第8章

Wepassedoverabridge，whichcrossesatorrent，whichdescendsfromthemountainonthesouthsideofLlangollen，whichbridgeJohnJonestoldmewascalledthebridgeoftheMelinBac，ormillofthenook，fromamillofthatnamecloseby。Continuingourwaywecametoaglen，downwhichthetorrentcomeswhichpassesunderthebridge。Therewaslittlewaterinthebedofthetorrent，andwecrossedeasilyenoughbystepping—stones。Ilookeduptheglen；

awildplaceenough，itssidesovergrownwithtrees。Drearyanddismalitlookedinthegloomoftheclosingevening。JohnJonessaidthattherewasnoregularpathupit，andthatonecouldonlygetalongbyjumpingfromstonetostone，atthehazardofbreakingone’slegs。Havingpassedoverthebedofthetorrent，wecametoapath，whichledupthemountain。Thepathwasverysteepandstony；theglenwithitstreesanddarknessonourright。Weproceededsomeway。AtlengthJohnJonespointedtoahollowlaneonourright，seeminglyleadingintotheglen。

"Thatplace，sir，"saidhe，"iscalledPantyGwyddel—theIrishman’sdingle，andsometimesPantPaddy，fromtheIrishbeingfondoftakinguptheirquartersthere。Itwasjusthere，attheentranceofthepant，thatthetribewereencamped，whenIpassedtwomonthsagoatnight，inreturningfromtheothersideofthehillwithtenshillingsinmypocket，whichIhadbeenpaidforapieceofmywork，whichIhadcarriedoverthemountaintotheveryplacewhereIamnowcarryingthis。IshallneverforgetthefrightIwasin，bothonaccountofmylife，andmytenshillings。

IrandownwhatremainedofthehillasfastasIcould，notmindingthestones。ShouldImeetatribenowonmyreturnIshallnotrun；youwillbewithme，andIshallnotfearformylifenorformymoney，whichwillbenowmorethantenshillings，providedthemanoverthehillspaysme，asIhavenodoubthewill。"

Asweascendedhigherwegraduallydivergedfromtheglen，thoughwedidnotlosesightofittillwereachedthetopofthemountain。Thetopwasnearlylevel。Onourrightwereafewfieldsenclosedwithstonewalls。Onourleftwasanopenspacewherewhin，furzeandheathweregrowing。Wepassedoverthesummit，andbegantodescendbyatolerablygood，thoughsteeproad。Butforthedarknessofeveningandadrizzlingmist，which，forsometimepast，hadbeencomingon，weshouldhaveenjoyedagloriousprospectdownintothevalley，orperhapsIshouldsaythatIshouldhaveenjoyedagloriousprospect，forJohnJones，likeatruemountaineer，carednotabrassfarthingforprospects。

Evenasitwas，nobleglimpsesofwoodandrockwereoccasionallytobeobtained。Themistsoonwettedustotheskinnotwithstandingthatweputupourumbrellas。ItwasaregularWelshmist，aniwl，likethatinwhichthegreatpoetAbGwilymlosthisway，whilsttryingtokeepanassignationwithhisbelovedMorfydd，andwhichheabusesinthefollowingmanner：—

"Oho！thouvillainmist，Oho！

Whatpleahastthoutoplaguemeso？

Iscarcelyknowascurrilname，Butdearlythoudeserv’stthesame；

ThouexhalationfromthedeepUnknown，whereuglyspiritskeep！

Thousmokefromhellishstewsuphurl’dTomockandmortifytheworld！

Thouspider—webofgiantrace，Spunoutandspreadthroughairyspace！

Avaunt，thoufilthy，clammything，Ofsorryrainthesourceandspring！

Moistblanketdrippingmiserydown，Loathedalikebylandandtown！

Thouwaterymonster，wantosee，Intruding’twixtthesunandme，Torobmeofmyblessedright，Toturnmydaytodismalnight。

Parentofthievesandpatronbest，Theybravepursuitwithinthybreast！

MostlyfromtheeitsmercilesssnowGrimJanuarydothglean，Itrow。

Passoffwithspeed，thouprowlerpale，Holdingalongo’erhillanddale，Spillinganoxiousspittleround，Spoilingthefairies’sportingground！

Moveofftohell，mysterioushaze；

Whereindeceitfulmeteorsblaze；

Thouwildofvapour，vast，o’ergrown，Hugeastheoceanofunknown。"

Aswedescended，thepathbecamemoresteep；itwasparticularlysoatapartwhereitwasovershadowedwithtreesonbothsides。

Here，findingwalkingveryuncomfortable，mykneessufferingmuch，Ideterminedtorun。SoshoutingtoJohnJones，"Nisgallavgerddedrhaidrhedeg，"Isetoffrunningdownthepass。Mycompanionfollowedclosebehind，andluckilymeetingnomischance，wepresentlyfoundourselvesonlevelground，amongstacollectionofsmallhouses。Onourturningacornerachurchappearedonourlefthandontheslopeofthehill。Inthechurchyard，andclosetotheroad，grewalargeyew—treewhichflungitsboughsfaroneveryside。JohnJonesstoppingbythetreesaid，thatifIlookedoverthewalloftheyardIshouldseethetombofaLordDungannon，whohadbeenagreatbenefactortothevillage。I

looked，andthroughthelowerbranchesoftheyew，whichhungoverpartofthechurchyard，Isawwhatappearedtobeamausoleum。

JonestoldmethatinthechurchalsotherewasthetombofagreatpersonofthenameofTyrwhitt。

Wepassedonbyvarioushousestillwecamenearlytothebottomofthevalley。Jonesthenpointingtoalargehouse，atalittledistanceontheright，toldmethatitwasagoodgwesty，andadvisedmetogoandrefreshmyselfinit，whilsthewentandcarriedhomehisworktothemanwhoemployedhim，whohesaidlivedinafarm—houseafewhundredyardsoff。Iaskedhimwherewewere。

"AtLlynCeiriog，"hereplied。

IthenaskedifwewerenearPontFadog；andreceivedforanswerthatPontFadogwasagoodwaydownthevalley，tothenorth—east，andthatwecouldnotseeitowingtoahillwhichintervened。

JoneswenthiswayandIproceededtothegwestfa，thedoorofwhichstoodinvitinglyopen。Ienteredalargekitchen，atoneendofwhichagoodfirewasburninginagrate，infrontofwhichwasalongtable，andahighsettleoneitherside。Everythinglookedverycomfortable。Therewasnobodyinthekitchen：onmycalling，however，agirlcame，whomIbadeinWelshtobringmeapintofthebestale。Thegirlstared，butwentawayapparentlytofetchit—presentlycamethelandlady，agood—lookingmiddle—agedwoman。

IsalutedherinWelshandthenaskedherifshecouldspeakEnglish。Shereplied"Tipynbach，"whichinterpreted，is，alittlebit。Isoon，however，foundthatshecouldspeakitverypassably，fortwomencominginfromtherearofthehousesheconversedwiththeminEnglish。Thesetwoindividualsseatedthemselvesonchairsnearthedoor，andcalledforbeer。Thegirlbroughtintheale，andIsatdownbythefire，pouredmyselfoutaglass，andmademyselfcomfortable。Presentlyagigdroveuptothedoor，andincameacoupleofdogs，oneatallblackgrey—hound，theotheralargefemalesetter，thecoatofthelatterdrippingwithrain，andshortlyaftertwomenfromthegigentered；onewhoappearedtobetheprincipalwasastoutbluff—lookingpersonbetweenfiftyandsixty，dressedinagreystuffcoatandwithaslouchedhatonhishead。Thismanbustledmuchabout，andinabroadYorkshiredialectorderedafiretobelightedinanotherroom，andachambertobepreparedforhimandhiscompanion；thelandlady，whoappearedtoknowhim，andtotreathimwithakindofdeference，askedifsheshouldpreparetwobeds；whereuponheanswered"No！

Aswecametogetherandshallstarttogether，soshallwesleeptogether；itwillnotbeforthefirsttime。"

Hiscompanionwasasmallmean—lookingman，dressedinablackcoat，andbehavedtohimwithnolittlerespect。Notonlythelandlady，butthetwomen，ofwhomIhavepreviouslyspoken，appearedtoknowhimandtotreathimwithdeference。Heandhiscompanionpresentlywentouttoseeafterthehorse。Afteralittletimetheyreturned，andthestoutmancalledlustilyfortwofourpennyworthsofbrandyandwater—"Takeitintotheotherroom！"saidhe，andwentintoasideroomwithhiscompanion，butalmostimmediatelycameoutsayingthattheroomsmokedandwascold，andthathepreferredsittinginthekitchen。Hethentookhisseatnearme，andwhenthebrandywasbroughtdranktomyhealth。Isaidthankyou，butnothingfarther。Hethenbegantalkingtothemenandhiscompanionuponindifferentsubjects。

AfteralittletimeJohnJonescamein，calledforaglassofale，andatmyinvitationseatedhimselfbetweenmeandthestoutpersonage。ThelatteraddressedhimroughlyinEnglish，butreceivingnoanswersaid，"Ah，younounderstand。YouhavenoEnglishandInoWelsh。"

"YouhavenotmasteredWelshyetMr—"saidoneofthementohim。

"No！"saidhe："IhavebeendoingbusinesswiththeWelshfortyyears，butcan’tspeakawordoftheirlanguage。Isometimesguessataword，spokeninthecourseofbusiness，butamneversure。"

PresentlyJohnJonesbegantalkingtome，sayingthathehadbeentotheriver，thatthewaterwasverylow，andthattherewaslittlebutstonesinthebedofthestream。

ItoldhimifitsnamewasCeiriognowondertherewereplentyofstonesinit，CeiriogbeingderivedfromCerrig，arock。ThemenstaredtohearmespeakWelsh。

"IsthegentlemanaWelshman？"saidoneofthemen，nearthedoor，tohiscompanion；"heseemstospeakWelshverywell。"

"HowshouldIknow？"saidtheother，whoappearedtobealowworkingman。

"Whoarethosepeople？"saidItoJohnJones。

"Thesmallermanisaworkmanataflannelmanufactory，"saidJones。"TheotherIdonotexactlyknow。"

"Andwhoisthemanontheothersideofyou？"saidI。

"IbelieveheisanEnglishdealeringigsandhorses，"repliedJones，"andthatheiscomehereeithertobuyorsell。"

Theman，however，soonputmeoutofalldoubtwithrespecttohisprofession。

"IwasatChirk，"saidhe；"andMrSo—and—soaskedmetohavealookathisnewgigandhorse，andhavearide。Iconsented。Theywerebothbroughtout—everythingnew；gignew，harnessnew，andhorsenew。MrSo—and—soaskedmewhatIthoughtofhisturn—out。

Igavealookandsaid，’Ilikethecarverywell，harnessverywell，butIdon’tlikethehorseatall；aregularbolter，rearerandkicker，orI’mnojudge；moreover，he’spigeon—toed。’However，weallgotonthecar—fourofus，andIwasofcoursecomplimentedwiththeribbons。Well，wehadn’tgonefiftyyardsbeforethehorse，tomakemywordspartlygood，begantokicklikeanew’un。However，Imanagedhim，andhewentonforacoupleofmilestillwegottothetopofthehill，justabovethedescentwiththeprecipiceontherighthand。Herehebegantorearlikeaverydevil。

"’Ohdearme！’saysMrSo—and—so；’letmegetout！’

"’Keepwhereyouare，’saysI，’Icanmanagehim。’

"However，MrSo—and—sowouldnotberuled，andgotout；comingdown，notonhislegs，buthishandsandknees。Andthenthetwootherssaid—

"’Letusgetout！’

"’Keepwhereyouare，’saidI，’Icanmanagehim。’

"Buttheymustneedsgetout，orrathertumbleout，fortheybothcamedownontheroad，hardontheirbacks。

"’Getoutyourself，’saidtheyall，’andletthedevilgo，oryouareadoneman。’

"’Gettingoutmaydoforyouyounghands，’saysI，’butitwon’tdoforI；neithermybacknorboneswillstandthehardroad。’

"MrSo—and—sorantothehorse’shead。

"’Areyoumad？’saysI，’ifyoutrytoholdhimhe’llbeoverthepree—si—piceinatwinkling，andthenwhereamI？Givehimhead；I

canmanagehim。’

"SoMrSo—and—sogotoutoftheway，anddownflewthehorserightdownthedescent，asfastashecouldgallop。Itellyouwhat，I

didn’thalflikeit！Apree—si—piceonmyright，therockonmyleft，andadevilbeforeme，going，likeacannon—ball，rightdownthehill。However，Icontrived，asIsaidIwould，tomanagehim；

keptthecarfromtherockandfromtheedgeofthegulftoo。

Well，justwhenwehadcometothebottomofthehilloutcomesthepeoplerunningfromtheinn，almostcoveringtheroad。

"’Nowgetoutoftheway，’Ishouts，’ifyoudon’twishtoseeyourbrainsknockedout，andwhatwouldbeworse，minetoo。’

"Sotheygetsoutoftheway，andonIspun，Iandmydevil。ButbythistimeIhadnearlytakenthedeviloutofhim。Well，hehadn’tgonefiftyyardsonthelevelground，when，whatdoyouthinkhedid？why，wentregularlyover，tumbleddownregularlyontheroad，evenasIknewhewouldsometimeorother，becausewhy？

hewaspigeon—toed。Well，Igetsoutofthegig，andnosoonerdidMrSo—and—socomeupthanIsays—

"’Ilikesyourcarverywell，andIlikesyourharness，but—meifIlikesyourhorse，anditwillbesometimebeforeyoupersuademetodrivehimagain。’"

Iamagreatloverofhorses，andanadmirerofgooddriving，andshouldhavewishedtohavesomeconversationwiththisworthypersonabouthorsesandtheirmanagement。IshouldalsohavewishedtoaskhimsomequestionsaboutWalesandtheWelsh，ashemusthavepickedupagreatdealofcuriousinformationaboutbothinhisfortyyears’traffic，notwithstandinghedidnotknowawordofWelsh，butJohnJonespreventedmyfurthertarryingbysaying，thatitwouldbeaswelltogetoverthemountainbeforeitwasentirelydark。SoIgotup，paidformyale，vainlyendeavouredtopayforthatofmycompanion，whoinsisteduponpayingforwhathehadordered，madeageneralbowanddepartedfromthehouse，leavingthehorse—dealerandthereststaringateachotherandwonderingwhowewere，oratleastwhoIwas。WewereabouttoascendthehillwhenJohnJonesaskedmewhetherIshouldnotliketoseethebridgeandtheriver。ItoldhimIshould。Thebridgeandtheriverpresentednothingremarkable。Theformerwasofasinglearch；andthelatteranythingbutabundantinitsflow。

Wenowbegantoretraceourstepsoverthemountain。Atfirstthemistappearedtobenearlyclearedaway。Asweproceeded，however，largesheetsbegantorollupthemountainsides，andbythetimewereachedthesummitwerecompletelyshroudedinvapour。Thenight，however，wasnotverydark，andwefoundourwaytolerablywell，thoughonceindescendingIhadnearlytumbledintothenantordingle，nowonourlefthand。Thebushesandtrees，seenindistinctlythroughthemist，hadsomethingthelookofgoblins，andbroughttomymindtheelves，whichAbGwilymofoldsaw，orthoughthesaw，inasomewhatsimilarsituation：—

"IneveryhollowdinglestoodOfwry—mouth’delvesawrathfulbrood。"

Drenchedtotheskin，butuninjuredinbodyandlimb，weatlengthreachedLlangollen。

CHAPTERXVIII

VenerableOldGentleman—SurnamesinWales—RussiaandBritain—

ChurchofEngland—Yriarte—TheEagleandhisYoung—PoetsoftheGael—TheOxonian—MasterSalisburie。

MYwifehadtoldmethatshehadhadsomeconversationupontheWelshlanguageandliteraturewithavenerableoldman，whokeptashopinthetown，thatshehadinformedhimthatIwasveryfondofboth，andthathehadexpressedagreatdesiretoseeme。OneafternoonIsaid："Letusgoandpayavisittoyouroldfriendoftheshop。Ithinkfromtwoorthreethingswhichyouhavetoldmeabouthim，thathemustbeworthknowing。"Wesetout。Sheconductedmeacrossthebridgealittleway；thenpresentlyturningtotheleftintotheprincipalstreet，sheenteredthedoorofashopontheleft—handside，overthetopofwhichwaswritten：

"Jones；ProvisionDealerandGeneralMerchant。"Theshopwassmall，withtwolittlecounters，oneoneachside。Behindonewasayoungwoman，andbehindtheotheravenerable—lookingoldman。

"Ihavebroughtmyhusbandtovisityou，"saidmywife，addressingherselftohim。

"Iammosthappytoseehim，"saidtheoldgentleman，makingmeapolitebow。

Hethenbeggedthatwewoulddohimthehonourtowalkintohisparlour，andledusintoalittlebackroom，thewindowofwhichlookedoutupontheDeeafewyardsbelowthebridge。Ontheleftsideoftheroomwasalargecase，wellstoredwithbooks。Heoffereduschairs，andweallsatdown。Iwasmuchstruckwiththeoldman。Hewasrathertall，andsomewhatinclinedtocorpulency。

Hishairwasgrey；hisforeheadhigh；hisnoseaquiline；hiseyesfullofintelligence；whilsthismannerswerethoseofaperfectgentleman。

IenteredintoconversationbysayingthatIsupposedhisnamewasJones，asIhadobservedthatnameoverthedoor。

"JonesisthenameIbearatyourservice，sir，"hereplied。

IsaidthatitwasaverycommonnameinWales，asIknewseveralpeoplewhoboreit，andobservedthatmostofthesurnamesinWalesappearedtobemodificationsofChristiannames；forexampleJones，Roberts，Edwards，Humphreys，andlikewisePugh，Powel，andProbert，whichwerenothingmorethanthesonofHugh，thesonofHowel，andthesonofRobert。HesaidIwasright，thattherewereveryfewrealsurnamesinWales；thatthethreegreatfamilies，however，hadrealsurnames；forthatWynn，MorganandBulkleywereallrealsurnames。IaskedhimwhethertheBulkleysofAngleseawerenotoriginallyanEnglishfamily。Hesaidtheywere，andthattheysettleddowninAngleseainthetimeofElizabeth。

Aftersomeminutesmywifegotupandleftus。TheoldgentlemanandIhadthensomediscourseinWelsh；wesoon，however，resumedspeakingEnglish。WegotonthesubjectofWelshbards，andafteragooddealofdiscoursetheoldgentlemansaid：

"YouseemtoknowsomethingaboutWelshpoetry；canyoutellmewhowrotethefollowingline？

"’TherewillbegreatdoingsinBritain，andIshallhavenoconcerninthem。’"

"Iwillnotbepositive，"saidI，"butIthinkfromitstoneandtenorthatitwascomposedbyMerddyn，whommycountrymencallMerlin。"

"Ibelieveyouareright，"saidtheoldgentleman，"IseeyouknowsomethingofWelshpoetry。Imettheline，alongtimeago，inaWelshgrammar。Itthenmadeagreatimpressionuponme，andoflateithasalwaysbeenringinginmyears。IloveBritain。

Britainhasjustengagedinawarwithamightycountry，andIamapprehensiveoftheconsequences。Iamold，upwardsoffour—score，andshallprobablynotlivetoseetheevil，ifevilhappens，asI

fearitwill—’TherewillbestrangedoingsinBritain，buttheywillnotconcernme。’Icannotgetthelineoutofmyhead。"

ItoldhimthatthelineprobablyrelatedtotheprogressoftheSaxonsinBritain，butthatIdidnotwonderthatitmadeanimpressionuponhimatthepresentmoment。Isaid，however，thatwerannoriskfromRussia；thattheonlypoweratalldangeroustoBritainwasFrance，whichthoughatpresentleaguedwithheragainstRussia，wouldeventuallygotowarwithandstrivetosubdueher，andthenofcourseBritaincouldexpectnohelpfromRussia，heroldfriendandally，who，ifBritainhadnotoutragedher，wouldhaveassistedher，inanyquarrelordanger，withfourorfivehundredthousandmen。IsaidthatIhopedneitherhenorI

shouldseeaFrenchinvasion，butIhadnodoubtonewouldeventuallytakeplace，andthatthenBritainmustfightstoutly，asshehadnoonetoexpecthelpfrombutherself；thatIwishedshemightbeabletoholdherown，but—

"StrangethingswillhappeninBritain，thoughtheywillconcernmenothing，"saidtheoldgentlemanwithasigh。

Onmyexpressingadesiretoknowsomethingofhishistory，hetoldmethathewasthesonofasmallfarmer，whoresidedatsomedistancefromLlangollen；thathelosthisfatheratanearlyage，andwasobligedtoworkhard，evenwhenachild，inordertoassisthismotherwhohadsomedifficulty，afterthedeathofhisfather，inkeepingthingstogether；thatthoughhewasobligedtoworkhardhehadbeenfondofstudy，andusedtoporeoverWelshandEnglishbooksbytheglimmeringlightoftheturffireatnight，forthathismothercouldnotaffordtoallowhimanythingintheshapeofacandletoreadby；thatathismother’sdeathheleftrurallabour，andcomingtoLlangollen，commencedbusinessinthelittleshopinwhichhewasatpresent；thathehadbeenmarried，andhadchildren，butthathiswifeandfamilyweredead；thattheyoungwomanwhomIhadseenintheshop，andwhotookcareofhishouse，wasarelationofhiswife；thatthoughhehadalwaysbeenattentivetobusiness，hehadneverabandonedstudy；thathehadmasteredhisownlanguage，ofwhichhewaspassionatelyfond，andhadacquiredagoodknowledgeofEnglishandofsomeotherlanguages。ThathisfondnessforliteraturehadshortlyafterhisarrivalatLlangollenattractedthenoticeofsomeofthepeople，whoencouragedhiminhisstudies，andassistedhimbygivinghimbooks；thatthetwocelebratedladiesofLlangollenhadparticularlynoticedhim；thatheheldthesituationofchurchclerkforupwardsoffortyyears，andthatitwaschieflyowingtotherecommendationofthe"greatladies"thathehadobtainedit。

Hethenaddedwithasigh，thatabouttenyearsagohewasobligedtogiveitup，owingtosomethingthematterwithhiseyesight，whichpreventedhimfromreading，and，thathisbeingobligedtogiveitupwasasourceofbittergrieftohim，ashehadalwaysconsidereditahighhonourtobepermittedtoassistintheserviceoftheChurchofEngland，intheprinciplesofwhichhehadbeenbred，andinwhosedoctrineshefirmlybelieved。

Hereshakinghimbythehand，IsaidthatItoohadbeenbredupintheprinciplesoftheChurchofEngland；thatItoofirmlybelievedinitsdoctrines，andwouldmaintainwithmyblood，ifnecessary，thattherewasnotsuchanotherchurchintheworld。

"SowouldI，"saidtheoldgentleman；"whereisthereachurchinwhoseliturgythereissomuchScriptureasinthatoftheChurchofEngland？"

"Pity，"saidI，"thatsomanytraitorshavelatelysprungupinitsministry。"

"Ifitbeso，"saidtheoldchurchclerk，"theyhavenotyetshownthemselvesinthepulpitatLlangollen。Alltheclergymenwhohaveheldthelivinginmytimehavebeenexcellent。ThepresentincumbentisamodelofaChurch—of—Englandclergyman。Oh，howI

regretthatthestateofmyeyespreventsmefromofficiatingasclerkbeneathhim。"

ItoldhimthatIshouldneverfromtheappearanceofhiseyeshaveimaginedthattheywerenotexcellentones。

"Icanseetowalkaboutwiththem，andtodistinguishobjects，"

saidtheoldgentleman；"butseetoreadwiththemIcannot。EvenwiththehelpofthemostpowerfulglassesIcannotdistinguishaletter。IbelieveIstrainedmyeyesataveryearlyage，whenstrivingtoreadatnightbytheglimmeroftheturffireinmypoormother’schimneycorner。Ohwhatanafflictionisthisstateofmyeyes！Ican’tturnmybookstoanyaccount，norreadthenewspapers；butIrepeatthatIchieflylamentitbecauseitpreventsmefromofficiatingasunder—preacher。"

Heshowedmehisbooks。Seeingamongstthem"TheFablesofYriarte"inSpanish，Iaskedhowtheycameintohispossession。

"Theywerepresentedtome，"saidhe，"byoneoftheladiesofLlangollen，LadyEleanorButler。"

"Haveyoueverreadthem？"saidI。

"No，"hereplied；"IdonotunderstandawordofSpanish；butI

supposeherladyship，knowingIwasfondoflanguages，thoughtthatImightonedaysetaboutlearningSpanish，andthatthentheymightbeusefultome。"

HethenaskedmeifIknewSpanish，andonmytellinghimthatI

hadsomeknowledgeofthatlanguage，heaskedmetotranslatesomeofthefables。Itranslatedtwoofthem，whichpleasedhimmuch。

IthenaskedifhehadeverheardofacollectionofWelshfablescompiledabouttheyearthirteenhundred。Hesaidthathehadnot，andinquiredwhethertheyhadeverbeenprinted。ItoldhimthatsomehadappearedintheoldWelshmagazinecalled"TheGreal。"

"Iwishyouwouldrepeatoneofthem，"saidtheoldclerk。

"Hereisone，"saidI，"whichparticularlystruckme：—

"Itisthecustomoftheeagle，whenhisyoungaresufficientlyold，toraisethemupabovehisnestinthedirectionofthesun；

andthebirdwhichhasstrengthenoughofeyetolookrightinthedirectionofthesun，hekeepsandnourishes，buttheonewhichhasnot，hecastsdownintothegulftoitsdestruction。SodoestheLorddealwithHischildrenintheCatholicChurchMilitant：thosewhomHeseesworthytoserveHimingodlinessandspiritualgoodnessHekeepswithHimandnourishes，butthosewhoarenotworthyfrombeingaddictedtoearthlythings，Hecastsoutintoutterdarkness，wherethereisweepingandgnashingofteeth。"

Theoldgentleman，afteramoment’sreflection，saiditwasacleverfable，butanunpleasantone。Itwashardforpoorbirdstobeflungintoagulf，fornothavingpowerofeyesufficienttolookfullinthefaceofthesun，andlikewisehardthatpoorhumancreaturesshouldbelostforever，fornotdoingthatwhichtheyhadnopowertodo。