Eccentricity: a novel. In three volumes. By Mrs. Mac Nally.
Author Details
Surname:MacNally
First Names:Louisa
Gender:Female
Anonymous:No
Publication Details
Publisher:Printed at the Hibernia Press Office, 1, Temple Lane, for J. Cumming, 16, Lower Ormond Quay; and Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme, and Brown, London.
Place:Dublin
Date:1820
Novel Details
Genre:Courtship; inheritance; humour; social sommentary
Setting:Lancashire; Wicklow, Ireland
Period:Contemporary
Plot
The novel opens in the home of Sir Charles Selwin (a mansion in Woodville, Lancashire), where his cousin, Frederick, is convalescing after a bout of fever. The focus changes to Ireland, before returning.
There are lots of very complicated sets of parents and children. Chiefly, Sir Philip Seymour loses his wife and baby son. He then retreats to Scotland and ignores his young daughter, Augusta, while she grows up until when she is nineteen and he suddenly desires to see her. She has a close friend, Sophia Meredith, whose mother brings up Augusta as her own daughter. Frederick Morley is a young man from Ireland who has had a serious fever and is just recovering. Edmund Meredith is a friend of Frederick's who also lives in Ireland. Frederick has a sister, Isabella, whom he feels responsible for marrying off successfully, which he does to a Colonel.
Eventually Sir Phillip kidnaps his own daughter but gets the wrong girl: the by-now married and pregnant Sophia rather than Augusta. He returns her and eventually is reconciled with his daughter. He hopes to marry her to a Duke but she eventually marries Frederick. All live happily at the end.
There is quite a lot of comic material in Ireland forcusing around Cormac the overseer and the friend of a friend Miss Ally. All in all this lacks the clear narrative of many other novels from the period and is much more complex in the web of social relationships it depicts. Note that the preface places it as a novel of social commentary: "In the delineation of the rude, unpolished characters here introduced, the intention is to expose the wayward folly of a great portion of mankind, who possess an unbending insensibility to all the delicate and obliging observances of social life, and are so perfectly in conceit with the small portion of understanding allotted them, that, although unqualified to associate with the superior orders of society, accident, or their own of obtrusive habits, may frequently place them amongst persons of refined sentiments, distinguished manners, and exemplary conduct; yet they scorn to imbibe one reflective idea, even from the pure and sacred fountain of philosophy itself." [Preface ii-iii]
There are lots of very complicated sets of parents and children. Chiefly, Sir Philip Seymour loses his wife and baby son. He then retreats to Scotland and ignores his young daughter, Augusta, while she grows up until when she is nineteen and he suddenly desires to see her. She has a close friend, Sophia Meredith, whose mother brings up Augusta as her own daughter. Frederick Morley is a young man from Ireland who has had a serious fever and is just recovering. Edmund Meredith is a friend of Frederick's who also lives in Ireland. Frederick has a sister, Isabella, whom he feels responsible for marrying off successfully, which he does to a Colonel.
Eventually Sir Phillip kidnaps his own daughter but gets the wrong girl: the by-now married and pregnant Sophia rather than Augusta. He returns her and eventually is reconciled with his daughter. He hopes to marry her to a Duke but she eventually marries Frederick. All live happily at the end.
There is quite a lot of comic material in Ireland forcusing around Cormac the overseer and the friend of a friend Miss Ally. All in all this lacks the clear narrative of many other novels from the period and is much more complex in the web of social relationships it depicts. Note that the preface places it as a novel of social commentary: "In the delineation of the rude, unpolished characters here introduced, the intention is to expose the wayward folly of a great portion of mankind, who possess an unbending insensibility to all the delicate and obliging observances of social life, and are so perfectly in conceit with the small portion of understanding allotted them, that, although unqualified to associate with the superior orders of society, accident, or their own of obtrusive habits, may frequently place them amongst persons of refined sentiments, distinguished manners, and exemplary conduct; yet they scorn to imbibe one reflective idea, even from the pure and sacred fountain of philosophy itself." [Preface ii-iii]
Overview of the Dialect
The comic Irish characters speak quite extensively and there is a lot of detail in the depiction of them. Miss Ally is talkative and annoying but Cormac is a very sympathetic Irish English speaking character. It is not recorded here because there is not a lot of direct speech, but there is an interesting pedagogical scene between an Irish schoolmaster and his pupils at the end of Volume 2 (309ff).
Speaker #1:Miss Lannigan - Sister of Mr Lannigan, part of polite society, rather masculine young lady - 'buck Lannigan'
Individual or Group:Individual
Primary Identity:Miss Lannigan
Gender:Female
Age:Adult - young
Narrative Voice:3rd person
Role:Minor
Dialect Features:Grammar, Idiom, Metalanguage, Orthographical Contraction, Vocabulary
Social Role
Social Role Description:Sister of Mr Lannigan, part of polite society, rather masculine young lady - 'buck Lannigan'
Social Role Category:Aristocracy or gentry
Speaker's Origin
Place of Origin Description:Ireland
Place of Origin Category:Annadale, Wicklow, East Ireland, Ireland
Speakers: All , Miss Lannigan
"Have you nothing better to do this fine day," cried she, laughing loud enough to deafen her own horse, "than to be daubing of butterflies; what a plague o' the world it is," she vociferated as she flung the picture on the ground, "for people to be fagging themselves over such stuff as this: oh, meelagh murther! for to be croanauning and croaking, when it would be better all to nothing if you had been scampering after the live creatures themselves all the summer back, or them moths , or seven sleepers, that ould Mr. Curtis had all the gossoons hunting after for the bare life, but the more ummudawns ,* were they for that same said I, but for an ogawnagh * like you who have nothing better for to be doing , you're the very one to make after em ; troth my lad you'd soon be as brisk as barm ."
*An Idiot.
* A half-witted person.
But still finding that he remained silent, and shewed no inclination to profit by her admonitions, she cast on him a look of contempt in her turn, crying out.
"Never abit if I don't think you are fairy struck young man; I'll bet a wager the good people have been with you, Jemmy," cried she, calling across the room in her loudest tone, " Isn't there one at the forge below has a charm for the like?"
(Vol. 1,p. 174-175)*An Idiot.
* A half-witted person.
But still finding that he remained silent, and shewed no inclination to profit by her admonitions, she cast on him a look of contempt in her turn, crying out.
"Never abit if I don't think you are fairy struck young man; I'll bet a wager the good people have been with you, Jemmy," cried she, calling across the room in her loudest tone, " Isn't there one at the forge below has a charm for the like?"
Speaker #2:Cormac - Frederick's overseer
Individual or Group:Individual
Primary Identity:Cormac
Gender:Mixed
Age:Adult - unspecified age
Narrative Voice:3rd person
Role:Minor
Dialect Features:Discourse Marker, Grammar, Idiom, Metalanguage, Orthographical Contraction, Orthographical Respelling, Vocabulary
Social Role
Social Role Description:Frederick's overseer
Social Role Category:Servant
Speaker's Origin
Place of Origin Description:Ireland
Place of Origin Category:Annadale, Wicklow, East Ireland, Ireland
Extract #1 dialect features: Discourse Marker, Grammar, Idiom, Orthographical Contraction, Orthographical Respelling, Vocabulary
"I wanted to speak to your honour about that lase ."
"What lease?" inquired Frederick.
"That little bit o' ground I was going for to take from the lord; so I thought best to cum to your honour, as see me done fairly by; I was up at the great house yesterday in the forenoon, and for the matter o' that I might as will have stid with the workmen at the marl-hole, and so Jude tould me whin I cum back."
"Oh, you have been already at Spring Grove," said Frederick.
"Oh thin I was sure enough; I and the boy; whin we cum to the house, the man shun myself and Onieen into a parlour like ; where we sot long enough -- as to be sure we well might, not being quolity ; but after we sot till myself was fairly tired, what shud we see shouldering his ways towards the boy, but a green magpye."
"A green magpye!" exclaimed Sir Edmund.
"Hush!" cried Harriet, "you will spoil the story."
Cormac continued -- "first it cum'd this a way, and thin it went that a way, crying purty Poll, or some such -- " cum hoame father, siz the boy;" and never fear Onieen siz I clubbing my whip, and facing about to the magpye; whin all of a suddin he tuk himself off body and bones to a sittle there was in it, and clawed up to a hapsicol that was convanient ; and what do you think but he pled Lufly Nancy as plain as iver ye hard ."
(Vol. 1,p. 219-221)"What lease?" inquired Frederick.
"That little bit o' ground I was going for to take from the lord; so I thought best to cum to your honour, as see me done fairly by; I was up at the great house yesterday in the forenoon, and for the matter o' that I might as will have stid with the workmen at the marl-hole, and so Jude tould me whin I cum back."
"Oh, you have been already at Spring Grove," said Frederick.
"Oh thin I was sure enough; I and the boy; whin we cum to the house, the man shun myself and Onieen into a parlour like ; where we sot long enough -- as to be sure we well might, not being quolity ; but after we sot till myself was fairly tired, what shud we see shouldering his ways towards the boy, but a green magpye."
"A green magpye!" exclaimed Sir Edmund.
"Hush!" cried Harriet, "you will spoil the story."
Cormac continued -- "first it cum'd this a way, and thin it went that a way, crying purty Poll, or some such -- " cum hoame father, siz the boy;" and never fear Onieen siz I clubbing my whip, and facing about to the magpye; whin all of a suddin he tuk himself off body and bones to a sittle there was in it, and clawed up to a hapsicol that was convanient ; and what do you think but he pled Lufly Nancy as plain as iver ye hard ."
Extract #2 dialect features: Discourse Marker, Grammar, Metalanguage, Orthographical Contraction, Orthographical Respelling, Vocabulary
Cormac was retreating towards the door, when stopping half way and turning again to Frederick -- "It's like," said he, "your honour has hard about the light."
"What light?" inquired Frederick."
"Oh, then it is myself that see it ," answered he with a look of alarm, "and Jem Cormac, a brother of mine, please your honour, we did see it the very day after Tim Farrell died; we stid later at the work then the rist of the min , making up that fince at Andy Nowlan's gap; it was at the heel of the evening coming hoame , please your honour: why then Jem, says I , what's that? hin we both looked before us, and what should we see but a light for all the world as if the flame of a candle* was burning blew . I'd often hard of the like, but never seen it till that blessed hour; and that I niver may again while there's brith in my body! -- But to make my story short, as Jem and I was trying for to guiss the maining of it, we see that it was coming fairly out of Tim Farrel's door -- that was , you know , your honour. Wid that we follyed it as close as we well could , being rather shy to ventur too near for feard of going athwart it, whin it crassed into the road, and wint all along by Paddy Murphy's field, and straight on to the widow Gilligan's , where it halted op- pos site the door while ye's be taking three whiffs of tobacky ; and off it goes again, and niver cracked cry till it cum to the fut of the hill, whin it stud again just for a breathing ."
* Sullus curp . Corpse' light, or death omen.
(Vol. 2,p. 262-263)"What light?" inquired Frederick."
"Oh, then it is myself that see it ," answered he with a look of alarm, "and Jem Cormac, a brother of mine, please your honour, we did see it the very day after Tim Farrell died; we stid later at the work then the rist of the min , making up that fince at Andy Nowlan's gap; it was at the heel of the evening coming hoame , please your honour: why then Jem, says I , what's that? hin we both looked before us, and what should we see but a light for all the world as if the flame of a candle* was burning blew . I'd often hard of the like, but never seen it till that blessed hour; and that I niver may again while there's brith in my body! -- But to make my story short, as Jem and I was trying for to guiss the maining of it, we see that it was coming fairly out of Tim Farrel's door -- that was , you know , your honour. Wid that we follyed it as close as we well could , being rather shy to ventur too near for feard of going athwart it, whin it crassed into the road, and wint all along by Paddy Murphy's field, and straight on to the widow Gilligan's , where it halted op- pos site the door while ye's be taking three whiffs of tobacky ; and off it goes again, and niver cracked cry till it cum to the fut of the hill, whin it stud again just for a breathing ."
* Sullus curp . Corpse' light, or death omen.
Extract #3 dialect features: Discourse Marker, Grammar, Orthographical Contraction, Orthographical Respelling, Vocabulary
As Cormac, Frederick's overseer, was returning from a neighbouring village one fine spring morning, he saw advancing towards him, in a quickened pace, a sprightly-looking, handsome youth.
"The very tread of the master," thought he, "before he tuk to grief and malancholy . Oh! thin is'nt it the sorrow of the world, that iver he mit with that heart-scald , that fairly tuk the life out of him."
"Which is the way to Annadale my good friend?" inquired the young stranger, "and how far distant do you suppose it to be?"
"It is every stip of three miles, your honour, barring you go the short cut." The stranger then informed him, it was exactly what he wished to do, and requested he would be his guide.
"Oh, then its myself that will, avoureen , and if it is Mr. Morley your honour is after wanting , ye couldn't have hit upon a better one then Pat Cormac to do that for ye , as me and mine has lived under him this aighty years and upwards, and rist his soul that's dead -- that's the father, ye wouldn't meet a more portly man from this to Cork; the more's the pity! -- It was the parish that had the loss in him -- and sure is'nt the master the very moral of him? truth they're as like as two apples, so they are . And as to himself and the mistress, and his reverence, and Miss Isabella, there's not their sort in these parts."
(Vol. 1,p. 183-184)"The very tread of the master," thought he, "before he tuk to grief and malancholy . Oh! thin is'nt it the sorrow of the world, that iver he mit with that heart-scald , that fairly tuk the life out of him."
"Which is the way to Annadale my good friend?" inquired the young stranger, "and how far distant do you suppose it to be?"
"It is every stip of three miles, your honour, barring you go the short cut." The stranger then informed him, it was exactly what he wished to do, and requested he would be his guide.
"Oh, then its myself that will, avoureen , and if it is Mr. Morley your honour is after wanting , ye couldn't have hit upon a better one then Pat Cormac to do that for ye , as me and mine has lived under him this aighty years and upwards, and rist his soul that's dead -- that's the father, ye wouldn't meet a more portly man from this to Cork; the more's the pity! -- It was the parish that had the loss in him -- and sure is'nt the master the very moral of him? truth they're as like as two apples, so they are . And as to himself and the mistress, and his reverence, and Miss Isabella, there's not their sort in these parts."
Extract #4 dialect features: Discourse Marker, Grammar, Idiom, Metalanguage, Orthographical Contraction, Vocabulary
As they came within view of a cottage inhabited by the tenant of a gentleman, they perceived a young man, evidently a labourer, standing outside the door; his fine sun-burnt countenance seemed flushed with anger, he kept his arms folded, and his person erect, as if that attitude added strength to his mind, whilst he listened to the loud haranguing of a female within, who afterwards proved to be his wife. "What do ye stand there for, like the post of a gate" cried the wife, in a sharp and querulous tone.
"And what are ye aggravating for?" retorted the indignant husband, " it's when ye're tired ye'll stop."
The gentlemen would willingly have escaped being witness to this unpleasant altercation, but this they had no means of avoiding; they crossed to the other side of the road, but the shrill sounds of the woman's voice caused every word she uttered to be distinctly heard.
"I was a decent girl before I seen ye ;" cried she, "and wasn't fit for the likes of ye at all, at all : myself thought too bad o' the carding, and spinning, and reeling, at home at the mills; and I thought, so I did , if once't I was married, as how I could rest my bones , instead of toiling and moiling this way from cock-crow in the morning till the hens go to roost."
"I wish the jaw bones of ye were rested, with a witness," muttered the irritated husband, but in too low a voice to be heard by the agitated rib.
Her tones now rose in proportion to her anger, and nearly amounted to a scream.
"I had good shoes and stockings to my feet; -- do ye hear that? yes I had; do ye hear that? and coats to put on my back, and cloaks too, so I had; -- do ye hear that?"
Not being able to provoke a return from her husband, who stood as philosophically patient as Socrates when assailed by the garrulous weapon, ycleped the tongue of Xantippe. She then proceeded -- " ye'd make a cabbage fight, so ye would." And then an hysterical screech was followed by several others, she being at a loss for words to express her rage.
This gentle female at length made her appearance at the door, holding up a fine infant, which she each moment flung up towards the face of the happy husband, crying out "Kill the child! -- do, do, do! Kill the child -- do, do, do! Kill the child! -- do!"
At this instant the general champion, Cormac, sprung over the hedge with the agility of a grey-hound, and snatched the babe from the arms of its enraged mother, crying out, "My corn-crake in the field, and my lark in the morning, did I save ye ! Why then, moc macorshaugh , it is well but I lost ye !"
*Neighbour's son.
(Vol. 2,p. 74-77)"And what are ye aggravating for?" retorted the indignant husband, " it's when ye're tired ye'll stop."
The gentlemen would willingly have escaped being witness to this unpleasant altercation, but this they had no means of avoiding; they crossed to the other side of the road, but the shrill sounds of the woman's voice caused every word she uttered to be distinctly heard.
"I was a decent girl before I seen ye ;" cried she, "and wasn't fit for the likes of ye at all, at all : myself thought too bad o' the carding, and spinning, and reeling, at home at the mills; and I thought, so I did , if once't I was married, as how I could rest my bones , instead of toiling and moiling this way from cock-crow in the morning till the hens go to roost."
"I wish the jaw bones of ye were rested, with a witness," muttered the irritated husband, but in too low a voice to be heard by the agitated rib.
Her tones now rose in proportion to her anger, and nearly amounted to a scream.
"I had good shoes and stockings to my feet; -- do ye hear that? yes I had; do ye hear that? and coats to put on my back, and cloaks too, so I had; -- do ye hear that?"
Not being able to provoke a return from her husband, who stood as philosophically patient as Socrates when assailed by the garrulous weapon, ycleped the tongue of Xantippe. She then proceeded -- " ye'd make a cabbage fight, so ye would." And then an hysterical screech was followed by several others, she being at a loss for words to express her rage.
This gentle female at length made her appearance at the door, holding up a fine infant, which she each moment flung up towards the face of the happy husband, crying out "Kill the child! -- do, do, do! Kill the child -- do, do, do! Kill the child! -- do!"
At this instant the general champion, Cormac, sprung over the hedge with the agility of a grey-hound, and snatched the babe from the arms of its enraged mother, crying out, "My corn-crake in the field, and my lark in the morning, did I save ye ! Why then, moc macorshaugh , it is well but I lost ye !"
*Neighbour's son.
Speaker #3:Labourer - Labourer
Individual or Group:Individual
Primary Identity:Labourer
Gender:Male
Age:Adult - unspecified age
Narrative Voice:3rd person
Role:Minor
Dialect Features:Discourse Marker, Grammar, Idiom, Metalanguage, Orthographical Contraction, Vocabulary
Social Role
Social Role Description:Labourer
Social Role Category:Respectable poor
Speaker's Origin
Place of Origin Description:Ireland
Place of Origin Category:Annadale, Wicklow, East Ireland, Ireland
Extract #1 dialect features: Discourse Marker, Grammar, Idiom, Metalanguage, Orthographical Contraction, Vocabulary
As they came within view of a cottage inhabited by the tenant of a gentleman, they perceived a young man, evidently a labourer, standing outside the door; his fine sun-burnt countenance seemed flushed with anger, he kept his arms folded, and his person erect, as if that attitude added strength to his mind, whilst he listened to the loud haranguing of a female within, who afterwards proved to be his wife. "What do ye stand there for, like the post of a gate" cried the wife, in a sharp and querulous tone.
"And what are ye aggravating for?" retorted the indignant husband, " it's when ye're tired ye'll stop."
The gentlemen would willingly have escaped being witness to this unpleasant altercation, but this they had no means of avoiding; they crossed to the other side of the road, but the shrill sounds of the woman's voice caused every word she uttered to be distinctly heard.
"I was a decent girl before I seen ye ;" cried she, "and wasn't fit for the likes of ye at all, at all : myself thought too bad o' the carding, and spinning, and reeling, at home at the mills; and I thought, so I did , if once't I was married, as how I could rest my bones , instead of toiling and moiling this way from cock-crow in the morning till the hens go to roost."
"I wish the jaw bones of ye were rested, with a witness," muttered the irritated husband, but in too low a voice to be heard by the agitated rib.
Her tones now rose in proportion to her anger, and nearly amounted to a scream.
"I had good shoes and stockings to my feet; -- do ye hear that? yes I had; do ye hear that? and coats to put on my back, and cloaks too, so I had; -- do ye hear that?"
Not being able to provoke a return from her husband, who stood as philosophically patient as Socrates when assailed by the garrulous weapon, ycleped the tongue of Xantippe. She then proceeded -- " ye'd make a cabbage fight, so ye would." And then an hysterical screech was followed by several others, she being at a loss for words to express her rage.
This gentle female at length made her appearance at the door, holding up a fine infant, which she each moment flung up towards the face of the happy husband, crying out "Kill the child! -- do, do, do! Kill the child -- do, do, do! Kill the child! -- do!"
At this instant the general champion, Cormac, sprung over the hedge with the agility of a grey-hound, and snatched the babe from the arms of its enraged mother, crying out, "My corn-crake in the field, and my lark in the morning, did I save ye ! Why then, moc macorshaugh , it is well but I lost ye !"
*Neighbour's son.
(Vol. 2,p. 74-77)"And what are ye aggravating for?" retorted the indignant husband, " it's when ye're tired ye'll stop."
The gentlemen would willingly have escaped being witness to this unpleasant altercation, but this they had no means of avoiding; they crossed to the other side of the road, but the shrill sounds of the woman's voice caused every word she uttered to be distinctly heard.
"I was a decent girl before I seen ye ;" cried she, "and wasn't fit for the likes of ye at all, at all : myself thought too bad o' the carding, and spinning, and reeling, at home at the mills; and I thought, so I did , if once't I was married, as how I could rest my bones , instead of toiling and moiling this way from cock-crow in the morning till the hens go to roost."
"I wish the jaw bones of ye were rested, with a witness," muttered the irritated husband, but in too low a voice to be heard by the agitated rib.
Her tones now rose in proportion to her anger, and nearly amounted to a scream.
"I had good shoes and stockings to my feet; -- do ye hear that? yes I had; do ye hear that? and coats to put on my back, and cloaks too, so I had; -- do ye hear that?"
Not being able to provoke a return from her husband, who stood as philosophically patient as Socrates when assailed by the garrulous weapon, ycleped the tongue of Xantippe. She then proceeded -- " ye'd make a cabbage fight, so ye would." And then an hysterical screech was followed by several others, she being at a loss for words to express her rage.
This gentle female at length made her appearance at the door, holding up a fine infant, which she each moment flung up towards the face of the happy husband, crying out "Kill the child! -- do, do, do! Kill the child -- do, do, do! Kill the child! -- do!"
At this instant the general champion, Cormac, sprung over the hedge with the agility of a grey-hound, and snatched the babe from the arms of its enraged mother, crying out, "My corn-crake in the field, and my lark in the morning, did I save ye ! Why then, moc macorshaugh , it is well but I lost ye !"
*Neighbour's son.
Speaker #4:Wife of labourer - Wife of labourer
Individual or Group:Individual
Primary Identity:Wife of labourer
Gender:Female
Age:Adult - unspecified age
Narrative Voice:3rd person
Role:Minor
Dialect Features:Discourse Marker, Grammar, Idiom, Metalanguage, Orthographical Contraction, Vocabulary
Social Role
Social Role Description:Wife of labourer
Social Role Category:Respectable poor
Speaker's Origin
Place of Origin Description:Ireland
Place of Origin Category:Annadale, Wicklow, East Ireland, Ireland
Extract #1 dialect features: Discourse Marker, Grammar, Idiom, Metalanguage, Orthographical Contraction, Vocabulary
As they came within view of a cottage inhabited by the tenant of a gentleman, they perceived a young man, evidently a labourer, standing outside the door; his fine sun-burnt countenance seemed flushed with anger, he kept his arms folded, and his person erect, as if that attitude added strength to his mind, whilst he listened to the loud haranguing of a female within, who afterwards proved to be his wife. "What do ye stand there for, like the post of a gate" cried the wife, in a sharp and querulous tone.
"And what are ye aggravating for?" retorted the indignant husband, " it's when ye're tired ye'll stop."
The gentlemen would willingly have escaped being witness to this unpleasant altercation, but this they had no means of avoiding; they crossed to the other side of the road, but the shrill sounds of the woman's voice caused every word she uttered to be distinctly heard.
"I was a decent girl before I seen ye ;" cried she, "and wasn't fit for the likes of ye at all, at all : myself thought too bad o' the carding, and spinning, and reeling, at home at the mills; and I thought, so I did , if once't I was married, as how I could rest my bones , instead of toiling and moiling this way from cock-crow in the morning till the hens go to roost."
"I wish the jaw bones of ye were rested, with a witness," muttered the irritated husband, but in too low a voice to be heard by the agitated rib.
Her tones now rose in proportion to her anger, and nearly amounted to a scream.
"I had good shoes and stockings to my feet; -- do ye hear that? yes I had; do ye hear that? and coats to put on my back, and cloaks too, so I had; -- do ye hear that?"
Not being able to provoke a return from her husband, who stood as philosophically patient as Socrates when assailed by the garrulous weapon, ycleped the tongue of Xantippe. She then proceeded -- " ye'd make a cabbage fight, so ye would." And then an hysterical screech was followed by several others, she being at a loss for words to express her rage.
This gentle female at length made her appearance at the door, holding up a fine infant, which she each moment flung up towards the face of the happy husband, crying out "Kill the child! -- do, do, do! Kill the child -- do, do, do! Kill the child! -- do!"
At this instant the general champion, Cormac, sprung over the hedge with the agility of a grey-hound, and snatched the babe from the arms of its enraged mother, crying out, "My corn-crake in the field, and my lark in the morning, did I save ye ! Why then, moc macorshaugh , it is well but I lost ye !"
*Neighbour's son.
(Vol. 2,p. 74-77)"And what are ye aggravating for?" retorted the indignant husband, " it's when ye're tired ye'll stop."
The gentlemen would willingly have escaped being witness to this unpleasant altercation, but this they had no means of avoiding; they crossed to the other side of the road, but the shrill sounds of the woman's voice caused every word she uttered to be distinctly heard.
"I was a decent girl before I seen ye ;" cried she, "and wasn't fit for the likes of ye at all, at all : myself thought too bad o' the carding, and spinning, and reeling, at home at the mills; and I thought, so I did , if once't I was married, as how I could rest my bones , instead of toiling and moiling this way from cock-crow in the morning till the hens go to roost."
"I wish the jaw bones of ye were rested, with a witness," muttered the irritated husband, but in too low a voice to be heard by the agitated rib.
Her tones now rose in proportion to her anger, and nearly amounted to a scream.
"I had good shoes and stockings to my feet; -- do ye hear that? yes I had; do ye hear that? and coats to put on my back, and cloaks too, so I had; -- do ye hear that?"
Not being able to provoke a return from her husband, who stood as philosophically patient as Socrates when assailed by the garrulous weapon, ycleped the tongue of Xantippe. She then proceeded -- " ye'd make a cabbage fight, so ye would." And then an hysterical screech was followed by several others, she being at a loss for words to express her rage.
This gentle female at length made her appearance at the door, holding up a fine infant, which she each moment flung up towards the face of the happy husband, crying out "Kill the child! -- do, do, do! Kill the child -- do, do, do! Kill the child! -- do!"
At this instant the general champion, Cormac, sprung over the hedge with the agility of a grey-hound, and snatched the babe from the arms of its enraged mother, crying out, "My corn-crake in the field, and my lark in the morning, did I save ye ! Why then, moc macorshaugh , it is well but I lost ye !"
*Neighbour's son.
Speaker #5:Mr. McManus - Local gentleman in Ireland
Individual or Group:Individual
Primary Identity:Mr. McManus
Gender:Male
Age:Adult - unspecified age
Narrative Voice:3rd person
Role:Significant
Dialect Features:Discourse Marker, Grammar, Idiom, Metalanguage, Orthographical Contraction, Orthographical Respelling, Vocabulary
Social Role
Social Role Description:Local gentleman in Ireland
Social Role Category:Aristocracy or gentry
Speaker's Origin
Place of Origin Description:Ireland
Place of Origin Category:Annadale, Wicklow, East Ireland, Ireland
Extract #1 dialect features: Discourse Marker, Idiom, Orthographical Contraction, Orthographical Respelling, Vocabulary
Speakers: All , Mr. McManus
" Wasn't that a quare trick, ma'am that lady played, to go off and leave house and home? -- By Jove it was!" cried he, answering for himself: "If I thought, ma'am," turning to her again, "that you were for going about that way, I'd be offering myself; plague on me but I would. But that's not your way, that's not your way! At any rate there's no great good comes of those runnings-away, no sinse in the vagary that I can see."
(Vol. 2,p. 116)Extract #2 dialect features: Discourse Marker, Idiom, Metalanguage, Orthographical Contraction, Orthographical Respelling, Vocabulary
Speakers: All , Mr. McManus
Emily's terrors were indescribable; her screams were loud and repeated, but unheard by any person who could come to her assistance, and disregarded by her gallant and his charioteer, who, without the slightest feeling for the evident agony of her mind, addressed her with the most mortifying coolness and vulgar sang froid , thus: "Why, my jewel, what are you setting up the pipes for? Sure sweety, we're going to thingumbob the couple-beggar over the water, as the gentry calls him; sure arn't you the only girl ever I loved; and only for that old cat, your mother, we needn't be going this way at all at all , but be buckled up snug and comfortable by any of them parsons in the neighbourhood." [...]
"Oh, yes, my darlant , to be sure , " cried McManus, "the never's a harm thinking will do you at all at all , isn't it better than to be screeching like a peacock up in a tree?"
(Vol. 2,p. 188-190)"Oh, yes, my darlant , to be sure , " cried McManus, "the never's a harm thinking will do you at all at all , isn't it better than to be screeching like a peacock up in a tree?"
Speakers: All , Mr. McManus
"No, indeed, ma'am," retorted McManus, " it's yourself that's mad, nobody can tell for what, but you may stay where you are like a wall-flower, for the ne'er a spark of them all will be coming to take you out of it. How cross them old cats can make themselves look, when the freak takes them," said McManus to a gentleman who was standing near, but could not comprehend who he meant, "If she'd any sense she'd leave that alone, if she wants the young fellows to be minding her; she was decent-looking enough in her time though; don't you think so, Sir?" continued he, "which of the sisters do you like the best?"
(Vol. 1,p. 310-311)Speaker #6:Miss Ally - Sister of McManus, I think
Individual or Group:Individual
Primary Identity:Miss Ally
Gender:Female
Age:Adult - unspecified age
Narrative Voice:3rd person
Role:Significant
Dialect Features:Discourse Marker, Grammar, Idiom, Metalanguage, Orthographical Contraction, Orthographical Respelling, Vocabulary
Social Role
Social Role Description:Sister of McManus, I think
Social Role Category:Aristocracy or gentry
Speaker's Origin
Place of Origin Description:Ireland
Place of Origin Category:Annadale, Wicklow, East Ireland, Ireland
Extract #1 dialect features: Metalanguage, Orthographical Contraction, Orthographical Respelling, Vocabulary
"May be," said Miss Ally, addressing Mrs. Morley, upon whose face there still remained a contemptuous smile, "you don't believe about the dead sod * neither; that if you folly that Jack o' the lanthron -- or as some call him, Will o' the wisp; and that if you put your foot on it, as certain sure as your alive the fairies can hoise you hither and thither, and wherever they like."
* Foad Murragh . -- the sod which covers the grave of an unbaptized infant.
(Vol. 2,p. 267)* Foad Murragh . -- the sod which covers the grave of an unbaptized infant.
"I don't know why you are talking about snow this sweltry evening, " retorted Miss Ally, wiping her face;" but turning to Dr. Sydney, "what else could it be with its gashly face all covered with fire , and a great white sheet upon it just as it come out of its peaceful grave; -- you'll not make a convent of me Doctor, although you're a Parson -- besure yourself of that."
"It would be a vain attempt to make a Neophyte of this lady, I perceive," said Sir Edmund, with an arch smile, and laying a particular emphasis upon the word. "No fight to be sure," exclaimed Miss Ally -- " who's wanting to fight?"
(Vol. 2,p. 275)"It would be a vain attempt to make a Neophyte of this lady, I perceive," said Sir Edmund, with an arch smile, and laying a particular emphasis upon the word. "No fight to be sure," exclaimed Miss Ally -- " who's wanting to fight?"
Extract #3 dialect features: Discourse Marker, Orthographical Contraction, Orthographical Respelling, Vocabulary
Upon the departure of Cormac, Miss Ally supported with vehemence, not perfectly feminine, the truth of what he had related, and declared she had known a power of families who were warned like by the Banshee and the Bowe -- and wasn't it Barney Faigan -- that was Donagh Faigan's son, that had the Linuaunshee follying him whever he went after sunset; -- and wasn't he a fair skillet going about the country, afeard to look at his own shadow; for sure wasn't Honor Hiffernan contracted to him? -- didn't father O'Kelly call them? -- and wasn't she dead o' the small pox five days after?" N.B speech marks do not open anywhere.
(Vol. 2,p. 265)Extract #4 dialect features: Discourse Marker, Grammar, Idiom, Orthographical Contraction, Orthographical Respelling, Vocabulary
she placed her with the greatest kindness in her own bed, and mixing some warm water with a small quanty of cordial, which she assured her shivering guest Pat had for himself of a could night, she administered to her the welcome draught, saying in an angry tone, "I wonder Miss, that be going so nigh them bulls ; it's not safe for ye gentlefolks for to be so fearless like , running betwixt their horns when ye hav'n't legs like us, poor slaves, to help yez to get out of their way set in case they shud make after ye ; and if ye are gored, why it is no more than ye desarve . What in the varsal world cum over ye Miss, to be clambering up into that long meadow whin ye seen that brute in it with his boord over his eyes; -- an ye must have been plagey nigh him, or the niver a' skin o' ye he could have seen at all, at all . -- Oh, it was the look o'the world whin he tassed ye , Miss, that he thrun ye into the ditch any way, it was a thousand marcies that he didn't gore ye up with his horns."
It was unusual with Miss Ally to remain so long an auditress, but she was for some time unable to articulate on account of the chattering of her teeth, and the chilled contraction of her jaws. But vital heat soon returned, and with it her power of utterance.
She exclaimed in a rage, "woman, do you think I had nothing for to do but to go to be horned; -- sure doesn't every one know that he was looking over the ditch at me without boards nor nothing over his great turmundious eyes."
"Oh, thin it's like it was another of the sort that flung ye to day, Miss, for the one that tassed ye tother morning has a boord acrass his eyes iver since, by rason o' the way he kilt ye ."
(Vol. 3,p. 123-125)It was unusual with Miss Ally to remain so long an auditress, but she was for some time unable to articulate on account of the chattering of her teeth, and the chilled contraction of her jaws. But vital heat soon returned, and with it her power of utterance.
She exclaimed in a rage, "woman, do you think I had nothing for to do but to go to be horned; -- sure doesn't every one know that he was looking over the ditch at me without boards nor nothing over his great turmundious eyes."
"Oh, thin it's like it was another of the sort that flung ye to day, Miss, for the one that tassed ye tother morning has a boord acrass his eyes iver since, by rason o' the way he kilt ye ."
Speaker #7:Jude Cormac - Wife of overseer
Individual or Group:Individual
Primary Identity:Mrs Cormac, Pat Cormac's wife
Gender:Female
Age:Adult - unspecified age
Narrative Voice:1st person
Role:Minor
Dialect Features:Discourse Marker, Grammar, Idiom, Orthographical Contraction, Orthographical Respelling, Vocabulary
Social Role
Social Role Description:Wife of overseer
Social Role Category:Servant
Speaker's Origin
Place of Origin Description:Ireland
Place of Origin Category:Annadale, Wicklow, East Ireland, Ireland
Extract #1 dialect features: Discourse Marker, Grammar, Orthographical Contraction, Orthographical Respelling, Vocabulary
Speakers: All , Jude Cormac
"See there," said Jude, turning to Rose, " ye would have it that she wasn't tassed , whin I tould ye she was, an ye wouldn't b'lieve a word of all I said; sure , woman alive, wasn't she thurn up in the air like a fut-ball , an didn't Pat haul her out of the dyke, kivered all over wid duck-meat; -- and after all did'nt she say but just now she'd be goin there among 'em agin . This puts me in mind of what my ould grandmother used to be telling over and over, about a man in the town she was bred and born in, as how he was gored at the bul-bait, and hoist away on a door to the surgeants , (Lord mark us to grace!) and all the time the threads was waxing, he kept crying out -- "Oh, doctor, jewel! doctor, jewel, don't be a jiffy sewing me up for fraid I'd lose the fun." Then was put into an arm-chair and carried back to the bull-ring, where he sot cool and comfortable to see out the end of the sport." *
*A true incident.
(Vol. 3,p. 133-134)*A true incident.
Extract #2 dialect features: Discourse Marker, Grammar, Idiom, Orthographical Contraction, Orthographical Respelling, Vocabulary
she placed her with the greatest kindness in her own bed, and mixing some warm water with a small quanty of cordial, which she assured her shivering guest Pat had for himself of a could night, she administered to her the welcome draught, saying in an angry tone, "I wonder Miss, that be going so nigh them bulls ; it's not safe for ye gentlefolks for to be so fearless like , running betwixt their horns when ye hav'n't legs like us, poor slaves, to help yez to get out of their way set in case they shud make after ye ; and if ye are gored, why it is no more than ye desarve . What in the varsal world cum over ye Miss, to be clambering up into that long meadow whin ye seen that brute in it with his boord over his eyes; -- an ye must have been plagey nigh him, or the niver a' skin o' ye he could have seen at all, at all . -- Oh, it was the look o'the world whin he tassed ye , Miss, that he thrun ye into the ditch any way, it was a thousand marcies that he didn't gore ye up with his horns."
It was unusual with Miss Ally to remain so long an auditress, but she was for some time unable to articulate on account of the chattering of her teeth, and the chilled contraction of her jaws. But vital heat soon returned, and with it her power of utterance.
She exclaimed in a rage, "woman, do you think I had nothing for to do but to go to be horned; -- sure doesn't every one know that he was looking over the ditch at me without boards nor nothing over his great turmundious eyes."
"Oh, thin it's like it was another of the sort that flung ye to day, Miss, for the one that tassed ye tother morning has a boord acrass his eyes iver since, by rason o' the way he kilt ye ."
(Vol. 3,p. 123-125)It was unusual with Miss Ally to remain so long an auditress, but she was for some time unable to articulate on account of the chattering of her teeth, and the chilled contraction of her jaws. But vital heat soon returned, and with it her power of utterance.
She exclaimed in a rage, "woman, do you think I had nothing for to do but to go to be horned; -- sure doesn't every one know that he was looking over the ditch at me without boards nor nothing over his great turmundious eyes."
"Oh, thin it's like it was another of the sort that flung ye to day, Miss, for the one that tassed ye tother morning has a boord acrass his eyes iver since, by rason o' the way he kilt ye ."
Speaker #8:Old woman - Old woman
Individual or Group:Individual
Primary Identity:Old woman
Gender:Female
Age:Adult - elderly
Narrative Voice:3rd person
Role:Peripheral
Dialect Features:Grammar, Metalanguage, Orthographical Contraction, Orthographical Respelling
Social Role
Social Role Description:Old woman
Social Role Category:Respectable poor
Speaker's Origin
Place of Origin Description:Ireland
Place of Origin Category:Annadale, Wicklow, East Ireland, Ireland
Extract #1 dialect features: Grammar, Metalanguage, Orthographical Contraction, Orthographical Respelling
The day continued fine till they were returning, when a sudden shower of rain falling, they quickened their pace, but stopped to enquire of an old woman, if there was any house near -- where they could take shelter.
" Dar monnum aggus ma couna chuse ,* " said she in reply to their interrogatories, " if myself knows no more nor an infant born where to be sending you , barring you go trasna en guegh sun haule to Shawn granugh's* spilling school, no disparagement to him neither, though he cum beyant the fall of the Bog of Allen as will as mysilf ; it is at the fut of that slant below the rocks at the quarry town; toorn down by the potaty garden, and you're at the plaice ."
They were all pleased to follow the old woman's directions, though nearly unintelligibly expressed, and seek a temporary shelter in the school-house [...]
*By my soul and conscience .
*Across the slough there beyond.
*Ugly John.
(Vol. 2,p. 306-307)" Dar monnum aggus ma couna chuse ,* " said she in reply to their interrogatories, " if myself knows no more nor an infant born where to be sending you , barring you go trasna en guegh sun haule to Shawn granugh's* spilling school, no disparagement to him neither, though he cum beyant the fall of the Bog of Allen as will as mysilf ; it is at the fut of that slant below the rocks at the quarry town; toorn down by the potaty garden, and you're at the plaice ."
They were all pleased to follow the old woman's directions, though nearly unintelligibly expressed, and seek a temporary shelter in the school-house [...]
*By my soul and conscience .
*Across the slough there beyond.
*Ugly John.
Speaker #9:Cook - Cook
Individual or Group:Individual
Primary Identity:Cook
Gender:Female
Age:Adult - unspecified age
Narrative Voice:3rd person
Role:Peripheral
Dialect Features:Metalanguage, Orthographical Contraction, Orthographical Respelling, Vocabulary
Social Role
Social Role Description:Cook
Social Role Category:Servant
Speaker's Origin
Place of Origin Description:Ireland
Place of Origin Category:Annadale, Wicklow, East Ireland, Ireland
Extract #1 dialect features: Metalanguage, Orthographical Contraction, Orthographical Respelling, Vocabulary
" I don't know what she means by thingumbob tinder , " said Thomas, "but how well she remembers every body's misdoings but her own: only last Friday she took all the rings I had prepared to put on my fishing-rod "and thrun'em out," as she said herself, "for what good was in the likes of 'em ? but she did not forget to put my black wilk into her bussum . -- I beg you may also remind her," added he, " how she destroyed the beautiful crayon picture, when she went so prettily to sweep the wall with her brush -- I beg her pardon -- the crane picture -- and how she scoured the fine miniature oil painting, that her master begged she might only sweep the dust from."
(Vol. 3,p. 106-107)