lavengro-第80章

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'She　had　no　griefs；　bebee？'



'Plenty；　child；　but　not　like　mine。'



'Not　quite　so　hard　to　bear；　bebee？'



'No；　child；　my　head　wanders　when　I　think　of　them。　　After　the　death　

of　my　husband；　who　came　to　his　end　untimeously；　I　went　to　live　with　

a　daughter　of　mine；　married　out　among　certain　Romans　who　walk　about　

the　eastern　counties；　and　with　whom　for　some　time　I　found　a　home　

and　pleasant　society；　for　they　lived　right　Romanly；　which　gave　my　

heart　considerable　satisfaction；　who　am　a　Roman　born；　and　hope　to　

die　so。　　When　I　say　right　Romanly；　I　mean　that　they　kept　to　

themselves；　and　were　not　much　given　to　blabbing　about　their　private　

matters　in　promiscuous　company。　　Well；　things　went　on　in　this　way　

for　some　time；　when　one　day　my　son…in…law　brings　home　a　young　

gorgio　of　singular　and　outrageous　ugliness；　and；　without　much　

preamble；　says　to　me　and　mine；　〃This　is　my　pal；　ain't　he　a　beauty？　

fall　down　and　worship　him。〃　　〃Hold；〃　said　I；　〃I　for　one　will　never　

consent　to　such　foolishness。〃'



'That　was　right；　bebee；　I　think　I　should　have　done　the　same。'



'I　think　you　would；　child；　but　what　was　the　profit　of　it？　　The　

whole　party　makes　an　almighty　of　this　gorgio；　lets　him　into　their　

ways；　says　prayers　of　his　making；　till　things　come　to　such　a　pass　

that　my　own　daughter　says　to　me；　〃I　shall　buy　myself　a　veil　and　

fan；　and　treat　myself　to　a　play　and　sacrament。〃　　〃Don't；〃　says　I；　

says　she；　〃I　should　like　for　once　in　my　life　to　be　courtesied　to　as　

a　Christian　gentlewoman。〃'



'Very　foolish　of　her；　bebee。'



'Wasn't　it；　child？　　Where　was　I？　　At　the　fan　and　sacrament；　with　a　

heavy　heart　I　put　seven　score　miles　between　us；　came　back　to　the　

hairy　ones；　and　found　them　over…given　to　gorgious　companions；　said　

I；　〃Foolish　manners　is　catching；　all　this　comes　of　that　there　

gorgio。〃　　Answers　the　child　Leonora；　〃Take　comfort；　bebee；　I　hate　

the　gorgios　as　much　as　you　do。〃'



'And　I　say　so　again；　bebee；　as　much　or　more。'



'Time　flows　on；　I　engage　in　many　matters；　in　most　miscarry。　　Am　

sent　to　prison；　says　I　to　myself；　I　am　become　foolish。　　Am　turned　

out　of　prison；　and　go　back　to　the　hairy　ones；　who　receive　me　not　

over　courteously；　says　I；　for　their　unkindness；　and　my　own　

foolishness；　all　the　thanks　to　that　gorgio。　　Answers　to　me　the　

child；　〃I　wish　I　could　set　eyes　upon　him；　bebee。〃'



'I　did　so；　bebee；　go　on。'



'〃How　shall　I　know　him；　bebee？'　says　the　child。　　〃Young　and　gray；　

tall；　and　speaks　Romanly。〃　　Runs　to　me　the　child；　and　says；　〃I've　

found　him；　bebee。〃　　〃Where；　child？〃　says　I。　　〃Come　with　me；　bebee；〃　

says　the　child。　　〃That's　he；〃　says　I；　as　I　looked　at　my　gentleman　

through　the　hedge。'



'Ha；　ha！　bebee；　and　here　he　lies；　poisoned　like　a　hog。'



'You　have　taken　drows；　sir；'　said　Mrs。　Herne；　'do　you　hear；　sir？　

drows；　tip　him　a　stave；　child；　of　the　song　of　poison。'



And　thereupon　the　girl　clapped　her　hands；　and　sang　…





'The　Rommany　churl

And　the　Rommany　girl

To…morrow　shall　hie

To　poison　the　sty；

And　bewitch　on　the　mead

The　farmer's　steed。'





'Do　you　hear　that；　sir？'　said　Mrs。　Herne；　'the　child　has　tipped　you　

a　stave　of　the　song　of　poison：　　that　is；　she　has　sung　it　

Christianly；　though　perhaps　you　would　like　to　hear　it　Romanly；　you　

were　always　fond　of　what　was　Roman。　　Tip　it　him　Romanly；　child。'



'He　has　heard　it　Romanly　already；　bebee；　'twas　by　that　I　found　him　

out；　as　I　told　you。'



'Halloo；　sir；　are　you　sleeping？　you　have　taken　drows；　the　gentleman　

makes　no　answer。　　God　give　me　patience！'



'And　what　if　he　doesn't；　bebee；　isn't　he　poisoned　like　a　hog？　　

Gentleman；　indeed！　why　call　him　gentleman？　if　he　ever　was　one　he's　

broke；　and　is　now　a　tinker；　a　worker　of　blue　metal。'



'That's　his　way；　child；　to…day　a　tinker；　to…morrow　something　else；　

and　as　for　being　drabbed；　I　don't　know　what　to　say　about　it。'



'Not　drabbed！　what　do　you　mean；　bebee？　but　look　there；　bebee；　ha；　

ha；　look　at　the　gentleman's　motions。'



'He　is　sick；　child；　sure　enough。　　Ho；　ho！　sir；　you　have　taken　

drows；　what；　another　throe！　writhe；　sir；　writhe；　the　hog　died　by　

the　drow　of　gypsies；　I　saw　him　stretched　at　evening。　　That's　

yourself；　sir。　　There　is　no　hope；　sir；　no　help；　you　have　taken　

drow；　shall　I　tell　you　your　fortune；　sir；　your　dukkerin？　　God　bless　

you；　pretty　gentleman；　much　trouble　will　you　have　to　suffer；　and　

much　water　to　cross；　but　never　mind；　pretty　gentleman；　you　shall　be　

fortunate　at　the　end；　and　those　who　hate　shall　take　off　their　hats　

to　you。'



'Hey；　bebee！'　cried　the　girl；　'what　is　this？　what　do　you　mean？　you　

have　blessed　the　gorgio！'



'Blessed　him！　no；　sure；　what　did　I　say？　　Oh；　I　remember；　I'm　mad；　

well；　I　can't　help　it；　I　said　what　the　dukkerin　dook　told　me；　woe's　

me；　he'll　get　up　yet。'



'Nonsense；　bebee！　　Look　at　his　motions；　he's　drabbed；　spite　of　

dukkerin。'



'Don't　say　so；　child；　he's　sick；　'tis　true；　but　don't　laugh　at　

dukkerin；　only　folks　do　that　that　know　no　better。　　I；　for　one；　will　

never　laugh　at　the　dukkerin　dook。　　Sick　again；　I　wish　he　was　gone。'



'He'll　soon　be　gone；　bebee；　let's　leave　him。　　He's　as　good　as　gone；　

look　there；　he's　dead。'



'No；　he's　not；　he'll　get　up　…　I　feel　it；　can't　we　hasten　him？'



'Hasten　him！　yes；　to　be　sure；　set　the　dog　upon　him。　　Here；　juggal；　

look　in　there；　my　dog。'



The　dog　made　its　appearance　at　the　door　of　the　tent；　and　began　to　

bark　and　tear　up　the　ground。



'At　him；　juggal；　at　him；　he　wished　to　poison；　to　drab　you。　　

Halloo！'



The　dog　barked　violently；　and　seemed　about　to　spring　at　my　face；　

but　retreated。



'The　dog　won't　fly　at　him；　child；　he　flashed　at　the　dog　with　his　

eye；　and　scared　him。　　He'll　get　up。'



'Nonsense；　bebee！　you　make　me　angry；　how　should　he　get　up？'



'The　dook　tells　me　so；　and；　what's　more；　I　had　a　dream。　　I　thought　

I　was　at　York；　standing　amidst　a　crowd　to　see　a　man　hung；　and　the　

crowd　shouted；　〃There　he　comes！〃　and　I　looked；　and；　lo！　it　was　the　

tinker；　before　I　could　cry　with　joy　I　was　whisked　away；　and　I　found　

myself　in　Ely's　big　church；　which　was　chock　full　of　people　to　hear　

the　dean　preach；　and　all　eyes　were　turned　to　the　big　pulpit；　and　

presently　I　heard　them　say；　〃There　he　mounts！〃　and　I　looked　up　to　

the　big　pulpit；　and；　lo！　the　tinker　was　in　the　pulpit；　and　he　

raised　his　arm　and　began　to　preach。　　Anon；　I　found　myself　at　York　

again；　just　as　the　drop　fell；　and　I　looked　up；　and　I　saw　not　the　

tinker；　but　my　own　self　hanging　in　the　air。'



'You　are　going　mad；　bebee；　if　you　want　to　hasten　him；　take　your　

stick　and　poke　him　in　the　eye。'



'That　will　be　of　no　use；　child；　the　dukkerin　tells　me　so；　but　I　

will　try　what　I　can　do。　　Halloo；　tinker！　you　must　introduce　

yourself　into　a　quiet　family；　and　raise　confusion　…　must　you？　　You　

must　steal　its　language；　and；　what　was　never　done　before；　write　it　

down　Christianly　…　must　you？　　Take　that　…　and　that'；　and　she　

stabbed　violently　with　her　stick　towards　the　end　of　the　tent。



'That's　right；　bebee；　you　struck　his　face；　now　once　more；　and　let　

it　be　in　the　eye。　　Stay；　what's　that？　get　up；　bebee。'



'What's　the　matter；　child？'



'Some　one　is　coming；　come　away。'



'Let　me　make　sure　of　him；　child；　he'll　be　up　yet。'　　And　thereupon　

Mrs。　Herne；　rising；　leaned　forward　into　the　tent；　and；　supporting　

herself　against　the　pole；　took　aim　in　the　direction　of　the　farther　

end。　　'I　will　thrust　out　his　eye；'　said　she；　and；　lunging　with　her　

stick；　she　would　probably　have　accomplished　her　purpose　had　not　at　

that　moment　the　pole　of　the　tent　given　way；　whereupon　she　fell　to　

the　ground；　the　canvas　falling　upon　her　and　her　intended　victim。



'Here's　a　pretty　affair；　bebee；'　screamed　the　girl。



'He'll　get　up；　yet；'　said　Mrs。　Herne；　from　beneath　the　canvas。



'Get　up！　…　get　up　yourself；　where　are　you？　where　is　your　…　Here；　

there；　bebee；　here's　the　door；　there；　make　haste；　they　are　coming。'



'He'll　get　up　yet；'　said　Mrs。　Herne；　recovering　her　breath；　'the　

dock　tells　me　so。'



'Never　mind　him　or　the　dook；　he　is　drabbed；　come　away；　or　we　shall　

be　grabbed　…　both　of　us。'



'One　more　blow；　I　know　where　his　head　lies。'



'You　are　mad；　bebee；　leave　the　fellow　…　gorgio　avella。'



And　thereupon　the　females　hurried　away。



A　vehicle　of　some　kind　was　evidently　drawing　nigh；　in　a　little　time　

it　came　alongside　of　the　place　where　lay　the　fallen　tent；　and　

stopped　suddenly。　　There　was　a　silence　for　a　moment；　and　then　a　

parley　ensued　between　two　voices；　one　of　which　was　that　of　a　woman。　　

It　was　not　in　English；　but　in　a　deep　guttural　tongue。



'Peth　yw　hono　sydd　yn　gorwedd　yna　ar　y　ddaear？'　said　a　masculine　

voice。



'Yn　wirionedd　…　I　do　not　know　what　it　can　be；'　said　the　female　

voice；　in　the　same　tongue。



'Here　is　a　cart；　and　there　are　tools；　but　what　is　that　on　the　

ground？'



'Something　moves　beneath　it；　and　what　was　that　…　a　groan？'



'Shall　I　get　down？'



'Of　course；　Peter；　some　one　may　want　your　help？



'Then　I　will　get　down；　though　I　do　not　like　this　place；　it　is　

frequented　by　Egyptians；　and　I　do　not　like　their　yellow　faces；　nor　

their　clibberty　clabber；　as　Master　Ellis　Wyn　says。　　Now　I　am　down。　　

It　is　a　tent；　Winifred；　and　see；　here　is　a　boy　beneath　it。　　

Merciful　father！　what　a　face。'



A　middle…aged　man；　with　a　strongly　marked　and　serious　countenance；　

dressed　in　sober…coloured　habiliments；　had　lifted　up　the　stifling　

folds　of　the　tent；　and　was　bending　over　me。　　'Can　you　speak；　my　

lad？'　said　he　in　English；　'what　is　the　matter　with　you？　if　you　

could　but　tell　me；　I　could　perhaps　help　you　…　'　　'What　is　that　you　

say？　　I　can't　hear　you。　　I　will　kneel　down'；　and　he　flung　himself　

on　the　ground；　and　placed　his　ear　close　to　my　mouth。　　'Now　speak　if　

you　can。　　Hey！　what！　no；　sure；　God　forbid！'　then　starting　up；　he　

cried　to　a　female　who　sat　in　the　cart；　anxiously　looking　on　…　

'Gwenwyn！　gwenwyn！　yw　y　gwas　wedi　ei　gwenwynaw。　　The　oil！　　

Winifred；　the　oil！'







CHAPTER　LXXII







Desired　effect　…　The　three　oaks　…　Winifred　…　Things　of　time　…　With　

God's　will　…　The　preacher　…　Creature　comforts　…　Croesaw　…　Welsh　and　

English　…　Mayor　of　Chester。



THE　OIL；　which　the　strangers　compelled　me　to　take；　produced　the　

desired　effect；　though；　during　at　least　two　hours；　it　was　very　

doubtful　whether　or　not　my　life　would　be　saved。　　At　the　end　of　that　

period　the　man　said　that　with　the　blessing　of　God　he　would　answer　

for　my　life。　　He　then　demanded　whether　I　thought　I　could　bear　to　be　

removed　from　the　place　in　which　we　were；　'for　I　like　it　not；'　he　

continued；　'as　something　within　me　tells　me　that　it　is　not　good　for　

any　of　us　to　be　here。'　　I　told　him；　as　well　as　I　was　able；　that　I；　

too；　should　be　glad　to　leave　the　place；　whereupon；　after　collecting　

my　things；　he　harnessed　my　pony；　and；　with　the　assistance　of　the　

woman；　he　contrived　to　place　me　in