Page images
PDF
EPUB

Tracing old tradition, down from the creation,
And how the Milesians were conquer'd of yore!
How laws were enacted to slacken their force -
How they were wrongfully oppress'd and opposed,
And how they were trodden and toɛs'd by the Toads
Who made an encroachment on Cathaleen Thrail.

*

Good people, take courage, don't perish in fright,
For Notes will be nothing in the year 25.

As I am O'Healy, we then will contrive

To daily drink beer by laws of Cathaleen Thrail!"

"The following lines are from another song, which was so extensively sung amongst the lower orders in Dublin, that it must still be distinctly remembered by many. The subject was, the Banishment of Napoleon Bonaparte to St. Helena.

"Now he is confined, and no hope of releasement,

Before the year twenty-five he'll surprise them in earnest.
This truth we are told, and that by Pastorini,
That the sword it will fall, and perhaps from St. Helena.

Now you that belong to a certain great kingdom,

I would have you beware lest your fate be impending," &c.

[ocr errors]

Verses, however, more polished than the foregoing, have been employed in the dissemi

nation of the same sentiments. One specimen will suffice to prove this assertion.

Despair not, sweet Erin, thy sun is not set

In the dark shades of discord-but still there remains
A hope that 'twill rise in mild splendour as yet,
A hope that my country may shake off her chains!
The spirit of Freedom still hovers above

To foster thy children, and dares to inspire
Their bosoms with valour-with glory-with love-
The patriot's soul-and the patriot's fire!"

It is but justice to state, that the foregoing is selected from Mr. Crofton Croker's volume of "Researches in the South of Ireland;" a work replete with valuable information, not only as far as regards the literature of the Irish, but of the manners, customs, and superstitions of that people, in this and former ages.

BERNARD BARTON.

THIS sweet and unassuming Quaker Poet, on being applied to for his autograph, complied with the request in the following truly courteous and truly poetic manner :

An autograph and name like mine

Have little to commend them;
But if worth asking, they are thine,

And willingly I send them.

BERNARD BARTON"

SUMS RECEIVED BY LORD BYRON FOR HIS POEMS.

MURRAY, in a pamphlet published by himself to refute Captain Medwin, states his having paid, at various times, for the copy-right of his Lordship's Poems, sums amounting to upwards of £15,000, viz.

Childe Harold, Parts I. II.

£600

[merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small]
[ocr errors]

DR. YOUNG, AND THE RIVAL BOOKSELLERS.

"TONSON and Lintot were both candidates for printing some work of Dr. Young's. He answered both their letters the same morning, and, in his hurry, misdirected them. When Lintot opened that which came to him, he found it begin,That Bernard Lintot is so great a scoundrel, that,' &c. It must have been very amusing to have seen him in his rage; he was a great sputtering fellow."

SPENCE.

ROBERT BURNS.

ONE day when Burns dined with a party of friends at Glasgow, among the company was a Mr. Barton, a dandy of that day, both in dress and language, his constant expressions being,"D-n my eyes! d-n my blood!" Burns had frequently been requested to write an epitaph for him, but declined the task, till Barton one day adding his own entreaty, Burns drew forth his pencil, and wrote the following:

"Here cursing, swearing, Barton lies;

A beau, a buck, or d-n my eyes!
Who in his life did little good,

And his last words were, 'd-n my blood.'"

COLLEGE WIT.

DR. JOHN JEGON, Bishop of Norwich, who died in 1617, was Master of Bennet College, Cambridge. He was a severe governor, yet of a facetious disposition. I will produce an instance while Master of the College. He chanced to punish all under-graduates for some general offence, and the penalty was put upon their heads in the buttery. And because he disdained to convert the money to any private use, it was expended in new whiting the College Hall, whereon a scholar set up these verses on the screen:

"Dr. John Jegon, Bennet College Master,

Broke the scholars' heads, and gave the wall a plaister." To these the Doctor subscribed, extempore :

"Knew I the wag that made
These verses in a bravery,

I would commend him for his wit,
And whip him for his knavery."

BISHOP KENNET'S MSS.

VOLTAIRE AND POPE.

"VOLTAIRE, when in London, was very in

timate with Pope: he was familiar at his table,

« PreviousContinue »