itinerary of archibishop-第4章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！




〃　…　tantum　Carmina　nostra　valent　tela　inter　Martia；　quantum　Chaonias　dicunt；　aquila　veniente；　columbas。〃


Who　would　hesitate　in　deciding　which　are　more　profitable；　the　works　of　St。　Jerom；　or　the　riches　of　Croesus？　but　where　now　shine　the　gold　and　silver　of　Croesus？　whilst　the　world　is　instructed　by　the　example　and　enlightened　by　the　learning　of　the　poor　coenobite。　　Yet　even　he；　through　envy；　suffered　stripes　and　contumely　at　Rome；　although　his　character　was　so　illustrious；　and　at　length　being　driven　beyond　the　seas；　found　a　refuge　for　his　studies　in　the　solitude　of　Bethlehem。　Thus　it　appears；　that　gold　and　arms　may　support　us　in　this　life；　but　avail　nothing　after　death；　and　that　letters　through　envy　profit　nothing　in　this　world；　but；　like　a　testament；　acquire　an　immortal　value　from　the　seal　of　death。

According　to　the　poet；


〃Pascitur　in　vivis　livor；　post　fata　quiescit；　Cum　suus　ex　merito　quemque　tuetur　honor。〃


And　also


〃Denique　si　quis　adhuc　praetendit　nubila；　livor　Occidet；　et　meriti　post　me　referentur　honores。〃


Those　who　by　artifice　endeavour　to　acquire　or　preserve　the　reputation　of　abilities　or　ingenuity；　while　they　abound　in　the　words　of　others；　have　little　cause　to　boast　of　their　own　inventions。　　For　the　composers　of　that　polished　language；　in　which　such　various　cases　as　occur　in　the　great　body　of　law　are　treated　with　such　an　appropriate　elegance　of　style；　must　ever　stand　forward　in　the　first　ranks　of　praise。　　I　should　indeed　have　said；　that　the　authors　of　refined　language；　not　the　hearers　only；　the　inventors；　not　the　reciters；　are　most　worthy　of　commendation。　　You　will　find；　however；　that　the　practices　of　the　court　and　of　the　schools　are　extremely　similar；　as　well　in　the　subtleties　they　employ　to　lead　you　forward；　as　in　the　steadiness　with　which　they　generally　maintain　their　own　positions。　　Yet　it　is　certain　that　the　knowledge　of　logic　（the　acumen；　if　I　may　so　express　it；　of　all　other　sciences　as　well　as　arts）　is　very　useful；　when　restricted　within　proper　bounds；　whilst　the　court　（i。e。　courtly　language）；　excepting　to　sycophants　or　ambitious　men；　is　by　no　means　necessary。　　For　if　you　are　successful　at　court；　ambition　never　wholly　quits　its　hold　till　satiated；　and　allures　and　draws　you　still　closer；　but　if　your　labour　is　thrown　away；　you　still　continue　the　pursuit；　and；　together　with　your　substance；　lose　your　time；　the　greatest　and　most　irretrievable　of　all　losses。　　There　is　likewise　some　resemblance　between　the　court　and　the　game　of　dice；　as　the　poet　observes：…


〃Sic　ne　perdiderit　non　cessat　perdere　lusor；

Dum　revocat　cupidas　alea　blanda　manus；〃


which；　by　substituting　the　word　CURIA　for　ALEA；　may　be　applied　to　the　court。　　This　further　proof　of　their　resemblance　may　be　added；　that　as　the　chances　of　the　dice　and　court　are　not　productive　of　any　real　delight；　so　they　are　equally　distributed　to　the　worthy　and　the　unworthy。

Since；　therefore；　among　so　many　species　of　men；　each　follows　his　own　inclination；　and　each　is　actuated　by　different　desires；　a　regard　for　posterity　has　induced　me　to　choose　the　study　of　composition；　and；　as　this　life　is　temporary　and　mutable；　it　is　grateful　to　live　in　the　memory　of　future　ages；　and　to　be　immortalized　by　fame；　for　to　toil　after　that　which　produces　envy　in　life；　but　glory　after　death；　is　a　sure　indication　of　an　elevated　mind。　　Poets　and　authors　indeed　aspire　after　immortality；　but　do　not　reject　any　present　advantages　that　may　offer。

I　formerly　completed　with　vain　and　fruitless　labour　the　Topography　of　Ireland　for　its　companion；　the　king　Henry　the　Second；　and　Vaticinal　History；　for　Richard　of　Poitiou；　his　son；　and；　I　wish　I　were　not　compelled　to　add；　his　successor　in　vice；　princes　little　skilled　in　letters；　and　much　engaged　in　business。　　To　you；　illustrious　Stephen；　archbishop　of　Canterbury；　equally　commendable　for　your　learning　and　religion；　I　now　dedicate　the　account　of　our　meritorious　journey　through　the　rugged　provinces　of　Cambria；　written　in　a　scholastic　style；　and　divided　into　two　parts。　　For　as　virtue　loves　itself；　and　detests　what　is　contrary　to　it；　so　I　hope　you　will　consider　whatever　I　may　have　written　in　commendation　of　your　late　venerable　and　eminent　predecessor；　with　no　less　affection　than　if　it　related　to　yourself。　　To　you　also；　when　completed；　I　destine　my　treatise　on　the　Instruction　of　a　Prince；　if；　amidst　your　religious　and　worldly　occupations；　you　can　find　leisure　for　the　perusal　of　it。　For　I　purpose　to　submit　these　and　other　fruits　of　my　diligence　to　be　tasted　by　you　at　your　discretion；　each　in　its　proper　order；　hoping　that；　if　my　larger　undertakings　do　not　excite　your　interest；　my　smaller　works　may　at　least　merit　your　approbation；　conciliate　your　favour；　and　call　forth　my　gratitude　towards　you；　who；　unmindful　of　worldly　affections；　do　not　partially　distribute　your　bounties　to　your　family　and　friends；　but　to　letters　and　merit；　you；　who；　in　the　midst　of　such　great　and　unceasing　contests　between　the　crown　and　the　priesthood；　stand　forth　almost　singly　the　firm　and　faithful　friend　of　the　British　church；　you；　who；　almost　the　only　one　duly　elected；　fulfil　the　scriptural　designation　of　the　episcopal　character。　　It　is　not；　however；　by　bearing　a　cap；　by　placing　a　cushion；　by　shielding　off　the　rain；　or　by　wiping　the　dust；　even　if　there　should　be　none；　in　the　midst　of　a　herd　of　flatterers；　that　I　attempt　to　conciliate　your　favour；　but　by　my　writings。　　To　you；　therefore；　rare；　noble；　and　illustrious　man；　on　whom　nature　and　art　have　showered　down　whatever　becomes　your　supereminent　situation；　I　dedicate　my　works；　but　if　I　fail　in　this　mode　of　conciliating　your　favour；　and　if　your　prayers　and　avocations　should　not　allow　you　sufficient　time　to　read　them；　I　shall　consider　the　honour　of　letters　as　vanished；　and　in　hope　of　its　revival　I　shall　inscribe　my　writings　to　posterity。



SECOND　PREFACE　…　TO　THE　SAME　PRELATE



Since　those　things；　which　are　known　to　have　been　done　through　a　laudable　devotion；　are　not　unworthily　extolled　with　due　praises；　and　since　the　mind；　when　relaxed；　loses　its　energy；　and　the　torpor　of　sloth　enervates　the　understanding；　as　iron　acquires　rust　for　want　of　use；　and　stagnant　waters　become　foul；　lest　my　pen　should　be　injured　by　the　rust　of　idleness；　I　have　thought　good　to　commit　to　writing　the　devout　visitation　which　Baldwin；　archbishop　of　Canterbury；　made　throughout　Wales；　and　to　hand　down；　as　it　were　in　a　mirror；　through　you；　O　illustrious　Stephen；　to　posterity；　the　difficult　places　through　which　we　passed；　the　names　of　springs　and　torrents；　the　witty　sayings；　the　toils　and　incidents　of　the　journey；　the　memorable　events　of　ancient　and　modern　times；　and　the　natural　history　and　description　of　the　country；　lest　my　study　should　perish　through　idleness；　or　the　praise　of　these　things　be　lost　by　silence。




THE　ITINERARY　THROUGH　WALES　…　BOOK　I




CHAPTER　I



Journey　through　Hereford　and　Radnor


In　the　year　1188　from　the　incarnation　of　our　Lord；　Urban　the　Third　｛11｝　being　the　head　of　the　apostolic　see；　Frederick；　emperor　of　Germany　and　king　of　the　Romans；　Isaac；　emperor　of　Constantinople；　Philip；　the　son　of　Louis；　reigning　in　France；　Henry　the　Second　in　England；　William　in　Sicily；　Bela　in　Hungary；　and　Guy　in　Palestine：　in　that　very　year；　when　Saladin；　prince　of　the　Egyptians　and　Damascenes；　by　a　signal　victory　gained　possession　of　the　kingdom　of　Jerusalem；　Baldwin；　archbishop　of　Canterbury；　a　venerable　man；　distinguished　for　his　learning　and　sanctity；　journeying　from　England　for　the　service　of　the　holy　cross；　entered　Wales　near　the　borders　of　Herefordshire。

The　archbishop　proceeded　to　Radnor；　｛12｝　on　Ash　Wednesday　（Caput　Jejunii）；　accompanied　by　Ranulph　de　Glanville；　privy　counsellor　and　justiciary　of　the　whole　kingdom；　and　there　met　Rhys；　｛13｝　son　of　Gruffydd；　prince　of　South　Wales；　and　many　other　noble　personages　of　those　parts；　where　a　sermon　being　preached　by　the　archbishop；　upon　the　subject　of　the　Crusades；　and　explained　to　the　Welsh　by　an　interpreter；　the　author　of　this　Itinerary；　impelled　by　the　urgent　importunity　and　promises　of　the　king；　and　the　persuasions　of　the　archbishop　and　the　justiciary；　arose　the　first；　and　falling　down　at　the　feet　of　the　holy　man；　devoutly　took　the　sign　of　the　cross。　　His　example　was　instantly　followed　by　Peter；　bishop　of　St。　David's；　｛14｝　a　monk　of　the　abbey　of　Cluny；　and　then　by　Eineon；　son　of　Eineon　Clyd；　｛15｝　prince　of　Elvenia；　and　many　other　persons。　　Eineon　rising　up；　said　to　Rhys；　whose　daughter　he　had　married；　〃My　father　and　lord！　with　your　permission　I　hasten　to　revenge　the　injury　offered　to　the　great　father　of　all。〃　　Rhys　himself　was　so　fully　determined　upon　the　holy　peregrination；　as　soon　as　the　archbishop　should　enter　his　territories　on　his　return；　that　for　nearly　fifteen　days　he　was　employed　with　great　solicitude　in　making　the　necessary　preparations　for　so　distant　a　journey；　till　his　wife；　and；　according　to　the　common　vicious　licence　of　the　country；　his　relation　in　the　fourth　degree；　Guendolena；　（Gwenllian）；　daughter　of　Madoc；　prince　of　Powys；　by　female　artifices　diverted　him　wholly　from　his　noble　purpose；　since；　as　Solomon　says；　〃A　man's　heart　deviseth　his　way；　but　the　Lord　directeth　his　steps。〃　　As　Rhys　before　his　departure　was　conversing　with　his　friends　concerning　the　things　he　had　heard；　a　distinguished　young　man　of　his　family；　by　name　Gruffydd；　and　who　afterwards　took　the　cross；　is　said　thus　to　have　answered：　　〃What　man　of　spirit　can　refuse　to　undertake　this　journey；　since；　amongst　all　imaginable　inconveniences；　nothing　worse　can　happen　to　any　one　than　to　return。〃

On　the　arrival　of　Rhys　in　his　own　territory；　certain　canons　of　Saint　David's；　through　a　zeal　for　their　church；　having　previously　secured　the　interest　of　some　of　the　prince's　courtiers；　waited　on　Rhys；　and　endeavoured　by　every　possible　suggestion　to　induce　him　not　to　permit　the　archbishop　to　proceed　into　the　interior　parts　of　Wales；　and　particularly　to　the　metropolitan　see　of　Saint　David's　（a　thing　hitherto　unheard　of）；　at　the　same　time　asserting　that　if　he　should　continue　his　intended　journey；　the　church　would　in　future　experience　great　prejudice；　and　with　difficulty　would　recover　its　ancient　dignity　and　honour。　　Although　these　pleas　were　most　strenuously　urged；　the　natural　kindness　and　civility　of　the　prince　would　not　suffer　them　to　prevail；　lest　by　prohibiting　the　archbishop's　progress；　he　might　appear　to　wound　his　feelings。

Early　on　the　following　morning；　after　the　celebration　of　mass；　and　the　return　of　Ranulph　de　Glanville　to　England；　we　came　to　Cruker　Castle；　｛16｝　two　miles　distant　from　Radnor；　where　a　strong　and　valiant　youth　named　Hector；　conversing　with　the　archbishop　about　taking　the　cross；　said；　〃If　I　had　the　means　of　getting　provisions　for　one　day；　and　of　keeping　fast　on　the　next；　I　would　comply　with　your　advice；〃　on　the　following　day；　however；　he　took　the　cross。　　The　same　evening；　Malgo；　son　of　Cadwallon；　prince　of　Melenia；　after　a　short　but　efficacious　exhortation　from　the　archbishop；　and　not　without　the　tears　and　lamentations　of　his　friends；　was　marked　with　the　sign　of　the　cross。

But　here　it　is　proper　to　mention　what　happened　during　the　reign　of　king　Henry　the　First　to　the　lord　of　the　castle　of　Radnor；　in　the　adjoining　territory　of　Builth；　｛17｝　who　had　entered　the　church　of　Saint　Av