第 86 节
作者:随便看看      更新:2021-02-25 00:47      字数:9321
  her。  I told her that she was quite right in her supposition。
  〃Ah;〃 said she; 〃you should have gone straight forward。〃
  〃If I had gone straight forward;〃 said I; 〃I must have gone over a
  hedge; at the corner of a field which separated two roads; instead
  of bidding me go straight forward you should have told me to follow
  the left…hand road。〃
  〃Well;〃 said she; 〃be sure you keep straight forward now。〃
  I asked her who the man was standing near her。
  〃It is my husband;〃 said she。
  〃Has he much English?〃 said I。
  〃None at all;〃 said she; 〃for his mother was not English; like
  mine。〃  I bade her good…night and went forward。  Presently I came
  to a meeting of roads; and to go straight forward it was necessary
  to pass through a quagmire; remembering; however; the words of my
  friend the beldame I went straight forward; though in so doing I
  was sloughed up to the knees。  In a little time I came to rapid
  descent; and at the bottom of it to a bridge。  It was now very
  dark; only the corner of the moon was casting a faint light。  After
  crossing the bridge I had one or two ascents and descents。  At last
  I saw lights before me which proved to be those of Llan Rhyadr。  I
  soon found myself in a dirty little street; and; inquiring for the
  inn; was kindly shown by a man to one which he said was the best;
  and which was called the Wynstay Arms。
  CHAPTER LXV
  Inn at Llan Rhyadr … A low Englishman … Enquiries … The Cook … A
  Precious Couple。
  THE inn seemed very large; but did not look very cheerful。  No
  other guest than myself seemed to be in it; except in the kitchen;
  where I heard a fellow talking English and occasionally yelling an
  English song:  the master and the mistress of the house were civil;
  and lighted me a fire in what was called the Commercial Room; and
  putting plenty of coals in the grate soon made the apartment warm
  and comfortable。  I ordered dinner or rather supper; which in about
  half…an…hour was brought in by the woman。  The supper whether good
  or bad I despatched with the appetite of one who had walked twenty
  miles over hill and dale。
  Occasionally I heard a dreadful noise in the kitchen; and the woman
  told me that the fellow there was making himself exceedingly
  disagreeable; chiefly she believed because she had refused to let
  him sleep in the house。  She said that he was a low fellow that
  went about the country with fish; and that he was the more ready to
  insult her as the master of the house was now gone out。  I asked if
  he was an Englishman; 〃Yes;〃 said she; 〃a low Englishman。〃
  〃Then he must be low indeed;〃 said I。  〃A low Englishman is the
  lowest of the low。〃  After a little time I heard no more noise; and
  was told that the fellow was gone away。  I had a little whisky and
  water; and then went to bed; sleeping in a tolerable chamber but
  rather cold。  There was much rain during the night and also wind;
  windows rattled; and I occasionally heard the noise of falling
  tiles。
  I arose about eight。  Notwithstanding the night had been so
  tempestuous the morning was sunshiny and beautiful。  Having ordered
  breakfast I walked out in order to look at the town。  Llan Rhyadr
  is a small place; having nothing remarkable in it save an ancient
  church and a strange little antique market…house; standing on
  pillars。  It is situated at the western end of an extensive valley
  and at the entrance of a glen。  A brook or rivulet runs through it;
  which comes down the glen from the celebrated cataract; which is
  about four miles distant to the west。  Two lofty mountains form the
  entrance of the glen; and tower above the town; one on the south
  and the other on the north。  Their names; if they have any; I did
  not learn。
  After strolling about the little place for about a quarter of an
  hour; staring at the things and the people; and being stared at by
  the latter; I returned to my inn; a structure built in the modern
  Gothic style; and which stands nearly opposite to the churchyard。
  Whilst breakfasting I asked the landlady; who was bustling about
  the room; whether she had ever heard of Owen Glendower。
  〃In truth; sir; I have。  He was a great gentleman who lived a long
  time ago; and; and … 〃
  〃Gave the English a great deal of trouble;〃 said I。
  〃Just so; sir; at least I daresay it is so; as you say it。〃
  〃And do you know where he lived?〃
  〃I do not; sir; I suppose a great way off; somewhere in the south。〃
  〃Do you mean South Wales?〃
  〃In truth; sir; I do。〃
  〃There you are mistaken;〃 said I; 〃and also in supposing he lived a
  great way off。  He lived in North Wales; and not far from this
  place。〃
  〃In truth; sir; you know more about him than I。〃
  〃Did you ever hear of a place called Sycharth?
  〃Sycharth! Sycharth!  I never did; sir。〃
  〃It is the place where Glendower lived; and it is not far off。  I
  want to go there; but do not know the way。〃
  〃Sycharth! Sycharth!〃 said the landlady musingly:  〃I wonder if it
  is the place we call Sychnant。〃
  〃Is there such a place?〃
  〃Yes; sure; about six miles from here; near Langedwin。〃
  〃What kind of place is it?〃
  〃In truth; sir; I do not know; for I was never there。  My cook;
  however; in the kitchen; knows all about it; for she comes from
  there。〃
  〃Can I see her?〃
  〃Yes; sure; I will go at once and fetch her。〃
  She then left the room and presently returned with the cook; a
  short; thick girl with blue staring eyes。
  〃Here she is; sir;〃 said the landlady; 〃but she has no English。〃
  〃All the better;〃 said I。  〃So you come from a place called
  Sychnant?〃 said I to the cook in Welsh。
  〃In truth; sir; I do;〃 said the cook。
  〃Did you ever hear of a gwr boneddig called Owen Glendower?〃
  〃Often; sir; often; he lived in our place。〃
  〃He lived in a place called Sycharth?〃 said I。
  〃Well; sir; and we of the place call it Sycharth as often as
  Sychnant; nay; oftener。〃
  〃Is his house standing?〃
  〃It is not; but the hill on which it stood is still standing。〃
  〃Is it a high hill?〃
  〃It is not; it is a small; light hill。〃
  〃A light hill!〃 said I to myself。  〃Old Iolo Goch; Owen Glendower's
  bard; said the chieftain dwelt in a house on a light hill。
  〃'There dwells the chief we all extol
  In timber house on lightsome knoll。'
  〃Is there a little river near it;〃 said I to the cook; 〃a ffrwd?〃
  〃There is; it runs just under the hill。〃
  〃Is there a mill upon the ffrwd?〃
  〃There is not; that is; now … but there was in the old time; a
  factory of woollen stands now where the mill once stood。〃
  〃'A mill a rushing brook upon
  And pigeon tower fram'd of stone。'
  〃So says Iolo Goch;〃 said I to myself; 〃in his description of
  Sycharth; I am on the right road。〃
  I asked the cook to whom the property of Sycharth belonged and was
  told of course to Sir Watkin; who appears to be the Marquis of
  Denbighshire。  After a few more questions I thanked her and told
  her she might go。  I then finished my breakfast; paid my bill; and
  after telling the landlady that I should return at night; started
  for Llangedwin and Sycharth。
  A broad and excellent road led along the valley in the direction in
  which I was proceeding。
  The valley was beautiful and dotted with various farm…houses; and
  the land appeared to be in as high a state of cultivation as the
  soil of my own Norfolk; that county so deservedly celebrated for
  its agriculture。  The eastern side is bounded by lofty hills; and
  towards the north the vale is crossed by three rugged elevations;
  the middlemost of which; called; as an old man told me; Bryn Dinas;
  terminates to the west in an exceedingly high and picturesque crag。
  After an hour's walking I overtook two people; a man and a woman
  laden with baskets which hung around them on every side。  The man
  was a young fellow of about eight…and…twenty; with a round face;
  fair flaxen hair; and rings in his ears; the female was a blooming
  buxom lass of about eighteen。  After giving them the sele of the
  day I asked them if they were English。
  〃Aye; aye; master;〃 said the man; 〃we are English。〃
  〃Where do you come from?〃 said I。
  〃From Wrexham;〃 said the man。
  〃I thought Wrexham was in Wales;〃 said
  〃If it be;〃 said the man; 〃the people are not Welsh; a man is not a
  horse because he happens to be born in a stable。〃
  〃Is that young woman your wife?〃 said I。
  〃Yes;〃 said he; 〃after a fashion〃 … and then he leered at the lass;
  and she leered at him。
  〃Do you attend any place of worship?〃 said I。
  〃A great many; master!〃
  〃What place do you chiefly attend?〃 said I。
  〃The Chequers; master!〃
  〃Do they preach the best sermons there?〃 said I。
  〃No; master! but they sell the best ale there。〃
  〃Do you worship ale?〃 said I。
  〃Yes; master; I worships ale。〃
  〃Anything else?〃 said I。
  〃Yes; master!  I and my mort worships something besides good ale;
  don't we; Sue?〃 and then he leered at the mort; who leered at him;
  and both made odd motions backwards and forwards; causing the
  baskets which hung round them to creak and rustle; and uttering
  loud shouts of laughter; which roused the echoes of the
  neighbouring hills。
  〃Genuine descendants; no doubt;〃 said I to myself as