AUGUST. 317 



and I had, therefore, a few fowls, pigs, &c., as my 

 companions in this shelter, though there was indeed 

 an inner sanctum to which I was careless to penetrate. 

 But what a beautiful scene has succeeded to the 

 transient tempest ; the sun has burst- from the ob- 

 structing barrier, the rising clouds ascend the rugged 

 heights of Talgarth, and in hoary masses fringe his 

 purple brow the vapours leave the misty lake, now 

 they shroud now they leave Skethrog's high arching 

 hill, now they glide over huge Dervaddon's brow, and 

 then slowly and sulkily they bend towards head quar- 

 ters about the crest of the moody Van, who demurs 

 to their further retreat. Suddenly the lake seems 

 poured out in molten silver, lines of excessive brilliancy 

 chase each other over its waters beneath the old tower 

 of Llangorse, and pass gracefully as if in review order: 

 the brilliant radiance spreads scuds flies ; and now, 

 at last, the fair expanse, calm as a mirror, with one 

 lone green islet on its bosom, shines in mild and 

 placid beauty, while active parties of swallows are 

 swiftly and continuously sporting over its waters. 



Let us approach its margin which teems with plants, 

 lovers of the marshes and the waters. Here in pro- 

 fusion rises the tall and rare Great Spearwort (^Ranun- 

 culus lingua), distinguished by its t ongue-liJce leaves, 

 and whose golden flowers, elevated so high, give it an 

 aspect different from every other kind of ranunculus 

 or buttercup known to the botanist. Here, too, grows 

 the elegant flowering Hush (Butomus umbellatus), 

 whose bright pink umbels, where they abound, (as 

 they do by Avon's immortal stream), are a greater 

 adornment to the banks of our rivers than any other 

 wild British plant ; beauteous though the margin of 



