Page:Biographia Hibernica volume 1.djvu/395

 384 CAROLAN. determined to aid its eultivation, and at the age of twelve a proper master was engaged, to instrinct him on the harp; but his diligence in the regular modes of instruction was not great, yet his harp was rarely unstrung, for his intui- tive genius assisted him in composition, whilst his fingers wandered amongst the strings, in quest of the sweets of melody. In a few years this "child of song" became enamoured of Miss Bridget Cruise. His harp, now inspired by love, would only echo to the sound; though this lady did not give him her hand, it is imagined she did not deny him her heart, but like Apollo, when he caught at the nymph "he filled his arms with bays," and the song which bears her name, is considered his chef-d'æuore, it came warm from his heart, while his genius was in vigour. its full Our bard, however, after a time, solaced himself for the loss of Miss Cruise, in the arms of Miss Mary Maguire, a young lady of good family in the county of Fermanagh. She was gifted in a small degree with both pride and extravagance, but she was the wife of his choice, he loved her tenderly, and lived harmoniously with her. On his entering into the connubial state, he fixed his residence on a small farm near Moshill, in the county of Leitrim; here he built a neat little house, in which he prac- tised hospitality on a scale more suited to his mind than to his means, his profusion speedily consumed the produce of his little farm, and he was soon left to lament the want of prudence, without which the rich cannot taste of pleasure long, or the poor of happiness. At length Carolan commenced the profession of an itinerant musician. Wherever he went, the gates of the nobility and others, were thrown open to him; he was re- ceived with respect, and a distinguished place assigned bim at the table: " Carolan," says Mr. Ritson, " seems from the description we have of him to be a genuine representative of the ancient bard." It was doring his peregrinations that Carolan composed
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