“Say, ivy’d Valle Crucis; time delay’d Dim on the brink of Deva’s wand’ring floods, Your ivy’d arch glitt’ring through the tangled shade, Your grey hills tow’ring o’er your night of woods; Deep in the vale recesses as you stand, And, desolately great, the rising sign command; Say, lovely ruin’d pile, when former years Saw your pale train at midnight altars bow; Saw superstition frown upon the tears That mourn’d the rash, irrevocable vow; Wore one young lip gay Eleanora’s {285a} smile? Did Zara’s {285b} look serene one tedious hour beguile?” The bridge of Llangollen is thus described by the elegant pen of Mr. Pennant:—“The bridge, which was founded by the first John Trevor, bishop of St. Asaph, {285c} who died in 1357, is one of the Tri Thlws Cymru, or three beauties of Wales: but more remarkable for its situation than structure. It consists of five arches; whose widest does not exceed twenty-eight feet in diameter. The river usually runs under only one; where it has formed a black chasm of vast depth, into which the water pours with great fury from a high broken ledge, formed in the smooth and solid rock, which composes the whole bed of the river. The view through the arches, either upwards or downwards, is extremely picturesque.” Having satisfied our curiosity, Dinas Brân, or Crow Castle, next invited our attention; and having attained the summit of a steep and craggy hill, commanding a pleasing view of Llangollen, we arrived at the ruins, which crest this precipice. The remains of this castle are now so trifling, that it scarcely repays even the enthusiast the trouble of ascending. Its appearance is by no means picturesque; not a tree to give effect to the crumbling walls: nor has time spared one of the towers. It was formerly the residence of Myfanwy Vechan, so celebrated in verse. The castle is built of the stone which composes the hill, on which it is erected. The prospect is very pleasing. Chirk Castle, Wynnstay Park, {286} and many other seats of respectability, more particularly conspicuous. Great part of the vale, and the meandering course of the Dee, may here be traced; whilst the opposite hills are shelved off in an extraordinary and unusual manner, resembling so many walls or fortifications.