castle rackrent-第23部分

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he　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　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　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；　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　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；　it　is　what　I　expect　your　honour　will　stand　my　friend；　for　I'd　sooner　come　to　your　honour　for　justice　than　to　any　other　in　all　Ireland。　　And　so　I　brought　him　here　before　your　honour；　and　expect　your　honour　will　make　him　pay　me　the　grazing；　or　tell　me；　can　I　process　him　for　it　at　the　next　assizes；　please　your　honour？'

The　defendant　now　turning　a　quid　of　tobacco　with　his　tongue　into　some　secret　cavern　in　his　mouth；　begins　his　defence　with

'Please　your　honour；　under　favour；　and　saving　your　honour's　presence；　there's　not　a　word　of　truth　in　all　this　man　has　been　saying　from　beginning　to　end；　upon　my　conscience；　and　I　wouldn't　for　the　value　of　the　horse　itself；　grazing　and　all；　be　after　telling　your　honour　a　lie。　　For；　please　your　honour；　I　have　a　dependence　upon　your　honour　that　you'll　do　me　justice；　and　not　be　listening　to　him　or　the　like　of　him。　　Please　your　honour；　it's　what　he　has　brought　me　before　your　honour；　because　he　had　a　spite　against　me　about　some　oats　I　sold　your　honour；　which　he　w