Books and other items printed in Gaelic from 1871 to 1900 > Neniae

105
[Note.—The author regrets that circumstances prevent the publi¬
cation at present of the remaining portion of the first part of Emanuel.
The size of the book, which was partially printed off some time ago
before the present poem was intended for it, is not adapted for the
kind of verse used in Emanuel; and the author finds that before 2000
lines in this measure could be given the volume would have assumed
proportions which would make it rather expensive for his Highland
countrymen. He is anxious besides that this poem should possass all
his maturity of thought, and that it should appear in a complete form
with as perfect and faultless a finish as possible; so he refrains from
giving more of it to the world till his ideal is more fully realized in the
execution.
On looking over the sheets a few mistakes in the inflections of nouns
have been discovered, but as they are neither many nor serious it is
not necessary to give them in a list of errata.']
THE EOYAL LOCK;
A LYRICAL DIALOGUE,
Founded on a Lock of Prince Charles’ hair which
was cut off by Flora Mac Donald, and shown to the
author by a young Lady of literary tastes in. the North
of Scotland in whose family it has been carefully
preserved.
Far away by the Atlantic
Where fierce storms oft wake the deep,
Where the skies weep sleet in winter,
And the Norland whirlwinds sweep,
In a feal island mansion
Looking fair on Arnish Light,
As it flickered through the distance
Of the dull and rainy night,
Held we converse of the Heroes
Albin nourished for her guard,
Of our mighty fathers’ struggles,
Told by senachie and bard,
When a bright and blooming Lady,
-—Half a Saxon half a Gael—
Typic of our wedded races
Destined ever to prevail—
7