ng how he had immured his _own_ daughter in a
convent, rather than bestow her on Ab Gwilym. Having a hunting-lodge in
a forest on the banks of the lovely Taf, he allotted it to the fugitives
as a residence. Ecclesiastical law, however, as strong in Wild Wales as
in other parts of Europe, soon followed them into Glamorgan, and, very
properly, separated them. The lady was restored to her husband, and Ab
Gwilym fined to a very high amount. Not being able to pay the fine, he
was cast into prison; but then the men of Glamorgan arose to a man,
swearing that their head bard should not remain in prison. "Then pay his
fine!" said the ecclesiastical law, or rather the ecclesiastical lawyer.
"So we will!" said the men of Glamorgan, and so they did. Every man put
his hand into his pocket; the amount was soon raised, the fine paid, and
the bard set free.

Ab Gwilym did not forget this kindness of the men of Glamorgan, and, to
requite it, wrote an address to the sun, in which he requests that
luminary to visit Glamorgan, to bless it, and to keep it from harm. The
piece concludes with some noble lines somewhat to this effect

"If every strand oppression strong
Should arm against the son of song,
The weary wight would find, I ween,
A welcome in Glamorgan green."

Some time after his release he meditated a second elopement with Morfudd,
and even induced her to consent to go off with him. A friend, to whom he
disclosed what he was thinking of doing, asking him whether he would
venture a second time to take such a step, "I will," said the bard, "in
the name of God and the men of Glamorgan." No second elopement, however,
took place, the bard probably thinking, as has been well observed, that
neither God nor the men of Glamorgan would help him a second time out of
such an affair. He did not attain to any advanced age, but died when
about sixty, some twenty years before the rising of Glendower. Some time
before his death his mind fortunately took a decidedly religious turn.

He is said to have been eminently handsome in his youth, tall, slender,
with yellow hair falling in ringlets down his shoulders. He is likewise
said to have been a great libertine. The following story is told of
him:--

"In a certain neighbourhood he had a great many mistresses, some married
and others not. Once upon a time, in the month of June he made a secret
appointment with each of his lady-loves, the place and hour of meeting
bei