wild wales-第111章

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for　alms。　　There　I　sat；　quite　proud；　and　more　happy　than　I　had　ever　
felt　in　my　life　before；　and　the　unfortunates　began　to　make　their　
appearance。　　First　came　a　bacah　on　crutches；　then　came　a　woman　with　
a　white　swelling；　then　came　an　individual　who　had　nothing　at　all　
the　matter　with　him；　and　was　only　a　poor　unfortunate；　wandering　
about　the　world；　then　came　a　far　cake；　（22）　a　dark　man；　who　was　led　
about　by　a　gossoon；　after　him　a　simpley；　and　after　the　simpleton　
somebody　else　as　much　or　more　unfortunate。　　And　as　the　afflicted　
people　arrived　and　placed　themselves　by　the　side　of　the　door　and　
said　'Ave　Mary；'　or　'In　the　name　of　God；'　or　crossed　their　arms；　or　
looked　down　upon　the　ground；　each　according　to　his　practice；　I　got　
up　and　emptied　my　measure　of　meal　into　his　poke；　or　whatever　he　
carried　about　with　him　for　receiving　the　alms　which　might　be　given　
to　him；　and　my　measures　of　meal　began　to　be　emptied　fast；　for　it　
seemed　that　upon　that　day；　when　I　happened　to　be　particularly　short　
of　meal；　all　the　unfortunates　in　the　county　of　Limerick　had　
conspired　together　to　come　to　ask　me　for　alms。　　At　last　every　
measure　of　meal　was　emptied；　and　there　I　sat　in　my　house　with　
nothing　to　give　away　provided　an　unfortunate　should　come。　　Says　I　
to　the　colleen：　　'What　shall　I　do　provided　any　more　come；　for　all　
the　meal　is　gone；　and　there　will　be　no　more　before　the　boys　come　
home　at　night　from　the　ballybetagh。'　　Says　the　colleen：　　'If　any　
more　come；　can't　ye　give　them　something　else？'　　Says　I：　　'It　has　
always　been　my　practice　to　give　in　meal；　and　loth　should　I　be　to　
alter　it；　for　if　once　I　begin　to　give　away　other　things；　I　may　give　
away　all　I　have。'　　Says　the　colleen：　　'Let's　hope　no　one　else　will　
come：　　there　have　been　thirteen　of　them　already。'　　Scarcely　had　she　
said　these　words；　when　a　monstrous　woman；　half…naked；　and　with　a　
long　staff　in　her　hand；　on　the　top　of　which　was　a　cross；　made　her　
appearance；　and　placing　herself　right　before　the　door；　cried　out　so　
that　you　might　have　heard　her　for　a　mile；　'Give　me　an　alms　for　the　
glory　of　God！'　　'Good　woman；'　says　I　to　her；　'you　will　be　kind　
enough　to　excuse　me：　　all　the　preparation　I　had　made　for　alms　has　
been　given　away；　for　I　have　relieved　thirteen　unfortunates　this　
blessed　morning　…　so　may　the　Virgin　help　ye；　good　woman！'　　'Give　me　
an　alms；'　said　the　Beanvore；　with　a　louder　voice　than　before；　'or　
it　will　be　worse　for　you。'　　'You　must　excuse　me；　good　mistress；'　
says　I；　'but　I　have　no　more　meal　in　the　house。　　Those　thirteen　
measures　which　you　see　there　empty　were　full　this　morning；　for　what　
was　in　them　I　have　given　away　to　unfortunates。　　So　the　Virgin　and　
Child　help　you。'　　'Do　you　choose　to　give　me　an　alms？'　she　shrieked；　
so　that　you　might　have　heard　her　to　Londonderry。　　'If　ye　have　no　
meal　give　me　something　else。'　　'You　must　excuse　me；　good　lady；'　
says　I：　　'it　is　my　custom　to　give　alms　in　meal；　and　in　nothing　
else。　　I　have　none　in　the　house　now；　but　if　ye　come　on　the　morrow　
ye　shall　have　a　triple　measure。　　In　the　meanwhile　may　the　Virgin；　
Child；　and　the　Holy　Trinity　assist　ye！'　　Thereupon　she　looked　at　me　
fixedly　for　a　moment；　and　then　said；　not　in　a　loud　voice；　but　in　a　
low；　half…whispered　way；　which　was　ten　times　more　deadly：…


〃'Biaidh　an　taifrionn　gan　sholas　duit　a　bhean　shilach！'


Then　turning　from　the　door　she　went　away　with　long　strides。　　Now；　
honey；　can　ye　tell　me　the　meaning　of　those　words？〃

〃They　mean；〃　said　I；　〃unless　I　am　much　mistaken：　　'May　the　Mass　
never　comfort　ye；　you　dirty　queen！'〃

〃Ochone！　that's　the　maning　of　them；　sure　enough。　　They　are　cramped　
words；　but　I　guessed　that　was　the　meaning；　or　something　of　the　
kind。　　Well；　after　hearing　the　evil　prayer；　I　sat　for　a　minute　or　
two　quite　stunned；　at　length　recovering　myself　a　bit　I　said　to　the　
colleen：　　'Get　up；　and　run　after　the　woman　and　tell　her　to　come　
back　and　cross　the　prayer。'　　I　meant　by　crossing　that　she　should　
call　it　back　or　do　something　that　would　take　the　venom　out　of　it。　　
Well；　the　colleen　was　rather　loth　to　go；　for　she　was　a　bit　scared　
herself；　but　on　my　beseeching　her；　she　got　up　and　ran　after　the　
woman；　and　being　rather　swift　of　foot；　at　last；　though　with　much　
difficulty；　overtook　her；　and　begged　her　to　come　back　and　cross　the　
prayer；　but　the　divil　of　a　woman　would　do　no　such　thing；　and　when　
the　colleen　persisted　she　told　her　that　if　she　didn't　go　back；　she　
would　say　an　evil　prayer　over　her　too。　　So　the　colleen　left　her；　
and　came　back；　crying　and　frighted。　　All　the　rest　of　the　day　I　
remained　sitting　on　the　stool　speechless；　thinking　of　the　prayer　
which　the　woman　had　said；　and　wishing　I　had　given　her　everything　I　
had　in　the　world；　rather　than　she　should　have　said　it。　　At　night　
came　home　the　boys；　and　found　their　mother　sitting　on　the　stool；　
like　one　stupefied。　　'What's　the　matter　with　you；　mother？'　they　
said。　　'Get　up　and　help　us　to　unpack。　　We　have　brought　home　plenty　
of　things　on　the　car；　and　amongst　others　a　whole　boll　of　meal。'　　
'You　might　as　well　have　left　it　behind　you；'　said　I；　'this　morning　
a　single　measure　of　meal　would　have　been　to　me　of　all　the　
assistance　in　the　world；　but　I　question　now　if　I　shall　ever　want　
meal　again。'　　They　asked　me　what　had　happened　to　me；　and　after　some　
time　I　told　them　how　a　monstrous　woman　had　been　to　me；　and　had　said　
an　evil　prayer　over　me；　because　having　no　meal　in　the　house　I　had　
not　given　her　an　alms。　　'Come；　mother；'　said　they；　'get　up　and　help　
us　to　unload！　never　mind　the　prayer　of　the　monstrous　woman　…　it　is　
all　nonsense。'　　Well；　I　got　up　and　helped　them　to　unload；　and　
cooked　them　a　bit；　and　sat　down　with　them；　and　tried　to　be　merry；　
but　felt　that　I　was　no　longer　the　woman　that　I　was。　　The　next　day　I　
didn't　seem　to　care　what　became　of　me；　or　how　matters　went　on；　and　
though　there　was　now　plenty　of　meal　in　the　house；　not　a　measure　did　
I　fill　with　it　to　give　away　in　the　shape　of　alms；　and　when　the　
bacahs　and　the　liprous　women；　and　the　dark　men；　and　the　other　
unfortunates　placed　themselves　at　the　side　of　the　door；　and　gave　me　
to　understand　that　they　wanted　alms；　each　in　his　or　her　particular　
manner；　divil　an　alms　did　I　give　them；　but　let　them　stand　and　took　
no　heed　of　them；　so　that　at　last　they　took　themselves　off；　
grumbling　and　cursing。　　And　little　did　I　care　for　their　grumblings　
and　cursings。　　Two　days　before　I　wouldn't　have　had　an　unfortunate　
grumble　at　me；　or　curse　me；　for　all　the　riches　below　the　sun；　but　
now　their　grumblings　and　curses　didn't　give　me　the　slightest　
unasiness；　for　I　had　an　evil　prayer　spoken　against　me　in　the　Shanna　
Gailey　by　the　monstrous　woman；　and　I　knew　that　I　was　blighted　in　
this　world　and　the　next。　　In　a　little　time　I　ceased　to　pay　any　heed　
to　the　farming　business；　or　to　the　affairs　of　the　house；　so　that　my　
sons　had　no　comfort　in　their　home。　　And　I　took　to　drink　and　induced　
my　eldest　son　to　take　to　drink　too　…　my　youngest　son；　however；　did　
not　take　to　drink；　but　conducted　himself　well；　and　toiled　and　
laboured　like　a　horse　and　often　begged　me　and　his　brother　to　
consider　what　we　were　about；　and　not　to　go　on　in　a　way　which　would　
bring　us　all　to　ruin；　but　I　paid　no　regard　to　what　he　said；　and　his　
brother　followed　my　example；　so　that　at　last　seeing　things　were　
getting　worse　every　day；　and　that　we　should　soon　be　turned　out　of　
house　and　home；　for　no　rint　was　paid；　every　penny　that　could　be　got　
being　consumed　in　waste；　he　bade　us　farewell　and　went　and　listed　
for　a　sodger。　　But　if　matters　were　bad　enough　before　he　went　away；　
they　became　much　worse　after；　for　now　when　the　unfortunates　came　to　
the　door　for　alms；　instead　of　letting　them　stand　in　pace　till　they　
were　tired；　and　took　themselves　off；　I　would　mock　them　and　point　at　
them；　and　twit　them　with　their　sores　and　other　misfortunes；　and　not　
unfrequently　I　would　fling　scalding　water　over　them；　which　would　
send　them　howling　and　honing　away；　till　at　last　there　was　not　an　
unfortunate　but　feared　to　come　within　a　mile　of　my　door。　　Moreover　
I　began　to　misconduct　myself　at　chapel；　more　especially　at　the　
Aifrionn　or　Mass；　for　no　sooner　was　the　bell　rung；　and　the　holy　
corpus　raised；　than　I　would　shout　and　hoorah；　and　go　tumbling　and　
toppling　along　the　floor　before　the　holy　body；　as　I　just　now　
tumbled　along　the　road　before　you；　so　that　the　people　were　
scandalized；　and　would　take　me　by　the　shoulders　and　turn　me　out　of　
doors；　and　began　to　talk　of　ducking　me　in　the　bog。　　The　priest　of　
the　parish；　however；　took　my　part；　saying　that　I　ought　not　to　be　
persecuted；　for　that　I　was　not　accountable　for　what　I　did；　being　a　
possessed　person；　and　under　the　influence　of　divils。　　'These；　
however；'　said　he；　'I'll　soon　cast　out　from　her；　and　then　the　woman　
will　be　a　holy　cratur；　much　better　than　she　ever　was　before。'　　A　
very　learned　man　was　Father　Hogan；　especially　in　casting　out　
divils；　and　a　portly；　good…looking　man　too；　only　he　had　a　large　
rubicon　nose；　which　people　said　he　got　by　making　over　free　with　the　
cratur　in　sacret。　　I　had　often　looked　at　the　nose；　when　the　divil　
was　upon　me；　and　felt　an　inclination　to　seize　hold　of　it；　just　to　
see　how　it　felt。　　Well；　he　had　me　to　his　house　several　times；　and　
there　he　put　holy　cloths　upon　me；　and　tied　holy　images　to　me；　and　
read　to　me　out　of　holy　books；　and　sprinkled　holy　water　over　me；　and　
put　questions　to　me；　and　at　last　was　so　plased　with　the　answers　I　
gave　him；　that　he　prached　a　sermon　about　me　in　the　chapel；　in　which　
he　said　that　he　had　cast　six　of　my　divils　out　of　me；　and　should　
cast　out　the　seventh；　which　was　the　last；　by　the　next　Sabbath；　and　
then　should　present　me　to　the　folks　in　the　chapel　as　pure　a　vessel　
as　the　blessed　Mary　herself　…　and　that　I　was　destined　to　accomplish　
great　things；　and　to　be　a　mighty　instrument　in　the　hands　of　the　
Holy　Church；　for　that　he　intended　to　write　a　book　about　me；　
describing　the　miracle　he　had　performed　in　casting　the　seven　divils　
out　of　me；　which　he　should　get　printed　at　the　printing…press　of　the　
blessed　Columba；　and　should　send　me　through　all　Ireland　to　sell　the　
copies；　the　profits　of　which　would　go　towards　the　support　of　the　
holy　society　for　casting　out　unclane　spirits；　to　which　he　himself　
belonged。　　Well；　the　people　showed　that　they　were　plased　by　a　loud　
shout；　and　went　away　longing　for　the　next　Sunday　when　I　was　to　be　
presented　to　them　without　a　divil　in　me。　　Five　times　the　next　week　
did　I　go　to　the　priest's　house；　to　be　read　to；　and　be　sprinkled；　
and　have　cloths　put　upon　me；　in　order　that　the　work　of　casting　out　
the　last　divil；　which　it　seems　was　stronger　than　all　the　rest；　
might　be　made　smooth　and　aisy；　and　on　the　Saturday　I　came　to　have　
the　last　divil　cast　out；　and　found　his　riverince　in　full　
canonicals；　seated　in　his　aisy　chair。　　'Daughter；'　said　he　when　he　
saw　me；　'the　work　is　nearly　over。　　Now　kneel　down　before　me；　and　I　
will　make　the　sign　of　the　cross　over　your　forehead；　and　then　you　
will　feel　the　last　and　strongest　of　the　divils；　which　have　so　long　
possessed　ye；　go　out　of　ye　through　your　eyes；　as　I　expect　you　will　
say　to　the　people　assembled　in　the　chapel　to…morrow。'　　So　I　put　
myself　on　my　knees　before　his　reverence；　who　after　mutter