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lavengro-第127部分
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Winifred; standing close to me。 The moon was shining brightly upon
her; and I observed that she was very good…looking; with a composed
yet cheerful expression of countenance; her dress was plain and
primitive; very much resembling that of a Quaker。 She held a straw
bonnet in her hand。 'I am glad to see thee moving about; young
man;' said she; in a soft; placid tone; 'I could scarcely have
expected it。 Thou must be wondrous strong; many; after what thou
hast suffered; would not have stood on their feet for weeks and
months。 What do I say? … Peter; my husband; who is skilled in
medicine; just now told me that not one in five hundred would have
survived what thou hast this day undergone; but allow me to ask
thee one thing; Hast thou returned thanks to God for thy
deliverance?' I made no answer; and the woman; after a pause;
said; 'Excuse me; young man; but do you know anything of God?'
'Very little;' I replied; 'but I should say He must be a wondrous
strong person; if He made all those big bright things up above
there; to say nothing of the ground on which we stand; which bears
beings like these oaks; each of which is fifty times as strong as
myself; and will live twenty times as long。' The woman was silent
for some moments; and then said; 'I scarcely know in what spirit
thy words are uttered。 If thou art serious; however; I would
caution thee against supposing that the power of God is more
manifested in these trees; or even in those bright stars above us;
than in thyself … they are things of time; but thou art a being
destined to an eternity; it depends upon thyself whether thy
eternity shall be one of joy or sorrow。'
Here she was interrupted by the man; who exclaimed from the other
side of the tree; 'Winifred; it is getting late; you had better go
up to the house on the hill to inform our friends of our arrival;
or they will have retired for the night。' 'True;' said Winifred;
and forthwith wended her way to the house in question; returning
shortly with another woman; whom the man; speaking in the same
language which I had heard him first use; greeted by the name of
Mary; the woman replied in the same tongue; but almost immediately
said; in English; 'We hoped to have heard you speak to…night;
Peter; but we cannot expect that now; seeing that it is so late;
owing to your having been detained by the way; as Winifred tells
me; nothing remains for you to do now but to sup … to…morrow; with
God's will; we shall hear you。' 'And to…night; also; with God's
will; provided you be so disposed。 Let those of your family come
hither。' 'They will be hither presently;' said Mary; 'for knowing
that thou art arrived; they will; of course; come and bid thee
welcome。' And scarcely had she spoke; when I beheld a party of
people descending the moonlit side of the hill。 They soon arrived
at the place where we were; they might amount in all to twelve
individuals。 The principal person was a tall; athletic man; of
about forty; dressed like a plain country farmer; this was; I soon
found; the husband of Mary; the rest of the group consisted of the
children of these two; and their domestic servants。 One after
another they all shook Peter by the hand; men and women; boys and
girls; and expressed their joy at seeing him。 After which he said;
'Now; friends; if you please; I will speak a few words to you。' A
stool was then brought him from the cart; which he stepped on; and
the people arranging themselves round him; some standing; some
seated on the ground; he forthwith began to address them in a
clear; distinct voice; and the subject of his discourse was the
necessity; in all human beings; of a change of heart。
The preacher was better than his promise; for; instead of speaking
a few words; he preached for at least three…quarters of an hour;
none of the audience; however; showed the slightest symptom of
weariness; on the contrary; the hope of each individual appeared to
hang upon the words which proceeded from his mouth。 At the
conclusion of the sermon or discourse the whole assembly again
shook Peter by the hand; and returned to their house; the mistress
of the family saying; as she departed; 'I shall soon be back;
Peter; I go but to make arrangements for the supper of thyself and
company'; and; in effect; she presently returned; attended by a
young woman; who bore a tray in her hands。 'Set it down; Jessy;'
said the mistress to the girl; 'and then betake thyself to thy
rest; I shall remain here for a little time to talk with my
friends。' The girl departed; and the preacher and the two females
placed themselves on the ground about the tray。 The man gave
thanks; and himself and his wife appeared to be about to eat; when
the latter suddenly placed her hand upon his arm; and said
something to him in a low voice; whereupon he exclaimed; 'Ay;
truly; we were both forgetful'; and then getting up; he came
towards me; who stood a little way off; leaning against the wheel
of my cart; and; taking me by the hand; he said; 'Pardon us; young
man; we were both so engaged in our own creature…comforts; that we
forgot thee; but it is not too late to repair our fault; wilt thou
not join us; and taste our bread and milk?' 'I cannot eat;' I
replied; 'but I think I could drink a little milk'; whereupon he
led me to the rest; and seating me by his side; he poured some milk
into a horn cup; saying; '〃Croesaw。〃 That;' added he; with a
smile; 'is Welsh for welcome。'
The fare upon the tray was of the simplest description; consisting
of bread; cheese; milk; and curds。 My two friends partook with a
good appetite。 'Mary;' said the preacher; addressing himself to
the woman of the house; 'every time I come to visit thee; I find
thee less inclined to speak Welsh。 I suppose; in a little time;
thou wilt entirely have forgotten it; hast thou taught it to any of
thy children?' 'The two eldest understand a few words;' said the
woman; 'but my husband does not wish them to learn it; he says
sometimes; jocularly; that though it pleased him to marry a Welsh
wife; it does not please him to have Welsh children。 Who; I have
heard him say; would be a Welshman; if he could be an Englishman?'
'I for one;' said the preacher; somewhat hastily; 'not to be king
of all England would I give up my birthright as a Welshman。 Your
husband is an excellent person; Mary; but I am afraid he is
somewhat prejudiced。' 'You do him justice; Peter; in saying that
he is an excellent person;' sail the woman; 'as to being
prejudiced; I scarcely know what to say; but he thinks that two
languages in the same kingdom are almost as bad as two kings。'
'That's no bad observation;' said the preacher; 'and it is
generally the case; yet; thank God; the Welsh and English go on
very well; side by side; and I hope will do so till the Almighty
calls all men to their long account。' 'They
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