第 55 节
作者:随便看看      更新:2021-02-25 00:46      字数:9322
  in those cognate dialects of the Welsh … the Cornish; Armoric;
  Highland Gaelic and Irish。  He was likewise well acquainted with
  Hebrew; Greek and Latin; had studied Anglo…Saxon with some success;
  and was a writer of bold and vigorous English。  He was besides a
  good general antiquary; and for knowledge of ancient Welsh customs;
  traditions; and superstitions; had no equal。  Yet all has not been
  said which can be uttered in his praise; he had qualities of mind
  which entitled him to higher esteem than any accomplishment
  connected with intellect or skill。  Amongst these were his noble
  generosity and sacrifice of self for the benefit of others。  Weeks
  and months he was in the habit of devoting to the superintendence
  of the affairs of the widow and fatherless:  one of his principal
  delights was to assist merit; to bring it before the world and to
  procure for it its proper estimation:  it was he who first
  discovered the tuneful genius of blind Parry; it was he who first
  put the harp into his hand; it was he who first gave him scientific
  instruction; it was he who cheered him with encouragement and
  assisted him with gold。  It was he who instructed the celebrated
  Evan Evans in the ancient language of Wales; enabling that talented
  but eccentric individual to read the pages of the Red Book of
  Hergest as easily as those of the Welsh Bible; it was he who
  corrected his verses with matchless skill; refining and polishing
  them till they became well worthy of being read by posterity; it
  was he who gave him advice; which; had it been followed; would have
  made the Prydydd Hir; as he called himself; one of the most
  illustrious Welshmen of the last century; and it was he who first
  told his countrymen that there was a youth of Anglesey whose
  genius; if properly encouraged; promised fair to rival that of
  Milton:  one of the most eloquent letters ever written is one by
  him; in which he descants upon the beauties of certain poems of
  Gronwy Owen; the latent genius of whose early boyhood he had
  observed; whom he had clothed; educated and assisted up to the
  period when he was ordained a minister of the Church; and whom he
  finally rescued from a state bordering on starvation in London;
  procuring for him an honourable appointment in the New World。
  Immortality to Lewis Morris!  But immortality he has won; even as
  his illustrious pupil has said; who in his elegy upon his
  benefactor; written in America; in the four…and…twenty measures; at
  a time when Gronwy had not heard the Welsh language spoken for more
  than twenty years; has words to the following effect:…
  〃As long as Bardic lore shall last; science and learning be
  cherished; the language and blood of the Britons undefiled; song be
  heard on Parnassus; heaven and earth be in existence; foam be on
  the surge; and water in the river; the name of Lewis of Mon shall
  be held in grateful remembrance。〃
  CHAPTER XLI
  The Pier … Irish Reapers … Wild Irish Face … Father Toban … The
  Herd of Swine … Latin Blessing。
  THE day was as hot as the preceding one。  I walked slowly towards
  the west; and presently found myself upon a pier; or breakwater; at
  the mouth of the harbour。  A large steamer lay at a little distance
  within the pier。  There were fishing…boats on both sides; the
  greater number on the outer side; which lies towards the hill of
  Holy Head。  On the shady side of the breakwater under the wall were
  two or three dozen of Irish reapers; some were lying asleep; others
  in parties of two or three were seated with their backs against the
  wall; and were talking Irish; these last all appeared to be well…
  made middle…sized young fellows; with rather a ruffianly look; they
  stared at me as I passed。  The whole party had shillealahs either
  in their hands or by their sides。  I went to the extremity of the
  pier; where was a little lighthouse; and then turned back。  As I
  again drew near the Irish; I heard a hubbub and observed a great
  commotion amongst them。  All; whether those whom I had seen
  sitting; or those whom I had seen reclining; had got; or were
  getting on their legs。  As I passed them they were all standing up;
  and their eyes were fixed upon me with a strange kind of
  expression; partly of wonder; methought; partly of respect。  〃Yes;
  'tis he; sure enough;〃 I heard one whisper。  On I went; and at
  about thirty yards from the last I stopped; turned round and leaned
  against the wall。  All the Irish were looking at me … presently
  they formed into knots and began to discourse very eagerly in
  Irish; though in an undertone。  At length I observed a fellow going
  from one knot to the other; exchanging a few words with each。
  After he had held communication with all he nodded his head; and
  came towards me with a quick step; the rest stood silent and
  motionless with their eyes turned in the direction in which I was;
  and in which he was advancing。  He stopped within a yard of me and
  took off his hat。  He was an athletic fellow of about twenty…eight;
  dressed in brown frieze。  His features were swarthy; and his eyes
  black; in every lineament of his countenance was a jumble of
  savagery and roguishness。  I never saw a more genuine wild Irish
  face … there he stood looking at me full in the face; his hat in
  one hand and his shillealah in the other。
  〃Well; what do you want?〃 said I; after we had stared at each other
  about half a minute。
  〃Sure; I'm just come on the part of the boys and myself to beg a
  bit of a favour of your reverence。〃
  〃Reverence;〃 said I; 〃what do you mean by styling me reverence?〃
  〃Och sure; because to be styled your reverence is the right of your
  reverence。〃
  〃Pray what do you take me for?〃
  〃Och sure; we knows your reverence very well。〃
  〃Well; who am I?〃
  〃Och; why Father Toban to be sure。〃
  〃And who knows me to be Father Toban?〃
  〃Och; a boy here knows your reverence to be Father Toban。〃
  〃Where is that boy?〃
  〃Here he stands; your reverence。〃
  〃Are you that boy?〃
  〃I am; your reverence。〃
  〃And you told the rest that I was Father Toban?〃
  〃I did; your reverence。〃
  〃And you know me to be Father Toban?〃
  〃I do; your reverence。〃
  〃How do you know me to be Father Toban?〃
  〃Och; why because many's the good time that I have heard your
  reverence; Father Toban; say mass。〃
  〃And what is it you want me to do?〃
  〃Why; see here; your reverence; we are going to embark in the dirty
  steamer yonder for ould Ireland; which starts as soon as the tide
  serves; and we want your reverence to bless us before we goes。〃
  〃You want me to bless you?〃
  〃We do; your reverence; we want you to spit out a little bit of a
  blessing upon us before we goes on board。〃
  〃And what good would my blessing do you?〃
  〃All kinds of good; your reverence; it would prevent the dirty
  steamer from catching fire; your reverence; or from going down;
  your reverence; or from running against the blackguard Hill of
  Howth in the mist; provided there should be one。〃
  〃And suppose I were to tell you that I am not Father Toban?〃
  〃Och; your reverence; will never think of doing that。〃
  〃Would you believe me if I did?〃
  〃We would not; your reverence。〃
  〃If I were to swear that I am not Father Toban?〃
  〃We would not; your reverence。〃
  〃On the evangiles?〃
  〃We would not; your reverence。〃
  〃On the Cross?〃
  〃We would not; your reverence。〃
  〃And suppose I were to refuse to give you a blessing?〃
  〃Och; your reverence will never refuse to bless the poor boys。〃
  〃But suppose I were to refuse?〃
  〃Why; in such a case; which by…the…bye is altogether impossible; we
  should just make bould to give your reverence a good big bating。〃
  〃You would break my head?〃
  〃We would; your reverence。〃
  〃Kill me?〃
  〃We would; your reverence。〃
  〃You would really put me to death?〃
  〃We would not; your reverence。〃
  〃And what's the difference between killing and putting to death?〃
  〃Och; sure there's all the difference in the world。  Killing manes
  only a good big bating; such as every Irishman is used to; and
  which your reverence would get over long before matins; whereas
  putting your reverence to death would prevent your reverence from
  saying mass for ever and a day。〃
  〃And you are determined on having a blessing?〃
  〃We are; your reverence。〃
  〃By hook or by crook?〃
  〃By crook or by hook; your reverence。〃
  〃Before I bless you; will you answer me a question or two?〃
  〃I will; your reverence。〃
  〃Are you not a set of great big blackguards?〃
  〃We are; your reverence。〃
  〃Without one good quality?〃
  〃We are; your reverence。〃
  〃Would it not be quite right to saddle and bridle you all; and ride
  you violently down Holyhead or the Giant's Causeway into the
  waters; causing you to perish there; like the herd of swine of
  old?〃
  〃It would; your reverence。〃
  〃And knowing and confessing all this; you have the cheek to come
  and ask me for a blessing?〃
  〃We have; your reverence。〃
  〃Well; how shall I give the blessing?〃
  〃Och; sure your reverence knows very well how to give it。〃
  〃Shall I give it in Irish?〃
  〃Och; no; your reverence … a blessing in Irish is no blessing at
  all。〃
  〃In English?〃