: 143: 7: 894:. Oxford: Clarendon Press. 827:. Oxford: Clarendon Press. 569:Williams & Roberts 1935 545:Williams & Roberts 1935 514:Dafydd ap Gwilym: The Poems 499:Williams & Roberts 1935 412:Williams & Roberts 1935 220: 10: 1005: 487:Lewis & Salisbury 2010 448:Lewis & Salisbury 2010 436:Lewis & Salisbury 2010 56: 979:Medieval Welsh literature 620:Johnston, Dafydd (2019). 821:Edwards, Huw M. (1996). 703:University of Wales Shop 279: 414:, pp. xcviii, 228. 90: 83:, jewelled path, white 47:Santiago de Compostella 27:") is a Welsh-language 984:Water waves in culture 699:"Gwaith Gruffudd Gryg" 593:Edwards, Huw Meirion. 391:10.1093/ref:odnb/11706 157:. Most 14th-century 16:Poem by Gruffudd Gryg 854:Gwaith Gruffudd Gryg 599:Dafydd ap Gwilym.net 583:, pp. 125, 130. 254:Gwaith Gruffudd Gryg 124:Themes and treatment 118:Henry II of Castile 969:14th-century poems 101:shrine of St James 438:, pp. 19–21. 397:(Subscription or 379:"Gruffudd Gryg". 71: 996: 936: 934: 932: 912: 910: 908: 890:. Translated by 875: 873: 871: 845: 843: 841: 815: 813: 811: 789:Bromwich, Rachel 782: 780: 778: 749: 748: 746: 744: 721: 715: 714: 712: 710: 695: 689: 688: 686: 684: 665: 659: 653: 647: 646: 644: 642: 617: 611: 610: 608: 606: 590: 584: 578: 572: 566: 560: 554: 548: 547:, pp. c–ci. 542: 536: 535: 533: 531: 508: 502: 496: 490: 484: 478: 472: 463: 457: 451: 445: 439: 433: 427: 421: 415: 409: 403: 402: 394: 376: 370: 364: 353: 350: 344: 343: 341: 339: 313: 296: 290: 275: 273: 271: 245: 243: 241: 66:, for which see 61: 51:Dafydd ap Gwilym 1004: 1003: 999: 998: 997: 995: 994: 993: 954: 953: 943: 930: 928: 906: 904: 902: 869: 867: 865: 839: 837: 835: 809: 807: 805: 776: 774: 758: 753: 752: 742: 740: 738: 722: 718: 708: 706: 697: 696: 692: 682: 680: 666: 662: 654: 650: 640: 638: 636: 618: 614: 604: 602: 591: 587: 579: 575: 567: 563: 555: 551: 543: 539: 529: 527: 525: 509: 505: 497: 493: 485: 481: 473: 466: 458: 454: 446: 442: 434: 430: 422: 418: 410: 406: 396: 378: 377: 373: 365: 356: 351: 347: 337: 335: 333: 314: 310: 305: 300: 299: 291: 287: 282: 269: 267: 265: 250: 239: 237: 226: 223: 204: 198:ever written." 187:Rachel Bromwich 175: 159:cywyddau llatai 146: 126: 93: 59: 17: 12: 11: 5: 1002: 992: 991: 989:Poems in Welsh 986: 981: 976: 971: 966: 942: 941:External links 939: 938: 937: 919:Williams, Ifor 914: 913: 900: 892:Bell, H. Idris 877: 876: 863: 847: 846: 833: 817: 816: 803: 784: 783: 763:Bell, H. Idris 757: 754: 751: 750: 736: 716: 690: 669:Williams, Ifor 660: 658:, p. 155. 648: 634: 612: 585: 573: 561: 559:, p. 191. 549: 537: 523: 503: 491: 489:, p. 163. 479: 477:, p. 131. 464: 462:, p. 132. 452: 440: 428: 426:, p. 159. 416: 404: 371: 369:, p. 117. 354: 345: 331: 307: 306: 304: 301: 298: 297: 284: 283: 281: 278: 277: 276: 263: 247: 246: 228:Williams, Ifor 222: 219: 215:External links 203: 200: 174: 171: 145: 142: 125: 122: 92: 89: 58: 55: 15: 9: 6: 4: 3: 2: 1001: 990: 987: 985: 982: 980: 977: 975: 972: 970: 967: 965: 962: 961: 959: 952: 951: 950:H. Idris Bell 947: 926: 925: 920: 916: 915: 903: 897: 893: 889: 888: 883: 882:Parry, Thomas 879: 878: 866: 864:9780947531782 860: 856: 855: 849: 848: 836: 830: 826: 825: 819: 818: 806: 800: 796: 795: 790: 786: 785: 772: 768: 764: 760: 759: 739: 733: 729: 728: 720: 704: 700: 694: 678: 674: 670: 664: 657: 656:Bromwich 1986 652: 637: 635:9781107106765 631: 627: 623: 616: 600: 596: 589: 582: 577: 571:, p. ci. 570: 565: 558: 553: 546: 541: 526: 520: 516: 515: 507: 500: 495: 488: 483: 476: 471: 469: 461: 456: 450:, p. 22. 449: 444: 437: 432: 425: 424:Bromwich 1986 420: 413: 408: 400: 392: 388: 384: 383: 375: 368: 363: 361: 359: 349: 334: 328: 324: 323: 318: 317:Koch, John T. 312: 308: 294: 289: 285: 266: 264:9780947531782 260: 256: 255: 249: 248: 235: 234: 229: 225: 224: 218: 216: 212: 211: 199: 197: 192: 188: 184: 180: 170: 168: 164: 160: 156: 152: 141: 139: 135: 134:Bay of Biscay 131: 130:cywydd llatai 121: 119: 115: 111: 110:Ifor Williams 107: 102: 98: 88: 86: 82: 78: 72: 69: 65: 64:H. Idris Bell 54: 52: 48: 44: 40: 36: 35:Gruffudd Gryg 32: 31: 26: 22: 944: 929:. Retrieved 923: 905:. Retrieved 886: 868:. Retrieved 853: 838:. Retrieved 823: 808:. Retrieved 793: 775:. Retrieved 770: 741:. Retrieved 726: 719: 707:. Retrieved 702: 693: 681:. Retrieved 676: 663: 651: 639:. Retrieved 625: 615: 603:. Retrieved 598: 588: 581:Edwards 1996 576: 564: 557:Edwards 1996 552: 540: 528:. Retrieved 513: 506: 501:, p. c. 494: 482: 460:Edwards 1996 455: 443: 431: 419: 407: 380: 374: 348: 336:. Retrieved 321: 311: 293:Thomas Parry 288: 268:. Retrieved 253: 238:. Retrieved 232: 207: 205: 195: 190: 182: 178: 176: 166: 158: 154: 151:Thomas Parry 147: 137: 129: 127: 105: 96: 94: 73: 60: 38: 37:. It is a 28: 24: 20: 18: 964:1370s works 202:Translation 77:Offa's Dyke 68:Translation 23:" (Welsh: " 974:Love poems 958:Categories 901:0198152086 834:0198159013 804:0708309054 756:References 737:0708318827 524:0866980156 401:required.) 367:Parry 1955 332:1851094407 773:: 130–147 475:Bell 1942 303:Citations 217:, below. 173:Reception 144:Analogues 106:tir Harri 85:anchoress 81:Milky Way 884:(1955). 791:(1986). 777:24 April 765:(1942). 671:(1959). 319:(2006). 221:Editions 196:cywyddau 191:cywyddau 185:poems. 163:The Wind 114:Henry IV 97:cywyddau 70:, below. 43:Anglesey 21:The Wave 931:5 March 907:5 March 870:6 April 840:5 March 810:5 March 743:5 March 709:6 March 683:6 March 641:6 March 605:5 March 530:5 March 352:Line 28 270:6 April 240:5 March 213:. See 57:Summary 25:I'r Don 898:  861:  831:  801:  734:  632:  521:  395: 329:  261:  183:llatai 179:dyfalu 167:llatai 155:dyfalu 138:dyfalu 39:llatai 30:cywydd 338:5 May 280:Notes 933:2024 909:2024 896:ISBN 872:2024 859:ISBN 842:2024 829:ISBN 812:2024 799:ISBN 779:2024 745:2024 732:ISBN 711:2024 685:2024 643:2023 630:ISBN 607:2024 532:2024 519:ISBN 340:2023 327:ISBN 272:2024 259:ISBN 242:2024 208:The 91:Date 948:by 387:doi 960:: 769:. 701:. 675:. 597:. 467:^ 357:^ 79:, 935:. 911:. 874:. 844:. 814:. 781:. 747:. 713:. 687:. 645:. 609:. 534:. 393:. 389:: 342:. 274:. 244:. 19:"

Index

cywydd
Gruffudd Gryg
Anglesey
Santiago de Compostella
Dafydd ap Gwilym
H. Idris Bell
Translation
Offa's Dyke
Milky Way
anchoress
shrine of St James
Ifor Williams
Henry IV
Henry II of Castile
Bay of Biscay
Thomas Parry
The Wind
Rachel Bromwich
Transactions of the Honourable Society of Cymmrodorion
External links
Williams, Ifor
Cywyddau Dafydd ap Gwilym a'i Gyfoeswyr
Gwaith Gruffudd Gryg
ISBN
9780947531782
Thomas Parry
Koch, John T.
Celtic Culture: A Historical Encyclopedia. Volume 5
ISBN
1851094407

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