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CAROLAN. 885 all those airs which are still the delight of his countrymen, and which a modern bard possessed of a congenial soul hath so elegantly adorned. He thought the tribute of a song due to every house in which he was entertained, and he seldom failed to pay it, choosing for his subject, either the head of the family, or the loveliest of its branches. Several anecdotes bordering on the miraculous, are recorded of Carolan, and amongst others the following which we are told, was "a fact well ascertained." “The fame of Carolan having reached the ears of an eminent Italian music-master in Dublin, he put his abilities to a severe test, and the issue of the trial confirmed him, how well founded every thing had been, which was ad- vanced in favour of our Irish bard. The method he made use of was as follows: he singled out an excellent piece of music, and highly in the style of the country which e him birth; here and there he either altered or mti- lated the piece, but in such a manner, as that no one but a real judge could make a discovery. Carolan bestowed the deepest attention upon the performer while he played it, not knowing, however, that it was intended as a trial of his skill; and that the critical moment was at hand, which was to determine his reputation for ever. He declared it was an admirable piece of music, but, to the astonish- ment of all present, said, very humorously, in his own language, "ta se air chois air bacaighe that is, here and there it limps and stumbles. He was prayed to rectify the errors, which he accordingly did. In this state the piece was sent from Coonaught to Dublin; and the Italian no sooner saw the amendments than he pronounced Caro- lan to be a true musical genius." The period now approached at which Carolan's feeling were to receive a violent shock. In the year 1733, the wife of his bosom was torn from him by the hand of death, and as soon as the transport of his grief was a little sub- sided, he composed a monody teeming with harmony and poetic beauties. Carolan did not continne long in this VOL. 1. C c