The Cambrian Sketch-Book: Tales, Scenes, and Legends of Wild Wales by
R. Rice Davies, author of “The Handy Book on Tax Laws,” “Havelock,” “Essay on Recreation Grounds for Swansea,” etc.
CONTENTS
Dedication
Preface.
Story 1. Ascent of Snowdon.
Story 2. A Story of Dunraven Castle in the Olden Times; Or, God’s Judgment Against Wreckers.
Chapter 1. The Lovers
Chapter 2. A Noble Resolve Nobly Carried Out
Chapter 3. The Alliance of the Lord of Dunraven with Mac the Devil, and Some Ofits Results
Chapter 4. The Terrible Doom
Story 3. Parson Jones, and His Conquests over the Arch-Fiend of Pandemonium.
Story 4. Parson Jones’s Tale of Nat the Smith and the Three Wishes.
Story 5. Cadwgan Wynn; or the Lost Inheritance Regained.
Chapter 1. Shade and Light—Sorrow—But Hope in Sorrow
Chapter 2. An Inheritance Lost, but a Friend Found
Chapter 3. The Wide World
Chapter 4. The Victory of Innocence
Chapter 5. The Right Man Coming at the Right Time
Chapter 6. Virtue Rewarded
Chapter 7. The Lost Inheritance Regained
Story 6. Traditions of Llyn Savathan; or Llangorse, or Talyllyn Lake.
Chapter 1. Traditions of Giraldus
Chapter 2. The Last Warning
Chapter 3. The Fatal Banquet; or, Vengeance at Hand
Story 7. Treffynnon; or, Legends of Saint Winifred
Story 8. The Visit of Elidorus to the Fairy Kingdom Beneath the Bay.
Story 9. Cefn-Y-Bedd; or, A Visit to the Shrine of Llewelyn Ab Gruffydd, the Last Cambrian King.
Preface.
The history of the Cambrian race is interesting not only to the antiquarian, but also to all real lovers of traditional and legendary lore. It is a race which had its origin in the mythical age, in the far back and remote past, in that period of the world’s history when intellectual and moral darkness covered the earth, and when gross darkness, like a black pall, enveloped the minds of the people. The country which this race originally occupied is simply a matter of conjecture—an unascertained fact; while the period when the Cambrian people first left their own native soil, the land of their love and their fondest affection, and wandered over hill and plain, over mountain and dismal swamp, through woods and primeval forests, wading through mighty fordable rivers, and crossing stormy seas, until they reached the pebbled strand of this our sea-girt isle, is still a matter of uncertainty—one of the mysteries of this mysterious world. That they occupied this island, and were in undisturbed possession of it many hundred years before the appearance in our world of Him who is the true Light of humanity, there exists abundance of evidence; and it is not unlikely, but on the contrary highly probable, that sections of this ancient people were then engaged, as now, in developing the mineral wealth of the country.
Coming down to a later date, a less remote period, we have actual descriptive accounts of the Welsh people, of their manners and customs, their habits and mode of life, their religious rites and form of worship; and considering the then state of the world, we are astonished at the comparative high state of civilization to which this ancient race had at that time attained. But to trace the history of their civilization down through the ages is foreign to my present purpose, however tempting the theme. The object I had in view in preparing this work for the press, was not to place before the reader a consecutive narrative, but to select topics with a view to illustrate some of the traits of character of this ancient, singular, and extremely interesting people—a people who, in spite of oppression, injustice, and isolation, have nobly clung to the old faith; who have ever as citizens been loyal, patriotic, and virtuous; and who, moreover, in the face of very serious disadvantages, have obtained a position of intellectual and moral manhood, which cannot fail to inspire us with admiration and wonder. Let me say here, that if this work deepens the Welshman’s love of country...Continued
