150 THE FAMILY OF (/BORE. 



As far around as moderate eye could ken, 



But I'm mistaking here, for there was ONE 

 One other, and there dwelt Sir Carolan 

 A valiant childe a perfect gentleman. 



Gallant he was, 'twould have been his delight 

 (Although the lady might a perfect drab be) 



With rapier or broad sword to requite 



Such conduct towards a woman 'twas so shabby I 



He would, I make no doubt, have pink'd the knight, 

 And pickled him, and sent him home to th' abbey, 



Were it not for a curious codicil, 



Tacked by his Father to his latest will, 



Leaving his son Sir Carolan sole heir 

 To a huge castle, compass'd by a ditch 



To keep out those who had no business there 

 Besides some fourteen hundred roods of rich 



Pasture and tillage land, fenc'd in with care ; 

 Also a grouse mountain, attach'd to which 



Was an extensive bog, where snipes were plenty, 



And big, black turf (in clamp*), enough for twenty ' 



It was a rich bequest : " I scarcely know," 

 Said th' auctioneer who sold it, " whether I 



Ought greater praise upon the lot bestow 

 As a mere mine of viealth to those who buy, 



Or as a second Paradise below, 

 Pleasure and profit in it do so vie ; 



In fact, Sirs, justice never can be done 



To th' arduous subject I now enter on!" 



But I have neither time nor inclination 

 (Begging the pardon of the auctioneer) 



To follow him through a two-hours' oration, 

 With which he ushered in the sale, I hear ; 



Besides, the reader upon this occasion 



Can learn the substance of his words elsewhere 



You will gain a good idea of the contents 



By reading Robins's advertisements. 



'Twas knock'd down to our hero's sire ; and he, 

 When dying, left it to his only son ; 



But in the codicil unhappily, 



Made a proviso (what strange things are done 



By old men going to eternity !) 

 That the said Carolan should marry one 



Of th' old Knight's daughters, willing or unwilling, 



On pain of being cut off with a shilling. 



I know not what his motive could have been 

 For acting so, as nought about it is stated 



In any of the documents I've seen, 



Excepting one MS. where 'tis narrated 



The parties were old friends : moreo'er I ween, 

 He might have wish'd his son to be related 



To one of such high blood as was O'Bore 



The representative of Kings of yore. 



* The piles of dried turf, used in Ireland for fuel, are :allrd clamps. 



