Archbishop of Canterbury!” A few days after, when I was once more in a solitary place, he again appeared before me, and asked me whether I had thought over his words, and whether I was willing to enlist under the banners of his master, adding that he was eager to secure me, as he conceived that I might be highly useful to the cause.  I then asked him who his master was; he hesitated for a moment, and then answered, “The Roman Pontiff.”  “If it be he,” said I, “I can have nothing to do with him; I will serve no one who is an enemy of Christ.”  Thereupon he drew near to me, and told me not to talk so much like a simpleton; that as for Christ, it was probable that no such person ever existed, but that if He ever did, He was the greatest impostor the world ever saw.  How long he continued in this way I know not, for I now considered that an evil spirit was before me, and shrank within myself, shivering in every limb; when I recovered myself and looked about me, he was gone.  Two days after, he again stood before me, in the same place, and about the same hour, renewing his propositions, and speaking more horribly than before.  I made him no answer; whereupon he continued; but suddenly hearing a noise behind him, he looked round and beheld Winifred, who had returned to me on the morning of that day.  “Who are you?” said he, fiercely.  “This man’s wife,” said she, calmly fixing her eyes upon him.  “Begone from him, unhappy one, thou temptest him in vain.”  He made no answer, but stood as if transfixed:  at length, recovering himself, he departed, muttering “Wife! wife!  If the fool has a wife, he will never do for us."’

CHAPTER LXXX

The border—­Thank you both—­Pipe and fiddle—­Taliesin.

We were now drawing very near the hills, and Peter said, ’If you are to go into Wales, you must presently decide, for we are close upon the border.’

‘Which is the border?’ said I.

‘Yon small brook,’ said Peter, ’into which the man on horseback who is coming towards us is now entering.’

‘I see it,’ said I, ’and the man; he stops in the middle of it, as if to water his steed.’

We proceeded till we had nearly reached the brook.  ‘Well,’ said Peter, ‘will you go into Wales?’

‘What should I do in Wales?’ I demanded.

‘Do!’ said Peter, smiling, ‘learn Welsh.’

I stopped my little pony.  ’Then I need not go into Wales; I already know Welsh.’

‘Know Welsh!’ said Peter, staring at me.

‘Know Welsh!’ said Winifred, stopping her cart.

‘How and when did you learn it?’ said Peter.

‘From books, in my boyhood.’

‘Read Welsh!’ said Peter; ‘is it possible?’

‘Read Welsh!’ said Winifred; ‘is it possible?’

‘Well, I hope you will come with us,’ said Peter.

‘Come with us, young man,’ said Winifred; ’let me, on the other side of the brook, welcome you into Wales.’