wild wales-第43章

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covers　and　a　decanter；　which　she　placed　before　me。　　〃What　is　that？〃　
said　I；　pointing　to　a　decanter。

〃Only　a　pint　of　sherry；　sir；〃　said　she　of　the　white　dress　and　
ribbons。

〃Dear　me；〃　said　I；　〃I　ordered　no　sherry；　I　wanted　some　ale　…　a　pint　
of　ale。〃

〃You　called　for　a　pint；　sir；〃　said　the　handmaid；　〃but　you　mentioned　
no　ale；　and　I　naturally　supposed　that　a　gentleman　of　your　
appearance〃　…　here　she　glanced　at　my　dusty　coat　…　〃and　speaking　in　
the　tone　you　did；　would　not　condescend　to　drink　ale　with　his　chop；　
however；　as　it　seems　I　have　been　mistaken；　I　can　take　away　the　
sherry　and　bring　you　the　ale。〃

〃Well；　well；〃　said　I；　〃you　can　let　the　sherry　remain；　I　do　not　like　
sherry；　and　am　very　fond　of　ale；　but　you　can　let　the　wine　remain；　
upon　the　whole　I　am　glad　you　brought　it　…　indeed　I　merely　came　to　
do　a　good　turn　to　the　master　of　the　house。〃

〃Thank　you；　sir；〃　said　the　handmaid。

〃Are　you　his　daughter？〃　said　I。

〃Oh　no；　sir；〃　said　the　handmaid　reverently；　〃only　his　waiter。〃

〃You　may　be　proud　to　wait　on　him；〃　said　I。

〃I　am；　sir；〃　said　the　handmaid；　casting　down　her　eyes。

〃I　suppose　he　is　much　respected　in　the　neighbourhood？〃　said　I。

〃Very　much　so；　sir；〃　said　the　damsel；　〃especially　amidst　the　
connection。〃

〃The　connection；〃　said　I。　　〃Ah；　I　see；　he　has　extensive　
consanguinity；　most　Welsh　have。　　But；〃　I　continued；　〃there　is　such　
a　thing　as　envy　in　the　world；　and　there　are　a　great　many　malicious　
people　in　the　world；　who　speak　against　him。〃

〃A　great　many；　sir；　but　we　take　what　they　say　from　whence　it　
comes。〃

〃You　do　quite　right；〃　said　I。　　〃Has　your　master　written　any　poetry　
lately？〃

〃Sir！〃　said　the　damsel　staring　at　me。

〃Any　poetry；〃　said　I；　〃any　pennillion？〃

〃No；　sir；〃　said　the　damsel；　〃my　master　is　a　respectable　man；　and　
would　scorn　to　do　anything　of　the　kind。〃

〃Why；〃　said　I；　〃is　not　your　master　a　bard　as　well　as　an　innkeeper？〃

〃My　master；　sir；　is　an　innkeeper；〃　said　the　damsel；　〃but　as　for　the　
other；　I　don't　know　what　you　mean。〃

〃A　bard；〃　said　I；　〃is　a　prydydd；　a　person　who　makes　verses　…　
pennillion；　does　not　your　master　make　them？〃

〃My　master　make　them？　　No；　sir；　my　master　is　a　religious　gentleman；　
and　would　scorn　to　make　such　profane　stuff。〃

〃Well；〃　said　I；　〃he　told　me　he　did　within　the　last　two　hours。　　I　
met　him　at　Dyffrin　Gaint；　along　with　another　man；　and　he　took　me　
into　the　public…house；　where　we　had　a　deal　of　discourse。〃

〃You　met　my　master　at　Dyffryn　Gaint？〃　said　the　damsel。

〃Yes；〃　said　I；　〃and　he　treated　me　with　ale；　told　me　that　he　was　a　
poet；　and　that　he　was　going　to　Bangor　to　buy　a　horse　or　a　pig。〃

〃I　don't　see　how　that　could　be；　sir；〃　said　the　damsel；　〃my　master　
is　at　present　in　the　house；　rather　unwell；　and　has　not　been　out　for　
the　last　three　days　…　there　must　be　some　mistake。〃

〃Mistake；〃　said　I。　　〃Isn't　this　the　…　Arms？〃

〃Yes；　sir；　it　is。〃

〃And　isn't　your　master's　name　W…？〃

〃No；　sir；　my　master's　name　is　H…；　and　a　more　respectable　man　…　〃

〃Well；〃　said　I　interrupting　her　…　〃all　I　can　say　is　that　I　met　a　
man　in　Dyffryn　Gaint；　who　treated　me　with　ale；　told　me　that　his　
name　was　W…；　that　he　was　a　prydydd　and　kept　the　…　Arms　at　L…。〃

〃Well；〃　said　the　damsel；　〃now　I　remember；　there　is　a　person　of　that　
name　in　L…；　and　he　also　keeps　a　house　which　he　calls　the　…　Arms；　
but　it　is　only　a　public…house。〃

〃But；〃　said　I；　〃is　he　not　a　prydydd；　an　illustrious　poet；　does　he　
not　write　pennillion　which　everybody　admires？〃

〃Well；〃　said　the　damsel；　〃I　believe　he　does　write　things　which　he　
calls　pennillions；　but　everybody　laughs　at　them。〃

〃Come；　come；〃　said　I；　〃I　will　not　hear　the　productions　of　a　man　who　
treated　me　with　ale；　spoken　of　with　disrespect。　　I　am　afraid　that　
you　are　one　of　his　envious　maligners；　of　which　he　gave　me　to　
understand　that　he　had　a　great　many。〃

〃Envious；　sir！　not　I　indeed；　and　if　I　were　disposed　to　be　envious　
of　anybody　it　would　not　be　of　him；　oh　dear；　why　he　is　…　〃

〃A　bard　of　Anglesey；〃　said　I；　interrupting　her；　〃such　a　person　as　
Gronwy　Owen　describes　in　the　following　lines；　which　by…the…bye　were　
written　upon　himself：…


〃'Where'er　he　goes　he's　sure　to　find
Respectful　looks　and　greetings　kind。'


〃I　tell　you　that　it　was　out　of　respect　to　that　man　that　I　came　to　
this　house。　　Had　I　not　thought　that　he　kept　it；　I　should　not　have　
entered　it　and　called　for　a　pint　and　chop　…　how　distressing！　how　
truly　distressing！〃

〃Well；　sir；〃　said　the　damsel；　〃if　there　is　anything　distressing　you　
have　only　to　thank　your　acquaintance　who　chooses　to　call　his　mug…
house　by　the　name　of　a　respectable　hotel；　for　I　would　have　you　know　
that　this　is　an　hotel；　and　kept　by　a　respectable　and　a　religious　
man；　and　not　kept　by　…　　However；　I　scorn　to　say　more；　especially　as　
I　might　be　misinterpreted。　　Sir；　there's　your　pint　and　chop；　and　if　
you　wish　for　anything　else　you　can　ring。　　Envious；　indeed；　of　such　
…　　Marry　come　up！〃　and　with　a　toss　of　her　head；　higher　than　any　she　
had　hitherto　given；　she　bounced　out　of　the　room。

Here　was　a　pretty　affair！　　I　had　entered　the　house　and　ordered　the　
chop　and　pint　in　the　belief　that　by　so　doing　I　was　patronising　the　
poet；　and　lo；　I　was　not　in　the　poet's　house；　and　my　order　would　
benefit　a　person　for　whom；　however　respectable　and　religious；　I　
cared　not　one　rush。　　Moreover；　the　pint　which　I　had　ordered　
appeared　in　the　guise　not　of　ale；　which　I　am　fond　of；　but　of　
sherry；　for　which　I　have　always　entertained　a　sovereign　contempt；　
as　a　silly；　sickly　compound；　the　use　of　which　will　transform　a　
nation；　however　bold　and　warlike　by　nature；　into　a　race　of　
sketchers；　scribblers；　and　punsters；　in　fact　into　what　Englishmen　
are　at　the　present　day。　　But　who　was　to　blame？　　Why；　who　but　the　
poet　and　myself？　　The　poet　ought　to　have　told　me　that　there　were　
two　houses　in　L…　bearing　the　sign　of　the　…　Arms；　and　that　I　must　
fight　shy　of　the　hotel　and　steer　for　the　pot…house；　and　when　I　gave　
the　order　I　certainly　ought　to　have　been　a　little　more　explicit；　
when　I　said　a　pint　I　ought　to　have　added　…　of　ale。　　Sententiousness　
is　a　fine　thing　sometimes；　but　not　always。　　By　being　sententious　
here；　I　got　sherry；　which　I　dislike；　instead　of　ale　which　I　like；　
and　should　have　to　pay　more　for　what　was　disagreeable；　than　I　
should　have　had　to　pay　for　what　was　agreeable。　　Yet　I　had　merely　
echoed　the　poet's　words　in　calling　for　a　pint　and　chop；　so　after　
all　the　poet　was　to　blame　for　both　mistakes。　　But　perhaps　he　meant　
that　I　should　drink　sherry　at　his　house；　and　when　he　advised　me　to　
call　for　a　pint；　he　meant　a　pint　of　sherry。　　But　the　maid　had　said　
he　kept　a　pot…house；　and　no　pot…houses　have　wine…licences；　but　the　
maid　after　all　might　be　an　envious　baggage；　and　no　better　than　she　
should　be。　　But　what　was　now　to　be　done？　　Why；　clearly　make　the　
best　of　the　matter；　eat　the　chop　and　leave　the　sherry。　　So　I　
commenced　eating　the　chop；　which　was　by　this　time　nearly　cold。　　
After　eating　a　few　morsels　I　looked　at　the　sherry：　　〃I　may　as　well　
take　a　glass；〃　said　I。　　So　with　a　wry　face　I　poured　myself　out　a　
glass。

〃What　detestable　stuff！〃　said　I；　after　I　had　drunk　it。　　〃However；　
as　I　shall　have　to　pay　for　it　I　may　as　well　go　through　with　it。〃　　
So　I　poured　myself　out　another　glass；　and　by　the　time　I　had　
finished　the　chop　I　had　finished　the　sherry　also。

And　now　what　was　I　to　do　next？　　Why；　my　best　advice　seemed　to　be　to　
pay　my　bill　and　depart。　　But　I　had　promised　the　poet　to　patronize　
his　house；　and　had　by　mistake　ordered　and　despatched　a　pint　and　
chop　in　a　house　which　was　not　the　poet's。　　Should　I　now　go　to　his　
house　and　order　a　pint　and　chop　there？　　Decidedly　not！　　I　had　
patronised　a　house　which　I　believed　to　be　the　poet's；　if　I　
patronised　the　wrong　one；　the　fault　was　his；　not　mine　…　he　should　
have　been　more　explicit。　　I　had　performed　my　promise；　at　least　in　
intention。

Perfectly　satisfied　with　the　conclusion　I　had　come　to；　I　rang　the　
bell。　　〃The　bill？〃　said　I　to　the　handmaid。

〃Here　it　is！〃　said　she；　placing　a　strip　of　paper　in　my　hand。

I　looked　at　the　bill；　and；　whether　moderate　or　immoderate；　paid　it　
with　a　smiling　countenance；　commanded　the　entertainment　highly；　and　
gave　the　damsel　something　handsome　for　her　trouble　in　waiting　on　
me。

Reader；　please　to　bear　in　mind　that　as　all　bills　must　be　paid；　it　
is　much　more　comfortable　to　pay　them　with　a　smile　than　with　a　
frown；　and　that　it　is　much　better　by　giving　sixpence；　or　a　shilling　
to　a　poor　servant；　which　you　will　never　miss　at　the　year's　end；　to　
be　followed　from　the　door　of　an　inn　by　good　wishes；　than　by　giving　
nothing　to　be　pursued　by　cutting　silence；　or　the　yet　more　cutting　
Hm！

〃Sir；〃　said　the　good…looking；　well…ribboned　damsel；　〃I　wish　you　a　
pleasant　journey；　and　whenever　you　please　again　to　honour　our　
establishment　with　your　presence；　both　my　master　and　myself　shall　
be　infinitely　obliged　to　you。〃



CHAPTER　XXXIX



Oats　and　Methodism　…　The　Little　Girl　…　Ty　Gwyn　…　Bird　of　the　Roof　…　
Purest　English　…　Railroads　…　Inconsistency　…　The　Boots。


IT　might　be　about　four　in　the　afternoon　when　I　left　L…　bound　for　
Pen　Caer　Gybi；　or　Holyhead；　seventeen　miles　distant。　　I　reached　the　
top　of　the　hill　on　the　west　of　the　little　town；　and　then　walked　
briskly　forward。　　The　country　looked　poor　and　mean　…　on　my　right　
was　a　field　of　oats；　on　my　left　a　Methodist　chapel　…　oats　and　
Methodism！　what　better　symbols　of　poverty　and　meanness？

I　went　onward　a　long　way；　the　weather　was　broiling　hot；　and　I　felt　
thirsty。　　On　the　top　of　a　long　ascent　stood　a　house　by　the　
roadside。　　I　went　to　the　door　and　knocked　…　no　answer　…　〃Oes　neb　yn　
y　ty？〃　said　I。

〃Oes！〃　said　an　infantine　voice。

I　opened　the　door　and　saw　a　little　girl。　　〃Have　you　any　water？〃　
said　I。

〃No；〃　said　the　child；　〃but　I　have　this；〃　and　she　brought　me　some　
butter…milk　in　a　basin。　　I　just　tasted　it；　gave　the　child　a　penny　
and　blessed　her。

〃Oes　genoch　tad？〃

〃No；〃　said　she；　〃but　I　have　a　mam。〃　　Tad　in　mam；　blessed　sounds；　in　
all　languages　expressing　the　same　blessed　things。

After　walking　for　some　hours　I　saw　a　tall　blue　hill　in　the　far　
distance　before　me。　　〃What　is　the　name　of　that　hill？〃　said　I　to　a　
woman　whom　I　met。

〃Pen　Caer　Gybi；〃　she　replied。

Soon　after　I　came　to　a　village　near　to　a　rocky　gully。　　On　inquiring　
the　name　of　the　village；　I　was　told　it　was　Llan　yr　Afon；　or　the　
church　of　the　river。　　I　passed　on；　the　country　was　neither　grand　
nor　pretty　…　it　exhibited　a　kind　of　wildness；　however；　which　did　
not　fail　to　interest　me　…　there　were　stones；　rocks　and　furze　in　
abundance。　　Turning　round　the　corner　of　a　hill；　I　observed　through　
the　mists　of　evening；　which　began　to　gather　about　me；　what　seemed　
to　be　rather　a　genteel　house　on　the　roadside；　on　my　left；　and　a　
little　way　behind　it　a　strange　kind　of　monticle；　on　which　I　thought　
I　observed　tall　upright　stones。　　Quickening　my　pace；　I　soon　came　
parallel　with　the　house；　which　as　I　drew　nigh；　ceased　to　look　like　
a　genteel　house；　and　exhibited　an　appearance　of　great　desolation。　　
It　was　a　white；　or　rather　grey　structure　of　some　antiquity。　　It　was　
evidently　used　as　a　farm…house；　for　there　was　a　yard　adjoining　to　
it；　in　which　were　stacks　and　agric