Ossian Collection > Reliquiae Celticae > Volume 2

THE JJOHK OF CLANRANALD. 283-
Tlieir relief is not to be obtained in Ulster,
Although their people were beloved in Magli Fail ;
Since the parties have been taken,
Leaving the King of England over sea.
There is news coming with a mustered force,
Every day arousing amongst us ;
On accou'nt of us being without them, except as a loan,
The kingdom is not at ease by it.
To us it is more rueful than to all others.
To the race of Colla of the warlike deeds (steeds ?)
They are out of their inheritance and rank,
The people that gave payment to the poets.
The royal blood of Ranald is the chief gviardian,
They are without the possessions of the blood of Conn ;
The want of thy government lowered my pride,
Thy arrival was the signal for our loyalty.
The grandson of John not being in his ancestral inheritance.
Our minds have decayed contemplating it ;
Nuts from a wood that bears no fruit.
From a wood by which our hopes have been blasted.
Let us give a call with a ferveuce of will,
To the Heir of Mary, the Son of Ood,
Should they be in danger of sustaining a loss,
Since He is the Head of our nobility.
May he come free to the rights of his kindred.
To maintain the possessions of the ancient (house) ;
Our chieftain calm and our prince hospitable,
The guide of our nobles who would pay the troops.
As Ranald is the king of our choice,
I implore Christ to send him to protect us,
That he may come to pay us our will,
In the right of the princes ever before him.
May the chief of our instruction come unto us,
AVho is descended from the blood of Conn and Colla l^ais.
In the government of the royal tribe of Ranald,
His protecting clan by whom I have lived without danger
If it should be pleasing to the King of all Kings,
To bring him to the inheritance of the blood of Conn ;
He would not refuse the most hazardous meeting.
He would bring us safe into secnritv.