f nature unless you walk. I am likewise fond of poetry,
and take especial delight in inspecting the birth-places and haunts of
poets. It is because I am fond of poetry, poets and their haunts, that I
am come to Anglesey. Anglesey does not abound in the beauties of nature,
but there never was such a place for poets; you meet a poet, or the
birth-place of a poet, everywhere."

"Did your honour ever hear of Gronwy Owen?" said the old man.

"I have," I replied, "and yesterday I visited his birth-place; so you
have heard of Gronwy Owen?"

"Heard of him, your honour; yes, and read his works. That 'Cowydd y
Farn' of his is a wonderful poem."

"You say right," said I; "the 'Cowydd of Judgment' contains some of the
finest things ever written--that description of the toppling down of the
top crag of Snowdon, at the day of Judgment, beats anything in Homer."

"Then there was Lewis Morris, your honour," said the old man, "who gave
Gronwy his education and wrote 'The Lasses of Meirion'--and--"

"And 'The Cowydd to the Snail,'" said I, interrupting him--"a wonderful
man he was."

"I am rejoiced to see your honour in our house," said boots; "I never saw
an English gentleman before who knew so much about Welsh poetry, nor a
Welsh one either. Ah, if your honour is fond of poets and their places
you did right to come to Anglesey--and your honour was right in saying
that you can't stir a step without meeting one; you have an example of
the truth of that in me--for to tell your honour the truth, I am a poet
myself, and no bad one either."

Then tucking the dusty boots under his arm, the old man with a low
congee, and a "Good-night, your honour!" shuffled out of the room.

CHAPTER XL

Caer Gyby--Lewis Morris--Noble Character.

I dined or rather supped well at the Railroad Inn--I beg its pardon,
Hotel, for the word Inn at the present day is decidedly vulgar. I
likewise slept well; how could I do otherwise, passing the night, as I
did, in an excellent bed in a large, cool, quiet room? I arose rather
late, went down to the coffee-room and took my breakfast leisurely, after
which I paid my bill and strolled forth to observe the wonders of the
place.

Caer Gybi or Cybi's town is situated on the southern side of a bay on the
north-western side of Anglesey. Close to it on the south-west is a very
high headland called in Welsh Pen Caer Gybi, or the head of Cybi's city,
and in English Holy Head. On the north, across th