"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。"
第41章