Blair Collection > Sar-obair nam bard gaelach, or, The beauties of Gaelic poetry, and lives of the Highland bards

INTRODUCTION.
Gu Dun ud nan cliar,
Far bu duthclias do* m thriath,
BUiodh gu fiughantach fiall foirmeil,
Btìiodli gu, &c.
See p. 30.
The following- variety is by the celebrated John MacDonald, not Iain Lorn, but Tain
dubh Mac Iain 'ic Ailein ; the Eigg bard.
Si so 'n aimsir an dearbhar
An targanacb dbuinn,
'S bras meinranach fir Alba
Fon armaibh air tbOs ;
Nuair dh' eireas gacb treun-laoch
Na' n eideadb gblan ùr,
Le run feirg agus gairge
Ge seirbbis a chruin.
Donchadh Ban, or Duncan Maclntyre, the boldness and originality of whose concep-
tions, clothed in poetry of the most genuine excellence, unassisted by the slightest educa-
tion, have obtained for him a comparison with Ossian himself, offers many a beauty scattered
profusely throughout his numerous works. In that admirable poem called Beinn Dou-
rain, he has adapted the verses to the piobaireachd notes, commencing with the ùrlar, the
groundwork or air : the second part is the suibhal, or quickening, arranged in a different
measure, to which succeeds the crun-luath, swifter running music, to which a suitable
measure is likewise adapted. It is a curious effort, and his model seems to have been an
older piece which accompanied Moladh Mairi, the praise of Mary, otherwise the Mac-
Luchlan's salute.
His lines are extremely meUifluous, and his compositions show a great poetical versa-
tility. Let us present a verse of his Coirre-Cheathaich, scanned according to Dr Arm-
strong.
"S a' mbadainn | cbiiilH gbeal, | ann am dhomh | dusgadh,
'Alg bun na | stùi'ce | b e'n siigradh | leam ^
A chearc le ] sgtucàn | a gabbail | tuchain,
'San coileacb | cùj'rteil | iig dwrdail | trom.
An dreatbiin | sui-dail. | 's ii rlbbid ] cblul aige,
X cur nan [ smuid dbetb [ gu liitbar | binn ;
An trui'd sam | bru dhearg ] le moran unaicb,
Re ceileir j sùnntìich | bu shiubblach [ rann.
The measure is repeated at every second line. It will be observed, that there is an
agreement in sound between the first syllable of the second and third foot ; in the second
and third lines, between the first syllable of the second, and the middle of the third foot.
His beautiful song to Mairi bhàn òg, fair young Mary "so often imitated, but never
equalled," is another captivating beauty in the composition of 'Fair Duncan of the songs.*
In the fourth book of Fingal is the war song, prosnachadh, or exhortation, which the bard
chanted to inspirit the renowned Gaul, when engaged in the heat of a desperate battle.
So expressive is the language, and with such skill did the bard compose his address, that
the very sound echoes the sense; it could never, we apprehend, be mistaken, even by one