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

GILLEASPUIG NA C10TA1G.
163
GILLEASPUIG NA CIOTAIG;
oa,
ARCHIBALD 1‘DONALD, THE HIST COMIC BARD.
We know little more of this distinguished poet than the following songs contain,
one of which was composed to the chief of the clan Cameron, who resided on his estate
in Lochaber, when the poet visited that country. Having met with great kindness
from the chief, the poet made the only return he could have made, and which was con¬
sidered no small requittance in those days—he sung his praise. It was a tribute of
gratitude. Another was composed to ridicule a vain young man; who, it is still be¬
lieved, had a better right to the property of Lovat than the person who succeeded to
it ; but being guilty of murderj was obliged to fly the country. He used to appear in a
dress which, in his estimation, completed the gentleman ; but in the eyes of others made
him ridiculous. Happening to be at a wedding in his full dress, with his hanger, or dirk,
dangling at his side in the dance, and buckled shoes, the piper imprudently played the
tune “ Tha biodag air mac Thdmais,”—a satire composed by our bard to the identical
man. He, incensed, drew his dirk, which all supposed he would sheathe in the bag of
the piper, but, in his fury, mortally wounded him. He escaped to America, and durst
not appear to claim the estate. His other poems remind us of similar pieces by Burns.
Men of genius have similar ideas, and make use of the same means to expose such as
they observe laying themselves open to ridicule.
*** We omit the poem in praise of Lochiell, as inferior to the bard’s humorous pieces. It is in
«« Stewart’s Collection,” page 103.
MARBHRANN DO DH’ IAIN RUADH PIOBAIR.
Fhuair mi sgeula bho’n ghohha,
Cha’n aobhar meoghail, ach gruaim,
E-fein fo mhi-ghean, ’s fo thrioblaid,
Ri iarunn cist’ do dh’ Iain Ruadh.*
Saoir a’ locaradh, ’sa’ sabhadh,
’S a chulaidh bhais ’ga cuir suas,
Samhach cadal na corra,
Cha chluinnear tuilleadh a fuaim.
Chaidh na maidean a ordugh,
Cha’n aithne dhomh-s an cuir suas,
Tha’n gaothair air stopadh,
Tha’n da dhos na’n trom-shuain.
* John M'Quithen, a piper in South Uist. He was a
great companion and favourite of the bard. This elegy
was composed while the piper was living.
Chaill an seannsair a chlaisteachd,
Tha’n gleus air a ghrad leigeadh suas,
O’n trie a thainig cedi taitneach,
Ragha caismeachd mo chluais.
Ceol bu bhlasd’ a’s bu bhinne,
’Dhusgadh spiorad do’n t-sluagh,
Ceol bu tartaraich’ siubhal,
Thionndadh tioma gu cruas :
Ceol mar smebrach a ghlinne,
Ceol a’s binne na cuach ;
Meoir gun bhraise, gun ghiorradh,
Dian ruith-leumnach, luath.
Bu sgiolta sealleadh do sheannsair,
Air port, ’s air crunn-luath, ’s air cuairt,
Pronnadh cnaparra, lughmhor,
Caismeachd shunntach ’san ruaig ;