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necessary。 For if you are successful at court； ambition never wholly quits its hold till satiated； and allures and draws you still closer； but if your labour is thrown away； you still continue the pursuit； and； together with your substance； lose your time； the greatest and most irretrievable of all losses。 There is likewise some resemblance between the court and the game of dice； as the poet observes：…
〃Sic ne perdiderit non cessat perdere lusor；
Dum revocat cupidas alea blanda manus；〃
which； by substituting the word CURIA for ALEA； may be applied to the court。 This further proof of their resemblance may be added； that as the chances of the dice and court are not productive of any real delight； so they are equally distributed to the worthy and the unworthy。
Since； therefore； among so many species of men； each follows his own inclination； and each is actuated by different desires； a regard for posterity has induced me to choose the study of composition； and； as this life is temporary and mutable； it is grateful to live in the memory of future ages； and to be immortalized by fame； for to toil after that which produces envy in life； but glory after death； is a sure indication of an elevated mind。 Poets and authors indeed aspire after immortality； but do not reject any present advantages that may offer。
I formerly completed with vain and fruitless labour the Topography of Ireland for its companion； the king Henry the Second； and Vaticinal History； for Richard of Poitiou； his son； and； I wish I were not compelled to add； his successor in vice； princes little skilled in letters； and much engaged in business。 To you； illustrious Stephen； archbishop of Canterbury； equally commendable for your learning and religion； I now dedicate the account of our meritorious journey through the rugged provinces of Cambria； written in a scholastic style； and divided into two parts。 For as virtue loves itself； and detests what is contrary to it； so I hope you will consider whatever I may have written in commendation of your late venerable and eminent predecessor； with no less affection than if it related to yourself。 To you also； when completed； I destine my treatise on the Instruction of a Prince； if； amidst your religious and worldly occupations； you can find leisure for the perusal of it。 For I purpose to submit these and other fruits of my diligence to be tasted by you at your discretion； each in its proper order； hoping that； if my larger undertakings do not excite your interest； my smaller works may at least merit your approbation； conciliate your favour； and call forth my gratitude towards you； who； unmindful of worldly affections； do not partially distribute your bounties to your family and friends； but to letters and merit； you； who； in the midst of such great and unceasing contests between the crown and the priesthood； stand forth almost singly the firm and faithful friend of the British church； you； who； almost the only one duly elected； fulfil the scriptural designation of the episcopal character。 It is not； however； by bearing a cap； by placing a cushion； by shielding off the rain； or by wiping the dust； even if there should be none； in the midst of a herd of flatterers； that I attempt to conciliate your favour； but by my writings。 To you； therefore； rare； noble； and illustrious man； on whom nature and art have showered down whatever becomes your supereminent situation； I dedicate my works； but if I fail in this mode of conciliating your favour； and if your prayers and avocations should not allow you sufficient time to read them； I shall consider the honour of letters as vanished； and in hope of its revival I shall inscribe my writings to posterity。
SECOND PREFACE … TO THE SAME PRELATE
Since those things； which are known to have been done through a laudable devotion； are not unworthily extolled with due praises； and since the mind； when relaxed； loses its energy； and the torpor of sloth enervates the understanding； as iron acquires rust for want of use； and stagnant waters become foul； lest my pen should be injured by the rust of idleness； I have thought good to commit to writing the devout visitation which Baldwin； archbishop of Canterbury； made throughout Wales； and to hand down； as it were in a mirror； through you； O illustrious Stephen； to posterity； the difficult places through which we passed； the names of springs and torrents； the witty sayings； the toils and incidents of the journey； the memorable events of ancient and modern times； and the natural history and description of the country； lest my study should perish through idleness； or the praise of these things be lost by silence。
THE ITINERARY THROUGH WALES … BOOK I
CHAPTER I
Journey through Hereford and Radnor
In the year 1188 from the incarnation of our Lord； Urban the Third ｛11｝ being the head of the apostolic see； Frederick； emperor of Germany and king of the Romans； Isaac； emperor of Constantinople； Philip； the son of Louis； reigning in France； Henry the Second in England； William in Sicily； Bela in Hungary； and Guy in Palestine： in that very year； when Saladin； prince of the Egyptians and Damascenes； by a signal victory gained possession of the kingdom of Jerusalem； Baldwin； archbishop of Canterbury； a venerable man； distinguished for his learning and sanctity； journeying from England for the service of the holy cross； entered Wales near the borders of Herefordshire。
The archbishop proceeded to Radnor； ｛12｝ on Ash Wednesday （Caput Jejunii）； accompanied by Ranulph de Glanville； privy counsellor and justiciary of the whole kingdom； and there met Rhys； ｛13｝ son of Gruffydd； prince of South Wales； and many other noble personages of those parts； where a sermon being preached by the archbishop； upon the subject of the Crusades； and explained to the Welsh by an interpreter； the author of this Itinerary； impelled by the urgent importunity and promises of the king； and the persuasions of the archbishop and the justiciary； arose the first； and falling down at the feet of the holy man； devoutly took the sign of the cross。 His example was instantly followed by Peter； bishop of St。 David's； ｛14｝ a monk of the abbey of Cluny； and then by Eineon； son of Eineon Clyd； ｛15｝ prince of Elvenia； and many other persons。 Eineon rising up； said to Rhys； whose daughter he had married； 〃My father and lord！ with your permission I hasten to revenge the injury offered to the great father of all。〃 Rhys himself was so fully determined upon the holy peregrination； as soon as the archbishop should enter his territories on his return； that for nearly fifteen days he was employed with great solicitude in making the necessary preparations for so distant a journey； till his wife； and； according to the common vicious licence of the country； his relation in the fourth degree； Guendolena； （Gwenllian）； daughter of Madoc； prince of Powys； by female artifices diverted him wholly from his noble purpose； since； as Solomon says； 〃A man's heart deviseth his way； but the Lord directeth his steps。〃 As Rhys before his departure was conversing with his friends concerning the things he had heard； a distinguished young man of his family； by name Gruff