第 97 节
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me。 Mallwyd is to the south of Dinas … the way to it is by a
romantic gorge down which flows the Royal Dyfi。 As I proceeded
along this gorge the moon rising above Moel Vrith illumined my
path。 In about half…an…hour I found myself before the inn at
Mallwyd。
CHAPTER LXXV
Inn at Mallwyd … A Dialogue … The Cumro。
I ENTERED the inn; and seeing a comely…looking damsel at the bar; I
told her that I was in need of supper and a bed。 She conducted me
into a neat sanded parlour; where a good fire was blazing; and
asked me what I would have for supper。 〃Whatever you can most
readily provide;〃 said I; 〃I am not particular。〃 The maid retired;
and taking off my hat; and disencumbering myself of my satchel; I
sat down before the fire and fell into a doze; in which I dreamed
of some of the wild scenes through which I had lately passed。
I dozed and dozed till I was roused by the maid touching me on the
shoulder and telling me that supper was ready。 I got up and
perceived that during my doze she had laid the cloth and put supper
upon the table。 It consisted of bacon and eggs。 During supper I
had some conversation with the maid。
MYSELF。 … Are you a native of this place?
MAID。 … I am not; sir; I come from Dinas。
MYSELF。 … Are your parents alive?
MAID。 … My mother is alive; sir; but my father is dead。
MYSELF。 … Where does your mother live?
MAID。 … At Dinas; sir。
MYSELF。 … How does she support herself?
MAID。 … By letting lodgings to miners; sir。
MYSELF。 … Are the miners quiet lodgers?
MAID。 … Not always; sir; sometimes they get up at night and fight
with each other。
MYSELF。 … What does your mother do on those occasions?
MAID。 … She draws the quilt over her head; and says her prayers;
sir。
MYSELF。 … Why doesn't she get up and part them?
MAID。 … Lest she should get a punch or a thwack for her trouble;
sir。
MYSELF。 … Of what religion are the miners?
MAID。 … They are Methodists; if they are anything; but they don't
trouble their heads much about religion。
MYSELF。 … Of what religion are you?
MAID。 … I am of the Church; sir。
MYSELF。 … Did you always belong to the Church?
MAID。 … Not always。 When I was at Dinas I used to hear the
preacher; but since I have been here I have listened to the
clergyman。
MYSELF。 … Is the clergyman here a good man?
MAID。 … A very good man indeed; sir。 He lives close by。 Shall I
go and tell him you want to speak to him?
MYSELF。 … Oh dear me; no! He can employ his time much more
usefully than in waiting upon me。
After supper I sat quiet for about an hour。 Then ringing the bell;
I inquired of the maid whether there was a newspaper in the house。
She told me there was not; but that she thought she could procure
me one。 In a little time she brought me a newspaper; which she
said she had borrowed at the parsonage。 It was the CUMRO; an
excellent Welsh journal written in the interest of the Church。 In
perusing its columns I passed a couple of hours very agreeably; and
then went to bed。
CHAPTER LXXVI
Mallwyd and its Church … Sons of Shoemakers … Village Inn …
Dottings。
THE next day was the thirty…first of October; and was rather fine
for the season。 As I did not intend to journey farther this day
than Machynlleth; a principal town in Montgomeryshire; distant only
twelve miles; I did not start from Mallwyd till just before noon。
Mallwyd is a small but pretty village。 The church is a long
edifice standing on a slight elevation on the left of the road。
Its pulpit is illustrious from having for many years been occupied
by one of the very celebrated men of Wales; namely Doctor John
Davies; author of the great Welsh and Latin dictionary; an
imperishable work。 An immense yew tree grows in the churchyard;
and partly overshadows the road with its branches。 The parsonage
stands about a hundred yards to the south of the church; near a
grove of firs。 The village is overhung on the north by the
mountains of the Arran range; from which it is separated by the
murmuring Dyfi。 To the south for many miles the country is not
mountainous; but presents a pleasant variety of hill and dale。
After leaving the village a little way behind me I turned round to
take a last view of the wonderful region from which I had emerged
on the previous evening。 Forming the two sides of the pass down
which comes 〃the royal river〃 stood the Dinas mountain and Cefn
Coch; the first on the left; and the other on the right。 Behind;
forming the background of the pass; appearing; though now some
miles distant; almost in my proximity; stood Pen Dyn。 This hill
has various names; but the one which I have noted here; and which
signifies the head of a man; perhaps describes it best。 From where
I looked at it on that last day of October it certainly looked like
an enormous head; and put me in mind of the head of Mambrino;
mentioned in the master work which commemorates the achievements of
the Manchegan knight。 This mighty mountain is the birthplace of
more than one river。 If the Gerres issues from its eastern side;
from its western springs the Maw; that singularly picturesque
stream; which enters the ocean at the place which the Saxons
corruptly call Barmouth and the Cumry with great propriety Aber
Maw; or the disemboguement of the Maw。
Just as I was about to pursue my journey two boys came up; bound in
the same direction as myself。 One was a large boy dressed in a
waggoner's frock; the other was a little fellow in a brown coat and
yellowish trowsers。 As we walked along together I entered into
conversation with them。 They came from Dinas Mawddwy。 The large
boy told me that he was the son of a man who carted mwyn or lead
ore; and the little fellow that he was the son of a shoemaker。 The
latter was by far the cleverest; and no wonder; for the son of
shoemakers are always clever; which assertion should anybody doubt
I beg him to attend the examinations at Cambridge; at which he will
find that in three cases out of four the senior wranglers are the
sons of shoemakers。 From this little chap I got a great deal of
information about Pen Dyn; every part of which he appeared to have
traversed。 He told me amongst other things that there was a castle
upon it。 Like a true son of a shoemaker; however; he was an arch
rogue。 Coming to a small house with a garden attached to it in
which there were apple…trees; he stopped; whilst I went on with the
other boy; and after a minute or two came up running with a couple
of apples in his hand。
〃Where did you get those apples?〃 said I; 〃I hope you did not steal
them。〃
He made no reply; but bit one; then making a wry face he flung it
away; and so he served the other。 Presently afterwards; coming to
a side lane; the future senior wrangler; for a senior wrangler he
is destined to be; always provided he finds his way to Cambridge;
darted down it like an arrow; and disappeared。
I continued my way with the other lad; occasionally asking him
questions about the mines of Mawddwy。 The information; however;
which I obtained from him was next to nothing; for he appeared to
be as heavy as the stuff which his father carted。 At length we
reached a village forming a kind of semicircle on a green which
looked something like a small English common。 To the east were
beautiful green hills; to the west the valley with the river
running through it; beyond which rose other green hills yet more
beautiful than the eastern ones。 I asked the lad the name of the
place; but I could not catch what he said; for his answer was
merely an indistinct mumble; and before I could question him again
he left me; without a word of salutation; and trudged away across
the green。
Descending a hill I came to a bridge; under which ran a beautiful
river; which came foaming down from a gulley between two of the
eastern hills。 From a man whom I met I learned that the bridge was
called Pont Coomb Linau; and that the name of the village I had
passed was Linau。 The river carries an important tribute to the
Dyfi; at least it did when I saw it; though perhaps in summer it is
little more than a dry water…course。
Half…an…hour's walking brought me from this place to a small town
or large village; with a church at the entrance and the usual yew
tree in the churchyard。 Seeing a kind of inn I entered it; and was
shown by a lad…waiter into a large kitchen; in which were several
people。 I had told him in Welsh that I wanted some ale; and as he
opened the door he cried with a loud voice; 〃Cumro!〃 as much as to
say; Mind what you say before this chap; for he understands Cumraeg
… that word was enough。 The people; who were talking fast and
eagerly as I made my appearance; instantly became silent and stared
at me with most suspicious looks。 I sat down; and when my ale was
brought I took a hearty draught; and observing that the company
were still watching me suspiciously and maintaining the same
suspicious silence; I determined to comport myself in a manner
which should to a certain extent afford them ground for suspicion。
I th