Page:Notes and Queries - Series 2 - Volume 1.djvu/464

 456

NOTES AND QUERIES.

[2nd g. NO 23., JUNE 7. '56.

and the face was uncovered, in order that they might take a farewell look at the loved departed. The body was then taken from the coffin, and laid in the grave, previously prepared with great care, being made six or more. feet deep ; and at each end was raised a course of stone-work, without mortar, eighteen inches or thirty inches high, ac- cording to circumstances. Much attention was paid to providing tough green sods, cut from the adjoining alluvial bank of the Slaney River ; and several of them about seven feet long and two feet wide, each, being well rolled up, were conveyed to the graveyard, and with them the grave was care- fully and neatly lined from top to bottom ; one the breadth of the grave being laid lengthwise over the ends of the others. In this green chamber was strewed' moss (in the season), dry grass, and flowers ; and^i pillow of the same supported the head of the corpse, when laid in this its last earthly bed. One or more stout planks were then placed longitudinally, and the green sods of the sides turned over and downwards, completed all but the filling up in the usual way with the clay. The mound being covered with the original green sods of the grave, prayers were said without any coain- ing or any wailing but the feelings which natural grief gave utterance to, and a particular solemnity is said to have marked every occasion of the kind.

The last person at whose funeral this form was observed was named John Doyle, a bachelor ; and all his friends since have conformed to the custom of the neighbourhood, and use coffins.

Query, has this been observed elsewhere ?

E. H. Wexford.

" 9 A. IRA." (2 nd S. i. 353.)

M. E. of Philadelphia inquires where the words and music of this once popular French song are to be found. I have a copy, among several other old songs of the period, published at Paris," chez les freres Savigny." The music cannot be trans- ferred to the pages of " N. & Q.," but I send the words, which will be found poor and paltry enough for the commotion which they contributed to excite :

i. " Ah ! 93 ira, 93 ira, $a ira,

Le peuple en ce jour sans cesse repete,

Ah ! 9a ira, $a ira, 9a ira,

Malgre les mutins tout reussira :

Nos ennemis confus en restent la.,

Et nous allons chanter alleluia,

Ah ! ca ira, <;a ira, ca ira,

Quand Boileau jadis du clerge" parla,

Comme un prophete il a predit cela,

En chantant ma chansonette.

Avec plaisir on dira,

Ah ! 93 ira, 9a ira, 9a ira,

Malgre les mutins tout re'ussira.

" Ah ! 9a ira, etc.

Suivant les maximes de PEvangile, Ah ! Qa ira, etc.

Du Legislateur tout s'accomplira, Celui qui s'eleve on abaissera, Et qui s'abaisse Ton tQevera, Ah ! 9a ira, etc.

Le vrai catechisme nous instruira, Et 1'affreux fanatisme s'eteindra. Pour etre & la loi docile, Tout Fran9ois s'exercera. Ah ! 94 ira. etc.

in. " Ah ! 9& ira, etc.

Pierrot et Margot chantent & la guingette,

Ah ! ca ira, etc.

Rejouissons nous, le bon terns viendra,

Le peuple Fran9ois jadis a quia,

L'aristocrate dit mea culpa,

Ah ! 9a ira, etc.

Le clerge regrette le bien qu'il a,

Par justice la nation 1'aura,

Par le prudent la Fayette,

Tout trouble s'appaisera,

Ah ! 93 ira, etc.

TV. " Ah ! 9a ira, etc.

Par les flambeaux de 1'auguste Assemblee,

Ah ! 93 ira, etc.

Le peuple arme toujours se gardera,

Le vrai d'avec le faux 1'on connoitra;

Le citoyen pour le bien soutiendra.

Ah ! 9a ira, etc.

Quand 1'aristocrate protestera,

Le bon citoyen au nez lui rira ;

Sans avoir 1'ame troublee,

Toujours le plus fort sera,

Ah 1 ca ira, etc.

v.

u Ah ! ca ira, etc.

Petits comme grands sent soldats dans 1'ame, Ah ! 93 ira, etc.

Pendant la guerre aucun ne trahira: Avec coeur tout bon Fran9ois combattra; S'il voit du louche hardiment parlera, Ah ! ca ira, etc.

La Fayette dit, vienne qui voudra, Le patriotisme leur repomlra, Sans crainte, ni feu, ni flamme, Le Fran9ois toujours vaiucra, Ah ! 9a ira," etc.

F. C. H.

LIVRES D EGLISE : LIBRI ECCLESIASTICI.

(2 nd S. i. 268. 378.)

Some misunderstanding seems to exist as to the exact signification of these terms. The Livre tfEglise, of which there is one for each diocese, is a Prayer Book containing the different Latin offires of the Romish Church, with the translation in French printed in a second column : they are generally in 8vo., in eight volumes, two for each of the Quatre-temps ; and are of course intended only for the use of the congregation. The Liber Ecclesiasticus is the Missal used by the priests, and