首页 >出版文学> Wild Wales>第41章

第41章

  "Thatbrook,"saidtheguide,"istheyoungSevern。"Thebrookcamefromroundthesideofaveryloftyrock,singularlyvariegated,blackandwhite,thenorthernsummitpresentingsomethingoftheappearanceoftheheadofahorse。Passingroundthiscragwecametoafountainsurroundedwithrushes,outofwhichthebrook,nowexceedinglysmall,camemurmuring。
  "Thecragabove,"saidmyguide,"iscalledCragyCefyl,ortheRockoftheHorse,andthisspringatitsfootisgenerallycalledtheffynnonoftheHafren。However,drinknotofit,master;fortheffynnonoftheHafrenishigherupthenant。Followme,andI
  willpresentlyshowyoutherealffynnonoftheHafren。"
  Ifollowedhimupanarrowandverysteepdingle。Presentlywecametosomebeautifullittlepoolsofwaterintheturf,whichwashereremarkablygreen。
  "Theseareveryprettypools,an’tthey,master?"saidmycompanion。"Now,ifIwasafalseguideImightbidyoustoopanddrink,sayingthatthesewerethesourcesoftheSevern;butIamatruecyfarwydd,andthereforetellyounottodrink,forthesepoolsarenotthesourcesoftheHafren,nomorethanthespringbelow。TheffynnonoftheSevernishigherupthenant。Don’tfret,however,butfollowme,andweshallbethereinaminute。"
  SoIdidashebademe,followinghimwithoutfrettinghigherupthenant。Justatthetophehaltedandsaid:"Now,master,I
  haveconductedyoutothesourceoftheSevern。Ihaveconsideredthematterdeeply,andhavecometotheconclusionthathere,andhereonly,isthetruesource。Thereforestoopdownanddrink,infullconfidencethatyouaretakingpossessionoftheHolySevern。"
  ThesourceoftheSevernisalittlepoolofwatersometwentyincheslong,sixwide,andaboutthreedeep。Itiscoveredatthebottomwithsmallstones,frombetweenwhichthewatergushesup。
  Itisontheleft—handsideofthenant,asyouascend,closebytheverytop。Anunsightlyheapofblackturf—earthstandsrightaboveittothenorth。Turf—heaps,bothlargeandsmall,areinabundanceinthevicinity。
  AftertakingpossessionoftheSevernbydrinkingatitssource,ratherashabbysourceforsonobleastream,Isaid,"NowletusgotothefountainoftheWye。"
  "Aquarterofanhourwilltakeustoit,yourhonour,"saidtheguide,leadingtheway。
  ThesourceoftheWye,whichisalittlepool,notmuchlargerthanthatwhichconstitutesthefountainoftheSevern,standsnearthetopofagrassyhillwhichformspartoftheGreatPlynlimmon。Thestreamafterleavingitssourcerunsdownthehilltowardstheeast,andthentakesaturntothesouth。TheMountainsoftheSevernandtheWyeareincloseproximitytoeachother。ThatoftheRheidolstandssomewhatapartfrontboth,asif,proudofitsownbeauty,itdisdainedtheothertwofortheirhomeliness。Allthreearecontainedwithinthecompassofamile。
  "Andnow,Isuppose,sir,thatourworkisdone,andwemaygobacktowherewecamefrom,"saidmyguide,asIstoodonthegrassyhillafterdrinkingcopiouslyofthefountainoftheWye。
  "Wemay,"saidI;"butbeforewedoImustrepeatsomelinesmadebyamanwhovisitedthesesources,andexperiencedthehospitalityofachieftaininthisneighbourhoodfourhundredyearsago。"Thentakingoffmyhat,Iliftedupmyvoiceandsang:—
  "FromhighPlynlimmon’sshaggysideThreestreamsinthreedirectionsglide;
  TothousandsattheirmouthswhotarryHoney,goldandmeadtheycarry。
  FlowalsofromPlynlimmonhighThreestreamsofgenerosity;
  Thefirst,anoblestreamindeed,LikerillsofMonarunswithmead;
  ThesecondbearsfromvineyardsthickWinetothefeebleandthesick;
  Thethird,tilltimeshallbenomore,Mingledwithgoldshallsilverpour。"
  "Nicepennillion,sir,Idaresay,"saidmyguide,"providedapersoncouldunderstandthem。What’smeantbyallthismead,wine,gold,andsilver?"
  "Why,"saidI,"thebardmeanttosaythatPlynlimmon,bymeansofitsthreechannels,sendsblessingsandwealthinthreedifferentdirectionstodistantplaces,andthatthepersonwhomhecametovisit,andwholivedonPlynlimmon,distributedhisbountyinthreedifferentways,givingmeadtothousandsathisbanquets,winefromthevineyardsofGasconytothesickandfeebleoftheneighbourhood,andgoldandsilvertothosewhowerewillingtobetipped,amongstwhomnodoubtwashimself,aspoetshaveneverbeenabovereceivingapresent。"
  "Noraboveaskingforone,yourhonour;there’saprydyddinthisneighbourhoodwhowillneverloseashillingforwantofaskingforit。Now,sir,havethekindnesstotellmethenameofthemanwhomadethosepennillion。"
  "LewisGlynCothi,"saidI;"atleast,itwashewhomadethepennillionfromwhichthoseversesaretranslated。"
  "Andwhatwasthenameofthegentlemanwhomhecametovisit?"
  "Hisname,"saidI,"wasDafyddabThomasVychan。"
  "Andwheredidhelive?"
  "Why,Ibelieve,helivedatthecastle,whichyoutoldmeoncestoodonthespotwhichyoupointedoutaswecameup。Atanyrate,helivedsomewhereuponPlynlimmon。"
  "IwishtherewassomerichgentlemanatpresentlivingonPlynlimmon,"saidmyguide;"oneofthatsortismuchwanted。"
  "Youcan’thaveeverythingatthesametime,"saidI;"formerlyyouhadachieftainwhogaveawaywineandmead,andoccasionallyabitofgoldorsilver,butthennotravellersandtouristscametoseethewondersofthehills,foratthattimenobodycaredanythingabouthills;atpresentyouhavenochieftain,butplentyofvisitors,whocometoseethehillsandthesources,andscatterplentyofgoldabouttheneighbourhood。"
  Wenowbentourstepshomeward,bearingslightlytothenorth,goingoverhillsanddalescoveredwithgorseandling。Myguidewalkedwithacalmanddeliberategait,yetIhadconsiderabledifficultyinkeepingupwithhim。Therewas,however,nothingsurprisinginthis;hewasashepherdwalkingonhisownhill,andhavingfirst—ratewind,andknowingeveryinchoftheground,madegreatwaywithoutseemingtobeintheslightesthurry:Iwouldnotadvisearoad—walker,evenifhebeafirst—rateone,toattempttocompetewithashepherdonhisown,orindeedanyhill;
  shouldhedoso,theconceitwouldsoonbetakenoutofhim。
  Afteralittletimewesawarivuletrunningfromthewest。
  "Thisffrwd,"saidmyguide,"iscalledFrennig。ItheredividesshireTrefaldwynfromCardiganshire,oneinNorthandtheotherinSouthWales。"
  Shortlyafterwardswecametoahillockofratherasingularshape。
  "Thisplace,sir,"saidhe,"iscalledEisteddfa。"
  "Whyisitcalledso?"saidI。"Eisteddfameanstheplacewherepeoplesitdown。"
  "Itdoesso,"saidtheguide,"anditiscalledtheplaceofsittingbecausethreemenfromdifferentquartersoftheworldoncemethere,andoneproposedthattheyshouldsitdown。"
  "Anddidthey?"saidI。
  "Theydid,sir;andwhentheyhadsatdowntheytoldeachothertheirhistories。"
  "Ishouldbegladtoknowwhattheirhistorieswere,"saidI。
  "Ican’texactlytellyouwhattheywere,butIhaveheardsaythattherewasagreatdealinthemabouttheTylwythTegorfairies。"
  "Doyoubelieveinfairies?"saidI。
  "Ido,sir;buttheyareveryseldomseen,andwhentheyaretheydonoharmtoanybody。Ionlywishtherewereasfewcorpse—
  candlesasthereareTylwithTeg,andthattheydidaslittleharm。"
  "Theyforeshowpeople’sdeaths,don’tthey?"saidI。
  "Theydo,sir;butthat’snotalltheharmtheydo。Theyareverydangerousforanybodytomeetwith。Iftheycomebumpupagainstyouwhenyouarewalkingcarelesslyit’sgenerallyalloverwithyouinthisworld。I’llgiveyouanexample:AmanreturningfrommarketfromLlanEglostoLlanCurig,notfarfromPlynlimmon,wasstruckdowndeadasahorsenotlongagobyacorpse—candle。Itwasarainy,windynight,andthewindandrainwereblowinginhisface,sothathecouldnotseeit,orgetoutofitsway。Andyetthecandlewasnotabroadonpurposetokilltheman。Thebusinessthatitwasaboutwastoprognosticatethedeathofawomanwholivednearthespot,andwhosehusbanddealtinwool—poorthing!
  shewasdeadandburiedinlessthanafortnight。Ah,master,I
  wishthatcorpse—candleswereasfewandaslittledangerousastheTylwithTegorfairies。"
  Wereturnedtotheinn,whereIsettledwiththehonestfellow,addingatrifletowhatIhadagreedtogivehim。Thensittingdown,Icalledforalargemeasureofale,andinvitedhimtopartakeofit。Heacceptedmyofferwithmanythanksandbows,andaswesatanddrankouralewehadagreatdealofdiscourseabouttheplaceswehadvisited。Thealebeingfinished,Igotupandsaid:
  "ImustnowbeofffortheDevil’sBridge!"
  Whereuponhealsoarose,andofferingmehishand,said:
  "Farewell,master;Ishallneverforgetyou。Wereallthegentlefolkswhocomeheretoseethesourceslikeyou,weshouldindeedfeelnowantinthesehillsofsuchagentlemanasisspokenofinthepennillion。"
  ThesunwasgoingdownasIlefttheinn。Irecrossedthestreamletbymeansofthepoleandrail。Thewaterwasrunningwithmuchlessviolencethaninthemorning,andwasconsiderablylower。Theeveningwascalmandbeautifullycool,withaslighttendencytofrost。Iwalkedalongwithaboundingandelasticstep,andneverremembertohavefeltmorehappyandcheerful。
  Ireachedthehospiceataboutsixo’clock,abrightmoonshininguponme,andfoundacapitalsupperawaitingme,whichIenjoyedexceedingly。
  Howoneenjoysone’ssupperatone’sinnafteragoodday’swalk,providedonehastheproudandgloriousconsciousnessofbeingabletopayone’sreckoningonthemorrow!
  CHAPTERLXXXIX
  AMorningView—HafodYchdryd—TheMonument—Fairy—lookingPlace—EdwardLhuyd。
  THEmorningofthesixthwasbrightandglorious。AsIlookedfromthewindowoftheuppersitting—roomofthehospicethescenewhichpresenteditselfwaswildandbeautifultoadegree。Theoak—
  coveredtopsofthevolcaniccraterweregildedwiththebrightestsunshine,whilsttheeasternsidesremainedindarkshadeandthegapornarrowentrancetothenorthinshadowyetdarker,inthemidstofwhichshonethesilveroftheRheidolcataract。ShouldI
  liveahundredyearsIshallneverforgetthewildfantasticbeautyofthatmorningscene。
  Ileftthefriendlyhospiceataboutnineo’clocktopursuemysouthernjourney。Bythistimethemorninghadlostmuchofitsbeauty,andthedullgreyskycharacteristicofNovemberbegantoprevail。Thewaylayupahilltothesouth—east;onmyleftwasaglendownwhichtheriveroftheMonkrolledwithnoiseandfoam。
  Thecountrysoonbecamenakedanddreary,andcontinuedsoforsomemiles。Atlength,comingtothetopofahill,Isawaparkbeforeme,throughwhichtheroadledafterpassingunderastatelygateway。IhadreachedtheconfinesofthedomainofHafod。
  HafodYchdryd,orthesummermansionofUchtryd,hasfromtimeimmemorialbeenthenameofadwellingonthesideofahillabovetheYstwyth,lookingtotheeast。AtfirstitwasasummerboothieorhuntinglodgetoWelshchieftains,butsubsequentlyexpandedtotheroomy,comfortabledwellingofWelshsquires,wherehospitalitywasmuchpractisedandbardsandharpersliberallyencouraged。
  WhilstbelongingtoanancientfamilyofthenameofJohnes,severalmembersofwhichmadenoinconsiderablefigureinliterature,itwascelebrated,farandwide,foritslibrary,inwhichwastobefound,amongstothertreasures,alargecollectionofWelshmanuscriptsonvarioussubjects—history,medicine,poetryandromance。Thehouse,however,andthelibrarywerebothdestroyedinadreadfulfirewhichbrokeout。ThisfireisgenerallycalledthegreatfireofHafod,andsomeofthosewhowitnessedithavebeenheardtosaythatitsviolencewassogreatthatburningraftersmixedwithflamingbookswerehurledhighabovethesummitsofthehills。Thelossofthehousewasamatteroftrivialitycomparedwiththatofthelibrary。Thehousewassoonrebuilt,andprobably,phoenix—like,lookedallthebetterforhavingbeenburnt,butthelibrarycouldneverberestored。Ontheextinctionofthefamily,thelasthopeofwhich,anangelicgirl,fadedawayintheyear1811,thedomainbecamethepropertyofthelateDukeofNewcastle,akindandphilanthrophicnobleman,andagreatfriendofagriculture,whohelditformanyyears,andconsiderablyimprovedit。AfterhisdeceaseitwaspurchasedbytheheadofanancientLancashirefamily,whousedthemodernhouseasasummerresidence,astheWelshchieftainshadusedthewoodenboothieofold。
  Iwenttoakindoflodge,whereIhadbeentoldthatIshouldfindsomebodywhowouldadmitmetothechurch,whichstoodwithinthegroundsandcontainedamonumentwhichIwasverydesirousofseeing,partlyfromitsbeingconsideredoneofthemasterpiecesofthegreatChantrey,andpartlybecauseitwasamemorialtothelovelychild,thelastscionoftheoldfamilywhohadpossessedthedomain。Agood—lookingyoungwoman,theonlypersonwhomI
  saw,onmytellingmyerrand,forthwithtookakeyandconductedmetothechurch。Thechurchwasaneatedificewithratheramodernlook。Itexhibitednothingremarkablewithout,andonlyonethingremarkablewithin,namely,themonument,whichwasindeedworthyofnotice,andwhich,hadChantreyexecutednothingelse,mightwellhaveentitledhimtobeconsidered,whattheworldhaslongpronouncedhim,theprinceofBritishsculptors。
  Thismonument,whichisofthepurestmarble,isplacedontheeasternsideofthechurch,belowawindowofstainedglass,andrepresentsatrulyaffectingscene:aladyandgentlemanarestandingoveradyinggirlofangelicbeauty,whoisextendedonacouch,andfromwhosehandavolume,theBookofLife,isfalling。
  Theladyisweeping。
  Beneathisthefollowinginscription—
  TotheMemoryofMARY
  TheonlychildofTHOMASandJANEJOHNES
  Whodiedin1811
  Afterafewdays’sicknessThismonumentisdedicatedByherparents。
  Aninscriptionworthy,byitssimplicityandpathos,tostandbelowsuchamonument。
  Afterpresentingatrifletothewoman,who,tomygreatsurprise,couldnotspeakawordofEnglish,Ileftthechurch,anddescendedthesideofthehill,nearthetopofwhichitstands。Thescenerywasexceedinglybeautiful。Belowmewasabrightgreenvalley,atthebottomofwhichtheYstwythranbrawling,nowhidamongstgroves,nowshowingalongstretchofwater。Beyondtherivertotheeastwasanoblemountain,richlywooded。TheYstwyth,afteracircuitouscourse,joinstheRheidolnearthestrandoftheIrishChannel,whichtheunitedriversenterataplacecalledAberYstwyth,wherestandsalovelytownofthesamename,whichsprangupundertheprotectionofabaronialcastle,stillproudandcommandingeveninitsruins,builtbyStrongbow,theconquerorofthegreatwesternisle。Nearthelowerpartofthevalleytheroadtendedtothesouth,upanddownthroughwoodsandbowers,thescenerystilleverincreasinginbeauty。Atlength,afterpassingthroughagateandturningroundasharpcorner,IsuddenlybeheldHafodonmyrighthand,tothewestatalittledistanceaboveme,onarisingground,withanoblerangeofmountainsbehindit。
  Atrulyfairyplaceitlooked,beautifulbutfantastic,inthebuildingofwhichthreestylesofarchitectureseemedtohavebeenemployed。AtthesouthernendwasaGothictower;atthenorthernanIndianpagoda;themiddleparthadmuchtheappearanceofaGrecianvilla。Thewallswereofresplendentwhiteness,andthewindows,whichwerenumerous,shonewithbeautifulgilding。SuchwasmodernHafod,astrangecontrast,nodoubt,tothehuntinglodgeofold。
  Aftergazingatthishouseofeccentrictasteforaboutaquarterofanhour,sometimeswithadmiration,sometimeswithastrongdispositiontolaugh,Ifollowedtheroad,whichledpastthehouseinnearlyasoutherlydirection。Presentlythevalleybecamemorenarrow,andcontinuednarrowingtilltherewaslittlemoreroomthanwasrequiredfortheroadandtheriver,whichrandeepbelowitontheleft—handside。PresentlyIcametoagate,theboundaryinthedirectioninwhichIwasgoingoftheHafoddomain。
  Here,whenabouttoleaveHafod,Ishalldevoteafewlinestoaremarkablemanwhosenameshouldbeeverassociatedwiththeplace。
  EdwardLhuydwasborninthevicinityofHafodabouttheperiodoftheRestoration。Hisfatherwasaclergyman,whoaftergivinghimanexcellenteducationathomesenthimtoOxford,atwhichseatoflearningheobtainedanhonourabledegree,officiatedforseveralyearsastutor,andwaseventuallymadecustodiaryoftheAshmoleanMuseum。Fromhisearlyyouthhedevotedhimselfwithindefatigablezealtotheacquisitionoflearning。HewasfondofnaturalhistoryandBritishantiquities,buthisfavouritepursuit,andthatinwhichheprincipallydistinguishedhimself,wasthestudyoftheCelticdialects;anditisbutdoingjusticetohismemorytosay,thathewasnotonlythebestCelticscholarofhistime,butthatnoonehasarisensinceworthytobeconsideredhisequalinCelticerudition。Partlyattheexpenseoftheuniversity,partlyatthatofvariouspowerfulindividualswhopatronizedhim,hetravelledthroughIreland,theWesternHighlands,Wales,CornwallandArmorica,forthepurposeofcollectingCelticmanuscripts。HewasparticularlysuccessfulinIrelandandWales。
  SeveralofthemostpreciousIrishmanuscriptsinOxford,andalsointheChandosLibrary,wereofLhuyd’scollection,andtohimtheoldhallatHafodwaschieflyindebtedforitstreasuresofancientBritishliterature。ShortlyafterreturningtoOxfordfromhisCelticwanderingshesatdowntothecompositionofagrandworkinthreeparts,underthetitleofArchaeologiaBritannica,whichhehadlongprojected。ThefirstwastobedevotedtotheCelticdialects;thesecondtoBritishAntiquities,andthethirdtothenaturalhistoryoftheBritishIsles。Heonlylivedtocompletethefirstpart。ItcontainsvariousCelticgrammarsandvocabularies,toeachofwhichthereisaprefacewrittenbyLhuydintheparticulardialecttowhichthevocabularyorgrammarisdevoted。OfalltheseprefacestheonetotheIrishisthemostcuriousandremarkable。ThefirstpartoftheArchaeologiawaspublishedatOxfordin1707,twoyearsbeforethedeathoftheauthor。Ofhiscorrespondence,whichwasveryextensive,severallettershavebeenpublished,allofthemrelatingtophilology,antiquities,andnaturalhistory。
  CHAPTERXC
  AnAdventure—SpyttyYstwyth—Wormwood。
  SHORTLYafterleavingthegroundsofHafodIcametoabridgeovertheYstwyth。Icrossedit,andwasadvancingalongtheroadwhichledapparentlytothesouth—east,whenIcametoacompanyofpeoplewhoseemedtobeloiteringabout。Itconsistedentirelyofyoungmenandwomen,theformerwithcrimsonfavours,thelatterinthegarbofoldWales,bluetunicsandsharpcrownedhats。Goinguptooneoftheyoungwomen,Isaid,"Pettiyw?what’sthematter!"
  "Priodas(amarriage),"shereplied,afterlookingatmeattentively。Ithenaskedherthenameofthebridge,whereuponshegaveabroadgrin,andaftersome,littletimereplied:"PontyGroes(thebridgeofthecross)。"Iwasabouttoaskhersomeotherquestionwhensheturnedawaywithaloudchuckle,andsaidsomethingtoanotherwenchnearher,who,grinningyetmoreuncouthly,saidsomethingtoathird,whogrinnedtoo,andliftingupherhandsandspreadingherfingerswide,said:"DynoddidiryGogledd—amanfromthenorthcountry,hee,hee!"Forthwiththerewasageneralshout,thewenchescrying:"Amanfromthenorthcountry,hee,hee!"andthefellowscrying:"Amanfromthenorthcountry,hoo,hoo!"
  "Isthisthewayyoutreatstrangersinthesouth?"saidI。ButI
  hadscarcelyutteredthewordswhenwithredoubledshoutsthecompanyexclaimed:"There’sCumraeg!there’sprettyCumraeg。Goback,David,toshireFon!ThatCumraegwon’tpasshere。"
  FindingtheydislikedmyWelshIhadrecoursetomyownlanguage。
  "Really,"saidIinEnglish,"suchconductisunaccountable。Whatdoyoumean?"Butthisonlymademattersworse,fortheshoutsgrewlouderstill,andeveryonecried:"There’sprettyEnglish!
  Well,ifIcouldn’tspeakbetterEnglishthanthatI’dneverspeakEnglishatall。No,David;ifyoumustspeakatall,sticktoCumraeg。"Thenforthwith,allthecompanysetthemselvesinviolentmotion,thewomenrushinguptomewiththeirpalmsandfingersspreadoutinmyface,withouttouchingme,however,astheywheeledroundmeataboutayard’sdistance,crying:"Amanfromthenorthcountry,hee,hee!"andthefellowsactingjustinthesameway,rushingupwiththeirhandsspreadout,andthenwheelingroundmewithcriesof"Amanfromthenorthcountry,hoo,hoo!"IwassoenragedthatImadeforaheapofstonesbytheroad—side,intendingtotakesomeupandflingthematthecompany。
  Reflecting,however,thatIhadbutonepairofhandsandthecompanyatleastforty,andthatbysuchanattemptatrevengeI
  shouldonlymakemyselfridiculous,Igaveupmyintention,andcontinuedmyjourneyatarapidpace,pursuedforalongwayby"hee,hee,"and"hoo,hoo,"and:"Goback,David,toyourgoatsinAnglesey,youarenotwantedhere。"
  Ibegantodescendahillformingtheeasternsideofanimmensevalley,atthebottomofwhichrolledtheriver。Beyondthevalleytothewestwasanenormoushill,onthetopofwhichwasamostsingular—lookingcrag,seeminglyleaninginthedirectionofthesouth。Ontheright—handsideoftheroadwereimmenseworksofsomekindinfullplayandactivity,forengineswereclangingandpuffsofsmokewereascendingfromtallchimneys。OninquiringofaboythenameoftheworksIwastoldthattheywerecalledtheworksofLevelVawr,ortheGreatLevel,aminingestablishment;
  butwhenIaskedhimthenameofthehillwiththesingularpeak,ontheothersideofthevalley,heshookhisheadandsaidhedidnotknow。NearthetopofthehillIcametoavillageconsistingofafewcottagesandashabby—lookingchurch。Arivuletdescendingfromsomecragstotheeastcrossestheroad,whichleadsthroughtheplace,andtumblingdownthevalley,joinstheYstwythatthebottom。Seeingawomanstandingatthedoor,I
  inquiredthenameofthevillage。
  "SpyttyYstwyth,"shereplied,butshe,nomorethantheboydownbelow,couldtellmethenameofthestrange—lookinghillacrossthevalley。ThissecondSpyttyormonastichospital,whichIhadcometo,lookedineveryrespectaninferiorplacetothefirst。
  Whateveritsformerstatemighthavebeen,nothingbutdirtandwretchednesswerenowvisible。HavingreachedthetopofthehillIentereduponawildmooryregion。PresentlyIcrossedalittlebridgeoverarivulet,andseeingasmallhouseontheshutterofwhichwaspainted"cwrw,"Iwentin,satdownonanoldchair,whichIfoundvacant,andsaidinEnglishtoanoldwomanwhosatknittingbythewindow:"Bringmeapintofale!"
  "DimSaesneg!"saidtheoldwoman。
  "Itoldyoutobringmeapintofale,"saidItoherinherownlanguage。
  "Youshallhaveitimmediately,sir,"saidshe,andgoingtoacask,shefilledajugwithale,andafterhandingittomeresumedherseatandknitting。
  "Itisnotverybadale,"saidI,afterIhadtastedit。
  "Itoughttobeverygood,"saidtheoldwoman,"forIbreweditmyself。"
  "Thegoodnessofale,"saidI,"doesnotsomuchdependonwhobrewsitasonwhatitisbrewedof。Nowthereissomethinginthisalewhichoughtnottobe。Whatisitmadeof?"
  "Maltandhop。"
  "Ittastesverybitter,"saidI。"Istherenochwerwlys(13)init?"
  "Idonotknowwhatchwerwlysis,"saidtheoldwoman。
  "ItiswhattheSaxonscallwormwood,"saidI。
  "Oh,wermod。No,thereisnowermodinmybeer,atleastnotmuch。"
  "Oh,thenthereissome;Ithoughttherewas。Whydoyouputsuchstuffintoyourale?"
  "Wearegladtoputitinsometimeswhenhopsaredear,astheyarethisyear。Moreover,wermodisnotbadstuff,andsomefolkslikethetastebetterthanthatofhops。"
  "Well,Idon’t。However,thealeisdrinkable。WhatamItogiveyouforthepint?"
  "Youaretogivemeagroat。"