wild wales-第94部分

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We　came　to　a　cottage　standing　under　a　hillock；　down　the　side　of　
which　tumbled　a　streamlet　close　by　the　northern　side　of　the　
building。　　The　door　was　open；　and　inside　were　two　or　three　females　
and　some　children。　　〃Have　you　any　enwyn？〃　said　the　lad；　peeping　in。

〃Oh　yes！〃　said　a　voice　…　〃digon！　digon！〃　　Presently　a　buxom；　
laughing　girl　brought　out　two　dishes　of　buttermilk；　one　of　which　
she　handed　to　me　and　the　other　to　the　guide。　　I　asked　her　the　name　
of　the　place。

〃Gwen　Frwd　…　the　'Fair　Rivulet；'〃　said　she。

〃Who　lives　here？〃

〃A　shepherd。〃

〃Have　you　any　English？〃

〃Nagos！〃　said　she；　bursting　into　a　loud　laugh。　　〃What　should　we　do　
with　English　here？〃　After　we　had　drunk　the　buttermilk　I　offered　the　
girl　some　money；　but　she　drew　back　her　hand　angrily；　and　said：　　〃We　
don't　take　money　from　tired　strangers　for　two　drops　of　buttermilk；　
there's　plenty　within；　and　there　are　a　thousand　ewes　on　the　hill。　　
Farvel！〃

〃Dear　me！〃　thought　I　to　myself　as　I　walked　away；　〃that　I　should　
once　in　my　days　have　found　shepherd　life　something　as　poets　have　
represented　it！〃

I　saw　a　mighty　mountain　at　a　considerable　distance　on　the　right；　
the　same　I　believe　which　I　had　noted　some　hours　before。　　I　inquired　
of　my　guide　whether　it　was　Plynlimmon。

〃Oh　no！〃　said　he；　〃that　is　Gaverse；　Pumlimmon　is　to　the　left。〃

〃Plynlimmon　is　a　famed　hill；〃　said　I；　〃I　suppose　it　is　very　high。〃

〃Yes！〃　said　he；　〃it　is　high；　but　it　is　not　famed　because　it　is　
high；　but　because　the　three　grand　rivers　of　the　world　issue　from　
its　breast；　the　Hafren；　the　Rheidol；　and　the　Gwy。〃

Night　was　now　coming　rapidly　on；　attended　with　a　drizzling　rain。　　I　
inquired　if　we　were　far　from　Pont　Erwyd。　　〃About　a　mile；〃　said　my　
guide；　〃we　shall　soon　be　there。〃　　We　quickened　our　pace。　　After　a　
little　time　he　asked　me　if　I　was　going　farther　than　Pont　Erwyd。

〃I　am　bound　for　the　bridge　of　the　evil　man；〃　said　I；　〃but　I　daresay　
I　shall　stop　at　Pont　Erwyd　to…night。〃

〃You　will　do　right；〃　said　he；　〃it　is　only　three　miles　from　Pont　
Erwyd　to　the　bridge　of　the　evil　man；　but　I　think　we　shall　have　a　
stormy　night。〃

〃When　I　get　to　Pont　Erwyd；〃　said　I；　〃how　far　shall　I　be　from　South　
Wales？〃

〃From　South　Wales！〃　said　he；　〃you　are　in　South　Wales　now；　you　
passed　the　Terfyn　of　North　Wales　a　quarter　of　an　hour　ago。〃

The　rain　now　fell　fast　and　there　was　so　thick　a　mist　that　I　could　
only　see　a　few　yards　before　me。　　We　descended　into　a　valley；　at　the　
bottom　of　which　I　heard　a　river　roaring。

〃That's　the　Rheidol；〃　said　my　guide；　〃coming　from　Pumlimmon；　
swollen　with　rain。〃

Without　descending　to　the　river；　we　turned　aside　up　a　hill；　and；　
after　passing　by　a　few　huts；　came　to　a　large　house；　which　my　guide　
told　me　was　the　inn　of　Pont　Erwyd。



CHAPTER　LXXXII



Consequential　Landlord　…　Cheek　…　Darfel　Gatherel　…　Dafydd　Nanmor　…　
Sheep　Farms　…　Wholesome　Advice　…　The　Old　Postman　…　The　Plant　de　Bat　
…　The　Robber's　Cavern。


MY　guide　went　to　a　side　door；　and　opening　it　without　ceremony　went　
in。　　I　followed　and　found　myself　in　a　spacious　and　comfortable…
looking　kitchen：　　a　large　fire　blazed　in　a　huge　grate；　on　one　side　
of　which　was　a　settle；　plenty　of　culinary　utensils；　both　pewter　and　
copper；　hung　around　on　the　walls；　and　several　goodly　rows　of　hams　
and　sides　of　bacon　were　suspended　from　the　roof。　　There　were　
several　people　present；　some　on　the　settle　and　others　on　chairs　in　
the　vicinity　of　the　fire。　　As　I　advanced；　a　man　arose　from　a　chair　
and　came　towards　me。　　He　was　about　thirty…five　years　of　age；　well　
and　strongly　made；　with　a　fresh　complexion；　a　hawk　nose；　and　a　keen　
grey　eye。　　He　wore　top…boots　and　breeches；　a　half　jockey　coat；　and　
had　a　round　cap　made　of　the　skin　of　some　animal　on　his　head。

　〃Servant；　sir！〃　said　he　in　rather　a　sharp　tone；　and　surveying　me　
with　something　of　a　supercilious　air。

〃Your　most　obedient　humble　servant！〃　said　I；　〃I　presume　you　are　the　
landlord　of　this　house。〃

〃Landlord！〃　said　he；　〃landlord！　　It　is　true　I　receive　guests　
sometimes　into　my　house；　but　I　do　so　solely　with　the　view　of　
accommodating　them；　I　do　not　depend　upon　innkeeping　for　a　
livelihood。　　I　hire　the　principal　part　of　the　land　in　this　
neighbourhood。〃

〃If　that　be　the　case；〃　said　I；　〃I　had　better　continue　my　way　to　the　
Devil's　Bridge；　I　am　not　at　all　tired；　and　I　believe　it　is　not　very　
far　distant。〃

〃Oh；　as　you　are　here；〃　said　the　farmer…landlord；　〃I　hope　you　will　
stay。　　I　should　be　very　sorry　if　any　gentleman　should　leave　my　
house　at　night　after　coming　with　an　intention　of　staying；　more　
especially　in　a　night　like　this。　　Martha！〃　said　he；　turning　to　a　
female　between　thirty　and　forty　…　who　I　subsequently　learned　was　
the　mistress　…　〃prepare　the　parlour　instantly　for　this　gentleman；　
and　don't　fail　to　make　up　a　good　fire。〃

Martha　forthwith　hurried　away；　attended　by　a　much　younger　female。

〃Till　your　room　is　prepared；　sir；〃　said　he；　〃perhaps　you　will　have　
no　objection　to　sit　down　before　our　fire？〃

〃Not　the　least；〃　said　I；　〃nothing　gives　me　greater　pleasure　than　to　
sit　before　a　kitchen　fire。　　First　of　all；　however；　I　must　settle　
with　my　guide；　and　likewise　see　that　he　has　something　to　eat　and　
drink。〃

〃Shall　I　interpret　for　you？〃　said　the　landlord；　〃the　lad　has　not　a　
word　of　English；　I　know　him　well。〃

〃I　have　not　been　under　his　guidance　for　the　last　three　hours；〃　said　
I；　〃without　knowing　that　he　cannot　speak　English；　but　I　want　no　
interpreter。〃

〃You　do　not　mean　to　say；　sir；〃　said　the　landlord；　with　a　surprised　
and　dissatisfied　air；　〃that　you　understand　Welsh？〃

I　made　no　answer；　but　turning　to　the　guide　thanked　him　for　his　
kindness；　and　giving　him　some　money　asked　him　if　it　was　enough。

〃More　than　enough；　sir；〃　said　the　lad；　〃I　did　not　expect　half　as　
much。　　Farewell！〃

He　was　then　about　to　depart；　but　I　prevented　him　saying：

〃You　must　not　go　till　you　have　eaten　and　drunk。　　What　will　you　
have？〃

〃Merely　a　cup　of　ale；　sir；〃　said　the　lad。

〃That　won't　do；〃　said　I；　〃you　shall　have　bread　and　cheese　and　as　
much　ale　as　you　can　drink。　　Pray；〃　said　I　to　the　landlord；　〃let　
this　young　man　have　some　bread　and　cheese　and　a　large　quart　of　
ale。〃

The　landlord　looked　at　me　for　a　moment；　then　turning　to　the　lad　he　
said：

〃What　do　you　think　of　that；　Shon？　　It　is　some　time　since　you　had　a　
quart　of　ale　to　your　own　cheek。〃

〃Cheek；〃　said　I　…　〃cheek！　　Is　that　a　Welsh　word？　　Surely　it　is　an　
importation　from　the　English；　and　not　a　very　genteel　one。〃

〃Oh　come；　sir！〃　said　the　landlord；　〃we　can　dispense　with　your　
criticisms。　　A　pretty　thing　indeed　for　you；　on　the　strength　of　
knowing　half…a…dozen　words　of　Welsh；　to　set　up　for　a　Welsh　critic　
in　the　house　of　a　person　who　knows　the　ancient　British　language　
perfectly。〃

〃Dear　me！〃　said　I；　〃how　fortunate　I　am！　a　person　thoroughly　versed　
in　the　ancient　British　language　is　what　I　have　long　wished　to　see。　　
Pray　what　is　the　meaning　of　Darfel　Gatherel？〃

〃Oh　sir！〃　said　the　landlord；　〃you　must　answer　that　question　
yourself；　I　don't　pretend　to　understand　gibberish！〃

〃Darfel　Gatherel；〃　said　I；　〃is　not　gibberish；　it　was　the　name　of　
the　great　wooden　image　at　Ty　Dewi；　or　Saint　David's；　in　
Pembrokeshire；　to　which　thousands　of　pilgrims　in　the　days　of　popery　
used　to　repair　for　the　purpose　of　adoring　it；　and　which　at　the　time　
of　the　Reformation　was　sent　up　to　London　as　a　curiosity；　where　it　
eventually　served　as　firewood　to　burn　the　monk　Forrest　upon；　who　
was　sentenced　to　the　stake　by　Henry　the　Eighth　for　denying　his　
supremacy。　　What　I　want　to　know　is；　the　meaning　of　the　name；　which　
I　could　never　get　explained；　but　which　you　who　know　the　ancient　
British　language　perfectly　can　doubtless　interpret。〃

〃Oh；　sir；〃　said　the　landlord；　〃when　I　said　I　knew　the　British　
language　perfectly；　I　perhaps　went　too　far　there　are；　of　course；　
some　obsolete　terms　in　the　British　tongue；　which　I　don't　
understand。　　Dar；　Dar　…　what　is　it？　　Darmod　Cotterel　amongst　the　
rest；　but　to　a　general　knowledge　of　the　Welsh　language　I　think　I　
may　lay　some　pretensions；　were　I　not　well　acquainted　with　it；　I　
should　not　have　carried　off　the　prize　at　various　eisteddfodau；　as　I　
have　done。　　I　am　a　poet；　sir　…　a　prydydd。〃

〃It　is　singular　enough；〃　said　I；　〃that　the　only　two　Welsh　poets　I　
have　seen　have　been　innkeepers　…　one　is　yourself；　the　other　a　
person　I　met　in　Anglesey。　　I　suppose　the　Muse　is　fond　of　cwrw　da。〃

〃You　would　fain　be　pleasant；　sir；〃　said　the　landlord；　〃but　I　beg　
leave　to　inform　you　that　I　am　not　fond　of　pleasantries；　and　now；　as　
my　wife　and　the　servant　are　returned；　I　will　have　the　pleasure　of　
conducting　you　to　the　parlour。〃

〃Before　I　go；〃　said　I；　〃I　should　like　to　see　my　guide　provided　with　
what　I　ordered。〃　　I　stayed　till　the　lad　was　accommodated　with　bread　
and　cheese　and　a　foaming　tankard　of　ale；　and　then　bidding　him　
farewell；　I　followed　the　landlord　into　the　parlour；　where　I　found　a　
fire　kindled；　which；　however；　smoked　exceedingly。　　I　asked　my　host　
what　I　could　have　for　supper；　and　was　told　that　he　did　not　know；　
but　that　if　I　would　leave　the　matter　to　him　he　would　send　the　best　
he　could。　　As　he　was　going　away；　I　said：　　〃So　you　are　a　poet？　　
Well；　I　am　very　glad　to　hear　it；　for　I　have　been　fond　of　Welsh　
poetry　from　my　boyhood。　　What　kind　of　verse　do　you　employ　in　
general？　　Did　you　ever　write　an　awdl　in　the　four…and…twenty　
measures？　　What　are　the　themes　of　your　songs？　　The　deeds　of　the　
ancient　heroes　of　South　Wales；　I　suppose；　and　the　hospitality　of　
the　great　men　of　the　neighbourhood　who　receive　you　as　an　honoured　
guest　at　their　tables。　　I'll　bet　a　guinea　that　however　clever　a　
fellow　you　may　be　you　never　sang　anything　in　praise　of　your　
landlord's　housekeeping　equal　to　what　Dafydd　Nanmor　sang　in　praise　
of　that　of　Ryce　of　Twyn　four　hundred　years　ago：


'For　Ryce　if　hundred　thousands　plough'd
The　lands　around　his　fair　abode；
Did　vines　of　thousand　vineyards　bleed；
Still　corn　and　wine　great　Ryce　would　need；
If　all　the　earth　had　bread's　sweet　savour；
And　water　all　had　cyder's　flavour；
Three　roaring　feasts　in　Ryce's　hall
Would　swallow　earth　and　ocean　all。'


Hey？〃

〃Really；　sir；〃　said　the　landlord；　〃I　don't　know　how　to　reply　to