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

248
THE MUSIC
The following verses are of considerable antiquity, and have been always
admired.
MARI BHOIDHEACH. — BONNY MARY.
A Mhari bhoidheach, gur mor mo Bonny Mary, great is my love to thee ;
a van voyeoh gur mor mo
ghaol ort,
yaol ort
'S trie mi cuimhneachadh ort 's mi Often do I think of thee when alone ;
stric mi cuynecha' ort smi
m' aonar ;
maonar
Ge do shiubhlainn gach ceum de'n Although I should wander the world
ge do hi-u-layim gach ceym dea over
t-saoghal,
tao'-al
Bi t-iomhaigh bhoidheach tigh'n beo Thy beautiful image would come alive
bi tiv-ay' voyech ti'n be-o on every side.
gach taobh dhiom.
gach taov yi-om
Fonn : —
A Mhari bhoidheach, 's Mhari ghaolach,
a vari voy'-ech '3 vari yaol-ach
A Mhari bhoidheach, gur mor mo
a van voy'-ech gur mor mo
ghaol ort ;
yaol ort
A Mhari bhoidheach, gur tu chloidh mi,
a vari voy'-ech g-ur tu chloy' mi
'S dh-fhag mi bronach gun doigh air And makest me sorrowful, since I
's yag mi bron-ach gun doy' ayr know not how to won thee.
t-fhaotuinn.
taot-uyn
Chorus : —
Mary beautiful, Mary lovely,
Mary beautiful, great is my love to
thee ;
Mary beautiful, thou afflictest
'S mor a b'anns' bhi le Mari bhoidheach,
smor a banns vi le mari voy'-ech
Am bothan airidh fo sgath, na morbheann,
am bo' -an ayri' fo sga' na mor-venn
Na bhith 'm righ ann 's an Eoinn-Eorpa,
na vi'm ri' ann san royn-e-orpa
Gun choir air Mari mo ghraidh am
gun choyr ayr mari mo yray' am
posadh. — A Mhari, etc.
pos-a'
Much more would I desire to be with
bonny Mary,
In a bothy under the shadow of the
great mountains,
Than to be a king in Europe,
Without a right to my beloved Mary.
Mary, &c.
Chithear feidh air sgeith 's na speuran,
chi'-er fey' ayr sgey' sna speyran
Chithear iasg a falbh nan sleibhtean,
chi'-cr i-asg a falv nan sleyvten
Doer will be seen on their wings in
the sky,
Fish will be seen walking on the
wolds.