pure as metal, we can well understand how the natives would turn it to account as a substitute for stone in respect of implements and weapons. Bronze, formed of copper and tin, would next be discovered, that is after they had understood the art of smelting; and lastly, iron, which bears in its natural state little resemblance to a metal, and is smelted by a very difficult and tedious process. (To be continued.) AB ITHEL. CYMRIC LEGEND. CILMIN TROED-DU.1 CILMIN, living in the vicinity of necromancers and demons, became the intimate friend of one of the former, who knew all the secrets of nature, except one, which he was aware was contained in a volume, written by no human hand, and guarded by a demon, whose abode was near the summit of the forked mountains of Yr Eif, in Caernarvonshire. The necromancer, though potent in his art, had no power even to attempt gaining possession of this mystic book; but he pined after the knowledge it concealed, and he imparted to his friend Cilmin the trouble of his soul. The knight, who feared nothing, instantly offered to dare any adventure in order to satisfy his longing, and set forth, armed at all points, to the dangerous spot. The sage informed him that he must use the 1 Cilmin Troed-du, or Cilmin with the black foot, was the founder of one of the fifteen tribes of North Wales. He lived about A.D. 819, and resided at Glyn Llivon, which still continues in the possession of one of his descendants, and from which place many of them took the name of Glynne. His arms were,-"Quarterly 1, argent, an eagle displayed with two heads sable; 2, argent, three fiery ragged sticks gules; the third as the second; the fourth as the first. Över all, upon an escutcheon of pretence argent, a man's leg coupè a la cuisse sable." utmost caution in possessing himself of the magic volume, and to be particularly careful in crossing a certain brook at the foot of the mountain, where the demon's jurisdiction ended, not to wet his feet, as evil might otherwise befall him. Cilmin departed towards the mountain of the mighty Twins, (another name for Yr Eifl,) and after riding several hours, entered the gloomy valley called Nant-yGwytheryn, which is crowned with rugged and lofty mountains, and opens only to the sea. He spurred his steed over the stony way, climbed the sides of a steep acclivity, and arrived at Tref y Caerau, or the town of the fortresses, which runs from one side of Yr Eifl to the other, and consists of an immense rampart of huge stones encircling the summit of the mountain, and ending in a point which is almost inaccessible. These rocky barriers are filled with cells of every form, and at the time when Cilmin ventured on his errand they were known to be the resort of the demons who served the chief spirit, whose abode was on the highest pinnacle of the rock; there he dwelt with a hideous and terrible giantess, his companion, who executed his biddings, and caused infinite desolation in the country. Their constant study was the book, which in their hands taught only evil, but looked into by Christian eyes would disclose much that would serve mankind. The giantess inhabited a cell on the south side of Tref y Caerau; it is called to this day Moel-carn-y-Wrach, and now rises to a cone, being crowned by a huge pile of stones like the ruins of a fortress; but at that time the stones were in the lap of the giantess, and her intention was to heat them red hot at the demon's fire, and cast them down upon the neighbouring fields to destroy them. Suddenly, she beheld Cilmin riding impetuously up the steep, and taken by surprise, she started from her seat, and let all the stones fall from her apron; whence the place is since called "the Apronful of Stones." Then followed a fearful combat with the giantess, the demon, and the knight; but the latter, by the help of his good sword and its cross handle, was able at length to fell the demon to the earth, and snatch from him the book which he always held beneath his serpent wing. No sooner had the knight gained his prize than he commenced a retreat, and spurring his horse he began to descend the mountain with the whole city of demons howling at his heels. On he went over rock and through valley, making the ground re-echo to his courser's hoofs, and still keeping the rabble rout at bay. At length, he reached the stream of the Llifon, and there just on the edge, his gallant steed fell exhausted and dying, and he felt that the demons were gaining upon him; he knew they could not cross the river; but it was so wide that scarcely was it possible for him to leap it; to ford it was impossible, the current was too strong. An effort, he felt, must be made, and he hesitated no longer, but rising on the back of his fallen steed, he gave a desperate spring and gained the opposite side; at that very moment his foot slipped, one of his legs sunk into the water, and it was with extreme difficulty he could draw it forth again, and manage to climb up the bank. He felt as if a red-hot iron grasp had seized his leg beneath the water; and he heard a low chuckling laugh as he hurried away from the stream, and sought the hermitage of his friend the necromancer, to whom he gave the book which he had gained at such risk. From that time the limb which the demon had caught became coal-black, and the knight was lame to his dying day; he always, in memory of the event, wore a suit of black armour, and he went by the name of Cilmin Troed-du, or Black-footed. 120 CYWYDD CYFRINACH. By RHYS GOCH O'R ERYRI. 1330-1420. THIS poem, which is printed in the Iolo volume, p. 310, contains some expressions that are hard to be understood, allusive, as is said, to bardic mysteries. Having fallen in with another copy, which here and there exhibits different readings, I think it would be doing service to the literature of Wales to record them in the Cambrian Journal. I shall, for the sake of convenience, distinguish the printed poem by the letter A, and that in MS. by the letter B. Title- Cywydd Cyfrinach--A. Cywydd diweddaf yr ymryson rhwng Rhys Goch Eryri a Llywelyn Fab Moel y Pantri-B. Line 12.-Ynraigiau-A. Yng nghreigiau-B. In reference to line 4,-Yng ngoleu sampl angylion, a marginal reading has "Gŵydd Angylion, in al.' Line 42.- Margin "A gant, in al." 43.-Haelwedd-A. B. 50.-Ganapla― A. Gan Apla-B. This latter reading is important, as it simplifies considerably a word that has puzzled many Welsh scholars. It seems that it is not intended for Čabbala, but it is another form for Alpha, or perhaps for Abel. The margin has “Einigan al." In one copy which I have not by me now, I observed that in the next line "Angylion was substituted for " Maillonwyn." Line 63.-Pont hu ag yn gu gywir-A. Another Line 66.-Yngenau Gabriel-A. Yngeiriau Gabriel-B. Al. Ein gobr yngenau Gabriel. Line 103.-Kar bax-A. Cau bax-B. Cai al. There are several minor variations which I have not noticed, inasmuch as they are chiefly orthographical, and are not calculated to alter the sense. Mab Maxen is Owain, who emancipated the Cymry from the Roman dominion, and under whose auspices the Eisteddfod was established. Par appears to be the Latin for peace. MENW. LLYWELYN THE LAST. By LADY MARSHALL. CANIAD V. (Continued from page 41.) THE fiery courser of the sky Is tired at length-his broad, bright eye Of many coloured clouds, like those Around departed heroes-oft A hue though less intense more touching soft Than when they soared in gorgeous blaze aloft. So spread the roseate floods that eve, Bathing the hill-the plain-the wave;- CAMB. JOUR., 1859. R |