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latter days in a place of such obscurity； but； sir； misfortunes …
misfortunes 。 。 。〃
〃Ah；〃 said I； 〃misfortunes！ they pursue every one； more especially
those whose virtues should exempt them from them。 Well； sir； the
consciousness of not having deserved them should be your
consolation。〃
〃Sir；〃 said the doctor； taking off his hat； 〃you are infinitely
kind。〃
〃You call this an obscure place；〃 said I … 〃can that be an obscure
place which has produced a poet？ I have long had a respect for
Cerrig y Drudion because it gave birth to； and was the residence of
a poet of considerable merit。〃
〃I was not aware of that fact；〃 said the doctor； 〃pray what was his
name？〃
〃Peter Lewis；〃 said I； 〃he was a clergyman of Cerrig y Drudion
about the middle of the last century； and amongst other things
wrote a beautiful song called Cathl y Gair Mwys； or the melody of
the ambiguous word。〃
〃Surely you do not understand Welsh？〃 said the doctor。
〃I understand a little of it；〃 I replied。
〃Will you allow me to speak to you in Welsh？〃 said the doctor。
〃Certainly；〃 said I。
He spoke to me in Welsh； and I replied。
〃Ha； ha；〃 said the landlady in English； 〃only think； doctor； of the
gentleman understanding Welsh … we must mind what we say before
him。〃
〃And are you an Englishman？〃 said the doctor。
〃I am；〃 I replied。
〃And how came you to learn it？〃
〃I am fond of languages；〃 said I； 〃and studied Welsh at an early
period。〃
〃And you read Welsh poetry？〃
〃Oh yes。〃
〃How were you enabled to master its difficulties？〃
〃Chiefly by going through Owen Pugh's version of 'Paradise Lost'
twice； with the original by my side。 He has introduced into that
translation so many of the poetic terms of the old bards； that
after twice going through it； there was little in Welsh poetry that
I could not make out with a little pondering。〃
〃You pursued a very excellent plan； sir；〃 said the doctor； 〃a very
excellent plan indeed。 Owen Pugh！〃
〃Owen Pugh！ The last of your very great men；〃 said I。
〃You say right； sir；〃 said the doctor。 〃He was indeed our last
great man … Ultimus Romanorum。 I have myself read his work； which
he called Coll Gwynfa； the Loss of the place of Bliss … an
admirable translation； sir； highly poetical； and at the same time
correct。〃
〃Did you know him？〃 said I。
〃I had not the honour of his acquaintance；〃 said the doctor … 〃but；
sir； I am happy to say that I have made yours。〃
The landlady now began to talk to me about dinner； and presently
went out to make preparations for that very important meal。 I had
a great deal of conversation with the doctor； whom I found a person
of great and varied information； and one who had seen a vast deal
of the world。 He was giving me an account of an island in the West
Indies； which he had visited； when a boy coming in； whispered into
his ear； whereupon； getting up he said： 〃Sir； I am called away。 I
am a country surgeon； and of course an accoucheur。 There is a lady
who lives at some distance requiring my assistance。 It is with
grief I leave you so abruptly； but I hope that some time or other
we shall meet again。〃 Then making me an exceedingly profound bow；
he left the room； followed by the boy。
I dined upstairs in a very handsome drawing…room； communicating
with a sleeping apartment。 During dinner I was waited upon by the
daughter of the landlady； a good…looking merry girl of twenty。
After dinner I sat for some time thinking over the adventures of
the day； then feeling rather lonely and not inclined to retire to
rest； I went down to the bar； where I found the landlady seated
with her daughter。 I sat down with them and we were soon in
conversation。 We spoke of Doctor Jones … the landlady said that he
had his little eccentricities； but was an excellent and learned
man。 Speaking of herself she said that she had three daughters；
that the youngest was with her and that the two eldest kept the
principal inn at Ruthyn。 We occasionally spoke a little Welsh。 At
length the landlady said； 〃There is an Italian in the kitchen who
can speak Welsh too。 It's odd the only two people not Welshmen I
have ever known who could speak Welsh； for such you and he are；
should be in my house at the same time。〃
〃Dear me；〃 said I； 〃I should like to see him。〃
〃That you can easily do；〃 said the girl； 〃I daresay he will be glad
enough to come in if you invite him。〃
〃Pray take my compliments to him；〃 said I； 〃and tell him that I
shall be glad of his company。〃
The girl went out and presently returned with the Italian。 He was
a short； thick； strongly…built fellow of about thirty…seven； with a
swarthy face； raven…black hair； high forehead； and dark deep eyes；
full of intelligence and great determination。 He was dressed in a
velveteen coat； with broad lappets； red waistcoat； velveteen
breeches； buttoning a little way below the knee； white stockings
apparently of lamb's…wool and high…lows。
〃Buona sera？〃 said I。
〃Buona sera； signore！〃 said the Italian。
〃Will you have a glass of brandy and water？〃 said I in English。
〃I never refuse a good offer；〃 said the Italian。
He sat down； and I ordered a glass of brandy and water for him and
another for myself。
〃Pray speak a little Italian to him；〃 said the good landlady to me。
〃I have heard a great deal about the beauty of that language； and
should like to hear it spoken。〃
〃From the Lago di Como？〃 said I； trying to speak Italian。
〃Si； signore！ but how came you to think that I was from the Lake of
Como？〃
〃Because；〃 said I； 〃when I was a ragazzo I knew many from the Lake
of Como； who dressed much like yourself。 They wandered about the
country with boxes on their backs and weather…glasses in their
hands； but had their head…quarters at N。 where I lived。〃
〃Do you remember any of their names？〃 said the Italian。
〃Giovanni Gestra and Luigi Pozzi；〃 I replied。
〃I have seen Giovanni Gestra myself；〃 said the Italian； 〃and I have
heard of Luigi Pozzi。 Giovanni Gestra returned to the Lago … but
no one knows what is become of Luigi Pozzi。〃
〃The last time I saw him；〃 said I； 〃was about eighteen years ago at
Coruna in Spain； he was then in a sad drooping condition； and said
he bitterly repented ever quitting N。〃
〃E con ragione；〃 said the Italian； 〃for there is no place like N。
for doing business in the whole world。 I myself have sold seventy
pounds' worth of weather…glasses at N。 in one day。 One of our
people is living there now； who has done bene； molto bene。〃
〃That's Rossi；〃 said I； 〃how is it that I did not mention him
first？ He is my excellent friend； and a finer； cleverer fellow
never lived； nor a more honourable man。 You may well say he has
done well； for he is now the first jeweller in the place。 The last
time I was there I bought a diamond of him for my daughter
Henrietta。 Let us drink his health！〃
〃Willingly！〃 said the Italian。 〃He is the prince of the Milanese
of England … the most successful of all； but I acknowledge the most
deserving。 Che viva。〃
〃I wish he would write his life；〃 said I； 〃a singular life it would
be … he