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

176 THE MUSIC
seated themselves around the cloth on the platform, and the others, forming a
relay of generally an equal number, took their position in attendance, supplying
water to sock the cloth, and changing places at intervals with their friends on
the platform. The verse was sung in a hilarious off-hand style, by the best
singer, the others striking in alternately with the chorus. The cloth in the
meantime was rolled about, tossed backward and forward, and from side to side,
in magical gyrations that would utterly confound the table-turning of our
Yankee cousins, but all the while under regular mechanical principles of manipu-
lation, strictly adhered to, however " fast and furious" the mirth sometimes
grew, there being always method in the mad movements. The sight of so
many merry girls, tiu-ning labour into mirth, was exceedingly outre and pic-
turesque, and the opportunity of getting a sly peep at them was eagerly sought
by such Highland Tam O'Shanters as "knew what was what;" but woe to the
luckless wight who was detected by the fair amazons unlawfully in the espial of
their mysterious orgies !
The following fulling song, by the royal Celtic bard, Alexander Macdonald,
is an allegory, in which he represents the Prince under the similitude of a
young maiden, Morag, with flowing locks of yellow hair floating over her
shoulders. The bard describes his attachment to her, and says that he had
followed her faithfully in lauds known and unknown to him ; and, if she would
come again, that he and all her former friends and admirers would embark
unhesitatingly in any enterprise calculated to vindicate her rights. My inability
to afford space for the whole of the verses, renders this brief explanation
necessary. I am indebted to Mrs Hulton, Glasgow, for the version of this air,
which is submitted to the reader.
A MHOKAG CniATACn. — MOKAG BEAUTIFUL.
Graceful Morag of the curling ringlets,
A Mhorag cheataich a chuil dhualaich,
a vorag chet-aych a cliuyl yu-al-aycli
Gur h-e do luaigh a th'air m'aire.
gur he do lu-ay' a hayr mayre
Fonti. — Beir mi ho Mhorag,
beyr me ho vorag
Ho ro na horo gheallaidh,
ho ro na horo yell-ay'
Beir mi ho Mhorag,
beyr me ho vorag
Mo dh-iraich u nun thair chuain oirn,
mo yimich u nun hayre chu-ayn oyrn
Gu 'm bu luadh a thig u dhachaidh.
gu m bu lu-a' a hig u yach-ay'
Beir, etc.
'S cuimnich thoir leat bannal ghruagach,
s cuyn-ich hoyr let bannal yru-a-gach
Luaighoas an clo ruadh gu daingean.
lii-ay'-es an clo rn-ailh gn d.iyngen
Beir, etc.
Thy love is the cause of my solicitude.
Chorus. — Beyr mi ho vorag.
Ho ro na horo yellay,
Beyr mi ho vorag.
If thou art gone from us over the sea.
May thy return be speedy.
Beyr, etc.
Remember to bring with thee a band
of maidens.
Who will tightly fuller the red cloth.
Beyr, etc.