wild wales-第61章

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race　of　people　about　whom　I　have　written　a　good　deal。　　Before　going　
away　he　told　me　that　a　friend　of　his；　of　the　name　of　J…；　would　call　
upon　me；　provided　he　thought　I　should　not　consider　his　doing　so　an　
intrusion。　　〃Let　him　come　by　all　means；〃　said　I；　〃I　shall　never　
look　upon　a　visit　from　a　friend　of　yours　in　the　light　of　an　
intrusion。〃

In　a　few　days　came　his　friend；　a　fine　tall　athletic　man　of　about　
forty。　　〃You　are　no　Welshman；〃　said　I；　as　I　looked　at　him。

〃No；〃　said　he；　〃I　am　a　native　of　Lincolnshire；　but　I　have　resided　
in　Llangollen　for　thirteen　years。〃

〃In　what　capacity？〃　said　I。

〃In　the　wine…trade；〃　said　he。

〃Instead　of　coming　to　Llangollen；〃　said　I；　〃and　entering　into　the　
wine…trade；　you　should　have　gone　to　London；　and　enlisted　into　the　
Life　Guards。〃

〃Well；〃　said　he；　with　a　smile；　〃I　had　once　or　twice　thought　of　
doing　so。　　However；　fate　brought　me　to　Llangollen；　and　I　am　not　
sorry　that　she　did；　for　I　have　done　very　well　here。〃

I　soon　found　out　that　he　was　a　well…read　and　indeed　highly　
accomplished　man。　　Like　his　friend　R…；　Mr　J…　asked　me　a　great　many　
questions　about　Spain。　　By　degrees　we　got　on　the　subject　of　Spanish　
literature。　　I　said　that　the　literature　of　Spain　was　a　first…rate　
literature；　but　that　it　was　not　very　extensive。　　He　asked　me　
whether　I　did　not　think　that　Lope　de　Vega　was　much　overrated。

〃Not　a　bit；〃　said　I；　〃Lope　de　Vega　was　one　of　the　greatest　geniuses　
that　ever　lived。　　He　was　not　only　a　great　dramatist　and　lyric　poet；　
but　a　prose　writer　of　marvellous　ability；　as　he　proved　by　several　
admirable　tales；　amongst　which　is　the　best　ghost　story　in　the　
world。〃

Another　remarkable　person　whom　I　got　acquainted　with　about　this　
time　was　A…；　the　innkeeper；　who　lived　a　little　way　down　the　road；　
of　whom　John　Jones　had　spoken　so　highly；　saying；　amongst　other　
things；　that　he　was　the　clebberest　man　in　Llangollen。　　One　day　as　I　
was　looking　in　at　his　gate；　he　came　forth；　took　off　his　hat；　and　
asked　me　to　do　him　the　honour　to　come　in　and　look　at　his　grounds。　　
I　complied；　and　as　he　showed　me　about　he　told　me　his　history　in　
nearly　the　following　words：…

〃I　am　a　Devonian　by　birth。　　For　many　years　I　served　a　travelling　
gentleman；　whom　I　accompanied　in　all　his　wanderings。　　I　have　been　
five　times　across　the　Alps；　and　in　every　capital　of　Europe。　　My　
master　at　length　dying　left　me　in　his　will　something　handsome；　
whereupon　I　determined　to　be　a　servant　no　longer；　but　married；　and　
came　to　Llangollen；　which　I　had　visited　long　before　with　my　master；　
and　had　been　much　pleased　with。　　After　a　little　time　these　premises　
becoming　vacant；　I　took　them；　and　set　up　in　the　public　line；　more　
to　have　something　to　do；　than　for　the　sake　of　gain；　about　which；　
indeed；　I　need　not　trouble　myself　much；　my　poor；　dear　master；　as　I　
said　before；　having　done　very　handsomely　by　me　at　his　death。　　Here　
I　have　lived　for　several　years；　receiving　strangers；　and　improving　
my　house　and　grounds。　　I　am　tolerably　comfortable；　but　confess　I　
sometimes　look　back　to　my　former　roving　life　rather　wistfully；　for　
there　is　no　life　so　merry　as　the　traveller's。〃

He　was　about　the　middle　age　and　somewhat　under　the　middle　size。　　I　
had　a　good　deal　of　conversation　with　him；　and　was　much　struck　with　
his　frank；　straightforward　manner。　　He　enjoyed　a　high　character　at　
Llangollen　for　probity　and　likewise　for　cleverness；　being　reckoned　
an　excellent　gardener；　and　an　almost　unequalled　cook。　　His　master；　
the　travelling　gentleman；　might　well　leave　him　a　handsome　
remembrance　in　his　will；　for　he　had　not　only　been　an　excellent　and　
trusty　servant　to　him；　but　had　once　saved　his　life　at　the　hazard　of　
his　own；　amongst　the　frightful　precipices　of　the　Alps。　　Such　
retired　gentlemen's　servants；　or　such　publicans　either；　as　honest　
A…；　are　not　every　day　to　be　found。　　His　grounds；　principally　laid　
out　by　his　own　hands；　exhibited　an　infinity　of　taste；　and　his　
house；　into　which　I　looked；　was　a　perfect　picture　of　neatness。　　Any　
tourist　visiting　Llangollen　for　a　short　period　could　do　no　better　
than　take　up　his　abode　at　the　hostelry　of　honest　A…。



CHAPTER　LVI



Ringing　of　Bells　…　Battle　of　Alma　…　The　Brown　Jug　…　Ale　of　
Llangollen　…　Reverses。


ON　the　third　of　October　…　I　think　that　was　the　date　…　as　my　family　
and　myself；　attended　by　trusty　John　Jones；　were　returning　on　foot　
from　visiting　a　park　not　far　from　Rhiwabon　we　heard；　when　about　a　
mile　from　Llangollen；　a　sudden　ringing　of　the　bells　of　the　place；　
and　a　loud　shouting。　　Presently　we　observed　a　postman　hurrying　in　a　
cart　from　the　direction　of　the　town。　　〃Peth　yw　y　matter？〃　said　John　
Jones。　　〃Y　matter；　y　matter！〃　said　the　postman　in　a　tone　of　
exultation；　〃Sebastopol　wedi　cymmeryd。　　Hurrah！〃

〃What　does　he　say？〃　said　my　wife　anxiously　to　me。

〃Why；　that　Sebastopol　is　taken；〃　said　I。

〃Then　you　have　been　mistaken；〃　said　my　wife　smiling；　〃for　you　
always　said　that　the　place　would　either　not　be　taken　at　all　or　
would　cost　the　allies　to　take　it　a　deal　of　time　and　an　immense　
quantity　of　blood　and　treasure；　and　here　it　is　taken　at　once；　for　
the　allies　only　landed　the　other　day。　　Well；　thank　God；　you　have　
been　mistaken！〃

〃Thank　God；　indeed；〃　said　I；　〃always　supposing　that　I　have　been　
mistaken　…　but　I　hardly　think　from　what　I　have　known　of　the　
Russians　that　they　would　let　their　town　…　however；　let　us　hope　that　
they　have　let　it　be　taken。　　Hurrah！〃

We　reached　our　dwelling。　　My　wife　and　daughter　went　in。　　John　Jones　
betook　himself　to　his　cottage；　and　I　went　into　the　town；　in　which　
there　was　a　great　excitement；　a　wild　running　troop　of　boys　were　
shouting　〃Sebastopol　wedi　cymmeryd。　　Hurrah！　Hurrah！〃　　Old　Mr　Jones　
was　standing　bare…headed　at　his　door。　　〃Ah；〃　said　the　old　
gentleman；　〃I　am　glad　to　see　you。　　Let　us　congratulate　each　other；〃　
he　added；　shaking　me　by　the　hand。　　〃Sebastopol　taken；　and　in　so　
short　a　time。　　How　fortunate！〃

〃Fortunate　indeed；〃　said　I；　returning　his　hearty　shake；　〃I　only　
hope　it　may　be　true。〃

〃Oh；　there　can　be　no　doubt　of　its　being　true；〃　said　the　old　
gentleman。　　〃The　accounts　are　most　positive。　　Come　in；　and　I　will　
tell　you　all　the　circumstances。〃　　I　followed　him　into　his　little　
back　parlour；　where　we　both　sat　down。

〃Now；〃　said　the　old　church　clerk；　〃I　will　tell　you　all　about　it。　　
The　allies　landed　about　twenty　miles　from　Sebastopol　and　proceeded　
to　march　against　it。　　When　nearly　half　way　they　found　the　Russians　
posted　on　a　hill。　　Their　position　was　naturally　very　strong；　and　
they　had　made　it　more　so　by　means　of　redoubts　and　trenches。　　
However；　the　allies　undismayed；　attacked　the　enemy；　and　after　a　
desperate　resistance；　drove　them　over　the　hill；　and　following　fast　
at　their　heels　entered　the　town　pell…mell　with　them；　taking　it　and　
all　that　remained　alive　of　the　Russian　army。　　And　what　do　you　
think？　　The　Welsh　highly　distinguished　themselves。　　The　Welsh　
fusileers　were　the　first　to　mount　the　hill。　　They　suffered　horribly　
…　indeed　almost　the　whole　regiment　was　cut　to　pieces；　but　what　of　
that？　they　showed　that　the　courage　of　the　Ancient　Britons　still　
survives　in　their　descendants。　　And　now　I　intend　to　stand　beverage。　　
I　assure　you　I　do。　　No　words！　　I　insist　upon　it。　　I　have　heard　you　
say　you　are　fond　of　good　ale；　and　I　intend　to　fetch　you　a　pint　of　
such　ale　as　I　am　sure　you　never　drank　in　your　life。〃　　Thereupon　he　
hurried　out　of　the　room；　and　through　the　shop　into　the　street。

〃Well；〃　said　I；　when　I　was　by　myself；　〃if　this　news　does　not　
regularly　surprise　me！　　I　can　easily　conceive　that　the　Russians　
would　be　beaten　in　a　pitched　battle　by　the　English　and　French　…　but　
that　they　should　have　been　so　quickly　followed　up　by　the　allies；　as　
not　to　be　able　to　shut　their　gates　and　man　their　walls；　is　to　me　
inconceivable。　　Why；　the　Russians　retreat　like　the　wind；　and　have　a　
thousand　ruses　at　command；　in　order　to　retard　an　enemy。　　So　at　
least　I　thought；　but　it　is　plain　that　I　know　nothing　about　them；　
nor　indeed　much　of　my　own　countrymen；　I　should　never　have　thought　
that　English　soldiers　could　have　marched　fast　enough　to　overtake　
Russians；　more　especially　with　such　a　being　to　command　them；　as　…；　
whom　I；　and　indeed　almost　every　one　else　have　always　considered　a　
dead　weight　on　the　English　service。　　I　suppose；　however；　that　both　
they　and　their　commander　were　spurred　on　by　the　active　French。〃

Presently　the　old　church　clerk　made　his　appearance　with　a　glass　in　
one　hand；　and　a　brown　jug　of　ale　in　the　other。

〃Here；〃　said　he；　filling　the　glass；　〃is　some　of　the　real　Llangollen　
ale。　　I　got　it　from　the　little　inn；　the　Eagle；　over　the　way；　which　
was　always　celebrated　for　its　ale。　　They　stared　at　me　when　I　went　
in　and　asked　for　a　pint　of　ale；　as　they　knew　that　for　twenty　years　
I　have　drunk　no　liquor　whatever；　owing　to　the　state　of　my　stomach；　
which　will　not　allow　me　to　drink　anything　stronger　than　water　and　
tea。　　I　told　them；　however；　it　was　for　a　gentleman；　a　friend　of　
mine；　whom　I　wished　to　treat　in　honour　of　the　fall　of　Sebastopol。〃

I　would　fain　have　excused　myself；　but　the　old　gentleman　insisted　on　
my　drinking。

〃Well；〃　said　I；　taking　the　glass；　〃thank　God　that　our　gloomy　
forebodings　are　not　likely　to　be　realised。　　Oes　y　byd　i'r　glod　
Frythoneg！　　May　Britain's　glory　last　as　long　as　the　world！〃

Then；　looking　for　a　moment　at　the　ale；　which　was　of　a　dark…brown　
colour；　I　put　the　glass　to　my　lips　and　drank。

〃Ah！〃　said　the　old　church　clerk；　〃I　see　you　like　it；　for　you　have　
emptied　the　glass　at　a　draught。〃

〃It　is　good　ale；〃　said　I。

〃Good；〃　said　the　old　gentleman　rather　hastily；　〃good；　did　you　ever　
taste　any　so　good　in　your　life？〃

〃Why；　as　to　that；〃　said　I；　〃I　hardly　know　what　to　say；　I　have　drunk　
some　very　good　ale　in　my　day。　　However；　I'll　trouble　you　for　
another　glass。〃

〃Oh　ho；　you　will；〃　said　the　old　gentleman；　〃that's　enough；　if　you　
did　not　think　it　first…rate；　you　would　not　ask　for　more。　　This；〃　
said　he；　as　he　filled　the　glass　again；　〃is　genuine　malt　and　hop　
liquor；　brewed　in　a　way　only　known；　they　say；　to　some　few　people　in　
this　place。　　You　must；　however；　take　care　how　much　you　take　of　it。　　
Only　a　few　glasses　will　make　you　dispute　with　your　friends；　and　a　
few　more　quarrel　with　them。　　Strange　things　are　said　of　what　
Llangollen　ale　made　people　do　of　yore；　and　I　remember　that　when　I　
was　young　and　could　drink　ale；　two　or　three　glasses　of　the　
Llangollen　juice　of　the　barleycorn　would　make　me　…　however；　those　
times　are　gone　by。〃

〃Has　Llangollen　ale；〃　said　I；　after　tasting　the　second　glass；　〃ever　
been　sung　in　Welsh？　is　there　no　englyn　upon　it？〃

〃No；〃　said　the　old　church　clerk；　〃at　any　rate；　that　I　am　aware。〃

〃Well；〃　said　I；　〃I　can't　sing　its　praises　in　a　Welsh　englyn；　but　I　
think　I　can　contrive　to　do　so　in　an　English　quatrain；　with　the　help　
of　what　you　have　told　me。　　What　do　you　think　of　this？　…


〃Llangollen's　brown　ale　is　with　malt　and　hop　rife；
'Tis　good；　but　don't　quaff　it　from　evening　till　dawn；
For　too　much　of　that　ale　will　incline　you　to　strife；
Too　much　of　that　ale　has　caused　knives　to　be　drawn。〃


〃That's　not　so　bad；〃　said　the　old　church　clerk；　〃but　I　think　some　
of　our　bards　could　have　produced　something　better　…