wild wales-第55章

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said：　　〃I　see　you　have　been　here　before；　sir。〃

〃No；〃　said　I；　〃never；　but　I　have　read　about　the　Tomen　Bala　in　
books；　both　Welsh　and　English。〃

〃You　have；　sir；〃　said　Tom。　　〃Well；　I　am　rejoiced　to　see　so　book…
learned　a　gentleman　in　our　house。　　The　Tomen　Bala　has　puzzled　many　
a　head。　　What　do　the　books　which　mention　it　say　about　it；　your　
honour？〃

〃Very　little；〃　said　I；　〃beyond　mentioning　it；　what　do　the　people　
here　say　of　it？〃

〃All　kinds　of　strange　things；　your　honour。〃

〃Do　they　say　who　built　it？〃

〃Some　say　the　Tylwyth　Teg　built　it；　others　that　it　was　cast　up　over　
a　dead　king　by　his　people。　　The　truth　is；　nobody　here　knows　who　
built　it；　or　anything　about　it；　save　that　it　is　a　wonder。　　Ah；　
those　people　of　Llangollen　can　show　nothing　like　it。〃

〃Come；〃　said　I；　〃you　must　not　be　so　hard　upon　the　people　of　
Llangollen。　　They　appear　to　me　upon　the　whole　to　be　an　eminently　
respectable　body。〃

The　Celtic　waiter　gave　a　genuine　French　shrug。　　〃Excuse　me；　your　
honour；　for　being　of　a　different　opinion。　　They　are　all　drunkards。〃

〃I　have　occasionally　seen　drunken　people　at　Llangollen；〃　said　I；　
〃but　I　have　likewise　seen　a　great　many　sober。〃

〃That　is；　your　honour；　you　have　seen　them　in　their　sober　moments；　
but　if　you　had　watched；　your　honour；　if　you　had　kept　your　eye　on　
them；　you　would　have　seen　them　reeling　too。〃

〃That　I　can　hardly　believe；〃　said　I。

〃Your　honour　can't！　but　I　can　who　know　them。　　They　are　all　
drunkards；　and　nobody　can　live　among　them　without　being　a　drunkard。　　
There　was　my　nephew　…　〃

〃What　of　him？〃　said　I。

〃Why　he　went　to　Llangollen；　your　honour；　and　died　of　a　drunken　
fever　in　less　than　a　month。〃

〃Well；　but　might　he　not　have　died　of　the　same；　if　he　had　remained　
at　home？〃

〃No；　your　honour；　no！　he　lived　here　many　a　year；　and　never　died　of　
a　drunken　fever；　he　was　rather　fond　of　liquor；　it　is　true；　but　he　
never　died　at　Bala　of　a　drunken　fever；　but　when　he　went　to　
Llangollen　he　did。　　Now；　your　honour；　if　there　is　not　something　
more　drunken　about　Llangollen　than　about　Bala；　why　did　my　nephew　
die　at　Llangollen　of　a　drunken　fever？〃

〃Really；〃　said　I；　〃you　are　such　a　close　reasoner；　that　I　do　not　
like　to　dispute　with　you。　　One　observation　however；　I　wish　to　make：　　
I　have　lived　at　Llangollen；　without；　I　hope；　becoming　a　drunkard。〃

〃Oh；　your　honour　is　out　of　the　question；〃　said　the　Celtic　waiter　
with　a　strange　grimace。　　〃Your　honour　is　an　Englishman；　an　English　
gentleman；　and　of　course　could　live　all　the　days　of　your　life　at　
Llangollen　without　being　a　drunkard；　he；　he！　　Who　ever　heard　of　an　
Englishman；　especially　an　English　gentleman；　being　a　drunkard；　he；　
he；　he。　　And　now；　your　honour；　pray　excuse　me；　for　I　must　go　and　
see　that　your　honour's　dinner　is　being　got　ready　in　a　suitable　
manner。〃

Thereupon　he　left　me　with　a　bow　yet　lower　than　any　I　had　previously　
seen　him　make。　　If　his　manners　put　me　in　mind　of　those　of　a　
Frenchman；　his　local　prejudices　brought　powerfully　to　my　
recollection　those　of　a　Spaniard。　　Tom　Jenkins　swears　by　Bala　and　
abuses　Llangollen；　and　calls　its　people　drunkards；　just　as　a　
Spaniard　exalts　his　own　village　and　vituperates　the　next　and　its　
inhabitants；　whom；　though　he　will　not　call　them　drunkards；　unless　
indeed　he　happens　to　be　a　Gallegan；　he　will　not　hesitate　to　term　
〃una　caterva　de　pillos　y　embusteros。〃

The　dinner　when　it　appeared　was　excellent；　and　consisted　of　many　
more　articles　than　I　had　ordered。　　After　dinner；　as　I　sat　
〃trifling〃　with　my　cold　brandy　and　water；　an　individual　entered；　a　
short　thick　dumpy　man　about　thirty；　with　brown　clothes　and　a　broad　
hat；　and　holding　in　his　hand　a　large　leather　bag。　　He　gave　me　a　
familiar　nod；　and　passing　by　the　table　at　which　I　sat；　to　one　near　
the　window；　he　flung　the　bag　upon　it；　and　seating　himself　in　a　
chair　with　his　profile　towards　me；　he　untied　the　bag；　from　which　he　
poured　a　large　quantity　of　sovereigns　upon　the　table　and　fell　to　
counting　them。　　After　counting　them　three　times　he　placed　them　
again　in　the　bag　which　he　tied　up；　then　taking　a　small　book；　
seemingly　an　account…book；　out　of　his　pocket；　he　wrote　something　in　
it　with　a　pencil；　then　putting　it　in　his　pocket　he　took　the　bag　and　
unlocking　a　beaufet　which　stood　at　some　distance　behind　him　against　
the　wall；　he　put　the　bag　into　a　drawer；　then　again　locking　the　
beaufet　he　sat　down　in　the　chair；　then　tilting　the　chair　back　upon　
its　hind　legs　he　kept　swaying　himself　backwards　and　forwards　upon　
it；　his　toes　sometimes　upon　the　ground；　sometimes　mounting　until　
they　tapped　against　the　nether　side　of　the　table；　surveying　me　all　
the　time　with　a　queer　kind　of　a　side　glance；　and　occasionally　
ejecting　saliva　upon　the　carpet　in　the　direction　of　place　where　I　
sat。

〃Fine　weather；　sir；〃　said　I；　at　last；　rather　tired　of　being　skewed　
and　spit　at　in　this　manner。

〃Why　yaas；〃　said　the　figure；　〃the　day　is　tolerably　fine；　but　I　have　
seen　a　finer。〃

〃Well；　I　don't　remember　to　have　seen　one；〃　said　I；　〃it　is　as　fine　a　
day　as　I　have　seen　during　the　present　season；　and　finer　weather　
than　I　have　seen　during　this　season　I　do　not　think　I　ever　saw　
before。〃

〃The　weather　is　fine　enough　for　Britain；〃　said　the　figure；　〃but　
there　are　other　countries　besides　Britain。〃

〃Why；〃　said　I；　〃there's　the　States；　'tis　true。〃

〃Ever　been　in　the　States；　Mr？〃　said　the　figure　quickly。

〃Have　I　ever　been　in　the　States；〃　said　I；　〃have　I　ever　been　in　the　
States？〃

〃Perhaps　you　are　of　the　States；　Mr；　I　thought　so　from　the　first。〃

〃The　States　are　fine　countries；〃　said　I。

〃I　guess　they　are；　Mr。〃

〃It　would　be　no　easy　matter　to　whip　the　States。〃

〃So　I　should　guess；　Mr。〃

〃That　is；　single…handed；〃　said　I。

〃Single…handed；　no　nor　double…handed　either。　　Let　England　and　
France　and　the　State　which　they　are　now　trying　to　whip　without　
being　able　to　do　it；　that's　Russia；　all　unite　in　a　union　to　whip　
the　Union；　and　if　instead　of　whipping　the　States　they　don't　get　a　
whipping　themselves；　call　me　a　braying　jackass　…　〃

〃I　see；　Mr；〃　said　I；　〃that　you　are　a　sensible　man；　because　you　
speak　very　much　my　own　opinion。　　However；　as　I　am　an　unprejudiced　
person；　like　yourself；　I　wish　to　do　justice　to　other　countries　…　
the　States　are　fine　countries　…　but　there　are　other　fine　countries　
in　the　world。　　I　say　nothing　of　England；　catch　me　saying　anything　
good　of　England；　but　I　call　Wales　a　fine　country；　gainsay　it　who　
may；　I　call　Wales　a　fine　country。〃

〃So　it　is；　Mr。〃

〃I'll　go　farther；〃　said　I；　〃I　wish　to　do　justice　to　everything：　　I　
call　the　Welsh　a　fine　language。〃

〃So　it　is；　Mr。　　Ah；　I　see　you　are　an　unprejudiced　man。　　You　don't　
understand　Welsh；　I　guess。〃

〃I　don't　understand　Welsh；〃　said　I；　〃I　don't　understand　Welsh。　　
That's　what　I　call　a　good　one。〃

〃Medrwch　siarad　Cumraeg？〃　said　the　short　figure　spitting　on　the　
carpet。

〃Medraf；〃　said　I。

〃You　can；　Mr！　　Well；　if　that　don't　whip　the　Union。　　But　I　see：　　you　
were　born　in　the　States　of　Welsh　parents。〃

〃No　harm　in　being　born　in　the　States　of　Welsh　parents；〃　said　I。

〃None　at　all；　Mr；　I　was　myself；　and　the　first　language　I　learnt　to　
speak　was　Welsh。　　Did　your　people　come　from　Bala；　Mr？〃

〃Why　no！　　Did　yourn？〃

〃Why　yaas　…　at　least　from　the　neighbourhood。　　What　State　do　you　
come　from？　　Virginny？〃

〃Why　no！〃

〃Perhaps　Pensilvany　country？〃

〃Pensilvany　is　a　fine　State；〃　said　I。

〃So　it　is；　Mr。　Oh；　that　is　your　State；　is　it？　　I　come　from　
Varmont。〃

〃You　do；　do　you？　　Well；　Varmont　is　not　a　bad　state；　but　not　equal　
to　Pensilvany；　and　I'll　tell　you　two　reasons　why；　first　it　has　not　
been　so　long　settled；　and　second　there　is　not　so　much　Welsh　blood　
in　it　as　there　is　in　Pensilvany。〃

〃Is　there　much　Welsh　blood　in　Pensilvany　then？〃

〃Plenty；　Mr；　plenty。　　Welsh　flocked　over　to　Pensilvany　even　as　far　
back　as　the　time　of　William　Pen；　who　as　you　know；　Mr；　was　the　first　
founder　of　the　Pensilvany　State。　　And　that　puts　me　in　mind　that　
there　is　a　curious　account　extant　of　the　adventures　of　one　of　the　
old　Welsh　settlers　in　Pensilvania。　　It　is　to　be　found　in　a　letter　
in　an　old　Welsh　book。　　The　letter　is　dated　1705；　and　is　from　one　
Huw　Jones；　born　of　Welsh　parents　in　Pensilvany　country；　to　a　cousin　
of　his　of　the　same　name　residing　in　the　neighbourhood　of　this　very　
town　of　Bala　in　Merionethshire；　where　you　and　I；　Mr；　now　are。　　It　
is　in　answer　to　certain　inquiries　made　by　the　cousin；　and　is　
written　in　pure　old　Welsh　language。　　It　gives　an　account　of　how　the　
writer's　father　left　this　neighbourhood　to　go　to　Pensilvania；　how　
he　embarked　on　board　the　ship　WILLIAM　PEN；　how　he　was　thirty　weeks　
on　the　voyage　from　the　Thames　to　the　Delaware。　　Only　think；　Mr；　of　
a　ship　now…a…days　being　thirty　weeks　on　the　passage　from　the　Thames　
to　the　Delaware　river；　how　he　learnt　the　English　language　on　the　
voyage；　how　he　and　his　companions　nearly　perished　with　hunger　in　
the　wild　wood　after　they　landed；　how　Pensilvania　city　was　built；　
how　he　became　a　farmer　and　married　a　Welsh　woman；　the　widow　of　a　
Welshman　from　shire　Denbigh；　by　whom　he　had　the　writer　and　several　
other　children；　how　the　father　used　to　talk　to　his　children　about　
his　native　region　and　the　places　round　about　Bala；　and　fill　their　
breasts　with　longing　for　the　land　of　their　fathers；　and　finally　how　
the　old　man　died　leaving　his　children　and　their　mother　in　
prosperous　circumstances。　　It　is　a　wonderful　letter；　Mr；　all　
written　in　the　pure　old　Welsh　language。〃

〃I　say；　Mr；　you　are　a　cute　one　and　know　a　thing　or　two。　　I　suppose　
Welsh　was　the　first　language　you　learnt；　like　myself？〃

〃No；　it　wasn't　…　I　like　to　speak　the　truth　…　never　took　to　either　
speaking　or　reading　the　Welsh　language　till　I　was　past　sixteen。〃

〃'Stonishing！　but　see　the　force　of　blood　at　last。　　In　any　line　of　
business？〃

〃No；　Mr；　can't　say　I　am。〃

〃Have　money　in　your　pocket；　and　travel　for　pleasure。　　Come　to　see　
father's　land。〃

〃Come　to　see　old　Wales。　　And　what　brings　you　here；　Hiraeth？〃

〃That's　longing。　　No；　not　exactly。　　Came　over　to　England　to　see　
what　I　could　do。　　Got　in　with　house　at　Liverpool　in　the　drapery　
business。　　Travel　for　it　hereabouts；　having　connections　and　
speaking　the　language。　　Do　branch　business　here　for　a　banking…house　
besides。　　Manage　to　get　on　smartly。〃

〃You　look　a　smart　'un。　　But　don't　you　find　it　sometimes　hard　to　
compete　with　English　travellers　in　the　drapery　line？〃

〃I　guess　not。　　English　travellers！　set　of　nat'rals。　　Don't　know　the　
language　and　nothing　else。　　Could　whip　a　dozen　any　day。　　Regularly　
flummox　them。〃

〃You　do；　Mr？　　Ah；　I　see　you're　a　cute　'un。　　Glad　to　have　met　you。〃

〃I　say；　Mr；　you　have　not　told　me　from　what　county　your　forefathers　
were。〃

〃From　Norfolk　and　Cornwall　counties。〃

〃Didn't　know　there　were　such　counties　in　Wales。〃

〃But　there　are　in　England。〃

〃Why；　you　told　me　you　were　of　Welsh　parents。〃

〃No；　I　didn't。　　You　told　yourself　so。〃

〃But　how　did　you　come　to　know　Welsh？〃

〃Why；　that's　my　bit　of　a　secret。〃

〃But　you　are　of　the　United　States？〃

〃Never　knew　that　before。〃

〃Mr；　you　flummox　me。〃

〃Just　as　you　do　the　English　drapery　travellers。　　Ah；　you're　a　cute　
'un　…　but　do　you　think　it　altogether　a　cute　trick　to　stow　all　those