Ac yntau’n hogyn o sir Fôn, mae Richard Wyn Jones yn ebychu ar ddechrau’r bennod hon na chlywodd ‘un sill’ am y brodyr llengar hyn o’r Ynys pan oedd yn yr ysgol. Dyma gyfle felly i unioni’r cam wrth i ni drafod y pedwar brawd o Bentrerianell, Llanfihangel Tre’r Beirdd. Yn ogystal â Lewis, Richard, William a Siôn Morris, nodwn fod cylch ehangach y Morrisiaid yn cynnwys cymeriadau fel Evan Evans (Ieuan Fardd) a Goronwy Owen. Pwysleisiwn fod gan y Morrisiaid rychwant eang iawn o ddiddordebau, gan gynnwys y gwyddonol yn ogystal â’r llenyddol. Ac yn ogystal ag astudio hen lenyddiaeth eu gwlad, roedd rhai ohonynt yn ysgrifennu rhyddiaith a barddoniaeth wreiddiol.

Edrychwn yn benodol ar gwpl o gerddi Lewis Morris wrth i ni drafod y modd yr aeth ati i ailwampio agweddau ar yr hen draddodiad barddol Cymraeg a gwneud cyfoeth yr hen oesau yn berthnasol mewn oes newydd. Cawn gyfle i ystyried ychydig o’i ryddiaith hefyd, sy’n fodd i werthfawrogi ymhellach ei hiwmor dychanol miniog. Rhaid picio draw i Lundain hefyd wrth egluro bod rhai o’r Morisiaid yn ei chanol hi pan sefydlodd y gymdeithas Gymreig ddylanwadol honno, y Cymmrodorion.

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The Morris Brothers of Anglesey

Seeing as he’s from Anglesey, Richard Wyn Jones exclaims at the start of this episode that he didn’t hear so much as ‘a single syllable’ about these literary-minded Brothers from the Island when he was in school. This is an opportunity to correct that lack, as we discuss the four brothers from Pentrerianell, in the parish of Llanfihangel Tre’r Beirdd. In addition to Lewis, Richard, William and Siôn Morris, we note that the wider circle of the Morrises included characters like Evan Evans (Ieuan Fardd) and Goronwy Owen. We emphasize that the Morris brothers had a wide range of interests, including the scientific as well as the literary. And in addition to studying the old literature of their country, some of them wrote original prose and poetry.

We look specifically at a few poems by Lewis Morris as we discuss how he went at it to rework aspects of the old Welsh bardic tradition and make the wealth of the old ages relevant in a new age. We also get an opportunity to consider a little of his prose, which helps us appreciate his sharp satirical humour even more. We also have to pop over to London as we explain that some of the Morris brothers were in the thick of it when that influential society, the Cymmrodorion, was founded.

Cyflwynwyd gan: Yr Athro Jerry Hunter a'r Athro Richard Wyn Jones

Cynhyrchwyd gan Richard Martin i Cwmni Mimosa Cymru

Cerddoriaeth: 'Might Have Done' gan The Molenes

Darllen Pellach/Further Reading:

- Saunders Lewis, A School of Welsh Augustans (Wrecsam, 1924)

- Alun R. Jones, Dawn Dweud: Lewis Morris (Caerdydd, 2004)

- John H. Davies (gol.), The letters of Lewis, Richard, William, and John Morris, of Anglesey (Morrisiaid Môn), 1728-1765, dwy gyfrol (Aberystwyth, 1907-09)