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。