letters-第48章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
I am now in the heart of this strange country and people。 It has pleased the Lord to bless my humble endeavours more than I had reason to expect； since my arrival Santiago between thirty and forty copies of the New Testament have been despatched。 The bookseller of the place； Rey Romero； a venerable man of seventy； very wealthy and respected； has taken up the cause with an enthusiasm which doubtless emanates from on high； losing no opportunity of recommending the work to those who enter his shop； which is very splendid and commodious。
In many instances； when the peasants of the neighbourhood have come with the intention of purchasing some of the foolish popular story… books of Spain； he has persuaded them in lieu thereof to carry home Testaments； assuring them that it was not only a better and more instructive； but even a far more entertaining book than those they came in quest of。 He has taken a great fancy to me； and comes to visit me every evening； when he accompanies me in my walks about the town and environs。 Every one who is aware how rare it is to meet with friendship and cordiality in Spain will easily conceive my joy at finding such a coadjutor； and I have no doubt that when I am absent he will exert himself as much； and I hope as effectually； as now that I am present。
I leave Saint James to…morrow for Pontevedra and Vigo； carrying with me some Testaments which I hope to dispose of； notwithstanding there are no booksellers in those places。 I shall then return to Corunna； either by Compostella or by some other route。 I trust the Lord will preserve me in this journey as He has done in others。 From Corunna I propose to travel through the mountains to Oviedo in the Asturias； provided that town be not speedily in the hands of the factious。 By the time these lines reach you； you will doubtless have heard of the irruption of a part of the Pretender's hordes into Old Castile； they have carried everything before them； and have sacked and taken possession of the city of Segovia； distant only one day's march from Madrid。 From the aspect of things I should say that the miseries of this land； far from having reached their climax； are but commencing。 Yet let no one mourn for Egypt： she is but paying the price of her sorceries and superstitions。
（UNSIGNED。）
P。S。 … At San Sebastian I shall need Davison's Turkish Grammar； which you have in the Library。 It will be of assistance to me in editing the Basque St。 Luke； the two languages are surprisingly connected。
LETTER： 15th September； 1837
To the Rev。 A。 Brandram （ENDORSED： recd。 Oct。 9； 1837） CORUNNA； SEP。 15； 1837。
REVD。 AND DEAR SIR； … About ten days have elapsed since my return to Corunna。 I stated in my last letter； from Compostella； that it was my intention to visit Pontevedra and Vigo； which I carried into effect。 In the first of these places I left； as I passed through； eight copies of the New Testament in the hands of Senor Garcia； the public notary； three days subsequent； on my return； I found that he had disposed of them； and I have since sent him a fresh supply。 He is a very zealous and exceeding intelligent person； and I have no doubt will prove a highly useful agent in Pontevedra and its beautiful neighbourhood； which is the garden of Galicia。 In Vigo I disposed of four Testaments； but was not so fortunate as to find any person willing or calculated to undertake the charge accepted by my friend in the former town。
Having reached Padron； in my journey back； I sent my servant and horses forward to Saint James； and guided by a peasant； proceeded across the country to Cape Finisterre； on whose rocky sides I so narrowly escaped being shipwrecked last year。 The distance was fifteen leagues； and the route lay over wild mountains and valleys； where we suffered much from fatigue and the heat of the sun。 Arrived at Finisterre we were seized as Carlist spies by the fishermen of the place； who determined at first on shooting us； but at last contented themselves with conducting us prisoners to Corcubion； where the ALCALDE of the district； after having examined me and perused my passport； ordered me to be set at liberty； and treated me with all manner of civility。 By this journey I accomplished what has long been one of the ardent wishes of my heart。 I have carried the Gospel to the extreme point of the old world； having left a Testament in the hands of Antonio de Trava； an ancient mariner of Finisterre； who took my part in a very friendly manner； and probably saved me from experiencing much violence at the hands of his companions。 Finisterre is a place of wonders； which I hope at some future time to have the pleasure of narrating； but at present I must speak of other matters。 About one hundred Testaments have been disposed of at Saint James of Compostella； and there is at present a steady regular demand for them there which inspires my heart with gratitude to the Almighty。 Shortly previous to my journey to Saint James； I despatched fifty copies to Lugo； where the Lord vouchsafed me good success on a former occasion； this second supply being almost exhausted； I have sent more。 Only fifty…eight copies have hitherto been sold at Corunna； for its inhabitants are far too much engrossed by party politics to entertain much relish for heavenly manna。 I pray every night and morning that their eyes may be opened to their eternal welfare。
Having now arranged matters in Galicia； as well as circumstances will permit； I am about to quit this province； directing my course to Oviedo in the Asturias。 The way is long； and is infested by robbers and factious； yet I go forth without much fear； hoping that the Lord will prove my shield and guard as on other occasions。 From Oviedo I proceed to Santander； and from thence to the Basque provinces。 Santander； being a large and flourishing town； affords me a tolerable prospect of success； and I have accordingly directed my agent at Madrid to despatch thither forthwith 150 Testaments。 The intermediate country is； however； in a most distracted state； a great part of it being in the hands of the Carlists； it is therefore probable that the books may never reach me； in which event I shall have to apply to England。 To the Basque provinces I hope to carry Saint Luke in a Biscayan version； which I shall print at Santander should an opportunity present itself。
No time must be lost in accomplishing all that is possible in Spain； which in the course of a few months may be entirely in the hands of the Pretender。 I received the lines which you directed to the care of the British consul at Corunna； and was thankful for them。 Pray present my kind remembrances to Mrs。 Brandram and family； to Mr。 Jowett； and Mr。 and Mrs。 Browne。
I remain； Revd。 and dear Sir； most truly yours；
G。 BORROW。
LETTER： 29th September； 1837
To the Rev。 A。 Brandram （ENDORSED： recd。 Oct。 17； 1837） OVIEDO； ASTURIAS； 29 SEPTR。 1837。
REVD。 AND DEAR SIR； … A day or two after the date of my last letter I quitted Corunna and passed over the bay to Ferrol； where I left twenty Testaments in the hands of a person who has just established a small book…shop in that place。 My servant Antonio went round by land with my horse； the only one which I now possess； I having disposed （1） of the largest of the two at Corunna； as I thought he was unable to support the fatigue of a journey to Oviedo。 At Ferrol I hired a horse and guide as far as Ribadeo； a distance of twenty leagues； and somewhat less than half the way to Oviedo。 This journey was a terrible one； during the greatest part of it we had to toil up and down mountain gorges and ravines； to force our way through bushes and thickets； and to wade rivulets and torrents swollen by the rain； which descended continually； our guide proved perfectly ignorant of the country； and we had to bribe various peasants to accompany us； though we incurred great risk by so doing of being conducted to some den of thieves； and stripped and murdered。 At Ribadeo we procured a fresh horse and guide； and continued our way to Oviedo； encountering still greater difficulties； the ground being sti
