Ossian Collection > Thoughts on the origin and descent of the Gael

194
" Cul fada re
" Air dhreach nan teud
" Do clioimlieas fein
" Ri or an grein
" As t eugais bitii' mi niarbh
" Do chul cuachach
" Bachlach snuaghar
" Lumalan dual gu bar
" Beul is binne
" Deud is gile
" Meoir is grinne tagh *
" Do chiochan cura
" As taitneach leum
" Air uchc ua'n tuirgheal ban."
Literally Translated :
" Blue thy eyes, red thy cheek, thy body is
" whiter than snow, Hke foam on the sea-shore
" in the sunshine of day. Thy neck of the most
" beautiful shape, like the swimming white swan ;
" a transparent pebble among a heap of stones.
" Thy hair, long and regular on thy back, is of
" the colour of strings. j" Thy semblance is like
" gold in the sun. Without thee I shall die ! Thy
" curling hair, twining in beautiful hue, abound-
" ing with locks to the top. A mouth the most
" musical, teeth the whitest, fingers of the nicest
* The word tagh applies to the joints of the fingers ; i. $,
joined in the neatest and most delicately finished manner.
t Alluding to the shining strings of the harp.