wild wales-第114部分

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cheek；　he　said　in　a　kind　of　piercing　whisper　…

〃The　Vicar。〃

Then　drawing　his　face　back　he　looked　me　full　in　the　eyes　as　if　to　
observe　the　effect　of　his　intelligence；　gave　me　two　nods　as　if　to　
say；　〃He　did；　indeed；〃　and　departed。

THE　Vicar　of　Llandovery　had　then　been　dead　nearly　two　hundred　
years。　　Truly　the　man　in　whom　piety　and　genius　are　blended　is　
immortal　upon　earth。



CHAPTER　XCVIII



Departure　from　Llandovery　…　A　Bitter　Methodist　…　North　and　South　…　
The　Caravan　…　Captain　Bosvile　…　Deputy　Ranger　…　A　Scrimmage　…　The　
Heavenly　Gwynfa　…　Dangerous　Position。


ON　the　tenth　I　departed　from　Llandovery；　which　I　have　no　hesitation　
in　saying　is　about　the　pleasantest　little　town　in　which　I　have　
halted　in　the　course　of　my　wanderings。　　I　intended　to　sleep　at　
Gutter　Vawr；　a　place　some　twenty　miles　distant；　just　within　
Glamorganshire；　to　reach　which　it　would　be　necessary　to　pass　over　
part　of　a　range　of　wild　hills；　generally　called　the　Black　
Mountains。　　I　started　at　about　ten　o'clock；　the　morning　was　
lowering；　and　there　were　occasional　showers　of　rain　and　hail。　　I　
passed　by　Rees　Pritchard's　church；　holding　my　hat　in　my　hand　as　I　
did　so；　not　out　of　respect　for　the　building；　but　from　reverence　for　
the　memory　of　the　sainted　man　who　of　old　from　its　pulpit　called　
sinners　to　repentance；　and　whose　remains　slumber　in　the　churchyard　
unless　washed　away　by　some　frantic　burst　of　the　neighbouring　Towey。　　
Crossing　a　bridge　over　the　Bran　just　before　it　enters　the　greater　
stream；　I　proceeded　along　a　road　running　nearly　south　and　having　a　
range　of　fine　hills　on　the　east。　　Presently　violent　gusts　of　wind　
came　on；　which　tore　the　sear　leaves　by　thousands　from　the　trees；　of　
which　there　were　plenty　by　the　roadsides。　　After　a　little　time；　
however；　this　elemental　hurly…burly　passed　away；　a　rainbow　made　its　
appearance；　and　the　day　became　comparatively　fine。　　Turning　to　the　
south…east　under　a　hill　covered　with　oaks；　I　left　the　vale　of　the　
Towey　behind　me；　and　soon　caught　a　glimpse　of　some　very　lofty　hills　
which　I　supposed　to　be　the　Black　Mountains。　　It　was　a　mere　glimpse；　
for　scarcely　had　I　descried　them　when　mist　settled　down　and　totally　
obscured　them　from　my　view。

In　about　an　hour　I　reached　Llangadog；　a　large　village。　　The　name　
signifies　the　church　of　Gadog。　　Gadog　was　a　British　saint　of　the　
fifth　century；　who　after　labouring　amongst　his　own　countrymen　for　
their　spiritual　good　for　many　years；　crossed　the　sea　to　Brittany；　
where　he　died。　　Scarcely　had　I　entered　Llangadog　when　a　great　
shower　of　rain　came　down。　　Seeing　an　ancient…looking　hostelry　I　at　
once　made　for　it。　　In　a　large　and　comfortable　kitchen　I　found　a　
middle…aged　woman　seated　by　a　huge　deal　table　near　a　blazing　fire；　
with　a　couple　of　large　books　open　before　her。　　Sitting　down　on　a　
chair　I　told　her　in　English　to　bring　me　a　pint　of　ale。　　She　did　so；　
and　again　sat　down　to　her　books；　which　on　inquiry　I　found　to　be　a　
Welsh　Bible　and　Concordance。　　We　soon　got　into　discourse　about　
religion；　but　did　not　exactly　agree；　for　she　was　a　bitter　
Methodist；　as　bitter　as　her　beer；　only　half　of　which　I　could　get　
down。

Leaving　Llangadog　I　pushed　forward。　　The　day　was　now　tolerably　
fine。　　In　two　or　three　hours　I　came　to　a　glen；　the　sides　of　which　
were　beautifully　wooded。　　On　my　left　was　a　river；　which　came　
roaring　down　from　a　range　of　lofty　mountains　right　before　me　to　the　
south…east。　　The　river；　as　I　was　told　by　a　lad；　was　the　Sawdde　or　
Southey；　the　lofty　range　the　Black　Mountains。　　Passed　a　pretty　
village　on　my　right　standing　something　in　the　shape　of　a　
semicircle；　and　in　about　half…an…hour　came　to　a　bridge　over　a　river　
which　I　supposed　to　be　the　Sawdde　which　I　had　already　seen；　but　
which　I　subsequently　learned　was　an　altogether　different　stream。　　
It　was　running　from　the　south；　a　wild；　fierce　flood；　amidst　rocks　
and　stones；　the　waves　all　roaring　and　foaming。

After　some　time　I　reached　another　bridge　near　the　foot　of　a　very　
lofty　ascent。　　On　my　left　to　the　east　upon　a　bank　was　a　small　
house；　on　one　side　of　which　was　a　wheel　turned　round　by　a　flush　of　
water　running　in　a　little　artificial　canal；　close　by　it　were　two　
small　cascades；　the　waters　of　which；　and　also　those　of　the　canal；　
passed　under　the　bridge　in　the　direction　of　the　west。　　Seeing　a　
decent…looking　man　engaged　in　sawing　a　piece　of　wood　by　the　
roadside；　I　asked　him　in　Welsh　whether　the　house　with　the　wheel　was　
a　flour　mill。

〃Nage；〃　said　he；　〃it　is　a　pandy；　fulling　mill。〃

〃Can　you　tell　me　the　name　of　a　river；〃　said　I；　〃which　I　have　left　
about　a　mile　behind　me。　　Is　it　the　Sawdde？'

〃Nage；〃　said　he；　〃it　is　the　Lleidach。〃

Then　looking　at　me　with　great　curiosity；　he　asked　if　I　came　from　
the　north　country。

〃Yes；〃　said　I；　〃I　certainly　come　from　there。〃

〃I　am　glad　to　hear　it；〃　said　he；　〃for　I　have　long　wished　to　see　a　
man　from　the　north　country。〃

〃Did　you　never　see　one　before？〃　said　I。

〃Never　in　my　life；〃　he　replied；　〃men　from　the　north　country　seldom　
show　themselves　in　these　parts。〃

〃Well；〃　said　I；　〃I　am　not　ashamed　to　say　that　I　come　from　the　
north。〃

〃Ain't　you？　　Well；　I　don't　know　that　you　have　any　particular　reason　
to　be　ashamed；　for　it　is　rather　your　misfortune　than　your　fault；　
but　the　idea　of　any　one　coming　from　the　north　…　ho；　ho！〃

〃Perhaps　in　the　north；〃　said　I；　〃they　laugh　at　a　man　from　the　
south。〃

〃Laugh　at　a　man　from　the　south！　　No；　no；　they　can't　do　that。〃

〃Why　not？〃　said　I；　〃why　shouldn't　the　north　laugh　at　the　south　as　
well　as　the　south　at　the　north？〃

〃Why　shouldn't　it？　why；　you　talk　like　a　fool。　　How　could　the　north　
laugh　at　the　south　as　long　as　the　south　remains　the　south　and　the　
north　the　north？　　Laugh　at　the　south！　you　talk　like　a　fool；　David；　
and　if　you　go　on　in　that　way　I　shall　be　angry　with　you。　　However；　
I'll　excuse　you；　you　are　from　the　north；　and　what　can　one　expect　
from　the　north　but　nonsense？　　Now　tell　me；　do　you　of　the　north　eat　
and　drink　like　other　people？　　What　do　you　live　upon？〃

〃Why；　as　for　myself；〃　said　I；　〃I　generally　live　on　the　best　I　can　
get。〃

〃Let's　hear　what　you　eat；　bacon　and　eggs？

〃Oh　yes；　I　eat　bacon　and　eggs　when　I　can　get　nothing　better。〃

〃And　what　do　you　drink？　　Can　you　drink　ale？〃

〃Oh　yes；〃　said　I；　〃I　am　very　fond　of　ale　when　it's　good。　　Perhaps　
you　will　stand　a　pint？〃

〃Hm；〃　said　the　man　looking　somewhat　blank；　〃there　is　no　ale　in　the　
Pandy　and　there　is　no　public…house　near　at　hand；　otherwise　…　Where　
are　you　going　to…night？〃

〃To　Gutter　Vawr。〃

〃Well；　then；　you　had　better　not　loiter；　Gutter　Vawr　is　a　long　way　
off　over　the　mountain。　　It　will　be　dark；　I　am　afraid；　long　before　
you　get　to　Gutter　Vawr。　　Good　evening；　David！　　I　am　glad　to　have　
seen　you；　for　I　have　long　wished　to　see　a　man　from　the　north　
country。　　Good　evening！　you　will　find　plenty　of　good　ale　at　Gutter　
Vawr。〃

I　went　on　my　way。　　The　road　led　in　a　south…eastern　direction　
gradually　upward　to　very　lofty　regions。　　After　walking　about　half…
an…hour　I　saw　a　kind　of　wooden　house　on　wheels　drawn　by　two　horses　
coming　down　the　hill　towards　me。　　A　short　black…looking　fellow　in　
brown…top　boots；　corduroy　breeches；　jockey　coat　and　jockey　cap　sat　
on　the　box；　holding　the　reins　in　one　hand　and　a　long　whip　in　the　
other。　　Beside　him　was　a　swarthy　woman　in　a　wild　flaunting　dress。　　
Behind　the　box　out　of　the　fore　part　of　the　caravan　peered　two　or　
three　black　children's　heads。　　A　pretty　little　foal　about　four　
months　old　came　frisking　and　gambolling　now　before　now　beside　the　
horses；　whilst　a　colt　of　some　sixteen　months　followed　more　
leisurely　behind。　　When　the　caravan　was　about　ten　yards　distant　I　
stopped；　and　raising　my　left　hand　with　the　little　finger　pointed　
aloft；　I　exclaimed：

〃Shoon；　Kaulomengro；　shoon！　　In　Dibbel's　nav；　where　may　tu　be　
jawing　to？〃

Stopping　his　caravan　with　considerable　difficulty　the　small　black　
man　glared　at　me　for　a　moment　like　a　wild　cat；　and　then　said　in　a　
voice　partly　snappish；　partly　kind：

〃Savo　shan　tu？　　Are　you　one　of　the　Ingrines？〃

〃I　am　the　chap　what　certain　folks　calls　the　Romany　Rye。〃

〃Well；　I'll　be　jiggered　if　I　wasn't　thinking　so　and　if　I　wasn't　
penning　so　to　my　juwa　as　we　were　welling　down　the　chong。〃

〃It　is　a　long　time　since　we　last　met；　Captain　Bosvile；　for　I　
suppose　I　may　call　you　Captain　now？〃

〃Yes！　the　old　man　has　been　dead　and　buried　this　many　a　year；　and　
his　sticks　and　titles　are　now　mine。　　Poor　soul；　I　hope　he　is　happy；　
indeed　I　know　he　is；　for　he　lies　in　Cockleshell　churchyard；　the　
place　he　was　always　so　fond　of；　and　has　his　Sunday　waistcoat　on　him　
with　the　fine　gold　buttons；　which　he　was　always　so　proud　of。　　Ah；　
you　may　well　call　it　a　long　time　since　we　met　…　why；　it　can't　be　
less　than　thirty　year。〃

〃Something　about　that　…　you　were　a　boy　then　of　about　fifteen。〃

〃So　I　was；　and　you　a　tall　young　slip　of　about　twenty；　well；　how　did　
you　come　to　jin　mande？〃

〃Why；　I　knew　you　by　your　fighting　mug　…　there　ain't　such　another　
mug　in　England。〃

〃No　more　there　an't　…　my　old　father　always　used　to　say　it　was　of　no　
use　hitting　it　for　it　always　broke　his　knuckles。　　Well；　it　was　kind　
of　you　to　jin　mande　after　so　many　years。　　The　last　time　I　think　I　
saw　you　was　near　Brummagem；　when　you　were　travelling　about　with　
Jasper　Petulengro　and　…　I　say；　what's　become　of　the　young　woman　you　
used　to　keep　company　with？〃

〃I　don't　know。〃

〃You　don't？　　Well；　she　was　a　fine　young　woman　and　a　vartuous。　　I　
remember　her　knocking　down　and　giving　a　black　eye　to　my　old　mother；　
who　was　wonderfully　deep　in　Romany；　for　making　a　bit　of　a　gillie　
about　you　and　she。　　What　was　the　song？　　Lord；　how　my　memory　fails　
me！　　Oh；　here　it　is：…


〃'Ando　berkho　Rye　cano
Oteh　pivo　teh　khavo
Tu　lerasque　ando　berkho　piranee
Teh　corbatcha　por　pico。'〃


〃Have　you　seen　Jasper　Petulengro　lately？〃　said　I。

〃Yes；　I　have　seen　him；　but　it　was　at　a　very　considerable　distance。　　
Jasper　Petulengro　doesn't　come　near　the　likes　of　we　now。　　Lord！　you　
can't　think　what　grand　folks　he　and　his　wife　have　become　of　late　
years；　and　all　along　of　a　trumpery　lil　which　somebody　has　written　
about　them。　　Why；　they　are　hand　and　glove　with　the　Queen　and　
Prince；　and