Blair Collection > Treatise on the language, poetry, and music of the Highland clans

Mar thannas na h-aoicbe ag imeachd,
mar hannas na lioy-clie ag im-eclid
An co-thionneal nan doinnean eite,
an co-lii-onn-el uaii doynnen èyte
Gu dortadh air doireacliau Ardbhein,
gu dor-ta' er dojr-ech-an ard-veyn
San daracli fairrel ga h-eisteachd ;
san darr-ach fayrrel ga lieys-techd
B-amhuil Ronan dol sios do'n araicli.
bav-il ronan dol si-os don ar-aych
'Sa lochri laidir na cheumadh.
'sa lo-chri laydir na clieym-a'
* « * %
'Sa reir sin, le ncart 's le fuathas,
sa reyr sinn le nert sle fu-a'-as
Shiubhail, is lean a shluagh, Lamha.
lii-uv-ayl is len a lu-a' lava
Mar tharn buaireal a neal dorcha,
mar ham buyrel a ni-al dor-cha
Tra 's duaiclinaidh lliiche na Lara,
tra 's du-aych-nay' faych-e na lara
Tlia mile clogaid is shleagh ard,
ha mil-e clogayd is sle-a' ard
A dealradh mar dhoire na chaoiribh.
a del-ra' mar yoyrb na choy-riv'
Ach CO dli'innseas cith a chathadli?
ach CO a yinn-ses ci' a cha'-a'
Tha sgiathau leathan ga'n sgolta
ha sgi-a'-an le'-an gan sgolta
Le neart gabhaidh, nan claidhean ;
le nert ga-vay nan clay'-an
Cinn is cinn-bheirt a tuiteam,
cinn is cinn-vèyrt a tuyt-em
'S na mairbh a muchadli nan leonte.
sna mayrv a mu-cha' nan le-on-te
Fuil a ruith mar mhile caocban,
fuyl a ruy' mar vil-e caoch-aii
'S anama Laocb dol suas an smuidibb.
is anama loach dol su-as an smnyt-iv
Ach CO iad 'n da iolaire sgiatbacb,
ach CO i-ad an da i-ol-er-e sgi-a'-ach
Tha gleacbda co fiadbaicb san roan ?
ha glechd-a co-fi-a'-ich san roan
Cba mbinnean og, na coileacb fraoicbc,
cha vinn-en og na coy-lach fo-a-ohe
Mu bheil an stri len lannaibb bas-mbor.
mu veyl an stri le lannayv bas-vor
Feuch fear dbiu air a gblun ag aoma,
feych for yi-a er a yhm ag aom-a
POETHY
Lilce the spirit of night, careering
Amid the congregated ghosts in a
tempest dismal,
To pour on the groves of Ardven,
With tlie monarch oixk watchfully
listening ;
So descended Ronan to battle
With his chivalry strong in bis steps.
•s * * *
Equal in strength, and in dreadful
appearance,
Lava led, and his people followed.
Like fierce thunder in a dark cloud,
When gloom rests on the plain of
Lara,
A thousand helmets and spears shone
on high,
Blazing like a grove on fire.
But who can relate the tug of battle ?
Broad shields are being split
By the wonderful strength of swords :
Heads and helmets falling,
And thedeadsmotheringthe wounded.
Blood is running like rivulets.
And the souls of heroes ascending in
steam.
But who are they, the two eagles,
broad winged.
That are wresthng so wildly on the
heath?
"Tis not for a young kid nor the poult
of the moor-cock
They contend with their deadly
weapons.
Behold, one on his knee stooping,