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pride … that feeling which the world agrees to call so noble。 Oh；
how mean a thing is pride！ never before did I see all the meanness
of what is called pride！'
'But how wilt thou live； friend；' said Peter； 'dost thou not intend
to eat？' 'When I went out last night；' said I； 'I laid in a
provision。' 'Thou hast laid in a provision！' said Peter； 'pray let
us see it。 Really； friend；' said he； after I had produced it；
'thou must drive a thriving trade； here are provisions enough to
last three people for several days。 Here are butter and eggs； here
is tea； here is sugar； and there is a flitch。 I hope thou wilt let
us partake of some of thy fare。' 'I should be very happy if you
would；' said I。 'Doubt not but we shall；' said Peter； 'Winifred
shall have some of thy flitch cooked for dinner。 In the meantime；
sit down； young man； and breakfast at our expense … we will dine at
thine。'
On the evening of that day； Peter and myself sat alone beneath the
oak。 We fell into conversation； Peter was at first melancholy； but
he soon became more cheerful； fluent； and entertaining。 I spoke
but little； but I observed that sometimes what I said surprised the
good Methodist。 We had been silent some time。 At length； lifting
up my eyes to the broad and leafy canopy of the trees； I said；
having nothing better to remark； 'What a noble tree！ I wonder if
the fairies ever dance beneath it。'
'Fairies！' said Peter； 'fairies！ how came you； young man； to know
anything about the fair family？'
'I am an Englishman；' said I； 'and of course know something about
fairies； England was once a famous place for them。'
'Was once； I grant you；' said Peter； 'but is so no longer。 I have
travelled for years about England； and never heard them mentioned
before； the belief in them has died away； and even their name seems
to be forgotten。 If you had said you were a Welshman； I should not
have been surprised。 The Welsh have much to say of the Tylwyth
Teg； or fair family； and many believe in them。'
'And do you believe in them？' said I。
'I scarcely know what to say。 Wise and good men have been of
opinion that they are nothing but devils； who； under the form of
pretty and amiable spirits； would fain allure poor human beings； I
see nothing irrational in the supposition。'
'Do you believe in devils； then？'
'Do I believe in devils； young man？' said Peter； and his frame was
shaken as if by convulsions。 'If I do not believe in devils； why
am I here at the present moment？'
'You know best；' said I； 'but I don't believe that fairies are
devils； and I don't wish to hear them insulted。 What learned men
have said they are devils？'
'Many have said it； young man； and； amongst others； Master Ellis
Wyn； in that wonderful book of his； the BARDD CWSG。'
'The BARDD CWSG；' said I； 'what kind of book is that？ I have never
heard of that book before。'
'Heard of it before； I suppose not； how should you have heard of it
before？ By the bye； can you read？'
'Very tolerably；' said I； 'so there are fairies in this book。 What
do you call it … the BARDD CWSG？'
'Yes； the BARDD CWSG。 You pronounce Welsh very fairly； have you
ever been in Wales？'
'Never；' said I。
'Not been in Wales； then； of course； you don't understand Welsh；
but we were talking of the BARDD CWSG … yes； there are fairies in
the BARDD CWSG； … the author of it； Master Ellis Wyn； was carried
away in his sleep by them over mountains and valleys； rivers and
great waters； incurring mighty perils at their hands； till he was
rescued from them by an angel of the Most High； who subsequently
showed him many wonderful things。'
'I beg your pardon；' said I； 'but what were those wonderful
things？'
'I see； young man；' said Peter； smiling； 'that you are not without
curiosity； but I can easily pardon any one for being curious about
the wonders contained in the book of Master Ellis Wyn。 The angel
showed him the course of this world； its pomps and vanities； its
cruelty and its pride； its crimes and deceits。 On another
occasion； the angel showed him Death in his nether palace；
surrounded by his grisly ministers； and by those who are
continually falling victims to his power。 And； on a third
occasion； the state of the condemned in their place of everlasting
torment。'
'But this was all in his sleep；' said I； 'was it not？'
'Yes；' said Peter； 'in his sleep； and on that account the book is
called GWELEDIGAETHAU Y BARDD CWSG； or； VISIONS OF THE SLEEPING
BARD。'
'I do not care for wonders which occur in sleep；' said I。 'I
prefer real ones； and perhaps； notwithstanding what he says； the
man had no visions at all … they are probably of his own
invention。'
'They are substantially true； young man；' said Peter； 'like the
dreams of Bunyan； they are founded on three tremendous facts； Sin；
Death； and Hell； and like his they have done incalculable good； at
least in my own country； in the language of which they are written。
Many a guilty conscience has the BARDD CWSG aroused with its
dreadful sights； its strong sighs； its puffs of smoke from the pit；
and its showers of sparks from the mouth of the yet lower gulf of …
Unknown … were it not for the BARDD CWSG perhaps I might not be
here。'
'I would sooner hear your own tale；' said I； 'than all the visions
of the BARDD CWSG。'
Peter shook； bent his form nearly double； and covered his face with
his hands。 I sat still and motionless； with my eyes fixed upon
him。 Presently Winifred descended the hill； and joined us。 'What
is the matter？' said she； looking at her husband； who still
remained in the posture I have described。 He made no answer；
whereupon； laying her hand gently on his shoulder； she said； in the
peculiar soft and tender tone which I had heard her use on a former
occasion； 'Take comfort； Peter； what has happened now to afflict
thee？' Peter removed his hand from his face。 'The old pain； the
old pain；' said he； 'I was talking with this young man； and he
would fain know what brought me here； he would fain hear my tale；
Winifred … my sin： O pechod Ysprydd Glan！ O pechod Ysprydd Glan！'
and the poor man fell into a more fearful agony than before。 Tears
trickled down Winifred's face； I saw them trickling by the
moonlight； as she gazed upon the writhing form of her afflicted
husband。 I arose from my seat。 'I am the cause of all this；' said
I； 'by my folly and imprudence； and it is thus I have returned your
kindness and hospitality； I will depart from you and wander my
way。' I was retiring； but Peter sprang up and detained me。 'Go
not；' said he； 'you were not in fault； if there be any fault in the
case it was mine； if I suffer； I am but paying the penalty of my
own iniquity'； he then paused； and appeared to be considering： at
length he said； 'Many things which thou hast seen and heard
connected with me require explanation； thou wishest to know my
tale； I will tell it thee； but not now； not to…night； I am too much
shaken。'
Two evenings later； when we were again seated beneath the oak；
Peter took the hand of his wife in his own； and then； in tones
broken and almost inarticulate； commenced telling me his tale … the
tale of the Pechod Ysprydd Glan。
CHAPTER LXXV
Taking a cup … Getting to heaven … After breakfast … Wooden
gallery … Mechanical habit … Reserved and gloomy … Last words … A
long time … From the clouds … Ray of hope … Momentary chill …
Pleasing anticipation。
'I WAS born in the heart of North Wales； the son of a respectable
farmer； and am the youngest of seven brothers。
'My father was a member of the Church of England； and was what is
generally called a serious man。 He went to church regularly； and
read the Bible every Sunday evening； in his moments of leisure he
was fond of holding religious discourse both with his family and
his neighbours。
'One autumn afternoon； on a week day； my father sat with one of his
neighbours taking a cup of ale by the oak table in our stone
kitchen。 I sat near them； and listened to their discourse。 I was
at that time seven years of age。 They were talking of religious
matters。 〃It is a hard matter to get to heaven；〃 said my father。
〃Exceedingly so；〃 said the other。 〃However； I don't despond； none
need despair of getting to heaven； save those who have committed
the sin against the Holy Ghost。〃
'〃Ah！〃 said my father； 〃thank God I never committed that … how
awful must be the state of a person who has committed the sin
against the Holy Ghost。 I can scarcely think of it without my hair
standing on end〃； and then my father and his friend began talking
of the nature of the sin against the Holy Ghost； and I heard them
say what it was； as I sat with greedy ears listening to their
discours