Ashewasstandingbeforealongbuilding，throughtheopendoorofwhichasoundproceededlikethatofpreaching，Iaskedhimwhatplaceitwas，andwhatwasgoingoninit，andreceivedforanswerthatitwastheNationalSchool，andthattherewasaclergymanpreachinginit。IthenaskediftheclergymanwasoftheChurch，andonlearningthathewas，Iforthwithenteredthebuilding，whereinoneendofalongroomIsawayoungmaninawhitesurplicepreachingfromadesktoaboutthirtyorfortypeople，whowereseatedonbenchesbeforehim。Isatdownandlistened。Theyoungmanpreachedwithgreatzealandfluency。Thesermonwasaveryseasonableone，beingabouttheharvest，andinitthingstemporalandspiritualwereveryhappilyblended。ThepartofthesermonwhichIheard—IregrettedthatIdidnothearthewhole—
　　lastedaboutfive—and—twentyminutes：ahymnfollowed，andthenthecongregationbrokeup。Iinquiredthenameoftheyoungmanwhopreached，andwastoldthatitwasEdwards，andthathecamefromCaernarvon。ThenameoftheincumbentoftheparishwasThomas。
　　LeavingthevillageoftheharvestsermonIproceededonmywaywhichlaytothesouth—east。IwasnowdrawingnightothemountainousdistrictofEryri；anoblehillcalledMountEilioappearedbeforemetothenorth；animmensemountaincalledPenDrwsCoedlayoveragainstitonthesouth，justlikeacouchantelephantwithitsheadlowerthanthetopofitsback。AfteratimeIenteredamostbeautifulsunnyvalley，andpresentlycametoabridgeoverapleasantstreamrunninginthedirectionofthesouth。AsIstooduponthatbridgeIalmostfanciedmyselfinParadise；everythinglookedsobeautifulorgrand—green，sunnymeadowslayallaroundme，intersectedbythebrook，thewatersofwhichranwithtinklinglaughteroverashinglybottom。NobleEiliotothenorth；enormousPenDrwsCoedtothesouth；atallmountainfarbeyondthemtotheeast。"Ineverwasinsuchalovelyspot！"Icriedtomyselfinaperfectrapture。"Oh，howgladIshouldbetolearnthenameofthisbridge，standingonwhichIhavehad’Heavenopenedtome，’asmyoldfriendstheSpaniardsusedtosay。"ScarcelyhadIsaidthesewordswhenI
　　observedamanandawomancomingtowardsthebridgeinthedirectioninwhichIwasbound。Ihastenedtomeettheminthehopeofobtaininginformation。Theywerebothratheryoung，andwereprobablyacoupleofsweetheartstakingawalkorreturningfrommeeting。Thewomanwasafewstepsinadvanceoftheman；
　　seeingthatIwasabouttoaddressher，sheavertedherheadandquickenedhersteps，andbeforeIhadcompletedthequestion，whichIputtoherinWelsh，shehadboltedpastmescreaming"AhDimSeasneg，"andwasseveralyardsdistant。
　　Ithenaddressedmyselftothemanwhohadstopped，askinghimthenameofthebridge。
　　"PontBettws，"hereplied。
　　"Andwhatmaybethenameoftheriver？"saidI。
　　"Afon—something，"saidhe。
　　Andonmythankinghimhewentforwardtothewomanwhowaswaitingforhimbythebridge。
　　"IsthatmanWelshorEnglish？"Iheardhersaywhenhehadrejoinedher。
　　"Idon’tknow，"saidtheman—"hewascivilenough；whywereyousuchafool？"
　　"Oh，IthoughthewouldspeaktomeinEnglish，"saidthewoman，"andthethoughtofthathorridEnglishputsmeintosuchaflutter；youknowIcan’tspeakawordofit。"
　　TheyproceededontheirwayandIproceededonmine，andpresentlycomingtoalittleinnontheleftsideoftheway，attheentranceofavillage，Iwentin。
　　Arespectable—lookingmanandwomanwereseatedatteaatatableinanicecleankitchen。Isatdownonachairnearthetable，andcalledforale—thealewasbroughtmeinajug—Idranksome，putthejugonthetable，andbegantodiscoursewiththepeopleinWelsh。Ahandsomedogwasseatedontheground；suddenlyitlaidoneofitspawsonitsmaster’sknee。
　　"Down，Perro，"saidhe。
　　"Perro！"saidI；"whydoyoucallthedogPerro？"
　　"WecallhimPerro，"saidtheman，"becausehisnameisPerro。"
　　"Buthowcameyoutogivehimthatname？"saidI。
　　"Wedidnotgiveittohim，"saidtheman—"heborethatnamewhenhecameintoourhands；afarmergavehimtouswhenhewasveryyoung，andtoldushisnamewasPerro。"
　　"AndhowcamethefarmertocallhimPerro？"saidI。
　　"Idon’tknow，"saidtheman—"whydoyouask？"
　　"Perro，"saidI，"isaSpanishword，andsignifiesadogingeneral。IamrathersurprisedthatadoginthemountainsofWalesshouldbecalledbytheSpanishwordfordog。"Ifellintoafitofmusing。"HowSpanishwordsarediffused！WhereveryougoyouwillfindsomeSpanishwordorotherinuse。IhaveheardSpanishwordsusedbyRussianmujiksandTurkishfig—gatherers—I
　　havethisdayheardaSpanishwordinthemountainsofWales，andI
　　havenodoubtthatwereItogotoIcelandIshouldfindSpanishwordsusedthere。HowcanIdoubtit；whenIreflectthatmorethansixhundredyearsago，oneofthewordstodenoteabadwomanwasSpanish。IntheoldestofIcelandicdomesticSagas，Skarphedin，thesonofNialtheseer，calledHallgerdr，widowofGunnar，aputa—andthatwordsomaddenedHallgerdrthatsheneverrestedtillshehadbroughtabouthisdestruction。Now，whythispreferenceeverywhereforSpanishwordsoverthoseofeveryotherlanguage？IneverheardFrenchwordsorGermanwordsusedbyRussianmujiksandTurkishfig—gatherers。IquestionwhetherI
　　shouldfindanyinIcelandformingpartofthevernacular。I
　　certainlyneverfoundaFrenchorevenaGermanwordinanoldIcelandicSaga。WhythispartialityeverywhereforSpanishwords？
　　thequestionispuzzling；atanyrateitputsmeout—"
　　"Yes，itputsmeout！"Iexclaimedaloud，strikingmyfistonthetablewithavehemencewhichcausedthegoodfolkstostarthalfupfromtheirseats。Beforetheycouldsayanything，however，avehicledroveuptothedoor，andamangettingoutcameintotheroom。Hehadaglazedhatonhishead，andwasdressedsomethingliketheguardofamail。Hetouchedhishattome，andcalledforaglassofwhiskey。IgavehimtheseleoftheeveningandenteredintoconversationwithhiminEnglish。InthecourseofdiscourseIlearnedthathewasthepostman，andwasgoinghisroundsinhiscart—hewasmorethanrespectfultome，hewasfawningandsycophantic。Thewhiskeywasbrought，andhestoodwiththeglassinhishand。SuddenlyhebeganspeakingWelshtothepeople；
　　before，however，hehadutteredtwosentencesthewomanliftedherhandwithanalarmedair，crying"Hush！heunderstands。"Thefellowwasturningmetoridicule。Iflungmyheadback，closedmyeyes，openedmymouthandlaughedaloud。Thefellowstoodaghast；
　　hishandtrembled，andhespiltthegreaterpartofthewhiskeyupontheground。AttheendofabouthalfaminuteIgotup，askedwhatIhadtopay，andonbeingtoldtwopence，Iputdownthemoney。ThengoinguptothemanIputmyrightforefingerveryneartohisnose，andsaid"Dwyoiaithdwyowyneb，twolanguages，twofaces，friend！"ThenafterleeringathimforamomentI
　　wishedthepeopleofthehousegood—eveninganddeparted。
　　WalkingrapidlyontowardstheeastIsoondrewneartheterminationofthevalley。ThevalleyterminatesinadeepgorgeorpassbetweenMountEilio—whichby—the—byeispartofthechineofSnowdon—andPenDrwsCoed。Thelatter，thatcouchantelephantwithitsheadturnedtothenorth—east，seemsasifitwishedtobarthepasswithitstrunk；byitstrunkImeanakindofjaggyridgewhichdescendsdowntotheroad。Ienteredthegorge，passingnearalittlewaterfallwhichwithmuchnoiserunsdowntheprecipitoussideofMountEilio；presentlyIcametoalittlemillbythesideofabrookrunningtowardstheeast。Iaskedthemiller—woman，whowasstandingnearthemill，withherheadturnedtowardsthesettingsun，thenameofthemillandthestream。"Themilliscalled’ThemilloftheriverofLakeCwellyn，’"saidshe，"andtheriveriscalledtheriverofLakeCwellyn。"
　　"Andwhoownstheland？"saidI。
　　"SirRichard，"saidshe。"ISirRichardywynperthynytir。MrWilliams，however，possessessomepartofMountEilio。"
　　"AndwhoisMrWilliams？"saidI。
　　"WhoisMrWilliams？"saidthemiller’swife。"Ho，ho！whatastrangeryoumustbetoaskmewhoisMrWilliams。"
　　Ismiledandpassedon。Themillwasbelowtheleveloftheroad，anditswheelwasturnedbythewaterofalittleconduitsuppliedbythebrookatsomedistanceabovethemill。IhadobservedsimilarconduitsemployedforsimilarpurposesinCornwall。A
　　littlebelowthemillwasaweir，andalittlebelowtheweirtheriverranfrothingpasttheextremeendoftheelephant’ssnout。
　　FollowingthecourseoftheriverIatlastemergedwithitfromthepassintoavalleysurroundedbyenormousmountains。Extendingalongitfromwesttoeast，andoccupyingitsentiresouthernpartlayanoblongpieceofwater，intowhichthestreamletofthepassdischargeditself。Thiswasoneofthemanybeautifullakes，whichafewdaysbeforeIhadseenfromtheWyddfa。AsfortheWyddfaI
　　nowbeheldithighabovemeinthenorth—eastlookingverygrandindeed，shininglikeasilverhelmetwhilstcatchingthegloriesofthesettingsun。
　　Iproceededslowlyalongtheroad，thelakebelowmeonmyrighthand，whilsttheshelvysideofSnowdonroseabovemeontheleft。
　　Theeveningwascalmandstill，andnonoisecameuponmyearsavethesoundofacascadefallingintothelakefromablackmountain，whichfrownedaboveitonthesouth，andcastagloomyshadowfaroverit。
　　Thiscataractwasintheneighbourhoodofasingular—lookingrock，projectingabovethelakefromthemountain’sside。Iwanderedaconsiderablewaywithoutmeetingorseeingasinglehumanbeing。
　　AtlastwhenIhadnearlygainedtheeasternendofthevalleyI
　　sawtwomenseatedonthesideofthehill，onthevergeoftheroad，inthevicinityofahousewhichstoodalittlewayupthehill。ThelakeherewasmuchwiderthanIhadhithertoseenit，forthehugemountainonthesouthhadterminatedandthelakeexpandedconsiderablyinthatquarter，havinginsteadoftheblackmountainabeautifulhillbeyondit。
　　Iquickenedmystepsandsooncameuptothetwoindividuals。Onewasanelderlyman，dressedinasmockfrockandwithahairycaponhishead。Theotherwasmuchyounger，woreahat，andwasdressedinacoarsesuitofbluenearlynew，anddoubtlesshisSunday’sbest。Hewassmokingapipe。IgreetedtheminEnglishandsatdownnearthem。Theyrespondedinthesamelanguage，theyoungermanwithconsiderablecivilityandbriskness，theotherinatoneofvoicedenotingsomereserve。
　　"MayIaskthenameofthislake？"saidI，addressingmyselftotheyoungmanwhosatbetweenmeandtheelderlyone。
　　"ItsnameisLlynCwellyn，sir，"saidhe，takingthepipeoutofhismouth。"Andafinelakeitis。"
　　"Plentyoffishinit？"Idemanded。
　　"Plenty，sir；plentyoftroutandpikeandchar。"
　　"Isitdeep？"saidI。
　　"Neartheshoreitisshallow，sir，butinthemiddleandneartheothersideitisdeep，sodeepthatnooneknowshowdeepitis。"
　　"Whatisthename，"saidI，"ofthegreatblackmountainthereontheotherside？"
　　"ItiscalledMynyddMawrortheGreatMountain。Yonderrock，whichbulksoutfromit，downthelakeyonder，andwhichyoupassedasyoucamealong，iscalledCastellCidwm，whichmeansWolf’srockorcastle。"
　　"Didawolfeverlivethere？"Idemanded。
　　"Perhapsso，"saidtheman，"forIhaveheardsaythattherewerewolvesofoldinWales。"
　　"Andwhatisthenameofthebeautifulhillyonder，beforeusacrossthewater？"
　　"That，sir，iscalledCairnDrwsyCoed，"saidtheman。
　　"Thestoneheapofthegateofthewood，"saidI。
　　"AreyouWelsh，sir？"saidtheman。
　　"No，"saidI，"butIknowsomethingofthelanguageofWales。I
　　supposeyouliveinthathouse？"
　　"Notexactly，sir，myfather—in—lawherelivesinthathouse，andmywifewithhim。Iamaminer，andspendsixdaysintheweekatmymine，buteverySundayIcomehereandpassthedaywithmywifeandhim。"
　　"Andwhatprofessiondoeshefollow？"saidI；"isheafisherman？"
　　"Fisherman！"saidtheelderlymancontemptuously，"notI。IamtheSnowdonRanger。"
　　"Andwhatisthat？"saidI。
　　Theelderlymantossedhisheadproudly，andmadenoreply。
　　"Arangermeansaguide，sir，"saidtheyoungerman；"myfather—in—
　　lawisgenerallytermedtheSnowdonRangerbecauseheisatip—topguide，andhehasnamedthehouseafterhimtheSnowdonRanger。HeentertainsgentlemeninitwhoputthemselvesunderhisguidanceinordertoascendSnowdonandtoseethecountry。"
　　"Thereissomedifferenceinyourprofessions，"said"hedealsinheights，youindepths，both，however，arebreak—neckytrades。"
　　"Irunmoreriskfromgunpowderthananythingelse，"saidtheyoungerman。"Iamaslate—miner，andamcontinuallyblasting。I
　　have，however，hadmyfalls。Areyougoingfarto—night，sir？"
　　"IamgoingtoBethGelert，"saidI。
　　"Agoodsixmiles，sir，fromhere。DoyoucomefromCaernarvon？"
　　"Fartherthanthat，"saidI。"IcomefromBangor。"
　　"To—day，sir，andwalking？"
　　"To—day，andwalking。"
　　"Youmustberathertired，sir，youcamealongthevalleyveryslowly。"
　　"Iamnotintheslightestdegreetired，"saidI；"whenIstartfromhere，Ishallputonmybestpace，andsoongettoBethGelert。"
　　"Anybodycangetalongoverlevelground，"saidtheoldman，laconically。
　　"Notwithequalswiftness，"saidI。"Idoassureyou，friend，tobeabletomoveatagoodswingingpaceoverlevelgroundissomethingnottobesneezedat。Not，"saidI，liftingupmyvoice，"thatIwouldforamomentcomparewalkingonthelevelgroundtomountainranging，pacingalongtheroadtospringingupcragslikeamountaingoat，orassertthatevenPowellhimself，thefirstofallroadwalkers，wasentitledtosobrightawreathoffameastheSnowdonRanger。"
　　"Won’tyouwalkin，sir？"saidtheelderlyman。
　　"No，Ithankyou，"saidI，"Iprefersittingoutheregazingonthelakeandthenoblemountains。"
　　"Iwishyouwould，sir，"saidtheelderlyman，"andtakeaglassofsomething；Iwillchargeyounothing。"
　　"Thankyou，"saidI，"Iaminwantofnothing，andshallpresentlystart。DomanypeopleascendSnowdonfromyourhouse？"
　　"NotsomanyasIcouldwish，"saidtheranger；"peopleingeneralpreferascendingSnowdonfromthattrumperyplaceBethGelert；butthosewhodoarefools—beggingyourhonour’spardon。TheplacetoascendSnowdonfromismyhouse。ThewayfrommyhouseupSnowdoniswonderfulfortheromanticscenerywhichitaffords；
　　thatfromBethGelertcan’tbenamedinthesamedaywithitforscenery；moreover，frommyhouseyoumayhavethebestguideinWales；whereastheguidesofBethGelert—butIsaynothing。IfyourhonourisboundfortheWyddfa，asIsupposeyouare，youhadbetterstartfrommyhouseto—morrowundermyguidance。"
　　"IhavealreadybeenuptheWyddfafromLlanberis，"saidI，"andamnowgoingthroughBethGelerttoLlangollen，wheremyfamilyare；
　　wereIgoingupSnowdonagainIshouldmostcertainlystartfromyourhouseunderyourguidance，andwereInotinahurryatpresent，Iwouldcertainlytakeupmyquartershereforaweek，andeverydaysnakeexcursionswithyouintotherecessesofEryri。I
　　supposeyouareacquaintedwithallthesecretsofthehills？"
　　"Trusttheoldrangerforthat，yourhonour。Iwouldshowyourhonourtheblacklakeinthefrightfulhollowinwhichthefisheshavemonstrousheadsandlittlebodies，thelakeonwhichneitherswan，ducknoranykindofwildfowlwaseverseentolight。ThenI
　　wouldshowyourhonourthefountainofthehoppingcreatures，where，where—"
　　"WereyoueveratthatWolf’scrag，thatCastellyCidwm？"saidI。
　　"Can’tsayIeverwas，yourhonour。Youseeitliessocloseby，justacrossthelake，that—"
　　"Youthoughtyoucouldseeitanyday，andsoneverwent，"saidI。
　　"Canyoutellmewhetherthereareanyruinsuponit？"
　　"Ican’t，yourhonour。"
　　"Ishouldn’twonder，"saidI，"ifinoldtimesitwasthestrongholdofsomerobber—chieftain；cidwmintheoldWelshisfrequentlyappliedtoaferociousman。CastellCidwm，Ishouldthink，ratheroughttobetranslatedtherobber’scastlethanthewolf’srock。IfIevercomeintothesepartsagainyouandIwillvisitittogether，andseewhatkindofplaceitis。Nowfarewell！
　　Itisgettinglate。"Ithendeparted。
　　"Whatanicegentleman！"saidtheyoungerman，whenIwasafewyardsdistant。
　　"Ineversawanicergentleman，"saidtheoldranger。
　　Ispedalong，Snowdononmyleft，thelakeonmyright，andthetipofamountainpeakrightbeforemeintheeast。AfteralittletimeIlookedback；whatascene！Thesilverlakeandtheshadowymountainoveritssouthernsidelookingnow，methought，verymuchlikeGibraltar。Ilingeredandlingered，gazingandgazing，andatlastonlybyanefforttoremyselfaway。Theeveninghadnowbecomedelightfullycoolinthislandofwonders。OnIsped，passingbytwonoisybrookscomingfromSnowdontopaytributetothelake。AndnowIhadleftthelakeandthevalleybehind，andwasascendingahill。AsIgaineditssummit，uprosethemoontocheermyway。Inalittletime，awildstonygorgeconfrontedme，astreamrandownthegorgewithhollowroar，abridgelayacrossit。IaskedafigurewhomIsawstandingbythebridgetheplace’sname。"Rhyddu"—theblackford—Icrossedthebridge。ThevoiceoftheMethodistwasyellingfromalittlechapelonmyleft。
　　Iwenttothedoorandlistened："WhenthesinnertakesholdofGod，Godtakesholdofthesinner。"Thevoicewasfrightfullyhoarse。Ipassedon：nightfellfastaroundme，andthemountaintothesouth—east，towardswhichIwastending，lookedblacklygrand。AndnowIcametoamilestoneonwhichIreadwithdifficulty："ThreemilestoBethGelert。"Thewayforsometimehadbeenupward，butnowitwasdownward。Ireachedatorrent，whichcomingfromthenorth—westrushedunderabridge，overwhichIpassed。ThetorrentattendedmeonmyrighthandthewholewaytoBethGelert。Thedescentnowbecameveryrapid。Ipassedapinewoodonmyleft，andproceededformorethantwomilesatatremendousrate。Ithencametoawood—thiswoodwasjustaboveBethGelert—proceedinginthedirectionofablackmountain，I
　　foundmyselfamongsthouses，atthebottomofavalley。Ipassedoverabridge，andinquiringofsomepeoplewhomImetthewaytotheinn，wasshownanedificebrilliantlylightedup，whichI
　　entered。
　　CHAPTERXLV
　　InnatBethGelert—DelectableCompany—LieutenantP—。
　　THEinnorhotelatBethGelertwasalargeandcommodiousbuilding，andwasanythingbutthrongedwithcompany；whatcompany，however，therewas，wasdisagreeableenough，perhapsmoresothanthatinwhichIhadbeentheprecedingevening，whichwascomposedofthescumofManchesterandLiverpool；thecompanyamongstwhichInowwas，consistedofsevenoreightindividuals，twoofthemweremilitarypuppies，oneatallishfellow，whothoughevidentlyupwardsofthirty，affectedtheairsofalanguishinggirl，andwouldfainhavemadepeoplebelievethathewasdyingofENNUIandlassitude。Theotherwasashortspuddyfellow，withabroaduglyfaceandwithspectaclesonhisnose，whotalkedveryconsequentiallyabout"theservice"andallthat，butwhosetoneofvoicewascoarseandhismannerthatofanunder—bredperson；thentherewasanoldfellowaboutsixty—five，acivilian，witharedcarbuncledface；hewasfatherofthespuddymilitarypuppy，onwhomheoccasionallycasteyesofprideandalmostadoration，andwhosesayingshemuchapplauded，especiallycertainDOUBLES
　　ENTENDRES，tocallthembynoharsherterm，directedtoafatgirl，weighingsomefifteenstone，whoofficiatedinthecoffee—roomaswaiter。ThentherewasacreaturetodojusticetowhoseappearancewouldrequirethepencilofaHogarth。Hewasaboutfivefeetthreeinchesandaquarterhigh，andmighthaveweighed，alwaysprovidedastoneweighthadbeenattachedtohim，abouthalfasmuchasthefatgirl。Hiscountenancewascadaverousandwaseternallyagitatedbysomethingbetweenagrinandasimper。Hewasdressedinastyleofsuperfinegentility，andhisskeletonfingerswerebedizenedwithtawdryrings。Hisconversationwaschieflyabouthisbileandhissecretions，theefficacyoflicoriceinproducingacertaineffect，andtheexpediencyofchangingone’slinenatleastthreetimesaday；thoughhadhechangedhissix，I
　　shouldhavesaidthatthepurificationofthelastshirtwouldhavebeennosinecuretothelaundress。HisaccentwasdecidedlyScotch：hespokefamiliarlyofScottandoneortwootherScotchworthies，andmorethanonceinsinuatedthathewasamemberofParliament。WithrespecttotherestofthecompanyIsaynothing，andfortheverysufficientreasonthat，unliketheabovedescribedbatch，theydidnotseemdisposedtobeimpertinenttowardsme。
　　EagertogetoutofsuchsocietyIretiredearlytobed。AsIlefttheroomthediminutiveScotchindividualwasdescribingtotheoldsimpleton，whoonthegroundoftheother’sbeinga"member，"waslisteningtohimwithextremeattention，howhewaslabouringunderanaccessofbileowingtohishavinglefthislicoricesomewhereorother。Ipassedaquietnight，andinthemorningbreakfasted，paidmybill，anddeparted。AsIwentoutofthecoffee—roomthespuddy，broad—facedmilitarypuppywithspectacleswasvociferatingtothelanguishingmilitarypuppy，andtohisoldsimpletonofafather，whowaslisteningtohimwithhisusuallookofundisguisedadmiration，abouttheabsolutenecessityofkickingLieutenantP—
　　outofthearmyforhavingdisgraced"theservice。"PoorP—，whoseonlycrimewastryingtodefendhimselfwithfistandcandlestickfromthemanualattacksofhisbrutalmessmates。
　　CHAPTERXLVI
　　TheValleyofGelert—LegendoftheDog—MagnificentScenery—
　　TheKnicht—GoatsinWales—TheFrightfulCrag—TemperanceHouse—SmileandCurtsey。
　　BETHGELERTissituatedinavalleysurroundedbyhugehills，themostremarkableofwhichareMoelHebogandCerrigLlan；theformerfencesitonthesouth，andthelatter，whichisquiteblackandnearlyperpendicular，ontheeast。Asmallstreamrushesthroughthevalley，andsalliesforthbyapassatitssouth—easternend。
　　ThevalleyissaidbysometoderiveitsnameofBeddgelert，whichsignifiesthegraveofCelert，frombeingtheburial—placeofCelert，aBritishsaintofthesixthcentury，towhomLlangelerinCarmarthenshireisbelievedtohavebeenconsecrated，butthepopularandmostuniversallyreceivedtraditionisthatithasitsnamefrombeingtheresting—placeofafaithfuldogcalledCelertorGelert，killedbyhismaster，thewarlikeandcelebratedLlywelynabJorwerth，fromanunluckymisapprehension。Thoughthelegendisknowntomostpeople，Ishalltakethelibertyofrelatingit。
　　LlywelynduringhiscontestswiththeEnglishhadencampedwithafewfollowersinthevalley，andonedaydepartedwithhismenonanexpedition，leavinghisinfantsoninacradleinhistent，underthecareofhishoundGelert，aftergivingthechilditsfillofgoat’smilk。Whilsthewasabsentawolffromtheneighbouringmountains，inquestofprey，founditswayintothetent，andwasabouttodevourthechild，whenthewatchfuldoginterfered，andafteradesperateconflict，inwhichthetentwastorndown，succeededindestroyingthemonster。Llywelynreturningateveningfoundthetentontheground，andthedog，coveredwithblood，sittingbesideit。ImaginingthatthebloodwithwhichGelertwasbesmearedwasthatofhisownsondevouredbytheanimaltowhosecarehehadconfidedhim，Llywelyninaparoxysmofnaturalindignationforthwithtransfixedthefaithfulcreaturewithhisspear。Scarcely，however，hadhedonesowhenhisearswerestartledbythecryofachildfrombeneaththefallentent，andhastilyremovingthecanvashefoundthechildinitscradle，quiteuninjured，andthebodyofanenormouswolf，frightfullytornandmangled，lyingnear。Hisbreastwasnowfilledwithconflictingemotions，joyforthepreservationofhisson，andgriefforthefateofhisdog，towhomheforthwithhastened。Thepooranimalwasnotquitedead，butpresentlyexpired，intheactoflickinghismaster’shand。Llywelynmournedoverhimasoverabrother，buriedhimwithfuneralhonoursinthevalley，anderectedatomboverhimasoverahero。FromthattimethevalleywascalledBethGelert。
　　Suchisthelegend，which，whethertrueorfictitious，issingularlybeautifulandaffecting。
　　Thetomb，orwhatissaidtobethetomb，ofGelert，standsinabeautifulmeadowjustbelowtheprecipitoussideofCerrigLlan：
　　itconsistsofalargeslablyingonitsside，andtwouprightstones。Itisshadedbyaweepingwillow，andissurroundedbyahexagonalpaling。Whoisthereacquaintedwiththelegend，whetherhebelievesthatthedogliesbeneaththosestonesornot，canvisitthemwithoutexclaimingwithasigh，"PoorGelert！"
　　Afterwanderingaboutthevalleyforsometime，andseeingafewofitswonders，IinquiredmywayforFestiniog，andsetoffforthatplace。Thewaytoitisthroughthepassatthesouth—eastendofthevalley。ArrivedattheentranceofthepassIturnedroundtolookatthesceneryIwasleavingbehindme；theviewwhichpresenteditselftomyeyeswasverygrandandbeautiful。BeforemelaythemeadowofGelertwiththeriverflowingthroughittowardsthepass。BeyondthemeadowtheSnowdonrange；ontherightthemightyCerrigLlan；onthelefttheequallymighty，butnotquitesoprecipitous，Hebog。Truly，thevalleyofGelertisawondrousvalley—rivallingforgrandeurandbeautyanyvaleeitherintheAlpsorPyrenees。AfteralongandearnestviewIturnedroundagainandproceededonmyway。