the zincali-第21节
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dimples of love； and her brow is wrinkled over； though she is yet
young。 Her complexion is more than dark； for it is almost that of
a mulatto； and her hair； which hangs in long locks on either side
of her face； is black as coal； and coarse as the tail of a horse；
from which it seems to have been gathered。
There is no female eye in Seville can support the glance of hers； …
so fierce and penetrating； and yet so artful and sly； is the
expression of their dark orbs； her mouth is fine and almost
delicate； and there is not a queen on the proudest throne between
Madrid and Moscow who might not and would not envy the white and
even rows of teeth which adorn it； which seem not of pearl but of
the purest elephant's bone of Multan。 She comes not alone； a
swarthy two…year…old bantling clasps her neck with one arm； its
naked body half extant from the coarse blanket which； drawn round
her shoulders； is secured at her bosom by a skewer。 Though tender
of age； it looks wicked and sly； like a veritable imp of Roma。
Huge rings of false gold dangle from wide slits in the lobes of her
ears； her nether garments are rags； and her feet are cased in
hempen sandals。 Such is the wandering Gitana； such is the witch…
wife of Multan； who has come to spae the fortune of the Sevillian
countess and her daughters。
'O may the blessing of Egypt light upon your head； you high…born
lady！ （May an evil end overtake your body； daughter of a Busnee
harlot！） and may the same blessing await the two fair roses of the
Nile here flowering by your side！ （May evil Moors seize them and
carry them across the water！） O listen to the words of the poor
woman who is come from a distant country； she is of a wise people；
though it has pleased the God of the sky to punish them for their
sins by sending them to wander through the world。 They denied
shelter to the Majari； whom you call the queen of heaven； and to
the Son of God； when they flew to the land of Egypt before the
wrath of the wicked king； it is said that they even refused them a
draught of the sweet waters of the great river when the blessed two
were athirst。 O you will say that it was a heavy crime； and truly
so it was； and heavily has the Lord punished the Egyptians。 He has
sent us a…wandering； poor as you see； with scarcely a blanket to
cover us。 O blessed lady； （Accursed be thy dead； as many as thou
mayest have；） we have no money to buy us bread； we have only our
wisdom with which to support ourselves and our poor hungry babes；
when God took away their silks from the Egyptians； and their gold
from the Egyptians； he left them their wisdom as a resource that
they might not starve。 O who can read the stars like the
Egyptians？ and who can read the lines of the palm like the
Egyptians？ The poor woman read in the stars that there was a rich
ventura for all of this goodly house； so she followed the bidding
of the stars and came to declare it。 O blessed lady； （I defile thy
dead corse；） your husband is at Granada； fighting with king
Ferdinand against the wild Corahai！ （May an evil ball smite him
and split his head！） Within three months he shall return with
twenty captive Moors； round the neck of each a chain of gold。 （God
grant that when he enter the house a beam may fall upon him and
crush him！） And within nine months after his return God shall
bless you with a fair chabo； the pledge for which you have sighed
so long。 （Accursed be the salt placed in its mouth in the church
when it is baptized！） Your palm； blessed lady； your palm； and the
palms of all I see here； that I may tell you all the rich ventura
which is hanging over this good house； （May evil lightning fall
upon it and consume it！） but first let me sing you a song of Egypt；
that the spirit of the Chowahanee may descend more plenteously upon
the poor woman。'
Her demeanour now instantly undergoes a change。 Hitherto she has
been pouring forth a lying and wild harangue without much flurry or
agitation of manner。 Her speech； it is true； has been rapid； but
her voice has never been raised to a very high key； but she now
stamps on the ground； and placing her hands on her hips； she moves
quickly to the right and left； advancing and retreating in a
sidelong direction。 Her glances become more fierce and fiery； and
her coarse hair stands erect on her head； stiff as the prickles of
the hedgehog； and now she commences clapping her hands； and
uttering words of an unknown tongue； to a strange and uncouth tune。
The tawny bantling seems inspired with the same fiend； and； foaming
at the mouth； utters wild sounds； in imitation of its dam。 Still
more rapid become the sidelong movements of the Gitana。 Movement！
she springs； she bounds； and at every bound she is a yard above the
ground。 She no longer bears the child in her bosom； she plucks it
from thence； and fiercely brandishes it aloft； till at last； with a
yell she tosses it high into the air； like a ball； and then； with
neck and head thrown back； receives it； as it falls； on her hands
and breast； extracting a cry from the terrified beholders。 Is it
possible she can be singing？ Yes； in the wildest style of her
people； and here is a snatch of the song； in the language of Roma；
which she occasionally screams …
'En los sastos de yesque plai me diquelo；
Doscusanas de sonacai terelo； …
Corojai diquelo abillar；
Y ne asislo chapescar； chapescar。'
'On the top of a mountain I stand；
With a crown of red gold in my hand； …
Wild Moors came trooping o'er the lea；
O how from their fury shall I flee； flee； flee？
O how from their fury shall I flee？'
Such was the Gitana in the days of Ferdinand and Isabella； and much
the same is she now in the days of Isabel and Christina。
Of the Gitanas and their practices I shall have much to say on a
future occasion； when speaking of those of the present time； with
many of whom I have had no little intercourse。 All the ancient
Spanish authors who mention these women speak of them in unmeasured
terms of abhorrence； employing against them every abusive word
contained in the language in which they wrote。 Amongst other vile
names； they have been called harlots； though perhaps no females on
earth are； and have ever been； more chaste in their own persons；
though at all times willing to encourage licentiousness in others；
from a hope of gain。 It is one thing to be a procuress； and
another to be a harlot； though the former has assuredly no reason
to complain if she be confounded with the latter。 'The Gitanas；'
says Doctor Sancho de Moncada； in his discourse concerning the
Gypsies； which I shall presently lay before the reader； 'are public
harlots； common； as it is said； to all the Gitanos； and with
dances； demeanour； and filthy songs； are the cause of infinite harm
to the souls of the vassals of your Majesty （Philip III。）； as it is
notorious what infinite harm they have caused in many honourable
houses。 The married women whom they have separated from their
husbands； and the maidens whom they have perverted； and finally； in
the best of these Gitanas； any one may recognise all the signs of a
harlot given by the wise king： 〃they are gadders about；
whisperers； always unquiet in the places and corners。〃' （28）
The author of Alonso； （29） he who of all the old Spanish writers
has written most graphically concerning the Gitanos； and I believe
with most correctness； puts the following account of the Gitanas；
and their fortune…telling practices； into the entertaining mouth of
his hero：…
'O how many times did these Gitanas carry me along with them； for
being； after all； women； even they have their fears； and were glad
of me as a protector： and so they went through the neighbouring
villages； and entered the houses a…begging； giving to understand
thereby their poverty and necessity； and then they would call aside
the girls； in order to tell them the buena ventura； and the young
fellows the good luck which they were to enjoy； never failing in
the first place to ask for a cuarto or real； in order to make the
sign of the cross； and with these flattering words； they got as
much as they could； although； it is true； not much in money； as
their harvest in that article was generally slight； but enough in
bacon to afford subsistence to their husbands and bantlings。 I
looked on and laughed at the simplicity of those foolish people；
who； especially such as wished to be married； were as satisfied and
content with what the Gitana told them； as if an apostle had spoken
it。'
