第49章

gavehim，thatheprachedasermonaboutmeinthechapel，inwhichhesaidthathehadcastsixofmydivilsoutofme，andshouldcastouttheseventh，whichwasthelast，bythenextSabbath，andthenshouldpresentmetothefolksinthechapelaspureavesselastheblessedMaryherself—andthatIwasdestinedtoaccomplishgreatthings，andtobeamightyinstrumentinthehandsoftheHolyChurch，forthatheintendedtowriteabookaboutme，describingthemiraclehehadperformedincastingthesevendivilsoutofme，whichheshouldgetprintedattheprinting—pressoftheblessedColumba，andshouldsendmethroughallIrelandtosellthecopies，theprofitsofwhichwouldgotowardsthesupportoftheholysocietyforcastingoutunclanespirits，towhichhehimselfbelonged。Well，thepeopleshowedthattheywereplasedbyaloudshout，andwentawaylongingforthenextSundaywhenIwastobepresentedtothemwithoutadivilinme。FivetimesthenextweekdidIgotothepriest’shouse，tobereadto，andbesprinkled，andhaveclothsputuponme，inorderthattheworkofcastingoutthelastdivil，whichitseemswasstrongerthanalltherest，mightbemadesmoothandaisy，andontheSaturdayIcametohavethelastdivilcastout，andfoundhisriverinceinfullcanonicals，seatedinhisaisychair。’Daughter，’saidhewhenhesawme，’theworkisnearlyover。Nowkneeldownbeforeme，andI

willmakethesignofthecrossoveryourforehead，andthenyouwillfeelthelastandstrongestofthedivils，whichhavesolongpossessedye，gooutofyethroughyoureyes，asIexpectyouwillsaytothepeopleassembledinthechapelto—morrow。’SoIputmyselfonmykneesbeforehisreverence，whoaftermutteringsomethingtohimself，eitherinLatinorShannaGailey—IbelieveitwasLatin，said，’Lookmeintheface，daughter！’Well，I

lookedhisreverenceintheface，andthereIsawhisnoselookingsolarge，red，andinvitingthatIcouldnotresistthetemptation，andbeforehisreverencecouldmakethesignofthecross，whichdoubtlesswouldhavedriventhediviloutofme，Imadeaspringatit，andseizingholdofitwithforefingerandthumb，pulledhardatit。Hotandinctiousdiditfeel。Oh，theyellthathisreverencegave！However，Ididnotletgomyhold，butkeptpullingatthenose，tillatlasttoavoidthetorment，hisreverencecametumblingdownuponme，causingmebyhisweighttofallbackuponthefloor。Attheyellwhichhegave，andatthenoiseofthefall，incamerushinghisreverence’shousekeeperandstable—boy，whoseeingusdownonthefloor，hisreverenceuponmeandmyhandholdinghisreverence’snose，forIfeltlothtoletitgo，theyremainedinastonishmentandsuspense。Whenhisreverence，however，beggedthem，fortheVirgin’ssake，toseparatehimfromthedivilofawoman，theyranforward，andhavingwithsomedifficultyfreedhisreverence’snosefrommyhand，theyhelpedhimup。Thefirstthingthathisreverencedid，onbeingplacedonhislegs，wastomakeforahorse—whip，whichstoodinonecorneroftheroom，butIguessinghowhemeanttouseit，sprangupfromthefloor，andbeforehecouldmakeacutatme，ranoutoftheroom，andhastedhome。Thenextday，whenallthepeoplefortwentymilesroundmetinthechapel，intheexpectationofseeingmepresentedtothemapurifiedandholyfemale，andhearingfrommymouththeaccountofthemiraclewhichhisreverencehadperformed，hisreverencemadehisappearanceinthepulpitwithadaleofgouldbater’sleafonhisnose，andfromthepulpithetoldthepeoplehowIhadusedhim，showingthemthegouldbater’sleafonhisfeature，astestimonyofthetruthofhiswords，finishingbysayingthatifatfirstthereweresevendevils，therewerenowseventimessevenwithinme。Well，whenthepeopleheardthestory，andsawhisnosewiththebater’sleafuponit，theyatfirstbegantolaugh，butwhenheappealedtotheirconsciences，andaskedthemifsuchwasfittingtratementforapraist，theysaiditwasnot，andthatifhewouldonlybutcurseme，theywouldsoondohimjusticeuponme。Hisreverencethencursedbybook，bell，andcandle，andthepeople，settingofffromthechapel，cameinacrowdtothehousewhereIlived，towrakevengeanceuponme。Overtakingmysonbytheway，whowascominghomeinastateofintoxication，theybatehimwithinaninchofhislife，andlefthimsenselessontheground，andnodoubtwouldhaveservedmemuchworse，onlyseeingthemcoming，andguessingwhattheycameabout，thoughIwasabitintoxicatedmyself，I

escapedbythebackofthehouseoutintothebog，whereIhidmyselfamidstacopseofhazels。Thepeoplecomingtothehouse，andnotfindingmethere，brokeanddestroyedeverybitoffurniture，andwouldhavepulledthehousedown，orsetfiretoit，hadnotanindividualamongthemcriedoutthatdoingsowouldbeofnouse，forthatthehousedidnotbelongtome，andthatdestroyingitwouldmerelybeaninjurytothenexttenant。Sothepeople，afterbreakingmyfurnitureandill—tratingtwoorthreedumbbeasts，whichhappenednottohavebeenmadeawaywith，wentaway，andinthedeadofnightIreturnedtothehouse，whereI

foundmyson，whohadjustcrawledhomecoveredwitbruises。Wehadn’t，however，ahomelong，fortheagentsofthelandlordcametoseizeforrent，tookalltheycouldfind，andturnedusoutuponthewideworld。Myselfandsonwanderedtogetherforanhourortwo，then，havingaquarrelwitheachother，weparted，hegoingonewayandIanother。SomelittletimeafterIheardthathewastransported。Asformyself，IthoughtImightaswelltakealeafoutofthewoman’sbookwhohadbeentheruinofme。SoIwentaboutbiddingpeoplegivemealmsforthegloryofGod，andthreateningthosewhogavemenothingthatthemassshouldnevercomfortthem。It’sadreadfulcursethat，honey；andIwouldadvisepeopletoavoiditeventhoughtheygiveawayalltheyhave。

Ifyouhavenocomfortinthemass，youwillhavecomfortinnothingelse。Lookatme：Ihavenocomfortinthemass，forassoonasthepriest’sbellrings，Ishoutsandhoorahs，andperformstumblingsbeforetheblessedcorpus，gettingmyselfkickedoutofchapel，andaslittlecomfortasIhaveinthemasshaveIinotherthings，whichshouldbeacomforttome。Ihavetwosonswhooughttobethegreatestcomforttome，butaretheyso？We’llsee—oneistransported，andofcourseisnocomforttomeatall。Theotherisasodger。Isheacomforttome？Notabit。AmonthagowhenIwastravellingthroughtheblacknorth，tumblingandtopplingabout，andthreateningpeoplewithmyprayer，unlesstheygavemealms，awoman，whoknewme，toldmethathewaswithhisregimentatCardiff，hereinWales，whereuponIdeterminedtogoandseehim，andcrossingthewatergotintoEngland，fromwhenceI

walkedtoCardiffaskingalmsoftheEnglishinthecommonEnglishway，andoftheIrish，andyearethefirstIrishIhavemet，inthewayinwhichIaskedthemofyou。ButwhenIgottoCardiffdidIseemyson？Ididnot，forthedaybeforehehadsailedwithhisregimenttoaplacetenthousandmilesaway，soIshallneverseehisfaceagainnorderivecomfortfromhim。Oh，ifthere’snocomfortfromthemassthere’snocomfortfromanythingelse，andhewhohastheevilprayerintheShannaGaileybreatheduponhim，willhavenocomfortfromthemass。Now，honey，yehaveheardthestoryofJohannaColgan，thebedivilledwoman。Givehernowadacentalmsandlethergo！"

"Wouldyouconsidersixpenceadecentalms？"

"Iwould。Ifyougivemesixpence，Iwillnotsaymyprayeroverye。"

"Wouldyougivemeablessing？"

"Iwouldnot。Abedivilledwomanhasnoblessingtogive。"

"SurelyifyouareabletoaskpeopletogiveyoualmsforthegloryofGod，youareabletogiveablessing。"

"Bodderation！areyegoingtogivemesixpence？"

"No！here’sashillingforyou！Takeitandgoinpeace。"

"There’snopaceforme，"saidJohannaColgan，takingthemoney。

"Whatdidthemonstrousfemalesaytome？’Biaidhantaifrionngansholasduitabheanshalach。’（23）Thisismypace—hoorah！

hoorah！"thengivingtwoorthreegrotesquetopplesshehurriedawayinthedirectionofMerthyrTydvil。

CHAPTERCVI

PenyGlas—SaltoftheEarth—TheQuakers’Yard—TheRhugylgroen。

ASIproceededonmywaythescenerytothesouthonthefarthersideoftheriverbecamesurprisinglybeautiful。Onthatsidenoblemountainsmettheview，greenfieldsandmajes