Matheson Collection > Bardachd Ghaidhlig

xlii. Introductìon.
5. Dechnad inrechtfelesach or crd cummaisc etir
rannaigheacht mhcr agus sruth di aill : 2(^81 + 41)
(1+3) 2+4).
The odcl lines have eight syllables and end on a
monosyllable ; the even Hnes have foiir syllables and
end on a monosyllable. The odd hnes rhyme, and the
even hnes rhyme. Our only example is :
(24) P. 86, Mlonmhainn m'annsachd is mo
thlachd. It is iiTegular.
6. Cuuì'ììiasc ctir rannaighcacht mhòr agus leath-
rannaigìiracht : 2 (71 + 51)2+4. The only example is :
(25) P. 102, Is tuirscach mo sgeul ri luaidh.
The execution shows that Alexander Macdonald knew
the requirements of the old metre. He rhymes his odd
lines as well as his even lines.
7. Cru cummaisc etir casbairdne agas leathrann-
aigheacht: 2 (73 + 51)2+4.
(26) P. 38, A' falbh a Loch nam Madadh dhuinn.
(27) P. 144, Marbhphaisg air a mhidad siìi.
Though here the short line has six syllables, there can
•be no doubt as to the origin. The odd hnes have ante-
penultimate stress at will instead of ending on a
tri-syllable, but the poet is often content with
penultimate stress or a dissyllabic word.
8. Cr/7 cummaisc etir rindaird agus leathrannaigh-
eacjit : 2_{e^ + 5'i) 2+4. Compare :
(28) P. 97, Gur h-ì as crìoch araid.
Most of thc odd lines have only five syllables.
9. jSnidna: 2 (82+71) 2+4.
This metre has been described on p. xxxviii.
(29) P. 244, Moch maduinn air latha Llinasd'.
This poem is often irregular in number of syllables,