"An anecdote of the bard Carolan"
Dublin Core
Title
"An anecdote of the bard Carolan"
Subject
Lough Derg--Fiction--Account--Pilgrimage
Description
Anecdotes about the pilgrimage to Saint Patrick's Purgatory
Creator
Lady Sydney Morgan (AKA Sydney Owenson), 1781-1859
Source
Lady Sydney Morgan, The Wild Irish Girl, Vol. I and II: A National Tale, In Two Volumes, Letter XIV
Publisher
P. M. Haverty: New York
Date
1879
Contributor
Project Gutenberg
Rights
Public domain
Format
Epistolary Novel
Language
English
Type
Literature
Identifier
DD_0581
Coverage
54.6083, -7.8714
References
http://www.gutenberg.org/files/54683/54683-h/54683-h.htm
Text Item Type Metadata
Text
"LETTER XIV.
TO J. D. ESQ., M. P.
To day I was present at an interview granted by the Prince to two contending parties, who came to ask law of him, as they term it. This, I am told, the Irish peasantry are ready to do upon every slight difference; so that they are the most litigious, or have the nicest sense of right and justice of any people in the world.
Although the language held by this little judicial meeting was Irish, it was by no means necessary it should be understood to comprehend, in some degree, the subject of discussion; for the gestures and countenances both of the judge and the clients were expressive beyond all conception: and I plainly understood, that almost every other word on both sides was accompanied by a species of local oath, sworn on the first object that presented itself to their hands, and strongly marked the vehemence of the national character.
When I took notice of this to Father John, he replied,
“It is certain, that the habit of confirming every assertion with an oath, is as prevalent among the Irish as it was among the ancient, and is among the modern Greeks. And it is remarkable, that even at this day, in both countries, the nature and form of their adjurations and oaths are perfectly similar: a Greek will still swear by his parents, or his children; an Irishman frequently swears ‘by my father, who is no more!’ ‘by my mother in the grave!’ Virgil makes his pious Æneas swear by his head. The Irish constantly swear ‘by my hand,’—‘by this hand,’—or, ‘by the hand of my gossip!’ * There is one who has just sworn by the Cross; another by the blessed stick he holds in his hand. In short, no intercourse passes between them where confidence is required, in which oaths are not called in to confirm the transaction.”
* The mention of this oath recalls to my mind an * anecdote
of the bard Carolan, as related by Mr. Walker, in his
inimitable Memoir of the Irish Bards. “He (Carolan) went
once on a pilgrimage to St. Patrick’s Purgatory, a cave in
an island in Lough Dergh, (county of Donegal) of which more
wonders are told than even the Cave of Triphonius. On his
return to shore, he found several pilgrims waiting the
arrival of the boat, which had conveyed him to the object of
his devotion. In assisting some of those devout travellers
to get on board, he chanced to take a lady’s hand, and
instantly exclaimed ‘dar lamh mo Chardais Criost, [i. e. by
the hand of my gossip] this is the hand of Bridget Cruise.’
His sense of feeling did not deceive him—it was the hand of
her who he once adored.”
TO J. D. ESQ., M. P.
To day I was present at an interview granted by the Prince to two contending parties, who came to ask law of him, as they term it. This, I am told, the Irish peasantry are ready to do upon every slight difference; so that they are the most litigious, or have the nicest sense of right and justice of any people in the world.
Although the language held by this little judicial meeting was Irish, it was by no means necessary it should be understood to comprehend, in some degree, the subject of discussion; for the gestures and countenances both of the judge and the clients were expressive beyond all conception: and I plainly understood, that almost every other word on both sides was accompanied by a species of local oath, sworn on the first object that presented itself to their hands, and strongly marked the vehemence of the national character.
When I took notice of this to Father John, he replied,
“It is certain, that the habit of confirming every assertion with an oath, is as prevalent among the Irish as it was among the ancient, and is among the modern Greeks. And it is remarkable, that even at this day, in both countries, the nature and form of their adjurations and oaths are perfectly similar: a Greek will still swear by his parents, or his children; an Irishman frequently swears ‘by my father, who is no more!’ ‘by my mother in the grave!’ Virgil makes his pious Æneas swear by his head. The Irish constantly swear ‘by my hand,’—‘by this hand,’—or, ‘by the hand of my gossip!’ * There is one who has just sworn by the Cross; another by the blessed stick he holds in his hand. In short, no intercourse passes between them where confidence is required, in which oaths are not called in to confirm the transaction.”
* The mention of this oath recalls to my mind an * anecdote
of the bard Carolan, as related by Mr. Walker, in his
inimitable Memoir of the Irish Bards. “He (Carolan) went
once on a pilgrimage to St. Patrick’s Purgatory, a cave in
an island in Lough Dergh, (county of Donegal) of which more
wonders are told than even the Cave of Triphonius. On his
return to shore, he found several pilgrims waiting the
arrival of the boat, which had conveyed him to the object of
his devotion. In assisting some of those devout travellers
to get on board, he chanced to take a lady’s hand, and
instantly exclaimed ‘dar lamh mo Chardais Criost, [i. e. by
the hand of my gossip] this is the hand of Bridget Cruise.’
His sense of feeling did not deceive him—it was the hand of
her who he once adored.”
Original Format
Project Gutenberg eBook
Citation
Lady Sydney Morgan (AKA Sydney Owenson), 1781-1859 , “"An anecdote of the bard Carolan",” Digital Derg: A Deep Map, accessed April 24, 2024, https://digitalderg.eu/items/show/610.