第21章
加入书架 A- A+
点击下载App,搜索"Wild Wales",免费读到尾

  \"Weare,yourreverence。\"

  \"Woulditnotbequiterighttosaddleandbridleyouall,andrideyouviolentlydownHolyheadortheGiant’sCausewayintothewaters,causingyoutoperishthere,liketheherdofswineofold?\"

  \"Itwould,yourreverence。\"

  \"Andknowingandconfessingallthis,youhavethecheektocomeandaskmeforablessing?\"

  \"Wehave,yourreverence。\"

  \"Well,howshallIgivetheblessing?\"

  \"Och,sureyourreverenceknowsverywellhowtogiveit。\"

  \"ShallIgiveitinIrish?\"

  \"Och,no,yourreverence—ablessinginIrishisnoblessingatall。\"

  \"InEnglish?\"

  \"Och,murder,no,yourreverence,GodpreserveusallfromanEnglishblessing!\"

  \"InLatin?\"

  \"Yes,sure,yourreverence;inwhatelseshouldyoublessusbutinholyLatin?\"

  \"Wellthenprepareyourselves。\"

  \"Wewill,yourreverence—stayonemomentwhilstIwhispertotheboysthatyourreverenceisabouttobestowyourblessinguponus。\"

  Thenturningtotherestwhoallthistimehadkepttheireyesfixedintentlyuponus,hebellowedwiththevoiceofabull:

  \"Downonyourmarrowbones,yesinners,forhisreverenceTobanisabouttoblessusallinholyLatin。\"

  Hethenflunghimselfonhiskneesonthepier,andallhiscountrymen,baringtheirheads,followedhisexample—yes,therekneltthirtybare—headedEirionaichonthepierofCaerGybibeneaththebroilingsun。IgavethemthebestLatinblessingI

  couldremember,outoftwoorthreewhichIhadgotbymemoryoutofanoldPopishbookofdevotion,whichIboughtinmyboyhoodatastall。ThenturningtothedeputyIsaid,\"Well,nowareyousatisfied?\"

  \"Sure,Ihavearighttobesatisfied,yourreverence;andsohaveweall—surewecannowallgoonboardthedirtysteamer,withoutfearoffireorwater,ortheblackguardHillofHowtheither。\"

  \"Thengetup,andtelltheresttogetup,andpleasetoknowandlettherestknow,thatIdonotchoosetoreceivefarthertrouble,eitherbywordorlook,fromanyofye,aslongasIremainhere。\"

  \"Yourreverenceshallbeobeyedinallthings,\"saidthefellow,gettingup。Thenwalkingawaytohiscompanionshecried,\"Getup,boys,andplasetoknowthathisreverenceTobanisnottobefarthertroubledbybeinglookedatorspokentobyanyoneofusaslongasheremainsuponthisdirtypier。\"

  \"Divilabitfarthertroubleshallhehavefromus!\"exclaimedmanyavoice,astherestofthepartyarosefromtheirknees。

  InhalfaminutetheydisposedthemselvesinmuchthesamemannerasthatinwhichtheywerewhenIfirstsawthem—someflungthemselvesagaintosleepunderthewall,someseatedthemselveswiththeirbacksagainstit,andlaughedandchatted,butwithouttakinganynoticeofme;thosewhosatandchattedtook,orappearedtotake,aslittlenoticeasthosewholayandsleptofhisreverenceFatherToban。

  CHAPTERXLII

  GageofSuffolk—FellowinaTurban—TownofHolyhead—FatherBoots—AnExpedition—HolyHeadandFinisterrae—GryffithabCynan—TheFairies’Well。

  LEAVINGthepierIturnedupastreettothesouth,andwasnotlongbeforeIarrivedatakindofmarket—place,wherewerecartsandstalls,andontheground,oncloths,applesandplums,andabundanceofgreengages,—thelatter,whengood,decidedlythefinestfruitintheworld,afruit,fortheintroductionofwhichintoEngland,theEnglishhavetothankoneGageofanancientSuffolkfamily,atpresentextinct,afterwhosenamethefruitderivesthelatterpartofitsappellation。Strollingaboutthemarket—placeIcameincontactwithafellowdressedinaturbananddirtybluelinenrobesandtrowsers。Heboreabundleofpapersinhishand,oneofwhichheofferedtome。Iaskedhimwhohewas。

  \"Arap,\"hereplied。

  Hehadadark,cunning,roguishcountenance,withsmalleyes,andhadalltheappearanceofaJew。IspoketohiminwhatArabicI

  couldcommandonasudden,andhejabberedtomeinacorruptdialect,givingmeaconfusedaccountofacaptivitywhichhehadundergoneamidstsavageMahometans。AtlastIaskedhimwhatreligionhewasof。

  \"TheChristian,\"hereplied。

  \"HaveyoueverbeenoftheJewish?\"saidI。

  Hereturnednoanswersavebyagrin。

  Itookthepaper,gavehimapenny,andthenwalkedaway。ThepapercontainedanaccountinEnglishofhowthebearer,thesonofChristianparents,hadbeencarriedintocaptivitybytwoMahometanmerchants,afatherandson,fromwhomhehadescapedwiththegreatestdifficulty。

  \"Prettyfools,\"saidI,\"mustanypeoplehavebeenwhoeverstoleyou;butohwhatfoolsiftheywishedtokeepyouaftertheyhadgotyou!\"

  Thepaperwasstuffedwithreligiousandanti—slaverycant,andmerelywantedalittleoftheteetotalnonsensetobeaperfectspecimenofhumbug。

  Istrolledforward,encounteringmorecartsandmoreheapsofgreengages;presentlyIturnedtotherightbyastreet,whichledsomewayupthehill。Thehousesweretolerablylargeandallwhite。Thetown,withitswhitehousesplacedbytheseaside,ontheskirtofamountain,beneathablueskyandabroilingsun,putmesomethinginmindofaMoorishpiraticaltown,inwhichIhadoncebeen。Becomingsoontiredofwalkingabout,withoutanyparticularaim,insogreataheat,Ideterminedtoreturntotheinn,callforale,anddeliberateonwhatIhadbestnextdo。SoI

  returnedandcalledforale。ThealewhichwasbroughtwasnotalewhichIamparticularlyfondof。ThealewhichIamfondofisaleaboutnineortenmonthsold,somewhathard,tastingwellofmaltandlittleofthehop—alesuchasfarmers,andnoblementoo,ofthegoodoldtime,whenfarmers’daughtersdidnotplayonpianosandnoblemendidnotselltheirgame,wereinthehabitofofferingtobothhighandlow,anddrinkingthemselves。Thealewhichwasbroughtmewasthinwashystuff,whichthoughitdidnottastemuchofhop,tastedstilllessofmalt,madeandsoldbyoneAllsopp,whoIamtoldcallshimselfasquireandagentleman—ashecertainlymaywithquiteasmuchrightasmanyalordcallshimselfanoblemanandagentleman;forsurelyitisnotafractionmoretrumperytomakeandsellalethantofattenandsellgame。ThealeoftheSaxonsquire,forAllsoppisdecidedlyanoldSaxonname,howeverunakintothepracticeofoldSaxonsquiresthesellingofalemaybe,wasdrinkableforitwasfresh,andtheday,asIhavesaidbefore,exceedinglyhot;soItookfrequentdraughtsoutoftheshiningmetaltankardinwhichitwasbrought,deliberatingbothwhilstdrinking,andintheintervalsofdrinking,onwhatIhadnextbestdo。Ihadsomethoughtsofcrossingtothenorthernsideofthebay,then,bearingthenorth—

  east,wendmywaytoAmlwch,followthewindingsofthesea—shoretoMathafarneithafandPentraethCoch,andthenreturntoBangor,afterwhichIcouldboastthatIhadwalkedroundthewholeofAnglesey,andindeedtroddennoinconsiderablepartofthewaytwice。Beforecoming,however,toanyresolution,Ideterminedtoasktheadviceofmyfriendthebootsonthesubject。SoI

  finishedmyale,andsentwordbythewaiterthatIwishedtospeaktohim;hecameforthwith,andaftercommunicatingmydeliberationstohiminafewwordsIcravedhiscounsel。Theoldman,afterrubbinghisrightforefingerbehindhisrightearforaboutaquarterofaminute,inquiredifImeanttoreturntoBangor,andonmytellinghimthatitwouldbenecessaryformetodoso,asI

  intendedtowalkbacktoLlangollenbyCaernarvonandBethGelert,stronglyadvisedmetoreturntoBangorbytherailroadtrain,whichwouldstartatsevenintheevening,andwouldconveymethitherinanhourandahalf。ItoldhimthatIhatedrailroads,andreceivedforanswerthathehadnoparticularlikingforthemhimself,butthatheoccasionallymadeuseofthemonapinch,andsupposedthatIlikewisedidthesame。Ithenobserved,thatifI

  followedhisadviceIshouldnotseethenorthsideoftheislandnoritsprincipaltownAmlwch,andreceivedforanswerthatifI

  neverdid,thelosswouldnotbegreat—thatasforAmlwchitwasapoorpoverty—strickenplace—theinnashabbyaffair—themasteraveryso—soindividual,andthebootsafellowwithouteitherwitorliterature。ThatuponthewholehethoughtImightbesatisfiedwithwhatIhadseenforafterhavingvisitedOwenTudor’stomb,CaerGybiandhishotel,IhadinfactseenthecreamofMona。IthensaidthatIhadoneobjectiontomake,whichwasthatIreallydidnotknowhowtoemploythetimetillseveno’clock,forthatIhadseenallaboutthetown。

  \"ButhasyourhonourascendedtheHead?\"demandedFatherBoots。

  \"No,\"saidI;\"Ihavenot。\"

  \"Then,\"saidhe,\"Iwillsoonfindyourhonourwaysandmeanstospendthetimeagreeablytillthestartingofthetrain。YourhonourshallascendtheHeadundertheguidanceofmynephew,aniceintelligentlad,yourhonour,andalwaysgladtoearnashillingortwo。BythetimeyourhonourhasseenallthewondersoftheHeadandreturned,itwillbefiveo’clock。Yourhonourcanthendine,andafterdinnertrifleawaytheminutesoveryourwineorbrandy—and—watertillseven,whenyourhonourcanstepintoafirst—classforBangor。\"

  Iwasstruckwiththehappymannerinwhichhehadremovedthedifficultyinquestion,andinformedhimthatIwasdeterminedtofollowhisadvice。Hehurriedaway,andpresentlyreturnedwithhisnephew,towhomIofferedhalf—a—crownprovidedhewouldshowmeallaboutPenCaerGyby。Heacceptedmyofferwithevidentsatisfaction,andwelostnotimeinsettingoutuponourexpedition。

  Wehadtopassoveragreatdealofbrokenground,sometimesascending,sometimesdescending,beforewefoundourselvesuponthesideofwhatmayactuallybecalledtheheadland。Shapingourcoursewestwardwecametothevicinityofalighthousestandingonthevergeofaprecipice,thefootofwhichwaswashedbythesea。

  Leavingthelighthouseonourrightwefollowedasteepwindingpathwhichatlastbroughtustothetopofthepenorsummit,rising,accordingtothejudgmentwhichIformed,aboutsixhundredfeetfromthesurfaceofthesea。Herewasalevelspotsometwentyyardsacross,inthemiddleofwhichstoodaheapofstonesorcairn。Iaskedtheladwhetherthiscairnboreaname,andreceivedforanswerthatitwasgenerallycalledBar—cluderyCawrGlas,wordswhichseemtosignifythetopheapoftheGreyGiant。

  \"Someking,giant,ormanofoldrenownliesburiedbeneaththiscairn,\"saidI。\"Whoeverhemaybe,Itrusthewillexcusemeformountingit,seeingthatIdosowithnodisrespectfulspirit。\"I

  thenmountedthecairn,exclaiming:—

  \"Wholies’neaththecairnontheheadlandhoar,Hishandyetholdinghisbroadclaymore,IsitBeli,thesonofBenlliGawr?\"

  TherestoodIonthecairnoftheGreyGiant,lookingaroundme。

  Theprospect,oneveryside,wasnoble:theblueinterminableseatothewestandnorth;thewholestretchofMonatotheeast;andfarawaytothesouththemountainousregionofEryri,comprisingsomeofthemostromantichillsintheworld。InsomerespectsthisPenSantaidd,thisholyheadland,remindedmeofFinisterrae,theGalleganpromontorywhichIhadascendedsomeseventeenyearsbefore,whilstengagedinbattlingthePopewiththeswordofthegospelinhisfavouriteterritory。Botharebold,bluffheadlandslookingtothewest,bothhavehugerocksintheirvicinity,risingfromthebosomofthebrine。Foratime,asIstoodonthecairn,IalmostimaginedmyselfontheGalleganhill;muchthesamescenerypresenteditselfasthere,andasunequallyfiercestruckuponmyheadasthatwhichassaileditontheGalleganhill。ForatimeallmythoughtswereofSpain。Itwasnotlong,however,beforeIbethoughtmethatmylotwasnowinadifferentregion,thatIhaddonewithSpainforever,afterdoingforherallthatlayinthepowerofaloneman,whohadneverinthisworldanythingtodependupon,butGodandhisownslightstrength。Yes,IhaddonewithSpain,andwasnowinWales;and,afteraslightsigh,mythoughtsbecameallintenselyWelsh。IthoughtontheoldtimeswhenMonawasthegrandseatofDruidicalsuperstition,whenadorationwaspaidtoDwyFawr,andDwyFach,thesolesurvivorsoftheapocryphalDeluge;toHutheMightyandhisplough;toCeridwenandhercauldron;toAndrastheHorrible;toWynabNudd,LordofUnknown,andtoBeli,EmperoroftheSun。IthoughtonthetimeswhentheBealfireblazedonthisheight,ontheneighbouringpromontory,onthecope—stoneofEryri,andoneveryhighhillthroughoutBritainontheeveofthefirstofMay。IthoughtonthedaywhenthebandsofSuetoniuscrossedtheMenaistraitintheirbroad—bottomedboats,fellupontheDruidsandtheirfollowers,whowithwildlooksandbrandishedtorcheslinedtheshore,slewhundredswithmercilessbutcheryupontheplains,andpursuedtheremaindertotheremotestfastnessesoftheisle。I

  figuredtomyselflong—beardedmenwithwhitevestmentstoilinguptherocks,followedbyfiercewarriorswithglitteringhelmsandshortbroadtwo—edgedswords;IthoughtIheardgroans,criesofrage,andthedull,awfulsoundofbodiesprecipitateddownrocks。

  ThenasIlookedtowardstheseaIthoughtIsawthefleetofGryffithAbCynansteeringfromIrelandtoAberMenai,Gryffith,thesonofafugitiveking,borninIreland,intheCommotofColumbcille,Gryffiththefrequentlybaffled,theoftenvictorious;

  onceamanacledprisonersweatinginthesun,inthemarket—placeofChester,eventuallykingofNorthWales;Gryffith,who\"thoughhelovedwellthetrumpet’sclanglovedthesoundoftheharpbetter\";wholedonhiswarriorstotwenty—fourbattles,andpresidedoverthecompositionofthetwenty—fourmeasuresofCambriansong。ThenIthought—。ButIshouldtirethereaderwereItodetailalltheintenselyWelshthoughtswhichcrowdedintomyheadasIstoodontheCairnoftheGreyGiant。

  Satiatedwithlookingaboutandthinking,Isprangfromthecairnandrejoinedmyguide。Wenowdescendedtheeasternsideofthehilltillwecametoasingularlookingstone,whichhadmuchtheappearanceofaDruid’sstone。Iinquiredofmyguidewhethertherewasanytaleconnectedwiththisstone。

  \"None,\"hereplied;\"butIhaveheardpeoplesaythatitwasastrangestone,andonthataccountIbroughtyoutolookatit。\"

  Alittlefartherdownheshowedmepartofaruinedwall。

  \"Whatnamedoesthisbear?\"saidI。

  \"ClawddyrAfalon,\"hereplied。\"Thedykeoftheorchard。\"

  \"Astrangeplaceforanorchard,\"Ireplied。\"Iftherewaseveranorchardonthisbleakhill,theapplesmusthavebeenverysour。\"

  Overrocksandstoneswedescendedtillwefoundourselvesonaroad,notveryfarfromtheshore,onthesouth—eastsideofthehill。

  \"Iamverythirsty,\"saidI,asIwipedtheperspirationfrommyface;\"howIshouldlikenowtodrinkmyfillofcoolspringwater。\"

  \"Ifyourhonourisinclinedforwater,\"saidmyguide,\"IcantakeyoutothefinestspringinallWales。\"

  \"Praydoso,\"saidI,\"forIreallyamdyingofthirst。\"

  \"Itisonourwaytothetown,\"saidthelad,\"andisscarcelyahundredyardsoff。\"

  Hethenledmetothefountain。Itwasalittlewellunderastonewall,ontheleftsideoftheway。Itmightbeabouttwofeetdeep,wasfencedwithrudestones,andhadabottomofsand。

  \"There,\"saidthelad,\"isthefountain。ItiscalledtheFairies’

  Well,andcontainsthebestwaterinWales。\"

  Ilaydownanddrank。Oh,whatwaterwasthatoftheFairies’

  Well!Idrankanddrank,andthoughtIcouldneverdrinkenoughofthatdeliciouswater;theladallthetimesayingthatIneednotbeafraidtodrink,asthewateroftheFairies’Wellhadneverdoneharmtoanybody。AtlengthIgotup,andstandingbythefountainrepeatedthelinesofabardonaspring,notofaWelshbutaGaelicbard,whichareperhapsthefinestlinesevercomposedonthetheme。YetMacIntyre,forsuchwashisname,waslikemyselfanadmirerofgoodale,tosaynothingofwhiskey,andlovedtoindulgeinitatapropertimeandplace。Butthereisatimeandplaceforeverything,andsometimesthewarmestadmirerofalewouldpreferthelymphofthehill—sidefountaintothechoicestalethateverfoamedintankardfromthecellarsofHolkham。Herearethelinesmostfaithfullyrendered:—

  \"Thewildwineofnature,Honey—likeinitstaste,Thegenial,fair,thinelementFilteringthroughthesands,Whichissweeterthancinnamon,Andiswellknowntoushunters。

  O,thateternal,healingdraught,Whichcomesfromundertheearth,WhichcontainsabundanceofgoodAndcostsnomoney!\"

  ReturningtothehotelIsatisfiedmyguideanddined。AfterdinnerItrifledagreeablywithmybrandy—and—watertillitwasnearseveno’clock,whenIpaidmybill,thoughtofthewaiteranddidnotforgetFatherBoots。Ithentookmydeparture,receivingandreturningbows,andwalkingtothestationgotintoafirst—

  classcarriageandsoonfoundmyselfatBangor。

  CHAPTERXLIII

  TheInnatBangor—PortDynNorwig—SeaSerpent—ThoroughlyWelshPlace—BlessingofHealth。

  IWENTtothesameinnatBangoratwhichIhadbeenbefore。ItwasSaturdaynightandthehousewasthrongedwithpeoplewhohadarrivedbytrainfromManchesterandLiverpool,withtheintentionofpassingtheSundayintheWelshtown。Itookteainanimmensediningorball—room,whichwas,however,socrowdedwithgueststhatitswallsliterallysweated。AmidstthemultitudeIfeltquitesolitary—mybelovedoneshaddepartedforLlangollen,andtherewasnoonewithwhomIcouldexchangeathoughtorawordofkindness。Iaddressedseveralindividuals,andineveryinstancerepented;fromsomeIgotnoanswers,fromotherswhatwasworsethannoanswersatall—ineverycountenancenearmesuspicion,brutality,orconceit,wasmostlegiblyimprinted—IwasnotamongstWelsh,butthescumofmanufacturingEngland。

  Everybedinthehousewasengaged—thepeopleofthehouse,however,providedmeabedataplacewhichtheycalledthecottage,onthesideofahillintheoutskirtsofthetown。ThereIpassedthenightcomfortablyenough。AtabouteightinthemorningIarose,returnedtotheinn,breakfasted,anddepartedforBethGelertbywayofCaernarvon。

  ItwasSunday,andIhadoriginallyintendedtopassthedayatBangor,andtoattenddivineservicetwiceattheCathedral,butI

  foundmyselfsoveryuncomfortable,owingtothecrowdofinterlopers,thatIdeterminedtoproceedonmyjourneywithoutdelay;makingupmymind,however,toenterthefirstchurchI

  shouldmeetinwhichservicewasbeingperformed;foritisreallynotgoodtotravelontheSundaywithoutgoingintoaplaceofworship。

  Thedaywassunnyandfiercelyhot,asallthedayshadlatelybeen。InaboutanhourIarrivedatPortDynNorwig:itstoodontherightsideoftheroad。Thenameofthisplace,whichIhadheardfromthecoachmanwhodrovemyfamilyandmetoCaernarvonandLlanberisafewdaysbefore,hadexcitedmycuriositywithrespecttoit,asitsignifiesthePortoftheNorwayman,soInowturnedasidetoexamineit。\"Nodoubt,\"saidItomyself,\"theplacederivesitsnamefromthepiraticalDanesandNorsehavingresortedtoitintheoldtime。\"PortDynNorwigseemstoconsistofacreek,astaithe,andaboutahundredhouses:afewsmallvesselswerelyingatthestaithe。Istoodabouttenminutesuponitstaringabout,andthenfeelingratheroppressedbytheheatofthesun,Ibentmywaytoasmallhousewhichboreasign,andfromwhichaloudnoiseofvoicesproceeded。\"Haveyougoodale?\"saidIinEnglishtoagood—lookingbuxomdameofaboutforty,whomI

  sawinthepassage。

  Shelookedatmebutreturnednoanswer。

  \"Oesgenochcwrwda?\"saidI。

  \"Oes!\"sherepliedwithasmile,andopeningthedoorofaroomontheleft—handbademewalkin。

  Ienteredtheroom;sixorsevenmen,seeminglysea—faringpeople,wereseateddrinkingandtalkingvociferouslyinWelsh。Theirconversationwasaboutthesea—serpent:somebelievedintheexistenceofsuchathing,othersdidnot。Afteralittletimeonesaid,\"Letusaskthisgentlemanforhisopinion。\"

  \"Andwhatwouldbetheuseofaskinghim?\"saidanother,\"wehaveonlyCumraeg,andhehasonlySaesneg。\"

  \"IhavealittlebrokenCumraeg,attheserviceofthisgoodcompany,\"saidI。\"WithrespecttothesnakeoftheseaIbegleavetosaythatIbelieveintheexistenceofsuchacreature;

  andamsurprisedthatanypeopleinthesepartsshouldnotbelieveinit:why,thesea—serpenthasbeenseenintheseparts。\"

  \"Whenwasthat,GwrBoneddig?\"saidoneofthecompany。

  \"Aboutfiftyyearsago,\"saidI。\"OnceinOctober,intheyear1805,asasmallvesseloftheTraethwasupontheMenai,sailingveryslowly,theweatherbeingverycalm,thepeopleonboardsawastrangecreaturelikeanimmensewormswimmingafterthem。Itsoonovertookthem,climbedonboardthroughthetiller—hole,andcoileditselfonthedeckunderthemast—thepeopleatfirstweredreadfullyfrightened,buttakingcouragetheyattackeditwithanoaranddroveitoverboard;itfollowedthevesselforsometime,butabreezespringinguptheylostsightofit。\"

  \"Andhowdidyoulearnthis?\"saidthelastwhohadaddressedme。

  \"Ireadthestory,\"saidI,\"inapureWelshbookcalledtheGreal。\"

  \"Inowrememberhearingthesamething,\"saidanoldman,\"whenI

  wasaboy;ithadsliptoutofmymemory,butnowIrememberallaboutit。TheshipwascalledtheROBERTELLIS。Areyouoftheseparts,gentleman?\"

  \"No,\"saidI,\"Iamnotoftheseparts。\"

  \"ThenyouareofSouthWales—indeedyourWelshisverydifferentfromours。\"

  \"IamnotofSouthWales,\"saidI,\"Iamtheseednotofthesea—

  snakebutofthecoilingserpent,forsooneoftheoldWelshpoetscalledtheSaxons。\"

  \"ButhowdidyoulearnWelsh?\"saidtheoldman。

  \"Ilearneditbythegrammar,\"saidI,\"alongtimeago。\"

  \"Ah,youlearntitbythegrammar,\"saidtheoldman;\"thataccountsforyourWelshbeingdifferentfromours。WedidnotlearnourWelshbythegrammar—yourWelshisdifferentfromours,andofcoursebetter,beingtheWelshofthegrammar。Ah,itisafinethingtobeagrammarian。\"

  \"Yes,itisafinethingtobeagrammarian,\"criedtherestofthecompany,andIobservedthateverybodynowregardedmewithakindofrespect。

  Ajugofalewhichthehostesshadbroughtmehadbeenstandingbeforemesometime。Inowtasteditandfounditverygood。

  Whilstdespatchingit,IaskedvariousquestionsabouttheoldDanes,thereasonwhytheplacewascalledtheportoftheNorwegian,andaboutitstrade。ThegoodfolksknewnothingabouttheoldDanes,andaslittleastothereasonofitsbeingcalledtheportoftheNorwegian—buttheysaidthatbesidesthatnameitborethatofMelinHeli,orthemillofthesaltpool,andthatslateswereexportedfromthence,whichcamefromquarriescloseby。

  Havingfinishedmyale,IbadethecompanyadieuandquittedPortDynNorwig,oneofthemostthoroughlyWelshplacesIhadseen,forduringthewholetimeIwasinit,IheardnowordsofEnglishuttered,exceptthetwoorthreespokenbymyself。InaboutanhourIreachedCaernarvon。

  TheroadfromBangortoCaernarvonisverygoodandthesceneryinteresting—finehillsborderitontheleft,orsouth—east,andontherightatsomedistanceistheMenaiwithAngleseybeyondit。

  NotfarfromCaernarvonasandbankcommences,extendingformilesuptheMenai,towardsBangor,anddividingthestraitintotwo。

  IwenttotheCastleInnwhichfrontsthesquareormarket—place,andbeingshownintoaroomorderedsomebrandy—and—water,andsatdown。Twoyoungmenwereseatedintheroom。Ispoketothemandreceivedcivilanswers,atwhichIwasratherastonished,asI

  foundbythetoneoftheirvoicesthattheywereEnglish。Theairofonewasfarsuperiortothatoftheother,andwithhimIwassooninconversation。Inthecourseofdiscourseheinformedmethatbeingamartyrtoill—healthhehadcomefromLondontoWales,hopingthatchangeofair,andexerciseontheWelshhills,wouldaffordhimrelief,andthathisfriendhadbeenkindenoughtoaccompanyhim。ThathehadbeenaboutthreeweeksinWales,hadtakenalltheexercisethathecould,butthathewasstillveryunwell,sleptlittleandhadnoappetite。Itoldhimnottobediscouraged,buttoproceedinthecoursewhichhehadadoptedtilltheendofsummer,bywhichtimeIthoughtitveryprobablethathewouldberestoredtohishealth,ashewasstillyoung。Atthesewordsofmineabeamofhopebrightenedhiscountenance,andhesaidthathehadnootherwishthantoregainhishealth,andthatifhedidheshouldbethehappiestofmen。TheintensewishofthepooryoungmanforhealthcausedmetothinkhowinsensibleI

  hadhithertobeentothepossessionofthegreatestofallterrestrialblessings。Ihadalwayshadthehealthofanelephant,butIneverrememberedtohavebeensensibletothemagnitudeoftheblessingorintheslightestdegreegratefultoGodwhogaveit。IshudderedtothinkhowIshouldfeelifsuddenlydeprivedofmyhealth。Farworse,nodoubt,thanthatpoorinvalid。Hewasyoung,andinyouththereishope—butIwasnolongeryoung。Atlast,however,IthoughtthatifGodtookawaymyhealthHemightsofaraltermymindthatImightbehappyevenwithouthealth,ortheprospectofit;andthatreflectionmademequitecomfortable。

  CHAPTERXLIV

  NationalSchool—TheYoungPreacher—PontBettws—SpanishWords—TwoTongues,TwoFaces—TheElephant’sSnout—LlynCwellyn—

  TheSnowdonRanger—MyHouse—CastellyCidwm—DescenttoBethGelert。

  ITmightbeaboutthreeo’clockintheafternoonwhenIleftCaernarvonforBethGelert,distantaboutthirteenmiles。I

  journeyedthroughabeautifulcountryofhillanddale,woodsandmeadows,thewholegildedbyabundanceofsunshine。AfterwalkingaboutanhourwithoutintermissionIreachedavillage,andaskedamanthenameofit。

  \"Llan—something,\"hereplied。

点击下载App,搜索"Wild Wales",免费读到尾