wild wales-第79章
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was a North Briton； as I have stated somewhere before； and I had
scraped acquaintance with him； and had got somewhat into his good
graces by praising Dumfries； his native place； and descanting to
him upon the beauties of the poetry of his celebrated countryman；
my old friend； Allan Cunningham； some of whose works he had
perused； and with whom as he said； he had once the honour of
shaking hands。 In reply to my question he told me that it was
doubtful whether any examination would take place； as the wounded
man was in a very weak state； but that if I would return in half…
an…hour he would let me know。 I went away； and at the end of the
half…hour returned； when he told me that there would be no public
examination； owing to the extreme debility of the wounded man； but
that one of the magistrates was about to proceed to his house and
take his deposition in the presence of the criminal and also of the
witnesses of the deed； and that if I pleased I might go along with
him； and he had no doubt that the magistrate would have no
objection to my being present。 We set out together； as we were
going along I questioned him about the state of the country； and
gathered from him that there was occasionally a good deal of crime
in Wales。
〃Are the Welsh a clannish people？〃 I demanded。
〃Very；〃 said he。
〃As clannish as the Highlanders？〃 said I。
〃Yes；〃 said he； 〃and a good deal more。〃
We came to the house of the wounded butcher； which was some way out
of the town in the north…western suburb。 The magistrate was in the
lower apartment with the clerk； one or two officials； and the
surgeon of the town。 He was a gentleman of about two or three and
forty； with a military air and large moustaches； for besides being
a justice of the peace and a landed proprietor； he was an officer
in the army。 He made me a polite bow when I entered； and I
requested of him permission to be present at the examination。 He
hesitated a moment and then asked me my motive for wishing to be
present at it。
〃Merely curiosity；〃 said I。
He then observed that as the examination would be a private one； my
being permitted or not was quite optional。
〃I am aware of that；〃 said I； 〃and if you think my remaining is
objectionable I will forthwith retire。〃 He looked at the clerk；
who said there could be no objection to my staying； and turning
round to his superior said something to him which I did not hear；
whereupon the magistrate again bowed and said that he should he
very happy to grant my request。
We went upstairs and found the wounded man in bed with a bandage
round his forehead； and his wife sitting by his bedside。 The
magistrate and his officials took their seats； and I was
accommodated with a chair。 Presently the prisoner was introduced
under the charge of a policeman。 He was a fellow somewhat above
thirty； of the middle size； and wore a dirty white frock coat； his
right arm was partly confined by a manacle。 A young girl was
sworn； who deposed that she saw the prisoner run after the other
with something in his hand。 The wounded man was then asked whether
he thought he was able to make a deposition； he replied in a very
feeble tone that he thought he was； and after being sworn deposed
that on the preceding Saturday； as he was going to his stall； the
prisoner came up to him and asked whether he had ever done him any
injury？ he said no。 〃I then；〃 said he； 〃observed the prisoner's
countenance undergo a change； and saw him put his hand to his
waistcoat…pocket and pull out a knife。 I straight became
frightened； and ran away as fast as I could； the prisoner followed；
and overtaking me； stabbed me in the face。 I ran into the yard of
a public…house and into the shop of an acquaintance； where I fell
down； the blood spouting out of my wound。〃 Such was the deposition
of the wounded butcher。 He was then asked whether there had been
any quarrel between him and the prisoner？ He said there had been
no quarrel； but that he had refused to drink with the prisoner when
he requested him； which he had done very frequently； and had more
than once told him that he did not wish for his acquaintance。 The
prisoner； on being asked； after the usual caution； whether he had
anything to say； said that he merely wished to mark the man but not
to kill him。 The surgeon of the place deposed to the nature of the
wound； and on being asked his opinion with respect to the state of
the prisoner's mind； said that he believed that he might be
labouring under a delusion。 After the prisoner's bloody weapon and
coat had been produced he was committed。
It was generally said that the prisoner was disordered in his mind；
I held my tongue； but judging from his look and manner I saw no
reason to suppose that he was any more out of his senses than I
myself； or any person present； and I had no doubt that what induced
him to commit the act was rage at being looked down upon by a
quondam acquaintance； who was rising a little in the world；
exacerbated by the reflection that the disdainful quondam
acquaintance was one of the Saxon race； against which every
Welshman entertains a grudge more or less virulent； which； though
of course； very unchristianlike； is really； brother Englishman；
after the affair of the long knives； and two or three other actions
of a somewhat similar character of our noble Anglo…Saxon
progenitors； with which all Welshmen are perfectly well acquainted；
not very much to be wondered at。
CHAPTER LIII
The Dylluan … The Oldest Creatures。
MUCH rain fell about the middle of the month； in the intervals of
the showers I occasionally walked by the banks of the river which
speedily became much swollen； it was quite terrible both to the
sight and ear near the 〃Robber's Leap；〃 there were breakers above
the higher stones at least five feet high and a roar around almost
sufficient 〃to scare a hundred men。〃 The pool of Lingo was
strangely altered； it was no longer the quiet pool which it was in
summer； verifying the words of the old Welsh poet that the deepest
pool of the river is always the stillest in the summer and of the
softest sound； but a howling turbid gulf； in which branches of
trees； dead animals and rubbish were whirling about in the wildest
confusion。 The nights were generally less rainy than the days； and
sometimes by the pallid glimmer of the moon I would take a stroll
along some favourite path or road。 One night as I was wandering
slowly along the path leading through the groves of Pen y Coed I
was startled by an unearthly cry … it was the shout of the dylluan
or owl； as it flitted over the tops of the trees on its nocturnal
business。
Oh； that cry of the dylluan！ what a strange wild cry it is； how
unlike any other sound in nature！ a cry which no combination of
letters can give the slightest idea of。 What resemblance does
Shakespear's to…whit…to…whoo bear to the cry of the owl？ none
whatever； those who hear it for the first time never know what it
is； however accustomed to talk of the cry of the owl and to…whit…
to…whoo。 A man might be wandering through a wood with Shakespear's
owl…chorus in his mouth； but were he then to hear for the first
time the real shout of the owl he would assuredly stop short and
wonder whence that unearthly cry could proceed。
Yet no doubt that strange cry is a fitting cry for the owl； the
strangest in its habits and look of all birds； the bird of whom by
all nations the strangest tales are told。 Oh； what strange tales
are told of the owl； especially in connection with its long…
lifedness； but of all the strange wild tales connected with the age
of the owl； strangest of all is the old Welsh tale。 When I heard
the owl's cry in the groves of Pen y Coed that tale rushed into my
mind。 I had heard it from the singular groom who had taught me to
gabble Welsh in my boyhood； and had subsequently read it in an old
tattered Welsh story…book； which by chance fell into my hands。 The
reader will perhaps be obliged by my relating it。
〃The eagle of the alder grove； after being long married and having
had many c
