Legend Land, Vol. 1: Being a Collection of Some of the Old Tales Told in Those Western Parts of Britain Served by the Great Western RailwayBarham, G. Basil (George Basil)
General
Legend Land, Vol. 1: Being a Collection of Some of the Old Tales Told in Those Western Parts of Britain Served by the Great Western Railway
Barham, G. Basil (George Basil)
Folk literature, English; Folklore -- England; Tales -- England
Tregeagle's next task he is engaged upon to-day. He was taken to near
the Land's End, and there he is still endeavouring to sweep the sand
from Porthcurnow Cove round the headland of Tol-Peden-Penwith into
Nanjisal Bay, and on many a winter night if you are there you can hear
him howling and roaring at the hopelessness of his task.
These scenes of Tregeagle's labours are all situated amid most glorious
scenery. Dozmary Pool, bleak and lonely amid the Bodmin Moors, the
little chapel on the Roche Rock near St. Austell, and the beautiful Looe
Pool by Helston, that attractive little town on a hillside, which is the
tourist centre for that country full of colour, deep sheltered valleys,
and magnificent coast scenery, the Lizard peninsula.
Porthcurnow, the miserable man's present abode, you will find nestling
amid the grim cliffs near the Land's End. And if you doubt this sad
history of the demon-ridden Tregeagle, go and look at the Looe Bar and
explain if you can how otherwise so strange a place could have been
created.
[Illustration: _The Roche Rocks_]
[Illustration]
THE LADY OF LLYN-Y-FAN FACH
Not many miles from Llandovery, in the midst of glorious mountain
scenery, is a lovely little lake known as Llyn-y-Fan-Fach, the scene of
a very remarkable occurrence. Once upon a time a simple cowherd, eating
his frugal meal by the edge of the water, observed with amazement,
seated upon the calm surface of the lake, the most beautiful woman he
had ever seen. So great was his admiration for her that he cried out,
and she, turning to him, gave a rapturous smile and silently disappeared
beneath the waters.
The peasant was distracted, for he had fallen deeply in love with the
beautiful lady. He waited until dark, but she did not appear again;
but at daybreak the next morning he returned once more, and was again
rewarded by the sight of his enchantress and another of her alluring
smiles.
Several times more he saw her and each time he besought her to be his
wife, but she only smiled and disappeared, until at length one evening,
just as the sun was setting, the beautiful lady appeared, and this time,
instead of diving beneath the surface, she came to the shore, and,
after some persuasion, consented to marry the youth. But she made one
condition: if ever he should strike her three blows without cause she
would leave him, she said, and their marriage would be at an end.
So the two were married happily and went to live at Esgair Laethdy, near
Myddfai, the maiden bringing with her as dowry a large number of cattle
and horses which she called up from the bottom of the lake.
For years the couple lived in great prosperity and happiness, and three
handsome sons were born to them; then the day arrived when husband and
wife were setting out for a christening, and, being rather late, the
husband slapped his wife merrily on the shoulder, urging her to hurry.
Sadly she reminded him that he had struck her the first of the causeless
blows.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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