Concerning this Edition, I must say something. I have already stated that it was written rapidly and in a hurry. On reading it over for correction, I was struck in my cooler moments by many defects in it, which were, kindly9 overlooked, or, perhaps, not noticed at all. To myself, however, who had been brooding over this work for a long time, they at once became obvious. I have accordingly added an underplot of affection between Fergus Reilly—mentioned as a distant relative of my hero—and the Cooleen Bawn's maid, Ellen Connor. In doing so, I have not disturbed a single incident in the work; and the reader who may have perused10 the first Edition, if he should ever—as is not unfrequently the case—peruse this second one, will certainly wonder how the additions were made. That, however, is the secret of the author, with which they have nothing to do but to enjoy the book, if they can enjoy it.
With respect to the O'Reilly name and family, I have consulted my distinguished11' friend—and I am proud to call him so—John O'Donovan, Esq., LL.D., M.R.I.A., who, with the greatest kindness, placed the summary of the history of that celebrated12 family at my disposal. This learned gentleman is an authority beyond all question. With respect to Ireland—her language—her old laws—her history—her antiquities—her archaeology—her topography, and the genealogy13 of her families, he is a perfect miracle, as is his distinguished fellow-laborer in the same field, Eugene Curry14. Two such men—and, including Dr. Petrie, three such men—Ireland never has produced, and never can again—for this simple reason, that they will have left nothing after them for their successors to accomplish. To Eugene Curry I am indebted for the principal fact upon which my novel of the “Tithe Proctor” was written—the able introduction to which was printed verbatim from a manuscript with which he kindly furnished me. The following is Dr. O'Donovan's clear and succinct15 history of the O'Reilly family from the year 435 until the present time:
“The ancestors of the family of O'Reilly had been celebrated in Irish history long before the establishment of surnames in Ireland. In the year 435 their ancestor, Duach Galach, King of Connaught, was baptized by St. Patrick on the banks of Loch Scola, and they had remained Christians16 of the old Irish Church, which appears to have been peculiar17 in its mode of tonsure18, and of keeping Easter (and, since the twelfth century, firm adherents19 to the religion of the Pope, till Dowell O'Reilly, Esq., the father of the present head of the name, quarrelling with Father Dowling, of Stradbally, turned Protestant, about the year 1800).
“The ancestor, after whom they took the family name, was Reillagh, who was chief of his sect20, and flourished about the year 981.
“From this period they are traced in the Irish Annals through a long line of powerful chieftains of East Breifny (County Cavan), who succeeded each other, according to the law of Tanistry, till the year 1585, when two rival chieftians of the name, Sir John O'Reilly and Edmund O'Reilly, appeared in Dublin, at the parliament summoned by Perrot. Previously21 to this, John O'Reilly, finding his party weak, had repaired to England, in 1583, to solicit22 Queen Elizabeth's interest, and had been kindly received at Court, and invested with the order of Knighthood, and promised to be made Earl, whereupon he returned home with letters from the Queen to the Lord Deputy and Council of Ireland, instructing them to support him in his claims. His uncle, Edmund, of Kilnacrott, would have succeeded Hugh Connallagh O'Reilly, the father of Sir John, according to the Irish law of Tanistry, but he was set aside by Elizabeth's government, and Sir John set up as O'Reilly in his place. Sir John being settled in the chieftainship of East Breifny, entered into certain articles of agreement with Sir John Perrot, the Lord Deputy, and the Council of Ireland, whereby he agreed to surrender the principality of East Breifny to the Queen, on condition of obtaining it again from the crown in capite by English tenure24, and the same to be ratified25 to him and the heirs male of his body. In consequence of this agreement, and with the intent of abolishing the tanistic succession, he, on the last day of August, 1590, perfected a deed of feofment, entailing26 thereby27 the seignory of Breifny (O'Reilly) on his eldest28 son, Malmore (Myles), surnamed Alainn (the comely29), afterwards known as the Queen's O'Reilly.
“Notwithstanding these transactions, Sir John O'Reilly soon after joined in the rebellion of Hugh, Earl of Tyrone, and died on the first of June, 1596. After his death the Earl of Tyrone set up his second brother, Philip, as the O'Reilly, and the government of Elizabeth supported the claim of Sir John's son, Malmore, the comely, in opposition30 to Philip, and Edmund of Kilnacrott. But Malmore, the Queen's O'Reilly, was slain31 by Tyrone in the great battle of the Yellow Ford32, near Benburb, on the 14th of August, 1528, and the Irish of Ulster agreed to establish Edmund of Kilnacrott, as the O'Reilly.
“The lineal descendants of Sir John passed into the French service, and are now totally unknown, and probably extinct. The descendants of Edmund of Kilnacrott have been far more prolific34 and more fortunate. His senior representative is my worthy35 old friend Myles John O'Reilly, Esq., Heath House, Emo, Queen's Co., and from him are also descended36 the O'Reillys of Thomastown Castle, in the County of Louth, the Counts O'Reilly of Spain, the O'Reillys of Beltrasna, in Westmeath, and the Reillys of Scarva House, in the County of Down.
“Edmund of Kilnacrott had a son John who had a son Brian, by Mary, daughter of the Baron37 of Dunsany, who had a famous son Malmore, commonly called Myles the Slasher. This Myles was an able military leader during the civil wars of 1641, and showed prodigies38 of valor39 during the years 1641, 1642, and 1643; but, in 1644, being encamped at Granard, in the County of Longford, with Lord Castlehaven, who ordered him to proceed with a chosen detachment of horse to defend the bridge of Finea against the Scots, then bearing down on the main army with a very superior force, Myles was slain at the head of his troops, fighting bravely on the middle of the bridge. Tradition adds, that during this action he encountered the colonel of the Scots in single combat, who laid open his cheek with a blow of his sword; but Myles, whose jaws40 were stronger than a smith's vice33, held fast the Scotchman's sword between his teeth till he cut him down, but the main body of the Scots pressing upon him, he was left dead on the bridge.
“This Myles the Slasher was the father of Colonel John O'Reilly, of Ballymacadd, in the County Meath, who was elected Knight23 of the Shire for the County of Cavan, in the parliament held at Dublin on the 7th of May, 1689. He raised a regiment41 of dragoons, at his own expense, for the service of James II., and assisted at the siege of Londonderry in 1689. He had two engagements with Colonel Wolsley, the commander of the garrison42 of Belturbet, whom he signally defeated. He fought at the battles of the Boyne and Aughrim, and was included in the articles of capitulation of Limerick, whereby he preserved his property, and was allowed to carry arms.
“Of the eldest son of this Colonel John O'Reilly, who left issue, my friend Myles J. O'Reilly, Esq., is now the senior representative.
“From Colonel John O'Reilly's youngest son, Thomas O'Reilly, of Beltrasna, was descended Count Alexander O'Reilly, of Spain, who took Algiers! immortalized by Byron. This Alexander was born near Oldcastle, in the County Meath, in the year 1722. He was Generalissimo of his Catholic Majesty's forces, and Inspector-General of the Infantry43, etc., etc. In the year 1786 he employed the Chevalier Thomas O'Gorman to compile for him a history of the House of O'Reilly, for which he paid O'Gorman the sum of ￡1,137 10.s., the original receipt for which I have in my possession.
“Prom this branch of the O'Reilly family was also descended the illustrious Andrew Count O'Reilly, who died at Vienna in 1832, at the age of 92. He was General of Cavalry44 in the Austrian service. This distinguished man filled in succession all the military grades in the Austrian service, with the exception of that of Field Marshal, and was called by Napoleon 'le respectable General O'Reilly.'
“The eldest son of Myles J. O'Reilly, Esq., is a young gentleman of great promise and considerable fortune. His rencontre with Lord Clements (now Earl of Leitrim) has been not long since prominently before the public, and in a manner which does justice to our old party quarrels! Both are, however, worthy of their high descent; and it is to be hoped that they will soon become good friends, as they are boih young, and remarkable45 for benevolence46 and love of fatherland.”
As this has been considered by some persons as a historical novel, although I really never intended it as such, it may be necessary to give the reader a more distinct notion of the period in which the incidents recorded in it took place. The period then was about that of 1745, when Lord Chesterfield was Governor-General of Ireland. This nobleman, though an infidel, was a bigot, and a decided47 anti-Catholic; nor do I think that the temporary relaxation48 of the penal49 laws against Catholics was anything else than an apprehension50 on the part of England that the claims of the Pretender might be supported by the Irish Catholics, who then, so depressed51 and persecuted52, must have naturally felt a strong interest in having a prince who professed53 their own religion placed upon the English throne. Strange as it may appear, however, and be the cause of it what it may, the Catholics of Ireland, as a people and as a body, took no part whatever in supporting him. Under Lord Chesterfield's administration, one of the most shocking and unnatural54 Acts of Parliament ever conceived passed into a law. This was the making void and null all intermarriages between Catholic and Protestant that should take place after the 1st of May, 1746. Such an Act was a renewal55 of the Statute56 of Kilkenny, and it was a fortunate circumstance to Willy Reilly and his dear Cooleen Bawn that he had the consolation57 of having been transported for seven years. Had her father even given his consent at an earlier period, the laws of the land would have rendered their marriage impossible. This cruel law, however, was overlooked; for it need hardly be said that it was met and spurned58 not only by human reason, but by human passion. In truth, the strong and influential59 of both religions treated it with contempt, and trampled60 on it without any dread61 of the consequences. By the time of his return from transportation, it was merely a dead letter, disregarded and scorned by both parties, and was no obstruction62 to either the marriage or the happiness of himself and his dear Cooleen Bawn.
I know not that there is any thing else I can add to this preface, unless the fact that I have heard several other ballads63 upon the subject of these celebrated lovers—all of the same tendency, and all in the highest praise of the beauty and virtues64 of the fair Cooleen Bawn. Their utter vulgarity, however, precludes65 them from a place in these pages. And, by the way, talking of the law which passed under the administration of Lord Chesterfield against intermarriages, it is not improbable that the elopement of Reilly and the Cooleen Bawn, in addition to the execution of the man to whom I have given the name of Sir Robert Whitecraft, may have introduced it in a spirit of reaction, not only against the consequences of the elopement, but against the baronet's ignominious66 death. Thus, in every point from which we can view it, the fate of this celebrated couple involved not only popular feeling, but national importance.
I have not been able to trace with any accuracy or satisfaction that portion or branch of the O'Reilly family to which my hero belonged. The dreary67 lapse68 of time, and his removal from the country, have been the means of sweeping69 into oblivion every thing concerning him, with the exception of his love for Miss Folliard, and its strange consequences. Even tradition is silent upon that part of the subject, and I fear that any attempt to throw light upon it must end only in disappointment. I have reason to believe that the Counsellor Fox, who acted as his advocate, was never himself raised to the bench; but that that honor was reserved for his son, who was an active judge a little before the close of the last century.
W. Carleton.
Dublin, December, 1856.
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1
unreasonable
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| adj.不讲道理的，不合情理的，过度的 | |
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humble
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| adj.谦卑的，恭顺的；地位低下的；v.降低，贬低 | |
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quack
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| n.庸医；江湖医生；冒充内行的人；骗子 | |
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truthful
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| adj.真实的，说实话的，诚实的 | |
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plods
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| v.沉重缓慢地走（路）( plod的第三人称单数 )；努力从事；沉闷地苦干；缓慢进行（尤指艰难枯燥的工作） | |
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humbly
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| adv. 恭顺地，谦卑地 | |
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reverence
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| n.敬畏，尊敬，尊严；Reverence:对某些基督教神职人员的尊称；v.尊敬，敬畏，崇敬 | |
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gratitude
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| adj.感激，感谢 | |
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kindly
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| adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地 | |
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perused
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| v.读（某篇文字）( peruse的过去式和过去分词 )；（尤指）细阅；审阅；匆匆读或心不在焉地浏览（某篇文字） | |
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11
distinguished
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| adj.卓越的，杰出的，著名的 | |
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celebrated
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| adj.有名的，声誉卓著的 | |
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13
genealogy
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| n.家系，宗谱 | |
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14
curry
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| n.咖哩粉，咖哩饭菜；v.用咖哩粉调味，用马栉梳，制革 | |
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15
succinct
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| adj.简明的，简洁的 | |
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Christians
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| n.基督教徒( Christian的名词复数 ) | |
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peculiar
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| adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的 | |
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tonsure
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| n.削发；v.剃 | |
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adherents
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| n.支持者，拥护者( adherent的名词复数 )；党羽；徒子徒孙 | |
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sect
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| n.派别，宗教，学派，派系 | |
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previously
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| adv.以前，先前（地） | |
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solicit
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| vi.勾引；乞求；vt.请求，乞求；招揽(生意) | |
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knight
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| n.骑士，武士；爵士 | |
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tenure
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| n.终身职位；任期；(土地)保有权，保有期 | |
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ratified
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| v.批准，签认（合约等）( ratify的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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entailing
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| 使…成为必要( entail的现在分词 )； 需要； 限定继承； 使必需 | |
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thereby
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| adv.因此，从而 | |
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eldest
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| adj.最年长的，最年老的 | |
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comely
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| adj.漂亮的，合宜的 | |
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opposition
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| n.反对，敌对 | |
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31
slain
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| 杀死，宰杀，杀戮( slay的过去分词 )； (slay的过去分词) | |
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Ford
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| n.浅滩，水浅可涉处；v.涉水，涉过 | |
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vice
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| n.坏事；恶习；[pl.]台钳，老虎钳；adj.副的 | |
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prolific
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| adj.丰富的，大量的；多产的，富有创造力的 | |
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worthy
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| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
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descended
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| a.为...后裔的，出身于...的 | |
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baron
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| n.男爵；(商业界等)巨头，大王 | |
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prodigies
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| n.奇才，天才（尤指神童）( prodigy的名词复数 ) | |
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valor
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| n.勇气，英勇 | |
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40
jaws
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| n.口部；嘴 | |
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regiment
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| n.团，多数，管理；v.组织，编成团，统制 | |
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garrison
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| n.卫戍部队；驻地，卫戍区；vt.派(兵)驻防 | |
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43
infantry
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| n.[总称]步兵(部队) | |
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44
cavalry
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| n.骑兵；轻装甲部队 | |
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45
remarkable
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| adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的 | |
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benevolence
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| n.慈悲，捐助 | |
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decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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48
relaxation
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| n.松弛，放松；休息；消遣；娱乐 | |
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49
penal
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| adj.刑罚的；刑法上的 | |
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50
apprehension
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| n.理解，领悟；逮捕，拘捕；忧虑 | |
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51
depressed
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| adj.沮丧的，抑郁的，不景气的，萧条的 | |
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52
persecuted
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| （尤指宗教或政治信仰的）迫害(~sb. for sth.)( persecute的过去式和过去分词 )； 烦扰，困扰或骚扰某人 | |
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53
professed
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| 公开声称的，伪称的，已立誓信教的 | |
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54
unnatural
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| adj.不自然的；反常的 | |
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55
renewal
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| adj.(契约)延期，续订，更新，复活，重来 | |
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56
statute
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| n.成文法，法令，法规；章程，规则，条例 | |
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57
consolation
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| n.安慰，慰问 | |
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58
spurned
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| v.一脚踢开，拒绝接受( spurn的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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59
influential
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| adj.有影响的，有权势的 | |
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60
trampled
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| 踩( trample的过去式和过去分词 )； 践踏； 无视； 侵犯 | |
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61
dread
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| vt.担忧，忧虑；惧怕，不敢；n.担忧，畏惧 | |
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62
obstruction
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| n.阻塞，堵塞；障碍物 | |
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63
ballads
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| 民歌，民谣，特别指叙述故事的歌( ballad的名词复数 )； 讴 | |
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64
virtues
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| 美德( virtue的名词复数 )； 德行； 优点； 长处 | |
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65
precludes
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| v.阻止( preclude的第三人称单数 )；排除；妨碍；使…行不通 | |
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66
ignominious
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| adj.可鄙的，不光彩的，耻辱的 | |
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dreary
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| adj.令人沮丧的，沉闷的，单调乏味的 | |
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68
lapse
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| n.过失，流逝，失效，抛弃信仰，间隔；vi.堕落，停止，失效，流逝；vt.使失效 | |
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sweeping
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| adj.范围广大的，一扫无遗的 | |
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