Cupid's Darts 143 



Llanwddyn road, leading from Bala to Lake Vyrnwy. The 

 bank which overlooks this valley from the west is almost as 

 imposing as that we have just left. The entombed cliff 

 peeps out here and there from amidst its own crumbling 

 ruins, but it is seldom as much as fifty feet in height, in 

 any one place, and is now untenanted except by a couple of 

 pairs of Kestrels. While we sat near the top, however, three 

 beautiful Buzzards sailed up the valley, and came wheeling 

 around us, pretty close at first, but gradually enlarging their 

 circles, as they mounted upwards, till they became lost in 

 the direction of Rhiw Argor. No doubt they were visitors 

 from the wooded crags round that place, where I afterwards 

 found an eyrie ; but it was a most unusual sight to see three 

 such large birds of prey on the wing together, at this season 

 of the year, and apparently not jealous of each other's 

 company. One of the points overlooking the road here, 

 rather greener than the rest of the ridge, on account of the 

 presence of a spring, is reputed to be a favourite resort of 

 Cupid ; and when the little god is in a good humour he 

 amuses himself by aiming his shafts at the passers-by 

 far below. On this account, no doubt, it is a favourite 

 walk with young people from Bala ; and when a girl is 

 thought to be spending, unprofitably, too many years of 

 spinsterhood, she is advised by her friends to " try the 

 Llanwddyn road." My informant was a firm believer in 

 the virtues attaching to the green mound, having himself, 

 as he said, proved the efficacy of its spell. To-day, the 

 only female visitors are speeding by on the unsentimental 

 bicycle, as oblivious, apparently, of the beauty of the 

 country, as unwitting of the proximity of Cupid's temple. 

 " Love-darts would be wasted here," soliloquised my 

 companion ; " they be English ladies, and would not be 

 understanding the old language, I think." 



