letters-第43节
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the aspect of things I should say that the miseries of this land； far from having reached their climax； are but commencing。 Yet let no one mourn for Egypt： she is but paying the price of her sorceries and superstitions。
（UNSIGNED。）
P。S。 … At San Sebastian I shall need Davison's Turkish Grammar； which you have in the Library。 It will be of assistance to me in editing the Basque St。 Luke； the two languages are surprisingly connected。
LETTER： 15th September； 1837
To the Rev。 A。 Brandram （ENDORSED： recd。 Oct。 9； 1837） CORUNNA； SEP。 15； 1837。
REVD。 AND DEAR SIR； … About ten days have elapsed since my return to Corunna。 I stated in my last letter； from Compostella； that it was my intention to visit Pontevedra and Vigo； which I carried into effect。 In the first of these places I left； as I passed through； eight copies of the New Testament in the hands of Senor Garcia； the public notary； three days subsequent； on my return； I found that he had disposed of them； and I have since sent him a fresh supply。 He is a very zealous and exceeding intelligent person； and I have no doubt will prove a highly useful agent in Pontevedra and its beautiful neighbourhood； which is the garden of Galicia。 In Vigo I disposed of four Testaments； but was not so fortunate as to find any person willing or calculated to undertake the charge accepted by my friend in the former town。
Having reached Padron； in my journey back； I sent my servant and horses forward to Saint James； and guided by a peasant； proceeded across the country to Cape Finisterre； on whose rocky sides I so narrowly escaped being shipwrecked last year。 The distance was fifteen leagues； and the route lay over wild mountains and valleys； where we suffered much from fatigue and the heat of the sun。 Arrived at Finisterre we were seized as Carlist spies by the fishermen of the place； who determined at first on shooting us； but at last contented themselves with conducting us prisoners to Corcubion； where the ALCALDE of the district； after having examined me and perused my passport； ordered me to be set at liberty； and treated me with all manner of civility。 By this journey I accomplished what has long been one of the ardent wishes of my heart。 I have carried the Gospel to the extreme point of the old world； having left a Testament in the hands of Antonio de Trava； an ancient mariner of Finisterre； who took my part in a very friendly manner； and probably saved me from experiencing much violence at the hands of his companions。 Finisterre is a place of wonders； which I hope at some future time to have the pleasure of narrating； but at present I must speak of other matters。 About one hundred Testaments have been disposed of at Saint James of Compostella； and there is at present a steady regular demand for them there which inspires my heart with gratitude to the Almighty。 Shortly previous to my journey to Saint James； I despatched fifty copies to Lugo； where the Lord vouchsafed me good success on a former occasion； this second supply being almost exhausted； I have sent more。 Only fifty…eight copies have hitherto been sold at Corunna； for its inhabitants are far too much engrossed by party politics to entertain much relish for heavenly manna。 I pray every night and morning that their eyes may be opened to their eternal welfare。
Having now arranged matters in Galicia； as well as circumstances will permit； I am about to quit this province； directing my course to Oviedo in the Asturias。 The way is long； and is infested by robbers and factious； yet I go forth without much fear； hoping that the Lord will prove my shield and guard as on other occasions。 From Oviedo I proceed to Santander； and from thence to the Basque provinces。 Santander； being a large and flourishing town； affords me a tolerable prospect of success； and I have accordingly directed my agent at Madrid to despatch thither forthwith 150 Testaments。 The intermediate country is； however； in a most distracted state； a great part of it being in the hands of the Carlists； it is therefore probable that the books may never reach me； in which event I shall have to apply to England。 To the Basque provinces I hope to carry Saint Luke in a Biscayan version； which I shall print at Santander should an opportunity present itself。
No time must be lost in accomplishing all that is possible in Spain； which in the course of a few months may be entirely in the hands of the Pretender。 I received the lines which you directed to the care of the British consul at Corunna； and was thankful for them。 Pray present my kind remembrances to Mrs。 Brandram and family； to Mr。 Jowett； and Mr。 and Mrs。 Browne。
I remain； Revd。 and dear Sir； most truly yours；
G。 BORROW。
LETTER： 29th September； 1837
To the Rev。 A。 Brandram （ENDORSED： recd。 Oct。 17； 1837） OVIEDO； ASTURIAS； 29 SEPTR。 1837。
REVD。 AND DEAR SIR； … A day or two after the date of my last letter I quitted Corunna and passed over the bay to Ferrol； where I left twenty Testaments in the hands of a person who has just established a small book…shop in that place。 My servant Antonio went round by land with my horse； the only one which I now possess； I having disposed （1） of the largest of the two at Corunna； as I thought he was unable to support the fatigue of a journey to Oviedo。 At Ferrol I hired a horse and guide as far as Ribadeo； a distance of twenty leagues； and somewhat less than half the way to Oviedo。 This journey was a terrible one； during the greatest part of it we had to toil up and down mountain gorges and ravines； to force our way through bushes and thickets； and to wade rivulets and torrents swollen by the rain； which descended continually； our guide proved perfectly ignorant of the country； and we had to bribe various peasants to accompany us； though we incurred great risk by so doing of being conducted to some den of thieves； and stripped and murdered。 At Ribadeo we procured a fresh horse and guide； and continued our way to Oviedo； encountering still greater difficulties； the ground being still more rugged and broken than that which we had previously passed over。 My own horse rolled down a precipice； and was much maimed； whilst that of the guide was so worn out by the time he reached Gijon； four leagues from Oviedo； that he foundered。 As for Antonio and myself； we arrived barefooted and bleeding； for I need scarcely say that during all this journey； which amounted at least to 130 miles； we went on foot； the poor horses being scarcely able to carry our books and baggage。
I am now by the blessing of the Almighty in the city of Oviedo； the capital of the Asturias； although at an unpropitious season； for the bray of war is at the gate； and there is the cry of the captains and the shouting。 Castile is at the present time in the hands of the Carlists； who have captured and plundered Valladolid； in much the same manner as they did Segovia。 They are every day expected to march on this place； in which case they will probably experience an obstinate resistance； very excellent redoubts having been erected； and several of the convents strongly fortified； especially that of Santa Clara de la Vega。 All minds here are at present in a state of feverish anxiety and suspense； more especially as no intelligence at present arrives from Madrid； which by the last accounts was beleaguered by the bands of Cabrera； Palillos； and Orejita。 … But I am interrupted； and I lay down my pen。
A strange adventure has just occurred to me。 I am in the ancient town of Oviedo； in a very large； scantily furnished and remote room of an ancient POSADA； formerly a palace of the Counts of Santa Cruz。 It is past ten at night and the rain is descending in torrents。 I ceased writing on hearing numerous footsteps ascending the creaking stairs which lead to my apartment … the door was flung open； and in walked nine men of tall stature； marshalled by a little hunch…backed personage。 They were all muffled in the long cloaks of Spain； but I instantly knew by their demeanour that they were CABALLEROS； or gentlemen。 They placed themselves in a rank before the table where I was sitting； suddenly and simultaneously they all flung back their cloaks； and I perceived that every one bore a book in his hand； a book which I knew full well。 After a pause； which I was unable to break； for I sat lost in astonishment and almost conceived myself to be visited by apparitions； the hunch…back advancing somewhat before the rest said in soft silvery tones： 'SENOR Cavalier； was it you who brought this book to the Asturias？' I now supposed that they were the civil authorities of the place come to take me into custody； and rising from my seat I exclaimed； 'It certainly was I； and it is my glory to have done so。 The book is the New Testament of God； I wish it was in my power to bring a million。' 'I heartily wish so too；' said the little personage with a sigh。 'Be under no apprehension； Sir Cavalier； these gentlemen are my friends。 We have just purchased these books in the shop where you have placed them for sale； and have taken the liberty of calling upon you in or
