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removed to Walton in Cheshire； where he lost his daughter who was
carried off by a fever。 His next removal was to Northolt； a
pleasant village in the neighbourhood of London。
He held none of his curacies long； either losing them from the
caprice of his principals； or being compelled to resign them from
the parsimony which they practised towards him。 In the year 1756
he was living in a garret in London vainly soliciting employment in
his sacred calling； and undergoing with his family the greatest
privations。 At length his friend Lewis Morris； who had always
assisted him to the utmost of his ability； procured him the
mastership of a government school at New Brunswick in North America
with a salary of three hundred pounds a year。 Thither he went with
his wife and family； and there he died sometime about the year
1780。
He was the last of the great poets of Cambria and； with the
exception of Ab Gwilym； the greatest which she has produced。 His
poems which for a long time had circulated through Wales in
manuscript were first printed in the year 1819。 They are composed
in the ancient Bardic measures； and were with one exception； namely
an elegy on the death of his benefactor Lewis Morris； which was
transmitted from the New World； written before he had attained the
age of thirty…five。 All his pieces are excellent； but his
masterwork is decidedly the Cywydd y Farn or 〃Day of Judgment。〃
This poem which is generally considered by the Welsh as the
brightest ornament of their ancient language； was composed at
Donnington； a small hamlet in Shropshire on the north…west spur of
the Wrekin； at which place； as has been already said； Gronwy toiled
as schoolmaster and curate under Douglas the Scot； for a stipend of
three…and…twenty pounds a year。
CHAPTER XXXI
Start for Anglesey … The Post…Master … Asking Questions … Mynydd
Lydiart … Mr Pritchard … Way to Llanfair。
WHEN I started from Bangor； to visit the birth…place of Gronwy
Owen； I by no means saw my way clearly before me。 I knew that he
was born in Anglesey in a parish called Llanfair Mathafarn eithaf；
that is St Mary's of farther Mathafarn … but as to where this
Mathafarn lay； north or south； near or far； I knew positively
nothing。 Passing through the northern suburb of Bangor I saw a
small house in front of which was written 〃post…office〃 in white
letters； before this house underneath a shrub in a little garden
sat an old man reading。 Thinking that from this person； whom I
judged to be the post…master； I was as likely to obtain information
with respect to the place of my destination as from any one； I
stopped； and taking off my hat for a moment； inquired whether he
could tell me anything about the direction of a place called
Llanfair Mathafarn eithaf。 He did not seem to understand my
question； for getting up he came towards me and asked what I
wanted： I repeated what I had said； whereupon his face became
animated。
〃Llanfair Mathafarn eithaf！〃 said he。 〃Yes； I can tell you about
it； and with good reason； for it lies not far from the place where
I was born。〃
The above was the substance of what he said； and nothing more； for
he spoke in English somewhat broken。
〃And how far is Llanfair from here？〃 said I。
〃About ten miles；〃 he replied。
〃That's nothing；〃 said I： 〃I was afraid it was much farther。〃
〃Do you call ten miles nothing；〃 said he； 〃in a burning day like
this？ I think you will be both tired and thirsty before you get to
Llanfair； supposing you go there on foot。 But what may your
business be at Llanfair？〃 said he； looking at me inquisitively。
〃It is a strange place to go to； unless you go to buy hogs or
cattle。〃
〃I go to buy neither hogs nor cattle；〃 said I； 〃though I am
somewhat of a judge of both； I go on a more important errand；
namely to see the birth…place of the great Gronwy Owen。〃
〃Are you any relation of Gronwy Owen？〃 said the old man； looking at
me more inquisitively than before； through a large pair of
spectacles which he wore。
〃None whatever；〃 said I。
〃Then why do you go to see his parish； it is a very poor one。〃
〃From respect to his genius；〃 said I； 〃I read his works long ago；
and was delighted with them。〃
〃Are you a Welshman？〃 said the old man。
〃No；〃 said I； 〃I am no Welshman。〃
〃Can you speak Welsh？〃 said he； addressing me in that language。
〃A little；〃 said I； 〃but not so well as I can read it。〃
〃Well；〃 said the old man； 〃I have lived here a great many years；
but never before did a Saxon call upon me； asking questions about
Gronwy Owen； or his birth…place。 Immortality to his memory！ I owe
much to him； for reading his writings taught me to be a poet！〃
〃Dear me！〃 said I； 〃are you a poet？〃
〃I trust I am；〃 said he； 〃though the humblest of Ynys Fon。〃
A flash of proud fire； methought； illumined his features as he
pronounced these last words。
〃I am most happy to have met you；〃 said I； 〃but tell me how am I to
get to Llanfair？〃
〃You must go first；〃 said he； 〃to Traeth Coch which in Saxon is
called the 'Red Sand。' In the village called the Pentraeth which
lies above that sand； I was born； through the village and over the
bridge you must pass； and after walking four miles due north you
will find yourself in Llanfair eithaf； at the northern extremity of
Mon。 Farewell！ That ever Saxon should ask me about Gronwy Owen；
and his birth…place！ I scarcely believe you to be a Saxon； but
whether you be or not； I repeat farewell。〃
Coming to the Menai Bridge I asked the man who took the penny toll
at the entrance； the way to Pentraeth Coch。
〃You see that white house by the wood；〃 said he； pointing some
distance into Anglesey； 〃you must make towards it till you come to
a place where there are four cross roads and then you must take the
road to the right。〃
Passing over the bridge I made my way towards the house by the wood
which stood on the hill till I came where the four roads met； when
I turned to the right as directed。
The country through which I passed seemed tolerably well
cultivated； the hedge…rows were very high； seeming to spring out of
low stone walls。 I met two or three gangs of reapers proceeding to
their work with scythes in their hands。
In about half…an…hour I passed by a farm…house partly surrounded
with walnut trees。 Still the same high hedges on both sides of the
road： are these hedges relics of the sacrificial groves of Mona？
thought I to myself。 Then I came to a wretched village through
which I hurried at the rate of six miles an hour。 I then saw a
long； lofty； craggy hill on my right hand towards the east。
〃What mountain is that？〃 said I to an urchin playing in the hot
dust of the road。
〃Mynydd Lydiart！〃 said the urchin； tossing up a handful of the hot
dust into the air； part of which in descending fell into my eyes。
I shortly afterwards passed by a handsome lodge。 I then saw
groves； mountain Lydiart forming a noble background。
〃Who owns this wood？〃 said I in Welsh to two men who were limbing a
felled tree by the road…side。
〃Lord Vivian；〃 answered one； touching his hat。