wild wales-第107章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


you　keep？〃

To　not　one　of　these　questions；　nor　to　a　dozen　others　which　I　put；　
both　in　English　and　Welsh；　did　my　friend　with　the　brush　return　any　
verbal　answer；　though　I　could　occasionally　hear　a　kind　of　stifled　
giggle　proceeding　from　him。　　Having　at　length　thoroughly　brushed　
not　only　my　clothes；　but　my　boots　and　my　hat；　which　last　article　he　
took　from　my　head；　and　placed　it　on　again　very　dexterously；　after　
brushing　it；　he　put　the　brush　down　on　the　dresser；　and　then　
advancing　to　me　made　me　a　bow；　and　waving　his　forefinger　backwards　
and　forwards　before　my　face；　he　said；　with　a　broad　grin：　　〃Nice　
gentleman　…　will　do　anything　for　him　but　answer　questions；　and　let　
him　hear　my　discourse。　　Love　to　listen　to　his　pleasant　stories　of　
foreign　lands；　ghosts　and　tylwith　teg；　but　before　him；　deem　it　wise　
to　be　mum；　quite　mum。　　Know　what　he　comes　about。　　Wants　to　hear　
discourse　of　poor　man；　that　he　may　learn　from　it　poor　man's　little　
ways　and　infirmities；　and　mark　them　down　in　one　small；　little　book　
to　serve　for　fun　to　Lord　Palmerston　and　the　other　great　gentlefolks　
in　London。　　Nice　man；　civil　man；　I　don't　deny；　and　clebber　man　too；　
for　he　knows　Welsh；　and　has　been　everywhere　…　but　fox　…　old　fox　…　
lives　at　Plas　y　Cadno。〃　（18）

Having　been　informed　that　there　was　a　considerable　iron　foundry　
close　by；　I　thought　it　would　be　worth　my　while　to　go　and　see　it。　　I　
entered　the　premises；　and　was　standing　and　looking　round；　when　a　
man　with　the　appearance　of　a　respectable　mechanic　came　up　and　
offered　to　show　me　over　the　place。　　I　gladly　accepted　his　offer；　
and　he　showed　me　all　about　the　iron　foundry。　　I　saw　a　large　steam…
engine　at　full　play；　terrible　furnaces；　and　immense　heaps　of　
burning；　crackling　cinders；　and　a　fiery　stream　of　molten　metal　
rolling　along。　　After　seeing　what　there　was　to　be　seen；　I　offered　a　
piece　of　silver　to　my　kind　conductor；　which　he　at　once　refused。　　On　
my　asking　him；　however；　to　go　to　the　inn　and　have　a　friendly　glass；　
he　smiled；　and　said　he　had　no　objection。　　So　we　went　to　the　inn；　
and　had　two　friendly　glasses　of　whiskey…and…water　together；　and　
also　some　discourse。　　I　asked　him　if　there　were　any　English　
employed　on　the　premises。　　〃None；〃　said　he；　〃nor　Irish　either；　we　
are　all　Welsh。〃　　Though　he　was　a　Welshman；　his　name　was　a　very　
common　English　one。

After　paying　the　reckoning；　which　only　amounted　to　three　and　
sixpence；　I　departed　for　Swansea；　distant　about　thirteen　miles。　　
Gutter　Vawr　consists　of　one　street；　extending　for　some　little　way　
along　the　Swansea　road；　the　foundry；　and　a　number　of　huts　and　
houses　scattered　here　and　there。　　The　population　is　composed　almost　
entirely　of　miners；　the　workers　at　the　foundry；　and　their　families。　　
For　the　first　two　or　three　miles　the　country　through　which　I　passed　
did　not　at　all　prepossess　me　in　favour　of　Glamorganshire：　　it　
consisted　of　low；　sullen；　peaty　hills。　　Subsequently；　however；　it　
improved　rapidly；　becoming　bold；　wild；　and　pleasantly　wooded。　　The　
aspect　of　the　day　improved；　also；　with　the　appearance　of　the　
country。　　When　I　first　started　the　morning　was　wretched　and　
drizzly；　but　in　less　than　an　hour　it　cleared　up　wonderfully；　and　
the　sun　began　to　flash　out。　　As　I　looked　on　the　bright　luminary　I　
thought　of　Ab　Gwilym's　ode　to　the　sun　and　Glamorgan；　and　with　
breast　heaving　and　with　eyes　full　of　tears；　I　began　to　repeat　parts　
of　it；　or　rather　of　a　translation　made　in　my　happy　boyish　years：…


〃Each　morn；　benign　of　countenance；
Upon　Glamorgan's　pennon　glance！
Each　afternoon　in　beauty　clear
Above　my　own　dear　bounds　appear！
Bright　outline　of　a　blessed　clime；
Again；　though　sunk；　arise　sublime　…
Upon　my　errand；　swift　repair；
And　unto　green　Glamorgan　bear
Good　days　and　terms　of　courtesy
From　my　dear　country　and　from　me！
Move　round　…　but　need　I　thee　command？　…
Its　chalk…white　halls；　which　cheerful　stand　…
Pleasant　thy　own　pavilions　too　…
Its　fields　and　orchards　fair　to　view。

〃O；　pleasant　is　thy　task　and　high
In　radiant　warmth　to　roam　the　sky；
To　keep　from　ill　that　kindly　ground；
Its　meads　and　farms；　where　mead　is　found；
A　land　whose　commons　live　content；
Where　each　man's　lot　is　excellent；
Where　hosts　to　hail　thee　shall　upstand；
Where　lads　are　bold　and　lasses　bland；
A　land　I　oft　from　hill　that's　high
Have　gazed　upon　with　raptur'd　eye；
Where　maids　are　trained　in　virtue's　school；
Where　duteous　wives　spin　dainty　wool；
A　country　with　each　gift　supplied；
Confronting　Cornwall's　cliffs　of　pride。〃


Came　to　Llanguick；　a　hamlet　situated　near　a　tremendous　gorge；　the　
sides　of　which　were　covered　with　wood。　　Thence　to　the　village　of　
Tawy　Bridge；　at　the　bottom　of　a　beautiful　valley；　through　which　
runs　the　Tawy；　which；　after　the　Taf；　is　the　most　considerable　river　
in　Glamorganshire。　　Continuing　my　course；　I　passed　by　an　enormous　
edifice　which　stood　on　my　right　hand。　　It　had　huge　chimneys；　which　
were　casting　forth　smoke；　and　from　within　I　heard　the　noise　of　a　
steam…engine　and　the　roar　of　furnaces。

〃What　place　is　this？〃　said；　I　to　a　boy。

〃Gwaith　haiarn；　sir；　ym　perthyn　i　Mr　Pearson。　　Mr　Pearson's　iron　
works；　sir。〃

I　proceeded；　and　in　about　half…an…hour　saw　a　man　walking　before　me　
in　the　same　direction　in　which　I　was。　　He　was　going　very　briskly；　
but　I　soon　came　up　to　him。　　He　was　a　small；　well…made　fellow；　with　
reddish　hair　and　ruddy；　determined　countenance；　somewhat　tanned。　　
He　wore　a　straw　hat；　checkered　shirt；　open　at　the　neck；　canvas　
trousers　and　blue　jacket。　　On　his　feet　were　shoes　remarkably　thin；　
but　no　stockings；　and　in　his　hand　he　held　a　stout　stick；　with　
which；　just　before　I　overtook　him；　he　struck　a　round　stone　which　
lay　on　the　ground；　sending　it　flying　at　least　fifty　yards　before　
him　on　the　road；　and　following　it　in　its　flight　with　a　wild　and　
somewhat　startling　halloo。

〃Good…day；　my　friend；〃　said　I；　〃you　seem　to　be　able　to　use　a　
stick。〃

〃And　sure　I　ought　to　be；　your　honour；　seeing　as　how　my　father　
taught　me；　who　was　the　best　fighting　man　with　a　stick　that　the　
Shanavests　ever　had。　　Many　is　the　head　of　a　Caravaut　that　he　has　
broken　with　some　such　an　Alpeen　wattle　as　the　one　I　am　carrying　
with　me　here。〃

〃A　good　thing；〃　said　I；　〃that　there　are　no　Old　Waist…coats　and　
Cravats　at　present；　at　least　bloody　factions　bearing　those　names。〃

〃Your　honour　thinks　so！　　Faith！　　I　am　clane　of　a　contrary　opinion。　　
I　wish　the　ould　Shanavests　and　Caravauts　were　fighting　still；　and　I　
among　them。　　Faith！　there　was　some　life　in　Ireland　in　their　days。〃

〃And　plenty　of　death　too；〃　said　I。　　〃How　fortunate　it　is　that　the　
Irish　have　the　English　among　them　to　prevent　their　cutting　each　
other's　throats。〃

〃The　English　prevent　the　Irish　from　cutting　each　other's　throats！　　
Well；　if　they　do；　it　is　only　that　they　may　have　the　pleasure　of　
cutting　them　themselves。　　The　bloody　tyrants！　too　long　has　their　
foot　been　upon　the　neck　of　poor　old　Ireland。〃

〃How　do　the　English　tyrannise　over　Ireland？〃

〃How　do　they　tyrannise　over　her？　　Don't　they　prevent　her　from　
having　the　free　exercise　of　her　Catholic　religion；　and　make　her　
help　to　support　their　own　Protestant　one？〃

〃Well；　and　don't　the　Roman　Catholics　prevent　the　Protestants　from　
having　the　free　exercise　of　their　religion；　whenever　they　happen　to　
be　the　most　numerous；　and　don't　they　make　them　help　to　support　the　
Roman　Catholic　religion？〃

〃Of　course　they　do；　and　quite　right！　　Had　I　my　will；　there　
shouldn't　be　a　place　of　Protestant　worship　left　standing；　or　a　
Protestant　churl　allowed　to　go　about　with　a　head　unbroken。〃

〃Then　why　do　you　blame　the　Protestants　for　keeping　the　Romans　a　
little　under？〃

〃Why　do　I　blame　them？　　A　purty　question！　　Why；　an't　they　wrong；　and　
an't　we　right？〃

〃But　they　say　that　they　are　right　and　you　wrong。〃

〃They　say！　who　minds　what　they　say？　　Haven't　we　the　word　of　the　
blessed　Pope　that　we　are　right？〃

〃And　they　say　that　they　have　the　word　of　the　blessed　Gospel　that　
you　are　wrong。〃

〃The　Gospel！　who　cares　for　the　Gospel？　　Surely　you　are　not　going　to　
compare　the　Gospel　with　the　Pope？〃

〃Well；　they　certainly　are　not　to　be　named　in　the　same　day。〃

〃They　are　not？　　Then　good　luck　to　you！　　We　are　both　of　the　same　
opinion。　　Ah；　I　thought　your　honour　was　a　rale　Catholic。　　Now；　tell　
me　from　what　kingdom　of　Ireland　does　your　honour　hail？〃

〃Why；　I　was　partly　educated　in　Munster。〃

〃In　Munster！　　Hoorah！　　Here's　the　hand　of　a　countryman　to　your　
honour。　　Ah；　it　was　asy　to　be　seen　from　the　learning；　which　your　
honour　shows；　that　your　honour　is　from　Munster。　　There's　no　spot　in　
Ireland　like　Munster　for　learning。　　What　says　the　old　song？


〃'Ulster　for　a　soldier；
Connaught　for　a　thief；
Munster　for　learning；
And　Leinster　for　beef。'


〃Hoorah　for　learned　Munster！　and　down　with　beggarly；　thievish　
Connaught！　　I　would　that　a　Connaught　man　would　come　athwart　me　now；　
that　I　might　break　his　thief's　head　with　my　Alpeen。〃

〃You　don't　seem　to　like　the　Connaught　men；〃　said　I。

〃Like　them！　who　can　like　them？　a　parcel　of　beggarly　thievish　
blackguards。　　So　your　honour　was　edicated　in　Munster　…　I　mane　
partly　edicated。　　I　suppose　by　your　saying　that　you　were　partly　
edicated；　that　your　honour　was　intended　for　the　clerical　
profession；　but　being　over　fond　of　the　drop　was　forced　to　lave　
college　before　your　edication　was　quite　completed；　and　so　for　want　
of　a　better　profession　took　up　with　that　of　merchandise。　　Ah；　the　
love　of　the　drop　at　college　has　prevented　many　a　clever　young　
fellow　from　taking　holy　orders。　　Well；　it's　a　pity　but　it　can't　be　
helped。　　I　am　fond　of　a　drop　myself；　and　when　we　get　to　…　shall　be　
happy　to　offer　your　honour　a　glass　of　whiskey。　　I　hope　your　honour　
and　I　shall　splice　the　mainbrace　together　before　we　part。〃

〃I　suppose；〃　said　I；　〃by　your　talking　of　splicing　the　mainbrace　
that　you　are　a　sailor。〃

〃I　am；　your　honour；　and　hail　from　the　Cove　of　Cork　in　the　kingdom　
of　Munster。〃

〃I　know　it　well；〃　said　I；　〃it　is　the　best　sea…basin　in　the　world。　　
Well；　how　came　you　into　these　parts？〃

〃I'll　tell　your　honour；　my　ship　is　at　Swansea；　and　having　a　
relation　working　at　the　foundry　behind　us　I　came　to　see　him。〃

〃Are　you　in　the　royal　service？〃

〃I　am　not；　your　honour；　I　was　once　in　the　royal　service；　but　having　
a　dispute　with　the　boatswain　at　Spithead；　I　gave　him　a　wipe；　jumped　
overboard　and　swam　ashore。　　After　that　I　sailed　for　Cuba；　got　into　
the　merchants'　service　there；　and　made　several　voyages　to　the　Black　
Coast。　　At　present　I　am　in　the　service　of　the　merchants　of　Cork。〃

〃I　wonder　that　you　are　not　now　in　the　royal　service；〃　said　I；　
〃since　you　are　so　fond　of　fighting。　　There　is　hot　work　going　on　at　
present　up　the　Black　Sea；　and　brave　men；　especially　Irishmen；　are　
in　great　request。〃

〃Yes；　brave　Irishmen　are　always　in　great　request　with　England　when　
she　has　a　battle　to　fight。　　At　other　times　they　are　left　to　lie　in　
the　mud　with　the　chain　round　their　necks。　　It　has　been　so　ever　
since　the　time　of　De　Courcy；　and　I　suppose　always　will　be　so；　
unless　Irishmen　all　become　of　my　mind；　which　is　not　likely。　　Were　
the　Irish　all　of　my　mind；　the　English　would　find　no　Irish　champion　
to　fight　their　battles　when　the　French　or　the　Russians　come　to　
beard　t