itinerary of archibishop-第14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！
eople assembled； and the dog； with bitter howlings； lamented his master's fate。 The murderer； by chance； passed that way； and； in order to prove his innocence； mingled with the crowd of spectators； and； as if moved by compassion； approached the body of the deceased。 The dog； suspending for a while his moans； assumed the arms of revenge； rushed upon the man； and seized him； howling at the same time in so dolorous a manner； that all present shed tears。 It was considered as a proof against the murderer； that the dog seized him from amongst so many； and would not let him go； and especially； as neither the crime of hatred； envy； or injury； could possibly； in this case； be urged against the dog。 On account； therefore； of such a strong suspicion of murder （which the soldier constantly denied）； it was determined that the truth of the matter should be tried by combat。 The parties being assembled in a field； with a crowd of people around； the dog on one side； and the soldier； armed with a stick of a cubit's length； on the other； the murderer was at length overcome by the victorious dog； and suffered an ignominious death on the common gallows。
Pliny and Solinus relate that a certain king； who was very fond of dogs； and addicted to hunting； was taken and imprisoned by his enemies； and in a most wonderful manner liberated； without any assistance from his friends； by a pack of dogs； who had spontaneously sequestered themselves in the mountainous and woody regions； and from thence committed many atrocious acts of depredation on the neighbouring herds and flocks。 I shall take this opportunity of mentioning what from experience and ocular testimony I have observed respecting the nature of dogs。 A dog is in general sagacious； but particularly with respect to his master； for when he has for some time lost him in a crowd； he depends more upon his nose than upon his eyes； and； in endeavouring to find him； he first looks about； and then applies his nose； for greater certainty； to his clothes； as if nature had placed all the powers of infallibility in that feature。 The tongue of a dog possesses a medicinal quality； the wolf's； on the contrary； a poisonous： the dog heals his wounds by licking them； the wolf； by a similar practice； infects them； and the dog； if he has received a wound in his neck or head； or any part of his body where he cannot apply his tongue； ingeniously makes use of his hinder foot as a conveyance of the healing qualities to the parts affected。
CHAPTER VIII
Passage of the rivers Avon and Neth … and of Abertawe and Goer
Continuing our journey； ｛89｝ not far from Margan； where the alternate vicissitudes of a sandy shore and the tide commence； we forded over the river Avon； having been considerably delayed by the ebbing of the sea； and under the guidance of Morgan； eldest son of Caradoc； proceeded along the sea…shore towards the river Neth； which； on account of its quicksands； is the most dangerous and inaccessible river in South Wales。 A pack…horse belonging to the author； which had proceeded by the lower way near the sea； although in the midst of many others； was the only one which sunk down into the abyss； but he was at last； with great difficulty； extricated； and not without some damage done to the baggage and books。 Yet； although we had Morgan； the prince of that country； as our conductor； we did not reach the river without great peril； and some severe falls； for the alarm occasioned by this unusual kind of road； made us hasten our steps over the quicksands； in opposition to the advice of our guide； and fear quickened our pace； whereas； through these difficult passages； as we there learned； the mode of proceeding should be with moderate speed。 But as the fords of that river experience a change by every monthly tide； and cannot be found after violent rains and floods； we did not attempt the ford； but passed the river in a boat； leaving the monastery of Neth ｛90｝ on our right hand； approaching again to the district of St。 David's； and leaving the diocese of Landaf （which we had entered at Abergevenny） behind us。
It happened in our days that David II。； bishop of St。 David's； passing this way； and finding the ford agitated by a recent storm； a chaplain of those parts； named Rotherch Falcus； being conversant in the proper method of crossing these rivers； undertook； at the desire of the bishop； the dangerous task of trying the ford。 Having mounted a large and powerful horse； which had been selected from the whole train for this purpose； he immediately crossed the ford； and fled with great rapidity to the neighbouring woods； nor could he be induced to return until the suspension which he had lately incurred was removed； and a full promise of security and indemnity obtained； the horse was then restored to one party； and his service to the other。
Entering the province called Goer； ｛91｝ we spent the night at the castle of Sweynsei； ｛92｝ which in Welsh is called Abertawe； or the fall of the river Tawe into the sea。 The next morning； the people being assembled after mass； and many having been induced to take the cross； an aged man of that district； named Cador； thus addressed the archbishop： 〃My lord； if I now enjoyed my former strength； and the vigour of youth； no alms should ransom me； no desire of inactivity restrain me； from engaging in the laudable undertaking you preach； but since my weak age and the injuries of time deprive me of this desirable benefit （for approaching years bring with them many comforts； which those that are passed take away）； if I cannot； owing to the infirmity of my body； attain a full merit； yet suffer me； by giving a tenth of all I possess； to attain a half。〃 Then falling down at the feet of the archbishop； he deposited in his hands； for the service of the cross； the tenth of his estate； weeping bitterly； and intreating from him the remission of one half of the enjoined penance。 After a short time he returned； and thus continued： 〃My lord； if the will directs the action； and is itself； for the most part； considered as the act； and as I have a full and firm inclination to undertake this journey； I request a remission of the remaining part of the penance； and in addition to my former gift； I will equal the sum from the residue of my tenths。〃 The archbishop； smiling at his devout ingenuity； embraced him with admiration。
On the same night； two monks； who waited in the archbishop's chamber； conversing about the occurrences of their journey； and the dangers of the road； one of them said （alluding to the wildness of the country）； 〃This is a hard province；〃 the other （alluding to the quicksands）； wittily replied； 〃Yet yesterday it was found too soft。〃
A short time before our days； a circumstance worthy of note occurred in these parts； which Elidorus； a priest； most strenuously affirmed had befallen himself。 When a youth of twelve years； and learning his letters； since； as Solomon says； 〃The root of learning is bitter； although the fruit is sweet；〃 in order to avoid the discipline and frequent stripes inflicted on him by his preceptor； he ran away； and concealed himself under the hollow bank of a river。 After fasting in that situation for two days； two little men of pigmy stature appeared to him； saying； 〃If you will come with us； we will lead you into a country full of delights and sports。〃 Assenting and rising up； he followed his guides through a path； at first subterraneous and dark； into a most beautiful country； adorned with rivers and meadows； woods and plains； but obscure； and not illuminated with the full light of the sun。 All the days were cloudy； and the nights extremely dark； on account of the absence of the moon and stars。 The boy was brought before the king； and introduced to him in the presence of the court； who； having examined him for a long time； delivered him to his son； who was then a boy。 These men were of the smallest stature； but very well proportioned in their make； they were all of a fair complexion； with luxuriant hair falling over their shoulders like that of women。 They had horses and greyhounds adapted to their size。 They neither ate flesh nor fish； but lived on milk diet； made up into messes with saffron。 They never took an oath； for they detested nothing so much as lies。 As often as they returned from our upper hemisphere； they reprobated our ambition； infidelities； and inconstancies； they had no form of public worship； being strict lovers and reverers； as it seemed； of truth。
The boy frequently returned to our hemisphere； sometimes by the way he had first gone； sometimes by another： at first in company with other persons； and afterwards alone； and made himself known only to his mother； declaring to her the manners； nature； and state of that people。 Being desired by her to bring a present of gold； with which that region abounded； he stole； while at play with the king's son； the golden ball with which he used to divert himself； and brought it to his mother in great haste； and when he reached the door of his father's house； but not unpursued； and was entering it in a great hurry； his foot stumbled on the threshold； and falling down into the room where his mother was sitting； the two pigmies seized the ball which had dropped from his hand； and d
