Hew Morrison Collection > Sar-obair nam bard gaelach, or, The beauties of Gaelic poetry

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SAR-OBAlll NAM BARD GAELACH.
IAIN DUBH MAC IAIN 'IC-AILEIN.
John M'Donald, commonly Iain Duhh Mac Iain ' Ic-Ailein, i. e. John of black locks,
son of John, the son of Allan, was a gentleman of the Clanronald family, and was born
about the year 1665. He received all the advantages of education, together with the
opportunities that the times in which he lived offered to a man of observation. He was
immediately descended from the Maer family — a great branch of the Clanronalds — of
whom many individuals were highly distinguished for prowess, wit, and poetical powers.
He resided in the island of Eig, on the farm of Grulean.
Mr M'Donald was not a poet by profession, although he was considered by good
judges not inferior to any bard of his age. He lived in easy circumstances. Amid his
rural pursuits, he had ample time to woo the muses, or pass his leisure as inclination
or opportunity occurred. He, therefore, put himself under no restraint, but sung when
inspired, and made observations on men and manners ; and his remarks were generally
allowed to be shrewd and just. Few anecdotes can be expected of a man who passed a
quiet life in such circumstances. He always held a respectable rank in society. His
poems display taste and elegance, and his compositions, occasional and gratuitous as they
were, must have been numerous.
ORAN DO MHAC-MHIC-AILEIN.
A Bhliadhna gus an Aimsir so,
Gu'in b' fhoirineil sitiii an Ormaiclcit,
'N ciiirt an leoghainn mhearcasaich,
Ge fear-ghalach ro inhorghalach,
Ge smachdail, reachi)ail calinar' thii,
'S ro-anamanta neo morchuiseach,
Am bèul o'm blasd' thig argamaid,
'S tu dheaibhiidh le ceart colas i.
Gur h-e fhad 's o'n dh' fhalbh thii uainn,
Dh' fhag ime-cheisteach an comhnaidh sinn,
Gu'm b' fheair Iciiiii thu bhi sealgaircachd,
Air talamh garbh na mor-thire,
Thu fuin 's do bhuidheann ainmeiiiencti,
Na n cireadh farragradh fòpn-san,
Bhiodh sunndacb lughor arm-cleasach,
Sluagh garbh' bhuilleach, garg, comhragach.
Gu'm bi fid a gheala-bhratach,
'S neo-chearbach an tùs comh-strì i,
Tha chuis ud ar a dhearbhadh leibh,
Aig ro mhiad fearrdha 's cròdhalaclid,
A liuthad òigpar barrcaideach,
A bbiiaileadh tailm le stròic-lannabh,
O Sheile ghlas iiaii geala-bhradaii,
Gu lubhear gainmhich Mor-thire.
Tha Cana 's Eig a' geilleachdaitin,
Do 'n treuri fbear ud inar uachdaran,
P"n 's anil leatsa dh' eireas iad,
Deuii fuiii gach tread dhiu' bhuachailleachd,
Am tiubhaidh gasda threubhach sin,
Nach labhar beuirtean truaillidh leo,
An laochraidh thaitiieach gheur-laiinacli,
A theid air ghleus gu fuathasach.