SONNET I. TO FRIENDSHIP.

Addressed to the companion of my tour.

O balmy comfort through this varied maze
Of life! thou best physician to the breast,
With deep affliction’s venom’d sting opprest,
A thousand arts, a thousand winning ways
Are thine, to smooth the rugged brow of care,
And mitigate misfortune’s keenest hour:
Yes, A..., partner of my Cambrian Tour,
Friend of my heart, how gladly do I share
Thy confidence; whate’er my part may be
Hereafter on this shifting stage of life,
This busy theatre of jarring strife,
May health and happiness attend both thee
And thine!—on One, thy Heav’nly guardian, trust,
Nor doubt protection—all His ways are just.

SONNET II. THE CONTRAST OF YESTERDAY AND TO-DAY;

Supposed to be written on the summit of Snowdon.

How gay was yesterday!—no storm was heard
To mutter round thy steep—yon sun arose
With golden splendor, and in still repose
Nature majestic through her works appear’d.
To-day how chang’d—loud howls the hollow blast!
The thin mists undulate! thy tow’ring height
Is veil’d in tempest and eternal night!
So ’tis with man! contrasting prospects past
With dreams of future happiness—to-day
In gallant trim his little bark may glide
On the smooth current of the tranquil tide:
To-morrow comes!—the gathering storms display
A sad vicissitude—the whirlwind’s sweep
Grasps at its prey, and whelms it in the deep.

SONNET III. ON LEAVING WALES.

Why bursts the tear, as, Cambria, now I leave
Thy wild variety of dale and hill,
Where fancy, fond intruder, lingers still?
Why do these parting sighs my bosom heave?
’Tis that, alas! I ne’er may view again
Those haunts, those solitary scenes I love;
But through this vale of tears forsaken rove,
And taste the sad vicissitudes of pain:
’Tis that I sadly breathe a warm adieu
To long-lost scenes of mutual amity;
’Tis that I turn, my absent friend, to thee,
“Think on past pleasures, and solicit new!”
For thee my fervent prayers to Heaven ascend,
And may we meet again as friend to friend.

SONNET IV. TO THE WELSH HARP.

Loved instrument! again repeat those sounds,
Those plaintive airs, that through my senses steal
With melancholy sweet. Their pow’r I feel
Soothing my sadness, healing sorrow’s wounds.
Gently thou lull’st my suff’rings to repose,
Inclin’st my heart to ev’ry virtuous deed;
Removing from my mind each dark’ning shade
That clouds my days, increasing all my woes.
Now swelling with the breeze, along thy vales,
Romantic Cambria! the strain I hear,
Then dying soft away, comes o’er my ear
In whispers soft, still wafted by thy gales!
Loved instrument! again repeat those sounds,
Soothing my sadness, healing sorrow’s wounds.

SONNET V.

Supposed to be written by moon-light, on the sea-shore at Tenby.

I love to mark the silver-curling spray
Just kiss the pebbled shore; the zephyr blows,
And ocean slumbers in serene repose;
While the moon’s beams in quiv’ring radiance play
Upon its surface: yet ere long, that tide
May heave its foaming billows to the shore,
And the sea boil in one tempestuous roar.
See here thy picture, man! reason, thy guide,
Can lull each gust of passion into rest!
Her aid divine, her energy once lost,
In what a sea of angry tumults tost,
Raves the mad whirlwind of thy troubled breast!
Blind passion then can reason’s aid refute,
And degradate the man to worse than brute.

SONNET VI. ON SEEING LLANGOLLEN VALE.

O thou, too captious of each airy scheme,
Fancy! thou dear delusive traitor, say,
Are not thy charms the phantoms of a day,
That mock possession, like a fleeting dream?
Here could I spend, if such had been my lot,
Quiet my life; nor should the shiv’ring poor
Depart unfed, unaided, from my door.
“Content is wealth,” the emblem of my cot.
Here, by the brook, that gently babbles by,
Should stand my garden; there, the blushing rose
And woodbine should their sweetest scent disclose.
But ah! farewell these dreams;—my big full eye
Swells with the bursting tear—I think, how few
The road to real happiness pursue!

SONNET VII. PROSPECT OF SUN-RISE FROM SNOWDON.

How grand the scene from this stupendous height!
How awfully sublime! the king of day
Flames in the east; old Ocean’s waves display
One globe of fire! one boundless flood of light!
With what unclouded lustre blaze the skies!
While Mona’s flats tinged with a golden hue,
Burst with transcendant beauty on the view;
And, Man, [309] thy scarce seen mountains proudly rise.
Nature beneath, seems prostrate; and my sight
Can hardly grasp the vast immensity!
Can then the muse attempt to sing of thee,
Nature’s great God! Father of life and light!
Who bade the sun his annual circle roll,
Who guides, directs, and animates the whole.

SONNET VIII. TO MY DOG.

Yes, thou hast been companion of my Tour,
And partner of my toils! hast rov’d with me
Through Cambria’s rude and wild variety,
And often sooth’d the solitary hour
With thy caresses; yet false man can claim
Superior reason, claim a mind endued
With love, with faithfulness and gratitude;
Love a mere sound, and gratitude a name.
Yes, faithful creature! and when thou art gone,
With fond attention shall thy bones be laid;
And a small tribute to thy memory paid
In these few words, engraven on thy stone:
“Here let in peace the faithful Sylvio lie,
The truest picture of fidelity.”

INDEX.

PAGE
Aber [216]
Aberaeron [94]
Aber Garth Celyn [216]
Abergele [232]
Aberystwith [95]
Alney, Isle of [12]
Amlwch [196], [201]
Anglesea, or Mona, Isle of [191]
Avon [18]
Aust, or Old Passage [21]
Bachegraig [250]
Bangor [184]
Bardsey, Isle of [139], [140]
Barmouth [124]
Baron Hill [195]
Bearcroft Rock [292]
Beaumaris [195]
Beddgelert [152]
Benglog, Cataracts of [213]
Bishop’s Castle [275]
Blenheim [5]
Bodfari [250]
Bodscallan [234]
Bosherton Meer [71]
Brecon [59]
Breddin Hills and Column [273]
Bristol [13]
Britton Ferry [48]
Brynkir [147]
Bully Bear [71]
Burford [5]
Cader Idris [118]
Caerleon [26], [30]
Caermarthen [55], [61]
Caernarvon [172], [181]
Caerphily [36]
Caer Rhun, or Canovium [226]
Caerwent [25]
Caerwys [251]
Cardiff [32]
Cardigan [93]
Caldecot Castle [24]
Cannant Mawr, Waterfall of [171]
Capel Curig [210]
Carew Castle [67], [78]
Carreg [236]
Castle Dinas Brân, or Crow Castle [265]
Castle Morlais [42]
Castleton [69]
Cayne, Falls of the [132]
Cheltenham [5]
Chepstow [23], [299]
Chereton, or Stackpool Elidur [53]
Cheriton [73]
Chester [239]
Chirk [266], [269]
Christchurch [25]
Clawdh Offa, or, Offa’s Dyke [272]
Cleave Hill [6]
Clenenney [147]
Clifton [19]
Cold Blow [61]
Coldwell Rocks [290]
Coleman’s Rocks [296]
Conway [223], [229]
Courtfield House [289]
Cresseley [79]
Criccaeth [138]
Crickhowel [58]
Cridden [230]
Culhepste, Upper and Lower [44], [45]
Cwmdu [59]
Cwmgu [59]
Cynvel, Pulpit of [137]
Cyttiau Gwyddelod [221]
David’s, Saint [83]
Dee River [261], [264], [266]
Denbigh [252]
Devil’s Bridge [100]
Dinevawr [60]
Dolbadern Castle [171]
Dolgelly [115]
Dolwyddelan Castle [148], [229]
Dol-y-melynlln [131]
Dovey River [111]
Doward’s Rock [293]
Dowdeswell [6]
Downing (Mr. Pennant’s) [236]
Downton Castle [282]
Drwsycoed, Pass of [157]
Dwygyfychi [220]
Dyflas River [114]
Dyganwy, or, Dinas Gonwy [230]
Dynas Brân [265]
Eaton Hall [241]
Eisteddfod [251]
Enstone [4]
Eryri, or Creigaúr Eryri (Snowdoniana) description of [166]
Euloe Castle [239]
Fauconberg, Earl of, the seat of [6]
Festiniog, Vale of [136]
Fidenham Chase Hill [296]
Fishguard [89]
Flaxley Abbey [22]
Flint [239]
Forest of Deane [27], [290]
Glamorgan, Vale of [38]
Glocester [10]
Gloddaith [234]
Goodrich Castle [287]
Goodrich Priory [291]
Gored Wyddno, or Gywddno’s Weir [230]
Gosddinog [218]
Great Orme’s Head [232]
Green Bridge [62]
Grongar Hill [60]
Gwddu Glâs [220]
Gwydir House [229]
Gwyndy [205]
Harlech [127]
Haverfordwest [81]
Havod [104]
Haunton on Wye [291]
Hawarden Castle [239]
Hênllan [70]
Hepthrop [4]
Hereford [283]
Holyhead [202]
Holywell [236]
Hubberston [76], [126]
Iestingtown, or Iseton [70]
Kidwely [55]
Kilgerran Castle [91]
Kilken, the Church of [249]
King John, cruelty of, to the Jews [14]
King’s Weston [19]
Knole Castle [46]
Kymin Woods [296]
Kymmer Abbey [123]
Landshipping [79]
Lantphey Castle [68]
Leeswood [248]
Leominster [283]
Lidbrook Quay [289]
Lidney [23]
Linney Point [71]
Llanarth [94]
Llanbadem Vawr [99]
Llanbeblic [174]
Llanberris, Vale of [165], [171]
Llandaff [35]
Llandogo [297]
Llandegai [208]
Llandovery [60]
Llandudno [232]
Llanelian [199]
Llanelly [55]
Llanettyd [123]
Llanfair [198]
Llanfairfechin [223]
Llangoed [219]
Llangollen [263]
Llanruth [255]
Llanstaphan Castle [62]
Llanstundwy [146]
Llanwrst [229]
Llanymynach [271]
Llaugharne [62]
Llewini Hall [252]
Llyn Ogwen [212]
Loughor [54]
Ludlow [276]
Lysdin [147]
Machynlleth [113]
Maentwrog [136]
Maen y Campiau [221]
Maes Garmon [249]
Malvern Hills [10]
Mannerch [251]
Mannorbeer Castle [67]
Manuck Farm [291]
March Wiel [258]
Mawddach, River and Fall of [131]
Menai, straits of, and ferries over [173], [178]
— bridge over, description of [189]
Merion Court [70]
Merthyr Tydvil [40]
Milford and Haven [75], [77]
Moel Arthur [250]
Moel Famma and Column [249]
Mold [248]
Mona, or Anglesea [191]
Monkton [69]
Monmouth [27], [293]
Monnow River [296]
Montgomery [216], [274]
Mumbles [52]
Mynach, Falls of [101], [103]
— bridge over the, or Devil’s Bridge [103]
Mynydd Caer Leon [227]
Nangle, Bay of, and Village [70]
Nanhwynan, Vale of [157]
Nanlley, Lake of [157]
Nanneau Park [124]
Nant, Ffrancon [210], [212]
Natives of Eryri [166]
— Courtships, Marriages, &c. of [167]
— Modes of Burying [169]
Neath [46]
Nevin [175]
Newgin [82], [83]
Newnham [23]
New Passage [21]
Newport (Monmouth) [26], [32]
Newport, (Pembrokeshire) [90]
New Wier [291], [292]
Northleach [5]
Northop [239]
Nuneham Courtney [4]
Oakley Park [277], [282]
Offa’s Dyke [260]
Ogwen [210]
— Bank and River [210]
Orielton [69]
Oswestry [270]
Oxford [1]
Oxwich Bay [50]
Oystermouth Castle [52]
Pary’s, or Paris Mountain [193], [201]
Pembroke [68], [73]
Penbedw Hall [250]
Pendyffryn [222]
Pen-mawn-mawr [219]
Penmorfa [149]
Pennard [53]
Penpold (pleasure-house), fine view from [19]
Penrhyn Castle [206]
Penrice [53]
Pentraeth [197]
Pen-y Vall Hill [296]
Peter’s Thumb [300]
Picton Castle [79]
Piercefield [301]
Pistyll y Cayne [133]
Plâs Gwynn [197]
Plâs Newydd [177]
Plinlimmon [111]
Plymouth Works [39]
Pont-Aber-Glaslyn [138], [151]
Pontcysyllty Aqueduct [261], [269]
Pont Neath Vechan [44]
Pont y Prid [38]
Porthogo Cavern [46]
Powis Castle [274]
Priory Pill [77]
Prospect, view from the [285]
Pwllheli [145]
Pystyll Rhaiadr [271]
Ragland Castle [27]
Ramsey Isle [89]
Redbrook Hills and Iron-works [297]
Red Wharf Bay [197]
Rhaiadr-du [137]
Rhaiadr Mawr [227]
Rhaiadr y Mawdach [131]
Rhôscrowther [70]
Rhuabon [260]
Rhual [249]
Rhuddlan [233]
Rhyddol, Vale of and River [99]
Roach Castle [83]
Ross [284]
Ruredean Church [289]
Ruthin [254]
St. Asaph [234]
St. Briaval’s [27]
St. Bride’s Bay [83]
St. Clear’s [61]
St. David’s [83]
St. Degmen’s Well [70]
St. Dogmael’s Abbey [94]
St. Fynnon, St. Dyfnog [254]
St. Govan’s Chapel and Well [71], [74]
St. Julian’s [31]
St. Petrocks [73]
St. Stinan’s, or St. Justinian’s Chapel [102]
Segontium [176]
Seiont, River and Fort of the [176]
Shirehampton [20]
Slebech [81]
Snowdon [158]
Solva [83]
Stackpool Court [71]
— Elidur [70]
Stretllan [271]
Swansea [49]
Sychnant [219]
Symond’s Yatch [290]
Taff River [38]
Taliesin [230]
Talylyn [115]
Tannad River [271]
Tan y Bwlch [135]
Tenby [63]
Tewkesbury [8]
Tintern and Tintern Abbey [297]
Tower [248]
Towy River [61]
Traeth Mawr [149]
Trecastle [60]
Trefan Hall [146]
Tremadoc [137], [150]
Tridegar House [32]
Twelve Apostles’ Rocks [300]
Tynymaes [210]
Tyvi River [91]
Vale of Clwyd [234], [254], [255]
— Conway [229]
— Festiniog [136]
— Glamorgan [38]
— Llangollen [264]
— The Severn [273]
Valle Crucis Abbey [268]
Velindre [90]
Victoria Alleluiatica [249]
Virnway River [271]
Upton [10]
Usk [29]
Walford Church [288]
Welsh, or British Games [221]
Welsh Pool [273]
Westbury [21]
Whitebrook Hills [297]
Whittington [270]
Wilton Castle and Bridge [284], [286], [287]
Witney [5]
Woodstock [5]
Worm’s Head [54]
Wrexham [256]
Wye River [285], [286], [288]
Wynd Cliff [300]
Wynnstay Park [260]
Ynys-halen [204]
Y-Trivaen [212]

THE END.

LONDON:
PRINTED BY R. GILBERT, ST. JOHN’S SQUARE.