〃This　does　not　seem　to　be　a　country　of　much　society；〃　said　I　to　my
  guide。
  〃It　is　not；　sir。　　The　nearest　house　is　the　inn　we　came　from；　which
  is　now　three　miles　behind　us。　　Straight　before　you　there　is　not　one
  for　at　least　ten；　and　on　either　side　it　is　an　anialwch　to　a　vast
  distance。　　Plunlummon　is　not　a　sociable　country；　sir；　nothing　to　be
  found　in　it；　but　here　and　there　a　few　sheep　or　a　shepherd。〃
  〃Now；〃　said　I；　descending　from　the　carn；　〃we　will　proceed　to　the
  sources　of　the　rivers。〃
  〃The　ffynnon　of　the　Rheidol　is　not　far　off；〃　said　the　guide；　〃it　is
  just　below　the　hill。〃
  We　descended　the　western　side　of　the　hill　for　some　way；　at　length；
  coming　to　a　very　craggy　and　precipitous　place；　my　guide　stopped；
  and　pointing　with　his　finger　into　the　valley　below；　said：…
  〃There；　sir；　if　you　look　down　you　can　see　the　source　of　the
  Rheidol。〃
  I　looked　down；　and　saw　far　below　what　appeared　to　be　part　of　a
  small　sheet　of　water。
  〃And　that　is　the　source　of　the　Rheidol？〃　said　I。
  〃Yes；　sir；〃　said　my　guide；　〃that　is　the　ffynnon　of　the　Rheidol。〃
  〃Well；〃　said　I；　〃is　there　no　getting　to　it？〃
  〃Oh　yes！　but　the　path；　sir；　as　you　see；　is　rather　steep　and
  dangerous。〃
  〃Never　mind；〃　said　I。　　〃Let　us　try　it。〃
  〃Isn't　seeing　the　fountain　sufficient　for　you；　sir？〃
  〃By　no　means；〃　said　I。　　〃It　is　not　only　necessary　for　me　to　see　the
  sources　of　the　rivers；　but　to　drink　of　them；　in　order　that　in　after
  times　I　may　be　able　to　harangue　about　them　with　a　tone　of
  confidence　and　authority。〃
  〃Then　follow　me；　sir；　but　please　to　take　care；　for　this　path　is
  more　fit　for　sheep　or　shepherds　than　gentlefolk。〃
  And　a　truly　bad　path　I　found　it；　so　bad　indeed　that　before　I　had
  descended　twenty　yards　I　almost　repented　having　ventured。　　I　had　a
  capital　guide；　however；　who　went　before　and　told　me　where　to　plant
  my　steps。　　There　was　one　particularly　bad　part；　being　little　better
  than　a　sheer　precipice；　but　even　here　I　got　down　in　safety　with　the
  assistance　of　my　guide；　and　a　minute　afterwards　found　myself　at　the
  source　of　the　Rheidol。
  The　source　of　the　Rheidol　is　a　small　beautiful　lake；　about　a
  quarter　of　a　mile　in　length。　　It　is　overhung　on　the　east　and　north
  by　frightful　crags；　from　which　it　is　fed　by　a　number　of　small
  rills。　　The　water　is　of　the　deepest　blue；　and　of　very　considerable
  depth。　　The　banks；　except　to　the　north　and　east；　slope　gently　down；
  and　are　clad　with　soft　and　beautiful　moss。　　The　river；　of　which　it
  is　the　head；　emerges　at　the　south…western　side；　and　brawls　away　in
  the　shape　of　a　considerable　brook；　amidst　moss；　and　rushes　down　a
  wild　glen　tending　to　the　south。　　To　the　west　the　prospect　is
  bounded；　at　a　slight　distance；　by　high；　swelling　ground。　　If　few
  rivers　have　a　more　wild　and　wondrous　channel　than　the　Rheidol；
  fewer　still　have　a　more　beautiful　and　romantic　source。
  After　kneeling　down　and　drinking　freely　of　the　lake　I　said：
  〃Now；　where　are　we　to　go　to　next？〃
  〃The　nearest　ffynnon　to　that　of　the　Rheidol；　sir；　is　the　ffynnon　of
  the　Severn。〃
  〃Very　well；〃　said　I；　〃let　us　now　go　and　see　the　ffynnon　of　the
  Severn！〃
  I　followed　my　guide　over　a　hill　to　the　north…west　into　a　valley；　at
  the　farther　end　of　which　I　saw　a　brook　streaming　apparently　to　the
  south；　where　was　an　outlet。
  〃That　brook；〃　said　the　guide；　〃is　the　young　Severn。〃　　The　brook
  came　from　round　the　side　of　a　very　lofty　rock；　singularly
  variegated；　black　and　white；　the　northern　summit　presenting
  something　of　the　appearance　of　the　head　of　a　horse。　　Passing　round
  this　crag　we　came　to　a　fountain　surrounded　with　rushes；　out　of
  which　the　brook；　now　exceedingly　small；　came　murmuring。
  〃The　crag　above；〃　said　my　guide；　〃is　called　Crag　y　Cefyl；　or　the
  Rock　of　the　Horse；　and　this　spring　at　its　foot　is　generally　called
  the　ffynnon　of　the　Hafren。　　However；　drink　not　of　it；　master；　for
  the　ffynnon　of　the　Hafren　is　higher　up　the　nant。　　Follow　me；　and　I
  will　presently　show　you　the　real　ffynnon　of　the　Hafren。〃
  I　followed　him　up　a　narrow　and　very　steep　dingle。　　Presently　we
  came　to　some　beautiful　little　pools　of　water　in　the　turf；　which　was
  here　remarkably　green。
  〃These　are　very　pretty　pools；　an't　they；　master？〃　said　my
  companion。　　〃Now；　if　I　was　a　false　guide　I　might　bid　you　stoop　and
  drink；　saying　that　these　were　the　sources　of　the　Severn；　but　I　am　a
  true　cyfarwydd；　and　therefore　tell　you　not　to　drink；　for　these
  pools　are　not　the　sources　of　the　Hafren；　no　more　than　the　spring
  below。　　The　ffynnon　of　the　Severn　is　higher　up　the　nant。　　Don't
  fret；　however；　but　follow　me；　and　we　shall　be　there　in　a　minute。〃
  So　I　did　as　he　bade　me；　following　him　without　fretting　higher　up
  the　nant。　　Just　at　the　top　he　halted　and　said：　　〃Now；　master；　I
  have　conducted　you　to　the　source　of　the　Severn。　　I　have　considered
  the　matter　deeply；　and　have　come　to　the　conclusion　that　here；　and
  here　only；　is　the　true　source。　　Therefore　stoop　down　and　drink；　in
  full　confidence　that　you　are　taking　possession　of　the　Holy　Severn。〃
  The　source　of　the　Severn　is　a　little　pool　of　water　some　twenty
  inches　long；　six　wide；　and　about　three　deep。　　It　is　covered　at　the
  bottom　with　small　stones；　from　between　which　the　water　gushes　up。
  It　is　on　the　left…hand　side　of　the　nant；　as　you　ascend；　close　by
  the　very　top。　　An　unsightly　heap　of　black　turf…earth　stands　right
  above　it　to　the　north。　　Turf…heaps；　both　large　and　small；　are　in
  abundance　in　the　vicinity。
  After　taking　possession　of　the　Severn　by　drinking　at　its　source；
  rather　a　shabby　source　for　so　noble　a　stream；　I　said；　〃Now　let　us
  go　to　the　fountain　of　the　Wye。〃
  〃A　quarter　of　an　hour　will　take　us　to　it；　your　honour；〃　said　the
  guide；　leading　the　way。
  The　source　of　the　Wye；　which　is　a　little　pool；　not　much　larger　than
  that　which　constitutes　the　fountain　of　the　Severn；　stands　near　the
  top　of　a　grassy　hill　which　forms　part　of　the　Great　Plynlimmon。　　The
  stream　after　leaving　its　source　runs　down　the　hill　towards　the
  east；　and　then　takes　a　turn　to　the　south。　　The　Mountains　of　the
  Severn　and　the　Wye　are　in　close　proximity　to　each　other。　　That　of
  the　Rheidol　stands　somewhat　apart　front　both；　as　if；　proud　of　its
  own　beauty；　it　disdained　the　other　two　for　their　homeliness。　　All
  three　are　contained　within　the　compass　of　a　mile。
  〃And　now；　I　suppose；　sir；　that　our　work　is　done；　and　we　may　go　back
  to　where　we　came　from；〃　said　my　guide；　as　I　stood　on　the　grassy
  hill　after　drinking　copiously　of　the　fountain　of　the　Wye。
  〃We　may；〃　said　I；　〃but　before　we　do　I　must　repeat　some　lines　made
  by　a　man　who　visited　these　sources；　and　experienced　the　hospitality
  of　a　chieftain　in　this　neighbourhood　four　hundred　years　ago。〃　　Then
  taking　off　my　hat；　I　lifted　up　my　voice　and　sang：…
  〃From　high　Plynlimmon's　shaggy　side
  Three　streams　in　three　directions　glide；
  To　thousands　at　their　mouths　who　tarry
  Honey；　gold　and　mead　they　carry。
  Flow　also　from　Plynlimmon　high
  Three　streams　of　generosity；
  The　first；　a　noble　stream　indeed；
  Like　rills　of　Mona　runs　with　mead；
  The　second　bears　from　vineyards　thick
  Wine　to　the　feeble　and　the　sick；
  The　third；　till　time　shall　be　no　more；
  Mingled　with　gold　shall　silver　pour。〃
  〃Nice　pennillion；　sir；　I　daresay；〃　said　my　guide；　〃provided　a
  person　could　understand　them。　　What's　meant　by　all　this　mead；　wine；
  gold；　and　silver？〃
  〃Why；〃　said　I；　〃the　bard　meant　to　say　that　Plynlimmon；　by　means　of
  its　three　channels；　sends　blessings　and　wealth　in　three　different
  directions　to　distant　places；　and　that　the　person　whom　he　came　to
  visit；　and　who　lived　on　Plynlimmon；　distributed　his　bounty　in　three
  different　ways；　giving　mead　to　thousands　at　his　banquets；　wine　from
  the　vineyards　of　Gascony　to　the　sick　and　feeble　of　the
  neighbourhood；　and　gold　and　silver　to　those　who　were　willing　to　be
  tipped；　amongst　whom　no　doubt　was　himself；　as　poets　have　never　been
  above　receiving　a　present。〃
  〃Nor　above　asking　for　one；　your　honour；　there's　a　prydydd　in　this
  neighbourhood　who　will　never　lose　a　shilling　for　want　of　asking　for
  it。　　Now；　sir；　have　the　kindness　to　tell　me　the　name　of　the　man　who
  made　those　pennillion。〃
  〃Lewis　Glyn　Cothi；〃　said　I；　〃at　least；　it　was　he　who　made　the
  pennillion　from　which　those　verses　are　translated。〃
  〃And　what　was　the　name　of　the　gentleman　whom　he　came　to　visit？〃
  〃His　name；〃　said　I；　〃was　Dafydd　ab　Thomas　Vychan。〃
  〃And　where　did　he　live？〃
  〃Why；　I　believe；　he　lived　at　the　castle；　which　you　told　me　once
  stood　on　the　spot　which　you　pointed　out　as　we　came　up。　　At　any
  rate；　he　lived　somewhere　upon　Plynlimmon。〃
  〃I　wish　there　was　some　rich　gentleman　at　present　living　on
  Plynlimmon；〃　said　my　guide；　〃one　of　that　sort　is　much　wanted。〃
  〃You　can't　have　everything　at　the　same　time；〃　said　I；　〃formerly　you
  had　a　chieftain　who　gave　away　wine　and　mead；　and　occasionally　a　bit
  of　gold　or　silver；　but　then　no　travellers　and　tourists　came　to　see
  the　wonders　of　the　hills；　for　at　that　time　nobody　cared　anything
  about　hills；　at　present　you　have　no　chieftain；　but　plenty　of
  visitors；　who　come　to　see　the　hills　and　the　sources；　and　scatter
  plenty　of　gold　about　the　neighbourhood。〃
  We　now　bent　our　steps　homeward；　bearing　slight