Chapter 5

“What other interpretation can be given to this tale I know not. This, and such other tales, the material of which one might collect a volume, must, it may reasonably be supposed, have something of reality for their origin and foundation, before they were dressed out in the familiar garb given them by their authors.”

So our author is a “realist” as regards the origin of fairies.

(15) THE LONG-LIVED ANCESTORS.

Source: Taken _verbatim_ from the book quoted. This fable refers to the place, _Cwm Caw Lwyd_, regarding which the writer says:

“With regard to the _Cwm Caw Lwyd_, there is a still extant fable entitled _Creaduriaid Hir Hoedlog_ (i.e., the long-lived ancestors), which seems to be a composition of no modern date. At present the moral of it cannot be elucidated; but it seems that, in one respect, it was intended to represent the solitariness of this place, inhabited only by the weeping owl from remote antiquity; and certainly it is the most solitary and romantic retreat that the mind of man could imagine.” The writer says his is a “literal translation of the story, according to the Welsh phraseology”.

(16) THE GIANTESS’S APRON-FULL.

Source: _Verbatim_ from the same book. Referring to the heaps of stone found on the hill-tops, he gives the fable of the heap found upon _Bwlchy Ddeufaen_, which he says is called _Ban Clodidd y Gawres_--literally, the giantess’s apron-full.

“The writer regards such tales as originally intended as hyperboles, to magnify the prowess and magnanimity of renowned persons.”

(17) A FABLE.

Source: Taken _verbatim_ from the same book. The writer quotes it apropos of the Roman custom of bribing the Britons on the mountain tops. We are told the fable was delivered by one of the Britons, named _Gwrgan Farfdrwch_, who spoke to this effect, and then follows the fable.

(18) THE STORY OF THE PIG-TROUGH.

Source: Told by Hugh’s daughter. Genuine.

(19) BILLY DUFFY AND THE DEVIL.

Source: Told me by the old man who told me of the origin of the Welsh. Vague.

(20) JOHN O’ GROATS.

Same source. Vague.

(21) EVA’S LUCK.

Source: A Jersey fisherman. Reliable. He also informed me that large stones, supported on others, were called “Fairy Stones” in Jersey.

(22) THE FISHERMEN OF SHETLAND.

Source: Told me by a yachting hand, who heard it from a Shetlander named Abernethy who was serving in the same yacht with him. Not many years ago, some volunteers at Beaumaris swore they saw a mermaid there, and fired several shots at it. I think this story to be genuine and beautiful.

(23) THE PASTOR’S NURSE.

Source: Reliable. Written for me by the Pastor’s mother in French. Given _verbatim_.

FINAL.

The book I have quoted is in my possession, and was written, I am told, by a Mr. Williams, a Welshman, of Llandegai in Anglesea. That he was shrewd, reasonable, and knew the people of North Wales thoroughly, is evident from the context. The book has no date, but appears to have been written in 1800.

End of Project Gutenberg’s Welsh Fairy-Tales And Other Stories, by Anonymous