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The story of Lleucu Llwyd
 
BACKGROUND
  
This is believed to be of one of Wales’s most tragic love stories, sometimes referred to as the ‘Welsh Juliet’. According to tradition, Lleucu Llwyd was the true love of the bard Llywelyn Goch ap Meurig Hen (1350 - 1380).

MAIN STORY
 
Lleucu Llwyd was beautiful young woman lived on Dolgelynen Farm near the Dyfi river around the mid fourteenth century. Lleucu was in love with Llywelyn Goch ap Meurig Hen (the son of Meurig Hen), but her father was unhappy with the situation and did everything he could to separate the young lovers.

During their courtship, Llywelyn Goch had to travel to South Wales for a few weeks, but he promised Lleucu that he would return to marry her.

While he was away, Lleucu's father saw his chance to end their relationship, and lied to Lleucu telling her that Llywelyn Goch would not be returning because he had met and married someone else.

This news devastated Lleucu and she died of a broken heart within a few weeks.

It was shortly after her death that Llywelyn returned to Dolgelynnen to fulfil his promise to Lleucu. He discovered what had happened and with a grieving heart he took his bride to be to the local church, not to marry her as intended, but instead to bury her under the church altar.
 

The lyrics of the song entitled LLEUCU LLWYD (below) are based on the poem he wrote after the tragedy.
 
ORIGINAL SONG (Welsh) ENGLISH TRANSLATION
 Lleucu Llwyd, rwyt ti’n hardd,
 Lleucu Llwyd, rwyt ti’n werth y byd i mi,
 Lleucu Llwyd, rwyt ti’n angel,
 Lleucu Llwyd, rwy’n dy garu di.

O! rwy’n cofio cwrdd a thi
Ac rwy’n cofio’r glaw.
Ydi’r eos yn y goedwig?
Ydi’r blodau yn y maes gerllaw?
Yn yr afon mae cyfrinach
Dy gusan cyntaf di,
Yn y goedwig mae y blodau
Yn sibrwd dy enw di.

 Lleucu Llwyd, rwyt ti’n hardd,
 Lleucu Llwyd, rwyt ti’n werth y byd i mi,
 Lleucu Llwyd, rwyt ti’n angel,
 Lleucu Llwyd, rwy’n dy garu di.

O mae’r oriau man yn myned
Fel eiliaid ar adain y gwynt;
Os gorweddaf ar fy ngwely
Efallai daw’r freuddwyd yn gynt.
O mae rhywun yn agosau
Mi glywaf wichian y glwyd,
Ac rwy’n nabod swn yr esgid
Mae’n perthyn i Lleucu Llwyd.

 Lleucu Llwyd, rwyt ti’n hardd,
 Lleucu Llwyd, rwyt ti’n werth y byd i mi,
 Lleucu Llwyd, rwyt ti’n angel,
 Lleucu Llwyd, rwy’n dy garu di.		  Lleucu Llwyd, you are beautiful,
 Lleucu Llwyd, you’re worth the world to me,
 Lleucu Llwyd, you’re an angel,
 Lleucu Llwyd, I love you.

O! I remember meeting you
And I remember the rain.
Is the nightingale in the wood?
Are the flowers in the nearby field?
In the river is a secret,
Your first kiss,
In the wood the flowers
Are whispering your name.

 Lleucu Llwyd, you are beautiful,
 Lleucu Llwyd, you’re worth the world to me,
 Lleucu Llwyd, you’re an angel,
 Lleucu Llwyd, I love you.

O the small hours go
Like an instant on the wind’s wing;
If I lie on my bed
Perhaps the dream will come sooner.
Someone is drawing near,
I hear the creak of the gate,
And I know the sound of the shoes,
They belong to Lleucu Llwyd!

 Lleucu Llwyd, you are beautiful,
 Lleucu Llwyd, you’re worth the world to me,
 Lleucu Llwyd, you’re an angel,
 Lleucu Llwyd, I love you.
   
 
 

© 2011 - Ysgol Gymunedol Llangatwg Community School