“Whilst fair Machynlleth decks thy quiet plain
Conjoined with it shall Lawdden’s name remain.”
CHAPTER LXXX
The Old Ostler—Directions—Church of England Man—The Deep Dingle—The Two Women—The Cutty Pipe—Waen y Bwlch—The Deaf and Dumb—The Glazed Hat.
I rose on the morning of the 2nd of November intending to proceed to the Devil’s Bridge, where I proposed halting a day or two in order that I might have an opportunity of surveying the far-famed scenery of that locality. After paying my bill, I went into the yard to my friend the old ostler, to make inquiries with respect to the road.
“What kind of road,” said I, “is it to the Devil’s Bridge?”
“There are two roads, sir, to the Pont y Gwr Drwg; which do you mean to take?”
“Why do you call the Devil’s Bridge the Pont y Gwr Drwg, or the bridge of the evil man?”
“That we may not bring a certain gentleman upon us, sir, who doesn’t like to have his name taken in vain.”
“Is there much difference between the roads?”
“A great deal, sir; one is over the hills, and the other round by the valleys.”