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

394
SAR-OBAIU NAM BARD GAELACH
Gur deacair dhomhsa ràìtinn,
'Nach nàduiach do bheus ;
Mar a bha na càirdean,
Gur stàthail bhi da'n reir ;
Gluais thusa mar b'àbhaist,
Feiich an taitin e riut fein,
*S cha toill mise mòraii diùmaidh,
Chionu dol vi ùin' ad dheigh.
Note. — John Maclean, the author of this song and an-
other excellent one at page 389, compfised on Sir Hector
Maclean's leaving his country and going to France in
1721, was a celebrated bard in the island oC Mull. He died
about the year 1760. When Dr Johnson and Boswell
visited that island in 1773, they heard these songs sung by
a lady. Boswell observes that " all the company who un-
derstood the (iaelic were charmed with the verses,"-^
BosweWs Journai, p. 392.
DO NIGHEAN FJIIR NA COMRAICH.
LE UILLEAM MAC-CHOINNICH.
'S ciANAiL in' aigne hho na mhadainn,
Ghabh mi cead de "n ribhinii ;
TÌ cho taitrieach riut cha'n fliaic mi
Ann an dreach no fiambachd,
Bu thrian de m* lùii do bhriathrati beoil,
A leaclid mar cheol a si-bhrntl» ;
'S i 'n t-sheirc a ta na d' bhràgad ban,
A tliaìs^ mo gbradh gu diomhair.
Ciorhan corracb, lionta, soluls,
Air do bhroilleaoh reidh-ghlan ;
Do sheaiig-sblios fallain mar an eala,
Nit mar rhanarh sleibhe.
Bas ionmhiiinn, caoin nan geala, mhenr caol,
A' dealbli nan craobh air peurlainn ;
'S tu fialaidh, g!ic — 's do chiall gun tig,
Air diomhaireachd nan reulltan.
Do bhralghe glè-gheal mar gbath greine,
T'aghaidh reidh ghlan mhodhar ;
Siiinnailt t-eugais 's tearc rì fheutuinn,
Gur tu reull nan òighean.
Gur badilacli, dualach, cas-bhuì', cuachach,
T'fhalt ma'n cuairt an ordugh ;
S ann tha gach ciabh mar fhain air sniamb,
'S gach aon air fiamh an h\v dhiubh.
'Nighean aingil nan rosg malla,
'S nan gruaidh glana, nhrach ;
Da slmil ghorm, mheallach, fo'd chaol-mhala,
'8 gach aon a' mhealladh gràìdh dhiubh.
Tha raais"* ad gnùia, gun easbhnidh mìiirn
Beul meachair, ciùin, ni màran,
Do bliriodal caomh, 's do loinn maraoii.
A rinn mo ghaol-aa thàradh.
Corp seambaidh ban, cho-Iionas gradh
Gach ti a tharadh iùil ort ;
^S ann tha do shnuagh, toirt barr air sluagh,
'S tu 'n ainnir shuairce, chliutaoh.
Do dheas chalpannan ro dhealbhach,
Gu'n bhi meanbh, no dùmhail;
Troighchruinn,chomhnard,dh-Jbalbhasmodhi
Nach dean feoirn' a lùbadh,
Cho glan is tu *s neo shoilleir dhuinn,
'S mar ghealach thii 'n tùs cìridh ;
Beul tana, niuint* a's aiiail cliubhraidh,
'S siunnailt tbu do Bhenvs.
'S e cbriin do thlachd deud ùr mar ohaiK-,
Air dlùihadh ceait ri cheile;
O'n tig an t-òraii eatrom, cfol-mhor,
Alar an smeòrach chèitean.
Bho Fhlath nan dul, tùs rath' nuiuir tlm,
Bhi modhaii, ciuin gun ardan ;
Tha iochd. a's cliù, a's h)inn, as mùirn.
Air glaodliadh dlù' ri d' nadur.
^S tu air do bbuain a freamh nam buagb,
De 'n treun-t'hutl uasail, statoil ;
Thu fiaUiidh, pailt. an giiiomh, 'a an tiaclid
'S do chiall co-streup ri t-àillteachd.
Mi cìan o d' chaidridh, 's buan dhomh fJiiinli.l.
Dh-t'hag sud m' aigne pianail ;
Osnaicli do ghnà, gun fhois, gun tiimh,
A fhrois gach blàth dheth m' fhion-fhuil.
'S 6 bhrosnaich deoir 's a chlaoidh mo tlneuir
An ribhinn òg so thriall bh'uainn ;
'S tu 's troin a dh-fhàg mi, òigh mo ghritidh,
Le d' bhròn ata mi cianail.
2C<3/c.— William Mackenzie the author of this beautiful
song, was the son of a respectable tacksman at Lot hcu idm,
Ross-shire. He lived about the middle of the last cer.tury,
and was one of three brothers who were all poets. 'Jhis
song was composed on a beautiful young lady. Miss IMac-
kciizie of ApplecroES. After she departed from his father's
house on her way home, William and his brother Alex-
ander accompanied her part of the way, and the song was
made on their return. When he repeated it tohisbriilher,
Alexander said lie could make a belter song himself, and
would allow his father (o judge wliich of the two were
best. He t!;cn composed Ant-Ailleanan * Alexander died
soon afterwards, and then William composed that admi-
rable elegy on his death, \vhich is imequalled in tenderness
and pathos by the most celebrated of the Keltic barda.
* SoitAiDB slan do'n aillcaf^an,
Gur barraicht' ami an ailleaclid tliii,
'B gur lan-mhaiseach do loinn,
Thug thu barr air
Ann an dreach 's
DIt-fhag nadur
lai na h-AlbanHt
n dealbit 's an fig^'ii'^
sdhut,
Gach buaidb dhtu snd os-rr
>e dana dhomb ri raite Bin,
Z\*o mar 's pun d' rinneadh bannrigh dbiot>
Ouu ardau no gne phroii,