392 Wild Life in Wales 



" 'Mid ruins tumbling to decay, 

 Bluebells their azure hues display, 



Still freshly springing, 

 Where pride and pomp have passed away, 

 To mossy wall and turret grey, 



Like friendship clinging." 



According to Sir Walter Scott, the blossoms of the Blue- 

 bell may still be turned to some good purpose, and to such 

 uses would we dedicate them : 



" Take those flowers which, purple waving, 



On the ruin'd ramparts grew, 

 Where, the sons of Freedom braving, 



Rome's imperial standards flew. 

 Warriors from the breach of danger 



Pluck no longer laurels there, 

 They but yield the passing stranger 



Wild-flower wreaths for Beauty's hair." 



The Castell is altogether an admirable site for the habita- 

 tion of one who was at heart a robber, determined to prey 

 upon the industry of his neighbours, and living in constant 

 fear of retaliation ; but it was scarcely likely to commend 

 itself to those of more peaceful temperament. On this 

 account it was probably soon deserted for the more per- 

 manent station of Caergai, and it does not seem to bear 

 any evidence of prolonged occupation since Roman times. 

 A partial excavation of some of the mounds that almost 

 hide the walls has been attempted, but I did not hear of any 

 important find having been made. The Castell seems to 

 have been strangely disregarded even by the chroniclers of 

 legend and romance, for it was one of the very few places 

 of such prominence about which 1 could gather no sort 

 of tale in the neighbourhood, and which yet presented 

 so many obvious natural capabilities for the adornment 

 of a story. 



At the base of Carn Dochan some unpicturesque iron 

 sheds, and a conspicuous white mound of quartz, crushed 

 to the fineness of sand, indicate a gold mine which has been 

 profitably worked in recent years, though no actual washing 



