Editorial
Emendations
These notes record all editorial emendations in the present text to the first edition of The Emigrant. Each entry contains the reading of the present text before the “]” and the reading of the first edition after the “]”. Thus “32 file; ] file,” indicates that in line 32 a comma after “file” in the original text has been replaced in the present edition by a semi-colon.
Since The Emigrant was by all the evidence a hastily printed and little proof-read publication when it appeared in 1841, it demands from a modern editor a fairly liberal policy of emendation. To complicate matters, O’Grady (or his compositor or amanuensis) had very haphazard ideas of punctuation, even for the mid-nineteenth century. Some sentences receive no concluding punctuation; others are given concluding commas; commas are regularly used where semi-colons or colons are clearly required; some complicated syntaxes are given no punctuation at all and will baffle the most patient interpreter. Most of this idiosyncratic punctuation will present no real obstacle to the poem’s modern reader, however, and I have kept it in the present edition wherever possible. A thorough revision of the text according to modern rules of punctuation would have as its result a version of The Emigrant much too unlike O’Grady’s curious original. But in cases where, in my opinion, such punctuation seriously intrudes on comprehension, I have emended it, usually in order to strengthen a pause in the syntax, whether by inserting commas, changing commas to semi-colons, colons or periods, or changing semi-colons to periods. Occasionally, O’Grady punctuates excessively; where such marks intrude and render the passage needlessly obscure, they have been removed. I must warn the reader candidly, therefore, that my attempt to provide the poem with a basically clear and appropriate punctuation which at the same time retains as much of O’Grady’s flavour as possible means that he or she will be faced largely with essential O’Grady, but occasionally with the no doubt subjective readings of his present editor. I have adopted the same emendatory pragmatism with O’Grady’s infrequently archaic spelling: when a word is spelled correctly according to the looser rules of his own day, and is easily recognizable, I have not altered it; but words which would be considered misspelled even in O’Grady’s time, or which I fear would be unrecognizable otherwise, have been emended. In all cases I have inserted apostrophes where O’Grady has failed to. I have also had to insert or alter many of the parenthetical numerals for O’Grady’s Notes, since the text was obviously not carefully checked for such alignments. If at times I can make no reliable emendations of a particularly garbled line, I have allowed it to stand in the text and offered possible readings in the Explanatory Notes. [page 107]
Title |
The Emigrant ] The full title of O’Grady’s volume is The Emigrant, A Poem, In Four Cantos (see the Introduction, n. 54). Throughout the present edition I have abbreviated this title to reflect the poem as it exists and for the sake of convenience. |
Dedication |
rectilinearly ] rectiliniarly
|
Epigraph |
mutant ] mutant,
|
The Poem
|
|
3 |
sings ] sings, |
4 |
Ocean ] ocean |
4 |
Bolivar ] Bullivar |
13 |
found ] found, |
21 |
debtors ] debtors, |
29 |
case, ] case |
32 |
file; ] file, |
34 |
mute, ] mute |
38 |
conscious ] consious |
38 |
domain, ] domain |
41 |
spurned, ] spurned |
49 |
battle’s ] battles |
51 |
conflict’s ] conflicts |
59 |
wooden barrier’s ] wooden barriers |
67 |
supply, ] supply |
68 |
nature’s ] natures |
76 |
breeze, ] breeze |
84 |
maze ] maize |
90 |
compass guides, ] compass, guides |
92 |
rides, ] rides |
93 |
squidhounds ] squdhounds |
96 |
way, ] way |
107 |
say, ] say [page 108] |
116 |
blush? ] blush; |
118 |
say: ] say |
119 |
horizon ] horison |
122 |
ray; ] ray, |
130 |
least; ] least |
132 |
decreased, ] decreased |
136 |
adds, ] adds |
141 |
lightning’s ] lightnings |
153 |
seen, ] seen |
154 |
between; ] between |
156 |
Fishes, ] Fishes |
160 |
detection, ] detection |
165 |
vessel ] vessels |
235 |
seize ] sieze |
235 |
helm, ] helm |
251 |
heaves, ] heaves |
252 |
moonbeams’ ] moonbeams |
279 |
foaming ] foamings |
313 |
assuage ] assuage, |
316 |
one; ] one, |
318 |
bands ] bands, |
322 |
waves: ] waves, |
335 |
Belier ] Belieu |
347 |
Ennobled ] Enobled |
353 |
meet ] meet, |
354 |
debate; ] debate, |
356 |
Bushe ] Bush |
370 |
fame. ] fame, |
371 |
appeal ] appeal, |
378 |
skies.] skies |
389 |
might, ] might |
401 |
lost! ] lost, |
413 |
more? ] more, |
418 |
Cesar, ] Cesar [page 109] |
420 |
Perceval ] Percival |
424 |
pensioned ] pentioned |
427 |
reign. ] reign, |
429 |
asses’ ] asses |
462 |
roll ] roll, |
465 |
world; ] world, |
467 |
sail; ] sail, |
489 |
exhaust; ] exhaust, |
501 |
tempest’s ] tempests |
503 |
main. ] main |
505 |
sea, ] sea |
513 |
new. ] new, |
528 |
cheerless ] cherless |
539 |
eye. ] eye, |
542 |
Surpassing ] Supassing |
543 |
Ancestry; ] Ancestry |
545 |
heaven’s ] heavens |
545 |
most. ] most, |
572 |
own ] own, |
577 |
idle] idol |
586 |
idol, ] idol |
586 |
e’er ] ere |
591 |
slave; ] slave, |
599 |
noble ] nobles |
605 |
chace; ] chace, |
612 |
wait ] wait, |
616 |
brows: ] brows |
632 |
apart ] apart, |
633 |
heart; ] heart, |
639 |
Wilmore ] Willmore |
648 |
came: ] came, |
649 |
haste; ] haste, |
651 |
won’t ] wont |
658 |
land, ] land [page 110] |
660 |
past, ] past |
661 |
mind; ] mind, |
664 |
Peleon ] Peleus |
687 |
kaleidoscope ] kaleidescope |
699 |
divine. (19) ] divine |
706 |
lambent ] lambient |
711 |
domain; ] domain, |
716 |
wear ] wear, |
718 |
shepherd’s ] shepherd |
721 |
now; ] now, |
722 |
bowers, ] bowers |
725 |
heart, ] heart |
726 |
flame; ] flame, |
731 |
so; ] so, |
737 |
unconscious ] unconsious |
745 |
lone; ] lone, |
749 |
view. ] view, |
756 |
dwell— ] dwell, |
757 |
well! ] well? |
762 |
lends ] lends, |
763 |
where e’er ] where ere |
763 |
bends; ] bends, |
764 |
flowed ] glowed |
765 |
replete ] repleats |
770 |
way, ] way; |
800 |
robes, ] robes. |
804 |
conception, ] conception |
840 |
thine? ] thine. |
842 |
Echo ] echo |
848 |
mountain’s ] mountains |
870 |
own. ] own, |
871 |
fall; ] fall, |
874 |
store; ] store, |
875 |
beleaguered ] beleagured [page 111] |
877 |
in peril ] is peril |
878 |
repay: ] repay, |
883 |
havock’s ] havocks |
887 |
beleaguered ] beleagured |
899 |
tides’ ] tides |
901 |
waters’ ] waters |
904 |
innovating ] inovating |
920 |
brave. ] brave, |
928 |
cloak; ] cloak, |
941 |
route ] rout |
954 |
blast; ] blast, |
957 |
philosophy, ] philosophy |
967 |
reveal ] reveal, |
970 |
fight. ] fight, |
983 |
aggression ] agression |
993 |
contentious ] contentuous |
1000 |
rites ] rights |
1008 |
shod, ] shod |
1012 |
displays ] displays, |
1030 |
displays ] displays, |
1037 |
canoe; ] canoe |
1051 |
light and life ] life and light |
1054 |
flaky ] fleaky |
1061 |
fume, ] fume |
1065 |
blank, ] blank |
1067 |
Bear; ] Bear, |
1069 |
expire, ] expire; |
1073 |
days’ ] days |
1077 |
heaven, ] heaven |
1079 |
rest; ] rest, |
1081 |
repose. ] repose, |
1082 |
strength ] strength, |
1083 |
lingerment ] Lingerment |
1084 |
round, ] round [page 112] |
1095 |
traffic ] trafic |
1095 |
annual ] anual |
1096 |
prove ] prove, |
1100 |
seas ] seas? |
1101 |
these? ] these, |
1111 |
upraise, ] upraise. |
1131 |
prize. ] prize, |
1135 |
turn ] turns |
1140 |
competence ] competence— |
1153 |
sense; ] sense, |
1155 |
own, ] own; |
1159 |
fricassees of frogs] fricassee’s or frogs |
1161 |
trees: ] trees; |
1162 |
amid ] amid, |
1163 |
gorgeous ] georgeous |
1163 |
white. ] white, |
1176 |
counsels, ] counsels |
1192 |
Cochrane ] Cochran |
1228 |
need, ] need |
1228 |
stimulus ] stimulous |
1249 |
went; ] went, |
1252 |
elevate, ] elevate |
1252 |
supplies ] supplies, |
1291 |
tread, ] tread |
1319 |
spirit ] spirite |
1337 |
mock, ] mock |
1339 |
record ] record; |
1341 |
keeps ] keeps, |
1345 |
who, ] who |
1359 |
Conybeare ] Conobare |
1361 |
Conybeare ] Conobare |
1364 |
inscrutable ] inscrutible |
1385 |
Kosciuszko ] Kosciusko |
1388 |
fled. ] fled [page 113] |
1406 |
plains; ] plains, |
1410 |
eye, ] eye? |
1411 |
mien ] main |
1413 |
claim ] claim, |
1420 |
Surgeons sage, ] Surgeons, sage, |
1425 |
Columbians ] Columbians, |
1440 |
zephyrs ] zyphyrs |
1450 |
volunteers!—(28) ] volunteers!— |
1452 |
them, ] them |
1453 |
majestic, awful ] majestic awful |
1455 |
precipitate ] preciptate |
1463 |
MacNab ] McNab |
1463 |
proud ] prond |
1463 |
thou, ] thou, (28) |
1485 |
will, ] will; |
1486 |
bring: ] bring, |
1492 |
landscape, ] landscape |
1497 |
express’d; ] express’d. |
1500 |
bereft ] bereaft |
1519 |
Po? ] Poe? |
1525 |
condemn. ] condemn, |
1527 |
add ] adds |
1538 |
Irving ] Ervin |
1554 |
bed (31) ] bed |
1558 |
avails? ] avails |
1608 |
Resolved, ] Resolved |
1655 |
De Courcy ] De Coursy |
1663 |
record, (34) ] record. |
1666 |
can’st ] cans’t |
1676 |
miserable ] miserable, |
1677 |
sandbank, ] sandbank |
1686 |
arctic ] acrtic |
1691 |
travel; ] travel, |
1716 |
comes ] comes, [page 114] |
1723 |
bells! (35) ] bells! |
1727 |
door! (36) ] door! (35) |
1739 |
feel. ] feel |
1752 |
thee, ] thee; |
1755 |
prowl ] prowls |
1756 |
these, ] these |
1768 |
storm; ] storm, |
1772 |
mix! (37) ] mix! (36) |
1775 |
unfurled ] unfurled, |
1782 |
spray, ] spray; |
1797 |
route ] rout |
1809 |
maze ] maize |
1816 |
land; (38) ] land ; (37) |
1820 |
blast; (39) ] blast; (38) |
1822 |
glare; ] glare, |
1835 |
lave, ] lave. |
1838 |
rear, ] rear. |
1839 |
dank; ] dank, |
1840 |
bank ] bank; |
1844 |
ray ] ray; |
1845 |
beamed; ] beamed, |
1852 |
trees; ] trees; (39) |
1866 |
rippling ] ripling |
1870 |
day, ] day, (41) |
1873 |
orisons ] orisions |
1873 |
passed ] pased |
1879 |
vain, ] vain; |
1903 |
knew; ] knew |
1909 |
surprise, ] surprise. |
1910 |
amaze. ] amaze, |
1917 |
surprise? ] surprise. |
1918 |
dispell ] despell |
1918 |
despair ] dispair |
1931 |
Her utterance, (grown ] (Her utterance, grown [page 115] |
1964 |
beguiled ] beguiled, |
1986 |
father’s ] fathers’ |
1990 |
mine, ] mine |
1990 |
all ] all. |
1994 |
honoured most, ] honoured, most |
2001 |
fled ] fled, |
2001 |
all ] all, |
2007 |
sound? ] sound, |
2020 |
light. (41) ] light. |
2058 |
squirrel ] squirel |
2060 |
care worn ] cave worn |
2061 |
bird, ] bird |
2079 |
studious ] studeous |
2090 |
Give ] Gives |
2091 |
suns ] sun’s |
2094 |
tried. ] tried, |
2121 |
Molson’s ] Molsons’ |
2126 |
glittering ] gittering |
2139 |
surface ] surface, |
2139 |
view, ] view |
O’Grady’s Notes to The Poem |
Note 2
|
An appearance is then ] An appearauce is then
finally an execution ] finaly an execution
himself most conspicuous ] himself most conspicious
plot in secrecy ] plot in secresy
as witless as himself; ] as witless as himself,
necessary to ascertain ] necessary to assertain
his comrade; the bag ] his comrade, the bag
already absconded; they ] already absconded, they
some innocent blood ] some inocent blood
necessities of Mr. Snuffle ] necessities of Mr. Sunfflle [page 116]
become a sacrifice ] became a sacrifice
Solomon the wise ] Soloman the wise
said Jim, now ] said Jim now
What though your fee ] What thongh your fee
he felt, more anxious ] he felt more anxious |
Note 3
|
It happened Curran ] It happened Curren
would he be helped ] would he helped
quite the ton ] quite the ton
dare you presume ] dare yon presume
indignation was now aroused ] indignation was now arroused
so he passed on. ] so he passed on,
The Hon. Herbert Fitzgibbon ] The Hon. Hobert Fitzgibbon
Fitzgibbon remarking ] Fitsgibbon remarging
“also” and “likewise” ] also, and likewise
application; the wit shone ] application, the witt shone |
Note 4
|
this moment; vide ] this moment, vide |
Note 5
|
control of the English Government, ] controle of the English Government;
known to occur. The Earl ] known to occur, the Earl
succession. From a local ] succession, from a local
more speedily terminated ] more speelidy terminated |
Note 6
|
Brothers, anxious ] brothers, [anxious |
Note 7
|
the immense sea ] the immence sea
early resorted to; ] early resorted to, |
Note 8 [page 117]
|
together with their Irish ] togegether with their Irish
the heedless principles ] the heedles principles
the sufferers; disgusted ] the sufferers; digusted |
Note 9
|
some old monastery ] some old monastry |
Note 11
|
lost all his popularity ] lost all all his popularity
threatened with a French ] threatenned with a French
that of George the Third; ] that of George the Third,
by a settled policy ] by a setled policy |
Note 12
|
a blacksmith’s forge ] a blacksmiths’ forge |
Note 13
|
its ponderocity; extending ] its ponderocity extending
is manifest; the general ] is manifest, the general |
Note 15
|
until decomposed; successions ] until decomposed, successions
render the way impervious ] render the way imperious |
Note 16
|
Europeans hoping to visit ] Europeans hopping to visit |
Note 22
|
exhilarating stimulants ] exhilirating stimulants
powerfully felt the motion ] powerfully felt the emotion
Still did the hero . . . maintain ] Still did the hero . . . maintained
his main pursuit; he waited ] his main pursuit, he waited
suit be accepted. I have ] suit be accepted, I have
your kind exertions ] your ind exertions |
Note 23 [page 118]
|
the misfortune to lose ] the misfortuue to lose |
Note 25
|
Mr. Whitbread ] Mr. Whitehead |
Note 27
|
develops the carcasses ] developes the carcasses |
Note 28
|
sons will ne’er betray. ] sons will ne’er betray |
Note 30
|
Robert Emmet ] Robert Emmett
Emmet was the distinguished ] Emmett was the distinguished
Vide Sketchbook ] Vide Sketchbook |
Note 32
|
Mr. and Mrs. Sawtell ] Mr. and Mrs. Sautell |
Note 33
|
Laid hold of his scimitar ] laid hold of his scymeter |
Note 34
|
Gaoler, put this ] Goaler, put this
Baron Smith, by far ] Baron Smyth, by far
for his humanity; whenever ] for his humanity, whenever
by Smith or Traverse? ] by Smyth or Traverse?
O, thogume Smith ] O, thogume Smyth
Smith, he said he’d take Smith ] Smyth, he said he’d take Smyth
the ruins of Kilmallock ] the ruins of Killmalock
those who fell to defend ] those who feel to defend
a richness of scenery ] a richnes of scenery
“Deus nobis haec otia fecit.” Possessed ] “Deus nobis hec otia fecit,” poss- essed
still only accosted ] still only acosted
the degrading appellation ] the degrading appellation
neighbourhood of Kilmallock ] neighbourhood of Killmalock [page 119]
less learned competitors; ] less learned competitors,
struck the chords ] struck the cords
Inveni portum, Spes et Fortuna valete! ] Invini portum spes atque fortuna valete.
like wax a facsimile ] like wax a fac simile
tide wait for no man, ] tide wait for no man.
his lethargic reveries ] his lethergic reveries
his listless ear ] his lissless ear
saw himself accosted ] saw himself acosted |
Note 35
|
carry to market; ] carry to market,
contingencies of the day ] contingences of the day
a sash; a silk cravat ] a sash, a silk cravat
occurred in my presence ] occured in my presence
danger or distance; at that ] danger or distance, at that
mode of conveyance; on these ] mode of conveyance, on these |
Note 38
|
Vide Transactions ] Vide Translations
Emman’s plain ] Emmans plain
the wild boar bled. ] the wild boar bled,
Though trumpet’s sound ] Though trumpets sound
Let trumpet’s sound ] Let trumpets sound
pipes’ soft tones ] pipes soft tones
Ardan’s and Andle’s ] Ardans and Andles
had he fallen where ] had he fallen where,
fair ones praised, ] fair ones praised.
tongue in the other; ] tongue in the other,
brave gallant Jervis ] brave gallant Jarvis
Jack left two legs ] jack left two legs
’tis their lordships’ intention ] ’tis their lordship’s intention
plagued with a pension, ] plagued with a pension.
mud architecture. Having ] mud architecture, having [page 120]
notions seldom exceeding ] notions sedom exceeding
leaving an altitude ] leaving, an altitude
labour; the interior ] labour, the interior
these indispensable purposes ] these indespensable purposes
exist in fire. What wonder ] exist in fire, what wonder
its unerring effects ] its unerring offects
each; among this venial tribe ] each, among this vennal tribe
always in collusion ] always in collision
desired effect; he accordingly ] desired effect, he accordingly |
Note 39
|
to live in Sorel, ] to live in Sorel |
Note 40
|
ordinary dimensions ] ordinary dimentions |
Note 42
|
remnants of my stock ] remnant sof my stock [page 121] |
|