Volume I Part 6 (1/2)
BEING AN EXCELLENT NEW ANACREONTIC, AND WRITTEN BY CAPTAIN DRINKWATER OF THE HORSE-GRENADIERS.
Julia first met me with bright sparkling eye; Next Sally so sober, yet so very sly, Margery, matchless at grin and grimace; Then Susan so simple, with innocent face.
Betty was breathless when told of a fray, And Judy in sooth would have her own way: Of Nelly 'tis needless ought for to tell, On ev'ry occasion she bore off the belle.
There was rattling, laughing, roaring young Kate, Who many did think was perturbed in her pate: Of Kathlane so cunning, and Mollys a score, Och, I could sing till I tired you sore.
Let this little sample the truth only tell, That, ah! I have lov'd too long and too well!”
”_Olet lucernam_, good master Heaviside! methinks it smells somewhat rather too strong of the lamp. Nay, nay, come n.o.ble Captain, I say, cheer up man! never mind, my brave boy, for in faith I like your chronicle, master Heaviside, pa.s.sing well; and the very first open day, to speak the _vox parliamentaria_, that is to express, that the first day that the Duke shall dine abroad----hah, hah, which, 'fore Jupiter, egad he does this very day--aye, good--very good,
DOSS MOI, TANE STIGMEN!
this very day, by my halidam, we shall have it! By the ma.s.s he who gainsays it wets not his lips with a cup of hermitage! Nay more, down goes my gauntlet; Captain--there is my hand for you! A fig, I say, for your black rods, your white rods, and your green rods! I would fain flagellate them all with their own proper _insignia_ of office; aye, marry, I say, a plague upon them all, master Heaviside! I am a man somewhat gifted with authority, as you are, Captain, fully aware, being no less than grand Seneschal of yonder ancient castle; and by the ma.s.s, indubitably, with due and meet discretion, we shall have _viva voce_ this very day your much to be lauded Anacreontic, and that too without a single repugnant '_perhaps_,' against which vague, dubious, and most distrustful adverb, that sage and circ.u.mspect Lady Let.i.tia doth so continently and cautiously enter her solemn protest. But my good Sir, time and place--place and time? methinks as I don't toss off drams in a morning, that songs sound sweeter heard in the evening. Oh, ever time and place are to be taken into account, my good Captain, for
DOSS MOI, TANE STIGMEN!
as the venerable Archimedes enforces it--hem; and I shall----But come, Captain, for once I will give a gratuitous prescription--take my nostrum--sing, or hear it sang, Captain Harry Heaviside's new Chronicle, which be sure to wash down with the potation of two honest quarts of old bottled Chateau-Margut, or good Burgundy, for I am not squeamish, which shall answer just quite as well;--swallow the dose, charily, charily, but without shaking the bottle!”
The equestrians soon approached the castle on their return to dinner, and the first bell was now heard pealing over battlement and tower, duly giving warning note; hence from a smart trot they hastened to a brisk gallop.
”Ahem,” said Sir Patricius, ”see, n.o.ble Captain, how strong and l.u.s.tily the smoke mounts up from the kitchen chimney, _bonum signum, bonum signum_, by Bacchus and Ceres a most propitious omen! Ahem, spur on, my gallant chevalier!”
The two worthies now reached the lordly castle; and entering the embattled porch, Captain Heaviside observed in a whisper to Sir Patricius: ”A d----d bore to be sure it is, all this dressing for dinner, my good Sir Patricius. But no matter, it is some consolation, however, that we shall have an excellent feed; and I am resolved to do it justice, exercise and the mountain air having sharpened a natural good appet.i.te.”
”But,” rejoined Sir Patricius, ”hark, again this accursed bell, how it frights the castle from its propriety.
'Ring out the alarum-bell, blow winds come, crack, At least we'll die with harness on our back.'
But never mind, we shall be ready before the bell rings a third time.”
The man of physic and the man of war having thus spoken, they wended their way to their respective toilettes, which were quickly despatched.
Here then we leave them to pay their attentions to the d.u.c.h.ess and the ladies, and enjoy all the good cheer at the ducal _salle a manger_.
Meanwhile, in our next chapter, we shall return to the Duke, and escort His Grace to the vice-regal abode at Dublin castle.
CHAPTER V.
----Al llegar a las puertas de la villa que era cercada, salio regimiento del pueblo a recebirle, tocaron las campanas, y todos los vecinos dieron muestras de general alegria, y con mucha pompa le llevaron a la iglesia mayor a dar gracias a Dios, y luego con algunas ceremonias le entregaron las llaves del pueblo, y le admitieron por Gobernador de la insula.
DON QUIXOTE, tome IV. ch. 45.
TRANSLATION.
When he approached the town gates (for it was walled) the officers came out to welcome him, the bells rang, and all the inhabitants made show of a general gladness; and they carried him in great pomp to the high church, to give G.o.d thanks; and shortly after some ceremonies they delivered him the keys, and admitted him as Governor of the island.
DON QUIXOTE, book IV. ch. 45.
The Duke of Tyrconnel took his departure, as was observed in the last chapter, at an early hour; the roads were in excellent order for travelling, the morning appeared settled and serene, and an enlivening sun shone forth propitiously on his journey.
The vice-regal carriage had just reached the town of Ballyshannon, when one of the fine animals (a leader) which drew the vehicle lost a fore shoe, which caused the cavalcade to stop. This interruption to the journey afforded an opportunity to the Duke, of which he availed himself, of visiting the venerable ruins of Ashrow Abbey, which were at that point of time n.o.ble and imposing even in decay. The beautifully pointed gothic arches, and the gilded ceilings in the vaults of the cloisters, called forth and attracted the attention and admiration of His Grace. When the Duke had returned to his inn from the inspection of these venerable monastic remains, a large party of hors.e.m.e.n were discerned trotting onward at a round and rapid pace. The Duke was stationed in a small gallery, or balcony, surmounting the door of the inn, when a tumultuous congratulatory roar from the equestrians, and addressed to His Grace, resounded on all sides, and the well-known Irish welcome of ”_Cead millia failtha_,” (that is ”a hundred thousand hearty welcomes,”) saluted the ducal ear. His Grace took off his hat, which he most gracefully waved, and graciously bowed. He then addressed them, and was pleased to say, ”My good friends, I feel truly grateful for this warm burst of loyalty; but I request to ask whither, and in such rapid haste, ye are all proceeding?