It is said that in the Castell Dinas Brân,
also known as the Castle of Crow City,
there once lived the fairest of all women in the Kingdom Of Powys. Myfanwy was her name,
daughter of the Norman Earl of Arundel.
Many men came to the castle to romance her,
but no one could win her love – for they did not own the gift of music
to praise her flawless beauty.
Until one day there passed by a young, poor bard, Hywel by name.
He climbed up the hill to the castle, pulled out his harp
and began to sing to her:
"Myfanwy, I saw your reddened skin
In clover, primulas and roses,
in the pure light of day
and in the clouded light of night.
When the luminous Venus raises her head,
in the constellation of the Leo,
between the skies and the high tides,
you are loved on earth and in Heavens."
Captivated by her loveliness, the young bard lost his heart to the maiden. And he believed to also have gained her love,
for flattered by his blandishment, Myfanwy allowed Hywel into the castle
to play for her and sing of her beauty.
"Myfanwy, brighter, fairer you are
than my soul,
a thousand times more pristine,
a thousand times more gentle
than me.
Oh, were I a gust of wind,
to roam through the city of crows,
on my way I’d hum around your ears
and you’d let down your curls
into the field of furious, heavy wind."
But Hywel was deceived by Myfanwy.
And one day, a much richer, handsome man came along
to replace the young bard.
Devastated, Hywel withdrew into the deep forests, wandering around, composing a last poem for his lost love:
"Oh nymph of my soul,
unbroken is my affection,
everlasting my love for you.
In oaks through bolts,
Dragon flash bright white
I lay my arm into the slot
And hide my love."
Written by Alexandra Gronwald, Matthias Renner and Madita Knöpfle
Recorded & Mixed by Alain Meyer
Mastering by Benjamin Gut ("idee und klang" studios, Basel)
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