castle rackrent-第7章
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very merry； it being his honour's birthday； he called my grandfather inGod bless him！to drink the company's health； and filled a bumper himself； but could not carry it to his head； on account of the great shake in his hand； on this he cast his joke； saying； 'What would my poor father say to me if he was to pop out of the grave； and see me now？ I remember when I was a little boy； the first bumper of claret he gave me after dinner； how he praised me for carrying it so steady to my mouth。 Here's my thanks to hima bumper toast。' Then he fell to singing the favourite song he learned from his fatherfor the last time； poor gentlemanhe sung it that night as loud and as hearty as ever； with a chorus：
He that goes to bed； and goes to bed sober； Falls as the leaves do； falls as the leaves do； and dies in October； 'But he that goes to bed； and goes to bed mellow； Lives as he ought to do； lives as he ought to do； and dies an honest fellow。
Sir Patrick died that night： just as the company rose to drink his health with three cheers； he fell down in a sort of fit； and was carried off； they sat it out； and were surprised； on inquiry in the morning； to find that it was all over with poor Sir Patrick。 Never did any gentleman live and die more beloved in the country by rich and poor。 His funeral was such a one as was never known before or since in the county！ All the gentlemen in the three counties were at it； far and near； how they flocked！ my great…grandfather said； that to see all the women； even in their red cloaks； you would have taken them for the army drawn out。 Then such a fine whillaluh！ ＇See GLOSSARY 3＇ you might have heard it to the farthest end of the county； and happy the man who could get but a sight of the hearse！ But who'd have thought it？ Just as all was going on right； through his own town they were passing； when the body was seized for debta rescue was apprehended from the mob； but the heir； who attended the funeral； was against that； for fear of consequences； seeing that those villains who came to serve acted under the disguise of the law： so； to be sure； the law must take its course； and little gain had the creditors for their pains。 First and foremost； they had the curses of the country： and Sir Murtagh Rackrent； the new heir； in the next place； on account of this affront to the body； refused to pay a shilling of the debts； in which he was countenanced by all the best gentlemen of property； and others of his acquaintance； Sir Murtagh alleging in all companies that he all along meant to pay his father's debts of honour； but the moment the law was taken of him； there was an end of honour to be sure。 It was whispered （but none but the enemies of the family believe it） that this was all a sham seizure to get quit of the debts which he had bound himself to pay in honour。
It's a long time ago； there's no saying how it was； but this for certain； the new man did not take at all after the old gentleman； the cellars were never filled after his death； and no open house； or anything as it used to be； the tenants even were sent away without their whisky ＇See GLOSSARY 4＇。 I was ashamed myself； and knew not what to say for the honour of the family； but I made the best of a bad case； and laid it all at my lady's door； for I did not like her anyhow； nor anybody else； she was of the family of the Skinflints； and a widow； it was a strange match for Sir Murtagh； the people in the country thought he demeaned himself greatly ＇See GLOSSARY 5＇； but I said nothing； I knew how it was。 Sir Murtagh was a great lawyer； and looked to the great Skinflint estate； there； however； he overshot himself； for though one of the co…heiresses； he was never the better for her； for she outlived him many's the long dayhe could not see that to be sure when he married her。 I must say for her； she made him the best of wives； being a very notable； stirring woman； and looking close to everything。 But I always suspected she had Scotch blood in her veins； anything else I could have looked over in her； from a regard to the family。 She was a strict observer； for self and servants； of Lent； and all fast…days； but not holidays。 One of the maids having fainted three times the last day of Lent； to keep soul and body together； we put a morsel of roast beef into her mouth； which came from Sir Murtagh's dinner； who never fasted； not he； but somehow or other it unfortunately reached my lady's ears； and the priest of the parish had a complaint made of it the next day； and the poor girl was forced； as soon as she could walk； to do penance for it； before she could get any peace or absolution； in the house or out of it。 However； my lady was very charitable in her own way。 She had a charity school for poor children； where they were taught to read and write gratis； and where they were kept well to spinning gratis for my lady in return； for she had always heaps of duty yarn from the tenants； and got all her household linen out of the estate from first to last； for after the spinning； the weavers on the estate took it in hand for nothing； because of the looms my lady's interest could get from the Linen Board to distribute gratis。 Then there was a bleach…yard near us； and the tenant dare refuse my lady nothing； for fear of a lawsuit Sir Murtagh kept hanging over him about the watercourse。 With these ways of managing； 'tis surprising how cheap my lady got things done； and how proud she was of it。 Her table the same way； kept for next to nothing ＇See GLOSSARY 6＇； duty fowls； and duty turkeys； and duty geese； came as fast as we could eat 'em； for my lady kept a sharp look… out； and knew to a tub of butter everything the tenants had； all round。 They knew her way； and what with fear of driving for rent and Sir Murtagh's lawsuits； they were kept in such good order； they never thought of coming near Castle Rackrent without a present of something or othernothing too much or too little for my ladyeggs； honey； butter； meal； fish； game； grouse； and herrings； fresh or salt； all went for something。 As for their young pigs； we had them； and the best bacon and hams they could make up； with all young chickens in spring； but they were a set of poor wretches； and we had nothing but misfortunes with them； always breaking and running away。 This； Sir Murtagh and my lady said； was all their former landlord Sir Patrick's fault； who let 'em all get the half…year's rent into arrear； there was something in that to be sure。 But Sir Murtagh was as much the contrary way； for let alone making English tenants ＇See GLOSSARY 7＇ of them； every soul； he was always driving and driving； and pounding and pounding； and canting and canting ＇See GLOSSARY 8＇； and replevying and replevying； and he made a good living of trespassing cattle； there was always some tenant's pig； or horse； or cow； or calf； or goose； trespassing； which was so great a gain to Sir Murtagh； that he did not like to hear me talk of repairing fences。 Then his heriots and duty…work ＇See GLOSSARY 9＇ brought him in something； his turf was cut； his potatoes set and dug； his hay brought home； and； in short； all the work about his house done for nothing； for in all our leases there were strict clauses heavy with penalties； which Sir Murtagh knew well how to enforce； so many days' duty…work of man and horse； from every tenant； he was to have； and had； every year； and when a man vexed him； why； the finest day he could pitch on； when the cratur was getting in his own harvest； or thatching his cabin； Sir Murtagh made it a principle to call upon him and his horse； so he taught 'em all； as he said； to know the law of landlord and tenant。 As for law； I believe no man； dead or alive； ever loved it so well as Sir Murtagh。 He had once sixteen suits pending at a time； and I never saw him so much himself： roads； lanes； bogs； wells； ponds； eel…wires； orchards； trees； tithes； vagrants； gravelpits； sandpits； dunghills； and nuisances； everything upon the face of the earth furnished him good matter for a suit。 He used to boast that he had a lawsuit for every letter in the alphabet。 How I used to wonder to see Sir Murtagh in the midst of the papers in his office！ Why； he could hardly turn about for them。 I made bold to shrug my shoulders once in his presence； and thanked my stars I was not born a gentleman to so much toil and trouble； but Sir Murtagh took me up short with his old proverb； 'learning is better than house or land。' Out of forty…nine suits which he had； he never lost one but seventeen ＇See GLOSSARY 10＇； the rest he gained with costs； double costs； treble costs sometimes； but even that did not pay。 He was a very learned man in the law； and had the character of it； but how it was I can't tell； these suits that he carried cost him a power of money： in the end he sold some hundreds a year of the family estate； but he was a very learned man in the law； and I know nothing of the matter； except having a great regard for the family； and I could not help grieving when he sent me to post up notices of the sale of the fee simple of the lands and appurtenances of Timoleague。
'I know； honest Thady；' says he； to comfort me； 'what I'm about better than you do； I'm only selling to get the ready money wanting to carry on my suit with spirit with the Nugents of Carrickashaughlin。'
He was very sanguine about that suit with the Nugents of Carrickashaughlin。 He could have gained it； they say； for certain； had it pleased Heaven to have spared him to us； and it would have been at the least a plump two thousand a year in his way； but things were ordered otherwisefor the best to be sure。 He dug up a fairy…mount against my advice； and had no luck afterwards。 ＇These fairy…mounts are called ant…hills in England。 They are held in high reverence by the common people in Ireland。 A gentleman； who in laying out his lawn had occasion to level one of these hillocks； could not prevail upon any of his labourers to begin the ominous work。 He was obliged to take a LOY from one of their reluctant hands； and began the attack himself。 The labourers agreed that the vengeance of the fairies would fall upon the head of the presumptuous mortal who first disturbed them in their retreat ＇See GLOSSARY 11＇。＇ Though a learned man in the law； he was a little too incredulous in other matters。 I warned him that I heard the very Banshee that my grandfather heard under Sir Patrick's window a few days before his death。 ＇The Banshee is a species of aristocratic fairy； who； in the shape of a little hideous old woman； has been known to appear； and heard to sing in a mournful supernatural voice under the windows of great houses； to warn the family that some of them are soon to die。 In the last century every great family in Ireland had a Banshee； who attended regularly； but latterly their visits and songs have been discontinued。＇ But Sir Murtagh thought nothing of the Banshee； nor of his cough； with a spitting of blood； brought on； I understand； by catching cold in attending the courts； and overstraining his chest with making himself heard in one of his favourite causes。 He was a great speaker with a powerful voice； but his last speech was not in the courts at all。 He and my lady； though both of the same way of thinking in some things； and though she was as good a wife and great econ
