Blair Collection > Sar-obair nam bard gaelach, or, The beauties of Gaelic poetry, and lives of the Highland bards > Volume 2

INTRODUCTION.
Airain : —
Sin fhuil Mian ruisl' ar SINNSEAR,
San inxsginx a bha nan aigne
A dh' fhagadh dhuinn mar DHILIB,
Bhi RIOGHAIL : be bin am Pa«£ir." p. 130.
" Is mar a ghreis a thug na SEOID
'Sna SLOIGH a coimbead an euck Ian ;
Ach chlaon iad araon air an fhraocii,
'S i'uil CHRAobhacb a ruitb o' n crewcAdaibh."
Morduth.
Besides the regular rhymes, there is a sort of melodious cadence pervading the verse,
which of course is more or less beautiful according to the genius of the poet. The follow-
ing anonymous composition shows the harmonious adaptation of the language for versifi-
cation ; it seems to flow with the greatest facility in the happiest agreement of rhythm
and measure. It is usually sung to the fine old air of ' Johnny's grey breeks.'
" A nigbean donn na buaile
Gam bheil an glaasad fARusda,
Gun tug mi gaol co huan duit,
'Snach gb/ais e air an EARrach so •,
Mheall thu mi le d' shùgradh
Le d' bhriodal a' le d' cbùine,
Lùb tbu mi mar fbiùran,
'S cba dùchas domb bhi lALLain itaith."
Here is another specimen of a similar style : —
Fhuair mi sgèula moch dicedin
Air laimb fheuma bba gu creiicbdach,
'S leor a gheiirad anns An leumsa
Anal on treud bha buaghar.
Dhun Gàranach ur àllail
Na'n trup meàra' s na'n steud seanga,
Na'n gleus glana s' ceutach sealladb,
Beichdail àllaidh aaibhreach.
Mary MacLeod, better known as Nighean Alastair ruadb, the daughter of red Alex-
ander, had so fine a genius, that she appears to have struck out some new measures.
Here are two specimens of a very plaintive cast.
Righ ! gur muladach 'tbà mi,
'S mi gun mbire gun nihanraii,
Anns an talla 'm bu gnà le Mac-Leoid.
Righ gur, &c.
Taigh mor macnasach, meaghrach,
Nam macaibh 'a nam màighdean,
1 ar 'm bu tartarach gleadbxaich nan corn,
Tai b mor, &e.
See p. 21.
'!'!i i mo dhuils' aim :ui Di5,
Guir muirneaoh do thrift!!,