’Allentirely’saysI。
’Then,’saysshe,’that’sagreatshame;butdon’tbetellingJasonwhatIsay。’
’Andwhatisityousay?’criesSirCondy,leaningoverbetwixtus,whichmadeJudystartgreatly。’IknowthetimewhenJudyM’QuirkwouldneverhavestayedsolongtalkingatthedoorandI
inthehouse。’
’Oh!’saysJudy,’forshame,SirCondy;timesarealteredsincethen,andit’smyLadyRackrentyououghttobethinkingof。’
’AndwhyshouldIbethinkingofher,that’snotthinkingofmenow?’saysSirCondy。
’Nomatterforthat,’saysJudy,veryproperly;’it’stimeyoushouldbethinkingofher,ifeveryoumeantodoitatall,fordon’tyouknowshe’slyingfordeath?’
’MyLadyRackrent!’saysSirCondy,inasurprise;’whyit’sbuttwodayssinceweparted,asyouverywellknow,Thady,inherfullhealthandspirits,andshe,andhermaidalongwithher,goingtoMountJuliet’sTownonherjaunting-car。
’She’llneverridenomoreonherjaunting-car,’saidJudy,’forithasbeenthedeathofher,sureenough。’
Andisshedeadthen?’sayshishonour。
’Asgoodasdead,Ihear,’saysJudy;’butthere’sThadyhereasjustlearntthewholetruthofthestoryasIhadit,andit’sfitterheoranybodyelseshouldbetellingityouthanI,SirCondy:Imustbegoinghometothechilder。’
Buthestopsher,butratherfromcivilityinhim,asIcouldseeveryplainly,thananythingelse,forJudywas,ashishonourremarkedatherfirstcomingin,greatlychanged,andlittlelikely,asfarasIcouldsee——thoughshedidnotseemtobeclearofitherself——littlelikelytobemyLadyRackrentnow,shouldtherebeasecondtoss-uptobemade。ButItoldhimthewholestoryoutoftheface,justasJudyhadtoldittome,andhesentoffamessengerwithhiscomplimentstoMountJuliet’sTownthatevening,tolearnthetruthofthereport,andJudybidtheboythatwasgoingcallinatTimM’Enerney’sshopinO’Shaughlin’sTownandbuyheranewshawl。
’Doso,’SaidSirCondy,’andtellTimtotakenomoneyfromyou,forImustpayhimfortheshawlmyself。’Atthismyshisterthrowsmeoveralook,andIsaysnothing,butturnedthetobaccoinmymouth,whilstJudybeganmakingamanywordsaboutit,andsayinghowshecouldnotbebeholdenforshawlstoanygentleman。
Ilefthertheretoconsultwithmyshister,didshethinktherewasanythinginit,andmyshisterthoughtIwasblindtobeaskingherthequestion,andIthoughtmyshistermustseemoreintoitthanIdid,andrecollectingallpasttimesandeverything,Ichangedmymind,andcameovertoherwayofthinking,andwesettleditthatJudywasveryliketobemyLadyRackrentafterall,ifavacancyshouldhavehappened。
Thenextday,beforehishonourwasup,somebodycomeswithadoubleknockatthedoor,andIwasgreatlysurprisedtoseeitwasmysonJason。
’Jason,isityou?’saidI;’whatbringsyoutotheLodge?’saysI。’IsitmyLadyRackrent?Weknowthatalreadysinceyesterday。’
’Maybeso,’sayshe;’butImustseeSirCondyaboutit。’
’Youcan’tseehimyet,’saysI;’sureheisnotawake。’
’Whatthen,’sayshe,’can’thebewakened,andIstandingatthedoor?’
’I’llnot:bedisturbinghishonourforyou,Jason,’saysI;
’many’sthehouryou’vewaitedinyourtime,andbeenproudtodoit,tillhishonourwasatleisuretospeaktoyou。Hishonour,’
saysI,raisingmyvoice,atwhichhishonourwakensofhisownaccord,andcallstomefromtheroomtoknowwhoitwasIwasspeakingto。Jasonmadenomoreceremony,butfollowsmeintotheroom。
’Howareyou,SirCondy?’sayshe;’I’mhappytoseeyoulookingsowell;Icameuptoknowhowyoudidto-day,andtoseedidyouwantforanythingattheLodge,’
’Nothingatall,Mr。Jason,Ithankyou,’sayshe;forhishonourhadhisownshareofpride,anddidnotchoose,afterallthathadpassed,tobebeholden,Isuppose,tomyson;’butpraytakeachairandbeseated,Mr。Jason。’
Jasonsathimdownuponthechest,forchairtherewasnone,andafterhehadsettheresometime,andasilenceonallsides。
’Whatnewsistherestirringinthecountry,Mr。JasonM’Quirk?’
saysSirCondy,veryeasy,yethighlike。
’Nonethat’snewstoyou,SirCondy,Ihear,’saysJason。’IamsorrytohearofmyLadyRackrent’saccident。’
’I’mmuchobligedtoyou,andsoisherladyship,I’msure,’
answeredSirCondy,stillstiff;andtherewasanothersortofasilence,whichseemedtolietheheaviestonmysonJason。
’SirCondy,’saysheatlast,seeingSirCondydisposinghimselftogotosleepagain,’SirCondy,IdaresayyourecollectmentioningtomethelittlememorandumyougavetoLadyRackrentabouttheL500ayearjointure。’
’Verytrue,’saidSirCondy;’itisallinmyrecollection。’’ButifmyLadyRackrentdies,there’sanendofalljointure,’saysJason。
’Ofcourse,’saysSirCondy。
’Butit’snotamatterofcertaintythatmyLadyRackrentwon’trecover,’saysJason。
’Verytrue,sir,’saysmymaster。
’It’safairspeculation,then,foryoutoconsiderwhatthechanceofthejointureofthoselands,whenoutofcustodiam,willbetoyou。’
’Justfivehundredayear,Itakeit,withoutanyspeculationatall,’saidSirCondy。
’That’ssupposingthelifedropt,andthecustodiamoff,youknow;beggingyourpardon,SirCondy,whounderstandsbusiness,thatisawrongcalculation。’
’Verylikelyso,’saidSirCondy;’but,Mr。Jason,ifyouhaveanythingtosaytomethismorningaboutit,I’dbeobligedtoyoutosayit,forIhadanindifferentnight’srestlastnight,andwouldn’tbesorrytosleepalittlethismorning。’
’Ihaveonlythreewordstosay,andthosemoreofconsequencetoyou,SirCondy,thanme。Youarealittlecool,Iobserve;butI
hopeyouwillnotbeoffendedatwhatIhavebroughthereinmypocket,’andhepullsouttwolongrolls,andshowersdowngoldenguineasuponthebed。
’What’sthis?’saidSirCondy;’it’slongsince’——buthispridestopshim。
’Alltheseareyourlawfulpropertythisminute,SirCondy,ifyouplease,’saidJason。
’Notfornothing,I’msure,’saidSirCondy,andlaughsalittle。
’Nothingfornothing,orI’munderamistakewithyou,Jason。’
’Oh,SirCondy,we’llnotbeindulgingourselvesinanyunpleasantretrospects,’saysJason;’it’smypresentintentiontobehave,asI’msureyouwill,likeagentlemaninthisaffair。
Here’stwohundredguineas,andathirdImeantoaddifyoushouldthinkpropertomakeovertomeallyourrightandtitletothoselandsthatyouknowof。’
’I’llconsiderofit,’saidmymaster;andagreatdealmore,thatIwastiredlisteningto,wassaidbyJason,andallthat,andthesightofthereadycashuponthebed,workedwithhishonour;andtheshortandthelongofitwas,SirCondygatheredupthegoldenguineas,andtiedthemupinahandkerchief,andsignedsomepaperJasonbroughtwithhimasusual,andtherewasanendofthebusiness:Jasontookhimselfaway,andmymasterturnedhimselfroundandfellasleepagain。
IsoonfoundwhathadputJasoninsuchahurrytoconcludethisbusiness。Thelittlegossoonwehadsentoffthedaybeforewithmymaster’scomplimentstoMountJuliet’sTown,andtoknowhowmyladydidafterheraccident,wasstoppedearlythismorning,comingbackwithhisanswerthroughO’Shaughlin’sTown,atCastleRackrent,bymysonJason,andquestionedofallheknewofmyladyfromtheservantatMountJuliet’sTown;andthegossoontoldhimmyLadyRackrentwasnotexpectedtoliveovernight;soJasonthoughtithightimetohemovingtotheLodge,tomakehisbargainwithmymasteraboutthejointureaforeitshouldbetoolate,andaforethelittlegossoonshouldreachuswiththenews。
Mymasterwasgreatlyvexed——thatis,Imaysay,asmuchaseverIseenhimwhenhefoundhowhehadbeentakenin;butitwassomecomforttohavethereadycashforimmediateconsumptioninthehouse,anyway。
AndwhenJudycameupthatevening,andbroughtthechildertoseehishonour,heuntiesthehandkerchief,and——Godblesshim!
whetheritwaslittleormuchhehad,’twasallthesamewithhim——hegives’emallroundguineasapiece。
’Holdupyourhead,’saysmyshistertoJudy,asSirCondywasbusyfillingoutaglassofpunchforhereldestboy——’Holdupyourhead,Judy;forwhoknowsbutwemaylivetoseeyouyetattheheadoftheCastleRackrentestate?’
’Maybeso,’saysshe,’butnotthewayyouarethinkingof。’
IdidnotrightlyunderstandwhichwayJudywaslookingwhenshemadethisspeechtillawhileafter。
’Why,Thady,youweretellingmeyesterdaythatSirCondyhadsoldallentirelytoJason,andwherethendoesallthemguineasinthehandkerchiefcomefrom?’
’Theyarethepurchase-moneyofmylady’sjointure,’saysI。
Judylooksalittlebitpuzzledatthis。’Apennyforyourthoughts,Judy,’saysmyshister;’hark,sureSirCondyisdrinkingherhealth。’
Hewasatthetableintheroom[THEROOM——theprincipalroominthehouse],drinkingwiththeexcise-manandthegauger,whocameuptoseehishonour,andwewerestandingoverthefireinthekitchen。
’Idon’tmuchcareishedrinkingmyhealthornot,’saysJudy;
’anditisnotSirCondyI’mthinkingof,withallyourjokes,whateverheisofme。’
’Sureyouwouldn’trefusetobemyLadyRackrent,Judy,ifyouhadtheoffer?’saysI。
’ButifIcoulddobetter!’saysshe。
’Howbetter?’saysIandmyshisterbothatonce。
’Howbetter?’saysshe。’Why,whatsignifiesittobemyLadyRackrentandnocastle?Surewhatgoodisthecar,andnohorsetodrawit?’
’Andwherewillyegetthehorse,Judy?’saysI。
’Nevermindthat,’saysshe;’maybeitisyourownsonJasonmightfindthat。’
’Jason!’saysI;’don’tbetrustingtohim,Judy。SirCondy,asIhavegoodreasontoknow,spokewellofyouwhenJasonspokeveryindifferentlyofyou,Judy。’
’Nomatter,’saysJudy;’it’softenmenspeakthecontraryjusttowhattheythinkofus。’
’Andyouthesamewayofthem,nodoubt,’answeredI。’Nay,don’thedenyingit,Judy,forIthinkthebetterofyeforit,andshouldn’tbeproudtocallyethedaughterofashister’ssonofmine,ifIwastohearyetalkungrateful,andanywaydisrespectfulofhishonour。’
’Whatdisrespect,’saysshe,’tosayI’drather,ifitwasmyluck,bethewifeofanotherman?’
’You’llhavenoluck,mindmywords,Judy,’saysI;andallI
rememberedaboutmypoormaster’sgoodnessintossingupforheraforehemarriedatallcameacrossme,andIhadachokinginmythroatthathinderedmetosaymore。
’Betterluck,anyhow,Thady,’saysshe,’thantobelikesomefolk,followingthefortunesofthemthathavenoneleft。’
Oh!KingofGlory!’saysI,’heartheprideandungratitudeofher,andhegivinghislastguineasbutaminuteagotoherchilder,andshewiththefineshawlonherhemadeherapresentofbutyesterday!’
’Oh,troth,Judy,you’rewrongnow,’saysmyshister,lookingattheshawl。
’Andwasnothewrongyesterday,then,’saysshe,’tobetellingmeIwasgreatlyaltered,toaffrontme?’
’But,Judy,’saysI,’whatisitbringsyouherethenatall。inthemindyouarein;isittomakeJasonthinkthebetterofyou?’
’I’lltellyounomoreofmysecrets,Thady,’saysshe,’norwouldhavetoldyouthismuch,hadItakenyouforsuchanunnaturalfaderasIfindyouare,nottowishyourownsonprefarredtoanother。’
’Oh,troth,youarewrongnow,Thady,’saysmyshister。
Well,Iwasneversoputtoitinmylife:betweenthesewomens,andmysonandmymaster,andallIfeltandthoughtjustnow,I
couldnot,uponmyconscience,tellwhichwasthewrongfromtheright。SoIsaidnotawordmore,butwasonlygladhishonourhadnotthelucktohearallJudyhadbeensayingofhim,forI
reckoneditwouldhavegonenightobreakhisheart;notthatI
wasofopinionhecaredforherasmuchassheandmyshisterfancied,buttheungratitudeofthewholefromJudymightnotplasehim;andhecouldneverstandthenotionofnotbeingwellspokenoforbelovedlikebehindhisback。Fortunatelyforallpartiesconcerned,hewassomuchelevatedatthistime,therewasnodangerofhisunderstandinganything,evenifithadreachedhisears。TherewasagreathornattheLodge,eversincemymasterandCaptainMoneygawlwasintogether,thatusedtobelongoriginallytothecelebratedSirPatrick,hisancestor;
andhishonourwasfondoftenoftellingthestorythathelearnedfrommewhenachild,howSirPatrickdrankthefullofthishornwithoutstopping,andthiswaswhatnoothermanaforeorsincecouldwithoutdrawingbreath。NowSirCondychallengedthegauger,whoseemedtothinklittleofthehorn,toswallowthecontents,andhaditfilledtothebrimwithpunch;andthegaugersaiditwaswhathecouldnotdofornothing,buthe’dholdSirCondyahundredguineashe’ddoit。
’Done,’saysmymaster;’I’lllayyouahundredgoldenguineastoatesteryoudon’t。’[TESTER:sixpence;fromtheFrenchwordTETE,ahead——apieceofsilverstampedwithahead,whichinoldFrenchwascalledUNTESTION,andwhichwasaboutthevalueofanoldEnglishsixpence。’Tester’isusedinShakspeare。]
’Done,’saysthegauger;anddoneanddone’senoughbetweentwogentlemen。Thegaugerwascast,andmymasterwonthebet,andthoughthe’dwonahundredguineas,butbythewordingitwasadjudgedtobeonlyatesterthatwashisduebytheexciseman。
Itwasallonetohim;hewasaswellpleased,andIwasgladtoseehiminsuchspiritsagain。
Thegauger——badlucktohim!——wasthemanthatnextproposedtomymastertotryhimself,couldhetakeatadraughtthecontentsofthegreathorn。
’SirPatrick’shorn!’saidhishonour;’handittome:I’llholdyouyourownbetoveragainI’llswallowit。’
’Done,’saysthegauger;’I’lllayyeanythingatallyoudonosuchthing。’
’AhundredguineastosixpenceIdo,’sayshe;’bringmethehandkerchief。’Iwasloth,knowinghemeantthehandkerchiefwiththegoldinit,tobringitoutinsuchcompany,andhishonournotveryabletoreckonit。’Bringmethehandkerchief,then,Thady,’sayshe,andstampswithhisfoot;sowiththatIpullsitoutofmygreatcoatpocket,whereIhadputitforsafety。
Oh,howitgrievedmetoseetheguineascountinguponthetable,andtheythelastmymasterhad!SaysSirCondytome,’Yourhandissteadierthanmineto-night,oldThady,andthat’sawonder;fillyouthehornforme。’Andso,wishinghishonoursuccess,Idid;butIfilledit,littlethinkingofwhatwouldbefallhim。Heswallowsitdown,anddropslikeoneshot。Weliftshimup,andhewasspeechless,andquiteblackintheface。
Weputhimtobed,andinashorttimehewakened,ravingwithafeveronhisbrain。Hewasshockingeithertoseeorhear。
’Judy!Judy!haveyounotouchoffeeling?Won’tyoustaytohelpusnursehim?’saysItoher,andsheputtingonhershawltogooutofthehouse。
’I’mfrightenedtoseehim,’saysshe,’andwouldn’tnorcouldn’tstayinit;andwhatuse?Hecan’tlasttillthemorning。’Withthatsheranoff。Therewasnonebutmyshisterandmyselfleftnearhimofallthemanyfriendshehad。
Thefevercameandwent,andcameandwent,andlastedfivedays,andthesixthhewassensibleforafewminutes,andsaidtome,knowingmeverywell,’I’minaburningpainallwithinsideofme,Thady。’Icouldnotspeak,butmyshisteraskedhimwouldhehavethisthingort’othertodohimgood?’No,’sayshe,’nothingwilldomegoodnomore,’andhegaveaterriblescreechwiththetorturehewasin;thenagainaminute’sease——’broughttothisbydrink,’sayshe。’Whereareallthefriends?——where’sJudy?Gone,hey?Ay,SirCondyhasbeenafoolallhisdays,’
saidhe;andtherewasthelastwordhespoke,anddied。Hehadbutaverypoorfuneralafterall。
Ifyouwanttoknowanymore,I’mnotverywellabletotellyou;
butmyLadyRackrentdidnotdie,aswasexpectedofher,butwasonlydisfiguredinthefaceeverafterbythefallandbruisesshegot;andsheandJason,immediatelyaftermypoormaster’sdeath,setaboutgoingtolawaboutthatjointure;thememorandumnotbeingonstampedpaper,somesayitisworthnothing,othersagainitmaydo;otherssayJasonwon’thavethelandsatanyrate;manywishesitso。Formypart,I’mtiredwishingforanythinginthisworld,afterallI’veseeninit;butI’llsaynothing——itwouldbeafollytohegettingmyselfill-willinmyoldage。Jasondidnotmarry,northinkofmarryingJudy,asI
prophesied,andIamnotsorryforit:whois?AsforallI
haveheresetdownfrommemoryandhearsayofthefamily,there’snothingbuttruthinitfrombeginningtoend。Thatyoumaydependupon,forwhere’stheuseoftellingliesaboutthethingswhicheverybodyknowsaswellasIdo?
TheEditorcouldhavereadilymadethecatastropheofSirCondy’shistorymoredramaticandmorepathetic,ifhethoughtitallowabletovarnishtheplainroundtaleoffaithfulThady。HelaysitbeforetheEnglishreaderasaspecimenofmannersandcharacterswhichareperhapsunknowninEngland。Indeed,thedomestichabitsofnonationinEuropewerelessknowntotheEnglishthanthoseoftheirsistercountry,tillwithinthesefewyears。
Mr。Young’spictureofIreland,inhistourthroughthatcountry,wasthefirstfaithfulportraitofitsinhabitants。Allthefeaturesintheforegoingsketchweretakenfromthelife,andtheyarecharacteristicofthatmixtureofquickness,simplicity,cunning,carelessness,dissipation,disinterestedness,shrewdness,andblunder,which,indifferentformsandwithvarioussuccess,hasbeenbroughtuponthestageordelineatedinnovels。
Itisaproblemofdifficultsolutiontodeterminewhetheraunionwillhastenorretardtheameliorationofthiscountry。ThefewgentlemenofeducationwhonowresideinthiscountrywillresorttoEngland。Theyarefew,buttheyareinnothinginferiortomenofthesamerankinGreatBritain。ThebestthatcanhappenwillbetheintroductionofBritishmanufacturersintheirplaces。
DidtheWarwickshiremilitia,whowerechieflyartisans,teachtheIrishtodrinkbeer?ordidtheylearnfromtheIrishtodrinkwhisky?
*
GLOSSARY
SOMEFRIENDS,WHOHAVESEENTHADY’SHISTORYSINCEITHASBEEN
PRINTEDHAVESUGGESTEDTOTHEEDITOR,THATMANYOFTHETERMSAND
IDIOMATICPHRASES,WITHWHICHITABOUNDS,COULDNOTBE
INTELLIGIBLETOTHEENGLISHREADERWITHOUTFURTHEREXPLANATION。
THEEDITORHASTHEREFOREFURNISHEDTHEFOLLOWINGGLOSSARY。
GLOSSARY1。
MONDAYMORNING——ThadybeginshismemoirsoftheRackrentFamilybydatingMONDAYMORNING,becausenogreatundertakingcanbeauspiciouslycommencedinIrelandonanymorningbutMONDAY
MORNING。’Oh,pleaseGodwelivetillMondaymorning,we’llsettheslatertomendtheroofofthehouse。OnMondaymorningwe’llfallto,andcuttheturf。OnMondaymorningwe’llseeandbeginmowing。OnMondaymorning,pleaseyourhonour,we’llbeginanddigthepotatoes,’etc。
Alltheintermediatedays,betweenthemakingofsuchspeechesandtheensuingMonday,arewasted:andwhenMondaymorningcomes,itistentoonethatthebusinessisdeferredtoTHENEXT
Mondaymorning。TheEditorknewagentleman,who,tocounteractthisprejudice,madehisworkmenandlabourersbeginallnewpiecesofworkuponaSaturday。
GLOSSARY2。
LETALONETHETHREEKINGDOMSITSELF。——LETALONE,inthissentence,meansputoutofconsideration。Thephrase,letalone,whichisnowusedastheimperativeofaverb,mayintimebecomeaconjunction,andmayexercisetheingenuityofsomefutureetymologist。ThecelebratedHorneTookehasprovedmostsatisfactorily,thattheconjunctionbutcomesfromtheimperativeoftheAnglo-Saxonverb(BEOUTAN)TOBEOUT;also,thatIFcomesfromGIF,theimperativeoftheAnglo-SaxonverbwhichsignifiesTOGIVE,etc。
GLOSSARY3。
WHILLALUH。——Ullaloo,Gol,orlamentationoverthedead——
Magnoqueululantetumultu。——VIRGIL,UlulatibusomneImpleverenemus。——OVID。
AfullaccountoftheIrishGol,orUllaloo,andoftheCaoinanorIrishfuneralsong,withitsfirstsemichorus,secondsemichorus,fullchorusofsighsandgroans,togetherwiththeIrishwordsandmusic,maybefoundinthefourthvolumeoftheTRANSACTIONSOFTHEROYALIRISHACADEMY。FortheadvantageofLAZYreaders,whowouldratherreadapagethanwalkayard,andfromcompassion,nottosaysympathy,withtheirinfirmity,theEditortranscribesthefollowingpassages:-
’TheIrishhavebeenalwaysremarkablefortheirfunerallamentations;andthispeculiarityhasbeennoticedbyalmosteverytravellerwhovisitedthem;anditseemsderivedfromtheirCelticancestors,theprimaevalinhabitantsofthisisle……
’IthasbeenaffirmedoftheIrish,thattocrywasmorenaturaltothemthantoanyothernation,andatlengththeIrishcrybecameproverbial……
’Cambrensisinthetwelfthcenturysays,theIrishthenmusicallyexpressedtheirgriefs;thatis,theyappliedthemusicalart,inwhichtheyexcelledallothers,totheorderlycelebrationoffuneralobsequies,bydividingthemournersintotwobodies,eachalternatelysingingtheirpart,andthewholeattimesjoininginfullchorus……Thebodyofthedeceased,dressedingraveclothes,andornamentedwithflowers,wasplacedonabier,orsomeelevatedspot。Therelationsandkeepers(SINGINGMOURNERS)
rangedthemselvesintwodivisions,oneatthehead,andtheotheratthefeetofthecorpse。ThebardsandcroterieshadbeforepreparedthefuneralCaoinan。Thechiefbardoftheheadchorusbeganbysingingthefirststanza,inalow,dolefultone,whichwassoftlyaccompaniedbytheharp:attheconclusion,thefootsemichorusbeganthelamentation,orUllaloo,fromthefinalnoteoftheprecedingstanza,inwhichtheywereansweredbytheheadsemichorus;thenbothunitedinonegeneralchorus。Thechorusofthefirststanzabeingended,thechiefbardofthefootsemichorusbeganthesecondGolorlamentation,inwhichhewasansweredbythatofthehead;andthen,asbefore,bothunitedinthegeneralfullchorus。Thusalternatelywerethesongandchorusesperformedduringthenight。Thegenealogy,rank,possessions,thevirtuesandvicesofthedeadwererehearsed,andanumberofinterrogationswereaddressedtothedeceased;as,Whydidhedie?Ifmarried,whetherhiswifewasfaithfultohim,hissonsdutiful,orgoodhuntersorwarriors?
Ifawoman,whetherherdaughterswerefairorchaste?Ifayoungman,whetherhehadbeencrossedinlove;oriftheblue-
eyedmaidsofErintreatedhimwithscorn?’
Wearetold,thatformerlythefeet(themetricalfeet)oftheCaoinanweremuchattendedto;butonthedeclineoftheIrishbardsthesefeetweregraduallyneglected,andtheCaoinanfellintoasortofslipshodmetreamongstwomen。EachprovincehaddifferentCaoinans,oratleastdifferentimitationsoftheoriginal。TherewastheMunstercry,theUlstercry,etc。Itbecameanextemporeperformance,andeverysetofkeepersvariedthemelodyaccordingtotheirownfancy。
Itiscurioustoobservehowcustomsandceremoniesdegenerate。
ThepresentIrishcry,orhowl,cannotboastofsuchmelody,noristhefuneralprocessionconductedwithmuchdignity。Thecrowdofpeoplewhoassembleatthesefuneralssometimesamountstoathousand,oftentofourorfivehundred。Theygatherasthebearersofthehearseproceedontheirway,andwhentheypassthroughanyvillage,orwhentheycomenearanyhouses,theybegintocry——Oh!Oh!Oh!Oh!Oh!Agh!Agh!raisingtheirnotesfromthefirstOH!tothelastAGH!inakindofmournfulhowl。
ThisgivesnoticetotheinhabitantsofthevillagethataFUNERALISPASSINGandimmediatelytheyflockouttofollowit。
IntheprovinceofMunsteritisacommonthingforthewomentofollowafuneral,tojoinintheuniversalcrywithalltheirmightandmainforsometime,andthentoturnandask——’Arrah!
whoisitthat’sdead?——whoisitwe’recryingfor?’Eventhepoorestpeoplehavetheirownburying-places——thatis,spotsofgroundinthechurchyardswheretheysaythattheirancestorshavebeenburiedeversincethewarsofIreland;andiftheseburial-placesaretenmilesfromtheplacewhereamandies,hisfriendsandneighbourstakecaretocarryhiscorpsethither。
Alwaysonepriest,oftenfiveorsixpriests,attendthesefunerals;eachpriestrepeatsamass,forwhichheispaid,sometimesashilling,sometimeshalfacrown,sometimeshalfaguinea,oraguinea,accordingtotheircircumstances,or,astheysay,accordingtotheabilityofthedeceased。Aftertheburialofanyverypoorman,whohasleftawidoworchildren,thepriestmakeswhatiscalledaCOLLECTIONforthewidow;hegoesroundtoeverypersonpresent,andeachcontributessixpenceorashilling,orwhattheyplease。ThereaderwillfindinthenoteuponthewordWAKE,moreparticularsrespectingtheconclusionoftheIrishfunerals。
Certainoldwomen,whocryparticularlyloudandwellareingreatrequest,and,asamansaidtotheEditor,’Everyonewouldwishandbeproudtohavesuchathisfuneral,oratthatofhisfriends。’ThelowerIrisharewonderfullyeagertoattendthefuneralsoftheirfriendsandrelations,andtheymaketheirrelationshipsbranchouttoagreatextent。Theproofthatapoormanhasbeenwellbelovedduringhislifeishishavingacrowdedfuneral。Toattendaneighbour’sfuneralisacheapproofofhumanity,butitdoesnot,assomeimagine,costnothing。
ThetimespentinattendingfuneralsmaybesafelyvaluedathalfamilliontotheIrishnation;theEditorthinksthatdoublethatsumwouldnotbetoohighanestimate。ThehabitsofprofligacyanddrunkennesswhichareacquiredatWAKESarehereputoutofthequestion。Whenalabourer,acarpenter,orasmith,isnotathiswork,whichfrequentlyhappens,askwhereheisgone,andtentoonetheansweris——’Oh,faith,pleaseyourhonour,hecouldn’tdoastroketo-day,forhe’sgonetoTHEfuneral。’
Evenbeggars,whentheygrowold,goaboutbeggingFORTHEIROWN
FUNERALSthatis,beggingformoneytobuyacoffin,candles,pipes,andtobacco。Fortheuseofthecandles,pipes,andtobacco,seeWAKE。
Thosewhovaluecustomsinproportiontotheirantiquity,andnationsinproportiontotheiradherencetoancientcustoms,willdoubtlessadmiretheIrishULLALOO,andtheIrishnation,forperseveringinthisusagefromtimeimmemorial。TheEditor,however,hasobservedsomealarmingsymptoms,whichseemtoprognosticatethedecliningtastefortheUllalooinIreland。Inacomictheatricalentertainment,representednotlongsinceontheDublinstage,achorusofoldwomenwasintroduced,whosetuptheIrishhowlroundtherelicsofaphysician,whoissupposedtohavefallenunderthewoodenswordofHarlequin。
AftertheoldwomenhavecontinuedtheirUllalooforadecenttime,withallthenecessaryaccompanimentsofwringingtheirhands,wipingorrubbingtheireyeswiththecornersoftheirgownsoraprons,etc。,oneofthemournerssuddenlysuspendsherlamentablecries,and,turningtoherneighbour,asks,’Arrahnow,honey,whoisitwe’recryingfor?’
GLOSSARY4。
THETENANTSWERESENTAWAYWITHOUTTHEIRWHISKY。——Itisusualwithsomelandlordstogivetheirinferiortenantsaglassofwhiskywhentheypaytheirrents。ThadycallsitTHEIRwhisky;
notthatthewhiskyisactuallythepropertyofthetenants,butthatitbecomestheirRIGHTafterithasbeenoftengiventothem。InthisgeneralmodeofreasoningrespectingRIGHTSthelowerIrisharenotsingular,buttheyarepeculiarlyquickandtenaciousinclaimingtheserights。’LastyearyourhonourgavemesomestrawfortheroofofmyhouseandIEXPECTyourhonourwillbeafterdoingthesamethisyear。’Inthismannergiftsarefrequentlyturnedintotributes。Thehighandlowarenotalwaysdissimilarintheirhabits。Itissaid,thattheSublimeOttomanForteisveryapttoclaimgiftsastributes:thusitisdangeroustosendtheGrandSeignorafinehorseonhisbirthdayoneyear,lestonhisnextbirthdayheshouldexpectasimilarpresent,andshouldproceedtodemonstratethereasonablenessofhisexpectations。
GLOSSARY5。
HEDEMEANEDHIMSELFGREATLY——means,heloweredordisgracedhimselfmuch。
GLOSSARY6。
DUTYFOWLS,DUTYTURKEYS,ANDDUTYGEESE。——InmanyleasesinIreland,tenantswereformerlyboundtosupplyaninordinatequantityofpoultrytotheirlandlords。TheEditorknewofthirtyturkeysbeingreservedinoneleaseofasmallfarm。
GLOSSARY7。
ENGLISHTENANTS。——AnEnglishtenantdoesnotmeanatenantwhoisanEnglishman,butatenantwhopayshisrentthedaythatitisdue。ItisacommonprejudiceinIreland,amongstthepoorerclassesofpeople,tobelievethatalltenantsinEnglandpaytheirrentsontheverydaywhentheybecomedue。AnIrishman,whenhegoestotakeafarm,ifhewantstoprovetohislandlordthatheisasubstantialman,offerstobecomeanENGLISHTENANT。
Ifatenantdisobligeshislandlordbyvotingagainsthim,oragainsthisopinion,atanelection,thetenantisimmediatelyinformedbytheagentthathemustbecomeanENGLISHTENANT。Thisthreatdoesnotimplythatheistochangehislanguageorhiscountry,butthathemustpayallthearrearofrentwhichheowes,andthathemustthenceforwardpayhisrentonthatdaywhenitbecomesdue。
GLOSSARY8。
CANTING——doesnotmeantalkingorwritinghypocriticalnonsense,butsellingsubstantiallybyauction。
GLOSSARY9。
DUTYWORK。——ItwasformerlycommoninIrelandtoinsertclausesinleases,bindingtenantstofurnishtheirlandlordswithlabourersandhorsesforseveraldaysintheyear。Muchpettytyrannyandoppressionhaveresultedfromthisfeudalcustom。
Wheneverapoormandisobligedhislandlord,theagentsenttohimforhisdutywork;andThadydoesnotexaggeratewhenhesays,thatthetenantswereoftencalledfromtheirownworktodothatoftheirlandlord。Thustheverymeansofearningtheirrentweretakenfromthem:whilsttheyweregettinghometheirlandlord’sharvest,theirownwasoftenruined,andyettheirrentswereexpectedtobepaidaspunctuallyasiftheirtimehadbeenattheirowndisposal。Thisappearstheheightofabsurdinjustice。
InEsthonia,amongstthepoorSclavonianraceofpeasantslaves,theypaytributestotheirlords,notunderthenameofdutywork,dutygeese,dutyturkeys,etc。,butunderthenameofRIGHTEOUSNESSES。ThefollowingballadisacuriousspecimenofEsthonianpoetry:——
Thisisthecausethatthecountryisruined,Andthestrawofthethatchiseatenaway,Thegentryarecometoliveintheland——
Chimneysbetweenthevillage,Andtheproprietoruponthewhitefloor!
Thesheepbringsforthalambwithawhiteforehead,ThisispaidtothelordforaRIGHTEOUSNESSSHEEP。
Thesowfarrowspigs,Theygotothespitofthelord。
Thehenlayseggs,Theygointothelord’sfrying-pan。
Thecowdropsamalecalf,Thatgoesintothelord’sherdasabull。
Themarefoalsahorsefoal,Thatmustbeformylord’snag。
Theboor’swifehassons,Theymustgotolookaftermylord’spoultry。
GLOSSARY10。
OUTOFFORTY-NINESUITSWHICHHEHAD,HENEVERLOSTONEBUT
SEVENTEEN。——Thady’slanguageinthisinstanceisaspecimenofamodeofrhetoriccommoninIreland。Anastonishingassertionismadeinthebeginningofasentence,whichceasestobeintheleastsurprising,whenyouhearthequalifyingexplanationthatfollows。Thusamanwhoisinthelaststageofstaggeringdrunkennesswill,ifhecanarticulate,sweartoyou——’Uponhisconsciencenow,andmayheneverstirfromthespotaliveifheistellingalie,uponhisconsciencehehasnottastedadropofanything,goodorbad,sincemorningat-all-at-all,buthalfapintofwhisky,pleaseyourhonour。’
GLOSSARY11。
FAIRYMOUNTS——Barrows。ItissaidthatthesehighmountswereofgreatservicetothenativesofIrelandwhenIrelandwasinvadedbytheDanes。Watchwasalwayskeptonthem,andupontheapproachofanenemyafirewaslightedtogivenoticetothenextwatch,andthustheintelligencewasquicklycommunicatedthroughthecountry。SOMEYEARSAGO,thecommonpeoplebelievedthatthesebarrowswereinhabitedbyfairies,or,astheycalledthem,bytheGOODPEOPLE。’Oh,troth,tothebestofmybelief,andtothebestofmyjudgmentandopinion,’saidanelderlymantotheEditor,’itwasonlytheoldpeoplethathadnothingtodo,andgottogether,andweretellingstoriesaboutthemfairies,buttothebestofmyjudgmentthere’snothinginit。
OnlythisIheardmyselfnotverymanyyearsbackfromadecentkindofaman,agrazier,that,ashewascomingjustFAIRAND
EASY(QUIETLY)fromthefair,withsomecattleandsheep,thathehadnotsold,justatthechurchof——-atanangleoftheroadlike,hewasmetbyagood-lookingman,whoaskedhimwherehewasgoing?Andheanswered,\"Oh,farenough,Imustbegoingallnight。\"\"No,thatyoumustn’tnorwon’t(saystheman),you’llsleepwithmethenight,andyou’llwantfornothing,noryourcattlenorsheepneither,noryourBEAST(HORSE);socomealongwithme。\"WiththatthegrazierLIT(ALIGHTED)fromhishorse,anditwasdarknight;butpresentlyhefindshimself,hedoesnotknowinthewideworldhow,inafinehouse,andplentyofeverythingtoeatanddrink;nothingatallwantingthathecouldwishfororthinkof。AndhedoesnotMIND(RECOLLECTorKNOW)
howatlasthefallsasleep;andinthemorninghefindshimselflying,notineverabedorahouseatall,butjustintheangleoftheroadwherefirsthemetthestrangeman:therehefindshimselflyingonhisbackonthegrass,andallhissheepfeedingasquietaseverallroundabouthim,andhishorsethesameway,andthebridleofthebeastoverhiswrist。AndIaskedhimwhathethoughtofit;andfromfirsttolasthecouldthinkofnothing,butforcertainsureitmusthavebeenthefairiesthatentertainedhimsowell。Fortherewasnohousetoseeanywherenighhand,oranybuilding,orbarn,orplaceatall,butonlythechurchandtheMOTE(BARROW)。There’sanotheroddthingenoughthattheytellaboutthissamechurch,thatifanyperson’scorpse,thathadnotarighttobeburiedinthatchurchyard,wenttobeburyingthereinit,no,notallthemen,women,orchilderinallIrelandcouldgetthecorpseanywayintothechurchyard;butastheywouldbetryingtogointothechurchyard,theirfeetwouldseemtobegoingbackwardsinsteadofforwards;ay,continuallybackwardsthewholefuneralwouldseemtogo;andtheywouldneversetfootwiththecorpseinthechurchyard。Nowtheysaythatitisthefairiesdoallthis;butitismyopinionitisallidletalk,andpeopleareafterbeingwisernow。
ThecountrypeopleinIrelandcertainlyHADgreatadmirationmixedwithreverence,ifnotdread,offairies。Theybelievedthatbeneaththesefairymountswerespacioussubterraneouspalaces,inhabitedbyTHEGOODPEOPLE,whomustnotonanyaccountbedisturbed。Whenthewindraisesalittleeddyofdustupontheroad,thepoorpeoplebelievethatitisraisedbythefairies,thatitisasignthattheyarejourneyingfromoneofthefairies’mountstoanother,andtheysaytothefairies,ortothedustasitpasses,’Godspeedye,gentlemen;Godspeedye。’ThisavertsanyevilthatTHEGOODPEOPLEmightbeinclinedtodothem。Thereareinnumerablestoriestoldofthefriendlyandunfriendlyfeatsofthesebusyfairies;someofthesetalesareludicrous,andsomeromanticenoughforpoetry。Itisapitythatpoetsshouldlosesuchconvenient,thoughdiminutivemachinery。Bythebye,Parnell,whoshowedhimselfsodeeply’skilledinfaerielore,’wasanIrishman;andthoughhehaspresentedhisfairiestotheworldintheancientEnglishdressof’Britain’sisle,andArthur’sdays,’itisprobablethathisfirstacquaintancewiththembeganinhisnativecountry。
Someremoteoriginforthemostsuperstitiousorromanticpopularillusionsorvulgarerrorsmayoftenbediscovered。InIreland,theoldchurchesandchurchyardshavebeenusuallyfixeduponasthescenesofwonders。Nowantiquariestellus,thatneartheancientchurchesinthatkingdomcavesofvariousconstructionshavefromtimetotimebeendiscovered,whichwereformerlyusedasgranariesormagazinesbytheancientinhabitants,andasplacestowhichtheyretreatedintimeofdanger。Thereis(p。84
oftheR。I。A。TRANSACTIONSfor1789)aparticularaccountofanumberoftheseartificialcavesatthewestendofthechurchofKillossy,inthecountyofKildare。Underarisingground,inadrysandysoil,thesesubterraneousdwellingswerefound:theyhavepedimentroofs,andtheycommunicatewitheachotherbysmallapertures。IntheBrehonlawsthesearementioned,andtherearefinesinflictedbythoselawsuponpersonswhostealfromthesubterraneousgranaries。Allthesethingsshowthattherewasarealfoundationforthestorieswhichweretoldoftheappearanceoflights,andofthesoundsofvoices,neartheseplaces。Thepersonswhohadpropertyconcealedthere,verywillinglycountenancedeverywonderfulrelationthattendedtomaketheseplacesobjectsofsacredaweorsuperstitiousterror。
GLOSSARY12。
WEEDASHES。——ByancientusageinIreland,alltheweedsonafarmbelongedtothefarmer’swife,ortothewifeofthesquirewhoholdsthegroundinhisownhands。Thegreatdemandforalkalinesaltsinbleachingrenderedtheseashesnoinconsiderableperquisite。
GLOSSARY13。
SEALINGMONEY。——FormerlyitwasthecustominIrelandfortenantstogivethesquire’sladyfromtwotofiftyguineasasaperquisiteuponthesealingoftheirleases。TheEditornotverylongsinceknewofabaronet’sladyacceptingfiftyguineasassealingmoney,uponclosingabargainforaconsiderablefarm。
GLOSSARY14。
SIRMURTAGHGREWMAD——SirMurtaghgrewangry。
GLOSSARY15。
THEWHOLEKITCHENWASOUTONTHESTAIRS——meansthatalltheinhabitantsofthekitchencameoutofthekitchen,andstooduponthestairs。These,andsimilarexpressions,showhowmuchtheIrisharedisposedtometaphorandamplification。
GLOSSARY16。
FININGDOWNTHEYEAR’SRENT。——WhenanIrishgentleman,likeSirKitRackrent,haslivedbeyondhisincome,andfindshimselfdistressedforreadymoney,tenantsobliginglyoffertotakehislandatarentfarbelowthevalue,andtopayhimasmallsumofmoneyinhand,whichtheycallfiningdowntheyearlyrent。Thetemptationofthisreadycashoftenblindsthelandlordtohisfutureinterest。
GLOSSARY17。
DRIVER。——Amanwhoisemployedtodrivetenantsforrent;thatis,todrivethecattlebelongingtotenantstopound。Theofficeofdriverisbynomeansasinecure。
GLOSSARY18。
ITHOUGHTTOMAKEHIMAPRIEST。——ItwascustomaryamongstthoseofThady’srankinIreland,whenevertheycouldgetalittlemoney,tosendtheirsonsabroadtoSt。Omer’s,ortoSpain,tobeeducatedaspriests。NowtheyareeducatedatMaynooth。TheEditorhaslatelyknownayounglad,whobeganbybeingapost-
boy,afterwardsturnintoacarpenter,thenquithisplaneandwork-benchtostudyhisHUMANITIES,ashesaid,atthecollegeofMaynooth;butafterhehadgonethroughhiscourseofHumanities,hedeterminedtobeasoldierinsteadofapriest。
GLOSSARY19。
FLAM。——Shortforflambeau。
GLOSSARY20。
BARRACK-ROOM。——Formerlyitwascustomary,ingentlemen’shousesinIreland,tofituponelargebedchamberwithanumberofbedsforthereceptionofoccasionalvisitors。TheseroomswerecalledBarrack-rooms。
GLOSSARY21。
ANINNOCENT——inIreland,meansasimpleton,anidiot。
GLOSSARY22。
THECURRAGH——istheNewmarketofIreland。
GLOSSARY23。
THECANT——Theauction。
GLOSSARY24。
ANDSOSHOULDCUTHIMOFFFOREVERBYLEVYINGAFINE,AND
SUFFERINGARECOVERYTODOCKTHEENTAIL。——TheEnglishreadermayperhapsbesurprisedattheextentofThady’slegalknowledge,andatthefluencywithwhichhepoursforthlaw-terms;butalmosteverypoormaninIreland,behefarmer,weaver,shopkeeper,oxsteward,is,besideshisotheroccupations,occasionallyalawyer。Thenatureofprocesses,ejectments,custodiams,injunctions,replevins,etc。,isperfectlyknowntothem,andthetermsasfamiliartothemastoanyattorney。Theyalllovelaw。Itisakindoflottery,inwhicheveryman,stakinghisownwitorcunningagainsthisneighbour’sproperty,feelsthathehaslittletolose,andmuchtogain。
’I’llhavethelawofyou,soIwill!’isthesayingofanEnglishmanwhoexpectsjustice。’I’llhaveyoubeforehishonour,’isthethreatofanIrishmanwhohopesforpartiality。
MiserableisthelifeofajusticeofthepeaceinIrelandthedayafterafair,especiallyifheresidesnearasmalltown。
ThemultitudeoftheKILT(KILTdoesnotmeanKILLED,buthurt)
andwoundedwhocomebeforehishonourwithblackeyesorbloodyheadsisastonishing:butmoreastonishingisthenumberofthosewho,thoughtheyarescarcelyablebydailylabourtoprocuredailyfood,willnevertheless,withouttheleastreluctance,wastesixorsevenhoursofthedayloungingintheyardorcourtofajusticeofthepeace,waitingtomakesomecomplaintabout——nothing。ItisimpossibletoconvincethemthatTIMEISMONEY。Theydonotsetanyvalueupontheirowntime,andtheythinkthatothersestimatetheirsatlessthannothing。
Hencetheymakenoscrupleoftellingajusticeofthepeaceastoryofanhourlongaboutatester(sixpence);andifhegrowsimpatient,theyattributeittosomesecretprejudicewhichheentertainsagainstthem。
Theirmethodistogetastorycompletelybyheart,andtotellit,astheycallit,OUTOFTHEFACE,thatis,fromthebeginningtotheend,withoutinterruption。
’Well,mygoodfriend,Ihaveseenyouloungingaboutthesethreehoursintheyard;whatisyourbusiness?’
’Pleaseyourhonour,itiswhatIwanttospeakonewordtoyourhonour。’
’Speakthen,butbequick。Whatisthematter?’
’Thematter,pleaseyourhonour,isnothingat-all-at-all,onlyjustaboutthegrazingofahorse,pleaseyourhonour,thatthismanheresoldmeatthefairofGurtishannonlastShrovefair,whichlaydownthreetimeswithmyself,pleaseyourhonour,andKILTme;nottobetellingyourhonourofhow,nolaterbackthanyesterdaynight,helaydowninthehousetherewithin,andallthechilderstandinground,anditwasGod’smercyhedidnotfalla-topofthem,orintothefiretoburnhimself。Sopleaseyourhonour,to-dayItookhimbacktothisman,whichownedhim,andafteragreatdealtodo,IgotthemareagainISWOPPED
(EXCHANGED)himfor;buthewon’tpaythegrazingofthehorseforthetimeIhadhim,thoughhepromisedtopaythegrazingincasethehorsedidn’tanswer;andheneverdidaday’swork,goodorbad,pleaseyourhonour,allthetimehewaswithme,andI
hadthedoctortohimfivetimesanyhow。Andso,pleaseyourhonour,itiswhatIexpectyourhonourwillstandmyfriend,forI’dsoonercometoyourhonourforjusticethantoanyotherinallIreland。AndsoIbroughthimherebeforeyourhonour,andexpectyourhonourwillmakehimpaymethegrazing,ortellme,canIprocesshimforitatthenextassizes,pleaseyourhonour?’
Thedefendantnowturningaquidoftobaccowithhistongueintosomesecretcaverninhismouth,beginshisdefencewith——
’Pleaseyourhonour,underfavour,andsavingyourhonour’spresence,there’snotawordoftruthinallthismanhasbeensayingfrombeginningtoend,uponmyconscience,andIwouldn’tforthevalueofthehorseitself,grazingandall,beaftertellingyourhonouralie。For,pleaseyourhonour,Ihaveadependenceuponyourhonourthatyou’lldomejustice,andnotbelisteningtohimorthelikeofhim。Pleaseyourhonour,it’swhathehasbroughtmebeforeyourhonour,becausehehadaspiteagainstmeaboutsomeoatsIsoldyourhonour,whichhewasjealousof,andashawlhiswifegotatmyshister’sshoptherewithout,andneverpaidfor;soIofferedtosettheshawlagainstthegrazing,andgivehimareceiptinfullofalldemands,buthewouldn’toutofspite,pleaseyourhonour;sohebroughtmebeforeyourhonour,expectingyourhonourwasmadwithmeforcuttingdownthetreeinthehorsepark,whichwasnoneofmydoing,pleaseyourhonour——ill-lucktothemthatwentandbeliedmetoyourhonourbehindmyback!Soifyourhonourispleasing,I’lltellyouthewholetruthaboutthehorsethatheswoppedagainstmymareoutoftheface。LastShrovefairImetthisman,JemmyDuffy,pleaseyourhonour,justatthecorneroftheroad,wherethebridgeisbrokendown,thatyourhonouristohavethepresentmentforthisyear——longlifetoyouforit!AndhewasatthattimecomingfromthefairofGurtishannon,andI
thesameway。\"Howareyou,Jemmy?\"saysI。\"Verywell,Ithankyekindly,Bryan,\"sayshe;\"shallweturnbacktoPaddySalmon’sandtakeanagginofwhiskytoourbetteracquaintance?\"\"I
don’tcareifIdid,Jemmy,\"saysI;\"onlyitiswhatIcan’ttakethewhisky,becauseI’munderanoathagainstitforamonth。\"Eversince,pleaseyourhonour,thedayyourhonourmetmeontheroad,andobservedtomeIcouldhardlystand,Ihadtakensomuch;thoughuponmyconscienceyourhonourwrongedmegreatlythatsametime——ill-lucktothemthatbeliedmebehindmybacktoyourhonour!Well,pleaseyourhonour,asIwastellingyou,ashewastakingthewhisky,andwetalkingofonethingort’other,hemakesmeanoffertoswophismarethathecouldn’tsellatthefairofGurtishannon,becausenobodywouldbetroubledwiththebeast,pleaseyourhonour,againstmyhorse,andtoobligehimItookthemare——sorrowtakeher!andhimalongwithher!Shekickedmeanewcar,thatwasworththreepoundsten,totattersthefirsttimeIeverputherintoit,andIexpectyourhonourwillmakehimpaymethepriceofthecar,anyhow,beforeIpaythegrazing,whichI’venorighttopayat-all-at-all,onlytoobligehim。ButIleaveitalltoyourhonour;andthewholegrazingheoughttobechargingforthebeastisbuttwoandeightpencehalfpenny,anyhow,pleaseyourhonour。SoI’llabidebywhatyourhonoursays,goodorbad。
I’llleaveitalltoyourhonour。
I’llleaveITalltoyourhonour——literallymeans,I’llleaveallthetroubletoyourhonour。
TheEditorknewajusticeofthepeaceinIrelandwhohadsuchadreadofHAVINGITALLLEFTTOHISHONOUR,thathefrequentlygavethecomplainantsthesumaboutwhichtheyweredisputing,tomakepeacebetweenthem,andtogetridofthetroubleofhearingtheirstoriesOUTOFTHEFACE。Buthewassooncuredofthismethodofbuyingoffdisputes,bytheincreasingmultitudeofthosewho,outofpureregardtohishonour,came’togetjusticefromhim,becausetheywouldsoonercomebeforehimthanbeforeanymaninallIreland。’
GLOSSARY25。
ARAKINGPOTOFTEA。——weshouldobserve,thiscustomhaslongsincebeenbanishedfromthehigherordersofIrishgentry。Themysteriesofarakingpotoftea,likethoseoftheBonaDea,aresupposedtobesacredtofemales;butnowandthenithashappenedthatsomeofthemalespecies,whowereeithermoreaudacious,ormorehighlyfavouredthantherestoftheirsex,havebeenadmittedbystealthtotheseorgies。Thetimewhenthefestiveceremonybeginsvariesaccordingtocircumstances,butitisneverearlierthantwelveo’clockatnight;thejoysofarakingpotofteadependingonitsbeingmadeinsecret,andatanunseasonablehour。Afteraball,whenthemorediscreetpartofthecompanyhasdepartedtorest,afewchosenfemalespirits,whohavefootedittilltheycanfootitnolonger,andtillthesleepynotesexpireundertheslurringhandofthemusician,retiretoabedchamber,callthefavouritemaid,whoaloneisadmitted,bidherPUTDOWNTHEKETTLE,lockthedoor,andamidstasmuchgigglingandscramblingaspossible,theygetroundatea-table,onwhichallmannerofthingsarehuddledtogether。
Thenbeginmutualrailleriesandmutualconfidencesamongsttheyoungladies,andthefaintscreamandtheloudlaughisheard,andtherompingforlettersandpocket-booksbegins,andgentlemenarecalledbytheirsurnames,orbythegeneralnameoffellows!pleasantfellows!charmingfellows!odiousfellows!
abominablefellows!andthenallprudishdecorumsareforgotten,andthenwemightbeconvincedhowmuchthesatiricalpoetwasmistakenwhenhesaid——
Thereisnowomanwherethere’snoreserve。
Themeritoftheoriginalideaofarakingpotofteaevidentlybelongstothewasherwomanandthelaundry-maid。ButwhyshouldnotwehaveLOWLIFEABOVESTAIRSaswellasHIGHLIFEBELOW
STAIRS?
GLOSSARY26。
WEGAINEDTHEDAYBYTHISPIECEOFHONESTY。——InadisputewhichoccurredsomeyearsagoinIreland,betweenMr。E。andMr。M。,abouttheboundariesofafarm,anoldtenantofMr。M。’scutaSODfromMr。M。’sland,andinserteditinaspotpreparedforitsreceptioninMr。E。’sland;sonicelywasitinserted,thatnoeyecoulddetectthejunctionofthegrass。Theoldman,whowastogivehisevidenceastotheproperty,stoodupontheinsertedsodwhentheVIEWERScame,andsworethatthegroundheTHENSTOODUPONbelongedtohislandlord,Mr。M。
TheEditorhadflatteredhimselfthattheingeniouscontrivancewhichThadyrecords,andthesimilarsubterfugeofthisoldIrishman,inthedisputeconcerningboundaries,wereinstancesof’CUTENESSunparalleledinallbutIrishstory:anEnglishfriend,however,hasjustmortifiedtheEditor’snationalvanitybyanaccountofthefollowingcustom,whichprevailsinpartofShropshire。ItisdiscreditableforwomentoappearabroadafterthebirthoftheirchildrentilltheyhavebeenCHURCHED。Toavoidthisreproach,andatthesametimetoenjoythepleasureofgadding,wheneverawomangoesabroadbeforeshehasbeentochurch,shetakesatilefromtheroofofherhouse,andputsituponherhead:wearingthispanoplyallthetimeshepayshervisits,herconscienceisperfectlyatease;forshecanafterwardssafelydeclaretotheclergyman,thatshe’hasneverbeenfromunderherownrooftillshecametobechurched。’
GLOSSARY27。
CARTONANDHALF-CARTON,——Thadymeanscartron,andhalf-cartron。
(AccordingtotheoldrecordintheblackbookofDublin,aCANTREDissaidtocontain30VILLATASTERRAS,whicharealsocalledQUARTERSofland(quarterons,CARTRONS);everyoneofwhichquartersmustcontainsomuchgroundaswillpasture400
cows,and17plough-lands。Aknight’sfeewascomposedof8
hydes,whichamountto160acres,andthatisgenerallydeemedaboutaPLOUGH-LAND’
TheEditorwasfavouredbyalearnedfriendwiththeaboveextract,fromaMS。ofLordTotness’sintheLambethlibrary。
GLOSSARY28。
WAKE。——AwakeinEnglandmeansafestivalheldupontheanniversaryofthesaintoftheparish。Atthesewakes,rusticgames,rusticconviviality,andrusticcourtship,arepursuedwithalltheardourandalltheappetitewhichaccompanysuchpleasuresasoccurbutseldom。InIrelandawakeisamidnightmeeting,heldprofessedlyfortheindulgenceofholysorrow,butusuallyitisconvertedintoorgiesofunholyjoy。WhenanIrishmanorwomanofthelowerorderdies,thestrawwhichcomposedthebed,whetherithasbeencontainedinabagtoformamattress,orsimplyspreadupontheearthenfloor,isimmediatelytakenoutofthehouse,andburnedbeforethecabindoor,thefamilyatthesametimesettingupthedeathhowl。Theearsandeyesoftheneighboursbeingthusalarmed,theyflocktothehouseofthedeceased,andbytheirvociferoussympathyexciteandatthesametimesoothethesorrowsofthefamily。
Itiscurioustoobservehowgoodandbadaremingledinhumaninstitutions。Incountrieswhichwerethinlyinhabited,thiscustompreventedprivateattemptsagainstthelivesofindividuals,andformedakindofcoroner’sinquestuponthebodywhichhadrecentlyexpired,andburningthestrawuponwhichthesickmanlaybecameasimplepreservativeagainstinfection。Atnightthedeadbodyiswaked,thatistosay,allthefriendsandneighboursofthedeceasedcollectinabarnorstable,wherethecorpseislaiduponsomeboards,oranunhingeddoor,supporteduponstools,thefaceexposed,therestofthebodycoveredwithawhitesheet。Roundthebodyarestuckinbrasscandlesticks,whichhavebeenborrowedperhapsatfivemiles’distance,asmanycandlesasthepoorpersoncanbegorborrow,observingalwaystohaveanoddnumber。Pipesandtobaccoarefirstdistributed,andthen,accordingtotheABILITYofthedeceased,cakesandale,andsometimeswhisky,areDEALTtothecompany——
Dealon,dealon,mymerrymenall,Dealonyourcakesandyourwine,Forwhateverisdealtatherfuneralto-dayShallbedealtto-morrowatmine。
Afterafitofuniversalsorrow,andthecomfortofauniversaldram,thescandaloftheneighbourhood,asinhighercircles,occupiesthecompany。Theyoungladsandlassesrompwithoneanother,andwhenthefathersandmothersareatlastovercomewithsleepandwhisky(VINOETSOMNO),theyouthbecomemoreenterprising,andarefrequentlysuccessful。Itissaidthatmorematchesaremadeatwakesthanatweddings。
GLOSSARY29。
KILT。——Thiswordfrequentlyoccursintheprecedingpages,whereitmeansnotKILLED,butmuchHURT。InIreland,notonlycowards,butthebrave’diemanytimesbeforetheirdeath。’——ThereKILLING
ISNOMURDER。