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！
at their own disposal。 This appears the height of absurd injustice。
In Esthonia； amongst the poor Sclavonian race of peasant slaves； they
pay tributes to their lords； not under the name of duty work； duty geese；
duty turkeys； etc。； but under the name of RIGHTEOUSNESSES。 The
following ballad is a curious specimen of Esthonian poetry：
This is the cause that the country is ruined； And the straw of the
thatch is eaten away； The gentry are come to live in the land
Chimneys between the village； And the proprietor upon the white floor！
The sheep brings forth a lamb with a white forehead； This is paid to the
lord for a RIGHTEOUSNESS SHEEP。 The sow farrows pigs； They go
to the spit of the lord。 The hen lays eggs； They go into the lord's
frying…pan。 The cow drops a male calf； That goes into the lord's herd as
a bull。 The mare foals a horse foal； That must be for my lord's nag。
The boor's wife has sons； They must go to look after my lord's poultry。
98
… Page 99…
Castle Rackrent
GLOSSARY 10。 OUT OF FORTY…NINE SUITS WHICH HE HAD；
HE NEVER LOST ONE BUT SEVENTEEN。Thady's language in this
instance is a specimen of a mode of rhetoric common in Ireland。 An
astonishing assertion is made in the beginning of a sentence； which ceases
to be in the least surprising； when you hear the qualifying explanation that
follows。 Thus a man who is in the last stage of staggering drunkenness
will； if he can articulate； swear to you'Upon his conscience now； and
may he never stir from the spot alive if he is telling a lie； upon his
conscience he has not tasted a drop of anything； good or bad； since
morning at…all…at…all； but half a pint of whisky； please your honour。'
GLOSSARY 11。 FAIRY MOUNTSBarrows。 It is said that these high
mounts were of great service to the natives of Ireland when Ireland was
invaded by the Danes。 Watch was always kept on them； and upon the
approach of an enemy a fire was lighted to give notice to the next watch；
and thus the intelligence was quickly communicated through the country。
SOME YEARS AGO； the common people believed that these barrows
were inhabited by fairies； or； as they called them； by the GOOD PEOPLE。
'Oh； troth； to the best of my belief； and to the best of my judgment and
opinion；' said an elderly man to the Editor； 'it was only the old people that
had nothing to do； and got together； and were telling stories about them
fairies； but to the best of my judgment there's nothing in it。 Only this I
heard myself not very many years back from a decent kind of a man； a
grazier； that； as he was coming just FAIR AND EASY （QUIETLY） from
the fair； with some cattle and sheep； that he had not sold； just at the church
of … at an angle of the road like； he was met by a good…looking man； who
asked him where he was going？ And he answered； 〃Oh； far enough； I
must be going all night。〃 〃No； that you mustn't nor won't （says the man）；
you'll sleep with me the night； and you'll want for nothing； nor your cattle
nor sheep neither； nor your BEAST （HORSE）； so come along with me。〃
With that the grazier LIT （ALIGHTED） from his horse； and it was dark
night； but presently he finds himself； he does not know in the wide world
how； in a fine house； and plenty of everything to eat and drink； nothing at
all wanting that he could wish for or think of。 And he does not MIND
（RECOLLECT or KNOW） how at last he falls asleep； and in the morning
99
… Page 100…
Castle Rackrent
he finds himself lying； not in ever a bed or a house at all； but just in the
angle of the road where first he met the strange man： there he finds
himself lying on his back on the grass； and all his sheep feeding as quiet as
ever all round about him； and his horse the same way； and the bridle of the
beast over his wrist。 And I asked him what he thought of it； and from
first to last he could think of nothing； but for certain sure it must have been
the fairies that entertained him so well。 For there was no house to see
anywhere nigh hand； or any building； or barn； or place at all； but only the
church and the MOTE （BARROW）。 There's another odd thing enough
that they tell about this same church； that if any person's corpse； that had
not a right to be buried in that churchyard； went to be burying there in it；
no； not all the men； women； or childer in all Ireland could get the corpse
anyway into the churchyard； but as they would be trying to go into the
churchyard； their feet would seem to be going backwards instead of
forwards； ay； continually backwards the whole funeral would seem to go；
and they would never set foot with the corpse in the churchyard。 Now
they say that it is the fairies do all this； but it is my opinion it is all idle
talk； and people are after being wiser now。
The country people in Ireland certainly HAD great admiration mixed
with reverence； if not dread； of fairies。 They believed that beneath these
fairy mounts were spacious subterraneous palaces； inhabited by THE
GOOD PEOPLE； who must not on any account be disturbed。 When the
wind raises a little eddy of dust upon the road； the poor people believe that
it is raised by the fairies； that it is a sign that they are journeying from one
of the fairies' mounts to another； and they say to the fairies； or to the dust
as it passes； 'God speed ye； gentlemen； God speed ye。' This averts any evil
that THE GOOD PEOPLE might be inclined to do them。 There are
innumerable stories told of the friendly and unfriendly feats of these busy
fairies； some of these tales are ludicrous； and some romantic enough for
poetry。 It is a pity that poets should lose such convenient； though
diminutive machinery。 By the bye； Parnell； who showed himself so
deeply 'skilled in faerie lore；' was an Irishman； and though he has
presented his fairies to the world in the ancient English dress of 'Britain's
isle； and Arthur's days；' it is probable that his first acquaintance with them
100
… Page 101…
Castle Rackrent
began in his native country。
Some remote origin for the most superstitious or romantic popular
illusions or vulgar errors may often be discovered。 In Ireland； the old
churches and churchyards have been usually fixed upon as the scenes of
wonders。 Now antiquaries tell us； that near the ancient churches in that
kingdom caves of various constructions have from time to time been
discovered； which were formerly used as granaries or magazines by the
ancient inhabitants； and as places to which they retreated in time of danger。
There is （p。84 of the R。 I。 A。 TRANSACTIONS for 1789） a particular
account of a number of these artificial caves at the west end of the church
of Killossy； in the county of Kildare。 Under a rising ground； in a dry
sandy soil； these subterraneous dwellings were found： they have
pediment roofs； and they communicate with each other by small apertures。
In the Brehon laws these are mentioned； and there are fines inflicted by
those laws upon persons who steal from the subterraneous granaries。 All
these things show that there was a real foundation for the stories which
were told of the appearance of lights； and of the sounds of voices； near
these places。 The persons who had property concealed there； very
willingly countenanced every wonderful relation that tended to make these
places objects of sacred awe or superstitious terror。
GLOSSARY 12。 WEED ASHES。By ancient usage in Ireland； all the
weeds on a farm belonged to the farmer's wife； or to the wife of the squire
who holds the ground in his own hands。 The gr