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！
thing in a Gypsy； the nose less Roman than Grecian； … fine yet
delicate； the eyes large； overhung with long drooping lashes；
giving them almost a melancholy expression； it was only when the
lashes were elevated that the Gypsy glance was seen； if that can be
called a glance which is a strange stare； like nothing else in this
world。 His complexion was a beautiful olive； and his teeth were of
a brilliancy uncommon even amongst these people； who have all fine
teeth。 He was dressed in a coarse waggoner's slop； which； however；
was unable to conceal altogether the proportions of his noble and
Herculean figure。 He might be about twenty…eight。 His companion
and his captain； Gypsy Will； was； I think； fifty when he was
hanged； ten years subsequently （for I never afterwards lost sight
of him）； in the front of the jail of Bury St。 Edmunds。 I have
still present before me his bushy black hair； his black face； and
his big black eyes fixed and staring。 His dress consisted of a
loose blue jockey coat； jockey boots and breeches； in his hand was
a huge jockey whip； and on his head （it struck me at the time for
its singularity） a broad…brimmed； high…peaked Andalusian hat； or at
least one very much resembling those generally worn in that
province。 In stature he was shorter than his more youthful
companion； yet he must have measured six feet at least； and was
stronger built； if possible。 What brawn！ … what bone！ … what legs！
… what thighs！ The third Gypsy； who remained on horseback； looked
more like a phantom than any thing human。 His complexion was the
colour of pale dust； and of that same colour was all that pertained
to him； hat and clothes。 His boots were dusty of course； for it
was midsummer； and his very horse was of a dusty dun。 His features
were whimsically ugly； most of his teeth were gone； and as to his
age； he might be thirty or sixty。 He was somewhat lame and halt；
but an unequalled rider when once upon his steed； which he was
naturally not very solicitous to quit。 I subsequently discovered
that he was considered the wizard of the gang。
I have been already prolix with respect to these Gypsies； but I
will not leave them quite yet。 The intended combatants at length
arrived； it was necessary to clear the ring； … always a troublesome
and difficult task。 Thurtell went up to the two Gypsies； with whom
he seemed to be acquainted； and with his surly smile； said two or
three words； which I； who was standing by； did not understand。 The
Gypsies smiled in return； and giving the reins of their animals to
their mounted companion； immediately set about the task which the
king of the flash…men had； as I conjecture； imposed upon them； this
they soon accomplished。 Who could stand against such fellows and
such whips？ The fight was soon over … then there was a pause。
Once more Thurtell came up to the Gypsies and said something … the
Gypsies looked at each other and conversed； but their words then
had no meaning for my ears。 The tall Gypsy shook his head … 'Very
well；' said the other； in English。 'I will … that's all。'
Then pushing the people aside； he strode to the ropes； over which
he bounded into the ring； flinging his Spanish hat high into the
air。
GYPSY WILL。 … 'The best man in England for twenty pounds！'
'THURTELL。 … 'I am backer！'
Twenty pounds is a tempting sum； and there men that day upon the
green meadow who would have shed the blood of their own fathers for
the fifth of the price。 But the Gypsy was not an unknown man； his
prowess and strength were notorious； and no one cared to encounter
him。 Some of the Jews looked eager for a moment； but their sharp
eyes quailed quickly before his savage glances； as he towered in
the ring； his huge form dilating； and his black features convulsed
with excitement。 The Westminster bravoes eyed the Gypsy askance；
but the comparison； if they made any； seemed by no means favourable
to themselves。 'Gypsy！ rum chap。 … Ugly customer； … always in
training。' Such were the exclamations which I heard； some of which
at that period of my life I did not understand。
No man would fight the Gypsy。 … Yes！ a strong country fellow wished
to win the stakes； and was about to fling up his hat in defiance；
but he was prevented by his friends； with … 'Fool！ he'll kill you！'
As the Gypsies were mounting their horses； I heard the dusty
phantom exclaim …
'Brother； you are an arrant ring…maker and a horse…breaker； you'll
make a hempen ring to break your own neck of a horse one of these
days。'
They pressed their horses' flanks； again leaped over the ditches；
and speedily vanished； amidst the whirlwinds of dust which they
raised upon the road。
The words of the phantom Gypsy were ominous。 Gypsy Will was
eventually executed for a murder committed in his early youth； in
company with two English labourers； one of whom confessed the fact
on his death…bed。 He was the head of the clan Young； which； with
the clan Smith； still haunts two of the eastern counties。
SOME FURTHER PARTICULARS RESPECTING THE ENGLISH GYPSIES
It is difficult to say at what period the Gypsies or Rommany made
their first appearance in England。 They had become； however； such
a nuisance in the time of Henry the Eighth； Philip and Mary； and
Elizabeth； that Gypsyism was denounced by various royal statutes；
and； if persisted in； was to be punished as felony without benefit
of clergy； it is probable； however； that they had overrun England
long before the period of the earliest of these monarchs。 The
Gypsies penetrate into all countries； save poor ones； and it is
hardly to be supposed that a few leagues of intervening salt water
would have kept a race so enterprising any considerable length of
time； after their arrival on the continent of Europe； from
obtaining a footing in the fairest and richest country of the West。
It is easy enough to conceive the manner in which the Gypsies lived
in England for a long time subsequent to their arrival： doubtless
in a half…savage state； wandering about from place to place；
encamping on the uninhabited spots； of which there were then so
many in England； feared and hated by the population； who looked
upon them as thieves and foreign sorcerers； occasionally committing
acts of brigandage； but depending chiefly for subsistence on the
practice of the 'arts of Egypt；' in which cunning and dexterity
were far more necessary than courage or strength of hand。
It would appear that they were always divided into clans or tribes；
each bearing a particular name； and to which a particular district
more especially belonged； though occasionally th