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

BARD LOCH-NAN-EALA.
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BARD LOCH-NAN-EALA.
James Shaw, or Bard Loch-nan-Eala, was a native of the island of Mull, where he was
born about the year 1758. He latterly resided in the parish of Ardchattan, Argyleshire,
where he was commonly called the Lochnell poet. Being partly supported by the late
General Campbell and his lady ; she, it is said, encouraged him to publish some of his works,
for which purpose he went to Glasgow to get them printed. Whether he got a printer
to undertake the work or failed in the attempt is not known; for, on his return
home, he died suddenly on board a Steamboat on his passage to Oban: this happened
about the year 1828. He lived in a state of idleness and dissipation ; praising those who
paid him well for it, and composing satires on those who refused him money or liquor.
A few of his poems were printed in Turner’s Collection, and many others are preserved
in manuscript, but they are chiefly local satires of little merit. “ Bi'dh Form oirre
Daonnan" is his chef cToeuvre and the only popular piece of all his compositions, except
in his own country.
ORAN DO DH’ FHIONNLA MARSANTA
[Air son e chuir as a clieile seanna chuirn agus clachan iobairt, a bh’aig na Draoidhean bho shean ]
Am fonn.—“ Alasdair a Gleanna-Garudh.”
Chunna’ mi bruadar air Fionnla,
’S chuir e ionghnadh orm r’a fhaicinn,
’S ghabh mi iongandas ro mhor dheth,
Gu sdnraicht o ’n bha mi’m chadai ;
Thuirt an gutb rium dol da ionnsaidh,
Dh’ ihnse nach e cuis a b’ fhasa,
Dol a rusgadh earn nan Druidhneach,
Na ’n car a thoirt a muinntir Ghlascho.
Ach dh’ fharraid mi co as a dh’ fhalbh e?
’S fhreagair e le seanachas grad mi,
Thuirt e gu ’n robh a chairdean dileas,
Eadar a Chill’s Allt-na-dacha ;
Bha cuid air an Dun so shuas diu,
’S bha uair a bha iad na bu phailt’ ann ;
’S cha ’n cil mi buidheach a dh’ F’hionnla,
Dhol ga ’n dusgadh as an cadal.
'S chi thusa fhathasd le d’ shuilean,
Ma bhios tu’s duthaich ri fhaicinn,
Gu’n teid an gnothach so dhioladh,
Cho chinnteach ’sa bha ’n crun an Sasunn.