Havingoftenheardofthisabbey，whichinitsdaywasoneofthemostfamousinWales，Ideterminedtogoandinspectit。ItwaswithsomedifficultythatIfoundmywaytoit。Itstood，asI
havealreadyobserved，inameadow，andwasonalmosteverysidesurroundedbymajestichills。Togiveanycleardescriptionofthisruinedpilewouldbeimpossible，thedilapidationissogreat，dilapidationevidentlylesstheeffectoftimethanofawfulviolence，perhapsthatofgunpowder。Thesouthernisbyfarthemostperfectportionofthebuilding；thereyouseenotonlywallsbutroofs。Frontingyoufullsouth，isamassofmasonrywithtwoimmensearches，otherarchesbehindthem：entering，youfindyourselfbeneathavaultedroof，andpassingonyoucometoanoblongsquarewhichmayhavebeenachurch；aniron—barredwindowonyourrightenablesyoutolookintoamightyvault，theroofofwhichissupportedbybeautifulpillars。Then—butIforbeartosaymorerespectingtheseremains，forfearofstatingwhatisincorrect，mystayamongstthemhavingbeenexceedinglyshort。
TheAbbeyofGlenNeathwasfoundedinthetwelfthcenturybyRichardGrenfield，oneofthefollowersofRobertFitzhamon，whosubjugatedGlamorgan。NeathAbbeywasaverywealthyone，thefounderhavingendoweditwithextensivetractsoffertilelandalongthebanksoftheriversNeathandTawy。InittheunfortunateEdwardofCarnarvonsoughtarefugeforafewdaysfromtherageofhisrevoltedbarons，whilsthisfavourite，theequallyunfortunateSpencer，endeavouredtofindacovertamidstthethicketsofthewood—coveredhilltothenorth。WhenRichmondlandedatMilfordHaventodisputethecrownwithRichardtheSecond，thethenAbbotofNeathrepairedtohimandgavehimhisbenediction，inrequitalforwhichtheadventurergavehimhispromisethatintheeventofhisobtainingthecrown，hewouldfoundacollegeinGlenNeath，whichpromise，however，afterhehadwonthecrown，heforgottoperform。（20）Thewilyabbot，whenhehastenedtopayworshiptowhathejustlyconceivedtobetherisingsun，littledreamtthathewasabouttoblessthefuturefatheroftheterriblemandoomedbyProvidencetoplanttheabominationofdesolationinNeathAbbeyandinalltheothernestsofmonkerythroughouttheland。
LeavingtheruinsIproceededtowardsNeath。Thescenerysoonbecameverybeautiful；notthatIhadleftmachineryaltogetherbehind，forIpresentlycametoaplacewherehugewheelswereturning，andtherewassmokeandblast，buttherewasmuchthatwasruralandbeautifultobeseen，somethinglikeparkscenery，andthentherewerethemountainsnearandinthedistance。IreachedNeathatabouthalf—pastfour，andtookupmyquartersataninnwhichhadbeenrecommendedtomebymyfriendthebootsatSwansea。
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