ouse, they beheld cells full of dust, and very gloomy, {109}
and on one side an old hag making a fire. And whenever she felt cold,
she cast a lapful of chaff upon the fire, and raised such a smoke, that
it was scarcely to be borne, as it rose up the nostrils. And on the
other side was a yellow calf skin on the floor, a main privilege was it
to any one who should get upon that hide.

And when they had sat down, they asked the hag where were the people of
the house. And the hag spoke not but muttered. Thereupon behold the
people of the house entered; a ruddy, clownish curly-headed man, with a
burthen of fagots on his back, and a pale slender woman, also carrying a
bundle under her arm. And they barely welcomed the men, and kindled a
fire with the boughs. And the woman cooked something and gave them to
eat, barley bread, and cheese, and milk and water.

And there arose a storm of wind and rain, so that it was hardly possible
to go forth with safety. And being weary with their journey, they laid
themselves down and sought to sleep. And when they looked at the couch,
it seemed to be made but of a little coarse straw full of dust and
vermin, with the stems of boughs sticking up therethrough, for the cattle
had eaten all the straw that was placed at the head and the foot. And
upon it was stretched an old russet-coloured rug, threadbare and ragged;
and a coarse sheet, full of slits was upon the rug, and an ill-stuffed
pillow, and a worn-out cover upon the sheet. And after much suffering
from the vermin, and from the discomfort of their couch, a heavy sleep
fell on Rhonabwy's companions. But Rhonabwy, not being able either to
sleep or to rest, thought he should suffer less if he went to lie upon
the yellow calfskin that was stretched out on the floor. And there he
slept.

As soon as sleep had come upon his eyes, it seemed to him that he was
journeying with his companions across the plain of Argyngroeg, and he
thought that he went towards Rhyd y Groes on the Severn. As he
journeyed, he heard a mighty noise, the like whereof heard he never
before; and looking behind him, he beheld a youth with yellow curling
hair, and with his beard newly trimmed, mounted on a chesnut horse,
whereof the legs were grey from the top of the forelegs, and from the
bend of the hindlegs downwards. And the rider wore a coat of yellow
satin sewn with green silk, and on his thigh was a gold-hilted sword,
with a scabbard of new leather of Co