"Travelling I suppose in Anglesey for pleasure?""To a certain extent," said I; "but my chief object in visiting Anglesey was to view the birth-place of Gronwy Owen; I saw it yesterday, and am now going to Holyhead chiefly with a view to see the country.""And how came you, an Englishman, to know anything of Gronwy Owen?""I studied Welsh literature when young," said I, "and was much struck with the verses of Gronwy: he was one of the great bards of Wales, and certainly the most illustrious genius that Anglesey ever produced.""A great genius, I admit," said the man in grey, "but pardon me, not exactly the greatest Ynis Fon has produced. The race of the bards is not quite extinct in the island, sir. I could name one or two - however, I leave others to do so - but I assure you the race of bards is not quite extinct here.""I am delighted to hear you say so," said I, "and make no doubt that you speak correctly, for the Red Bard has said that Mona is never to be without a poet - but where am I to find one? just before I saw you I was wishing to see a poet; I would willingly give a quart of ale to see a genuine Anglesey poet.""You would, sir, would you?" said the man in grey, lifting his head on high, and curling his upper lip.
"I would, indeed," said I, "my greatest desire at present is to see an Anglesey poet, but where am I to find one?""Where is he to find one?" said he of the tattered hat; "where's the gwr boneddig to find a prydydd? No occasion to go far, he, he, he.""Well" said I, "but where is he?"
"Where is he? why, there," said he, pointing to the man in grey -"the greatest prydydd in tir Fon or the whole world.""Tut, tut, hold your tongue," said the man in grey.
"Hold my tongue, myn Diawl, not I - I speak the truth," then filling his glass he emptied it exclaiming, "I'll not hold, my tongue. The greatest prydydd in the whole world.""Then I have the honour to be seated with a bard of Anglesey?" said I, addressing the man in grey.
"Tut, tut," said he of the grey suit.
"The greatest prydydd in the whole world," iterated he of the bulged shoe, with a slight hiccup, as he again filled his glass.
"Then," said I, "I am truly fortunate."
"Sir," said the man in grey, "I had no intention of discovering myself, but as my friend here has betrayed my secret, I confess that I am a bard of Anglesey - my friend is an excellent individual but indiscreet, highly indiscreet, as I have frequently told him,"and here he looked most benignantly reproachful at him of the tattered hat.
"The greatest prydydd," said the latter, "the greatest prydydd that - " and leaving his sentence incomplete he drank off the ale which he had poured into his glass.
"Well," said I, "I cannot sufficiently congratulate myself for having met an Anglesey bard - no doubt a graduate one. Anglesey, was always famous for graduate bards, for what says Black Robin?
"'Though Arvon graduate bards can boast, Yet more canst thou, O Anglesey.'""I suppose by graduate bard you mean one who has gained the chair at an eisteddfod?" said the man in grey. "No, I have never gained the silver chair - I have never had an opportunity. I have been kept out of the eisteddfodau. There is such a thing as envy, sir -but there is one comfort, that envy will not always prevail.""No," said I; "envy will not always prevail - envious scoundrels may chuckle for a time at the seemingly complete success of the dastardly arts to which they have recourse, in order to crush merit - but Providence is not asleep. All of a sudden they see their supposed victim on a pinnacle far above their reach. Then there is weeping, and gnashing of teeth with a vengeance, and the long, melancholy howl. Oh, there is nothing in this world which gives one so perfect an idea of retribution as the long melancholy howl of the disappointed envious scoundrel when he sees his supposed victim smiling on an altitude far above his reach.""Sir," said the man in grey, "I am delighted to hear you. Give me your hand, your honourable hand. Sir, you have now felt the hand-grasp of a Welshman, to say nothing of an Anglesey bard, and I have felt that of a Briton, perhaps a bard, a brother, sir? Oh, when Ifirst saw your face out there in the dyffryn, I at once recognised in it that of a kindred spirit, and I felt compelled to ask you to drink. Drink, sir! but how is this? the jug is empty - how is this? - Oh, I see - my friend sir, though an excellent individual, is indiscreet, sir - very indiscreet. Landlord, bring this moment another jug of ale!""The greatest prydydd," stuttered he of bulged shoe - "the greatest prydydd - Oh - ""Tut, tut," said the man in grey.
"I speak the truth and care for no one," said he of the tattered hat. "I say the greatest prydydd. If any one wishes to gainsay me let him show his face and Myn Diawl - "The landlord brought the ale, placed it on the table, and then stood as if waiting for something.
"I suppose you are waiting to be paid," said I; "what is your demand?""Sixpence for this jug, and sixpence for the other," said the landlord.
