276 REV. W. S. LACH-SZYRMA OTf 



differ from them. I contend that both in the drama of the 

 Ascension, and in the Mors Pilati, there are some fine and 

 suggestive passages, while the Beunans Meriasek throws light 

 on a most obscure portion of the British history, i.e., the last 

 struggles of heathenism with Christianity in Celtic Britain. 

 Here and there we may find fine passages in many of the 

 dramas, and perhaps we should find many more if we could 

 grasp the rhythm, the old now extinct tongue. 



I would suggest that an admirable field for ingenuity lies 

 before any intelligent Cornishman or "Welshman possessed of 

 poetic talent to translate these dramas into English verse. As 

 they stand now in the translations used for almost purely 

 philological purposes justice is not done them. I am sure the 

 little attempt made to put a few verses of the drama of the 

 ascension into English shoiild be merely a beginning of what 

 ought to be done more extensively. 



The Cornish dramas now extant in the Cornish language 

 may be thus divided : — 



A. The Scriptural dramas. 



1. — The Creation of the "World — Origo Mundi, giving the 

 story of Greneeis with the Legend of the Holy Eood, carried on 

 to the building of Solomon's Temple. 



2 . — The Passion Play — Passio Christi. This is interesting 

 now from comparison with the well known Aber Ammergau 

 Passion Play of our own time. 



3. — The drama of the Resurrection. 



4. — The drama of the Ascension, bound with it. This I 

 think the grandest and most truly dramatic of the poetic works 

 of old Cornwall. 



5.— The Post Reformation play of the Creation, by Jordan, 

 in the reign of James I. A good edition and translation of 

 this was made by Mr. "Whitley Stokes for the Philological 

 Society, in 1863. It was published and edited also with 

 Keigwin's translation by Davies Gilbert. 



B. The Historic or Legendary Group of dramas discovered 

 in 1869 among the Hengwrt MSS in "Wales. 



1. — The Beunans Meriasek, or life of S. Meriasek, of Cam- 

 borne, (from whom the nickname of Merrygeeks may have 

 come) in two parts. 



