Books and other items printed in Gaelic from 1871 to 1900 > Sar-obair nam bard gaelach, or, The beauties of Gaelic poetry, and lives of the Highland bards

SAR-OBAIR NAM BARD GAELACH.
53
SILTS NIGHEAN MHIC RAONAILL.
Cicely or Julian McDonald lived from the reign of Charles II. to that of George I.
She was daughter to Mac Raoghnaill na Ceapach, and of the Roman Catholic persuasion.
Consequently she was an enemy to Protestantism, and hence devoted the earliest efforts
of her muse against the House of Hanover. It is said that in her young days she was
very frolicsome. She then composed epigrams, some of which are very clever, and in
our possession. She was married to a gentleman of the family of Lovat, and lived with
him in Moraghach Mhic-Shirnidh, a place which she describes in a poem, as bare and
barren in comparison to her native Lochaber. This celebrated piece begins with, “ A
theanga sin ’sa theanga shrdil,” which was the first piece she composed after her marriage.
During her residence in the North she composed “ Sian gu brack le cedi na cldrsaich,”
as a lament for Lachlan M'Kinnon the blind harper. This harper was a great favourite
of our poetess, and used to spend some of his time in her father’s family. He was also
in the habit of paying her a yearly visit to the North, and played on his harp while she
sung:—
‘‘ Nuair a ghlacadh tu do chlarsach,
Sa bhiodh tu ga gleusadh lamh rium,
Cha mhath a thuigte Je umaidh,
Do chair chiul-sa,’s mo ghabhail dhan sa.”
During her residence in the North she composed several short pieces, among which is an
answer to a song by Mr M'Kenzie of Gruineard called “ An obair nugha " Her husband
died of a fit of intoxication, while on a visit to Inverness. She composed an elegy on him
which is here given. The song “ Alasdair a Glinne- Garaidh" is truly beautiful, and has
served as a model for many Gaelic songs. After the death of her husband, she was nearly
cut off by severe illness ; and upon her recovery, engaged her muse in the composition of
hymns, some of which are still in use, as appears from a Hymn-book printed at Inverness
in 1821. She lived to a good old age, but the time of her death is uncertain.
MARBHRANN AIR BAS A FIR.
’S i so bliadhna’s faid’ a chlaoidh mi,
Gu’n eheol gu’n aighear gun fhaoilteas,
Mi mar bhat air traigh air sgaoileadh,
Gun stiuir, gun seol, gun ramh, gun taoman.
O 's coma' leam fhln na co dhiubh sin,
Mire, no aighear, no sugradh,
’N diugh o shin mi r'a chunntadh,
’ S e ceann na bladhna thug riadh dhiom dUbailt.
’S i so bliadhn’ a cbaisg air m’ ailleas,
Chuir mi fear mo thaighe ’n caradh,
’N ciste chaoil’s na saoir 'ga sabhadh ;
O ! ’s mis tha faoin’s mo dhaoin’ air m’ fbagail.
O ’s coma' leamfhin, Sfc.
Chaill mi sin’s mo chuilean gradhach,
Bba gu foinnidh, fearail, aillidh,