The reference to Bunting playing the air (in the Molloy sleeve notes) is somewhat incomplete. The Annals
of the Irish Harpers shed some more light on the story:
The annals of the Irish Harpers wrote:
We have passed over a pathetic scene connected with
the political events of that time, in which Edward Bunting
figured.
In 1795, Wolfe Tone with his family, came as a political
fugitive to Belfast in order to embark there for America.
Thence he was destined to pass to France, to launch three
forces of invasion against England and finally to die in a
condemned cell.
Passing through Belfast, he was entertained and cheered
by former friends who rallied around him. Many delightful
excursions were planned, the last of which was on the llth
June, to Rani's Island on Lough Neagh. On the return of
the picnic party to Belfast there was a final gathering, for
it was now the eve of departure. Russell, Neilson, and the
M'Crackens were present, and Bunting, whose collection
was now well on the way to completion, was asked to
play.
He chose an appropriate air known as " The Parting of
Friends." It is recorded that the wife of Tone, though
unused to the melting mood, was overcome with the pathos
of the music, and, bursting into tears, left the room.
Had they had power to see into the future, the music
chosen was singularly appropriate, for tragedy loomed darkly
over the future; for two there, the scaffold waited, for a
third, death in a condemned cell.
What was the air played by Bunting is questionable.
That published with the title of "The Parting of Friends,"
though sweet and pathetic, lacks the poignant grief of
another with the same name, which lies buried in one of
the musical note-books. It is also given the title of " An
Cuman," or " The Bond," and there are Irish words for it ; 1
but among the manuscript poems there is only one quatrain
bearing the title of " The Parting of Friends or the Scatter-
ing of the Company." It would peculiarly apply to the
case of Tone, who had been courted in Belfast, then taken
note of as a conspirator, and, finally, was separating from
these conspirators with danger and death in prospect. The
air has all the character of a Gaelic lamentation, and here
is literal English for the Gaelic words.
" I have been for some time in this town, I have been greatly caressed,
That did not last long till notice was taken of me,
No two things on earth I account to be more grievous
Than the death of friends and the separating of companions."
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