castle rackrent(拉克伦特堡)-第30节
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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；
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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
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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
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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 says； that the tenants were often
called from their own work to do that of their landlord。 Thus the very
means of earning their rent were taken from them： whilst they were
getting home their landlord's harvest； their own was often ruined； and yet
their rents were expected to be paid as punctually as if their time had been
at their own disposal。 This appears the height of absurd injustice。
In Esthoni
