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

OF THE HIGHLAND CLANS.
Cha threij^inn gaol na ribhinue
clia treyg-iua gaol na ri-vinne
Tlia'o He ghlas an fheoir.
hail i-Ie ylas an e-oyr
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I would not forsake the love of tlie
queenly maiden
Of gray and grassy Islay.
I have not been able to procure a copy of the beautiful verses I have
heard sung to the air of '' Oich mar tlia mi." The fragment here patched up is
submitted merely for the melody. We have none to do for Gaelic what the
immortal Burns did for the Lowland Scotch poetry, otherwise many a highly
interesting volume might soon be made up.
OCH MAR THA MI FO PHKAMH S FO EISLEIN.
Oich, mar tha mi fo phramh 's fo eislein ; Alas ! I am ailing and sorrowful ;
oycU mar ha mi fo frav 's fo eysleyu
Fhuair mi sgeuladh a leir 's a leon mi, —
hu-ayr mi sgeyla' a leyr 's a le-on mi
Mo chreacli 's mo dhiobhail nach ro'
mo chrech 'smo yivayl nacli ro
mi'n He,
mi'n i-le
'S mo chruinneag dhilcas a dol a phosadh.
smo chruynneg yi-les a dol a fosa'
I have news that has me pained and
wounded, —
'Tis my ruin irremediable that I am
not in Islay,
And my beloved maiden going to be
married.
Mar aiteal ceitein an doire geugach,
mar aytel ceyteya an doyre gey-gach
Tha eibhneas diombair a t-aite comh-
ha eyv-nes di-o-vayr a tayl(5 cov-
nuidh :
miy'
An dreach, an aillidh, an cliu, 's an
an drech an aylli' an cli-u 's au
ceutabh :
cey-tav
Chad' fhuair mi leirsin air te thug corr ort.
cha dii-ayr mi leyr-sin ayr te hug corr ort
As the breath of May in a leafy grove,
Thy presence breathes a secret joy
through thy dwelling :
Thou art symmetrical, beautiful, of
fair repute, and fascinating :
My eyes have not seen one who sur-
passed thee.
Tha i aoigheal, cridheil, baigheil ;
ha i aoy'-el cri'-el bay'-el
'S h-inntinn saibheir le tur 's le foghlum ;
sa hinn-tinn sayveyr le tur 'sle fo'-lum
A caint mar cheol tigh'n o inneal
a caynt mar chc-ol ti'n o imiel
neamhaidh,
ne-vay'
Ni'n cridhe a thalladli 's mulad f hogradh.
nin cri'-c a halla' 'iS nudad ogra'
Thou art comely, merry, compassion-
ate ;
Thy mind rich with good sense and
accomplishments ;
Thy words like music from a heavenly
instrument,
Warming the heart, and banishing
grief.