castle rackrent(拉克伦特堡)-第33节
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just at the corner of the road； where the bridge is broken down； that your
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honour is to have the presentment for this yearlong life to you for it！
And he was at that time coming from the fair of Gurtishannon； and I the
same way。 〃How are you； Jemmy？〃 says I。 〃Very well； I thank ye
kindly； Bryan；〃 says he； 〃shall we turn back to Paddy Salmon's and take a
naggin of whisky to our better acquaintance？〃 〃I don't care if I did；
Jemmy；〃 says I； 〃only it is what I can't take the whisky； because I'm under
an oath against it for a month。〃 Ever since； please your honour； the day
your honour met me on the road； and observed to me I could hardly stand；
I had taken so much； though upon my conscience your honour wronged
me greatly that same timeill…luck to them that belied me behind my back
to your honour！ Well； please your honour； as I was telling you； as he was
taking the whisky； and we talking of one thing or t'other； he makes me an
offer to swop his mare that he couldn't sell at the fair of Gurtishannon；
because nobody would be troubled with the beast； please your honour；
against my horse； and to oblige him I took the maresorrow take her！
and him along with her！ She kicked me a new car； that was worth three
pounds ten； to tatters the first time I ever put her into it； and I expect your
honour will make him pay me the price of the car； anyhow； before I pay
the grazing； which I've no right to pay at…all…at…all； only to oblige him。
But I leave it all to your honour； and the whole grazing he ought to be
charging for the beast is but two and eightpence halfpenny； anyhow； please
your honour。 So I'll abide by what your honour says； good or bad。 I'll
leave it all to your honour。
I'll leave IT all to your honourliterally means； I'll leave all the trouble
to your honour。
The Editor knew a justice of the peace in Ireland who had such a dread
of HAVING IT ALL LEFT TO HIS HONOUR； that he frequently gave the
complainants the sum about which they were disputing； to make peace
between them； and to get rid of the trouble of hearing their stories OUT
OF THE FACE。 But he was soon cured of this method of buying off
disputes； by the increasing multitude of those who； out of pure regard to
his honour； came 'to get justice from him； because they would sooner
come before him than before any man in all Ireland。'
GLOSSARY 25。 A RAKING POT OF TEA。we should observe； this
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custom has long since been banished from the higher orders of Irish gentry。
The mysteries of a raking pot of tea； like those of the Bona Dea； are
supposed to be sacred to females； but now and then it has happened that
some of the male species； who were either more audacious； or more highly
favoured than the rest of their sex； have been admitted by stealth to these
orgies。 The time when the festive ceremony begins varies according to
circumstances； but it is never earlier than twelve o'clock at night； the joys
of a raking pot of tea depending on its being made in secret； and at an
unseasonable hour。 After a ball； when the more discreet part of the
company has departed to rest； a few chosen female spirits； who have
footed it till they can foot it no longer； and till the sleepy notes expire
under the slurring hand of the musician； retire to a bedchamber； call the
favourite maid； who alone is admitted； bid her PUT DOWN THE
KETTLE； lock the door； and amidst as much giggling and scrambling as
possible； they get round a tea…table； on which all manner of things are
huddled together。 Then begin mutual railleries and mutual confidences
amongst the young ladies； and the faint scream and the loud laugh is heard；
and the romping for letters and pocket…books begins； and gentlemen are
called by their surnames； or by the general name of fellows！ pleasant
fellows！ charming fellows！ odious fellows！ abominable fellows！ and
then all prudish decorums are forgotten； and then we might be convinced
how much the satirical poet was mistaken when he said
There is no woman where there's no reserve。
The merit of the original idea of a raking pot of tea evidently belongs
to the washerwoman and the laundry…maid。 But why should not we have
LOW LIFE ABOVE STAIRS as well as HIGH LIFE BELOW STAIRS？
GLOSSARY 26。 WE GAINED THE DAY BY THIS PIECE OF
HONESTY。In a dispute which occurred some years ago in Ireland；
between Mr。 E。 and Mr。 M。； about the boundaries of a farm； an old tenant
of Mr。 M。's cut a SOD from Mr。 M。's land； and inserted it in a spot
prepared for its reception in Mr。 E。's land； so nicely was it inserted； that no
eye could detect the junction of the grass。 The old man； who was to give
his evidence as to the property； stood upon the inserted sod when the
VIEWERS came； and swore that the ground he THEN STOOD UPON
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belonged to his landlord； Mr。 M。
The Editor had flattered himself that the ingenious contrivance which
Thady records； and the similar subterfuge of this old Irishman； in the
dispute concerning boundaries； were instances of 'CUTENESS
unparalleled in all but Irish story： an English friend； however； has just
mortified the Editor's national vanity by an account of the following
custom； which prevails in part of Shropshire。 It is discreditable for
women to appear abroad after the birth of their children till they have been
CHURCHED。 To avoid this reproach； and at the same time to enjoy the
pleasure of gadding； whenever a woman goes abroad before she has been
to church； she takes a tile from the roof of her house； and puts it upon her
head： wearing this panoply all the time she pays her visits； her
conscience is perfectly at ease； for she can afterwards safely declare to the
clergyman； that she 'has never been from under her own roof till she came
to be churched。'
GLOSSARY 27。 CARTON AND HALF…CARTON；Thady means
cartron； and half…cartron。 （According to the old record in the black book of
Dublin； a CANTRED is said to contain 30 VILLATAS TERRAS； which
are also called QUARTERS of land （quarterons； CARTRONS）； every one
of which quarters must contain so much ground as will pasture 400 cows；
and 17 plough…lands。 A knight's fee was composed of 8 hydes； which
amount to 160 acres； and that is generally deemed about a PLOUGH…
LAND'
The Editor was favoured by a learned friend with the above extract；
from a MS。 of Lord Totness's in the Lambeth library。
GLOSSARY 28。 WAKE。A wake in England means a festival held
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；
