Celtic Folklore; Welsh and Manx Volume 1

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1901 edition. Excerpt: ...of the waters, as they boiled over the shoulders of the rock, and crying: --The time is come. ' They could not guess what it meant, and so great was their fright and astonishment, that no one could utter a word to another. Shortly they returned to the house, when they believed that beyond doubt the building was being shaken to its foundations by some noise outside. When all were thus paralysed by fear, behold a little woman made her appearance on the table, which stood near the window. 1 Since this was first printed I have learnt from Mr. Hughes that the first cry issued from the Black Cauldron in the Taff (o'r Girwyn ar Daf), which I take to be a pool in that river. "'What dost thou, ugly little thing, want here?' asked one of those present. '" I have nothing to do with thee, O man of the meddling tongue," said the little woman, " but I have been sent here to recount some things that are about to happen to this family and another family in the neighbourhood, things that might be of interest to them; but, as I have received such an insult from the black fellow that sits in the corner, the veil that hides them from their sight shall not be lifted by me." 1" Pray," said another of those present, " if thou hast in thy possession any knowledge with regard to the/ future of any one of us that would interest us to hear, bring it forth." '" No, I will but merely tell you that a certain maiden's heart is like a ship on the coast, unable to reach the harbour because the pilot has lost heart." 'As soon as she had cried out the last word, she vanished, no one knew whither or how. ' During her visit, the cry rising from the river had stopped, but soon afterwards it began again to proclaim: --The time of vengeance is come; nor did it cease...