Moreover It Is
Sometimes Seen By The Inhabitants Covered And Adorned With
Buildings, Pastures, Gardens, And Orchards.
In the winter, when it
is frozen over, and the surface of the water is converted into a
shell
Of ice, it emits a horrible sound resembling the moans of many
animals collected together; but this, perhaps, may be occasioned by
the sudden bursting of the shell, and the gradual ebullition of the
air through imperceptible channels. This country is well sheltered
on every side (except the northern) by high mountains; on the
western by those of cantref Bychan; {55} on the southern, by that
range, of which the principal is Cadair Arthur, {56} or the chair of
Arthur, so called from two peaks rising up in the form of a chair,
and which, from its lofty situation, is vulgarly ascribed to Arthur,
the most distinguished king of the Britons. A spring of water rises
on the summit of this mountain, deep, but of a square shape, like a
well, and although no stream runs from it, trout are said to be
sometimes found in it.
Being thus sheltered on the south by high mountains, the cooler
breezes protect this district from the heat of the sun, and, by
their natural salubrity, render the climate most temperate. Towards
the east are the mountains of Talgarth and Ewyas. {57} The natives
of these parts, actuated by continual enmities and implacable
hatred, are perpetually engaged in bloody contests. But we leave to
others to describe the great and enormous excesses, which in our
time have been here committed, with regard to marriages, divorces,
and many other circumstances of cruelty and oppression.
CHAPTER III
Ewyas and Llanthoni
In the deep vale of Ewyas, {58} which is about an arrow-shot broad,
encircled on all sides by lofty mountains, stands the church of
Saint John the Baptist, covered with lead, and built of wrought
stone; and, considering the nature of the place, not unhandsomely
constructed, on the very spot where the humble chapel of David, the
archbishop, had formerly stood decorated only with moss and ivy. A
situation truly calculated for religion, and more adapted to
canonical discipline, than all the monasteries of the British isle.
It was founded by two hermits, in honour of the retired life, far
removed from the bustle of mankind, in a solitary vale watered by
the river Hodeni. From Hodeni it was called Lanhodeni, for Lan
signifies an ecclesiastical place. This derivation may appear far-
fetched, for the name of the place, in Welsh, is Nanthodeni. Nant
signifies a running stream, from whence this place is still called
by the inhabitants Landewi Nanthodeni, {59} or the church of Saint
David upon the river Hodeni. The English therefore corruptly call
it Lanthoni, whereas it should either be called Nanthodeni, that is,
the brook of the Hodeni, or Lanhodeni, the church upon the Hodeni.
Owing to its mountainous situation, the rains are frequent, the
winds boisterous, and the clouds in winter almost continual.
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