Page:Comical sayings of Pady from Cork (2).pdf/22



Tom. OF all the opinions professed in religion, tell me now Pady, of what profession are thou? Pady. Arra dear shoy, my religion was too weighty a matter to carry out of my own country, I was afraid that you English Presbyterians should pluck it away from me.

Tom. What. Pad, was your religion such a load that you could not carry it along with you? Pady. Yes that it was, but I carried it always about with me when at home, my sweet cross upon my dead breast, bound to my bless’d button-hole.

Tom. And what manner of worship did you perform by that? Pady. Why I ador’d my cross, the pope and the priest, curs'd Oliver black as a crow, and swears myself a cut-throat to all protestants, and church of England-men.

Tom And what is the matter but you could be a church of England-man, or a Scots Presbyterian yourself Pady? Pady. Because it is unnatural for an Irishman: but had shaint Patrick been a Presbyterian I had been the same.

Tom. And for what reason would you be a Presbyterian then Pady? Pady. Because they have a liberty to eat fish in Lent, and every thing that’s lovely for the belly. Tom. What, Pady, are you such a lover of flesh that you would change your profession for it?

Pady. O yes, that’s what I do, I love flesh of all kinds, sheep's beef, swine's mutton, hare's flesh and hen’s venison: but our religion is one of the hungriest in all the world. Ah! but it makes my teeth to weep, and my belly to water, when I see the Scots Presbyterians and English churchmen in time