Blair Collection > Celtic monthly > Volume 4, 1896

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tMe oeltio monthly
'Schithinn cnaimliean Eoghainn Ruaidh
An carraigh Chluainidh an tasgaidli."
Which may be translated : —
Were I the chief men of your clan, —
Though I would curtail my riches —
Despite the people's notions,
I would cleave the waves asunder;
I'd expose my head to tempests,
I'd trace the broad expanse of ocean,
To see the bones of fair-haired Ewen
Laid in Cluny's tomb in safety.
Cluny's gentle-hearted and sorely afflicted
widow, soon after his death, returned to
Badenoch, and dying in April, 1765 — little
more than a year afterwards — her remains
were laid to rest in the Oluny burial place.
Mrs. Grant of Laggan thus gives expression to
the feelings of the grief-stricken and widowed
mother on leaving Dunkirk after the death of
Cluny, along with her young daughter, and their
faithful Highland retainer, from whose aged
and quivering Ups, many years afterwards, the
touclung words were inspired ; —
" Not long upon that alien shore
My banished master pined;
With silent gi-ief we saw his corpse
To common earth consigned.
No pibroch led the loud lament,
No funeral train appeared ;
No bards with songs of mighty deeds
The hopeless mourners cheered.
When midnight wore her sable robe
We dug his humble grave ;
Where fair Naixissus droops its head
And darkest poppies wave.
We strewed the tomb with rosemary,
We watered it with tears ;
And bade the Scottish thistle round
Erect his warlike spears.
And soon we left the fatal spot,
And sought our native shore;
And soon my lady blest her son,
And clasped him o'er and o'er.
' On thee, my son ' (she fondly cried),
' May happier planets shine ;
And niayst thou never live to brook
A fate so hard as mine.
' And mayst thou heir thy father's worth.
But not his hapless doom ;
To honour and thy country true,
Mayst thou his rights resume.
' And when my weary eyes shall close.
By death's long slumber blest.
Beside my dear-loved, long-lost home
For ever let me rest.'
She spoke and died — in yonder grave
Her dear remains are laid ;
Let never impious murmur rise
To grieve her hovering shade. '
(To be ciiutimted).
HIGHLANDERS.
• Clanua lum, Gaidliinl ri iiwi'dlihh <i clu
Hark! from the mountains the pibroch is pealing,
Down thro' the glens see the bright tartans wave;
Clansmen are gath'ring from clachan and shieling,
List to their shouting the song of the brave.
Clionia —
Shoulder to shoulder, brave lads of the heather.
Stand side by side, gallant sons of the free ;
True Highland hearts can be cowardly never,
Shout for Prince Charlie, 'S deoch-slidnfe an RUihl
Cameron, Eraser, MacDonald, and Drummond,
Macintosh, Stewart, MacGregor, MacLean;
Bravely ye fought for the cause ye were summon'd.
Bravely ye fell on CuUoden's dark plain.
Shoulder to shoulder, brave lads of the heather.
Sleep side by side 'neath the cold Northern sky ;
True Highland hearts can be cowardly never,
Yours the proud motto ' ' to conquer or die. "
Sons of the mountains, your deeds live in story,
Highlanders ever were famous in fight ;
Waterloo, Alma, add fame to your glory,
Lucknow remembers your conquering might.
Clwnu-i—
Shoulder to shoulder, brave lads of the heather,
Stand side by side with your face to the foe ;
Victory follows the wave of your feather.
Honour awaits you wherever you go.
Sheath'd is the claymore, the war pipes no longer
Skirl out their wild notes to the echoing blast ;
Feuds are forgotten, new friendships grow stronger,
The heather and wild-rose are blended at last.
Shoulder to shoulder, brave lads of the heather.
Stand side by side with bold resolute mien;
True Highland hearts can be cowardly never.
Be true to your country, youi-selves, and your
Queen.
N.B.— As this song will shortly be set to music, the
copyright is reserved by the author.
W. Drummond-Norie.