Welsh Journals

Sefyll a disgwyl wnai Milton y pryd hwnnw, yn ansicr pa dasg a roddai ei Feistr iddo Yet be it less or more, or soon or slow, It shall be still in strictest measure ev'n To that same iot, however mean or high, Toward which Time leads me, and the will of Heav'n. Eithr yn awr teifl ei olwg yn ol tros flynyddoedd terfysglyd y Chwyldroad Piwritanaidd, a theimla yn sicr ynddo ei hun, tra hefyd yr ymchwydda ei fynwes gan falchder boddhaus, mai'r gwaith arbennig roes ei Arglwydd iddo ef ydoedd amddiffyn rhyddid ei wlad. Cyfansoddwyd y ganig ddyfynwyd ohoni olaf pryd yr oedd Milton ymron terfynnu ei gwrs athrofaol yng Nghaergrawnt. Dy- muniad ei rieni ydoedd ar iddo gymeryd urddau eglwysig, ac felly y bwriadai yntau ar y dechreu ond ar ddiwedd ei gwrs daethai i betruso am ei ddyledswydd. Wedi i gyfaill hyn na'r bardd ymliw âg o ynghylch ei oediad, a'r hwyrfrydedd ddangosai i ymgyflwyno i waith ei fywyd, etyb Milton gan roddi rhesymau cydsain a thôn y ganig y dyfynwyd ohoni uchod-ac a ddanfonwyd gyda'r llythyr at y cyfaill. Chwenychai Milton gael mîn da i'w gryman cyn myned ohono allan i'r cynhauaf. Pwysai y meddwl am fod yn gymhwys yn drwm arno-" With a sacred reverence and religious advisement how best to undergo, not taking thought of being late, so it give advantage to be more fit." Er nad oes crybwylliad yn y llythyr at draha yr Eglwys, nac ychwaith awgrym am wrthwyneb cydwybod o'i du ef i'w hathrawiaeth na'i disgyblaeth, nid oes amheuaeth nad dyma'r rheswm pennaf am betrusder Milton. Yn y dyfyniad canlynol o'r Reason of Church Governmeut urged against Prelaty, ymhen deg mlynedd, dywed Milton yn glir a phendant y gorfu iddo, rhag brad- ychu cydwybod a gwneuthur trais a'r rhyddid yr oedd tan gyfrif i Dduw am dano, sefyll allan o'r Eglwys. Meddai mewn ymadroddion nodweddiadol iawn But were it the meanest under-service, if God by His secretary conscience enjoins it, it were sad for me if I should draw back for me, especially, now when all men offer their aid to help, ease, and lighten the difficult labours of the church, to whose service, by the intentions of my parents and friends, I was destined of a child, and in mine own resolution till coming to some maturity of years, and perceiving what tyranny had invaded the church, that he who would take orders must sub- scribe slave, and take an oath withal, which, unless he took with a conscience that would retch, he must either straight perjure, or split his faith; I thought it better to prefer a blameless silence before the sacred office of speaking, bought and begun with servitude and forswearing. Howsoever, thus church-outed by the prelates, hence may appear the right I have to meddle in these matters, as before the necessity and constraint appeared."