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

OF THE niGHLAXD CLANS.
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awantlng here. This seems to show that the apparent neglect of his friends
and his clan had shaken his confidence, and lowered the tone of his rnind,
although it could not subdue his courage. " Bidh mi maireach" he says bitterly,
" air cnoc gu'n cheann, 's cha bhi mo chairdean fuireachail ;" I will be to-mor-
row on a hillock without my head, and my friends will not be watchful. An-
other couplet is equally expressive of his agitation and conscious power to do
something very dangerous — probably to his guards, for effecting his escape, —
something which his heart did not approve, but to which he might be tempted
in his desperation. " Ochoin a Dhia !" he exclaims, " cum leom mo chiol, cha
robh mi riabh cho cunnartach ;" Oh God ! keep with me my wisdom ; I never
was so dangerous. These lines are sufSciently expressive of his agitation, and
give a lively idea of the stem pride that made him suppress anything sufficiently
touchiug to be represented as complaining of neglect, or implying timidity. He
suppressed anything resembling either, as unworthy of his warlike character
and lofty pride. But the air to which he composed the verses is sufficiently
tender and melancholy- to betray what he would not express in words. It
breathes the tender feelings and regrets natural to the lover and the hero, on the
night before he was to die. This is one of the Macgreagair o Ruarodh measures,
so much admired, and so touching in the style of singing, — the two last lines of
every verse being repeated in the next by the whole audience.
S TRUAGH, A EIGH ! MO NIGHEANN DHONN.
Would, a ri ! my brown-haired maid,
That I was over in Mull with thee ;
'S truagh, a righ ! mo nighean donn,
8tru-a' a ri' mo ni'-e-an donn
Nach robh mi thall a Muile leat ;
nach rev mi hall a muvle let
Far am faighein iasg is sithean fhiadh,
far am fay'-eyn i-asg is si'-e-an i-a'
'Sa chial cha bhiodh oirn uireasaibh.
sa chial cha vi-o' oyrn uyr-es-ayv
Far am faighein iasg is sithean fhiadh,
far am fay'-eyn i-asg is si'-e-an i-a
'Sa chial cha bhiodh oirn uireasaibh ;
sa chi-al cha vi-o' oyrn uyr-es-ayv
Mharbhain breac air boinne cas,
varv-ayn brec ayr boynne cas
Far nach deanadh casan grunnachadh.
far nach den-a' casan grunna-cha'
Mharbhain breac air boinne cas,
varv-ayn brec ayr boynne cas
Far nach deanadh casan grunnachadh ;
far nach den-a' casan grunna-cha'
'S an coileach dubh air luth a sgeidh,
san coy lech dav ayr lu' a sgey'
Mu'n d' theid na eidith ioma fear,
mun devd na evd-i' i-oma fer
Where I would get fish and deer
venison,
And, my love, we should not want.
Where I would get fish and deer
venison.
And, my love, we should not want ;
I would spear the salmon in the rapid.
Where feet would not sound.
I would spear the salmon in the rapid.
Where feet would not sound ;
And the black-cock on the speed of
his wing.
Before many could dress themselves.
Ll