continuedsingletillmyEnglishfamilygrewupandleftme，when，feelingmyselfratherlonely，ImarriedadecentyoungWelshwoman，bywhomIhadoneson，theladJohnwhoisfollowingbehindwithhisdogJoe。AndnowyourhonourknowsthewholestoryofJohnGreaves，minerfromthecountyofDurham。\"
\"Andamostentertainingandinstructivehistoryitis，\"saidI。
\"Youhavenottoldme，however，howyoucontrivedtopickupWelsh：
Iheardyouspeakingitlastnightwiththepostman。\"
\"Why，throughmyWelshwife，yourhonour！WithoutherIdon’tthinkIshouldeverhavepickeduptheWelshmannerofdiscoursing—sheisagoodkindofwoman，myWelshwife，though—\"
\"ThelossofyourDurhamwifemusthavebeenagreatgrieftoyou，\"
saidI。
\"Itwasthebitterestgrief，yourhonour，asIsaidbefore，thatI
everhad；mynextworstIthinkwasthedeathofadearfriend。\"
\"Whowasthat？\"saidI
\"Whowasit，yourhonour？why，theDukeofNewcastle。\"
\"Dearme！\"saidI，\"howcameyoutoknowhim？\"
\"Why，yourhonour，helivedataplacenotfarfromhere，calledHafod，andso—\"
\"Hafod？\"saidI；\"IhaveoftenheardofHafodanditslibrary；butIthoughtitbelongedtoanoldWelshfamilycalledJohnes。\"
\"Well，soitdid，yourhonour，butthefamilydiedaway，andtheestatewasputupforsale，andpurchasedbytheDuke，whobuiltafinehouseuponit，whichhemadehischiefplaceofresidence—
theoldfamilyhouse，Imusttellyourhonour，inwhichthelibrarywas，hadbeendestroyedbyfire。Well，hehadn’tbeenlongsettledtherebeforehefoundmeoutandtookwonderfullytome，discoursingwithmeandconsultingmeabouthisfarmingandimprovements。ManyisthepleasantchatanddiscourseIhavehadwithhisGraceforhoursandhourstogether，forhisGracehadnotabitofpride，atleasthenevershowedanytome，thoughperhapsthereasonofthatwasthatwewerebothnorthcountrypeople。
Lord！IwouldhavelaiddownmylifeforhisGraceandhavedoneanythingbutonewhichheonceaskedmetodo。’Greaves，’saidtheDuketomeoneday，’Iwishyouwouldgiveupminingandbecomemysteward。’’SorryIcan’tobligeyourGrace，’saidI，’butgiveupminingIcannot。IwillatanytimegiveyourGracealltheadviceIcanaboutfarmingandsuchlike，butgiveupminingIcannot；
becausewhy？—Iconceiveminingtobethenoblestbusinessinthe’versalworld。’WhereuponhisGracelaughed，andsaidhedaresayIwasright，andnevermentionedthesubjectagain。\"
\"WashisGraceveryfondoffarmingandimproving？\"
\"Ohyes，yourhonour。Likeallthegreatgentry，especiallythenorthcountrygentry，hisGracewaswonderfullyfondoffarmingandimproving；andawonderfuldealofgoodhedid，reclaimingthousandsofacresoflandwhichwasbeforegoodfornothing，andbuildingcapitalfarm—housesandofficesforhistenants。Hisgrandfeat，however，wasbringingtheDurhambullintothiscountry，whichformedacapitalcrosswiththeWelshcows。Pitythathewasn’tequallyfortunatewiththenorthcountrysheep。\"
\"DidhetrytointroducethemintoWales？\"
\"Yes，buttheydidn’tanswer，asIknewtheywouldn’t。SaysItotheDuke：’Itwon’tdo，yourGrace，tobringthenorthcountrysheephere：becausewhy？thehillsaretoowetandcoldfortheirconstitutions’；buthisGrace，whohadsometimesawillofhisown，persistedandbroughtthenorthcountrysheeptotheseparts，anditturnedoutasIsaid—thesheepcaughtthedisease，andthewoolpartedand—\"
\"But，\"saidI，\"youshouldhavetoldhimaboutthesalvemadeofbran，butterandoil；youshouldhavedonethat。\"
\"Well，soIdid，yourhonour。Itoldhimaboutthesalve，andtheDukelistenedtome，andthesalvewasmadebytheseveryhands；
butwhenitwasmade，whatdoyouthink？thefoolishWelshwouldn’tputiton，sayingthatitwasagainsttheirlawsandstattiesandreligiontouseit，andtalkedaboutDevil’ssalvesandtheWitchofEndor，andthesinagainsttheHolyGhost，andsuchlikenonsense。Sotopreventaregularrebellion，theDukegaveupthesalve，andthepoorsheeppinedawayanddied，tillatlasttherewasnotoneleft。\"
\"Whoholdstheestateatpresent？\"saidI。
\"Why，agreatgentlemanfromLancashire，yourhonour，whoboughtitwhentheDukedied；buthedoesn’ttakethesamepleasureinitwhichtheDukedid，norspendsomuchmoneyaboutit，theconsequencebeingthateverythinglooksverydifferentfromwhatitlookedintheDuke’stime。TheinnattheDevil’sBridgeandthegroundslookverydifferentfromwhattheylookedintheDuke’stime，foryoumustknowthattheinnandthegroundsformpartoftheHafodestate，andarehiredfromtheproprietor。\"
Bythistimewehadarrivedatasmallvillage，withatoll—barandasmallchurchorchapelatsomelittledistancefromtheroad，whichheremadeaturnnearlyfullsouth。Theroadwasverygood，butthecountrywaswildandrugged；therewasadeepvaleontheright，atthebottomofwhichrolledtheRheidolinitscleft，risingbeyondwhichweresteep，nakedhills。
\"Thisvillage，\"saidmycompanion，\"iscalledYsbyttyCynfyn。Downontheright，pastthechurch，isastrangebridgeacrosstheRheidol，whichrunstherethroughahorridkindofaplace。ThebridgeiscalledPontyrOffeiriad，ortheParson’sBridge，becauseintheoldtimetheclergymanpassedoveriteverySundaytododutyinthechurchhere。\"
\"WhyisthisplacecalledYsbyttyCynfyn？\"saidI，\"whichmeansthehospitalofthefirstboundary；isthereahospitalofthesecondboundarynearhere？\"
\"Ican’tsayanythingaboutboundaries，yourhonour；allIknowis，thatthereisanotherSpyttyfartheronbeyondHafodcalledYsbyttyYstwyth，orthe’SpyttyupontheYstwyth。ButtoreturntothematteroftheMinister’sBridge：Iwouldcounselyourhonourtogoandseethatbridgebeforeyouleavetheseparts。Avastnumberofgentrygotoseeitinthesummertime。Itwasthebridgewhichthelandlordwasmentioninglastnight，thoughitscarcelybelongstohisdistrict，beingquiteasneartheDevil’sBridgeinnasitistohisown，yourhonour。\"
Wewentondiscoursingforabouthalfamilefarther，when，stoppingbyaroadwhichbranchedofftothehillsontheleft，mycompanionsaid。\"Imustnowwishyourhonourgoodday，beingobligedtogoalittlewayupheretoaminingworkonasmallbitofbusiness；myson，however，andhisdogJoewillshowyourhonourthewaytotheDevil’sBridge，astheyareboundtoaplacealittlewaypastit。Ihavenowbutonewordtosay，whichis，thatshouldeveryourhonourpleasetovisitmeatmymine，yourhonourshallreceiveeveryfacilityforinspectingtheworks，andmoreoverhaveabellyfulofdrinkandvictualsfromJockGreaves，minerfromthecountyofDurham。\"
Ishookthehonestfellowbythehand，andwentonincompanywiththeladJohnandhisdogasfarastheDevil’sBridge。Johnwasahighly—intelligentlad，spokeWelshandEnglishfluently，couldread，ashetoldme，bothlanguages，andhadsomeacquaintancewiththewritingsofTwmo’rNant，asheshowedbyrepeatingthefollowinglinesofthecarterpoet，certainlynottheworstwhichheeverwrote：—
\"TwmorNantmaecanta’mgalw，TomasEdwardsywfyenw，\"
TomONantisanicknameI’vegot，Myname’sThomasEdwards，Iwot。\"
CHAPTERLXXXIV
TheHospice—TheTwoRivers—TheDevil’sBridge—PleasantRecollections。
IARRIVEDattheDevil’sBridgeatabouteleveno’clockofafinebutcoldday，andtookupmyquartersattheinn，ofwhichIwasthesoleguestduringthewholetimethatIcontinuedthere；fortheinn，standinginalone，wilddistrict，hasveryfewguestsexceptinsummer，whenitisthrongedwithtourists，whoavailthemselvesofthatgenialseasontoviewthewondersofWales，ofwhichtheregionclosebyisconsideredamongsttheprincipal。
Theinn，orratherhospice—forthesoundingnameofhospiceismoreapplicabletoitthanthecommononeofinn—wasbuiltatagreatexpensebythelateDukeofNewcastle。Itisanimmenseloftycottagewithprojectingeaves，andhasafinewindowtotheeastwhichenlightensastatelystaircaseandanoblegallery。Itfrontsthenorth，andstandsinthemidstofoneofthemostremarkablelocalitiesintheworld，ofwhichitwouldrequireafarmorevigorouspenthanminetoconveyanadequateidea。
Fartothewestisatall，strange—lookinghill，thetopofwhichbearsnoslightresemblancetothatofabattlementedcastle。Thishill，whichisbelievedtohavebeeninancienttimesastrongholdoftheBritons，bearsthenameofBrynyCastell，orthehillofthecastle。Tothenorth—westarerussethills，totheeasttwobrownpaps，whilsttothesouthisahigh，swellingmountain。Tothenorth，andjustbelowthehospice，isaprofoundhollowwithalltheappearanceofthecraterofanextinctvolcano；atthebottomofthishollowthewatersoftworiversunite；thoseoftheRheidolfromthenorth，andthoseoftheAfonyMynach，ortheMonks’River，fromthesouth—east。TheRheidol，fallingoverarockyprecipiceatthenorthernsideofthehollow，formsacataractverypleasanttolookuponfromthemiddleupperwindowoftheinn。ThoseoftheMynachwhichpassunderthecelebratedDevil’sBridgearenotvisible，thoughtheygenerallymakethemselvesheard。Thewatersofboth，afteruniting，flowawaythrougharomanticglentowardsthewest。Thesidesofthehollow，andindeedofmostoftheravinesintheneighbourhood，whicharenumerous，arebeautifullycladwithwood。
Penetratenowintothehollowabovewhichthehospicestands。Youdescendbysuccessiveflightsofsteps，someofwhichareveryslipperyandinsecure。OnyourrightistheMonks’River，roaringdownitsdingleinfivesuccessivefalls，tojoinitsbrothertheRheidol。Eachofthefallshasitsownpeculiarbasin，oneortwoofwhicharesaidtobeofawfuldepth。Thelengthwhichthesefallswiththeirbasinsoccupyisaboutfivehundredfeet。Onthesideofthebasinofthelastbutoneisthecave，orthesiteofthecave，saidtohavebeenoccupiedinoldtimesbytheWickedChildren—themysteriousPlantdeBat—twobrothersandasister，robbersandmurderers。Atpresentitisnearlyopenoneveryside，having，itissaid，beendestroyedtopreventitsbeingthehauntofotherevilpeople。Thereisatraditioninthecountrythatthefallatonetimetumbledoveritsmouth。Thistradition，however，isevidentlywithoutfoundation，asfromthenatureofthegroundtherivercouldneverhaverunbutinitspresentchannel。Ofallthefalls，thefifthorlastisthemostconsiderable：youviewitfromakindofden，towhichthelastflightofsteps，theruggedestandmostdangerousofall，hasbroughtyou。Yourpositionhereisawildone。Thefall，whichissplitintotwo，isthunderingbesideyou；foam，foam，foamisflyingallaboutyou；
thebasinorcauldronisboilingfrightfullybelowyou；hirsuterocksarefrowningterriblyaboveyou，andabovethemforesttrees，dankandwetwithsprayandmist，aredistillingdropsinshowersfromtheirboughs。
Butwhereisthebridge，thecelebratedbridgeoftheEvilMan？
Fromthebottomofthefirstflightofstepsleadingdownintothehollowyouseeamodern—lookingbridge，bestridingadeepchasmorclefttothesouth—east，nearthetopofthedingleoftheMonks’
River；overitliestheroadtoPontErwyd。That，however，isnottheDevil’sBridge；butabouttwentyfeetbelowthatbridge，andcompletelyoverhungbyit，don’tyouseeashadowy，spectralobject，somethinglikeabow，whichlikewisebestridesthechasm？
Youdo！Well，thatshadowy，spectralobjectisthecelebratedDevil’sBridge，or，asthetimorouspeasantsofthelocalitycallit，thePontyGwrDrwg。Itisnowmerelypreservedasanobjectofcuriosity，thebridgeabovebeingaloneusedfortransit，andisquiteinaccessibleexcepttobirdsandtheclimbingwickedboysoftheneighbourhood，whosometimesattheriskoftheirlivescontrivetogetuponitfromthefrightfullysteepnorthernbank，andsnatchafearfuljoy，as，whilstlyingontheirbellies，theypoketheirheadsoveritssideswornbyage，withoutparapettopreventthemfromfallingintothehorridgulfbelow。ButfromthestepsinthehollowtheviewoftheDevil’sBridge，andlikewiseofthecleft，isveryslightandunsatisfactory。Toviewitproperly，andthewondersconnectedwithit，youmustpassoverthebridgeaboveit，anddescendaprecipitousdingleontheeasternsidetillyoucometoasmallplatforminacrag。Belowyounowisafrightfulcavity，atthebottomofwhichthewatersoftheMonks’
River，whichcomestumblingfromaglentotheeast，whirl，boil，andhissinahorridpotorcauldron，calledinthelanguageofthecountryTwllynygraig，ortheholeintherock，inamannertrulytremendous。Onyourrightisaslit，probablycausedbyvolcanicforce，throughwhichthewatersafterwhirlinginthecauldroneventuallyescape。Theslitiswonderfullynarrow，consideringitsaltitudewhichisverygreat—considerablyupwardsofahundredfeet。Nearlyaboveyou，crossingtheslit，whichispartiallywraptindarkness，isthefar—famedbridge，theBridgeoftheEvilMan，aworkwhich，thoughcrumblinganddarklygrey，doesmuchhonourtothehandwhichbuiltit，whetheritwasthehandofSatanorofamonkisharchitect；forthearchischasteandbeautiful，farsuperiorineveryrespect，exceptinsafetyandutility，totheoneaboveit，whichfromthisplaceyouhavenotthemortificationofseeing。Gazeontheseobjects，namely，thehorridseethingpotorcauldron，thegloomyvolcanicslit，andthespectral，shadowyDevil’sBridgeforaboutthreeminutes，allowingaminutetoeach，thenscrambleupthebankandrepairtoyourinn，andhavenomoresight—seeingthatday，foryouhaveseenenough。AndifpleasantrecollectionsdonothauntyouthroughlifeofthenoblefallsandthebeautifulwoodeddinglestothewestofthebridgeoftheEvilOne，andawfulandmysteriousonesofthemonks’boilingcauldron，thelong，savage，shadowycleft，andthegrey，crumbling，spectralbridge，Isayboldlythatyoumustbeaveryunpoeticalpersonindeed。
CHAPTERLXXXV
DinnerattheHospice—EveningGossip—ADayofRain—AScantyFlock—TheBridgeoftheMinister—LegsinDanger。
IDINEDinaparlouroftheinncommandinganexcellentviewofthehollowandtheRheidolfall。ShortlyafterIhaddined，afiercestormofrainandwindcameon。Itlastedforanhour，andtheneverythingagainbecamecalm。JustbeforeeveningwasclosinginI
tookastrolltoavillagewhichstandsalittlewaytothewestoftheinn。Itconsistsonlyofafewruinousedifices，andischieflyinhabitedbyminersandtheirfamilies。Isawnomen，butplentyofwomenandchildren。SeeingaknotofwomenandgirlschattingIwentupandaddressedthem。Someofthegirlswereverygood—looking；noneofthepartyhadanyEnglish；allofthemwereverycivil。Ifirsttalkedtothemaboutreligion，andfoundthat，withoutasingleexception，theywereCalvinistic—Methodists。I
nexttalkedtothemaboutthePlantdeBat。Theylaughedheartilyatthefirstmentionoftheirname，butseemedtoknowverylittleabouttheirhistory。Aftersometwentyminutes’discourseIbadethemgood—nightandreturnedtomyinn。
Thenightwasverycold；thepeopleofthehouse，however，madeupformearoaringfireofturf，andIfeltverycomfortable。Aboutteno’clockIwenttobed，intendingnextmorningtogoandseePlynlimmon，whichIhadleftbehindmeonenteringCardiganshire。
Whenthemorningcame，however，IsawatoncethatIhadentereduponadaybynomeansadaptedforexcursionsofanyconsiderablelength，foritrainedterribly；butthisgavemeverylittleconcern；mytimewasmyown，andIsaidtomyself：\"IfIcan’tgoto—dayIcanperhapsgoto—morrow。\"AfterbreakfastIpassedsomehoursinamannerbynomeansdisagreeable，sometimesmeditatingbeforemyturffire，withmyeyesfixeduponit，andsometimessittingbythewindow，withmyeyesfixeduponthecascadeoftheRheidol，whichwaseverymomentbecomingmoremagnificent。Atlengthabouttwelveo’clock，fearingthatifIstayedwithinI
shouldlosemyappetitefordinner，whichhasalwaysbeenoneofthegreatestofmyenjoyments，IdeterminedtogoandseetheMinister’sBridgewhichmyfriendtheoldminingcaptainhadspokentomeabout。IknewthatIshouldgetawettingbydoingso，fortheweatherstillcontinuedverybad，butIdon’tcaremuchforawettingprovidedIhaveagoodroof，agoodfire，andgoodfaretobetakemyselftoafterwards。
SoIsetout。AsIpassedoverthebridgeoftheMynachRiverI
lookeddownovertheeasternbalustrade。TheBridgeoftheEvilOne，whichisjustbelowit，wasquiteinvisible。Icouldsee，however，thepotorcrochandistinctlyenough，andahorriblesightitpresented。Thewaterswerewhirlingroundinamannertodescribewhichanywordbutfrenziedwouldbeutterlypowerless。
Half—an—hour’swalkingbroughtmetothelittlevillagethroughwhichIhadpassedthedaybefore。GoinguptoahouseIknockedatthedoor，andamiddle—agedmanopeningit，IaskedhimthewaytotheBridgeoftheMinister。Hepointedtothelittlechapeltothewest，andsaidthatthewaylaypastit，addingthathewouldgowithmehimself，ashewantedtogotothehillsontheothersidetoseehissheep。
Wegotpresentlyintodiscourse。HeatfirsttalkedbrokenEnglish，butsoonbegantospeakhisnativelanguage。IaskedhimifthechapelbelongedtotheMethodists。
\"Itisnotachapel，\"saidhe，\"itisachurch。\"
\"Domanycometoit？\"saidI。
\"Notmany，sir，fortheMethodistsareverypowerfulhere。Notmorethanfortyorfiftycome。\"
\"DoyoubelongtotheChurch？\"saidI。
\"Ido，sir—thankGod！\"
\"Youmaywellbethankful，\"saidI，\"foritisagreatprivilegetobelongtotheChurchofEngland。\"
\"Itisso，sir，\"saidtheman，’thoughfew，alas！thinkso。\"
Ifoundhimahighly—intelligentperson。Onmytalkingtohimaboutthenameoftheplace，hesaidthatsomecalleditSpyttyCynfyn，andothersSpyttyCynwyl，andthatbothCynwylandCynfynwerethenamesofpeople，tooneorotherofwhichtheplacewasdedicated，andthat，liketheplacefartheroncalledSpyttyYstwyth，itwasintheoldtimeahospitalorinnfortheconvenienceofthepilgrimsgoingtothegreatmonasteryofYstradFlurorStrataFlorida。
Passingthroughafieldortwowecametothesideofaverydeepravine，downwhichtherewasazigzagpathleadingtothebridge。
Thepathwasverysteep，and，owingtotherain，exceedinglyslippery。Forsomewayitledthroughagroveofdwarfoaks，bygraspingthebranchesofwhichIwasenabledtosupportmyselftolerablywell；nearlyatthebottom，however，wherethepathwasmostprecipitous，thetreesceasedaltogether。Fearingtotrustmylegs，Ideterminedtoslidedown，andputmyresolutioninpractice，arrivingatalittleshelfclosebythebridgewithoutanyaccident。Theman，accustomedtothepath，wentdownintheusualmanner。Thebridgeconsistedofacoupleofplanksandapoleflungoverachasmabouttenfeetwide，onthefarthersideofwhichwasaprecipicewithapathatleastquiteassteepastheonedownwhichIhadcome，andwithoutanytreesorshrubsbywhichthosewhouseditmightsupportthemselves。Thetorrentrolledaboutninefeetbelowthebridge；itschannelwastortuous；onthesouth—eastsideofthebridgewasacauldron，likethatonwhichI
hadlookeddownfromthebridgeovertheriverofthemonks。ThemanpassedoverthebridgeandIfollowedhim；ontheothersidewestoppedandturnedround。Theriverwasrushingandsurging，thepotwasboilingandroaring，andeverythinglookedwildandsavage；
butthelocality，forawfulnessandmysteriousgloom，couldnotcomparewiththatontheeastsideoftheDevil’sBridge，norforsublimityandgrandeurwiththatonthewest。
\"Hereyousee，sir，\"saidtheman，\"theBridgeoftheOffeiriad，calledso，itissaid，becausethepopesusedtopassoveritintheoldtime；andhereyouhavetheRheidol，which，thoughnotsosmoothnorsowelloffforbanksastheHafrenandtheGwy，getstotheseabeforeeitherofthem，and，asthepennillsays，isquiteasmuchentitledtohonour：—
\"’HafrenaWyynhyfrydeuweddARheidolvawreianrhydedd。’
Goodrhyme，sir，that。IwishyouwouldputitintoSaesneg。\"
\"IamafraidIshallmakeapoorhandofit，\"saidI；\"however，I
willdomybest：—
\"’OhpleasantlydoglidealongtheSevernandtheWye；
ButRheidol’srough，andyethe’sheldbyallinhonourhigh。’
\"Verygoodrhymethat，sir！thoughnotsogoodasthepennillCymraeg。Ha，Idoseethatyouknowthetwolanguagesandareonepoet。Andnow，sir，Imustleaveyou，andgotothehillstomysheep，whoIamafraidwillbesufferinginthisdreadfulweather。
However，beforeIgo，Ishouldwishtoseeyousafeoverthebridge。\"
Ishookhimbythehand，andretracingmystepsoverthebridge，beganclamberingupthebankonmyknees。
\"Youwillspoilyourtrousers，sir！\"criedthemanfromtheotherside。
\"Idon’tcareifIdo，\"saidI，\"providedIsavemylegs，whichareinsomedangerinthisplace，aswellasmyneck，whichisoflessconsequence。\"
Ihurriedbackamidstrainandwindtomyfriendlyhospice，where，afterdryingmywetclothesaswellasIcould，Imadeanexcellentdinneronfowlandbacon。Dinnerover，Itookupanewspaperwhichwasbroughtme，andreadanarticleabouttheRussianwar，whichdidnotseemtobegoingonmuchtotheadvantageoftheallies。
Soonflingingthepaperaside，Istuckmyfeetonthestove，oneoneachsideoftheturffire，andlistenedtothenoiseswithout。
ThebellowingofthewinddownthemountainpassesandtheroaringoftheRheidolfallatthenorthsideofthevalley，andtherushingofthefivecascadesoftheriverMynach，weretrulyawful。
PerhapsIoughtnottohavesaidthefivecascadesoftheMynach，buttheMynachcascade，fornowitsfivecascadeshadbecomeone，extendingfromthechasmoverwhichhungthebridgeofSatantothebottomofthevalley。
AfteratimeIfellintoafitofmusing。IthoughtofthePlantdeBat；IthoughtofthespittiesorhospitalsconnectedwiththegreatmonasteryofYstradFlurorStrataFlorida；Ithoughtoftheremarkablebridgecloseby，builtbyaclevermonkofthatplacetofacilitatethecomingofpilgrimswiththeirvotiveofferingsfromthenorthtohisconvent；IthoughtoftheconventbuiltinthetimeofourHenrytheSecondbyRyceabGruffyd，princeofSouthWales；andlastly，Ithoughtofawonderfulmanwhowasburiedinitsprecincts，thegreatestgeniuswhichWales，andperhapsBritain，everproduced，onwhoseaccount，andnotbecauseofoldithadbeenamagnificentbuilding，andthemostcelebratedplaceofpopishpilgrimageinWales，Ihadlongagodeterminedtovisititonmyjourney，amanofwhoselifeandworksthefollowingisabriefaccount。
CHAPTERLXXXVI
BirthandEarlyYearsofAbGwilym—Morfudd—RelicofDruidism—
TheMenofGlamorgan—LegendofAbGwilym—AbGwilymasaWriter—WonderfulVariety—ObjectsofNature—GruffyddGryg。
DAFYDDABGWILYMwasbornabouttheyear1320，ataplacecalledBroGynnininthecountyofCardigan。Thoughborninwedlockhewasnotconceivedlegitimately。Hismotherbeingdiscoveredbyherparentstobepregnant，wasturnedoutofdoorsbythem，whereuponshewenttoherlover，whomarriedher，thoughinsodoingheactedcontrarytotheadviceofhisrelations。Afteralittletime，however，ageneralreconciliationtookplace。TheparentsofAbGwilym，thoughhighlyconnected，donotappeartohavepossessedmuchproperty。Theboywaseducatedbyhismother’sbrotherLlewelynabGwilymFychan，achiefofCardiganshire；buthisprincipalpatroninafterlifewasIfor，acousinofhisfather，surnamedHael，orthebountiful，achieftainofGlamorganshire。
Thispersonreceivedhimwithinhishouse，madehimhisstewardandtutortohisdaughter。WiththisyoungladyAbGwilymspeedilyfellinlove，andthedamselreturnedhispassion。Ifor，however，notapprovingoftheconnection，senthisdaughtertoAnglesey，andeventuallycausedhertotaketheveilinanunneryofthatisland。
Dafyddpursuedher，butnotbeingabletoobtainaninterview，hereturnedtohispatron，whogavehimakindreception。UnderIfor’sroofhecultivatedpoetrywithgreatassiduityandwonderfulsuccess。Whilstveryyoung，beingtauntedwiththecircumstancesofhisbirthbyabrotherbardcalledRhysMeigan，heretortedinanodesovenomouslybitterthathisadversary，afterhearingit，felldownandexpired。ShortlyafterthiseventhewasmadeheadbardofGlamorganbyuniversalacclamation。