wild wales-第88章
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with me for putting his work to the torture。〃
It was then the custom for young lads to go about playing what were
called interludes； namely dramatic pieces on religious or moral
subjects； written by rustic poets。 Shortly after Tom had attained
the age of twelve he went about with certain lads of Nantglyn
playing these pieces； generally acting the part of a girl； because；
as he says； he had the best voice。 About this time he wrote an
interlude himself； founded on 〃John Bunyan's Spiritual Courtship；〃
which was； however； stolen from him by a young fellow from
Anglesey； along with the greater part of the poems and pieces which
he had copied。 This affair at first very much disheartened Tom：
plucking up his spirits； however； he went on composing； and soon
acquired amongst his neighbours the title of 〃the poet；〃 to the
great mortification of his parents； who were anxious to see him
become an industrious husbandman。
〃Before I was quite fourteen；〃 says he； 〃I had made another
interlude； but when my father and mother heard about it they did
all they could to induce me to destroy it。 However； I would not
burn it； but gave it to Hugh of Llangwin； a celebrated poet of the
time； who took it to Landyrnog； where he sold it for ten shillings
to the lads of the place； who performed it the following summer；
but I never got anything for my labour； save a sup of ale from the
players when I met them。 This at the heel of other things would
have induced me to give up poetry； had it been in the power of
anything to do so。 I made two interludes；〃 he continues； 〃one for
the people of Llanbedr in the Vale of Clwyd； and the other for the
lads of Llanarmon in Yale； one on the subject of Naaman's leprosy；
and the other about hypocrisy； which was a re…fashionment of the
work of Richard Parry of Ddiserth。 When I was young I had such a
rage or madness for poetizing； that I would make a song on almost
anything I saw … and it was a mercy that many did not kill me or
break my bones； on account of my evil tongue。 My parents often
told me I should have some mischief done me if I went on in the way
in which I was going。 Once on a time being with some companions as
bad as myself； I happened to use some very free language in a place
where three lovers were with a young lass of my neighbourhood； who
lived at a place called Ty Celyn； with whom they kept company。 I
said in discourse that they were the cocks of Ty Celyn。 The girl
heard me； and conceived a spite against me on account of my
scurrilous language。 She had a brother； who was a cruel fighter；
he took the part of his sister； and determined to chastise me。 One
Sunday evening he shouted to me as I was coming from Nantglyn … our
ways were the same till we got nearly home … he had determined to
give me a thrashing； and he had with him a piece of oak stick just
suited for the purpose。 After we had taunted each other for some
time； as we went along； he flung his stick on the ground； and
stripped himself stark naked。 I took off my hat and my neck…cloth；
and took his stick in my hand； whereupon running to the hedge he
took a stake； and straight we set to like two furies。 After
fighting some time； our sticks were shivered to pieces and quite
short； sometimes we were upon the ground； but did not give up
fighting on that account。 Many people came up and would fain have
parted us； but he would by no means let them。 At last we agreed to
go and pull fresh stakes； and then we went at it again until he
could no longer stand。 The marks of this battle are upon him and
me to this day。 At last； covered with a gore of blood； he was
dragged home by his neighbours。 He was in a dreadful condition；
and many thought he would die。 On the morrow there came an alarm
that he was dead； whereupon I escaped across the mountain to Pentre
y Foelas to the old man Sion Dafydd to read his old books。〃
After staying there a little time； and getting his wounds tended by
an old woman； he departed and skulked about in various places；
doing now and then a little work； until hearing his adversary was
recovering； he returned to his home。 He went on writing and
performing interludes till he fell in love with a young woman
rather religiously inclined； whom he married in the year 1763； when
he was in his twenty…fourth year。 The young couple settled down on
a little place near the town of Denbigh； called Ale Fowlio。 They
kept three cows and four horses。 The wife superintended the cows；
and Tom with his horses carried wood from Gwenynos to Ruddlan； and
soon excelled all other carters 〃in loading and in everything
connected with the management of wood。〃 Tom in the pride of his
heart must needs be helping his fellow…carriers； whilst labouring
with them in the forests； till his wife told him he was a fool for
his pains； and advised him to go and load in the afternoon； when
nobody would be about； offering to go and help him。 He listened to
her advice and took her with him。
〃The dear creature；〃 says he； 〃assisted me for some time； but as
she was with child； and on that account not exactly fit to turn the
roll of the crane with levers of iron； I formed the plan of hooking
the horses to the rope； in order to raise up the wood which was to
be loaded； and by long teaching the horses to pull and to stop； I
contrived to make loading a much easier task； both to my wife and
myself。 Now this was the first hooking of horses to the rope of
the crane which was ever done either in Wales or England。
Subsequently I had plenty of leisure and rest instead of toiling
amidst other carriers。〃
Leaving Ale Fowlio he took up his abode nearer to Denbigh； and
continued carrying wood。 Several of his horses died； and he was
soon in difficulties； and was glad to accept an invitation from
certain miners of the county of Flint to go and play them an
interlude。 As he was playing them one called 〃A Vision of the
Course of the World；〃 which he had written for the occasion； and
which was founded on； and named after； the first part of the work
of Master Ellis Wyn； he was arrested at the suit of one Mostyn of
Calcoed。 He； however； got bail； and partly by carrying and partly
by playing interludes； soon raised money enough to pay his debt。
He then made another interlude； called 〃Riches and Poverty；〃 by
which he gained a great deal of money。 He then wrote two others；
one called 〃The Three Associates of Man； namely； the World； Nature；
and Conscience；〃 the other entitled 〃The King； the Justice； the
Bishop and the Husbandman；〃 both of which he and certain of his
companions acted with great success。 After he had made all that he
could by acting these pieces he printed them。 When printed they
had a considerable sale； and Tom was soon able to set up again as a
carter。 He went on carting and carrying for upwards of twelve
years； at the end of which time he was worth； with one thing and
the other； upwards of three hundred pounds； which was considered a
very considerable property about ninety years ago in Wales。 He
then； in a luckless hour； 〃when；〃 to use his own words； 〃he was at
leisure at home； like King David on the top of his house；〃 mixed
himself up with the concerns of an uncle of his； a brother of his
father。 He first became bail for him； and subsequently made
himself answerable for the amount of a bill； due by his uncle to a
lawyer。 His becoming answerable for the bill nearly proved the
utter ruin of our hero。 His uncle failed； and left him to pay it。
The lawyer took out a writ against him。 It would have been well
for Tom if he had paid the money at once； but he went on dallying
and compromising with the lawyer； till he became terribly involved
in his web。 To increase his difficulties work became slack； so at
last he packed his things upon his carts； and with his family；
consisting of his wife and three daughters； fled into
Montgomeryshire。 The lawyer； however； soon got information of his
whereabouts； and threatened to arrest him。 Tom； after trying in
vain to arrange matters with him； fled into South Wales； to
Carmar
