"I Have
Already Given Away Those Daughters In Marriage:
Pride to the
Templars, Luxury to the Black Monks, and Avarice to the White." It
is a remarkable circumstance,
Or rather a miracle, concerning
Lanthoni, that, although it is on every side surrounded by lofty
mountains, not stony or rocky, but of a soft nature, and covered
with grass, Parian stones are frequently found there, and are called
free-stones, from the facility with which they admit of being cut
and polished; and with these the church is beautifully built. It is
also wonderful, that when, after a diligent search, all the stones
have been removed from the mountains, and no more can be found, upon
another search, a few days afterwards, they reappear in greater
quantities to those who seek them. With respect to the two Orders,
the Cluniac and the Cistercian, this may be relied upon; although
the latter are possessed of fine buildings, with ample revenues and
estates, they will soon be reduced to poverty and destruction. To
the former, on the contrary, you would allot a barren desert and a
solitary wood; yet in a few years you will find them in possession
of sumptuous churches and houses, and encircled with an extensive
property. The difference of manners (as it appears to me) causes
this contrast. For as without meaning offence to either party, I
shall speak the truth, the one feels the benefits of sobriety,
parsimony, and prudence, whilst the other suffers from the bad
effects of gluttony and intemperance: the one, like bees, collect
their stores into a heap, and unanimously agree in the disposal of
one well-regulated purse; the others pillage and divert to improper
uses the largesses which have been collected by divine assistance,
and by the bounties of the faithful; and whilst each individual
consults solely his own interest, the welfare of the community
suffers; since, as Sallust observes, "Small things increase by
concord, and the greatest are wasted by discord." Besides, sooner
than lessen the number of one of the thirteen or fourteen dishes
which they claim by right of custom, or even in a time of scarcity
or famine recede in the smallest degree from their accustomed good
fare, they would suffer the richest lands and the best buildings of
the monastery to become a prey to usury, and the numerous poor to
perish before their gates.
The first of these Orders, at a time when there was a deficiency in
grain, with a laudable charity, not only gave away their flocks and
herds, but resigned to the poor one of the two dishes with which
they were always contented. But in these our days, in order to
remove this stain, it is ordained by the Cistercians, "That in
future neither farms nor pastures shall be purchased; and that they
shall be satisfied with those alone which have been freely and
unconditionally bestowed upon them." This Order, therefore, being
satisfied more than any other with humble mediocrity, and, if not
wholly, yet in a great degree checking their ambition; and though
placed in a worldly situation, yet avoiding, as much as possible,
its contagion; neither notorious for gluttony or drunkenness, for
luxury or lust; is fearful and ashamed of incurring public scandal,
as will be more fully explained in the book we mean (by the grace of
God) to write concerning the ecclesiastical Orders.
In these temperate regions I have obtained (according to the usual
expression) a place of dignity, but no great omen of future pomp or
riches; and possessing a small residence {64} near the castle of
Brecheinoc, well adapted to literary pursuits, and to the
contemplation of eternity, I envy not the riches of Croesus; happy
and contented with that mediocrity, which I prize far beyond all the
perishable and transitory things of this world. But let us return
to our subject.
CHAPTER IV
The journey by Coed Grono and Abergevenni
From thence {65} we proceeded through the narrow, woody tract called
the bad pass of Coed Grono, leaving the noble monastery of Lanthoni,
inclosed by its mountains, on our left. The castle of Abergevenni
is so called from its situation at the confluence of the river
Gevenni with the Usk.
It happened a short time after the death of king Henry I., that
Richard de Clare, a nobleman of high birth, and lord of
Cardiganshire, passed this way on his journey from England into
Wales, accompanied by Brian de Wallingford, lord of this province,
and many men-at-arms. At the passage of Coed Grono, {66} and at the
entrance into the wood, he dismissed him and his attendants, though
much against their will, and proceeded on his journey unarmed; from
too great a presumption of security, preceded only by a minstrel and
a singer, one accompanying the other on the fiddle. The Welsh
awaiting his arrival, with Iorwerth, brother of Morgan of Caerleon,
at their head, and others of his family, rushed upon him unawares
from the thickets, and killed him and many of his followers. Thus
it appears how incautious and neglectful of itself is too great
presumption; for fear teaches foresight and caution in prosperity,
but audacity is precipitate, and inconsiderate rashness will not
await the advice of the leader.
A sermon having been delivered at Abergevenni, {67} and many persons
converted to the cross, a certain nobleman of those parts, named
Arthenus, came to the archbishop, who was proceeding towards the
castle of Usk, and humbly begged pardon for having neglected to meet
him sooner. Being questioned whether he would take the cross, he
replied, "That ought not be done without the advice of his friends."
The archbishop then asked him, "Are you not going to consult your
wife?" To which he modestly answered, with a downcast look, "When
the work of a man is to be undertaken, the counsel of a woman ought
not to be asked;" and instantly received the cross from the
archbishop.
We leave to others the relation of those frequent and cruel excesses
which in our times have arisen amongst the inhabitants of these
parts, against the governors of castles, and the vindictive
retaliations of the governors against the natives.
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