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lavengro-第37部分

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he is handsome; that is not the word; brother; he's the beauty of 

the world。  Women run wild at the sight of Tawno。  An earl's 

daughter; near London … a fine young lady with diamonds round her 

neck … fell in love with Tawno。  I have seen that lass on a heath; 

as this may be; kneel down to Tawno; clasp his feet; begging to be 

his wife … or anything else … if she might go with him。  But Tawno 

would have nothing to do with her:  〃I have a wife of my own;〃 said 

he; 〃a lawful rommany wife; whom I love better than the whole 

world; jealous though she sometimes be。〃'



'And is she very beautiful?' said I。



'Why; you know; brother; beauty is frequently a matter of taste; 

however; as you ask my opinion; I should say not quite so beautiful 

as himself。'



We had now arrived at a small valley between two hills; or downs; 

the sides of which were covered with furze; in the midst of this 

valley were various carts and low tents forming a rude kind of 

encampment; several dark children were playing about; who took no 

manner of notice of us。  As we passed one of the tents; however; a 

canvas screen was lifted up; and a woman supported upon a crutch 

hobbled out。  She was about the middle age; and; besides being 

lame; was bitterly ugly; she was very slovenly dressed; and on her 

swarthy features ill nature was most visibly stamped。  She did not 

deign me a look; but; addressing Jasper in a tongue which I did not 

understand; appeared to put some eager questions to him。



'He's coming;' said Jasper; and passed on。  'Poor fellow;' said he 

to me; 'he has scarcely been gone an hour; and she's jealous 

already。  Well;' he continued; 'what do you think of her? you have 

seen her now; and can judge for yourself … that 'ere woman is Tawno 

Chikno's wife!'







CHAPTER XVII







The tent … Pleasant discourse … I am Pharaoh … Shifting for one's 

self  … Horse…shoes … This is wonderful … Bless your wisdom … A 

pretty manoeuvre … Ill day to the Romans … My name is Herne … 

Singular people … An original speech … Word…master … Speaking 

Romanly。



WE went to the farthest of the tents; which stood at a slight 

distance from the rest; and which exactly resembled the one which I 

have described on a former occasion; we went in and sat down one on 

each side of a small fire; which was smouldering on the ground; 

there was no one else in the tent but a tall tawny woman of middle 

age; who was busily knitting。  'Brother;' said Jasper; 'I wish to 

hold some pleasant discourse with you。'



'As much as you please;' said I; 'provided you can find anything 

pleasant to talk about。'



'Never fear;' said Jasper; 'and first of all we will talk of 

yourself。  Where have you been all this long time?'



'Here and there;' said I; 'and far and near; going about with the 

soldiers; but there is no soldiering now; so we have sat down; 

father and family; in the town there。'



'And do you still hunt snakes?' said Jasper。



'No;' said I; 'I have given up that long ago; I do better now:  

read books and learn languages。'



'Well; I am sorry you have given up your snake…hunting; many's the 

strange talk I have had with our people about your snake and 

yourself; and how you frightened my father and mother in the lane。'



'And where are your father and mother?'



'Where I shall never see them; brother; at least; I hope so。'



'Not dead?'



'No; not dead; they are bitchadey pawdel。'



'What's that?'



'Sent across … banished。'



'Ah! I understand; I am sorry for them。  And so you are here 

alone?'



'Not quite alone; brother。'



'No; not alone; but with the rest … Tawno Chikno takes care of 

you。'



'Takes care of me; brother!'



'Yes; stands to you in the place of a father … keeps you out of 

harm's way。'



'What do you take me for; brother?'



'For about three years older than myself。'



'Perhaps; but you are of the Gorgios; and I am a Rommany Chal。  

Tawno Chikno take care of Jasper Petulengro!'



'Is that your name?'



'Don't you like it?'



'Very much; I never heard a sweeter; it is something like what you 

call me。'



'The horse…shoe master and the snake…fellow; I am the first。'



'Who gave you that name?'



'Ask Pharaoh。'



'I would; if he were here; but I do not see him。'



'I am Pharaoh。'



'Then you are a king。'



'Chachipen Pal。'



'I do not understand you。'



'Where are your languages?  You want two things; brother:  mother 

sense; and gentle Rommany。'



'What makes you think that I want sense?'



'That; being so old; you can't yet guide yourself!'



'I can read Dante; Jasper。'



'Anan; brother。'



'I can charm snakes; Jasper。'



'I know you can; brother。'



'Yes; and horses too; bring me the most vicious in the land; if I 

whisper he'll be tame。'



'Then the more shame for you … a snake…fellow … a horse…witch … and 

a lil…reader … yet you can't shift for yourself。  I laugh at you; 

brother!'



'Then you can shift for yourself?'



'For myself and for others; brother。'



'And what does Chikno?'



'Sells me horses; when I bid him。  Those horses on the chong were 

mine。'



'And has he none of his own?'



'Sometimes he has; but he is not so well off as myself。  When my 

father and mother were bitchadey pawdel; which; to tell you the 

truth; they were for chiving wafodo dloovu; they left me all they 

had; which was not a little; and I became the head of our family; 

which was not a small one。  I was not older than you when that 

happened; yet our people said they had never a better krallis to 

contrive and plan for them; and to keep them in order。  And this is 

so well known that many Rommany Chals; not of our family; come and 

join themselves to us; living with us for a time; in order to 

better themselves; more especially those of the poorer sort; who 

have little of their own。  Tawno is one of these。'



'Is that fine fellow poor?'



'One of the poorest; brother。  Handsome as he is; he has not a 

horse of his own to ride on。  Perhaps we may put it down to his 

wife; who cannot move about; being a cripple; as you saw。'



'And you are what is called a Gypsy King?'



'Ay; ay; a Rommany Kral。'



'Are there other kings?'



'Those who call themselves so; but the true Pharaoh is Petulengro。'



'Did Pharaoh make horse…shoes?'



'The first who ever did; brother。'



'Pharaoh lived in Egypt。'



'So did we once; brother。'



'And you left it?'



'My fathers did; brother。'



'And why did they come here?'



'They had their reasons; brother。'



'And you are not English?'



'We are not gorgios。'



'And you have a language of your own?'



'Avali。'



'This is wonderful。'



'Ha; ha!' cried the woman; who had hitherto sat knitting; at the 

farther end of the tent; without saying a word; though not 

inattentive to our conversat
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