wild wales-第134章
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lot； a man was brought up charged with stealing one bullock。 Tom
no sooner cast eye on the man than he remembered him quite well。
Many years before Tom had stole a pair of oxen； which he wished to
get through the town of Brecon； but did not dare to drive them
through； for at that very time there was one warrant out against
Tom at Brecon for something he had done。 So Tom stands with his
oxen on the road； scratching his head and not knowing what to do。
At length there comes a man along the road； making towards Brecon；
to whom Tom says： 'Honest man； I want these two oxen to be driven
to such and such a public…house two miles beyond Brecon； I would
drive them myself only I have business to do elsewhere of more
importance。 Now if you will drive them for me there and wait till
I come； which will not be long； I will give you a groat。' Says the
man； 'I will drive them there for nothing； for as my way lies past
that same public…house I can easily afford to do so。' So Tom
leaves the oxen with the man； and by rough and roundabout road
makes for the public…house … beyond Brecon； where he finds the man
waiting with the oxen； who hands them over to him and goes on his
way。 Now； in the man brought up before him and the other big wigs
on the bench for stealing the bullock； Tom does recognise the man
who had done him that same good turn。 Well！ the evidence was heard
against the man； and it soon appeared quite clear that the man did
really steal the bullock。 Says the other big wigs to Tom： 'The
fact has been proved quite clear。 What have we now to do but to
adshudge at once that the domm'd thief be hung？' But Tom； who
remembered that the man had once done him one good turn； had made
up his mind to save the man。 So says he to the other big wigs：
'My very worthy esteemed friends and coadshutors； I do perfectly
agree with you that the fact has been proved clear enough； but with
respect to de man； I should be very much grieved should he be hung
for this one fact； for I did know him long time ago； and did find
him to be one domm'd honest man in one transaction which I had with
him。 So my wordy and esteemed friends and coadshutors I should
esteem it one great favour if you would adshudge that the man
should be let off this one time。 If； however； you deem it
inexpedient to let the man off； then of course the man must be
hung； for I shall not presume to set my opinions and judgments
against your opinions and judgments； which are far better than my
own。' Then the other big wigs did look very big and solemn； and
did shake their heads and did whisper to one another that they were
afraid the matter could not be done。 At last； however； they did
come to the conclusion that as Tom had said that he had known the
fellow once to be one domm'd honest man； and as they had a great
regard for Tom； who was one domm'd good magistrate and highly
respectable gentleman with whom they were going to dine the next
day … for Tom I must tell you was in the habit of giving the very
best dinners in all Shire Brecon … it might not be incompatible
with the performance of their duty to let the man off this one
time； seeing as how the poor fellow had probably merely made one
slight little mistake。 Well： to make the matter short； the man
was let off with only a slight reprimand； and left the court。
Scarcely； however； had he gone twenty yards； when Tom was after
him； and tapping him on the shoulder said： 'Honest friend； a word
with you！' Then the man turning round Tom said： 'Do you know me；
pray？' 'I think I do； your honour；' said the man。 'I think your
honour was one of the big wigs； who were just now so kind as to let
me off。' 'I was so；' said Tom； 'and it is well for you that I was
the biggest of these big wigs before whom you stood placed；
otherwise to a certainty you would have been hung up on high； but
did you ever see me before this affair？' 'No； your honour；' said
the man； 'I don't remember ever to have seen your honour before。'
Says Tom； 'Don't you remember one long time ago driving a pair of
oxen through Brecon for a man who stood scratching his head on the
road？' 'Oh yes；' says the man； 'I do remember that well enough。'
'Well；' said Tom； 'I was that man。 I had stolen that pair of oxen；
and I dared not drive them through Brecon。 You drove them for me；
and for doing me that good turn I have this day saved your life。 I
was thief then but am now big wig。 I am Twm Shone Catti。 Now
lookee！ I have saved your life this one time； but I can never save
it again。 Should you ever be brought up before me again； though
but for stealing one kid； I will hang you as high as ever Haman was
hung。 One word more； here are five pieces of gold。 Take them：
employ them well； and reform as I have done； and perhaps in time
you may become one big wig； like myself。' Well： the man took the
money； and laid it out to the best advantage； and became at last so
highly respectable a character that they made him a constable。 And
now； my gentleman； we are close upon Tregaron。〃
After descending a hill we came to what looked a small suburb； and
presently crossed a bridge over the stream； the waters of which
sparkled merrily in the beams of the moon which was now shining
bright over some lofty hills to the south…east。 Beyond the bridge
was a small market…place； on the right…hand side of which stood an
ancient looking church。 The place upon the whole put me very much
in mind of an Andalusian village overhung by its sierra。 〃Where is
the inn？〃 said I to my companion。
〃Yonder it be；〃 said he pointing to a large house at the farther
end of the market…place。 〃Very good inn that … Talbot Arms … where
they are always glad to see English gentlemans。〃 Then touching his
hat； and politely waving his hand； he turned on one side； and I saw
him no more。
CHAPTER XCIII
Tregaron Church … The Minister … Good Morning … Tom Shone's
Disguises … Tom and the Lady … Klim and Catti。
I EXPERIENCED very good entertainment at the Tregaron Inn； had an
excellent supper and a very comfortable bed。 I arose at about
eight in the morning。 The day was dull and misty。 After
breakfast； according to my usual fashion； I took a stroll to see
about。 The town； which is very small； stands in a valley； near
some wild hills called the Berwyn； like the range to the south of
Llangollen。 The stream； which runs through it and which falls into
the Teivi at a little distance from the town； is called the
Brennig； probably because it descends from the Berwyn hills。 These
southern Berwyns form a very extensive mountain region； extending
into Brecon and Carmarthenshire； and contain within them； as I long
subsequently found； some of the wildest solitudes and most romantic
scenery in Wales。 High up amidst them； at about five miles from
Tregaron； is a deep； broad lake which constitutes the source of the
Towy； a very beautiful stream； which after many turnings and
receiving the waters of numerous small streams discharges itself
into Carmarthen Bay。
I did not fail to pay a visit to Tregaron church。 It is an antique
building with a stone tower。 The door being open； as the door of a
church always should be； I entered； and was kindly shown by the
clerk； whom I met in the aisle； all about the sacred edifice。
There was not much to be seen。 Amongst the monuments was a stone
tablet to John Herbert； who died 1690。 The clerk told me that the
name of the clergyman of Tregaron was Hughes； he said that he was
an excellent； charitable man； who preached the Gospel； and gave
himself great trouble in educating the children of the poor。 He
certainly seemed to have succeeded in teaching them good manners：
as I was leaving the church； I met a number of little boys
belonging to the church school： no sooner did they see me than
they drew themselves up it； a rank on one side； and as I passed
took off their caps and simultaneously shouted； 〃Good…morning！〃
And now something with respect to the celebrated hero of Tregaron；
Tom Shone Catti； concerning whom I picked up a good deal
