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lavengro-第122部分

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the figure of a young girl; her face was turned towards me; and she 

appeared to be scanning me and my encampment; after a little time 

she looked in the other direction; only for a moment; however; 

probably observing nothing in that quarter; she again looked 

towards me; and almost immediately stepped forward; and; as she 

advanced; sang the song which I had heard in the wood; the first 

words of which were those which I have already alluded to。





'The Rommany chi

And the Rommany chal

Shall jaw tasaulor

To drab the bawlor;

And dook the gry

Of the farming rye。'





A very pretty song; thought I; falling again hard to work upon my 

kettle; a very pretty song; which bodes the farmers much good。  Let 

them look to their cattle。



'All alone here; brother?' said a voice close by me; in sharp but 

not disagreeable tones。



I made no answer; but continued my work; click; click; with the 

gravity which became one of my profession。  I allowed at least half 

a minute to elapse before I even lifted up my eyes。



A girl of about thirteen was standing before me; her features were 

very pretty; but with a peculiar expression; her complexion was a 

clear olive; and her jet black hair hung back upon her shoulders。  

She was rather scantily dressed; and her arms and feet were bare; 

round her neck; however; was a handsome string of corals; with 

ornaments of gold; in her hand she held a bulrush。



'All alone here; brother?' said the girl; as I looked up; 'all 

alone here; in the lane; where are your wife and children?'



'Why do you call me brother?' said I; 'am no brother of yours。  Do 

you take me for one of your people?  I am no gypsy; not I; indeed!'



'Don't be afraid; brother; you are no Roman … Roman indeed; you are 

not handsome enough to be a Roman; not black enough; tinker though 

you be。  If I called you brother; it was because I didn't know what 

else to call you。  Marry; come up; brother; I should be sorry to 

have you for a brother。'



'Then you don't like me?'



'Neither like you nor dislike you; brother; what will you have for 

that kekaubi?'



'What's the use of talking to me in that unchristian way; what do 

you mean; young gentlewoman?'



'Lord; brother; what a fool you are; every tinker knows what a 

kekaubi is。  I was asking you what you would have for that kettle。'



'Three…and…sixpence; young gentlewoman; isn't it well mended?'



'Well mended!  I could have done it better myself; three…and…

sixpence! it's only fit to be played at football with。'



'I will take no less for it; young gentlewoman; it has caused me a 

world of trouble。'



'I never saw a worse mended kettle。  I say; brother; your hair is 

white。'



〃Tis nature; your hair is black; nature; nothing but nature。'



'I am young; brother; my hair is black … that's nature:  you are 

young; brother; your hair is white … that's not nature。'



'I can't help it if it be not; but it is nature after all; did you 

never see gray hair on the young?'



'Never!  I have heard it is true of a gray lad; and a bad one he 

was。  Oh; so bad。'



'Sit down on the grass; and tell me all about it; sister; do; to 

oblige me; pretty sister。'



'Hey; brother; you don't speak as you did … you don't speak like a 

gorgio; you speak like one of us; you call me sister。'



'As you call me brother; I am not an uncivil person after all; 

sister。'



'I say; brother; tell me one thing; and look me in the face … there 

… do you speak Rommany?'



'Rommany!  Rommany! what is Rommany?'



'What is Rommany? our language to be sure; tell me; brother; only 

one thing; you don't speak Rommany?'



'You say it。'



'I don't say it; I wish to know。  Do you speak Rommany?'



'Do you mean thieves' slang … cant? no; I don't speak cant; don't 

like it; I only know a few words; they call a sixpence a tanner; 

don't they?'



'I don't know;' said the girl; sitting down on the ground; 'I was 

almost thinking … well; never mind; you don't know Rommany。  I say; 

brother; I think I should like to have the kekaubi。'



'I thought you said it was badly mended?'



'Yes; yes; brother; but … '



'I thought you said it was only fit to be played at football with?'



'Yes; yes; brother; but … '



'What will you give for it?'



'Brother; I am the poor person's child; I will give you sixpence 

for the kekaubi。'



'Poor person's child; how came you by that necklace?'



'Be civil; brother; am I to have the kekaubi?'



'Not for sixpence; isn't the kettle nicely mended?'



'I never saw a nicer mended kettle; brother; am I to have the 

kekaubi; brother?'



'You like me then?'



'I don't dislike you … I dislike no one; there's only one; and him 

I don't dislike; him I hate。'



'Who is he?'



'I scarcely know; I never saw him; but 'tis no affair of yours; you 

don't speak Rommany; you will let me have the kekaubi; pretty 

brother?'



'You may have it; but not for sixpence; I'll give it to you。'



'Parraco tute; that is; I thank you; brother; the rikkeni kekaubi 

is now mine。  O; rare!  I thank you kindly; brother。'



Starting up; she flung the bulrush aside which she had hitherto 

held in her hand; and; seizing the kettle; she looked at it for a 

moment; and then began a kind of dance; flourishing the kettle over 

her head the while; and singing …





'The Rommany chi

And the Rommany chal

Shall jaw tasaulor

To drab the bawlor;

And dook the gry

Of the farming rye。





Good…bye; brother; I must be going。'



'Good…bye; sister; why do you sing that wicked song?'



'Wicked song; hey; brother! you don't understand the song!'



'Ha; ha! gypsy daughter;' said I; starting up and clapping my 

hands; 'I don't understand Rommany; don't I?  You shall see; here's 

the answer to your gillie …





'The Rommany chi

And the Rommany chal;

Love Luripen

And dukkeripen;

And hokkeripen;

And every pen

But Lachipen

And tatchipen。'





The girl; who had given a slight start when I began; remained for 

some time after I had concluded the song standing motionless as a 

statue; with the kettle in her hand。  At length she came towards 

me; and stared me full in the face。  'Gray; tall; and talks 

Rommany;' said she to herself。  In her countenance there was an 

expression which I had not seen before … an expression which struck 

me as being composed of fear; curiosity; and the deepest hate。  It 

was momentary; however; and was succeeded by one smiling; frank; 

and open。  'Ha; ha; brother;' said she; 'well; I like you all the 

better for talking Rommany; it is a sweet language; isn't it? 

especially as you sing it。  How did you pick it up?  But you picked 

it up upon the roads; no doubt?  Ha; it was funny in you to pretend 

not to know it; and you so flush with it all the time; it was not 

kind in you; however; to frighten the poor person's child so by 
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