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they are as good as new； though come Holantide next I've had it these
seven years： it holds on by a single button round my neck； cloak fashion。
＇The cloak； or mantle； as described by Thady； is of high antiquity。
Spenser； in his VIEW OF THE STATE OF IRELAND； proves that it is not；
as some have imagined； peculiarly derived from the Scythians； but that
'most nations of the world anciently used the mantle； for the Jews used it；
as you may read of Elias's mantle； etc。； the Chaldees also used it； as you
may read in Diodorus； the Egyptians likewise used it； as you may read in
Herodotus； and may be gathered by the description of Berenice in the
Greek Commentary upon Callimachus； the Greeks also used it anciently；
as appeared by Venus's mantle lined with stars； though afterward they
changed the form thereof into their cloaks； called Pallai； as some of the
Irish also use； and the ancient Latins and Romans used it； as you may read
in Virgil； who was a great antiquary； that Evander； when AEneas came to
him at his feast； did entertain and feast him sitting on the ground； and
lying on mantles： insomuch that he useth the very word mantile for a
mantle
〃Humi mantilia sternunt：〃
so that it seemeth that the mantle was a general habit to most nations；
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and not proper to the Scythians only。
Spenser knew the convenience of the said mantle； as housing； bedding；
and clothing： 'IREN。 Because the commodity doth not countervail the
discommodity； for the inconveniences which thereby do arise are much
more many； for it is a fit house for an outlaw； a meet bed for a rebel； and
an apt cloak for a thief。 First； the outlaw being； for his many crimes and
villanies； banished from the towns and houses of honest men； and
wandering in waste places； far from danger of law； maketh his mantle his
house； and under it covereth himself from the wrath of Heaven； from the
offence of the earth； and from the sight of men。 When it raineth； it is his
penthouse； when it bloweth； it is his tent； when it freezeth； it is his
tabernacle。 In summer he can wear it loose； in winter he can wrap it
close； at all times he can use it； never heavy； never cumbersome。
Likewise for a rebel it is as serviceable； for in this war that he maketh （if
at least it deserves the name of war）； when he still flieth from his foe； and
lurketh in the THICK WOODS （this should be BLACK BOGS） and
straight passages； waiting for advantages； it is his bed； yea； and almost his
household stuff。'＇
To look at me； you would hardly think 'Poor Thady' was the father of
Attorney Quirk； he is a high gentleman； and never minds what poor Thady
says； and having better than fifteen hundred a year； landed estate； looks
down upon honest Thady； but I wash my hands of his doings； and as I
have lived so will I die； true and loyal to the family。 The family of the
Rackrents is； I am proud to say； one of the most ancient in the kingdom。
Everybody knows this is not the old family name； which was O'Shaughlin；
related to the kings of Irelandbut that was before my time。 My
grandfather was driver to the great Sir Patrick O'Shaughlin； and I heard
him； when I was a boy； telling how the Castle Rackrent estate came to Sir
Patrick； Sir Tallyhoo Rackrent was cousin… german to him； and had a fine
estate of his own； only never a gate upon it； it being his maxim that a car
was the best gate。 Poor gentleman！ he lost a fine hunter and his life； at
last； by it； all in one day's hunt。 But I ought to bless that day； for the
estate came straight into THE family； upon one condition； which Sir
Patrick O'Shaughlin at the time took sadly to heart； they say； but thought
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better of it afterwards； seeing how large a stake depended upon it： that
he should； by Act of Parliament； take and bear the surname and arms of
Rackrent。
Now it was that the world was to see what was IN Sir Patrick。 On
coming into the estate he gave the finest entertainment ever was heard of
in the country； not a man could stand after supper but Sir Patrick himself
who could sit out the best man in Ireland； let alone the three kingdoms
itself ＇See GLOSSARY 2＇。 He had his house； from one year's end to
another； as full of company as ever it could hold； and fuller； for rather than
be left out of the parties at Castle Rackrent； many gentlemen； and those
men of the first consequence and landed estates in the countrysuch as the
O'Neills of Ballynagrotty； and the Moneygawls of Mount Juliet's Town；
and O'Shannons of New Town Tullyhogmade it their choice； often and
often； when there was no room to be had for love nor money； in long
winter nights； to sleep in the chicken…house； which Sir Patrick had fitted
up for the purpose of accommodating his friends and the public in general；
who honoured him with their company unexpectedly at Castle Rackrent；
and this went on I can't tell you how long。 The whole country rang with
his praises！long life to him！ I'm sure I love to look upon his picture；
now opposite to me； though I never saw him； he must have been a portly
gentlemanhis neck something short； and remarkable for the largest
pimple on his nose； which； by his particular desire； is still extant in his
picture； said to be a striking likeness； though taken when young。 He is
said also to be the inventor of raspberry whisky； which is very likely； as
nobody has ever appeared to dispute it with him； and as there still exists a
broken punch…bowl at Castle Rackrent； in the garret； with an inscription to
that effecta great curiosity。 A few days before his death he was very
merry； it being his honour's birthday； he called my grandfather inGod
bless him！to drink the company's health； and filled a bumper himself； but
could not carry it to his head； on account of the great shake in his hand； on
this he cast his joke； saying