Of nothing wjiich concerns
Of nothing wjiich concerns
The more I know of this singular girl, the more the happy disvordia concurs of her character awakens my curiosity and surprise. I never beheld such an union of intelligence and simplicity as her character exhibits. Sometimes when I think I am trifling with a child, I find I am conversing with a philosopher; and sometimes, in the midst of the most serious and interesting conversation, some impression of the moment seizes on her imagination, and a vein of frolic humour and playful sarcasm is indulged in at the expense of my most sagacious arguments or philosophic gravity. Her reserve unknown to herself is gradually giving way to the most bewitching familiarity.When the priest m engaged, I am suffered to tread with her the ” pathless grass,” climb the mountain’s steep, or ramble along the seabeat coast, followed by her nurse, and sometimes by a favourite dog only. her country is she ignorant; and, when a more interesting, a more soulfelt conversation, cannot be obtained, I love to draw her into a little national chitchat.Yesterday, as we were walking along the base of that mountain from which I first beheld her dear residence and sure I may say with Petrarch,” Benedetto sia II giorno e’l Mese el anno,” several groups of peasants mostly females passed us, with their usual courteous salutations, and apparently dressed in their holiday garbs.f Poor souls F said Glorvina” this is a day of jubilee to them, for a great annual fair is held in the neighbourhood.”" But whence,” said I,c do they draw the brightness of those tints which adorn their coarse garments s those gowns and ribbons, that rival the gay colouring of that heath edge: those bright blue and scarlet mantles ? Are they, too, vestiges of ancient modes and ancient taste ?”" Certainly they are,” she replied; ” and the colours, which the Irish were celebrated for wearing and dyeing a thousand years back, are now most prevalent. In short, the ancient Irish, like the Israelites, were so attached to this manycoloured costume, that it became the mark by which the different classes of the people were distinguished. Kings were limited to seven colours in their royal robes; and six were allowed the bards.