wild wales-第93章

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came　to　some　beautiful　little　pools　of　water　in　the　turf；　which　was　
here　remarkably　green。

〃These　are　very　pretty　pools；　an't　they；　master？〃　said　my　
companion。　　〃Now；　if　I　was　a　false　guide　I　might　bid　you　stoop　and　
drink；　saying　that　these　were　the　sources　of　the　Severn；　but　I　am　a　
true　cyfarwydd；　and　therefore　tell　you　not　to　drink；　for　these　
pools　are　not　the　sources　of　the　Hafren；　no　more　than　the　spring　
below。　　The　ffynnon　of　the　Severn　is　higher　up　the　nant。　　Don't　
fret；　however；　but　follow　me；　and　we　shall　be　there　in　a　minute。〃

So　I　did　as　he　bade　me；　following　him　without　fretting　higher　up　
the　nant。　　Just　at　the　top　he　halted　and　said：　　〃Now；　master；　I　
have　conducted　you　to　the　source　of　the　Severn。　　I　have　considered　
the　matter　deeply；　and　have　come　to　the　conclusion　that　here；　and　
here　only；　is　the　true　source。　　Therefore　stoop　down　and　drink；　in　
full　confidence　that　you　are　taking　possession　of　the　Holy　Severn。〃

The　source　of　the　Severn　is　a　little　pool　of　water　some　twenty　
inches　long；　six　wide；　and　about　three　deep。　　It　is　covered　at　the　
bottom　with　small　stones；　from　between　which　the　water　gushes　up。　　
It　is　on　the　left…hand　side　of　the　nant；　as　you　ascend；　close　by　
the　very　top。　　An　unsightly　heap　of　black　turf…earth　stands　right　
above　it　to　the　north。　　Turf…heaps；　both　large　and　small；　are　in　
abundance　in　the　vicinity。

After　taking　possession　of　the　Severn　by　drinking　at　its　source；　
rather　a　shabby　source　for　so　noble　a　stream；　I　said；　〃Now　let　us　
go　to　the　fountain　of　the　Wye。〃

〃A　quarter　of　an　hour　will　take　us　to　it；　your　honour；〃　said　the　
guide；　leading　the　way。

The　source　of　the　Wye；　which　is　a　little　pool；　not　much　larger　than　
that　which　constitutes　the　fountain　of　the　Severn；　stands　near　the　
top　of　a　grassy　hill　which　forms　part　of　the　Great　Plynlimmon。　　The　
stream　after　leaving　its　source　runs　down　the　hill　towards　the　
east；　and　then　takes　a　turn　to　the　south。　　The　Mountains　of　the　
Severn　and　the　Wye　are　in　close　proximity　to　each　other。　　That　of　
the　Rheidol　stands　somewhat　apart　front　both；　as　if；　proud　of　its　
own　beauty；　it　disdained　the　other　two　for　their　homeliness。　　All　
three　are　contained　within　the　compass　of　a　mile。

〃And　now；　I　suppose；　sir；　that　our　work　is　done；　and　we　may　go　back　
to　where　we　came　from；〃　said　my　guide；　as　I　stood　on　the　grassy　
hill　after　drinking　copiously　of　the　fountain　of　the　Wye。

〃We　may；〃　said　I；　〃but　before　we　do　I　must　repeat　some　lines　made　
by　a　man　who　visited　these　sources；　and　experienced　the　hospitality　
of　a　chieftain　in　this　neighbourhood　four　hundred　years　ago。〃　　Then　
taking　off　my　hat；　I　lifted　up　my　voice　and　sang：…


〃From　high　Plynlimmon's　shaggy　side
Three　streams　in　three　directions　glide；
To　thousands　at　their　mouths　who　tarry
Honey；　gold　and　mead　they　carry。
Flow　also　from　Plynlimmon　high
Three　streams　of　generosity；
The　first；　a　noble　stream　indeed；
Like　rills　of　Mona　runs　with　mead；
The　second　bears　from　vineyards　thick
Wine　to　the　feeble　and　the　sick；
The　third；　till　time　shall　be　no　more；
Mingled　with　gold　shall　silver　pour。〃


〃Nice　pennillion；　sir；　I　daresay；〃　said　my　guide；　〃provided　a　
person　could　understand　them。　　What's　meant　by　all　this　mead；　wine；　
gold；　and　silver？〃

〃Why；〃　said　I；　〃the　bard　meant　to　say　that　Plynlimmon；　by　means　of　
its　three　channels；　sends　blessings　and　wealth　in　three　different　
directions　to　distant　places；　and　that　the　person　whom　he　came　to　
visit；　and　who　lived　on　Plynlimmon；　distributed　his　bounty　in　three　
different　ways；　giving　mead　to　thousands　at　his　banquets；　wine　from　
the　vineyards　of　Gascony　to　the　sick　and　feeble　of　the　
neighbourhood；　and　gold　and　silver　to　those　who　were　willing　to　be　
tipped；　amongst　whom　no　doubt　was　himself；　as　poets　have　never　been　
above　receiving　a　present。〃

〃Nor　above　asking　for　one；　your　honour；　there's　a　prydydd　in　this　
neighbourhood　who　will　never　lose　a　shilling　for　want　of　asking　for　
it。　　Now；　sir；　have　the　kindness　to　tell　me　the　name　of　the　man　who　
made　those　pennillion。〃

〃Lewis　Glyn　Cothi；〃　said　I；　〃at　least；　it　was　he　who　made　the　
pennillion　from　which　those　verses　are　translated。〃

〃And　what　was　the　name　of　the　gentleman　whom　he　came　to　visit？〃

〃His　name；〃　said　I；　〃was　Dafydd　ab　Thomas　Vychan。〃

〃And　where　did　he　live？〃

〃Why；　I　believe；　he　lived　at　the　castle；　which　you　told　me　once　
stood　on　the　spot　which　you　pointed　out　as　we　came　up。　　At　any　
rate；　he　lived　somewhere　upon　Plynlimmon。〃

〃I　wish　there　was　some　rich　gentleman　at　present　living　on　
Plynlimmon；〃　said　my　guide；　〃one　of　that　sort　is　much　wanted。〃

〃You　can't　have　everything　at　the　same　time；〃　said　I；　〃formerly　you　
had　a　chieftain　who　gave　away　wine　and　mead；　and　occasionally　a　bit　
of　gold　or　silver；　but　then　no　travellers　and　tourists　came　to　see　
the　wonders　of　the　hills；　for　at　that　time　nobody　cared　anything　
about　hills；　at　present　you　have　no　chieftain；　but　plenty　of　
visitors；　who　come　to　see　the　hills　and　the　sources；　and　scatter　
plenty　of　gold　about　the　neighbourhood。〃

We　now　bent　our　steps　homeward；　bearing　slightly　to　the　north；　
going　over　hills　and　dales　covered　with　gorse　and　ling。　　My　guide　
walked　with　a　calm　and　deliberate　gait；　yet　I　had　considerable　
difficulty　in　keeping　up　with　him。　　There　was；　however；　nothing　
surprising　in　this；　he　was　a　shepherd　walking　on　his　own　hill；　and　
having　first…rate　wind；　and　knowing　every　inch　of　the　ground；　made　
great　way　without　seeming　to　be　in　the　slightest　hurry：　　I　would　
not　advise　a　road…walker；　even　if　he　be　a　first…rate　one；　to　
attempt　to　compete　with　a　shepherd　on　his　own；　or　indeed　any　hill；　
should　he　do　so；　the　conceit　would　soon　be　taken　out　of　him。

After　a　little　time　we　saw　a　rivulet　running　from　the　west。

〃This　ffrwd；〃　said　my　guide；　〃is　called　Frennig。　　It　here　divides　
shire　Trefaldwyn　from　Cardiganshire；　one　in　North　and　the　other　in　
South　Wales。〃

Shortly　afterwards　we　came　to　a　hillock　of　rather　a　singular　shape。

〃This　place；　sir；〃　said　he；　〃is　called　Eisteddfa。〃

〃Why　is　it　called　so？〃　said　I。　　〃Eisteddfa　means　the　place　where　
people　sit　down。〃

〃It　does　so；〃　said　the　guide；　〃and　it　is　called　the　place　of　
sitting　because　three　men　from　different　quarters　of　the　world　once　
met　here；　and　one　proposed　that　they　should　sit　down。〃

〃And　did　they？〃　said　I。

〃They　did；　sir；　and　when　they　had　sat　down　they　told　each　other　
their　histories。〃

〃I　should　be　glad　to　know　what　their　histories　were；〃　said　I。

〃I　can't　exactly　tell　you　what　they　were；　but　I　have　heard　say　that　
there　was　a　great　deal　in　them　about　the　Tylwyth　Teg　or　fairies。〃

〃Do　you　believe　in　fairies？〃　said　I。

〃I　do；　sir；　but　they　are　very　seldom　seen；　and　when　they　are　they　
do　no　harm　to　anybody。　　I　only　wish　there　were　as　few　corpse…
candles　as　there　are　Tylwith　Teg；　and　that　they　did　as　little　
harm。〃

〃They　foreshow　people's　deaths；　don't　they？〃　said　I。

〃They　do；　sir；　but　that's　not　all　the　harm　they　do。　　They　are　very　
dangerous　for　anybody　to　meet　with。　　If　they　come　bump　up　against　
you　when　you　are　walking　carelessly　it's　generally　all　over　with　
you　in　this　world。　　I'll　give　you　an　example：　　A　man　returning　from　
market　from　Llan　Eglos　to　Llan　Curig；　not　far　from　Plynlimmon；　was　
struck　down　dead　as　a　horse　not　long　ago　by　a　corpse…candle。　　It　
was　a　rainy；　windy　night；　and　the　wind　and　rain　were　blowing　in　his　
face；　so　that　he　could　not　see　it；　or　get　out　of　its　way。　　And　yet　
the　candle　was　not　abroad　on　purpose　to　kill　the　man。　　The　business　
that　it　was　about　was　to　prognosticate　the　death　of　a　woman　who　
lived　near　the　spot；　and　whose　husband　dealt　in　wool　…　poor　thing！　
she　was　dead　and　buried　in　less　than　a　fortnight。　　Ah；　master；　I　
wish　that　corpse…candles　were　as　few　and　as　little　dangerous　as　the　
Tylwith　Teg　or　fairies。〃

We　returned　to　the　inn；　where　I　settled　with　the　honest　fellow；　
adding　a　trifle　to　what　I　had　agreed　to　give　him。　　Then　sitting　
down；　I　called　for　a　large　measure　of　ale；　and　invited　him　to　
partake　of　it。　　He　accepted　my　offer　with　many　thanks　and　bows；　and　
as　we　sat　and　drank　our　ale　we　had　a　great　deal　of　discourse　about　
the　places　we　had　visited。　　The　ale　being　finished；　I　got　up　and　
said：

〃I　must　now　be　off　for　the　Devil's　Bridge！〃

Whereupon　he　also　arose；　and　offering　me　his　hand；　said：

〃Farewell；　master；　I　shall　never　forget　you。　　Were　all　the　
gentlefolks　who　come　here　to　see　the　sources　like　you；　we　should　
indeed　feel　no　want　in　these　hills　of　such　a　gentleman　as　is　spoken　
of　in　the　pennillion。〃

The　sun　was　going　down　as　I　left　the　inn。　　I　recrossed　the　
streamlet　by　means　of　the　pole　and　rail。　　The　water　was　running　
with　much　less　violence　than　in　the　morning；　and　was　considerably　
lower。　　The　evening　was　calm　and　beautifully　cool；　with　a　slight　
tendency　to　frost。　　I　walked　along　with　a　bounding　and　elastic　
step；　and　never　remember　to　have　felt　more　happy　and　cheerful。

I　reached　the　hospice　at　about　six　o'clock；　a　bright　moon　shining　
upon　me；　and　found　a　capital　supper　awaiting　me；　which　I　enjoyed　
exceedingly。

How　one　enjoys　one's　supper　at　one's　inn　after　a　good　day's　walk；　
provided　one　has　the　proud　and　glorious　consciousness　of　being　able　
to　pay　one's　reckoning　on　the　morrow！



CHAPTER　LXXXIX



A　Morning　View　…　Hafod　Ychdryd　…　The　Monument　…　Fairy…looking　Place　
…　Edward　Lhuyd。


THE　morning　of　the　sixth　was　bright　and　glorious。　　As　I　looked　from　
the　window　of　the　upper　sitting…room　of　the　hospice　the　scene　which　
presented　itself　was　wild　and　beautiful　to　a　degree。　　The　oak…
covered　tops　of　the　volcanic　crater　were　gilded　with　the　brightest　
sunshine；　whilst　the　eastern　sides　remained　in　dark　shade　and　the　
gap　or　narrow　entrance　to　the　north　in　shadow　yet　darker；　in　the　
midst　of　which　shone　the　silver　of　the　Rheidol　cataract。　　Should　I　
live　a　hundred　years　I　shall　never　forget　the　wild　fantastic　beauty　
of　that　morning　scene。

I　left　the　friendly　hospice　at　about　nine　o'clock　to　pursue　my　
southern　journey。　　By　this　time　the　morning　had　lost　much　of　its　
beauty；　and　the　dull　grey　sky　characteristic　of　November　began　to　
prevail。　　The　way　lay　up　a　hill　to　the　south…east；　on　my　left　was　a　
glen　down　which　the　river　of　the　Monk　rolled　with　noise　and　foam。　　
The　country　soon　became　naked　and　dreary；　and　continued　so　for　some　
miles。　　At　length；　coming　to　the　top　of　a　hill；　I　saw　a　park　before　
me；　through　which　the　road　led　after　passing　under　a　stately　
gateway。　　I　had　reached　the　confines　of　the　domain　of　Hafod。

Hafod　Ychdryd；　or　the　summer　mansion　of　Uchtryd；　has　from　time　
immemorial　been　the　name　of　a　dwelling　on　the　side　of　a　hill　above　
the　Ystwyth；　looking　to　the　east。　　At　first　it　was　a　summer　boothie　
or　hunting　lodge　to　Welsh　chieftains；　but　subsequently　expanded　to　
the　roomy；　comfortable　dwelling　of　Welsh　squires；　where　hospitality　
was　much　practised　and　bards　and　harpers　liberally　encouraged。　　
Whilst　belonging　to　an　ancient　family　of　the　name　of　Johnes；　
several　members　of　which　made　no　inconsiderable　figure　in　
literature；　it　was　celebrated；　far　and　wide；　for　its　library；　in　
which　was　to　be　found；　a