Butbyfarthemostremarkablebookinexistence,connectedwiththesecondsight,isoneintheancientNorselanguageentitled"Nial’sSaga。"(3)ItwaswritteninIcelandabouttheyear1200,andcontainsthehistoryofacertainNialandhisfamily,andlikewisenoticesofvariousotherpeople。ThisNialwaswhatwascalledaspamadr,thatis,aspaemanorapersoncapableofforetellingevents。Hewasoriginallyaheathen—when,however,ChristianitywasintroducedintoIceland,hewasamongstthefirsttoembraceit,andpersuadedhisfamilyandvariouspeopleofhisacquaintancetodothesame,declaringthatanewfaithwasnecessary,theoldreligionofOdin,Thor,andFrey,beingquiteunsuitedtothetimes。Thebookisnoromance,butadomestichistorycompiledfromtraditionabouttwohundredyearsaftertheeventswhichitnarrateshadtakenplace。Ofitsstyle,whichiswonderfullyterse,thefollowingtranslatedaccountofNialandhisfamilywillperhapsconveysomeidea:—
"TherewasamancalledNial,whowasthesonofThorgeirGelling,thesonofThorolf。ThemotherofNialwascalledAsgerdr;shewasthedaughterofAr,theSilent,theLordofadistrictinNorway。
ShehadcomeovertoIcelandandsettleddownonlandtothewestofMarkarfliot,betweenOldusteinandSelialandsmul。Holtathorirwasherson,fatherofThorliefKrak,fromwhomtheSkogverjarsarecome,andlikewiseofThorgrimthebigandSkorargeir。NialdweltatBergthorshvalinLandey,buthadanotherhouseatThorolfell。
Nialwasveryrichinproperty,andhandsometolookat,buthadnobeard。Hewassogreatalawyer,thatitwasimpossibletofindhisequal,hewasverywise,andhadthegiftofforetellingevents,hewasgoodatcounsel,andofagooddisposition,andwhatevercounselhegavepeoplewasfortheirbest;hewasgentleandhumane,andgoteverymanoutoftroublewhocametohiminhisneed。HiswifewascalledBergthora;shewasthedaughterofSkarphethin。Shewasabold—spiritedwomanwhofearednobody,andwasratherroughoftemper。Theyhadsixchildren,threedaughtersandthreesons,allofwhomwillbefrequentlymentionedinthissaga。"
InthehistorymanyinstancesaregivenofNial’sskillingivinggoodadviceandhispowerofseeingeventsbeforetheyhappened。
NiallivedinIcelandduringmostsingulartimes,inwhichthoughtherewerelawsprovidedforeverypossiblecase,nomancouldhaveredressforanyinjuryunlesshetookithimself,orhisfriendstookitforhim,simplybecausetherewerenoministersofjusticesupportedbytheState,authorisedandempoweredtocarrythesentenceofthelawintoeffect。Forexample,ifamanwereslain,hisdeathwouldremainunpunished,unlesshehadasonorabrother,orsomeotherrelationtoslaytheslayer,ortoforcehimtopay"bod,"thatis,amendsinmoney,tobedeterminedbythepositionofthemanwhowasslain。Providedthemanwhowasslainhadrelations,hisdeathwasgenerallyavenged,asitwasconsideredtheheightofinfamyinIcelandtopermitone’srelationstobemurdered,withoutslayingtheirmurderers,orobtainingbodfromthem。Theright,however,permittedtorelationsoftakingwiththeirownhandsthelivesofthosewhohadslaintheirfriends,producedincalculablemischiefs;foriftheoriginalslayerhadfriends,they,intheeventofhisbeingslaininretaliationforwhathehaddone,madeitapointofhonourtoavengehisdeath,sothatbythelextalionisfeudswereperpetuated。Nialwasagreatbenefactortohiscountrymen,byarrangingmattersbetweenpeople,atvarianceinwhichhewasmuchhelpedbyhisknowledgeofthelaw,andbygivingwholesomeadvicetopeopleinprecarioussituations,inwhichhewasfrequentlyhelpedbythepowerwhichhepossessedofthesecondsight。OnseveraloccasionshesettledthedisputesinwhichhisfriendGunnarwasinvolved,anoble,generouscharacter,andthechampionofIceland,butwhohadahostoffoes,enviousofhisrenown;anditwasnothisfaultifGunnarwaseventuallyslain,foriftheadvicewhichhegavehadbeenfollowed,thechampionwouldhavediedanoldman;andifhisownsonshadfollowedhisadvice,andnotbeenoverfondoftakingvengeanceonpeoplewhohadwrongedthem,theywouldhaveescapedahorribledeath,inwhichhehimselfwasinvolved,ashehadalwaysforeseenheshouldbe。
"Dostthouknowbywhatdeaththouthyselfwiltdie?"saidGunnartoNial,afterthelatterhadbeenwarninghimthatifhefollowedacertaincoursehewoulddiebyaviolentdeath。
"Ido,"saidNial。
"Whatisit?"saidGunnar。
"Whatpeoplewouldthinktheleastprobable,"repliedNial。
Hemeantthatheshoulddiebyfire。ThekindgenerousNial,whotriedtogeteverybodyoutofdifficulty,perishedbyfire。Hissonsbytheirviolentconducthadincensednumerouspeopleagainstthem。Thehouseinwhichtheylivedwiththeirfatherwasbesetatnightbyanarmedparty,who,unabletobreakintoitowingtothedesperateresistancewhichtheymetwithfromthesonsofNial,Skarphethin,Helgi,andGrimmrandacomradeoftheirscalledKari,(4)setitinablaze,inwhichperishedNial,thelawyerandmanofthesecondsight,hiswifeBergthora,andtwooftheirsons,thethird,Helgi,havingbeenpreviouslyslain,andKari,whowasdestinedtobetheavengeroftheill—fatedfamily,havingmadehisescape,afterperformingdeedsofheroismwhichforcenturiesafterwerethethemesofsongandtaleintheice—boundisle。
CHAPTERXXIX
Snowdon—Caernarvon—MaxenWledig—MoelyCynghorion—TheWyddfa—SnowofSnowdon—RarePlant。
ONthethirdmorningafterourarrivalatBangorwesetoutforSnowdon。
SnowdonorEryriisnosinglehill,butamountainousregion,theloftiestpartofwhich,calledYWyddfa,nearlyfourthousandfeetabovethelevelofthesea,isgenerallyconsideredtobethehighestpointofSouthernBritain。ThenameSnowdonwasbestoweduponthisregionbytheearlyEnglishonaccountofitssnowyappearanceinwinter;EryribytheBritons,becauseintheoldtimeitaboundedwitheagles,Eryri(5)intheancientBritishlanguagesignifyinganeyrieorbreeding—placeofeagles。
Snowdonisinterestingonvariousaccounts。Itisinterestingforitspicturesquebeauty。PerhapsinthewholeworldthereisnoregionmorepicturesquelybeautifulthanSnowdon,aregionofmountains,lakes,cataracts,and,grovesinwhichnatureshowsherselfinhermostgrandandbeautifulforms。
Itisinterestingfromitsconnectionwithhistory:itwastoSnowdonthatVortigernretiredfromthefuryofhisownsubjects,causedbythefavourwhichheshowedtothedetestedSaxons。ItwastherethathecalledtohiscounselsMerlin,saidtobebegottenonahagbyanincubus,butwhowasinrealitythesonofaRomanconsulbyaBritishwoman。ItwasinSnowdonthathebuiltthecastle,whichhefondlydeemedwouldproveimpregnable,butwhichhisenemiesdestroyedbyflingingwild—fireoveritswalls;
anditwasinawind—beatenvalleyofSnowdon,nearthesea,thathisdeadbodydeckedingreenarmourhadamoundofearthandstonesraisedoverit。ItwasontheheightsofSnowdonthatthebravebutunfortunateLlywelinapGriffithmadehislaststandforCambrianindependence;anditwastoSnowdonthatthatveryremarkableman,OwenGlendower,retiredwithhisirregularbandsbeforeHarrytheFourthandhisnumerousanddisciplinedarmies,soonhowever,toemergefromitsdefilesandfollowthefoe,retreatinglessfromtheWelsharrowsfromthecrags,thanfromthecold,rainandstarvationoftheWelshhills。
ButitisfromitsconnectionwithromancethatSnowdonderivesitschiefinterest。WhowhenhethinksofSnowdondoesnotassociateitwiththeheroesofromance,Arthurandhisknights?whosefictitiousadventures,thesplendiddreamsofWelshandBretonminstrels,manyofthescenesofwhicharethevalleysandpassesofSnowdon,aretheoriginofromance,beforewhichwhatisclassichasformorethanhalfacenturybeenwaning,andisperhapseventuallydestinedtodisappear。Yes,toromanceSnowdonisindebtedforitsinterestandconsequentlyforitscelebrity;butforromanceSnowdonwouldassuredlynotbewhatitatpresentis,oneoftheverycelebratedhillsoftheworld,andtothepoetsofmodernEuropealmostwhatParnassuswastothoseofold。
TotheWelsh,besidesbeingthehilloftheAwenorMuse,ithasalwaysbeenthehillofhills,theloftiestofallmountains,theonewhosesnowisthecoldest,toclimbtowhosepeakisthemostdifficultofallfeats;andtheonewhosefallwillbethemostastoundingcatastropheofthelastday。
ToviewthismountainIandmylittlefamilysetoffinacalecheonthethirdmorningafterourarrivalatBangor。
OurfirststagewastoCaernarvon。AsIsubsequentlymadeajourneytoCaernarvononfoot,IshallsaynothingabouttheroadtillIgiveanaccountofthatexpedition,savethatitliesforthemostpartintheneighbourhoodofthesea。WereachedCaernarvon,whichisdistanttenmilesfromBangor,abouteleveno’clock,andputupataninntorefreshourselvesandthehorses。
ItisabeautifullittletownsituatedonthesouthernsideoftheMenaiStraitatnearlyitswesternextremity。ItiscalledCaernarvon,becauseitisoppositeMonaorAnglesey:CaernarvonsignifyingthetownorcastleoppositeMona。Itsprincipalfeatureisitsgrandoldcastle,frontingthenorth,andpartlysurroundedbythesea。ThiscastlewasbuiltbyEdwardtheFirstafterthefallofhisbraveadversaryLlewelyn,andinitwasbornhissonEdwardwhom,whenaninfant,heinducedtheWelshchieftainstoacceptastheirprincewithoutseeing,bysayingthatthepersonwhomheproposedtobetheirsovereignwasonewhowasnotonlyborninWales,butcouldnotspeakawordoftheEnglishlanguage。
ThetownCaernarvon,however,existedlongbeforeEdward’stime,andwasprobablyoriginallyaRomanstation。AccordingtoWelshtraditionitwasbuiltbyMaxenWledigorMaxentius,inhonourofhiswifeEllenwhowasbornintheneighbourhood。Maxentius,whowasaBritonbybirth,andpartlybyorigincontestedunsuccessfullythepurplewithGratianandValentinian,andtosupporthisclaimledovertotheContinentanimmensearmyofBritons,whoneverreturned,butonthefalloftheirleadersettleddowninthatpartofGaulgenerallytermedArmorica,whichmeansamaritimeregion,butwhichtheWelshcallLlydaw,orLithuania,whichwasthename,orsomethinglikethename,whichtheregionborewhenMaxen’sarmytookpossessionofit,owing,doubtless,toitshavingbeenthequartersofalegioncomposedofbarbariansfromthecountryofLethorLithuania。
AfterstayingaboutanhouratCaernarvonwestartedforLlanberis,afewmilestotheeast。Llanberisisasmallvillagesituatedinavalley,andtakesitsnamefromPeris,aBritishsaintofthesixthcentury,sonofHeligabGlanog。Thevalleyextendsfromwesttoeast,havingthegreatmountainofSnowdononitssouth,andarangeofimmensehillsonitsnorthernside。WeenteredthisvalleybyapasscalledNantyGloortheravineofthecoal,andpassingalakeonourleft,onwhichIobservedasolitarycorracle,withafishermaninit,werepresentlyatthevillage。
Herewegotdownatasmallinn,andhavingengagedayoungladtoserveasguide,IsetoutwithHenriettatoascendthehill,mywiferemainingbehind,notdeemingherselfsufficientlystrongtoencounterthefatigueoftheexpedition。
PointingwithmyfingertotheheadofSnowdontoweringalongwayfromusinthedirectionoftheeast,IsaidtoHenrietta:—
"DacwEryri,yonderisSnowdon。Letustrytogettothetop。TheWelshhaveaproverb:’ItiseasytosayyonderisSnowdon;butnotsoeasytoascendit。’ThereforeIwouldadviseyoutobraceupyournervesandsinewsfortheattempt。"
Wethencommencedtheascent,arm—in—arm,followedbythelad,I
singingatthestretchofmyvoiceacelebratedWelshstanza,inwhichtheproverbaboutSnowdonisgiven,embellishedwithafinemoral,andwhichmaythusberendered:—
"Easytosay,’BeholdEryri,’
Butdifficulttoreachitshead;
EasyforhimwhosehopesarecheeryTobidthewretchbecomforted。"
Wewerefarfrombeingtheonlyvisitorstothehillthisday;
groupsofpeople,orsingleindividuals,mightbeseengoingupordescendingthepathasfarastheeyecouldreach。Thepathwasremarkablygood,andforsomewaytheascentwasanythingbutsteep。OnourleftwastheValeofLlanberis,andonourothersideabroadhollow,orvalleyofSnowdon,beyondwhichweretwohugehillsformingpartofthebodyofthegrandmountain,thelowermostofwhichourguidetoldmewascalledMoelElia,andtheuppermostMoelyCynghorion。Onwewentuntilwehadpassedboththesehills,andcometotheneighbourhoodofagreatwallofrocksconstitutingtheupperregionofSnowdon,andwheretherealdifficultyoftheascentcommences。Feelingnowratheroutofbreathwesatdownonalittleknollwithourfacestothesouth,havingasmalllakenearus,onourlefthand,whichlaydarkanddeep,justunderthegreatwall。
Herewesatforsometimerestingandsurveyingthescenewhichpresenteditselftous,theprincipalobjectofwhichwasthenorth—easternsideofthemightyMoelyCynghorion,acrossthewideholloworvalley,whichitoverhangsintheshapeofasheerprecipicesomefivehundredfeetindepth。StruckbythenameofMoelyCynghorion,whichinEnglishsignifiesthehillofthecounsellors,Ienquiredofourguidewhythehillwassocalled,butashecouldaffordmenoinformationonthepointIpresumedthatitwaseithercalledthehillofthecounsellorsfromtheDruidshavingheldhighconsultationonitstop,intimeofold,orfromtheunfortunateLlewelynhavingconsultedtherewithhischieftains,whilsthisarmylayencampedinthevalebelow。
Gettingupwesetaboutsurmountingwhatremainedoftheascent。
Thepathwasnowwindingandmuchmoresteepthanithadhithertobeen。Iwasatonetimeapprehensivethatmygentlecompanionwouldbeobligedtogiveovertheattempt;thegallantgirl,however,persevered,andinlittlemorethantwentyminutesfromthetimewhenwearosefromourresting—placeunderthecrags,westood,safeandsound,thoughpanting,upontheverytopofSnowdon,thefar—famedWyddfa。
TheWyddfaisaboutthirtyfeetindiameterandissurroundedonthreesidesbyalowwall。Inthemiddleofitisarudecabin,inwhichrefreshmentsaresold,andinwhichapersonresidesthroughtheyear,thoughtherearefewornovisitorstothehill’stop,exceptduringthemonthsofsummer。Belowonallsidesarefrightfulprecipicesexceptonthesideofthewest。Towardstheeastitlooksperpendicularlyintothedyffrinorvale,nearlyamilebelow,fromwhichtothegazeritisatalltimesanobjectofadmiration,ofwonderandalmostoffear。
TherewestoodontheWyddfa,inacoldbracingatmosphere,thoughthedaywasalmoststiflinglyhotintheregionsfromwhichwehadascended。Therewestoodenjoyingasceneinexpressiblygrand,comprehendingaconsiderablepartofthemainlandofWales,thewholeofAnglesey,afaintglimpseofpartofCumberland;theIrishChannel,andwhatmightbeeitheramistycreationortheshadowyoutlineofthehillsofIreland。Peaksandpinnaclesandhugemoelsstooduphereandthere,aboutusandbelowus,partlyingloriouslight,partlyindeepshade。ManifoldweretheobjectswhichwesawfromthebrowofSnowdon,butofalltheobjectswhichwesaw,thosewhichfilleduswithdelightandadmiration,werenumerouslakesandlagoons,which,likesheetsoficeorpolishedsilver,layreflectingtheraysofthesuninthedeepvalleysathisfeet。
"Here,"saidItoHenrietta,"youareonthetopcragofSnowdon,whichtheWelshconsider,andperhapswithjustice,tobethemostremarkablecragintheworld;whichismentionedinmanyoftheiroldwildromantictales,andsomeofthenoblestoftheirpoems,amongstothersinthe’DayofJudgment,’bytheillustriousGoronwyOwen,whereitisbroughtforwardinthefollowingmanner:
"’Aili’raraelEryri,Cyfartalhoewalahi。’
"’ThebrowofSnowdonshallbelevelledwiththeground,andtheeddyingwatersshallmurmurroundit。’
"YouarenowonthetopcragofSnowdon,generallytermedYWyddfa,(6)whichmeansaconspicuousplaceortumulus,andwhichisgenerallyinwintercoveredwithsnow;aboutwhichsnowthereareintheWelshlanguagetwocuriousenglynionorstanzasconsistingentirelyofvowelswiththeexceptionofoneconsonant,namelytheletterR。
"’Oeryw’rEiraarEryri,—o’rywArawyrirewi;
Oeryw’riaarriw’rri,A’rEiraoeryw’Ryri。
"’ORiy’Ryriyw’roera,—o’rar,Arororwirarwa;
O’rawyrayrEira,O’irywiroirewa’ria。’
"’ColdisthesnowonSnowdon’sbrowItmakestheairsochill;
Forcold,Itrow,thereisnosnowLikethatofSnowdon’shill。
"’AhillmostchillisSnowdon’shill,Andwintryishisbrow;
FromSnowdon’shillthebreezeschillCanfreezetheverysnow。’"
SuchwastheharanguewhichIutteredonthetopofSnowdon;towhichHenriettalistenedwithattention;threeorfourEnglish,whostoodnigh,withgrinningscorn,andaWelshgentlemanwithconsiderableinterest。Thelattercomingforwardshookmebythehandexclaiming—
"WyttiLydaueg?"
"IamnotaLlydauan,"saidI;"IwishIwas,oranythingbutwhatIam,oneofanationamongstwhomanyknowledgesavewhatrelatestomoney—makingandover—reachingislookeduponasadisgrace。I
amashamedtosaythatIamanEnglishman。"
Ithenreturnedhisshakeofthehand;andbiddingHenriettaandtheguidefollowme,wentintothecabin,whereHenriettahadsomeexcellentcoffeeandmyselfandtheguideabottleoftolerableale;verymuchrefreshedwesetoutonourreturn。
Alittlewayfromthetop,ontheright—handsideasyoudescend,thereisaverysteeppathrunningdowninazigzagmannertothepasswhichleadstoCapelCurig。UpthispathitisindeedataskofdifficultytoascendtotheWyddfa,theonebywhichwemountedbeingcomparativelyeasy。OnHenrietta’spointingouttomeaplant,whichgrewonacragbythesideofthispathsomewaydown,Iwasabouttodescendinordertoprocureitforher,whenourguidespringingforwarddarteddownthepathwiththeagilityofayounggoat,inlessthanaminutereturnedwithitinhishandandpresenteditgracefullytothedeargirl,whoonexaminingitsaiditbelongedtoaspeciesofwhichshehadlongbeendesirousofpossessingaspecimen。NothingmaterialoccurredinourdescenttoLlanberis,wheremywifewasanxiouslyawaitingus。Theascentanddescentoccupiedfourhours。Aboutteno’clockatnightweagainfoundourselvesatBangor。
CHAPTERXXX
GronwyOwen—StrugglesofGenius—TheStipend。
THEdayafterourexpeditiontoSnowdonIandmyfamilyparted;
theyreturningbyrailroadtoChesterandLlangollenwhilstItookatripintoAngleseytovisitthebirth—placeofthegreatpoetGoronwyOwen,whoseworksIhadreadwithenthusiasminmyearlyyears。
GoronwyorGronwyOwen,wasbornintheyear1722,ataplacecalledLlanfairMathafarnEithafinAnglesey。Hewastheeldestofthreechildren。Hisparentswerepeasantsandsoexceedinglypoorthattheywereunabletosendhimtoschool。Even,however,whenanunletteredchildhegaveindicationsthathewasvisitedbytheawenormuse。AtlengththecelebratedLewisMorrischancingtobeatLlanfairbecameacquaintedwiththeboy,andstruckwithhisnaturaltalents,determinedthatheshouldhaveallthebenefitwhicheducationcouldbestow。Heaccordingly,athisownexpensesenthimtoschoolatBeaumaris,wherehedisplayedaremarkableaptitudefortheacquisitionoflearning。HesubsequentlysenthimtoJesusCollege,Oxford,andsupportedhimtherewhilststudyingforthechurch。WhilstatJesus,GronwydistinguishedhimselfasaGreekandLatinscholar,andgavesuchproofsofpoeticaltalentinhisnativelanguage,thathewaslookeduponbyhiscountrymenofthatWelshcollegeastherisingBardoftheage。AftercompletinghiscollegiatecoursehereturnedtoWales,wherehewasordainedaministeroftheChurchintheyear1745。Thenextsevenyearsofhislifewereaseriesofcrueldisappointmentsandpecuniaryembarrassments。ThegrandwishofhisheartwastoobtainacuracyandtosettledowninWales。Certainlyaveryreasonablewish。Tosaynothingofhisbeingagreatgenius,hewaseloquent,highlylearned,modest,meekandofirreproachablemorals,yetGronwyOwencouldobtainnoWelshcuracy,norcouldhisfriendLewisMorris,thoughheexertedhimselftotheutmost,procureoneforhim。ItistruethathewastoldthathemightgotoLlanfair,hisnativeplace,andofficiatethereatatimewhenthecuracyhappenedtobevacant,andthitherhewent,gladathearttogetbackamongsthisoldfriends,whoenthusiasticallywelcomedhim;yetscarcelyhadhebeentherethreeweekswhenhereceivednoticefromtheChaplainoftheBishopofBangorthathemustvacateLlanfairinordertomakeroomforaMrJohnEllis,ayoungclergymanoflargeindependentfortune,whowaswishingforacuracyundertheBishopofBangor,DoctorHutton—sopoorGronwytheeloquent,thelearned,themeek,wasobligedtovacatethepulpitofhisnativeplacetomakeroomfortherichyoungclergyman,whowishedtobewithindiningdistanceofthepalaceofBangor。Trulyinthisworldthefullshallbecrammed,andthosewhohavelittle,shallhavethelittlewhichtheyhavetakenawayfromthem。UnabletoobtainemploymentinWalesGronwysoughtforitinEngland,andaftersometimeprocuredthecuracyofOswestryinShropshire,wherehemarriedarespectableyoungwoman,whoeventuallybroughthimtwosonsandadaughter。
FromOswestryhewenttoDonningtonnearShrewsbury,whereunderacertainScotchmannamedDouglas,whowasanabsentee,andwhodiedBishopofSalisbury,heofficiatedascurateandmasterofagrammarschoolforastipend—alwaysgrudginglyandcontumeliouslypaid—ofthree—and—twentypoundsayear。FromDonningtonheremovedtoWaltoninCheshire,wherehelosthisdaughterwhowascarriedoffbyafever。HisnextremovalwastoNortholt,apleasantvillageintheneighbourhoodofLondon。
Heheldnoneofhiscuracieslong,eitherlosingthemfromthecapriceofhisprincipals,orbeingcompelledtoresignthemfromtheparsimonywhichtheypractisedtowardshim。Intheyear1756
hewaslivinginagarretinLondonvainlysolicitingemploymentinhissacredcalling,andundergoingwithhisfamilythegreatestprivations。AtlengthhisfriendLewisMorris,whohadalwaysassistedhimtotheutmostofhisability,procuredhimthemastershipofagovernmentschoolatNewBrunswickinNorthAmericawithasalaryofthreehundredpoundsayear。Thitherhewentwithhiswifeandfamily,andtherehediedsometimeabouttheyear1780。
HewasthelastofthegreatpoetsofCambriaand,withtheexceptionofAbGwilym,thegreatestwhichshehasproduced。HispoemswhichforalongtimehadcirculatedthroughWalesinmanuscriptwerefirstprintedintheyear1819。TheyarecomposedintheancientBardicmeasures,andwerewithoneexception,namelyanelegyonthedeathofhisbenefactorLewisMorris,whichwastransmittedfromtheNewWorld,writtenbeforehehadattainedtheageofthirty—five。Allhispiecesareexcellent,buthismasterworkisdecidedlytheCywyddyFarnor"DayofJudgment。"
ThispoemwhichisgenerallyconsideredbytheWelshasthebrightestornamentoftheirancientlanguage,wascomposedatDonnington,asmallhamletinShropshireonthenorth—westspuroftheWrekin,atwhichplace,ashasbeenalreadysaid,GronwytoiledasschoolmasterandcurateunderDouglastheScot,forastipendofthree—and—twentypoundsayear。
CHAPTERXXXI
StartforAnglesey—ThePost—Master—AskingQuestions—MynyddLydiart—MrPritchard—WaytoLlanfair。
WHENIstartedfromBangor,tovisitthebirth—placeofGronwyOwen,Ibynomeanssawmywayclearlybeforeme。IknewthathewasborninAngleseyinaparishcalledLlanfairMathafarneithaf,thatisStMary’soffartherMathafarn—butastowherethisMathafarnlay,northorsouth,nearorfar,Iknewpositivelynothing。PassingthroughthenorthernsuburbofBangorIsawasmallhouseinfrontofwhichwaswritten"post—office"inwhiteletters;beforethishouseunderneathashrubinalittlegardensatanoldmanreading。Thinkingthatfromthisperson,whomI
judgedtobethepost—master,Iwasaslikelytoobtaininformationwithrespecttotheplaceofmydestinationasfromanyone,I
stopped,andtakingoffmyhatforamoment,inquiredwhetherhecouldtellmeanythingaboutthedirectionofaplacecalledLlanfairMathafarneithaf。Hedidnotseemtounderstandmyquestion,forgettinguphecametowardsmeandaskedwhatI
第15章