wild wales-第113节

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！



〃This　does　not　seem　to　be　a　country　of　much　society；〃　said　I　to　my　
guide。

〃It　is　not；　sir。　　The　nearest　house　is　the　inn　we　came　from；　which　
is　now　three　miles　behind　us。　　Straight　before　you　there　is　not　one　
for　at　least　ten；　and　on　either　side　it　is　an　anialwch　to　a　vast　
distance。　　Plunlummon　is　not　a　sociable　country；　sir；　nothing　to　be　
found　in　it；　but　here　and　there　a　few　sheep　or　a　shepherd。〃

〃Now；〃　said　I；　descending　from　the　carn；　〃we　will　proceed　to　the　
sources　of　the　rivers。〃

〃The　ffynnon　of　the　Rheidol　is　not　far　off；〃　said　the　guide；　〃it　is　
just　below　the　hill。〃

We　descended　the　western　side　of　the　hill　for　some　way；　at　length；　
coming　to　a　very　craggy　and　precipitous　place；　my　guide　stopped；　
and　pointing　with　his　finger　into　the　valley　below；　said：…

〃There；　sir；　if　you　look　down　you　can　see　the　source　of　the　
Rheidol。〃

I　looked　down；　and　saw　far　below　what　appeared　to　be　part　of　a　
small　sheet　of　water。

〃And　that　is　the　source　of　the　Rheidol？〃　said　I。

〃Yes；　sir；〃　said　my　guide；　〃that　is　the　ffynnon　of　the　Rheidol。〃

〃Well；〃　said　I；　〃is　there　no　getting　to　it？〃

〃Oh　yes！　but　the　path；　sir；　as　you　see；　is　rather　steep　and　
dangerous。〃

〃Never　mind；〃　said　I。　　〃Let　us　try　it。〃

〃Isn't　seeing　the　fountain　sufficient　for　you；　sir？〃

〃By　no　means；〃　said　I。　　〃It　is　not　only　necessary　for　me　to　see　the　
sources　of　the　rivers；　but　to　drink　of　them；　in　order　that　in　after　
times　I　may　be　able　to　harangue　about　them　with　a　tone　of　
confidence　and　authority。〃

〃Then　follow　me；　sir；　but　please　to　take　care；　for　this　path　is　
more　fit　for　sheep　or　shepherds　than　gentlefolk。〃

And　a　truly　bad　path　I　found　it；　so　bad　indeed　that　before　I　had　
descended　twenty　yards　I　almost　repented　having　ventured。　　I　had　a　
capital　guide；　however；　who　went　before　and　told　me　where　to　plant　
my　steps。　　There　was　one　particularly　bad　part；　being　little　better　
than　a　sheer　precipice；　but　even　here　I　got　down　in　safety　with　the　
assistance　of　my　guide；　and　a　minute　afterwards　found　myself　at　the　
source　of　the　Rheidol。

The　source　of　the　Rheidol　is　a　small　beautiful　lake；　about　a　
quarter　of　a　mile　in　length。　　It　is　overhung　on　the　east　and　north　
by　frightful　crags；　from　which　it　is　fed　by　a　number　of　small　
rills。　　The　water　is　of　the　deepest　blue；　and　of　very　considerable　
depth。　　The　banks；　except　to　the　north　and　east；　slope　gently　down；　
and　are　clad　with　soft　and　beautiful　moss。　　The　river；　of　which　it　
is　the　head；　emerges　at　the　south…western　side；　and　brawls　away　in　
the　shape　of　a　considerable　brook；　amidst　moss；　and　rushes　down　a　
wild　glen　tending　to　the　south。　　To　the　west　the　prospect　is　
bounded；　at　a　slight　distance；　by　high；　swelling　ground。　　If　few　
rivers　have　a　more　wild　and　wondrous　channel　than　the　Rheidol；　
fewer　still　have　a　more　beautiful　and　romantic　source。

After　kneeling　down　and　drinking　freely　of　the　lake　I　said：

〃Now；　where　are　we　to　go　to　next？〃

〃The　nearest　ffynnon　to　that　of　the　Rheidol；　sir；　is　the　ffynnon　of　
the　Severn。〃

〃Very　well；〃　said　I；　〃let　us　now　go　and　see　the　ffynnon　of　the　
Severn！〃

I　followed　my　guide　over　a　hill　to　the　north…west　into　a　valley；　at　
the　farther　end　of　which　I　saw　a　brook　streaming　apparently　to　the　
south；　where　was　an　outlet。

〃That　brook；〃　said　the　guide；　〃is　the　young　Severn。〃　　The　brook　
came　from　round　the　side　of　a　very　lofty　rock；　singularly　
variegated；　black　and　white；　the　northern　summit　presenting　
something　of　the　appearance　of　the　head　of　a　horse。　　Passing　round　
this　crag　we　came　to　a　fountain　surrounded　with　rushes；　out　of　
which　the　brook；　now　exceedingly　small；　came　murmuring。

〃The　crag　above；〃　said　my　guide；　〃is　called　Crag　y　Cefyl；　or　the　
Rock　of　the　Horse；　and　this　spring　at　its　foot　is　generally　called　
the　ffynnon　of　the　Hafren。　　However；　drink　not　of　it；　master；　for　
the　ffynnon　of　the　Hafren　is　higher　up　the　nant。　　Follow　me；　and　I　
will　presently　show　you　the　real　ffynnon　of　the　Hafren。〃

I　followed　him　up　a　narrow　and　very　steep　dingle。　　Presently　we　
came　to　some　beautiful　little　pools　of　water　in　the　turf；　which　was　
here　remarkably　green。

〃These　are　very　pretty　pools；　an't　they；　master？〃　said　my　
companion。　　〃Now；　if　I　was　a　false　guide　I　might　bid　you　stoop　and　
drink；　saying　that　these　were　the　sources　of　the　Severn；　but　I　am　a　
true　cyfarwydd；　and　therefore　tell　you　not　to　drink；　for　these　
pools　are　not　the　sources　of　the　Hafren；　no　more　than　the　spring　
below。　　The　ffynnon　of　the　Severn　is　higher　up　the　nant。　　Don't　
fret；　however；　but　follow　me；　and　we　shall　be　there　in　a　minute。〃

So　I　did　as　he　bade　me；　following　him　without　fretting　higher　up　
the　nant。　　Just　at　the　top　he　halted　and　said：　　〃Now；　master；　I　
have　conducted　you　to　the　source　of　the　Severn。　　I　have　considered　
the　matter　deeply；　and　have　come　to　the　conclusion　that　here；　and　
here　only；　is　the　true　source。　　Therefore　stoop　down　and　drink；　in　
full　confidence　that　you　are　taking　possession　of　the　Holy　Severn。〃

The　source　of　the　Severn　is　a　little　pool　of　water　some　twenty　
inches　long；　six　wide；　and　about　three　deep。　　It　is　covered　at　the　
bottom　with　small　stones；　from　between　which　the　water　gushes　up。　　
It　is　on　the　left…hand　side　of　the　nant；　as　you　ascend；　close　by　
the　very　top。　　An　unsightly　heap　of　black　turf…earth　stands　right　
above　it　to　the　north。　　Turf…heaps；　both　large　and　small；　are　in　
abundance　in　the　vicinity。

After　taking　possession　of　the　Severn　by　drinking　at　its　source；　
rather　a　shabby　source　for　so　noble　a　stream；　I　said；　〃Now　let　us　
go　to　the　fountain　of　the　Wye。〃

〃A　quarter　of　an　hour　will　take　us　to　it；　your　honour；〃　said　the　
guide；　leading　the　way。

The　source　of　the　Wye；　which　is　a　little　pool；　not　much　larger　than　
that　which　constitutes　the　fountain　of　the　Severn；　stands　near　the　
top　of　a　grassy　hill　which　forms　part　of　the　Great　Plynlimmon。　　The　
stream　after　leaving　its　source　runs　down　the　hill　towards　the　
east；　and　then　takes　a　turn　to　the　south。　　The　Mountains　of　the　
Severn　and　the　Wye　are　in　close　proximity　to　each　other。　　That　of　
the　Rheidol　stands　somewhat　apart　front　both；　as　if；　proud　of　its　
own　beauty；　it　disdained　the　other　two　for　their　homeliness。　　All　
three　are　contained　within　the　compass　of　a　mile。

〃And　now；　I　suppose；　sir；　that　our　work　is　done；　and　we　may　go　back　
to　where　we　came　from；〃　said　my　guide；　as　I　stood　on　the　grassy　
hill　after　drinking　copiously　of　the　fountain　of　the　Wye。

〃We　may；〃　said　I；　〃but　before　we　do　I　must　repeat　some　lines　made　
by　a　man　who　visited　these　sources；　and　experienced　the　hospitality　
of　a　chieftain　in　this　neighbourhood　four　hundred　years　ago。〃　　Then　
taking　off　my　hat；　I　lifted　up　my　voice　and　sang：…


〃From　high　Plynlimmon's　shaggy　side
Three　streams　in　three　directions　glide；
To　thousands　at　their　mouths　who　tarry
Honey；　gold　and　mead　they　carry。
Flow　also　from　Plynlimmon　high
Three　streams　of　generosity；
The　first；　a　noble　stream　indeed；
Like　rills　of　Mona　runs　with　mead；
The　second　bears　from　vineyards　thick
Wine　to　the　feeble　and　the　sick；
The　third；　till　time　shall　be　no　more；
Mingled　with　gold　shall　silver　pour。〃


〃Nice　pennillion；　sir；　I　daresay；〃　said　my　guide；　〃provided　a　
person　could　understand　them。　　What's　meant　by　all　this　mead；　wine；　
gold；　and　silver？〃

〃Why；〃　said　I；　〃the　bard　meant　to　say　that　Plynlimmon；　by　means　of　
its　three　channels；　sends　blessings　and　wealth　in　three　different　
directions　to　distant　places；　and　that　the　person　whom　he　came　to　
visit；　and　who　lived　on　Plynlimmon；　distributed　his　bounty　in　three　
different　ways；　giving　mead　to　thousands　at　his　banquets；　wine　from　
the　vineyards　of　Gascony　to　the　sick　and　feeble　of　the　
neighbourhood；　and　gold　and　silver　to　those　who　were　willing　to　be　
tipped；　amongst　whom　no　doubt　was　himself；　as　poets　have　never　been　
above　receiving　a　present。〃

〃Nor　above　asking　for　one；　your　honour；　there's　a　prydydd　in　this　
neighbourhood　who　will　never　lose　a　shilling　for　want　of　asking　for　
it。　　Now；　sir；　have　the　kindness　to　tell　me　the　name　of　the　man　who　
made　those　pennillion。〃

〃Lewis　Glyn　Cothi；〃　said　I；　〃at　least；　it　was　he　who　made　the　
pennillion　from　which　those　verses　are　translated。〃

〃And　what　was　the　name　of　the　gentleman　whom　he　came　to　visit？〃

〃His　name；〃　said　I；　〃was　Dafydd　ab　Thomas　Vychan。〃

〃And　where　did　he　live？〃

〃Why；　I　believe；　he　lived　at　the　castle；　which　you　told　me　once　
stood　on　the　spot　which　you　pointed　out　as　we　came　up。　　At　any　
rate；　he　lived　somewhere　upon　Plynlimmon。〃

〃I　wish　there　was　some　rich　gentleman　at　present　living　on　
Plynlimmon；〃　said　my　guide；　〃one　of　that　sort　is　much　wanted。〃

〃You　can't　have　everything　at　the　same　time；〃　said　I；　〃formerly　you　
had　a　chieftain　who　gave　away　wine　and　mead；　and　occasionally　a　bit　
of　gold　or　silver；　but　then　no　travellers　and　tourists　came　to　see　
the　wonders　of　the　hills；　for　at　that　time　nobody　cared　anything　
about　hills；　at　present　you　have　no　chieftain；　but　plenty　of　
visitors；　who　come　to　see　the　hills　and　the　sources；　and　scatter　
plenty　of　gold　about　the　neighbourhood。〃

We　now　bent　our　steps　homeward；　bearing　slight