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lavengro-第10部分

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intervals; on both sides; sentinels were stationed; whilst outside; 

upon the field; stood commodious wooden barracks; capable of 

containing two regiments of infantry; intended to serve as guards 

upon the captives。  Such was the station or prison at Norman Cross; 

where some six thousand French and other foreigners; followers of 

the grand Corsican; were now immured。



What a strange appearance had those mighty casernes; with their 

blank blind walls; without windows or grating; and their slanting 

roofs; out of which; through orifices where the tiles had been 

removed; would be protruded dozens of grim heads; feasting their 

prison…sick eyes on the wide expanse of country unfolded from that 

airy height。  Ah! there was much misery in those casernes; and from 

those roofs; doubtless; many a wistful look was turned in the 

direction of lovely France。  Much had the poor inmates to endure; 

and much to complain of; to the disgrace of England be it said … of 

England; in general so kind and bountiful。  Rations of carrion 

meat; and bread from which I have seen the very hounds occasionally 

turn away; were unworthy entertainment even for the most ruffian 

enemy; when helpless and a captive; and such; alas! was the fare in 

those casernes。  And then; those visits; or rather ruthless 

inroads; called in the slang of the place 'strawplait…hunts;' when 

in pursuit of a contraband article; which the prisoners; in order 

to procure themselves a few of the necessaries and comforts of 

existence; were in the habit of making; red…coated battalions were 

marched into the prisons; who; with the bayonet's point; carried 

havoc and ruin into every poor convenience which ingenious 

wretchedness had been endeavouring to raise around it; and then the 

triumphant exit with the miserable booty; and; worst of all; the 

accursed bonfire; on the barrack parade; of the plait contraband; 

beneath the view of the glaring eyeballs from those lofty roofs; 

amidst the hurrahs of the troops; frequently drowned in the curses 

poured down from above like a tempest…shower or in the terrific 

warw…hoop of 'VIVE L'EMPEREUR!'



It was midsummer when we arrived at this place; and the weather; 

which had for a long time been wet and gloomy; now became bright 

and glorious; I was subjected to but little control; and passed my 

time pleasantly enough; principally in wandering about the 

neighbouring country。  It was flat and somewhat fenny; a district 

more of pasture than agriculture; and not very thickly inhabited。  

I soon became well acquainted with it。  At the distance of two 

miles from the station was a large lake; styled in the dialect of 

the country 'a mere;' about whose borders tall reeds were growing 

in abundance; this was a frequent haunt of mine; but my favourite 

place of resort was a wild sequestered spot at a somewhat greater 

distance。  Here; surrounded with woods and thick groves; was the 

seat of some ancient family; deserted by the proprietor; and only 

inhabited by a rustic servant or two。  A place more solitary and 

wild could scarcely be imagined; the garden and walks were 

overgrown with weeds and briers; and the unpruned woods were so 

tangled as to be almost impervious。  About this domain I would 

wander till overtaken by fatigue; and then I would sit down with my 

back against some beech; elm; or stately alder tree; and; taking 

out my book; would pass hours in a state of unmixed enjoyment; my 

eyes now fixed on the wondrous pages; now glancing at the sylvan 

scene around; and sometimes I would drop the book and listen to the 

voice of the rooks and wild pigeons; and not unfrequently to the 

croaking of multitudes of frogs from the neighbouring swamps and 

fens。



In going to and from this place I frequently passed a tall elderly 

individual; dressed in rather a quaint fashion; with a skin cap on 

his head and stout gaiters on his legs; on his shoulders hung a 

moderate sized leathern sack; he seemed fond of loitering near 

sunny banks; and of groping amidst furze and low scrubby bramble 

bushes; of which there were plenty in the neighbourhood of Norman 

Cross。  Once I saw him standing in the middle of a dusty road; 

looking intently at a large mark which seemed to have been drawn 

across it; as if by a walking stick。  'He must have been a large 

one;' the old man muttered half to himself; 'or he would not have 

left such a trail; I wonder if he is near; he seems to have moved 

this way。'  He then went behind some bushes which grew on the right 

side of the road; and appeared to be in quest of something; moving 

behind the bushes with his head downwards; and occasionally 

striking their roots with his foot:  at length he exclaimed; 'Here 

he is!' and forthwith I saw him dart amongst the bushes。  There was 

a kind of scuffling noise; the rustling of branches; and the 

crackling of dry sticks。  'I have him!' said the man at last; 'I 

have got him!' and presently he made his appearance about twenty 

yards down the road; holding a large viper in his hand。  'What do 

you think of that; my boy?' said he; as I went up to him … 'what do 

you think of catching such a thing as that with the naked hand?'  

'What do I think?' said I。  'Why; that I could do as much myself。'  

'You do;' said the man; 'do you?  Lord! how the young people in 

these days are given to conceit; it did not use to be so in my 

time:  when I was a child; childer knew how to behave themselves; 

but the childer of these days are full of conceit; full of froth; 

like the mouth of this viper'; and with his forefinger and thumb he 

squeezed a considerable quantity of foam from the jaws of the viper 

down upon the road。  'The childer of these days are a generation of 

… God forgive me; what was I about to say?' said the old man; and 

opening his bag he thrust the reptile into it; which appeared far 

from empty。  I passed on。  As I was returning; towards the evening; 

I overtook the old man; who was wending in the same direction。  

'Good evening to you; sir;' said I; taking off a cap which I wore 

on my head。  'Good evening;' said the old man; and then; looking at 

me; 'How's this?' said he; 'you aren't; sure; the child I met in 

the morning?'  'Yes;' said I; 'I am; what makes you doubt it?'  

'Why; you were then all froth and conceit;' said the old man; 'and 

now you take off your cap to me。'  'I beg your pardon;' said I; 'if 

I was frothy and conceited; it ill becomes a child like me to be 

so。'  'That's true; dear;' said the old man; 'well; as you have 

begged my pardon; I truly forgive you。'  'Thank you;' said I; 'have 

you caught any more of those things?'  'Only four or five;' said 

the old man; 'they are getting scarce; though this used to be a 

great neighbourhood for them。'  'And what do you do with them?' 

said I; 'do you carry them home and play with them?'  'I sometimes 

play with one or two that I tame;' said the old man; 'but I hunt 

them mostly for the 
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