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FAMOUS SONGS
that they would rid us of some modem ones), they took a fancy to its music. Xot satisfied with borrowing the art3 they despoiled us of some of our sweetest airs, and amongst others * Maggy Laidir/ The name signifies in the original, strong or powerful Maggy, and by it was meant Ireland, also designated by our bards under the names of Sheela na Guira, Grauna Weale, Roisin Dubh, etc. By an easy change, the adjective laidir, strong, was converted into Lauder, the patronymic of a Scotch family, and the air was employed to celebrate a famous courtesan of Crail. Although Ireland was always famous for sanctity and music, and could spare liberally of both, yet our countrymen ever felt indignant at the unacknowledged appropriation of many of their favourite saints and airs by their northern relatives. Now and then, some dauntless hagiographer ventured to vindicate, and succeeded in restoring a few purloined ascetics; but, until lately, the Irish had other things, more material than music, to defend; and it was not until Mr. Bunting appeared that any effectual effort was made to rescue our national melodies from Scotland and oblivion."
Even Thomson, the publisher and friend of Burns, had some pricks of conscience occasion-ally on the question of his wholesale ablation, for |
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