Eliza Carmarthen

Disgrifiad

Eliza Carmarthen was the daughter of John Williams, and her father’s home was at 30, King Street, Carmarthen, just within the shadow of the ancient Parish Church of St. Peter. Eliza was one of four children, and as her parents were wealthy, she was, educated at private schools in England and later in France and Germany. She spoke several languages and drafted her poems that became extremely popular. John Williams claimed close relationship to Lord Milford, and his wife, Anne Lewis, was a daughter of The Old Bull, a well-known eating-house nestling near the Guildhall, in the centre of the town. The Old Bull was famous for its sumptuous fare and its very moderate tariff. Indeed, and old menu card showed that for 4d, roast chicken and two vegetables, rice pudding, treacle, and home-brewed ale, which was, served.

This excellent early training helped her a great deal to refine her literary taste. When, rather, young she frequently enriched various magazines with gems in the pasture of poetry, and soon received a seat in the temple of praise as “The Best English poetess” ever born in Wales. A well-known Literateur informed me once that he considered her lines on “The Burial of Moses” equal to the famous poem of Mrs. Alexander on the same subject, and that she ought to be classed side by side with Mrs. Elliott, Mrs. Howitt, Mrs. Hemans, etc.

O bear me back again
To fair Glan Towy’s vale, where babbling streams
Wind graceful in their brightness e’en ‘mid dreams
That haunt my aching brain.
My heart sighs, craving for some cherished tone
Some notes of echo from that distant home.

O bear me back again
And let me linger by Glan Towy’s side
That flows so tranquil on at eventide
Towards the blue waved main.
There, let my spirit quench its fevered will
And whisper to my sad, sad thoughts
Peace, be still

O bear me back again
And let me nestle ‘mid the things I love
That speak so sweetly of the home above
Of never-ending day
Were angel forms once loved, bow round the throne
Of the immaculate undying One