Ossian Collection > Macdonald bards from mediaeval times

'S truagh nach d' rugadh dall mi
Gun chainnt no gun lèirsinn
Mu 'm facas riamh an dram sin
'Rinn aimhleas nan ceudan ;
'Nuair bhuaiieas e 's a' cheann mi
Gu'n teann e ris fhèin nii,
'S cha 'n fhasa leam na 'm bàs
A bhi làthair as 'eugais.
Sguiridh nii 'bhi teagasg air
No 'beadradh ris an dràsda,
Bho 'n a chuir greadabh air
Le Eaglaisean a' Phàpa ;
Ma 'se 's gur èiginn dealachadh,
Mo bheannachd gu là-bhràch leis,
'S mo bheannachdan 's nio ghaol
Do gach aon a thug gràdh dha.
AN DOMHNULLACH FURANACH*
A song that is very jiopular in Skye is " An
Dòmhnullach Furanach," said to have been com-
posed to MacDonald of Lynedale, by a Skye girl.
This was Colonel Alexander MacDonald, IX. of
Balranald, North Uist, designated of Lynedale,
the grandfather of the present Balranald. He
was a captain in the Bengal Artillery, and after-
wards raised and became Lieutenant-Colonel of
the 2nd Isle of Skye Regiment of volunteers. He
was a very fine and handsome-looking man. Mr
A. R. MacDonald, younger of Waternish, Skye,
informs me that his granddaughter, the late
Miss MacDonald of Rodil, Harris, had a mi li-
ature of him, which will probably now be in
possession of Mr MacDonald of Edenwood and
Balranald, or some other near relative. Besides
Lynedale, Colonel MacDonald possessed at one
time the islands of Isry, Mingay, and Clett, now
in the possession of Captain MacDonald, Water-
nish. The song, as given to me by a native of
Skye, is different from the version given in
Sinclair's " Oranaiche "—the air of which is very
pretty.
Seisd— Chorus.
A DhòmhnuUaich fhuranaich,
A dhireadh na munaidhean,
Tha d' fhoghlum oho àrd,
'S ged a dh' àraicht' an Lunainn thu !
B'è mo ghràdh an t-àrmunn,
A thug Dirdaoin an tràigh air ;
tìu'n òlainn do dheoch-slàinte,
'S è b' fhearr na bhi muladach.
Ma thèid thu do na h-Innsean
Air long nan crannag-iseal
* Gracious, kindly, courteous in aspect and
Gu'n treiginnse mo dhùthaich
A ghiùlan a' ghunna dhuit.
Sgiobair air a' chuan thu,
'Nuair dh' èireadh na tuinn uaine,
'S leat urram nan daoin'-uaisle,
Cha ghruaim bhiodh tu 'g iomrachadh.
Sgiobair thu air Birlinn
Cho niaith 's a tha ri fhaotainn,
Sàr iomainich' air raon thu
Ach dajin' a bhi cuide riut.
Sealgair an daimh chròicich
A dhh'eas a' ghlac cheòthach,
'Us coileach-dubh a' chrònain
'S an ròin x^i òis tuinne thu !
T)o chii\ fada direach.
'Sè 'n ceangal anns an t-sioda,
Na 'm faighinns' bhi 'ga chireadh,
Cha bhitheadh ni dh' am uireasbhuidh.
Thig còta dhuit neo-chearbach
Fo chrios nam balla meana-bhreac,
'Us claidheamh geur 'chinn airgid
Gu'n dearbhadh tu buillean leis.
Do Chridhe mar an Daoimean,
L<àn ceartais agus aoibhneis !
'Nuair dhireadh tu na staidhre,
Bhitheadh soills' anns na h-uinneagan !
Tha taoghal maradh 's tire
An tigh an flileasgaich riomhaich,
Làmh 'sgapadh an Fhion-dubh
'S a dhioladh na tunnaehan.
'S è mo ghaol an Ceann-ard,
Bha òirnn 'an tigh na bainnse,
'S ann domhsa nach bu chall sud,
'S na bh' ann a' toirt urram dhuit.
A Dhòmhnullaich fhuranaich, etc.
Few swains of the present day could match the
beauty and splendour of the hero of this song,
whose image the very windows reflected effulgently
to the admiring observer. The authoress' name
is not known. It was probably an afiair of the
heart.
EXPLANATION OF A FEW UNCOMMON AVORDS.
Verse 2 — " Crannag-iseal," — spars and cross-
beams.
Verse 3—" Iomrachadh," — carrying, or bearing;
a deportment.
Verse 5 — " Ois," — of the border of the wave ;
where seals lie.
Verse 6 — " Balla meana-bhreac," — all manner of
ornamental things on his dress.
Verse 6—" Neo-chearbach," — well-made, fitting
the figure.
Verse 7 — AVith this splendid appearance— of a
countenance beaming with kindness from the
Diamond Heart — and bright tartan, spark-
ling stones, silver buckles, buttons, including