第9章

"Perhaps，"saidI，"theeagledoesnotdealwithhischicks，ortheLordwithHiscreaturesasthefablerepresents。"

"Letushopeatanyrate，"saidtheoldgentleman，"thattheLorddoesnot。"

"Haveyoueverseenthisbook？"saidhe，andputSmith’s"SeanDana"intomyhand。

"Oh，yes，"saidI，"andhavegonethroughit。ItcontainspoemsintheGaeliclanguagebyOisinandothers，collectedintheHighlands。Iwentthroughitalongtimeagowithgreatattention。

Someofthepoemsarewonderfullybeautiful。"

"Theyareso，"saidtheoldclerk。"Itoohavegonethroughthebook；itwaspresentedtomeagreatmanyyearsagobyaladytowhomIgavesomelessonsintheWelshlanguage。IwentthroughitwiththeassistanceofaGaelicgrammaranddictionary，whichshealsopresentedtome，andIwasstruckwiththehightoneofthepoetry。"

"Thiscollectionisvaluableindeed，"saidI；"itcontainspoems，whichnotonlypossessthehighestmerit，butservetoconfirmtheauthenticityofthepoemsofOssian，publishedbyMacpherson，sooftencalledinquestion。AllthepieceshereattributedtoOssianarewritteninthesamemetre，tone，andspirit，asthoseattributedtohimintheothercollection，soifMacpherson’sOssianicpoems，whichhesaidwerecollectedbyhimintheHighlands，areforgeries，Smith’sOssianicpoems，which，accordingtohisaccount，werealsocollectedintheHighlands，mustbealsoforged，andhavebeenimitatedfromthosepublishedbytheother。

NowasitiswellknownthatSmithdidnotpossesssufficientpoeticpowertoproduceanyimitationofMacpherson’sOssian，withatenthpartthemeritwhichthe"SeanDana"possess，andthatevenifhehadpossessedit，hisprincipleswouldnothaveallowedhimtoattempttodeceivetheworldbyimposingforgeriesuponit，astheauthenticpoemsofanother，hebeingahighlyrespectableclergyman，thenecessaryconclusionisthattheOssianicpoemswhichbothpublishedaregenuine，andcollectedinthemannerinwhichbothstatedtheywere。"

AfteralittlemorediscourseaboutOssian，theoldgentlemanaskedmeiftherewasanygoodmodernGaelicpoetry。"Noneverymodern，"

saidI："thelastgreatpoetsoftheGaelwereMacintyreandBuchanan，whoflourishedaboutthemiddleofthelastcentury。ThefirstsangofloveandofHighlandscenery；thelatterwasareligiouspoet。ThebestpieceofMacintyreisanodetoBenDourain，ortheHilloftheWater—dogs—amountainintheHighlands。Themaster—pieceofBuchananishisLaBreitheanasorDayofJudgment，whichisequalinmerit，ornearlyso，totheCywyddyFarn，orJudgmentDayofyourownimmortalGronwyOwen。

SingularthatthetwobestpiecesontheDayofJudgmentshouldhavebeenwrittenintwoCelticdialects，andmuchaboutthesametime；butsuchisthefact。"

"Really，"saidtheoldchurchclerk，"youseemtoknowsomethingofCelticliterature。"

"Alittle，"saidI；"Iamabitofaphilologist；andwhenstudyinglanguagesdipalittleintotheliteraturewhichtheycontain。"

AsIhadheardhimsaythathehadoccasionallygivenlessonsintheWelshlanguage，Iinquiredwhetheranyofhispupilshadmademuchprogressinit。"Thegenerality，"saidhe，"soonbecametiredofitsdifficulties，andgaveitupwithoutmakinganyprogressatall。Twoorthreegotontolerablywell。One，however，acquireditinatimesoshortthatitmightbedeemedmarvellous。HewasanOxonian，andcamedownwithanotherinthevacationinordertostudyhardagainsttheyearlycollegiateexamination。HeandhisfriendtooklodgingsatPengwernHall，thenafarm—house，andstudiedandwalkedaboutforsometime，asotheryoungmenfromcollege，whocomedownhere，areinthehabitofdoing。Onedayheandhisfriendcametome，whowasthenclerk，anddesiredtoseetheinteriorofthechurch。SoItookthekeyandwentwiththemintothechurch。WhenhecametothealtarhetookupthelargeWelshCommonPrayer—Book，whichwaslyingthere，andlookedintoit。’AcuriouslanguagethisWelsh，’saidhe；’Ishouldliketolearnit。’’Manyhavewishedtolearnit，withoutbeingable，’

saidI；’itisnoeasylanguage。’’Ishouldliketotry，’hereplied；’IwishIcouldfindsomeonewhowouldgivemeafewlessons。’’IhaveoccasionallygiveninstructionsinWelsh，’saidI，’andshallbehappytoobligeyou。’Well，itwasagreedthatheshouldtakelessonsofme；andtomyhousehecameeveryevening，andIgavehimwhatinstructionsIcould。Iwasastonishedathisprogress。Heacquiredthepronunciationinalesson，andwithinaweekwasabletoconstrueandconverse。BythetimeheleftLlangollen，andhewasnothereinallmorethantwomonths，heunderstoodtheWelshBibleaswellasIdid，andcouldspeakWelshsowellthattheWelsh，whodidnotknowhim，tookhimtobeoneofthemselves，forhespokethelanguagewiththeverytoneandmannerofanative。Oh，hewasthecleverestmanforlanguagethatIeverknew；notawordthathehearddidheeverforget。"

"JustlikeMezzofanti，"saidI，"thegreatcardinalphilologist。

ButwhilstlearningWelsh，didhenotneglecthiscollegiatestudies？"

"Well，Iwasratherapprehensiveonthatpoint，"saidtheoldgentleman，"butmarktheevent。AttheexaminationhecameoffmostbrilliantlyinLatin，Greek，mathematics，andotherthingstoo；infact，adoublefirst—classman，asIthinktheycallit。"

"Ihaveneverheardofsoextraordinaryanindividual，"saidI。"I

couldnomorehavedonewhatyousayhedid，thanIcouldhavetakenwingsandflown。Pray，whatwashisname？"

"Hisname，"saidtheoldgentleman，"wasEarl。"

Iwasmuchdelightedwithmynewacquaintance，andpaidhimfrequentvisits；themoreIsawhimthemoreheinterestedme。Hewaskindandbenevolent，agoodoldChurchofEnglandChristian，waswellversedinseveraldialectsoftheCeltic，andpossessedanastonishingdealofWelshheraldicandantiquarianlore。OftenwhilstdiscoursingwithhimIalmostfanciedthatIwaswithMasterSalisburie，VaughanofHengwrt，orsomeotherworthyofold，deeplyskilledineverythingremarkableconnectedwithwild"Camber’sLande。"

CHAPTERXIX

TheVicarandhisFamily—EvanEvans—FoamingAle—LlamyLleidyr—Baptism—JoostVanVondel—OvertoRome—TheMiller’sMan—WelshandEnglish。

WEhadreceivedacallfromtheVicarofLlangollenandhislady；

wehadreturnedit，andtheyhaddoneusthekindnesstoinviteustotaketeawiththem。Ontheappointedeveningwewent，myself，wife，andHenrietta，andtookteawiththevicarandhiswife，theirsonsanddaughters，alldelightfulandamiablebeings—theeldestsonafineintelligentyoungmanfromOxford，latelyadmittedintotheChurch，andnowassistinghisfatherinhissacredoffice。Adelightfulresidencewasthevicarage，situatedamongsttreesintheneighbourhoodoftheDee。Alargeopenwindowintheroom，inwhichourpartysat，affordedusaviewofagreenplatonthetopofabankrunningdowntotheDee，partoftheriver，thesteepfartherbankcoveredwithumbrageoustrees，andahighmountainbeyond，eventhatofPenyCoedcladwithwood。

DuringteaMrE。andIhadagreatdealofdiscourse。Ifoundhimtobeafirst—rateGreekandLatinscholar，andalsoaproficientinthepoeticalliteratureofhisowncountry。InthecourseofdiscourseherepeatedsomenoblelinesofEvanEvans，theunfortunateandeccentricPrydyddHir，ortallpoet，thefriendandcorrespondentofGray，forwhomhemadeliteraltranslationsfromtheWelsh，whichthegreatEnglishgeniusafterwardswroughtintoimmortalverse。

"IhaveagreatregardforpoorEvanEvans，"saidMrE。，afterhehadfinishedrepeatingthelines，"fortworeasons：first，becausehewasanillustriousgenius，andsecond，becausehewasaSouth—

Wallianlikemyself。"

"AndI，"Ireplied，"becausehewasagreatpoet，andlikemyselffondofaglassofcwrwda。"

SometimeafterteatheyoungerMrE。andmyselftookawalkinaneasterndirectionalongapathcutinthebank，justabovethestream。Afterproceedingalittlewayamongstmostromanticscenery，IaskedmycompanionifhehadeverheardofthepoolofCatherineLingo—thedeeppool，asthereaderwillpleasetoremember，ofwhichJohnJoneshadspoken。

"Ohyes，"saidyoungMrE。："mybrothersandmyselfareinthehabitofbathingtherealmosteverymorning。Wewillgotoitifyouplease。"

Weproceeded，andsooncametothepool。Thepoolisabeautifulsheetofwater，seeminglyaboutonehundredandfiftyyardsinlength，byaboutseventyinwidth。Itisboundedontheeastbyalowridgeofrocksformingaweir。Thebanksonbothsidesarehighandprecipitous，andcoveredwithtrees，someofwhichshoottheirarmsforsomewayabovethefaceofthepool。ThisissaidtobethedeepestpoolinthewholecourseoftheDee，varyingindepthfromtwentytothirtyfeet。Enormouspike，calledinWelshpenhwiaid，orducks—heads，fromthesimilaritywhichtheheadofapikebearstothatofaduck，aresaidtobetenantsofthispool。

Wereturnedtothevicarage，andatabouttenweallsatdowntosupper。Onthesupper—tablewasamightypitcherfulloffoamingale。

"There，"saidmyexcellenthost，ashepouredmeoutaglass，"thereisaglassofcwrw，whichEvanEvanshimselfmighthavedrunk。"

Oneeveningmywife，Henrietta，andmyself，attendedbyJohnJones，wentupontheBerwyn，alittletotheeastoftheGeraintorBarber’sHill，tobotanize。HerewefoundafernwhichJohnJonescalledCoedllusyBran，ortheplantoftheCrow’sberry。Therewasahardkindofberryuponit，ofwhichhesaidthecrowswereexceedinglyfond。Wealsodiscoveredtwoorthreeotherstrangeplants，theWelshnamesofwhichourguidetoldus，andwhichwerecuriousanddescriptiveenough。Hetookushomebyaromanticpathwhichwehadneverbeforeseen，andonourwaypointedouttousasmallhouseinwhichhesaidhewasborn。

Thedayafter，findingmyselfonthebanksoftheDeeintheupperpartofthevalley，IdeterminedtoexaminetheLlamLleidyrorRobber’sLeap，whichIhadheardspokenofonaformeroccasion。A

manpassingnearmewithacartIaskedhimwheretheRobber’sLeapwas。IspokeinEnglish，andwithashakeofhisheadhereplied"DimSaesneg。"OnmyputtingthequestiontohiminWelsh，however，hiscountenancebrightenedup。

"DynaLlamLleidyr，sir！"saidhe，pointingtoaverynarrowpartofthestreamalittlewaydown。

"Anddidthethieftakeitfromthisside？"Idemanded。

"Yes，sir，fromthisside，"repliedtheman。

Ithankedhim，andpassingoverthedrypartoftheriver’sbed，cametotheLlamLleidyr。ThewholewateroftheDeeinthedryseasongurglesherethroughapassagenotmorethanfourfeetacross，which，however，isevidentlyprofoundlydeep，asthewaterisasdarkaspitch。Ifthethiefevertooktheleaphemusthavetakenitinthedryseason，forinthewettheDeeisawideandroaringtorrent。Yeteveninthedryseasonitisdifficulttoconceivehowanybodycouldtakethisleap，forontheothersideisarockrisinghighabovethedarkgurglingstream。Onobservingtheoppositeside，however，narrowly，Iperceivedthattherewasasmallholealittlewayuptherock，inwhichitseemedpossibletorestone’sfootforamoment。SoIsupposedthatiftheleapwasevertaken，theindividualwhotookitdartedthetipofhisfootintothehole，thenspringingupseizedthetopoftherockwithhishands，andscrambledup。Fromeithersidetheleapmusthavebeenahighlydangerousone—fromthefarthersidetheleaperwouldincurthealmostcertainriskofbreakinghislegsonaledgeofhardrock，fromthisoffallingbackintothedeephorriblestream，whichwouldprobablysuckhimdowninamoment。

FromtheLlamyLleidyrIwenttothecanalandwalkedalongittillIcametothehouseoftheoldmanwhosoldcoals，andwhohadputmeinmindofSmollett’sMorgan；hewasnowstandinginhislittlecoal—yard，leaningoverthepales。IhadspokentohimontwoorthreeoccasionssubsequenttotheoneonwhichImadehisacquaintance，andhadbeeneverytimemoreandmorestruckwiththeresemblancewhichhiswaysandmannersboretothoseofSmollett’scharacter，onwhichaccountIshallcallhimMorgan，thoughsuchwasnothisname。HenowtoldmethatheexpectedthatIshouldbuildavillaandsettledownintheneighbourhood，asIseemedsofondofit。Afteralittlediscourse，inducedeitherbymyquestionsorfromadesiretotalkabouthimself，herelatedtomehishistory，which，thoughnotoneofthemostwonderful，Ishallrepeat。HewasbornnearAberdarroninCaernarvonshire，andinordertomakemeunderstandthepositionoftheplace，anditsbearingwithregardtosomeotherplaces，hedrewmarksinthecoal—dustontheearth。HisfatherwasaBaptistminister，whowhenMorganwasaboutsixyearsofage，wenttoliveatCanolLyn，aplaceatsomelittledistancefromPortHeli。Withhisfatherhecontinuedtillhewasoldenoughtogainhisownmaintenance，whenhewenttoserveafarmerintheneighbourhood。HavingsavedsomemoneyyoungMorgandepartedtothefoundriesatCefnMawr，atwhichheworkedthirtyyearswithanintervaloffour，whichhehadpassedpartlyinworkinginslatequarries，andpartlyuponthecanal。Aboutfouryearsbeforethepresenttimehecametowherehenowlived，wherehecommencedsellingcoals，atfirstonhisownaccountandsubsequentlyforsomeotherperson。Heconcludedhisnarrationbysayingthathewasnowsixty—twoyearsofage，wasafflictedwithvariousdisorders，andbelievedthathewasbreakingup。

SuchwasMorgan’shistory；certainlynotaveryremarkableone。

YetMorganwasamostremarkableindividual，asIshallpresentlymakeappear。

RatheraffectedatthebadaccounthegavemeofhishealthIaskedhimifhefelteasyinhismind？Herepliedperfectlyso，andwhenIinquiredhowhecametofeelsocomfortable，hesaidthathisfeelingsowasowingtohisbaptismintothefaithofChristJesus。

OnmytellinghimthatItoohadbeenbaptized，heaskedmeifI

hadbeendipped；andonlearningthatIhadnot，butonlybeensprinkled，accordingtothepracticeofmychurch，hegavemetounderstandthatmybaptismwasnotworththreehalfpence。Feelingrathernettledathearingthebaptismofmychurchsoundervalued，Istoodupforit，andweweresooninadispute，inwhichIgotrathertheworst，forthoughhespuffledandsputteredinamostextraordinarymanner，andspokeinadialectwhichwasneitherWelsh，EnglishnorCheshire，butamixtureofallthree，hesaidtwoorthreethingsratherdifficulttobegotover。Findingthathehadnearlysilencedme，heobservedthathedidnotdenythatI

hadagooddealofbooklearning，butthatinmattersofbaptismI

wasasignorantastherestofthepeopleofthechurchwere，andhadalwaysbeen。Hethensaidthatmanychurchpeoplehadenteredintoargumentwithhimonthesubjectofbaptism，butthathehadgotthebetterofthemall；thatMrP。，theministeroftheparishofL。，inwhichwethenwere，hadfrequentlyenteredintoargumentwithhim，butquiteunsuccessfully，andhadatlastgivenupthematter，asabadjob。Headdedthatalittletimebefore，asMrP。

waswalkingclosetothecanalwithhiswifeanddaughterandaspanieldog，MrP。suddenlytookupthedogandflungitin，givingitagoodducking，whereuponhe，Morgan，criedout："Dynaygwirvedydd！Thatistherightbaptism，sir！IthoughtIshouldbringyoutoitatlast！"atwhichwordsMrP。laughedheartily，butmadenoparticularreply。

AfteralittletimehebegantotalkaboutthegreatmenwhohadrisenupamongsttheBaptists，andmentionedtwoorthreedistinguishedindividuals。

IsaidthathehadnotmentionedthegreatestmanwhohadbeenbornamongsttheBaptists。

"Whatwashisname？"saidhe。

"HisnamewasJoostVanVondel，"Ireplied。

"Ineverheardofhimbefore，"saidMorgan。

"Veryprobably，"saidI："hewasborn，bred，anddiedinHolland。"

"Hashebeendeadlong？"saidMorgan。

"Abouttwohundredyears，"saidI。

"That’salongtime，"saidMorgan，"andmaybeisthereasonthatI

neverheardofhim。Sohewasagreatman？"

"Hewasindeed，"saidI。"HewasnotonlythegreatestmanthateversprangupamongsttheBaptists，butthegreatest，andbyfarthegreatest，thatHollandeverproduced，thoughHollandhasproducedagreatmanyillustriousmen。"

"OhIdaresayhewasagreatmanifhewasaBaptist，"saidMorgan。

"Well，it’sstrangeIneverreadofhim。IthoughtIhadreadthelivesofalltheeminentpeoplewholivedanddiedinourcommunion。"

"HedidnotdieintheBaptistcommunion，"saidI。

"Oh，hedidn’tdieinit，"saidMorgan；"What，didhegoovertotheChurchofEngland？aprettyfellow！"

"HedidnotgoovertotheChurchofEngland，"saidI，"fortheChurchofEnglanddoesnotexistinHolland；hewentovertotheChurchofRome。"

"Well，that’snotquitesobad，"saidMorgan；"however，it’sbadenough。Idaresayhewasaprettyblackguard。"

"No，"saidI："hewasapurevirtuouscharacter，andperhapstheonlypureandvirtuouscharacterthateverwentovertoRome。Theonlywonderisthatsogoodamancouldeverhavegoneovertosodetestableachurch；butheappearstohavebeendeluded。"

"Deludedindeed！"saidMorgan。"However，Isupposehewentoverforadvancement’ssake。"

"No，"saidI；"helosteveryprospectofadvancementbygoingovertoRome：nine—tenthsofhiscountrymenwereofthereformedreligion，andheenduredmuchpovertyandcontemptbythestephetook。"

"Howdidhesupporthimself？"saidMorgan。

"Heobtainedalivelihood，"saidI，"bywritingpoemsandplays，someofwhicharewonderfullyfine。"

"What，"saidMorgan，"awriterofInterludes？OneofTwmo’rNant’sgang！Ithoughthewouldturnoutaprettyfellow。"ItoldhimthatthepersoninquestioncertainlydidwriteInterludes，forexampleNoah，andJosephatGoshen，butthathewasahighlyrespectable，nayvenerablecharacter。

"IfhewasawriterofInterludes，"saidMorgan，"hewasablackguard；thereneveryetwasawriterofInterludes，orapersonwhowentaboutplayingthem，thatwasnotascamp。Hemightbeacleverman，Idon’tsayhewasnot。WhowasacleverermanthanTwmo’rNantwithhisPleasureandCare，andRichesandPoverty，butwherewasthereagreaterblackguard？Why，notinallWales。

Andifyouknewthisotherfellow—what’shisname—Fondle’shistory，youwouldfindthathewasnotabitmorerespectablethanTwmo’rNant，andnothalfsoclever。AsforhisleavingtheBaptistsIdon’tbelieveawordofit；hewasturnedoutoftheconnection，andthenwentaboutthecountrysayingheleftit。NoBaptistconnectionwouldeverhaveawriterofInterludesinit，notTwmo’rNanthimself，unlesshelefthisalesandInterludesandwantonhussies，forthethreethingsaresuretogotogether。

YousayhewentovertotheChurchofRome；ofcoursehedid，iftheChurchofEnglandwerenotathandtoreceivehim，whereshouldhegobuttoRome？NorespectablechurchliketheMethodistortheIndependentwouldhavereceivedhim。Thereareonlytwochurchesintheworldthatwilltakeinanybodywithoutaskingquestions，andwillneverturnthemouthoweverbadtheymaybehave；theoneistheChurchofRome，andtheothertheChurchofCanterbury；andifyoulookintothematteryouwillfindthateveryrogue，rascalandhangedpersonsincetheworldbegan，hasbelongedtooneorotherofthosecommunions。"

IntheeveningItookawalkwithmywifeanddaughterpastthePlasNewydd。ComingtothelittlemillcalledtheMelynBac，atthebottomofthegorge，wewentintotheyardtoobservethewater—wheel。Wefoundthatitwasturnedbyaverylittlewater，whichwasconveyedtoitbyartificialmeans。Seeingthemiller’sman，ashortdustyfigure，standingintheyard，Ienteredintoconversationwithhim，andfoundtomygreatsurprisethathehadaconsiderableacquaintancewiththeancientlanguage。OnmyrepeatingtohimversesfromTaliesinheunderstoodthem，andtoshowmethathedid，translatedsomeofthelinesintoEnglish。

Twoorthreerespectable—lookinglads，probablythemiller’ssons，cameout，andlistenedtous。OneofthemsaidwewerebothgoodWelshmen。AfteralittletimethemanaskedmeifIhadheardofHuwMorris，ItoldhimthatIwaswellacquaintedwithhiswritings，andenquiredwhethertheplaceinwhichhehadlivedwasnotsomewhereintheneighbourhood。Hesaiditwas；andthatitwasoverthemountainsnotfarfromLlanSanfraid。IaskedwhetheritwasnotcalledPontyMeibion。Heansweredintheaffirmative，andaddedthathehadhimselfbeenthere，andhadsatinHuwMorris’sstonechairwhichwasstilltobeseenbytheroad’sside。

ItoldhimthatIhopedtovisittheplaceinafewdays。HerepliedthatIshouldbequiterightindoingso，andthatnooneshouldcometothesepartswithoutvisitingPontyMeibion，forthatHuwMorriswasoneofthecolumnsoftheCumry。

"Whatadifference，"saidItomywife，afterwehaddeparted，"betweenaWelshmanandanEnglishmanofthelowerclass。WhatwouldaSuffolkmiller’sswainhavesaidifIhadrepeatedtohimversesoutofBeowulforevenChaucer，andhadaskedhimabouttheresidenceofSkelton。

CHAPTERXX

HuwMorris—ImmortalElegy—TheValleyofCeiriog—TangledWilderness—Perplexity—ChairofHuwMorris—TheWalkingStick—

Huw’sDescendant—PontyMeibion。

TwodaysafterthelastadventureIsetoff，overtheBerwyn，tovisitthebirth—placeofHuwMorrisundertheguidanceofJohnJones，whowaswellacquaintedwiththespot。

HuwMorusorMorris，wasbornintheyear1622onthebanksoftheCeiriog。Hislifewasalongone，forhediedattheageofeighty—four，afterlivinginsixreigns。Hewasthesecondsonofafarmer，andwasapprenticedtoatanner，withwhom，however，hedidnotstaytilltheexpirationofthetermofhisapprenticeship，fornotlikingthetanningart，hespeedilyreturnedtothehouseofhisfather，whomheassistedinhusbandrytilldeathcalledtheoldmanaway。Hethenassistedhiselderbrother，andonhiselderbrother’sdeath，livedwithhisson。Hedidnotdistinguishhimselfasahusbandman，andappearsnevertohavebeenfondofmanuallabour。Atanearlyperiod，however，heappliedhimselfmostassiduouslytopoetry，andbeforehehadattainedtheageofthirtywascelebrated，throughoutWales，asthebestpoetofhistime。WhenthewarbrokeoutbetweenCharlesandhisparliament，Huwespousedthepartoftheking，notassoldier，forheappearstohavelikedfightinglittlebetterthantanningorhusbandry，butasapoet，andprobablydidthekingmoreserviceinthatcapacitythanhewouldifhehadraisedhimatroopofhorse，oraregimentoffoot，forhewrotesongsbreathingloyaltytoCharles，andfraughtwithpungentsatireagainsthisfoes，whichranlikewild—

firethroughWales，andhadagreatinfluenceonthemindsofthepeople。Evenwhentheroyalcausewaslostinthefield，hestillcarriedonapoeticalwaragainstthesuccessfulparty，butnotsoopenlyasbefore，dealingchieflyinallegories，which，however，wereeasytobeunderstood。StrangetosaytheIndependents，whentheyhadtheupperhand，neverinterferedwithhimthoughtheypersecutedcertainRoyalistpoetsoffarinferiornote。OntheaccessionofCharlestheSecondhecelebratedtheeventbyamostsingularpiececalledtheLamentationofOliver’smen，inwhichheassailstheRoundheadswiththemostbitterirony。HewasloyaltoJamestheSecond，tillthatmonarchattemptedtooverthrowtheChurchofEngland，whenHuw，muchtohiscredit，turnedagainsthim，andwrotesongsintheinterestofthegloriousPrinceofOrange。HediedinthereignofgoodQueenAnne。Inhisyouthhisconductwasratherdissolute，butirreproachableandalmostholyinhislatterdays—akindofhalosurroundedhisoldbrow。ItwasthecustominthosedaysinNorthWalesforthecongregationtoleavethechurchinarowwiththeclergymanattheirhead，butsogreatwastheestimationinwhicholdHuwwasuniversallyheld，forthepurityofhislifeandhispoeticalgift，thattheclergymanoftheparishabandoninghisclaimtoprecedence，alwaysinsistedonthegoodandinspiredoldman’sleadingthefile，himselffollowingimmediatelyinhisrear。Huwwroteonvarioussubjects，mostlyincommonandeasilyunderstoodmeasures。Hewasgreatinsatire，greatinhumour，butwhenhepleasedcouldbegreaterinpathosthanineither；forhisbestpieceisanelegyonBarbaraMiddleton，thesweetestsongofthekindeverwritten。FromhisbeingbornonthebanksofthebrookCeiriog，andfromtheflowingmelodyofhisawenormuse，hiscountrymenwereinthehabitofcallinghimEosCeiriog，ortheCeiriogNightingale。