wild wales-第9章
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by the Berwyn hills。 The valley is intersected by the River Dee；
the origin of which is a deep lake near Bala； about twenty miles to
the west。 Between the Dee and the Eglwysig rises a lofty hill； on
the top of which are the ruins of Dinas Bran； which bear no slight
resemblance to a crown。 The upper part of the hill is bare with
the exception of what is covered by the ruins； on the lower part
there are inclosures and trees； with； here and there； a grove or
farm…house。 On the other side of the valley； to the east of
Llangollen； is a hill called Pen y Coed； beautifully covered with
trees of various kinds； it stands between the river and the Berwyn；
even as the hill of Dinas Bran stands between the river and the
Eglwysig rocks … it does not； however； confront Dinas Bran； which
stands more to the west。
Llangollen is a small town or large village of white houses with
slate roofs； it contains about two thousand inhabitants； and is
situated principally on the southern side of the Dee。 At its
western end it has an ancient bridge and a modest unpretending
church nearly in its centre； in the chancel of which rest the
mortal remains of an old bard called Gryffydd Hiraethog。 From some
of the houses on the southern side there is a noble view … Dinas
Bran and its mighty hill forming the principal objects。 The view
from the northern part of the town； which is indeed little more
than a suburb； is not quite so grand； but is nevertheless highly
interesting。 The eastern entrance of the vale of Llangollen is
much wider than the western； which is overhung by bulky hills。
There are many pleasant villas on both sides of the river； some of
which stand a considerable way up the hill； of the villas the most
noted is Plas Newydd at the foot of the Berwyn； built by two Irish
ladies of high rank； who resided in it for nearly half a century；
and were celebrated throughout Europe by the name of the Ladies of
Llangollen。
The view of the hill of Dinas Bran； from the southern side of
Llangollen； would be much more complete were it not for a bulky
excrescence； towards its base； which prevents the gazer from
obtaining a complete view。 The name of Llangollen signifies the
church of Collen； and the vale and village take their name from the
church； which was originally dedicated to Saint Collen； though
some； especially the neighbouring peasantry； suppose that
Llangollen is a compound of Llan； a church； and Collen； a hazel…
wood； and that the church was called the church of the hazel…wood
from the number of hazels in the neighbourhood。 Collen； according
to a legendary life； which exists of him in Welsh； was a Briton by
birth； and of illustrious ancestry。 He served for some time abroad
as a soldier against Julian the Apostate； and slew a Pagan champion
who challenged the best man amongst the Christians。 Returning to
his own country he devoted himself to religion； and became Abbot of
Glastonbury； but subsequently retired to a cave on the side of a
mountain； where he lived a life of great austerity。 Once as he was
lying in his cell he heard two men out abroad discoursing about Wyn
Ab Nudd； and saying that he was king of the Tylwyth or Teg Fairies；
and lord of Unknown； whereupon Collen thrusting his head out of his
cave told them to hold their tongues； for that Wyn Ab Nudd and his
host were merely devils。 At dead of night he heard a knocking at
the door； and on his asking who was there； a voice said： 〃I am a
messenger from Wyn Ab Nudd； king of Unknown； and I am come to
summon thee to appear before my master to…morrow； at mid…day； on
the top of the hill。〃
Collen did not go … the next night there was the same knocking and
the same message。 Still Collen did not go。 The third night the
messenger came again and repeated his summons； adding that if he
did not go it would be the worse for him。 The next day Collen made
some holy water； put it into a pitcher and repaired to the top of
the hill； where he saw a wonderfully fine castle； attendants in
magnificent liveries； youths and damsels dancing with nimble feet；
and a man of honourable presence before the gate； who told him that
the king was expecting him to dinner。 Collen followed the man into
the castle； and beheld the king on a throne of gold； and a table
magnificently spread before him。 The king welcomed Collen； and
begged him to taste of the dainties on the table； adding that he
hoped that in future he would reside with him。 〃I will not eat of
the leaves of the forest；〃 said Collen。
〃Did you ever see men better dressed？〃 said the king； 〃than my
attendants here in red and blue？〃
〃Their dress is good enough；〃 said Collen； 〃considering what kind
of dress it is。〃
〃What kind of dress is it？〃 said the king。
Collen replied： 〃The red on the one side denotes burning； and the
blue on the other side denotes freezing。〃 Then drawing forth his
sprinkler； he flung the holy water in the faces of the king and his
people； whereupon the whole vision disappeared； so that there was
neither castle nor attendants； nor youth nor damsel； nor musician
with his music； nor banquet； nor anything to be seen save the green
bushes。
The valley of the Dee； of which the Llangollen district forms part；
is called in the British tongue Glyndyfrdwy … that is； the valley
of the Dwy or Dee。 The celebrated Welsh chieftain； generally known
as Owen Glendower； was surnamed after this valley； the whole of
which belonged to him； and in which he had two or three places of
strength； though his general abode was a castle in Sycharth； a
valley to the south…east of the Berwyn； and distant about twelve
miles from Llangollen。
Connected with the Dee there is a wonderful Druidical legend to the
following effect。 The Dee springs from two fountains； high up in
Merionethshire； called Dwy Fawr and Dwy Fach； or the great and
little Dwy； whose waters pass through those of the lake of Bala
without mingling with them； and come out at its northern extremity。
These fountains had their names from two individuals； Dwy Fawr and
Dwy Fach； who escaped from the Deluge； when all the rest of the
human race were drowned； and the passing of the waters of the two
fountains through the lake； without being confounded with its
flood； is emblematic of the salvation of the two individuals from
the Deluge； of which the lake is a type。
Dinas Bran； which crowns the top of the mighty hill on the northern
side of the valley； is a ruined stronghold of unknown antiquity。
The name is generally supposed to signify Crow Castle； bran being
the British word for crow； and flocks of crows being frequently
seen hovering over it。 It may； however； mean the castle of Bran or
Brennus； or the castle above the Bran； a brook which flows at its
foot。
Dinas Bran was a place quite impregnable in the old time； and
served as a retreat to Gruffydd； son of Madawg from the rage of his
countrymen； who were incensed against him because； having married
Emma； the daughter of James Lord Audley； he had； at the instigation
of his wife and father…in…law； sided with Edward the First against
his own native sovereign。 But though it could shield him from his
foes； it could not preserve him from remorse and the stings of
conscience； of which he speedily died。
At present the place consists only of a few ruined walls； and
probably consisted of little more two or three hundred years ago：
Roger Cyffyn a Welsh bard； who flourished at the beginning of the
seventeenth century； wrote an englyn upon it； of which the
following is a translation：…
〃Gone； gone are thy gates； Dinas Bran on the height！
Thy warders are blood…crows and ravens； I trow；
Now no one will wend from the field of the fight
To the fortress on high； save the raven and crow。〃
CHAPTER VII
Poor Black Cat … Dissenters … Persecution … What Impudence！
THE house or cottage； for it was called a cottage though it
consisted of two stories； in which my wife had procured lodgings
for us； was situated in the Northern suburb。 Its front was towards
a large perllan or orchard； which sloped down gentl
