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"Thatbrook，"saidtheguide，"istheyoungSevern。"Thebrookcamefromroundthesideofaveryloftyrock，singularlyvariegated，blackandwhite，thenorthernsummitpresentingsomethingoftheappearanceoftheheadofahorse。Passingroundthiscragwecametoafountainsurroundedwithrushes，outofwhichthebrook，nowexceedinglysmall，camemurmuring。
"Thecragabove，"saidmyguide，"iscalledCragyCefyl，ortheRockoftheHorse，andthisspringatitsfootisgenerallycalledtheffynnonoftheHafren。However，drinknotofit，master；fortheffynnonoftheHafrenishigherupthenant。Followme，andI
willpresentlyshowyoutherealffynnonoftheHafren。"
Ifollowedhimupanarrowandverysteepdingle。Presentlywecametosomebeautifullittlepoolsofwaterintheturf，whichwashereremarkablygreen。
"Theseareveryprettypools，an’tthey，master？"saidmycompanion。"Now，ifIwasafalseguideImightbidyoustoopanddrink，sayingthatthesewerethesourcesoftheSevern；butIamatruecyfarwydd，andthereforetellyounottodrink，forthesepoolsarenotthesourcesoftheHafren，nomorethanthespringbelow。TheffynnonoftheSevernishigherupthenant。Don’tfret，however，butfollowme，andweshallbethereinaminute。"
SoIdidashebademe，followinghimwithoutfrettinghigherupthenant。Justatthetophehaltedandsaid："Now，master，I
haveconductedyoutothesourceoftheSevern。Ihaveconsideredthematterdeeply，andhavecometotheconclusionthathere，andhereonly，isthetruesource。Thereforestoopdownanddrink，infullconfidencethatyouaretakingpossessionoftheHolySevern。"
ThesourceoftheSevernisalittlepoolofwatersometwentyincheslong，sixwide，andaboutthreedeep。Itiscoveredatthebottomwithsmallstones，frombetweenwhichthewatergushesup。
Itisontheleft—handsideofthenant，asyouascend，closebytheverytop。Anunsightlyheapofblackturf—earthstandsrightaboveittothenorth。Turf—heaps，bothlargeandsmall，areinabundanceinthevicinity。
AftertakingpossessionoftheSevernbydrinkingatitssource，ratherashabbysourceforsonobleastream，Isaid，"NowletusgotothefountainoftheWye。"
"Aquarterofanhourwilltakeustoit，yourhonour，"saidtheguide，leadingtheway。
ThesourceoftheWye，whichisalittlepool，notmuchlargerthanthatwhichconstitutesthefountainoftheSevern，standsnearthetopofagrassyhillwhichformspartoftheGreatPlynlimmon。Thestreamafterleavingitssourcerunsdownthehilltowardstheeast，andthentakesaturntothesouth。TheMountainsoftheSevernandtheWyeareincloseproximitytoeachother。ThatoftheRheidolstandssomewhatapartfrontboth，asif，proudofitsownbeauty，itdisdainedtheothertwofortheirhomeliness。Allthreearecontainedwithinthecompassofamile。
"Andnow，Isuppose，sir，thatourworkisdone，andwemaygobacktowherewecamefrom，"saidmyguide，asIstoodonthegrassyhillafterdrinkingcopiouslyofthefountainoftheWye。
"Wemay，"saidI；"butbeforewedoImustrepeatsomelinesmadebyamanwhovisitedthesesources，andexperiencedthehospitalityofachieftaininthisneighbourhoodfourhundredyearsago。"Thentakingoffmyhat，Iliftedupmyvoiceandsang：—
"FromhighPlynlimmon’sshaggysideThreestreamsinthreedirectionsglide；
TothousandsattheirmouthswhotarryHoney，goldandmeadtheycarry。
FlowalsofromPlynlimmonhighThreestreamsofgenerosity；
Thefirst，anoblestreamindeed，LikerillsofMonarunswithmead；
ThesecondbearsfromvineyardsthickWinetothefeebleandthesick；
Thethird，tilltimeshallbenomore，Mingledwithgoldshallsilverpour。"
"Nicepennillion，sir，Idaresay，"saidmyguide，"providedapersoncouldunderstandthem。What’smeantbyallthismead，wine，gold，andsilver？"
"Why，"saidI，"thebardmeanttosaythatPlynlimmon，bymeansofitsthreechannels，sendsblessingsandwealthinthreedifferentdirectionstodistantplaces，andthatthepersonwhomhecametovisit，andwholivedonPlynlimmon，distributedhisbountyinthreedifferentways，givingmeadtothousandsathisbanquets，winefromthevineyardsofGasconytothesickandfeebleoftheneighbourhood，andgoldandsilvertothosewhowerewillingtobetipped，amongstwhomnodoubtwashimself，aspoetshaveneverbeenabovereceivingapresent。"
"Noraboveaskingforone，yourhonour；there’saprydyddinthisneighbourhoodwhowillneverloseashillingforwantofaskingforit。Now，sir，havethekindnesstotellmethenameofthemanwhomadethosepennillion。"
"LewisGlynCothi，"saidI；"atleast，itwashewhomadethepennillionfromwhichthoseversesaretranslated。"
"Andwhatwasthenameofthegentlemanwhomhecametovisit？"
"Hisname，"saidI，"wasDafyddabThomasVychan。"
"Andwheredidhelive？"
"Why，Ibelieve，helivedatthecastle，whichyoutoldmeoncestoodonthespotwhichyoupointedoutaswecameup。Atanyrate，helivedsomewhereuponPlynlimmon。"
"IwishtherewassomerichgentlemanatpresentlivingonPlynlimmon，"saidmyguide；"oneofthatsortismuchwanted。"
"Youcan’thaveeverythingatthesametime，"saidI；"formerlyyouhadachieftainwhogaveawaywineandmead，andoccasionallyabitofgoldorsilver，butthennotravellersandtouristscametoseethewondersofthehills，foratthattimenobodycaredanythingabouthills；atpresentyouhavenochieftain，butplentyofvisitors，whocometoseethehillsandthesources，andscatterplentyofgoldabouttheneighbourhood。"
Wenowbentourstepshomeward，bearingslightlytothenorth，goingoverhillsanddalescoveredwithgorseandling。Myguidewalkedwithacalmanddeliberategait，yetIhadconsiderabledifficultyinkeepingupwithhim。Therewas，however，nothingsurprisinginthis；hewasashepherdwalkingonhisownhill，andhavingfirst—ratewind，andknowingeveryinchoftheground，madegreatwaywithoutseemingtobeintheslightesthurry：Iwouldnotadvisearoad—walker，evenifhebeafirst—rateone，toattempttocompetewithashepherdonhisown，orindeedanyhill；
shouldhedoso，theconceitwouldsoonbetakenoutofhim。
Afteralittletimewesawarivuletrunningfromthewest。
"Thisffrwd，"saidmyguide，"iscalledFrennig。ItheredividesshireTrefaldwynfromCardiganshire，oneinNorthandtheotherinSouthWales。"
Shortlyafterwardswecametoahillockofratherasingularshape。
"Thisplace，sir，"saidhe，"iscalledEisteddfa。"
"Whyisitcalledso？"saidI。"Eisteddfameanstheplacewherepeoplesitdown。"
"Itdoesso，"saidtheguide，"anditiscalledtheplaceofsittingbecausethreemenfromdifferentquartersoftheworldoncemethere，andoneproposedthattheyshouldsitdown。"
"Anddidthey？"saidI。
"Theydid，sir；andwhentheyhadsatdowntheytoldeachothertheirhistories。"
"Ishouldbegladtoknowwhattheirhistorieswere，"saidI。
"Ican’texactlytellyouwhattheywere，butIhaveheardsaythattherewasagreatdealinthemabouttheTylwythTegorfairies。"
"Doyoubelieveinfairies？"saidI。
"Ido，sir；buttheyareveryseldomseen，andwhentheyaretheydonoharmtoanybody。Ionlywishtherewereasfewcorpse—
candlesasthereareTylwithTeg，andthattheydidaslittleharm。"
"Theyforeshowpeople’sdeaths，don’tthey？"saidI。
"Theydo，sir；butthat’snotalltheharmtheydo。Theyareverydangerousforanybodytomeetwith。Iftheycomebumpupagainstyouwhenyouarewalkingcarelesslyit’sgenerallyalloverwithyouinthisworld。I’llgiveyouanexample：AmanreturningfrommarketfromLlanEglostoLlanCurig，notfarfromPlynlimmon，wasstruckdowndeadasahorsenotlongagobyacorpse—candle。Itwasarainy，windynight，andthewindandrainwereblowinginhisface，sothathecouldnotseeit，orgetoutofitsway。Andyetthecandlewasnotabroadonpurposetokilltheman。Thebusinessthatitwasaboutwastoprognosticatethedeathofawomanwholivednearthespot，andwhosehusbanddealt
