the ruthless Ithel, as a satisfactory token that the object of his dread was no more. In this instance it was necessary that Winefred should be made acquainted with the circumstance, which he imparted, after having sworn her to perpetual secrecy. Having thus far succeeded, the hopes of Hugo were elevated, and he determined to spare no pains to rear the tender blossom, trusting, that at some future period he could turn the circumstance to his advantage, and repress the unbounded demands of his enthralling tyrant. The better to execute his purpose, he retired from the service of Ithel, and enrolled himself, under the assumed name of Jerwerth, in the vassalage of Madoc ap Voel. For some years he faithfully adhered to his intention of training the young heir of Cynfael to all those accomplishments of the field, which were at that period period the distinguishing characteristics of the rank that was his natural heritage. The only subject on which the timid Winefred dared to dispute the will of her husband, was the restoration of the infant to his sire, which she incessantly urged. It was upon an occasion of this nature, that, exasperated at her pressing instances, his ungovernable rage betrayed his policy, and she became a victim to his dagger. Thus were all his long concerted schemes subverted, and he was obliged to betake himself to flight. Again he sought security in the service of his former lord, to whom he related the sudden death of his wife and child, which had again thrown him upon the world-a companionless wanderer. From that time, we have seen him the active agent of the dark designs of Ithel, upon numerous occasions, and now it only remains to elucidate the catastrophe which concluded the last chapter. Faithful to his appointment with the mysterious H 4 mysterious monk, Ithel repaired, with his followers, to the ruined Towers of Morven, where, from time to time, he was informed by his infernal correspondent of the intended nuptials of Elfleda and Rhuwallon, the time and place appointed for the ceremony, and the course he was to pursue to interrupt the felicity which the lovers anticipated. In conformity with these instructions were the troops of Ithel headed by Hugo, who seized the pair at the altar where they had been united by the pretended monk, and dragged them to the Towers of Morven, which witnessed the destruction of the tyrant, by the interposition of Jeva and his armed band. The soul of Hugo hovered on the brink of eternity-he could utter no more--he writhed he groaned-and life no longer animated his mortal clay. CHAP. 159 CHAP. XV. Cynddelw cadw dithew y Rhiu, Arr a ddêl yma heddiw, Cubeb am un mab nyd gwiu. Llowarch Hen. Elegy on the death of his last son, Cynddelw Why should'st thou live, to mourn thy slaughter'd race, In death's oblivious stream, thy woes efface, JEVA, or, to whom we should now assign his proper appellative, Hoël, after having received the congratulations of his friends upon the important, discovery which restored him to his honours and to society, continued the elucidation of those circumstances yet involved in mystery, in the following words: "After my beloved Mysanwy had been torn torn from me, I was awakened from the insensibility into which the excess of my sufferings had, thrown me, by the cries of my poor Elfleda, who lay on the ground near me, almost famished with hunger and cold. I was too firmly bound to the tree to effect my liberty, and could therefore only, in agonizing inactivity, witness the cries and struggles of my infant, who, with her unhappy father, must have perished, had not Providence interposed for our relief. 66 Modred, whose magic song made huge Plinlimmon bow his cloud-capt head,' resided on the brow of the hill which overlooked our helpless situation. Fortunately, the cries of Elfleda reached his ear to his humanity were we indebted for liberty and life. At the persuasion of my venerable preserver, to whom I related my melancholy tale, I adopted his profession. Many years rolled over my head in peaceful security, alone embittered by the loss of my muchlamented Mysanwy, till the cruelty of the |