Ashewasstandingbeforealongbuilding，throughtheopendoorofwhichasoundproceededlikethatofpreaching，Iaskedhimwhatplaceitwas，andwhatwasgoingoninit，andreceivedforanswerthatitwastheNationalSchool，andthattherewasaclergymanpreachinginit。IthenaskediftheclergymanwasoftheChurch，andonlearningthathewas，Iforthwithenteredthebuilding，whereinoneendofalongroomIsawayoungmaninawhitesurplicepreachingfromadesktoaboutthirtyorfortypeople，whowereseatedonbenchesbeforehim。Isatdownandlistened。Theyoungmanpreachedwithgreatzealandfluency。Thesermonwasaveryseasonableone，beingabouttheharvest，andinitthingstemporalandspiritualwereveryhappilyblended。ThepartofthesermonwhichIheard—IregrettedthatIdidnothearthewhole—
lastedaboutfive—and—twentyminutes：ahymnfollowed，andthenthecongregationbrokeup。Iinquiredthenameoftheyoungmanwhopreached，andwastoldthatitwasEdwards，andthathecamefromCaernarvon。ThenameoftheincumbentoftheparishwasThomas。
LeavingthevillageoftheharvestsermonIproceededonmywaywhichlaytothesouth—east。IwasnowdrawingnightothemountainousdistrictofEryri；anoblehillcalledMountEilioappearedbeforemetothenorth；animmensemountaincalledPenDrwsCoedlayoveragainstitonthesouth，justlikeacouchantelephantwithitsheadlowerthanthetopofitsback。AfteratimeIenteredamostbeautifulsunnyvalley，andpresentlycametoabridgeoverapleasantstreamrunninginthedirectionofthesouth。AsIstooduponthatbridgeIalmostfanciedmyselfinParadise；everythinglookedsobeautifulorgrand—green，sunnymeadowslayallaroundme，intersectedbythebrook，thewatersofwhichranwithtinklinglaughteroverashinglybottom。NobleEiliotothenorth；enormousPenDrwsCoedtothesouth；atallmountainfarbeyondthemtotheeast。\"Ineverwasinsuchalovelyspot！\"Icriedtomyselfinaperfectrapture。\"Oh，howgladIshouldbetolearnthenameofthisbridge，standingonwhichIhavehad’Heavenopenedtome，’asmyoldfriendstheSpaniardsusedtosay。\"ScarcelyhadIsaidthesewordswhenI
observedamanandawomancomingtowardsthebridgeinthedirectioninwhichIwasbound。Ihastenedtomeettheminthehopeofobtaininginformation。Theywerebothratheryoung，andwereprobablyacoupleofsweetheartstakingawalkorreturningfrommeeting。Thewomanwasafewstepsinadvanceoftheman；
seeingthatIwasabouttoaddressher，sheavertedherheadandquickenedhersteps，andbeforeIhadcompletedthequestion，whichIputtoherinWelsh，shehadboltedpastmescreaming\"AhDimSeasneg，\"andwasseveralyardsdistant。
Ithenaddressedmyselftothemanwhohadstopped，askinghimthenameofthebridge。
\"PontBettws，\"hereplied。
\"Andwhatmaybethenameoftheriver？\"saidI。
\"Afon—something，\"saidhe。
Andonmythankinghimhewentforwardtothewomanwhowaswaitingforhimbythebridge。
\"IsthatmanWelshorEnglish？\"Iheardhersaywhenhehadrejoinedher。
\"Idon’tknow，\"saidtheman—\"hewascivilenough；whywereyousuchafool？\"
\"Oh，IthoughthewouldspeaktomeinEnglish，\"saidthewoman，\"andthethoughtofthathorridEnglishputsmeintosuchaflutter；youknowIcan’tspeakawordofit。\"
TheyproceededontheirwayandIproceededonmine，andpresentlycomingtoalittleinnontheleftsideoftheway，attheentranceofavillage，Iwentin。
Arespectable—lookingmanandwomanwereseatedatteaatatableinanicecleankitchen。Isatdownonachairnearthetable，andcalledforale—thealewasbroughtmeinajug—Idranksome，putthejugonthetable，andbegantodiscoursewiththepeopleinWelsh。Ahandsomedogwasseatedontheground；suddenlyitlaidoneofitspawsonitsmaster’sknee。
\"Down，Perro，\"saidhe。
\"Perro！\"saidI；\"whydoyoucallthedogPerro？\"
\"WecallhimPerro，\"saidtheman，\"becausehisnameisPerro。\"
\"Buthowcameyoutogivehimthatname？\"saidI。
\"Wedidnotgiveittohim，\"saidtheman—\"heborethatnamewhenhecameintoourhands；afarmergavehimtouswhenhewasveryyoung，andtoldushisnamewasPerro。\"
\"AndhowcamethefarmertocallhimPerro？\"saidI。
\"Idon’tknow，\"saidtheman—\"whydoyouask？\"
\"Perro，\"saidI，\"isaSpanishword，andsignifiesadogingeneral。IamrathersurprisedthatadoginthemountainsofWalesshouldbecalledbytheSpanishwordfordog。\"Ifellintoafitofmusing。\"HowSpanishwordsarediffused！WhereveryougoyouwillfindsomeSpanishwordorotherinuse。IhaveheardSpanishwordsusedbyRussianmujiksandTurkishfig—gatherers—I
havethisdayheardaSpanishwordinthemountainsofWales，andI
havenodoubtthatwereItogotoIcelandIshouldfindSpanishwordsusedthere。HowcanIdoubtit；whenIreflectthatmorethansixhundredyearsago，oneofthewordstodenoteabadwomanwasSpanish。IntheoldestofIcelandicdomesticSagas，Skarphedin，thesonofNialtheseer，calledHallgerdr，widowofGunnar，aputa—andthatwordsomaddenedHallgerdrthatsheneverrestedtillshehadbroughtabouthisdestruction。Now，whythispreferenceeverywhereforSpanishwordsoverthoseofeveryotherlanguage？IneverheardFrenchwordsorGermanwordsusedbyRussianmujiksandTurkishfig—gatherers。IquestionwhetherI
shouldfindanyinIcelandformingpartofthevernacular。I
certainlyneverfoundaFrenchorevenaGermanwordinanoldIcelandicSaga。WhythispartialityeverywhereforSpanishwords？
thequestionispuzzling；atanyrateitputsmeout—\"
\"Yes，itputsmeout！\"Iexclaimedaloud，strikingmyfistonthetablewithavehemencewhichcausedthegoodfolkstostarthalfupfromtheirseats。Beforetheycouldsayanything，however，avehicledroveuptothedoor，andamangettingoutcameintotheroom。Hehadaglazedhatonhishead，andwasdressedsomethingliketheguardofamail。Hetouchedhishattome，andcalledforaglassofwhiskey。IgavehimtheseleoftheeveningandenteredintoconversationwithhiminEnglish。InthecourseofdiscourseIlearnedthathewasthepostman，andwasgoinghisroundsinhiscart—hewasmorethanrespectfultome，hewasfawningandsycophantic。Thewhiskeywasbrought，andhestoodwiththeglassinhishand。SuddenlyhebeganspeakingWelshtothepeople；
before，however，hehadutteredtwosentencesthewomanliftedherhandwithanalarmedair，crying\"Hush！heunderstands。\"Thefellowwasturningmetoridicule。Iflungmyheadback，closedmyeyes，openedmymouthandlaughedaloud。Thefellowstoodaghast；
hishandtrembled，andhespiltthegreaterpartofthewhiskeyupontheground。AttheendofabouthalfaminuteIgotup，askedwhatIhadtopay，andonbeingtoldtwopence，Iputdownthemoney。ThengoinguptothemanIputmyrightforefingerveryneartohisnose，andsaid\"Dwyoiaithdwyowyneb，twolanguages，twofaces，friend！\"ThenafterleeringathimforamomentI
wishedthepeopleofthehousegood—eveninganddeparted。
WalkingrapidlyontowardstheeastIsoondrewneartheterminationofthevalley。ThevalleyterminatesinadeepgorgeorpassbetweenMountEilio—whichby—the—byeispartofthechineofSnowdon—andPenDrwsCoed。Thelatter，thatcouchantelephantwithitsheadturnedtothenorth—east，seemsasifitwishedtobarthepasswithitstrunk；byitstrunkImeanakindofjaggyridgewhichdescendsdowntotheroad。Ienteredthegorge，passingnearalittlewaterfallwhichwithmuchnoiserunsdowntheprecipitoussideofMountEilio；presentlyIcametoalittlemillbythesideofabrookrunningtowardstheeast。Iaskedthemiller—woman，whowasstandingnearthemill，withherheadturnedtowardsthesettingsun，thenameofthemillandthestream。\"Themilliscalled’ThemilloftheriverofLakeCwellyn，’\"saidshe，\"andtheriveriscalledtheriverofLakeCwellyn。\"
\"Andwhoownstheland？\"saidI。
\"SirRichard，\"saidshe。\"ISirRichardywynperthynytir。MrWilliams，however，possessessomepartofMountEilio。\"
\"AndwhoisMrWilliams？\"saidI。
\"WhoisMrWilliams？\"saidthemiller’swife。\"Ho，ho！whatastrangeryoumustbetoaskmewhoisMrWilliams。\"
Ismiledandpassedon。Themillwasbelowtheleveloftheroad，anditswheelwasturnedbythewaterofalittleconduitsuppliedbythebrookatsomedistanceabovethemill。IhadobservedsimilarconduitsemployedforsimilarpurposesinCornwall。A
littlebelowthemillwasaweir，andalittlebelowtheweirtheriverranfrothingpasttheextremeendoftheelephant’ssnout。
FollowingthecourseoftheriverIatlastemergedwithitfromthepassintoavalleysurroundedbyenormousmountains。Extendingalongitfromwesttoeast，andoccupyingitsentiresouthernpartlayanoblongpieceofwater，intowhichthestreamletofthepassdischargeditself。Thiswasoneofthemanybeautifullakes，whichafewdaysbeforeIhadseenfromtheWyddfa。AsfortheWyddfaI
nowbeheldithighabovemeinthenorth—eastlookingverygrandindeed，shininglikeasilverhelmetwhilstcatchingthegloriesofthesettingsun。
Iproceededslowlyalongtheroad，thelakebelowmeonmyrighthand，whilsttheshelvysideofSnowdonroseabovemeontheleft。
Theeveningwascalmandstill，andnonoisecameuponmyearsavethesoundofacascadefallingintothelakefromablackmountain，whichfrownedaboveitonthesouth，andcastagloomyshadowfaroverit。
Thiscataractwasintheneighbourhoodofasingular—lookingrock，projectingabovethelakefromthemountain’sside。Iwanderedaconsiderablewaywithoutmeetingorseeingasinglehumanbeing。
AtlastwhenIhadnearlygainedtheeasternendofthevalleyI
sawtwomenseatedonthesideofthehill，onthevergeoftheroad，inthevicinityofahousewhichstoodalittlewayupthehill。ThelakeherewasmuchwiderthanIhadhithertoseenit，forthehugemountainonthesouthhadterminatedandthelakeexpandedconsiderablyinthatquarter，havinginsteadoftheblackmountainabeautifulhillbeyondit。
Iquickenedmystepsandsooncameuptothetwoindividuals。Onewasanelderlyman，dressedinasmockfrockandwithahairycaponhishead。Theotherwasmuchyounger，woreahat，andwasdressedinacoarsesuitofbluenearlynew，anddoubtlesshisSunday’sbest。Hewassmokingapipe。IgreetedtheminEnglishandsatdownnearthem。Theyrespondedinthesamelanguage，theyoungermanwithconsiderablecivilityandbriskness，theotherinatoneofvoicedenotingsomereserve。
\"MayIaskthenameofthislake？\"saidI，addressingmyselftotheyoungmanwhosatbetweenmeandtheelderlyone。
\"ItsnameisLlynCwellyn，sir，\"saidhe，takingthepipeoutofhismouth。\"Andafinelakeitis。\"
\"Plentyoffishinit？\"Idemanded。
\"Plenty，sir；plentyoftroutandpikeandchar。\"
\"Isitdeep？\"saidI。
\"Neartheshoreitisshallow，sir，butinthemiddleandneartheothersideitisdeep，sodeepthatnooneknowshowdeepitis。\"
\"Whatisthename，\"saidI，\"ofthegreatblackmountainthereontheotherside？\"
\"ItiscalledMynyddMawrortheGreatMountain。Yonderrock，whichbulksoutfromit，downthelakeyonder，andwhichyoupassedasyoucamealong，iscalledCastellCidwm，whichmeansWolf’srockorcastle。\"
\"Didawolfeverlivethere？\"Idemanded。
\"Perhapsso，\"saidtheman，\"forIhaveheardsaythattherewerewolvesofoldinWales。\"
\"Andwhatisthenameofthebeautifulhillyonder，beforeusacrossthewater？\"
\"That，sir，iscalledCairnDrwsyCoed，\"saidtheman。
\"Thestoneheapofthegateofthewood，\"saidI。
\"AreyouWelsh，sir？\"saidtheman。
\"No，\"saidI，\"butIknowsomethingofthelanguageofWales。I
supposeyouliveinthathouse？\"
\"Notexactly，sir，myfather—in—lawherelivesinthathouse，andmywifewithhim。Iamaminer，andspendsixdaysintheweekatmymine，buteverySundayIcomehereandpassthedaywithmywifeandhim。\"
\"Andwhatprofessiondoeshefollow？\"saidI；\"isheafisherman？\"
\"Fisherman！\"saidtheelderlymancontemptuously，\"notI。IamtheSnowdonRanger。\"
\"Andwhatisthat？\"saidI。
Theelderlymantossedhisheadproudly，andmadenoreply。
\"Arangermeansaguide，sir，\"saidtheyoungerman；\"myfather—in—
lawisgenerallytermedtheSnowdonRangerbecauseheisatip—topguide，andhehasnamedthehouseafterhimtheSnowdonRanger。HeentertainsgentlemeninitwhoputthemselvesunderhisguidanceinordertoascendSnowdonandtoseethecountry。\"
\"Thereissomedifferenceinyourprofessions，\"said\"hedealsinheights，youindepths，both，however，arebreak—neckytrades。\"
\"Irunmoreriskfromgunpowderthananythingelse，\"saidtheyoungerman。\"Iamaslate—miner，andamcontinuallyblasting。I
have，however，hadmyfalls。Areyougoingfarto—night，sir？\"
\"IamgoingtoBethGelert，\"saidI。
\"Agoodsixmiles，sir，fromhere。DoyoucomefromCaernarvon？\"
\"Fartherthanthat，\"saidI。\"IcomefromBangor。\"
\"To—day，sir，andwalking？\"
\"To—day，andwalking。\"
\"Youmustberathertired，sir，youcamealongthevalleyveryslowly。\"
\"Iamnotintheslightestdegreetired，\"saidI；\"whenIstartfromhere，Ishallputonmybestpace，andsoongettoBethGelert。\"
\"Anybodycangetalongoverlevelground，\"saidtheoldman，laconically。
\"Notwithequalswiftness，\"saidI。\"Idoassureyou，friend，tobeabletomoveatagoodswingingpaceoverlevelgroundissomethingnottobesneezedat。Not，\"saidI，liftingupmyvoice，\"thatIwouldforamomentcomparewalkingonthelevelgroundtomountainranging，pacingalongtheroadtospringingupcragslikeamountaingoat，orassertthatevenPowellhimself，thefirstofallroadwalkers，wasentitledtosobrightawreathoffameastheSnowdonRanger。\"
\"Won’tyouwalkin，sir？\"saidtheelderlyman。
\"No，Ithankyou，\"saidI，\"Iprefersittingoutheregazingonthelakeandthenoblemountains。\"
\"Iwishyouwould，sir，\"saidtheelderlyman，\"andtakeaglassofsomething；Iwillchargeyounothing。\"
\"Thankyou，\"saidI，\"Iaminwantofnothing，andshallpresentlystart。DomanypeopleascendSnowdonfromyourhouse？\"
\"NotsomanyasIcouldwish，\"saidtheranger；\"peopleingeneralpreferascendingSnowdonfromthattrumperyplaceBethGelert；butthosewhodoarefools—beggingyourhonour’spardon。TheplacetoascendSnowdonfromismyhouse。ThewayfrommyhouseupSnowdoniswonderfulfortheromanticscenerywhichitaffords；
thatfromBethGelertcan’tbenamedinthesamedaywithitforscenery；moreover，frommyhouseyoumayhavethebestguideinWales；whereastheguidesofBethGelert—butIsaynothing。IfyourhonourisboundfortheWyddfa，asIsupposeyouare，youhadbetterstartfrommyhouseto—morrowundermyguidance。\"
\"IhavealreadybeenuptheWyddfafromLlanberis，\"saidI，\"andamnowgoingthroughBethGelerttoLlangollen，wheremyfamilyare；
wereIgoingupSnowdonagainIshouldmostcertainlystartfromyourhouseunderyourguidance，andwereInotinahurryatpresent，Iwouldcertainlytakeupmyquartershereforaweek，andeverydaysnakeexcursionswithyouintotherecessesofEryri。I
supposeyouareacquaintedwithallthesecretsofthehills？\"
\"Trusttheoldrangerforthat，yourhonour。Iwouldshowyourhonourtheblacklakeinthefrightfulhollowinwhichthefisheshavemonstrousheadsandlittlebodies，thelakeonwhichneitherswan，ducknoranykindofwildfowlwaseverseentolight。ThenI
wouldshowyourhonourthefountainofthehoppingcreatures，where，where—\"
\"WereyoueveratthatWolf’scrag，thatCastellyCidwm？\"saidI。
\"Can’tsayIeverwas，yourhonour。Youseeitliessocloseby，justacrossthelake，that—\"
\"Youthoughtyoucouldseeitanyday，andsoneverwent，\"saidI。
\"Canyoutellmewhetherthereareanyruinsuponit？\"
\"Ican’t，yourhonour。\"
\"Ishouldn’twonder，\"saidI，\"ifinoldtimesitwasthestrongholdofsomerobber—chieftain；cidwmintheoldWelshisfrequentlyappliedtoaferociousman。CastellCidwm，Ishouldthink，ratheroughttobetranslatedtherobber’scastlethanthewolf’srock。IfIevercomeintothesepartsagainyouandIwillvisitittogether，andseewhatkindofplaceitis。Nowfarewell！
Itisgettinglate。\"Ithendeparted。
\"Whatanicegentleman！\"saidtheyoungerman，whenIwasafewyardsdistant。
\"Ineversawanicergentleman，\"saidtheoldranger。
Ispedalong，Snowdononmyleft，thelakeonmyright，andthetipofamountainpeakrightbeforemeintheeast。AfteralittletimeIlookedback；whatascene！Thesilverlakeandtheshadowymountainoveritssouthernsidelookingnow，methought，verymuchlikeGibraltar。Ilingeredandlingered，gazingandgazing，andatlastonlybyanefforttoremyselfaway。Theeveninghadnowbecomedelightfullycoolinthislandofwonders。OnIsped，passingbytwonoisybrookscomingfromSnowdontopaytributetothelake。AndnowIhadleftthelakeandthevalleybehind，andwasascendingahill。AsIgaineditssummit，uprosethemoontocheermyway。Inalittletime，awildstonygorgeconfrontedme，astreamrandownthegorgewithhollowroar，abridgelayacrossit。IaskedafigurewhomIsawstandingbythebridgetheplace’sname。\"Rhyddu\"—theblackford—Icrossedthebridge。ThevoiceoftheMethodistwasyellingfromalittlechapelonmyleft。
Iwenttothedoorandlistened：\"WhenthesinnertakesholdofGod，Godtakesholdofthesinner。\"Thevoicewasfrightfullyhoarse。Ipassedon：nightfellfastaroundme，andthemountaintothesouth—east，towardswhichIwastending，lookedblacklygrand。AndnowIcametoamilestoneonwhichIreadwithdifficulty：\"ThreemilestoBethGelert。\"Thewayforsometimehadbeenupward，butnowitwasdownward。Ireachedatorrent，whichcomingfromthenorth—westrushedunderabridge，overwhichIpassed。ThetorrentattendedmeonmyrighthandthewholewaytoBethGelert。Thedescentnowbecameveryrapid。Ipassedapinewoodonmyleft，andproceededformorethantwomilesatatremendousrate。Ithencametoawood—thiswoodwasjustaboveBethGelert—proceedinginthedirectionofablackmountain，I
foundmyselfamongsthouses，atthebottomofavalley。Ipassedoverabridge，andinquiringofsomepeoplewhomImetthewaytotheinn，wasshownanedificebrilliantlylightedup，whichI
entered。
CHAPTERXLV
InnatBethGelert—DelectableCompany—LieutenantP—。
THEinnorhotelatBethGelertwasalargeandcommodiousbuilding，andwasanythingbutthrongedwithcompany；whatcompany，however，therewas，wasdisagreeableenough，perhapsmoresothanthatinwhichIhadbeentheprecedingevening，whichwascomposedofthescumofManchesterandLiverpool；thecompanyamongstwhichInowwas，consistedofsevenoreightindividuals，twoofthemweremilitarypuppies，oneatallishfellow，whothoughevidentlyupwardsofthirty，affectedtheairsofalanguishinggirl，andwouldfainhavemadepeoplebelievethathewasdyingofENNUIandlassitude。Theotherwasashortspuddyfellow，withabroaduglyfaceandwithspectaclesonhisnose，whotalkedveryconsequentiallyabout\"theservice\"andallthat，butwhosetoneofvoicewascoarseandhismannerthatofanunder—bredperson；thentherewasanoldfellowaboutsixty—five，acivilian，witharedcarbuncledface；hewasfatherofthespuddymilitarypuppy，onwhomheoccasionallycasteyesofprideandalmostadoration，andwhosesayingshemuchapplauded，especiallycertainDOUBLES
ENTENDRES，tocallthembynoharsherterm，directedtoafatgirl，weighingsomefifteenstone，whoofficiatedinthecoffee—roomaswaiter。ThentherewasacreaturetodojusticetowhoseappearancewouldrequirethepencilofaHogarth。Hewasaboutfivefeetthreeinchesandaquarterhigh，andmighthaveweighed，alwaysprovidedastoneweighthadbeenattachedtohim，abouthalfasmuchasthefatgirl。Hiscountenancewascadaverousandwaseternallyagitatedbysomethingbetweenagrinandasimper。Hewasdressedinastyleofsuperfinegentility，andhisskeletonfingerswerebedizenedwithtawdryrings。Hisconversationwaschieflyabouthisbileandhissecretions，theefficacyoflicoriceinproducingacertaineffect，andtheexpediencyofchangingone’slinenatleastthreetimesaday；thoughhadhechangedhissix，I
shouldhavesaidthatthepurificationofthelastshirtwouldhavebeennosinecuretothelaundress。HisaccentwasdecidedlyScotch：hespokefamiliarlyofScottandoneortwootherScotchworthies，andmorethanonceinsinuatedthathewasamemberofParliament。WithrespecttotherestofthecompanyIsaynothing，andfortheverysufficientreasonthat，unliketheabovedescribedbatch，theydidnotseemdisposedtobeimpertinenttowardsme。
EagertogetoutofsuchsocietyIretiredearlytobed。AsIlefttheroomthediminutiveScotchindividualwasdescribingtotheoldsimpleton，whoonthegroundoftheother’sbeinga\"member，\"waslisteningtohimwithextremeattention，howhewaslabouringunderanaccessofbileowingtohishavinglefthislicoricesomewhereorother。Ipassedaquietnight，andinthemorningbreakfasted，paidmybill，anddeparted。AsIwentoutofthecoffee—roomthespuddy，broad—facedmilitarypuppywithspectacleswasvociferatingtothelanguishingmilitarypuppy，andtohisoldsimpletonofafather，whowaslisteningtohimwithhisusuallookofundisguisedadmiration，abouttheabsolutenecessityofkickingLieutenantP—
outofthearmyforhavingdisgraced\"theservice。\"PoorP—，whoseonlycrimewastryingtodefendhimselfwithfistandcandlestickfromthemanualattacksofhisbrutalmessmates。
CHAPTERXLVI
TheValleyofGelert—LegendoftheDog—MagnificentScenery—
TheKnicht—GoatsinWales—TheFrightfulCrag—TemperanceHouse—SmileandCurtsey。
BETHGELERTissituatedinavalleysurroundedbyhugehills，themostremarkableofwhichareMoelHebogandCerrigLlan；theformerfencesitonthesouth，andthelatter，whichisquiteblackandnearlyperpendicular，ontheeast。Asmallstreamrushesthroughthevalley，andsalliesforthbyapassatitssouth—easternend。
ThevalleyissaidbysometoderiveitsnameofBeddgelert，whichsignifiesthegraveofCelert，frombeingtheburial—placeofCelert，aBritishsaintofthesixthcentury，towhomLlangelerinCarmarthenshireisbelievedtohavebeenconsecrated，butthepopularandmostuniversallyreceivedtraditionisthatithasitsnamefrombeingtheresting—placeofafaithfuldogcalledCelertorGelert，killedbyhismaster，thewarlikeandcelebratedLlywelynabJorwerth，fromanunluckymisapprehension。Thoughthelegendisknowntomostpeople，Ishalltakethelibertyofrelatingit。
LlywelynduringhiscontestswiththeEnglishhadencampedwithafewfollowersinthevalley，andonedaydepartedwithhismenonanexpedition，leavinghisinfantsoninacradleinhistent，underthecareofhishoundGelert，aftergivingthechilditsfillofgoat’smilk。Whilsthewasabsentawolffromtheneighbouringmountains，inquestofprey，founditswayintothetent，andwasabouttodevourthechild，whenthewatchfuldoginterfered，andafteradesperateconflict，inwhichthetentwastorndown，succeededindestroyingthemonster。Llywelynreturningateveningfoundthetentontheground，andthedog，coveredwithblood，sittingbesideit。ImaginingthatthebloodwithwhichGelertwasbesmearedwasthatofhisownsondevouredbytheanimaltowhosecarehehadconfidedhim，Llywelyninaparoxysmofnaturalindignationforthwithtransfixedthefaithfulcreaturewithhisspear。Scarcely，however，hadhedonesowhenhisearswerestartledbythecryofachildfrombeneaththefallentent，andhastilyremovingthecanvashefoundthechildinitscradle，quiteuninjured，andthebodyofanenormouswolf，frightfullytornandmangled，lyingnear。Hisbreastwasnowfilledwithconflictingemotions，joyforthepreservationofhisson，andgriefforthefateofhisdog，towhomheforthwithhastened。Thepooranimalwasnotquitedead，butpresentlyexpired，intheactoflickinghismaster’shand。Llywelynmournedoverhimasoverabrother，buriedhimwithfuneralhonoursinthevalley，anderectedatomboverhimasoverahero。FromthattimethevalleywascalledBethGelert。
Suchisthelegend，which，whethertrueorfictitious，issingularlybeautifulandaffecting。
Thetomb，orwhatissaidtobethetomb，ofGelert，standsinabeautifulmeadowjustbelowtheprecipitoussideofCerrigLlan：
itconsistsofalargeslablyingonitsside，andtwouprightstones。Itisshadedbyaweepingwillow，andissurroundedbyahexagonalpaling。Whoisthereacquaintedwiththelegend，whetherhebelievesthatthedogliesbeneaththosestonesornot，canvisitthemwithoutexclaimingwithasigh，\"PoorGelert！\"
Afterwanderingaboutthevalleyforsometime，andseeingafewofitswonders，IinquiredmywayforFestiniog，andsetoffforthatplace。Thewaytoitisthroughthepassatthesouth—eastendofthevalley。ArrivedattheentranceofthepassIturnedroundtolookatthesceneryIwasleavingbehindme；theviewwhichpresenteditselftomyeyeswasverygrandandbeautiful。BeforemelaythemeadowofGelertwiththeriverflowingthroughittowardsthepass。BeyondthemeadowtheSnowdonrange；ontherightthemightyCerrigLlan；onthelefttheequallymighty，butnotquitesoprecipitous，Hebog。Truly，thevalleyofGelertisawondrousvalley—rivallingforgrandeurandbeautyanyvaleeitherintheAlpsorPyrenees。AfteralongandearnestviewIturnedroundagainandproceededonmyway。
