wild wales-第80章
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〃The eagle of the alder grove； after being long married and having
had many children by his mate； lost her by death； and became a
widower。 After some time he took it into his head to marry the owl
of the Cowlyd Coomb； but fearing he should have issue by her； and
by that means sully his lineage； he went first of all to the oldest
creatures in the world in order to obtain information about her
age。 First he went to the stag of Ferny…side Brae； whom he found
sitting by the old stump of an oak； and inquired the age of the
owl。 The stag said： 'I have seen this oak an acorn which is now
lying on the ground without either leaves or bark： nothing in the
world wore it up but my rubbing myself against it once a day when I
got up； so I have seen a vast number of years； but I assure you
that I have never seen the owl older or younger than she is to…day。
However； there is one older than myself； and that is the salmon…
trout of Glyn Llifon。' To him went the eagle and asked him the age
of the owl and got for answer： 'I have a year over my head for
every gem on my skin and for every egg in my roe； yet have I always
seen the owl look the same； but there is one older than myself； and
that is the ousel of Cilgwry。' Away went the eagle to Cilgwry； and
found the ousel standing upon a little rock； and asked him the age
of the owl。 Quoth the ousel： 'You see that the rock below me is
not larger than a man can carry in one of his hands： I have seen
it so large that it would have taken a hundred oxen to drag it； and
it has never been worn save by my drying my beak upon it once every
night； and by my striking the tip of my wing against it in rising
in the morning； yet never have I known the owl older or younger
than she is to…day。 However； there is one older than I； and that
is the toad of Cors Fochnod； and unless he knows her age no one
knows it。' To him went the eagle and asked the age of the owl； and
the toad replied： 'I have never eaten anything save what I have
sucked from the earth； and have never eaten half my fill in all the
days of my life； but do you see those two great hills beside the
cross？ I have seen the place where they stand level ground； and
nothing produced those heaps save what I discharged from my body；
who have ever eaten so very little … yet never have I known the owl
anything else but an old hag who cried Too…hoo…hoo； and scared
children with her voice even as she does at present。' So the eagle
of Gwernabwy； the stag of Ferny…side Brae； the salmon trout of Glyn
Llifon； the ousel of Cilgwry； the toad of Cors Fochnod； and the owl
of Coomb Cowlyd are the oldest creatures in the world； the oldest
of them all being the owl。〃
CHAPTER LIV
Chirk … The Middleton Family … Castell y Waen … The Park … The
Court Yard … The Young Housekeeper … The Portraits … Melin y
Castell … Humble Meal … Fine Chests for the Dead … Hales and
Hercules。
THE weather having become fine； myself and family determined to go
and see Chirk Castle； a mansion ancient and beautiful； and
abounding with all kinds of agreeable and romantic associations。
It was founded about the beginning of the fifteenth century by a St
John； Lord of Bletsa； from a descendant of whom it was purchased in
the year 1615 by Sir Thomas Middleton； the scion of an ancient
Welsh family who； following commerce； acquired a vast fortune； and
was Lord Mayor of London。 In the time of the great civil war it
hoisted the banner of the king； and under Sir Thomas； the son of
the Lord Mayor； made a brave defence against Lambert； the
Parliamentary General； though eventually compelled to surrender。
It was held successively by four Sir Thomas Middletons； and if it
acquired a war…like celebrity under the second； it obtained a
peculiarly hospitable one under the fourth； whose daughter； the
fruit of a second marriage； became Countess of Warwick and
eventually the wife of the poet and moralist Addison。 In his time
the hospitality of Chirk became the theme of many a bard；
particularly of Huw Morris； who； in one of his songs； has gone so
far as to say that were the hill Cefn Uchaf turned into beef and
bread； and the rill Ceiriog into beer or wine； they would be
consumed in half a year by the hospitality of Chirk。 Though no
longer in the hands of one of the name of Middleton； Chirk Castle
is still possessed by one of the blood； the mother of the present
proprietor being the eldest of three sisters； lineal descendants of
the Lord Mayor； between whom in default of an heir male the wide
possessions of the Middleton family were divided。 This gentleman；
who bears the name of Biddulph； is Lord Lieutenant of the county of
Denbigh； and notwithstanding his war…breathing name； which is
Gothic； and signifies Wolf of Battle； is a person of highly amiable
disposition； and one who takes great interest in the propagation of
the Gospel of peace and love。
To view this place； which； though in English called Chirk Castle；
is styled in Welsh Castell y Waen； or the Castle of the Meadow； we
started on foot about ten o'clock of a fine bright morning；
attended by John Jones。 There are two roads from Llangollen to
Chirk； one the low or post road； and the other leading over the
Berwyn。 We chose the latter。 We passed by the Yew Cottage； which
I have described on a former occasion； and began to ascend the
mountain； making towards its north…eastern corner。 The road at
first was easy enough； but higher up became very steep； and
somewhat appalling； being cut out of the side of the hill which
shelves precipitously down towards the valley of the Dee。 Near the
top of the mountain were three lofty beech…trees growing on the
very verge of the precipice。 Here the road for about twenty yards
is fenced on its dangerous side by a wall； parts of which are built
between the stems of the trees。 Just beyond the wall a truly noble
prospect presented itself to our eyes。 To the north were bold
hills； their sides and skirts adorned with numerous woods and white
farm…houses； a thousand feet below us was the Dee and its wondrous
Pont y Cysultau。 John Jones said that if certain mists did not
intervene we might descry 〃the sea of Liverpool〃； and perhaps the
only thing wanting to make the prospect complete； was that sea of
Liverpool。 We were； however； quite satisfied with what we saw； and
turning round the corner of the hill； reached its top； where for a
considerable distance there is level ground； and where； though at a
great altitude； we found ourselves in a fair and fertile region；
and amidst a scene of busy rural life。 We saw fields and
inclosures； and here and there corn…stacks； some made； and others
not yet completed； about which people were employed； and waggons
and horses moving。 Passing over the top of the hill； we began to
descend the southern side； which was far less steep than the one we
had lately surmounted。 After a little way； the road descended
through a wood； which John Jones told us was the beginning of 〃the
Park of Biddulph。〃
〃There is plenty of game in this wood；〃 said he； 〃pheasant cocks
and pheasant hens； to say nothing of hares and coneys； and in the
midst of it there is a space sown with a particular kind of corn
for the support of the pheasant hens and pheasant cocks； which in
the shooting…season afford pleasant sport for Biddulph and his
friends。〃
Near the foot of the descent； just where the road made a turn to
the east； we passed by a building which stood amidst trees； with a
pond and barns near it。
〃This；〃 said John Jones； 〃is the house where the bailiff lives who
farms and buys and sells for Biddulph； and fattens the beeves and
swine； and the geese； ducks； and other poultry which Biddulph
consumes at his table。〃
The scenery was now very lovely； consisting of a mixture of hill
and dale； open space and forest； in fact the best kind of park
scenery。 We caught a glimpse of a lake in which John Jones said
there were generally plenty of swans； and presently saw the castle；
which stands on a green grassy slope； from which it derives its
Welsh name of
