CHAPTER V.
Welsh Book Stall--Wit and Poetry--Welsh of Chester--Beautiful Morning--Noble Fellow--The Coiling Serpent--Wrexham Church--Welsh or English ?--Codiad yr Ehedydd.
On the afternoon of Monday I sent my family off by the train to Llangollen, which place we had determined to make our head-quarters during our stay in Wales.

I intended to follow them next day, not in train, but on foot, as by walking I should be better able to see the country, between Chester and Llangollen, than by making the journey by the flying vehicle.

As I returned to the inn from the train I took refuge from a shower in one of the rows or covered streets, to which, as I have already said, one ascends by flights of steps; stopping at a book-stall I took up a book which chanced to be a Welsh one.

The proprietor, a short red-faced man, observing me reading the book, asked me if I could understand it.

I told him that I could.
"If so," said he, "let me hear you translate the two lines on the title-page." "Are you a Welshman ?" said I.
"I am!" he replied.
"Good!" said I, and I translated into English the two lines which were a couplet by Edmund Price, an old archdeacon of Merion, celebrated in his day for wit and poetry.
The man then asked me from what part of Wales I came, and when I told him that I was an Englishman was evidently offended, either because he did not believe me, or, as I more incline to think, did not approve of an Englishman's understanding Welsh.
The book was the life of the Rev.Richards, and was published at Caerlleon, or the city of the legion, the appropriate ancient British name for the place now called Chester, a legion having been kept stationed there during the occupation of Britain by the Romans.
I returned to the inn and dined, and then yearning for society, descended into the kitchen and had some conversation with the Welsh maid.