The Purcell Papers, vol 1 | Page 5

love.
Very soon after leaving college, and just when?he was called to the Bar, about the year 1838,?he bought the 'Warder,' a Dublin newspaper,?of which he was editor, and took what many?of his best friends and admirers, looking to?his high prospects as a barrister, regarded at?the time as a fatal step in his career to?fame.
Just before this period, Le Fanu had taken?to writing humorous Irish stories, afterwards?published in the 'Dublin University Magazine,'?such as the 'Quare Gander,' 'Jim Sulivan's?Adventure,' 'The Ghost and the Bone-setter,' etc.
These stories his brother William Le Fanu?was in the habit of repeating for his friends'?amusement, and about the year 1837, when he?was about twenty-three years of age, Joseph?Le Fanu said to him that he thought an?Irish story in verse would tell well, and?that if he would choose him a subject suitable?for recitation, he would write him one.?'Write me an Irish "Young Lochinvar," '?said his brother; and in a few days he?handed him 'Phaudrig Croohore'--Anglice,?'Patrick Crohore.'
Of course this poem has the disadvantage not?only of being written after 'Young Lochinvar,'?but also that of having been directly inspired by?it; and yet, although wanting in the rare and?graceful finish of the original, the Irish copy?has, we feel, so much fire and feeling that it at?least tempts us to regret that Scott's poem was?not written in that heart-stirring Northern?dialect without which the noblest of our British?ballads would lose half their spirit. Indeed, we?may safely say that some of Le Fanu's lines?are finer than any in 'Young Lochinvar,'?simply because they seem to speak straight from?a people's heart, not to be the mere echoes of?medieval romance.
'Phaudrig Croohore' did not appear in?print in the 'Dublin University Magazine'?till 1844, twelve years after its composition,?when it was included amongst the Purcell?Papers.
To return to the year 1837. Mr. William Le?Fanu, the suggester of this ballad, who was from?home at the time, now received daily instalments?of the second and more remarkable of his brother's?Irish poems--'Shamus O'Brien' (James O'Brien)?--learning them by heart as they reached him,?and, fortunately, never forgetting them, for his?brother Joseph kept no copy of the ballad, and he?had himself to write it out from memory ten?years after, when the poem appeared in the?'University Magazine.'
Few will deny that this poem contains passages?most faithfully, if fearfully, picturesque,?and that it is characterised throughout by a?profound pathos, and an abundant though at?times a too grotesquely incongruous humour.?Can we wonder, then, at the immense popularity?with which Samuel Lover recited it in the United?States? For to Lover's admiration of the poem,?and his addition of it to his entertainment,?'Shamus O'Brien' owes its introduction into?America, where it is now so popular. Lover?added some lines of his own to the poem, made?Shamus emigrate to the States, and set up?a public-house. These added lines appeared?in most of the published versions of the?poem. But they are indifferent as verse, and?certainly injure the dramatic effect of the?poem.
'Shamus O'Brien' is so generally attributed to?Lover (indeed we remember seeing it advertised?for recitation on the occasion of a benefit at a?leading London theatre as 'by Samuel Lover')?that it is a satisfaction to be able to reproduce?the following letter upon the subject from Lover?to William le Fanu:
'Astor House,
'New York, U.S. America.
'Sept. 30, 1846.
'My dear Le Fanu,
'In reading over your brother's poem?while I crossed the Atlantic, I became more and?more impressed with its great beauty and dramatic?effect--so much so that I determined to?test its effect in public, and have done so here,?on my first appearance, with the greatest success.?Now I have no doubt there will be great praises?of the poem, and people will suppose, most likely,?that the composition is mine, and as you know?(I take for granted) that I would not wish to?wear a borrowed feather, I should be glad to?give your brother's name as the author, should?he not object to have it known; but as his?writings are often of so different a tone, I would?not speak without permission to do so. It is?true that in my programme my name is attached?to other pieces, and no name appended to the?recitation; so far, you will see, I have done all?I could to avoid "appropriating," the spirit of?which I might have caught here, with Irish?aptitude; but I would like to have the means?of telling all whom it may concern the name of?the author, to whose head and heart it does so?much honour. Pray, my dear Le Fanu, inquire,?and answer me here by next packet, or as soon?as convenient. My success here has been quite?triumphant.
'Yours very truly,