The reiterated assurances which this hero gives us of his being killed, and the composure with which he offers to swear to his own assassination and decease, appear rather surprising and ludicrous to those who are not aware that kilt is here used in a metaphorical sense, and that it has not the full force of our word killed. But we have been informed by a lady of unquestionable veracity, that she very lately received a petition worded in this manner—
“To the Right Hon. Lady E—— P——.
“Humbly showeth;
“That your poor petitioner is now lying dead in a ditch,” &c.
This poor Irish petitioner’s expression, however preposterous it sounds, might perhaps be justified, if we were inclined to justify an Irishman by the example, not only of poets comic and tragic, but of prose writers of various nations. The evidence in favour both of the fact and the belief, that people can speak and walk after they are dead, is attested by stout warriors and grave historians. Let us listen to the solemn voice of a princess, who comes sweeping in the sceptred pall of gorgeous tragedy, to inform us that half herself has buried the other half.
“Weep, eyes; melt into tears these cheeks to lave:
One half myself lays t’other in the grave.” [43]
For six such lines as these Corneille received six thousand livres, and the admiration of the French court and people during the Augustan age of French literature. But an Italian is not content with killing by halves. Here is a man from Italy who goes on fighting, not like Witherington, upon his stumps, but fairly after he is dead.
“Nor yet perceived the vital spirit fled,
But still fought on, nor knew that he was dead.” [44]
Common sense is somewhat shocked at this single instance of an individual fighting after he is dead; but we shall, doubtless, be reconciled to the idea by the example of a gallant and modern commander, who has declared his opinion, that nothing is more feasible than for a garrison to fight, or at least to surrender, after they are dead, nay, after they are buried.—Witness this public document.
“Liberty and Equality.
“May 29th, | Garrison of Ostend.
30th Floréal, 6 |
“Muscar, commandant of Ostend, to the commandant in
chief of his British majesty.
“General,
“The council of war was sitting when I received the honour
of your letters. We have unanimously resolved not to surrender
the place until we shall have been buried in its ruins,” &c.
One step further in hyperbole is reserved for him, who, being buried, carries about his own sepulchre.
“To live a life half dead, a living death,
And buried; but oh, yet more miserable!
Myself my sepulchre, a moving grave!”