Sheep stealers, lambs’s mothers.)
“Moch Sir Benfro.”
(Pembrokeshire pigs.)
It is probable that Pembrokeshire was the particular part of Britain into which pigs were first introduced. In the Mabinogion, Gwydion tells Math, son of Mathonwy, Lord of North Wales, that Pryderi, Lord of the South, had some beasts called pigs. Pryderi, though he had a palace at Rhuddlan Teivi, in Cardiganshire, was a Pembrokeshire Prince, and it would seem that his chief palace was still at Narberth, and that he introduced some of his pigs from Pembrokeshire into Cardiganshire.
“Esmwyth yw Cwsg cawl Erfin.”
(Easily sleeps turnip broth.)
In the “Cambrian Notes and Queries,” reprinted from the “Weekly mail,” March, 1902, I.H.A. says: “There were two families living in two small cottages somewhere in a secluded spot on one of the slopes of the Black Mountain, Carmarthenshire, both in very straitened circumstances. The paterfamilias’ names were John and David. John found a way out of the difficulty of rearing a family upon the salary earned by farm labourers in those days by stealing a sheep now and then from the mountain flocks. His family very often had mutton broth and plenty of meat for supper while David’s family had to sup upon a piece of coarse bread and turnip broth. Upon a certain night David had enjoyed his usual repast and gone to bed. Mrs. David had gone to the “next door” to view the feast, when suddenly two constables of the old fashion, made their appearance to demand the body of friend John, his depredations having been found out. Mrs. David was frightened and ran into her own house. She then called her husband. ‘David! David! Come down at once; they are going to take John of the next door to prison.’ ‘No,’ says David, ‘I will sleep on’—
“Esmwyth y Cwsg cawl erfin.”
(Easily sleeps turnip broth.)
The above saying is well-known all over Wales, but in the northern part of the Principality people say, “Esmwyth y cwsg potes faip.” What is known as “Cawl erfin” in South Wales, is known in North Wales as “potes faip.”