castle rackrent(拉克伦特堡)-第26章
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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
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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 great demand for alkaline
salts in bleaching rendered these ashes no inconsiderable perquisite。
GLOSSARY 13。 SEALING MONEY。Formerly it was the custom in
Ireland for tenants to give the squire's lady from two to fifty guineas as a
perquisite upon the sealing of their leases。 The Editor not very long since
knew of a baronet's lady accepting fifty guineas as sealing money； upon
closing a bargain for a considerable farm。
GLOSSARY 14。 SIR MURTAGH GREW MADSir Murtagh grew
angry。
GLOSSARY 15。 THE WHOLE KITCHEN WAS OUT ON THE
STAIRSmeans that all the inhabitants of the kitchen came out of the
kitchen； and stood upon the stairs。 These； and similar expressions； show
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how much the Irish are disposed to metaphor and amplification。
GLOSSARY 16。 FINING DOWN THE YEAR'S RENT。When an
Irish gentleman； like Sir Kit Rackrent； has lived beyond his income； and
finds himself distressed for ready money； tenants obligingly offer to take
his land at a rent far below the value； and to pay him a small sum of
money in hand； which they call fining down the yearly rent。 The
temptation of this ready cash often blinds the landlord to his future
interest。
GLOSSARY 17。 DRIVER。A man who is employed to drive tenants
for rent； that is； to drive the cattle belonging to tenants to pound。 The
office of driver is by no means a sinecure。
GLOSSARY 18。 I THOUGHT TO MAKE HIM A PRIEST。It was
customary amongst those of Thady's rank in Ireland； whenever they could
get a little money； to send their sons abroad to St。 Omer's； or to Spain； to
be educated as priests。 Now they are educated at Maynooth。 The
Editor has lately known a young lad； who began by being a post… boy；
afterwards turn into a carpenter； then quit his plane and work…bench to
study his HUMANITIES； as he said； at the college of Maynooth； but after
he had gone through his course of Humanities； he determined to be a
soldier instead of a priest。
GLOSSARY 19。 FLAM。Short for flambeau。
GLOSSARY 20。 BARRACK…ROOM。Formerly it was customary； in
gentlemen's houses in Ireland； to fit up one large bedchamber with a
number of beds for the reception of occasional visitors。 These rooms
were called Barrack…rooms。
GLOSSARY 21。 AN INNOCENTin Ireland； means a simpleton； an
idiot。
GLOSSARY 22。 THE CURRAGHis the Newmarket of Ireland。
GLOSSARY 23。 THE CANTThe auction。
GLOSSARY 24。 AND SO SHOULD CUT HIM OFF FOR EVER BY
LEVYING A FINE； AND SUFFERING A RECOVERY TO DOCK THE
ENTAIL。The English reader may perhaps be surprised at the extent of
Thady's legal knowledge； and at the fluency with which he pours forth
law…terms； but almost every poor man in Ireland； be he farmer； weaver；
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shopkeeper； ox steward； is； besides his other occupations； occasionally a
lawyer。 The nature of processes； ejectments； custodiams； injunctions；
replevins； etc。； is perfectly known to them； and the terms as familiar to
them as to any attorney。 They all love law。 It is a kind of lottery； in
which every man； staking his own wit or cunning against his neighbour's
property； feels that he has little to lose； and much to gain。
'I'll have the law of you； so I will！' is the saying of an Englishman
who expects justice。 'I'll have you before his honour；' is the threat of an
Irishman who hopes for partiality。 Miserable is the life of a justice of the
peace in Ireland the day after a fair； especially if he resides near a small
town。 The multitude of the KILT （KILT does not mean KILLED； but hurt）
and wounded who come before his honour with black eyes or bloody
heads is astonishing： but more astonishing is the number of those who；
though they are scarcely able by daily labour to procure daily food； will
nevertheless； without the least reluctance； waste six or seven hours of the
day lounging in the yard or court of a justice of the peace； waiting to make
some complaint aboutnothing。 It is impossible to convince them that
TIME IS MONEY。 They do not set any value upon their own time； and
they think that others estimate theirs at less than nothing。 Hence they make
no scruple of telling a justice of the peace a story of an hour long about a
tester （sixpence）； and if he grows impatient； they attribute it to some secret
prejudice which he entertains against them。
Their method is to get a story completely by heart； and to tell it； as
they call it； OUT OF THE FACE； that is； from the beginning to the end；
without interruption。
'Well； my good friend； I have seen you lounging about these three
hours in the yard； what is your business？'
'Please your honour； it is what I want to speak one word to your
honour。'
'Speak then； but be quick。 What is the matter？'
'The matter； please your honour； is nothing at…all…at…all； only just about
the grazing of a horse； please your honour； that this man here sold me at
the fair of Gurtishannon last Shrove fair； which lay down three times with
myself； please your honour； and KILT me； not to be telling your honour of
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how； no later back than yesterday night； he lay down in the house there
within； and all the childer standing round； and it was God's mercy he did
not fall a…top of them； or into the fire to burn himself。 So please your
honour； to…day I took him back to this man； which owned him； and after a
great deal to do； I got the mare again I SWOPPED （EXCHANGED） him
for； but he won't pay the grazing of the horse for the time I had him；
though he promised to pay the grazing in case the horse didn't answer； and
he never did a day's work； good or bad； please your honour； all the time he
was with me； and I had the doctor to him five times anyhow。 And so；
please your honour；
