and brought to my mind the elves； which Ab Gwilym of old saw； or
thought he saw； in a somewhat similar situation：…
〃In every hollow dingle stood
Of wry…mouth'd elves a wrathful brood。〃
Drenched to the skin； but uninjured in body and limb； we at length
reached Llangollen。
CHAPTER XVIII
Venerable Old Gentleman … Surnames in Wales … Russia and Britain …
Church of England … Yriarte … The Eagle and his Young … Poets of
the Gael … The Oxonian … Master Salisburie。
MY wife had told me that she had had some conversation upon the
Welsh language and literature with a venerable old man； who kept a
shop in the town； that she had informed him that I was very fond of
both； and that he had expressed a great desire to see me。 One
afternoon I said： 〃Let us go and pay a visit to your old friend of
the shop。 I think from two or three things which you have told me
about him； that he must be worth knowing。〃 We set out。 She
conducted me across the bridge a little way； then presently turning
to the left into the principal street； she entered the door of a
shop on the left…hand side； over the top of which was written：
〃Jones； Provision Dealer and General Merchant。〃 The shop was
small； with two little counters； one on each side。 Behind one was
a young woman； and behind the other a venerable…looking old man。
〃I have brought my husband to visit you；〃 said my wife； addressing
herself to him。
〃I am most happy to see him；〃 said the old gentleman； making me a
polite bow。
He then begged that we would do him the honour to walk into his
parlour； and led us into a little back room； the window of which
looked out upon the Dee a few yards below the bridge。 On the left
side of the room was a large case； well stored with books。 He
offered us chairs； and we all sat down。 I was much struck with the
old man。 He was rather tall； and somewhat inclined to corpulency。
His hair was grey； his forehead high； his nose aquiline； his eyes
full of intelligence； whilst his manners were those of a perfect
gentleman。
I entered into conversation by saying that I supposed his name was
Jones； as I had observed that name over the door。
〃Jones is the name I bear at your service； sir；〃 he replied。
I said that it was a very common name in Wales； as I knew several
people who bore it； and observed that most of the surnames in Wales
appeared to be modifications of Christian names； for example Jones；
Roberts； Edwards； Humphreys； and likewise Pugh； Powel； and Probert；
which were nothing more than the son of Hugh； the son of Howel； and
the son of Robert。 He said I was right； that there were very few
real surnames in Wales； that the three great families； however； had
real surnames； for that Wynn； Morgan and Bulkley were all real
surnames。 I asked him whether the Bulkleys of Anglesea were not
originally an English family。 He said they were； and that they
settled down in Anglesea in the time of Elizabeth。
After some minutes my wife got up and left us。 The old gentleman
and I had then some discourse in Welsh； we soon； however； resumed
speaking English。 We got on the subject of Welsh bards； and after
a good deal of discourse the old gentleman said：
〃You seem to know something about Welsh poetry； can you tell me who
wrote the following line？
〃'There will be great doings in Britain； and
I shall have no concern in them。'〃
〃I will not be positive；〃 said I； 〃but I think from its tone and
tenor that it was composed by Merddyn； whom my countrymen call
Merlin。〃
〃I believe you are right；〃 said the old gentleman； 〃I see you know
something of Welsh poetry。 I met the line； a long time ago； in a
Welsh grammar。 It then made a great impression upon me； and of
late it has always been ringing in my ears。 I love Britain。
Britain has just engaged in a war with a mighty country； and I am
apprehensive of the consequences。 I am old； upwards of four…score；
and shall probably not live to see the evil； if evil happens； as I
fear it will … 'There will be strange doings in Britain； but they
will not concern me。' I cannot get the line out of my head。〃
I told him that the line probably related to the progress of the
Saxons in Britain； but that I did not wonder that it made an
impression upon him at the present moment。 I said； however； that
we ran no risk from Russia； that the only power at all dangerous to
Britain was France； which though at present leagued with her
against Russia； would eventually go to war with and strive to
subdue her； and then of course Britain could expect no help from
Russia； her old friend and ally； who； if Britain had not outraged
her； would have assisted her； in any quarrel or danger； with four
or five hundred thousand men。 I said that I hoped neither he nor I
should see a French invasion； but I had no doubt one would
eventually take place； and that then Britain must fight stoutly； as
she had no one to expect help from but herself； that I wished she
might be able to hold her own； but …
〃Strange things will happen in Britain； though they will concern me
nothing；〃 said the old gentleman with a sigh。
On my expressing a desire to know something of his history； he told
me that he was the son of a small farmer； who resided at some
distance from Llangollen； that he lost his father at an early age；
and was obliged to work hard； even when a child； in order to assist
his mother who had some difficulty； after the death of his father；
in keeping things together； that though he was obliged to work hard
he had been fond of study； and used to pore over Welsh and English
books by the glimmering light of the turf fire at night； for that
his mother could not afford to allow him anything in the shape of a
candle to read by； that at his mother's death he left rural labour；
and coming to Llangollen； commenced business in the little shop in
which he was at present； that he had been married； and had
children； but that his wife and family were dead； that the young
woman whom I had seen in the shop； and who took care of his house；
was a relation of his wife； that though he had always been
attentive to business； he had never abandoned study； that he had
mastered his own language； of which he was passionately fond； and
had acquired a good knowledge of English and of some other
languages。 That his fondness for literature had shortly after his
arrival at Llangollen attracted the notice of some of the people；
who encouraged him in his studies； and assisted him by giving him
books； that the two celebrated ladies of Llangollen had
particularly noticed him； that he held the situation of church
clerk for upwards of forty years； and that it was chiefly owing to
the recommendation of the 〃great ladies〃 that he had obtained it。
He then added with a sigh； that about ten years ago he was obliged
to give it up； owing to something the matter with his eyesight；
which prevented him from reading； and； that his being obliged to
give it up was a source of bitter grief to him； as he had always
considered it a high honour to be permitted to assist in the
service of the Church of England； in the principles of which he had
been bred； and in whose doctrines he firmly believed。
Here shaking him by the hand； I said that I too had been bred up in
the principles of the Church of England； that I too firmly believed
in its doctrines； and would maintain with my blood； if necessary；
that there was not such another church in the world。
〃So would I；〃 said the old gentleman； 〃where is there a church in
whose liturgy there is so much Scripture as in that of the Church
of England？〃
〃Pity；〃 said I； 〃that so many traitors have lately sprung up in its
ministry。〃
〃If it be so；〃 said the old church clerk； 〃they have not yet shown
themselves in the pulpit at Llangollen。 All the clergymen who have
held the living in my time have been excellent。 The present
incumbent is a model of a Church…of…England clergyman。 Oh； how I
regret that the state of my eyes prevents me from officiating as
clerk beneath him。〃
I told him that I should never from the appearance of his eyes have
imagined that they were not excellent ones。
〃I can see to walk about with them； and to distinguish objects；〃
said the old gentleman； 〃but see to read with them I cannot。 Even
with the help of the most powerful glasses I cannot distinguish a
letter。 I believe I strained my eyes at a very early age； when
striving to read at night by the glimmer of the turf fire in my
poor mother's chimney corner。 Oh what an affliction is this state
of my eyes！ I can't turn my books to any account； nor read the
newspapers； but I repeat that I chiefly lament it because it
prevents me from officiating as under…preacher。〃
He showed me his books。 Seeing amongst them 〃The Fables of
Yriarte〃 in Spanish； I asked how they came into his possession。
〃They were presented to me；〃 said he； 〃by one of the ladies of
Llangollen； Lady Eleanor Butler。〃
〃Have you ever read them？〃 said I。
〃No；〃 he replied； 〃I do not understand a word of Spanish； but I
suppose her ladyship； knowing I was fond of languages； thought that
I might one day set about learning Spanish； and that then they
might be useful to me。〃
He then asked me if I knew Spanish； and on my telling him that I
had some knowledge of that language； he asked me to translate some
of the fables。 I translated two of them； which pleased him much。
I then asked if he had ever heard of a collection of Welsh fables
compiled about the year thirteen hundred。 He said that he had not；
and inquired whether they had ever been printed。 I told him that
some had appeared in the old Welsh magazine called 〃The Greal。〃
〃I wish you would repeat one of them；〃 said the old clerk。
〃Here is one；〃 said I； 〃which particularly struck me：…
〃It is the custom of the eagle； when his young are sufficiently
old； to raise them up above his nest in the direction of the sun；
and the bird which has strength enough of eye to look right in the
direction of the sun； he keeps and nourishes； but the one which has
not； he casts down into