登陆注册
5220400000028

第28章

Napoleon-The storm-The cove-Up the country-The trembling hand-Irish-Tough battle-Tipperary hills-Elegant lodgings-A speech-Fair specimen-Orangemen.

ONWARD,onward!and after we had sojourned in Scotland nearly two years,the long continental war had been brought to an end,Napoleon was humbled for a time,and the Bourbons restored to a land which could well have dispensed with them;we returned to England,where the corps was disbanded,and my parents with their family retired to private life.I shall pass over in silence the events of a year,which offer little of interest as far as connected with me and mine.Suddenly,however,the sound of war was heard again,Napoleon had broken forth from Elba,and everything was in confusion.Vast military preparations were again made,our own corps was levied anew,and my brother became an officer in it;but the danger was soon over,Napoleon was once more quelled,and chained for ever,like Prometheus,to his rock.As the corps,however,though so recently levied,had already become a very fine one,thanks to my father's energetic drilling,the Government very properly determined to turn it to some account,and,as disturbances were apprehended in Ireland about this period,it occurred to them that they could do no better than despatch it to that country.

In the autumn of the year 1815 we set sail from a port in Essex;we were some eight hundred strong,and were embarked in two ships,very large,but old and crazy;a storm overtook us when off Beachy Head,in which we had nearly foundered.I was awakened early in the morning by the howling of the wind and the uproar on deck.I kept myself close,however,as is still my constant practice on similar occasions,and waited the result with that apathy and indifference which violent sea-sickness is sure to produce.We shipped several seas,and once the vessel missing stays-which,to do it justice,it generally did at every third or fourth tack-we escaped almost by a miracle from being dashed upon the foreland.

On the eighth day of our voyage we were in sight of Ireland.The weather was now calm and serene,the sun shone brightly on the sea and on certain green hills in the distance,on which I descried what at first sight I believed to be two ladies gathering flowers,which,however,on our nearer approach,proved to be two tall white towers,doubtless built for some purpose or other,though I did not learn for what.

We entered a kind of bay,or cove,by a narrow inlet;it was a beautiful and romantic place this cove,very spacious,and,being nearly land-locked,was sheltered from every wind.A small island,every inch of which was covered with fortifications,appeared to swim upon the waters,whose dark blue denoted their immense depth;tall green hills,which ascended gradually from the shore,formed the background to the west;they were carpeted to the top with turf of the most vivid green,and studded here and there with woods,seemingly of oak;there was a strange old castle half-way up the ascent,a village on a crag-but the mists of morning were half veiling the scene when I surveyed it,and the mists of time are now hanging densely between it and my no longer youthful eye;I may not describe it;-nor will I try.

Leaving the ship in the cove,we passed up a wide river in boats till we came to a city,where we disembarked.It was a large city,as large as Edinburgh to my eyes;there were plenty of fine houses,but little neatness;the streets were full of impurities;handsome equipages rolled along,but the greater part of the population were in rags;beggars abounded;there was no lack of merriment,however;boisterous shouts of laughter were heard on every side.It appeared a city of contradictions.After a few days'rest we marched from this place in two divisions.My father commanded the second,I walked by his side.

Our route lay up the country;the country at first offered no very remarkable feature,it was pretty,but tame.On the second day,however,its appearance had altered,it had become more wild;a range of distant mountains bounded the horizon.We passed through several villages,as I suppose I may term them,of low huts,the walls formed of rough stones without mortar,the roof of flags laid over wattles and wicker-work;they seemed to be inhabited solely by women and children;the latter were naked,the former,in general,blear-eyed beldames,who sat beside the doors on low stools,spinning.We saw,however,both men and women working at a distance in the fields.

I was thirsty;and going up to an ancient crone,employed in the manner which I have described,I asked her for water;she looked me in the face,appeared to consider a moment,then tottering into her hut,presently reappeared with a small pipkin of milk,which she offered to me with a trembling hand.I drank the milk;it was sour,but I found it highly refreshing.I then took out a penny and offered it to her,whereupon she shook her head,smiled,and,patting my face with her skinny hand,murmured some words in a tongue which I had never heard before.

I walked on by my father's side,holding the stirrup-leather of his horse;presently several low uncouth cars passed by,drawn by starved cattle:the drivers were tall fellows,with dark features and athletic frames-they wore long loose blue cloaks with sleeves,which last,however,dangled unoccupied:these cloaks appeared in tolerably good condition,not so their under garments.

On their heads were broad slouching hats:the generality of them were bare-footed.As they passed,the soldiers jested with them in the patois of East Anglia,whereupon the fellows laughed,and appeared to jest with the soldiers;but what they said who knows,it being in a rough guttural language,strange and wild.The soldiers stared at each other,and were silent.

'A strange language that!'said a young officer to my father,'Idon't understand a word of it;what can it be?'

同类推荐
  • 鸡峰普济方

    鸡峰普济方

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 太清导引养生经

    太清导引养生经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 修禅要诀

    修禅要诀

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 语资

    语资

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • LORD JIM

    LORD JIM

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 异界至尊大小姐

    异界至尊大小姐

    余小本是异界顶级杀手,再睁眼已成为将军府的余大少爷。余小以为自己重生后可以狂虐渣渣,走上人生巅峰,没想到这具身体竟连个灵根都没有,余小无奈扶额。当世人得知那个废柴少爷是个绝色佳人时,整个大陆都轰动了,不少隐门家族纷纷前来提亲。结果某男一手抓一个的扔了出去霸气回应:“我看中的女人,谁敢抢?”余小最满意的就是捡来的弟弟很呆萌,可是这个整天翻窗进她闺房的男人是谁?某女看着某人义正言辞的拒绝道:“大哥,可能我们不熟。”正在脱衣服的某男听完后盯着那人邪魅一笑:“你这是不准备负责?”惹了大佬该怎么破,在线等,挺急的!
  • 再爱,宠妻成瘾

    再爱,宠妻成瘾

    当年,他突然失踪。如今他以残缺的身子重新出现在她面前。为了领养艾滋病儿童,她与他成为竟以此理由结婚。再爱,他是祁总,他承担着一个集团的盛衰,一个家族的责任;她是小编,一个任性离家的小姑娘,陪他行走,帮他撑起他的商业王国。就是这么两个人,从大学纠缠至社会,也许晚点相遇,让成熟的他遇见懂得温柔的她,更长久。不知道该如何去形容这个故事,我希望它能遇见懂得它的读者,不悲很宠小虐1V1。
  • 都市之召唤系统

    都市之召唤系统

    万花丛中过,片叶不沾身。“系统,来瓶矿泉水...”“系统,老干妈有没有?”“系统,你真是废物...”“滴,数据库不足,请尽快完善数据库...”“呵...”
  • 一束堇

    一束堇

    江思瑾和林一楠是从小一起长得的青梅竹马。林一楠每天都到江思瑾门口等她,以为自己的心思,她早就该知道了。谁知道,这天,她约他出去约会,却推出来个妹子,说要给他介绍女朋友?什么?他的女朋友不是她吗?--情节虚构,请勿模仿
  • 仙家路囧

    仙家路囧

    六界传闻,冥界的小公主是个花容月貌秀外慧中的仙子,仙界的太子是个仪表翩翩仙姿飘逸的上神,这二人的联姻,可以说是金玉良缘天作之合。没想到,当呆萌的冥瑶瑶与妖孽的白狐苏第一次相遇——某狐狸指着面前仙子大惊失色:“你就是冥界的小公主?”为什么她的仙身还是个六岁小孩子?这让某妖孽瞬间无从下口。某兔子点点头礼貌地回:“断袖哥哥好~”断……断袖?他差点从云端摔下来。“是谁教你的!”“他们都这么说的。”“那他们有没有教你,你应该怎么称呼我?”“没有……”“叫夫君!”就这样,原本嚷嚷着退婚的某狐狸,从此过上了陪萌妻打怪升级,慢慢长大的日子。真香!
  • 低调做人有学问

    低调做人有学问

    低调做人是一种风度与气魄,也是一种谋略与智慧,更是一种立世的姿态。低调做人不是懦弱与放弃,而是隐忍与收敛,是一种安身立命的精神境界。能够在高低上下之间找到恰当的平衡,能够在进退藏露中实现人生目标与理想。低调做人,可以处逆,也可以处顺,有着处惊不变的胸襟,也有厚积薄发的魄力。既不会急于求成,也不会掉以轻心;能够忍得住寂寞,熬得住低落,也可以耐得住艰险,挺得过历练,是一种理智的世态平衡艺术。
  • 打烊的酒馆

    打烊的酒馆

    一家神奇的酒馆,出售着时间酒水,而老板不死不灭,可是这也是他最痛苦的事。直到有一天、“他发现自己再次爱上一个女孩,可是他不敢也不能去说,”最后实在无可奈何,他逼着自己去做了最不想,却不能不做的事……是为了自己解脱,还是为了别的……是恋情超脱了生死,还是生死摆脱了恋情!
  • 朱谨

    朱谨

    棣说:我们不会有那一天的,对吗?雨依说:我陪你去看看她好吗?朱谨说:雨依,既然你知道我心里一直有另一个人,为什么你不生气呢?可是,如果有一天,我也离开了,你还是会记得我的,不是吗?
  • 不灭战魂

    不灭战魂

    一次奇遇后,废材叶东获得《惊天战诀》。从此后,战魂不灭!敌人必灭!美人必泡!友人必帮!奇遇不断!彪悍到底!成为战天大陆之王!
  • 魔法是这样炼成的

    魔法是这样炼成的

    天元大陆上一个有着人类,精灵和矮人混合血统的男孩富兰克林创造了自己的魔法世界,一个身负全系魔法的小家伙是如何得到的呢?每一系别的魔法之间的关联是怎么样的,是如何的创造自己的魔法世界的?地下神奇的侏儒文明,一切的一切都在天元大陆,最后的结局都在意料之外。