CHAPTER XIII SWEAR-WORDS AND EXPLETIVES CORNISH is a disappointing language in respect of swear- words, for it is by no means rich in those " ornaments to conversation." Except for a few very distressing expressions, now better forgotten, which are put into the mouths of the evil characters in the Dramas, the swears are mostly quite harmless, and even pious. It is not at all difficult or morally dangerous to learn to swear in Cornish. Surprise is generally expressed by Re Varia ! By Mary ! By Our Lady ! shortened at times to Aria! and Ria ! This is used as an Englishman might say " By Jove ! " or " By George ! " or a Frenchman " Dame ! " If there is an element of annoyance mingled with the surprise, An Jowl! The Devil, may be mentioned with effect, perhaps by those to whom Re Varia I savours too much of Popery ; but Re Varia / is in better taste. An Jowl may be used, as in English, after words signi- fying where, what, why, when, to strengthen a question. An assertion is strengthened by the use of the name of a saint, preferably the patron of one's own parish (though any Cornishman may swear by St. Michael 1 ), 1 In Jordan's Creation, 1. 599, " My hall sera thewgh gramercy," though Keigwin and Dr. Stokes both read my hall= may, one is inclined to find this form of swear, and to translate it "Michael! sir, grammercy to you ! Compare the English use of " Marry ! " (for Mary !) or " Gad ! " (for God !) without by before them. It is written all in one word and spelt the same as the name of St. Michael in the same play. It is no more of an anachronism to make Eve swear by St. Michael than (in Res. Dom., 1387) to make St. Thomas swear by St. Mary. 154
