Blair Collection > Practical grammar of the antient Gaelic, or, Language of the Isle of Man, usually called Manks

VI EDITOR S INTRODUCTION.
tation to tteir use^ possesses at tlie same time no small recom-
mendations to tlie attention of the philologist and antiquary,
and especially of those whose office it is to instruct the people in
morals and religion. A few of its distinctive qualities may be
here noticed.
The langiiage is peculiarly forcible and expressive, as far as
the range of its vocabulary extends. For the purposes of devo-
tion it is especially adapted.* There is a solemnity and sim-
plicity in the Manx Liturgy of which the intelligent worshipper
cannot but feel conscious. In the Manx Scriptures the idiom of
the language seems to bear a strong affinity to that of the
originals, especially of the Old Testament.
The poetical capabilities of the language are beautifully ex-
hibited in many of the effusions of the native muse. The follow-
ing fugitive production of the pen of a late native clergyman
(the Eev. T. Stephen), which appeared many years ago in an
Island newspaper, and is now (at the time of writing this Intro-
duction) probably lost to every person but the Editor, wiU bear
comparison, for pathos and idiomatic beauty, with any passage
that can be produced from English poetry : —
'* As ere ta gloyr, agh aalid ennym vie, —
Ennym ! ta myr y ghall ta sheidey shaghey ?
Shoh moylley'n pobble, my she moylley slien.
Son ere ta'n pobble, agh yurnaag anreaghit, —
Earroo neuchinjagh, ta son jannoo mooar
Jeh nheeghyn eddrym nagh vel toilchin scansh,
As coontey cadjin reddyn ta feeu arrym ?
Ta'd moylley as ta'd ooashlagh shen nagh nhione daue ;
As shen ta'd gloyragh jiu, ta'd jiooldey mairagh;
* An eminent Scotch nobleman is said to have expressed himself thus: — "If I
wish to speak on philosophy, I employ the Greek language. If I utter commands, the
Latin is best to express them. If I make love, I speak in French. But if I address my
Maker, I have recourse to the Gaelic."