《The Secret Rose》第2章

drew　the　tub　out　of　the　corner　with　the　thought　of　washing　the　dust　of　the　highway　from　his　feet；　but　the　water　was　so　dirty　that　he　could　not　see　the　bottom。　he　was　very　hungry；　for　he　had　not　eaten　all　that　day；　so　he　did　not　waste　much　anger　upon　the　tub；　but　took　up　the　black　loaf；　and　bit　into　it；　and　then　spat　out　the　bite；　for　the　bread　was　hard　and　mouldy。　still　he　did　not　give　way　to　his　anger；　for　he　had　not　drunken　these　many　hours；　having　a　hope　of　heath　beer　or　wine　at　his　days　end；　he　had　left　the　brooks　untasted；　to　make　his　supper　the　more　delightful。　now　he　put　the　jug　to　his　lips；　but　he　flung　it　from　him　straightway；　for　the　water　was　bitter　and　ill？smelling。　then　he　gave　the　jug　a　kick；　so　that　it　broke　against　the　opposite　wall；　and　he　took　down　the　blanket　to　wrap　it　about　him　for　the　night。　but　no　sooner　did　he　touch　it　than　it　was　alive　with　skipping　fleas。　at　this；　beside　himself　with　anger；　he　rushed　to　the　door　of　the　guest？　house；　but　the　lay　brother；　being　well　accustomed　to　such　outcries；　had　locked　it　on　the　outside；　so　he　emptied　the　tub　and　began　to　beat　the　door　with　it；　till　the　lay　brother　came　to　the　door　and　asked　what　ailed　him；　and　why　he　woke　him　out　of　sleep。　what　ails　me！　shouted　cumhal；　are　not　the　sods　as　wet　as　the　sands　of　the　three　rosses？　and　are　not　the　fleas　in　the　blanket　as　many　as　the　waves　of　the　sea　and　as　lively？　and　is　not　the　bread　as　hard　as　the　heart　of　a　lay　brother　who　has　forgotten　god？　and　is　not　the　water　in　the　jug　as　bitter　and　as　ill？smelling　as　his　soul？　and　is　not　the　foot？water　the　colour　that　shall　be　upon　him when　he　has　been　charred　in　the　undying　fires？　the　lay　brother　saw　that　the　lock　was　fast；　and　went　back　to　his　niche；　for　he　was　too　sleepy　to　talk　with　fort。　and　cumhal　went　on　beating　at　the　door；　and　presently　he　heard　the　lay　brothers　foot　once　more；　and　cried　out　at　him；　o　cowardly　and　tyrannous　race　of　friars；　persecutors　of　the　bard　and　the　gleeman；　haters　of　life　and　joy！　o　race　that　does　not　draw　the　sword　and　tell　the　truth！　o　race　that　melts　the　bones　of　the　people　with　cowardice　and　with　deceit！
gleeman；　said　the　lay　brother；　i　also　make　rhymes；　i　make　many　while　i　sit　in　my　niche　by　the　door；　and　i　sorrow　to　hear　the　bards　railing　upon　the　friars。　brother；　i　would　sleep；　and　therefore　i　make　known　to　you　that　it　is　the　head　of　the　monastery；　our　gracious　abbot；　who　orders　all　things　concerning　the　lodging　of　travellers。
you　may　sleep；　said　cumhal；　i　will　sing　a　bards　curse　on　the　abbot。　and　he　set　the　tub　upside　down　under　the　window；　and　stood　upon　it；　and　began　to　sing　in　a　very　loud　voice。　the　singing　awoke　the　abbot；　so　that　he　sat　up　in　bed　and　blew　a　silver　whistle　until　the　lay　brother　came　to　him。　i　cannot　get　a　wink　of　sleep　with　that　noise；　said　the　abbot。　what　is　happening？
it　is　a　gleeman；　said　the　lay　brother；　who　plains　of　the　sods；　of　the　bread；　of　the　water　in　the　jug；　of　the　foot？water；　and　of　the　blanket。　and　now　he　is　singing　a　bards　curse　upon　you；　o　brother　abbot；　and　upon　your　father　and　your　mother；　and　your　grandfather　and　your　grandmother；　and　upon　all　your　relations。
is　he　cursing　in　rhyme？
he　is　cursing　in　rhyme；　and　with　two　assonances　in　every　line　of　his　curse。
the　abbot　pulled　his　night？cap　off　and　crumpled　it　in　his　hands；　and　the　circular　brown　patch　of　hair　in　the　middle　of　his　bald　head　looked　like　an　island　in　the　midst　of　a　pond；　for　in　connaught　they　had　not　yet　abandoned　the　ancient　tonsure　for　the　style　then　ing　into　use。　if　we　do　not　somewhat；　he　said；　he　will　teach　his　curses　to　the　children　in　the　street；　and　the　girls　spinning　at　the　doors；　and　to　the　robbers　upon　ben　bulben。
shall　i　go；　then；　said　the　other；　and　give　him　dry　sods；　a　fresh　loaf；　clean　water　in　a　jug；　clean　foot？water；　and　a　new　blanket；　and　make　him　swear　by　the　blessed　saint　benignus；　and　by　the　sun　and　moon；　that　no　bond　be　lacking；　not　to　tell　his　rhymes　to　the　children　in　the　street；　and　the　girls　spinning　at　the　doors；　and　the　robbers　upon　ben　bulben？
neither　our　blessed　patron　nor　the　sun　and　moon　would　avail　at　all；　said　the　abbot；　for　to？morrow　or　the　next　day　the　mood　to　curse　would　e　upon　him；　or　a　pride　in　those　rhymes　would　move　him；　and　he　would　teach　his　lines　to　the　children；　and　the　girls；　and　the　robbers。　or　else　he　would　tell　another　of　his　craft　how　he　fared　in　the　guest？house；　and　he　in　his　turn　would　begin　to　curse；　and　my　name　would　wither。　for　learn　there　is　no　steadfastness　of　purpose　upon　the　roads；　but　only　under　roofs　and　between　four　walls。　therefore　i　bid　you　go　and　awaken　brother　kevin；　brother　dove；　brother　little　wolf；　brother　bald　patrick；　brother　bald　brandon；　brother　james　and　brother　peter。　and　they　shall　take　the　man；　and　bind　him　with　ropes；　and　dip　him　in　the　river　that　he　shall　cease　to　sing。　and　in　the　morning；　lest　this　but　make　him　curse　the　louder；　we　will　crucify　him。
the　crosses　are　all　full；　said　the　lay　brother。
then　we　must　make　another　cross。　if　we　do　not　make　an　end　of　him　another　will；　for　who　can　eat　and　sleep　in　peace　while　men　like　him　are　going　about　the　world？　ill　should　we　stand　before　blessed　saint　benignus；　and　sour　would　be　his　face　when　he　es　to　judge　us　at　the　last　day；　were　we　to　spare　an　enemy　of　his　when　we　had　him　under　our　thumb！　brother；　the　bards　and　the　gleemen　are　an　evil　race；　ever　cursing　and　ever　stirring　up　the　people；　and　immoral　and　immoderate　in　all　things；　and　heathen　in　their　hearts；　always　longing　after　the son　of　lir；　and　aengus；　and　bridget；　and　the　dagda；　and　dana　the　mother；　and　all　the　false　gods　of　the　old　days；　always　making　poems　in　praise　of　those　kings　and　queens　of　the　demons；　finvaragh；　whose　home　is　under　cruachmaa；　and　red　aodh　of　cnocna？sidhe；　and　cleena　of　the　wave；　and　aoibhell　of　the　grey　rock；　and　him　they　call　donn　of　the　vats　of　the　sea；　and　railing　against　god　and　christ　and　the　blessed　saints。
while　he　was　speaking　he　crossed　himself；　and　when　he　had　finished　he　drew　the　nightcap　over　his　ears；　to　shut　out　the　noise；　and　closed　his　eyes；　and　posed　himself　to　sleep。
the　lay　brother　found　brother　kevin；　brother　dove；　brother　little　wolf；　brother　bald　patrick；　brother　bald　brandon；　broth