Books and other items printed in Gaelic from 1871 to 1900 > Sar-obair nam bard Gaelach, or, The beauties of Gaelic poetry, and lives of the Highland bards

LACHUNN MAC THEARLAICH.
81
LATH A7 SIUBHAL SLEIBHE.
Marbhphaisg ort a mhulaid,
Nach do dh’fhuirich thu nochd uam
’S nach do leig thu cadal domh,
S an oidhche fada, fuar,
Ma’s ann a dh’iarraidh cunntais orm,
A lunn thu air mo shuain,
Bheir mise greis an drasda dhut
Air aireamh na tha bh’uat.
Latha* siubhal sleibhe dhomh
’S mi falbh leam fein gu dlu,
A chuideacbd anns an astar sin
Air gunna glaic a’s cu,
Gun thachair clann rium ann sa’ ghleann
A’ gal gu fann chion iuil:
Air leam gur h-iad a b’aillidh dreach
A chunnacas riamh le m’ shuil.
Gu’m b’ioghnadh leam mar tharladh dhaibh
Am fasach fad air chul,
Coimeas luchd an aghaidhean
Gu’n tagha de cheann iuil,
Air beannachadh neo-fhiata dhomh
Gu’n d’fhiaraich mi :—tl Co sud?”
’S fhreagair iad gu cianail mi
A’m briathraibh mine ciuin.
“ lochd, a’s Gradh, a’s Fiughantas,
’Nar triuir gur h-e ar n-ainm,
Clann nan uaislean curamach,
A choisinn cliu’s gach ball,
’ Nuair phaigh an fheile cis d’an Eug
’S a chaidh i-f&n air chall,
’Na thiomnadh dh’fhag ar n-athair sinn
Aig mathaibh Innse-Gall.
“ Chaidh sinn do Dhun-Bheagain
A’s cha d’iarr sinn cead ’na thur,
Fhuair sinn, failte shuilbheara,
Le furbailt a’s le muirn :
Gu’n ghlac e sinn le acarachd
Mar dhaltachan ’nar triuir,
A’s thogadh e gach neach againn
Gu macant’ air a ghlun.
“ Fhuair sinn greis ’gar n-arach,
Aig Mac-Ledid a bha san Dun,
Greis eile gle shaibheir
Aig a bhrathair bha’n Dun-Tuilm
Sin 'nuair labhair fiughantas
Dalt uiseil Dhomhnuill ghuirm : —
u Bu trie leat a bhi sugradh rinn,
’S cha b’ fhasan ur dhuinn cuirm.
“ N am eiridh dhuinn neo-airtneulach
’S biadh maidne dhol air bdrd,
Gheibhte gach ni riaghailteach,
Bu mhiannach leat ga d’ choir ;
Cha d’ chuir thu duil am prlobairtich,
Cha b’ fhiach leat ach ni mdr;
Bu chleachdadh air do dhitheid dhut
Glain’ fhiona mar ri cedi.
“ Am fear a bh’ air a Chomraich
Bu chall soillear dhuinn a bhas
Ann an cuisibh diulanais,
Cha b’ iudmhail e’ measg chaich
Lamh sgapaidh dir, a’s airgeid e
Gu’n dearmad air luchd dhan,
A’s mhionnaicheadh na clarsairean
Nach e bu taire lamh.*
“ Tdrmod fial an t-shugraidh,
Nach d’fhas m’a chuinneadh cruaidh,
A bha gu fearail fiughantach,
’S a chum a dhuthchas suas ;
’S ann air a bha ar taghaich,
O’n thugadh Iain bh’uainn,
’S beag m’ fharmad ris na feumaich
O’n a bheum na cluig gu truagh !
“ Bha’n duin’ ud ro f’hlathasach,
’S e mathasach le ceill,
Bha e gu fial fiughantach,
’S a ghiulan math ga reir ;
Ge farsuinn eadar Arcamh,
Cathair Ghlas-cho’s Baile-Bhdid:
Cha d’ fhuaras riamh oid-altruin ami,
Cho pailt’ ri teach Mhic-Ledid.
* Alluding to an Irish Harper of the name of Cailean
Cormac, who, in consequence of a misunderstanding, left
his master and fled to Scotland, at that time the saving ark
of refugees, whether children of prose or verse. During
his peregrinations in the hyperborean regions of Caledonia,
he visited, according to the custom of the times, many of
the Highland Chieftains and families of distinction, whose
ears were not yet sufficiently refined to disrelish music,
and who, consequently, appreciated his abilities and per.
formances. Among others in whose families the Hibernian
minstrel was well received, was that of the Laird of Apple-
cross. On the day of his departure, Applecross, whose
generosity was worthy of his country and high rank, gave
Cormac a handful of gold pieces out of his right hand, and
a similar quantity or silver ones out of his left. Such a
splendid instance of genuine Highland liberality, could not
but awake sentiments of the most lively gratitude in the
naturally feeling bosom of the minstrel; who, upon his
arrival in the Emerald Isle, lost no opportunity of trum¬
peting forth the praises of his benefactor. The tide of his
quondam employer’s rage having now subsided, and a
reconciliation having been effected between the parties.