From Thomas Crofton Croker's 'Fairy Legends of Wales', included in his third volume of Fairy Legends and Traditions of the South of Ireland, first published in 1828...
In one of the most secluded parts of the principality may be seen the ruins of an ancient fortress, called Castell Owen Lawgoch, from the name of the chieftain, Owen Lawgoch, or Owen of the Bloody Hand, by whom it was once occupied, and who is believed to be at this moment, together with all his warriors, in a state of enchanted sleep in the vaults under the castle*; and in confirmation of this belief, the following story was related by Thomas ap Rhys as having occurred not many years ago:
It happened that as a Welshman was one day sauntering among the ruins of Castle Owen Lawgoch, he discovered an opening which seemed to lead to some subterraneous passage. Having removed the obstructions caused by the ivy and the rubbish about the entrance, he managed to creep in. To his surprise he found that this passage led to others of considerable length, and curiosity induced him to explore further, until he suddenly came into a vaulted hall of vast extent, in which he beheld an immense multitude of warriors clad in armour, lying upon their arms fast asleep.
This unexpected sight completely checked his curiosity; and, quite satisfied that he had proceeded far enough, he hastened to return before his intrusion should be discovered: but as he turned himself round to depart rather incautiously, he unfortunately struck his foot against something which he did not perceive in the dim light, but which seemed to consist of arms piled up together, and they fell with a tremendous clang; whereupon all the warriors started up from their sleep, and grasping their arms, exclaimed, "A ydyw hi'n ddydd? a ydyw hi'n ddydd?" (Is it day? Is it day?)
But the intruder, with the most admirable presence of mind, answered, "Nagyw, nagyw, cysgwch etto," (No, no, sleep again;) when they all immediately laid themselves down, and fell fast asleep as before, where they still are, waiting the signal which is to awaken them.
Another legend says, that it is in a cavern under a hill that the chieftain, Owen Lawgoch, with his thousand warriors, lie in a state of enchanted sleep, waiting for the time to arrive when they are to be awakened in order to oppose a hostile army which they shall meet at the ford of Rhyd goch arddy faych, and at Llyn pent y Weyrd; and that the destinies of Britain depend on the valour and success of the awakened warriors.
This hill is said to be the scene of a very extraordinary appearance, concerning which, an old man of the neighbourhood related the following story: Whoever stands at the distance of a mile or two from the hill may perceive upon its summit a fine large yew tree; but should you attempt to approach the spot, you will find that the yew tree has vanished. If you retreat again to a short distance, you will plainly see the tree as before.
It happened that a shepherd lad being one day upon this hill, wanted a walking-stick, and perceiving a hazle tree near him, he cut it for that purpose. In a short time afterwards he became tired of his pastoral occupation, and he resolved upon leaving home, and seeking his fortune in some other line of life. He set out accordingly, and as he was journeying on he met a stranger of noble appearance, who looked very earnestly at him, and at the hazle stick which he had in his hand. At length he spoke to him and said,
"Young man, where did you get that stick? Can you show me the very spot?"
"I can, sir," replied the poor Welsh boy.
"And will you?" inquired the stranger in an earnest manner.
"Most readily would I," said the boy, "if I was near it."
The stranger then offered to pay all the expenses of the journey, and to reward him for his trouble. The boy agreed to the proposal, and they accordingly set off together and arrived at the very root of the tree. The boy then stopped and said, "This, sir, is the root of the hazle stick which I hold in my hand." The stranger then desired him to look under it, and that he would find a trap-door which would admit him into a vaulted passage; that this passage would lead him into an apartment in which numbers of armed warriors lay asleep, and that at its entrance he would find a rope conducting him to it.
"But," said he, "press gently on this rope, for it is attached to a bell, which, if rung, will arouse the warriors and their chieftain; who, if he be wakened, will ask, 'Is it day?' Should this be the case, mind and answer quickly 'No!' In this apartment," he continued, 'there is a vast quantity of gold, concealed under a pile of arms; and this gold I want you to bring away. Be cautious, and remember what I have told you."
The lad, after some little hesitation, obeyed: he found the trap-door, descended, and arrived at the apartment described by his companion. There he beheld the warriors lying on their arms asleep; and near the chieftain was the pile of arms which concealed the heap of gold. The intrepid lad approached to seize it, and was in the very act, when down fell the arms with a fearful clang, and up started Owen Lawgoch, who stretched out his hand, which was as large as a shield, and cried out with a voice that pealed like thunder, "A ydyw hi'n ddydd? A ydyw hi'n ddydd?" (Is it day? Is it day?); whereupon all the armed men were aroused, and reiterated the same question.
The young Welshman with great coolness replied, "Nagyw, nagyw, cysgwch etto" (No, no, sleep again); when they all composed themselves to sleep again. The lad then secured as much gold as he could carry, and returned with it to the entrance of the cavern, where he delivered it to the stranger, who desired him to descend again and bring up the remainder, promising him a handsome share of it. Upon this second attempt, he found neither rope nor hall, nor warriors nor treasure and after much toil and fear, he found his way back to the trap-door; but his companion had fled for ever, and he never even heard of him afterwards.
The cavern, like the yew tree on the mountain, has ever since been in a state of Dygel (invisibility), and no one from that time has disturbed the enchanted sleep of Owen Lawgoch and his steel-clad warriors.
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