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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 gently to the banks
of the Dee； its back was towards the road leading from Wrexham；
behind which was a high bank； on the top of which was a canal
called in Welsh the Camlas； whose commencement was up the valley
about two miles west。 A little way up the road； towards Wrexham；
was the vicarage and a little way down was a flannel factory；
beyond which was a small inn； with pleasure grounds； kept by an
individual who had once been a gentleman's servant。 The mistress
of the house was a highly respectable widow； who； with a servant
maid was to wait upon us。 It was as agreeable a place in all
respects as people like ourselves could desire。
As I and my family sat at tea in our parlour； an hour or two after
we had taken possession of our lodgings； the door of the room and
that of the entrance to the house being open； on account of the
fineness of the weather； a poor black cat entered hastily； sat down
on the carpet by the table； looked up towards us； and mewed
piteously。 I never had seen so wretched a looking creature。 It
was dreadfully attenuated； being little more than skin and bone；
and was sorely afflicted with an eruptive malady。 And here I may
as well relate the history of this cat previous to our arrival
which I subsequently learned by bits and snatches。 It had belonged
to a previous vicar of Llangollen； and had been left behind at his
departure。 His successor brought with him dogs and cats； who；
conceiving that the late vicar's cat had no business at the
vicarage； drove it forth to seek another home； which； however； it
could not find。 Almost all the people of the suburb were
dissenters； as indeed were the generality of the people of
Llangollen； and knowing the cat to be a church cat； not only would
not harbour it； but did all they could to make it miserable； whilst
the few who were not dissenters； would not receive it into their
houses； either because they had cats of their own； or dogs； or did
not want a cat； so that the cat had no home and was dreadfully
persecuted by nine…tenths of the suburb。 Oh； there never was a cat
so persecuted as that poor Church of England animal； and solely on
account of the opinions which it was supposed to have imbibed in
the house of its late master； for I never could learn that the
dissenters of the suburb； nor indeed of Llangollen in general； were
in the habit of persecuting other cats； the cat was a Church of
England cat； and that was enough： stone it； hang it； drown it！
were the cries of almost everybody。 If the workmen of the flannel
factory； all of whom were Calvinistic…Methodists； chanced to get a
glimpse of it in the road from the windows of the building； they
would sally forth in a body； and with sticks； stones； or for want
of other weapons； with clots of horse dung； of which there was
always plenty on the road； would chase it up the high bank or
perhaps over the Camlas； the inhabitants of a small street between
our house and the factory leading from the road to the river； all
of whom were dissenters； if they saw it moving about the perllan；
into which their back windows looked； would shriek and hoot at it；
and fling anything of no value； which came easily to hand； at the
head or body of the ecclesiastical cat。 The good woman of the
house； who though a very excellent person； was a bitter dissenter；
whenever she saw it upon her ground or heard it was there； would
make after it； frequently attended by her maid Margaret； and her
young son； a boy about nine years of age； both of whom hated the
cat； and were always ready to attack it； either alone or in
company； and no wonder； the maid being not only a dissenter； but a
class teacher； and the boy not only a dissenter； but intended for
the dissenting ministry。 Where it got its food； and food it
sometimes must have got； for even a cat； an animal known to have
nine lives； cannot live without food； was only known to itself； as
was the place where it lay； for even a cat must lie down sometimes；
though a labouring man who occasionally dug in the garden told me
he believed that in the springtime it ate freshets； and the woman
of the house once said that she believed it sometimes slept in the
hedge； which hedge； by…the…bye； divided our perllan from the
vicarage grounds； which were very extensive。 Well might the cat
after having led this kind of life for better than two years look
mere skin and bone when it made its appearance in our apartment；
and have an eruptive malady； and also a bronchitic cough； for I
remember it had both。 How it came to make its appearance there is
a mystery； for it had never entered the house before； even when
there were lodgers； that it should not visit the woman； who was its
declared enemy； was natural enough； but why if it did not visit her
other lodgers； did it visit us？ Did instinct keep it aloof from
them？ Did instinct draw it towards us？ We gave it some bread…and…
butter； and a little tea with milk and sugar。 It ate and drank and
soon began to purr。 The good woman of the house was horrified when
on coming in to