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第38章

castle rackrent(拉克伦特堡)-第38章

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upon   the   anniversary   of   the   saint   of   the   parish。 At   these   wakes;   rustic 

games;   rustic   conviviality;   and   rustic   courtship;   are   pursued   with   all   the 

ardour and all the appetite which accompany such pleasures as occur but 

seldom。      In   Ireland   a   wake   is   a   midnight   meeting;   held   professedly   for 

the  indulgence  of   holy  sorrow;   but   usually  it   is   converted   into   orgies   of 

unholy  joy。      When   an   Irish   man   or   woman   of   the   lower order dies;   the 

straw which composed the bed; whether it has been contained in a bag to 

form a mattress; or simply spread upon the earthen floor; is immediately 



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taken out of the house; and burned before the cabin door; the family at the 

same time setting up the death howl。 The ears and eyes of the neighbours 

being thus alarmed; they flock to the house of the deceased; and by their 

vociferous sympathy excite and at the same time soothe the sorrows of the 

family。 

     It   is   curious   to   observe   how   good   and   bad   are   mingled   in   human 

institutions。     In    countries    which     were   thinly    inhabited;    this  custom 

prevented private attempts against the lives of individuals; and formed a 

kind of coroner's inquest upon the body which had recently expired; and 

burning      the  straw    upon    which    the   sick   man    lay   became     a   simple 

preservative against infection。         At night the dead body is waked; that is to 

say;   all   the   friends   and   neighbours   of   the   deceased   collect   in   a   barn   or 

stable; where the corpse is laid upon some boards; or an unhinged door; 

supported upon stools; the face exposed; the rest of the body covered with 

a   white   sheet。   Round   the   body   are   stuck   in   brass   candlesticks;   which 

have been borrowed perhaps at five miles' distance; as many candles as the 

poor person can beg or borrow; observing always to have an odd number。 

Pipes     and   tobacco     are  first  distributed;    and    then;   according     to  the 

ABILITY   of   the      deceased;   cakes     and   ale;   and  sometimes   whisky;      are 

DEALT to the company 

       Deal on; deal on; my merry men all;             Deal on your cakes and your 

wine;     For   whatever   is   dealt   at   her   funeral   to…day  Shall   be   dealt   to… 

morrow at mine。 

     After a fit of universal sorrow; and the comfort of a universal dram; the 

scandal of the neighbourhood; as in higher circles; occupies the company。 

The young lads and lasses romp with one another; and when the   fathers 

and    mothers     are  at  last  overcome     with   sleep   and   whisky     (VINO     ET 

SOMNO);         the   youth    become     more     enterprising;    and    are  frequently 

successful。      It  is  said  that   more    matches    are  made     at  wakes    than   at 

weddings。 

     GLOSSARY 29。 KILT。This word frequently occurs in the preceding 

pages; where it means not KILLED; but much HURT。 In Ireland; not only 

cowards;      but   the   brave    'die  many     times   before    their   death。'There 

KILLING IS NO MURDER。 



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