Matheson Collection > Popular tales of the west Highlands > Volume 4

138 GAELIC OSSIAN.
and judging from my own knowledge of the people, and
their ways, it is possible that these may be fragments
of sentimental poetry different from the popular ballads,
more modern, but certainly older than 1730.
" Grian " is feminine, but the sun is here addressed
as a male. The confusion is something like "Sa Majestè
le Roi elle," etc.
The following translation is almost literal, and gives
the musical rhythm without the assonance.
The Song of Ullin, in Carricthura, arranged in lines.
1
Hast thou left thy blue course in heaven,
Golden haired son of the sky !
The west has opened its gates ;
The bed of thy repose is there.
2
The waves come
To behold thy beauty,
They lift their trembling heads ;
They see thee lovely in thy sleep.
3
They shrink away with fear ;
Rest in thy shadowy cave, sun !
4
Let thy return be in joy.
OSSIAN TO THE SETTING SUN.
Close translation of Gaelic, assumed to be older than 1730.
1
Hast left the blue distance of heaven ?
Sorrowless son of the gold yellow hair !