castle rackrent(拉克伦特堡)-第10节
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Patrick； Sir Tallyhoo Rackrent was cousin… german to him； and had a fine
estate of his own； only never a gate upon it； it being his maxim that a car
was the best gate。 Poor gentleman！ he lost a fine hunter and his life； at
last； by it； all in one day's hunt。 But I ought to bless that day； for the
estate came straight into THE family； upon one condition； which Sir
Patrick O'Shaughlin at the time took sadly to heart； they say； but thought
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better of it afterwards； seeing how large a stake depended upon it： that
he should； by Act of Parliament； take and bear the surname and arms of
Rackrent。
Now it was that the world was to see what was IN Sir Patrick。 On
coming into the estate he gave the finest entertainment ever was heard of
in the country； not a man could stand after supper but Sir Patrick himself
who could sit out the best man in Ireland； let alone the three kingdoms
itself ＇See GLOSSARY 2＇。 He had his house； from one year's end to
another； as full of company as ever it could hold； and fuller； for rather than
be left out of the parties at Castle Rackrent； many gentlemen； and those
men of the first consequence and landed estates in the countrysuch as the
O'Neills of Ballynagrotty； and the Moneygawls of Mount Juliet's Town；
and O'Shannons of New Town Tullyhogmade it their choice； often and
often； when there was no room to be had for love nor money； in long
winter nights； to sleep in the chicken…house； which Sir Patrick had fitted
up for the purpose of accommodating his friends and the public in general；
who honoured him with their company unexpectedly at Castle Rackrent；
and this went on I can't tell you how long。 The whole country rang with
his praises！long life to him！ I'm sure I love to look upon his picture；
now opposite to me； though I never saw him； he must have been a portly
gentlemanhis neck something short； and remarkable for the largest
pimple on his nose； which； by his particular desire； is still extant in his
picture； said to be a striking likeness； though taken when young。 He is
said also to be the inventor of raspberry whisky； which is very likely； as
nobody has ever appeared to dispute it with him； and as there still exists a
broken punch…bowl at Castle Rackrent； in the garret； with an inscription to
that effecta great curiosity。 A few days before his death he was very
merry； it being his honour's birthday； he called my grandfather inGod
bless him！to drink the company's health； and filled a bumper himself； but
could not carry it to his head； on account of the great shake in his hand； on
this he cast his joke； saying； 'What would my poor father say to me if he
was to pop out of the grave； and see me now？ I remember when I was a
little boy； the first bumper of claret he gave me after dinner； how he
praised me for carrying it so steady to my mouth。 Here's my thanks to
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hima bumper toast。' Then he fell to singing the favourite song he learned
from his fatherfor the last time； poor gentlemanhe sung it that night as
loud and as hearty as ever； with a chorus：
He that goes to bed； and goes to bed sober； Falls as the leaves do；
falls as the leaves do； and dies in October； 'But he that goes to bed；
and goes to bed mellow； Lives as he ought to do； lives as he ought to do；
and dies an honest fellow。
Sir Patrick died that night： just as the company rose to drink his
health with three cheers； he fell down in a sort of fit； and was carried off；
they sat it out； and were surprised； on inquiry in the morning； to find that it
was all over with poor Sir Patrick。 Never did any gentleman live and die
more beloved in the country by rich and poor。 His funeral was such a
one as was never known before or since in the county！ All the gentlemen
in the three counties were at it； far and near； how they flocked！ my great…
grandfather said； that to see all the women； even in their red cloaks； you
would have taken them for the army drawn out。 Then such a fine
whillaluh！ ＇See GLOSSARY 3＇ you might have heard it to the farthest
end of the county； and happy the man who could get but a sight of the
hearse！ But who'd have thought it？ Just as all was going on right；
through his own town they were passing； when the body was seized for
debta rescue was apprehended from the mob； but the heir； who attended
the funeral； was against that； for fear of consequences； seeing that those
villains who came to serve acted under the disguise of the law： so； to be
sure； the law must take its course； and little gain had the creditors for their
pains。 First and foremost； they had the curses of the country： and Sir
Murtagh Rackrent； the new heir； in the next place； on account of this
affront to the body； refused to pay a shilling of the debts； in which he was
countenanced by all the best gentlemen of property； and others of his
acquaintance； Sir Murtagh alleging in all companies that he all along
meant to pay his father's debts of honour； but the moment the law was
taken of him； there was an end of honour to be sure。 It was whispered
（but none but the enemies of the family believe it） that this was all a sham
seizure to get quit of the debts which he had bound himself to pay in
honour。
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It's a long time ago； there's no saying how it was； but this for certain；
the new man did not take at all after the old gentleman； the cellars were
never filled after his death； and no open house； or anything as it used to be；
the tenants even were sent away without their whisky ＇See GLOSSARY 4＇。
I was ashamed myself； and knew not what to say for the honour of the
family； but I made the best of a bad case； and laid it all at my lady's door；
for I did not like her anyhow； nor anybody else； she was of the family of
the Skinflints； and a widow； it was a strange match for Sir Murtagh； the
people in the country thought he demeaned himself greatly ＇See
GLOSSARY 5＇； but I said nothing； I knew how it was。 Sir Murtagh was a
great lawyer； and looked to the great Skinflint estate； there； however； he
overshot himself； for though one of the co…heiresses； he was never the
better for her； for she outlived him many's the long dayhe could not see
that to be sure when he married her。 I must say for her； she made him the
best of wives； being a very notable； stirring woman； and looking close to
everything。 But I always suspected she had Scotch blood in her veins；
anything else I could have looked over in her； from a regard to the family。
She was a strict observer； for self and servants； of Lent； and all fast…days；
but not holidays。 One of the maids having fainted three times the last
day of Lent； to keep soul and body together； we put a morsel of roast beef
into her mouth； which came from Sir Murtagh's dinner； who never fasted；
not he； but somehow or other it unfortunately reached my lady's ears； and
the priest of the parish had a complaint made of it the next day； and the
poor girl was forced； as soon as she could walk； to do penance for it；
before she could get any peace or absolution； in the house or out of it。
However； my lady was very charitable in her own way。 She had a charity
school for poor children； where they were taught to read and write gratis；
and where they were kept well to spinning gratis for my lady in return； for
she had always heaps of duty yarn from the tenants； and got all her
household linen out of the estate from first to last； for after the spi
