, 1862-10-16
Legend Of cardigan castls.


the red,) surnamed on account Of darkly trag-
ical deed which he committed, but which be af-
terwards expiated, by lifo Of lonely dread and
horror, common to men even Of fierce and de-
termined natures, but who also possess . sus-
ceptbiity Of feeling il Is not easy to reconcile
with the violent lives they may have led In the
foray or the battlefield, and in the camp or be-
hind the frowning rahpArts Of the castle they
defend with such dogged tenacity.
Wise in council bold in war, Of frank, hot
iuperious temperament with q noble and com.
manding figure, the stature and physique Of
which was expanded by the hardy life which It
was the custom Of this people to fntre their chill
dren tO-it may be said that few AMONG the
princes Of South Wales stood higher In the esti.
nation Of bis countrymen, or could command
larger and more cordial sufffages, than Prince
Meredith, until the catastrophe occurred which
forever clouded his future happiness, and made
life burden to him, far too heavy to be borne.
He had welded at about the age Of three Or
four and.thirty-an age that when the affections
are awakened, they never die; and when the
passions are aroused, whether for good or for
evil, they never weaken or slumber more. He
had welded the daughter Of rival chleftain,
who dwelt on the northern borderland Of Here
ford, and in whose veins the Saxon blood Of
Offa ran. Along her white skin you could trace
the tender purple veins The fair complexion
was tinged with the tendeFest hues Of the rose
the eyes of limped blue-the "hue Of heaV-
ems own tnts"-all white and azure, as she
moved, thing Of light and glory-a dazzling
beatitude, under the showering, ripping ring
lets Of her downpohring Saxon hair Just bound
round the matchless brow with q simple fillet-
white garmented, with beaming eyes and moist
ruddy lips, that on parting showed two rows Of
finest teeth-nothing could be more enchanting
than this fair Princess Ada q @pledge" in the Old
Saxon) whom the triumphant Prince Meredith
woed and won as bis wife, and whom he proudly
placed at the head Of his ample household within
the strong walls Of Cardigan.
Most dearly did the doughty soldier love her.
Il was the realization Of the old story Of Her
cules spinning at the feet Of 0mphale. Instead
Of being forth afeld, IS was his wont-instead
Of troubling himself in the forays Of the restless
age In which be lived-he was forever at her
side 10 her bower-bcsido her 10 her walks
her savish attendant as 1t were; and the uxo-
riouS husband was becoming enervated in the
ntoxcatiOn Of the first year Of his welded bliss,
until the absolute necessity and exigehcies Of
the time demanded bis personal attention 70
them.
Before the first year Of his marriage was over
ere yet the radiant moons or his newborn, all
devouring love had waned, or grown dim in the
slightest desree-Ihere occurred oho of those
tempestuous outbreaks between the native
princes and their restless aggressOrs, the Nor.
mans, which demanded that every leader should
buckle on his armor, and bring bis men to the
feld-that every chief should call forth his clan
that every prince should be up and stirring
when love and luxury and the joys Of home
must be given up, and among the first to feel
the force Of the appeal, and to respond toit was
Prince Meredith, who, though he sighed ss he
cast of the softly garlanded trammels Of love-
bestitred himself with good will, and, embrac-
ing his wife, with blessing, tender kiss and
q hope soon to behold her again, set forth With
his forces to cross The border land, and to chase,
for the tune at least, the flying and defeated Nor
mans to the very gates, and within the walls, Of
Hereford. There they made . stand, held
parley, came to truce; and in the deputation
GnFmed 70 meet the commissioners Of the English
king Prince Meredith was one, the iatAlest choice
that could have belallen him.
Il Is nigh on midnight The scene Is icstal
hall, where the deputAtiOn OF the Welsh princes
have met the more astule and willy commission
ers Of the Norman Henry. The Bishop Of Here
ford hath gwen his blessing to the prefminaries,
and q royal feast was given to the guests a.
pledge Of amity. Being late in the night the
wine Of Gascony is passing round. welsh ana
English, Saxon and Norman-hercely opposing
foes meet in amity; and mercenaries from
Spain and Gallia-frOm HelvcliA, from the Baltic,
and the Scandinavian shore-not even forgetting
the yellow-haired Dane, and the dark and subtle
ltalian-mingle together. They are men Of
might and prowess-magnifcen specimens Of
physical foriI alton, whatever NAV be thought Of
their morality. Prince Meredith sits at the head
Of the board-j0yous isstal, relaxed, even grown
boastful On one hand Of him sits Norman
noble and an Italian leader on both sides Of the
table are seated the others. Lamps cast down
their lights upon the guests, who are clad IN
robes Of ceremony; attendants bear about the
wine In Jugs and vases. The guests were warmed
with wine, and their talk, which had been stately
and grave, had now become more vOluble and
noisy. By instinct, they avoided ell topics likely
to lead 10 discussion, apd % hE harmony pre-
vailed.
The Italian Is possessed Of masculine beauty
30 line and rare, that he might have stood mo-
del for the Antinous or the Apollo. He has,
nevertheless, false look and licentious tongue |;
his conversation turned upon the loveliness Of
his countrywomen, and bis remarks were not
flattering to their general mOdesty.
The personal appearance Of Meredith was Of
q grand, massive, and stormy order; he was in
clined 70 peculiar fairness, which the Welsh
possess; while the Italian possessed the dark
curling beard and olive cheeks peculiar to bis
race. Both were splendid specimens Of manli'
ness; both were deeply engaged in discussion.
"You have never seen our cOuntrywomen-
our free Roman maidens," said the Italian" can
form no conception Of their dazzling charms,
their Circean Establishments, and pardon you
that you arc not enthusiastic on their behalL"
"And you, signOr," replied Meredith, readily,
(tor many Of the Welsh princes had mastered
Norman. French, as well as Latin-eithcr Ian
guage serving for conVeFsAtion)- you who do