itinerary of archibishop-第6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！
springing forth from the wood； which； contrary to the nature of her sex； was found to bear horns of twelve years' growth； and was much fatter than a stag； in the haunches as well as in every other part。 On account of the singularity of this circumstance； the head and horns of this strange animal were destined as a present to king Henry the Second。 This event is the more remarkable； as the man who shot the hind suddenly lost the use of his right eye； and being at the same time seized with a paralytic complaint； remained in a weak and impotent state until the time of his death。
In this same province of Warthrenion； and in the church of Saint Germanus； ｛20｝ there is a staff of Saint Cyric； ｛21｝ covered on all sides with gold and silver； and resembling in its upper part the form of a cross； its efficacy has been proved in many cases； but particularly in the removal of glandular and strumous swellings； insomuch that all persons afflicted with these complaints； on a devout application to the staff； with the oblation of one penny； are restored to health。 But it happened in these our days； that a strumous patient on presenting one halfpenny to the staff； the humour subsided only in the middle； but when the oblation was completed by the other halfpenny； an entire cure was accomplished。 Another person also coming to the staff with the promise of a penny； was cured； but not fulfilling his engagement on the day appointed； he relapsed into his former disorder； in order； however； to obtain pardon for his offence； he tripled the offering by presenting three… pence； and thus obtained a complete cure。
At Elevein； in the church of Glascum； ｛22｝ is a portable bell； endowed with great virtues； called Bangu； ｛23｝ and said to have belonged to Saint David。 A certain woman secretly conveyed this bell to her husband； who was confined in the castle of Raidergwy； ｛24｝ near Warthrenion； （which Rhys； son of Gruffydd； had lately built） for the purpose of his deliverance。 The keepers of the castle not only refused to liberate him for this consideration； but seized and detained the bell； and in the same night； by divine vengeance； the whole town； except the wall on which the bell hung； was consumed by fire。
The church of Luel； ｛25｝ in the neighbourhood of Brecheinoc （Brechinia）； was burned； also in our time； by the enemy； and everything destroyed； except one small box； in which the consecrated host was deposited。
It came to pass also in the province of Elvenia； which is separated from Hay by the river Wye； in the night in which king Henry I。 expired； that two pools ｛26｝ of no small extent； the one natural； the other artificial； suddenly burst their bounds； the latter； by its precipitate course down the declivities； emptied itself； but the former； with its fish and contents； obtained a permanent situation in a valley about two miles distant。 In Normandy； a few days before the death of Henry II。； the fish of a certain pool near Seez； five miles from the castle of Exme； fought during the night so furiously with each other； both in the water and out of it； that the neighbouring people were attracted by the noise to the spot； and so desperate was the conflict； that scarcely a fish was found alive in the morning； thus； by a wonderful and unheard…of prognostic； foretelling the death of one by that of many。
But the borders of Wales sufficiently remember and abhor the great and enormous excesses which； from ambitious usurpation of territory； have arisen amongst brothers and relations in the districts of Melenyth； Elvein； and Warthrenion； situated between the Wye and the Severn。
CHAPTER II
Journey through Hay and Brecheinia
Having crossed the river Wye； we proceeded towards Brecheinoc； and on preaching a sermon at Hay； ｛27｝ we observed some amongst the multitude； who were to be signed with the cross （leaving their garments in the hands of their friends or wives； who endeavoured to keep them back）； fly for refuge to the archbishop in the castle。 Early in the morning we began our journey to Aberhodni； and the word of the Lord being preached at Landeu； ｛28｝ we there spent the night。 The castle and chief town of the province； situated where the river Hodni joins the river Usk； is called Aberhodni； ｛29｝ and every place where one river falls into another is called Aber in the British tongue。 Landeu signifies the church of God。 The archdeacon of that place （Giraldus） presented to the archbishop his work on the Topography of Ireland； which he graciously received； and either read or heard a part of it read attentively every day during his journey； and on his return to England completed the perusal of it。
I have determined not to omit mentioning those occurrences worthy of note which happened in these parts in our days。 It came to pass before that great war； in which nearly all this province was destroyed by the sons of Jestin； ｛30｝ that the large lake； and the river Leveni； ｛31｝ which flows from it into the Wye； opposite Glasbyry； ｛32｝ were tinged with a deep green colour。 The old people of the country were consulted； and answered； that a short time before the great desolation ｛33｝ caused by Howel； son of Meredyth； the water had been coloured in a similar manner。 About the same time； a chaplain； whose name was Hugo； being engaged to officiate at the chapel of Saint Nicholas； in the castle of Aberhodni； saw in a dream a venerable man standing near him； and saying； 〃Tell thy lord William de Braose； ｛34｝ who has the audacity to retain the property granted to the chapel of Saint Nicholas for charitable uses； these words： 'The public treasury takes away that which Christ does not receive； and thou wilt then give to an impious soldier； what thou wilt not give to a priest。'〃 This vision having been repeated three times； he went to the archdeacon of the place； at Landeu； and related to him what had happened。 The archdeacon immediately knew them to be the words of Augustine； and shewing him that part of his writings where they were found； explained to him the case to which they applied。 He reproaches persons who held back tithes and other ecclesiastical dues； and what he there threatens； certainly in a short time befell this withholder of them： for in our time we have duly and undoubtedly seen； that princes who have usurped ecclesiastical benefices （and particularly king Henry the Second； who laboured under this vice more than others）； have profusely squandered the treasures of the church； and given away to hired soldiers what in justice should have been given only to priests。
Yet something is to be said in favour of the aforesaid William de Braose； although he greatly offended in this particular （since nothing human is perfect； and to have knowledge of all things； and in no point to err； is an attribute of God； not of man）； for he always placed the name of the Lord before his sentences； saying； 〃Let this be done in the name of the Lord； let that be done by God's will； if it shall please God； or if God grant leave； it shall be so by the grace of God。〃 We learn from Saint Paul； that everything ought thus to be committed and referred to the will of God。 On taking leave of his brethren； he says； 〃I will return to you again； if God permit；〃 and Saint James uses this expression； 〃If the Lord will； and we live；〃 in order to show that all things ought to be submitted to the divine disposal。 The letters also which William de Braose； as a rich and powerful man； was accustomed to send to different parts； were loaded； or rather honoured； with words expressive of the divine indulgence to a degree not only tiresome to his scribe； but even to his auditors； for as a reward to each of his scribes for concluding his letters with the words； 〃by divine assistance；〃 he gave annually a piece of gold； in addition to their stipend。 When on a journey he saw a church or a cross； although in the midst of conversation either with his inferiors or superiors； from an excess of devotion； he immediately began to pray； and when he had finished his prayers； resumed his conversation。 On meeting boys in the way； he invited them by a previous salutation to salute him； that the blessings of these innocents； thus extorted； might be returned to him。 His wife； Matilda de Saint Valery； observed all these things： a prudent and chaste woman； a woman placed with propriety at the head of her house； equally attentive to the economical disposal of her property within doors； as to the augmentation of it without； both of whom； I hope； by their devotion obtained temporal happiness and grace； as well as the glory of eternity。
It happened also that the hand of a boy； who was endeavouring to take some young pigeons from a nest； in the church of Saint David of Llanvaes； ｛35｝ adhered to the stone on which he leaned； through the miraculous vengeance； perhaps； of that saint； in favour of the birds who had taken refuge in his church； and when the boy； attended by his friends and parents； had for three successive days and nights offered up his prayers and supplications before the holy altar of the church； his hand was； on the third day； liberated by the same divine power which had so miraculously fastened it。 We saw this same boy at Newbury； in England； now advanced in years； presenting hi
