Our hero never used the money acquired by his art for his own requirements, and we must not forget to say here that the cash our hero received for the parson’s horse, was cast into the parish poor-box.
TWM’S poetical address to his “lady love.” “A gipsy’s life is a joyous life.” Dinas and a singular natural cave. Faithless woman.
Twm’s thoughts were not often forgetful of Ystrad Feen, and its inhabitants: the lady “of the ilk” seldom indulged in silent reverie, without making the absent Twm the principal figure in her day-dream. She had not known a day’s peace since his absence, and was daily waving between a resolution to send for him back, to bestow on him her hand, and a deference for her father and proud relatives, who insisted that if she ever married again, it should only be to a title and fortune; by which they themselves might share in the honour.
Information was brought to her of his wild excesses, which gave her the greatest concern, as she conceived herself in part the authoress of his misfortunes. Twm, at the same time, felt that his tedious absence from the fair widow was no longer to be endured; and as he knew her to be watched by her father’s spies, he determined on paying her a visit in disguise. Previous to putting his design into execution, he composed and sent her the following poem, in which he dwells on, and exaggerates, his own misfortunes, in a strain calculated to move her tenderness in his favour.
THE outcast’s forced ally is mine And Govid is his name; It is a ruthless savage mate, And like a foe that’s pale with hate, To crush me is his aim: His cruel shafts are fiercely hurl’d, He forced me friendless on the world.
If forward, seeking good I wend, My eager steps outstrip the fiend; If backward I retreat from ill, My cruel foe arrests me still:
I seek the flood to end despair, Relentless Govid meets me there, And tells of endless pangs of pride, The wages of the suicide.
Fell Govid’s mighty in the land, His children are a horrid band, Who joy in hapless man’s distress, Lo, one in debt—one nakedness:— And need against me doth combine; (Fierce Govid’s loveless concubine;) And care, that knows not how to yearn, Is Govid’s consort, keen and stern: And thus this family of ill, E’er bruise my heart and curb my will.