ARTHUR MACHEN

THE PRAISE OF MYFANWY

O gift of the everlasting:

O wonderful and hidden mystery.

Many secrets have been vouchsafed to me,

I have been long acquainted with the wisdom

of the trees;

Ash and oak and elm have communicated to me

from my boyhood,

The birch and the hazel and all the trees of

the greenwood have not been dumb.

There is a caldron rimmed with pearls of whose

gifts I am not ignorant;

I will speak little of it; its treasures are known

to the Bards.

Many went on the search of Caer-Pedryfan,

Seven alone returned with Arthur, but my spirit

was present.

Seven are the apple-trees in a beautiful orchard;

I have eaten of their fruit which is not bestowed

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