Ossian Collection > Macdonald bards from mediaeval times

round the house followed by the others, who
belaboured the hide with sticks or clubs, shouting
"Calluinn c, Calluinn o, Calluinn a' bhuilgean
's an tota," and after several rounds they came up
to the front door, when the head man delivered a
(luan of considerable length, after which they
were admitted and got refreshed with bread and
cheese and whisky, often followed by a dance.
Tlie "Dronn," already mentioned in a former
paper, at a feast was called the bard's portion,
and whoever secured it was obliged to compose a
verse. This is called "Beannuchadh Bàird," or
the Bard's blessing, and it was customary to give
a metrical salutation as a mark of respect. A
composition in praise of one whose kindness or
hospitality had been experienced was an equally
common effort of the muses.
" The War-Song of the Gaul," in the fourth
book of Fingal, shows the usual style of the
" Prosnachadh Catha," which is the name applied
to it, corresponding to the Irish " Rosgu Cath,"
and the Welsh " Arymes prydain."
"The address of the great chief of the Cale-
donian confederation, Galgacus, delivered to his
troops previous to the great battle of the
Grampians, is highly interesting for its antiquity,
the eloquence it displays, and the light it throws
on the sentiments of that unconquerable race to
whom the Britons of the south alleged the gods
themselves were scarcely equal. Tiie famed
Caractus would animate his forces in a similar
manner, and it is probable both delivered their
harangues in verse, and may have been of the
bardic order." " The strife was truly kindled by
the songs of the bards." " Go, Ullin, go, my
aged bard ! remind the mighty Gaul of battle^
remind him of his fathers — support the yielding,
tight, for the song enlivens war," says the King of
Morven. The chiefs of Clan Ranald retained a
bard until the middle of the last century, when
Lachlan Mac Nial Mhnireach, the 17th in regular
descent, lost his farm, and dropped the profession,
which his ancestors held so long, as useless. laÌTi
Breac MacLeod of Dunvegan, Skye, who died in
1693, was the last Highland chief who upheld tlie
ancient state by numbering in his retinue
a bard, harper, a piper, and jester. About 1690
John Glas and John MacDonald*, the bards of
* Probably Iain Lorn,
two lairds in different parts of the country, met
by appointment in Lochaber to vindicate in a
poetical contest their own excellence and their
chief's honour, but the result has not been related.
" Music and poetry seem to be inherent qualities
in the Celtic race, and their poetical genius and
artistic advancement have often been subject of
remark. Pastoral occupations and an Alpine
situation are congenial to both. The mountains
of Bccotia were tlie favourite abode of the muses,
and the Arcadians, who were the Highlanders of
the Peleponesus, became famous in the most
early ages for their poetry and music." " The
Gaelic language is well adapted for poetry, and it
is evident that the ancient poets did not cramp
their genius by adherence to any rule, although
there was an attention to rhyme and cadence."
The music and poetry of the Highlands are to
a certain extent inter-dependent on each other,
separately either may be beautiful or att'ecting,
but combined they are unsurpassed by any other
nation. The Rev. Edward Davies, author of
" Celtic researches," " The claims of Ossian
considered " — a most bitter assailant of the
venerable bard— remarks that " the Fingal and
Temora upon subjects so interwoven with the
feelings of the people, set this corner of the
island far above poetic competition, not only with
any Celtic tribe, but, we may say, with any
nation in Europe. What people now existing can
boast of epic poems so interesting, so original, so
replete with generous sentiment, and at the same
time so nationally appropriate ? Tiie man Avho
believes himself descended from Fingal, from
either of his heroes, or even from the nation which
produced such characters, must be a degenerate
wretch indeed if he can do otherwise than think
nobly and act honourably."
"The Celtic poems were generally framed by
the bard to suit the melody of the harp, the
instrument sacred to the order, and to its music
they were sung." The Ossianic class of poetry is
usually sung or chanted in a kind of recitative,
executed with the gravity due to such levered
compositions. An old Highlander considered it
becoming to take off his bonnet when reciting
them, and the term laoidh, or hymn, by which
many are distinguished, indicates the veneration
with which they were regarded. The High-