wild wales-第108章

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to　fight　their　battles　when　the　French　or　the　Russians　come　to　
beard　them。〃

〃By　De　Courcy；〃　said　I；　〃you　mean　the　man　whom　the　King　of　England　
confined　in　the　Tower　of　London　after　taking　from　him　his　barony　in　
the　county　of　Cork。〃

〃Of　course；　your　honour；　and　whom　he　kept　in　the　Tower　till　the　
King　of　France　sent　over　a　champion　to　insult　and　beard　him；　when　
the　king　was　glad　to　take　De　Courcy　out　of　the　dungeon　to　fight　the　
French　champion；　for　divil　a　one　of　his　own　English　fighting　men　
dared　take　the　Frenchman　in　hand。〃

〃A　fine　fellow　that　De　Courcy；〃　said　I。

〃Rather　too　fond　of　the　drop　though；　like　your　honour　and　myself；　
for　after　he　had　caused　the　French　champion　to　flee　back　into　
France　he　lost　the　greater　part　of　the　reward　which　the　King　of　
England　promised　him；　solely　by　making　too　free　with　the　strong　
drink。　　Does　your　honour　remember　that　part　of　the　story？〃

〃I　think　I　do；〃　said　I；　〃but　I　should　be　very　glad　to　hear　you　
relate　it。〃

〃Then　your　honour　shall。　　Right　glad　was　the　King　of　England　when　
the　French　champion　fled　back　to　France；　for　no　sooner　did　the　
dirty　spalpeen　hear　that　they　were　going　to　bring　De　Courcy　against　
him；　the　fame　of　whose　strength　and　courage　filled　the　whole　world；　
than　he　betook　himself　back　to　his　own　country；　and　was　never　heard　
of　more。　　Right　glad；　I　say；　was　the　King　of　England；　and　gave　
leave　to　De　Courcy　to　return　to　Ireland。　　'And　you　shall　have；'　
said　he；　'of　the　barony　which　I　took　from　you　all　that　you　can　ride　
round　on　the　first　day　of　your　return。'　　So　De　Courcy　betook　
himself　to　Ireland　and　to　his　barony；　but　he　was　anything　but　a　
lucky　man；　this　De　Courcy；　for　his　friends　and　relations　and　
tenantry；　hearing　of　his　coming；　prepared　a　grand　festival　for　him；　
with　all　kinds　of　illigant　viands　and　powerful　liquors；　and　when　he　
arrived　there　it　was　waiting　for　him；　and　down　to　it　he　sat；　and　
ate；　and　drank；　and　for　joy　of　seeing　himself　once　more　amongst　his　
friends　and　tenantry　in　the　hall　of　his　forefathers；　and　for　love　
of　the　drop；　which　he　always　had；　he　drank　of　the　powerful　liquors　
more　than　he　ought；　and　the　upshot　was　that　he　became　drunk；　agus　
do　bhi　an　duine　maith　sin　misgeadh　do　ceather　o　glog；　the　good　
gentleman　was　drunk　till　four　o'clock；　and　when　he　awoke　he　found　
that　he　had　but　two　hours　of　day　remaining　to　win　back　his　brave　
barony。　　However；　he　did　not　lose　heart；　but　mounted　his　horse　and　
set　off　riding　as　fast　as　a　man　just　partly　recovered　from　
intoxication　could　be　expected　to　do；　and　he　contrived　to　ride　
round　four　parishes；　and　only　four；　and　these　four　parishes　were　
all　that　he　recovered　of　his　brave　barony；　and　all　that　he　had　to　
live　upon　till　his　dying　day；　and　all　that　he　had　to　leave　to　his　
descendants；　so　that　De　Courcy　could　scarcely　be　called　a　very　
lucky　man；　after　all。〃

Shortly　after　my　friend　the　sailor　had　concluded　his　account　of　De　
Courcy；　we　arrived　in　the　vicinity　of　a　small　town　or　rather　
considerable　village。　　It　stood　on　the　right…hand　side　of　the　road；　
fronting　the　east；　having　a　high　romantic　hill　behind　it　on　the　
sides　of　which　were　woods；　groves；　and　pleasant…looking　white　
houses。

〃What　place　is　this？〃　said　I　to　my　companion。

〃This　is　…；　your　honour；　and　here；　if　your　honour　will　accept　a　
glass　of　whiskey　we　will　splice　the　mainbrace　together。〃

〃Thank　you；〃　said　I；　〃but　I　am　in　haste　to　get　to　Swansea。　　
Moreover；　if　I　am　over　fond　of　the　drop；　as　you　say　I　am；　the　
sooner　I　begin　to　practise　abstinence　the　better。〃

〃Very　true；　your　honour！　　Well；　at　any　rate；　when　your　honour　gets　
to　Swansea；　you　will　not　be　able　to　say　that　Pat　Flannagan　walked　
for　miles　with　your　honour　along　the　road；　without　offering　your　
honour　a　glass　of　whiskey。〃

〃Nor　shall　Pat　Flannagan　be　able　to　say　the　same　thing　of　my　
honour。　　I　have　a　shilling　in　my　pocket　at　Pat　Flannagan's　service；　
if　he　chooses　to　splice　with　it　the　mainbrace　for　himself　and　for　
me。〃

〃Thank　your　honour；　but　I　have　a　shilling　in　my　own　pocket；　and　a　
dollar　too；　and　a　five…pound　note　besides；　so　I　needn't　be　beholden　
for　drink　money　to　anybody　under　the　sun。〃

〃Well　then；　farewell！　　Here's　my　hand！　…　Slan　leat　a　Phatraic　ui　
Flannagan！〃

〃Slan　leat　a　dhuine…uasail！〃　said　Patrick；　giving　me　his　hand；　〃and　
health；　hope；　and　happiness　to　ye。〃

Thereupon　he　turned　aside　to　…；　and　I　continued　my　way　to　Swansea。　　
Arrived　at　a　place　called　Glandwr；　about　two　miles　from　Swansea；　I　
found　that　I　was　splashed　from　top　to　toe；　for　the　roads　were　
frightfully　miry；　and　was　sorry　to　perceive　that　my　boots　had　given　
way　at　the　soles；　large　pieces　of　which　were　sticking　out。　　I　must；　
however；　do　the　poor　things　the　justice　to　say；　that　it　was　no　
wonder　that　they　were　in　this　dilapidated　condition；　for　in　those　
boots　I　had　walked　at　least　two　hundred　miles；　over　all　kinds　of　
paths；　since　I　had　got　them　soled　at　Llangollen。　　〃Well；〃　said　I　to　
myself；　〃it　won't　do　to　show　myself　at　Swansea　in　this　condition；　
more　especially　as　I　shall　go　to　the　best　hotel；　I　must　try　and　get　
myself　made　a　little　decent　here。〃　　Seeing　a　little　inn；　on　my　
right；　I　entered　it；　and　addressing　myself　to　a　neat　comfortable　
landlady；　who　was　standing　within　the　bar；　I　said：…

〃Please　to　let　me　have　a　glass　of　ale！　…　and　hearkee；　as　I　have　
been　walking　along　the　road；　I　should　be　glad　of　the　services　of　
the　'boots。'〃

〃Very　good；　sir；〃　said　the　landlady　with　a　curtsey。

Then　showing　me　into　a　nice　little　sanded　parlour；　she　brought　me　
the　glass　of　ale；　and　presently　sent　in　a　lad　with　a　boot…jack　to　
minister　to　me。　　Oh；　what　can't　a　little　money　effect？　　For　
sixpence　in　that　small　nice　inn；　I　had　a　glass　of　ale；　my　boots　
cleaned；　and　the　excrescences　cut　off；　my　clothes　wiped　with　a　
dwile；　and　then　passed　over　with　a　brush；　and　was　myself　thanked　
over　and　over　again。　　Starting　again　with　all　the　spirited　
confidence　of　one　who　has　just　cast　off　his　slough；　I　soon　found　
myself　in　the　suburbs　of　Swansea。　　As　I　passed　under　what　appeared　
to　be　a　railroad　bridge　I　inquired　in　Welsh　of　an　ancient…looking　
man；　in　coaly　habiliments；　if　it　was　one。　　He　answered　in　the　same　
language　that　it　was；　then　instantly　added　in　English：…

〃You　have　taken　your　last　farewell　of　Wales；　sir；　it's　no　use　
speaking　Welsh　farther　on。〃

I　passed　some　immense　edifices；　probably　manufactories；　and　was　
soon　convinced　that；　whether　I　was　in　Wales　or　not；　I　was　no　longer　
amongst　Welsh。　　The　people　whom　I　met　did　not　look　like　Welsh。　　
They　were　taller　and　bulkier　than　the　Cambrians；　and　were　speaking　
a　dissonant　English　jargon。　　The　women　had　much　the　appearance　of　
Dutch　fisherwomen；　some　of　them　were　carrying　huge　loads　on　their　
heads。　　I　spoke　in　Welsh　to　two　or　three　whom　I　overtook。

〃No　Welsh；　sir！〃

〃Why　don't　you　speak　Welsh？〃　said　I。

〃Because　we　never　learnt　it。　　We　are　not　Welsh。〃

〃Who　are　you　then？〃

〃English；　some　calls　us　Flamings。〃

〃Ah；　ah！〃　said　I　to　myself；　〃I　had　forgot。〃

Presently　I　entered　the　town；　a　large；　bustling；　dirty；　gloomy　
place；　and　inquiring　for　the　first　hotel；　was　directed　to　the　
〃Mackworth　Arms；〃　in　Wine　Street。

As　soon　as　I　was　shown　into　the　parlour　I　summoned　the　〃boots；〃　and　
on　his　making　his　appearance　I　said　in　a　stern　voice：　　〃My　boots　
want　soling；　let　them　be　done　by　to…morrow　morning。〃

〃Can't　be；　sir；　it's　now　Saturday　afternoon；　the　shoemaker　couldn't　
begin　them　to…night！〃

〃But　you　must　make　him！〃　said　I；　〃and　look　here；　I　shall　give　him　a　
shilling　extra；　and　you　an　extra　shilling　for　seeing　after　him。〃

〃Yes；　sir；　I'll　see　after　him　…　they　shall　be　done；　sir。　　Bring　you　
your　slippers　instantly。　　Glad　to　see　you　again　in　Swansea；　sir；　
looking　so　well。〃



CHAPTER　CI



Swansea　…　The　Flemings　…　Towards　England。


SWANSEA　is　called　by　the　Welsh　Abertawe；　which　signifies　the　mouth　
of　the　Tawy。　　Aber；　as　I　have　more　than　once　had　occasion　to　
observe；　signifies　the　place　where　a　river　enters　into　the　sea　or　
joins　another。　　It　is　a　Gaelic　as　well　as　a　Cumric　word；　being　
found　in　the　Gaelic　names　Aberdeen　and　Lochaber；　and　there　is　good　
reason　for　supposing　that　the　word　harbour　is　derived　from　it。　　
Swansea　or　Swansey　is　a　compound　word　of　Scandinavian　origin；　which　
may　mean　either　a　river　abounding　with　swans；　or　the　river　of　
Swanr；　the　name　of　some　northern　adventurer　who　settled　down　at　its　
mouth。　　The　final　ea　or　ey　is　the　Norwegian　aa；　which　signifies　a　
running　water；　it　is　of　frequent　occurrence　in　the　names　of　rivers　
in　Norway；　and　is　often　found；　similarly　modified；　in　those　of　
other　countries　where　the　adventurous　Norwegians　formed　
settlements。

Swansea　first　became　a　place　of　some　importance　shortly　after　the　
beginning　of　the　twelfth　century。　　In　the　year　1108；　the　greater　
part　of　Flanders　having　been　submerged　by　the　sea　（19）　an　immense　
number　of　Flemings　came　over　to　England；　and　entreated　of　Henry　the　
First　the　king　then　occupying　the　throne；　that　he　would　all　allot　
to　them　lands　in　which　they　might　settle；　The　king　sent　them　to　
various　parts　of　Wales；　which　had　been　conquered　by　his　barons　or　
those　of　his　predecessors：　　a　considerable　number　occupied　Swansea　
and　the　neighbourhood；　but　far　the　greater　part　went　to　Dyfed；　
generally　but　improperly　called　Pembroke；　the　south…eastern　part　of　
which；　by　far　the　most　fertile；　they　entirely　took　possession　of；　
leaving　to　the　Welsh　the　rest；　which　is　very　mountainous　and　
barren。

I　have　already　said　that　the　people　of　Swansea　stand　out　in　broad　
distinctness　from　the　Cumry；　differing　from　them　in　stature；　
language；　dress；　and　manners；　and　wished　to　observe　that　the　same　
thing　may　be　said　of　the　inhabitants　of　every　part　of　Wales　which　
the　Flemings　colonised　in　any　considerable　numbers。

I　found　the　accommodation　very　good　at　the　〃Mackworth　Arms〃；　I　
passed　the　Saturday　evening　very　agreeably；　and　slept　well　
throughout　the　night。　　The　next　morning　to　my　great　joy　I　found　my　
boots；　capitally　repaired；　awaiting　me　before　my　chamber　door。　　Oh　
the　mighty　effect　of　a　little　money！　　After　breakfast　I　put　them　
on；　and　as　it　was　Sunday　went　out　in　order　to　go　to　church。　　The　
streets　were　thronged　with　people；　a　new　mayor　had　just　been　
elected；　and　his　worship；　attended　by　a　number　of　halbert　and　
javelin　men；　was　going　to　church　too。　　I　followed　the　procession；　
which　moved　with　great　dignity　and　of　course　very　slowly。　　The　
church　had　a　high　square　tower；　and　looked　a　very　fine　edifice　on　
the　outside；　and　no　less　so　within；　for　the　nave　was　lofty　with　
noble　pillars　on　each　side。　　I　stood　during　the　whole　of　the　
service　as　did　many　others；　for　the　congregation　was　so　great　that　
it　was　impossible　to　accommodate　all　with　seats。　　The　ritual　was　
performed　in　a　very　satisfactory　manner；　and　was　followed　by　an　
excellent　sermon。　　I　am　ashamed　to　say　that　have　forgot　the　text；　
but　I　remember　a　good　deal　of　the　discourse。　　The　preacher　said　
amongst　other　thing　that　the　Gospel　was　not　preached　in　vain；　and　
that　he　very　much　doubted　whether　a　sermon　was　ever　delivered　which　
did　not　do　some　good。　　On　the　conclusion　of　the　serv