THE WENDY HUT

Taranaki Daily News, 31 January 1931, Page 6 (Supplement)

THE WENDY HUT

BOYS OF LONG AGO, GWYDION. They called him Gwydiop; son of the red deer, son of the thrush, but they>did not know why they, called hinr"by this strange name.- it was because their ancestors had worshipped, images of the mountain fcreatures —for men- who’ live in the bleak, desolate’ mountains develop strange but beautiful ideas. ’ - ' - ' • 1 - ' Gwydion lived on Snowden, and he was fourteen years old when Caractacus was taken by the Romans and carried captive to Rome. The news of this disaster seemed to come to Gwydion on the breath of the wind, and, taking his harp, ■he lifted his voice and sang. . ; x-• “I, Gwydion, tell you, 0 mountains,, land of brothers will never be conquered. Enemies will/CO'me from the north and from the south; they win capture out’.;eagles,/but not the home of the eagles. We, the sons of Wales, will answer for this, our own land, till the sun sets for ever on the earth!” ‘ '■■! .

Gwydion’s voice was like that of a magic flute. The Romans down in the camp hbard it, and asked their numerous prisoners who it was that sang so joyfully, ; . ■ t \ ' “Gwydion the bard, son of the red deer, son of the thrush,” they answered. “He was born on the mountain, he lives alone, and even the wolves harm him ! not. He carries no spear,, and he speaks all the words that come into his mouth, changing them into song.” j ? ' Then the general sent'soldiers to. fetch Gwydion, and the boy went to meet them. t He was clothed in a sheep skin, on his head he wore a wreath of ivy, and he played, on his rough wooden harp,.as he ran.,down the mountainside With a strange light in his brown eyes. Gwydion possessed far greater power than that of the sword,, and he knew'it. He showed no fear when taken before the Roman, but he ■smiled at the captives herded behind stakes, desolate and miserable. ' ■

“Boy, at is said that you are a prophet,” said the general. “Prophesy good for me and I will set you free.” “I am free,” replied Gwydion, and, taking his havp,-”he ; - ' san g- , ■ . " C>'■■■.

First he sang of the glory of Wale?; then his voice rbse and he called to the mountains, to the wind, and’ to the heavens. From the hillside came' the Druids’ running, and strange black-clad women waving torches, and, when they saw them, the prisoners were filled, with courage and burst from their camp.?/There was panic among the Romans when they heard the wild cries and saw'the flaming torches. Before they could overcome their amazement arid break from the .spell which Gwydion’s voice had. cast upon .them, all the captives had fled to the mountains. / ■ , ■. L ■

And from afar caqie a clear, sweet ;note.: “We are always; free—take our, eagles, you cannot take our home.’*'