第 7 节
作者:指环王      更新:2024-01-24 16:00      字数:9322
  raised upon the road。
  The words of the phantom Gypsy were ominous。  Gypsy Will was
  eventually executed for a murder committed in his early youth; in
  company with two English labourers; one of whom confessed the fact
  on his death…bed。  He was the head of the clan Young; which; with
  the clan Smith; still haunts two of the eastern counties。
  SOME FURTHER PARTICULARS RESPECTING THE ENGLISH GYPSIES
  It is difficult to say at what period the Gypsies or Rommany made
  their first appearance in England。  They had become; however; such
  a nuisance in the time of Henry the Eighth; Philip and Mary; and
  Elizabeth; that Gypsyism was denounced by various royal statutes;
  and; if persisted in; was to be punished as felony without benefit
  of clergy; it is probable; however; that they had overrun England
  long before the period of the earliest of these monarchs。  The
  Gypsies penetrate into all countries; save poor ones; and it is
  hardly to be supposed that a few leagues of intervening salt water
  would have kept a race so enterprising any considerable length of
  time; after their arrival on the continent of Europe; from
  obtaining a footing in the fairest and richest country of the West。
  It is easy enough to conceive the manner in which the Gypsies lived
  in England for a long time subsequent to their arrival:  doubtless
  in a half…savage state; wandering about from place to place;
  encamping on the uninhabited spots; of which there were then so
  many in England; feared and hated by the population; who looked
  upon them as thieves and foreign sorcerers; occasionally committing
  acts of brigandage; but depending chiefly for subsistence on the
  practice of the 'arts of Egypt;' in which cunning and dexterity
  were far more necessary than courage or strength of hand。
  It would appear that they were always divided into clans or tribes;
  each bearing a particular name; and to which a particular district
  more especially belonged; though occasionally they would exchange
  districts for a period; and; incited by their characteristic love
  of wandering; would travel far and wide。  Of these families each
  had a sher…engro; or head man; but that they were ever united under
  one Rommany Krallis; or Gypsy King; as some people have insisted;
  there is not the slightest ground for supposing。
  It is possible that many of the original Gypsy tribes are no longer
  in existence:  disease or the law may have made sad havoc among
  them; and the few survivors have incorporated themselves with other
  families; whose name they have adopted。  Two or three instances of
  this description have occurred within the sphere of my own
  knowledge:  the heads of small families have been cut off; and the
  subordinate members; too young and inexperienced to continue
  Gypsying as independent wanderers; have been adopted by other
  tribes。
  The principal Gypsy tribes at present in existence are the
  Stanleys; whose grand haunt is the New Forest; the Lovells; who are
  fond of London and its vicinity; the Coopers; who call Windsor
  Castle their home; the Hernes; to whom the north country; more
  especially Yorkshire; belongeth; and lastly; my brethren; the
  Smiths; … to whom East Anglia appears to have been allotted from
  the beginning。
  All these families have Gypsy names; which seem; however; to be
  little more than attempts at translation of the English ones:… thus
  the Stanleys are called Bar…engres (11); which means stony…fellows;
  or stony…hearts; the Coopers; Wardo…engres; or wheelwrights; the
  Lovells; Camo…mescres; or amorous fellows the Hernes (German
  Haaren) Balors; hairs; or hairy men; while the Smiths are called
  Petul…engres; signifying horseshoe fellows; or blacksmiths。
  It is not very easy to determine how the Gypsies became possessed
  of some of these names:  the reader; however; will have observed
  that two of them; Stanley and Lovell; are the names of two highly
  aristocratic English families; the Gypsies who bear them perhaps
  adopted them from having; at their first arrival; established
  themselves on the estates of those great people; or it is possible
  that they translated their original Gypsy appellations by these
  names; which they deemed synonymous。  Much the same may be said
  with respect to Herne; an ancient English name; they probably
  sometimes officiated as coopers or wheelwrights; whence the
  cognomination。  Of the term Petul…engro; or Smith; however; I wish
  to say something in particular。
  There is every reason for believing that this last is a genuine
  Gypsy name; brought with them from the country from which they
  originally came; it is compounded of two words; signifying; as has
  been already observed; horseshoe fellows; or people whose trade is
  to manufacture horseshoes; a trade which the Gypsies ply in various
  parts of the world; … for example; in Russia and Hungary; and more
  particularly about Granada in Spain; as will subsequently be shown。
  True it is; that at present there are none amongst the English
  Gypsies who manufacture horseshoes; all the men; however; are
  tinkers more or less; and the word Petul…engro is applied to the
  tinker also; though the proper meaning of it is undoubtedly what I
  have already stated above。  In other dialects of the Gypsy tongue;
  this cognomen exists; though not exactly with the same
  signification; for example; in the Hungarian dialect; PINDORO;
  which is evidently a modification of Petul…engro; is applied to a
  Gypsy in general; whilst in Spanish Pepindorio is the Gypsy word
  for Antonio。  In some parts of Northern Asia; the Gypsies call
  themselves Wattul (12); which seems to be one and the same as
  Petul。
  Besides the above…named Gypsy clans; there are other smaller ones;
  some of which do not comprise more than a dozen individuals;
  children included。  For example; the Bosviles; the Browns; the
  Chilcotts; the Grays; Lees; Taylors; and Whites; of these the
  principal is the Bosvile tribe。
  After the days of the great persecution in England against the
  Gypsies; there can be little doubt that they lived a right merry
  and tranquil life; wandering about and pitching their tents
  wherever inclination led them:  indeed; I can scarcely conceive any
  human condition more enviable than Gypsy life must have been in
  England during the latter part of the seventeenth; and the whole of
  the eighteenth century; which were likewise the happy days for
  Englishmen in general; there was peace and plenty in the land; a
  contented population; and everything went well。  Yes; those were
  brave times for the Rommany chals; to which the old people often
  revert with a sigh:  the poor Gypsies; say they; were then allowed
  to SOVE ABRI (sleep abroad) where they listed; to heat their
  kettles at the foot of the oaks; and no people grudged the poor
  persons one night's use of a meadow to feed their cattle in。
  TUGNIS AMANDE; our heart is heavy; brother; … there is no longer
  Gypsy law in the land; … our people have become negligent; … they
  are but half Rommany; … they are divided and care for nothing; …
  they do not even fear Pazorrhus; brother。
  Much the same complaints are at present made by the Spanish
  Gypsies。  Gypsyism is certainly on the decline in both countries。
  In England; a superabundant population; and; of late; a very
  vigilant police; have done much to modify Gypsy life; whilst in
  Spain; causes widely different have produced a still greater
  change; as will be seen further on。
  Gypsy law does not flourish at present in England; and still less
  in Spain; nor does Gypsyism。  I need not explain here what Gypsyism
  is; but the reader may be excused for asking what is Gypsy law。
  Gypsy law divides itself into the three following heads or
  precepts:…
  Separate not from THE HUSBANDS。
  Be faithful to THE HUSBANDS。
  Pay your debts to THE HUSBANDS。
  By the first section the Rom or Gypsy is enjoined to live with his
  brethren; the husbands; and not with the gorgios (13) or gentiles;
  he is to live in a tent; as is befitting a Rom and a wanderer; and
  not in a house; which ties him to one spot; in a word; he is in
  every respect to conform to the ways of his own people; and to
  eschew those of gorgios; with whom he is not to mix; save to tell
  them HOQUEPENES (lies); and to chore them。
  The second section; in which fidelity is enjoined; was more
  particularly intended for the women:  be faithful to the ROMS; ye
  JUWAS; and take not up with the gorgios; whether they be RAIOR or
  BAUOR (gentlemen or fellows)。  This was a very important
  inju