^4 LIFE IN IRELAND 



The crowds assembled heard this, and rent the air 

 with cheers as His Majesty stepped on shore. Sir 

 Shawn seized one of his extended hands, and Brian 

 the other, and amidst the heartfelt applause of multi- 

 tudes he stepped into his coach and drove away. ' By 

 my soul!' said Brian Boru, 'and I am after pitying 

 all Dublin that is waiting on the Dunleary road for a 

 sight of the King; and how condescending for him to 

 land amongst us, and the devil a soldier to attend him.' 

 'No,' said Sir Shawn, 'he trusts in the well-known 

 loyalty of Irishmen's hearts. We are the King's friends, 

 and if we do quarrel amongst ourselves, it is not the 

 King's fault, who frequently says of old Ireland, that 

 she is truly noble, "for all her sons are brave, and all 

 her daughters virtuous.'" 



'You'll soon be a Major, Gram,' said Brian, 'and 

 drink the King's health in a brevet bumper.' 



' Major be crucified, for what I care ! I want no pro- 

 motion ; I have my pension, my half-pay, and my 

 wooden leg to live upon. All the active sQxv'ice I can 

 do my King must be wid my tongue, and by this drop 

 of whiskey that goes over it I swear, it shall wag in his 

 praise till the sense of .fw^///>/a- has quitted my mouth 

 for ever.' 



'Well said, my hearty!' returned Brian Boru ; 'I 

 was only in jest. I am well assured you want' no 

 stimulus to make you loyal, nor do you want any pro- 

 motion ; and I '11 tell thee, friend Gram, whilst there 

 is a bit of timber on my estates in Galway, thou shalt 

 never want a wooden leg to support thee upright, or 

 an Irishman's hand with a purse in it to supply thy 

 necessities.' 



