Is not this better than a version? Here are the words, and unmutilated thoughts, and turn, and expression of the original; only observe, that the idiomatic differences of the two languages give to the translation an uncouth and difficult hesitation, which in the original did not affect the Irishman, for he poured the persuasive appeal with such loyal and affectionate fervor of devotion that the doors of Castle Burk were never after closed on his familiar footsteps. This is a pleasing and amiable trait of the old romantic life of the Irish nobleman. To which of the Lords Mayo it is to be attributed is matter of uncertainty. Mr. Hardiman mistakes the son, young Sir Tibbot, for the father, and thus attaches our interest to Theobald the sixth viscount; and indeed it is an interest for which we would rather find an object, than for that excited by the story of the Bridge of Shrule. We regret that there are not more songs of this character preserved, for although Mr. Hardiman tells us that Carolan composed the "Hawk of Ballyshannon" on purpose for young O'Reilly, who went out armed with his harp, and brought O'More's daughter to reason with the moving melody, we hardly think that a harp, in the hands of a country gentleman before dinner, was quite the thing so short a time back; and we are sure O'Reilly was a fellow of too much nous to do any thing incorrect. But before we proceed with our translations, let us get a farther glimpse, if possible, at the household of an Irish or AngloIrish gentleman of the end of the 16th century. We know none so likely to gratify us as our friend Sir Josh Bodley; who, when captain in Elizabeth's army, paid a Christmas visit to Sir Richard (brother, if we mistake not, of the travelled Fynes) Morrison, at that time governor of the ancient city of Downpatrick. We have an account of it in manuscript. The curious reader may find the original, which is in a very Ciceronian latin, in the Cotton MSS. (Ayscough's Cat. 4784. p. 187, entitled "Descriptio itineris Capitanei Josie Bodley in Lecaliam apud Ultonienses, anno 1602.”) “Truly," he significantly begins, " I am an ass, else never would I have undertaken a task so heavy, as to tell all the fun which befel us in our journey to Lecaile;

that is, to Captain Caulfield, Captain Johnson, and myself, companions on a visit to our friend Sirrum Richardum Morrisonum,' which visit was for our recreation in those parts. Sir Richard, by certain Irish soldiers-which is the worst sort of mankind, (if men you can call them that feed on grass, and are in mind foxes, and in action wolves,)— but to the point-the aforesaid Sir Richard by them sent to us exceeding humane letters, whereby he gave us invitation to come and spend our Christmas with him. But inasmuch as

Sirrus Arthurus Chichesterus,' serjeant major of all our army, summoned us at that very instant of time against Tyrone, who was then in the woods of Clan [

] with a strong detachment of cows, although not encumbered by a numerous force of men, we could not go into Lecoile for that bout, but to the said Sir Arthur we went, and with him remained sixteen or seventeen days without doing any thing of note against Tyrone. For that Tyrone is a 'pessimus nebulo,' and will not be knocked unless on his own terms. Nevertheless, we fought him twice in the woods, and made him run to his fastnesses, &c." We shall not accompany the captain farther on that route, but bringing him and his companions, on leave, to Newry, start with them early in the morning, on their way to the hospitable mansion of Sirrus Richardus. "Therefore on the morning following we four take horse and set out. Guide we had none, save Captain Caulfield, who promised that he would lead us finely; but before we had ridden three miles we were off the road, and forced to go on foot, leading our horses over bogs and marshes, "quod fuit valde molestum," and there were not wanting among us some who silently, between their teeth, did wish our guide at a thousand devils. At length we came to a certain small village, of obscure name, where, for two brass shillings, we hired the services of a rustic to carry us to Magennis's Island, distant ten miles from the town of Newry, where the said Sir Richard promised to meet us. The day was desperately cold, and it began to snow most furiously, with a huge wind right in our teeth, just as we got to the top of the mountains, where there was neither house nor tree.

But, remedy save patience, we had none. Captain Bodley alone had a long cloak and capuchin, into which he prudently thrust his head, and ever and anon laughed to himself to see the rest contending at such odds against the tempest. And now we came to Magenuis's Island, where, alighting from our horses, we found my Lord Morrison and Captain Constable, with divers others, whom for brevity's sake I omit. They had there remained three hours at the least, expecting our arrival, drinking in the mean time usquebagh and ale with my Lady Sarah, Tyrone's daughter, the aforesaid Magennis's wife-truly a most lovely woman; so that I well believe these three hours seemed to them no more than a single minute, especially to Master Constable, who is by nature of a disposition most amorous of ladies, as well as of dogs and horses. Meanwhile we took a pull or two at the flagon, and having kissed all round in order, girded ourselves up for the remaining journey. From the island to Downpatrick, where Sir Richard lived, was ten or twelve miles, and the road seemed much longer by our anxiety to get to its end." At length they arrive-" And here," the captain proceeds, "here begins that 'tractatio plusquam luculenta,' which neither Cicero himself (whose style, in spite of Horace's reviling of the servum pecus, I chiefly do affect,) nor any other of the Latins or Greeks could in phrase sufficiently apt compose." But to proceed. "When now, at length, we had arrived within the stone-walled courtyard of the house, or rather palace, of my Lord Morrison; forthwith appeared attendants without number, of whom some with torches and links gave light to us, because it was dark, and others, as we alighted, snatched from us our horses, and led them to a fair and spacious stable, where was lack of neither hay nor straw. My Lord Morrison himself, with large steps, leads us into a great hall, where was already kindled a fire, chin high, as they say, and afterwards into a bed-chamber. Here we all rested, having unbooted, and then sat down and chatted on divers subjects. And now my Lord Morrison orders to be brought in a bowl of Spanish wine, with toasted sugar, marvellously musked and gin

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gered, and made us all drink, each one good draught thereof, which was exceeding grateful to the palate, and potent also in creating an appetite for dinner, if any one might stand in need thereof. After the space of an hour, we heard one from the lower story, with a loud voice, crying, to the dresser.' Forthwith we beheld a long file of well clad servants, bearing in dishes of most excellently conceited cookery, which they in fair order ranged upon the table. One then presents a silver ewer with the purest water, another hands a dainty napkin, another sets the chairs and stools in their proper places, and in fine, (what need of words, spectemur agendo,') after grace said, we began (with drawn knives) to cast fierce glances on the covers; and then indeed you might have seen a Belgian banquet, ubi in principo est silentium, modo stridor dentium, in fine rumor gentium.' For at first, taken with the variety and delicacy of our fare, we sat captive as it were, and thunderstruck, like the German whom we have seen in pictures painted standing betwixt two flagons, one of Rhenish wine, the other of claret, with this motto, quo me versam nescio:' but after a little time we fall to roundly with the dishes, one by one, calling ever and anon for wine, and every man asking to be helped at his discretion. In the middle of the dinner, my Lord Morrison ordered in a glass jug full of claret, which contained, as I conceive, about ten or eleven pollices,' more or less, and drank to all our good healths and welcome. We freely receive it from his hands, giving him thanks, and drinking, one after the other, as he had desired. Thereafter were proposed four or five other healths of very excellent fellows, our absent friends; a custom which my lord, the present treasurer of Ireland, useth much at his dinners. A practice it is, indeed, very praiseworthy, and one which has more in it than any one would think; and there was not a man of us who did not do reason to him and to the rest, one with another, without any scruple or contradiction, which I much rejoiced to see, because it was an argument of unanimity and confirmed good fellowship." And now that the Captain has drunk wine with all at table, he

becomes so garrulous, telling us a long story of a shy cock on the Continent whom he once saw kicked down stairs because he would not drink fair, and yet would remain (" which is," says he," of all other things the basest,") among them that did; and of another who could not speak Latin so well as himself, but who, arguing with the secretary of a temperance society in that learned language, and being hard pushed, at length exclaimed, “si tu es plus sapientes quam nos sumus, tu es plus beeholdinge to God-amightie quam nos sumus," which, he observes, was most egregiously well said and to the point-We say the captain gets so garrulous on the claret, that we must make a forced march to the bedchamber, whither, immediately after the removal of the dinner things, they adjourned. Here "there was a huge fire, (for it froze vehemently out of doors,) round which were seats prepared for us, with great store of tobacco and dainty pipes. And now, the wine beginning to operate within us, there began a marvellous development of the "mens divinior," all prating together, and all at once beseeching audience-which Sir Robert Williamson, of worthy memory, was wont to call his Academy, where all were talkers and none listeners. And here I protest against a common opinion, viz. that when wine is in, wit is out, unless by this they would signify that when a man is well lined with good drink, then his wit begins to show itself forth, and make manifest what previously had been recondite and unknown for, had any one, being sober, been present then, in that company, in any unseen corner of our chamber, I doubt not that he would have heard things very memorable and ingenious, which I myself can hardly recollect. Nevertheless, I do remember that we discoursed of matters politico-economical, philosophical, and general, with much profundity and eloquence; and amongst other good things that we said was this-that times were changed, not for the worst, since last year's Christmas, which we passed before Kinsale, enduring dreadful toil and cold intolerable," with much more excellent discourse over his bottle, until he comes to the "denique." "In fine, then," says he," after raciocinating, deomnibus rebus,' we conclude with that

Nunc

ode of Horace, lib. 1. 37.: est bibendum, nunc pede libero pulsanda tellus.' And shortly after that, Captain Johnson calls for usquebagh, which we with one consent approve, vociferating usquebagh, usquebagh,' for we were as bold as if in garrison--and besides, it was a thing not unreasonable just then, to drink that liquor, for it is a present remedy against the very cold of approaching death, and, moreover, an excellent draught for carrying off the crude vapors of that French wine: but above all, it is especially wholesome in those parts where the clergy themselves, who are holy men, as the Abbot of Armagh, the Bishop of Cashel, and others; nay, even noble persons, such as Henry Oge Mac Mahon Mac Henry, and, in fine, all men and women of every degree, by day and night, are accustomed to pour nsquebagh down their throats, and that not towards the procuring of hilarity, which were commendable, but for the purpose of continual intoxication; a thing exceedingly detestable. Therefore, after each one had drunk two or three healths, discoursing still between whiles, of weighty matters touching the commonwealth, amongst which was much learned handling and grave and subtle disputation about Marius and Scylla, Cæsar and Pompey, and some little also as to Marcus Coriolanus, we all at once grew of opinion that it was time to go to bed. And now behold a great civility which my Lord Morrison shewed to us; he left his own bed, good and soft, and laid himself to sleep on a pallet in the same chamber, and would not be persuaded for all that we could say, to lie in his own bed--and that pallet was both thin and hard, such as they use to have which are called great folks' valets. It is not for me to declare whether or no we slept well, usque ad auroram,' for it is easy for any one to judge, consideratis considerandis,' especially if that syllogism of the old fellow be true, qui bene bibit bene dormit.' Nevertheless, we did not pass the night altogether without molestation; for those dogs of Captain Constable, which were ill educated curs, (more septentrionali') were for ever jumping up on our beds, and would not let us alone, ('non sinebant nos solos,') although we gave them many a trounc

ing, which the said Captain Constable took in ill part, particularly when he heard the brutes making their moan. But it was all one; for dogs, which are of the number of beasts, have no business sleeping with men, who are animalia rationalia et risibilia,' according to the philosophers." At nine next morning, the servants came to light the fire, and our captain, awakened by their entrance, begins to make enquiries after his tongue, which finding at length in a remote corner of his mouth, he gives and returns the morning salutations of his friends, 'sicut decet bene educatis.' "And now," he proceeds, "before we got out of bed, they bring us a certain aromatic posset, concocted of burst barley, with eggs and sugar, (Anglice Caudel,') for the comforting and corroborating of the stomach. Ale also (if any chose it) with toast and nutmeg, for allaying the thirst, confirming the head, and refrigerating the liver pipes, likewise, of the best tobacco, towards expelling rheumatisms and catarrhs.

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"And now, one and all, we briskly bounce out of bed, dress ourselves, and come to the fire. Then when all were ready, step forth together to take the air, which is, in that region, most wholesome and delicious; so that did I desire to enumerate all the convenient qualities of that country, not only ability, but time itself should fail me. That, therefore, I leave, as being a thing well known, and return to ourselves, who having stretched our limbs sufficiently, came back to the house, for it was almost dinner time. But what now shall I say de apparatu rerum omnium-what of the dinners-what of the suppers-what of the whets? For it seemed as if we were present at a royal banquet, so that you would have thought some Cleopatra had invited her Anthony, so many were the varieties of foods, so curious the sorts of condiments, concerning which, separately, I would willingly treat, did I not dread being tedious. By a single dinner, therefore, I shall demonstrate to the imagination, materials for an idea of the rest. We had there a great and fair collar of brawn, with its garnishings, mustard, to wit, and wine of Muscadel; geese, with puddings in their bellies, such as my lord bishop useth to have at Ardbracan, the drum

sticks of which Captain Caulfield marvellously affected. Pies there were of venison and various fowls; patties also, some of marrow, with stewed prunes innumerable; others of eggs and curd, such as my Lord Mayor and the sheriff's are ever wont to have at their feasts; others, again, which they call tarts, of divers forms, of divers materials, and of divers colours-of beef, of goats-flesh, and of veal. In one word, everything was served up in the most liberal and handsome style." Now for their entertainment out of doors, and through that yearning blank between dressing and dinner. "It would have made your teeth water, had you forthwith seen ten or twelve fair horses, with trappings of the best, and other ornaments, prepared for us. We mount, and ride about; visiting the cathedral and the well of St. Patrick, then returning, amuse ourselves with prints, pictures, the dice box, and between whiles with a pipe of tobacco." And here the captain enters into a long and learned disquisition on the Virginian leaf, which we reluctantly postpone, although we, in the meanwhile, proceed with something exceedingly new and interesting. "I remember amongst other things conducing to our pleasure, that there came one night, after supper, certain maskers of the Irish nobility, in number four, if my memory serve me aright. They, in the first place, sent to us letters of most fustian sort, commending them heartily to us, and saying that they were certain pilgrims, lately come to those parts, and very desirous of passing an hour or two in our company. After our acceptance of which proposal, they introduced themselves in the following order. First, a boy with a lit link, then two drummers, next the maskers themselves, two and two, and then another torch. One of the maskers carried a soiled handkerchief, with ten pounds in it, not of bullion, but of the new money lately coined, having the harp on one side and the royal arms on the other. They were dressed in slips, with many ivy leaves here and there stitched on, and over their faces they had masks of rabbit skin, with holes for looking through, and the noses were made of paper. Caps they had also, high and conical, after the Persian fashion, made likewise of paper, and adorned with