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