Page:A handbook of the Cornish language; Chiefly in its latest stages with some account of its history and literature.djvu/176

 SWEAR-WORDS AND EXPLETIVES 157 tion of St. Michael of the Mount, or of the patron saints of their own parishes. What would happen if one were to swear by the patron of some other parish does not appear, but probably, if a St. Ives man were to strengthen his assertion by an appeal to St. Meriasek of Camborne, instead of his own St. la, he might be suspected of a wilful economy of truth. The more forcible expres- sions may be left to the " Anglo-Saxon," for Cornishmen and Celts generally, even of the lowest position, are not, and never have been, foul-mouthed. The usual interjections, Oh ! Ah ! Alas ! are bor- rowed from English. Woe ! is expressed by Trew I Woe is me ! is Govi ! Woe to him ! Goev ! compounds of gew, woe, with pronouns. Lo, Behold (the voUa, void of French) is expressed by otta (older forms awatta, awatte, wette, otte = perhaps a wel di ? dost thou see ?). This combines with pronouns, e.g. ottavij " me voici," ottadij ottave or ottensa, ottany, ottawhy, ottanjy. These compounds are often followed by a participle, e.g. ottavi pares, behold me prepared. The distinction of voila and voici is expressed by ottama and ottana.