第 20 节
作者:随便看看      更新:2021-02-25 00:46      字数:9322
  blame what was done at that time; under the name of Rebecca。  You
  have no idea how the poor Welsh were oppressed by those gates; aye;
  and the rich too。  The little people and farmers could not carry
  their produce to market owing to the exactions at the gates; which
  devoured all the profit and sometimes more。  So that the markets
  were not half supplied; and people with money could frequently not
  get what they wanted。  Complaints were made to government; which
  not being attended to; Rebecca and her byddinion made their
  appearance at night; and broke the gates to pieces with sledge…
  hammers; and everybody said it was gallant work; everybody save the
  keepers of the gates and the proprietors。  Not only the poor but
  the rich; said so。  Aye; and I have heard that many a fine young
  gentleman had a hand in the work; and went about at night at the
  head of a band dressed as Rebecca。  Well; sir; those breakings were
  acts of violence; I don't deny; but they did good; for the system
  is altered; such impositions are no longer practised at gates as
  were before the time of Rebecca。〃
  〃Were any people ever taken up and punished for those nocturnal
  breakings?〃 said I。
  〃No; sir; and I have heard say that nobody's being taken up was a
  proof that the rich approved of the work and had a hand in it。〃
  Night had come on by the time we reached the foot of the huge hills
  we had crossed in the morning。  We toiled up the ascent; and after
  crossing the level ground on the top; plunged down the bwlch
  between walking and running; occasionally stumbling; for we were
  nearly in complete darkness; and the bwlch was steep and stony。  We
  more than once passed people who gave us the n's da; the hissing
  night salutation of the Welsh。  At length I saw the Abbey looming
  amidst the darkness; and John Jones said that; we were just above
  the fountain。  We descended; and putting my head down I drank
  greedily of the dwr santaidd; my guide following my example。  We
  then proceeded on our way; and in about half…an…hour reached
  Llangollen。  I took John Jones home with me。  We had a cheerful cup
  of tea。  Henrietta played on the guitar; and sang a Spanish song;
  to the great delight of John Jones; who at about ten o'clock
  departed contented and happy to his own dwelling。
  CHAPTER XVII
  John Jones and his Bundle … A Good Lady … The Irishman's Dingle …
  Ab Gwilym and the Mist … The Kitchen … The Two Individuals … The
  Horse…Dealer … I can manage him … The Mist Again。
  THE following day was gloomy。  In the evening John Jones made his
  appearance with a bundle under his arm; and an umbrella in his
  hand。
  〃Sir;〃 said he; 〃I am going across the mountain with it piece of
  weaving work; for the man on the other side; who employs me。
  Perhaps you would like to go with me; as you are fond of walking。〃
  〃I suppose;〃 said I; 〃you wish to have my company for fear of
  meeting Gwyddelians on the hill。〃
  John smiled。
  〃Well; sir;〃 said he; 〃if I do meet them I would sooner be with
  company than without。  But I dare venture by myself; trusting in
  the Man on High; and perhaps I do wrong to ask you to go; as you
  must be tired with your walk of yesterday。〃
  〃Hardly more than yourself;〃 said I。  〃Come; I shall be glad to go。
  What I said about the Gwyddelians was only in jest。〃
  As we were about to depart John said:
  〃It does not rain at present; sir; but I think it will。  You had
  better take an umbrella。〃
  I did so; and away we went。  We passed over the bridge; and turning
  to the right went by the back of the town through a field。  As we
  passed by the Plas Newydd John Jones said:
  〃No one lives there now; sir; all dark and dreary; very different
  from the state of things when the ladies lived there … all gay then
  and cheerful。  I remember the ladies; sir; particularly the last;
  who lived by herself after her companion died。  She was a good
  lady; and very kind to the poor; when they came to her gate they
  were never sent away without something to cheer them。  She was a
  grand lady too … kept grand company; and used to be drawn about in
  a coach by four horses。  But she too is gone; and the house is cold
  and empty; no fire in it; sir; no furniture。  There was an auction
  after her death; and a grand auction it was and lasted four days。
  Oh; what a throng of people there was; some of whom came from a
  great distance to buy the curious things; of which there were
  plenty。〃
  We passed over a bridge; which crosses a torrent; which descends
  from the mountain on the south side of Llangollen; which bridge
  John Jones told me was called the bridge of the Melin Bac; or mill
  of the nook; from a mill of that name close by。  Continuing our way
  we came to a glen; down which the torrent comes which passes under
  the bridge。  There was little water in the bed of the torrent; and
  we crossed easily enough by stepping…stones。  I looked up the glen;
  a wild place enough; its sides overgrown with trees。  Dreary and
  dismal it looked in the gloom of the closing evening。  John Jones
  said that there was no regular path up it; and that one could only
  get along by jumping from stone to stone; at the hazard of breaking
  one's legs。  Having passed over the bed of the torrent; we came to
  a path; which led up the mountain。  The path was very steep and
  stony; the glen with its trees and darkness on our right。  We
  proceeded some way。  At length John Jones pointed to a hollow lane
  on our right; seemingly leading into the glen。
  〃That place; sir;〃 said he; 〃is called Pant y Gwyddel … the
  Irishman's dingle; and sometimes Pant Paddy; from the Irish being
  fond of taking up their quarters there。  It was just here; at the
  entrance of the pant; that the tribe were encamped; when I passed
  two months ago at night; in returning from the other side of the
  hill with ten shillings in my pocket; which I had been paid for a
  piece of my work; which I had carried over the mountain to the very
  place where I am now carrying this。  I shall never forget the
  fright I was in; both on account of my life; and my ten shillings。
  I ran down what remained of the hill as fast as I could; not
  minding the stones。  Should I meet a tribe now on my return I shall
  not run; you will be with me; and I shall not fear for my life nor
  for my money; which will be now more than ten shillings; provided
  the man over the hills pays me; as I have no doubt he will。〃
  As we ascended higher we gradually diverged from the glen; though
  we did not lose sight of it till we reached the top of the
  mountain。  The top was nearly level。  On our right were a few
  fields enclosed with stone walls。  On our left was an open space
  where whin; furze and heath were growing。  We passed over the
  summit; and began to descend by a tolerably good; though steep
  road。  But for the darkness of evening and a drizzling mist; which;
  for some time past; had been coming on; we should have enjoyed a
  glorious prospect down into the valley; or perhaps I should say
  that I should have enjoyed a glorious prospect; for John Jones;
  like a true mountaineer; cared not a brass farthing for prospects。
  Even as it was; noble glimpses of wood and rock were occasionally
  to be obtained。  The mist soon wetted us to the skin
  notwithstanding that we put up our umbrellas。  It was a regular
  Welsh mist; a niwl; like that in which the great poet Ab Gwilym
  lost his way; whilst trying to keep an assignation with his beloved
  Morfydd; and which he abuses in the following manner:…
  〃O ho! thou villain mist; O ho!
  What plea hast thou to plague me so?
  I scarcely know a scurril name;
  But dearly thou deserv'st the same;
  Thou exhalation from the deep
  Unknown; where ugly spirits keep!
  Thou smoke from hellish stews uphurl'd
  To mock and mortify the world!
  Thou spider…web of giant race;
  Spun out and spread through airy space!
  Avaunt; thou filthy; clammy thing;
  Of sorry rain the source and spring!
  Moist blanket dripping misery down;
  Loathed alike by land and town!
  Thou watery monster; wan to see;
  Intruding 'twixt the sun and me;
  To rob me of my blessed right;
  To turn my day to dismal night。
  Parent of thieves and patron best;
  They brave pursuit within thy breast!
  Mostly from thee its merciless snow
  Grim January doth glean; I trow。
  Pass off with speed; thou prowler pale;
  Holding along o'er hill and dale;
  Spilling a noxious spittle round;
  Spoiling the fairies' sporting ground!
  Move off to hell; mysterious haze;
  Wherein deceitful meteors blaze;
  Thou wild of vapour; vast; o'ergrown;
  Huge as the ocean of unknown。〃
  As we descended; the path became more steep; it was particularly so
  at a part where it was overshadowed with trees on both sides。
  Here; finding walking very uncomfortable; my knees suffering much;
  I determined to run。  So shouting to John Jones; 〃Nis gallav
  gerdded rhaid rhedeg;〃 I set off running down the pass。  My
  companion followed close behind; and luckily meeting no mischance;
  we presently found ourselves on level ground; amongst a collection
  of small houses。  On our turning a corner a church appeared on our
  left hand on the slope of the hill。  In the churchyard; and c