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