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394 THE GOLDEN TREASURY OF THE LAMENTATION OF HUGH REYNOLDS '
M
Y name is Hugh Reynolds, I come of honest parents; Near Cavan I was born, as plainly you may see; By loving of a maid, one Catherine MacCabe,
My life has been betrayed ; she's a dear maid to me.'
The country were bewailing my doleful situation, But still I'd expectation this maid would set me free;
11 copied this ballad from a broad-sheet in the collection of Mr. Davis; but could learn nothing of its date, or the circumstances connected with it. It is clearly modern, however, and founded on the story of an abduction, which terminated differently from the majority of these adventures. The popular sympathy in such cases is generally in favor of the gallant, the impression being that an abduction is never attempted without at least a tacit consent on the part of the girl. Whenever she appears as a willing witness for the prosecution it is said she has been tampered with by her friends, and public indignation falls upon the wrong object. The " Lamentation " was probably written for or by the ballad singers ; but it is the best of its bad class.
The student would do well to compare it with the other street ballads in the collection ; and with the simple old traditional ballads, such as " Shule Aroon " and " Peggy Bawn," that he may discover if possible, where the charm lies that recommends strains so rude and naked to the most cultivated minds. These ballads have done what the songs of our greatest lyrical poets have not done—delighted both the educated and the ignorant. Whoever hopes for an equally large and contrasted audience must catch their simplicity, directness, and force, or whatever else constitutes their peculiar attraction.—Note by Sir Charles Gavan Duffy, " Ballad Poetry of Ireland"
3 " A dear maid to me." His love for her cost him dear. |
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