LIFE IN IRELAND 215 



The Exciseman is wise, he can gauge the cask, 

 He is WICKED, because you can bribe him ; 



And whenever he goes on his greedy task, 

 The Devil is always beside him. 



The Devil flew back o'er the Curragh of Kildare, 

 Saying the throne of H — is a prize, man ; 



And if I don't haste through the murky air, 

 I will find it fill'd by an Exciseman. 



If once he has fiU'd it, for ever I \\\ gone, 



He never ejected can flee ; 

 For ever he '11 reign on the Devil's throne, 



And the Devil an Exciseman must be. 



Old Sheelah stood at the cabin door, 



But within she in great surprise ran ; 

 For she saw the Devil pass over the Moor, 



In the garb of the Parish Exciseman. 



She swore the same to the Parish Priest, 



The Priest declar'd right free, 

 The Devil an Exciseman must be at least, 



An Exciseman — the Devil must be. 



The jovial good humour with which poor Swan gave 

 this song against himself, interested both Blake and 

 Brian — they found him a fellow of 



' Infinite mirth and excellent fancy'; 



and in their own minds determined to bring him from 

 the dreary confines of a gaol to the light of Heaven, 

 and Freedom. The glass went cheerily round, and 

 the SOUNDING-BOARDS of a Theatre never gave a finer 

 echo than the vaulted dome of the Sheriff's Cell and 

 its extended gallery. 



END OF CHAPTER XVIII. 



