Blair Collection > Sar-obair nam bard gaelach, or, The beauties of Gaelic poetry, and lives of the Highland bards

IAIN UUADII STIUBHART.
269
Gu'n toir Fortaii dlia didean le gl'às,
!\Iiir Mhaois 'nuair a thlaigh a mhuir ruadli,
Sgu'ni bidh Deòi'sa le 'dhrealainibh bait,
Mm- bha ^i t~amadan Pharauh 's a ^hluagh.
'Nuair bha Israel sgith 'san staid gbi-Ms,
liinneadh Saul an la sin iia I'igh,
Thug e sgiùrsadb le miosguiiin a's plàigli,
Or
1 M 's
Is anihuil bha Breatuiun fo bhròn,
O "na thriiig iad a chuir 's an righ ;
Ghabh flaitheas rinn corruich ro-mhor,
Crom-an-donais ! chaidh 'n seòrsa 'n diasg.
A lligli shocraich Muire nan gràs,
Crom riumsa le baigh do chluas ;
'S mi 'g uinliladh le m' ghlùn air an làr,
Gabh achanaich araid bhuam.
Clia'n eil sinn a sireadh ach coir,
Thug Cuigs agus Dheorsa bhuainn ;
'Keir do cheartais thoir neart dhuiun a's treoi
A's cum sinn bho I'hoirneart sluaigh ! Ame
CUMHA DO BHAINTIGHEARNA
MHIC-AN-TOISICH.*
Cia iad na dee 's na Duilean tre'un,
Tlieid leamsa aa'n sgeul' bhroin ?
Tha ghealach fòs, 's na renlltan glan,
'S a ghrian fo smal gach 16,
Gach craobh, gach coiU, gach bean 's cloinn,
Dha \n Ijeil na'm broinn an dcò.
Giub luibh, gach feur, gach ni 's gach spreidll,
]\Iu'n ti rinn boisge mòr.
Miu- rlHiiiineal cheir, 's i lasadh treun,
I\lar earr na grein I'o nbin,
Blia reull na mais, fo shiontaibh deas,
A nis thug I'rasan mor,
Oir bhris na tuinn 's na tobair bhuinn :
'S le mulad dhruigh na neoil,
'Se lagaich sinn, 's ar 'n-aigne tinn,
'S gu'n ruith ar cinn le deòir.
Mu'n ribhinii hilt nan ioina gràs,
A cluiisinn gràdh an t-sloigh.
F.ir Uic Air, see the P.ev. Patrick M'Donald's CoUec
1 of Highland Airs, page 16— No. 100.
i\Io bheud gti br.-ith do sgeula bais,
An taobh ud thall de'n Gheùp,
Aiiniir ghasd' nan gorm-shuil dait,
'S nan gruaidh air dbreach nan ròs,
'S e do chuir I'o lie a chlaoidh mo neart,
'S a dh't'hag mi 'm feasd gun treùir.
Do chor'p geal, seang, mar lili ban,
'Se 'n dels' a charadh *n sròl,
A nis a ta gaeh neach fo chr.'idh,
'S tu 'n ciste chiàr nam bòrd,
A gheug nam buadh is aillidh snuadh,
Gur mis tha truagh 's nach beò,
Du ihuimbn' air chruas, ri linn nan sluagh,
Gur ciiiute' dh'lhuasglas deuir.
Tha Mac-an-Toisich nan each seang,
'S nam bratach srannmhor sròil.
Gun aobhar gàirdeachais ach cràdh.
Ma ghrkdh 's nach eil i beò,
A ribhinn shuairc a b' aillidh snuadh,
O Chaisteal Uaimh nan corn.
An gallan reidh o cheannard treun.
An t-sloinne Mheinnich mhòir.
Note This lament was composed on the celebrated
Lady M'lntosh of Moyhall, whose firm attachment to the
Chevalier's interest is well known. A story is told of this
lady which exhibits her character in a very bold and mas-
culine light. Prince Charles had arrived at Moy, on his
return from England, two or three days before his followers
camethrough Athol and the wilds of Badcnoch. M'lntosh
and his clan were from home with the other Jacobites, and
the place was altogether unprotected. Some keen.sightcd
loyalist had seen the Prince, and forthwith communicated
the intelligence to Lord Louden, then stationed at Inver-
ness With 5U0 soldiers. His Lordship immediately marched
towards .Moy, taking a circuitous route, however, loavoid
detection. Intimation was carried to Lady M'lntosh of
his Lordship's approach— it was a moment of awful and
anxious incertitude. She immediately sent for an old
smith, one of M'lntosh's retainers, and a council of war
was held. "There is but one way," said her Ladyship,
"of saving Prince Charles— your own Prince; and that is
by giving them battle, " " Battle !" exclaimed the smith,
"where are our heroes? alas! where to-night are the sons
of my heart •."■ It was ultimately arranged that Prince
Charles should Ije placed under hiding, and that the son of
Vulcan, with other six old men who were left at home,
should give them battle. Armed with claymore, dirk,
and guns, together with a bagpipe and old pail (drum), our
octogenarian little army lurked in a dense clump of brush-
wood until the red.coats came up. It was now night, and
the sound of Lord Louden's men was heard— they
were within a mile of Moy ! The sinilh anil his fullowers,
as instructed by her Ladyship, flrtd gun alter gun, until
the six were discharged ; he then roared out " Clan
M'Donald, rush to the right— Cameron, forward in a
double column in the centre— M'lntosh, wheel to the left,
and see that none will escape !" This was enough ; the
red.coats heard— stood, and listened— all the clans were
there— so, at least, thought Lord Louden, and away they
fled in the greatest disorder and confusion, knocking one
another down in their flight, and not daring to look behind
them iMiliI they had distanced the smith by miles !