Rash Intrusion into an Irish Kitchen. 321 



had waited so long for dinner that our patience 

 became exhausted, and at length I ventured 

 into the kitchen : this was an inconsiderate act 

 of rashness, and I paid severely for my temerity. 

 Nausea is a speedy cure for the cravings of 

 hunger. My incautious intrusion on the pre- 

 cincts of the cook effectually subdued every 

 feeling of appetite for the dainties which at 

 length were produced. A French kitchen is 

 thoroughly disgusting; but then the viands 

 from it are in general palatable. These how- 

 ever are but trifling grievances, especially after 

 dinner ; yet such in reality are the major part 

 of those which are suffered to embitter life. 

 Happy are those who can laugh them away ! 



Moryson, speaking of the Irish way of living 

 in his time, says, " Neither had they any beere 

 made of malt or hoppes, nor yet any ale ; no, 

 not chief lords, except it be very rarely ; but 

 they drink a milk-like nectar, warmed with a 

 stone first cast into the fire, or else beefe broath 

 mingled with meate ; but when they come to 

 any market-town, to sell a cow or horse, they 

 never return home till they have drank the 

 price in Spanish wine (which they call the King 

 of Spam's daughter), or, in Irish, Usquebagh, 

 and till they have out-sleepet two or three daies 



VOL. i, y 



