下载辰思小说免费APP
Iopenedthedoorandsawalittlegirl。"Haveyouanywater？"
saidI。
"No，"saidthechild，"butIhavethis，"andshebroughtmesomebutter—milkinabasin。Ijusttastedit，gavethechildapennyandblessedher。
"Oesgenochtad？"
"No，"saidshe；"butIhaveamam。"Tadinmam；blessedsounds；inalllanguagesexpressingthesameblessedthings。
AfterwalkingforsomehoursIsawatallbluehillinthefardistancebeforeme。"Whatisthenameofthathill？"saidItoawomanwhomImet。
"PenCaerGybi，"shereplied。
SoonafterIcametoavillageneartoarockygully。Oninquiringthenameofthevillage，IwastolditwasLlanyrAfon，orthechurchoftheriver。Ipassedon；thecountrywasneithergrandnorpretty—itexhibitedakindofwildness，however，whichdidnotfailtointerestme—therewerestones，rocksandfurzeinabundance。Turningroundthecornerofahill，Iobservedthroughthemistsofevening，whichbegantogatheraboutme，whatseemedtoberatheragenteelhouseontheroadside；onmyleft，andalittlewaybehinditastrangekindofmonticle，onwhichIthoughtIobservedtalluprightstones。Quickeningmypace，Isooncameparallelwiththehouse，whichasIdrewnigh，ceasedtolooklikeagenteelhouse，andexhibitedanappearanceofgreatdesolation。
Itwasawhite，orrathergreystructureofsomeantiquity。Itwasevidentlyusedasafarm—house，fortherewasayardadjoiningtoit，inwhichwerestacksandagriculturalimplements。Observingtwomenintheyard，Iwentin。Theywererespectable，farm—
lookingmen，betweenfortyandfifty；onehadonacoatandhat，theotheracapandjacket。"Goodevening，"IsaidinWelsh。
"Goodevening，"theyrepliedinthesamelanguage，lookinginquiringlyatme。
"Whatisthenameofthisplace？"saidI。
"ItiscalledTygwyn，"saidthemanofthehat。
"Onaccountofitscolour，Isuppose？"saidI。
"Justso，"saidthemanofthehat。
"Itlooksold，"saidI。
"Anditisold，"hereplied。"InthetimeofthePapistsitwasoneoftheirchapels。"
"Doesitbelongtoyou？"Idemanded。
"Ohno，itbelongstooneMrSparrowfromLiverpool。Iamhisbailiff，andthismanisacarpenterwhoisheredoingajobforhim。"
Hereensuedapause，whichwasbrokenbythemanofthehatsayinginEnglish，tothemanofthecap：
"Whocanthisstrangefellowbe？hehasnotawordofEnglish，andthoughhespeaksWelshhisWelshsoundsverydifferentfromours。
Whocanhebe？"
"IamsureIdon’tknow，"saidtheother。
"Iknowwhoheis，"saidthefirst，"hecomesfromLlydaw，orArmorica，whichwaspeopledfromBritainestalom，andwhereIamtoldtherealoldWelshlanguageisstillspoken。"
"IthinkIheardyoumentionthewordLlydaw？"saidI，tothemanofthehat。
"Ah，"saidthemanofthehat，speakingWelsh，"Iwasrightafterall；oh，IcouldhaveswornyouwereLlydaweg。Well，howarethedescendantsoftheancientBritonsgettingoninLlydaw？"
"Theyaregettingontolerablywell，"saidI，"whenIlastsawthem，thoughallthingsdonotgoexactlyastheycouldwish。"
"Ofcoursenot，"saidheofthehat。"Wetoohavemuchtocomplainofhere；thelandsarealmostentirelytakenpossessionofbySaxons，whereveryougoyouwillfindthemsettled，andaSaxonbirdoftheroofmustbuilditsnestinGwyndy。"
"YoucallasparrowinyourWelshabirdoftheroof，doyounot？"
saidI。
"Wedo，"saidheofthehat。"YouspeakWelshverywellconsideringyouwerenotborninWales。ItisreallysurprisingthatthemenofLlydawshouldspeaktheiaithsopureastheydo。"
"TheWelshwhentheywentoverthere，"saidI，"tookeffectualmeansthattheirdescendantsshouldspeakgoodWelsh，ifalltalesbetrue。"
"Whatmeans？"saidheofthehat。
"Why，"saidI；"afterconqueringthecountrytheyputallthementodeath，andmarriedthewomen，butbeforeachildwasborntheycutoutallthewomen’stongues，sothattheonlylanguagethechildrenheardwhentheywerebornwaspureCumraeg。Whatdoyouthinkofthat？"
"Why，thatitwasacutetrick，"saidheofthehat。
"AmoreclevertrickIneverheard，"saidthemanofthecap。
"HaveyouanymemorialsintheneighbourhoodoftheoldWelsh？"
saidI。
"Whatdoyoumean？"saidthemanofthehat。
"AnyaltarsoftheDruids？"saidI；"anystonetables？"
"None，"saidthemanofthehat。
"Whatmaythosestonesbe？"saidI，pointingtothestoneswhichhadstruckmyattention。
"Merecommonrocks，"saidtheman。
"MayIgoandexaminethem？"saidI。
"Ohyes！"saidheofthehat，"andwewillgowithyou。"
Wewenttothestones，whichwereindeedcommonrocks，andwhichwhenIreachedthempresentedquiteadifferentappearancefromthatwhichtheypresentedtomyeyewhenIviewedthemfromafar。
"AretheremanyaltarsoftheDruidsinLlydaw？"saidthemanofthehat。
"Plenty，"saidI，"butthosealtarsareolderthanthetimeoftheWelshcolonists，andwereerectedbytheoldGauls。"
"Well，"saidthemanofthecap，"IamgladIhaveseenthemanofLlydaw。"
"WhomdoyoucallamanofLlydaw？"saidI。
"Whombutyourself？"saidheofthehat。
"IamnotamanofLlydaw，"saidIinEnglish，"butNorfolk，wherethepeopleeatthebestdumplingsintheworld，andspeakthepurestEnglish。Nowathousandthanksforyourcivility。Iwouldhavesomemorechatwithyou，butnightiscomingon，andIamboundtoHolyhead。"
Thenleavingthemenstaringafterme，IbentmystepstowardsHolyhead。
IpassedbyaplacecalledLlansomething，standinglonelyonitshill。Thecountryroundlookedsadanddesolate。ItistruenighthadcomeonwhenIsawit。
OnIhurried。Thevoicesofchildrensoundedsweetlyatadistanceacrossthewildchampaignonmyleft。
Itgrewdarkeranddarker。OnIhurriedalongtheroad；atlastI
cametolone，lordlygroves。Onmyrightwasanopengateandalodge。Iwentuptothelodge。Thedoorwasopen，andinalittleroomIbeheldanice—lookingoldladysittingbyatable，onwhichstoodalightedcandle，withhereyesfixedonalargebook。
"Excuseme，"saidI；"butwhoownsthisproperty？"
Theoldladylookedupfromherbook，whichappearedtobeaBible，withouttheslightestsurprise，thoughIcertainlycameuponherunawares，andanswered：
"MrJohnWynn。"
Ishortlypassedthroughalargevillage，orrathertown，thenameofwhichIdidnotlearn。Ithenwentonforamileortwo，andsawaredlightatsomedistance。Theroadlednearlyuptoit，andthendivergedtowardsthenorth。LeavingtheroadImadetowardsthelightbyalane，andsooncametoarailroadstation。
"Youwon’thavelongtowait，sir，"saidaman，"thetraintoHolyheadwillbeherepresently。"
"HowfarisittoHolyhead？"saidI。
"Twomiles，sir，andthefareisonlysixpence。"
"Idespiserailroads，"saidI，"andthosewhotravelbythem，"andwithoutwaitingforananswerreturnedtotheroad。PresentlyI
heardthetrain—itstoppedforaminuteatthestation，andthencontinuingitscoursepassedmeonmylefthand，voidingfiercesparks，andmakingaterriblenoise—theroadwasamelancholyone；myfootstepssoundedhollowuponit。Iseemedtobeitsonlytraveller—awallextendedforalong，longwayonmyleft。AtlengthIcametoaturnpike。Ifeltdesolateandwishedtospeaktosomebody。Itappedatthewindow，atwhichtherewasalight；awomanopenedit。"HowfartoHolyhead？"saidIinEnglish。
"DimSaesneg，"saidthewoman。
IrepeatedmyquestioninWelsh。
"Twomiles，"saidshe。
"StilltwomilestoHolyheadbytheroad，"thoughtI。"Nosda，"
saidItothewomanandspedalong。AtlengthIsawwateronmyright，seeminglyakindofbay，andpresentlyamelancholyship。I
doubledmypace，whichwasbeforetolerablyquick，andsoonsawanoble—lookingedificeonmyleft，brilliantlylightedup。"Whatacapitalinnthatwouldmake，"saidI，lookingatitwistfully，asI
passedit。PresentlyIfoundmyselfinthemidstofapoor，dull，ill—lightedtown。
"Whereistheinn？"saidItoaman。
"Theinn，sir；youhavepassedit。Theinnisyonder，"hecontinued，pointingtowardsthenoble—lookingedifice。
"What，isthattheinn？"saidI。
"Yes，sir，therailroadhotel—andafirst—ratehotelitis。"
"Andaretherenootherinns？"
"Yes，buttheyareallpoorplaces。Nogentputsupatthem—allthegentsbytherailroadputupattherailroadhotel。"
WhatwasItodo？afterturningupmynoseattherailroad，wasI
toputupatitshotel？Surelytodosowouldbehardlyactingwithconsistency。"OughtInotrathertogotosomepublic—house，frequentedbycaptainsoffishingsmacks，andbeputinabedafoottooshortforme，"saidI，asIreflectedonmylastnight’scouchatMrPritchard’s。"No，thatwon’tdo—Ishallgotothehotel，Ihavemoneyinmypocket，andapersonwithmoneyinhispockethassurelyarighttobeinconsistentifhepleases。"
SoIturnedbackandenteredtherailroadhotelwithloftyportandwithsoundingstep，forIhadtwelvesovereignsinmypocket，besidesahalfone，andsomeloosesilver，andfearednottoencounterthegazeofanywaiterorlandlordintheland。"Sendboots！"Iroaredtothewaiter，asIflungmyselfdowninanarm—
chairinamagnificentcoffee—room。"Whatthedeuceareyoustaringat？sendbootscan’tyou，andaskwhatIcanhavefordinner。"
"Yes，sir，"saidthewaiter，andwithalowbowdeparted。
"Thesebootsareratherdusty，"saidtheboots，agrey—haired，venerable—lookingman，afterhehadtakenoffmythick，solid，square—toedboots。"Isupposeyoucamewalkingfromtherailroad？"
"Confoundtherailroad！"saidI。"IcamewalkingfromBangor。I
wouldhaveyouknowthatIhavemoneyinmypocket，andcanaffordtowalk。Iamfondofthebeautiesofnature；nowitisimpossibletoseemuchofthebeautiesofnatureunlessyouwalk。Iamlikewisefondofpoetry，andtakeespecialdelightininspectingthebirth—placesandhauntsofpoets。ItisbecauseIamfondofpoetry，poetsandtheirhaunts，thatIamcometoAnglesey。
Angleseydoesnotaboundinthebeautiesofnature，butthereneverwassuchaplaceforpoets；youmeetapoet，orthebirth—placeofapoet，everywhere。"
"DidyourhonoureverhearofGronwyOwen？"saidtheoldman。
"Ihave，"Ireplied，"andyesterdayIvisitedhisbirth—place；soyouhaveheardofGronwyOwen？"
"Heardofhim，yourhonour；yes，andreadhisworks。That’CowyddyFarn’ofhisisawonderfulpoem。"
"Yousayright，"saidI；"the’CowyddofJudgment’containssomeofthefinestthingseverwritten—thatdescriptionofthetopplingdownofthetopcragofSnowdon，atthedayofJudgment，beatsanythinginHomer。"
"ThentherewasLewisMorris，yourhonour，"saidtheoldman，"whogaveGronwyhiseducationandwrote’TheLassesofMeirion’—and—
"
"And’TheCowyddtotheSnail，’"saidI，interruptinghim—"awonderfulmanhewas。"
"Iamrejoicedtoseeyourhonourinourhouse，"saidboots；"I
neversawanEnglishgentlemanbeforewhoknewsomuchaboutWelshpoetry，noraWelshoneeither。Ah，ifyourhonourisfondofpoetsandtheirplacesyoudidrighttocometoAnglesey—andyourhonourwasrightinsayingthatyoucan’tstirastepwithoutmeetingone；youhaveanexampleofthetruthofthatinme—fortotellyourhonourthetruth，Iamapoetmyself，andnobadoneeither。"
Thentuckingthedustybootsunderhisarm，theoldmanwithalowcongee，anda"Good—night，yourhonour！"shuffledoutoftheroom。
CHAPTERXL
CaerGyby—LewisMorris—NobleCharacter。
IDINEDorrathersuppedwellattheRailroadInn—Ibegitspardon，Hotel，forthewordInnatthepresentdayisdecidedlyvulgar。Ilikewisesleptwell；howcouldIdootherwise，passingthenight，asIdid，inanexcellentbedinalarge，cool，quietroom？Iaroseratherlate，wentdowntothecoffee—roomandtookmybreakfastleisurely，afterwhichIpaidmybillandstrolledforthtoobservethewondersoftheplace。
CaerGybiorCybi’stownissituatedonthesouthernsideofabayonthenorth—westernsideofAnglesey。Closetoitonthesouth—
westisaveryhighheadlandcalledinWelshPenCaerGybi，ortheheadofCybi’scity，andinEnglishHolyHead。Onthenorth，acrossthebay，isanothermountainofequalaltitude，whichifI
amnotmistakenbearsinWelshthenameofMynyddLlanfair，orSaintMary’sMount。ItiscalledCybi’stownfromoneCybi，whoabouttheyear500builtacollegeheretowhichyouthsnobleandignobleresortedfromfarandnear。HewasanativeofDyfedorPembrokeshire，andwasafriendandforalongtimeafellow—
labourerofSaintDavid。Besidesbeinglearned，accordingtothestandardofthetime，hewasagreatwalker，andfrombronzinghiscountenancebyfrequentwalkinginthesunwasgenerallycalledCybiVelin，whichmeanstawnyoryellowCybi。
SomuchforCybi，andhistown！AndnowsomethingaboutonewhosememoryhauntedmemuchmorethanthatofCybiduringmystayatHolyhead。
LewisMorriswasbornataplacecalledTrefyBeirdd，inAnglesey，intheyear1700。Anglesey，orMona，hasgivenbirthtomanyillustriousmen，butfew，uponthewhole，entitledtomorehonourablementionthanhimself。Fromahumblesituationinlife，forheservedanapprenticeshiptoacooperatHolyhead，heraisedhimselfbyhisindustryandtalentstoaffluenceanddistinction，becamealandedproprietorinthecountyofCardigan，andinspectoroftheroyaldomainsandminesinWales。Perhapsamanmoregenerallyaccomplishedneverexisted；hewasafirst—ratemechanic，anexpertnavigator，agreatmusician，bothintheoryandpractice，andapoetofsingularexcellence。Ofhimitwassaid，andwithtruth，thathecouldbuildashipandsailit，frameaharpandmakeitspeak，writeanodeandsetittomusic。Yetthatsaying，eulogisticasitis，isfarfromexpressingallthevastpowersandacquirementsofLewisMorris。Thoughself—taught，hewasconfessedlythebestWelshscholarofhisage，andwaswell—versedinthosecognatedialectsoftheWelsh—theCornish，Armoric，HighlandGaelicandIrish。HewaslikewisewellacquaintedwithHebrew，GreekandLatin，hadstudiedAnglo—Saxonwithsomesuccess，andwasawriterofboldandvigorousEnglish。Hewasbesidesagoodgeneralantiquary，andforknowledgeofancientWelshcustoms，traditions，andsuperstitions，hadnoequal。Yetallhasnotbeensaidwhichcanbeutteredinhispraise；hehadqualitiesofmindwhichentitledhimtohigheresteemthananyaccomplishmentconnectedwithintellectorskill。Amongstthesewerehisnoblegenerosityandsacrificeofselfforthebenefitofothers。Weeksandmonthshewasinthehabitofdevotingtothesuperintendenceoftheaffairsofthewidowandfatherless：oneofhisprincipaldelightswastoassistmerit，tobringitbeforetheworldandtoprocureforititsproperestimation：itwashewhofirstdiscoveredthetunefulgeniusofblindParry；itwashewhofirstputtheharpintohishand；itwashewhofirstgavehimscientificinstruction；itwashewhocheeredhimwithencouragementandassistedhimwithgold。ItwashewhoinstructedthecelebratedEvanEvansintheancientlanguageofWales，enablingthattalentedbuteccentricindividualtoreadthepagesoftheRedBookofHergestaseasilyasthoseoftheWelshBible；itwashewhocorrectedhisverseswithmatchlessskill，refiningandpolishingthemtilltheybecamewellworthyofbeingreadbyposterity；itwashewhogavehimadvice，which，haditbeenfollowed，wouldhavemadethePrydyddHir，ashecalledhimself，oneofthemostillustriousWelshmenofthelastcentury；anditwashewhofirsttoldhiscountrymenthattherewasayouthofAngleseywhosegenius，ifproperlyencouraged，promisedfairtorivalthatofMilton：oneofthemosteloquentletterseverwrittenisonebyhim，inwhichhedescantsuponthebeautiesofcertainpoemsofGronwyOwen，thelatentgeniusofwhoseearlyboyhoodhehadobserved，whomhehadclothed，educatedandassisteduptotheperiodwhenhewasordainedaministeroftheChurch，andwhomhefinallyrescuedfromastateborderingonstarvationinLondon，procuringforhimanhonourableappointmentintheNewWorld。
ImmortalitytoLewisMorris！Butimmortalityhehaswon，evenashisillustriouspupilhassaid，whoinhiselegyuponhisbenefactor，writteninAmerica，inthefour—and—twentymeasures，atatimewhenGronwyhadnotheardtheWelshlanguagespokenformorethantwentyyears，haswordstothefollowingeffect：—
"AslongasBardicloreshalllast，scienceandlearningbecherished，thelanguageandbloodoftheBritonsundefiled，songbeheardonParnassus，heavenandearthbeinexistence，foambeonthesurge，andwaterintheriver，thenameofLewisofMonshallbeheldingratefulremembrance。"
CHAPTERXLI
ThePier—IrishReapers—WildIrishFace—FatherToban—TheHerdofSwine—LatinBlessing。
THEdaywasashotastheprecedingone。Iwalkedslowlytowardsthewest，andpresentlyfoundmyselfuponapier，orbreakwater，atthemouthoftheharbour。Alargesteamerlayatalittledistancewithinthepier。Therewerefishing—boatsonbothsides，thegreaternumberontheouterside，whichliestowardsthehillofHolyHead。OntheshadysideofthebreakwaterunderthewallweretwoorthreedozenofIrishreapers；somewerelyingasleep，othersinpartiesoftwoorthreewereseatedwiththeirbacksagainstthewall，andweretalkingIrish；theselastallappearedtobewell—
mademiddle—sizedyoungfellows，withratheraruffianlylook；theystaredatmeasIpassed。Thewholepartyhadshillealahseitherintheirhandsorbytheirsides。Iwenttotheextremityofthepier，wherewasalittlelighthouse，andthenturnedback。AsI
againdrewneartheIrish，Iheardahubbubandobservedagreatcommotionamongstthem。All，whetherthosewhomIhadseensitting，orthosewhomIhadseenreclining，hadgot，orweregettingontheirlegs。AsIpassedthemtheywereallstandingup，andtheireyeswerefixeduponmewithastrangekindofexpression，partlyofwonder，methought，partlyofrespect。"Yes，’tishe，sureenough，"Iheardonewhisper。OnIwent，andataboutthirtyyardsfromthelastIstopped，turnedroundandleanedagainstthewall。AlltheIrishwerelookingatme—presentlytheyformedintoknotsandbegantodiscourseveryeagerlyinIrish，thoughinanundertone。AtlengthIobservedafellowgoingfromoneknottotheother，exchangingafewwordswitheach。
Afterhehadheldcommunicationwithallhenoddedhishead，andcametowardsmewithaquickstep；thereststoodsilentandmotionlesswiththeireyesturnedinthedirectioninwhichIwas，andinwhichhewasadvancing。Hestoppedwithinayardofmeandtookoffhishat。Hewasanathleticfellowofabouttwenty—eight，dressedinbrownfrieze。Hisfeatureswereswarthy，andhiseyesblack；ineverylineamentofhiscountenancewasajumbleofsavageryandroguishness。IneversawamoregenuinewildIrishface—therehestoodlookingatmefullintheface，hishatinonehandandhisshillealahintheother。
"Well，whatdoyouwant？"saidI，afterwehadstaredateachotherabouthalfaminute。
"Sure，I’mjustcomeonthepartoftheboysandmyselftobegabitofafavourofyourreverence。"
"Reverence，"saidI，"whatdoyoumeanbystylingmereverence？"
"Ochsure，becausetobestyledyourreverenceistherightofyourreverence。"
"Praywhatdoyoutakemefor？"
"Ochsure，weknowsyourreverenceverywell。"
"Well，whoamI？"
"Och，whyFatherTobantobesure。"
"AndwhoknowsmetobeFatherToban？"
"Och，aboyhereknowsyourreverencetobeFatherToban。"
"Whereisthatboy？"
"Herehestands，yourreverence。"
"Areyouthatboy？"
"Iam，yourreverence。"
"AndyoutoldtherestthatIwasFatherToban？"
"Idid，yourreverence。"
"AndyouknowmetobeFatherToban？"
"Ido，yourreverence。"
"HowdoyouknowmetobeFatherToban？"
"Och，whybecausemany’sthegoodtimethatIhaveheardyourreverence，FatherToban，saymass。"
"Andwhatisityouwantmetodo？"
"Why，seehere，yourreverence，wearegoingtoembarkinthedirtysteameryonderforouldIreland，whichstartsassoonasthetideserves，andwewantyourreverencetoblessusbeforewegoes。"
"Youwantmetoblessyou？"
"Wedo，yourreverence，wewantyoutospitoutalittlebitofablessinguponusbeforewegoesonboard。"
"Andwhatgoodwouldmyblessingdoyou？"
"Allkindsofgood，yourreverence；itwouldpreventthedirtysteamerfromcatchingfire，yourreverence，orfromgoingdown，yourreverence，orfromrunningagainsttheblackguardHillofHowthinthemist，providedthereshouldbeone。"
"AndsupposeIweretotellyouthatIamnotFatherToban？"
"Och，yourreverence，willneverthinkofdoingthat。"
"WouldyoubelievemeifIdid？"
"Wewouldnot，yourreverence。"
"IfIweretoswearthatIamnotFatherToban？"
"Wewouldnot，yourreverence。"
"Ontheevangiles？"
"Wewouldnot，yourreverence。"
"OntheCross？"
"Wewouldnot，yourreverence。"
"AndsupposeIweretorefusetogiveyouablessing？"
"Och，yourreverencewillneverrefusetoblessthepoorboys。"
"ButsupposeIweretorefuse？"
"Why，insuchacase，whichby—the—byeisaltogetherimpossible，weshouldjustmakebouldtogiveyourreverenceagoodbigbating。"
"Youwouldbreakmyhead？"
"Wewould，yourreverence。"
"Killme？"
"Wewould，yourreverence。"
"Youwouldreallyputmetodeath？"
"Wewouldnot，yourreverence。"
"Andwhat’sthedifferencebetweenkillingandputtingtodeath？"
"Och，surethere’sallthedifferenceintheworld。Killingmanesonlyagoodbigbating，suchaseveryIrishmanisusedto，andwhichyourreverencewouldgetoverlongbeforematins，whereasputtingyourreverencetodeathwouldpreventyourreverencefromsayingmassforeverandaday。"
"Andyouaredeterminedonhavingablessing？"
"Weare，yourreverence。"
"Byhookorbycrook？"
"Bycrookorbyhook，yourreverence。"
"BeforeIblessyou，willyouanswermeaquestionortwo？"
"Iwill，yourreverence。"
"Areyounotasetofgreatbigblackguards？"
"Weare，yourreverence。"
"Withoutonegoodquality？"
