Itwasgenerallysaidthattheprisonerwasdisorderedinhismind；
Iheldmytongue，butjudgingfromhislookandmannerIsawnoreasontosupposethathewasanymoreoutofhissensesthanI
myself，oranypersonpresent，andIhadnodoubtthatwhatinducedhimtocommittheactwasrageatbeinglookeddownuponbyaquondamacquaintance，whowasrisingalittleintheworld，exacerbatedbythereflectionthatthedisdainfulquondamacquaintancewasoneoftheSaxonrace，againstwhicheveryWelshmanentertainsagrudgemoreorlessvirulent，which，thoughofcourse，veryunchristianlike，isreally，brotherEnglishman，aftertheaffairofthelongknives，andtwoorthreeotheractionsofasomewhatsimilarcharacterofournobleAnglo—Saxonprogenitors，withwhichallWelshmenareperfectlywellacquainted，notverymuchtobewonderedat。
CHAPTERLIII
TheDylluan—TheOldestCreatures。
MUCHrainfellaboutthemiddleofthemonth；intheintervalsoftheshowersIoccasionallywalkedbythebanksoftheriverwhichspeedilybecamemuchswollen；itwasquiteterriblebothtothesightandearnearthe\"Robber’sLeap；\"therewerebreakersabovethehigherstonesatleastfivefeethighandaroararoundalmostsufficient\"toscareahundredmen。\"ThepoolofLingowasstrangelyaltered；itwasnolongerthequietpoolwhichitwasinsummer，verifyingthewordsoftheoldWelshpoetthatthedeepestpooloftheriverisalwaysthestillestinthesummerandofthesoftestsound，butahowlingturbidgulf，inwhichbranchesoftrees，deadanimalsandrubbishwerewhirlingaboutinthewildestconfusion。Thenightsweregenerallylessrainythanthedays，andsometimesbythepallidglimmerofthemoonIwouldtakeastrollalongsomefavouritepathorroad。OnenightasIwaswanderingslowlyalongthepathleadingthroughthegrovesofPenyCoedI
wasstartledbyanunearthlycry—itwastheshoutofthedylluanorowl，asitflittedoverthetopsofthetreesonitsnocturnalbusiness。
Oh，thatcryofthedylluan！whatastrangewildcryitis；howunlikeanyothersoundinnature！acrywhichnocombinationofletterscangivetheslightestideaof。WhatresemblancedoesShakespear’sto—whit—to—whoobeartothecryoftheowl？nonewhatever；thosewhohearitforthefirsttimeneverknowwhatitis，howeveraccustomedtotalkofthecryoftheowlandto—whit—
to—whoo。AmanmightbewanderingthroughawoodwithShakespear’sowl—chorusinhismouth，butwerehethentohearforthefirsttimetherealshoutoftheowlhewouldassuredlystopshortandwonderwhencethatunearthlycrycouldproceed。
Yetnodoubtthatstrangecryisafittingcryfortheowl，thestrangestinitshabitsandlookofallbirds，thebirdofwhombyallnationsthestrangesttalesaretold。Oh，whatstrangetalesaretoldoftheowl，especiallyinconnectionwithitslong—
lifedness；butofallthestrangewildtalesconnectedwiththeageoftheowl，strangestofallistheoldWelshtale。WhenIheardtheowl’scryinthegrovesofPenyCoedthattalerushedintomymind。IhadhearditfromthesingulargroomwhohadtaughtmetogabbleWelshinmyboyhood，andhadsubsequentlyreaditinanoldtatteredWelshstory—book，whichbychancefellintomyhands。Thereaderwillperhapsbeobligedbymyrelatingit。
\"Theeagleofthealdergrove，afterbeinglongmarriedandhavinghadmanychildrenbyhismate，lostherbydeath，andbecameawidower。AftersometimehetookitintohisheadtomarrytheowloftheCowlydCoomb；butfearingheshouldhaveissuebyher，andbythatmeanssullyhislineage，hewentfirstofalltotheoldestcreaturesintheworldinordertoobtaininformationaboutherage。FirsthewenttothestagofFerny—sideBrae，whomhefoundsittingbytheoldstumpofanoak，andinquiredtheageoftheowl。Thestagsaid：’Ihaveseenthisoakanacornwhichisnowlyingonthegroundwithouteitherleavesorbark：nothingintheworldworeitupbutmyrubbingmyselfagainstitonceadaywhenI
gotup，soIhaveseenavastnumberofyears，butIassureyouthatIhaveneverseentheowlolderoryoungerthansheisto—day。
However，thereisoneolderthanmyself，andthatisthesalmon—
troutofGlynLlifon。’Tohimwenttheeagleandaskedhimtheageoftheowlandgotforanswer：’Ihaveayearovermyheadforeverygemonmyskinandforeveryegginmyroe，yethaveIalwaysseentheowllookthesame；butthereisoneolderthanmyself，andthatistheouselofCilgwry。’AwaywenttheeagletoCilgwry，andfoundtheouselstandinguponalittlerock，andaskedhimtheageoftheowl。Quoththeousel：’Youseethattherockbelowmeisnotlargerthanamancancarryinoneofhishands：Ihaveseenitsolargethatitwouldhavetakenahundredoxentodragit，andithasneverbeenwornsavebymydryingmybeakuponitonceeverynight，andbymystrikingthetipofmywingagainstitinrisinginthemorning，yetneverhaveIknowntheowlolderoryoungerthansheisto—day。However，thereisoneolderthanI，andthatisthetoadofCorsFochnod；andunlessheknowsheragenooneknowsit。’Tohimwenttheeagleandaskedtheageoftheowl，andthetoadreplied：’IhavenevereatenanythingsavewhatIhavesuckedfromtheearth，andhavenevereatenhalfmyfillinallthedaysofmylife；butdoyouseethosetwogreathillsbesidethecross？Ihaveseentheplacewheretheystandlevelground，andnothingproducedthoseheapssavewhatIdischargedfrommybody，whohaveevereatensoverylittle—yetneverhaveIknowntheowlanythingelsebutanoldhagwhocriedToo—hoo—hoo，andscaredchildrenwithhervoiceevenasshedoesatpresent。’SotheeagleofGwernabwy；thestagofFerny—sideBrae；thesalmontroutofGlynLlifon；theouselofCilgwry；thetoadofCorsFochnod，andtheowlofCoombCowlydaretheoldestcreaturesintheworld；theoldestofthemallbeingtheowl。\"
CHAPTERLIV
Chirk—TheMiddletonFamily—CastellyWaen—ThePark—TheCourtYard—TheYoungHousekeeper—ThePortraits—MelinyCastell—HumbleMeal—FineChestsfortheDead—HalesandHercules。
THEweatherhavingbecomefine，myselfandfamilydeterminedtogoandseeChirkCastle，amansionancientandbeautiful，andaboundingwithallkindsofagreeableandromanticassociations。
ItwasfoundedaboutthebeginningofthefifteenthcenturybyaStJohn，LordofBletsa，fromadescendantofwhomitwaspurchasedintheyear1615bySirThomasMiddleton，thescionofanancientWelshfamilywho，followingcommerce，acquiredavastfortune，andwasLordMayorofLondon。Inthetimeofthegreatcivilwarithoistedthebanneroftheking，andunderSirThomas，thesonoftheLordMayor，madeabravedefenceagainstLambert，theParliamentaryGeneral，thougheventuallycompelledtosurrender。
ItwasheldsuccessivelybyfourSirThomasMiddletons，andifitacquiredawar—likecelebrityunderthesecond，itobtainedapeculiarlyhospitableoneunderthefourth，whosedaughter，thefruitofasecondmarriage，becameCountessofWarwickandeventuallythewifeofthepoetandmoralistAddison。InhistimethehospitalityofChirkbecamethethemeofmanyabard，particularlyofHuwMorris，who，inoneofhissongs，hasgonesofarastosaythatwerethehillCefnUchafturnedintobeefandbread，andtherillCeiriogintobeerorwine，theywouldbeconsumedinhalfayearbythehospitalityofChirk。ThoughnolongerinthehandsofoneofthenameofMiddleton，ChirkCastleisstillpossessedbyoneoftheblood，themotherofthepresentproprietorbeingtheeldestofthreesisters，linealdescendantsoftheLordMayor，betweenwhomindefaultofanheirmalethewidepossessionsoftheMiddletonfamilyweredivided。Thisgentleman，whobearsthenameofBiddulph，isLordLieutenantofthecountyofDenbigh，andnotwithstandinghiswar—breathingname，whichisGothic，andsignifiesWolfofBattle，isapersonofhighlyamiabledisposition，andonewhotakesgreatinterestinthepropagationoftheGospelofpeaceandlove。
Toviewthisplace，which，thoughinEnglishcalledChirkCastle，isstyledinWelshCastellyWaen，ortheCastleoftheMeadow，westartedonfootaboutteno’clockofafinebrightmorning，attendedbyJohnJones。TherearetworoadsfromLlangollentoChirk，onetheloworpostroad，andtheotherleadingovertheBerwyn。Wechosethelatter。WepassedbytheYewCottage，whichIhavedescribedonaformeroccasion，andbegantoascendthemountain，makingtowardsitsnorth—easterncorner。Theroadatfirstwaseasyenough，buthigherupbecameverysteep，andsomewhatappalling，beingcutoutofthesideofthehillwhichshelvesprecipitouslydowntowardsthevalleyoftheDee。Nearthetopofthemountainwerethreeloftybeech—treesgrowingontheveryvergeoftheprecipice。Heretheroadforabouttwentyyardsisfencedonitsdangeroussidebyawall，partsofwhicharebuiltbetweenthestemsofthetrees。Justbeyondthewallatrulynobleprospectpresenteditselftooureyes。Tothenorthwereboldhills，theirsidesandskirtsadornedwithnumerouswoodsandwhitefarm—houses；athousandfeetbelowuswastheDeeanditswondrousPontyCysultau。JohnJonessaidthatifcertainmistsdidnotintervenewemightdescry\"theseaofLiverpool\"；andperhapstheonlythingwantingtomaketheprospectcomplete，wasthatseaofLiverpool。Wewere，however，quitesatisfiedwithwhatwesaw，andturningroundthecornerofthehill，reacheditstop，whereforaconsiderabledistancethereislevelground，andwhere，thoughatagreataltitude，wefoundourselvesinafairandfertileregion，andamidstasceneofbusyrurallife。Wesawfieldsandinclosures，andhereandtherecorn—stacks，somemade，andothersnotyetcompleted，aboutwhichpeoplewereemployed，andwaggonsandhorsesmoving。Passingoverthetopofthehill，webegantodescendthesouthernside，whichwasfarlesssteepthantheonewehadlatelysurmounted。Afteralittleway，theroaddescendedthroughawood，whichJohnJonestolduswasthebeginningof\"theParkofBiddulph。\"
\"Thereisplentyofgameinthiswood，\"saidhe；\"pheasantcocksandpheasanthens，tosaynothingofharesandconeys；andinthemidstofitthereisaspacesownwithaparticularkindofcornforthesupportofthepheasanthensandpheasantcocks，whichintheshooting—seasonaffordpleasantsportforBiddulphandhisfriends。\"
Nearthefootofthedescent，justwheretheroadmadeaturntotheeast，wepassedbyabuildingwhichstoodamidsttrees，withapondandbarnsnearit。
\"This，\"saidJohnJones，\"isthehousewherethebailiffliveswhofarmsandbuysandsellsforBiddulph，andfattensthebeevesandswine，andthegeese，ducks，andotherpoultrywhichBiddulphconsumesathistable。\"
Thescenerywasnowverylovely，consistingofamixtureofhillanddale，openspaceandforest，infactthebestkindofparkscenery。WecaughtaglimpseofalakeinwhichJohnJonessaidthereweregenerallyplentyofswans，andpresentlysawthecastle，whichstandsonagreengrassyslope，fromwhichitderivesitsWelshnameofCastellyWaen；gwaenintheCumrianlanguagesignifyingameadoworuninclosedplace。Itfrontsthewest，thedirectionfromwhichwewerecoming；oneachsideitshowsfivetowers，ofwhichthemiddlemost，whichprotrudesbeyondtherest，andatthebottomofwhichisthegrandgate，isbyfarthebulkiest。Anobleedificeitlooked，andtomyeyeborenoslightresemblancetoWindsorCastle。
Seeingakindofranger，weinquiredofhimwhatitwasnecessaryforustodo，andbyhisdirectionproceededtothesouthernsideofthecastle，andrungthebellatasmallgate。Thesouthernsidehadafarmoreantiqueappearancethanthewestern；hugetowerswithsmallwindows，andpartlycoveredwithivy，frowneddownuponus。Aservantmakinghisappearance，Iinquiredwhetherwecouldseethehouse；hesaidwecould，andthatthehousekeeperwouldshowittousinalittletimebutthatatpresentshewasengaged。Weenteredalargequadrangularcourt：ontheleft—handsidewasadoorandstaircaseleadingintotheinteriorofthebuilding，andfartheronwasagateway，whichwasnodoubttheprincipalentrancefromthepark。Ontheeasternsideofthespaciouscourtwasakennel，chainedtowhichwasanenormousdog，partlyofthebloodhound，partlyofthemastiffspecies，whooccasionallyutteredadeepmagnificentbay。Asthesunwashot，wetookrefugefromitunderthegateway，thegateofwhich，atthefurtherend，towardsthepark，wasclosed。Heremywifeanddaughtersatdownonasmallbrasscannon，seeminglyasix—pounder，whichstoodonaverydilapidatedcarriage；fromtheappearanceofthegun，whichwasofanancientform，andverymuchbattered，andthatofthecarriage，Ihadlittledoubtthatbothhadbeeninthecastleatthetimeofthesiege。Asmytwolovedonessat，I
walkedupanddown，recallingtomymindallIhadheardandreadinconnectionwiththiscastle。IthoughtofitsgallantdefenceagainstthemenofOliver；IthoughtofitsroaringhospitalityinthetimeofthefourthSirThomas；andIthoughtofthemanybeautieswhohadbeenborninitschambers，haddancedinitshalls，hadtrippedacrossitscourt，andhadsubsequentlygivenheirstoillustriousfamilies。
Atlastweweretoldthatshehousekeeperwaswaitingforus。Thehousekeeper，whowasagenteel，good—lookingyoungwoman，welcomedusatthedoorwhichledintotheinteriorofthehouse。Afterwehadwrittenournames，sheshowedusintoalargeroomorhallontheright—handsideonthegroundfloor，whereweresomehelmetsandancienthalberts，andalsosomepicturesofgreatpersonages。
Thefloorwasofoak，andsopolishedandslippery，thatwalkinguponitwasattendedwithsomedanger。WishingthatJohnJones，ourfaithfulattendant，whoremainedtimidlyatthedoorway，shouldparticipatewithusinthewonderfulsightswewereabouttosee，I
inquiredofthehousekeeperwhetherhemightcomewithus。Sherepliedwithasmilethatitwasnotthecustomtoadmitguidesintotheapartments，butthathemightcome，providedhechosetotakeoffhisshoes；adding，thatthereasonshewishedhimtotakeoffhisshoeswas，anapprehensionthatifhekeptthemonhewouldinjurethefloorswiththeirroughnails。ShethenwenttoJohnJones，andtoldhiminEnglishthathemightattendus，providedhetookoffhisshoes；poorJohn，however，onlysmiledandsaid\"DimSaesneg！\"
\"Youmustspeaktohiminyournativelanguage，\"saidI，\"providedyouwishhimtounderstandyou—hehasnoEnglish。\"
\"Iamspeakingtohiminmynativelanguage，\"saidtheyounghousekeeper，withanothersmile—\"andifhehasnoEnglish，IhavenoWelsh。\"
\"ThenyouareEnglish？\"saidI。
\"Yes，\"shereplied，\"anativeofLondon。\"
\"Dearme，\"saidI。\"Well，it’snobadthingtobeEnglishafterall；andasfornotspeakingWelsh，therearemanyinWaleswhowouldbegladtohavemuchlessWelshthantheyhave。\"IthentoldJohnJonestheconditiononwhichhemightattendus，whereuponhetookoffhisshoeswithgreatgleeandattendedus，holdingtheminhishand。
Wepresentlywentupstairs，towhatthehousekeepertolduswastheprincipaldrawing—room，andanobleroomitwas，hungroundwiththeportraitsofkingsandqueens，andthemightyoftheearth。
Here，oncanvas，wasnobleMary，thewifeofWilliamofOrange，andherconsortbyherside，whosepartlikeatruewifeshealwaystook。HerewaswretchedMaryofScotland，themurderessofherownlord。HerewerethetwoCharlesesandboththeDukesofOrmond—
thegreatDukewhofoughtstoutlyinIrelandagainstPapistandRoundhead；andthePretender’sDukewhotriedtostabhisnativeland，anddiedaforeigncolonel。Andhere，amongstotherdaughtersofthehouse，wastheveryprouddaughterofthehouse，theWarwickDowagerwhomarriedtheSpectator，andledhimthelifeofadog。Shelookedhaughtyandcold，andnotparticularlyhandsome；butIcouldnothelpgazingwithacertaindegreeofinterestandrespectonthecountenanceofthevixen，whoservedoutthegentilityworshipperinsuchprimestyle。Manyweretheroomswhichweentered，ofwhichIshallsaynothing，savethattheywerenobleinsizeandrichinobjectsofinterest。Atlastwecametowhatwascalledthepicturegallery。Itwasalongpanelledroom，extendingnearlythewholelengthofthenorthernside。Thefirstthingwhichstruckusonenteringwasthehugeskinofalionstretchedoutuponthefloor；thehead，however，whichwastowardsthedoor，wasstuffed，andwithitsmonstrousteethlookedsoformidableandlife—like，thatwewerealmostafraidtotouchit。Againsteverypanelwasaportrait；amongstotherswasthatofSirThomasMiddleton，thestoutgovernorofthecastle，duringthetimeofthesiege。Neartoitwastheportraitofhisrib，DameMiddleton。FartherdownonthesamesideweretwoportraitsofNellGwynn；theonepaintedwhenshewasagirl；theotherwhenshehadattainedamorematureage。TheywerebothbyLely，theApellesoftheCourtofwantonCharles。OntheothersidewasoneoftheDukeofGloucester，thesonofQueenAnne，who，hadhelived，wouldhavekepttheGeorgesfromthethrone。Inthisgalleryonthesouthernsidewasacabinetofebonyandsilver，presentedbyCharlestheSecondtothebravewarriorSirThomas，andwhich，accordingtotradition，costseventhousandpounds。
Thisroom，whichwasperhapsthemostmagnificentinthecastle，wasthelastwevisited。ThecandleofGod，whilstwewanderedthroughthesemagnificenthalls，wasflaminginthefirmament，anditsrays，penetratingthroughthelongnarrowwindows，showedthemoff，andallthegorgeousthingswhichtheycontainedtogreatadvantage。Whenweleftthecastleweallsaid，notexceptingJohnJones，thatwehadneverseeninourlivesanythingmoreprincelyanddelightfulthantheinterior。
Afteralittletime，mywifeanddaughtercomplainingofbeingratherfaint，IaskedJohnJoneswhethertherewasaninnintheneighbourhoodwheresomerefreshmentcouldbeprocured。Hesaidtherewas，andthathewouldconductustoit。Wedirectedourcoursetowardstheeast，rousingsuccessively，andsettinga—
scampering，threelargeherdsofdeer—thecommononeswereyellowandofnoparticularsize—butattheheadofeachherdweobservedabigoldblackfellowwithimmenseantlers；oneofthesewasparticularlylarge，indeedashugeasabull。Wesooncametothevergeofasteepdescent，downwhichwewent，notwithoutsomeriskoffalling。Atlastwecametoagate；itwaslocked；
however，onJohnJonesshouting，anelderlymanwithhisrighthandbandaged，cameandopenedit。Iaskedhimwhatwasthematterwithhishand，andhetoldmethathehadlatelylostthreefingerswhilstworkingatasaw—millupatthecastle。Onmyinquiringabouttheinnhesaidhewasthemasterofit，andledthewaytoalongneatlowhouse，nearlyoppositetoalittlebridgeoverabrook，whichrandownthevalleytowardsthenorth。Iorderedsomealeandbread—and—butter，andwhilstourrepastwasbeinggotreadyJohnJonesandIwenttothebridge。
\"Thisbridge，sir，\"saidJohn，\"iscalledPontyVelinCastell，thebridgeoftheCastleMill；theinnwasformerlythemillofthecastle，andisstillcalledMelinyCastell。AssoonasyouareoverthisbridgeyouareinshireAmwythig，whichtheSaxonscallShropshire。AlittlewayuponyonhillisClawddOffaorOffa’sdyke，builtofoldbytheBreninOffainordertokeepuspoorWelshwithinourbounds。\"
AswestoodonthebridgeIinquiredofJonesthenameofthebrookwhichwasrunningmerrilybeneathit。
\"TheCeiriog，sir，\"saidJohn，\"thesameriverthatwesawatPontyMeibion。\"
\"Theriver，\"saidI，\"whichHuwMorrislovedsowell，whosepraiseshehassung，andwhichhehasintroducedalongwithCefnUchafinastanzainwhichhedescribesthehospitalityofChirkCastleinhisday，andwhichrunsthus：
\"Pebyddai’rCefnUcha，Yngigacynfara，ACheiriogfawryma’nfiramlbobtro，Rhyryfeddfaeiddyn’
Barhauhannerblwyddyn，Iwyrbobyngan—nynarginio。\"
\"Agoodpenillthat，sir，\"saidJohnJones。\"Pitythatthehallsofgreatpeoplenolongerflowwithriversofbeer，norhavemountainsofbreadandbeefforallcomers。\"
\"Nopityatall，\"saidI；\"thingsarebetterastheyare。Thosemountainsofbreadandbeef，andthoseriversofalemerelyencouragedvassalage，fawningandidleness；bettertopayforone’sdinnerproudlyandindependentlyatone’sinn，thantogoandcringeforitatagreatman’stable。\"
Wecrossedthebridge，walkedalittlewayupthehillwhichwasbeautifullywooded，andthenretracedourstepstothelittleinn，whereIfoundmywifeanddaughterwaitingforus，andveryhungry。
Wesatdown，JohnJoneswithus，andproceededtodespatchourbread—and—butterandale。Thebread—and—butterweregoodenough，butthealepoorish。Oh，foranActofParliamenttoforcepeopletobrewgoodale！Afterfinishingourhumblemeal，wegotupandhavingpaidourreckoningwentbackintothepark，thegateofwhichthelandlordagainunlockedforus。
Westrolledtowardsthenorthalongthebaseofthehill。Theimaginationofmancanscarcelyconceiveascenemorebeautifulthantheonewhichwewerenowenjoying。Hugeoaksstuddedthelowersideofthehill，towardsthetopwasabeltofforest，abovewhichrosetheeasternwallsofthecastle；thewholeforest，castleandthegreenbosomofthehillglorifiedbythelustreofthesun。Asweproceededweagainrousedthedeer，andagainsawthreeoldblackfellows，evidentlythepatriarchsoftheherds，withtheirwhiteenormoushorns；withtheseancientgentlefolksI
verymuchwishedtomakeacquaintance，andtriedtogetnearthem，butno！theywouldsuffernosuchthing；offtheyglided，theirwhiteantlers，likethebarkedtopboughsofoldpollards，glancinginthesunshine，thesmallerdapplecreaturesfollowingthemboundingandfrisking。Wehadagaingotverynearthecastle，whenJohnJonestoldmethatifwewouldfollowhimhewouldshowussomethingveryremarkable；Iaskedhimwhatitwas。
\"LlunCawr，\"hereplied。\"Thefigureofagiant。\"
\"Whatgiant？\"saidI。
Butonthispointhecouldgivemenoinformation。Itoldmywifeanddaughterwhathehadsaid，andfindingthattheywishedtoseethefigure，IbadeJohnJonesleadustoit。Heledusdownanavenuejustbelowtheeasternsideofthecastle；nobleoaksandothertreescomposedit，someofthemprobablynearahundredfeethigh；JohnJonesobservingmelookingatthemwithadmiration，said：
\"Theywouldmakefinechestsforthedead，sir。\"
Whatanobservation！howcalculated，amidstthemostboundingjoyandbliss，toremindmanofhisdoom！AmomentbeforeIhadfeltquitehappy，butnowIfeltsadandmournful。Ilookedatmywifeanddaughter，whoweregazingadmiringlyonthebeauteousscenesaroundthem，andrememberedthatinafewshortyearsatmostweshouldallthreebelaidinthecoldnarrowhouseformedoffourelmoroakenboards，ouronlygarmenttheflannelshroud，thecolddampearthaboveus，insteadofthebrightglorioussky。Oh，howsadandmournfulIbecame！Isooncomfortedmyself，however，byreflectingthatsuchisthewillofHeaven，andthatHeavenisgood。
AfterwehaddescendedtheavenuesomewayJohnJonesbegantolookabouthim，andgettingonthebankontheleftsidedisappeared。
Wewenton，andinalittletimesawhimagainbeckoningtoussomewayfartherdown，butstillonthebank。Whenwedrewnightohimhebadeusgetonthebank；wedidsoandfollowedhimsomeway，midstfurzeandlyng。Allofasuddenheexclaimed，\"Thereitis！\"
Welookedandsawalargefigurestandingonapedestal。OngoinguptoitwefoundittobeaHerculesleaningonhisclub，indeedacopyoftheFarneseHercules，aswegatheredfromaninscriptioninLatinpartlydefaced。Wefeltratherdisappointed，asweexpectedthatitwouldhaveturnedouttobethefigureofsomehugeWelshchampionofold。We，however，saidnothingtoourguide。JohnJones，inorderthatwemightproperlyappreciatethesizeofthestatuebycontrastingitwithhisownbody，gotuponthepedestalandstoodupbesidethefigure，totheelbowofwhichhisheadlittlemorethanreached。
Itoldhimthatinmycountry，theeasternpartofLloegr，Ihadseenamanquiteastallasthestatue。
\"Indeed，sir，\"saidhe；\"whoisit？\"
\"HalestheNorfolkgiant，\"Ireplied，\"whohasasisterseveninchesshorterthanhimself，whoisyetseveninchestallerthananymaninthecountywhenherbrotherisoutofit。\"
WhenJohnJonesgotdownheaskedmewhothemanwaswhomthestatuewasintendedtorepresent。
\"Erchwl，\"Ireplied，\"amightymanofold，whowithclubclearedthecountryofthieves，serpents，andmonsters。\"
InowproposedthatweshouldreturntoLlangollen，whereuponweretracedoursteps，andhadnearlyreachedthefarm—houseofthecastlewhenJohnJonessaidthatwehadbetterreturnbythelowroad，bydoingwhichweshouldseethecastle—lodgeandalsoitsgatewhichwasconsideredoneofthewondersofWales。Wefollowedhisadviceandpassingbythefrontofthecastlenorthwardssooncametothelodge。Thelodgehadnothingremarkableinitsappearance，butthegatewhichwasofironwastrulymagnificent。
OnthetopweretwofiguresofwolveswhichJohnJonessupposedtobethoseoffoxes。ThewolfofChirkisnotintendedtobeexpressiveofthenorthernnameofitsproprietor，butasthearmorialbearingofhisfamilybythematernalside，andoriginatedinoneRyred，surnamedBlaiddorWolffromhisferocityinwar，fromwhomthefamily，whichonlyassumedthenameofMiddletoninthebeginningofthethirteenthcentury，ontheoccasionofitsrepresentativemarryingarichShropshireheiressofthatname，tracesdescent。
ThewolfofChirkisaCambriannotaGothicwolf，andthough\"awolfofbattle，\"isthewolfnotofBiddulphbutofRyred。
CHAPTERLV
AVisitor—ApprenticeshiptotheLaw—CrochDaranau—LopedeVega—NoLifeliketheTraveller’s。
ONEmorningasIsataloneagentlemanwasannounced。OnhisentranceIrecognisedinhimthemagistrate’sclerk，owingtowhosegoodword，asitappearedtome，Ihadbeenpermittedtoremainduringtheexaminationintotheaffairofthewoundedbutcher。Hewasastout，strong—mademan，somewhatunderthemiddleheight，witharuddyface，andveryclear，greyeyes。Ihandedhimachair，whichhetook，andsaidthathisnamewasR—，andthathehadtakenthelibertyofcalling，ashehadagreatdesiretobeacquaintedwithme。OnmyaskinghimhisreasonforthatdesirehetoldmethatitproceededfromhishavingreadabookofmineaboutSpain，whichhadmuchinterestedhim。
\"Good，\"saidI，\"youcan’tgiveanauthorabetterreasonforcomingtoseehimthanbeingpleasedwithhisbook。Iassureyouthatyouaremostwelcome。\"
AfteralittlegeneraldiscourseIsaidthatIpresumedhewasinthelaw。
\"Yes，\"saidhe，\"Iamamemberofthatmuch—abusedprofession。\"
\"Andunjustlyabused，\"saidI；\"itisaprofessionwhichaboundswithhonourablemen，andinwhichIbelievetherearefewerscampsthaninanyother。ThemosthonourablemenIhaveeverknownhavebeenlawyers；theyweremenwhosewordwastheirbond，andwhowouldhavepreferredruintobreakingit。Therewasmyoldmaster，inparticular，whowouldhavediedsoonerthanbrokenhisword。