castle rackrent-第27章
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he 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 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 dignity。 The crowd of people who assemble at these funerals sometimes amounts to a thousand； often to four or five hundred。 They gather as the bearers of the hearse proceed on their way； and when they pass through any village； or when they come near any houses； they begin to cryOh！ Oh！ Oh！ Oh！ Oh！ Agh！ Agh！ raising their notes from the first OH！ to the last AGH！ in a kind of mournful howl。 This gives notice to the inhabitants of the village that a FUNERAL IS PASSING and immediately they flock out to follow it。 In the province of Munster it is a common thing for the women to follow a funeral； to join in the universal cry with all their might and main for some time； and then to turn and ask'Arrah！ who is it that's dead？who is it we're crying for？' Even the poorest people have their own burying…placesthat is； spots of ground in the churchyards where they say that their ancestors have been buried ever since the wars of Ireland； and if these burial…places are ten miles from the place where a man dies； his friends and neighbours take care to carry his corpse thither。 Always one priest； often five or six priests； attend these funerals； each priest repeats a mass； for which he is paid； sometimes a shilling； sometimes half a crown； sometimes half a guinea； or a guinea； according to their circumstances； or； as they say； according to the ability of the deceased。 After the burial of any very poor man； who has left a widow or children； the priest makes what is called a COLLECTION for the widow； he goes round to every person present； and each contributes sixpence or a shilling； or what they please。 The reader will find in the note upon the word WAKE； more particulars respecting the conclusion of the Irish funerals。
Certain old women； who cry particularly loud and well are in great request； and； as a man said to the Editor； 'Every one would wish and be proud to have such at his funeral； or at that of his friends。' The lower Irish are wonderfully eager to attend the funerals of their friends and relations； and they make their relationships branch out to a great extent。 The proof that a poor man has been well beloved during his life is his having a crowded funeral。 To attend a neighbour's funeral is a cheap proof of humanity； but it does not； as some imagine； cost nothing。 The time spent in attending funerals may be safely valued at half a million to the Irish nation； the Editor thinks that double that sum would not be too high an estimate。 The habits of profligacy and drunkenness which are acquired at WAKES are here put out of the question。 When a labourer； a carpenter； or a smith； is not at his work； which frequently happens； ask where he is gone； and ten to one the answer is'Oh； faith； please your honour； he couldn't do a stroke to…day； for he's gone to THE funeral。'
Even beggars； when they grow old； go about begging FOR THEIR OWN FUNERALS that is； begging for money to buy a coffin； candles； pipes； and tobacco。 For the use of the candles； pipes； and tobacco； see WAKE。
Those who value customs in proportion to their antiquity； and nations in proportion to their adherence to ancient customs； will doubtless admire the Irish ULLALOO； and the Irish nation； for persevering in this usage from time immemorial。 The Editor； however； has observed some alarming symptoms； which seem to prognosticate the declining taste for the Ullaloo in Ireland。 In a comic theatrical entertainment； represented not long since on the Dublin stage； a chorus of old women was introduced； who set up the Irish howl round the relics of a physician； who is supposed to have fallen under the wooden sword of Harlequin。 After the old women have continued their Ullaloo for a decent time； with all the necessary accompaniments of wringing their hands； wiping or rubbing their eyes with the corners of their gowns or aprons； etc。； one of the mourners suddenly suspends her lamentable cries； and； turning to her neighbour； asks； 'Arrah now； honey； who is it we're crying for？'
GLOSSARY 4。 THE TENANTS WERE SENT AWAY WITHOUT THEIR WHISKY。It is usual with some landlords to give their inferior tenants a glass of whisky when they pay their rents。 Thady calls it THEIR whisky； not that the whisky is actually the property of the tenants； but that it becomes their RIGHT after it has been often given to them。 In this general mode of reasoning respecting RIGHTS the lower Irish are not singular； but they are peculiarly quick and tenacious in claiming these rights。 'Last year your honour gave me some straw for the roof of my house and I EXPECT your honour will be after doing the same this year。' In this manner gifts are frequently turned into tributes。 The high and low are not always dissimilar in their habits。 It is said； that the Sublime Ottoman Forte is very apt to claim gifts as tributes： thus it is dangerous to send the Grand Seignor a fine horse on his birthday one year； lest on his next birthday he should expect a similar present； and should proceed to demonstrate the reasonableness of his expectations。
GLOSSARY 5。 HE DEMEANED HIMSELF GREATLYmeans； he lowered or disgraced himself much。
GLOSSARY 6。 DUTY FOWLS； DUTY TURKEYS； AND DUTY GEESE。In many leases in Ireland； tenants were formerly bound to supply an inordinate quantity of poultry to their landlords。 The Editor knew of thirty turkeys being reserved in one lease of a small farm。
GLOSSARY 7。 ENGLISH TENANTS。An English tenant does not mean a tenant who is an Englishman； but a tenant who pays his rent the day that it is due。 It is a common prejudice in Ireland； amongst the poorer classes of people； to believe that all tenants in England pay their rents on the very day when they become due。 An Irishman； when he goes to take a farm； if he wants to prove to his landlord that he is a substantial man； offers to become an ENGLISH TENANT。 If a tenant disobliges his landlord by voting against him； or against his opinion； at an election； the tenant is immediately informed by the agent that he must become an ENGLISH TENANT。 This threat does not imply that he is to change his language or his country； but that he must pay all the arrear of rent which he owes； and that he must thenceforward pay his rent on that day when it becomes due。
GLOSSARY 8。 CANTINGdoes not mean talking or writing hypocritical nonsense； but selling substantially by auction。
GLOSSARY 9。 DUTY WORK。It was formerly common in Ireland to insert clauses in leases； binding tenants to furnish their landlords with labourers and horses for several days in the year。 Much petty tyranny and oppression have resulted from this feudal custom。 Whenever a poor man disobliged his landlord； the agent sent to him for his duty work； and Thady does not exaggerate when he s
