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VIII. Bryan the Blacksmith.

Where does Bryan the blacksmith live? It is nearly a mile off. Turn to the left hand, at the next house, and go down the little lane.

I was told that his house was at the cross roads.

His shop is there; but I was in his shop just now, and he is not in it. I enquired at the cross house, for I thought that he might be there getting his drop in the morning, and he had not been there to day; but I know that he was late enough there last night.

And where is his own house, say you

?

He has neither house nor land, but lives in the house of his mother-in-law. You will go down that little lane, as I told you before, till you come to the ford; look then on your right hand, and you will find a path along-side the hedge of an old orchard full of briars and weeds.

As you go over, by the river's side, under the shade of the trees, you will see before you a great long old house with bad thatch, and green ivy growing to the tops of the two gables.

I imagine you will find Bryan in bed this morning.

I know not what I had best do.

Your horse seems to be lame.

Could I find some place to put him into, and a boy to go for the smith.

Geaba

Gheaba tu stabla, aige na ceitre bealaig.

Acd is fearr dam fèin a dol leat; oir is doilig an fear sin a dusgad, no a cur a gcionn oibre air maidin.

Ma tig tu liom, beid me buideać duit.

Beid me leat gan
Deanam, anois.

moill.

An bfuil bean ag an gaba sin?

An è Brian? Go deimin ata bean, agus triur garlac aige, fan teallac, ag an baintreabuig boct sin sios. Rit se air siubal le girseaċ beag, naċ raib os cionn cùig mbliadain dèag, ingean na mna sin.

An bfuil si bfad na baintrea baig?

Ta se naoi mbliadna o deag a fear.

Agus ba duine daonda, deigbeasaiċ esean; mòr measamuil amuig, s'ambaile.

An raib moran fearainn, no maoin aige?

Bhi fearann saor, agus saidbreas go leor aige. Is coimin liomsa tigearna na haitese mile ponta d'faġail air iasaċt uad. Dar ndoiġ go dtug se cùig cèad ponta, do ċrod, leis an ingin ba sine.

An bfuil tu dearbta go dtug se an uirid sin? Dearbta? Ta me làn dearbta go bfuair a Boulterac cùig céad uad, ma bi se na muinin.

Cia he an Boulterać?

Caiptin Boulter. Naċ gcuala tu umrad air an duine uasal, a d'fogair contrac air a Chrom suileać?

Ni cuimineaċ liom go gcuala me ariaṁ iomrad air ċeactar aca.

Is doig liom go gcuala tu fan loing da ngoirti an Boulter, a caillead fa cuantaib ċuan na mara, ag teact o port na ngall.

Ca raib a triall?
Triall go Doire.
Nac fada sin o soin?

I think

You will find a stable at the four roads.

But I had better go with you, for it is hard to awaken that fellow, or set him to work in the morning.

If you come with me I shall be obliged to you.
I will be with you immediately.

Let us go now.

Has this smith a wife?

Is it Bryan? Indeed he has a wife and three children about the hearth, with that poor widow below there. He ran away with a little girl not more than fifteen years old, the daughter of that

woman.

Has she been long a widow ?

It is nine years since her husband died.

And he was a humane, moral man, much respected abroad and at home.

Had he much land or substance?

He had cheap land and wealth enough. I remember the landlord of this country to borrow a thousand pounds from him. I am convinced that he gave five hundred pounds as a portion with his eldest daughter.

Are you sure that he gave so much?

Sure? I am full sure that Boulter got five hundred from him, if not more.

Who is Boulter ?

Captain Boulter. Did you never hear of the gentleman that challenged Cromwell to fight a duel?

I do not recollect that I ever heard of either of them.

I suppose you have heard of the ship called the Boulter, that was lost on the coast of Connemara, coming from Portugal.

For what place was she bound?

For Derry.

Is not that long since?

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Saoilin

Saoilim go bfuil se tri bliadna dèag, ag teaċt na feil Micaele.

Is cumain liom è, go dearbta, is ceart mait agam air, oir do bi earrad agam fein ionnta.

Bhi, a deir tu? Dar m' firinne masead ba le. Caiptin Boulter an sguib sin.

Is iongad liom sin; oir connaire mise an caiptin, agus togar dam gur Preston a bi air.

Ta tu ceart go leor; oir dob è Preston an caiptin loingsioract; acd ba le Boulter an seilb dilis; oir bi se fein sna h India soir, an uair a brisead i.

Acd go de seol an caiptin a bealaċsa, ag iarraid mna?

Ni ann so a čas se uirrti, aċd a m Baile-at-cliat, ait a raib si air sgoil. Ba cailin geanamuil i, agus tug Boulter taitneam di.

Anndiaig brisead na luinge pòs se i; a nead?

A dtimcioll tri raite na diaiġ; fa lugnosa mo doig; ni raib se bfad ann Eirinn, deis a teact an Indía, anuair posad è

Car sloinnead atair a mna?

Do clainn Charta. Seamus mòr Mhac Carta, duine breag, maiseaċ, urrunta go deimin. Thainic se ann mo cuimne, com luat is connaire me do toirt, agus do gnuis, ag teact cum an doruis air maidin; oir nil tu neamċosmuil leis.

Bhi doig mait air, a deir tu?

Ba leis

Is air a bi slig mait airgiod a deanam. an muileann ud, a connairc tu, a gcois a loca, ag teaċt 'duit. Bhi deacuib na paraiste aige; agus ba glacadoir ciosa è don tigearna bi aguinn anallod.

An raib cios air bit air fèin ?

Bhi se faoid cail ciosa, fa talam na croise. Ma ta bi cios bonntaiste ag teact asteaċ ċuige.

Bhi da cëad nacra annso aig atair na baintreabuig, air leat cròin an acair; is leags air fead fasad feur uaitne,

I think

I think it is thirteen years at next Michaelmas.

I remember it indeed, and a good right I have, for I had goods myself in her.

You had, you say? Upon my truth then Boulter was the captain of that ship.

I think that strange, for I saw the captain, and I think his name was Preston.

You are right enough; for Preston was the sailing captain, but the ship belonged to Boulter; for he himself was in the East Indies when she was wrecked.

But what sent the captain this way, seeking a wife?

It was not here that he met her, but in Dublin, where she was at school. She was a handsome girl, and Boulter fell in love with her.

After the shipwreck he married her, was it not? About three quarters after it; about Lammas I think; he was not long in Ireland, after coming from India, when he was married.

Of what family was his wife's father?

Of the M'Carthys. Big James M'Carthy, a brave, clever, genteel man indeed. He came into my memory as soon as I saw your stature and your features, coming to the door this morning; for you are not unlike him.

He was prosperous, you say

?

He was in a good way of making money. He had that mill which you saw beside the lake, as you came. He had the tithes of the parish, and he was receiver of rent to our late landlord.

Had he any rent to pay himself?

He had to pay some rent for the lands of the Cross. But he had profit rent coming to him.

The widow's father had two hundred acres in this place, at half-a-crown an acre, and a lease of it while green grass grows.