Folk-Lore of West and Mid-Wales

by Jonathan Ceredig Davies

BIRD SINGING HEARD BEFORE DEATH.

In the excellent Welsh Magazine “Y Brython” for January, 1860, page 40, the following remarkable incident is given in connection with the death of the famous poet and clergyman, Tegid, which, being translated is as follows:—

“In his absence from Church, when lying on his death-bed, in the morning of the Lord’s Day, whilst a neighbouring clergyman was taking the service for him in Llanhyfer Church, the voice of the reader was suddenly drowned by the beautiful song of a thrust, that filled the whole church.... It was ascertained on leaving the church that at that very moment the soul of Tegid left his body for the world of spirits.”