itinerary of archibishop-第22部分
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!
ganwy; seem to rear their lofty summits even to the clouds; when viewed from the opposite coast of Anglesey。 They are said to be of so great an extent; that according to an ancient proverb; 〃As Mona could supply corn for all the inhabitants of Wales; so could the Eryri mountains afford sufficient pasture for all the herds; if collected together。〃 Hence these lines of Virgil may be applied to them:…
〃Et quantum longis carpent armenta diebus; Exigua tautum gelidus ros nocte reponet。〃
〃And what is cropt by day the night renews; Shedding refreshful stores of cooling dews。〃
On the highest parts of these mountains are two lakes worthy of admiration。 The one has a floating island in it; which is often driven from one side to the other by the force of the winds; and the shepherds behold with astonishment their cattle; whilst feeding; carried to the distant parts of the lake。 A part of the bank naturally bound together by the roots of willows and other shrubs may have been broken off; and increased by the alluvion of the earth from the shore; and being continually agitated by the winds; which in so elevated a situation blow with great violence; it cannot reunite itself firmly with the banks。 The other lake is noted for a wonderful and singular miracle。 It contains three sorts of fish … eels; trout; and perch; all of which have only one eye; the left being wanting; but if the curious reader should demand of me the explanation of so extraordinary a circumstance; I cannot presume to satisfy him。 It is remarkable also; that in two places in Scotland; one near the eastern; the other near the western sea; the fish called mullets possess the same defect; having no left eye。 According to vulgar tradition; these mountains are frequented by an eagle who; perching on a fatal stone every fifth holiday; in order to satiate her hunger with the carcases of the slain; is said to expect war on that same day; and to have almost perforated the stone by cleaning and sharpening her beak。
CHAPTER X
Of the passage by Deganwy and Ruthlan; and the see of Lanelwy; and of Coleshulle
Having crossed the river Conwy; {173} or rather an arm of the sea; under Deganwy; leaving the Cistercian monastery of Conwy {174} on the western bank of the river to our right hand; we arrived at Ruthlan; a noble castle on the river Cloyd; belonging to David; the eldest son of Owen {175} where; at the earnest invitation of David himself; we were handsomely entertained that night。
There is a spring not far from Ruthlan; in the province of Tegengel; {176} which not only regularly ebbs and flows like the sea; twice in twenty…four hours; but at other times frequently rises and falls both by night and day。 Trogus Pompeius says; 〃that there is a town of the Garamantes; where there is a spring which is hot and cold alternately by day and night。〃 {177}
Many persons in the morning having been persuaded to dedicate themselves to the service of Christ; we proceeded from Ruthlan to the small cathedral church of Lanelwy; {178} from whence (the archbishop having celebrated mass) we continued our journey through a country rich in minerals of silver; where money is sought in the bowels of the earth; to the little cell of Basinwerk; {179} where we passed the night。 The following day we traversed a long quicksand; and not without some degree of apprehension; leaving the woody district of Coleshulle; {180} or hill of coal; on our right hand; where Henry II。; who in our time; actuated by youthful and indiscreet ardour; made a hostile irruption into Wales; and presuming to pass through that narrow and woody defile; experienced a signal defeat; and a very heavy loss of men。 {181} The aforesaid king invaded Wales three times with an army; first; North Wales at the above…mentioned place; secondly; South Wales; by the sea…coast of Glamorgan and Goer; penetrating as far as Caermarddin and Pencadair; and returning by Ellennith and Melenith; and thirdly; the country of Powys; near Oswaldestree; but in all these expeditions the king was unsuccessful; because he placed no confidence in the prudent and well…informed chieftains of the country; but was principally advised by people remote from the marches; and ignorant of the manners and customs of the natives。 In every expedition; as the artificer is to be trusted in his trade; so the advice of those people should be consulted; who; by a long residence in the country; are become conversant with the manners and customs of the natives; and to whom it is of high importance that the power of the hostile nation; with whom; by a long and continued warfare; they have contracted an implacable enmity and hatred; should be weakened or destroyed; as we have set forth in our Vaticinal History。
In this wood of Coleshulle; a young Welshman was killed while passing through the king's army; the greyhound who accompanied him did not desert his master's corpse for eight days; though without food; but faithfully defended it from the attacks of dogs; wolves; and birds of prey; with a wonderful attachment。 What son to his father; what Nisus to Euryalus; what Polynices to Tydeus; what Orestes to Pylades; would have shewn such an affectionate regard? As a mark of favour to the dog; who was almost starved to death; the English; although bitter enemies to the Welsh; ordered the body; now nearly putrid; to be deposited in the ground with the accustomed offices of humanity。
CHAPTER XI
Of the passage of the River Dee; and of Chester
Having crossed the river Dee below Chester; (which the Welsh call Doverdwy); on the third day before Easter; or the day of absolution (holy Thursday); we reached Chester。 As the river Wye towards the south separates Wales from England; so the Dee near Chester forms the northern boundary。 The inhabitants of these parts assert; that the waters of this river change their fords every month; and; as it inclines more towards England or Wales; they can; with certainty; prognosticate which nation will be successful or unfortunate during the year。 This river derives its origin from the lake Penmelesmere; {182} and; although it abounds with salmon; yet none are found in the lake。 It is also remarkable; that this river is never swollen by rains; but often rises by the violence of the winds。
Chester boasts of being the burial…place of Henry; {183} a Roman emperor; who; after having imprisoned his carnal and spiritual father; pope Paschal; gave himself up to penitence; and; becoming a voluntary exile in this country; ended his days in solitary retirement。 It is also asserted; that the remains of Harold are here deposited。 He was the last of the Saxon kings in England; and as a punishment for his perjury; was defeated in the battle of Hastings; fought against the Normans。 Having received many wounds; and lost his left eye by an arrow in that engagement; he is said to have escaped to these parts; where; in holy conversation; leading the life of an anchorite; and being a constant attendant at one of the churches of this city; he is believed to have terminated his days happily。 {184} The truth of these two circumstances was declared (and not before known) by the dying confession of each party。 We saw here; what appeared novel to us; cheese made of deer's milk; for the countess and her mother keeping tame deer; presented to the archbishop three small cheeses made from their milk。
In this same country was produced; in our time; a cow partaking of the nature of a stag; resembling its mother in the fore parts and the stag in its hips; legs; and feet; and having the skin and colour of the stag; but; partaking more of the nature of the domestic than of the wild animal; it remained with the herd of cattle。 A bitch also was pregnant by a monkey; and produced a litter of whelps resembling a monkey before; and the dog behind; which the rustic keeper of the military hall seeing with astonishment and abhorrence; immediately killed with the stick he carried in his hand; thereby incurring the severe resentment and anger of his lord; when the latter became acquainted with the circumstance。
In our time; also; a woman was born in Chester without hands; to whom nature had supplied a remedy for that defect by the flexibility and delicacy of the joints of her feet; with which she could sew; or perform any work with thread or scissors; as well as other women。
CHAPTER XII
Of the journey by the White Monastery; Oswaldestree; Powys; and Shrewsbury
The feast of Easter having been observed with due solemnity; and many persons; by the exhortations of the archbishop; signed with the cross; we directed our way from Chester to the White Monastery; {185} and from thence towards Oswaldestree; where; on the very borders of Powys; we were met by Gruffydd son of Madoc; and Elissa; princes of that country; and many others; some few of whom having been persuaded to take the cross (for several of the multitude had been previously signed by Reiner; {186} the bishop of that place); Gruffydd; prince of the district; publicly adjured; in the presence of the archbishop; his cousin…german; Angharad; daughter of prince Owen; whom; according to the vicious custom of the country; he had long considered as his wife。 We slept at Oswaldestree; or the tree of St。 Oswald; and were most sumptuously entertained after the English manner; by William Fitz…Alan; {187} a noble and liberal young man。 A short time before; whilst Reiner was preaching; a robust youth being earnestly exhorted to follow the example of his companions in taking the cross; answered; 〃I will not follow your advice until; with this lance which I bear in my hand; I shall have avenged the death of my lord;〃 alluding to Owen; son of Madoc; a distinguished warrior; who had been maliciously and treacherously slain by Owen Cyfeilioc; his cousin…german; and while he was thus venting his anger and revenge; and violently brandishing his lance; it suddenly snapped asunder; and fell disjointed in several pieces to the ground; the handle only remaining in his hand。 Alarmed and astonished at this omen; which he considered as a certain signal for his taking the cross; he voluntarily offered his services。
In this third district of Wales; called Powys; there are most excellent studs