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

BARD LOCH-FINÈ.
357
It is well for dependant merit that there are gentlemen who have something ethereal
in them : much to their honour, Mr Fletcher of Dunans, and Mr Campbell of Islay,
patronized our author, and through the generously exercised influence of either, or both
of these gentlemen, M'Coll was appointed to a situation, which he now holds, in the
Liverpool Custom-house.
M'Coll ranks very high as a poet. His English pieces, which are out of our way,
possess great merit. His Gaelic productions are chiefly amorous, and indicate a mind
of the most tender sensibilities and refined taste. The three poems, annexed to this
notice, are of a very superior order : one of them comes under that denomination of poetry
called pastoral or descriptive, and evinces powers of delineation, a felicity of conception,
and a freshness of ideality not equalled in modern times. The second is an elegiac piece,
before whose silver, mellifluent tones we melt away, and are glad to enjoy the luxury of
tears with the weeping muse. The love ditty is a natural gush of youthful affection,
better calculated to show us the aspirations of the heart than the most elaborate production
of art. M'Coll imitates no poet ; he has found enough in nature to instruct him — he moves
majestically in a hitherto untraversed path ; and, if we are not continually in raptures
with him, we never tire — never think long in his company. But we are reminded that
praises bestowed on a living author subject us to the imputation of flattery : — long may
it be ere Evan M'Coll is the subject of any posthumous meed of laudation from us!
LOCH- A I C.
A LocH-AicE na gnùis' cliaoin —
Gnuis ghabh gaol .lir a bhi ciùin,
'S air an trie an laidh'gath-grein'
Soilleir mar uchd sèamh mo ruin !
'Oide-altruim mhaith nam breac,
Gar an leatsa cath nan tonn,
'S ged nach d' amais long fo bhreid
Air t-uchd reidh rlamh chur fa bonn.
'S leat an eala 's grinne com
'S i neo-throm air t-uchd a' snàmh.
Eun a's gile eneas na 'ghiian,
Sneachd nan sliabb, no leannan bàird !
'S leat bho Lochluinn a's bho 'n t-Suain
An lacli bheag is uaine ciil ;
'S trie 'ga coir — 's cha n-ann 'ga feum,
Falach-fead a's caogadh shul.
'S leat an luinneag 'sheinneas òigh
'Bleodlian bho gu trie ri d' thaobh ;
'S leat an duan a thogas òg
'S e g' a coir a measg nan craobb.
Seinnidh e — " Tl>a cneas mo ghràidh
Geal mar chanach tlà nan glac,
'S faileasan a ghaoil 'n a sùil
Mar tha nèamh an grunnd Loch-aic !
C'àit' an taitneach leis an earb'
Moch a^s anamoch 'bhi le 'iaogh ?
C'àit' an trice dorus dearg,
'Fhir nan garbh-chròc, air do thaobh ?
C'Jiit' ach ri taobh loch mo liiin —
Far, aig bun nan stùc ud thai],
'S an robh uair mo chàirdean tiugh
Ged tha lad an diùgh air chall !
O air son a bhi leam fein !
'Siubhal sèimh taobh loch nan sgòrr
'Nuair bhios gath na gealaich chaoin,
Nuas a' taomadh ort mar or.
'Nuair tha duilleach, fochunn, feiir,
Fo 'n òg-bhraon a' cromadh fliucli,
'S gun aon rionnag anns an speiir
Nach 'eil ceile dh'i 'na t-uchd.