Matheson Collection > Gaelic songs of Mary MacLeod

12« NOTES
enough in constant reminders to Norman of what is due to
tradition, and in expressions of joy that the old order of hunting,
feasting and open-handedness to the household will be renewed.
Norman was, as the language of the poem would of itself show,
a young man at his accession, but Mary's hopes were not ful-
filled for long; Norman married in 1703 Anne Fraser, daughter
of Hugh Lord Lovat, and died before the birth of his son
Norman in 1706. It is clear that the poem was composed
very soon after the Cumha do Mhac Leoid. A fragment of
it was sung to Miss Tolmie in Bracadale in 1862; see her
Collection, No. 99.
723. The physician, i.e. God, says Miss Tolmie; perhaps
rather the bearer of the message.
725. The reading of E. and M., theannas, is the relative
fut., used commonly enough, though ungrammatically, in
colloquial speech in place of the independent fut.
736. àrmunn: Iain Breac.
751. dun ud nan cliar: Dun vegan.
779. socrach ri tuaith: a common sentiment; cf. Iain
Lom to Mackinnon of Strath: " Cha b'e am fasan bh'aig each
/So ghlac e mar ghnath/Bhith smachdail mu'n mhàl air tuaith."
791. Olghar: cf. 11. 521, 698, 875, 1148.
" In the classic bardic poetry the name is Olbhur, and occurs
frequently, e.g. in the elegy on Sir Norman aicme Olbhuir
(thrice). — RC, II, 264; a poem in Nat. Lib. MS., addressed
to William MacLeod, son of Sir Norman, has —
Mac 1 Olbhuir mur thuinn thoruidh {rann 12),
Triath do rioghfhuil aicme Olbhuir {rann 23).
Olghar, Olbhur is perhaps to be equated with Oilmor of the
MacLeod genealogy as printed in Celt. Scot., Ill, 460, where
he appears as great-grandfather of Leod, the eponymus of
the clan. The name is obviously the Norse Olver: seven men
of that name are mentioned in Landnamabok ." — BGh.
807. Sliochd Ruairidh, the race of Sir Roderick Mor.
The descendants of his eleven children are too many to enu-
merate. The most prominent at this date were Sir Norman
of Bernera, and the representatives of the houses of Talisker,
Hamer, and Greshornish, founded respectively by Sir Roderick
of Talisker, Tutor of MacLeod, William, and Donald, Sir