Legendary fictions of the Irish Celts

Ossianic and other Early Legends. 249
into a passion. " Go," says he to the butler, " and put
the guards into the dungeon, for lettin' me be disturbed
at my break'ast, and bid the drummer give 'em thirty
lashes apiece wud the cat-o'-noine-tails. What brings
you here, you unfortunate ould sinner?" says he to the
poor woman, that was sitten' an her heels, and pulliluin'
fit to blow the roof off o' the house.
" Oh, plase your noble majesty," says she, " don't take
Thigueen from me. If you do, who'll I have to wake
and bury me dacent?" "An' who is Thigueen?" says
he; "an' what have I to say to him?" "Oh, an' isn't
he the unfortunate disciple that's to clip your majesty
to-morrow, an' sure after that I'll never see him again."
" Call the butler here," says the king to the little page.
" Plaze your majesty, he's gone to see the floggin'." " It
doesn't plaze my majesty, I tell you, for him to take the
liberty. Call the footman." " Sir, he's gone to mind the
butler." " Well, then, tundher and turf ! call the coachman."
" Sir, he said he'd go have an eye on the other
two, for fraid they'd go look at any one dhrinkin'."
" Well, then, call in the guards." " Oh, sure, they're all
gettin' the floggin'." " Cead millia mollaghart—Oh, tat-
theration to yez all ; isn't this the purty way I'm circumvented
! Begone, you oul' thief," says he to the poor
woman, " since I can't give you the chastisement you
desarve. You'll get your paustha (boy) back safe an'
sound ; but if ever I lay eyes on you again, I'll have you
hung as high as Balffe or Gildheroy." * " Oh, may heavens
you
be your bed ! May all the sowls that ever left
" " Out o' my sight, you torment ! My break'ast
is spiled, an' 111 be all through other the whole day."
You may be sure the guards kep' an eye about 'em
next day, till the king was done his break'ast ; and then
the poor barber came in, like a dog with a kittle under
* The biography of these unlucky heroes loas to be found in the
once familiar school-book— " The Adventures of the Irish Rogues
and Rapparees." It has been a desideratum in our little collection
these thirty years. We cannot bear the sight of the modern edition.