“Why, I was partly educated in Munster.”
“In Munster! Hoorah! Here’s the hand of a countryman to your honour. Ah, it was asy to be seen from the learning which your honour shows, that your honour is from Munster. There’s no spot in Ireland like Munster for learning. What says the old song?
“‘Ulster for a soldier
Connaught for a thief,
Munster for learning,
And Leinster for beef.’”
“Hoorah for learned Munster! and down with beggarly, thievish Connaught! I would that a Connaught man would come athwart me now, that I might break his thief’s head with my Alpeen.”
“You don’t seem to like the Connaught men,” said I.
“Like them! who can like them? a parcel of beggarly thievish blackguards. So your honour was edicated in Munster, I mane partly edicated. I suppose by your saying that you were partly edicated, that your honour was intended for the clerical profession, but being over fond of the drop was forced to lave college before your edication was quite completed, and so for want of a better profession took up with that of merchandise. Ah, the love of the drop at college has prevented many a clever young fellow from taking holy orders. Well, it’s a pity, but it can’t be helped. I am fond of a drop myself, and when we get to — shall be happy to offer your honour a glass of whiskey. I hope your honour and I shall splice the mainbrace together before we part.”
“I suppose,” said I, “by your talking of splicing the mainbrace that you are a sailor.”
“I am, your honour, and hail from the Cove of Cork in the kingdom of Munster.”
“I know it well,” said I. “It is the best sea-basin in the world. Well, how came you into these parts?”
“I’ll tell your honour; my ship is at Swansea, and having a relation working at the foundry behind us, I came to see him.”