Ossian Collection > Reliquiae Celticae > Volume 2

THE BOOK OF CLANRAXALD. 1' ( I
He was a scholar without want of letters,
From whom we received an inijDulse by ennilatiiig him ;
He was well spoken and free from error,
And his look moUient which was bountiful to me.
Far away he travelled to find his knowledge,
He was a pupil of the scrutinizers of schools ;
He proceeded from Scotland eastward by sea,
His own free will urging him on to it.
He gained I'enown in every College,
As it was easy with him to acquire knowledge.
Wisdom and intellect were side by side,
Altliough not one they were united in him.
France of feasts bears testimony
T(^ every language paid for you.
Every thing beautiful found in the schools
Was polished by you with true godliness.
A religious man who was much respected,
A royal foster child, which was not too great for him ;
They conferred the title of Tanaisde on him,
And a mastership was applied to him.
Although it has been a great loss to us
Since his death will be the breaking up of a clan.
It is a want of understanding that leaves me as I am,
A loss to them the greatness of which cannot be estimated.
< 'oming as on a free visit from the east by sea,
Witli pleasure produced by the elegance of the man.
Maintaining his reputation from school.
And the love of the will being his reward.
To return back is impossible for us.
And it is not clear where information may be got ;
A damp mist fell on him of the ringleted hair.
It is a woeful death to his kindred to hear it.
The gentle scion that would not break his word,
And the free son that was not sparing of rich presents ;
Far distant from the grave was his fame although but yijung,
Hosts are on every road to hear if he died.
You may gather from the wood that has produced no nuts,
You may pluck with your hand an apple if it has gi-own ;
And there is not a dense tree over our heads
Or an herb that has not become bare through their decay.