Dafydd ap Gwilym: The Seagull (From Welsh)

The Seagull

By Dafydd ap Gwilym

Translated by A.Z. Foreman

Seagull floating　on the seething tideflow,
White as moonlight　or wild snow,
Moving in beauty　immaculate, 
As a sunbeam-shard　or sea-gauntlet,
Lightly skimming 　the swell windward,
Swift fish-eating　stately bird
Wont to angle　at anchor with me
Side by side there,　a sea-lily,
Shining letter 　in silvered text,
A nun atop　the sea-tide's crest. 

Perfect girl-symbol 　worth praise in art,
Go for the curves　of castle and rampart.
Keep looking, seagull, 　till you light on her
Gorgeous as Igraine, 　 on the grand tower.
Speak my words 　in sweet concord.
Let her choose me 　and love my word.
If you see her alone 　(since success
With so rare a girl　 takes real deftness)
Then get some nerve　to greet her. Say I,
A well-bred lad,　must win her or die. 

I love that girl, 　my guard of vigor.
No lover has loved 　a lovelier
I'm telling you, men. 　Not Taliesin
Nor flattery-lipped　lusty Merlin.
Such a man-stopper　with copper hair
And superlative form　far too proper.

Oh yes, good gull 　if you do come
To that most charming cheek　 in Christendom,
Unless she answers 　my love kindly
That girl will mean　the end of me.

Audio of me reading the original Welsh:

A. Z. Foreman · "Yr Wylan" by Dafydd ap Gwilym read in Welsh and English translation

The Original:

Yr Wylan

Yr wylan deg ar lanw, dioer,

Unlliw ag eiry neu wenlloer,

Dilwch yw dy degwch di,

Darn fel haul, dyrnfol heli.

Ysgafn ar don eigion wyd,

Esgudfalch edn bysgodfwyd.

Yngo'r aud wrth yr angor

Lawlaw â mi, lili môr.

Llythr unwaith lle'th ariannwyd,

Lleian ym mrig llanw môr wyd.

Cyweirglod bun, cai'r glod bell,

Cyrch ystum caer a chastell.

Edrych a welych, wylan,

Eigr o liw ar y gaer lân.

Dywaid fy ngeiriau dyun,

Dewised fi, dos hyd fun.

Byddai'i hun, beiddia'i hannerch,

Bydd fedrus wrth fwythus ferch

Er budd; dywaid na byddaf,

Fwynwas coeth, fyw onis caf.

Ei charu'r wyf, gwbl nwyf nawdd,

Och wŷr, erioed ni charawdd

Na Merddin wenithfin iach,

Na Thaliesin ei thlysach.

Siprys dyn giprys dan gopr,

Rhagorbryd rhy gyweirbropr.

Och wylan, o chai weled

Grudd y ddyn lanaf o Gred,

Oni chaf fwynaf annerch,

Fy nihenydd fydd y ferch.