Cylchgronau Cymru

THE REGISTRAR. 17 HISTORICAL GLEANINGS. CAMBRIA. "Thy name, majestic Cambria, hath a spell To charm my soul with homage, for renown Enshrines the relics of the Cymry's power." Pen* ie. Wales, independent of its history, as a people whose circumstances, actions, and fate, stand single and unparalleled in the history of the world, posses peculiar interest; varied as is the face of it with mountains, woods, ri*ers, lakes, and cataracts, and the numerous vestiges of antiquity, which lead reflection back to the scenes and transactions of remote periods, are calculated strongly to arrest the attention of the historian and antiquary to a country long the asylum of freedom and religion ; to a nation which from the earliest period of its existence, was distinguished by independency of spirit,—which for ages defended the rights of Nature, and hurled defiance against the oppressors of mankind. RHUDDLAN CASTLE, NEAR ST. ASAPH. There is no object more prolific of themes for contemplation—more creative of those associations whose natural atmosphere is the reflective mind, than the remains of former strength and grandeur. How interest¬ ing and instructive is the massive pile, which, though perhaps dedicated to eternity, has survived but for a few centuries the frail creatures who reared it, and is sternly and reluct¬ antly yielding to the universal law. Every ivied tower — every moss grown turret is instinct with mor¬ tality. It has never been my fortune to visit the classical remains of Italy or of Greece, but I have beheld many of those records of feudal times, which are yet thickly scattered over the face of my native country, and I know not that these are less inter¬ esting than the more classical frag¬ ments to which I have alluded ; I know not that the rough and fiery chieftain, whose castle was his king¬ dom, and whose will was the only law recognized within it, is a less in¬ teresting character than the old Grec¬ ian or Roman. I do not remember ever to have reaped so rich a harvest of delightful reverie, as on my first visit to the ruins of this long famed and celebrat¬ ed fortress, which have a fine appear¬ ance even at a distance, and when approached strike the visitor with awe, especially when his mind re¬ flects upon the transactions that took place in its precincts—the sight is solemn and impressive. *Within these walls vibrated the voice of man, sounding hilarity and grief in turn. Here onee lived the heroic Princes of Wales and their followers, employing their courage in defence of the land of their nativity. Beneath these splendid arches were tuned the an¬ cient harps of Cymro, who " Gire to rapture all their trembling strings." Well might one of our modern bards exclaim, whilst viewing a similar ruin— "Yllwybrau gynt lie bu 'r gan Yw lleoedd ? ddylluan." In after times, here it was where dwellt ambition, ruling with a rod of iron—within these walls was prac¬ tised that well known fraud when the haughty Edward deceived our countrymen in promising them a Prince "of their own blood;" and • Vide Parry's Eway>