wild wales-第152章
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shall give you what I think fit。〃
〃Well； so ye shall； honey； and I make no doubt ye will give me a
dacent alms； for I like the look of ye； and knew ye to be an
Irishman half a mile off。 Only four years ago； instead of being a
bedivilled woman； tumbling about the world； I was as quiet and
respectable a widow as could be found in the county of Limerick。 I
had a nice little farm at an aisy rint； horses； cows； pigs； and
servants； and； what was better than all； a couple of fine sons； who
were a help and comfort to me。 But my black day was not far off。
I was a mighty charitable woman； and always willing to give to the
bacahs and other beggars that came about。 Every morning； before I
opened my door； I got ready the alms which I intended to give away
in the course of the day to those that should ask for them； and I
made so good a preparation that； though plenty of cripples and
other unfortunates wandering through the world came to me every
day； part of the alms was sure to remain upon my hands every night
when I closed my door。 The alms which I gave away consisted of
meal； and I had always a number of small measures of meal standing
ready on a board； one of which I used to empty into the poke of
every bacah or other unfortunate who used to place himself at the
side of my door and cry out 'Ave Maria！' or 'In the name of God！'
Well； one morning I sat within my door spinning； with a little bit
of colleen beside me who waited upon me as servant。 My measures of
meal were all ready for the unfortunates who should come； filled
with all the meal in the house； for there was no meal in the house
save what was in those measures … divil a particle； the whole stock
being exhausted； though by evening I expected plenty more； my two
sons being gone to the ballybetagh； which was seven miles distant；
for a fresh supply； and for other things。 Well； I sat within my
door； spinning； with my servant by my side to wait upon me； and my
measures of meal ready for the unfortunates who might come to ask
for alms。 There I sat； quite proud； and more happy than I had ever
felt in my life before； and the unfortunates began to make their
appearance。 First came a bacah on crutches； then came a woman with
a white swelling； then came an individual who had nothing at all
the matter with him； and was only a poor unfortunate； wandering
about the world； then came a far cake； （22） a dark man； who was led
about by a gossoon； after him a simpley； and after the simpleton
somebody else as much or more unfortunate。 And as the afflicted
people arrived and placed themselves by the side of the door and
said 'Ave Mary；' or 'In the name of God；' or crossed their arms； or
looked down upon the ground； each according to his practice； I got
up and emptied my measure of meal into his poke； or whatever he
carried about with him for receiving the alms which might be given
to him； and my measures of meal began to be emptied fast； for it
seemed that upon that day； when I happened to be particularly short
of meal； all the unfortunates in the county of Limerick had
conspired together to come to ask me for alms。 At last every
measure of meal was emptied； and there I sat in my house with
nothing to give away provided an unfortunate should come。 Says I
to the colleen： 'What shall I do provided any more come； for all
the meal is gone； and there will be no more before the boys come
home at night from the ballybetagh。' Says the colleen： 'If any
more come； can't ye give them something else？' Says I： 'It has
always been my practice to give in meal； and loth should I be to
alter it； for if once I begin to give away other things； I may give
away all I have。' Says the colleen： 'Let's hope no one else will
come： there have been thirteen of them already。' Scarcely had she
said these words； when a monstrous woman； half…naked； and with a
long staff in her hand； on the top of which was a cross； made her
appearance； and placing herself right before the door； cried out so
that you might have heard her for a mile； 'Give me an alms for the
glory of God！' 'Good woman；' says I to her； 'you will be kind
enough to excuse me： all the preparation I had made for alms has
been given away； for I have relieved thirteen unfortunates this
blessed morning … so may the Virgin help ye； good woman！' 'Give me
an alms；' said the Beanvore； with a louder voice than before； 'or
it will be worse for you。' 'You must excuse me； good mistress；'
says I； 'but I have no more meal in the house。 Those thirteen
measures which you see there empty were full this morning； for what
was in them I have given away to unfortunates。 So the Virgin and
Child help you。' 'Do you choose to give me an alms？' she shrieked；
so that you might have heard her to Londonderry。 'If ye have no
meal give me something else。' 'You must excuse me； good lady；'
says I： 'it is my custom to give alms in meal； and in nothing
else。 I have none in the house now； but if ye come on the morrow
ye shall have a triple measure。 In the meanwhile may the Virgin；
Child； and the Holy Trinity assist ye！' Thereupon she looked at me
fixedly for a moment； and then said； not in a loud voice； but in a
low； half…whispered way； which was ten times more deadly：…
〃'Biaidh an taifrionn gan sholas duit a bhean shilach！'
Then turning from the door she went away with long strides。 Now；
honey； can ye tell me the meaning of those words？〃
〃They mean；〃 said I； 〃unless I am much mistaken： 'May the Mass
never comfort ye； you dirty queen！'〃
〃Ochone！ that's the maning of them； sure enough。 They are cramped
words； but I guessed that was the meaning； or something of the
kind。 Well； after hearing the evil prayer； I sat for a minute or
two quite stunned； at length recovering myself a bit I said to the
colleen： 'Get up； and run after the woman and tell her to come
back and cross the prayer。' I meant by crossing that she should
call it back or do something that would take the venom out of it。
Well； the colleen was rather loth to go； for she was a bit scared
herself； but on my beseeching her； she got up and ran after the
woman； and being rather swift of foot； at last； though with much
difficulty； overtook her； and begged her to come back and cross the
prayer； but the divil of a woman would do no such thing； and when
the colleen persisted she told her that if she didn't go back； she
would say an evil prayer over her too。 So the colleen left her；
and came back； crying and frighted。 All the rest of the day I
remained sitting on the stool speechless； thinking of the prayer
which the woman had said； and wishing I had given her everything I
had in the world； rather than she should have said it。 At night
came home the boys； and found their mother sitting on the stool；
like one stupefied。 'What's the matter with you； mother？' they
said。 'Get up and help us to unpack。 We have brought home plenty
of things on the car； and amongst others a whole boll of meal。'
'You might as well have left it behind you；' said I； 'this morning
a single measure of meal would have been to me of all the
assistance in the world； but I question now if I shall ever want
meal again。' They asked me what had happened to me； and after some
time I told them how a monstrous woman had been to me； and had said
an evil prayer over me； because having no meal in the house I had
not given her an alms。 'Come； mother；' said they； 'get up and help
us to unload！ never mind the prayer of the monstrous woman … it is
all nonsense。' Well； I got up and helped them to unload； and
cooked them a bit； and sat down with them； and tried to be merry；
but felt that I was no longer the woman that I was。 The next day I
didn't seem to care what became of me； or how matters went on； and
though there was now plenty of meal in the house； not a measure did
I fill with it to give away in the shape of alms； and when the
bacahs and the liprous women； and the dark men； and the other
unfortunates placed themselves at the side of the door； and gave me
to understand that they wanted alms； each in hi
