Some portions of the house, where the walls were strong and the lower storey vaulted21, were associated, of course, with visits from Llewellyn and Owen Glendower; and there also abode22--a ghost. The park, too, was not without its old memories and traditions. Many of its trees were descendants of an ancient grove23 dedicated24 to Druidic worship; and bones frequently found there were alleged25 by some to be the relics26 of human sacrifice, by others to be those of Roman or of Saxon warriors27 slain28 by the sturdy Britons who, under Cadwallader, Llewellyn of the Torques, or some other hero of the Pendragonate, had held, in defiance29 of both, the caer or fort on the summit of Craigaderyn. But the woodlands on which Sir Madoc mostly prided himself were those of the old acorn30 season, when Nature planted her own wild forests, and sowed the lawn out of her own lawns, as some writer has it. They were unquestionably the most picturesque31, but the trim and orderly chase was not without its beauties too, and there had many grand Eisteddfoddiau been held under the auspices32 of Sir Madoc, and often fifty harpers at a time had made the woods ring to "The noble Race of Shenkin," or "The March of the Men of Harlech."
The old Court and its surroundings were such as to make one agree with what Lord Lyttelton wrote of another Welsh valley, where "the mountains seemed placed to guard the charming retreat from invasions; and where, with the woman one loves, the friend of one's heart, and a good library, one might pass an age, and think it a day."
The ghost was a tall thin figure, dressed somewhat in the costume of Henry VIII.'s time; but his full-skirted doublet with large sleeves, the cap bordered with ostrich33 feathers, the close tight hose, and square-toed shoes, were all deep black, hence his, or its, aspect was sombre in the extreme, shadowy and uncertain too, as he was only visible in the twilight34 of eve, or the first dim and similarly uncertain light of the early dawn; and these alleged appearances have been chiefly on St. David's day, the 1st of March, and were preceded by the sound of a harp19 about the place--but a harp unseen. He was generally supposed to leave, or be seen quitting, a portion of the house, where the old wall was shrouded with ivy, and to walk or glide35 swiftly and steadily36, without casting either shadow or foot-mark on the grass, towards a certain ancient tree in the park, where he disappeared--faded, or melted out of sight. On the wall beneath the ivy being examined, a door--the portion of an earlier structure--was discovered to have been built up, but none knew when or why; and tradition averred37 that those who had seen him pass--for none dared follow--towards the old tree, could make out that his figure and face were those of a man in the prime of life, but the expression of the latter was sad, solemn, resolute38, and gloomy.
The origin of the legend, as told to me by Winifred Lloyd, referred to a period rather remote in history, and was to the following effect. Some fifteen miles southward from Craigaderyn is a quaint and singular village named Dinas Mowddwy, situated39 very strangely on the shelf of a steep mountain overlooking the Dyfi stream--a lofty spot commanding a view of the three beautiful valleys of the Ceryst; but this place was in past times the abode and fortress40 of a peculiar41 and terrible tribe, called the Gwylliad Cochion, or Red-haired Robbers, who made all North Wales, but more particularly their own district, a by-word and reproach, from the great extent and savage42 nature of the outrages43 they committed by fire and sword; so that to this day, we are told, there may be seen, in some of the remote mountain hamlets, more especially in Cemmaes near the sea, the well-sharpened scythe-blades, which were placed in the chimney-corners overnight, to be ready for them in case of a sudden attack. They were great crossbowmen, those outlaws44, and never failed in their aim; and so, like the broken clans45 upon the Highland46 border, they levied47 black mail on all, till the night of the 1st of March, 1534; when, during a terrific storm of thunder, lightning, and wind, Sir Jorwerth Lloyd of Craigaderyn, John Wynne ap Meredydd, and a baron48 named Owen, scaled the mountain at the head of their followers49, fell on them sword in hand, and after slaying50 a great number, hung one hundred of them in a row. One wretched mother, a red-haired Celt, begged hard and piteously to have her youngest son spared; but Sir Jorwerth was relentless51, so the young robber perished with the rest. Then the woman rent her garments, and laying bare her bosom52, said it had nursed other sons and daughters, who would yet wash their hands in the blood of them all. Owen was waylaid53 and slain by them at a place named to this day Llidiart-y-Barwn, or the Baron's Gate, and Meredydd fell soon after; but for Lloyd the woman, who was a reputed witch, had prepared another fate, as if aiming at the destruction of his soul as well as his body; for after his marriage with Gwerfyl Owen, he fell madly in love with a golden-haired girl whom he met when hunting in the forest near Craigaderyn; and as he immediately relinquished54 all attendance at church and all forms of prayer, and seemed to be besotted by her, the girl was averred to be an evil spirit, as she was never seen save in his company, and then only (by those who watched and lurked) "in the glimpses of the moon."
On the third St. David's eve after the slaughter55 at Dinas Mowddwy, he was seated with Gwerfyl in her chamber56, listening to a terrific storm of wind and rain that swept through the valley, overturning the oldest trees, and shaking the walls of the ancient house, while the lightning played above the dim summits of Snowdon, and every mountain stream and rhaidr, or cataract57, rolled in foam58 and flood to Llyn Alwen or the Conway.
On a tabourette near his knee she sat, lovingly clasping his hand between her own two, for he seemed restless, petulant59, and gloomy, and had his cloak and cap at hand, as if about to go forth60, though the weather was frightful61.
"Jorwerth," said she softly, "the last time there was such a storm as this was on that terrible night--you remember?"
"When we cut off the Gwylliad Cochion--yes, root and branch, sparing, as we thought, none, while the rain ran through my armour62 as through a waterspout. But why speak of it, to-night especially? Yes, root and branch, even while that woman vowed63 vengeance," he added, grinding his teeth. "But what sound is that?"
"Music," she replied, rising and looking round with surprise; but his tremulous hand, and, more than that, the sudden pallor of his face, arrested her, while the strains of a small harp, struck wildly and plaintively64, came at times between the fierce gusts65 of wind that shook the forest trees and the hiss66 of the rain on the window-panes without. Louder they seemed to come, and to be more emphatic67 and sharp; and, as he heard them, a violent trembling and cold perspiration68 came over all the form of Sir Jorwerth Lloyd.
"Heaven pity the harper who is abroad to-night!" said Gwerfyl, clasping her white hands.
"Let Hell do so, rather!" was the fierce response of her husband, as his eyes filled with a strange light.
At that moment a hand knocked on the window, and the startled wife, as she crouched69 by her husband's side, could see that it was small and delicate, wondrously71 beautiful too, and radiant with gems72 or glittering raindrops; and now her husband trembled more violently than ever.
Gwerfyl crossed herself, and rushed to the window.
"Strange," said she; "I can see no one."
"No one in human form, perhaps," replied her husband gloomily, as he lifted his cloak. "Look again, dear wife."
The lady did so, and fancied that close to the window-pane she could see a female face--anon she could perceive that it was small and beautiful, with hair of golden red, all wavy73, and, strange to say, unwetted by the rain, and with eyes that were also of golden red, but with a devilish smile and glare, and glitter in them and over all her features, as they appeared, but to vanish, as the successive flashes of lightning passed. With terror and foreboding of evil, she turned to her startled husband. He was a pale and handsome man, with an aquiline74 nose, a finely-cut mouth and chin; but now his lips were firmly compressed, a flashing and fiery75 light seemed to sparkle in his eyes, his forehead was covered with lines, and the veins76 of his temples were swollen77, while his black hair and moustache seemed to have actually become streaked78 with gray. What unknown emotion caused all this? There were power and passion in his bearing; but something strange, and dark, and demon79-like was brooding in his soul. The white drops glittered on his brow as he threw his cloak about him, and then the notes of the harp were heard, as if struck triumphantly80 and joyously81.
"Stay, stay! leave me not!" implored82 his wife on her knees, in a sudden access of terror and pity, that proved greater even than love.
"I cannot--I cannot! God pardon me and bless you, dear, dear wife, but go I must!"
("Exactly like Rudolph, as we saw him last night in the opera, breaking away from his followers when he heard the voice of Lurline singing amid the waters of the Rhine," added Winifred in a parenthesis83, as she laid her hand timidly on my arm.)
She strove on her knees to place in his hand the small ivory-bound volume of prayers which ladies then carried slung84 by a chain at their girdle, even as a watch is now; but he thrust it aside, as if it scorched85 his fingers. Then he kissed her wildly, and broke away.
She sprang from the floor, but he was gone--gone swiftly into the forest; and with sorrow and prayer in her heart his wife stealthily followed him. By this time the sudden storm had as suddenly ceased; already the gusty86 wind had died away, and no trace of it remained, save the strewn leaves and a quivering in the dripping branches; the white clouds were sailing through the blue sky, and whiter still, in silvery sheen 'the moonlight fell aslant87 in patches through the branches on the glittering grass. Amid that sheen she saw the dark figure of her husband passing, gliding88 onward89 to the old oak tree, and Gwerfyl shrunk behind another, as the notes of the infernal harp--for such she judged it to be--fell upon her ear.
"You have come, my beloved," said a sweet voice; and she saw the same strangely-beautiful girl with the red-golden hair, her skin of wondrous70 whiteness, and eyes that glittered with devilish triumph, though to Jorwerth Du they seemed only filled with ardour and the light of passionate90 love, even as the beauty of her form seemed all round and white and perfect; but lo! to the eyes of his wife, who was under no spell, that form was fast becoming like features in a dissolving view, changed to that of extreme old age--gray hairs and wrinkles seemed to come with every respiration91; for this mysterious love, who had bewitched her husband, was some evil spirit or demon of the woods.
"How long you have been!" said she reproachfully, for even the sweetness of her tone had suddenly passed away; "so long that already age seems to have come upon me."
"Pardon me; have I not sworn to love you for ever and ever, though neither of us is immortal92?"
"You are ready?" said she, laying her head on his breast.
"Yes, my own wild love!"
"Then let us go."
All beauty of form had completely passed away, and now Gwerfyl saw her handsome husband in the arms of a very hag; hollow-cheeked, toothless, almost fleshless, with restless shifty eyes, and grey elf-locks like the serpents of Medusa; a hag beyond all description hideous93: and her long, lean, shrivelled arms she wound lovingly and triumphantly around him. Her eyes gleamed like two live coals as he kissed her wildly and passionately94 from time to time, the full blaze of the moonlight streaming upon both their forms.
Gwerfyl strove to pray, to cry aloud, to move. But her tongue refused its office, and her lips were powerless; all capability95 of volition96 had left her, and she was as it were rooted to the spot. A moment more, and a dark cloud came over the moon, causing a deeper shadow under the old oak tree. Then a shriek97 escaped her, and when again the moon shone forth on the green grass and the gnarled tree, Gwerfyl alone was there--her husband and the hag had disappeared. Neither was ever seen more. North Wales is the most primitive98 portion of the country, and it is there that such fancies and memories still linger longest; and such was the little family legend told me by Winifred Lloyd. I was thinking over it now, recalling the earnest expression of her bright soft face and intelligent eyes, and the tone of her pleasantly modulated99 voice, when she, half laughingly and half seriously, had related it, with more point than I can give it, while we sat in a corner and somewhat apart from every one--on the first night I met the Cressinghams--in a crowded London ballroom100, amid the heat, the buzz, and crush of the season--about the last place in the world to hear a story of diablerie; and "the old time" seemed to come again, as I descended101 to the drawing-room, to meet her and Lady Estelle.
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1
fable
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| n.寓言；童话；神话 | |
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mansion
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| n.大厦，大楼；宅第 | |
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replete
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| adj.饱满的，塞满的；n.贮蜜蚁 | |
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kennels
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| n.主人外出时的小动物寄养处，养狗场；狗窝( kennel的名词复数 )；养狗场 | |
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yelped
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| v.发出短而尖的叫声( yelp的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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hoofs
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| n.（兽的）蹄，马蹄( hoof的名词复数 )v.（兽的）蹄，马蹄( hoof的第三人称单数 ) | |
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specimen
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| n.样本，标本 | |
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supreme
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| adj.极度的，最重要的；至高的，最高的 | |
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nags
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| n.不断地挑剔或批评（某人）( nag的名词复数 )；不断地烦扰或伤害（某人）；无休止地抱怨；不断指责v.不断地挑剔或批评（某人）( nag的第三人称单数 )；不断地烦扰或伤害（某人）；无休止地抱怨；不断指责 | |
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ivy
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| n.常青藤，常春藤 | |
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overlapping
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| adj./n.交迭（的） | |
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shrouded
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| v.隐瞒( shroud的过去式和过去分词 )；保密 | |
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panes
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| 窗玻璃( pane的名词复数 ) | |
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quaint
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| adj.古雅的，离奇有趣的，奇怪的 | |
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abutted
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| v.（与…）邻接( abut的过去式和过去分词 )；（与…）毗连；接触；倚靠 | |
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pinnacles
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| 顶峰( pinnacle的名词复数 )； 顶点； 尖顶； 小尖塔 | |
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turrets
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| （六角）转台( turret的名词复数 )； （战舰和坦克等上的）转动炮塔； （摄影机等上的）镜头转台； （旧时攻城用的）塔车 | |
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fluted
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| a.有凹槽的 | |
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harp
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| n.竖琴；天琴座 | |
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rampant
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| adj.(植物)蔓生的；狂暴的，无约束的 | |
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vaulted
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| adj.拱状的 | |
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abode
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| n.住处，住所 | |
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grove
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| n.林子，小树林，园林 | |
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dedicated
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| adj.一心一意的；献身的；热诚的 | |
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alleged
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| a.被指控的，嫌疑的 | |
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relics
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| [pl.］n.遗物，遗迹，遗产；遗体，尸骸 | |
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warriors
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| 武士，勇士，战士( warrior的名词复数 ) | |
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slain
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| 杀死，宰杀，杀戮( slay的过去分词 )； (slay的过去分词) | |
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defiance
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| n.挑战，挑衅，蔑视，违抗 | |
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acorn
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| n.橡实，橡子 | |
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picturesque
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| adj.美丽如画的，（语言）生动的，绘声绘色的 | |
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auspices
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| n.资助，赞助 | |
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ostrich
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| n.鸵鸟 | |
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twilight
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| n.暮光，黄昏；暮年，晚期，衰落时期 | |
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glide
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| n./v.溜，滑行；(时间)消逝 | |
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steadily
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| adv.稳定地；不变地；持续地 | |
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averred
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| v.断言( aver的过去式和过去分词 )；证实；证明…属实；作为事实提出 | |
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resolute
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| adj.坚决的，果敢的 | |
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situated
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| adj.坐落在...的，处于某种境地的 | |
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fortress
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| n.堡垒，防御工事 | |
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peculiar
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| adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的 | |
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savage
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| adj.野蛮的；凶恶的，残暴的；n.未开化的人 | |
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outrages
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| 引起…的义愤，激怒( outrage的第三人称单数 ) | |
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outlaws
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| 歹徒，亡命之徒( outlaw的名词复数 )； 逃犯 | |
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clans
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| 宗族( clan的名词复数 )； 氏族； 庞大的家族； 宗派 | |
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highland
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| n.(pl.)高地，山地 | |
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levied
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| 征（兵）( levy的过去式和过去分词 )； 索取； 发动（战争）； 征税 | |
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baron
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| n.男爵；(商业界等)巨头，大王 | |
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followers
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| 追随者( follower的名词复数 )； 用户； 契据的附面； 从动件 | |
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slaying
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| 杀戮。 | |
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51
relentless
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| adj.残酷的，不留情的，无怜悯心的 | |
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bosom
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| n.胸，胸部；胸怀；内心；adj.亲密的 | |
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waylaid
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| v.拦截，拦路( waylay的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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relinquished
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| 交出，让给( relinquish的过去式和过去分词 )； 放弃 | |
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slaughter
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| n.屠杀，屠宰；vt.屠杀，宰杀 | |
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chamber
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| n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所 | |
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cataract
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| n.大瀑布，奔流，洪水，白内障 | |
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foam
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| v./n.泡沫，起泡沫 | |
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petulant
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| adj.性急的，暴躁的 | |
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forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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frightful
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| adj.可怕的；讨厌的 | |
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armour
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| （=armor）n.盔甲；装甲部队 | |
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vowed
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| 起誓，发誓（vow的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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plaintively
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| adv.悲哀地，哀怨地 | |
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gusts
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| 一阵强风( gust的名词复数 )； （怒、笑等的）爆发； （感情的）迸发； 发作 | |
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hiss
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| v.发出嘶嘶声；发嘘声表示不满 | |
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emphatic
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| adj.强调的，着重的；无可置疑的，明显的 | |
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perspiration
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| n.汗水；出汗 | |
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crouched
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| v.屈膝，蹲伏( crouch的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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wondrous
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| adj.令人惊奇的，奇妙的；adv.惊人地；异乎寻常地；令人惊叹地 | |
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wondrously
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| adv.惊奇地，非常，极其 | |
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gems
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| growth； economy； management； and customer satisfaction 增长 | |
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wavy
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| adj.有波浪的，多浪的，波浪状的，波动的，不稳定的 | |
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aquiline
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| adj.钩状的，鹰的 | |
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fiery
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| adj.燃烧着的，火红的；暴躁的；激烈的 | |
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veins
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| n.纹理；矿脉( vein的名词复数 )；静脉；叶脉；纹理 | |
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swollen
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| adj.肿大的，水涨的；v.使变大，肿胀 | |
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streaked
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| adj.有条斑纹的，不安的v.快速移动( streak的过去式和过去分词 )；使布满条纹 | |
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demon
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| n.魔鬼，恶魔 | |
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triumphantly
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| ad.得意洋洋地；得胜地；成功地 | |
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joyously
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| ad.快乐地, 高兴地 | |
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implored
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| 恳求或乞求（某人）( implore的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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parenthesis
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| n.圆括号，插入语，插曲，间歇，停歇 | |
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slung
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| 抛( sling的过去式和过去分词 )； 吊挂； 遣送； 押往 | |
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scorched
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| 烧焦，烤焦( scorch的过去式和过去分词 )； 使（植物）枯萎，把…晒枯； 高速行驶； 枯焦 | |
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gusty
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| adj.起大风的 | |
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aslant
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| adv.倾斜地；adj.斜的 | |
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gliding
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| v. 滑翔 adj. 滑动的 | |
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onward
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| adj.向前的，前进的；adv.向前，前进，在先 | |
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passionate
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| adj.热情的，热烈的，激昂的，易动情的，易怒的，性情暴躁的 | |
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respiration
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| n.呼吸作用；一次呼吸；植物光合作用 | |
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immortal
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| adj.不朽的；永生的，不死的；神的 | |
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hideous
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| adj.丑陋的，可憎的，可怕的，恐怖的 | |
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passionately
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| ad.热烈地，激烈地 | |
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capability
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| n.能力；才能；(pl)可发展的能力或特性等 | |
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volition
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| n.意志；决意 | |
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shriek
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| v./n.尖叫，叫喊 | |
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primitive
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| adj.原始的；简单的；n.原(始)人，原始事物 | |
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modulated
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| 已调整[制]的，被调的 | |
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ballroom
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| n.舞厅 | |
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descended
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| a.为...后裔的，出身于...的 | |
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