Blair Collection > Gaelic bards

226
Beul tana muint' is anail chubhridh,
Is siunnalt thu do Bhenus.
'S e'chrun do thlachd deud muirn'mar chaile
Air dhluthadh ceart ri 'cheilc ;
O 'n dig an t-oran aotrom ceolmhor,
Mar an smeorach cheitein.
O Thriath nan dul tus rath' f huair thu
'Bhi modhail, ciuin, gun ardan ;
Tha iochd is cliu, is loinn, is muirn,
Air glaodhadh dkith ri d' nadar ;
'S tu air do bhuain a freumh nam buadh,
De 'n treun fhuil uasil, statail ;
Thu fialidh, pailt an gniomh 's an tlachd,
'S do chiall 'co-streup ri t' aillteachd.
The subject of the poem was a daughter of
Coinneach Ruadh Mackenzie, son of Mackenzie
of Applecross. When the author repeated it to
his brother Alexander, the latter said he could
compose a better poem himself. He tried to
prove his statement by composing the poem that
follows.
ORAN DO 'N NIGHINN CHEUDNA.
LE ALASDIR MAC-COINMCH.
Soridh slan do 'n ailleagan
'Bha mar-rium 'n trath so 'n raoir ;
Gur barricht' ann an ailleachd thu,
'S gur lan-mhaiseach do loinn.
Thug thu barr air mnai na h-Albann
An dreach, 's an dealbh, 's an sgoinn ;
Dh' f hag nadar ann an gliocas dhuit
Gach buaidh dhiu sud os roinn.