Ossian Collection > Macdonald bards from mediaeval times

Latin Verses.
Verses written by Sir Alexander, Lord Mac-
Donaldj addressed and presented to Dr. Johnson,
at Armadale, in the Isle of Skye, in 1773. —
Viator o qui nostra per aequora
Visurous agros skiaticos venis,
En te salutantes tribatim
Undique conglomerantur oris.
Donaldini, quotquot in insulis
Conipescit arctis limitibus marc ;
Alitque jamduduni, ac alendos
Piscibus indigenas fovebit.
Ciere fluctus siste, Procelliger,
Nee tu laborans perge, precor, ratis,
Ne conjiigem plangat marita,
Ne doleat soboles jjarentem.
Nee te vicissimpoeniteat virum
Luxisse; vestro scimus ut Kstuant
In corde luetantes dolores.
Cum feriant inopina corpus.
Quidni ! peremtum clade tuentibus
Plus semper illo qui morritur pati ;
Datur, doloris dum ]jrofundos
Pervia mens aperit reeessus.
Valete luetus ; hinc lacrymabiles
Areete visus : ibimus, ibimus
Superbienti qua theatro
Fingalice memorantur auhi.'.
lUustris hospes ! mox spatiabere
Qua mens ruinae dueta meatibus
Gaudebit explorare c(etus
Buceina qua cecinit triumphos.
Audin ? resurgens spirat anhelitu
Dux usitato, suseitat efl&eax
Poeta manes, ingruitque
Vi solita redivivus horror.
Abajna quassaus tela gravi manu
yie ibat atrox Ossiani pater :
Quiescat urna, stet 'fidelis
Phersonius vigil ad favillam.
1. Oh traveller, who coniest o'er our seas, to view
the fair lands of Skye, look how the clansmen
are gathering on all sides to give thee welcome.
2. MaeDonalds all of them ; they have gathered
from every island that lies in the ocean's em-
brace ; (they are children of the sea), it has fed
them of yore, and in times to come they shall
draw their food from ocean's stores.
3. Oh thou bearer of the whirlwind, do thou cease
and 110 longer raise the billows ; and thou craft
(which bearest the stranger) I pray thee, thou
tossing craft, do not set forth (till the storms
have ceased) lest the wife have cause to mourn
her spouse, and the children to weep for their
father.
4. Nor let it grieve thee (generous craft) (to see)
them weepingfor abraveman(lost) ; for we know
how (like a living thing) grief boils up in thy
heart when misfortune unexpected claims its
victim.
5. And wherefore not ? for oft it is the lot of the
beholder to suffer more keenly than the man whom
they see snatched off by death ; and a tender
heart has measureless depths of sorrow.
6. But adieu sadness ; hence, sorrow and tears. We
shall go. We shall go, where mid proud scenes
the memory of Fingal's halls is kept ever fresh.
7. And you our noble guest, soon your steps shall
stray, where aroused by the winding ruins,
your imagination will revel in exploring the
gathering halls where oft the bugle has sounded
victory (its victorious notes).
8. Can you not hear it ? Again the chieftain lives
and breathes, the poets art summons the spirits
back to life and gruesome horrors live again.
9. Thus the proud father of Ossian used to march
forth shaking his brazen darts in his strong
hand. But let him lie still in his grave, and
let the faithful Phersonius (MacPherson) stand
guard by the tomb.
LORD MACDONALD'S REEL.*
(MORAG NIGHEAN DHOMHUILL DUINN.)
A Mhòrag nighean Dhomhuill duinn,
Tha thu cruinn sgiobalta ;
A Mhòrag nighean Dhomhuill duinn,
Tha thu cruinn bòidheach !
A Mhòrag bheag nighean Dhomhuill ghibich.
Is ioma fear 'thug ribean duit ;
A Mhòrag bheag nighean Dhomhuill ghibich.
Is ioma fear 'tha 'n tòir ort !
A Mliorag bheag nighean Dhomhuill uidhir
Thug mi cion an uiridh duit ;
A Mhòrag bheag nighean Dhomhuill uidhir,
Bhuilichinnf do phòsadh !
Thug mi cion ! 'us cion ! 'us cion !
Thug mi cion an uiridh dhuit,
Thug mi eion ! 'us cion ! 'us cion !
'S bhuilichinn do phòsadh !
I am also indebted to Mr Alexander Carmichael,
one of the best living authorities on Highland
tradition, for the following quaint poem composed
by one of the semi-regal MaeDonalds of the Isles,
many of whom were poets : —
A nigliean righ nan roiseal soluis.
An oidhche bliios òirnn do bhanais,
JMa's fear beù mi'n Duntuilm,
Thig mi tòirleum do d' «
* The words of this excellent reel song were kindly
communicated by Mr Alex. Carmichael.
t A localism in Uist with the same meaning as
" dh'fhuiliginn.