Aber-Merlyn. 293 



splendour. But a few moments before all was dark and gloomy, and 

 now nature was hushed in softness and repose. The transition had 

 been rapid, but not more sudden than the frown that beauty some- 

 times wears ere it has softened to a smile. 



About half-past three a faint tinge was visible above the horizon, 

 as Aurora in her chariot ushered in the morn. Gradually the light 

 spread far and wide, and put to flight the stars. The vast panorama 

 grew upon you like some phantasmagoria, now slight and impercep- 

 tible, but as it approached every part stood out with life and colour. 

 Mountain and crag sprang into existence, nature resumed her livery 

 of green, and the birds chirruped among the branches and carolled 

 forth their liveliest lays. Soon after the dews began to fall so heavily 

 that we retired from our eminence and resigned ourselves to the soft 

 nurse of nature. 



When we came down to breakfast we were informed that the Ladye 

 of Aber-Merlyn had appeared during the night. It was just after 

 the rain had ceased that three men were returning from Caermarthen 

 rather merry, having followed the good old practice of keeping their 

 spirits up by pouring spirits down. As they passed through the vil- 

 lage there suddenly appeared to them a figure veiled in white on the 

 top of the hill. One, more valiant than his fellows, wagered he 

 would go and speak to her, and forthwith mounted, muttering as he 

 went all the incantations and exorcisms that he knew till he arrived 

 within twenty yards, when he heard a low rumbling noise, like the 

 hissing of a serpent. His courage failed him, and off he scampered 

 as fast, nay, faster than his legs could carry him, for he lost his foot- 

 ing, and rolled down the hank into the stream that supplied the mill. 

 He was picked up by his friends more dead than alive, and taken to 

 an inn, where he was housed for the night. The intelligence spread 

 like wildfire, and aroused the whole village to gaze upon the Ladye 

 of the Hill. Soon after she disappeared, and they retired again to 

 rest to dream of gholes and apparitions, and many a mother pressed 

 her babe nearer to her breast as it started in its sleep, and breathed a 

 prayer over its little head. In the morning it was the subject of uni- 

 versal conversation, each giving it a form and shape peculiar to their 

 own fancy, and wondering what great event was about to happen. 

 The reader need hardly be told that our tent was the dreadful spectre, 

 and the rumbling noise but the snoring of our dog Smoke. Soon after 

 we left the man-servant had taken it down, not wishing to have it 

 wetted by the dew. 



In the evening I drew myself nearer to the clay-ball fire,* and the 

 captain, agreeably to his promise, gave me to read the manuscript 

 containing the legend of the Ladye of Aber-Merlyn. It was written 

 in the ancient dialect, and though I have not the tale before me, yet 

 I lay it before you, kind reader, as nearly as I remember it with the 

 aid of notes that I made of the principal incidents. 



* The coal of South Wales is chiefly what is colled Stone Coal. The large coal of 

 this quality is used for drying hops and malt ; the small coal, called culm, for burning 

 limestone. Culm is mixed with clay till it acquires the consistence of mortar, and is 

 then formed into balls of a moderate size, which are piled in the grate and give out a. 

 strong and powerful heat. This forms the principal fuel of the southern district. 



