wild wales-第45章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
helped by the power which he possessed of the second sight。 On
several occasions he settled the disputes in which his friend
Gunnar was involved； a noble； generous character； and the champion
of Iceland； but who had a host of foes； envious of his renown； and
it was not his fault if Gunnar was eventually slain； for if the
advice which he gave had been followed； the champion would have
died an old man； and if his own sons had followed his advice； and
not been over fond of taking vengeance on people who had wronged
them； they would have escaped a horrible death； in which he himself
was involved； as he had always foreseen he should be。
〃Dost thou know by what death thou thyself wilt die？〃 said Gunnar
to Nial； after the latter had been warning him that if he followed
a certain course he would die by a violent death。
〃I do；〃 said Nial。
〃What is it？〃 said Gunnar。
〃What people would think the least probable；〃 replied Nial。
He meant that he should die by fire。 The kind generous Nial； who
tried to get everybody out of difficulty； perished by fire。 His
sons by their violent conduct had incensed numerous people against
them。 The house in which they lived with their father was beset at
night by an armed party； who； unable to break into it owing to the
desperate resistance which they met with from the sons of Nial；
Skarphethin； Helgi； and Grimmr and a comrade of theirs called Kari；
（4） set it in a blaze； in which perished Nial； the lawyer and man
of the second sight； his wife Bergthora； and two of their sons； the
third； Helgi； having been previously slain； and Kari； who was
destined to be the avenger of the ill…fated family； having made his
escape； after performing deeds of heroism which for centuries after
were the themes of song and tale in the ice…bound isle。
CHAPTER XXIX
Snowdon … Caernarvon … Maxen Wledig … Moel y Cynghorion … The
Wyddfa … Snow of Snowdon … Rare Plant。
ON the third morning after our arrival at Bangor we set out for
Snowdon。
Snowdon or Eryri is no single hill； but a mountainous region； the
loftiest part of which； called Y Wyddfa； nearly four thousand feet
above the level of the sea； is generally considered to be the
highest point of Southern Britain。 The name Snowdon was bestowed
upon this region by the early English on account of its snowy
appearance in winter； Eryri by the Britons； because in the old time
it abounded with eagles； Eryri （5） in the ancient British language
signifying an eyrie or breeding…place of eagles。
Snowdon is interesting on various accounts。 It is interesting for
its picturesque beauty。 Perhaps in the whole world there is no
region more picturesquely beautiful than Snowdon； a region of
mountains； lakes； cataracts； and； groves in which nature shows
herself in her most grand and beautiful forms。
It is interesting from its connection with history： it was to
Snowdon that Vortigern retired from the fury of his own subjects；
caused by the favour which he showed to the detested Saxons。 It
was there that he called to his counsels Merlin； said to be
begotten on a hag by an incubus； but who was in reality the son of
a Roman consul by a British woman。 It was in Snowdon that he built
the castle； which he fondly deemed would prove impregnable； but
which his enemies destroyed by flinging wild…fire over its walls；
and it was in a wind…beaten valley of Snowdon； near the sea； that
his dead body decked in green armour had a mound of earth and
stones raised over it。 It was on the heights of Snowdon that the
brave but unfortunate Llywelin ap Griffith made his last stand for
Cambrian independence； and it was to Snowdon that that very
remarkable man； Owen Glendower； retired with his irregular bands
before Harry the Fourth and his numerous and disciplined armies；
soon however； to emerge from its defiles and follow the foe；
retreating less from the Welsh arrows from the crags； than from the
cold； rain and starvation of the Welsh hills。
But it is from its connection with romance that Snowdon derives its
chief interest。 Who when he thinks of Snowdon does not associate
it with the heroes of romance； Arthur and his knights？ whose
fictitious adventures； the splendid dreams of Welsh and Breton
minstrels； many of the scenes of which are the valleys and passes
of Snowdon； are the origin of romance； before which what is classic
has for more than half a century been waning； and is perhaps
eventually destined to disappear。 Yes； to romance Snowdon is
indebted for its interest and consequently for its celebrity； but
for romance Snowdon would assuredly not be what it at present is；
one of the very celebrated hills of the world； and to the poets of
modern Europe almost what Parnassus was to those of old。
To the Welsh； besides being the hill of the Awen or Muse； it has
always been the hill of hills； the loftiest of all mountains； the
one whose snow is the coldest； to climb to whose peak is the most
difficult of all feats； and the one whose fall will be the most
astounding catastrophe of the last day。
To view this mountain I and my little family set off in a caleche
on the third morning after our arrival at Bangor。
Our first stage was to Caernarvon。 As I subsequently made a
journey to Caernarvon on foot； I shall say nothing about the road
till I give an account of that expedition； save that it lies for
the most part in the neighbourhood of the sea。 We reached
Caernarvon； which is distant ten miles from Bangor； about eleven
o'clock； and put up at an inn to refresh ourselves and the horses。
It is a beautiful little town situated on the southern side of the
Menai Strait at nearly its western extremity。 It is called
Caernarvon； because it is opposite Mona or Anglesey： Caernarvon
signifying the town or castle opposite Mona。 Its principal feature
is its grand old castle； fronting the north； and partly surrounded
by the sea。 This castle was built by Edward the First after the
fall of his brave adversary Llewelyn； and in it was born his son
Edward whom； when an infant； he induced the Welsh chieftains to
accept as their prince without seeing； by saying that the person
whom he proposed to be their sovereign was one who was not only
born in Wales； but could not speak a word of the English language。
The town Caernarvon； however； existed long before Edward's time；
and was probably originally a Roman station。 According to Welsh
tradition it was built by Maxen Wledig or Maxentius； in honour of
his wife Ellen who was born in the neighbourhood。 Maxentius； who
was a Briton by birth； and partly by origin contested
unsuccessfully the purple with Gratian and Valentinian； and to
support his claim led over to the Continent an immense army of
Britons； who never returned； but on the fall of their leader
settled down in that part of Gaul generally termed Armorica； which
means a maritime region； but which the Welsh call Llydaw； or
Lithuania； which was the name； or something like the name； which
the region bore when Maxen's army took possession of it； owing；
doubtless； to its having been the quarters of a legion composed of
barbarians from the country of Leth or Lithuania。
After staying about an hour at Caernarvon we started for Llanberis；
a few miles to the east。 Llanberis is a small village situated in
a valley； and takes its name from Peris； a British saint of the
sixth century； son of Helig ab Glanog。 The valley extends from
west to east； having the great mountain of Snowdon on its south；
and a range of immense hills on its northern side。 We entered this
valley by a pass called Nant y Glo or the ravine of the coal； and
passing a lake on our left； on which I observed a solitary
corracle； with a fisherman in it； were presently at the village。
Here we got down at a small inn； and having engaged a young lad to
serve as guide； I set out with Henrietta to ascend the hill； my
wife remaining behind； not deeming herself sufficiently strong to
encounter the fatigue of the expedition。
Pointing with my finger to the head of Snowdon towering a long way
from us in the directio
