"Sorrow befall you for saying so," said the captain. "But I see how it is, you have been bought; yes, sir, paid money, to deny your country; but such has ever been the policy of the English; they can't bate us, so they buy us. Now here's myself. No sooner have I sent this challenge to Bishop Sharpe by the hands of my hired servant, than I expect to have a hundred offers to let myself be beat. What is that you say, sir?" said he, addressing his companion who had uttered a kind of inaudible sound--"No hopes of that, did you say? Do you think that I could be bate without allowing myself to be bate? By the powers!--but you are beneath my notice." "Well, sir," said he, fixing his eyes on me, "though you have cheek enough to deny your own country, I trust you have not enough to deny the merit of the elegy. What do you think of the elegy, sir?" "I think it very sorry stuff," said I. "Hear him!" said the captain looking about him. "But he has been bought, paid money, to deny his own country and all that belongs to it. Well, sir, what do you think of Carolan, Carolan the Great? What do you think of his _Receipt_, sir?" "I think it very sorry stuff, too." "Very well, sir, very well; but I hope to make you give me a receipt for all this before you leave. One word more. I suppose you'll next deny that we have any poetry or music at all." "Far be it from me to say any such thing. There is one song connected with Ireland which I have always thought very fine, and likewise the music that accompanies it." "I am glad to hear it, sir; there is one piece of Irish poetry and music which meets your approbation! Pray name the piece, sir." "_Croppies Lie Down_!" The captain sprang to his feet like one electrified. "What, sir?" said he. "_Croppies Lie Down_!" The captain dashed his pipe to shivers against the table; then tucking up the sleeves of his coat, he advanced to within a yard of me, and pushing forward his head somewhat in the manner of a bull-dog when about to make a spring, he said in a tone of suppressed fury: "I think I have heard of that song before, sir; but nobody ever yet cared to sing it to me. I should admire to hear from your lips what it is. Perhaps you will sing me a line or two." "With great pleasure," said I:-- "There are many brave rivers run into the sea, But the best of them all is Boyne water for me; There Croppies were vanquished and terrified fled, With Jamie the runagate king at their head. When crossing the ford In the name of the Lord, The conqueror brandished his conquering sword; Then down, down, Croppies lie down!'