第 97 节
作者:随便看看      更新:2021-02-25 00:47      字数:9322
  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