Page:English as we speak it in Ireland - Joyce.djvu/69

54 into which would go (téigtís) twelve [jointed] pigs.’ (‘Silva Gadelica.’)

Chevilles. What is called in French a cheville—I do not know any Irish or English name for it—is a phrase interjected into a line of poetry merely to complete either the measure or the rhyme, with little or no use besides. The practice of using chevilles was very common in old Irish poetry, and a bad practice it was; for many a good poem is quite spoiled by the constant and wearisome recurrence of these chevilles. For instance here is a translation of a couple of verses from ‘The Voyage of Maildune’ with their chevilles:—

'They met with an island after sailing— wonderful the guidance. 'The third day after, on the end of the rod— deed of power— The chieftain found—it was a very great joy— a cluster of apples.'

In modern Irish popular poetry we have chevilles also; of which I think the commonest is the little phrase gan go, ‘without a lie’; and this is often reflected in our Anglo-Irish songs. In ‘Handsome Sally,’ published in my ‘Old Irish Music and Songs,’ these lines occur:—

‘Young men and maidens I pray draw near— The truth to you I will now declare— How a fair young lady's heart was won All by the loving of a farmer's son.’

And in another of our songs:—

‘Good people all I pray draw near— No lie I'll tell to ye— About a lovely fair maid, And her name is Polly Lee.’