Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1876-01-22
CeItlc Legendn or snihken citIes.

There is one myth common to the
Celtic race in many places, a myth which
tells of q mighty city submerged for the
~wickedness of its inhabitants. In ireland
the waters Of Tough Neagh are supposed
to cover the vestiges of such a city, and
in Wales the Bay of Cardigan. But the
myth has associated itself, in most detail
and consistency, with the Bay of Douarne.
nez. As a matter of fact, traces of
Roman roads leading from inland to the
bay, traces Of Roman buildings on the
De Tristan, and at many points Of the
the shore near the town Of Douarnenez,
point certainly to an important station
which existed at this point of Gaul, and
on ground upon which the sea has at
least partially eHcro .ched. These re-
mains, in the days when legends grew,
must have been far more conspicuous
than now. The popular Imagination
! seems to hava taken hold of them, and
Of the reputation of a certain Gradion,
who, ss far rs real history shows, seems
to have had a historical existence as
Count over a small principality in the
Black Mountains in the sixth or seventh
century. With these data, and with that
national myth of a submerged city in
their brains, they have fashioned a
legened like this: "Gradlon the Great
was King of all Cornwall, and had his
capital at Quimber. When he and his
kingdom we're converted by st. Corentin
he made over the city Of Quimber to the
Government Of that saint, and went to
live and rule his dsminions from another
city by the sea. This city was called Is,
and was one of the mightiest and god
lest in the world; but men lived there
too riotously. 1t was built on low
ground beside the sea, and the waters
we're kept out by a pair of great sluice-
gates of which no man had the key "a
key OF pure gold but the King only.
Now King Grsdlon had a daughter, the
Princess Dahut, and loved her dearly.
But Dahut cared neither for God nor
man, and was first in all manner of
riotness; and the lovers that we're brought
TO her nightly she wat wont to murder
before dawn, and send their bodies to be
flung into a pit far within the country.
So God was angry against Debut and
that city. And one day King Gradlou
met St. Corentin Tor as others say his
disciple Saint Guennole) in the forest Of
Nevet; and the Saint said TO himi
Beware, for the wrath Of God Is about
to make Itself felt against thee and
thine But the King took no heed.
And one night after a feast was over the
foul iend came in the guise of a lover to
Dahut, and caressed her and asked her
for the golden key from about her fathers
neck. And Dahut vent to her father
where he slept, and took the key from
about his neck and gave it TO her lover.
And the foul fend vanished away, aud
took the key aud turned it; and the
sluice.gates we're opened, and the waters
went over the city, And King Gradlon
leaped upon his horse and rode for lifei
and panut begged with a great voice
that he. would take her behind him.
And be took her behind him; but the sea
pursued them; and a voice cried: Let
20 the accursed one that rides behind
thee and Dahut's arms were loosened.
and she fell and was drowned, and the
waters we're stayed, and the place where
she fell is called Poul-Dahut to this day. y
-COrnhiU.