按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
on and submission to the see of Canterbury。 Supported by three auxiliaries； the favour and intimacy of king Henry； a time of peace； and consequent plenty； he boldly hazarded the trial of so great a cause； and so confident was he of his just right； that he sometimes caused the cross to be carried before him during his journey through Wales。
Bernard； however commendable in some particulars； was remarkable for his insufferable pride and ambition。 For as soon as he became courtier and a creature of the king's； panting after English riches by means of translation； （a malady under which all the English sent hither seem to labour）； he alienated many of the lands of his church without either advantage or profit； and disposed of others so indiscreetly and improvidently； that when ten carucates ｛123｝ of land were required for military purposes； he would； with a liberal hand； give twenty or thirty； and of the canonical rites and ordinances which he had miserably and unhappily instituted at St。 David's； he would hardly make use of one； at most only of two or three。 With respect to the two sees of Canterbury and St。 David's； I will briefly explain my opinion of their present state。 On one side； you will see royal favour； affluence of riches； numerous and opulent suffragan bishops； great abundance of learned men and well skilled in the laws； on the other side； a deficiency of all these things； and a total want of justice； on which account the recovery of its ancient rights will not easily be effected； but by means of those great changes and vicissitudes which kingdoms experience from various and unexpected events。
The spot where the church of St。 David's stands； and was founded in honour of the apostle St。 Andrew； is called the Vale of Roses； which ought rather to be named the vale of marble； since it abounds with one； and by no means with the other。 The river Alun； a muddy and unproductive rivulet； ｛124｝ bounding the churchyard on the northern side； flows under a marble stone； called Lechlavar； which has been polished by continual treading of passengers； and concerning the name； size； and quality of which we have treated in our Vaticinal History。 ｛125｝ Henry II。； on his return from Ireland； is said to have passed over this stone； before he devoutly entered the church of St。 Andrew and St。 David。 Having left the following garrisons in Ireland； namely； Hugh de Lacy （to whom he had given Meath in fee） in Dublin； with twenty knights； Fitz…Stephen and Maurice Fitzgerald； with other twenty； Humphrey de Bohun； Robert Fitz…Bernard； and Hugh de Grainville at Waterford； with forty； and William Fitz…Adelm and Philip de Braose at Wexford； with twenty； on the second day of Easter； the king embarked at sunrise on board a vessel in the outward port of Wexford； and； with a south wind； landed about noon in the harbour of Menevia。 Proceeding towards the shrine of St。 David； habited like a pilgrim； and leaning on a staff； he met at the white gate a procession of the canons of the church coming forth to receive him with due honour and reverence。 As the procession solemnly moved along； a Welsh woman threw herself at the king's feet； and made a complaint against the bishop of the place； which was explained to the king by an interpreter。 The woman； immediate attention not being paid to her petition； with violent gesticulation； and a loud and impertinent voice； exclaimed repeatedly； 〃Revenge us this day； Lechlavar！ revenge us and the nation in this man！〃 On being chidden and driven away by those who understood the British language； she more vehemently and forcibly vociferated in the like manner； alluding to the vulgar fiction and proverb of Merlin； 〃That a king of England； and conqueror of Ireland； should be wounded in that country by a man with a red hand； and die upon Lechlavar； on his return through Menevia。〃 This was the name of that stone which serves as a bridge over the river Alun； which divides the cemetery from the northern side of the church。 It was a beautiful piece of marble； polished by the feet of passengers； ten feet in length； six in breadth； and one in thickness。 Lechlavar signifies in the British language a talking stone。 ｛126｝ There was an ancient tradition respecting this stone； that at a time when a corpse was carried over it for interment； it broke forth into speech； and by the effort cracked in the middle； which fissure is still visible； and on account of this barbarous and ancient superstition； the corpses are no longer brought over it。 The king； who had heard the prophecy； approaching the stone； stopped for a short time at the foot of it； and； looking earnestly at it； boldly passed over； then； turning round； and looking towards the stone； thus indignantly inveighed against the prophet： 〃Who will hereafter give credit to the lying Merlin？〃 A person standing by； and observing what had passed； in order to vindicate the injury done to the prophet； replied； with a loud voice； 〃Thou art not that king by whom Ireland is to be conquered； or of whom Merlin prophesied！〃 The king then entering the church founded in honour of St。 Andrew and St。 David； devoutly offered up his prayers； and heard mass performed by a chaplain； whom alone； out of so large a body of priests； Providence seems to have kept fasting till that hour； for this very purpose。 Having supped at St。 David's； the king departed for the castle of Haverford； distant about twelve miles。 It appears very remarkable to me； that in our days； when David II。 presided over the see； the river should have flowed with wine； and that the spring； called Pistyll Dewi； or the PIPE of David； from its flowing through a pipe into the eastern side of the churchyard； should have run with milk。 The birds also of that place； called jackdaws； from being so long unmolested by the clergy of the church； were grown so tame and domesticated； as not to be afraid of persons dressed in black。 In clear weather the mountains of Ireland are visible from hence； and the passage over the Irish sea may be performed in one short day； on which account William； the son of William the Bastard； and the second of the Norman kings in England； who was called Rufus； and who had penetrated far into Wales； on seeing Ireland from these rocks； is reported to have said； 〃I will summon hither all the ships of my realm； and with them make a bridge to attack that country。〃 Which speech being related to Murchard； prince of Leinster； he paused awhile； and answered； 〃Did the king add to this mighty threat； If God please？〃 and being informed that he had made no mention of God in his speech； rejoicing in such a prognostic； he replied； 〃Since that man trusts in human； not divine power； I fear not his coming。〃
CHAPTER II
Of the journey by Cemmeis … the monastery of St。 Dogmael
The archbishop having celebrated mass early in the morning before the high altar of the church of St。 David； and enjoined to the archdeacon （Giraldus） the office of preaching to the people； hastened through Cemmeis ｛127｝ to meet prince Rhys at Aberteive。 ｛128｝ Two circumstances occurred in the province of Cemmeis； the one in our own time； the other a little before； which I think right not to pass over in silence。 In our time； a yo