TH E

L A N GU A GE P OET E K A ND M U S HJ

OF THE

H I G H L A N D CL A N S
 A T REA T I S E

ON T HE

L A NGU A GE ,
P OE TRY ,
A ND MU SIC

OF THE

H I GH L A ND CL A NS

W IT H

I L L U S T R A T I VE T R A DI T I O N S A ND A NE C D O T E S ,

A ND NU M E R O U S

A N CI E N T H I GHL A N D A I RS .

BY DONAL D Q AM P B E L L , E sQ .

L AT E LIE UT . 57 T E R E G I M E NT .

E DI N B U R G H

D R COL L I E S O N, 81 DA VI D S T R E E T
‘
19
6
. . .

A b
,

1 8 62 .
 P R E FA C E .

THE reli g i o u s an d civil institutions and th e state o f soci e ty am ong th e

,

p atriarchal o r Highl and Cl ans h ave been so misunderstood an d misre presented

, ,

as to have m ade o n the E nglish speaking public th e impression that thes e

-

Clans were in a state of lawl e ss b arb arity at the dawn of authentic his tory an d ,

continued in th at condition until a period within the memory of m en still livi n g .

Several untow ard circumst ances ch i efly resulting from the transl ation o f
,
’
O ssi an s poems have occur red to confirm this imp re ssio n
, O n e l earn e d an d .

talented E nglishmen with a direct reference to these poems conten d e d th at such

, ,

ideas and feelings could n o t be expre ssed i n the rude gibberish o f a b arb arous
people ; and several E nglish speaking Lowlanders an d Highla n ders t aking
-
,

up thi s view o f the subject and h aving the sam e conviction as to the rude
,

uncultiv ated ch aracter of the l anguage m aintained that the Highland Clans ,

h ad no poetry and could not have h ad any poetry exc e pti n g that which had
, ,

been recently forg e d for them in E ngl ish by writers of so unscrupulous a ,

ch aracter as to fathe r their patched u p pl agi arisms o n mythic b ards known

-
,

only to the vulgar lore of a peopl e who h ad never eme rged from a st ate of
lawless b arb arity That these gentlemen were in tot al ignorance o f the subject
.

on which they wrote so dogm atically did n o t lessen th e influence o f thei r

,

Opinions o n readers who h ad no me ans of detecting that ignorance and who ,

n aturally gave them credit for to o much honesty an d decency to believ e them ,

c apable o f writing so confidently o n a subject o f which they knew nothing .

I t is very true that o n a recent occasion the a chievements an d conduct o f th e

, , ,

Highlanders were such as could not fail to cause doubt in the mi n ds o f an

e nlightened people o n th e ex p a r ti statements o f those who rep re s e n ted the
,

Highl and Cl ans as plundering b arbari ans since it is impossible to b e liev e that
a mer e h andful o f b arbari ans could n o t only e ncounter but defeat a re gul arly
, ,

trained army o r th at l awless m araud ers in o veru n n in g a country should h ave

, , ,

committed fe w e r out rage s th an were ever known to have be e n committ e d by

an y discipli n ed army in simil ar circumstances T h e se facts w e re known to th e
.

writers abov e referred to when th ey were w ri ting down th e Highl and e rs ! I t

,
vi P R E FAC E .

m ay , I thi n k ve ry fai rly be assum ed th at th e ag e which witn e ssed these achi e ve

, ,

ments an d that conduct a n d p refe rr e d believing ill natured and dishonest assu m p
,
-

tions to fairly interpreti ng these well known facts w as n e ither intelligent nor ,

g en erous Nevertheless the succeeding age approved o f an d followed thei r

.
, ,

e xample if we may j udge by the un abated pr ej udices ag ainst the Highlanders

, .

When mod e rn we alth an d refinement created such a dem and for all kinds of
literature it w as naturally inte rpreted as unfavourabl e to the pretensions of the
,

Gael that that literature w as foun d appare ntly m l nor until within these fe w
’

, ,

ye ars did a single writer wield the pen to explain the reason although it w as ,

quite e asy to do so by throwing light on the ancient institutions and tenures

,

of th e Celtic Clans an d sho wi n g that when the patri archal sys tem w as st ruck
, ,

down by the disaste rs o f Culloden the rights an d privileges of the peopl e we re ,

violated and the same e ff ect given to feudal charters over the unco n quered
,

l ands of the Highlanders which they h ad lo n g previously attained over the

,

conquered l ands of the people of E ngland an d that the Gael h ad been thus ,

pl aced in a state of tran sition and eviction which w as equ ally unfavourable to ,

the pursuit o r the remun e ration o f literature .

The m e lodies reels an d strathspeys o f the G ael met with no better fate th an
, ,

“ ” “ ”
the O ssia n o f M a h erson an d the Se an D an a o f the Rev Dr Smith ; nobody
, .

believed in their antiquity Fo r h o w it w as philosophically argued could a

.
, ,

rude an d b arbarous pe ople carry down from remote ages in their oral lore and

e very day a musements such poetry an d such music ,

T hi s w as sound reason
ing for it i s impossible to believe th at the music an d poetry of a separate
,

an d disti n ct people could have two sep ara te and disti nct characters from the ,

indisso luble connexion be tween poetry and music unt il within a ve ry recent ,

period . I t w as e q ually im po ssible to believe that th e poetry and music of a

people and th e people themselves should be o f two diff e rent and d istinct
, ,

characte rs ; th at the people should be rude and b arbarous and their poet ry ,

an d music not only inte lligent but refined E ither o f the two post ulate s
, .

must be conceded therefo re to Dr Johnson by who m the question of the

, , ,

a uthenticity of the poem s w as put o n thi s sound an d p hi los0 ph ic basis T he .

Doctor does not seem to have h ad the music of the Highl ande rs under
consideration but I submit that the music an d the po etry w e re tw i ns born ,
—

o f the sam e p a rentage nurse d at the same bosom an d reared a mo n g th e s a me

, ,

glens and mountains an d th at whoever beli e ve s in the one i s boun d to be lieve ,

in the other I th e refore thoroughly a gree with Doc tor Johnson so far as he goes ;
.
,

but submit that the music forms an inseparable element in the question Th e .

state o f soci e ty th at could have produced an d have in i ts e ve ry day amusem ents ,

preserved such music might well produce such poetry ; an d that state of society
,

could not h ave been either rud e or b arbarous But the copi ers and publis h e rs .

o f th e music h ad by their o w n vile snobbery contributed to t h e sc e pticism on

the subj ect Th ey d e p riv e d the m elodie s an d tunes o f the Signet o f antiq uity
.

contai n e d in th e he reditary n am e s an d reb aptis ed them in compliment to th e ir

, ,

patrons an d p atronesses an d thus stamped them ex f a c ie as modern ins te ad of

, , ,

a ncient music .
 P R E FA C E . vi i
The transition state o f the G ae l i s n o w past The feudal historian s and .

clearan ce mak e rs h ave done their worst ; but the Clans h ave their L AN G U A G E
-
,

t h e ir P O E T R Y and their M U SIC still l e ft and in these they h ave ample m aterials
, , ,

if properly handled to vindicate the memory o f their noble ancest ors against ,

the charge o f lawless barbarity Hence thi s treatise I w as not while writin g . .
,

it inse nsible of the difliculty of finding purchase rs and readers f o r any work on
,

a subject so prejudiced an d prejudged An d I could not venture to in cur .

li ability f or a large amount o f advertisements But I pub lished my proposal in .

a few of the newspapers most likely to meet the eyes of Highlanders , as I

never doubted should my object be m ade generally known that there are
, ,

thousands of High land e rs who are as an xious as I possibly can be to remove ,

'

the charge of lawless barbarity made against the memory o f o ur ancestors an d ,

the sentence of prosc ripti on under which their l anguage an d poet ry in e ffe ct
lie an d th at such Highlanders would willingly u se their influence to procure
,

subscribers to guarante e the expenses *

Subs cription lists have been tak en up .

with their usual spirit by a few worthy Highl anders in Greenock P aisley and , ,

Glasgow ; 1 accordin gly placed the treatis e in the hands of the printe r without
, , ,

waiting for the result but have no doubt that a suffi cient number o f subscribers ,

have been obtained to cover the expenses ; and in that case my conviction is , , ,

tha t the spirit of fair play which h as hitherto characterize d and which I trust ,

will ever conti nue to characte ri ze the people of thi s country will procure for a ,

work having such an object at least a fair hearing and I ask no more ,
—
.

With regard to the phon etic spellin g I am sorry to find that all the ,

Highlanders whom I have consulted excepting two literary gentlemen 1 are , ,

'

“ ”
opposed to the innovation Surely those who object to the phonetic spelling .

A H i g hl d w h h d an f th adv
er ti m t b y m e ccid t w t m ( l th g h
o a see n on e o e se er se en s er a en , ro e e a ou

w w e to t l st g ) c mm di g th at I h l d dv ti m
ere a ran ers re o xt ivel y xp i g hi n ien n s ou a er se o re e en s , e ress n s co v c

ti th t th e w th
on a er d f H i g h l d th t l ik hi ms lf w l d f l xi t g t b c i b f
ere ou san s o an e rs a , e e , ou ee an ou s o e su s r e rs or

th p p e f h vi g
u r o se o ch w k p bli h d w h mi g h t v k w y th i g b t th p p l l
a n su a or u s e , o ne er no an n a ou e ro o sa , un e ss

m o re ext iv l y dv rti d F li g th t I m t h w i th ki d d p i i t I c did l y t l d h i m th t th

en s e a e se . ee n a e ere a n re s r , an o a e

t id f p j di c w
e o re u t g g i t Gaeli c d G l i c li t t
e as so s ro n t m k it t d g
a a nsf an ae e ra u re , a s o a e oo an e ro u s or a

re ti d fii w i th m l l mil i t y i c m t i c
re o ce r a s cc t f dv t i m t
a th ch
ar c f th n o e, o n ur an a o un or a er se en s o n e an e o e

su cc f ch w k T h bl Ga l th w t m ch ct i ti c l tt i cl i g p d t
ess o su a or . e no e e en ro e e a ara er s e er, n os n a oun no e,

an d be gg i g th t I w n l d l y i t t addi ti l dv ti m t
a ou a ou on o na a er se en s .

1 O f th G tl m bo v f d to i M M N g h t T ill yf i w h d liv d d p bli h d ‘

e re erre s r au on , o ur e ,
'
ne o e en e en a o e e re an u s e

3. L ct e th
ur e o nth ti ci ty f O i e auP m w h i ch f en ch cl d i m p ti l
o i g d
ss an s
’
oe s, o r re sear , e ar a n ar a re as o n n , an

g d ta t
oo d
s e an i p i t yth i g th t h d p vi l y pp d th bj ct d th th i
sen se , s su e r or o an n a a re ou s a ear e on e su e an e o er s

M M acd l d G d tully w h l tte th v i di l ct d c ll d c f E p I h v

r on a , ran , os e e r on e ar o u s a e s an so - a e ra es o u ro e a e

i t d w i th h i ki d p m i i
n ser e t p a g 27
s M M N g h to
n er c mm d d th t I h l d d p t th
ss o n , a e . r
‘
au n re o en e a s ou a o e

p i ci p l ci ti i ll t t d i M W l k D i cti y f m y p h ti c p lli g d I ’
r n f p es o ro n un a o n as us ra e n r a er s o n ar or on e s e n , an

w ou ld h v d a h d m y im b
e o n e so m ly t q t p cim a f Gaeli c p t y ; b t I h d
a th
een d ere o uo e s e en s o oe r u a an o e r an

t t l l y diff t bj ct i vi w m l y t
o a ere n o bl th E g li h ead to pe
e n e th p m al
, na dy i p i t
e , o en a e e n s r er ru se e oe s re a n r n .

I bmi t M M
su
gh t r pe c i m h w v
acn au to th d d i c
on s s
’
l y h p th t i t w i ll b d p t d en , o e e r, e rea e r, an s n ere o e a e a o e

by m y g H ig h l d w h ym p th i w i th my xi w i h t
so e o un er an er th i b ti f l l g g
o s a z es an ous s es o se e s ea u u an ua e

po p l i e d ;
u ar z d I h v d b t l c ti
an f Ga li c p et y
a e w i tte
no w ul d b oucc p t bl t se e on s o e o r so r n o e a e a e o

th d f th E g li h p ki g p bl i c
o u san s o e n s -s ea n u .

4 l 4 3 4 34 2 a a l 9 4 a 4

A n e —a n d onn n a b l ua -
e, V ? 31 b “ m e li ad h u g m . '

4 s 4 3a4 4 4 4 4 s4 1 4 4 9 4 n 2
Ga v e l an
g g lu a s ad f a r-as d a
,
L i ad vra-d al as li d c h i
a un -o ,
4 4 a l a4 a 1 a r 4 1 4
l b dh t
A

A u g g ao a h u g me u an u ,
L u b h u m e m ar y u r-an ,
3 s a : 34 : 4 4 a 4 4 l 4 4 s 4 4 4
Cha ve—i c h orn a - c h as i y ar-i ch -an . Ch a d chu -as 8. vi f al-eu dh o v .
v iii P R E FAC E .

forget th at the Gaelic has been subj e cte d to a thorough i n novation long b efore
this an d th at it now appe ars b e fore th e public not i n its native an d grac eful
, ,

tart ans but in a Rom an garment grotesqu ely sh ap e d for th e purpose of swad
, ,

dlin g an d not of d e veloping i ts nobl e lineam e nts

,
This h as hithert o evid ently
formed the stumbling block to the study o f the G aelic language for ev e ry
-
,

pe rson who has already learned the E n glish n ames of the Rom an lett ers in p er ,

using G aelic books as now printed must be subjected to the complic ated process ,

o f unlearning the E nglish and l earning th e G aelic sounds of the same lette rs
, ,

and the former is fully as di ffi cult as th e latter Had the native alph abet b een .

preserved the Gaelic student would only h av e to go through the simple proc e ss
,

o f learning a new alphabet .

The Gaelic bards as i s shown elsewhere were the gre at conservatives of

, ,

ancient times They stood firmly and to the death in th e defence of the
.
, ,

rights and liberties of the people ; and hence wherever despotism was put up , , ,

Gaelic bards an d G aelic poetry were put down The kindly fe elings liberal .
,

sentiments an d high tone o f i n dependenc e which breathes through Gaelic

,
’
poet ry (the monks written ursg eu ls excepted ) could not find symp athy
— —

among a feudal people without provi n g destructive of d e spotism The feudal

, .

despot and his assessors knew this well Hence th e Gaeli c l an gu age although .
,

o n e o f the oldest in E urope has be en studiously excluded from every university

,

o r collegi at e institution endowed by kings or queens o r presided over by priests , ,

whether C atholic o r Protestant to th e present day ; an d is the only E uropean ,

dialect which is now taught in no higher seminary than a charity supported -

hedge school ! Do my Highland friends wi sh the lan g uag e o f thei r ancestors to

-

be continued i n this state of absolute p rescrip ti on ? We have in Gaelic , ,

grammars and diction aries which to say the least have been the works of , , ,

m en o f as much le arning research discrimin ation an d talent as those o f o ur

, , ,

n eighbours ; but who profits by them ? Not on e in a thousand even among ,

Highland e rs can read or wri te Gaelic I n short past experience shows that
,
.
,

the Gaelic will not be an object o f acqu i sition to the public o r even to learned ,

men devoted to philologic al researches , whi le it continu e s under its pre se nt

deformed mask I have therefore considered it a worthy mission so to sh ake
.
,

if I do not shatter th at m ask as to enable scholars an d gentlemen to get at , ,

least a glimpse of the beaming form which is being c rush e d to de ath und e r it .

And I kno w that there is to be found in the l angu ag e which has bee n thus ,

thrown into obscurity by a forbiddi n g looki ng disguis e a poetry which clearly -

,

proves th at the people whose symp athies were so accordant wi th th e generous ,

heroic kind and benevolent fe elings and sentiments ther e in contained as to

, , ,

make them cherish and pre serve it by oral recitation for nearly two thous and
years must have been as civilized during that period as the middle classes o f
, , ,

the people of this country are at the present day unless civi lization means —

something else than intelligence and a lively sympathy with generous h e roic , , ,

kind and benevolent feelings and sentiments I kno w th at this as sertion wi ll be

,

put down as paradoxical by those who form decided Opinions on subjects of which
they know nothing and that such parties are peculiarly tenacious of foregone
,
 P R E FAC E . ix

con clusions not the less when they result from ignoranc e an d prejudice ; but I
,

a lso believe th at the re is i n this count ry e nough o f justice c andour le arn ing , , ,

a n d tal e n t to t e st this questio n o n the merits I sub mit ample mate ri als f o r
,
.

the investig ation an d am convinc e d that whoeve r shall peruse them with the
,

c are nec e ss ary to en able him to decide intelligently on the subject will ag ree ,

with me But to enable those who are unacqu ainted with the l angu age to
.
,

form a sound Opinion on the question I considered a more simpl e o rthography a , ,

s i n e ua n o n
q He n ce the system adopted in this tre atise
. Although u n accustomed .

to write G aelic I believe I understand th e l angu age w ell and h ave k e pt faith
, ,

with such subscribers as are en amoure d of the pre sent o rthography by spelling
the specimens which I quote in accordance with that o rthography although as , ,

al re a dy st ated w an t o f practice m ay have occ asion e d m any mistakes which

, ,

the verb al critic will be gl ad to pounce u pon ; but I h ave under written e very -

word so spelt phonetically for the E nglish re ad e r convinced th at this will enable
, ,

him to form a more sound Opinion of the l angu age and poetry than he could
otherwise have formed o f them without a vocal te acher an d much trouble and ,

e xpense .

The writing o f Gaelic an d especially phonetically being n e w to m e I

, , ,

t ake it for granted th at innume r able mist akes an d omissions may have escap e d
m e i n correcti n g the proofs Any critic but the merely verb al o n e will h o w
.
,

ever I think find enough to convince him that such mistak e s and omissions
, ,

are more to be ascribed to w ant o f practice than to want of knowledge of the

subjects For the former I might exp e ct to be excus e d ; f o r the latte r I could
.

n ot
. The phonetic spelling is o n a c arefully consider e d unifo rm pl an but being ,

thoroughly new to myself there is no doubt that many lette rs will be fou n d
,

undetected that are inconsistent with uniformity and unnecessary to the ,

pronunciation This will I trust be excused in th e fi rst edition o f a new system o f

.
, ,

orthography I am aw are th at my phonetic spelling will give the E nglish reader

.

but a very imperfe ct idea o f the beauty o f the l anguage when comp ared to a
chaste and elegant p ronunciation by the living voice but ev e ry well educate d -

person knows th at lett ers without a voc al teacher n ever c an teach any fo reigner
to speak an y l angu age like a native I h av e endeavoured to m ak e this Pre face .

emb race my whole c ase an d submit it to the public with perf ect confid enc e in
,

i ts truth and honesty ; an d therefore I have some hopes th at it may assist in

creating amon g E nglish re aders some interest in the Langu age Poetry an d , ,

Music o f the H ighland Clans .

Port G la sg o w, 3rd J u ly 1 8 62 .
 I NT R O DU CT OR Y R E M A R KS .

THE Gaelic i s a language of monosyllables o r roots Hence i n order to .

,

have a k ey to the etymon the Druids pre served th e initial letter of every root
,

in compound words which has so load e d them with consonants as to giv e the
, ,

language an unpronounceable and forbidding look but by rules equally simple ,

and be autiful the aspirate letter h is so man ag ed as to silence o r euphonize

, ,

t h e consonants wherever their initial sound would i nj ur e the e asy flo w o r graceful

cadence o f a word a verse or sentence The knowl e dge of the power an d

, , .

prope r u se of the aspi rate is therefore the most important requirement o f the
, ,

G aelic student ; an d this c an I think h e very easily le arned by comp aring

, , ,

the present mode o f spelling with the phonetic spelling of the following pages ,

after car e fully perusing the bri e f lesson submitted in i llustration .

The high e r class o f Highl anders have in a great me asure gi ven up , ,

speaking G aelic within thes e hundred ye ars there being no Object su fficiently ,

accordant with the utilitari an character of the age to induce them to devote
the necessary time to its study ; and the educ ated among the lower cl asses c on
sist chi e fly of clerical students doctors lawyers &c The former instead o f
, , , .
,

having availed themselves o f their cl assic al opportuniti e s to become more perfe ct

in their knowledge of their n ative language gene rally lost in the Lowlands all ,

o f G aelic which they h ad acquired at the firesi des o f their Highl and p arents .

These rem ark s apply to a period when Dissent w as little more than a name
in Scotl and ; and as the Church p atron age was in the hands o f the high e r
c l ass e s a
, n d these students with few exceptions were o f the lower class th e y
, , ,

found it in the general c ase their interest to cultivate a spirit of diplomacy

, ,

r ather th an o f independ e nce Hence with some noble exceptions the students
.
, ,

o f Divinity returned from the se ats o f learning in the Lowl ands where the ,
“ ”
gi bberish was o f ill repute to their n ative districts fully qu alified to
, ,

conciliate the dispense rs of Church patronage but scarcely able to address ,

from the pulpit a congre gation o f intelligent Highl anders ; and thus between ,

toadyism and bad Gaelic the Church of S cotland in the Highlands lost the
,

respect o f the people and was at length merely regarded as the Church o f
,

the Heritors .

Many o f the clergy o f the E stablished and Dissenting Church es were

born of plebeian p arents and re ared duri ng the years in which the feelings and
, ,

the m anners are m ost susceptible among the callousness and rudeness almost
,

inseparable from povert y coarse livin g and la bour They almost invari ably
, ,
.
,

while going through their curriculum had to hire them selves out d uring their ,
4: INT R O D UCT O R Y R E MA R KS .

V acatio n time as te achers fo r the purpose of p rocuring funds to p ay their cl ass

-
,

fe e s &c he n ce the egotism o f the do m z m e w as usu ally supe rind uc e d o n th e c al

' '

, .

lou sn ess an d co ars e n ess of the pl eb e i an b e fo re th e g e n erality o f such cle rgym e n ,

h ad become placed ministers N aturally looking to a position which h ad b ee n th e

.
,

obj ect of such a struggl e an d such privation s as the highest that i n his vi e w ,

c an be attai n e d o n e arth such a c le rgyma n when he attai n s a chu rch conside rs

, , ,

himse lf a most lordly personage an d w ants nothi n g in his o wn Opi n io n to , , ,

e st ablish his dignity and fix his s ta tus but a fe w lordly o r at le ast la zr dly
’

, , ,

a cquaint ances E very branch of the P rotestant Church fu rn ishes men of h e ads
.
,

he arts and m anne rs which make them tru e specimen s o f sc hol ars an d ge ntle
‘

, ,

m e n ; but such are rare Su rely wh e n soci e ty as n o w constituted consists o f

.
,

thre e cl asses means might be fou n d to secure a gre ate r nu mber o f the higher
,

and middle cl asses for th e Church I t would ind e ed be a pity to exclude men
o f fin e h earts and high tale n ts from the Church merely b e cause their p arents ,

were poor or lo w bo rn bu t as for the common herd o f pl ebei an ministers th e se

-
, ,

w e affirm would be more h appy and cert ai n ly more suitably emplo y ed an d

, ,

u seful to their count ry as artisans and labourers tha n i n their present

, ,

p osition .

The h ard and se annachie who were th e g u ardi ans of the Gaelic lan g uage
, ,

ceased to live as an ord e r o n the accession o f the King of Scotl and to th e

th rone o f the B ritish E mpi re an d the re were no mean s p rovided at the
Reformation for e duc ating ministers o r schoo lmasters for the Gaelic speaking -

part of the people But this w as not all Corrupti on was adde d to the neglect
. .

o f the l an guage ; f o r since the patri arch al governments of th e cla n s were

dis solved by th e disasters o f Culloden an d Highl and te nure s have been sub ,

j ec te d to the feud al laws the people have been i n a t ransition sta te and the
, ,

co untry so inundate d with a Lowland peasantry as scarcely to leave a singl e ,

locality in which the Gael o r his l angu age are to be found in their n ative purity .

The clerical student wh o really wished to qu alify himself for the n ative pulpit ,

had another formidable diffi culty to surmount besides the w ant o f Gae lic p ro
f essors an d schoolmasters and th at was the hostility o f th e Reform Clergy
, , ,

E p i scop alian as well as Presbyterian to the native poetry and tales in which , ,

alone the Gaelic is to be found i n i ts purity .

The priesthood who succeeded the Cul dees showed far more ta ct an d ,

knowledge o f human n ature than those who succeeded the Reform ation ; f or ,

i nstead of entering into hostility agai n st the tradition al po e ms an d heroes th at

had such a hold o n the hearts an d such an influence over the lives of the people
, ,

they went deliberate ly an d systematically to work so to reconstruct th e se as to ,

”
render them subservient to th e pious fraud by which they sought to conve rt
mankind to the new religion The Prot e stant histori an s o f the C atholic Chu rch
.
,

in accounting f or m any o f its feasts &c say that th e y av ailed themselves of ,

.

“ ”
established superstitions H ad they said th at th e y inv e nted superstitions
.
,

which afterw ar ds became establish e d th ey h ad been n eare r the truth A t an y ,

.

rate th e y composed new versions of the tradition al po ems o f the north an d e ast
,

o f E ri n and o f Albin w here the druid or natural religion and the pa tri arch al
,
 IN T ROD U C T O RY RE M ARKS .
5

sy stem pre v ail e d into which the y introduced s aints sorcerers witches gi an ts
, , , , ,

an d dw arfs together with their miracles n e crom ancies witchcrafts c annib al , , ,

isms an d t ricks By these singul arly seductive l egends they em ascul ate d the
,
.
,

m i n ds corrupted the t astes an d bewild e red the ide as o f the peopl e ; an d thus
, ,

m ade th e m forg e t th at knowl edge of the God an d l aws of N ature which h ad

b een taught th e m by the Druids an d prepared them to believe an y thing , .

Hence the succ e ss n ot o f a pu re Christi an ity but o f an ambitious and des

—

poti e pri e st cr aft an d its som e times f osterch ild and sometim e s ben efactor an d
-
,

ch ampion Feud alism ; hence als o the superstitious cre d ulity which u n til this
, ,

day b e lieves in the imp rovised miracles of the C atholic an d the riv al but
, ,

coars er an d less poetic R evivals o f th e Dissenting pri e sthood and in the witch
crafts and pro ph e ci e s o f c azed old women gipsi e s an d t able rapp ers
r
, ,
-
.

T h e cl ass of U rsg e uls o r n e w t ales composed by th e monks b ear intri n sic

, , ,

evidence of being n o t the work o f the G aelic ba rds but o f d abble rs in Greek ,

and Roman lit e rature ; for they h ave th eir me tamo rphosis &c which are tot ally ,
.
,

foreign to the n ation al poet ry Th e re is another cl ass of U rsg euls quite distinct
.
,

from th e se fo rgeri e s which are much m ore honest and amusing h avi n g been
, ,

writte n by the bards of the Scottish o r Gothic cla n s of the south and west o f
Irel and an d Scotl and in ridicule of the pride o f d e sc e nt from the F in g alian s
,

o f the Celtic cl ans of the north an d east o f both countri e s T hese consist o f .

p arodies an d burlesqu e s on p assages o f historic al and g e nui n e poems c arri e d ,

down by oral recit ations and are very much too graphic to l e ave an y doubt
,
”
o f their object But so stubbo rn are facts and so te n acious were th e an cient
.
,

Celtic cl an s of th eir oral poetry and traditions that nei th e r the monkish ,

forgeries nor the Scottish burlesques have ever been able wholly to corrupt or
supplant th e m in th e north o f eith e r Ireland o r Scotl and Hence many o f the .
,

v aluable historic al poems still exist in their pu rity I n deed these forg eries and .
,

humou rous bu rl e sques and p arodies have never attained a more dignified n ame
ei ther in E rin or A lbin th an U R S G E U L S a word formed fro m the roots u re new an d
, , ,

s eu l a tale See C m h dh Mhic L e id by M ari Ni h ean A li sdai r R uai dh

y , u a . o g , ,

who live d until ne arly th e end Of the sixte e nth century at page 1 5 9 ; an d Mr ,
’
0 K e ern ey s i n troductory or expl an ato ry remarks in refe rence to the b attle o f
’

C ath G arbh a published by the O ssianic Society of Dublin in 1 860 in which

, ,

h e expr e ssly d e signat e s these rem ai n s as U R S G E U L S an d propounds the amusing ,

“ ”
p aradox that they are historically m ore tru e th an the anci e nt poems of
,

O ssi an from which he admits them to have bee n derived T h e n ame Ursg eu l
, .
,

nec e ssarily implies th at there were old t ales on which the U rsg e uls we re founded ,

New T estament implies th at there w as also an

“ ” ”
a s the Old Testament .

”
A r e viewer in the Times o f the Dean of Lis more s book o n the U r
, ,
’

sg uels o r monkish l e ge n ds o f O ssian

, lately published at E dinburgh rem arks , , ,

th at in th at gre at m ass Of poe try there is no me n tion o f Wallace and B ruce ,

an d no h atred of the E nglish ; but although thes e t ales o r ursg e uls are evident
,

ly monkish leg ends in which the traditio n al poems an d hero e s o f the people are
,

made subservient to pious fraud they profess to be an d I b elieve really are

”
, , ,

older than the ag e of Wallace an d Bruce The E mpe rors of Rome are men .

“
ti one d in them as kings of the world and O scar s traditional battle o f ’
 6 I NT R O D UCT O R Y R E MA R KS .

C air on or Fi n try out o f which fe w o f the people of the kings of the world
, ,
”
escap e d is e speci ally m e ntioned Iain Lom speaks o f both Wallace and
, .

Bruc e ; but expr e ss e s no h atred o f the E nglish E ven th e bards who wrote o n .

the m assac re of Gl e ncoe an d Culloden d o not express h atred o f th e E nglish , .

The G ael was too magn animous to h ate his e nemies There i s not such a thi n g .

as h atre d o r r evenge to be found in Gaelic poe try .

Bishop Carse w ell o f A rgyle fulmi n ated against the poetry an d t ales of the
G ael an ag e b efore their stil l more form id able e n emy Dr John son w as born ;
, , ,

a n d in so f ar as th e Bishop is conc ern e d for a more honest r eason n amely as he

, , , ,

indignantly expre sses it bec au se th e Highl an de rs of his day woul d rather listen
,
”
to poems an d t al e s about Fi n M C o ul O sk i r Mac O i sh in an d the like th an
‘
, , ,

to psalms and se rmons an d the disciples of C alvi n were not l e ss hostil e to the

langu ag e and poet ry of th e Gaelic b ards than those Of Luther E xt re m e z e al .

,

and som e excesses were to be expected from the em ancipated sl aves o f spiritual
,

and civil d e spotism and the British Reform atio n wa n ot fre e of ex amples o f
,
s

such excess e s an y more th an the French Revolution but it was scarcely to be

,

expected that thes e holy refo rme rs would ca rry their spi ritual intole ran ce so f ar
as to make w ar o n a literature i n which the most diligent rese arch will not
dete ct a verse or a p aragraph o flen sive to morality o r religion T his intole rance .

among the old school cl ass o f the Highla n d clergy c ame down to Dr Blai r s ’

time It is th e re fore di ffi cult to u nde rsta nd h o w he and the other learned

.
, ,

g e ntlemen who interest e d themselves in the O ssi an controversy were so oblivious ,

o f the hostility of th e Highland cle rgy to th e poetry and t ales o f the Gael as ,

to apply to them for i n form atio n on the subjec t T he i n formation collect e d by .

the Highlan d Society is in my humble Opi n ion quite suffi cient to satisfy any
, ,

imp arti al inqui rer as to the authenticity substanti ally o f Mr Macpherson s , ,

'

elegan t an d spirite d t ranslation o f the poems ; and some o f them such as Fingal , ,

h ad bee n found i n manuscripts of consid erable antiquity ; an d surely it will be

ad m itte d that the author of Fi n gal w as qu alifi e d to write any other poe m in
M a h erso n s translation
’
But had th ey appli e d to the tailo rs who at t h at ,

time itinerated fro m house to house m aking the clothes o f th e people an d were , , ,

I might almost say professi on al reciters o f poems t ales and t raditio n s inste ad
, , , ,

of the clergy the resul t would h ave been more conclusive an d s at isfac tory
,
.

Mr C ampbell o f Islay in the l ast volume of h i s interesting and (to the

,

biologi st an d antiqu ary) most valu able Highland tal e s h as i n his o wn h appily , ,

piquant discriminating and gentl e m anly style put th e whole con trovers y
, , ,

ro and can before the public with a j udgment an d imparti ality which gives
p ,

the e nemies of O ssi an fair play an d l ea ves hi s friends nothing to fe ar an d little

, ,

additional to say on the authenticity o f the poems in so far as the subject had ,

bee n developed up to th at d ate But I observe with n o small surprise and .

,

regret th a t the le arned an d talented author of the Introduction and Notes to

,

the ursg euls o r monkish le g ends of O ssian collecte d by the Dean o f Lismore , ,

before alluded to thinks h e h as now fairly discovered the autho r o f the

,

o rigin als of O ssi an s poems in Mr M acpherson S trath m ash i e ! The poe ms

’

, ,

of O ssi an collec ted by James M acpherson an d his fri ends (as all who know

anythin g of the c olle ct ion and publication of oral poetry mus t be aware of ) must
 I N T RO D U CT O R Y R E MA R K S .
7

ne c e ss arily h ave consisted o f diff e rent versions and di ff erent deta ched piec es ,

according as di ff erent re cite rs were more o r less correct or more o r less retentive
in thei r memories o f the di ff erent poems o r parts of poems furnished by th em
to the co llectors The p reliminary steps to the transl ation the refore necessa ri ly
.
, ,

were the coll ation proper arrangemen t an d c areful copyi n g of these di fferent
, ,

v ersions and di ffe r e nt parts T he translator w as assisted in this process by two

.

gentlemen Mr Macpherson o f S trath m ash i e an d C aptain Morison o f Greenock

, , ,
—
two gentlemen o f e ducati on and position in society against whose honour and ,

integrity not o n e syllable h ad be en b reathed duri n g the hundred ye ars these

poems h ave been under a controv e rsy mo re o r less intense until Mr Skene who , ,

h as a ttaine d a distinguished position in the historic al an d antiqu arian lite ratu re

o f his country sudd enly discovers from som ebody to o insign ific ant to be
, ,

re membered th at the whole th ree we re fraudule n t conspirators an d one of

, ,
“
them a great po e t ! His words are : Som e ye ars ag o I h appened to pass a ,

couple of months in the n eighbourhoo d of S trath m ash i e an d I recollect h aving ,

b e en inform ed at th at time bu t by wh om I ca n n o t no w tell that after L achl an

, ,
’
M acpherson s de ath a p aper was found in his re positori e s containing the G aelic
, ,

o f the seventh book o f Temo ra in his o wn hand wri ting with numerous , ,

corrections and alter ations with this titl e Fi rst rud e draft o f the seventh
, ,
’
book o f Temora .

'

I will n ot stop to remark on the in adequ acy o f the above to justify

the grave inference of Mr Skene T h e poems published by the Rev Dr Smith . .

were all or many of them cl aimed by a schoolm aster o f th e name o f Kennedy as

, , ,

his o wn composition Few believed him and many knew that the clai m w as
.
,

fal se the poe ms bei n g known before he was born to old m en still living ; but
, ,

the collectio n of ursg euls by the Dean of Lismore which gave occ asion for Mr ,

Skene s Notes expose d Kennedy to an infamy which might I th ink have warned
’
, , ,

Mr Skene against cl aiming the authorship of these poems for a man n ameless
’
i n literature M r Skene s claim for S trath mash ie is fortu n ate ly exposed to a
.

similar discomfiture by the singul ar circumst ance n amely th at the Seventh , ,

Book o f Temora referre d to by Mr Skene was p ublished by Macpherson ,

himself i n 1 7 62 an d used fifty fiv e ye ars ago in this controversy by the

,
—

Rev Dr Patrick Grah am o f Aberfoyle Dr Grah am proves by his transl ation

. .

“ ”
o f Homer o f this book o f Temora and by his poem o f the
, Highlander , ,

which failed to obtain even a mediocre circul ation th at Macp herson w as ,

”
enti rely i n c apable of writing such poe ms The Highlander contains m any .

b eautiful ide as borrowed from O ssian and other ancient Gaelic bards ; but
,

M a h erson (like all plagi arists) was des titute o f the genius and taste u s ees
“ ”
s ary to compo se a work i n which his pl agiarism would tell The Highl ander .

’
an d M acpherson s Homer th us fell still born from the pres s ; an d cl e arly show
,
-

’
that M acpherson w as not qualified to write O ssian s poems Dr Grah am gives .

th e origin al as p u bli s h ed by M a cp her son kzmself with a lite ral tr anslati on i n

'

,
’
par allel lines and M acpherso n s translation under them and cle arly shows th at
, ,

the Gaelic version is infinitely superior to the E nglish v e rsion He also shows .

that Macpherson omitted or glossed over many passages of the origin als which , ,
8 INT R O D UCT O R Y R E M A R KS .

from his imperfect k n owl e dg e o f the langu age he did not unde rstand This ,
.

’
corroborates C apt ain Morison s statem e nt to his fri e nd M r I rvi n e as recorded by ,
“
Dr G rah am from Mr I rvi n e s o w n mouth
’
th at Mr M acpherson und e rstood ,
—

the G aelic l angu age ve ry imp erfectly ; th at he ( Mr Moriso n ) w rote out the
’
Gaelic for him f or the most p art on accou n t of M r M acph e rson s in ability to ,

write o r spell it p rope rly ; th at he assisted him much in transl ati n g ; an d th at

*

it was thei r ge n eral pr ac tic e wh e n any passage occurred which they did not ,

w e ll understan d ei ther to p ass i t o ver en tirely or to g lo ss i t o ver w i th a ny

, ,
”
ex ress i o n s th at might appe ar to co alesc e e asily with th e context T h e Rev
p . .

“
Dr Smith i n a lette r to Dr G rah am s ays I h ave no i n te rest in disputing his
, , ,
”
alleg ation (me aning Kenn edy s cl aim to the authorship O f the poems referred
’
,

to above I h ad I w o u ld try h e co u ld w ri te s uch vers es as h e c la i ms (n o

,
”
do ubt th e bes t) on a ny o th er s u y ec t .

’
Dr Graham took Dr Smith s advic e an d th us tested not only M a h erso n s ’

transl ation of O ssi an but also Dr Smith s o w n t ran sl ation s of the S ean dan a ; an d
,
'

he sho w s th at neithe r the o n e nor the oth er could possibly h ave b ee n th e authors ,

o f the originals which they t ransl at e d so in adequ at e ly

,
Let Mr Sk ene try S trath .

’
mashie s c apacity to write the po e ms o f O ssi an by the same test an d the result ,

will be at le ast equally negative an d harml e ss to the memory o f O ssi an Th ere ,

.

’
i s no want of m ateri als to e n able M r Skene to subject S trath m ashi e s qu alifications
to this t e st many o f his poems b e ing published I would r e comme n d h i m to
,
—
.

compare A bh rig i s lach dan and T rod n a m b an (I forget the n ame of th e

” ” ’

place ) to any pass ages he likes Of O ssi an as a criterion and should he re quire ,

other specimens I c an procure him a whole bundle some of which h av e neve r

, ,

been publish e d Th e fact is th at n o t on e si n gle individu al among those

.
,

connected with the tran sl ation o f O ss ian c an be sho wn to h ave left behind him
anythi n g c alcul ated to prove that he w as c ap abl e of writing these poems O n .

the contrary S trath mash i e an d M r J ames M acph e rso n h ave left poetry which
,

prov e s beyond all doubt th at they we re quite disqu alified to writ e a single o n e
( good o r bad ) o f th e se poems But I will go further (and h ave no doubt that .
,

I will be borne out by e very li terary man in th e kingdom) wh e n I say th at it ,

is impossible to believe that any person qualified to w rite such po etry could ,

have exh auste d h i s li terary enjoyments in two or three ye ars an d have lived ,

for such a length o f time afte rwards without producing any farther evid e nc e o f ,

hi s poetic temper ament genius an d c apacity A Highland h ard i n account

, , .

i n g f or the melancholy fact th at some o f th e low e st an d bas e st specimens o f

the g en us h omo h ave been produced amon g the Highl and cl ans remarks that , ,

the best blood wh e n tainted becomes doubly corrupt ; but I do not believe th at
all the cl ans i n the Highlands could produce a second K e nnedy ; an d it
’
would re quire something more th an Mr Skene s forgotten somebody to make me
believe th at S trath mash i e s was no b e tter ’
.

*
4 The S e v en th B oo k
T m i p bli h d i M cp h w p lli g
of d cle ly p o ra s u s e n a e rso n s
’
o n s e n , an ear ro v es

C pt i M i
a a n t t m t th t h c l d
o r so n s t w it
’

p ll ( G l i c ) p p l y
s a e en ,
It l ap v by e ou no r e or s e ae ro er .
”
a so ro es ,

i i ti bl i f c th t th S v th B k f T m w NO w i tt by M M cp h
rre s s e n e re n e, a e e f S t th
en oo o e o ra as T r en r a e rso n o ra

m hi as f l th g h h w
e or ac d w tch d b d
ou d c ld w it
e th i g t d
as a fi d h
o arse an re e ar , an ou r e no n en e r o r re n e , e

l d b th w it d p ll G li c w h i l th S v t h B k f T m i mi bly mi p lt
"
c ou o r e an s e ae , e e e en oo o e o ra s se ra s-s e .
10 TH E LAN G UA G E
p at riotism have b e en shown and still are shown by the mou n t aineers o f all parts
, ,

o f E u rope a s well as o f the Highl a n ds o f S cotl and n otwithst andi n g th e Rom an

, ,

an d fe ud al corruption an d Opp ression to which even th e peopl e o f the most

i n accessible districts h ad bee n more o r less subj e cte d B ut the d e me an o r if .
,

not eve n th e ch ara ct er o f the Highl an der h as g re atly deteriorate d within my ,

o w n time F o r no Highl and e r e v e n within these forty y e ars would p ass a

.
, ,

stran ge r o n a co untry ro ad without spe aki n g to him if a common m an o r

, , , ,

saluti n g him if a ge ntleman but now the singular thing i s his notici n g e i the r
, ,

th e o n e o r the oth e r u n less with a sullen o r suspicious look

, T he reas on i s .
,

th at ge n tlemen u n acqu ai n ted with the soci al position o f the Highl an de r in his
,

o w n country which was above th at of a l abour e r until ve ry recent times regard

, , ,

his salut e as merely the n atu ral ob e isan ce of th e s e rf to his lord an d neve r ,
’
n otice it an y more than they would notice the w ag o f the colley s tail an d the

p ride o f the Highl ander h as t ak e n the al arm He n c e I h av e no doubt th e .

, ,

*
ch ange that h as struck me so forcibly in my rece n t vi sits to the Highlan d s
T he Gaelic alph abet is c alled B i th lu is ea n ean the life of pl ants bei n g ,
—
,
—

compounded from the roots bi th l ife lu i s pl ants an d ea n the plural affix , , , ,

.

A nci ent N a mes . S ou nds i n E ng lis h .

A a ilm , p alm elim like a in far

B b e ith birch ,
bey th ha i n ball
C c an ] h a z e l ,
kawl ea in c at
D d air o a k ,
d ay r do in daft
E e adb e lm ,
ewg h e in th em e

F fearn ald e r , ferna f a in f all

G gort ivy , gort y a in g a ll
I i o g h a yew é é g h et i in p i n
‘

L luis aspe n ,
loo y sh ll in qui ll
M m ui n vine ,
m o oy n m a in m ad am
nuin ash , n oo
y n n o in n arro w

0 C i r b room oy r o in b ro k e
,

P p ei th pin e ,
ae
p y t h p a in p ath
R ruis elder ,
ro o y s h r in ra r e

S se al willow , sh é y l eu in s allad

T teine gorse ,
té h nn é to in tar
U u r myrtle
,
u in tru e

T he E nglish lette s sounded in the above words represent the init ial
r ,
as ,

sounds o f the Gae lic letters as ne arly as it can be represented by i n divi du al

E n glish letters ; but the Gaelic consonan ts when in action are sounded much , ,

b ro ad e r deep e r an d softer th an their initi al names These initi al sounds are

, , , . ,

I have no doubt to be ascribed to a m od e rn innovation and ought to b e c o r

, ,

rec te d because so a t to mislead The distinction is so great and so e ssenti al

, p . ,

C m p b ll f I l y
M r a e o s a , in h i s b ti f l
e au u an d g en tl em an ly p re f a e c to th e G li c T l ae a es, h as f o u n d th e

G l g tl m f N t
ae a en e an o a ure s o w n
’
m aki g ; n b u t h e w as t v lli
ra e ng w h er e th c tyi e ou n r s n ot ye t w h ll yo

i d t ed b y th t g
n un a e s ran er .
 OF T HE HI G H LAN D CLAN S . 11

h o wever as to rende r it absolutel y necess ary fo r an y pers o n w h o is desi ro us o f

,

a cqu i ring a n y thing like an a pproxim a te knowledge o f th e p ro nunci ati o n o f

G aelic w o rds to forget these fo reign sounds o r to m ake himself pe rfectl y
, ,

m a ster of this important dis tinct io n as a p relimin ary step This lesso n c o uld
, .

be acqui red in a few minutes fro m the living voice ; but fro m the di fficulty o f
finding a qu ali fied te acher an d fro m m y h o rror o f a vulgar pro nunci ation I
, ,
‘

d are not recommend th e experiment to the re ader Indeed as th e G aelic is a .

,

n atural n o t an artifici al l an gu age I am o f Opinion th at it is m o re s afe fo r an y

, ,

person o f good taste wh o will re ally t ake the tro uble of le arning the Gaelic
,

s o und o f the letters to inst ruct himself with the assist ance o f a written k ey to
, ,

the pro nunciati o n th an to risk the employ ment of an incompetent te acher by

, ,

whom he would in all pro b ability either be disgusted o r reconciled to a

, , ,

spu ri o us p ro nunci ati o n This tre atise aims onl y at fu rnishing the re ade r
. ,

th ro ugh the medium of phonic spelling and literal transl ati ons with the me ans ,

o f pe rusing the w o rks o f the Gaelic b ards ; y e t I am not without the c o n

fiden t h o pe th at the natural good taste o f every a ccomplished re ade r w ill

intuitively suggest with th at ai d a more chaste an d elegant pronunciation th an
, ,

he could acqui re from m o st Highl anders o wing to the ci rcumstances al re ad y ,

expl ained There is n o difficulty with the G aelic vowels excepting i n o n e

.
,

diphthong an d t wo t riphthongs ; an d even in two of these all the letters are ,

pe rceptibl y p ro nounced but with a slight elision A very sh o rt less o n from a

,
.

competent te acher might be ve ry useful in this c ase an d also in le arning the ,

peculi ar s o un d o f a few o f the G aelic c o nso n ants A sho rt an d simple lesso n .

would se rve y e t although ve ry anxious to p reserve t wo o f these combin ati o ns

,

as a ch a racte ristic o f the l angu age an d also the sound of the letters b
,
c d g , , , ,

and t I h ad much rather the re ader should t rust to his o w n intuitive ta ste
, ,

a id ed by the lesson f or s o unding these lette rs a n d ph o netic spelling th a n th a t ,

he should take spurious imit ati o ns on t rust from a c o arse an d vulgar spe aker , .

I t is quite e asy for a lady or g en tle m a n (I u se these w o rds in contradistinction

to g en ts an d m ems who are l adies an d gentlemen a r tqflc z a llg o r by imitation
’

, ,

o nl y ) to j udge whether a teache r be qu alified o r not by m aking him recite a

, ,

few verses o f G aelic p o etry Unless he c an do so without uttering a s o und th at

.

would be o ff ensive to the e ar even o f the Q ueen he is not a ch aste o r elegant ,

spe ake r o f the G aelic l angu age a n d should at once h e rejected a s a voc al
,

te ache r I h ave m ade a distincti o n bet w een l adies an d gentlemen an d g en ts

.
,

an d m ems I can assu re the re ade r th at I h ave n o t done so fro m an y

‘

afiec tati o n o f a ristocrac

y but bec ause g en ts an d m em s gl o ry in ridiculing
,

peculi arities with which they are not famili ar while l adies and gentlemen do n o t ,
.

O wing to the very gre at diffe rence between the s o unds o f the lette rs i n
the l angu age with which I am anxious to m ake the re ade r acquainted an d thei r ,

s o unds in the l anguage th rough whose medium I am attempting to do so I ca n ,

o nl
y expect at best to give him me rel y an approxim ate id e a of the p ro nunci a
, ,

ti o n o f m an y o f the wo rds quoted in these p ages With the v o wels ( excepting .

,

the diphth o ng al re ad y mentioned a o an d the t riphth o ng s a o z a n d the re

’

, ,

is no di ffi culty ; an d I trust th at a c areful pe ru sal o f the fo llowing instructi o n s ,

12 TH E LA NG UA G E
an d a frequent p ra cti ca l applic ati o n o f them in pr o noun cing the lette rs w ill ,

m ake him a perfect m aster o f the c o nson an t sounds

B is c alled beith bh o g (bey v o g ) s o ft b by g ramm ari ans
'
It is s o unded
-
,
-
, .

more like the E nglish p th an b It is pro noun ced by p ressing the lips .

together and emitting a s o und when in the ac t o f Opening them like 6a in

, ,

b all as in b ad a cluster o f t ree s buail (buyl) strike an d ban the femin ine
, , , , , ,

prefix an d b an (ban ) fai r C is alw ay s p ro nounced like the E nglish k in

, , .

the beginning (an d gene rall y like g o r k at the end o f sy ll ables ) as in c ar

, , ,

( ) a turn ceann (kenn ) a he ad an d cluas (klu as) the e ar D and t are

k a r
, , , ,
-
.

sounded so like one anothe r as to aff o rd n o room f o r an y distincti o n D i s .

pron o unced by p ressing the t o n g ue against the upper fo rete eth an d p al ate b ut ,

in such a w ay th at its tip m ay be lightly closed o n by the teeth and emitting a ,

s o und when in th e ac t as it were o f j e rking them o pen like the s o und o f da , , ,

i n d aft but softer an d deeper as in d all blind d an a b o ld an d dur o bstin ate

, , , , , , , .

F is sounded by pressing the under lip ag ainst the slightl y cl o sed fo reteeth an d ,

emitting a sound when sep arating them like f a in fall but s o fter an d d eepe r , , ,

a s in f a d a long f o il
, ( y)
f o l s o ftl y a n d f o,
i ll ( y ) deceit G is p ro n o unced b y
f o ll , , , .

p ressing the t o ngue against the cent re o f the p al ate the b ack teeth being ,

slightl y closed on it an d emitting a sound like g a in g all when in the ac t o f

, ,

o pening them as in g ath a d a rt g all a strange r a n d ge al white

,
L is alw ay s , , , , .
,

liquid like double 11 i n quill as in lan full lfi s strength and 15s light M is
, , , , , , , .

p ronounced like m a in mad am as in m all sl o w m or l arge an d m as a base , , , , , ,

.

N h as alway s a slightl y a spirated sound like n in n arrow as in n fir when , , , ,

( at the time ) n i s n o w n all hithe r (t o this side ) null thither (to th at side )
, , , , , ,
.

P is pronounced like p a in p ath as p ai dh (p ay ) p ay p eall ( p ell ) h ai r ( covering ) , , , , ,

an d p ai lt plent R is pronounced but w ith a m o re decided vib ra tion like r

y , .
, ,

in r are as in rath (ra ) luck rann (rann ) a distich an d ri an ( ri an ) orde rl y

, ,
'

, , , ,
-
.

S is s o unded like 3 i n sal ad as sail ( sayl ) heel s o nn (sé g h n n ) a w a rri o r a n d , , , , ,

sar a su rp assing hero The sound o f T an d d is so ne arly the s ame as scarcel y

, . .

to admit of an y di ff erence ; d devi ate s o cc asi o n ally fr o m h is every day

unifo rmity and form ality like all h o nest fell o ws wh o h ave he arts in thei r ,

bos o ms but t neve r does : he is like the decent th riving men described by
, ,
“ "
Burns with blood like a standing po o l lives like a d y ke
, It is inv ari abl y ,
.

pro nounced by p ressing the tongue pretty h ard ag ainst the fo rep art o f the
p al a te and the b ack of the uppe r fo reteeth an d emitting suddenl y while as i t , , ,

we re j e rki ng them o pen a s o und like ta in tar t air (t ayr) mocke ry ( c o ntempt )
, , , , , ,

tai ri s ( tay ri sh ) s top t arn a loch without a regul ar outlet an d t ua i rn (tu ayrn )
, , , , ,
-

turning M y esteemed friend Fi nlag an the n o m de p lu me o f the m o st fe rvidly

.
, ,

patriotic y et the m o st c almly philosophic an d gentlem anly o f all the writers o n

,

the u n wis e Highland an d Iri sh cle arances ( judged even exclusivel y with a ,

refe rence to the interests of the cle arance m ake rs themselves ) suggests a as -
,

the E nglish representative o f t ; but as t is on e o f the mutabl e letters an d sc

'

o ften subj ect to being euph o nised by being combined in the s ame fo rm (th ) w itt

the aspi rate the ad o ption of th to represent t w o uld le ad to confusi o n O n th e

,
.

w h o le the refo re the bes t I c an do f o r the re ader i s to beg th at he will c o mmi t

, ,
 OF T HE H I G H LAN D CLANS .
13

the abo v e instructions f or pron o uncing t to memory an d appl y them practic ally , , ,

n o t o nce but frequentl y to the p ronunciation o f the Gaelic w o rds beginning

,

with t above quoted

,
.

All the c o nson ants as alread y st ated excepting l n an d r are occ asi o n
, , , , ,

ally ruled b y the aspi rate h Hence they are divided into mu table an d .

immut able c o nson ants the former being immutable The mutable c o nson ants,
.

a d m it o f being ch anged silenced o r rendered more soft an d h armonious in , ,

sound by the aspi rate as bh ch dh f h g h m h p h an d th ,

M h an d bh , , , , , , , .

sound like v at the beginning of sy ll ables b ut I do not kn o w an y letters ,

th at c an re all y rep resent the a spi rated s o und o f dh th an d g h at the end o f , , ,

sy ll ables By pressing the tongue ag ainst the p al ate at the b ack o f the fo re
.

teeth an d emitting a faint whisper like th at represented by the sto cc ato sign i n
, ,

music when in the act o f p arting the teeth s o mething su ffi cientl y resembling ,

it will howeve r be p roduced I w ill therefo re use the stocc at o sign fo r these
, ,
.
, ,

c o ns o n ants w hen aspi rated at the end o f syll ables in my phonic spelling ,
.

The re is n o E nglish lette r that c an represent the aspi rated ch o f the G aelic
at the beginni n g o f sy ll ables but the Greek 26 w ill do so pretty accuratel y I .

beg th at the reade r w ill remember this C m ay be aspirated at the beginnin g .

o f sy ll ables but must a lw ay s b e p rese rved at the end o f s y ll ables as it is then

, ,

guttu ral The G aelic is not encumbered with guttural sounds ; an d a slight
.

mixtu re of them is in m y o pinion necessary interesting an d desirable as

, , , , ,

prese rving the vig o ur as well as the ai r o f antiquity o f the l anguage fo r the ,

app arent tendenc y o f the mode rns especi all y the E nglish is to dispense with , ,

s o u n ds th at c a nnot be pro nounce d o n the ve ry slende r sc ale o f articul ation

which h as been bestowed by N ature o n lower races o f anim als th an mankind .

The author of the nursery puzzle Abi r tri uairen M ac an ab a gu n do gh ab a ,

- -

”
dh u n a dh ( say M acn ab three times without shutting the m o uth ) neve r I
,
—
,
-
,

d are say expected th at a wh o le people with the r oy al h o usehold tro ops at their
, ,

he ad should at some future pe riod se t seriousl y t o work in rec o nciling the p ro

, , ,

n un c iati o n o f thei r l angu age t o the p rinciple indic ated by his amusing p rep o s i ti o n .

Dh an d g h are pro nounced y at the beginning but aspirate d at the end ,

o f wo rds and sy ll ables Being exceedingl y anxious th at the re ader should

.

c o mmit these b rief lessons tho ro ughl y to his m em o ry I w o uld re c om m e d it to ,

him not to re ad another word until he shall have d o n e so .

The letter F is alway s silent befo re h ; and Th an d Sh are alway s pro

n o un c e d h Ph has alw ay s the sound o f the E nglish f
. The fo llowing lines .

fro m di ff erent p o ems will form an appro pri ate exercise f or the precedin g lesson
a s to the e ff ect o f the aspirate

I w as y est e rday in B e n do ren

’
Bh a mi
’
n de m B ei n n do rai n -
.
.

va mi
’
n de m
’
b yn d y
e -
o ra u

A M h ari b h an g u r b arrail 11 . M ar
y, fai r su rp assi n g art th e n .

a v i ar v an g u r b array l u
C h aidh m i do bb c ro i n i s g allai n I w e n t to t h e wo o d i n hi c h t al l
’ ’
n c h o il n ro . w w e re
ch y a
'
mi do
’
n ch oy l n ro v c ro y n is ga ll -a
yn y o u n g t re e s .

A d h e an adh s anl c
g a h do c h a rta s . M ak i n g h e al e ve ry m al a dy .

a y ena
'
l
s an g aeh ( lo - c li a rl as
14 TH E L AN G U A G E
T h ei d i n th ai r n as n b e alai c h e n . G o we ( sh all ) o ver th e de file s .

h y d si n h y
e n a r na b e lay c h -e n

F h u ai r fas an i s f o g h lu m . R e c e ive d ac o m c pli sh m e nts an d l e arn i n g .

h u -a y r f as a n is f o g h l um

S h i u bh ladh tu f asac h ai ri dh - glin n e . T rave l y o u wo ul d the dese rt sh e ili n g- l en

g .

hi -u v la ' tu f a- s ch a a yi r
'-
g i li nn e
G h e i bh te i
re n u a
g us o ra n i i s i o m adh c omh G o t wo ul d b e ( h u m o ro u s) di sti c h e s , so n g s ,
y ey v- te ro y n n ag us e ra y u is i m
-o a
’
c ov an d an e c do t e s th em , am o n g ,

* na m e asg
radh .

ta
'
na me g s
Ch a phill ,
ch a phill ,
ch a phill si n tuil l e . R e tu rn , retu rn ,
re turn sh all we neve r .

ch a fih ll , ch a fi h ll , ch a fih ll sin tu y ll e

The immutable c o ns o n ants l n r h ave slightly aspi rate d sounds like 1 , , , , ,

in leek n in knit and r in rung

, The d o uble n u has alway s a decidedl y , .

aspirated sound .

The G aelic like the G reek h as o nl y the definite article and spe aks
, , ,

indefinitel y by menti o ning an object by itsel f as duine (duy n eT) a m an an

, ,
—
, , ,

duin e the m an ; d un a fo rt o r ca stle

,
The article is declined by gende r ,
.
,

number an d c ase as follows, ,

S i n g u la r .

M asculine . Fem . Mas . Fem .

’
No m An am .
,
. an , a . na .

Gen An a .
,
. na . n an
,
n am .

’ ’
D at An,
’
m
’
. a ,
. an , a , n . na .

The ru le whereb y the initi al letter o f eve ry ro o t fo rming c o mpo und w o rds
i s p rese rved is tradition all y a scribed to the Druids but o f this the re i s n o
, ,

written evidence an y mo re th an the re is f o r asc ribing to them m any p ractices

, ,

medicin al an d agricultural which must h ave o rigi nated in an extensive acqu aint ,

a nce with n atur al science an d which h ave been ca rried down to the p resent ,

day The absence o f D ruid records is asc ribed to the de adl y enemies thei r
.

p atri o tism h ad m ade them i n the Rom ans The enmity thus p ro voked not o nly .

b ro ught destruction o n their gre at college an d m anusc ripts in A nglese a but ,

als o o n their wives and families ; an d all th at h a d escaped the Rom an s o f these in

all pr o b ability m o st v alu able m a nusc ripts were afte rw ards destr o y ed by C o lumba ,

an d his monks at Ion a where the y est ablished the se at o f le arning afte r the ,

destruction o f Anglese a But retribution seems to be an o rdin ance o f N atu re . .

If the m anuscripts o f the D ruids h ave not been p rese rved neither h ave th o se ,

o f the Culdees with very few excepti o ns been p reserved by thei Rom an
, ,
r

C atholic successors ; n o r h a ve thei rs in their turn esc aped the priesthood o f , ,

“ ”
the Reform ation ; so true it is th at p riests o f all religi ons are the same But .
,

Th is an d si m il ar w or d s are in g e n e ra lc t on ra c e td an d p n n d th s
ro ou ce u , c o m li ra dh ,
c o i a, c o m
’
b
n u i dh &c &c
’

, c o n ay , . .

1 The v ow e ls lw y p
a re a a s ro n o u n c e d t th d f y ll bl
a e en o s a es or d wor s . The E n gl s ih rea d er s h ldou

es p i l ly
ec a re m e mb thi Th er s. e re a re n o sil t l tt s i n m y p h
en e er on e ti p lli
c s e n
g .
 or TH E HI G HL AN D CLAN S .
15

although the Culdees and their successors h ave thus shown th at n o religi o us
o rder o f men however pu re an d h o l y a re above human p rej udice an d hum an
, ,

frailty the y did not subserve the civil despotism which i n subsequent ages
, , ,

chiefly th rough a pe rverte d Ch ristianity cru shed the ancient righ ts and liberties,

o f the people At the same time there is little d o ubt th at the y initi ated the spirit
.
,

o f self ab a sement which w as m ade subservient t o th a t p urpose b

y feud alism
-
, .

The fund amental principle of the Culdee religion n amely the sacri fice , ,

o f the chi ef to a ppe ase a feud w a s substanti all y interwoven in the ver
, y co n
st i tu ti on o f cl anships The re are m an y very touching instances o f such
.

vo luntary s acrifices by chiefs ; an d the feud al law o f Scotl and acted o n the
p rinciple o f s acrificing o n e member o f a cl an for the rest until subsequently to ,

the y ear 1 745 When a doctrine so a ccord ant with clan aff ection an d
.

m agn animity and so to uchingl y poetic as the s acrifice o f the S o n of G o d

,

to atone f or the sins of mankind w as pre ached to them by men of pu re lives

, ,

g re at benev o lence genuine disinterestedness and touching piety and el o quence

, , ,

it is not to be wondered at th at the cl ans y ielded their whole hearts to this

religi o n o f faith an d feeling an d becam e indiff e rent to the c o lder o n e o f science
, ,

reason an d common sense It is the refore a fact and a stran g e fa ct th at it

, .
, ,
—
,
—

w as the unp rete nding simplicity an d touching tenderness and benevolence o f

the religi o n of the holy Culdees which found acceptance with the G ael an d ,

prep ared the w ay f o r the despotism which ultimatel y deg raded the people of the
British Isles into the to o ls an d victims of a pampered and rampant feud alism .

At the same time I am not o n e o f those w h o reg ard even the pe rverted
,

Christianity of the dark ages as wholly evil in its e ff ects It w as a superhuman .

o rganiz ati on which s o unded ever secret an d pl a ed on eve r ch o rd f the

, y y y o , ,

human he art an d could m ould o r subdue every hum an being within its influence
,

but the clergy m en even of these ages have left us man y illustri o us ex amples o f
piety patriotism and vi rtue Although the P o pe f o r inst ance was in fav o ur
, ,
.
, ,

o f E dward and a gainst Wallace an d although B ruce w as excommunic ated

, , y et ,

Wall ace had not a more staunch supporter than Wishart Bishop of Glasgow , ,

o r under his b anner a m o re faithful follower or a mo re incorruptible p atri o t ,

,

than p riest Blair ; and a priest Barb o ur w as the biographer o f Br uce while a
, , ,

dignitary o f the Church consecrate d his banner and blest his arm y o n the field ,

o f battle .

The great drawback in the Church of Rome as in the Chu rch o f E ngland , ,

i s i ts despotic sy stem o f Church government Being govern ed by a despot ism .

,

which like eve ry other despotism cl aimed a Divine origin it w as as undoubti ng

, , ,

in i ts a ction as it was all but omnipotent in its power But whenever i ts .

despo tic an d u n wise leaders assumed an intolerant persecuti ng spi rit an d use d ,

the civi l power in i ts persecutions its gre atest and most powe rful antagonists
,

were the nobler spirits nursed and educ ate d within its o wn bosom The C atholic .

priestho o d never wholly quenched the love o f liberty in the hearts o f the
pe o ple They wanted to govern by a theocra cy ; but where are the clergy that
.

would not est ablish a theocracy o r render religion subservient to the sovereignty
,

o f their Church I believe in the existence of no such clergy The Catholic .

16 THE LAN G UA G E
priest was the gre at an d le a ding refo rmer and would be so at this day but fo r , ,

the secta ri anism which excites his comb ativeness an d fas tens him to his c o l o urs ; ,

but the C ath o lic l aity never sat down in content ment unde r a ci vil despotism .

Had the intole rant persecuting spi rit witnessed by Knox in th e Lowl ands been
, ,

witn esse d by I an Lom among the Highl an d cl ans he would not o f the tw o , ,

h ave been the least distinguished refo rme r He w as as much the friend o f .

religi o us liberty and the bible as Kn o x although a st aunch C ath o lic A nd do ,

.

we not see in the l o ng struggle o f o u r C ath o lic ancesto rs f o r civi l liberty o n eve ry ,

o pportunity th a t o ff ered itself d own to t h e peri o d o f the Rev o lution as well as in

, ,

th at now com pleted in Italy th at Cath ol icism neve r quenched the l o ve o f liberty ,

in the he arts o f the m o st bigoted nations No r doe s the p arallel between the .

stru ggle f o r liberty in o u r count ry an d in It al y h old g o o d onl y in the c ase o f

the pe o ple : o n the contrary the Wall ace an d Br uce o f Ital y like the Wall ace , ,

an d Bruce o f Scotland fo und their staunchest followers among the C atholic

,

clergy The following verse h ears me o ut in what I have state d as to I an L o m s

.
’

l o ve o f religious liberty and the bible :

No ir bu sg i th do luc h d th e u d e, W h en ti re d th e rac e o f
( tu n e fu l ) st ri n g s ,

n oy r bu sg i
’
do l uc h yt
e e

G h e ibh te b i o bu i l g a
’
n l eu g h adh , B ibl e s are fo u n d th e re re ad in g ,
'- '
y ev t e b b uy l ga
i -o - n l ey a

L e fi o r c h re i di m h na c e i le ,
In a wi s e pi rit
s of fa ith ,

16 fi -o r c h re y d e v na c ey le

M ar a dh -
o rdu i c h M ac Dh e dh u i n n , As w as i
o rda n e d by th e S o n of G o d,
m ar a y ordu y c h m ac ye y uy n
Agu s t e ag as g n a c le i re 1e s ith . A n d th e w o rship of th e cl erg y in p e ace .

a gu s te g as g na c l e y re le si '

In short it seem s pretty cle ar th at the unpopularity o f the C ath olic Chu rch
,

afte r the establishment o f feudalism was to be asc ribed in all ages to the , , ,

desp o tism and we alth o f its dignit aries Hence w e find that th at Chu rch h as .

a lw ay s been more respected in po o r than in rich countries The Chu rch w as .

the h andm aiden o f feud alism an d helped to fa sten her y o ke o n the necks of the ,

pe o ple ; but the w o rking priest has ever been the friend o f the poor and the
o ppressed It w as th e despotic digni taries o f the Chu rch th at like all other
.
,

pampered despots we re but to o gene rally ty rants an d o ppress o rs

,
.

The Culdees were in spirit ev angelical an d like the ev angelic al clergy o f , ,

the present day not attached to o r pe rh aps even t o ler ant o f n atu ral theology
, , , ,
.

Hence prob abl y their hostility to the Druid p riesthood

, ,
But the y were .

inc ap able o f misrepresen ting them either in their lives or doctrines The .

statement that the Druids o ff ered hum an s ac rifice s m ay have been believe d by ,

but did n o t o rigin ate with the Culdees The rep o rt m ay have a risen from the .

ci rcumstance th at the D ruids we re the c rimin al j udges am o ng the Celtic cl ans ,

an d th at the c rimin als sen tenced to c apital punishment we re executed by

phlebotom y within the D ruid ci rcle The c o rrupt R o m an theologist th a t c o uld
,
.

n o t c o mp rehend a worship without a sa c rifice m ay h ave believed th at these ,

criminals were innocent victims sacrificed to supe rstition and the basin like ,
-
 18 TH E LA N G U A G E
There is no evidence that natural theol o gy or the Drui dal religion o f ,

E gy pt had ever become the handmaiden of despotism but the religion reve aled
,

through man certainly h ad first among the J ews an d since then among the , ,

feud al Christians Indeed we cannot conceive a sta te o f society in which th e

.
,

people can be free and their spiritual governm ent a despotism N 0 free people .

ever will submit to a spi ritual despotism A S piritu al despotism c an m ake .

hy pocrites but not Christians as was p roved by the French Revolution whe re
, , ,

a priest ridden people proved a nation of i n fldels There i s no evidence o f the

-
.

existence of an y despotism until G o d reve aled his will to m an through man

, .

Hence we find from the day that J oseph availed himself of Ph araoh s dream ’

for the establishment o f despotism in E gy pt unt il Calvin and Kn o x gave a ,

representative government to the Presby te ri an Church that the cle rgy of all ,

countries and all religions were the de adly fe es of civil an d religious liberty .

Feudalism unaided by priestcraft n ever could have defrauded an d disorganized

, ,
”
the Celtic clans of Scotland Pri o r to the marriage of M alcolm Canmore say s
.
,

a clerical historian and subsequently to th at event m an y families o f Norman

, ,

and Saxon line age found their w ay fro m the northern districts o f E ngl and into
Scotl and where the y set tled and became proprietors of land by feud al tenure O n
, ,
.

”
the property so acquired they erected fortresses (to coerce th e people ) These .

settlers were probably without exception the friends of Christianity being

, , ,
”
f avourable to all influences l ikel y to ci vilize their rude ret ainers ( or in other , ,

words to that exh orbitan t power o f priestc raft w ithout which the people never
, ,
“ ”
could have been made to submit to the feud al usu rpation ) Hence continues .
,

the histori an (who seems quite unconscious o f the real motives of the feud al
,
“
lords for being without exception the friends of
, o n e o f their ,

primary objects would be the buildi ng o f a church in such a position as might ,

be most convenient for the inhabita nts of the town o r vi llage which sprun g up
”
in the immediate vicini ty and under the prote ction of their own castles
,
The .

“ ”
progress of the well matched pair civil usurp ation and spiritual despotism ,
—
,

—
i n denuding an d making serfs of the people are i ndelibl y impressed o n the ,

face of the country by these castles and churches ; but when the usurp ation w as
established an d the submission o f the people insured the castles battered down
, ,

the churches and ungrate fully resumed their well won we alth We thus see that
,
.

a just retribution ultimately overtakes the inheri tors of unjustl y acquired wealth ,

however saintl y their g arb or profession .

’
The Rev Dr Blair in his beautiful Dissertation o f O ssian s poems tries to
.
, ,

a ccount for the singu la r circumstance that there are no traces o f re ligion in

these poems ; but the Druids wh o se religion was founded on natural science , ,

could not m ake God give a victory to o n e h ere an d o n e army to day and to an -
,

opposite hero and army to morrow In short the religion of th e Druids could
—
.
,

not be made subservient to th e imagi nary exigencies of poetry ; o n the contrary ,

the mixing up of G od s n ame and p o wer with human affairs woul d have been
’

regarded as an impiety i n the day s of O ssianic ignorance and barbraity .

When the re ader shall have acquired suffi cient kn owledge of th e Gaelic to
 OF TH E HI G H LA N D CL A NS .
19

be able to res o lve compound words into their simple elements o r roots as ,

exemplified in the ety mon Of the foregoing words every step o f prog ress will ,

become to him a source Of intellectu al recreation He will then sc arcel y find .

i n literature a more ludic rous figu re th an their egotism made Of Dr J ohnson ,

S i r J ames M a cintosh an d L o rd M ac aul ay when without having even a re ading

, , ,

kn o wledge o f the G aelic they constituted themselves dict ators on questions

,

inv o lved in the l anguage an d lite ratu re Of the Highl and cl ans At the sa me .

time it must be admitted th at with the excepti o n of the ancient poems trans
, , ,

l ated and published by the eleg ant an d spirited M r M acphers o n and the le arned , ,

honest an d p at riotic Dr Smith the G ael have done little to put thei r l anguage
, ,

o r poet ry in an att ra ctive o r even accessible fo rm befo re the E nglish reader .

O ur diction ary m ake rs knew that G aelic words are descriptive an d that by
-
,

res olving them into thei r p rimitive roots they w o uld furnish the antiqu ary and ,

histori an with th e me ans o f forming a true estim ate not onl y of the l anguage , ,

but als o Of the state o f s o ciety or condition Of the ancient Celtic n ations ; but ,

p ro b abl y to m ake their gigantic labours more easy they p referred fo ll o wing
, ,

the ex ample Of o t h e r le arned lexicographe rs by giving us a string of wh at ,

the y c all sy n o n y m o us words to expl ain the meaning of o n e We all know the
,

amusing error into which the fo reign clergy man fell who o n being told th at ,

pickling me ant prese rving pray ed with great fervour Of devotion th at Dr

,
’
Ch alme rs soul might be pickled But those wh o will peruse G aelic dictionaries
.

a n d G a elic gramm ars will find that the E nglish are n o t the onl y schol ars w h o
,

h ave l aboured to the utm o st Of thei r p o we r to render their l angu age complic ated ,

an d its a cquisition a life labou r to fo reigne rs The Gaelic lexicographe rs give

-
.

”
a string of words as long as m y arm di ff ering essentially from one anothe r , ,

to expl ain the m e aning of one word instead Of reducing the word to its roots , ,

an d leaving it to expl ain itself ; and the grammari an h as determined th at to ,

le arn G aelic a m an must n ot onl y be a profound schol ar but devote

,
life ,

exclusivel y to the stud y o f his exquisite l abou rs .

D IFF E R E NT S O UN D S OF TH E G A E LIC Vo w E L s .

A .

C‘
long as in f ar ; as ard h igh b ard a p oet
, , ,
.

a sho rt like a in f at ; as cas a f o o t

,
tasdan a s h i lli n g, ,
.

a long like eux in French ; as adh (a ugh ) j og

, ,
-
.

a sh o r t like eii x
,
a s l agh la w ; t agh ch os e , ,
.

a faint like e in risen ; as an th e

,
m ar as , ,
.

E .

6 long like e in there ; as s in se h e ; re d u ri n g

, , ,
.

e short like in met as leth h a lf ; teth h o t

, , ,
.

e long like a in fate as c é the ea r th te a f ema le

, , ,
.

e short like e in h er ; as duine a m a n ; filte f bldeal

, , ,
.

I
i l o ng like é é in see ; as c ir a com b ; m i r a p i ece
, , ,
.

i sho rt like i in pin as min mea l ; bith be ing

, , ,
.

i faint like i in thi s ; as is a m

, ,
.
20 TH E LAN G UA G E
O .

0 l o ng like 6 in o ak ; as 6r g o ld brog a sh o e
, , , .

0 sh o rt like 6 in 611 ; as m o mg ; grod ro tten

, , , .

0 l o ng like 6 in h Ow as tonn a w a ve ; p oll a p u ll

, , , .

0 sh o rt like 6 in n o t lo madh c lip p i ng ; c o n n adh f uel

, , , .

0 l o ng like 6 in Owl as sOgh luxu ry f Og h lum lea r n i ng

, , , .

0 short like 6 in n ew ; as fo g h ar a u tu m n ; ro ug h u i n n ch o i ce
, , , .

U .

11 l ong like 11 in tube ; as fi r f r es h ; tur a to wer

, , ,
.

11 short like ii in bush ; as ru d a th i ng ; guth a vo ice

, , , .

11 faint like a faint or u in run ; as mu r if n o t

, , , .

“
In wo rds O f m o re th an o n e sy ll able the vowels chiefly the b road h ave an , , ,

indefini te sh o rt qu ali ty of Obscure s o und in the second o r fi n al sy llables ; thi s

h as o cc asioned an indiscri min ate use of the v o wels a s c o rresp o ndents an d hence ,

the re ason th at the same word is sometimes spelt in two diff e rent w ay s a s ,

i arrta s or i arrtu s a r eq ues t ; c an ai n o r c an u i n a la ng uag e ; di ch iall o r di c h i oll

, , ,

di ligen ce The spelling o f the s ame w o rd by di ff erent v o w els is chiefly c o nfined

.

to the fin al sy ll able o r sy ll ables A single v o wel in the initi al sy llable Of a w o rd

.

n eve r assumes thi s Obscure s o und an d when the initi al sy ll able c o ntains an ,

imp roper diphth o ng o n e Of the v o w els is alway s p ron o unced in full an d the
, ,
”
othe r is faint o r quiescent F o rbes .
-
.

A lthough I consider it pr o per to m ake a few quot ations show ing the ,

niceties o f the l angu age as illustrate d by the g ramm arians I do n o t consider

, ,

the perfect knowledge o f the m necess ary t o en able an y fo reign l ad y o r gentlem an

to spe ak an d to re ad G aelic H ad I th o ught so I should not h ave unde rt aken
.
,

t o w rite a n aked k ey free Of even the c o mm o n p o ints in use to m ark the

, ,

different s o unds Of the Gaelic vo w els M y Object is to strip the l anguage Of all .

the impediments to the e asy acquisition of such a pl ain simple knowledge Of it , ,

a s will en able a foreigne r t o m ake himself unde rsto o d I do not think it is .

p o ssible to te ach an y person by the m o re use Of lette rs to spe ak an y foreign

l angu age like a well educ ated n ative othe rwise I would h ave left the field in ,

the possessi o n o f gramm ari ans wh o se works for le arning rese arch an d , , ,

disc rimin ation if equ alled are n o t su rp assed

, , .

D IPHTH O N G S AN D T R IPHTH O N G S .

“
simil ar s o und in E nglish ; it is like the F rench eu o r e lgx o r
A 0 h as n o ,
"
the L atin au in au rum ; as gaol lo ve s aor a w rig h t E U ; the letter e in
, , , ,
.

e n is alw ay s long an d h as a c o mpound s o und

,
as if e w as p receded by a sh o rt ,

i thus teum f e um p ro n o unced ti em fi em The letter e h as a sh ade o f this

, , , , ,
.

s o und als o in the impro pe r diphth o ng e a as c ea d de as p ro n o unced k e id d i es , , , , .

“
The re are five t riphthongs formed fro m the long diphth o ngs ao e O i a , , ,

na ,
by a dding the vowel i These diphth o ngs prese rve their o w n sou n ds an d
.
,

the fin al i is alw ay s sh o rt ; aOi as c ao i dh (k aO y ) l ament ; lao i dh (llO O y ) , ,

-
,
-

c alves ; e o i as tre o ir (tre o y r) strength ; as g e o i dh (keo y ) geese ; iai as

, ,
-
,
-
,
 OF THE HI G HLAN D C LAN S .
21

c i ui n , ) meek
(ki ; fli-
u i c
uynh e inch e ) wette r
; u ai as f uai m (fu a y m ) , (fli - -
, ,
-

”
s o und ; c ruai dh ( c ru a y ) h ard I bi d
,
-
.
—
.

There are I know not how m any diphthongs and triphth o ngs but I do n o t ,

conside r it necessary to submit them to the re ade r Indeed with the excepti o n .
,

o f the o n e p revi o usl y mentioned the whole di fficulty appe ars to me to h ave ,

been cre ated by the gramm ari ans themselves .

A an d 0 will n o t y ield to o n e an o the r and have c o mpelled the b ards to ,

c o ncede to them a c o mbined and peculi ar sound ; but with the othe r v o wels t h e
c ase is quite diff e ren t Whe n a sm all an d a b road v o wel meet the y neither ,

dis agree nor a ssu me a c o mbined sound In ai r on for instance the a being the .
, , ,

p rim ary o r le ading vowel is tre ated with due deference by i w h o accordingl y al
, ,

lows him the benefi t O f his positi o n o r p recedence an d spe aks himself in a subdued ,

v o ice : hence the m o nosy ll able is p ro nounced ay r But when the sm all v o wel .

i s the p rim ary an d the bro ad the second ary the l atter is si lent It would thus ,
.

a ppe ar th at the sm all lette rs are the gentlemen an d the b ro a d the plebei ans Of ,

the G aelic alph abet : h e nce when o n e Of these gentlem an is p receded i n a triph
thong by two b ro ad v o wels o n e o f them o u t Of deference to him rem ains silent, , , ,

and he acc o rdingl y m o difies his sty le an d condescends to spe ak in a voice acc or ,

d a n t with the vulgar inton ati o n N O unseemly argument l o oking for victory in .
,

a m asterful v o ice c an t ake pl ace between a Celtic gentlem a n an d plebei an even

, ,

sy mb o lic all y o r b y thei r representative lette rs He recognises thei r value in .

the comm o nwe alth an d they sh o w due deference to his supe ri o r rank and
,

positi o n Thus b uail s tri ke is pro n o unced buy l ; tuai sd bung ler tuy st ;
.
, , , , ,

bu ai dh vi c to ry buy ; loidh hy m n lo y
, ,
But t o sh o w th at he h as n o t subdued
, ,
.

his voice o r modified his sty le out o f an y fe ar Of the ph y sic al superi o rity O f two
t o one when he an d a b rother a ristocrat m eet a single plebei an under simil ar
,

ci rcumst ances he is t re ated with due considerati o n a n d allo w ed to spe ak f or

, ,

himself Thus stiu ir h elm is p ron o unced sti n y r ; oiniu m i ld k i u y n

.
, , ,
—
, ,
-
,

&c . O n the o ther hand when two bro ad vowels meet O and a excepted , ,
—
,

the y t re at o n e anothe r like two n avvies with o ut an y regard to c o nvention al ,

rules O f politeness o r etiquette ; o n the c o ntr ary the y treat o n e another like ,

two stu rd y r adic als as o n a fo o ting o f perfect equality Thus fu ar co ld is

,
.
, , ,

pronounced f u ar ; tu ar co mp lexi on tu ar ; raud g reed ra ut &c &c

-
,
But ,
-
, ,
~

, . .

when t wo sm all letters meet the y n o t onl y tre at o n e an o ther but also the ir , ,

Celtic brother 0 the arist o crat o f Irel and with the utmost c o rdi ality and con
, , ,

side ration Thus fe o il fles h is p ronounced fe o y l ; th ei d w i ll g o he y t ;

.
, , ,
-
, ,

t re o i r s tr en g th tre o y r &c &c

, ,
-
,
. .

The n ames Of in anim ate Objects which take a n or a m before them are
gene rall y masc uline ; as an d o rus (d o rus ) the d o o r ; an tigh ( ti ) the h o use ;
, , ,
'

m radan ( b rad a n ) the

an I OI d the hammer ; am b aile ( y )
b a le the t o w n ; a b
'

r , ,
,

s alm o n .

Nouns which h a v e a p refixed are in gene ral feminine ; as a g h ri an , , , ,

i n ) the s un ; a g h ealac h (y el ac h ) the mo o n a c h rao bh (c h ra o v) the t ree ;

(y - -
r a
-
, ,

a bh e i nn ( v é y n n ) the m o unt ain

,
.

N o uns beginning with a v o wel inse rt t af ter the p refixed article fo r the
22 T HE L A N G U A G E
sake Of euphon y ; as an t uan ( u an ) the l amb ; an t i asg ( i ask ) the fish ; an
,
—
,
- -
,
-

t u bh (uv ) the egg ; an t Olc the evil

-
,
M an y n o uns beginning with s which -
,
.
,

is silent before h insert t after the article ; as an saogh al (saO al) the wo rld
, , ,
'-
,
'
i s written in the geniti ve case an t sh aogh ail (taO ayl) Of the world ; an ,
-
,
-

t shlai t (tlay t) o f the rod ; an t sh n e ach d (tn ech d) o f the snow &c
-
,
—
, ,
.

The above rules h ave however m an y exceptions the article a being , , ,

'

prefixed to names m asculine as a m o n adh (mon a ) the bill ; a me al (mell) the , , ,

knoll ; an d a n to nouns feminine ; as an amh u in (av uyn ) the river ; an reul , , ,

( ré y ll) the pl anet & c , .

There is in Gaelic no accus ative c ase diff erent from the nomin ative ; n o r
i s the abl ative d iff erent fro m the dative case .

B AR B , a poet M a sc ,
. With the Articl e .

S i n g u la r . P lu ra l .

N B ard
. . b ai rd . N b ard
. am . na b aird .

b ard b ayrd a m b ar d na bay rd

G B ai rd
. . bh ard . G a bh ai rd
. . n am b ard .

b ay rd v ard v ay rd n am b ard
D B ard bh ardai bh D do bh ai rd do bh ardai bh
’
. . . . n . .

ba d r v arda
yv do n vay rd v arday v

V Bh ard
. . bh arda . V O bh ai rd
. . O bh ard a .

v ay rd v ard a v ay rd v ard a
BE AN a woman Fem , , . With the Article .

P lu ra l .

N Be an
. . m n ai or m n ath an . a bh e an . na m u ai or n a mn ath an .

b en m n ay m u ay
' '
mn a -
an ven m na -
an

G . M na . b an . G na . mn a . n am ban .

mna ban rnn a n am b an

D M n ao i m n ath ai bh D do n
'

. . . . m h n ao i . do na m n ath ai bh .

m na
'
-
oy mn a i v -
m m oy -
mna y v
'
-

V . B h e an . mh n ath an . V O
. bh ean . O m h n ath an .

'
v en mn a -
an ve n mn a
'
-
an

The fo llowing rules are quoted subst antiall y from Currie , ,

“
Gaelic nouns generall y form the plu ral e i th ei r by ch anging the broad
vowels a O 11 into th e small e i o r simply by the i nsertion Of i into the
, , , , ,
”
l ast sy llable in accord ance with the principle which m akes the small vowels
,

the superiors of the bre ad as —

G en . Nom . G en .

E arra ch , spring e arrai c h . sg iath , a shield . sg ei th .

arra ch sk i a -
'
sk e
'

Dorus d o o r ,
. do rui s . e ach , a ho rse . e e i ch .

d o ru s do n u
y sh ech e - i ch

D amh an e x , . dai m h . c re ag , a rock . cre i g .

dav . day v c rek c rey k

D ao l a beetle , . dao i l . f earg , w rath . fe irg .

d ao l dao y l f e rak f e ri k-
c
D arag an o ak , . darai g . c o i le a c h , a cock . c o ilai c h .

dar ag -
daray k co
yl
-
e ch c oy - l ich
 OF T H E H I G HL A N D CLANS . 23

Fraoch , heather . f rao i ch .

gri an , the sun . greine .

f ra o c h f rao y ch ri
g an
-
g re-
ne

B as, death . bais . i asg , fish . e i sg .

bas b ay i s h i -
as k é y sk

F uaran , a spring . f uarain . di as , an ear of corn . deis .

f u -ara n di -
as dé i sh-

L ao c h , a hero . laoi ch . fiadh , a deer . feidh .

la o ch laoy e h fi -
a
'
f e -i

“
S o me nouns ending in ea are changed into i ; an d tho se ending so or

0, into ui as : ,
—

G en . Nam . Gen .

Bre ac a trout ,
. b ric . breac bh reac
b re c b rec vree
Fe ar a man , . fir . broc a b adger ,
. b ruie .

f er b ro c bru lo -

Ce ann head ,
. cinn . c e o l music ,
. ciul .

c e nn ke -
Ol s u - il

Pre as a bush , . p ris see] , a s ail . si uil

p ré s
. .

se -o l sh i - u y l

B re ac sm all pox ,
-
. b ric e . cnoc a knoll ,
. c n ui c .

b rec C D OC c n n - ic

Ce arc a hen , . circ e . so c , a ploughshare . suio .

c erc so c eu - i c

L eac a flag , . lic e . lo rg , a stick . l a i rg .

le c lorg ln ri k-

Gle ann a valley ,

. glinn e . l ong a ship , . luing .

g l e nn lo n g ln ing -

Nouns in eu followed by a liq u id ch ange 11 into 0 and insert i after i t, , ,

There are man y irreg ul ar nouns but I do not consider it necess ary to quote
m any ex amples The following may I think sufli ce m y chief reliance being
.
, , ,
—

o n phonic spelling and lite ral translations

N om . G en . Nam . G en .

Ne n l a cloud, . n eo i l, clouds . f e o il, flesh . fe o la Of the flesh

, .

né
yl n é Oyll
-
‘

fe -
o y ll fe -
o la

I an , a bird . e o in birds , . sro n the nose , . m ine , of the nose .

i -
an e-oyu e n sro yn e

Feur grass ,
. f e O i r, grasses . muir the ,
sea . m ara of the ,
sea
fey r fe -
oy r m fiy r m ara
Meur a finger ,
. m eo i r, fingers . fu il, blood . fol a o f the blood
,
.

m ty r me -
oy r f uy ll fo l a
Leus a torch , . le o i s, torches . drui m , a ridge . d roma of the back ,
.

lé y s le -
o y sh t rui m d ro ma
Beul a mouth , . beeil m ouths ,
. suil the ,
ey e . sula Of the ey e
, .

b é y ll be —
oy l suyll s u la
S g e ul, a tale . sg e o i l, tales . mil honey ,
. me al a o f the honey
,
.

sk é y ll sk e - o
y ll m il m el a
Bann ais a wedding bai nn se wedding duth ai ch a co u n try
, .
,
.
,
. duch a o f the country
, .

b nn ay s h
a -
bay se da ay i ch nn
'
- d u ch a
-

C olui n n the bod y c o ll a coll

, g ua lai n n th e shoulder .
, .
,
.
g u ai lle , o f the shoulde r .

c o lu n n
y c o lla g u alay n n
-
g uy lle
24 T HE L A N G U A G E
G ENE R A L
R UL E The n o min ative plural is fo rmed by a dding a o r a n—
to
the nominative singul ar ; as n o m sing b ard a poet plu b ard an or bai rd . .
, ,
. .

Pi o bai r, . a piper .
p i o b ai re an .

p i p ay r p i p ay ren
B uac h ail, a shephe rd . b u ach aillean .

b u -ac h ay l bu -
ac h a
y lle n
A i m si r, we ather . ai m si re an .

y mi si r- en
‘

ay rn i sh i r a -

C rao bh , a t ree . c rao bh an .

era - 0 v c ra o van

P A R T I CU L A R
R UL E M asculine nouns which insert i in the genitive —

singul ar have the n o min ative plu ral like the genitive singul ar ; as n o m sing
, . .

o g lach (Og lac h ) a serv ant m an gen o g lai c h (o g lay ch ) nom plu o lai ch ; so
g
-
. .
,
.
, , ,

N Fe ar
.
,
a m an . G sin . . fir . N . c lu aran , a thistle G . . si n . &N pl . c lu arai n .

f er fi r n
c l u - ara c l u - are n
B rad an ,
a s almon . bra dai n . c ro man , a kite . c ro m ai n .

b rad a —
n bratay n c rOm a n
‘

c ro m e n
C le ire ach , a cle rk . c le i ri c h . cl a ch an ,
a vill age . c la c h ai n .

c lé y - re c h c l ey rich -
c l ch a n
a c lac h e n

The ch anges m arking the rel ations of adjectives to o the r wo rds are like ,

those to which nouns are subjected s o metimes p artly m ade o n the beginning ,

a n d p artl y o n the te rmin ation The ch anges at the beginning are m ade by .

a spi rating the initi al c o nson ant ; th o se at the end by p artl y ch anging the ,
”
te rmin ati ons The Obj ect Of both is to indic ate numbers an d c ases
. But I .
—

must stop lest the re ade r sh o uld think th at I a m g o ing to seduce him into the
,

stud y o f G aelic gra mm ar an d thus stultify ing my self ,

.

The G aelic b ards of mode rn times that is since the y ceased to live as a ,
—
,

separate and distinct order at the introducti o n of Ch risti anity th o ugh the y , ,

c o ntinued to be rec o gnised and ret ain power as a cl ass knew nothing Of ,
—

letters much less of g ramm ar with ve ry few excepti on s ; but they were o rally
, ,

educated an d the Gaelic being a n atural inste ad o f an artifici al l anguage pe r

, , ,

f e ctly m a ste rs Of all i ts simple peculi aritie s as is pr o ved by the ve ry w o rks o n ,

which such pro found complic ate d an d apparentl y endless disquisiti o ns have be en
, ,

fo unded I c ann o t the refore se e an y re ason wh y an educ ated gentlem an

.
, ,

should not by the assistance Of a phonic k ey to the pro nunci ati o n be able to
, ,

m ake himself sufli ci en tly m aste r of the Gaelic l an gu age to bec ome thoro ughl y
a cqu ainted with the works Of the G a elic b ards with o ut dev o ting a lifetime if —
,

a lifetime would su fli ce f o r the purpose to the stud y o f G aelic g rammar Fo r —

.

m y se lf I am satisfied th at an y educ ated pers o n wh o m ay feel disposed to t ake a

,

little trouble in the m atter c an e asil y a cqui re as much knowledge o f Gaelic ,

fro m th e p receding p ages an d the phonetic spelling an d literal transl ati o ns in

,

the fo ll o wing p ages as will en able him b o th to pe ruse an d to appreciate the

,

poetry an d t ales o f the G ael .

The G a elic h as n o neuter gender an d it is di ffi cult p recisel y to see the ,

grounds o n which gramm ari ans distinguish between the feminine an d m as culine
 TH E LAN G UA G E
A c h ao idh sg ri o bh E ve r write
a eh a
y s k ri v
Le bri g h G aelic . With me aning G aelic .

’
la bri g li c
a-

Some gram m ari an s think the ab o ve rule we re m o re h o nou red in the breach
than the Obse rvance be c ause it requires th at if the l ast v o wel of an y sy ll able
, , ,

i n a comp o und w o rd is b ro ad the initi al v o wel in the next s y ll able sh o uld also
,

be b ro ad an d thus le a ds to the empl o y ment o f silent v o wels This is true

,
.
,

but it le ads to n o c o nfusi o n an d to ve ry f e w silent v o wels Inste ad the refo re

,
.
, ,

o f desi ring t o do a w ay with the rule m y wish is th at o ther di alects h ad an ,

equ all y cle ar rule Of spelling H ad the E nglish student a rule f or spelling th at
.

l an gu age in fou r lines of fo ur and five s y ll ables e ach th e saving fo r the l ast t w o ,

hundred y e ars in time an d mone y would h ave been inc alcul able It is to this
'

rule for spelling the p rese rv ation Of the initi al letter o f the ro o ts o f comp o und
,
—

w o rds an d the itinerating l abours o f the b ards an d sean ach ies am o ng the cl an s
,
—
,

th at the p rese rv ati o n o f the G aelic in i ts simplicity an d pu rity f o r thous ands O f ,

y e ars is to be asc ribed

,
.

Cl anships we re founded in identity Of blo o d an d pedigree from the o rigin al

p at ri arch o f thei r respective districts Hence an y pe rs on s acqu ainted with .
,

their traditi o ns must be a ware th at the o ld Highl ande rs di d not c o nsider the
sons Of existing chiefs an y higher in pedigree o r o n e iota m o re aristoc ratic th an ,

the descend an ts o f an y o ther chief in the long line Of d escent from the fo under
o f the cl an The ancestr al h o nours an d blo o d were regarded as the common
.

inheritance in which none h ad an y preference The cl an distri ct w as also

,
.

rega rded as the common property o f the cl an The common interest required .

them to h ave loc al cl an o r district governments but the Offici als were elected
by the cl an and strictl y limited to the c lea chda o r use an d w o nt
,
Their l aws ,
.

o r c leac h da ( custom ) we re tr aditi o n al an d known to eve ry m ember Of the clan , ,

an d could not be a ltered o r vi o l ated with impunity eve n by the most popul ar ,

chiefs . The y were administered by a judge c alled br i dh ea m h (bri ev ) ,

'
—

mode rnised br eh o n in I rel an d an d W ales ) and b y a j ury consisting Of the

( , ,

he ads o f the diff erent fa m ilies o f the cl a n The chief w as the executive ; but .

he w as not a membe r Of the breh o n court The judge w as Of Old appoin ted .
, ,

by the D ruids an d pr o b abl y a m ember o f the D ruid o rder ; but the D ruids
,

c o nstituted not the civil but the c rimin al court Of the cl ans The chief an d
,
.

Chieftains were elected from the nearest in descent to the f o un der o f the cl an or
famil y n o t to the l ast chief o r Chieftain as i n the feud al succession Hence in
, , .
,

general the b ro the r succeeded to the bro ther an d the nephew to the uncle
, , ,

inste ad Of the son succeeding in lin e al descent as in feudal successi o ns I am , .

satisfied that it w as the o rganiz ation Of the clans Of the n o rth of E uro pe fo r
the c o nquest Of the R o m an E mpire under p arti all y desp o tic leade rs o n a sy stem
, ,

o f militar sub o rdin a ti o n which o rigin ated all the esse nti al di ff e rences between
y ,

the Celts an d Goths although the y h ave since then been ascri bed by histo ri ans
,

to a difference O f r ace These leade rs th o ugh at th e first elected by thei r

.
,
 OF T H E H I G HL A N D CLANS . 27

fo llo wers o n p atri archal principles n aturall y established thei r po wer o ve r the m
,

pe rm anently when te rri to ries were conque red a n d districts d ivided int o estates
,

a m o ng their Offi cers In such ca ses the cea n n ca th or w a r chief n atu rally bec ame -
.
, , ,

king an d his Offi cers feud al v a ss als ; an d the hei rs o f b o th secured the successi o n
,
.

This re ally seems to h ave origin ated feud alism an d the m anners an d cust o ms
which distingui shed the so c alled Gothic fro m the Celtic cl ans There is n o
-
.

historic al evidence Of the emig ra ti o n to E u ro pe o f two races o f m ankind from

the E ast ; an d feud alis m is cert ainly fi rst kn o wn as a sy stem unde r the E mpe ro r
Alexander S everus in Germ any an d not in the E ast I have never been able
, ,
.

t o discover an y g rounds o n which t o a ssign to the G o thic a difie ren t line age
fro m the origin al Celtic c o l o nists Of the l o c alities from which G o thic clans t ake
t heir n ames H ad they been a di ffe rent race and come from the E ast at a mo re
.
,

recent pe ri o d they w o uld h ave c arried thei r n ames al o ng with them inste a d O f
, ,

t aking the n ames o f diffe rent l o c alities i n the l and to which they h ad emigrated .

T O assume th at the y are o f a di ff e rent race fro m the first Celtic c o lonists o f
E urope merely bec ause o f the diffe rence i n their p o litic al institutions di alects
, , ,

m an ners an d custo ms appe ars to m e to be neither acco rd ant with prob ability
, ,

n o r a nalog y L angu age is the gre a t argument o f th o se w h o hold most fi rm l y

.

to the ide a of di fle re n t r aces Yet M ax M uller an d the m o re eminent p h ilo lo

.

gists of the p resent day seem convinced th at all l anguages o r in this sense
, , , ,

m o re p ro pe rl y di alects m ay be traced to one s o u rce an d to do so seems to be

,

the g re at Obj ect o f c omp arative phil o l o gy The ide a th at the S anscrit G reek .
, ,

an d L a tin are de rived the one fro m the o the r h as been fai rl given up a n d th e
, y , ,

conclusi o n seems to be th at the y are de rived fro m a c o mm o n s o u rce S O fugitive .

is the ch aracter Of l angu age kn o w n to be as to h ave bee n thus illustrated by ,

M ii ller : We re ad o f mission aries in Central Ame ric a wh o attempted to w rite .

d o wn the langu age o f s av age tribes an d w h o compiled with g re at c are a

.

diction ary Of all the wo rds the y c o uld lay h old o f retu rning to the s ame t ribe ,

a fte r the l apse Of onl

y ten y e a rs the y found th a t this dicti o n a,
ry h a d becom e
a ntiqu ate d a n d useless O ld w o rds h ad sunk in the ground an d new ones h ad
.
,

risen to the surface an d to all o ut w ard appea rance the l angu age was c o mpletel y
, , ,
”
ch anged In sh o rt m ankin d are the c reatures O f training an d circumst anc e s
.
, ,

an d the di ff erence in these between the Celtic an d Gothic t ribes acc o unts fo r ,

e very othe r di ffe rence between them .

I have m u ch ple asu re i n submitting the fo ll o wing lette r fro m a le arned an d

eminent antiqu ary an d p h ilo lo g i stfi in corro b o rati o n subst anti ally o f m y vie w s
‘
"
, ,

o n the subject of the cogn ate ch ara c ter Of the l angu ages a n d pe o ples o f E u rope .

I beg to retu rn m y kindest th anks f o r the lectu re o n the Highl ande rs an d

Sc o ts y o u h ave been so kind as to sen d me I h a ve re ad it with much attenti o n
, .
,

an d with gre at ple asu re indeed With the exce p ti o n O f o n e point y o u h a v e

.
,

a nticip a ted all m

y c o nclusi o ns an d ded u cti o ns It o ccas i o ned much su rp rise .

a n d ple a su re thus t o find t w o individu a ls wh o ll unkno w n to o n e a n o the r a n d

y , ,

pu rs uing the same studies quite independent o f e ach o the r arriving at c o nclu ,

Y H
‘
. M d ac ona ld . E sq .
, G i a n d tu lly , D k ld
un e .
28 THE LA N GU A G E
si o ns almost the s ame The reasons y o u h ave given f o r the di ff erence in th e
.

l angu ages o f E uro pe are p recisely mine p refe rabl y worded by y o u —

.

I h ave studied to a certain extent the connexion o f L atin an d Greek with

o u r G aelic an d find th at n o w rite r h as y e t done j u stice to this p art O f philol o g y
,
.

It is now kn o wn th at Itali an Spanish Portuguese an d French are all the

, , , ,

direct o ff sp rings Of the l angu age o f Rome and that both Greek an d L atin enter ,

l argely int o the Teutonic o r G othic di alects I can say n o thing Of the S clav o n i c .
,

th o ugh it is consid e red o n e Of the Ari an tongues O ur o w n l angu age is n o w .

,

with apparent g rudge admitted to belong to this Ind o E urope an cl ass o f

,
-

l angu ages We are t o ld th at Professor M ii lle r o f C ambridge h as t raced o u t

.
, ,

s o me seven o r eight hundred wo rds of L atin i n the Gaelic o r v i ce versa ; an d ,

we have been informed that P ez ro n the antiquary found th at number in the , ,

Greek an d from 1 200 to 1 400 wo rds in L atin though like M ulle r he w as

, , , ,

qui t e un acqu ainted with o ur tongue I h ave traced o ut l atel y 2 600 L atin te rms .

in o u r Gaelic an d am fully aw are th at I am f ar from h aving exh austed the

,

subj ect In on e letter Of the G reek alph abet I detected 2 00 G aelic wo rds I
. .

believe the Gre ek i s replete with G aelic f o r its nume ro us aspirated pronunci a ,

ti o ns an d c o ns o n ant c o mbinati o ns be ar g re at affi nity to o u r l an gu age T h e .

Germ an or Teutonic is said to abound in it .

N O W when we find th at o u r Celtic l anguage pervades the whole l anguages

o f middle and weste rn E u rope is it mere enthusi a sm th a t hems us in to the
,

c o nclusi o n th at o ur people an d langu age have founded the existing races an d

,

tongues o f E uro pe ? Some o f th e g re at E nglish savan e o f the l ast century

d o ubte d the connexion o f E rs e (as the y term ed it) with an y l angu age in
E u ro pe such w as D r J ohns o n s view ; but Whitaker left recorded tha t he
—
’

fo und 3000 B ritish words in the Old S axon to ngue ; an d the more w e ex amine
every di alect o f the Teutonic we find th at it w as re ared o n a Celtic found ati o n
,
.

The recent asse rti o ns o f some th at the Hindu and S ansc rit l anguages are,

fellows of the E uropean i s not satisfactory At one time these races were
, .

bro thers but since thei r dispersi o n o n the pl ains O f Asshur the y never y e t
, ,

m e t and have no more claim f o r identity Of race th an the P atagoni ans an d we

,

h ave ; there are notwithstanding m an y things in their l angu age c o mm o n to

, ,

ou rs This i s the c ase with the Arabi c an d Persic als o The te rm Ind o
. . .

E urope an i s a m isn o mer ; neither is the fanc y Of such as te rm the Celts

Tu rani an a sh ade h appie r
,
.

But h o w it m ay be asked are w e to account f o r the extent to which

, ,

o u r langu age h a s pe rv a ded the othe r l angu ag e s o f E ur o pe ? The repl y i s

simple n amel y th at o ur ra ce h ad p assed ove r the Hellespont fi rst o f all o the rs
, , ,

w ith the l angu age the y h ad spoken i n Ch aldea Greece became their e arliest .

E u ropean settlement n o twithstanding the waves o f emig rants sent ou t

,
:

thence as pi o nee rs to cultiv ate an d inh abit the rem aining wastes Of E u ro pe .

Neither did the race o r l angu age eve r wholly ab andon P elasg ia The s ame .

o ccu rre d in Ital I w ould k whe e h d the Latin tongue its o rigin ? In It al y
y a s r . a .

A llowing the fables c o nnec te d with the transmissio n Of f E n e as fro m T ro y to

h ave s o me germs Of truth in them wh at was his langu age ? G reek The ,
.
 OF T HE HI G HL A N D CLA N S .

T roj ans were a I o nic tribe an d spoke the Heleni o The L atin consequentl y
,
.

w a s generated in Ital y an d we need not wonder th at so much Celtic enters into

,

its form ati o n .

You remark that there is no ve stige Of evidence th at a Gothic conquest

Of the Cel ts took pl ace It t o ok pl ace in the b rain o f would be Gothic pe o ple
.
-

only ; never in fact These writers h ave laid much st ress o n a p assage fro m
.

Hero dotus which as he w as t raditi o n all y told bo re th a t the Scy th es we re d rive n

, , ,

by the M essag e tae from the s o uth an d e a st of the A raxes an d bet o o k themselves ,

to the north Of the E uxine then occupied by the Cimb ri the other gre at , ,
—

cogn ate branch o f the Cel ts an d that the y d rove o ut the Cimb ri who it ,
—
, ,

would appe ar we re obliged to cross the E uxine b ack to Asi a Minor fro m which
, ,

place the y were expelled by Cr oesus ; in which ci rcumst ance the y were compelled
to fall b a ck o n their own n ative country This l atte r story o f the F ather Of .

History is o ve rlo o ked by the G o thic writers Rese arch h as d o n e a w ay with the .

Sc y th es G o thic m y th an d the term is now understood to h ave been an appell ative

-
,

generall y applied to all pe o ple living on the produce o f the ch ace A people .

termed Scy th es o r archers (from s a ig h ea d an arrow ) m ay h ave foll o wed in the

, , ,

wake o f the stil l ea rlier Cimbri but th e conquest Of the l atter by the fo rmer is ,

still a guess o f no fo undation An alm ag am ati o n o f a kind red race m ay h ave.

taken pl ace But to descend to our B ritish an d I rish pe o ple I a m at a loss to

.
,

se e h o w we are j ustified in design ating tribes eithe r in B ritai n or I rel and ,

G o thic o r S a xon before these design ati o ns bec ame kn o wn in th e world or i n

,

histo ry The Gothic n ations o f the south o f I reland y o u frequentl y mention

.
,

as di ff erent from the Celts Of the n o rth st agge rs me f or the Milesi ans C lan n a , ,

N e i mh i dh & c Of the E me rald Isle I ente rtain the g reatest doubt I believe
,
.
, ,
.

th at the sister Isle w as o rigin ally peopled by Celts from the B ritish Isle an d I ,

know th at no G o th could exist there befo re the n ame existed an y whe re else .

The Gothic champions h ave chosen to m etamorph o se the G aeti int o Goths i n
an d after the seventh centu ry but the ter mw as unkn o wn before the Christian ,

e ra
. As f or the Belg ae they occupied a section o f G aul and we re re al Celts
, , ,
’
although some tribes Of them in C aes ar s time preferred being considere d
Ge rm ans ign o rant th at i n th at c ase they were Of the Celtic race Wh at
,
.

holds true w ith the Goths as a sep arate people does the s ame with the S axons .

The y were unknown as such befo re th e fourth century Both the y an d th e .

Germ ans we re the s ame race o rigin ally At the commencement o f the present .

er a the portions o f German

, y occ u pied by the Angles an d S axons were inh abited
by Celts The fo rmer could be n o ne other th an tribes o f the l atter
. .

The G oths issued fro m S c andin a vi a e arl y in the present era How are .

we to trace them in an y portion o f the B ritish dominions pri o r to th at time

I rel and like all the northern st ates o f E urope n o doubt received t ribe after
, , ,

tribe ; but I c annot discover how we c an c all them but mere Celts Then as .

to th e di ff e rence in di alect I p resume the re was n one befo re the E nglish ,

inv asion in the 1 2 th century ; such v ariety as m ay h ave existed would be n o

gre ater th an th at in B rit ai n before the Rom an invasi o n Th at the north and .

so uth Of Irel and fought a g ainst one anothe r d uring the Fi n g alian pe ri o d is
30 T H E L A N GU A G E
not an uncomm o n ci rcum st ance the E n glish heptarchies fo ught an d
sl aughtered e ach othe r indiscrimin ately ; y ea the bro the rs h ave been Ofte n ,

bent o n destroy ing o n e an o ther f o r p o we r a m o ng the Celts as well as other ,

people I c o n ceive the refo re th at n o n ati o n al di ff e rence existed among th e

. , ,

I rish s ave th at of the pe ri o ds at which t ribes o f the sa me pe o ple arrived the re

,
.

“
I Observe y o u rem ark th at C o lumb a requi red an inte rp reter between
himself and the Picts This w o uld h ave the effect Of my rec o ncili ati o n w ith
.

y o ur s y stem in reference t o the Picts a n d Sc o ts I w o uld feel o bliged b y .

a trace o f g o od evidence in support o f it ; f or I m aint ain th at b o th we re one

a n d the s ame pe o ple h eari n a t a cert a in pe riod tw o distincti o ns equivalent

g
—
, ,

t o Clan C a mpbell an d Cl a n D o n ald M y a cqu aint ance with G a elic lite ratu re .

does not aflb rd me a pro of th a t thei r l angu age w as n ot the s ame identical o n e .

The Rom an p o et i n his p an e g ry ri c in the third centu ry alludes to S c o ts an d ,

other Picts an d Bish o p Winfred in 664 in h i s disputes befo re O s w y king , , ,

Of N orth u m bria with C o lman the S cot fro m Ion a ab o ut the keeping o f E aste r
, , , ,

“
s ay s We fo und the same p ractised in all the w o rld except onl y th o se an d
, ,

their accomplices in obstin ac y I m e an the Picts an d the B rito ns who fo o lishl y , ,

”
Oppose all the rest Of the universe B ede p 1 5 6 This Scot from Ion a an d .
—
,
. .

h is p e o ple are design ated he re the Picts

, ,
.

The w riting Of G aelic in Sc o tl and sc arcel y diflere d from th at o f I rel and

'

until the end of la st century The G aelic Of 8 00 o f 1 05 7 a n d subsequently .

, , ,
” ’
w as the s ame See I n c i ta tu m B e lli o f 1 41 1 Kilbride s M S Gene al o gy o f
. .

’ ’
1 460 ; C a rs well s G a elic Litu rg y Of 1 5 67 ; and Ki rk s G aelic Ps alm B o o k o f
the l ast century .

I conceive the Sc o ts to be the p resent Highl ande rs The y am alg am ated .

with the Picts in the ninth century an d h ave since formed the o cc up ants both ,

o f the east an d the west of Sc o tl and I he artil y admit the m arked diffe rence y o u .

h ave d rawn between the L o wl ande rs an d Highl ande rs in sh ape an d sy mm et ry .

I have l o ng Observed it but the distinction arises as much fro m the h abits o f
,

the pe o ple as it does fro m ra ce The S ax o ns an d the N o rth m en of E ngl an d .

h aving mixed with the L o wlanders c o ntributed to the ch an g e both in sy mmetry ,

an d l angu age E ve ry inch Of B ritain w as o nce peopled by Celts Top o g raph y

. .

i s p ro o f of this The names of rive rs m o unt ains hills st raths &c in the
.
, , , , .
,

Lowlands both south an d e ast p rove the s ame So m e an d Highl anders am o ng

, , .
,

them find Welsh an d Bri tish n a mes in Sc o tl and which are pl ain G aelic The
, ,
.

’
Dalri ads retained their G aelic at cou rt till C an m o re s time an d the b ards ,

traced the genealogy o f the latter Alex anders i n G aelic at their c o ro n ati o ns , , ,

to

The word G ael h as been prese rved as the distinctive name Of the first tide
Of emigrants fro m the E ast by whom E ur o pe w as inh abited The w o rd means
,
.

w h i te This n am e then which w as given o r ad o pted at a pe riod We rem o te

.
, ,

f o r o u r re se arch i mplies th at at th at ti m e m ankind we re Of di ff e rent col o urs

, , ,

a n d th at o n e o f these w as white This w o rd w as acc o rdingl y given to o r .

,

a s sumed b
y the white in cont radistinction to the c o l o u red races o f m ankind
, ,
 or TH E H I G HL A N D C LANS .
31

an d cert ainly the Saxon an d every o ther famil y n o w to be found in E u ro pe

, ,

a pear to be the descend ants Of the G ael or white race

p .

Alth o ugh I hold by the above Opinion n am ely that all the v arieties o f
,

white men are Of o n e and the s ame r ace I reg ard the question which h as , ,

frequentl y been unde r public discussion Of l ate as to the c ause Of the di ff erence ,

i n comp arative we alth and poverty O f the cl asses who inh abit the richer an d
p oo rer dist ricts of Gre at B ritain and Irel and as extremel y interesting ; but I,

g re atl y doubt whether the conclusion at which the write rs o n the subject seem
t o h ave arrived that it i s to be ascribed to the inferi o ri ty o f the Celtic race in
,
-

mental and ph y sic al c ap aci ty l is b o rne o u t by th e milit ary or civil histo ry of

—

the races even in those kingd o ms The so called G o thic race fo r insta nce whe re
,
.
, ,

the y are supposed t o be Of pure line age as in Holl and h a ve generall y been
, ,

ch aracte rized as Of phlegm atic tempe raments an d he avy o r unwield y frames ; ,

and the Celtic race h ave unifo rmly been represented as o f fiery te mper am ents
a n d a ctive fram es Yet these writers ascribe to the phlegm atic race all th at is
.
,

i ntellectu all y g re at an d ph y sic all y ene rgetic ; while to the Celts they ascri be
all th a t is ment all y feeble an d ph y sic all y indolent I do n o t think these p remises .

an d conclusi o ns rec o ncil able .

C aesar desc ribes the G auls w h o we re Cel ts as f ar advanced bey o nd the

, ,

Germ ans (who are assum ed to h ave been S axons ) in civilization an d

, ,
“
civiliz ation i s the result o f the exe rcise o f wh at is te rmed the industri al
”
virtues . Are n o t the indust ri al vi rtues acquireme n ts ? If so m ay n o t the ,

di ff erence between the h abits and circumsta nces Of the inh abitants o f the riche r
and poorer districts O f Gre at Brit ain an d Irel and at this day as well as the ,

di ff erence bet ween those o f the G auls an d Germ ans o f the d ay s Of C aesar be ,

accounted for sep arately alto gether from an y supposed differen ce in the m ent al
an d ph y sic al c apacity Of the German an d Celtic r a ces ?

Is it n o t the fa ct th at the m ore ne arly we find m ankind ( no m atter Of

,

wh at race ) to their primitive and uncultiv ated sta te the more are the y
, ,

ch aracte rized by ap ath y and indolence ? Nay is it not the fact th at in the , , ,

b o som o f the most active seats Of ente rprise an d industry whole famil i es are ,

to be found wh o se deficient educ ation i n the industri al virtues st amps them ,

with all th e ch aracteristics Of indolence an d apathy No w it will not be denied ,

th at the inhabitants Of the more cold steri le an d inaccessibl e districts o f all

, ,

countries (by wh atsoever race inh abited ) continue much l o nger in a p rimitive a n d
, ,

uncultiv ated st ate than th o se Of the more fertile genial an d accessible distri cts , ,
.

The o ri gin Of w ealth is in the abundance o f N ature It is alm o st spontaneou sl y .

produced in the more fe rtile an d can onl y be produced by extreme industry i n

,

the more sterile districts N o w wealth is essenti al to if not the p arent Of com
.
, , ,

m e rc i al an d m anufacturi ng industry It creates artifici al w ants an d se arches f o r

.
,

a n d rew ards the enterp ri se an d industry whereb y the y m ay be supplied A people .

living in a b arren country an d who know no w ants excepting th o se Of n ature

, ,

are contented with milk an d pot atoes brog u es an d h o dden g rey s an d do n o t ,

,

p o ssess within themselves the me ans n o r the stimulus necessary for the cre ati o n
o f c o mme rce a n d m anufacturing we alth an d industry .
32 TH E L A N G U A G E
The so c alled S axon an d Celtic inh abitants of Gre at Britain and I rel and
-
,

in addition to the gre at a dv antages the fo rmer had ove r the l atter in the ,

p o ssession Of rich an d fertile plains inte rsected with n avigable rive rs b ay s an d , , ,

estu ari es whereb y the wealth an d commerce Of the wh o le world w as d rawn

,

among them h ave n ot se t o u t o n the c aree r o f comme rcial an d m anufa ctu ring
,

enterp rise o n equ al te rms The S axons Of G re at B ritain an d Irel and we re

.
,

he reditaril y less or more a ccustome d to servitude and c o mmerce at a period

, , ,

when the Celtic race possessed the so il Of their n ative l an d in comm o n an d ,

when the exercise o f their indus tri al vi rtues w as onl y necess ary fo r th e cultiva
ti o n Of their o w n l ands and the domestic m anufacture Of th ei r o wn p roduce f o r
their o w n use Thei r ind ustri al virtues we re the refore in those day s equal to
.
, ,

thei r want s ; an d they lived c o ntente d an d h app y The acquisitiveness and .

injustice o f the stran ger ch anged the scene He ove rturned the l aws an d .

institutions Of thei r country an d m ade others reg ardless Of their w ants custo ms
, , , ,

an d h abits an d without allowing them t o h ave a say in the c ase

,
B y these .

n e w laws the Celt w as denuded o f hi s right Of p ro pe rty in the s o il which c o n ,

stituted his whole e art hl y poss ession an d reduced to the conditi o n o f a serf to , ,

grinding an d opp ressive l andl o rds whose unjustl y a cqui red we alth went to the ,

empl oy ment an d the en richment Of th e S axon because his he reditary knowledge ,

o f commer ce an d se rvitude m ade him the m o re eligible an d read y h anded to -

suppl y their artifici al wants and luxuries In sho rt the wh o le p rope rty o f .
,

the Celtic inh abita nts Of Gre at Britain an d I reland w as in e ff ect confisc ated to , ,

a c las s f o r the employ ment and enrichment Of those o f the people who had be en
,

th en a ccust o m ed to servitude a n d comme rce ; and now the p o or Celtic race ,

denuded Of all they possessed thinl y sc atte red over a b arren an d ro cky se a coast
,
-
,

o r a mong the iso l ated glens an d mounta ins o f broken an d sterile waste s

depressed by pove ty and even de serte d by the accustomed bounties o f N ature

r
*
,

are blam ed f o r not h aving in this sta te Of transiti o n m ade the s ame progress
, ,

in the arts an d sciences of civilized life as a pe o ple he redita ril y initiated in ,

servitude an d comm e rce an d who moreover at the o uts et had vi rtu ally helpe d , ,

them selves to their l ands the foundati on of the whole wealth Of the country
—

to carry o n thei r t rade .

Th at the diff erence in the h abits an d circumstances o f the inh abit ants o f
the richer and poo re r dist ricts o f Gre at Bri ta in and Ireland c ann o t with j ust ice
be ascribed to an y thing inherent in the Celtic ch aracter is proved by th e fact , ,

th at the re is no p art Of these kingdoms in which pers o ns Of und o ubted Celtic

line age are not to be fo und st an ding p re eminentl y fo rward among the m o st
,
-

distinguished individu als o f the Saxon r ace in every dep artment o f literature ,

and the fine arts as well as in all the sciences and inventions o r discoveries
, , ,

which h ave resulted in thei r gre at m erc antile an d m anufactu ring p rospe rity .

Nor is the comparison Of the emul ation Of individu als Of the Sax o ns an d
Celts with o n e another less fav o urable t o the latter th an the emul ation Of towns
a n d cities if w e take pr o ress in commerce a n d manufactures as the criterion
, g .

T wo or th re e o f th e se p a
g e s w ere w r itt en a t th e ti m e of th e ptt
o a o fa il ure .
34 TH E LAN G U A G E
in i ts purity We accordingly find that Malcol m Canmore who appears to have
.
,

been the first Scoto Irish ki n g that acqui red an y thing like an e ff ectu al
—

dominion over the Picts took immedi ate steps for th e establishment o f the
,

feud al system The disru pt ion consequent o n this p rocess th rew a great portion
.
,

o f the country i n to the h ands of n e w possesso rs Hence the Scottish nobility .

o f the d ays o f Wallace were in every essential a foreign nobility They

, , .

were forei g ners in their line age langu age titles te n ures m anners an d customs
, , , , , .

There were thus e lements of the most irreconcilable enmity i n existence be

tween the people and the nobility o f Scotland i n the d ays o f W all ace Being ~
.
,

however only the growth o f the two p revious cent uries fortun ately for the
, ,

people the nobility were not in the poss e ssion o f great milit ary strength
, .

Their following consisted o f men at arms as m ay be seen from their ch arters ; - -

,

and the men at arms o f Scotl and were never very formidable and much less so
- -
,

at the above period We accordingly find that C umyn one of the oldest
.
,

an d most powerful among them whe n he had to r e ly upon his own feudal frien ds ,

an d vassals (f o r the cl ans were only willing and voluntar y soldi e rs in defe nsive
,

w arfare ) as in his silly invasion of E ngland did n o t d are to encounter the

, ,

hostility o f the citize n s even of Carlisle When th e stalwart bu rghers showed .

face he abandoned his resentment against King E dward and fled We also
, , .

”
find when the gre at Stewart with Lennox and other baron s j oined the army
, , ,

at Stirli n g that their strength consisted only of sixty men ! Dougl as Lorn &c
, , , .
,

who were chiefs and followed by the people o f their respective clans are not
, ,

to be confounded with the nobility referre d to Neither should we allow our .

estimate o f the power of the nobili ty o f those days to be exaggerated by the

vulgar error o f supposing that the sch i ltron s or di visions which they commanded , ,

in b attle were formed of their o wn vassals These schiltro n s were composed

, .

“
o f the clans and o fli cered by their chiefs an d chieftains but di vide and
,

conquer being the rulin g principle o f the feudal k ings of Scotland they sowed
”
,

the seeds o f distrust and division so sedulously among the clans that on e clan ,

would not h e commanded by the chief of another clan Hence when severals .

o f them were formed together i nto a sch iltro n or division so me n eutral person , ,

ag e behoved to get the command The king or his representative in the field .
, ,

therefore usually appointed some noblem an popul ar in the districts of the

, ,

respective sch iltro n s to command them in b attle We must not therefore allow
, .
, ,

our estim a te of the military strength o f the nobility of the d ays o f Wal lac e to ,

be magnified by the importance of the stations they occupied in the field of

battle o r by the power to which by the successful carrying out o f the feudal
, ,

organiz ation th e y afterwards attained The power was only in its bi rth at that
,
.

period ; and we accordingly find that their assistance to the inv ader consiste d
chiefly of intri gues whereby they divided or betrayed the p atriots as wi tness
, ,
-

the batt le o f F alkirk .

The derivation o f the name as well as th e genealogy of Wal lace is , ,

involved in obscurity ; but i ts absence from bonds and ch arters like thos e of ,

other Celtic chiefs and i ts identity as originally spelled W al en s with th at of

, , , ,

the heroic W alen se s of Clydesdale of which district he was a native furnishes , , ,

 OF TH E HI G HLAN D CLANS . 35

at least ex f a c ce e vi dence of his Celtic lineage To be of the same line age an d

’

.
,

langu age with the natives would also seem elements absolutely ne ce ss ary to
,

popul arity among a peopl e so constituted as the people o f Scotl and of the
days o f Wall ace Nay we c annot shut o ur eyes to the fact that e ve n
.
, , ,
“ ”
a t s o late a period as the fo rty fi ve no small sh are o f the enthusiasm in -
,

“ ”
favour of the Prince m ay be ascribed to the ze al an d address with which he
,

a ssumed their n ation al d ress an d arms and cultiv ated their habits an d their lan ,

gu age Th e se we re the me ans whereby he rooted himself in their he arts and

.
,

e flec tually awak e ned their ancient loy alty and fidelity to their o ld race o f kings .

We also see that the tone o f determined enmity in which Wall ace is
made to speak of his foemen h as in it something far more bitter than could ,

have risen from the hostility o f two warlike kingdoms It implies hat red to .

the r ace much more distinctly than to the invader Nor is the intense hostility .

o f the Scottish nobility to Wallace s atisfactorily expl ained when ascribed merely

to the suppos e d pride o f rank an d birth F o r Wallace was h i mself of knightly .

rank and family ; an d therefore even according to th e ir o w n feud al distinctions

, , ,

qualified to e n te r the lists agai n st the best an d noblest o f their race or orde r .

Neither i s it to be unde rstood tha t the nobility o f that age th at i s the k ing —
,

made nobility possess e d th at pre stige which power and antiquity o f family
—

‘
co n fe r o n th e ir desc end ants No doubt some of them were desc e nded of th e
.
,

nobility of E ngl an d ; but th e se were only the o flspri n g o f the th e n re cent

conquest o f th at kingdom by the Norm ans But at any rate the best an d .
, ,

noblest o f either the E n glish or th e Scottish nobility o f that day were n ot to be ,

compared to th e chiefs an d chieft ains of Scotland in purity o f blood o r an , ,

ti q ui ty o f family We must th e refore look elsewhere th an to their p ri de fo r

.
,

the cause o f the h atred an d aff ected contempt entertained by the nobility
a g ainst Wall ace M ay th e y n o t r ather h ave arisen from his Celtic line age an d
.

popularity with the people who h ated an d repudiated their rank and t e nures
, ,

and whom they in return both hated and feared ?

, ,

When ci rcumvente d or defeated on the plains where the feudal nobil ity
, ,

had some show o f influence an d w h ere they sometimes joined i n order to , ,

thwart an d betray him we find that W allace invariably retired beyond the
,

Clyde and Forth among the gl e ns and mountains occupied by the n ativ e
,

Celtic race and th at he never failed to return th enc e with thousan d s o f true
,

hearts and strong arms able and willi n g as at the b attle o f Stirling to pave
, , ,

h is way to glory an d to victory These were the men with whom he th ric e .

swept the invader from the land and with whom his triumph had been com ,

p le te,d but f o r the persevering and a las ulti m ately successful tre a chery of
,
t h e , ,

nobility These facts lead to the conclusion that Wallace and his followers fou n d
.

their mutual pat riotism an d confidence in on e another cemented by the ti e s o f

language and of lineage th at th e y were equally the line al descend ants an d
,
—

true representatives of the illustrious tribes who of old repelled the Roman and , ,

D anish inv aders of their country in the same spirit in which they their o fl , ,

spring were the n resolute to conquer or to die in the sacred caus e o f her li be rty
,

an d independence W e have therefore re ason to b elieve that the Oppon e n t s

.
, ,
 36 TH E LAN G UA G E
of th e E nglish in the d ays o f Wall ace w e re the pat ri arch al cl ans o f Scotl and
, ,

the same race whom they long afte rwards encount ere d at P restonp ans an d
Culloden W e sh all now therefor e proce e d with a b ri e f sketch of the more
.
, ,

prominent arenas o n whic h th e S axon an d Celtic races h ave met each oth e r in
battle begi n ning wi th th e w ars o f the fi rst N apoleon
, .

The Contin e n t al Saxons h ave frequ ently me t the h alf C e ltic Fre n ch i n -

b attle an d c e rt ainly did not show their superiority to them i n m e nta l an d

,

physical energy Du ring th at w ar in p articular the Continental S axon s

.
, ,

gained no lau rels from the represen tatives o f the ancient Gauls It is not to .

th e ir S axon blood therefore that the E nglish owe thei r milit ary sup e riority over
, ,

the French but to the blood o f their British m oth e rs othe rwise why did not
, ,

the Contin ent al Saxons (who certainly must possess more Saxon blood th an the
E nglish ) b eat the French The d e scend ants and repre s e ntatives o f the Celtic
Gauls are a t this day the gre at e st o f all the Contine n t al n ation s
, , .

The last occ a sion on which the Celtic an d S axon races o f Gre at Brit ai n
”
m et o n e another in w arfare w as as alre ady m en tioned i n the fort y fiv e , , ,
-
,

an d we certainly do n o t find th at the Saxon m anifeste d an supe rio rity to th e

y
Celtic race either physically o r men tally o n th at occasion W e must the refore
, , .
, ,

proceed backw ard with o ur researches b efore w e can fin d any evid e n ce of the
military sup eriority o f th e Saxon to th e G ae l .

It i s s aid th at th e S axon subjug ated the Briton This s tateme n t is n o w .

discredi t ed but supposing it true th e B riton h ad become efle m i n ate by several

, ,

centuri e s o f subjection to the Rom ans b efo re he achieved th at triumph O ver ,

.

the C al e doni an an d the D an e he fail e d to achieve an y pe rm an ent sup e riority or

a dvant ag e : o n the contrary his cou n try w as ov errun rep eat edly an d fi n ally
, ,
’
conquer e d by the D an e ; an d the D ane the S axon s conque ror w as as re pe atedly
, , ,

defeated i n b attle an d d riven by the C aled o n i an s i n to th e sea

, .

No r w as the sup e riority of the S axo n to the C e lt m an ife sted in the war o f .

i n depend e nce under W all ace and B ruce although th at w ar occu rred aft er he h ad ,

b e en again improved in his b re e d an d elevated in his military ch aract e r by an , ,

acc e ssion o f blood fro m the half if n o t wholly C e ltic an d w arlik e Norm an , ,
.

But to show the di ff e rence betw e en th e C elt an d S axon i n th ei r milit ary qu aliti e s , ,

it is on ly necessary to refe r to the histo ric al fact th at by th e loss of the si n gle , ,

battl e o f Hastings th e S axon w as co wed and subjugated ; whe reas th e C e lt

, ,

inst ead o f yielding on a si n gle defeat m ai n tained a dis astrous w ar o f thi rty y ears ,

duration not only ag ainst a powerful foreign i n vad er but ag ainst the st ill
, ,

mo re fatal treachery o f the Anglo S axon nobility pl anted by his o wn ki n gs in -

, ,

the bosom of his country for th e e xti n ction of his rights an d liberty
,
.

No r did these thirty years o f ruinous w arfare e ither cool his p atriotism o r
tam e his courage O n the contrary he faced th e w hole Anglo S axon an d
.
,
-

Anglo Norm an power n ot only of E n glan d but o f Wales an d Irel and also o n
-
, , ,

the field of Bannockburn an d with o n e Celt against three Saxons ov erth re w

, , ,

them with a sl aughter to which th at of Waterloo the B an nockburn o f

, ,
—

E urope an warfare is scarcely to b e comp ared ; and with that crowning victory
,
—

b e secured and consolidated the independence o f his count ry T h e milit ary .

history o f th e S axon and Celtic r aces assuming them to be different races , ,

 or TH E HI G H L AN D CLANS . 37

relatively to one another does not therefore afford any evidence of th e ment al
,

o r physic al sup e riority o f t h e Saxon race .

We do not and c annot see any re ason for coming to the conclusion th at
, ,

the Saxons an d the Celts are descended o f two distinct races E v e ry sh ade o f .

di ff ere nc e betw e en them may w e wo uld say must h ave bee n p roduc e d by
,
—
,
-m

e duc ation a n d circumstances But be that as it m ay so comple te is th e .

,

amalg am ation o f the two now in Great Brit ain an d I rel and as to re n der it ,

impossible to draw a line o f demarcation b e tw ee n them Howeve r it is not .

,

either necessary o r desirable to do so and I m ay venture to p re dict th at n o ,

honest p atri ot will ever attempt it Indeed I qu e stion if twenty families o f .

,

British born subjects can be found who can trace themselves through six
-
,

generations of an unmixed Saxon li n e age .

I h ave alre ady st ated that the G aelic vowels are sounded by grammari ans
like the E n glish vowels in f a r th eme p an bro ke t ru e E v e ry o n e o f these
’

, .
, , ,

vowels h ave however according to these gentl e men as m any sounds an d sh ades
, , ,

o f sound h ard and soft bro a d and sm all thin and thick as with th e nume rous
, , , , ,

signs or accents by which they are distinguished might en able a cl e ver t eacher ,

to retain an ordinary pupil in hi s h ands f o r a n ag e but o f course they con , ,

s i dere d th e acquisition o f such an inv aluabl e knowle dge che aply purch as e d by

th e sacrifice of a life time to the study of Gaelic grammar

-
But th e singul ar thing .

is h o w Duncan Ban M acintyre and the other b ards who could neith e r re ad n o r
, ,

w rite cont rived to le av e behind them the le arned wo rks o n which such el abor ate
,

disquisitions have been founded by th e se great philologists ! My sp ace will not

pe rmit m e to trouble the reader with m any ext racts but I could h ave shown him , ,

by voluminous quotations that the Highl anders we re not the ign o rant b arb ari an s
,

they are represented to h ave been and I must rem ark as a sufli ci en tly striking ,

corroboration of this statement th at C aes ar asc e rta ined from th e n atives that ,

the co ast of B rit ain w as two thousand miles in circumference (an d I questio n ,

whether the Gove rn ment S urveyors will show th at they we re very f ar wrong ) ,

yet o ur le arn ed histori ans h ave been repe ating o n e after another on the , ,
-

authority of Lati n books too for the l ast two thousand years th at it was the
,
—
,

Rom ans who fi rst ascertained th at B ritain w as an isl and ! and I h ave no doubt
th at they will continue to repe at this an d a hundre d other fall acies an d th at , ,

th e good n atured public will not only con tinue to believe but also to buy these
-
,

p recious books and p ay dominies f or teaching them to their children for two
, ,

thousand years more .

I h ave sta ted that G aelic conson ants w h e n not as pirated or in action are
, , ,

p ronou n c e d like the E ngli sh consonants in the following words : b i n bad 0 in ,

c an t d i n daft
, f in f all g in g all 1 in lee k m i n m ad n in n arro w p in
, , , , , ,

ath r in r ar e s in s al ad and t in tar but much thicker softer an d deepe r

p , , , , , , .

’
A s the purity o f th e reader s pro n unci ation depends enti rely o n his m aking
himself a complete m aster of this p e culi ari ty I beg of him to g o onc e more ,

over the instructions for pronouncing the conson ants w h en i n ac ti on alre ady ,

given before add ressi n g himself to the following words otherwise he is sure to
, ,

a c q uire a spurious p ronunci ation .

38 TH E L AN U A E G G
Tir mhor a continent
-
, . mor sh ruth , -
a rapid .

t i r v o re m o re ’
-
-
ru

D uth ai c h a country ,
. adh adh , a ford .

d a a yc h ah ah
' ' '
- -

E i llen an island , . c o ileam , a rapid rushing through a narrow rock

e ll en c o y le m bound cha nnel .

Do i rlin n an isthmus , . tober a sp ring ,

.

d o yrlin n
T rai g h , coast . srath the lower part ,
of a glen a valley
, .

' '
t ra i -
sra

Cladac h , be ach . d ael a plain in the curve

,
of a river .

c lada c h dal
Cuan , se a . gleann a glen ,
.

c u -ah
g l en n
Mui r ocean , . coire a semi gle n in the face of a hill
,
-
.

m uy r c oy re

C am as bay ,
. beal ach a defile or p ass ,
.

b ela ch
C all a h arbour ,
. ai sre a steppe among rocks
,
.

ay sh ré
Ge ch a creek ,
. h ein u , a mounta in .

g ob
e -
b ey n u
C olas a st it
a ,
ra . c ru ach a conic al ,
or sta ck shaped mountain
-
.

c ao l a s *
c ru -a c h

Loch a l ake ,
. sli abh , a wold or n i clined table land -
.

sli - av

A bh ui n n , a ri ver . sli o s, the flank or side of a mountai n .

av u y n sli s

Alt , a rivulet . scur a cliff , .

se ti r

E as , a w aterfall . mointe ach a moor , .

é ss m o y n te c h
Linne a poo l ,
c arr ,
a dry moor rutted with winter w ate r courses
,
-
.

li énn-

S ruth a current , . Ion , a moist pl ain or meadow .

'
s rn

D all bh o g , -
a qu agmi re . c os , a cleft .

dallav o g
Frith ,
a d e er forest . c n ag an , a k nag in a tree or rock .

'
f ri omag an

G ri an an ,a sunny knoll ( a innis an island also a roosting place , ,

.

g ri an an fai ry brugh )
' '

S ith ean a fairy knoll or i an island ( obsolete )

, ,
sh i e n
'
-
brugh .

B r uach o r brugh a bank ai ri dh a shieling or Highland summer resid e nce , ,

.

a yri
' '
bru a ch -
bru
o r ridge ; also a clach an .

C lo adh burying ground fas ach a deer forest o r p reserved pasture

, , ,
-
,
.

c l0 or salmon sp awn fasach

'

in gplace .

Ao . H e re th e ph on ic sp e ll i ng is a fa il ure ; f o r aw i s a h o rr id imi tati on , an d I can fin d no l tte

e rs

th t m
a o re n ea r ly re p re sen s t th e so un di n E n g li sh .
 OF THE HI G H LAND C L ANS .
39

Stuc a peak ,
. garbh fhon n a rough roc ky country (a
-
, ,

g a rV Ol m cognomen o f A rasaig )
'

H amb , a cave .
g e am h rach a dh a wintering place ,
-
.

'
g evra ch a
-
u av-

Bo ,
a cow . mult a wether , .

hé
Ba -
thigh a cow house ,
-
. rei th e , a ram .

'
é
'
ba h i-
rey -

B ualai dh , a fold . n an , a lamb .

'
bu -
a -
lay u -an

L ao g h , a c alf . o i sg , a hogg or year old sheep

-
.

la o
'
Oy sg

A rladh , a quey . ath bh li an ach , a two - year —

old sheep .

ar a l '
a
'
-
vli -an -ach

G am h ai nn , a stirk . clo i mh , wool .

g avay n c lo y v

Damh an ,
ox . gabh ar a goat ,
.

dav ga var
T arbh , a bull . b o c a h e goat
,
-
.

bo c
G earran, a work horse -
. laosboc , a wether goat .

g ert an la o sb o c
Ste ud a war horse ,
-
. m e an n , a kid .

s té y d m en n
Marc a rid i ng horse
,
-
. fiadh , a stag .

m arc fi '
-
a

Falare , a riding mare —

. m aoi sleach , a bi n d .

f alaré m oy slech
Capul a brood mare ,
-
. mi nn ean , a calf d eer -
.

c ap ul m i n n en
C aora a ewe , . e arb a, a roe d eer -
.

c ao ra b
era a

Bo c- carha , a roebuck . banag a grilse , .

bo ceraba banag
S i on n ach , a fox .
g e allabh reac , a salmon trout -

shi -o ma ch gl v
e la - rac

Doran an otter , . breac a trout , .

do ran bre c
Broc a badger , . slati asg ai ch , a fish in g - ro d .

b roc sla t - - i asg i ch

E oin fh raoi ch moorfowls

-
,
. morbh a, a fish - spear or leister .

e -oy u - ro y c h m orva
Co illeach f rao i ch , -
a moorcock . clic a gaff ,
c oy lech -f ro
y ch cli c
Cearc -
f h rao i ch , a moorhen . dri amlach , a fi sh - l ine .

c erc -t o ych dri -am -lach

Coilli ch dh u, black coc k s -
. dubhan a hook , .

c o y lli ch -y u d uvan
L i adh ch earcean , grey hen s . c u illeag a fly ,
.

li -
ch ereau
a
'
c uy llag

E ala a swan , . ro dh an , a pirn .

'
ro -
an
 40 TH E LAN G U A G E
Lach a wild duck ,
-
. leabh ar ch u illeag , -
a fly -book .

l ac h l evar ch u y llag -

M al ard a wild drake ,

-
. c lai dh e am h a sword , .

m all a d -
r clay cv '
-

T u n n ag a duck ,
. clai dh mor a broadsword
-
, .

t un n -
ag c l a y more
'
-

D rac a drake . clai dh da lai m h two h anded s w o rd

- - -

d ra c
, , .

c l ay da layv ’
- -

G eadh a goose , . c lai dh cinn ais nich a rib hilted sword

- - -
,
-
.

ge a
-
'
c l ay c i n n ay sh n i ch
'
- - -

G an radh , a gand e r . c lai dh cuil a backsword

-
,
.

g an ra
-
'
c l a y cuy l
'
-

Fe adag , a plov e r . c laidh caol a small sword

-
, .

f e dag c l ay c a o l’
- -

A dh arcag , a l apwing . c lo g ai d a helmet ,

.

’
a -
ar-c ag c l o g ay t

G uilbn eac h , a curlew . c lo g ai d staili n , a steel helmet .

g uy leben ac h c lo g ay t t l
s a in

Corr a heron , . lui re ach , a buff cloak .

0 01 T lay rec h
Budag a snipe , de alg g u alai n ,
- *
a shoulder pin or sk ewer
b u dag
. .

t elag -g u -aley n

Creoth ar a woodcock , . brai sd, a brooch .

'
c re -
ar b ray sd
I asg , a fish . lui rech m hai leach , a mail cloak -
.

i -
asg l uy rech v ay l ec h

Bradan a salmon c lai dh -ci n n Illich an Islay hilted swor d

-
, .

d
.
,
bra an c l ay c in n ill ich
’
- -

L ein n e chrios 1 a shirt of mail —

,
’

. feile a kilt
,
.

l eyn e ch ri os - -
‘ ’

f é y lé
S g iath a shield or wing , . tri ubh as,
trews worn by equestrians and
’
sk i a -
tri u vas
- -
aged men .

Dag , a pistol . brig is short trews buckled at the knee

, , .

dag brig is
B eu dag , a dirk literally the little b on ai d, a bonnet .

b ey dag
, ,

de adly o n e .
b o n ayt

B og h adh sh ai h ead an arrow b o w p ei te ag , a waistc oat

b o a h ay eg
- —
. .
,
' '

Peytag
- -

T aife ad a b ow string ,
-
.
p ei tag mh u i li ch en ,
-
jacket literally a
a ,

P y g Vuy li ch en
e ta waistcoat with sleeves
-
.

Gunna a gun ,
. brog a shoe
,
.

g u n n -
a b rbg
Clai sh n each , a rifle . c uaran , a sand al .

ch
c l ay sh -n e c u - aran

C amus a mould for casting bullets

,
c u arag , a knapsack .

Camu s c u -ar-ag

A s i l v w i th h d
k e w er o f ll y l g d h igh ly
go m t l f
or f t i g th
ld s er, a ea u su a ar e an o rn a en a , or as en n e

w i p l id
arr o r s
’
ld Th ba ch w ly d b y w m
on th e sh ou er . e roo as o n u se o en .

1 L i ch i w th di t i g i h i g m f th ch
e n e- r os w i w h tt d d th ch i f i b ttl
as e s n u s n na e o e o sen arr o rs o a en e e e n a e,

m v d w i th hi m f m id t
o e id f th fi l d p h i g v y dv t g rod s tai i g th partys e o s e o e e , us n e er a an a e , an us n n e

i c li i g b ck w d
n n n i j p dy a ar or n eo ar .
42 TH E L A N G U A G E
The short trews and hose as above d e scribed were worn by a few Old men , ,

i n Strathspey an d S trath errick sixty years ago The Bisc ay ans at the above .
,

period instead o f tartan hose wore a long worsted stocki n g folded down m i d
, ,

le g and tied with red t ape like some very f at legged st ran ge rs whom I have
, ,
-

recently seen aping or caric aturing Highl and e rs in a sp e cies o f g aberlun zie ,

dress which they no doubt innocently suppose to be the same with th at worn
, , ,

by the Highlanders when in an un civilized state The Lowland Scots certai nly .

wore the short trews ; but the long trews was their costume The trews and .

hose were in on e piece the p art below th e knee being fitted to the leg and
, ,

e nding in a foot like hose T he k n ick erbok er when worn with a boot is
.
, ,

exactly like the trews whe n worn with a riding boot as it always w as by -
,

equestrians The trews were buttoned in front like moder n t rou sers ; but that
.
,
’
p art was covered with a small gold o r silver laced apron h aving the wearer s ,

crest and b adge taste f ully combin ed with tracery embroidered o n it T h e

, , .

bonnet of the Lowland Scot was broad an d flat ; but n o t high and coc ked l ike
th at o f the Caledonian Both wore the plaid ; but the Scot wore his generally
.

doubled round his shoulders an d fastene d with a brooch T h e Old C aledonians ,

.

occasionally wore the belted plaid that i s the pl aid di vided at the waist by a -
, ,

b road belt the upper p art bei n g wrappe d round the shoulders and fastened on
, ,

the breast with the dea lg g h u a la z n n or shoulder skewer and the lower part
’

-
,

gathe red round the loins an d thighs in plai ts like a kilt T his is the dress , .

d e scribed in a work published i n London in 1 630 c alled I think The , , ,

”
R el ations of the mo st celebrated Nations as the dress worn by Henry the ,
’
V III s Irish troops o n h is visit to F rance It is a remarkable circumstance that
. .

the Antiquarian Societies o f Ireland have lost si ght of this the ancient native
dress o f the northern Irish It i s evident however from the nam e o f this dress
.
, , ,

which in contradistinction to f ei le is called brea ca n a m f ei le that weari ng the

, , ,

pl aid and kilt in o ne piece w as not the rule but the exception The usual way , .

was to wear the plaid and kilt separately the plaid thrown over the left shoulder , ,

as in the regiments whose colonels while clo thiers to their respectiv e corps did , ,

not cabbage the men s pl a ids and substitute square pieces o f tartan fixed like
’

, , ,
”
baby c le a ts
-
behind their back s to d angle transversely between th e hi p and
, , , ,

shoulder The pl aid of the Highlan d warrior was fastened on the shoulder
.

with a silver o r gold skewer whose he ad w as usu ally shaped like his crest ,
.

O nly the Highl and ladies and the Lo wland Scots wore the brooc h which was ,

altogether unsuitable for the Highlander of warlike times from the difficulty Of ,

unfastenin g i t for he always fought stri pped to the waist Hence h is first
,
—
.

”
motion when descending to battle w as to firm his bonnet o n his head by
, , ,
”
an emph atic s c rug ! his second to cast o ff h is pl aid &c
—
his third to , ,
.
—
,

i n cline his body horizontally forw ard cover it with h is target rush to within , ,
’
fifty p aces of the enemy s line d i scharge and drop his fusee o r rifl e h is fourth , ,
—
,

to dart forw ard till within twelve p aces disch arge and fling his i ron stocked , ,
-

’
pistols at the foem an s head his fifth to draw cl aymore an d at him This —
, , .

w as done by the Gael at the battle o f Killiecrankie the moment Dundee fell , ,

and th e y found themse lves at libe rty to take their o wn course Th eir conduct .
 OF TH E H I G HL A N D CLANS . 43

is described by on e o f Dundas s o ffi cers who publishe d a short and i n te re sting

so
’

memoir o f the hero which was published i n London four years after his de ath ,
.

Lord Mac aul ay does not seem to have seen this book for h e calls some o f the
! ,
’
facts state d in it an inv e ntion o f recent time s ] This write r s description of the
b attle is corroborated by I an L o m and other bards who state that Dundee , ,

caused gre at loss to the Highlanders by the slow pa ce at whic h h e led them
into battle By this injudicious process which shows th at Dundee did not know
. ,

the Highl anders as well as Montrose they received thre e volleys be fore drawing ,

their swords Left to their o wn tactics they would ha ve receive d only o n e

.
, ,

and the battle would have been decided in ten minutes It laste dj on ly two .

’
minute s according to this O ffi cer an d to the bard I an L em afte r Dunde e s
, , ,

death H ad he not been killed it might like the bat tle of Culloden have b een , , ,

protrac ted until two thirds of his clans had been killed o r wounded .

A th ai r, father . balaoc han , a cow boy literally a c o w -

,
ba lao c ban
'
a r
ay r -
hero hence bal ach ,

mother . caile a stou t young woman

, .

B rathai r, brother . c aile ag , a lassie .

bra
'
-a
yr ear - as l
P i uth ai r, sister . bo i rein each , a woman (pronou n ) ,
’
pi bo yren ac h
-a
u
yr
-

S e an n aer, grandfather . fi re n each , a man (pronou n ) ,

fi ren ach
S ean n amh ai r, grandmother . duine a man , .

sh en a-ver d uy n é
M ac , son . bean a woman , .

ben
Nigh ean n , d aughter . bodach an old boor
b o d ac h
,
.

'
ui -en

Ceili husband , . cai lleach an o ld female boor , .

ch ey li -
cay llec h

Ban ach eili wife ,

. deo dh u i n e,
-
a goo d man ,
l iterally a ,
de -
O -Y Im é d man .
g
-
o
“ ”
T rech ele, through o th er, a bad man literally a helter skelter
-
. dorch -
dh u in e, , ,
trech elé do rch y u n é man o f darkness '

L echele together hand i n hand ,

”
duine coir a kindly hone st man liter ,
- -
.
-
, , ,
lec h el e duyn é c o n ally a surpassin g man - '

, .

O ch ele separately from on e another

, duine carrach a qu irky m an li terally ,
.
-
,
-
, ,

o ch elé duy n é (Barrach a cro ok e d or twisted m an -

.

am adan a fool literally the waif of , , ,

am a dan t ime - -
,

Olanu a clan (liter ally chil d ren ) the burraidh a blustering loquac i ous fool
, , , , .

013113 descendants o f o n e pri omh

'
b urray
ath ai r or patriarch .

Ceann ci n n ith head of a tribe chief

-
benmh iag h ael a preciou s woman
, , .
,
.

c en c w m
'
-
ben - vi -ay ell
Bana -
ch ean n - c in n i th , fe male head of a ben aillidh , a beautiful woman .

b ana ch en - -
cm i
'
cl an chiefess
,
,
ben fili -
'
44 TH E L A NGU AG E
Ce an n tai h , head of
a silly woman li terally a
a house or branch o i seach ,
ce n tay
g 8 9 011
, ,
-
strayed young woman "

Bana ch eann tai gh female head o f a buidseach a witch

— -
, , .

house chieftainess buy t sech

’
ban ach en ta l - -
‘

.
-

C eann te alai ch head of a household du i n erai tech ael a vain glorious man
, .
,
-

d uy n e ray tec h el
.

c en telec h -

B an ach e an n te aloi ch female head of a cladh ai re a coward , , .

ban ac h en telay ch
’
household c la ay re .
-

U ach daran the superior o f the land dui n ecrin n a niggar d ly man
, , ,
d uy n e erin n
.

u ac h daran
-
the tai ni ster -
.

B anu ch daran a female superior o f lands duine fial a social hospitable man
, , , , .

ban u ac h daran
- -
o r a female tai n i ster duy n é fi ai .
-

Ban ath ai n i ster a female ta in i ste r , .

b ana h ay n i ster
-

N U M BE R S .

1, aon , o r, ah -
ao n . 11, aon - deug , or, a h aon deug
- -
, 21 , aon thair fich e ad, on e
ao n ao n -deyg o n e o v er t en . o ver t wen ty .

2, da a dh a, . 1 2, dh a-dh eug , a d ha dh eug - . 2 2, dha th air fich ead .

ya i - é
y y ys
3, tri a tri,
. 1 3, tri deug a tri deug
-
,
-
. 2 3, tri
tri tri -dé y g

4, c ei th e ir, a ceith eir 1 4, . c ei th ir- deug , a c ei thi r 24, c e i th ei r

c ey -ir-dé yg deug
'
c ey -
sr .

5, co ig a coig ,
. 1 5, coig deug a coig d ong
-
,
-
. 2 5, coig
c os'
s c o y s dé yg -

6, si a, a si a . 1 6, S ia deug a si a deug
-
,
-
. 2 6, si a
shi -a-dé y g

7, seach d, a se ach d. 1 7, se ach d- deug , a se ach d 2 7, seach d

sh ec h d sh ech d-déy gdeug ,

8, ochd, ah -
o ch d . 1 8, och d deug a h och d deug
-
,
- -
. 28 , o ch d
o ch d oc h d- dey g
'

9, n ao i dh , a n oi dh . 1 9, n o i dh - deug , a n oi dh - deug . 29 , n ao i dh
'
y dé yg
' -
no
no
y
1 0, deich a d eich ,
. 20, fich ead, a fi ch ead . 30, deich
d ey eh fi -ch e d

40, da fh i ch ead two twenties . 9 0, cei th ir fich ead sa deich .

d ey eh
,
fich ed
'
c ey -
ir sa

41 , da fh i ch ead sa h —
aon , t wo twenties and on e . 1 00 c eu d .

da i ch e d sa h ao n c ey d

5 0, da fhi ch ead deich 2 00 da cheud ’

sa . .

da i ch e d sa dey ch da ch é d

60, tri fich ead, th ree twenties . 300, tri ch e ud .

tri fi ch ed tri ch é d

61 , tri fich ead sa h - ao n . 400 c ei th i r cheud .

'
tri fi ch ed sa h ao n c ey ir
-
ch é d

70, tri fi ch e ad sa d eich , three twenti es an d ten . 500, coig ceu d .

tri fi ch ed sa dy e eh c oy g ch é d

80, c ei th i r fich ead, four twenties . 600 si a cend .

si a ch éd
'
c ey ir fich ed
 OF T HE H I GH L A N D C LANS . 45

700, seach d cend . 2000, da m b ile . 6000, s ia mile .

sh ec h d ch é d da vii -é sh e- a mil é
-

8 00, och d cend . 3000, tri mile . 7000, seach d mile .

o ch d cé d tri mil-é sh ech d m il é -

9 00, n ao i dh cend . 4000, c ei th ir mile . 8000, o ch d mile .

ir m il é mi l é
'
o ch d
'
céd c ey - - -
no
y
1 000, mil e . 5000, coig mile . 9 000, n o i dh mile .

mi lé -
coy g mil é - n oy
'
m il é -

deich mile .

d ey eh mil é -

C ARD I NA L N U M BE R S J oi NED T O A N OU N .

A on fhear , on e man . an c ead fhear the first man , .

ao n sr an c ed ér

Da fhear , two men . dara fear the second man , .

da er an dar a fer
-

Tri fir three men , . an tre as fear th e third man , .

tri f i r an t res f er
Cei thi r fir, four men . c earamh fear the fourth man , .

cey
'-
ir fi r an c ér-av fér
Coig fir five men ,
. co i g eam h fear the fifth man
, .

c oy g fi r an c o y g -c v f er
Sia fir ,
si x men . an si ath amh fear th sixth man
,
.

sh i -a
’
fir C

S each d fir, seven men . an se ach amh fear the seventh man
, .

sh e ch d f ir an sh ec h d-av f er
O ch d fir eight men, . t- o ch damh fear the ,
ei g th man .

o ch d fi r an toc h d-av fer

N aoi dh fir nine ,
m en . an n oi dh amh fear the ninth man
, .

'
n oy
'
fi r n oy -av f er
Deich fi r ten men ,
. an dei ch eamh fe ar the tenth , m an .

d ey eh fir dey ch -c v f er

An ce ad lath a, the first day . an si ath amh lath e the sixth day , .

la 4
'
c ed la a sh i
'
an - av
an - -

An d ara lath a, the secon d d ay . an se a

c
h damh lath a, the se venth d ay .

'
dar a la a sh ech dav
'
an - -
an la -a
An treas lath a the thir d d ay ,
. an t-o ch damh lath a, the eighth d ay .

an t res Isl a - an t o ch dav la -a'

An cei th reamh lath a the fourth day

cey
'
-rev la a
'
-
, . an
an
noi dh eamh
no y
'
- av
lath a,
la -a
'
the ninth d ay .
i
An coi g eamh lati a the fifth d ay ,
an dei ch eamh lath a, the temh d ay .

an c o yg ev -
la g
’
an d ey eh cv -
la -a
’

T HE C O M PA R ATIVE .

B an , fair , baine f airer , , bai n ead, fai rness .

ba yn é -

Orion , little , crin e less , ,

crined littleness ,
.

err-o u crin -é cri n - ed

Cru in , round , c ru i nn e , roun d er ,

c ru in n ead, roundness .

c ru y n c rfi y n é c ruy n ed
46 TH E L AN G U A G E
B aor , dear , doire dearer , do iread, dearness .

da o r doy -red
Dearg ,
re d, de irg e , re dd er , dei rg ead, re dness
d d
.

arag eri g s dey ri g ed

Ge al white , , gile whiter , , gile ad whiteness , .

g el g i l ad
Trom heav y , , tru i me , heavier , trui mead heaviness ,
.

tru y m -é t ruym e d

Ea trom , lig ht , eatru i m e , lighter ,

eatru i m ead, lightness .

t
e - ro ms e -truy m é e - tru y med

Faoin , vain , f ao in e , vainer ,

f ao in e ad, v ainness .

f a-oyu fa o y n é f ao y n ed
Binn sweet , , binne sweeter , , bi nn ead, s weetness .

bi nn b inn -
cd

I RR E G U L AR C O M PA R IS O N .

Borb fierce , , bu irbe , fiercer, bu irbead, fierce n ess .

bo rb buy rbé buy rb ed

O lc , h ad, mi osa, worse ,
mi o sad, badness .

0 10 mi sé -
m i s-ad

ig
Beag little l a less la h ad, littleness
, ,
g ,
g
.
,
b e ag-
la ad -

Duili ch , difli cult, du ili ch e , more diffi cu lt , duili ch ead, more di fficult .

duy l i ch duy li ch i '

- -
duy li c h ed
easy , fasa more easy , ,
fasaid, eas i ness .

G c arr, short , g iorra, shorter , g i orrad, shortness .

garr gi rr-a g i rrad

-

G eur, sh arp , g e ire , sharper , g eire ad, sharpness .

g ey r ge yre g eyred
L ai dear, strong ,
treasad, strongness .

lay der t resad

Ma h good , mai th eas, goodness

m
t a
, .

M o r, big ,
motha bigger , , m oth ad, bigness .

m o re mo
'
mo
’
—
a -
ad

Teth ,
h ot, te oth a, hotter ,
te o th ad, hotness .

’ ’ ’
te te o a - -
te -
o -a d
S e, y es . dao n an always ,
.

88 dao n an
’
Cha 11 e no, , n ot him . o sceann , above ,
Os c ena
’
ch a n e
M ai th , good . fo , under . dingh ,
to - day .

may
'
di '
fo -
u

Don adh , bad evil ,

. ro i mh , before . m ai reach , to -
morrow .

do n -
a
’
roy v may rech
Fallain , healthy well , . de igh , behind . m och early , .

f all en dey m o ch
’

Began few a littl e , , . gle very , . an m o ch , late .

b ég an an amo ch
l
g é
Suas , u
p ,
ascend . tric often ,
. so , here .

su -as t ri c sh o
 OF TH E HI G HL AND C L A N S . 47

E irich get , up , arise . teare rare ,

. sin , there .

ey ri c h te-arc shi n

Sios down ,
. ai n m i g , se l d om . s ti g h ,
'
sh i os
- sti

Mach out ,
. s i th peace ,
. cai te where , .

mach
'
si cayte

S i th pace . fad a long ,

. solasach , happy .

d
,
si
'
fa a sOlasaoh

C lan remote ,
.
p ailte as, plenty .

muladach payltes
F o gh lumta, learned . ch a mhor not mu ch , . ta itn e ach, delightful .

'
f o lumta ch a v ore tay tn ech

Dei h , after g ea lta c h cowar dly f earr, better

g , . .
,
te g el t ach f err
-
y
S g ath ach , timid . mise worse , .
g aolach , lovely
ega
'
-ac h mi -se g aolach
C arson why ,
. bai g h e al, compassionate . ri th i st, again .

bay e1
’
-
ri -
ist
Ceart, just . c iamer, h ow . lag ,
feeble , also , a h ollow .

cemer lag
G reas, haste . tra early , .

ma ll tra

G rad quick ,
. c ui n e , when .

8 rzi t
'
cuyn - é sa yv er
Cia -
as, whence . ai n n i s, want . c i n n teac h , certai n .

ce-as ayn n is cinn tech -

Mod hail mannerly ,

. f alamh , empty . f albh walk , o ff .

falav falv
M i mh o dh ail, unm annerly . duin sh ut . foil broil
duyn
, , ,
mi -vo -ayl
E i ch fieat . foil] gently , . drink .

eych OI

Fala ch hid . ca i dil, sleep . f olai s, seen .

fa s h l c cayd-il

D ui sg , awake . foras assumption ,

. eirich rise , .

duysg
F o sg ail, open . bi m ach be , o ut . dean c abh ag mak e haste ,
.

fosgel bi mach de-an ca-vag

Ma se air toil e if it is your

, w ill .

ma se ay r toyl é

T h u g i bh dh omh , give ye me .

h uk -i v yov
Ma se do th oil e if it be thy will
, .

ma b oy l é
se do
Thoir da mi aran give to me b r
ead ,
.

h oyr da mi aran

Thoir dh omh os, give me cream .

h oyr yov or
.

Thoir da mi im is c aise , g ive to m e butter an d cheese .

h oyr da mi i m
Thoir dhuin gruth is u ach dar, give us curd s and cream .

h oyr yuyu '

is bd
'

gru u-ac -
ar
 48 THE L A NGU A GE
An crui n n e ce, the round earth .

an cruyn n é cé

B ai n n ebl ath is aran c oi rce warm mil k an d oat cak e ,

-
.

bayn n e blath is aran coircé

A g h ao il mo ch ri dh e love of my heart , .

a yaoyl mo chri é '

-

A ch ui sle mo ch ri dh e pulse o f my heart , .

a ch uyshle mo ch ri é '
-

Mo lean n an f allai ch my secret sweetheart , .

mo lennan fallaych
’
Mo ch ui d d he n t-sh ao g h al my sh are o f the world , .

mo ch uy d
'
y en taO - el

Thoir da mi (or dh omh ) i asad, give to me the loan .

h oyr da mi y ov i -
a-sad
’
Ni mi si n gu toilleach , I ll do that wi llin gly .

ni mi si n gu toyllech

Moran taing dh oi bh many than k s to , you .

moran tayn g yoy v

Se air be ath a gu de arbh ye are welcome ce rtainl y , .

'
se ayr be -
e gu de-arv
Th a sibh ai g moran drag h you ,
are at much trouble .

ha shi v ay g mo ran -
dra '

’
Tha mi moran na r comain I am much ,
to you oblige d .

ha mi moran n ar co may n

Tha sibh tuille ’

s c o i ne al, ye are too kind .

ha shi v tuyllé s 00 d
Cha dra h le om idir e th at is no trouble with me at all
ch a
g
dra ls-ome i di r -
6
,
.

Tha m i aig air seirbh e i s, I am at your service .

h a mi ay g ayr sh er v -
esh

Tha mi du ilich tri o blai d a th o i rt dh o ibh , I am sorry trouble to give ye .

ha mi duyli ch triob -lay t a h oyrt yoyv

An cOimh n eas thig bho n ’
c h ri dh e p ai dh e f h ei n , the ki ndness that comes fi om'

an coyv n es -
big vo n
’
ch ri '
- é pa i
-
’
e he yn
the he a rt pays itself .

A bh eil cuimhne agi bh air Don n ach a ban nan oran have you (a) recollection ,
a vey l o yu e ag i v ayr
n Do nn a ch a ban nan Oran - -

o f Duncan fair of the songs .

’ ’ ’
Tha gun teag aibh s b ann ai g e a bha n aign e sh aibh ir san guth binn
,
-
,
is b an n bi nn ’
ayg n é
’
ha g un tegiv eg é a va n h ay vir sa n - -

y e s without d oubt ; and tw as h e who had the wealthy mind and sweet voice
'

.
,

D e tha dhi th o irbh a ch o li on adh gach u ireasaibh n adurrail what lack ye to -

,

g ach
' '
de ha e o rv a ch o-li o n a n yr eseyv n adurrel -
y y
-

supply all n atural w ants

Banna cheile ailli dh be u sach m ai th a spouse beautiful modest good
-
, , , , , .

bana ch eyle
-
ahli hey eac h may ,
-
'

’
S ai n eam h sin ; ach si r is gh e ibh u i n tir nam bean n n an gleann s n am b re acan
’ ’
, ,
is ayn ev sh in ach shir is e
y y v u i n ti r n am b e n na n g l en 3 m m b ec a n
’
n n
’
r -

That is rare ; but seek and you ll find her in the land o f mountai n s gle n s ’
, ,

and ( t arta n ) plaids .

Bh eil eolas agaibh air u ai shlean n a bh rai g h h ave y ou knowledge of the ,

vey l e o las ag iv ayr u aysh le n a vra i

- - - - -
n -
’

gentle men o f the braes (of Lochaber ) .

50 TH E L A N G U A G E
Bliadh n a g h rianal, the su n ye ar . Diluai n -
an - t- sh ai nse il
,
H anse l Mond ay -
.

bli
'
-n a
y l
ri -an e di le t y yl
-
u - ay n -an - a n -se

B li adh n a, the common year . L ath a fe il Bride C andlemas day

- -
,
-
.

bli fey l b ri de
’-
-
a na la a ’-

B liadh n a leum the le ap y e ar

,
-
. Dim ai rt I n i d Sh rove Tu e sd ay , .

bli ley m
’
-
a -
na di mayrt
-
i n -i d
L ath a n allai g , Christm as day -
. D irdao i n a bh ro ch ai n m h o i r Wednesd ay
d y
,
la ’-
a n alla
yg dir- ao u a vroc h -ay n voyr

L ath a c o i n n le , Ne w
’
-
year s day -
. of the porridge feast .

la ’-
a coy n le -

O n this day there was a branch of mountain ash dipped in the porri dge -
,

which w as placed over the byre door to save the cattle fro m witchc raft The , .

priest encouraged superstition as the great fosterer of religion ; an d although

the Protest ant priest does not do so his ministrations accord u nconsciously , , ,

w ith the latent traditions of the primitive pulpi t

The last h alf of December an d first half of January were c all ed a mh ios , ,

mh arbh ( a vi os varv ) the dead month

, The mios fo ilti ch (mi o s fa o y l tich )
-
.
- — —

was the last half of February and the first h al f of M arch .

S each dain f eadai g

coig la deug g earrain tri lath a sg uabaig suas e t earrach - -
, ,
-
,
tIi 1a a sgu a b ay g su as e ter ach '
sh ec h d ayn f edayg oo y g la deyg
-
g erray n
- - - - - -
r

are Lochaber sayings o n the s ubject ; but the Rev Gregor M a cgregor Lismore .
, ,

h as favoured me with a sketch which shows that the f eadag p rec e ded th e
f aoilti ch It also contains the followi n g wise advice
. Be the we ather good o r
”
bad sow the grain in the month of M arch ! old style ] that is before the
, , , ,

m iddle of April n e w style The following are the quaint lines o n the subject
,
.

o f the f eada
g .

F eadag , m ath ai r f ao ilti ch f h uai r, Feadag , the mother of f aoilteach cold ,

f edag ma '-
ayr fa -
ch u ayr
oyl -ti -

M arbh ai dh c ao i ri ch agus u ai n Kills ewes and lambs ,

m arvay ’
caoy rich agu s u -ayn

Thig an si n an g earran g earr, Then comes the g earran sharp ,

hi g an si n an g ertan gert
Is ni rud n ach f earr
easan Which will do thin g s that are no better ;
is n i esan rud n ach f err
C u iri dh e mart cao ileadh am poll ,
He will put the lean cow in a h og ,
e mart am po ll
'
cuyri caoyl e
’ -

G u s an tig tonn thair a ce ann . Until th e wave comes over i ts head .

g us an ti g to nn h ay r a cam

Mr Macgregor places f aoi lteach in the new styl e re l atively to February ,

and mart March in the old style ,

.

h bl i
’
Cha mach sa mh art nach d th ei d an sti g h sa
tig a g i e n .

c ha tig a m ach sa v art n ac h d eid an sti g h sa -

y i blen

W h at comes o ut (grass) in March goes in in April .

L ath a- c ai sg , E aster -
day . Cai n g is , Whitsunday .

la’
-
a caysg ca '
i n g gis
'

E oin ( St John s day ) M id

’
L ath a Bealtai n , -
fi rst day of May . La th a-
feil —
,
fey l summer
'
la -a beltavn la a
’ - -
e oyu ,
 OF TH E H I G HL AND CLANS . 51

L un asdal, L amm as first ,

of August . L ath a feil Marta inn Martinmas day
- -
,
-
.

l la a f ey l mar tay n n
’
un as dal - - -

Dam h ai r, ( dee r routi n g ) Mid harvest

- -
. Samh ain fo il Bride Be altai n and
-

f ey l b rid e
, , ,

da -
v ay r sa v ay u
-
bel t ayn
- -

L un asdal are the beginning o f

’

L ath a fe il Mich ae l St Michae l s day

- -
, , ,

la a fey l
'
- mi ch el 2 9 th September -
,
l unas del -

L ath a S amh n adh Halloween day ,

-
. the four quarters .

' '
la -
a sav n a -

There w as a week only of the f e adag and g earran according to Mr ,

Macgregor and the c a i llea ch (kayll ech) c arlin is represented as sitting on

, ,
-
,

the ground h eatin g it with a mell to keep down the grass ; and when in
, , ,

defian ce of her grim an d v igorous exertions the grass sprung up all around her , ,

sh e threw aw ay the mell in despair and vanished into air Then came the , .

day o f the o zsq ean when grass became abundant The people o f o ld used to
'

.
,

say that the furrows should be filled thrice during the f aoilteach once with ,
—

sno w once with rain water an d once with house thatch

, ,
-
.

Fao ilteach f ao ilteach l amb an crios ,

Fao ilteach fao i lte ach a h an d in the belt ;
, , ,
faoylteoh f aoyltech lav an cris
Is mor an f h aoilde bu choir bhi ris ; F ao ilteach faoilte ach tis right to resist , ,
’

1s m o r an aoyl de bu ch oyr vi ri s it ; -

Fao i lteach f ao ilt e ach c robh ai r the as ; F ao ilteach fao ilteach cows ( racing) in
, , , ,
f aoyltec h f aoyltech cro ay r h es heat ; v

Gul is g ao i r bi daon n an leis Crying and lamentions are often his . .

g ul is g aoyr bi dao an l ey s nn

Tri lath a do n f h ao ilteach san Iuchar Three d ays of faoilteach i n the dog d ays ;
’
-

'
i u ch ar
’
tri la a do n aoyltech
- sa n - -

Is tri lath a do n I n ch ar san f h aoilte ach And three days o f the dog d ays in
’
.
-

is tri la a do n i u ch ar san aoyltech fao ilteach

' ' ’
- - -
,

T ai rn e in each an deidh tra n eo in , Thu n der in the afternoon the thunder ,

tayrn eyn ech an dey
'
tra no yu o f plenty ,

T airn ei n e ach an torrai dh mh o i r,

tayrn ey n ech ant orray ’
vo y r

T ai rn ei n each ro i mh th ra n eoi n , Thunder in the forenoon the thunder of ,

tayrn eyn ec h roy h -t a noyn scarcity and conflict .

T airn ei n each gort i s fuach d .

tay rn ey nmh g ort i s f u-a cb d

With these few exercises I have concluded all o f this treatise which I
deemed it necessary to submit to the Re ader before introducing him to the Bards , ,

that being the main Object o f the work .

 THE POETRY OF THE H IGH L AND CL ANS .

IT is a fact corroborative of the tradition that Columba d estroye d all the

m anuscripts which he found in th e gre at Druid College o f Ion a (to which the ,

Druids fled after the m assacre by the Romans at Angl e se a ) th at the Irish and ,

We lsh continued much longer in possession of their ancient m anuscripts than

the Highla nders whose country w as neve r eff ectu ally subj ected an d plundered
,

by enemies The barbarous policy of the Norman d e spots of E ngl and ultim ately
.
,

n o doubt rob bed thes e countries o f their manuscri pts ; but they were preserved
,

in the Tower o f L ondon for ages afterwards Those belonging to Wales w a s

.

’
destroyed on the oc casion o f O wen G len do wer s rebellion ; but those taken
from Ireland from the systematic an d unscrupulous m anner in which the Lo rds
,

o f the Pale se arched for and seize d o n them wherever they could be found ,

mus t h ave been equ ally numerous Many of these were carried to E ngl and
.
,

and Logan h as found no record o f their destruction Indeed I am of opi nion

.
,

that a c areful search in the Tower and the seats of learning in E ngl and would ,

re sult in the discovery o f many Irish manuscripts which have e scaped destruction
, .

In the great lib rary at Stowe there were many Irish m anuscripts which c annot
, ,

su rely have been lost Dr Johnson m ay not have bee n aware of these facts
.
,

for he does not seem to have been devoted to historical or an tiquari an researches .

He preferred jumpin g at conclusions and enforcing his views on the acquiescence

,
“ ”
o f his literary tail in egotistical epigrammatical sentences as rude as they ,

were se lf su ffic ien t H e was like the ped ant to whom it never occurred that all he
-
.

hims elf di d n o t k n o w would make a very large book ; but who complacently
”
expressed his belief that all he knew and all which h i s pupils di d n o t k n o w
, ,
”
w ould m ake a very l arge book Johnson m ay not therefore have been aware
.
, , ,
“
when he w as denouncing the Gaelic as the rude gibberish o f a b arb arous
”
people who as they conceived grossly were contented to be grossly understood
, , , ,

th at he was only exposing h is ignorance of the subject At the same tim e I .

,

can see no reason to doubt that Johnson with all his reputed cando ur an d honesty
, ,
54 TH E P O E T R Y
w as playing fals e with Macpherson ; for when Macpherson deposited th e m anu
scripts from which his translations were made with his publ i shers and in tim ated , , ,

in public advertisements that they were in their h ands and Open to the inspection
, ,

o f all who felt an y interest in their authenticity neithe r Johnson nor any o f his ,

friends as we are informed by Sir John Si n clair ever look e d near them It is
, , .

thus evident that it w as not the truth but a victory over Macpherson and the , ,

discrediting o f Gaelic literature that Dr Johnson w anted The a dvertisement , .

’
refe rred to h as rece ntly be en copi e d in Cassells s newsp ap e r It is signed by
, .

’
Macpherson s publishers and could n o t hav e escaped the Doctor s notice ; but at
’
, ,

any rate Sir J ames Macin to sh an d Lord Macaulay who denounced M acpherson
, ,

as an impostor cannot be a cqu itted o f dishonesty o n the ground of ign orance

, , .

These historians must have been aware that it w as a policy system atically
adopted and ruthlessly pursued for age s by th e kings of E ngl and to seize o n
, , ,

all the m anuscripts that could p o ssibly be found by thei r generals in Ireland ,

and Wales an d th at a vast m ass of thes e m an u scripts had been at o n e time

,

a ccumulated in the Tower o f London T hey must also have know n the facts .

’
about Macphe rson s manuscripts an d the advert i sm e n t by h is publishers i n viting ,

an inspection and th at the Highland Society afterwards publish e d the poems

,

from th e se very m anuscripts Nay more they must have been a w are o f the.
,

m assacre o f the Welsh bards by E dward the First and o f the cru e l pen al ,

enactments passed against the bards o f Irel and by the Lords o f th e Pale as ,

well as th o se which stain the st atute books o f Scotl and as p asse d against the ,

bards of the Highlands by the Scoto Iri sh usurpers of feud alism in S cotland -
.

Indeed th e b ards were subj ecte d to the most cruel persecution not only by all
, ,

the despots o f the British but also by the worst despots of the Roman empire
,
.

Had Gaelic poetry been a mere tissue o f disjointed ri bbald rhym es an d ,

the b ards mere scribblers i n short had Celtic poetry not been a great fact
,
—
, ,

and even omnipotent in i ts influence over the spirit o f pa triotism an d i n dependence ,

o f p eople struggling ag ainst invasion and usu rp ation had the b ards not be en —

regard e d as the las t and g re a test enemies of tyranny and despo tism the worst
and most cruel sovere igns th at ever sat upon the thrones of R ome E ngland and , ,

S cotland never could ha ve riske d even i n the most savage ages the odium o f
, , ,

practising the atrocities to which they h ad been subj ected in Anglesea Wales , ,

I relan d and Sco t land Hence Sir James Macintosh an d Lord M acaul ay when
, .
,

stating that G aelic poetry o f any merit never had an y existence an d th at the ,

Poems o f O ssian were an imposture an d a fraud were stating wh at they must ,

have known substantially to be false They we re historian s and had access to .

,

hi storical evid e nce which proves beyond all doubt th at Gaelic poetry w as a , ,

great fact h ateful alike to the Roman invader o f Britain th e Norm an inv ad er
, ,

of Wales and Ireland an d to the usurpers o f feudal powe rs in Scotl and That
,
.

the b ards were subjected to persecution an d m assacre an d their poems to th e ,

dungeon o r the fl ames b e caus e they wer e the deadly enemies of feudal d e spotism
, ,

and k ept alive in the h e arts o f m ankind the love o f their ancient rights an d
li berti e s are historic al fac ts which speak volumes as to the merit of their poetry
, ,

an d its influence on the peopl e In consequence Of the systematic destruction

.
 OF TH E HIG H L AN D CLANS .

of the wo rk s o f th e Celtic bards by th e en e mies of the indepen d ence o f the ,

C e ltic cl ans Log an believes the Bl ack Book o f C aermarthen written in the
, ,

sixth c e ntury to be the oldest Celtic manuscript now in existenc e In this

, .
,
“ ”
howe ve r he i s mistaken , L e abh ar nan Ce art & c being still in existence , , .

in Irel an d .

The Druidal orders were accordi ng to Marcellinus fo rmed into societies , , ,

who d e voted them selves to the investigation o f matte rs o f divine and hidde n
import and confidently afli rme d th at the souls of men are immortal T h e
,
.

di ff e rent societies referred to by Marcellinus were the D R U I Ds the BA R Ds an d , , ,

the E U BH AT E S These names being de scriptive in accordance with the genius

.
,

o f the l angu age supply the place of records in defining the di ff e rent d e p art
, ,

ments o f Druid literature L et us then resolve e ach o f these n ames into its .
, ,

p rimitive elements o r roots th at we may clearly ascertain its meaning ,

f o r alleged synonymous words j ump e d at h aph az ard as if it did n o t signify a , ,

“ ” ”
single pin whether they originally me ant preserve o r kipper will not do in ,

a n inquiry like this .

DR U I DH is compounded of the roots dr u to absorb or elimin at e and ug h , , ,

’
good pronounced a His duty therefore was to search for good and to elimin ate
, .
, , ,

and render it available B A R D is compounde d of life pronounced .an d ,

a rd high , His duty therefore was to elevate the lives of the people E U BH A T E S
.
,
.
,

is compounded of ez blz procl aim pronou n ced ey e an d a z teas joy pronounced

’ ’

, , , , ,

a tes His duty therefo re was to procl aim the j oyous discoveri e s o f the D ruid
y .
, ,

to the people There is no a mbiguity o r myste ry here T he Druid was devoted

. .

to the study o f natural science ; an d h is tradition al character in the Highlands

shows th at the good he discovered from the study w as faithf q eliminated ,
“
and made avail able for the benefit of the people Close as is a flag ! stone] to .

the e arth is the succour of , (the Arch D ru id ) says the proverb The -
, .

correctness o f this vie w is confirmed by Marcellinus who describes them as ,

“
deeply considering Nature attempting to discover the highest arcana an d , ,

laying Open its most sacred workings and as confidently affi rming from the ,
“ ”
analogi e s aff orded by their researches that the souls of men are immortal ,
.

To e levate o r ex alt the ch aracter o f the people as his n ame implies was the , ,

duty o f the Bard ; an d as thi s could best be done by cultivating their hearts he ,

applied to th at purpose the most unfailing o f all means poetry and music ; but ,

as m an c annot be ex alte d in his char acter unless h i s morals are cultivated ,

fiction w as strictly forbid to the Gaelic bard H is subject must be substantially .

true but in the treatment of it he was left to h is o wn feelings and ge nius The
,
.

E ubh ates or proclaimers of joy as their name implies were the preachers among
, , ,
’
th e Druid orders The creation an d God s manifest desi g n in the cre ation as
.
, ,

indicate d by Nature and the laws whereby Nature i s governed were their bible ,

if
C c d C vi i c m p d d f th
o b hi th , p ro n oun t e o- , s o o un e o e ro o s , 00 , wh o or wh a t ,
i
an d bi th ( b )
’
lif e . The
na m i mpl i
e th t B i l g y w th t d y f th A ch D id
es a o o as e s u o e r -
ru . H is n am e s f o r G o d , th e so u l , th e g o o d ,

the b d h w a f, th
s o cc f h i , soch h e d e ar, e su e ss o s re s ear es : o s n o t re p re s e n t G od as a bi
e ng of a lm i g h ty
p w
o w i th th p
er, i d f i lin gs f m
e ass o n s an a o a an .
56 TH E P O E T RY
an d testament and their names f o r G o d and the soul an d fo r good and bad
, ,

m en show th at they did not render theology subservi ent to p riestcraf t

, Th e i r .

n ame s ibh G i tes shows what was the object of their missio n namely to p rocl ai m
,
-
, , ,

joy o r j oyous tidings to the peopl e ; an d indeed it w as to demonstrate from

the schem e revealed by G od through Nature which cannot lie and the laws , ,

whereby N ature is govern ed that H E i s almighty in power and infinite i n ,

wisdom an d th at H IS wisdom and po wer have been put forth to reveal to m an

,

Infinite benevolence .

”
The co urse o f the Bardic study s ays Logan w as long and arduous : so , ,

rigid w as the term o f prob ation th at the e ducation o f a stud e nt i n the science , ,

o f druidism was not completed in a shorter period th an twenty ye ars durin

, g ,

which time he w as obliged to commit to memo ry twenty thousand verses ; but

Ch ambray the C e ltic profe ssor at Paris s ays the numb e r for those of the high
, ,
”
est cl ass was not less th an sixty thousa n d In later ages as w e learn from Irish .
,

authorities the time occupied in a cqui ri n g the necess ary b ardic instruction was
,

twel v e ye ars three Of which was d e voted to e ach of the four pri n cip al b ranch es
,

o f poetry T h e Irish O i rfldi g h o r music al ord e r w as i n like m ann e r cl assified

.
, , , , ,

t aking th e ir n am e s from the i n st rume n ts o n which they pl aye d the c rui ti rich , ,

the c i rterig h th e ti am p an i ch the c u i llean ai c b & c The whole o f these h o w

, , ,
.
,

ever w e nt und e r the g e n e ral name o f F illidhi ac h o r Mi n strelsy G iraldu s

, , .

C am bre n si s who wrote i n the begi n ning o f the t w elfth centu ry gives the
, ,

following lively and ch aracteristic desc ription o f Irish music It is in the

cultivation o f instrumental music th at I con sider the proficiency o f this people
to be worthy of com mendation ; an d in this their skill is beyond all com ,

p arison above that o f any n ation I have ever seen ; fo r theirs i s not the slo w
,

and he avy style o f melody like that o f the i n strumental music o f B ritain to
,

which we are accustomed but rapid and abrupt yet at th e same time sweet , , , ,

and pleasing in its e ffect It is wonderful h o w in such precipitate rapidity o f

.

the fingers the musical proportions are p reserved and by their art faultless
, , , ,

th roughout in the midst o f the most complicated modulation and most intricate
,

arrangement o f notes by a v elocity so ple asing a regul arity so diversified a

, , ,

con cord so discord ant the h armony is expressed an d the melody perfected an d
, ,

whether a passage or transition is performed i n sequence o f fourths or fifths ,

(by a di ate sseran o r a di apente ) it i s always begun in a soft an d delic ate

m anner an d ended in the same so that all may be perfected in th e swe e tness
, ,

of delicious sounds They enter on and again le ave their modulations with so
.
,

much subtility and the vibrations of th e smaller st rings of the t reble sport with
,

so much a rticul ation and brilliancy along with the deep notes o f the bas s ; they

delight with so much delicacy and sooth e so ch armingly that the greatest , ,

ex cellency o f their art appe ars i n the perfect conce alment of the means by which .

”
it is accomplished In the Opinion of many however Scotl and has not only
.
, ,

attained to the excellen ce o f Ireland but h as in music al science an d execution , , ,

f ar surpassed her in so much that it i s to th at count ry they now resort wh o

, ,
”
wish to att ain proficienc y in music as the genuine source o f the art ,
.
58 TH E P O E T R Y
fe ud al histori an s of both cou n tries taking no accounts o f the clans or people , ,

assume th at those of Ireland were co n que red and those of the Highlands sub ,

j ec te d . T h at I re l a nd w as not conqu ered is shown in a sm all work by Sp ens er , ,

published in Lon don in the reign of Q u ee n E liz abeth Until Ulster was coloniz e d
,
.

by Ki n g J ames the Fi rst the Irish maint ai n ed their patriarch al loc al gov e rn
,

m e nts ; an d the Highl and ers m aintain ed theirs down to the p eriod o f the
dis ast rous b attl e o f Culloden In the r e ig n of James II o f Scotl and it w as
. .
,

en acted th at Gif there be on y th at m akis th e m f uiles an d are b ai rdes they , ,

be put in the king s wai rd or in his irons for thei r tresp ass e s as l an g as they
’
, , ,

have oni e gud es o f thai r awin to live upon ; th at th ai r e ars be n ailed to the tron e
o r till ane uther tree and th air e ars cutted o ff an d banished the c un tri e
”
,
The .

”
b anishment of th e e ars after b e ing cutted off w as surely very cru e l ! By a
, ,

st atute o f James VI in 1 579 those who were gamesters t ale telle rs &c
.
, ,
-
,
.
,

and not in speci al s ervice of lords o f parli ament or boroughs as thei r commo n ,

m inst rels were to be scou rged and bu rnt through the ear with a red hot i ron
, ,
-
.

Yet the son and other descend ants o f this he artless king whe n deth ron e d an d ,

distressed eng aged th e symp athies of I an Lom A llastai r M M h aig h ste ar

, ,
‘
,

A llaster Rob Do n n an d othe rs whose spi rit sti rring e ffusion s were the ve ry
, , ,
-

soul of th e i r c aus e both in th e Highl ands an d in the Lo wl ands

,
.

Although th e B ards c e ased to exist as an order on the extinction of the ,

D ruids they continued to flourish and to h ave great pow e r and influence in
, ,

Scotl and as a cl ass down to the period at which the ki n gs o f th e Scots o r

,

S c u i ts succeed e d to the supreme authority ove r the Picts o r C al e do n i ans as ,

w ell as th e B ritons o f Str athclyde T he kings o f the C al e doni an and Briton .

clans dow n to that p e riod we re merely war chi efs ; but after th at d ate th e
, ,
-
,

c e an n cath s o f Scoto Irish descent assum e d the style of kings The B ard s
-
.

are nev e r afterw ards he ard of as o ffi c e rs of th e Scottish cou rt e xcepti n g when ,

the ceremoni al of the co ron ation rend e red it necessary for th e king o f the Scots
to concili ate the Caledonian s or Picts by having his t itle to th e th rone prov e d ,

by th e rehe ar sal o f his pedigree throug h C aledo n i an chiefs by the B ard The , .

A lban i c duan repe ated at the coronation of M alcolm II i s not in the di alect
,
.

o f the Cal e don i ans but in th at of the S coto I rish or E arse Neverthel e ss
,
-
.
,

the histori an s of Scotl and quote it as G aelic ; but the fact is that th e histori ans ,

o f Scotland k n e w nothing of the d i alect either o f the C al e donians o r Scoto I rish -

.

They consid ered it much more necessary to be acquai n t e d with Gre ek an d

L atin an d the records o f Greece and Rome th an with e ither the Gaelic o r
, ,

E arse o r the poems an d tales which constituted the more t ruthful records o f the
,

p e opl e whos e history th e y presumed to write H e nce the history o f Scotl and .
,

down to th e d ays of fe ud alism h as been written i n e ffect on the authority of , , ,

fo reign writers totally un acquaint e d with the langu age an d records of the
,

peopl e an d whos e s elf evident contradictions are sufli ci en t to destroy th ei r

,
—

autho rity in the estim ation o f eve ry pe rson p redisposed to consult their wo rks

with imparti ality intellig ence an d judg e m ent And from the d ays o f fe ud alism
, ,
.

down to the p resent day th e history o f Scotland h as been founded on fe ud al

,

e n mi ty an d th e consequent misrepresentation o f all who did not humbly submit

,
 or T II E H IG H LAN D CLAN S .
59

to the usu rpation by th e c rown of d e spotic po w e r ov e r th e lan ds rights an d , ,

libe rties o f the p e ople H e nce the re ad e rs o f the history of S cotl an d will look
.
,

i n v ai n i n th at histo ry for an ythi n g c alcul at e d to th row light on the soci al condi

tion o f the p e ople of Scotl an d p reviously to the introductio n o f fe ud alism Nor
,
.

does th at history deta il as it shoul d the step by step m e an s by which fe ud alism ,

- -

w as insidiously substituted amo n gst the S cottish Lowl ande rs f o r th e ir app arently
s e mi p atri arch alism ; o r th e obstin ate st and w hich th e C aledoni a n cl ans m ade
-

”
ag ai n st th at b arb arous d e spotism or th e wild justice w ith which they retali ate d
,

o n their opp resso rs i n e xt re me c a ses A n d since feud alism assumed th e a sc e nd .

a n cy in the Lowl an ds th e Highl an d clans h ave b ee n lite r ally ig n ore d as a

,

p e ople in the histo ry o f S cotl and an d th e ir organized an d system atic opposition ,

to th e despotism whos e object w as to d efraud them of their l an ds rights an d , ,

“ ” ’
lib erties r e prese n ted as re b ellion ag ainst the Lord s anoi n ted
, Such i n .
,

e ffe ct is th e m an n er i n which the p e opl e Of Scotl an d are treated by the so called

,
—

history o f th e ir cou n try .

Th e re is no qu e stion in w hich history more u n iformly agrees with tradition ,

th an th at which assigns an Irish origi n to the colony o f Dalri ada o r E rragh all .

E o ch ai d who b rou ght th at colony from E rin is c alled E o ch ai d R eu da

, Thi s ,
.

a ddition to his n ame (R eu da

) ppears to m e to be a mere misspelling f
’

a ,
o r ez te ,

which would me an E o ch ai d of the tre aty o f pe ace Now Bede an d a L atin .

, ,

a uthor ( whos e n a me I for the moment fo rget m ention that E o ch ai d h ad ente red
) , ,

into a regul ar t reaty with the C al e doni an s Dalriada or E rrag h all seems to .

hav e been assigned to th e S cots by this treaty as thei r pl ac e o f arms As all .

Gaelic words are descriptive let us see wh at light the e tymon of these n ames
,

are c ap able o f th rowing o n this subject D a l in th e Gothic di alect which I .

, ,

hold to have been th at of the Scots B elg s Anglo Saxons &c of Irel and an d , ,
—
,
.
,

E n gland me ans a part o r district ; made is p resumed to be m erely the Gothic

, ,

spelling o f E o ch ai d s additional n ame of rez te o r of the p e ac e Dalri ada i n th e

’ '

.
, , ,

Go thic di alect therefore means the district Of E o ch aid o f the pe ac e E rra

,
.
,

ag ain me ans a p art o r district in th e G ae lic o f the Caledoni ans and g a ll a

, , , ,
’
stranger ; E rrag h all th e refore me ans the st rang er s p ar t or district And i n
,
.

point o f fact the S cot w as never c alled by an y other n ame th an G a ll by the

, ,

C aledoni an from the day he l an ded in Ki n tyre until this day wh en his descend
, ,

a nts occupy the whole Lowlands of S cotl and Hence if it be the Scot o r Gall .
,

who l anded at Ki n tyre under E o ch ai d R e it e that now occupy the glens an d ,

mountai n s of th e Highlands an d not the C aledonians who assign e d to them , ,

that district under a tre aty this is the first instance in th e histo ry of th e
,

world in which the aborigin al p e ople o f a country have b ee n replaced by

strang e rs in th e i r mount ai n fastnesses .

How the Firbolg o r Belg s who occupied the whol e Lowlands o f E n gl and , ,

ages before C aesar crossed the C h ann el th e Scoto Irish an d W alen se B rito n s who -
, , , ,

together with the C ruin e o f G allow ay originally o f Ulster con qu ered and , ,

colonized the Roman province from the Clyde to Stamford i n E ngl and as well , ,

S ee Cld i Th e d Sc ta e th H ig h l d
on an s an d L wl d o s, or e an ers a n o an e rs of S co tla n d
l ct ,
”
9. e u re

d liv d b f th Y g M
e ere e o re L i t y d S ci tifi c A ci ti f C h
e ou n
’
en s e rar an en ss o a on o en , by D C m pb ll l t
. a e , a e

Li t t 57th R g i m t E di b g h L d
eu en an e en d D bl i
. n ur , on o n , an u n .
60 TH E P O E T RY
as th e C al e do n i an s who occu pi d south e ast p art o f Scotl an d from the Fi rth
e th e —
,

Of Forth by the C atrail to B e r wick afte rw ards b e c am e A n glo S axo n s would ,

-
,

puzzl e an y oth er w riters to expl ai n e xc e pting the Scottish histori ans o f the ,

d ark ages an d the p e nny a li n e rs o f this enlighte n e d ag e o f m an ufac turers

,
- -

an d we ave rs .

But disqu alified as thes e fe ud al write rs must h av e be en to w rite th e history

,

o f peopl e s whose l angu age and reco rds they did not und e rst an d it is di fficult to ,

believe th at it w as not more from d e sig n th an ignor ance th at th ey introduced

the Anglo S axon myth into the histories o f E ngl and an d Scotl and ; be th at
-

a s it may the myth h as int roduced a b rav e co n fusio n i n to p e dig re es an d m ad e

, ,

kind red peoples lose sight of the history o f th e ir frat ern al o rigi n T he Catrail .
,

forme d from the combin ation o f th e roots c a t/z w ar o r battl e an d tr i a l jou rn e y

( , , , ,

o r p ath the w ar p ath ) from P e n v ah l by G al ashiels & c to Be rwick divided

-
.
, , , ,

the Caledoni an s o n th e south o f th e F rith o f Fo rth from their neighbou rs o n

the w e st an d south ; a line from P en v ah l to the h e ad o f L o ch eti ve b e tween ,

the sources of the w aters th at ran i n cont rary di rectio n s an d by L o ch etive ,

an d L o chli n n e to the I rish Ch a nnel divided th e m from the B ritons (W ale n se s)

, ,

an d Scoto I rish o n the north o f the F rith o f Fo rth ; a n d a simil ar li n e o f ditches

-

and ramp arts as the C atrai l o r w ar p ath d rawn from the h ead o f L o ch ry an by
,
-
,

K em p sh ill n e ar S an quh ar th rough Nithsdale an d along the south side o f the

, , ,

river by South M ai n s an d C arlisl e which can still be traced divided the Crui th n i , ,

o r C aledo n i an s of G allow ay ( origin ally o f Ulster ) from th eir n eighbou rs .

Reasoning from an alogy the re must also h ave b e en an intre n chm ent ,

between the Scoto I rish an d their neighbou rs on th e south o f the Clyde To

-
.

c orroborate thi s view I may st ate th at traces o f such a w ar p ath are still
, ,
-

visi bl e near D almellington not far from the sc ene o f th e b attle fought be twe e n
,

Alpi n th e c ean n c ath o r w ar chief o f the Scoto Irish ( c alled kin g by fe ud al

,
- -

writers) an d the C aledonians o f G allow ay an d B ritons of St rathclyde in which ,

Alpin lost his life I h ave not had an Opportun ity o f t raci n g this war p ath to
.
-

a le n gth su ffi ci en t to i n st ruct a bound ary but have no doubt this m ay yet ,

*
b e do n e With these war p aths alone before thei r eyes m arking distinctly the
.
-
,

w arlike bound ari e s b e t ween the districts of the s ep arat e cl ans o r peoples who
divided the Roman p rovince south o f the firth s of Scotl an d between them it is ,

difli c ult to ascribe to igno rance th e rom ance th at would mak e the C aledo n i an s
s outh of the Frith of Fo rth the Scoto I rish th e Brito W ale n se s an d th e G allo
,
-
,
-
,

w eg i an C ru ith n i o f the Lowl ands o f Scotl and and the Be lgi an s o r Fi rbolg (m e n , ,

o f the quiver) anci e nt Britons and Rom an p rogeny of th e Lowl an ds o f E n gl and

, ,

A n glo Saxons And it is still more difli c ult to se e how the C aledon i ans o f th e
-

.
.

glens an d mountains of Albi n c an be made S coto Irish especially as th e -

,

diff erence between the Scoto I rish an d both th e C aledoni ans and so c alled - —

Anglo Saxons in l angu age man n ers an d customs con tinued not only distinct
-
, , , ,

but irreconcil able from the day th at E o ch ai d Reite (o r E ochai d o f the p eac e)
,

and h i s Scots l anded at Kintyre u n til th e l ast o f his representatives in Scotl and
,

ascend e d the th rone of E ngl and .

My m h t mdfi d M P t
uc e s ee i th ew dit ir enf h i v l bl
, r d m t i t ti g
a e rso n , n e ne e on o s a ua e an os n e res n

hi t y f
s or oAy h i F mi li wi ll v y l k ly th w m li g h t th bj t
rs re a e s,
”
er i e ro so e on e su ec .
 OF TH E H I G H L A N D C LANS . 61

The Anglo S axon rom ance h as introduced a singular confusion into the
-

pedigre e o f th e peoples o f Scotland and E ngl and an d a similar confus io n h as

b e en i n t roduc ed no doubt with the same Object into the p e dig re es o f the C al e
, ,

do n i an cl an s o f L eth c ui n and the Fi rbolg o r Mil e si an cl ans o f the other h alf o r ,

”
Leth n gai n mh o ir o f Irel an d
- Divide an d conque r being an ad ag e as well
—

k n own to, an d as cu n n ingly acte d on by the fe ud al usur pe r as the Rom an c o n ,

u e ro r ; and it must h e confe ssed th at the cl ans O ff e red the ve ry b e st m ateri als
q
fo r such a policy being equ ally slow to suspect t re a ch e ry an d quick in resenting
, ,

it whether in frie n d o r foe The descend ants o f Conn o f the hu n dre d b attles
,
*
.

h ad by th e se means been m ad e to believe themselves to be of Milesi an de

, ,

scent although the history Of I rel an d cle arly shows th at it w as th e southern

,

cl an s o f I rel and th at w ere o f Sp anish descent : for wh e n reduced to an ,

extre mity as th e le arned an d candid editor o f C am bren sis E v ersu s shows

, ,

E n gai n e M o r th e ir cean n cath we n t pe rso n ally to the mother count ry Spain

, , ,

w h e re h e r e ceived such rei n fo rcements as e n abl e d him not only to m ai n t ain ,

the southe rn cl ans i n thei r h alf o f I reland but also to tu rn th e defensiv e i n to ,

an off e n sive w ar an d to establish o n e o f his cl ans i n Ulster and anoth e r in Kin

,

tyre Both these colon ies we re e st ablished by E o ch aid an d u n d e r the s am e

.
,

n am e sp elt by histori ans Dalri ada o r Dalreada As all Gaelic n am e s are

, ,
.

de sc riptive an d the southern a n d northe rn I rish w ere o f the s ame C e ltic r ace
, ,

an d h ave ever spoke cog n ate di al e cts o f th e same l angu age this n am e by being , ,

reduced to its roots h as th rown some light o n th e subj ect Although the ,
.

learned editor of C am bren si s E versus h as th rown much light o n the wo rk o f Dr

Lynch much still requires explanation and I t rust th at he will yet apply his
,

able pen to the illustration of all that is obscure i n th at v aluable book O ne .

great cause of the Obscurity or confusion in this and other learn ed wo rks on the
history of Irel and as of write rs o n the history of Scotl and seems to h ave arisen
, ,

from the ignorance of modern write rs o f the import ant fact that down to the , ,

date o f feud al charte rs o r rather to the establishment o f the fe ud al system in ,

E urope surn ames w ere unknown The chiefs of the clans Gothic (as I must
, .
,

call som e of the peoples f o r distinction ) as well as Celtic w e re el e cted and the , ,

c ean n c ath o r war chi e f w as elected o ut of e ach clan in s u ccession -

The clan .
,

It i l ci c m t c
s a s n g u ar d h w th t t h
i w w t f m th d i th m
r u s an wh
e , an by s o s a e re as n o an o e o n e e an s e re

th e cdt
af bl f m i l i p
e s o v d vid c f th i p di g th t th t t
no e a es f th M C ll m th
re s e r e e en e o e r e re e , a e ar an s o e
‘
a u s, e

G M c & h w th t th y f th m p di g w i th th C m p b ll I h v t h d t im
un s , a raes , c .
, s o a e are o e sa e e re e e a e s. a e no a e

to e xt d m y en ch th i bj ct f resear t ti t l m t g iv d c id d p i i b t I m fi m i
es o n s su e so ar a s o en e e o e a e e o n on , u a r n

th i b l i f d w l d t g l y dvi
s e e ,
an m f th H i g h l d S c i t i
ou t
s ro n
pp i t c m m i tt t i v ti
a se so e o e an o e es o a o n a o ee o n es

g t a e aq ti w h i ch p m i v y i t ti g
u es on l t S ch i q i y h l d mb c th tiq i ty
ro ses er n ere s n re su s . u an n u r s ou e ra e e an u

o f th l di g c l
e t t ea d nth t t f th m f ct i g t m g th H i g h l d C l
an - ar a n s , an on t th
e s a e o e an u a ur n ar s a on e an an s a e

p b bl d t
ro a f th i i v ti
e a e M H i th m t cc f l m f ct
o e r n en f f
on cy t t i
. r a r, e os su e ss u an u a u re r o an a r an s n

P i l y t l d m th t th i g c l d b m p f ct i c l
a s e , o e a d p tt
no t h thn ci t c l t t
ou e o re er e n o ou r a n a ern an e an en an - a r an

th t h f l t c vi c d h w v g t h i cc
a e e on n d h w v
e ft
, h w o c m p l i m t d th
e er rea s su e ss , an o e er o en e as o en e on e

su bj ct th t h v i m p v d i
e ,
a i gl i t c
e ne th er i g i l p tt f m w h i ch h i f cy t t
ro e n a s n e n s an e on e or na a e rn ro s an ar an s

w e re v i ty I f m f ct i g ki ll th f
a ar e . b y c it i f c ivi l i t i
an u a i wh t t t
ur n sf , e re o re , e an r er o n o za on ,
n a s a e o

c ivili t i w th m th
za on f th H ig hl d c l
e re wh e h m m o f ct i t h d fi d th m t
e rs o e an an s , o se o e an u a u re s as e e e os

s p i it d m
r f ct
e i th m t p i it d m
an u a f ct i g t w i
u rer Sc tl d t x c d i th f th
n e os s r e an u a ur n o n n o an , o e ee , e er or e

l g c f th p tt
e e an e oth h m y f th c l
e a S ly th p y li h i t i
e rn o r e ar f H ig h l d
on o e o o u rs . u re e en n -
a- ne s o r an s o an

ig c d b b i ty h v b v y mi i t fi di g m h vy h d d F l mi g c t f
n o ran e an ar a r , a e ee n er re ss n no n n so e ea - ea e e n an es o rs o r

th t t
e w ll
ar an s , as f th D gl d th e ld d
as bl Sc tti h f mi li
or e ou asses an o er o an no e o s a es
62 TH E P O E T R Y
a lthough always k n own by o n e he reditary n ame w as locally c all e d by the n am e ,

o f the chi e f f o r the tim e ; an d the co n fe deration though it r e t ained o n e ch arac te r

,

i sti c n am e w as locally c all e d afte r the name of the ce an n cath f o r th e tim e i n

, ,

th e s ame w ay i n which Gr e ek an d Roman arm ies were c alled by the n a m e o f

th e ge n e ral i n chi e f a n d the di ff er e nt divisions o f them by th e n am e s Of th e
- -
,

o fli ce rs by whom they were re spectiv ely comm an ded H en ce the cl an th at w as .

c alle d by on e n am e u n d e r one chi ef w as c alled by other n ames u n d e r an oth e r

, , ,

chie f It was the s ame with t h e co n fede ration

. T h e M acdo n alds b e for e .
,

a ssumi n g th at surn ame w e re c alle d by the proper n ames o f diff e re n t chi efs
, ,

Siol U i ste i n Siol G h illidh b ride Siol G h uth rai dh &c & c but th e y we re still
,
—
, ,
. .

known by the n am e o f thei r o rigi n al an c e stor Co n n an d so with th e C ame ro n s ,

Campb ells & c &c T he southe rn con feder ation o f th e cl ans of Irel an d w ere
, . .

c alled S cu i t or Scots s e v e n hu n d red y ears before th e Ch risti an e ra The s am e

, .

n am e occurred again an d ag ai n at lon g int e rvals It w as the sam e wi th th e .

Firbolgs o r Belg s Ign oran c e of this custom h as le d to much co n fusio n an d

.
,

m akes Irish historia n s of mode rn tim e s r e p res e nt th e i r cou n try as th e subj e ct of

an e ndless succession o f inv asions an d conqu e sts by armies which com e nobody , ,

knows whenc e an d go n obody knows whe re ; whe n th e o n ly i n vasion an d con

,

quest see m to h av e be e n the p e ac eful succ e ssion o f o n e c ean n c ath who g ave ,

his n ame to th e con fed e ration to anoth er whose n am e di e d with him at l east , ,

for the time Who f or inst ance c an m ake sense of the following note by the
.
, ,

above learned editor without the a bove e xpl an ation

,
but with that expl an ation
it becomes intelligibl e .

“ ”
Without inten ding to deny p ositively says the learned and c andid ,

e ditor of Cambre n si s E versus that an E iri m on ian n amed E ng aine M o r m ay , , ,

have preced e d L abh rai dh L o i n g seach the fi rst E irim on i an king by some , ,

ye ars an d conqu e re d th e se fair districts which al ways h ave be en the fi rst

, ,
”
seized by invaders n amely Louth Meath Dublin Kild are Carlow Kilk enny
, , , , , , , ,

Wat e rford Tipperary Limerick Roscommon Sligo D own an d A nt rim the

, , , , , , ,
“
fat of the l and an d the most acc e ssible to invad ers ; I would fix the re al
,

ori gin o f th e E irim o n i an powe r in Irel an d at the inv asion o f L abh raidh
L o i n g se ach A C 89 63 Accordi n g to tradition L abh rai dh came from G aul
, . .
, .
, ,

an d as L e inster an d Conn aught which anciently included a l arge portion of ,

’ ’
Me ath province we re according to all authorities an d Ch arles O C on or s m ap
, , ,

the princip al seat of th e Firbolg o r Belgae it is but n atu ral to con clud e th at ,

L abh rai dh s followers were the B elg ae who had long been i n poss e ssio n o f th e
’

s outh o f B rit ain and the gre ater p art o f G aul But h e re a gre a t difficulty .

a rises : what are we to thi n k o f the colo n y o f B elg ae which und e r th e con duct ,

o f S lai n g h e s e ized I rel and even befo re the T u ath a de Dan an n s

,
Now i n ,

f orming his opi n ion here the re ader must remember tha t I re land w as divid e d
,

into five provinces by S lain gh e a n d a simil ar division was m ade by th e ,

E iri m o n i an E o ch ai dh Fei dle ach ne arly conte mpor ary with ki n g L abh rai dh ,

L oi n g seach ; 3rdly that a ccordi n g to Ke ating the Firbolgs who h a d b e en

, , , ,

expelled by the T u atha d e Dan an n s suddenly return to I re land n o o n e k no ws , ,

ho w af ter m o re th a n a thou san d y ea rs and acquire lands in Leinster and

, ,
 OF T HE HI G HLAN D CLA N S . 63

Connaught at the very time when the p e nt arch y w as revi ved by E o ch ai dh

,

F e idleach 4th ly th at the best soldiers of the gre at E i ri m o n i an Corm a c M ac

, ,

Art an d Of his fath e r an d son w e re Firbolg an d th at he found a retreat from

, , ,

en e mi e s among th e Connaught B elgae ; 5th ly th at the Fi rbolg G am on radii are ,

’
e xpre ssly styl e d the gre at Milesi ans ; fin ally th at the soldi ers o f the th ree
‘
,

Coll as who des troyed the p al ace of E o m an ia an d con quere d th e gre ater p art
, ,

Of I ari an Ulster were all Belg ae These m ay be only coincid enc e s in the
,
.

history of th e tradition ary Firbolgs o f S lai n gh e with th e historic i n vasion o f ,

L abh rai dh L o i n g seach ; but th e y are coincidences suffi cie n tly strong to j ustify
’
re at doubts o f the former esp e ci ally as Dr O C o n o r admits i n anoth e r pl ace
g , , ,

th at some o f the best authorities do not mention the first colony o f Fi rb olgs .

Mo re over nothing is m ore common in merely tradition al history th an an

,

inversion of d at e s an d eve n ts When the conque ring B elgae and the conquered .

h ad be e n am alg am ated into o n e p e ople and began after some c e nturies to , , ,

digest th e i r history it would not be unp reced e nted i n b ardic story to find them
, ,

ante d ati n g by some thous an d ye ars the Firbolg invasion a n even t w h i ch

-
, , ,
—

o cc u r red s h or tl h h n t of h e Ch r i s ti a n era a n d a do ti n
y ef b r e t e c o m m en cem e t p g as ,

th ei r o w n th e g en ea logy of a n o th er ra ce settled w i th th em i n I rela n d Thus .

,

bec ause the Rom ans who conquered Britain w e re descende d from E neas the
, , ,

Brito n s soon discove re d th at their o w n anc e sto r B ri tu s belonged to the s ame , ,

family And when about the middle of the fourteen th c e ntury ne arly all the
.
, ,

rural stro n g bo wn ian s h ad adop te d I ri sh n ames an d the I rish dress th e y foun d

-
l ,

no difli culty in t raci n g their o rigin to Milesi an o r to an y stock but the E nglish , ,

though the con ti n ued presence o f the E n glish power in I reland an d the const ant ,

influx o f the E n glish blood must h ave counteracte d powerfully the p rocess of ,

am alg am atio n an d the gener al adoption o f the Milesi an i deas I think it

,
.

m anifest from I rish history th at if new Irish colonies h ad not been pl anted in
, , ,
’
th e cou n try i n the sixteenth and seventeenth c e nturi e s the term S axon o r , ,
’ ’
E nglishm an o r Norm an would have b e en long since ev e n in th e b aroni al
, , , ,

h alls o f the Butlers the Bu rkes and the Fitzge ralds as o p probriu s an epithet as
, , ,
’
Fi rbolg ever w as in the ancient r aths and c ath irs of the so c alled E i ri m on i an -

”
nobles . But there are two means o f expl aining how Fi rbolg an d E i ri m o n ian ,

though re ally the s ame race might not have been distinguished by admitti ng ,

th at at di ff erent interv als from A C 300 cir colonies o f Belgae may have
, ,
. . .

l an ded in I rel and from B rit ai n o r Gaul but that they were subdued (conquered ) ,

by the great Belgic colony in the year A C 83 69 or what appears to me a . .

, , ,

more prob able supposition that the Belgae of L e ath C ui n th at is the race of ,
-
, ,

Cri mth an A D 7 9 gradu ally extended their conquests over their kin dred in
,
.
,

Con n au ght an d Leinster during the course of the three following centuri es an d
, ,

th at thus th e conque red Belg ae of Leinster an d Connaught c ame to be re garded

as Firbolgs while the conquerors were m e tam or h i z e d into E i ri m o n i an s But
, p .

howev e r these m att e rs may b e expl ained no advoc ate f or the antiquity o f the ,

E i ri m o n i an colon izing can expl ai n how it h appened th at T i gh ern ac could n ot

find a r egul ar succ e ssion o f E irim on ian kings before the Ch risti an era though ,

he gave a list o f I rian s from the foundation of O m an ia A C 305 ,

.
,
 64 TH E P O E T RY
The following were the qu alifications required for th e di fferent ranks of th e
o rder of th e B ards The Fo c alan being th e y o ungest s tu de nt was requ i red
.
, ,

to re p e at t we nty hist o ric al p o em s and tales The M acfu irm i forty t ales : the .
,

Dos fifty ; th e Can ai th als o fifty ; th e Clith one hu n dred an d seventy c omp o si
, , ,

ti o ns ; the O ll amh th ree hu n dred and fifty ; the A os don a an equ al number
,
-
,
.

Th e A os d o na led th e B ards and Minstrels into th e c i rc le but when the

-

meeting w as formed all were o n a fo oting of p erfe ct equ ality S a int C o lumb a
,
.

a n d St B en ean were b o th b ards the fo rme r app arentl y th e ao s don a o r chief b ard
,
— -

o f I rel and f o r h e retu rned th ere afte r th e settlement at Ion a as refe ree i n a
,

se rious dispute between th e king o f Irel and and th e B ards Th e Fillidh o r .

,

minstrel g rade were all o f the o rder an d r ank of the B ards Th e minstrels pl ay ed
,
.

on all k i n d s of instruments but the B ards onl y o n the h arp whi ch w as c o nsidered
, ,

a s the higher musical instrument The F illi dh ean bec ame Ch risti ans u n der th e
.

influence of S aint P atrick an d aided o r rather fo rmed the b and o f ch o risters

, , ,

in th e Irish c athedrals an d added much to the impressiveness an d acceptability

,

o f the Christi an se rvice in th e public estim ati on Thus when the D ruid .
,

religion gradu all y y ielded to Christi anity in I rel and the minst rel b ranch of the ,

b ardic institution w as p rese rved an d fo stered by th e Culdees w h o c o nside red ,

it more p o litic to a cc o mplish wh at th e y o f course considered a gre at object by ,

”
wisely retaining m any of i ts est ablished supe rstitions Th es e w o rds are .

Log an s n o t mine f o r I h ave b een unable to discover that the D ruids empl oy ed
’

, ,

supe rstiti o us devices to i n flue n c e the people Indeed it c ann o t be conceived .

,

th at n atural theolog y which admits of an d re q uire s being dem o nst ra ted c o ul d

, ,
’
be inculc ated by superstiti o n like religi o ns w hich must pl ay o n men s feeling
,
s
,

bec ause they cann o t appe al either to n atu ral science o r common sense T h e .

Irish like the Welsh b ardic institution h ad i ts trienni al celebration whe re an

, , ,

a ugust meeting o f the o rder a ssembled to regul ate all m atters c o nnected wit h ,

the pr o fession Th ese assemblies although p resided o ver by a king o r p rince

.
, ,

we re assemblies o f the pe o ple an d in which every motion was c arried by a

,

m ajority o f all present Th e l ast of these meetings on reco rd in I rel and t o ok

.
,

pl ace i n 1 79 2 the object o f which w as to revive th e pe riodic al meetings (f o r

,
“ ”
som e y ears discontinued ) for perpetu ating th e music poetry and o ral traditions , ,

o f Ireland .Mr Dugan whose memory dese rves to be respected o ff e red in 1 7 7 8

, ,

two m un i fice n t p rizes to pe rformers o n the harp ; but onl y two co m peted at the
meeting This sorrowful decline of an order associ ated with all thei r high an d
.

holy feelings ro use d the d o rm ant p at ri o tism o f I reland ; an d a society w as

,

forme d for supporting a profess o r an d students in the y e ar 1 807 but i t h as , ,

not met with the encouragement it deserved .

In Wales we find th at Anuren a p rince o f the O ttadi n i and othe rs

, , ,

illustrious for rank and patriotism gloried more in their b ardic qu alific ations ,

than nobility o f rank King C adwaladir about 670 presided at a meeting

.
, ,

a ssembled f o r th e pu rpose of he aring th e B ards reciting o ld c o mp o siti o ns an d

,

also their o w n productions These m eetings were c alle d E iste d vod as They
.
-
.

are continued in W ales

( to the honour be it ,st ated of the Ancient B rit o ns) to , ,

this day The Druids having disappeared be fore the Culdees the B ards were
.
,
66 TH E P OE T RY
Rev Dr Memes then Rec tor of the A yr Academy and other gentlemen h ad
.
, , ,
’
it opened when it was found to verify O ssi an s desc ription The urn c o ntain
,
.

“
i ng the ashes o f the ancient hero w as surrounded and covered by four grey ,
”
stones an d completely answered the description of the bard The report of
,
.

this disc o very went the round of the newspapers thirt y y e ars ag o Ron ald .

Glas o f Keppoch having estranged h i s cl an by accepting or declaring his

, ,

intention to accept a feud al charter of the cl an district w as killed by a famil y ,

o f the name of Cl an D ug h ail whom he deepl y and tre acherousl y injured

-
.
,

Th e cl an declined to interfere but the celebrated bard I an Lom determined , ,

to punish the murderers o f his C hieftain obtained a w arrant for thei r appreh en ,

sion from th e Privy Co uncil which they eluded for a conside rable time ; but
,

the y were at length take n by surpri se by a party obtained by the b ard from his
chie f Sir James Macdonald in a block house which the y defended until it w as
, ,
-
,

set i n fire over their heads when being compelled to rush out they were, , ,

overpowered an d killed As the warrant requi red that the y should be p ro

.

”
du c ed dead o r alive in E dinbu rgh thei r he ads were cut o ff and sent the re , ,

an d thei r bodies bu ried in a s and hill in the v icinit y The l ate Dr Smith o f -
.

’
Fort William who was v ery sceptic al o n the subject of O ssi an s Poems an d all
—
, ,

Highland traditions thought th at he had in this t radition (owing to the dry ness
,

o f the ground in which the Cl a n Du g h ai l were said to have been buried ) an

-

opportunity o f s triking a blow at as he assumed the public credulity an d he , ,

g o t th e hill excav a te d ; when 10 ! to his surprise he fo und seven skeletons

, , ,

but not a single skull Nay more the skeleton o f the old man who was rep re
.
, , ,

sented by tradition as of gigantic size an d l ame i n consequence of having had ,

his thigh bone broken an d ill set in his y outh was fo und to co n firm the tradi
—
, ,

tion to th e letter for the bones o f on e of the skeletons were much l arger than
,

the others and o n e of its thigh bones was shorter an d h ad a knot o n it w here
,
-
,

it had been broken and joined ag ain In short Dr Smith bec ame so impressed .
,

w ith a conviction o f the truth of the poetry and t raditions o f th e Highl and
cl ans in consequence o f this incident as to have applied h i mself immedi atel y t o
, ,

the acqui rement of the l anguage an d he prosecuted its stu d y until he could ,

peruse O ssi an s Poems i n the original He got a sta tement of the result o f his
’
.

exploration o f the grave of Clan Du g h ail dr awn up p rinted and distributed -

, ,

among his friends and w as ever afterwards an e arn est advocate o f the auth e n
, , ,
’
ti ci ty o f O ssi an s Poems and also an able adversary to the absurd views o f
,

ancient Highland i ns titutions and society assumed by feud al histori ans He .

cop ten de d that without a knowledge o f the poe try and traditions whi ch are
, ,

th e onl y true exposito rs of the his tory of the Highl and cl ans no str anger had ,

an y reliable means o f forming a j ust Opinion o n the subject He agreed .

with me as to the danger o f attempting to pass off a ficti o n f or tradition ,

while the same clans continued to occupy the same localiti es for ages ;
and that it i s the histori an who writes i n the privacy o f his library an d ,

who c an adopt the recorded fictions that suit his views th at i s u n der no ,

check and not the traditional historian

, Surely it cannot be denied for .
,

instance that this treatise is written under the check of public Opinion in so
, ,
 OF TH E HI G HL A N D CLANS . 67

far as traditional but not in so f ar as le aning on extracts alread y publ ished The
,
.

Celtiberi ans asserted according to Theocritus quoted by L o gan th at the y had

, , ,

p o ems c o nt aining their laws and history for a period o f six thousand y ears
, , .

T acitus mentions that the poems which contained the annals o f the Ge rmans were
ancient in his d ay s Some of the poems mentioned in express terms by T aci
.

tus as c arried d o wn orally for hundreds o f y e ars before his time were in exist
, ,

ence seven hund red y ears after his death O ne o f th e pursuits in which .

Ch arlem agne took great delight was searching f or these relics o f antiquity and , ,

committing them t o memory Th e same m ay be said of the gre at Alfred of .

E ngland Logan refers to a fragment which h e holds to be the o ldest speci

.

men o f the bardic genius of the ancient Celts L ucern i us king o f the Averni .
, ,
”
w as wont to court popul arity by extraordinary m u n ificen c e A h ard once .

a rriving long after the others s aluted the prince with a poem extolling his vir , ,

tues an d benevolence but l amented his misfo rtune in being too late to share his
,

b o unty The song procured the gift of a purse of gold to the happy bard who
.
,
’
then ch aunted loudl y and extemporaneousl y say ing that L u cern i us chariot , ,

wheels as the y rolled along sc attered wealth and blessings among the children
, ,
”
o f men Gildas an d Nem i us were b ards an d profess to have compiled their
.
,

histories fr o m ancient poems ; but they compl ain o f and deplore the destructio n ,

o f man y o ld rec o rds by the enem y Among the rem ains o f poetry quoted by .
,

Boswo rth and others is th at of M erddi n or Merlin the Caledoni an who flourished
, , ,

in 470 The antiqu aries o f Wal es go much farther back w ith the history o f
.

their extant poetry th an the Christi an era an d so do those of Hiberni a Fingin ,

.

and Fergus Hiberni an bards belonged to th e second century and are n o t

, , ,

doubted ; and since the Christian era numerous individuals distinguished in

, ,

the science are mentioned by monkish writers of undoubted authori ty Torna

, .
,

Du bh ach Feich C ronan B e n ean Columba A damn an D allan S ean ach an

, , , , , , , ,

Angus Amergen were all Hibern ian b ards ; and the Welsh can furn ish a list
, ,

as brilliant and as much be y ond suspicion ; while an equal number among ,

w h o m O rran Ullin Caril & c

, with O ssi an at their head were C aledoni an
, , ,
.
, ,

bards : two l arge volumes of whose p o ems n o w in print have com e down , , ,

chiefly by oral recitation to the middle of the last and the beginning of the ,

present century The forme r were published by the learned and talented
.

clergy man Dr Smith ; the latter by the Highl and Society wit h a literal Latin
, ,
’
transl ation from the m anuscripts found in M a h erso n s repositories and to pub ,

lish which h e bequeathed £ 1 000 by his will .

It has I think been shown i n the above short sketch of the drui dal and
, ,

bardic institution of the Caledonian Irish and W elsh Celtic clans tha t oral reci , , ,

tatien w as not so uncertai n a medium for carry ing down important events i n ,

poems an d tales composed by men of genius and highly cultiv ated min ds as ,

the gentlemen who (in total ignorance o f the language in which these poems
and tal es were written ) constituted themselves judges o f their merit an d auth en
ti c ity seemed to thi nk
, .

I omarba were the names of the professional competitions which were

, ,

common and periodic al both in Scotland and Irel and The y were suppressed in .
 68 T H E ro s rnr
'

I rel and at le ast within th e P ale by a pen al st atute ; but they c ame d o wn i n
, ,

th e Highlands to the d ay s o f Dr Jo hnson ; who while den y ing the existence ,

o f Gaelic poetry mentions that I o m arba were at tha t time held in the Highl ands
, ,

as e isted v o das are now held in Wales to recite and celebrate this n o n exi s ti ng
-
,
-

poetry ! In Angli a S acra mention is m ade o f a S c o t wh o w as acqu ainted with

,

a hundred di ff erent measures o f verse ; and G iraldus n o t only states th at the ,

Highl anders an d I rish were superior musicians but they also sung an d pl ay e d ,
“ ”
in p arts which was totally new to him This implies th at there w as n o
,
—
.

dram atic poetry then i n E ngland The D ruid morality which w as very st rict.
, ,

forb ade as al ready stated the use o f ficti o n and consequentl y of s ati ric al and
, , , ,

dram atic poetry by the B ard s Th e y requi red that the subject of all poem s
.

sh o uld be st rictly true an d told by th e B ards in accord ance with the t ruth ; but
,

they were not onl y all o wed but required to rel ate these events i n a m anner
, ,

worthy o f men of genius feeling and g o od t aste The strict exclusi o n of fiction
, , .

from Celtic poetry was no doubt unfavour able to d ram atic poet ry an d I do n ot ,

think the ancient Celtic cl ans h ad wh at we understand as d ram atic poetry — —

but we are assured by traditi on th at thei r historic al poems were dramatic all y
,

represented and recited at their I o m arba an d this traditi o n is su ffi cientl y

corroborated by G iraldu s Cam bren ses st atement th at th e Highl ande rs an d the ’

,
“ ”
Hiberni ans sung an d pl ay ed musical pieces in p arts M ajor a histori an w h o ,
”
was evidently disinclined to give any credit to his u p th rou g h countrym en (as ,

h e called the Highl anders ) i n speaking o f the music al t aste and attainments
,

o f J ames the First could onl y illustrate their excellence by comparing hi s

,

performances with those of the Hiberni ans an d the Highl an ders who we re the ,

No w I would p ause an d ask the re ader here

"
best o f all pl ay ers on the harp .
, ,

whether it is p o ssible f or hi m to believe th at the Hiberni ans and the Highl and s

ers h ad arrived at such eminence as pl ay e rs o n the harp without h aving a ,

poetry worth y o f the music which they sung to the h arp ? Poet ry w as the
v er soul o f music until modern t aste substituted h armon y f or melod y an d
y , , ,

by smothering the song in singing devo rc e d feeling from music after a long life , ,

o f wedded happ i ness W as it onl y in Hibernia and the High l ands (whe re the
.

best pl ay ers o n the harp known to le arned musicians and antiquaries like
G i raldus and Major were to be fo und ) that the music an d poetry were unequ al ,

and altogether unworthy o f one another ? The best ans we r to this strange
assumption is to lay before th e reader some specimens of Gaelic poetry o f
unquestion able antiquity But before submitting these specimens from Ullin
.
,

O rran and O ssian three o f o ur most celebrated b ards I beg leave to p remise
, , ,

th at the poems from which I quote h ave been before the public in print an d in , ,

the native l anguage those o f Ullin and O rran for m o re th an eighty an d those
, ,

o f O ssi an for more than fifty y ears I als o beg le ave to refer to the West o f .

Scotl and Magazin e and to say that I have proved in my articles published
,

in th at perodi cal ,

1 That poems bearing the same characteristic features with those after
.

w ards published and ascri bed to O ssi an by M acpherson had been univers ally ,

k nown fo r time immemorial in th e Highlands an d that they were referred to

 OF T HE HIG HL AN D CL AN S . 69

in innumerable poems (m any of the verses o f which I t ransl ated an d q uo te d in

E nglish ) by the Gaelic B ards ages befo re Macpherson w as born i n the s ame
, ,

m anne r in which Greek and Rom an poems are referred to by the contemporary
poets of E ngl and .

2 I sh o wed from Irish and Northe rn histori ans whose w o rks could scarcel y
.
, ,

h ave been seen by M acpherson because the y were not then published although , ,

the m ate ri als existed in m anuscript and in a Latin hist o ry o f Irel and published
, ,

i n F rance in the reign of Q ueen E lizabeth that the heroes an d events cele ,
—

brate d in the poems o f Fi ng al an d Temor a are historic al her o es an d events ; ,

and that they are n amed by the same n ames an d n arr ated substanti ally in the ,

same manner by these histori ans and by O ssi an I considered th e ab o ve as

,
.

satisfacto ry evidence of th e authentici ty o f the p o ems as could be required by

an y imp a rti al antiqu ar
y under th e circumstances especi all y when t aken in ,

connexion with the cep i ou s literal translations by which I showed th at th e ,

’
G aelic poems found i n Macpherson s rep o sit ories after his de ath be ar i n trin , ,

si c ally undoubted evidence o f h aving been the wo rk o f a superior poet to the

,

author of the E nglish ve rsion o f these p o ems .

I m ay in corr oboration of these facts remark that the poems published

, , ,

by the Rev Dr Smith above eighty y e ars ag o an d by the Highl and S ocieties
.
, ,
’
o f L o ndon an d Scotl and from M a cpherson s m anuscripts unde r the editorship ,

o f Sir J o hn Sincl air mo re th a n fi ft

y y e ars ag o be ar u nquestionable intrinsic
, ,

evidence that the authors of these poems were superior f or genius taste an d a , ,

knowledge o f the l angu age to the p arties by whom these p o ems we re C opie d
,

from oral recitation an d prepared f or the press The poems substanti ally be ar
,
.

evidence of being the production of men of gre at genius refined tastes , ,

p atriotic benevolent noble and generous feelings an d sentiments ; while t aking

, , , ,

t hem as prep ared f or the press an d published a line o r two lines will be found ,

o n a page a word o r two words in a verse and a ve rse o r two verses in a du a n

, ,

or c ant o which form a contrast most striking for c o arseness t autology or

, , ,

ambiguity to the ch asteness an d elegance of the rest Dr Smith thus accounts

, .

”
for the exceptions to the version published by him : The poems say s D r ,

Smith h aving been c ollected from various editions they m ay p erh ap s appe ar
, , , ,

in some pl aces inelegant o r abrupt ; it being sometimes necessary to t ake half

a stanz a o r perhaps half a line fro m one edition to join to so much o f another
, , ,
.

As the poems we re for the most p art t aken down from oral recit ation frequent
, , ,

mistakes m ay have been m ade in the p roper division of the lines and in the ,

a ssigning o f its due qu antit to each Those who recite d ancient poems took
y .
,

frequentl y the opportunity o f s u bs ti tu ti ng s uch wo rds as th ey w ere bes t a cq u a i n ted

,

w i th i n th e r oo m of s uc h as were m or e
, fi reiq n or obso lete To expunge these .

words w h e n n o ne o f the copies in th e editor s hands supplied him wi th better

,
’

,
”
was a task which he did not consider as an y part of h is province .

I c annot help regretting that the learned and p atriotic Doctor took so st ri ct
a view of his duties as editor o f poems carried down as he himself sh o ws ,
,

by oral traditi o n from a remote antiquity thr o ugh various channels some o f , ,

them to say the least n ot very competent The poems bein g uniformly
, , .
70 TH E P O E T R Y
of s uch a ch aracter as legitimately to le ad to the conclusion that the authors ,

were inc ap able of writing these exception al p arts the inference is inevitable , ,

that the y were interpol ations by some incompetent reciters I cannot help .

regretting therefore that the Rev D o ctor did not feel it to be his duty to
, ,
.

expunge these passages and restore the ori g in al since no writer was more ,

competent to do so than himsel f To publish the poems without expunging .

these obvious interpol ations was m o re scrupulous th an just to the fame of the
,

dep arted Bards who h ad surel y a right to expect th at the editors o f their works
,

in future ages should feel it to be thei r sacred duty to do them justice These .

rem arks appl y only to the G aelic versi o n ; for the Rev Doctor allowed no .

tautology o r obscurity to deform the translation which is every thing th at coul d ,

be desired Indeed it is onl y fair to say th at if the Gaelic antiquities or

.
, , , ,

Seanna dh an a o f Dr Smith had been illustrative of th e religio n and poetry o f

-
,

an y other p art o f the B ritish E mpi re excepting the Highl ands they could ,

sca rcel y fail not only to h ave m ade his fortune but also to raise him to the very
, ,

summit o f popul arity But inste ad o f being remune rated f or h i s gre at work
.
, ,

the Doctor lost so much m oney by the public ation as seri o usl y to burden his ,

sm all income ; and inste ad of its raising him to th e very height of popul arity
,

with his fellow country men it simply subjected him to the r ap acious appetites
-
,

f o r detraction ch aracteristic o f the small f ry o f p arasites who pre y o n men of

,

genius after they are de ad ; and although man y of his rel ations have been ,

lite rary men o r belong to professions that ought to be literary and altho u gh I
, ,

am no rel ative I am so f ar as I know the onl y Highl ander th at ever to ok up

, , ,

the pen to do him justice Dr Smith either met w ith ingratitude o n the part
.

o f his fellow country men who were su rel y as interested a s he was in doing
-
,

j ustice to the literature o f their ancestors or he w as the generous victim o f his ,

o w n noble enthusi asm a fate to be envied rather than reg rette d B ut al as for
—
, .
,

th e m odern Highl anders who will go an y dista nce to see Gillie callum d anced -
,

and to shake h ands by p rox y with a lo rd or a duke but who have never y et
, , ,

recorded their grateful recogniti o n o f the honour d o ne to their country by the

”
labours of Dr Smith by putting a stone in his cairn
, .

With reference to Mr M acpherson s E nglish translation and also to the ’

,

version of the G aelic o rigin als fo und in his repositories prepared for the press ,

it is to be remembered that Macpherson was only a mere school boy or student

,
-
,

when he w as emp loy ed by the Rev Dr Blair an d other p at ri o tic gentlemen to .

,

collect and translate these poems No w i t wi ll not I think h e denied that it .

, , ,

i s the uniform tendency o f persons o f an ardent and poetic tempe rament ,

e specially befo re having attained to a m atu rity o f judgement to im agi ne th at ,

they c an not too highl y exaggerate o r colour the subj ects o n which they write .

”
O h exclaimed a worth y Gael o f my acqu aintance
,
what would this ,

country be but for Sir Colin Campbell and h i s Highl anders In this spi rit of
enthusi asm we find Macpherson continuall y repeating the epithets and phrase
ology which he considere d best calcul ate d to make his heroes not only great ,

but even marvellous I have no doubt that a criti c o f good taste and di scrimin a
.

tion could point out in the E ngl ish version every instance i n whi ch such
, ,
 OF T H E HI G H LA N D CLANS .
71

epithets an d phraseolog y were thrust into the poems by Macpherson as they ,

s tand o ut in blo ated relief among the more chaste and elegant pass ages o f his
transl ation But these meretricious interpol ations appear st ill m o re pro minent
.

i n the o rigin al as prepared for the press by M acpherson himself for in these
, ,
—

the s ty le an d the measure o f the verses are every now and ag ain inflated an d
forced o ut Of j oint by th e obt rusion o f ill conditioned taut o logic al epithets -
,

a n d a sounding but most empty phraseology ,

With these drawb acks n atural .
,

to a y outh so sensitive an d enthusiastic w h e n port ray ing to p arties igno rant , ,

Of the original poetry so descriptive Of all that is tender gene rous an d he roic
, , ,

in the human ch aracter in a l anguage different fro m the origin al Mr M ac

, ,
’

p h e rson s transl ation is n o t onl y ch a ste an d eleg ant but gr aphic an d exceedingl
y ,
’
beautiful He who would take the tro uble Of pu rify ing Macpherson s transl ati o n
.

o f O ssi an from his inte rpol ations or fancied improvements an d o f publishing ,

the rest without changing a word would in my Opini o n me rit the gratitude , , ,

o f mankind .

It seems necessary before submitting to the reader specimens fro m the

,

ancient poets to make a few remarks on the poetry floating tradition all y i n I reland
,

under the n ame Of O ssi an alth o ugh I re all y cannot enter into the spirit o f the
,

controversy between the Irish an d the Highl anders o n this subj ect m y Celtic ,

sy mpathies being so catholic as to m ake me look o n it as a matter of i n diff er

ence whether th e gre at represent ative o f the ancient Celtic b ards w as born in
E rin or Al bin Indeed m y Opinion is that the Greeks in disputing ab o ut the
.
, , ,

locality of Home r s birth showed themselve s to be destitute o f the true clan

’

spirit an d patriotism that ought to ch aracterize the conduct of kind red an d noble
races on e toward another and therefore th at the y deserved the fate their con
, , ,

c ei te d selfish and intemper ate divisions b rought upon them

, , But the I rish do n o t .

cl aim the poems ascribed to O ssi an by M acpherson as the productions o f their

O ssian ; they only want to depri ve their Caled o nian b rethren o f the credit o f having
h ad a h ard who could have p roduced such p o etry nearly two th o us and y ears ago , .

This to be sure is somewh at less generous than we could be disposed to give

, ,

o ur fellow Celts o f E rin credit f or an d it cuts both way s for if the state o f so
, ,

c i ety in Albin w as at th at time as civiliz ed as the production and populari t

y of
these poems instruct the state o f society among their brethren Of Leth c ui n
,
-

could n ot have been so b arbaro us as their so c alled S axon neighbours assert and -
,

vi ce vers a But the fact is th at the poems Of the Highl and O ssi an sh o w th at
.
,

h e lived befo re pri estc raft an d feud alis m dwarfed the souls and corrupted the
tastes an d judgements Of mankind ; while the Irish O ssi an is shown by the ,

productions ascribed to him to h ave been the very personification Of the d warfed
,

souls an d corrupted tas tes and judgements resulting from the spiri tu al and civil
despotism Of the dark ages It is but too well known that the priests o f the
.

above pe ri o d cultivated superstition as th e gre at all y o r handmaiden Of

”
religion : hence in these Irish U rsg euls or n ew t ales ascribed to O ssian , ,

(as they are c alled both in E rin an d Al bin ) the adventures Of the traditional ,

heroes Of the people are mixed up with m agicians mounteb anks saints giants , , , ,

and witches but with a design and a method well calculated to emasculate the
,
—
 72 TH E P OE T R Y
m inds , corrupt the taste Of the people and so prepare them for sw all o wing
an d ,

th e m o nkish legends however ext rav ag ant an d m arvell o us

, Nay mo re th e se .
, ,

U rsg eu ls sh o w th at the fabric at o rs Of them we re the m onkish d abble rs in G reek

an d R o m an lite ratu re an d not the Celtic bards ; f o r they h a ve their alleg o ries
, ,

m o nste rs an d metam o rphosis although rude mau dlin feeble unn aturall y f an
, ,
—
, , ,

ta sti c Obscene an d ludic rous

, , .

’
Mr O Ki ern ey o n e of the editors of the O ssianic Society who c alls
, ,
” “
these alleged poems o f O ssi an U rsg euls o r n ew t ales st ates th at they ,
—
, , ,
”
a re fo unded o n ancient p o ems but m o re a uthorit ative historic ally th an the
, , ,

origin als from which they are derived ! an d I question n o t th at they are as
authoritative as c an be desi red on the subject o f the He athen an d Christi an
c ontro ve rsies between O ssi an and St P atrick the pilg rim ages to Rome ,
—
,

the w ars between the Fi ng alian s and the kings of E ri n about the feud al t ribute
o f m u li er m erc h e ta & c & c
’
But M r O Ki ern ey h as not submitted the o rigin als
, . .

from which the U rsg e uls are alleged to h ave been derived to the public whom , ,

h e wishes to enlighten ; so th at we must necessaril y w ait until he sh all h ave

h ad another literary eng agement from the O ssi anic Society befo re we are i n a ,
’
condition to s olve this puzzle Mr O Ki ern ey perhaps takes f o r g ranted th at
.
, ,

his readers h ave unde rgo ne the p ro cess of em ascul ation which his U rsg euls
are so well c alcul ated to pr o duce an d th at the y will believe his curious p ar ad o x
,

with o ut re q ui ring an y evidence Of its truth ! But to spe ak without sarc asm a , ,

m o re humiliating proof o f the perve rting influence o f comb ativeness o n the

hum an intellect th an is ins tructed by the c o llection an d public ation of these
U rsg e uls at g reat expense by a s o ciety of le arned Irish gentlemen under the
, , ,

delusi o n th at they are the productions o f a m an of genius and an h on o u r to ,

Irel and is n o t to be fo und o n the records Of an y o ther country in E ur ope ! Th at

,

to comb ativeness an d not dishonest y is to be ascribed the public ation Of this

, ,

unn atu ral t rash ascri bed to O ssi an by the I rish is shown by the fact that , , ,

along with it they h ave published w o rks by St Ben ean Dr L y nch & c , , .
,

cont ai ning a whole m ass Of evidence which c an le ave n o doubt th at the Fe in n ,

S poke a diff erent di alect wore a di ff erent dress an d were di ff e rent i n thei r
, ,

m anners an d cust o ms from the people o f Leth E u g ai n mh oir or the s o uthe rn - -

,

h alf of I rel and These are c alled Milesi ans Fi rbolgs B elg s &c ; while the
.
, , , .

people of Leth cui n are c alled Crui th n i Pi c ti T uath a de dan n an s &c

-
, ,
- -
,
.

I h ave stated elsewhe re th at it w as the custom o f the cl ans to take the

,

names of the chiefs an d c e an n cath s o r w ar chie fs th at is chiefs of confedera ,

—
,
—
,

tions o f cl ans f o r the time ; an d hence th at cl ans an d confede rati o ns o f

,
—
, , ,

cl ans we re c o ntinu all y ch anging their n ames In re ading recent publications

, .

by le arne d s o cieties o f I rish gentlemen in illustration Of the tradition al poet ry ,

and history o f their country it will be observed that confederati o ns of cl ans

, ,

a n d cl ans also dis appe ar an d appear in a m anner which puzzled the very
,

edito rs because the y did not know th at such w as the custom Of cl ans down to
,

the d ate of feud alism when feudal tenures led to fixed surn ame s That the
,

comp arativel y ancient feud al wri ters o n the his tories Of Ireland and Sc o tl and
did n o t qualify themselves better for their self imposed task by devoting some -
,
74 T HE P OE T RY
being fai rl y established there ; for Alfred calls it Scotland which implies that ,

they t ransfe rred to it the n ame they h ad previousl y given to Irel and But be .
,

th at as it may the n ew n ame shows th at th e S c o ts were a n ew power in Scot

,

l and otherwise wh y w as n o t the country know n by th e name o f Scotl and

,

before the day s Of Alfred L a n d is a Gothic o r Teutonic w ord an d nothin g ,

c an be more ce rt ain th an th at the Picts and Scots sp o ke diff erent di alects .

E rc h ad as al re ad y stated ( Abe rdeen B revi ary ) p re ached to the Britons an d

, , ,

Sc o ts n aming them in th at orde r which surel y implies th at the co u ntry o f the

, ,

Sc o ts was situ ated between those Of the Britons an d th e Picts Here we h ave .

a distinct people bet ween the Brito ns an d Picts who give a new name to the ,

country an d th at n ame too in a fore i gn l angu age Nay m o re the cean n c ath
, , , .
, ,

o r w ar chief of this people t akes the title of king of Scots ; his sons are c alled
-

p rinces an d h e c re ates dukes e arls l o rds b aronets &c and land king pri nce
, , , , ,
.
, , , ,

e arl lord an d b aronet are all n ames fo reig n to the Pictish o r C aled o ni an lan
, , ,

gu age and cannot be exp ressed in it until this day Yet histori ans fancy th at
, , .

they h ave established it as a fact th at the Highl an ders in whose l angu age n o t , ,

a single o n e of these n ames or titles c an be expressed are Sc o ts an d th at the , ,

people Of the Lowl ands in whose l an gu age the y o rigin ate d and can be app ro
, ,

riate ly expresse d are the descend ants o f the Picts o r C aled o ni ans But let us
p ,
.

see whether the life Of Columba published jointl y by the Bann aty ne Club an d ,

the I rish Celtic Associ ation confirms o r contradicts m y views o n this subject ,
.

A dam nan a ccording to this autho ritative b ook states that when o n e Of the
, ,

Pictish chiefs was b aptised h e received the wo rd through an inte rpreter : verbo ,
” “ ”
Di e a s a n c to p er i n terp retem r ec ip to Ware s Vita S ancti Columb ae by
'
—
.

A dam n an page 62 Ag ain he s ay s th at C o lumb a h aving tarr ied at that time f o r

, .
, ,
“ ”
some d ay s in the province of the Picts the word Of life w as pre ached to the ,

people through the medium Of an inte rpreter Ibid p age 1 45 Here we find .
—
.
,
.

Bede E rch ad A damn an all w riting to the efie ct th at the Scots were situ ated
, , ,

between the B ritons an d the Picts an d spoke a di ff erent di alect from the l atter ,
.

’
Indeed A damnan s word s imply that the Picts were shorn of the suprem acy
, ,

an d reduced to a province while Alfred s wo rds impl y that the country w as ’

c alled by the Scots after their o w n n ame Scotland I will not argue with those ,
.

who require farthe r evidence on the above subject but m ay quote O ssi an an d ,

C ormac grandson o f Con n the forme r from the Highlan d Society s edition o f
, ,
-
’

O ssi an edited and published by Sir J ohn Sincl air more th an fifty y e ars ag o ; and
, ,

the l atter on the auth ority o f F ather O Ke ef from a work published more th an ’

,
’
two hundred y e ars ago M y ve rsion is from m y mother s oral recit ation but
.

it ag rees subst anti ally with those Of the F athe r I beg to premise th at Ad am .

n an is co rrobo rate d by St B en e an D r L y nch &c w h o state th at the M alm u ta , ,

.

l aws Of I rel and were writte n in the Fei n i an o r Pictish language Ptolem y the .
,

very best auth o rity states th at the south o f Irel and was inh abited by n a ti o n es
,
”
Teu to n i c i o rigi n es The E ditor o f an edition of Cambren ses E ve rsus sh o ws
.

th at the s oldie rs o f the three Coll as were Fi rbolg and that the Fi rb o lg an d Belgae ,

w e re identic al in Ireland The people o f Leth C ui n n were never c alled Fi rbolg

.
-
,

Belgs &c &c i n Ireland but they are unif orml y called Cruith n i Pi cti T uath a
, . .
, , ,
 or T HE HI G HLA N D CL A NS .
75

d e dan an s all indicating their identity with the cl ans o f C aledoni a Let us
-
.

now see wh at O ssi an (I d o n t mean the O ssi an o f Mr O K e arn ey s U rsg euls

’ ” ’ ’

but the O ssi an wh o se ancient poems he so clumsily and grossl y caric atures) s ay s
o n the ab o ve quot ation o f the di ff erent confederations of the southern and

n o rthern cl ans o f Irel and

TE MO RA .

C h ru in ich c i n n ic h eadh mor U illin , Gathered the g re at clans of Ullin ,

’
S ch u i r iad c u i re adh
righ nan lann And sent an invitation to the king of
g u ,

swords ,

Righ do sh in n sreadh mor n am bean n A king of the race Of their mount ai n ,

ancestors ,

Si o l S h ealma nan c ruai dh gu n f h aillein The race o f Selma of steel unfailing

’
, , ,

’
S triadh adh E rin ai g e iri dh . The chiefs of E rin h aving risen (in
arms ) .

This movement was o f , course inimical to the gre at southern confedera

,

tion so th ey also convened a

, meeting o f all their great tribes :
W hy ”
”
C u im , th ui rt i ad, bh io dh Conn na , said they , should Conn be
righ ,
king ,

Siol c o ig ri c h n an stri th O M h o rbh ei n The race hostile o f strangers from

Mo rven
Th ai n i g i ad mar sh ru th ai bh O sh li abh . They came like a spate fro m the wold .

He re we have the si mple graphic statement Of the gre at Celtic histori an

a n d h ard w hich singularl,y coincides w ith the above quotations In sh o rt all .
,

the statements collected an d published by le arned Irish societies and all facts ,

st ate d by such ancient historians as were neither C aledoni an or Irish agree ,

w ith O ssian an d vi ce vers a We sh all n eve r h ave a consistent history o f

, .

I reland o r Scotland until the authenticity of our ancient poems is recognised

, ,

an d until like th e Northe rn s ag as the are made the found ation of our histories
, y ,
.

’
The fo llowing ve rses we re subst anti all y published by Father O K e e f in ,

1 684 I have i t not in m y p o wer at p resent to consult the Fa the r s work (as I am
’

,
.

w riting o n a tour in the Highl ands) but I have re ad it and to the best Of my , ,

recollection the onl y important di ff e rence between the fo llowing verses as

, ,

repe ated by my mother an d his is that the F ather m akes Fergus and not
, , , ,

Cairbear the fourth in descent from Conn

,
B o th the F ather an d my mother .

asc ribed the ve rs es to Cormac grandson Of Conn The verses show th at th e ,

.

people o f Leth C ui n or Temora an d their ancient kings were G ai dh ei l which

-
, , , ,

is the historic all y recognised cognomen o f the Highl anders and not the I rish ,
.

The Hibernian clans Of Leth C ui n are alway s design ated G aidh eil E irn each
- .

’
S
mise Cormac ogba C h uin n , ,
I am Cormac grandson o f C o nn , ,

Ard righ fhear T h e amh air ch rui nn H igh king o f the men of th e circuit of
Temora
76 T H E P OE T RY
R 0 f h e all asach o rm rin n eadh foil ,
Very tre acherousl y I have been betray ed
’ ’
Le mo mh n ao i dh 3 le m re ach dadai r . By my wife an d j udge .

eol dh omhsa g un g ap i d,
rud I know three things without a flaw
’
S ,

Tri n ith ean a mh illeas m n aoi dh , Three things th at ruin women

’ ’
Am fear fein gu n bhi g a n reir , A husb and not their equal ,

L eann anas lag lui de an me an , . A small dr udge and faint love , .

’
e01 dh omh
rud eile g u n g h ao id
’
8 ,
I kn o w three things without a flaw ,

Na tri n i dh ean a ri ag h las mnaoi dh ,

Three things that rule women
A n ci el fein co t ch adh am fear ,
-
,
Good sense a sympathizing husband
, ,

S lean nas fiugh an ta ch lai dir

’
, . Love generous and strong .

M O mh allach d an dingh is g u brath ,

My curse to day and f or ever
-

Air duine n as al na ai r flath ,

O n the gentleman or chief
W h o y ields to wom an s flame
’
A g h eile as do las mh n adh , ,

Mar bith i ad beu sach nan ghn i omh adh . Unless sh e be modest i n her conduct .

’ ’
C e arth ar g u n bh eu d ri n linn , Four have in their generations
T h ain i g 0 na G ai dh eil g h ri nn , l Descended from th e sprightl y G ael ,

Conn o illei l cend-ch ath ach , Illustrious Conn o f a hundred b attles ,

Art m i fein , , i s C ai rbei r . Art my self and Cai rbear

, ,
.

DA N AN FH I R L E I DH L E Gnarl s —
( The first duan onl y ) .

A ig c eu m a mall a ch aoch ai n chinin ,

At the slow steps of the mild stre amlet ,
eg cey ma mall a c h a och ay n c hi - u y n

’ ’
Le d c h rui t, gu n g hleu s, na t o ed ,
With th y harp untuned silent , ,

y ley s
’
l ed ch r uy t gu n na t o sd

Tha u sa, mhic Arair nan ten d, Art thou , so n o f Arair of strings ,
he use
. vi c aray r n an tey h t

th y
’ ’
Gu n phong c iu il bho d lai mh a n och d ? Without a note of music from
g un p h o n g c uy l
‘
v od la y v
-
a n oc h d hand tw n i gh t 2
T h a tai bh sean ti amh i dh a tri al , Mel ancholy ghosts a e travelling r

ha ti avi tri -al

'
tay vsen -
a

’
Mu n c u airt ai r n i alaibh nan sp e ur, Around on the clouds of night ,
m un cu -
ay rt a r
y u i - ali v n an s
p éy r
Dh e i steach d m olai dh 0 th y
’
—
am d bh e ul ,
To li sten to their praise from lips ,

y ey stech d m o l ay d v ey l
’
am o

’
S cha chlu in n iad air aile an cli u . And they hear n o t on air their fame .

’
s cha chl uy n n i -
ad ay r ay -le an cliu

’ ’
A mhi c Arair c om ad th osd, S on Of Arair ,
wh y in silence ,
a vi c ar-ayr c om ad h o sd

I s taibh se an nan treun co dluth When the spirits of the night are near?
is dlu
'
t ay v -
se n n an tré y n co

CO i s fh earr fios na 11 fein ,

Who better knows than th y self ,
co is e rr fio s na 11 i cy n

O rrai n , ai r beus na f h albh ? O rran of the habits of those that are

,
e rr-ay n ay r b éy s na y alv gone ?
 OF TH E HIG HLA N D CLANS . 77

T ha cuimhne a de arse air t anam Their memory is shi ning th y s o ul

’
n
-
. on .

ha
’
n c ay n e a d ersa ay r tan am .
-

C an an d ain c lri an ael an teabh ac h d ,

Sing their lay s pensive with , sy m
can an d ay n c h i a n el a n te avach d
- -
'
-
p athy ,

Cui r an cein c liu g u lin n te ,

Send their fame to ages remote ,

c uy r a c li u g u li n n t e c ey u
n

M ar dh eo g reine ai r ana m n am b ard —

,
Like a sunbeam o n the souls of the
ma y e o g é n e ay r a n am n a n b ard b ards
- -
r r r

Tra bh ios O rran sa ch larsac h nan su ain . When O rran and his harp are asleep
t ra vis e rr-an sa c hla rsa ch n an eu- ay n

C ai dlidh O rran s a chlarac h , For sleep will O rran and hi s harp ,

o rra n
'
cay d -
li se c hla r
”
Ach m ai ri dh a dh ai n na dh eig His l ay s will survive after him .

y ay u
'
a ch m ari
'
a na y ey
An so th amh Dum oi r n an sleag h , Here dwelt D umor Of spe ars ,

an so h av d um o r n an sleg h

’
S n a the ach , m ar sh olu s, a n i g h ean ch aoin , And in his house as a light h is , ,
’
3 na h ech m ar h o lus a ui
'
-
en ch aoy u daughter mild ( O rran sings ) ,
.

’ ’
B ailli dh bu bh i n n a oeol a cruth s ,
Beautiful her face sweet her music , .

bay lli a c ru s bu v i nn a oeol

' '
4

’
Thug L amh a do n o i g h a g h aol Lava gave to the maiden his love .

h ug l a v a do n o y a y a o l '

Am feach d Dh um o i r bha L am h a treun .

’
In Dunmor s host Lava was a hero .

am f e ch d y uy m o y r va lav a t rey n -

’
Is Min shuil an righ dha cha d eur
-
, S ulm in a the king did not grudge h i m
i s m i n h uy l an ri y a ch a d ey r
'
-

’
Cha d eur an ri gh ach dh e ur i fein -
,
The king did not but sh e di d herself
, ,

c ha d ey r ri ach y é y r i f ey n
'

A ig m i ad a speis do R onan ailli dh From the greatness O f h er love to

a g m i a d a s p e s do
,

ro n an ay l i
’
y y
-
Ron an the h andsom e
,

Ronan bho S h ru th thorman nan steud -

. Ronan from the S truth orm on o f s teeds .

ro n a n ru h o rm a n
’
vo n an stey d -

C h u i r fio s air a cheili bh aig h eil ; He sent a messenger to his chosen ,

c h uy r fi os ay r a c h e li
'
y vay ey l the aff ection ate
Dh -im i ch ise le fear i u il, She accompanied the guide .

y m i ch
i -
i sh e le-
ferr i -uy l

Bha L amh a dln

an raon ai r . But Lava was ( watchful ) on the heath .

va la va dlu ay r an rao n
’
Ch ean g ael a m fear i uil ri c rao i bh ,
He tied the guide to a tree ,

ch en g el am ferr i uy l ri c ro y v -

’
S thug e leis n a luing a g h aol . And in his ship carried away h is
’
s h ug e les na luy n g a y ao l beloved .

Chlui n ti ai r stu i dh e an ard a g lao dh ,

Her cry was he ard over the waves ,
.

c hl uy n ti g l ao
' '
ay r stuy en a rd a

A R o n ain ,
m o g h ao il, thig le c obh air Ron an ,
my love come with help
,
rOn en mo b i g le
a
y aoy l c o vay r

Cha c h lu i n n c t- e ibh air cu an an nrach , H e hears n ot th y voice on a sea

ha c h luy n n e tey v ay r c u - an an nrac h tempestuous ,
 78 T H E P OE T R Y
luai dh
’
S e e i g sru th an ad an oran : At the side of the stream praising
’
se ay g sru
'
an
-
ad l uy ’
an Oran thee in s o ng
’
S m all do c h e u m aibh a g h aoi l, Slow i s the steps o f my love ,
mall c h ey m i v y ao y l
’
8 do a

c h ao ch ai n
’
lean n an
’
S c i an 0 m mo . Far from my stre ams is my fair one .

’
m c h o ch ay n mo len a n
’
s c i an
-
o

Cha c h lu i nn do cheum air an raon I hear not th y s teps on the he ath

, ,
ch a c h l uy n do c h ey m ay r an ra o n

’
S th a g h ao th f uai m er
’
8 na m ean g ai n . And the wind is resounding in the
f uy m er
’
sh a m ean g en
' ’
y ao 8 na branches ,

Thig a Shuil ,
-
m h i n a, mo g h a o il,
Come S ulm in a m y belove d
, , ,
bi g n m o y ao y l
a h fi y l-m i e

M ar e ilid an aile san e ibh n eas ; Like a ro e in be auty an d j oy ousness

m ar elli d a ay l e san ey v e s n n

W h y are th y s teps
’
C c m a bh eil do chenm a co mall so slo w
c om a v ey l do c h ey ma c o m all

A i r Gorm mh eall n an gleann e ildeach -

O n Gorm al o f ro e- frequented glens .

ay r g e rm v el n an g l e nn ey ltech
-

’ ’
S c ian an Oi obe s mi m on ar ,
-
. Long is the night ,
an d I am a lone .

m o n ar
’
8 ci an an o y ch e 3 mi
’
-

A luch d i o m ach d n an sp e ura go rm a ,

Travellers of the blue skies ,

a luch d i -O m ac h d n an sp e
y ra g o rma
’
Bh eil sibh se f e ith ibh r ar an n sa c h d Are y e als o waiting for y our beloved
v ey l sh i vse f ey i v rar a nn sach d I- -

’
S do ch ail si bh e o l as ar cursa ? O r h ave y e w andered from y o u r
e O l as ar cu rs a
’ ‘
s do c h a i1 si v - -
cou rse 2
C iod a rug ort , a g h ri an na m ai dn e , Wh at h a overt aken thee sun o f the
s
,

c ed a rug o rt a ri
y an
-
na ma d -
né morning ,

’
Noir th a
co fada g u n e i ridh ?
11 When thou art so slow in risi n g ?
n oy t h a 11 co fad a
'

g un ey ri

’
N do ch o i n n i ch u M i n sh uil do gh raidh Hast thou met S ulm i n a Of th y l o ve .
,
’
n d o c h o n i ch
y u m i nh uy l do y ra i
n —
’

N Oi r dhi ch n i mh n ich u aird nan sp euran ? Th at th o u h ast forgotte n the heights

-

no r
y y i c h uy n i c h u ay rd n an s p ey ran ? o f the sk y
n

A sh o illsean ailli dh le r te ag h lach de al Lights be autiful of the radi ant famil y ’

,

h o y lsh en ay l i
’
a . ler t elach tel

rach ,
rach

’
Is m ai seach slig h e 83 n i armailt e igh Whose j o urney i s l o vel y in the fi r
.
,
i s m ay sy ec h sli e ' ' '
san i armelt a m am en t geni al ;
-

’
A bh eil sibh g a r falach n ar p ai llin Are y e hiding i n y our pavilion i n
a v ey l si v g ur f ala c h n ar p ay lly n
.
the clouds ,

’
3 na n eo il ,

yl
’
sn a n e- O

A ch i o n n g ur
g e arr libb an O i ch e ? Because y ou deem the nigh t to o sho rt ?
a c h i -o n n li v o y ch e
g ur g e rr an

Ach le am sa ch a
’
n eil i g ea rr, But to me it i s not short ,
a ch ls -
am a s ch a n ey l i g ert
 OF TH E HI G H L AN D CL AN S . 79
’
S mo M h i nsh uil dlron n ai r seac h aran , And my brown haired S ulmi n a wan
-

vi n h uy l y o nn se c h aran de ring
‘
smo ay r .

T og t -
o r- ch ean n a gh ri an eibh i n n , Lift th y golden head of joy sun , ,

to g to r- ch enn a ri
y an
-
é y vi n n
” ”
I s f each dh om h g u luadh a , c e um adh . And quickl y let m e see her steps .

ln
' '
is fe -
ac h yov gu
-
a a c é y ma

D h e alrai ch a mh adui n n ao bh ach , Brighten ed the morning delightful ,

v a duy n n
el
y ri ch a. a o va ch

Ach cha n f h ai cear leis a h ao g us ’

-
. But he sees her not .

ach ch a n ay ce r ley s a h s o g u e -

Dh ei rich ceo ailli dh dln dh a

-
,
A beautiful wreath Of mist arose near
'
e
y y ri c h ce o a
y li dlu ya him
-

A g i nlan samhla g ao la c h S h uilm i n , Bearing the resemblance O f S ulm in a .

g y lan sav la g ao lach h uy lmi n

’

a rr

S g ao il e g hlac ai bh na c o m h ai l . He spread his arms to meet her ,

sg o
yl e y lac hi v na c o v el
Ach th rei g e ai r an a ile dh obh ai dh . But i t f ade d a w ay on the unfriendly
ah le
'
ach h -
re
yg e ay r a n -
y o vi am

R o n an lan do dh orui n n
Dh i m i ch -
,
Ron an sped full Of disquiet , ,

y i mi c h ro n a n lan do
-
y o ruy n
G u fe ar ao sda nan c re ag c asach . To the aged recluse Of the ro ck
f er a o s da n an c rey g c o sac h
gu
’
Fh uaireas e n tai ce ri luirg fein He w as found leaning on his crutch ,
h u y res e n
’
tay ce ri luyri g fey a
dh o ille ar f o sg ail
’
Se n doire gheng , In the d ark grove u n der the sh ade of
sa n do y re y o y ller fo sg a - il y éy g the boughs ,

L an a crom ao m adh
o g lu ch d, -
,
Awe struck an d bending lo w ,

la n o g luy ch d a c ro m a o m a
'
- - - -

L e f h e usai g g hlai s mu bh roilleach ao sda . With his gre y be ard floating on his
ls ey -say g
y lay sh m u v ro y ll- ech a -o s - da aged b reast ;
Air an lar bh a shuil a de arca, O n the ground his e y e w as fixed ,
a
y r an lar va b uy ! a d erc -
a
’
Ach an am bha n c omh n u i dh th ai bh sean ,
. But his soul was in th e l and of spirits .

a ch a n a m
'
h ay v sen
’
-
va n c o v n uy o

” ”
C io d arsa Ronan a chi u ,
What know y ou, said Ro n an ,
c l od ar se ro n an
-
a ch i u
,
-
,

”
Mu Ch ulmi n a mo le an n an g aolach 2 ‘
Of S ulm in a, m y sweethe art , be
mu c h ulmi a m o l enn e u ga o l ach n - - -
loved ? ”

“ ”
M acan c ean g ailte ri c rao ibh , A little y outh h e replied tied to , ,
ma ca n oe n g sy l t e ri c ro y v - -
a tree ,

Barca na de ann thair cu an . A ship speeding over the sea

b are a n a de an n ha y r cu an
- - -

A S h uilmi na s c ru aidh le am do g hlao dh

’

, S ulmi n a, sad i s th y c ry ,
h u yl m i n a s c ru y ’ ’ '
a -
lem do y la O
-

”
A taomadh air tuin gu n ch omh n adh ,
’

,
Pouring on the waves without help .
”

a taom a ay r t uy un g un -
ch o v n a
'
-
80 TH E P OE T R Y
”
’
S de ac ai r a sh e an e
f hir do sg e ul . Severe old ,
man , is th y t ale
'
s de c -ay r a h e n -i r do sg e y l

” “
C h a c h u alas le at Olcas gu leir . Thou h ast n ot heard the whole evil
ch a chu -
aI-as le -
at o le - as g u ley r

Dh i m i c h -
an lao ch tursach deurach The hero retired sorro wful te arful , ,

y i m -
i ch s ach dey rach an la -
o ch t ur- -

T o irt bh uille an borb do n ch o p an bh eu m Striking fierce blows the boss

’
on of
t o y rt buy ll e n b o rb do n ch o p an v ey m - -
alarm s .

nach ,
n ach
G h rad phill bho raon ai bh n an e iltean , Q uick from the heath of deer retu rned ,

y rad fi ll v o rao n i v n an ey l te n - -

P rasg an corr do dh Og ain th reu bh ach -

. His h an d surpassing of y ouths w arlike ,
.

p rasg an c o rr do y o g ay n h rey v a ch
- - - -

Dh f h an iad mar ris an lao ch

-
, The y remained along with the hero , ,

y an i -ad m ar ri s an la o ch

T osdach te am h aidh fad na h -

o i ch e Silent , sad, during the long n ight ;
t o sdac h
’
t i av
- -a
y f ad na h oy -
ch e

Fonn clarsaich na f u ai m , sli g e , The music of the harp the sound ,

of
fo nn chlar say ch n a f uy m -
eli g e the shell ,

Fleadh tiene ch a b f h i u le i n nna -

. B anquet n o r fire they valued n o t , .

fle n a t ey n e c h a b i u li nn - - - -

jo y
’ ’
Fu ar fli uch gu n ch e ol gu n e ibh n eas
, ,
Cold wet without
, ,
lay or ,
fu -
ar fleu c h g u n c h y -ol gu n ey v - n e s

Ch ai th ,sinn ann sa bh e i n an Oi ch e ,
They spent the night on the mount ain .

ch ay s i nn an n sa v ey n o an o i ch e
'
- -

S a m h adu i n n leum sin air le a r . In the morning we sprang on the s e a,

sa v a - du ley m si n ayr ler
ynn
’
Ar n - O i g h e an gu n gb ean air an trai g h . Leaving o ur y o ung women o n the
'
a no
y
'
-
en g un y en ay r an t ra i -
shore in grief .

Bu ch o am hlu idh a Dh um oir do chor se

—
,
-
Simil ar w as the c o nditi o n of Dum o r ,
bu c h o av luy a y u moy r do ch or se - -
'
- -

S a m h adui n an am dh u i t e i ri dh When rising earl y in the morning ,

sa va -
duy nn an am y uy t ey ri -
'

M i n sh u il bh oidh each n an ci abh o rbh ui dh , Lovely S ulmin a O f the golden hai r ,

mi n- h uy l vo -
i
’
-
ech nan ci -av o r- vuy
’
Cha n f h ai c na d th all a dorch g a h eide ’
-
,
Is not seen in th y d ark halls dressing .

ch an aye n a h alla d orch ga h ey de - -

’
C h ru i n n i ch na h Oi g h e an le n i ug h air -
,
Gathered the maidens f or the ch ase
c h ruyn n i ch h oy len i
’ ’
- -e n -
u -
a
yr with their arrows ,

S a m h adui n n a sh e alg nan sle i bh te i n ; In the morning to hunt over the w o lds .

se va ~
duy n n a h elg n an sley v -t e n

Dh i ar i ad S uilm i n a
-
na te ach di mh air, They sought S ulmi n a in her sec ret
yi
-
ar i -
a h t s u l- m i
y na n a t e ch di -
ve
yr bower ,

Dh i ar -
’
s cha do chu al i ’
n e ibh i dh . They sought but sh e he ard n ot their
,

yi
-
ar
’
s ch a do h c h u al -
i
‘
nc y v - i
'
c ry

I g h e an Dh umh o ir is c i an do chl o s .
“
Daughter o f Dumor ! long is th y sleep ;
an do ch lo s
’
i -
en y y moy r
u - is c i-
82 TH E P OE T RY
A sg i a air geng o sc i o n n an trein f h ir
—
.
His shield suspended o n a bo ugh
a s
gi -a
er gey g o s- ci o -
nn an treyn - ir
above his head .

Ch lu i n n t n a h i allaibh
’
-
fe ad na g ao ithe , The w i n d is he ard sounding am o ng
chluy n t na h i - all e f ed I ts thongs
v
y na
-

go y e
-

’
;
S
mise ri th aobh g u c i an ael .
And I was by h i s side sorrowful
s mi sh e
.
’
i h aov g ci a n el
r u - -

Th o g mi 3 m on mh ur dan ath ar I bre th e d, in murmurs his father s ’

py
.
, ,
,
h og mi :1 mon -
vu r dan a
'

yr
-

a ,

A g h le ach d an U llan ri Go rm ar .
When h e fought in Ulli n against
a
y lechd an ullan ri co r-mar
Go rmar .

L ei g dh i ot,
’
arsa n lao ch an dan ,
”
Drop said the hero the lay
, , ,
l eyg yi h t ars an laoch an dan
-

Gus am pill a mh adui n n lia ghlas -

Unt il the dark grey mornings return ;
-

gus am p ill a v ad
yn li a y lass u n - -

Q i r tog a d sg eul m o ch orrui ch fein

’
Or e alt my o wn indignation in th y
gy 3
,
oy r to g ad s g ey l mo ch Oruych f ey n 3

Tha man am ag e iridh g u i org u ill . My soul is rising to destroy .

”

ha man am ag ey ri L ar g uy ll
'
g
-
u -

’
Tra phill Gorm ar O n ch o mh rag bh orb , When Gormar (the b ard spe aks as
tra fi ll co rmar o u ch o v rag vorb ’
-
Ron an ) returned from the fierce
co n flict ,

Sa
’
lean e n S ru th orm an an rua bh oc -
, And in S truth orm on pursued the deer ,
se lenh orm eu e n
’
sru
'
- -
an ru - a-v oc

Bha thi air mise a sg ri o s He was b e nt on my destru ction ;

va hi er miss a sg ris

’
c h lai dh e am h
’
S nach d thaining mo a F or m y sword had n ot le ft i ts sheath .

n ach d ayn ig ch l a c v
’
mo
’
s - -
a h
th ru aill .

ruy ll

’
G h abh da laoi c h t ruas ri m O ig e
ao n , O ne Of his heroes took pity on m y
a o u da l y ch tru as ri m
y outh
o
y av yg e o
- -

Is shear e mi 0 bh eu m n an sleag h ,
And saved me from the stro ke of the
i s h oar e mi 0 v eym
’
n an slea spear .

’
Ar n ai rm th a fath asd e ig L am h a , O ur arms are in the possession o f
'
a n a rm
y ha fa -
ast ag la-v a L ava
Le h as n eO —
th rath ai l
’
m ath ar gh ao lai ch . Since the untimel y death of m y be
' '
ls bas n e o ra - - -
el ma ar y a -o l- i ch l o ved father .

Ach cio dth a m on mh ur th air an raon ? But what murmur do I hear on the
ach ced h a mo n vur h ay r - -
an rao n he ath
Chi mi laoch a tarrui nn dlu, I see a warrior drawing near ,

ch i mi lao ch a ta r uyu r -
dln

L en n i bh g a sti u radh ai r le thi lai m h , A child leading h is s teps ,

l enn -
ov ga sti -u ra -
'
er le
’
-
l ey v
S a sh le ag h n ach h e atro m -
san lai m h eile . And spear which is not light in
h is , ,

sa ls -
a
'
n ach h e troms -
s an l yv
e eyl -e his other hand .

Tha ch as a f ailn e ach a san f h rao ch ,

His fo ot is fail ing in the heather ,

ha ch as a fay l n ach a san ro ach - -

S an c a o ch an da mar th u il bh eu m gail - And the streamlet is to him like a

san co -ac h - an da mar h uyl-vey m y ayl terrible spate .

bh each .

v ach
 OF TH E H I G HLAN D O L AN s . 83

Coim a sh iu bhlas t -
u an o i c h e a t -
o an ar, W h y trav ellest th en in the night alone ,
ooy m a h i -uv -las tu an o -ch e
y a ton -ar

d ch eu maibh ao sda air raon tiam h ai dh ?

’
Le With th y aged steps through the dis
led c h ey ay v ao s-da ay r roa n ti -
avi
'
m a] moor 2
‘

Am bh e il
mise f O bh ro n ? 11 m ar Art thou like me i n sorrow
, ,
am v ey l 11 mar mise f o e u
N do ch ail u t Oigo do bh e an
’
H ast thou lost th y betrothed i n th y
-

do c l ayl u toyg é do
’
n r v en
y outh ?
” “ ”
A sh ean n ai r ars an lean nai bh c ao in Grand father said the lovel y child
, , , ,
a h en ayr a e an lenn ey
- c yn r v o

’ ’
An e guth m ath air g h ao i l a th ann Is that the v o ice of my father .
,
ma y r
' '
an e gu y oy l a h an n

G a r g ai rm o dubh radh an raon C alling us fro m the darkness o f the

’

aoyu
'
g a r g ay rm o
'
d v a an heath u -
r r
,

Far nach tarru i n ar n amh ai d l ann T O whe re o ur fo es will not dra w th e

,
.

f ar n ach tarr uyn ar n a v ayd l ann -

swo rd -

’
S am h u il na h airm u d s ai rm m ath ai r His arms are like the arms o f my
’ ’
-

’ '
s avuyl n a h a rm ud se rm ma yr fathe r
y y ,
’ ” ’
Ach s e ug sam h uil an guth -
But unlike m y father s is his voice . .

ach s eyg a y l an gn -
s v u ~
'

”
A fai c n u ai rm ? a le i nn ibh teich ! ’
Dost th en see arms ? (the old m an
a fay e un ey m a lenn i v teych spe aks) Child run !
r -
,

Fag mise gun gh alt am o an ar ; Leave me withou t fear alone ,

f ag mis h e g un y eylt am o na r

Dean adh L amh a ri um na 8 aill ;

’
Let L ava do as he will ,

den a l ava ruy m n as ayll

-
’

”
Si m i arrtas b as air n e igh mo m hic M y desi re i s to die o n the g rave o f
’
.

”
sem i
'
-
ar- tas h as ay r u a -
y mo v ic my so n ,

T h e i ch an lean n aibh g u lu ath ,

The child fled with speed
b eyeh an lenn i v -
gu ln -
a
'

Le uam h un n ri u ch d an rao i n . And terror against th e breast of the

,
ls u - a-vuynn u ri uch d an rao y hill .

F O ch ri th e ach n a h ao is na aite -
, ,
Trembling with age in his place , ,

fo chri ech n a h aoys n a ayte '

-

Sheas d ainge an d ana an shenna lao ch -

. Stood firm and daring the aged hero .

h es dayn g en da a an shenn a laoch-

n- -

Ch u ir Ron an f ailt air an ao sda ,

Ron an saluted the aged ,

ch y r ro n an
u faylt y r an aos da -

S g hlac mise g u caoin an lean n abh While I pu rsued an d kindly c aught ,

ruis e gu caoy u an l enn a

’
5
ylao th e child
-
v .

“
Ch a bh ui n sinne d o L am h a n am blar ,
We do not bel o ng to Lava o f bat
do lava
ch a vuyn si nn é na m blar
( R o nan S pe ak s )
’
S c ai rde an sinn do sh ui dh n a e ig in , We are the friends of the dist rest
’
s cayr de sinn do buy us ey gi nn
- n

Na lai g air cul ar sg ia tha sabh ailt ; The we ak are safe behind our shields :
na le yg ayr en! ar sgi a h a sa s y l t —
v-

' ” ”
G abh sa tamb is innis dhuin t i arg ui n ,
-
. Rest and tell us
,
th y need .

gav sa tav -
is i nn i s yu y n ti ar g uy n -
84 T HE P OE T RY
S ui dh eam air an leab ai dh ch re ,
“
Let m e si t on the bed of clay ,
leb ay
suy em
'
ay r an
'
chre
F ar an caidel seamh mo m h ac .
Where calmly sleeps my so n .

far an cay dgh -el sh ev mo v ac

’ ’
to sdach drasd f O
’
Cia e u n h e, How silent to night under the -
, flag ,
toed ach e n dreed f o n lic
ce -
’ ’

Bu tric se chath e mar ch uairt gh ao ith -

. Is he who was Often in battle like a
bu trio se ch a e mar chu syrt yoy ’
-
'
whirlwind .

’ ’
O s balbh a n och d s a g h ai rden lag , Dumb to night and weak of arms
-
, ,
’
oh
’
5 ballv a n och d s a a
y y t - den lag

An suidh n ach m eath adh 11 am cr uadail ‘

. Is the hero that would not soften i n

an suy n ach me a
'
n am er a del -
'
u- -
the h ard conflict .

Cha rui g e na feidh s na gle an n aibh ’

,
He will not chase the deer in the glens ,

gl enn ay v
' ’
ch a ruyg e n a f ey 8 na -

Nor
’
S ch a diric h e frao ch f o arm ai bh . ascend the mounta in in arms .

’
s ch a dir-ich e f rOach fo arm-ayv

’
C ait a bh eil aobh ar u ail Where is there cause for exultation ,
os -yh t a vey l ao -var u -ayl

I s L amh or san u ai g h n a sh in e adh ? Wh en Lamo r is stretched i n the grave ?

is l av or san n a
-
y
'
na h in -
e
'

Ri i om ach d
aon ach na greine ,
Travelling in the sunshine Of the
ri i o mach d aon ach n a greyn e
- - - -
mountain ,

B e ibh i n n do ch ruth a lao i ch liomh ai dh

-
, Beautiful wert thou hero lithe , ,

b ey vi nn do chru a l ao y eh
'
- - li v ay ' -

T o i rt solus f an do sh uillean t athar -

,
Givi ng light to the ey es of th y fathe r ,

toyrt s o l us fann do h yll en

’
ta ar u - -

Tha n di h gun l e tha gun le i rsin n

’
Who is now without day or ey esigh t
g
.

un l eyr s in n
'
ha di u g u
n n la a g
- — -

P illi dh a gh rian g u h ait a ri th ist -

, The su nwill again return on her own
p ill i a yri eu gu h a yt a ri ist
'
- - -
’
-
course ,

S a g ru ag c i r n a sti o m a dualach Her golden h air spreading lightly ,

se g ru - ag c
y r na sti - o - ma da -
ch
a -la
(far an d wide
’
o i ch e f o n lic
’
Ach s o ian , c i an an But lo n g lon g is the night of the grave ;
,
’
ach
’
s ci e u -
ci eu -
an o y ch e -
fO n lie

Cha (1 thig
’
c ri och , a mhic air do , T hy sleep m y ,
son , will not come to
ch a d-i g c ri -och a we er do an end .

sh u ai n sa .

h u -ayn -se

Ach tha t- i o mach d an sao g h ail chein ,

But th y steps are in the c o unt ry remote ,
’
ach ha ti m achd -
an as o -
yl ch eyn

S tu e ibh i n n le lao i ch nan arach Rej o icing among the heroes Of battle
’
.

s tu
’
ey - vinn le loych n an ar-ach fields .

Ach ’
sinn e ar son an laoi ch
s muladach ,
But sorro wful are we without thee ,

s mul a dac h s inn e ar son an loych warr i o r

’
ach - -
,
”
Bha te agh ch ri dh e ach ri sg eul aurach -
. Who w as tender hearted on hearing -

”
te a ch ri ech ri sg eyl an rach Of Oppression
' '
-
va - - -
.

“ ” ”
I nnis a rsa Ronan f h i r ao sda
, ,
-
,
Tell said Ronan
,
aged man , ,

i nn is arsa ro n an ir aos da - -
 OF THE HI G H L AN D CLANS . 85

A obh ar a Am b W as i t
’
Lamba bh ais —
e Th e cause of h is death —

a o var
- -
a vay s am he l ava Lava ? ”

Be L amba a m h arbh e gun chas ,

’
Twas L av a wh o killed him ,
be lava a varv e g un chas without a fault
’
Ach feoth as a ruin do n lag : But the go odness that made h im love
'
ach fe -
o -
as a ru n
y don la g the helpless
h i n n sear,
’
Be n os a s s gach linn , It w as o u r nature i n every generation
, ,
be hi nn si r g ach l i nn
’
n Os a -
s

Gun bhi ti om adh a ch asg airt f o irn eart ; Not to be timid in rebuking inj ustice
g un vi ti o m a
- -
’
a chas g a irt foyr h eart
- - -

’
Bu ch o mhla p h rai s ar sg ia g u n dian , O ur shields were gates o f brass to
bu ch ov la fraysh ar sgi a g u n ~ -
’
di -
an s ave (the i nj ured ) ,

S bu ch rann di on ai dh dh o i bh ar
’
-
sleag h . O ur sp ears their sh aft of protecti o n .

'
sbu
' '
chrann -
di -
o u ay -
yo v ar sle a -

T ra bha mi fei n am og - eide , When I m y self was y oung in armour ,

tra va mi f ey n am og - ey -de

M ar bh a th a n do rch as
’
n de an lao ch
’

,
As was y esterd ay the w arrio r who is
mar v a h a n dor ch as
’ ’
n de an laoch -
now in d arkness ,
’
Le ath ar L amh a ch ai dh mo chenma , With Lava s father went m y ste ps ,

ls a ar
'
l ava
-
ch ay mo ch eym a '
-

G u c re ach tigh eibh i n n S truth orm oi n . To pl under th e j oy ous d welling Of

gu crech t i ey vi nn ru h o r m en
'
-
'
- -
S tru th o rm o n .

Ch ron n u ich mi fein an g n i omh ,

I m y self rebuked the deed ,

ch ro n n uyeh mi fey n a n gn i av
- -

’
S gun neach ai g eiri dh n ar h ag h a i dh -
,
None h aving risen ag ainst us ,

eg un n ech cg ey ri n ar ' ’
ha i - -

Ach lean n aibh bha g i om ai rt sai g h de ’

,
But child that was wielding his
a
ac h lenn iv va ag i o m irt sayt e - - - -
arro w ,
’
S g a tilge mar l ann nar c om h ail . And flinging it like a l ance against us .

sga ti lig e mar lann n ar co vel - -

Thuit an t sh aigh ead gu fao i n - The arrow fell h armlessl y

te c d g u f a oy n
l
h uy t an - -

Air cois Cho mair n a m baoth bh eu s ’

-
. O n the foot of Comar Of evil habi ts .

er coys ch o moyr n am bao v eys -

'
—

She al e air an leann ai bh le gru ai m ,

He looked at the child with a scowl ,

h el e ayr an l enn iv le gruym -

S a n E i llean U aig n each bith do ch omh

’
In the Secret Isle sh all be th y
”
ey ll en do ch o v dwelling
'
u aygn ech bi
’
sa n - -
.

n uidh
’
.

'
nr

T h u g us an t og -
do ’
n E ille an U aign each . He was carried to the Secret Isle ,

h ug as an to g do n eyllen u -aygnec h
’

Bha sle agh Chom air shu e s 03 a c h i o nn Gom ar s spear over him ,
'
va sle a -
ch o - moy r hu -
as os a ch i - o u

Leth -
th ogh ta t ric . Was repeatedly half lifted ( to strike ) .

ls h og te
- -
trio

Bu deacai r learn h as an le in n ibh chaoin ; I deemed the death of the child cruel .

bu dec ayr ls em baa an lenn iv ch oyn

- - -
 86 T HE P O E T R Y
’
T h ain ig dlu dh ,
’
n tra chual e m o sn a He c ame close to me hearing my sigh , ,
h ayn ig -
dlu
’
n tra ch u -al e mo s -
na

’
B i ogn a leis m ai rm a dearsa :
-
Wonderi ng at my arm s shining :
bi o gu a l ey s mayrm a der se
‘

- - -

Gl ais e lai mh g u te anu mu m ch o sabh

’

,
He locked his arms around my legs ,
la sh e
y y l a v
y gu t enn m um chos av -

’
S sheal e m gh n u i s le ghor m shuil
’
And l o oked in my face with his blue
m
'
8 11 91 e 11 !
fi l 18 Y orm h uyl and tearful ey e .

dh eurai ch .

y y ich
-
e r

M h eatai ch mo c h ri dh e 1e bai g h ; My heart melted with pity

ve -
taych mo Oh i r e-
'
ls ba i -
'

Bh a mo dh eo ir a sile di amh air My tears fell unseen

va mo yey c y r a sil e -
di - av-ay r
’
Na o r c h i abh an , se ch e an n
-
fO m sg ei th . Amid his golden locks his head under ,
na o r-c h i -av -an sa ch enn fo m s e
g y my shield ,

M ar gh o i deas e arb a le m i nn ei n ciar As ste als the roe away with h er kid
m ar y y d-seo e -ar-ba 1s mi nn en-
ci -ar

’
Bho shuil an t -
sh ealg ai r tre n f h raoc h , From the ey e o f the hunter through
vo h uyl an te la - -
ga yr tre
’
n roa ch the he ather ,

Na i olai re g u c arraig dh i am h ai r O r as the e agle carries to a sec ret

na i -olay r-é gu ca r ig yi a vi
r - - - r rock
’
A h -
al gu m f alach san o ich e ,
Her bro od in the midnight darkness ,

a h all gu m f al-ach san oy -c h e

h
’
S amh ai l a g i u lai n mi tre th u i nn SO did I carry over the w aves
’
sav-il a u
y yl -en mi tre h uyn n

An le an n aibh gu m h ath air san oi obe . The child to his mother through night .

an l enn i v g u va ir -
'
. sa o y oh e
n ~

M ar n i al frois bha is air an trai g h , Like the cloud o f the shower sh e was ,

o n the be a ch
'
m ar n -ai l f roys va is h ayr an tra- i ,

’
8 do radh i ri um fein , g u h ait
-
,
And said to me brightening with jo y
, ,

8 do ra
'
i ru
ym feyn gu h ayt
“ ’
S O dh uit sle ag h ( an t sh le agh
-
th a m ’ “
T ake this spear (the spe ar now i n
sh o ya yt sleagh ( an tleag h ha m
’
my hand )
lai m h )
la iv o

”
’
S th eiri r Ron an g u b ra th ri m ’
mh ac . And Ron an for ever will my
, ,
so n he
”
’
s n an gu b a ri m vac
h er-i r ro r
' ’
c alled ,

Air R o n an cha chul as sg e ula , ,

O f Ronan I received no news ,

ro n an ch a chu aJ as s geyla -
ayr

Gus n do ch lu i nn an dei g h bho L amh a

’
,
Until I he ard y esterd ay from Lava ,

lav a
'

g us n d o chl u n
y
’
an dey v0

G u m be f h ag ail na thir leonte

’
That leaving h i m wounded i n h is
,

gu
’
m be ag-ayl na h i r le -o ri -te country ,

Fa bron c i abh an aillin W as the cause Of the gri ef o f the

f a b ro n ci av an i ll linn - - -
m aiden o f the beautiful h air .

An speis thug mise do Ronan ,

M y friendship fo r Ron an
an spey h h ug mi se do ro n an s -

B aith n e do m mh ac E sa dh uraich d
’ ’
.
,
W as known to my son . H e wished
bay
'
-n o do m v ac esa u
y y
-
rich d
 or T HE HI G H L AN D CL A Ns . 87
’
Gu n ro bh e lath air g a ch omh n adh , That he had been present to assist him ,

gun ro v e l
a -a
'
yr g a ch ov -n a'

Le mhor S ru th th orm ain

sle a h With the great spear of S truth ormo n
1e sle a
g vo r sru -h or ma n
'
-
. .

y
-

C h uladh L am h a a ch o m h radh ,
Lava heard wh at he had said ,
chu al a lava a chov ra
- -
'
- ’

S Ch ruin n i ch a sh lo i gh mu m aon
’
m h ac
’
. An dgathered his people around the
ch ruy n n -ich
’
loy mum
y outh
s a o -eu v ac
.

’
Feach u ai gh ! Le r deo i r a sile ,
Behold his grave With te ars falling ,
f ey ch n -a
y
'
le r
’
de oyro
a s il e
’
Abrai bh - an si n
tha le aba L ai mh o i r ! S ay , here is the bed Of L amor !
ab ri v -an sin h a l eb a lay voyr

S i cui deachd leaba ath ai r , It will also be the bed Of his father ,
c uy t acb d leba a ayr '
si - -

Q ir s g earr gus an c ai dil R un math

’
. For bri ef the time until R un ma w ill
o yr sger gus an cyd il run -m a -
sleep .

A ch cu iream c o m rai ch o irbh a sh eotaibh , But let me beseech y ou warriors , ,

ach cuy rem co m ri ch oyrv a h e ot ay v - v -

’ ”
M O le an n abh s ma sh leagh th o i rt do T O bear my child and spear to R onan .

mo l enn av sma - ls a h oy t do -
'
r

’
Ronan .

ro n an

’ ” ”
S mise Ronan ars an lao ch , , I am Ronan ,
said the hero ,

3 mi se ro n an - are an loaoh

’
S e g aoma tiamh aidh gu R u n m ath Bending in grief over R un m a
’
. .

s e gaoma ti a vay gu ru n ma - -
'
-
'

Guil i ad mar aon air n e igh L am h oi r . We wept like on e over the grave of
, ,
’
y yl i d mar u -a lav-voyr L a mor
u -a c an ayr y .

Ach c i od tha tig h in n mar f h uaim chao But what approaches like the sound
mar ym ch o o f streams
'
ac h ced ha i
r i
-n
n u
,

chan ,
ch an
Tra bh ruch das doi nn ean a n eulaibh ? When bursts the storm from the
tra vruch d- as doy nn -en n an n i -al-ay v clouds ?
F each d L amh a le
‘

n shleag h ean li om h ai dh , The h o st o f Lava wi th their spears

f ech d l ava len sl ea
’
-
en li -ov ay
'
polished ,

’
S i ad lio n ar a t ao m a
’
n a r c o m h ail, And th ey n um erous p ourin g to meet us
, ,

si -ad li -ou -ar a to-ama n ar co v - ayl

A dealradh m ar lan n ai bh air carraig ,

And shining like bl ades on a rock ,

a d l -
e ra
'
mar l ann ayv -
e carr ig
r -

T ra dh earc as a gh rian a n e ulai b h . When the sun breaks through clouds .

tra e -
y y se
r a ri -an a n i-al-s
y yv
Ch u aladh R o n an c Op an nan o ath , Struck Ro n an the boss of battle ,

chu al a .
’
ro n an co pan n an ca
’

’
S le arn e gu tap adh le e i bh n eas . As he spran g to deeds with joy .

5 lem e gu tap a '

le ey v-n es

Am b eum sg ei th e th i on ail a sh lugh ,

The alarm stroke gathered
- h is people ,

am heym
'
sg ey -e hi -O . n el a lu-a

M arn i al g ruam ach mu

’
n darai g gh e u g ai ch ; an gry cloud round the
mar ui -al g ru a maoh
- -
mun dart -
ayg e
y yg
-ich branchy oak ;
 88 T H E P OE T RY
Mar th annas na h ao ic h e ag i meach d -
, Like the spirit of night careering ,
m ar h ann as n a h oy ch e ag im sch d - -

An co th i o n n eal nan do in n e an e ite

-
, Amid the c ongregated gh o sts in a
an co -h i -onn -el n an doyn n en ey te tempest dism al ,

G u dortadh ai r do i re ach an A rdbh e i n , T O pour on the groves Of A rdve n ,

g u do r-ta' er doy r-ech -an ard-ve n

y
d arach f ai rrel g a h ei ste ach d
S an -
With the mon arch o ak w atchfull y
san d a ach f ay el g a h ey s tech d
rr-
listening ;
rr -

B amh u il Ronan do l sios do n araich

’
-
. S O descended Ronan to battle
bav il ro n an
- dol si os do n ar ay ch - -

S a lo ch ri lai dir n a ch eu m adh

'
. With his chivalry strong i n his steps .

’
sa lo -
ch ri lay di r na ch ey m a .
'

ifi s . éfi '
a a se as

’
Sa re ir s in , le n e art
’
s le f u ath as, E qual in strength an d in d re adful,

y s inn le n ert
’
sa re r sle fu .
a -as
appe arance ,

S h i ubh ail is le an a , sh luag h , L am h a . Lava led and his people followed

,
.

h i -u v-a yl is len a l n -a
'
l ava
Mar th arn buai re al a ne al do rch a, Like fierce thunde r in a d ark clo ud ,

m ar h am buy rel a n i -al do r-ch a

Tra ’
s duai ch n aidh fai ch e na L ara ,
When gloom rests on the plain O f
tra
’
s d a -a y ch n ay
u
'
f ay ch -e na lara Lara ,

Tha mile c lo g ai d is sh le ag h ard, A thous and helm ets and spears shone
o n high
'
ha m il -
e clo g ay d is sle a -
ard
,

A dealradh mar dhoi re n a ch ao i ribh . Bl azing like a grove on fire .

m ar y ey e n a ch oy i v
’ ’
a del ra - r -r

Ach co dh i n n seas c ith a ch ath adh ? ’

But who can relate the tug Of b attle 9 .

ach co 3 y inn ses ci a ch a a - '

-
'

T h a sg i ath an le ath e n g a n sg o lta

’
Broad shields are being split
'
ha gi ls sg ol ta
'
-a -an -
s an g an
Le n e a rt g abh a i dh ,
nan c lai dh e an ; By the wonderful strength of sw o rds :
len ert g y n an cl ay ah a-v a '
'
-

Cinn is cinn bh ei rt a tui te am - Heads an d helmets falling ,

,
cinn is cinn veyrt a tuyt em - -

8 n a m ai rbh a m u ch adh nan leonte

’
.
And the dead smotherin g the wounded .

sn a m ayrv a m u ch a n an le o n te - ’ - .

F uil a ruith mar m h ile c ao ch an ,

Blood is running like rivulets ,
'
f uy l a ruy m ar vil -e caoch -an
’
n am a L aoch dOl su as an smu idi bh
S a . An d the souls Of heroes ascending in
is an ama l oach dol eu as an smuyt iv - .
ste am .

Ach co iad n da i olai re sg iath ach ’

,
But who are they the two eagles , ,

ach co i ad an
-
da i -o -er-el sgi -a' —ac h b ro ad winged ,

T h a g leach da co fiadh ai c h san roan Th at are w restling so wildly o n the

ha g lec h d
-a cO - fi -
a
’
-
i ch san roa n heath ?
Cha m h i n n ean Og , na c o i le ach f rao i ch e ,
’
Tis not for a y oung ki d nor the poul t
ch a v inn -en 0g na coy I -n ch f o -a-ch e Of the m o or c o ck -

Mu bh e il an stri len lan n ai bh h as -

mhor .
The y contend with their de adl y
mu veyl an et ri 1s lann ayv bas-vor we apons .

Fe u ch fe ar dhi n air Behold o n e on his kn ee stooping

gh lun aom a
ag ,
a , ,

fey ch f er i
y u
-
er a ylun ag aom-a
90 TH E P OE T RY
Dh - iar i a ch o mh n adh Ron ain ;
’
n ar Sh e h adsought the field in ai d of
yi
-
ar cho v n a
i nro n a n
ary 3 -
'
Ronan ;
S ch oi nn i ch a h u ch d c o rran sai g h de
’
—
. Sh e was me t by a barbed shaft .

s ch oyun ich a h uch d corran say de

’ - ’
-

Ch ao ch ail an s o lus na suil , Th e light faded in her e y e ,

ch aoch ayl an sol -as na suyl

S sh earg g n ui s ro s n a
’
na h -
a ille . Beauty fled fro m her face .

’
s h er-ag na
gn uys r68 na h aylle

Thuit Ro nan gu
’
n tu ar gu n ,
’
de oi r, Ronan fell without colour without
, ,
h uyt ron an tu ar gun-
de-cyr tears
gun ,

’
Ai r a muin eal leth f huar fo n
-
en g , O n h er bosom half cold in death
, ,
m y
'
ayr a u n -e l le -
u -ar f on ey g

A mh uil ei th ean n a dh -
ao m as g u lar, A s i vy inclines to the e ar th ,
'
avuyl ey -en a. y o m -
as gu lar

Noi r th ui teas a dharag g h e u g ach . When falls i ts bloo ming o ak .

n oyr h uytes a yarag e - a

y y g ch
Thug S uilmi n a plao sg air a su ilean ,
S ulmi na s
’
e y es Opened for a moment
h ug suyI min a plosg ayr a Buy len
- -

’
S g h rad dhu i n i ad 1e aiteas sa bh as . With a blink o f joy then closed , ,

yrad yuy u i ad 1e ay t as sa vas

’
s - -
ple ased in de ath .

Bu chi an thug sinne ri bron , Long did we remain in grief ,

bu chi an h ug sinne ri bron
-

’ ’
S ar deoi r a sru th adh mu n cu airt dh oibh ,
O ur tears falling around them ,

em a mun cu-ayrt y oyv

I- I
8 ar de oyr a
’ -

Gus n do labh ai r R un ma g u g h lic Until R un m a W isely spoke

’
, ,

run -ma
’
gus n do lav-or gu glic
Se tig hi n n dluth , 1e mh all ch eum ai bh : Approaching wi th slow steps
’
1e mall oh eymayv
'-
s e ti i n n dlu
“
An g ai rm cumh adh air daim h i ch o n eu g ? Can sorrow recal ou r friends from ’

g y
e r m en v a ay r d ay v i ch o u eyg th e grave ?
o
'
-
’

An cluin n iad nan suain air c aoi n eadh Do they hear our wails in their sleep ?
’
an oluyn i -ad nan suayn ayr caoy-n e

Ach gus an lean si n an ceum

’
s eu r But w e will shortly fo llow their steps
g , ,

g us an len sin an ceym

’
ach s g eyr

Do th alabh an clos s nan n e oil

’
,
To their h alls c alm am ong the clouds ,
’
do h al -av an 0103 sn an n e- o
yl

Tra leagh eas ar lai dh ean tearc When our short day s have melted aw ay
tra l ak es ar lay e t erc '
- n

An sruth nam bliadh n tha bras ga r In the stre am of y e ars that are fleeting ’ ’

an em n am b1i a ha bras gar from us -

'
-n .

Nach f ai c f h allui n g Do not already the garb of

si bh ch e an n adh an y ou see

nac h fayc siv ch enn -a an alli n g

cheo mist
oh e-o

Feath amh ri R un ma
’
8 na n eoi l de as ? That awaits R un ma read y in the sky ?
ma n eo yl des
’
ri
'
f e -av run - sn a
 OF TH E HI G HL A ND CLANS . 91
’
S cha Ronan n a dh e ig h
’
n fhada bh io s ,
No r will Ronan be long after hi m ,
a da vi s ro n a n
’
cha n
'
na y ey
-
5

Mu gh eig h le as e do bh ron a feasd . If h e y ields to en dless grie f .

l e do vro n f esd
'
mu e
y y es a -

Tha m b ro n m ar an sruth an di amh ai r

’
, S o rr o w is like a secret streamlet ,
ha m b ro n m ar an sru an di vay r
'
- -

Dh i aras fo i och dar na bru ai ch e

-
Undermining its flourishing banks ;
i
y ar as
- -
f o i -o ch d-ar na bruy ch e -

Tha n ll h dh m dh M aking the y oung trees bend over

’
an c ean a o a
g a a g a ,
ch en a ag g allan
-
'
o am a -
'

Thog ri th aobh a g h eug an ailli dh . That exalted their blooming boughs

"
h og ri h ao v a y ey g
-
an ay lli by its side .

B h u in am bron , e i readh ar eliu ; Dismiss sorrow earn fam e ,

vuy n am b ro n ey -ré
’

ar cli - u

’ ”
8 ar u i n e ruidh air sg i ath an g abh ai dh . O ur day s are fly ing o n matchless
”
gav i
’ '
ayr sgi a
'
uy n e
'
sar ru
y
- -
an -
wings .

Dh
eiri ch Ronan sa ch n eas f o bhrom;
-
,
Ronan arose with a bosom sad
y ey ri ch ro n a n sa c h n es f 0 vro n
-

S thug teach a n ai mh do n o g s do n ’ ’ ’
H e g ave the house of h is foe to the
’
s h ug t ech 3 nayv don 0g 8 do n .
’

y oung and the aged ,

a osda,
o -as - da

Dh -f h ag e f h i r- mhor a dhi on an tui r ; And le ft his big men to defend the

y ag e i r- v or a yi
-
ou an tuyr t ower ;
Mar sin is fear i nl na h -oi obe . And likewise the guide of (the
mar si n i s f er i -
ul n a h o i ch e -
previous) night ,

Ch uire as an o ig h an luing an laoi ch We placed the maid in the sh ip of

ch ay r es -
an oy
’
an l uy i ng an laoy c h the hero ;
Is th og air, cao i n teach , an so a leao . And here weeping we reared her
, ,
is h o gayr co
ym
-
t ech an a lec tomb ,

An so tha le ab a Ron ain faraon ,

Here also is the grave o f Ronan ,
a n so h a leb a ro n a n f ar o an - —

An laoch bu treun e sa b ailli dh ’

-
. The hero strong and beauti ful .

an luo ch b u tre n e sa
’ '
y bay lli -

B u tursach a lai th ean san raon S ad were his day s on the heath ;
bu tur sach a lay en san roa n
-
'-

’
A ch n deigh a gh ao il c h a b fb ad a beo e -
. But he did not live long after his
’
ach dey ’
n a y oy l ch a ba - da be- o e beloved .

Nis tha le aba fo n ,

’
ch lo i ch ch o i n i c h , Now his he ad is under the mossy stone ,
n is ha leb - a fon c h lo
y ch ch oy n t i ch -

Ri taobh a g h o il, By the side o f his love ,

ri taov a y oy l
Tha fe u sag a ch lu ai re an ao sda The be ard of the aged thistle
ha f ey s ag a c h lu -ar- e n o as- da

A tao madh ti amh ai dh m u dh oibh Pouring mournfully around

’
n c uairt .
.

a toam -a
’
ti -
ava
y
'
mun cu ayrt -
y oy v
’
S tric mise , ri solus n an reu] ,
O ften am I in the light of the stars ,
stri c mi se t i sol- u s n an
’ -
ré
y l
92 TH E P OE T RY
Ag e i ste ach d ri c omh radh an tai bh se an . Listening to their spirits conversing .

ag e y st cb d ri -a c ov ra -
’
an ta- i v - s h en
n eo i l i m e ach d, J oy ous is their course in the clouds
’
S ei bh ei n air na an ,
s ey v - ey n ay r n a n e-o y l an i m acb d
“ -

T ra chlu i n n eas i ad fonn mo chlarsai ch . Wh en they he ar the sound of my harp .

tra c hl uy n n e s i ad fo nn m o c h lar say ch

- — -

A mhic Arair tha n tai bh sean dluth

’

, ,
Son of Arair their spirits
, are nigh ,

a vi c ar er - h an tay v -
sen dlu
'

Na ceil orra t-oran ti am h ai dh ! Den y them not th y song pensive !

na eey l o rra tor-an ti -av - ay

D AN AN D E IR G ,
—
T H E L AY O F D A RG O B Y U L L A I N
, .

( F m th R D S m i th s S Dh T h fi s t D u n nl y )
’
ro e ev . r ean ann a an a —
e r a o .

’
San la ad bha Comh al n a m b uaidh
’

, O n that day was Coval o f victories ,

’
san 13 a d va c o val nam buy
.

’
L e ch eol s 1e sh luagh air an leirg With his people an d music o n the
leyrig
'
ch e o l 5 1e ln
’
le - -
a a r an
y shore ;
Ge i o sal an c luai n e an an f h ei dh , Though on the me adows of th e dee r
, ,

ge i
-
o sa l an
-
o l uy -n
en an éy
'

An dingh an laoch na ch b f h aoin

-
am T o d ay is (the grave o f ) the hero that
an di '
u
'
an 11
11 94 3 bao y n 3111 w as not feeble in hi s anger ;
f eirg
f eyri g

A leaba f o chos nan cl ach ,

His bed in a hollow beneath ston es ,

a leb a f o ch o s n an c lach
A fasg a na darai g ao sda In the shelte r o f the aged oak .

a fasga na daray g ao s -da

Bha laoi ch ri n sle a gh an an taio His w arriors were leaning o n their

’
,

va lao y e h ri n
’
sle
'
an
-
an tay o S pe ars ,

agh ai dh aoi m te ,
’
An suilean lai ste s an Their e y es kindled their faces l o oking ,
’
an suy -
len lay st e san a ay o y m te down ,

Ag ei ste ach d ri sg eula g ai sg e , Listening to a tale o f heroism ,

ag ey stee ri sgey la gay sg é

Air Co mh al is righ I n n sefail ; O f Coval and the king of I nn e sf ail
ayr c o val i s ri in n se fayl '
-

N tra sg uab i ad an arach 1e cheile

’
While together the y swept the battle , ,

n tra sg u ah i a d an arach le ch ey le
’
- -
field ; -

Noi r ch u nn acas li nn luadh bh arca When seen was a swi ft bark

no r
y chunn a cas li n n ln a v arca
- -
'

Seola g u trai gh na n eul eide Steering to the shore under its cloud
-
.

se o la gu
-
tray n a n ey l ey d e '
array -
,

Dh f h ain ai ch Co mh al an long
-
Coval kn ew the ship , ,

y a n i ch c o v al an l o n g

’
8 an copan o n bh u ail an heu m sg ei th e
’
And ( me aning of ) the boss that re -
.

s an c o p a n sounded o n the sh l eld

.
'
on v uyl an h eym S g ey é
’ -
.

Grad leu m aibh ai r ai g eal n an tonn , Q uickl y (he cried) leap on the
g rad l ey mayv ay r ay g el nan t on n waves of the sea
” ”
A ch o mh ai r righ th a na e i g ei n . To the relief of the king in extremity .

c h o v er ri ha ey gin n
'
a -
na

Bu g h arbh an doi nn ean o dh eas, Rough was the sto rm from the south ,
bu y arv an do y n n en 0 y es
 94 T H E P O E TRY
Bha De rg a gu h -
ard an n sa ch ran n ; D argo was high on th e mast ;
va dey rag g u h ard an n sa c h ran n
bh ri st
’
Is an ial ris an d e arb e ; The thong broke to which he had
is vri s t an i -
al ri s an d o
erab e trusted
M orbh ein
’
ch a n f h ai c e g u brath Morven he will never behold ,
m orv ey n ch an ay e e g u bra '

”
Dh f h alai ch tonna g aireach bh u i n e
’
- -
. He w as concealed from us under tur
y alay c h t o nn g arrech vuy n e -
bulent waves ”
.

Dh aith n i ch G eallach os guth an Dei rg

-
,
G eallach os kn e w the voice o f Dargo ,

g ella ch o s g u an dey reg

'
y ayn i ch
’
-

’
S mar bu ghua leis air an le i r And as was his wont on the hill
5 mar bu
g , , , ,

y u a l ey s ay r an ley n g
Rinn e m i olaran s thug leum g abh ai dh ’
,
He whined with excitement made , a
ri nn e m ilaran
g a vay
’
s h ug ley m '
leap as tonishing
, ,

Le mor o ibh n eas g h i os n a trai gh , ,

In his excess of joy for the shore , ,
le m o r o y vn es y i o s na t ray -
'

M ar sh ai gh ead a glaic an i ug h ai r , And like an arrow from the embrace

,

h ay d a g ly c an i u ay r '
-
'
-
o f the y e w ,

Tha ch as an ag suibh al tre bhar th ui n n : -

Cut his cou rse through the to p of the
h a chas a n ag si u va l t re v ar h u y n n -
waves
B aite leis n a mac na h eilde
- -
,
More joy had he than in the son of
b ay h te l ey s n a mac na h ey l te
-
.
-
the hind ,

A Dh eirg a bh i th leum ri d bh raig h ’

. In leapin g o n th y bosom Dargo , .

a y ey ri g a vi
'
ley m ri d vra i -
'

C h un n acas lien n e dh an aoibh n eas, By us was witnessed their joy ,

ch unn a c as li nn e '
-
an o y v -n es

Le solus bri steach nan reu ltan , In the broken light of the stars ,
l e s o l us bri stach n an rey ltan

A cai dreamh ri cheile mar ch ai rdean, E mbracin g on e a nother like friends ,

a cay drev ri o b ey l e m ar c h ayrden

th ach air nai mh dean

’
A gu n duil an tir . Unexpectedly met in the land of foes .

a ha ch ay r g u n duy l an tir nay vten

-
’

’
S noir f h ai ch te 1e Dearg ar loin g eas Nor would Dargo have noticed o ur
sn o y r aych te
’
1e dey rag ar lo y n gas -
ship ,

Aig mh iad ai gh e ar From the excess of his joy

’
ro -
s a sh olai s, ,

vi -ad
'
ay g to ay er sa h olay s

Mar tug adh G ealch ossa air lai mh e Had not G eallach osa pulled him by the
mar t uga g elch o ssa a r la v
y y
'
e sleeve
G h i os na tragh a sior nar coail . Toward the shore to meet us .

yi s na t ra-y a si - or n ar c o ' -ay l

“ ” “ ”
Am beo u Dh ei rg ars a Comh al , , A rt th o u living Dargo, , said Coval ,

am b e o u y ey ri g ar sa cov al
- -

“
A chail sinn an cu an sal ach g h arbh Whom we lost amid dru m h e rough
'

a ob ay l s i nn an cu an s alach y arv -
waves
th onn
h o nn
’
S i og h n a do th iarn adh o n Bh a sh ruth T h y escape from B a
’
-
,
—
ru was wonder ful ,
h i arna varu ’
3 i o n a do
’ ’ ’
- -
o n -
 OF T H E H IG H L AN D CL AN S .
95
”
A sh luig le i ch
”
a suas u g arra . That swallowed thee up wi th a roar .

a h euy g Ie g arr ay ch a s ua s u -

” ’ “ ”
Le tulga th o nn th ui rt Dearg , , ga m Floating o n w aves said Dargo , ,
le tu lg a h onn h ury t dey rag g am
“
that tossed me (about ) ,
luasg a,
luasga

Bh a mise an o i ch f huar si n lath a, I du ring that cold night until

w as
gu
mi s é o y ch
' ’
v a. an u ar -
si n la -
a morning
gu .

’
S e ach d g eallach ai n , sg ach aon mar Seven moons each o f them like a y ear , ,
sec h d g ellaoh ay n s g a ch ao n mar
bhh adh n a,
'
v li a - -
na

’ ’ ’
Le n tragha s le n li ona ch ai dh th arum . With their w aning and growing ,
len tra a s len li o na ch a i h aru m
’ ’
- - -
'
passed over me .

C h ai dh mi n lath a a se alg a ch u i rn
’
I spent the day in the chase on the
ch ay mi n 1a a a s elag a ch uy rn '
-
c rest of th e hill
S an o i ch be m anran ciul mo m h i an ;
’
At night my desi re w as tuneful mins
san o y c h b e man ra n c i ul m o vi an - - -
trelsy ;
Ach b e i g in i ala mar th ai bh se
’

, ,
But I w as compelled to stalk like a
a ch b ey gmn i -ala mar h ay vse ghost ,

*
eu n lai dh h Treacherously on th e birds of night
*
Le c ei lg , air na iche
-
c . .

ls c ey li g a
y r ey n lay
'
na b oy eb e
is
’ ’
Sa ntirsa s neo ait a g h ri an ,
In this country the su n unhappy ,
san tirsa s n e o ay t a y ri an ’ - -

S gur m all a g h ealach do th ri all

’
. And the moon slo w on its course .

’
s g ur mall a y elach do h -ri -
al

Ach c io d soa ch har air broin But what is the cause of y our grief ?
a ch cy o d so
-
ao v ar ayr b roy n

Chi mi air de c ir a sru th a . I see y our tears falling ;

ch i mi de a
'-
ay r -
c y r a sru

Nach beo C rimora mo g h ao il I s Crimora of m y love n o more , ,

n ach be o c ri m o ra -
m o y ao yl

An ailleag chao in bu tlath ai dh cruth ? The little beauty of the mildest face
an ay l eg ch oy n b u tla i
-
c ru -
’ '

Chunna mi i seol a na n ni al I saw her sailing on the clouds

’

chunn a mi i se o la n an u i al - - -

A dh i adh mu sh olu s na h oi ob e
- That winded round the light o f night -
, ,

yi a m u b o l u s n a h o y ch e
'
a -

Tra dh amh ai rc i nuas ro n f h rois

-
When lookin g do wn through a shower ’

, ,

t ra y av ayrc i nu as ron
- ro s
y
-

A ir gnnis th i amh idh na doin o O n the calm face o f the deep .

.

ay r g n u i s hi av i n a d oy n e
'
- - -

Bha i ann an cao ch la dreach , She was in a di ff erent array ,

va i ann an caoch la drech

Th
9‘
n i nt H i g hl d pursu d his sp rts
e a c e th m nl y p i i p l
an f d t rmi d p s
er e o on e a r nc es o e e ne er e

ve ran o s an d d i n g i nt p idi ty H f ll w d th s tag f

ar d y s d w ks sl pi g i h i pl id m g
re . e o o e e or a an ee , ee n n s a a on

th h th
e ea d s n t h d th s lm n b tw n th li nn
e r, a n a c d th k y s t n di n g
e th di zzy l dg
e a f th o , e ee e an e s , a on e e e o e

ro ck w i th his l g g fi i n p si ti n d n g u s d m ag n ifi nt ; but n thi g sh t f st v ti n w ul d

on a
‘

, a o o a e ro an ce o n or o ar a o o

m k hi m t k p t in th b ut l G m n b ttu
a e a e ar i n y m d f fi h i ng ki lli ng g m w h i ch di d
e r a er a a e, or an o e o s or a e,

t m k it sp ti ng d chiv l us fl i w thy f g ntl m d i nc n sis t nt w i th th g d ‘

no a e a or an a ro a a r, or o a e e an , an o e e re e

an d b l d thi s ti n ss f th v n is n but h
oo -
r
game p ult
e o wh d g d s s p rt i nto a merc ntil e
e e o -
c er o r -
o erer, o e ra e o a

tran sacti on f p rofi t an d l ss i n th p es ent d y

o o , e r a .
 96 TH E PO E T RY
A sui le an grai dh a s ile dh eur ; Her ey es of love shedding tears ;
suy ll en a sl lé
'
a g ray y ey r
-

Ach dh -ai th n i ch mi cruth mo h

g ao il, But I knew her lovely face ,
ac h y ay n i ch mi
'
c ru
’
mo y a oy l
’
8 an tao bh ar th ir c an i
a u dh -
ei ri dh . And wh y sh e rose over the se a .

san tao var h ayr chu an i -

y é y ri
'

a a a a s
. se a s a

Nach truagh l eat mise a Ch ri m o ra , Dost thou not pity me C rimora ? ,

nach tru a -
’
let m i s e a ch ri mo ra
”
O ch ! na f ag mi so am oan ar . O ch ! leave me not alone .
”

o ch na f ag mi so am o an — ar

O ig h th aibsean ch u artai ch
-
i le
’
n orain ,
Maiden gh o sts gathered around her
oy
'
chu artay ch i len
h ay vsen -
Bren with songs ,

Is dh f h ag i ad mise tursach bronach

-
, . And the y left m e grief struck ,
-
,
18
y ag i ad m i s e tursach b ro na ch
- .

l amenting ,

’
“
Thig le d ch eol binn a Ch rith mora ,
-
,
Come with th y sweet music Cri ,
bi g led c h e o l b i nn a ch ri mo ra -
m o ra sun
,

G u talla nan oig h ean fi al , T o the h all o f the s o ci al m aidens ,

talla
’
gu nan oy -
en fi» al
’
S a bh eil Suil -
mh alda is T ren n m o r, Wh ere is Sul mall a and
—
T ren m o re ,
sa v ey l s uy l- vald a is t reyn - m o r

A se alg feidh dh oill ear nan ni al . Coursing dusky deer in clouds .

'
a s el -a
g f ey fy oy ll er -
nan n i -al

Ch u alas i le h -
osn a le o in te , I heard her ,
w ith a wound sigh -
,

chu al as i la h o s n a ls oy n te
- -

’ ”
S i sealtai n bro n ach n a deig h . When looking with sorrow behind
”
i s i seltayn b ro n ach n a dey her
’
-
,

Sgui r an oeol an tai bh se a th rei g , ,

Th e music cease d th e spi rits v ani shed
, ,

sg u
yr an ce -o l an tay v - se a h rey g
’
S dh ag iad mise a sile dh e ur, And the y left me shedding tears ,

i -ad m i
’
s y ag se a si -le
y ey r
-

Air trai gh ai n el
’
s mi le om fhein . O n a strange shore by m y self .

’ ’
ayr tray ay n el 8 -
m i le - c m f ey n

O
’
n o g - mh adai n gu d all oi ch e -
,
From th e y oung morning until the
o g - v aday n g u d all o y o h e blind night
’
o n -
,

Mo c h oidh 0 sin ch a do sguir . M y l amentations h ave not ceased since

mo ch oy 0 sin c h a do sg uy r'
then .

C ui n a chi mi u a Ch ri m ora ? When shall I see thee Crim o ra

’
,
,
c uy n a c hi mi 11 a ch ri mora

Ri ’
m bh eo bidh mise fo e i slean ! While living so rrow must be m i ne
,

mi
'
ri m ve o -
bi -
se fo ey s -len

Tha m anam a sn amh an ceo :

’
My soul is swimming in ml st :
ha man -am a sn av an c c -o

I n n sibh fior an doi g h a dh -

e ug i? ”
Tell me trul y how died sh e

do y
'
i n n si v fi -o r an a y éyg 1

“
An sg eu la truagh tra f h uai r do bh e an “
When the woful news came to th y
,
h uy r do
'
an sg ey la tru -a tra v en

Tri bha i na h S h e was th ree day s i n capable of spe ech

’
lath ai n to sd g u n g ean :
tri la
' ’
-
ay n va i na tosd gu n y en
98 T H E P O E T RY
’
S a dh eoi r a sruth a sios ri ta obh . And his te ars stre amed down by i ts
'
a si - o s ri
sa y oy r a sru -
taov side .

ti amh ai dh , to sdach “
Chi mi Dearg gu I see D argo in sorrow an d silent , ,
chi mi deyrg g u ti -
av i
'
tosdach
( s aid Cov al
”
Tog U llai nn n an teud spro ch d an laoch . U llai n Of th e ch o rds lift the g rief o f
,
tog a ll a u
y n an té y d sproc h d an lao y eh the hero ”
.

D AN CH A O IL T E . T H E L AY OF CA OI L T E .

Ri linn Th rei n m h oi r n an -
sg iath , In the d ay s of T re n m or of shields ,
ri lin n h ré yn -voyr n an sg ey
'
-
e

R u aig C ao ilte am fiadh mu E i te Chase d Cao ilte the dee r o n E i té ;

ra
yg cao ylte am fi -
a
'
mu cyte
Thuit leis dai mh ch abrach -
nan cnoc Fell by h im the antlered stags ;
h uyt l ey s day v ch abrach nan c oc hd -
n

’
S cho f h re ag ai r g ach slo ch d da ei g h e
-
. E very valley answeri ng to his call .

g ach sloch d da ey e
’ '
s c h o regay r - -

Ch un n ai c Min bh en l a g ao l -
, ,
M in vel saw her love ,
c h unnay c mi veyl a g ao l n

’
8 le curach fao i n ch aidh n a ch o el . And in a we ak o urach she went to
sle c urac h f a oy n ch ay n a ch o el -
' -
meet him .

’
Sheid o sn a ch oi mh each gu n bh ai g h ,
A fierce an d pitiless bl ast
h eyd osn a ch oyvec h gun va
y
’
Ch u ir drui m an ai rd ai r a bh arca . Turned the b ark back upwards .

ch uy r druy m an ay rd ayr a varca

Ch u al as le Cao ilte a g lao dh ,

H eard by Caoilte was her cry ,
ch a alas 1s gl ao
'
-
coylte a

“ ” ”
A gh aoil a gh aoil de an mo comh n adh ! , ,
M y 1ove , m y love s ave m e !
,
'
a yaoyl a yaoyl den mo ch o vn a

Ach th u i rli n g '

d all a -
bh rat na h -
o ich e , But the blind p anopl y o f night
ach h uy rli n g dallavrat na h o y ch e descended ,
’
S dh f h ai ln ich
-
ai r a c hlu i s a c o mh radh And her pl aint failed on his e ar
s
7
y aylni ch ayr a chluy s a co v ra
'

Mar f h u aimcein sru th ai n an Like the sound of a distant stre amlet ,

,
m ar u y m srn e a ceyu
-
a
'
- n n

M ich i n te ach thain a h ei bh na ch o ai l -

. Uncertain reached him her c ry .

mi Ohi nn tech h ay n a h ey v
-
n a ch o a l
y
s

S a mh adainn an o n f h a n a traig h
’
,
In the morning by the m urmuring ,
'
sa v ad ayn -
an ona na tra — i shore ,

F h uaras gu n ch ail ’
an o g - bh ean .
Was fo und without strength the
s
h u-ara gun obayl an o
g
-
v en
y oung wife .

Thog e ’
c o is n a traigh a le ao
n ,
He raised her tomb at the side o f the
e n coy s n a t ray 3 Ice sh o re
’ ’
h og ,

A i g sru th an bro n ach n an gl as gh e ug an -

: B y the pl aintive streamle t o f the aged
brOn ach n an g las yeyg an grove
'
s ig sru an - -

’
S e ol do n sealg air an t aite ;
’
- The hunte r knows the place ;
3 e01 don seI-ager an tay te
’
Se b ai gh eal an teas na greine .
It is genial when the sun is high .

se b ay el '
an tes na groyn e
 OF T HE HI G H LAN D CLANS .
99

Bu chi an do Ch ao ilte ri bron , Long was Cao ilte under sorrow ,

bu ch i a do chaoy lte ri brOn -
n

Na aon ar an coille E lte .

Al o ne among the woods of E i te .

na o an ar an c oy lle cyte

Ach bh u ail T ren n mor beum sg e i th e : - -

B ut T ren m o r struck the shield (of
ach v u ay l t ey mo re bey rn sgey e r n -
’
-
al arms
S le loch rai dh g h luai s Caoilte na th reun e
’
. With his chivalry c ame mighty
ylu ays h coylte n a b eyu e
'
le loch ray
s -
r
C ao i lte .

U ig h air nigh phill a shol as . By degrees returned his tranquillity .

u
y ay r uy
'
f i ll a bolas ’

Chual e chliu is lean e an t sh eilg e -

. He wo n fame and followed the ch ase
, .

c h u - al e chli - u is len e an teyleg e

” “ ”
’
S cui mh n leom , arsa Dearg ,
an lao ch , I remember, said Dargo ,
the hero ,
ars a dey ag laoch
’
s c uy n lo-o m r an

Mar aisling c h oi mh n e il a th re ig Like a ki ndly dream that has passe d

mar as l i ng ch oy v n ey l a
-
h rey g -
a way ;

N tra stu ir e g u h o g mi ai r B ite

’
-
,
When a y outh he steered with me on
tra sti ny r e g u h og mi ay r cyte
’
n -
E it s ,

S a dh eo i r a fli uch e a sg ei th e . His te ars falling on his shield .

r a fli uch a a
'
sa
y e o y
-
sge
y e - -

“
Cio d f a do th ui rea dh a Ch ao ilte ,
What is the c ause o f th y sorro w ,

oi O d fa do -
buy e a ch aoylte r
( I said ) Caoilte ?
’
Com a bh eil t aoi s bro n ach dubh ach -
,
W h y is thine ag e in sadness ? ”

co m a v eyl t oy s b Onach da ach r -

” ”
Mo gh aol tha fo n f h oi d na si neadh ’
. M y love is stretched unde r the turf .

mo yaol h a fo n Ogh d n a sine ’

O dean an t aite so th ao gh al -
DO thou frequent this place
'
oh den an tay te so ha —
ol

M ar ro gh ai n n do ch uairtai bh na f ri th e In preference to all the bounds of the

”
m ar to
'
-
ayu n do ch u ay rt
- -
iv na f ri -é
’
forests ?
Na dh i arradh -
do Ch ao ilte th u g adh Wh at he asked was conceded to
na
y i -
ara
'
do c h aoylté hu ga '
Ca oilte ;
A ch un n i e bu tric am o ran . His memory h as been ofte n in my
a ch n
y nn e bu t ric am O an r song .

O n ach ro ’
mo ch li usa co m ari onn ,
O h th at m y fame were as lasting
, ,

o n ach ro mo chli usa co ma i n - r- n

”
’
8 mi le C rimora s n a neuil c h ai rdel An d m y self with Crimora o n clouds
’
.

”
sm i le c ri mora sn a n o o yl ch ay r del friendly - -
.

” ”
S de arbh gu m bith do ch li u m ai ri o n n T h y fame will assuredl y b e lastin g
’
’
, ,

s d erv gu m bi do ch li u mayri nn ’ -

Arsa Co mbal bu ch aoin labh a irt S aid Coval of the mildest converse ;
a sar co v l bu ch aoyu la ayrt a v

Ach co sud le n sg iath aibh g abh ai dh But w h o are those with their broad
’
,

co s u d le g avi shield s ’
ach
’

gia y v
’
n s
,

T oi rt a sh olu i s bh o n cheud f h ai re T aking from us the light o f the

’

toy t a h ol ys r on ob ey d ay d u horizon ? v r

L oc h lan ma 8 m ai th mo bh each d ,
Lochlin if I judge aright
’

, , ,

loc h lan mas may ’

mo vech d

A cu artach Inuse f il le m -
a
’
f each d .
Is surrounding I n ne sfail with an
a cu ar tach i n nse fayl lem
- - -
fech d arm y .
1 00 T H E P O E T RY
8
’
an righ bho ,
a rd u i n n e ig stu adh ai c h , And the king from the highest ,
san ri vo ard u
y n -e
yg stu a ych
- ’
turret ,

Ag ambaro ai r so n a c h ai rdean bu adh ach , Looking fo r his friends vict o rious ,

ch ay rden buy ’
ag ar -arc ay r so n a ach

Their e ,
le aig h e ar n a shuil He excl aims with joy in his ey e
h ey r e le ay
’-
sr na h uy l

T h a C o mh al am fagus le sh i ui l Yonder a”pproaches Cov al with his

ha cu val am fag u s 1e h i -uyl ships !
P euch L o ch lan a nu as n ar c o dh ai l, Behold L o ch lan descends to meet
,
f ey ch lo chlan a nu as ay l
’-
-
n ar co us
’
Is Armour ro
p a m ar dh amh cro i ce Armor before them like the antlere d
is armor p a mar c royc e
ro
y av stag ;
Air traigh E ire in , a lam h g e b ras , O n the shore of E rin though h o ld ,
ayr t y ra
’
ey rey n a lav ge b rass his hand ,

Mise dh f h uasg ail a te an n g h lai s

’
- —
. Twas I that relieved it out o f a tight
m se i tenn yl ay a
y asg ayl
u -
a -
lo ck .

T airn ibh mo g h ai sg ei ch o r leis

’

, , D raw , my he roes from y our thighs,

tayrn i v mo y ay sgi ch o l ey s r

’
An l ann g h las 8 air cladach le um aibh , You r g re y bl ades ,
an d sp ring o n shore ;
an l ann yl as s ayr cla dach leymiv
’
Le suil s le c ri dh e lai ste e uc h dail , , With ey es and he arts kindling for
le suyl sle c ri
’-
e lay ste sych del deeds illust ri o us ,

An dingh dearbh ar n eart na Fe in n e . This day prove the strength o f the

an di u de ar n ert na
- - ’
rv fey nn é Fe in n ,

T og , a Dh ei rg , do sg i a le ath an E x alt Dargo

, , th y broad shield
to g a yey rig do s
gi
-
a le ’-
an

C rath , a Chon aill to , c h rao sn ach C on n al, shake on high th y c rosn ach ;
ch o n ayl c h rao sn ach
’
c ra a to

B uail, a Ch ao irill, heum le d chlai dh eamh ’

Strike Carri ] with th y deadly sword ;
, ,
b yl a ch aryll
u b ey rn led ch lay c v -

*
Is sei n n sa U llai nn dan ch ath , ,
Ullin sing thou the battle song
,
-
of
is sey sa u la n
y nn d an
-
c h a b oy a o
g n
’-
b oi sg e ,
”

Ch o i n n i ch sinn L ochlan s ch a b ag h ,
’
-
We met Lochl in an d not for ,
o ur
c h o yn ich sinn lochlan s ch a ba
n
’ ’
weal ;
dh u i n n ;
y uy n n
Sheas i ad rom h ai n d ainge an ,
laidi r, They stood befo re us compact an d ,

h es i -
ad rov -ay n n day ng -en lay - dir strong
M ar dh o i re darai ch ai r u ch d M h e all A s a grove o f o ak on the breast of
mar yoyre daraych ay r u oh d v ell M o lm or,
m h o i r,
vo
yr
N ach lub do dh -
ai lg h eas nan si at aibh . Which bends not at the pleasure of
n ach l ub do y yl y esa v
n an shi - at -ay v the storms .

m ns s ys T i tus h v p ms w hi ch
G h s d i th fi ld d ki n dl th s ul
” e e o
Th e er a , a ac , a e oe are re ea r e n e e ,
an

i nt fl mo T h s p i i t w i th w h i h th s s n g s
a e. e sung p dicts th f tun f th pp ch i g fig ht
r c e e o are re e or e o e a ro a n .

I nth m p i t i n s th y s t d y
e co u g hn ss f s un d d p culi ly b up t d b k n c d nc
os o e u a ro e o o , an a e ar a r an ro e a e e .

Th y lif t th shi eld t th ei m uth s th t the voic e may swell an d be en d e ed m e l u d d s n us by

e e o r o , a r r or o an o o ro

re pe cussi n r o .
 1 02 T H E P O E T RY
Chi mi t- ath ai r f o e i th i r na h - ao ise , I see th y father under the burden of
c hi mi
'
ta y r fo ey
'
-
sr na ha y ss
y e ars ,
-
o

G u f ao i n an do ch as ri th i g h e ach d In vain hoping for th y return ;

gu faoy n an doc h as ri h i -a cb d
lamh t sh leagh
’
A air an i ai r c h ridh His hand on the S pear an d it trem bling
-
s
,
a lav ay r an tle a -
’ ’
s i ay r chri ’
, ,

S a ch ean n m ar ch ri h e an
0

11 a m s1 n e
I

t
O

H IS grey head the aspen l n the

‘ I

wmd ;
sa chenn mar c hm -
en an am sin e
M eallaidh gach ni al a shuil , The clouds d eceive him f or th y sails
mell ay g ach u i al a h uyl
’ ,
-
.

’
S e n duil g u fai c e do bhat a
’

,
And he thinks he sees th y ship ;
3 e n d yl g u fa e e do v ata
’
u
y
S e allaidh a ch lan n air an le a r , But the y o uth look over the se a,
sell ay a ch lan n a
-
’
y an lé r r

’
S chi i ad an ceath each a seala . And see the mist sailing .

s chi i ad an cé ech a se o la
- - - -

Crath ai dh easan a ch ean n liadh , He sh akes his gre y head ,

cra
'
-
ay
'
e a sn a ch enn li - a
'

’
O sn a ti am h ai dh sa g h n u i s bro n ach . H is sigh pensive his face sorrowful
, .

o sua ti -
av ay
’
as y n uys brOn ach

Th a Crimin fo f h i amh a g h ai re , Cri mina smiles in her sleep ,

ha c ri min fo i - av a y ay re
A bru adar bh ith air traig h a d c h omh ail : Dre aming that sh e is on the shore
'

to
bru ad ar ayr t ay
' '
vi ad ch o ay l
a -
mee t thee r -

A bilibh f o sg ailt a cuir f ailt o rt Her lips are parted to s alute thee , ,
a bill i v o
f osgaylt a c uy r f ay lt o rt
’ ’
S lamban sg ao ilte g u d h
g ac h adh ,
l Her arm s extended to embrace thee .

s l sg a av-an -
oylte g u d y lach ca
’

’
O ch a bh ean g h aoil
,
-
,
s f ao i n do bh ruadar ; Alas ! lovely spouse th y d re am is ,
’
ooh a v en
y aoyl s f aoy n do vra -a- dar fanta sy ,

An t-uasal gu
brath cha n f h ai c u ’
The ( tho rough ) gentleman wilt th o u
an tu a sal gu bra ch an ay c u
- -
'
never see !
Fad O dh ach ai dh thuit do gh radh , Far from home th y love has fallen
' '
fad o y ach ay h uy h t do yra
An In u se fail -
fo sm al tha mh aise . In I n n esfail ,
a cloud fell o n his be auty .

an in n sa f ayl fO smal ha v ayse

Du isgidh t- usa a Ch ri min e ,

Thou shalt awake C rimin a , ,

tusa a chri mine

duysgi ’

S chi u gu n robh t aisling m e alta And that th y dre am w as deceitful

’ ’
-
see ,

s chi u gun rov tays h lin g mel ta - -

Ach c ui n a dhu isg eas a sh u ai n

’

,
But when will aw ake from his slum
ach c uy n a y y u sges a h u -ay n be rg
An lao ch thuit gu n tu ar san a rich ? ’
Th e hero who fell pale on the field
an laoch h uyt gun tu ar san ari ch -

G uth nan g ao th ar na h eum sg e i th e -

,
The voice of the hounds o r th e sound ,

o f the al arm g i v m g sh l eld

.

gu
'
n an g a oar
'
na beym-sg ey e - -
,

C h a chlui n n erleat sa chria -

thi gh fh i urain . He he ars n o t in his house of cl ay .

ch a chluyn n er let sa c h ri a c hi ’
i -
u ren
y
A sh i ol na leirg e f ag ai bh an treun ,
R ace of the sea dep art ,

a hi -ol na leyrge fagi v an treyn

 or T H E HI G HLAN D OL A Ns . 1 03

Guth seamh na m aiduo cha c hlui nn e; The m ild vo ic e o f m orn i ng h e hears n o t ;

gu
’
se - v na mayy d -
n e ch a c hluy n e

Cha dean e air c o mh n adh le ai rm , He will not assist in b attle

y ou
c ha den e ayr c o vn a 1e ay rm

Is c o rai g nan sleag h ch a dui sg e . The conflict of spears will not awak e
'
sle a ch a
is n an
y uy sge h im
-
co r ay g
-
.

B e an nach d do dh -
anam an laoi ch , Blest be the soul of the hero ,
benn ac do y an -am an laoych

Bu g h arg colg a do l an g h n iomh , Whose aspect w as firm when in ac tion ,

bu ya g colag a dol an gni ar -
v

A rd righ L o ch lan ceann an t sh luai g h ,

-
; The high king o f L o ch lan head , of
a rd ri loch lan cenn
’
an tl u ay -
'
the pe o ple
S ioma r
’
u ig a thug a ri amh . Man y a victory did he achieve .

s i o ma ray g a h ug a ri av
- -

Bha airde m ar dh araig sa g hle an n , He wa s in height the oak of the vale

va ay rde mar ylen n
yarayg sa

’ ’
A lu as m ar i olair n a m bean n gu n g h eilt , In speed the mount ain eagle with o ut -
,

a lu-as mar i -olayr n am bean n gu n y eylt fe ar ;

A sp i on n a m ar L o d a na f h ei rg , In strength Lod a in his rage, ,

a spi - o na m ar l o d a n a ey rig
’ ’
A bh u ille gu n bh ai g h gu n leag h eas . H is strokes pitiless and cureless .

’ '
a vu
ylle gu n vay gu n le -as

The following being the fi rst du an o f the P o em of Temora by O ssi an i s

, , ,

called Cath g arv a both in Albin and E rin I consider it as fair an averag e
,
.
l

specimen of O ssian s sty le as the foregoing is o f the poetry of Ullin and O rran
’

,
.

I regret that want o f sp ace puts it o ut o f m y power to give simil ar specimens

from the othe r ancient bards especi all y C arri] the sweetest o f them all ; but his , ,

p o ems are too lengthy for my sp ace as the phonetic spelling takes up so much ,

room an d adds so greatly to the expense

, .

T h a gorm th o un a n a h -E iri nn an soilse , The blue waves of E rin are in light ,

ha g o rm h onn a na h ey —rin an soyl- se

A beann ai bh am bo i llsg e an la ,
Her mountains in the brightness of
a benn ay v am boy lsg e an la day ;
Cro ibh chi ara ag aom adh f o gh ao i dh , D usky woods waving in the wind ,
’ '
c royv ch i ar a
- -
a
g ao ma fo yaoy
Li ath -
sh ruth ai n
o ch airn ; a taom adh
Grey stream s pouring from rocky
li a ru ayn-
a h
tao m a s
O
'
ch ayra peaks ; '

’
Fe uch ! da thom aillidh le n d arach uai n e Behold two beautiful hillocks with , ,

f e ch da h orn d a ach u ayne

'
ayll len their green o aks r -

O g ao ma mu n cuai rt do ch aol r ath

’
Bending round a narrow vale -
, ,

0g ao ma mu c ayrt do ch aol ra n u -
'

T h a tarru i n a ch o ch ai n r6 gh lean n aibh That draws its streamlet from glens . .

ha tar ruyn a c h och a n

y ro
ylenn iv
Air bruai c h an u ilt tha Cairber fein ,
O n the b ank o f the burn is Cairber o f
ay r bruaych an u
ylt ha cayrber feyn Ath a ,

A sh leagh ,
f o ch o mas an treun ,
ri th aobh , His spear ready by h is side ;
a le -
a
’
fo ch o mas an trey n ri h o av
 1 04 TH E PO E T RY
A dhearg shuil f o g h i orrai g , ’
s e bro n . His red ey e is cowed h e is in grief
se b ro n
.
a yerag h uy l fo yi rrayg

Dhe eirich Corm ag an anam an righ

-

,
Corm ak rises on the s o ul of the king
y eyri ch co mac an anam an ri r ’ ,

Gun c h li is a lo t n a th aobh , .
Feeble with a wound in his side
, .

gun c h li is a let na h ao v

f h ai ch te, bh a
’
Le n t -
o g an dubh ra, H alf seen in the sh ade is the o uth ;
le ay ch te
’
d avra , , y
va n to g an

Fh a il ch rao bh a ch a sru th a bho chli abh The blood p o u ring from his bosom
, .

uy l c h rovach
’
a sru -
a vo ch li - a v

Thog C airber a shle a

g h tri u ai ren , C ai rber thrice lifted the spe ar ,
h og cay rber a ls -
a
’
tri u ay ren

Tri u ai ren c h u ir e f h eu sag f o lai m h ; Thrice stroked his h e ard with his
tri u -a ren
y ch y r a e é y sag fo l ey v h and ,

C h ai sg e tri u ai rean a cheum , Th rice checked his (forw ard ) step ,

c h aysg e tri u - a ren a ch é m
y y
’
S c h rath rui h n a
’
e g m beud gu h -
ard . And shook his deadly arm on high .

8 ch ra e '
ru
y
'
n am b ey d g u h ard
Mar niol am f asach a m o r th ri ath , Like cloud in the desert is the g reat
a
mar n i o l a m .
f asach a m or ri a - ’
chief ,

A c ao ch ladh fo g h aoi dh
’
n a dh e albh , Ch anging i ts shape in the wind .

‘
cao chla fo
’ ’
9. n
y aoy a l-
y av
e

l an n ai bh
’
Na g e f h i rich a b ron fo n ,
The gle n s darken bel o w thei r hills ,

g le n i fo n i ich a b on
’
a
n n v r r

M a s oach f o gh i o rraig n am b raon . Altern ately expecting the showe r .

m a s ech f o y i rri
g n am b rao n
G h abh an righ a mhor an am dha fein ,
The king resumed his mighty soul ,
a n am
’
y av an ri a or y a {Ey v . n

G hlac e sleag h n an t reun n a lai m h ,

He g rasped the spear o f her o es in his
ylac e slea
gh n an trey n na lay v h and .

T h i o n dai dh cul m agh Len a e shuil ai r ,

He turned h is e y e on the b ack o f
hi on d ay l en a ’
-
e h uy l ay r c l
’
ma n
’
L en a s hill ,

F ar a bh eil luch d fai re n an gorm th on n . W h ere are pl a ced the watchers o f th e

a: a v ey l luch g fay é an g o rm h onn rr n blue w aves .

T h ain i g i ad le n c e um ai bh f o f h i am h
’

,
They appro ach in the steps o f fe ar ,
h ay n ig i -ad len cey m ay v fo i - av
A c o i m h e ad t ric ai r sli o s a n t- sh ai le O ften looking on the face of the sea .

a coy ved t ic
r ayr slis an tay le

gu n d C airber kn ew th at the king was come

’ ’
Dh —
ai th n i ch Cairber th ai n i g .

yayn ich cay rber gun dayn ig

an righ .

’
an ri

G h ai rm e dorch adh na tri adh g u laimh . He d arkl y called his w arriors to his
, ,

y ayrm e d orob a n a tri ay gu layv ’ -

’
p resence ,

Grad th ai n ig ceu m f h u ai rn e r nan s o nn , Q uickly came th e resounding steps

cey m u ay mer s o nn o f the w arr i o rs
y rad h ay ig n an -
n
,

An g hlas lan n aibh lo m adh n an lai m h i bh

-
. With their gre y blades bare in thei r
gl ass lann ayv l o ma n an lay i v h ands
’ ’
an -
.

An si n bh a M o rl a u aibh ri ach ciar —

,
There was Morla fierc e and swarthy , ,

an sin va mo rl a u s y v ri ch ci ar - - -
 1 06 T H E P O E T RY
“ ”
Am facadh t u an g ai sg e ach nach fann -
, Hast th o u seen the hero that is not
am faca tu an g aysh gech n ach fann
’ -
feeble ”
,

Arsa Cairber o sp ai rn a ch leibh Said Cai rber from his l abouring breast ;
arsa cay ber o sp ay n a chleyv
r r

“
A bh eil a laoi ch li o n ar ai r an trai gh ? “
Are his warriors numerous on the
a v eyl a l aoy eh li o n ar ay an tra i - -
r -
shore
An to g e sleag h comh raig o dh eig h '
,
Does he advance the battle sp ear —
,
sle a
’
an tog e -
co v — n g o y ey
’

’ ’
No n d th ai n i g an treun an sith O r comes the mighty in peace
n on d ayn ig-
an treyn an si
’

“
An sith cha d th ai n ig e a righ In peace he comes not king of E rin
’
, , ,
an si ’
ch a daynig e a ri
’

E i ri nn ,
eyri nn

’
Bha roi n n a sh le ag h roi treun a suas The point of the spear was before him
’
n ,
va royn n a le -
a
’
roy an treyn a su - as o n high ,

Mar m h all dh reag* a bhais ag ei ri dh , Like the meteor Of death ascending

*
,
marv all a vay sh ag ey ri
yreg
’
S fail m hil tean a taom adh mu ch ru ai dh .
(Prognostic ating) the fall of thousands
s fuyl vilten a taoma mu chruy ’
in death .

—
’
B es a leum an tus air tir , H e w as the first to spri ng on shore ,

h es a leym an th e ayr ti r

L aidi r f o le adan li adh na h -

aoi s . Strong in the gre y locks of ag e .

la di r
-
fo l ed an li -
a
'
na b aoya
8 Ian , fe ith each , garbh c h all ap an ach an Full si ne wy brawn y legged is the
'
- -
, ,
’
8 Ian f ey’ -ech g arv chall a pan - -ac h an king ,

righ ,
ri
’

’
Ach gu n stri th a cheum
s eatro m
’
. But light and free are his s teps .

ach s e trom gun atri a ch eym - ’

Air taobh an treun th a chlai dh e amh fiar Aslant the side o f the mighty
, on ,
is
,
ay r ta o v an trayu h a-
ch lay cv fi ar - -
th e sword
An dara beu m a ch o idh n ach i arr ; That never needs to repeat a cut ;
an d ara heym a choy n ach i arr ‘
’ -

A sg iath leath an u amh asach na lai mh ,

His broad and dreadful shield on h is
a s i -a
g ls’ -an u -a-vas- ac h na layv arm ,

Mar ch earcal f uileach re ’

s i lan , Like the bloody circle of the full orbed -

m archar cal f uyl ech re si la - - n pl anet ,

G eiri dh gu dan a tre s Advancing dari n g ly th ro u g h the storm .

e
g y ri g u d
-
an a t
’
re stay rm

L ean O i ssian ri gh caoin nam fo nn , ,

O ssian followed mild ki ng o f lay s , ,

len o issian n
’
caoy n n am form
’
8 mac M h oi rn i And the son of M orn l a hero above
sonn o sci on n an triath . ,

8 mac morni so nn os ci on n an tri a

chiefs - - -
’
.

Leum Co n n al C o n n al
air sh leagh o th u i n n
le a ped o n h l s spea r over th e

leym connal ayr le a o h uy nn waves - ’

,

I s Di arm ai d do n n nan trom ch i abh A n d brown Diarmid o f the heavy .

is di ar mid d o nn nan trom ch i av locks '

- - -
.

m t
A m teo w hi ch w h n s n d l di n g t bu y i g g un d su p sti ti u l ssu d
i a e o
s er y roa ea o a r n - ro o s
e ry , e ee o n an ,

p ort en d th e d eath f so m i l s n
wh w l oo b e o i e d n th t pa th to
e on e,
h s o r h er g rav e
o c arr o a i .
 OF TH E H I G HLAN D GL ANs .
1 07

Lub Fi llean a bh o gh a le mo rch ui s, Fill an bent with pride h is bow

l ub fillen a vo
’-
a 1e mor-ch uys

O g sh ealg ai r M h o ru n an sli abh ; The y outhful hunter Of Moru of wolds

voru nan sli a
l
.

0g h e- ag er - v

Ach co su d ai r ceann n an t reun , But who is he that is at the head of

as h an d
co ayr cen n na n trey n th e hosts ,

Mar g h arbh —
shi ubh al sh ru th o bh ein n ? Moving impetuous as a spate from the
mar y arv
-
h i- u val h ru ’
o ve n n
y hills
Co ach m ac O issean an t ri ath Who but th e son o f O ssian the hero
co ach mac Oiss u ea an tri a
-
’ ,

Mar bh oi sg e tei n e mi sg a ch iabh , Glowing amid h i s looks

mar voysgé tey n e misg a chi -av

A le adan fada tha lan c h uach , His long hair is full of curls
a led -
an f a-da h a lan c h u -ach

Fh abh ai d dh ubh le ch i elt ’

an c ru ai dh , His black helmet hal f hi d in s teel ,
a-ay d ls ch ey lt
’
y av an c rfiy

A lann air i al a trial ri th aobh , His s word is restless on hi s side ,

a lann ay r i al a tri al ri h o av - - ’

A sh leagh a si ubh al boilsg eadh bao th . His eager spear gleams wickedl y .

a la a a si u val
- ’
boyl sge bao - - - ’ ’

Th ei ch mi 0 g h arg shuil an t-sh e oi d ,

I fled from the fierce ey e o f th e hero ,
h ey ch mi 0 y arg h uyl an te-oy d
”
A ri gh ’
Th ig h m o ra is mor cli u . King of Temora of grea t renown .
”

’
a ri b i -mora i s mor cli - n
’
Teich u sa, f h i r dh on adh , gu n Fly , then ,
mannikin unfit for
teych usa ir y ona '
g un deeds ”
,
”
f h eu m ,
é rm

Arsa Foldath gruamach am fei rg ; , Said Foldath frowning and wrathful ;

,
ars a g ru am ach am f ey ri g
'
f ol da - - -

Teich sa gu d Hath sh ruth ai bh f hein

-
’
-
,
“
Fly thou to th y o wn g re y streams ,
ti yeh sa gu d 1i a h ru ayv
-
h ey n ’ -
'
- '

A n amain is g oi n n e i s m e irg an di amh air , . Scant soul and ru st in secret

, .

‘’

a n - am ay n-
i s g oyn n e is meyri g an di -
var

Nach f ac ar
lin n an t O scar donn -
Have I n ot seen this O scar
n ach fac ar li nn an tos car
-
d onn -

Ch un n ai c mise an triath an c o mh raig . I have seen the hero in battle .

chunn ic mis an tri a an cov rayg

- -
'
-

of
’
An cun n art dh e th n a t rein th a n sonn ;
,
In d anger he is the mighty ;
an cunn art ye na t e n
y h an so nn '
r

’
A ch s i omadh sleagh is sonn an E i rin n . But there are man y spears and heroe s
is so nn an é y rinn in E ri n
'
ach si oma
'
-
sle a -
,

A ri gh T h ig h m ora n an ard ch raobh ,

King o f Temora of lofty woods ,

a ri
'
bi mora n an
’
ard
- chra ov -

L e i g dh omh sa tach ai rt ris an t sh eod ; -

Let me meet th e hero ;
l eyg yovsa tach syrt ris an te od - -

I s c ai sg i dh mi n sruth mor na dh ean n ’

. I w ill stop this mountai n S pate in i ts
is cays gi min s peed
' '
-
sru mor na y e nn .

Ma shleagh tha n igh te am fail ,

M y spear h as been washed in blood ,
'
ha
'
ma le -a ui te
-
am f uyl
1 08 TH E P O E T RY
’ ”
S tha mo sg iath m ar bh alla T h uradh . My shield is like the wall of Tura ”
valla h ur a
.
’
8 h a mo sg i a -
mar -
'

“
c o i n n i ch F o ldath “
An n a ao n ar na Will F oldath alone meet the
an coy nn ich
- f ol da -
'
na o - a ar n na
Strangers i
) ”

dai mh
da i v -

Arsa Malthas na fabh rad ci ar ; Said Malthas of the dun helmet ;

ars a mal th aa n a f av rad c i ar
- - -

N ach eil i ad cho lai di r ai r an traigh

’
Are the y not as strong on the shore
n ach eyl i ad ch o layd ir ayr an tra i - - -

Ri c o th i o n al garbh sh ruth nan sliabh ?

- -
As the congregated waters o f the
ri co h i al
g arv b ru
’
-
n n an sli av - -
welds ?
Nach i ad su d na trein thug bu aidh A re not these the mighty wh o con
n ach i ad s u d na t e n
'
-
y h ug buy r
quered
Thair Sua ran n an cru aidh bh eum -
, S waran o f hard y sword cuts -
,
h ayr su ar an n an -
may veym
-
’
-

N Oir gh abh sli och d E irin n an ru ai g When the race of E rin fled
n oyt yav shlio ch d ey ri nn an ru ayg -

’
8 an tach ai r F oldath ri n corr th reun
’
-
And will Foldath meet their surpassing
S an tach ayr f ol da rin corr h rey n -
'
-
hero
A ch ri dh e bh osdail is ci ar beus , Man o f the boasting heart and dusky
a chri e v osdayl
-
'
i s ci ar bey s —
deeds ,

G abh sp i o n n adh dluth ach an t lu ai g h -

,
Take the united strength of the
’ ' '
g av spi on n a - -
dln -
ach an tlu -
ay people ,

G abh M althas maille ri th reun . Take M althas and his warriors .

g av mal th as maylle ri hreynn

Bha mo chlai dh eamh le b eum ai bh ru adh , My sword with strokes h as been red ,
va mo ch la ev 1s h ey m eyv ru a
'
- - -
'

Ach co a ch ualadh g u fe ar mo gh uth But who has heard from me crooked

”
a ch co a chu al a g u fi ar mo yu - -
' -
'
words ?
” ”
“
A sh lio ch d E irin n is u ain e r aon ,
Race o f E rin of green hills ,

a hli och d eyrin n is u ayn e roan

- -

T h u i rt t ri ath C h lao n rath n an c aoin Said the chief of Clonrath Of mild

h uyrt tri -
'
a ch laé n ra -
’
n an ca -o yn st reams
sh ruth ,
'
h ru

Na cluin n eadh Fion ai r briarai bh faoi n Let not Fingal hear y our words vain
fi O nn ayr bri arayv fa oyu
'
na cl uyn n é - - -

Na biodh sol as air n ai mh dean an dingh Let not the enemy rejoice to- day ,
,
na bi o s ol as ayr n ayv den an di u
-
'
- -
’

A cuir sp i o n n adh nan laimh san tir . And b e stren gthened in the land (by
s i o nn a l san tir our d l m si o n s )
’
a cuyr nan ay v
y
-
p ,

S treun sibb fein a sh i ol na m blar

’ ’

,
Mighty are y e rac e o f battles
, ,

strey n siv f eyn a h i - Ol n am blar

M ar g h aillgh air a ch aain

e n 0 ,
As a storm on the roar i ng sea,

m ar a
y y llen O y ayt a ch u ayn -

M ar stai rm a th ach rai s ri sg ei r aird ,

A storm that mee ts a lofty sea- rock ,

m ar stayrm a hash ris ri sg eyr ay rd -

A bh ei r a coille g u lar o c ru ai ch ; ’
O r tear s fores ts from th e breasts of

a veyr a ch oylle gu lar o ch m aych -

 1 10 THE POET RY
S i ubh ail g u O scar nan lann , Go to O scar of swords ,

s i u v ay l g u
- -
o s car n an lann

S th o ir cuire dh a g u fleag h an ri gh
’ ’
. Invite him to the king s feast .

s h o y r o u y re y a g u fle a
- ’ ’
an n

An dingh biodh cuirm i s fo r msa g h leann , T O- d a y

we will have a banquet in th e
an di -u ' bi -
O
’
c uy rm is fo r m sa y len n glen
'

A mai re ach bristear linn n a sleaigh . T O morro w we will break S pe ars

-
.

3 may rech
. b ri s t er li nn n a sle ay - ’

’ ’
Innis g u n d thog mi suas Tell him that I r aised on high
g un d h o g m i su as
-

U ai gh Chath ail f o luai dh na m bard

’
. The to mb Of Cath ul a mid the songs
u ay -
c h a ay l
’
f o lu ay n am
’-
bard - ’
o f b ards .

Thug mi ch arai d tru ag h do n g h aoi th ’

. I have gi ven h i s p oor friend to the
h ug mi ch ari d t ru a d on y a oy
- ’ ’
wind .

Innis dha gu n ch u alas mu n bh uai dh ’ ’

Tell him th at I heard of the vic tory
i nn i s y a gun ch u al as m un v u ay - - - ’

A ch o i si nn e aig fuar sh ruth Ch aru in n -

. He gained at the cold stream o f C arron .

c h o y si n fu b ru c h aruy n n
’
a e ayg -
ar-

’
Cha n f h ai c mi n ’
so mo bh rath ai r I se e n o t here my mighty brother ,

chan ay c m in so mo vra
’
yr
treun ,
t rey n
’
Cha neil Cath m or lo ch eu dai bh ri m’
Cath mo r and his hundreds are no t
c ha -n ey l ca u mor le ch ey day v ri m with u s,
thaobh ,
h a -o v

air lamh an g ann f o airm . And o ur hands are few in war .

h a ay r l av a n gann f 0 ay rm
’
S n amh ai dCath m or do stri th nam fleag h , C ath m or is a foe to confl icts at feasts ,

s n av id
-
ca
’-
mo r do stri
’
n am fl -
e a
’

Tha anam mor m ar dh earsadh greine ; His great soul is all sunshine ;
ha an am m o r mar y ersa g rey n n e
’

Ach bri steai dh Cai rbe r sleag h ri O scar But Cairber will break a spe ar against ,
ach bri s t i c erb er sle a ri o s car
- ’
O sc ar - ’
,

A th ri ath ai dh T h igh m ora air comh n ard Chiefs Of Temora o n the plai n of Lena , ,
.

a bri -
a
’-
ay
’
h i - mo ra ay r c o w n ard

Lena .

le n a

L abh air e dana ma Ch ath ul ,

He spoke daringly of Cath ul,
lavay r e dana ma c h a ul
’
-

8 tha inanam a lasadh 1e f eirg And soul i s kindled with i n dig

’
. my
h a man am a lasa le fe y rIg ’
8 nation .

T ui tidh O scar air M o i len a ,

O scar shall fall on M oilen a ,

tuyt i o s c ar ayr m o y len a

’

” ”
S ei ri dh na f h u il mo ch liu
’
. An d my fame rise from his fall .

8 e yri
'
na u yl mo chli -u

S h oilsi ch sol as an ag h ai dh nan treun , J oy glo wed in the faces o f the

W arriors
’ '
h oy lsi ch 3613s an a -ay na n trey n ,

Is sg aoil iad m i sg c rian ach M o ile n a . The y spread themselves among th e

is sg o y l i -ad mi sg cri -aynach moy len a coppice of M oilen a .
 or TH E H IG H L A N D C LA N S . 1 11

is sli g e g a deasach adh sh uas

T h a c uirm ,
The feast and the shel l are preparing
h a c uy rm i s el ig e ga desach a h u as ’ -
above ,
’
8 for m nan clar s n an duan ag e i ri dh
’
. And the soun d o f harps and lay s
8 fo r m n a n c l a r s n an du an ag ey ri
’
-
ascending .

Chu al a tri ath ai dh Shelma an solas , The chiefs o f Selma heard the re
ch u al a t ri a ay
- - h el ma an s olas-
’
-
’

jo i ci n g ,

S sh ao il C ath m or corr gu n d th ai n ig And tho u ght that C ath mor had ar

’ ’ ’
,
s h a oy l ca m o r c orr g un d ay n ig ’- -
rived ,

C ath mor corr ce ann u i dh e n an dai mh ,

-
,
Cath m o r th e s urpassing the host o f ,
ca m o r
’~
c o rr c en n uy n an day v - ’
strangers ,

B rath air Ch ai rber n an ruadh ch i abh ; The brother o f red haired Cairber ; -

bra ayr b er ch i -av

’ '
cay r- n an ru a -

Ch a bu ch o i m eas
an da an am . But unlike were their two souls .

c h a bu c h oy m es an da a n am

Bha solus nan sp eu r an uch d Ch ath m oi r . The light o f heaven was in the bosom
s o l us n an sp ey r an u ch d ch a moyr ’-
of Cath mor .

Do dh Atha na m bruach , a thuir ard

-
’

,
To Atha of banks where (rises) his
bruach h uy r ard
'
do ya
-
a n am a high turrets ,

Tha seach d ai serean n

a sine , Seven passes (ravines) lead ,

ha sech d ay seren a si ne

S a ir ga ch aI sre bard na sh easai bh each pass a h ard is placed

’
, And on ,
s ay r ga ch ay s h re b ard n a h esay v -

A cuireadh dh ai mh do th all a na fi al To invite strangers to the social hall ;

a o u yre y ay v do h alla n a fi al -

Ach sh u idh Cath m or an u aig n eas , But Cath m or kept aloof from the
a ch h uy mo r
( fulsome ) voice o f praise
’ ’-
ca an u -ayg - n es
,

A seach n adh bhi ag ei ste ach d ri ch li u . To avoid listening to h is fame .

a s ech -
na
'
vi ag ey st -a cb d ri chli -u

T h ain n ig O ll a ruadh le dhain . R ed O lla came with hi s lay s .

h ay n ig O lla ru a lo y ayu - ’

’
G hlu ai s O scar g u n d ail g u cuirm ,
O scar went without hesitation to the
y luy s o s car g un d ay l g u c uy rm feast ,

Le tri cend g aisg each ri lai mh , ,

With three hundred warriors in his
le tri cey d gay sge ch ri lay v

R oi Lena n an lan sh ruth gorma -

,
Through Lena of blue and am ple
roy l en a na n lan bru g o rma
-
'
stream s ,

A liath ch oin a leum san f h rao ch

-
,
H is grey dogs bounding through the
a li a ch o y n a leym san
- ’-
ra o e h , heather
’
S tre n garbh chonas a sg ao ile thall And the strong gorse of the wold
’
- .
.

s t re n y arv c h o n a s a sg o y le h all -

Ch un n ai c Fionn an son n a trial ,

Fin g al saw the hero departing ,
c h un n ay c fi o n n an s o nn a tri al - -

’
S thuit an am an treun f 0 bh ron ,
An d hi s oul sun k in g rief
s ,
s h uyt an am an treyn f o vro n
Neo ch in te ach ma Ch airber cealg ach
-
,
Uncertai n of Cai rber the treacherous ,

n e o -chi nn tec h
- ma c h ay rber c e la ga ch - -

Le smuain tean fiar m i sg cuirm i s o il . And h is o blique thoughts at the fe ast

le smuyn ten fi -ar mi sg cuy rm is oyl and the d rin king .
1 12 TH E P OE R T Y
Thog mo mh ac sleag h Chormaic na My son carried the sp ear of C orm ak
h og mo sle a ch orma c
’
vec -
y na in hj s hand
lai m h ;
la -i v

Bha cend baird a sei nn air sli abh , There were a hundred bards singing
va c ey d bay rd a s ey un ay r sli -av o n the wold ,

Ach cheil Cai rber am h as bha snamh But Cai rber conce aled the death th at
a ch c h ey l c ay rb er am bas va sn av was s w imming
Fo dh ubh radh san am , na chliabh . In the dark thoughts of his bosom .

fo y u vra
’
sa n am na c h li - av

Fleag h tha sg ai lte, sli g ean a f uai m , The feast is spread the shells sound , ,
fle ha sga y lte f u- ay m
’
-
a sleg e n a

’
S e u dai n an t -
sh luag h an s o lus dealrach : And the faces o f the people are i n a
S ey day n a n tluy ’
an 8 0111 8 bl aze o f
Ach c h i tear
solus mall is fann *
But a lig h t slo w and faint is see n
i ’ '

ach c h i ter s o l u s m al l i s fa n n
A de arsadh fad a th all ai r Len a ,
Afar on M oi le n a,
a d ersa fad a h all ay r l en a
'

S a ch e ann de arg le ch le i te an dorch as -

. With its red he ad half hid i n the
sa ch enn derag le ch ley te an do r c h as - -
darkness .

Dh eirich Cai rber th all an airm

-
, Cai rber started opposite in arms ,
e
y y ri c h c ay rb e r h all a n ay rm

S dubh radh a bh ais na gh ruaidh

’
. The d arkness of death on his cheek .

s duvra a vay sh n a yru ay ’ - ’

Ch ai sg fo nn ch larsai ch ean n an teud ,

The tuneful sound o f th e h arp ceased ,

c h ay sg fo nn c h larsa y c h e n n an t o d
y
’
Ch ualas sc readan n an sg iath m an cuai rt . And the harsh sound o f shields w as
m an cu ay rt
’
c h u al as
-
s c redan
- n an s i a
g
- -
heard ,

F ada th all air u ch d an t- sh lei bh , At a dista nce o n the breast of th e

,

fa da hall ay r u ch d an tley v hill ,

Thog O lla dubh ru adh guth a bh ro i n -

. Dark red O lla raised the song o f
-

h og O lla duv ru a g u a vroy n - -

’ ’
lamentation ,

Dh ai th n i ch O sc ar c omh ara bhais :

-
O scar knew the sign of d eath
o s car v ay a
y ay n ich c o vara
’

’
G hluai s is g h lach d gu n dail a sh leag h . He rose in haste and seized his arm s , .

y l u ay s i
- s y lac h d g un dayl a le a - ’

” “ ”
O scai r ars a C ai rb er ru adh , ,
O scar ,
said red h ai re d -
C airb er,
arsa cay b er
'
o s cay r ru a r -

Tha m i f aicean sleagh buai dh na I se e the spe ar of victorious E rin

ha mi f ay c en l -
s e a
’
bu -
ay
’
in th y hand ,

h E irin n ,
-

h ey ri nn

S leagh f h ada T h i g h m ora nan stu adh , The long spear of T i mora of waves ,

sle a -
'
a das tu a bi ’-
m o ra n an - ’

A bo illsg eadh a t laimh noir dh eirich - -

. Shini ng in th y hand when thou arose ,
.

a b o y lsga at layv n oy t y eyri ch

’

A mhic M o rbh ei n n an coi lte an ci ar , Son o f Morven o f dusk y woods ,

a vi c m o r-v ey n n n an c o y lten c i - ar

S ee a p evi us n te o
r o o n th e d th mete
ea -
or.
1 14 T H E P O E T RY
B h a c h o g adh riam h ri do i n e fann He eve r fought against the feeble
ch oga '
ri - av ri d o y n e f nn a

Ach th i g eadh e n all gu C ai rbe r ! But let him come to meet C airber !
ac h e n all g u ca y rbe r
’
b ig -
e

M ar f h aileas a sn amh an gle ann , Like a shadow swimming in a glen ,

mar ay - li s a sn av an g l e nn
Na c e ath ach a le ug h adh a fasach , O r like m ist melting away in the
f as-ac h
'
ac h le
’- '
na ce a -
a a desert ,
”
A o m ai dh e gu n c h li u o Ath a
’
. He will incline without fam e from , ,
”
a o ma
’
c hl i 11 0 a
'
y e g un
- -
ha A tha .

Na m
’
bi o dh a fe ar thog heum a ir If he who made w ar o n the feeble
n am i
b o- ’
a f er h og h ey m ay r

f ann ,

A ta rru i n a loin ai r Cai rber, Were to d raw his sword on Cairber ,

a tarruyn a l o yn a
yr cay rb er

B h ei ridh e E i ri n n u ai n e n an gle ann He w o uld gi v e green E rin with its

v ey re ey rin n u y n e n an g l enn glens
’
e
,

A ir so n sab h alath o lai m h an righ To esc ape the h and o f th e king

’
. .

ay r s o n s avala ’
O la yv an ri
'

Na F h i on n a Ch ai rber
labh air m a , Spe ak n o t, C ai rber, of Fingal ;
na lavayr In a i O nn a cay ber - r

T o g do sg iath 8 do c h lai dh eam h ri u m sa

’
. Rise th y shield an d sword ag ainst me .

ri u w s a
'
t og do sgi a 5 do chlay ev - -

’
An sp io n n adh th e ag ai bh gu n co i m eas O ur strength m ay , perhaps be equ al
, ,
coy m - as
'
spi o n n a
~ - h egay v g un

sinne ;
sinn e
Ach tha righ na M o rbh ean n c li utach , But the king of M orven is famed ,

ac h ha ri
’
na m or- venn cli- u - a t ch
” ”
Ce ann ard flath ail n an ard th ri ath . As he ad chief among exalte d heroe s
,

c en nard fla ayl ard ri a

’- ’
n an -

Ch un n ai c an c ai rdean m arao n , Th eir friends alike saw

ch a unie an cay rden m aroan

D ubh radh ag e i ri dh nan g h rua i dh ea n , Darkness growing on thei r cheeks .

duvra ’
ag eY “ n an g rn a
y
-
cn

Dh -
aom iad an co mh ai r a cheile . They bent toward on e a nother
obeyle
yo am i ad an co vay r a
-

An su i lean lai ste , an c eu m ai bh du Their e y es flashing ,

thei r steps
an suylen layste an ceym -ay v du ~
th re atening :
ai ch n i dh .

Leum -
clai dh e an
’
o m b ile sli o s, Swords sp rang from a thousand thighs .

slis
'
ley m chl ay -en o v i -le

Ch ai sg O lla na fios a fonn ,

O ll a the prophetic ce ase d the song
, , ,

ch ays
g Olla na fis a. fo rm
O ll a ruadh n a m bro sn ach adh d ana ; ’
Red O lla , of daring w ar- songs
O lla ru a n am bros nacha dana
- -
’

C h ri th an am O sc air 1e s o l as ,
The soul of O scar swelled
chri an am oscayr lo sol as
’
 OF T HE HI G HL A N D CL A NS .
1 15
’
Leis an t sh ol as bu ghua do n tri ath
-
, With jo y the jo y the hero used to
,
—

ley s a to las bu y a don t i a

n u r -
’
feel
N O ir bh uai l c o rn c aismachd an righ -
.
When the b o ss o f ala rms was str uck
n oy r yl co n cays mae an W
vu r - -
by the king .

’
M ar th u in n a tao m adh air traig h gu n As waves p o u r n o iselessl y o n the
m ar h y a tao ma
u un
ay r t ay g n r
’
u sh o re ,

f h u ai m ,
uy m

’
Mu n clu i n n e ar i ic h c uai n f o gh ao idh , Befo re is he ard the roar o f the sea
g a r
mun c luy n n er g ay ri ch c uyn f0 yaoy unde r the wind ,

T h i o n al mu C h airber a sh luag h , G athered his people round C ai rbe r ,

hi -
o n el -
mu c h ay rber a h lu
- -
a
’

S amh ach do rc h a, dur is bao th Silent dark obstin ate wicked

, , , .

savach dorch a dur is bao

'

A n igh ean T h o scai r c iume do dh e oi r ,

’
Daughter of Tosc ar , wh y th at tear ?
a n i en h o g ay r ch uy me do
’
y e oy r s -

Cha do thuit an triath nach faoi n ; The h ero did not fall helplessl y .

cha do h uy t an tri a n ach f aoy n -

’

’ ’
S i om adh has a dh i adh mu n tor -
,
Many deaths encompassed the hill ,
si o ma h as a yi a
~
’
mun tor -
’

’
M a n d aom a fe ar corr air a th ao bh
’
. Before the surpassing man leaned o n
man d aom a fer co r ay a h aov r r
'

his side .

F ai c i a d a tuite ro i m h n tri ath ’

,
Behold how the y fall before the hero ,
fay e i -
ad a t uy te I ey v n tri -
a
'

M ar c h o llle air sli abh san f h asach ,

Like the fo rest of the w o ld ,
m ar ch o
y lle ay r sli -av san asac h

Noir thig tai bh se nan si an n a f h ei rg ,

When the spi rit o f the (emb attled )
n oy t b i g t ay v se n an si an n a ey r i g - -
elements ,

A c h u i r g i o rraig air c lo i n n n a h ai ri dh -
,
To frighten the child ren O f the shiel
ch u r
g irray g ay r cl oy n n n a h ay i I ng
'
a
y r
,

A g lach dadh baraibh n an cr ann ,

Seizes on the lofty tops of the trees ,

g l ac a c ra nn
'
a b aray v n an -

th e
’ ’
S g a n sg aradh le ne art g u lar . And dashes them violentl y to
sga u sg a a ls n ert g u lar r ground .

Thuit Mo rl a s M ath ron an f o bh as ’

,
Morla and M ath ron an fell de ad
h uy t m o rl a s m a ro n a n f o v a s '
-

U h ao m Co n ach ai r g u lar na f h u i l
-
,
Gou acher slowl y bent do wn in his
y ao m c h o n ach ay r g u lar na u
yl blood ,

Cairber fled from the bl ade Of the hero

’
T h e ich C airb er o l ain an t -
sh air , ,

b ey e h cay rber o an l ayn t ayr

G a f h alach fein sau dubh ro dh ,
And hid himself in the shade ,
al a ch f ey n san d uv ra
'
ga
*
Air c ulabh clo ic h e n an cruth c rom . Be hind the stone of bending ghosts .

a r
y c u lav c loy ch n an c ru c ro m ’

N sin th o g e g u di am h ai r an t sh leagh
’
-
,
Th ere h e li fted the spe ar in secret ,

si n h og
’ '
n e gu di -
avay r an tle -
a

h i pp in g l t
T h e w o rs a ar, o r p i ll ar o f th e G th i c cl n s is l w ys ll d th st
o a ,
f b n di n g g h s t b y
a a ca e e on e o e o

O i n Thi s b ttl mus t th

ss a . a e e re f o re hv a e b ee n f g ht i th t i t y f th uth n G th i c cl ns f
ou n e e rr or o e so er or o a o

I l nd
re a .
 1 16 TH E P O E T RY
’
Is bh u ai l n i m h ael i n ta o bh O scai r . An d struck it fiercely into the side of
’
is v uy l n iv sl -
i n taov o scay r O scar .

Thuit an g ai sg e ac h ai r a glun , Th e hero fell on his knee ,

h uy t g ay sg ac h y lun
‘

an ay r a

A sg i ath fo u illin , a shleag h na lai m h ; His shield un der his elbow h is s pe ar ,

fo u y ll i n h le '
a sg i - a a .
a na la i v
-
in h is hand .

F ai c Cairb er na shine ’
san sm u i r, Lo ! C ai rbe r stretched in the dust
,
fay e c ay rber n a h in é san sm u y r

B ar g e ur n a c ruai dh ch aidh tre ch e an n , The sharp point o f th e steel w ent

bar g ey r na c ru ay
'
ch ay t re c h e nn thro ugh his he ad ,

Is sg o ilt an ru adh - ch i abh ai r a chul . A n d S plit the red locks behind .

is sg o y l t a n ru a -
'
-
c hi - av ay r a chul
M ar charr aig a bri st eadh bho sh li abh Like a rock falling from the cliff ,
m ar ch arr ayg -
a b ri s t a ’
vo li -
av

c rom ,
‘
CI O ID

Thuit an sonn bu do rch adh g n i omh . Fell the hero of d ark deeds ,
h uy t an s o nn b u d o ro b a g n i av ’
-

Noi r ch rath as B i rinu u ain i fein , When g reen E rin sh akes herself ,
n o r ch ra as u ne i fe n
'
y ey rin n
y
-
y
O bh ei nn g u bei n n s o m h u ir g u muir : ’
F rom mountain to mountain and sea
g u b ey n
’
0 v ey n s o v ii y r g u mii y r to se a
'

’
Ch a n eirich O scar donn a ch o i dh Brown h aired O scar will never rise !
-

ch a n e y ri ch o s c ar d o nn a ch o y ’

Tha e ag a o ma ri tai c a sg ei th e '

, He i s leaning down on his shield ,

ha e ag ao m a ri tay c a sg e y -
é

Is sleag h n an cend b as na lai m h . With the sp e ar of a hund red deaths

c ey d bas lay v
’
is sle a -
n an na in his h and .

Sh e a s E i ri n n thall ai r an t- sh liabh , E rin stood aloof o n the wold ,

h es e y ri n n h all ay r an tli av -

Le f ui m m ar m h on bh ar n an sru th With a noise like the mu rmur o f

1e f uy m mar v o n v ar n an srn
’
stre ams ;
Fh re ag er Lena n an cruth fo
’
n ceum . Lena of ghosts answered to their steps .

reg er l en a n an c ru
’
f on c ey m

Chuala F i on n g h al
th all an to irm ,
Fingal heard the dist ant sounds
e h u ala fi O n n y al
-
h a ll an t oy rm
-

G hlac e sleag h Shelma n am b e um He seized the deadly sp ear of Selma .

y lac e sle a h e l ma -
n aIn h’
ey m

S g ao i l a cheum ri u ch d an t sh le ibh -
. He stretched hi s steps ag ai n st the
sg o y l a c h ey m ri no an tley v bre ast of the w o ld ,

Gu br o in a taom adh o bh e ul : The voice o f sorrow bursting from

g u bro y n a. to -
am a
’
o v ey l his mouth :
Clui n n eam i arg ai l is co mh rag ,
“
I he ar the sound of con fli ct ,

cl u y n n am i -arga y l i s c ov - rag

Tha O scar na o an ar sa bhlar O scar is alone in battle

ha o s c ar n a o an ar sa vlar -

G luai seabh f h earaibh n a M o rbh e an n Move men

,
Of M o rven ,
,

l u e v na m o r v enn -
g y s ev a ra
y
-

”
of
”
S buaili bh an c o mh n adh a lain n
’
.
And stri ke in aid his s word .

s b uyli v an co vn a a la y un e
’
 1 18 TH E PO E T RY
N
’
do thuit O scar sar nan l ann ,
Has O scar the surpassing
, ,
f allen
h y t o s c ar sa l ann
’
n do an u r n

A m e adh ain astair dh ealrai ch fei n ! In the midst of his o wn illust rious
as t ay
'
a me ay n y el ay c h
-
fey -
r r n
course 1
Tha cridh e n a h ao ise fo sp ai rn '
-
,
The he art o f the aged is distresse d ,
ha c ri -
e na h aoy s fo sp a rn
y
f ai c ai n
’
m buaidh
’
A na n ach d th ai n ig Seeing the victo ries th at have n ot
a fay cin n am buy ’
n ach d ayn -
ig come to th e mig h t y
’ ,
do n treun ,
’
do n trey n

Na bl air a a n all th i g h e adh ,

Th e battles that would have come ,
blay r a bi g a a n all
’
na -

’
S a g h e arradh g u gann o o hli n . But which are cut ofl short from his
sa y er a g u g ann o c hli r
'
u

’
C u i n a dh ei res sol as an Selm a ? -
When will joy rise i n Selm a ?
c ynu a y ey es solas an s el ma r

C uin a g hluai se s b ron a M o rbh ei n When will grief depart from Morven ?
’

c ynu a yluy ses b o n a morvey nn r

Mo chlann thuit 0 am g u am ’
My children fall from time to time
mo chlan n h uy t 0 am gu am

Biodh Fi o nn an de i readh a shli och d ! Fingal will be the l ast of his race !
'
bi -
o fii - o n n an dey re' a h lic

c h li u si o lai dh
’
Mo sios o luai dh , My fame is ebbing aw ay from notice ,

mo c h li u -
si o a -
ly ’
si o s
-
o lu -
ay
'

’ ’
Bidh m ao i s f o th ruai g h e gu n c h ai rdean . My age will be in sorrow without ,
'
bi m aoy a f o bru ay ’ -
g un c h a rden
y friends ,

Mar ni al do che o th all a fein am ,

Like a cloud o f mist i n m y o w n h all ,

m ar n i al do ch e o a rn h all a fey
- -
n

Ch a ch lu i n n m i tuille ceum mic ,

I sh all no more he ar the step o f a son ,
cha ch luy nu m i tuylle cey m m ic

A te arn adh le m o rch u is

’
o
’
n bh e in n , R eturning in splendour from the hill ,
'
a te -
ar n a -
le morch uys on vey n n

Le ch om h laen n an ai rm f o sm ach d . With a band o f armed w ar riors under

1e co vlen n an ay rm fo s mac his c o mm and .

T uiteadh ai r deo i r
’
o g h ai sg e ch M orbh e in , Let y our te ars fall heroes o f M o rven
, ,

tuy te ay r de oy r -
o
y ay sg ich morvey n
” ”
Cha ei rich O sc ar og a ch o i dh
’
n . Young O scar w ill ri se no more .

ch a n eyrich o scar o g a eh Oy ’

Thuit an deoi r a righ n an l ann Their te ars fell king ,

of sw o rds ,
,
n an l ann
'
h y t an de oy r a ri
u -

Q ir b i o n m h ui n n le n an am aibh an tri ath For de ar the hero to the n souls

’ ’
. w as .

bi len tri
’
o yr -
o u vuy n
-
anam ay v an -
a

Noir g h luais e g u co m h rai

g n an l ann ,
When he went to the conflict Of
no r
y y s h e g u co ay g n an
ylu
-
a vr l ann swo rds ,

C h a bu di o n do n am h ai d sg i ath . The f e e fo und no safety in h i s sh i eld .

c h a bu di o n do
'
na a d sg i a
y v
- -

M easg s o l ais th illea dh e le sith . He returned amid reJ OIc mg s w i th ,

m es g sol ay s h h ill e e le si pe ace

’ ’
- -
.

Ch a bh i th bron ath ai r ma m h ac ,
No father lamented h i s so n ,

ch a vi bro n a ayr ma vac

' '
-
 on TH E HI G HLAN D CLAN S .
119

Thuit san ar an tlac h d o ig e F allen i n battle in the bloom of y outh

h uy t san ar an tlac oy g e

C h ai dh i adsan bh ron f o
’
gu n ’
n f h ail , They went u nlamente d under the
ch ay ’
i -ad-san g un v ro n fo n ayl sw ard ,
’ ’
0 n thill an 0 g c h e an n fo bh ua idh .
Since thei r y oung co mmander re
on b ill an 0g ch enn fo v u ay -
'

turned with vict

Bh aB ran a do n n alaic h ri th aobh , Bran was howling at his side ,
va b a a don al aych ri h o av
r n n -

’
Lu ath g ruam ach s an f h raoch fo bh ro n ; Luath on the heath surl y in his g rief ;
gru amach s an raoeh fo v o n
'
ln a - -
r

Is minic a g h luai s i ad m arao n ,

Fo r often did they fo llow alike ,
is min ni e a yl aya i ad ma o an
-
r-

A sh e alg nan ruadh aibh leis an lao ch . To Cou rse the red m antled race with -

a b el ag n an ru a y v l ey s a lo ach -
’
n
the he ro .

N o ir Ch u nn aic O scar bron a ch ai rdean , W hen O sc ar sa w the sor row o f his

no r
y ch un ay c o s car b o n a ch ayrden
n r
friends ,

L abh ai r e an spai rn a c h lei bh : He spoke from his l abouring bosom

lavay r e an spayrn a c hleyv

“
O sn ai ch nan ard -
th ri adh f o ao i s , The sigh of high and aged chiefs ,
o sn ay ch ard-ri -a f0
'
n an ao y s

C ao ine n an con is a for m

, The weeping of the dogs and , th e lay
c aoyu e n an c on is a form

A bristeadh t om r
’
0 bh en l n am b ard , B reaking spont aneously from the
a b ris t 6 trom o vey l n am
-
'
ba d r m o uths o f the bards ,

L eag h iad manam 1e bro n , H a ve dissolved my soul in grief ,

leag h i ad man am le bro n -

M an am nach do leag h ri amh ,

My soul th at n ever melte d
man am n ach do le a
'
ri a - -
v

’
An c omh stri nan sg iath s n an l ann . In the conflict of shields and spe ars .

an co vstri n an sg i a s n an lann -
'

Bha c oltach ri cruai dh mo l aine . It w as like the steel of my sw o rd .

m o layn e
'
va co ltach ri c u ay r -

G u ilai n i bh mi gu m ch ru ai ch a th rei n i bh C arry me to mount ains he roes

’

,
my ,

g ylayn i v mi gu m ch m ay ch a h reyn i
u - - - v

’
T og ai bh cl ach sa bh e in n do m ch li u ,
R aise a stone to my fame ,

to g ay cl ach sa vey n do m chli

v n -
u

C uiribh c abar san uai g h learn fein ,

Place the horn o f a deer in my grave ,

cuy ri v caber sa u ay le arn fey n n - ’ -

’
S l ann thana n a m heum ri m th aobh And the thin blade o f deadl y cuts by
’ ’
.

slann h an a n am hey m ri m h aov ’

my side .

T o g ai dh sru th am an cein an n i r ,
The stream in th e course of ages may
, ,
togay sru
'
am an cey u an n y r
'
remove the soil ,

Chi an se alg aer g u cul a ch m ai dh ,

The hunter will see the sw o rd to i ts
c hi sella er cn l ch m ay back ;
’
an g a -
gu
So c lai dh e amh O scai r, f o sm u i r, It is the sword of O sc ar in the dust ,

so chlay ev osc ay r fo s mu
yr
”
S ui dh mor na m bliadh na ch ai dh nainu ’
. A gre at wo rthy o f times long p assed ,

suy mo n am i a na ch ai uy nr -
’
- ’
n aw ay .

N do thuit u mhic a thug dh o m h cli u ? H as the son who gave me fame

’
, ,
11 do h u t
y u vio a h ug yov cliu fallen ?
 1 20 TH E P OE T RY
N ach fai c mi 11 O sc ai r a ch o i dh ? Sh all I never se e the e O scar
,
n ach faye mi u o scay r a ch oy ’

’
N o ir chluin n eas triath ai n m an c lo i n n , When chiefs he ar of their sons ,
c hluy n n es tri - a man
’-
no
y r eu cloy n

Nach c lu i n n mi se lu ai dh o rt O scai r Sh all I not hear mention of thee

n ch a l
c y
u n n mi -se l n -
ay
’
o rt o scay r

Bidh c o i n each ai r do c h lac h ai bh liadh Moss will cover th y grey stones ,

'
bi c oy n ech ayr do c hlach -ay v li -
a
’

’
S gaoth a m e asg mo c h i abh f o bh ro n ; The wind be amid my l ocks in sorrow ;
s ga o
’
a m es g mo c h i -av fo vro n
C u i rer
’ ’
cath gu n us ai r sliabh The b attle shall be f ou gh t w ith o ut thee ,

g un u s ay r sli av
'
c y er
u r ca -

’
S cha lean u e illi d chi ar n an to rr And th o u sh alt not pu rsue the dee r on
‘

s ch a len 11 é yllid chi ar an t o r

' '

-
n r
the hill .

N o i r th ille as na g ai sg i ch o u stri
’

,
Whe n the w a rri o rs return from b attle ,
n oy r h ill as n a g ay sg ich o n st i r

’
G i n n si dh sg e u l m a thir n an gall , Telling tales of the l and of st rangers
g i un s i g all
'
sg
y l ma h ir an e n

C h u n n ach as their iad u ai g h ai g sr a th , , We h ave seen they will say a g rave

, ,

ch a unac as h ey r i ad -
ay a g
y s n -
n -
'
r
’
at a st re am

A th ao m a nuas bho th aobh n an c arn ,

Th at p o ured down from the cli ffs
a h ao m a nu as v o h ao a oa n -
v n n r

C o m h n u i dh gu n leus do th ri ath of a
’

,
It is the torchless dwelling chief
c ov n uy -
g l ey s do ri a
’
un -
’

A thuit le O scai r n an c arab ad . Who fell by O sc ar o f c ars .

a. h uy t ls osc ayr n an carabad

Th e ag amh gu n
’
Clu i n n e am a g h u th , Perh aps I m ay hear the voice ,

cl uy n n am
’
b eg -
av g un a yu
’
S gu n eirich s o las
’
ai r dubh ar mo And th at light will rise on the d ark
3 gu n eyr i ch s ol as -
ay r du var mo ness o f m y b o som .

c hle i bh .

c h ley v

Ch ai dh e adh mid an o i ch e f o bh ro n , The night would have been p assed

ch ay e m id an o y oh e fo v o n
’ ’
r in s o rro w ,

S ch a n e ireadh le sol as a g h ri an Nor w ould the sun h ave risen in jo y

’ ’
,

s ch an ey a 1e s ol as a y ri an r
’ -

S h easa dh na tri ath a m ar sc o rr a ,

The chiefs would h ave sto o d like
hesa n a t iay ma s co a
’
r r rr cli ff s
Air M o i len a n an torr f o mh uig .
O n M o ile n a o f dusk y woods ,

ay r moylen a n an t orr f o vfi y g
Un aski ng for unmindful of w ar
G n n f h arrai d gu n lu ai dh air c om h rag
’ ’
.

,
. ,
'

gun array d g un lu -
ay ayr co vray g

S g ao il an righ g u c aoin am b ron ,

The king mildl y b anished our g rief ,

sg oyl an ri
’
gu coy n am bro n
S th o g e le treo i r a gh uth
’ And r aised his v o ice with firmness
s h g e le t e oyr a y
o r -
u
’

The heroes s tarted an d drew near

M h o sg ail n a trenna na choi r ,
,

v osg el na trey a n a ch oy r n

M ar gu m b an n a u amh ai n n b ruadai r
’
- .
As from a horrid dream .

m ar g u m b ann a u a vaynn bru a d ay r - - c -

1 22 TH E P OE T RY
’
S ileadh de o i r o o ig h ean n a frith , Let te ars fall fro m the maidens of
sile ’
de oyr -
o 0y
’-
en 11 3 fri ’
the fo rest ,

0 o i g h ean an ai lli dh na M orbh ean n . The be autiful maidens of Morven .

o oyn nen ay ll i
’
na mor- venn
’
B uaille sinne a n c o mh rai g na h E irin n -
, We mus t strike in the battles of E rin ,
buylli s inne an yg co v -ra n a h ey i nn -
r

Mu sh i o l n an treun a thuit le Cai rber . For the race of the mighty who fell
mu h i - ol n an trey n a h uy t 1s cayrber by C airbe r .

Tha lai th e an mo bh li an ai bh f o ni al ; The d ay s of my y ears are under a

l ay en mo vli an ay v f o
ha ’~ - -
u i — al cloud ;
Tha mo ru ig h aosda fas fann , My aged arm is becoming we ak
,
ha mo a-os-da f as fan u
’
ruy

’ ’
S m ath ri c h e an a sealtai n o ni al ,
My fathers are looking from their
8 ch eu a se altayn o i al
ma ’-
ri - -
u -
clouds
Air faoin astar an li adh mhic ; -
O n the feeble course of their grey
ay r faoy n as t ar li a ic hai red so n ;
- ’-
an v

’ ’
Ach cha tre ig e n arach gu n bh u ai dh ,
But I will not resign without victory ,
arach
’
aoh ch a treyg en gun vu y

’
Gu n de alradh f bag ail ma ohlin , Without leaving a blaze of fame ,
delra ag ayl ma ch li -u
’
gun
Gu n f h ag ail mar sh olus n an S p e ur, Without le aving m y n ame li ke the
’
ai n m

g un sy n -em ag ayl mar b ol us n an sp eyr light of he aven ,

” ”
Do bh ardai bh n an teud c ui n . To the bards o f tuneful strings .

do vard ay v ‘
nan tey d ci -nyn

“ ”
Down to the period at which the whole pomp and circumstance of
warf are was ch anged by the discovery and unive rs al use o f gunpowder the ,

chief bard acted as aid de camp o f the ce ann oath and the cl an h ard as the — - -
,

adj utant of the chief The former w as often dispatched to an overm atched o r .

receding di vision for the purpose o f rekindling their fire an d energy with his
,

w ar song or prosn ach adh as reinfo rcements are now sent

-
We have an instance ,
.

of this in the poem of Fingal where the h ard is sent to encourage the over ,

m atched division of Gual This p ro sn ach adh or war song h a b een carried - s

down by oral recitation more full y than in the version o f it found i n Mr Mac
’

ph e rson s repositories and is now submitted to the reader , .

A sh i ol mh arcai ch ean n an steud Descend ant of th e riders of steeds

a ll l- Ol v arcay ch - an n an steyd

’
Is ai rde leum sas fi ate srann , O f highest bounds an d wildest snorts ,

y d é ley m sas fi a t é s an n
is a r- r
- -

’
A righ n an clai dh eamh g eu r s n an sleag h ; King of sh arp swo rds and spe ars
’ '
sle a
'
ri clay v
' -
a n an
geyr s n an

A lam h th reun ch as an c ru ai dh - ,
Strong a rm in extremity ,
c ru ay ch as
'
a lav h rey n an - -

A ch ridh e ai rd nach eu r bas ,

High he art th at fe ars not death ,
a ch ri é ay d n ach eyr h as
'
-
r

A ch ean n ai rd shoun is eu ch dar toirt ; Chief of heroes of deeds illustrious ;

a ch enn ay d h enn is eyc ar toy rt
-
r -

Cuir sg ri os ai r m arach ean nan stuadh ,

Destroy the mariners of the waves ,

agris mara ch en nan s tu a

'
c yr u ay r - -
 ’
Air n ai mh dean f uileach o u ti r th u adh , The bloody foe from the n o rth ,
ay r n ay v- den f uy l- ecb on tir hu -
'
a

Air cabh la ch is sluag h I n n i stor . The n avy and the people of Innistore .

ay r lach is slu a in i tor

cav - -
'
n s

’
Biodh do shuil m ar choar a d ch ean n ’
, Be thine ey e fire in th y head ,
do h uy l mar ch oar a d ch enn
' ’
bi o -

’
M ar ch i th o u dealan do l ann
’
Thy sword the lightning s flash ’
, ,
’ ’
mar c hi o n del- an do Ia
in
’
’
8 mar bh ei th i rtharn g u lot ,
ro
’

,
. And the bolt befo re the thunder , , to
’
8 m ar v ey ir ro h arn g u lo t
'
-
wound .

A rdai ch g u b u ai dh do S g iath , E xalt th y vic torious shield ,

ard aych buy do sgi a ' ’
gu
- -

i“ ’
Is f uileac h tuar s as c ro bh uz n e ul Blood edged *-
col o ured
’

,
-
c ro v i ,

i s f uyl och tu ar sas

-
c o vuy a ey l -
r

M ar real a bh ais do u aimh f o spro ch d . Like the star of death to doubting ,

mar re -al a v ay s do na v
y fo sp roc fo emen .

A sh i ol mh arc ai ch ean n an steud ,

R ace o f the ride rs o f steeds
a bi - ol v arcay ch en n an stey d

’
Is ai rde leum s as flate sran n , O f the highest bounds an d wildest
is ay rde ley m sas fi - a- té s ran n snorts ,

S g ri o s n ai mh dean si o s g u h as . Cut down the foe to de ath .

n a- i v - den
sgri s si - o s gn bas

M ac mh u ire ch at the battle of H arlaw is the most rem arkable

’
s p rosn ach a ,

now extant It is accessible to th e reader a considerable p art of it having

.
,
—

been published by the Hills the Stewarts and othe rs It consisted of a verse , ,
.

o f eight lin es for every letter o f the Gaelic alph abet the initi al letter of the ,

first and of every other word in every line of each verse having the same ,

initial letter This seems to have been the last prosn ach a actu ally repe ated in
.

battle the introduction of powder hav ing c aused the substitution o f the
i o b rea c for the vocal w ar song
-
The i o b r ea c (p eeb rec ) a name compounded - -
p p
-
.
,

from p i ob pipe and r ea c law that is the w ar pipe law seems to have been
, , , ,
—
,
-
,
—

’
introduced immedi ately after the b attle of H arlaw in M acmh ui rech s o wn day , ,

and apparently to the infinite disgust of the bard whose verses descriptive of ,

the b agpipe and its line age are more g raphic and humourous than gentlem anly
and elegant Indeed generally spe aking the Gaelic bards like their contem
.
, , ,

p o ra ri es o f the Lowlands and o f E ngl and though ve r

y happ y i n their b ro a dly ,

humourous pieces were wretched satirists Domh n ul M ac raon uil R ob Donn

,
.
-
, ,

and Ai llean Dal] almost comprise the sum total of elegant and gentlemanl y
,

G aelic satirists : these were true satirists keen and cutting but as clear and , , ,

polished and sharp as steel blades With these exceptions I sc arcel y c an at

,
.
,

this moment remember a Gaelic s atire th at does not degenerate more or less
i nto scurrili ty E ven I ain Lom and Donn ach adh Ban were scurrilous in thei r
.

’
satires Indeed scurrility seems to h ave been the h angman s whip o f the
.
,
”
b ards as the fear 0 hell w as th at o f the clergy o f the d ark ages ; and the
,
’

forms for banning the excommunicated used by the p riest seems reall y to h ave ,

furni sh ed the model for the exec rable compositi o ns m eant for sati res by the bards .

This w rd s ms t b b l t o ee o e o so e e .
1 24 TH E P O E T R Y
A lthough the apparentl
y detes ted b
w a r- pipe w as
y the olde r b ards wh o se ,

ro sn ach adh it superseded in b attle no other instrument c an a ctuall y spe ak so

p ,

thoroughl y unde rst o od an d f elt a l anguage to the he arts o f those w h o h ave a

k e y to its articul ations Those wh o h ave not m ay fl atter t hemselves th at
.
,

superior refinement and civiliz ation satisfactoril y acc o unt fo r the distaste with
which they turn aw ay from the war pipe music with s o mething like disgust -
, ,

struggling to fi n d the me ans o f expressi n g itself o n thei r in ane plebei an faces ;

but I h ave neve r y et seen a gentlem an o f sensibility an d intelligence h o weve r ,

much a strange r to such m usic wh o did not regard it as b o th el oq uent and ,

picturesque and st rikingl y acco rd ant with the warlike ch aracter o f the people
,

o f Scotl and I h ave in o n e o f my p apers in the West of Scotl and M agazine

.
,

described an instance of ex alte d devotion o n the part o f the pipe r of C o ll a ci otach -

,

o r left h anded Coll father o f the heroic Sir Alex ander M a cdon ald the lieute nant
-
, ,

o f Montr o se The piper l anded with a p arty on Isl ay in advance o f the ex

.

e d i ti o n from Irel and with instruction s to take the castle o f Dun a vert y by
p
- -
,

surprise should he find the C ain p bells off their gu ard an d that this might b e
, ,

attempted with the prospect o f success The C ampbells however were .

, ,

appri sed of the expedition an d o n the alert and d rew the unfortun ate piper
, ,

and his p arty into an ambush and made them prisoners Here the inhuman ,
.

characte r o f the w ar beg an the whole party excepting the piper being hung
, , ,

up o ff hand The piper asked leave to play a lament over the fate o f his
.

comp anions an d the chieftain w h o command ed the C ampbells being himself

,

enthusi astic ally fond o f pipe music and anxious to hear so celeb rated a musici an , ,

granted the boon ; but in the meantime he caused s o me c attle to be put in

, ,

the w ay o f the appro aching B irli n s while he posted a strong p arty in ambush ,

to fall upon them should the y l and another party to take the castle as the ,

p i ob rea o inst ructs

-
The piper watchful o f these movements ad apted his
.
, ,

pi c h reao to the situation with the most consumm ate art The warning notes
-
.

are poured forth in sep ara te st rains h aving all the appe ar ance o f unme aning , ,

unconnected vagaries ; but they bre athe a mel ancholy spi rit and t h e warning ,
-

an d l amenting notes c o uld not fail to be understood b y th o se wh o knew the

sty le of th e musician so intim atel y The bards have put all these p i o b re acs .
-

into imitative sy llables an d words f or illustration and I submit those assigned ,

to this celebrated w arning as I am an y thing but pleased with the ve rsi o n I have
,

got of the p i ob reao itself The chieft ain un derstood the me aning o f the
-
.

sixth verse or part of the pich re ao and on finding himself o verre ached by -
, ,

the piper he plunged his dirk into him an d tradition states that the devoted
,

minstrel smiled p roudl y i n death o n seeing by the deviating course o f the , ,

B i rlin s th at his w arning w as understood an d s aved his friend s

,
The warning
, ,

notes san ch a t u a n du n avoid the castle ; an d the l amenting notes tha s i n n e a n

'

, , ,

la i m h we are p risoners are excee di ngl y touching ; but indeed when pr o pe rly
, , , ,

pl ay ed this n oble piece o f music i s literally an epic in epitome an d perfectly

, ,

u nique as a
p i o b re ao I grieve exceedingl
-
y a t being
. obliged t o publ i sh so

contemptible a version o f it Pipe music is known to h ave been heard at the .

distance o f six and under favourable circums tances ten miles

, ,
.
 1 26 TH E P OE T R Y
pill oried in the sati re with the ever recurring sneering notes sea l a mis a zr
'
-
, , , ,
”
loo k at him n o w l ) are enough to annihil ate an y pers o n possessing the le ast
sensibility who while hearing them is consci o us o f having been in so degrading
, , ,

a conditi o n even f o r once in his life Gillie C allum the compositi o n of which -
.
,

is by some witty b ard ascribed to No ah wh o first d anced the hil ari o us d ance ,
“ ”
himself over two cross vines while glorious o n discovering the virtue o f thei r ,

fruit presents a striking c o nt rast to Dao rach B obbi The total abstainer could
,
.

h ardly find a better text fo r his lecture th an Daorach B obbi ; while the temper
ance lecturer would n o t be f ar wrong in adopting Gillie C allum Both tunes -
.

st rikingl y illustrate the desc riptive ch aracter of th e music o f the G ael

. He .

who when in his cups st aggers st o ps st ares at vac anc y an d sprawls in the
, , , , ,

mud like B obbi i s w o rse th an a fool unless he t o tally abstain ; while he whose
, , ,

worst exhibition when in his cups is to d ance Gillie C allum like father Noah -
, ,

would n o t be wise were he to totally abstain At least so thought the bard .

, ,

Willi am R o ss who w rote the following verses which I submit as a fai r average
, ,

specimen of the legion o f Highl and d rinking carols Whisk y is personified i n .

Gaelic poetry unde r the n ame of

M A C - A N - T O S AI C H , -
TH E S O N O F T HE VAN .

CO a sh am hladh fe ar do bh eu san , Who w o uld compare a man o f th y

00 a h avl a ’
f er do v e san
y smeddum (Spi rit)
B i fion , tan adh , g e ur na Frai n g ? To wines thin an d sh arp of F rance ?
ri fi -
ou t an a ’
ytge na frayn g
Na dhi -
m oladh Mac -
an - T o i sai ch , O r disp raise Macint o sh ,

na la yi mo
-
’
mac -
an - to sa ch
y y
Ach le ibi d n ach Oladh dram ? Save a sne ak that will not take a
ach lebi d n ach l
o a
’
dram dram

Gl ac an t- sh e arrag , li o n a g h lo i n ne Seize the b o ttle fill the gl ass , ,

g l ac an te eg r li -O u a y loyn e
Eh -
uain am b al ach , g rua m ach , g ann Hence the b o o r churlish an d scant ;
,
vu -a n am b al ach g ru- am - ach gann
y
Gille g asda m ac n a brach a ,
- —
,
Noble y outh , so n o f m alt ,

gi lli g asda mac n a bra ch a - - -

S iom a g ai sg e ach ort an ge al Many warriors court to thee

’
.
p ay .

g ay g ech o rt an g ell
’
s i o ma ~
s -

I o g ai n crabh ai dh bidh dh at dh i te adh , Lecturing h y pocrites m ay a buse thee

i -
og ayn
~
cravey ’
bi
'
y at yi te ’

Le cul ch ai n t tha dai ch eal feall

— Behind th y b ack in plausibl y deceit ,

le cul ch ay t h a day ch el f 611

-
u -
ful w ords ;
Ged a c h ain eas i ad le m beo il u ’

,
B ut although they slander ,

ged a ch ay n es i -
ad lem be-oyl n

O lai dh iad u m ar an t -
alt .
—
Gl ac &c ,
.
They d rink thee like brook water .

ly
o a
'
i -
ad 11 m ar an t al t Seize &c ,
.

A ch leir fein g e se u nt
’
an cot a, The clerg y themselves although thei r ,

a ch ley r f éy n g e sé y n t an co ta garb is s aintly ,

Tha na s
’
le o i r dhin o rt an g e all, Are m an y of them am o ng th y
, ,

ha n as le-oyr yi -u ort an gell devotees ,

 OF TH E HIG H L AN D CL A NS . 1 27
’ ’
S tha c uid ac a g h abh as f ro ile adh And some of them enjoy a bo use
’
8 ha c uyd aca y av as froyl e
Cho m ath ri sai g h dear sa ch amb . As well as an y soldier in the camp .

ma ri say der sa ch am
' '
cho -
S eize &c ,
,

’
C o im mar a dhuin b an ais n i tear ,
How c o uld we wake a wedding ,
m ar 21 n i tear yuyu ba a s
’
c o ym n-
y
C u mh n an ta na c e an g al te anu ? Or a binding contract ?
c n n a ta na v cengal tenn u

Mar bi d ram ag ai nn do n chleireach ’

, Unless we have a d ram for the cle rk ,
mar bi d am ag ayn don c hley echr -
r

Ch a bh i m oran sp re ig n a ph e an n . There will be little vigour in his

ch a vi mo ra n sp re
yg na fe nn p en Seize & c —
,
.

Bu mh i an leam fein f h i r mo ch ri dh e , ,
It is my own desire ,
so n o f my he art ,

bu vi an le am f eyn ir mo ch ri é
- - '
-

’
A bhi n a (1 ch omun n nach gann ; To be in th y generous comp an y
21 vi na d c h o mu n n ach gann ’
n

’
S tri o a bha sinn e nar di th i s ,
O ften have w e two been together ,
strio a va s inne n ar di is
’ '
-

Gun ph iob gun f h i deil a dan n s , . Without a pipe or fiddle dancing ,

.

g un fi ob gu n i eyl a d ann s Seize &c

- ’-
.
,

The next specimen of the p i ob reac which would have been submitte d -
,

had I been able to get a proper version o f it is th at mentioned in th e foot note ,

—
,

Cill a Ch ri osd (the Cell o f Ch rist ) which origin ated thus z The Mackenzies
- -
, ,
—

hav i ng adopted feud alism adopted of course al o ng with it the vital principle , , ,

“ ”
o f the s stem n mel that might is right Their chief a ccordingl y
y a y , ,
.
, ,

determined to extend his possessions at the expense of hi s neigh bours the ,

M acdonells o f Glengarry Having Obtained a charter from the crown which

.
. ,

was ever re ad y to substitute feudal for p atriarchal cl ans he assembled his cl an ,

and feudal allies at di ff erent remote points where they were concealed during ,

the day with the view o f advancing under the cloud of the following night
, ,

for concentrati o n o n the borders o f th e do omed cl an who were to be taken by .

,

surprise On e o f these parties was concealed in a church near Beauly The

. .

illustri ous loy alist Allastai r Dubh (duv) of Glen garry bein g apprised of these
, ,

secret movements quietl y collected his clan and friends an d dete rmined to
, ,

anticipate the enem y He dispatched the celebrated Aillen M ac B ao il (ay llen .

mac raoyl) against the part y hiding in Cill a Ch ri osd (kill a chri o ed) while he — -
,
- - -

him self with his no less celebrated friend A ille n Dubh na Fiadh (ayllen duv n a
, , ,

fi a ) proceded against the castle where Mackenzie in the blind confidence o f

-
’

, ,

s ecurity h ad assembled and w as feasting his chie ftains preparato ry to a deadly

, , , ,

atta ck o n as he supp osed his unprep ared neighbours Glengarry and his
, ,
.

friends when the feasting and mirth were at the highest con tri ved to possess
, ,

themselves o f the stairs an d all the passages to and from the hall which w as ,

filled with hilari o us bands o f the clan M ackenzie to t all y unconscious o f their ,

position The late Sir Thomas Dick Lauder tells the result i n an admirable
.

’
paper in Tait s Magazine ; but he does not seem to have obtained a proper
1 28 T HE P OE T RY
ve rsion o f the traditi on Indeed the writer o f Hi g hland tradition cannot be
.
,

too cautious o r p articul ar in his inquiries befo re c o mmitting himself to a ,

tradition fo r there are frequentl y diff e rent versi o ns o f th e same ; and although
,

eve ry o ne o f them substanti ally agree y e t they may an d often do di ff er in , , ,

details c redit able o r discredit able to individu als Fo r inst ance the re w as .
,

nothing mo re natural th an th at the indignant fo es o f Ai llean M ac B aoil as well ,

a s the religious fan atic h o rrified at the destruction o f Cill a Ch ri o sd should so

,
- -
,

tell the st o ry as to le ad to the belief th at the church w as burnt i n revenge over , ,

the he ads o f a worshipping congregati on in stea d Of over those o f enemies , ,

lurking the re for the purpose of ste aling more securely an d wi th mo re de adly ,

s uccess on an unsuspecting cl an
, I had m y self been misled by this version o f
.

the t radition but with this explan ation the versions of the tradition published ,
’
in the New Monthly an d in T ait s M agazines are unexception able Indeed .
,

j udging from tradition there never we re a people who with all their injuries
, ,

under the feud al usurpation were less given to revenge than the old Highl and
,

cl ans . Two o r thr ee constitute all the inst ances recorded by traditi o n of
Highland revenge the testimony of Sir Walter Scott and other feud alists
,
—

notwithstanding .

The p i ob re ao commemorative of an y striking event was descriptive

-
, .

Hence this tune contradicts the ve rsion of the tradition which m akes A i llean
Mac B ao il set fire to the church over the heads o f a worshipping co n gregati o n ;
for although we cann o t help fancy ing when the tune is p ro pe rl y pl ay ed that , ,

we hear the flames rustling an d bellowi ng thr ough the bl az ing timbers o f the
resounding church mingled with the angry remonstrances and h alf sm o the red
,
-

sh o uts of the warriors while the w ail o f the s ym pathizing an d genero us

,

m instrel himself p ermiate s and inspires the whole piece we do n o t find in it ,

an y represent ation o f the more feeble plaints and mo ans o f women The .

absence o f these which in all probabilit would have formed the burden o f
, y , ,

the tune had there been women among the victims confirms the version o f the
, ,

tradition which sta tes that there were none present excepting warriors who h ad
been pl aced in ambush there .

“ ”
I have been able to p rocure som ething re sembling A Cholla ma ruin
from a Highl and friend which I ha ve submitted to the reader fo r want o f a better
,
.

Perhaps i t will enable him to conceive ( with the ai d of the illustrative wo rds )
what thi s p i ob rea o w as when p ro pe rly pl ay ed The above description o f
-
.

C ill a Ch ri osd h as been written fr o m m y rec o llection of m y father s descri pti o n

’
- -

o f it to an E nglish gentleman who had strong p rejudices against b ag pipe music ;

,

but who on getti ng a k ey to i ts descriptive ch arac ter and he aring this n o ble
, ,

tune pl ay ed by J ohn M acdonell Glen garry s piper bec ame a pe rfect enth usiast
,
’
,

for the musi c I h ave n o t h ad an Opportunity f or some y e ars of he aring the

.

music of the war pipe u n der circumstances which entitle me to spe ak with
-

confidence on this subject as the meetings o f Highl anders are now held under
,

p atr o n age an d I cannot be a p arty to such repudi ation o f the feeli ngs which
,

ch arac te rize d o ur ancestors as that implies They clung endearingly an d .

te n acious l y to the patriarchal ch leach da which fostered and se c ured th e manl y ,

1 30 T HE P O E T RY
’
S bras m e am n each fi r A lb a The men of A lb a having risen
’
s bras memen ach fir l ba a a

’ ’
Fo n armai bh , s n an luth Unde r arms an d in their vigou r an d
,
fon arm ay v
’
lfi
’
-
s n an
might ;
Noir dh
ei res gach treun -
lao c h No w when every st ro ng he ro
,
no r
y y eyres g ach t ey r n laoch

Na eide gl an u r , Is in his cle an new costume , ,

n a ey d i
g l an fi r
-

Le run feirg e is g ai rg e Indignantly and fiercel y ze al o us

le run f eyrig é i s g ai rg e

A th ea muin r a c h ru i n . Fo r the restorati o n of the c ro wn .

a h er m -
uyu a ch ruy n

T h ei d m ai th abh na G alltach d The good men of the L o wl ands

h ey d may av n a g all tac ’- -

Gle sh an n tach an glens ; E nter e agerl y into action

g lé b ann tach an g ley s -

Gur li on ar steud sh ean g mh ear -

M any is the steed slender an d merry
gur li on ar stey d
-
h en g er
- -
v

A dh an n sas 1e speis . That will prance under them

y aun sas 1e sp eys
.

a -

Biodh S assan ai ch c ailte , The E nglish will be losers ,

bi sassan aych caylté
' -

Is th o i l i ad an te in , An d deserve to be put to an extremity ,

i s h oyl i ad an t eyn -

’ ’
S bidh na F ran g ai ch le n c am bai bh And the French in their enc ampments
fi an g aych camb ay
’
bi len
’ —
s na v
'
-

Gle th e an n air an de ig h . Will be closel y after them .

gle henn ayr an dey ’

Before quoting the other two o r three verses which is all I c an make room ,

f or o f this song I c annot help rem arki ng th at the feeling toward the E nglish
, ,

expressed in the above verses came down at le ast among the adherents of the , ,

Stu art famil y to m y o wn time the commencement I me an o f the w ar

, ,
—

, ,

resulting from the French Revolution This w as shown by the 79 th regiment .

,

a t a c ritic al m o ment o n its first meeting with the F rench under i ts illustrious
, ,

founder an d chi ef A illean o f E arrac h t This splendid o fli c er he ard a murmur

, .

p assing through the ranks o f the re g iment as the F rench advanced The ,

French are the friends of o ur clan They covered o ur retre at at Culloden Let . .

”
us fight the B e d Coats The colonel did not say a wo rd ; but he m ade a slight
.

movement which b rought the L o ch aber men within range of a dist ant volley
,

fro m the French when he excl aimed in his own thunde ring voice
,
There they , ,
” ’ ’
are my lads an d if y o u don t kill them b y G they ll kill y ou Diol ,
.
,
“ ”
with equal speed through the anks the have attacked o ur clan ! The
( ran r ) y ,

C amerons on finding themselves thus used gave a speed y account o f thei r

, ,

F rench friends ; and from that day there h as not been in the army a more , ,

distinguished regiment for loy alty o r bravery The above feeling w as reversed .

duri n g the Peninsular war as a consequence of the man y glorious battles in ,

 OF TH E HI G H LAN D CLANS . 1 31
“ ”
w hich the E nglishman an d the Highl ande r fo ught shoulder to shoulder n o t ,

less than by the m an y generous an d kindl y acts th at p assed between them o n

the m arch an d in the bivou ac in p rivati o n an d fe stivity durin g m an y a t ry ing , ,

c amp aign in which p at riotism an d gl o ry were the c o mpensation for toil and
,

starvati o n But in eve ry not me rel y Highl and but Scottish Welsh and I rish
.
, , , ,

he art worth y o f their ancestors there is a re action ag ainst the E nglish since
, ,

the Pe ace The vulgar an d the ignorant w h o are the c ause of the re acti o n o f
.
, ,

course c ann o t o r w ill n o t see it until to o l ate Neve rtheless n o intelligent o r

, , ,
.
,

gentlem anl y E nglishm an c an be ign o rant Of o r w o nde r at it It is chiefly to , .

be ascribed to the man y E nglish newsp apers conducted by edito rs w h o p o stp o ne ,

gentlem anl y feeling an d an h on est regard to the treaties by which the pe o ples
Of these kingdom s have been united o n equal terms to the ignoble purpose o f ,

c a ter i ng for the t astes o f the millions These to the discredit o f j o urn alism .
, ,

av ail themselves of eve ry Opportunity of levelling Off ensive n ay insul ting , ,

par agraphs at thei r fellow subj ects of Wales I rel and an d S cotl and ; and i n , , ,

contradistinction they exto l to the skies the m y thic Anglo Saxons as demigods
,
—
, ,

wh o se destiny as they l o udl y p rocl aim is to conquer and exti rp ate all othe r
,
—
,
—

r aces o f mankind ! That the rude and ignorant should be the puppets o f these
ill bred sy cophants was to be expected ; but th at G o vernors o f C o l o nies Generals
-
,

c o mm anding armies Admirals c o mm anding n avies and n o t onl y Membe rs o f

, ,
’
P arli ament but also the Members Of H er M aj esty s Gove rnment should c ou n te
, ,

n ance these lo w w rite rs by adopting such a sty le to design ate the Arm y an d,
’ ’
Navy h er M ajesty s Gove rnment an d her M ajesty s peoples as i g nores the
, , ,

Un i o n an d is at once an illeg al usurpation o f suprem acy by E ngl and over

,

countries th at she never conque red an d who formed an alliance w ith her o n .

equ al terms is dishonou rable an d discredit abl e This illeg al unp at riotic an d
,
.
, ,

most ungentlem anl y c o n duct is most assu redl y alien ating every Welsh I rish , , ,

an d Scottish heart th at che rishes for the n ation alities f or w hich o u r fathers

fought bled and died the high an d hol y feelings which th eir history is so well
, , ,

c alcul ated to inspire The time the refore will assuredly come when the
.
, , ,

Wel sh the Irish an d the Scotch will remember ancient and kindred ties an d
, , , ,

feel bound in honour to b re ak up the Uni o n f o r the pu rpose of getting quit o f ,

the deg raded position in which they are thus pl aced in the empire If they do .

n o t revive an d cement ancient ties an d a ssert their right to have the empi re ,
“ ” “
called The British E mpire the Government called The B ritish G o ve rn ,
” ”
ment an d the Arm y and N avy c alled The British Arm y an d Navy they
, ,

wi ll sink into nomin al serfage an d lose every high and n o ble feeling to which ,

man owes i n dep en dan ce and freed o m : f o r no people can be wo rthy o f o r ,

maintain their freedom who are c apable o f allowing themselves to be swindled,

o u t o f the n ation alit

y which is its sole gu arantee .

E iri dh Cl an -
Dh omh n uil Cl an -
Do n uill w il l i
r se
e
yri
’
cl an -
y o v-
un l
y

Mar le o g h ai n n am f e arg , Like lions en raged ,

ls -
o -i n n am f ere g
 1 32 T HE P O E T R Y
Na m
’

beo -
bh e th ir ; m o r le ath u n n Or li ve thunder bolts - tall and stout
’
na m be -
o ve- -
ir m or le
'
-
an n

C on n sp an ach garg .
Are the heroes fie rce
conn sp an ach
.

g arag
- -

L u ch d a sh easai bh n a corach , The y are the men to stand by the

In c a h es-syv na co ach r
right ,
’

Ga n o rdugh lamh -
dhea rg . Whose cogniz ance is the red h and .

o rd u lav -y erag
’
g an
-

MO -
dh oi gh ! bh i o dh i ad gorach Mo o
y y ! they would be m ad
m o yoy - ’
vi
’
i - ad go r -
ach

A th o i si ch eadh o i rbh . Who should begi n the b attle by

a h oy s ich - -
a
’
oy rv
atta cking y o u .

Gur li on ar l amb th e o m a M an y are the warriors

g ur li - o -
n ar lav h e-o ma -

Th ai g E og h an Lochi al . O f O wen of Lochiel .

h ay g e
’-
o - an loch i al - -

F i r c h o lg an ta , bh org an ta, Rough an d bro a d

fir ch o lag - a nta vo rg antae

Is o i rdh e i rce g n i o mh . Are the heroes of deeds illustrious .

is oy r- yeyre e -
g n i -
av

I ad m ar th uil bh e u m , -
air chorr g hle u s -
,
Like the Sp ring tide or a mountain -
,
i -
ad m ar h uyl- v ey m a r
y ch orr yley s -
sp ate ,

A i r c h o n f h adh ro dhi o n . They adv ance to b attle .

ayr chon a h a -
'
ro
yi
-
ou

’
Se m o dh u ilsa n a m ru sg ai dh , It is my Opini o n th at at stripping ,
se mo y uyl
-
sa na m rus
g
-
a
y
'
time ,

N ac h diult si bh dol sios . They will not hesitate to descend .

n ach di —
ul t siv dol si o s -

The Highlanders of Drui dal times pl aced something like a religi o us v alue
o n the or ati o ns delivered ove r their g raves by the b ards Hence as they alway s .
,

fought stripped to the ki lt the y used to p aint thei r c rests o n their boso ms so , ,

as the y might be rec o gnised an d distinguished in the c o nflict as well as a mong ,

the slain should th at be their fate The y so fo ught o n the G rampi ans ag ainst
, .

th e Rom ans an d at Killiec rankie ag ainst the L o wl ande rs an d the E nglish

, .

”
Hence the b ardic expression n am rusg ai dh stripping time which is sy n o n y , ,
-
,

mous with the command to ch arge The R o m ans o n wh o se ignorance o r .

,

dishonesty as regarded their enemies modern philology is beginning to throw ,

a ligh t th at will stagger some of their school bo ish admire rs rep resent the a rm y
y
—
,

Of the Grampi ans n o twiths t andin g their own admissi o n that they h ad sw o rds
, ,

spears poni ards st and ards an d ch ari o ts as painted s av ages ; but the E nglish
, , , , ,

who seem to have been equ ally ignorant o r prejudiced a n d wh o aff ected to ,

regard the kilt as a mere rag tied round the l oins represent them onl y as n aked ,

savages B o th statements are o f equ al v alue f o r their hist o ric al honesty o r tru th
. .

The y h ave served their day The practice o f the pugilists to strip befo re .

setting to an d o f se amen to h ave devices p ainted o n their arms by thei r

-
,

“
comrades o r sweethearts before braving the dangers of the battle an d the ,
1 34 TH E P O E T R Y
MO chas g a sli o ba sa bh raon mh ao th , My feet l aved by th e mild streamlet
mo ch o s g a sl ib a sa vrao v ao -
n
’

’
A lub as m al is c aoin tre n bh lar . Th at winds slow ly an d genially th rou o
D
h
a l ubas mal i s caoyu t e n vlar r
’
.
the me ado w .

A i g iadh adh m u bh ru ai ch ai bh mo g h li n n , Aro und the lofty borders of my glen ,

'
ay g i -
a
’-
a mu vru - ach - s
yv mo ylin n
Biodh luba gh e ug an s orra bl ath ;
’
Be the bending of boughs in full le af ,
bi O l uba y ey g a s o rra bla
- ’
.
-
n
’ ’

’
S ol anu bhe ag n an pre a s a tabh ai rt sei n n And the little children of the coppice
p es a ta ayrt seyun
, ,
s ol an u
’
ve na
g n r v-

A i r cre ag an ao sd le n o rain g h rai dh

’ ’
. M aking the aged rocks re - sing their
ay r c reg an aosd ls n o rayn y ay -
’
-
r
’
l ay s of love ,

’
Bidh ard osc i o n
dosan n a m beann , High ab o ve the wo o d crowned moun -

bi ard o s ci o n d o s an na m b enn - -
mi n ,
’
Le cumh adh do g h ao il n a d m h in bh e ul ,
With th y song of love in th y tender
cuva i v ey l
' ’
le do y aoyl n a (1 v n- v o ice ,

E al a th ri al o thir n an stuadh ,
Be th o u swan fro m the l and of w aves
, ,

ell a h ri al o h ir n an -
s tu a - - ’

Is seiun dh o mh ceol an ai rd n an sp e ur . Singing music t o m e high among th e

i s s ey un yov cc o l a a rd
y an spey r - n n fle e c y clouds ,

3 ai rde t- or an c i ui n , Higher raise th y l o v el y song

’
Tog na ,

to g na 3 ay rdé t -
o r- e u c i - uy n

cuir an ceil do bh ro in An d disclose th y c au se of g rief

’
S sg e ula , ,

s cuyr sgey la do vroy n a eey l - n

i i gach *
S g lac aidh m actallai dh
’
c iuil
'

,
The son who fascin ates all music ,

6
’
g l ac ay m ac t all ay
-
g ao
'
ci uyl - -
' -

Gach sg e ul tursach o d bh inn bh en l Will le arn every t ale of sorrow from

’
-
.

g ach sgeyl t ar sach 0 d v i nn v ey l -

’ -
t h y sweet voice .

Tog do sg iath is tri al their cu an ,

Spre ad th y wings ,
fly o ve r the se a ,
i s tri al h ay r c a
'
to g do sg i a - - u- n

Glac do lu ath as bh o n eart n a g ao idh . C atch speed from the strength of the
gl ac do ne t wind
' '
lu -
a -
as vo r na g aoy .

’
8 tai tn e ach , ce bro nach am ch lu ai s, Pleas ant though m ournful to m y ear
, ,
’
8 tayt nech -
ce bron ach am chl u - ay s

0 d
’
ch ri dh e leo i n te t oran a o il Is the song of love from th y wounded
g
-
.

o d ’
ch ri ’-
é ls -oyn té t O an
-
r
g aoyl hea rt ,

Cai ribh mi dlu th do n

’
E as mhor —
L ay me by the side of E as -
m or,
,
' ’
cayr-i v mi dlu do n es v or

Bh ri ste as ann an t arn o u ch rei g Th at bu rsts in thunder o ver the ro ck

’
,
,

vris tes a n an tarn o ch reyg

- n n

Bi o dh cru i t agus slig e ri m th ao bh ’

,
Let the l y re and shell be by m y side ,

bi o ch uyt ag u s sl eg é i m
- h aor
-
r v

8 an sg iath dh i on m o sh i n n sir sa ch ath

’
. And the shield that covered my sire s
i n b attle
'
mo h in n sir ch a
’
sg i - a yi
’
s an -
ou
-
sa ,

a: M a c tallai dh ,
-
”
e ch o ; lit ll y th f s ci n t
era , e a a o r.
 OF T HE H I G HL A N D CLANS . 1 35

Thig le
c ai rdes th air a chu an , Come in kindness over the sea
big le cay r-des th y a chu an a r -

O sag mh in a g h lu aise s mall , ,

Mild breeze that travels slow ;
o s ag vi n a ylu s ys es mall
- - -

T og mo cheo ai r sg iath do luath ais ,

Lift mist on the wing of th y
my
to g mo ch é o ayr sg i a
’-
do ln ays
’
- -
speed ,
’
8 di an t i ul g u e illean n am flath
’
-
, And m ake th y w ay to the Isl e o f
’
di ti ul ey llen H e roe s f
'
s -
an -
gu n am fla i ’

F ar bh iel n a suin bu ch ru aidh o she an , Where d well the w arriors who stood
bar v eyl n a snyn bu chru ay o h en -
hardily of old ,

A ir cul n an l ann a dhi o n adh sluaig h ,

Behind their weap o n s to defen d th e
ayr cu l n an l ann
'
i sln ay peoples
’ -
a y o u a - -
,

O i ssian O sc ar Goll is Fion

, , . Fion O ssian O sc ar and G O11
, , , .

O scar go ll is fi o
,
o yss en - -
u

th e
’ ’
Thig am feasg ar s ch a bhi m b ard ai r When evening comes , bard wi ll be
big am fe g ar 8 c h a m b ard ayr
’
i s -
v amissing ,

bh radh .

’
vr
a

The above is simpl y the opening and closing verses o f this adm i rable poem .

”
The ne xt specimen is from the poem o f The Hunter and the O wl the scene ,

o f which is also in B rae lochaber I regret the injustice o f giving mere -

.

extracts from these poems but console m y self in the hope that the educ ated ,

reader will m ake an allowance for the injury done to the fame o f these b ards ,

both by that and the severe transl ation an d that I am giving them a chance o f ,

becoming known to a clas s o f new readers who m ay ultimately appreciate thei r ,

p oetry and do them justice

,
.

AN S E AL GAB
’
S A CH O M H A C H A G .
—
TH E H U N T E R AN D T H E OW L .

A ch omh ach ag bh och d na S ro i ue , Poor o wl o f S ron e ,

ch o - ach -ag
a v oc na sro
yn é
Gur a bron ach leom do leabadh , Thine is a pitiful bed ;
g ur bro n h le o m do lePa
a -ac -
’

M a tha u an n bho linn Do n n agh aill ,

If thou hast lived (here ) si nce th e
ma h a 11 an n bh o li nn d onn yayll -
d ay s o f D o n n ag all ,

Ch an i og h n adh le arn g e tro m u t ai g —

I wonder not that th y mind is hea vy .

ch a n i o a ls am g e tro m u tayg
-
'
u -
'
- ‘

n e adh , &c & c . . &c &c . .

’
ne

I cann o t follow the long traditional and very interes ting discourse between
the hunter an d the aged and intelligent owl but must c o nfine m y self to a f e w ,

such verses as m ay en able the reader to form some estim ate of the rude and
savage character of the Highland deer stalkers and w arriors o f the fifteenth -

century .

T di ti n ssi g n s th is bard t
’5 ra o a o th e ag e immedi t l y p c di a e re e n g th e i t ducti n
n ro o of Ch isti i ty t
r an o

L hb oc a er.
 1 36 THE P O E T RY

:s
’
8 mi m sh u idh e ai r sith -
bh rug h na
’
m I am sitting on the fairy hill of the -

m im
’
b uy é - a r
y si
’
-
vru
’
n am

be an n , mountains
benn ,

A ig a m ba ro
ce ann Loch a tre ig ai r -
, Gazing at the he ad of L o ch tre ig ,
a
yg av a c ay r ce n loch a t ey g
- r n -
r

C re ag n aine am biodh an t sh ealg

- -
, Craig -
uai n e , sacred to the chase
c eg u ayn e am bi o n tel ag
r - - - ’ ’
-
,

C rian an ard am bidh na feigh .

The lofty sunn y residence of the deer .

ri - an - ah ard
'
am bi ’
g na f ey

Chi mi brai g h Bh i de an n an dos , I se e the crest of w o oded B i de an ,

ch i b ay mi v id en n an dos r
’ -

An taobh sa bhos do S g urra li dh -

, This side of Scurra li -
,
an te ov sa v os do sg ura li
- -
’

S g u rra ch oin ti ch nan d amh seang

-
. S g urra ch oi n ti ch
—
of slender st ags .

s u ra ch o n t i ch dav s en g
g y r -
nan -

’
S i on mh u in le arn an dingh n a chi De ar to me are all I this day se e !
’
s i -
o u - vuy n le -
am an di -
u
’
na ch i

Chi mi Strath farsuin a ch rui dh -

, I se e Strath farsun -
of milk kin e -
,
c h i mi s tra fa suyn a chruy ’-
r-
'

F ar an labh ur guth nan sonn , Whe re loudest is the bay o f the gall ant
fa an la ur
r
gu n an so nn -
v
'
h o und ,

Is coi re creag ach a M h ai m . And the rocky corrie Of Mam ,

is co yt e c reg ach a vay m -

’ ’
S a n tric a leag mo l am b d amh donn . Where m y arm often struck down the
sa n
’
tri o 3 leg mo lav dav d onn .
brown stag .

S o irridh g u
Bein alta bh u am - -
,
Bear my s alute to B enalta,
g u b eyn al ts
'
so yrr i -
vu am - -

’ ’
O n si fhuai r urram na m b ean n , The praise d above all mountains ,
O u si h u ayr urram n am b enn
’
-

G u slio s L och erro c h an f h ei dh . And to L o ch e rroch of many stags .

g u slis l och e och an ey -

rr
’

’
Gu m i on m h uin le am fein bhi ann . Dearl y I loved to be there .

gu m i O u v uy a le am f eyn vi arm
- - -

’
trom mo ch ri dh e fein ;
8 ti am h aidh Pensive and heavy is mine o wn he art ;
s
’
ti av ay t om mo chri é f ey n
- -
'
r
'
-

Chuit an aoi s mo cheum fo lot ,

Age h as put my step under a wo und ,

ch uyr an aoys mo ch ey m f o lo t

No m ore will I ascend th e mount ains

Cha diri ch
ch a dir i ch m i tu l ach an -
ey
i
mi tul ach an f h e dh
-
,

o f the deer ,
’
S g u la bh rath cha lei g mi coin .
Never agai n slip my dogs .

g u la ch a l ey g mi c oy n
’ ’
s v ra

Mise is t u sa g h ao dh air bh ain -

,
Me an d thee ,
my white hound ,

mis é is tus a yao ayr v ayu -

’

S tursach dhuin an dingh na th rei g

’
; Sorrowful is all we have this day fo r
yuy u an d i n saken
’
s tursach na h reyg e
’ -
1 38 TH E P O E T RY
T h ai n ig mi a ti r n an stu ai dh , I have come from the land of the
h ayn ig mi 3 tir n an stu ay
- o
’
waves ,

Is g ai rg e sg read ai r sg e arraen cruai dh , That fiercest shriek o n sea rocks hard -

,
sgred
‘
’
ls g ayreg e ayr s erren
g cru - ay

A dh -
a sla sg eu l ai r am n an o ian To entreat tales of times of o ld
a y asla sg ey l ay r am n an ei - an

’ ’
0 bh eulan
’
d se an te s m i agh ail d ain . From th y charmed mouth of precious
0d ve
ylan se a-
nte ’
s mi - a y ayl —
d ay n lay s ,

Ch oru s .

S ein n da mi oran c i an ael, Sing to me the song pensive

s eyun da mi oran ci - an - cl
S h i th bh ru gh ailli dh
-
n an teud si an ael O f the fairy kn o we be au tiful -
, of
hi
!
vra
’
ay li '
n an tey d si -an -el ch armed strings ;
S eiun da mi oran c i an ael , Sing to me the song pensive ,
seyn n da mi oran ci an - ‘
cl
S h i th -
bh rugh aill
idh nan tor ard
*
. O f the fairy knowe be autiful -
of
'
11 1 ’
vt u ayh
’
n an tor ard wooded mount ains high .

A M h ai g h deann S h ith . The Fairy Maiden .

a v ey den hi ’

N Oi r th i on aeles a mh ai g h deann sh i th When gathers the maiden fairy

no r
y ben eles a vay
’
den hi ’

Trend a g aoil air raon san f h ri th , The herd sh e loves on a level space ,
trey d g aoyl ayr rao n ri
’
a san in the forest
Gu mi re -
chleas an c o mh stri mhi n , To compete in merry feats and kindly
gu chl os an co v etri vin
mi re- -
games ,
’
Se m h as a bh i nn bh eir airm n an dail . Death is his doom who approaches
sem bas a vi nn v eyr ayrm n an d ay l a rmed .

T ilg air lar go rm lann na m h eum

’

,
Flin g o n earth th y blue blade keen ,
t il ig ayr lar g o m l ann n am bey m r

A bh eu dagt gh las i s sg ai teach te um ,

Thy dirk l gre y of dea dly bites
i ’

,
v eyd ag
yl as i s sgayt ech tey m -
a -

T hy
’
8 do sh ai gh ead bh orb is tric a leum , ,
arrow fierce that Often leapt ,

8 do h ay - cd vo rb is trio a ley m

An cridh e feil ceann treu d mo Into the mild he art of the head Of the
g h raidh
-
.
,

an cri
’-
e feyl cenn treyd mo -
yray
’
he rd I love ,

Cha oran c ian ael

sh ei nner leom ,
I sing not the song plaintive
ch a h eyn uer ls om oran ci an el - - -

S hith bh ru gh ailli dh nan teud si an ael

- O f the fairy knowe beautiful of charmed ,

ayli tey d si o u el chords ;

’
bi -vru ’
n an - -

Cha sh ei n n er leom oran ci an ael ,

I sing not the song plain tive ,
ch a h ey n ner ls om o ran ci an el - - -

Gus an tilg u t ai rm air lar -

. Until y ou fling y our arms on the
g us an ti lig u tayrm ayr lar ground .

T or,
”
a d d hill
woo e .

1 Di k r li terall y th e li tt l e d eadl y on e
, , as a o e b v s pel t .
 OF THE HI G HL A N D CL A N S . 1 39

An S ealgair .
The Hunte r .

Na tai rg a mh aig h deann ri o mh ac h tai r , O ff er n o t, m aiden queenl y an , in

t ayr lg a
na vay den -
ri v ach - tayr dignity
D O f h ri amh de th e alach C h ui nn n an ai r , To a root o f the family of Conn o f
do ri - av de h el- aoh ch uy nn n an ayr b attle fields -
.

’
Cha du al gu n g abh e fiam h na fath , It is not n atural that he should take
c h a du al fa
fi
(eithe r) fe ar o r an adv ant age
’
g un gav e av na
— -

8 f 0 bh ag radh
’
c h o i dh c h a treig e l ann An d neve r under a thre at will he
, ,
8 f0 choy ch a treyg
v ag ra -
'
e lann fo rsake hi s bl ade
Ach bu trice a gheil bho n chein ’
, But more Often has y ielded from re ,
ach bu tri ce a y eyl von ch eyu mote ages ,

D O ch u mh ach d g rai dh an t-arm u nn trein ,

T O the power o f love the hero st rong , ,
do c h n -ao gray an tarmun n trey n

A bh u ail an ioma g abh adh stei n n , Who has struck h ard (blows ) in m an y
vu ayl i O ma g ava extremities
’
a -
an -
stey nn
,
’
N a m b al ach breun s an ceillean fann ’
,
Th an the boor co arse o r the poltroon ,

n am balach breyn san ceyllen fa m r feeble .

S e in n da mi et cetera ,
. Sing to me &O ,
.

A M ai gh de an n S h i th . The Maiden F airy .

’ ’
Oh s tai tn each leo m do c h olg s do O h ! delightful to me i s th y bearing
oh 8 tayt n ech -
le- o m do c h olg 3 do and aspect ,

sh n ua dh ,
nu a -
’

A sh ealg aer bh ui r b bho thir nan stuadh Hunter fierce from the land o f waves !
a bellager v u rb
y vo h ir n an s tu a -
’

Ach fe ar fo ai rm san di o mh ai r rei dh , But to a man under arms in the secret

ac h f er f o ay rm di haunts
’
san -
vayr re
y
Tha si ant am f h ei th ch a n f h ai dh mo ’
Consecrated to my deer I give not ,
ha i a t am eys chan
-
ay
n mo ’ ’
m y love .

g h radh .

’
yra
Return without delay to the Isle of
’ ’
Till gu n d ail do n e ille an S g iath ach ,
*

till gun d ayl do n eyllen s i ach

g
'
-
Sky e *
,

Far am bith n a roin g e asg ach

’
,
Where seals ( will be) fishing ,

bi n a royn ag i as gach
'
far am - -

’
S ce ig ag an n a cota sti allach ,
And dumpy ones ( women ) with strip
s ceyg ag an a cota sti al ach
- - n - -
ped pettico ats ,

T ion al m aorach li adh air trai g h .

G athering gre y shellfish on the be ach .

tenal maor ach li a ayr tray - -

' '

Ch a sh ei n n er leo m , et ce tera . I sing not &c , .

A n S e alg ai r .
The Hunte r .

Si an ac ain ’
s i o n m h ai n
g h u i dh m i ri amh ,
It is the de arest wish I ever pray ed ,

si an ao ayn -
s i - -
on va n
y y y a
'
mi ri - av

U th i gh i n n a gh ao il le (1
’
bh aidean That y oushould come love with y our , ,
u hi
'
nn a y aoyl le d vayden p arcel o f dee r
f h iadh ,
'
i -
a

1‘ The I sle of S kye li t rally e , th e isle of wi n g s , as a o b v e sp l t e .

 1 40 TH E P O E T R Y

Do S h le ibh te tlath na fasach fi al , ,

To Sle at mild , Of forests hospitable ,
do l ey v te tla n a fa s ach fi al
-
’
- -

Na g lac an mi an ar bi adh ar trath , O f hollows desirable grassy e arl y , ,

g lac an mi an ar bi a y a
'
na -
t a - - - -
r r

S a bh eil i o ma c o ire b uadh ar , Where there are many corries fertile ,

sa vey l i oma ooyre bu a yar - - -

S to rrach clu ain s as airde f u arai n

’ ’

,
O f beautiful me adows an d l o fty ,
s to rrach clu ay n sas s yrda fu a rayn - - -
springs
S g ei de ach te le bi o lai r u ai n e , Array ed with cresses green ,
sg eyd-ec h - te le bil ayr -
u -a
y ne
Is blai ste sugh sa s nire sg i amh . O f tasteful juice an d th e freshest
is blayste eu
'
sas nyre s i
g av
-
co l o u r .

S ein n da mi ,
et cetera . Sing to me &O ,
.

A Mh aig h dean n S hith . The F ai ry Maiden .

’
S mor a b annse-
Bu ach ail ei te , -
Much more I love B uach ail ei te, -

s mor a bann sa -
bu -
a-ob ayl - cyt e
N
’ ’
Coi re -
ba, sa m Bin n ei n e atro m e , The Corrie -
ha an d Binn ei n ai ry ,
n coy e ba sam binn ey n e t o m
r - - -
r

Cru ach n am-beun n is airde n an Creisei n

-
, Cruch nam - ben
-
and the heights Of
cru - ach -n am - beyn n is ayrd nan c rey sey n C re isen ,
’
S Be i nn
na mi n nam
- -
doirrean , *
a h ard ; And B andoran ,
*
the delight of the
s beynu na doy rren mi an u ain bard
- - -
b ards ;
’
S ch a bu diubh ai dh Be in n a ch rulai st - -
, Nor less valued is Ben —
a- c h ru lai st,
s ch a bu di n vay beyn n a chru l ay s t - - - -

Na B ein n bh reac n an aig h ean ludh m h o r

—
, Or B e n vreac of hi nds nimble ,
na beyn vrec n an a
y en
- l vor
'
—
n
'
-

Strath O i ssi an n an lub an c urai dh

-
, Strath O ssian
-
of the h o lms sweet ,

sra oys oyu

'
-
n an l uban cnr ay
- -
'

’
S Creag uai n e n an u i g e an tlath . And C reag uai n e of mild (sheltered )
s creg u ayn e n an uy ge tla
- - n
'
recesses ,

Cha sh einn ear et cetera , . I sing not ,

&c .

A ll S e alg ai r . The Hunter .

’
O h thig do dh namb S trath ard nan seud
,
-
, O h c o me to S trath ard s c ave o f gems
, ,

oh big do y u -av stra ard na sey d ’

n

Far am binne o eol nan teud ,

Where sweetest is the music o f the
far am b i nn e 06 01 n an teyd -
ch o rds ,

A dh ei ste ach d sg eul air deuch ain g rai dh

—
,
To listen to a tale of ill fated love -
,

ayr dey ch ayn ray

'
a e
y y stec sg eyl g
-

A th i on das c ri dh e c aoin g u h aigh ,

That will t urn the ten der heart to
a hi -
Ou -
das cri
’
-e caoyn gu bay
’
pity ,

A leagh aes is a laises suil ,

Melt an d kindle the ey e ,

'3 ls - as is a layses enyl

A bh eir air enisle eri dh

'
dluth , Make the pulse beat quick ,

dlu ’
a veyr ayr cuysle eyri

9‘ B en do ran ; li t llyera ,
th e m o untai n of s to ms
r .
1 42 TH E P O E T R Y
An S ealg air .
The Hunter .

B —
an o sa seasabh leat a rui n , Rather would I take m y stand with
b -an n sa se s av let a ru
yn thee lov e , ,

G u allail ard ai r brai gh an duin , Proudly and loftily on the dun

gu a lla
yl ard b ra y a
yr
’
an duy n ,

Noir dh -
eires muir n a m oraoh d f hein When rises the ocean 1n maj e sty (all)
h oyt mu y r m or f ey n
y eyres na -
ao h 1 s own ,

T h o i rt dubh lan do na du ilean trein To give d e fiance to the elements

h oy rt duvlan do us . duy len t rey n strong ;
Noir l aises d eal e n sli o s a ch uai n , en lightning kindles the bosom of
n o r la ses d elan sli s a c h u ayn the deep
y y
—

S e m h o sglas tarn le b eu c an h u ain

.
, And thunder opens with continuous
sa vo sglas t arn le b ey c ao b u ay n - -
bello wing ,

S a ruai g eas tuinu n a c abh lai ch ai g h , And the waves drive routed and mag
t u y n n n a c av l a yc h n ifi c en t n avies
’
sa ru ay g es -
a
y
-

Air sg e arraen cru ai dh gun tuar gun O n sea rocks h ard sightless and piti
-
,
'
a
y r sg erren c ru ay-
g un t u-ar g un less .

bh ai g h .

'
vay

Seiun da mi , et ce tera . Sing to m e , & c .

A Mh ai gh deann S h i th
The M aiden F airy . .

B an n sa a bh i th an sgi ort na stai rm

-
More I love to be in the skirt o f the ,

sgi rt stay rm
'
b an n sa 3
-
vi. an . na storm ,

A i r uch d S g urei lt i s u amh ai n g ai rm O n the b re ast of S cureilt o f the t e rrible ,

a r no sg urey lt i s u av ay n g ay rm w ar cry
y
- - -
,

N o ir ch luin n ear sior san dubh radh tarn ,

When i s h e ard st raight in the pro , ,

n oyt tam fou n d dark n e ss thunder '

c h luy n n er si o r san du vra -

N ach oaomh ain 1s bh e athi r cre ag na c arn Th at with his bolts sp ares not rock ,

n a ch le v e i r creg n a cam nor av al an che

’-
c o ay n v

Noir th ei d an dealan de arg na thein Wh en goes the lightning red into ,

n o r h ey d an d e l an d ora
g n a h e y n extremes
y ,

S a labh ras re ach dar bei n n ri b ei n n When mounta in spe aks haughtily to ,

sa lavras rec ar h eyn n ri b ey n n -

mount ain ,

T o irt c ai sm e aoh d g h ai rbh do th ai bh sean Giving a warning su rly to ghosts

t o irt cay s m ec y ay rv do
-
h ay v sen p ale -
,

fuar ,
fu —
ar

Is g ai rg e si an n sas o iltel tuar .

O f horrid shrieks and the most hideous
i s g ayrg e si -an n sa s o y ltel t u —ar aspects .

Cha sh e in n e ar, et ce tera .

I sing not &c , .

An S ealg ai r .
The Hunter .

and dwell with me love

“

O h thig ,
a th un i leom a g h ao il , Oh co m e , ,

oh b ig a. h uni le - o m a y aoy l
Do m bh u th ean se al
’
ai g tao bh a c h ao il, In my booth of osiers beside the strait ,

do s el c h ao y l
’
111 vu an
- ay g tao v a

Bho f ai c er dluth is fada bh -

uai n , Where is seen near ,
an d afar ,

vo fa ye -
er dlu
'
i s fa da v u -ay n

sight of moun tain s glen s and seas

'

S ealla bh ean n , is gh le an n ,
is ch uai n . A , ,
.

se a ll v ey n o is y lenn is ch u -ay n
 on TH E HIG H L A N D CLANS . 1 43
’
noir th e id a g h rian n a p ailluin n shi ar
S And wh e n goes the sun into his pavi
h ey d a y ri an n a p y lluy nn hi ar
,
s n oyt -
a -
lion i n th e w e st ,

S a c h e f o sg ail an f h easg air ch iair ,

And the world under the mantle o f
ch é fo sg ay l ch i -ayr
sa an esg ay r eve n ing swarthy ,

C lu i n n ear linn binn nan teud oeo l ,

Will be he ard by us music from the
cluy er l in n cc ol b i n n n an t ey d
nn -
sw ee t e st chords ,

Is e ach dridh sh air am bl air nam beud . And the history o f heroes in the bat
is c c ri h a yr a m blay r n am b ey d
- ’
fi es o f wounds ,

Se iun da mi et cetera , . Sing to me &c , .

A M h aigh deann S h i th . The Fairy Maiden .

’
S
’ ’
tuille s fada n diug h ai r cei lli dh , Too long to - day , have we tarried
d
,
tuy lle ’
s s fa a n di -
u
’
ayr c ey li
’

A M am -mor na fasac h f eille , In Mam mor -

of forests genial
a m am -m o r na f as ach f ey lli ’

S iubh ladh mid gu h -

eatro m e ibh ei n , Travel we lightly and joyously ,
si - uv - la
'
mid g u h e- t ro m ey v ey n

G u L o ch trei g nan rei dhlean To L o ch treig of pleasant meadows .

gu l o ch -
trey g na n rey len t la
'

S i ubh ladh mid fiam h ai dh , f ai rrel, Travel we warily shy ly , ,

si Ia mi d fi avi
'
-
uv - ’ -
f ay rrel

Fi am h ai dh , fai rrel, fiamh ai dh , f airrel, Wari ly shyly warily shyly

, , ,
fi -
avi
’
f ay rrel fi -
avi
’
f ayrrel

S h i ubh ladh mid fiamh ai dh , fairrel, Travel we warily shyly , ,

si u v la mi d fi avi f ay rrel
- - ’ - ’

O u L o ch trei g nan rei dhlei n tlath , To L o ch trei g of ple asant meadows ,

gu lo c l ey u tla
h trey g-
nan rey
’- ’

F ar an sei n n ear orain ch i an ael ,

Where sung is the song plaintive
f ar an sey n n er o ray n c hi an el - - -

S hith bh rug h ailli dh nan teud seun ael

-
O f the fairy kn owe beautiful of charm
-
,
hi vru a y li nan t ey d sey n n el e d chords
- ’

Far an seinn ear orai n ch i an ael ,

Where sung is the song plai ntive
f ar an seyn n er o ray n c h i an el - -

S h ith bh rugh aillidh n an t or ard

-
. O f the fairy k n o w e be autiful
-
, of wooded
h i vru ay l e mountains high
’
o
nan t o r ard .

Before entering on the song part of the work I beg to submit a specimen ,

o f Dunca n B an s descriptive poem o f Corri e ch e ath ai ch to enable the reader to

’
,

appreciate th e correctness of Lor d Macaulay s statement that a love of land ’

,

sc ape i s a t aste of m odern times Had he read Gaelic poetry he might have .
,

been saved from the utteran ce of this and many Opinions that do h im little
credit either as a man or a historian I regret giving only a few lines o f this
, .

poem .

C O I RE -
A -C H E A T H AI C H .
—
L IT E R A LL Y , THE C O RR I E O F THE M IST .

S a mh adai n chiun g h e al an am dh o mh
. -
I n the morning mild and bright ,

vad- ay n ch i -un - el am
sa
y an yov when
dusg adh ,
dusg -a’
 1 44 TH E P O E T RY
A ig ’
bun na stu i c e be n sug ra le om , Risi n g a t the foot of a rock it was my ,
ay
g bun na stuy c - e be n
’
su - gra ls - om delight
A c h earc 1s s iuc an a bh i l tu ch ai n , To he ar th e h eath hen plai n tively
gi g a a -

a c h erc c yn
ls sg -
uc - an a
g vay l
a -
tu - h a murmuring h er c arrol ,

an c o ile ach curtail a durdai l t rom And the bl ack cock cou rt e ous] y c roon -

san co ylec h curt ayl a d urd ayl trom - -

ing his re sponse d e ep

A n dreath an surdail s a ri bh i d ch i uil ai e ’

g ,
The wre n m e rrily tuni n g h er ch ante r
a dre an
n s d ay l sa ri id ch i uyl ay g é
’
-
ur - -
v - -
music al ,

A cuir n an smuid dh e th g u luthar bi n n And pipi n g with might an d m ain ) ”

a cuy n an sm y d r
ye g u l ar b i n u
’
n
’-
n nimbly an d sweetly
A n trui d s am bru dhe arg ls moran ’
-
The li n n e t and th e re d b reast os ten -

truy d s am bru -yerag le moran

an
tati ou sly ,
u n ai ch ,
n u-a ych
Bi ce i lei r sun dach bu sh i u bhlach rann . Bre athing j oyous l ays in flowi n g
ri cey leyr su n dach bu h i - ul- ach ran n numbers .

T h a m aladh g h ruam ach do bh i olai r n aine There is a sh aggy brow of gre en

ha ’
m al- a y ru - a- ma ch do vil- a r
y u -a n e y cresse s
Mu na h -
u i le fu aran a th e . san fhonn ,
Around e very spring in the forest ,
mu na h -u yle fu - a- ran a ha sa n onn

Is doire sh e albh ag am bu n nan g arbh A grove of sorrel a round the rough

is doy r h ela- vag am bun na
g arv n ston e s ,

c h lach ,
oblach

Is g ri n n eal g ai n bh i ch gu mi n ibh g h eal -

And in every chan n el a thi ck coverin g
is gri nn el a n V-i ch
g Y g“ min - iv -yel o f power e d sand ,

p ro n n ,

pro nn
Nan g lug abh plum bach air g h o il gun With basin lik e hollows in which -
, ,

nan g l ug av
-
pl um - b ach ayr y oy l gun boili n g without heat ,

ao n teas -
,
aon -tes

A ch coileach b ui rn tig h in a gru n d e as -

lom ; Bubbles up a cock of w ater from its
ach ooylech bu rn y ti in
’-
a g ru n d es - lom polish e d fo un tam ;
Gach sru th an n as al 1e c h u ai lean
*
du E very gentle streamlet with its d ark ,

gach u a sal 1s blue cuy len *

’-
sru an - -
ch u - ayl- en da -
,

ghorm ,

y orm
A r uith tre lu ib na thair stuie n an steall . Me andering th rou gh m eadows o r le ap ,

mi tre luy b Il a h ay r S my c n an S te - all ing ove r rocks 1 n m i m i c w ate rfalls

’
a .

Th 5‘ m G l i c w d th t c
e re are t b t l t d i t E g li h w i th t vi l ti f th
so e ae or s a an n o e ran s a e n o n s ou a o a on o e

ch ct i ti c d li c cy d fi m t f f li g w h i ch th y i mp ly It w l d cc p y t m ch p c t
ara er s e a an re ne en o ee n e . ou o u oo u s a e o

i ll t te h
u s ra q ti f p h i l l g y w h i ch i v l v p c l i i ty i th ch ct f: p p l I m y
e re a ue s on o o o n o es a e u ar n e ar a er o a eo e . a

o b v h w v th t i t w l d h ck th d li c cy f
se r e , o e er, a ci t H ig hl d t d g t th t l
ou s o e e a o an an en an er o e si na e e n a u ra

c v i g f w m h d d c w t i l by th m m N y m
o er n o a o an s
’
ea h c ld
an t c ll th h i
a o
’
s a e sa e na e . a ,
o re e ou no a e a r

o f gay h d d h
re id - d f
ea m d te d b tif
arr l w m b y th s m
an an m oHi g a l m
o es an ea u u o an , e a e na e . s en e ra na e

h i i f lt th h i im l ; b t h c ll th fl wi g i g l t
” ”
for th h m e u d f
an f
a r s fi “
o , an or e a r o an a s, o nn a u e a s e o n r n e s

f th y b t l i d l i l t I t ”
d i f il d th h f th d f m h f t ”
a n, o a e re o re , a
o
g e o un an e au g u p ,
c ua ean , an e a r o e a e an . ,

a l h wt
oss d i th
o il
o re n i l er ew hi ch cc i t
erh v cu ai t E g l
ean i h w i”
th t
or c ua n ea ,
”
o ur n e se e rs e s , n o n s ,
ou

d i g vi l c t th g d tast f th b d d th g i f th l g g I m t th f b g t
o n o en e o e oo e o e ar an e en u s o e an ua e . us ,
ere o re , e o

be x c e df t i i g f w f th p ec l i w d d l vi g th t x t t xp l i th i m m g
u se or re a n n a e o e se u ar o r s, an ea n e e o e a n e r ea n .
1 46 TH E P OE T RY on TH E HI G HLAN D CLANS .

Biodh eoin an t- sh le i bh e n an e altai n The bi rds of the wolds formi n g a

'
vi tleyv - e elt- a n
-o
e-oy u an n an
y pure eltay n ,

g h le g hlo i n,-

le - lo n
y y y
’
A clui ch ai r e ug ai bh s a se i n n sa choil S port an d sing amo n g the boughs o f
g
a cluych ay r y yge -
a v
y sa se n n
y sa eb e l
y the wood
’
A n u ise ag c h eu tach
’
sa lu in n eag fh e i n ai o , The tu n eful l ark sings w ith a c arol all
an n
y s -ag c h c tac h .
8a luyn n -eg h ey n a c
y .
h e r o wn ,
A n f h eadag sp e i seil g u rei dh a se i n n The plov e r with her cl ear note s
cd
, ,
an -
a
g spe s eyl y -
gu re
y
’
a y
se u n respon ds afar ;
’
c h uach
’
A s an sm e orac h a m b ar n an The c ush et an d the th rush high o n
,
a ch u -ach san sme- or- ach am bar n an the t ree s ,

ogan ;
o g an

A g abh ai l orain
binn g u ceo lar Sing their l ays h armonious and sweet ;
g a ayl or ayn g u ce ol ar bi n
a v- - - -
n

No i r gh o i reas bai leach an cu e n al ta m s , When th e lovi n g c u ai n eal sing

no r
y y oy r es b ay l ech a c an al tay is
- -
n u- - r thoroughly ,

Ni cre agan s an as is glean n aibh fai lt ! The rocks whisper and the gl ens
u i cregan san as is gl e n syv faylt n -
smile !
 THE MU SIC OF THE H IGH L AND CLANS .

THE di ff e rence between the Highland and Lowland versions of many of o ur

swe etest melodies and between the songs sung to them in either dialect aff ord
, ,

fair d at a for formi n g an Opinion as to the state of society an d refinement o f the

o n e people o n a comp arison with the other and as o n e o f the objects o f this
—

treatise is to submit the necessary materi als on th e part o f the C aledonian or

Highlander those of the Scot or Lowl ander are already and h ave lo n g bee n
,
-
,

before the world I challenge a comparison and l eav e the public to d e cide the
,
—
,

question T h e Gaelic so n g in a literal t ransl ation c annot justly be compared

.
, ,

to the Lowl and song in its n ative l anguage ; and in comp aring my tr ansl atio n s
to the Lowl and song due allowance must be mad e for th e severe t ransl ation ; but
,

the melodies may be comp are d The Lowl and m elody be ars i n trinsic evidence
.

o f the genius o f her rich smooth genial native district b e i n g ch aracterized

, ,
, ,

by a yi e lding warmth an d a pli ant softn e ss which contrast with the wayw ard
,

p athos and unbending spi rit of Highl and melody The Lowl and nymph fi n ds .

leisure now and again to b reathe a heavy sigh over th e bi e r o f a husband or to ,

faint aw ay with a long d rawn so b o f joy o n a lover s bosom ; whil e her High
-
’

land siste r wh e ther sh e pours o u t her soul i n a he art r e ndi n g wail o f grief o r
,
-
,

quiv ers in ev ery n erve an d pulse with joyf ul ecst acy swee ps along on her airy ,

cours e with the lofty be ari n g and undoubti n g ste ps o f her n ative mountain
,

r ace No doubt sh e p an ts on ce o r twice n o w an d again in every natu ral

.
, , ,

p ause i n th e lin e or verse fro m excess of fe e li n g an d excite ment an d the

, ,

emph atic si n gle an d double not e s which represen t these pants disturb the som
, ,

n olen cy o f to n e desiderated in pl aintive Lowl an d melodies But thes e are .

characteri stic an d peculi ar marks o f Highl and melodies an d h ave been ignored , ,

accordingly by th e Lowl and minstrel and h ard in such Highl and m e lodies as
, ,

h ave b een e ff e ctu ally changed into L owland melodies ; the singl e no te being
len gthen ed into a d raw] an d the double note into an intermi n able slide This
, .

seems to have been the initiating step in the sy stem of harmony which under ,
 1 48 TH E MU S IC
the sci en tific k n owledge o f time an d tu n e att ai n e d by the gre at M aste rs o f
mode rn tim e s h ad re volutio n iz e d the whol e m at e ri als o u t o f which h as b ee n
,

re compos e d th e music now fa shio n abl e i n E u rop e

- ii
T ho ugh anything but .

v ersan t i n th e sci e n c e o f music I am n o t I thi n k altoge th er inc ap abl e o f ap , , ,

re c i a ti n g t h e wo n de rful v ari e ty o f a dv ers e sou n ds th e pl ayful e cc e n t riciti e s

p ,

an d e t h e re al v ag ari e s methodized an d combi n e d i n to music al pi e c e s by th e

gre at m aste rs ; an d wh e n li st en i n g to th em in th e mod ern d rawi n g room

,
-
,

although amus e d rath e r th an delighte d I c an n ot h elp admi ri n g th e wo n d e rful ,

e ff e c ts of a music al e duc atio n o n pe rsons p e culi arly o rg aniz e d an d o f highly ,

artifici a l t astes I m ay r e m ark how e ve r th at M Julli e n did n o t atte mpt to

.
, ,
.

p e rform an y o f th e s e piec e s o n an y si n gl e music al i n st rum e n t but consid ere d it ,

nec e ss ary to h ave th e combi n e d fo rc e of a thous and di ff erent i n strume n ts to

re p re s e nt th e m an d th e m an ag e rs of conc erts in the Yo rk an d othe r C ath e d rals ,

also fo rm e d choi rs of s e v eral thous an d voices to p roduc e th e like e ff ect T his .

,

howev er on ly shows th a t M Jullien an d th e se m an age rs we re d e stitu te of

,
.

musical ge nius wh e n compare d to the b ald h ead e d o r wigged gentl e men an d

,
—

loud o r sh rill voiced ladies w h o se t thems elves down with such compl ac ency to
—
,

co nj ure thund e r sto rms e arthqu akes an d other co n vulsion s of N ature out
-
, , ,

o f th e pi an o !

But this subject is too grave fo r s arcasm I am s ati sfi e d th at the music of .

the g reat M ast ers h as now becom e the c apital o r stock i n t rad e o f th e most - -

injurious quackery I should say ludicri o us qu ack e ry an d h as thoroughly

,
—
,
—

corrupted th e music al t aste an d educ ation o f th e fashion abl e o r rath e r would , , ,

b e fashio n able part o f society It h as u n question ably b ee n l e sse n i n g th e .

attachment of sens e and sou n d u n til m u sic h as b e come so whimsic al o r m o u n te , ,

ban kzs lz so e stranged from all n atu ral an d h ere dit ary fe eling as to fo rget th at
'

, ,

poetry is her twin siste r an d of equ ally divin e bi rth w ith h e rs el f He n c e she
-
,
.
,

is as now cultiv ate d in o ur schools and practised in o u r d rawi n g rooms become

, ,
-
,

inc ap able o f aff ordi n g ple asu re to an y perso n of fin e fee li n gs an d n a tural t astes .

I can sc arcely forgive H armony although she is the off spring o f Genius for , ,

h avin g thus so p e rve rted an d d e n atio n alized M elody as to r e nd e r h e r: no longer ,

c ap abl e o f th rilli n g th e he arts an d e lev ati n g the lives of the p e opl e ; and when
sh e puts fo rth h e r h an d to m anipul at e o n my o w n d ear wild w ayw ard touchi n g , , , ,

n ati ve airs alterin g substituti n g shorten ing l engthe n ing o r slidi n g notes into
,
—
, , , ,

o n e anothe r o r re n di n g them i n to qu avers or d e mi qu av e rs of all sounds an d

,
-

dimen sions I abho r h er v e ry sh adow ! Indeed althou gh m an y ge ntl emen

, ,

possess or aff ect a t as te f or mod e rn music an d m ay w ell b e e xcus e d f o r be n ding

, ,

with pl easu re ove r the fair c reature s who ply the pian o with a self sat isfied air -
,

o n the a ss ur ance of thei r lispi n g fo re ign t e a ch e rs th at they h ave att ai n ed e r

p ,

fe c tio n in musical science of which they of cou rse constitut e th e ms e lves an d ,

—
, ,

Th P i c
9‘
e f C i w t t f i d i It l y i th d y f J m I l tt d c i p tiv f Sc tti h
r n e o an n o ro e o a r en n a , n e a s o a es .
, a e er es r e o o s

or L w l d m l dy d x p i g h i i t ti f i t d ci g th t ty l f m i c h i t h m
o an e o ,
an e re s s n s n en on o n ro u n a s e o us , on s re u rn o e , as

an i mp v m t t h t f hi t i l d T
ro e en on i l d c ib Sc tti h m i c f t ch i g d
a o s na ve an . asso n a so es r es o s us as o a ou n an

m l ch l y
e an l m t i g ch ct
o or a d t t th t h h d h im lf d p t d d c mp d m y p i c i th t
en n ara e r, a n s a es a e a se a a e an o o se an e es n a

styl It d e . t th f m p
oe s n o mpt
, t y t h t Sc tti h M l d y h d b
ere o re , s e e b w d by H m y
resu u ou s o sa a o s e o a e en o rro e ar on

t i m p v th m i c f It l y
o ro e d t h t m de
e us m i c i th e esul t f th i i ll as s te d m
o a , an i g b twee th a o rn us s r o s - or arr a e e n e

t ral d th e t ifi ci l
na u an ar a .
 1 50 TH E MUSIC
T hug mi g ol a ro - bh uan dhut I have given thee a love
h ug mi g ao l t o -v u - a n
y y ut

N ch di na ch a s m e atha c h adh
a le cr ui dh - . Too constant to be subdued by
n ac h di an 1s cruy ch as ’-
-
me a ch a ’- - ’
adversity ,

M h eall 11 mi ls d sh u g radh
’

vell 11 mi ls (1 h u g a ’
-
'
, T hy g ay converse h as enticed me ,
r

’
L e d bh ri o dal is le (1 ch i u n e ;
’

’
Thy sportful minstrelsy , th y mildness
le (1 vri -
dal is le (1
’
ch i - u - s e

Lub u mi m ar i uran , Thou hast bent me like a sapli n g ,

lu b 11 mi m ar i -
u - ran

Ch a duch as a bhi f allain dh o mh . He al th without thee cannot be mine

d ch as
.

ch a a- 3 vi fallay n yo v

Do chul don ,
m aiseach o rdai l, Thy hair brown beautifully arrange d
,
do ch u l do n ma ysh -
ac h o rday l

G u b achl a ch , b o i dh each , c am ag ach In bonny bending cu rls

gu b ach l ach - boy -
ec h cama g ach -

T ~
ag h ai dh flath ai l, c o m h n ard, Thy face noble symm e trical
ta
’-
ay
’
da
'
-
yl
a co v - n ar d , ,

M ar i te an loin d o m h alai ch e an Thy eye brows as the feath e rs

-
of 3
mar i t en l oy n do v al aych en - -
blackbi rd ;
D o sh u illean go rm a m i o g ach , Thy eyes blue fasci n ating
, ,
do h y ll e g o rma mi g ach
u n
- -

R oi sg fb ad a c u m ail dioun o rr Covered with long l ashes ;

roy sg ada c u mayl di ou o rr n

Do bh eulan m each air m aoth dhe arg ; -

The lips mellow red ; ,
do veylan me ch ayr
’
m ao ye ag - -
r

Do gh ru ai dh m ar ch aoran mh e ag an an . Thy ch e ek lik e th e rowan be rry .

do y ru ay m ar ch aoran -
v en g an an
’ - -

M ar reul a m e asg an t -
sh luai g h e u , Thou art like a planet among the
mar re-ul a me- as g an tlu - ay u people ,

Nam g luasad a chum ti on alaidh ; When going to a gath e ring ;

a ch um
'
n am
g lu-
a-
sad ti nal -
a
y

T h a t ai lleach d -
a toi rt b uai dh , Thy be auty triumphs over all oth ers ,

hat ayil ech d a toyrt b ay -

u -
'

’
A ir cach u i lle an sn u adh s an c e an altas ; Thy complexion the pl easantry ,

ay r each u ylle an cen altas

’
sn u a-
san

Do c h i o ch an , m i n g eal, ar da ,
Thy bosom soft white high , , ,

do ch i -o - ch an min -yel ard-a

Fo sg aile sro i l a de alradh Under a v e il of gauze shining

'
fo s ayle
g sroyl a del -
ta

’
mar e al a sn amh air s aile
8 ,
And as a swan swimming on the sea,
smar ella sn av ayr say l e

Tha ceum aibh g rai dh n a h ai n n i re -

. Are the lovely s teps of the m aide n .

gray h aynn ire ’

ha cey m ayv na -

0
’
d
gur binn bi g orai n
’
bh eul ,
From thy lips sweet come the song ,

0 d vey l gur bi n big or ayn

’ ’
n -

Man ran eec l is ilere an , ,

. The c arol me lody
, ,
an d sportf ul
man ran cc ol is
-
yleren
-
minstrelsy .
 or TH E HI G HLAN D CLANS . 15 1

G ur binne leom do ch omh radh S weeter to me is thy conversation

gu r b i e ls em d o ch o v ra - - ’
nn

’
N a n smeo il a m bar n a m e an g an an
’
. Than the thrush o n the to pmost
sme-oyl am bar men g an an
n an na
branches .

’ ’
O n c h ui r mi n tus o rt eolas ,
Since I first m ade thy acquaintance ,
on ch ayr mi ’
n tus o rt e-o -las

’
d th ug
'
Gu mi gaol cho mor So great has been my love to thee
’

n o rt, ,

g un dug mi g ao l ch o mor o rt

M ar f h aidh mi 11 ph osadh ,
That unless I receive thee in marri age ,
mar fay ’ mi u ri f osa
'

’ ’
Gu n cuir do bh ron fo n talamh mi . Sorrow for thee will put me under
gun cuyr do v ron fo n tal av mi the sward .

Mari Nig h ean Ali sdair R uai dh (Mary the D aughter o f Red Al exander ) , ,

from whos e works Logan sel e cted many of the verses of his able introductio n
’
to Macke n zie s Collection among m an y othe rs which m ay justly be call e d the ,

m ost exquisite re mai n s of our sixteenth century poems without excepti n g those ,

o f the P i o bai re D all himself l e ft sever al laments O ne o f these c alled C umh a , .

,
”
Mhic L e oid is very touchi n g I will submit a few verses of i t to sh ow the
,
.
,

vari e ty o f m e asures at her command She w as born in the Island o f Harri s .

,

about the b e ginning of the sixteenth century .

CU M H A MHIC L E OI D .

’
trom a mul ad a shugh
S He avy is the grief that absorb e d
trom a mul ad a buy
s

’ ’ ’
M ai teas m aille 8 m o lugh ;
, ,
M y h appi n ess, m y beauty , my strength
maytes may l e 8 mo
’ '
lu
’
S trio snith e bho m shuil O ften tears from my eyes
s tric s i é vom h uyl
’
n
’-

A tu itam g u dlu Fall i n quick succession

a tuy tam gu dlu

of
’
Chail mi altrum an In i uil, I h ave lost the nursling my lore ,

obayl mi altru man mi -uyl

F ear de ac idh m o ch i u il ; The inspirer of my lays ;

fer dec -
ay
'
mo c h i -uyl

Gu mire na m ui rn cha te i d mi . To b anquet or merry making I will

-

gu mi re na muyrn cha tey d mi not g o .

’
Si fh ras hail sto rm not mild
’
n ach c iuin
n ,
Twas a -
, ,

si rasn n ach c i u n -
y
A ch reach air mui r ,
That d esolated our homes ,

a oh reoh ay r muy r

A sh rac ai r si u il, Th at rent our sails ,

a h -
rac ay r si -u
yl
S a bh ri st ai r sti u i r, And b roke our helm ,
sa v rist ay r sti -uy r

Is cairt air i u il, O ur card of k nowledge (compass) ,

is cay rt ayr i -
u
yl
 1 52 TH E MUS IC
’
S a ir tai c e cuil , The stay at our b ark ,
sa r y tay c é c uy l

Bh a a g ain san D un e i bh i n n , We had at th e Dun of j oy .

va ag en san dun ey - v i un

’
Mo m h isn e ach s mo th reo i r, My courag e my stre n gth , ,
mo v is n ech
’
3 m o h -re -cy r

Fo th asg adh a bh ord, ( l s) wrapped in bo ards ,

fo h asg - a ’
a vo rd

S ar m h ac mhic L eoi d The su rp assing so n of L e od

sar v ac v ic ls - oy d

Na m bratach
’
sro il, O f silken b anne rs ,
n am brats c h sro
yl
Bh a fial le o r, Th at was lib e ral with gold ,

va fi -
al le or

’
S
bu bhi n n e sg eo i l Whos e l ays were more sw e et
’
3 bu vi e sge oy l nn
'
—

N a clarsach is o e o l E ri n . Than the h arps and music of E rin .

a ncl ar sach is cc ol ey in
- - -
r

Highlan d chi e fs on the succession o f the king of Scotl and to th e

T he ,

th rone o f E ngl and s ee m to h ave forgot th at it w as not th e obj e ct of feud al

,

ch arters in Scotl and to d e prive the people o f th ei r immemo ri al right of prop e rty
,

in the soil but to assimil ate the p at ri arch al syste m to th at subordin ation o f
,

ranks which m ade the feud al system introduced i n to E n gl and by th e No rm an s , ,

s o much mo re effici e nt f o r w arfare Th e intention o f the Scottish ki n gs .

evid e ntly was by m aking chi efships h eredit ary and d e pe n d an t o n the c rown
, ,

instead of elective a nd depend an t on the peopl e to assimil ate the chi efs to the ,

crown vassals and make them thus am en abl e to the d e spotism at which they
,

aimed Th at th e ch arte rs h ad no other obj ect th an this to subs erve th e regal

.
,

despotism is p roved by the fact th at while the c rown continued d e spotic th e

, , , ,

feud al supe rior was not allowed to Oppre ss incr ease th e re nts o r al ter the fix e d , ,

tenu re s of the cl ans ; an d th at th e ch arte rs were in i n n um erable i n stances , ,

rec alled or tran sfe rre d at the ple asure o f the ki n g A ch ang e seems now to .

h ave come over ki n g an d chiefs alike howe ver an d it was evidently dete rm in e d , ,

to give the s ame e ffect to ch arters granted over the unconque re d l an ds of

the clans of Scotl and which they h ad received ov e r the conque red lan ds of the
,

people of E n gland The b ards were the fi rst victims o f th e ch ange I h ave
. .

’
not sp ace to d e t ail the evictions but may rem ark th at Clan ran ald s b ard was ,

ejected from B ali vai rd which w as possessed for ag e s by his ancestors under th e
,

c le ach da in the beginning of the eighteenth ce n tury as is shown in a most

, ,

inte resting statement made o n oath by his so n an d which has bee n published ,

by the Highlan d Society to account fo r the d e struction o f the m anuscript of ,

the C lan ranald family When the other children o f song we re thus stripp e d .

an d eject e d and wandered th rough the country living on the hospitality o f th e

, ,

people M ari rec e ived a pension from her chief Sir Norman Macleod an d liv e d
, , ,

in comparative weal th H er house was always open to and formed the head .
,
1 54 TH E MUSIC
Druid system o f cultivating the h e arts o f th e people by me ans o f poetry an d
music was i n finitely superior in so f ar as the m asses were conce rned to a
, , ,

lettered educ ation .

With these rem arks I submit to the re ader on e or two more ve rses of ,

this poem The l ast line o r two lines o f every vers e o f this an d simil ar son gs
.
, ,

were repeated to ai d the memory for when songs o f a n arrative or historical ,

—

ch aracter were intended f o r being sung their l en g th suggested such repetitions ,

as rendered it almost impossible f or the singer to forget the succeeding lines .

The airs of the historical poe ms w ere properly speak ing n o t m e lodies but a , , ,

musical and pleasing style of reciti n g poetry The historical poe ms of O ssi an .
,

an d the other ancie n t bards were thus r e cited ,

.

Gu
’
n
’
th i g h in n an taobh so , T h at I should come in this di ection r ,

gu n dig - i nn an tao v so

A dh -
am h arc Iu ra a S c arba ! To look at J ura from S c arba !
a
y avarc i -u ra a c
s ara a b
'
Thoir mo sh o raidh do n duth ai ch , Be ar my s alutatio n to the count ry ,

h oy r mo b oray ’
do
’
n du -
’
ych
a

T h a f o dh ubh ar n an garbh bh e u n n -
,
That (nestl e s) u n der the sh adow o f
ha fo y uvar n an
g a v vey n r the rough mou n t ai n s
-
n
,

Gu Shir T orm aid u r aille al, To S ir Norm an lofty an d illustrious , ,

gu si r to ro -
In a
yd ur ayllel

Fh u ai r c e an n ai s ai r arm ailt Who h as

obtained the l eading of an
h v
u- ayr ce n n as ay r arm - ay lt army
’
S
’
gu n c aint ar m 8 g ach fearan n ’
. And th ey say in every l and
s g n cay ut a us g ac
’
h f e a nn rr n n ,

It is deserved by m an of his n am e
’
Gu m b ai ri dh fear t ai n m ai r - -
. a .

b ay r i f m
’

g m u er ta
y i ay r -
’
n

Hi i u rabh etc ,
. It is etc
,
.

Gu n c aint ’
ar m 8
’
gach fearan n ,
They say in eve ry l an d
gu cay u t’
n a nu s g ach fe a rr n n

It is deserved by a man of his n am e

’
Gu m b —
a iri dh fe ar t aium ai r :-

gu y ’
fe m b -
a ri
’
r t - ayn i m a r
y
Fe ar do ch e ille do g h li o c ai s, His underst anding his wisdom , ,

f er to ch eyllé do y li
-
ocay sh

Do mh i sn i ch do m h eam n eadh ,
His courage his m agnan imity
, ,

do v em en e
’
do v i sn ich

Do ch rua dail do g h ai sge, His hardihood his he roism , ,

do ch ru -
atayl do y oysg é
Do dh re ach adh
’
s do dh ealbh a, His be ari n g his figure
, ,
'
do y rech -
a 8 do el
y ava
-

Is t- o lach d is t-
u ai sle , And his blood and pedig ree
isto la c is t u aysle - -

C h a bu sh u arach ri lean am b ui n . Are not unworthy of being recorded .

ch a b h u a ach ri l en a v yn
u - -
r -
u

Hi i urabh etc ,
. A re not ,
e tc .
 OF TH E HI G HLAN D CLANS . 1 55

of
"
I c annot p art with Mari without quoti n g a verse or two the croo n ,

o r ch au n t

AN C R O NAN .
—
TH E C R OO N .

Gu dun turai de ach ard ,

To the castle turrete d lofty , ,

dun turay dach ard

gu
Am bidh tun ai dh nam h ard, T he home of the b ards ,

am t o nay nam b a d
bi ’ ’
r

na filli dh s bi n n d ain An d minstrels of sweet l ays

’ ’
S , ,

8 na filli s b inn d ay’

n

’
S
’
n a n c up ai ch ean lan , ( W h o ) with flowing cups ,

8 n an c upaych en la nn

A ig ol slainte mo h rai dh T o rmai d Toast he alths to my beloved No rman

g ,
. .

ay g ol slayn té mo y ay r
'
to rm ayd

A ig etc . Toast etc ,

.

B ros nach crion

e si n a ,
That is the mansion not paltry ,

b e sin arc s n ach cri o n

’ -

A m bi adh g arai ch na m p i ob , Where is heard the stre aming notes of

’

’
am bi
'
g aray ch na m i
p oh
-
the pipe
’
8 cl ars ach a stri dh
n an ,
And Of the h arp in competition ; ,

8 a cl a ach a stri
n n rs
’

’
Is de arsa na m p i c s , And is seen the gleaming Of cups ,

is d ersa na
’
m pi -os

Air in strach dadh , ls fio n , Ch arged to the brim with wine ,

ay r in straca
’
1s fi -o n

of
’
Ni soils ann an gh n io mh or- c h eard . Radiant in the work the goldsmiths .

ui so ylsh an n an g n i -o v o r- ch erd
Ni etc ,
. Radi ant etc ,
.

B
’
e do dh u ch as s do dh u al, It is thy native and heredita ry right
he do y u ch as 8 do y al
u —

Bhi g u f an talach hu ain , TO be patient stedfast , ,

vi
g u f an talach bu ay n -

’
Ann a n c arrai d s an c ru adh as ; In extreme conflicts ;
'
an n an ca rray t s an cru a as -

Garg a p rosn ach adh sluai h Fierce when excitin g the peopl e ;
g
g ara g a pros
-
na ch a '
slu a -
y
’

B ai gh ael am bu ai dh ; Compassionate in victory ;

b ay el ’
am b uay '

M osglach an u a i r f o irn eart . Vigilant in the time of Oppression .

mosglach an u -a r
y f oy rn ert

M o sglach , etc . Vi g ilant , etc .

’
L ean sa, 8 na trei g , Follow and forsake n ot
,
le u sa s as treyg

Cleacb da is 138 11 8. The customs and virtues

clech da i s b ey s
'
1 56 TH E MUSIC

T —
ai team gu lei r O f thy race unfailingly ; ,

tay tem gu l eyr

M ac an ta se am h , Mod e st and m il d,
m acan ta sey v

P a ilt ri lu c h d th eu d, Libe ral to the tun eful profe ssion ,

p aylt y ri luc he d

G h aig eal an gl e n s ,
Heroic in deeds ,

g ay sg el a g l ey s n

Neartmh or an de ig h to rach d . Strong in the pursuit of spoilers .

n ertv o r an dey to rac

N eartmh or etc ,
. Strong etc , .

”
I c annot aff ord room f or th e whole of the song c alled Fu ai m an t S h ai mh -
,

( the V oic e of Silence ) by Ma ri which I r e gret as an ext ra ct b re a ks the c on

, , ,

n e xi o n b e tw ee n th e sol e mn an d touchi n g reflections fo rming th e i n t roducto ry

verses an d the d e sc riptive p an egyric which is so combined and p erfect as to ,

m ake their sep aration ve ry i nju rious but they are so lon g as to compel me to
insert on ly a sm all portion Of the middle and the co n clu di n g v e rses .

FU A I M A N T - S H AI M H .
—
THE V O IC E O F SIL E NC E .

Beir an t sh o raig h so bh uam - -

Be ar this salute from me
h ey r an to ray so vu am - ’ -

G u t all a n an cu ach , To the h all of ( soci al ) cups ,

g u t alla n an c ach u-

F ar m bi tath ai ch n an truadh dai mh ail

’
Where th e needy find a friendly
f ar m bi ta aych n an t u a
'
day v ayl
’ ’
- r - -
welcome .

Far, e tc . Wh ere etc , .

Thun an t aighe n ach gann ,

TO the house where there is no
h n an tay e n ach g an
u
’-
n sc arcity ,

Fo n le ath ad ad th all
’
,
Under the opposite decli vity ,

h all
’
fo n le ad ad
’o

F ar bh e il ai g h ear is c e ann mo mh an rai n . Where dw e lls my delight the inspire r ,

far vey l ay sr is ce n n mo v an ray n ’- -

o f my minstre lsy .

Far etc , . Where etc ,

.

T o rm ai d, mo ruin ,
Norm an beloved , ,

to r may d -
mo ruy u

O llag h ai reach u ,
Learned art thou ,

o ll a y ayt ech -
u -

Fo irmeil O thus t abh ai st - —

F o irm e il, etc . An d energetic in thy every action .

foy r mey l 0 bus tav ay et

- -
And etc ,
.

Ch a n eil cleach dadh bh eil bri g h There is nothing excellent

’ ’

ch a n eyl clec a
’
-
’
ve yl bri ’

G ai sg e na g n i amh That is not inherent in his mind

a s -
g y g e na g ni -
av

O r realized in h i s ac i on s
N ach eil aig n eadh mo gh ao il lan deth
i
.
.

n ach etc
'
ey l ay g n e mo yaoyl lan dc - ’
.

Nach etc , .
 1 58 TH E MUSIC
My quotations from Mari Ni gh ean A li sdai r R uaidh have already trenched o n
the sp ace i n te n ded for oth e r b ards h er e quals for el egance an d tend ern ess an d , ,

h er sup e rior fo r strength an d sublimity ; but I must submit two o r three v e rs e s

Of A n T alla m bu g n a 1e M acle o i d as a specimen o f the numerous cl ass o f
” ’

tri ads th at seem to h ave been such favourites w ith the b ards .

GUR M U L A DA CH THA ML —
S O RR O W FUL AM I .

Le at bu mh ean ach
coin luth mh or Thy d elight w as swift dogs
let vi a ac h coy n l or ’
bu -
n u v

Dhol a sh i ubh al n an stuc bh e i n n -

,
Among the rough an d pe aked
y o l a h i u val n an st c ey n - -
u -v n moun t ains ,
’
S a gunna n ach di ulta ri o rd . And the gun th at denies not th e
sa gu a ac h di u l ta ri 0 rd
nn n -
hamm e r ( never misses fire ) .
,

Leat etc ,
. Thy etc , .

Si do l am b n ach robb tu isle ach Thy hand is not erring

si do lav n ac h ro v t yshlech u

Dhol a ch ai th e amh a ch uS p ai r , In the competition (of archery ) ,

y ol a ch ay c v a ch uspayr ’-

’
Le d bh o gh adh c aol ruiteach deo n eo i l . With thy bow slend e r ruddy beauti , ,

le (1 vo a caol ruytech de o
’ ’- ' -
n e oyl
.
f ul —
Thy etc ,
,

Si etc , .

Glac chrom air do sh li o said ,

The bending quive r on thy hip ,

g lac chrom ayr do h li ase y d

- -

D o sh aig h de an sn ai g h te gu n ’
i aradh , O f arrows polished and straight ,
' '
do h ay den ’-
sn a
y te gun i -
ar a -

bar dosrach “ Their tops rough with the wing of

’
M le sg ia th ain an f h e oi n fi
’
m bar dosrach
'
ls sgi a -ayn an e- oyu
-
the e agl e The e tc —
,
,

Glac etc , .

Bh i o dh c e ir ri s n a c ran n ai bh , The waxed shaft

vi
’
eey r ri s na cra n n -a v
y
Bu neo -
e i slean ach tarru in n , Is n ot dubious in its flight
.bn neo - eyslen ech tarruy nn

No i r a le am adh an taif e ad When the bow string springs from

’
o d mh eo ir .
-

h o yt a lem a an t ayf cd -
’
-
o d ’
v e-oy r thy fi ng ers The etc —
,
.

Bh i odh etc ,
.

th y
’
Noir a le ig te bh O d laim h i ,
When released from hand ,
’
no r a leyg te v0 (1 layv i
y
Not
’
Ch a bh i o dh O i rle ac h gu n bh ath adh an inch remains uninserted
ch a l ch g vi
’
o yr e -
un va
’-
a
’

E ader corran a gaine sa n ’

sm e o i rn . Between the barb e d point and the
e der co ran a gayn é san sme-oy rn cleft When etc —
r .
,

Nair etc ,
.

Nam dh u i t tigh i n n g u
’
d bh aille ,
On com ing to thy residence ,

n am y a yt ti
'
-
i nn gu d ’
vaylle
O

Th e ea g l e i p s, x c ll c c l l d
ar e e en e, a e co i n ,
”
or fi i
ar- an ,
"
—
th e bi d
r , or t
ru e bi dr ,
—
ihG l cp t y ae i oe r .

I ts o th er n am e is d c i p tiv eol i
es r be i e, a re ng c o mpo u n dd
e of th e roo s t eo l ,
"
or i ul ,
”
k w l dg
no d e e , an

a th ar,
”
p ro n oun c dae ky '
-ar s
, .
 OF TH E HI G HLAN D O L A Ns . 1 59

bu tig h e arn ail bh ai l, Chief like is thy hospitality

’
S du g a -
,
’
8 do bu ti -sw a
’
yl g av ay l
Noir bh i o dh tio nn eal g ach c arai d mu As gath e rs e ve ry frie n d aroun d thy
vi ti - o n el g ach caray d mu tabl e O u e tc
’ - —
no r
y , ,
.

(1 bh o rd Nan ,
’
.
—
etc .

vo rd
’
(1

Gu m biod h farum air

’
th aileasg , There will be the rattling Of b ack
f am m
'

gu m bi h 3y 18 8 g
g am r no n ’
ay r

Agus f ui m a ir a c hlars ai ch , And the sound of the harp ,

a us
g fu -ay m ay r a chlars aych

Mur bu dh u ch as do sh ar mh ac Mhic L e oi d -
. As h er e dit ary (custom w as) of the sur
mur b“
’
y u ch as ‘10 b ar- V8 0 V ic le Oy d
-
p assing son Of Leod T here etc .
—
, .

Gu m etc , .

S e bu ch leach da n a dh eig h sin The custom was afterwards

'
se bu ch lec a -
na y ey s in

Bhi sei n n n i r- sg eu l n a F e i nn e , To si n g the n ew t ale s of the Fin

vi y
sh e n o u
y r- s
g eyl na fey n n e
g ali a n s,

Is e ach drai dh g rai g h ch e ir ghil nan

—
An d n e cdotes o f wild adve n tures
a

g y after the rac e o f white b adges

'
is ec h ray -
’
ra ch ey r-y i l n an
,

c roc h d .
—
Se etc,
.
(the deer ) The etc
.
—
, .

Iain L om o r John the b are a nickname fasten ed o n the bard who lived
, , ,

to a very old ag e from his sarcastic humour an d the s e verity o f his politic al
,

poems w as roy al C e ltic h ard to Ch arles the First an d Secon d His biography
,
.

has n e ver been writte n nor his poems coll e ct e d or published th e re be i ng n o , ,

encourage ment for G aelic writers in cons e quence o f the p rejudices Of stran ge rs , ,

an d the sc attered state o f the Highl a nders which p reclud e s th e nec e ss ary s ales ,

to make Gaelic lite rature a p aying literature From the en erge tic an d active .

ch aracte r of the h ard the disturb e d times in which he live d his gre at influence, ,

with th e cl ans his z e alous loyalty an d his singul arly rom antic an d adve n tu rous
, ,

spirit no h ard b e tte r deserves o r h as left more ampl e m at eri als in th e po e try
, , ,

and tradition al lore of his country for an int ere sti n g biog raphic al sketch th an ,

I ain Lom My sp ace does not admit o f my eve n slightly glan cin g at th e lives
.

o f the b ards notic e d in this sm all work but I c annot help t e lling an an e cdote
Of I ain Lom in con n exion with my Coven anting chief G illesp ig G rnamach
, , ,

whose memory h as hithe rto in my Opi n ion met with little justic e from fri e n d , ,

o r fo e An idle report having been se t on foot to the effect th at a rew ard had
.
,

been off e re d fo r th e apprehe n sion an d production Of I ain Lom at I nv e rary

C astl e th e e arl was c alled o n o n e morni n g before bre akfast by a Highl ande r
, ,

whos e ostentatious an d ample dress spare and angul ar figure sharp yet sh y an d , ,

suspicious looks appe ared both singul ar and striki n g The h ard for the strange
, .
,

visitor w as no other than I ain Lom himself asked the chi e f whether he h ad not ,

l ately O ff ered such a reward to an y o n e who should produc e Iain L o m b e fo re him

at Inv e rary The chi e f l aughi n g replied he had when th e bard stretching o u t
.
, ,
,

his h and to receive the mon e y excl aimed Giv e it to me then for here I am , , , , ,
”
produced by himsel f T h e earl w as exceedi n gly amused ; but inste ad o f lodging
.
1 60 TH E M U S IC
the h ard i n a dungeon as a celebrated novelist (who has more credit for the
,

truthful delineation of the characters who figure in his works tha n he d e se rve s)
makes him tre at an ofli cer who c ame to him with a flag of truce he took the ,

h ard by the hand and le d hi m into the castle where be detained and enter
, ,

t ai n ed him for a week with g re at courtesy and hospitality

, .

The steward o f the household howeve r w as not so e asily to be reconciled , ,

to the enemy o f the cl an and the earl being absent o n e day while the b ard ,

rem ained at the castle dete rmin e d o n pl aying him a t rick The b ard like most
,
.
,

m e n o f good t as te was a bit o f an epicur e and from the g us to with which h e

, ,

enj oyed choice things the steward bec ame aware Of his sensitiv e ness o n th e
,
’
subject T aking advantage o f his master s absence he served up to the h ard
.
, ,

with much ost entation an d ce remony an app are n tly sumptuous dinn er all in , ,

covered dish e s o f r adiant pl ate ”

T o detail the contents of the various dishes
.

were ludicrous enough but it exc e eds my space O ne of them a dish o f p eri
,
.
,
’
winkles o r whelks excite d the bard s risibility ; so h e took it Off the t able bodily
, ,

—
squ atted down before the fire in the most ludicrous attitud e he could a ssume ,

plac e d it between h i s legs a n d s n atchi n g the golden sk e we r which fasten e d th e

,
-

plaid to his Should e r se t to picking o u t the wormy fish and e ver an d anon
, , ,

spouti n g an ext e mporaneous verse satiri cally and humou rously desc riptiv e of ,

his attitude an d dinne r and rep re s enti n g it as the fare usually giv e n to stran g er
,

gu e sts at I n ve rary Castle T he stew ard al armed at the u n e nvi abl e position into
.
,
’

which he brought his m ast e r and household found me an s to c o n c i li tate the ,

b ard an d the poetry h as been suppre ss ed ; but the anecdote h as got a l asting
,

hold o f tradition an d shows th at the chief was not the grim bigot h e is
,

represent e d to have been .

The b ards in th ei r quick step songs fulling sh earing rowing an d in de ed

,
~

, , , , , ,

all songs whose Object w as to ch ee r or assimil ate labour to an amus e m e nt o n ly ,

d e sire d to b ring befo re th e i r hearers objects famili ar and agre e ably associ ated
in their minds with loc aliti e s heroes an d tradition s ch e rished by th e i r cl an o r
, , ,

class Imp assion e d thought an d de e p fee ling were con sid ered i n app rop ri ate
. .

As my object i s to give th e re ad e r an honest o r fai r av erag e s ample of Ga elic

poetry I c an not sel e ct v e rs e s to confirm speci al rem arks lik e th e s e an d must
, ,

r e fe r to th e song wh e n in p ri n t When my rem arks re fe r to so n gs not i n p ri n t

.
,

I will submit all or some of the ve rses In the followi n g boa t song I ai n L o m .
—
,

refe rs to the chief as it we re merely incid e nt ally T h e me asu re Of p raise is

, , .

impli e d rather th an expressed ; an d the localiti e s most striki n g an d tradition ally

c elebrated for sports and e vents in the districts o f th e various b ran ches o f his
great clan an d their tradition ally dearest ki n sm en or alli e s fall i n to the vers e s
, ,

s o n aturally as to appe a r wholly u n i n t e ntio n al T he ai r is also e qu ally .

app rop ri ate an d ch ara ct e ristic It b e gi n s with an un affe cte d but h old n ote
.
,

sw e lls gradually upw ards in tones loud sonorous an d h aughty e n ding lite rally i n , , ,

a g ai rm o r shout o f t riumph I must pres erv e the word g a i rm in my transl ation s ;

.

for s ho u t the ne arest corresponding E nglish word does it anything but

, ,

justic e .
 1 62 TH E MU S IC
S oma l sleag h i s lan n i aru m n na h earac h W i th m any S pe ars i ron blades in
an d
-
.

Z S i -
o -mo l
s e a
-
’
is l ann i - aruy n na h er -
sch h e r b o som .

S
’
i oma , e tc .
With etc , .

’ ’
Cha b e m arcai ch n a n ste u dal n It is not the ride r o f steeds
ch a be mar c aych
-
n an s tey da n
y

A bh ui n eadh geal reis o rt, Th at would gain the racing bet o f

gel rey s
’
a o rt
vu
y
-
ne
thee ,

Noir is ard do sh i uil bh rei d g h e al ‘

air When thou spre adest th y c u rch white * -

n oyt i s ard do h uyl r- vrey d- yel a r

y s ails ove r t h e
s arle Noir etc .
—
, . When e tc , .

s ay le

N oir i s ard do sh i n l bh ron n ach When high are the belly ing sails
n oyt is ard do h i uyl -
vro nnach

Air cu an m eam nach n an dro ung , O ver the ridges of the proud ocean ,
a r cu - an
y memenach n an dro n n ag
’
S tu i n n u ai bh re ac h a ste alladh ma And numerous wave s are spouting
’
s tuyn n u ay vrech
-
a st ella ’
ma bene ath th e k e e] .

h
’
-
e rach .
—
S t i un n , etc . And etc , .

h erach

Gur mor mo chion fe i n o rt Great is my love to thee ,

g ur mor mo chi - on f ey n o rt

C ar an
an ceil e cu i ri n , Though I will not m ake a display
car an cuyri n an eeyl e o f it ,

Mhic an f hi r leis an ei ri dh na Braig h i ch ’

. S o n o f the man with whom the
Vi c 80 if l eys an eyri 3 bray Rh ’
'1 -
B re abrean s would rise (in arms ) .

Mhic etc , . Son etc, .

na m ban L och trei g

’
Cei st 0 u Be loved of the women of L o ch treig
cey st loch treyg
n am ban 0 -
u
S o Strath O i ssi an nan rei dh lean
’ ’
—
, And Strath O ss i an o f pleasant -

8
’
0 s tra oyssi an nan rey len ’- -
’
meadows ,

G h eibh te broie agus feidh air am f arui nn —

Who have badgers and deer in their
_
.

e
y y v te b ro y c agus -f ey a r am fa ru n n
y y
'
-
p an u i e s .

G h eibh te , e tc . Who etc ,

.

Dh - ei readh bui dh e an
’
o R uai dh
'
leat , A band would arise with thee from
yeyre
’
buy ’-
en o -
t u ay let R oy ,
’
A lubas i udh ar mu n g u ai llean , With the bent y ew on their shoulders ,

a l ubas i -
u
’-
ar mun g ayllen
u -

bh ru i g h ean fuar Ch arn na l airge And from the cold h ills of Cam na
’ ’
S o
— —
.
-

’
s o v ru
y
’-
en f u-ar c h arn -n a- lay rge l ai rge .

’
S
’
0, etc . And etc ,
.

Dream eile dhe d ch i n n i dh ’

,
~ Another t ribe o f the clan ,

d rem eyle ye d ohi nn e ’ '

Olanu Iain o n In n ean ’ ’

,
The Clan Iain from I nn i n (the anvil )
-
,

ol anu i a n on i nn en
y
-

’5 S ee n te pag
o e 93
.
 or TH E HI G HLAN D CLA N S . 1 63
’
S i ad a rach adh sa n i om ai rt neo sgath ach They are the men that would go into
’
.

si ad-
a ra ch -a ’ san i mayrt ne o
-
sga
’-
ach the co nflict fearlessly .

’
S i ad, etc . Who etc ,
.

ioma o g an ach tre ubh ach , Many y outhful hero

’
8 a
si o ma Og an ach t ey ach
,
-
~
r v-

S gl ac chrom ai r cul sg ei t h air With the quiver behind h is shield

’
-
, ,

g lac ch ro m ayr cu l
’ ’
-
s sg e
y ay r
Thig a stig h o rt o sh le ibh Me al n a larig - —
. Will come to thee from the wings of
h l ey v mel a la ig M e L n a larig
'
big a Bti o t 0 r - -
n -
r -
.

Thig etc ,
. Will etc , .

’
8 i ad a f hreag radh an t- e ibh e i dh That would answe r th y c all
'
si ad
’
-
a h -
reg ra -
an tey vey
’
Gu n c agal gu n ,
’
e i slean , Without fe ar without ailment , ,

gu n egal g n u ey e- len

N o i r a th o g aer g u e u ch d do ch roi starai dh . When thou risest the fiery cross for
n oy t a h oga r
g u eyc do ch roy s -
taray '
deeds illustrious ,

N o ir etc , . When etc ,

.

In the following song by Iain Lom on the de ath of the hero Alisdai r , ,

D ubh o f Gleng arry he i s bold fervid an d pathetic I cannot desecrate this , , ,

.

song by attempting to render it into E nglish word for word and line for line , ,

because there being in E nglish no words equivalent to the Gaelic words such a
, ,

translation would n o t re ally be a literal one in the p roper sense o f the

word ; at the sam e time I am s atisfied th at word fo r word and line for line , ,

notwithstan ding the w ant of equiv alent wo rds will en able the E nglish schol ar ,

to form a more critic al estimate o f Gaelic poetry than imitations but as I h ave , ,

and will give a su fficient number o f specimens o f the former perh aps I m ay be ,

permitted to im agin e m y self for a m oment I ain Lom an d to address m y self to ,

the E nglish re ader in the same sty le an d spirit in which he add resses the
Gaelic reader without an y strict adherence to the order o f words an d l ines
, .

Peculi ar expressions ve ry strikin g and be autiful will be lost in this mode , ,

o f translation but I trust the reader w ill feel sufii ci en tly interested by this
,

attempt to qu alify himself to appreci ate the origin al I merel y adopt this pla n .

to gi ve a more t rue ide a o f the sp i ri t an d s ty le o f the bard than I could possibly

give by a rigid adherence to the order o f the words and lines I do Iain L o m .

o nl
y o n e injustice by this tre atment viz to desecrate o r omit the chorus which ,
.
, ,

I regard as a mon g the finest specimens o f the chorus to be fo und in G aelic

poetry ; an d I regard the choru ses as the most wonderful o f all the e ff orts o f
the Celtic Muse from their g re at v ariety an d the felicity with which words o r
,

simul ating sounds are so blended and modul ated into me asured lines an d
cadences so strikingl y accordant with the subject and the m el o d y as to heighten
, ,

and intensify th e e ff ect of both The ch o rus he re as indeed in every song .

, ,

m ay be reg arded as a s olemn amen to the feeling an d the sentiment of every

vers e o f the song bu rsting spontaneousl y from th e he art o f he arts o f the
,

audience w h o alway s joined in singing the choru s

, I w ill quote the chorus in .

Gaelic but will not attempt to re nder it into E nglish

, .
1 64 TH E MU S IC
N am e ridh sa m h adu i nn , When in the m o rning I a ro se
’

D am eri
’
83 wi d -
u
ym Ple asure was n o t m y ai m .

’
G ur beg m ites mo sh u g radh , Is there no end to Albin s w o e s
’
-
a s ,

gm beg m '
ay tes
’
8 “1 0 bug w ’ ’
T o de aths m o ng men o f fame ?
dh f h albh U ac h daran f earael,
’
Bh o n -
The m anl y le ader o f the race
vo n y al v u -ach - aran ferel Who o w n th e G arriam g le n ,

G h li n n e g arrai dh -
ai r g h i u lan Is o ff to his l ast resting pl ace
-
,

ylin n e g arra
-
y '
ayr yi u lan
-
Borne high by s o rro wing men ,
’
S an n am fl ai th eas na slainte ,
The chieftain lofty t rue an d b old
, , ,

sann am flay es a slayn te '

- n W h o never his allegi ance s o ld .

Tha cean n art aillidh na du th ch adh ,

’ '
ha c cnn art ay lli
’
na da ch a
-

Sar Ch o i rn e alair so i lle i r,

sar c h oy rn el- ay r soy llcy r

’
N ach rob b f o ille al do n c h run u .

n ach ro v f oyllel do n c h run u

Fon n
’
S c i a n ae l trom agus fad a ,
’
s c i - an - el t rom agus fad a
S c i an ael fada mo bh ro n
’

c i - an - el fad a m o v o n
’
s r

’
O n la ch aradh gu h i o sal,
-

on la ch ara '
g u hi -
o - sal

’
Do p h e rsa ph ri e sa il f o n fh o id ,
do s
fer a f ri - sey l f on oy d

Tha mo c h ridh sa c i ui rte ,

'
ha mo c ri -
sa ci - uy rt é

su g radh
’
Cha de an mi ri m bh eo ,
ch a de -
an mi su -
g ra
’
ri m ve- o

O dh f h albh c ean n art n an uaislean

’
n -

on y alv cenn art n an u - a slen

y

O igh re dualch ai s na Tro im .

o
y re da al- ch ay s
-
na troy m

’ ’
S m ai rg a th arladh ro i ( 1 dh ao in e Not were the y wh o rashly met
s mayrg a h arla '
my (1 a
y o
-
yn e T h y warriors ste rn an d true ,

No i r th ag te f rao ch ri do bh artai ch , When the proud he ather b adge was -

n oy r hag -te fra-och ri do v ra- ta ch

y se t

Dh —eireadh stuadh an clar t - ao dain n , In all their b o nnets blue ;

y e re y ’
s tu a - ’
an c lar t- ao d s
ayn When th y brave b anner waved o n
Le n eart fei rg e is g ai sg e ; high ,

nert f eyregé is gaysgé

1e And thou th y self wert seen ,

Sud a p h earsa neo sg ath ach ,

With battle kindling in thine ey e ,

s ud a fersa n eo sga ach ’-

T o draw th y broad sword keen
-

A g h n ui s bu bh lai th i dh gu n tais e
’

,
Then then t was time for Alb i n s
,
’

a y nu s
y bu vlay i g un t ayse '
- ’
foes
 1 66 TH E M U S IC

0 lath a blar sli abh t S h i arradh ,

’
From ruthle ss Fortune ’
an -
crushing wheel s
,
o la ’
-a blar sli -
av an h irra ’
Although Clan n do n n ill o n th at day ,

Ch ail a i r c i n n e adh an u ai slean , As ever clothed them with renown

,

obay l ay r c i nn e
’
an u-a ysi en O ur heroes have been w ade away ,

Ged a sh easai bh Clan n do mh n ui ll, In fruitless b attle s o n e by on e

ged h es-ay v clan n -do v -n uyll
’
a
And n o w we ve lost the worthiest lord
Mar bu choir dh ao i bh sa ch ruadal , That in these b attles d rew hi s sword .

m ar bu choyr y oy v sa ch ru a dal - -

Chail sinn ro g h u i n n nan c ai rdean ,

ob ayl sinn ro i aun n an cayr den ’-

-

An f h eul ard s i gun t ruaille adh ’

.
—
H o, etc .

yl ai d i aylle
’
an u s gu n tru -

N ise dh f h albh an tri ui r b h rai th rean ,

’
—
It was o ur count ry s destin y
n i se yalv a tri uyr v ra
y ren n - -
To lose th ree pillars o f the throne ,

A chleach d m ar abh ai st an u ailse ,

Hero es who in a dversity , ,

a c h lech d m ar a s y s t an u aylse v- -
F o r d aring p ro udl y g re atl y sh o ne
, ,

T ri adh G hli n n g arrai dh n am br ad an -

,
S ir Don ald o ur le ader when com , ,

t i a yli nn g array n am b radan bin e d,

- ’ ’
r -

bu ai dh e an , Clanro n ald,
’
S c ai bte i n sm ach da il n a c apta in o f o u r men ,

s cayb- e t yn s mach d- a
yl na bu - ay -en A li sdai r gene ro us good an d kind
, , , ,

Do mh n ul m o rch u i seach S h lei bh te , Chief o f the Garry s f ar famed glen ; ’

-

do vn ul m or ch uysec h
-
ley v -
te
’ ’
Clan n do n n ill s ran ks n o mo re will
’
Fe ar na ceile 8 n a su ai rce , se e

fer na c ey le 3 na eu - ayrce Le aders i llustrious as the three .

C h a bh i th g u brath ai g C lann dh om h n uill -

clan n -y o v - nuy ll
'
ch a vi
g u bra ’
ayg

T ri u i r c h o n n -
sp un n cho c ruai dh ri m— H o, etc .

tri -uyr ch o n n -spunn ch o cruai dh ri u

No ir th re i g cach an cu id f earai nn , Whe n other chiefs fled from their

n oyt h reyg each an c yd fe ay nn
-
u r- l ands ,

’
S n ach d f h an i ad san ri ogh ach d -
,
O ur heroes stern an d unsubdued , ,

s n ach d an i ad sa ri oc - - n -
Rallied their b o ld their kindred h an ds , ,

Sheas i adsan g u d ainge an ,

And for their king and c o unt ry st o o d
h es i ad san g u d ayn gen
- - -
A y e sto o d p repared in a rms to die ,

S ch a b an n 1e sg ai n neal a shin i ad
’
-
,
When W ar should his fierce to csin
s ch a b ann 1e sgaynn el a bin i ad - -
sound ,

Ch u i r iad f uaradh na f ro y se ,
O r to ac hieve a victory
ch uyr i -
ad fu -
a ra-
’
Ha f roysé That should thei r tre ache ro us fo es
S each ai r dorsaibh g ar di an adh ; confound ;
sech ayr dor sayv gar d i an a - ~ -
'
Such were o ur chiefs than m aidens ,

Na flai th bu c h i un n e na m ai g h dean n ,
mild ,

na flay bu ch i uyn é na may «J enn - -

But roused to war than beacons wild
, ,
.

’
S bu gh airg e n an lasai r H o etc .
—
,
.

3 bu yay g e n an las ayr r - -

 or TH E HI G H L AN D CLA N S . 1 67

Archibald better known by his p o etic n ame of Ciaran Mah s eh w as brother

, ,

to Sir J ames M acd o nald and stood high in his c o nfidence Whe n I ain Lom , .

o bta ined from him a p arty to execute the warrant from the P rivy Council agains t

the mu rderers o f Keppoch Archibald w as appointed to the comm and He left ,

.

his residence in Uist o n Wednesd ay travelled o n foot over the mountains then , ,

covered with snow at the head of his p arty ; stormed an d se t fire to the block
,

house an d sle w th e murderers at Inverl air in Braeloc h ab er on Sunday ; and

,

dispatched messengers from Invergarry to E dinburgh with the he ads the s ame ,
’
day , a feat not even surp assed by Montrose s m arc h from For t Augustus by
— —

G len bui ck Glenro y D aln abi an d L i anach an to I n verloch y in o n e day

, ,
The , , , .

d efenders of the blockhouse co nsi sted onl y of the uncle and si x nephews ; y et
they killed and wounded sixty o f the besiegers before being conquered Iain .

L o m who was the guide o f the pa rty s ay s that there was not o n e o f the seven
, ,
“ ”
who i n an e q ual fight w as not a match fo r ten
,
Some incidents o f the , .

s torming are very romantic and o n e of them in particul ar highl y chara cteri stic ,

o f the stern sense o f honour found uni ted w ith the most deadl y passions i n the ,

warriors of the olden time but it were an episode here and w o ul d intrude o n m y ,

s pace Iain L o m in his verses commemorative o f the achievement gives great

.
, ,

praise to the Ci aran M abach for the ski ll and hardihood with which he conducted
the expedition A verse o r two o f this song m ay perhaps be accept able to the
.

reader .

’
Slan f o (1 th ri al,
Chiarain M h abai ch a ,
Hail to th y course Ciaran,
M abach ,
sl an fo (1 ri all a cbi aren vah aych
’
- - -

’ ’
S h iubhlas sliabh gu n bh iadh gu n ch adal ,
Who travellest over the wolds wi thout ,
hi -u vlas sli - av g un i
v a- ’
g un ch a- dal food or sleep ,

Frao ch fo
’ ’
(1 shin gu n bh osd gu n Heather th y bed ; nor vaunt nor threat
’

, ,
fraoch fod hi n V OS d
g un gu n (was
bh ag radh .

v agra '

C h u i r u ceo fo n of
’
ro i sh e al ladarn Thou hast wasted the stronghold
’
.

c h uyr ‘1 f 0“ my sel la dam -

the bad and daring .

Di ci adain ch ai e n a u i dh eam O n Wednesday w as equipped

di ci a den ch ay e n a
- - -
uy em
’

Le bh ratai ch ard do gh illean dubha . T hy lofty banner of black haired -

le vratych ard do yillen d uv a gillies ,

S griob G hilleasp u i g ru ai dh a Uist The expedition of red Archibald from

sgri oh yillespeyg
'
-
t u -a y a uy st Uist ,

B h uail e me al an ce ann n a h -
u i dh e . Struck a blow at the en d of its rout .

vu - ayl mel h uy ’
e an cen n na

’
Cha (1 i ar
e b at a n a lon g dh arai ch Neither a boat nor a ship o f oak didst
ch a di ar e v i t a 8 lfing y ar aych
-
thou ask n .
-
,

B i am g eamh rai dh an tus na g aille an In wi nter when storm s be gan .

,
.

ri am g e av ri an tu s n a
'

g ayllen
- -

An tri ubh eas tean n f e adh bh eann i s In tight trews through mountains and
an tri u ves tenn fe a-
venn
-
is defiles -
’

bh ealach ,
velach
1 68 TH E MUSIC
’
S
tu b eatro m bonn g e t ro m do mh eallag
-
. Light were thy footsteps though gre at
s tu b e t o m bonn g e t o m do
- -
r ella
g r v th y might ,

’ ’
A S h e u m ai s n an tur s n a m bai de al ,
James of towers an d battlements ,
a h ey m aysh n an t r 5 E arn h ay d el u
’

G h e i bh luch d m u irn e c u i rm a t ai treabh ; -

T hytuneful race will in the h all find
y ey v l uc m yr é c y rm a tay trev u n u
a festive welc o me ;
,

’
Ged do rinn u n dui seal c adail ,
Though thou didst doze for a time ,

g ed do ri nn u d uy sel c aday l’
n -

’
S e ibh i n n leom do dh usg adh m ai du i n n . J oyful to me was th y morning vigil .

’
e v in n le- om do mayduy n n
’
s y y usg a

J ohn the b are was certainl y not less distinguished as a p olitic al poet among
those who understood his l anguage th an Dry den The foll o wing is a free .

imitati o n of one specimen of his p o ems on p o litic al subj ects The imita ti o n is .

so free as not to p a the le a st attention t o the o rder o f w o rds and lines ; but i t
y
is true to his thoughts an d feelings an d makes him express them in the s ame ,

sty le an d spirit in E nglish as in the Gaelic I cannot aff ord sp ace f o r the .

o riginal but versions of it less o r more correct will be found in every collection
, , ,

o f Gaelic poetry .

’
s M I so A I R M ’
U IL L IN .
—
0N C R O W NI N G CH A R L E S TH E S EC O N D .

Upon m y elbow calmly le aning Which through the r o y al b ard i m , ,

Within the lovel y m o unt ain glen p arted , ,

M y mind indulged itself in d re aming Should w arn him to respect the

O f the strange deeds and lives o f men ! l a ws ;

And wherefore should m y voice be silent ,

B ut not the men whose c o nduct
While m y heart bound s with prid e b aneful ,

H as sc attered ruin o er the l and

’

an d jo y , ,

Nor tell the Whigs , the b ase an d violent ,

And answered but with taunts dis
‘
Their greedy rampant reign is by e 2 ,
dainful ,

Those whom they robbed o f we alth

Their reign who falsel y tried an d an d land .

murdered
The true the lo y al an d the bra ve
, ,
Remember Charles Stu art eve r , , ,

W h o with their sophist ry bewilde red

, ,
The lesson t aught thee by the p ast ,

The people whom they would enslave . Forgetting truth an d justice neve r ,

If thou wouldst that th y reign may

With staff in hand the while I haste n ,
last .

To welcome h o me m y native king ,

W h y should I doubt th at he will lis ten Think since the throne thou h ast
,

To the leal counsel I m ay bring a scended ,

Without the ai d o f spear or sword ,

Counsel from clans an d chiefs t rue How th y o wn rights may be defended ,

’
he arted ,
And eke th y people s rights re
, ,
’

Who suffered in their country s cause ,

stored .
 1 70 TH E MUS IC
Would U alan fierce o r roy al Bruce N or long n o r deep th ei r hours of res t
, , , ,

Find p astime am o ng woods and wolds Their pipes anticip ate the d awn , ,

And y ield the base usurper truce And serried on the mountain c rest , ,

Th at seized and still their count ry, The cl ans in marshalled lines are , ,
‘
holds 2 d rawn .

Would gre at M ae C o lla o r Mont rose -

’
Fish hunt and feast and sleep an d L o ch loch y s c amp we le ave behind
, , , , ,

rest , Where high to He aven we raised

While s aints mis named cant through
,
-
o ur hands , ,

the nose , And vowed our country s wounds to ’

’
And trample o n the country s crest ? bind ,

And never to dissolve o ur h an ds ,

Fy e Clavers w ake ! w ake leaders all !

’

, , Till vi c t ry on the battle field , ,

Your c o untry feels her deep disgrace O er men o f foreign l aws an d creed ,
’

Her cl ans h ave ans wered to her c all Should to the l and assu rance y ield , ,

And armed as well becomes her race

,
The king will be restored with speed , .

To aid the right subdue the wrong , ,

And earn heredita ry fame Then said the Grah am o f modest mien
,

Regardless whether weak o r strong And d aring he art Sons o f the , ,

The f e es who u rge a wron go us claim Gael .

,
’3
? 9i a Ti:
Unless disunions inte rvene ?

Among y our ranks y ou must prevail ,

.

No w now the arm y true and bold

,
Your arms are strong y our he arts are
, , ,

F rom their enc ampments march away t rue ,

Heavens ! how glorious to behold Y o ur mode of warfare unsu rpassed

A people in thei r war array N 0 living fo eman can subdue
F rom mouth to mouth the high command Your party sh o uld y ou r union las t , ,

That makes the columns h alt o r le ad , ,

I s he ard as the y march b and by b and

,
If as a le ader me y ou trust
, , , , ,

An d earth resounds b ene ath their Your confidence must be entire

tread ! M y life y ou know from l ast to first , ,

I never ch anged my cl o ak f or hi re
No r rugged hill n o r marsh y plain , M y country and m y King I l o ve ,

Nor mossy moor nor rivers deep L o ve as I love m y G o d an d creed

, , ,

Can dis array the marti al train And if y o u trust me I will prove ,

Th at onward onward ste rnl y sweep ; ,

Worth y y our trust in word and deed
,
.

They flag not h alt not ti ll they gain

, ,

The chosen camp at evening s close M arch then m y heroes f o r the f oe

’

, , , ,

Where w atchful picquets with a chain Has d ared to cro ss the sacred line
,

O f sentries guard thei r brief repose

, T o which y our fathers long ago , ,
”
M ade eve ry foe his raids c o nfine .

’
Sentri es of keen an d piercing ey es He gave the word an d gainst the hill , ,

Unm atched for vigilance an d ze al Urged on h i s proud and mettled steed ; ,

Th at fo emen never might surprise But though in ran k s th e clansmen still, , ,

Unwitting o f the trenchant steel Defie d i ts vaunted power and S peed .

.
 or TH E HI G HLAN D CLAN S . 1 71

While breasting steep S liav an a s side

’

Befo re he reached G len turret s crest

’
, ,

No r strength nor speed h ad he to S p are ; A horseman comes with fiery speed ,

But st o o d all foaming an d distressed , And say s the Whigs in pomp and p ride , ,

And g asping for the mountain air . Have boldly crossed the p ass of
Then l aughed the g ay the gallant ,
d re ad ,

Grah am ,
Led by the stern and stout Mackay
As lightly o n his feet he sprung ,
A veteran trained to w ar a bro ad
Come I m a Gael in blood an d name
,
’
, From whom the O range gold might
”
Let s try who is most swift an d strong
’
. bu y
His King his C o untry , ,
an d his God .

G len tu rre twe leave far behind ,

L eac Connel s plain an d G arv am ore

—
’

, , The shout of joy our columns gave

No r h alting pl ace we seek nor find
-
, When their stern battle met our
’
Until we gain Drum uach ar s core . view ,

There fo r the night a camp we form , Might wake the Rom ans fro m their
And spre ad our sentinels around , grave ,

Th oug h w i n d an d rain a perfect storm —

Whom here of o ld o ur fathers slew .

Made hills an dvales and rocks resound . Stripped to our b o nnets brogues and , ,

kilt ,

Again we form at bre ak o f day , , We cast all useless weeds a way ,

Again in well knit sections move -

, Loosed o ur steel pistols in the belt ,

With d auntless tre ad in proud array , ,

And fiercel y cl aimed the deadly fray .

’
The men of A th ole s zeal to p rove ,

Their zeal to prove ? It soon was proved ! Cl avers arr anged e ach d aring cl an
’
E ach mother s son like sh adows fled , , ,
In its p recise an d p reper place ,

Leaving their women fair an d loved —

Took his proud stati o n in the van ,

To tell wh y we must lack their aid ! And onward moved with d auntless
pace .

Alas that warriors true and brave

, , ,
When fron t to fro nt we met the f o e
, , ,

Who love their c o untry and their king ,

With missiles the S l o w work began ,

Should a b ase feud al leader have , And man y a shot an d sh aft they throw
To lead them as if on a string ! Away that should have found i ts
,

But little do we re ek or care m an !

Fo r A thole and its trimming lord ;
O ur cause is just our cl ay mores bare , , Thus did we w aste a precious hour
Such paltry less we c an aff ord . That brave men s p atience sorely ’

tried ,

O nward still onward boldly sweep

, , Then forth we drew the s tern cl ay
The race unmatched y et wi th the s word ,
more ,

The well knit section form they keep

-
And ru shed upon them l ike the tide ,

O n hill or pl ain through moss o r ford , . O f wil d Coire Vreeken when the ,

Their weapons gleam their tart ans wave , ,

waves
’
Their towering crests invade the Skies ; O f the Atl antic s boundless main
The dews of toil their foreh e ads lave ,
Ass ail the rocks till cli ff s an d cav es
,
.
,

But courage flashes from their e y es . And h ills and gle n s resound again ! ,
1 72 TH E MU S IC
Then oh then w as felt an d seen
,
But ah the vi ct ry dear was bought , ,
’

The p o tence o f o u r de ar cl ay mores The chiefth at could o u rc ause sustain , ,

When he ads legs arms cut off as cle an Wh en in the h o u r o f triumph sought
, , , , , ,

W as fo und am o ng a he ap o f Sl ain !
’
A S sh o rn grain we re stre w d in sc o res ,

Along the field E re m inutes tw o .

Could wing their flight the t rench ant The chief wh o se prestige an d who se ,

brand p o wer
Laid eve ry sprawling whigling lo w We re o nly equ alled by his mind ,
’
Who d ared the de adl y ch arge to stand And who al as in d anger s hour .
, , ,

H as no successor left behind

Nor h ad the y better h ap wh o fled His em c would not be complete
’

In terror and in disarray ;
F o r in the g o rge were hund reds sped
,
’
,
Though all wh o th rive by Albin s w o e
O n a funere al pile we re se t , ,

Who shrieked in p anic an d dism ay O r hung suspended from a to w . .

The Ciaran M abach for some c ause which I h ave never heard expl ained , ,

was put in w ard in E dinburgh whe re he met with extreme kindness an d ,

courtesy from the aristo cracy especially the l adies Nevertheless he pined for , .
,

his native hills and bre athed his longing in verses which I am unwilling to
, ,

subject to a line f or line translation Indeed I think that I sh all h ave given .
,

as man y translations o f that ki nd as my object requires and that a few mo re , ,

free more regardful of the st yle and spirit th an of the words and literal sense
,

of the origin al m ay n o w be here an d there introduced with as much satisfacti o n

, ,

to the reader as to m y self I re gret the necessity o f giving fewer verses o f the .

original than are imitated .

Ge soc ai r mo leabadh Though soft and e asy is my bed ,

ge soc ayr -
mo l eba ’
Magnifi cent m y room ,
’ ’ ’
R aunsa c ad al ai r fraoch ,
I d rather sleep in U ig n i s gl ade ,

ban n sa cad al ayr fraoch Mong heather in full bloom ;

’

Ann an lagan be ag u aig n eaeh ,

Where I co ul d rise at break o f day ,

ann an l ag an beg u ay g n ech — -

With O scar by my side ,
’ ’ ’
Is bad do n luaeh air ri m th aobh ,
To seek mong glens and mountains
,

is bad don ln a ch ay r ri m b aoy - -

re
g y ,
’
S noir a dh ei ri n n sa mh adu i n n -
,
The stag o f dark brown hide - .

s n eyr a y ey rin n a d yn n
’
sa - v -
u

Bhi si ubh al g h lacag an c ao l ,

vi si val ylac ag an cao l

- - -

Na bi t rial thun n a h Ab aid -

,

a bi
n tri al h n a h a b ay d
-
u n -

A dh e i sdeach d g lag rai ch n a s ao r

- .

a e
y y sd ec g lag ra ch
y
-
na s ao -
r

Ch a n e il ag am cu g le usda
’ ’

,
But my loved fo rest i s afar
ch a n fi ll ag am cu g leysda
’
Though here I m ay beh o ld
S ch a n eil fe um ag am dh a
’ ’ ’

,
A fo rest huge where mast an d sp ar ,
’
s
’
ch a n ell fey m agam ya
’
The shipwright s craft unfo ld ;
 1 74 TH E M U S IC

Bea n mo g h rai dh a bh ean nas al , The would scarce excel in speed

on e
,

ben mo yra y ’
a ven u -a -sal No r would the other ride
Dha n ach d f h uaradh ri amh loch d
’

,
Upon his pro ud and vaunted steed ,

y a n ach Against G lenm aran s side ;

'
da a ra ri av loc - - -
’

N ach i arradh mar ch luasaig , Where on the eve of parting day

, ,

n ach i a a m ar chlu a sayg - -

r
’ - -
Among the me adows green ,

Ach lom g h u allain nan cnoc -

,
The milky kine list to the lay
ach lo m yu alay n n an cnoc- -
O f maids in tartan sheen :
’
S nach f uilig e adh an t sradag —
,

s n ach trad ag
’ ’
fu il ge an - - -

A lasadh ri corp
ri co rp
’
a las a -

O ch a M boi re mo ch ruai dh ch as -
,

och a voy re mo ch u ay cbas r -

’-

Nach dh f h uai r mi 11 n o ch d -
.

n ach d u ayr mi H 11 00 - -

Bea n a b aig an tach ceile -

, Ay e, list and y ield with dream y joy
,

ben a b ayg auts ch ceyle Their treasures to the h and

Nam eiridh f o dh ri uch d O f maiden s fair an d kind though c oy
’

, , ,
'
n am eyri fo yruyc In streamlets white and bl and
Cha n fh ai g h eadh tu beud dha
’
,
While clear and high e ach artless
, ,

ch an ay e tu bey d ya '
- ’
voice
’
S cha bu leir leis ach u ,
Wakes hills and rocks around ,

s ch a bu l eyr l ey s ach u An d leg len s to the i r hearts rejoice

*
’
,

Sibb an g lacai bh a cheile ,

And chime with hollow sound .

si v gl ac ayv a obeylé
an -

A fior eadean n nan stuc ,

a fi or c d en n -
n an s tuc -

’
S an am eiridh na greine ,
'
san am ey ri na
g reyn e
Bu gh eu r leirsin n air sul .

bu yeyr leyrsinn ayr sul

N uair a th ig eadh a fog h ar , And while they sing their hunters g ay

, ,

nu a ir a big 6 3
' ' -
'
Peering through glen an d grove ,

Bu bh i n n leom torrun n do chleibh ,

With pleasure listen to the lay
bu Vim le ome t om m do W e? " '

Th at Speaks of faithful l o ve ;
T o irt dulan na c o mh stri , Then bounding forward proud and tight
, ,

to) “ d ul an “8 GOV stri -

E ach y outh lay s down his spoil
Air a mh oi n ti ch ch ao in reidh ,
Before hi s sw eetheart fond and bright ,
”
3y? a voyn ti ch ch aoyn re And feels her conscious smile
) .

at M ilk -
pail .
 OF T HE HI G HL AN D CL AN S . 1 75

Na dol an c o in neamh do leann an , O h h o w I love the free born race -

, ,

na dol an l enn an
coy n n ev do O f be auteous gait and form ,

Ge bh eil sn each da mar cheir ,

When after them in he adlong chase , ,

g e v ey l sn ech da m ar ch ey r M y O scar and m y S torm e

Bi sin a bhan a ch e ili dh bh o idh each
-
,
Strain every nerve an d m ake them strain ,

bi sin a v an a ch eyli -
voy cch
’ ’
E ach ne rve an d sinew too ,
’
Is etrem moralach ceum . If in their fearful strait the y d gai n
, ,

i s e tro m mor al ach cey m

- -
Benard thy corries blue , .

Sweet is the converse o f the har t The y traverse each romantic glen ,

With his unsullied mate ,

Browse on e ach secret lee ,

Nor would he from her side depart ,

M ake love in every coz y den ,

To plunge where clubs debate ; And wander f ar an d free

To swill at porter o r at ale ,
While here I pine in hopeless ward ,

O r whisky fierce an d blue ,

Nor m ark my herd o f deer ,

Where Lowland greed an d craft prevail ,

Fleeting across th y brow Mel ard , ,

And Highland he arts are true . And o n th y wolds career .

N 0 ! he would rather sl ake his thi rst O h little do I love to trace

’
E re S o l a scends the S k y ,
E din a s streets an d l anes ,

Where vi rgin stre ams i n cry stal burst O r breathe lip love with courtly grace
-

From corries wild an d high ; In p al aces or fanes

Where the cold cress in clusters green Give me the forest w ide and high ,

A frug al me al suppli es , The mountain and the vale ,

And lichens decked in silver sheen Where dwell the herds of piercing ey e ,

Aff ord a juicy pri z e . Whose speed outstrips th e gale .

With joy he roams the mount ains blue , , ,

’
Ah me tis hard to w ither here ,

And v alle y s fair and wide ,

An d smoke an d fumes inh ale
’
Mong heather b athed in pearly dew ,
From dusky lanes and vennels drear ,

With his fond faithful bride . And gutters d ark and st ale ;
She sees but him him onl y loves , , And bid sweet Sky e o f bay s and dells ,

No other fills her ey es ; Wild glens an d mountains blue, ,

Him w atches moving as he mo ves

, ,
Where all I love in comfort dwells ,

And in his bosom lies . A long a sad adieu , .

The fulling like the boat songs of the Gael h ad an air of extemporaneous
, ,

ness and simplicity combined with a prancing caracoling peculi arity in the sty le
,

an d me asu re o f the verses which m ade them very attractive and pleasing , ,

although they discl aimed all pretensions to poetry The mode of procedure .

was thus z Some romantic recess by the side of a burn w as selec ted whe re a
—
,

pl atform o f pl aited w attles was erected on the centre o f which the cloth to ,

be fulled w as place d The neighbourhood being alway s put under requisi

.

tion o n these occ asi o ns a b and of maidens consisting usu ally o f all the more
, ,

free hearted g ay an d jelly y oung women of th e locality assembled giving

-
, , , ,

their ser vices gratuitousl y S o man y o f them bare armed and bare legged .
, ,
1 76 TH E MUS IC
se ated themselves around the cloth on the pla tfo rm an d the others forming a , ,

relay of gener ally an equal number to o k their position in attendance suppl y ing , ,

w ater to soc/: the cloth and ch anging places at intervals with their fri ends o n
1
,

the pl atform The verse was sung in a hil arious off hand sty le by the best
.
-
,

singer the others striking in alternately with the ch o rus The clo th in the
, .

m e an time was rolled ab o ut tossed backward and fo rward an d fro m side t o side , , ,

in m agica l gy rations th at would utterl y c o nfo und the t able tu rning o f o ur -

Y ankee cousins but all the while unde r regul ar mechanic al p rinciples o f m an ip u
,
“ ”
l ati on strictl y adhered to howeve r fast an d furious th e mi rth sometimes
, ,

gre w there being alw ay s method in the m ad movements The sight o f so

,
.

man y me rry gi rls tu rning l abour into mirth w as exceedingl y o u tr e an d pic

, ,

ture sq u e an d th e oppo rtunity o f getting a sly peep at them w as e age rl y s o ught

,
“ ’
by such Highland T am O S h an te rs as knew what w as wh at but woe to the
luckless wight who w as detected by the fair amaz o ns unlawfull y in the espi al of
thei r m y sterious orgies !
The fo llowing fulling song by the ro y al celtic bard Alex ande r M acd o n ald , , ,

is an allegory in which he represents the Prince unde r the similitude of a

,

oung m aiden M o rag with flowing locks o f y ell o w h air floating ove r her
y , ,

shoulders The h ard describes his attachment to h er an d s ay s th at he h ad

.
,

fo llowed her faithfull y in l ands known an d unkn o wn to him an d if S he would ,

c o m e ag ain th at he an d all h e r fo rmer friends an d admi re rs w o uld emb ark

,

unhesit atingl y in an y enterprise c alculate d to vindic ate her rights M y in ability .

to a ff ord sp ace for the whole of the verses ren ders this bri ef expl an ati o n ,

necessary I am indebted to Mrs Hulton G lasgow for the ve rsi o n o f this air
.
, , ,

which is submitted to the re ader .

A M H O R A G C H 1 A T AC H .
—
M O RA G B E A UTIFUL .

A M h orag c h e atai c h a chuil dh u alaich , G raceful Morag o f the cu rling ringlets ,

a v o rag ch et -
ay ch a ch uyl y u - al - a ych
’
h
’
Gur —
e do lu aigh a th air m ai re . Thy love is the cause of my solicitude .

gu r he do lu -
a
y
’
a h ayr may e r

F orm —
Bei r mi ho M h o rag , Ch orus —
Bey r mi ho vo rag ,
bey r m e h e vo ag r

H o ro n a h o ro g h e allai dh ,
Ho ro n a horo y ellay ,
h e re a ho o yell ay ’
n r -

Beir mi ho M h orag ,
Bey r mi ho v o rag .

heyr me h e vorag
Mo dh i m i ch u nun th air ch uain o irn
—
, If thou art gone from us over the sea,
mo yi mich u nun h ayre chu ayn oy m -

’
Gu m bu lu adh a thig u dh ach a i dh . M ay th y return he speedy .

gu In bu ln a a big 11 yach ay -
'
- ’

Bei r etc , .
Be y r etc
, .

’
8 eu i m n i ch th e i r leat ban Dal g h ru ag ach Remembe r to bri ng with thee a b and
s c uyn - ich h eyr let bann al y tu a g ach - -
of m aidens ,

L u ai g h e as an c lo ru adh g u d ainge an . W h o will tightly fuller the red cloth .

lu —
y es a
a
'
~
n c lo ru - adh
gu day n gen
Bei r etc ,
.
Bey r etc
,
.
 1 78 TH E MUS IC
Do shuil Sh i ulbh ir , sh o ch drach , m h odh ar, T hy ey e is cheerful slow kindly , ,
do h uyl h v o ar buyl- vir b oc -rac '
-
,

M h ireag ach ch omh n ard s i m e allacb

’
, , . Merry , w ell- sh aped , and l arge .

vir e
g ach chov n ard s i mellach
- - - ’

Beir etc , . Be y r etc ,

.

Dend c ailc e sb n asda na ribh i n n , The ch alk white teeth o f the queenl y
-

deyd ee y l -
ce h n asda na ri - vi nn m aiden
Mar dh isin ean air an g earra’dh . Are like dice ( skilfull y ) carved .

mar yisi n en ayr an g erra

Beir etc , . Bey r , e tc .

A mh aigh de ann bh oi dh each na m

’
bas Beautif ul m aiden of the polished
a denn voy eeh
vay
'
-
'
- Da m bas hands ,

caoine ,
caoyu e
’
S iad c bo m aoth ri cloi mb na h - eala , ( That are) as smooth as the down of
’
s i -
ad cbo mao
’
ri cloyv na b ela the sw an ,

Beir etc ,
. Bey r etc , .

’
8 i om adh
’
o i g ear a th a n te ir o rt Man y are the y ouths who are after
si o ma ’
- -
o yg er a b an toy r o rt thee
E adar M orth i r agus M an n u in n . Between Morir and M an nuyn n .

e ar d mor b ir -
agus ma nn -u
ynn
Beir etc , . Be yr etc ,
.

’
8 i om adh g ai sg e ach u asal dai cbe il, Man y are the warriors high blooded -

’
s i -
o -
ma ’
gay sg ecb u -a a s l day -eb eyl and stately
’
Nach obadb le m g b radb sa tarru inn . Th at w o uld n o t hesitate to draw (their
n ach o ba lem ’
y ra
'
-
ea tarruyn n swo rds) for my love .

Beir etc ,
. Bey r e tc , .

A racb adh i
le sg ath
’
s 1e c lai dh e amh , T bat would advance with sword and
ach ra -a’ le s I a
g
-
'
sle cl ay cv ’-
target ,

Air bheag sg ath g u bial n an c ann an . \Vi tb o u t fear to the muzzle o f the,

ay r v eg sga
’
gu bi al n an cann an
-
c annon ,

Beir etc , . Bey r etc ,

.

Nach biodh mall a dol an o rdug h Th at w o uld n ot be slow to fall in ,

nach bi mall a do] an o rd u ’ ’

A th oi rt a m ach do choir a db ain deo in -

. And vindic ate th y right defy ingl y
, .

a h oyrt a mach do ch oyr a y ayu de oy n - -

Beir e tc , . Bey r etc ,

.

’
8 i o m adh armu n n lasdail treubh acb , Man y are the warriors fiery and ,
’
s i -
o -
ma ’
armun n las -
dayl treyvach strong ,

An n an D un ei dean , am b arrail . In D unedin who th ink , ,

ann an d un -
ey den am barr ayl -

Bei r , e tc . Be y r ,
etc .
 or TH E HI G HLAN D CLAN S . 1 79

N a n d th ig eadb tu rith ist lo (1 e iri dh

’
-
’

, Shouldst thou c ome again with th y

n an dig a tu ri ist lo dey ri - ’ ’-
-
'
rising ,
’
Gu n dubladb n a treun mu d bh raticb
’
. That double the number o f heroes
dubl a m (1 vra tich ’ ’
g un " 3 tre n
y u -
would surround th y standard .

Beir etc ,
. Bey r etc , .

Th ig eadh da mbile a S lei bh te ,

Two thousand would come from Sleat ,
da v ile
’
big -
e a sleyvte

’
S rei si am ai d a G lean n e g arrai dh -
. And a regiment from Glengarry .

’
s rey s i may d a
- -
gleann a g arr ay
- -
’

Beir etc , . Bey r etc , .

’
S dh e an adb
’
gu n taise leat e i ridh , With thee would ri se ,
wi th ou t timidit y ,
s y ena '
gun tayse let e riy '

Do cbaibtei n fh ein ,
M ac m b i c -
A illean
-
. T hy own captain Mac vic A illein ,
- -
.

do ch ayb tey n b eyn - mac- vi e-ayll -

en

Beir etc , . Bey r etc,

.

’
T h ai n ig e an tus ro i cbacb leat ,
He was the first to join thee before ,
h ay n ig e an tu s roy eh ach let
’ ’
S cba n fh ailn i eb e ma thig u th ai ri s And will not f ail thee shouldst th en
,
,
8 ch a n ayl nich e ma bi g 11
’
-
bay - ris come
Beir etc , . Be ir etc
, .

Le suinn agus M bui deart U i dhi st ,

With the warriors of U ist and M oi dart ,
le s uyun u
y ist ag u s vuy d ert - -

’
S Arasai g dhu ghorm a bh arrai c b -
. And green Arisaig of le afy branches .

v arr aych
’
yu yorm
S ara sayg -
a - -

Bei r etc , . Bey r etc ,

.

Chana E ige is , ,
M h o rth i r O f C an a ,
B ig , and Morir
ch ann a eyge Is v o r-hi r

Do gh ai sg e ai ch chorr do shiel -
A i lle in . All the surp assing heroe s of the race
do a
y ch
y y g a
s cborr do hi oi - ayll- eyn o f Allan
- -
.

Beir etc , . Be y r etc,

.

’
Nam Shir A li sdai r
’
s M h o n tro s, In the time o f Sir Al exander and
n am l is dayr s v ent res
b ir a -
’
Montrose ,

B u bh oc ain i ad do n a g allaibh . They were the terror of the strangers .

bu voc ayn i ad do us gall ayv

- - -

Beir etc , . Bey r etc

,
.

Db f hi acb i ad lath a I n verlo ch ai db

—
They showed o n the day o f Inver
y i -
acb i -
ad la
'
-
a i nv er l -
o- eh ay
’
loch y
Gu n robh iad e olacb ai r lan n aibh That the y knew how to wield their
’
.

g un rov i -ad e- o-la ch ayr lan n ayv swords .

Beir etc , . Be y r etc

,
.
 1 80 TH E MU S IC
Am Cill S e idh is Alt E ire ann
P e ai rt, -
,
-
, In Perth , Kilsy th e , and Auldearn ,
am pe ay rt cill soy is alt ey rin
- -
'
-
n

’
Dh f h ag iad re ubalai eh gu n an am
-
. They left the rebels soulless .

yag i ad reb al ay ch g n an am
- - o
u

Bei r etc ,
. Bey r , e tc .

E iri dh leat a Gh lin n e c bo mh an —

, With thee will rise the Glencoe men ,
e riy ’
le at a -
g l inn e co v an
-

B ratacb ch o i mh each D an
g e ur-
lan n ai bh . The fierce standard of sh arp s words .

bratach eb oyvecb n an e
g y r-lann
ayv

Beir etc ,
. Bey r etc ,
.

’
8 ei ri dh le at a n all Rudha And w i ll rise with thee in R udha
’ '
eyri le at H all
’-
s -
a ru a

Antrim ln ehleasacb -
n an se ang eac h -
Antrim o f dexterous swordsmen and
antri m l chlesach u- n an seng ech -
sh apely steeds .

Beir etc , . Bey r etc, .

Drui deadh na G ai dh ei l g u leir ri ut , The Gael will all close around thee ,

gu l eyr ri ut
'
druyd e g ay el
’ -
a -
n -

Ge b e dh eiri dh le at na dh f ban n adh

’
- —
. Let who will come o r remain away .

y anna
’ '
g e b e y ey r i ls at n a - -
’

Beir etc ,
. Bey r etc, .

S h ui dh deich mile air cle dh iu Ten thousand o f them sat on the

buy dey eh mile ayr cle yi u -
wattle pl atform
An c og adh ri gh Seumas nach m ai rean n ,
. In the day s o f king J ames who i s no ,

an co g a ri seym as n ach mayrenn’ ’ -

more .

Beir etc ,
. Be yr e tc
,
.

’
S i o m adh elo air an tug iad Gai te n O n many cloths di d they bring a
tug i - ad cayten ruflfle d surfa ce
'
’
s i -
o ma
-
clo ayr an

E adar Cat -
aobh agus Anuiu . Between Caithness and A nuy n .

d
e ar cat -uo y ag us anuyn

Beir etc , . Bey r , e tc .

Ge (1 dbi ult
’
cacha dol a l n agh leis ,
And although others refused to go
d yi ul t ca ch a
ge
’
- -
. do] a ln -
a
’
les wi th thee ,

Cha robb g ruaman ai r a bh an n al . Nor gloom nor hesitation did the y

ch a rov ru - -m an
a ay r a van n al show
g .

Beir etc ,
. Bey r etc
,
.

R i gh ! bu mh ai th a luag h a chlo iad ,

Ri ! but the y were g ood at fullering
n
'
bu
ch lo i ad vay
’
a lu -
a
’
a ~
cloth ,

’
8 g a db ean n adb c o mh n ard le n lannan
’
.
And shap in g i t wi th their blade s .

’
3 ga e
y y n a eov n ard len l ann an
'
-

Beir etc ,
.
Be yr etc
, .
1 82 TH E M U S IC
A c h asg ai rt n an n ai m hde an , To conquer the enemy ,
a ch as -
g y a rt n an n ay y -
den

F o sh ran n t p h i o b is stai rn nam bratach . Under the resounding war pipes and -

fo h -ran n t fi -o b is stayrn n am brats ch rustling banne rs ,

He etc ,
. H ey etc ,
.

Bu mb ath g u sealg an f h e idh u ,

Suitable art thou for deer stalking -
,
bu va g u selg a ey
’
u n
’

Nam ei ri dh do n gh rein air creacban

’ ’

; When the sun rises over the mountain

am ey i don crech an
D
yrey ayr r
'
n -
peaks 3
’ ’
S db f h alabbain le at g u loth ar ,
And modest is th y appearance ,

y al y ayn
’
8 let gu lo ar - ’
-

D i do mh n ai ch a dol do n c h lach an
-
’
. Travelling to church on Sunday .

di dov
- -
n a ch
y a dol don chlach an

He etc , . H ey , etc .

L ai dh in n leat gu h -earbsail, I woul d sleep in thee snugl y ,

lay inn ’-
let g u h -erb- say l
’
8 m ar
’
i of
’
c arha g u n e ridh n grad leat ,
And start with the quickn e ss the
’
s mar erb a -
gu n e riy '
-
n g ad letr roe ,

Na beallam b am armacb d More ready in arms

na bell -
av am arm -ao

Na dearg an acb ’
s m usg ai dh g h lag ac h . Th an a red coat with -
hi s clums y
derag ana cb mus g a
’
ylagach musket
’
na s

H e, etc . H ey etc , .

Air t— uach dar gur sg i amb aeh O n thee gracefull y

ayr tu acb d- -
ar gur sgi av -acb

A laidh eas sg i ath

na m ball breac adh Lies the spotted target
’

, ,

a lay se ’
sg i a n am
- ball b ec a
’ -
r -
’

Clai db eamb air crios sn i amh ai n The sword ,

on a winding belt
cl ay cv ay r c ri s
'
-
sni a v ayn - —

th y
’
A m fi aradh osci o n do phleatan . Aslant across plaits
'
am fi -
a ra -
os- c i - on do flet ~
an

He etc , . H ey , etc .

L ai dh ean air an f h raocb le at ,

I would lie on the heather in thee ,
'
lay -
en ayr an raoch let

G u g aolach mar ao dach -

le ap a ; My choice of bed clothes ;
-

gu g ao l aeh
-
mar ao d-ach - e a lp
’
S e db- ai n deoi n u i sg e , is u rch aid ,
In S pite of rain and storm , ,

se a n de oyn uy sg é is u r— ch a
yd
y y
- -

Na tui l bbeum gu m biodh orm fasg adb

—
’
. And water spouts thou wouldst me
-
,

a s tuy l ve m bi o orm fasg a shelte r

gum
- -
’ -
’
y .

He etc , . H ey etc ,
.

'

baganta S ons ze, tight and bonn y

’
8 , g ri n n ,
boi dh each , , ,

s bag -eu -ta gri nn bo y ’-

eeh

Air b annais ’
air mod am breacan At a wedding or court is the laId
3 . p .

ayr b ann a e brec

’
y
-
s ayr m od am -eu
 or TH E HI G H L A N D CLAN S .
1 83

S uas am feile c uai cb e an , Up with the encircling feylé (belte d ,

su - as am feylé cu -
aycb en
pl aid )
S dealg g ualain n
’
-
a cuir air fast ai dh With the shoulder skewer to fas ten it
’
e delg gu - -
a a l y na a cu r a r
y y fas t -
ay
'

(o n high ) .

H e, etc . H ey etc , .

’ ’
8 math a la s a db eich u
—
Good is it day and night :
’
3 ma ’
9. la se yoych u
T ba lo i n n
’
o rt am bei n n s an cladaeh ; It is becoming on the mountain or
ha loynn o rt am h eyn n clad acb
’
san -
th e be ach ;
’
S f e ac h d
’
m ath am s an sith u . Good in pe ace o r in war .

ma
’ ' '
s am f ee san si 11

Ch a ri gh am fe ar a ch u ir as u . He is no king who suppressed it .

ch a ri
’
am fer a ch a
yr as II

He etc , . H ey , etc .

S h ao il leo gun do mh aolaicb- se He expected to h ave blunted

h aoy l le-o gun do v aol - ay ch -
se

F ao bh ar n an G ai db eal tap ai dh , The zeal of the noble Gael ,

f ao v -
ar n an
g ay
’-
el tap ay- ’

’ ’
Ach s a r m a ebu i r e u g le u s iad ,
But inste ad o f d o ing so he put them
, ,
ach 83m 3 Gh uyr g l ey s i ad o n the i r mettle
'

,
’ ’
8 an g e urai d’h m ar fh aobh ar e altai n . And m ade them keen as the raz or s
san
g y ay
e r-
mar ao ar v elt- ayn e dge ,

H e, etc . H ey etc , .

Ged bb ei readh sibb an c ri dh asain n , Although they Should te ar open our

’

'
ged si v bo soms
’
ve r e
y
-
an crI as -ayn n
,
’
8 air broillech ean sios a sh ra cadh , And drag o ur hearts out of us ,

s ayr bro yll -

ech en -
si os a
-
b -
rac a -
’

Ch a t e ir sib b asai n n T e arlach The y will n ot ex tract Charles

ch a toy r si v as- ay nn lachter-

Fh ad sa bh i os an deo nar p earsa . While the vital spark remains .

ad 33. v ia an de o n ar persa
-

He ,
e tc . H ey , etc .

*
Ged cb u i r sibb o i rn e buarach , *
Although they h ave put a shackle
ged c h u yr si v oy m e bu ar-ach
-
o n u s,

T i ug b duai ch n i dh gur f albh a bh aeadh ,

D ark ugl y to trammel
, ,
o ur motions ,
ti -
u
’
du -
a ych -
ni
’
gur falv a v ac -a
'

L e an n ai dh si n cb o lu adh e We w ill follow an d stick to h im as

lenn -
ay
'
si n cbo ln -a’ e closel y
’
S cb o h u ain ri feidh air a ghlasrai dh . And enduringl y as the deer to h is
ylas m o untains
’
cb o bu
’
ay n ri fey
- ’
s ayr a. ra
y
-
.

H e, etc . H ey etc ,
.

1"
A h i sh ckl p ut
a r a e on th e hin d l g s e o f I e stifl c w s w h n b i n g milk d i
o e e e n th e Op n fi lds
e e .
 1 84 TH E MU S IC
Tha sinn san t-sh ean n nad ar , We are of the hereditary n ature
ha sinn sa tenn n n ad ar ,

San t- fhas sinn ro am an A eta , In which we grew before th e Act was

s au tas sinn ro am an ace
passed ,
’
N ar p earsan an n ar n i n n ti n n , In o u r persons and minds ,
n ar
persan an t nn Darn in n - i
’
S D ar ri o balacb d c h a t ei d taise
g . And in our loy alty there is no softn ess .

ri y al ao ch a tey d t a s e
’ ’
s n ar -

y
He etc , .
H ey , etc .

Si an fh u il bha n enisle air

’
sin n si r, The blood in the pulse o f o ur ancestors ,
si an u
yl va n
’
c uy slé sinn
ay r -
sir
’
8 an i n n sg inn bha n an aign e ,
And the instinct of their minds ,
san i n n -sg in va n an aygn e

A dh f h ag adh dbui n n
—
mar dbile ab, Left us as a bequest ,
’
a
y g a -
a
yuy n n m ar il
y eh
-

Bhi ri o g h ail— O si n air ai di Loyalty oh , th at is c reed

p r our
—

vi ri -
y ayl si n
0 ay r p y dir
a -

He etc ,
. H ey , e tc .

’
Ge (1 f h uai r sib b lam h a n u ac h dar, Although they got the upper h and
g ed h u -ay r siv lav an u - ao - ar f or once ,

Aon u air o i rn le se o rsa t apaig B y a mixture of tre achery an d ch ance

, ,
aon u -a r o m le tap -ay g
y y se - o r- se

Blar eile f h ad sa s beo e ’

Never while he lives
, ,
w ill the Butche r
blar cy le ad sas be o e -

Cha c h o i si n f e oladair do S h assun n . O ver us g ain another battle f or

cha ch oysi n fe o l-a -d a
-
y r do b ass -
n un E ngl and .

He etc , . H ey etc ,
.

When substituting the feudal fo r the patri archal s ystem the kings o f ,

Scotland and thei r feud al cre atures as the l ast resort used the m o st subtle , ,

me ans f o r d rawing such cl ans as p roved obstin atel y determined o n holding their
lands by the free hereditary Cle ach da into a quarrel with some powe rful feudal ,

neighbou r w h o could either by his own st rength o r by me ans o f alli ances with
, ,

othe r feud al m agn ates defeat them in b attle an d thus reduce them into the , ,

“ ”
conditio n desc ribed in feud al statutes as b roke n clans To be denounced .

as a broken clan w as t ant amount to being o utl awed and left to the mercy o f ,

all an d sundry who were able an d willing t o t ake their lives an d estates The .

Clan Gregor was drawn into a qu arrel of this kind ; but being a high minded
- -

and a powerful clan of roy al line age an d of the most illustrious character , , ,

unusual p ains were t aken to m ake the Country believe that the y h ad provoked
their doom by acting with gre at treache ry an d cruelty toward their opponents
, .

It was alleged th at during the b attle of G le n f ruin from a diabolic al spirit o f re

, ,

venge they h ad set fire to a school house o r c o llege over the heads o f the children
,
-

o f the Opposing clan ; and to confi rm the st atement a processi o n w as formed o f ,

,

w o men to wait o n the king at Sti rling and expose before him the bloody shirts
, ,

o f their slai n husbands The so called wives were loose women hired for . ,
1 86 TH E MUS IC
“
Doctors z —
Di o l,
avenge revenge ; p ay ; render ; fill ; satisfy ; re ason D i al , .
,

ree o mp en c e satisf action retribution ; reward hire ; satiety ; an object an end

, , , ,
”
pre posed ; fate destiny ; the act of weaning as o f a child I h ave shown in
“

, .

m y Lecture o n the Caledoni ans and Scots that the very l anguage o f the Gael ,

thus furnishes the means of refuting all the i g norant an d ill n atured misstatements -

as to the social condition and character o f the Highland clans ; and when to ,

these i s added the evidence of refined tastes and generous feelings and
sentim ents furn ished by their poetry and music it must indeed indicate utte r , , ,

d egeneracy o n the p art o f modern Highlanders unless they vindic ate th at ,

character against the cruel and unjust charge of lawless barbarity E ven .

assuming in accordance with the vulgar (but most erroneous) impression th at

, ,

the people of the B ritish E mpi re are of two di ff erent races surel y each of these ,

races if h ones t will feel it a duty to do justice to i ts fello w race

, ,
.

Two lines of every verse in the following measure and all simil ar songs w ere , ,

sung as a chorus by the audience which had a most pleasing and pathetic e ff ect ; ,

hence their repetition in the succe eding verse o f two lines o f the former verse .

M A C - G R EAG AIR O R U A DH R O .

Tha mul ad tha mul ad , ,

O h sorrow , oh sorrow ,
ha mulad h a m ul ad

Th a mul ad am li on adh Deep sorrow h as seized me ;

ha mu lad am li o n a
’
- -

Lion mul ad bo ch d truagh mi ,

My soul is fill ed with a sorro w
li o n m ulad
-
boc tru a mi - ’

8 cha dual dh omh dh eth di readh F rom which I am not destined to

’

;
’
s ch a du -
al y ov ye
'
dir -
’
e find relief 3

Lion mulad boch d truagh mi ,

My soul is fi lled wi th a sorrow
li on m ula d
'
-
boc tru a mi -

Cha du al dh omh dh eth direadh ,

From which I am not destined to
ch a d u -a l yov ye
’
dir - ’
e find relief ,

Mu Mbae G reagai r o-
R u adbro , About Macgregor of R uadbro ,

mu vac- gre- g ayr o ru- a-ro

Ga m bu du al bhi n
’ ’
Glean n lio n ; Whose right is Glenly on ;
gam bu da al vi n -
’
gl enn li
- -
on

Mu Mbae Greag ai r o - R u adbro , About Macgregor of R uadbro ,

mu vac-g re-g ayr o ru-a-ro

Ga m bu dual bhi n Glean n li o n ;

’ ’
Whose right is Glenly on
g am bu d u al vi n glenn li on -
’ - -

M aeg re o g ai r na n g ai sg each Macgregor of the warriors

’
,
,

m ac gre g ayr n an gays gec h

- - -

Na m bratach s na m p i obai n The bann ers , and w - i

p pes ;
’ ’ ’
ar
,
Dam brat acb 8 m m pi ob ayn -
’ - -
 or TH E HI G HLAN D CLAN S . 1 87
’
M acg re ag air n a n g ai sg each , M acgregor of the warriors ,

mac -gre-gayr n an g ay s -
ge ch
’ ’
bratac h , m p i obai n ,
’
Na m s na The banners ,
an d war pipes -
,
n am b at ach s n am pi ob ay
r -
’
- - n

Ga m
’
bu sh uadh cbe an tas gi ubbas , Whose b adge was the fir ,

g am bu nu a cb en tas gi u vas
- - - -

Ri bru dbach g a dh ireadh ; When ascending the mountains ;

'
bru ach i
’
ri -
ga y r- e

’
Ga m bu sh uadh cb ean teas g i u bb as, Whose badge w as the fir ,

gam bu h u -a- ch en tas i

g u w as
-

Ri brudbach g a dh i readh When ascending the mount ains ;

'
ri bru '
ach
yi r-e
-
ga
S aig h de anc aol air an deag h loch dradh , Who loved the slender arrows well ,
say den cao l ay r a de a
-
n -
’
l och -
ta
’
pl ained ,

Is itcan dosrac h an fhire an Tipped with the feathers of the eagle

is i t en dos rach an
-
i r en - -

S ai g h dean
caol air an deagh lo ch radh , W h o loved the slender arrows well ,
say den caol ayr an de a loch ra
- - ’ -
'
plained ,
’
S itcan dosrach an fh irean Tipped with the feathers of the eagle ;
i t en dos rach an
’
s - i r en - -

S ai g h dean c aol ai r an deag h S h n ai g h eadh Slender arrows well polished (waxed )

say den cao l ayr an de a
-
na
y e
-
’ - ’

’
B ann do dh aig b er mhic ri h e
— -
. W as part o f the delight of the
b ann do ’

y ey er v ic ri e
’
descend an t of kings .

3
?
'
3
' ‘
9% i t“ 9% at 1
' '
is a?

’
Ged a bh uai leadh mi m balach Though a be er Should strike m e
mi m
’
go d a vuayl e bal aeh
- -

G a g h e arran cha bh i mi ; I will not compl ain

ga y arra
e-
n ch a vi mi
’ ’
8 luch d a g h abh ail mo leith -
sg eu l l
’

( Fo r) th o se th at would take my p art r

’
s l uc a ya
- v eyl mo ls
'
-
s e l
g y
Ann san t-ch eap al nan si n e adh ; A re stretched in the ch apel ;
sin e
’
tep al
-
n an -

L u ch d a gh abh ail mo lei th sg eul Those that woul d take my part

Inc a y a- veyl mo lo
'
-s
g eyl
Ann san t- ch eap al nan si n eadb Are stretched in the ch apel ;
tep al sin e
’
an n san -
n an -

Th e a b v st s d
n th t th v s s l t T h b ll d h th p t s but I
o e ar o n ot m ea ff d a e er e are os . e a a as re e ar ,
ca n a or

s p c nly f f w f th fi s t ve s s f ch Th y b m t h w v i sh w i n g th t l th g h
a e o or a e o e r r e o ea . e ear e ou , o e e r, n o a , a ou

on th s ubj ct f th p s c ti n th y b
e e th nythi ng but f ro ci us d v g f l spi i t
o e er e u o , e re a e a a e o an en e u r .

f L i th g ul li t
e ll y x p ti stat m nt Th t is th y w uld t k h
-
e o , e ra w w rd f
, e th tru th f h
ar e e . a , e o a e er o n o or e o er

g i v ncr e d dd ss th m lv s ff h n d t d i g h
a e , an a
jus ti c
re Qu y W e th p pl
se truthf ul
e , o -
a , o o n er e. er : e re e eo e so

as to l v d bt th m i n ds f th i f i n ds to th t uth f th i s tat m nts ? O w th cl s

ea e n o ou on e o e r r e as e r o e r e e r e re e an

so re g dl ss f t ut h
ar d just i c
e t be q u lly
o rd y t t k th pa t f the i w md b ri g ht
an e as o e a rea o a e e r o r o n n e rs , or

w g ? The b v m d
ron f xp ssi w hi ch m e n s e s pou in g n s c u s
a o e o e oth i ex p ti s t t m nt
e re on ,
a s o e a e on e r ar a e e ,

i mp li s i th th e e o th th if th idi om f a l n g uag i s p bl of th win g li g ht th m d

e e er on r e o er, e o a e ca a e ro on e o e

o f thi n ki g d ch ct f p pl
n an ara er o a eo e.
 1 88 TH E MUS IC
L u ch d a sh easai bh mo ch e rach Those th at W oul d S tand by
, my rl h ts ’
g
luc a. h es- ay v mo c bor- ach
’
S m or m o leon i ad bhi dh i th o rm Great is m y wound deprived of them
’
s mor mo ls- on i -
ad vi
yi
’
o rm

L u ch d a sh e asaibh mo cherach , Those that w ould S tand by my fi ghts

l uc a h es -
s yv mo ch or ach -
,

’
S mor mo leon iad bhi dh ith o rrn Great is my wound deprived of them
mor mo lo- on i -ad
’
vi
yi o rm
’
3

Ged a n i tear o rm e aco i r, Though evil be done to me

g ed a n i - ter o rm e- coyr
’
Co m cirie a dh i oladb ? Who will exact my eri c
*
( compensa
m meyrie yi l
'
co a -o -
a
tion ) .

>l<
>l< >l<

’
Dean do le abadh s na creagan , Make th y bed in th e rocks ,
den do l eba !
’
S no creg e u
.
-

’
S D a c ai di l a cb e atro m
; An d sleep but lightl y ;
’
3 n a c ay d- il acb e- ro m t
Ged i s a in m i c an f h eorag Though the squirrel is rare
g ed is ayn - mi c an e- o —rag

G h eabbar seol air a fao tain There is a way to find her ;

yevar se- ol a r a f ao tayn
y

G ed is ai n m i c an f h eorag Though the squirrel is rare

g ed is ayn - m i o an e-o -rag

G h eabbar se el air a f aotain There is a w ay to find her ;

yevar se- ol ayr a f aotayn
’
S ged is uaibh reach an seobh ag , Though proud is the h awk ,

g ed
’
s is u - ay -vrech an se- o -v ag

’
S tric a g h lac ar le fo il e , &c . He h as been often taken treacherously ,
’
s tri c a ylac
-
at 1s feyl e &c ,

William Ross whose romantic love disappointment and early de ath , , , ,

attaches more interest to his poetry th an it of itself is c ap able o f inspiring ,

”
w rote o n e of his love songs to the air o f Loch aber no more which h as been ,

changed in the Lowlands into various versions none o f them to be comp ared ,
”
to the original melody excepting the version called Lord Ronald my Son , .

I have only the first two lines o f th e origin al words which however are well , , ,

known in Benderloch The verses begin .

Mu n do L och crearain cha tei d mi Around L och crerain I will g o never

’
c uai rt , ,

g u brath ,

G u n bb og adh gu n sai g h ead gu n Without a bow an arrow and a two

’ ’ ’

, ,

chlai dh eamh da lai mh handed sword . .

h v s t te d ls w h th t th w
I a e c pi t l p un ishm nts m n g th p t i ch l cl ns
a e e ere a e re as no a a e a o e a r ar a a ,

e xc pti g f c im s t ch u s inf m us w hi ch pl d th c i mi n l b y n d th p w f th B h n
e n or
'
r e rea ero or a o , ac e e r a e o e o er o e re a

u t d u d th x l u siv ju isdi cti n f th D ids H w c uld v n g be cha ct i s ti c f

co r , an n er e e c e r o o e ru . o o re e e a ra er o a

p pl w h w tr i n d d b oug ht u p f o th us n ds f y ears un de l w an d a elig i n utte ly

eo e o ere a e an r r o a o r a a r o r

i n omp ti ble wi th such spi i t ?

c a a r
1 90 TH E M U S IC

Dh -e ire adh i n n ti n n g u abh acbd,

’
m ai g My mind ri ses with joy when number
y eyra
'
mi n n tin n gu av - ao ayg i n g every virt ue
gach bui dh
ai re am h ,

g ach bu ay
-
"
ay rev

A th e co ilion te am lean n an bai n ditb , ,

Combined in m y love wh o h as ,
8 ha coyli ont o am lenn an bayn di - ’
easiness deli cacy and modesty
, , .

f arasda su aire .

f arasda eu -ayrc

’
S
binn c uach agus sm eorach an Ogain Sweet is the cush et and the thrush on
s
’
b nn cu ac h ag us sme o rach an o g ayn
i - - - -
the saplings in the glens ,

nan gle ann ,

n an
g l enn
N O ir bh i o s ceo ti amh ai dh do iler air doire When mist S ilent an d shadowy winds
no r
y vis cc O ti a ay doyler ayr doyre - -
v- around the grove of roes ;
na mang ;
n a m an
g
’
Ach s binne mo lean n an c o imh n e al , ,
But sweeter is my love kind aff able
, , ,

ach s binne mo lennan co y n el mild ,

f arasda, c iu i n ,
f arasda c i -uy n

A lasadh e i bh n e is le h -o rai n , le co m h radh , Kindling joy with her songs her con ,

a l as a ’
ey v n is -
lo h o r ay n -
le oo vra
’
verse her cheerfulness
,
.

’ ’
8 le m m u i rn .

sle muyt u

bb i thi n n an d
’
Ge do an e u g ail, s an leigh a Though prostrated in S ickn ess ,

ge do vi
’-
in n an eyg ail
’
san ley
'
a the doc tor should say
to irt duai l
toy rt du - ayl

N ach bith c o m h air an dan dh o mh a ch That relief w as n o t possible an d ,

n ach bi
.

co vayr an de n
’
rov acb death suddenl y would be m i ne ,

h as an g earr u i n n ,
h as an gert u n
y
Cbui readh sealladh dhe m ’
ri bh i n n me A sight of my queenl y maiden would
ch uyre sella ye
’ ’
m
’
ri - v inn mo b anish my ai lments ,

m h ig ean air chul ,

v i g en ayr chu l -

G h lacbai n b in n eas na sm eorai c b

’
s I would catch the swe etn e ss o f the o

yeh thrush and ro e w e new j oy and

’
yl
ac -s yn bin n es na sm e-o -re s ,

g h eibhi nn sol as as ur .

y y in n
e v -
sol as as at

Mr A Carmichael of the Inland Revenue sen t me the following verse and

.

”
melody as cri bed to a lean n an sith or fai ry sweetheart whose hum an l o ver
, , ,

seems to h ave given her more of h i s work than o f his compan y There are .

m any sweet fragm ents o f the same class in my po ssession for which I cannot ,
”
m ake roo m ; but I i nsert Buai n n a Rai n i ch ( cutting the fer s ) bec use I
n a t
, ,

aflords me an Opportu nity of acknowledgi g m i

y obligat ons t th i th s I astI c
e
u
n o s n

Highlander who h as sent me an i mme n se n umber o f so ngs and melod i es f o r ,

,
 OF T H E H IG H L A N D C L AN S . 1 91

none of whi ch excepting the present fragment can I find u se at present ; but
, ,

th at does not lessen m y sense o f hi s kindness and attention ; and I beg h i s

acceptance o f m y sincere thanks .

B U AI N NA B A I NI CH .
—
C U TTI N G TH E F E R NS .

’
T ba mi sg i th S mi learn f bi n I am tired all by m y self
, , ,
’
ha mi s
gi
’
smi ls-am bi n

H -
u ille lath a a huain na rai n ai c h ; E very day cutting ferns ;
b aylle la ’-
a a bu ayn -
n a ra yn -
ay ch
’
Tha mi sg i th s mi leam f bi n , I am tired all by m y self
, ,
ha mi s
gi
’ ’
smi le-um bin

H -ui lle
’
l ath e m onar ; E very day so lonely ;
h uylle la a mo n ar
’-

Cul an tomai n , brai gh an temain , O n the b ack o f the knoll the top ,
of
on] an to m o
ayn bray ’
an tom- ayn th e knoll ,

Cul an temain bh o idh i ch ; O n the back o f the bonn y knoll ;

cul an tom- ay n v oy -i ch

Cul an tom ai n , brai g h an tom ai n , O n the b ack o f the knoll the ,

to p of
co l an to m ayn -
bray ’
an tom - ay n the knoll ,
’
H -
u ille lath a m onar . E very day so lonel y .

h uylle la ’-
a mon ar

The following song i s by De nnach Ban nan O ran the Glenorch y h ard ; but ,

I h ave n ot succeeded in getting a g ood se t of the air It is addressed in . ,

gratitude to the foxes becaus e the y killed the sheep

, , .

O RAN L U A IDH , NA B AL GA I RE A N . T H E F O! E S ( LIT E R A L L Y PL U N D E R E R S )

-
, ,
.

M O bh ean n ach d ai g na balg ai rean My blessin g on the foxes

mo v en n ac ayg na balg ayr en - -

A chi on n bhi se alg n an c ao rach . That hunt (and ki ll ) the Sheep .

a ch i -o nn vi seala
g n an caoracb

Ho bu , ho ho ,
na b alg ai rean , H O bu , ho h e, the foxes ,

ho bu bal g ayr en
ho he as - -

’
O s ai n m i g iad ri f h aotai n 0 the y are (too) rare to be foun d ;
03 ay n imi g i ad ri ao t ay n - -

Ho h u ho ho na balag airean
, ,
. Ho h u ho ,
h e, the foxe s .

h o h u h o h o n a b alg ayr en - -

’
S iad na caorai ch ch ean n - ri ach It is the grey faced sheep —

’
s i -
ad n a caor-ay ch ch enn ri aoh - -

Rinn ai n eart f eadh an t sb ao gh ail

-
. That have Oppresse d the w eld .

ri n n fe tac h ayl
'
ayn -ert an

Ho etc , . H e, etc .

Am fearann ch u i r iad f as o i r u , The y have made a desert of the

am f er-an n ch uyr i -ad fas oym country ,

S e mal cbui r iad an daorai d An d made th e rents dearer

’
.
.

se malchayr i -
ad an daot -
ayd

H o etc ,
. H e, etc .
 1 92 TH E M U SIC

’ ’
Cha n eil ait g a th uan ach ad’ b , There is not such a thing as cultiva
ch a ne
yl ay t ga h u-nu - ach - a tion
T he ch a ir se bh uai n ai r cl aon adh . S e wi n g and reaping h ave ce ased .

ha ch uyr sa vu ay n
-
ayr cl ao n a - ’

Ho etc , . H o, etc .

8 eig in dh u i n n
’
bhi f ag ail We must of necessity leave
’
yuy u vi fa gay l
s ey g - i n -

Na tir ailli dh an rob b ai r dao ine . The beautiful country in which ou r

ti r ay l i ay r daoy n e people were reared
’
na an ro v .

Ho etc ,
. H o etc , .

’
na srai th ean is na h ai ridh ean
S -
,
The strath and shieling ,
na sray en is u s h ay ri en ’-
.
’ -

’
Am f ai gh te bl ath s is faoile ach d , In which were found a warm hospi
fayte bla S is f aoyl cc
' ’
-
t ality ,

Ho etc ,
. H o etc,
.

’ ’
Cha n eil a nis ach larai ch ean Contain only crumbling r ui ns
ch a n eyl a mis acb lar- ay ch -
en

’
’
N ait n an tai gb ean ao i dh ei l . Instead of social dwelli ng houses -
.

n ayt n an tay en ’-
noy
’-
eyl

Ho etc ,
. Ho etc,
.

ai te ach adh There is no vigorous cultivation

’ ’
Cha n e il sun n d air
ch a n ey l sun n d ayr ay t ech a
- - ’

A ig trai g h na air na raoi n te an . O n shore or wold .

ayg tray n a ayr n a rao

yu
-
ten

Ho etc ,
. Ho etc
,
.

Tha h -uile se ol ab ’
abh ai st E very custo m th at w as
ha buy le se-ol a bav - ayst

Ann sa G h ai dh e allac h d air caoc hladh . In the Highlands is changed .

an n sa yay el
’- -
tac ayr caoch - la ’

Ho etc , . H e, etc .

Air c i n n ti nn c b o mi -
n adurra The people h ave become unnatural
ay r cinn tirm ch o mi n a d urra
- - -

’
S na h aitean a bha aoidh eal
-
. In places th at were so hospitable .

’
s na h ayt enn a va noy e1 -
'
-

Ho etc , . H o, etc .

Cha ’
eil capul tacarach
n
’
,
There is n o fruitful brood mare -

ch a n eyl cap ul tacara ’

Is serrach ai g a taobh ar m ,
Seen with a foal by h er side ,

is serrach ayg a taov ann

Ho etc , .
H o, etc .
 1 94 TH E MU S IC
’
C h ui re as cu ga n ruag adh , Who would send a dog to chase them
c h uy r es c
cu g an ru a- -
ga
’ ,

tb ilg eas luai dh e c h ao l o rr

’
Na O r would fire at them with small shot
b ch ao l
‘ .

na ilg -
es l u-a
y
’
o rr

H o, etc . H e, etc .

’
Gu m bu Sl an na cuilean an Health be to the cubs
g um bu sl an na cuy l en eu - -

T ba f uire ach an san t S h aobh aidh -

. That dwell in their rocky nursery .

ha fay t ech an san tao v ay - - ’

Ho etc , . H e, etc .

’
N a m faigh eadh iad mo dh uracb d, If they receive my desire ,
n am
'
f ay -
e
’
i - ad mo yur-
ao

Cha ch uram dh oibh cion sao g h ail . There is n o danger but they will long
ch a ch uram ci n yl
’
yoy v sa o -a
live .

H o, etc . H e etc , .

Bh i o dh p i seach air an Oi g ri dh , They w ill have good luck ,

’
vi o
'
pis ech
- -
ayr an oy g ri -

Is bh io dh beo gus a m arbh ao i s iad . And live till age kills them .

Is vi o -
'
be -
o gas a mar v aoys i -
ad

Ho etc , . H e, etc .

Havin g been unable to get a good set of the air of the above du an ag I ,

give a verse o r t wo o f another aran lua idh by the same gifted bard a pretty , ,

good set o f which I can submit .

C H U N NA I C MI
’
N D A MH D O NN ’
S
’
N H -EIL DEN .
—
I H AVE S EEN TH E B ROW N
ST A G AN D TH E HI N D S .

Ged tha bacadh air na h -

arm ai bh , Though arms have been put down ,

g ed baca ayr n a h ar mayv

ha
'
-

Gble i dh mi S p ain teach thun na se ilg e ; I have retaine d a Spani sh piece f or

Y IOY mi S p ayn tech
'
hun n a seylgé -
S talking ;
G e do rinn i orm cb o c earbach ,
But it h as used me shabbily ,

go do rinn i orrn ch o cerb ach

-

so n of
’
S n ach do mh arbh i mac n a b e ilde —
. In not killing the the hind .

’
s n ach do varv i mac n a h eyl d é -

Ch orus .

’
Ch un n aic mi n damh donn s na b eilden ’
-
,
I saw the brown stag and the hin ds
ch unn ayc mi n dav d onn sna heyl den
-
’ ’
-

A direadh a bbe alai ch le cheile Together ascending the defile ;

dir e v el aych 1e ch eylé
’
a a - -

’
C h un n ai c mi n d amh donn s na b e ilden I the brown stag and the hinds
’
-
. saw .

chuan aye mi n dav donn sna heyl den

-
’ ’
-
 or TH E HI G HLAN D CLA N S . 1 95
’
Nuair a dh ei rich mi sa mh adu i n -
, When I got up in the morning ,
nu ayr a yeyr ich mi ea vad uy n
- - -

Chui t mi i n n te fudar G h lasch o , I put in h er a charge o f Glasgo w

c h uy r mi in n te f ud ar yl as ch o
- -
powde r ,

P e iller te r m is tri puist S h ass n ach

’
, , A tight bullet three S assan ac h S lugs, ,
o ll sr te nn i s tri p
-
y st b ass nac h u -
p y
S cui fei n asg ai rt ai r a dh ei dh si n
’
. And a c olfin of to w after them .

'
c uyf en
’
9 -
as -
g ay rt ay r a y ey sin

C h un n ai c , etc . I saw , etc .

’
Bh a n spor u r an de ig h a bre acadh , The new flint w as chippe d
van S p or ur an dey
'
a b -
ree a
’
,

C h u irmi nille ris an acu i n , There was oil applied to th e lock ,

ch yr mi uyll e ris an ac uyn
a -

’
S cagal dri uc h d bh a mud an erai c i n
‘

And to ward
, ofl dew a skin mantle
,

eg al dri acb d
’
s va m u dan crayc i
- - - -
n

Cu mail fasg aidh air mo cheile A fio rded sh elter

‘

. to my spouse .

cum ayl f as gay ayr m o

-
ch ey lé - ’ -

C h un n ai c , e tc . I saw etc,
.

L aidh an e illi d air an fh u aran ; The hind lay on the meadow

y ll id ayr an u a ran
lay ’
an e - - -

Cbo sd mi rithe m o ch uid luai dh e I expended my shot on her ;

' ' '
ch osd mi ri - i mo c h uy d ln -
ay -
é
’
S noir a sh ao i l mi i bhi buailte , But when I thought She was struck ,
’
s noy r a h aoyl mi i vi y l te
bu -
s

’
Sin an n air a b -
a r i d a leum i . That was the time at which her
si n an u - ay r a bayrd a leym i bounds were highest .

Ch un n ai c , e tc . I saw etc ,
.

Bi sinn beo an doc h as ro mbath ~

But we must live in the good hope

bi si nn be o an do ch as rO va
'
- - -

Gu m bi cb ui s n i S fhear a t ath
’ ’
- la ; Th at the case next day will be better ;
’
g um bi ch uys ni s er S. ta
’
la

is g ri an talamh , That the la y of the ground the m ud

’
Gu m bi g aoth is ,

gum bi g ao
’
i s g ri - e u i s talav an d
the sun ,

M ar is me ith linn ai r n a slei bh te i n Will be as we w o uld h av e them on

mar is may li nn ayr n a sly v teyn

' -
the w elds .

C h un nai c etc ,
. I saw etc ,
.

Bi th i dh an luai dh gh las na dean n aibh ,

The grey lead will then S peed (on its
bi i an ln ay
'
ylas na denn ayv
-
'
-
' -
errand ) ,

S i ubh al reith aig g aoth ai r sh ean g adh ,

The hounds h av e a free course ,

S i u v al -rey ayg
-
g ao ayr h en g a ’ ’- —
’

Na daimh dh on n a sile f aladh ,

The brown stags bleeding ,

na day v yo nn a sil é fa la - —
'

’
S abh ach d e i g n a f e arai bh g leusda And th e hunte rs me rry .

fer s y v gl eys (la

’
s av - ao ay g na - -

I saw , etc . Ch un n aic , etc .

196 TH E M U S IC

G U R FA Q IN M O L U A IDH AI R CHA B A L .
-
V A I N IS MY TH O U G H T O F SL E E P .

Gur f ao i n m o luai dh ai r cad al , Vain is my h o p e of Sleep ,

ayr cad al
'
gur faoy n m o ln -ay
’
S mi sior acain na bh eil bh u am , l r ti

eéqfi ipfilly y eam i n g

-
l for that
’
8 mi si or ac ayn
- -
na v ey l vu -e m v
‘

lr —

Gomunu is deo -c b oi mh n eas The companionship and blist kindness

unn is de o ch oyv n es
co -m - - -

’
Na te dh f h ag mi n raoir f o -
g h ru ai m O f her whom I left y esterday in sorrow :
na to yag min roy r fo yru -a m
y
Th a mi an n an aisling le at , I am in dreams wi th thee ,
ha mi ann an ay slin g let

Gach u air a n i mi suain ,

Whenever slumber takes me ,

g ach u ayr a u i mi eu ay n
- -

’ ’
S trom m o sn adh noir a dh u i sg e as mi ,
And deep are my sighs when I wake
s trom mos na n eyr a yuysg es mi -
’
-

’
Air bhi dh omh d i on drai n uam . O n missing th y presence .

ayr vi y ov d i ou drayn u am ’
- - -

Ach eoi th mo ’
luai dh ai r o sn adh , But wh y do I mention sighs ,
' '
ach coy m mo l u -a
y ayr os n a
-

mi do dh eo in , Since I have g ained th y consent

’
0 n a c h o i si n n ,

0 na ch oy sin n mi do y oy u
e-

an gaol a thug S in ao n tach ail An d the l o ve we have mutuall y con

’
S ,

san gao l a h ug si n aon tach ayl c ei ve d,

-

Nacb caoch ail e ri r beo ’

Wi ll not die while we live
n ach caoch ayl e ri r be o -
’
-

S iom a lath a ao n arach

’
Man y a lonely day
si o ma aon ar-acb
’-
-
lu a

A sh ao r 11 mi 0
’
bhro m ,
Hast thou freed me from sorrow ,

a haor u mi 0 vro n
Lead mh anran baigh eal maigh dean n ael ,
With th y minstrelsy tender (an d)
led v anrann bay ’-
el may den nel m aidenl y ,

Mo ro g h ai n n thair gach c eol . M y choice above all music .

mo ro
’-
in n h ayr gach ce- ol

Thug mise gaol da riri dh dhut ,

I have given thee my love trul y ,

mi se g ao l da ri ri
’
b g u -
y ut
-

Noir bh a u d n i on ai g o g ’

,
When thou wert a y oung l assie ,

no
y va u d i on ayg 0g
r
’
n - -

8 ai r mo lai mh c h a dh ibri nn e
’
,
And ,
hand I would
on my ,
n o t re

sayr mo lav ch a yib ri nn e

’ -
n o unce it ,

Air i on mb as na R oi n n E o rp ; -
’
For the treas ures of E urope
ayr i o u v as na - roy n e orp
- - -

Ged a dh ian te a ch un tas dh o mh ,

Although the y S hould be counted down
g ed a y i -
an -
te a ch un tas yov to me ,

C u dubailt ai r a bh o rd, Doubled upon the table ,

gu da -baylt ay r a v erd
 198 TH E M U S IC
’
8 truag h
’ ’
a d dh ei g h mi le b ron ’
8 le Miserable am I after thee with sorro w ,
t
s rn - a
’
ad y ey
’
mi 1s bron ale and pain ;
e i slei n
ey e- e u ly
Mo sh uile an de urach ,
’
8 mo ch ridh e Mine eyes tearful my hear t wounded ;
,
mo h uyl -
en dey ra
-
ch ’
smo c hri '
-
e

leoi n te
ls - oy n té
’
Cha n f h iug h leam i on mh as cba n f h i ug h ,
’
I val ue no wealth no joy ,
ch an i u lem i o u vas ch a
- ’
i u - - n - ’

leam e i bh n e as ,
lem ey v- n es

A tba fo ’
n g h re i n ach u fe i n a d on ar ’
. Under the s un , bu t thyself alon e .

3 ha fo u yreyn ach u fey a ad o n ar

The following verses were written by a namesake o f my o wn w h o w as in ,

’
the humble c ap acity of a church offi c er wi th Lord M acauley s grandfather Let -
.

i t bear testimony o f the rudeness an d barb arity which gave his truthful and
philosophic lordship such a detest ation of the revengeful and filthy Highlanders ! -

GU M
’
BU SLAN A C HI M L HA PP Y M A Y
—
I S EE TH EE .

Gu m a slan a chi mi , Happy m ay I see the e,

g u ma sl an a ch i mi
Mo chailin dh ilis dh on n ,
My faithful brown h aired m aid -
‘

m o ch ayllin y ilis y on n
Ben a ch u ai lei n rei dh ,
M aid of the flowing ringlets ,
ben a cbu ayIIin -
re
y
’

Air a deise a dh —
e i re as fo u n Who is most easily excited to merri
ay r a deyse a y eyres fo u n ment ;
Se caint do bh oi l is bi n n le am Thy words to me are the sweetest
se cayu t do v oy l i s b in lem n mus m
Nair bhi o s m i nn tinn trom ’

,
When depressed in mind ,
n ayt v is minn ti nn tro m -

’
S tu tb og adh su as mo ch ridh
’
,
Thou dost exalt my heart ,

s tu l Og a e as m oi ch ri ’
u -
’

No ir a bh i o dh tu bru i dh i n n ri um . When in converse with me .

n oyr a vi
’
tu bruy i nn ’-
ri -u m

Gur mu ladach a tba mi Sorrowf ul am I

gur m uladach 3 ha mi

This night the height of the

’
8 mi n oc h d air aird a ch u ai n on sea ;
’
3 mi n oc ay r ayrd a cbu - ay n

’
S neo -
sh u n n dach mo c h adal Unsound is my sleep
mo ch adal
’
s na-o -bu n dac h

Is do ch ai dri bh fada uam Away from thy companionship ;

is do ch ay d- ri v fa d a u -am

’
S t ic r mi o rt a sm ao i n te ach , O ften do I thi n k of th e e ,

stri c mi o rt a smao y n tech

As t- ao g ai s th a mi truag h Without thee I am miserable

'
as taog ays h a mi t
ru -a
 or TH E HI G H L A N D CLANS . 1 99

t- f h ao tai n n ,
’
S mar dea n mi Unless thou art mi n e ,
’
8 mar di -
an

C ha bhi mo My life will not be long .

ch a vi mo

Do shuil mar an dearcag , Thy blue eye is like a berry

do h uy l mar an derc ag
,
-

Fo n ro sg a dh iadh as dlu
’ ’
-

'
, Neath lashes th at wind closely ,
fo n yi dln
ro sg a -
a -as

Do g h ru ai dh
'
e an m ar ch ao ran , Thy cheeks like the ripe fruit of the
do y ru -
ay -
en mar ch aoran mountain ash ,
’
Fo n ao dan bh o idh each chinin . Under a face comely and mild .

'
fo n aodan voy -ec h ch i - uy n

A i di ch eam 1s e ibh n eas Confe ss I do with j oy

ay d- ech -em ls eyv-n es

’
Gu n d thug mi fein dh ui t run
-
,
That I have given thee my love ,

g un dug mi f ayu yuyt run

is
’
S gur bli adh n a leam gach la And that every day a year to me
b1i a n a lo am gach la
'
sgur - - -

’
O n uai r a dh f h ag mi u —
. Since the hour we p arted .

on u -a r a
y yag mi 11

T acan m u n do sheol sinn ’

,
Shortly before we sail ed ,

tac -an mun do li e -

01 sin n

’
8 ar m th oi si ch luch d mi —
g h raidh , Ill d isposed pe rsons began
-

san n h oysi ch luc mi -

yray ’

’
B i i n n seadh do m ch rui n eigh sa ,
Telling to my mai d en
'
ri in n - se dom cbruyn -ey g -sa

N ach tilli n sa g u brach That I would never return

n ach tillin sa gu brach
Na c uireadh si d ort g ruam an But let not that sadd en thee my love ,
ouy re sid o rt
’
na
g ru a man
- -

A luai dh ; ma bh io s mi slan ,
If I remain alive ,

a ln ay ma -
vis
’
mi sl an

Cha chum dad idir u at mi Nothing shall detain me from thee

ch a ch um dad i dir u at mi -

Ach sai g h ead chru ai dh a bhais . But the relentless arrow o f d eath .

acb say ed chm ay

’-
a vay a -
'
I

I have remarked elsewhere that the general character of the songs sung ,

to cheer labour (and every kind o f labour had i ts appropriate song) was the
,

absence o f eve ry thing calculated to work on the feelings and passions The .

chorus usually consisted o f sounds accordant with the employment and re ndered ,

significant and connected by a meaning line or catch word ; an d the verse s -

,

thoug h frequently arrayed in pleasing imagery a imed only at calling u p in th e ,

minds of the si n ge rs thoughts and scenes associated with the tender attractive , ,

or lofty and ple asing clan traditions But although such was the general .

“ ”
character of these songs of labour there were exceptions ; an d the boat song ,

o f Do mh n ull R uadh G aolacb as I have heard it sung by an old se aman when

,
2 00 TH E M U SIC
I was a boy was o n e of these Unfortun ately however although I remember
,
.
, ,

the subject o f the song (an expedition o f loy al Highl anders on their way
,

from the Isl e o f Skye to joi n the army o f Montrose ) I have forgot the verses
.
,
—
,

and have been unable after much e xertion to meet with a singl e individual ,

that could even sing the melody much less remember the words in a m anner , ,

at all to realise the impression the song m ade on my feeli n gs in youth When .

sung by the old seaman th e listener could not help fan cying that he heard a voice
,

slowly rising from behind a se a until it attained the crest o f a mountai n billow , ,

and burst o n his ear in a reg ular b ravura of seamanlike exultation ; it then gra
du ally receded an d sunk u n til he fe lt apprehensive th at the singer w as struggling
,

among the c apricious waves ; then after a seeming s ilence an d to his gre at , ,

re lief it began to gro w perceptibly o n his ear until the exul ting chorus burst
, ,

upon him afre sh in a gush of melody th at made his he art swell i n sympathy
,

w ith the triumph an t pluck and stamina of the strong armed rowers It w as .

intended to be sung in the same style with M acg reag ai r o R uadbro the whole ,

crew joining in singing the chor us .

DOM H NU L R U AD H G A O LA GE .

A Dh o mh n uil ruai dh g h aolai ch , Donald red haire d and beloved

-
,
a y ovn uyl ru - a
y y aol aych -

Horin o va , ro h u vo , Ho rin ov a, ro h u vo ,
h orin o va to b avo
S h e ase s dur ri sti ui r dh arai ch , Who standest firmly by an oak helm ,
h eses dur ri sti-uyr y ar-
a ych
Horin eile , o va hi ,
Horin ey lé , o v a hi ,

h o rin eylé o va hi

Hi ri oiri nan hi ri u ,
. Hi ri oyri nan hi ri
,
11 .

hi ri oy ri n an h i i i 11

S h easas dur ri stiu ir dh arai ch , Who st andest firmly by an o ak helm ,

h oses dur ri sti -uy r y ar-a ych

Horin ova ro h u vo , ,
Horin ova ro ,
h uvo,
S uaibh reach astardo bhata Wild is the cou rse of thy boat
’

, ,

u ay v rech ast ar do vata

’
-
3 -

H orin eile ova hi , ,

Horin s yl e o va hi , ,

Hi ri oiri nan hi ri 11 ,
. Hi ri oyri nan hi ri u
,
.

astar do bhata Wild is the course of thy boat

’
S u aibh reach , ,
’
8 u - ayv -re ch astar do v ata
Hori n o v a, ro h uvo , Horin ova ro h uvo , ,

Ni mh ui r gh ai rreach a sg arradh , Cleaving the roaring sea ,

’
ni
y ayrech a sgar t a -
v uyr

Horin eile ova hi ,

Horin eyle, ova hi ,
,

Hi ri oi ri n an hi ri u . Hi r1 oyri nan,
hl ri u .

,
202 TH E MUSIC
Thig Clan do mh n uill a ch ru adail , Come will Clan don ell the hardy ,
bi g cl an do v n yll a chm a day l - - u - -

Ch oi si n n bu ai dh ann s na blarai bh
’

, Who gained victory in battles ,

ch o y sinn bu ay ann sna blar syv
- - ’
~
-

A ch um ail c ruai dh cho stri gh ’

-
To me e t in conflict
a c h um ayl
’ '
cru ay ch o stri
- - -

Ri luch d ch otai ch e an madai r . The race of the red coats .

ri luc ch o -tay ch en madayr

Hug etc , . Hug etc
, .

S ud a ch ui deach d bh io s f oirm eil, They are the sprightly cl an ,

sud a ch uy d-ec
’
vis foyr- mey l

Bo i n e i d ghorm is coc ard o r, O f blue bonnets and coc k ades ,

boy n ed y orm is 000 ard or
’
Le m breacan an mai seach , With sho wy plaids ,
lem b rec anam maysech -

’ ’
S le n g artan an scarlai d . And sc arlet ga rters .

’
s len g artan an scarlayd

Hug etc , . Hug etc

, .

DR UN K E NN E SS
’
O RA N Do N M H I so .
—
ON .

L E A I L EA N DA L L .

N oi r a sh ui dh sinn san tigh osda -

, When we sat in the pub lic house -
,
oy t a
'
b uy si n n ti osda
’-
n san

Ch aidh na sto i p thair cun tas , The stoups went beyond counting ,
ch ay n a stoyp h ayr cuntas
'

C u tric a tig h inn cha bu rui gh in n , , Q uickly not lingeringly comin g

, ,

gu tri o 8 ti in n c ha bu ri in n
’- ’-
.

I ad nan ruith am i o n n sui dh . They raced toward s us .

d am i '
i -a n an ru
y
’ -
on suy o

Gun i rrai dh dalach , a sior ph aigh eadh , No thought had I of ( askin g ) delay ,
i dalach a si or f ay -e’
but constantly paying
’
g un
-
a ray
- -

,
’
G 01 deo ch -
slainte a P hri on n sa, And dri nking the health of the Prince ,

g ol de-och - slayn te a fri -on -sa

( Charlie)
c h ridh e 1e My heart wi th pleasure leaping high
’
S mo leam aites ard , ,
lem 1e aytes ard
’
3 mo cbri
’-
e

Chion R ao nu ll bhi toi rt c li u dh omh . Because Ronald w as giving me praise .

c hi -on t ao unll vi toyrt cli -u yov

Ach noir ghluai s mi g“ dol dh ach ai dh ,

But when I arose to go home ,
acb n oy t ylu a y s m i g u dol m y -
,

L ag ai ch mu na g luin n mi ,
I became weak at the knees ,

lag aych mu n a gluynn mi

-

Nunn s an n all gun leirsinn ch eart

’
,
I tacked thither and hither without ,

n unn san n all g un l eyr si nn ch ert -

seeing rightly ,

Le i omadh beach d am sh uillean . From the nume rous con ceits that were
1s i -o ma '
bec am buyllen in my eye s
 or TH E HI G HLAN D C LANS . 203
’
F eadh na h -o i dh ch e s mi gun so ilseann , Pushing along through the night ,
mi gun with scarcely a blin k o f light
'
fe’
na h 0Y " °h e 5 Bo ylfien
,

Air mo shl o i c a dubladb, I made prostrations which doubled me

ayr mo loy c a d blu a
'
up ,
’
S eag all leom gun droi n mi arrusg , And I fe ar indecent exposures
, , ,
’
seg -all ls -o m g un droynn mi arr-neg

Bha mo c h ardai n di um bach For my fri ends were much dissatisfied

ch ar d ayn
.
.

va mo -
di -
um a b ch

N oi r a dh ei rich mi sa mh adai nn -
,
When I arose n ext morning ,

y ey ri c h mi 83 va day n
no r a -
y
- n
.

Cha robb m a ig n eadh su n dach ’

, My m i n d w as
'
little disposed to merri
ch a mayg sun dac h
’
ro v -
ne
ment ,

Mo ch ean n g u n s oi n ,
g ma chom n a lasair , My head was without efli cacy ,
my
mo ch enn g un sg o
y n ma ch o m n a las ayr -
bo som o n fire ,

T ruaillidh dearg mo sh u illean . My eyes pollute d and red .

'
t ru -a l li-
de-arg mo buyllen

Se mac n a-brach adh

-
rinn mo leag adh The son of
the malt it was that t
p u
88 mac o
na -
b rac h -
a
’
ri nn mo leg -
a
'
me down
Ann an le abaidh dhi o mbai dh In a bed uncomfortable
' '
ann an leb -
ay yi
-
om -bay

Sud an
an d an
g h leach dai r
lec ayr
thug
bug
fo
f0
sm ach d
sma c
m
m
i
i
, That wrestler subdued ,

g
-

’
S a dh f h ag -
mi lag is bruite . And left me bruised and weak .

sa y ag mi lag i s bruy té

c ai th ream ,
’
S 0 10 an e alai dh rainu is Bad trades are rhyming and bletlzer zng
'

,
rem
5 010 el ay is
(idle talking)
’ ’-
an -
ra u n
y cay

’ f
S am ai de ach
an turn a bhi A foolish afiai r it is
sa may d ec h
,
an t urn -
a vi

’
S ui dh aig bord a glao dh ai ch 0 1 To be sitting at a table calling for
ay g b ord a
,

g l ao aych oy l drink
’ ’-
suy
,
’
8 mo p h o cann an ga n tion dadh
’

, And turning pock ets inside out ,

smo foc -
ann an g an ti -
on a d ’

A sg ap adh sto rai s le me adm h o ir, Scattering money vain gloriously -

,

a s
g apa
'
t
s or- a s
y ls me-ad- voyt
’
’ ’
S a g i arrai dh phog 8 na c u ilte an ; And ste ali n g kisse s in sly m ales
( recesses
'
as gi
-arr- a
y fo g sn a cuy l-ten

’
S fhad sa mh aireadh mo c h uid o i r, But while the money l aste d ,

sad mo ch uyd
’
c
sa v a re
y yr
Cha ch ui readh osdai r cul riu m . No landlord turned h is back on me .

ch a ch uy o sd -ay r oul ri - um
- ’
r e

’
S coir dh omh n is a th o irt f os near ,
But time it is to r efl e ct ,
n is
’
s coyr yov a h oy rt fos n er

An t-ai th re ach as a dh u bladh , And doubly to repent ,

an tay r '
- -
e ch as a yuh la
-
'
204 TH E MU S IC
Mo bh o i d g u g ram ail th o irt do n e ala f And vow by the “
’

fi
’
sw an
mo vo
yd gu g ramayl h oy rt do n e a ll
Dh f h e uch
—
an lean mo c h li u ri u m , So as my reputation may adhere to me ,

yeych an len mo c hli -u ri - u m

’
Cha tei d deur a stig h fo m dh eu dai ch . That not a drop shall pass my teeth .

ch a tey d dey r fo m d ych

’
a sti y a
-
ye
’
S f h eudar ti g hi nn as i u n ai s, O f necessity I must esche w drink ,
’
8 ey -
dar ti
’-
in n sa i -u - n a ys
Ch a n fh ai g h fe ar f alamh seol air aran F ora moneyless man can only m ake
’

ch an ay f er falav
I
se -ol ay r aran his bread
Ach 1e fall as g n u i se . By the sweat of his b row .

acb le fall as gn uy se

followi n g song was written by Captain Duncan Campb ell better known
The ,
”
as Fear Marg na h a when from home doing duty with the Bl ack Watch o r
- -
,
-

”
Frei c eadan dubh o f which he w as p ay m aster before they enlisted into th e
- -
,

army when he retired being a thorough J acobi n It is beyond my space an d

, ,
.

object to notice all the wri ters of the poems quoted in this tre atise ; but I
’
m ake this an exception M arg na h a bein g my father s father an d bec ause Mr ,
- -
,

Mackenzie in his Be auti e s of Gaelic Poetry h as wi th his usual carelessness , , ,

given the credit o f the song to A i llean M acth earlai ch The song itself .
,
“
fortun ately cont radicts this statement for it s ays in the opening vers e Na , ,
”
f aig hi nn c e ad ( if I could get le ave of absence an d in another ve rse
, G e fad ,
”
ai r ch uai rt mi (though long o n my rounds) visiting an d p ayi n g the
,
-

comp anies at their differe nt det ached station z words e n ti rely mili tary an d —
,

which could not be used by a country proprietor who was his o wn m aster , ,

like Aille an M ac th e arlaich The disinhe rite d Duncan Lord O rm ali e w as .

, ,

the great gre at grandfather o f M arg n ah a whose sloi n e adh o r pedigre e w as

- -
,

Don n ach adh M ac P h adru ic mhic I ain mhic I ain c i g mhic Dh o n n ach ai dh , , , ,

mhic I ain gh lai s Bh rai dh ealaban He an d his son I ain O g we re both at the
,
.

battle o f Sheriff muir with the cl an ; i n consequence of which they we re

-

disinherited by the E arl who was at hom e bed ridden from ag e an d favou rable , ,
-
,

to th e H anoverian succession A lthough Lord O rm ali e was above sixty years .

o f age at the time o f the b attle he so led his cl a n as to m ak e th e m o n e o f the ,

most distinguished in the eng ag e ment They are referred to in th e follo wing .

extra ct of o n e of the m an y merry little ditties c alled forth by a b attle which

w as looked o n as a burlesque by the Highland bards although m any br av e ,

m e n lost their lives there

N v h vi g b f m t w i th thi xp i i G li c P t y f
e er a n I e o re c ll ct I e s e ress o n n ae oe r , so ar as c an re o e

b gg d f my f i d M P t
,

e e o wh v l mi w k
r en h w m ch i ti m cy w i t h th p t y
r a ers o n , o se o u n ou s or s s o so u n a e oe r ,

hi t y s or d t iq iti f th L w l d t f v m w i th m xp l ti
, an an u th
es o bj ct ; d I w e o an s, o a o ur e so e e an a on on e su e an no

sub m i t h i v y i t ti gs er n e re s n

N t Th w w m d v
o e —
td w D b
e vo f t it i h i v t t h ki g c ll d
as a e o e r a ro as e s an . un a r re ers o n s erse s o e n a e

m an
’ ’
J oha n T a m so n s .

I w d g i f ll th t v I h v
a a a e er a e, Th t y h d wit a e a vo on th e s w an ,

T th t c di t i G dm v A y t b J h T am so n m an
’ ’
o a on o n , so o e sa e, ne e ar o e o an s .

J o h an T am so n
’
s m an
’
se em s to b e ah p k d h b d;
en - d D b t di
ee e us an an un ar s o o n su ch f v a o ur it
w h th e
q u e en , th t a , if sh e h ad h e r w ay , h e c l d b c t i f h i l g p mi d b fi
ou e er a n o s on ro se en e ce.
”
206 TH E M U SI C
“ ”
d ow n the rebellion and not the red co ats who were so wretchedly armed , , ,

comp aratively as to be quite unfit to stand before th e clans in battle excepting

, ,

und e r the m an agement illustrated in the retreat fro m E n gl and the murderous ‘
,

m arch the night befo re th e battle o f Cul loden and the field chosen for that ,

battle & c &c The mysterious dis appe arance of M arg nah a prevented the cl an
,
. .

”
from joining the Prince as they had no confidence in his b roth er I ain Borb , ,

o r John the fierce ; but he joined and w as the w arrior who fought and killed ,

the dragoon at Inverness in the m anner told by Mr Ch ambers in his history of ,

the rebellion .

’
M C CH SA M H A DA I NN s MI LAN A I RT E A L .

’
Moch sa mh adai n n 5 m i lan airteal E arly in the morning unde r much ,

m oc h sa va d ay n 8 mi lan
’
ayrtel -
dep ress 10n ,
’ ’
O i an o ch ai dreamh m i on n drai n n , Far a way from the companionship fo r
ci - an o ch ay d- rev mi -o u dray n n -
which I crave ,
’
Gu m bu bh eg mo lu ai dh ai r leabai dh , Little w as my des i re to remain in the
'
gum bn ve
g mo ln -
ay ayr leb- ay be d,
C arach adh sa ti o n dath . Tossing an d turni n g .

ca a oh a
r - ’
sa ti o u da
- -
'

Na f ai gh in n g rad cead gu n ’
rach ai n n ,
Could I obtain leave I would go ,

g rad
'
na fay i n n ced gu n rach ay n
- -
quickly ,

Na m still gun stad gun aon ta m b

’
-
,
Like a spate ( descending the hill ) ,
Dam st ill gun stad gun ao n tav
o

A dh i o s an a lt sa bh eil mo g h radh
-
,
To the place where dwells my love ,

yi os an ay t sa v ey l mo
’
a y ra
-

0 g m h ai g h dean aili dh G h eambail . The young beautiful maid e n of Gem

og va
y den
’-
a y li '
y em -
ba yl bail ,

Ge fad air c h uai rt mi tam ull bh uat, Though long o n my circuit an d away ,

ge fad tamul ayr c h u - ay rt mi vu -at from thee ,

’
Si n aisling uail a dh ui sg mi The proud dream that awaked me
’
si n aysli n g u - ay l a yusg mi

Thu bhi agam ann am g hl a c aibh ,

Was having th e e in my arms ,

11 VI a g am ann am y lac -s v
y
L an do th lac h d
’
8 do sh ug radh .
Full of delight and S portiven e ss .

’
lan do h 1a c ~
8 do ’
h ug - ra

Dh —
ai n de o n bui n ig
’
s c i an ael m
’
f h ui re ach D espite adv antages pensive ,
is my
yayu en buyni g s ci an el mayrech
-
’
- -
residence
Ann an i o m al duch aidh .
O n the border of the country .

an i o ma l
'
an n da cba - -

O ch o i n a c h i all gu m be m o mhi an
,
’

,
O h my love it is my desire
, , ,

be mo vi -an
och oy u a ch i all gum
- —

Bhi ’
n diu gh a tri all a t- i o n nsai dh .
To travel quickly this day where thou
vi n
’
di -
u
’
a tri -all a t -
o nn -sa y
’
art .

A t i o n n sai dh th e i d mi n u aira dh
— -
e i re as mi ,
To thee will I go so soon as permitted ,

a ti o n n say
— -
’
he yd mi n u- a r a y y eyres mi

Cu h -
e atro m su n n d ac h .
Lightly and cheerfully .

g u he -
t omr su n n dac h
 or TH E HI G HLAN D CLANS . 207

shlig h e ,
’
Gach ceum do n t —
dol g a (1
’
At every step of the journey
g ac h
'
cey m don tli -e dol g ad
ru idhi n n
'-
ruy in n

c h ridh e
’
Bi dh mo sugach . My heart will be leapi n g j oyously .

bi ’
mo ch ri ’
-
e sug ach

’ ’
Mo mh iann s mi n c e arte r air bh eg cadail , My desire this mom ent i s not for sleep ,
’
mo vi - an n s mi n certer ayr veg caday l
’
A bhi n a (1 ch ai dri dh g h re an n air, But to be in thy charming company ,
vi (1
’
ch ay dq i ’
3 na rs - an a r
.
y y
Mo dh u il gu n chlei th ’

,
le durach d mb ath , In the unconce aled hope with wishes ,
mo y uy l g un chley
’
1s dur -
se va
I
good
Gur h - e mo bh eath a teanu or
t . That I am welcome near thee .

g ur he mo ve
'-
a tenn o rt

O ig hn a maise is o rbh u idh falt , Maiden young and beautiful o f the

n a may se i s fal t
’ '
oy orv uy golden hair ,
’
8 do g hru ai dh air dh reach an n eoi n ei n ; Thy cheeks are of the complexion of
sdo
'
yru ay yrech the daisy ;
-
a r
y an n o-oyu -ey n

T -u ch d c o rrach min do dh ead ,

-
g h eal Thy bosom smooth and high thy teeth ,
tuc corrach mi n do ed- el
white and neat
y y ,

g h rin n ,

’
S
’
do bh e n l
o m binn thig oran ,
And thine eye large and mild ,
8 do
’
v ey l o m binn bi g o ra n

Suil mh eallach ch aoin f o (1 mh alai dh ’

Covered w ith long soft eyelashes .

su l
y vellach c h aoyu fo d val ay -
'

R o i sg fb ada mh ao dh ga n Sweet comes the song from thy lips

’
c o m h dach , ,
ro
ysg ada v ao
g an cov- d cha

sh ei rc
’
th a d e adain n bh eir And the charm s of thy face wi ll be
’
An t-
do n
an teyrc ha de- dy
a n ve r
y don my de ath ,

e ug mi ,

eyg mi

Mar f aig h mi cheud gh rai dh coir -

ort . Unless my first love I shall obtain a
, ,
mi ob ey d yray
'
mar f ay ’
coyr -
o rt right to thee .

’
Gu choir air t fh eutai n n oigh na feile
n -
,
A right to thee generous maiden , ,

g un ch oy r ayr teytayn n oy na f eylé

'

Is uai sle beus is gi ulan ,

O f gentle manners an d bearing ,
is u aysle bey s i s gi u lan
- - -

A fhuair o s i osal sei rc bho Dh iarmad -*

,
Who has received in secret a charm , ,
a h u ayr os i osal serc
-
vo yi ar mad
- - - -
from Diarmid *
,

A chui t ci ad an g eall ort . Th at h as m ade hundreds thy captives .

a c h ayr ci ad an gell o rt
-

’5 Th ere c
bout th e F ei t l ad t th c cl i th t th y w th i
i s m u h i n th e U rs g e uls a nn , o e o e on u s on a e er e e n ven

ti on o f th m k ;
e d th t th
on bj ct f th m w s t d c be wi l d th m i d of th peo p l
s an a e o e o e a so o se u e or er e n s e e as

to ma k th m b li
e e y th i g B y mi xi g th d d d adv tu
e ev e an f t h i t adi ti al h
n . es w i th n e ee s an en res o e r r on ero

l eg e n d abo t sai ts ec m cers d warf

s u n d g i an ts th ey i p i d
, n ro d n ouri h ed
an love of ficti , s , an , ns re an s a on ,
 208 TH E M U SIC
C i och an ge ala air u ch d m eallaidh , Beautiful are thy white breasts on a
c i -oc h - an
g ela ayr ll '
uc me -
a
y captivating bosom ,

L an
’
de stu ai m s de ch o i m h n eas, Full o f modesty and kindness .

lan de st u ay m -
’
s de c h oy v -n es

’
ai re am h
’ ’
Bhi ga d s gu n thu lath air, To be (thus) recounti n g thy ch arms
vi
ga dy a r- cv
’
s g un u la
'
-a
yr and thou absent ,
,

Thug bh - u am cail is e i bh n eas . H as dep rived me o f el asticity an d

h ug vu - am cayl is oy v- n es h appiness .

Tha mi anu na fear f o (1

’
ghun a f alach ,
The delight of man is hid bene ath thy
ha m i -an n na fer f od y un a falach rob e s ,

Seang -
ch o rp f allai n su n dach A form slender healthy liv ely 3 ,
,
sen g - ch or
p fa ll -
syn sun dach

S li o s mar e ala ,
c n e as mar ch ana ,
Thy side i s as the s wan thy th roat ,
sli - os m ar ela cues m ar ch ana as the down o f can a ;

E adai n n ban ail m u i rn eac h Thy face womanly cheerful

c d ay n ban ayl muy rn ech
.
, .

- -

N o ir th eid coi sir ch i uil an loin n -

When the musical choir is in harmony
h ey d coy sIr chi uyl an loyn n
, ,
'

n oyr - -

’
S tu snamh san d anns ai r u rl ar ’
And thou art s w imming in the mazes
dann s ayr url ar
,
stu e av sa n n
o f the dance ,
’ '
Gu m bidh gach cri dh e l eam a ir aird ,
E very heart beats high ,

g um bi gach c ri é lem ayr ayrd

’ ’-

’
S gach suil a de alradh an i on g n adh . And every eye beams with admiration .

s
’
g ach suyl a dei a an i o a r
'
—
n
’

’
S
ts aro ri ai reamh trian de n ailleach d Di fficult it i s to name a third of the
’

,
s tem ri ayrev tri an de ayllec -
n ch arm s
Dh a m bu dhan dh amh g e illeadh
’

,
That as fate m ade m e yield
, ,

Y am bu '
yan y av geyle

a n d su b ti t te d f th s l l
u c t i i g th h i t y f p t g
or e o ra y tem f t i ti
o re , c p ti g t
on a n n e s or o as a es . a s s o u on a s o rru n o

g oodt t d
as e , ant l th m i c l d c ti f th p
un n a ura as t d y I th p ti ti th
e us ba e u a on o e res en a . n e su e rs on s us su

s ti t t d th y l id th f d ti f th p i i t l d p ti m th t d lik
u e , e a e o un a i g h tm
on o v th l fe s r ua es o s a ro e e a n are o er e so u s o

m d i g th d k g T h p
en ur n e t
ar
pe tiati e s. l t i g f m t h U g l c ti
e t i
ro n e n ess o su rs on re su n ro e se rs eu s on n u es o n

fl u en c e and m tall y l v th m en ig t d i t lli g e t am g th I i h d th H i g h l d

en s a e e o re n o ran an un n e n on e r s an e an e rs

e v ti ll th p
en td y e rese n a .

T h U g ul el c t i m y ch mi g li tt l g ip i g p i sod lik th b v b t D i mi d t
rs e s a so on a n an ar n e o ss n e e s, e e a o e a ou ar , o

e xt te x c th l vi g f i l ti f th f i x D i mid w bli g d t w
en u a or e u se e o n ra m k t h id th
es o e a r se . ar as o e o ear a as ,
o e e

b ll i a -s
b ty p t th t w i hi f c f m th y f th
e ro
”
or eau s o c p t ibl F i g l i l di
a as n s a e ro e e es o e su s e e n a an a es , as n o

w m o c l d b h l d i t w i th t f lli g i l v w i th hi m d h wi g th f i l ty f h
an ou e o ou a nt G i n o e ,
an s o n e ra o e r n a u re . ra n s

is no t t ll i a x c bly d l t w i th b y th m ki h th f th U g l b t D i mid f d ti g
a ne usa ea e on s au or o e rs eu a ou ar or e se r n

h er a g ed p d s i g w y w i th h
o u s e , an y th f l h run n n H w c l d h h lp i t ? T
a a th b ll er ou u e ro . o ou s e e o s ee e a

f te ! N h im lf l l i tl y t t d H i p t d th g h t h i m y
”
i
se rc w as i th ha or s e e ro se e ss en en re a e . e s re re sen e , ro u ou s an

ro m ti c w d i g w i th th
an an m er n d f il s t c p th p i t f h h b d m i t i i g
e en a o u re ra on e, o es a e e u rs u o er us an , as a n a n n

imm c l t ch ti ty w i th fi m
a u a e w th y v
as f J p h h i m lf
a ti l G i im p l iv x cl m ti
r n e ss or e en o o se se , un ra n e s
’
u s e e a a on

a b t S p i d l b i p t hi m i ch p i t i
ou o ra an o a n,w ld h v m d it
”
u p ch t hi m h dn su a os o n as ou a e a e a re roa o s an oo

t h ld
o o t y l g ou I an h t th U g l f
on i h m y f c i ti g xc
e r. n s or f
,
th e m rs eu s u rn s so an as na n e u ses or e se a o ro us

p cc dill
e a t l v d b t th t th y b g h t g d m l t t v y i d l g t c f i l W
o e s as o ea e no ou a e ro u a oo ou er o a er n u en o n e ss o n a . e

n ee d f l w d th f th t th t t p p li d to th v i t f th F i g li l di cc di g t th
ee no on e r, ere ore , a e es a e e r ue o e n a an a es , a or n o e

U g lrs c t l y p bl i h d i E di b g h p v d th at th w
eu s re e n u s e ly n f i thf l w if m g th
n ur , ro e ere as o n on e a u e a on e

m i d F i g li l di ! T b
arr e n a li g h t l v w vid n tl y o g t p ch i n th y f th
an a es o e a 0
’
o e
”
as e e n rea re ro a e e es o e

m ki h
on ths f th U g ul
au o rs o e rs e s .
 2 10 TH E M USIC
Cruai dh ortan gun fbi os A hard and stealthy chance
cruy o rt an gu n
’
is

A dh fh ag mise f o ch ui n g a g h ao il
—
.
Has made me the captive of lov e .

a y ag misc fo ch uy n g a y aoyl

Fh i r n a
’
n gorm sh uillen -
m eallach , Youth of the full blue eyes
ir n an
g orm buyllen
- c m el la h
,

’
O n g hlean n an am hi an smuid , 0f the glen of mist ,
on
ylen n an am bi an smuy d

Far an si ubhlach g hr ai'gh e ug ach , Where airy are the herd nimble ,
f ar an si u vlach
-
g ra y eng - acb

Ai g i on n altr
adh sh lei bh f o dh ri uch d
, Grazing on the dewy wolds ,
ay g i - oun altradh h- l ey v f0 y t u -se

N oi r th ei d u ai r t uillinn -
When thou leanest on thy elbow
h ey d u ayr
, ,
n oy r tuyllln

Bith fui l air m ac lu adh na fu ar stuc ; Bloo d will be on the swift son o f the
n a fu ar stuc
'
bi f uyl ayr mac ln a '
- -
cold cli ff s ;
’
N a m bi tu gh aoil mar ri um , Wert th en with me my love , ,
n am bi tu mar
y aoyl ri - u m

’
Cha b an air an ceile
-
le om u . An unmeet husband I woul d not deem
ch a ban - an c oy l e ls -o m u
ayr thee .

Ebir a dh ireas am bealach , Y o u, who ascen dest the defile

ir a yit es am bel ach
S a th earn as an gleann ma th u adh , And goest down the glen to the north ,
h ern es g len ma hu a ’
sa an -

’
Thoir sorru idh gu m lean n an ,
Bear my salute to my love ,
h oyr sorruy g um l enn an ’

’
I s innis mar th ach ai r s an u ai r . And tell him how it stands with me
i s i nnis mar h ach ayr san u ayr - -
at this hour .

Fear eile cha gh abh mi , An other I wil l not have ,

f er eylé ch a y av mi
’
cha n f h uillig mi l o om a luai dh
8
’
. Nor suff er to be named to me .

’
s chan uyllig mi le cm a ln ay - -
'

G us an dean e fe in m ai ch eadh
’
, Until he himself denies me ,

g us an den e f eyn ma ch e - ’

Cha ch reid mi 0 chach g ur f uadh . I will not believe from others that he
cha chreyd mi 0 ch ach gur
’
fu-a hate s .

Ach ma nith e o rm tailceas, But if he will slight me ,

ach ma ui e o rm tay lc-es

Gur tai tn each a tha mo chli u My reputation remains unstaine d ;

g ur tay tn ech 9. h a mo ch li -u

Cha (1 ’
ro i nn mi ri n t coi n n eamh , I never made an appointment with
ch a droinn mi ri -ut co ynn ev him ,

Cha do th ach ai r sinn ri amh ann an cuil . We n ever met in a m ule (recess )
ch a do h ach -ayr sinn ri av an an ony l
-
 or TH E HI G H L A N D CLANS . 21 1

Cha h abh ai n ri am h m asladh I would receive an indignity

g
ch a la
yavay n ri -av m as ’

O fhear a ch ui r bo i n n ei d air crun From no man that ever covered his

0 er a ch uy r boyn ey d ayr c ru n n head with a bonnet ;
Bha m i n n tinn cho be ach dail
’
,
My mind was sufficiently self sustained -

va min n tin n ch o bec- ayl

’
S ga u smach daich i n g aol nach b
’
-
f hi udh . To rebuke (subdue ) an unworthy lov e .

sga u smac syc hi n g ao l n ac h

-
bi -u’

I h ave I think submitted his torical reasons elsewhere for comi n g to th e

, ,

conclusion th at every di ff erence in dialect characte r m anners an d customs

, , , , ,

between the Celtic an d Gothic clans ( under which name I include Scots Belg s , , ,

Fi rbolg Saxons &c ) c an be accounted f o r by th eir institutions educ ation and

, ,
.
, ,

circumstan ces The writers who make the Gothic a di fferent and a superior
.

race ought to have shown that they were the subject o f a different act of
,

creative power to justify thei r statements ; but instead of th at those of them

, , ,

who were histo ri ans furnished no evidence of th e ir assumptions an d their fol ,

lowers seem to think that reiteration is the only thing nec e ss ary to s atisfy their
readers as to the truth o f an y assertion howeve r unphilosophic o r improb abl e ,

in itsel f At the s ame time C aesar Tacitus Ptolemy Cre sius &c show th a t
.
, , , , , .

they formed sep arate famili e s and were known under separate names in both , ,

o f the British Isles at a very early period of o ur histo ry The l earned an d ,

.

talented Mr Skene who is not a be aten track histori an but a man of de e p

*
,
-
,
’
rese arch a nd discrimination in hi s Introduction to the De an o f Lismore s book , ,

satisfactorily proves that Irel and was occupied for ages subsequently to the d ays
o f P tolemy and C r e sius by two distinct families the Milesians or Firbolg o r , , , ,

Scots (for he also classes them as identical ) and the Cruith n e ; the former
, ,

occupy i n g the south and west and the latter the north an d east o f the isl and ,

and I contend that in personal appearance dialect poe t ry and music these two , , , , ,

families m ay be distinguish e d from o n e another in Ireland until this day .

I h ave stated in my L e cture on the Caledoni an and Scottish Cl ans that ,

th e ancient bound ary between the Scots and the C aledonians w as L o ch lin n e

“ In
7 a no e t
i t d ct i t th D to h i s f Li m b k th i l n ro d d bl w i tu lyon o e e an o s ore s
’
oo , s earn e an a e r er n e ar

a g w i th m
re e s t th b d y b t w th C ld i
e as . d th Sc t ; h m ki g i t b y l
o e ou n d dt ar e e en e a o n an s an e o s e a n an ,
an o

th th f L h li
e n or o w h i ch i c t i l y l
oc t l d ti f ct y H i w d
nn e, I th I l d f
s er a n e s s n a u ra an sa s a or . s or s are , n e s an o

C l y th i c i c ll d C
o o n sa ere l i E i
s a I Bl Atl th m p f th I l d f M ll m k
a rn a e arn -c u -
r -
r n . n ean s
’
as , e a o e s an o u ar s ,

on th h i g h m
e t i w hi ch p t th oun a n th f m th th f th i l d t w c i c ll d C m l
se ara es e n or ro e sou o e s an , o a rn s a e a -
cu

r i E i
-
d C m
r n an l i A ll b y a Th m t m k
-c u
m ci t b d y b t th y
-
r -
a n x ctl y
. es e s e e o ar so e an en o un ar , u e are e a on a

l i w i th I w h i ch m t h v l i
ne o n a, l y th b d y t b c l i m d b y b t h c
se e s o d l
a e a n s o n ear on e ou n ar as o e a e o ra e s , an a so

w i th th li w h i ch p t th
e ne c i t p i h f K illi t h d K i ll h ll m ki ll i M
se ara es de an en ar s es o n ac an c o u n o rv e rn an

Ki lli t h i u ac id i ld d c m t t b i G
s sa , m
n di t i ct w h i ch x t d d f
an o o u th en , o e n arro ov eran , a s r e en e as ar n o r as

L ch H
o w h i l K ill h ll mkill i
o urn , id t b i K i lb d w hi ch b l g d t th ci t ki g d m f
e c o u s sa o e n ne a on , e on e o e an en n o o

L th
o rn , — m m ch e re s e e t c c l d th t th i m y h v b
s u th li f th b
rea so n d y b tw o on u e a s a a e e en e ne o e o un ar e e en

th D l i d Sc t f m E i
e a ra d th C i th
o s f A lb
ro T h i d b t th t c i w
r n an ci t l d e ru ne o an .
”
ere s no ou a a rn s e re a n en an

m k b tw
ar s di ff t di t i ct b l g i g t th m cl
e ee n ere n
p p l b t I th i k th y c l d
s r th v
s e on n o e sa e an s o r eo e, u n e ou no a e

b t
een a y ti m b d y b t w t w p t d di ti ct ki g d m
an e a oun art lw y t p c w th
e e en o se ara e a n s n n o s, n o a a s a ea e i one

an o th I d d i t i x t m l y i m p b bl th t w i th ch b d y L h li
e r. n ee , s e re th S c t c
e ld ro a e a , su a o un ar as oc nn e, e o s ou

h v a v w i h d t divid th i t g th b y cc p yi g a ow t i p f hi ll d h
e e en s e o e t ch di t c
e r s re n o u n a n rr s r e o an s o re a su a s an e

f m th e m i b d y t th
ro a n
pp it id f th t l ch
o , a e o os e s e o a o .
2 12 TH E MUSIC
and L o ch e ti ve ,
and th at from L och e ti ve the boundary ran by a l ine l e ss dis ,

ti n ctly m arked bet ween the sources of the waters that ran in di ff erent directions
, ,
”
( thus sheeri n g wind and water as D an die Dinmont would h ave descri bed it ) , ,

to P en v ahl ; from P en vahl to Galashiels ; from G alashiels by the Ca trail or war ,

path to Berwick Thi s di ff ers slightly from the boundary l aid down by Mr
,
.

Skene ; but I am convi nced even at this day there is so cle arly percep tible a
, ,

difl eren ce i n personal appearance dialect or pronunciation ( which in e ff e ct is , , ,

much the same thi ng a difi eren t pronunciation being the original c ause of
'

diff erent di alects ) poetry and music between the people on either side of that
, , ,

line as real ly to justify my adhering to my o wn Opinion o n this subject ; for

,

although the people of the plains o r lowl ands of Caledonia had so much i nter
course by inter marriage s &c with the Gothic families both of E ngl and and
,
-
,
.

Lochlin they differ from them decidedly until this day e specially in their
, ,

appearance I mention elsewhere that th e colony of Ulster Crui th n e who

.
,

settled in G alloway were also divided from their neighbours by a catrail or

,

war path drawn from the head o f L o ch ry an by K emp shill Sanquhar and
-
, , , ,

Carlisle ; an d I have been assured o n good authority that there was a mark ed , ,

di ff erence in appearance dialect poe try and music betw een the people on
, , , ,
”
either side of that March when the Highland host were quartered in Ayr
shire ; for strange as it may appear I was intim ately a cquainted with a clergy
, , ,

m an Mr Inglis o f K irk o sw old who when a bo y was t utor to the family of

, ,

Maclean o f Dri m m in and knew a gentlema n ( the great grandf ather o f that
,
-

family ) who had been captain o f a company in the Highland host F rom this
,
.

venerable old m an Mr Inglis received much information in refe rence to the

,

conduct and ch aracter of the Loy ali sts an d Covenanters of that day which h ad ,

the e ff ect o f gi ving him more modified views of both parties than w as usually
expresse d by P resby teri am clergymen o f the old school In short all party .
,

w riters allow their feelings to point them an d therefore de al in exagger ations ,

.

This intelligent old gentlemen told Mr I n glis th at in the small cl ach an in

Ga lloway they spoke the same G aeli c at that time that w as sp oke n in
A rdn amurch an .

In personal appearance dialect poetry and music there is a strikin g , , , ,

affi nity between the people o f the north of Ireland and the C aledo nians ; and I
believe that a si m i lar rese mblance espe cially in person al appearance is perfe ctly , ,

visible between the Scottis h Lowlanders and the people of the south an d west
of I reland There is in topo graphical names and ancient poetry suffi c ient
.

evidence that the ancient Caledonians and Bri tons S poke the same di alect ;
and as Wil liam M Moxon E sq , chief Accountant o f Inlan d Revenue h as
.
, ,

kindly sent me some Welsh poetry an d melodies with phonetic spelling I , ,

wil l n o w submit these to the reader and which on a careful comparison prove , , ,

without doubt that the poe try and music of Cal ed onia an d Wal es have at thi s
day a clear affin ity the one to the other .
2 14 TH E M U SIC
A chanu wn ei o hyd o hy d And sing thou wilt through all time
o h eed o h eed
,
a ch an e oo n ei -

T ra h aul a h y d a bardd While s u, and world and h ard (ex

p
.
,
t a rh ay l a beed a b arth ist .

B U G EIL I o n
’
G W E NIT E G WY N .
-
SH EP H E RD IN G (OR W ATCHI NG) TH E W H E AT .

M 1 sy dd f ac hg en
C

I eu an
gc fi ol , I am a young foolish boy ,
me si th v ach gen y eyan c f all
’
fy fian si
'

Y n c aru n ol Making love according to my fancy

nu cari n ’
ole vu f an cy
’
Mi yn bug ei lio r g wen i th gwyn , I watching the white wheat ,

me un begylior g weni th g wy n
Ac e raill y n e i fedi : An d others reap ing it
ac erailth un ei vedes
Pam na ddeui ar fy 0] Why do you not come after me
pa m na thy -e ar v u ole

R y w ddy dd ar 01 e i g y dd ?
i l Some day or another
reew th eeth ar 01 ci gilith
G waith r
’
wy
’
n dy wel d y’
f e i n i r fach , Because I see thee beautiful d arli n g
, ,

g wai th
’
r oo i n
’
du wel d u
’
v
y ni r v ach
Oh lovelier an d lovelier daily
O g lan ach , lan ach be un y dd
o ! g lan ach lansch byn ith

Tra fo dwr yn y mor hallt ,

While the re is water in the briny sea ,

tra vo dwr nu 11 more h alth t

A th ra f o n g wallt yn ty f u, And while my hair does gro w ,

a th ra vo n goo alth t uu tuvy

A thra fo calon y n fy m ron ,
And while th e re is a he art in my bre ast ,

a th ra vo cal on un vu mro u

Mi fy dda n fly ddlon itti : ’

I will be faithful to thee
’
me vu th a n f ut hlon i tte

Dy we d
’
imi r gwir dan g e l ,
Tell me the truth in secret ,

i mme r g weer dan g al e

’
duwed

A rho dan sel atteb i on And give under seal (in confidence )
a rh o dan sa el atteby o n
“w an sw e rs

P un ai
’
myfi neu arall, Gwen ,
Whether myself o r another Gwen , ,

sralth
’
p un ay muvee n
y g w en

S y dd orau g au dy gal on ! Is best wi thin thine heart !

see th o rai gan d u gal on

Y EA R S
’
N os G ALAN .
—
NEW EVE .

Goren pleser ar n os gal an ,

—
Fa, la ,
&c .
The best pl e asu re on new year s e ve ,

g orei plesser ar n os galan Fa la &c

—
, , .

Ty a th an a th e ulu diddan , —
Fa, &c .
I s house and fire and a pleas ant family ,

tu a t h aan a th iley dith an Fa la &c

-
, ,
.
 or TH E H I G H L A N D C L AN S . 21 5

ch wrw Fa, &c *

Calon lan a melyn ,
—
. A pure heart an d brown ale ,
-
Fa, la,
cal on l aan a ch ooroo meliu &c .

Pen n ill mwy n a llai s y d e lyn ,

—
Fa, &c . A gentle song and the voice of the
pe n il th mooi u a thlais u deliu h arp Fa &c —
, .

H yfry d g weled ar yr aelwy d, — Fa, &c . I t is pleasant to see round the hearth ,
h uvrid g weled ar ur aylooi d la &c
—
Fa, , .

H e n ac ieuan g c m ewn dedwy ddy d, O ld and young in happiness -

Fa, la ,
h ain ac y eyan gc meec h dedwi th id &c .

Fa ,
&c .

P awb ddymun an t o law en y dd, —

Fa, &c . All wish from joy ,
—
Fa, la , &c .

p awb th umman t o la-W eni th

G roesaw llawn Fa,

’
ir fl wy ddyn newydd . A full welcome to the n ew year .
—

groisaoo th laoon ir vloo ithi n n ewi th &c .

Fa &c , .

ME R CH M E G A N —
ME G AN S D A U G HT E R
’
.

wrth
’
Y sblen y dd yw r haul euro y Be autiful is the sun in gilding the
usblen i th i oor h ay l OOI th
‘
ei ro 11 day dawn ,

w awrddy dd,
waoo rth ith

A l an deg y w g wli th ar f ei lli on a rh os ; An d comely fair the dew on clover

g
a glaan deg i oo gooleeth ar veilthio n a rh ose an d rose

T rylo e w y w rhith y lloer m ewn af on y dd , Transparent is the shadow o f the

treeloioo i oo rh eeth u lth oer mewn avon yth moon i n rivers ,
’
A di sglaer y w r ser yn n y fn der y n os . A n d bright are the stars in the depth
a disglai r i oor sair nu n uvn der u n os o f the night ,

’
Di sgleirf wy n y w r h af ddy dd ci g e i n i on Clear and mild is the summer day
disglairvooin i co r h avetbi th i geini on i ts ray s pure and clean ,

yn burlan ,
nu b irl an
’
A di sglaer y w llewy rch An d bright i s the light o f the air an d
yr awy r a r lli ;
a r l th s
’
a disglair i co lth eoo urch ar awir th e flood
’
Disg leiriach i m serch y w M orvy dd Brighter to my affection is M o rvy dd ,

serch morvi th
’ ’
disglairiach im i oo Megan s daughter ,

merch Megan .

merch megan

A n wylach c i ph ry d na mywy d i mi Dearer i s he r countenance than life .

an wilach i f reed n a mowi d e me un to me ,

’
Mae M orvy dd yn lan a i gw e n fel yr M orvy dd i s handsome , and her smile
morvi th un laau a
’
i goocn vel ur like th e sunshine ,
h eul wen ,
h eylwen

Ei chalon yn bur a de dwy dd ei brou ;

, H er heart i s pure and happy in her
i ch al on nu b uir a dedwi th i b rou breast ;
7“ L i terall y ,
“
yell ow al e ,
"
but th e id ea i s as a o e bv .
 21 6 TH E M U SI C
M ae mi wsig ei llai s y n fy wy d i f aweu ’
,
The music of her voice is life to my
mae musig i lth ais um vo wi d e v awen
’
m u se ,
Mae c ari ad yn by w n ei ll gaid g wi w llo n ;
’
L ove li ve s in her worthy merry eye ;
mae cari ad uu bioo n i It ug ai d
g weew lth on
M ae mwy n der a. rh i n w edd yn puro ei M eel mess and virtue puri fy her
mae mooi n der a rhi n wath un peero i breasts ,

dwy f ro n ,
doo i vron

A gle n di d a g wy lder y n g loy wi ei ph ry d ; And purity and modesty brighten her

a g len deed a gw ilder nu
gloiw ee i freed counten ance ;
Mi garaf ei llun tra cura fy n gh alo n ,
’
I ll love her image while my he art
me garav i lthin tra ch ee a veh n g alon r shall beat ,
’
Mi g araf fy mu n tra b wyf yn y h y d . I ll love my hands full W hile I rem ain
me g arav veh mun tra boo w u n 11 beed i n the worl d .

R H Y FEL GY R C H G W Y R HA R L E CH .
—
TH E WAR SONG O F
-
TH E M E N O F HA R L E CH .

Harlech cyf od dy fan eri

,
Harlech raise thy ban n ers ;
,
h arl ec h cu vod du v aneri

G W el y g elyn E ml yn y n n i . See th e enemy . Kindle the vigour

g wail u gel in e n un un ni n

Y M ei ri on w y s 011 i wae ddi ,

O f the Merioneth men all , to cry ,

11 myrion wi s 01th c waeth e

ym ru fo
am byth Wales be for ever !
cumri vo am b yth

Aed y wae dd ac aed y weddi , , Go the cry and go the prayer

, ,

ayd u wai th ac ayd u weth e

I bo b cwrr o u gwlad uch elfri’

,
To e ach corner of our highly honou red
e bob coor on g oolaad echelvre land
’
Nes ad se i ni a yr E ry ri , T ill Snowden t e echoes -
,

n ee ad sinea ar erure

Cymru fo am byth ! Wales be for ever !

c umri v0 am byth

Arwyr, sawdwy r, sy dy n Peas ants s oldiers suddenly

, ,

m y: sao odwyr su dien

R h uth rwn ar y el
g y n ; L et us rush on the enemy ;
rh ythroo n ar 11 g el i n

G yrrwn ef i fib i o nant Let us drive him flyi n g from brook

, ,

gurroon cv e M o n ant

A bryn a phant a dyfi ryn

, ,
‘
. An d hi ll and glen and vale
, ,
.

a b ryn a f an t a dufreen

th L et us wave the banner of victory

ch wyvi oo n v an er
G orfole ddwn yn ei alaeth L et us rejoice l n h 1s wai li ng ;
i alayt h
go rvoleth oon an

Cly wi r llef ein buddug oli aeth Th e cry of our Vi cto ry shall be h eard ,
,

cluwi r lth ev ine bithig oliaeth

Cymru f0 am byth Wale s be fo r ever !

cumri vo am byth
21 8 TH E M U S IC

R h ely w an flo dus y rh en g au wrth g ilio The remnant unfortunate of th e ran k s

rh el u anf odus rh en gau oorth
u
gilyo wh i le retre ating
’
S g ub wy d gan angau i grombil y don ; Were swept by death to the mi dst o f
sgi buid an ghi
g an e grombil u don the wave ;
D uo dd y c w mwl a th o ro ddi wylo , Darkened the cloud an d broke in to
deo th u coo moo l a th oro th e w eel o tears ,

C on g c west y g ely n a y so dd pob bron . The victory of the enemy consumed

con q uest u g el in a ussoth po be bron every breast .

G wae i mi weled y g ely n bu ddug ol, W o e me ! to se e the victorious enemy ,

gway e me wel e d u
g elin vi thi go l

R h wy sg a g o rf o le dd y n Iloni ei bryd ; Pomp and joy cheering h is co un ten

rh oo is
g a g orvoleth 1m lth on e i breed ance
L leth i r fy m on wes gan loesan an g e u ol, My breast is cru she d by deathly pangs ,
lth eth eer vy mon coes g an lo isai an g ey ol

G w ell i mi f arw na b n b d: Better I should die than live i n the

g welth e me varoo na world :
f My harp is in unison with th e wail o f
’
B ilia fy n h ely n leddf don ir gy fla an ,
ile ya-
vu nh e i a l leth v (l oan ei r
’
guvlavan the massacre ,

C ollwy d ei n brein ti au , ein rh y ddi d, a n

’

’
L ost are o ur rights our liberty our , ,

colth ooi d in c brin elial ins rh uthi d an peace

b edd ;

Todded fy n gh alon i gwyn Morva L et my heart melt to the wail ”

of
toth ed vu n galon e g ooin morva Morva Rhuddlan ,
”
Rhuddlan ,
rh u thlan

Cu ddi er fy n g ofid yn n y f n de r y be dd . Let my g rief be hidden in the depths

cu th y er vu n go vi d un nuvn der u beth o f the grave .

G L AN M EDDW DOD M W Y N .
—
P U B E K IN D D R UN KE N N E SS
,
.

E in g y drau
w g o rle n w n mwy n y f wn O ur glasse s let u s o verfi ll drink
,

in c oo i
g drai g orlen oo n moo i u U VOO D kindly in peace ,

m e wn b e dd ,
mewn h eath

0 g w rw a g w i rod ,
gwin ,
n e i th dar, a O f ale an d liquor wine nectar and
, , ,

o g oo roo a g weerod g ween n

ythdar me ad ,

m e dd ,
meath

Ne s bo e in c alonau dan e ffai th y Until o ur hearts ,

u nder the e ff ect of
n es bo ine calo nai dan efai th u the ch arm ,

swy n ,

Y n wreso g g an g ari ad a gl an Are fe rvent with love an d pure kind

uh oo reso g gan g ariad a gl an drunkenness .

"
m edd do d mwy n
’
.

’
meath dod moo iu
 or TH E HI G HL AN D C LANS . 21 9

A n wy laf hen Walia mwyn noddfa ,

Dearest old Wales kin d refuge ,

anoo ilave ban e w al ia m oc iu n o th va to us ,

i ui,
e n ee

Y w cein wlad y de wri o n h e n Fry th o n I s the fair country o f the valiant

i oo kin e co l ad-
u dewrio n h an e vri th on o ld Britons of f ame ,
o fri ,
0 vree
Byt h by th oe dd y n ddedwy dd a For ever and ever happy an d
b it h buth oeth un th edwith a prosperous may sh e be .

h y lwy dd bo hi .

h uloo i th b0 h e

Ceir iech y d i r galon a ch e in i on a ch ai n Health to the heart is to be heard the

’

,
kyre y ech id eir gal on a ch einion a ch aan best o f cheer and song
.

W rth rodi c i dy flryn oedd a i g lyn o edd I s got by walking her dales and val
’ ’

rodi o i
’-
dufri n oeth
’
oo rth - a i glinoeth leys mi ld fair ; , ,

m wy n glan :
mo c iu g lan

Cain flodau awen y dd ar g yn y dd a gawn Beautiful flowers poetic genius i n , , ,

kain vlodai aweni th ar guni th a gaoon creasingly we shall have ,

A dili an y d elyn y n dily n c i d awn And the honied notes o f the harp to
di liai u deliu un dil iu i daoo n
.

a follow i ts gi ft .

A n wy laf hen Walia &c D earest old Wales &c &c

, .
,
. .
2 20 TH E M U SIC
The two following specimens of the poetry and music of E rin are taken
from a little g em of a book with which I have been favoured by Mr Moxon ,
.

’
It was published by Mr O Daly o f Dublin and contains literally a tre asu re o f
, ,

the genuine Celtic strains of E rin wi th E nglish imitations by James Clar ence ,

M agan I have n o t selected these specimens for the superior ch aracter o f the
.

music or the poetry but o n account of the subject for the victims o f loyal faith
, ,

must ever be objects of symp athy to the gene rous an d the brave When will .

kings and statesmen look o n political o ff ences especi ally those which spring ,

from in tensely loyal and patriotic feelings as th e o ff ences o f the noble and high ,

minded and deal with them in an accordant spirit ?

,

,
A M A I G H DE ON , A BR E A K ,
S A B H A N T R A E CH .
—
THE V I RG I N W IF E AN D W I D OW
, ,
.

A IB . The H u m o u rs o f Gly n.

As a maigh dio n as bain treabh ach rin A virgin a widow I mourn lon e — —

Dia go h o g dh i om —
an d lowly,
.

’
Ni binn li o m an ch rei dh ill si g abh ail This morn saw m e wedded in God s -

ti om ch i oll mo n uan c h ain temple holy

Ba bh ean p h o sda as m ai de an m e o n An d noontide beholds me a lone w i
-
,
’

e ag lais ch o m h ac h ta c h dow weeping , ,

’
S as bain treabh ach n i ain i m ar th each d For my spouse in the d ark tomb for
-

’
de m trath nona -
ever lies sleeping
. .

Ta sm uai n te an mo ch ri dh e -
Si na sg aoil O n my heart lies a cloud an d will li e ,

f e adh go h -e ag de , there for ever .

Feadh bh e i dh eadh dru ch d or na gle ann Hark h ark to the death knell th at
,
-

tadh ceo ar n a sle ibh te

na dooms us to sever
L a coimh n adh da sn io mh dh u it go caoin O h well m ay my eyes pour forth
,
’
deas de n ch aoldain ,
te ars as a fountain ,

Is e la broin an ch rui dh ill si* da in n si n t -

While dew gem s the valle y an d mist ,

gun e g air ! dims the mountain .

Is deas d o th i o cfadh clo i dh eam

King J ames mourns a hero as brave dh u i t an ,

m an eai g h e ach t an choil each

’
as e er bre athed -
,
.

No ag reide na h adh i ne s do g h adh ain

’
—
O ! to see him when mounted with ,

bi n ne air rao th an bright bl ade unsheathed

, ,

T h ogf adh an ceo dhe m i n tin n s tu ar O r high o n the hill side wi th bugle
’ ’
-

bhe inn mh ao i l an t stei bh e

-
and be agl e s-
, ,
’
Agus ai reo ch am oid u ai n n tu la buailte Where his foot w as the deer s and ,
’
Righ Seumas . hi s eye w as the eagle s .

Is mor mo r e m ’
e agladh go bh -
f u il do I shrieked and I cried when hi s blood
u sh d li k e water ;
’
m h u i n n t ir a bh f uara i n lio m ,
-
g
’ ’
Mar nan li g h as s n ar sgre adas nuair But treach ry and baseness had
ch o n arc
’
an fh u i l u asal ,
doo m d him to slaughter ;
C re i dh ill,d cath bell kn ll
— -
,
e .
2 22 TH E M U SI C
A ch ui sl alui n n deas , O thou of nec k fair ,

Na bh fain g i dh cas
-
, And curling hair ,
’
I s breagh a g us as glas do fu ile , With blue eyes flashing and sparkling ,

Go bh f uil ch reidh e da sh lad

-
,
For a year and more
Man do sh n i omthaoi g ad ,
H as my heart been sore ,

Le bli ag hi n mor f b ada ag tn uth leat . And my soul fo r thee been d arkling .

D a bh fagh ain n si le c eart

- -
, 0 could we but both ,

C ead sine sios leat ,

You nothing loth ,
’
I s e adtro m s as dear do sh i ubh al fain n ,
E sc ape to the wood an d forest ,

G o bh f uil mo smoain te a bh ean

-
,
What light an d calm ,

Air ealog h adh leat , What heal ing balm ,

’
Faoi ch oillti bh ag sp ealadh an dru ch tadh Should I have for my sorrow s sorest !

“ ’
A ch umai nn s a sh earc , My fond o n e and dear ,

R ach amao id -
ne se al , The greenwood is near ,

Foi ch o illti bh ag sp e aladh and dr uch An d the l ake where the trout is
tadh ; sp n n sm s ;
Mar bh fagh an aoi d an breac
-
,
Y ouwill see the doc ,
’
S an lo n air a n eed ,
The deer and the roe ,
’
An si ad gus am p oc a buistre And wi ll hear the sweet bir ds singi ng ;
Na h ei g in i dh e seinn eadh
-
, The blackbird and thrush
In the hawthorn bush ,

8
’
an ch uaich in ar bh ann an u h -
ghlais ; An d the lone cuckoo from her high nest ;
Go brath brath ni th i ocf ad And y o u never need fear
An bas air an n g oi n eadh -
,
That death would be near ,

A lann na coille cubh an th a In this bright scenery dearest ! ,

n

’ ’
The follow ing song from Mr O Daly s book wi th the phonetic spelling and ,

translation by M r John Murdoch th e patri otic and spirite d writer o n the ,

Highland and o ther Clearances un dgr the name o f Fi nlag an suffi ciently
” f
, ,

e xemplifies the relationship bet w een the northern Irish and the Highlande rs .

AN C HUIL -
FHI ONN .
—
TH E C OO L EE N .

t u an ch ui l f h i on n
’ ’
A bh facadh - -
s i ag S aw you the fair b air d -
a— travelli n g
a vaca '
too an ch ooleen see a th e wolds
s iubh al ar na boi th re ,
sh oo -ull ayr n u bo h -t e
’
A bright dewy morn ing without dust
’

M aidio n g h e al drfich ta s g a n s mri t ar a ,

maijin g all drooch ta s gan smoo i t ayr a on h er shoe s ?

broga ?
b roga
Is i om dh a ogan ach sfil -
ghlas ag tn u th Many a blue eye d youth d esires h er
-

in m arriage ,

le i h
p sadh ,
o
lay cc f osa
 or TH E HIG H L AN D CL AN S .
22 3

A ch d n i bh fag h adh -
siad mo rfi n sa -
ar But they sha n t have my o wn love
’ ’

on
ach n ee VOY Bh eead 111 0 m m arr
their calculation .

an g
-
c fin tas is doith le d .

an goo n tas is do 10

A bh facadh tu-
mo bh aban la breag h S aw you my darl ing a fin e d ay by
,
u vaca to mo vawbawn law bry aw herself ,
’
s i n a h ac u ar —
,
see us. h -
a n ur
y
A c fil du alach , dris -
lean ach , go sli nn e an H er twining hair shimmering down to
u coo ll dooallach dreesh -layn ach shleenawn
gu her shoulders
sios leithe
sh ees le h a
-

’
Mil ar an (Sig bh ean ,
-
s ros breag h na S weet i s the mai d en a fine eye in her,
meel ayr rm o g -van
’
s ros b rya na face ,
h - e ad e n ,
b ay din
’
S as doith 1e gach sp ri o san gur lean an And every brat fancies th at sh e is his
sas do lay g ach spreesawn g ur lyann awn o wn love !
leas féin i !
laysh f ayu cc

A bh -
facadh tri
’

mo sp é i rbh e an
’
s i taobh Saw you my splendid woman by the ,
u vaca to o mo sp ayrvan see tay v side o f the waves ,
leis an toi n n ,
l ays an tuy n

Fai nn idh e 6ir ar a m éarai bh s i ré i dh tiach

’
Gold rings on her fingers and she ,
{8 860 7 9 Oir may? “ see mytyach smoothing her hair ?
a cinn ?
u keen
Is é dfibh airt an P ao rach bh i dh
’
na Said Power who ,
was captain of the
is e doort an p ra
u-
ch v ec *
na ship ,

mh ao r ar an loing , \
t
vu-r ayr an luyn g

Go m f hearr leis e ige féin i na E ire gan He would rather possess her th an
’

133811 37?
.

fayn gm
.

€11 ee ‘1 3 undivi ded E ri n !

ro i n n !
m

”
The dance as well as words to the anci ent tune of G illidh Callum are
assumed by a witty h ard to have been danced and sung by Father Noah when ,

firét hilarious under the inspiring e ff ects o f hi s succe ssful distill ation from the
fruits of his newly plante d vi neyard G illi dh Callum w as the name o f No ah s .
’

piper and the tune h as with great propriety continued to be c al led after him
, , ,
.

The dance see ms originally to have been over two crossed vine plants
but sword s be i ng o f old more abundant plants in S cotl and than vines th e
, ,

Highlanders considere d the former good sub stitutes for the latter ; a n d indeed , ,

the object of the dance bein g as the verses i mply to furnish a metho d whereby
’

, ,
 22 4 TH E MUSIC
a gentleman in h is cups may be disti nguished from a boor dead drunk the ,

swords seem to be if not th e more appropriate at least the sharp e st test of

,
,

the two .

G I L L I DH C ALL U M .

B
inn mi
mi fi -on
fion a brig h g h allai n ,
bri
'
I have made wine from the j uice of
ri nn a
g h al lai n pl ants
Dh -
fhas an lios n an do ssai n fh allai n That grew in the orchard of wholesom e
d
.

yas an lis all-a n

n an oes - s
y n
y cluste rs ,

’
C aite a bh e il u G h illi dh C h allum Where art thou Gillie Callum ? ,
cay té a bh eyl u i lli ch all am
ch lai dh eam h
’
Nuas da s seid a p h i o b ! Down with two swords and blow up
s sey d a fi o b
,
n u- as da chlay cv
’ ’
th e pip e !
- -

Ged a mh o i dh e adh Dil e eile , Though another Deluge should threat

ged
’
a vo
y
-
e dil ey le
en ,

Co ach leabadan a th e i readh , Who but a poltroon would assert

co ach lebadan a y re he ’

Nach di an fio n e ag al is c eo l gach Th at wine and music cannot send

n ach den fi o n is cc ol g ac eg al - - -

Bron is teag abh ch uir do n chill !

’

, , Sorro w fear and doubt to the cell

, , .

brou is teg av ch ayr don chill -

P h ad se m h aireas dossain m h earradh , While the mi rth m aking clusters last, -

ad sa vy a res d oss ay n -
v erra ’

O ladh mid deoch slai n t ai r lean n ai n ;

-
L et us d i k healths to r n o ur swe e t
o la
'
m id de-oc h slay n t -
ay r l enn -
s yn he arts ,

N uas da ch lai dh e amh c ruaidh le dean n aibh ,

Down quickly with two sharp swords ,
n u as da c hlay c v le den sy v
- ’- ’
cru ay - -

Is seid g u smi o rail suas i ph i o b —

. And with sp irit blow
, , up the pipe !
is sey d gu smir ayl sus i fi oh - - -

G leus an f hidh le , sli ch am bog h adh , Tune the fiddle rosin the bow , ,

ys an i el sleeb am bo a
gle
’ -’ ’- ’

’
Bro n is tui readh c ui rem f o dh adh ; We ll put down grief and wailing ;
brou is tuy re c uy r em fo a ’ -
’- ’

0 na rinn mi fi o n a bhle a dh an ,
Since I have distilled wine ,

0 na ri n n mi fi -
on a vle o - ’-
an

mh i an n !
’
Damh sa is m eadh ail s i ad mo Dancing and stirring joys are my de
dv
a en is me ayl -
’
s iad mo vi -ann light !

Bh u ai n an diblidh , spideil ,
ai n eamh , Henc e thou helpless and contemptible
vu ay n
-
an dib li -
’
sp i d -
eyl ayn -ev lump ,
’
B hi th e as air eloie m easg o il is ai g h ear ; That S prawle st mid drink and mer
vi
'
-s ayr sloy c mesg oy l is ay
’
-sr
riment ;
Am fear a dh am h sas G illi dh Callam ,
He who ( when in his cu ps) can dance
am fer a y av- sas g i lli e call um Gillie Callum ,

Se m h ai n is ai ridh ai r a n fhion . I s alone worthy o f the wine .

se vay n is a riy ’
ayr an i - on
226 TH E MU S IC
but in questions of discipline too i n fl exible Duk e he the more readily b eli e ved i n
, , ,

th e d e moraliz e d condition of th e regime n t f or th e cu nn i n g c aptain studiously ,

—

con c ealed from h i m the fact th at the whole regiment exc epti n g a fe w m e n of hi s
, ,

o w n comp an y we re inn oc e nt, M acdon al d w as dismiss e d th e s e rvice without

.
,

h aving be en allowe d the b e n efit of a cou rt of inqui ry o r a cou rt m arti al ! His -

friends the Hon General Sir Willi am S t e w art Gene ral Byn g (afte rwards Lord
.
, ,

S traflord) an d oth e rs prev a iled o n Colonel M acdonald to return to E n gl an d to re

, ,

cover his he alth befor e h e kn e w th at he w as regarded by th e Duke othe rwise

,

th an as on e of his most distinguish e d offi c e rs ; but o n his r etu rn ho me seeing his , ,

n am e in th e Gazette along with th at o f anoth er ofli c er o f the s am e rank dis

,

miss ed for cowardic e his re ason was upset : he flung himself ou t o f the window
, ,

an d w as killed o n the spot ! T h e Duk e discover e d th at the report on which he

u nf ortu n at e ly p roceeded in this c a se w as substa nti ally false an d th e Colo n e l s
’

survivi n g broth er was concili ated and comp e nsate d by the pric e o f Colo n el
’
M acdon ald s commission but such w as the sad fate of o n e o f the most hum ane
and g all ant officers o f th e Peninsul ar army .

The desperate soub riquet of the 5 7th Regiment arose from th e followi n g
circumstance It occupied the key o f the position in th e u n scie n tific b attl e of
.

Albuera under the comm and o f Colonel Inglis a noble Bord er m an It being
, ,
.

o f importance th at they should fi rmly keep thei r g rou n d the o n ly words u tte red ,

”
by the colon el during the whole day w as Ste ady men ke e p your pl aces , , .

Strange to say he sat in their front o n horseb ack from the begi n ning until
,

ne arly the close o f the fi e rce conflict without g e tti n g a si n gl e scratch although, ,

every other o fli c er in th e regiment excepti n g o n e w as kill e d o r wounded an d

, , ,

although so striking w as the line formed by th e bodies o f the de ad as to c ause

, ,

eve ry m an to be buried where he fell ! The position occupi e d by th e regiment

w as thus m ark e d by a long green mound which w as th e obj ect o f pilg rim ages to ,

all the British o ffi c e rs joining the a rmy o f the P e nin sul a for ye ars afterwards Th e .

colonel w as at l ength struck down j ust as a strong an d fre sh column was com ,

i n g up to drive the sm all remn ant of his m e n from th e i r position But inst ead .
,

o f w aiting to receive th e ch arg e the br ave fellows freed from rest raint by the
, ,

fall o f th eir colonel gave three exulting che e rs an d rushi n g p ast h i m at the
, ,

ch arge scattered the advancing column to the winds The colon el fe ebly w aved
,
“
his hat as they passed h im an d excl aimed Well done my l ads you ll die h ard
, , , ,
’

”
at any rate Hence the soubriquet
. .

T he a uthor the following poem o n the b attl e o f Killi e crankie Ron ald
of , ,

so n o f All an o f A ch atri ach aden w as the fath e r of D o m h n ull M ac R ao n u i ll my

, ,

m aternal grandfather H e w as a disti n guished w arrio r in th e w ars of Montrose

.

and Dundee an d is known i n the traditions r el ativ e to th e s e wars as R ao n ull

,

” “ ”
n a S g ei dh th at i s
,
Ron ald o f the Shi eld a soub riquet ari sing from a c i r
, ,

c u m stan ce which is thus rel ated by tra dition

A n E nglish dragoon who h ad been t aken p riso n e r on discovering th at th e ,

Highl anders had not b e en trained to u se the sword without the ta rget d e sp ise d ,
’
their swor d manship He said in Ronald s presence that if he had n o t been a
.
, ,
 or TH E H I G H L A ND CLANS . 22 7
’
prisoner h e would fight the best Highl ander in Montrose s army with the sword
,
“ ”
alone ag ainst sword an d target
,
Man excl aimed Ron ald indign antly do .
, , ,

you thi n k an y Highl ander would tak e such an adv ant ag e in fighting you ? I
h ave n ot be en t aught to use the swo rd without a t arge t but I will fight y o u di rk ,

an d targ e t ag ainst your sword which puts the advantag e o n you r sid e ,
Your .

being a prisoner ne e d not d e ter you for I pl e dge my honou r if you b e at m e , , ,

”
th at you will not only be held scaithless but set at liberty G e t me a p romise ,
.

” “
to that e ff e ct from the Ge n e ral s aid the d ragoon joyously an d o ur w ag e r
, , ,

” “ ”
of battle is complete Mont rose is a disciplinari an s aid Ro n ald ; but if
.
,

y o u beat m e th e re is not
,
a M acdonald n o w p resent or in the royal army who , ,
”
will not feel himself bound in honour to make my pledge good The E n glish .

man kn ew the one n ess of cl an faith an d feeling an d was s atisfied But the ,
.

instant the m en stood re ady for actio n th ey were interrupted by the sudd e n ,

app earanc e o f Ai llei n d ubh n a fi a d/z the celebrated Daln es de e r st al ke r who ,

-
,

h earing o f the duel hasten e d to take the pl ace of Ron ald an d fight the E nglish
, ,

man on equ al term s The dee r stalker was next to A li sdair M ac Coll a
.
-
, ,
’
r e put e d to be th e best swordsm an in Montrose s army Ron ald refused to .

allo w any man to t ake his wager o f b attle out o f his o wn h ands ; o n which
’ ’
All an said to him in G aelic S fhe ar an clai dh e am h g u mor n a bh i o dag s
, , ,
” ’

(the
’
an targ ai d G abh mo c h o mh airle o i r cha n eil fio s a dh ei res dh u i t ;
.
,
- —

s word is much better th an th e dirk an d target Take my advice o r there is .

,
”
no k n owi n g wha t m ay h appen to you ) Cha n eil re plied Ron ald sternly .
-
, , ,

fios de a dh ei res dh o m h sadh ach ei ri dh an diol fhein dh asadh

-
, (no th e re —
,

is no knowing wh at m ay hap pe n to me but the ve ry devil will h app e n to him ) ,

.

The dragoon did not gai n his liberty but Ron ald gained his traditionally ,

celeb rated soubriquet R ao n ull na S g eidh , .

The extraordin ary feats o f valour ascribed by Mr N apier in the life o f ,

Montrose to a Ron ald M aclean o f Mull are ascrib e d i n Gle ncoe tradition to
, ,

R aon ull na S g eidh It is not uncommon howeve r in tradition to find the deeds
.
, ,

done by on e m an and in o n e locality ascribed to another man an d in another

, , ,

locality H e nce although the facts stated i n t radition m ay be depended o n

.
, ,

perso n s loc alities an d d at e s are often confounded

, ,
I would be very sorry .
,

there fore o n merely tradition al evid e nce to claim cre dit fo r my ancestor for
, ,

the w arlike deeds ascrib e d to any of his brave companions in arms but I firmly
believe that the history is wro n g an d the traditio n right in this c ase for I , ,
—

he ard every o n e o f th e fe ats ascribed by the historian to Ronald Maclean ,

a sc ribed to R aon u ll n a S g e idh o r Ron ald o f the Shi e ld by traditio n at le a st

, , ,
’
fifty y e ars b efore M r N api er s history o f Montrose was written With m e the .

n ame of the hero also goes far to prove the tradition to be more reliable in thi s ,

c ase th an history for Ronald is a very common Macdon ald name but a very
, ,
—
,

uncommon o n e for a Maclean .

I re gret giving broken extracts of this poem but cannot aff ord space for ,

the whol e .
 2 28 TH E M U SIC

LAT E A R A O NR U A R I .

Se lath adh R aon ruaridh , Cha b ann leis na c laidh ean

-
,
se Ia ’-
a
’
rao u -ru -a- ri
'
ch a b ann l eys n a cl ay en ’-

Dh fh ag luai m h n each
-
m o dh usg adh ,
F h ui r a ir h arm u in an le o n adh -
,

y ag lu- ay v- n e h c mo us
y g a
-
’
h uy r ay r h arm - uyn an ls -
on a -
’

Mo thuit do ch lan n Dh o mh n uill,

’
na Ach gun d roi n n e an c u m ail,
mo na h uy t do c hlan n y o v -n u ll
y ach g un droy n n e an c u m - ayl

le le o n adh
’
S ch a b -
an n n an o ul- th ao bh , Gun dol du i n n e al so c h o i m h rai
g
s b an n 1e le o n a n an
ch a - -
’
oul -h ao v g un dol duy n n el so ch o v ayg -
r

’
T hug sinn m ach an ratreuta , S m airg a Ch un n ai c na su igh ean ,
h ug si n n mach an t a t ey ta -
r s m ayrg a c h un ayc na suy
'-
en

Ch o i si n ce i tibh le di ubha il, A n i org ail na doirin ,

c h oy si n cey t-i v le di - u -vayl an y l n a doy i n

L or g a - -
r

’
th earn adh g u Ga n Sp ad a 1e lu ai th e
’
S ged a leir sinn , ,
s
g ed a he
'
-
ar -n
a gu l ey r si n n
g an pad a le ln ay s - ’

’
Bha bas Ch le ibh i r ri c h u n n tas . S gun ti lig e adh buach aille bho i
va bas chley v -i r ri c h an tas s g un il
t ge-
’
bu - ach -ayllé vo i

A n le og h an urramach ri o g h ail, Gur e m h eu daich mo c h amp ar,

an le -
’
o -au u rram- ach ri -y ayl gu r e v ey d- a ych mo ch e m par -

N ach d ro i n n fhi rin a mh uth adh

’

,
A li uth ad b an n trach
’
tha m dh u th i ch ,
n ach t ch
' ’
droy n ir i a vu a n -
nn -
a li -u ’ - a d ban - ra ha m yu
'
- ich

Chum d aingean a dh ilse ach d , Agus o g an ac h treu bh acb,

ch m dayn g e a y il seo
u -
n -
agus o g an ach t ey vach r -

G a righ is g a dh u th ai ch ; N ac h te i d o i bh ach am p usadh ,

na c h
g a ri yu aych tey d eyv ach am
'
i s ga
’ ’-
pusa
-

C h a ( 1 thug or ai r n a eag al
’
, Thuit le lu ai th e san am ad ,

al
'
ch a (1 u
g o a r na
y eg r h uy t 1e ln -
ay san am ad

Gun seasai bh ri ch u mh n an t ,
B u aladh l ann m ar bu du dh ai bh ,
gu n ses s y v -
ri ch uvn an t bu -
al a -
’
l ann m ar bu da y ay v
ged a thuit e le omai r Sud an c lu i c h e adh bh a
’
S , c ailte ach ,
s g ed a h uy t e lo o u -ay r su d an cluyc h e
’
va cay ltech
’
S i ad ai g
’
Be mi shon as —
na cuis e ! radh gu m bu bh u ai dh e!
' ’
be mi h on as
- na cuys e s i -
ad ayg ra
gu m bu vu ay -
'
e

G ai sg each garg an am cru adail, A th i g h earn oig G hlin n e i dh ,

g ri
a
-

gaysg
-
ec h g arg an am cru a - -
d ay l a hi ’-
ern oyg yli n n e g a
- y ri
'

C ean n ard slu aig h ann an te ug bh ail L u idh smal air do sh uig radh ,
smal a r do
'
oen n ard slu ay -
an n an teyg -
vayl luy ’
y h ug ra - ’

’
Ge b f h uileach
-
bu bh aig h eal e ,
S m o r do ch all 1e righ Seum as ,

ge buyl -
ech bu vay -
y el e S mor do ch all 1e ri seym as
’

’
T o irt tl as dh oibh i s reidhlein ; S g oi rt a le i re adh n a chuis u ;
toyrt t las y o y v is rey le n
y
'
-
s g oy rt a l eyre n a ch uye u '

’
S e n ach c uireadh ri b all i ad
’
,
Bha Dom h n ull gorm g aolach ,

n ac h ball i ad dovn ul g orm gaol ach

'
se c uy e ri r - - va -

S f h uil c h raobh ach a bruch dadh

’ ’ ’
T o i rt tac ar a n ei g i nn , ,
toyrt t acar a n eyg in n ’ -
s uyl ch rao v ach a bru ca -
'

S e i g i n f h u lang n a th ai nig
’
Dh innis lath a Dhun ch aillean
- -
, ,
s cy w u l an h ayni g
'
un - ch a
y in n is la yllen
’
a g na
y
-

N ach r0 an am sa an c reu bh ai g . Dh f h albh do bh rath air na u r fhas

- -
.

n ach an am sa an crey yolv do ’

to - -
vayg vra -
ayr na ur-as
 2 30 TH E MUSIC
B u t, ah , th o u g h a ll h ad
’
sc ap e d ,
i
s n ce W e ll m ay we si n g h is d d ee s, h i s p ea n
C la v e rs f e ll, s w e ll ,

O ur m u c h w ro n g e -
d ki n
g m ay bi d h is F o r, wh en h e f e ll , l
a as, h is c o u n try f e ll
t h ro n e f are we ll .

C o u rt e ou s th o u gh fi e rce
,
i n fl e xib le t h o u g h
I n g l o ry s p at h , with
’
faith u n s tai n
’
d he k in d ,

mo v e , d T h e c h i ef an d f ri en d i n h i m w e re w e l l
He sp urn
’
d am b iti o n —
l o ve of gol d be c o m bi n e d .

p ro ve d N o t rem o rs sh o o k h i s s o u l y e t h e e ss aye d ,

B en e ath h i s t h ou g h ts U n d au n te d t h o ug h .
,
T o st o rm n o ram p arts si m p l y with th e
al o n e ,
bl ad e .

H e f ac e d reb e lli o n an d su st ai n e d th e A n d si n ce h i s f all w e see th at e e n th e G ael

’

, , ,

t h ro n e . B y ty ro s le d m ay fi gh t with o u t av ai l
, .

I n m an h o o d s c al m n e ss as i n ferv i d yo u t h A l as wh il e stan di n g at th e h e ro s t o m b
’ ’

, , ,

O n e p at h was h i s th e p ath o f l o y al t ruth —

. I f ee l th e c aus e h e l o v e d m u st s h are h i s d o o m .

’
The foregoi n g ve rses be ar su ffici e nt evidence o f Ronald M ac A i lean s
devotion to an d admi ration o f Cl ave rhouse ; but while condemni n g the absu rd
, ,

a ttack o n the fortifi e d position o f the Cameroni ans at Dunk e ld by General , ,

Can n in without either artill ery or scali n g ladders (refe rre d to in the above
, ,

verse ) he rem arks cle arly enou gh on the i njudicious conduct o f Clav e rhouse
, ,

in marching the cl ans at a funeral p ac e instead o f in their usu al w ay to attack , ,

the Whigs at Killi e crankie by him called R ao n ru ari He then details the , .

heavy loss sustained by the clans i n consequence of this mistake but I overlook ,

these verses as no lo n g e r inte resting to the gene ral reade r

, .

’
Tw sa n ot th e g all an t pl ay of k ee n -
e d g d Wil l b l d ly
e o ai m at h i m , wh o , st an di n g
b ran d s still ,

T h at spre a d d estructi o n t h roug h th e l oyal P res en ts a sto li d m ark agai n st th e hi ll ;

b an d s . B ut wh en th e warri o r d raws h i s fal ch i o n
F rom li n e s o u tflan k ed wh at h ave th e b righ t ,

cl an s to fe ar ? A n d ru sh e s o n h i m li k e a fl as h o f li g h t ,

S h ow th e m th e f o e an d gi v e t h e m f ul l T e rro r th e c ai tifl s c o ward h e art o e r

,
” ’

c areer po wers ,

T o righ t to l e ft l i k e li gh tn i n g s fl ash H is arm re l ax es an d h i s spi rit c o we rs

’

, , , ,

th ey turn ,

R ushi n g t h ro u gh vo ll eye d fl am e s with ,

sc ait h l e ss sc orn Y ou n g c h i e f t ai n o f G l en g arry c l o u d s ,

T he ir flash i n g bl ad es m o n g se rrie d ran k s d escen d

’

t h ey w i e l d ,
Deep o e r th y l a n d T h o u sc arce art ’
.

T ill e v ery f o e is sl ain o r fle d th e fi e l d l e ft o n e f ri e n d .

T h y Do n al d g o rm is s l ai n th e k i n d —

W h y sh o ul d th e i r l ead ers m en li k e th ese th e g o o d

re st rai n ,
A n d th y great b ro th erwelters i n h i s bl oo d .

W h il e i ro n sh owers c o m e s co u ri n g o er th e L i k e a t all o ak u pro o t e d by th e sto rm ’

, ,

l ai n T h e fi e l d h e g rac e s wit h h i s warli k e fo rm

p .

T h e g ap i n g h i n d wh o d ri v e s hi s t e am afi e l d H e fe l l n o t u n av e n ge d am o n g th e d e ad ,

A lth o u g h th e warl i k e swo rd h e d are n o t B ut wh o will fi g h t th e b attl e i n h i s

wi e l d ,
stea d ?
 OF TH E HIG HLAN D CLAN S . 231

P ru d t y t f vi d ; c t i s y t b l d
en ,
e er au ou ,
e o ,
C h i ef of th e C am ero n s , c o l th e d wi th
He fi d h i l m y t th i fi
re s c an s en , e e r re e ar ly f am e ,

t ll d ;
c o n ro e W h o c an th y d e e d s rec o rd, th y l o ss es n am e
Bu t h th d
,
a g th t h
,
d th i
e an er a as c au se e r W h e n o th ers ch an g e d th ei r f e alty t h o u , ,

g ri e f alo n e ,

H e n e v er saw —
d
th e an g e r o f th e i r c h i ef S t o o d by th y c o u n try s c au s e, th y c o u n try s ’ ’

M il d as a ma id fi ,
e rc e as a b e a c o n s
’
t h ro n e .

fl am e , Th e b att le s o f th ree k i n gs h ave s e e n th y

We ll h as h e e arn e d ,
an d we ll su st ai n ed st ee l ,

h i s f ame . B u t wh o f o r ro y al f avo u rs s aw th ee k n ee l ?
A n d m u st we m o u rn t h at t h u s h i s bri g h t T h y c o u n t ry s we al th y c lan sm en s p ro u d
’ ’
,

c areer re
g ar d ,

Too s oo n w as cl o se d b ec au s e —
he k n ew W ere all th o u s ou g h t st
’
of g l o ry or

n ot fe ar re ward

A l as, th e tu mu lt ,
an d th e cl o si n g n i g ht ,
A l as ! th e S tu art ch i eft ai n s h av e b een
C o n c e al e d th e o e r- m a c h e
’
t d h ere f ro m t au g h t
si gh t
th e l e ad ers d estitut e o f th ou g h t ;
T h e c u rs e o f
O f m an y cl an s m en swift an d stro n g a n d F o r at Du n k e l d gai n st foe s th at lu rk e d
’

, , ,

b ra v e ,
u n s een

Th at wo uld o pp o se th e ir h e arts h i s life B eh i n d sto n e wall s wh at v ail e d th ei r ,

’

t o sav e b ro ad swo rd s k een

-

C u rs e d b e th e w ars t h at cl o th e t h e m L o n g st o o d th ey d au n tl ess m id th e
’

, ,

s e l ve s i n sh a d e s ! i ron bl ast ,

C l an s o f m y l o v e l e t d ayli g ht se e yo u r ,
W h il e rou n d t h em fel l t h e i r cl an sm en
bl ad es th ic k an d f ast .

W h e n to yo ur c o u n t ry s b attl e s y o u W h o will th e t al e o f wo e i n A ppi n t e ll

’

d escen d ; A n d n am e th e h e ro e s t h at so va i n ly
N i g h t i s th e h ero s f o e th e c o w ard s f e ll ?
’ ’
,

fri en d .

On ru s h e d th l s e c an ,
wh o n e er
’
to fo e m an A n d y ou , my l
c an sm e n of th e Ab ri s n
yi l d
e , b raes ,

Th e W h i g li n g s c h asi n g o e r th e d ark ’
S on s of th e sw r o d ,
reh e ars e r s of w il d
en i n g fi e l d . l ays
W h at sh ri ek s o f t error war cri es sh o u t e d ,
-
Y ou , l s so l o n g i n b attl e tri e d
to o , a a , ,

w il d S to o d bo l d ly forward by you r k i n sm an s ’
,

S tartl e d th e h ills as th ro ug h th e p ass si d e ,

t h ey to il d ! ’
A n d f e l l i n ran k s No m ore th e vo i ce .

W i n g e d o n p al e fe ar th ey fle d th ey fl ed , ,
of
jo y
a m ai n S h al l w ak e th e gl en s o f S p é an an d o f Roy,
,

A n d c arn ag e g l o at e d o er h er th o us an d s ’
T o m ee t yo u r st ep s n o m o re th e c h aste
sl ai n ! an d fair

B u t ah will c arn age qu e n c h th e wi d ow s

, ,
’
Th e f e as t an d so n g to w e l c o m e y o u , ,

sigh , prep are

O r wip e th e t ear fro m th e p al e o rph an s
’
Fo r at Du n keld n ow slumb er i n th e gr ave
, , ,

ey e ? T h e ki n d th e tru e th e n obl e an d th e b rav e

, , , .
 2 32 TH E M USIC
These two last v e rses an d the verse previ ously mentioned refer to the , ,

mad attack o f Ge n eral Can n in on the fortified position of th e C amero n i ans at

Dunke ld without artill e ry o r scali n g l adde rs The failure o f this ridiculous
,
-
.

atta ck of the imbecile Ca nn i n is l argely bo a sted o f by the W higs which shows ,

—

how h ard up they were fo r a triumph over th e Highl and e rs

-

I regret th at I cannot quote a few more vers e s o f the original o f this very
spirited y e t exceedingly cl annish an d feeling po e m as the i mit atio n does not ,

take it connectedly ev e n v e rse for v e rse ; but as Ron ald o f the Shield then ,

an old man w as one of the victims o f the Mass ac re o f Gl enco e I think the
,
*
,

reade r m ay feel more interested in the following imitation of the Isle o f Muck
bard s l ament on that subject ? It is a true imit ation an d corroborates wh at has
’

e lsewher e b e en st ated as to the abs e nce o f a vindictive or reve n geful spirit from

all poetry th at do e s a n ythi n g like j ustice to th e deep feeli n g but c alm dignity ,

o f the ancient G ael i n his hours of sor ro w and indign ation We have here no , .

fl aming roofs or e agles scre ami n g ove r the he arts o f the atrocious perpetrators
o f the Massacre even o f Glencoe But the ve ry nobl e st an d most gen e rous .

feud alist could n ot eve n im agi n e anythi n g so m agn animous as the Highl and
cl ans when most d ee ply su ff ering u n der t h e t re achery an d cru elty of their
enemies The origin al will be found i n eve ry collection of G aelic poetry
. .

MASSAC R E O F G L E NC O E THE .

G o d wh o s e go sp e l re v e al e t h
,
H ad t h ey k n o wn wh en th e st ran g e r , ,

A s th y c h i ld ren m ay d aily b e h o l d T h ey w e lc o m e d an d h ai le d as a f ri e n d , , ,

T ru th b en ev o le n ce m ercy
,
T h at th eir h om e s were i n d an g er
, ,

I n l e s so n s afl e c ti n g ly t o l d ; T h at am o n g th e m h e c am e to th is e n d
'

I n th e i r st rait b e T h o u ai d i n g H ad th e y arm e d an d b e e n w at ch f u l
, ,

T o th e g oo d an d th e b ra v e o f th e F i erce an d st ern as th e c o n fli c t m igh t be ,

gl e n ,
T h e i r defeat I w o u l d qu esti o n ,

B rou gh t to gri e f an d d esp ai ri n g T h ou g h th e i r f o esm e n w e re t wen ty to ,

B y a t re ac h ery rare am o n g m en th re e . .

O n th e i r ph an s l oo k k i n d ly
or T was n o t by ge n i u s an d v al o u r ,
’

W h o h ave ever b een k i n d ly an d t rue T h e b an d o f m y h e art h av e b ee n sl ai n , ,

W h o co u l d n o t i n b ase n ess B u t by b o ors i n au g h t m e n t al

, , ,

E en t rait o rs an d reb e l s pursu e M o re t h an m at c h e d by th e t e am i n th e i r

’

T h ou g h un yi e l d i n g an d d e ad ly w ai n ,

W h en th e i r co un t ry d e m an d e d th e i r B u t to bl o o d sh e d app ren ti c e d ,

st ee l An d to tre ac h ry an d c ru e lty t rai n e d

’

, ,

T o h u m an ity faith fu l T h ey sto l e o n th e i r vi cti m s

,

F o r th e fo e s th ey h ad sl ai n th ey c oul d W h en by sl ee p all t h e i r s e n ses were

f ee l . c h ai n e d .

A m g th i g l
it on c p f m th m c w th t f th tw li tt l b y f R l d f th
e s n u ar e s a es ro e as sa re , as a o e o e o s o on a o e

Sh i ld D ld d A l x d wh h d t l
e , on a w y f w d y p vi
an ly f t
e an v t f m Gl l hy
e r, o a s o en a a a e a s re ous , a e r a se r an ro en o c ,

t vi i t t h i
o s t w h w m i d t C m p b ll f A h i h D l d h i t f d h i f th
e r au n ,
o as a rr e o a e o c ar a c . on a , on s re u rn , oun s a er

m d ur d d hi h m b d d w
e re , an d d l t T h cc di g p g w il l h w th t h w b th
s o e u rn e o n an e so a e . e su ee n a es s o a e as o

pi it d d p ti c y t w h did h l v b h i d li v b th i g h t d v g g i t
s r e an oe e ere e ea e e n a n e or e rs e re a n a re o r re en e a a ns

th E g li h
e v g i t th p p t t f th i t ch
n s , or e en a d i h m m
a ns c ? B t ch w i ll
e e r e ra o rs o s rea e ro u s an n u an assa re u su

b f e d b y th
oun d f G l i c p et y to h v b th ni f ml y dig ifi d d f b i g ch ct f
e re a er o ae o r a e e en e u or n e an o r e ar n ara er o

th ci t G l
e an en ae .
2 34 TH E MUSIC
By gifts o f th e h e ro
th e , Th r e e stran ger fou n d we lco me
th e ,

A n d g en tl em an e arly e n d owe d , Th ere th e soul sti rri n

g m i n st rels were
-

H e f o r w is d o m an d e l o qu en c e
, , pri z e d ;
S h o n e m on g h i s rac e lik e a go d
’
T h e re th e u a i s la i n * woul d gath er ;
C au sti c wit h e t h o u gh t p altry , T h ere n on e bu t th e base were d espise d .

C o m m o n s e n s e w as h i s f o rte an d h i s
pl e a , On th e ch e s s b o ard -
an d taili sg ,
A n d w it h th at f or his cou n t ry M i m icwarfare th ey pl ayfu lly tri e d ,

H e en list e d th e brave an d th e fre e . Th e chi e f t ai n s k i n d h eart e d ,

W h o i n d e xte ro us m ove men ts t o o k

H e w as t all an d u n equ all e d
,
pri d e
F o r ful n e ss an d b e au ty of form , No t wit h vi ews o f agg res si on ,

A n d wh e n b attl e cl o s e d ro u n d h i m , T o su bj u g at e rul e an d e n t h ral , , ,

S eem e d g rowi n g i n h ei g h t m i d st i ts B u t to fit t h em f o r ac ti o n
st orm . W h en th e ir k i n g an d th e i r c o u n t ry
T h ere h i s great so ul e xult e d sh oul d c all .

T h e re h i s arm e xten d e d th e ri n g ,

P ro u d ly d eem i n g h i s b ro a d swo rd s G o d , wh o ign e st an d rul e st

re

C ou l d righ t all th e wro n gs o f h i s F ro m T h y th ro n e o f pure wisdom above .

k in g . De ign to l oo k o n ou r p e o pl e
I n th e spirit o f m ercy an d l o ve ,

On h o m ew ar d tu i g
re rn n ,
T o co m pos e th e i r d ire f acti o n s ,

Th e d s we re th ro wn o pen an d wi d e
oo r A n d gran t t h at o u r ch il d ren m ay see
In th at m an si on o f pl en ty Th e i r so ve reign resto re d ,
’
T was h i s jo y o er th e feast to presi d e ;
’
A n d his go vern m e n t n ative an d f re e .

Ronald o f the Shield was w ith that H ighland army who defended Worcester
against ten times thei r number ; so g allantly as to m ake even their enemies ,

according to the Memoirs of Dundee al ready quoted regret their su ff erings and , ,

the king himself at length to order them to retreat Ronald w as confined to .

’
the house su ff ering from a severe wound when the news o f the kin g s execution
, ,

w as bro u ght to him by a friend O n this occasion he wrote what is called .

,
”
Cumh adh Righ T earlach L ament for King Ch arles which I he ard often
,
—
,
—

sung w hen I was a boy ; but I remember only a few words of it It was i n .

the form o f a di alogue between Don ald who brought the news and Ron al d , , ,

whose responses to the best o f my re collection more resembled bursts of

, ,
”
patriotic regret and passionate d enunci ation o f the m erciless Whigs than ,

l amentation s for the dec apitated ki n g It was sung to an air known in the .

Lowlands und e r the name of W h a s at the window wha wha

“ ”
The ’
, , .

repetition of the l ast line o f e ach verse indicates i ts pedigree however and i s , ,

a pendicle of the evidence on which I lay cl aim to it as a Highland melody ,

as such repe titions in verses o f three o r four lines are alm ost invariable in
, ,

9‘ D c t
e s en l y m k f i t c cy m g th H ig h l d
f ro m th e f o un d er o f th e cl an w as th e on ar o ar s o ra a on e an e rs .

A ll cl m w h p di g w g i w c ll d
an s en , o se e i l ire e
g tl masd wh ff d ty
en u n e, e re a e ua s a n ,
"
or en e en , an en o u ,

as soci t d w i th th i chi f d ch i ft i
a e q
e rl t m T h di t c b tw th m w i f ti
e s an e a n s on e ua er s
. e s an e e ee n e no s o ar

fi i l f d l d c t th p t i ch l b i g th
c a eu a es en t l d G d pp vi g y t m f g v m t
, e a r ar a e n e n a u ra aa o -a ro n s s e o o ern en .
 or TH E H I G H L A ND CLANS . 2 35

Highland (the repeated line o r lines being sung by the audien ce ) but not in ,

Lowland poetry The following verses to the same air are u nworthy o f their
.

august subject ; but I have seen no demonstration by the G aelic muse on a de ath
w h ich h as been universal ly felt as a n ational calamity I unfeigne d ly repeat .
,

that the following verses are unworthy of the subject ; but to some they may ,

pe rhaps appear at l e ast curious as w ritten by the gre at grandson of Ronald ,

-

o f the Shield thus showing h o w thoroughly the loyalty o f the ad herents o f the
,

House of Stuart h as been n o t only transferred but if possibl e inte n sified into , , ,

ardent devotion to the present dynasty For although I am myself descended .

both mate rnally and p aternally from Campbells and Macdonalds who adhered ,

to the Stuart family to the very l ast extremity o n e o f my father s brothers and
’

, ,

three o f my mother s as well as myself served in the army of the present ’

, ,

dynasty .

L AM E NT F OR P R INC E AL BE R T .

A IB . C u mh a dh R igh T earlac h a h -A o n —
o r, L am en tf or Ch l ar e s th e Fi t rs .

An c ualadh sib b sg e u la an le i ri dh sa Heard ye the news of grief an d p ain ,

an cu al a - -
'
si v sgeyla an l ey r i -
’
sa

ch rai g h ,
c h ra y ’

Chui t an ri o g h ach d f 0 bh ron o sen ir That has put the country in mourning
m y?
'
c h uy r an ri -
3° ‘0 W 0 11 0 from the peaks of the mountains
mhor -
bh ean n g u trai g h ? to the shores

Dh fh albh Pri on n sa bha sai bh ir an

-
cal aiu Gone is a Prince th at was rich in
i O11 M ?! V3 M V -i r an 8 1- 37 11 science and various knowledge ;
! Y
-
V
’
8 an i uil,
san i -
u
yl
’
’
S th e Bhan righ a -
c umh adh s an deur And the Q ueen i s lamenting with the
’
3 ha v an ri - ’
a cu va -
’
sa n dey r tear i n h er eye .

’
na suil .
—
S tha etc , . And etc ,
.

na enyl

Dh -aom nial air an sug radh , le dubh radh A cloud descended on their happiness ,

n i al ay l an g m ‘8 duv
' '
yao m
'
‘
su ' -
ta with merciless darkness ,
’
gu n bh ai dh ,
’
g un v ay

An talla mor di omh ai r teagh lach ri o g h ail In the sacred m ansion of our belov e d
an tal la mor di vayr te l ach - -
ri -y a
yl Roya l Family ;
ai r h rai dh
g
am)
"
arr

A sm al an t-ath air, an ceile ,

’
m flath It h as put out the light of the father ,

l an eeyl é the husband the generous chief

’
a sma ta
’-
ayr an -
m fla ’

, ,
’
feile s , an soidh , the worthy ,

Dh f hag - do n Bhan righ suil

’
— —
dh euradh , And left to the Queen a tearful ey e ,

don a sore heart and lamentatio n

’
'
V an ri
yag
-

cri dh e le ire adh , i s co i dh .— Dh -f h ag , etc . And etc ,

.

cri
’-
é leyr e -
'
is coy
’
2 36 TH E MUSIC
Bh a Bh an righ
’
am P ri o n n sa
’
—
s san The Q u ee n and th e Princ e we re tu
’
sam
’ '

te lary (sp iri ts)

va -
van ri
p n o n n -
sa san
.
i n their country ,
d uth aI ch m ar aI g h ,
da
’
-
ych
a mar a
y
'

Nan buaI dh e an , n an c o m h radh , n an In their vi rtu e s th e i r c onv erse th ei r '

, ,
mm bu ay -
I‘
93 W GO V -ra
'

! bounti fulness the i r c o mp assmn

o 0
n an
,

o rch e as, nam h ai gh ,

o r— c h cs nam bay ’

Bha sith , g aol, i s ei bh n e as, le n ce um a i bh

’
Peace lov e
, ,
h appiness aecom
an d
,
va si
’
g ao l Is ey v -n es len cey m - s y v
pan ied th e ir steps ;
’
8 g ach trath ,
’
s ach
’
g tra

Bu ri o g h ai l n an g i ulai n p ai dh i r i o n rai c Right royal in thei r h earin g w as th e

bu fi -Y ayl yo
iI gi layn y i r i -O n -l a blam e less an d beloved pai r
D 311 u
Pa
' ' - '

a r rai dh Eu , etc Right etc

g
—
. .
,
ay r g ra y '

G abh do ch as
’ ’
a d e i sle an , a Bh an righ —
Take hop e i n thy b ereav men t, o ur
g av do - h as c ad ey slen a va-rinn
Q ueen belov e d ,

ai r ra i dh ,
g '
arr
grar
’
De an dh e th d ri og h ac h dan sp e i se i l an And m ake thy never to be di min ish ed
- - e

den ’
dr y
yl S p ac i o u s ki n g do m s th h a
p pi n ess
ye 8W D s e s -e an
p
-
i y .

t— ei bh n eas n ach trai g h .

ach tray ’
teyv -
n es n

’
S i om adh p ri o n n sa ard treubh ach a M any a p rince lofty an d powerful will
si o ma i ard arise o f thy pos terity
’
- -
p r o nn -
o
sa treyv -ach a
,
’
dh -
e i reas o d ail
d ay l
,

y eyres o

Bh i os n an A lbaert am b eusan , an ceil ,

Th at will be an A lbert i n vi rtu e in ,
V IS 11 30 alber t am yhe m an 09 3‘ w isdom in disposition , .

is an c ai l —
Bhio s, etc . That etc ,
.

is an c ay l

T he eff ect o f humour ous G aelic poetry depe ds

much o n idiom as to n so

m ake me feel very reluctant to subj ect it to so severe a test as wh at I misn ame
a liter al translatio n ; but I must submit som e verses in th e nearest equivalent

E nglish words I can find at an y h az ard as I c an n ot give the E nglish re ader a , ,

gene ral idea o f Gaelic po e try without quoting as faithfully as possible o n e o r ,

two specimens o f each kind .

The act suppressing the Highl and d ress and arms without an y d i stinction
b e tween those of the cl ans who fought for o r ag ai n st Prin ce Ch arles (and the ,

l atter were more numerous than the former ) w as suppose d to have been th e ,

work of some politic and disguised friend of the Stu art family who found his ,

way into the Hanoverian camp It had the e ff ect o f producing univers al .

indignation against the new dynasty and a renewal of sympathies and ties ,

among the Highl and clans which leave little doubt h ad the Prince lan ded a , ,

second tim e as was periodically predicted an d reported that they would have
, ,

risen alm ost unanimously i n h is favour ; although their confi d ence in h is heroism
2 38 TH E M U SIC
Bha clai dh e amh air Iain ai r deas -
lamh There was a sword on John right »
,
va c lay 8 V ai r i ayn ’- '
fi es-13V
handed man of my he art ,

mo ch ri dh e ,

mo ch i é
'
r -

S e de an adh an f h i gh e n eo -
ch earbach . He that can m ake the weaving not
se yen a
-
'
an i ’
-
e b
n e- o - e ers ba ch awkwardly ,

Bha I ain gun teag ai bh John never doubted

va i -ayn gun tog -av

G u fai dh eadh a f reag ai rt Th at his off er had be en accepte d ,

' '
g u f ay -
e a freg ay rt
’ ’
Mu n deach e do n e ag lai s na armai bh ,
So he went to the church in arms
mun d ech
.

’
e do n eg lay s na a m a
y r -
v

I s mh osg ail na m n ath an le i ollac h 3 le

’
H ow the wome n opened their eyes ,
n a mn a ah i ll ac h
’
i s vosg ayl -
le s 1s -

ai g h ea r, an d shoute d with joy ,

Noir dh ealrai ch a c h lai dh eamh san When his sword glittered at the
y ray ch
l ch la y -
noy r e -
a cv

t— sh earm ai n se rmon
tera mayn -

Bha etc , . There w as , etc .

f alai ch ,
’
Ch aidh lit ri ch ean Le tters went privately
ch ay lit ri ch en
’
fal ay oh
’
- -

A nun do Lochaber , O ver to L och aber ,

a n un do l och aber
’ ’
A dh i n n se adh gu n dech e na
-
arm ai bh , Telling of this demonstration dan
a yin n se g un
-d ec h e n a ’
arm - ay v
g erou s ;
G h abh an g ovaern er cu ram ,
The governor too k the alarm ,
ouram
y av an -
o v er-n er
g
Bha gach g eard air an dubladh , E very guard was doubled ,

g ach gerd ayr an da bla

'
va -

Ag eag al gu n dui sg eadh e Albi n ’

. Lest he should com e with all Albin at
'
as 8 8 31 sun duy sg ‘
a 0 his b ack .

Bha etc , . There was etc , .

L eis na dh eirich na ph orabh -

, From the quantity he inherited
l ey s n a yeyrich na fo rav

De dh ard an Ch lan n - -
Domh n u il, O f the haughty daring o f th e M ac
te yardau ch lan n -to v -nyll donalds ,

Na m bith eadh a phoca lan arg ai d, H ad h i s pockets only been full o f

’

n am bi
'
-e
'
a foo -
a lan araga y money ,

Gu n ’
tug adh e dh ach ai dh dh ui n n , He would have brought us home
gu n
’
d uga
'
e y ach -
ay yuy nn
Righ fhear na h App u n ,
- The k ing of the men of Appi n ,

ri
’
fer na b appan
 OF THE HI G HLA N D CLANS . 2 39

A dh -
ain d eo n fir h S ha ssunn
- —
m ar In d efi ance of the men of E ngland
a yayu ’~
en fir h assunn

m arbh t
’
e ,
unless killed .

’
marv t e

Bha etc ,
. There w as, etc .

’
8 i om adh o g an ach u llam h , Many are the ready youths
si o ma o g an -s ch ullav
'
-

N ach e isdeadh an c u m asg ,

That would not hesitate to respond to
nac h ey sd a cumasg the gath e ring c all
- ’
an ,

Bha gu n ch lai dh eamh gu n ’

,
’

g h un n a, That were without swords guns o r , ,

va gu n ch lay
’-
cv gun y un n a targets ,

targ aid,
’
gu n
tars gaydg un
-

Gu n urad na bi o dai g
’
,
Without so much as a dirk
un u rad na bi day g -
g
’
M f alach f 0 c h ri o slai ch , Conceal ed beneath their belts ,

am fa l s ch fo chris - a l ych
Ge ( 1 bh a mac a G h iobaich
’ ’
n lan armacb d .
When the so n of Gibbie went unde r
ged va mac a yi bay -
ay
’
n lan armac fu ll arms .

Bha etc ,
. There was etc ,
.

’
8 mor an di obh ail do ( 1 ph ersa ’
Great disparagement to thy person
smot anv yl di - e do (1 ’
f ersa

Na bh -
agad de dh -
acu i n n , W as thy excess of harness ,
na v ag - ad de y ac -
uy n n

Noir ch ai dh e u cho spai lp eil n a tarmaibh When thou went magnificently under
n oyr ch ay u ch o spaylpeyl na tarmayv '
arms
D o shli n n g ean do bh ei rtean , , Thy reeds thy looms , ,
do hlin n g-en do veyrten

’
Do sp alai n n , do ch e ar slean , Thy sh uttl es thy clews , ,
do ch ers len
spal- ayn do -

’
D o bh u ilg do ch rai c ean 8 do mh arach un n *
An d thy skin bags ful l of m arac hun n .
-
.
*
’
do vuylig do crayc -en
3 do varach unn

Bha claidh eamh ai r Iain air Iain air Iain , , ,

A s word was on John ,
on John , on
va clay ev ay r i ayn ayr i ayn ayr i ayn
’- - - -
John ,
’
Bha clai dh eamh air Iain sa n t sh earmai n ; -
A sword was on John at the sermon ;
clay ev ayr i ayn san tera mayn
’- -
va -

Bha clai dh eamh air I ai n air d eas lamh ,

-
A swo rd w as o n J oh n th e right ha n d ed ,
—

va clay ev ayr i ayn ayr des lav ’- - -

man of my heart ,

mo ch ridh e ,

’
8 e dh ean adb an fh igh e neo - -
ch e arbach . Who m akes the w eav ing not awk
se yena an i e ne o
’ ’
- - -
ch erbach w ardly .

Th i s w o rd h as t tiv i E
n o re p re se n a e n n g l sh i . It m ean s th e w oo l th t di ed
o f sh e e p a an d w ere l ef t

to ro t o r be c on s u m e d wi th bi d n d b e ts r s a as of p re yo n il
th e h l , t
af e r ha vi g b e gath d
n en ere an d b oarded
 240 TH E MUSI C
The Gaelic schola r will agree with me w hen I say that my translation h as
”
taken the so ul o ut o f Clai dh eamh air Iain which is all but unequalled as a , ,

burlesque in the origin al but it is reduced to the common place in the

, ,

translati o n if I must c all th at a trans lation in which the words used are
,

any thing but equivalent to those o f the origin al But though I am regretfully .

s ensible of the injustice to which I am subjecting m y gr andfather D o m h n u ll

M ac R aon uil by rende ring his humourous poetry int o E nglish with such
,

severity I c annot help quoting a few vers e s o f o n e o r two m o re o f his

,

humourous burlesques o r s atires The subject o f the foll o wing verses w as als o .

a Glencoe man who h ad le arned the t ailo ring trade in Glasgo w O n re

-
, .

turning home after an absence o f several y ears the first person the t ailor met ,

with at some distance from the cl achan was an o ld simple minded aunt o f his
, ,
-

own . The t ailor like man y o f hi s trade w as a g ay and humourous w ag an d

, , ,
”
being spike an d sp an new in his outlandish Lowl and dress an d t o tally ch anged ,

in his appe arance since h i s aunt h ad seen him he thought it a g ood joke to pass ,

himself o ff o n the old wom an as a gre at foreign gentlem an He told her m an y .

curious stories and asked m an y curious questions by which her simplicity an d

, ,

credulity were drawn forth in a very ludicro us m anner Being an excellent .

mimic the graceless fello w narrated the interview at a merry meeting o f his
,
-

friends in the evening with a hum o ur which p roduced roars o f laughter at the
,

expense of the aunt D om h null M ac R ao n u il w as not ple ased with the

.

”
Saxonized t ailor f or this irreve rent exhibiti o n of his aged rel ative ; deter
“ ”
mined to turn the t ables o n him he caused his inexpressibles to be abstracted ,

after he went to bed an d fixing the m like a b anner on a h ay fo rk sent them

, , , ,

with th ree verses of poetry to his friend C allart request ing that he would p ass
, ,
”
them in like m anner to his next neighb o u r as l ame dy v ors used to be p ass ed ,

from h o use to house of old in the Highlands C allart sent them to L un davra .
,

L u n davra to G len e v i s G len evi s to L etterfin lay and so o n In short the unlucky
, ,
.
,
”
breeks travelled from chieftain to chieftain an d clan to cl an through every , ,

strath glen and shieling in the whole north Highlands on thei r poetic missi o n
, , , ,

and the result w as hundreds o f verses m any o f them exceedingly s atirical ,

and picturesque for almost all Highl anders o f th e olde n time c o uld cl o the
,

their thoughts in rh y me and they never hesitate d to satirize o n e another

,

without restraint according to the humour of the p assing moment I c an onl y

, .

m ake room f or the three introductory verses an d cho rus by D o mh null M ac ,

R aon u il but c an assu re an y o n e who has leisure an d tas te f or the collection o f

,
”
Gaelic poetry that the medle y o f verses o n Erigis Mh ic R u aridb (to be
, ,

found in all parts of the country ) are well worth y of his attention .

E R I G IS MHIC R U A R A IDH .
—
R OR Y S ON S
,
BR EE CH E S .

A bh rig is a bh agad -
breeks he h ad when he went
an a m do l a ch adal, The ”

a vri i s
g a v ag ad an am do l a ch d a1 to sleep a -
,

Noir dh u i sg u sa m h adui n n c h a d f h uair u i When he a woke in th e morning he did

’
,
no r
y yuysg sa va d
y nnu ch a d u ay u-
i n o t find
u -
r
2 42 TH E MU S I C
I reg ret th at I c annot rep air the inj u ry done to m y worth y grandfa ther in
these t ransl ations by quoting some o f his w ar an d hu n ting songs ; but the qu antity
,

o f m atte r a greed upo n by the publishe r is al re ad y exceeded I must howeve r .

, ,

befo re p arting with D o m h n ull M a c R aon u ill submit the ch o rus an d a single ve rse ,

o f his poem o n the b attle o f S h eri fim u i r which i s reputed his best Indeed it , .
,

is perh aps the h appiest c o mbin ation o f the humou ro us an d s ati ric al to be fo und
in the l angu age though my t ransl ati o n reduces it to a lifeless skelet o n I must
, .
,

the refo re in j ustice to the auth o r ent re at o f those o f m y re ade rs wh o unde rstand
, ,

the o rigin al to expl ain this to such of their friends as do n o t Wh at for

, .
,

in st ance can be less like the o rigin al in the estim ati o n of the Gaelic schol ar
, , ,

th an the fo ll o wing t ransl ation o f the chorus The fi rst line o f the ch o rus with the ,

exception of two unc o nnected words c o nsists o f me re sounds y et these empty ,

sounds an d is ol ated w o rds by thei r s olemn gravity an d the sounding dignity o f

, ,

the air an d me asure give such a ludic rous e ff ect to the ch o rus as inv o luntaril y
,

p rovokes a burst of l aughte r Indeed this chorus is a whole s atire i n itself ! .

,

For m Ch o r u s
Ho ro agus ho ho ro an teag al ! Ho and ho h o ro the p anic !
ro

Mile m allach d n ar de ig h , ( M ay ) a thous and cu rses pu rsue ,

G u lei r o u th e ich sib b Si n ce all o f y ou h ave fled !

’

’
Fi re fair e Lochi al
, ,
! F i ré , f ai
-
Lochiel -
ré ,
*

S cli sg th ai r sliabh do bh ratac h ! H o w swiftl y th y b anner (cl an )

’

M bu ch le ach da dh i th ri amh H as cle ared the he ath !

’

’
S e altai n fi atadh s sg ap adh ? I s it alway s thei r wont
Thus to sh y and sc atte r
” “
O b o b n a fir mhor
, ,
-
O b oh the big w arriors
*
, ,

O S h rath lo ch ai dh bh rad ain

—
O f S trath loch y o f the s almon !
Dh o ch -
an - assai dh c h ru i dh - m hi n O f D o ch ah assay o f milky kine
- -
,

L u ib is g hli nn L o c h a i rc ai g! A nd the holms an d glens o f L o ch ai rcaig !

This verse is a parod y o n the corresp o nding ve rse of a song then r cent e
,
”
in which a Cameron rather fulsomel y pe rh aps praises the fir mho r o f these
, , ,
—

p arts o f the clan district The p o em on S h eriff m u i r h as n ever been published

.
,

but stray verses o f it are to be fo und in the districts o f the cl ans who distinguished
themselves by running aw ay as well as in those of the cl ans who beh aved as ,

usu al : f or so far from being rude an d barb arous w as the Highland w arrior o f
,

past ages as to en able me to state it as a well known trait in h i s ch aracter that

, ,

h e never took o ff ence at any thing humou rous o r s atiric al o f which he himself o r ,

his friends or cl an we re the subject When Loch abe r was occupied by native .

Highlande rs fifty y e ars ag o I w as present at m any soci al meetings in which

, , ,

such songs were sung with the utmost good hum o ur and he artiness by parties ,

wh o se friends and cl ans (an d in a few instances who even pe rson ally ) figured , ,

in them and I am ve ry sure th at there are man y still living who can corroborate
m y state ment th at this was a featu re o f the Highland ch aracte r But I m ay .

M ld g d 9‘
ti x l m t i w h i h h v
oc n q iv l t s i n E g lish
an s arc a s c e c a a on s c a e no e u a en n .
 or TH E H I G HLAN D CL A NS . 2 43

a lso rem ark th at this humourous sati re was the less calcul ated to give o ff ence ,

because the ret ro g rade movement o f the left wing o f the Highl ande rs w a s
p alp abl y c aused by mism an agement ludic rousl y accelerated by the conduct o f ,
—

a n o blem an wh o i n the n o vel p o siti o n in which he fo und himself l o st his

, , ,

“ ”
presence o f mind an d m ade confusion wo rse c o nfo unded and especi all y
, , , ,

“ ”
bec ause the cl ans th at ran a way were kept in countenance by the running
a way o f at le ast an equ al number on the othe r side Hence this singul ar battle .

w as lite rally reg arded as a burlesque by both p arties H o wever n o b o d y doubted .

,

o r c o uld d o ubt the p at riotis m o r he roism either o f an E rskine a Gordon a , ,

Camer o n o r a M ackenzie The cl ans could therefore aff o rd to l augh an d did

,
.
, , ,

laug h h e art ily at Do mh n ull M ac R aon u ill s humourous desc ripti o n o f the blunders
’

,
”
Ron ald of the Shield Don ald s father spe aks
’
of L ath a S li abh an t S hi rradh - .
, ,

o f S i r E wen of L o chiel in his verses o n Killiecr anki e with g re at admi rati o n

, , ,

and both he an d his son had m an y connexions and rel atives among the C ame rons .

’
The wives o f L un davra an d M eoble were the aunts o f Dom h n ull Mac R ao n u ill s
wife an d their sons were present i n the battle along with thei r fathe rs It is
, , .

said th at the song above mentioned written by a C ameron in which he rather , ,

violated good taste by a too ex aggerated praise o f his cl an w as the c ause o f ,

’
D o nald s severity The conduct o f the C ame rons under their illustrious chief
.

”
in “
the b attles of three kings re ally j ustified the famil y h ard i n spe aking of
them with enthusi asm ; but nothing w as more dist asteful to th e pl ain honest , ,

Highl and warrior th an self laudation In this he was not singular Brave men-
. .

o f all ages an d countries abomin ated self g lo ri ficati on an d g asc o n ade Th an -

.

’
that o f their Spanish friends nothing could be m o re n ause o us to Welling ton s
,

army who were themselves perfectl y contented with the stinted me asure of
,

praise conceded by their le ader knowing th at their deeds spoke f or them I , .

h ave it o n good auth o rity th at Don ald thought the C ame rons m ade to o much o f
,

their l aurels an d hence th at he willingl y ava iled himself o f their escap ade at
,

S h eriffmu ir to rebuke thei r egotism Be th at as it m ay he w as more severe o n .

,

the C amerons th an on any o f the other cl ans th at h ad been bungled o n the

occasion Hence Sir E wen w h o was confined to bed from ag e an d infirmity
.
, ,

on he aring the song thought th at the C ame rons were the fi rst to run aw a
, y ;
and ascribing their supposed degrad ation t o the le ading o f the y oung chief his
, ,

son he w as so indign ant as to h ave dete rmined o n putting him to de ath with
,
“
his o w n hand He desired his henchman to send in the y o ung chief as he
.
,
”
wanted to question him o n the above subject The faithful cl ansm an did as .

he was bid but h aving seen the o ld man feeling the edge o f the s w o rd (which
usu ally lay by his bedside ) w ith his h and before sending him fo r his son he , ,

to o k the al arm an d c autioned h i m to keep aw ay from his fathe r s couch In a

,
’
.

conversa ti o n in refe rence to thi s tradition with o n e of S ir E wen s g all ant ’

descend ants General Ross of G len m o i dart he co rro b o rated this p art o f it with an
, ,

expressi o n o f face which left the impression th at be st rongl y sy mp athised with

’
his illust ri o us ancestor s feelings o n the subjec t o f the flight at S h erifimui r .

Domh n ull M ac R ao n u i ll an d Don n ac h a ban n an oran were gre at friends - - -

,

although the former was a much older man and the

y fo u ght o n d iff erent side s ,
244 TH E MUSIC
”
in
“
the forty five They h ad a meeting with some Athole men at Altnafe
-
.
-
,

i n which the w arrior b ards pl ay ed o ff s o me humourous practic al j o kes o n the

- -

honest 02sg ecm which they m ade the subject o f two graphic an d spirited j eux
'

d esp ri t but I c annot repe at them

’
,
O n this o cc asion they h ad a bet which
.
, ,

resulted in two o f the best descriptive poems in the language the subject being ,

their favourite forests C o i rre ach an G h lin n e Comh an and B e i n do rai n The
—
,
-
.

’
fo rmer will be found in the first edition of Aillei n D all s works an d the l atter ,

i n every Gaelic song book .

“ ”
I h ad t o ld m y so n Willi am D Campbell author of the R aid o f Alby n
,
.
, ,

since deceased an d a y oung an d t alented rel ative D R Macd o n ald that the
, ,
. .
,

single and double emph atic n o tes (see p age 1 44) formed very generall y a dis
, , ,

tinction between Highland an d Lowl and melodies and th at in the Highl and ,

melodies converted into Lowl and mel o dies the single n o te is usu ally lengthened ,

into a d raw] an d the double note into a long sliding note

,
I c rooned to the m .

’
an air to which I h ad written some verses in Tait s Mag azine in 1 849 Begone , , ,
”
0 hope as showing th at E nglish w o rds could be ad apted ve ry happily to these
,

emphatic notes and expressed my regret th at by overlooking this characteristic

, ,

o f Highlan d melodies in his Scottish songs even Burns h ad to tally failed to ,

make songs to Highland ai rs popular I begged o f them (for both had a taste .

for writing son gs to Highland melodies) neve r to forget to adapt their words to
these notes when composin g songs to such Gaelic airs I received the follow .

ing verses from m y son in a f e w day s afterw ards as the result of m y advice , .

The y are not an imitation o f the Gaelic words sung to the same ai r but they
full y illustrate this subject an d m ay perh aps inte rest the re ader though o n a
, ,

subj ect alre ad y abundantly celebrated by some of o u r sweetest and most tender
l y rical writers I m ay rem ark as showing th at the poetic t aste m ay be
.
,

inheri ted th at both of the y oung gentlemen are descended fro m Ronald of the
,

Shield through a son and d aughter of Domh n uill Mac R ao nu ill

,
-
.

L A M E NT F O R P R I NC E C H AR L E S .

The battle is l o st the cl ansmen are , Foremost where wildest r aged warfare
,

sc attered , and d anger ,

The shield o f our country by treachery Fie rce rush d the G ael through the ’

sh attered , ranks of the stranger ;

O ur mi rth turned to mourning o ur ,
But d ark de adl y tre ason made might
,

hopes to bewailing , un availing ,

For lowl y in death sleep the valiant And gory C ulloden h as left us bewailing .

an d daring . I llerin n etc ,

.

Ch or us :
I lleri n n ho ro 0 na ,
The d aughters of Alby n distracted ,

I lleri nn 0 na ho hi ,
with so rro w w ail , ,

I llerin n 0 n a ho ro ,
Coranachs echo from E ti ve to Borro
I u ro vi o n a ho hi
- - -
. d ale
 246 TH E M USIC

Sud ma
r c h ai dh an c al a dh o laidh , Th at the w ay that the k ale
w as w as
s ud m ar ch ay ’
an c al a yol
-
a
y
'
S p o iled ,

A ir na b o dai c h g h alda . O n the b o ori sh st rangers .

ay r na bo - d aych y ald a

The g allant seam an h as a s o mewh at light reput ation in G aelic poetry m o re ,

perhaps from his w ande ring life than an y inconsistency peculi ar to his p ro fessi o n .

It is impossible to conceive that an Open honest ste rling ch aracte r like the , , ,

B ritish se am an c o uld be inconstant in love ; but if a he artless fick le n e ss is

,

really his cha racter it is not to be wonde red at th at a simple honest he arted
, ,
-

l assie will not believe so Be th at as it may howeve r he h as ever bee n the o bject
.
, ,

o f ardent love an d enduring constanc y with the w arm he arted Highl and m aiden -
.

The following is of the du m my cl ass o f songs which are neve r sung as so los , ,

the f o n n o r chorus being alw ay s sung by the audience Although the du a n ag a n .

o r lilts are therefo re gene rall y o f a light hil arious ch ara cte r they are not , ,
“ ”
necess aril y so and man y o f them like Fe ar a Bhata (literally boatm an the
, , , ,

usual title o f a man s ailing his o wn ship in the Highl ands ) are strikingl y pathetic
and beautif ul both for sentiment and i magery
,
.

FH E A R A B HATA .

’ ’
o n c h n oi c ai rde ,
’
S tric mi se alti n n is O ften do I look fro m the highest hill
stric mi selti n n on cn oy c is ay rde

D h f h i ac h
-
a fai c mi fe ar a bh ata ; Fo r the m an of the b o at
i
y ach
-
a fa ye mi fer a v ata
Ach ’
gach aon ag rai tean
8 ar m a th a But every bod y tells me
a ch sann a h a g ach ao n ag ay ten r

Gur mi bha go rach noir thug mi g radh That I w as fo olish in g l vm g him my

g u r m i a g o ach n
v oy r h ug mi g ra r
’
love ,

dh ath .

'
ya

F0 7272 Ch o r us
Fhe ar a bh ata na horo eile , Man of the boat h o ro ,
e y le,
,

er a v ata a h o o eyle n r

Fhear a bh at a n a horo eile ,

M an of the bo at horo c yl e
,

er a vata n a ho o eylé . r

Fhe ar a bh ata n a h o ro eile , ,

M an of the bo at h o ro
,
e
ylé,
er a v ata n a h o o eylé
. r

A ruin s luai dh gur a tru ag h My l o ve m y t re asure sad am I

’
na , ,

a ruyn
’
s ln -
a
y
’
gar a tru a -
’
n8 after thee .

dh ei dh
’
d mi .

(1
’
yey
’
mi

Tha mo ch ai rdean g u tric ag i n n se adh My friends often tell me

ha ch ayr den gu
mo ag
- i tric -
n n se
’

th y to
’
G u f e u m mi t ao g ai s a ch u i r air di ch u i nn
- -
; That I must give image forg et
g u f ey m mi tao a
g ys a ch a r ayr di ch uy n
y
- -
fulness
 or TH E HI G HL AN D CLANS . 247

Ach th a n c o mli ai rle dh omh cho diamh ain

’

, But their advice to m e is unavailing

ac h ay rle di -aw ay n
’-
h au cc yov ch o

’ ’

S t ille adh m ara s i to irt a lio n ai dh . As attempting to turn the tide whe n
stille ma a
'
r si toyrt a li -
o nay
-
’
flowing .

Fhe ar etc ,
. M an etc , .

’ ’
Thug mi g ao l dhut s ch a n f h o ad mi I have given thee m y love and cannot ,
h ug mi g a l y t o u
’
s ch an ao d mI recal it ;
ai ch e adh ;
a ych -
a
’

Cha g h ao l bli adh n adh s ch a g h a ol raidh ,

’

,
It not l o ve f o r a y ear nor love
w as ,
ch a y aol bli a a s ch a
y ao l ra
y
- ’-
n
’ ’
f or a qu arte r ,
,

Ach g aol a th o i sei c h n o ir bha mi am But love which began when I w as a

ach g ao l a h oy s ich no r
y va m i am -
child ,

p h ai sdean ,
fa ys -
den
’
S n ach se arg a ch o i dh gus an c lo i dh And which will not fade until death
s n ach sc ra
g a ch oy gus ’
an c l oy ’
h as conquered ,

am h as mi .
—
Fhear etc , . M an etc ,
.

am h as m i

Tha mo ch ridh e briste bruite , , My heart is bruised broken , ,

ha mo ch ri '
-e briste br y te u

’
S dh My
’
tric na de o i r a ru i o m sh u ilean , tears fall continually ,
’
s tri c na de oyr -
a ruy om buy -len

An tig u n och d n am bi mo dh ui l ri u t ? Wilt thou come to night or need I -

,
an tig u n oc D am bi m o y yl u ri - u t expect thee ?
N a n dui n m i
’ ’
n dorus le o sn adh th u rsai ch ? O r sh all I shut the door with a sob of
n an d uyn mi d orus n le osn a
'
h ur- saych grief
Fhe ar etc , . M an etc ,
.

Ge do their iad g u bh eil u e atro m ,

Though the y say thou art flig h ty ,

g e do h ey r i ad gu v ey l u e t ro m
- -

Ch a do lug h dai ch sin m o g h ao lsa ; Th at h as not lessened my love to thee

ch a do l deych sin m o y ao l se
u
'
- -

B ith idh tu m a isling ann s an o i c h e

’ ’

,
Thou art in my dreams at night ,
’
bi i tu m ay sli n g oy - ch e
’-
an n san

ann m h adu i n n bith mi d f h oi And in the morning my inquiries

’
S
’
sa a are
g
s ann sa va -
d uyun bi ’
mi g a d oy after thee ,

n e ach d .
—
Fhear etc , . M an etc
,
.

n eo

Bi dhi dh mi tuille gu tursach , deurach , I am henceforth sorrowful tearful , ,

'
bi i -
’
mi tuy lle gu sach der ach
t ur- -

M ar e ala bh ain an dei g h a reubadh ,

Like a wounded swan ,
m ar ell a v ayu an dey a reyba ’ '

G uille ag b ais ai c ai r loch an feu rach ,

Singing her death song o n the grassy
g uyll ag b ay s ay c ayr l o ch an f eyr acb lake
- -
,

Is c ach u ille an de ig h a treig ei dh . Fors aken by all her companions .

is each vy ll e an dey Man etc

' ’
a t ey g ey r -
.
,

Fhear etc , .
 248 THE MUSIC
The following ve rses are of considerable antiquity and have been , a l wa y s
a dmi red .

MA R I B H OI DH E A CH .
—
B O NN Y M A RY .

A Mh ari bh o i dh e ach , g ur mor mo B on n y M ary , great is my love to thee ;

a vari v oy ech
g ur mor mo

g h aol o rt,
y ao l o rt
S tric m i c ui m h n e ach adh
’ ’
o rt s mi O ften do I th i n k of thee when al o ne ;
st io
r mi c y ech a u n
'
o rt smi
’
m aon ar ;
m ao n ar

Ge do sh i ubhlai nn g ach ce um de n Alth o ugh I should wande r the world

’

go do h i - u -lay n n g ach cey m de n ove r ,

t- sao g h al,
'
tao -
a1

Bi t i o mh ai g h bh o i dh e ach ti g h beo T hy be autiful image would c o me alive

-
’
n
bi ti v ay
- ’
vo
y ech ti n
'
be -
o o n every side ,

g ach taobh dh io m .

g ach tao v yi cm
-

F o rm :

A Mh ari bh o i dh each s Mh ari g h ao lach ’

, ,
Mary be autiful Mary lovely , ,
a va i v o y e ch r
s v ari y aol acb ’- ’
-

A Mhari bh oidh each gur mor mo ,

Mary beautiful gre at is ,
my love to
a vari vo y ec h
g ur mor mo
'
-
thee ;
g h ao l o rt ;
yao l o rt

‘
A Mh ari bh oi dh e ach , gur tu ch lo idh mi M ary beautiful thou afili ctest , ,

vari g u tu ch loy
’
a vo
y ech
-
mi r
’

’
8 dh f h ag -
mi bron ach gun doi g h ai r And m akest me sorrowful since I ,

mi b ro u acb know n o t h o w to w on thee

’ '
s
y ag gu n doy ay r -
.

t— f h aotui n n .

taot -u
yn

’
mor a b anns bhi le M ari bh o i dh each Much more would I desire to be with
S
’ ’

,
s mo r a b anns vi le ma i v oy ech bonn y Mary r
’-
,

Am both an ai ridh fo sg ath n a m orbh e an n In a both y under the sh adow of the , ,

am bo an ay ri m o v enn gre at m o unta i ns

’
fo eg a
’-
na
’
r-
,

Na bh i th m righ an n s an R oi n n E orp a Th an to be a king in E uro pe

’ ’
-
, ,

ro yn e o rp a
’
vi m
’
11 3 ri ann san - -

Gun choi r air M ari m o gh rai dh am Without a right to my bel oved Mary .

g un ch o yr ayr m a i m o y ay am Ma ry &c r r
'
,
.

p os a dh A Mh ari etc .
—
,
.

'
-
p os a

Ch i th ear feidh ai r sg ei th
’
5 n a sp e uran , Deer will be seen on their w m gs ln

ch i
’
-
sr f ey
'
ayr Sg ey
'
sn a sp eyran the sky ,

Ch ith ear i asg a falbh n an sle ibh te an , Fish will be seen walking on the
chi
'
-
er i - asg a f alv n an sley vten wolds ,
250 TH E MUSIC
Na biodh lath adh an n sa bh lian adh , Let no day pass during the y ear ,
' ’
bi la vli - a - n a
’ ’
na -
a an n sa

N ach se i n n si bh c ec ldo mo Mh ari In which y ou do n ot sing to come

n ach sey n n siv ce ol-
do mo v ari M ary ,

c hi ataich .
—
A Mhari etc , .

chi- a-tay ch

Noir a bh i dh i s mi g u tursach , ti am h ai dh , When I am heavy melancholy , ,

'
n oy r a. vi -
is mi gu tursach ti a
- -
vay
’

’
ch ri dh
’
Mo f 0 i om ag ai n 3 le curam My heart anxious and full of c are ,
mo ch ri
’
fo i - o -ma-g ay n sle curam
li on te adh ,
li nte '

Ni do g h n u is a th a mar g h ri an dh o m h , T hy face which , is as th e sun to me ,

ni do nu - is - sa ha m ar i -an
y y r
yov
’ ’
e i bh n eas c oi mh li o n t
’
M noir thig u m Completes my joy when in my
meyv -
n es coy v l ont n oyr
-
bi g u
’
m presence .

f h ian u i s .
-
A Mhari etc , . Mary etc , .

I h appened m any y ears ag o to be asked by a friend the editor of a

, , ,

provincial newspaper to attend a concert which he could not attend himself , ,

and supply the necessary notice of an opera singe r o f some eminence from
London who was to delight (an d assuredly did delight) the n atives o n the
,

occasion It struck me th at the vocalist by h i s voice an d attitude in singing the

.
, ,
“ ”
Death of Nelson exceedingl y resembled an ambiti o us y o ung cle rgy m an o f m y
,

acquaintance who w as very fond of exhibiting all the attitudes intonations an d

, , ,

graces o f elocution from h i s pulpit but who w as to o ap t to forget to suit them ,

to hi s subject Thus when the subject was a supplic ati o n the voice an d
.
, ,

attitudes were not unfrequentl y those suited to a remonstrance ; and when the
subject was remonstrative the voice an d attitudes were often those o f supplic a ,

tion ; and so o n The Opera singer reminded me fo rcibly of the preacher when
.

“ ”
singing th e De ath o f Nelson an d it i s possible th at m y feeling of the ,

ridiculous from the association o f the two Cha rl atans when writing gave a
, , ,

sh arper point to m y criticism for the o n e w as pre aching and the other s in g ing ,

with a vie w to e ff ect not from feeling He m ade Nelson mewl and cry like a ,
.

“ ”
whipt wea n beca us e he was d y ing for E ngl and home an d beauty when there
, , , ,

i s little doubt that the last throb o f the hero s heart w as a throb of joyf ul ex ul ta ’

“
tion at the realization o f the dre am o f his heroic life th at he w ou ld die fo r ,
”
E ngland home and beauty , M y p aragraph met the ey e of Mr J oh n Wi lson
, .
,

the delightful illustrator and singer o f the songs o f Scotland : he was intro
du ce d and dined with me and the subject having turned on the songs of the ,

Highlands I int roduced some Highl and songs with the traditions connected
, ,

with them an d my voice being at that time g o od sung them in a sty le with
, , ,

which he w as much pleas ed A s I expressed my regret th at we h ad no Highlander .

to illustr ate the songs o f the Gae l he begged o f me to imitate two o r three in ,

E nglish and to send them to him with copies of the music an d promised to bring
, , ,

them ou t at his c oncerts in London I g o t the music copied by a precento r from .

,
 OF THE HI G HL A N D CL AN S .
25 1

my voice ; and although I was any thing but pleased with the melodies
o wn ,
’
whe n pl ay ed from the copies I h o ped that M r Wilson s superior voice and ,

memory would enable him to m ake s o mething like the origin als o ut o f them .

Mr Wilson wrote to me expressing himself ple ased with the traditions and
'
“ ”
verses but declared that the soul was t aken o ut o f the melodies
,
He w as .

prep aring for his visit to C anada and said that he would come to se e me o n ,
“ ”
his return an d learn them by he art from m y o wn voice ; but he never
,

returned These are the traditions and ve rses which I published in T ait s
.
’

M agazine in M ay 1 849 I beg le ave to submit the imit ation o f o n e o f these.

songs here rather th an a literal translation of the original The last E nglish
,
.

verse was added by m y self .

C A LLUM A G H L I NNE .
—
MALC O L M O F TH E GL E N .

Mo ch aili nn donn og ’
s mo n igh e an dubh My auburn haired maid -
, so f air and
mo ch ay li n d o nn 0g mo ui du v
’-
8 eu comely ,

th og arrach ,
h o ga rach -

’ ’
Th o g ai n n o rt fonn s neo throm g u n So sp rightl y and a
g y, so kind and
hog -
ayn ort for m 5 n e-o brom g un lovely ,

to g ai n n ,
to g -
ayn n

’
Mo n i g h e an dubh gu n f h i araidh mo O f thee I would sing the cause , re
mo ni
’-
eu dav g un i -
ar ay-
’
mo hating
’
bh riadh ar gu n to g ai n n ,
vri ’-
ar gun to g - ay nn
’
S gun i nn sin n an tao bh ar nach e alaer W h y thou art not wooed whe n others ,

a g un i nn- i s nn an ta- o -var n ach l

e er are mating ,

g ad th o gradh ,
ad
’
g h o g -ra

Mo ch ai li n n donn 0g . My auburn haired maid -

.

mo ch aylin d onn 0g

Gu bh eil u gu b o idh each bain didh Thou art pure as the snow on the h ill
g 1! v ey l ‘1 g“ in f b arn di
-
’
crest s welling ,

ban n ael,
ban - n el

Gun chro n o rt fo n ’

g h rein
’
gu n bh eum In beauty array ed in mind excelli ng , ,

ch n
'

un o o rt f o n r yreyn gun veym

g
gu n sg ain n ir ’

gu n sg ayn n ir

Gur gili u fo d leine ’

n a e i te ag n a m ara , But ah me th y sire in the shell
, ,

gur gil
'
u fo d leyn é
’
na ey -teg na mara delighted ,
’
S tha ch o ir ag ai n fein g u n
'
cheile bh i And th ou m y y oung tocherless daugh
,

h a ch oy r agam feyn ch eyle vi ter art slighte d

’
3 gun , ,

m ar ri ut,
mar ri -u t

Mo ch ai li n n donn 0g . My a uburn haired m aid -

.

mo ch ayli n d onn 0g
 25 2 TH E MUSIC
’
Noir bh i os mi air feil 3 na ce u dn an When I meet at the fair with set o f
n oy r vrs mi ayr fey l 3 na cey -dan
good fellows
m ar ri u m ,
mar ri -um

Do c h u i deach adh ch o i r a dh - ol as dram a , My he art it expands my feelings it

,
do ch uy d- ao- a
’
choyr a yolas d rama m euo w s,
’
Gu n
’
sui dh m1 mu n bh ord s gun trai gh ’
I drink l augh an d sing with the glee
, ,
gun suy
’
mi mun vord s gun tray ’
o f a ca lla ”
,
,
mi mo sh erreag ,
mi mo h errag
’
S
’
cha d th uirt mo bhen riam h ri um Yet my wife s harshe st phrase is but
’

a ch a d h uyrt mo ven ri av -
ri - u m G o d gai n thee Allan 1
”
,

ach Dia le at a Ch allum

ach di a let a Chall am -

Mo c h ailin n donn o g . My auburn haired maid -

.

mo chayli n d o nn o g
'
’
Ged tha mi gu n or le 01 3 le i o m ai rt, My soci al profusion the ,
l
c a rg of my
g ed ha mi gun or le 01 8 ls i omayrt c ron i es ,

S bh eag an ni le
’
air pris na mine do , Have lessened m y folds and scattered ,
8 ayr vegan do ui ls pris n a min é my monies ;
’
Tha m ortan ai g dia s e fi alai dh u im e
’
, But none values All an at less than
ha mortan ayg di a s e fi a lay y me - - -
'
a
’
he s owi ng ,

8 ma g h ei bh mi mo sh lain te g u m p aidh
’ ’
And Fortune still friendl y her gifts i s
, ,

a mo eyv mi mo olay n té gu m p ay bestowing

y ,

mi na shir mi ,
mi na hir mi

Mo ch ai li n n donn og . My auburn h aired maid

-
.

mo ch avli n d o nn 0g

’
8 iom a bodach an gnu n ach du iri g Yon sour hearted boor who sco rns my
-

8 i o ma bo dach an
-
g u n ac h - - n example ,
’
m ai th ri s,
may ris
’-

Le th i o n al a ir sp rei dh
’
s iad g a th reigsi n Who g r abs and wh o mai ls though his ,

18 i ii -
004 1 8 W 8)
"
S i -
ad 83 h '
rey g sin '

means are ample ,

san errach

Nach ol an n sa bh liadh n a tri an a gh allai n Who S pends in the y ear scarce the ,

n ach 01 am sa v1i a na tri an a yall ayn -price of a q a lla n

'
- - -
c ,

l
’

S ch a toir e fo n u i rn a
’
s mu n a bh ei
’
r C allum Will bring ne ath the m o o s no mo re
,

3 ch a toyr e f o n nyr n as mu na beyr call um than Allan

’
,

Mo ch ailin n do n n o g M y auburn haired maid .

-
.

mo ch aylin do rm og

I stil l for my friends have a cellar and p a ntry ,

I still have an arm and a sword for my country ,

For the need and poor I ve a n eu lc g ou t m y h a lla n

’

y ,

*
And I ve scorn for the kn ave who deems slightly of Allan
’
,

M y auburn haired maid - .

T hi lin e w s g g st d by th e t di ti n int d u t y t this s g i n T i t s M g azi n f

s as u e e ra o ro c or o on a
’
a e o M ay 1 849 .
25 4 TH E MUSIC
S mac talla, f o sh urd, le mu i rn g a fre ag ai rt ;
’
While E cho with alac rity an d jo y , ,
s mac talla f0 hu d ls m uyrn ga freg ayrt
’ - r -
answers the m ;
’
G ach fle asg ach s g ach o i g h gun ch e ol , , The y ouths an d maidens are without
g ach g ach
’
fle g ach s s oy g un c h e o l
- .
’
-
music l amenting ,

a tu i readh
a t yr e a -
'

G un d f h albh e bh
’
Th at he departed from us , and will
g un d al av e vu -a yn
’
sn ach t ill e tuy llé never return .

Cha ti lle adh , ch a tille adh , cha tille adh , He retu rns not returns not returns , ,

ch a till e ch a t ille ’ ’
ch a tille '
not M ac Crui men -

Mac Crui men -

,
m ac c ruy men

O c h o g adh is i o m ai rt ch a tille adh an From w ar an d conflict the warrior

0 ch o ga ’
18 im -a
y rt ch a tille ’
an refuses to return !
c u iri dh !
- ’
c uy r 1

Cha tilleadh , cha tille adh , cha ti lle adh He returns n o t, return s n o t M ac ,

Ch a tille '
Ch a t ill e '
Ch a “11 '
C ruim en would not return !
M ac Crui m en
-

mac c ruy men

Cha till e g u b rath , gu la na c rui n n eadh ! He will return no more until the day ,
011 8 ti ll 8 g“ bra '
g“ 13 ‘1 8 Gw ynn e
'
o f the last gatheri ng !

The late Archib ald Leckie E sq Dy er Paisley an antiqu ary of some , , , ,

local distinction informed m e th at S h ak esp ere w as very fo nd o f Highl an d lore

,

an d Highland melody an d th at a g rand aunt o f his a Dumb artonshi re lad y

,
-
, ,

who was a very old woman when he w as a bo y used to sing several o f the ,

ball ads he composed to Highland airs He recollected perfectly well her singing .

”
his b allad begi nning 0 come with me an d be my love to the air o f M ari , ,

Bhan I he ard this Gaelic song when I w as a boy and m y impressi on is that
.
,

it was very b e autiful but I forget all excepting o n e verse and the chorus ,
.

These , and the melody I quo te merely for t h e sake o f the above tradition ,
.

The air w as taken down from the voice of a noble an d generous enthusiast in
every thing honourable to the G ael Colin C ampbell E sq Collector o f Inland , , ,

Revenue who ente re d with spirit into the Volunteer Movement and i s n o w
, ,
’
captain o f on e o f th e Highland Companies i n Sir Michael Shaw Stewart s
regiment of Renfrewshire Volunteers .

A M H AI G HDE AN M H ODH A R .

mh ai gh dean m h o dh ar is bo i dh ch e
’
A Maiden tender o f the most b ea utiful
'
den ’-
is boy ch e
( Sy mmetrical) figure
’-
a v ay -
vo ar
,

dealbh ,
de-s lv

T h e dc gh ruai gh mar an c aoran de arg ,

Thy cheeks are as rowan red ,
ha do yru -
ay
'
mar an cao ran derag

Do shuil mar dhe arc ai g f o dh ri uch d so T hy e y es like (blae ) berri es in morn

do h uyl m ar y erc -
ay g to yri -n o
so mg dew ,

mh adu in n ,
v ad- uyn n

Do sh lio s rn ar eala, m ar sh n e ach d do la i mh . T hy boso m like th e swan ,

th y hand s
do h -lis m ar e a ll m ar n ec h d do lay v sn o w ,

3
‘
T h e la s t o f th i s n o ble ra n n n f m in s t re ls i n a . b li n d an d bl ld tl m “ I
v e n e ra e O en e an V BE 8t G OU I O C k‘
.
 or TH E H I G HLAN D CLA N S .
255

Ch oru s
Failli ll oh ro , air Mari bh ain , Fayllill oh ro , ay r Mari bh ain ,
fay llill oh ro ay r mari vayu
Faillill o h ro , gur tu mo g h radh ; Fayllill oh ro , gur tu mo '
y ra ;
.

oh
'
f ayllill r0 gur t u mo yra
Faillill oh ro , na hu -
ill 0 r0 , F ay llill oh ro , na h - uill 0 r0 ,
fayllill oh to na h u-i ll 0 to
’
Gu n tog ain fonn , air mo Mh ari bh ai n . G un to g ai n fonn air mo Mari
,

gun tog ayn fo nn ayr mo va i vayu r

bh ai n
-
,

DU ANAG CEIT EI N .
—
M AY LILT .

Noir ch u i re as an Ceiten na geng an fo When M ay clothes the boughs with

no
y r chuy res -
an cey ten na g yg an
e -
fo bloom ,

bh lath ,
v la
’

’
Biodh na h -
eoin a seiun a la s dh —
c iche An d the bi rds sing in them night and
’
’
bi ’
na h e-o y u a se n n
y a la s o
y y
-ch
e day ,
sa la,
sa la

Bidh g o bh ai r,
bidh cao i ri ch is c ro dh T h ere will be goats sheep milk cows , , ,

bi bi caoyrich is
’ ’ ’~
g ov a yr cro
’
lo i g h le n al,
loy ’ len a1

dach adh
’
A ig M ari oi g ga n sao ri ao dan A n d y oung M ary dri ving them against
ay s mari Oy s g an BaOd-a -Oh a ri ao dan the breast of the hills .

c h arn .

H o mo Mh ari
, lag h ach ,
’
s tu mo Mh ari Ho ,
my bonn y Mary ho , ,
my Mary
ho mo v ari la ’-
ach
’
stu mo vari trim ,

g h ri n n ,

yrin n
H o, mo Mh ari lagh ach ,
’
s tu mo Mhari
,
Ho my bonny Mary ho
, , ,
my Mary
ho mo vari la
'
-
ac h s tu mo v ari
’
melodious ;
bh in n ;
v inn
’
Ho mo Mh ari
,
lagh ach , s tu mo Mhari
,
Ho ,
my bonn y Mary ho , ,
my Mary
ho mo v ari la ’-
ach
’
s tu mo vari trim ,

g h ri nn ,

yri n n

c o mh nui dh My wh o
’
Mari lurac h bh oi dh each ga n Mary b o nn y livel y , , dwell s
mari lur i n the glens
'
-
ach voy ech cov -nu
gan y
-
.

na li
g n n .

Cha n eil ’ ’
i n n eal c i uil a th ui rlin g ri amh No instrument h as ever sounded un der
ch a-n eyl i nn -cl ci -uyl a hurlin g ri -av the sun
’
fo n gh rei n ,
fo n yreyn
25 6 THE MUSIC
A dh -
air choir gach
ai ri si s ceo l bh io s That adequately imitate every
c an
a y ay ris is ayr
-
ch oyr gach cc -o l vis kind o f music we have ,

again fein ,
agayn fey n

U i seag air g ach lonan sm eorach air A lark on every meadow a thrush on , ,

gach lo n an sme o rac h every bran ch

uy seg -
ay r ayr - - -
,

g ach g ei g ,

gach g eys
’
S cuag se in n le mu irn a lo i dh do n chi ui n
’
And the cuckoo singing joy ousl y her
’ '
scu ag sey n n 1s muy rn a loy
-
don chi uyn h y mn to the m ild month o f M ay -
.

mh i os ch ei t H o etc Ho & c —
,
.
, .

vi -os ch ey t

Tha do sh ean g shli os fallain mar eala Thy sound taper waist is graceful as
ha do hen g hlis fallayn m ar ella a swan when swimming ;
air sn amh ;
ayr sn av

M u i n eal
’
mar an can ach beul , c m ban ail Th y throat like c ana sweet , is a
mnyu sl mar an can ach b ey l om ban -
ayl welcome from thee ,

f ailt,

G ruai dh air dh a th an t shiris suil ghorm -

,
-
Cheek s like cherries ey es blue sweet , , ,
'
tir-is suyl -y orm
’
g ru ay
-
a r
y ya an warm ,

mh i lis th lath ,

’
M ala chaol gu n g h ru am an gnnis g h lan
-
, ,
A slender ey e brow without a fro wn a
-
, ,
mal a ch ao l gun yru a man
-
g nuys y lan
- -
white forehead hai r curl y and fair .
,
’
s cu ach f halt ban H o etc - —
,
. Ho &c,
.

8 cu ach alt ban

’
- -

Ged bu le amsa Alb ainn a h ai rg ead sa ,

-
Although mine were Albin , an d h er
g ed bu ls e m se alab i n h ayr ged sa wealth and power
-
a - -
,

m aoin ,
maoyu

Cia m ar bh i th in n son adh gun do ch o mu n n H ow could I be happy without ,

th y
cc mar vi inn sona gun do ch o munn '
- ’ -
loved companionship
g aoil ?
gaoyl
Mari bh o idh each
’
B an nsa le deo choir Rather would I ha ve bonny Mary ,
mari de o ch oy r
'
bannsa voy -
ech le -
with a good right to m y self , ,

dh omh fein ,

yov f ey n

Na ged gh eibh i nn storas na R o in -

E orp Than a title to E urope with all her
y y i nn
e v-
storas n a royn -
eorp we alth .

gu leir .
—
H o, etc . Ho etc,
.

gu ley r

The following verses were written by William Ross to the origin al of th e ,

”
am kn o wn in the Lowlan ds as O er the muir amang the heather Both sets ’
.

are v ery beautiful ; but the Highl and set has certainl y m dre ten derness ,

s implicity and dignity at least to my taste

, , .
2 58 TH E MUSIC
lasadh le e i bh n e as ,
’
8 mo chli abh a My bosom kindling with joy ,
s mo ch li - av a l as a ’
le eyv - n es

’
T abh ai rt e i sde ach d dh a d bh e u l tairis .
While listeni n g to th y lips eloquent .

tav-s r yt ey e -
deo ya (1
’
vey l tay ris

E ho ro , etc . E ho ro
,
etc .

c h e ol ,
’
S tu mo lon mo , mo c hlarsac h , Th o u art my fo od ,
my music my h arp ,
,
s tu mo lon mo ch e o l mo ch lar s ach - -

Mo leug ph ri e seil ri mh each ag h mh o r , , , M y g em priceless b rilli ant blessed ;, ,

m o l eug f i s ey l ri vech ag h
r o - -
v r

’
Bi an t sh eun a ch u madh o n bh as mi
-
, It were a charm to save me from de ath
bi an t ey n a chu ma o n vas mi '

M aig h dean n mo gh rai dh bhi mar ri um . To have thee alway s with me .

may den mo ’-
y ay vi mar ri m r
’ -
u

E ho ro etc , . E ho ro , etc .

h -etro m g h le us i o mp ai dh ,
’
Gur mo is m Light will be my mind and my action ,

g ur h etrom mo yley s is mi - o mp ay ’

’
lo dai l m o c h eum
’
S neo o n f h on n sa , Not clumsy my step from this land ,
’
s ne o s
lo -d ay l mo ch ey m on o nn s a

C u ti r ard n an sar fhear su n dach , To the high country of heroes g ay ,

g u ti r ard n an sar er sun dach

’
S mi tre ig sin na g alltach d nam dh ean n Forsaking the country of strange rs
smi treyg - si n na
galltac n am with speed
yen n .

ai bh .
—
E ho ro , etc . E ho ro etc , .

ay v

Diri dh mi ri tulach A rmu in , I will ascend the hill of Ar m u in ,

d iri mi ri t ul ach a muyn
’
r

Air leth taobh strath min na L ari g

-
,
On o ne side of the vale of L arig ,
ls t eo v min n a larig
' ’
ay r sra -

’
S te arn ai dh mi g u Innis bh la choil - -
, Then go down to Innis vla choil - -
,
s teru sy m1 gu’
inni s vla ch oy l - -

’
S g hi bh mi Sine bhan gun smallan . And find fair J ean in her brightness .

s yev mi sin e van g un s mallan

E ho ro mo ruin a ch aili nn , ,
E ho ro , my love the maiden ,
8 he re mo run a ch aylin

E ho ro , mo ruin a c h ailinn ; E ho ro , my love the maiden

e be ro mo run a ch aylin

Ruin a ch ai li n n , suai rc e manran ,

My love the mai den o f the
,
run a ch aylin su - ay rce man -ran ani m ated converse ,

Dh -
o i ch
’
s la tha ti g h
’
n fo
’
m aire . Who is in m y thoughts night
an d day
’ '
yoych sla ha ti -n fo mayre .

Burns wrote a song to the same air with the following verses also ; but like ,
” “ ’
the rest of his songs to Highl and airs (excepting Auld Langs y ne A man s , ,
” ” “
a m an f or a that The L e a riggs ’
Green grow the rashes o and a few
,
-
, , ,

othe rs the ai rs of which had sc arcely been al tered ) the airs were so tamed
, ,

d o wn as to carry the words even of Burns into the land of Nod along with
 or TH E HI G HLAN D CL A Ns . 259

them The following Gaelic air and verses are so peculiar as to m ake me feel
.

my self justified in assigning the composition o f the melody as well as the verses , ,

to a fair lady who w as afterwards married to Cameron o f G len evi s

, her g i llidh ,
—

”
dubh ci ar dubh o r black haired s warthy y outh I heard it sung in the true spirit
, ,
-
.

by on e o f her descend ants MissMacd o nald o f Dri mn an torran who inherits the taste , ,

o f her ancestress and is so unfashionable as to sing the songs an d pl ay the melodies

,

o f her native mountains i n a manner worth y o f them when other y o ung ladies ,

consider it quite vulgar to sing or play an y thing either sweet or natural .

AN G I L L I DH DU B H C I A R DU B H .

Cha dh iri ch mi bru dh ach , I ascend not a hill ,

ch a diri ch mi bru ’-
ach

Cha sh i ubh ail mi m o inte ach ,

I cro ss not a he ath ,
ch a h i -uvay l mi moyn tech

Dh f h albh m o g h u th binn I tune not voice

’
, my ,
al
y v mo y u
’
binn
C h a sh ei n n
mi o ran ,
I sing not a song ,
ch a b ey n mi o an r

Cha ch ai deal mi u ai r , I sleep n ot an hour ,

ch a ch ay del mi u - ayr

O luain gu domhnach , From Monday till Sund ay ,

0 ln -ayn gu dovnach
’
Gu n an i ll
g dh i dubh ci ar dubh thig h i n n Without being c o nscious (in my heart)
l gi ?
l1 auv '
Cia? d“ bi -i nn o f the black haired sw arth
y y outh
g un an -
,
’ ’
fo m u dh Gu n an g illi dh , etc Without etc
—
. . .
,
’ '
fo m u
y

B ri o dal be o il u , g radh bh an o g 11 , Tender are th y words love o f y oung ,

-
brid al be -
oyl u gra
'
v an 0g u m aidens ,

C ru ai dh -
bh u illeach , f earra bh u i lleach ,
-
Hardy are th y strokes and manl y : ,

vuyll acb ferra-vuyllach

- ’-
cru ay

S e alg aer air m o i n tich , A sportsman on the heath ,

selag er ayr mo -i n i t ch
-

Lamb a leag adh nan d amh c ab arac h , A h and for pro strating the branch y
lav l eg a a
n an tav cabarach
'
S t ags ,

S n a m brad an leis a mh o rbh adh And the salmon with the spe ar
’ ’

, ,
’
s n am b adan l eys a v orva r

An g illi dh dubh ci ar tha tig h in n fo m Is the bl ack h ai red swarth y y outh of

’
-
,

gilli whom I am c o nscious

'
an duv ci ar ha ti i n n fom -
’
-
.

u i dh An g illi dh etc —
,
. I s the etc ,
.

’
uy

B -
ei bh i n n leo m coir air a g h illi dh dh u bh
’
Twe re jo y to h ave a right to the
beyvi n n lo-c m co r a r a
y y yilli ’
y uv bl ack h ai red swarth y y o uth
—
,

chi ar dubh -
,

ch i - ar-du v

Fh ao tai n ri ph asa dh na n
’
deo n ai ch idh To get mm I n m a rri age sh o uld ,
God
ao tay n ri fasa ’
n an de -
on -
i ch -
e
'
o rd ain it .

di a e .

di -
a e
2 60 TH E MUS IC
R ac h ai n t- H olai n t,
’
le t a do n I w o uld go with the e to Holl and
ra ch -
ay n let don t - o l- aynt

M o dh e o ! be mo m h ian e Indeed it were , my delight to do so

mo y o
e -
be m o v i -an .
e

’ ’
S ch a g h abh ai n fe ar li adh s tu ti g h i n n And I will n o t h ave a gre y he aded -

W
'
Ch a f er li i m1
’
8
yav ay n
-
a 8 ti -
man while c o nscious of thee
: , .

fo
’
In u1 dh .
—
S ch a , etc . And I etc , .

The air to which the following verses are sung I received fro m my d aughter ,
”
M rs Lang Logan in the S cottish G ael gives a di fferent se t of evidentl y the
.
, ,
” ’
s ame melody under the touching n ame of O ssian s lament for his father
,
The .

”
follo wing verses like the song O i ch mar tha mi at p age 1 9 7 are re arranged
, , , ,
-

from fragments excepting the first verse o f each which be g in with the sam e words
, , .

’
O I CH M AR TH A MI 8 MI NA M A ONA H ’
.

’ ’
O i ch mar tha mi s mi na m ao n ar, Al as for me all alone , ,
oy ch m ar h a s mi n a m aon ar
mi

Cha ch adal a ch bach a g h eabh ain an n , Not sound is the sleep which come s
ch a ch ada aov - ach a y ev -a n
y arm t o me
A i g b oidh ch ead t -
ao dai n n , is m i ad mo From th e be auty o f th y face and my
ay g boy -
ched t - ao d-aynn is mi -ad mo great love ;
g h aoi l ort
y aoyl o rt

Twere jo y to get a single w o rd of

’ ’
Gu m ait le am b -
f h aotai n n dh i ot g uth
gum b ayt le am -
aot ayn n
-
y1
-
0t eu
'
converse with thee .

an c h ai n t .

an c h ayn t

Ch o ru s
O na bith g aol a th rei g sin
g u i dh e an ,
O h do n o t say w e must the love
ao l a h reyg s i nn fo rs ake
’-
0 na bi g y e an
’
g u -

Bha o chein dh ui n n na eibh n eas ai gh ; That h as been so long to us a joy

0 ch eyu yu y u bl ameless ;
’
va na ey v n es ay -

Ged sc ar air c ai rdean n gun i o ch d o Although friends merciless have

g ed s car ayr c ayrd en n g n i cc o - u -
rent us asunder ,
’
cheil sinn ,
ebeyl s inn
Na f ag g u leir mi gun speis gun bh ai gh Leave me n ot f or ever without ,
es

11 8 fag gu leyr m i g un 8 9 ers g un vay

’
teem or pity .

Noir ch u ireas Ce itean gach d o i re g eu g ach , When Spring makes eve ry leafy g rov e
n oyr ch uyr se cey t en g ach doyre g eyg ach
- - -

A sh einn le eibh n eas f o ceu mai bh g raidh . Breathe j o y o us songs under her steps
g ray o f l o ve
’
a h ey nn lo ey v n es f o ceym ay v - -
,

8 ar m bh i o s m i m a c u ar g u tursach I will be al one in sorrow and te ars

’ ’
, , ,
,

8 arm vi s mi m acu ar g u tursach

deurach ,
deyrach

A stri th ri ei slean n ach geil s n ach trai dh ’

. S truggling against a c al amit y that will
a stri ri e slen
y
’
n ach geyl s n ach tray
’
never y ield or diminish .

0 n a, e tc . O h etc, .
 2 62 TH E M U SIC
Donald held that the tenants o f the grantees of feudal charters were bound to
p ay to the n ative chief the ca lp a paid by the evi cted cl ansmen and he w as ,

accordingl y a le ading man among those who exacted the ca lp a from feud al
,

ten ants Di ff erences o f Opinion on the subject o f feudal ch arters an d forcibly

.

exacting calp a ( A ng li cz black mail ) from feud al ten ants introduced pers o n alities
'
-
, ,
“ ”
into the fly tin gs o f Domh n ull Donn and I ain Lom ; but they di d not like ,

the Lowl and bards descend to scurrility This remark does not appl y to Kenned y :
,
.

indeed it is worthy o f observation as showing the superior refinement Of the ,

C ledoni an over the Scot that Kennedy a G allow e g ian Cru ith n e preserves
a
*
, , ,
”
more dignity th an the court bard Dunb ar in their curi ous fly ti n g s G aelic w as , .

the l angu age o f the G allo w e g ian s at the above pe riod and Kennedy is often taunted ,
”
with his G aelic cal led B arse by Dunb ar who w as probably the fi rst m an of
—
,

letters to c o ndemn wh at he did not understand but wh o has fo und many ,

followers in the same di rection since then O ne line of Do m h null Donn s retort .
’

gave deadly offence to the roy al bard I ain Lom n am ely DOII n al a ch o i n bh ath ail , ,
-

si n bh o dh ai r mo dha c hi nais
, the howling o f that v agrant cur has clea ved b o th
—

my ears In answering this taunt the roy al b ard almost descends to scurrility ,
.

Do mh n ull Donn w as in love with a daughter o f the chief o f the Grants .

The chiefs o f this old and powerful clan long refused but ul timately accepted a ,

feud al charter o f the cl an district This introduced feud al ideas into the family .
,

so th at the y could no longer reg ard the high blooded but p en n yless chiefta in as -
,

an equal m atch The her o and his l ady l o ve were howeve r determined not to
.
-
, , ,

allo w new and conventional ide as foreig n alike to their c o untry an d their clans , ,

to intervene between them an d h ad c o nce rted a pl an o f elopement The family

,
.

were li ving at their se at at G lenurq uh art so Don ald to be at hand hid him ,
-
, ,

self i n a cave (o r rathe r under a ledge o f a rock ) o n the no rth side of Lochness -
,

near R ileag G h orrai dh a little distance below th at part o f the ravine over which
,
L
h is celebrated namesake Al lein M ac R ao n uillq leaped o n finding his enemies
,

before him at the he ad of the ravine in h i s he adlong race from Cill a ch ri o sd ,

- -
.

Don ald s secret an d retreat were betray ed to the brother o f his love and he
’
,

w as dec o y ed into a house i n the neighbourhood of the cas tle by a p re te n de d ,

message from Miss Grant Here he w as to rem ain until the y o ung lady should
.

be able to escape the vigilance o f those who were w atching her an d j o in him ,
.

’
Donald thrown o ff his guard by the kindness an d hospitality o f the lad y s pre
,
”
tended confident was prev ailed ou n ot only to drink p o ttle deep but also to
, , ,

sleep i n the b arn No s o oner w as he a sleep however than his sword and target
.
, ,

were rem o ved by his treache rous host ; hence when h i s foes c ame upon him in ,

the morning he h ad no we apon but h is gun which sn apped so th at he was

, , ,

F ro m t W i gto n
Ai to th e ou n 0
’
r,

A d ll b d un th li nks C
’
n a e- o e 0 re e ,

N m n d th i k t t y th
o an ee n o a rr e re ,

Unl s h u t S i nt K nn dy
es e co r a e e —
OLD A PH O RI S M .

M o nthl y M zi n I thi n k ti l ”
S e e th e N e w ag a e of , , 1 829 , f o r th e ar c e C I ll a C h ri o sd
- -
.
 OF TH E H I G HL A N D CLAN S .
2 63

literally un armed The following are a few . of the verses he wro te on the
occasi o n o f his c apture

Mile mallach d g u bragh A thousand cu rses for ever

m il e m allac gu b a r

A ir a g h un n a mar arm , O n th e gun as a we apon ,

a r
y a y un n a mar arm

N de i g h
’ ’
a mh eallaidh s an tair a After the deception an d degradatio n
’
11
’
dey a v ellaY
'
83“ t3) ” 8 I h ave met with .

f h uair mi .
—
Mile etc ,
. A thous and etc ,
.

h u- ay r mi

Ged a g h eabh ai n dh o m h fein Had I been off ered

g ed a y ev -a n
y y ov fey n

L an buai le de sp re idh , A fo ld of c attle

yl e de sp ey
,
’
lan bu -
a r

’ ’
B an n sa clai dh eam h le sg e idh s an I w o uld have p referred a sword and
bann” Ol af W - S ee
’
t arget at that m o ment .

nair ad G e etc .
—
,
. H ad etc , .

u - a r ad
y

Bha tri fich ed is tri uir There were three score and three -

va tri fich - cd i s tri - uyr

’
Ga m rui dh f e adh n an lub , Chasing me along the windings of the
g am lub
'
ruy
’
fe nan river ,
’
Gus n do bh uin iad mo lu s le luath as uam . Until the y won m y strength from me
’
g us n do vuy n i -
ad mo 1113 Is ln ’ -as u -am by speed .

Bh a, etc . There etc , .

Righ ! gur mise a bh a nar Righ but I was ash amed

gur mi sc
'
ri a va n ar

Noir a iad mi slan g hlach d When they caught me alive

n oy r a ylac i ad mi sl an -

S n a ch tug mi fear ban n a ruadh dh i u Without losing a man fair red

’
.
, or .

an ach t g mi
'
f er ban n a u ru -a
yi
-
u

Righ etc ,
. Righ etc , .

lai m h ,
’ ’
Na m biodh fios m i bhi n Were it known that I am imprisoned ,
’
na m bi -
o
’
63 mi vi n layv

S i o madh Do m lm alach ard Man y is the lo ft y Macdonald

’
,

si o ma dovn alach ard

-
’

’
A h abh mo h ai rt s an u airsa That would take my part in this strait
g a p .

a ya a v mo fay rt s an u - a rsa
y
Na etc , . Were etc ,
.

Agus m aig h dh e an dh eas ur ,

And m any a maiden fresh and symmet
ag us mayd en yes ur ri c al,

Is ard beach d s as c aoin g n uis ’

,
O f a lo fty mi nd and a mild face ,

is ard beo s as caoy u gnuys

 2 64 TH E M U SIC
”
A ch u i readh n a c ru i n f h u sg ladh Wo u ld give cro wns* release me
’

g a In . to .

’
c h uy re g am gla
’
a na o ru yn u as
- -

Agus etc ,
. And etc , .

I ain m achduibh t og Black hai red J ohn arise an d come

a ,
-
, ,
i ay n d y v to g a mach
- u
forth
’
8 th o ir n a fh ao das tu le at With as man y as y ou can g ather
s h oy r n a y ao das tu le at -

Cum c ui mh n e adh a ir a bh eart bu du al Remember the wont o f y our ancest o rs .

c um c uy v n e a r a
y v e rt
y bu du al -
’
-

dhut Iain etc .

—
Black etc , .
,
.

yu t

’
N a m bi o dh tus a f o gh lai s , H ad y ou been under a lock ,
n am bi o tu sa fo y lays - ’

Agus mise a bhi as , A nd me at liberty ,

ag u s mis e a bh i as

N aile ch u mai n m o ch as gle lu ai n e ach . Faith ! I w o uld keep my foot in acti o n .

n ayle ch mayn mo chas gle u ln -

ay n ecb

N a m etc ’

,
. Had etc ,
.

B h i o dh an t- osan gle g h e arr, The hose would be very short ,

vi o -
'
an t-o s an gle yerr
’
S a feile gle ard, The kilt ve ry high ,
s a f eylé gle ard

’
S balgan p e alla ch o sc ean na c ru ach ai n , A nd the sh aggy have rsack above the
s bal agan p ll ch
e a o s-cen na cru - a - chayn h an n oh , & c .

&c .
—
Bh i o dh , etc . The etc , .

Domh n ull
Donn naturall y expe cted that his g reat clan would interfere o n
his behalf and p ay his er z e but he was not o n fri endly terms with h i s chieftain
’

Mac mhic R aonu ill n o r with the great clan bard Iain Lom whose only son he
-
, ,

had the misfortune to have killed i n a duel There w as thus no person interested .

in his fate who w as sufli ci en tly in fluenti al to organ iz e the necessary movement
to save him The app arent neglect seems to have deeply afflicted an d even
.
,

shaken his heroic spirit ; f or the following verses composed by him in prison ,

the night before he was beheaded are scarcel y worthy o f him I can easily ,
.

account for the absence of the tender and pathetic in these verses since breath ,

i n g sorrow or regret might be construed under the ci rcu mstan ces into timidity , ,

or a want of fi rmness His pride and high spirit the refore made h i m guard .
, ,

agai nst the expression of feelings that might countenance such an interpretation ;
but the lofty and bold senti ments which used to characterize his poems are

x c p ti g c pi tal c im s such t h y t n s cl n
*9 A ll e e n untry m u d
a i f m us r e , as reac er o o e
’
a or co , r ers , o r n a o

cr i m s c u ld b c m p n t d by
e , o i c u d th l h d
e o d w n t w hi ch w
e sa e th nl y l w an er n er e c eac a, o r u se an o — as e o a

rec o g iz d l u d by th p t i r h l cl ns T h i c f th i w i c uld t h v b n f u d
n e or va e e a ra c a a . e er o s arr o r o no a e ee re se

if fl
‘

d b y th
o erel n T h chi f f th G nts b d d man ded d r ei v d i c f m th C m
e c a . e e o e ra a e an ec e er ro e a ero ns

n ot m ny en tu i s bef
a th n
c r e ore e ,
 2 66 T HE M U SIC
’
8 an c o ileach
d ubh a ir l uth a sg eidh , An d th e bl ack c o c k o n th e speed of
-

co ylech dav ayr lu a sgey ’ '

h 1s
wi n g ,

Mu n d th eid na e idi th iom a fe a r

’ ’

Before m an y c o u ld dress th emselves ;

m un dey d na eyd -
i
'
i - o ma f er
’
8 an e arba
bh e ag a m bun na m p re a s ’

, An d th e li ttle roe i n th e c oppi c e

san er ba veg a m bun
-
n am r
p es
,

G e de as a ch i sa chlui nn eas i .
Th o u gh qu i ck h er sight an d h e ari n g
g e des a ch i sa ch l yn n e as i
.

u - -

’
8 an earba b h e ag am bun na m pre as ’

, A n d th e li ttle roe i n th e c op p i c e
san sr -
ba ve
g am bu n n am r
p es
,

G e de a s a ch i sa ch luin n eas i .
Th o u gh q u i ck h er sig ht an d h e ari n g
a chi sa chluynn es i
.

ge des

O ch oi n a D h i a l cu m le a rn mo ch i al
, , 0, G od ! keep m y wisdom wi th me
ooh oy u a yi a c um ls am mo ch i a1
- - - -
,

C ha robb mi riamh ch o c un n artach . I n ever w a s so d an gero u s .

ch a ro v mi ri av ch o cun n art aeh - - -

O ch o i n , a Dhi a l cu m le arn mo ch i al , 0, G od ! keep m y wisdom with me ,

och - oyu a i
y a
-
c um le- am mo ch i -a1

C ha robb mi riamh cbo c un n artach . I n ever w as so d an gerou s .

ch a ro v mi ri av ch o cunn art ach - - -

Bid h mi mai re ach a ir cn o c g u n ch ean n ’

I will b e to morro w o n a k n oll wi th
-

mi m ayr ech ayr cn oc gun ch en n

'
bi -
o ut m y h e a d ,
’
S cha bh ith mo ch ai rdean f uireach ail . An d m y frien ds will n o t b e watch ful
mo ch ayrd e an fa y t ac h ay l
’ ’
I
s ch a v1 - - - -

>l< s x >1
:

S truag h ,
a ri gh ! mo n ig h e ann donn
’

, Wo u ld a ri ! m y b row n haired m aid

,
-
,
stru a a ri -
'
mo ui e an d on n ' ’- -

N ach ro b b mi thall a M u ile le at ; That I w as over i n Mull wi th th ee ;

n a ch rov mi hall a may le let
F a r a m faig hi nn i asg is si th ean f h iadh , Wh ere I wo u ld ge t fis h an d deer
far am fay inn i asg is si e an i a - -
'
- - -
'
ve n ison ,
’
S a ch i al cha bh i o dh oir u u i reasai bh . A n d m y love we s h o u ld n ot want
, , .

sa chi a1 ch a vi o oym uyr es syv

- - ’
- -

A cc ordin g t o th e t r a di t io n
s sister w as prese nt at th e exe cution ,
D o nald
’

,
“
an d th e h e a d a rt i cul at ed after b ei n g s truc k o ff th e words a Ch ei t tog an , , , ,

c e ann K at e lift th e h e a d It m a y b e do u b t ed wh e th er th e t on g u e th o u g h
”
, ,
.
,

p ut i n mo tio n a s th e axe fell c o u ld a rti cul ate th e words that hun g u po n i t ; but ,

i t cann o t b e do ubted that as cri b i n g t o Domh n ull D o nn th e an xie ty les t h is

, ,

b ody sh o u ld mee t wi th n egle ct or i n dig n i ty afte r de ath w h i ch th e tr adi tio n ,

implies proves that h e preserved th e deme an o ur of a ge ntlem an W h ile un der

,

goin g a se nt e nc e res u l ti n g from h is opposi tio n t o th e u s u rp at io n by w h i ch th e

people were a s h e fores a w ult im ate l y deprived of th eir immemori al right of
, ,

pro p er ty i n th e soil of th eir respe ctive cl an dis tri cts A plai n simple memori al .
,

s t o n e i n h is native c l achan Bo huti n wi th an i n s c ription t o th e ab ove e ffe ct is , , ,

well deserved b y th e memory of Domh null D onn .

 OF T H E H IG HL A N D C L A NS . 2 67

Th e followi n g fr agme nt ha s b ee n dressed u p like th e t wo b eginn i n g O ich

” “ ”
m ar tha mi alre a d y me nti o n ed Th e melod y is called O r an si th by Mrs
,
.
,

Mac don ell b ut th e s ubje ct of th e verses u s ually s un g t o i t is th e very c ommon

, ,

th o u g h ever t o uch i n g o n e i n ball a d poe t ry unhap p y love : th e melod y i tself ,

—
,

h owever is of th e cl ass called ceo l s i th or fairy m u si c an d few eve n of th is

,
-
, ,

cl ass a re more wild an d p ath e t i c as pl ayed b y M rs Mac do n ell ; but th e followin g ,

verses are n o t worth y of th e melod y Th ou g h I ha ve n o t m ade a c onn e cte d .

b allad to s u i t th e a ir from anxie ty to preserve all I c o u ld fi n d of th e original

, ,

th e verses t ell th eir ow n to uch i n g s t ory Th e f air auth oress w as b e tray ed b y —

h er sis ter an d th e l over sl a i n b y h er th ree b ro th ers but at th e expe nse of t wo

, ,

“
of th eir ow n lives Th e y re tur n ed from th e a dve ntu re c overed wi th th e i r ow n
.

b lood b ut th is seems to have i ncre a sed i n s te a d of dimi n ish in g th e grief of th e

”
,

lovi n g sis ter so li ttle did a spiri t of reven g e acc ord wi th th e feeli n g of th e
,
—

b ere a ved H ighl an d m aide n .

T HA DH R I U C H D F E IN AI R BHAB GA C H M E A NG AI N .
—
ITS O W N DE W IS ON

E V E RY BO U GH .

Tha dh ri uch d fei n air bhar g ach m ean g ai n I t s ow n dew is o n every b o ug h , ,

ha yri uc feya ayr v ar gach mengayn
-

Tha g ach glean n an a dol an g uirm ead E very gle n is be c omi n g more gree n ; ,
ha g ac h g l en n an a d ol an guyrmed
’
Tha n c eo ag i adh adh m u na bealai ch Th e mis t is w i n di n g aroun d th e defiles , ,
mu n a bel ay ch
' '
h an ce o ag i a - - -

’
S tha mo le an n an a ti h i n n a sh u ireadh An d m y lover is c omi n awooin .

h a mo lenn an a t1 mn a h uy re
’ ’- ’
8 o

F 07m

H uvo i na h ori n o va ,
H uv o i na h ori n ov a ,

H urin i na h ori n o H u ri n i na h ori n o ;

H uv o i na h ori n ov a , H uv o i na h ori n ov a ,

Thu g mi c o i n n eamh dha sa ch oil . I g a ve h im a mee ti n g i n th e wood .

h ug mi co ynn cv ya - sa ch o yl

A phi uth ar f h ealsach a ri n n mo mh e alladh , F al se sist er w h o b e tray ed me

vella
, ,

a fi -
u
'
- ar elsach a rinn mo ’

N oir a leig mi ri ut mo r un , W h e n I dis c losed t o th ee m y love

a ley g mi ri ut mo run
,
no
yr
-

S h ao il le a m nach bu luai dh ai dh n
’
I th o u g ht m y se c re t wo u ld as fa s t
h aoyl lem n ac h bu lu ay n -
'
c ome
sg euladh
sg eyl -3’

T re do bh en l na t re do g hlun Th rou gh th y k n ee a s th rou gh thy li p s

vey l
. .

tre d o n a tre d o
ylun
H uvo e tc ,
. H uvo , e tc .
2 68 TH E M U S IC
’
8 i o madh clu i ch idh , m i re a dh is aig h e ar , Ma n y were th e s p or ts m uch th e m ir th
mi rre
' ,
ma clu reh e
’ ’
sr-o is ’
an d happ i n ess
- -
a sr
y
-

’
bh
0 O O

S an tam s m e asg g h lean n I n w luc h we lovi n gl y symp ath i z ed

I O

ro srn n 18
S an rO V 81 1 m tayr 15 -
o

mesg y len n is
wi th on e an oth er i n gree n re ,
c h lu ai n ean c esses amo n g th e gle n s ,
ch lu ay n en- -

N oir c h e an g ail g aol si nn an l ai th a ir Wh e n aff e ction tied u s t oge ther i n

yr c h en - g ay l gaol si nn ayr ’
h e an lay o u r y o uth ,
h -
o ig e ,
b oy g —
é

Mar d ha ros a ir a on mh ean g ai n suairce . L ike t wo roses roo ted i n o n e mode st

mar y a ros ayr aon v engan su ayr cé - -
S t em .

B a vo e tc , . H u v e e tc
, .

’
8 tri c a thu i t ann an doire diam h air O fte n ha s falle n i n i ts se c re t grove
stric a h uyt ann an doyré d i a vayr
- -

A n e arbag m h eag h ail le saig h e ad f u adai n ; Th e i nn o c e nt roe by a w an derin g

an erbag vi -a yayl le sa c d f u a d ay n - ’
- - -
arrow ;
A ch c o a sh eao i leadh gu n ’
tui te adh B ut w h o c o u ld th i n k that m y love r
ac h co 9. haoyle ’
gu n tuy te
'
sh ou ld fa ll
leann ai n ,
l enn -
s yn

L e foil na p eat’h aer a roi n n mo c luasag ? B y th e treach ery of th e sis ter w h o

1e foyl na pe
-
er a ro
yn n mo ohlu a sag shared m y p i llow ?
- -

H uv o , e tc . H uvo e tc ,
.

t
a i ’: 3
' ‘
7:
' =1? ’1? i f? Q? 3
?
' ‘
3
9

Ch ai dh a seach ad mo th ri ui r bh rai dh rean , P as t we nt m y th ree b ro th ers

ch ay a sech ad mo ri uyr y ray ren - - ’
-

Air an steu daibh lom a luadh adh , On th eir steeds sleek an d swift ,
ayr an steyd ayv l oma lu a a -
'
- -
’

B i o dag p ai sgte dh ris g ach u illi n *

,
Th eir dirks folded a gai n s t each elbo w “i ,
t

ris g ach
’
bi dag paysg te
- u lli
y
-
n

8 a m f uil fe in a taom adh bh u ap a

’
-
. A n d th eir ow n blood po u ri n g from ,

8 am f yl fey a tao ma
u vu ap a h
’ -
th em .

R u vo e tc , . H uv o e tc,
.

Chail mi Do mh null
’
s cha il mi A illei n , I have lost D o nald , I have los t A ll an ,
obayl mi ill ei
dovn ul s obayl mi s n

M o d ha brath air bha reach d m h or u asal , M y t wo b rothe rs hau ghty (but) n ob le , ,

mo y a vra ayr va rec v or -
a sal u- -

S cha do lu g h dai ch e mo leire adh

’
N or has i t lesse n ed my distress
lu day ch e mo leyr a
.

s ch a d o
’- '
-

G u m be mo S e u m as a roi n a m bualadh
’
. T h at m y J ames i t w a s w h o sl ew them .

m b m h é m a roy n am b u a la
’
-
u e o as - -
g
H uv o e tc , . H uvo , e tc .

5“ dirk i s u s e d i n f en cin g by a ski l f u l p erson th e h i l t i s g rasped i n su c h a w ay a s to turn

W h en th e .

th e po i n t tow ard s th e e l bow T h e e xp r e ssi on ab o ve d esc ri b e s it a s f o l d e d -b ac k a lon g th e sl e e v e so as th e

.
,

p oin t may touch th e elb ow joi n t -

.
 2 70 T HE M U S IC
B ha mi u eir nach do sh ao il mi , Th e d ay has b ee n that I did n o t th i nk
mi u ayr n ach d o h aoyl mi
,
va -

Ged is fao in bh e g a ag radh , Al th ou gh i t is v ai n t o repe at i t ,

g ed is f aoy n vi ag ra
’
ga
G u n rach adh do bh ath adh
’

, Th o u ever c o u lds t have b ee n drow n ed

g un r ach a d o va a ' '
- ’

G u b r ath a ir cuan f arsu in n . I n an o p e n se a .

gu b ra ayr cu an fars yn
'
-
u

E u a h o e tc -
, . E u- a h o e tc
,
.

Fh ad sa sh e asa dh
a sti ui r d h i , Wh ile th e h elm s h o uld e n d ure ,
ad 83 h esa a sti uyr yi ’
-

An d th o u sh o u lds t
’
S tu a ir on] a bu il bh eart e , be i n th e c om
stu ayr oul a h uyl verte m an d ,

Dh ai n deon anradh nan du illean

-
, D espi te th e fier c e w ar of th e elem e nts ,
y ay u eu an ra -
n an duyllen -
'

Ag u s ubraid na m ar a . An d th e an gry tu m u l t of th e o ce an .

ag us uh ray d n a ma ra -

H u a h o e tc -
, . E u-a h o e tc ,
.

Fh ad sa fh an adh ri ch eile So lo n g as s h o u ld rem ai n t oge th er

ad sa y an -
a
’
r i obeyle
A dealean ’
s a h -
ach uinn , Th e p l an ks an d th e ge ari n g ,
a delen sa hach -uy nn
’
S b-urrainn di g eille a’dh A n d s h e c o uld ob e y
’
s burrayn di g eylle
’
D o ( 1 lai mh th rei n air an ai g e al, &c . Th y s t ro n g a rm o n th e de ep ,
&c .

d o dlay v brey n ayr an ay g el

E u-a h o e tc, . Eu -
a h o e tc
,
.

”
I s ub mi t a f e w verses of G illi dh G uan ach for th e same re aso n namely , ,
’
more for th e s ake of th e ai r than th e verses I n Tai t s Mag az i n e of J un e 1 82 9 .
,

I g ave an imi tat io n of verses s u pposed to have b ee n wri tte n b y th e h ero of th is

so n g after an acc ide nta l i nte rview h e ha d wi th th e auth oress of th e followi n g
,

verses w h e n b o th were m arried

, .

A N G IL L IDH G U A NA C H .
— '
T H E G AY OR VO L A T IL E Y O U T H .

’
8 di do u a i ch a dol do n chlach an W h e n goi n g to th e cl achan o n S un d ay
’
ar m -
, ,

san d i donaych a d o] don chlachan

-

A gh abh mi beach d ort a measg nan ceud I a dmired th ee amon g hun dreds ;
a y a v mi bech d ort a mesg n an ceyd
Ge b e g oraich e na faoin each d ,
An d wh e th er from foll y or v an i ty
, ,

ge be go rayeh e

N si n ch ean g ail g aol si n n L ove (th e n ) t ied u s to o n e an o th er

’
an sn aim nach
g a ol a n ach
’
S in ch en g a wi th a t ie that W Ill n ever relax
11
yl sinn all w rm
'
.

geil .

geyl
 on T HE H I G H L A ND CL ANs: 27 1

Fo n n Ch o ru s
Mo hi lli dh uan ach , thu g iri oro My vol at ile y o uth hu g iri oro
g g ,
yi lli
, ,
mo ’
g u -an - ac h h ug i ri oro

Mo g h i lli'dh g uan ach , h o robh a h i ; My vol atile y o uth h o rov a h i ,

mo y illi g u -
an -ach h o ro v a h i

Fh leasg ai ch u asail an le adean dh uallai c h , M y ge ntlem anl y y o uth wi th th e flo w

u as ay l an leden yu-all-aych
,

les gayeh - - -
i n g ri n gle ts ,
’ ’
Tha mi fo gh ruai m bh o na dh -
f h ag n u t ir . I a m i n sorrow si nc e y o u left o u r l an d .

ha mi fo yru aym - vo na yag u n

’
ti r

Tha do bh ilibh gu milis blath or ’

,
S wee t an d b loomi n g are th y li p s ,
ha do viliv
gu mil is bl a o r
’
-

Mar ros an g ar ad h do d ha gh ruai dh ; Th y ch eeks like g arde n roses ;

mar ros an g ar a do y a y ruy
- ’ '

Mar ch o illean ch eire m easg c o illean crei se ,

L ike w ax a mon g tallow can dles -
,

m ar ch o llen ch ey ré mesg eoyllen crey sé

y
H a c oltas S h eu mai s a m easg an t -
slu ai g h . I s J ames a mon g th e people .

h a coltas h ey mays a mesg an tluy

'

M o e tc ,
. Mo ,
e tc .

Tha do ch allapan an foi n n eidh dealbh ach Thy l egs a re polish ed an d sy mm etri
h a d o ch al l a pan an foy nn ey
,
'
delavach - -
cal ,

G un bh i g ar bh is gun bh i ca ol ; N ei th er ( too) th i ck n or (t oo) sm all ;

gun vi g a rv is g n vi c aol u

G ur a bo i dh each gl an a dh f has 11 —
, C le an an d b e aut ifu l is th y form ,

gur a boy ecl gl an a y as u ’

-
I

S g u r h i o m adh ailleach d a h a ir mo Man y a re th e charms of m y love

’
- -
.

gm s yll ac a h ayr mo
’
8 i o ma - ’ -

g h a o l M o e tc —
, M o e tc
y a ol
. .
,

Th ui rt i ad ri u m gu bh eil u baig h eal Th e y s aid t o me that th o u ar t sus

v ey l u b ay el
,
h uyrt ri um g ui -
ad - ’-
c ep ti ble ,

G u bh eil do g h radh a ir a h uile te -

An d loves t every l ad y
gu v ey l d o yra ayr a h uylé te
'

G u s a f ai c m i e na (1 abh aist ’

,
B ut unt il I see i t i n thy c on d uct
, ,

gus a fay e mi e n a davay st

M i ss a gh rai dh cha c h rei d an sg eul . I m y l ove will n o t b elieve th e ta le
, , .

mi sé a yray ch a c h reyd an
’
sg eyl

M o e tc , . M o, e tc .

N oir a th e id u do Dh u n ei din , Wh e n th o u goes t t o Dun ei din ,

a h ey d u d o yun ey din
no r
y
-

F e ar do ch e u m cha n f balbh an t sh rai d ; ’

—
A noth er m an of th y carri age w alks
f er d o ch eym ch an s lv an trayd th e s tree t ;
n ot

Bid h na bai n tiern ean n ile an deig h or t ,

Th e l a dies will follow th ee i n a dmira
b i n a b ay n tir n en uy l e an dey ort
’ - - ’
t io n ,

S bi dh i dh mi fh ein m ar th e do chach
’
. An d I m yse lf will b e l ike o n e of th e
mi feyn m ar h e d o ch ac h
'
s
’
bi i - ’
res t .
 2 72 T HE M U S IC

Mo g h i lli dh g u an ach , thu g iri oro My vol at ile y o uth hu g iri oro
yi lli
, , ,
mo ’
g u-
an -ach h ug i ri oro

Mo g h illi dh g uan ach , h o robh a h i My vol at ile y o uth h o rov a h i ,

mo y i ll i '
g u -
an -
ach h o ro v a h i

Fhleasg ai ch u asail
an leade an dh u allai ch My ge ntlem an l y y outh wi th th e flo w
u as ay l an
y u all ay ch
, ,
lesgaych le den
- - - - -
i n g rin gle ts ,

Tha m i f o g h ruai m bh o na dh f ha g u n tir ’

-
’
. I a m i n sorrow si nc e y o u left o u r l an d .

ha mi fo y ra aym vo n a u n ti r
’
-
y ag

M rs Mac do n ell se nt me spe cime n s of th e airs sun g b y th e milk m aids -

w h e n milki n g th e c ows o n th e rom ant i c s tanc es sele cted for th e ope n folds o n ,

w h i ch th e y u sed t o b e gath ered for that p u r p ose amon g th e gle n s an d sh ieli n gs of ,

th e H igh l an ds ; but sh e did n o t favo ur me wi th th e verses Th ere w as h owever .

, ,

u s uall y li ttle or n o th i n g i n th e verses of th e milki n g an d o th er l ab o u r so n gs

cal cu l ated t o i nteres t s tr an gers t o th e asso c i ation s th e y were i nte n ded t o call u p .

Th e o bje ct of th e milki n g son g w a s t o sooth e an d b e g u ile th e c ows w h ile

b ei n g milked an d I have see n th em list e n i n g to s uch son gs wi th a dre am y
,
’ ”
pl ac idi ty w h i ch re ali z ed P ope s ide a of ge nt le d u ll n ess lis te n i n g t o a j oke ,

w h ile y ieldi n g th e milk so freel y as t o so un d respon sivel y i n th e fo ami n g p ail .

I t is rare t o see s uch s c e n es n ow i n th e H igh lan ds if i n deed th e y are ever , , ,

see n at all ; but I remem b er th em a s th e mos t pe cu li ar an d ple a si n g fe atu re i n

th e l an ds ca pe an d cann ot h el p wo n derin g h ow an y proprie tor ha vi n g a sp ark of
,

so u l i n h im c ou ld have s ub s t i tut ed s c ree ch i n g s h eph erds y el p in g cu rs an d gre y , ,

fac ed s h eep for s uch farmi n g eve n s u p p osi n g i t to b e th e mos t p rofi table of th e
, ,

t wo but that I de n y T o form a p ro p er udg e men t o n th is s ubje ct th e re ader

.
,

m u s t remem b er that th e c omm un i ty sy s tem of th e p atri ar chal cl an s w as don e

a w ay wi th bef ore th e c o untry e nt ered o n th e agri cu ltur al m anu facturi n g an d , ,

mer cantile career t o w h i ch o u r p rese nt s tate of so c ie ty an d we al th are to b e

,

as crib ed Th e sm all H ighl an d t e nantry w h o ha d th e ar ab le l an ds i n allo t

.
,

me nts an d th e p a s tures i n c ommon were evi cted an d red uc ed to th e c on di tion

, ,

of un emplo y ed l ab o u rers or i n o th er words t o p au pers b y th e e ff e ct give n to

, , , ,

f e u d a l cha rt ers an d th e i ntrod uct io n of s h eep Th ose w h o a s crib e i n dole n ce t o .

th e H igh l an ders forge t that i n d u s t r y is an ac q u ired hab i t an d that sh ee p farm ,

i n g deprived t wo ge n er atio n s of H igh l an ders of all farmi n g employ me nt b efore ,

i t w a s dis c overe d that th e y a re b y natu re fil th y an d i n dole nt Th e fact i s .

,
,

that th ere are n o re a so nable gro un ds for a ss u mi n g had th eir nat ive rights b ee n ,

preserved that th e y wo u ld n o t have e ntered i nt o th e im p roved syst em as w e ll

,

as an y oth er c l a ss an d ha ve develo p ed th e a gri cul tu r al reso u r ces of th eir

,

c o unt ry t o a m uch gre ate r ex te nt than has b ee n don e or ever will b e do n e b y , ,

th e sh ee p farmer I n S wi t z erl an d w h ere th e lan ds i n like m ann er b elon ged to

.
,

th e people an d th e ir anc ie nt rights were cons erved farms are well cu l tiv ated an d
, , ,

th e people c omfortab le an d happ y Th ere are n o s tati sti c s w h ere by t o form an

.

estim at e of th e prese nt v al u e of th e calp a or y o un g s to ck w h i ch w a s p a id by th e , ,

H ighlan ders t o th eir ch iefs an d ch iefta i n s a s th eir fixed re nt s ; but c o n siderin g

th e c o n s tant un iform an d y e arly i nc re a se i n th e v al u e of s t o ck from th e ab ove
d ate i t wo uld prob ab ly ex c eed rath er than fall sh or t of th e re ntal p aid at th is
,
2 74 T HE M U S IC

C R O DH C H A IL L E A N .

( P rob ab l yb c e au s e th e ow r ne u se d to i s ng th e liI t .
)
’ ’
Gu n d th ug adh c ro dh C h ai lle an Th e milk c o ws of -
C oli n
g un cro d uga ’
c h ay ll n
’
e

Dh o mh bai n n e a ir an f h rao ch ,
Wo u ld give me milk o n th e h e ath er ,

y ov bay nn e ayr an r a o eh
G u n chu m an g u n bh uarach
’
*
,
’

, Wi th o ut a p a il or a shackle ,

g un ch uman g un v ar ach u- -

Gu n ’
g u n lao g h ’
. A lay rc en or a calf .

g un lay c e g un l ao r n
’

Fo mz
Orodh Ch aille an mo ch ri dh e , Th e c ows of C oli n of m y h e a rt ,
cro '
ch ay llen mo c h ri '
-
e

Cro dh Ch aille an mo g h ao i l Th e c ows of C oli n of m y love :

cro ’
ch ayllen mo y aoy l
Gu n d ’ ’
th u g adh c ro dh Ch ai lle an Th e c ows of C oli n
g un d ug a ’
c ro c h a lle
y
’
n

Dh om h bai n n e a ir an fh raoch . Wo uld give me milk o n th e h e ath er .

y ov bay n n e ayr an ra oeh

Th e f ollowi n g is an oth er spe c ime n of th e milki n g son g th e air of w h i ch I ,

ha ve re c eived from M rs L an g .

T ILL A N C R ODH A ’
D H 0N NAC H A IDH .
—
TU R N T HE K IN E D U NCAN
,
.

T ill an cro dh , Dh on n ach ai dh , Tu rn th e ki n e , D uncan ,

till an ero
’
yonn a ch a y -
'

T ill an c ro dh , Dh o n n ach ai dh , Tur n th e kin e , D uncan ,

ti ll an em ! yo a c ay
nn -
h '

T ill an c ro dh , Dh o n nach aidh , Tur n th e kin e , D uncan ,

till an cro yo nn a ch ay ’ -
'

’
S gh ei bh u b e an bh oi deach . An d y o u will ge t a b onny wif e .

’
5 yeyv u be v oy ech n
'
-

T ill an cro dh drim e an d ubh ,

Tu rn th e w h i te ridged bl ack c o ws -
,

till an c ro dri men dav

'

O dha r d ubh c ean n e an d ubh ,

D ark -
d un w h ite fac ed c ows -
,

o
’-
ar duv cen n en duv

T ill an cro dh dri me an d ubh ,

Tu r n th e wh i t e ridged b l ack cows -
,

ti ll an cro
’
drimen da v
’
S g h eibh u b e an bh oi dh each &c ,
. An d y o u w i ll ge t a b onn y wif e e tc ,
.

’
8
y eyv u ben v oy ech '-

B h a h ai r h ac kl f ty i g th h i
u arac ,
"
s e or n e n d l eg s of r tiv or
es e fie rc t m pe red cow wh i l
e e s e

L ai rc e an
”
or t l a h a a wi ck r b k t ape d ik a c l ”
c ov r d wit sh l e a f, an d e e h a calf -s ki n place d
1 as e ,
a c n, e

be f ore a cow t ooth h with th e w ll r cog i ed c t f h er calf af ter it 18 ki ll d

o

s en o e
o s e er e e n s ,
.
 or T H E HI G HLAN D CLAN S . 2 75

Th e n ex t cl a ss of th e l ab o u r son gs w h i ch rem a i n for ill u s tr at io n are th e

re ap i n g or sh e ari n g son gs Th e verse of th ese w as s h ort an d s un g b y th e . ,

le a din g re ap er an d th e ch or u s b y th e w h ole ban d L ike th e rowi n g son gs

,
.
,

th e y avoided an y th i n g like th e e x c i teme nt of feeli n g or p a ssio n s an d merel y ,

w an dered over th e l akes rivers gle n s an d h ills i n acc ord anc e wi th th e ple asin g
, , , ,

attach me nt s an d a sso ci ation s of th e si n gers N o sight c o u ld b e m ore delightfu l .

than t o see a gre at ban d of re a pers ex t e n ded over a fi n e field a mid an a gree ab le ,

l an ds cape cutt in g dow n th e golde n sh e afs an d si n gi n g lightl y an d j oy o u sl y i n

, , , ,

full ch or u s Th e l ate M r C hapm an C orstor ph i n e n e ar E di nburgh o n e of th e

.
, , ,

clerks of th e C o u r t of S essio n but a spiri ted fa rmer b ei n g m a rried t o a H igh , ,

l an d l ad y u sed t o h ire l arge ban ds of H igh l an d s h e arers ; an d told me that

,

n oth in g g a ve L ord A llow ay an d h is o th er emi n e nt legal ac q ua i ntanc es gre ater , ,

p le a s u re than t o visi t him at harves t time an d lis te n t o th e merr y harves t ,

d ua n ag a n or lil t s of h is H ig h l an d s h e a rers Th ese son gs were very dis cu rsive .

an d irregu l ar (verses s u gges ted b y passi n g eve nts b ei n g ex t empor aneo u sl y

c omposed an d i ntrod uc ed i nt o th em o cca sio nall y b y an y of th e si n gers that
c o uld do so) an d of i ntermi nab le le n g th I wo u ld i n c oncl u di n g th is ill u s tr at ive .

t re atise b eg of th ose w h o n o t wi th stan din g a carefu l p er u sal of th e pre c edin g

, ,

page s m ay s till ha ve a lin geri n g le an i n g t o th e b elief that th e c ommo n H ig h

,

l an ders were a r u de ign or ant un polish ed peo p le to c o n sider w h e th er E n glis h

, , ,

an d L owl an d Dav i es c o u ld e nt er symp ath e t i ca lly i nt o th e spiri t of son gs like

th ose of w h i ch th e foregoi n g an d th e followi n g verses a re des cri pti ve spe c ime n s ?
Y e t th e y m u s t a dmi t that un less H igh l an d l ab o u rers c o u ld sy m path i z e wi th th e
, ,

feeli n gs an d se ntime nt s w h i ch charact eri z e th ose so n gs th e un ivers al cu s to m of ,

si n gi n g th e m for am u seme nt or t o ch eer th em at th eir d a ily work n ever c o u ld , ,

have b e c ome a characteris t i c of th e p eople or b ee n carried dow n amon g them ,

t o th e day s of L ord A llow a y an d M r C hapm an I have q u oted a s m an y verses .

of e ach of th ese l ab o u r so n gs a s will e nab le th e re a der t o form an opi n io n a s t o

th eir p e culi ar charact er so a s h e m ay j u dge w h e th er I a m j u s tified i n th ese
,

rem arks .

FA I L T E NA M ORT H I R .
—
H A 1L TO MO R A R .

’
Fa il t fe i n a M h o rth i r bh o idh e ach
o rt ,
A ll bai l t o th ee lovel y M ora r
, ,
f y lt
a ort f y a v ore hi ev oy ech
n -
r
'
-

A nn s an o g m h i o s bh ealltai n n -
. I n th e y o un g mo nth of May .

a nu
s an o g vi o l tay n - -
s ve - n

Ch o r u s
H ei ter i nn a ri n n , i u i ri n n , oh h o H e y te r i nn a rin n , i oh
y ri nn , ho
- -
r0 -
u
- -
ro ,

H ei ter i nn -
ari n n , ho r0 . H e y te r -
i nn ari n n , ho ro .

G ri an n -
th ir o rbh u idh
’
s nai n e c ota ,
S unn y l an d of th e gre e n es t m antle ,
h ir u ay e c o t a
’ ’
an
n
- —
o r- v u
y s n
-

Is fro in i dh ros ri h altaibh ~

. Wi th fores t s of flo w e rs o n th e ban ks
is f oy i
r n-
o r h al t ay
’
r s -
v
of thy s tre amle t s .

H ei ter i nn e tc -
,
.
I I c i tc r- i n n , e tc .
 2 76 T HE MUS IC
’
8
’
alu in n a be in n ean s a srai th ean , Be autifu l are th y mo unta i n s an d
sal u nn
y
-
a bey n n en
’
sa ray
s
’-
en s t rath s ,
’
S e i bh e i n
d ath a g l eann tai n . J o y o u s th e a spe ct of th y gle n s .

’
s eyveyn da a ’
g l enn tay n
-

H ei t e tc , . H e y t e tc
, .

B arr g ach tolm ain f o bh rat gor m dh earc -

, Th e b ro w of every h illo ck has a c over
b arr g ach tol o may n fo vra t g or m yerc
- -
le t of b l ame b erries -
,

A ir gach borroch ain n al tai n . Wi n din g dow n to th e h ollows of th y

ayr gach v orr a ch ayn al tay n - -
s tre amle t s .

H ei t e tc , . H e y t e tc , .

L u s ai n ch u rai dh m ach a bruch dadh ,

F r a gr ant s hr ub s bu rs ti n g forth , ,
lus ay n c u r ay
h - ’
m a ch a b ruc a - ’

’
S cuid dh i ubh o ul gh orm ba i n d h e a rg
- -
. Man y of th em b l u e le aved an d red -

s cuy d i -
y uv cul yorm-
b ay n yerag -
girdled ,

H ei t e tc , . H ey t e tc ,
.

C rodh ga n a ir bar f asai c h , M ilk c ows browsi n g i n th e deser t

’
strac h adh ,
cro gan strae a ’ -
’
ayr b ar fa -
s ay eh
Am fiar nach d f has -
gu c rai nn tidh . Amon g grass of grow th l u xu ri ant .

am fi ar n ach das ti ’
-
gu crayn -

H ei t e tc ,
. H e y t e tc, .

I ad air th e as a ruidh le m buaraich ’

, I n h e at s r ac i n g off wi th th eir Shackles ,

i ad ayr h es a ruy b ar i ch
' ’
- le m u- -

S te le c uai ch g a n t e anu r u i th And wome n wi th th eir milk p a ils r un

’ ’
- -
.

8 $6 18 c u aych
'

g an WW W )
”
i n g after th em .

H ei t e tc , . H e y t e tc
,
.

A c h e ill g u h -
n ile fo l an u l a ,
Th e woods are w h olly array ed
a ch oyll gu h uylle fo lan ul a
’
S i na c ulai dh bh ai n n se . I n th eir m arri a ge g arme nts
oul ay
'
Si na -
v ay n n - se

H ei t e tc ,
.
H e y t e tc
,
.

’
8 barr nan g e ig e an
ceolar e i bh ei n Mu si cal an d jo y o u s are all th e b o u g h s ,

s ce ol ar ey veyn
’
-
b arr an gey gen
- n

S a h eoi n fei n a damh s orra Wi th th eir ow n b irds d anci n g i n th em

’
- .
.

sa h e oy u f ey n a -
d avs orr a
H ei t e tc ,
.
H e y t e tc
,
.

I a d a ir bh o ile sei n n le co illei g ,

R aptu ro u sl y an d l u s t ily S in gin g ,

i ad ayr voylle seyn n le co ylleyg

-

Ann s an doire ch rann tail .

I n th e grove of m as t like c o p sewood - .

an n sa doy e ch rann t ay l
n r -

H ei t e tc , .
H e y t e tc
,
.
2 78 T H E MU S IC
offi c i als w a s n o t o n l y o n an a deq uate but a li b er a l sc ale as is proved b y th e
, , ,

h os p itali ty for w h i ch th e H ig h l an d ch iefs an d ch ieftai n s ha ve b ee n p rover b i ally

characteri z ed Th e cu rse that ban ish ed p op u l at io n c omfor t an d happi n ess
.
, ,

from th e H ig hl an ds is th e cu rse of FE U DA LI S M A n d wh ere is th e a dvantage

, .

e ve n t o th e fe u d al m ag nat es th emselves ? We ha d of old a s m an y p at ri a r chal , ,

ch iefs an d ch iefta i n s a s we ha ve n ow of la i rds an d al th o u gh m y sp ac e w ill ,

n ot permi t me t o e nter i nt o de ta ils I a m c o n vi nc ed that b y doi n g so I c o u ld , ,

Sh ow that th e ch iefs an d ch i ef ti an s (al th o u g h th e y ha d n o p ower un der th e ,

b re h o n l a w or cle ach da or an y o th er law m ade or sanct io n ed b y th e ki n gs or

, ,

peo p le of S c o tl an d t o i n cre ase th e re nts of th e cl an s or t o O pp ress or evi ct th em )

, ,

ha d more i n flu e nc e an d more hap pi n ess more t r u e we al th so t o S p e ak than —

,
—

th e C o u r t of S essio n m a de l airds of th e p rese nt d ay Th e y go t all th e cattle

—
.

th e c o unt ry c o uld prod uc e ex c e pti n g th ose req u ired to su p p ort th e people of

, ,

w h om th e y were b o th i n e ff e ct an d i n feelin g th e fath ers ; an d a re c i p ro ca l love

, ,

an d devo tio n exist ed b e t wee n th em w h i ch c o uld o n l y spri n g from th e hab i tual ,

cu l t iv at io n of vir tu o u s p ri nciples an d w arm an d ge n ero u s feeli n gs Th e wri ters

, .

w h o a s c ri be that love an d devo t io n t o th e des p o tis m of th e ch iefs an d th e serfish ,

spiri t of th e cl an s have i n thu s wri ti n g li b elled th e hu m an cha r act er an d

, , , ,

S h ow n th eir ig n or anc e of th e i n s ti tut io n s an d char act er of th e H igh l an d ch iefs

an d c l an s .

Th e cu rse of fe u d alism w h i ch n ever w a s f el t un iversa lly i n th e H igh l an ds

,

unt il after th e battle of C ullode n b ro u ght i n i ts t r ai n th e i f possi ble s t ill worse

,
— —

cu rse of th e L owl an d s h ee p fa rmers Th e re a der cann ot j u dge th is q u es t io n b y

-
.

th e prese nt c on di tio n an d char acter of th e sh ee p farmers ei th er of th e L owl an ds or -

th e H igh l an ds than w h om a more resp e ctable c l a ss is n o t t o b e fo un d amon g

,
”
h e r Majes ty s s ubje ct s : I spe ak of th e p ilgrim fath ers of th e L owl an d
’
-

sh eep f arm ers

~
o f th ose i ntrod uc ed i nt o th e H ig h l an ds w h e n th e lan ds were
,
—
,

res tored by th e C row n an d P a rli ame nt of E n gl an d t o th e ch iefs i n s te a d of th e ,

c l an s I t w as after that an d n o t t ill th e n that th e ch iefs an d ch iefta i n s b e came

.
, ,

l airds an d fo un d i t th eir i nt eres t t o evi ct th e c l an s Th is w a s don e at first

,
.

q u ie tl y an d grad ua ll y but u l tim at ely a s th e s tre n g th of th e exe cutive i ncre ased

, , ,

b y w h oles ale evi ct ion s an d exp atri at io n s Sa d for th e w arlike power an d dig n i ty of .

S c o tl an d ha s b ee n th e chan g e that s u bs ti tut ed th e L owl an d s h e ph erd for th e H ig h

l an d w arrior an d hu sban dm an but i t is t o b e b orn e i n mi n d that I sp e ak of th e firs t
batch w h o wi th a fe w ex c ep tio n s were th e very lowes t gra de of th e L owl an d
, , ,

pe a s ant ry perso n s w h o were a s c oarse an d greed y i n th eir hab i t s a s th e y

,
—

were low an d me an i n th eir char acter an d b ir th A th o u san d graph i c an e c dotes .

,

s t ill preserved i n th e H igh l an ds but utterl y un fi t for publi cat ion test ify t o th e
, ,

t r uth of th e ab ove s tat eme nt an d th e impressio n i t m ade o n th e mi n ds of a

,

peo p l e w h o m a re c e nt wri ter j u stly char acterised a s G e ntleme n of N atu re s

“ ‘

”
ow n m aki ng T y pes of th e cl ass I refer t o if I a m n o t misi n formed a re s till
.
, ,

t o b e fo un d i n isol at ed lo ca li t ies i n th e L owl an ds n o twi th s tan di n g th e gre at ,

chan ge i n th e c o n di tio n an d i n th e m ann ers an d cu s t oms of th e L owl an d

pe asantry sin ce th e ab ove d ate S ome proprie t ors c on sider th ese dru dges w h o
.
,

toil hard an d live ch e a p th e mos t pro fi table farmers ; but al as for th e c o untry
,
'

,
 OF T HE HI G HL AN D CLAN S . 2 79

that allowed th em t o exp atri at e h er n o b le H igh l an d cl an s ! L es t th e re a der

sh o u ld do ubt th e c orre ctn ess of th e ab ove Ske tch of th e origi nal s h eep farmers -

“
of th e H igh l an ds I b eg t o refer h im t o O r an nan Ci o bai re an
,
”
b y A ll an ,

Mac do u g all th e b li n d h ard of G le n g arry w h o k n ew th em well an d gr a p h i call y

, , ,

des c ri b es b o th th eir character an d lives H e c orro b or ates h is c ontempor a ry

.
,

D uncan B an Mac i ntyre i n a s c ri b i n g t o th em th e s up pressio n of th e gre at a gri

,

cul tu r al e nt erprise o f th e Ga el “ ”
o n s h ores an d wolds an d c o n verti n g th e
, ,

c ountr y i nt o a deser t ; but I can m ake room o n l y for o n e verse for I have ,

ex c eeded th e limi t s of m y c o ntr act b y n e arl y 1 00 p ages Th is poem w a s .

wri tte n more than sixty y e ars si nc e b y a m an w h o wi tn essed an d c o u ld well

,

a ppre c i ate th e chan ge h e des c ri b es I wis h M r Macnau ght o n th e ge nt lem an

.
,

me ntio n ed i n th e prefac e wo u ld p ub lish i t i n h is p h o n e ti c spellin g wi th s uch a

, ,

t ran sl atio n a s that p ub lish ed i n h is L e ctu res o n th e A uth e nti c i t y of O ssi an

“ ”
.

I fee l c e rta i n that i t wo u ld gr at ify th ou san ds of th e E n glis h re a din g p ub li c .

O R A N NA N C OBAI
I RE AN .
—
T H E S ON G OF T H E S HEE P F A R M E R S
-
.

Th ai n ig ori n do dh -Al ab i n
crois ! A cu rse ha s c ome u po n Al b i n !
Tha doi n e boch d n o ch dte n is ,
M e n are n ow poor an d naked ,

Gun bh iadh g un ao dach gun chluain ; Wi th o ut food r aime nt or Sh elt er ;

, ,

’
Tha n airde tuath an deis a sg ri o s ! Th e n or th c o untr y is r u i n ed !
’
C ha n f h ai ceir c ro dh laoig h an gle ann N o mil kin e are t o b e see n i n th e
,

k
v a es ,

N a g erran lai der dol an eil ; N 0 s t ro n g work h orses i n har n ess ;

-

’
C ha n f h ai cer ach c ao ri ch is u ai n ,
N o th i n g is see n but ewes an d l am b s ,
’ ’

S goil m u n c uai rt le sg rei dil bh rein . With L owl an d ers roun d th em harsh l y ,

s cree ch i n g .

’
Tha n duth ai ch leir a ir dol fa s Th e ( ha s b ee n c o n ver ted i nt o a
g
g u

sog y
,

S an Ga e dh el
’
gu n t ath ai ch fo n gh rein !
’
Th e G ael ha s n o h ome un der th e s un !

T H E E ND .
 282
P ag e

11 . G ed a G h e abh ai n , —
T h o u g h I sh o u l d g e t, &c . r efe rr e d to at p ag e 2 63
12 . S Tru ag h a R i gh l —
W o u l d, a ri ! 2 65
T h a Dh ri u c h d Fe i n , — ~
I ts o wn Dew, &c . 2 67
Oc h n an Oc h , m o L ei r Ch radh , —
A_
a s, l l
a as, m y P ai n fu l S o rr o w , 2 69
A n G illidh G u an ach , u th -
Th e Vo l ti l a e Y o , 2 70
13 . M ao lru ai n i dh G h li n n i c h en ao ru a y n i o f th e G l e n s ,
— M l — -
, 273
Cro dh Ch ail le an Th e M ilk k in e o f Co l in ,
— -
, 2 74
T i ll an Cro dh a Dh o n n ac h ai dh T urn th e K i n e D u n c an ,
—
, , 2 74
Failte n a M o rth i r Bh o i dh e ac h H ai l to T h ee B o n n i e M o rar ,
—
, , 2 75

W E L S H M EL O DIE S .

1 4 Co di ad y r H e dy dd,
.
—
Th e S o n g of th e L ar k , 21 3

15 . B u g ei li o r G wen i th G wy n , — W a t chi n g th e W h eat , 21 4

No s G a l r s Eve
an
,
—
N ew Y ea
’

,
21 4

M e r c h M eg a n M egan s D au g hte r
’
16 .
,
—
,
21 5

R h y f elgy rc h G wy r H a r l ec h W ar S o n g o f th e M en ,
—
of H a r l e ch , 21 6

17 . M o rva R h u d dl an Th e M arsh o f R u th lan ,

—
, 21 7

18 . G len M eddwdo d M wyn T h e J o y o f th e M e ad C u p ,

—
, 21 8

I R I S H M E L O DIE S , &c .

18 . A M ai g h deon , a B h e an ,
’
s a Bh an trae c h , —
Th e M aid , W i fe , an d W ido w , 22 0

A n C h ui l f hi
-
o n n ,— Th e C o o l n ee ,
222

19 . G ai sgi c h Ch lu ai n T h arbh , —
H e r oes o f C l o n t arf, ( C e l t i c)

G ai sgi c h Ch lu ai n T h arbh , —
H eroe s of C l o n t arf,
2 0 E am o nn
. a Ch n oi c ,
—
E d m u n d o f th e H i ll , ( I ri sh ) 221

Th a m i m sh u i dh e an T u lai ch , I itt in g on th e H e ight ( C el t i c ) 1 53

’
ai r —
am s ,

9*
obli g i g l y t m th ou g h M M urdoch thi l t v r i o f th B tt l f Cl o tarf
Dr W hi t e n s en e, r r , s as e s n o e a e o n

but it i vi d tly t a diff r t v r i o b ut al tog th r a di ff r t t u

s e en no f rom th
e en abov T h e s n, e e e en ne e e. e

p pl f I r la d li k th p pl f th Low la d
eo e o e n , d H i g hl a d
e f S c otl d d iff r d i d i l ct i
e eo e o e n s an n s o an e e n a e , n

auth ority f yi g
,

mu ic s d da ci g
, an w ll i th i i tituti o
n n A l th o g h I h a v
, as e t D W h it
as n e r ns ns . u e no r
’
e s o r sa n

so ,Ih v dou bt th at it i th M arch f th G o th ic C la

a e no f I la d to C l o tarf
s d th at th fi r t
e o e ns o re n n , an e s

i th M arch f th C l tic C l
s e to th am battl T h two p cim c o t ra t with o a oth r
o e e an s e s e e. e s e en s n s ne n e as

striki g l y
n C al d o i a as d S co tti h m l odiei d d th
n n fi t and th W l h d C l do ia s e es : n ee , e rs an e e s an a e n n

M arch br at h a ki dr d pi rit d di ff r wi d ly f rom D W h it

es e e n e B ttls f C l o ta rf
, an e e r e s
’
a e o n .
”
A CHOLLA I
MO RU N .
2 ’
A N S E AL G A I B S A CH O M H A C H AG .

A M H A I G H D E A N S H IT H
’
8 A N S E AL G A I R . m m
 G U R FA O IN M 0 L U AI D H AIR CA B AL .

( an t .

O IC H M AR T H A MI
l r
A l eg e t tomo d t r a t o
.
 ’
GU M BU S L AN A c m Ml .

MO C H ’
S A M H AD U INN .

AIR FA I L L E H I N I L L E R I N N
L A M E NT I
FO R P R NC E C H A R L E S .

S U D M AR C H AID H AN CA L A D HO L L AI DH .

CA I B T E I N C AR RA IG
C U M H AD H MHIC CRU IM E N .

’ ’
S C I A N AL M F H U I R E A C H AN D U N - E I D I N .
12 ’
s T RU AG H A H IG H :

T H A DH RIU CH D FE IN

Ch o r us .

O C H NA N O C H , I
M O LE R CH RADH .
A n da n ti o
n .

AN G IL L I D H G U A N A C H
 M A O L R U A I NI D H G H L INN I C H E N

A ll g r e t t o
e .

T IL L AN CHU B B A D H O N NA C H A I D H .

P A I L I IZ N A M O R T H I H
' ‘
'
.