castle rackrent(拉克伦特堡)-第9节
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the appearance of candour； which men of great abilities best know how to
assume； it endangers our judgment sometimes； and sometimes our morals。
If her Grace the Duchess of Newcastle； instead of penning her lord's
elaborate eulogium； had undertaken to write the life of Savage； we should
not have been in any danger of mistaking an idle； ungrateful libertine for a
man of genius and virtue。 The talents of a biographer are often fatal to
his reader。 For these reasons the public often judiciously countenance
those who； without sagacity to discriminate character； without elegance of
style to relieve the tediousness of narrative； without enlargement of mind
to draw any conclusions from the facts they relate； simply pour forth
anecdotes； and retail conversations； with all the minute prolixity of a
gossip in a country town。
The author of the following Memoirs has upon these grounds fair
claims to the public favour and attention； he was an illiterate old steward；
whose partiality to THE FAMILY； in which he was bred and born； must be
obvious to the reader。 He tells the history of the Rackrent family in his
vernacular idiom； and in the full confidence that Sir Patrick； Sir Murtagh；
Sir Kit； and Sir Condy Rackrent's affairs will be as interesting to all the
world as they were to himself。 Those who were acquainted with the
manners of a certain class of the gentry of Ireland some years ago； will
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want no evidence of the truth of honest Thady's narrative； to those who are
totally unacquainted with Ireland； the following Memoirs will perhaps be
scarcely intelligible； or probably they may appear perfectly incredible。
For the information of the IGNORANT English reader； a few notes have
been subjoined by the editor； and he had it once in contemplation to
translate the language of Thady into plain English； but Thady's idiom is
incapable of translation； and； besides； the authenticity of his story would
have been more exposed to doubt if it were not told in his own
characteristic manner。 Several years ago he related to the editor the
history of the Rackrent family； and it was with some difficulty that he was
persuaded to have it committed to writing； however； his feelings for 'THE
HONOUR OF THE FAMILY；' as he expressed himself； prevailed over his
habitual laziness； and he at length completed the narrative which is now
laid before the public。
The editor hopes his readers will observe that these are 'tales of other
times；' that the manners depicted in the following pages are not those of
the present age； the race of the Rackrents has long since been extinct in
Ireland； and the drunken Sir Patrick； the litigious Sir Murtagh； the fighting
Sir Kit； and the slovenly Sir Condy； are characters which could no more be
met with at present in Ireland； than Squire Western or Parson Trulliber in
England。 There is a time when individuals can bear to be rallied for their
past follies and absurdities； after they have acquired new habits and a new
consciousness。 Nations； as well as individuals； gradually lose attachment
to their identity； and the present generation is amused； rather than offended；
by the ridicule that is thrown upon its ancestors。
Probably we shall soon have it in our power； in a hundred instances； to
verify the truth of these observations。
When Ireland loses her identity by an union with Great Britain； she
will look back； with a smile of good…humoured complacency； on the Sir
Kits and Sir Condys of her former existence。
1800。
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Castle Rackrent
CASTLE RACKRENT
MONDAY MORNING ＇See GLOSSARY 1＇。
Having； out of friendship for the family； upon whose estate； praised be
Heaven！ I and mine have lived rent…free time out of mind； voluntarily
undertaken to publish the MEMOIRS OF THE RACKRENT FAMILY； I
think it my duty to say a few words； in the first place； concerning myself。
My real name is Thady Quirk； though in the family I have always been
known by no other than 'Honest Thady；' afterward； in the time of Sir
Murtagh； deceased； I remember to hear them calling me 'Old。 Thady；' and
now I've come to 'Poor Thady'； for I wear a long greatcoat winter and
summer； which is very handy； as I never put my arms into the sleeves；
they are as good as new； though come Holantide next I've had it these
seven years： it holds on by a single button round my neck； cloak fashion。
＇The cloak； or mantle； as described by Thady； is of high antiquity。
Spenser； in his VIEW OF THE STATE OF IRELAND； proves that it is not；
as some have imagined； peculiarly derived from the Scythians； but that
'most nations of the world anciently used the mantle； for the Jews used it；
as you may read of Elias's mantle； etc。； the Chaldees also used it； as you
may read in Diodorus； the Egyptians likewise used it； as you may read in
Herodotus； and may be gathered by the description of Berenice in the
Greek Commentary upon Callimachus； the Greeks also used it anciently；
as appeared by Venus's mantle lined with stars； though afterward they
changed the form thereof into their cloaks； called Pallai； as some of the
Irish also use； and the ancient Latins and Romans used it； as you may read
in Virgil； who was a great antiquary； that Evander； when AEneas came to
him at his feast； did entertain and feast him sitting on the ground； and
lying on mantles： insomuch that he useth the very word mantile for a
mantle
〃Humi mantilia sternunt：〃
so that it seemeth that the mantle was a general habit to most nations；
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and not proper to the Scythians only。
Spenser knew the convenience of the said mantle； as housing； bedding；
and clothing： 'IREN。 Because the commodity doth not countervail the
discommodity； for the inconveniences which thereby do arise are much
more many； for it is a fit house for an outlaw； a meet bed for a rebel； and
an apt cloak for a thief。 First； the outlaw being； for his many crimes and
villanies； banished from the towns and houses of honest men； and
wandering in waste places； far from danger of law； maketh his mantle his
house； and under it covereth himself from the wrath of Heaven； from the
offence of the earth； and from the sight of men。 When it raineth； it is his
penthouse； when it bloweth； it is his tent； when it freezeth； it is his
tabernacle。 In summer he can wear it loose； in winter he can wrap it
close； at all times he can use it； never heavy； never cumbersome。
Likewise for a rebel it is as serviceable； for in this war that he maketh （if
at least it deserves the name of war）； when he still flieth from his foe； and
lurketh in the THICK WOODS （this should be BLACK BOGS） and
straight passages； waiting for advantages； it is his bed； yea； and almost his
household stuff。'＇
To look at me； you would hardly think 'Poor Thady' was the father of
Attorney Quirk； he is a high gentleman； and never minds what poor Thady
says； and having better than fifteen hundred a year； landed estate； looks
down upon honest Thady； but I wash my hands of his doings； and as I
have lived so will I die； true and loyal to the family。 The family of the
Rackrents is； I am proud to say； one of the most ancient in the kingdom。
Everybody knows this is not the old family name； which was O'Shaughlin；
related to the kings of Irelandbut that was before my time。 My
grandfather was driver to the great Sir Patrick O'Shaughlin； and I heard
him； when I was a boy； telling how the Castle Rackrent estate came to Sir
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
