Matthew Arnold's "East and West"Author(s): Herbert WrightSource: The Modern Language Review, Vol. 13, No. 3 (Jul., 1918), pp. 324-325Published by: Modern Humanities Research AssociationStable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/3714236 .

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Miscellaneous Notes

MA'rIHEW ARNOLD'S 'EAST AND WEST.'

Matthew Arnold's sonnet East and West first appeared in New Poems in 1867. It is therefore the fruit of the Celtic studies which were occupying his mind about this period. From a reference in his

published correspondence to Renan's views on the Celtic races, we gather that in 1859, and indeed even earlier, Arnold had begun to take an interest in the relations between Celt and Saxon. Writing to his sister in December of that year, he said, " The best book of his (Renan's) for

you to read...is his Essais de Morale et de Critique, lately published. I have read few things for a long time with more pleasure than a long essay with which the book concludes-' Sur la poesie des races celtiques.' I have long felt that we owed far more, spiritually and artistically, to the Celtic races than the somewhat coarse Germanic intelligence readily perceived, and been increasingly satisfied at our own semi-Celtic originl." In the summer of 1864 Arnold stayed at Llandudno and, as he rambled

through the mountains of Snowdonia, drank deep of their perennial beauty. It was this contact with the home of Welsh literature and Welsh traditions that brought to fruition his long-cherished affection for the literature of the Celts. The result is seen in his Oxford lectures on Celtic literature which finally appeared in book form in 1867, some few months before the poem we have under consideration.

As Arnold lay on Great Orme's Head and looked out towards

Anglesey, he could see 'Pen-mon, Seiriol's isle and priory.' It is this Seiriol who, along with his fellow-countryman Cybi, figures in East and West.

They are two of the most famous saints in the history of Anglesey. The former, who flourished in the early part of the sixth century, was

placed by his uncle Einion, King of Lleyn, at the head of the college of Penmon, not far from Beaumaris. This institution, afterwards known as Cor Seiriol, acquired great celebrity and was even frequented by the Scandinavians who settled in Scotland and the Isle of Man. At the northern end of Menai Straits and just off the headland of Penmon lies a small island now known as Puffin Island. Its older name was Priest- holme, which it evidently owed to the Scandinavians who visited it2. In Welsh it is now called Ynys Seiriol after the old saint of that name.

Cybi was a contemporary of Seiriol and his name is connected with Holyhead, which in Welsh is called Caergybi. It was here that Cybi founded a religious society, at the head of which he placed himself.

1 Letters of Matthew Arnold, 1848-1888, Vol. 1, pp. 111-12.. 2 Cf. New English Dictionary, Vol. 5, p. 343, under the heading holm.

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Miscellaneous Notes Miscellaneous Notes

The legend on which East and West is based appears at least as

early as 1766 in Henry Rowlands' Mona antiqua illustrata (p. 144 note), the reference being apparently due to Henry Owen, the editor of this second edition. But the tradition is probably even older and has been handed down to the present day. It will not be amiss to give the details

here, for Matthew Arnold, as we shall see, has completely misunderstood the legend. We are told that once a week Cybi and Seiriol used to meet in the middle of Anglesey at a place called Clorach near Llanerch-

ymedd. At the present day two springs, some ten yards apart, still exist there. One of them bears the name of Ffynnon Seiriol, the other that of P'fynnon Gybi. They were supposed to have healing properties, and even in the early part of the nineteenth century attracted visitors who sought to be cured of their diseases. Seiriol, starting from Penmon towards Clorach, was travelling westwards and had the morning sun behind him. When returning home in the evening his face was once more turned from the sun. Hence in Welsh he is called Seiriol wyn or Seiriol the fair. Cybi, coming from Holyhead, faced the sun, and similarly on his homeward journey. In Welsh he is therefore styled Cybifelyn or Cybi the brown, that is, the sun-burnt.

It will be perceived that East and West reverses the statement of the Welsh legend, which in no way lends itself to Arnold's climax:

Ah! now 'tis changed. In conquering sunshine bright The man of the bold West now comes array'd; He of the mystic East is touch'd with night.

The source upon which Arnold drew is a matter of uncertainty. An account of the legend is given by Robert Williams in his Enwogion Cymru, A Biographical Dictionary of Eminent Welshmen (1852), but Arnold's mistaken conception of the tradition may be due to an imperfect recollection of information acquired during his travels in North Wales or to the faulty narrative of some guide book'.

HERBERT WRIGHT. BANGOR.

'LORD RANDAL.'

'LORD RANDAL' is the name usually given to an English and Scottish ballad the theme of which is extensively diffused in Europe. The tale is told in such widely different languages as German, Dutch, Swedish, Danish, Magyar, Wendish, and Italian, while in Portugal, Bohemia,

1 I wish to thank the Rev. T. Shankland, Librarian of University College, Bangor, who has kindly placed at my disposal his extensive knowledge of Cambrian lore.

The legend on which East and West is based appears at least as

early as 1766 in Henry Rowlands' Mona antiqua illustrata (p. 144 note), the reference being apparently due to Henry Owen, the editor of this second edition. But the tradition is probably even older and has been handed down to the present day. It will not be amiss to give the details

here, for Matthew Arnold, as we shall see, has completely misunderstood the legend. We are told that once a week Cybi and Seiriol used to meet in the middle of Anglesey at a place called Clorach near Llanerch-

ymedd. At the present day two springs, some ten yards apart, still exist there. One of them bears the name of Ffynnon Seiriol, the other that of P'fynnon Gybi. They were supposed to have healing properties, and even in the early part of the nineteenth century attracted visitors who sought to be cured of their diseases. Seiriol, starting from Penmon towards Clorach, was travelling westwards and had the morning sun behind him. When returning home in the evening his face was once more turned from the sun. Hence in Welsh he is called Seiriol wyn or Seiriol the fair. Cybi, coming from Holyhead, faced the sun, and similarly on his homeward journey. In Welsh he is therefore styled Cybifelyn or Cybi the brown, that is, the sun-burnt.

It will be perceived that East and West reverses the statement of the Welsh legend, which in no way lends itself to Arnold's climax:

Ah! now 'tis changed. In conquering sunshine bright The man of the bold West now comes array'd; He of the mystic East is touch'd with night.

The source upon which Arnold drew is a matter of uncertainty. An account of the legend is given by Robert Williams in his Enwogion Cymru, A Biographical Dictionary of Eminent Welshmen (1852), but Arnold's mistaken conception of the tradition may be due to an imperfect recollection of information acquired during his travels in North Wales or to the faulty narrative of some guide book'.

HERBERT WRIGHT. BANGOR.

'LORD RANDAL.'

'LORD RANDAL' is the name usually given to an English and Scottish ballad the theme of which is extensively diffused in Europe. The tale is told in such widely different languages as German, Dutch, Swedish, Danish, Magyar, Wendish, and Italian, while in Portugal, Bohemia,

1 I wish to thank the Rev. T. Shankland, Librarian of University College, Bangor, who has kindly placed at my disposal his extensive knowledge of Cambrian lore.

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