THE BREAKS OF BALLYNASCORNEY.
Contemporary with Finn Mac Coul, was the renowned giant, called Ossian.There has been a question whether he were Scotch or Irish. But as Ossiancertainly came all the way from Scotland to compete with Finn Mac Coul,it is not likely that they were countrymen.
That contest--it was of the description given by Ovid of what took placebetween Ajax and Ulysses. Go to that wild and beautiful district nearDublin, that patch of mountain scenery, so splendid and romantic, knownas the Breaks of Ballynascorney and learn, as I did, what tradition nowreports of the contest between Ossian and Finn Mac Coul.
A mountain road winds through these Breaks, like a huge snake. By theroad-side there stands a tremendous rock of granite--perfectly isolated.Many such are to be seen scattered over the island, and the generalbelief is, that each column-stone marks the spot where some notedwarrior had fallen in the old contests between the Irish and theirDanish invaders. A different legend belongs to _this_ rock.
The day had been beautiful--one of those brilliant days of softness andbalm so prevalent in Ireland. The noontide sun may have been a littletoo sunny, but this could be remedied by reposing in the pleasantshadow of some of the lofty cairns which abound in that place. The daygently glided on, until, when a summer-shower made the heath glitterwith its diamond drops, we sought shelter in a rustic cabin by thewayside.
No one was within, but an old woman, remarkably talkative. She paid us aworld of attention--insinuated a world of compliments on the beamingbeauty of the fair lady who accompanied me--would "engage that one sopretty was not without a sweetheart," and, with a smile at myself,"would not be long without a husband"--hoped that she "would be happy asthe day was long, and live to see her great-grand-children at herfeet,"--was certain she was an Irishwoman, "for she had the fair face,and the small hand, and the dark blue eye, and the long black lash, andthe bounding step," and prophesied more good fortune than (to one of theparty, at least) has yet been fulfilled.
This old woman was a good specimen of a shrewd Irish peasant. Hercompliments were insinuated, rather than expressed; and, _malgre_ thebrogue, I question when more delicate flattery--pleasant, after all, toone's _amour propre_--could be more dexterously conveyed in the circleswhich we call brilliant. This tact in the matter of compliment appearsintuitive.
Allusion having been made to the granite column in the neighborhood, ourhostess asked whether we should like "to know all about it." The answerwas in the affirmative, and then--happy to hear the tones of her ownvoice, proud of giving information to persons above her own station, andin pleased anticipation of a _douceur_--she told us a legend which, asshe was rather prolix, I shall take leave to give you in my own words.
Bits of Blarney Page 9