School: Cuileann Uí Chaoimh (B.), Sráid an Mhuilinn (roll number 4440)

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1. Our Holy Wells (continued)

   

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   V
   Lit her fire and cooked her dinner, Made of herbs and porriage thinner
   Than would suit the poorest sinner, in the street
   VI
   One morning the hot coal holding, In her petticoat unfolding
   She thought no one was beholding, her bare feet
   VII
   She thought no one was gazing, So her petticoat uprising
   She held the bright coal blazing, in her skirt
   VIII
   But the old smith sharp and cunning, Saw her legs as she was running
   and said to her in funning, making sport
   IX
   Ah bless me what a pitty, that those legs both white and pretty
   Did ne'er go to the city, to be shown
   X
   For the part of them thou barest, Is of snowy hue the fairest
   and their beauty is the rearest, e'er was known
   XI
   But the wicked smith was jeering, with the most unholy leering
   at the Blessed Saint Lateeran, as you see
   XII
   While the smith was thus beguiling, St Lateeran looked down smilling
   Pride her simple heart beguiling, into sin
   XIII
   With pride her cheeks were glowing, as she saw her ankles showing
   White as hills when it is snowing, on her breast
   and her feet so smooth and taper, and could dance or cut a caper
   need not vie with queen in shape, or the best
   XIV
   While the simple saint was flirting, The skirt she held the coal in
   Set fire it is most certain, to her gown
   still miracles amazing, Though all round the St. was blazing
   The saint is spared from seizing, up or down.
   XV
   The blaze around her pouring, With hissing and roaring
   went o'er the Saints head soaring, into air
   But though it wound her and like a girdle bound her

   (continues on next page)

   

   Transcribed by a member of our volunteer transcription project.

   History Edit

   Topics

   1. genre
      1. poetry
         1. folk poetry (~9,504)
   2. events
      1. events (by time of year) (~11,476)

   Language

   English

   Collector

   Patrick Lynch

   Gender

   Male

   Address

   Euglaune, Co. Cork

   Informant

   Timothy Lynch

   Relation

   Parent

   Gender

   Male

   Age

   43

   Address

   Euglaune, Co. Cork