itinerary of archibishop-第26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！
f Wales； from whence arose the British proverb； 〃Mon mam Cymbry； Mona mother of Wales；〃 and when the crops have been defective in all other parts of the country； this island； from the richness of its soil and abundant produce； has been able to supply all Wales。
As many things within this island are worthy of remark； I shall not think it superfluous to make mention of some of them。 There is a stone here resembling a human thigh； ｛164｝ which possesses this innate virtue； that whatever distance it may be carried； it returns； of its own accord； the following night； as has often been experienced by the inhabitants。 Hugh； earl of Chester； ｛165｝ in the reign of king Henry I。； having by force occupied this island and the adjacent country； heard of the miraculous power of this stone； and； for the purpose of trial； ordered it to be fastened； with strong iron chains； to one of a larger size； and to be thrown into the sea。 On the following morning； however； according to custom； it was found in its original position； on which account the earl issued a public edict； that no one； from that time； should presume to move the stone from its place。 A countryman； also； to try the powers of this stone； fastened it to his thigh； which immediately became putrid； and the stone returned to its original situation。
There is in the same island a stony hill； not very large or high； from one side of which； if you cry aloud； you will not be heard on the other； and it is called （by anti…phrasis） the rock of hearers。 In the northern part of Great Britain （Northumberland） so named by the English； from its situation beyond the river Humber； there is a hill of a similar nature； where if a loud horn or trumpet is sounded on one side； it cannot be heard on the opposite one。 There is also in this island the church of St。 Tefredaucus； ｛166｝ into which Hugh； earl of Shrewsbury； （who； together with the earl of Chester； had forcibly entered Anglesey）； on a certain night put some dogs； which on the following morning were found mad； and he himself died within a month； for some pirates； from the Orcades； having entered the port of the island in their long vessels； the earl； apprised of their approach； boldly met them； rushing into the sea upon a spirited horse。 The commander of the expedition； Magnus； standing on the prow of the foremost ship； aimed an arrow at him； and； although the earl was completely equipped in a coat of mail； and guarded in every part of his body except his eyes； the unlucky weapon struck his right eye； and； entering his brain； he fell a lifeless corpse into the sea。 The victor； seeing him in this state； proudly and exultingly exclaimed； in the Danish tongue； 〃Leit loup；〃 let him leap； and from this time the power of the English ceased in Anglesey。 In our times； also； when Henry II。 was leading an army into North Wales； where he had experienced the ill fortune of war in a narrow； woody pass near Coleshulle； he sent a fleet into Anglesey； and began to plunder the aforesaid church； and other sacred places。 But the divine vengeance pursued him； for the inhabitants rushed upon the invaders； few against many； unarmed against armed； and having slain great numbers； and taken many prisoners； gained a most complete and bloody victory。 For； as our Topography of Ireland testifies； that the Welsh and Irish are more prone to anger and revenge than any other nations； the saints； likewise； of those countries appear to be of a more vindictive nature。
Two noble persons； and uncles of the author of this book； were sent thither by the king； namely； Henry； son of king Henry I。； and uncle to king Henry II。； by Nest； daughter of Rhys； prince of South Wales； and Robert Fitz…Stephen； brother to Henry； a man who in our days； shewing the way to others； first attacked Ireland； and whose fame is recorded in our Vaticinal History。 Henry； actuated by too much valour； and ill supported； was pierced by a lance； and fell amongst the foremost； to the great concern of his attendants； and Robert； despairing of being able to defend himself； was badly wounded； and escaped with difficulty to the ships。
There is a small island； almost adjoining to Anglesey； which is inhabited by hermits； living by manual labour； and serving God。 It is remarkable that when； by the influence of human passions； any discord arises among them； all their provisions are devoured and infected by a species of small mice； with which the island abounds； but when the discord ceases； they are no longer molested。 Nor is it to be wondered at； if the servants of God sometimes disagree； since Jacob and Esau contended in the womb of Rebecca； and Paul and Barnabas differed； the disciples also of Jesus disputed which of them should be the greatest； for these are the temptations of human infirmity； yet virtue is often made perfect by infirmity； and faith is increased by tribulations。 This island is called in Welsh； Ynys Lenach； ｛167｝ or the ecclesiastical island； because many bodies of saints are deposited there； and no woman is suffered to enter it。
We saw in Anglesey a dog； who accidentally had lost his tail； and whose whole progeny bore the same defect。 It is wonderful that nature should； as it were； conform itself in this particular to the accident of the father。 We saw also a knight； named Earthbald； born in Devonshire； whose father； denying the child with which his mother was pregnant； and from motives of jealousy accusing her of inconstancy； nature alone decided the controversy by the birth of the child； who； by a miracle； exhibited on his upper lip a scar； similar to one his father bore in consequence of a wound he had received from a lance in one of his military expeditions。 Stephen； the son of Earthbald； had a similar mark； the accident being in a manner converted into nature。 A like miracle of nature occurred in earl Alberic； son of Alberic earl of Veer； ｛168｝ whose father； during the pregnancy of his mother； the daughter of Henry of Essex； having laboured to procure a divorce； on account of the ignominy of her father； the child； when born； had the same blemish in its eye； as the father had got from a casual hurt。 These defects may be entailed on the offspring； perhaps； by the impression made on the memory by frequent and steady observation； as it is reported that a queen； accustomed to see the picture of a negro in her chamber； unexpectedly brought forth a black child； and is exculpated by Quintilian； on account of the picture。 In like manner it happened to the spotted sheep； given by Laban out of his flock to his nephew Jacob； and which conceived by means of variegated rods。 ｛169｝ Nor is the child always affected by the mother's imagination alone； but sometimes by that of the father； for it is well known that a man； seeing a passenger near him； who was convulsed both behind and before； on going home and telling his wife that he could not get the impression of this sight off his mind； begat a child who was affected in a similar manner。
CHAPTER VIII
Passage of the river Conwy in a boat； and of Dinas Emrys
On our return to Banchor from Mona； we were shown the tombs of prince Owen and his younger brother Cadwalader； ｛170｝ who were buried in a double vault before the high altar； although Owen； on account of his public incest with his cousin…german； had died excommunicated by the blessed martyr St。 Thomas； the bishop of that see having been enjoined to seize a proper opportunity of removing his body from the church。 We continued our journey on the sea coast； confined on one side by steep rocks； and by the sea on the other； towards the river Conwy； which preserves its waters unadulterated by the sea。 Not far from the source of the river Conwy； at the head of the Eryri mountain； which on this side extends itself towards the north； stands Dinas Emrys； that is； the promontory of Ambrosius； where Merlin ｛171｝ uttered his prophecies； whilst Vortigern was seated upon the bank。 There were two Merlins； the one called Ambrosius who prophesied in the time of king Vortigern； was begotten by a demon incubus； and found at Caermardin； from which circumstance that city derived its name of Caermardin； or the city of Merlin； the other Merlin； born in Scotland； was named Celidonius； from the
