“Some say that God raised it, sir; others that Owain Glendower raised it. Who do you think raised it?”
“I believe that it was raised by man, but not by Owen Glendower. He may have stood upon it, to watch for the coming of his enemies, but I believe it was here long before his time, and that it was raised over some old dead king by the people whom he had governed.”
“Do they bury kings by the side of rivers, sir?”
“In the old time they did, and on the tops of mountains; they burnt their bodies to ashes, placed them in pots and raised heaps of earth or stones over them. Heaps like this have frequently been opened, and found to contain pots with ashes and bones.”
“I wish all English could speak Welsh, sir.”
“Why?”
“Because then we poor Welsh who can speak no English could learn much which we do not know.”
Descending the monticle we walked along the road together. After a little time I asked my companion of what occupation he was and where he lived.
“I am a small farmer, sir,” said he, “and live at Llansanfraid Glyn Dyfrdwy across the river.”
“How comes it,” said I, “that you do not know English?”