wild wales-第153章
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unfortunates placed themselves at the side of the door； and gave me
to understand that they wanted alms； each in his or her particular
manner； divil an alms did I give them； but let them stand and took
no heed of them； so that at last they took themselves off；
grumbling and cursing。 And little did I care for their grumblings
and cursings。 Two days before I wouldn't have had an unfortunate
grumble at me； or curse me； for all the riches below the sun； but
now their grumblings and curses didn't give me the slightest
unasiness； for I had an evil prayer spoken against me in the Shanna
Gailey by the monstrous woman； and I knew that I was blighted in
this world and the next。 In a little time I ceased to pay any heed
to the farming business； or to the affairs of the house； so that my
sons had no comfort in their home。 And I took to drink and induced
my eldest son to take to drink too … my youngest son； however； did
not take to drink； but conducted himself well； and toiled and
laboured like a horse and often begged me and his brother to
consider what we were about； and not to go on in a way which would
bring us all to ruin； but I paid no regard to what he said； and his
brother followed my example； so that at last seeing things were
getting worse every day； and that we should soon be turned out of
house and home； for no rint was paid； every penny that could be got
being consumed in waste； he bade us farewell and went and listed
for a sodger。 But if matters were bad enough before he went away；
they became much worse after； for now when the unfortunates came to
the door for alms； instead of letting them stand in pace till they
were tired； and took themselves off； I would mock them and point at
them； and twit them with their sores and other misfortunes； and not
unfrequently I would fling scalding water over them； which would
send them howling and honing away； till at last there was not an
unfortunate but feared to come within a mile of my door。 Moreover
I began to misconduct myself at chapel； more especially at the
Aifrionn or Mass； for no sooner was the bell rung； and the holy
corpus raised； than I would shout and hoorah； and go tumbling and
toppling along the floor before the holy body； as I just now
tumbled along the road before you； so that the people were
scandalized； and would take me by the shoulders and turn me out of
doors； and began to talk of ducking me in the bog。 The priest of
the parish； however； took my part； saying that I ought not to be
persecuted； for that I was not accountable for what I did； being a
possessed person； and under the influence of divils。 'These；
however；' said he； 'I'll soon cast out from her； and then the woman
will be a holy cratur； much better than she ever was before。' A
very learned man was Father Hogan； especially in casting out
divils； and a portly； good…looking man too； only he had a large
rubicon nose； which people said he got by making over free with the
cratur in sacret。 I had often looked at the nose； when the divil
was upon me； and felt an inclination to seize hold of it； just to
see how it felt。 Well； he had me to his house several times； and
there he put holy cloths upon me； and tied holy images to me； and
read to me out of holy books； and sprinkled holy water over me； and
put questions to me； and at last was so plased with the answers I
gave him； that he prached a sermon about me in the chapel； in which
he said that he had cast six of my divils out of me； and should
cast out the seventh； which was the last； by the next Sabbath； and
then should present me to the folks in the chapel as pure a vessel
as the blessed Mary herself … and that I was destined to accomplish
great things； and to be a mighty instrument in the hands of the
Holy Church； for that he intended to write a book about me；
describing the miracle he had performed in casting the seven divils
out of me； which he should get printed at the printing…press of the
blessed Columba； and should send me through all Ireland to sell the
copies； the profits of which would go towards the support of the
holy society for casting out unclane spirits； to which he himself
belonged。 Well； the people showed that they were plased by a loud
shout； and went away longing for the next Sunday when I was to be
presented to them without a divil in me。 Five times the next week
did I go to the priest's house； to be read to； and be sprinkled；
and have cloths put upon me； in order that the work of casting out
the last divil； which it seems was stronger than all the rest；
might be made smooth and aisy； and on the Saturday I came to have
the last divil cast out； and found his riverince in full
canonicals； seated in his aisy chair。 'Daughter；' said he when he
saw me； 'the work is nearly over。 Now kneel down before me； and I
will make the sign of the cross over your forehead； and then you
will feel the last and strongest of the divils； which have so long
possessed ye； go out of ye through your eyes； as I expect you will
say to the people assembled in the chapel to…morrow。' So I put
myself on my knees before his reverence； who after muttering
something to himself； either in Latin or Shanna Gailey … I believe
it was Latin； said； 'Look me in the face； daughter！' Well； I
looked his reverence in the face； and there I saw his nose looking
so large； red； and inviting that I could not resist the temptation；
and before his reverence could make the sign of the cross； which
doubtless would have driven the divil out of me； I made a spring at
it； and seizing hold of it with forefinger and thumb； pulled hard
at it。 Hot and inctious did it feel。 Oh； the yell that his
reverence gave！ However； I did not let go my hold； but kept
pulling at the nose； till at last to avoid the torment； his
reverence came tumbling down upon me； causing me by his weight to
fall back upon the floor。 At the yell which he gave； and at the
noise of the fall； in came rushing his reverence's housekeeper and
stable…boy； who seeing us down on the floor； his reverence upon me
and my hand holding his reverence's nose； for I felt loth to let it
go； they remained in astonishment and suspense。 When his
reverence； however； begged them； for the Virgin's sake； to separate
him from the divil of a woman； they ran forward； and having with
some difficulty freed his reverence's nose from my hand； they
helped him up。 The first thing that his reverence did； on being
placed on his legs； was to make for a horse…whip； which stood in
one corner of the room； but I guessing how he meant to use it；
sprang up from the floor； and before he could make a cut at me； ran
out of the room； and hasted home。 The next day； when all the
people for twenty miles round met in the chapel； in the expectation
of seeing me presented to them a purified and holy female； and
hearing from my mouth the account of the miracle which his
reverence had performed； his reverence made his appearance in the
pulpit with a dale of gould bater's leaf on his nose； and from the
pulpit he told the people how I had used him； showing them the
gould bater's leaf on his feature； as testimony of the truth of his
words； finishing by saying that if at first there were seven
devils； there were now seven times seven within me。 Well； when the
people heard the story； and saw his nose with the bater's leaf upon
it； they at first began to laugh； but when he appealed to their
consciences； and asked them if such was fitting tratement for a
praist； they said it was not； and that if he would only but curse
me； they would soon do him justice upon me。 His reverence then
cursed by book； bell； and candle； and the people； setting off from
the chapel； came in a crowd to the house where I lived； to wrake
vengeance upon me。 Overtaking my son by the way； who was coming
home in a state of intoxication； they bate him within an inch of
his life； and left him senseless on the ground； and no doubt would
have served me much worse； only seeing them coming； and guessing
what they came about； though I was a bit intoxicated myself； I
escaped by
