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is that it would fling itself a little more open； and that its
priests would a little more bestir themselves； in a word； that it
would shoulder the cross and become a missionary church。'
'It is too proud for that；' said Winifred。
'You are much more of a Methodist；' said I； 'than your husband。
But tell me；' said I； addressing myself to Peter； 'do you not
differ from the church in some points of doctrine？ I； of course；
as a true member of the church； am quite ignorant of the peculiar
opinions of wandering sectaries。'
'Oh the pride of that church！' said Winifred； half to herself；
'wandering sectaries！'
'We differ in no points of doctrine；' said Peter； 'we believe all
the church believes； though we are not so fond of vain and
superfluous ceremonies； snow…white neckcloths and surplices； as the
church is。 We likewise think that there is no harm in a sermon by
the road…side； or in holding free discourse with a beggar beneath a
hedge； or a tinker；' he added； smiling； 'it was those superfluous
ceremonies； those surplices and white neckcloths； and； above all；
the necessity of strictly regulating his words and conversation；
which drove John Wesley out of the church； and sent him wandering
up and down as you see me； poor Welsh Peter； do。'
Nothing farther passed for some time； we were now drawing near the
hills： at last I said； 'You must have met with a great many
strange adventures since you took up this course of life？'
'Many；' said Peter； 'it has been my lot to meet with； but none more
strange than one which occurred to me only a few weeks ago。 You
were asking me； not long since； whether I believed in devils？ Ay；
truly； young man； and I believe that the abyss and the yet deeper
unknown do not contain them all； some walk about upon the green
earth。 So it happened； some weeks ago； that I was exercising my
ministry about forty miles from here。 I was alone； Winifred being
slightly indisposed； staying for a few days at the house of an
acquaintance； I had finished afternoon's worship … the people had
dispersed； and I was sitting solitary by my cart under some green
trees in a quiet retired place； suddenly a voice said to me； 〃Good…
evening； Pastor〃； I looked up； and before me stood a man； at least
the appearance of a man； dressed in a black suit of rather a
singular fashion。 He was about my own age； or somewhat older。 As
I looked upon him； it appeared to me that I had seen him twice
before whilst preaching。 I replied to his salutation； and
perceiving that he looked somewhat fatigued； I took out a stool
from the cart； and asked him to sit down。 We began to discourse； I
at first supposed that he might be one of ourselves； some wandering
minister； but I was soon undeceived。 Neither his language nor his
ideas were those of any one of our body。 He spoke on all kinds of
matters with much fluency； till at last he mentioned my preaching；
complimenting me on my powers。 I replied； as well I might； that I
could claim no merit of my own； and that if I spoke with any
effect； it was only by the grace of God。 As I uttered these last
words； a horrible kind of sneer came over his countenance； which
made me shudder； for there was something diabolical in it。 I said
little more； but listened attentively to his discourse。 At last he
said that I was engaged in a paltry cause； quite unworthy of one of
my powers。 〃How can that be；〃 said I； 〃even if I possessed all the
powers in the world； seeing that I am engaged in the cause of our
Lord Jesus？〃
'The same kind of sneer again came on his countenance； but he
almost instantly observed； that if I chose to forsake this same
miserable cause； from which nothing but contempt and privation was
to be expected； he would enlist me into another； from which I might
expect both profit and renown。 An idea now came into my head； and
I told him firmly that if he wished me to forsake my present
profession and become a member of the Church of England； I must
absolutely decline； that I had no ill…will against that church； but
I thought I could do most good in my present position； which I
would not forsake to be Archbishop of Canterbury。 Thereupon he
burst into a strange laughter； and went away； repeating to himself；
〃Church of England！ Archbishop of Canterbury！〃 A few days after；
when I was once more in a solitary place； he again appeared before
me； and asked me whether I had thought over his words； and whether
I was willing to enlist under the banners of his master； adding
that he was eager to secure me； as he conceived that I might be
highly useful to the cause。 I then asked him who his master was；
he hesitated for a moment； and then answered； 〃The Roman Pontiff。〃
〃If it be he；〃 said I； 〃I can have nothing to do with him； I will
serve no one who is an enemy of Christ。〃 Thereupon he drew near to
me； and told me not to talk so much like a simpleton； that as for
Christ； it was probable that no such person ever existed； but that
if He ever did； He was the greatest impostor the world ever saw。
How long he continued in this way I know not； for I now considered
that an evil spirit was before me； and shrank within myself；
shivering in every limb； when I recovered myself and looked about
me； he was gone。 Two days after； he again stood before me； in the
same place； and about the same hour； renewing his propositions； and
speaking more horribly than before。 I made him no answer；
whereupon he continued； but suddenly hearing a noise behind him； he
looked round and beheld Winifred； who had returned to me on the
morning of that day。 〃Who are you？〃 said he； fiercely。 〃This
man's wife；〃 said she； calmly fixing her eyes upon him。 〃Begone
from him； unhappy one； thou temptest him in vain。〃 He made no
answer； but stood as if transfixed： at length； recovering himself；
he departed； muttering 〃Wife！ wife！ If the fool has a wife； he
will never do for us。〃'
CHAPTER LXXX
The border … Thank you both … Pipe and fiddle … Taliesin。
WE were now drawing very near the hills； and Peter said； 'If you
are to go into Wales； you must presently decide； for we are close
upon the border。'
'Which is the border？' said I。
'Yon small brook；' said Peter； 'into which the man on horseback who
is coming towards us is now entering。'
'I see it；' said I； 'and the man； he stops in the middle of it； as
if to water his steed。'
We proceeded till we had nearly reached the brook。 'Well；' said
Peter； 'will you go into Wales？'
'What should I do in Wales？' I demanded。
'Do！' said Peter； smiling； 'learn Welsh。'
I stopped my little pony。 'Then I need not go into Wales； I
already know Welsh。'
'Know Welsh！' said Peter； staring at me。
'Know Welsh！' said Winifred； stopping her cart。
'How and when did you learn it？' said Peter。
'From books； in my boyhood。'
'Read Welsh！' said Peter； 'is it possible？'
'Read Welsh！' said Winifred； 'is it possible？'
'Well； I hope you will come with us；' said Peter。
'Come with us； young man；' said Winifred； 'let me； on the other
side of the brook； welcome you into Wales。'
'Thank you both；' said I； 'but I will not come。'
'Wherefore？' exclaimed both； simultaneously。
'Because it is neither fit nor proper that I cross into Wales at
this time； and in this manner。 When I go into Wales； I should wish
to go in a new suit of superfine black； with hat and beaver；
mounted on a powerful steed； black and glossy； like that which bore
Greduv to the fight of Catraeth。 I should wish； moreover； to see
the Welshmen assembled on the border ready to welcome me with pipe
and fiddle； and much whooping and shouting； and to attend me to
Wrexham； or even as far as Machynllaith； where I should wish to be
invited to a dinner at which all the bards should be present； and
to be seated at the right hand of the president； who； when the
cloth was removed； should arise； and； amidst cries of silence；
exclaim … 〃Brethren and Welshmen； allow me to propose the health of
my most respectable friend the translator of the odes of the great
Ab Gwilym； the pride and glory of Wales。〃'
'How！' said Peter； 'hast thou translated the works of the mighty
Dafydd？'
'With notes critical； historical； and explanatory。'
'Come with us； friend；' said Peter。 'I cannot promise such a
dinner as thou wishest； but neither pipe nor fiddle shall be
wanting。'
'Come with us； young man；' said Winifred； 'even as thou art； and
the daughters of Wales shall bid thee welcome。'
'I will not go with you；' said I。 'Dost thou see that man in the
ford？'
'Who is staring at us so； and whose horse has not yet done
drinking？ Of course I see him。'
'I shall turn back with him。 God bless you。'
'Go back with him not；' said Peter； 'h