itinerary of archibishop-第15章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页,按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页,按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部!
————未阅读完?加入书签已便下次继续阅读!
; strokes of hammers; grinding of tools; and roaring of furnaces; and it might easily be imagined that such noises; which are continued at the ebb and flow of the tides; were occasioned by the influx of the sea under the cavities of the rocks。
CHAPTER VII
The see of Landaf and monastery of Margan; and the remarkable things in those parts
On the following morning; the business of the cross being publicly proclaimed at Landaf; the English standing on one side; and the Welsh on the other; many persons of each nation took the cross; and we remained there that night with William bishop of that place; {85} a discreet and good man。 The word Landaf {86} signifies the church situated upon the river Taf; and is now called the church of St。 Teileau; formerly bishop of that see。 The archbishop having celebrated mass early in the morning; before the high altar of the cathedral; we immediately pursued our journey by the little cell of Ewenith {87} to the noble Cistercian monastery of Margan。 {88} This monastery; under the direction of Conan; a learned and prudent abbot; was at this time more celebrated for its charitable deeds than any other of that order in Wales。 On this account; it is an undoubted fact; that; as a reward for that abundant charity which the monastery had always; in times of need; exercised towards strangers and poor persons; in a season of approaching famine; their corn and provisions were perceptibly; by divine assistance; increased; like the widow's cruise of oil by the means of the prophet Elijah。 About the time of its foundation; a young man of those parts; by birth a Welshman; having claimed and endeavoured to apply to his own use certain lands which had been given to the monastery; by the instigation of the devil set on fire the best barn belonging to the monks; which was filled with corn; but; immediately becoming mad; he ran about the country in a distracted state; nor ceased raving until he was seized by his parents and bound。 Having burst his bonds; and tired out his keepers; he came the next morning to the gate of the monastery; incessantly howling out that he was inwardly burnt by the influence of the monks; and thus in a few days expired; uttering the most miserable complaints。 It happened also; that a young man was struck by another in the guests' hall; but on the following day; by divine vengeance; the aggressor was; in the presence of the fraternity; killed by an enemy; and his lifeless body was laid out in the same spot in the hall where the sacred house had been violated。 In our time too; in a period of scarcity; while great multitudes of poor were daily crowding before the gates for relief; by the unanimous consent of the brethren; a ship was sent to Bristol to purchase corn for charitable purposes。 The vessel; delayed by contrary winds; and not returning (but rather affording an opportunity for the miracle); on the very day when there would have been a total deficiency of corn; both for the poor and the convent; a field near the monastery was found suddenly to ripen; more than a month before the usual time of harvest: thus; divine Providence supplied the brotherhood and the numerous poor with sufficient nourishment until autumn。 By these and other signs of virtues; the place accepted by God began to be generally esteemed and venerated。
It came to pass also in our days; during the period when the four sons of Caradoc son of Iestin; and nephews of prince Rhys by his sister; namely; Morgan; Meredyth; Owen; and Cadwallon; bore rule for their father in those parts; that Cadwallon; through inveterate malice; slew his brother Owen。 But divine vengeance soon overtook him; for on his making a hostile attack on a certain castle; he was crushed to pieces by the sudden fall of its walls: and thus; in the presence of a numerous body of his own and his brother's forces; suffered the punishment which his barbarous and unnatural conduct had so justly merited。
Another circumstance which happened here deserves notice。 A greyhound belonging to the aforesaid Owen; large; beautiful; and curiously spotted with a variety of colours; received seven wounds from arrows and lances; in the defence of his master; and on his part did much injury to the enemy and assassins。 When his wounds were healed; he was sent to king Henry II。 by William earl of Gloucester; in testimony of so great and extraordinary a deed。 A dog; of all animals; is most attached to man; and most easily distinguishes him; sometimes; when deprived of his master; he refuses to live; and in his master's defence is bold enough to brave death; ready; therefore; to die; either with or for his master。 I do not think it superfluous to insert here an example which Suetonius gives in his book on the nature of animals; and which Ambrosius also relates in his Exameron。 〃A man; accompanied by a dog; was killed in a remote part of the city of Antioch; by a soldier; for the sake of plunder。 The murderer; concealed by the darkness of the morning; escaped into another part of the city; the corpse lay unburied; a large concourse of people assembled; and the dog; with bitter howlings; lamented his master's fate。 The murderer; by chance; passed that way; and; in order to prove his innocence; mingled with the crowd of spectators; and; as if moved by compassion; approached the body of the deceased。 The dog; suspending for a while his moans; assumed the arms of revenge; rushed upon the man; and seized him; howling at the same time in so dolorous a manner; that all present shed tears。 It was considered as a proof against the murderer; that the dog seized him from amongst so many; and would not let him go; and especially; as neither the crime of hatred; envy; or injury; could possibly; in this case; be urged against the dog。 On account; therefore; of such a strong suspicion of murder (which the soldier constantly denied); it was determined that the truth of the matter should be tried by combat。 The parties being assembled in a field; with a crowd of people around; the dog on one side; and the soldier; armed with a stick of a cubit's length; on the other; the murderer was at length overcome by the victorious dog; and suffered an ignominious death on the common gallows。
Pliny and Solinus relate that a certain king; who was very fond of dogs; and addicted to hunting; was taken and imprisoned by his enemies; and in a most wonderful manner liberated; without any assistance from his friends; by a pack of dogs; who had spontaneously sequestered themselves in the mountainous and woody regions; and from thence committed many atrocious acts of depredation on the neighbouring herds and flocks。 I shall take this opportunity of mentioning what from experience and ocular testimony I have observed respecting the nature of dogs。 A dog is in general sagacious; but particularly with respect to his master; for when he has for some time lost him in a crowd; he depends more upon his nose than upon his eyes; and; in endeavouring to find him; he first looks about; and then applies his nose; for greater certainty; to his clothes; as if nature had placed all the powers of infallibility in that feature。 The tongue of a dog possesses a medicinal quality; the wolf's; on the contrary; a poisonous: the dog heals his wounds by licking them; the wolf; by a similar practice; infects them; and the dog; if he has received a wound in his neck or head; or any part of his body where he cannot apply his tongue; ingeniously makes use of his hinder foot as a conveyance of the healing qualities to the parts affected。
CHAPTER VIII
Passage of the rivers Avon and Neth … and of Abertawe and Goer
Continuing our journey; {89} not far from Margan; where the alternate vicissitudes of a sandy shore and the tide commence; we forded over the river Avon; having been considerably delayed by the ebbing of the sea; and under the guidance of Morgan; eldest son of Caradoc; proceeded along the sea…shore towards the river Neth; which; on account of its quicksands; is the most dangerous and inaccessible river in South Wales。 A pack…horse belonging to the author; which had proceeded by the lower way near the sea; although in the midst of many others; was the only one which sunk do