按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
about that jointure； the memorandum not being on stamped paper； some
say it is worth nothing； others again it may do； others say Jason won't have
the lands at any rate； many wishes it so。 For my part； I'm tired wishing
for anything in this world； after all I've seen in it； but I'll say nothingit
would be a folly to he getting myself ill…will in my old age。 Jason did not
marry； nor think of marrying Judy； as I prophesied； and I am not sorry for
it： who is？ As for all I have here set down from memory and hearsay
of the family； there's nothing but truth in it from beginning to end。 That
you may depend upon； for where's the use of telling lies about the things
which everybody knows as well as I do？
The Editor could have readily made the catastrophe of Sir Condy's
history more dramatic and more pathetic； if he thought it allowable to
varnish the plain round tale of faithful Thady。 He lays it before the
English reader as a specimen of manners and characters which are perhaps
unknown in England。 Indeed； the domestic habits of no nation in Europe
were less known to the English than those of their sister country； till within
these few years。
Mr。 Young's picture of Ireland； in his tour through that country； was the
first faithful portrait of its inhabitants。 All the features in the foregoing
sketch were taken from the life； and they are characteristic of that mixture
of quickness； simplicity； cunning； carelessness； dissipation；
disinterestedness； shrewdness； and blunder； which； in different forms and
with various success； has been brought upon the stage or delineated in
novels。
It is a problem of difficult solution to determine whether a union will
hasten or retard the amelioration of this country。 The few gentlemen of
education who now reside in this country will resort to England。 They
are few； but they are in nothing inferior to men of the same rank in Great
Britain。 The best that can happen will be the introduction of British
92
… Page 93…
Castle Rackrent
manufacturers in their places。
Did the Warwickshire militia； who were chiefly artisans； teach the
Irish to drink beer？ or did they learn from the Irish to drink whisky？
*
GLOSSARY
SOME FRIENDS； WHO HAVE SEEN THADY'S HISTORY SINCE
IT HAS BEEN PRINTED HAVE SUGGESTED TO THE EDITOR；
THAT MANY OF THE TERMS AND IDIOMATIC PHRASES； WITH
WHICH IT ABOUNDS； COULD NOT BE INTELLIGIBLE TO THE
ENGLISH READER WITHOUT FURTHER EXPLANATION。 THE
EDITOR HAS THEREFORE FURNISHED THE FOLLOWING
GLOSSARY。
GLOSSARY 1。 MONDAY MORNINGThady begins his memoirs of
the Rackrent Family by dating MONDAY MORNING； because no great
undertaking can be auspiciously commenced in Ireland on any morning
but MONDAY MORNING。 'Oh； please God we live till Monday
morning； we'll set the slater to mend the roof of the house。 On Monday
morning we'll fall to； and cut the turf。 On Monday morning we'll see and
begin mowing。 On Monday morning； please your honour； we'll begin
and dig the potatoes；' etc。
All the intermediate days； between the making of such speeches and
the ensuing Monday； are wasted： and when Monday morning comes； it is
ten to one that the business is deferred to THE NEXT Monday morning。
The Editor knew a gentleman； who； to counteract this prejudice； made his
workmen and labourers begin all new pieces of work upon a Saturday。
GLOSSARY 2。 LET ALONE THE THREE KINGDOMS ITSELF。
LET ALONE； in this sentence； means put out of consideration。 The
phrase； let alone； which is now used as the imperative of a verb； may in
time become a conjunction； and may exercise the ingenuity of some future
etymologist。 The celebrated Horne Tooke has proved most satisfactorily；
that the conjunction but comes from the imperative of the Anglo…Saxon
verb （BEOUTAN） TO BE OUT； also； that IF comes from GIF； the
imperative of the Anglo…Saxon verb which signifies TO GIVE； etc。
93
… Page 94…
Castle Rackrent
GLOSSARY 3。 WHILLALUH。Ullaloo； Gol； or lamentation over the
dead
Magnoque ululante tumultu。VIRGIL；
Ululatibus omne Implevere nemus。OVID。
A full account of the Irish Gol； or Ullaloo； and of the Caoinan or Irish
funeral song； with its first semichorus； second semichorus； full chorus of
sighs and groans； together with the Irish words and music； may be found
in the fourth volume of the TRANSACTIONS OF THE ROYAL IRISH
ACADEMY。 For the advantage of LAZY readers； who would rather read a
page than walk a yard； and from compassion； not to say sympathy； with
their infirmity； the Editor transcribes the following passages：…
'The Irish have been always remarkable for their funeral lamentations；
and this peculiarity has been noticed by almost every traveller who visited
them； and it seems derived from their Celtic ancestors； the primaeval
inhabitants of this isle。 。 。 。
'It has been affirmed of the Irish； that to cry was more natural to them
than to any other nation； and at length the Irish cry became
proverbial。 。 。 。 。
'Cambrensis in the twelfth century says； the Irish then musically
expressed their griefs； that is； they applied the musical art； in which they
excelled all others； to the orderly celebration of funeral obsequies； by
dividing the mourners into two bodies； each alternately singing their part；
and the whole at times joining in full chorus。 。 。 。 The body of the deceased；
dressed in grave clothes； and ornamented with flowers； was placed on a
bier； or some elevated spot。 The relations and keepers （SINGING
MOURNERS） ranged themselves in two divisions； one at the head； and
the other at the feet of the corpse。 The bards and croteries had before
prepared the funeral Caoinan。 The chief bard of the head chorus began
by singing the first stanza； in a low； doleful tone； which was softly
accompanied by the harp： at the conclusion； the foot semichorus began the
lamentation； or Ullaloo； from the final note of the preceding stanza； in
which they were answered by the head semichorus； then both united in
one general chorus。 The chorus of the first stanza being ended； the chief
bard of the foot semichorus began the second Gol or lamentation； in which
94
… Page 95…
Castle Rackrent
he was answered by that of the head； and then； as before； both united in
the general full chorus。 Thus alternately were the song and choruses
performed during the night。 The genealogy； rank； possessions； the
virtues and vices of the dead were rehearsed； and a number of
interrogations were addressed to the deceased； as； Why did he die？ If
married； whether his wife was faithful to him； his sons dutiful； or good
hunters or warriors？ If a woman； whether her daughters were fair or chaste？
If a young man； whether he had been crossed in love； or if the blue… eyed
maids of Erin treated him with scorn？'
We are told； that formerly the feet （the metrical feet） of the Caoinan
were much attended to； but on the decline of the Irish bards these feet
were gradually neglected； and the Caoinan fell into a sort of slipshod
metre amongst women。 Each province had different Caoinans； or at least
different imitations of the original。 There was the Munster cry； the Ulster
cry； etc。 It became an extempore performance； and every set of keepers
varied the melody according to their own fancy。
It is curious to observe how customs and ceremonies degenerate。 The
present Irish cry； or howl； cannot boast of such melody； nor is the funeral
procession conducted with much digni