ItsPeople，LanguageandSceneryINTRODUCTORY

　　WALESisacountryinterestinginmanyrespects，anddeservingofmoreattentionthanithashithertometwith。Thoughnotveryextensive，itisoneofthemostpicturesquecountriesintheworld，acountryinwhichNaturedisplaysherselfinherwildest，boldest，andoccasionallyloveliestforms。Theinhabitants，whospeakanancientandpeculiarlanguage，donotcallthisregionWales，northemselvesWelsh。TheycallthemselvesCymryorCumry，andtheircountryCymru，orthelandoftheCumry。WalesorWallia，however，isthetrue，proper，andwithoutdoubtoriginalname，asitrelatesnottoanyparticularrace，whichatpresentinhabitsit，ormayhavesojournedinitatanylongbygoneperiod，buttothecountryitself。Walessignifiesalandofmountains，ofvales，ofdingles，chasms，andsprings。ItisconnectedwiththeCumbricbal，aprotuberance，aspringingforth；withtheCelticbeulorbeal，amouth；withtheoldEnglishwelle，afountain；withtheoriginalnameofItaly，stillcalledbytheGermansWelschland；

　　withBalkanandVulcan，bothofwhichsignifyacastingout，aneruption；withWelintorWayland，thenameoftheAnglo—Saxongodoftheforge；withtheChaldeeval，aforest，andtheGermanwald；

　　withtheEnglishbluff，andtheSanscritpalava—startlingassertions，nodoubt，atleasttosome；whichare，however，quitetrue，andwhichatsomefuturetimewillbeuniversallyacknowledgedsotobe。

　　ButitisnotforitssceneryalonethatWalesisdeservingofbeingvisited；scenerysoonpallsunlessitisassociatedwithremarkableevents，andthenamesofremarkablemen。PerhapsthereisnocountryinthewholeworldwhichhasbeenthesceneofeventsmorestirringandremarkablethanthoserecordedinthehistoryofWales。Whatothercountryhasbeenthesceneofastrugglesodeadly，soembittered，andprotractedasthatbetweentheCumroandtheSaxon？—AstrugglewhichdidnotterminateatCaernarvon，whenEdwardLongshanksfoistedhisyoungsonupontheWelshchieftainsasPrinceofWales；butwaskeptuptillthebattleofBosworthField，whenaprinceofCumricbloodwonthecrownoffairBritain，verifyingtheoldenwordwhichhadcheeredtheheartsoftheAncientBritonsforatleastathousandyears，evenintimesofthedarkestdistressandgloom：—

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