wild wales-第22章
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what its name was； but he did not know。 As we were standing
talking about it； a lady came up from the direction in which our
course lay。 John Jones； touching his hat to her； said：
〃Madam； this gwr boneddig wishes to know the name of that moel；
perhaps you can tell him。〃
〃Its name is Moel Agrik；〃 said the lady； addressing me in English。
〃Does that mean Agricola's hill？〃 said I。
〃It does；〃 said she； 〃and there is a tradition that the Roman
General Agricola； when he invaded these parts； pitched his camp on
that moel。 The hill is spoken of by Pennant。〃
〃Thank you； madam；〃 said I； 〃perhaps you can tell me the name of
the delightful grounds in which we stand； supposing they have a
name？〃
〃They are called Oaklands；〃 said the lady。
〃A very proper name；〃 said I； 〃for there is plenty of oaks growing
about。 But why are they called by a Saxon name； for Oaklands is
Saxon？〃
〃Because；〃 said the lady； 〃when the grounds were first planted with
trees they belonged to an English family。〃
〃Thank you；〃 said I； and； taking off my hat； I departed with my
guide。 I asked him her name； but he could not tell me。 Before she
was out of sight； however； we met a labourer of whom John Jones
enquired her name。
〃Her name is W…s；〃 said the man； 〃and a good lady she is。〃
〃Is she Welsh？〃 said I。
〃Pure Welsh； master；〃 said the man。 〃Purer Welsh flesh and blood
need not be。〃
Nothing farther worth relating occurred till we reached the toll…
bar at the head of the hen ffordd； by which time the sun was almost
gone down。 We found the master of the gate； his wife and son
seated on a bench before the door。 The woman had a large book on
her lap； in which she was reading by the last light of the
departing orb。 I gave the group the sele of the evening in
English； which they all returned； the woman looking up from her
book。
〃Is that volume the Bible？〃 said I。
〃It is； sir；〃 said the woman。
〃May I look at it？〃 said I。
〃Certainly；〃 said the woman； and placed the book in my hand。 It
was a magnificent Welsh Bible； but without the title…page。
〃That book must be a great comfort to you；〃 said I to her。
〃Very great；〃 said she。 〃I know not what we should do without it
in the long winter evenings。〃
〃Of what faith are you？〃 said I。
〃We are Methodists；〃 she replied。
〃Then you are of the same faith as my friend here；〃 said I。
〃Yes； yes；〃 said she； 〃we are aware of that。 We all know honest
John Jones。〃
After we had left the gate I asked John Jones whether he had ever
heard of Rebecca of the toll…gates。
〃Oh； yes；〃 said he； 〃I have heard of that chieftainess。〃
〃And who was she？〃 said I。
〃I cannot say； sir； I never saw her； nor any one who had seen her。
Some say that there were a hundred Rebeccas； and all of them men
dressed in women's clothes； who went about at night； at the head of
bands to break the gates。 Ah； sir； something of the kind was
almost necessary at that time。 I am a friend of peace； sir； no
head…breaker； house…breaker； nor gate…breaker； but I can hardly
blame what was done at that time； under the name of Rebecca。 You
have no idea how the poor Welsh were oppressed by those gates； aye；
and the rich too。 The little people and farmers could not carry
their produce to market owing to the exactions at the gates； which
devoured all the profit and sometimes more。 So that the markets
were not half supplied； and people with money could frequently not
get what they wanted。 Complaints were made to government； which
not being attended to； Rebecca and her byddinion made their
appearance at night； and broke the gates to pieces with sledge…
hammers； and everybody said it was gallant work； everybody save the
keepers of the gates and the proprietors。 Not only the poor but
the rich； said so。 Aye； and I have heard that many a fine young
gentleman had a hand in the work； and went about at night at the
head of a band dressed as Rebecca。 Well； sir； those breakings were
acts of violence； I don't deny； but they did good； for the system
is altered； such impositions are no longer practised at gates as
were before the time of Rebecca。〃
〃Were any people ever taken up and punished for those nocturnal
breakings？〃 said I。
〃No； sir； and I have heard say that nobody's being taken up was a
proof that the rich approved of the work and had a hand in it。〃
Night had come on by the time we reached the foot of the huge hills
we had crossed in the morning。 We toiled up the ascent； and after
crossing the level ground on the top； plunged down the bwlch
between walking and running； occasionally stumbling； for we were
nearly in complete darkness； and the bwlch was steep and stony。 We
more than once passed people who gave us the n's da； the hissing
night salutation of the Welsh。 At length I saw the Abbey looming
amidst the darkness； and John Jones said that； we were just above
the fountain。 We descended； and putting my head down I drank
greedily of the dwr santaidd； my guide following my example。 We
then proceeded on our way； and in about half…an…hour reached
Llangollen。 I took John Jones home with me。 We had a cheerful cup
of tea。 Henrietta played on the guitar； and sang a Spanish song；
to the great delight of John Jones； who at about ten o'clock
departed contented and happy to his own dwelling。
CHAPTER XVII
John Jones and his Bundle … A Good Lady … The Irishman's Dingle …
Ab Gwilym and the Mist … The Kitchen … The Two Individuals … The
Horse…Dealer … I can manage him … The Mist Again。
THE following day was gloomy。 In the evening John Jones made his
appearance with a bundle under his arm； and an umbrella in his
hand。
〃Sir；〃 said he； 〃I am going across the mountain with it piece of
weaving work； for the man on the other side； who employs me。
Perhaps you would like to go with me； as you are fond of walking。〃
〃I suppose；〃 said I； 〃you wish to have my company for fear of
meeting Gwyddelians on the hill。〃
John smiled。
〃Well； sir；〃 said he； 〃if I do meet them I would sooner be with
company than without。 But I dare venture by myself； trusting in
the Man on High； and perhaps I do wrong to ask you to go； as you
must be tired with your walk of yesterday。〃
〃Hardly more than yourself；〃 said I。 〃Come； I shall be glad to go。
What I said about the Gwyddelians was only in jest。〃
As we were about to depart John said：
〃It does not rain at present； sir； but I think it will。 You had
better take an umbrella。〃
I did so； and away we went。 We passed over the bridge； and turning
to the right went by the back of the town through a field。 As we
passed by the Plas Newydd John Jones said：
〃No one lives there now； sir； all dark and dreary； very different
from the state of things when the ladies lived there … all gay then
and cheerful。 I remember the ladies； sir； particularly the last；
who lived by herself after her companion died。 She was a good
lady； and very kind to the poor； when they came to her gate they
were never sent away without something to cheer them。 She was a
grand lady too … kept grand company； and used to be drawn about in
a coach by four horses。 But she too is gone； and the house is cold
and empty； no fire in it； sir； no furniture。 There was an auction
after her death； and a grand auction it was and lasted four days。
Oh； what a throng of people there was； some of whom came from a
great distance to buy the curious things； of which there were
plenty。〃
We passed over a bridge； which crosses a torrent； which descends
from the mountain on the south side of Llangollen； which bridge
John Jones told me was called the bridge of the Melin Bac； or mill
of the nook； from a mill of that name close by。 Continuing our way
we came to a glen； down which the torrent comes which passes under
the bridge。 There was little water in the bed of the torrent； and
we crossed easily enough by stepping…stones。 I looked up the glen；
a wild place enough； its sides overgrown with trees。 Dreary and
dismal it looked in the gloom of the closing evening。 John Jones
said that there was no regular path up
