Matheson Collection > Gaelic songs of Mary MacLeod

MACLEOD'S LILT 39
Thy lineage and nobility were no trifle to trace; from
the blood of Lochlann's kings thine ancestry unbroken
takes its rise; thy kinship is not far to seek with every
earl that is in Scotland, and with the nobles of Ireland;
no lie is this but a proven tale.
No lie but a tale well proven, thou son of the renowned
sire that was open-handed and far-famed, that in
wisdom excelled every one of Scotland's knights, in
war and in peace and in the bestowal of silver.
In war and in peace and in the bestowal of silver; no
marvel that his son should be prudent, great and spirited,
should be liberal and free-handed, since ye have
received that character as an inheritance, ye sons of
Roderick of war-banners! My sorrow, that so many of
you are dead and gone!
So many of you are dead and gone, ye sons of Roderick!
but thou one that remainest, news of thy death ^ may
I never hear; thou treasure among men, though I am
sundered from thee, thou whose form is so fair, with-
out flaw of fashioning.
Or, news of thy slackness.