97 



There are several well-known legends about Llangorse Lake. One relating 

 to it3 origin is preserved among the Harleian MSS., and is to be- found in 

 Jones' History : — 



" A young man of small property pays his addresses to the lady of Llynsa- 

 feddan. She rejects him on account of his poverty, upon which he robs and 

 murders a carrier ; and, after displaying his ill-gotten wealth, he again offers 

 himself to her. Being interrogated how he acquired it, he confessed to her, 

 under an injunction of secrecy. She still refuses him, until he repairs to the 

 grave of the deceased and appeases his ghost. This he readily undertakes, but 

 on approaching it a hollow voice is heard exclaiming, ' Is there no vengeance for 

 innocent blood ?' Another answers, 'Not until tha ninth generation.' Satisfied 

 to find the evil day so long protracted, the lady marries him, and their issue 

 multiply so fast that they live to see the ninth generation. But the judgment 

 does not immediately follow, whereupon they prepare a great feast, and in the 

 midst of their jollity and triumph a mighty earthquake swallows up the whole 

 family, and their houses and lands are covered by the lake." 



Others, again, who 



" Their guide tradition make," 

 believe that the Boman town of Loventium lies buried in the lake. The river 

 Llyfni, or Lleveny, is supposed to bear some resemblance to Loventium, in sound 

 at least, and the existence of a road in the neighbourhood called Heol Llovent 

 is some argument in favour of the site of the missing Boman station being in 

 this neighbourhood. 



It occurs to me here to suggest a derivation of the name Llyfni : Llyn-wy F 

 or the stream of the lake. "A circumstance concerning this lake, that happened 

 a short time before our days, must not be passed over in silence," says Giraldus : — 



" In the reign of King Henry the First, Gruff ydd, son of Ehys ap Theodor, 

 held under the King one comot, the fourth part of the Cantref of Caoc in the 

 Cantref Mawr, which, in title and dignity, was esteemed by the Welsh equal to 

 the southern part of Wales, called Deheubacth. When Gruffydd, on his return 

 from the King's court, passed near this lake, which at that cold season of the 

 year was covered with water fowl of various sorts, being accompanied by Milo, 

 Earl of Hereford and Lord of Brecheinioc, and Fayn Fitz John, the Lord of 

 Ewyas, who were at that time secretaries, and being counsellors to the King, 

 Earl Milo, wishing to draw from Gruffydd some discourse concerning his innate 

 nobility, rather jocularly than seriously thus addressed him : ' It is an ancient 

 saying in Wales, that if the natural Prince of the country, coming to this lake, 

 shall order the birds to sing, they immediately obey him.' To which Gruffydd, 

 richer in mind than in gold (for though his inheritance was diminished, his 

 ambition and dignity still remained), answered, ' Do you, therefore, who now 

 hold the dominion of this land first give the command.' But he and Payn 

 having in vain commanded, and Gruffydd, perceiving that it was necessary for 

 him to do so, dismounted from his horse and falling on his knees to the east, as 

 if he had been about to engage in battle, prostrate on the ground, with his eye» 



