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。