\"Thatbrook,\"saidtheguide,\"istheyoungSevern。\"Thebrookcamefromroundthesideofaveryloftyrock,singularlyvariegated,blackandwhite,thenorthernsummitpresentingsomethingoftheappearanceoftheheadofahorse。Passingroundthiscragwecametoafountainsurroundedwithrushes,outofwhichthebrook,nowexceedinglysmall,camemurmuring。
\"Thecragabove,\"saidmyguide,\"iscalledCragyCefyl,ortheRockoftheHorse,andthisspringatitsfootisgenerallycalledtheffynnonoftheHafren。However,drinknotofit,master;fortheffynnonoftheHafrenishigherupthenant。Followme,andI
willpresentlyshowyoutherealffynnonoftheHafren。\"
Ifollowedhimupanarrowandverysteepdingle。Presentlywecametosomebeautifullittlepoolsofwaterintheturf,whichwashereremarkablygreen。
\"Theseareveryprettypools,an’tthey,master?\"saidmycompanion。\"Now,ifIwasafalseguideImightbidyoustoopanddrink,sayingthatthesewerethesourcesoftheSevern;butIamatruecyfarwydd,andthereforetellyounottodrink,forthesepoolsarenotthesourcesoftheHafren,nomorethanthespringbelow。TheffynnonoftheSevernishigherupthenant。Don’tfret,however,butfollowme,andweshallbethereinaminute。\"
SoIdidashebademe,followinghimwithoutfrettinghigherupthenant。Justatthetophehaltedandsaid:\"Now,master,I
haveconductedyoutothesourceoftheSevern。Ihaveconsideredthematterdeeply,andhavecometotheconclusionthathere,andhereonly,isthetruesource。Thereforestoopdownanddrink,infullconfidencethatyouaretakingpossessionoftheHolySevern。\"
ThesourceoftheSevernisalittlepoolofwatersometwentyincheslong,sixwide,andaboutthreedeep。Itiscoveredatthebottomwithsmallstones,frombetweenwhichthewatergushesup。
Itisontheleft—handsideofthenant,asyouascend,closebytheverytop。Anunsightlyheapofblackturf—earthstandsrightaboveittothenorth。Turf—heaps,bothlargeandsmall,areinabundanceinthevicinity。
AftertakingpossessionoftheSevernbydrinkingatitssource,ratherashabbysourceforsonobleastream,Isaid,\"NowletusgotothefountainoftheWye。\"
\"Aquarterofanhourwilltakeustoit,yourhonour,\"saidtheguide,leadingtheway。
ThesourceoftheWye,whichisalittlepool,notmuchlargerthanthatwhichconstitutesthefountainoftheSevern,standsnearthetopofagrassyhillwhichformspartoftheGreatPlynlimmon。Thestreamafterleavingitssourcerunsdownthehilltowardstheeast,andthentakesaturntothesouth。TheMountainsoftheSevernandtheWyeareincloseproximitytoeachother。ThatoftheRheidolstandssomewhatapartfrontboth,asif,proudofitsownbeauty,itdisdainedtheothertwofortheirhomeliness。Allthreearecontainedwithinthecompassofamile。
\"Andnow,Isuppose,sir,thatourworkisdone,andwemaygobacktowherewecamefrom,\"saidmyguide,asIstoodonthegrassyhillafterdrinkingcopiouslyofthefountainoftheWye。
\"Wemay,\"saidI;\"butbeforewedoImustrepeatsomelinesmadebyamanwhovisitedthesesources,andexperiencedthehospitalityofachieftaininthisneighbourhoodfourhundredyearsago。\"Thentakingoffmyhat,Iliftedupmyvoiceandsang:—
\"FromhighPlynlimmon’sshaggysideThreestreamsinthreedirectionsglide;
TothousandsattheirmouthswhotarryHoney,goldandmeadtheycarry。
FlowalsofromPlynlimmonhighThreestreamsofgenerosity;
Thefirst,anoblestreamindeed,LikerillsofMonarunswithmead;
ThesecondbearsfromvineyardsthickWinetothefeebleandthesick;
Thethird,tilltimeshallbenomore,Mingledwithgoldshallsilverpour。\"
\"Nicepennillion,sir,Idaresay,\"saidmyguide,\"providedapersoncouldunderstandthem。What’smeantbyallthismead,wine,gold,andsilver?\"
\"Why,\"saidI,\"thebardmeanttosaythatPlynlimmon,bymeansofitsthreechannels,sendsblessingsandwealthinthreedifferentdirectionstodistantplaces,andthatthepersonwhomhecametovisit,andwholivedonPlynlimmon,distributedhisbountyinthreedifferentways,givingmeadtothousandsathisbanquets,winefromthevineyardsofGasconytothesickandfeebleoftheneighbourhood,andgoldandsilvertothosewhowerewillingtobetipped,amongstwhomnodoubtwashimself,aspoetshaveneverbeenabovereceivingapresent。\"
\"Noraboveaskingforone,yourhonour;there’saprydyddinthisneighbourhoodwhowillneverloseashillingforwantofaskingforit。Now,sir,havethekindnesstotellmethenameofthemanwhomadethosepennillion。\"
\"LewisGlynCothi,\"saidI;\"atleast,itwashewhomadethepennillionfromwhichthoseversesaretranslated。\"
\"Andwhatwasthenameofthegentlemanwhomhecametovisit?\"
\"Hisname,\"saidI,\"wasDafyddabThomasVychan。\"
\"Andwheredidhelive?\"
\"Why,Ibelieve,helivedatthecastle,whichyoutoldmeoncestoodonthespotwhichyoupointedoutaswecameup。Atanyrate,helivedsomewhereuponPlynlimmon。\"
\"IwishtherewassomerichgentlemanatpresentlivingonPlynlimmon,\"saidmyguide;\"oneofthatsortismuchwanted。\"
\"Youcan’thaveeverythingatthesametime,\"saidI;\"formerlyyouhadachieftainwhogaveawaywineandmead,andoccasionallyabitofgoldorsilver,butthennotravellersandtouristscametoseethewondersofthehills,foratthattimenobodycaredanythingabouthills;atpresentyouhavenochieftain,butplentyofvisitors,whocometoseethehillsandthesources,andscatterplentyofgoldabouttheneighbourhood。\"
Wenowbentourstepshomeward,bearingslightlytothenorth,goingoverhillsanddalescoveredwithgorseandling。Myguidewalkedwithacalmanddeliberategait,yetIhadconsiderabledifficultyinkeepingupwithhim。Therewas,however,nothingsurprisinginthis;hewasashepherdwalkingonhisownhill,andhavingfirst—ratewind,andknowingeveryinchoftheground,madegreatwaywithoutseemingtobeintheslightesthurry:Iwouldnotadvisearoad—walker,evenifhebeafirst—rateone,toattempttocompetewithashepherdonhisown,orindeedanyhill;
shouldhedoso,theconceitwouldsoonbetakenoutofhim。
Afteralittletimewesawarivuletrunningfromthewest。
\"Thisffrwd,\"saidmyguide,\"iscalledFrennig。ItheredividesshireTrefaldwynfromCardiganshire,oneinNorthandtheotherinSouthWales。\"
Shortlyafterwardswecametoahillockofratherasingularshape。
\"Thisplace,sir,\"saidhe,\"iscalledEisteddfa。\"
\"Whyisitcalledso?\"saidI。\"Eisteddfameanstheplacewherepeoplesitdown。\"
\"Itdoesso,\"saidtheguide,\"anditiscalledtheplaceofsittingbecausethreemenfromdifferentquartersoftheworldoncemethere,andoneproposedthattheyshouldsitdown。\"
\"Anddidthey?\"saidI。
\"Theydid,sir;andwhentheyhadsatdowntheytoldeachothertheirhistories。\"
\"Ishouldbegladtoknowwhattheirhistorieswere,\"saidI。
\"Ican’texactlytellyouwhattheywere,butIhaveheardsaythattherewasagreatdealinthemabouttheTylwythTegorfairies。\"
\"Doyoubelieveinfairies?\"saidI。
\"Ido,sir;buttheyareveryseldomseen,andwhentheyaretheydonoharmtoanybody。Ionlywishtherewereasfewcorpse—
candlesasthereareTylwithTeg,andthattheydidaslittleharm。\"
\"Theyforeshowpeople’sdeaths,don’tthey?\"saidI。
\"Theydo,sir;butthat’snotalltheharmtheydo。Theyareverydangerousforanybodytomeetwith。Iftheycomebumpupagainstyouwhenyouarewalkingcarelesslyit’sgenerallyalloverwithyouinthisworld。I’llgiveyouanexample:AmanreturningfrommarketfromLlanEglostoLlanCurig,notfarfromPlynlimmon,wasstruckdowndeadasahorsenotlongagobyacorpse—candle。Itwasarainy,windynight,andthewindandrainwereblowinginhisface,sothathecouldnotseeit,orgetoutofitsway。Andyetthecandlewasnotabroadonpurposetokilltheman。Thebusinessthatitwasaboutwastoprognosticatethedeathofawomanwholivednearthespot,andwhosehusbanddealtinwool—poorthing!
shewasdeadandburiedinlessthanafortnight。Ah,master,I
wishthatcorpse—candleswereasfewandaslittledangerousastheTylwithTegorfairies。\"
Wereturnedtotheinn,whereIsettledwiththehonestfellow,addingatrifletowhatIhadagreedtogivehim。Thensittingdown,Icalledforalargemeasureofale,andinvitedhimtopartakeofit。Heacceptedmyofferwithmanythanksandbows,andaswesatanddrankouralewehadagreatdealofdiscourseabouttheplaceswehadvisited。Thealebeingfinished,Igotupandsaid:
\"ImustnowbeofffortheDevil’sBridge!\"
Whereuponhealsoarose,andofferingmehishand,said:
\"Farewell,master;Ishallneverforgetyou。Wereallthegentlefolkswhocomeheretoseethesourceslikeyou,weshouldindeedfeelnowantinthesehillsofsuchagentlemanasisspokenofinthepennillion。\"
ThesunwasgoingdownasIlefttheinn。Irecrossedthestreamletbymeansofthepoleandrail。Thewaterwasrunningwithmuchlessviolencethaninthemorning,andwasconsiderablylower。Theeveningwascalmandbeautifullycool,withaslighttendencytofrost。Iwalkedalongwithaboundingandelasticstep,andneverremembertohavefeltmorehappyandcheerful。
Ireachedthehospiceataboutsixo’clock,abrightmoonshininguponme,andfoundacapitalsupperawaitingme,whichIenjoyedexceedingly。
Howoneenjoysone’ssupperatone’sinnafteragoodday’swalk,providedonehastheproudandgloriousconsciousnessofbeingabletopayone’sreckoningonthemorrow!
CHAPTERLXXXIX
AMorningView—HafodYchdryd—TheMonument—Fairy—lookingPlace—EdwardLhuyd。
THEmorningofthesixthwasbrightandglorious。AsIlookedfromthewindowoftheuppersitting—roomofthehospicethescenewhichpresenteditselfwaswildandbeautifultoadegree。Theoak—
coveredtopsofthevolcaniccraterweregildedwiththebrightestsunshine,whilsttheeasternsidesremainedindarkshadeandthegapornarrowentrancetothenorthinshadowyetdarker,inthemidstofwhichshonethesilveroftheRheidolcataract。ShouldI
liveahundredyearsIshallneverforgetthewildfantasticbeautyofthatmorningscene。
Ileftthefriendlyhospiceataboutnineo’clocktopursuemysouthernjourney。Bythistimethemorninghadlostmuchofitsbeauty,andthedullgreyskycharacteristicofNovemberbegantoprevail。Thewaylayupahilltothesouth—east;onmyleftwasaglendownwhichtheriveroftheMonkrolledwithnoiseandfoam。
Thecountrysoonbecamenakedanddreary,andcontinuedsoforsomemiles。Atlength,comingtothetopofahill,Isawaparkbeforeme,throughwhichtheroadledafterpassingunderastatelygateway。IhadreachedtheconfinesofthedomainofHafod。
HafodYchdryd,orthesummermansionofUchtryd,hasfromtimeimmemorialbeenthenameofadwellingonthesideofahillabovetheYstwyth,lookingtotheeast。AtfirstitwasasummerboothieorhuntinglodgetoWelshchieftains,butsubsequentlyexpandedtotheroomy,comfortabledwellingofWelshsquires,wherehospitalitywasmuchpractisedandbardsandharpersliberallyencouraged。
WhilstbelongingtoanancientfamilyofthenameofJohnes,severalmembersofwhichmadenoinconsiderablefigureinliterature,itwascelebrated,farandwide,foritslibrary,inwhichwastobefound,amongstothertreasures,alargecollectionofWelshmanuscriptsonvarioussubjects—history,medicine,poetryandromance。Thehouse,however,andthelibrarywerebothdestroyedinadreadfulfirewhichbrokeout。ThisfireisgenerallycalledthegreatfireofHafod,andsomeofthosewhowitnessedithavebeenheardtosaythatitsviolencewassogreatthatburningraftersmixedwithflamingbookswerehurledhighabovethesummitsofthehills。Thelossofthehousewasamatteroftrivialitycomparedwiththatofthelibrary。Thehousewassoonrebuilt,andprobably,phoenix—like,lookedallthebetterforhavingbeenburnt,butthelibrarycouldneverberestored。Ontheextinctionofthefamily,thelasthopeofwhich,anangelicgirl,fadedawayintheyear1811,thedomainbecamethepropertyofthelateDukeofNewcastle,akindandphilanthrophicnobleman,andagreatfriendofagriculture,whohelditformanyyears,andconsiderablyimprovedit。AfterhisdeceaseitwaspurchasedbytheheadofanancientLancashirefamily,whousedthemodernhouseasasummerresidence,astheWelshchieftainshadusedthewoodenboothieofold。
Iwenttoakindoflodge,whereIhadbeentoldthatIshouldfindsomebodywhowouldadmitmetothechurch,whichstoodwithinthegroundsandcontainedamonumentwhichIwasverydesirousofseeing,partlyfromitsbeingconsideredoneofthemasterpiecesofthegreatChantrey,andpartlybecauseitwasamemorialtothelovelychild,thelastscionoftheoldfamilywhohadpossessedthedomain。Agood—lookingyoungwoman,theonlypersonwhomI
saw,onmytellingmyerrand,forthwithtookakeyandconductedmetothechurch。Thechurchwasaneatedificewithratheramodernlook。Itexhibitednothingremarkablewithout,andonlyonethingremarkablewithin,namely,themonument,whichwasindeedworthyofnotice,andwhich,hadChantreyexecutednothingelse,mightwellhaveentitledhimtobeconsidered,whattheworldhaslongpronouncedhim,theprinceofBritishsculptors。
Thismonument,whichisofthepurestmarble,isplacedontheeasternsideofthechurch,belowawindowofstainedglass,andrepresentsatrulyaffectingscene:aladyandgentlemanarestandingoveradyinggirlofangelicbeauty,whoisextendedonacouch,andfromwhosehandavolume,theBookofLife,isfalling。
Theladyisweeping。
Beneathisthefollowinginscription—
TotheMemoryofMARY
TheonlychildofTHOMASandJANEJOHNES
Whodiedin1811
Afterafewdays’sicknessThismonumentisdedicatedByherparents。
Aninscriptionworthy,byitssimplicityandpathos,tostandbelowsuchamonument。
Afterpresentingatrifletothewoman,who,tomygreatsurprise,couldnotspeakawordofEnglish,Ileftthechurch,anddescendedthesideofthehill,nearthetopofwhichitstands。Thescenerywasexceedinglybeautiful。Belowmewasabrightgreenvalley,atthebottomofwhichtheYstwythranbrawling,nowhidamongstgroves,nowshowingalongstretchofwater。Beyondtherivertotheeastwasanoblemountain,richlywooded。TheYstwyth,afteracircuitouscourse,joinstheRheidolnearthestrandoftheIrishChannel,whichtheunitedriversenterataplacecalledAberYstwyth,wherestandsalovelytownofthesamename,whichsprangupundertheprotectionofabaronialcastle,stillproudandcommandingeveninitsruins,builtbyStrongbow,theconquerorofthegreatwesternisle。Nearthelowerpartofthevalleytheroadtendedtothesouth,upanddownthroughwoodsandbowers,thescenerystilleverincreasinginbeauty。Atlength,afterpassingthroughagateandturningroundasharpcorner,IsuddenlybeheldHafodonmyrighthand,tothewestatalittledistanceaboveme,onarisingground,withanoblerangeofmountainsbehindit。
Atrulyfairyplaceitlooked,beautifulbutfantastic,inthebuildingofwhichthreestylesofarchitectureseemedtohavebeenemployed。AtthesouthernendwasaGothictower;atthenorthernanIndianpagoda;themiddleparthadmuchtheappearanceofaGrecianvilla。Thewallswereofresplendentwhiteness,andthewindows,whichwerenumerous,shonewithbeautifulgilding。SuchwasmodernHafod,astrangecontrast,nodoubt,tothehuntinglodgeofold。
Aftergazingatthishouseofeccentrictasteforaboutaquarterofanhour,sometimeswithadmiration,sometimeswithastrongdispositiontolaugh,Ifollowedtheroad,whichledpastthehouseinnearlyasoutherlydirection。Presentlythevalleybecamemorenarrow,andcontinuednarrowingtilltherewaslittlemoreroomthanwasrequiredfortheroadandtheriver,whichrandeepbelowitontheleft—handside。PresentlyIcametoagate,theboundaryinthedirectioninwhichIwasgoingoftheHafoddomain。
Here,whenabouttoleaveHafod,Ishalldevoteafewlinestoaremarkablemanwhosenameshouldbeeverassociatedwiththeplace。
EdwardLhuydwasborninthevicinityofHafodabouttheperiodoftheRestoration。Hisfatherwasaclergyman,whoaftergivinghimanexcellenteducationathomesenthimtoOxford,atwhichseatoflearningheobtainedanhonourabledegree,officiatedforseveralyearsastutor,andwaseventuallymadecustodiaryoftheAshmoleanMuseum。Fromhisearlyyouthhedevotedhimselfwithindefatigablezealtotheacquisitionoflearning。HewasfondofnaturalhistoryandBritishantiquities,buthisfavouritepursuit,andthatinwhichheprincipallydistinguishedhimself,wasthestudyoftheCelticdialects;anditisbutdoingjusticetohismemorytosay,thathewasnotonlythebestCelticscholarofhistime,butthatnoonehasarisensinceworthytobeconsideredhisequalinCelticerudition。Partlyattheexpenseoftheuniversity,partlyatthatofvariouspowerfulindividualswhopatronizedhim,hetravelledthroughIreland,theWesternHighlands,Wales,CornwallandArmorica,forthepurposeofcollectingCelticmanuscripts。HewasparticularlysuccessfulinIrelandandWales。
SeveralofthemostpreciousIrishmanuscriptsinOxford,andalsointheChandosLibrary,wereofLhuyd’scollection,andtohimtheoldhallatHafodwaschieflyindebtedforitstreasuresofancientBritishliterature。ShortlyafterreturningtoOxfordfromhisCelticwanderingshesatdowntothecompositionofagrandworkinthreeparts,underthetitleofArchaeologiaBritannica,whichhehadlongprojected。ThefirstwastobedevotedtotheCelticdialects;thesecondtoBritishAntiquities,andthethirdtothenaturalhistoryoftheBritishIsles。Heonlylivedtocompletethefirstpart。ItcontainsvariousCelticgrammarsandvocabularies,toeachofwhichthereisaprefacewrittenbyLhuydintheparticulardialecttowhichthevocabularyorgrammarisdevoted。OfalltheseprefacestheonetotheIrishisthemostcuriousandremarkable。ThefirstpartoftheArchaeologiawaspublishedatOxfordin1707,twoyearsbeforethedeathoftheauthor。Ofhiscorrespondence,whichwasveryextensive,severallettershavebeenpublished,allofthemrelatingtophilology,antiquities,andnaturalhistory。
CHAPTERXC
AnAdventure—SpyttyYstwyth—Wormwood。
SHORTLYafterleavingthegroundsofHafodIcametoabridgeovertheYstwyth。Icrossedit,andwasadvancingalongtheroadwhichledapparentlytothesouth—east,whenIcametoacompanyofpeoplewhoseemedtobeloiteringabout。Itconsistedentirelyofyoungmenandwomen,theformerwithcrimsonfavours,thelatterinthegarbofoldWales,bluetunicsandsharpcrownedhats。Goinguptooneoftheyoungwomen,Isaid,\"Pettiyw?what’sthematter!\"
\"Priodas(amarriage),\"shereplied,afterlookingatmeattentively。Ithenaskedherthenameofthebridge,whereuponshegaveabroadgrin,andaftersome,littletimereplied:\"PontyGroes(thebridgeofthecross)。\"Iwasabouttoaskhersomeotherquestionwhensheturnedawaywithaloudchuckle,andsaidsomethingtoanotherwenchnearher,who,grinningyetmoreuncouthly,saidsomethingtoathird,whogrinnedtoo,andliftingupherhandsandspreadingherfingerswide,said:\"DynoddidiryGogledd—amanfromthenorthcountry,hee,hee!\"Forthwiththerewasageneralshout,thewenchescrying:\"Amanfromthenorthcountry,hee,hee!\"andthefellowscrying:\"Amanfromthenorthcountry,hoo,hoo!\"
\"Isthisthewayyoutreatstrangersinthesouth?\"saidI。ButI
hadscarcelyutteredthewordswhenwithredoubledshoutsthecompanyexclaimed:\"There’sCumraeg!there’sprettyCumraeg。Goback,David,toshireFon!ThatCumraegwon’tpasshere。\"
FindingtheydislikedmyWelshIhadrecoursetomyownlanguage。
\"Really,\"saidIinEnglish,\"suchconductisunaccountable。Whatdoyoumean?\"Butthisonlymademattersworse,fortheshoutsgrewlouderstill,andeveryonecried:\"There’sprettyEnglish!
Well,ifIcouldn’tspeakbetterEnglishthanthatI’dneverspeakEnglishatall。No,David;ifyoumustspeakatall,sticktoCumraeg。\"Thenforthwith,allthecompanysetthemselvesinviolentmotion,thewomenrushinguptomewiththeirpalmsandfingersspreadoutinmyface,withouttouchingme,however,astheywheeledroundmeataboutayard’sdistance,crying:\"Amanfromthenorthcountry,hee,hee!\"andthefellowsactingjustinthesameway,rushingupwiththeirhandsspreadout,andthenwheelingroundmewithcriesof\"Amanfromthenorthcountry,hoo,hoo!\"IwassoenragedthatImadeforaheapofstonesbytheroad—side,intendingtotakesomeupandflingthematthecompany。
Reflecting,however,thatIhadbutonepairofhandsandthecompanyatleastforty,andthatbysuchanattemptatrevengeI
shouldonlymakemyselfridiculous,Igaveupmyintention,andcontinuedmyjourneyatarapidpace,pursuedforalongwayby\"hee,hee,\"and\"hoo,hoo,\"and:\"Goback,David,toyourgoatsinAnglesey,youarenotwantedhere。\"
Ibegantodescendahillformingtheeasternsideofanimmensevalley,atthebottomofwhichrolledtheriver。Beyondthevalleytothewestwasanenormoushill,onthetopofwhichwasamostsingular—lookingcrag,seeminglyleaninginthedirectionofthesouth。Ontheright—handsideoftheroadwereimmenseworksofsomekindinfullplayandactivity,forengineswereclangingandpuffsofsmokewereascendingfromtallchimneys。OninquiringofaboythenameoftheworksIwastoldthattheywerecalledtheworksofLevelVawr,ortheGreatLevel,aminingestablishment;
butwhenIaskedhimthenameofthehillwiththesingularpeak,ontheothersideofthevalley,heshookhisheadandsaidhedidnotknow。NearthetopofthehillIcametoavillageconsistingofafewcottagesandashabby—lookingchurch。Arivuletdescendingfromsomecragstotheeastcrossestheroad,whichleadsthroughtheplace,andtumblingdownthevalley,joinstheYstwythatthebottom。Seeingawomanstandingatthedoor,I
inquiredthenameofthevillage。
\"SpyttyYstwyth,\"shereplied,butshe,nomorethantheboydownbelow,couldtellmethenameofthestrange—lookinghillacrossthevalley。ThissecondSpyttyormonastichospital,whichIhadcometo,lookedineveryrespectaninferiorplacetothefirst。
Whateveritsformerstatemighthavebeen,nothingbutdirtandwretchednesswerenowvisible。HavingreachedthetopofthehillIentereduponawildmooryregion。PresentlyIcrossedalittlebridgeoverarivulet,andseeingasmallhouseontheshutterofwhichwaspainted\"cwrw,\"Iwentin,satdownonanoldchair,whichIfoundvacant,andsaidinEnglishtoanoldwomanwhosatknittingbythewindow:\"Bringmeapintofale!\"
\"DimSaesneg!\"saidtheoldwoman。
\"Itoldyoutobringmeapintofale,\"saidItoherinherownlanguage。
\"Youshallhaveitimmediately,sir,\"saidshe,andgoingtoacask,shefilledajugwithale,andafterhandingittomeresumedherseatandknitting。
\"Itisnotverybadale,\"saidI,afterIhadtastedit。
\"Itoughttobeverygood,\"saidtheoldwoman,\"forIbreweditmyself。\"
\"Thegoodnessofale,\"saidI,\"doesnotsomuchdependonwhobrewsitasonwhatitisbrewedof。Nowthereissomethinginthisalewhichoughtnottobe。Whatisitmadeof?\"
\"Maltandhop。\"
\"Ittastesverybitter,\"saidI。\"Istherenochwerwlys(13)init?\"
\"Idonotknowwhatchwerwlysis,\"saidtheoldwoman。
\"ItiswhattheSaxonscallwormwood,\"saidI。
\"Oh,wermod。No,thereisnowermodinmybeer,atleastnotmuch。\"
\"Oh,thenthereissome;Ithoughttherewas。Whydoyouputsuchstuffintoyourale?\"
\"Wearegladtoputitinsometimeswhenhopsaredear,astheyarethisyear。Moreover,wermodisnotbadstuff,andsomefolkslikethetastebetterthanthatofhops。\"
\"Well,Idon’t。However,thealeisdrinkable。WhatamItogiveyouforthepint?\"
\"Youaretogivemeagroat。\"