AfterastayofsometimewithIfor，hereturnedtohisnativecountyandlivedatBroGynnin。HerehefellinlovewithayoungladyofbirthcalledDyddgu，whodidnotfavourhisaddresses。Hedidnotbreakhisheart，however，onheraccount，butspeedilybestoweditonthefairMorfudd，whomhefirstsawatRhosyrinAnglesey，towhichplacebothhadgoneonareligiousaccount。Theladyaftersomedemurconsentedtobecomehiswife。Herparentsrefusingtosanctiontheunion，theirhandswerejoinedbeneaththegreenwoodtreebyoneMadawgBenfras，abard，andagreatfriendofAbGwilym。Thejoiningofpeople’shandsbybards，whichwasprobablyarelicofDruidism，hadlongbeenpractisedinWales，andmarriagesofthiskindweregenerallyconsideredvalid，andseldomsetaside。Theecclesiasticallaw，however，didnotrecognisethesepoeticalmarriages，andtheparentsofMorfuddbyappealingtothelawsoonseveredtheunion。Afterconfiningtheladyforashorttime，theybestowedherhandinlegalfashionuponachieftainoftheneighbourhood，veryrichbutratherold，andwithahumponhisback，onaccountwhichhewasnicknamedbow—back，orlittlehump—back。Morfudd，however，whopassedhertimeinratheradullmannerwiththisperson，whichwouldnothavebeenthecasehadshedoneherdutybyendeavouringtomakethepoormancomfortable，andbyvisitingthesickandneedyaroundher，wassooninducedbythebardtoelopewithhim。TheloversfledtoGlamorgan，whereIforHael，notmuchtohisowncredit，receivedthemwithopenarms，probablyforgettinghowhehadimmuredhisOWN
　　daughterinaconvent，ratherthanbestowheronAbGwilym。Havingahunting—lodgeinaforestonthebanksofthelovelyTaf，heallottedittothefugitivesasaresidence。Ecclesiasticallaw，however，asstronginWildWalesasinotherpartsofEurope，soonfollowedthemintoGlamorgan，and，veryproperly，separatedthem。
　　Theladywasrestoredtoherhusband，andAbGwilymfinedtoaveryhighamount。Notbeingabletopaythefine，hewascastintoprison；butthenthemenofGlamorganarosetoaman，swearingthattheirheadbardshouldnotremaininprison。"Thenpayhisfine！"
　　saidtheecclesiasticallaw，orrathertheecclesiasticallawyer。
　　"Sowewill！"saidthemenofGlamorgan，andsotheydid。Everymanputhishandintohispocket；theamountwassoonraised，thefinepaid，andthebardsetfree。
　　AbGwilymdidnotforgetthiskindnessofthemenofGlamorgan，and，torequiteit，wroteanaddresstothesun，inwhichherequeststhatluminarytovisitGlamorgan，toblessit，andtokeepitfromharm。Thepiececoncludeswithsomenoblelinessomewhattothiseffect"IfeverystrandoppressionstrongShouldarmagainstthesonofsong，Thewearywightwouldfind，Iween，AwelcomeinGlamorgangreen。"
　　SometimeafterhisreleasehemeditatedasecondelopementwithMorfudd，andeveninducedhertoconsenttogooffwithhim。A
　　friend，towhomhedisclosedwhathewasthinkingofdoing，askinghimwhetherhewouldventureasecondtimetotakesuchastep，"I
　　will，"saidthebard，"inthenameofGodandthemenofGlamorgan。"Nosecondelopement，however，tookplace，thebardprobablythinking，ashasbeenwellobserved，thatneitherGodnorthemenofGlamorganwouldhelphimasecondtimeoutofsuchanaffair。Hedidnotattaintoanyadvancedage，butdiedwhenaboutsixty，sometwentyyearsbeforetherisingofGlendower。Sometimebeforehisdeathhismindfortunatelytookadecidedlyreligiousturn。
　　Heissaidtohavebeeneminentlyhandsomeinhisyouth，tall，slender，withyellowhairfallinginringletsdownhisshoulders。
　　Heislikewisesaidtohavebeenagreatlibertine。Thefollowingstoryistoldofhim：—
　　"Inacertainneighbourhoodhehadagreatmanymistresses，somemarriedandothersnot。Onceuponatime，inthemonthofJunehemadeasecretappointmentwitheachofhislady—loves，theplaceandhourofmeetingbeingthesameforall；eachwastomeethimatthesamehourbeneathamightyoakwhichstoodinthemidstofaforestglade。Sometimebeforetheappointedhourhewent，andclimbinguptheoak，hidhimselfamidstthedensefoliageofitsboughs。Whenthehourarrivedheobservedallthenymphstrippingtotheplaceofappointment；allcame，tothenumberoftwenty—four—notonestayedaway。Forsometimetheyremainedbeneaththeoakstaringateachother。Atlengthanexplanationensued，anditappearedthattheyhadallcometomeetAbGwilym。
　　"’Oh，thetreacherousmonster！’criedtheywithoneaccord；’onlylethimshowhimselfandwewilltearhimtopieces。’
　　"’Willyou？’saidAbGwilymfromtheoak；’hereIam；letherwhohasbeenmostwantonwithmemakethefirstattackuponme！’
　　"Thefemalesremainedforsometimespeechless；allofasudden，however，theirangerkindled，notagainstthebard，butagainsteachother。Fromharshandtauntingwordstheysooncametoactions：hairwastornoff，faceswerescratched，bloodflowedfromcheekandnose。WhilstthetumultwasatitsfiercestAbGwilymslippedaway。"
　　Thewritermerelyrepeatsthisstory，andherepeatsitasconciselyaspossible，inordertohaveanopportunityofsayingthathedoesnotbelieveoneparticleofit。Ifhebelievedit，hewouldforthwithburnthemostcherishedvolumeofthesmallcollectionofbooksfromwhichhederivesdelightandrecreation，namely，thatwhichcontainsthesongsofAbGwilym，forhewouldhavenothinginhispossessionbelongingtosuchaheartlessscoundrelasAbGwilymmusthavebeenhadhegotupthesceneabovedescribed。Anycommonmanwhowouldexposetoeachotherandtheworldanumberofhapless，trustingfemaleswhohadfavouredhimwiththeiraffections，andfromthetopofatreewouldfeasthiseyesupontheiragoniesofshameandrage，woulddeservetobe—
　　emasculated。HadAbGwilymbeensodeadtoeveryfeelingofgratitudeandhonourastoplaythepartwhichthestorymakeshimplay，hewouldhavedeservednotonlytobeemasculated，buttobescourgedwithharp—stringsineverymarket—towninWales，andtobedismissedfromtheserviceoftheMuse。Butthewriterrepeatsthathedoesnotbelieveonetittleofthestory，thoughAbGwilym’sbiographer，thelearnedandcelebratedWilliamOwen，notonlyseemstobelieveit，butratherchucklesoverit。ItistheopinionofthewriterthatthestoryisofItalianorigin，andthatitformedpartofoneofthemanyrascallynovelsbroughtovertoEnglandafterthemarriageofLionel，DukeofClarence，thethirdsonofEdwardtheThird，withViolante，daughterofGaleazzo，DukeofMilan。
　　DafyddAbGwilymhasbeeningeneralconsideredasasongsterwhoneveremployedhismuseonanysubjectsavethatoflove，andtherecanbenodoubtthatbyfarthegreaternumberofhispiecesaredevotedmoreorlesstothesubjectoflove。Buttoconsiderhimmerelyinthelightofanamatorypoetwouldbewrong。Hehaswrittenpoemsofwonderfulpoweronalmosteveryconceivablesubject。AbGwilymhasbeenstyledtheWelshOvid，andwithgreatjustice，butnotmerelybecauseliketheRomanhewroteadmirablyonlove。TheRomanwasnotmerelyanamatorypoet：lettheshadeofPythagorassaywhetherthepoetwhoembodiedinimmortalversetheoldest，themostwonderful，andatthesametimethemosthumane，ofallphilosophywasamereamatorypoet。LettheshadeofblindHomerbecalleduptosaywhetherthebardwhocomposedthetremendousline—
　　"SurgitadhosclypeidominusseptemplicisAjax"—
　　equaltoanysaveONEofhisown，wasamereamatorysongster。
　　Yet，diversifiedasthegeniusoftheRomanwas，thereisnospeciesofpoetryinwhichheshoneinwhichtheWelshmanmaynotbesaidtodisplayequalmerit。AbGwilym，then，hasbeenfairlystyledtheWelshOvid。Buthewassomethingmore—andherelettherebenosneersaboutWelsh：theWelshareequalingenius，intellectandlearningtoanypeopleunderthesun，andspeakalanguageolderthanGreek，andwhichisoneoftheimmediateparentsoftheGreek。HewassomethingmorethantheWelshOvid：
　　hewastheWelshHorace，andwrotelight，agreeable，sportivepieces，equaltoanythingsofthekindcomposedbyHoraceinhisbestmoods。Buthewassomethingmore：hewastheWelshMartial，andwrotepiecesequalinpungencytothoseofthegreatRomanepigrammatist，—perhapsmorethanequal，forweneverheardthatanyofMartial’sepigramskilledanybody，whereasAbGwilym’spieceofvituperationonRhysMeigan—pitythatpoetsshouldbesovirulent—causedtheWelshmantofalldowndead。Buthewasyetsomethingmore：hecould，ifhepleased，beaTyrtaeus；hewasnofighter—wherewasthereeverapoetthatwas？—buthewroteanodeonasword，theonlywarlikepiecethatheeverwrote，thebestpoemonthesubjecteverwritteninanylanguage。Finally，hewassomethingmore：hewaswhatnotoneofthegreatLatinpoetswas，aChristian；thatis，inhislatterdays，whenhebegantofeelthevanityofallhumanpursuits，whenhisnervesbegantobeunstrung，hishairtofalloff，andhisteethtodropout，andhethencomposedsacredpiecesentitlinghimtorankwith—weweregoingtosayCaedmon；hadwedonesoweshouldhavedonewrong；nouninspiredpoeteverhandledsacredsubjectslikethegrandSaxonSkald—butwhichentitlehimtobecalledagreatreligiouspoet，inferiortononebuttheprotegeofHilda。
　　BeforeceasingtospeakofAbGwilym，itwillbenecessarytostatethathisamatorypieces，whichconstitutemorethanone—halfofhisproductions，mustbedividedintotwoclasses：thepurelyamatoryandthoseonlypartlydevotedtolove。HispoemstoDyddguandthedaughterofIforHaelareproductionsverydifferentfromthoseaddressedtoMorfudd。Therecanbenodoubtthathehadasincereaffectionforthetwofirst；thereisnolevityinthecowyddswhichheaddressedtothem，andheseldomintroducesanyotherobjectsthanthoseofhislove。ButinhiscowyddsaddressedtoMorfuddistherenolevity？IsMorfuddeverprominent？Hiscowyddstothatwomanaboundwithhumorouslevity，andforthemostparthavefarlesstodowithherthanwithnaturalobjects—thesnow，themist，thetreesoftheforest，thebirdsoftheair，andthefishesofthestream。HisfirstpiecetoMorfuddisfulloflevityquiteinconsistentwithtruelove。Itstateshow，afterseeingherforthefirsttimeatRhosyrinAnglesey，andfallinginlovewithher，hesendsherapresentofwinebythehandsofaservant，whichpresentsherefuses，castingthewinecontemptuouslyovertheheadofthevalet。Thiscommencementpromiseslittleinthewayoftruepassion，sothatwearenotdisappointedwhenwereadalittlefartheronthatthebardisdeadandburied，allonaccountoflove，andthatMorfuddmakesapilgrimagetoMynywtoseekforpardonforkillinghim，norwhenwefindhimbeggingthepopishimagetoconveyamessagetoher。ThenpresentlywealmostlosesightofMorfuddamidstbirds，animalsandtrees，andwearenotsorrythatwedo；forthoughAbGwilymismightyinhumour，greatindescribingtheemotionsofloveandthebeautiesofthelovely，heisgreatestofallindescribingobjectsofnature；
　　indeedindescribingthemhehasnoequal，andthewriterhasnohesitationinsayingthatinmanyofhiscowyddsinwhichhedescribesvariousobjectsofnature，bywhichhesendsmessagestoMorfudd，heshowshimselfafargreaterpoetthanOvidappearsinanyoneofhisMetamorphoses。Therearemanypoetswhoattempttodescribenaturalobjectswithoutbeingintimatelyacquaintedwiththem，butAbGwilymwasnotoneofthese。Noonewasbetteracquaintedwithnature；hewasastroller，andthereiseveryprobabilitythatduringthegreaterpartofthesummerhehadnootherroofthanthefoliage，andthatthevoicesofbirdsandanimalsweremorefamiliartohisearsthanwasthevoiceofman。
　　Duringthesummermonths，indeed，intheearlypartofhislife，hewas，ifwemaycredithim，generallylyingperdueinthewoodlandormountainrecessesnearthehabitationofhismistress，beforeorafterhermarriage，awaitinghersecretvisits，madewhenevershecouldescapethevigilanceofherparents，orthewatchfulofherhusband，andduringherabsencehehadnothingbettertodothantoobserveobjectsofnatureanddescribethem。HisodetotheFox，oneofthemostadmirableofhispieces，wascomposedononeoftheseoccasions。
　　Wantofspacepreventsthewriterfromsayingasmuchashecouldwishaboutthegeniusofthiswonderfulman，thegreatestofhiscountry’ssongsters，wellcalculatedbynaturetodohonourtothemostpolishedageandthemostwidely—spokenlanguage。Thebardshiscontemporaries，andthosewhosucceededhimforseveralhundredyears，wereperfectlyconvincedofhissuperiority，notonlyoverthemselves，butoverallthepoetsofthepast；andone，andamightyone，oldIolothebardofGlendower，wentsofarastoinsinuatethatafterAbGwilymitwouldbeoflittleavailforanyonetomakeverses—
　　"Aedllemae’reangdangneff，Acaedygerddgydagef。"
　　"ToHeaven’shighpeacelethimdepart，Andwithhimgotheminstrelart。"
　　HewasburiedatYstradFlur，andayewtreewasplantedoverhisgrave，towhichGruffyddGryg，abrotherbard，whowasatonetimehisenemy，buteventuallybecameoneofthemostardentofhisadmirers，addressedanode，ofpartofwhichthefollowingisaparaphrase：—
　　"Thounobletree，whoshelt’restkindThedeadman’shousefromwinter’swind；
　　Maylightningsneverlaytheelow；
　　Norarchercutfromtheehisbow，NorCrispinpeeltheepegstoframe；
　　Butmaythoueverbloomthesame，AnobletreethegravetoguardOfCambria’smostillustriousbard！"
　　CHAPTERLXXXVII
　　StartforPlynlimmon—Plynlimmon’sCelebrity—TroedRhiwGoch。
　　THEmorningofthefifthofNovemberlookedratherthreatening。
　　As，however，itdidnotrain，IdeterminedtosetoffforPlynlimmon，and，returningatnighttotheinn，resumemyjourneytothesouthonthefollowingday。OnlookingintoapocketalmanacIfounditwasSunday。Thisverymuchdisconcertedme，andIthoughtatfirstofgivingupmyexpedition。Eventually，however，Ideterminedtogo，forIreflectedthatIshouldbedoingnoharm，andthatImightacknowledgethesacrednessofthedaybyattendingmorningserviceatthelittleChurchofEnglandchapelwhichlayinmyway。
　　ThemountainofPlynlimmontowhichIwasboundisthethirdinWalesforaltitude，beingonlyinferiortoSnowdonandCadairIdris。ItspropernameisPum，orPump，Lumon，signifyingthefivepoints，becausetowardstheupperpartitisdividedintofivehillsorpoints。Plynlimmonisacelebratedhillonmanyaccounts。
　　Ithasbeenthesceneofmanyremarkableevents。InthetenthcenturyadreadfulbattlewasfoughtononeofitsspursbetweentheDanesandtheWelsh，inwhichtheformersustainedabloodyoverthrow；andin1401aconflicttookplaceinoneofitsvalleysbetweentheWelsh，underGlendower，andtheFlemingsofPembrokeshire，who，exasperatedathavingtheirhomesteadsplunderedandburnedbythechieftainwhowasthemortalenemyoftheirrace，assembledinconsiderablenumbersanddroveGlendowerandhisforcesbeforethemtoPlynlimmon，where，theWelshmenstandingatbay，acontestensued，inwhich，thougheventuallyworsted，theFlemingswereatonetimeallbutvictorious。What，however，hasmorethananythingelsecontributedtothecelebrityofthehillisthecircumstanceofitsgivingbirthtothreerivers，thefirstofwhich，theSevern，istheprincipalstreaminBritain；thesecond，theWye，themostlovelyriver，probably，whichtheworldcanboastof；andthethird，theRheidol，entitledtohighhonourfromitsboldnessandimpetuosity，andtheremarkablebanksbetweenwhichitflowsinitsveryshortcourse，fortherearescarcelytwentymilesbetweentheffynnonorsourceoftheRheidolandtheaberorplacewhereitdisemboguesitselfintothesea。
　　Istartedaboutteno’clockonmyexpedition，aftermaking，ofcourse，averyheartybreakfast。ScarcelyhadIcrossedtheDevil’sBridgewhenashowerofhailandraincameon。As，however，itcamedownnearlyperpendicularly，Iputupmyumbrellaandlaughed。TheshowerpeltedawaytillIhadnearlyreachedSpyttyCynwyl，whenitsuddenlyleftoffandthedaybecametolerablyfine。OnarrivingattheSpytty，Iwassorrytofindthattherewouldbenoservicetillthreeintheafternoon。Aswaitingtillthattimewasoutofthequestion，Ipushedforwardonmyexpedition。LeavingPontErwydatsomedistanceonmyleft，I
　　wentdulynorthtillIcametoaplaceamongsthillswheretheroadwascrossedbyanangry—lookingrivulet，thesame，IbelievewhichenterstheRheidolnearPontErwyd，andwhichiscalledtheCastleRiver。Iwasjustgoingtopulloffmybootsandstockingsinordertowadethrough，whenIperceivedapoleandaraillaidoverthestreamatlittledistanceabovewhereIwas。Thisrusticbridgeenabledmetocrosswithoutrunningthedangerofgettingaregularsousing，forthesemountainstreams，evenwhennotreachingsohighastheknee，occasionallysweepthewaderoffhislegs，asIknowbymyownexperience。FromaladwhomIpresentlymetI
　　learnedthattheplacewhereIcrossedthewaterwascalledTroedrhiwgoch，ortheFootoftheRedSlope。
　　Abouttwentyminutes’walkfromhencebroughtmetoCastellDyffryn，aninnaboutsixmilesdistantfromtheDevil’sBridge，andsituatednearaspurofthePlynlimmonrange。HereIengagedamantoshowmethesourcesoftheriversandtheotherwondersofthemountain。Hewasatall，athleticfellow，dressedinbrowncoat，roundbuffhat，corduroytrousers，linenleggingsandhighlows，and，thoughaCumro，hadmuchmoretheappearanceofanativeofTipperarythanaWelshman。Hewasakindofshepherdtothepeopleofthehouse，who，likemanyothersinSouthWales，followedfarmingandinn—keepingatthesametime。
　　CHAPTERLXXXVIII
　　TheGuide—TheGreatPlynlimmon—ADangerousPath—SourceoftheRheidol—SourceoftheSevern—Pennillion—OldTimesandNew—
　　TheCorpseCandle—Supper。
　　LEAVINGtheinn，myguideandmyselfbegantoascendasteephilljustbehindit。WhenwewereabouthalfwayupIaskedmycompanion，whospokeveryfairEnglish，whytheplacewascalledtheCastle。
　　"Because，sir，"saidhe，"therewasacastlehereintheoldtime。"
　　"Whereaboutswasit？"saidI。
　　"Yonder，"saidtheman，standingstillandpointingtotheright。
　　"Don’tyouseeyonderbrownspotinthevalley？Therethecastlestood。"
　　"Butaretherenoremainsofit？"saidI。"Icanseenothingbutabrownspot。"
　　"Therearenone，sir；butthereacastleoncestood，andfromittheplacewecamefromhaditsname，andlikewisetheriverthatrunsdowntoPontErwyd。"
　　"Andwholivedthere？"saidI。
　　"Idon’tknow，sir，"saidtheman；"butIsupposetheyweregrandpeople，ortheywouldnothavelivedinacastle。"
　　Afterascendingthehillandpassingoveritstop，wewentdownitswesternsideandsooncametoablack，frightfulbogbetweentwohills。Beyondthebogandatsomedistancetothewestofthetwohillsroseabrownmountain，notabruptly，butgradually，andlookingmorelikewhattheWelshcallarhiw，orslope，thanamynydd，ormountain。
　　"That，sir，"saidmyguide，"isthegrandPlynlimmon。"
　　"Itdoesnotlookmuchofahill，"saidI。
　　"Weareonveryhighground，sir，oritwouldlookmuchhigher。I
　　question，uponthewhole，whetherthereisahigherhillintheworld。GodblessPumlummonMawr！"saidhe，lookingwithreverencetowardsthehill。"IamsureIhavearighttosayso，formanyisthegoodcrownIhavegotbyshowinggentlefolkslikeyourselftothetopofhim。"
　　"YoutalkofPlynlimmonMawr，orthegreatPlynlymmon，"saidI；
　　"wherearethesmallones？"
　　"Yondertheyare，"saidtheguide，pointingtotwohillstowardsthenorth；"oneisPlynlimmonCanol，andtheotherPlynlimmonBach—themiddleandthesmallPlynlimmon。"
　　"Pumlummon，"saidI，"meansfivesummits。Youhavepointedoutonlythree；now，wherearetheothertwo？"
　　"Thosetwohillswhichwehavejustpassedmakeupthefive。
　　However，Iwilltellyourworshipthatthereisasixthsummit。
　　Don’tyouseethatsmallhillconnectedwiththebigPumlummon，ontheright？"
　　"Iseeitveryclearly，"saidI。
　　"Well，yourworship，that’scalledBrynyLlo—theHilloftheCalf，ortheCalfPlynlimmon，whichmakesthesixthsummit。"
　　"Verygood，"saidI，"andperfectlysatisfactory。NowletusascendtheBigPumlummon。"
　　Inaboutaquarterofanhourwereachedthesummitofthehill，wherestoodalargecarnorheapofstones。Igotuponthetopandlookedaroundme。
　　Amountainouswildernessextendedoneveryside，awasteofrussetcolouredhills，withhereandthereablack，craggysummit。Nosignsoflifeorcultivationweretobediscovered，andtheeyemightsearchinvainforagroveorevenasingletree。Thescenewouldhavebeencheerlessintheextremehadnotabrightsunlightedupthelandscape。
　　"Thisdoesnotseemtobeacountryofmuchsociety，"saidItomyguide。
　　"Itisnot，sir。Thenearesthouseistheinnwecamefrom，whichisnowthreemilesbehindus。Straightbeforeyouthereisnotoneforatleastten，andoneithersideitisananialwchtoavastdistance。Plunlummonisnotasociablecountry，sir；nothingtobefoundinit，buthereandthereafewsheeporashepherd。"
　　"Now，"saidI，descendingfromthecarn，"wewillproceedtothesourcesoftherivers。"
　　"TheffynnonoftheRheidolisnotfaroff，"saidtheguide；"itisjustbelowthehill。"
　　Wedescendedthewesternsideofthehillforsomeway；atlength，comingtoaverycraggyandprecipitousplace，myguidestopped，andpointingwithhisfingerintothevalleybelow，said：—
　　"There，sir，ifyoulookdownyoucanseethesourceoftheRheidol。"
　　Ilookeddown，andsawfarbelowwhatappearedtobepartofasmallsheetofwater。
　　"AndthatisthesourceoftheRheidol？"saidI。
　　"Yes，sir，"saidmyguide；"thatistheffynnonoftheRheidol。"
　　"Well，"saidI；"istherenogettingtoit？"
　　"Ohyes！butthepath，sir，asyousee，israthersteepanddangerous。"
　　"Nevermind，"saidI。"Letustryit。"
　　"Isn’tseeingthefountainsufficientforyou，sir？"
　　"Bynomeans，"saidI。"Itisnotonlynecessaryformetoseethesourcesoftherivers，buttodrinkofthem，inorderthatinaftertimesImaybeabletoharangueaboutthemwithatoneofconfidenceandauthority。"
　　"Thenfollowme，sir；butpleasetotakecare，forthispathismorefitforsheeporshepherdsthangentlefolk。"
　　AndatrulybadpathIfoundit；sobadindeedthatbeforeIhaddescendedtwentyyardsIalmostrepentedhavingventured。Ihadacapitalguide，however，whowentbeforeandtoldmewheretoplantmysteps。Therewasoneparticularlybadpart，beinglittlebetterthanasheerprecipice；butevenhereIgotdowninsafetywiththeassistanceofmyguide，andaminuteafterwardsfoundmyselfatthesourceoftheRheidol。
　　ThesourceoftheRheidolisasmallbeautifullake，aboutaquarterofamileinlength。Itisoverhungontheeastandnorthbyfrightfulcrags，fromwhichitisfedbyanumberofsmallrills。Thewaterisofthedeepestblue，andofveryconsiderabledepth。Thebanks，excepttothenorthandeast，slopegentlydown，andarecladwithsoftandbeautifulmoss。Theriver，ofwhichitisthehead，emergesatthesouth—westernside，andbrawlsawayintheshapeofaconsiderablebrook，amidstmoss，andrushesdownawildglentendingtothesouth。Tothewesttheprospectisbounded，ataslightdistance，byhigh，swellingground。IffewrivershaveamorewildandwondrouschannelthantheRheidol，fewerstillhaveamorebeautifulandromanticsource。
　　AfterkneelingdownanddrinkingfreelyofthelakeIsaid：
　　"Now，wherearewetogotonext？"
　　"ThenearestffynnontothatoftheRheidol，sir，istheffynnonoftheSevern。"
　　"Verywell，"saidI；"letusnowgoandseetheffynnonoftheSevern！"
　　Ifollowedmyguideoverahilltothenorth—westintoavalley，atthefartherendofwhichIsawabrookstreamingapparentlytothesouth，wherewasanoutlet。