EDINBURGH : MA/LACHLAK < LONDON : SIMI-KIX. MARSHALL GLASGOW : THOMAS MUIIRAY & DUBLIN : HODGES & SMITH. INVERNESS: WILLIAM SMITH.
Price Seven Shillings and Sixpence
THE
LANGUAGE, POETRY, AND MUSIC
OF THE
HIGHLAND CLANS.
D. R. COLT.IB AND SON, PRINTERS, KD1NBORGH.
A TREATISE
LANGUAGE, POETRY, AND MUSIC
OF THE
HIGHLAND CLANS :
WITH
ILLUSTRATIVE TRADITIONS AND ANECDOTES,
AND NUMEROUS
ANCIENT HIGHLAND AIRS,
BY DONALD CAMPBELL, ESQ.
LATE LIEUT. 5?TH REGIMENT.
EDINBURGH : D. R. COLLIE & SON, 19 ST DAVID STEKKT
PREFACE.
THE religious and civil institutions, and the state of society among the patriarchal or Highland Clans, have been so misunderstood and misrepresented, as to have made on the English-speaking public the impression that these Clans were in a state of lawless barbarity at the dawn of authentic history, and continued in that condition until a period within the memory of men still living. Several untoward circumstances, chiefly resulting from the translation of Ossian's poems, have occurred to confirm this impression. One learned and talented Englishmen, with a direct reference to these poems, contended that such ideas and feelings could not be expressed in the rude gibberish of a barbarous people ; and several English-speaking Lowlanders and Highlanders, taking up this view of the subject, and having the same conviction as to the rude uncultivated character of the language, maintained that the Highland Clans had no poetry, and could not have had any poetry, excepting that which had been recently forged for them in English, by writers of so unscrupulous a character as to father their patched-up plagiarisms on mythic bards, known only to the vulgar lore of a people who had never emerged from a state of lawless barbarity. That these gentlemen were in total ignorance of the subject on which they wrote so dogmatically, did not lessen the influence of their opinions on readers who had no means of detecting that ignorance, and who naturally gave them credit for too much honesty and decency, to believe them capable of writing so confidently on a subject of which they knew nothing. It is very true, that, on a recent occasion, the achievements and conduct of the Highlanders were such as could not fail to cause doubt in the minds of an enlightened people, on the ex parti statements of those who represented the Highland Clans as plundering barbarians ; since it is impossible to believe that a mere handful of barbarians could, riot only encounter, but defeat a regularly trained army, or that lawless marauders, in overunning a country, should have committed fewer outrages than were ever known to have been committed by any disciplined army in similar circumstances. These facts were known to the writers above referred to, when they were writing down the Highlanders! It
VI PREFACE.
may, I think, very fairly be assumed, that the age which witnessed these achieve- ments and that conduct, and preferred believing ill-natured and dishonest assump- tions to fairly interpreting these well known facts, was neither intelligent nor generous. Nevertheless, the succeeding age approved of, and followed their example, if we may judge by the unabated prejudices against the Highlanders. When modern wealth and refinement created such a demand for all kinds of literature, it was naturally interpreted as unfavourable to the pretensions of the Gael, that that literature was found apparently nil ; nor, until within these few years did a single writer wield the pen to explain the reason, although it was quite easy to do so, by throwing light on the ancient institutions and tenures of the Celtic Clans, and showing that, when the patriarchal system was struck down by the disasters of Culloden, the rights and privileges of the people were violated, and the same effect given to feudal charters over the unconquered lands of the Highlanders, which they had long previously attained over the conquered lands of the people of England, and that the Gael had been thus placed in a state of transition and eviction, which was equally unfavourable to the pursuit or the remuneration of literature.
The melodies, reels, and strathspeys of the Gael met with no better fate than the "Ossian" of Macpherson, and the "Sean Dana" of theKev. Dr Smith; nobody believed in their antiquity. For how, it was philosophically argued, could a rude and barbarous people carry down from remote ages in their oral lore and every day amusements, such poetry and such music ? This was sound reason- ing ; for it is impossible to believe, (1.) that the music and poetry of a separate and distinct people could have two separate and distinct characters, from the indissoluble connexion between poetry and music, until within a very recent period. (2.) It was equally impossible to believe that the poetry and music of a people, and the people themselves, should be of two different and distinct characters ; that the people should be rude and barbarous, and their poetry and music not only intelligent, but refined. Either of the two postulates must be conceded, therefore, to Dr Johnson, by whom the question of the authenticity of the poems was put on this sound and philosophic basis. The Doctor does not seem to have had the music of the Highlanders under consideration ; but I submit that the music and the poetry were twins, — born of the same parentage, nursed at the same bosom, and reared among the same glens and mountains ; and that whoever believes in the one, is bound to believe in the other. I therefore thoroughly agree with Doctor Johnson, so far as he goes ; but submit that the music forms an inseparable element in the question. The state of society that could have produced, and have in its every day amusements preserved such music, might well produce such poetry ; and that state of society could not have been either rude or barbarous. But the copiers and publishers of the music had by their own vile snobbery contributed to the scepticism on the subject. They deprived the melodies and tunes of the signet of antiquity contained in the hereditary names, and rebaptised them, in compliment to their patrons and patronesses, and thus stamped them, ex facie, as modern instead of ancient music.
PREFACE. vii
The transition state of the Gael is now past. The feudal historians and clearance-makers have done their worst ; but the Clans have their LANGUAGE, their POETRY, and their Music still left, and in these they have ample materials, if properly handled, to vindicate the memory of their noble ancestors against the charge of lawless barbarity. Hence this treatise. I was not, while writing it, insensible of the difficulty of finding purchasers and readers for any work on a subject so prejudiced and prejudged. And I could not venture to incur liability for a large amount of advertisements. But I published my proposal in a few of the newspapers most likely to meet the eyes of Highlanders, as I never doubted, should my object be made generally known, that there are thousands of Highlanders who are as anxious as I possibly can be, to remove the charge of lawless barbarity made against the memory of our ancestors, and the sentence of proscription under which their language and poetry in effect lie, and that such Highlanders would willingly use their influence to procure subscribers to guarantee the expenses.* Subscription lists have been taken up with their usual spirit by a few worthy Highlanders in Greenock, Paisley, and Glasgow ; I, accordingly, placed the treatise in the hands of the printer, without waiting for the result, but have no doubt that a sufficient number of subscribers have been obtained to cover the expenses ; and, in that case, my conviction is, that the spirit of fair play which has hitherto characterized, and which I trust will ever continue to characterize the people of this country, will procure for a work having such an object, at least a fair hearing — and I ask no more.
With regard to the phonetic spelling, I am sorry to find that all the Highlanders whom I have consulted, excepting two literary gentlemen,! are opposed to the " innovation." Surely those who object to the phonetic spelling
* A Highlander who had seen one of these advertisements by mere accident, wrote me (although •we were total strangers) recommending that I should advertise more extensively, expressing his convic- tion that there were thousands of Highlanders that, like himself, would feel anxious to get subscribers for the purpose of having such a work published, who might never know anything about the proposal, unless more extensively advertised. Feeling that I met here with a kindred spirit, I candidly told him that the tide of prejudice was so strong against Gaelic and Gaelic literature, as to make it too dangerous for a retired officer with a small military income, to incur an account for advertisements on the chance of the success of such a work. The noble Gael then wrote me a characteristic letter, inclosing a pound note, and begging that I would lay it out on additional advertisements.
•f One of the Gentlemen above referred to is Mr M'Naughton, Tillyfourie, who delivered and published a Lecture on the authenticity of Ossian's Poems, which for research, clear and impartial reasoning, and good taste and sense, is superior to anything that had previously appeared on the subject ; and the other is Mr Macdonald, Grandtully, whose letter on the various dialects and so-called races of Europe I have inserted with his kind permission, at page 27. Mr M'Naughton recommended that I should adopt the principles of pronunciation as illustrated in Mr Walker's Dictionary for my phonetic spelling, and I would have done so had my aim been merely to quote specimens of Gaelic poetry ; but I had another and totally different object in view, namely, to enable the English reader to peruse the poems already in print. I submit Mr Macnaughton's specimen, however, to the reader, and sincerely hope that it will be adopted by some younger Highlander who sympathizes with my anxious wishes to see this beautiful language popularized ; and I have no doubt selections of Gaelic poetry so written would be acceptable to thousands of the English-speaking public.
41434 34 2 331 34 34
A ne-an donn na bual-e, Vyal hu me Had hug-ra,
424:344444 84 144 94 21 S
Ga vel ang gluasad far-asd-a, Liad vre-dal as liad chiun-e,
4^.431 34 3 131414
Ang gaol a hug me buan dhut, Lub hu me mar yur-an,
3 28 -.342 4424 41449444
Cha ve-ich cruai-chae yar-ich-aii. Cha duch-as a vi fal-an dhov.
Vlll PKKFACE.
forget that the Gaelic has been subjected to a thorough innovation long before this, and that it now appears before the public, not in its native and graceful tartans, but in a Roman garment, grotesquely shaped for the purpose of swad- dling, and not of developing its noble lineaments ! This has hitherto evidently formed the stumbling-block to the study of the Gaelic language, for every person who has already learned the English names of the Roman letters, in per- using Gaelic books as now printed, must be subjected to the complicated process of unlearning the English, and learning the Gaelic sounds of the same letters, and the former is fully as difficult as the latter. Had the native alphabet been preserved, the Gaelic student would only have to go through the simple process of learning a new alphabet.
The Gaelic bards, as is shown elsewhere, were the great conservatives of ancient times. They stood firmly, and to the death, in the defence of the rights and liberties of the people ; and, hence, wherever despotism was put up, Gaelic bards and Gaelic poetry were put down. The kindly feelings, liberal sentiments, and high tone of independence which breathes through Gaelic poetry — (the monks' written ursgeuls excepted) — could not find sympathy among a feudal people, without proving destructive of despotism. The feudal despot and his assessors knew this well. Hence the Gaelic language, although one of the oldest in Europe, has been studiously excluded from every university or collegiate institution endowed by kings or queens, or presided over by priests, whether Catholic or Protestant, to the present day ; and is the only European dialect which is now taught in no higher seminary than a charity-supported hedge-school ! Do my Highland friends wish the language of their ancestors to be continued in this state of absolute proscription? We have, in Gaelic, grammars and dictionaries, which, to say the least, have been the works of men of as much learning, research, discrimination, and talent as those of our neighbours ; but who profits by them ? Not one in a thousand, even among Highlanders, can read or write Gaelic. In short, past experience shows that the Gaelic will not be an object of acquisition to the public, or even to learned men devoted to philological researches, while it continues under its present deformed mask. I have therefore considered it a worthy mission so to shake, if I do not shatter that mask, as to enable scholars and gentlemen to get, at least a glimpse of the beaming form which is being crushed to death under it. And I know that there is to be found in the language, which has been thus thrown into obscurity by a forbidding-looking disguise, a poetry which clearly proves that the people whose sympathies were so accordant with the generous, heroic, kind, and benevolent feelings and sentiments therein contained, as to make them cherish and preserve it by oral recitation for nearly two thousand years, must have been as civilized, during that period, as the middle classes of the people of this country are at the present day ; — unless civilization means something else than intelligence, and a lively sympathy with generous, heroic, kind, and benevolent feelings and sentiments ? I know that this assertion will be put down as paradoxical by those who form decided opinions on subjects of which they know nothing, and that such parties are peculiarly tenacious of foregone
PREFACE. ix
conclusions, not the less when they result from ignorance and prejudice ; but I also believe that there is in this country enough of justice, candour, learning, and talent, to test this question on the merits. I submit ample materials for the investigation, and am convinced that whoever shall peruse them with the care necessary to enable him to decide intelligently on the subject, will agree with me. But, to enable those who are unacquainted with the language to form a sound opinion on the question, I considered a more simple orthography, a sine qua non. Hence the system adopted in this treatise. Although unaccustomed to write Gaelic, I believe I understand the language well, and have kept faith with such subscribers as are enamoured of the present orthography by spelling the specimens which I quote in accordance with that orthography, although, as already stated, -want of practice may have occasioned many mistakes, which the verbal critic will be glad to pounce upon ; but I have under-written every word so spelt phonetically, for the English reader, convinced that this will enable him to form a more sound opinion of the language and poetry than he could otherwise have formed of them without a vocal teacher, and much trouble and expense.
The writing of Gaelic, and especially phonetically, being new to me, I take it for granted that innumerable mistakes and omissions may have escaped me in correcting the proofs. Any critic but the merely verbal one will, how- ever, I think, find enough to convince him that such mistakes and omissions are more to be ascribed to want of practice than to want of knowledge of the subjects. For the former I might expect to be excused ; for the latter I could not. The phonetic spelling is on a carefully considered uniform plan, but being thoroughly new to myself, there is no doubt that many letters will be found undetected that are inconsistent with uniformity, and unnecessary to the pronunciation. This will, I trust, be excused in the first edition of a new system of orthography. I am aware that my phonetic spelling will give the English reader but a very imperfect idea of the beauty of the language when compared to a chaste and elegant pronunciation by the living voice ; but every well-educated person knows that letters without a vocal teacher never can teach any foreigner to speak any language like a native. I have endeavoured to make this Preface embrace my whole case, and submit it to the public with perfect confidence in its truth and honesty ; and therefore I have some hopes that it may assist in creating among English readers some interest in the Language, Poetry, and Music of the Highland Clans.
Port- Glasgow, 3rd July 1862.
INTRODUCTORY KEMARKS.
THE Gaelic is a language of monosyllables or roots. Hence, in order to have a key to the etymon, the Druids preserved the initial letter of every root in compound words, which has so loaded them with consonants, as to give the language an unpronounceable and forbidding look ; but, by rules equally simple and beautiful, the aspirate letter h is so managed, as to silence or euphonize the consonants wherever their initial sound would injure the easy flow or graceful cadence of a word, a verse, or sentence. The knowledge of the power and proper use of the aspirate is, therefore, the most important requirement of the Gaelic student ; and this can, I think, be very easily learned, by comparing the present mode of spelling with the phonetic spelling of the following pages, after carefully perusing the brief lesson submitted in illustration.
The higher class of Highlanders have, in a great measure, given up speaking Gaelic within these hundred years, there being no object sufficiently accordant with the utilitarian character of the age to induce them to devote the necessary time to its study ; and the educated among the lower classes con- sist chiefly of clerical students, doctors, lawyers, &c. The former, instead of having availed themselves of their classical opportunities to become more perfect in their knowledge of their native language, generally lost in the Lowlands all of Gaelic which they had acquired at the firesides of their Highland parents. These remarks apply to a period when Dissent was little more than a name in Scotland ; and as the Church patronage was in the hands of the higher classes, and these students, with few exceptions, were of the lower class, they found it, in the general case, their interest to cultivate a spirit of diplomacy rather than of independance. Hence, with some noble exceptions, the students of Divinity returned from the seats of learning in the Lowlands, where the "gibberish" was of ill repute, to their native districts, fully qualified to conciliate the dispensers of Church patronage, but scarcely able to address from the pulpit a congregation of intelligent Highlanders ; and thus, between toadyism and bad Gaelic, the Church of Scotland in the Highlands lost the respect of the people, and was at length merely regarded as the Church of the Heritors.
Many of the clergy of the Established and Dissenting Churches were bora of plebeian parents, and reared, during the years in which the feelings and the manners are most susceptible, among the callousness and rudeness almost inseparable from poverty, coarse living, and labour. They almost invariably, while going through their curriculum, had to hire themselves out during their
INTRODUCTORY REMARKS.
vacation-time as teachers, for the purpose of procuring funds to pay their class fees, &c. : hence the egotism of the dominie was usually superinduced on the cal- lousness and coarseness of the plebeian, before the generality of such clergymen had become placed ministers. Naturally looking to a position, which had been the object of such a struggle and such privations, as the highest that in his view can be attained on earth, such a clergyman, when he attains a church, considers himself a most lordly personage, and wants nothing, in his own opinion, to 'establish his dignity and fix his status, but a few lordly, or at least, lairdly acquaintances. Every branch of the Protestant Church furnishes men of heads, hearts, and manners, which make them true specimens of scholars and gentle- men ; but such are rare. Surely, when society as now constituted consists of three classes, means might be found to secure a greater number of the higher and middle classes for the Church. It would indeed be a pity to exclude men of fine hearts and high talents from the Church, merely because their parents were poor or low-born ; but as for the common herd of plebeian ministers, these, we affirm, would be more happy, and certainly more suitably employed and useful to their country, as artisans and labourers, than in their present position.
The bard and seannachie, who were the guardians of the Gaelic language, ceased to live as an order on the accession of the King of Scotland to the throne of the British Empire ; and there were no means provided at the Reformation for educating ministers or schoolmasters for the Gaelic-speaking part of the people. But this was not all. Corruption was added to the neglect of the language ; for since the patriarchal governments of the clans were dissolved by the disasters of Culloden, and Highland tenures have been sub- jected to the feudal laws, the people have been in a transition state, and the country so inundated with a Lowland peasantry, as scarcely to leave a single locality in which the Gael or his language are to be found in their native purity. The clerical student who really wished to qualify himself for the native pulpit, had another formidable difficulty to surmount besides the want of Gaelic pro- fessors and schoolmasters, and that was, the hostility of the Reform Clergy, Episcopalian as well as Presbyterian, to the native poetry and tales, in which alone the Gaelic is to be found in its purity.
The priesthood who succeeded the Culdees, showed far more tact and knowledge of human nature than those who succeeded the Reformation ; for, instead of entering into hostility against the traditional poems and heroes that had such a hold on the hearts, and such an influence over the lives of the people, they went deliberately and systematically to work, so to reconstruct these as to render them subservient to the " pious fraud" by which they sought to convert mankind to the new religion. The Protestant historians of the Catholic Church, in accounting for many of its feasts, &c. say that they availed themselves of " established superstitions." Had they said that they invented superstitions, which afterwards became established, they had been nearer the truth. At any rate, they composed new versions of the traditional poems of the north and east of Erin and of Albin, where the druid or natural religion and the patriarchal
INTRODUCTORY REMARKS. 5
system, prevailed ; into which they introduced saints, sorcerers, witches, giants, and dwarfs ; together with their miracles, necromancies, witchcrafts, cannibal- isms, and tricks. By these singularly seductive legends, they emasculated the minds, corrupted the tastes, and bewildered the ideas of the people ; and thus made them forget that knowledge of the God and laws of Nature which had been taught them by the Druids, and prepared them to believe any thing. Hence the success — not of a pure Christianity — but of an ambitious and des- potic priest-craft, and its sometimes fosterchild and sometimes benefactor and champion, Feudalism ; hence also the superstitious credulity which, until this day, believes in the improvised miracles of the Catholic, and the rival but coarser and less poetic Kevivals of the Dissenting priesthood ; and in the witch- crafts and prophecies of crazed old women, gipsies, and table-rappers.
The class of Ursgeuls, or new tales, composed by the monks, bear intrinsic evidence of being not the work of the Gaelic bards, but of dabblers in Greek and Roman literature ; for they have their metamorphosis, &c., which are totally foreign to the national poetry. There is another class of Ursgeuls, quite distinct from these forgeries, which are much more honest and amusing, having been written by the bards of the Scottish or Gothic clans of the south and west of Ireland and Scotland, in ridicule of the pride of descent from the Fingalians of the Celtic clans of the north and east of both countries. These consist of parodies and burlesques on passages of historical and genuine poems, carried down by oral recitations, and are very much too graphic to leave any doubt of their object. But so " stubborn are facts," and so tenacious were the ancient Celtic clans of their oral poetry and traditions, that neither the monkish forgeries nor the Scottish burlesques have ever been able wholly to corrupt or supplant them in the north of either Ireland or Scotland. Hence, many of the valuable historical poems still exist in their purity. Indeed, these forgeries and humourous burlesques and parodies have never attained a more dignified name either in Erin or Albin than URSGEULS, a word formed from the roots ure, new, and sgeul, a tale. See Cumhadh Mhic Leoid, by Mari Nighean Alisdair Ruaidh, who lived until nearly the end of the sixteenth century, at page 159 ; and Mr 0' Keerney's introductory or explanatory remarks in reference to the battle of Cath Garbha, published by the Ossianic Society of Dublin, in 1860 ; in which he expressly designates these remains as URSGEULS, and propounds the amusing paradox, that they are " historically" more true than the ancient poems of Ossian, from which he admits them to have been derived. The name Ursgeul, necessarily implies that there were old tales on which the Ursgeuls were founded, as the " New Testament" implies that there was also an " Old Testament."
A reviewer, in the " Times," of the Dean of Lismore's book on the Ur- sguels, or monkish legends of Ossian, lately published at Edinburgh, remarks, that in that great mass of poetry there is no mention of Wallace and Bruce, and no hatred of the English; but, although these tales or ursgeuls are evident- ly monkish legends, in which the traditional poems and heroes of the people are made subservient to " pious fraud," they profess to be, and I believe really are, older than the age of Wallace and Bruce. The Emperors of Rome are men- tioned in them as " kings of the world ;" and Oscar's traditional battle of
G INTRODUCTORY REMARKS.
Carron, or Fiutry, out of which few of the " people of the kings of the world escaped," is especially mentioned. Iain Lorn speaks of both Wallace and Bruce ; but expresses no hatred of the English. Even the bards who wrote on the massacre of Glencoe and Culloden, do not express hatred of the English. The Gael was too magnanimous to hate his enemies. There is not such a thing as hatred or revenge to be found in Gaelic poetry.
Bishop Carsewell of Argyle fulminated against the poetry and tales of the Gael, an age before their still more formidable enemy, Dr Johnson, was born ; and, in so far as the Bishop is concerned, for a more honest reason, namely, as he indignantly expresses it, because the Highlanders of his day would rather listen to poems and tales about " Fin M'Coul, Oskir Mac Oishin, and the like," than to psalms and sermons ; and the disciples of Calvin were not less hostile to the language and poetry of the Gaelic bards than those of Luther. Extreme zeal, and some excesses, were to be expected from the emancipated slaves of spiritual and civil despotism, and the British Eeformation was not free of examples of such excesses, any more than the French Revolution ; but it was scarcely to be expected that these holy reformers would carry their spiritual intolerance so far as to make war on a literature in which the most diligent research will not detect a verse or a paragraph offensive to morality or religion. This intolerance among the old school class of the Highland clergy came down to Dr Blair's time. It is, therefore, difficult to understand how he and the other learned gentlemen who interested themselves in the Ossian controversy, were so oblivious of the hostility of the Highland clergy to the poetry and tales of the Gael, as to apply to them for information on the subject. The information collected by the Highland Society is, in my humble opinion, quite sufficient to satisfy any impartial inquirer as to the authenticity, substantially, of Mr Macpherson's elegant and spirited translation of the poems ; and some of them, such as Fingal, had been found in manuscripts of considerable antiquity ; and surely it will be admitted that the author of Fingal was qualified to write any other poem in Macpherson's translation ? But had they applied to the tailors, who at that time itinerated from house to house, making the clothes of the people, and were, I might almost say, professional reciters of poems, tales, and traditions, instead of the clergy, the result would have been more conclusive and satisfactory.
Mr Campbell of Islay, in the last volume of his interesting and (to the biologist and antiquary) most valuable Highland tales, has, in his own happily piquant, discriminating, and gentlemanly style, put the whole controversy pro and con before the public, with a judgment and impartiality which gives the enemies of Ossian fair play, and leaves his friends nothing to fear, and little additional to say on the authenticity of the poems, in so far as the subject had been developed up to that date. But I observe, with no small surprise and regret, that the learned and talented author of the Introduction and Notes to the ursgeuls or monkish legends of Ossian, collected by the Dean of Lismore, before alluded to, thinks he has now fairly discovered the author of the originals of Ossian's poems, in Mr Macpherson, Strathmashie ! The poems of Ossian collected by James Macpherson and his friends (as all who know anything of the collection and publication of oral poetry must be aware of) must
INTRODUCTORY REMARKS. 7
necessarily have consisted of different versions and different detached pieces, according as different reciters were more or less correct or more or less retentive in their memories of the different poems or parts of poems furnished by them to the collectors. The preliminary steps to the translation, therefore, necessarily were the collation, proper arrangement, and careful copying of these different versions and different parts. The translator was assisted in this process by two gentlemen, Mr Macpherson of Strathmashie, and Captain Morison of Greenock, — two gentlemen of education and position in society, against whose honour and integrity not one syllable had been breathed during the hundred years these poems have been under a controversy more or less intense, until Mr Skene, who has attained a distinguished position in the historical and antiquarian literature of his country, suddenly discovers, from somebody too insignificant to be remembered, that the whole three were fraudulent conspirators, and one of them a great poet ! His words are : " Some years ago, I happened to pass a couple of months in the neighbourhood of Strathmashie, and I recollect having been informed at that time, but by whom I cannot now tell, that after Lachlan Macpherson's death, a paper was found in his repositories, containing the Gaelic of the seventh book of Temora, in his own hand writing, with numerous corrections and alterations, with this title, — ' First rude draft of the seventh book of Temora.' '
I will not stop to' remark on the inadequacy of the above to justify the grave inference of Mr Skene. The poems published by the Rev. Dr Smith were all, or many of them, claimed by a schoolmaster of the name of Kennedy, as his own composition. Few believed him, and many knew that the claim was false, the poems being known before he was born, to old men still living ; but the collection of ursgeuls by the Dean of Lismore, which gave occasion for Mr Skene's Notes, exposed Kennedy to an infamy which might, I think, have warned Mr Skene against claiming the authorship of these poems for a man nameless in literature. Mr Skene's claim for Strathmashie is fortunately exposed to a similar discomfiture by the singular circumstance, namely, that the Seventh Book of Temora referred to by Mr Skene, was published by Macpherson himself in 1762, and used fifty-five years ago in this controversy by the Eev. Dr Patrick Graham of Aberfoyle. Dr Graham proves by his translation of Homer, of this book of Temora, and by his poem of the " Highlander," which failed to obtain even a mediocre circulation, that Macpherson was entirely incapable of writing such poems. The " Highlander" contains many beautiful ideas, borrowed from Ossian and other ancient Gaelic bards; but Macpherson (like all plagiarists) was destitute of the genius and taste neces- sary to compose a work in which his plagiarism would tell. The " Highlander" and Macpherson's Homer, thus fell still-born from the press ; and clearly show that Macpherson was not qualified to write Ossian's poems. Dr Graham gives the original as published by Macpherson himself, with a literal translation in parallel lines, and Macpherson's translation under them, and clearly shows that the Gaelic version is infinitely superior to the English version. He also shows that Macpherson omitted or glossed over many passages of the originals, which,
INTRODUCTORY REMARKS.
from his imperfect knowledge of the language, he did not understand. This corroborates Captain Morison's statement to his friend Mr Irvine, as recorded by Dr Graham from Mr Irvine's own mouth, — " that Mr Macpherson understood the Gaelic language very imperfectly; that he (Mr Morison) wrote out the Gaelic for him for the most part, on account of Mr Macpherson's inability to write or spell* it properly ; that he assisted him much in translating ; and that it was their general practice, when any passage occurred which they did not well understand, either to pass it over entirely, or to gloss it over with any expressions that might appear to coalesce easily with the context." The Rev. Dr Smith, in a letter to Dr Graham, says, " I have no interest in disputing his allegation," (meaning Kennedy's claim to the authorship of the poems referred to above ;) if I had, I would try if he could write such verses as he claims (no doubt the best] on any other subject"
Dr Graham took Dr Smith's advice, and thus tested not only Macpherson's translation of Ossian, but also Dr Smith's own translations of the Seandana ; and he shows that neither the one, nor the other could possibly have been the authors of the originals, which they translated so inadequately. Let Mr Skene try Strath- mashie's capacity to write the poems of Ossian by the same test, and the result will be at least equally negative, and harmless to the memory of Ossian. There is no want of materials to enable Mr Skene to subject Strathmashie's qualifications to this test, — many of his poems being published. I would recommend him to compare "A bhrigis lachdan" and " Trod na'm ban," (I forget the name of the place) to any passages he likes of Ossian, as a criterion ; and should he require other specimens, I can procure him a whole bundle, some of which have never been published. The fact is, that not one single individual among those connected with the translation of Ossian can be shown to have left behind him anything calculated to prove that he was capable of writing these poems. On the contrary, Strathmashie and Mr James Macpherson have left poetry which proves beyond all doubt that they were quite disqualified to write a single one (good or bad) of these poems. But I will go further, (and have no doubt that I will be borne out by every literary man in the kingdom) when I say, that it is impossible to believe that any person qualified to write such poetry, could have exhausted his literary enjoyments in two or three years, and have lived for such a length of time afterwards, without producing any farther evidence of his poetic temperament, genius, and capacity. A Highland bard in account- ing for the melancholy fact that some of the lowest and basest specimens of the genus homo have been produced among the Highland clans, remarks, that the best blood when tainted becomes doubly corrupt ; but I do not believe that all the clans in the Highlands could produce a second Kennedy ; and it would require something more than Mr Skene's forgotten somebody to make me believe that Strathmashie's was no better.
* The Seventh Book of Temora is published in Maepherson's own spelling, and clearly proves Captain Morison's statement, that he could " not write or spell (Gaelic) properly." It also proves, by irresistible inference, that the Seventh Book of Temora was NOT written by Mr Macpherson of Strath- luashie ; for although he was a coarse and wretched bard, and could write nothing tender or refined, he could both " write and spell" Gaelic, while the Seventh Book of Temora is miserably mis-spelt.
•J'lTR
LANGUAGE, POETRY, AND MUSIC
OF
THE HIGHLAND CLANS.
THE LANGUAGE.
THE letters of the Gaelic language consist of seventeen, (originally sixteen,) besides the letter h, which is used as an aspirate. Only three of the consonants, 1, n, and r, retain their power at all times, the aspirate so often- used having the effect of either depriving the others of their power, or of rendering their sounds more vocal, sweet, and mellow. Hence the Gaelic vowels are more numerous than the consonants which at all times retain their power ; yet this peculiar feature of the language, although it necessarily renders it more soft, does not deprive it of its vigour either in tone or expression, as no two Gaelic vowels are ever pronounced in one syllable excepting ao, whose combined sound can be acquired properly only from the living voice.
The construction of the Gaelic is extremely simple, yet I venture to say that any person who will study it, even with the assistance only of phonetic spelling, and what I can only call a literal translation for want of words to express my meaning, (for there can be no literal translation without equivalent words, and the words I use in rendering Gaelic into English are not equivalents — there being no such to be found in the English language,) will come to the conclusion that it has been cultivated by philosophic grammarians and philolo- gists at some prehistoric age, — for the Gaelic is literally an ancient language, into which modern or coined words cannot be introduced without being detected as discordant and unnatural. The ancient Celtic clans, from the character of their language, religion, laws, the constitution of their local or clan governments and brehon-courts, from their poetry, tales, music, manners, and customs, must have attained a comparatively high state of civilization at some very remote period. Striking traits of polished manners, generous hospitality, and stern
B
10
patriotism, have been shown, and still are shown by the mountaineers of all parts of Europe, as well as of the Highlands of Scotland, notwithstanding the Roman and feudal corruption and oppression to which even the people of the most inaccessible districts had been more or less subjected. But the demeanor, if not even the character of the Highlander, has greatly deteriorated within my own time. For no Highlander, even within these forty years, would pass a stranger, on a country road, without speaking to him, if a common man, or saluting him, if a gentleman ; but now, the singular thing is his noticing either the one or the other, unless with a sullen or suspicious look. The reason is, that gentlemen, unacquainted with the social position of the Highlander in his own country, which was above that of a labourer, until very recent times, regard his salute as merely the natural obeisance of the serf to his lord, and never notice it any more than they would notice the wag of the colley's tail ; and the pride of the Highlander has taken the alarm. Hence, I have no doubt, the change that has struck me so forcibly in my recent visits to the Highlands.*
The Gaelic alphabet is called Bithluiseanean, — the life of plants, — being- compounded from the roots bith, life, luis, plants, and can the plural affix.
A
B
C
D
E
F-
G
I
L
M
N
0
P
R
S
T
U
The English letters, as sounded in the above words, represent the initial sounds of the Gaelic letters as nearly as it can be represented by individual English letters ; but the Gaelic consonants, when in action, are sounded much broader, deeper, and softer, than their initial names. These initial sounds are, I have no doubt, to be ascribed to a modern innovation, and ought to be cor- rected, because so apt to mislead. The distinction is so great and so essential,
* Mr Campbell of Islay, in his beautiful and gentlemanly preface to the Gaelic Tales, has found the Gael a gentleman of Nature's own making ; but he was travelling where the country is not yet wholly inundated by the stranger.
Ancient Names. |
Pronunciation. |
Sounds in English. |
ailm, palm |
elim |
like a in far |
beith, birch |
beyth |
" ba in Jail |
caul, hazel |
kawl |
" ca in cat |
dair, oak |
dayr |
" da in daft |
eadh, elm |
ewgh |
" e in theme |
fearn, alder |
ferna |
" fa \nju\\ |
gort, ivy |
gort |
" ffa in i^all |
iogha, yew |
eegha |
" « in pin |
luis, aspen |
looysh |
" 11 in quill |
muin, vine |
mooyn |
" ma in wiadam |
nuin, ash |
nooyn |
" na in narrow |
oir, broom |
oyr |
" o in broke |
peith, pine |
paeyth |
" pain p&th |
ruis, elder |
rooysh |
" r in rare |
seal, willow |
sheyl |
" sa in sallad |
teine, gorse |
tehnne |
" ta in tar |
ur, myrtle |
" u in trwe |
i IF THE HIGHLAND CLANS. 11
however, as to render it absolutely necessary for any person who is desirous <»i acquiring anything like an approximate knowledge of the pronunciation of Gaelic words, to forget these foreign sounds, or to make himself perfectly master of this important distinction, as a preliminary step. This lesson could be acquired in a few minutes from the living voice ; but from the difficulty of rinding a qualified teacher, and from my horror of a vulgar pronunciation, I "dare not recommend the experiment to the reader. Indeed, as the Gaelic is a natural, not an artificial language, I am of opinion that it is more safe for any person of good taste, who will really take the trouble of learning the Gaelic sound of the letters, to instruct himself, with the assistance of a written key to the pronunciation, than to risk the employment of an incompetent teacher, by whom he would, in all probability, either be disgusted, or reconciled to a spurious pronunciation. This treatise aims only at furnishing the reader, through the medium of phonic spelling and literal translations, with the means of perusing the works of the Gaelic bards ; yet I am not without the con- fident hope that the natural good taste of every accomplished reader will intuitively suggest, with that aid, a more chaste and elegant pronunciation than he could acquire from most Highlanders, owing to the circumstances already explained. There is no difficulty with the Gaelic vowels, excepting in one diphthong and two triphthongs ; and even in two of these, all the letters are perceptibly pronounced, but with a slight elision. A very short lesson from a competent teacher might be very useful in this case, and also in learning the peculiar sound of a few of the Gaelic consonants. A short and simple lesson would serve ; yet, although very anxious to preserve two of these combinations as a characteristic of the language, and also the sound of the letters b, c, d, g, and t, I had much rather the reader should trust to his own intuitive taste, aided by the lesson for sounding these letters and phonetic spelling, than that he should take spurious imitations on trust, from a coarse and vulgar speaker. It is quite easy for a lady or gentleman (I use these words in contradistinction to gents and mems, who are ladies and gentlemen artificially, or by imitation only,) to judge whether a teacher be qualified or not, by making him recite a few verses of Gaelic poetry. Unless he can do so without uttering a sound that would be offensive to the ear even of the Queen, he is not a chaste or elegant speaker of the Gaelic language, and should at once be rejected as a vocal teacher. I have made a distinction between ladies and gentlemen, and gents and mems; I can assure the reader that I have not done so from any affectation of aristocracy, but because gents and m&ms glory in ridiculing peculiarities with which they are not familiar, while ladies and gentlemen do not. Owing to the very great difference between the sounds of the letters in the language with which I am anxious to make the reader acquainted, and their sounds in the language through whose medium I am attempting to do so, I ran only expect, at best, to give him merely an approximate idea of the pronuncia- tion of many of the words quoted in these pages. With the vowels, (excepting the diphthong already mentioned, ao, and the triphthongs aoi and eoi,) then- is no difficulty; and I trust that a caivi'iil perusal of the I'dlnwin^ instructions.
12 THE LANGUAGE
and a frequent practical application of them in pronouncing the letters, will make him a perfect master of the consonant sounds : —
B is called beith-bhog, (bey'-vog) soft b, by grammarians. It is sounded more like the English p than b. It is pronounced by pressing the lips together, and emitting a sound when in the act of opening them, like ba in ball, as in bad, a cluster of trees, buail, (buyl) strike, and ban, the feminine prefix, and ban, (ban) fair. C is always pronounced like the English k in the beginning, (and generally like g or k at the end of syllables,) as in car, (kar) a turn, ceann, (kenn) a head, and cluas, (klu-as) the ear. D and t are sounded so like one another as to afford no room for any distinction. D is pronounced by pressing the tongue against the upper foreteeth and palate, but in such a way that its tip may be lightly closed on by the teeth, and emitting a sound when in the act, as it were, of jerking them open, like the sound of da in daft, but softer and deeper, as in dall, blind, dana, bold, and dur, obstinate. F is sounded by pressing the under lip against the slightly closed foreteeth, and emitting a sound when separating them, like fa in fall, but softer and deeper, as in fada, long, foil, (foyl) softly, and foill, (foyll) deceit. G is pronounced by pressing the tongue against the centre of the palate, the back teeth being slightly closed on it, and emitting a sound like ga in gall, when in the act of opening them, as in gath, a dart, gall, a stranger, and geal, white. L is always liquid, like double 11 in quill, as in Ian, full, lus, strength, and las, light. M is pronounced like ma in madam, as in mall, slow, mor, large, and mas, a base. N has always a slightly aspirated sound, like n in narrow, as in nur, when, (at the time,) nis, now, nail, hither (to this side,) null, thither (to that side.) P is pronounced like pa in path, as paidh, (pay) pay, peall, (pell) hair, (covering) and pailt, plenty. E is pronounced, but with a more decided vibration, like r in rare, as in rath, (ra') luck, rann, (rann) a distich, and rian, (ri-an) orderly. S is sounded like s in salad, as sail, (sayl) heel, sonn, (soghnn) a warrior, and sar, a surpassing hero. The sound of T .and d is so nearly the same as scarcely to admit of any difference ; d deviates occasionally from his every day uniformity and formality, like all honest fellows who have hearts in their bosoms, but t never does : he is like the decent, thriving men described by Burns, with " blood like a standing pool, lives like a dyke." It is invariably pronounced by pressing the tongue pretty hard against the forepart of the palate and the back of the upper foreteeth, and emitting suddenly, while, as it ware, jerking them open, a sound like ta in tar, tair, (tayr) mockery, (contempt,) tairis, (tayrish) stop, tarn, a loch without a regular outlet, and tuairn, (tu-ayrn) turning. My esteemed friend, Finlagan, the nom de plume of the most fervidly patriotic, yet the most calmly philosophic and gentlemanly of all the writers on the unwise Highland and Irish clearances, (judged even exclusively with a reference to the interests of the clearance-makers themselves,) suggests th as the English representative of t ; but as t is one of the mutable letters, and so often subject to being euphonised by being combined in the same form (th) with the aspirate, the adoption of th to represent t would lead to confusion. On the whole, therefore, the best I can do for the reader is to beg that he will commit
OF THE HIGHLAND CLANS. 1 .'',
the above instructions for pronouncing t, to memory, and apply them practically, not once but frequently, to the pronunciation of the Gaelic words beginning with t, above quoted.
All the consonants, as already stated, excepting 1, n, and r, are occasion- ally ruled by the aspirate h. Hence they are divided into mutable and immutable consonants, the former being immutable. The mutable consonants admit of being changed, silenced, or rendered more soft and harmonious in sound by the aspirate, as bh, ch, dh, fh, gh, mh, ph, and th. Mh arid bh sound like v at the beginning of syllables, but I do not know any letters that can really represent the aspirated sound of dh, th, and gh, at the end of syllables. By pressing the tongue against the palate at the back of the fore- teeth, and emitting a faint whisper, like that represented by the staccato sign in music ('), when in the act of parting the teeth, something sufficiently resembling it will, however, be produced. I will, therefore, use the stoccato sign for these consonants when aspirated at the end of syllables, in my phonic spelling. There is no English letter that can represent the aspirated ch of the Gaelic at the beginning of syllables ; but the Greek x will do so pretty accurately. I beg that the reader will remember this. C may be aspirated at the beginning of syllables, but must always be preserved at the end of syllables, as it is then guttural. The Gaelic is not encumbered with guttural sounds ; and a slight mixture of them is, in my opinion, necessary, interesting, and desirable, as preserving the vigour as well as the air of antiquity of the language, for the apparent tendency of the moderns, especially the English, is to dispense with sounds that cannot be pronounced on the very slender scale of articulation which has been bestowed by Nature on lower races of animals than mankind. The author of the nursery puzzle, — " Abir tri uairen Mac-an-aba gun do ghab a dhunadh," — (say Macnab three times without shutting the mouth,) — never, I dare say, expected that a whole people, with the royal household troops at their head, should, at some future period, set seriously to work in reconciling the pro- nunciation of their language to the principle indicated by his amusing proposition.
Dh and gh are pronounced y at the beginning, but aspirated at the end of words and syllables. Being exceedingly anxious that the reader should commit these brief lessons thoroughly to his memory, 1 would recommed it to him not to read another word until he shall have done so.
The letter F is always silent before h ; and Th and Sh are always pro- nounced h. Ph has always the sound of the English f. The following lines from different poems will form an appropriate exercise for the preceding lesson as to the effect of the aspirate : — Bha mi 'n de 'm Beinn-dorain. I was yesterday in Bendoren.
va mi 'n de 'm beyii-dorayn
A Mliari bhan gur barrail u. Mary, fair surpassing art thon.
a vari van gur barrayl u
Chaidh mido'n choil'n robh croin isgallain. I went to the wood in which wore ttill
chay' mi do'n choyl n rov croyn is gall-;»yn younop trees.
A dheanadh slan gacli dofhartas. Making lion! uvory malady,
a yc'iia' slau gach do-chart as
14 THE LANGUAGE
Theid sinn thair na bealaichen. Go we (shall) over the defiles.
beyd sinn hayr na belaych-en
Fhuair fasan is foghlum. Beceived accomplishments and learning.
hu-ayr fasan is foghlum
Shiubhladh tu fasach airidh-glinne. Travel you would the desert sheiling-glen.
hi-uvla' tu fa-sach ayri'-gilinne
Gheibhte roinn agus orain is iomadh comh- Got would be (humorous) distiches, songs, yeyv-te roynn agus orayn is i-oma' cov- and anecdotes, them among,
radh* na measg.
ra' na mesg
Cha phill, cha phill, cha phill sin tuille. Eeturn, return, return shall we never, cha fihll, cha fihll, cha fihll sin tuylle
The immutable consonants, 1, n, r, have slightly aspirated sounds, like 1 in leek, n in knit, and r in rung. The double nn has always a decidedly aspirated sound.
The Gaelic, like the Greek, has only the definite article, and speaks indefinitely, by mentioning an object by itself, — as, duine, (duynef) a man, an duine, the man ; dun, a fort or castle. The article is declined by gender, number, and case, as follows : —
Singular. Plural.
Masculine. Fern. Mas. & Fern.
Nom. An, am. an, a'. na.
Gen. An, a. na. nan, natn.
Dat. An, a', 'ra. an, a', 'n. na.
The rule whereby the initial letter of every root forming compound words is preserved, is traditionally ascribed to the Druids, but of this there is no written evidence, any more than there is for ascribing to them many practices, medicinal aud agricultural, which must have originated in an extensive acquaint- ance with natural science, and which have been carried down to the present day. The absence of Druid records is ascribed to the deadly enemies their patriotism had made them in the Romans. The enmity thus provoked not only brought destruction on their great college and manuscripts in Anglesea, but also on their wives and families ; and all that had escaped the Romans of these in all probability most valuable manuscripts, were afterwards destroyed by Columba and his monks at lona, where they established the seat of learning after the destruction of Anglesea. But retribution seems to be an ordinance of Nature. If the manuscripts of the Druids have not been preserved, neither have those of the Culdees, with very few exceptions, been preserved by their Roman Catholic successors ; nor have theirs, in their turn, escaped the priesthood of the Reformation ; so true it is that " priests of all religions are the same." But,
* This and similar words are in general contracted and pronounced thus, eomhradh, co'ra, comh- nuidh, co'uay, &c. &c.
t The vowels are always pronounced at the end of syllables or words. The TCnirlish reader should especially remember this. There are no silent letters in my phonetic spelling.
OF THE HIGHLAND CLANS. If,
although the Culdees and their successors have thus shown that no religious order of men, however pure and holy, are above human prejudice and human frailty, they did not subserve the civil despotism which, in subsequent ages, chiefly through a perverted Christianity, crushed the ancient rights and liberties of the people. At the same time, there is little doubt that they initiated the spirit of self-abasement, which was made subservient to that purpose by feudalism.
The fundamental principle of the Culdee religion, namely, the sacrifice of the chief to appease a feud, was substantially interwoven in the very con- stitution of clanships. There are many very touching instances of such voluntary sacrifices by chiefs ; and the feudal law of Scotland acted on the principle of sacrificing one member of a clan for the rest, until subsequently to the year 1745. When a doctrine so accordant with clan affection and magnanimity, and so touchingly poetic as the sacrifice of the Son of God to atone for the sins of mankind, was preached to them by men of pure lives, great benevolence, genuine disinterestedness, and touching piety and eloquence, it is not to be wondered at that the clans yielded their whole hearts to this religion of faith and feeling, and became indifferent to the colder one of science, reason, and common sense. It is therefore, a fact, — and a strange fact, — that it was the unpretending simplicity and touching tenderness and benevolence of the religion of the holy Culdees which found acceptance with the Gael, and prepared the way for the despotism which ultimately degraded the people of the British Isles into the tools and victims of a pampered and rampant feudalism. At the same time, I am not one of those who regard even the perverted Christianity of the dark ages as wholly evil in its effects. It was a superhuman organization, which sounded every secret, and played on every chord, of the human heart, and could mould or subdue every human being within its influence ; but the clergymen even of these ages have left us many illustrious examples of piety, patriotism, and virtue. Although the Pope, for instance, was in favour of Edward, and against Wallace, and although Bruce was excommunicated, yet Wallace had not a more staunch supporter than Wishart, Bishop of Glasgow, or under his banner a more faithful follower, or a more incorruptible patriot, than priest Blair ; and a priest, Barbour, was the biographer of Bruce, while a dignitary of the Church consecrated his banner, and blest his army on the field of battle.
The great drawback in the Church of Home, as in the Church of England, is its despotic system of Church government. Being governed by a despotism, which, like every other despotism, claimed a Divine origin, it was as undoubtiiig in its action as it was all but omnipotent in its power. But whenever its despotic and unwise leaders assumed an intolerant persecuting spirit, and used the civil power in its persecutions, its greatest and most powerful antagonists were the nobler spirits nursed and educated within its own bosom. The Catholic priesthood never wholly quenched the love of liberty in the hearts of the people. They wanted to govern by a theocracy ; but where are the clergy that would not establish a theocracy, or render religion subservient to the sovereignty of their Church ? I believe in the existence of no such clergy. The Catholic
16 THE LANGUAGE
priest was the great arid leading reformer, and would be so at this day, but for the sectarianism which excites his combativeness, and fastens him to his colours ; but the Catholic laity never sat down in contentment under a civil despotism. Had the intolerant, persecuting spirit witnessed by Knox in the Lowlands, been witnessed by Ian Lorn among the Highland clans, he would not, of the two have been the least distinguished reformer. He was as much the friend of religious liberty and the bible as Knox, although a staunch Catholic. And do we not see in the long struggle of our Catholic ancestors for civil liberty, on every opportunity that offered itself, down to the period of the Eevolution, as well as in that now completed in Italy, that Catholicism never quenched the love of liberty in the hearts of the most bigoted nations. Nor does the parallel between the struggle for liberty in our country and in Italy hold good only in the case of the people : on the contrary, the Wallace and Bruce of Italy, like the Wallace and Bruce of Scotland, found their staunchest followers among the Catholic clergy. The following verse bears me out in what I have stated as to Ian Lom's love of religious liberty and the bible : —
Noir bu sgith do luchd theud e, When tired the race of (tuneful) strings,
noyr bu sgi' do luc beyt e
Grheibhte biobuil ga'n leughadh, Bibles are found there reading,
yevte bi-o-buyl ga n ley'-a'
Le fior chreidimh na ceile, In a wise spirit of faith,
le fi-or chreydev na ceyle
Mar a dh-orduich Mac Bhe dhuinn, As was ordained by the Son of God,
mar a yorduych mac ye yuyn
Agus teagasg na cleire le sitli. And the worship of the clergy in peace.
agus tegasg na cleyre le si'
In short, it seems pretty clear that the unpopularity of the Catholic Church after the establishment of feudalism, was to be ascribed, in all ages, to the despotism and wealth of its dignitaries. Hence we find that that Church has always been more respected in poor than in rich countries. The Church was the handmaiden of feudalism, and helped to fasten her yoke on the necks of the people ; but the working priest has ever been the friend of the poor and the oppressed. It was the despotic dignitaries of the Church that, like all other pampered despots, were but too generally tyrants and oppressors.
The Culdees were in spirit evangelical, and, like the evangelical clergy of the present day, not attached to, or, perhaps, even tolerant of natural theology. Hence, probably, their hostility to the Druid priesthood. But they were incapable of misrepresenting them either in their lives or doctrines. The statement that the Druids offered human sacrifices may have been believed by, but did not originate with the Culdees. The report may have arisen from the circumstance that the Druids were the criminal judges among the Celtic clans, and that the criminals sentenced to capital punishment were executed by phlebotomy, within the Druid circle. The corrupt Koman theologist that could not comprehend a worship without a sacrifice, may have believed that these criminals were innocent victims sacrificed to superstition, and the basin-like
OF THE HIGHLAND CLANS. 17
hollow to be found in all the Druid altar stones, to receive the blood of the executed criminals, (who were solemnly sacrificed on the altar of their god to the justice of their country,) may have confirmed, if it did not even give rise, to that belief. Had the Culdees been capable of misrepresenting the religion of the Druids, they would not have preserved their names for God, the soul, the good, the bad, &c., since these names are descriptive, and refute every falsity circulated in reference to their religion and morality. They had three names for God : deo, from the roots ti, a great being, and eol, knowledge ; dia, from ti and agh, pronounced a', good ; and, bith-uile, abbreviated lei, from Mth, life and uile, all. It is thus seen that the Druid represented God as the great, the good Being, the life of all. He had two names also for the soul, deo, from his regarding the soul as an emanation of God. Hence, when a person dies, the Highlander does not say, " thuair (hu-ayr) e 'm bas," as he would say of a beast ; but " chai an deo as," — the soul has gone out of him. The other name of the soul is still more striking, anam, from an, antagonism, defiance, and am, time ; that is, the antagonist or defier of time, or, in other words, the immortal.
It is a very singular coincidence, that the idolatrous priesthood of the East, by preserving the inscriptions on ancient monuments, have furnished the philologist with the means of proving that they also had derived their know- ledge of the attributes of God from Nature. This is a reasonable inference from these inscriptions, and from the significant and accordant fact, namely, that they symbolized His different attributes, — wisdom, power, benevolence, &c., by different and distinct statues and figures. It is difficult to believe that man could have allowed himself to be juggled out of such knowledge by priest- craft, after having once attained it ; yet the inscriptions in the East, and the names of God in the West, can leave no doubt that the Druid priesthood, both in the East and the West, had a knowledge of the omnipotent power, wisdom, and benevolence of God, at a period beyond the date of revealed religion. For instance, an inscription under an ancient statue of Isis has been translated, " I am all that is ;" and the inscription on a monument at Sais has been translated, " I am all that is or was." The Jehovah of Scripture would, according to Gaelic etymon, have been spelt Ti-ha-va ; viz., ti, the Great Being, ha, is, and va was, — the Great Being that is and was. This is identical with the inscription at Sais. It is a legitimate inference from this inscription, that the monument or pyramid at Sais was erected to symbolize the origin and unity of all sublime attributes and enduring power in one living and eternal God. No one was allowed to enter the Temple of Serapis without having the name Jehova (abbreviated Jalio in these inscriptions) inscribed on his breast. Circumcision was a preliminary to the study of the philosophy of symbols, being probably intended to impress indelibly on the mind of the student that most ancient of all symbols of God, the circle. Moses, according to Philo, was initiated in the philosophy of symbols as well as Plato. He had thus acquired a knowledge of God from the natural theology of the Eastern Druids, before he became the legislator of the Jews.
18 THE LANGUAGE
There is no evidence that natural theology, or the Druidal religion of Egypt, had ever become the handmaiden of despotism ; but the religion revealed through man certainly had, first among the Jews, and since then among the feudal Christians. Indeed, we cannot conceive a state of society in which the people can be free and their spiritual government a despotism. No free people ever will submit to a spiritual despotism. A spiritual despotism can make hypocrites, but not Christians, as was proved by the French Devolution, where a priest-ridden people proved a nation of infidels. There is no evidence of the existence of any despotism, until God revealed his will to man through man. Hence we find from the day that Joseph availed himself of Pharaoh's dream for the establishment of despotism in Egypt, until Calvin and Knox gave a representative government to the Presbyterian Church, that the clergy of all countries and all religions were the deadly foes of civil and religious liberty. Feudalism, unaided by priestcraft, never could have defrauded and disorganized the Celtic clans of Scotland. " Prior to the marriage of Malcolm Canmore," says a clerical historian, " and subsequently to that event, many families of Norman and Saxon lineage found their way from the northern districts of England into Scotland, where they settled, and became proprietors of land by feudal tenure. On the property so acquired they erected fortresses" (to coerce the people.) " These settlers were probably, without exception, the friends of Christianity, being favourable to all influences likely to civilize their rude retainers," (or, in other words, to that exhorbitant power of priestcraft, without which the people never could have been made to submit to the feudal usurpation.) " Hence," continues the historian, (who seems quite unconscious of the real motives of the feudal lords for being, " without exception, the friends of Christianity,") " one of their primary objects would be the building of a church, in such a position as might be most convenient for the inhabitants of the town or village which sprung up in the immediate vicinity, and under the protection of their own castles." The progress of the " well matched pair," — civil usurpation and spiritual despotism, — in denuding and making serfs of the people, are indelibly impressed on the face of the country by these castles and churches ; but when the usurpation was established, and the submission of the people insured, the castles battered down the churches, and ungratefully resumed their well won wealth. We thus see that a just retribution ultimately overtakes the inheritors of unjustly acquired wealth, however saintly their garb or profession.
The Rev. Dr Blair, in his beautiful Dissertation of Ossian's poems, tries to account for the singular circumstance that there are no traces of religion in these poems ; but the Druids, whose religion was founded on natural science, could not make God give a victory to one hero and one army to-day, and to an opposite hero and army to-morrow. In short, the religion of the Druids could not be made subservient to the imaginary exigencies of poetry ; on the contrary, the mixing up of God's name and power with human affairs, would have been regarded as an impiety in the days of Ossianic ignorance and barbraity.
When the reader shall have acquired sufficient knowledge of the Gaelic to
OF THE HIGHLAND CLANS. 19
be able to resolve compound words into their simple elements or roots, as exemplified in the etymon of the foregoing words, every step of progress will become to him a source of intellectual recreation. He will then scarcely find in literature a more ludicrous figure than their egotism made of Dr Johnson, Sir James Macintosh, and Lord Macaulay, when, without having even a reading knowledge of the Gaelic, they constituted themselves dictators on questions involved in the language and literature of the Highland clans. At the same time, it must be admitted, that, with the exception of the ancient poems trans- lated and published by the elegant and spirited Mr Macpherson, and the learned, honest, and patriotic Dr Smith, the Gael have done little to put their language or poetry in an attractive or even accessible form before the English reader. Our dictionary-makers knew that Gaelic words are descriptive, and that by resolving them into their primitive roots, they would furnish the antiquary and historian with the means of forming a true estimate, not only of the language, but also of the state of society or condition of the ancient Celtic nations ; but, probably, to make their gigantic labours more easy, they preferred following the example of other learned lexicographers, by giving us a string of what they call synonymous words, to explain the meaning of one ! We all know the amusing error into which the foreign clergyman fell, who on being told that pickling meant preserving, prayed with great fervour of devotion that Dr Chalmers' soul might be pickled. But those who will peruse Gaelic dictionaries and Gaelic grammars, will find that the English are not the only scholars who have laboured to the utmost of their power to render their language complicated, and its acquisition a life-labour to foreigners. The Gaelic lexicographers give a string of words " as long as my arm," differing essentially from one another, to explain the meaning of one word, instead of reducing the word to its roots, and leaving it to explain itself ; and the grammarian has determined, that to learn Gaelic, a man must not only be a profound scholar, but devote his life exclusively to the study of his exquisite labours.
DIFFERENT SOUNDS OF THE GAELIC VOWELS.
A.
" a long, as in far ; as ard, high ; bard, a poet. a short, like a in fat ; as cas, a foot ; tasdan, a shilling. a long, like eux in French ; as adh, (a-ugh) joy. a short, like eux ; as lagh, law ; tagh, chose. a faint, like e in risen ; as an, the ; mar, as. > E.
e long, like e in there ; as e in se, he ; re, during. e short, like e in met ; as leth, half-, teth, hot. e long, like a in fate ; as ce, the earth ; te, a female. e short, like e in her ; as duine, a man ; filte, foldal.
I
i long, like ee in see ; as cir, a c&mb ; mir, a piece. i short, like i in pin ; as min, mc.nl \ bith, being. i faint, like i in this; as is. am.
20 THE LANGUAGE
0.
o long, like 6 in oak ; as or, gold ; brog, a shoe.
o short, like 6 in on ; as mo, my • grod, rotten.
o long, like o in how ; as tonn, a wave ; poll, a pull.
o short, like 6 in not ; lomadh, clipping ; connadh, fuel.
o long, like 5 in owl ; as sogh, luxury ; f dghlum, learning.
o short, like o in now ; as foghar, autumn ; roughuinri, choice.
U.
11 long, like u in tube ; as ur, fresh ; tur, a tower.
u short, like ii in bush ; as rud, a thing ; guth, a voice.
u faint, like a faint, or u in run ; as mur, if not.
u In words of more than one syllable, the vowels, chiefly the broad, have an indefinite short quality of obscure sound in the second or final syllables ; this has occasioned an indiscriminate use of the vowels as correspondents, and hence the reason that the same word is sometimes spelt in two different ways, as iarrtas or iarrtus, a request • canain or canuin, a language ; dichiall or dichioll, diligence. The spelling of the same word by different vowels is chiefly confined to the final syllable or syllables. A single vowel in the initial syllable of a word never assumes this obscure sound, and when the initial syllable contains an improper diphthong, one of the vowels is always pronounced in full, and the other is faint or quiescent." — Forbes.
Although I consider it proper to make a few quotations, showing the niceties of the language, as illustrated by the grammarians, I do not consider the perfect knowledge of them necessary to enable any foreign lady or gentleman to speak and to read Gaelic. Had I thought so, I should not have undertaken to write a naked key, free of even the common points in use, to mark the different sounds of the G-aelic vowels. My object is to strip the language of all the impediments to the easy acquisition of such a plain, simple knowledge of it, as will enable a foreigner to make himself understood. I do not think it is possible to teach any person by the mere use of letters to speak any foreign language like a well educated native, otherwise I would have left the field in the possession of grammarians, whose works for learning, research, and discrimination, if equalled, are not surpassed.
DIPHTHONGS AND TRIPHTHONGS.
"Ao has no similar sound in English ; it is like the French eu or eux, or the Latin au, in aurum ; as gaol, love, saor, a wright. Eu ; the letter "e in eu is always long, and has a compound sound, as if e was preceded by a short i, thus, teum, feum, pronounced tiem, fiem. The letter e has a shade of this sound also in the improper diphthong ea, as cead, deas, pronounced keid, dies.
" There are five triphthongs formed from the long diphthongs ao, eo, ia, ua, by adding the vowel i. These diphthongs preserve their own sounds, and the final i is always short ; aoi, as caoidh, (kao-y) lament ; laoidh, (lloo-y) calves ; eoi, as treoir, (treo-yr) strength ; as geoidh, (keo-y) geese ; iai, as
OF THE HIGHLAND CLANS. 21
cinin, (ki-uyn) meek ; fliuiche, (fli-iuch-e) wetter ; uai, as fuaim, (fua-ym) sound ; cruaidh, (crua-y) hard." — Ibid.
There are I know not how many diphthongs and triphthongs, but I do not consider it necessary to submit them to the reader. Indeed, with the exception of the one previously mentioned, the whole difficulty appears to me to have been created by the grammarians themselves.
A and o will not yield to one another, and have compelled the bards to concede to them a combined and peculiar sound ; but with the other vowels the case is quite different. When a small and a broad vowel meet, they neither disagree nor assume a combined sound. In air, on, for instance, the a being the primary or leading vowel, is treated with due deference by i, who accordingly al- lows him the benefit of his position or precedence, and speaks himself in a subdued voice : hence the monosyllable is pronounced ayr. But when the small vowel is the primary and the broad the secondary, the latter is silent. It would thus appear that the small letters are the gentlemen, and the broad the plebeians of the Gaelic alphabet : hence when one of these gentleman is preceded in a triph- thong by two broad vowels, one of them, out of deference to him, remains silent, and he accordingly modifies his style, and condescends to speak in a voice accor- dant with the vulgar intonation. No unseemly argument, looking for victory in a masterful voice, can take place between a Celtic gentleman and plebeian, even symbolically or by their representative letters. He recognises their value in the commonwealth, and they show due deference to his superior rank and position. Thus, buail, strike, is pronounced buyl ; tuaisd, bungler, tuyst ; buaidh, victory, buy ; loidh, hymn, loy. But to show that he has not subdued his voice or modified his style out of any fear of the physical superiority of two to one, when he and a brother aristocrat meet a single plebeian under similar circumstances, he is treated with due consideration, and allowed to speak for himself. Thus, stiuir, helm, is pronounced sti-uyr ; ciuin, mild, ki-uyn, &c. On the other hand, when two broad vowels meet, — o and a excepted, — they treat one another like two navvies, without any regard to conventional rules of politeness or etiquette ; on the contrary, they treat one another like two sturdy radicals, as on a footing of perfect equality. Thus, fuar, cold, is pronounced fu-ar; tuar, complexion, tu-ar; raud, greed, ra-ut, &c. &c. But when two small letters meet, they not only treat one another, but also their Celtic brother, o, the aristocrat of Ireland, with the utmost cordiality and con- sideration. Thus, feoil, flesh, is pronounced fe-oyl ; theid, will go, heyt ; treoir, strength, tre-oyr, &c. &c.
The names of inanimate objects which take an or am before them are generally masculine; as, an dorus, (dorus) the door; an tigh, (ti') the house; an t-ord, the hammer; am baile, (bayle) the town; am bradan, (bradan) the salmon.
Nouns which have a prefixed are, in general, feminine; as, a ghrian, (yri-an) the sun ; a ghealach, (yel-ach) the moon ; a chraobh, (chra-ov) the tree ; a bheirin, (veynn) the mountain.
Nouns beginning with a vowel insert t after the prefixed article for the
22
THE LANGUAGE
sake of euphony ; as, an t-uan, (u-an) the lamb ; an t-iasg, (i-ask) the fish ; an t-ubh, (uv) the egg ; an t-olc, the evil. Many nouns beginning with s, which is silent before h, insert t after the article ; as, an saoghal, (sao'-al) the world, is written in the genitive case, an t-shaoghail, (tao'-ayl) of the world ; an t-shlait, (tlayt) of the rod ; an t-shneachd, (tnechd) of the snow, &c.
The above rules have, however, many exceptions, the article a being prefixed to names masculine ; as, a monadh, (mona') the hill ; a meal, (mell) the knoll ; and an to nouns feminine ; as, an amhuin, (avuyn) the river ; an reul, (reyll) the planet, &c.
There is in Gaelic no accusative case different from the nominative ; nor is the ablative different from the dative case.
BAUD, a poet, Masc.
Singular.
N. Bard, bard
G. Baird. bayrd
D. Bard, bard
V. Bhard. vayrd
Plural.
baird. bayrd
bhard.
vard
bhardaibh. vardayv
bharda. varda
With the
Singular.
am bard, am bard
G. a bhaird. vayrd
do'n bhaird. don vayrd
0 bhaird. vayrd
N.
D. V.
Article.
Plural.
na baird. na bayrd
nam bard, nam bard
do bhardaibh. vardayv
0 bharda. varda
BEAN, a woman, Fern.
With the Article.
Singular.
N. Bean, ben
G. Mna.
rnna
D. Mnaoi. mna-oy
V. Bhean. ven
Plural.
mnai or mnathan. mnay mna'-an
ban. ban
mnathaibh. mna'-iv
mhnathan. mna'-an
Singular.
N. a bhean. ven
G. na mna. mna
D. do'n mhnaoi. mn-oy
V. 0 bhean.
Plural.
na mnai or na mnathan. mnay mna'-an
nam ban. nam ban
do na mnathaibh. mna'-yv
0 mhnathan.
The following rules are quoted, substantially, from Currie : — " Gaelic nouns generally form the plural eitheir by changing the broad vowels a, o, u, into the small e, i, or simply by the insertion of i into the last syllable," in accordance with the principle which makes the small vowels the superiors of the broad : — as
Norn.
Earrach, spring errach
Dorus, door, dorus
Damh, an ox. dav.
Daol, a beetle, daol
Darag, an oak. dar-ag
Gen.
earraich. errayich
doruis. dor-uysh
daimh.
dayv
daoil. daoyl
daraig. darayk
Norn.
sgiath, a shield, ski-a'
each, a horse, ech
creag, a rock, crek
fearg, wrath, ferak
coileach, a cock, coyl-ech
Gen.
sgeith. ske'
eeich. e-ich
creig. creyk
feirg. fe-rick
coilaich. coy-lich
OF THE HIGHLAND CLANS.
23
Fraoch, heather.
fraoch
Bas, death, bas
Fuaran, a spring, fu-aran
Laoch, a hero, laoch
fraoich. grian, the sun. greine.
fraoych gri-an gre-nfc
bais. iasg, fish. eisg.
bayish i-ask eysk
fuarain. dias, an ear of corn. deis.
fti-a-rayn di-as de-ish
laoich. fiadh, a deer. feidh.
laoych fi-a' fe-i'
" Some nouns ending in ea are changed into i ; and those ending eo or o, into ui, — as :
Nom. |
Gen. |
Nom. |
Gen. |
Breac, a trout, brec |
brie. |
breac brec |
bhreac vrec |
Fear, a man. fer |
fir. |
broc, a badger, broc |
bruic. bru-ic |
Ceann, head, cenn |
cinn. |
ceol, music, ke-ol |
ciul. su-il |
Preas, a bush, prds Breac, small-pox, brec |
pris. brice. |
seol, a sail, se-ol cnoc, a knoll, cnoc |
siuil. shi-uyl cnuic. cnu-ic |
Cearc, a hen. cere |
circe. |
soc, a ploughshare. SOC |
suic. su-ic |
Leac, a flag. lee Gleann, a valley, glenn |
lice, glinne. |
lorg, a stick. lorg long, a ship, long |
luirg. lu-rik luing. lu-ing |
Nouns in eu, followed by a liquid, change u into o, and insert i after it. There are many irregular nouns ; but I do not consider it necessary to quote many examples. The following may, I think, suffice, — my chief reliance being on phonic spelling and literal translations : —
Gen.
feola, of the flesh, fe-ola
sroine, of the nose, sroyne
mara, of the sea.
mara
Nom. Gen. Nom.
Neul, a cloud. neoil, clouds. feoil, flesh,
neyl ne'-oyll fe-oyll
Ian, a bird. eoin, birds. sron, the nose,
i-an e-oyn sron
Feur, grass. feoir, grasses. muir, the sea.
feyr fe-oyr miiyr
Meur, a finger. meoir, fingers. fuil, blood,
meyr me-oyr ftiyll
Leus, a torch. leois, torches. druim, a ridge,
leys le-oysh truym
Beul, a mouth. beoil, mouths. suil, the eye.
beyll - be-oyl siiyll
Sgeul, a tale. sgeoil, tales. mil, honey.
skeyll ske-oyll mil
Bannais, a wedding, bainnse, wedding. duthaich,acountry. ducha, of the country,
bann-aysh baynnse du'-ayich du-cha
Coluinn, the body, colla, coll. gualainn, the shoulder. guaille,of the shoulder,
eoluynn colla gu-alaynn guylle
fola, of the blood, fola
droma, of the back, droma
sula, of the eye. sula
meala, of the honey, mela
24 THE LANGUAGE
' GENEKAL RULE. — The nominative plural is formed by adding a or an to the nominative singular ; as nom. sing, bard, a poet, plu. bardan or baird.
Piobair, .a piper. piobaireau.
pipayr plpayren
Buachail, a shepherd. buachaillean.
bu-achayl bu-achayllen
Aimsir, weather. aimsirean.
aymishir aymi-sir-en
Craobh, a tree. craobhan.
cra-ov craovan
"PARTICULAR RULE. — Masculine nouns which insert i in the genitive singular, have the nominative plural like the genitive singular ; as nom. sing. oglach, (oglach) a servant-man, gen. oglaich, (oglaych) nom. plu. oglaich ; so, —
N. Fear, a man. G. sin. fir. N. cluaran, a thistle. G. sin. &X. pi. cluarain.
fer fir clu-aran clu-aren
Bradan, a salmon. bradain. croman, a kite. cromain.
brad-an bratayn croman cromen
Cleireach, a clerk. cleirich. clachan, a village. clachain.
cley-rech cley-rich clachan clachen
" The changes marking the relations of adjectives to other words are, like those to which nouns are subjected, sometimes partly made on the beginning and partly on the termination. The changes at the beginning are made by aspirating the initial consonant ; those at the end, by partly changing the terminations. The object of both is to indicate numbers and cases." — But I must stop, lest the reader should think that I am going to seduce him into the study of Gaelic grammar, and thus stultifying myself.
The Gaelic bards of modern times, — that is, since they ceased to live as a separate and distinct order, at the introduction of Christianity, though they continued to be recognised and retain power as a class, — knew nothing of letters, much less of grammar, with very few exceptions ; but they were orally educated, and, the Gaelic being a natural instead of an artificial language, per- fectly masters of all its simple peculiarities, as is proved by the very wrorks on which such profound, complicated, and apparently endless disquisitions have been founded. I cannot, therefore, see any reason why an educated gentleman should not, by the assistance of a phonic key to the pronunciation, be able to make himself sufficiently master of the Gaelic language to become thoroughly acquainted with the works of the Gaelic bards, without devoting a lifetime — if a lifetime would suffice for the purpose — to the study of Gaelic grammar. For myself, I am satisfied that any educated person who may feel disposed to take a little trouble in the matter, can easily acquire as much knowledge of Gaelic from the preceding pages, and the phonetic spelling and literal translations in the following pages, as will enable him both to peruse and to appreciate the poetry and tales of the Gael.
The Gaelic has no neuter gender, and it is difficult precisely to see the grounds on which grammarians distinguish between the feminine and masculine
THE HIGHLAND CLANS. l>.j
gender of inanimate objects; but their language, as well as traditions, show that devotion to the fair sex was a striking characteristic of the ancient Gael, and I rather think that the gender of inanimate objects has been determined by them in accordance with their predilections, and that everything which they regarded as bright and beautiful, magnificent and sublime, in the first degree, is feminine, and everything which they considered so only in the secondary degree, is masculine. We accordingly find that the sun and moon are feminine, so also are all the chief mountains and rivers ; while bruach, (bru-ach,) a bank, alt, a rivulet, monadh, (mona',) a hill, &c. &c., are masculine. Their poetry bears me out in this view of the subject ; nay, more, the feminine may generally be distinguished from the masculine in the poetry of the bards by the beauty of the very names of the objects personified as feminine, which sound more pleasingly to the ear than those personified as masculine. The grammarians do not seem to have recognised this feature of Gaelic poetry ; but, unlike the bards, the grammarians had all the advantages of what the Times calls " Anglo- Saxon civilization," and despised a weak deference to sex : hence they seem to have determined the gender of inanimate objects by their adjectives. Thus as the adjective proper to duine mor, (duyne more) a man big, may be appropriately joined to dun mor, a castle big, they concluded that castle is masculine. In like manner, as the adjective proper to gerran, (ger-ran) a cart-horse, is also proper to cuan, (cu-an) a sea, they regard the sea also as masculine. My object does not, however, require that I should lead the reader through details ; but I consider it proper and necessary to point out to him some of the peculiarities of the language, and leave him to form conclusions for himself.
The parts of speech in Gaelic are nine : the article, (already declined,) the noun, pronoun, adjective, and verb, which are declinable, and the adverb, preposition, interjection, and conjunction, which are not declinable. " These parts of speech, except the conjunction, are exemplified in the first verse of the 118th Psalm.
85 2 712 65436 6
" 0 thugive buidheachas do 'n Tighearn, oir tha e maith, oir gu brath
o hugive buy'-chas to 'n ti -ern oyr ha e may* oyr gu bra' 542 mairidh a threocair.' " mayri' a h-re-ocayr
The rule for spelling Gaelic is embodied in the following verse, which is ascribed to the Druids, who have credit in Highland tradition for every axiom good and wise in conception, and useful and simple in practice, that have come down to the people from remote ages : —
Leathan ri leathan, Broad to broad,
le'-an ri le'-an
'S caol ri caol. And small to small,
'• caol ri caol
20 THE LANGUAGE
A chaoidh sgriobh Ever write
a chay skriv .
Le brigh Gaelic. With meaning Gaelic,
le bri' ga-lic
Some grammarians think the above rule were more honoured in the breach than the observance, because it requires, that, if the last vowel of any syllable in a compound word is broad, the initial vowel in the next syllable should also be broad, and thus leads to the employment of silent vowels. This is true, but it leads to no confusion, and to very few silent vowels. Instead, therefore, of desiring to do away with the rule, my wish is that other dialects had an equally clear rule of spelling. Had the English student a rule for spelling that language in four lines of four and five syllables each, the saving for the last two hundred years in time and money would have been incalculable. It is to this rule for spelling, — the preservation of the initial letter of the roots of compound words, — and the itinerating labours of the bards and seanachies among the clans, that the preservation of the Gaelic in its simplicity and purity, for thousands of years, is to be ascribed.
Clanships were founded in identity of blood and pedigree from the original patriarch of their respective districts. Hence, any persons acquainted with their traditions must be aware that the old Highlanders did not consider the sons of existing chiefs any higher in pedigree, or one iota more aristocratic than the descendants of any other chief in the long line of descent from the founder of the clan. The ancestral honours and blood were regarded as the common inheritance, in which none had any preference. The clan district was also regarded as the common property of the clan. The common interest required them to have local clan or district governments ; but the officials were elected by the clan, and strictly limited to the cleachda, or use and wont. Their laws or cleachda (custom) were traditional, and known to every member of the clan, and could not be altered or violated with impunity, even by the most popular chiefs. They were administered by a judge called bridheamh, (bri'-ev) (modernised brehon in Ireland and Wales,) and by a jury, consisting of the heads of the different families of the clan. The chief was the executive ; but he was not a member of the brehon court. The judge was, of old, appointed by the Druids, and probably a member of the Druid order ; but the Druids constituted, not the civil but the criminal court of the clans. The chief and chieftains were elected from the nearest in descent to the founder of the clan or family, not to the last chief or chieftain, as in the feudal succession. Hence, in general, the brother succeeded to the brother, and the nephew to the uncle, instead of the son succeeding in lineal descent, as in feudal successions. I am satisfied that it was the organization of the clans of the north of Europe for the conquest of the Eoman Empire, under partially despotic leaders, on a system of military subordination, which originated all the essential differences between the Celts and Goths, although they have since then been ascribed by historians to a difference of race. These leaders, though at- the first elected by their
OF THE HIGHLAND CLANS. 27
followers on patriarchal principles, naturally established their power over them permanently, when territories were conquered and districts divided into estates among their officers. In such cases, the ceanncath, or war-chief, naturally became king, and his officers feudal vassals ; and the heirs of both secured the succession. This really seems to have originated feudalism and the manners and customs which distinguished the so-called Gothic from the Celtic clans. There is no historical evidence of the emigration to Europe of two races of mankind from the East ; and feudalism is certainly first known as a system under the Emperor Alexander Sever us, in Germany, and not in the East. I have never been able to discover any grounds on which to assign to the Gothic a different lineage from the original Celtic colonists of the localities from which Gothic clans take their names. Had they been a different race, and come from the East at a more recent period, they would have carried their names along with them, instead of taking the names of different localities in the land to which they had emigrated. To assume that they are of a different race from the first Celtic colonists of Europe, merely because of the difference in their political institutions, dialects, manners, and customs, appears to me to be neither accordant with probability nor analogy. Language is the great argument of those who hold most firmly to the idea of different races. Yet Max Miiller and the more eminent philolo- gists of the present day, seem convinced that all languages, or, in this sense, more properly dialects, may be traced to one source ; and to do so seems to be the great object of comparative philology. The idea that the Sanscrit, Greek, and Latin, are derived the one from the other, has been fairly given up, and the conclusion seems to be that they are derived from a common source. So fugitive is the character of language known to be, as to have been thus illustrated by Miiller : " We read of missionaries in Central America who attempted to write down the language of savage tribes, and who compiled with great care a dictionary of all the words they could lay hold of; returning to the same tribe, after the lapse of only ten years, they found that this dictionary had become antiquated and useless. Old words had sunk in the ground, and new ones had risen to the surface, and, to all outward appearance, the language was completely changed." In short, mankind are the creatures of training and circumstances, and the difference in these between the Celtic and Gothic tribes, accounts for every other difference between them.
I have much pleasure in submitting the following letter from a learned and eminent antiquary and philologist,* in corroboration, substantially, of my views on the subject of the cognate character of the languages and peoples of Europe.
<; I beg to return my kindest thanks for the lecture on the Highlanders and Scots, you have been KO kind as to send me. I have read it with much attention. and with great pleasure indeed. With the exception of one point, yon ha\v anticipated all my conclusions and deductions. It occasioned much surprise and pleasure thus to find two individuals, wholly unknown to one another, and pursuing the same studies unite independent of eacli other, arriving at eonclu-
•* TI. Mardonal.i. Ks,,., GnuiHruIly. DnnkeM.
28 THE LANGUAGE
sions almost the same. The reasons you have given for the difference in the languages of Europe are precisely mine — preferably worded by you.
" I have studied to a certain extent the connexion of Latin and Greek with our Gaelic, and find that no writer has yet done justice to this part of philology. It is now known that Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, and French, are all the direct offsprings of the language of Rome, and that both Greek and Latin enter largely into the Teutonic or Gothic dialects. I can say nothing of the Sclavonic, though it is considered one of the Arian tongues. Our own language is now, with apparent grudge, admitted to belong to this Indo-European class of languages. We are told that Professor Miiller, of Cambridge, has traced out some seven or eight hundred words of Latin in the Gaelic, or vice versa ; and we have been informed that Pezron, the antiquary, found that number in the Greek, and from 1200 to 1400 words in Latin, though, like Miiller, he was quite unacquainted with our tongue. I have traced out lately 2600 Latin terms in our Gaelic, and am fully aware that I am far from having exhausted the subject. In one letter of the Greek alphabet I detected 200 Gaelic words. I believe the Greek is replete with Gaelic, for its numerous aspirated pronuncia- tions and consonant combinations bear great affinity to our language. The German or Teutonic is said to abound in it.
" Now when we find that our Celtic language pervades the whole languages of middle and western Europe, is it mere enthusiasm that hems us in to the conclusion, that our people and language have founded the existing races and tongues of Europe? Some of the great English savans of the last century doubted the connexion of Erse, (as they termed it) with any language in Europe — such was Dr Johnson's view ; but Whitaker left recorded that he found 3000 British words in the old Saxon tongue ; and the more we examine every dialect of the Teutonic, we find that it was reared on a Celtic foundation. The recent assertions of some, that the Hindu and Sanscrit languages are fellows of the European, is not satisfactory. At one time these races were brothers, but since their dispersion on the plains of Asshur, they never yet met, and have no more claim for identity of race than the Patagonians and we have ; there are, notwithstanding, many things in their language common to ours. This is the case with. the Arabic and Persic also. The term Indo- European is a misnomer ; neither is the fancy of such as term the Celts Turanian, a shade happier.
" But how, it may be asked, are we to account for the extent to which our language has pervaded the other languages of Europe ? The reply is simple, namely, that our race had passed over the Hellespont first of all others, with the language they had spoken in Chaldea. Greece became their earliest European settlement, notwithstanding the waves of emigrants sent out thence as pioneers to cultivate and inhabit the remaining wastes of Europe. Neither did the race or language ever wholly abandon Pelasgia. The same occurred in Italy. I would ask where had the Latin tongue its origin ? In Italy. Allowing the fables connected with the transmission of ^Eneas from Troy to have some germs of truth in them, what was his language? Greek. The
OF THE HIGHLAND CLANS. 29
Trojans were a Ionic tribe, and spoke the Helenic. The Latin consequently was generated in Italy, and we need not wonder that so much Celtic enters into its formation.
" You remark that there is no vestige of evidence that a Gothic conquest of the Celts took place. It took place in the brain of would-be Gothic people only ; never in fact. These writers have laid much stress on a passage from Herodotus, which, as he was traditionally told, bore that the Scythae were driven by the Messagetae from the south and east of the Araxes, and betook themselves to the north of the Euxine, then occupied by the Cimbri, — the other great cognate branch of the Celts, — and that they drove out the Cimbri, who, it would appear, were obliged to cross the Euxine back to Asia Minor, from which place they were expelled by Croesus ; in which circumstance they were compelled to fall back on their own native country. This latter story of the Father of History is overlooked by the Gothic writers. Eesearch has done away with the Scythse-Gothic myth, and the term is now understood to have been an appellative generally applied to all people living on the produce of the chace. A people termed Scythae, or archers, (from saighead, an arrow) may have followed in the wake of the still earlier Cimbri, but the conquest of the latter by the former is still a guess of no foundation. An almagamation of a kindred race may have taken place. But to descend to our British and Irish people, I am at a loss to see how we are justified in designating tribes either in Britain or Ireland, Gothic or Saxon, before these designations became known in the world or in history. The Gothic nations of the south of Ireland, you frequently mention as different from the Celts of the north, staggers me ; for the Milesians, Clanna- Neimhidh, &c., of the Emerald Isle, I entertain the greatest doubt. I believe that the sister Isle was originally peopled by Celts from the British Isle, and I know that no Goth could exist there before the name existed any where else. The Gothic champions have chosen to metamorphose the Gaeti into Goths in and after the seventh century, but the term was unknown before the Christian era. As for the Belgae, they occupied a section of Gaul, and were real Celts, although some tribes of them in Caesar's time preferred being considered Germans, ignorant that in that case they were of the Celtic race. What holds true with the Goths as a separate people does the same with the Saxons. They were unknown as such before the fourth century. Both they and the Germans were the same race originally. At the commencement of the present era, the portions of Germany occupied by the Angles and Saxons were inhabited by Celts. The former could be none other than tribes of the latter.
"The Goths issued from Scandinavia early in the present era. How are we to trace them in any portion of the British dominions prior to that time ? Ireland, like all the northern states of Europe, no doubt, received tribe after tribe ; but I cannot discover how we can call them but mere Celts. Then as to the difference in dialect, I presume there was none before the English invasion in the 12th century ; such variety as may have existed would be no greater than that in Britain before the Roman invasion. That the north and south of Ireland fought against one another during the Fingalian period is
30 THE LANGUAGE
not an uncommon circumstance : the English heptarchies fought and slaughtered each other indiscriminately ; yea, the brothers have been often bent on destroying one another for power, among the Celts as well as other people. I conceive, therefore, that no national difference existed among the Irish, save that of the periods at which tribes of the same people arrived there.
" I observe you remark that Columba required an interpreter between himself and the Picts. This would have the effect of my reconciliation with your system in reference to the Picts and Scots. I would feel obliged by a trace of good evidence in support of it ; for I maintain that both were one and the same people, bearing at a certain period two distinctions, — equivalent to Clan Campbell and Clan Donald. My acquaintance with Gaelic literature does not afford me a proof that their language was not the same identical one. The Koman poet in his panegryric in the third century, alludes to Scots and other Picts ; and Bishop Winfred, in 664, in his disputes before Oswy, king of Northumbria, with Colman, the Scot from lona, about the keeping of Easter, says, " We found the same practised in all the world, except only those and their accomplices in obstinacy, I mean the Picts and the Britons, who foolishly oppose all the rest of the universe." — Bede, p. 156. This Scot from lona and his people, are designated here, the Picts.
" The writing of Gaelic in Scotland scarcely differed from that of Ireland, until the end of last century. The Gaelic of 800, of 1057, and subsequently, was the same. See " Incitatum Belli' of 1411 ; Kilbride's MS. Genealogy of 1460 ; Carswell's Gaelic Liturgy of 1567 ; and Kirk's Gaelic Psalm Book of the last century.
" I conceive the Scots to be the present Highlanders. They amalgamated with the Picts in the ninth century, and have since formed the occupants both of the east and the west of Scotland. I heartily admit the marked difference you have drawn between the Lowlanders and Highlanders in shape and symmetry. I have long observed it, but the distinction arises as much from the habits of the people as it does from race. The Saxons and the Northmen of England having mixed with the Lowlanders, contributed to the change both in symmetry and language. Every inch of Britain was once peopled by Celts. Topography is proof of this. The names of rivers, mountains, hills, straths, &c., in the Lowlands, both south and east, prove the same. Some, and Highlanders among them, find Welsh and British names in Scotland, which are plain Gaelic. The Dalriads retained their Gaelic at court till Canmore's time, and the bards traced the genealogy of the latter Alexanders, in Gaelic, at their coronations, to 1482."
The word Gael has been preserved as the distinctive name of the first tide of emigrants from the East, by whom Europe was inhabited. The word means white. This name, then, which was given or adopted at a period too remote for our research, implies that, at that time, mankind were of different colours ; and that one of these was white. This word was accordingly given to, or assumed by, the white, in contradistinction to the coloured races of mankind :
OF THE HIGHLAND CLANS. 31
and certainly the Saxon, and every other family now to be found in Europe, appear to be the descendants of the Gael or white race.
Although I hold by the above opinion, namely that all the varieties of white men are of one and the same race, I regard the question, which has frequently been under public discussion of late, as to the cause of the difference in comparative wealth and poverty of the classes who inhabit the richer and poorer districts of Great Britain and Ireland, as extremely interesting; but I greatly doubt whether the conclusion at which the writers on the subject seem to have arrived, — that it is to be ascribed to the inferiority of the Celtic race in mental and physical capacity— is borne out by the military or civil history of the races, even in those kingdoms. The so called Gothic race, for instance, where they are supposed to be of pure lineage, as in Holland, have generally been characterized as of phlegmatic temperaments, and heavy or unwieldy frames ; and the Celtic race have uniformly been represented as of fiery temperaments and active frames. Yet, these writers ascribe to the phlegmatic race all that is intellectually great and physically energetic ; while to the Celts they ascribe all that is mentally feeble and physically indolent. I do not think these premises and conclusions reconcilable.
Csesar describes the Gauls, who were Celts, as far advanced beyond the Germans, (who are assumed to have been Saxons,) in civilization ; and civilization is the result of the exercise of what is termed " the industrial virtues." Are not the industrial virtues acquirements? If so, may not the difference between the habits and circumstances of the inhabitants of the richer and poorer districts of Great Britain and Ireland at this day, as well as the difference between those of the Gauls and Germans of the days of Cresar, be accounted for separately altogether from any supposed difference in the mental and physical capacity of the German and Celtic races ?
Is it not the fact, that the more nearly we find mankind (no matter of what race,) to their primitive and uncultivated state, the more are they characterized by apathy and indolence ? Nay, is it not the fact, that, in the bosom of the most active seats of enterprise and industry, whole families are" to be found whose deficient education in the industrial virtues, stamps them with all the characteristics of indolence and apathy ? Now, it will not be denied that the inhabitants of the more cold, sterile, and inaccessible districts of all countries, (by whatsoever race inhabited,) continue much longer in a primitive and uncultivated state than those of the more fertile, genial, and accessible districts. The origin of wealth is in the abundance of Nature. It is almost spontaneously produced in the more fertile, and can only be produced by extreme industry in the more sterile districts. Now, wealth is essential to, if not the parent of, com- mercial and manufacturing industry. It creates artificial wants, and searches for and rewards the enterprise and industry whereby they may be supplied. & people living in a barren country, and who know no wants excepting those of nature, are contented with milk and potatoes, brogues and hodden greys, and do not possess within themselves the means nor the stimulus necessary for the creation of commerce and manufacturing wealth and industry.
32 THE LANGUAGE
The so-called Saxon and Celtic inhabitants of Great Britain and Ireland, in addition to the great advantages the former had over the latter, in the possession of rich and fertile plains, intersected with navigable rivers, bays, and estuaries, whereby the wealth and commerce of the whole world was drawn among them, have not set out on the career of commercial and manufacturing enterprise on equal terms. The Saxons of Great Britain and Ireland were, hereditarily, less or more, accustomed to servitude and commerce, at a period when the Celtic race possessed the soil of their native land in common, and when the exercise of their industrial virtues was only necessary for the cultiva- tion of their own lands and the domestic manufacture of their own produce for their own use. Their industrial virtues were, therefore, in those days equal to their wants ; and they lived contented and happy. The acquisitiveness and injustice of the stranger changed the scene. He overturned the laws and institutions of their country, and made others, regardless of their wants, customs, and habits, and without allowing them to have a say in the case. By these new laws the Celt was denuded of his right of property in the soil, which con- stituted his whole earthly possession, and reduced to the condition of a serf, to grinding and oppressive landlords, whose unjustly acquired wealth went to the employment and the enrichment of the Saxon, because his hereditary knowledge of commerce and servitude made him the more eligible and ready-handed to supply their artificial wants and luxuries. In short, the whole property of the Celtic inhabitants of Great Britain and Ireland was, in effect, confiscated to a class, for the employment and enrichment of those of the people who had been then accustomed to servitude and commerce ; and now the poor Celtic race, denuded of all they possessed, thinly scattered over a barren and rocky sea-coast, or among the isolated glens and mountains of broken and sterile wastes — depressed by poverty and even deserted by the accustomed bounties of Nature,* are blamed for not having, in this state of transition, made the same progress in the arts and sciences of civilized life, as a people hereditarily initiated in servitude and commerce ; and who, moreover, at the outset had virtually helped themselves to their lands — the foundation of the whole wealth of the country — to carry on their trade.
That the difference in the habits and circumstances of the inhabitants of the richer and poorer districts of Great Britain and Ireland cannot with justice be ascribed to anything inherent in the Celtic character, is proved by the fact, that there is no part of these kingdoms in which persons of undoubted Celtic lineage are not to be found, standing pre-eminently forward among the most distinguished individuals of the Saxon race, in every department of literature and the fine arts, as well as in all the sciences and inventions, or discoveries, which have resulted in their great mercantile and manufacturing prosperity.
Nor is the comparison of the emulation of individuals of the Saxons and Celts with one another less favourable to the latter than the emulation of towns and cities, if we take progress in commerce and manufactures as the criterion.
* Two or three of these psgei were written at the time of the potato failure.
OF THE HIGHLAND CLANS. 33
Let us take, for example, the city of Glasgow. Now, we find that Glasgow, so recently as the year 1668, did not possess a single merchant who was a ship- owner. Gibson, the father of her mercantile prosperity, made that year the first venture in foreign trade. He cured and exported to St Martin's in France, 300 lasts of herring, (containing six barrels,) and received a barrel of brandy and a crown for each. Such was the extent of the foreign trade of Glasgow in 1668. Compare this with the foreign trade of Glasgow at the present time, and will it be found that she has loitered behind her neighbours in mercantile and manu- facturing industry and enterprise? The statistics of Glasgow, and of many other towns and cities in Great Britain and Ireland, (whether Celtic or Saxon), show that great progress has been made by the country in mercantile and manu- facturing enterprise within these two hundred years ; and where is the writer who will venture to assert that that progress, in the towns and cities in which it has taken place, is to be ascribed, not to a change in the habits of the people, but to a change of the race by which they were, or are inhabited ? Are we to come to the conclusion that Glasgow in 1668 was inhabited by a fiery race of Celts, and that she is now inhabited by a phlegmatic race of Dutchmen ? The statistics of towns and cities afford no evidence in confirmation of the charge of indolence and apathy made against the Celtic race of Great Britain and Ireland ; and the biography of eminent men does not show that the Celtic race has failed to furnish its due share of all that is intellectually great and physically energetic. But, perhaps, it is in their military qualities that these writers find the great superiority of the Saxon over the Celtic race ? Let us take a glance at the ques- tion in a military point of view, then, and see how it stands ; but in order to clear it of all that might mislead the general reader, we must beg him to favour us with his attention to a short sketch, in reference to Wallace, and the history and military strength of the king-made nobility of his time.
North Britain, previous to the arrival of the Scoto-Irish in the western parts of Argyleshire, was governed on the patriarchal cleachda of all the ancient Celtic nations. This system is defined by the great (though sometimes not immaculate) Chalmers, in his Caledonia, as affording to every tribe the privilege " of being each independent of the whole." By this cleachda, the power of the kings, chiefs, and chieftains, who constituted the patriarchs, was so bound down as to have led Roman and other ancient writers into the supposition that clan- ships were pure democracies. They were not democracies ; but they were pro- bably as nearly so as was consistent with the purity and independence of the rulers of the people. The Scots,* who ultimately succeeded to the supremacy, do not appear to have carried with them the patriarchal system (judging from their feuds and questions of succession among themselves) into the country ; at least
* That the Scots were the feudal, and the Caledonians the patriarchal people, is proved by the fact, that the former had a king styled the King of Scots, that his sons were styled princes, that he created from time to time, dukes, marquises, earls, &c. ; but the Caledonians never had kings or titles until they were created for them by feudal historians and foreign priests. These, however, did not know their language. Hence we have in Gaelic no words to express the titles which these sapient writers were pleased to confer on our remote ancestors.
E
34 THE LANGUAGE
in its purity. We accordingly find that Malcolm Canmore, who appears to have been the first Scoto-Irish king that acquired any thing like an effectual dominion over the Picts, took immediate steps for the establishment of the feudal system. The disruption consequent on this process, threw a great portion of the country into the hands of new possessors. Hence the Scottish nobility of the days of Wallace were, in every essential, a foreign nobility. They were foreigners in their lineage, language, titles, tenures, manners, and customs. There were thus elements of the most irreconcilable enmity in existence be- tween the people and the nobility of Scotland in the days of Wallace. Being, however, only the growth of the two previous centuries, fortunately for the people, the nobility were not in the possession of great military strength. Their following consisted of men-at-arms, as may be seen from their charters ; and the men-at-arms of Scotland were never very formidable, and much less so at the above period. We accordingly find that Cumyn, one of the oldest and most powerful among them, when he had to rely upon his own feudal friends and vassals, (for the clans were only willing and voluntary soldiers in defensive warfare,) as in his silly invasion of England, did not dare to encounter the hostility of the citizens even of Carlisle. When the stalwart burghers showed face, he abandoned his resentment against King Edward, and fled. We also find, when the great Stewart, with Lennox " and other barons," joined the army at Stirling, that their strength consisted only of sixty men! Douglas, Lorn, &c., who were chiefs, and followed by the people of their respective clans, are not to be confounded with the nobility referred to. Neither should we allow our estimate of the power of the nobility of those days to be exaggerated by the vulgar error of supposing that the schiltrons, or divisions, which they commanded in battle, were formed of their own vassals. These schiltrons were composed of the clans, and officered by their chiefs and chieftains ; but " divide and conquer" being the ruling principle of the feudal kings of Scotland, they sowed the seeds of distrust and division so sedulously among the clans, that one clan would not be commanded by the chief of another clan. Hence when severals of them were formed together into a schiltron, or division, some neutral person- age behoved to get the command. The king, or his representative in the field, therefore, usually appointed some nobleman, popular in the districts of the respective schiltrons, to command them in battle. We must not, therefore, allow our estimate of the military strength of the nobility of the days of Wallace, to be magnified by the importance of the stations they occupied in the field of battle, or by the power to which, by the successful carrying out of the feudal organization, they afterwards attained. The power was only in its birth at that period ; and we accordingly find that their assistance to the invader consisted chiefly of intrigues, whereby they divided or betrayed the patriots, — as witness the battle of Falkirk.
The derivation of the name, as well as the genealogy of Wallace, is involved in obscurity ; but its absence from bonds and charters, like those of other Celtic chiefs, and its identity, as originally spelled, Walens, with that of the heroic Walenses of Clydesdale, of which district he was a native, furnishes,
OF THE HIGHLAND CLANS. 35
at least, ex facie evidence of his Celtic lineage. To be of the same lineage and language with the natives, would also seem elements absolutely necessary to popularity among a people so constituted as the people of Scotland of the days of Wallace. Nay, we cannot shut our eyes to the fact, that, even at so late a period as " the forty-five," no small share of the enthusiasm in favour of " the Prince," may be ascribed to the zeal and address with which he assumed their national dress and arms, and cultivated their habits and their lan- guage. These were the means whereby he rooted himself in their hearts, and effectually awakened their ancient loyalty and fidelity to their old race of kings.
We also see that the tone of determined enmity in which Wallace is made to speak of his foemen, has in it something far more bitter than could have risen from the hostility of two warlike kingdoms. It implies hatred to the race much more distinctly than to the invader. Nor is the intense hostility of the Scottish nobility to Wallace satisfactorily explained when ascribed merely to the supposed pride of rank and birth. For Wallace was himself of knightly rank and family ; and, therefore, even according to their own feudal distinctions, qualified to enter the lists against the best and noblest of their race or order. Neither is it to be understood that the nobility of that age — that is, the king- made nobility — possessed that prestige which power and antiquity of family confer on their descendants. No doubt, some* of them were descended of the nobility of England ; but these were only the offspring of the then recent conquest of that kingdom by the Normans. But, at any rate, the best and noblest of either the English or the Scottish nobility of that day, were not to be compared to the chiefs and chieftains of Scotland, in purity of blood, or an- tiquity of family. We must therefore look elsewhere than to their pride, for the cause of the hatred and affected contempt entertained by the nobility against Wallace. May they not rather have arisen from his Celtic lineage and popularity with the people, who hated and repudiated their rank and tenures, and whom they, in return, both hated and feared ?
When circumvented, or defeated on the plains, where the feudal nobility had some show of influence, and where they sometimes joined, in order to thwart and betray him, we find that Wallace invariably retired beyond the Clyde and Forth, among the glens and mountains occupied by the native Celtic race, and that he never failed to return thence with thousands of true hearts and strong arms, able and willing, as at the battle of Stirling, to pave his way to glory and to victory. These were the men with whom he thrice swept the invader from the land, and with whom his triumph had been com- pleted, but for the persevering, and, alas, ultimately successful treachery of the nobility. These facts lead to the conclusion that Wallace and his followers found their mutual patriotism and confidence in one another cemented by the ties of language and of lineage, — that they were equally the lineal descendants and true representatives of the illustrious tribes who, of old, repelled the Roman and Danish invaders of their country, in the same spirit in which they, their off- spring, were then resolute to conquer or to die in the sacred cause of her liberty and independence. We have, therefore, reason to believe that the opponents
36 THE LANGUAGE
of the English, in the days of Wallace, were the patriarchal clans of Scotland ; the same race whom they long afterwards encountered at Prestonpans and Culloden. We shall now, therefore, proceed with a brief sketch of the more prominent arenas on which the Saxon and Celtic races have met each other in battle, beginning with the wars of the first Napoleon.
The Continental Saxons have frequently met the half-Celtic French in battle, and certainly did not show their superiority to them in mental and physical energy. During that war, in particular, the Continental Saxons gained no laurels from the representatives of the ancient Gauls. It is not to their Saxon blood, therefore, that the English owe their military superiority over the French, but to the blood of their British mothers, otherwise why did not the Continental Saxons (who certainly must possess more Saxon blood than the English) beat the French ? The descendants and representatives of the Celtic Gauls are, at this day, the greatest of all the Continental nations.
The last occasion on which the Celtic and Saxon races of Great Britain met one another in warfare, was, as already mentioned, in the " forty-five," and we certainly do not find that the Saxon manifested any superiority to the Celtic race, either physically or mentally, on that occasion. We must, therefore, proceed backward with our researches before we can find any evidence of the military superiority of the Saxoti to the Gael.
It is said that the Saxon subjugated the Briton. This statement is now discredited, but supposing it true, the Briton had become effeminate by several centuries of subjection to the Romans, before he achieved that triumph. Over the Caledonian and the Dane he failed to achieve any permanent superiority or advantage : on the contrary, his country was overrun repeatedly, and finally conquered, by the Dane ; and the Dane, the Saxon's conqueror, was as repeatedly defeated in battle, and driven by the Caledonians into the sea.
Nor was the superiority of the Saxon to the Celt manifested in the war of independence under Wallace and Bruce, although that war occurred after he had been again improved in his breed, and elevated in his military character, by an accession of blood from the half, if not wholly, Celtic and warlike Norman. But to show the difference between the Celt and Saxon, in their military qualities, it is only necessary to refer to the historical fact, that, by the loss of the single battle of Hastings, the Saxon was cowed and subjugated ; whereas the Celt, instead of yielding on a single defeat, maintained a disastrous war of thirty years duration, not only against a powerful foreign invader, but against the still more fatal treachery of the Anglo-Saxon nobility, planted by his own kings, in the bosom of his country, for the extinction of his rights and liberty.
Nor did these thirty years of ruinous warfare either cool his patriotism or tame his courage. On the contrary, he faced the whole Anglo-Saxon and Anglo-Norman power, not only of England, but of Wales and Ireland also, on the field of Bannockburn, and, with one Celt against three Saxons, overthrew them with a slaughter, to which that of Waterloo, — the Bannockburn of European warfare, — is scarcely to be compared ; and with that crowning victory he secured and consolidated the independence of his country. The military history of the Saxon and Celtic races, assuming them to be different races,
OF THE HIGHLAND CLANS. 37
relatively to one another, does not therefore afford any evidence of the mental or physical superiority of the Saxon race.
We do not, and cannot see any reason for coming to the conclusion, that the Saxons and the Celts are descended of two distinct races. Every shade of difference between them, may — we would say, must — have been produced by education and circumstances. But be that as it may, so complete is the amalgamation of the two now in Great Britain and Ireland, as to render it impossible to draw a line of demarcation between them. However, it is not either necessary or desirable to do so, and I may venture to predict that no honest patriot will ever attempt it. Indeed, I question if twenty families of British-born subjects can be found, who can trace themselves through six generations of an unmixed Saxon lineage.
I have already stated that the Gaelic vowels are sounded by grammarians like the English vowels in far, theme, pin, broke, trae. Every one of these vowels have, however, according to these gentlemen, as many sounds and shades of sound, hard and soft, broad and small, thin and thick, as, with the numerous signs or accents by which they are distinguished, might enable a clever teacher to retain an ordinary pupil in his hands for an age ; but, of course, they con- sidered the acquisition of such an invaluable knowledge cheaply purchased by the sacrifice of a life-time to the study of Gaelic grammar. But the singular thing is, how Duncan Ban Macintyre and the other bards, who could neither read nor write, contrived to leave behind them the learned works on which such elaborate disquisitions have been founded by these great philologists ! My space will not permit me to trouble the reader with many extracts, but I could have shown him, by voluminous quotations, that the Highlanders were not the ignorant barbarians they are represented to have been ; and I must remark, as a sufficiently striking corroboration of this statement, that Caesar ascertained from the natives that the coast of Britain was two thousand miles in circumference, (and I question whether the Government Surveyors will show that they were very far wrong,) yet our learned historians have been repeating, one after another, — on the authority of Latin books too, — for the last two thousand years, that it was the Komans who first ascertained that Britain was an island ! and I have no doubt that they will continue to repeat this, and a hundred other fallacies, and that the good-natured public will not only continue to believe, but also to buy these precious books, and pay dominies for teaching them to their children, for two thousand years more.
I have stated, that Gaelic consonants, when not aspirated or in action, are pronounced like the English consonants in the following words : b in bad, c in cant, d in e?aft, f in /all, g in ^all, 1 in feek, m in mad, n in narrow, p in p&th, r in rare, s in salad, and t in £ar, but much thicker, softer, and deeper. As the purity of the reader's pronunciation depends entirely on his making himself a complete master of this peculiarity, I beg of him to go once more over the instructions for pronouncing the consonants when in action, already given, before addressing himself to the following words, otherwise he is sure to acquire a spurious pronunciation.
38
THE LANGUAGE
Tir-mhor, a continent. mor-shruth, a rapid.
tir-vore
Duthaich, a country, du'-aych
Eillen, an island, ellen
Doirlinn, an isthmus, doyrlinn
Traigh, coast, tra-i'
Cladach, beach.
cladach
Cuan, sea. cu-an
Muir, ocean, muyr
Camas, bay. camas
Calla, harbour, calla
Geofc, a creek, ge-ob
Caolas, a strait, caolas*
Loch, a lake. Abhuinn, a river.
avuyn
Alt, a rivulet.
more-ru'
adhadh, a ford. ah'-aV
coileam, a rapid rushing through a narrow rock- coylem bound channel.
tober, a spring.
srath, the lower part of a glen, a valley, sra'
dael, a plain in the curve of a river, dal
gleann, a glen, glenn
coire, a semi-glen in the face of a hill, coyre
bealach, a defile or pass, belach
aisre, a steppe among rocks. Syshre
beinn, a mountain, beynn
cruach, a conical or stack-shaped mountain, cru-ach
sliabh, a wold or inclined table-land, sli-av
slios, the flank or side of a mountain, slis
scur, a cliff, scur
mointeach, a moor, moyntech
carr, a dry moor, rutted with winter water-courses.
Ion, a moist plain or meadow.
Eas, a waterfall, ess
Linne, a pool.
linn-e
Sruth, a current, sru'
Dall-bhog, a quagmire. cos, a cleft, dallavog
Frith, a deer forest. cnagan, a knag in a tree or rock,
fri' cnagan
Grianan, a sunny knoll, (a innis, an island ; also a roosting place, gri-an-an fairy brugh.)
Sithean, a fairy knoll or i, an island (obsolete.) shi'-en brugh.
Bruach or brugh, a bank airidh, a shieling or Highland summer residence, bru-ach bru' ayri'
or ridge; also a clachan.
Cloadh, burying ground, fasach, a deer-forest, or preserved pasture.
do' or salmon spawn- fasach
ingplace.
* AO. Here the phonic spelling is a failure ; for aw is a horrid imitation, and I can find no letters that more nearly represents the sound in English.
OF THE HIGHLAND CLANS.
39
Stuc, a peak. Uamh, a cave.
u-av
Bo, a cow. bo
Ba-thigh, a cow-house. ba-hi;
Bualaidh, a fold, bu-a-lay'
Laogh, a calf, lao'
Arladh, a quey. aria'
Gamhainn, a stirk. gavayn
Damh, an ox. dav
Tarbh, a bull, tarv
Gearran, a work-horse, gerran
Steud, a war-horse. stSyd
Marc, a riding-horse, marc
Falare, a riding-mare, falare
Capul, a brood-mare, capul
Caora, a ewe. caora"
Boc-earba, a roebuck, boceraba
Sionnach, a fox. shi-onach
Doran, an otter, dorap
Broc, a badger.
broc
Eoin-fhraoich, moorfowls. e-oyn-roych
Coilleach-fraoich, a moorcock, coylech-froych
Cearc-fhraoich, a moorhen, cerc-roych
Coillich-dhu, blackcocks, coyllich-yu
Liadh chearcean, grey hens, li-a' chercan
Eala, a swan, ella
garbh-fhonn, a rough rocky country, (a garv-onn cognomen of Arasaig.)
geamhrachadh, a wintering-place, gevra-cha'
mult, a wether.
reithe, a ram. rey'-£
nan, a lamb, u-an
oisg, a hogg or year-old sheep, oysg
athbhlianach, a two-year-old sheep, a'-vli-an-ach
cloimh, wool, cloyv
gabhar, a goat, gavar
boc, a he-goat, boc
laosboc, a wether goat, laosboc
meann, a kid. menu
fiadh, a stag, fi-a'
maoisleach, a hind, moyslech
minnean, a calf-deer.
minnen
earba, a roe-deer, eraba
banag, a grilse, banag
geallabhreac, a salmon-trout, gella-vrec
breac, a trout, brec
slatiasgaich, a fishing-rod, slat-i-asgich
morbha, a fish-spear or leister, morva
clic, a gaff.
clic
driamlach, a fish-line, dri-am-lach
dubhan, a hook, duvan
cuilleag, a fly. cuyllag
rodhan, a pirn, ro'-an
40
THE LANGUAGE
Lach, a wild-duck.
lach
Malard, a wild-drake, mall-ard
Tunnag, a duck, tunn-ag
Drac, a drake, drac
Geadh, a goose, ge-a'
Ganradh, a gander, gan-ra'
Feadag, a plover.
Adharcag, a lapwing, a'-ar-cag
Guilbneach, a curlew, guylebenach
Corr, a heron, corr
Budag, a snipe, budag
Creothar, a woodcock, cre'-ar
lasg, a fish, i-asg
Bradan, a salmon, bradan
Leinne-chrios,t a shirt of mail, leyne-chri-os
Sgiath, a shield or wing, ski-a'
Dag, a pistol, dag
Beudag, a dirk, literally, the little beydag deadly one.
Boghadh-shaighead, an arrow-bow, bo'-a'-hayed
Taifead, a bow-string, tayfed
Gunna, a gun. gunn-a
Claishneach, a rifle, claysh-nech
Camus, a mould for casting bullets, camus
leabhar-chuilleag, a fly-book. levar-chuyllag
claidheamh, a sword. clay'-ev
claidh-mor, a broadsword. clay'-more
claidh-da-laimh, two-handed sword. clay'-da-layv
claidh-cinn-ais-nich, a rib-hilted sword. clay'-cinn-aysh-nich
claidh-cuil, a backsword.
clay'-cuyl
claidh-caol, a small sword. clay'-ca-ol
clogaid, a helmet.
clogayt
clogaid stailin, a steel helmet.
clogayt stalin
luireach, a buff cloak. layrech
dealg-gualain,* a shoulder pin or skewer. telag-gu-aleyn
braisd, a brooch. braysd
luirech mhaileach, a mail-cloak. luyrech vaylech
claidh-cinn-Illich, an Islay hilted sword. clay'-cinn-illich
feile, a kilt.
triubhas, trews worn by equestrians and tri-u-vas aged men.
brigis, short trews, buckled at the knee.
brigis
bonaid, a bonnet bonayt
peiteag, a waistcoat. peytag
peitag-mhuilichen, a jacket, literally a peytag-vuylichen waistcoat with sleeves.
brog, a shoe. brog
cuaran, a sandal. cu-aran
cuarag, a knapsack. cu-ar-ag
* A skewer of gold or silver, with a head usually large and highly ornamental, for fastening the warrior's plaid on the shoulder. The brooch was only used by women.
•f Leine-chrios was the distinguishing name of the chosen warriors who attended the chief in battle, moved with him from side to side of the field, pushing every advantage, and sustaining the party inclining backward or in jeopardy.
OF THE HIGHLAND CLANS. 41
Fudar, powder. balgan-peallach, a goatskin haversack,
fudar ballagan-pellach
Carbat, a war-chariot dornlach, a quiver,
carbat dornlach
Sgian, a knife. diollaid, a saddle,
sgi-an di-ollit
Sporran, a purse. pillean, a pad.
sporran pillen
Osan, hose. summac, a pack-saddle.
osan summac
Breacan, a plaid, brecan
Breacan am feile, a belted plaid, brecan am feyle*
The Lowland Caledonians, as well as the Lowland Scots, wore the trews, both long and short. The short trews ultimately degenerated into the brigis or tight shorts, probably an 'innovation by some court dandies of the early days of feudalism. The short tartan trews of the Caledonians and Scots was buckled or open at the knee, according to taste or pleasure. The Caledonians wore a broad blue bonnet, cocked, and pretty high, a jacket without skirts, tartan hose, reaching barely over the calf of the leg, where they were fastened with showy garters ending in a graceful tie, like that of the modern neck-tie or stock, on the outside of the leg. The space between the short trews (which, like the kilt, merely descended over the cap of the knee,) and the hose, was bare. The Biscay- men, on both sides of the Pyrenees, wore a similar dress. This dress, a little degenerated, especially the bonnet, which was small and flat, was in existence when the British army wintered there in 1813-14. I have no doubt this was the common garb of the Continent before our ancestors crossed the Channel. I could not converse with the people in their native dialect, but the nouns in the Basque were the same as in Gaelic, slightly differing in pronunciation only. Suchet arid his division were Biscayans ; and when the British army were on the Pyrenees, the people talked of him and them with the same enthusiasm with which the Highlanders talked of Sir Colin Campbell and his brigade at the time of the Crimean war. They met the British for the first time at Hellette, in the south of France, on the opening of the campaign of 1814, and faced us manfully ; but Wellington turned their position, and made them retire before their stamina was fairly tested, which I was then young enough to regret, for I wished much to see whether they possessed the obstinate firmness of the Gael. Two of their officers, however, while the light troops were scattered skirmishing, found an opportunity of coming into combat, in the old Highland fashion, with Lieutenant Lambrecht of the 66th regiment, and another light company officer. Lieutenant Lambrecht's sword was broke in two near the hilt, by a musket shot, just as they were in the act of closing with each other, and the noble Biscay an instantly saluted him with his sword, and drew back ; nor did he offer to take part with his companion, though it was evident that he was a very inferior swordsman to his opponent, (who was also, like himself, a Celt,) and had no chance.
42 THE LANGUAGE
The short trews aud hose, as above described, were worn by a few old men in Strathspey and Stratherrick sixty years ago. The Biscayans, at the above period, instead of tartan hose, wore a long worsted stocking folded down mid- leg, and tied with red tape, like some very fat-legged strangers whom I have recently seen aping or caricaturing Highlanders, in a species of gaberlunzie dress, which they, no doubt, innocently suppose to be the same with that worn by the Highlanders when in an uncivilized state. The Lowland Scots certainly wore the short trews ; but the long trews was their costume. The trews and hose were in one piece, the part below the knee being fitted to the leg, and ending in a foot like hose. The knickerboker, when worn with a boot, is exactly like the trews when worn with a riding-boot, as it always was by equestrians. The trews were buttoned in front, like modern trousers ; but that part was covered with a small gold or silver laced apron, having the wearer's crest and badge, tastefully combined with tracery, embroidered on it. The bonnet of the Lowland Scot was broad and flat ; but not high and cocked like that of the Caledonian. Both wore the plaid ; but the Scot wore his generally doubled round his shoulders, and fastened with a brooch. The old Caledonians occasionally wore the belted-plaid, that is, the plaid divided at the waist by a broad belt, the upper part being wrapped round the shoulders, and fastened on the breast with the dealg-ghualainn or shoulder skewer, and the lower part gathered round the loins and thighs in plaits, like a kilt. This is the dress described in a work published in London in 1630, called, I think, " The Kelations of the most celebrated Nations," as the dress worn by Henry the VIII.'s Irish troops on his visit to France. It is a remarkable circumstance that the Antiquarian Societies of Ireland have lost sight of this the ancient native dress of the northern Irish. It is evident, however, from the name of this dress, which, in contradistinction tofeile, is called breacan am feile, that wearing the plaid and kilt in one piece was not the rule, but the exception. The usual way was to wear the plaid and kilt separately, the plaid thrown over the left shoulder, as in the regiments whose colonels, while clothiers to their respective corps, did not cabbage the men's plaids, and substitute square pieces of tartan, fixed, like " baby-clouts" behind their backs, to dangle, transversely, between the hip and shoulder. The plaid of the Highland warrior was fastened on the shoulder with a silver or gold skewer, whose head was usually shaped like his crest. Only the Highland ladies and the Lowland Scots wore the brooch, which was altogether unsuitable for the Highlander of warlike times, from the difficulty of unfastening it, — for he always fought stripped to the waist. Hence his first motion, when " descending" to battle, was to firm his bonnet on his head, by an emphatic " scrug /" — his second, to cast off his plaid, &c. ; — his third, to incline his body horizontally forward, cover it with his target, rush to within fifty paces of the enemy's line, discharge, and drop his fusee or rifle ; — his fourth, to dart forward till within twelve paces, discharge, and fling his iron-stocked pistols at the foeman's head ; — his fifth, to draw claymore, and at him. This was done by the Gael at the battle of Killiecrankie, the moment Dundee fell, and they found themselves at liberty to take their own course. Their conduct
OF THE HIGHLAND CLANS.
43
is so described by one of Dundas's officers, who published a short and interesting memoir of the hero, which was published in London four years after his death. [Lord Macaulay does not seem to have seen this book, for he calls some of the facts stated in it an invention of recent times.] This writer's description of the battle is corroborated by Ian Lorn, and other bards, who state that Dundee caused great loss to the Highlanders by the slow pace at which he led them into battle. By this injudicious process, which shows that Dundee did not know the Highlanders as well as Montrose, they received three volleys before drawing their swords. Left to their own tactics, they would have received only one, and the battle would have been decided in ten minutes. It lasted^only two minutes, according to this officer, and to the bard Ian Lorn, after Dundee's death. Had he not been killed, it might, like the battle of Culloden, have been protracted until two thirds of his clans had been killed or wounded.
Athair, father. a'-ayr
Mathair, mother. ma'-ayr
Brathair, brother. bra'-ayr
Piuthair, sister. pi-u'-ayr
Seannaer, grandfather. shen-ar
Seannamhair, grandmother. shena-ver
Mac, son. mac
Nigheann, daughter. ni'-en
Ceili, husband. chey-li
Banacheili, wife. ban-a-cheyli
Trechele, throughother, ' { helter-skelter. ' ' trecheld
Lechele, together, " hand-in-hand." lechele
Ochele, separately, from one another.
Priomh-athair, patriarch. pri-ov-a'-ayr
Clann, a clan, (literally children,) the
clann descendants of one priomh-
athair or patriarch.
Ceann-cinnith, head of a tribe, chief. cen-cinni'
Bana-cheann-cinnith, female head of a bana-chen-cini' clanj chiefess.
balaochan, a cow-boy, literally a cow- ba-laochan hero, hence balach.
caile, a stout young woman, cayle
caileag, a lassie, cayl-ag
boireineach, a woman, (pronoun.) boyrenach
fireneach, a man, (pronoun.) firenach
duine, a man.
duyne
bean, a woman, ben
bodach, an old boor, bodach
cailleach, an old female boor, cayllech
deo-dhuine, a good man, literally, a de-o-yune god-man.
dorch-dhuine, a bad man, literally, a dorch-yune man Of darkness.
duine-coir, a kindly, honest man, liter- duynd-coir ally^ a surpassing man.
duine-carrach, a quirky-man, literally, duyn^-carrach a crooked or twisted man.
amadan, a fool, literally, the waif of am-a-dan time.
burraidh, a blustering loquacious fool, burray'
benmhiaghael, a precious woman, ben-vi-ayell
benaillidh, a beautiful woman, ben-ali'
44 THE LANGUAGE
Ceanntaigh, head of a house or branch, oiseach, a silly woman, literally a
cen-tay chieftain. oy-sech strayed young woman.
Bana-cheann-taigh, female head of a buidseach, a witch, banachen-ta-i' house, chieftainess. buyt-sech
Ceanntealaich, head of a household. duineraitechael, a vain-glorious man. centelech duyne-raytechel
Banacheanntealoich, female head of a cladhaire, a coward, banachentelaych household. cla'-ayrfe
Uachdaran, the superior of the land, duinecrinn, a niggardly man. u-achdaran the tainister. duyne'-crinn
Banuchdaran, a female superior of lands, duine fial, a social, hospitable man. ban-u-achdaran or a female tainister. duyne* fi-al
Banathainister, a female tainister. bana-haynister
NUMBEBS.
1, aon, or, a h-aon. 11, aon-deug, or, a h-aon-deug, 21, aon thair fichead, one aon aon-deyg one over ten. over twenty.
2, da, a dha. 12, dha-dheug, a dha-dheug. 22, dha thair fichead.
ya ya-yeyg
3, tri, a tri. 13, tri-deug, a tri-deug. 23, tri " tri tri-deyg
4, ceitheir, a ceitheir. 14, ceithir-deug, a ceithir- 24, ceitheir
cey'-er cey-ir-deyg deug.
5, coig, a coig. 15, coig-deug, a coig-deug. 25, coig " coyg ' coyg-deyg
6, sia, a sia. 16, Sia-deug, a sia-deug. 26, sia " shi-a shi-a-deyg
7, seachd, a seachd. 17, seachd-deug, a seachd- 27, seachd shechd shechd-deyg deug.
8, ochd, a h-ochd. 18, ochd-deug, a h-ochd-deug. 28, ochd " ochd ochd-deyg
9, naoidh, a noidh. 19, noidh-deug, anoidh-deug. 29, naoidh
noy' noy'-deyg
10, deich, a deich. 20, fichead, a fichead. 30, deich "
deych fi-ched
40, da fhichead, two twenties. 90, ceithir fichead sa deich. da iched cey'-ir fiched sa deych
41, da fhichead sa h-aon, two twenties and one. 100, ceud. da iched sa haon ceyd
50, da fhichead sa deich. 200, da cheud.
da iched sa deych da ched
60, tri fichead, three twenties. 300, tri cheud. tri fiched tri ched
61, tri fichead sa h-aon. 400, ceithir cheud. tri fiched sa haon cey'-ir ched .
70, tri fichead sa deich, three twenties and ten. 500, coig ceud. tri fiched sa deych coyg ched
80, ceithir fichead, four twenties. 600, sia ceud.
cey'ir fiched sia ched
OF THE HIGHLAND CLANS.
45
700, seaehd ceud. shechd ched
800, ochd ceud. ochd ced
900, naoidh ceud. noy' ced
1000, mile, mi-le
2000, da mhile. da vil-4
3000, tri mile, tri mtl-d
4000, ceithir mile, cey'-ir mil-d
5000, coig mile, coyg mil-d
6000, sia mile, she-a mil-d
7000, seachd mile, shechd mil-e*
8000, ochd mile.
ochd mil-d
9000, noidh mile, noy' mil-d
10,000, deich mile, deych mil-d
CAKDINAL NUMBERS JOINED TO A NOUN.
Aon fhear, one man.
aon or
Da fhear, two men. da gr
Tri fir, three men. tri ffr
Ceithir fir, four men. cey'-ir ffr
Coig fir, five men. coyg fir
Sia fir, six men. shi-a fir
Seachd fir, seven men. shechd fir
Ochd fir, eight men. ochd fir
Naoidh fir, nine men. noy' fir
Deich fir, ten men. deych fir
An cead latha, the first day. an ced la'-a
An dara latha, the second day. an dar-a la'-d
An treas latha, the third day. an tres la'-a"
An ceithreamh latha, the fourth day. an cey'-rev la'-d
An coigeamh latha, the fifth day. an coyg-ev la'-a
an cead fhear, the first man. an ced er
an dara fear, the second man. an d£r-a" fer
an treas fear, the third man. an tres fe"r
an cearamh fear, the fourth man. an cer-av fer
an coigeamh fear, the fifth man. an coyg-ev f&r
an siathamh fear, th sixth man. an shi'-av fe"r
an seachamh fear, the seventh man. an shechd-av fer
an t-ochdamh fear, the eigth man. an tochd-av fer
an noidhamh fear, the ninth man. an noy'-av fer
an deicheamh fear, the tenth man. an deych-ev fer
an siathamh latha, the sixth day. an shi'-av la -a
an seachdamh latha, the seventh day. an shechdav la'-ci
an t-ochdamh latha, the eighth day. an tochdav la'-d
an noidheamh latha, the ninth day. an noy'-ev la'-d
an deicheamh latha, the tenth day. an deych-ev la'-a
Ban, fair, ban
Crion, little, cri-on
Cruiu, round, cruyn
THE COMPARATIVE.
baine, fairer, bayn-d
crine, less, crin-d
cruinne, rounder, criiyne
bainead, fairness, bayn-ed
crined, littleness, crin-ed
cruinnead, roundness, cruyned
46
THE LANGUAGE
Daor, dear, daor |
doire dearer, doyre |
doiread, dearness. doy-red |
Dearg, red, derag |
deirge, redder, derige |
deirgead, redness, deyriged |
Geal, white, gel |
gile, whiter, gil-e |
gilead, whiteness, giled |
Trom, heavy, trom |
truime, heavier, truym-d |
truimead, heaviness, truymed |
Eatrom, light, e-trome |
eatruime, lighter, e-truymd |
eatruimead, lightness, e-truymed |
Faoin, vain, fa-oyn |
faoine, vainer, faoyne" |
faoinead, vainness, faoyned |
Binn, sweet, binn |
binne, sweeter, binne |
binnead, sweetness, binn-ed |
IRREGULAR COMPARISON. |
||
Borb, fierce, borb |
buirbe, fiercer, buyrbe' |
buirbead, fierceness, buyrbed |
Olc, bad, olc |
miosa, worse, mi-sa" |
miosad, badness, mis-ad |
Beag, little, be-ag |
lagha, less, la'-a |
laghad, littleness, la'-ad |
Duilich, difficult, duyl-ich |
duiliche, more difficult, duylich-i' |
duilichead, more difficult, duyliched |
Farasda, easy, farasda |
fasa, more easy, fasa |
fasaid, easiness, fasayd |
Gearr, short, gerr |
giorra, shorter, gi-rr-a |
giorrad, shortness, girrad |
Geur, sharp, geyr |
geire, sharper, geyre |
geiread, sharpness, geyred |
Laidear, strong, layder |
treasa, stronger, tresa" |
treasad, strongness. trend |
Math, good, ma' |
feothas, better, feyo'-as |
maitheas, goodness, may'es |
Mor, big, more |
motha, bigger, mo'-a |
mothad, bigness, mo'-ad |
Teth, hot, te' |
teotha, hotter, te-o'-a |
teothad, hotness. te-o'-ad |
Se, yes. se |
moran, much, moran |
daonan, always, daonan |
Cha 'n e, no, not him. cha 'n o |
osceann, above, overhead, oscenn |
feasda, forever, fesda |
Maith, good, may' |
fo, under, fo |
diugh, to-day, di-u' |
Donadh, bad, evil, don-a' |
roimh, before, royv |
maireach, to-morrow, mayrech |
Fallain, healthy, well, fallen |
deigh, behind, dey' |
moch, early, moch |
Began, few, a little. bdgan |
gle, very, gle |
anmoch, late, anamoch |
Suas, up, ascend, su-as |
trie, often, trie |
so, here. sho |
OF THE HIGHLAND CLANS.
47
Eirich, get up, arise. |
tearc, rare. |
sin, there. |
eyrich |
te-arc |
shm |
Sios, down. |
ainmig, seldom. |
stigh, within. |
shi-os |
ayn-5-mig |
8tl' |
Mach, out. |
sith, peace. |
caite, where. |
mach |
s! |
cayte' |
Sith, pace. |
fada, long. |
solasach, happy. |
81' |
fada |
solasach |
Cian, remote. |
muladach, sorrowful. |
pailteas, plenty. |
ci-an |
nriiladach |
payltes |
Foghlumta, learned. |
cha mhor, not much. |
taitneach, delightful. |
io'lumta |
cha vore |
taylnech |
Deigh, after, |
gealtach, cowardly. |
fearr, better. |
tey7 |
gelt-acb |
ferr |
Sgathach, timid. |
mise, worse. |
gaolach, lovely |
sga'-ach |
mi-se |
gaolach |
Carson, why. |
baigheal, compassionate. |
rithist, again. |
carson |
bay-el |
ri'-ist |
Ceart, just. |
ciamer, how. |
lag, feeble, also, a hollow. |
cert |
cemer |
lag |
Greas, haste. |
mall, slow. |
tra, early. |
gres |
mall |
tra |
Grad, quick. |
cuine, when. |
saibhear, wealthy |
grSt |
cuyn-e" |
sayver |
Cia-as, whence. |
ainnis, want. |
cinnteach, certain. |
ce-as |
aynnis |
cinn-tech |
Modhail, mannerly. |
falamh, empty. |
falbh, walk off. |
mo'-ayl |
falav |
falv |
Mimhodhail, unmannerly. |
duin, shut. |
foil, broil, |
mi-vo-ayl |
duyn |
fbyl |
Eich,"eat. |
foill, gently. |
ol, drink. |
eych |
foyU |
ol |
Falach hid. |
caidil, sleep. |
folais, seen. |
falach |
cayd-il |
folaysh |
Duisg, awake. |
foras, assumption. |
eirich, rise. |
duysg |
foras |
eyrich |
Fosgail, open. |
bi mach, be out. |
dean cabhag, make haste. |
fosgel |
bi mach |
de-an ca-vSg |
Ma se air toil e, if it is your will, ma se ayr toyl <5
Thugibh dhomh, give ye me.
huk-iv yov
Ma se do thoil e, if it be thy will. ma se do hoyl 6
Thoir da mi aran, give to me bread.
hoyr da mi aran
Thoir dhomh ce, give me cream.
hoyr yov ce
Thoir da mi im is caise, give to me butter and cheese.
hoyr da mi im
Thoir dhuin gruth is uachdar, give us curds and cream, hoyr yuyn gru' is u-achd-ar
48 THE LANGUAGE
An cruirme ce, the round earth, an cruynne' ce"
Bainne blath is aran coirce, warm milk and oat-cake, baynne blath is aran coirc^
A ghaoil mo chridhe, love of my heart. a yaoyl mo chri'-e'
A chuisle mo chridhe, pulse of my heart. a chuyshle mo chri'-e'
Mo leannan fallaich, my secret sweetheart. mo lennan fallaych
Mo chuid dhe'n t-shaoghal, my share of the world, mo chuyd yen tao'-el
Thoir da mi (or dhomh) iasad, give to me the loan, hoyr da mi yov i-a-sad
Ni mi sin gu toilleach, I'll do that willingly, ni mi sin gu toyllech
Moran taing dhoibh, many thanks to you.
moran tayng yoyv
Se air beatha gu dearbh, ye are welcome certainly, se ayr be'-e gu de-arv
Tha sibh aig moran dragh, you are at much trouble, ha shiv ayg mb-ran dra'
Tha mi moran na 'r comain, I am much to you obliged, ha mi moran nar comayn
Tha sibh tuille 's coineal, ye are too kind.
ha shiv tuylle' s coynel
Cha dragh leom idir e, that is no trouble with me at all. cha dra' le-ome i-dir e
Tha mi aig air seirbheis, I am at your service, ha mi ayg ayr sherv-esh
Tha mi duilich trioblaid a thoirt dhoibh, I am sorry trouble to give ye. ha mi duylich triob-layt a hoyrt yoyv
An coimhneas thig bho'n chridhe paidh e fhein, the kindness that comes from an coyv-nes big vo'n chri'-e' pa-i' e heyn the heart pays itself.
A bheil cuimhne agibh air Donnacha ban nan oran, have you (a) recollection a veyl cuyne ag-iv ayr Donna-cha bSn nan oran of Duncan fair of the songs.
Tha gun teagaibh, 's b-ann aige a bha'n aigne shaibhir 'san guth binn, ha gun tegiv is bann eg-e" a va'n ayg-ne* hayvir sa'n gu' binn yes, without doubt ; and 'twas he who had the wealthy mind and sweet voice.
De tha dhith oirbh a cho-lionadh gach uireasaibh nadurrail, what lack ye to de ha ye' oyrv a cho-li-ona' gach uyr-eseyv nadurrel supply all natural wants ?
Banna-cheile aillidh, beusach, maith, a spouse beautiful, modest, good, bana-cheyle ahli, bey-sach may'
'S aineamh sin ; ach sir is gheibh u i 'n tir nam beann, nan gleann 's nam breacan, is aynev shin ach shir is yeyv u I 'n tir nam benn nan glenn 's nam brec-an That is rare ; but seek and you'll find her in the land of mountains, glens, and (tartan) plaids.
Bheil eolas agaibh air uaishleann a bhraigh, have you knowledge of the veyl e-o-las ag-iv ayr u-aysh-lenn a vra-i'
gentlemen of the braes (of Lochaber.)
OF THE HIGHLAND CLANS. 49
Thath, 's b-arm a sin a bha na h-uaisleann an laidhimh m' oige; — yes, and in that ha' 's b-ann a sin a va na hu-ayslenn an Ja'-iv moyg-e"
place it was that there were gentlemen in the days of my youth.
Ce as a thainig fear liadh na cruite, — whence the man grey of the violin, ce as a haynig fer li-a' na cruytd
Thainig a duthaich Mhic-Caoidh-tir Rob-dhuin, — came from the district of liaynig a du'-ich vie caoy-tir rob yuynn Mackay, the country of Rob-donri.
Tha na speuran a sile gu trom an diugh, — the skies are filtering heavily to-day, ha na speyran a sile gu trom an di-u'
A sile ! tha iad a taomadh, — filtering ! They are pouring, a sile ha i-ad a taoma'
Cha taomadh e ach fras an aigh, — (it is) not a pouring, but a shower genial (good.) cha taoma' e ach fras an ay-i'
Chi mi, air leom, na duilleagan ogadh is milse aineal, — I see, as it were, the clii mi ayr le-om na duyllagan og-a' is milse aynel young leaves of sweetest breath,
A fosgladh a billibh maoth le fiamh gaire, — opening their tender lips with a a fosgla' a billiv mao' le fi-av gayre* smile (literally, the image of a laugh,)
Is a toirt dha failte mhin le sanas maighdeanail, — and giving him a gentle is a toyrt ya fayllte vin le sands may-'den-el welcome, with a whisper maidenly.
Ob, ob,* mo laochan am bard ! a ni boireannaich do na preasan, a bheir billibh
ob ob mo la-o-chan am bard a ni boyr-en-ich do na pressan a veyr bill-iv
maoth do na duilleagan gorma, 's a ni sanas maighdeanail de 'm mona-
ma-o' do na duyllagan gorma sa ni sanas may'-den-el de 'm mon-a- mhor cadalach. vor cadalach
Ob, ob, my hero the bard ! who makes women of bushes, gives tender lips to blue leaves, and makes a whisper maidenly of their murmur sleepy.
Rionnag, a star. reothart, spring-tide.
ri-onn-ag re-o'-art
Reul, a planet. contraigh, neap-tide,
reyl con-tray'
Dubhar-gealaiche, an eclipse of the reultagan, small stars, du-var-gel-aych moon. reylt-agan
Dubhar-greine, an eclipse of the sun. reultan uaireach, na seachranach, comets, du-var-greyne" reyltan u-ayr-ech na shechranach
Taladh, attraction. latha, day ;seachduin, week; mios, month,
tala' la'-a shechd-uin mios
Aisil, axle. raidhe, quarter of a year.
aysil ray'-e
La, day ; oidhche, night. mios reultail, the lunar month,
la oy'-che mi-os yeylt-ayl
Gaoth-malairt, trade-winds. mios gealachail, this month is five hours
gaoth-mal-ayrt mi-°s gel-ach-ayl longer than the former.
Lan, flood ; traigh, ebb. mios chumanta, the common month.
Ian tray' mi-os chum-an-ta
* An ambiguous, untranslatable sarcasm.
50 THE LANGUAGE
Bliadhna ghrianal, the sun year. Diluairi-an-t-shainseil, Hansel-Monday,
bli'-na yri-anel dile-u-ayn-an-tayn-seyl
Bliadhna, the common year. Latha-feil-Bride, Candlemas-day,
bli-a'-na la' -a feyl bride
Bliadhna leum, the leap-year. Dimairt Inid, Shrove Tuesday,
bli-a'-na leym di-mayrt in-id
Latha nallaig, Christmas-day. Dirdaoin a bhrochain mhoir, Wednesday
la' -a nallayg dir-daoyn a vroch-ayn voyr
Latha coinnle, New-year's-day. of the porridge feast,
la' -a coyn-le
On this day there was a branch of mountain-ash dipped in the porridge, which was placed over the byre door, to save the cattle from witchcraft. The priest encouraged superstition as the great fosterer of religion ; and although the Protestant priest does not do so, his ministrations accord, unconsciously, with the latent traditions of the primitive pulpit.
The last half of December and first half of January, were called, a mhios mharbh, (a vi-os varv) the dead month. The mios foiltich (mi-os fa-oyl-tich) was the last half of February and the first half of March.
Seachdain feadaig coig-la-deug gearrain, tri latha sguabaig, suas e t-earrach, shcchd-ayn fedayg coyg-la-deyg gerrayn tri la'-a sgu-a-bayg su-as e terrach
are Lochaber sayings on the subject ; but the Rev. Gregor Macgregor, Lismore, has favoured me with a sketch which shows that the feadag preceded the faoiltich. It also contains the following wise advice : " Be the weather good or bad, sow the grain in the month of March," [old style,] that is, before the middle of April, new style. The following are the quaint lines on the subject of the feadag.
Feadag, mathair faoiltich fhuair, Feadag, the mother of faoilteach cold,
fedag ma'-ayr fa-oyl-tich u-ayr
Marbhaidh caoirich agus uain ; Kills ewes and lambs,
marvay' caoyrich agus u-ayn
Thig an sin an gearran gearr, Then comes the gearran sharp,
big an sin an gerran gerr
Is ni easan rud nach fearr ; Which will do things that are no better ;
is ni esan rud nach ferr
Cuiridh e mart caoileadh am poll, He will put the lean cow in a bog,
cuyri' e mart caoyl-e' am poll
Gus an tig tonn thair a ceann. Until the wave comes over its head,
gus an tig tonn hayr a cenn
Mr Macgregor places faoilteach in the new style relatively to February, and mart, March in the old style.
Cha tig a mach sa mhart nach d' theid an stigh sa ghiblein. cha tig a mach sa vart nach d-eid an stigh sa yiblen
What comes out (grass) in March goes in in April. Latha-caisg, Easter-day. Caingis, Whitsunday.
la'-a caysg ca-ing-gis
Latha-Bealtain, first day of May. Latha-feil-Eoin, (St John's day) Mid-
la'-a beltayn la'-a feyl e-oyn summer.
OF THE HIGHLAND CLANS. 51
Lunasdal, Lammas, first of August. Latha-feil-Martainn, Martinmas-day.
lunas-dal la'-a %1 mar-taynu
Damhair, (deer-routing) Mid-harvest. Samhain, feil-Bride, Bealtain, and
da-vayr sa-vayn feyl-bride bel-tayn
Latha-feil-Michael, St Michael's day, Lunasdal, are the beginning of
la'-a feyl mi-chel 29th September. lunas-del
Latha Samhnadh, Halloween-day. the four quarters,
la'-a sav-na'
There was a week only of the feadag and gearran, according to Mr Macgregor, and the cailleach, (kayll-ech) carlin, is represented as sitting on the ground, beating it with a mell, to keep down the grass ; and when, in defiance of her grim and vigorous exertions, the grass sprung up all around her, she threw away the mell in despair, and vanished into air. Then came the day of the oisgean, when grass became abundant. The people of old used to say that the furrows should be filled thrice during the faoilteach, — once with snow, once with rain water, and once with house-thatch.
Faoilteach, faoilteach, lamh an crios ; Faoilteach, faoilteach, a hand in the belt ; faoyltech faoyltech lav an cris
Is mor an fhaoilde bu choir bhi ris ; Faoilteach, faoilteach, 'tis right to resist is mor an aoyl-de bu choyr vi ris it •
Faoilteach, faoilteach, crobh air theas ; Faoilteach, faoilteach, cows (racing) in faoyltech faoyltech crov ayr hes heat ;
Gul is gaoir bi daonnan leis. Crying and lamentions are often his.
gul is gaoyr bi daonnan leys
Tri latha do'n fhaoilteach san luchar Three days of faoilteach in the dog-days ; tri la'-a do'n aoyltech san i-u-char
Is tri latha do'n luchar san fhaoilteach. And three days of the dog-day^ in is tri la'-a' do'n i-u-char san aoyltech faoilteach.
Tairneineach an deidh tra neoin, Thunder in the afternoon, the thunder
tayrneynech an dey' tra noyn of plenty,
Tairneineach an torraidh mhoir, tayrneynech an torray' voyr
Tairneineach roimh thra neoin, Thunder in the forenoon, the thunder of
tayrneynech roy h-ra noyn Scarcity and conflict.
Tairneineach gort is fuachd. tayrneynech gort is fu-achd
With these few exercises I have concluded all of this treatise which I deemed it necessary to submit to the Header, before introducing him to the Bards, that being the main object of the work.
THE POETRY OF THE HIGHLAND CLANS,
IT is a fact corroborative of the tradition that Columba destroyed all the manuscripts which he found in the great Druid College of lona, (to which the Druids fled after the massacre by the Romans at Anglesea,) that the Irish and Welsh continued much longer in possession of their ancient manuscripts than the Highlanders, whose country was never effectually subjected and plundered by enemies. The barbarous policy of the Norman despots of England ultimately, no doubt, rob bed these countries of their manuscripts ; but they were preserved in the Tower of London for ages afterwards. Those belonging to Wales -were destroyed on the occasion of Owen Glendower's rebellion; but those taken from Ireland, from the systematic and unscrupulous manner in which the Lords of the Pale searched for and seized on them wherever they could be found, must have been equally numerous. Many of these were carried to England, and Logan has found no record of their destruction. Indeed, I am of opinion that a careful search in the Tower and the seats of learning in England, would result in the discovery of many Irish manuscripts, which have escaped destruction. In the great library at Stowe, there were many Irish manuscripts, which cannot surely have been lost. Dr Johnson may not have been aware of these facts, for he does not seem to have been devoted to historical or antiquarian researches. He preferred jumping at conclusions, and enforcing his views on the acquiescence of his literary " tail" in egotistical epigrammatical sentences, as rude as they were self-sufficient. He was like the pedant to whom it never occurred that all he himself did not know would make a very large book ; but who complacently expressed his belief that " all he knew," and all which his pupils " did not know, would make a very large book." Johnson may not, therefore, have been aware, when he was denouncing the Gaelic as " the rude gibberish of a barbarous people, who, as they conceived grossly, were contented to be grossly understood," that he was only exposing his ignorance of the subject. At the same time, I can see no reason to doubt that Johnson, with all his reputed candour and honesty,
54 THE POETRY
was playing false with Macpherson ; for when Macpherson deposited the manu- scripts from which his translations were made, with his publishers, and intimated, in public advertisements, that they were in their hands, and open to the inspection of all who felt any interest in their authenticity, neither Johnson nor any of his friends, as we are informed by Sir John Sinclair, ever looked near them. It is thus evident that it was not the truth, but a victory over Macpherson, and the discrediting of Gaelic literature, that Dr Johnson wanted. The advertisement referred to, has recently been copied in Cassells's newspaper. It is signed by Macpherson's publishers, and could not have escaped the Doctor's notice ; but, at any rate, Sir James Macintosh and Lord Macaulay, who denounced Macpherson as an impostor, cannot be acquitted of dishonesty, on the ground of ignorance. These historians must have been aware that it was a policy systematically adopted, and ruthlessly pursued for ages, by the kings of England, to seize on all the manuscripts that could possibly be found by their generals, in Ireland and Wales, and that a vast mass of these manuscripts had been at one time accumulated in the Tower of London. They must also have known the facts about Macpherson's manuscripts and the advertisment by his publishers, inviting an inspection, and that the Highland Society afterwards published the poems from these very manuscripts. Nay more, they must have been aware of the massacre of the Welsh bards by Edward the First, and of the cruel penal enactments passed against the bards of Ireland by the Lords of the Pale, as well as those which stain the statute books of Scotland, as passed against the bards of the Highlands by the Scoto-Irish usurpers of feudalism in Scotland. Indeed, the bards were subjected to the most cruel persecution, not only by all the despots of the British, but also by the worst despots of the Roman empire. Had Gaelic poetry been a mere tissue of disjointed ribbald rhymes, and the bards mere scribblers, — in short, had Celtic poetry not been a great fact, and even omnipotent in its influence over the spirit of patriotism and independence, of people struggling against invasion and usurpation; — had the bards not been regarded as the last and greatest enemies of tyranny and despotism ; — the worst and most cruel sovereigns that ever sat upon the thrones of Rome, England, and Scotland, never could have risked, even in the most savage ages, the odium of practising the atrocities to which they had been subjected in Anglesea, Wales, Ireland, and Scotland. Hence Sir James Macintosh and Lord Macaulay, when stating that Gaelic poetry of any merit never had any existence, and that the Poems of Ossian were an imposture and a fraud, were stating what they must have known substantially to be false. They were historians, and had access to historical evidence which proves, beyond all doubt, that Gaelic poetry was a great fact, hateful alike to the Roman invader of Britain, the Norman invader of Wales and Ireland, and to the usurpers of feudal powers in Scotland. That the bards were subjected to persecution and massacre, and their poems to the dungeon or the flames, because they were the deadly enemies of feudal despotism, and kept alive in the hearts of mankind the love of their ancient rights and liberties, are historical facts, which speak volumes as to the merit of their poetry and its influence on the people. In consequence of the systematic destruction
OF THE HIGHLAND CLANS. 55
of the works of the Celtic bards, by the enemies of the independence of the Celtic clans, Logan believes the Black Book of Caermarthen, written in the sixth century, to be the oldest Celtic manuscript now in existence. In this, however, he is mistaken, " Leabhar nan Ceart," &c. being still in existence in Ireland.
The Druidal orders were, according to Marcellinus, formed into societies, who devoted themselves to the investigation of matters of divine and hidden import, and confidently affirmed that the souls of men are immortal. The different societies referred to by Marcellinus, were the DRUIDS, the BARDS, arid the EUBHATES. These names being descriptive, in accordance with the genius of the language, supply the place of records, in defining the different depart- ments of Druid literature. Let us, then, resolve each of these names into its primitive elements or roots, that we may clearly ascertain its meaning — for alleged synonymous words, jumped at haphazard, as if it did not signify a single pin whether they originally meant " preserve" or " kipper," will not do in an inquiry like this.
DRUIDH is compounded of the roots dru, to absorb or eliminate, and agh, good, pronounced a'. His duty, therefore, was to search for good, and to eliminate and render it available. BARD is compounded of bith, life, pronounced bi, and ard, high. His duty, therefore, was to elevate the lives of the people. EUBHATES is compounded of eibh, proclaim, pronounced eyv, and aiteas, joy, pronounced aytes. His duty, therefore, was to proclaim the joyous discoveries of the Druid to the people. There is no ambiguity or mystery here. The Druid was devoted to the study of natural science ; and his traditional character in the Highlands shows that the good he discovered from the study, was faithfully eliminated and made available for the benefit of the people. " Close as is a flag [stone] to the earth, is the succour of Covi,"* (the Arch-Druid,) says the proverb. The correctness of this view is confirmed by Marcellinus, who describes them as " deeply considering Nature, attempting to discover the highest arcana, and laying open its most sacred workings;" and as confidently affirming, from the analogies afforded by their researches, that " the souls of men are immortal." To elevate or exalt the character of the people, as his name implies, was the duty of the Bard ; and as this could best be done by cultivating their hearts, he applied to that purpose the most unfailing of all means, poetry and music ; but as man cannot be exalted in his character unless his morals are cultivated, fiction was strictly forbid to the Gaelic bard. His subject must be substantially true, but in the treatment of it he was left to his own feelings and genius. The -Eubhates, or proclaimers of joy, as their name implies, were the preachers among the Druid orders. The creation, and God's manifest design in the creation, as indicated by Nature and the laws whereby Nature is governed, were their bible
* Cobhith, pronounced Co-vi, is compounded of the roots, co, who or what, and bith (bi') life. The name implies that Biology was the study of the Arch-Druid. His names for God, the soul, the good, the bad, show, so far, the success of his researches : he does not represent God as a being of almighty power, with the passions and failings of a man.
56 THE POETUY
and testament, and their names for God and the soul, and for good and bad men, show that they did not render theology subservient to priestcraft. Their name, eibh-aites, shows what was the object of their mission, namely, to proclaim joy or joyous tidings to the people ; and indeed it was to demonstrate from the scheme revealed by God through Nature, which cannot lie, and the laws whereby Nature is governed, that HE is almighty in power and infinite in wisdom, and that His wisdom and power have been put forth to reveal to man Infinite benevolence.
The course of the " Bardic study," says Logan, " was long and arduous : so rigid was the term of probation, that the education of a student, in the science of druidism, was not completed in a shorter period than twenty years, during which time he was obliged to commit to memory twenty thousand verses ; but Chambray, the Celtic professor at Paris, says the number for those of the high- est class was not less than sixty thousand." In later ages, as we learn from Irish authorities, the time occupied in acquiring the necessary bardic instruction was twelve years, three of which was devoted to each of the four principal branches of poetry. The Irish Oirfidigh, or musical order, was, in like manner, classified, taking their names from the instruments on which they played, the cruitirich, the cirterigh, the tiampanich, the cuilleanaich, &c. The whole of these, how- ever, went under the general name of Fillidhiach, or Minstrelsy. Giraldus Cambrensis, who wrote in the beginning of the twelfth century, gives the following lively and characteristic description of Irish music : — " It is in the cultivation of instrumental music that I consider the proficiency of this people to be worthy of commendation ; and in this their skill is, beyond all com- parison, above that of any nation I have ever seen ; for theirs is not the slow and heavy style of melody, like that of the instrumental music of Britain to which we are accustomed, but rapid and abrupt, yet, at the same time, sweet and pleasing in its effect. It is wonderful how in such precipitate rapidity of the fingers, the musical proportions are preserved, and, by their art, faultless throughout, in the midst of the most complicated modulation and most intricate arrangement of notes, by a velocity so pleasing, a regularity so diversified, a concord so discordant, the harmony is expressed, and the melody perfected ; and whether a passage or transition is performed in sequence of fourths or fifths, (by a diatesseran or a diapente) it is always begun in a soft and delicate manner, and ended in the same, so that all may be perfected in the sweetness of delicious sounds. They enter on, and again leave their modulations with so much subtility, and the vibrations of the smaller strings of the treble sport with so much articulation and brilliancy along with the deep notes of the bass ; they delight with so much delicacy, and soothe so charmingly, that the greatest excellency of their art appears in the perfect concealment of the means by which it is accomplished." — " In the opinion of many, however, Scotland has not only attained to the excellence of Ireland, but has, in musical science and execution, far surpassed her, in so much, that it is to that country they now resort who wish to attain proficiency in music, as the genuine source of the art."
OF THE HIGHLAND CLANS. 57
The above was written in the beginning of the twelfth century, while the people of Ireland and Scotland were yet sunk in ragged misery, filth, and barbarity, before that enlightened and civilizing myth of penny-a-line creation, — the Saxon, — had brought every thing beautiful, enlightened, great and lovely, to spread intelligence and happiness over these rude and benighted countries! Let those who assert that Italy is the source of this divine art, try if they can quote from any Latin or Italian work of the twelfth century, such a proof of the civilization of the Roman and his Italian descendants, as the above paragraph furnishes of the civilization of the barbarous Celtic nations of Ireland and Scotland in that age.
Extraordinary honours were paid to the Bards, who thus elevated the lives of the people. Their persons were inviolable, their houses sanctuaries, their lands and flocks carefully protected. Compare this to the estimation in which the poet and his productions are held in this par excellence age of civilization, and there can remain no doubt that the Celtic race of the twelfth century were regular savages ! "As those who entered the order were of un- blemished character, they were eminent in the practice of the virtues they inculcated." " Within this bosom there is a voice," says the blind bard of Selma — " it comes not to other ears — that bids Ossian succour the helpless in their hour of need." In the same poem he expresses other sentiments, equally noble and magnanimous. " Your fathers have been foes," he says to two unfriendly warriors; " but forget their enmity, — it was the cloud of other years." And Fingal, who is celebrated for his poetry, often expresses similar sentiments. " None," he calmly says to his grandson, Oscar, " none ever went sad from Fingal — my hand never injured the weak, nor my steel the feeble in arms. Oscar, bind the strong, but spare the feeble hand. Be thou a sea of many tides against the foes of the people, but like the gale that moves the grass to those who seek thine aid. So Trenmor lived, such Trathel was, and such has Fingal been. My arm was the support of the injured, — the weak rested behind my steel." In the denounced, and all but proscribed, Macpherson's Ossian, are to be found the most generous, the most heroic, and the most tender and benevolent sentiments ever uttered by bard. Beautiful, indeed, is the civilization of the people that could allow them- selves to be prejudiced against such poetry !
The Roman emperors and the English and Scottish kings, as already mentioned, passed atrociously penal enactments against the Bards, who have ever been the friends of liberty, and the deadly foes of all despotism. Under the pretext of putting down a mischievous superstition, the former struck at the Bards, through the Druids, and subjected both themselves and their wives and children to an indiscriminate massacre in Anglesea,. Similar massacres of the Bards were committed by the kings of England, both in Ireland and Wales ; and the following, among many similar enactments, shows that the feudal kings of Scotland treated those of the Bards who adventured within the Lowland PALE, in a similar spirit; for in Scotland, as well as in Ireland, the feudal kings and their laws were happily kept for ages within a PALE, or circuit, beyond which the rights and liberties of the people were conserved, — although the
58 THE POETRY
feudal historians of both countries, taking no accounts of the clans or people, assume that those of Ireland were conquered, and those of the Highlands sub- jected. That Ireland was not conquered, is shown in a small work by Spenser, published in London, in the reign of Queen Elizabeth. Until Ulster was colonized by King James the First, the Irish maintained their patriarchal local govern- ments; and the Highlanders maintained theirs down to the period of the disastrous battle of Culloden. In the reign of James II. of Scotland, it was enacted that " Gif there be ony that makis them fuiles, and are bairdes, they be put in the king's waird, or in his irons, for their trespasses, as laug as they have onie gudes of thair awin to live upon ; that thair ears be nailed to the trone or till ane uther tree, and thair ears cutted off and banished the cuntrie." The banishment of the ears, after being " cutted off," was surely very cruel ! By a statute of James VI. in 1579, those who were gamesters, tale-tellers, &c., and not in special service of lords of parliament or boroughs, as their common minstrels, were to be scourged, and burnt through the ear with a red-hot iron. Yet the son and other descendants of this heartless king, when dethroned and distressed, engaged the sympathies of Ian Lorn, Allastair M'Mhaighstear, Allaster, Kob Donn, and others, whose spirit-stirring effusions were the very soul of their cause, both in the Highlands and in the Lowlands.
Although the Bards ceased to exist as an order, on the extinction of the Druids, they continued to flourish, and to have great power and influence in Scotland as a class, down to the period at which the kings of the Scots or Scuits succeeded to the supreme authority over the Picts or Caledonians, as well as the Britons of Strathclyde. The kings of the Caledonian and Briton clans, down to that period, were merely war-chiefs ; but after that date, the ceanncaths of Scoto-Irish descent assumed the style of kings. The Bards are never afterwards heard of as officers of the Scottish court, excepting when the ceremonial of the coronation rendered it necessary for the king of the Scots to conciliate the Caledonians or Picts, by having his title to the throne proved by the rehearsal of his pedigree through Caledonian chiefs, by the Bard. The Albanic duan, repeated at the coronation of Malcolm II. is not in the dialect of the Caledonians, but in that of the Scoto-Irish or Earse. Nevertheless, the historians of Scotland quote it as Gaelic ; but the fact is, that the historians of Scotland knew nothing of the dialect either of the Caledonians or Scoto-Irish. They considered it much more necessary to be acquainted with Greek and Latin, and the records of Greece and Rome, than with either the Gaelic or Earse, or the poems and tales which constituted the more truthful records of the people whose history they presumed to write. Hence the history of Scotland, down to the days of feudalism, has been written, in effect, on the authority of foreign writers, totally unacquainted with the language and records of the people, and whose self-evident contradictions are sufficient to destroy their authority in the estimation of every person predisposed to consult their works with impartiality, intelligence, and judgement. And from the days of feudalism down to the present day, the history of Scotland has been founded on feudal enmity, and the consequent misrepresentation of all who did not humbly submit
OF THE HIGHLAND CLANS. 59
to the usurpation by the crown of despotic power over the lands, rights, and liberties of the people. Hence, the readers of the history of Scotland will look in vain in that history for anything calculated to throw light on the social condi- tion of the people of Scotland, previously to the introduction of feudalism. Nor does that history detail as it should, the step-by-step means by which feudalism was insidiously substituted amongst the Scottish Lowlanders for their apparently semi-patriarchalism ; or the obstinate stand which the Caledonian clans made against that barbarous despotism, or the " wild justice" with which they retaliated on their oppressors in extreme cases. And since feudalism assumed the ascend- ancy in the Lowlands, the Highland clans have been literally ignored as a people in the history of Scotland, and their organized and systematic opposition to the despotism whose object was to defraud them of their lands, rights, and liberties, represented as " rebellion against the Lord's anointed." Such, in effect, is the manner in which the people of Scotland are treated by the so-called history of their country.
There is no question in which history more uniformly agrees with tradition, than that which assigns an Irish origin to the colony of Dalriada or Erraghall. Eochaid, who brought that colony from Erin, is called Eochaid Reuda. This addition to his name (Eeuda], appears to me to be a mere misspelling of reite, which would mean Eochaid of the treaty of peace. Now, Bede, and a Latin author (whose name I for the moment forget) mention, that Eochaid, had entered into a regular treaty with the Caledonians. Dalriada or Erraghall seems to have been assigned to the Scots by this treaty as their place of arms. As all Gaelic words are descriptive, let us see what light the etymon of these names are capable of throwing on this subject. Dal, in the Gothic dialect, which I hold to have been that of the Scots, Belgs, Anglo-Saxons, &c., of Ireland and England, means a part, or district ; riade is presumed to be merely the Gothic spelling of Eochaid's additional name of reite, or, of the peace. Dalriada, in the Gothic dialect, therefore means the district of Eochaid of the peace. Erra, again, means a part or district, in the Gaelic of the Caledonians, and (jail, a stranger; Erraghall, therefore means the stranger's part or district. And in point of fact, the Scot was never called by any other name than Gall, by the Caledonian, from the day he landed in Kintyre until this day, when his descend- ants occupy the whole Lowlands of Scotland. Hence, if it be the Scot or Gall who landed at Kintyre under Eochaid Eeite, that now occupy the glens and mountains of the Highlands, and not the Caledonians, who assigned to them that district under a treaty, this is the first instance in the history of the world in which the aboriginal people of a country have been replaced by strangers in their mountain fastnesses.
How the Firbolg or Belgs, who occupied the whole Lowlands of England, ages before Caesar crossed the Channel, the Scoto-Irish, and Walense Britons, who, together with the Cruine of Galloway, originally of Ulster, conquered and colonized the Eoman province, from the Clyde to Stamford in England, as well
* See " The Caledonians and Scots, or the Highlanders and Lowlanders of Scotland," a lecture delivered before the Young Men's Literary and Scientific Association of Oban, by D. Campbell, late Lieutenant 57th Regiment. Edinburgh, London, and Dublin.
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as the Caledonians who occupied the south-east part of Scotland, from the Firth of Forth by the Catrail to Berwick, afterwards became Anglo-Saxons, would puzzle any other writers to explain, excepting the Scottish historians of the dark ages, and the penny-a-liners of this enlightened age of manufacturers and weavers.
But, disqualified as these feudal writers must have been to write the history of peoples whose language and records they did not understand, it is difficult to believe that it was not more from design than ignorance that they introduced the Anglo-Saxon myth into the histories of England and Scotland ; be that as it may, the myth has introduced a brave confusion into pedigrees, and made kindred peoples lose sight of the history of their fraternal origin. The Catrail, (formed from the combination of the roots, cath, war or battle, and trial, journey or path, the war-path) from Penvahl, by Galashiels, &c. to Berwick, divided the Caledonians on the south of the Frith of Forth from their neighbours on the west and south ; a line from Penvahl to the head of Lochetive, between the sources of the waters that ran in contrary directions, and by Lochetive and Lochlinne, to the Irish Channel, divided them from the Britons (Walenses) and Scoto-Irish on the north of the Frith of Forth ; and a similar line of ditches and ramparts as the Catrail, or war-path, drawn from the head of Lochryan by Kempshill, near Sanquhar, through Nithsdale, and along the south side of the river by South Mains and Carlisle, which can still be traced, divided the Cruithni or Caledonians of Galloway (originally of Ulster) from their neighbours.
Reasoning from analogy, there must also have been an intrenchment between the Scoto-Irish and their neighbours on the south of the Clyde. To corroborate this view, I may state, that traces of such a war-path are still visible near Dalmellington, not far from the scene of the battle fought between Alpin, the ceanncath or war-chief of the Scoto-Irish (called king by feudal writers) and the Caledonians of Galloway and Britons of Strathclyde, in which Alpin lost his life. I have not had an opportunity of tracing this war-path to a length sufficient to instruct a boundary, but have no doubt this may yet be done.* With these war-paths alone before their eyes, marking distinctly the warlike boundaries between the districts of the separate clans or peoples who divided the Eoman province south of the firths of Scotland between them, it is difficult to ascribe to ignorance the romance that would make the Caledonians south of the Frith of Forth, the Scoto-Irish, the Brito- Walenses, and the Gallo- wegian Cruithni of the Lowlands of Scotland, and the Belgians or Firbolg, (men of the quiver) ancient Britons, and Roman progeny of the Lowlands of England, Anglo-Saxons. And it is still more difficult to see how the Caledonians of the glens and mountains of Albin can be made Scoto-Irish, especially as the difference between the Scoto-Irish and both the Caledonians and so-called Anglo-Saxons, in language, manners, and customs, continued not only distinct but irreconcilable, from the day that Eochaid Reite (or Eochaid of the peace) and his Scots landed at Kintyre, until the last of his representatives in Scotland ascended the throne of England.
* My much esteemed friend, Mr Faterson, in the new edition of his valuable and most interesting history of " Ayrshire Families," will very likely throw some light on the subject.
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The Anglo-Saxon romance has introduced a singular confusion into the pedigree of the peoples of Scotland and England ; and a similar confusion has been introduced, no doubt with the same object, into the pedigrees of the Cale- donian clans of Lethcuin and the Firbolg, or Milesian clans of the other half or Leth-ugain-mhoir of Ireland ; — " Divide and conquer" being an adage as well known to, and as cunningly acted on by, the feudal usurper as the Roman con- queror ; and it must be confessed that the clans offered the very best materials for such a policy, being equally slow to suspect treachery, and quick in resenting it, whether in friend or foe. The descendants* of Conn of the hundred battles had, by these means, been made to believe themselves to be of Milesian de- scent, although the history of Ireland clearly shows that it was the southern clans of Ireland that were of Spanish descent : for, when reduced to an extremity, as the learned and candid editor of Cambrensis Eversus shows, Eugaine Mor, their ceanncath, went personally to the mother country Spain, where he received such reinforcements as enabled him, not only to maintain the southern clans in their half of Ireland, but also to turn the defensive into an offensive war, and to establish one of his clans in Ulster and another in Kin- tyre. Both these colonies were established by Eochaid, and under the same name, spelt by historians, Dalriada or Dalreada. As all Gaelic names are descriptive, and the southern and northern Irish were of the same Celtic race, and have ever spoke cognate dialects of the same language, this name, by being reduced to its roots, has thrown some light on the subject. Although the learned editor of Cambrensis Eversus has thrown much light on the work of Dr Lynch, much still requires explanation ; and I trust that he will yet apply his able pen to the illustration of all that is obscure in that valuable book. One great cause of the obscurity or confusion in this and other learned works on the history of Ireland, as of writers on the history of Scotland, seems to have arisen from the ignorance of modern writers of the important fact, that, down to the date of feudal charters, or rather to the establishment of the feudal system in Europe, surnames were unknown. The chiefs of the clans, Gothic (as I must call some of the peoples for distinction) as well as Celtic, were elected, and the ceanncath or war-chief was elected out of each clan in succession. The clan,
* It is a singular circumstance, and shows that there was no want of method in the means whereby the cadets of noble families preserved evidence of their pedigree, that the tartans of the M'Callums, the Guns, Macraes, &c., show that they are of the same pedigree with the Campbells. I have not had time to extend my researches on this subject so far as to entitle me to give a decided opinion, but I am firm in this belief, and would strongly advise some of the Highland Societies to appoint a committee to investi- gate a question which promises very interesting results. Such an inquiry should embrace the antiquity of the leading clan-tartans, and on the state of the manufacturing arts among the Highland Clans at the probable date of their invention. Mr Hair, the most successful manufacturer of fancy tartans in Paisley, told me that nothing could be more perfect in colour and pattern than the ancient clan-tartan ; that he felt convinced, however great his success, and however often he was complimented on the subject, that he never improved in a single instance on the original pattern from which his fancy tartans were a variety. If manufacturing skill, therefore, be any criterion of civilization, in what state of civilization were the mothers of the Highland clans, whose home manufactures it has defied the most epirited manufacturer in the most spirited manufacturing town in Scotland, to exceed, either for the elegance of the pattern or the harmony of the colours. Surely the peuny-a-line historians of Highland ignorance and barbarity, have been very remiss in not finding some heavy-headed Fleming ancestors for the tartans, as well as for the Douglasses and other old and noble Scottish families !
62 THE POETKY
although always known by one hereditary name, was locally called by the name of the chief for the time ; and the confederation, though it retained one character- istic name, was locally called after the name of the ceanncath for the time, in the same way in which Greek and Eoman armies were called by the name of the general-in-chief, and the different divisions of them by the names of the officers by whom they were respectively commanded. Hence the clan that was called by one name, under one chief, was called by other names, under another chief. It was the same with the confederation. The Macdonalds, before assuming that surname, were called by the proper names of different chiefs, Siol Uistein, Siol Ghillidh-bride, Siol Ghuthraidh, &c. &c. ; but they were still known by the name of their original ancestor Conn ; and so with the Camerons, Campbells, &c. &c. The southern confederation of the clans of Ireland were called Scuit or Scots, seven hundred years before the Christian era. The same name occurred again and again at long intervals. It was the same with the Firbolgs or Belgs. Ignorance of this custom has led to much confusion, and makes Irish historians of modern times represent their country as the subject of an endless succession of invasions and conquests by armies, which come, nobody knows whence, and go nobody knows where ; when the only invasion and con- quest seem to have been the peaceful succession of one ceanncath, who gave his name to the confederation, to another whose name died with him, at least for the time. Who, for instance, can make sense of the following note by the above learned editor, without the above explanation ? but with that explanation it becomes intelligible.
" Without intending to deny positively," says the learned and candid editor of Cambrensis Eversus, " that an Eirirnonian, named Eugaine Mor, may have preceded Labhraidh Loingseach, the first Eirimonian king, by some years, and conquered these fair districts, which always have been the first seized by invaders," namely, Louth, Meath, Dublin, Kildare, Carlow, Kilkenny, Waterford, Tipperary, Limerick, Roscommon, Sligo, Down, and Antrim, the fat of the land, and the most accessible to invaders ; " I would fix the real origin of the Eirimonian power in Ireland at the invasion of Labhraidh Loingseach, A. C. 89, 63. According to tradition, Labhraidh came from Gaul, and as Leinster and Connaught, which anciently included a large portion of Meath province, were, according to all authorities and Charles O'Conor's map, the principal seat of the Firbolg or Belgse, it is but natural to conclude that Labhraidh' s followers were the Belgse, who had long been in possession of the south of Britain and the greater part of Gaul. But here a great difficulty arises : what are we to think of the colony of Belgge which, under the conduct of Slainghe, seized Ireland even before the Tuatha de Dananns ?" " Now, in forming his opinion here, the reader must remember that Ireland was divided into five provinces by Slainghe, and a similar division was made by the Eirimonian Eochaidh Feidleach, nearly contemporary with king Labhraidh Loingseach ; Srdly, that, according to Keating, the Firbolgs, who had been expelled by the Tuatha de Dananns, suddenly return to Ireland, no one knows how, after more than a thousand years, and acquire lands in Leinster and
OF THE HIGHLAND CLANS. 63
Connaught, at the very time when the pentarchy was revived by Eochaidh Feidleach ; 4thly, that the best soldiers of the great Eirimonian, Cormac Mac Art, and of his father and son, were Firbolg, and that he found a retreat from enemies among the Connaught Belgoe ; 5thly, that the Firbolg Gamonradii are expressly styled the ' great Milesians ;' finally, that the soldiers of the three Collas, who destroyed the palace of Eomania, and conquered the greater part of larian Ulster, were all Belgse. These may be only coincidences in the history of the traditionary Firbolgs of Slainghe, with the historic invasion of Labhraidh Loingseach ; but they are coincidences sufficiently strong to justify great doubts of the former, especially as Dr O'Conor admits, in another place, that some of the best authorities do not mention the first colony of Firbolgs. Moreover, nothing is more common in merely traditional history than an inversion of dates and events. When the conquering Belgae and the conquered had been amalgamated into one people, and began, after some centuries, to digest their history, it would not be unprecedented in bardic story, to find them ante-dating, by some thousand years, the Firbolg invasion, — an event which occurred shortly before the commencement of the Christian era, and adopting as their own the genealogy of another race settled with them in Ireland. Thus, because the Romans, who conquered Britain, were descended from ^Eneas, the Britons soon discovered that their own ancestor, Britus, belonged to the same family. And, when about the middle of the fourteenth century, nearly all the rural strong-bownians had adopted Irish names and the Irish dress, they found no difficulty in tracing their origin to Milesian, or to any stock but the English, though the continued presence of the English power in Ireland, and the constant influx of the English blood, must have counteracted powerfully the process of amalgamation, and the general adoption of the Milesian ideas. I think it manifest, from Irish history, that, if new Irish colonies had not been planted in the country in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, the term ' Saxon,' or ' Englishman,' or ' Norman,' would have been, long since, even in the baronial halls of the Butlers, the Burkes, and the Fitzgeralds, as opprobrius an epithet as ' Firbolg' ever was in the ancient raths and cathirs of the so-called Eirimonian nobles." " But there are two means of explaining how Firbolg and Eirimonian, though really the same race, might not have been distinguished : by admitting that, at different intervals, from A. C. 300 cir. colonies of Belgae may have landed in Ireland from Britain or Gaul, but that they were subdued (conquered) by the great Belgic colony in the year A. C. 83, 69, or, what appears to me a more probable supposition, that the Belgas of Leath-Cuin, that is, the race of Crimthan, AD. 79, gradually extended their conquests over their kindred in Connaught and Leinster, during the course of the three following centuries, and that thus the conquered Belgse of Leinster and Connaught came to be regarded as Firbolgs, while the conquerors were metamorphized into Eirimonians. But however these matters may be explained, no advocate for the antiquity of the Eirimonian colonizing can explain how it happened that Tighernac could not find a regular succession of Eirimonian kings before the Christian era, though he gave a list of Irians from the foundation of Omania, A.C. 305, 226."
64 THE POETRY
The following were the qualifications required for the different ranks of the order of the Bards, The Focalan, being the youngest student, was required to repeat twenty historical poems and tales. The Macfuirmi, forty tales : the Dos, fifty ; the Canaith, also fifty ; the Clith, one hundred and seventy composi- tions ; the Ollamh, three hundred and fifty ; the Aos-dona, an equal number. The Aos-dona led the Bards and Minstrels into the circle; but when the meeting was formed, all were on a footing of perfect equality. Saint Columba and St Benean were both bards, the former apparently the aos-dona or chief-bard of Ireland, for he returned there after the settlement at lona as referee in a serious dispute between the king of Ireland and the Bards. The Fillidh, or minstrel grade, were all of the order and rank of the Bards. The minstrels played on all kinds of instruments, but the Bards only on the harp, which was considered as the higher musical instrument. The Fillidhean became Christians under the influence of Saint Patrick, and aided, or rather formed, the band of choristers in the Irish cathedrals, and added much to the impressiveness and acceptability of the Christian service in the public estimation. Thus, when the Druid religion gradually yielded to Christianity in Ireland, the minstrel branch of the bardic institution was preserved and fostered by the Culdees, who considered it more politic to accomplish what they of course considered a great object, by " wisely retaining many of its established superstitions." These words are Logan's, not mine, for I have been unable to discover that the Druids employed superstitious devices to influence the people. Indeed, it cannot be conceived that natural theology, which admits of and requires being demonstrated, could be inculcated by superstition, like religions which must play on men's feelings, because they cannot appeal either to natural science or common sense. The Irish, like the Welsh bardic institution, had its triennial celebration, where an august meeting of the order assembled, to regulate all matters connected with the profession. These assemblies, although presided over by a king or prince, were assemblies of the people, and in which every motion was carried by a majority of all present. The last of these meetings on record in Ireland, took place in 1792, the object of which was to revive the periodical meetings (for some years discontinued) for perpetuating the " music, poetry, and oral traditions" of Ireland. Mr Dugan, whose memory deserves to be respected, offered in 1778 two munificent prizes to performers on the harp ; but only two competed at the meeting. This sorrowful decline of an order associated with all their high and holy feelings, roused the dormant patriotism of Ireland ; and a society was forj^d for supporting a professor and students, in the year 1807, but it has not met with the encouragement it deserved.
In Wales, we find that Anuren, a prince of the Ottadini, and others illustrious for rank and patriotism, gloried more in their bardic qualifications than nobility of rank. King Cadwaladir, about 670, presided at a meeting assembled for the purpose of hearing the Bards reciting old compositions, and also their own productions. These meetings were called Eisted-vodas. They are continued in Wales, (to the honour, be it stated, of the Ancient Britons) to this day. The Druids having disappeared before the Culdee?, the Bards were
OF THE HIGHLAND CLANS. 65
no longer an organized order under collegiate discipline, and became the creatures of the Church, less strict in their morals. Hence, Gruffudd and his "Gaelic friends" laid down rules at this meeting of 670, to correct abuses, and introduce improvements in Celtic poetry and music, and for regulating the mode of competition, qualification of candidates, &c. ; " the proper obser- vance of which was expected to restore discipline among the Bards, and to perpetuate the true history of transactions;" the Bards having become less strict in adhering to the truth in their poetry. Accordingly, at the above meeting, we find that invention (which was not permitted by the Druids) was declared punishable by fine and imprisonment ; and the like penalty was exacted for mockery, derision, or undeserved censure. Kyhs ap Gruffudd, prince of South Wales, gave a magnificent entertainment to King Henry II., when a large assemblage of Bards attended, and received a confirmation of all their franchises. Similar meetings have been held at various times and places, sometimes by royal summons, and at others by the nobility. Henry VIII. issued a com- mission for one to be held at Caerwys, " for the purpose of instituting order and government among the professors of poetry and music, and regulating their art and profession, according to the old statute of Gruffudd ap Cynan, prince of Aberfraw." Queen Elizabeth appointed another to assemble at the same place. In 1792, " a congress of the Bards of the Isles of Britain," was held on Primrosehill, near London, with the view of restoring druidal mythology and bardic learning," according to the Gentleman's Magazine, L. xii. Since then, the Cymrodorian Society has given frequent eistid-vodas in the metropolis, and, as already stated, they are held periodically in Wales. The kindred people of Bas Bretagne have lately been desirous of a similar convention, and I hope, from what I have recently heard from a Welsh gentleman, that at no distant date, arrangements will be made by the literati of that spirited Principality to have a gathering of the remnant of the Bards from all countries, in some central locality, to revive ancient customs, and renew ancient ties and associa- tions among the now scattered, but still attached and warm-hearted remnants of the great Celtic clans.
The historical value of Celtic poetry is proved by the fact, that a poem of the bard Talicsen, who lived anno 540, and which described the death of King Arthur, and the place of his interment, was repeated to Henry II., about the year 1187. The King, to test the historical value of the poem, ordered a search to be made for King Arthur's tomb, in the churchyard of Glastonbury ; and there it was found and identified, in the presence and to the satisfaction of %e King ! A similar discovery was made by the recitation by a harper of a duan on Cathgarbha, where Oscar and Cairbear both fell, in which an account is given of the burial of King Conan, a provincial chief or king, who fell also there. The Irish Academy, to verify the bardic record, had the spot excavated, when the grave was found as described in the song. According to tradition, Cohmal, (pronounced Cole) the father of Fin gal, fell in Ayrshire, in a battle fought between himself and Morni, the father of Gaul, who was supported by a clan of the Britons of Strathclyde. The grave being pointed out by tradition, the late
66 THE POETRY
Kev. Dr Memes, then Rector of the Ayr Academy, and other gentlemen, had it opened, when it was found to verify Ossian's description. The urn contain- ing the ashes of the ancient hero, was surrounded and covered by " four grey stones," and completely answered the description of the bard. The report of this discovery went the round of the newspapers thirty years ago. Konald Glas of Keppoch, having estranged his clan, by accepting or declaring his intention to accept a feudal charter of the clan district, was killed by a family of the name of Clan-Dughail, whom he deeply and treacherously injured. The clan declined to interfere ; but the celebrated bard, Ian Lorn, determined to punish the murderers of his chieftain, obtained a warrant for their apprehen- sion from the Privy Council, which they eluded for a considerable time ; but they were at length taken by surprise by a party obtained by the bard from his chief, Sir James Macdonald, in a block-house, which they defended until it was set in fire over their heads, when, being compelled to rush out, they were overpowered and killed. As the warrant required that they should be pro- duced " dead or alive" in Edinburgh, their heads were cut off and sent there, and their bodies buried in a sand-hill in the vicinity. The late Dr Smith of Fort-William, who was very sceptical on the subject of Ossian's Poems, and all Highland traditions, thought that he had in this tradition (owing to the dryness of the ground in which the Clan-Dughail were said to have been buried) an opportunity of striking a blow at, as he assumed, the public credulity ; and he got the hill excavated ; when, lo ! to his surprise, he found seven skeletons, but not a single skull. Nay, more, the skeleton of the old man, who was repre- sented by tradition as of gigantic size, and lame in consequence of having had his thigh-bone broken, and ill set in his youth, was found to confirm the tradi- tion to the letter, for the bones of one of the skeletons were much larger than the others, and one of its thigh-bones was shorter, and had a knot on it where it had been broken and joined again. In short, Dr Smith became so impressed with a conviction of the truth of the poetry and traditions of the Highland clans, in consequence of this incident, as to have applied himself immediately to the acquirement of the language, and he prosecuted its study until he could peruse Ossian's Poems in the original. He got a statement of the result of his exploration of the grave of Clan-Dughail drawn up, printed, and distributed among his friends, and was, ever afterwards, an earnest advocate of the authen- ticity of Ossian's Poems, and also an able adversary to the absurd views of ancient Highland institutions and society assumed by feudal historians. He extended, that without a knowledge of the poetry and traditions, which are the only true expositors of the history of the Highland clans, no stranger had any reliable means of forming a just opinion on the subject. He agreed with me as to the danger of attempting to pass off a fiction for tradition, while the same clans continued to occupy the same localities for ages; and that it is the historian who writes in the privacy of his library, and who can adopt the recorded fictions that suit his views, that is under no check, and not the traditional historian. Surely it cannot be denied, for instance, that this treatise is written under the check of public opinion, in so
OF THE HIGHLAND CLANS. 67
far as traditional, but not in so far as leaning on extracts already published. The Celtiberians asserted, according to Theocritus, quoted by Logan, that they had poems, containing their laws and history, for a period of six thousand years. Tacitus mentions that the poems which contained the annals of the Germans were ancient in his days. Some of the poems mentioned in express terms by Taci- tus, as carried down orally for hundreds of years before his time, were in exist- ence seven hundred years after his death. One of the pursuits in which Charlemagne took great delight, was searching for these relics of antiquity, and committing them to memory. The same may be said of the great Alfred of England. Logan refers to a fragment which he holds to be the oldest speci- men of the bardic genius of the ancient Celts. Lucernius, king of the Averni, was wont to court popularity by " extraordinary munificence." A bard once arriving long after the others, saluted the prince with a poem, extolling his vir- tues and benevolence, but lamented his misfortune in being too late to share his bounty. The song procured the gift of a purse of gold to the happy bard, who then chaunted loudly and extemporaneously, saying, " that Lucernius' chariot wheels, as they rolled along, scattered wealth and blessings among the children of men." Gildas and Nemius were bards, and profess to have compiled their histories from ancient poems ; but they complain of, and deplore the destruction of many old records by the enemy. Among the remains of poetry, quoted by Bosworth and others, is that of Merddin or Merlin, the Caledonian, who flourished in 470. The antiquaries of Wales go much farther back with the history of their extant poetry than the Christian era, and so do those of Hibernia. Fingin and Fergus, Hibernian bards, belonged to the second century, and are not doubted ; and, since the Christian era> numerous individuals distinguished in the science, are mentioned by monkish writers of undoubted authority. Torna, Dubhach, Feich, Cronan, Benean, Columba, Adamnan, Dalian, Seanachan, Angus, Amergen, were all Hibernian bards ; and the Welsh can furnish a list as brilliant and as much beyond suspicion; while an equal number, among whom, Orran, Ullin, Caril, &c., with Ossian at their head, were Caledonian bards : two large volumes of whose poems, now in print, have come down, chiefly by oral recitation, to the middle of the last and the beginning of the present century. The former were published by the learned and talented clergyman, Dr Smith ; the latter by the Highland Society, with a literal Latin translation from the manuscripts found in Macpherson's repositories, and to pub- lish which he bequeathed £1000 by his will.
It has, I think, been shown in the above short sketch of the druidal and bardic institution of the Caledonian, Irish, and Welsh Celtic clans, that oral reci- tation was not so uncertain a medium for carrying down important events, in poems and tales composed by men of genius and highly cultivated minds, as the gentlemen who (in total ignorance of the language in which these poems and tales were written) constituted themselves judges of their merit and authen- ticity, seemed to think.
lomarba, were the names of the professional competitions, which were common and periodical both in Scotland and Ireland. They were suppressed in
68 THK POETilY
Ireland, at least within the Pale, by a penal statute; but they came down in the Highlands to the days of Dr Johnson ; who, while denying the existence of Gaelic poetry, mentions that lomarba were at that time held in the Highlands, as eisted-vodas are now held in Wales, to recite and celebrate this non-existing poetry ! In Anglia Sacra, mention is made of a Scot who was acquainted with a hundred different measures of verse ; and Giraldus, not only states that the Highlanders and Irish were superior musicians, but they also sung and played " in parts," — which was totally new to him. This implies that there was no dramatic poetry then in England. The Druid morality, which was very strict, forbade, as already stated, the use of fiction, and, consequently of satirical and dramatic poetry by the Bards. They required that the subject of all poems should be strictly true, and told by the Bards in accordance with the truth ; but they were not only allowed, but required, to relate these events in a manner worthy of men of genius, feeling, and good taste. The strict exclusion of fiction from Celtic poetry was no doubt unfavourable to dramatic poetry, and I do not think the ancient Celtic clans had — what we understand as — dramatic poetry ; but we are assured by tradition, that their historical poems were dramatically represented and recited at their lomarba ; and this tradition is sufficiently corroborated by Giraldus Cambrenses' statement, that the Highlanders and the Hibernians sung and played musical pieces " in parts." Major, a historian who was evidently disinclined to give any credit to his " npthrough" countrymen, (as he called the Highlanders,) in speaking of the musical taste and attainments of James the First, could only illustrate their excellence by comparing his performances with those of the " Hibernians and the Highlanders, who were the best of all players on the harp." Now, I would pause and ask the reader here, whether it is possible for him to believe that the Hibernians and the Highland- ers had arrived at such eminence as players on the harp, without having a poetry worthy of the music which they sung to the harp ? Poetry was the very soul of music, until modern taste substituted harmony for melody, and, by smothering the song in singing, devorced feeling from music, after a long life of wedded happiness. Was it only in Hibernia and the Highlands (where the best players on the harp known to learned musicians and antiquaries like Giraldus and Major were to be found) that the music and poetry were unequal, and altogether unworthy of one another? The best answer to this strange assumption is to lay before the reader some specimens of Gaelic poetry of unquestionable antiquity. But before submitting these specimens from Ullin, Orran, and Ossian, three of our most celebrated bards, I beg leave to premise that the poems from which I quote have been before the public, in print, and in the native language, those of Ullin and Orran for more than eighty, and those of Ossian for more than fifty years. I also beg leave to refer to the West of Scotland Magazine, and to say that I have proved in my articles published in that perodical, —
1. That poems bearing the same characteristic features with those after- wards published and ascribed to Ossian by Macpherson, had been universally known for time immemorial in the Highlands ; and that they were referred to
OF THE HIGHLAND CLANS. 69
in innumerable poems (many of the verses of which I translated and quoted in English) by the Gaelic Bards, ages before Macpherson was born, in the same manner in which Greek and Koman poems are referred to by the contemporary poets of England.
2. I showed, from Irish and Northern historians, whose works could scarcely have been seen by Macpherson, because they were not then published, although the materials existed in manuscript, and in a Latin history of Ireland, published in France in the reign of Queen Elizabeth, — that the heroes and events cele- brated in the poems of Fingal and Temora, are historical heroes and events ; and that they are named by the same names, and narrated substantially in the same manner, by these historians and by Ossian. I considered the above as satisfactory evidence of the authenticity of the poems as could be required by any impartial antiquary under the circumstances, especially when taken in connexion with the copious literal translations by which I showed, that the Gaelic poems found in Macpherson's repositories after his death, bear, intrin- sically, undoubted evidence of having been the work of a superior poet to the author of the English version of these poems.
I may, in corroboration of these facts, remark, that the poems published by the Rev. Dr Smith, above eighty years ago, and by the Highland Societies of London and Scotland from Macpherson's manuscripts, under the editorship of Sir John Sinclair, more than fifty years ago, bear unquestionable intrinsic evidence that the authors of these poems were superior for genius, taste, and a knowledge of the language, to the parties by whom these poems were copied from oral recitation, and prepared for the press. The poems substantially bear evidence of being the production of men of great genius, refined tastes, patriotic, benevolent, noble, and generous feelings and sentiments ; while, taking them as prepared for the press and published, a line or two lines will be found on a page, a word or two words in a verse, and a verse or two verses in a duan or canto, which form a contrast most striking for coarseness, tautology, or ambiguity, to the chasteness and elegance of the rest. Dr Smith thus accounts for the exceptions to the version published by him : " The poems," says Dr Smith, " having been collected from various editions, they may, perhaps, appear in some places inelegant or abrupt ; it being sometimes necessary to take half a stanza, or perhaps half a line, from one edition, to join to so much of another. As the poems were, for the most part, taken down from oral recitation, frequent mistakes may have been made in the proper division of the lines, and in the assigning of its due quantity to each. Those who recited ancient poems took, frequently, the opportunity of substituting such words as they were best acquainted with, in the room of such as were more foreign or obsolete. To expunge these words, when none of the copies in the editor's hands supplied him with better, was a task which he did not consider as any part of his province."
I cannot help regretting that the learned and patriotic Doctor took so strict a view of his duties as editor of poems carried down, as he himself shows, by oral tradition from a remote antiquity, through various channels, some of them, to say the least, not very competent. The poems being uniformly
70 THE POETRY
of such a character as legitimately to lead to the conclusion, that the authors were incapable of writing these exceptional parts, the inference is inevitable, that they were interpolations by some incompetent reciters. I cannot help regretting, therefore, that the Kev. Doctor did not feel it to be his duty to expunge these passages and restore the original, since no writer was more competent to do so than himself. To publish the poems without expunging these obvious interpolations, was more scrupulous than just to the fame of the departed Bards, who had surely a right to expect that the editors of their works in future ages should feel it to be their sacred duty to do them justice. These remarks apply only to the Gaelic version ; for the Kev. Doctor allowed no tautology or obscurity to deform the translation, which is every thing that could be desired. Indeed, it is only fair to say, that, if the Gaelic antiquities, or Seanna-dhana of Dr Smith, had been illustrative of the religion and poetry of any other part of the British Empire excepting the Highlands, they could scarcely fail, not only to have made his fortune, but also to raise him to the very summit of popularity. But, instead of being remunerated for his great work, the Doctor lost so much money by the publication, as seriously to burden his small income ; and, instead of its raising him to the very height of popularity with his fellow-countrymen, it simply subjected him to the rapacious appetites for detraction, characteristic of the small fry of parasites who prey on men of genius after they are dead ; and, although many of his relations have been literary men, or belong to professions that ought to be literary, and although I am no relative, I am, so far as I know, the only Highlander that ever took up the pen to do him justice. Dr Smith either met with ingratitude on the part of his fellow-countrymen, who were surely as interested as he was in doing justice to the literature of their ancestors, or he was the generous victim of his own noble enthusiasm, — a fate to be envied rather than regretted. But, alas for the modern Highlanders who will go any distance to see Gillie-callum danced, and to shake hands, by proxy, with a lord or a duke, but who have never yet recorded their grateful recognition of the honour done to their country by the labours of Dr Smith, by " putting a stone in his cairn."
With reference to Mr Macpherson's English translation, and also to the version of the Gaelic originals found in his repositories prepared for the press, it is to be remembered, that Macpherson was only a mere school-boy or student, when he was employed by the Rev. Dr Blair and other patriotic gentlemen, to collect and translate these poems. Now, it will not, I think, be denied that it is the uniform tendency of persons of an ardent and poetic temperament, especially before having attained to a maturity of judgement, to imagine that they cannot too highly exaggerate or colour the subjects on which they write. " Oh," exclaimed a worthy Gael of my acquaintance, " what would this country be but for Sir Colin Campbell and his Highlanders !" In this spirit of enthusiasm we find Macpherson continually repeating the epithets and phrase- ology which he considered best calculated to make his heroes not only great, but even marvellous. I have no doubt that a critic of good taste and discrimina- tion could point out, in the English version, every instance in which such
OF THE HIGHLAND CLANS. 71
epithets and phraseology were thrust into the poems by Macpherson, as they stand out in bloated relief among the more chaste and elegant passages of his translation. But these meretricious interpolations appear still more prominent in the original, as prepared for the press by Macpherson himself, — for in these the style and the measure of the verses are every now and again inflated and forced out of joint by the obtrusion of ill-conditioned tautological epithets, and a sounding, but most empty phraseology. With these drawbacks, natural to a youth so sensitive and enthusiastic, when portraying, to parties ignorant of the original, poetry so descriptive of all that is tender, generous, and heroic in the human character, in a language different from the original, Mr Mac- pherson's translation is not only chaste and elegant, but graphic and exceedingly beautiful. He who would take the trouble of purifying Macpherson's translation of Ossian from his interpolations or fancied improvements, and of publishing the rest without changing a word, would, in my opinion, merit the gratitude of mankind.
It seems necessary, before submitting to the reader specimens from the ancient poets, to make a few remarks on the poetry floating traditionally in Ireland under the name of Ossian, although I really cannot enter into the spirit of the controversy between the Irish and the Highlanders on this subject, my Celtic sympathies being so catholic as to make me look on it as a matter of indiffer- ence whether the great representative of the ancient Celtic bards was born in Erin or Alb in. Indeed, my opinion is, that the Greeks, in disputing about the locality of Homer's birth, showed themselves to be destitute of the true clan- spirit and patriotism that ought to characterize the conduct of kindred and noble races one toward another, and, therefore, that they deserved the fate their con- ceited, selfish, and intemperate divisions brought upon them. But the Irish do not claim the poems ascribed to Ossian by Macpherson as the productions of their Ossian ; they only want to deprive their Caledonian brethren of the credit of having had a bard who could have produced such poetry, nearly two thousand years ago. This, to be sure, is somewhat less generous than we could be disposed to give our fellow Celts of Erin credit for, and it cuts both ways ; for, if the state of so- ciety in Albin was at that time as civilized as the production and popularity of these poems instruct, the state of society among their brethren of Leth-cuin could not have been so barbarous as their so-called Saxon neighbours assert, and vice versa. But the fact is, that the poems of the Highland Ossian show that he lived before priestcraft and feudalism dwarfed the souls and corrupted the tastes and judgements of mankind ; while the Irish Ossian is shown, by the productions ascribed to him, to have been the very personification of the dwarfed souls and corrupted tastes and judgements resulting from the spiritual and civil despotism of the dark ages. It is but too well known that the priests of the above period cultivated superstition as the great ally or handmaiden of religion : hence in these Irish " Ursgeuls" or new tales, ascribed to Ossian, (as they are called both in Erin and Albin,) the adventures of the traditional heroes of the people are mixed up with magicians, mountebanks, saints, giants, and witches, — but with a design and a method well calculated to emasculate the
72 THE POETRY
minds, and corrupt the taste of the people, and so prepare them for swallowing the monkish legends, however extravagant and marvellous. Nay, more, these Ursgeuls show that the fabricators of them were the monkish dabblers in Greek and Roman literature, and not the Celtic bards; for they have their allegories, monsters, and metamorphosis, — although rude, maudlin, feeble, unnaturally fan- tastic, obscene, and ludicrous.
Mr O'Kierney, one of the editors of the Ossianic Society, who calls these alleged poems of Ossian " Ursgeuls," — or, new tales, states, that " they are founded on ancient poems, but more authoritative," historically, than the originals from which they are derived ! and I question not that they are as authoritative as can be desired on the subject of the Heathen and Christian controversies between Ossian and St Patrick, — the pilgrimages to Rome, - the wars between the Fingalians and the kings of Erin about the feudal tribute of mulier mercketa, &c. &c. But Mr O'Kierney has not submitted the originals from which the Ursgeuls are alleged to have been derived, to the public, whom he wishes to enlighten ; so that we must necessarily wait until he shall have had another literary engagement from the Ossianic Society, before we are in a condition to solve this puzzle. Mr O'Kierney, perhaps, takes for granted that his readers have undergone the process of emasculation which his Ursgeuls are so well calculated to produce, and that they will believe his curious paradox without requiring any evidence of its truth ! But, to speak without sarcasm, a more humiliating proof of the perverting influence of combativeness on the human intellect than is instructed by the collection and publication of these Ursgeuls, at great expense, by a society of learned Irish gentlemen, under the delusion that they are the productions of a man of genius, and an honour to Ireland, is not to be found on the records of any other country in Europe ! That to combativeness, and not dishonesty, is to be ascribed the publication of this unnatural trash ascribed to Ossian by the Irish, is shown by the fact, that, along with it they have published works by St Benean, Dr Lynch, &c., containing a whole mass of evidence, which can leave no doubt that the Feinn spoke a different dialect, wore a different dress, and were different in their manners and customs from the people of Leth-Eugain-mhoir, or the southern half of Ireland. These are called Milesians, Firbolgs, Belgs, &c. ; while the people of Leth-cuin are called Cruithni, Picti, Tuatha-de-dannans, &c.
I have stated elsewhere, that it was the custom of the clans to take the names of the chiefs and ceanncaths, or war-chiefs, — that is, chiefs of confedera- tions of clans, — for the time ; and, hence, that clans, and confederations of clans, were continually changing their names. In reading recent publications by learned societies of Irish gentlemen, in illustration of the traditional poetry and history of their country, it will be observed that confederations of clans, and clans also, disappear and appear in a manner which puzzled the very editors, because they did not know that such was the custom of clans down to the date of feudalism, when feudal tenures led to fixed surnames. That the comparatively ancient feudal writers on the histories of Ireland and Scotland did not qualify themselves better for their self-imposed task, by devoting some
OP THE HIGHLAND CLANS. 73
portion of their research to the poetry and traditions, which throw so much light on the ancient local clan governments and customs of countries known to have been occupied down to the age of feudalism by patriarchal clans, shows that they really were not very anxious to ascertain the truth. They do not, therefore, inspire us with much confidence either in their narratives or opinions. There is nothing staggering in the fact, that clans and confederations took the names of their chiefs and ceanncaths for the time, and thus frequently took new, and occasionally assumed old names, according to the new or old names of the chiefs and ceanncaths for the time. There is, I repeat it, nothing in the above to stagger writers who knew that Eoman divisions and armies did the same, and that a similar practice prevailed in England even after England had a standing army.
In the southern, or Leth Uigean-mhoir's half of Ireland, the clans and con- federations had, from time to time, so many names, as to puzzle the very editors of works recently published to illustrate the traditional poetry and history of the country.* The clans of Leth Cuinn, or Conn's half of Ireland, were less numerous, and being of Caledonian descent, and maintaining their position only through assistance from the mother country in every extremity, they were naturally more tenacious of the names by which they were identified with the great clans of their native land. We accordingly find them almost invariably called by historians, Cruithni, Picti, Tuath-de-danans, &c., like their kindred Caledonian tribes. That the southern clans frequently changed their names, may be inferred pretty confidently even by comparing Ptolomy and Richard, who did not write at such very distant periods from one another, as on any other rational grounds to account for the circumstance, that the people of the same district are called by different names by these topographical writers. As I cannot enter at greater length here into so ample a subject, the following quotations must serve.
Ptolomy, Greo. Hib. states, that the Minapee and the Canaeci were " nati- ones Teutonici origines /' and Orocius, a Spanish priest, who wrote a valuable compendium of history, which has been misunderstood or mis-translated into Anglo-Saxon by King Alfred, and which translation is again misunderstood or mis-translated by Bosworth, states that Ireland was occupied (meaning, no doubt, the part opposite to Spain) by families (clans) of the Scots. Bede, who speaks from his personal knowledge, states, that the people of the British Isles had the same theology, but received it through the medium of five different dia- lects, viz. that of the Angles, Britons, Scots, Picts, and Latins. He also dis- tinctly states that the Scots came from Ireland. Nobody doubts that Columba was a Scot, and came from Ireland ; and the Irish writers above referred to, show that Ireland was called Scotland, when the Scots were ceanncaths of the southern confederation there. Alfred distinctly describes Ireland as an island, and says it was called Scotland. Erchad, a saint born in Kincardine, preached to the Scots on his way home from Rome. This implies that the Scots then occupied the Lowlands. The Scots probably called the country Scotland on
* See page- (J'2.
74 THE POETRY
being fairly established there ; for Alfred calls it Scotland, which implies that they transferred to it the name they had previously given to Ireland. But, be that as it may, the new name shows that the Scots were a new power in Scot- land ; otherwise, why was not the country known by the name of Scotland before the days of Alfred ? Land is a Gothic or Teutonic word, and nothing can be more certain than that the Picts and Scots spoke different dialects. Erchad, as already stated, (Aberdeen Breviary,) preached to the Britons and Scots, naming them in that order, which surely implies that the country of the Scots was situated between those of the Britons and the Picts. Here we have a distinct people between the Britons and Picts, who give a new name to the country, and that name, too, in a foreign language. Nay, more, the ceanncath or war-chief of this people takes the title of king of Scots ; his sons are called princes, and he creates dukes, earls, lords, baronets, &c. ; and, land, king, prince, earl, lord, and baronet, are all names foreign to the Pictish or Caledonian lan- guage, and cannot be expressed in it, until this day. Yet historians fancy that they have established it as a fact, that the Highlanders, in whose language not a single one of these names or titles can be expressed, are Scots, arid that the people of the Lowlands, in whose language they originated, and can be appro- priately expressed, are the descendants of the Picts or Caledonians. But let us see whether the life of Columba, published jointly by the Bannatyne Club and the Irish Celtic Association, confirms or contradicts my views on this subject. Adamnan, according to this authoritative book, states that when one of the Pictish chiefs was baptised, he received the word through an interpreter : " verbo Die a sancto per interpretem rectpto." — Ware's " Vita Sancti Columb*" by Adamnan, page 62. Again, he says that Columba, having tarried at that time for some days in the " province" of the Picts, the word of life was preached to the people through the medium of an interpreter. — Ibid., page 145. Here we find Bede, Erchad, Adamnan, all writing to the effect that the Scots were situated between the Britons and the Picts, and spoke a different dialect from the latter. Indeed, Adamnan's words imply that the Picts were shorn of the supremacy, and reduced to " a province ;" while Alfred's words imply that the country was called by the Scots after their own name, Scotland. I will not argue with those who require farther evidence on the above subject, but may quote Ossian and Cormac, grandson of Conn, — the former from the Highland Society's edition of Ossian, edited and published by Sir John Sinclair, more than fifty years ago ; and the latter on the authority of Father O'Keef, from a work published more than two hundred years ago. My version is from my mother's oral recitation ; but it agrees substantially with those of the Father. I beg to premise that Adam- nan is corroborated by St Benean, Dr Lynch, &c. who state that the Malmuta laws of Ireland were written in the Feinian or Pictish language. Ptolomy, the very best authority, states that the south of Ireland was inhabited by " nationes Teutonici origines." The Editor of an edition of Cambrenses Eversus shows that the soldiers of the three Collas were Firbolg, and that the Firbolg and Belgpe were identical in Ireland. The people of Leth-Cuinn were never called Firbolg, Belgs, &c. &c. in Ireland, but they are uniformly called Cruithiii, Picti, Tuatha-
OF THE HIGHLAND CLANS. 75
de-danans ; all indicating their identity with the clans of Caledonia. Let us now see what Ossian (I don't mean the Ossian of Mr O'Kearney's " Ursgeuls," but the Ossian whose ancient poems he so clumsily and grossly caricatures) says on the above quotation of the different confederations of the southern arid northern clans of Ireland : —
TEMORA.
Chruinich ciunicheadh mor Uillin, Gathered the great clans of Ullin,
'S chuir iad cuireadh gu righ nan lann, And sent an invitation to the king of
swords, — Kigh do shinnsreadh mor nam beann, A king of the race of their mountain
ancestors, — Siol Shealma nan cruaidh gu'n f haillein, The race of Selina, of steel unfailing,
'S triadhadh Erin aig eiridh. The chiefs of Erin having risen (in
arms.)
This movement was, of course, inimical to the great southern confedera- tion, so they also convened a meeting of all their great tribes : —
" Cuim," thuirt iad, " bhiodh Conn na " Why," said they, " should Conn be righ, king,
Siol coigrich nan strith 0 Mhorbhein ?" The race hostile of strangers from
Morven?" Thainig iad mar shruthaibh 0 shliabh. They came like a spate from the wold.
Here we have the simple graphic statement of the great Celtic historian and bard, which singularly coincides with the above quotations. In short, all the statements collected and published by learned Irish societies, and all facts stated by such ancient historians as were neither Caledonian or Irish, agree with Ossian, and vice versa. We shall never have a consistent history of Ireland or Scotland, until the authenticity of our ancient poems is recognised, and until, like the Northern sagas, they are made the foundation of our histories.
The following verses were substantially published by Father O'Keef, in 1684. I have it not in my power at present to consult the Father's work, (as I am writing on a tour in the Highlands) but I have read it, and, to the best of my recollection, the only important difference between the following verses, as repeated by my mother, and his, is, that the Father makes Fergus, and not Cairbear, the fourth in descent from Conn. Both the Father and my mother ascribed the verses to Cormac, grandson of Conn. The verses show that the people of Leth-Cuin, or Temora, and their ancient kings, were Gaidheil, which is the historically recognised cognomen of the Highlanders, and not the Irish. The Hibernian clans of Leth-Cuin are always designated Gaidheil Eirneach.
'S mise Cormac, ogha Chuinn, I am Cormac, grandson of Conn,
Ard righ f hoar Theamhair chruinn ; High king of the men of the circuit of
Temora ;
76
THE POETRY
Ro fheallasach orm rinneadh foil,
Le mo mhnaoidh 's le m1 reachdadair.
'S eol dhomhsa rud gun gaoid, Tri nithean a mhilleas mnaoidh, — Am fear fein gu'n bhi ga 'n reir, Leannanas lag, luidean mean.
'S eol dhomh rud eile gu'n ghaoid, Na tri nidhean a riaghlas mnaoidh, — An cial fein, co-mhochadh am fear, 'S leannas fiughantach, laidir.
Mo mhallachd an diugh is gu brath,
Air duine uasal na air flath,
A gheileas do las mhnadh,
Mar bith iad beusach nan ghniomhadh.
Cearthar gu'n bheud ri 'n linn, Thainig 0 na Gaidheil ghrinn,' Conn oilleil ceud-chathach, Art, mi fein, is Cairbeir.
Very treacherously I have been betrayed By my wife and judge.
I know three things without a flaw, — Three things that ruin women :— A husband not their equal, A small drudge, and faint love.
I know three things without a flaw, Three things that rule women : — Good sense, a sympathizing husband, Love generous and strong.
My curse to-day and for ever On the gentleman or chief Who yields to woman's flame, Unless she be modest in her conduct.
Four have in their generations Descended from the sprightly Gael, Illustrious Conn of a hundred battles, Art, myself, and Cairbear.
DAN AN FHIE LEIDH LE OfiRAN. — (The first duan only.)
Aig ceuma mall a chaochain chiuin, eg ceyma mail a chaochayn chi-uyn
Le d' chruit, gu 'n ghleus, na tosd, led chruyt gu 'n yleys na tosd
Tha usa, mhic Arair nan teud, ha usa vie arayr nan teyht
Gu 'n phong ciuil bho d' laimh a nochd ? gun phong cuyl vod la-yv a nochd
Tha taibhsean tiamhidh a trial, ha tayvsen ti-avi' a tri-al
Mu 'n cuairt air nialaibh nan speur, mun cu-ayrt ayr ni-aliv nan speyr
Dh-eisteachd am molaidh 0 d' bheul, yeystechd am molay' o d veyl
'S cha chluinn iad air aile an cliu. 's cha chluynn i-ad ayr ay-le an cliu
A mhic Arair c'om a d' thosd, a vie ar-ayr com ad hosd
Is taibhsean nan treun co dluth ? is tayv-sen nan treyn co dlu'
" Co is fhearr fios na u fein, co is err fios na u feyn
Orrain, air beus na fhalbh ? orr-ayn ayr beys na yalv
At the slow steps of the mild streamlet, With thy harp untuned, silent, Art thou, son of Arair of strings,
Without a note of music from thy hand to-night?
Melancholy ghosts a^e travelling Around on the clouds of night, To listen to their praise from thy lips, And they hear not on air their fame. Son of Arair, why in silence, When the spirits of the night are near? " Who better knows than thyself,
Omm, of the habits of those that are gone?
OF THE HIGHLAND CLANS.
77
Tha 'n cuiinhnc a dearsc air t-anam. ha'n cuyne a dfcrsa ayr tan-am
Can an dain chianael an tcabhachd, can an dayn chi-a-nel an te'-avachd
Cuir an cliu gu linnte cein, cuyr an cliu gu linnte ceyn
Mar dheo-greine air anam nam bard, mar ye-o-grenfe ayr anara nam bard
Tra bhios Orran sa chlarsach nan suain. tra vis orr-an sa chlarsach nan su-ayn
Caidlidh Orran sa chlarach, cayd-li' orran sa chlar
Ach mairidh a dhain na dheigh." ach raari' a yayn na yey'
An so thamh Dumoir nan sleagh, an so hav dumor nan slegh
'Sna theach,mar sholus,anighean chaoin, 'sna hech mar holus a ni'-en chaoyn
B' aillidh a cruth 's bu bhinn a ceol, baylli' a cru' s bu vinn a ceol
Thug Lamha do'n oigh a ghaol. hug lava don oy' a yaol
Am feachd Dhumoir bha Lamha treun. am fechd yuy-moyr va lava treyn
Is Min-shuil an righ dha cha d'eur, — is min-huyl an ri' ya cha deyr
Cha d'eur an righ ach dh-eur i fein, cha deyr an ri' ach yeyr i f£yn
Aig miad a speis do Konan aillidh, ayg mi-ad a speys do ronan ayli'
Eonan bho Shruth-thorman nan steud. ronan vo ru'-horman nan steyd
Chuir fios air a cheili bhaigheil ; chuyr fios ayr a cheyli vay'eyl
Dh-imich ise le fear iuil, yi-mich ish-e le ferr i-uyl
Bha Lamha dlu air an raon. va lava dlu ayr an raon
Cheangael a 'm fear iuil ri craoibh, chengel am ferr i-uyl ri croyv
'S thug e leis na luing a ghaol. 's hug e les na luyng a yaol
Chluinti air stuidhean ard a glaodh, — chluynti ayr stuy'en ard a glao'
" A Ronain, mo ghaoil, thig le cobhair !" a ronen mo yaoyl hig le covayr
Cha chluinn e t-eibh air cuan annrach, ha chluynn e teyv ayr cu-an annrach
Their memory is shining on thy soul.
Sing their lays pensive, with sym- pathy,
Send their fame to ages remote,
Like a sunbeam on the souls of the bards
When Orran and his harp are asleep ; For sleep will Orran and his harp, — His lays will survive after him." Here dwelt Dumor of spears,
And in his house, as a light, his daughter mild, (Orran sings.)
Beautiful her face, sweet her music.
.^ Lava gave to the maiden his love.
In Dunmor's host Lava was a hero. Sulmina the king did not grudge him ; The king did not, but she did herself,
From the greatness of her love to Ronan, the handsome
Ronan from the Struthormon of steeds.
He sent a messenger to his chosen, the affectionate ;
She accompanied the guide.
But Lava was (watchful) on the heath.
He tied the guide to a tree,
And in his ship carried away his beloved.
Her cry was heard over the waves, — " Ronan, my love, come with help !"
He hears not thy voice on a sea tempestuous,
78
THE POETRY
'S e aig sruthan ad luaidh an oran : — 'se ayg sru'-an ad luy' an oran
" 'S mall do cheumaibh a ghaoil, — 's mall do cheymiv a yaoyl
'S cian o 'm chaochain mo leannan. 's ci-an o 'm chochayn mo lenan
Cha chluinn do cheum air an raon, cha chluyn do cheym ayr an raon
'S tha ghaoth fuaimer 's na meangain. 'sha yao' fuymer 's na meangen
Thig, a Shuil-mhina, mo ghaoil, hig a huyl-mine mo yaoyl
Mar eilid an aile san eibhneas ; mar ellid an ayte san eyvnes
C' om a bheil do cheuma co mall com a veyl do cheymS co mall
Air G-orm-mheall nan gleann eildeach ? ayr gorm-vel nan glenn eyltech
'S cian an oiche, 's mi m-onar. 's ci-an an oyche 's mi monar
A luchd iomachd nan speura gorma, a luchd i-omachd nan speyra gorma
Bheil sibhse feithibh r' ar annsachd ? veyl shivse fey-iv rar ann-sachd
'S do chail sibh eolas ar cursa ? 's do cha-il siv e-olas ar cursa
Ciod a rug ort, a ghrian na maidne, ced a rug ort a yri-an na mad-ne
Noir tha u co fada gu 'n eiridh ? noyr ha u co fada gun eyri'
'N do choinnich u Minshuil do ghraidh. 'n do choynnich u minhuyl do yra-i'
Noir dhi-chuimhnich u aird nan speuran? noyr yichuynnich u ayrd nan speyran ?
A shoillsean aillidh le'r teaghlach deal- a hoylshen ayli' ler telach tel-
rach, rach
Is maiseach slighe sa 'n iarmailt aigh, is maysy'ech sli'-e san iarmelt a'
A bheil sibh ga'r falach nar paillin a veyl siv gur falach nar payllyn
's na neoil, 'sna ue-oyl
A chionn gur gearr libh an oiche ? a chi-onn gur gerr liv an oyche
Ach leamsa cha n'eil i gearr, ach le-amsa cha neyl i gerr
At the side of the stream praising thee in song : —
" Slow is the steps of my love, — Far from my streams is my fair one. I hear not thy steps on the heath,
And the wind is resounding in the branches.
Come, Sulmina, my beloved,
Like a roe in beauty and joyousness ;
Why are thy steps so slow
On Gormal of roe-frequented glens.
Long is the night, and I am alone.
Travellers of the blue skies,
Are ye also waiting for your beloved ?
Or have ye wandered from your course ?
What has overtaken thee, sun of the morning,
When thou art so slow in rising ? Hast thou met Sulmina of thy love,
That thou hast forgotten the heights of the sky ?
Lights beautiful of the radiant family,
Whose journey is lovely in the fir- mament, genial :
Are ye hiding in your pavilion in the clouds,
Because you deem the night too short? But to me it is not short,
OF THE HIGHLAND CLANS.
79
'S mo Mhinshuil dhonn air seacharan, 'smo vinhuyl yonn ayr secharan
Tog t-or-cheann a ghrian eibhinn, tog tor-chenn a yri-an eyvinn
Is feach dhomh gu luadh, a ceumadh." is fe-ach yov gu lu-a' a ceyma'
Dhealraich a rahaduinn aobhach, yelrich a vaduynn aovach
Ach cha 'n f haicear leis a h-aogus. ach chan aycer leys a h-aogus
Dh-eirich ceo aillidh dlu dha, yeyrich ce-o ayli' dlu ya
A giulan samhla gaolach Shuilmin, a guylan savla gaolach huylmiu
Sgaoil e ghlacaibh na comhail. sgoyl e ylachiv na covel
Ach tlireig e air an aile dhobhaidh. ach h-reyg e ayr an ah-le yovi'
Dh-imich Ronan Ian do dhoruinn, yi-mich ronan Ian do yoruyn
Gu fear aosda nan creag casach. gu fer aosda nan creyg cosach
Fhuaireas e 'n taice ri luirg fein huyres e 'n tayce ri luyrig feyn
Sa 'n doire dhoillear fo sgail gheug, san doyrfc yoyller fo sga-il yeyg
Lan ogluclid, a crom-aomadh, Ian og-luychd a crom-a-om-a'
Le f heusaig ghlais mu bhroilleach aosda. le ey-sayg ylaysh mu vroyll-ech a-os-da
And my brown-haired Sulmina wan- dering.
Lift thy golden head of joy, sun, And quickly let me see her steps/' Brightened the morning delightful, But he sees her not.
A beautiful wreath of mist arose near him,
Bearing the resemblance of Sulmina. He spread his arms to meet her,
But it faded away on the unfriendly air.
Ronan sped, full of disquiet, To the aged recluse of the rock ; He was found leaning on his crutch,
In the dark grove under the shade of the boughs,
Awe struck and bending low,
With his grey beard floating on his aged breast ;
On the ground his eye was fixed,
Air an lar bha shuil a dearca, ayr an lar va huyl a derc-a
Ach anam bha'n comhnuidh, thaibhsean. But his soul was in the land of spirits. ach anam va'n cov-nuy' hayv-sen
" Ciod arsa Ronan," a chi u ci-od, ar-sa ronan, a chi u
" Mu Chulmina mo leannan gaolach ?" mu chulmina mo lenn-an ga-ol-ach
" What know you," said Ronan,
" Of Sulmina, my sweetheart, be- loved ?"
" Macau ceangailte ri craoibh, macan ceng-aylt-e ri croyv
Barca na deann thair cuan. barc-a na de-ann hayr cu-£n
" A little youth," he replied, " tied to a tree,
A ship speeding over the sea ;
A Shuilmina 's cruaidh learn do ghlaodh, Sulmina, sad is thy cry, a huyl-mina 's cruy' lem do yla-o'
A taomadh air, tuin gu'n chomhnadh," a taom-a' ayr tuynn gun chov-na
Pouring on the waves without help."
80
THE POETRY
" 'S deacair a shean-f hir do sgeul." 's dec-ayr a hen-ir do sgeyl
" Cha chualas leat olcas gu leir." cha chu-al-as le-at olc-as gu leyr
Dh-imich an laoch tursach deurach yim-ich an la-och tur-sach dey-rach
Toirt bhuillean borb do'n chopan bheum- toyrt buyll-en borb don chop-an veyra-
nach, nach
Ghrad phill bho raonaibh nan eiltean, yrad fill vo raon-iv nan eyl-ten
Prasgan corr do dh-ogain threubhach. prasg-an corr do yog-ayn h-reyv-ach
Dh-f ban iad mar ris an laoch, yan i-ad mar ris an laoch
Tosdacb teamhaidb fad na h-oiche ; tosdach ti-av-ay' fad na hoy-che
Fonn clarsaich, na fuaim slige, fonn chlar-saych na fuym slige
Fleadh na tiene cba b-f biu leinn. fle na teyn-e cha b-i-u-linn
Fuar, fliucb gu'n cbeol gu'n eibhneas, fu-ar fleuch gun chy-ol gun eyv-nes
Cbaitb, sinn ann sa bhein an oiche, chay' sinn ann sa veynn an o-i-che
Sa mbaduinn leum sin air lear. sa va-duynn leyra sin ayr ler
Ar n-oigbean gu'n gbean air an traigh. a noy'-en gun yen ayr an tra-i'
Bu cho-amhluidh, a Dbumoir dochor-sa bu cho-av-luy' a yu-moyr do chor-sa
Sa mhaduin an am dbuit eiridh ; sa va-duynn an am yuyt ey-ri'
Minshuil bhoidbeacbnan ciabb orbhuidh, min-huyl vo-i'-ech nan ci-av or-vuy
Cha 'n f haic na d' thalla dorch ga b-eide, chan aye na halla d-orch ga hey-de
Chruinnicb na h-oigbean le'n iugbair, chruynn-ich na hoy'-en len i-u'-ayr
Sa mbaduinn a sbealg nan sleibhtein ; sa va-duynn a helg nan sleyv-ten
Dh-iar iad Suilmina na teach dirnhair, yi-ar i-aht suyl-mina na tech di-veyr
Dh-iar 's cha do chual i 'n eibhidh. yi-ar 's cha doh chu-al i 'neyv-i'
" Ighean Dhumhoir is cian do cblos. i'-en yuy-moyr is ci-an do chlos
" Severe, old man, is thy tale !" " Thou hast not heard the whole evil !'' The hero retired sorrowful, tearful,
Striking fierce blows on the boss of alarms.
Quick from the heath of deer returned, His band surpassing of youths, warlike. They remained, along with the hero, Silent, sad, during the long night ;
The music of the harp, the sound of the shell,
Banquet nor fire, they valued not. Cold, wet, without lay or joy, They spent the night on the mountain. In the morning we sprang on the sea,
Leaving our young women on the shore in grief.
Similar was the condition of Dumor, When rising early in the morning, Lovely Sulmina of the golden hair, Is not seen in thy dark halls dressing.
Gathered the maidens for the chase with their arrows,
In the morning to hunt over the wolds.
They sought Sulmina in her secret bower,
They sought, but she heard not their cry;
" Daughter of Dumor ! long is thy sleep ;
OF THE HIGHLAND CLANS.
81
Duisg a shealg nan earba ciara ; dujsg a helag nan er-ba ki-ar-a
Cha b-abhaist dhuit bhith air dlieire, cha b-av-asyht yuyt vi' ayr yey-re
Duisg, duisg tha ghrian ag eiridh. duysg duysg ha yri-an ag ey-ri'
Duisg 's na h-eiltean a mosgladh ; duysg sna heyl—ten a mosg-la
Crath a nighean Dhumoir do chiabhan, era' a ni'en yuy-moyr do chi-av-an
A shealg nan sliabh, gairm do ghaothar." a helg nan sli-av gayrm do yao'-ar
Och tha 'n oigh-ghraidh air ioundrain," och ban oy-yra-i ayr i-on-trayn
Chaidh mar shaighead tre chluais Dhu- chay' mar hay'ed tre chluysh yu- moir. moyr
Bu tursach Dumor san lo sin, bu tur-sach du-mor san lo sin
Ach bu tursaich gu mor Konan. ach bu tur-saych gu mor ronan
Chruinnich an oiche mu 'n cuairt dhith, chruynn-ich an oyche mun cuyrt yi'
Dall-bhrat ceo air traigh gu 'n leirsinn dall-vraht ce-o ayr tray' gun leyrsinn
Gu tosdach, tiamhaidh f huair sin cala, gu tost-ach ti-av-ay' huyr sin cala
A falach an taobh an t-shleibhe. a fal-ach an ta-ov an tleyv-e
Doiller gu'n f hasgadh chaidh sin, doyll-er gun asg-a' chay' sin
An oiche f hadadh san tir chein. an o-i-che ad-a' san tir cheyn
Bha soluis nan speur air uaireabh, va so-luys nan speyr er u-ayrv
A sealtuinn truaillidh tre na neultaibh ; a sel-tuynn truylli' tre na neyl-tayv
Bu dobhuidh neo-choineal an dreach, bu do-vuy' ne-o-choyn-el an drech
'S bha chomhachag bho chraig ag eibh- va oho -vac hag vo chra-ig ag eyv-
each. ech
'S chite air uair taibhsean tiamhaidh, 's chit-e er u-ayr tayv-shen ti-av-i'
Ag amharc ciar tre cheo na h-oiche ag a-varc ci-ar tre che-o na ha-oyche
Shuidh Ronan samhach air lie coinich, huy' ronan sav-ach er lie coy-nich
Awake to hunt the dun roes ; Thou art not wont to be the last, — Awake, awake, the sun is rising ! Awake ! the hinds are up and away ; Shake thy locks, daughter of Dumor, To hunt the wolds, call thy hound." " Alas ! the lovely maid is amissing !"
Went like an arrow through Du- mor's ear.
Sad was Dumor on that day, But sadder, by far, was Ronan. The night gathered around her.
A mantle of mist impenetrable to
sight. Silent, pensive we discovered a bay,
Hid in the side of the mountain. In darkness, without shelter, we spent The long night in the land remote. The lights of the sky occasionally Looked gloomily through the clouds ; Troubled and unkindly they looked. The owl was wailing from a rock ;
And at times were seen pensive ghosts
Gazing sideways through the mist of
night Ronan sat in silence on a mossy stone,
82
THE POETRY
A sgia air geug oscionn an trein-f hir.
a sgi-a er geyg os-ci-onn an treyn-ir
Chluinnt'na h-iallaibh fead na gaoithe, chluynt na hi-all-ayv fed na goy-e
'S mise ri thaobh gu cianael. 's mishe ri haov gu ci-a-nel
Thog mi, a monmhur dan athar, hog mi a mon-vur dan a'-yr
A ghleachd an Ullan ri Cormar. a ylechd an ullan ri cor-mar
Leig dhiot, arsa 'n laoch an dan, leyg yi-ht arsan laoch an dan
Gus am pill a mhaduinn lia-ghlas ; gus am pill a vaduynn li-a-ylass
Oir tog a d' sgeul mo chorruich fein, oyr tog ad sgeyl mo choruych feyn
Tha manam ag eiridh gu iorguill. ha manam ag ey-ri' gu i-ar-guyll
Tra phill Cormar o'n chomhrag bhorb, tra fill cormar o'u chov-rag vorb
Sa lean e 'n Sruthorman an rua-bhoc, sa len e 'n sru'-horm-an an ru-a-voc
Bha thi air mise a sgrios ; va hi er mise a sgris
'S nach d' thaining mo chlaidheamh a 's nach dayn-ig mo chla-ev a'h
thruaill. ruyll
Ghabh aon da laoich truas ri 'm oige, yav a-on da loych truas rim oyg-e
Is shoar e mi o bheum nan sleagh, is hoar e mi o veym nan slea'
Ar 'n airm tha fathasd aig Lamha, a nayrm ha fa'-ast ag la-va
Le bas neo-thrathail m' athar ghaolaich. le bas ne-o-ra'-el ma'ar ya-ol-ich
Ach ciod tha rnonmhur thair an raon ? ach ced ha mon-vur h-ayr an raon
Chi mi laoch a tarruinn dlii, chi mi laoch a tarr-uyn dlu
Lennibh ga stiuradh air leth-laimh, lenn-ov ga sti-u-ra' er le'-layv
Sa shleagh nach h-eatrom san laimh eile. sa le-a' uach he-trome san layv eyl-e
Tha chas a failneacha san f hraoch, ha chas a fayl-nach-a san roach
San caochan da mar thuil-bheum gail- ean co-ach-an da mar huyl-veym yayl-
bheach. vach
His shield suspended on a bough above his head.
The wind is heard sounding among its thongs ;
And I was by his side sorrowful.
I breathed, in murmurs, his father's lay,
When he fought in TTllia against Cormar.
" Drop," said the hero, " the lay, Until the dark-grey mornings return ;
Or exalt my own indignation in thy
lay; My soul is rising to destroy."
When Cormar (the bard speaks as Konan) returned from the fierce conflict, And in Struthormon pursued the deer,
He was bent on my destruction ; For my sword had not left its sheath.
One of his heroes took pity on my youth,
And saved me from the stroke of the spear.
Our arms are in the possession of Lava
Since the untimely death of my be- loved father.
But what murmur do I hear on the heath?—
I see a warrior drawing near, —
A child leading his steps,
And his spear, which is not light, in
his other hand. His foot is failing in the heather,
And the streamlet is to him like a terrible spate.
OP THE HIGHLAND CLAN8. 83
" Coim a shiubhlas t-u an oiche a t-oanar, Why travellest thou in the night alone, coym a hi-uv-las tu an oy-che a ton-ar
Le'dcheumaibhaosdaairraontiamhaidh? With thy aged steps through the dis- cheyayv aos-da ayr roan
led cheyayv aos-da ayr roan ti-avi'
Am bheil u mar mise fo bhron ? am veyl u mar mise fo vron
'N do chail u t-oige do bhean ?" 'n do cliayl u toygd do ven
" A sheannair," ars an leannaibh caoin a hen-ayr ars an lenn ayv coyn
" An e guth m' athair ghaoil a th' ann. an e gu' ma'yr yoyl a hann
Ga'r gairm o dubhradh an raon, ga'r gayrm o duv-ra' an raoyn
Far nach tarruin, ar namhaid lann. tarr-uyn ar na-vayd
mal moor ? Art thou, like me, in sorrow ?
Hast thou lost thy betrothed in thy youth ?
" Grandfather," said the lovely child, " Is that the voice of my father,
Calling us from the darkness of the
heath, To where our foes will not draw the
sword ? 'S amhuil na h-airm ud 's airm m'athair, His arms are like the arms of my
far nach
lann
's avuyl na hayrm nd seyrm ma'yr
Ach 's eug-samhuil an guth." ach scyg-sav-uyl an gu'
" A faic u'n airm ? a leinnibh teich ! a fayc un eyrm a lenn-iv teych
Fag mise gun ghalt, am oanar ; fag mishe gun yeylt am onar
Deanadh Lamha rium na 's aill ; den -a' lava ruym nas ay 11
Si'm iarrtas bas air uaigh mo mhic." sera i-ar-tas bas ayr u-ay' mo vie
Theich an leannaibh gu luath, heych an lenn-iv gu lu-a'
Le uamhunn ri uchd an raoin. le u-a-vuynn ri uchd an raoyn
Fo chritheach na h-aois, na aite, fo chri'-ech na haoys na ayte
Sheas daingean dana an shenna-laoch. hes dayng-en dan-a an shenna-laoch
Chuir Ronan failt air an aosda, chuyr ronan faylt yr an aos-da
'S ghlac mise gu caoin an leannabh ; 's ylac mise gu caoyn an lenn-av
" Cha bhuin sinne do Lamha nam blar, cha vuyn sinne do lava nam blar
'S cairdean sinn do shuidh na eigin, 's cayr-den sinn do buy na eyginn
Na laig air cul ar sgia tha sabhailt ; na layg ayr cul ar sgi-a ha sav-aylt
Gabhsa tamh, is innis dhuin t-iarguin." gav-sa tav is innis yuyn ti-ar- guyn
father, But unlike my father's is his voice."
" Dost thou see arms ?" (the old man
speaks) " Child, run ! Leave me without fear alone ;
Let Lava do as he will, —
My desire is to die on the grave of
my son." The child fled with speed
And terror, against the breast of the
hill. Trembling with age, in his place,
Stood firm and daring the aged hero. Ronan saluted the aged,
While I pursued, and kindly caught the child.
" We do not belong to Lava of bat- tles ;" (Ronan speaks)
" We are the friends of the distrest ;
The weak are safe behind our shields : Rest, and tell us thy need."
84 THE POETRY
" Suidheam air an leabaidh chre, suy'em ayr an leb'ay chre
Far an caidel seamh mo mhac. far an caydgh-el shev mo vac
Cia tosdach e'n drasd' fo 'n lie, ce tosd-ach e'n drasd fo'n lie
Bu trie sa chath e mar chuairt-ghaoith. bu trie sa cba' e mar chu-ayrt yoy'
0 's balbh a nochd 's a ghairden lag, oh 's ballv a nochd 's a yayr-den lag
An suidh nach meathadh 'n am crnadail. an suy' nach me-a' nam cru-a-del
Cha ruig e na feidh 's na gleannaibh, cha myg e na fey' 's na glenn-ayv
'S cha dirich e fraoch fo armaibh. 's cba dir-ich e froach fo arm-ayv
C'ait a bheil aobhar uail ca-yht a veyl ao-var u-ayl
Is Lam hor san uaigh na shineadh ? is lavor san u-ay' na hin-e'
Ki iomachd aonach na greine, ri i-o-machd aon-ach na greyn-e
B-eibhinn do chruth a laoich liomhaidh, b-ey-vinn do chru' a laoych liv-ay'
Toirt solus fan do shuillean t-athar, toyrt solus fann do huyll-en ta'-ar
Tha 'n diugh gun latha gun leirsinn. ban di-u' gun la'-a gun leyr-sinn
Pillidh a gbrian gu h-ait a rithist, pill'-i a yri-an gu ha-yt a ri'-ist
Sa gruag oir na stioma dualach ; sa gru-ag oyr na sti-o-ma du-a-lach
Ach 's cian, cian an oicbe fo'n lie ; ach 's ci-an ci-an an oy-che fo'n lie
Cha d' thig crioch, a mhic, air do cha d-ig cri-och a vie er do
shuainsa. hu-ayn-sa
Ach tha t-iomachd an saoghail chein, ach ha tim-achd an sa-o'yl cheyn
'S tu eibhinn le laoich nan arach. 'stu ey-vinn le loych nan ar-ach
Ach 's muladach sinne ar son an laoich, ach 's mul-a-dach sinue ar son an loych
Bha teagh-chridheach ri sgeul anrach." va te-a'-chri'-ech ri sgeyl an-rach
" Irmis," arsa Ronan, " fhir-aosda, innis arsa ronan ir-aos-da
11 Let me sit on the bed of clay, Where calmly sleeps my son. How silent to-night, under the flag,
Is he who was often in battle like a
whirlwind. Dumb to-night, and weak of arms,
Is the hero that would not soften in
the hard conflict. He will not chase the deer in the glens,
Nor ascend the mountain in arms. Where is there cause for exultation, When Lamor is stretched in the grave?
Travelling in the sunshine of the
mountain, Beautiful wert thou, hero lithe,
Giving light to the eyes of thy father, Who is now without day or eyesight.
The sun will again return on her own
course, Her golden hair spreading lightly,
(far and wide ;) But long, long is the night of the grave ;
Thy sleep, my son, will not come to an end.
But thy steps are in the country remote,
Rejoicing among the heroes of battle- fields.
But sorrowful are we without thee, warrior,
Who was tender-hearted on hearing
of oppression." " Tell," said Ronan, " aged man,
OF THE HIGHLAND CLANS.
Aobhar a bhais ? — Am b'e Lamha ?" a-o-var a vays am be lava
" Be Lamha a mharbh e gun chas, be lava a varv e gun chas
Ach feothas a ruin do 'n lag : ach fe-o'-as a ruyn don lag
Be nos a shinnsear, 's gach linn, be n6s a hinn-sir 's gach linn
Gun bhi tiomadh a chasgairt foirneart ; gun vi ti-om-a' a chas-ga-irt foyr-neart
Bu chomhla phrais ar sgia gu 'n dian, bu chov-la fraysh ar sgi-a gu'n di-an
'S bu chrann-dionaidh dhoibh ar sleagh. sbu chrann-di-on-ay' yo'v ar sle-a'
Tra bha mi fein am og-eide, tra va mi feyn am og-ey-de
Mar bha 'n de an laoch tha'n dorchas, mar va 'n de an laoch ha'n dor-chas
Le athar Lamha chaidh mo cheuma, le a'-ar lava chay' mo cheym-a
Gu creach tigh eibhinn Struthormoin. gu crech ti' ey-vinn ru'-hor-men
Chronnuich mi fein an gnioroh, chronn-uych mi feyn an gni-av
'S gun neach aig eiridh nar h-aghaidh, sgun nech eg ey-ri' nar ha-i'
Ach leannaibh bha 'g iomairt saighde, ach lenu-iv va ag i-om-irt sayt-e
'S ga tilge mar lann nar comhail. sga tilig-e mar lann nar co-vel
Thuit an t-shaighead gu faoin huyt an ta'-ed gu fa-oyn
Air cois Chomair na'm baoth-bheus. er coys cho-rnoyr nam bao'-veys
Sheal e air an leannaibh le gruaim, — hel e ayr an lenn-iv le gruym
" Sa'n Eillean Uaigneach bith do chomh- • sa'n eyll-en u-aygnech bi' do chov-
nuidh.' ni'
Thugus an t-og do 'n Eillean Uaigneach. hugas an tog don eyllen u-aygnech
Bha sleagh Chomair shuas os a chionn va sle-a' cho-moyr hu-as os a chi-on
Leth-thoghta trie, le-hog-te trie
Bu deacair learn bas an leinnibh chaoin ; bu dcc-ayr le-am bas an lenn-iv choyn
85 death?— Was it
killed him,
The cause of his
Lava?" " 'Twas Lava who
without a fault But the goodness that made him love
the helpless : It was our nature, in every generation,
Not to be timid in rebuking injustice ;
Our shields were gates of brass to
save (the injured,) Our spears their shaft of protection.
When I myself was young in armour,
As was yesterday the warrior who is
now in darkness, With Lava's father went my steps,
To plunder the joyous dwelling of
Struthormon. I myself rebuked the deed,
None having risen against us,
But a child that was wielding his
arrow, And flinging it like a lance against us.
The arrow fell harmlessly
On the foot of Comar of evil habits.
He looked at the child with a scowl, —
" In the Secret Isle shall be thy dwelling."
He was carried to the Secret Isle, Comar's spear over him, Was repeatedly half lifted (to strike.) I deemed the death of the child cruel.
86
THE POETRY
Thainig dlu 'n tra chual e m' osnadh, hayn-ig dlu 'n tra chu-al e mos-na
B-iogna leis m' airm a dearsa : bi-ogn-a leys mayrm a der-sa
Glais e laimh gu teann mu m' chosabh, ylaysh e layv gu tenn mum chos-av
'S sheal e 'm ghnuis le ghorm shuil s hel e 'm ynuys le yorm huyl
dheuraich. yeyr-ich
Mheataich mo chridhe le baigh ; ve-taych mo chri-e' le ba-i'
Bha mo dheoir a sile diamhair va mo yey-oyr a sile di-av-ayr
Na or-chiabhan, sa cheann fo m' sgeith. na or-chi-av-an sa chenn fo m
Mar ghoideas earba le minnein ciar mar yoyd-es e-ar-ba le minn-en ci-ar
Bho shuil an t-shealgair tre 'n fhraoch, vo huyl an te-la-gayr tre 'n roach
Na iolaire gu carraig dhiamhair na i-olayr-e gu carr-ig yi-a-vir
A h-al gu 'm falach san oiche, a hall gum fal-ach san oy-che
'S amhail a ghiulain mi tre thuinn 'sav-il a yuyl-en mi tre huynn
An leannaibh gu mhatliair san oiche. an lenn-iv gu va'-ir san oy-che
Mar nial frois bha is air an traigh, mar ni-al froys va ish ayr an tra-i'
'S do radh i rium fein, gu h-ait, s do ra'i ruym feyn gu hayt
" 'So dhuit sleagh (an t-shleagh tha'm sho yuyt sleagh (an tleagh ha'm
laimh) la-iv
'S theirir Ronan gu brath ri'm mhac." 's her-ir ronan gu bra' ri'm vac
Air Eonan, cha chulas sgeula, ayr ronan cha chu-a-las sgeyla
Gus 'n do chluinn an deigh bho Lamha, gus 'n do chluyn an dey' vo lava
Gu 'm be f hagail na thir leonte gu 'm be ag-ayl na fair le-ori-te
Fa bron oigh nan ciabhan aillin fa bron oy' nam ci-av-an ah-linn
An speis thug mise do Eonan, an speysh hug mi-se do rouan
B'aithne do'm mhac. Esa dhuraichd, bay'-ne dom vac esa yuy-richd
He came close to me, hearing my sigh, Wondering at my arms shining : He locked his arms around my legs,
And looked in my face with his blue and tearful eye.
My heart melted with pity ; My tears fell unseen
Amid his golden locks, his head under
my shield. As steals the roe away with her kid
From the eye of the hunter through the heather,
Or as the eagle carries to a secret rock
Her brood in the midnight darkness,
So did I carry over the waves
The child to his mother through night.
Like the cloud of the shower, she was
on the beach, And said to me, brightening with joy,
" Take this spear (the spear now in my hand,)
And Eonan, for ever, will my son be
called." Of Eonan I received no news,
Until I heard yesterday from Lava,
That, leaving him wounded in his
country, Was the cause of the grief of the
maiden of the beautiful hair. My friendship for Eonan
Was known to my son. He wished
OF THE HIGHLAND CLANS.
87
Gu'n robh e lathair ga chomhnadh, guu rov e la'-ayr ga chov-na'
Le sleagh mhor Sruththormain. le sle-a' vor sru'-hor-mayn
Chuladh Lamha a chomhradh, chu-al-a' lava a chov-ra'
'S chruinnich ashloigh mu'm aon mhac. 's chruynn-ich a loy mum o-an vac
Feach uaigh ! Le'r deoir a sile, feych u-ay' le'r de-oyr a sile
Abraibh-'an sin tha leaba Laimhoir ! ab-riv an sin ha leba layvoyr
Si cuideachd leaba athair, si cuyt-achd leba a'-ayr
Oir 's gearr gus an caidil Runmath. oyr sger gus an cyd-il run-ma
Ach cuiream comraich oirbh a sheotaibh, ach cuyrem corn-rich oyrv a he-ot-ayv
Mo leannabh 's ma shleagh tboirt do mo lenn-av sma le-a' hoyrt do
Ronan."
ronan
" 'S mise Ronan," ars an laoch, s mi-se ronan ars an loach
'S e g' aoma tiamhaidh gu Runmath. s e gaoma ti-a-vay' gu run-ma'
Guil iad mar aon air uaigh Lamhoir. yuyl i-ad mar can ayr u-ay' lav-voyr
Ach ciod tha tighinn mar f huaim ehao- ach ced ha ti'-inn mar uym cho-
chan, chan
Tra bhruchdas doinnean a neulaibh ? tra vruchd-as doynn-en nan ni-al-ayv
FeachdLarnhale'nshleagheanliomhaidh, fechd lava len slea'-en li-ovay'
'S iad lionar a taoma na'r comhail, si-ad li-on-ar a to-ama nar cov-ayl
A dealradh mar lannaibh air carraig, a del-ra' mar lann-ayv er carr-ig
Tra dhearcas a ghrian a neulaibh. tra yeyr-es a yri-an a ni-al-ayv
Chualadh Ronan copan nan cath, chu-ala' ronan copan nan ca'
'S learn e gu tapadh le eibhneas. s lem e gu tapa' le eyv-nes
Am beum sgeithe thionail a shlugh, am beym sgey-e hi-o-nel a lu-a'
Marnialgruamachmu'ndaraiggheugaich; mar ni-al gru-a-mach mun darr-ayg yeyg-ich
That he had been present to assist him, With the great spear of Struthormon. Lava heard what he had said,
And gathered his people around the youth.
Behold his grave ! With tears falling, Say, here is the bed of Lamor ! It will also be the bed of his father,
For brief the time until Runma will
sleep. But let me beseech you, warriors,
To bear my child and spear to Ronan."
" I am Ronan," said the hero, Bending in grief over Runma.
We wept, like one, over the grave of
Lamor. But what approaches like the sound
of streams,
When bursts the storm from the
clouds? The host of Lava with their spears
polished, And they numerous, pouring to meet us,
And shining like blades on a rock, When the sun breaks through clouds. Struck Ronan the boss of battle, As he sprang to deeds with joy. The alarm-stroke gathered his people,
Like an angry cloud round the branchy oak ;
88
THE POETRY
Mar thannas na h-aoiche ag imeachd, mar hannas na hoy-che ag im-echd
An co-thionneal nan doinnean eite, an co-hi-onn-el nan doynnen eyte
Gu dortadh air doireachan Ardbhein, gu dor-ta' er doyr-ech-an ard-veyn
San darach fairrel ga h-eisteachd ; san darr-ach fayrrel ga heys-techd
B-amhuil Ronan dol sios do'ri araich. bav-il ronan dol si-os don ar-aych
'Sa lochri laidir na cheumadh. 'sa lo-chri laydir na cheym-a'
* * * *
'Sa reir sin, le neart 's le fuathas, sa reyr sinn le nert sle fu-a'-as
Shiubhail, is lean a shluagh, Lamha. hi-uv-ayl is len a lu-a' lava
Mar tharn buaireal a neal dorcha, mar harn buyrel a ni-al dor-cha
Tra 's duaichnaidh faiche na Lara, tra 's du-aych-nay' faych-e na lara
Tha mile clogaid is shleagh ard, ha mil-e clogayd is sle-a' ard
A dealradh mar dhoire na chaoiribh. a del-ra' mar yoyre na choy-riv'
Ach co dh'innseas cith a chathadh ? ach co a yinn-ses ci' a cha'-a'
Tha sgiathan leathan ga'n sgolta ha sgi-a'-an le'-an gan sgolta
Le neart gabhaidh, nan claidhean ; le nert ga-vay nan clay'-an
Cinn is cinn-bkeirt a tuiteam, cinn is cinn-veyrt a tuyt-em
'S na mairbh a muchadh nan leonte. sna mayrv a mu-cha' nan le-on-te
Fuil a ruith mar mhile caochan, fuyl a ruy' mar vil-e caoch-au
'S anama Laoch dol suas an smuidibh. is anama loach dol su-as an smayt-iv
Ach co iad 'n da iolaire sgiathach, ach co i-ad an da i-ol-er-e sgi-a'-ach
Tha gleachda co fiadhaich san roan ? ha glechd-a co-fi-a'-ich san roan
Cha mhinnean og, na coileach fraoiche, cha vinn-en og na coy-lach fo-a-che
Mu bheil an stri len lannaibh bas-mhor. mu veyl an stri le lannayv bas-vor
Feuch fear dhiu air a ghlun ag aoma, feych fer yi-u er a ylun ag aom-a
Like the spirit of night, careering
Amid the congregated ghosts in a.
tempest dismal, To pour on the groves of Ardven,
With the monarch oak watchfully
listening ; So descended Ronan to battle
With his chivalry strong in his steps.
* *
Equal in strength, and in dreadful
appearance, Lava led, and his people followed.
Like fierce thunder in a dark cloud,
When gloom rests on the plain of
Lara, A thousand helmets and spears shone
on high, Blazing like a grove on fire.
But who can relate the tug of battle ?
Broad shields are being split
By the wonderful strength of swords :
Heads and helmets falling,
And the dead smothering the wounded.
Blood is running like rivulets,
And the souls of heroes ascending in
steam. But who are they, the two eagles,
broad winged, That are wrestling so wildly on the
heath? 'Tis not for a young kid nor the poult
of the moor-cock They contend with their deadly
weapons. Behold, one on his knee stooping,
OF THE HIGHLAND CLANS.
Sa thaicc luba a shleagha. ' sa hayce luba a lea'-a
" Geil," arsa Ronan, " do shleagh, geyl arsa ronan do lea'
Is mar rithidh Sulmiua ; is mar ri-i' suyl-mina
Bas mo naimh cha mhian learn fein, has mo nayv cha vi-an le-am feyn
Noir chi mi fo clireuchd e na shine." noyr chi mi fo chreyc e na hin-e
" Tha m' uilsa taomadh mar shruth ; ha muyl-sa toama mar rn'
Dh-aindeon beiream dhuit do ghaol. yayn-en beyr-am yuyt do yoal
Air cul na carraig ud tha naimh, ayr cul na carrayg ud ha u-ayv
Air bruaich chluanean ghiurm a cha- ayr bruych chlu-an-en yuyrm a cho-
ochain ; ach-en
Ach togadh, an ainnir mo leac, ach toga an ayn-ir mo lee
Oir ge bu deacair thug mi gaol dhith." oyr ge bu decayr hug mi goal yi'
Ghreis Konan a dh-iarruidh a ghaoil. yreys ronan a yi-ar-uy' a yaoyl
Fhuair e'n caochan 's f huair e'n uaimh, hu-ayr en caoch-an 'shu-ayr en u-ayv
Ach ainnir a ghaoil cha d' f huair. ach a-inn-ir a yaoyl cha du-ayr
Cha chluinnte ach fuaim na h-osaig, cha chluynnte ach fu-aym na hosayg
Is monbhur an duillich sheargte. is mon-bur an duyll-ich herg-te
" C'ait a ghaoil a bheil do thamh ? cayt a yaoyl a veyl do hav
C'oim nach d' ig u dian am chomhail ? coym nach dig u di-an am cho-vel
Thig a ghoil 'o d' ionad diamhair, hig a yoyl o din-ad divayr
Cluinn a Shuilmina do Konan." cluynn a huyl-mina do ronan
Och 's diomhain a laoich do ghuth, och sdi-ovayn a loych do yu'
Cha toir ach na creagan dhuit eistiachd. cha doyr ach na creg-an yuyt ey-stechd
Cluinn sgal cuilean sa'n arich, cluynn sgal cuy-len san ar-ich
Sud an t-ait 'n do thuit Suilmina. shud an tayt 'n do huyt suyl-mina
Sustained on his bending spear. " Yield," said Ronan, " thy spear, And with it Salmina ;
The death of an enemy is not my
desire, When I see him wounded and low."
" My blood is pouring like a stream ; I must of necessity yield thee thy love.
At the back of yonder rock there is
a cave On the meadowy green bank of the
stream ;
But let the nymph rear my tomb ;
For though I used severity, I gave her
my love." Konan hastened in search of his love.
He found the rivulet and the cave, But the nymph of his love he found not;
Nor could he hear, save the sound of
the breeze, And the rustle of the decaying leaves.
" Where is thy dwelling, my love? Why dost thou not hasten to meet me? Come, my love, from thy hiding ; Answer to thy Ronan, Sulmina." Alas ! vain is thy voice, hero : The rocks alone reply.
He heard the wail of a hound in the
(battle) field, In the spot where fell Sulmina.
M
90
THE POETRY
Dh-iar i'n ar a chomhnadh Ronain ; yi-ar i n ar a chov-na' ronayn
'S choinnich a h-uchd corran saighde. 's choynn-ich a huchd corraa say'-de
Chaochail an solus na suil, chaochayl an sol-us na suyl
'S shearg na gnuis ros na h-aille. 's her-ag na gnuys ros na hayllfe
Thuit Bonan gu'n tuar, gu'n deoir, huyt ronan gun tu-ar gun de-oyr
Air a muineal leth-f huar fo'n eug, ayr a muyn-el le'-u-ar fon eyg
Amhuil eitheann a dh-aomas gu lar, avuyl ey'-en a yom-as gu lar
Noir thuiteas a dharag gheugach. noyr huytes a yarag yey-gach
Thug Suilmina plaosg air a suilean, hug suyl-mina plosg ayr a suy-len
'S ghrad dhuin iad le aiteas sa bhas. 'B yrad yuyn i-ad le ayt-as sa vas
Bu chian thug sinne ri bron, bu chi-an hug sinne ri bron
'Sar deoir a sruthadh mu'n cuairt dhoibh, 's ar de-oyr a sru'-a' mun cu-ayrt yoyv
Gus 'n do labhair Runma gu ghlic, gus 'n do lav-er run-ma gu glic
'S e tighinn dluth, le mhall cheumaibh : 's e ti'-inn dlu le mall cheymayv
"An gairm cumhadh air daimhich o'n eug? an geyrm cu-va' ayr dayv-ich o'n eyg
An cluinn iad nan suain air caoineadh ? an cluyn i-ad nan suayn ayr caoy-ne'
Ach 's geur gus an lean sin an ceum, ach 's geyr gua an len sin an ceym
Do thalabh an clos 's nan neoil, do hal-av an clos 'snan ne-oyl
Tra leagheas ar laidhean tearc
tra
!«' na
le'-es ar lay'-en
terc
An sruth nam bliadhn' tha bras ga'r an sru' nam bli-a'-n ha bras gar
treigsinn. treyg-sm
Nach faic sibh cheannadh an fhalluing nach fayc siv chenn-a an ailing
cheo che-o
Feathamh ri Runma 's na neoil deas ? fe'-av ri run-ma 'sna neoyl des
She had sought the field in aid of Ronan ;
She was met by a barbed shaft. The light faded in her eye, Beauty fled from her face.
Ronan fell, without colour, without tears,
On her bosom, half cold in death, As ivy inclines to the earth, When falls its blooming oak. Sulmina's eyes opened for a moment
With a blink of joy, then closed,
pleased in death. Long did we remain in grief,
Our tears falling around them, Until Runma wisely spoke, Approaching with slow steps : —
" Can sorrow recal our friends from
the grave ? Do they hear our wails in their sleep ?
But we will shortly follow their steps, To their halls calm among the clouds, When our short days have melted away
In the stream of years that are fleeting from us.
Do you not already see the garb of
mist That awaits Runma ready in the sky ?
OF THE HIGHLAND CLANS.
91
'S cha 'n f hada bhios Ronau na dheigh, Nor will Ronan be long after him, a-da
's cha 'n a-da vis ronan na yey
Mu gheighleas e do bhron a feasd. rau yey'-les e do vron a fesd
Tha 'in bron mar an sruthan diamhair, ha m bron mar an sru'-an di-vayr
Dh-iaras fo iochdar na bruaiche ; yi-ar-as fo i-ochd-ar na bruy-che
Tha'n gallan cheanadh ag aomadh han gallan chen-a' ag oam-a'
Thog ri thaobh a gheugan aillidh. hog ri haov a yeyg-an aylli'
Bhuin am bron, eireadh ar cliu ; vuyn am bron ey-rfc ar cli-u
'S ar uine ruidh air sgiathan gabhaidh." 'sar uynfc ruy' ayr sgi-a'-an gav-i'
If he yields to endless grief. Sorrow is like a secret streamlet, Undermining its flourishing banks ; Making the young trees bend over,
That exalted their blooming boughs by its side.
Dismiss sorrow, earn fame ;
Our days are flying on matchless wings."
Ronan arose with a bosom sad ;
Dh-eirich Ronan, sa chneas fo bhron ; yey-rich ronan sa chnes fo vron
'S thug teach a naimh do'n og 's do'n He gave the house of his foe to the 's hug tech a nayv don og 's don
aosda, o-as-da
Dh-f hag e f hir-inhor a dhion an tuir ; yag e ir-vor a yi-on an tuyr
Mar sin is fear iul na h-oiche. mar sin is fer i-ul na ho-iche
Chuireas an oigh an luing an laoich ; chuyr-es an oy' an luying an laoych
Is thogair, caointeach, an so a leac. is hogayr coyn-tech an sb a lee
An so tha leaba Ronain faraon, an so ha leb-a ronan far-oan
An laoch bu treune 'sa b-aillidh. an laoch bu treyn-e 'sa baylli'
Bu tursach a laithean san raon ; bu tur-sach a lay'-en san roan
Ach 'n deigh a ghaoil cha b-f hada beo e. ach 'n dey' a yoyl cha ba-da be-o e
young and the aged,
And left his big men to defend the tower ;
And likewise the guide of (the previous) night.
We placed the maid in the ship of the hero ;
And here, weeping, we reared her tomb.
Here also is the grave of Ronan, The hero strong and beautiful. Sad were his days on the heath ;
But he did not live long after his beloved.
Now his head is under the mossy stone,
Nis tha leaba, fo'n chloich choinich, nis ha leb-a fon chloych choyn-tich
Ri taobh a ghoil, ri taov a yoyl
Tha feusag a chluairean aosda ha fey-sag a chlu-ar-en oas-da
Ataomadh tiamhaidh mu'n cuairt dhoibh. Pouring mournfully around. a toam-a' ti-avay' mun cu-ayrt yoyv
By the side of his love, The beard of the aged thistle
'S trie mise, ri solus nan reul, 'stric mi-se ri sol -us nan reyl
Often am I in the light of the stars,
92
THE POETEY
Ag eisteachd ri comhradh an taibhsean. ag eyst-achd ri cov-ra' an ta-iv-shen
1S eibhein air na neoil an imeachd, 's eyv-eyn ayr na ne-oyl an im-achd
Tra chluinneas iad fonn mo chlarsaich. tra chluynn-es i-ad fonn mo ehlar-saych
A mhic Arair, tha'n taibhsean dluth, a vie ar-er ban tayv-sen dlu'
Na ceil orra t-oran tiamhaidh ! na cfcyl orra tor-an ti-av-ay
Listening to their spirits conversing. Joyous is their course in the clouds, When they hear the sound of my harp. Son of Arair, their spirits are nigh, Deny them not thy song pensive !
DAN AN DEIRG, — THE LAY OF DARGO, BY ULLAIN. (From the Eev. Dr Smith's Seananna Dhana. — The first Duan only.)
'San la ad bha Comhal na'm buaidh, 'san la ad va coval nam buy
Le cheol 's le shluagh air an leirg — le che-ol 's le lu-a' ayr an leyrig
Ge iosal an cluainean an f heidh, ge i-o-sal an cluy-nen an ey'
An diugh an laoch nach b-fhaoin am an di-u' an laoch nach baoyn am
feirg ; feyrig
A leaba fo chos nan clach, a lebk fo chos nan clach
A fasga na daraig aosda. — a fasga na darayg aos-da
Bha laoich ri 'n sleaghan an taic, va laoych ri'n sle'-an an tayc
An suilean laiste 's an aghaidh aoimte, an suy-len layste san a'ay oymte
Ag eisteachd ri sgeula gaisge, ag eystec ri sgeyla gaysgd
Air Comhal is righ Innsefail ; ayr coval is ri' innse-fayl
'N tra sguab iad an arach le cheile ; 'n tra sgu-ab i-ad an arach le chey-lfc
Noir chunnacas linn luadh bharca noyr chunna-cas linn lu-a' varca
Seola gu traigh na neul-eide. seo-la gu tray' na neyl-eyde
Dh-f hainaich Comhal an long, yanich coval an long
'S an copan o'n bhuail an beum-sgeithe. 's an copan 6n vuyl an beym sgey'-e
" Grad leumaibh air aigeal nan tonn, grad leymayv ayr aygel nan tonn
A chomhair righ tha na eigein." a cho-ver ri' ha na eyginn
Bu gharbh an doinnean o dheas, bu yarv an doynnen o yes
On that day was Coval of victories,
With his people and music on the
shore ; Though, on the meadows of the deer,
To-day is (the grave of) the hero that was not feeble in his anger ;
His bed in a hollow beneath stones, In the shelter of the aged oak.
His warriors were leaning on their spears,
Their eyes kindled, their faces looking
down, Listening to a tale of heroism,
Of Coval and the king of Innesfail ;
While, together, they swept the battle- field; When seen was a swift bark
Steering to the shore under its cloud- like array. Coval knew the ship,
And (meaning of) the boss that re- sounded on the shield.
leap
on
the
" Quickly (he cried) waves of the sea To the relief of the king in extremity."
Bough was the storm from the south,
OF THE HIGHLAND CLANS.
93
A gleachd gu duaichnidh ri'r suil a glee gu duych-ni' rir suyl
bhreid-gheal,* vreytyil
Oir thaom an oiche na'r corahail, oyr haom an oych^ nar coveyl
Air cuam dobhuidh nan tonn beuchdael. ayr cu-an dovuy' nan tonn beychdell
" Ciod," arsa Comhal na'm buaidh, ci-od arsa coval nam buy'
" Am fa dhuin bhi 'g uadal cuain, am fa yuyn vi gudal cuyn
Is eillean fuar nan camus crom, is eyllen fu-ar nan camus crom
A sgaoileadh a sgiathan foil, a sgoyle' a sgi-a'-an foyl
Gu'r dion 'o dhoinnean na h-oiche. gur di-on o yoynen na hoyche
Tha e crom mar bhogh' air ghleus, ha e crom mar vo' ayr yleys
Tha e seimh mar uchd ma ghaoil. ha e sheyv mar uchd ma yaoyle
Caitheadh mid an oiche fo sgeith, cay' mid an oychfc fo sgey'
lonad eibheinn nan aisling ciuin." i-onayd eyvinn nan ayshlin ci-uyn
Chualas comhachag a creig, chu-alas covachag a creyg
'S guth broin ga freagairt a uaimh. sgu broyn ga freygayrt a u-ayv
"Se guth Dheirg," arsa Comhal, "a se gu' yey'rig ar-sa coval a
thann, hann
Chail sinn sa chuan onf hach, chayll sinn sa chu-an on-a-vach
'N tra thill sinn o Lochlan nan crann, 'n tra hill sinn o lochlan nan crann
'S gach doinnean gu teann gar ruagadh. sgach doynnen gu tenn gar ruga'
Thog na tuinn an cinn 's na neoil, hog na tuynn an cinn 's na noyl
Dh-as sleibhtean ceo air an lear ; yas slave-ten ce-o ayr an ler
Bha mhuir mholach le stuaidh ghlas, va vuyr volach le stuy' ylas
Fo bhuaireadh bho iar gu ear. fo vuyre vo i-ar gu err
* The head-dress of Highland females was called
is often used as a simile, as in the above case, for snowy-whiteness.
Wrestling with our sails, kerch-white.*
For the night poured in our faces,
On a fierce sea of bellowing waves.
" Why," said Coval of victories,
" Should we remain rocking on the sea,
And the cold island of bending bays
Spreading its wings calm
To shelter us from the storms of night.
It bends like a bow in action,
And is mild as the bosom of my love.
Let us spend the night under its wing,
The pleasing island of peaceful dreams."
An owl is heard from a rock, And a mournful voice from a cave. " It is the voice of Dargo," says Coval,
" Who was lost on a sobbing sea,
When we were returning from Loch- lan of masts, With every storm closely pursuing us.
The waves lifted their heads to the
skies, Wolds of mist covered the face of the
deep; The ocean was rough with grey waves,
And under fury from west to east
1 breid," a kerchief. Being snowy-white, the breid
94
THE POETRY
Bha Dearg gu h-ard ann sa chrann ; va deyrag gu hard ann sa chrann
Is bhrist an ial ris an d' earb e ; is vrist an i-al ris an d-erab e
Morbhein cha'n f haic e gu brath ; — morveyn chan aye e gu bra'
Dh-f halaich tonna-gaireach bh'uin e." yalaych tonn-garrech vuyn e
Dh-aithnich Geallachos guth an Deirg, yayn'ich gella-chos gu' an deyreg
'S mar bu ghna leis air an leirg, s mar bu yna leys ayr an leyrig
Rinn e miolaran 's thug leum gabhaidh, rinn e milaran 's hug leyra gavay'
Le mor oibhneas, ghios na traigh, — le mor oyvnes yi-os na tray'
Mar shaighead a glaic an iughair, mar hay'd a glyc an i-u'-ayr
Tha chasan ag suibhal tre bhar-thuinn : ha chasan ag si-uval tre var huynn
B-aite leis na mac na h-eilde, b-ayhte leys na mac na heyl-te
A Dheirg a bhith leum ri d' bhraigh. a yeyrig a vi' leym ri d vra-i'
Chunnacas liennedh an aoibhneas, chunnac-as linne' an oyv-nes
Le solus bristeach nan reultan, le solus bristach nan reyltan
A caidreamh ri cheile mar chairdean, a caydrev ri cheyle mar chayrden
A thachair gu'n duil an tir naimhdean. a hach-ayr gu'n duyl an tir nayvten
'S noir f haichte le Dearg ar loingeas 'snoyr aych-te le deyrag ar loyngas
Aig ro-mhiad aigbear s'a sholais, ayg ro vi-ad ay'er sa holays
Mar tugadh Gealcbossa air laimh e ; mar tuga' gelchossa ayr layv e
Ghios na tragha sior nar coail. yis na tra-ya si-or nar co'-ayl
" Am beo u Dheirg," arsa Comhal, am be-o u yeyrig ar-sa cbval
" A chail sinn an cuan salach gharbh- a chayl sinn an cu-an salach yarv-
thonn? honn
'S ioghna do thiarnadh o'n Bha-shruth, s i-o'-na do hi-arna' o'n varu'
Dargo was high on the mast ;
The thong broke to which he had
trusted : Morven he will never behold, —
He was concealed from us under tur- bulent waves." Geallachos knew the voice of Dargo,
And, as was his wont, on the hill,
He whined with excitement, made a leap, astonishing,
In his excess of joy, for the shore,
And, like an arrow from the embrace
of the yew, Cut his course through the top of the
waves : More joy had he than in the son of
the hind, In leaping on thy bosom, Dargo.
By us was witnessed their joy, In the broken light of the stars, Embracing one another like friends, Unexpectedly met in the land of foes.
Nor would Dargo have noticed our
ship, From the excess of his joy,
Had not Geallachosa pulled him by the
sleeve, Toward the shore to meet us.
" Art thou living, Dargo," said Coval,
" Whom we lost amid drumlie rough waves ?
Thy escape from Ba-ru was wonderful,
OF THE HIGHLAND CLANS.
95
A Bhluig le garraich a suas u." That swallowed thee up with a roar."
a heuyg le garr-aych a suas u
" Le tulga thonn," thuirt Dearg, " ga'm " Floating on waves," said Dargo, le tulga honn huryt deyrag gam « that tossed me (about,)
luasga,
I was during that cold night until morning.
Seven moons, each of them like a year,
mar mar
Bha mise an oich f huar sin gu latha, va raise an oych u-ar sin gu la'- a'
Seachd geallachain, 'sgach a sechd gellachayn sgach J
bhliadhna, vli-u'-na
Le'n tragha 's le'n liona chaidh tharum. lea tra 'a 's lea li-o-na cha-i' harum
Chaidh mi 'n latha a sealg a chuirn • chay mi n la' -a a selag a chuyra
'San oich be manran ciul mo mhian ; san oych be-manran ci-ul mo vi-an
Ach b' eigin iala, mar thaibhse, ach beyginn i-ala mar hayvse
Le ceilg,* air eunlaidh na h-oiche. le ceylig ayr eynlay' na hoyche
Sa'n tirsa 's neo ait a ghrian, saa tirsa 's ne-o ayt a yri-an
'S gur mall a ghealach do thriall. 's gur mall a yelach do h-ri-al
Ach ciod so aobhar air broin ? ach cy-od so aovar ayr broyn
Chi mi air deoir a srutha. chi mi ayr de-oyr a sru'-a'
Nach beo Crimora mo ghaoil, nach be-o crimora mo yaoyl
An ailleag chaoin bu tlathaidh cruth ? an ayl-eg choyn bu tla-i' cru'
Chunna mi i seola na'n nial chunna mi ise-o-la nan ni-al
A dh-iadh mu sholus na h-oiche, a yi-a' mu holus na hoychb
Tra dh-amhairc i nuas ro'n fhrois, tra yav-ayrc i nu-as ron roys ,
Air gnuis thiamhidh na doine. ayr gnu-is hi-av-i' na doyne
Bha i ann an caochla dreach, va i ann an caochla drech
With their waning and growing, passed over me.
I spent the day in the chase on the crest of the hill ;
At night my desire was tuneful mins- trelsy ;
But I was compelled to stalk like a ghost,
Treacherously* on the birds of night.
In this country the sun is unhappy, And the moon slow 6n its course. But what is the cause of your grief? I see your tears falling ; Is Crimora of my love no more, The little beauty of the mildest face ? I saw her sailing on the clouds That winded round the light of night, When looking down through a shower, On the calm face of the deep. She was in a different array,
* The ancient Highlander pursued his sports on the manly principles of determined perse- verance and daring intrepidity. He followed the stag for days and weeks, sleeping in his plaid among the heather, and snatched the salmon, between the linn and the sky, standing on the dizzy ledge of the rock with his long gaff, in a position dangerous and magnificent; but nothing short of starvation would make him take part in the brutal German battue, or in any mode of fishing or killing game, which did not make it a sporting and chivalrous affair, worthy of a gentleman, and inconsistent with the greed and blood-thirstiness of the venison-butcher or game-poulterer, who degrades sport into a mercantile transaction of profit and loss, in the present day.
96
THE POETKY
A suilean graidh a sile dheur ; a suyll-en gray' a silev yeyr
Ach dh-aithnich mi cruth mo ghaoil, ach yayn'ich mi cru' mo yaoyl
'S an taobhar thair cuan i dh-eiridh. san taovar hayrchu-ani yeyri'
* * * * *
" Nach truagh leat mise, a Chrimora ? nach tru-a' let mise a chrimora
Och ! na fag mi so am oanar." och na fag mi so am oan-ar
Oigh-thaibsean chuartaich i le 'n orain, oy' hayvsen chu-artaych i len oren
Is dh-fhag iad mise tursach, bronach. is yag i-ad mi-se tursach bronach
" Thig le d' cheol binn, a Chrith-mora, hig led che-ol binn a chrimora
Gu talla nan oigbean fial, gu talM nan oy'-en fi-al
'Sa bheil Suil-mhalda is Trennmor, sa veyl suyl-valda is treyn-mor
A sealg feidh dhoillear nan nial. a sel-ag fey' 'yoyll-er nan ni-al
Chualas i le h-osna leointe, chu-alas i le hosna le-oynte
'S i sealtain bronach na deigh." is i seltayn bron-ach na dey'
Sguir an ceol, an taibhse a threig, sguyr an ce-ol an tayv-se a hreyg
'S dhag iad mise a sile dheur, 's yag i-ad mi-se a si-le yeyr
Air traigh ainel 's mi leom fhein. ayr tray' ayn-el 's mi le-om feyn
O'n og-mhadain gu dall-oiche, o'n og-vadayn gu dall-oyche
Mo choidh o sin cha do sguir. mo choy' o sin cha do sguyr
C'uin a chi mi u, a Chrimora ? cuyn a chi mi u a chrimora
Ki 'm bheo bidh mise fo eislean ! rim ve-o bi' mi-se fo eys-len
Tha m' anam a snamh an ceo : ha man-am a snav an ce-o
Innsibh fior an doigh a dh-eug i ?" innsiv fi-or an doy' a yeyg i
" An sgeula truagh tra fhuair do bhean, an sgeyla tru-a' tra huyr do ven
Tri lathain bha i na tosd gu 'n ghean : tri la'-ayn va i na tosd gu'n yen
Her eyes of love shedding tears ; But I knew her lovely face,
And why she rose over the sea.
* * * *
" Dost thou not pity me, Crimora ?
Och ! leave me not alone."
Maiden ghosts gathered around her
with songs, And they left me, grief-struck,
lamenting. " Come with thy sweet music, Cvi-
inora, (they sung) To the hall of the social maidens,
Where is Sul-malla and Trenmore, Coursing dusky deer in clouds. I heard her, with a wound-sigh,
When looking with sorrow behind
her." The music ceased, the spirits vanished,
And they left me shedding tears, On a strange shore by myself.
From the young morning until the
blind night, My lamentations have not ceased since
then. When shall I see thee, Crimora ?
While living, sorrow must be mine ! My soul is swimming in mist : Tell me truly how died she ?"
" When the woful news came to thy
wife, She was three days incapable of speech
or motion :
OF THE HIGHLAND CLANS.
97
An ceathrarah dh-fhiar i a mhuir gu'n an ce'rav yi-ar i a vuyr gun
bhaigh, vay'
'S fhuaras i gu'n deo air traigh : 'a hu-aras i gun de-o ayr tra-y'
Mar shneachda sa'n fhireach fhuar, mar nechda' san irech u-ar
Na eala air Lanna, gu'n tuar. na ella ayr lanna gun tu-ar
Fhuaras i le h-oighibh gaoil, hu-aras i le hoyiv' gaoyl
A theirinn o chaochain nan sliabh, a her-inn o chaochen nan sli-av
Le 'm basaibh min a siabadh dheur, lem basayv min a si-aba' yeyr
'S le'n osnich a seide an ciabh. slen osnich a sheytd an ci-av
Le lie is gorm-fhoid na traigh, le lie is gorm-oyd na tray'
Thog sinne comhnuidh do mhnoi. hog sinnd covni' do vnoy
B' iomad bha 'n latha sin dubhach, bi-omad va'n la' -a sin duvach
'S bu tiamhaidh cumhadh gach aon. 's bu ti-avi' cuva' gach aon
Mar aile a seinn an cuilc na Leige, mar ayll a seynn an cuylc na ley-gfc
Dh-eirich mail is fann a cliu. yey-rich mall is fann a cli-u
Ach ciod so 'n solus an Innse-fail ? ach ci-od so'n solus an innse-fayl
Feuch crann-taraidh* an f huathais ! feych craim-taray' an u'-aysh
Togaibh air siuil, tarnaibh ur raimh, togiv' ayr si-uyl tarn-ayv ur rayv
Sgiursaibh a bharc tre chuaintaibh. sgi-ursiv a varc tre chu-ayntayv
Sheid gaoth dhileas na'm beann, heyd gao' yil-es nam beynn
'S chab-fhann air builleari gu comhnadh ; 's cha bann ayr buyllen gu cov-na'
Thug sinn muigh air braigb nan tonn, hug sinn muy ayr bray' nan tonn
'S gach sonn is a shuil ri comhraig. s gach sonn is a huyl ri covrig
Bha uilean Dheirg air slios a sgeith, va uyllen yeyrig ayr slis a sgey'
* " Crann," a shaft of wood ; (" tar," should be " beam or shaft of surpassing running or speed.
On the fourth, she sought the sea, cold and pitiless,
And was found on the shore soulless :
Like a wreath of snow on the bleak
hill, Or like a swan on Lanna, breathless.
She was found by her maidens beloved,
As they descended from their mountain
streams, With their soft hands wiping away
tears,
And their sighs lifting their locks.
With flags and the green turf of the
shore, We raised the dwelling of thy wife.
Many on that day were in grief,
And melancholy were the lamentations
of all. Like a soft breezein the reeds of Lega,
Slowly and faintly was raised her
elegy. But what light is that in Innesfail ?
Behold the cross of speed and battle !* Exalt our sails, draw your oars, Scourge the bark through the seas.
The faithful wind blew from our
mountains, Nor faint were our strokes to aid it ;
We churned the tops of the waves, Every hero's eye looking for battle. The elbow of Dargo was on his shield,
ear,") surpassing ; and " ruith," running : viz., th»
N
98
THE POETRY
'S a dheoir a srutha sios ri taobh. sa yoyr a sru'-Ji si-os ri taov
" Chi mi Dearg gu tiamhaidh, tosdach chi mi deyrg gu ti-avi' tosdach
And his tears streamed down by its side.
" I see Dargo in sorrow, and silent, (said Coval ;)
Tog Ullainn nan teud sprochd an laoch." Ullain of the chords, lift the grief of
tog ullayn nan teyd sprochd an laoych
the hero."
DAN CHA01LTE.
Ri linn Threin-mhoir nan sgiath, ri linn hreyn-voyr nan sgey'-e
Ruaig Caoilte am fiadh mu Eite ; ruyg caoylte am fi-a' mu eyte
Thuit leis daimh-chabrach nan cnoc ; huyt leys dayv-chabrach nan cnocbd
'S cho-fhreagair gach slochd da eighe. 's cho-regayr gach slochd da ey'-e
Chunnaic Min-bheul, a gaol, chunnayc minveyl a gaol
'S le curach faoin chaidh na choel. sle curach fa-oyn chay' na clio-el
Sheid osna choimheach gu'n bhaigh, heyd osna choyvech gun vay'
'Chuir druim an aird air a bharca. chnyr druym an ayrd ayr a varca
Chualas le Caoilte a glaodh, — chu-alas le coylte a glao'
" A ghaoil,a ghaoil, dean mo comhnadh!" a yaoyl a yaoyl den mo chovna'
Ach thuirling dalla-bhrat na h-oiche, ach Luyrling dallavrat na hoyche
'S dh-fhailnich air a chluis a comhradh : 's yaylnich ayr a chluys a covra'
Mar fhuaim sruthain an cein, mar u-aym sru'-en an ceyn
Michinteach thain a h-eibh na choail. mi-chinntech hayn a heyv na cho-ayl
'Sa mhadainn an onfha na traigh, sa vad-ayn an ona na tra'-i
Fhuaras gu'n chail an og-bhean. hu-aras gun chayl an og-ven
Thog e 'n cois na traigh a leac, hog e 'n coys na tray' a lee
Aig sruthan bronach nan glas-gheugan : aig sru'-an bronach nan glas-yeygan
'S eol do'n sealgair an t-aite ; 8 eol don sel-ager an taytfc
'Se baigheal an teas na greine. fie bay'el an tes na greyne
THE LAY OF CAOILTE.
In the days of Trenmor of shields, Chased Caoilte the deer on Eite ; Fell by him the antlered stags ; Every valley answering to his call. Minvel saw her love,
And in a weak curach she went to
meet him. A fierce and pitiless blast
Turned the bark back upwards. Heard by Caoilte was her cry, — " My love, my love, save me !"
But the blind panoply of night
descended, And her plaint failed on his ear :
Like the sound of a distant streamlet, Uncertain reached him her cry.
In the morning, by the murmuring
shore, Was found without strength the
young wife. He raised her tomb at the side of the
shore, By the plaintive streamlet of the aged
grove : The hunter knows the place ;
It is genial when the sun is high.
OF THE HIGHLAND CLANS.
99
Bu chian do Chaoilte ri bron, bu chi-an do chaoyltfc ri bron
Na aonar an coille Eite. na oanar an coylle eyte
Ach bhuail Trenn-mor beum-sgeithe : ach vuayl treynmore beym-sgey'-e
'S le lochraidh ghluaisCaoilte na threune. sle lochray' ylu-aysh coylte na hreyne
Uigh air nigh phill a sholas. uy' ayr uy' fill a Lolas
Chual e chliu is lean e an t-sheilge. clui-al e chli-u is len e an teylege
"'Scuimhn leom," arsaDearg, "an laoch, 's cuyn le-om arsa deyrag an laoch
Mar aisling choimhneil a threig ; mar as-ling choyv-neyl a hreyg
'N tra stuir e gu h-og mi air Eite, 'n tra sti-uyr e gu hog mi ayr eyte
Sa dheoir a fliuche a sgeithe. sa ye-oyr a fli-ucha a sgey'-k
" Ciod fa do thuireadh, a Chaoilte ? ci-od fa do huyre a chaoylte
Com' a bheil t-aois bronach, dubhach ?" com a veyl toys bronach du-ach
" Mo ghaol tha fo 'n f hoid na sineadh." mo yaol ha fo'n oghd na sine
" 0 ! dean an t-aite so thaoghal oh deu an tayte so ha'-ol
Mar roghainn do chuairtaibh na frithe ?" mar ro'-aynn do chu-ayrt-iv na fri'-e
Na dh-iarradh do Chaoilte thugadh ; na yi-ara' do chaoylt£ huga'
A chunnie bu trie am oran. a chuynne bu trie am oran
0 nach ro' mo chliusa co marionn, o nach rb mo chli-usa co mar-inn
'S mi le Crimora 's na neuil chairdel." smi le crimora sna ne-oyl chayr del
" 'S dearbh gu'rn bith do chliu mairionn,"
s derv gum bi' do chli-u mayrinn
Arsa Comhal bu chaoin labhairt; arsa coval bu chaoyn lavayrt
" Ach co snd le'n sgiathaibh gabhaidh, ach co sud le'n sgia'yv gavi'
Toirt a sholuis bho'n cheud fhaire ? toyrt a holuys von cheyd ayre
Lochlan, ma 's maith mo bheachd, lochlau mas may' mo vechd
A cuartach Innse-fail le'm feachd. a cu-ar-tach innse-fayl lem fechd
Long was Caoilte under sorrow, Alone among the woods of Eite.
But Trenmor struck the shield (of alarms :)
With his chivalry came mighty Caoilte.
By degrees returned his tranquillity. He won fame, and followed the chase. " I remember," said Dargo, " the hero,
Like a kindly dream that has passed
away ; When a youth he steered with me on
Eite, His tears falling on his shield.
" What is the cause of thy sorrow,
(I said) Caoilte ? Why is thine age in sadness ?"
" My love is stretched under the turf." " Do thou frequent this place
In preference to all the bounds of the
forests?" What he asked was conceded to
Caoilte ; His memory has been often in my
song. Oh, that my fame were as lasting,
And myself with Crimora on clouds
friendly." " Thy fame will assuredly be lasting,"
Said Coval of the mildest converse ;
" But who are those with their broad
shields, Taking from us the light of the
horizon ? Lochlin, if I judge aright,
Is surrounding Innesfail with an army.
100
THE POETRY
'S an righ, bho ard uinneig stuadhaich, san ri vo ard uyn-eyg stu-a'ych
Ag amharc air son a chairdean buadhacli, ag av-arc ayr son a chayrdea buy'ach
Their e, le aighear na shuil : heyr e le ay'-er na huyl
" Tha Comhal am fagus le shiuil !" lia cuval am fagus le hi-uyl
Feuch Lochlan a nuas nar codhail, feych lochlan a nu-as nar co'-ayl
Is Armour ro' pa mar dhamh croice ; is armor ro pa mar yav croyce
Air traigh Eirein, a lamh ge bras, ayr tray' eyreyn a lav ge brass
Mise dh-fhuasgail a teann-ghlais. raise yu-asgayl a tenn-ylays
Tairnibh, mo ghaisgeich, o 'r leis
tayrniv mo yaysgich or leys
An lann ghlas, 's air cladach leumaibh ; an lann ylas sayr cla-dach leymiv
Le suil 's le cridhe laiste, euchdail, le suyl sle cri'-ti layste eychdel
An diugh dearbhar neart na Feinne. an d-i-u' dervar nert na feynne
Tog, a Dheirg, do sgia leathan ; tog a yeyrig do sgi-a le'-an
Crath, a Chonaill, to chraosnach ; era' a chonayl to chraosnach
Buail, aChaoirill, beum le'd chlaidheamh ; buyl a charyll beym led chlay-ev
Is seinnsa, Ullainn, dan chath-baoisge."* is seynn-sa ulaynn dan cha'-boysge
Choinnich sinn Lochlan, 's cha b-agh choynnich sinn lochlan 's cha ba1
dhuinn ; yuynn
Sheas iad romhain daingean, laidir, hes i-ad rov-aynn dayng-en lay-dir
Mar dhoire daraich air uchd Mheall- mar yoyrk daraych ayr uchd vell-
mhoir, voyr
Nach lub do dh-ailgheas nan siataibh. nach lub do yayl-yes nan shi-at-ayv
And the king, from the highest turret,
Looking for his friends victorious, He exclaims with joy in his eye :
" Yonder approaches Coval with his ships!"
Behold, Lochlan descends to meet us,
Armor before them like the antlered stag ;
On the shore of Erin, though bold his hand,
'Twas I that relieved it out of a tight lock.
Draw, my heroes, from your thighs Your grey blades, and spring on shore ;
With eyes and hearts kindling for deeds illustrious,
This day prove the strength of the Feinn.
Exalt, Cargo, thy broad shield ; Connal, shake on high thy crosnach ; Strike, Carril, with thy deadly sword ;
Ullin, sing thou the battle-song* of boisge."
We met Lochlin, and not for our weal ;
They stood before us, compact and
strong As a grove of oak on the breast of
Melmor,
Which bends not at the pleasure of the storms.
* " The Germans," says Tacitus, " have poems which are rehearsed in the field, and kindle the soul into flame. The spirit with which these Bongs are sung predicts the fortune of the approaching fight. In the compositions they study a roughness of sound, and a peculiarly abrupt and broken cadence. They lift the shield to their mouths, that the yoke may swell and be rendered more loud and sonorous by repercussion.
OF THE HIGHLAND CLANS.
101
Chunnaic Innse-fail* sinn an sarach, chunn-ic innse-fayl sin an sa-rach
Is bhruchd iad gu'n dail ga'r comhnadh. is vruchd i-ad gun dayl gar cov-na'
Chaidh Lochlan a sgapa o chiele, chay" lochlau a sgapa o cheyle
'S cha mhor gu'u chreuchdan bha beo e clia vor gun chreychdan va be-o
dhiu.
yuy
Choinnich Armour 's righ Innse-faile, choynn-ich armor sri innse-fayl
'S bu duaichnidh, gabhaidh an iomairt. sbu du-aych-ni' gav-i' an i-om-irt
Chaidh sleagh an righ an uchd a mhor- chay' sle-a' an ri an uchd a vor-
fhir, ir
Ged bu tiugh a sgia 's i laidir. ged bu ti-u' a sgi-a 's i ladir
Ghuil Lochlan is Innse-fail, yuyl lochlan is innshe-fayl
'S thuit deor le baigh o shuinn na Feinne. 's huyt de-oyrle bay' o huyn na feynne
Is sheinn am bard an t-oran tursach, is heynn am bard an toran tur-sach
Tra chunnas gu'n deo an ceann-feadhna. tra chunnas gun de-o an cen-feyna
Innesfail saw us in extremity, And rushed in haste to aid us. Lochlin was scattered asunder, And few of them survived unwounded.
Armor and the king of Innesfail
met,
And dark and dreadful was the con- flict.
The king's spear pierced the breast of the big man,
(Though) thick and strong was his
shield. Lochlan wept and so did Innesfail,
And tears of pity fell from the heroes
of the Feinn. Their bard sung the song of sorrow,
When was seen the head of the people had fallen.
CUMHADH AN FHIK-MHOIR.
Bha airde mar dharaig sa ghleann, va ayrd-e mar yarayg sa yle-ann
A luas mar iolair nam beann, gun gheilt, a lu-as mar i-ol-ayrnam benn gun yeylt
A spionna mar Loda na fheirg, a spionna mar loda na eyrig
A bhuille gun bhaigh, gun leigheas. a vuyllk gun vay' gun ley -as
O's moch do thuras gu d' neoil, o's moch do huras gu d' ne-oyl
Is og leinn, a laoich a thuit u. is og l^ynn a laoych a huyt u
Co dh-innseas an sgeula do'n aosda ? co yinnses an sgeyla don a-os-da
Co do'n og-mhnaoi gu'n d' eug u ? co don og-vnoy gun deyg u
LAMENT OF THE BIG MAN.
He was in height the oak of the vale,
In speed the mountain-eagle, without
fear, In strength, Loda in his rage,
His strokes pitiless and cureless. Oh, early is thy journey to the clouds, Too young we deem thy fall, hero. Who will tell the tale to the aged?
Who to thy young wife that thou art dead?
* Innse-fail.— It is worthy of remark, that the king or ceann-cath of the people of this country is called by his territorial title, while the king or ceann-cath of the Caledonians is simply called by his proper name, like any of his men.
102
THE POETRY
Chi mi t-athair fo eithir na h-aoise, chi mi ta'yr fo ey'-er na ha-oyse
Gu faoin an dochas ri thigheachd ; gu faoyn an dochas ri hi-achd
A lamh air an t-shleagh 's i air chridh, a lav ayr an tle-a' ' 's i ayr chri'
Sa cheann mar chrithean 'n am sine ; sa chenn mar chri-en an am sine
Meallaidh gach nial a shuil, mellay' gach ni-al a huyl
'S e'n duil gu faic e do bhata, s e'n duyl gu fayc c do vata
Seallaidh a chlann air an lear, sell-ay' a chlann ayr an ler
'S chi iad an ceatheach a seala. a chi i-ad an ce'-ech a se-o-la
Crathaidh easan a cheann liadh, cra'-ay' esan a chenn li-a'
Osna tiamhaidh 'sa ghnuis bronach. osna ti-avay' sa ynuys bronach
Tha Crimin fo f hiamh a ghaire, ha crimin fo i-av a yayre
A bruadar bhith air traigh a'd chomhail : a bru-adar vi' ayr tray' ad cho-ayl
A bilibh fosgailt a cuir failt ort, a bill-iv fosgaylt a cnyr faylt ort
'S lamhan sgaoilte gu d' ghlachadh, a lav-an sga-oylte gu d ylachca'
Och, a bhean-ghaoil, 's faoin do bhruadar och a ven yaoyl 's faoyn do vru-a-dar
An t-uasal gu brath cha'n f haic u ; an tu-a-sal gu bra' chan aye u
Fad o dhachaidh thuit do ghradh, fad o yachay' huyht do yra'
An Innse-fail fo smal tha mhaise. an innse-fayl fo smal ha vayse
Duisgidh t-usa a Chrimine,
duysgi' tusa a chrimine
'S chi u gu'n robh t-aisling mealta ; e chi u gun rov taysh-ling-melta
Ach c'uin a dhuisgeas a shuain, ach cuyn a yuysges a hu-ayn
An laoch thuit gu'n tuar san arich ? an laoch huyt gun tu-ar san arich
Guth nan gaothar na beum-sgeithe, gu' nan ga'oar na beym-sgey-e
Chachluinnerleatsachria-thighfhiurain. cha chluynner let sa chri-a hi' i-uyren
A shiol na leirge fagaibh an treun, a hi-ol na leyrge fagiv an treyn
I see thy father under the burden of years,
In vain hoping for thy return ; His hand on the spear, and it trembling, His grey head the aspen in the wind ; The clouds deceive him for thy sails, And he thinks he sees thy ship ; But the youth look over the sea, And see the mist sailing. He shakes his grey head, His sigh pensive, his face sorrowful. Crimina smiles in her sleep,
Dreaming that she is on the shore to meet thee :
Her lips are parted to salute thee, Her arms extended to embrace thee.
; Alas! lovely spouse, thy dream ig
fantasy, The (thorough) gentleman wilt thou
never see ! Far from home thy love has fallen ;
In Innesfail, a cloud fell on his beauty.
Thou shalt awake, Crimina,
And see that thy dream was deceitful,
But when will awake from his slum- bers The hero who fell pale on the field ?
The voice of the hounds, or the sound
of the alarm-giving shield, He hears not in his house of clay.
Race of the sea depart,
OF THE HIGHLAND CLANS.
103
Guth seamh na maidne cha chluinn e ;
gu' se-v na mayyd-ne clia chlnyn e
Cha dean e air comhnadh le airm, cha den e ayr covna le ayrm
Is coraig nan sleagh cha duisg e. is cor-ayg nan sle-a' cha yuysge
Beannachd do dh-anara an laoich, bennac do yan-am an laoych
Bu gharg colg a dol an ghniorah, bu yarg colag a dol an gni-av
Ard righ Lochlan, ceann an t-shluaigh ; ard ri' lochlan cenn an tlu-ay'
'S ioma ruig a thug a riamh. s i-oma ruyg a hug a ri-av
Bha airde mar dharaig sa ghleann, va ayrde mar yarayg sa ylenn
A luas mar iolair na'm beann gu'n gheilt, a lu-as mar i-olayr nam beann gun yeylt
A spionna mar Loda na f heirg, a spi-ona mar loda na eyrig
A bhuille gu'n bhaigh gu'n leagheas. a vuylle gun vay' gun le'-as
The mild voice of morninghe hears not; He will not assist you in battle ;
The conflict of spears will not awake him.
Blest be the soul of the hero, Whose aspect was firm when in action,
The high king of Lochlan, head of
the people ; Many a victory did he achieve.
He was in height the oak of the vale ;
In speed the mountain-eagle, without
fear; In strength, Loda in his rage, —
His strokes pitiless and cureless.
The following, being the first duan of the Poem of Temora, by Ossian, is called Cathgarva, both in Albin and Erin. I consider it as fair an average specimen of Ossian's style, as the foregoing is of the poetry of Ullin and Orran. I regret that want of space puts it out of my power to give similar specimens from the other ancient bards, especially Carril, the sweetest of them all ; but his poems are too lengthy for my space, as the phonetic spelling takes up so much room, and adds so greatly to the expense.
Tha gorm thonna na h-Eirinn an soilse, ha gorm honna na hey-rin an soyl-se
A beannaibh am boillsge an la,, a bennayv am boylsge an la
Croibh chiara ag aomadh fo ghaoidh, croyv clu-ar-a ag aoma' fo yaoy'
Liath-shruthain a taomadh o chairn ; li-a'-ru-'ayn a taoma' o chayrn
Feuch ! da thorn aillidh le'n darach uaine, fe'ch da horn ayl\ len darach u-ayne
Og aoma mu'n cuairt do chaol-rath, og aoma mun cuayrt do chaol-ra'
Tha tarruin a chochain ro ghleannaibh.
ha tarruyn a chochayn ro ylenniv
Air bruaich an uilt tha Cairber fein, ayr bruaych an uylt ha cayrber feyn
A shleagh, fo chomas an treun, ri thaobh, a le-a' fo chomas an treyn ri hoav
The blue waves of Erin are in light,
Her mountains in the brightness of
day; Dusky woods waving in the wind,
Grey streams pouring from rocky
peaks ; Behold, two beautiful hillocks with
their green oaks Bending round a narrow vale,
That draws its streamlet from glens.
On the bank of the burn is Cairber of
Atha, His spear ready by his side ;
104
A dhearg shuil fo ghiorraig, 's e bron. a yerag huyl fo yirrayg se bron
Dhe-eirich Cormag an anam an righ, yeyrich cormac an anam an ri'
Gun chli, is a lot na thaobh. gun chli is a Ibt na haov
Le f haichte, bha 'n t-og an dubhra, le aychte va'n tog an duvra
Fhuil chraobhach a srutha bho chliabh, uyl chrovach a sru'-a vo chli-av
Thog Cairber a shleagh tri uairen, hog cayrber a le-a' tri uayren
Tri uairen chuir e f heusag fo laimh ; tri u-ayren chuyr e eysag fo layv
Chaisg e tri uairean a cheum, chaysg e tri u-ayren a cheym
'S chrath e ruigli na'm beud gu h-ard. s chra' e ruy nam beyd gu hard
Mar niol am fasach a mor thriatb, mar ni-ol am fasach a mor ri-a'
A caochladh fo'n ghaoidh a dhealbh, a caochla' fo'n yaoy' a yel-av
Na gleannaibh a bron fo'n f hirich, na glenniv a bron fo'n irich
Ma seach fo ghiorraig nam braon. ma sech fo yirrig nam braon
Ghabh an righ a mhor anam dha fein, yav an ri' a vor anam ya feyn
Ghlac e sleagh nan treun na laimh, ylac e sleagh nan treyn na layv
Thiondaidh e shuil air cul magh Lena, hi-onday' e huyl ayr cul ma' lena
Far a bheil luchd faire nan gorm thonn. far a veyl luchg fayrres nan gorm honn
Thainig iad le'n ceumaibh fo f hiamh, haynig i-ad len ceymayv fo i-av
A coimhead trie air slios an t-shaile : a coyved trie ayr slis an tayle
Dh-aithnich Cairber gu'n d' thainig yaynich cayrber gun daynig
an righ.
an ri'
Ghairm e dorchadh na triadh gu lairnh. yayrm e dorcha' na tri-ay' gu layv
Grad thainig ceum f huaimer nan sonn, yrad haynig ceym u-aymer nan sonn
An ghlas-lannaibh lomadh nan laimhibh. an glass-lannayv loma'" nan lay'iv
An sin bha Morla uaibh-riach ciar, an sin ya morla u-ayv-rich ci-ar
His red eye is cowed ; he is in grief. Corinak rises on the soul of the king, Feeble, with a wound in his side. Half seen, in the shade, is the youth ; The blood pouring from his bosom. Cairber thrice lifted the spear,
Thrice stroked his beard with his hand,
Thrice checked his (forward) step, And shook his deadly arm on high.
Like a cloud in the desert is the great
chief, Changing its shape in the wind.
The glens darken below their hills, Alternately expecting the shower. The king resumed his mighty soul,
He grasped the spear of heroes in his hand.
He turned his eye on the back of Lena's hill,
Where are placed the watchers of the
blue waves. They approach in the steps of fear,
Often looking on the face of the sea. Cairber knew that the king was come.
He, darkly, called his warriors to his presence.
Quickly came the resounding steps
of the warriors, With their grey blades bare in their
hands. There was Morla, fierce and swarthy,
OF THE HIGHLAND CLANS.
105
An sin Dalla le chiobhan sa ghoidh ; an sin dalla le cbi-av-an sa yay'
Cormar ruadh ag aomadh air sleagh, cormar rn-a' ag oama' ayr sle-a'
A sealtain o thaobh borb fo ghruaim. a seltayn o hoav borb fo yru-aym
B-alluidh do shuil chrom a Mhalthuis, balluy' do huyl chrom a vallmys
Fo f haileas do mhor f habhraid, fo ayles do vor avrayd
Sheas Foldath mar charraig an sruth, hes folda' mar charrayg an sru'
A falach fo chothar a dubh-chruth, a falach fo cho'-ar a yuv-chru'
A shleagh f hada mar ghiubhas an a le-a' ada mar yuyvas an
t-shleibh, tleyv
A thachras ri doinnean nan speur ; a hach-ras ri doynnen nan speyr
A sgiath dearcach le beumibh comhraig ; a sgi-a' dercach le beymiv cov-rayg
A dhearg-shuil riamh gu'n f hiamh. a yerag-huyl ri-av gun i-av
lad sin is triath eille gu'n chuntas, i-ad sin is tri-a' eylle gun chuntas
Thionail dluth mu righ Eirinn, hi.nel dlu' mu ri' eyrinn
Noir thainig fear faire a chuain, noyr haynig fer fayrre a chuyn
Mor-aineal bho chruach Moilena, mor-aynel vo chru-ach moilena
A shuilean sealtinn claon o chean, a huylen seltinn claon o chenn
A ghuth air chrith, gu'n tuar a bheul. a yu' ayr chri' gun tu-ar a veyl
" An seas triadhaith na h-Eirinn air chul, an ses tri-a'-ay na heyrinn ayr chul
Balbh mar bhadain san oiche chiuin, balv mar vadayn san oyche chuyn
Na mar gharbh-choille fo mhuig ; na mar yarv-choylle fo vnyg
Is Fionnghal air an traigh a boilsge, — is fionn-yal ayr an tray' a boylsge
Fionn is uamhasaiche beum,
fionn is u-av-asayche beym
Ard righ nan treun bho shruthaibh
ard ri' nan treyn vo hru'-iv
Morbheinn ?" morveynn
There Dalla with his locks on the wind.
Red Cormar bending on his spear, Looking sideways from his surly face.
Wild was the down-looking eye of Malthus,
Under the shade of his large helmet. Foldath stood like a rock in the flood, With its dark form covered in foam, His spear, like a pine of the wold,
That has often met the storms of the sky;
His shield is marked with the strokes
of battle ; His red eye ever fearless.
These, and other innumerable chiefs,
Gathered close round the king of Erin,
When came the watcher of the sea, Moranel, from the height of Moilena, His eyes aslant in his head, His voice trembling, his lips colourless. " Stand the chiefs of Erin apart, Silent as a grove in a calm night, Or like a rough forest under a cloud ; And Fingal on the beach gloaming, Fingal of dreadful sword-cuts,
The lofty king of the heroes of Mor- ven of streams ?"
106
" Am facadh t-u an gaisgeach nach fann," am faca' tu an gaysh-gech nach fann
Arsa Cairber o spairn a chleibh ; arsa cayrber o spayrn a chleyv
" A bheil a laoich lionar air an traigh ? a veyl a laoych li-o-nar ayr an tra-i
An tog e sleagh comhraig o dheigh, an tog e sle-a' cov-rig o yey'
No'n d' thainig an treun an sith?" non d-aynig an treyn an si'
"An sith cha d'thainig e, a righ an si' cha daynig e a ri'
Eirinn, eyrinn
Bha roinn a shleagh roi' 'n treun a suas, The point of the spear was before him
" Hast thou seen the hero that is not feeble,"
Said Cairber from his labouring breast ;
l< Are his warriors numerous on the
shore ? Does he advance the battle-spear,
Or comes the mighty in peace ?" " In peace he comes not, king of Erin,
va roynn a le-a' roy an treyn a su-aa
Mar mhall dhreag* a bhais ag eiridh, mar vail yreg a vaysh ag eyri'
'S fuil mhiltean a taomadh mu chruaidh. s fuyl vilten a taoma' mu chruy
B-es' a leum an tus air tir, bes a leym an tus ayr tir
Laidir fo leadan liadh na h-aois. la-dir fo ledan li-a' na haoys
'S Ian, feitheach, garbh-challapanach an 's Ian fey'-ech garv challa-pan-ach an
righ, ri'
Ach 's eatrora gu'n strith a cheum. ach s e-trora gun stri' a cheym
Air taobh an treun tha chlaidheamh fiar, ayr ta-ov an treyn ha chlay-ev fi-ar
An dara beum a choidh nach iarr ; an dara beym a choy' nach i-arr
A sgiath leathan uamhasach na laimh, a sgi-a le'-an u-a-vas-ach na layv
Mar chearcal fuileach re 's i Ian, mar cher-cal fuyl-ech re si Ian
Geiridh gu dana tre stairm. gey-ri' gu dana tre stayrm
Lean Oissian, righ caoin nam form,
len oissian ri' caoyn nam fonn
'S mac Mhoimi sonn oscion nan triath. 8 mao morni sonn os-ci-on nan tri-a'
Leum Connal air shleagh o thuinn ; leym connal ayr le-a' o huynn
Is Diarmaid donn nan trom chiabh. is di-ar-mid donn nan trom chi-av'
on high, Like the meteor* of death ascending,
(Prognosticating) the fall of thousands
in death. He was the first to spring on shore,
Strong in the grey locks of age.
Full, sinewy, brawny-legged is the king,
But light and free are his steps.
Aslant, on the side of the mighty, is
the sword That never needs to repeat a cut ;
His broad and dreadful shield on his
arm, Like the bloody circle of the full-orbed
planet, Advancing daringly through the storm.
Ossian followed, mild king of lays,
And the son of Morni, a hero above
chiefs. Connal leaped on his spear over the
waves, And brown Diarmid of the heavy
locks.
* A meteor which, when Been on any road leading to a burying-ground, is euperstitiously assumed to portend the death of some one, who will soon be carried on that path to his or her graye.
OF THE HIGHLAND CLANS.
107
Lub Fillean a bhogha le morchuis,
lub fillen a vo'-a le mor-chuys
Og shealgair Mhoru nan sliabh ; og he-lager voru nan sli-av
Ach co sud air ceann nan treim, ach co sud ayr cenn nan treyn
Mar gharbh-shiubhal shruth o bheinn ? mar yarv-hi-uval hru' o veynn
Co ach mac Oissean an triath ; co ach mac oissean an tri-a'
Mar bhoisge teine misg a chiabh, mar voysgd teyne misg a chi-av
A leadan fada tha Ian chuach, a lecl-an fa-da ha Ian cha-ach
Fhabhaid dhubh le chielt' an cruaidh, a-ayd yuv le cheylt an cruy'
A lann air ial a trial ri thaobh, a lann ayr i-al a tri-al ri hoav'
A shleagh a siubhal boilsgeadh baoth. a le-a' a si-u-val boyl-sge' bao'
Theich mi o gharg shuil an t-sheoid, heych mi o yarg huyl an te-oyd
A righ Thighmora is mor cliu." a ri' hi'-mora is mor cli-u
" Teich usa, fhir dhonadh, gu'n teych usa ir yona' gun
fheum," eym
Arsa Foldath, gruamach am feirg ; arsa fol-da' gru-am-ach am feyrig
" Teich-sa gu d' Hath-shruthaibh f hein, tiych-sa gu d' li-a'-hru'ayv heyn
Anamain is goinne, is meirg an diamhair. an-am-ayn is goynne is meyrig an di-var
Nach facar linn an t-Oscar donn ? nach fac-ar linn an tos-car donn
Chunnaic raise an triath an comhraig. chunn-ic mis an tri-a' an cov-rayg
An cunnart, dheth na trcin tha'n sonn ; an cunnart ye' na treyn han sonn
Ach 's iomadh sleagh is sonn an Eirinn. ach si-oma' sle-a' is sonn an eyrinn
A righ Thighmora nan ard chraobh, a ri' hi'-mora nan ard chra-ov
Leig dhomhsa tachairt ris an t-sheod ; leyg yovsa tach-ayrt ris an te-od
Is caisgidh mi 'n sruth mor na dheann. is cays-gi' min sru' mor na yenn
Ma shleagh tha nighte am fuil, ma le-a' ha ni'-te am fuyl
Fillan bent with pride his bow, The youthful hunter of Mom of wolds.
But who is he that is at the head of the hosts,
Moving impetuous as a spate from the hills?
Who but the son of Ossian, the hero ; Glowing amid his locks His long hair is full of curls His black helmet half hid in steel, — His sword is restless on his side, His eager spear gleams wickedly. I fled from the fierce eye of the hero, King of Temora of great renown."
" Fly, then, mannikin unfit for deeds,"
Said Foldath, frowning and wrathful ; " Fly thou to thy own grey streams, Scant soul, and rust in secret. Have I not seen this Oscar ? I have seen the hero in battle. In danger he is of the mighty ;
But there are many spears and heroes
in Erin. King of Temora of lofty woods,
Let me meet the hero ;
I will stop this mountain spate in its
speed. My spear has been washed in blood,
108
THE POETRY
'S tha mo sgiath mar bhalla Thuradh." s ha mo sgi-a' mar valla hur-a'
"An coinnich Foldath na aonar na an coynn-ich fol-da' na o-anar na
daimh?" da-iv
Arsa Malthas na fabhrad ciar ; arsa mal-thas na fav-rad ci-ar
" Nach 'eil iad cho laidir air an traigh nach eyl i-ad cho layd-ir ayr an tra-i
Hi co-thional garbh-shruth nan sliabh ? ri co-hinal garv-hru' nan sli-av
Nach iad sud na trein thug buaidh nach i-ad sud na treyn hug buy'
Thair Stiaran nan cruaidh-bheum, hayr su-ar-an nan cruy'-veym
Noir ghabh sliochd Eirinn an ruaig ? noyr yav shliochd eyrinn an ru-ayg
'S an tachair Foldath ri'n corr-threun ? san tachayr fol-da' rin corr-hreyn
A chridhe bhosdail is ciar beus, a chri-e' vosdayl is ci-ar beys
Gabh spionnadh dluthach an t-luaigh, — gav spi-onn-a' dlu'-ach an tlu-ay'
Gabh Malthas maille ri threun. gav malthas mayllfc ri hreynn
Bha mo chlaidheamh le beumaibh ruadh, va mo chla'-ev le beym-eyv ru-a'
Ach co a chualadh gu fear mo ghuth ?" ach co a chu-al-a' gu fi-ar mo yu'
" A shliochd Eirinn is uaine raon," a hli-ochd eyrinn is u-ayne roan
Thuirt triath Chlaonrath nan caoin huyrt tri-a' chlaon-ra' nan ca-oyn
shruth, hru'
" Na cluinneadh Fion air briaraibh faoin ; na cluynne' fi-onn ayr bri-arayv fa-oyn
Na biodh solas air naimhdean an diugh, na bi-o' solas ayr nayv-den an di-u'
A cuir spionnadh nan laimh san tir. a cuyr spi-onna' nan layv san tir
'S treun sibh fein a shiol na'm blar, streyn siv feyn a hi-ol nam blar
Mar ghaillen o ghair a chuain, — mar yayllen o yayr a chu-ayn
Mar stairm a thachrais ri sgeir aird, mar stayrm a hach-ris ri sgeyr ayrd
A bheir a coille gu lar 'o cruaich ; a veyr a choyllfc gu lar o chru-aych
My shield is like the wall of Tura."
"Will Foldath alone meet the strangers ?"
Said Malthas of the dun helmet ; " Are they not as strong on the shore
As the congregated waters of the wolds ?
Are not these the mighty who con- quered Swaran of hardy sword-cuts,
When the race of Erin fled ?
And will Foldath meet their surpassing
hero? Man of the boasting heart and dusky
deeds, Take the united strength of the
people, — Take Malthas and his warriors.
My sword with strokes has been red,
But who has heard from me crooked
words ?" " Race of Erin of green hills,"
Said the chief of Clonrath of mild streams,
" Let not Fingal hear your words vain ; Let not the enemy rejoice to-day,
And be strengthened in the land (by
your divisions.) Mighty are ye, race of battles,
As a storm on the roaring sea,— A storm that meets a lofty sea-rock,
Or tears forests from the breasts of mountains ;
OF THE HIGHLAND CLANS.
109
Ach glauiseadh mid nar rieart gu leir, ach gluys-e' mid nar nert gu leyr
Mall mar mhor cho-thional nial, mall mar vor cho-henal ni-al
Bidh georrag air sar mhac nam beum, bi' girrag ayr sar vac nam beym
Is tuitidh a shleagh gu'n fheum 'o'n is tuyti' a hle-a' gun eym on
triadh. tri-a'
' Chi sinn dubh nial a bhais,' chi sinn duv ni-al a vayis
Their iad, is failas a fas m' an tuar. heyr i-ad is faylas a fas man tu-ar
Bidh bron air Fionn aosda na baigh, bi' bron ayr fi-onn aos-da na bay'
Sa chliuasioladh airtraigh gu'n bhuaidh: sa chli-u a si-ol-a' ayr tray' gun vu-ay'
Cha'n fhaicear a Morbhein ceum an chan ayc-er a mor-veynn ceym an
triath, tri-a'
'S bidh coineach na 'm bliadhnadh an s bi' coynech nam bli-an-a' an
Selma." selma
An samhchair dh-eisd Cairber ruadh, an sav-chir yeysd cerber ru-a'
Mar dhuth-nial nan stuadh air raon, — mar yu' -ni-al nan stu-a' ayr raon
Nial a sheasas dorch air Cromleac, ni-al a hesas dorch ayr crom-lec
Gus am brist dealan a thaobh. gus am brist dellan a haov
Laiseaidh gleanna ri boilsge nan speur, lays-i' glenna ri boilsge nan speyr
Bidh tannais gu'n fheum fo sholas. bi' tann-aysh gun eym fo hol-as
Mar sin an samhchair sheas an righ, mar sin an sav-chir hes an ri'
Gus 'n do ghluais le brigh a ghuth : gus n do ylu-aysh le bri' a yu'
" Sgaoilear a chuirm air Moilena ; sgoyler a chuyrin ayr moilena
Thigeadh mo cheud bard a nail, hige' mo cheyd bard a nail
Olla, nan ciabh dubh-ruadh, eirich, olla nan ci-av duv-ru-a' ey-rich
Gabh clarsach righ Eirinn a'd laimh ; gav clarsach ri' eyrinn ad la-iv
But let us move in combined strength, Slowly as a great gathering of clouds,
So shall fear fall on the surpassing
son of the sword, And the spear fall deedless from his
hand.
' We see the dark cloud of death,'
They will say, while a shade spreads over their faces.
Sorrow will overtake Fingal the com- passionate and aged,
While his fame melts away without victory :
In Morven will not be seen the steps of the hero,
The m^ss of years will cover Selma."
Ked Cairber listened in silence,
Like a dark cloud, from the waves, on the heath, —
A cloud that stands darkly on Cromla,
Until the lightning breaks from its
side. The glens are lighted by the flash,
And deedless spirits under rejoicing. Thus in silence stood the king, Until his voice was heard significantly :
" Spread the feast on Moilena ; Approach my hundred bards. Kise, Olla of the dark-brown locks,
Take the harp of Erin's king in thy hand;
110
THE POETRY
Siubhail gu Oscar nan lann,
si-uv-ayl gu oscar nan lann
'S thoir cuire dha gu fleagh an righ. B hoyr cuyre ya gu fle-a' an ri'
An diugh biodh cuirm is fonn sa ghleann, an di-u' bi-o' cuyrm is fonn sa ylenn
A maireach bristear linn na sleaigh. a mayrech brister linn na sle-ay'
Innis gu'n d' thog mi suas innis gun d hog mi su-as
Uaigh Chathail fo luaidh na'm bard, u-ay' cha'-ayl fo lu-ay' nam bard
Thug mi charaid truagh do'n ghaoith. hug mi charid tru-a' don yaoy'
Innis dha gu'n chualas mu'n bhuaidh innis ya gun chu-al-as mun vu-ay'
A choisinn e aig fuar-shruth Charuinn. a choysin e ayg fu-ar-hru' charuynn
Cha'n fhaic mi 'n so mo bhrathair chan aye min so mo vra'yr
treun, treyn
Cha' neil Cathmor le cheudaibh ri'm cha-neyl ca'-mor le cheydayv rim
thaobh, ha-ov
Tha air lamhan gann fo airm. ha ayr lavan gann fo ayrm
'S namhaid Cathmor do strith nam fleagh, s nav-id ca'-mor do stri' nam fle-a'
Tha anam mor mar dhearsadh greine ; ha anam mor mar yersa' greynnfc
Ach bristeaidh Cairber sleagh ri Oscar, ach brist-i' cerber sle-a' ri oscar
A thriathaidh Thighmora, air comhnard a hri-a'-ay' hi-mora ayr cov-nard
Lena.
lena
Labhair e dana ma Chathul, lavayr e dana ma cha'-ul
'S tha manam a lasadh le feirg. s ha manam a lasa' le feyrig
Tuitidh Oscar air Moileua, tuyti' oscar ayr moylena
'S eiridh na fhuil mo chliu." s eyri' na uyl mo chli-u
Shoilsich solas an aghaidh nan treun, hoylsich solas an a' -ay' nan treyn
Is sgaoil iad misg crianach Moilena. is sgoyl i-ad misg cri-aynach moylena
Go to Oscar of swords, Invite him to the king's feast.
To-day we will have a banquet in the glen,
To-morrow we will break spears. Tell him that I raised on high
The tomb of Cathul amid the songs
of bards. I have given his poor friend to the
wind. Tell him that I heard of the victory
He gained at the cold stream of Carron. I see not here my mighty brother,
Cathmor and his hundreds are not with us,
And our hands are few in war. Cathmor is a foe to conflicts at feasts, His great soul is all sunshine ;
But Cairber will break a spear against
Oscar, Chiefs of Temora, on the plain of Lena.
He spoke daringly of Cathul,
And my soul is kindled with indig- nation. Oscar shall fall on Moilena,
And my fame rise from his fall."
Joy glowed in the faces of the
warriors, They spread themselves among the
coppice of Moilena.
OF THE HIGHLAND CLANS.
Ill
Tha cuirm is slige ga deasachadh shuas, ha cuyrm is sligfc ga desacha' hu-as
'S fonn nan clar 'a nan duan ag eiridh. s fonn nan clar s nan du-an ag eyri'
Chuala triathaidh Shelma an solas, chu-al-a tri-a'-ay' helma an solas
'S shaoil Cathmor corr gu'n d'thainig, s haoyl ca'-mor corr gun dayn-ig
Cathmor corr, ceann-uidhe nan daimh, ca'-mor corr cenn-uy' nan dayv
Brathair Chairber nan ruadh chiabh ; bra'ayr cayr-ber nan ru-a' chi-av
Cha bu choimeas an da anam. cha bu choyraes an da anam
Bha solus nan speur an uchd Chathmoir. va solus nan speyr an uchd cha'-moyr
Do dh-Atha na'ra bruach, a thuir ard, do ya'-a nam bruach a huyr ard
Tha seachd aisereann a sine, ha sechd ayseren a sink
'S air gach aisre bard na sheasaibh, s ayr gach aysh-re bard na hesayv
A cuireadh dhaimh do thalla na fial ; a cuyrfc yayv do halla na fi-al
Ach shuidh Cathmor an uaigneas, ach huy' ca'-mor an u-ayg-nes
A seachnadh bhi ag eisteachd ri chliu. a sech-na' vi ag eyst-achd ri chli-u
Thainnig Olla ruadh le dhain. haynig olla ru-a' le yayn
Ghluais Oscar gu'n dail gu cuirm, yluys oscar gun dayl gu cuyrm
Le tri ceud gaisgeach, ri laimh, le tri ceyd gaysgech ri layv
Roi Lena nan lan-shruth gorma, roy lena nan lan-hru' gorma
A liath-choiu a leum san fhraoch, a li-a'-choyn a leyrn san raoch
'S tre'n garbh-chonas a sgaoile thall. stren yarv-chonas a sgoyle hall
Chunnaic Fionn an sonn a trial, chunnayc fi-onn an sonn a tri-al
'S thuit anam an treun fo bhron,
s huyt anam an treyn fo vron
Neo-chinteach ma Chairber cealgach, ne-o-chinntech ma chayrber ce-la-gach
Le smuamtean fiar misg cuirm is oil. le smuynten fi-ar misg cuyrm is oyl
The feast and the shell are preparing
above,
And the sound of harps and lays ascending.
The chiefs of Selma heard the re- joicing,
And thought that Cathmor had ar- rived,
Cathmor the surpassing, the host of strangers,
The brother of red-haired Cairber ;
But unlike were their two souls.
The light of heaven was in the bosom of Cathmor.
To Atha of banks where (rises) his
high turrets, Seven passes (ravines) lead,
And on each pass a bard is placed, To invite strangers to the social hall ;
But Cathmor kept aloof from the
(fulsome) voice of praise, To avoid listening to his fame.
Eed Olla came with his lays.
Oscar went without hesitation to the
feast, With three hundred warriors in his
train,
Through Lena of blue and ample
streams, His grey dogs bounding through the
heather And the strong gorse of the wold.
Fingal saw the hero departing, And his soul sunk in grief, Uncertain of Cairber the treacherous,
And his oblique thoughts at the feast and the drinking.
112
THE POETEY
Thog mo mhac sleagh Chormaic na hog mo vec sle-a' chormayc na
laimh ; la-iv
Bha ceud baird a seinn air sliabh,
va ceyd bayrd a seynn ayr sli-av
Ach clieil Cairber am bas bha snamh ach cheyl cayrber am bas va snav
Fo dhubhradh san am, na chliabh. fo yuvra' san am na chli-av
Fleagh tha sgailte, sligean a fuaim, fle-a' ha sgayltfc slegen a fu-aym
'S eudain an t-shluagh an solus dealrach s eydayn an tluy' an solus delrach
Ach chitear solus* mall is fann ach chiter solus mall is fann
A dearsadh fada thall air Lena, a dersa' fada hall ayr lena
Sa cheann dearg le-chleite an dorchas. sa chenn derag le-chleyte an dor-chas
Dh-eirich Cairber thall an airm, yeyrich cayrber hall an ayrm
'S dubhradh a bhais na ghruaidh. 8 duvra' a vaysh na yru-ay'
Chaisg fonn chlarsaichean nan teud, chaysg fonn chlarsaychen nan teyd
Chualas screadan nan sgiath m'an cuairt. chu-al-as scredan nan sgi-a' man cu-ayrt
Fada thall air uchd an t-shleibh, fada hall ayr uchd an tleyv
Thog Olla dubh-ruadh guth a bhroin. hog olla duv-ru-a' gu' a vroyn
Dh-aithnich Oscar comhara bhais : yay'nich oscar covara vays
Ghluais is ghlachd gu'n dail a shleagh. ylu-ays is ylachd gun dayl a le-a'
" Oscair," arsa Cairber ruadh, oscayr arsa cayrber ru-a'
" Tha mi faicean sleagh buaidh na ha mi faycen sle-a' bu-ay' na
h-Eirinn, heyrinn
My son carried the spear of Cormak in his hand ;
There were a hundred bards singing
on the wold, But Cairber concealed the death that
was swimming In the dark thoughts of his bosom.
The feast is spread, the shells sound,
: And the faces of the people are in a
blaze of light : But a light* slow and faint is seen
Afar on Moilena,
With its red head half hid in the
darkness. Cairber started opposite in arms,
The darkness of death on his cheek. The tuneful sound of the harp ceased,
And the harsh sound of shields was heard.
At a distance, on the breast of the hill,
Dark-red Olla raised the song of
lamentation. Oscar knew the sign of death :
He rose in haste, and seized his arms. " Oscar," said red-haired Cairber,
" I see the spear of victorious Erin in thy hand,
Sleagh f hada Thighmora nan stuadh, sle-a' ada hi'-mora nan stu-a'
A boillsgeadh a t-laimh noir dh-eirich. a boylsga' at layv noyr yeyrich
A mhic Morbhein nan coiltean ciar, a vie mor-veynn nan coylten ci-ar
The long spear of Timora of waves, Shining in thy hand, when thou arose. Son of Morven of dusky woods,
* See a previous note on the death-meteor,
OF THE HIGHLAND CLANS.
11.3
Sleagh dhuchais nan cead righ, sle-a' yuchays nan ceyd ri'
Bas an strith do threin 'o shean ; has an stri' do hreyn o hen
Geil i, a mhic Oissian, gu'n spairn, — geyl i a vie oyslien gun spayrn
Gcil i do Chairber nan carabad." geyl i do cayrber nan carabad
"An geil mi," fhreagair an treun, an geyl mi regayr an treyn
" Sleagh ri Eirinn na'ra beim cruaidh ; sle-a' ri eyrinn nam beym cruy'
An t-sbleagh a thug Cormac dhomh fein, an tle-a' a hug cormac yov feyn
Noir sgap sin a naimhdean 'o thuath ? noyr sgap sin a nayvden o hu-a'
Thainig mi gu talla na feile, haynig mi gu talla na feyle
Noir tbeich iad 'o Fbionn na'm buadh. noyr heych i-ad o i-onn nam bu-a'
Dh-eirich solas an aghaidh na h-oige ; yeyrich solas an ay' na hoyg-e
Chuir e'm laimh sleagh Thighmora. chuyr em layv sle-a' himora
Cha d'thug e i do lag fo dhoruin,— cha d hug e i do lag fo yoruyn
Do dh-anam ni basd gu'n gbniomh. do yanam ni basd gun yni-ov
Cha' u cagal dhomhsa do ghruaim, chan egal yov-se do yruym
Cha theine bais do shuil dhomh fein : cha heyne bays do huyl yov feyn
A Cairber cuir giorrag air traill, — a chayrber cuyr giorag ayr trayl
Tha anam Oscar mar charraig." ha anam oscayr mar charrayg
" Geil dhomsa an t-shleagh gu'n dail," geyl yovsa an tle-a' gun dayl
Thuirt Cairber, is ardan ag eiridh, huyrt cayrber is ard-an ag eyri'
" Bheil t-f hocail morchuiseach ard, veyl tocayl morchuyshech ard
Chionn Fionn bhith air traigh na chi-onn fi-onn vi' ayr tra-i na
h-Eirinn, hC-yrinn
Fionnghal nan leadan liadh, fi-onnyal nan ledan li-a'
0 chailltean ciara na Morbhcann ? o chaylten ci-ara na morvenn
It is the hereditary spear of the first
kings, The death, in conflicts of heroes of old ;
Yield, son of Ossian, without a struggle, Yield it to Cairber of the cars." " Shall I yield," answered the hero,
" The spear of the kings of Erin of
hard strokes, — The spear given by Cormac to myself,
When we scattered his foes from the north ?
I came to the hospitable mansion,
When they fled before victorious
Fiugal ; Joy arose in the face of the youth :
He placed in my hand the spear of Tiinora.
Nor did he give it to the feeble and helpless,
Nor to the little soul who boasts with- out deeds.
Thy frown is no terror to me.
Nor thine eye the fire of death. Cairber, frighten thralls, — The soul of Oscar is like a rock." " Yield, on the instant, the spear," Said Cairber, his rage arising. " Are thy words so big and lofty,
Because Fingal is on the shore of Erin.
Fingal of the grey locks, From the dusky woods "t Mviven?
p
114
THE POETEY
Bha chogadh riamh ri doine fann ; va choga' ri-av ri doyne1 fann
Ach thigeadh e nail gu Cairber ! ach hig-e' e nail gu cayrber
Mar f haileas a snamh an gleann, mar ay-lis a snav an glenn
Na ceathach a leughadh a fasach, na ce'-ach a le'-a' a fas-ach
Aomaidh e gu'n chliu o Atha." aomay' e gun chli-u o a'-ha
" Na'm biodh a fear thog beum air nam bi-o' a fer hog beym ayr
fann, fann
A tarruin a loin air Cairber, a tarruyn a loyn ayr cayrber
Bheiridh e Eirinn uaine nan gleann veyre' e eyrinn uyne nan glenn
Air son sabhalath 'o laimh an righ. ayr son savala' o layv an ri'
Na labhair ma Fhionn a Chairber, na lavayr ma i-onn a cayrber
Tog do sgiath 's do chlaidheanah riumsa. tog do sgi-a' s do chlayev ri-umsa
An spionnadh theagaibh gu'n coimeas an spi-onn-a' hegayv gun coym-as
sinne ; sinne
Ach tha righ na Morbheann cliutach, — ach ha ri' na mor-venn cli-u-tacli
Ceannard flathail nan ard thriath." cennard fla'-ayl nan ard ri-a'
Chunnaic an cairdean maraon, chunnic an cayrden maroan
Dubhradh ag eiridh nan ghruaidhean, duvra' ag eyri' nan gruay'-en
Dh-aom iad an comhair a cheile. yoam i-ad an covayr a cheyle
An suilean laiste, an ceumaibh du- an snylen layste an ceym-ayv du-
aichnidh. aych-ni'
Leum-claidhean 'o mhile slios, leym chlay'-en o vi-le slis
Chaisg Olla na fios a fonn,— chaysg olla na fis a fonn
Olla ruadh na'm brosnachadh dana ; olla ru-a nam bros-nacha' dana
Chrith anam Oscair le solas, chri' anam oscayr le solas
He ever fought against the feeble ; But let him come to meet Cairber ! Like a shadow swimming in a glen,
Or like mist melting away in the
desert, He will incline, without fame, from
Atha." " If he who made war on the feeble
Were to draw his sword on Cairber,
He would give green Erin with its glens,
To escape the hand of the king. Speak not, Cairber, of Fingal ; Rise thy shield and sword against me. Our strength may, perhaps, be equal,
But the king of Morven is famed, As head chief, among exalted heroes."
Their friends alike saw Darkness growing on their cheeks. They bent toward one another ;
Their eyes flashing, their steps threatening :
Swords sprang from a thousand thighs. Olla, the prophetic, ceased the song, Ked Olla, of daring war-songs ; The soul of Oscar swelled
OK THE HIGHLAND CLANS.
115
Leis an t-sholas bu glina do' a triath, leys an tolas bu yna don tri-a'
Noir bhuail corn-caismachd an righ. noyr vuyl corn-cays-mac an ri'
Mar thuinn a taomadh air traigh gu'n mar huyun a taoma ayr tray' gun
fhuaim, uym
Mu'n cluinnear gairich cuain fo ghaoidh, Before is heard the roar of the sea
With joy, — the joy the hero used to
feel When the boss of alarms was struck
by the king.
As waves pour noiselessly on the shore,
mun cluynner gayricli cuyn fo yaoy
Thional mu Chairber a shluagh, hi-o-nel mu chayrber a h-lu-a'
Samhach dorcha, dur is baoth ; savach dorcha- dur is bao
A nighean Thoscair, c'iume do dheoir ? a ni'en hosgayr chuymfc do ye-oyr
Cha do thuit an triath nach faoin ; cha do huyt an tri-a' nach faoyn
'S iomadh bas a dh-iadh mu'n tor, si-otna' bas a yi-a' mun tor
Ma'n d'aom a fear corr air a thaobh. man daom a fer corr ayr a haov
Faic iad a tuite roimh 'n triath, fayc i-ad a tuyte joyv n tri-a'
Mar choille air sliabh san f hasach, mar choylle ayr sli-av san asach
Noir thig taibhse nan sian na f heirg, noyr hig tayvse nan si-an na eyr-ig
A chuir giorraig air cloinn na h-airidh, a chuyr girrayg ayr cloynn na hayri'
A glachdadh baraibh nan crann, a glac-a' barayv nan crann
'S ga'n sgavadh le neart gu lar. sgan sgara le nert gu lar
Thuit Morla 's Mathronan fo bhas, huyt raorla s ma'-ronan fo vas
Dh-aom Conachair gu lar na f huil, yaom chonachayr gu lar na uyl
Theich Cairber 'o lain an t-shair, heych cayrber o layn an tayr
Ga f halach fein san dubhrodh,
ga alach feyn san duvra'
Air culabh cloiche nan cruth crom. ayr culav cloych nan cru' crom
'N sin thog e gu diamhair an t-shleagh, 'n sin hog e gu di-avayr an tle-a'
under the wind, Gathered his people round Cairber,
Silent, dark, obstinate, wicked. Daughter of Toscar, why that tear ? The hero did not fall helplessly. Many deaths encompassed the hill,
Before the surpassing man leaned on
his side. Behold how they fall before the hero,
Like the forest of the wold,
When the spirit of the (embattled) elements,
To frighten the children of the shiel- ing,
Seizes on the lofty tops of the trees,
And dashes them violently to the
ground. Morla and Mathronan fell dead ;
m
his
Conacher slowly bent down
blood, — Cairber fled from the blade of the hero,
And hid himself in the shade, Behind the stone of bending ghosts.* There he lifted the spear in secret,
* The worshipping altar, or pillar of the Gothic clans, is always called the stone of bending ghost by Ossian. This battle must therefore have been fought in the territory of the southern or Gothic clans of Ireland.
116
THE POETRY
Is bbuail nimhael i 'n taobh Oscair. is vuyl niv-el i'n taov oscayr
Thuit an gaisgeach air a glun, huyt an gaysgach ayr a ylun
A sgiath fo uillin, a shleagh na laimh ; a sgi-a fo uyllin a hle-a' na la-iv
Faic Cairber na sbine 'san smuir, fayc cayrber na hine san smuyr
Bar geur na cruaidh chaidh tre cheann, bar geyr na cruay' chay tre chenn
Is sgoilt an ruadh-cbiabh air a cbul. is sgoylt an ru-a'-chi-av ayr a chul
Mar cliarraig a bristeadh bho shliabh mar charr-ayg a brista' vo li-av
crom, crom
Thuit an sonn bu dorcbadh gniomb. huyt an sonn bu dorcha' gni-av
Noir chratbas Eirinn uain i fein, noyr chra'-as eyrinn uynfc i feyn
0 bheinn gu beinn 's o mbuir gu muir : o veyn gu beyn 's o vuyr gu muyr
Cha'n eiricb Oscar donn a cboidb ! chan eyrich oscar donn a choy'
Tha e ag aoma ri taic a sgeitbe, ha e ag aoma ri tayc a sgey-'e
Is sleagh nan ceud bas na laimh. is sle-a' nan ceyd bas na layv
Sheas Eirinn thall air an t-shliabh, hes eyrinn hall ayr an tli-av
Le fuim mar mhonbhar nan sruth ; le fuyra mar vonvar nan sru'
Fhreager Lena nan cruth fo'n ceurn. reger lena nan cru' fon ceym
Chuala Fionnghal tball an toirm, chu-ala fi-onnyal hall an toyrm
Gblac e sleagh Shelma nam beum, ylac e sle-a' helma nara beym
Sgaoil a cheum ri uchd an t-shleibh. sgoyl a cheym ri uc an tleyv
Gu broin a taomadh o bheul : gu broyn a to-ama' o veyl
" Cluinneam iargail is comhrag, cluynnam i-argayl is cov-rag
Tha Oscar na oanar sa bhlar ; ha oscar na o-anar sa vlar
Gluaiseabb f hearaibh na Morbheann, glu-aysev erayv na mor-venn
'S buailibh an comhnadh a lainn." s buyliy an covna' a laynne
And struck it fiercely into the side of Oscar.
The hero fell on his knee,
His shield under his elbow, his spear
in his hand. Lo ! Cairber, stretched in the dust ;
The sharp point of the steel went
through his head, And split the red locks behind.
Like a rock falling from the cliff,
Fell the hero of dark deeds, When green Erin shakes herself,
From mountain to mountain and sea
to sea. Brown-haired Oscar will never rise!
He is leaning down on his shield,
With the spear of a hundred deaths
in his hand. Erin stood aloof on the wold,
With a noise like the murmur of
streams ; Lena of ghosts answered to their steps.
Fingal heard the distant sounds ; He seized the deadly spear of Selma.
He stretched his steps against the
breast of the wold, The voice of sorrow bursting from
his mouth : 11 1 hear the sound of conflict,—
Oscar is alone in battle :
Move, men of Morven,
And strike in aid of his sword."
OF THE HIGHLAND CLANS.
117
Bu luadh mo clieum ris an raon, bu lu-a' mo cheym ris an raon
Leum Fillan thair fraoch Moilena, leyra fillan hayr fraoch moylena
Na neart ghluis Fonnghal nach faoin : »a nert yluysh fionn-yal nach faoyn
B-uamhain an dealradh bha 'g eiridh, bu-avayn an delra' va geyri'
O'n sgeith air guaillin an laoich ; on sgey' ayr gu-aylin an laoych
Chunnaic siol Eirinn fada thall, chunnayc si-ol eyrinn fada hall
Dealradh mall 'o cheann na leirg, delra' mall o chenn na leyrig
Dh-aithnich iad nach d'eirich gann, yaynich i-ad nach deyrich gann
High nan lann na-throm f heirg. ri' nan lann na rom eyr-ig
Bha'm has ag iadhadh mall mu smu- vam bas ag i-a-ya' mall mu smu-
aintibh. ayn-tiv
Rainig sinne ; bhuail sin comhraig ; raynig sinne vuyl ..sin cov-rayg
Chaisg triathaibb na h-Eirinn air cursa ; chaysg tri-a'y-iv na heyrinn ayr cursa
Ach noir thainnig an righ na neart, ach noyr hayn-ig an ri' na ne-art
Chlisg an cridhe bu danaidhbho chruaidh. cblisg an cri'-e bu danay' vo chru-ay
Theicb iad 'o chruacbaibh Moilena, heych i-ad o chru-ach-ayv moylena
Am bas a beumadh nan ruaig. am bas a beym-a' nan ru-ayg
Fhuair sinn Oscar air a sgeith, lm-ayr sinn oscar ayr a sgey'
Fhiul ag iadhadh ma thaobh. uyl ag i-a'-ha' ma haov
Trom iomaguin laidh air na treadha ; trom i-oma'-guyn lay' ayr na tri-a-a
A tiondadh an cul'aobh fo dheoir. a ti-onda' an culav fo yoyr
Bha'n righ a ceiltein a dheur fein, van ri' a ceyltayn a yeyr feyn
Sa ghaoth 'o'n bhein na fhiasaig leidh. sa yao' on veyn na i-as-ayg ley'
Dh-aom oscion an oig laoich yaom os-ci-on an oyg laoych
Le guth broin 's le osnadh chianael. le gu' broyn s le osna' chi-a-nel
Swift were my steps on the hill ;
Fillin cleared the heath of Moilena
in bounds. In his strength advanced Fingal the
hero : Dreadful was the glare emitted
From the shield aloft on his shoulder. The race of Erin saw, at a distance,
The slow gleam at the bend of the
shore, And knew that arose, not unequal,
The king of swords in his anger.
Their deaths were swimming calmly in his thoughts.
We reached ; we struck in the conflict.
Erin stopped our course ;
But when the king came in his might,
Shrunk the heart most daring under
steel. They fled from the heights of Moilena,
Death striking in their rear. We found Oscar on his shield, His blood flowing around him. Heavy anxiety lay on the chiefs ; They turned their backs in tears. The king was concealing his own tears,
The mountain breeze in his white
beard. He bent over the young hero
With a grieving voice and a pensive sigh.
118
THE POETRY
" 'N do thuit Oscar sar nan lann, 'n do huyt oscar sar nan lann
A meadhain astair dhealraich fein ! a me'-ayn as-tayr yelraych feyn
Tha cridhe na h-aoise fo spairn, ha cri'-e na haoys fo spayrn
A faicain na'm buaidh nach d'thainig a faycin nam buy' nach dayn-ig
do'n tveun, — do'n treyn
Na blair a thigheadh a nail, na blayr a hig-a' a nail
'S a ghearradh gu gann o chliu. sa yerra' gu gann o chliu
C'uin a dh-eires solas an Selma ? cuyn a yeyres solas an selma
C'uin a ghluaises bron a Morbhein ? cuyn a yluyses bron a morveynn
Mo chlann thuit 'o am gu am ; mo chlann huyt o am gu am
Biodh Fionn an deireadh a shliochd ! bi-o' fii-onn an deyre' a hlic
Mo chliu siolaidh sios 'o luaidh, mo chli-u si-olay' si-os o lu-ay'
Bidh m'aois fo thruaighe gu'n chairdean. bi' maoys fo hru-ay' gun chayrden
Mar nial do cheo am thalla fein, mar ni-al do che-o am halla feyn
Cha chluinn mi tuille ceum mic, cha chluynn mi tuylle ceym mic
A tearnadh le morchuis 'o 'n bheinn, a te-ar-na' le morchuys on veynn
Le chomhlaen nan airra fo smachd. le covlen nan ayrm fo smac
Tuiteadh air deoir 'o ghaisgech Morbhein, tuyte ayr de-oyr o yaysgich morveyn
Cha 'n eirich Oscar og a choidh." cha n eyrich oscar og a choy'
Thuit an deoir a righ nan lann, huyt an de-oyr a ri' nan lann
Oir b' ionmhuinn le'n anamaibh an triath. oyr bi-on-vnyn len anamayv an tri-a'
Noir ghluais e gu comhraig nan larin, noyr ylu-aysh e gu covrayg nan lann
Cha bu dion do narnhaid sgiath. cha bu di-on do navayd sgi-a'
Measg solais thilleadh e le sith. mesg sol-aysh hill-e' e le si'
Cha bhith bron athair ma mhac, cha vi' bron a'-ayr ma vac
" Has Oscar, the surpassing, fallen
•In the midst of his own illustrious course !
The heart of the aged is distressed,
Seeing the victories that have not come to the mighty, —
But which are cut off short from his
fame. When will joy rise in Selma ?
When will grief depart from Morven ? My children fall from time to time ; Fingal will be the last of his race ! My fame is ebbing away from notice,
My age will be in sorrow, without
friends. Like a cloud of mist in my own hall,
I shall no more hear the step of a son, Keturning in splendour from the hill,
With a band of armed warriors under
his command. Let your tears fall, heroes of Morven,
Young Oscar will rise no more."
Their tears fell, king of swords, For dear was the hero to their souls.
When he went to the conflict of
swords, The foe found no safety in his shield.
He returned amid rejoicings, with
peace. No father lamented his son,
OF THE HIGHLAND CLANS.
119
Thuit san ar an tlachd oige ; liujt san ar an tlac oyge
Cliaidh iadsan gu'n bhron fo'n f hail, chay' i-ad-san gun vron fon ayl
'0 'n thill an og cheann fo bhuaidh. on hill an og chenn fo vu-ay'
Bha Bran a donnalaich ri thaobh, va bran a donnal-aych ri hoav
Luath gruamach 's an fhraoch fo bhron ; lu-a' gru-amach s an raoch fo vron
Is minic a ghluais iad maraon, is minuic a yluys i-ad mar-oan
A shealg nan ruadhaibh leis an laocli. a helag nan ru-a'yv leys an loach
Noh% chunnaic Oscar bron a chairdean, noyr chunnayc oscar bron a chayrden
Labhair e an spairn a chleibh : lavayr e an spayrn a chleyv
" Osnaich nan ard-thriadh fo aois, osnaych nan ard-ri-a' fo aoys
Caoine nan con, is a fonn caoyne nan con is a fonn
A bristeadh trom 'o bheul nam bard, a brist-e' trom o veyl nam bard
Leagh iad manam le bron, — leagh i-ad manam le bron
Manam nach do leagh riamh, manam nach do le-a' ri-av
An comhstri nan sgiath 's nan laim. an covstri nan sgi-a' s nan lann
Bha coltach ri cruaidh mo laine. va coltach ri cru-ay' mo layne
Guilaimbb mi gu'm chruaich, athreinibh ; guylayu-iv mi gum chru-aych a hreyn-iv
Togaibh clach sa bheinn do'm chliu, togayv clach sa veynn dom chli-u
Cuiribh cabar san uaigh learn fein, cuyriv caber san u-ay' le-am feyn
'S lann thana na'm beum ri'm thaobh. slann hana nam beym ri'm haov
Togaidh sruth am an cein an uir, togay' sru' am an ceyn an uyr
Chi an sealgaer gu cul a chruaidh, chi an sellager gu cul a chru-ay'
" So claidheamh Oscair, fo smuir, so chlayev oscayr fo smuyr
Suidh morna'm bliadhna chaidh uainn." guy mor nam bli-a'-na chai' uynn
'N do thuitu mine a thug dhomh cliu? n do htiyt u vie a hug yov clia
Fallen in battle in the bloom of youth ;
They went unlamented under the sward,
Since their young commander re- turned with victory.
Bran was howling at his side,
Luath on the heath surly in his grief ; For often did they follow alike,
To course the red-mantled race with
the hero. TV hen Oscar saw the sorrow of hi.s
friends, He spoke from his labouring bosom :
" The sigh of high and aged chiefs, The weeping of the dogs, and the lay
Breaking spontaneously from the
mouths of the bards, Have dissolved my soul in grief, —
My soul that never melted
In the conflict of shields and spears.
It was like the steel of my sword.
Carry me to my mountains, heroes ;
Raise a stone to my fame,
Place the horn of a deer in my grave,
And the thin blade of deadly cuts by
my side. The stream, in the course of ages, may
remove the soil, The hunter will see the sword to its
back; " It is the sword of Oscar in the dust,
A great worthy, of times long passed
away."
Has the son, who gave me lame, fallen?
120
THE POETRY
Nach faic mi u Oscair a choidh ? nach fayc mi u oscayr a choy'
Noir chluinneas triathain m'an cloinn, noyr chluynnes tri-a'-en man cloyn
Nach cluinn mise luaidh ort Oscair ? nach cluynn mi-se lu-ay' ort oscayr
Bidh coiueach air do chlachaibh liadh ; bi' coynech ayr do chlach-ayv li-a'
'S gaoth a measg mo chiabh fo bhron ; s ga'o a mesg mo cbi-av fo vron
Cuirer cath gu'n us' air sliabh ; ctiyrer ca' gun us ayr sli-av
'S cha lean u eillid chiar nan torr.' s cha' len u eyllid chi-ar nan torr
Noir thilleas na gaisgich o'n stri, noyr hillas na gaysgich on stri
'G innsidh sgeul ma thir nan gall, ginnsi' sgeyl ma hir nan gall
Chmmachas, their iad, uaigh aig sruth ; chunnac-as hcyr i-ad u-ay' ayg sru'
A thaom a nuas bho thaobh nan earn, a haom a nu-as vo haov nan earn
Comhnuidh gu'n leus do thriath, cov-nuy' gun leys do ri-a'
A thuit le Oscair nan carabad. a huyt le oscayr nan carabad
Theagamh gu'n cluinneam a ghuth, heg-av gun cluynnem a yu'
'S gu'n eirich solas air dubhar mo s gun eyr-ich solas ayr dnvar mo
chleibh. chleyv
Chaidheadh mid an oiche fo bhron, chay'e' mid an oyche fo vron
'S cha'n eireadh le solas a ghrian, s chan cyra' le solas a yri-an
Sheasadh na triatha mar scorra, hesa' na triay mar scorra
Air Moilena nan torr fo mhuig. ayr moylena nan torr fo vuyg
Gu'n f harraid, gu'n luaidh air comhrag. gun array d gun lu-ay' ayr covrayg
Sgaoil an righ gu caoin am bron, sgoyl an ri' gu coyn am bron
'S thog e le treoir a ghuth ; s hog e le tre-oyr a yu'
Mhosgail na tretina na choir, vosgel na treyna na choyr
Mar gu'm b-ann a uamhainn brnadair. mar gum bann a u-a-vaynn bru-a-dayr
Shall I never see thee, Oscar ? When chiefs hear of their sons, Shall I not hear mention of thee ? Moss will cover thy grey stones, The wind be amid my locks in sorrow ; The battle shall be fought without thee,
And thou shalt not pursue the deer on
the hill. When the warriors return from battle,
Telling tales of the land of strangers ;
We have seen, they will say, a grave
at a stream That poured down from the cliffs :
It is the torchless dwelling of a chief Who fell by Oscar of cars. Perhaps I may hear the voice,
And that light will rise on the dark- ness of my bosom.
The night would have been passed
in sorrow, Nor would the sun have risen in joy ;
The chiefs would have stood like
cliffs On Moilena of dusky woods,
Unasking for, unmindful of war. The king mildly banished our grief, And raised his voice wilh firmness : The heroes started and drew near. As from a horrid dream.
OF THE HIGHLAND CLANS.
Cia fada thuiteas na deoir, cia fada huytea na d-oyr
Balbh, bronach, air Moilcna ? balv bron-acli ayr moylena
Cha till dhuin na trenna ni's mo, cha till yuyn na treyna nis-mo
Neart Oscair a clioidh cha'n eirich. nert oscayr a choy' chan eyr-ich
Tuitidh gaisgich nan laithibh fein, tuyti' gayshgich nan la'-iv feyn
'S cha'n f haicer sa bheinn an trial s chan aycer sa veynn an tri-al
Cait a bheil air 'n athraichean treuna, cayt a veyl ayr na'-raych-en treyna
Siol na'm beum o'n am a dh-iadh ? si-ol nam beym on am a yi-a'
Thuit iad mar reultan air cul thorr, huyt i-ad mar reyltan ayr cul horr
A bha nan soluis mhor da'n tir fo mhuig. a va nan soluys vor dan tir fo vuyg
Cha chluinn sinn ach fuaim an cliu,
cha chluyun sinn ach fuym an cli-u
'S bu chliuteach iad nan am fein, s bu chli-u-tech i-ad nan am feyn
Am blianaibh nan gniomh an cein. am bli-an-ayv nan gni-ov an ceyn
'S uabhasach is baoth na dh-f halbh ; s u-a-vasach is bao' na yalv
Theid sinne mar iadsan o'n raon, heyd sinne mar i-adsan on raon
Do leabanap caola na'm marbh. do leb-anan caola nam marv
Bith mid na'r latha fo chliu, bi' mid nar la'-a fo chli-u
'S fagadh mid air 'n ainm na'r deigh ; s faga mid ayr nayn-im nar dey'
Mar dhealradh greiri an speur gu'n smuir, mar yel-ra' greyn an speyr gun smuyr
Noir cheiller fo dhubhradh i fein, noyr cheyller fo yuv-ra' i feyn
Fear astair fo bhron a trial, fer astayr fo vron a tri-al
Cuinichidh an gniamhadh dealrach. cuyniclii' an gni-ava' del-rach
Ullin, ma bhard fein fo aois, ull-ayn ma vard feyn fo oysh
Gabh long is thoir dhachaidh an righ ; ga long is hoyr yach-ay' an ri'
Thoir Oscar gu Selma nan raon. hoyr osc-ar gu selnaa nan raon
How long will ye shed tears, Dumb, sad, on Moilena ? The heroes will return to us no more, The strength of Oscar no more arise. Warriors will fall in their own day,
And will no more be seen on our
mountains. Where are our mighty fathers,
The sons of deadly sword-cuts in bye- gone times ?
They fell like stars behind wooded heights,
Who were great lights to their coun- try when in gloom (adversity.)
We hear but the sound of their fame,
Though so renowned in their own time,
In the years of great deeds (now) re- mote.
Dreadful and evil were the times that are gone ;
We, like them, shall pass away from the heath,
To thejiarrow beds of the dead.
Let us be renowned in our day, And leave our names after us,
Like^the reflected rays of the sun in
the sky, When she is herself hid in darkness.
The stranger, travelling in grief,
Will remember our bright achieve- ments. Ullain, my own aged bard,
Take one of the king's ships, And carry Oscar to heathy Selma.
122
THE POETRY
Let tears fall from the maidens of
the forest, The beautiful maidens of Morven.
We must strike in the battles of Erin,
For the race of the mighty who fell by Cairber.
The days of my years are under a cloud ;
My aged arm is becoming weak, —
My fathers are looking from their clouds
On the feeble course of their grey- haired son ;
But I will not resign without victory, Without leaving a blaze of fame, —
Without leaving my name like the
light of heaven, To the bards of tuneful strings."
Sileadh deoir 'o oighean na frith, — sile' de-oyr o oy'-en na fri'
0 oigheanan aillidh na Morbheann. o oynnen Jlylli' na mor-venn
Buaille sinne a'n comhraig na h-Eirinn, buylli sinne an cov-rayg na hey-rinn
Mu shiol nan treun a thuit le Cairber. mu hi-ol nan treyn a huyt le cayrber
Tha laithean mo bhlianaibh fo nial ; ha lay '-en mo vli-an-ayv fo ni-al
Tha mo ruigh aosda fas fann, ha mo ruy' a-os-da fas fann
'S m athrichean a seal tain 'o nial, s ma'-rich-en a se-altayn o ni-al
Air faoin astar an liadh-mhic ; ayr faoyn astar an li-a'-vic
Ach cha treig e'n arach gu'n bhuaidh, ach cha treyg en arach gun vuy'
Gu'n dealradh f hagail rna chliu, — gun delra' agayl ma chli-u
Gu'n ainm fhagail mar sholus nan speur, gun ayn-em agayl mar holua nan speyr
Do bhardaibh nan teud cuin." do vard-ayv nan teyd ci-uyn
Down to the period at which the whole " pomp and circumstance" of warfare was changed by the discovery and universal use of gunpowder, the chief bard acted as aid-de-camp of the ceann-cath, and the clan bard as the adjutant of the chief. The former was often dispatched to an overmatched or receding division, for the purpose of rekindling their fire and energy with his war-song or prosnachadh, as reinforcements are now sent. We have an instance of this in the poem of Fingal, where the bard is sent to encourag'e the over- matched division of Gual. This prosnachadh or war-song has been carried down by oral recitation more fully than in the version of it found in Mr Mac- pherson's repositories, and is now submitted to the reader.
A shiol mharcaichean nan steud Descendant of the riders of steeds
a hi-ol varcaych-an nan steyd
Is airde leum 'sas fiate srann, is ayr-de leym sas fi-a-te srann
Arigh nan claidheamh geur 'snan sleagh a ri' nan clay'v geyr 's nan sle-a'
A lamh threun an cruaidh-chas, a lav hreyn an cru-ay'-chas
A chridhe aird nach eur bas, a chri'-e' ayrd nach eyr bas
A cheannaird shonn is euchdar toirt ; a chenn-ayrd honn is eyc-ar toyrt
Cuir sgrios air marachean nan sttiadh, cuyr sgris ayr mara-chen nan stu-a'
Of highest bounds and wildest snorts, King of sharp swords and spears ; Strong arm in extremity, High heart that fears not death, Chief of heroes of deeds illustrious ; Destroy the mariners of the waves,
OF THE HIGHLAND CLANS. 123
Air naimhdean fuileach o'n tir thuadh, The bloody foe from the north, ayr nayv-den fuyl-ech on tir hu-a'
Air cabhlach is sluagh Innistor. The navy and the people of Innistore.
ayr cav-lach is slu-a' innistor
Biodh do shuil mar choar a'd' cheann, Be thine eye fire in thy head, bi-o' do huyl mar clioar a'd chenn
Mar chith 'o'n dealan do lann, Thy sword the lightning's flash,
mar chi' o'n del-an do lann
'S mar bheithir', ro' tharn, gu lot. And the bolt, before the thunder, to
's mar vey'-ir ro harn gu lot WOUIld.
Ardaich gu buaidh do sgiath, Exalt thy victorious shield,
ard-aych gu buy' do sgi-a'
Is fuileach tuar 's as crobhui* netil, Blood-edged crovi* -coloured,
la fuyl-ech tu-ar sas crovuy neyl
Mar real a bhais do naimh fo sprochd. Like the star of death, to doubting mar re-al a vays do nayv fo sproc foemen.
A shiol mharcaichean nan steud, Race of the riders of steeds
a hi-ol varcaychen nan steyd
Is airde leum 's as fiate srann, Of the highest bounds and wildest
is ayrde leym sas fi-a-te srann snorts,
Sgrios naimhdean sios gu bas. Cut down the foe to death,
sgris na-iv-den si-os gu bas
Macmhuirech's prosnacha at the battle of Harlaw, is the most remarkable now extant. It is accessible to the reader, — a considerable part of it having been published by the Hills, the Stewarts, and others. It consisted of a verse of eight lines for every letter of the Gaelic alphabet, the initial letter of the first and of every other word in every line of each verse, having the same initial letter. This seems to have been the last prosnacha actually repeated in battle ; the introduction of powder having caused the substitution of the piob-reac for the vocal war-song. The piob-reac, (peeb-rec) a name compounded from piob, pipe, and reac, law, — that is, the war-pipe law, — seems to have been introduced immediately after the battle of Harlaw, in Macmhuirech's own day, and apparently to the infinite disgust of the bard, whose verses descriptive of the bagpipe and its lineage are more graphic and humourous than gentlemanly and elegant. Indeed, generally speaking, the Gaelic bards, like their contem- poraries of the Lowlands and of England, though very happy in their broadly humourous pieces, were wretched satirists. Domhnul Mac-raonuil, Rob Donn, and Aillean Dall, almost comprise the sum total of elegant and gentlemanly Gaelic satirists : these were true satirists, keen and cutting, but as clear, and polished, and sharp as steel blades. With these exceptions, I scarcely can at this moment remember a Gaelic satire that does not degenerate more or less into scurrility. Even Iain Lorn and Donnachadh Ban were scurrilous in their satires. Indeed, scurrility seems to have been the hangman's whip of the bards, as " the fear o' hell" was that of the clergy of the dark ages ; and the forms for banning the excommunicated used by the priest, seems really to have furnished the model for the execrable compositions meant for satires by the bards.
* This word seems to be obsolete.
124 THE POETRY
Although the war-pipe was apparently detested by the older bards, whose prosnachadh it superseded in battle, no other instrument can actually speak so thoroughly understood and felt a language to the hearts of those who have a key to its articulations. Those who have not, may flatter themselves that superior refinement and civilization satisfactorily account for the distaste with which they turn away from the war-pipe music, with something like disgust, struggling to find the means of expressing itself on their inane pleheian faces ; but I have never yet seen a gentleman of sensibility and intelligence, however much a stranger to such music, who did not regard it as both eloquent and picturesque, and strikingly accordant with the warlike character of the people of Scotland. I have in one of my papers in the West of Scotland Magazine, described an instance of exalted devotion on the part of the piper of Colla-ciotach, or left-handed Coll, father of the heroic Sir Alexander Macdonald, the lieutenant of Montrose. The piper landed with a party on Islay in advance of the ex- pedition from Ireland, with instructions to take the castle of Dun-a-verty by surprise, should he find the Campbells off their guard, and that this might be attempted with the prospect of success. The Campbells, however, were apprised of the expedition, and on the alert, and drew the unfortunate piper and his party into an ambush, and made them prisoners. Here the inhuman character of the war began, the whole party, excepting the piper, being hung up off hand. The piper asked leave to play a lament over the fate of his companions, and the chieftain who commanded the Campbells being himself enthusiastically fond of pipe music, and anxious to hear so celebrated a musician, granted the boon ; but, in the meantime, he caused some cattle to be put in the way of the approaching Birlins, while he posted a strong party in ambush to fall upon them should they land another party to take the castle, as the piob-reac instructs. The piper, watchful of these movements, adapted his piob-reac to the situation with the most consummate art. The warning notes are poured forth in separate strains, having all the appearance of unmeaning, unconnected vagaries ; but they breathe a melancholy spirit, and the warning and lamenting notes could not fail to be understood by those who knew the style of the musician so intimately. The bards have put all these piob-reacs into imitative syllables and words for illustration, and I submit those assigned to this celebrated warning, as I am anything but pleased with the version I have got of the piob-reac itself. The chieftain understood the meaning of the sixth verse or part of the piob-reac, and, on finding himself overreached by the piper, he plunged his dirk into him ; and tradition states that the devoted minstrel smiled proudly in death, on seeing, by the deviating course of the Birlins, that his warning was understood, and saved his friends. The warning notes, seachain an dun, avoid the castle ; and the lamenting notes, iha sinne an laimh, we are prisoners, are exceedingly touching ; but, indeed, when properly played, this noble piece of music is literally an epic in epitome, and perfectly unique as a piob-reac. I grieve exceedingly at being obliged to publish so contemptible a version of it. Pipe music is known to have been heard at the distance of six, and under favourable circumstances, ten miles.
OF THE HIGHLAND CLANS.
125
A CHOLLA MA RUIN, SEACMAIN AN DUN.
A Cholla, cuir uraad ; bi ullainh, bi falbh ; J'i ulhunh, bi falbh ; bi ullainh, bi falbh ; A Cholla, cuir umad; bi ullamb, bi falbh; Tha sinne an laimh, tha sinne an laimh.
Coll, array ; be ready, depart ; Be ready, depart ; be ready, depart ; Coll, array ; be ready, depart ; We are in their hands, we are in their hands.
Fag an ni, fag an ni, fag an ni, Fag an ni, fag an ni, fag an ni, Fag an ni, fag an ni, fag an ui ; Tha sinne an laimh, tha sinne an laimh.
Ramh is taornan, ramh is taoman,
Ramh is taoman, ramh is taoman, Rarnh is taoman, ramh is taoman ; Tha sinne an laimh, tha sinne an laimh.
(Words symbolical of embarking quickly.)
lamh dhearg, lamh lamh dhearg, lamh lamh dhearg, lamh
Lamh dhearg,
dhearg, Lamh dhearg,
dhearg, Lamh dhearg,
dhearg ; Tha sinne an laimh, tha sinne an laimh.
(Warning to call the Hacdonalds to his standard before attacking the castle.)
Cholla, mo ghaoil, seachain an caol, Seachain an caol, seachain an caol ; Cholla, mo ghaoil, thoir ort a Mhaol, — Buidhinn an ath, buidhinn an ath.
(Warning to keep aloof from the strait, and hasten to secure a landing on Mull.)
Cholla, mo ruin, seachain an dun, Seachain an dun, seachain an dun, Cholla, mo ruin, seachain an dun ; Tha sinne an laimh, tha sinne an laimh.
(Warning not to attempt to save the prisoners in the castle.)
Leave the cattle, leave the cattle,
leave the cattle, Leave the cattle, leave the cattle,
leave the cattle, Leave the cattle, leave the cattle,
leave the cattle ; We are in their hands, we are in their
hands.
An oar, a baler, (baling dish) an oar,
a baler,
An oar, a baler, an oar, a baler, An oar, a baler, an oar, a baler ; We are in their hands, we are in their
hands.
The red hand, the red hand, the red
hand, The red hand, the red hand, the red
hand, The red hand, the red hand, the red
hand ; We are in their hands, we are in their
hands.
Coll of my love, avoid the strait, Avoid the strait, avoid the strait ; Coll of my love, go to Mull, — Gain the landing-place, gain the landing-place.
Coll of my love, avoid the castle, Avoid the castle, avoid the castle, Coll of my love, avoid the castle ; We are in their hands, we are in their hands.
The Highlander who understands pipe-music will find in the piob-reac of Daorach Robbi the most keen and cutting satire ever levelled at the low vice of drunkenness. The ludicrous imitation of the coarse and clumsy movements, the maudlin and staring pauses, the helpless imbecility of the drunkard, as he is
126
pilloried in the satire, with the ever-recurring, sneering notes, seal a nis air, (" look at him now !") are enough to annihilate any person possessing the least sensibility, who, while hearing them, is conscious of having been in so degrading a condition even for once in his life. Gillie-Call mn, the composition of which is by some witty bard ascribed to Noah, who first danced the hilarious dance himself over two cross vines while " glorious," on discovering the virtue of their fruit, presents a striking contrast to Daorach Kobbi. The total abstainer could hardly find a better text for his lecture than Daorach Robbi ; while the temper- ance lecturer would not be far wrong in adopting Gillie-Callum. Both tunes strikingly, illustrate the descriptive character of the music of the Gael. He who, when in his cups, staggers, stops, stares at vacancy, and sprawls in the mud, like Robbi, is worse than a fool, unless he totally abstain ; while he whose worst exhibition when in his cups is to dance Gillie-Callum, like father Noah, would not be wise were he to totally abstain. At least, so thought the bard, William Ross, who wrote the following verses, which I submit as a fair average specimen of the legion of Highland drinking carols. Whisky is personified in Gaelic poetry under the name of
MAC-AN-TOSAICH, — THE SON OF THE VAN.
Co a shamhladh fear do bheusan, co a havla' fer do veysan
Ri fion, tanadh, geur na Fraing ? ri fi-on tana' geyr na frayng
Na dhi-moladh Mac-an-Toisaich, na yi-mola' mac-an-toysaych
Ach leibid nach oladh dram ? ach lebid nach ola' dram
Fonn : —
Glac an t-shearrag, lion a ghloinne, glac au terag li-on a yloynfc
Bh-uain am balach, gruamach, gann ; vu-ayu am balach gru-am-ach gann
Gille gasda, mac-na-bracha, gilli gasda mac-na-bra-cha
'S ioma gaisgeach ort an geal. 's i-oma gaysg-ech ort an gell
logain crabhaidh bidh dhat dhiteadh, i-og-ayn cravay' bi' yat yite'
Le cul-chaint tha daicheal fe_all ; le cul-chaynt ha day-chel fell
Ged a chaineas iad le'm beoil u, ged a chaynes i-ad letn be-oyl u
Olaidh iad u mar an t-alt. — Glac, &c. olay' i-ad u mar an talt
A chleir fein ge seunt' an cota, a chleyr feyn ge seynt an cota
Tha na's leoir dhiu ort an geall, ha nas le-oyr yi-u ort an gell
Who would compare a man of thy
smeddum (spirit) To wines thin and sharp of France ?
Or dispraise Macintosh,
Save a sneak that will not take a dram?
Chorus : —
Seize the bottle, fill the glass,
Hence, the boor churlish and scant ; Noble youth, son of malt, Many warriors pay court to thee.
Lecturing hypocrites may abuse thee
Behind thy back, in plausibly deceit- ful words ; But although they slander,
They drink thee like brook water.— Seize, &c.
The clergy themselves, although their
garb is saintly, Are, many of them, among thy
devotees,
OP TIIK HIGHLAND CLANS. 127
'S tha cuid ac' a ghabhas froileadh And some of them enjoy a bouse
's ha cuyd aca yavas froyle
Chomathrisaigiidearsachamb.-Glac,&c. As well as any soldier in the camp.— cho ma' ri say'-der sa cham Seize &C.
C'oim mar a nitear dhuin banais, How could we wake a wedding,
c'oym mar a nitear yuyn ban-nys
Cumhnanta na ceangal teann ? Or a binding contract ?
cuvnanta na cengal tenn
Mar bi dram againn do'n chleireach, Unless we have a dram for the clerk, mar bi dram agayn don chley-rech
Chabhimoranspreignapheann.-Glac,&c. There will be little vigour in his cha vi moran spreyg na fenn pen. — Seize, &C.
Bu mhian learn fein, fhir mo chridhe, It is my own desire, son of my heart, ba vi-an Ic-am feyn ir mo chri'-e
A bhi na d' chomunn nach gann ; To be in thy generous company ;
a vi na d' chomunn nach gann
'S trie a bha sinne nar dithis, Often have we two been together,
'stric a va sinne nar di'-is
Gunphiobgunfhideil,adanns.-G]ac,&c. Without a pipe or fiddle, dancing. — gun fi-ob gun i'-eyl a danns Seize, &C.
The next specimen of the piob-reac which would have been submitted, had I been able to get a proper version of it, is that mentioned in the foot-note, Cill-a-Chriosd, (the Cell of Christ,) which originated thus : — The Mackenzies having adopted feudalism, adopted, of course, along with it the vital principle of the system, namely, that " might is right." Their chief, accordingly, determined to extend his possessions at the expense of his neighbours, the Macdonells of. Glengarry. Having obtained a charter from the crown, which was ever ready to substitute feudal for patriarchal clans, he assembled his clan and feudal allies at different remote points, where they were concealed during the day, with the view of advancing under the cloud of the following night, for concentration on the borders of the doomed clan, who were to be taken by surprise. One of these parties was concealed in a church near Beauly. The illustrious loyalist, Allastair Dubh (duv) of Glengarry, being apprised of these secret movements, quietly collected his clan and friends, and determined to anticipate the enemy. He dispatched the celebrated Aillen Mac Kaoil (ayllen mac raoyl) against the party hiding in Cill-a-Chriosd, (kill-a-chri-osd) while he himself, with his no less celebrated friend, Aillen Dubh na Fiadh, (ayllen duv na fi-a') preceded against the castle, where Mackenzie, in the blind confidence of security, had assembled, and was feasting, his chieftains, preparatory to a deadly attack on, as he supposed, his unprepared neighbours. Glengarry and his friends, when the feasting and mirth were at the highest, contrived to possess themselves of the stairs and all the passages to and from the hall, which was filled with hilarious bands of the clan Mackenzie, totally unconscious of their position. The late Sir Thomas Dick Lauder tells the result in an admirable paper in Tait's Magazine ; but he does not seem to have obtained a proper
128 THE POETRY
version of the tradition. Indeed, the writer of Highland tradition cannot be too cautious or particular in his inquiries, before committing himself to a tradition, for there are frequently different versions of the same ; and although every one of them substantially agree, yet they may, and often do, differ in details creditable or discreditable to individuals. For instance, there Avas nothing more natural than that the indignant foes of Aillean Mac Raoil, as well as the religious fanatic, horrified at the destruction of Cill-a-Chriosd, should so tell the story as to lead to the belief that the church was burnt, in revenge, over the heads of a worshipping congregation, instead of over those of enemies, lurking there for the purpose of stealing more securely, and with more deadly success, on an unsuspecting clan. I had myself been misled by this version of the tradition ; but with this explanation, the versions of the tradition published in the New Monthly and in Tait's Magazines are unexceptionable. Indeed, judging from tradition, there never were a people who, with all their injuries under the feudal usurpation, were less given to revenge than the old Highland clans. Two or three constitute all the instances recorded by tradition of Highland revenge, — the testimony of Sir Walter Scott and other feudalists notwithstanding.
The piob-reac commemorative of any striking event, was descriptive. Hence this tune contradicts the version of the tradition which makes Aillean Mac Raoil set fire to the church over the heads of a worshipping congregation ; for although we cannot help fancying, when the tune is properly played, that we hear the flames rustling and bellowing through the blazing timbers of the resounding church, mingled with the angry remonstrances and half-smothered shouts of the warriors, while the wail of the sympathizing and generous minstrel himself permiates and inspires the whole piece, we do not find in it any representation of the more feeble plaints and moans of women. The absence of these, which, in all probability, would have formed the burden of the tune, had there been women among the victims, confirms the version of the tradition which states that there were none present excepting warriors who had been placed in ambush there.
I have been able to procure something resembling " A Cholla ma ruin" from a Highland friend, which I have submitted to the reader for want of a better. Perhaps it will enable him to conceive (with the aid of the illustrative words) what this piob-reac was when properly played. The above description of Cill-a-Chriosd has been written from my recollection of my father's description of it to an English gentleman, who had strong prejudices against bagpipe music ; but who, on getting a key to its descriptive character, and hearing this noble tune played by John Macdonell, Glengarry's piper, became a perfect enthusiast for the music. I have not had an opportunity for some years of hearing the music of the war-pipe under circumstances which entitle me to speak with confidence on this subject, as the meetings of Highlanders are now held under patronage, and I cannot be a party to such repudiation of the feelings which characterized our ancestors as that implies. They clung endearingly and tenaciously to the patriarchal chleachda, which fostered and secured the manly
OF THE HIGHLAND CLANS. 129
independence of spirit that could recognise no superiors excepting in the officials elected by themselves. But I greatly suspect, since the piper has become a domestic musician, that he finds it his interest to cultivate the tastes of strangers ; and hence that this warlike music has been so toned down as to be a totally different thing from what it has been. Amazing loudness, which alone could enable it to give reachd or law to the movements of conflicting armies in the field of battle, was its peculiar characteristic ; but the wonderful thing was, the scientific knowledge of sound by which these noble musicians so regulated the accompanying modulations of the three drones, as to render the piercing sound of the chanter, in a properly tuned pipe, under the fingers of a " Padruig," as sweet as that sweetest and best of all musical instruments — the violin. I have said that I may possibly, be mistaken as to the total degeneracy of bagpipe music ; but be that as it may, I went to a gentleman's piper recently, to get the piob-reachd of Cill-a-Chriosd for this work, and received a specimen, which is a much better imitation of the inexpressive notes, eternally repeated, that would be made by three unfortunate bumbees or blue-bottles imprisoned in a tin snuff- box, and struggling to get out by too narrow a slit in its cover, than a torrent of flame rushing and bellowing through the crashing timbers of resounding aisles, mingled with the angry remonstrances and maddened war-cries of burning and smothering warriors, strong and unyielding even in that extremity. I cannot caricature the warlike music of my country by publishing this specimen. If bagpipe music is reduced to this, let it die, and leave us to cherish its memory as an unmatched warlike national music.
Although the illustration of the variety and beauty of the numerous styles and measures of Gaelic poetry was not embraced by the plan of this treatise, I wrote some twelve pages between quotations and remarks on this very curious and interesting subject, which I find myself compelled to omit, owing to the limits originally assigned to the work. I regret this less, as I think that the songs to be submitted along with the melodies, will enable the English reader to form a pretty fair idea of the diversity of measures and styles cultivated by the bards. They did not cultivate metre, or lines ending in corresponding- syllables ; but they have much poetry which has such terminations, more, however, from accident than design. The art, apparently artless, with which they interspersed words of corresponding yet varied vowel and liquid sounds through their verses, is truly wonderful. Some of these variations are not less curious than pleasing, having a concord of vowels, without alliteration, running through the whole, and occurring in different parts of lines forming corresponding rhymes. I must forbear quotations ; but cannot help submitting the following few verses from a warrior of some distinction in the wars of Montrose and Dundee, on a subject on which volumes have been written, — the praiye of the different clans. Each of these pieces was usually called
OKAN NA'M FINEACHAN. — A SONG OF THE CLANS.
Si so'n airnsir an dearbhar Now is the time to prove
si so'ii aym-sir an der-var
An targanach dhuin, The stability of the government,
an taraganach yuyn
' R
130
THE POETRY
'S bras meamneach fir Alba 's bras memenach fir alaba
Fo'n armaibh, 's nan luth ; fon arm-ayv 's nan lu'
Noir dh-eires gach treun laoch noyr yeyres gach treyn laoch
Na eide glan ur, na eyd-i glan ur
Le run feirge is gairge
le run feyrige is gairge
A thearmuin a chruin. a her-muyn a chruyn
Theid maithabh na Galltachd heyd may'-av na gall-tac
Gle shanntach an gleus ; gl£ hann-tach an gleys
Gur lionar steud sheang-mhear gur li-on-ar steyd heng-ver
A dhannsas le speis. a yann-sas le speys
Biodh Sassanaich cailte, bi' sassan-aych caylte
Is thoil iad an tern, is hoyl i-ad an teyn
'S bidh na Frangaich le'n cambaibh 's bi' na frang-aych len camb-ayv
Gle theann air an deigh. gle henn ayr an dey'
The men of Alba having risen
Under arms, and in their vigour and might ;
Now, when every strong hero Is in his clean, new costume, Indignantly and fiercely zealous For the restoration of the crown.
The good men of the Lowlands
Enter eagerly into action ;
Many is the steed slender and merry
That will prance under them.
The English will be losers,
And deserve to be put to an extremity,
And the French in their encampments
Will be closely after them.
Before quoting the other two or three verses, which is all I can make room for of this song, I cannot help remarking, that the feeling toward the English expressed in the above verses, came down, at least among the adherents of the Stuart family, to my own time, — the commencement, I mean, of the war resulting from the French Eevolution. This was shown by the 79th regiment, at a critical moment, on its first meeting with the French, under its illustrious founder and chief, Aillean of Earracht. This splendid officer heard a murmur passing through the ranks of the regiment as the French advanced, — " The French are the friends of our clan. They covered our retreat at Culloden. Let us fight the Ked Coats." The colonel did not say a word ; but he made a slight movement, which brought the Lochaber men within range of a distant volley from the French, when he exclaimed, in his own thundering voice, — " There they are, my lads ; and if you don't kill them, by G — , they'll kill you." " Diol !" (ran with equal speed through the ranks,) " they have attacked our clan!" The Camerons, on finding themselves thus used, gave a speedy account of their French friends ; and, from that day, there has not been in the army a more distinguished regiment for loyalty or bravery. The above feeling was reversed during the Peninsular war, as a consequence of the many glorious battles in
OF THE HIGHLAND CLANS. 131
•which the Englishman and the Highlander fought " shoulder to shoulder," not less than by the many generous and kindly acts that passed between them on the march and in the bivouac, in privation and festivity, during many a trying campaign, in which patriotism and glory were the compensation for toil and starvation. But in every, not merely Highland, but Scottish, Welsh, and Irish heart, worthy of their ancestors, there is a reaction against the English since the Peace. The vulgar and the ignorant, who are the cause of the reaction, of course cannot, or will not, see it, until too late. Nevertheless, no intelligent or gentlemanly Englishman can be ignorant of, or wonder at it. It is chiefly to be ascribed to the many English newspapers, conducted by editors who postpone gentlemanly feeling and an honest regard to the treaties by which the peoples of these kingdoms have been united on equal terms, to the ignoble purpose of catering for the tastes of the millions. These, to the discredit of journalism, avail themselves of every opportunity of levelling offensive, nay, insulting paragraphs at their fellow subjects of Wales, Ireland, and Scotland ; and, in contradistinction, they extol to the skies the mythic Anglo-Saxons, as demigods, whose destiny, — as they loudly proclaim, — is to conquer and extirpate all other races of mankind ! That the rude and ignorant should be the puppets of these ill-bred sycophants was to be expected ; but that Governors of Colonies, Generals commanding armies, Admirals commanding navies, and not only Members of Parliament, but also the Members of Her Majesty's Government, should counte- nance these low writers, by adopting such a style to designate the Army and Navy, her Majesty's Government, and her Majesty's peoples, as ignores the Union, and is at once an illegal usurpation of supremacy by England over countries that she never conquered, and who formed an alliance with her on equal terms, is dishonourable and discreditable. This illegal, unpatriotic, and most ungentlemanly conduct, is most assuredly alienating every Welsh, Irish, and Scottish heart that cherishes for the nationalities for which our fathers fought, bled, and died, the high and holy feelings which their history is so well calculated to inspire. The time, therefore, will assuredly come, when the Welsh, the Irish, and the Scotch, will remember ancient and kindred ties, and feel bound in honour to break up the Union, for the purpose of getting quit of the degraded position in which they are thus placed in the empire. If they do not revive and cement ancient ties, and assert their right to have the empire called " The British Empire," the Government called " The British Govern- ment," and the Army and Navy called " The British Army and Navy," they will sink into nominal serfage, and lose every high and noble feeling to which man owes independance and freedom : for no people can be worthy of, or maintain their freedom, who are capable of allowing themselves to be swindled out of the nationality which is its sole guarantee.
Eiridh Clan-Dhomhimil Clan-Donuill will rise
eyri' clan-yov-nuyl
Mar leoghainn am fearg, Like lions enraged,
mar le-o-inn am ferag
132
Na 'm beo-bhethir ; mor leathunu na'm be-o-ve-ir mor le'-ann
Connspanach garg. conn-span-ach garag
Luchd a sheasaibh na corach, luc a hes-ayv na corach
Ga'n ordugli lamh-dhearg. gan ord-u' lav-yerag
Mo-dhoigh ! bhiodh iad gorach mo-yoy' vi' i-ad gor-ach
A thoisicheadh oirbh. a hoys-ich-a' oyrv
Gur lionar lamh theoma gur li-o-nar lav he-o-ma
Thaig Eoghan Lochial. hayg e'-o-an loch-i-al
Fir cholganta, bhorganta, fir cholag-anta vorg-anta
Is oirdheirce gniomh. is oyr-yeyrc-e gni-av
lad mar thuil-bheum, air chorr-ghleus, i-ad mar huyl-veym ayr chorr-yleys
Air chonfhadb ro dhion. ayr chona-ha' ro yi-on
Se mo dhuilsa 'n am rusgaidh, se mo ynyl-sa nam rusg-ay'
Nach diult sibh dol sios. nach di-ult siv dol si-os
THE POETRY
Or live thunder-bolts ; tall and stout Are the heroes fierce.
They are the men to stand by the right,
Whose cognizance is the red hand. Mo yoy ! they would be mad
Who should begin the battle by attacking you.
Many are the warriors
Of Owen of Lochiel.
Kough and broad
Are the heroes of deeds illustrious.
Like the spring-tide, or a mountain- spate, They advance to battle.
It is my opinion that, at stripping- time,
They will not hesitate to descend.
The Highlanders of Druidal times placed something like a religious value on the orations delivered over their graves by the bards. Hence, as they always fought stripped to the kilt, they used to paint their crests on their bosoms, so as they might be recognised and distinguished in the conflict, as well as among the slain, should that be their fate. They so fought on the Grampians against the Komans, and at Killiecrankie against the Lowlanders and the English. Hence the bardic expression, " nam rusgaidh," stripping-time, which is synony- mous with the command to charge. The Romans, on whose ignorance or dishonesty as regarded their enemies, modern philology is beginning to throw a light that will stagger some of their school-boyish admirers, represent the army of the Grampians, notwithstanding their own admission that they had swords, spears, poniards, standards, and chariots, as painted savages ; but the English, who seem to have been equally ignorant or prejudiced, and who affected to regard the kilt as a mere rag tied round the loins, represent them only as naked savages. Both statements are of equal value for their historical honesty or truth. They have served their day. The practice of the pugilists to strip before setting-to, and of seamen to have devices painted on their arms by their comrades or sweethearts, before braving the dangers of " the battle arid the
OF THE HIGHLAND CLANS.
133
breeze," are, in all probability, only traditional relics of the old chivalrous Caledonian custom. I have known a young Highland gentleman of aristocratic birth and ideas, who, before going into battle along with our Yankee cousins against the Mexicans, got the crown and British ensign painted on his arm by a friend, that he might not be mistaken for a republican even after death ; so much was he disgusted with the coarse manners resulting from the levelling principles of republicanism.
Gur guineach na Duimhnich, gur guyn-ech na duy-nich
'Nam rusgadh nam lann, nam rus-ga' nam lann
Bidh naimhdean ga'n ruagadh bi' nayv-din gan ru-a-ga'
Le'n cruadal nach fann ; len cru-a-dal nach fann
Dream uasal ro uaibhreach, drem u-a-sal ro u-ayv-rech
Dh-fhag dual ann san Fhraing ; yag du-al ann san rayng
'S ann 0 Dhiarmaid a shiolaich sann o yi-ar-mayd a hi-ol-aych
'M por miaghael nach gann. 'm por mi-a'-yel nach gann
Fierce are the Campbells,
When swords are drawn from their
sheaths, Enemies will be scattered
By their hardihood and might ; The tribe high-blooded and illustrious, Has left a branch in France ; From Diarmaid are descended The clan noble and numerous.
Ayrshire was the original district in Scotland of the Campbells, or, as they were called, Clan Duibhnidh. The burial-place of the patriarch of the clan is near the village of Barr, on the banks of the Dian-char ; dian, from rapid, and car, from sudden windings, now called Stinchar. The name of the burial-place was Gill Dhuibhnidh, (kill yuyv-ni) the grave of Duibhnidh, corrupted into Kirk-damdi. The etymon of Duibhnidh, Latinized damni by the Romans, resolves itself into the roots, dubh, (duv) black, and nibhidh, (ni-vi) venomous ; that is, the black and fierce, pronounced duv-nim. Burns, in " The Vision," refers to the traditional power of the Campbells in Ayrshire.
Having been born at Creaguaine, the very centre of the scenery made classical by the " Aged Bard," Domlmul Mac-Innlaidh, and Iain Lorn, I may be excused in giving precedence to my native bards in the following quotations, which may be said to form separate links in a connected chain of Gaelic poems, from the time of Ossian to the present day. I regret the necessity of so limiting my quotations as to do a manifest injustice to these three Brae-lochaber bards.
MIAN A BHAIRDE THUAIR AOIS. — THE DESIRE OF THE BARD WHO RECEIVED AGE.
Gu socair sin san f heur mo thaobh, Lay me gently on my side in the grass,
gu soc-ayr sin san eyr mo haov
Airbruachnandithean'snangaodh-tlath, On a bank of flowers and soft winds, air bru-ach nan di-en 's nan gao'tla'
134
THE POETRY
Mo chas ga slioba sa bhraon mhaoth, mo chos ga slib-a sa vraon vao'
A lubas rnal is caoin tre'n bhlar. a lubas mal is caoyn tre'n vlar.
My feet laved by the mild streamlet
That winds slowly and genially through the meadow.
Be the bending of boughs in full leaf
Aig iadhadh mu bhruaichaibh mo ghlinn, Around the lofty borders of my glen ayg i-a'-a' mu vru-ach-ayv mo ylinn
Biodh luba gheugan 's orra blath ; bi-o' luba yeyg-an 's orra bla'
'S clann bheag nan preas a tabhairt seinn, And the little children of the coppice, 's clann veg nan pres a tav-ayrt seynn
Air creagan aosd' le 'n orain ghraidh. ayr creg-an aosd le 'n o-rayn yray'
Making the aged rocks re-sing their layg Of love>
Bidh ard oscion dosan na 'm beann, bi ard os-ci-on dosan na m benn
Le cumhadh do ghaoil na d' mhin bheul, le cuva' do yaoyl na d' vin-veyl
Eala thrial o thir nan stuadh, ella h-ri-al o hir nan stu-a'
Is seinn dhomh ceol an aird nan speur. is seynn yov ce-ol an ayrd nan speyr
Tog na 's airde t-oran ciuin, tog na s ayrde t-or-an ci-uyn
'S cuir sgeula do bhroin an ceil, s cuyr sgey-la do vroyn an ceyl
'S glacaidh mactallaidh* gach ciuil, 's glac-ay' mac-tall-ay' gac ci-uyl
Gach sgeul tursach o d' bhinn-bheul. gach sgeyl tur-sach o d' vinn-veyl
Tog do sgiath is trial their cuan, tog do sgi-a' is tri-al hayr cu-an
Glac do luathas bho neart na gaoidh. glac do lu-a'-as vo nert na gaoy'
'S taitneach, ce bronach am chluais, 's tayt-nech ce bronach am chlu-ays
0 d' chridhe leointe t-oran gaoil. o d' chri'-e le-oynte t-oran gaoyl
High above the wood-crowned moun- tain,
With thy song of love in thy tender
voice, Be thou swan, from the land of waves,
Singing music to me high among the fleecy clouds.
Higher raise thy lovely song, And disclose thy cause of grief, The son* who fascinates all music,
Will learn every tale of sorrow from thy sweet voice.
Spread thy wings, fly over the sea,
Catch speed from the strength of the
wind. Pleasant, though mournful, to my ear
Is the song of love from thy wounded heart.
Cairibh mi dluth do'n Eas-mhor, cayr-iv mi dlu' do'n es vor
Bhristeas ann an tarn o'n chreig, vris-tes ann an tarn on chreyg
Biodh cruit agus slige ri 'm thaobh, bi-o chruyt agus sleg-e* ri m haov
'S an sgiath dhion mo shinnsir sa chath. And the shield that covered my sires 's an sgi-a' yi-on mo hinn-sir sa cha' in battle.
* " Mac-tallaidh," echo ; literally, the fascinator.
Lay me by the side of Eas-mor, That bursts in thunder over the rock, Let the lyre and shell be by my side,
OF THE HIGHLAND CLANS.
135
Thig le cairdes thair a chuan, hig le cayr-des thayr a chu-an
Osag mhin a ghluaises, mall, os-ag vin a ylu-*ys-es mall
Tog mo cheo air sgiath do luathais, tog mo chd-o ayr sgi'-a' do lu-ays
?S dian t-'iul gu eillean nam flath, 's di-an ti-ul gu eyllen nam fla'
Far bhiel na suin bu chruaidh o sliean, bar veyl na suyn bu chru-ay o hen
Air cul nan lann a dhionadh sluaigh, — ayr cul nan lann a yi-on-a' slu-ay'
Oissian, Oscar, Goll, is Fion. — oyss-en oscar goll is fi-on
Thig am feasgar 's clia bhi 'm bard air hig am fesg-ar 's cha vi m bard ayr
bhradh.
Come in kindness over the sea, Mild breeze that travels slow ;
Lift my mist on the wing of thy speed,
And make thy way to the Isle of Heroes,*
Where dwell the warriors who stood hardily of old,
Behind their weapons to defend the
peoples, — Fion, Ossian, Oscar, and Goll. —
When evening comes, the bard will be amissing.
The above is simply the opening and closing verses of this admirable poem. The next specimen is from the poem of " The Hunter and the Owl," the scene of which is also in Brae-lochaber. I regret the injustice of giving mere extracts from these poems, but console myself in the hope that the educated reader will make an allowance for the injury done to the fame of these bards, both by that and the severe translation, and that I am giving them a chance of becoming known to a class of new readers, who may ultimately appreciate their poetry, and do them justice.
AN SEALGAR 'S A CHOMHACHAG. — THE HUNTER AND THE OWL.
A chomhachag bhochd na Sroine, a cho-ach-ag voc na sroyn^
Gur a bronach leom do leabadh, gur a bron-ach le-om do Icya'
Ma tha u ann bho linn Donnaghaill, ma ha u ann bho linn donn-yayll
Chan ioghnadh learn ge trom u t-aig- cha n i-o'n-a' le-am ge trom u tayg-
neadh, &c. &c. ne'
Poor owl of Srone, Thine is a pitiful bed ;
If thou hast lived (here) since the
days of Donnagall, I wonder not that thy mind is heavy.
&c. &c.
I cannot follow the long traditional and very interesting discourse between the hunter and the aged and intelligent owl, but must confine myself to a few such verses as may enable the reader to form some estimate of the rude and savage character of the Highland deer-stalkers and warriors of the fifteenth century.
* Tradition assigns this bard to the age immediately preceding the introduction of Christianity to Lochaber.
THE POETKY
'S mi 'm shuidhe air sith-bhrugh na'm I am sitting on the fairy-hill of the
s mim huv'-e avr si'-vm' nam
mountains,
Gazing at the head of Lochtreig, Craig-uaine, sacred to the chase,— The lofty sunny residence of the deer.
's mini huy'-e ayr
beann,
benn
Aig amharc air ceann Locha-treig, ayg av-arc ayr ceun locha-treyg
Creag-uaine am biodh an t-shealg, creg-u-ayne am bi-o' 'n tel-ag
Grianan ard am bidh na feigh. gri-an-an ard am bi' na ley'
Chi mi braigh Bhidean nan dos, chi mi bray' vid-en nan dos
An taobhsa bhos do Sgurra-lidh, an taov-sa vos do sgura-li'
Sgurra-chointich nan damh seang. — sgurra-choyu-tich nan dav seng
'S ionmhuin learn an diugh na chi ! 's i-on-vuyn le-am an di-u' na chi
Chi mi Strath-farsuin a chruidh, chi mi stra'-far-suyn a chruy'
Far an labhur guth nan sonn, far an la-vur gu' nan sonn
Is coire creagach a Mhaim. is coyre creg-ach a vaym
I see the crest of wooded Bidean, This side of Scurra-li, Sgurra-chointich of slender stags.— Dear to me are all I this day see !
I see Strath-farsun of milk-kine,
Where loudest is the bay of the gallant
hound, And the rocky corrie of Mam,
'Sa 'n trie a leag mo lamh damh donn. Where my arm often struck down the
sa'n trie a leg mo lav dav donn
Soirridh gu Bein-alta bh-uam, soyrr-i' gu beyn-alta vu-am
O'n si fhuair urram na'm beann, o'n si hu-ayr urram nam benn
Gu slios Locherroch an fheidh. — gn slis loch-erroch an ey'
Gu'm ionmhuin learn fein bhi ann. gum i-on-vuyn le-am feyn vi ann
'S tiamhaidh trom mo chridhe fein ; 's ti-av-ay' trom mo chri'-e feyn
Chuir an aois mo cheum fo lot, chuyr an aoys mo cheym fo lot
Cha dirich mi tulach an fheidh, cha dir-ich mi tul-ach an ey'
'S gu la bhrath cha leig mi coin. 's gu la vra' cha leyg mi coyn
Mise is t-usa ghaodhair bhain, mise is tus-a yao'ayr vayn
'S tursach dhuin an diugh na threig ; 's tursach yuyn an di-u' na h-reyg
brown stag. Bear my salute to Benalta, The praised above all mountains, And to Locherroch of many stags. — Dearly I loved to be there.
Pensive and heavy is mine own heart; Age has put my step under a wound,
No more will I ascend the mountains
of the deer, Never again slip my dogs.
Me and thee, my white hound,
Sorrowful is all we have this day for- saken ;
OF THE HIGHLAND CLANS. 137
Chail sinn an tathuim 's an dan, We have lost the baying voice and the
chayl sinn an ta'-unn san dan lay,
Ged bha am a b-ard air gleus. Though the day has been when lofty
ged va am a b-ard ayr gleys was our condition.
Thug a choille dhiotsa'n earb', The wood from thee has taken the roe,
hug a choylle yi-ot-san erab
'S an airde dhiom 'sa na feidh ;— The heights from me have taken the
's an ayr-de yi-om sa na fey' Stag ; —
Cha'n eil naire dhuin a laoich, But that is no reproach, my hero,
cha'n eyl nayre yuyn a laoych
O'u laidh an aois oirn le chul. Since age has settled on us alike,
on lay' an aoys oyrn le chuyl
As we have in " The Ancient Bard's Desire," "The Hunter and the Owl," Iain Lorn, &c., different and distinct specimens of Lochaber poetry, until within these three hundred years, I may almost say from Ossian's time, perhaps, to illustrate what has been stated as to the preservation of the language in un- changed purity for ages, it may interest the reader if I here submit verses written by myself on the subject of a traditional interview between a hunter from the Isle of Skye and a Lochaber fairy. This ballad was written immediately after hearing " Cailleach Beinne-bric ho ro," played on the piano in Mrs Macdonell of Kippoch's peculiarly touching and fairy-like style; and I thought that I had written the words to suit her set of the air precisely, but on hearing it played, from Mrs Macdouell's copy, by Miss Macgregor, Lismore Manse, I found that I had adapted the words of the chorus, unconsciously, to the version sung by my mother, which is different. On crooning that version to Miss Macgregor, (for I no longer sing,) she found that it corresponded with the version of the chorus sung by Captain Boss, an uncle of her mothers, — another true-hearted descendant of the chivalrous Sir Ewen of Lochiel. Miss Macgregor having kindly jotted down this set of the chorus for me, I substituted it for the chorus of Mrs Macdonell's version. I had no opportunity of consulting her before doing so ; but I hope she will not disapprove of the change, since it harmonizes pretty well with her own version. Every other note of her version has been faithfully preserved in the following set, kindly arranged for me by Miss Macgregor.
A MHAIGHDEANN SHITH 's AN SEALGAIR. — THE FAIRY-MAIDEN AND THE HUNTER.
An Sealgair. The Hunter,
an sella-ger
A mhaighdeann shith is milse teud, Maiden fairy of the sweetest chords,
a vay'den hi is milse teyd
Air tolman min a frith nan treud, (When) on a hillock smooth, in the
ayr toloman min a fii' nan treyd forest of the herd,
Leis a mian a bhiolair uaine, — Whose delight is the cresses green, —
leys a mi-an a vil-ayr u-ayne
Solar buain na fuaran fas ; The bounty lasting of springs in the
solar bu-ayn na fu-ar-an fas desert '
S
138
THE POETRY
Thainig mi a tir nan stuaidh, hayn-ig mi a tir nan stu-ay'
Is gairge sgread air sgearraen cruaidh, is gayrege sgred ayr sgerren cru-ay'
A dh-asla sgeul air am nan cian a yasla sgeyl ayr am nan ci-an
'0 d' bheulan seante 's miaghail dain. od veylan se-ante 's mi-a-yayl dayn
Fonn : —
Seinn da mi oran cianael, seynn da mi oran ci-an-el
Shith-bhrugh aillidh nan teud sianael ; hi' vru' ayli' nan teyd si-an-el
Seinn da mi oran cianael, seynn da mi oran ci-an-el
Shith-bhrugh aillidh nan tor* ard. hi' vru' ayli' nan tor ard
I have come from the land of the
waves, That fiercest shriek on sea-rocks hard,
To entreat tales of times of old
From thy charmed mouth of precious lays.
Chorus : — Sing to me the song pensive
Of the fairy-knowe beautiful, of
charmed strings ; Sing to me the song pensive,
Of the fairy-knowe beautiful of wooded mountains high.
A Mhaighdeann Shith.
a vayden hi'
Noir thionaeles a mhaighdeann shith
noyr heneles a vay'den hi'
Treud a gaoil air raon san f hrith, treyd a gaoyl ayr raou san ri'
G-u mire-chleas an comhstri mhin, gu mire-chles an cov-stri vin
Se 'm bas a bhinn bheir airm nan dail. sem bas a vinn veyr ayrm nan dayl
Tilg air lar gorm lann na'm beum, tilig ayr lar gorm lann nam beym
A bheudagf ghlas is sgaiteach teurn, a veyd-ag ylas is sgayt-ech teym
'S do shaighead bhorb is trie, a leum, s do hay-ed vorb is trie a leym
An cridhe fell, ceann-treud mo ghraidh. an cri'-e feyl cenn-treyd mo yray'
Fonn : —
Cha sheinner leom oran cianael, cha heynner le-om oran ci-an-el
Shith-bhrugh aillidh nan teud sianael hi'-vru' ayli nan teyd si-on-el
Cha sheinner leom oran cianael, cha heynner le-om oran ci-an-el
Gus an tilg u t-airm air lar. gus an tilig u tayrm ayr lar
The Fairy Maiden.
When gathers the maiden fairy
The herd she loves, on a level space
in the forest To compete in merry feats and kindly
games, Death is his doom who approaches
armed.
Fling on earth thy blue blade keen, Thy dirkf grey of deadly bites, Thy arrow fierce, that often leapt
Into the mild heart of the head of the herd I love.
Chorus : —
I sing not the song plaintive
Of the fairy knowe beautiful, of charmed
chords ; I sing not the song plaintive,
Until you fling your arms on the ground.
* " Tor," a wooded hill.
t " Dirk ;" literally, the little deadly one, as above spelt.
OF THE HIGHLAND CLANS.
139
An Sealgair.
Na tairg a mhaighdeann riomhach tair, na tayr-ig a vayden ri-vach tayr
Do f hriamh de thealach Chuinn nan air, do ri-av de hel-ach chuynn nan ayr
Cha dual gu'n gabh e fiamh na fath, cha da-al gun gav e fi-av na fa'
'S fo bhagradh choidh cha treig e lann ; s fo vag-ra' choy cha treyg e lann
Ach bu trice a gheil bbo'n chein, ach bu trice a yeyl von cheyn
Do chumhacbd graidb an t-armunn trein, do chu-ac gray an tarmunn treyn
A bbuail an ioma gabhadb steinn, a vu-ayl an i-oma gava' steynn
Na'm balach breun 's an ceillean fann, nam balach breyn san ceyllen fann
Seinn da mi, et cetera.
A Maigbdeann Shith.
Ob 's taitneacb leom do cholg 's do oh s tayt-nech le-om do cholg s do
sbnuadb, nu-a'
A shealgaer bhuirb bbo tbir nan stuadb ! a hellager vuyrb vo hir nan stu-a'
Acb fear fo airm san diorahair reidb, ach fer fo ayrm san di-vayr rey'
Tha siant am f heitb cba'n f baidb mo ha si- ant am ey' chan ay' mo
gbradh. yra'
Till gu'n dail do'n eillean Sgiathacb,* till gun dayl don eyllen sgi'-ach
Far am bilb na roin 'g easgach, far am bi' na royn ag i-as-gach
'S ceigagan na cota stiallach, s ceyg-ag-an na cota sti-al-ach
Tional maoracb liadh air traigb. tenal maor-ach li-a' ayr tray'
Cha sbeinner leom, et cetera.
The Hunter.
Offer not, maiden queenly, an in- dignity
To a root of the family of Conn of battle-fields.
It is not natural that be should take (either) fear or an advantage,
And never, under a threat, will he forsake his blade ;
But more often has yielded, from re- mote ages,
To the power of love, the hero strong,
Who has struck hard (blows) in many
extremities, Than the boor coarse, or the poltroon
feeble.
Sing to me, &c.
The Maiden Fairy. Oh ! delightful to me is thy bearing and aspect,
Hunter fierce from the land of waves !
But to a man under arms in the secret
haunts Consecrated to my deer, I give not
my love.
Return without delay to the Isle of
Skye* Where seals (will be) fishing,
And dumpy ones (women) with strip- ped petticoats, Gathering grey sbellfish on the beach.
I sing not, &c.
An Sealgair. The Hunter.
Si an acain 's ionmhain ghuidh mi riamh, It is the dearest wish I ever prayed, si an ac-ayn s i-on-vayn yuy' mi ri-av
U thighinn a ghaoil le d' bhaidean That you should come, love, with your u hi'nn a yaoyl le d vayden parcel of deer
fhiadh, i-a'
* The Isle of Skye ; literally, the isle of wings, as above spelt,
140
THE POETRY
Do Shleibhte tlath, na fasach fial, do leyv-te tla' na fa-sach fi-al
Na glacan, mianar biadhar trath ; na glac-an mi-an-ar bi-a-yar tra'
Sa bheil ioma coire buadhar, sa veyl i-oma coyre bu-a-yar
'S torrach cluain 's as airde fuarain, s torrach clu-ayn sas ayrde fu-a-rayn
Sgeideachte le biolair uaine, sgeyd-ech-te le bil-ayr u-ayne
Is blaiste sugh sas uire sgiamh. is blayste su' sas uyre sgi-av
Seinn da mi, et cetera.
A Mhaighdeann Shith.
'S mor a b-annsa Buachail-eite, s mor a bann-sa bu-a-chayl-eyte
'N Coire-ba, sa'm Binnein eatrome, n coyre-ba sam binn-eyn e-trom
Cruach-nam-beimn is airde nan Creisein, cru-ach-nam-beynn is ayrd nan creyseyn
'S Beinn-na-doirrean,* mian nam bard ; s beynn-na-doyrren mi-an nam bard
'S cha bu diubhaidh Beinn-a-cbrulaist, s cha bu di-uvay beynn-a-chru-layst
Na Beinn-bhreac nan aighean ludhmhor, na beyn-vrec nan ay'-eii lu'-vor
Strath-Oissian nan luban curaidh, sra'-oys-oyn nan luban cur-ay'
'S Creaguaine nan uigean tlath. s creg-u-ayne nan uygen tla'
Cha sheinnear, et cetera.
An Sealgair.
Oh, thig do dh-uamh Strathard nan send, oh big do yu-av stra'ard nan seyd
Far am binne ceol nan teud, far am binne ce-ol nan teyd
A dh-eisteachd sgeul air deuchaingraidh, a yeystec sgeyl ayr dey-chayn gray'
A thiondas cridhe caoin gu baigh, a hi-on-das cri'-e caoyn gn bay'
A leaghaes is a laises suil, fa le-as is a layses suyl
A bheir air cuisle eridh dluth, a veyr ayr cuysle eyri' dlu'
To Sleat mild, of forests hospitable, Of hollows desirable, grassy, early ; Where there are many corries fertile,
Of beautiful meadows, and lofty springs
Arrayed with cresses green,
Of tasteful juice and the freshest colour.
Sing to me, &c.
The Fairy Maiden. Much more I love Buachail-eite,
The Corrie-ba and Binnein airy,
Cruch-nam-ben and the heights of
Creisen, And Bendoran,* the delight of the
bards ; Nor less valued is Ben-a-chrulaist,
Or Benvreac of hinds nimble, Strath-Ossian of the holms sweet,
And Creaguaine of mild (sheltered) recesses.
I sing not, &c.
The Hunter. Oh, come to Strathard's cave of gems,
Where sweetest is the music of the
chords, To listen to a tale of ill-fated love,
That will turn the tender heart to
pity>
Melt and kindle the eye, Make the pulse beat quick,
* Bendoran ; literally, the mountain of storms.
Air maighdeain fhiata cinntinn tlath ayr may'dayn i-a-ta cintiuu tla'
Is geiltein foil do bhoidean blath. is geylt-eyn foyl do voyden bla'
Seinn da mi, et cetera.
OF THE HIGHLAND CLANS. 141
The maiden shy become sympathetic, And yield kindly to vows warm. Sing to me, &c.
A Mhaighdeann Shith.
B-annsa leom sith-bhrugh Lochtreig, b-annsa le-om si'-vru' loch-treyg
Far a bheil na suinn a threig, far a veyl na suyn a h-reyg
Euchd nam blar is tart nam buaidh, eye nam blar is tart nam bu-ay
Fo gheisean* gaoil a maoin san luaidh ; fo yeys-en gaoyl a maoyn san lu-ay
lad gu'n uidh air frith na raoin, i-ad gun uy' ayr fri' na raoyn
Gach suidh air uchd a leannean chaoin, gach suy ayr uc a lennan chaoyn
A claisteinn comhstri dhan is theud, a chlaysteynn cov-stri yan is heyd
Fo sgail-bhrat laist le mile seud. fo sgayl-vrat layst le mile seyd
Cha sheinnear, et cetera.
The Maiden Fairy.
More I love the fairy-knowe of Loch- treig, Where dwell the heroes who forsook
The pomp of battle-fields and the
thirst of victories, Under the enchanting* love of their
treasured, their cherished ; Unmindful of forest or moor,
Each worthy reclines on the bosom genial of her he loves,
Listening to the competition of song, with the music of chords,
Under a canopy lighted with a thou- sand gems. I sing not, &c.
* The idea of heroes being put under enchantment by malignant or amorous supernatural beings, seems familiar to the lore of all countries, since the days of Homer and the Syrens ; but it is not in the brugh of Lochtreig, but in that of Tom-na-hiuirich that the Feinn were put under enchantment. Alex- ander Gillies, the great Glengarry tale-reciter, used to recite a touching romance of the Feinn ; who, one day, when hunting on Meal-fuar-mhonaidh, had been enticed on an adventure of exploration into the Sith-bhrugh of Tom-na-hiuirich, near Inverness, by a sorceress of Lochlin, and were there placed under enchantment. Here they were doomed to lie stretched around the cave, side by side, in a profound sleep, arrayed in their full costume and arms, with the hand of each warrior on the hilt of his sword, ready for action, the moment the charm should be terminated ; which, however, it never would , until three blasts should be blown on a war-trumpet, suspended behind the gate of the cave. The legend gave an exceedingly graphic description of a chivalrous tailor who took upon himself, on a Halloween-night, when all fairy- knowes are open, to attempt the adventure of setting the Feinn free. He entered the brugh of Tom-na- hiuirich, in which darkness was made visible by a lurid glare of supernatural light, which exposed to the the eyes of the startled tailor a row of warriors of a supernatural size, stretched prone on their shields, but in their complete war panoply, around the cave. Though staggered by their enormous size, and the fierce scowl which contracted their brows and compressed their lips, (and he had some misgiving as to the fate of mankind should such savage-looking giants be set loose upon them,) he screwed up his courage, and de- termined at least to sound one blast of the trumpet, and have a parley with them. He blew a blast, and so loud and terrific was the sound, that Tom-na-hiuirich shook to its base, and the distant mountains reverberated. The great warriors opened their eyes, and stared at the tailor with an incomprehensible look ; but they did not move. He was greatly frightened, and had sad misgivings ; but rallying his stag- gered senses by degrees, he blew a second blast. The great warriors rose slowly to their left knees, and leant forward in an incumbent position on their elbows, their hands grasping the hilts of their half- unsheathed swords, and cast eager but indefinable glances at the tailor, who felt himself impelled by a sudden panic, dashed the trumpet to the ground, and sprang out of the cave. Here he stood fur a moment in compassion and doubt, hearing a moan spreading through the cave, while the following words were uttered in a voice in which scorn struggled with sorrow, " A loal>eadc;in 's miso dh-fhag na thuir;"— poltroon, worse you left than found (us.)
142
THE POETRY
An Sealgair.
B-anusa seasabh leat a ruin, b-annsa sesav let a ruyn
Gu allail ard air braigh an duin, gu allayl ard ayr bray' an duyn
Noir dh-eires muir na morachd f hem noyr yeyres muyr na mor-ac feyn
Thoirt dubhlan do na duilean trein ; hoyrt duvlan do na duylen treyn
Noir laises dealan slios a chuain, noyr layses delan slis a chu-ayn
Sa mhosglas tarn le beucan buain, sa vosglas tarn le beyc-an bu-ayn
Sa ruaigeas tuinn na cabhlaich aigh, sa ru-ayges tuynn na cav-laych ay'
Air sgearraen cruaidh gun tuar gun ayr sgerren cru-ay' gun tu-ar gun
bhaigh. vay'
Seinn da mi, et cetera. A Mhaighdeann Shith.
B-annsa a bhith an sgiort na stairm, b-annsa a vi' an sgirt na stayrm
Air uchd Sgureilt is uamhain gairm, ayr uc sgureylt is u-av-ayn gayrm
Noir chluinnear, sior san dubhradh, tarn noyr chluynner si-or san duvra' tarn
Nach caomhain le bheathir creag na earn, nach co vay n le ve'-ir creg na earn
Noir theid an dealan dearg na thein, noyr heyd an delan derag na heyn
Sa labhras reachdar beinn ri beinn, sa lavras rec-ar beynn ri beynn
Toirt caismeachd ghairbh do thaibhsean toirt cays-mec yayrv do hayv-sen
fuar, fu-ar
Is gairge siann sas oiltel tuar. is gayrge si-ann sas oyltel tu-ar
Cha sheinnear, et cetera.
An Sealgair.
Oh, thig a thuni leom a ghaoil, oh hig a huni le-om a yaoyl
Do'm bhuthean seal aig taobh a chaoil, do in vu'-an sel ayg taov a chaoyl
Bho faicer dluth is fada bh-uain, vo fayc-er dlu' is fada vu-ayn
Sealla bheann, is ghleann, is chuain. sella veynn is ylenn is chu-ayn
The Hunter. Rather would I take my stand with
thee, love, Proudly and loftily on the dun,
When rises the ocean in majesty (all) his own,
To give defiance to the elements strong ;
When lightning kindles the bosom of the deep,
And thunder opens with continuous bellowing,
And the waves drive routed and mag- nificent navies,
On sea-rocks hard, sightless and piti- less.
Sing to me, &c.
The Maiden Fairy.
More I love to be in the skirt of the storm,
On the breast of Scureiltof the terrible war-cry,
When is heard, straight in the pro- found darkness, thunder
That with his bolts spares not rock nor avalanche ;
When goes the lightning red into extremes,
When mountain speaks haughtily to mountain,
Giving a warning surly to ghosts pale,
Of horrid shrieks and the most hideous aspects.
I sing not, &c.
The Hunter. Oh'come and dwell with me, love,
In my booth of osiers beside the strait,
Where is seen, near and afar,
A sight of mountains/glens, and seas.
OF THE HIGHLAND CLANS.
143
'S noir theid a ghrian na pailluinn shiar, s noyr heyd a yri-an na paylluynn hi-ar
Sa die fo sgail an f heasgair chiair, sa chS fo sgayl an esgayr chi-ayr
Cluiunear linn ceol binn nan teud, cluynner linn ce-ol binn nan teyd
Is eachdridh shair am blair nam beud. is ec-ri' hayr am blayr nam beyd
Seinn da mi, et cetera.
A Mhaighdeann Shith.
'S tuille 's fada 'n diugh air ceillidh, s tuylle s fada 'n di-u' ayr ceyli'
A Mam-mor na fasach feille, a mam-mor na fasach feylli'
Siubhladh mid gu h-eatrom eibhein, si-uv-la' mid gu he-trom eyveyn
Gu Lochtreig nan reidhlean tlath. gu loch-treyg nan reylen tla'
Siubhladh mid fiamhaidh, fairrel, si-uv-la' mid fi-avi' fayrrel
Fiamhaidh, fairrel, fiamhaidh, fairrel, fi-avi' fayrrel fi-avi' fayrrel
Shiubhladh mid fiamhaidh, fairrel, si-uv-la' mid fi-avi' fayrrel
Gu Lochtreig nan reidhlein tlath, gu loch-treyg nan rey'-leyn tla'
Far an seinnear orain chianael, far an seynner o-rayn chi-an-el
Shith-bhrugh aillidh nan teud seunael ; bi-vru ayli' nan teyd seynnel
Far an seinnear orain chianael, far an seynner o-rayn chi-anel
Shith-bhrugh aillidh nan tor ard. hi-vru' ayle nan tor ard
And when goes the sun into his pavi- lion in the west,
And the world under the mantle of evening swarthy,
Will be heard by us music from the sweetest chords,
And the history of heroes in the bat- tles of wounds. Sing to me, &c.
The Fairy Maiden. Too long, to-day, have we tarried
In Mam-mor of forests genial ; Travel we lightly and joyously, To Lochtreig of pleasant meadows. Travel we warily, shyly, Warily, shyly, warily, shyly ; Travel we warily, shyly, To Lochtreig of pleasant meadows, Where sung is the song plaintive
Of the fairy-knowe beautiful, of charm- ed chords ; Where sung is the song plaintive
Of the fairy-knowe beautiful, of wooded mountains high.
Before entering on the song part of the work, I beg to submit a specimen of Duncan Ban's descriptive poem of Corriecheathaich, to enable the reader to appreciate the correctness of Lord Macaulay's statement, that a love of land- scape is a taste of modern times. Had he read Gaelic poetry, he might have been saved from the utterance of this and many opinions that do him little credit, either as a man or a historian. I regret giving only a few lines of this poem.
COIRE-A-CHEATHAICH. — LITERALLY, THE CORRIE OF THE MIST.
Sa mhadain chiun-gheal an am dhomh In the morning mild and bright, sa vad-ayn chi-un-yel an am yov when
dusgadh, dusg-a'
144
THE POETRY
Aig bun na stuice be 'n sugra leom, ayg bun na stuyc-e be'n sn-gra le-om
A chearc le sgiucan a gabhail tuchain, a clierc le sgi-uc-an a ga-vayl tu-chayn
'S an coileach curtail a durdail trom ; 'san coylech curt-ayl a durd-ayl trom
An dreathan surdail 's a ribhid chiuil aige, an dre'-an surd-ayl sa ri-vid chi-uyl ayg-e
A cuir nan smuid dheth gu luthar binn ; a cuyr nan smuyd ye' gu lu'-ar binn
An truid 's am bru-dhearg le moran an truyd sam bru-yerag le moran
unaich,
un-aych
Ei ceileir sundach bu shiubhlach rann. ri ceyleyr sundach bu hi-ul-ach rann
Tha rnaladh ghruamach do bhiolair uaine ha mal-a' yru-a-mach do vil-ayr u-ayne
Mu na h-uile fuaran a tha san f honn, mu na h-uyle fu-a-ran a ha san onn
Is doire shealbhag am bun nan garbh- is doyr hela-vag am bun nan garv
chlach, chlach
Is grinneal gainbhich gu minibh-gheal is grinnel gaynv-ich gu min-iv-yel
pronn,
pronn
Nan glugabh plumbach air ghoil gun nan glug-av plum-bach ayr yoyl gun
aon-teas, aon-tes
Ach coileach buirn tighin a grund eas-lom ; ach coylech buyrn ti'-in a grund es-lom
Gach sruthan uasal le chuailean* du- gach sru'-an u-a-sal le chu-ayl-en du
ghorm, yorm
A ruith tre luib na thair stuic nan steall. a ruy' tre luyb na hayr stuyc nan ste-all
Rising at the foot of a rock, it was my delight
To hear the heath-hen plaintively murmuring her carrol,
And the black-cock courteously croon- ing his response deep ;
The wren merrily tuning her chanter musical,
And piping (" with might and main") nimbly and sweetly ;
The linnet and the red-breast osten- tatiously,
Breathing joyous lays in flowing- numbers.
There is a shaggy brow of green
cresses Around every spring in the forest,
A grove of sorrel around the rough stones,
And in every channel a thick covering of powered sand,
With basin-like hollows, in which, boiling without heat,
Bubbles up a cock of water from its polished fountain ;
Every gentle streamlet, with its dark- blue cuy-len,*
Meandering through meadows, or leap- ins over rocks in mimic waterfalls.
* There are some Gaelic words that cannot be translated into English without a violation of the characteristic delicacy and refinement of feeling which they imply. It would occupy too much space to illustrate here a question of philology which involves a peculiarity in the character of a people. I may observe, however, that it would shock the delicacy of an ancient Highlander to designate the natural covering of a woman's head and a cow's tail by the same name. Nay, more : he could not call the hair of a grey-headed harridan and of a modest and beautiful woman, by the same name. His general name for the human hair is " folt," and for the hair of animals, " fionna ;" but he calls the flowing ringlets of the young and beautiful, " cuailean," and the hair of the aged and plain, " folt." I am, therefore, at a loss how to render either " cuailean" or " cuaineal," which occur in these verses, into English, without doing violence to the good taste of the bard and the genius of the language. I must, therefore, beg to be excused for retaining a few of these peculiar words, and leaving the text to explain their meaning-.
OF THE HIGHLAND CLANS.
145
Tha 'in bradan tara-gheal sa choire lia'in bradan tara-yel sa choyre
gharbhlaich, yarv-laych
A tighin bho'n fhairge bu ghailbheach a ti'-in von ayrg-e bu yaylv-uoli
tonn.
tonn
Le luinneas meamneach a ceapa mhenibh- le luynnes mema-uech a cepa veniv
chuilleag, chuyll-ag
Gu neo-cheavbach le chamghob crom. gu ne-o-cherb-ach le chama-yob crom
Air bhoinne borb is e learn gu foirmel, ayr voynu<j borb is e lem gu foyrm-el
Na eideadh cliolgail bu ghorm-ghlas ligli, na eyd-e' cholg-ayl bu yorm-ylas li'
Le shoilsein airgid gu h-iteach menibh- le hoyl-sen ayrg-id gu hit-ech meuiv
bhreac, vrec
Gu lannacli dearg-bhallach earrgheal gu lannach derag-vallach erra-ycal
sliom. slim
The white-bosomed salmon is seen in the corrie rugged,
Fresh from the sea of stupendous waves.
Sportful in his proud career, he springs at the midges,
Snatching them unerringly with his
crooked beak. Through the fierce rapids he bounds
exultingly, In his armour of blue-grey mail,
Traced with silver ; he is finny, minutely speckled,
Scaly, crimson-spotted, breast white, symmetrical.
Gheibhte daonan mu d'ghlacaibh faoiue
yeyv-te daonan mu d'ylae-ayv faoyne'
Na h-aighean maoladh, na laoigh 's na na hay'-en maol-a' na laoy' 's na
maing ; — mayng
Se bu mhian linn a madainn ghrianaich, se bu vi-an linn a ma-daynn yri-an-ich
Bhi dol ga'n ialadh miasg shliabh is vi dol gan i-al-a' mesg li-av is
ghleann ; ylenn
Ged thigeadh siantan oirn an dile, ged hig-e' si-an-tan oyrn an dile
Bhiodh seol gar didean sa chrioch nach vi-o' se-ol gar did-eu sa clirich nach
gann —
gann
An uibheig iosail am bun na frithidh, an uy-veyg i-sayl am bun na fri-i'
Le leobain diomhair gu sineadh teann. le leb-ayn di-ov-ayr gu siu-e' tcnu
Found always in the sequestred
hollows Are the bold hinds, with their calves
and yearlings ; —
It is our delight in the sunny morning,
To stalk for them the wolds and glens ;
Though the embattled elements should come on us in a deluge,
There are means of shelter in the bounds ample, —
Little caves at the foot of the forest,
With secret beds in which to stretch ourselves in close confinement.
H6
THE POETRY OF THE HIGHLAND CLANS.
Biodh eoin an t-shleibhe nan ealtain vi-o' e-oyn an tleyv-& nau elt-ayn
ghle-ghloin, yle-yloyn
A cluich air geugaibh 's a seirm sa choil ; a cluych ayr yeyg-ayv sa seynn sa choyl
Anuiseagcheutach'saluinneagfheinaic', an uys-ag che-tach sa luynn-eg heyn aye .
An fheadag speiseil gu reidh a seinn ; an ed-ag speys-eyl gu rey' a seynn
A chuach 's an smeorach a'm bar nan
a chu-ach san sinc-or-ach am bar nan
ogan; ogau
A gabhail orain gu ceolar binn ; a gav-ayl or-ayn gu ce-ol-ar binn
Noir ghoireas baileach an cuanal tairis, noyr yoyr-es bayl-ech an cu-an-al tayria
Ni creagan sanas is gleannaibh failt ! ni cregan sanaa is glenn-ayv faylt
The birds of the wolds forming a pure eltayn,
Sport and sing among the boughs of the wood ;
The tuneful lark sings with a carol all her own,
The plover, with her clear notes,
responds afar ; The cushet and the thrush, high on
the trees,
Sing their lays harmonious and sweet ;
When the loving cuaineal sing
thoroughly, The rocks whisper and the glens
smile !
THE MUSIC OF THE HIGHLAND CLANS.
THE difference between the Highland and Lowland versions of many of our sweetest melodies, and between the songs sung to them in either dialect, afford fair data for forming an opinion as to the state of society and refinement of the one people on a comparison with the other ; — and as one of the objects of this treatise is to submit the necessary materials on the part of the Caledonian or Highlander, — those of the Scot or Lowlander are already, and have long been before the world, — I challenge a comparison, and leave the public to decide the question. The Gaelic song, in a literal translation, cannot justly be compared to the Lowland song in its native language ; and in comparing my translations to the Lowland song, due allowance must be made for the severe translation ; but the melodies may be compared. The Lowland melody bears intrinsic evidence of the genius of her rich, smooth, genial, native district, being characterized by a yielding warmth and a pliant softness, which contrast with the wayward pathos and unbending spirit of Highland melody. The Lowland nymph finds leisure now and again to breathe a heavy sigh over the bier of a husband, or to faint away with a long-drawn sob of joy on a lover's bosom ; while her High- land sister, whether she pours out her soul in a heart-rending wail of grief, or quivers in every nerve and pulse with joyful ecstacy, sweeps along on her airy course, with the lofty bearing and undoubting steps of her native mountain race. No doubt, she pants once or twice, now and again, in every natural pause in the line or verse, from excess of feeling and excitement, and the emphatic single and double notes, which represent these pants, disturb the som- nolency of tone desiderated in plaintive Lowland melodies. But these are characteristic and peculiar marks of Highland melodies, and have been ignored, accordingly, by the Lowland minstrel and bard, in such Highland melodies as have been effectually changed into Lowland melodies ; the single note being lengthened into a drawl, and the double note into an interminable slide. This seems to have been the initiating step in the system of harmony which, under
148 THE MUSIC
the scientific knowledge of time and tune attained by the great Masters of •modern times, had revolutionized the whole materials out of which has been re-composed the music now fashionable in Europe.* Though anything but versant in the science of music, I am not, I think, altogether incapable of ap- preciating the wonderful variety of adverse sounds, the playful eccentricities and ethereal vagaries methodized and combined into musical pieces by the great masters; and, when listening to them in the modern drawing-room, although amused rather than delighted, I cannot help admiring the wonderful effects of a musical education on persons peculiarly organized, and of highly artificial tastes. I may remark, however, that M. Jullien did not attempt to perform any of these pieces on any single musical instrument, but considered it necessary to have the combined force of a thousand different instruments to represent them ; and the managers of concerts in the York and other Cathedrals, also formed choirs of several thousand voices to produce the like effect. This, however, only shows that M. Jullien and these managers were destitute of musical genius, when compared to the bald-headed or wigged gentlemen and loud or shrill-voiced ladies, who set themselves down with such complacency to conjure thunder-storms, earthquakes, and other convulsions of Nature, out of the piano !
But this subject is too grave for sarcasm. I am satisfied that the music of the great Masters has now become the capital or stock-in-trade of the most injurious quackery, — I should say ludicrious quackery, — and has thoroughly corrupted the musical taste and education of the fashionable, or, rather, would- be fashionable part of society. It has unquestionably been lessening the attachment of sense and sound, until music has become so whimsical, or mounte- bankish, so estranged from all natural and hereditary feeling, as to forget that poetry is her twin-sister, and of equally divine birth with herself. Hence, she is, as now cultivated in our schools, and practised in our drawing-rooms, become incapable of affording pleasure to any person of fine feelings and natural tastes. I can scarcely forgive Harmony, although she is the offspring of Genius, for having thus so perverted and denationalized Melody, as to render her no longer capable of thrilling the hearts and elevating the lives of the people ; and when she puts forth her hand to manipulate on my own dear, wild, wayward, touching, native airs, — altering, substituting, shortening, lengthening, or sliding notes into one another, or rending them into quavers or demi-quavers of all sounds and dimensions, I abhor her very shadow! Indeed, although many gentlemen possess, or affect a taste for modern music, and may well be excused for bending with pleasure over the fair creatures who ply the piano with a self-satisfied air, on the assurance of their lisping foreign teachers, that they have attained per- fection in musical science, — of which they, of course, constitute themselves and
* The Prince of Canino wrote to a friend in Italy, in the days of James I., a letter descriptive of Scottish or Lowland melody, and expressing his intention of introducing that style of music, on his return home, as an improvement on that of his native land. Tassoni also describes Scottish music as of a touching and melancholy or lamenting character, and states that he had himself adapted and composed many pieces in that style. It does not, therefore, seem presumptuous to say that Scottish Melody had been borrowed by Harmony to improve the music of Italy, and that modem music is the result of this ill-assorted marriage between the natural and the artificial.
OF THE HIGHLAND CLANS. 149
their pupils the sole judges, — laughing or sneering at the ignorance of all who differ from them : yet the fact is, that the sound of the piano has a regularly Bull's-run effect on most gentlemen. I have myself no doubt, that horror of this musical infliction, rather than of the curtain lecture, is at the root of the distaste for a married life, so apparent at present in gentlemen who have not attained either a self-sufficient initiation into the science of modern music, or that position in society where the artificial totally supercedes the natural. Young ladies may take my word for it, that the music which does not touch the heart, will never win a heart worth loving.
The Highlanders are much indebted to the Eev. Mr Macdonald, and to Messrs Gow, Marshall, arid others, for having rescued so much of the music of their ancestors from comparative obscurity ; but they baptized it anew, after their patrons and patronesses, and have thus made on strangers the impression that they were the composers of the music which they only copied and published. I do not think that they intended to do this ; but it was in very bad taste to give new names to these old tunes and airs, and thus to deprive them of the signet of antiquity which descended with them from remote ages. At the same time, they thus left to their musical successors a lesson of snobbery and servility, which they, in their turn, have not been slow in stamping on the very forehead of the national music, — a lesson only equalled by the fulsome and nauseous dedications of the feudal bards of the Lowlands of Scotland and England.
The first verse of the following song, Nighean Donn na Buaile, was quoted by Logan as one of the specimens by which he illustrated the great variety of measures of Gaelic poetry. As this song is a fair average specimen of the Gaelic love song, which was characterized more by a dignified tenderness and a fixed constancy than by a wayward fervor, I will make it my first specimen of its class. The melody is, in the Highlands, called " Feil Chill Andraes," (feyl chill andras) St Andrew's Fair, and has been naturalized in the Lowlands under the more homely name of " Johnny's Grey Breeks," which, though certainly very beautiful, is no improvement on the original. I have no wish to detract from Scottish or Lowland melodies, but must say that the great body of those of them which have an unquestionably Caledonian or Highland origin, have been any- thing but improved by their transformation.
NIGHEAN DONN NA BUAILE.*
A nighean donn na buaile, Brown-haired maiden of the fold,
a ni'-en donn na bu-ayle
Ga bheil an gluasad farasda, Whose movements are so graceful,
ga veyl an glu-as-ad farasda
* For the melody of " Nighean Donn na Buaile," and many others, I am indebted to Mrs Macdonell, Keppoch, whose exquisite taste for Gaelic music worthily represents the genius of the House of Keppoch, which has been so long the residence of music, poetry, and heroism. To Mrs Macdonell and her daughter Miss Jessie, I am under deep obligations, not only for the number of melodies with which they have favoured me, but for the unwearied kindness with which they consulted my wishes, and cheer- fully met the increasing demands their possession of the same sets of the melodies with which I was acquainted iu my youth, made me venture to make on their indulgence ; and I beg their acceptance of my sincere and grateful thanks.
150
Thug mi gaol ro-bhuan dhut hug mi gaol ro-vu-ayn yut
Nach dian le cruidh-chas meathachadh. nach di-an le cruy'-chas me'-a-cha'
Mheall u mi le d' shugradh, veil u mi le d' hu-gra'
Le d' bhriodal is le d' chiune ; le d' vri-dal is le d' chi-u-iie
Ltib u mi mar iuran, — lub u mi mar i-u-ran
Cha duchas a bhi fallain dhomh. cha du-cbas a vi fallayn yov
Do chul don, maiseacli ordail, do chul don maysh-ach ordayl
Gu bachlach, boidheach, camagach ; gu bach-lach boy-ech cama-gach
T-aghaidh flathail, comhnard, ta'-ay' fla'-ayl cov-nard
Mar itean loin do mhalaichean ; mar iten loyn do val-aych-en
Do shuillean gorma miogach, do huyll-en gorma mi-gach
Roisg fhada cumail dionn orr ; roysg ada cumayl dionu orr
Do bheulan meachair maoth-dhearg ; do veylan me-chayr mao'-yerag
Do ghruaidh mar chaoran mheaganan. do yru-ay' mar chaoran veng-an-an
Mar reul a measg an t-shluaighe u, mar re-ul a me-asg an tlu-ay u
Nam glnasad a chum tionalaidh ; nam glu-a-sad a chum tinal-ay'
Tha t-ailleachd a toirt buaidh, ha tayll-echd a toyrt bu-ay'
Air each uille an snuadh 's an ceanaltas ; ayr each uylle an snu-a' san cenaltas
Do chiochan, mingeal, arda, do chi-o-chan min-yel ard-a
Fo sgaile sroil a dealradh ; fo sgayle sroyl a del-ra'
'S mar eala snamh air saile, smar ella snav ayr sayle
Tha ceumaibh graidh na h-ainnire. ha ceym-ayv gray' na haynnire
0' d' bheul gur binn hig orain, o' d' veyl gur binn hig or-ayn
Manran, ceol, is ^ilerean. man-ran ce-ol is ^byleren
THE MUSIC
I have given thee a love
Too constant to be subdued by adversity.
Thy gay converse has enticed me, Thy sportful minstrelsy, thy mildness ; Thou hast bent me like a sapling,— Health without thee cannot be mine.
Thy hair brown, beautifully arranged In bonny bending curls ; Thy face noble, symmetrical,
Thy eye-brows as the feathers of a
blackbird ; Thy eyes blue, fascinating,
Covered with long lashes ;
The lips mellow, red ;
Thy cheek like the rowan berry.
Thou art like a planet among the
people, When going to a gathering ;
Thy beauty triumphs over all others, Thy complexion, the pleasantry ; Thy bosom soft, white, high, Under a veil of gauze shining ; And as a swan swimming on the sea, Are the lovely steps of the maiden.
From thy lips sweet come the song,
The carol, melody, and sportful minstrelsy.
OF THE HIGHLAND CLANS.
151
Gur binne leom do chomhradh gur biune le-em do chov-ra'
Na'n smeoil a 'm bar na meanganan. nan sme-oyl am bar na menganan
O'n chuir mi 'n tus ort eolas, on chuyr mi 'n tus ort e-o-las
Gu'n d'thug mi gaol cho mor ort, gun dug mi gaol cho mor ort
Mar fhaidh mi u ri phosadh, mar fay' mi u ri fosa'
Gu'n cuir do bhron fo'n talamh mi. gun cuyr do vron fon talav mi
Sweeter to me is thy conversation
Than the thrush on the topmost
branches. Since I first made thy acquaintance,
So great has been my love to thee, That unless I receive thee in marriage,
Sorrow for thee will put me under the sward.
Mari Nighean Alisdair Kuaidh, (Mary the Daughter of Ked Alexander,) from whose works Logan selected many of the verses of his able introduction to Mackenzie's Collection, among many others which may justly be called the most exquisite remains of our sixteenth century poems, without excepting those of the Piobaire Ball himself, left several laments. One of these, called " Cumha Mhic Leoid," is very touching. I will submit a few verses of it, to show the variety of measures at her command. She was born in the Island of Harris, about the beginning of the sixteenth century.
'S trom a mulad a shugh s trom a mulad a buy
'M aiteas, 'm aille, 's mo lugh ; maytes mayle 's mo lu'
'S trie snithe bho'm shuil 's trie sni'-e vom huyl
A tuitam gu dlu ; a tuytam gu dlu
Chail mi altruman in' iuil, chayl mi altruman mi-uyl
Fear deacidh rno chiuil ; fer dec-ay' mo chi-uyl
Gu mire na muirn cha teid mi. gu mire na muyrn cha teyd mi
Si'n fhras nach ciuin, sin ras nach ci-uyn
A chreach air muir, a chrech ayr muyr
A shrac air siuil, a h-rac ayr si-uyl
Sa bhrist air stiuir, sa vrist ayr sti-uyr
Is cairt air iuil, is cayrt ayr i-uyl
CUMHA MHIC LEOID.
Heavy is the grief that absorbed
My happiness, my beauty, my strength ;
Often tears from my eyes
Fall in quick succession ;
I have lost the nursling of my lore,
The inspirer of my lays ;
To banquet or merry-making I will not go.
'Twas a hail-storm, not mild,
That desolated our homes,
That rent our sails,
And broke our helm,
Our card of knowledge, (compass)
•.
152
'S air taice cuil,
sayr tayce cuyl
Bha again san Dun eibhinn, va agen san dun ey-vinn
Mo mhisneach 's mo threoir, mo visnech 's mo h-re-oyr
Fo thasgadh a bhord, fo hasg-a' a vord
Sar mhac mhic Leoid sar vac vie le-oyd
Na'm bratach sroil, nam bratach sroyl
Bha fial le or, va fi-al le or
'S bu bhinne sgeoil 's bu vinne sge-oyl
Na clarsach is ceol Erin, na clar-sach is ce-ol ey-rin
THE MUSIC
The stay at our bark, We had at the Dun of joy.
My courage, my strength,
(Is) wrapped in boards,
The surpassing son of Leod
Of silken banners,
That was liberal with gold,
Whose lays were more sweet
Thau the harps and music of Erin.
The Highland chiefs, on the succession of the king of Scotland to the throne of England, seem to have forgot that it was not the object of feudal charters in Scotland, to deprive the people of their immemorial right of property in the soil, but to assimilate the patriarchal system to that subordination of ranks which made the feudal system, introduced into England by the Normans, so much more efficient for warfare. The intention of the Scottish kings evidently was, by making chiefships hereditary and dependant on the crown, instead of elective and dependant on the people, to assimilate the chiefs to the crown vassals, and make them thus amenable to the despotism at which they aimed. That the charters had no other object than this, to subserve the regal despotism, is proved by the fact, that, while the crown continued despotic, the feudal superior was not allowed to oppress, increase the rents, or alter the fixed tenures of the clans ; and that the charters were, in innumerable instances, recalled or transferred at the pleasure of the king. A change seems now to have come over king and chiefs alike, however, and it was evidently determined to give the same effect to charters granted over the unconquered lands of the clans of Scotland, which they had received over the conquered lands of the people of England. The bards were the first victims of the change. I have not space to detail the evictions, but may remark that Clanranald's bard was ejected from Balivaird, which was possessed for ages by his ancestors under the cleachda, in the beginning of the eighteenth century, as is shown in a most interesting statement made on oath by his son, and which has been published by the Highland Society, to account for the destruction of the manuscript of the Clanranald family. When the other children of song were thus stripped and ejected, and wandered through the country, living on the hospitality of the people, Mari received a pension from her chief, Sir Norman Macleod, and lived in comparative wealth. Her house was always open to, and formed the head-
OF THE HIGHLAND CLANS. 153
quarters of the bards. This being distasteful to other chiefs, who, like less dignified wrong-doers, conceived a deadly hostility to their victims, Sir Norman was prevailed on to place Man in the more inaccessible island of Scarba; exacting from her, at the same time, a promise that she would compose no more orain, or songs. Mari found it impossible to keep this promise ; but, by way of a compromise with her honour, I presume, she called all her subsequent compositions, not orain or songs, but cronain or croons. The good-natured chief charged her with a breach of her promise, but she logically maintained, no doubt much to his amusement, that she only wrote " croons," not songs, and did not break her promise. The following croon seems to have led to her recal and reconciliation with her chief, who, I have no doubt, longed as much to see her home as she did to see him.
THA MI 'M SHDIDHE AIR AN TULAICH. — 1 AM SITTING ON THE HEIGHT.
Tha mi 'm shuidhe air tulaich, I am sitting on an eminence,
ha mi'm buy' ayr tulaych
Fo mhulad 's fo imecheist, In sorrow and perplexity,
fo vulad' sfo ime-cheyst
A coimhead air Isla, Gazing at Islay,
a coyv-ed ayr I -la
(San do'm iognadh gu dearbh e.) (To my own astonishment certainly.)
san do'm i-ona' gu derav' e
Bha mi uaire nach do shaoil mi, The time has been when I did not
va mi u-ayr nach do haoyl mi expect
Gu 'n caochladh air m' aimsir My condition would be so changed
gu 'u caochla' ayr m'aymesir
'S gu 'n thighinn an taobh so, As to make me come in this direction,
'sgun tig-inna n taov so
A dh-amharc lura a Sgarba. To look at Jura from Scarba.
a yav-arc i-ura a scaraba
Fonn. — I h-urabh 0, i horinn 0, The object of the Gaelic chorus
i hu-rav o i horinn o (which in this instance may be con-
I h-urabh 0, i horinn 0 ; sidered as a corranacJt, and is untrans-
i hu-rav o i horinn o lateable) was to make the audience
Ihu-uirabhO, i-hogaidh ho ro, realize the emotjons tne son~ v,as
i hu-rav o i-hogay' ho ro . , .
meant to excite, by making them
tete Part in the »"?»& The songs intended for public singing were therefore generally adapted to airs carried down by tradition, and which were already known to, and favourites with the people. In the absence of the chorus, which was only the case in triads, or songs of three lines, the verse was first sung by the professional vocalist, or the best amateur singer present, and then by the audience, who usually stood in a circle, their hands joiiu'tl by means of bonnets and scarfs, which the}' kept waving in accordance with the time and spirit of the melody. This custom came down to my younger days; and I have seen numerous companies joining in singing songs in the above -style, with a sympathy which loaves no doubt on my mind that the
u
-
154
THE MUSIC
Druid system of cultivating the hearts of the people by means of poetry and music, was infinitely superior, in so far as the masses were concerned, to a lettered education.
With these remarks, I submit to the reader one or two more verses of this poem. The last line, or two lines of every verse of this and similar songs, were repeated to aid the memory, — for when songs of a narrative or historical character were intended for being sung, their length suggested such repetitions as rendered it almost impossible for the singer to forget the succeeding lines. The airs of the historical poems were, properly speaking, not melodies, but a musical and pleasing style of reciting poetry. The historical poems of Ossian, and the other ancient bards, were thus recited.
Gu 'n thighinn an taobh so, gu 'n dig-inn an taov so
A dh-amharc lura a Scarba ! a yavarc i-ura a scaraba
Thoir mo shoraidh do'n duthaich,
hoyr mo horay' do'n du-'aych
Tha fo dhubhar nan garbh-bheunn, ha fo yuvar nan garv-veynn
Gu Shir Tormaid ur ailleal, gu sir toro-mayd ur ayllel
Fhuair ceannais air armailt ; h-u-ayr cennas ayr arm-ay It
'S gu'n caint ann 's gach fearann. s gu'n caynt anns gach ferrann,
Gu'm b-airidh fear t-ainm air. gu'm bayr-i' fer taynim ayr
Hi iurabh, etc. Gu'n caint ann 's gach fearann,
gu'n caynt anns gach ferrann
Gu 'm b-airidh fear t-ainm air : gu 'm b-ayri' fer t-aynim ayr
Fear do cheille do ghliocais, fer to cheylle do yli-ocaysh
Do mhisnich do mheamneadh, do visnich do vemene'
Do chruadail do ghaisge, do chru-atayl do yoysge
Do dhreachadh 's do dhealbha, do yrech-a' s do yel-ava
Is t-olachd is t-uaisle, is tolac is t-u-aysle
Cha bu shuarach ri leanamhuin. cha bu hu-a-rach ri lena-vuyn
Hi iurabh, etc.
That I should come in this direction, To look at Jura from Scarba ! Bear my salutation to the country,
That (nestles) under the shadow of the rough mountains,
To Sir Norman, lofty and illustrious,
Who has obtained the leading of an
army; And they say in every land
It is deserved by a man of his name. It is, etc.
They say in every land It is deserved by a man of his name : His understanding, his wisdom, His courage, his magnanimity, His hardihood, his heroism, His bearing, his figure, And his blood and pedigree Are not unworthy of being recorded. Are not, etc.
OF THE HIGHLAND CLANS.
155
I cannot part with Mari without quoting a verse or two of the " croon," or chaunt : —
Gu dun turaideach ard, gu dun turaydach ard
Am bidh tunaidh nam bard, am bi' tunay' nam bard
'S na fillidh 's binn dain, s na fill!' s binn dayn
'S na'n cupaichean Ian, 8 nan cupaychen lann
Aig ol slainte mo ghraidh, Tormaid. ayg ol slaynte* mo yray' tormayd
Aig ol, etc.
B'e sin aros nach crion, b'e sin aros nach cri-on
AN CKONAN. — THE CROON.
To the castle turreted, lofty,
The home of the bards,
And minstrels of sweet lays,
(Who) with flowing cups,
Toast healths to my beloved Norman.
Toast, etc. That is the mansion not paltry,
Am biadh garaich na 'm piob, am bi' garaych na 'm pi-ob
'S nan clarsach a stridh, s nan clarsach a stri'
Is dearsa na 'm pios, is dersa na 'm pi-os
Air in strachdadh, le fion, ayr in straca' le fi-on
Ni soils' ann an ghniomh or-cheard. ni soylsh ann an gni-ov or-cherd
Ni, etc.
B'e do dhuchas 's do dhual, be do yuchas s do yu-al
Bhi gu fantalach buain, vi gu fantalach bu-ayn
Ann an carraid 's an cruadhas ; aim an carrayt s an cru-a'as
G-arg a prosnachadh sluaigh ; garag a pros-nacha' slu-ay'
Baighael am buaidh ; bay'el am buay'
Mosglach an uair foirneart. mosglach an u-ayr foyrnert
Mosglach, etc.
Leansa, 's na treig, lensa s na treyg
Cleachda is beus, clechda' is beys
Where is heard the streaming notes of
the pipe And of the harp, in competition ;
And is seen the gleaming of cups, Charged to the brim with wine, Kadiant in the work of the goldsmiths.
Kadiant, etc.
It is thy native and hereditary right To be patient, stedfast, In extreme conflicts ; Fierce when exciting the people ; Compassionate in victory ; Vigilant in the time of oppression.
Vigilant, etc. Follow, and forsake not The customs and virtues
156
THE MUSIC
T-aiteam gu leir ; taytem gu leyr
Macanta seamh, macanta seyv
Pailt ri luchd theud, paylt ri luc heyd
Ghaigeal an gleus, gaysgel an gleys
Neartmhor an deigh torachd. nertvor an dey torac
Neartmhor, etc.
Of thy race, unfailingly ; Modest and mild, Liberal to the tuneful profession, Heroic in deeds,
Strong in the pursuit of spoilers. Strong, etc.
I cannot afford room for the whole of the song called " Fuaim an t-Shaimh," (the Voice of Silence,) by Mari, which I regret, as an extract breaks the con- nexion between the solemn and touching reflections forming the introductory verses and the descriptive panegyric, which is so combined and perfect as to make their separation very injurious ; but they are so long as to compel me to insert only a small portion of the middle and the concluding verses.
FUAIM AN T-SHAIMH. — THE VOICE OF SILENCE.
Bear this salute from me
To the hall of (social) cups,
Beir an t-shoraigh so bh-uam beyr an to-ray' so vu-am
Gu talla nan cuach, gu talla nan cu-ach
Far'mbitathaichnantruadhdaimhail. — Where the needy find a friendly far'm bi ta'-aych nan tru-a' dayv-ayl welcome. —
Far, etc. Where, etc.
To the house where there is no
scarcity, Under the opposite declivity,
Thun an taighe nach gann, bun an tay'-e nach gann
Fo'n leathad ad thall, fo'n le'-ad ad hall
Far bheil aighear is ceann mo mhanrain. Where dwells my delight, the inspirer far veyl ay'-er is cenn mo van-rayn of my minstrelsy. —
Far, etc. Where, etc.
Tormaid, mo ruin, tor-mayd mo ruyn
Ollaghaireach u, olla-yayr-ech u
Foirmeil o thus t-abhaist. — Foirmeil, etc. And energetic in thy every action. — foyr-meyl o bus tav-ayst
Norman, beloved, Learned art thou,
Cha'n 'eil cleachdadh bheil brigh cha'n eyl clec-a' veyl bri'
Gaisge na gniamh gaysg-e na gni-av
Nach eil aigneadh mo ghaoil Ian deth.- nach eyl ayg-ne' mo yaoyl Ian de'
Nach, etc.
And, etc. There is nothing excellent That is not inherent in his mind
Or realized in his actions. — Or, etc. *
Ann an trcine san high, ann an treyne san hi'
Ann an ceutaidh 's an cliu, ann an cey-tay' 's an cli-u
Ann am feile 's an gnuis naire. — Ann, etc. ann am feyle san gnuys nayre
OF THE HIGHLAND CLANS.
Daring, strength, Elegance, pure fame,
157
Ann an gaisge 's an cial, ann an gays-ge san ci-al
Ann am pailte neo-chrion, ann am payl-te ne-o-chri-on
Ann a maise 'sa migh ailleachd.r-Ann, etc. ann a mayse sa mi-a' ayll-ec
Ann an cruadal 's an toil, ann an cru-a-dal san toyl
Ann am buaidh thoirt air sgoil, ann am bu-ay' hoyrt ayr sgoyl
Ann an uaisle gu'n chion caileachd. — ann an u-aysle gun chi-on cayl-ec
Ann, etc.
Fhuair u fortan 0 Dhia hu-ayr u fortan o yi-a
Ben bu shocraiclie cial, ben bu hoc-raych-e ci-al
Si gu foisteanach fial narach. — Si, etc. si gu foyst-en-ach fi-al narach
'S bheil cannaich is fiu, 's veyl cannaych is fi-n
Gu'n sgaile na gnuis, gun sgayle na gnuys
Suairce, ioriosail, ciuin, cairdeil. — su-ayrce ir-is-al ci-uyn cayr-deyl
Suairce, etc.
I gun dolaidh fo'n ghrein, i gun dol-ay; fon yreyn
Gu toileachadh treud ; gu toyl-ech-adh treyd
Sa h-olachd a reir ban-righ. — Sa, etc. sa hol-ac a reyr ban-ri'
'S trie a riaraich u cuilm, stric a ri-ar-aych u cuylem
Gun trioblaid, gun tuilg, gun tri-o-blayd gun tuylig
A nighean tainist Dun-tuilm, slan leat. — a ni'-en taynist dun-tuylem slan le-at
A nighean, etc.
Hospitality unpretending. — Hospitality, etc.
Warriorism, wisdom,
Social liberality,
Grace, beauty. — Grace, etc.
Hardihood, activity,
The conquest of knowledge,
High breeding, without effeminacy. — High, etc.
God has made thee fortunate in a
wife, Calmly prudent,
Vigilently prescient, kind, modest. — Vigilently, etc.
In whom there are attractions and
worth, Without a frown on her face,
Affable, lady-like, mild, friendly. — Affable, etc.
Without one defect under the sun,
Inconsistent with the happiness of
the people ; With blood (pedigree) equal to that
of the queen. — With, etc.
Often didst thou preside over the
banquet, Without fussiness, without confusion,
Daughter of the tainister of Duntuilm, fare-thee-well, — Daughter, etc.
158 THE MUSIC
My quotations from Mari Nighean Alisdair Ruaidh have already trenched on the space intended for other bards, her equals for elegance and tenderness, and her superior for strength and sublimity ; but I must submit two or three verses of " An Talla 'm bu gna le Macleoid," as a specimen of the numerous class of triads that seem to have been such favourites with the bards.
GUR MULADACH TEA MI. — SORROWFUL AM I.
Leat bu mheanach coin luthmhor Thy delight was swift dogs
let bu vi-anach coyn lu'vor
Dhol a shiubhal nan stuc-bheinn, Among the rough and peaked
yol a hi-u-val nan stuc-veynn mountains
'Sa gunna nach diulta ri ord. — And the gun that denies not the
sa gunna nach di-ulta ri ord hammer, (never misses fire.)
Leat, etc. Thy, etc.
Si do lamh nach robh tuisleach Thy hand is not erring
si do lav nach rov tuyshlech
Dhol a chaitheamh a chuspair, In the competition (of archery,)
yol a chay'-ev a chuspayr
Le d' bhoghadh caol ruiteach deo neoil. With thy bow slender, ruddy, beauti- le d' vo'-a' caol ruytech de-o ne-oyl ful. — Thy, etc.
Si, etc.
Glac chrom air do shliosaid, The bending quiver on thy hip,
glac chrom ayr do h-li-asayd
Do shaighdean snaighte gu'n iaradh, Of arrows polished and straight, do hay'-den snay'te gun i-ar-a'
'M bar dosrach le sgiathain an f heoin.* — Their tops rough with the wing of 'm bar dosrach le sgi-a'-ayn an e-oyn the eagle. — The, etc.
Glac, etc.
Bhiodh ceir ris na crannaibh, The waxed shaft
vi' ceyr ris na crann-ayv
Bu neo-eisleanach tarruinn, Is not dubious in its flight
bu neo-eyslenech tarruynn
Noir a leamadh an taifead o d' mheoir.— When the bow-string springs from noyr a lem-a' an tayf-ed o d' ve-oyr thy fingers. — The, etc.
Bhiodh, etc.
Noir a leigte bho d' laimh i, When released from thy hand,
noyr a leygte vo d' layv i
Cha bhiodh oirleach gu'n bhathadh Not an inch remains uninserted
cha vi' oyr-lech gun va'-a'
Eader corran a gaine sa 'n smeoirn. — Between the barbed point and the eder corran a gayne Ban sme-oyrn cleft. — When, etc.
Nair, etc.
Nam dhuit tighinn gu d' bhaille, On coming to thy residence,
nam yuyt ti'-inn gu d' vaylle
* The eagle is, par excellence, called " coin," or " fiar-ian,"— the bird, or true bird,— in Gaelic poetry. Its other name is descriptive, " eolaire ;" being compounded of the roots " eol, "or " iul," knowledge, ami " athar," pronounced a'-ar, sky.
OF THE HIGHLAND CLANS. 159
'S du bu tighearnail gabhail, Chief-like is thy hospitality, 's du bu ti'-ernayl gavayl
Noir bhiodh tionneal gach caraid mu As gathers every friend around thy
noyr vi' ti-o-nel gach carayd >mu table. — On, etc.
d' bhord. — Nan, etc.
d' vord
Gu'm biodh farum air thaileasg, There will be the rattling of back- gum bi' farum ayr hayleeg gammon,
Agus fuim air a chlarsaich, And the sound of the harp, agus fu-aym ayr a chlarsaych
Mur bu dhuchas do shar-mhac Mhic Leoid. As hereditary (custom was) of the sur-
mur bu yuchas do har-vac vie le-oyd passing SOD of Leod. — There, etc.
Gu'm, etc.
Se bu chleachda na dheigh sin The custom was afterwards se bu chlec-a na yey' sin
Bhi seiun uir-sgeul na Feinne, To sing the new tales of the Fin- vi sheynn uyr-sgeyl na feynnfc galians,
Is eachdraidh graigh cheir-ghil nan And anecdotes of wild adventures is ech-ray' gray' cheyr-yil nan after the race of white badges,
crochd. — Se, etc. (the deer.) — The, etc.
Iain Lorn, or John the bare, a nickname fastened on the bard, who lived to a very old age, from his sarcastic humour and the severity of his political poems, was royal Celtic bard to Charles the First and Second. His biography has never been written, nor his poems collected or published, there being no encouragement for Gaelic writers, in consequence of the prejudices of strangers, and the scattered state of the Highlanders, which precludes the necessary sales to make Gaelic literature a paying literature. From the energetic and active character of the bard, the disturbed times in which he lived, his great influence with the clans, his zealous loyalty, and his singularly romantic and adventurous spirit, no bard better deserves, or has left more ample materials, in the poetry and traditional lore of his country, for an interesting biographical sketch than Iain Lorn. My space does not admit of my even slightly glancing at the lives of the bards noticed in this small work ; but I cannot help telling an anecdote of Iain Lorn, in connexion with my Covenanting chief, Gillespig Gruamach, whose memory has hitherto, in my opinion, met with little justice from friend or foe. An idle report having been set on foot, to the effect that a reward had been offered for the apprehension arid production of Iain Lorn at Inverary Castle, the earl was called on one morning before breakfast by a Highlander, whose ostentatious and ample dress, spare and angular figure, sharp yet shy and suspicious looks, appeared both singular and striking. The bard, for the strange visitor was no other than Iain Lorn himself, asked the chief whether he had not lately offered such a reward to any one who should produce Iain Lom before him at Inverary. The chief, laughing, replied he had ; when the bard, stretching out his hand to receive the money, exclaimed, " Give it to me, then, for here I am, produced by himself." The earl was exceedingly amused ; but instead of lodging
160 THE MUSIC
the bard in a dungeon, as a celebrated novelist (who has more credit for the truthful delineation of the characters who figure in his works than he deserves) makes him treat an officer who came to him with a flag of truce, he took the bard by the hand, and led him into the castle, where he detained and enter- tained him for a week, with great courtesy and hospitality.
The steward of the household, however, was not so easily to be reconciled to the enemy of the clan ; and, the earl being absent one day while the bard remained at the castle, determined on playing him a trick. The bard, like most men of good taste, was a bit of an epicure, and from the gusto with which he enjoyed choice things, the steward became aware of his sensitiveness on the subject. Taking advantage of his master's absence, he served up to the bard, with much ostentation and ceremony, an apparently sumptuous dinner, all in covered dishes of "radiant plate." To detail the contents of the various dishes were ludicrous enough, but it exceeds my space. One of them, a dish of peri- winkles or whelks, excited the bard's risibility ; so he took it off the table bodily, — squatted down before the fire in the most ludicrous attitude he could assume, — placed it between his legs, — and snatching the golden skewer which fastened the plaid to his shoulder, set to, picking out the wormy fish, and ever and anon spouting an extemporaneous verse, satirically and humourously descriptive of his attitude and dinner, and representing it as the fare usually given to stranger guests at Inverary Castle. The steward, alarmed at the unenviable position into which he brought his master and household, found means to concilitate the bard, and the poetry has been suppressed ; but the anecdote has got a lasting hold of tradition, and shows that the chief was not the grim bigot he is represented to have been.
The bards, in their quick-step songs, fulling, shearing, rowing, and, indeed, all songs whose object was to cheer or assimilate labour to an amusement, only desired to bring before their hearers objects familiar and agreeably associated in their minds with localities, heroes, and traditions, cherished by their clan or class. Impassioned thought and deep feeling were considered inappropriate. As my object is to give the reader an honest or fair average sample of Gaelic poetry, I cannot select verses to confirm special remarks like these, and must refer to the song when in print. When my remarks refer to songs not in print, I will submit all or some of the verses. In the following boat-song, Iain Loin refers to the chief, as it were, merely incidentally. The measure of praise is implied rather than expressed ; and the localities most striking and traditionally celebrated for sports and events in the districts of the various branches of his great clan, and their traditionally dearest kinsmen or allies, fall into the verses so naturally as to appear wholly unintentional. The air is also equally appropriate and characteristic. It begins with an unaffected but bold note, swells gradually upwards in tones loud, sonorous, and haughty, ending literally in a gairm or shout of triumph. I must preserve the word gairm in my translations ; for shout, the nearest corresponding English word, does it anything but justice.
OF THE HIGHLAND CLANS. 161
MOCII S MI Q EIRIDII SA MHADUINN. — AS I AROSE IN THE MORNING.
Moch 's mi 'g eiridh sa mhaduinn, On rising in the morning,
nioch 's mi geyri' sa vadaynn
'S trom euslainteach m' aigne, Heavy and sorrowful was my mind, 's trom eys-layn-tech maygne
'0 nach t-eibh iad mi'n caidreamh nam Since they did not call me to the o nach teyv i-ad min caydrev nam fellowship of the brethren.—
braithrean. — 0 nach, etc Since, etc.
bray'ren
Leom is aith-ghearr a cheillidh Too short has been the time
le-om is ay'-yerr a cheyll-i'
Rinneas mar ris an t-Sheumas,* I remained on my visit to James,* rinnes mar ris an teymas
Ris 'n do dhealaich mi'n de moch la With whom I parted yesterday, on ris 'a do yel-aych min de moch la the morning of Easter-Sunday.—
caisge. — Ris, etc. With, etc.
Dia na stiuir air an darach May God guide the helm of the oak
di-a na sti-uyr ayr an darach
A dh-f halbh air tus an t-shiuil mhara, That sailed on the sea, a yalv ayr tus an ti-uyl vara
Seal mu'n tug i cheud bhoinne de Before it began to ebb. — sel mun tug i cheyd voynnd de
thraghadh. — Seal, etc. Before, etc.
tra'-a'
Ge b'e am cuir a choirc e, Although it had been seed-time,
ge be am cuyr a choyrc e
'S mi nach tille o stoc uat, I would not have returned from thee ;
's mi nach tille o stoc u-at
'S ann a shuidhinn an toiseach do bhata. I should sit in the bow of thy boat. — 's ann a huy'-inn an toys-ech do vata 'S ann, etc. I should sit, etc.
Nuair bhioclh each cuir ri gniamhadh, When the rest would be in action,
nu-ayr vi'-o each cuyr ri gni-a-va' ff.
Bhiodh mo clmidsa dlieth diomhain, ' My employment would be a pastime,
vi-o' mo chuyd-sa ye' di-o-vayn
'G ol na'n gncagan fion air a faradh. Drinking bumpers of wine in the cabin, gol nan guc-ag-an ti-on ayr a fara'
'G ol, etc. Drinking, etc.
An Dubh-chnoideartach riabhach, The Duv-cnoydertach, swarthy,
an duv-clmoydertach ri-a-vach
Luchdmhor ardghuailleach dhionar, Broad, high-shouldered, tight,
luc-vor ard-yu-ayllech yi-onar
* The Highland chid' was always addressed by his Christian name by his own clansmen.
X
162
THE MUSIC
'S ioma sleagh is lann iaruinn na h-earach. With many spears and iron blades in
'si-o-mo sle-a' is lann i-aruyn na her-ach her bosom
'S ioma, etc. With, etc.
Cha b'e marcaich na'n steudain It is not the rider of steeds cha be marc-aych nan steydayn
A bhuineadh geal reis ort, That would gain the racing bet of a vuy-ne' gel reys ort thee,
Noir is ard do shiuil bhreid-gheal air When thou spreadest thy curch-white* noyr is ard do hi-uyl vreyd-yel ayr sai]S over the sea.—
saile. — Noir, etc. When, etc.
sayle
Noir is ard do shiul bhronnach When high are the bellying sails noyr is ard do hi-uyl vronnach
Air cuan meamnach nan dronng, Over the ridges of the proud ocean, ayr cu-an memenach nan dronnag
'S tuinn uaibhreach a stealladh ma And numerous waves are spouting 's tuynn u-ayvrech a Stella' ma beneath the keel. —
h-erach. — 'S tiunn, etc. And, etc.
herach
Gur mor mo chion fein ort Great is my love to thee,
gur mor mo chi-on feyn ort
Car an cuirin an ceil e, Though I will not make a display car an cuyrin an ceyl e of it
Mhic an f hir leis an eiridh na Braigh'ich. Son of the man with whom the vie an ir leys an eyri' na bray'-ich Breabreans would rise (in arms.)
Mhic, etc. Son, etc.
Ceist na'm ban 'o Lochtreig u Beloved of the women of Lochtreig ceyst nam ban o loch-treyg u
'S 'o Strath-Oissian nan reidhlean, And Strath-Ossian of pleasant 's o stra'-oyssi-an nan rey'len meadows,
Gheibhtebroicagusfeidhairamf-aruhm. Who have badgers and deer in their yeyv-te broyc agus fey' ayr am fa-ruynn pantries. —
Gheibhte, etc. Who, etc.
Dh-eireadh buidhean 'o Ruaidh leat, A band would arise with thee from yeyre' buy'-en o ru-ay' let Roy,
A lubas iudhar mu'n guaillean, With the bent yew on their shoulders, a lubas i-u'-ar mun gu-ayllen
'S 'o bhruighean fuar Charn-na-lairge. — And from the cold hills of Carn-na- 's o vriiy'-en fu-ar charn-na-layrge lairge. —
'S 'o, etc. And, etc.
Dream eile dhe d' chinnidh,— Another tribe of the clan, — drem eyle ye d' cbinne'
Clann Iain 'o 'n Innean, The Clan-Iain from Innin (the anvil,) clann i-ayn on innen
* See uote page 93.
OF THE HIGHLAND CLANS. 163
'Siadarachadhsa'niomairtneosgathach. They are the men that would go into si-ad a rach-a' sail imayrt ne-o sga'-ach the conflict fearlessly. —
'S iad, etc. Who, etc.
'S ioma oganach treubhach, Many a youthful hero,
si-oma ogan-ach treyv-ach
'S glac-chrom air cul sgeith air, With the quiver behind his shield,
's glac-chrom ayr cul sgey' ayr
Thig a stigh ort o shleibh Meal-na-larig. Will come to thee from the wings of big a sti' ort o b-leyv mel-na-larig Mel-na-larig. —
Thig, etc. Will, etc.
'S iad a fhreagradh an t-eibheidh That would answer thy call
si-ad a h-reg-ra' an teyvey'
Gu'n eagal, gu'n eislean, Without fear, without ailment,
gun egal gun eys-len
Noir a thogaer gu euchd do chroistaraidh. When thou risest the fiery cross for noyr a hogar gu eye do chroys-taray' deeds illustrious. —
Noir, etc. When, etc.
In the following song by Iain Lorn, on the death of the hero, Alisdair Dubh of Glengarry, he is bold, fervid, and pathetic. I cannot desecrate this song by attempting to render it into English, word for word and line for line, because, there being in English no words equivalent to the Gaelic words, such a translation would not really be a literal one in the proper sense of the word ; at the same time, I am satisfied that word for word arid line for line, notwithstanding the want of equivalent words, will enable the English scholar to form a more critical estimate of Gaelic poetry than imitations, but, as I have and will give a sufficient number of specimens of the former, perhaps I may be permitted to imagine myself for a moment Iain Lorn, and to address myself to the English reader in the same style and spirit in which he addresses the Gaelic reader, without any strict adherence to the order of words and lines. Peculiar expressions, very striking and beautiful, will be lost in this mode of translation, but I trust the reader will feel sufficiently interested by this attempt to qualify himself to appreciate the original. I merely adopt this plan to give a more true idea of the spirit and style of the bard than I could possibly give by a rigid adherence to the order of the words and lines. I do Iain Loin only one injustice by this treatment, viz., to desecrate or omit the chorus, which I regard as among the finest specimens of the chorus to be found in Gaelic poetry ; and I regard the choruses as the most wonderful of all the efforts of the Celtic Muse, from their great variety and the felicity with which words or simulating sounds are so blended and modulated into measured lines and cadences, so strikingly accordant with the subject and the melody, as to heighten and intensify the effect of both. The chorus here, as indeed in every song, may be regarded as a solemn amen to the feeling and the sentiment of every verse of the song, bursting spontaneously from the heart of hearts of the audience, who always joined in singing the chorus. T will quote the chorus in Gaelic, but will not attempt to render it into English.
164
THE MUSIC
'Nam eridh sa mhaduinn,
nam eri' sa vad-uynn
Gur beg m-aites 's mo shugradh, gur beg m-aytes 's mo hugra'
Bho'n dh-fhalbh Uachdaran fearael, von yalv u-ach-aran ferel
Ghlinne-garraidh air ghiulan ; ylinne-garray' ayr yi-ulan
'S ann am flaitheas na slainte, sana am flay'-es na slaynte
Tha cearmart aillidh na duthchadh, ha cennart aylli' na du'-cha'
Sar Choirnealair soilleir, sar choyrnel-ayr soylleyr
Nach robh foilleal do'n chrun u. nach rov foyllel don chrun n
Form : —
'S cianael trom agus fada, 's ci-an-el trom agus fada
'S cianael fada mo bhrori, 's ci-an-el fada mo vron
O'n la charadh gu h-iosal, on la chara' gu hi-o-sal
Do phersa phriesail fo'n fhoid, do fersa fri-seyl fon oyd
Tha mo chridhsa ciuirte, ha mo cri'-sa ci-uyrte
Cha dean mi sugradh ri'm bheo, cha de-an mi su-gra' rim ve-o
O'n dh-fhalbh ceannart nan uaislean on yalv cennart nan u-ayslen
Oighre dualchais na Troim. oyre du-al-chays na troym
'S mairg a tharladh roi d' dhaoine, s mayrg a harla' roy d ya-oyne"
Noir thagte fraoch ri do bhartaich, noyr hag-te fra-och ri do vra-taych
Dh-eireadh stuadh an clar t-aodainn, yeyre' stu-a' an clar t-aod-ayn
Le neart feirge is gaisge ; le nert feyrege" is gaysge
Sud a phearsa neo sgathach, sud a fersa neo sga'-ach
A ghnuis bu bhlaithidh gu'n taise, a ynuys bu vlay'-i' gun tayse
When in the morning I arose, Pleasure \vas not my aim. Is there no end to Albin's woes, To deaths 'mong men of fame ? The manly leader of the race Who own the Garrian-glen, Is off to his last resting-place, Borne high by sorrowing men, — The chieftain lofty, true, and bold, Who never his allegiance sold.
Not safe were they who rashly met
Thy warriors stern and true,
When the proud heather-badge was
set
In all their bonnets blue ; When thy brave banner waved on
high,
And thou thyself wert seen, With battle kindling in thine eye, To draw thy broad-sword keen ; — Then, then 'twas time for Albin's
foes
OF THE HIGHLAND CLANS.
165
Gu 'in bi muoim air do naimhdean,
gum bi nm-oyni ayr do nayv-dcii
Noir iii u 'n spainteach a ghlachadh. noyr ni u u spayn-tecb a ylasc-a' Ho, etc.
Fhuair u 'n cliu sin o' thoiseach, hu-ayr u 'n cli-u sin a hoysech
'S cha 'n olc e ri innseadh, s chan olc e ri inuse"
Craobh a cosgairt sa bhlair u, craov a cosgairt sa vlayr u
Nach gathadh sga roi luc phicean ; nach gava' sga roy luc fic-en
Na roi 'shaighdearean deargadh, na roy hay'-deren de-arg-a'
Ged a b'armailtean righ iad, ged a bar-maylten ri' i-ad
Le'n ceannardan fuileach, len cennardan fuylech
'S le'n gunnaichean cinnteach. — Ho, etc. s lea gunna-chan cinntech
Gur ainmeul do shinnsridh, gur aynmel do hinns-ri'
Hi innsidh 's ri shlainneadh, ri inu-se' s ri h-loynna'
'S tu oighre an larl Isleaich, s tu oy're an i-arl i-lich
Nach togadh cis an cuis f hoilleil, nach toga' cis an ctiys oylleyl
Marcaich ard nan steud lughmhar, marc-aych ard nan steyd lu'-var
Ceannard shuinn nan lann soilleir, cennard huynn nan lann soylleyr
Gaisgaich threinn an cruaidh-ghabhadh, gays-gaych hreynn an cru-ay'-yava
Le'm b-annsa stail na airm-theine. lem banusa stayl na ayrm-heyne"
Ho, etc.
To fly their fierce, their deadly blows.
That praise, that early praise
thine,
And spread thy well-known fame afar, Thou didst on all occasions shine, The wisest leader in the war. No serried red-coats daunted thee, Although their well-aimed vollies
rolled
Upon thy ranks, from musketry That oft in deadly slaughter told : Thy just distinctions ever were The wise to lead, the bold to dare.
Thy lineage is for blood and length
In Albin's annals unexcelled,
And formed of chieftains famed for
strength,
Who in the deadly charge compelled Steeds fierce and fleet, that harnessed
shone Like meteors coursing through the
sky;
While in their sells, as on a throne, They towered in their war panoply ; And none of them has been con- strained
To deeds that have that lineage ' stained.
'S goirt an t-earcal a thachair, s goyrt an tercal a hacli-ayr
O'n chaidh an iomairt so tuadhal, o'n chay' an i-o-mayrt so tu-a'-al
Since some in battle* have forgot How their brave fathers plied their
steel, No refuge has our country got
Shircff-muir.
166
THE MUSIC
0' latha blar sliabh an t-Shiarradh, o la'-a blar sli-av an hirra'
Chail air cinneadh an uaislean, chayl ayr cinne' an u-ayslen
Ged a sheasaibh Clanndomhnuill, ged a hes-ayv clanu-dov-nuyll
Mar bu choir dhaoibh sa chruadal, mar bu choyr yoyv sa chru-a-dal
Chail sinn roghuinn nan cairdean, chayl sinn ro'-iaun nan cayr-den
An f heul ard 's i gun truailleadh. — Ho, an uyl ard s i gun tru-aylle'
From ruthless Fortune's crushing wheel. Although Clanndonnill on that day, As ever, clothed them with renown ; Our heroes have been wede away, In fruitless battles one by one ; And now we've lost the worthiest lord That in these battles drew his sword.
etc.
Nise dh-fhalbh an triuir bhraithrean, nise yalv an tri-uyr vray-ren
A chleachd mar abhaist an uailse, a chlechd mar av-ayst an u-aylse
Triadh Grhlinn-garraidh nam bradan, tri-a' ylinn-garray' nam bradan
'S caibtein smachdail na buaidhean, s cayb-teyn smachd-ayl na bu-ay-en
Domhnul morchuiseach Shleibhte, dovnul mor-chuysech leyv-te'
Fear na ceile 's na suairce,
fer na ceyle a na su-ayrce Chabhith gu brath aig Clann-dhomhnuill,
cha vi' gu bra' ayg clann-yov-nuyll Triuir chonn-spunn cho cruaidh riu. — Ho
tri-uyr chonn-spunn cho cruaidh riu
Noir threig each an cuid fearainn, noyr h-reyg each an cuyd fer-aynn
'S nach d-f han iad san rioghachd, s nach d-an i-ad san ri-oc
Sheas iadsan gu daingean, hes i-ad-san gu dayn-gen
'S cha b-ann le sgainneal a shin iad, s cha b-ann le sgaynnel a bin i-ad
Chuir iad fuaradh na froyse, chuyr i-ad fu-a-ra' na froys£
Seach air dorsaibh gar dianadh ; sech ayr dor-sayv gar di-an-a'
Na flaith bu chiunne na maighdeann, na flay bu chi-uyne na may-deun
'S bu ghairge nan lasair. — Ho, etc. s bu yayrg-e nan las-ayr
It was our country's destiny To lose three pillars of the throne, — Heroes who, in adversity, For daring, proudly, greatly shone : Sir Donald, our leader, when com- bined,
Clanronald, captain of our men, Alisdair, generous, good, and kind, Chief of the Garry's far-famed glen ; Clanndonnill's ranks no more will
see Leaders illustrious as the three.
etc.
When other chiefs fled from their
lands,
Our heroes, stern and unsubdued, Kallied their bold, their kindred bands, And for their king and country stood ; Aye stood prepared in arms to die, When War should his fierce tocsin
sound,
Or to achieve a victory That should their treacherous foes
confound ; Such were our chiefs, than maidens
mild, But, roused to war, than beacons wild,
OF THE HIGHLAND CLANS.
167
Archibald, better known by his poetic name of Ciaran Mabach, was brother to Sir James Macdonald, and stood high in his confidence. When Iain Lorn obtained from him a party to execute the warrant from the Privy Council against the murderers of Keppoch, Archibald was appointed to the command. He left his residence in Uist on Wednesday, travelled on foot over the mountains, then covered with snow, at the head of his party ; stormed and set fire to the block- house, and slew the murderers at Inverlair in Braelochaber on Sunday ; and dispatched messengers from Invergarry to Edinburgh with the heads, the same day, — a feat not even surpassed by Montrose's march from Fort-Augustus by Glenbuick, Glenroy, Dalnabi, and Lianachan, to Inverlochy, in one day. The defenders of the blockhouse consisted only of the uncle and six nephews ; yet they killed and wounded sixty of the besiegers before being conquered. Iain Lorn, who was the guide of the party, says that there was not one of the seven who, " in an equal fight, was not a match for ten." Some incidents of the storming are very romantic, and one of them in particular highly characteristic of the stern sense of honour found united with the most deadly passions, in the warriors of the olden time ; but it were an episode here, and would intrude on my space. Iain Lorn, in his verses commemorative of the achievement, gives great praise to the Ciaran Mabach for the skill and hardihood with which he conducted the expedition. A verse or two of this song may perhaps be acceptable to the reader.
gun gun
Slan fo d' thrial, a Chiarain Mhabaich, slan fo d' ri-all a chi-aren vab-aych
Shiubhlas sliabh gu'n bhiadh gu'n chadal, hi-uvlas sli-av gun vi-a' gun cha-dal
Fraoch fo d' shin, gu'n bhosd, fraoch fod bin gun vosd
bhagradh. vagra'
Chuir u ceo fo'n roisheal ladarn'. chuyr u ce-o fon roysel la-darn
Diciadain chai e na uidheam di-ci-a-den chay e na uy'em
Le bhrataich ard do ghillean dubha. le vratych ard do yillen duva
Sgriob Ghilleaspuig ruaidh a Uist sgri-ob yillespeyg ru-ay' a uyst
Bhuail e meal an ceann na h-uidhe. vu-ayl e mel an cenn na buy'
Cha d' iar e bata na long dharaich cha di-ar e vatii na long yar-aych
Ri am geamhraidh an tus na gaillean. ri am ge-av-ri' an tus na gayllcn
An triubheas teann feadh bheann is an tri-u-ves tenn fe-a' venn is
bhealach, velach
Hail to thy course, Ciaran Mabach,
Who travellest over the wolds, without
food or sleep, Heather thy bed ; nor vaunt nor threat
(was thine:)
Thou hast wasted the stronghold of
the bad and daring. On Wednesday was equipped
Thy lofty banner of black-haired
gillies. The expedition of red Archibald from
Uist, Struck a blow at the end of its rout.
Neither a boat nor a ship of oak didst
thou ask, In winter, when storms began.
In tight trews through mountains and defiles,
168
THE MUSIC
'S tu b-eatrom bonn ge trom do mheallag. stu b-e-trom bonn ge trom do vellag
A Sheumais nan tur 's na'm baideal, a heymaysh nan tur 's nani baydel
Gheibh luchd muirne cuirm a t-aitreabh ; yeyv luc muyrne cuyrm a taytrev
Ged do rinn u 'n duiseal cadail, ged do rinn u 'n duy-sel cadayl
'S eibhinn leom do dhusgadh maiduinn. 's eyvinn le-om do yusga' mayduynu
Light were thy footsteps though great
thy might. James of towers and battlements,
Thy tuneful race will in the hall find
a festive welcome ; Though thou didst doze for a time,
Joyful to me was thy morning vigil.
John the bare was certainly not less distinguished as a political poet among those who understood his language than Dryden. The following is a free imitation of one specimen of his poems on political subjects. The imitation is so free as not to pay the least attention to the order of words and lines ; but it is true to his thoughts and feelings, and makes him express them in the same style and spirit in English as in the Gaelic. I cannot afford space for the original, but versions of it, less or more correct, will be found in every collection of Gaelic poetry.
'S MI SO AIK M' UILLIN. — ON CROWNING CHARLES THE SECOND.
Upon my elbow calmly leaning, Within the lovely mountain glen,
My mind indulged itself in dreaming Of the strange deeds and lives of men !
And wherefore should my voice be silent, While my heart bounds with pride and joy,
Nor tell the Whigs, the base and violent, Their greedy, rampant reign is bye ?
Their reign who falsely tried and murdered
The true, the loyal, and the brave ; Who, with their sophistry, bewildered
The people whom they would enslave.
With staff in hand, the while I hasten To welcome home my native king,
Why should I doubt that he will listen To the leal counsel I may bring ? —
Counsel from clans and chiefs true- hearted, Who suffered in their country's cause,
Which, through the royal bard im- parted,
Should warn him to respect the laws;
But not the men whose conduct
baneful,
Has scattered ruin o'er the land, And answered but with taunts dis- dainful,
Those whom they robbed of wealth and land.
Kemember, Charles Stuart, ever, The lesson taught thee by the past,
Forgetting truth and justice never, If thou wouldst that thy reign may last.
Think, since the throne thou hast
ascended,
Without the aid of spear or sword, How thy own rights may be defended, And, eke, thy people's rights re- stored.
OF THE HIGHLAND CLANS.
1G9
No Machiavel has yet propounded The means to make the throne secure,
Save when the people's rights are founded On a just basis, broad and sure.
But leniency is not now wanted ;
A wise severity were just : Let those who are already sainted,
E'en go where they have placed their trust.
Why should we grudge these men to Heaven
That have their treasure hoarded
• there ? Since they have made their road so even,
Dismiss them while accounts are
square
That will with many a sage petition, Crave boons, and laud thy right divine :
But right divine did not defend thee, When thou and Cromwell were at
blows ; Then try what force wise rule may
lend thee,
And make thy people friends — not foes.
No doubt, thy nobles would defend
thee,
At cost of all their lands and lives, But, och ! it would not do, to 'tend
thee,
And leave their children and their wives !
Thou subjects hast of high condition, Whose hearts are not more true than
mine,
But I must stop. The royal bard, as stated elsewhere, believed that the feudal nobility only wanted to limit the power of the king, that they might lord it over the people. Hence a severity which I think they do not as an order deserve, and which I will not repeat. Iain Lorn kept a poetical journal of Dundee's route from Keppoch to Killiecrankie, of which the following is an imitation — a true imitation, in so far as the royal Celtic bard's thoughts, feelings, style, and spirit is concerned, but without any regard to the order of the words and lines even of the version I took down of it from an old Lochaber man, many years ago, and which is essentially different from and superior to the versions of it published by the common collectors. I have the less regret that I cannot submit this version, from having learned that my old friend and school-fellow, Mr James Munro, than whom no man living is better qualified, is engaged in preparing for publication the interesting poems of this eminent modern bard, with a memoir of the bard himself, which will, if possible be still more interesting even than his poems.
'S MITHICH DHUIN MAKSA. — IT IS TIME TO MARCH.
'Tis time to march, 'tis time indeed, For we have ate our beeves and
marts ! Necessity will sometimes breed
Thoughts that touch the coldest hearts.
But would Fionn of glorious fame For six weeks lie upon his oars, While Lochlin's plundering war-chiefs
came,
And poured their hordes upon his shores ?
170
THE MUSIC
Would Ualan fierce, or royal Brace,
Find pastime among woods and wolds, And yield the base usurper truce
That seized, and still their country
holds?
Would great Mac-Colla or Montrose Fish, hunt, and feast, and sleep, and
rest, While saints, mis-named, cant through
the nose, And trample on the country's crest ?
Fye, Clavers, wake ! wake leaders all !
Your country feels her deep disgrace, Her clans have answered to her call,
And armed, as well becomes her race, To aid the right, subdue the wrong,
And earn hereditary fame, Regardless whether weak or strong,
The foes who urge a wrongous claim.
Now, now the army, true and bold,
From their encampments march away ! Heavens ! how glorious to behold
A people in their war array ! — From mouth to mouth the high command,
That makes the columns, halt or lead, Is heard, as they march, band by band,
And earth resounds beneath their tread !
Nor rugged hill, nor marshy plain,
Nor mossy moor, nor rivers deep, Can disarray the martial train
That onward, onward, sternly sweep ; They flag not, halt not, till they gain
The chosen camp at evening's close, Where watchful picquets, with a chain
Of sentries, guard their brief repose —
Sentries of keen and piercing eyes, Unmatched for vigilance and zeal,
That foemen never might surprise, Unwitting of the trenchant steel.
Nor long, nor deep, their hours of rest — Their pipes anticipate the dawn,
And, serried on the mountain crest, The clans, in marshalled lines, are drawn.
Lochlochy's camp we leave behind,
Where high to Heaven we raised
our hands,
And vowed our country's wounds to bind,
And never to dissolve our bands, Till vict'ry, on the battle field,
O'er men of foreign laws and creed, Should to the land assurance yield,
The king will be restored with speed.
Then said the Graham of modest mien
And daring heart, — " Sons of the
Gael, Unless disunions intervene
Among your ranks, you must prevail. Your arms are strong, your hearts are true,
Your mode of warfare unsurpassed — No living foeman can subdue
Your party, should your union last.
" If, as a leader, me you trust,
Your confidence must be entire ; My life, you know, from last to first —
I never changed my cloak for hire : My country and my King I love —
Love as I love my God and creed, And if you trust me, I will prove
Worthy your trust in word and deed.
" March, then, my heroes, for the foe
Has dared to cross the sacred line To which your fathers, long ago,
Made every foe his raids confine." He gave the word, and 'gainst the hill
Urged on his proud and mettled steed; But, though in ranks, the clansmen still
Defied its vaunted power and speed.
OF THE HIGHLAND CLANS.
171
Before he reached Glenturret's crest,
Nor strength nor speed hadhe tospare ; But stood all foaming and distressed,
And gasping for the mountain air. Then laughed the gay, the gallant Graham,
As lightly on his feet he sprung, " Come, I'm a Gael in blood and name,
Let's try who is most swift and strong.' '
Glenturret we leave far behind,
Leac-Connel's plain, and Garvamore, Nor halting-place we seek nor find,
Until we gain Drumuachar's core. There for the night a camp we form,
And spread our sentinels around, Though wind and rain— a perfect storm —
Made hills and vales androcks resound.
Again we form, at break of day,
Again in well-knit sections move, With dauntless tread, in proud array,
The men of Athole's zeal to prove, Their zeal to prove ? It soon was proved !
Each mother's son, like shadows, fled, Leaving their women — fair and loved —
To tell why we must lack their aid !
Alas, that warriors, true and brave,
Who love their country and their king, Should a base feudal leader have,
To lead them as if on a string ! But little do we reck or care
For A thole and its trimming lord ; Our cause is just, our claymores bare, —
Such paltry loss we can afford.
Onward, still onward, boldly sweep
The race unmatched yet with the sword, The well-knit section form they keep
On hill or plain, through moss or ford. Their weapons gleam, their tartans wave,
Their towering crests invade the skies; The dews of toil their foreheads lave,
But courage flashes from their eyes.
While breasting steep Sliavana's side,
A horseman comes with fiery speed, And says the Whigs, in pomp and pride,
Have boldly crossed the pass of
dread, Led by the stern and stout Mackay —
A veteran trained to war abroad— From whom the Orange gold might buy
His King, his Country, and his God.
The shout of joy our columns gave When their stern battle met our
view, Might wake the Komans from their
grave,
Whom here of old our fathers slew. Stripped to our bonnets, brogues, and
kilt,
We cast all useless weeds away, Loosed our steel pistols in the belt, And fiercely claimed the deadly fray.
Clavers arranged each daring clan
In its precise and proper place, Took his proud station in the van,
And onward moved with dauntless
pace. When, front to front, we met the foe,
With missiles the slow work began, And many a shot and shaft they throw
Away, that should have found its man!
Thus did we waste a precious hour — That brave men's patience sorely
tried,
Then forth we drew the stern clay- more,
And rushed upon them, like the tide Of wild Coire Vrecken, when the
waves
Of the Atlantic's boundless main Assail the rocks, till cliffs and.caves, And hills arid glens, resound again !
172 THE MUSIC
Then, oh then was felt and seen
The potence of our dear claymores, When heads, legs, arms, cut off as clean
As shorn grain, were strew'd in scores Along the field. Ere minutes two
Could wing their flight, the trenchant
brand Laid every sprawling whigling low
Who dared the deadly charge to stand.
Nor had they better hap who fled
In terror, and in disarray ; For, in the gorge were hundreds sped,
Who shrieked in panic and dismay.
But, ah, the vict'ry dear was bought — The chief that could our cause sustain,
When, in the hour of triumph, sought, Was found among a heap of slain !
The chief whose prestige and whose power
Were only equalled by his mind, And who, alas, in danger's hour,
Has no successor left behind ! His eric would not be complete,
Though all who thrive by Albin's woe On a funereal pile were set,
Or hung suspended from a tow.
The Ciaran Mabach, for some cause which I have never heard explained, was put in ward in Edinburgh, where he met with extreme kindness and courtesy from the aristocracy, especially the ladies. Nevertheless, he pined for his native hills, and breathed his longing in verses, which I am unwilling to subject to a line for line translation. Indeed, I think that I shall have given as many translations of that kind as my object requires, and that a few, more free, more regardful of the style and spirit than of the words and literal sense of the original, may now be here and there introduced, with as much satisfaction to the reader as to myself. I regret the necessity of giving fewer verses of the original than are imitated.
Ge socair mo leabadh
ge soc-ayr mo leba'
B'annsa cadal air fraoch, bannsa cadal ayr fraoch
Ann an lagan beag naigneach, aim an lagan beg u-ayg-nech
Is bad do'n luachair ri'm thaobh, is bad don lu-a-chayr rim haov
'S noir a dh-eirinn sa mhaduinn, 's noyr a yey-rinn sa va-duynn
Bhi siubhal ghlacagan caol, vi si-val ylac-ag-an caol
Na bi trial thun na h-Abaid, na bi tri-al bun na ha-bayd
A dh-eisdeachd glagraich na saor. a yeysd-ec glag-raych na saor
Cha'u 'eil agam cu gleusda,
cha'n ^ell agam cu gleysda
'S cha'n 'eil feum agam dha, 's cha'n ell feym agam ya
Though soft and easy is my bed,
Magnificent my room, I'd rather sleep in Uigni's glade,
'Mong heather in full bloom ; Where I could rise at break of day,
With Oscar by my side, To seek, 'mong glens and mountains grey,
The stag of dark-brown hide.
But my loved forest is afar ;
Though here I may behold A forest huge, where mast and spar
The shipwright's craft unfold ;
OF THE HIGHLAND CLANS.
173
Clia suidh mi air bacbdan, cha suy' mi ayr bac-an
Ri faire fada o chach, ri fayre* fada o chach
Cha leig mi mo ghaothar, cha leyg mi mo yaor
An aghaidh no Mam, an a'-ay' no mam
'S cha loisgear learn fttdar, . 's cha loysgar le-am fudar
An Gleann-Ruthain gu brath. an glenn-ru-aynn gu bra'
But I encounter sights and smells, That almost stop my breath : —
Would that I were on Ruthan's fells, Upon my own sweet heath,
Graigh mo ghraidhsa a ghraigh ullach, gray' mo yray'-sa a yray' u-allach
Thogadh suas ris na h-aird, hoga' su-as ris na hayrd
Dh-itheadh biolair an fhuarain, yith-a' bilayr an n-ar-ayn
'S le'm bu shuarach an cal, 's lem bu hu-arach an call
'S trie bha mise mu'n cuairt dhuibh, stric va mise mun cu-ayrt yuyv
Dh-aineon fuarachd an la, yayn-enn fu-arac an la
'S trie a dh-fhuilig mi cruadal, stric a yuyl-ig mi cru-ad-al
A tialadh chruach air ur sgath. a ti-a-la' chru-ach ayr ur sga'
Where I could see the clean-limbed herd,
Of airy form and crest, Stretching against thy side Melard,
By my fierce greyhounds press'd ; Press'd by my hounds that never fail,
When slipped at deer or roe, Whether in corrie, wold, or vale,
To lay the quarry low.
Fear mo ghraidh a'm fear buidhe, fer mo yra-i' am fer buy'
Nach dean suidhe aig bord, nach de-an suy' eg bord
Nach iarradh ri cheannach, nach i-a-ra' ri chenn-ach
Pinnt leanna na beoir, pinnt le-anna na be-oyr
Uisge-beatha math dubailt, nysgey-be'-a ma' du-baylt
Cha'n fhiu leat ri ol, cha'n i-u let ri oil
B'fhearr leat sugh glan an fhuarain, b'err let su' glan an u-areu
An cluain na'in beann mor. an clu-ayn naiu benn mor
But here I have no mettled hound
Unmatched for strength and speed, No wold with rocks and woodlands crown'd,
To test their blood and speed, And laugh his showy pace to scorn,
Who leads in galliards gay, And answer with a taunt his horn
Who rides the gallant gray.
174
THE MUSIC
Bean mo ghraidh a bhean uasal, ben mo yray' a ven u-a-sal
Dha nach d'fhuaradh riamh lochd, ya nach du-a-ra' ri-av loc
Nach iarradh mar chluasaig, nach i-a-ra' mar chlu-a-sayg
Ach lom-ghuallain nan cnoc, ach lom-yu-alayn nan cnoc
'S nach fuiligeadh an t-sradag, 's nach fu-il-ge' an trad-ag
A lasadh ri corp — a las-a' ri corp
Och a Mhoire mo chruaidh-chas, och a voyre mo chru-ay'-chas
Nach dh-fhuair mi u nochd. nach d-u-ayr mi u noc
The one would scarce excel in speed,
Nor would the other ride Upon his proud and vaunted steed,
Against Glenmaran's side ; Where, on the eve of parting day,
Among the meadows green, The milky kine list to the lay
Of maids in tartan sheen :
Bean a b-aig antach ceile, ben a bayg antach ceyle
'Nam eiridh fo dhriuchd, nam eyri' fo yruyc
Cha'n fhaigheadh tu beud dha, chan ay'-e' tu beyd ya
'S cha bu leir leis ach u, 's cha bu leyr leys ach u
Sibh an glacaibh a cheile, siv an glac-ayv a cbeyle
A fior eadeann nan stuc, a fi-or ed-enn nan stuc
'S an am eiridh na greine, san am eyri' na greyne
Bu gheur leirsinn air sul. bu yeyr leyrsinn ayr sul
Aye, list, and yield with dreamy joy Their treasures to the hand
Of maidens fair and kind, though coy, In streamlets white and bland ;
While, clear and high, each artless voice
Wakes hills and rocks around, And leglens* to their hearts rejoice,
And chime with hollow sound.
Nuair a thigeadh a foghar, nu-a-ir a hig-e' a fo'-ar
Bu bhinn leom torrunn do chleibh, bu vinn le-ome torrun do chleyv
Toirt dulan na comhstri, toyrt dulan na cov-stri
Air a rnhointich chaoin reidh, ayr a voyntich chaoyu rey'
And while they sing, their hunters gay,
Peering through glen and grove, With pleasure listen to the lay
That speaks of faithful love ; Then bounding forward, proud and tight,
Each youth lays down his spoil Before his sweetheart fond and bright,
And feels her conscious smile.
Milk-pail.
OF THE HIGHLAND CLANS.
175
Na dol an coinneamh do leannan, na dol an coynnev do lennan
Ge bheil sneachda mar cheir, ge veyl snechda mar cheyr
Bi sin a bhana-cheilidh bhoidheach, bi sin a vana-cheyli' voy'ech
Is etrom moralach ceura. is e-trom mor-alach ceym
Sweet is the converse of the hart
With his unsullied mate, Nor would he from her side depart,
To plunge where clubs debate ; To swill at porter or at ale,
Or whisky fierce and blue, Where Lowland greed and craft prevail,
And Highland hearts are true.
No ! he would rather slake his thirst
Ere Sol ascends the sky, Where virgin streams in crystal burst
From corries wild and high ; Where the cold cress in clusters green
A frugal meal supplies, And lichens decked in silver sheen
Afford a juicy prize.
With joy he roams the mountains blue,
And valleys fair and wide, 'Mong heather bathed in pearly dew,
With his fond faithful bride. She sees but him, him only loves,
No other fills her eyes ; Him watches, moving as he moves,
And in his bosom lies.
Oh, how I love the free-born race,
Of beauteous gait and form, When after them, in headlong chase,
My Oscar and my Storme Strain every nerve, and make them strain
Each nerve and sinew too, If, in their fearful strait, they'd gain
Benard, thy corries blue.
They traverse each romantic glen,
Browse on each secret lee, Make love in every cozy den,
And wander far and free : While here I pine in hopeless ward,
Nor mark my herd of deer, Fleeting across thy brow, Melard,
And on thy wolds career.
Oh little do I love to trace
Edina's streets and lanes, Or breathe lip-love with courtly grace
In palaces or fanes ; Give me the forest wide and high,
The mountain and the vale, Where dwell the herds of piercing eye,
Whose speed outstrips the gale.
Ah, me, 'tis hard to wither here,
And smoke and fumes inhale From dusky lanes and vennels drear,
And gutters dark and stale ; And bid sweet Skye of bays and dells,
Wild glens, and mountains blue, Where all I love in comfort dwells,
A long, a sad adieu.
The fulling, like the boat songs of the Gael, had an air of extemporaneous- ness and simplicity, combined with a prancing caracoling peculiarity in the style and measure of the verses, which made them very attractive and pleasing, although they disclaimed all pretensions to poetry. The mode of procedure was thus : — Some romantic recess by the side of a burn was selected, where a platform of plaited wattles was erected, on the centre of which the cloth to be fulled was placed. The neighbourhood being always put under requisi- tion on these occasions, a band of maidens, consisting usually of all the more free-hearted, gay, and jolly young women of the locality, assembled, giving their services gratuitously. So many of them, bare armed and bare legged,
176 THE MUSIC
seated themselves around the cloth on the platform, and the others, forming a relay of generally an equal number, took their position in attendance, supplying water to sock the cloth, and changing places at intervals with their friends on the platform. The verse was sung in a hilarious off-hand style, by the best singer, the others striking in alternately with the chorus. The cloth in the meantime was rolled about, tossed backward and forward, and from side to side, in magical gyrations that would utterly confound the table-turning of our Yankee cousins, but all the while under regular mechanical principles of manipu- lation, strictly adhered to, however " fast and furious" the mirth sometimes grew, there being always method in the mad movements. The sight of so many merry girls, turning labour into mirth, was exceedingly outre and pic- turesque, and the opportunity of getting a sly peep at them was eagerly sought by such Highland Tarn O'Shanters as "knew what was what;" but woe to the luckless wight who was detected by the fair amazons unlawfully in the espial of their mysterious orgies !
The following fulling song, by the royal Celtic bard, Alexander Macdonald, is an allegory, in which he represents the Prince under the similitude of a young maiden, Morag, with flowing locks of yellow hair floating over her shoulders. The bard describes his attachment to her, and says that he had followed her faithfully in lands known and unknown to him ; and, if she would come again, that he and all her former friends and admirers would embark unhesitatingly in any enterprise calculated to vindicate her rights. My inability to afford space for the whole of the verses, renders this brief explanation necessary. I am indebted to Mrs Hulton, Glasgow, for the version of this air, which is submitted to the reader.
A MHORAG CH1ATACH. — MORAG BEAUTIFUL.
A Mhorag cheataich a chuil dhualaich, Graceful Morag of the curling ringlets, a vorag chet-aych a cbuyl yu-al-aych
Gur h-e do luaigh a th'air m'aire. Thy love is the cause of my solicitude,
gur he do lu-ay' a hayr mayre
Fonn, — Beir mi ho Mhorag, Cliorus. — Beyr mi ho vorag,
beyr me ho vorag
Ho ro na horo gheallaidh, Ho ro na horo yell ay,
ho ro na horo yell-ay'
Beir mi ho Mhorag, Beyr mi ho vorag.
beyr me ho vorag
Mo dh-imich u nun thair chuain oirn, If thou art gone from us over the sea, mo yimich u nun hayre chu-ayn oyrn
Gu 'm bu luadh a thig u dhachaidh. May thy return be speedy, gu m bu lu-a' a hig u yach-ay'
Beir, etc. Beyr, etc.
'S cuimnich thoir leat bannal ghruagach, Remember to bring with thec a band s cuyn-ich hoyr let bannal yru-a-gach Of maidens
Luaighcas an clo ruadh gu daingean. Who will tightly fuller the red cloth, lu-ay'-es an clo ru-adh gu dayngen
etc. Beyr, etc.
OF THE HIGHLAND CLANS.
177
Gur h-i Morag ghrinn mo ghuamag, gur hi morag yrinn mo yu-a-mag
Aig a bheil an cuailean barr-fhionn. ayg a veyl an cu-ayllen barr-i-onn
Beir, etc.
Do chul bachlagach na dhualabh, de chul bach-lag-ach na yu-al-av
Dhalladh e 'n sluagh le lannir. yalla' en slu-a' le laynnir
Beir, etc.
'S ge nach iarr mi u ri phusadh, sge nach i-arr mi u ri fu-sa'
Gu 'm be mo run a bhi mar riut. gum be mo run a vi mar ri-ut
Beir, etc.
'S ma thig u rithist am lubaibh, sma hig u ri'-ist am lub-ayv'
Se an t-eug a ruin ni air sgarradh se an teyg a ruyn ni ayr sgarr-a'
Beir, etc.
Morag is the tidy one, Whose hair is a pale-yellow. Beyr, etc.
Thy hair is in curly clusters, That dazzle with their brightness. Beyr, etc.
Although I will not ask thee in mar- riage, It were my delight to be near thee.
Beyr, etc.
And shouldst thou come again to my country,
Death alone will separate us, my love. Beyr, etc.
Leannaidh mi cho dluth ri d' shailean, I will adhere to thee as closely lenn-ay' mi cho dlu' ri d haylen
'S ni bairneach ri sgeir-rnara. s ni vayrnech ri sgeyr-mara
Beir, etc.
Shiubhail mi cian leat air m-eolas, hi-uy-ayl mi ci-an let ayr me-o-las
Agus astar mor air 'm aineal. agus astar mor ayr m aynel
Beir, etc.
As the limpet to the sea rock. Beyr, etc.
I travelled far with thee in the land I knew,
And a considerable distance in a land
unknown to me. Beyr, etc.
Gu 'n leanainn u feadh an t-shaoghail, I would follow thee to the extremity gn n lenn-aynn u fe' an t-ao'-ayl of the world,
Na'n d' thigidh tu ghaoil ga m' f harraid. Should thou come, my love, to invite nan dige' tu yaoyl ga m arr-ayd me.
Beir, etc. Beyr, etc.
Mhorag nan iomadh ciatadh, vorag nan i-oma' ci-a-ta'
'S glan a fiaradh thair do mhalaidh. s glan a fi-a-ra' hayr do valay
Beir, etc.
Morag of many attractions,
Beautiful is the inclination of thy eye-brows.
Beyr, etct
z
178
THE MUSIC
Do shuil shiulbhir, shochdrach, mhodhar, Thy eye is cheerful, slow, kindly, do huyl hnyl-vir hoc-rach vo'-ar
Mhireagach, chomhnard, 's i meallach. — Merry, well-shaped, and large. — vir-eg-ach chov-nard 'si mellach
Beir, etc.
Deud cailce shnasda na ribhinn, deyd cayl-ce hnasda na ri-viim
Mar dhisinean air an gearradh.— mar yisinen ayr an gerra'
Beir, etc.
Beyr, etc.
The chalk-white teeth of the queenly maiden
Are like dice (skilfully) carved.— Beyr, etc.
A mhaighdeann bhoidheach na'm bas Beautiful maiden of the polished
a vay'-denn voy'-ech nam bas hands,
caoine, caoyne
'S iad cho maoth ri cloimh na h-eala, — (That are) as smooth as the down of
's i-ad cho mao' ri cloyv na hela Beir, etc.
'S iomadh oigear a tha'n toir ort si-o-ma' oyger a ban toyr ort
Eadar Morthir agus Mannuinn. — edar mor-hir agus mann-uynn
Beir, etc.
the swan, — Beyr, etc.
Many are the youths who are after
thee Between Morir and Mannuynn. —
Beyr, etc.
'S iomadh gaisgeach uasal daicheil, 's i-o-ma' gaysgech u-asal day-cheyl
Nach obadh le'm ghradhsa tarruinn.- nach oba' lem yra'-sa tarruynn
Beir, etc.
Many are the warriors high-blooded
and stately That would not hesitate to draw (their
swords) for my love. — Beyr, etc.
A rachadh le sgiath 's le claidheamh, a racb-a' le sgi-a' sle clay'-ev
Air bheag sgath gu bial nan cannan.- ayr veg sga' gu bi-al nan cannan
Beir, etc.
Nach biodh mall a dol an ordugh nach bi' mall a dol an ordu'
That would advance with sword and
target, Without fear, to the muzzle of the
cannon. — Beyr, etc.
That would not be slow to fall in,
A thoirt a mach do choir a dh-aindeoin. — And vindicate thy right, defyingly.— a hoyrt a mach do choyr a yayn-de-oyn
Beir, etc.
Beyr, etc.
'S iomadh armunn lasdail treubhach, 's i-o-ma' armunn las-dayl treyvach
Ann an Duneidean, am barrail. — ann an dun-eyden am barr-ayl
Beir, etc.
Many are the warriors, fiery and
strong, In Dunedin, who think, —
Beyr, etc.
OF THE HIGHLAND CLANS.
179
Na'n d-thigeadh tu rithist le d' eiridh, Shouldst thou coine again with thy
dig-a' tu ri'-ist le dey-ri
rising,
Gu'n dubladh na treun mu d' bhratich.— That double the number of heroes
gun dubla' na treyn mu d' vra-ticli Beir, etc.
Thigeadh da mhile a Sleibhte, hig-e' da vile a sleyvte
'S reisiamaid a Gleanne-garraidh. — 'a reys-i-mayd a gleanna-garr-ay'
Beir, etc.
'S dheanadh gu'n taise leat eiridh, '3 yena' gun tayse let eyri'
Do chaibtein f hem, Mac-mhic-Aillean. do chayb-teyn heyn mac-vic-ayll-en
Beir, etc.
Thainig e an tus roi' chach leat, haynig e an tus roy chach let
'S cha'n fhailnich e ma thig u thairis.- 's cha'n ayl-nich e ma hig u hay-ris
Beir, etc.
Le suinn Uidhist agus Mhuideart,
le suynn uy-ist agus vuy-dert
'S Arasaig dhu-ghorm a bharraich. — 's ara-sayg yu-yorm a varr-aych
Beir, etc.
Ghana, Eige, is Mhorthir — channa eyge is vor-hir
Do ghaisgeaich chorr do shiol-Aillein. do yaysg-aych cborr do hi-ol-ayll-cyn
Beir, etc.
'Nam Shir Alisdair 's Mhontros, nara hir alis-dayr 's vontros
Bu bhocain iad do na gallaibh. — bu voc-ayn i-ad do na gall-ayv
Beir, etc.
Dh-fhiach iad latha Inverlochaidh yi-ach i-ad la'-a inver-lo-chay'
Gu'n robh iad eolach air lannaibh.- gun rov i-ad e-o-lach ayr lannayv
Beir, etc.
would surround thy standard. — Beyr, etc.
Two thousand would come from Sleat, And a regiment from Glengarry. — Beyr, etc.
With thee would rise, without timidity, Thy own captain, Mac-vic-Aillein. — Beyr, etc.
He was the first to join thee before,
And will not fail thee, shouldst thou
come across. — Beir, etc.
With the warriors of Uist and Moidart, And green Arisaig of leafy branches. — Beyr, etc.
Of Cana, Eig, and Morir—
All the surpassing heroes of the race
of Allan. — Beyr, etc.
In the time of Sir Alexander and
Montrose, They were the terror of the strangers.
Beyr, etc.
They showed on the day of Inver-
lochy That they knew how to wield their
swords. — Beyr, etc.
180
Am Peairt, Cill-Soidh, is Alt-Eireann, am pe-ayrt cill-soy' is alt-eyrinn
Dh-fhag iad reubalaich gu'n anam.— yag i-ad reb-al-aych gun anam
Beir, etc.
THE MUSIC
In Perth, Kilsythe, and Auldearn, They left the rebels soulless.— Beyr, etc.
Eiridh leat a Ghlinne-chomhan, With thee will rise the Glencoe men,
eyri' le-at a glinne-covan
Bratach choimheach nan geur-lannaibh. The fierce standard of sharp swords. — bratach choyvech nan geyr-lannayv
Beir, etc. Beyr, etc.
'S eiridh leat a nail Rudha 's eyri' le-at a nail ru'-a
Antrim lu-chleasach nan seang-each. — antrim lu-chlesach nan seng-ech
Beir, etc.
And will rise with thee in Rudha
Antrim of dexterous swordsmen and
shapely steeds. — Beyr, etc.
Druideadh na Gaidheil gu leir riut, druyd-e' na gay'-el gu leyr ri-ut
Ge b'e dh-eiridh leat na dh-f hannadh. — ge b'e yeyr-i' le-at na yanna'
Beir, etc.
The Gael will all close around thee, Let who will come or remain away. — Beyr, etc.
Shuidh deich mile air cle dhiu Ten thousand of them sat on the buy deych mile ayr cle yi-u wattle platform
An cogadh righ Seumas, nach maireann. In the days of king James, who is no an coga' ri' seym-as nach mayrenn more. —
Beir, etc.
Beyr, etc.
'S iomadh clo air an tug iad Caiten 's i-o-ma' clo ayr an tug i-ad cayten
Eadar Cat-aobh agus Anuin. — edar cat-aov agus anuyn
Beir, etc.
On many cloths did they bring a
ruffled surface Between Caithness and Anuyn. —
Beyr, etc.
Ge d' dhiult cacha dol a luagh leis, ge d' yi-ult ca-cha dol a lu-a' les
Cha robh gruaman air a bhannal. — cha rov gru-a-man ayr a vannal
Beir, etc.
And although others refused to go
with thee, Nor gloom nor hesitation did they
show. — Beyr, etc.
Righ ! bu mhaith a luagh a chlo iad, Ri ! but they were good at fullering ri' bu vay' a lu-a' a chlo i-ad cloth,
'S ga dheannadh comhnard le'n lannan. And shaping it with their blades.— 's ga yeyna' cov-nard len lannan
Beir, etc. Beyr, etc.
OF THE HIGHLAND CLANS.
181
H-uile clo a luaigh iad riamh dhut huyle clo a lu-ay i-ad ri-av yut
Dh-fhag iad e na stiallan mearradh. — yag i-ad e na sti-all-an merra'
Beir, etc.
Teann, tiugh, daingean, fite, luaighte, tean ti-u' dayng-en fi-te lu-ay'-te
Daite ruadh le suaicht' fala. — ru-a' le su-aycht fala
Beir, etc.
Every cloth they ever fullered for
thee They left in (measured) webs. —
Beyr, etc.
Clean, thick, firmly woven, and ful- lered,
Dyed red, of the complexion of
blood. — Beyr, etc.
The following verses by the same bard were also sung by the fullers. The version of this air submitted to the reader, is from my daughter, Mrs Lang, Port-Glasgow.
HO AN CLO DUBH.
I prefer the plaid airy
B'fhearr learn breacan uallach, ben- le-am brecan n-all-ach
Ma m' ghuaillean 's ga chuir fo'm achlais, Round my shoulders, or under my arm, mam yu-ayllen sga chuyr fom achlais
Na ged gheibhein cota na ged yeyv-eyn cota
De 'n chlo is fearr a thig a Sassunn. den chlo is ferr a hig a sassunn
Fonn.
He an clo-dubh, ho an clo-dubh, he an clo-dav ho an clo-duv
To a coat of the best cloth That ever came from England.
Chorus. Hey the black cloth, ho the black cloth,
He an clo-dubh ; b'-fhearr leam breacan ; Hey the black cloth; give me the plaid ; he an clo-duv berr le-ara bre-ac-an
He an clo-dubh, ho an clo-dubh, he an clo-duv ho an clo-duv
Hey the black cloth, ho the black cloth,
He an clo-dubh ; b'-fhear leam breacan. Hey the black cloth; give me the plaid, he an clo-duv berr le-am bre-ac-an
Mo laochan fein am feile, mo lao-chan feyn am feyle"
Nach feumadh ach crios ga ghlasadh, nach feyma' ach cris ga ylas-a'
Cuaicheanach, deis, eatrom, cu-ay-chen-ach deys e-trom
'Nam eiridh gu dol air astar. — nam eyri' gu dol ayr astar
He, etc.
'S eibhinn 'san dol sios u, 's eyv-inn san dol si-os u
Noir sgriobair a truail an claidheamh, noyr sgrib-ayr a trn-ayl an clay'-ev
My little hero is the kilt, That requires but a belt to fasten, Plaited, ready, tight, In the time of rising to travel — Hey, etc.
Thou art my joy at the time of
charging,
When from the sheath the blade is snatch'd,
182
A chasgairt nan naimhdean, a chas-gayrt nan nayv-den
Fo shrannt phiob is stairn nam bratach. — fo h-rannt fi-ob is stayrn nam bratach
He, etc.
Bu mhath gu sealg an fheidh u, bu va' gu selg an ey' u
'Nam eiridh do'n ghrein air creachan ; nam eyri' don yreyn ayr crech-an
'S dh'fhalabhain leat gu lothar, 's yalv-ayn let gu lo'-ar
Di-domhnaich a dol do'n chlachan. — di-dov-naych a dol don chlachan
He, etc.
Laidhinn leat gu h-earbsail, lay' -inn let gu h-erb-sayl
'S mar earba gu'n eiridh 'n grad leat, 's mar erb-a gun eyri'-n grad let
Na beallamh am armachd na bell-av am arm-ac
Na dearganach 's musgaidh ghlagach. — na deraganach 's musga' ylagach
He, etc.
Air t-uachdar gur sgiamhach ayr tu-achd-ar gur sgiav-ach
A laidheas sgiath na'm ball breacadh, a lay'-es sgi-a' nam ball brec-a'
Claidheamh air crios sniambain clay'-ev ayr cris sni-a-vayn
A'm fiaradh oscion do phleatan. — am fi-a-ra' os-ci-on do flet-an
He, etc.
Laidhean air an fhraoch leat, lay'-en ayr an raoch let
Gu gaolach mar aodach-leapa ; gu gaol-ach mar aod-ach-lepa
'Sa dh-aindeoin uisge, is urcbaid, sa yayn-de-oyn uysge is ur-chayd
Na tuil-bheum gu'm biodh orm fasgadh. na tuyl-veym gum bi-o' orm fasg-a'
He, etc.
'S baganta, grinn, boidheach, s bag-an-ta grinn boy'-ech
Air bannais 's air mod am breacan. ayr bann-ays 's ayr mod am brec-an
THE MUSIC
To conquer the enemy,
Under the resounding war-pipes and
rustling banners, Hey, etc.
Suitable art thou for deer-stalking,
When the sun rises over the mountain
peaks ; And modest is thy appearance,
Travelling to church on Sunday.—
Hey, etc. I would sleep in thee snugly,
And start with the quickness of the roe,
More ready in arms
i
Than a red-coat with his clumsy
musket. — • Hey, etc.
On thee gracefully Lies the spotted target, The sword, on a winding belt Aslant across thy plaits.—
Hey, etc.
I would lie on the heather in thee, My choice of bed-clothes ; In spite of rain, and storm,
And water-spouts, thou wouldst me
shelter. — Hey, etc.
Sonsie, tight, and bonny,
At a wedding or court is the plaid.
OF THE HIGHLAND CLANS.
183
Suas am feile cuaichean, su-as am fey\6 cu-aychen
Up with the encircling fey 16, (belted plaid)
'S dealg-gualainn a cuir air fastaidh ! — With the shoulder skewer to fasten it 's delg-gu-al-aynn a cuyr ayr fast-ay' (on high.) —
He, etc.
Hey, etc.
'S math a la 's a dh-oich u : 's ma' a la sa yoych u
Tha loinn ort am beinn 's an cladach ; — ha loynn ort am beynn 'sun clad-ach
'S math am feachd 's an sith u. — 's ma' am fee Ban si' u
Cha righ am fear a chuir as u. — cha ri' am fer a chuyr as u
He, etc.
Good is it day and night :
It is becoming on the mountain or
the beach ; Good in peace or in war. —
He is no king who suppressed it. — Hey, etc.
Shaoil leo gun do mhaolaich-so haoyl le-o gun do vaol-aych-so
Faobhar nan Gaidheal tapaidh, faov-ar nan gay'-el tap-ay'
Ach 's ann a chuir e'n gleus iad, ach sann a chuyr e'n gleys i-ad
'S an geuraidh mar fhaobhar ealtain. — san geyr-ay' mar aovar elt-ayn
He, etc.
He expected to have blunted The zeal of the noble Gael,
But, instead of doing so, he put them
on their mettle, And made them keen as the razor's
edge. — Hey, etc.
Ged bheireadh sibh an cridh' asainn, ged veyr-e' siv an cri' as-aynn
'S air broillechean sios a shracadh, sayr broyll-ech-en si-os a h-rac-a'
Cha toir sibh asainn Tearlach cha toyr siv as-aynn ter-lach
Fhad sa bhios an deo nar pearsa. — ad sa vis an de-o nar persa
He, etc.
Although they should tear open our
bosoms, And drag our hearts out of us,
They will not extract Charles While the vital spark remains. — Hey, etc.
Ged chuir sibh oirne buarach,* Although they have put a shackle* ged chuyr sir oyrne bu-ar-ach on US,
Tiugh duaichnidh gur falbh a bhacadh, Dark, ugly, to trammel our motions, ti-u' du-aych-ni' gur falv a vac-a'
Leannaidh sin cho luadh e We will follow and stick to him as lenn-ay' sin cho lu-a' e closely
'S cho buain ri feidh air a ghlasraidh.— And enduringly as the deer to his 's cho bu-ayn ri fey' ayr a ylas-ray' mountains. —
He, etc. Hey, etc.
* A hair shackle put on the hiud legs of lOEtiff cows when being milked in the open fields.
184
Tha sinn san t-sheann nadar,
ha sinn san tenu nadar
San t-fhas sinn ro am an Acta, san tas sinn ro am an aca
Nar pearsanan nar 'n inntinn, nar persanan uarn inn-tinn
'S nar rioghalachd cha teid taise. — 's nar ri'yal-ac cha teyd tayse
He, etc.
Si an fhuil bha'n cuisle air sinnsir, si an uyl va'n cuysle ayr sinn-sir
'S an innsginn bha nan aigne, san inn-sgin va nan aygne
A dh-fhagadh dhuinn mar dhileab,- a yag-a' yuynn mar yil-eb
Bhi rioghail — 0 sin air paidir ! — vi ri-yayl o sin ayr pay-dir
He, etc.
Ge d' fhuair sibh latnh an uachdar, ged hu-ayr siv lav an u-ac-ar
Aon uair oirn le seorsa tapaig, aon u-ayr oyrn le se-or-sa tap-ayg
Blar eile fhad sa 's beo e blar eyle ad sas be-o e
Cha choisin feoladair do Shassuun.— cha choysin fe-ol-a-dayr do hass-unn
He, etc.
THE MUSIC
We are of the hereditary nature,
In which we grew before the Act was passed,
In our persons and minds, And in our loyalty there is no softness. Hey, etc.
The blood in the pulse of our ancestors, And the instinct of their minds, Left us as a bequest, — Loyalty — oh, that is our creed ! — Hey, etc.
Although they got the upper hand
for once, By a mixture of treachery and chance,
Never, while he lives, will the Butcher
Over us gain another battle for
England. Hey, etc.
When substituting the feudal for the patriarchal system, the kings of Scotland and their feudal creatures, as the last resort, used the most subtle means for drawing such clans as proved obstinately determined on holding their lands by the free hereditary Cleachda, into a quarrel with some powerful feudal neighbour, who could, either by his own strength or by means of alliances with other feudal magnates, defeat them in battle, and thus reduce them into the condition described in feudal statutes as " broken clans." To be denounced as a broken clan was tantamount to being outlawed, and left to the mercy of all and sundry who were able and willing to take their lives and estates. The Clan-Gregor was drawn into a quarrel of this kind ; but being a high-minded and a powerful clan, of royal lineage, and of the most illustrious character, unusual pains were taken to make the Country believe that they had provoked their doom, by acting with great treachery and cruelty toward their opponents. It was alleged, that during the battle of Glenfrmn, from a diabolical spirit of re- venge, they had set fire to a school-house or college over the heads of the children of the opposing clan ; and, to confirm the statement, a procession was formed of women, to wait on the king at Stirling, and expose before him the bloody shirts of their slain husbands. The so called wives were loose women, hired for
OF THE HIGHLAND CLANS. 185
payment in Glasgow, &c. ; and the bloody shirts were shirts dipped in the blood of sheep or cattle. But the solemn farce afforded the just and tender-hearted king a glorious opportunity of displaying his great generosity and inflexible justice, and at the same time of putting a very large part of the lawless Highlands under the feudal yoke. The whole clan Gregor, of whom only a small minority were in the engagement, were accordingly outlawed and pros- cribed, and their very name, — one of the oldest and noblest in Scotland, — put down by law. They were hunted with blood-hounds, and all but exterminated, and their extensive clan districts divided among their powerful feudal neighbours. The crime which brought on them this cruel treatment was simply their conservatism. They obstinately refused to consent to such a change in the free land-tenures of their fathers as would put their lives and estates under the despotic will and pleasure of their kings.
This cruel persecution, and the unflinching endurance of the Macgregors in adversity, occupy a great space in the poetry and traditions of the Highlands. " Macgreagair o Ruadhro" seems to have been a favourite air with those who wrote songs on the subject, for there are several elegiacs composed to that air, all of them sweet and beautiful, and little calculated to countenance belief in the vengeful spirit ascribed to the Macgregors; but even the generous and kindly Sir Walter Scott, from his perverted feudal education and ignorance of Gaelic poetry, believed these slanders, and, in consequence was incapable of doing justice to the Macgregors. We have from twenty to thirty volumes containing specimens of Gaelic poetry from the days of Fingal to the present day, and no one will find in the whole mass a single verse breathing the ferocious spirit of vengeance inspired into the " Macgregor's Gathering" by the amiable Sir Walter Scott ; so much more humane and magnanimous were the old Highlanders for the last two thousand years than the best representative-speci- men of feudalism even in the nineteenth century. The words and melody of " Macgreagair o Rudhro" breathe a very different spirit, though not less heroic. The fact is, that there never were a people less addicted to revenge than the Highland clans. We have, in Gaelic, names descriptive and distinct for every passion, excepting revenge. But revenge was as alien to the genius of our clans and country as feudalism. We have therefore no words in Gaelic whereby to express either revenge or feudal titles. Even our prolific dictionary-makers have failed to find in Gaelic a word descriptive of or distinct for revenge. For it is shown in many of our hilarious drinking songs, that " dial" (which is their only word for revenge) means," to pay the lawing : " Ge be dh-olas 's tu dhiolas" (whoever drinks, jonpay) "ge be brandai, beoir, na fion e, dian an stopsa dhomhsa liona ; 's mis am fear nae sor' a dhioladh ge 'd chosta fhiach an dhomh suim," (let it be brandy, beer, or wine, fill me this stoup ; I am the man that wili not grudge to pay, though its price would cost a sum.) Now, let the reader consult the Rev. Drs Macleod and Dewar's Dictionary, and he will find that the only word available to these eminent Gaelic scholars to describe this (according to feudal writers) deadly and inflexible trait in the native Highland character, revenge, is dial! — a word so flexible as to be thus translated by the Reverend
A a
186
Doctors: — " Diol, avenge, revenge ; pay; render; fill; satisfy; reason. Diol, recompence, satisfaction, retribution ; reward, hire ; satiety ; an object, an end proposed ; fate, destiny ; 'the act of weaning as of a child." I have shown in my Lecture on the Caledonians and Scots, that the very language of the Gael thus furnishes the means of refuting all the ignorant and ill-natured misstatements as to the social condition and character of the Highland clans ; and, when to these is added the evidence of refined tastes and generous feelings and sentiments furnished by their poetry and music, it must, indeed, indicate utter degeneracy on the part of modern Highlanders, unless they vindicate that character against the cruel and unjust charge of lawless barbarity. Even assuming, in accordance with the vulgar (but most erroneous) impression, that the people of the British Empire are of two different races, surely each of these races, if honest, will feel it a duty to do justice to its fellow race.
Two lines of every verse in the following measure, and all similar songs, were sung as a chorus by the audience, which had a most pleasing and pathetic effect ; hence their repetition in the succeeding verse of two lines of the former verse.
MAC-GREAGAIR 0 RDADHRO.
Tha mulad, tha mulad, ha mulad ha mulad
Tha mulad am lionadh ; ha mulad am li-o-na'
Lion mulad bochd truagh mi, li-on mulad hoc tru-a' mi
'S cha dual dhomh dheth direadh 's cha du-al yov ye' dir-e'
Oh sorrow, oh sorrow, Deep sorrow has seized me ; My soul is filled with a sorrow
From which I am not destined to find relief ;
Lion mulad bochd truagh mi, li-on mulad boc tru-a' mi
Cha dual dhomh dheth direadh, cha du-al yov ye' dir-e'
Mu Mhac-Greagair o Kuadhro, mu vac-gre-gayr o ru-a-ro
Ga'm bu dual bhi 'n Gleannlion ; gam bu du-al vi'n glenn-li-on
My soul is filled with a sorrow
From which I am not destined to
find relief, About Macgregor of Buadhro,
Whose right is Glenlyon ;
Mu Mhac-Greagair o Ruadhro, mu vac-gre-gayr o ru-a-ro
Ga'm bu dual bhi 'n Gleannlion ; gam bu du-al vi'n glenn-li-on
Macgreogair na'n gaisgeach,
mac-gre-gayr nan gays-gech
Na'm bratach, 's na'm piobain ; nam brat-ach 's nam pi-ob-ayn
About Macgregor of Ruadhro, Whose right is Glenlyon ; Macgregor of the warriors, The banners, and war-pipes ;
OF THE HIGHLAND CLANS.
187
Macgreagair na'n gaisgeach, mac-gre-gayr nan gays-gech
Na'm bratach, 's na'm piobain, nam brat-ach 's nam pi-ob-ayn
Ga'm bu shuadhcheantas giubhas, gam ba hu-a-chen-tas gi-u-vas
Ri brudhach ga dhireadh ; ri bru'-ach ga yir-e'
Macgregor of the warriors, The banners, and war-pipes, Whose badge was the fir, When ascending the mountains
Whose badge was the fir, When ascending the mountains ;
Ga'm bu shuadhcheanteas giubhas, gam bu hu-a-chentas gt-u-vas
Ri brudhach ga dhireadh ; ri bru'-ach ga yir-e'
Saighdean caol air an deagh lochdradh, Who loved the slender arrows, well say-den caol ayr an de-a' loch-ra' plained,
Is itean dosrach an f hirean ; Tipped with the feathers of the eagle ;
is it-en dos-rach an ir-en
Saighdean caol air an deagh lochradh, say-den caol ayr an de-a' loch-ra'
'S itean dosrach an fhirean ; 's it-en dos-rach an ir-en
Saighdean caol air an deagh shnaigheadh say-den caol ayr an de-a' nay-e'
'B-ann do dh-aigher mhic righ e.
K'ann Hn VCVCF \nt* ri' A
b'ann do **
ve *
Ged a bhuaileadh mi 'm balach ged a vuayl-e' mim bal-ach
Ga ghearran cha bhi mi ; ga ye-arran cha vi mi
'S luchd a ghabhail mo leith-sgeulf 's luc a ya-vayl mo le'-sgeyl
Ann san t-cheapal nan sineadh ; ann san tep-al nan sin-e'
Luchd a ghabhail mo leithsgeul luc a ya-vayl mo le'-sgeyl
Ann san t-cheapal nan sineadh ; ann san tep-al nan sin-e'
Who loved the slender arrows, well
plained, Tipped with the feathers of the eagle ;
Slender arrows well polished (waxed)
Was part of the delight of the
descendant of kings. * * * * * *
Though a boor should strike me I will not complain ; (For) those that would take my partf Are stretched in the chapel ;
Those that would take my part Are stretched in the chapel ;
* The above stars do not mean that the verses are lost. The ballad has three parts, but I can afford space only for a few of the first verses of each. They bear me out, however, in showing that, although on the subject of the persecution, they breathe anything but a ferocious and vengeful spirit.
t Leith-sgeul, literally, ex parti statement. That is, they would take her own word for the truth of her grievance, and address themselves, off-hand, to doing her justice. Query : Were the people so truthful as to leave no doubt on the minds of their friends as to the truth of their statements ? Or were the clans so regardless of truth and justice as to be equally ready to take the part of their own inefcibers, right or wrong? The above mode of expression, which means espousing ones cause on their ex parti statement, implies either the one or the other, if the idiom of a language is capable of throwing light on the mode of thinking and character of a people.
188
Luchd a sheasaibh mo chorach, luo a hes-ayv mo chor-ach
'S mor mo leon iad bhi dhith orm ; 's raor mo le-on i-ad vi yi' orm
Luchd a sheasaibh mo chorach, luc a hes-ayv mo chor-ach
'S mor mo leon iad bhi dhith orm ; 's mor mo le-on i-ad vi yi' orm
Ged a nitear orm eacoir, ged a ni-ter orm e-coyr
Co ni m' eiric a dhioladh ? co ni meyric a yi-ol-a'
******
Dean do leabadh 's na creagan, den do leba' 's na creg-an
'S na caidil ach eatrom ; 's na cayd-il ach e-trom
Ged is ainmic an fheorag ged is ayn-mic an e-o-rag
Gheabhar seol air a faotain ; yevar se-ol ayr a faotayn
Ged is ainmic an fheorag ged is ayn-mio an e-o-rag
Gheabhar seol air a faotain ; yevar se-ol ayr a faotayn
'S ged is uaibhreach an seobhag, 's ged is u-ay-vrech an se-o-vag
'S trie a ghlacar le foil e, &c. 's trie a ylac-ar le foyl e
THE MUSIC
Those that would stand by my rights, Great is my wound deprived of them ;
Those that would stand by my rights, Great is my wound deprived of them ; Though evil be done to me,
Who will exact my eric* (compensa- tion.) *******
Make thy bed in the rocks, And sleep but lightly ; Though the squirrel is rare There is a way to find her ;
Though the squirrel is rare There is a way to find her ; Though proud is the hawk,
He has been often taken treacherously, &c.
William Boss, whose romantic love, disappointment, and early death, attaches more interest to his poetry than it of itself is capable of inspiring, wrote one of his love songs to the air of " Lochaber no more," which has been changed in the Lowlands into various versions, none of them to be compared to the original melody, excepting the version called " Lord Ronald my Son." I have only the first two lines of the original words, which, however, are well known in Benderloch. The verses begin : —
Mu'n cuairt do Lochcrearain cha teid mi
gu brath, Gu'n bhogadh gu'n saighead gu'n
chlaidheamh da laimh.
Around Lochcrerain I will go never,
Without a bow, an arrow, and a two- handed sword.
* I have stated elsewhere that there was no capital punishments among the patriarchal clans, excepting for crimes treacherous or infamous, which placed the criminal beyond the power of the Brehan court, and under the exclusive jurisdiction of the Druids. How could revenge be a characteristic of a people who were trained and brought up for thousands of years under a law and a religion utterly incompatible with such a spirit ?
OF THE HIGHLAND CLANS.
189
The only verses of this song I can find room for is sung to the air of " Mu'n cuairt do Lochcrearain."
CHUMHADH A BHAIRD AN DEIGH A LEANNAN. — THE BARD'S LAMENT AFTER
HIS LOVE.
Gur gille mo leannan nan eal' air an Whiter is my love than a swan when gur gille mo len-an nan el ayr an Swimming,
t-shnamh, t-nav
Gur binne i nan smeorach 'm barraibh Sweeter is her voice than a thrush on gur binn i nan sme-or-ach 'm barr-ayv a graceful tree
ro-chrann sa mhaigh, ro-chrann sa vay'
Tha i pailt ann an ceutaidh, an ceil, is She is rich in beauty, in wisdom, in ha i paylt ann an cey-tay' an ceyl is dignity *
an uaill ; an uayl
'Se chuir fuadach air m' eibhneas, It has banished my happiness
se chuyr fu-a-dach ayr meyvnes
Bhi a t-eugmhais 'san uair. To be without her at this time.
vi a teyg-vays san u-ayr
Fonn : —
Seinn eibhinn, seinn eibhinn, seinn seynn eyvinn seynn eyvinn seynn
eibhinn gu'n dail ; eyvinn gun dayl
Seinn eibhinn, seinn eibhinn, seinn seynn eyvinn seynn ' eyvinn seynn
eibhinn gach la ; eyvinn gach la
Seinn eibhinn, binn eibhinn, seinn seynn eyvinn binn eyvinn seynn
eibhinn a ghnath ; eyvinn a yna'
Seinn eibhinn, binn eibhinn, a chuir seynn eyvinn binn eyvinn a chuyr
m' eislein gu lar. meylenn gu lar
Chorus : —
Sing joyously, sing joyously, sing joyously without delay ;
Sing joyously, sing joyously, sing joyously every day ;
Sing joyously, sweetly-joyously, sing joyously always ;
Sing joyously, sweetly-joyously, to banish my grief.
Se do mhanran bu mhian learn 's e gun Thy endearments, without fitful ex-
se do vanran bu vi-an le-am 'se gun citements or gloom, are my delight ; fhiaras gu'n ghruaim ; i-a-ras gun yru-aym
'S noir a sheinneas tu oran, 's tu binne And when singing thine is the sweetest 's noyr a heynnes tu oran 'stn binne melody ;
cheolaireadh fuaim ; che-o-layre' fu-aym
190
THE MUSIC
Dh-eireadh m' inntinn gu abhachd, aig My mind rises with joy when number-
yeyra' mmiitmn gu av-ac ayg
aireamh gach buidh, ayrev gach bu-ay'
A tha coilionte am leannan, baindith, a ha coyli-onte* am lennan bayndi'
farasda suairc. farasda su-ayrc
'S binn cuach agus smeorach an ogain 'a binn cu-ach agus sme-o-rach an og-ayn
nan gleann, nan glenn
Noir bhios ceo tiamhaidh doiler air doire noyr vis ce-o ti-av-ay doyler ayr doyre
na mang ; na mang
Ach 's binne mo leannan, coimhneal, achs binne mo lennan coynel
farasda, ciuin, farasda ci-uyn
Alasadh eibhneis le h-orain,le comhradh, a lasa' eyv-nis le hor-ayn le covra'
's le m' muirn.
sle muyra
Ge do bhithinn an eugail, 's an leigh a ge do vi'-inn an eygail 'san ley' a
toirt duail toyrt du-ayl
Nach bith comhair an dan dhomh ach nach bi' covayr an dan yov ach
bas an gearr uinn, bas an gerr uyn
Chuireadh sealladh dhe m' ribhinn mo chuyre' sella' ye m' ri-vinn mo
mhigean air chul, vi-gen ayr chul
Ghlachain binneas na smeoraich 's ylac-ayn binnes na sme-o-raych 's
gheibhinn solas as ur. yeyv-inn solas as ur
ing every virtue
Combined in my love, who has easiness, delicacy, and modesty.
Sweet is the cushet and the thrush on the saplings in the glens,
When mist silent and shadowy winds around the grove of roes ;
But sweeter is my love, kind, affable, mild,
Kindling joy with her songs, her con- verse, her cheerfulness.
Though prostrated in sickness, and the doctor should say
That relief was not possible, and death suddenly would be mine,
A sight of my queenly maiden would banish my ailments,
I would catch the sweetness of the thrush, and receive new joy and health.
Mr A. Carmichael of the Inland Kevenue sent me the following verse and melody, ascribed to " a leannan sith," or fairy sweetheart, whose human lover seems to have given her more of his work than of his company. There are many sweet fragments of the same class in my possession, for which I cannot make room ; but I insert " Buain na Kainich," (cutting the ferns,) because it affords me an opportunity of acknowledging my obligations to this enthusiastic Highlander, who has sent me an immense number of songs and melodies, for
OF THE HIGHLAND CLANS.
191
none of which, excepting the present fragment, can I find use at present ; but that does not lessen my sense of his kindness and attention ; and I beg his acceptance of my sincere thanks.
Tha mi sgith 's mi learn f bin, ha mi sgi' 'ami le-am bin
H-uille latha a buain na rainaich huylle la'-a a bu-ayn na rayn-aych
Tha mi sgith 's mi learn f bin, ha mi sgi' 'ami le-am hin
H-uille latha m' onar ; huylle la'-a monar
Cul an tomain, braigh an tomain, cul an tom-ayn bray' an tom-ayn
Cul an tomain bhoidhich ; cul an tom-ayn voy-ich
Cul an tomain, braigh an tomain, cul an tom-ayn bray' an tom-ayn
H-uille latha m' onar. huylle la'-a monar
BUA1N NA RAINICH. — CUTTING THE FERNS.
I am tired, all by myself, Every day cutting ferns ; I am tired, all by myself, Every day so lonely ;
On the back of the knoll, the top of
the knoll On the back of the bonny knoll ;
On the back of the knoll, the top of the knoll,
Every day so lonely.
The following song is by Donnach Ban nan Oran, the Glenorchy bard ; but I have not succeeded in getting a good set of the air. It is addressed, in gratitude, to the foxes, because they killed the sheep.
ORAN LUAIDH, NA BALGAIREAN. — THE FOXES, (LITERALLY, PLUNDERERS.)
Mo bheannachd aig na balgairean mo vennac ayg na balg-ayr-en
A chionn bhi sealg nan caorach. a chi-onn vi sealag nan caorach
Ho hu, ho ho, na balgairean, ho hu ho ho na balg-ayr-en
O's ainmig iad ri f haotain ; os aynimig i-ad ri ao-tayn
Ho hu, ho ho, na balagairean.
ho hu ho ho na balg-ayr-en
My blessing on the foxes That hunt (and kill) the sheep. Ho hu, ho ho, the foxes, 0 they are (too) rare to be found ; Ho hu, ho ho, the foxes.
It is the grey-faced sheep
'S iad na caoraich cheann-riach
'a i-ad na caor-aych chenn-ri-ach
Kinn aineart feadh an t-shaoghail.— That have oppressed the wold. — rinn ayn-ert fe' an tao'-ayl
Ho, etc. Ho, etc.
Am fearann chuir iad fas oirn, am fer-ann chuyr i-ad fas oyrn
'Sa mal chuir iad an daoraid. — sa mal chuyr i-ad an daor-ayd
Ho, etc.
They have made a desert of the
country, And made the rents dearer. —
Ho, etc.
192
THE MUSIC
Cha 'n 'eil ait ga thuanachadh, cha neyl ayt ga hu-an-ach-a'
Tha chuir sa bhuain air claonadh. — ha chuyr sa vu-ayn ayr claon-a'
Ho, etc.
'S eigin dhuinn bhi fagail 's eyg-in yuyn vi fa-gayl
Na tir aillidh an robh air daoine. — na tir ayli' an rov ayr daoyne
Ho, etc.
'S na sraithean is na h-airidhean, na sray'-en is na hay'ri-en
Am faighte blath 's is faoileachd, — am fayte bla' 'sis faoyl-ec
Ho, etc.
Cha 'n 'eil a nis ach laraichean cha neyl a ma ach lar-aych-en
'N ait' nan taighean aoidheil. — nayt nan tay'-en aoy'-eyl
Ho, etc.
Cha 'n 'eil sunnd air aiteachadh cha neyl sunnd ayr ayt-ech-a'
Aig traigh na air na raointean. — ayg tray na ayr na raoyn-ten
Ho, etc.
Tha h-uile seol a b' abhaist ha huyle se-ol a bav-ayst
Ann sa Ghaidheallachd air caochladh.- ann sa yay'-el-tac ayr caoch-la'
Ho, etc.
Air cinntinn cho mi-nadurra ayr cinn-tinn cho mi-na-durra
'S na h-aiteau a bha aoidheal. — 's na hayt-enn a va aoy'-el
Ho, etc.
Cha 'n 'eil capul tacarach, cha neyl capul tacara'
Is serrach aig a taobh ann, — is serrach ayg a taov ann
Ho, etc.
There is not such a thing as cultiva- tion ;
Sowing and reaping have ceased. — Ho, etc.
We must of necessity leave
The beautiful country in which our
people were reared. — Ho, etc.
The strath and shieling,
In which were found a warm hospi- tality,— Ho, etc.
Contain only crumbling ruins Instead of social dwelling-houses. — ,Ho, etc.
There is no vigorous cultivation On shore or wold. — Ho, etc.
Every custom that was In the Highlands is changed.— Ho, etc.
The people have become unnatural In places that were so hospitable.— Ho, etc.
There is no fruitful brood-mare Seen with a foal by her side,— Ho, etc.
OF THE HIGHLAND CLANS.
193
Cha 'n 'eil boin 's aighean aillidh, clia neyl boyn 's ay' -en ayll-i'
'G arach an cuid laogh ann. — gar-ach an cuyd lao' ann
Ho, etc.
Cha 'n 'eil feum air gruagaichean, cha neyl feym ayr gru-ag-aych-en
Tha h-uile buail air sgaoileadh.- ha huyle bu-ayl ayr
Ho, etc.
Cha'n fhaigh gille ttiarasdal cha'n ay' gille tu-ar-as-dal
Ach buachaille nan caorach. — ach bu-a-chaylle nan caorach
Ho, etc.
Dh-fhalbh na gabhair riomhach yalv na gav-ayr ri-o-vach
'S bu pherseil is bu shaor iad. — 's bu fri-seyl is bu haor i-ad
Ho, etc.
Earba bheag nan duslain eraba veg nan dus-layn
Cha duisgear i le blaoghan.- cha duysg-er i le blao'-an
Ho, etc.
Cha 'n 'eil fiadh air fuaran, cha neyl fi-a' ayr fu-a-ran
O'n thagh na h-uislean caoirich.- on ha' na hnys-len caoyrich
Ho, etc.
Tha gach frith' ear fuasgailte, ha gach fri' er fu- as-gay It
Gu'n duais air son a shaothreach. gun du-ays ayr son a haoy'-rech
Ho, etc.
'S diombach air an duine mi 's di-om-bach ayr an duyne mi
Ni na sionnaich aoireadh, — ni na si-onn-aych aoyr-e'
Ho, etc.
Nor cows nor beautiful queys, Rearing their calves there. — Ho, etc.
There is no demand for young women, For every fold is dispersed. — Ho, etc.
No lad will get employment Excepting to herd sheep. — Ho, etc.
The pretty goats are banished, That were so valuable and cheap. — Ho, etc.
The little roe of dark coverts Will not be waked by the fawn-cry. — Ho, etc.
No deer are to be found among the springs,
Since gentlemen have given the
preference to sheep. — Ho, etc.
Every forester is dismissed, Receiving no reward for his trouble. — Ho, etc.
My displeasure to the man That would cry down the foxes, — Ho, etc.
Bb
194
Chuireas cu ga'n ruagadh, chuyr-es cu gau ru-a-ga'
Na thilgeas luaidhe chaol orrV na hilg-es lu-ay' chaol orr
Ho, etc.
THE MUSIC
Who would send a dog to chase them, Or would fire at them with small shot. Ho, etc.
Gu'rn bu slan na cuileanan gum bu slan na cuyl- en-en
Tha fuireach an san t-shaobhaidh.- ha fuyr-ech an san taov-ay'
Ho, etc.
Health be to the cubs That dwell in their rocky nursery. Ho, etc.
Na'm faigheadh iad mo dhurachd, nam fay'-e' i-ad mo yur-ac
Cha churam dhoibh cion saoghail. — cha churam yoyv cin sao'-ayl
Ho, etc.
Bhiodh piseach air an oigridh, vi-o' pis-ech ayr an oyg-ri'
Is bhiodh beo gus a marbh aois iad.- is vi-o' be-o gua a marv aoys i-ad
Ho, etc.
If they receive my desire,
There is no danger but they will long
live. — Ho, etc.
They will have good luck, And live till age kills them.- Ho, etc.
Having been unable to get a good set of the air of the above duanag, I give a verse or two of another oran luaidh, by the same gifted bard, a pretty good set of which I can submit.
CHUNNAIC Ml'N DAMH DONN *S *N H-E1LDEN. — I HAVE SEEN THE BROWN STAG AND THE HINDS.
Though arms have been put down,
Ged tha bacadh air na h-armaibh, ged ha baca' ayr na har-mayv
Ghleidh mi Spainteach thun na seilge ; I have retained a Spanish piece for
stalking ; But it has used me shabbily,
yley' mi spayn-tech hun na seylge'
Ge do rinn i orm cho cearbach, ge do rinn i orm cho cerb-ach
'S nach do mharbh i mac na h-eilde. 'a nach do varv i mac na heyl-de"
In not killing the son of the hind.
Fonn. Chorus.
Chunnaic mi 'n damn donn 's na h-eilden, I saw the brown stag and the hinds chunn-ayc mi'n dav donn 'sna heyl-den
A direadh a bhealaich le cheile ; Together ascending the defile ;
a dir-e' a vel-aych le cheyle*
Chunnaic mi 'n damh donn's na h-eilden. I saw the brown stag and the hinds, chunn-ayc mi'n dav donn 'ana heyl-den
OF THE HIGHLAND CLANS.
195
'Nuair a dh-eirich mi sa mhaduin, nu-ayr a yeyr-ich mi sa vad-uyn
Chuir mi innte fudar Ghlascho, chuyr mi inn-te fudar ylas-cho
Peiller tenn, is tri puist Shass'nach, peyll-er tenn is tri puyst hass-nach
'S cuifein asgairt air a dheidh sin. — 'a cuyf-en as-gayrt ayr a yey' sin
Chunnaic, etc.
Bha'n spor ur an deigh a breacadh, van spor ur an dey' a brec-a'
Chuir mi uille ris an acuin, chuyr mi uylle ris an ac-uyn
'S eagal driuchd bha mudan craicin 's eg-al dri-ucbd va mu-dan crayc-in
Cumail fasgaidh air mo cheile. — cum-ayl fas-gay' ayr mo chey-ld
Chunnaic, etc.
Laidh an eillid air an fhuaran ; lay' an eyll-id ayr an u-a-ran
Chosd mi rithe mo chuid luaidhe ; chosd mi ri'-i' mo chuyd lu-ay'-e
'S noir a shaoil mi i bhi buailte, 's noyr a haoyl mi i vi bu-aylte
Sin an uair a b-aird' a leum i. — sin an u-ayr a bayrd a leym i
Chunnaic, etc.
Bi sinn beo an dochas ro-mhath bi sinn be-o an do-chas ro-va'
Gu'm bi chuis ni 's fhear a t-ath la ; gum bi chuys ni's er a ta' la
Gu'm bi gaoth is grian is talaruh, gum bi gao' is gri-an is talav
Mar is maith linn air na sleibhtein. — mar is may' linn ayr na slyv-teyn
Chunnaic, etc.
Bithidh an luaidh ghlas na deannaibh, bi'-i' an lu-ay' ylas na denn-ayv
Siubhal reith aig gaothair sheangadh, si-u-val rey' ayg gao'-ayr hcng-a'
Na daimh dhonn a sile faladh, na dayv yonn a sil-d fa-la'
'S abhachd aig na fearaibh gleusda. — 's av-ac ayg na fcr-ayv gleys-da
I saw, etc.
When I got up in the morning,
I put in her a charge of Glasgow
powder, A tight bullet, three Sassanach slugs,
And a colfin of tow after them.— I saw, etc.
The new flint was chipped, There was oil applied to the lock, And, to ward off dew, a skin mantle Afforded shelter to my spouse. — I saw, etc.
The hind lay on the meadow ;
I expended my shot on her ;
But when I thought she was struck,
That was the time at which her
bounds were highest. — I saw, etc.
But we must live in the good hope That the case next day will be better ;
That the lay of the ground, the wind
and the sun, Will be as we would have them on
the wolds.— I saw, etc.
The grey lead will then speed (on its
errand,) The hounds have a free course,
The brown stags bleeding, And the hunters merry.— Chunnaic, etc.
196
THE MUSIC
CUE FAOIN MO LUAIDH AIR CHADAL. — VAIN IS MY THOUGHT OF SLEEP.
Vain is my hope of sleep,
Gur faoin mo luaidh air cadal, gur faoyn mo lu-ay' ayr cadal
'S mi sior acain na bheil bh-uam, — 'a mi si-or ac-ayn na veyl vu-am
Comunn is deo-choimhneas co-munn is de-o-choyv-nes
Na te dh-fhag mi'n raoir fo ghruaim : na te yag min royr fo yru-aym
Tha mi ann an aisling leat, ha mi ann an aysling let
Gach uair a ni mi suain, gach u-ayr a ni mi su-ayn
'S trom m' osnadh uoir a dhuisgeas mi, Strom mos-na' noyr a yuysg-es mi
Air bhi dhomh d' iondrain uam. ayr vi yov d' i-on-drayn u-am
Ach coim' mo luaidh air osnadh, ach coym mo lu-ay' ayr os-na'
0' na choisinn mi do dheoin, o na choysinn mi do ye-oyn
'S an gaol a thug sin aontachail, san gaol a hug sin aontach-ayl
Nach caochail e ri'r beo ? nach caoch-ayl e ri'r be-o
'S ioma latha aonarach si-oma la'-a aonar-ach
A shaor u mi o' bhron, a haor u mi o vron
Lead mhanran baigheal maighdeannael,- led vanrann bay '-el maydennel
Mo roghainn thair gach ceol. mo ro'-inn hayr gach ce-ol
Thug mise gaol da riridh dhut, hug mi-se gaol da ri-ri' yut
Noir bha u d' nionaig og, noyr va u d' ni-on-ayg og
'S air mo laimh cha dhibrinn e, 'sayr mo lav cha yib-rinn e
Air ionmhas na Roinn-Eorp' ; ayr i-on-vas na royn-e-orp
Ged a dhiante a chuntas dhomh, ged a yi-an-te a chuntas yov
Gu dubailt air a bhord, gu du-baylt ayr a vord
While continually yearning for that
which is afar, — The companionship and blist kindness
Of her whom I left yesterday in sorrow: I am in dreams with thee, Whenever slumber takes me, And deep are my sighs when I wake On missing thy presence.
But why do I mention sighs, Since I have gained thy consent,
And the love we have mutually con- ceived, Will not die while we live ?
Many a lonely day
Hast thou freed me from sorrow,
With thy minstrelsy tender (and)
maidenly, — My choice above all music.
I have given thee my love truly, When thou wert a young lassie,
And, on my hand, I would not re- nounce it, For the treasures of Europe ;
Although they should be counted down
to me, Doubled upon the table,
OF THE HIGHLAND CLANS.
197
Cha threiginn gaol na ribhinne cha treyg-iuu gaol na ri-vinne
Tha'n He ghlas an f heoir. ban i-le ylas an e-oyr
I would not forsake the love of the
queenly maiden Of gray and grassy Islay.
I have not been able to procure a copy of the beautiful verses I have heard sung to the air of " Oich mar tha mi." The fragment here patched up is submitted merely for the melody. We have none to do for Gaelic what the immortal Burns did for the Lowland Scotch poetry, otherwise many a highly interesting volume might soon be made up.
OCH MAR THA MI FO PHKAMH S FO EISLEIN.
Alas! I am ailing and sorrowful;
Oich, mar tha mi fo phramh 's fo eislein ; oych mar ha mi fo frav 's fo eysleyn
Fhuair mi sgeuladh a leir 's a leon mi, — hu-ayr mi sgeyla' a leyr 's a le-on mi
Mo chreach 's mo dhiobhail nach ro' mo chrech 'smo yivayl nach ro
mi'n He, mi'n i-le"
'S mo chruinneag dhileas a dol a phosadh. smo chruynneg yi-les a dol a fosa'
I have news that has me pained and
wounded, — 'Tis my ruin irremediable that I am
not in Islay,
And my beloved maiden going to be married.
Mar aiteal ceitein an doire geugach, mar aytel ceyteyn an doyre gey-gach
Tha eibhneas diomhair a t-aite comh- ha eyv-nes di-o-vayr a tayte" cov-
nuidh : nuy'
An dreach, an aillidh, an cliu, 's an an drech an aylli' an cli-u 'a au
ceutabh : cey-tav
Chad'fhuair mi leirsin air te thug corr ort. cha du-ayr mi leyr-sin ayr te hug corr ort
As the breath of May in a leafy grove,
Thy presence breathes a secret joy through thy dwelling :
Thou art symmetrical, beautiful, of fair repute, and fascinating :
My eyes have not seen one who sur- passed thee.
Tha i aoigheal, cridheil, baigheil ; ha i aoy'-el cri'-el bay '-el
'S h-inntinn saibheir le tur 's le foghlum ; aa hinn-tinn sayveyr le tur 'sle fo'-lum
A caint mar cheol tigh'n o inneal a caynt mar che-ol ti'n o innel
neamhaidh, ne-vay'
Ni'n cridhe a thalladh 's mill ad fhogradh. ni'n cri'-c a halla' 's mulad ogra'
Thou art comely, merry, compassion- ate ;
Thy mind rich with good sense and accomplishments ;
Thy words like music from a heavenly instrument,
Warming the heart, and banishing grief.
THE MUSIC
'S truagh a' d' dheigh mi le bron 's le Miserable am I after thee, with sorrow stru-a' ad yey' mi le bron sle and pain •
eislein ; eys-leyn
Mo shuilean deurach, 's mo chridhe Mine eyes tearful, my heart wounded ; mo huyl-en dey-rach 'smo chri'-e
leointe ; le-oynte'
Cha'u fhiugh learn ionmhas, cha'n fhiugh I value no wealth, no joy chan i-u' lem i-on-vas chan i-u'
learn eibhneas, lem eyv-nes
A tha fo'n ghrein ach u fein a d' onar. Under the sun, but thyself alone, a ha fon yreyn ach u feyn ad onar
The following verses were written by a namesake of my own, who was in the humble capacity of a church-officer with Lord Macauley's grandfather. Let it bear testimony of the rudeness and barbarity which gave his truthful and philosophic lordship such a detestation of the revengeful and filthy Highlanders !
GU'M BU SLAN A CHI MI. — HAPPY MAY I SEE THEE.
Happy may I see thee,
Gu ma slan a chi mi, gu ma slan a chi mi
Mo chailin dhilis dhonn, — mo chayllin yilis yonn
Ben a chuailein reidh, ben a chu-ayllin rey'
Air a deise a dh-eireas fonn ; ayr a deyse a yeyres fonn
Se caint do bhoil is binn learn ; ee caynt do voyl is binn lem
Nair bhios m' inntinn trom, nayr vis minn-tinn trom
'S tu thogadh suas mo chridh', stu lioga' su-as mo chri'
Noir a bhiodh tu bruidhinn rium. noyr a vi' tu bruy'-inn ri-um
Gur mnladach a tha mi gur muladach a ha mi
'S mi nochd air aird a chuain ; 's mi noc ayr ayrd a chu-ayn
'S neo-shunndach mo chadal 's ne-o-hundach mo chadal
Is do chaidribh fada uam ; is do chayd-riv fada u-am
'S trie mi ort a smaoiuteach,— stric mi ort a smaoyntech
As t-aogais tha mi truagh ; — as taogays ha mi tru-a'
My faithful brown-haired maid,— Maid of the flowing ringlets,
Who is most easily excited to merri- ment ;
Thy words to me are the sweetest music ;
When depressed in mind,
Thou dost exalt my heart, When in converse with me.
Sorrowful am I
This night on the height of the sea ;
Unsound is my sleep
Away from thy companionship ;
Often do I think of thee,—
Without thee I am miserable ;—
'S mar dean mi t-fhaotainn,
's mar di-aa mi tuotayn
Cha bhi mo sgaoghal buain. cha vi mo hao'-al bu-ayn
OF THE HIGHLAND CLANS.
Unless thou art mine, My life will not be long.
199
Do shuil mar an dearcag, do huyl mar au derc-ag
Fo'n rosg a dh-iadhas dlu, fon rosg a yi-a'-as dlu
Do ghruaidhean mar chaoran, do yru-ay'-en mar cbaoraa
Fo'n aodan bhoidheach chiuin. fon aodan voy'-ech cbi-uyn
Aidicheam le eibhneas ayd-ech-eui le eyv-nes
Gu'n d-thug mi fein dhuit run, gun dug mi feyn yuyt run
'S gur bliadhna learn gach la sgur bli-a'-na le-am gach la
O'n uair a dh-fhag mi u. on u-ayr a yag mi u
Tacan mu'n do sheol sinn, tac-an mun do he-ol sinn
'S ann thoisich luchd mi-ghraidh, sann hoysich luc mi-yray'
Ki innseadh do'm chruineighsa, ri inn-se' dom chruyn-eyg-sa
Nach tillinsa gu brach ; nach tillinsa gu brach
Na cuireadh sid ort gruaman ; na cuyre' sid ort gru-a-man
A luaidh ; ma bhios mi slan, a lu-ay' ma vis mi slan
Cha chum dad idir uat mi cha chum dad idir u-at mi
Ach saighead chruaidh a bhais. ach say'-ed chru-ay' a vays
Thy blue eye is like a berry, 'Neath lashes that wind closely,
Thy cheeks like the ripe fruit of the
mountain ash, Under a face comely and mild.
Confess I do with joy That I have given thee my love, And that every day is a year to me Since the hour we parted.
Shortly before we sailed,
Ill-disposed persons began
Telling to my maiden
That I would never return ;
But let not that sadden thee, my love ;
If I remain alive,
Nothing shall detain me from thee
But the relentless arrow of death.
I have remarked elsewhere, that the general character of the songs sung to cheer labour, (and every kind of labour had its appropriate song) was the absence of every thing calculated to work on the feelings and passions. The chorus usually consisted of sounds accordant with the employment, and rendered significant and connected by a meaning line or catch-word ; and the verses, though frequently arrayed in pleasing imagery, aimed only at calling up in the minds of the singers thoughts and scenes associated with the tender, attractive, or lofty and pleasing clan traditions. But although such was the general character of these " songs of labour," there were exceptions ; and the boat song of Domhnull Ruadh Gaolach, as I have heard it sung by an old seaman when
200
THE MUSIC
I was a boj7, was one of these. Unfortunately, however, although I remember the subject of the song, — (an expedition of loyal Highlanders on their way from the Isle of Skye to join the army of Montrose,) — I have forgot the verses, and have been unable after much exertion, to meet with a single individual that could even sing the melody, much less remember the words, in a manner at all to realise the impression the song made on my feelings in youth. When sung by the old seaman, the listener could not help fancying that he heard a voice slowly rising from behind a sea, until it attained the crest of a mountain billow, and burst on his ear in a regular bravura of seamanlike exultation ; it then gra- dually receded and sunk, until he felt apprehensive that the singer was struggling among the capricious waves ; then, after a seeming silence, and to his great relief, it began to grow perceptibly on his ear, until the exulting chorus burst upon him afresh, in a gush of melody that made his heart swell in sympathy with the triumphant pluck and stamina of the strong armed rowers. It was intended to be sung in the same style with Macgreagair o Euadhro, the whole crew joining in singing the chorus.
A Dhomhnuil ruaidh ghaolaich, a yovnuyl ru-ay yaol-aych
Horin ova, ro huvo, horin ova ro huvo
Sheases dur ri stiuir dharaicb, heses dur ri sti-uyr yar-aych
Horin eile, ova hi, horin eyle" ova hi
Hi ri oiri, nan hi ri u. hi ri oyri nan hi ri u
DOMHNUL RDADH GAOLACH.
Donald red-haired and beloved,
Horin ova, ro huvo, Who standest firmly by an oak helm, Horin eyle, ova hi, Hi ri oyri, nan hi ri u.
Sheasas dur ri stiuir dharaich, heses dur ri sti-uyr yar-aych
Horin ova, ro huvo,
'S uaibhreach astar do bhata, 's u-ayv-rech astar do vata
Horin eile, ova hi, Hi ri oiri, nan hi ri u.
Who standest firmly by an oak helm,
Horin ova, ro huvo, Wild is the course of thy boat,
Horin eyle, ova hi, Hi ri oyri, nan hi ri u.
'S uaibhreach astar do bhata, 'a u-ayv-rech astar do vata
Horin ova, ro huvo,
Ni mhuir ghairreach a sgarradh, ni vuyr yayrech a sgar-ra'
Horin eile, ova hi, Hi ri oiri, nan hi ri u.
Wild is the course of thy boat,
Horin ova, ro huvo, Cleaving the roaring sea,
Horin eyle, ova hi, Hi ri oyri, nan hi ri u.
OP TIIE HIGHLAND CLANS. 201
Ni mhuir ghairreach a sgarradh, Cleaving the roaring sea,
ui vuyr yayrech a sgar-ra'
Horin ova, ro huvo, Horin ova, ru huvo,
Curn suil gheur air sgeir Bharu, Keep a sharp eye on the sea-rock Baru,
cum suyl yeyr ayr sgeyr va-ru
Horin eile, ova hi, Horin eyle, ova hi,
Hi ri oiri, nan hi ri u. Hi ri oyri, nan hi ri u.
Cum suil gheur air sgeir Bharu, Keep a sharp eye on the sea-rock Baru,
cum suyl yeyr ayr sgeyr va-ru
Horin ova, ro huvo, Horin ova, ro huvo,
Seol air aird nan tonn lannair, Sail on the crest of the phosphoric
se-ol ayr ayrd nan tonn lann-ayr waves,
Horin, eile, ova hi, Horin eyle, ova hi,
Hi ri oiri, nan hi ri u, &c. Hi ri oyri, nan hi ri u, &c.
The following song by Alexander Macdonald, the royal Celtic bard of Prince Charles, is also an " oran iomraidh," or rowing soug, the air of which is equally spirit-stirring ; but I have not been able to get such a version of it as I should like. As this song is published and accessible, I quote only two or three verses of it here.
MOCH SA MHADAINN.
Moch sa mhadainn 's mi dusgadh, Early as I awaked in the morning,
moch sa vadaynn 's mi dusga'
'S mor mo shunnd 's mo cheol gaire, Elated I was and full of hilarity, 's mor mo hunnds mo che-ol gayrd
O'n na chualadh mi'n Prionnsa On hearing that the Prince
on na chu-a-la' min pri-onsa
Thighinn do dhuthaich Chlann-Ea'ill. Had landed in the country of Clan- hi'-inn do yu'-aych chlann ra'-ill ronald.
Chorus.
Hug o ho layll o ho, Hug o ho ro nayll liv ; Hug o ho layll o ho, Seynn o ho ro nayll liv.
Noir a chairair an crun ort, When thou art crowned,
noyr a chayrer an crun ort
Bi muirn air do chairdean, Joyful will thy friends be,
bi muyrn ayr do chayr-den
'S Lochiel mar bu choir dha, With Lochiel, as is right,
's loch-i-al mar bu choyr ya
Cuir an ordugh nan Gael. — Marshalling the Highlanders. —
cuyr an or-du' nan ga-el
Hug, etc. Hug, etc.
c c
202
THE MUSIC
Thig Clandomhnuill a chruadail, big clau-dov-nuyll a chru-a-dayl
Choisinn buaidh ann 's na blaraibh, choy-sinn bu-ay' ann sna blar-ayv
A chumail cruaidh cho'-strigh a chum-ayl cru-ay' cho-stri'
Ki luchd chotaichean madair. — ri luc cho-taychen madayr
Hug, etc.
Sud a chuideachd bhios foirmeil, sud a chuyd-ec' vis foyr-meyl
Boineid ghorm is coc ard or, boyned yorm is coc ard or
Le'm breacanan maiseacb, lem brec-anan maysech
'S le'n gartanan scarlaid. — 's len gartanan scarlayd
Hug, etc.
Come will Clandonell the hardy, Who gained victory in battles, To meet in conflict The race of the red coats. — Hug, etc.
They are the sprightly clan, Of blue bonnets and cockades, With showy plaids, And scarlet garters. — Hug, etc.
ORAN DO N MHISG. — ON DRUNKENNESS.
LE AILBAN DALL.
Noir a shuidh sinn san tigh-osda, noyr a buy' sinn san ti'-osda
Chaidh na stoip thair cuntas,
chay' na stoyp hayr cuntas
Gu trie a tighinn, cha bu ruighinn, gu trie a ti'-inn cha bn ri'-inn
lad nan ruith am ionnsuidh. i-ad nan ray' am i-on-suy'
Gun irraidh dalach, a sior phaigheadh, gun i-a-ray' dalach a si-or fay-e'
'G ol deoch-slainte a Phrionnsa, gol de-och-slaynte a fti-on-sa
'S mo chridhe learn le aites ard, 's mo chri'-e lem le aytes ard
Chion Raonull bhi toirt cliu dhomh. chi-on raonull vi toyrt cli-u yov
Ach noir ghluais mi gu dol dhachaidh, ach noyr ylu-ays mi gu dol ya-chay'
Lagaich mu na gluinn mi, lag-aych mu na gluynn mi
Nunn 's an nail gun leirsinn cheart, nunn san nail gun leyr-sinn chert
Le iomadh beachd am shuillean. le i-oma' bee am huyllen
When we sat in the public-house, The stoups went beyond counting, Quickly, not lingeringly coming, They raced towards us.
No thought had I of (asking) delay,
but constantly paying, And drinking the health of the Prince,
(Charlie) My heart with pleasure leaping high,
Because Ronald was giving me praise.
But when I arose to go home, I became weak at the knees,
I tacked thither and hither, without
seeing rightly, From the numerous conceits that were
in my eyes.
OF THE HIGHLAND CLANS.
203
Feadh na h-oidhche 's mi gun soilseaun, fe' na hoy'-che 'a mi gun soylsen
Air mo shloic a dubladh, ayr mo loyc a dubla'
'S eagall leom gun droin mi arrusg, 'seg-all le-om gun droynn mi arr-usg
Bha mo chardain diumbach. va mo char-dayn di-umbach
Pushing along through the night, with scarcely a blink of light,
I made prostrations which doubled me up,
And, I fear, indecent exposures,
For my friends were much dissatisfied.
Noir a dh-eirich mi sa mhadainn, noyr a yey-rich mi sa va-daynn
Cha robh m' aigneadh sundach, cha rov mayg-ne' sundach
Mo cheann gun sgoin, ma chom na lasair, mo chenn gun sgoyn ma chom na las-ayr
Truaillidh dearg mo shuillean. tru-al-li' de-arg mo huyllen
Se mac-na-brachadh rinn mo leagadh se mac-na-brach-a' rinn mo leg-a'
Ann an leabaidh dhiombaidh — ann an leb-ay' yi-om-bay'
Sud an ghleachdair thug fo smachd mi, sud an glec-ayr hug fo smac mi
'Sa dh-fhag mi lag is bruite. sa yag mi lag is bruyte*
When I arose next morning,
My mind -was little disposed to merri- ment,
My head was without efficacy, my bosom on fire,
My eyes polluted and red.
The son of the malt it was that put
me down In a bed uncomfortable —
That wrestler subdued,
And left me bruised and weak.
'S olc an ealaidh rainn is caithream, sole an el-ay' raynn is cay'-rem
'S amaideach an turn, a bhi samay-dech an turn a vi
Suidh' aig bord a glaodhaich ol, suy' ayg bord a glao'-aych oyl
'S mo phocannan ga'n tiondadh, smo foc-annan gan ti-onda'
A sgapadh storais le meadmhoir, a sgapa' stor-ays le me-ad-voyr
'Sa 'g iarraidh phog 's na cuiltean ; sa gi-arr-ay' fog sna cuyl-ten
'S f had sa mhaireadh mo chuid oir, sad sa vayre' mo chnyd oyr
Cha chuireadh osdair cul rium. cha chuyr-e' osd-ayr cul ri-nm
Bad trades are rhyming and blethering,
(idle talking) ; A foolish affair it is
To be sitting at a table calling for
drink, And turning pockets inside out,
Scattering money vain-gloriously,
And stealing kisses in sly neuks
(recesses ;) But while the money lasted,
No landlord turned his back on me.
'S coir dhomh nis a thoirt fos near, 's coyr yov nis a hoyrt fos ner
An t-aithreachas a dhubladh, an tayr'-c-chas a yub-la'
But time it is to reflect, And doubly to repent,
204 THE MUSIC
Mo bhoid gu gramail thoirt do'n eala,* And vow by the swan,* mo voyd gu gramayl hoyrt don ella
Dh-f heuch an lean mo chliu rium, So as my reputation may adhere to me,
yeych an len mo chli-u ri-um
Cha teid deur a stigh fo m' dheudaich. That not a drop shall pass my teeth, cha teyd deyr a sti' fom yeyd-aych
'S fheudar tighinn as iunais, Of necessity I must eschew drink,
'a ey-dar ti'-inn sa i-u-nays
Cha'n fhaigh fear falamh seol air aran For a moneyless man can only make chan ay' fer falav se-ol ayr aran hjg bread
Ach le fallas gnuise. By the sweat of his brow,
ach le fallas gnuyse
The following song was written by Captain Duncan Campbell, better known as " Fear Marg-na-ha," when from home doing duty with the Black- Watch or " Freiceadan-dubh" of which he was pay-master, before they enlisted into the army, when he retired, being a thorough Jacobin. It is beyond my space and object to notice all the writers of the poems quoted in this treatise ; but I make this an exception, Marg-na-ha being my father's father, and because Mr Mackenzie in his Beauties of Gaelic Poetry, has, with his usual carelessness, given the credit of the song to Aillean Macthearlaich. The song itself, fortunately contradicts this statement, for it says in the opening verse, " Na faighinn cead," (if I could get leave of absence ;) and in another verse, " Ge fad air chuairt mi," (though long on my rounds) — visiting and paying the companies at their different detached station : — words entirely military, and which could not be used by a country proprietor, who was his own master, like Aillean Macthearlaich. The disinherited Duncan, Lord Ormalie, was the great-great-grandfather of Margnaha, whose sloineadh or pedigree was Donnachadh Mac Phadruic, mhic Iain, mhic Iain oig, mhic Dhonnachaidh, mhic Iain ghlais, Bhraidhealaban. He and his son Iain Og were both at the battle of Sheriff-muir with the clan; in consequence of which they were disinherited by the Earl, who was at home, bed-ridden from age, and favourable to the Hanoverian succession. Although Lord Ormalie was above sixty years of age at the time of the battle, he so led his clan as to make them one of the most distinguished in the engagement. They are referred to in the following extract of one of the many merry little ditties called forth by a battle which was looked on as a burlesque by the Highland bards, although many brave men lost their lives there : —
* Never having before met with this expression in Gaelic Poetry, so far as I can recollect, I begged of my friend Mr Paterson, whose voluminous works show so much intimacy with the poetry, history, and antiquities of the Lowlands, to favour me with some explanation on the subject ; and I now submit his very interesting
" Note. — The vow was made over a roasted swan. Dunbar refers to it in his verses to the king called ' Johan Tamsou's man.' —
' I wad gif all that ever I have, That ye had vowit on the swan,
To that condition, so God me save, Ane year to be Johan Tamson's man.'
' Johan Tamson's man' seems to be a hen-pecked husband ; and Dunbar stood in such favour with the queen, that, if she had her way, he could be certain of his long promised benefice."
OF THE HIGHLAND CLANS. 205
Thogain form, thogain fonn, I will raise a tune,
hog-ayn fonn hog-ayn fonn
Thogain fonn gu foirmeil, I will raise a tune,
hog-ayn fonn gu foyr-meyl
Thogain fonn gu faramach, I will raise a tune merrily,
hog-ayn fonn gu faram-ach
Air lasgairean Bhraidealbain. I will raise a rattling tune to the fiery
ayr las-gayren vray-dela-ban warriors of Breadalbane.
Dh-inns' latha Sliabh-an-t-Shiorram, The day of Sheriff-muir told yinns la'-a sli-av-an-ti-orram
Nach robh sibh san iomairt cearbach — That you were not awkward in the nacli rov siv san i-om-ayrt cerabach conflict —
Gu'n do theich na bleiderean, The mannikins fled,
gun do heych na bleyd-eren
Ach sheas iad fir Bhraidealbain. But the men of Breadalbane stood,
ach bes i-ad fir vray-delaban
An officer was sent to arrest the Earl of Breadalbane after the battle, on the suspicion that he had been privy to, or abetted his son and grandson's rebellion. The Earl was in that kind of slumber common to persons dying merely of old age ; and the officer roused him by touching him on the shoulder, and exclaiming " You are my prisoner." The old man slowly raised himself to his elbow, and regarding the officer with a mingled look of pity and contempt, replied, " Your prisoner ! I am the prisoner of God Almighty, and eighty-eight years of age ! Duncan," (he said to an attendant) " take that poor man out of the country before the clan discover the insult he has offered to me : I have plenty of blood on my hands already." The fear of the forfeiture of the estate made the clan keep very silent on the presence of Lord Ormalie in the battle ; but his father, either in the belief that he and his son had irretrievably committed themselves with the government, or in real displeasure at their joining Mar's army without his knowledge, disinherited Lord Ormalie, in favour of his younger brother. Margnaha, though his ancestor Lord Ormalie had thus been disinherited, had great influence with the clan, and, the Earl of Breadalbane being abroad as ambassador, was drilling them for the purpose of joining Prince Charles. Being apprised of this fact at Perth, when on his way North in the pursuit of the Highlanders, the Duke of Cumberland sent Colonel Campbell of Mammor with a party of dragoons to prevent this junction ; and that able officer took Duncan by surprise, in his own house at night, and so well arranged his plans as to carry him away privately by the south side of Lochtay, without a man of the clan knowing anything about the matter. He was put in jail in Stirling, where he was kept secure until after the battle of Culloden, when he was mysteriously released without any question being asked. This and many other episodes of the so-called rebellion, which have not found their way into history, but are well-known to tradition, show that it was Colonel Campbell and President Forbes that put
206
THE MUSIC
down the rebellion, and not the "red coats," who were so wretchedly armed, comparatively, as to be quite unfit to stand before the clans in battle, excepting under the management illustrated in the retreat from England, the murderous march the night before the battle of Culloden, and the field chosen for that battle, &c. &c. The mysterious disappearance of Margnaha prevented the clan from joining the Prince, as they had no confidence in his brother " Iain Borb," or John the fierce ; but he joined, and was the warrior who fought and killed the dragoon at Inverness, in the manner told by Mr Chambers in his history of the rebellion.
MOCH SA MHADAINN
Moch sa mhadainn 's mi Ian airteal, moch sa va-dayn 's mi Ian ayrtel
Cian 'o chaidreamh m' ionndrainn, ci-an o chayd-rev mi-on-draynn
Gu'm bu bheg mo luaidh air leabaidh, gum bu veg mo lu-ay' ayr leb-ay
Carachadh sa tiondath. cara-cha' sa ti-on-da'
Na faighinn cead gu'n rachainn grad, na fay'-inn ced gun rach-ayn grad
Na m' still gun stad gun aon-tamh, nam still gun stad gun aon-tav
A dh-ios an ait sa bheil mo ghradh, a yi-os an ayt sa veyl mo yra'
Og mhaighdean ailidh Gheambail. og vay'-den ayli' yem-bayl
Ge fad air chuairt mi tamull bhuat, ge fad ayr chu-ayrt mi tamul vu-at
Si'n aisling uail a dhuisg mi si'n aysling u-ayl a yusg mi
Thu bhi agam ann am ghlacaibh, u vi agam ann am ylac-ayv
Lan do thlachd 's do shugradh. Ian do h-lac 's do hug-ra'
Dh-aindeon buinig'scianael m' f huireach yayn-en buynig 's ci-an-el rnuyrech
Ann an iomal duchaidh. — ann an i-omal du-cha'
Ochoin, a chiall gu'm be mo mhian, och-oyn a chi-all gum be mo vi-an
Bhi 'n diugh a triall a t-ionnsaidh. vi'n di-u' a tri-all a t-onn-say'
S MI LAN AIRTEAL.
Early in the morning, under much
depression, Far away from the companionship for
which I crave, Little was my desire to remain in the
bed, Tossing and turning.
Could I obtain leave, I would go
quickly, Like a spate (descending the hill,)
To the place where dwells my love,
The young beautiful maiden of Gem- bail.
Though long on my circuit, and away
from thee, The proud dream that awaked me
Was having thee in my arms, Full of delight and sportiveness.
Despite advantages, pensive is my
residence On the border of the country.
Oh, my love, it is my desire,
To travel quickly this day where thoti art.
At-ionnsaidh theid mi nuairadh-eireasmi, To thee will I go so soon as permitted, a ti-onn-say' heyd mi nu-ayr a yeyres mi Gu h-eatrom sunndach. Lightly and cheerfully.
gu he-troin sunndach
OF TIIE HIGHLAND CLANS.
207
Gach ceum do'n t-shlighe, dol ga d' At every step of the journey gach ceym don tli'-e dol gad
ruidhinn ruy'-inn
Bi'dh mo chridhe sugach. My heart will be leaping joyously,
bi' mo chri'-e sugach
Mo mhiarm 's mi'n cearter air bheg cadail, My desire this moment is not for sleep, mo vi-ann 's min certer ayr veg cadayl
A bhi na d' chaidridh ghreannair, But to be in thy charming company,
a vi na d' chayd-ri' yre-anayr
Mo dhuil gu'n chleith, le durachd mhath, In the unconcealed hope, with wishes mo yuyl gun chley' le dur-ac va' good
Gur h-e mo bheatha teann ort. That I am welcome near thee.
gur he mo ve'-a tenn ort
Oigh na maise is orbhuidh fait, oy' na mayse is orvuy' fait
'S do ghruaidh air dhreach an neoinein ; sdo yru-ay' ayr yrech an ne-oyn-eyn
T-uchd corrach min, do dhead-gheal tuc corrach min do yed-yel
ghrinn,
yrinn
'S do bheul o'm binn thig oran, 's do veyl om binn hig oran
Suil mheallach chaoin fo d' mhalaidh suyl vellach chaoyn fod val-ay'
chaoil, chaoyl
Boisg fhada mhaodh ga'n comhdach, roysg ada vao' gan cov-dach
An t-sheirc tha d'eadainn bheir do'n an teyrc ha de-dayn veyr don
eug mi, eyg mi
Mar faigh mi cheud-ghraidh coir ort. mar fay' mi cheyd-yray' coyr ort
Maiden young and beautiful of the golden hair,
Thy cheeks are of the complexion of
the daisy ; Thy bosom smooth and high, thy teeth
white and neat,
And thine eye large and mild, Covered with long soft eyelashes.
Sweet comes the song from thy lips,
And the charms of thy face will be my death,
Unless, my first love, I shall obtain a right to thee.
Gu'n choir air t-fheutainn oigh na feile, A right to thee, generous maiden,
gun choyr ayr teytaynn oy' na feyle"
Is uaisle beus is giulan, Of gentle manners and bearing,
is u-aysle beys is gi-u-lan
A fhuair os-iosal seivc bho Dhiarmad,* a hu-ayr os-i-osal sere vo yi-ar-mad
A chuir ciad an geall ort. a cknyr ci-ad an gell ort
Who has received, in secret, a charm
from Diarmid,* That has made hundreds thy captives.
* There is much in the Uregeuls about the Feinn, to lead to the conclusion that they were the inven- tion of the monks ; and that the object of them was so to seduce or bewilder the minds of the people as to make them believe any thing. By mixing the deeds and adventures of their traditional heroes with legends about saints, necromancers, dwarfs, and giants, they inspired and nourished a love of fiction.
208
THE MUSIC
Ciochan geala air uchd meallaidh, ci-och-an gela ayr uc mell-ay'
Lan de stuaim 's de choimhneas, Ian de stu-aym 's de choyv-nes
Bhi ga d' aireamh 's gu'n thu lathair, vi ga dayr-ev 's gun u la'-ayr
Thug bh-uam cail is oibhneas. hug vu-am cayl is oyv-nes
Beautiful are thy white breasts on a
captivating bosom, Full of modesty and kindness.
To be (thus) recounting thy charms,
and thou absent, Has deprived me of elasticity and
happiness.
Tha miann na fear fo d' ghun a falach, — ha mi-ann na fer fod yun a falach
Seang-chorp fallain sundach ; eeng-chorp fall-ayn sundach
Slios mar eala, cneas mar chana, sli-os mar ela cues mar chana
Eadainn banail muirneach. ed-ayn ban-ayl muyrnech
Noir theid coisir-chiuil an loinn, noyr heyd coysir-chi-uyl an loynn
'S tu snamh san danns' air urlar, stu snav san danns ayr urlar
Gu'rn bidh gach cridhe learn air aird', gum bi' gach cri'-e lem ayr ayrd
'S gach suil a dealradh an iongnadh. 's gach suyl a delra' an i-ona'
The delight of man is hid beneath thy
robes3 — A form slender, healthy, lively ;
Thy side is as the swan, thy throat
as the down of cana ; Thy face womanly, cheerful.
When the musical choir is in harmony,
And thou art swimming in the mazes
of the dance, Every heart beats high,
And every eye beams with admiration.
'S tearc ri aireamh trian de'n ailleachd, sterc ri ayrev tri-an den ayllec
Dha 'm bu dhan dhamh geilleadh, yam bu yan yav geyle'
Difficult it is to name a third of the
charms That, as fate, made me yield
and substituted for the oral lore, containing the history of past ages, a system of tuition as corrupting to good taste, and unnatural as the musical education of the present day. In the superstitions thus sub- stituted, they laid the foundation of the spiritual despotism that rode like a nightmare over the souls of men during the dark ages. The proneness to superstition resulting from these Ursgeuls continues to in- fluence and mentally enslave the more ignorant and unintelligent among the Irish and the Highlanders even till the present day.
The Ursgeuls also contain many charming little gossiping episodes, like the above about Diarmid, to extenuate or excuse the loving frailties of the fair sex. Diarmid was obliged to wear a mask, to hide the " ball-seirc" or beauty spot that was in his face from the eyes of the susceptible Fingalian ladies, as no woman could behold it without falling in love with him, and showing the frailty of her nature. Graine is not at all inexcusably dealt with by the monkish author of the Ursgeul about Diarmid for deserting her aged spouse, and running away with her youthful hero. How could she help it ? To see the " ball- seirc" was fate ! Nor is the hero himself less leniently treated. He is represented, throughout his many romantic wanderings with the enamoured frail one, to escape the pursuit of her husband, as maintaining immaculate chastity with a firmness worthy even of Joseph himself, until Graine's impulsive exclamation about " Spiorad an lobain," put him in such a position as would have made it a reproach to his manhood to hold out any longer. In short, the Ursgeuls furnish so many fascinating excuses for these amorous peccadilloes as to leave no doubt that they brought a good moulter to a very indulgent confessional. We need feel no wonder, therefore, that the test applied to the virtue of the Fingalian ladies, according to the Ursgeuls recently published in Edinburgh, proved that there was only one faithful wife among the married Fingalian ladies ! To be " a light o' love" was evidently no great reproach in the eyes of the monkish authors of the Ursgeuls.
OP THE HIGHLAND CLANS.
209
Do'n mhaighdean chiuin, is beusach, don vay'-den chi-uyn is be-sach.
muirneach, muyrnech
'S ceud fear ur an deigh oir. 's ceyd fer ur an dey' oyr
Bidh cridhe ciurt' aig pairt de'n chuntes, bi' cri'-e ci-urt ayg payrt den chuntes
Bhios air chul gu'n fhaighneachd ; vis ayr chul gun ay'-nec
Ach oibhneas thig mar cho-sheirm chiuil, ach oyv-nes big mar cho-heyrm chi-uyl
O'n f hear ga'n lub i an coimhneas. on er gan lub i an coy-nes
To the maiden mild, virtuous, in- teresting,
After whom a hundred youths are pining.
Some of them will he sorely distressed When left unasked in the background ;
And joy, like a burst of music from
the orchestra, Will break from his heart to whom
thou inclinest in kindness.
I have remarked elsewhere, that by comparing the Gaelic melodies to those of the Lowlands, we have some data on which to form a comparison between Highland and Lowland taste and refinement. Their songs, especially those Gaelic and Scottish songs written on similar subjects and occasions, afford a still better criterion for such a comparison. The following verses, for instance, were written by a Highland lady, under the impression that she was deserted by her lover from mercenary motives. By comparing her feelings and sentiments to those of a Lowland lady similarly situated, as described even by Burns, the difference for dignity, delicacy, and generosity, between the one and the other, will be duly illustrated to such as can appreciate the originals of both songs.
AIR FAILLERIN ILLERINN, ETC.
Three events come unsought,
Thig tri nithean gu'n iarraidh, hig tri ni'-en gun i-arr-ay'
An t-eagal, an t-iadach 's an gaol ; an tegal an ti-ad-ach san gaol
'S gur lugha chuis mhaslaidh, sgur lu'-a chuys vas-lay'
Ged' a ghlachadh leo mis' air a h-aon ; ged a ylac-a' le-o mis ayr a ha-on
'Sa liughad bean-uasail sa li-u'-ad ben-u-a-sal
A f huaradh sa'n laigse a bheil mi, a hu-ar-a' san laygse a veyl mi
A thug a gaol fuadainn, a hug a gaol fu-a-daynn
Air ro bheagan duaise ga chionn. ayr ro vegan du-ayse ga chi-onn
Fonn : —
Air faillerinn illerinn, ayr fayllerinu illerinn
Uillerinn o ho ro loi' ; nyllerinn o ho ro loy
Fear, jealousy, and love ;
The less reproachful is it
That they have caught me ;
For in many ladies
Has been found a weakness like mine,
Letting their love wander unrewarded.
Chorus : — Ayr fayllerinn illerinn,
Uyllerinn o ho ro loy ;
Dd
210
THE MUSIC
Cruaidh ortan gun f hios cruy' ortan gun is
A dh-fhag rnise fo chuing a ghaoil. a yag mise fo chuyng a yaoyl
A hard and stealthy chance Has made me the captive of love.
Fhir na'n gorm-shuillen meallach, ir nan gorm-huyllen mellach
O'n ghleannan am bi an smuid, on ylennan am bi an smuyd
Far an siubhlach ghraigh eugach, far an si-uvlach gray' eug-ach
Aig ionnaltradh shleibh fo dhriuchd, ayg i-onnaltradh h-leyv fo yru-ac
Noir theid u air t-uillinn, noyr heyd u ayr tuyllln
Bith full air mac luadh na fuar stuc ; bi' fuyl ayr mac lu-a' na fu-ar stuc
Na'm bi tu ghaoil mar rium, nam bi tu yaoyl mar ri-um
Cha b' an-air an ceile leom u. cha ban-ayr an ceyle le-om u
Youth of the full blue eyes, Of the glen of mist, Where airy are the herd nimble, Grazing on the dewy wolds, When thou leanest on thy elbow,
Blood will be on the swift son of the
cold cliffs ; Wert thou with me, my love,
An unmeet husband I would not deem thee.
Fhir a dhireas am bealach, ir a yires am belach
Sa thearnas an gleann ma thuadh, sa hernes an glen ma hu-a'
Thoir sorruidh gu'm leannan, hoyr sorruy' gum lennan
Is innis mar thachair 's an uair. is innis mar hach-ayr san u-ayr
Fear eile cha ghabh mi, fer eyld cha yav mi
'S cha'n fhuillig mi leom a luaidh. 's chan uyllig mi le-om a lu-ay'
Gus an dean e fein m' aicheadh, gus an den e feyn ma-che'
Cha chreid mi o chaeh gnr fuadh. cha chreyd mi o chach gur fu-a'
You, who ascendest the defile
And goest down the glen to the north,
Bear my salute to my love,
And tell him how it stands with me
at this hour. Another I will not have,
Nor suffer to be named to me. Until he himself denies me,
I will not believe from others that he hates.
Ach ma nith e orm tailceas, ach ma ni e orm taylc-es
Gur taitneach a tha mo chliu ; gur taytnech a ha mo chli-u
Cha d' roinn mi riut coinneamh, cha droinn mi ri-ut coynnev
But if he will slight me,
My reputation remains unstained ;
I never made an appointment with him,
Cha do thachair sinn riamh ann an cuil. We never met in a neuk (recess.)
cha do hach-ayr sinn ri-av ann an cuyl
OF THE HIGHLAND CLANS. 211
Cha ghabhain riamh masladh I would receive an indignity
cha yavayn ri-av masla'
0 fhear a chuir boinneid air crun ; From no man that ever covered his
o er a chuyr boynneyd ayr crun head with a bonnet ;
Bha m' inntinn cho beachdail, My mind was sufficiently self-sustained
va minntinn cho bec-ayl
'Sgu'n smachdaichin gaol nach b-f hiudh. To rebuke (subdue) an unworthy love, sgun smac-aychin gaol nach bi-u'
I have, I think, submitted historical reasons elsewhere for coming to the conclusion, that every difference in dialect, character, manners, and customs, between the Celtic and Gothic clans, (under which name I include Scots, Belgs, Firbolg, Saxons, &c.) can be accounted for by their institutions, education, and circumstances. The writers who make the Gothic a different and a superior race, ought to have shown that they were the subject of a different act of creative power, to justify their statements ; but, instead of that, those of them who were historians furnished no evidence of their assumptions, and their fol- lowers seem to think that reiteration is the only thing necessary to satisfy their readers as to the truth of any assertion, however unphilosophic or improbable in itself. At the same time, Caesar, Tacitus, Ptolemy, Orasius, &c. show that they formed separate families, and were known under separate names, in both of the British Isles, at a very early period of our history. The learned and talented Mr Skene,* who is not a beaten-track historian, but a man of deep research and discrimination, in his Introduction to the Dean of Lismore's book, satisfactorily proves that Ireland was occupied for ages subsequently to the days of Ptolemy and Orasius, by two distinct families, the Milesians, or Firbolg, or Scots, (for he also classes them as identical,) and the Cruithne ; the former occupying the south and west, and the latter the north and east of the island ; and I contend that, in personal appearance, dialect, poetry, and music, these two families may be distinguished from one another in Ireland until this day.
I have stated in my Lecture on the Caledonian and Scottish Clans, that the ancient boundary between the Scots and the Caledonians was Lochlinne
* In a note to his introduction to the Dean of Lismore's book, this learned and able writer nearly agrees with me as. to the boundary between the Caldonians and the Scots ; he making it by land, and to the north of Lochlinne, which is certainly less natural and satisfactory. His words are, " In the Island of Colonsay there is a cairn called Carn-cul-ri-Erin. In Blean's Atlas, the map of the Island of Mull marks, on the high mountain which separates the north from the south of the island, two cairns called Carn-cul- ri-Erin and Carn-cul-ri-Allabyn. These seem to mark some ancient boundary, but they are exactly on a line with lona, which seems to have lain so nearly on the boundary as to be claimed by both races, and also with the line which separates the ancient parishes of Killintach and Killchollumkill in Morvern ; and Killintach is said, in an old document, to be in Garromoveran, a district which extended as far north as Loch Hourn, while Killchollumkill is said to be in Kinelbadon, which belonged to the ancient kingdom of Lorn, — there seems much reason to conclude that this may have been the line of the boundary between the Dalriad Scots from Erin and the Cruithne of Alban." There is no doubt that cairns were ancient land- marks between different districts belonging to the same clans or people, but I think they could not have been at any time a boundary between two separate and distinct kingdoms, not always at peace witli one another. Indeed, it is extremely improbable that, with such a boundary as Loehlinne, the Scots could have even wished to divide their strength by occupying a narrow stripe of hill and shore at such a distance from the main body, at the opposite side of that loch.
212 THE MUSIC
and Lochetive, and that from Lochetive the boundary ran by a line, less dis- tinctly marked, between the sources of the waters that ran in different directions, (thus " sheering wind and water," as Dandie Dinmont would have described it,) to Penvahl ; from Penvahl to Galashiels ; from Galashiels, by the Catrail or war- path, to Berwick. This differs slightly from the boundary laid down by Mr Skene ; but I am convinced, even at this day, there is so clearly perceptible a difference in personal appearance, dialect, or pronunciation, (which in effect is much the same thing, a different pronunciation being the original cause of different dialects,) poetry, and music, between the people on either side of that line, as really to justify my adhering to my own opinion on this subject ; for although the people of the plains or lowlands of Caledonia had so much inter- course, by inter-marriages, &c. with the Gothic families both of England and Lochlin, they differ from them decidedly until this day, especially in their appearance. I mention elsewhere that the colony of Ulster Cruithne, who settled in Galloway, were also divided from their neighbours by a catrail or war-path, drawn from the head of Lochryan, by Kempshill, Sanquhar, and Carlisle ; and I have been assured, on good authority, that there was a marked difference in appearance, dialect, poetry, and music, between the people on either side of that March when the " Highland host" were quartered in Ayr- shire ; for, strange, as it may appear, I was intimately acquainted with a clergy- man, Mr Inglis of Kirkoswold, who when a boy was tutor to the family of Maclean of Drimmin, and knew a gentleman (the great-grandfather of that family,) who had been captain of a company in the Highland host. From this venerable old man, Mr Inglis received much information in reference to the conduct and character of the Loyalists and Covenanters of that day, which had the effect of giving him more modified views of both parties than was usually expressed by Presbyteriam clergymen of the old school. In short, all party- writers allow their feelings to point them, and therefore deal in exaggerations. This intelligent old gentlemen told Mr Inglis that in the small clachan in Galloway they spoke the same Gaelic at that time that was spoken in Ardnamurchan.
In personal appearance, dialect, poetry, and music, there is a striking affinity between the people of the north of Ireland and the Caledonians ; and I believe that a similar resemblance, especially in personal appearance, is perfectly visible between the Scottish Lowlanders and the people of the south and west of Ireland. There is in topographical names and ancient poetry sufficient evidence that the ancient Caledonians and Britons spoke the same dialect; and as William M. Moxon, Esq., chief Accountant of Inland Revenue, has kindly sent me some Welsh poetry and melodies, with phonetic spelling, I will now submit these to the reader, and which, on a careful comparison, prove without doubt that the poetry and music of Caledonia and Wales have at this day a clear affinity the one to the other.
OF THE HIGHLAND CLANS.
213
CODIAD YR HEDYDD. — THE SONG OF THE LARK.
Cwyd, cwyd, ehedydd lion, cooid cooid ayhedith thlon
O'th ddedwydd nyth ar ael y fron, oth thedwith neeth ar ael u vron
I ganu yn y nen :
e gany un u nen
Mwyn, mwyn, y tonau mel, mooin mooin u tonay mel
O'th beraidd big a'th galon ddel, o'th beraith beeg ath galon thel
I synu'r byd uwch ben : e sunnir beed yuch ben
Pawb a hofiant swyn dy gan, pawb a hofant sooin du gan
Sy'n llifo'n ffrwd o fiwsig ffri : seyn thlivon frood a vewsig free
Nwyfus fawl dy galon Ian, nooivis vawl du galon laan
Enyna dan fy awen i : enuna daan va awen e
An wylaf wyt o'r adar man, an wilav ooit or adar maan
Boed bendith Dduw i ti ! boed bendith Thew e te
Lion, lion, yw'r ddaear lawr, thlon thlon uer thayar laoor
Mae'r haul yn gwenu ar y wawr mier hayl un gwene ar u waoor
Yn ngwrid y dwyrain der ; un ngwreed u dooyrine dair
Dring, dring, ehedydd mwyn, dring dring ayhedith mooin
Dyhidla odlau llawn o swyn duhidla odlai thlaoon o sooin
0 groesaw i dy Ner : o groisaoo e du nair
Can yn Eden yn dy gryd caan un Eden un du greed
A roist i'r greadigaeth hardd ; a roist ir greadigaith harth
Iddi'n awr, o bryd i bryd, ithin uoor o breed e breed.
Alawaidd don o'th big a dardd ; alawith doan oth beeg a darth
Rise, rise, merry lark,
From thy happy nest on the brow of
the slope of a hill, To sing in the heavens :
Gentle, gentle, the honied notes,
From thy sweet beak and heart will
come, To surprise the world above :
All will delight in the charm of thy
song, That flows like a stream of free music:
The lively praise of thy heart clean Shall kindle the fire of my muse : Dearest art thou of the small birds, Be the blessing of God to thee !
Pleasant, pleasant, is the earth below, The sun smiles on the dawn (of day) In the blush of the transparent east ; Mount, mount, gentle lark, Distil thy charming song Of welcome to thy Maker : A song in Eden in thy nest (cradle) Thou gavest to the beautiful creation ; To it now from time to time,
Harmonious tones proceed from thy beak ;
214
A chanu wnei o hyd o hyd a chan-e oonei o heed o heed
Tra haul a byd a bardd. tra hayl a beed a barth
THE MUSIC
And sing thou wilt through all time,
While sun, and world, and bard (ex- ist.)
BUGEILIO'R GWENITH GWYN. — SHEPHEBDING (OB WATCHING) THE WHEAT.
Mi sydd fachgen ieuangc ffol, me sith vachgen yeyanc fall
Yn caru'n ol fy ffansi ; un cari'n ole vu fancy
Mi yn bugeilio'r gwenith gwyn, me un begylior gwenith gwyn
Ac eraill ynei fedi : ac erailth unei vedee
Pam na ddeui ar fy ol pam na thy-e ar vu ole
Kyw ddydd ar ol ei gilydd ? reew theeth ar ol ei gilith
Gwaith r'wy'n dy wel'd y feinir fach, gwaith r'ooi'n du wel'd u vynir vach
0 ! glanach, lanach beunydd ! o ! glanach lanach bynith
Tra fo dwr yn y mor hallt, tra vo dwr un u more haltht
A thra fo ngwallt yn tyfu, a thra vo ngooaltht un tuvy
A thra fo calon yn fy mron, a thra vo calon un vu mron
Mi fj^dda'n ifyddlon itti : me vutha'n futhlon itte
Dywed imi'r gwir dan gel, duwed imme'r gweer dan gale
A rho dan sel attebion ; a rho dan sale attebyon
P'un ai myfi neu arall, Gwen, - p'un ay muvee ny aralth gwen
Sydd orau gandy galon ! seeth orai gandu galon
I am a young foolish boy,
Making love according to my fancy ;
I watching the white wheat,
And others reaping it :
Why do you not come after me
Some day or another ?
Because I see thee, beautiful darling,
Oh ! lovelier and lovelier daily !
While there is water in the briny sea, And while my hair does grow, And while there is a heart in my breast, I will be faithful to thee : Tell me the truth in secret,
And give under seal (in confidence)
answers ; Whether myself or another, Gwen,
Is best within thine heart !
NOS GALAN. — NEW YEAB S EVE.
Goreu pleser ar nos galan,— Fa, la, &c. The best pleasure on new year's eve,
gorei plesser ar nos galan — Fa, la, &C.
Ty a than a theulu diddan,— Fa, &c. Is house and fire and a pleasant family, tu a thaan a thiley dithan — Fa, la, &C.
OF THE HIGHLAND CLANS.
215
Calon Ian a chwrw melyn, — Fa, &c. A pure heart and brown* ale, — Fa, la, colon laan a chooroo melin &C.
Pennill mwyn a llais y delyn, — Fa, &c. A gentle song and the voice of the penilth mooin a thlais u delin harp. — Fa, la, &C.
Hyfryd gweled ar yr aelwyd, — Fa, &c. It is pleasant to see round the hearth, huvrid gweled ar ur aylooid — Fa, la, &C.
Hen ac ieuangc mewn dedwyddyd, — Old and young in happiness ; — Fa, la, hain ac yeyangc meoon dedwithid &C.
Fa, &c.
Pawb ddymunant o lawenydd, — Fa, &c. All wish from joy, — Fa, la, &c. pawb thuminant o la-wenith
Groesaw llawn i'r flwyddyn newydd. — A full welcome to the new year. — Fa, groisaoo thlaoon 5r vlooithia newith la, &c.
Fa, &c.
MERCH MEGAN. — MEGAN S DAUGHTER.
Ysblenydd yw'r haul wrth euro y
usblenith ioor hayl oorth eiro u
wawrddydd,
waoorthith
A glandeg yw gwlith ar feillion a rhos ; a glaandeg ioo gooleeth ar veilthion a rhose
Tryloew yw rhith y lloer mewn afonydd, treeloioo ioo rheeth u Ithoer mewn avonyth
A disglaer yw'r ser yn nyfnder y nos. a disglair ioor sair un nuvnder u nos
Disgleirfwyn yw'r hafddydd ei geinion disglairvooin ioor havethith i geinion
yn burlan, un birlan
A disglaer yw llewyrch yr awyr a'r Hi ; a disglair ioo Itheoourch ur awir a'r Ithe
Disgleiriach i'm serch yw Morvydd disglairiach i'm serch ioo morvith
merch Megan, merch megan
Anwylach ei phryd na mywyd i mi. anwilach i freed na mowid e me
Beautiful is the sun in gilding the day dawn,
And comely fair the dew on clover
and rose ; Transparent is the shadow of the
moon in rivers, And bright are the stars in the depth
of the night. Clear and mild is the summer day
its rays pure and clean,
And bright is the light of the air and
the flood ; Brighter to my affection is Morvydd,
Megan's daughter,
Dearer is her countenance than life unto me.
Mae Morvydd yn Ian a'i gwen fel yr Morvydd is handsome, and her nmile mai morvith un laan a'i gooen vel ur like the sunshine,
heulwen, heylwen
Ei chalon yn bur, a dedwydd ei bron ; Her heart is pure and happy in her i chalou un buir a dedwith i bron breast ;
* Literally, " yellow ale," but the idea is as above.
216
THE MUSIC
Mae miwsig ei llais yn fywyd i f'awen,
mae musig i Ithais un vowid e v'awen
Mae cariad yn by w'n ei llygaid gwiw lion ; mae cariad un bioon i Hhugaid gweew Ithon
Mae mwynder a rhinwedd yn puro ei mae mooinder a rhinwath un peero i
dwyfron, dooivron
A glendid a gwylder yn gloy wi ei phryd ; a glendeed a gwilder un gloiwee i freed
Mi garaf ei llun tra cura fy nghalon, me garav i Ithin tra cheeraveh ngalon
Mi garaf fy mun tra bwyf yn y byd. me garav veh mun tra booiv un u beed
The music of her voice is life .to my muse,
Love lives in her worthy merry eye ;
Meekness and virtue purify her breasts,
And purity and modesty brighten her
countenance ; I'll love her image while my heart
shall beat, I'll love my hands full while I remain
in the world.
RHYFELGYRCH GWYR HARLECH. —
Harlech, cyfod dy faneri ; harlech cuvod du vaneri
Gwel y gelyn. Ennyn ynni gwail u gelin ennun unni
Y Meirionwys oil i waeddi, u myrionwis olth e waethe
Cymru fo am byth ! cumri vo am byth
Aed y waedd, ac aed y weddi, ayd u waith ac ayd u wethe
I bob cwrr o'n gwlad uchelfri, e bob coor on goolaad echelvre
Nes ad seinia yr Eryri, nes ad sinea ur erure
Cymru fo am byth ! cumri vo am byth
Arwyr, sawdwyr, sydyn anryr saoodwyr sudien
Rhuthrwn ar y gelyn ; rhythroon ar u gelin
Gyrrwn ef i ffoi o nant gurroon ev e foi o nant
A bryn, a phant, a dyffryn. a bryn a fant a dufreen
Chwyfiwn faner goruchafjaeth ; chwyvioon vaner gorachaviaeth
Gorfoleddwn yn ei alaeth ; gorvolethoon uii i alayth
Clywir lief ein buddugoliaeth, cluwir Hhev ine bithigoliaeth
Cymru fo am byth ! cumri vo am byth
THE WAR-SONG OF THE MEN OF HARLECH.
Harlech, raise thy banners ;
See the enemy. Kindle the vigour
Of the Merioneth men, all to cry,
Wales be for ever ! Go the cry, and go the prayer,
To each corner of our highly honoured
land, 'Till Snowden re-echoes,
Wales be for ever !
Peasants, soldiers, suddenly Let us rush on the enemy ; Let us drive him, flying from brook, And hill, and glen, and vale. Let us wave the banner of victory ; Let us rejoice in his wailing ; The cry of our victory shall be heard, Wales be for ever !
OF THE HIGHLAND CLANS.
217
Gwaed sy'ii gwrido y cleddyfau ; gwayd su'n goorido u clethuvai
Twrw mawr a thingcian arfau ; tooroo maoor a thinkian arvai
Uwch na'r twrw ceir bonllefau, eooch naa'r tooroo kier bonlthevai
Cymru fo am byth ! cumri vo am byth
Saethau a phicellau wibiant, eaythai a phekeltliai wibeant
Cyrn udganant, meirch weryrarit, kiern idganant myerch werurant
Milwyr ruthrant, rhengau floeddiant, milwyr ruthrant rhengai vloythyant
Cymru fo am byth ! cumri vo am byth
Blood reddens (causes to blush) tho
swords ; Great tumult and clashing of arms ;
But higher than the tumult is the shout,
Wales be for ever ! Arrows and darts fly, Horns sound loudly, horses neigh, Soldiers rush, ranks shout,
Wales be for ever !
Tanbaid yw calonnau, tanbayd yu calonai
Grymus ydyw breichiau grumis udiw breichiai
Gwyr yn ymladd dros eu gwlad, — gweer un umlath dros ei goolad
Orenwog wlad eu tadau. orenwog oolad i tadai
Gwyllt a nyrnig yw'r ymladdfa, gwiltht a firnig eoor umlathva
Gwangcus yw y cleddwrth wledda ; gwangcus yu u clethoorth wlctha
Duwies buddugoliaeth floeddia, deuyes bithigoliaith vloithea
Cymru fo am byth ! cumri vo am byth
Fervent are the hearts, Strong are the arms Of men fighting for their laud, — The renowned land of their fathers. Savage and fierce is the fight, Ravenous is the sword in feasting ; The goddess of victory shouts, Wales be for ever !
MORVA KHUDDLAN. — THE MARSH (OR PLAIN) OF RHDDDLAN.
Cwmypodd Caradog, dyryswydeifyddin, Fallen is Caradog, his army is con- cooimpoth caradog durusooid ei vuthin founded
Cwympodd blaenoriaid a dewrion y gad ; Fallen are the leaders and heroes of cooimpoth blaynoryayd a dewryon u gaad the battle ;
Gwynedd lesmeiriodd pan gollodd ei North Wales fainted when it lost its gwyneth lesmyrioth pan gothloth ei king,
Brenin, brennin
Cwmol o dristwch a huliodd y wlad : A cloud of sorrow has covered the coomool o dristooch a hilioth u oolaad country :
E e
218
THE MUSIC
Ehelyw anffodus y rhengau wrth gilio
rhelu anfodua u rhengan oorth gilyo
'Sgubwyd gan angau i grombil y don ; sgibuid gan anghi e grombil u don
Duodd y cwmwl a thorodd i wylo, deoth u coomool a thoroth e weelo
Congcwest y gelyn a ysodd pob bron. conquest u gelin a ussoth pobe bron
The remnant unfortunate of the ranks •while retreating
Were swept by death to the midst of the wave ;
Darkened the cloud and broke into tears,
The victory of the enemy consumed every breast.
Gwae i mi weled y gelyn buddugol, gway e me weled u gelin vithigol
Ehwysg a gorfoledd yn lloni ei bryd ; rhooisg a gorvoleth un Ithone i breed
Llethir fy monwes gan loesau angeuol, Ithetheer vy monooes gan loisai angeyol
Gwell i mi farw na byw yn y byd : gwelth e me varoo na beoo un u beed
Eilia fy nhelyn leddf don i'r gyflafan, ile-ya vu nhelia lethv doan ei'r guvlavan
Collwyd ein breintiau, ein rhyddid, a'n
coltbooid inc brineliai ins rhutbid a'n
hedd; heth
Todded fy nghalon i gwyn " Morva tothed vu ngalon e gooin morva
Rhuddlan," rhuthlan
Cuddier fy ngofid yn nyfnder y bedd. cuthyer vu ngovid un nuvnder u beth
Woe me! to see the victorious enemy,
Pomp and joy cheering his counten- ance; My breast is crushed by deathly pangs,
Better I should die than live in the
world : My harp is in unison with the wail of
the massacre, Lost are our rights, our liberty, our
peace ;
Let my heart melt to the wail of " Morva Rhuddlan,"
Let my grief be hidden in the depths of the grave.
GLAN MEDDWDOD MWYN. — PUBE, KIND DRUNKENNESS.
Ein gwydrau gorlenwn mwyn yfwn Our glasses let us overfill, drink ine gooidrai gorlenoon mooin uvoon kindly in peace,
mewn hedd, mewn heath
0 gwrw a gwirod, gwin, neithdar, a Of ale and liquor, wine, nectar, and o gooroo a gweerod gween nythdar a mead,
medd, meath
Nes bo ein calonau dan effaith y Until our hearts, under the effect of nes bo ine calonai dan efaith u the charm,
swyn, sooin
Yn wresog gan gariad a " glan Are fervent with love and pure kind un ooresog gan gariad a glan drunkenness.
medd'dod mwyn." meath'dod mooin
OF THE HIGHLAND CLANS.
219
Chorus : —
Anwylaf hen Walia, mwyn noddfa anooilave hane walia mooin nothva
i ni,
e nee
Yw ceinwlad y dewrion henFrython ioo kine-oolad u dewrioa hane vrithon
o fri, o vree
Byth bythoedd yn bith buthoeth un
hylwydd bo hi. hulooith bo he
ddedwydd a thedwith a
Chorus : —
Dearest old Wales, kind refuge to us,
Is the fair country of the valiant old Britons of fame,
For ever and ever happy and prosperous may she be.
Ceir iechyd i'r galon a cheinion a chan, kyre yechid eir galon a chainion a chaan
Wrth rodio'i dyffrynoedd a'i glynoedd oorth rodio'-i dufrinoeth a'-i glinoeth
mwyn glan, mooin glan
Cain flodau awenydd ar gynydd a gawn, kain vlodai awenith ar gunith a gaoon
A diliau y delyn yn dilyn ei dawn, a diliai u delin un dilin i daoon
Anwylaf hen Walia, &c.
Health to the heart is to be heard the best of cheer and song
Is got by walking her dales and val- leys, mild, fair ;
Beautiful flowers, poetic genius, in- creasingly we shall have,
And the honied notes of the harp to follow its gift.
Dearest old Wales, &c. &c.
220
THE MUSIC
The two following specimens of the poetry and music of Erin are taken from a little gem of a book, with which I have been favoured by Mr Moxon. It was published by Mr O'Daly of Dublin, and contains literally a treasure of the genuine Celtic strains of Erin, with English imitations by James Clarence Magan. I have not selected these specimens for the superior character of the music or the poetry, but on account of the subject, for the victims of loyal faith must ever be objects of sympathy to the generous and the brave. When will kings and statesmen look on political offences, especially those which spring from intensely loyal and patriotic feelings, as the offences of the noble and high minded, and deal with them in an accordant spirit ?
A MAIQHDEON, A BHEAN, 's A BHANTRAECH. — THE VIRGIN, WIFE, AND WIDOW.
AIR. — " The Humours of Glyn."
As a maighdion as baintreabhach rin A virgin — a widow — I mourn lone
Dia go h-ogdhiom, and lowly.
Ni binn liom an chreidhill-si gabhail This morn saw me wedded in God's
tiomchioll mo nuancham ; temple holy ;
Ba bhean-phosda as maidean me, o'n And noontide beholds me a lone wi-
eaglais chomhachtach, dow weeping,
'S as bain-treabhach niainim ar theachd For my spouse in the dark tomb for
de'm trath-nona, ever lies sleeping.
Ta smuaintean mo chridhe-si na sgaoil-
feadh go h-eagde, Feadh bheidheadh druchd or na gleann-
tadh na ceo ar na sleibhte ; La coimhnadh da sniomh dhuit go caoin
deas de'n chaoldain, Is e la broin an chruidhill-si* da innsint
gun egair
Is deas do thiocfadh cloidheam dhuit an
maneaigheacht an choil-each, No ag reide na h-adhine 's do ghadhain-
binne air raothan, Thogfadh an ceo dhe m' intinn 's tu ar
bheinn-mhaoil an t-steibhe, Agus aireochamoid uainn tu la buailte
High Seumas.
On my heart lies a cloud, and will lie
there for ever. Hark, hark to the death-knell that
dooms us to sever ! Oh, well may my eyes pour forth
tears as a fountain, While dew gems the valley, and mist
dims the mountain.
King James mourns a hero, as brave
as e'er breathed. 0 ! to see him when mounted, with
bright blade unsheathed, Or high on the hill-side with bugle
and beagles, Where his foot was the deer's, and
his eye was the eagle's.
Is mor mor e m' eagladh go bh-fuil do I shrieked and I cried when his blood mhuinntir a bh-fuarain liom, gush'd like water ;
Mar nan lighas 's nar sgreadas nuair But treach'ry and baseness had chonarc an fhuil uasal, doom'd him to slaughter ;
* Creidhill,— death-bell, knell.
OF THE HIGHLAND CLANS.
221
D' fheach tu tar ais orm a dhian-sradh He glanced at me fondly, to comfort le truagh dham, and cheer me,
Achd d' smrigheag an feall an mo ann- But his friends love me not, and they rachd an uaim ud. never come near me.
Mo mhallachd bhearfainn d'aoin-bhean na m-bidheach burt f hear da h-ionnadh ;
Accursed be the maid who can smile on two lovers ;
Na dian fach a dithchiol gan aon aca Around me the shade of my last
riaradh, Mar is aillean fir cailec chaill me mo
chial leis, 'S fear briaga-deas na grana ni ghaidh-
fead ad dhiaig-si !
husband hovers, And, oh, never more can I think of
another, Or feel for a lover, save as for a
brother !
The following song from the same work is called
EAMONN A CHNOIC. — EDMUND OF THE HILL.
" Cia h-e sin a rnuith, 'Na bh-fuil faobhair ar guith, Ag raobadh mo dhoruis duntadh ?"
" 'S mise Eamonn an chnoic,
Ta baidhte, fuar, fliuch, 0 fhior-shiubhal sleibhite 's ghleann- tadh !"
" A laoigh ghil 's a chuid ?
Cread a dhianfainn dhuit ? Mur cuirfinn ort beinn da'm ghunadh.
'S go bh-fuil pughdar go tuigh ;
Da shior-feide riot, 'S go m-beadhmaois a raon muchda!"
" You with the voice shrill and sharp, Like the high tones of a harp, Why knock you at my door like a warning ?"
" I am Ned of the hill,
I am wet, cold, and chill, Toiling o'er hill and vale since morning ?"
" Ah, my love, is it you?
What on earth can I do ? My gown cannot yield you a corner.
Ah, they'll soon find you out ;
They'll shoot you, never doubt, And it's I that will then be a mourner !"
<{ 'S fada mise a muich,
Faoi shneachda gus faoi shioc, '"S gan danacht agam ar aon neach ;
Mo sheisreach gan sgur,
Mo bhranar gan cur, A's gan iad agam ar aon chor.
Nil caraid agam,
Is danaid Horn san, Do ghlacfach me moch na deanach ;
'S go g-caith feadh me dul,
Tan fainge soin, — Os ann nach bh-fuil mo ghaothaltadh !"
" Long I'm wandering in woe,
In frost and in snow, No house can I enter boldly ;
My ploughs lie unyoked,
My fields weeds have choked, And my friends they look on me coldly.
Forsaken of all,
My heart is in thrall, All withered lies my life's garland ;
I must look afar
For a brighter star, — Must seek my home in a far-land !"
222
" A chuisl aluinn deas,
Na bh-faingidh cas, Is breagha 'gus as glas do fuile,
Go bh-fuil chreidhe da shlad,
Man do shniomthaoi gad, Le bliaghin mor fhada ag tnuth leat.
Da bh-faghainn-si le ceart, —
Cead sine sios leat, Is eadtrom 's as dear do shiubhal fainn,
Go bh-fuil mo smoainte a bhean,
Air ealoghadh leat, Faoi choilltibh ag spealadh an druchtadh !"
" 0 thou of neck fair,
And curling hair, With blue eyes flashing and sparkling,
For a year and more
Has my heart been sore, And my soul for thee been darkling.
0 could we but both, —
You nothing loth, Escape to the wood and forest,
What light and calm,
What healing balm, Should I have for my sorrow's sorest !"
" A chumainn 's a shearc, Kachamaoid-ne seal, Foi choilltibh ag spealadh and druch- tadh ;
Mar bh-faghanaoid an breac, 'S an Ion air a nead, An siad 'gus am poc a buistre ; Na h-eiginidhe seinneadh,
'S an chuaichin ar bhann an un-ghlais ;
Go brath brath ni thiocfad
An bas air an n-goineadh, A lann na coille cubhantha !"
" My fond one and dear,
The greenwood is near, And the lake where the trout is springing ;
You will see the doe,
The deer and the roe, And will hear the sweet birds singing ;
The blackbird and thrush
In the hawthorn bush, And the lone cuckoo from her high nest ;
And you never need fear
That death would be near, In this bright scenery, dearest !"
The following song from Mr O'Daly's book, with the phonetic spelling and translation by Mr John Murdoch, tha patriotic and spirited writer on the Highland and other Clearances, untfer the name of " Finlagan," sufficiently exemplifies the relationship between the northern Irish and the Highlanders.
AN CHUIL-FHIONN. — THE COOLEEN.
A bh-facadh tii an chuil-fhionn 's i ag a vaca' too an chooleen see a
siubhal ar na boithre, shoo-ull ayr nu boh -re
Maidion gheal druchta 's gan smut ar a
inaijin gall clroochta s gan smooit ayr a
broga ? broga
Is iomdha oganach sul-ghlas ag tnuth is imo oganach sooil-ghlas ag tnooch
le i phosadh, lay ee foaa
Saw you the fair-bair'd a-travelling the wolds
A bright dewy morning, without dust on her shoes ?
Many a blue-eyed youth desires ber in marriage,
OF THE HIGHLAND CLANS.
223
Achd ni bh-faghadh siad mo run-sa ar But they sha'n't have my own love on ach nee voy sheead mo roonse ayr their calculation,
an g-cuntas is doith leo. an goontas is do lo
A bh-facadh tu mo bhaban la breagh u vaca to mo vawbawn law bryaw
's i na h-aonar, see na h-aynur
A cul dualach, dris-leanach, go slinnean u cooll dooallach dreesh-laynach gu shleenawn
sios leithe ? shoes le-ha
Mil ar an oig-bhean, 's ros breagh na meel ayr un og-vaa 's ros brya na
h-eadan, baydin
'S as doith le gach spriosan gur leanan sas do lay gach spreesawn gur lyannawn
leas fein i ! laysh fayn ee
Saw you my darling, a fine day by herself,
Her twining hair shimmering down to her shoulders ?
Sweet is the maiden, a fine eye in her face,
And every brat fancies that she is his own love !
A bh-facadh tu mo speirbhean 's i taobh u vaca too mo epayrvan see tayv
leis an toinn, '
lays an tuyu
Fainnidhe oir ar a mearaibh'si reidhtiach faeenye oir ayr u mayriv see raytyach
a cinn ? u keen
Is e dubhairt an Paorach bhidh 'na is e doort an pu-racb vee vna
mhaor ar an loing, \
vu-r ayr an luyng
Go m' f hearr leis aige fein i na Eire gan gu m'ar laysh ayge fayn ee na ayre gun
roinu !
ryn
Saw you my splendid woman, by the side of the waves,
Gold rings on her fingers, and she smoothing her hair ?
Said Power, who was captain of the ship,
He would rather possess her than undivided Erin !
The dance as well as words to the ancient tune of " Gillidh Callum" are assumed by a witty bard to have been danced and sung by Father Noah, when first hilarious under the inspiring effects of his successful distillation from the fruits of his newly planted vineyard. Gillidh Callum was the name of Noah's piper, and the tune has, with great propriety, continued to be called after him. The dance seems originally to have been over two crossed vine plants ; but, swords being of old more abundant plants in Scotland than vines, the Highlanders considered the former good substitutes for the latter; and, indeed, the object of the dance being, as the verses imply, to furnish a method whereby
224
THE MUSIC
a gentleman in his cups may be distinguished from a boor dead drunk, the swords seem to be, if not the more appropriate, at least the sharpest test of the two.
GILLIDH
Einn mi fion a brigh ghallain, rinn mi fi-on a bri' ghallain
Dh-fhas an lios nan dossain fhallain. jas an lis nan doss-ayn all-ayn
C'aite a bheil u Ghillidh Challura ?
cayte a bheyl u illi challum
Nuas da chlaidheamh 's seid a phiob ! nu-as da chlay-ev' 's seyd a fi-ob
Ged a mhoidheadh Dile eile, ged a voy-e' dil eyle
Co ach leabadan a theireadh, co ach lebadan a heyre'
Nach dian fion is ceol gach eagal nach den fi-on is ce-ol gac eg-al
Bron, is teagabh, chuir do'n chill ! bron is teg-av chuyr don chill
Fha.d sa mhaireas dossain mhearradh, ad sa vayres doss-ayn verra'
Oladh mid deoch-slaint air leannain ; ola' mid de-och-slaynt ayr lenn-ayn
CALLUM.
I have made wine from the juice of plants
That grew in the orchard of wholesome clusters.
Where art thou, Gillie Callum ?
Down with two swords, and blow up the pipe !
Though another Deluge should threat- en,
Who but a poltroon would assert That wine and music cannot send Sorrow, fear, and doubt to the cell.
While the mirth-making clusters last,
Let us drink healths to our sweet- hearts.
Nuas da chlaidheamh cruaidhledeannaibh, Down quickly with two sharp swords, nu-as da chlay'-ev cru-ay' le den-ayv
Is seid gu smiorail-suas i phiob. is seyd gu emir-ayl-sus i fi-ob
And, with spirit, blow up the pipe !
Gleus an fhidhle, sliob am boghadh, gleys an i'-'el sleeb am bo' -a'
Bron is tuireadh cuirem fodhadh ; bron is tuyre' cuyr-em fo'-a'
0 na rinn mi fion a bhleadhan, o na rinn mi fi-on a vie- o' -an
Tune the fiddle, rosin the bow, We'll put down grief and wailing ; Since I have distilled wine,
Damhsa is meadhail 's iad mo mhiann ! Dancing and stirring joys are my de-
davsa
me-ayl 's iad mo vi-ann
Bhuain an diblidh, spideil, aineamh, vu-ayn an dib-li' spid-eyl ayn-ev
Bhitheas air sloic measg oil is aighear ; vi'-s ayr sloyc mesg oyl is ay'-er
Am fear a dhamhsas Gillidh Callam, am fer a yav-sas gillie callum
Se mhain is airidh air an fhion. se vayn is ayri' ayr an i-on
light!
Hence thou helpless and contemptible lump,
That sprawlest 'mid drink and mer- riment ;
He who (when in his cups) can dance Gillie Callum,
Is alone worthy of the wine.
OF THE HIGHLAND CLANS. 225
AchlannnanGaidheal,fior-shliochdNoah, Clans of the Gael, true descendants
a chlann nan ga-el fior lie no-ah 0f Noah
Bithibh dileas, cairdeil, comh'rail, Be faithful, friendly, social, bi-ev diles cayrd-eyl cov-rayl
Coimhneil, cridheil, dligheach, ceolar, — Kind, hearty, natural, musical, — coy'-neyl cri'-eyl dli'-ech ce-o-lar
Seinnibh orain 's olaibh fion. Singing songs and drinking wine. seynniv or-ayn a ol-ayv fi-on
THE MARCH OF THE "DIE-HARDS.
This Caledonian March, believed to be of great antiquity, was a great favourite with Duncan Macdonald of Dalnes, Colonel of the 57th Kegiment, or " Die- hards." He made it so much the march of that regiment as to be the sure sign of its presence or signal of its approach, wherever it was heard in the Peninsula or the South of France. A more spirited or a braver officer than Colonel Duncan Macdonald never drew his sword in the service of his country ; yet his end was very melancholy. He was severely wounded in the battle of the Nivelle, but having, like his intimate friends, Sir Thomas Picton and the Honourable Sir William Stewart, a passion for battles, he could not be prevailed on to remain in the rear. He followed the regiment in its daily march, keeping sufficiently close to make sure of seeing or of joining it in every battle; but, from his state of health, he never found himself in a condition to resume the command. One of the companies of the 57th and its captain, who temporarily commanded the regiment, being quartered in a deserted chateau at Ayres, on the night after the brilliant affair of the second division at that place, some of the men dis- covered the plate-room, and carried away the more portable parts of it in their knapsacks on the following day. An old and faithful servant, who had been left to watch over the chateau, wisely kept sight of these men until they fell into the ranks, when she reported the circumstance to the general. The captain of the company was called before the Duke of Wellington, and, finding himself in a serious scrape, threw the whole blame on the colonel ; stating that, by keeping continually in the vicinity of the regiment, and lodging always in the same place with them at night, without either taking the command himself, or leaving it effectually to him, the discipline had become relaxed, and the regiment demoralized. Unfortunately for himself, Colonel Macdonald was a high-minded, warm-hearted, generous Highlander, who considered the military as the most illustrious of all professions, and regarded flogging as not only barbarous and inhuman, but as destructive of the pride and dignity that ought to be inculcated in the soldier. As rewards for good conduct had not then been introduced into the service, he did everything in his power by kindness, encouragement, and praise, and (in extreme cases) severe rebukes and fatigue duties, to maintain discipline without the lash. This made him obnoxious to all the scourge-advocates ; and they took care that a mere delinquency by a private of the 57th was made more of than a crime in regiments trained by the martinet and the lash. The colonel's abhorrence of the lash being known to the great,
Ff
226 THE MUSIC
but, in questions of discipline, too inflexible Duke, he the more readily believed in the demoralized condition of the regiment, — for the cunning captain studiously concealed from him the fact, that the whole regiment, excepting a few men of his own company, were innocent. Macdonald was dismissed the service, without having been allowed the benefit of a court of inquiry or a court-martial ! His friends the Hon. General Sir William Stewart, General Byng, (afterwards Lord Strafford) and others, prevailed on Colonel Macdonald to return to England, to re- cover his health, before he knew that he was regarded by the Duke otherwise than as one of his most distinguished officers ; but, on his return home, seeing his name in the Gazette, along with that of another officer of the same rank dis- missed for cowardice, his reason was upset : he flung himself out of the window, and was killed on the spot ! The Duke discovered that the report on which he unfortunately proceeded in this case was substantially false ; and the Colonel's surviving brother was conciliated and compensated by the price of Colonel Macdonald's commission ; but such was the sad fate of one of the most humane and gallant officers of the Peninsular army.
The desperate soubriquet of the 57th Eegiment arose from the following circumstance. It occupied the key of the position in the unscientific battle of Albuera, under the command of Colonel Inglis, a noble Border man. It being of importance that they should firmly keep their ground, the only words uttered by the colonel during the whole day was, " Steady men, keep your places." Strange to say, he sat in their front on horseback from the beginning until nearly the close of the fierce conflict, without getting a single scratch, although every other officer in the regiment, excepting one, was killed or wounded, and although, so striking was the line formed by the bodies of the dead, as to cause every man to be buried where he fell ! The position occupied by the regiment was thus marked by a long green mound, which was the object of pilgrimages to all the British officers joining the army of the Peninsula for years afterwards. The colonel was at length struck down, just as a strong and fresh column was com- ing up to drive the small remnant of his men from their position. But, instead of waiting to receive the charge, the brave fellows, freed from restraint by the fall of their colonel, gave three exulting cheers, and rushing past him at the charge, scattered the advancing column to the winds ! The colonel feebly waved his hat as they passed him, and exclaimed, " Well done, my lads, you'll die hard at any rate." Hence the soubriquet.
The author of the following poem on the battle of Killiecrankie, Ronald, son of Allan of Achatriachaden, was the father of Domhnull Mac Raonuill, my maternal grandfather. He was a distinguished warrior in the wars of Montrose and Dundee, and is known in the traditions relative to these wars as " Raonull na Sgeidh," that is, " Ronald of the Shield," a soubriquet arising from a cir- cumstance which is thus related by tradition : —
An English dragoon who had been taken prisoner, on discovering that the Highlanders had not been trained to use the sword without the target, despised their swordmanship. He said in Ronald's presence, that, if he had not been a
OF THE HIGHLAND CLANS. 227
prisoner, he would fight the best Highlander in Montrose's army with the sword alone, against sword and target. " Man," exclaimed Ronald, indignantly, " do you think any Highlander would take such an advantage in fighting you ? I have not been taught to use the sword without a target, but I will fight you dirk and target against your sword, which puts the advantage on your side. Your being a prisoner need not deter you, for I pledge my honour, if you beat me, that you will not only be held scaithless, but set at liberty." " Get me a promise to that effect from the General," said the dragoon, joyously, " and our wager of battle is complete." "Montrose is a disciplinarian," said Ronald; " but if you beat me, there is not a Macdonald now present, or in the royal army, who will not feel himself bound in honour to make my pledge good." The English- man knew the oneness of clan faith and feeling, and was satisfied. But the instant the men stood ready for action, they were interrupted by the sudden appearance of Aillein dubh na Jiadh, the celebrated Dalnes deer-stalker, who hearing of the duel, hastened to take the place of Ronald, and fight the English- man on equal terms. The deer-stalker was, next to Alisdair Mac Colla, reputed to be the best swordsman in Montrose's army. Ronald refused to allow any man to take his wager of battle out of his own hands ; on which Allan said to him, in Gaelic, " 'S fhear an claidheamh, gu mor na bhiodag 's an targaid. Gabh mo chomhairle, oir cha 'n 'eil fios a dh-eires dhuit ;" — (the sword is much better than the dirk and target. Take my advice, or there is no knowing what may happen to you.) " Cha n-eil," replied Ronald, sternly, " fios de a dh-eires dhomhsadh, ach eiridh an diol f hein dhasadh ;" — (no, there is no knowing what may happen to me, but the very devil will happen to him.) The dragoon did not gain his liberty, but Ronald gained his traditionally celebrated soubriquet, Raonull na Sgeidh.
The extraordinary feats of valour ascribed by Mr Napier, in the life of Montrose, to a Ronald Maclean of Mull, are ascribed in Glencoe tradition to Raonull na Sgeidh. It is not uncommon, however, in tradition to find the deeds done by one man, and in one locality, ascribed to another man, and in another locality. Hence, although the facts stated in tradition may be depended on, persons, localities, and dates are often confounded. I would be very sorry, therefore, on merely traditional evidence, to claim credit for my ancestor for the warlike deeds ascribed to any of his brave companions in arms ; but I firmly believe that the history is wrong and the tradition right, in this case, — for I heard every one of the feats ascribed by the historian to Ronald Maclean, ascribed to Raonull na Sgeidh, or Ronald of the Shield, by tradition at least, fifty years before Mr Napier's history of Montrose was written. With me the name of the hero also goes far to prove the tradition to be more reliable, in this case, than history, — for Ronald is a very common Macdonald name, but ? very uncommon one for a Maclean.
I regret giving broken extracts of this poem, but cannot afford space for the whole.
228
THE MUSIC
LATHA RAONKUARI.
Se lathadh Kaonruaridh, se la'-a' raon-ru-a-ri'
Dh-fhag luaimhneach mo dhusgadh, yag lu-ayv-nech mo yusg-a'
Mo na thuit do chlann Dhomhnuill, mo na huyt do chlann yov-nuyll
'S cha b-ann le leonadh nan cul-thaobh, a cha bann le le-on-a' nan cul-haov
Thug sinn mach an ratreuta, hug sinn mach an ra-treyta
Choisin ceitibh le diubhail, choysin ceyt-iv le di-u-vayl
'S ged a thearnadh gu leir sinn, s ged a he-ar-na' gu leyr sinn
Bha bas Chleibhir ri ehunntas. va bas chleyv-ir ri chuntas
An leoghan urramach rioghail, an le-o'-an urram-ach ri-yayl
Nach d' roinn fhirin a mhuthadh, nach droynn ir-inn a vu'-a'
Chum daingean a dhilseachd, chum dayng-en a yil-sec
Ga righ is ga dhuthaich ; ga ri' is ga yu'-aych
Cha d' thug or air na eagal, cha d ug or ayr na egal
Gun seasaibh ri chumhnant, gun ses-ayv ri chuvnant
'S ged a thuit e le onair, s ged a huyt e le on-ayr
Be rni-shonas na cuis e ! be mi-honas na cuys e
Gaisgeach garg an am cruadail, gaysg-ech garg an am cru-a-dayl
Ceannard sluaigh ann an teugbhail cennard slu-ay' ann an teyg-vayl
Ge b-f huileach bu bhaigheal e, ge buyl-ech bu vay-yel e
Toirt tlas dhoibh is reidhlein ; toyrt tlas yoyv is rey'-leyn
'Se nach cuireadh ri ball' iad, se nach cuyr-e' ri ball i-ad
Toirt tacar a' 'n eiginn, toyrt tacar a 'n eyg-inn
Dh-innis latha Dhun-chaillean, yinnia la'-a' yun-chayllen
Nach ro anamsa an creubhaig. nach ro anam-sa an crey-vayg
Cha b-ann leis na claidhean, cha bann leys na clay'-en
Fhuir air h-armuin an leonadh, huyr ayr harm-uyn an le-on-a'
Ach gun d'roinne an cumail, ach gun droynne an cum-ayl
Gun dol duinneal so choimhraig ; gun dol duynnel so chov-rayg
'S mairg a chunnaic na suighean, s mayrg a chunayc na suy'-en
An iorgail na dpirin, an i-or-gayl na doy-rin
Ga 'n spada le luaithe, gan spada le lu-ay'
'S gun tiligeadh buachaille bho i ! s gun til-ge' bu-ach-aylle vo i
Gur e mheudaich mo champar, gur e veyd-aych mo cham-par
A liuthad banntrach tha 'm dhuthich, a li-u'-ad ban-trach ha m yu'-ich
Agus oganach treubhach, agus oganach trey-vach
Nach teid oibhach am pusadh, nach teyd eyv-ach am pusa'
Thuit le luaithe san am ad, huyt le lu-ay' san am ad
Bualadh lann mar bu du dhaibh, bu-al-a' lann mar bu du yayv
Sud an cluicheadh bha cailteach, sud an cluyche' va cayltech
'S iad aig radh gu'm bu bhuaidh e ! s i-ad ayg ra' gu'm bu vu-ay' e
A thighearn oig Ghlinne-gairidh, a hi'-ern oyg ylinne-gayri'
Luidh smal air do shuigradh, luy' smal ayr do hug-ra'
'S mor do chall le righ Seumas, s mor do chall le ri' seymas
'S goirt a leireadh na chuis u ; s goyrt a leyre' na chuys u
Bha Domhnull gorm gaolach, va dovnul gorm gaol-ach
'S fhuil chraobhach a bruchdadh, s uyl chraov-ach a bruca'
'S eigin fhulang na thainig, a eygin ulang na haynig
Dh-fhalbh do bhrathair na ur-fhas. yolv do vra'-ayr na ur-as
OF THE HIGHLAND CLANS. 229
Bha e curranta seolta, Ged thug ro mhiad na h-aireamh,
va e curranta se-olta ged hug ro vi-ad na hayrev
Bu chraobh-chomkraig thair ceud e, Brais is Arden le cbeile,
bu cliraov-cliov-rayg hayr ceyd e brays is arden le cheyle
Do fhear-mor bu mhatb cuma, Ort gun bhi sgathach mud phearsa,
do yer-mor bu va' cuma ort gun vi sga'ach mud fersa
Bh-aig gacb duine mar speuclair. Oig gbasta na foile.
vayg gach duyne mar speyc-layr oyg yasta na feyle.
Instead of a literal translation, in lines parallel with the original, I submit as faithful an imitation of the few verses from this poem as I can accomplish, heading them with a short extract from the " Memoirs of Dundee," printed for James Brown, at the Black Swan, without Temple-Bar, 1714.
" The clans earnestly entreated Dundee not to engage in person, and told his lordship that their method of fighting was quite different from that of regular troops. Again, they desired him to consider, that should he be killed, King James's interest would be lost in Scotland. But no argument would prevail with him, nothing could dissuade him from engaging at the head of his troops. General Mackay's army outwinged Dundee's nearly a quarter of a mile, which obliged the clans to leave large intervals between each clan, and, by declining towards the wings, they wanted troops to charge the centre, where a detachment of the Lesley and Hastings English regiments were. The Highlanders threw away their plaids, haversacks, and all other incumbrances, and marched resolutely and deliberately, in their shirts and kilts, with their fusils, swords, pistols, and targets ready, down the hill on the enemy, and received Mackay's third fire BEFORE they pierced his line, in which many of the Highland army fell, particularly Lord Viscount Dundee, their general, the terror of the Whigs, the supporter of King James, and the glory of his country. Then the Highlanders fired, threw down their fusils, rushed on, discharged and threw their pistols in the faces of their opponents, drew their swords, and fell on ! The enemy did not maintain their ground two minutes after the Highlanders were amongst them, and I dare be bold to say, there were scarce ever such strokes given in Europe as were given that day by the Highlanders. Many of General Mackay's officers and soldiers were cut down through the skull and neck to the very breast, others had their sculls cut off above their ears like nightcaps ; some soldiers had both their bodies and cross-belts cut through at one blow. Pikes and small swords were cut like willow wands. Whoever doubts this, may consult many witnesses of the tragedy still living."
The above account of the battle, by an eye-witness, clearly shows that Dundee did not understand or appreciate the mode of attack of the Highlanders, any more than it has been understood by the feudal historians or the modern officials of the British army; who, if they judge by results, instead of by prejudiced statements and opinions, need have no doubt of its superiority to any other mode of fighting hitherto known. That Claverhouse did not understand their practice, is seen by the fact, that the Highlanders received three volleys " before they pierced Mackay's lines ;" that they did not draw their swords until Dundee fell, and that the battle did not last two minutes after they were left to fight it out, in their own way, sword in hand. If the reader will keep in view the above description of the battle, and peruse the following imitation of the annexed poem by Ronald of the Shield, he will see that Claverhouse did not lead his army into the field in accordance with their accustomed tactics.
Eaonruari's day has chased away my rest, Full well their trenchant swords, with And rules the mixed emotions of my breast, cleaving blows,
For there, alas, my high and noble race, Avenged the iron hail-showers of their Have met a loss the age will not replace. foes ;
230
THE MUSIC
But, ah, though all had 'scaped, since
Clavers fell, Our much-wronged king may bid his
throne farewell.
Well may we sing his deeds, his pean
swell, For, when he fell, alas, his country fell !
Courteous though fierce, inflexible though
kind, The chief and friend in him were well
combined.
No tremors shook his soul, yet he essayed To storm no ramparts simply with the
blade.
And since his fall, we see that e'en the Gael, By tyros led, may fight without avail. Alas ! while standing at the hero's tomb, I feel the cause he loved must share his doom.
In glory's path, with faith unstain'd he
moved, He spuru'd ambition — love of gold he
proved Beneath his thoughts. Undaunted, though
alone, He faced rebellion, and sustained the
throne.
In manhood's calmness, as in fervid youth, One path was his — the path of loyal truth.
The foregoing verses bear sufficient evidence of Konald Mac Ailean's devotion to, and admiration of Claverhouse ; but, while condemning the absurd attack on the fortified position of the Cameronians, at Dunkeld, by General Cannin, without either artillery or scaling ladders, (referred to in the above verse,) he remarks clearly enough on the injudicious conduct of Claverhouse, in marching the clans at a funeral pace, instead of in their usual way, to attack the Whigs at Killiecrankie, by him called Kaonruari. He then details the heavy loss sustained by the clans in consequence of this mistake, but I overlook these verses, as no longer interesting to the general reader.
'Twas not the gallant play of keen-edged Will boldly aim at him, who, standing
brands That spread destruction through the loyal
bands. From lines outflanked what have the
clans to fear ? Show them the foe, and give them full
career ! To right, to left, like lightning's flash,
they turn, Eushing through volleyed flames, with
scaithless scorn ! — Their flashing blades 'mong serried ranks
they wield, Till every foe is slain or fled the field.
still,
Presents a stolid mark against the hill ; But when the warrior draws his falchion
bright,
And rushes on him like a flash of light, Terror the caitiff's coward heart o'er-
powers, His arm relaxes, and his spirit cowers !
Why should their leaders men like these
restrain, While iron showers come scouring o'er the
plain ?
The gaping hind who drives his team afield, Although the warlike sword he dare not
wield,
Young chieftain of Grlengarry, clouds
descend Deep o'er thy land. Thou scarce art
left one friend ! — Thy Donald gorm is slain — the kind —
the good —
And thy great brother welters in his blood. Like a tall oak, uprooted by the storm, The field he graces with his warlike form. He fell not unavenged among the dead — But who will fight the battle in his
stead?
OF THE HIGHLAND CLANS.
231
Prudent, yet fervid; cautious, yet bold, He fired his clansmen, yet their fire controlled ;
Chief of the Camerons, clothed with
early fame, Who can thy deeds record,thy losses name ?
But, ah, the danger that has caused their When others changed their fealty, thou,
grief
He never saw — the danger of their chief ! Mild as a maid, fierce as a beacon's
flame, Well has he earned, and well sustained
his fame.
alone, Stood by thy country's cause, thy country's
throne. The battles of three kings have seen thy
steel, But who for royal favours saw thee kneel?
And must we mourn that thus his bright Thy country's weal, thy clansmen's proud
career
regard,
Too soon was closed — because he knew Were all thou sought'st of glory or
not fear ?
reward !
Alas, the tumult, and the closing night,
Concealed the o'er-matched hero from the sight
Of many clansmen, swift and strong and brave,
That would oppose their hearts his life to save ! —
Cursed be the wars that clothe them- selves in shades ! —
Clans of my love, let daylight see your blades
When to your country's battles you descend ;
Night is the hero's foe, Ae coward's friend.
Alas ! the Stuart chieftains have been
taught
The curse of leaders destitute of thought ; For, at Dunkeld, 'gainst foes that lurked
unseen Behind stone walls, what 'vailed their
broad-swords keen ? Long stood they, dauntless, 'mid the
iron blast, While round them fell their clansmen
thick and fast.
Who will the tale of woe in Appin tell, And name the heroes that so vainly
fell?
On rushed the clans, who ne'er to foeman
yield,
The Whiglings chasing o'er the dark- ening field. What shrieks of terror, war-cries shouted
wild, Startled the hills as through the pass
they toil'd ! Winged on pale fear, they fled, they fled
amain, And carnage gloated o'er her thousands
slain ! But, ah, will carnage quench the widow's
sigh, Or wipe the tear from the pale orphan's
eye?
And you, my clansmen of the Abrian
braes, Sons of the sword, rehearsers of wild
lays—
You, too, alas, so long in battle tried, Stood boldly forward by your kinsman's
side, And fell in ranks. No more the voice
of joy
Shall wake the glens of Spean and of Eoy, To meet your steps : no more the chaste
and fair The feast and song, to welcome you,
prepare :
For,at Dunkeld, now slumber in the grave, The kind, the true,the noble, and the brave.
232 THE MUSIC
These two last verses, and the verse previously mentioned, refer to the mad attack of General Oannin on the fortified position of the Cameronians at Dunkeld, without artillery or scaling-ladders. The failure of this ridiculous attack of the imbecile Cannin, is largely boasted of by the whigs — which shows how hard-up they were for a triumph over the Highlanders.
I regret that I cannot quote a few more verses of the original of this very spirited yet exceedingly clannish and feeling poem, as the imitation does not take it connectedly even verse for verse ; but as Ronald of the Shield, then an old man, was one of the victims of the Massacre of Glencoe,* I think the reader may feel more interested in the following imitation of the Isle of Muck bard's lament on that subject ? It is a true imitation, and corroborates what has elsewhere been stated as to the absence of a vindictive or revengeful spirit from all poetry that does anything like justice to the deep feeling, but calm dignity of the ancient Gael, in his hours of sorrow and indignation. We have here no flaming roofs or eagles screaming over the hearts of the atrocious perpetrators of the Massacre even of Glencoe. But the very noblest and most generous feudalist could not even imagine anything so magnanimous as the Highland clans when most deeply suffering under the treachery and cruelty of their enemies. The original will be found in every collection of Gaelic poetry.
THE MASSACKE OF GLENCOE.
God, whose gospel revealeth, Had they known, when the stranger
As thy children may daily behold, They welcomed, and hailed as a friend,
Truth, benevolence, mercy, That their homes were in danger —
In lessons affectingly told ; That among them he came to this end ;
In their strait, be Thou aiding Had they armed and been watchful,
To the good #nd the brave of the Fierce and stern as the conflict might be,
glen, Their defeat I would question, Brought to grief and despairing, Though their foesmen were twenty to
By a treachery rare among men. three.
On their orphans look kindly, 'Twas not by genius and valour
Who have ever been kindly and true, The band of my heart have been slain,
Who could not, in baseness, But by boors, in aught mental
E'en traitors and rebels pursue : More than matched by the team in their
Though unyielding and deadly, wain ;
When their country demanded their But to bloodshed apprenticed,
steel, And to treach'ry and cruelty trained,
To humanity faithful, They stole on their victims
For the foes they had slain they could When by sleep all their senses were
feel. chained.
* Among the singular escapes from the massacre, was that of the two little boys of Konald of the Shield, Donald and Alexander, who had stolen away a few days previously, after a servant from Glenlochy, to visit their aunt, who was married to Campbell of Achariach. Donald, on his return, found his father murdered, and liis home burned down and desolate. The succeeding pages will show that he was both spirited and poetic ; yet where did he leave behind a line or verse breathing hatred or revenge against the English, or even against the perpetrators of this treacherous and inhuman massacre ? But such will be found by the reader of Gaelic poetry to have been the uniformly dignified and forbearing character of the ancient Gael.
OF THE HIGHLAND CLANS.
233
From the chosen apartments, Assigned for their nightly repose
By their hosts, in their kindness, In the silence of night they arose
And stole on the sleepers,
Who dreamed not of treachery or strife,
And delivered, in safety,
The volley that robbed them of life.
How beauteous and shapely
. The forms that have thus been laid low, Or left, wounded and bleeding,
Inhuming themselves in the snow ; Men whose joy 'twas to listen
At eve to the harp and the lay, Singing praises of heroes
Who were courteous, and kindly, and
gay- Woe, woe to the country
Whose government cruel and blind, To her best and bravest
A sentence like this has assigned, And calls to her service,
And makes her support and her stay Of the countryless soldier,
Whose soul has no thought but his pay !
While by these, next to Heaven,
Their country and king were adored ; For their freedom and glory
They would lay down their lives at a
word. Now Albyn, dear Albyn,
Thy freedom, thy glory are gone, Foreign armies coerce thee —
A foreigner sits on thy throne.
Woe, woe to the pastors,
Whatever their object may be,
Whose preachings and treasons
Have produced the dark changes we see.
Now men who loved mercy, In murder God's glory behold,
And rejoice at the horrors
War over their country has rolled.
My heart sinks and sickens
To see, as they hang on their walls, Their trophies and weapons,
Whose dear presence I miss from their
halls — Whose voices were music,
Attuned to their mind's varied tone ; Who in mirth and broad humour,
And in repartee pleasingly shone.
The dirge* of their greyhounds
Is solemnly heard through the glen, The deer browse and wander,
The gaunt wolves rejoice in their den ; Their fishing gear rusteth,
While, rivers and lakelets between, The salmon are sporting
With joy in their radient sheen.
Not vain or conceited
Were the men who repose in the isle, Shunning danger, and boasting
Their valiant achievements the while. No. Modest as daring,
Their deeds spoke their greatness of
mind ; So they served their dear country,
All, all to their worth might be blind !
Now our clansmen are gathered
In the Dun, to consult and devise ; But, alas ! he is absent who was
Eloquent, daring, and wise. The main plume in our pinion,
In our birlin the helm and the oar, In Saint Mun's Isle is sleeping,
And will shine in our council no more.
* The old Highland greyhound was equally remarkable for his sagacity and the strength of his attachment to his master. His howl is the most solemn and melancholy imaginable. Hence, perhaps, the reason why it has long been regarded as ominous and predictive of death or some other calamity in the Highlands. He laments his master's death by wandering over his old haunts, stopping at regular intervals, and setting up his dirge-like howl, than which it is difficult to conceive anything more touching.
G S
234
THE MUSIC
By the gifts of the hero,
And gentleman early endowed, He, for wisdom and eloquence,
Shone 'mong his race like a god ; Caustic wit he thought paltry,
Common sense was his forte and his
plea, And with that for his country
He enlisted the hrave and the free.
He was tall, and unequalled
For fulness and beauty of form, And when battle closed round him,
Seemed growing in height midst its
storm. There his great soul exulted —
There his arm extended the ring, Proudly deeming his broad swords
Could right all the wrongs of his king.
On homeward returning,
The doors were thrown open and wide ; In that mansion of plenty
'Twas his joy o'er the feast to preside ;
There the stranger found welcome, There the soul-stirring minstrels were prized ;
There the uaislain* would gather ; There none but the base were despised.
On the chess-board and tailisg,
Mimic warfare they playfully tried, The chieftains kind hearted,
Who in dexterous movements took
pride ; Not with views of aggression,
To subjugate, rule, and enthral, But to fit them for action
When their king and their country should call.
God, who reignest and rulest
From Thy throne of pure wisdom above. Deign to look on our people
In the spirit of mercy and love, To compose their dire factions,
And grant that our children may see Their sovereign restored,
And his government native and free.
Ronald of the Shield was with that Highland army who defended Worcester against ten times their number ; so gallantly as to make even their enemies, according to the Memoirs of Dundee already quoted, regret their sufferings, and the king himself at length to order them to retreat. Ronald was confined to the house, suffering from a severe wound, when the news of the king's execution was brought to him by a friend. On this occasion, he wrote what is called " Cumhadh Righ Tearlach," — Lament for King Charles, — which I he&rd often sung when I was a boy ; but I remember only a few words of it. It was in the form of a dialogue between Donald, who brought the news, and Ronald, whose responses, to the best of my recollection, more resembled bursts of patriotic regret and passionate denunciation of " the merciless Whigs," than lamentations for the decapitated king. It was sung to an air known in the Lowlands under the name of "Wha's at the window, wha, wha." The repetition of the last line of each verse indicates its pedigree, however, and is a pendicle of the evidence on which I lay claim to it as a Highland melody, — as such repetitions, in verses of three or four lines, are almost invariable in
* Descent from the founder of the clan was the only mark of aristocracy among the Highlanders. All clansmen, whose pedigree was genuine, were called " uaislain," or gentlemen, and when off duty, associated with their chiefs and chieftains on equal terms. The distance between them now is of arti- ficial feudal descent, the patriarchal being the natural aad God-approving system of government.
OF THE HIGHLAND CLANS.
235
Highland (the repeated line or lines being sung by the audience,) but not in Lowland poetry. The following verses to the same air are unworthy of their august subject ; but I have seen no demonstration by the Gaelic muse on a death which has been universally felt as a national calamity. I unfeignedly repeat, that the following verses are unworthy of the subject ; but, to some they may perhaps appear at least curious, as written by the great-grandson of Ronald of the Shield, thus showing how thoroughly the loyalty of the adherents of the House of Stuart has been not only transferred, but, if possible, intensified into ardent devotion to the present dynasty. For although I am myself descended .both maternally and paternally from Campbells and Macdonalds, who adhered to the Stuart family to the very last extremity, one of my father's brothers, and three of my mother's, as well as myself, served in the army of the present dynasty.
LAMENT FOR PRINCE ALBERT. AIK. — " Cumhadh Righ Tearlach a h-Aon ;" — or, Lament for Charles the First.
Heard ye the news of grief and pain,
An cualadh sibh sgeula an leiridh sa an cu-al-a' siv sgeyla an leyr-i' sa
chraigh, chray'
Chuir an rioghachd fo bhron o scuir chuyr an ri'-ac fo vron o scuyr
mhor-bheann gu traigh ? vor-ven gn tray'
Dh-fhalbh Prionnsa bha saibhir an ealain yalav pri-onn-sa va eayv-ir an el-ayn
's an iuil, san i-uyl
'S tha Bhan-righ a cumhadh 's an deur 's ha van-ri' a cu-va' san deyr
na suil. — 'S tha, etc. na suyl
Dh-aom nial air an sugradh, le dubhradh yaom ni-al ayr an su-gra' le duv-ra'
gu'n bhaidh, gun vay'
An tallamor diomhair teaghlach rioghail an talla mor di-vayr te-lach ri-yayl
air ghraidh ; ayr gray'
A smal an t-athair, an ceile, 'm flath a smal an ta'-ayr an ceyl-e 'm fla'
feile, 's an soidh, feyld san soy'
Dh-f hag do'n Bhan-righ suil-dheuradh, yag don van-ri' suyl-yeyra'
cridheleireadh,iscoidh. — Dh-fhag,etc. cri'-^ leyr-e' is coy'
That has put the country in mourning from the peaks of the mountains to the shores ?
Gone is a Prince that was rich in science and various knowledge ;
And the Queen is lamenting with the
tear in her eye. — And, etc.
A cloud descended on their happiness, with merciless darkness,
In the sacred mansion of our beloved Eoyal Family ;
It has put out the light of the father, the husband, the generous chief, the worthy,
And left to the Queen a tearful eye, a sore heart, and lamentation. — And, etc.
236
THE MUSIC
Bha
Bhan-righ
's am Prionnsa
san
san
duthaich mar aigh, du'-aych mar ay'
Nan buaidhean, nau comhradh, nan nan bu-ay'-en nan cov-ra' nan
orcheas, nam baigh, — or-ches nam hay'
Bha sith, gaol, is eibhueas, le'n ceumaibh va ei' gaol is eyv-nes len ceym-ayv
's gach trath, — 'sgach tra'
Bu rioghail nan giulain paidhir ionraic bu ri'-yayl nan gi-u-layn pay'-ir i-on-rayc
air graidh ! — Bu, etc. ayr gray'
Gabh dochas a'd' eislean, a Bhan-righ gav do-chas ad eyslen a va-rinn
air graidh, ayr gray'
Dean dheth d' rioghachdan speiseil an den ye' d ri'-ac-an speys-eyl an
t-eibhneas nach traigh. teyv-ues nach tray'
'S ioinadh prionnsa ard treubhach a si-o-ma' pri-onn-sa ard treyv-ach a
dh-eireas o d'ail, yeyres o dayl
Bhios nan Albaert am beusan, an ceil, vis nan albert am beysan an ceyl
is an cail. — Bhios, etc. is an cayl
The Queen and the Prince were tu- telary (spirits), in their country,
In their virtues, their converse,ptheir bountiralness, their compassion ;
Peace, love, and happiness, accom- panied their steps ;
Eight royal in their bearing was the
blameless and beloved pair ! — Right, etc.
Take hope in thy bereavment, our Queen beloved,
And make thy never-to-be-diminished spaciouskingdoms thy happiness. —
Many a prince lofty and powerful will arise of thy posterity,
That will be an Albert in virtue, in
wisdom, in disposition. — That, etc.
The effect of humourous Gaelic poetry depends so much on idiom as to make me feel very reluctant to subject it to so severe a test as what I misname a literal translation ; but I must submit some verses in the nearest equivalent English words I can find, at any hazard, as I cannot give the English reader a general idea of Gaelic poetry, without quoting as faithfully as possible one or two specimens of each kind.
The act suppressing the Highland dress and arms without any distinction between those of the clans who fought for or against Prince Charles, (and the latter were more numerous than the former,) was supposed to have been the work of some politic and disguised friend of the Stuart family, who found his way into the Hanoverian camp. It had the effect of producing universal indignation against the new dynasty, and a renewal of sympathies and ties among the Highland clans, which leave little doubt, had the Prince landed a second time, as was periodically predicted and reported, that they would have risen almost unanimously in his favour ; although their confidence in his heroism
OF THE HIGHLAND CLANS. 237
and constancy had been sadly shaken by his obstinate refusal to continue at their head on the day after the battle of Culloden, when the Jive clans who were absent from that engagement, on leave, had joined, and they mustered, at Ruthven nearly 4000 strong. He was urged to remain with them, even sup- posing he should give up the object of the Rising, that they might conquer terms of peace, as they did in the reign of William and Mary ;* but he left them to their fate. Domhnull Mac Raonuil, son of Ronald of the Shield, who commanded the Glencoe-men in the " forty-five," and whose gay wit and broad humour kept the men of the glens in continual amusement, on the occasion of one of these rumours, called, with his friend Acha Triachaden, on an honest weaver yclept Iain Mac-a-Ghibbidh (layn Mac-a-Yippi), whose foppery and pretensions presented a somewhat ludicrous contrast to his shabby figure and very doubtful reputation for bravery, and gravely asked how they happened to find him at home, when, the Prince having arrived, the whole people of the glen were gone to church in the Isle of Mun, fully dressed and armed. " How is that," replied John, suspiciously, " and you absent ?" " Our arms and dress are hid in a cave in the hill, and we are on our way to get them," replied Donald. " Good morning, John ; I thought your loyalty was more zealous and less hesitating." No sooner did they disappear than John started on his feet in a frenzy of delight, and, arraying his scraggy person in his showy Highland dress and arms, broke in upon the quiet worshippers in the little island, full of his news, and glowing with excitement. Next day the glen rung with the burlesque of " Claidheamh air Iain san t-shearmain," (the sword on John at the sermon,) written by Domhnull Mac Raonuil.
CLAIDHEAMH AIK IAIN SAN T-SHEAKMA1N.
Noir chualadh an gaisgeach, When the hero heard
noyr chn-al-a' an gays-gach
Am prionn's bi fo airsneal, That the Prince was disheartened,
am pri-onns vi fo ayrs-nel
Chuir e litier, gun taise, a tairgsinn, He sent a letter, not timid, saying,
chuyr e litir gun tayse a tayreg-sirm
Na 'n deuntaedh, le reachd e, That if he were made
nan den-te' le rec e
Na dhiuc is na dheachdair, A duke and dictator
ua yi-uc is na yec-ayr
Gu'n togadh e Sassunn is Albin. He would raise England and Scotland
gun toga' e sass-unn is ala-bin (|n hjg favour.)
Fonn. Chorus.
Bha claidheamh air Iain, air Iain,air Iain, There was a sword, a sword, a sword, va clay-ev' ayr i-ayn ayr i-ayn ayr i-ayn
Bha claidheamh air Iain, san t-shear- There was a sword on John at the va clay'-ev ayr i-ayn san t-shera- sermon,
main, mayn
* Treaty of Achalader between the loyal clans and King William, negotiated by the Earl of Breadal- bane. This treaty was ratified by King William, with what faith is illustrated by the massacre of Glencoe. — See Memoirs of Lochiel.
238
THE MUSIC
Bha claidheamh air Iain air deas-lamh There was a sword on John, right- va clay'-ev ayr i-ayn ayr des-lav handed man of my heart,
mo chridhe,
mo chri'-e'
Se deanadh an fhighe neo-chearbach. Be yen-a' an i'-e ne-o-cherabach
He that can make the weaving not awkwardly.
Bha Iain gun teagaibh
va i-ayn gun teg-av
Gu faidheadh a freagairt gu fay'-e' a fregayrt
Mu'n deach e do'n eaglais na armaibh, mun dech e do'n eglays na arm-ayv
Is mhosgail na mnathan le iollach 's le is vosg-ayl ua mna'-an le illach s le
aigheur, ay'-eyr
Noir dhealraich a chlaidheamh san noyr yel-raych a chlay -ev Ban
t-shearmain ! tera-mayn
Bha, etc.
John never doubted That his offer had been accepted, So he went to the church in arms. How the women opened their eyes,
and shouted with joy, When his sword glittered at the
sermon !
There was, etc.
Chaidh lit' richean falaich, chay' lit'-richen fal-aych
A nun do Lochaber, a nun do lochaber
A dh-innseadh gu'n dech' e na armaibh, a yinn-se' gun dech e na arm-ayv
Ghabh an govaerner curam, yav an go-ver-ner curam
Bha gach geard air an dubladh, va gach gerd ayr an du-bla'
Ag eagal gu'n duisgeadh e Albin. ag egal gun duysg-a' e alabyn
Bha, etc.
Letters went privately Over to Lochaber,
Telling of this demonstration dan- gerous ; The governor took the alarm,
Every guard was doubled,
Lest he should come with all Albin at his back. There was, etc.
Leis na dh-eirich na phorabh, leys na yeyrich na forav
De dh-ardan Chlann-Domhnuil, te yardan chlann-tov-nyll
Na 'm bitheadh a phoca Ian argaid, nam bi'-e' a foc-a Ian aragayd
Gu'n tugadh e dhachaidh dhuinn, gu'n duga' e yach-ay yuynn
Eigh fhear na h-Appun, ri' fer na happun
From the quantity he inherited
Of the haughty daring of the Mac-
donalds, Had his pockets only been full of
money, He would have brought us home
The king of the men of Appin,
OF THE HIGHLAND CLANS.
239
A dh-aindeon fir h-Shassunn — mar In defiance of the men of England—
a yayn'-en fir hassunn mar
marbh't e, unless killed.
marv't e
Bha, etc. There was, etc.
'S iomadh oganach ullamh, si-oma' ogan-ach ullav
Nach eisdeadh an curaasg, nach eysd-a' an cumasg
Bha gu'n chlaidheamh, gu'n ghunna, va gun chlay'-ev gun yunna
gu'n targaid, gun tara-gayd
Gu'n urad na biodaig, gun urad na bi-dayg
'M falach fo chrioslaich, am falach fo chris-laych
Ge d' bhamacaGhiobaich 'nlan armachd. ged va mac a yibay-ay 'n Ian armac
Bha, etc.
Many are the ready youths
That would not hesitate to respond to the gathering call,
That were without swords, guns, or targets,
Without so much as a dirk Concealed beneath their belts,
When the son of Gibbie went under
full arms. There was, etc.
Great disparagement to thy person Was thy excess of harness,
'S mor an diobhail do d' phersa stnor an di-vayl do d' fersa
Na bh-agad de dh-acuinn, na vag-ad de yac-uynn
Noirchaidheuchospailpeilnatarmaibh — When thou went magnificently under
noyr chay' u cho spaylpeyl na tarmayv arms —
Do shlinngean, do bheirtean, Thy reeds, thy looms,
do hlinng-en do veyrten
Do spalainn, do chear'slean, Thy shuttles, thy clews,
do spal-ayn do chers-len
Do bhuilg do chraicean 's do mharachunn.* And thy skin-bags full of marachunn* do vuylig do crayc-en 's do varachunn
Fonn : — Chorus : —
Bha claidheamh air Iain, air Iain, air Tain, A sword was on John, on John, on va clay'-ev ayr i-ayn ayr i-ayn ayr i-ayn John,
Bha claidheamh air Iain sa'nt-shearmain; A sword was on John at the sermon ; va clay'-ev ayr i-ayn san tera-mayn
Bha claidheamh air Iain, air deas-lamh A sword was on John, the right-handed va clay'-ev ayr i-ayn ayr des-lav man of my heart,
mo chridhe,
mo chri'-e
'S e dheanadh an fhighe-neo-chearbach. Who makes the weaving not awk- se yena' an i'-e ne-o-cherbach wardly.
* This word has no representative in English. It means the wool of sheep that died and were left to rot or be consumed with birds and beasts of prey on the hill, after having been gathered and hoarded carefully.
240 THE MUSIC
The Gaelic scholar will agree with me when I say that my translation has taken the soul out of " Claidheamh air Iain," which is all but unequalled, as a burlesque, in the original, but it is reduced to the common place in the translation, if I must call that a translation in which the words used are anything but equivalent to those of the original. But though I am regretfully sensible of the injustice to which I am subjecting my grandfather Domhnull Mac Raonuil, by rendering his humourous poetry into English with such severity, I cannot help quoting a few verses of one or two more of his humourous burlesques or satires. The subject of the following verses was also a Glencoe-man, who had learned the tailoring trade in Glasgow. On re- turning home after an absence of several years, the first person the tailor met with, at some distance from the clachan, was an old simple-minded aunt of his own. The tailor, like many of his trade, was a gay and humourous wag, and being " spike and span new" in his outlandish Lowland dress, and totally changed in his appearance since his aunt had seen him, he thought it a good joke to pass himself off on the old woman as a great foreign gentleman. He told her many curious stories, and asked many curious questions, by which her simplicity and credulity were drawn forth in a very ludicrous manner. Being an excellent mimic, the graceless fellow narrated the interview at a merry-meeting of his friends in the evening, with a humour which produced roars of laughter at the expense of the aunt. Domhnull Mac Kaonuil was not pleased with the " Saxonized" tailor for this irreverent exhibition of his aged relative ; deter- mined to turn the tables on him, he caused his "inexpressibles" to be abstracted after he went to bed, and fixing them like a banner, on a hay fork, sent them, with three verses of poetry, to his friend Callart, requesting that he would pass them in like manner to his next neighbour, as " lame dyvors" used to be passed from house to house of old in the Highlands. Callart sent them to Lundavra, Lundavra to Glenevis, Glenevis to Letterfinlay, and so on. In short, the unlucky " breeks" travelled from chieftain to chieftain, and clan to clan, through every strath, glen, and shieling in the whole north Highlands, on their poetic mission, and the result was hundreds of verses, many of them exceedingly satirical and picturesque, for almost all Highlanders of the olden time could clothe their thoughts in rhyme, and they never hesitated to satirize one another without restraint, according to the humour of the passing moment. I can only make room for the three introductory verses and chorus, by Domhnull Mac Kaonuil, but can assure any one who has leisure and taste for the collection of Gaelic poetry, that the medley of verses on " Brigis Mhic Ruaridb," (to be found in all parts of the country) are well worthy of his attention.
BRIGIS MHIC EUARAIDH. — RORYSON'S BREECHES.
A bhrigis a bh-agad an am dol a chadal, The " breeks" he had when he went a vrigis a vagad an am dol a chad-al to sleep,
Noir dhuisg usa mhaduinn cha d'f huair u i, When he awoke in the morning he did noyr yuysg u sa va-duynn cha d u-ayr u i not find ;
OF THE HIGHLAND CLANS.
241
'S cha d' fhag iad na h-aite ach seorsa They left in its place but a sort of s cha dag i-ad na hayte ach se-or-sa magan*
do mhagan,* do vagan
Sa faighte fear spagach a shuaineadh- In which a splay-shaped man might sa fayte fer spag-ach a hu-ayne'- be Swathed,
chadh, cha'
Fonn : — Oh ho, oh ho, oh he, oh he,
Chorus : — Oh ho, oh ho, oh he, oh he,
Ant-fhisrich,ant-fharaid,nancualadhsibh, Searched ye, asked ye, or heard ye, an tis-rich an tar-ayd nan cu-al-a' siv
Oh ho, oh ho, oh he, oh he, Oh ho, oh ho, oh he, oh he,
Co idir thug brigis mhic Ruaraidh leis ? For the wandering breeks of Rorison ? co i-dir buar bri-gis vie ru-a-ray' leys
bug
'S ioma brachdlachf 's cuil ghabhadh 'n si-oma brac-lach 's cuyl ya-vay' 'n
robh brigis an taileir rov bri-gis an tayl-eyr
Mu'u d' thainig i 'n Charnaich ga fuar- mun dayn-ig in char-naych ga fu-ar-
achadh ; ach -a'
Nan innsinn a h-eachraidh, a slainneadh, nan iun-sinn a hec-ray' a slaynne'
's a cleachda, sa clec-a
Bu ghrad chuirte a Shassun air fuadach i! bu yrad chuyrt a hassunn ayr fu-a-dach i
Oh ho, etc.
Thoir an nun an trius-balcach do Challart hoyr an nun an trus-balc-ach do challart
a phailteis, a fayl-teys
Is abir ri'm charraid, le suairceadas, is abir rim charr-ayd le su-ayrc-ed-as
Gu bheil i mar bhalcach o stairsnich gu gu veyl i mar valcach o stayrs-nich gu
stairsnich, stayrs-nich
A solar rainn tharsuinn 's na tuadh- a solar raynn har-suynn sna tu-a'
chriochann. — Oh, ho, etc. chrioch-ann
Many were the lairs and queer recesses that were visited by the breeks of the tailor
Before they came to cool themselves at Carnach ;
Were I to tell their history, their lineage, their habits,
Quickly would they be banished to
England. Oh ho, etc.
Carry the splay-shaped trews to bountiful Callart,
And say to my friend modestly,
That it is on a foraying expedition from door-step to door-step,
To gather oblique rhymes in the north country. —
Oh, ho, etc.
* The drawers, — but meaning anything toad-shaped, or ugly.
f Brachdlach was anciently the name of a wolf's lair ; it now means the cairns in which foxes breed.
Hh
242 THE MUSIC
I regret that I cannot repair the injury done to ray worthy grandfather in these translations, by quoting some of his war and hunting songs; but the quantity of matter agreed upon by the publisher is already exceeded. I must, however, before parting with Domhnull Mac Raonuill, submit the chorus and a single verse of his poem on the battle of Sheriffmuir, which is reputed his best. Indeed, it is perhaps the happiest combination of the humourous and satirical to be found in the language, though my translation reduces it to a lifeless skeleton. I must, therefore, in justice to the author, entreat of those of my readers who understand the original, to explain this to such of their friends as do not. What, for instance, can be less like the original, in the estimation of the Gaelic scholar, than the following translation of the chorus? The first line of the chorus, with the exception of two unconnected words, consists of mere sounds ; yet these empty sounds and isolated words, by their solemn gravity, and the sounding dignity of the air and measure, give such a ludicrous effect to the chorus as involuntarily provokes a burst of laughter. Indeed, this chorus is a whole satire in itself!
Fonn : — Chorus : —
Ho ro agus ho ! ho ro an teagal ! Ho ro and ho ! ho ro the panic !
Mile mallachd nar deigh, (May) a thousand curses pursue,
Gu leir o'n theich sibh ! Since all of you have fled !
Fire, faire, Lochial ! Fi-re, fai-re,* Lochiel !
'S clisg thair sliabh do bhratach ! How swiftly thy banner (clan)
'M bu chleachda dhith riainh Has cleared the heath !
Sealtain fiatadh 's sgapadh ? Is it always their wont
Thus to shy and scatter '?
Ob, ob, na " fir-mhor" Ob, ob,* the " big warriors"
0 Shrath-lochaidh bhradain ! Of Strathlochy of the salmon !
Dhoch-an-assaidh chruidh-mhin, Of Doch-an-assay of milky kine,
Luib is ghlinn Lochaircaig ! And the holms and glens of Lochaircaig!
This verse is a parody on the corresponding verse of a song then recent, in which a Cameron, rather fulsomely, perhaps, praises the " fir-mhor" of these parts of the clan district. The poem on Sheriffmuir has never been published, but stray verses of it are to be found in the districts of the clans who distinguished themselves by running away, as well as in those of the clans who behaved as usual : for, so far from being rude and barbarous was the Highland warrior of past ages, as to enable me to state it as a well known trait in his character, that he never took offence at anything humourous or satirical, of which he himself or his friends or clan were the subject. When Lochaber was occupied by native Highlanders, fifty years ago, I was present at many social meetings, in which such songs were sung with the utmost good humour and heartiness, by parties whose friends and clans (and, in a few instances, who even personally) figured in them ; and I am very sure that there are many still living who can corroborate my statement that this was a feature of the Highland character. But I may
* Mocking and sarcastic exclamations which have no equivalents in English.
OF THE HIGHLAND CLANS. 243
also remark that this humourous satire was the less calculated to give offence, because the retrograde movement of the left wing of the Highlanders was palpably caused by mismanagement, — ludicrously accelerated by the conduct of a nobleman, who, in the novel position in which he found himself, lost his presence of mind, and made " confusion worse confounded," and, especially, because the clans that " ran away" were kept in countenance by the running away of at least an equal number on the other side. Hence this singular battle was literally regarded as a burlesque by both parties. However, nobody doubted or could doubt the patriotism or heroism either of an Erskine, a Gordon, a Cameron, or a Mackenzie. The clans could, therefore, afford to laugh, and did laugh heartily, at Domhnull Mac BaonuilPs humourous description of the blunders of " Latha Sliabh an t-Shirradh." Konald of the Shield, Donald's father, speaks of Sir Ewen of Lochiel, in his verses on Killiecrankie, with great admiration, and both he and his son had many connexions and relatives among the Camerons. The wives of Lundavra and Meoble were the aunts of Domhnull Mac Eaonuill's wife, and their sons were present in the battle, along with their fathers. It is said that the song above mentioned, written by a Cameron, in which he rather violated good taste by a too exaggerated praise of his clan, was the cause of Donald's severity. The conduct of the Camerons under their illustrious chief in " the battles of three kings" really justified the family bard in speaking of them with enthusiasm ; but nothing was more distasteful to the plain, honest, Highland warrior than self-laudation. In this he was not singular. Brave men of all ages and countries abominated self-glorification and gasconade. Than that of their Spanish friends, nothing could be more nauseous to Wellington's army, who were themselves perfectly contented with the stinted measure of praise conceded by their leader, knowing that their deeds spoke for them. I have it on good authority, that Donald thought the Camerons made too much of their laurels, and hence that he willingly availed himself of their escapade at Sheriffmuir to rebuke their egotism. Be that as it may, he was more severe on the Camerons than on any of the other clans that had been bungled on the occasion. Hence Sir Ewen, who was confined to bed from age and infirmity, on hearing the song, thought that the Camerons were the first to run away ; and, ascribing their supposed degradation to the leading of the young chief, his son, he was so indignant as to have determined on putting him to death with his own hand. He desired his henchman to send in the young chief, " as he wanted to question him on the above subject." The faithful clansman did as he was bid ; but having seen the old man feeling the edge of the sword (which usually lay by his bedside) with his hand, before sending him for his son, he took the alarm, and cautioned him to keep away from his father's couch. In a conversation in reference to this tradition with one of Sir Ewen's gallant descendants, General Eoss of Glenmoidart, he corroborated this part of it with an expression of face which left the impression that he strongly sympathised with his illustrious ancestor's feelings on the subject of the flight at Sheriffmuir. Domhnull Mac Eaonuill and Donnacha-ban-nan-oran were great friends, although the former was a much older man, and they fought on different sides
244 THE MUSIC
in " the forty-five." They had a meeting with some Athole-men at Altnafe, in which the warrior-bards played-off some humourous practical jokes on the honest Oisgean, which they made the subject of two graphic and spirited jeux d? esprit, but I cannot repeat them. On this occasion, they had a bet, which resulted in two of the best descriptive poems in the language, the subject being their favourite forests — Coirreachan, Ghlinne-Comhan and Beindorain. The former will be found in the first edition of Aillein Dall's works, and the latter in every Gaelic song book.
I had told rny son, William D. Campbell, author of the " Kaid of Albyn," since deceased, and a young and talented relative, D. R. Macdonald, that the single and double emphatic notes, (see page 144) formed, very generally, a dis- tinction between Highland and Lowland melodies, and that in the Highland melodies converted into Lowland melodies, the single note is usually lengthened into a drawl, and the double note into a long sliding note. I crooned to them an air to which I had written some verses in Tait's Magazine, in 1849, " Begone, 0 hope," as showing that English words could be adapted very happily to these emphatic notes, and expressed my regret, that by overlooking this characteristic of Highland melodies in his Scottish songs, even Burns had totally failed to make songs to Highland airs popular. I begged of them (for both had a taste for writing songs to Highland melodies) never to forget to adapt their words to these notes when composing songs to such Gaelic airs. I received the follow- ing verses from my son in a few days afterwards, as the result of my advice. They are not an imitation of the Gaelic words sung to the same air ; but they fully illustrate this subject, and may perhaps interest the reader, though on a subject already abundantly celebrated by some of our sweetest and most tender lyrical writers. I may remark, as showing that the poetic taste may be inherited, that both of the young gentlemen are descended from Ronald of the Shield, through a son and daughter of Domhnuill Mac-Raonuill.
LAMENT FOR PRINCE CHARLES.
The battle is lost, the clansmen are Foremost, where wildest raged warfare
scattered, and danger,
The shield of our country by treachery Fierce rush'd the Gael through the
shattered, ranks of the stranger ;
Our mirth turned to mourning, our But dark, deadly treason made might
hopes to bewailing, unavailing,
For lowly in death sleep the valiant And gory Culloden has left us bewailing.
and daring. Illerinn, etc.
Chorus : —
Illerinn o na ho ro, The daughters of Albyn, distracted Illerinn o na ho hi, with sorrow, wail,
Illerinn o na ho ro, Coranachs echo from Etive to Borro- I-uro-vi-o na ho hi. dale ;
OF THE HIGHLAND CLANS. 245
Glencoe, and Glenmoidart, and distant The red deer lies safe by the lone
Strathallan, moonlit fountain ;
Kepeat the sad wail, for their bravest But though tempests should rave as
are fallen. — the night round him gathers,
Illerinn, etc. Our Prince finds no home in the land
of his fathers. —
The eagle finds rest in his eyre on the Illerinn, etc. mountain,
The verses to the following tune are commemorative of the surprise of a party of English soldiers from the castle of Lochandorb, by the Macdonalds. King Edward having in one of his Scottish Kaids, placed a garrison in that castle, they were necessitated to make an excursion into the surrounding country for supplies. One of these parties, which had committed cruel excesses in a foraging expedition, were overtaken when at their kale, (Angled, dinner,) and their conduct in the plundered clachans having been infamous, the pursuers determined to make an example of them. They took the ears of all the men, and the tails of all the horses, and sent them in this state to join the main army, then in full retreat. The tradition is thus adverted to in a Macdonald parody on the Gaelic verses to " The Campbells are corning." —
'SiadClan-dhonnuillthami'gaireamh, — It is the Macdonalds I am com- memorating,— Buidhean ga'n ordugh sroil is armaibh, — The party to whom has been decreed
banners and arms — Buidhean dheas ullamh fhuir urram an The ready, active part}7 that are famed
Allabin, in Albyn,
Dh-fhag an trup shallach air cumachd Who left the infamous troop trimmed na h-earba. like roes, (without tails.)
" Call a Dhollaidh" is known in the Lowlands as "The Haughs of Cromdale,'' and the comparison of the two sets illustrates, so far, the above characteristics of Highland and Lowland tunes. I will also submit, in farther corroboration, Captain Carrick's strathspey, which has been tamed down into " Dinna think, bonnie lassie," to accord with the Scottish taste. I could furnish scores of examples, but consider that unnecessary, my object being simply to point out what I believe to constitute a general distinction between Caledonian and Scottish music.
SUD MAR CHAIDH AN CAL DHOLAIDH. — SO WAS THE KALE SPOILED.
Sud mar chaidh an cal a dholaidh, That was the way that the kale was
sud mar chay' an cal a yol-ay' Spoiled,
Sud mar chaidh an cal a dholaidh, That was the way that the kale was
eud mar chay' an cal a yol-ay' spoiled,
246
THE MUSIC
Sud mar chaidh an cal a dholaidh, sud mar chay' an cal a yol-ay'
Air na bodaich ghalda. . ayr na bo-daych yalda
That was the way that the kale was spoiled,
On the boorish strangers.
The gallant seaman has a somewhat light reputation in Gaelic poetry, more perhaps from his wandering life than any inconsistency peculiar to his profession. It is impossible to conceive that an open, honest, sterling character, like the British seaman, could be inconstant in love ; but if a heartless fickleness is really his character, it is not to be wondered at that a simple, honest-hearted lassie will not believe so. Be that as it may, however, he has ever been the object of ardent love and enduring constancy with the warm-hearted Highland maiden. The following is of the duanag class of songs, which are never sung as solos, the fonn or chorus being always sung by the audience. Although the duanagan or lilts are therefore generally of a light, hilarious character, they are not necessarily so, and many of them, like " Fear a Bhata," (literally boatman, the usual title of a man sailing his own ship in the Highlands) are strikingly pathetic and beautiful, both for sentiment and imagery.
FHEAK A BHATA.
'S trie mi sealtinn 'o'n chnoic is airde, stric mi seltinn on cnoyc is ayrde
Dh-f hiach a faic mi fear a bhata ; yi-ach a fayc mi fer a vata
Ach 's ann a tha gach aon ag raitean ach sann a ha gach aon ag rayten
Gur mi bha gorach noir thug mi gradh gur mi va gorach noyr hug mi gra'
dhath.
Often do I look from the highest hill For the man of the boat ; But everybody tells me
That I was foolish in giving him my love.
Fonn : —
Fhear a bhata, na horo eile, er a vata na horo eyle*
Fhear a bhata, na horo eile ; er a vata na horo eyle
Fhear a bhata, na horo eile, er a vata na horo eyle
A ruin 's luaidh gur a truagh na a ruyn 's lu-ay' gur a tru-a' na
d' dheidh mi. d' yey' mi
Chorus : — Man of the boat, horo eyle,
Man of the boat, horo eyle ; Man of the boat, horo eyle,
My love, my treasure, sad am I after thee.
Tha mo chairdean gu trie ag innseadh My friends often tell me ha mo chayr-den gu trie ag inn-se'
Gufeum mit-aogaisachuirair di-chuinn'; That I must give thy image to forget- gu feym mi taog-ays a chuyr ayr di-chuyn fulness ;
OF THE HIGHLAND CLANS.
247
Ach tha'n comhairle dhomhchodiamhain, But their advice to me is unavailing ach han co'-ayrle yov cho di-a-vayn
'S tilleadh mara 's i toirt a lionaidh. — As attempting to turn the tide when
stille' mara si toyrt a li-o-nay' flowin0". —
Fhear, etc. Man, etc.
Thug mi gaol dhut 's cha'n fhoad mi I have given thee my love, and cannot
hug mi gaol yut 's chan aod mi recal it ; aicheadh ; ayeh-a'
Cha ghaol bliadhnadh, 'schaghaolraidh, It was not love fora year, nor love
cha yaol bli-a'-na 's cba yaol ray' for a quarter,
Ach gaol a thoiseich noir bha mi am But love which began when I was a
ach gaol a hoy-sich iioyr va mi am child, phaisdean, fays-den
'S nach searg a choidh gus an cloidh And which will not fade until death
snach serag a choy' gus an cloy' has conquered. —
am bas mi. — Fhear, etc. Man, etc. am bas mi
Tha mo chridhe briste, bruite, ha mo chri'-e briste bruyte
'S trie na deoir a ruidh o'm shuilean, stric na de-oyr a ruy' om huy-len
An tig u nochd nam bi mo dhuil riut ?
an tig u noc nam bi mo yuyl ri-ut
Na'n duin mi'n dorus 1 e osnadh thursaich ? nan duyn min dorus le osna' hur-saych
Fhear, etc.
Ge do their iad gu bheil u eatrom, ge do heyr i-ad gu veyl u e-trom
Cha do lughdaich sin mo ghaolsa ; cha do lu'-daych sin mo yaol-sa
Bithidh tu 'm aisling ann 's an oiche, bi'-i tu'm aysling ann san oy-che
'S ann sa mhaduinn bith mi ga d'fhoi- sann sa va-duynn bi' mi ga d oy-
neachd. — Fhear, etc.
My heart is bruised, broken, My tears fall continually,
Wilt thou come to-night, or need I
expect thee ? Or shall I shut the door with a sob of
grief? — Man, etc.
Though they say thou art flighty, That has not lessened my love to thee ; Thou art in my dreams at night,
And in the morning my inquiries are
after thee. — Man, etc.
Bidhidh mi tuille gu tnrsach, deurach, bi'-i' mi tuylle gu tur-sach der-ach
Mar eala bhain an deigh a reubadh, mar ella vayn an dey' a reyba'
Guilleag bais aic air lochan feurach, guyll-ag bays aye ayr lochan feyr-ach
Is each uille an deigh a treigeidh. — is each uylle an dey' a treyg-ey'
Fhear, etc.
I am henceforth sorrowful, tearful, Like a wounded swan,
Singing her death song on the grassy
lake, Forsaken by all her companions. —
Man, etc.
248 THE MUSIC
The following verses are of considerable antiquity, and have been always admired.
MAKI BHOIDHEACH. — BONNY MAEY.
A Mhari bhoidheach, gur mor mo Bonny Mary, great is my love to thee ; a vari voyech gur mor mo
ghaol ort, yaol ort
'S trie mi cuimhneachadh ort 's mi Often do I think of thee when alone ; stric mi cuyneeha' ort smi
m' aonar ; maonar
Ge do shiubhlainn gach ceum de'n Although I should wander the world ge do hi-u-laynn gach ceym den over
t-saoghal, tao'-al
Bi t-iomhaigh bhoidheach tigli'n beo Thy beautiful image would come alive bi tiv-ay' voyech ti'n be-o On every side,
gach taobh dhiom. taov yi-om
Fonn : — Chorus : —
A Mhari bhoidheach, 's Mhari ghaolach, Mary beautiful, Mary lovely, a vari voy'-ech 's vari yaol-ach
A Mhari bhoidheach, gur mor mo Mary beautiful, great is my love to a vari voy'-ech gar mor mo thee ;
ghaol ort ; yaol ort
A Mhari bhoidheach, gur tu chloidh mi, Mary beautiful, thou afflictest a vari voy'-ech gur tu chloy' mi
'S dh-fhag mi bronach gun doigh air And makest me sorrowful, since I 's yag mi bron-ach gun doy' ayr know not how to won thee.
t-fhaotuinn. taot-uyn
'S mor a b'anns' bhi le Mari bhoidheach, Much more would I desire to be with smor a banns vi le mari voy'-ech bonny Mary,
Ambothanairidhfosgath,namorbheann, In a bothy under the shadow of the am bo' -an ayri' fo sga' na mor-venn great mountains,
Na bhith 'm righ ann 's an Eoinn-Eorpa, Than to be a king in Europe, na vi'm ri' ann san royn-e-orpa
Gun choir air Mari mo ghraidh am Without a right to my beloved Mary, gun choyr ayr mari mo yray' am Mary, &C.
posadh. — A Mhari, etc. pos-a'
Chithear feidh air sgeith 's na speuran, Deer will be seen on their wings in chi'-er fey' ayr sgey' sna speyran the sky,
Chithear iasg a falbh nan sleibhtean, Fish will be seen walking on the
chi'-er i-asg a falv nan sleyvten wolds,
OF THE HIGHLAND CLANS. 249
Chithear sneachda dubh air gheugan, Snow will be seen black on the trees, chi'-er sneac-a duv ayr yeygan
Mu faicer caochladh air mo speis dhuit. — Before a change is seen in my love to mu fayc-er caoch-la' ayr mo speys yuyt thee. —
A Mhari, etc. Mary, &c.
Gur tu flur is boidhche an garadh, gur tu flur is boy'-che an gara'
'A faillean allail nach lub le faillinn ; — a fay lien allay 1 nach lub le fay Ilia
Mar shoilse greine air sleibhtean arda, mar hoylse groyne* ayr sleyvten arda
Tha coltas, ceutadh is beusan, Mari. — ha coltas ceyta' is beysan mari
A Mhari, etc.
Thou art the flower most beautiful in the garden,
The noble sapling that will not bend
with a flaw, — Like sunshine on the highest wolds,
In appearance, purity and virtue la
Mary. — Mary, &c.
Do shuil ghorm mheallach fo d' mhalaidh
do hnyl yorm vellach fo d' val-ay'
bhoidhich, voy'-aych
Do bheulan tana air dhath nan rosaiu, do veylan tana ayr ya' nan ros-ayn
Do shlios mar chana an gleannan do lis mar chana an glennan
mointich, moyntich
1S do ghruaidh mar chaoran fo sgiadh 's do yru-ay' mar chaoran fo sgey
na morbheann. — A Mhari, etc.
Thy eye blue and large, beneath a graceful eyebrow,
Thy lips slender and of the colour of the rose,
Thy bosom like cana in a sequestered glen,
Thy cheeks like the rowan-berry under the wing of the high mountain. — Mary, &c.
Cha dean eala air slios na mor-thonn, cha den ella ayr slia na mor-honn
Cha dean smeoil ann an doire ceothar ; cha den sme-oyl ann an doyrd ce-o'-ar
Cha dean cruit nan theud binn ach cha den cruyt nan teyd binn ach
cronan, cronan
Noir a sheinneas mo Mhari bhoidheach. noyr a heynnes mo vari voy'-ech
A Mhari, etc.
The swan makes not over the majestic
waves, The thrush in a mist enveloped grove,
The harp of sweetest chords, but a murmur
When sings my beautiful Mary — Mary, &c.
A choisir bhega nan oran cianael, a choysir vega nan oran ci-an-el
Little choir of the pensive minstrelsy,
Ambarnangeagannanairdnah-iarmailt, Whether in the ^ tops of the boughs am bar nan gegan nan ayrd na hi-ar-maylt or in the height of the skies,
1 1
250 THE MUSIC
Na biodh lathadh aim sa bhlianadh, Let no day pass during the year,
na bi' la'-a' ann sa vli-a-na'
Nacb seinn sibh ceol do mo Mhari In whicb you do not sing to comely nach seynn siv ce-ol do mo vari Mary.
chiataich. — A Mhari, etc. chi-a-taych
Noir a bhidhis mi gu tursach, tiamhaidh, When I am heavy, melancholy, noyr a vi'-is mi gu tursach ti-a-vay'
Mo chridh' fo iomagain 's le curam My heart anxious and full of care, mo chri' fo i-o-ma-gayn sle curam
lionteadh,
linte'
Ni do ghnuis a tha mar ghrian dhomh, Thy face, which is as the sun to me, ni do ynu-is-sa ha mar yri-an yov
M' eibhneas coimhliont' noir thig u 'm Completes my joy when in my
meyv-nes coyv-lont noyr hig u'm presence. —
fhianuis. — A Mhari, etc. Mary, etc. i-an-uys
I happened, many years ago, to be asked by a friend, the editor of a provincial newspaper, to attend a concert which he could not attend himself, and supply the necessary notice of an opera singer of some eminence from London, who was to delight (and assuredly did delight) the natives on the occasion. It struck me that the vocalist, by his voice and attitude, in singing the " Death of Nelson," exceedingly resembled an ambitious young clergyman of my acquaintance, who was very fond of exhibiting all the attitudes, intonations, and graces of elocution from his pulpit, but who was too apt to forget to suit them to his subject. Thus, when the subject was a supplication, the voice and attitudes were not unfrequently those suited to a remonstrance ; and when the subject was remonstrative, the voice and attitudes were often those of supplica- tion ; and so on. The opera singer reminded me forcibly of the preacher when singing the " Death of Nelson," and it is possible that my feeling of the ridiculous, from the association of the two charlatans, when writing, gave a sharper point to my criticism, for the one was preaching and the other singing with a view to effect, not from feeling. He made Nelson mewl and cry like a whipt wean, because he was dying "for England, home, and beauty," when there is little doubt that the last throb of the hero's heart was a throb of joyful exulta- tion at the realization of the dream of his heroic life, that he would die " for England, home, and beauty." My paragraph met the eye of Mr John Wilson, the delightful illustrator and singer of the songs of Scotland : he was intro- duced and dined with me, and the subject having turned on the songs of the Highlands, I introduced some Highland songs, with the traditions connected with them, and, my voice being at that time good, sung them in a style with which he was much pleased. As I expressed my regret that we had no Highlander to illustrate the songs of the Gael, he begged of me to imitate two or three in English, and to send them to him, with copies of the music, and promised to bring them out at his concerts in London. I got the music copied by a precentor, from
OF THE HIGHLAND CLANS.
251
my own voice ; and, although I was anything but pleased with the melodies when played from the copies, I hoped that Mr Wilson's superior voice and memory would enable him to make something like the originals out of them. Mr Wilson wrote to me expressing himself pleased with the traditions and verses, but declared that " the soul was taken' out of the melodies." He was preparing for his visit to Canada, and said that he would come to see me on his return, and learn them "by heart" from my own voice; but he never returned. These are the traditions and verses which I published in Tait's Magazine in May 1849. I beg leave to submit the imitation of one of these songs here, rather than a literal translation of the original. The last English verse was added by myself.
CALLUM A GHLINNE. — MALCOLM OF THE GLEN.
Mo chailinn donn og 's mo nighean dubh My auburn-haired maid, so fair and mo chaylin dona og s mo ni'-en duv comely
thogarrach, hoga-rach
Thogainn ort fonn 's neo throm gu'n So sprightly and gay, so kind and hog-ayn ort fonn s ne-o hrom gun lovely,
togainn, tog-aynn
Mo nighean dubh gu'n fhiaraidh mo Of thee I would sing, the cause re- mo ni'-en duv gun i-ar-ay' mo lating
bhriadhar gu'n togainn, vri'-ar gun tog-aynn
'S gun innsinn an taobhar nach ealaer Why thou art not wooed, when others s gun inn-sinn an ta-o-var nach eler are mating,
gad thogradh, gad hog-ra'
Mo chailinn donn og. My auburn-haired maid,
mo chaylin donn og
Gu
bheil u gu veyl u gu
bannael, ban-nel
boidheach boy'-ech
baindidh bayn-di'
Gun chron ort fo'n ghrein gu'n bheum gun chron ort fon yreyn gun veym
gu'n sgainnir,
gun sgaynnir
Gur gili u fo'd leine na eiteag na mara, gur gil' u fo'd leynd na ey-teg na mara
'S tha choir agam fein gu'n cheile bhi 's ha choyr agam feyn gun cheyle vi
mar riut, mar ri-ut
Mo chailinn donn og. mo chaylin donn og
Thou art pure as the snow on the hill-
crest swelling,
In beauty arrayed, in mind excelling,
But, ah me, thy sire in the shell delighted,
And thou, my young tocherless daugh- ter, art slighted,
My auburn-haired maid.
252
THE MUSIC
Noir bhios mi air feil 's na ceudnan noyr vis mi ayr feyl s na cey-dan
mar rium, mar ri-um
Do chuideachadh choir a dh-olas drama, do chuyd-ac-a' ehoyr a yolas drama
Gu'n suidh mi mu'n bhord 's gun traigh gun suy' mi man vord s gun tray'
mi mo sherreag, mi mo herrag
'S cha d' thuirt mo bhen riamh rium s cha d huyrt mo ven ri-av ri-um
ach " Dia leat a Challum !"
ach di-a let a challum
Mo chailinn donn og. mo cbaylin donn og
Ged tha mi gu'n or le ol 's le iomairt, ged ha mi gun or le ol e le iomayrt
'S air bheagan do ni le pris na mine, s ayr vegan do ni le pris na mine
Tha 'm ortan aig dia 's e fialaidh uime, ha mortan ayg di-a s e fi-a-lay' uyme
'S ina gheibh mi mo shlainte gu'm paidh 8 mo yeyv mi mo olaynte gum pay
mi na shir mi, mi na liir mi
Mo chailinn donn og. mo chaylin donn og
'S ioma bodachan gnu nach duirig s i-oma bo-dach-an gnu nach duyrig
m'aithris, may'-ris
Le thional air spreidh 's iad ga threigsin le hi-on-al ayr sprey' s i-ad ga h-reyg-sin
san earrach,
san crrach
Nach ol ann sa bhliadhna trian aghallain, nach ol ann sa vli-a'-na tri-an a yall-ayn
'S cha toir e fo'n uir nas mu na bheir Callum, e cha toyr e fo'n uyr nas mu na beyr callum
Mo chailinn donn og. mo chaylin donn og
When I meet at the fair with set of good fellows,
My heart it expands, my feelings it
. mellows,
I drink, laugh, and sing with the glee of a callan,
Yet my wife's harshest phrase is but "God sain thee, Allan !"
My auburn-haired maid.
My social profusion, the darg of my
cronies, Have lessened my folds, and scattered
my monies ; But none values Allan at less than
he's owing, And Fortune, still friendly, her gifts is
bestowing,
My auburn-haired maid.
Yon sour-hearted boor who scorns my example,
Who grubs and who moils, though his means are ample,
Who spends in the year scarce the
price of a gallan, Will bring 'neath the mools no more
than Allan,
My auburn-haired maid.
I still for my friends have a cellar and pantry, I still have an arm and a sword for my country, For the needy and poor I've a neuk yont my hallan, And I've scorn for the knave who deems slightly of Allan,* My auburn-haired maid.
* Thi» line vas suggested by the tradition introductory to this song in Tait's Magazine of May 1849.
OP THE HIGHLAND CLANS. 253 CUMHADH MHIC CRUIMEN. — MAC CRUIMEN'S LAMENT.
Dh-iadh ceo nan stuc mu aodan Chuilinn, The mountain mist flows deep on
yi-a' ce-o nan stuc mu aodan chnylinn Cullin
Is sheinn a bhean shith a torgan mulaid ; The fay sings her elegy sorrowful ; is heyrin a ven hi' a torogan mnlayd
Tha suil ghorm chiuin san dun a sile, Mild blue eyes in the dun are in tears, ha suyl yorm chi-uyn san dun a site
Bhonthriallebh-uainsadhiultetilleadh. Since he departed, and refused to
von h-ri-all e vu-ayn sa yuylt e tille' return.
Form : — Chorus : —
Cha tilleadh, cha tilleadh, cha tilleadh He returns not, returns not, returns
cha tille' cha tille' cha tille' not Mac-Cruimen ! Mac-Cruimen ! mac cruymen
0 chogadh is iomairt cha tilleadh an From war and conflict the warrior
o choga' is im-ayrt cha tille' au refuses to return ! cuiridh ! cuyr-i'
Cha tilleadh, cha tilleadh, cha tilleadh He returns not, returns not, Mac-
cha tille' cha tille' cha tille' Cruimen would not return !
Mac-Cruimen !
mac cruymen
Cha till e gu brath, gu la na cruinneadh ! He will return no more, until the day
cha till e gu bra' gu la na cruynne' of the last gathering !
Tha osag an t-shleibh misg gheug a The wind of the wold among the
ha osag an tleyv misg yeyg a boughs is wailing, cumhadh, cu-va'
Gach sruthan is alt a bron air bruthaich, Each streamlet and burn is sad on
gach sra'-an is alt a bron ayr bru'-aych the hills
Thafillidheannangeugaseinngudubhach, The minstrels of the boughs are sing-
ha filli'-en nan geyg a seynn gu duvach jng mournfully,
O'ndh-fhalbhebh-uain'snachtilletuille. Since he departed, and will never
on yalv e vu-ayn 'snach till e tuylle return. —
Cha till, etc. Return, etc.
Tha'n oiche fo neoil, Ian broin is mulaid, The night is clouded, sorrowful, and
ban o-i-che fo ne-oyl Ian broyu is mu-layd gad
A bhirlinn fo sheol, 's cha'n fheorich The birlin under sail but reluctant
a vir-linn fo he-ol 's chan e-o-rich to depart *
siubhal ; si-u-val
Tha gair nan tonn ri fonn neo-shubhach, The waves of the sea have a sound
ha gayr nan tonn ri fonn ne-o-huvach not happy
A coidh gun t-albh 's nach till e tuille. Lamenting that he departed, and will
a coy' gun talav 'snach till e tuylle never return. —
Cha till, etc. Return, etc.
Cha thionael luchd ciuil san dun mu Gather will not the tuneful race of
cha hi-on-ayl luchd ci-uyl san dun mu the dim in the evening, fheasgar,
254
THE MUSIC
'S inactalla, fo shurd, le muirn ga freagairt ; 'smac-talla fo hurd le muyrn ga freg-ayrt
Gach. fleasgach 's gach oigh, gun cheol, gach flesg-ach 's gach .oy' gun che-ol
a tuireadh a tuyr-e'
Gun d' f halbh e bh-uain, 's nach till e tuille. gun dalav e vu-ayn 'snach till e tuylle
Cha tilleadh, cha tilleadh, cha tilleadh, cha tille' cha tille' cha tille'
Mac-Cruimen, mac crnymen
0 chogadh is iomairt cha tilleadh an o choga' is im-ayrt cha tille' an
cuiridh !
cuyr-i'
Cha tilleadh, cha tilleadh, cha tilleadh cha tille' cha tille' cha till'
Mac-Cruimen ! mac cruymen
Cha till e gu brath, gu la na cruinneadh! cha till e gu bra' gu la na cruynne'
While Echo, with alacrity and joy,
answers them ; The youths and maidens are without
music, lamenting
That he departed from us, and will never return. —
He returns not, returns not, returns not Mac-Cruimen !*
From war and conflict the warrior refuses to return !
He returns not, returns not, Mac- Cruimen would not return !
He will return no more, until the day of the last gathering !
The late Archibald Leckie, Esq., Dyer, Paisley, an antiquary of some local distinction, informed me that Shakespere was very fond of Highland lore and Highland melody, and that a grand-aunt of his, a Dumbartonshire lady, who was a very old woman when he was a boy, used to sing several of the ballads he composed to Highland airs. He recollected perfectly well her singing his ballad beginning " 0 come with me, and be my love," to the air of Mari Bhan. I heard this Gaelic song when I was a boy, and my impression is that it was very beautiful, but I forget all excepting one verse and the chorus. These, and the melody, I quote merely for the sake of the above tradition. The air was taken down from the voice of a noble and generous enthusiast in every thing honourable to the Gael, Colin Campbell, Esq., Collector of Inland Kevenue, who entered with spirit into the Volunteer Movement, and is now captain of one of the Highland Companies in Sir Michael Shaw Stewart's regiment of ^Renfrewshire Volunteers.
A MHA1GHDEAN MHODHAK.
A mhaighdean mhodhar is boidh'che Maiden tender of the most beautiful a vay'-den vo'-ar is boy'-che (symmetrical) figure,
dealbh,
de-alv
Tha do ghruaigh mar an caoran dearg, Thy cheeks are as rowan red,
ha do yru-ay' mar an caoran derag
Do shuil mar dhearcaig fo dhriuchd so Thy eyes like (blae) berries in morn- do huyl mar yerc-ayg fo yri-uc so ing dew,
mhaduinn, vad-uynn
Doshliosmareala,marshneachddolaimh. Thy bosom like the swan, thy hands do h-lis mar ella mar nechd do layv snow.
* The last of this noble race of minstrels is a blind and venerable old gentleman living at Gourock.
OF THE HIGHLAND CLANS. 255
Fonn :— Chorus :—
Faillill oh ro, air Mari bhain, Fayllill oh ro, ayr Mari bhain,
fayllill oh ro ayr mari vayn
Faillill oh ro, gur tu mo ghradh ; Fayllill oh ro, gur -tu mo yra' ;
fayllill oh ro gur tu mo yra'
Faillill oh ro, na hu-ill o ro, Fayllill oh ro, na h-uill o ro,
fayllill oh ro na hn-ill o ro
Gu'n togain fonn, air mo Mhari bhain. Gun togain fonn, air mo Mari
gun tog-ayn fonn ayr mo vari vayn bhain.
DUANAG CEITEIN. — MAY LILT.
Noir chuireas an Ceiten na geugan fo When May clothes the boughs with noyr clmy-rea an ceyten na geyg-an fo bloom
bhlath,
via'
Biodh na h-eoin a seinn a la 's dh-oiche And the birds sing in them night and *bi' na he-oyn a seynn a la's yoy-che
sa la, sa la
Bidh gobhair, bidh caoirich is crodh- There will be goats, sheep, milk cows, bi' govayr bi' caoyrich is cro'-
loigh le'n al, loy' len al
Aig Mari oig ga'n saodachadh ri aodan And young Mary driving them against ayg mari oyg gan saod-a-cha ri aodan the breast of the hills,
charn. charn
Fonn : — Chorus : —
Ho, mo Mhari laghach, 's tu mo Mhari Ho, my bonny Mary, ho, my Mary bo mo vari la'-ach 'stu mo vari trim
ghrinn,
yrinn
Ho, mo Mhari laghach, 's tu, mo Mhari Ho, my bonny Mary, ho, my Mary ho mo vari la'-ach 'stu mo vari melodious •
bhinn ; vinn
Ho, mo Mhari laghach, 's tu, mo Mhari Ho, my bonny Mary, ho, my Mary ho mo vari la'-ach 'stu mo vari trim,
ghrinn, yrinn
Mari lurach bhoidheach ga'n comhnuidh My Mary bonny, lively, who dwells mari lur-ach voy-ech gan cov-nuy' in the glens,
na glinn.
na glinn
Cha'n 'eil inneal ciuil a thuirling riamh No instrument has ever sounded under cha-neyl inn-el ci-uyl a hurling ri-av the sun
fo'n ghrein, fon yreyn
256
THE MUSIC
A dh-airisis air choir gach ceol bhios a yayris-is ayr choyr gach ce-ol vis
again fein, — agayn feyn
Uiseag air gach lonan, smeorach air ny-seg ayr gach lo-nan sme-o-rach ayr
gach geig, gach geyg
'S cuag seinn le muirn a loidh do'n chiuin- 'scu-ag seynn le muyrn a loy' don chi-uyn-
mhios cheit. — Ho, etc. vi-os cheyt
That can adequately imitate every kind of music we have, —
A lark on every meadow, a thrush on every branch,
And the cuckoo singing joyously her hymn to the mild month of May. Ho, &c.
Tha do sheang shlios fallain mar eala ha do heng hlis fallayn mar ella
air snamh ; ayr snav
Muineal mar an canach, beul o'm banail muynel mar an canach beyl om ban-ayl
failt, faylt
Gruaidh air dhath an t-shiris, suil-ghorm gru-ay' ayr ya' an tir-is suyl-yorm
mhilis thlath, vilis hla'
Mala-chaol gu'n ghruaman, gnuis ghlan, mala-chaol gun yru-a-man gnuys ylan
's cuach-fhalt ban. — Ho, etc. 's cu-ach-alt ban
Thy sound taper waist is graceful as a swan when swimming ;
Thy throat like cana, sweet is a welcome from thee,
Cheeks like cherries, eyes blue, sweet, warm,
A slender eye-brow, without a frown, a white forehead, hair curly and fair. Ho, &c.
Ged bu leamsa Albainn, a h-airgead sa ged bu le-am-sa alabin a hayr-ged sa
maoin, maoyn
Cia mar bhithinn sonadh gun do chomunn ce mar vi'-inn sona' gun do cho-munn
gaoil ?
gaoyl
B' annsa Mari bhoidheach le deo choir bannsa mari voy'-ech le de-o choyr
dhomh fein, yov feyn
Na ged gheibhinn storas na Roin-Eorp na ged yeyv-inn storas na royn-eorp
gu leir. — Ho, etc.
gu leyr
Although mine were Albin, and her wealth and power,
How could I be happy, without thy loved companionship ?
Rather would I have bonny Mary, with a good right, to myself,
Than a title to Europe with all her
wealth. — Ho, etc.
The following verses were written by William Ross, to the original of the air known in the Lowlands as " O'er the muir amang the heather." Both sets are very beautiful; but the Highland set has certainly more tenderness, simplicity, and dignity, at least to my taste.
OF THE HIGHLAND CLANS.
257
S CIANEL M FHUIREACH AN DUNEIDIN. — PENSIVE IS MY RESIDENCE IN
DUNEIDIN.
'S cianel m' fhuireach an Duneidin, 'sci-anel muyrech an dun-eydin
Cumail comunn ri luchd Beurladh ; cumayl comunn ri luc beyrla'
Thoir mo shoraidh bhlath gun treigsin, hoyr mo horay' via' gun treygsin
Dh-ionnsaidh 'm eibhneis anns yi-on-say' meyv-neys anna
glennaibh. glenn-ayv
Pensive is my residence in Duneidin,
Keeping company with English-speak- ing men ; Bear my unchanged salute
s na To my joy, among the glens, 'ana
Fonn : —
E ho ro, mo run a chailinn, e ho ro mo run a chaylin
E ho ro, mo run a chailinn ; e ho ro mo run a chaylin
Run a chailinn, suairce manran, run a chaylin su-ayrce man-ran
Dh-oich 's la tha tigh'n fo m' aire. yoych 'sla ha ti'-n fo mayre
Tha mo cridhe dubhach, ciurte, ha mo chri'-e du-vach ci-urte
'S trie na deoir a ruidh o'm huillean ; stric na de-oyr a ruy' om buyllen
Antiguandiughna'mbithmodhuilriut, Wilt thou come to-day, or may I ex- an tig u an di-u' nam bi' mo yuyl ri-ut pect thee,
Na'ndianmiant-iulthairnabeannaibh? Or shall I make my way over the nan di-an mi an ti-ul hayr na bennayv mountains ? —
E ho ro, etc. E ho ro, etc.
Chorus : — E ho ro, my love the maiden,
E ho ro, my love the maiden ;
My love, the maiden of the animated converse,
Who is in my thoughts night and day.
My heart is sad, wounded,
Tears run frequently from my eyes ;
Tha mo chridhe mar na cuainten, ha mo chri'-e mar na cu-aynten
Na duilleach nan crann fo luasgain ; na duyllech nan crann fo lu-asgayn
Na mar fhiadh fo thart an f hnaraen, na mar i-a' fo hart an u-a-ren
'S mo shuillean ruaimleach le faire. — smo hnyll-en ru-aym-lech le fayre
E ho ro, etc.
My heart is like the sea,
Or the leaves of the wood in motion ;
Or like the deer athirst for the spring,
And my eyes dim for the want of
sleep. — E ho ro, etc.
Sweeter than the thrush in May
Gur binne na smeorach ceiten, gur binne na sme-or-ach ceyten
Caint do bheoil's tu comhradh reidh rium, Are the words of thy mouth in kindly caynt do ve-oyl stu cov-ra' rey' ri-um converse with me,
Kk
258
THE MUSIC
'S mo chliabh a lasadh le eibhneas, smo chli-av a lasa' le eyv-nes
Tabhairt eisdeachd dha d' bbeul tairis. tav-ayrt eys-dec ya d' veyl tayris
E ho ro, etc.
'S tu mo Ion, mo cheol, mo chlarsach, stu mo Ion mo che-ol mo chlar-sach
Mo leug phrieseil, rimheach, aghmhor, mo leug fri-seyl rivech agh-vor
Bi an t-sheun a chumadh o'n bhas mi, bi an teyn a chuma' on vas mi
Maighdeann mo ghraidh bhi mar rium. may'-den mo yray' vi mar ri-um
E ho ro, etc.
Gur h-etrom mo ghleus is m' iompaidh, gur hetrom mo yleys is mi-ompay'
'S neo lodail mo.cheum o'n fhonnsa, 's ne-o lo-dayl mo cheym on onnsa
Gu tir ard nan sar fhear sundach, gu tir ard nan sar er sundach
'S mi treigsin na galltachd nam dheann- smi treyg-sin na galltac nam yenn-
aibh. — E ho ro, etc.
ayv
Diridh mi ri tulach Armuin, diri' mi ri tulach armuyn
Air leth-taobh strath min na Larig, ayr le'-taov sra' min na larig
'S tearnaidh mi gu Innis-bhla-choil, sternay' mi gu innis-vla-choyl
'S ghibh mi Sine bhan gun smallan. — 's yev mi sine van gun smallan
E ho ro, mo ruin a chailinn, e ho ro mo run a chaylin
E ho ro, mo ruin a chailinn ; e ho ro mo run a chaylin
Kuin a chailinn, suairce manran, run a chaylin su-ayrce man-ran
Dh-oich 's la tha tigh'n fo m' aire. yoych 'sla ha ti'-n fo mayre
My bosom kindling with joy, While listening to thy lips eloquent— E ho ro, etc.
Thou art my food, my music, my harp, My gem priceless, brilliant, blessed ; It were a charm to save me from death To have thee always with me. — E ho ro, etc.
Light will be my mind and my action, Not clumsy my step from this land, To the high country of heroes gay,
Forsaking the country of strangers
with speed. — E ho ro, etc.
I will ascend the hill of Armuin, On one side of the vale of Larig, Then go down to Innis-vla-choil, And find fair Jean in her brightness. — E ho ro, my love the maiden, E ho ro, my love the maiden ;
My love, the maiden of the animated converse,
Who is in my thoughts night and day.
Burns wrote a song to the same air with the following verses also ; but, like the rest of his songs to Highland airs, (excepting " Auld Langsyne," " A man's a man for a' that," " The Lea-riggs," " Green grow the rashes, o," and a few others, the airs of which had scarcely been altered,) the airs were so tamed down as to carry the words even of Burns into the land of Nod along with
OF THE HIGHLAND CLANS.
259
them. The following Gaelic air and verses are so peculiar as to make me feel myself justified in assigning the composition of the melody, as well as the verses, to a fair lady, who was afterwards married to Cameron of Glenevis, — her " gillidh dubh ciar dubh," or, black-haired swarthy youth. I heard it sung in the true spirit by one of her descendants, MissMacdonald of Drimnantorran, who inherits the taste of her ancestress, and is so unfashionable as to sing the songs and play the melodies of her native mountains in a manner worthy of them, when other young ladies consider it quite vulgar to sing or play anything either sweet or natural.
AN GILLIDH DUBH CIAR DUBH.
Cha dhirich mi brudhach, cha dirich mi bru'-ach
Cha shiubhail mi mointeach, cha hi-uvayl mi moyntech
Dh' fhalbh mo ghuth binn, yalv mo yu' binn
Cha sheinn mi oran, cha heyn mi oran
Cha chaideal mi uair, cha chaydel mi u-ayr
0 luain gu domhnach, o lu-ayn gn dovnach
Gu'n an gillidh dubh ciar dubh thighinn gun an gilli' duv ciar duv hi'-inn
fo'm uidh. — Gu'n an gillidh, etc. fo'm ay'
Briodal beoil u, gradh bhan og u, •bridal be-oyl u gra' van og u
Cruaidh-bhuilleach, fearra-bhuilleach, cru-ay'-vuyllach ferra-vuyllach
Sealgaer air mointich, selager ayr mo-in-tich
Lamh a leagadh nan damh cabarach, lav a lega' nan tav cabarach
'S na'm bradan leis a mhorbhadh, 'a nam bradan leys a vorva
An gillidh dubh ciar tha tighinn fo'm an gilli' duv ci-ar ha ti'-inn fom
uidh. — An gillidh, etc.
uy'
B-eibhinn leom coir air a ghillidh dhubh beyvinn le-om coyr ayr a yilli' yuv
chiar-dubh,
chi-ar-duv
Fhaotain ri phasadh na'n deonaichidh aotayn ri fasa' nan de-on-ich-e'
dia c. di-a e
I ascend not a hill, I cross not a heath, I tune not my voice, I sing not a song, I sleep not an hour, From Monday till Sunday,
Without being conscious (in my heart) of the black-haired swarthy youth, Without, etc.
Tender are thy words, love of young
maidens, Hardy are thy strokes, and manly :
A sportsman on the heath,
A hand for prostrating the branchy
stags, And the salmon with the spear,
Is the black-haired swarthy youth, of
whom I am conscious. Is the, etc.
'Twere joy to have a right to the black-haired swarthy youth,
To get him in marriage, should God ordain it.
260
THE MUSIC
Kachain leat do'n t-Holaint, rach-ayn let don t-ol-aynt
Mo dheo ! be mo mhian e ; mo ye-o be mo vi-an e
'S cha ghabhain fear liadh 's tu tighinn s cha yav-ayn fer li-a' s tu ti'-inn
fo'm uidh. — 'S cha, etc.
fom uy'
I would go with thee to Holland, Indeed, it were my delight to do so ;
And I will not have a grey-headed
man, while conscious of thee. And I, etc.
The air to which the following verses are sung I received from my daughter, Mrs Lang. Logan, in the " Scottish Gael," gives a different set of evidently the same melody, under the touching name of " Ossian's lament for his father." The following verses, like the song, " Oich mar tha mi," at page 197, are re-arranged from fragments, excepting the first verse of each, which begin with the same words.
OICH MAR THA MI £
Oich mar tha mi 's mi na 'm aonar, oych mar ha mi s mi na m aonar
Cha chadal aobhach a gheabhain ann, cha chada aov-ach a yev-ayn ann
Aig boidhchead t-aodainn, is miad mo ayg boy-ched t-aod-aynn is mi-ad mo
ghaoil ort ; yaoyl ort
Gu'm b-ait learn fhaotainn dhiot guth gum bayt le-am aot-aynn yi-ot gu'
an chaint. an chaynt
Fonn : —
0 na bith guidhe an gaol a threigsin, o na bi' guy'-e an gaol a hreyg-sinn
Bha o chein dhuinn na eibhneas aigh ; va o cheyn yuyn na eyv-nes ay'
Ged scar air cairdeann gun iochd o ged scar ayr cayrd-enn gun i-oc o
cheil' sinn, cheyl sinn
Na fag gu leir mi gun speis gun bhaigh. na fag gu leyr mi gun speys gun vay'
MI NA M AONAR.
Alas for me, all alone,
Not sound is the sleep which comes
to me From the beauty of thy face and my
great love ;
'Twere joy to get a single word of converse with thee.
Chorus : — Oh do not say we must the love
forsake That has been so long to us a joy
blameless ;
Although friends merciless have rent us asunder,
Leave me not for ever, without es- teem or pity.
Noir chuireas Ceitean gach doire geugach, noyr chuyr-es ceyt-en gach doyre geyg-ach
A sheinn le eibhneas fo ceumaibh graidh. a heynn le eyv-nes fo ceym-ayv gray'
'S ann bhios mi 'm aonar, gu tursach, B ann vis mi m aonar gu tursach
deurach, deyrach
A Btrith ri eislean nachgeil 's nach traidh. a stri' ri eyslen nach geyl a nach tray'
0 na, etc.
When Spring makes every leafy grove
Breathe joyous songs under her steps
of love, I will be alone, in sorrow and tears,
Struggling against a calamity that will
never yield or diminish. — Oh, etc.
OF THE HIGHLAND CLANS. 261
Airt-iomhaidhdhreachairachoidhadearca, On thy beautiful image for ever
ayr ti-o-vay' yrech-ayr a choy' a derca dwelling
Cha 'n fhiudh learn bearteas na staid an Worthless (in my estimation) is the
cha'n i-u' lem bertes na stayd an wealth and state of kings ; righ ; ri
Guth fuar a ghliocais, suil uaibhreach The cold voice of wisdom, the lofty
gu' fu-ar a yli-oc-aya suyl u-ayv-rech eye of the scornful, tailceis, taylc-eys
Cha chluinn, cha 'n fhaic is cha bhith I hear not, I mark not ; there is no-
cha chluynn cha'n aye is cha vi' thing real to me save thee ! —
'm bheachd ach i ! — 0 na, etc. Oh, etc.
m vec ach i
Domhnull Donn mac fear Bhoshuintainn, (Dovnul donn mac fer Vo-hi-un- taynn,) was the most distinguished Conservative of his day ; and was, of course, regarded and represented as a robber and a thief by the grantees of feudal charters, who considered the king and themselves the lawful spoilers of the people, and looked on the black-mail-men as interlopers. He was a great warrior, a splendid looking man, and there was poetry not only in his character, but also in his , . romantic and adventurous life. A poetic warfare, such as was carried on in the Lowlands between their contemporaries Dunbar and Kennedy, was carried on in the Highlands between Donald Donn and the great bard Iain Lorn, who was "~ <Hut» royal Celtic bard to three of the Stuart kings. I have shown elsewhere that K a the feudal kings persecuted the bards ; but when they got into difficulties with the feudal nobility, they revived the office of royal bard, and found its value. Iain Lorn - . was a convert to feudalism, and wanted the chiefs to take feudal charters, until ,i -B^^U he found that the nobility had become revolutionists, which the bard (with an acuteness that has never been attained by any of our historians) ascribed to these feudal charters, which made them anxious so to limit the power of the sovereign as to enable them to give the same effect to feudal charters in Scotland which they had already received in England, and thus to become each the despot and the proprietor, instead of merely the limited superior, of his district. The chiefs who had accepted charters, such as Argyle, Breadalbane, &c., never presumed to alter the fixed tenures of their clans down to that date ; but excep- tional cases of usurpation then began to appear, and the bard took the alarm, and thus sounded his tocsin : —
Tha Alb' ga cuir fo chis-chain, Albin is beingplaced under cam-exactions,
Le ur-reachd cuigs' gu 'n f hirinn, By the new laws of the truthless whigs,
An ait a chalpa* dhirich — Instead of the straight calpa* —
Se cuid de 'm dhiobail ghoirt. This is part of my painful regret
* Calpa was the old name of the young stock in which the fixed rents of the clans were paid. The clans were in the first ages of feudalism, allowed to pay their calpa (" caupe" in feudal enactments) either to the chief or feudal grantee. When the feudal system took root in the Lowlands, however, the payment of the calpa to the native chief was suppressed, and the feudal grantee usurped the power, not only of exacting payment, but of changing the fixed tenures of the people into a tenantry, with a limited duration.
262 THE MUSIC
Donald held that the tenants of the grantees of feudal charters were bound to pay to the native chief the calpa paid by the evicted clansmen ; and he was, accordingly, a leading man among those who exacted the calpa from feudal tenants. Differences of opinion on the subject of feudal charters and forcibly exacting calpa (Anglici, black-mail) from feudal tenants, introduced personalities into the " flytings" of Domhnull Donn and Iain Lorn ; but they did not, like the Lowland bards, descend to scurrility. This remark does not apply to Kennedy : indeed it is worthy of observation, as showing the superior refinement of the Caledonian over the Scot, that Kennedy,* a Gallowegian Cruithne, preserves more dignity than the court bard Dunbar, in their curious " flytings." Gaelic was the language of the Gallowegians at the above period, and Kennedy is often taunted with his Gaelic — called " Earse" by Dunbar, who was probably the first man of letters to condemn what he did not understand, but who has found many followers in the same direction since then. One line of Domhnull Donn's retort gave deadly offence to the royal bard Iain Lorn, namely, "Donnal a choin-bhathail sin, bhodhair mo dha chluais ;" — the howling of that vagrant cur has deaved both my ears. In answering this taunt, the royal bard almost descends to scurrility. Domhnull Donri was in love with a daughter of the chief of the Grants. The chiefs of this old and powerful clan long refused, but ultimately accepted a feudal charter of the clan district. This introduced feudal ideas into the family, so that they could no longer regard the high-blooded, but pennyless chieftain as an equal match. The hero and his lady-love, were, however, determined not to allow new and conventional ideas, foreign alike to their country and their clans, to intervene between them, and had concerted a plan of elopement. The family were living at their seat at Glenurquhart, — so Donald, to be at hand, hid him- self in a cave (or rather under a ledge of a rock) on the north-side of Lochness, near Rileag Ghorraidh, a little distance below that part of the ravine over which his celebrated namesake, Allein Mac Eaonuill,f leaped on finding his enemies before him at the head of the ravine, in his headlong race from Cill-a-chriosd. Donald's secret and retreat were betrayed to the brother of his love, and he was decoyed into a house in the neighbourhood of the castle, by a pretended message from Miss Grant. Here he was to remain until the young lady should be able to escape the vigilance of those who were watching her, and join him. Donald, thrown off his guard by the kindness and hospitality of the lady's pre- tended confident, was prevailed on, not only to drink " pottle deep," but also to sleep in the barn. No sooner was he asleep, however, than his sword and target were removed by his treacherous host ; hence, when his foes came upon him in the morning, he had no weapon but his gun, which snapped, so that he was
* From Wigton to the toun o' Air, And all be-doun the links o' Cree, No man need think to tarry there, Unless he court Saint Kennedy. — OLD APHORISM.
+ See the New Monthly Magazine of, I think, 1829, for the article " Cill-a-Chriosd,"
OF THE HIGHLAND CLANS.
263
literally unarmed. The following are a few of the verses he wrote on the occasion of his capture : —
Mile mallachd gu bragh mile mallao gu bra
Air a ghunna mar arm, ayr a yunna mar arm
'N deigh a mheallaidh 's an tair a After the deception and degradation '" dey' a vellay' san tayr a I have met with. —
A thousand curses for ever On the gun as a weapon,
A thousand, etc.
Had I been offered
u cley' a vellay' san
fhuair mi. — Mile, etc. hu-ayr mi
Ged a gheabhain dhomh fein ged a yev-ayn yov feyn
Lan buaile de spreidh, Ian bu-ayle de sprey'
B' annsa claidheamh le sgeidh 's an I would have preferred a sword and
bannsa clay'-ev le sge' san target at that moment. —
uair ad. — Ge, etc. Had, etc. u-ayr ad
There were three-score and three Chasing me along the windings of the
Bha tri fiched is triuir va tri fich-ed is tri-uyr
Ga 'm ruidh feadh nan lub, gam ruy' fe' nan lub river
Gus'ndobhuiniadmolusleluathasuam. Until they won my strength from me gus 'n do vuyn i-ad mo lus le lu'-as u-am by speed. —
Bha, etc. There, etc.
Eigh ! but I was ashamed When they caught me alive
Eigh ! gur mise a bha nar ri' gur mise a va nar
Noir a ghlachd iad mi slan noyr a ylac i-ad mi slan
'S nach tug mi fear ban na ruadh dhiu. Without losing a man, fair or red.- snach tug mi fer ban na ru-a' yi-u
Righ, etc. Eigh, etc.
Na 'm biodh fios mi bhi 'n laimh, na m bi-o' fis mi vi'n layv
'S iomadh Domhnalach ard, si-oma' dovnalach ard
A ghabha mo phairt 's an uairsa. a yava mo fayrt s an u-ayrsa
Na, etc.
Agus maighdhean dheas ur, agus mayden yes ur
Is ard beachd 's as caoin gnuis, ia ard bee s as caoyn gnuys
Were it known that I am imprisoned, Many is the lofty Macdonald That would take my part in this strait Were, etc.
And many a maiden fresh and symmet- rical, Of a lofty mind and a mild face,
264
THE MUSIC
A chuireadh na cruin* ga 'm fhusgladh. Would give crowns* to release me. a chuyre' na cruyn gam u-as-gla'
Agus, etc. And, etc.
Black-haired John, arise, and come
forth With as many as you can gather —
Iain duibh tog a mach, i-ayn duyv tog a mach
'S thoir na fhaodas tu leat — s hoyr na yaodas tu le-at
Cum cuimhneadh air a bheart bu dual Remember the wont of your ancestors, cum cuyv-ne' ayr a veyrt bu du-al
dhut. — Iain, etc. Black, etc.
yut
Na'm biodh tusa fo ghlais, nam bi-o' tusa fo ylays
Agus raise a bhi as, agus mise a bhi as
Naile chumain mo chas gle luaineach. nayle" chumayn mo chas gle lu-aynech
Na'm, etc.
Had you been under a lock, And me at liberty, Faith! I would keep my foot in action. Had, etc.
Bhiodh an t-osan gle ghearr, vi-o' an t-osan gle yerr
'S a feile gle ard, s a feyle gle ard
'S balgan peallach oscean na cruachain, s balagan pellach os-cen na cru-a-chayn
&c. — Bhiodh, etc. §
The hose would be very short, The kilt very high,
And the shaggy haversack above the
haunch, &c. The, etc.
Domhnull Bonn naturally expected that his great clan would interfere on his behalf and pay his eric ; but he was not on friendly terms with his chieftain, Mac-mhic Eaonuill, nor with the great clan bard Iain Lorn, whose only son he had the misfortune to have killed in a duel. There was thus no person interested in his fate who was sufficiently influential to organize the necessary movement to save him. The apparent neglect seems to have deeply afflicted, and even shaken his heroic spirit ; for the following verses, composed by him in prison the night before he was beheaded, are scarcely worthy of him. I can easily account for the absence of the tender and pathetic in these verses, since breath- ing sorrow or regret might be construed, under the circumstances, into timidity or a want of firmness. His pride and high spirit, therefore, made him guard against the expression of feelings that might countenance such an interpretation ; but the lofty and bold sentiments which used to characterize his poems are
* All excepting capital crimes, such as treachery to one's clan or country, murders, or infamous crimes, could be compensated by an eric under the cleachda, or use and wont — which was the only law recognized or valued by the patriarchal clans. The eric of this warrior could not have been refused if offered by the clan. The chief of the Grants had demanded and received eric from the Cameron* not many centuries before then,
OF THE HIGHLAND CLANS.
awanting here. This seems to show that the apparent neglect of his friends and his clan had shaken his confidence, and lowered the tone of his mind, although it could not subdue his courage. " Bidh mi maireach" he says bitterly, " air cnoc gu'n cheann, 's cha bhi mo chairdean fuireachail ;" I will be to-mor- row on a hillock without my head, and my friends will not be watchful. An- other couplet is equally expressive of his agitation and conscious power to do something very dangerous — probably to his guards, for effecting his escape, — something which his heart did not approve, but to which he might be tempted in his desperation. " Ochoin a Dhia !" he exclaims, " cum leom mo chiol, cha robh mi riabh cho cunnartach ;" Oh God ! keep with me my wisdom ; I never was so dangerous. These lines are sufficiently expressive of his agitation, and give a lively idea of the stern pride that made him suppress anything sufficiently touching to be represented as complaining of neglect, or implying timidity. He suppressed anything resembling either, as unworthy of his warlike character and lofty pride. But the air to which he composed the verses is sufficiently tender and melancholy to betray what he would not express in words. It breathes the tender feelings and regrets natural to the lover and the hero, on the night before he was to die. This is one of the Macgreagair o Ruarodh measures, so much admired, and so touching in the style of singing, — the two last lines of every verse being repeated in the next by the whole audience.
'S truagh, a righ ! mo nighean donn, stru-a' a ri' mo ni'-e-an donn
TKUAGH, A R1GH ! MO NIGHEANN DHONN.
Would, a ri ! my brown-haired maid, That I was over in Mull with thee ;
Nach robh mi thall a Muile leat ; nach rov mi hall a muyle let
Far am faighein iasg is sithean fhiadh, Where I would get fish and deer
far am fay'-eyn i-asg is si'-e-an i-a'
'Sa chial cha bhiodh oirn uireasaibh. sa chi-al cha vi-o' oyrn uyr-es-ayv
Far am faighein iasg is sithean fhiadh, far am fay'-eyn i-asg is si'-e-an i-a'
'Sa chial cha bhiodh oirn uireasaibh ; sa chi-al cha vi-o' oyrn uyr-es-ayv
Mharbhain breac air boinne cas, varv-ayn brec ayr boynne cas
Far nach deanadh casan grunnachadh. far nach den-a' casan grunna-cha'
Mharbhain breac air boinne cas, varv-ayn brec ayr boynne cas
Far nach deanadh casan grunnachadh ; far nach den-a' casan grunna-cha'
'S an coileach dubh air luth a sgeidh, san coy lech duv ayr lu' a sgey'
Mu'n d' theid na eidith ioma fear, mun deyd na eyd-i' i-oma fer
venison, And, my love, we should not want.
Where I would get fish and doer
venison, And, my love, we should not want;
I would spear the salmon in the rapid, Where feet would not sound.
I would spear the salmon in the ranid, Where feet would not sound ;
And the black-cock on the speed of
his wing, Before many could dress themselves.
Ll
26G
THE MUSIC
'S an coileach dubh air luth a sgeidh, san coylech duv ayr lu' a sgey'
Mu'n d' theid na eidith ioma fear ; mun deyd na eyd-i' i-oma fer
'S an earba bheag am bun na'm preas, And the little roe in the coppice
san er-ba veg am bun nam pres
Ge deas a chi sa chluinneas i. ge des a chi sa chluynn-e-as i
And the black-cock on the speed of his wing,
Before many could dress themselves ;
Though quick her sight and hearing.
'S an earba bheag am bun na'm preas, And the little roe in the coppice sau er-ba veg am bun nain pres
Ge deas a chi sa chluinneas i. ge dea a chi sa chluynnes i
Ochoin, a Dhia ! cum learn mo chial, och-oyn a yi-a cum le-am mo chi-al
Cha robh mi riamh cho cunnartach. cha rov mi ri-av cho cunn-art-ach
Ochoin, a Dhia ! cum learn mo chial, och-oyn a yi-a cum le-am mo chi-al
Cha robh mi riamh cho cunnartach. cha rov mi ri-av cho cunn-art-ach
Bidh mi maireach air cnoc gu'n cheann, bi' mi mayr-ech ayr cnoc gun chenn
'S cha bhith mo chairdean fuireachail. 's cha vi' mo chayrd-e-an fuyr-ach-ayl
Though quick her sight and hearing. 0, God ! keep my wisdom with me, I never was so dangerous.
0, God ! keep my wisdom with me, I never was so dangerous. •
I will be to-morrow on a knoll with- out my head,
And my friends will not be watchful !
'S truagh, a righ ! mo nigheaun donn, stru-a' a ri' mo ni'-e-an donn
Nach robh mi thall a Muile leat ; nach rov mi hall a muyle let
Far am faighinn iasg is sithean fhiadh, far am fay'-inn i-asg is si'-e-an i-a'
'Sa chial cha bhiodh oirn tiireasaibh. sa chi-al cha vi-o' oyrn nyr-es-ayv
Would, a ri ! my brown-haired maid, That I was over in Mull with thee ;
Where I would get fish and deer
venison, And, my love, we should not want.
According to the tradition, Donald's sister was present at the execution, and the head articulated, after being struck off, the words, " a Cheit, tog an ceann," Kate, lift the head. It may be doubted whether the tongue, though put in motion as the axe fell, could articulate the words that hung upon it ; but it cannot be doubted, that, ascribing to Domhnull Donn the anxiety lest his body should meet with neglect or indignity after death, which the tradition implies, proves that he preserved the demeanour of a gentleman while under- going a sentence resulting from his opposition to the usurpation by which the people were, as he foresaw, ultimately deprived of their immemorial right of property in the soil of their respective clan districts. A plain, simple memorial stone in his native clachan, Bohutin, with an inscription to the above effect, is well deserved by the memory of Domhnull Donn.
OF THE HIGHLAND CLANS.
267
The following fragment has been dressed up like the two beginning " Oich mar tha mi," already mentioned. The melody is called " Oran sith," by Mrs Macdonell, but the subject of the verses usually sung to it is the very common, though ever touching one in ballad poetry, — unhappy love : the melody itself, however, is of the class called ceol-sith, or fairy music, and few even of this class are more wild and pathetic, as played by Mrs Macdonell ; but the following verses are not worthy of the melody. Though I have not made a connected ballad to suit the air, from anxiety to preserve all I could find of the original, the verses tell their own touching story : — The fair authoress was betrayed by her sister, and the lover slain by her three brothers, but at the expense of two of their own lives. They returned from the adventure covered with " their own blood" but this seems to have increased, instead of diminishing the grief of the loving sister, — so little did a spirit of revenge accord with the feeling of the bereaved Highland maiden.
THA DHRIUCHD FEIN AIR BHAB GACH ME AN GAIN. — ITS OWN DEW IS ON
EVERY BOUGH.
Thadhriuchdfeinairbhargachmeangain, Its own dew is on every bough, ha yri-uc feyn ayr var gach mengayn
Tha gach gleannan a dol an guirmead, ha gach glennan a dol an gnyrmed
Tha 'n ceo ag iadhadh mu na bealaich, han ce-o ag i'-a' mu na bel-aych
'S tha mo leannan a tighinn a shuireadh. 's ha mo lennan a ti'-inn a huy-re'
Every glen is becoming more green ; The mist is winding around the defiles, And my lover is coming awooing.
Fonn : —
Huvo i na horin ova, Hurin i na horin o ; Huvo i na horin ova,
Thug mi coinneamh dha sa choil. hug mi coynn-ev ya sa choyl
Chorus : —
Huvo i na horin ova, Hurin i na horin o ; Huvo i na horin ova, I gave him a meeting in the wood.
A phiuthar f healsach a riun mo mhealladh, False sister, who betrayed me, a fi-u'-ar elsach a rinn mo vella'
Noir a leig mi riut mo run, When I disclosed to thee my love,
noyr a leyg mi ri-ut mo ran
Shaoil learn nach bu luaidhaidh 'n I thought my secret would as fast haoyl lem nach bu lu-ay'n come
sgeuladh l-a'
Through thy knee as through thy lips. Huvo, etc.
Tre do bheul na tre do ghlun.- tre do veyl na tre do ylun
Huvo, etc.
2G8
THE MUSIC
'S iomadh cluichidh, mireadh is aighear, clu-ich-e' mirre' is ay'-er
'San robh sinn tairis measg ghleann is san rov ^ sinn tayr-is mesg ylenn is
chluainean, chlu-ay-nen
Noir cheangail gaol sinn an laith air noyr chen-gayl gaol sinn an lay' ayr
h-oige, hoyg-e
Mardharosairaonmheangainsuairce. — mar ya ros ayr aon vengan su-ayr-ce
Huvo, etc.
'S trie a thuit ann an doire diamhair stric a huyt ann an doyr<3 di-a-vayr
Anearbagmheaghaillesaigheadfuadain; an erbag vi-a-yayl le sa'-ed fu-a-dayn
Ach co a sheaoileadh gu'n tuiteadh ach co a haoyle' gun tuyte'
leannain, lenn-ayn
Le foil na peathaer aroinn mocluasag? le foyl na pe'-er a roynn mo chlu-a-sag
Huvo, etc.
Many were the sports, much the mirth and happiness,
In which we lovingly sympathized witu one another, in green re- cesses among the glens,
When affection tied us together in our youth,
Like two roses rooted in one modest
stem. _ Huvo, etc.
Often has fallen in its secret grove
The innocent roe by a wandering arrow •
But who could think that my lover should fall
By the treachery of the sister who
shared my pillow ? Huvo, etc.
Chaidh a seachad mo thriuir bhraidhrean, Past went my three brothers chay a sech-ad mo ri-uyr vray'-ren
Air an steudaibh lorna luadhadh, ayr an steyd-ayv loma lu'-a-a'
Biodag paisgtedh ris gach uillin,* bi-dag paysg-te' ris gach uyllin
On their steeds sleek and swift, Their dirks folded against each elbow,*
'S am fuil fein a taomadh bh-uapa. s am fuyl feyn a taoma' vu-apa
Huvo, etc.
Chail mi Domhnull 's chail mi Aillein, chayl mi dovnul s chayl mi aillein
Mo dha brathair bha reachd mhor uasal, mo ya vra-ayr va rec vor u-a-sal
'S cha do lughdaich e mo leireadh s cha do lu'-daych e mo leyr-a'
Gu'm be mo Seumas a roin am bualadh. gum be mo he-mas a royn am bu-a-la'
Huvo, etc.
* When the dirk is used in fencing by a skilful the point towards the elbow. The expression above point may touch the elbow-joint.
And their own blood pouring from them.
Huvo, etc.
I have lost Donald, I have lost Allan, My two brothers haughty (but) noble, Nor has it lessened my distress That my James it was who slew them, Huvo, etc.
person, the hilt is grasped in such a way as to turn describes it as folded back along the sleeve, so as the
OF THE HIGHLAND CLANS.
iifi'J
'S coma leom ged threig an latha, s coma le-om ged h-reyg an la'-a
'S ged chuireadh Dilin a che fo chu- s ged - chnyre' di-lin a che fo chu
aintean — aynten
'S coma learn gach ni fo'n athar, s coma le-atn gach ni fon a'-ar
'S mo chead leannaen fo reachd na hu- s mo che d lennan fo rec na lui-
aighidh. — Huvo, etc. ay'i
A chraobh chaorain dlu do'n dortis, a chraov chaor-ayn dlu don dorus
Theid mo ghiulan leat air guaillibh, heyd mo yi-u-lan let ayr chill'
Buin mo chasain ri Dun-dealgain, bonn mo chas-an ri dun-de-la-gayn
Sinte an carbad dealbhach uallach. sinnte an carabad del'-vach yualla
Huvo i, na horiii ova,
Hurin i, na horin o ;
Huvo i, na horin ova,
Thug mi coinneamh dha sa choil.
I care not though the day should for- sake,
Or a deluge should put the world under the sea ; —
I care for nothing under the sky,
Since my first love is in the power of
the grave. Huvo, etc.
Rowan-tree near the door,
On thee I will be carried on shoulders,
The soles of my feet toward Dun-
dalgan, Stretched in a bier, shapely and light.
Huvo i, na horin ova,
Hurin i, na horin o ;
Huvo i, na horin ova,
I gave him a meeting in the wood.
Iain Garbh Mac Gille-Challum, of Eathsay, who was lost on Hesgair, was a bold and adventurous seaman, and, being very popular, his death was much re- gretted. It is the subject of many a " cumhadh," one of them even by Mari Nighean Alastair Ruaidh ; but, unfortunately, I have not been able to procure the air to which her verses were sung. This melody is from Mrs Macdonell, and it is the peculiarity of the air which makes me submit the following verses to the reader.
OCH NAN OCH, MO LEIR CHRADH. — OH MY PAINFUL SORROW.
Och nan och, my painful sorrow At the fate of the warrior ! The hunter of the deer
Och nan och, mo leir chradh och nan och mo leyr chra'
Mar dh-eirich do'n ghaisgeach ! mar yeyrich do'n yaysgech
Cha'n eil sealgaer na sinne, cha'n eyl selager na sinne
'N diugh a frith na 'm beann casa. n ti-u' a fri' nam benn casa
Form : —
Hu-a ho, io ho, hug orin o, Hu-a ho, io ho, iu ri o, Ho ro, io ho, hug orin o.
Is not to-day in the forest of the steep mountains.
Chorus : —
Hu-a ho, io ho, hug orin o, Hu-a ho, io ho, in ri o, Ho ro, io ho, hug orin o.
270
Bha mi uair nach do shaoil mi, va mi u-ayr nach do haoyl mi
Ged is faoin bhe ga agradh, ged is faoyn vi ga agra'
Gu'n rachadh do bhathadh, gun racha' do va'-a'
Gu brath air cuan farsuinn. gu bra' ayr cu-an farsuyn
Hu-a ho, etc.
Fhad sa sheasadh a stiuir dhi, ad sa hesa' a sti-uyr yi
'S tu air cul a buil bhearte, Btu ayr cul a buyl verte
Dh-aindeon anradh nan duillean, yayn-en an-ra' nan duyllen
Agus ubraid na mara. —
agus ub-rayd na mara
Hu-a ho, etc.
Fhad sa fhanadh ri cheile ad sa yan-a' ri cheyld
A dealean 's a h-achuinn,
a delen sa hach-uynn
'S b-urrainn di geilleadh 's bnrrayn di geylle'
Do d' laimh threin air an aigeal, &c.- do dlayv hreyn ayr an aygel
Hu-a ho, etc.
THE MUSIC
The day has been that I did not think, Although it is vain to repeat it, Thou ever couldst have been drowned In an open sea. — Hu-a ho, etc.
While the helm should endure,
And thou shouldst be in the com- mand,
Despite the fierce war of the elements, And the angry tumult of the ocean. — Hu-a ho, etc.
So long as should remain together The planks and the gearing, And she could obey Thy strong arm on the deep, &c.— Hu-a ho, etc.
I submit a few verses of " Gillidh Guanach" for the same reason, namely, more for the sake of the air than the verses. In Tait's Magazine of June 1829, I gave an imitation of verses supposed to have been written by the hero of this song, after an accidental interview he had with the authoress of the following verses, when both were married.
AN GILLIDH GUANACH. — THE GAY OR VOLATILE YOUTH.
'S ann di-donaich a dol do'n chlachan, san di-donaycb a dol don chlachan
Aghabh mi beachd ort a measg nan ceud ; a yav mi bechd ort a mesg nan ceyd
Ge be goraich e na faoineachd,
ge be goraych e na faonechd
'N sin cheangail gaol sinn an snaim nach 'n sin chengayl ga-ol sinn an snaym nach
geil. geyl
When going to the clachan on Sunday, I admired thee among hundreds ; And, whether from folly or vanity,
Love (then) tied us to one another with a tie that will never relax.
OF THE HIGHLAND CLANS: 271
Fonn : — Chorus : —
Mo ghillidh guanach, thug iri oro, My volatile youth, hug iri oro,
mo yilli' gu-an-ach hug iri oro
Mo ghillidh gnanach, ho robha hi ; My volatile youth, ho rova hi ;
mo yilli' gu-an-ach ho rova hi
Fhleasgaich uasail an leadean dhuallaich, My gentlemanly youth, with the flow- lea-gaych u-as-aylan leden yu-all-aych ing ringlets,
Tha mi fo ghruaim bho 'na dh-f hag u'n tir. I am. in sorrow since you left our land, ha mi fo yru-aym vo na yag u'n tir
Tha do bhilibh gu milis blath'or, Sweet and blooming are thy lips,
ha do viliv gu milis bla'-or
Mar ros an garadh do dha ghruaidh ; Thy cheeks like garden roses ; mar ros an gar-a' do ya yruy'
Marchoilleancheiremeasgcoilleancreise, Like wax among tallow-candles, mar choyllen cheyre mesg coyllen creyse*
Ha coltas Sheumais a measg an t-sluaigh. Is James among the people, ha coltas heymays a mesg an tluy'
Mo, etc. Mo, etc.
Tha do challapanan foinneidh dealbhach, Thy legs are polished and symmetri- ha do challa-pan-an foynney' delavach Cal
Gun bhi garbh is gun bhi caol ; Neither (too) thick nor (too) small ;
gun vi garv is gun vi caol
Gur a boidheach glan a dh-fhas u, Clean and beautiful is thy form,
gur a boy'-ech glan a yas u
'S gur h-iomadh ailleachd a h-air mo Many are the charms of my love. 's gur i-oma' ayll-ec a hayr mo
ghaol. — Mo, etc. Mo, etc.
yaol
Thuirt iad rium gu bheil u baigheal, They said to me that thou art sus- huyrt i-ad ri-um gu veyl u bay'-el Ceptible
Gu bheil do ghradh air a h-uile te ; And lovest every lady ;
gu veyl do yra' ayr a huyle te
Gus a faic mi e na d' abhaist, But, until I see it iii thy conduct,
gus a fayc mi e na davayst
Mise a ghraidh cha chreid an sgeul. I, my love, will not believe the tale,
mise a yray' cha chreyd an sgeyl
Mo, etc. Mo, etc.
Noir a theid u do Dhuneidin, When thou goest to Duneidin,
noyr a heyd u do yun-eydin
Fear docheumcha'n fhalbhan t-shraid; Another man of thy carriage walks fer do cheym chan alv an trayd not the Street ;
Bidh na baintiernean uile an deigh ort, The ladies will follow thee in adinira- bi' na bayn-tir-nen uyld an dey' ort tion,
'S bidhidh mi fhein mar the do chach. And I myself will be like one of the '« bi'-i' mi feyn mar he do chach rest
272 THE MUSIC
Mo ghillidh guanach, thug iri oro, My volatile youth, hug iri oro,
mo yilli' gu-an-ach hug iri oro
Mo ghillidh guanach, ho robha hi ; My volatile youth, ho rova hi ;
mo yilli' gu-an-ach ho rova hi
Fhleasgaich uasail an leadean dhuallaich, My gentlemanly youth, with the flow- lesgaych u-as-aylan le-den yu-all-aych ing ringlets,
Thamifoghruaimbho'nadh-fhagu'ntir. I am in sorrow since you left our land, ha mi fo yru-aym vo na yag u'n tir
Mrs Macdonell sent me specimens of the airs sung by the milk-maids when milking the cows on the romantic stances selected for the open folds, on which they used to be gathered for that purpose, among the glens and shielings of the Highlands ; but she did not favour me with the verses. There was, however, usually little or nothing in the verses of the milking and other labour songs calculated to interest strangers to the associations they were intended to call up.
The object of the milking song was to soothe and beguile the cows while being milked, and I have seen them listening to such songs with a dreamy placidity which realized Pope's idea of "gentle dullness listening to a joke," while yielding the milk so freely as to sound responsively in the foaming pail. It is rare to see such scenes now in the Highlands, if, indeed, they are ever seen at all ; but I remember them as the most peculiar and pleasing feature in the landscape, and cannot help wondering how any proprietor having a spark of soul in him could have substituted screeching shepherds, yelping curs, and grey- faced sheep, for such farming, even supposing it to be the most profitable of the two ; but that I deny. To form a proper judgement on this subject, the reader must remember that the community system of the patriarchal clans was done away with before the country entered on the agricultural, manufacturing, and mercantile career, to which our present state of society and wealth are to be ascribed. The small Highland tenantry, who had the arable lands in allot- ments, and the pastures in common, were evicted and reduced to the condition of unemployed labourers, or, in other words, to paupers, by the effect given to feudal charters and the introduction of sheep. Those who ascribe indolence to the Highlanders forget that industry is an acquired habit, and that sheep farm- ing deprived two generations of Highlanders of all farming employment, before it was discovered that they are by nature filthy and indolent. The fact is, that there are no reasonable grounds for assuming, had their native rights been preserved, that they would not have entered into the improved system as well as any other class, and have developed the agricultural resources of their country to a much greater extent than has been done, or ever will be done, by the sheep farmer. In Switzerland, where the lands in like manner belonged to the people, and their ancient rights were conserved, farms are well cultivated, and the people comfortable and happy. There are no statistics whereby to form an estimate of the present value of the calpa, or young stock, which was paid by the Highlanders to their chiefs and chieftains as their fixed rents ; but considering the constant uniform and yearly increase in the value of stock from the above date, it would probably exceed rather than fall short of the rental paid at this .
OF THE HIGHLAND CLANS. 273
day by the sheep farmers of the Highlands to their landlords. Macintosh, Ardgour, and Glenraoriston, preserved some farms under the old community system, but on money (not the old calpa) rents, and these small farmers have not in the management of their farms fallen behind their neighbours. Indeed, the extensive traces of cultivation on lands now lying waste under the management of the sheep-farmer, corroborate Duncan Ban Macintyre, and Allan Ball Mac- dougal, who, in their poems show that there was great industry applied to culti- vation, not only on the " shores'' but also on the " wolds" of the Highlands, when the sheep farming was introduced, which has extirpated the population, and made the country a desert.
The nursery and dairy songs were so much of the same character as to render it unnecessary to make any distinction between them. Maolruainidh Ghlinnichen, the melody of which was sent me by Mrs Macdonell, had, in tradition, the very rare distinction of having been " a light o' love," and a good fairy was seen rocking the cradle of her neglected child in the mother's absence, and singing this favourite nursery lullaby, which accordingly belongs to the class called " fairy melodies."
MAOLRUAINIDH GHLINNICHEN. — MAOLKUAINI OF THE GLENS.
Ho ro, Maolruainidh Ghlinnichen, Ho ro, Maolruaini of the glens,
ho ro maol-ru-ayni' ylinne-chen
Ho ro, Maolruainidh, Ho ro, Maolruaini,
ho ro maol-ru-ayni'
Dh-f halbh do mhaithir, 's thug i am Thy mother is away ; she has taken yalv do vay'-ir '3 hug i am her course to the hill,
firich oir, fir-ich oyr
Ho ro, Maolruainidh. Ho ro, Maolruaini.
ho ro maol-ru-ayni'
Thug i 'm balg an robh do chuid mine le, She has taken the skin-bag in which hug I'm balg an rov do chuyd mine le thy meal was kept,
Ho ro, Maolruainidh, Ho ro, Maolruaini,
ho ro maol-ru-ayni'
'S thug i an curasan san robh do chuid And she has taken the curasan (a
's hug i an curasan san rov do chuyd wooden dish) in which thy butter
imedh le, was kept, ime' le
Ho ro, Maolruainidh, etc. Ho ro, Maolruaini, etc.
ho ro maol ru-ayni'
There are two or three more verses extant, in the last of which the good fairy indulges her indignation against Maolruainidh, for the neglect of her child, in some thing extremely like malediction.
The following is another specimen of the milking song, the air of which I also received from Mrs Macdonell. It gave its cognomen to a club of which Bums became a member when in Edinburgh.
M m
274
THE MUSIC
Gu'n d' thugadh crodh Chaillean
gun duga' cro' chayllen
Dhomh bainne air an f hraoch, yov baynne ayr an raoch
Gu'n chuman, gu'n bhuarach,* gun chuman gun vu-ar-ach
Gu'n laircean,f gu'n laogh. gun layrcen gun lao'
Fonn : —
Crodh Chaillean mo chridhe, cro' chayllen mo chri'-e
Crodh Chaillean mo ghaoil ; cro' chayllen mo yaoyl
Gu'n d' thugadh crodh Chaillean gun duga' cro' chayllen
Dhomh bainne air an fhraoch. yov baynne ayr an raoch
CRODH CHAILLEAN. (Probably because the owner used to sing the lilt.)
The milk-cows of Colin
Would give me milk on the heather, Without a pail or a shackle, A layrcen or a calf.
Chorus : — The cows of Colin of ray heart,
The cows of Colin of my love :
The cows of Colin
Would give me milk on the heather.
The following is another specimen of the milking song, the air of which I have received from Mrs Lang.
TILL AN CRODH A' DHONNACHAIDH. — TURN THE KINE, DUNCAN.
Turn the kine, Duncan, Turn the kine, Duncan, Turn the kine, Duncan, And you will get a bonny wife.
Till an crodh, Dhonnachaidh, till an cro' yonna-chay'
Till an crodh, Dhonnachaidh, till an cro' yonna-chay'
Till an crodh, Dhonnachaidh, till an cro' yonna-chay'
'S gheibh u bean bhoideach. 's yeyv u ben voy'-ech
Fonn : —
Till an crodh drimean dubh, till an cro' drimen duv
Odhar dubh ceannean dubh, o'-ar duv cennen duv
Till an crodh drimean dubh, till an cro' drimen duv
'S gheibh u bean bhoidheach, &c. 's yeyv u ben voy'-ech
Chorus : — Turn the white-ridged black co»vs,
Dark-dun white-faced cows, Turn the white-ridged black cows, And you will get a bonny wife, etc.
* " Buarach," a hair shackle for tying the hind legs of restive or fierce tempered cows while a-milking,
t " Laircean" or " tulachan," a wicker basket shaped like a calf, and covered with a calf-skin, placed before a cow to soothe her with the well recognised scent of her calf, after it is killed.
OF THE HIGHLAND CLANS.
275
The next class of the labour songs which remain for illustration are the reaping or shearing songs. The verse of these was short, and sung by the leading reaper, and the chorus by the whole band. Like the rowing songs, they avoided anything like the excitement of feeling or passions, and merely wandered over the lakes, rivers, glens, and hills, in accordance with the pleasing attachments and associations of the singers. No sight could be more delightful than to see a great band of reapers extended over a fine field, amid an agreeable landscape, cutting down the golden sheafs, and singing, lightly and joyously, in full chorus. The late Mr Chapman, Corstorphine, near Edinburgh, one of the clerks of the Court of Session, but a spirited, farmer, being married to a High- land lady, used to hire large bands of Highland shearers ; and told me that nothing gave Lord Alloway, and his other eminent legal acquaintances, greater pleasure than to visit him at harvest time, and listen to the merry harvest duanagan or lilts of his Highland shearers. These songs were very discursive and irregular (verses suggested by passing events being extemporaneously composed and introduced into them occasionally by any of the singers that could do so) and of interminable length. I would in concluding this illustrative treatise, beg of those, who notwithstanding a careful perusal of the preceding pages, may still have a lingering leaning to the belief that the common High- landers were a rude, ignorant, unpolished people, to consider whether English and Lowland navies could enter sympathetically into the spirit of songs like those of which the foregoing and the following verses are descriptive specimens? Yet they must admit, that, unless Highland labourers could sympathize with the feelings and sentiments which characterize those songs, the universal custom of singing them for amusement, or to cheer them at their daily work, never could have become a characteristic of the people, or been carried down among them to the days of Lord Alloway arid Mr Chapman. I have quoted as many verses of each of these labour songs as will enable the reader to form an opinion as to their peculiar character, so as he may judge whether I am justified in these remarks.
FAILTE NA MORTHIU. — HAIL TO MOBAK.
All hail to thee, lovely Morar, In the young month of May.
Chorus : —
Heyter-inn urinn, i-uyrinn,oh-ho ro, Heyter-inn arinn, ho ro.
Sunny land of the greenest mantle,
With forests of flowers on the banks
of thy streamlets. — lleitor-inn, etc.
Failt' ort fein a Mhorthir bhoidheach, faylt ort feyn a . vore-hir voy'-ech
Anns an og-mhios bhealltainn. anns an og-vi-os vel-taynn
Fonn : —
Heiter-inn arinn, i-uiriuu, oh ho ro, Heiter-inn arinn, ho ro.
Griann-thir orbhnidh 's uaine cota, gri-an-hir or-vuy' 's u-ayne cota
Is froinidh ros ri h-altaibh. — is froyn-i' ros r halt-ayv
Heiter-inn, etc.
276
THE MUSIC
'S aluinn a beinnean 's a sraithean, sal-uynn a beynnen 'sa sray'-en
'S eibhein dath a gleanntain. — 's eyveyn da' a gleun-tayn
Heit, etc.
Beautiful are thy mountains and
straths,
«
Joyous the aspect of thy glens. — Heyt, etc.
Barr gach tolmain fo bhrat gorm-dhearc, The brow of every hillock has a cover- barr gach tolo-mayn fo vrat gorm-yerc let of blae-berries,
Air gach borrochainn altain. Winding down to the hollows of thy ayr gach vorra-chayn al-tayn streamlets.
Heit, etc. Heyt, etc.
Lusain churaidh mach a bruchdadh, Fragrant shrubs, bursting forth, lusayn chur-ay' mach a bruc-a'
'S cuid dhiubh cul-ghorm bain-dhearg. Many of them blue-leaved and red- girdled.
s cuyd yi-uv cul-yorm
Heit, etc.
bayn-yerag
Crodh ga'n strachadh air bar fasaich, cro' gan Btrac-a' ayr bar fa-saych
Am fiar nach d-f has gu crainntidh. am fi-ar nach das gu crayn-ti'
Heit, etc. •
lad air theas a ruidh le 'm buaraich, i-ad ayr hes a ruy' le'm bu-ar-ich
'S te le cuaich ga'n teann-ruith. s te le cu-aych gan tenn-ruy'
Heit, etc.
A choill gu h-uile fo Ian ula, a choyll gu huylle fo Ian ula
'S i na culaidh bhainnse. — si na cul-ay' vaynn-se
Heit, etc. /
'S ceolar eibhein barr nan geigean 's ce-ol-ar eyveyn barr nan geygen
'Sa h-eoin fein a damhs orra. — sa he-oyn feyn a davs orra
Heit, etc.
lad air bhoile seinn le coilleig, i-ad ayr voylle seynn le coylleyg
Ann san doire chranntail. ann san doyre chrann-tayl
Heit, etc.
Heyt, etc.
Milk cows browsing in the desert, Among grass of growth luxuriant. Heyt, etc.
In heats racing off with their shackles,
And women with their milk-pails run- ing after them. Heyt, etc.
The woods are wholly arrayed In their marriage garments.— Heyt, etc.
Musical and joyous are all the boughs, With their own birds dancing in them. Heyt, etc.
Rapturously and lustily singing, In the grove of mast-like copsewood. Heyt, etc.
OF THE HIGHLAND CLANS.
277
Morthir bheg na'm bradan tarra-gheal, Morar sweet, of the white-bosomed mor-hir veg nain bradau tarra-yel
'S airgead a cuir lann orra. Silver-scaled salmon.
s ayrged a cuyr lann orra
Heyt, etc. Heyt, etc.
Brie le sulas learn a buinne, brie le sulas lem a buynne
'N deigh nan cuilleag greaunar. an dey' nan cuylleg grennar
Heyt, etc.
'S lionach, slatach, cligeach, beirteach, s li-on-ach slat-ach clig-ech beyrtech
'S eile ghlas nan Samhnan. s eyll^ ylas nan sav-nan
Heyt, etc.
Greidhean dhearg a tamh mu 'm fireach, grey'-en yerag a tav mu'm fir-ech
Eiltean, daimh is mangaibh. eylten dayv is mangayv
Heyt, etc.
Guaineach, carrach feadh an daraich, gu-ayn-ach carrach fe' an dar-aych
'S brisg na leannain cheann-deirg. s brisg na lennayn chenn-deyrag
Heyt, etc.
'S na mein-bheagadh cuir ri beadradh, s na minn-veg-a' cuyr ri bed-ra'
Anns na creagan teann orra. anns na cregan tenn orra
Heyt, etc.
Grian ag eiridh air na sleibhtean, gri-au ag eyri' ayr na sleyv-ten
San tir cheutaich sheannsail. san tir chey-taych henn-sayl
Heiter-inn arinn, i-uirinn, ho ho ro, Heyter-inn arinn, ho ro.
With trout sportively springing among
thy currents, After the merry flies.
Heyt, etc.
With nets, gaffs, (fishing) rods, pirns, Rich is the gay dwelling of Savnan.
Heyt, etc.
Bed herds (of deer) dwell in thy
mountains, Roes, stags, and hinds.
Heyt, etc.
Sprightly, warily among the oaks, Sport the smart red-headed wooers.
Heyt, etc.
The little kids lovingly playing, Among the rocks near them.
Heyt, etc.
The sun rises on the wolds, Of the country pleasant and fortunate.
Heyter-inn arinn, i-urinn, oh ho ro, Heyter-inn arinn, ho ro.
I think my traditional, as well as Gaelic and English education, has been such as to justify my giving an opinion on the subject, and my conviction is, that the institutions and local governments of the patriarchal clans were the best of all human institutions for cultivating the hearts of the people, and rear- ing and ruling them in honesty and virtue. Hence they were a civilized, a generous, and a noble people ; and the calpa with which they supported their
278 THE MUSIC
officials, was not only on an adequate, but a liberal scale, as is proved by the hospitality for which the Highland chiefs and chieftains have been proverbially characterized. The curse that banished population, comfort, and happiness from the Highlands, is the curse of FEUDALISM. And where is the advantage even to the feudal magnates themselves ? We had, of old, as many patriarchal chiefs and chieftains as we have now of lairds ; and, although my space will not permit me to enter into details, I am convinced that by doing so, I could show that the chiefs and chieftians, (although they had no power under the brehon law, or cleachda, or any other law made or sanctioned by the kings or people of Scotland, to increase the rents of the clans, or to oppress or evict them) had more influence and more happiness — more true wealth, so to speak — than the Court of Session-made lairds of the present day. They got all the cattle the country could produce, excepting those required to support the people, of whom they were, both in effect and in feeling, the fathers ; and a reciprocal love and devotion existed between them, which could only spring from the habitual cultivation of virtuous principles, and warm and generous feelings. The writers who ascribe that love and devotion to the despotism of the chiefs, and the serfish spirit of the clans, have, in thus writing, libelled the human character, and shown their ignorance of the institutions and character of the Highland chiefs and clans.
The curse of feudalism, which never was felt universally in the Highlands until after the battle of Culloden, brought in its train the — if possible — still worse curse of the Lowland sheep-farmers. The reader cannot judge this question by the present condition and character of the sheep-farmers either of the Lowlands or the Highlands, than whom a more respectable class is not to be found among her Majesty's subjects : I speak of the " pilgrim-fathers" of the Lowland sheep-farmers, — of those introduced into the Highlands, when the lands were restored by the Crown and Parliament of England to the chiefs, instead of the clans. It was after that, and not till then, that the chiefs and chieftains became lairds, and found it their interest to evict the clans. This was done at first quietly and gradually, but ultimately, as the strength of the executive increased, by wholesale evictions and expatriations. Sad for the warlike power and dignity of Scotland has been the change that substituted the Lowland shepherd for the High- land warrior and husbandman ; but it is to be borne in mind that I speak of the first batch, who, with a few exceptions, were the very lowest grade of the Lowland peasantry, — persons who were as coarse and greedy in their habits as they were low and mean in their character and birth. A thousand graphic anecdotes, still preserved in the Highlands, but utterly unfit for publication, testify to the truth of the above statement, and the impression it made on the minds of a people whom a recent writer justly characterised as " Gentlemen of Nature's own making." Types of the class I refer to, if I am not misinformed, are still to be found in isolated localities in the Lowlands, notwithstanding the great change in the condition and in the manners and customs of the Lowland peasantry since the above date. Some proprietors consider these drudges, who toil hard and live cheap, the most profitable farmers ; but, alas for the country
OF THE HIGHLAND CLANS.
279
that allowed them to expatriate her noble Highland clans ! Lest the reader should doubt the correctness of the above sketch of the original sheep-farmers of the Highlands, I beg to refer him to " Oran nan Ciobairean," by Allan Macdougall, the blind bard of Glengarry, who knew them well, and graphically describes both their character and lives. He corroborates his contemporary, Duncan Ban Macintyre, in ascribing to them the suppression of the great agri- cultural enterprise of the Gael, " on shores and wolds," and converting the country into a desert ; but I can make room only for one verse, for I have exceeded the limits of my contract by nearly 100 pages. This poem was written more than sixty years since, by a man who witnessed and could well appreciate the change he describes. I wish Mr Macnaughton, the gentleman mentioned in the preface, would publish it in his phonetic spelling, with such a translation as that published in his " Lectures on the Authenticity of Ossian." I feel certain that it would gratify thousands of the English reading public.
OKAN NAN CIOBAIREAN. — THE SONG OF THE SHEEP-FARMERS.
Thainig orin do dh-Alabin crois ! Tha doine bochd nochdte nis, Gun bhiadh gun aodach gun chluain ; Tha'n airde tuath an deis a sgrios ! Cha'n fhaiceir crodh laoigh an gleann,
Na gerran laider dol an eil ; Cha'n fhaicer ach caorich is uain, 'S goil mu'n cuairt le sgreidil bhrein.
Tha'n duthaich gu leir air dol fas, San Gaedhel gu'n tathaich fo'n ghrein !
A curse has come upon Albiu ! Men are now poor and naked, Without food, raiment, or shelter ; The north country is ruined !
No milk kine are to be seen in the
vales,
No strong work-horses in harness ; Nothing is seen but ewes and lambs,
With Lowlanders round them, harshly
screeching. The country has been converted into a
desert, The Gael has no home under the sun !
THE END.
INDEX TO MUSIC.
CALEDONIAN MELODIES.
Page
1. A Oholla mo Ruin, — Coll of my Love, referred to at page 125
2. An Sealgair 's a Chomhachag, — The Hunter and the Owl, 135 " A Mhaighdean Shith 's an Sealgair, — The Fairy Maiden and the Hunter, 137 " Nighean Donn na Buaile, — The Brown-haired Maiden of the Fold, 149 " An Cronan, — The Croon, 155
3. Fuaim an t-Shaimh, — The Voice of Silence, - 156 " Gur Muladach Tha Mi,— Sorrowful Am I, 158 " A Mhorag Chiatach, — Mo rag Beautiful, 176 " Ho an Clodh Dubh,— Hey the Black Cloth, 181
4. Mac-greagair 0 Kuadhro, — Macgregor 0 Ku-a-ro, 186 " Cumhadh Baird, — The Bard's Lament, 189
5. Buain na Eainich, — Cutting the Ferns, 191 " Gur Faoin mo Luaidh air Cadal, — Vain are my Thoughts of Sleep, 196 " Oich mar tha Mi, — Alas for Me, 197
6. G-u'm bu Slan a chi mi, — Happy may I see, - 198 " Moch 'sa Mhaduinn, — Early in the Morning, - 206 " Air Faillerin Illerinn, 209
7. Gillidh Callum, - 224 " The Die-hards, — a Caledonian March, - 225 " Cumhadh Prionns' Albaert, — Lament for Prince Albert, 235
8. Lament for Prince Charles, - 244 " Sud mar chaidh an Gal a Dhollaidh, — How the Kail was spoilt, 245 " Caibtein Carraig, — Captain Carrick, - 245
9. Fear a Bhata, — Man of the Boat, 246 " Mari Bhoidheach, — Bonny Mary, 248 " Callum a G-hlinne, — Malcolm of the Glen, 251
10. Cumhadh Mhic Cruimen, — M'Cruimen's Lament, 253 " A Mhaighdean Mhodhar, — Maiden Gentle, - 254 " Duanag Ceiten, — A May Carol, 255 " 'S Cianal 'm Fhuireach an Dun-eidin, — Pensive is my Residence in
Edinburgh, 257
11. An Gillidh Dubh Ciar Dubh,— The Black-haired Swarthy Youth, 259 " Oich mar tha mi 's mi na'm aonar, — Alas my Fate, - 260
282
Page
11. G-ed a Gheabhain, — Though I should get, &c. referred to at page 263
12. 'S Truagh a Kigh !— Would, a ri ! 265 " Tha Dhriuchd Fein, — Its own Dew, &c. 267 " Och nan Och, mo Leir Chradh, — Alas, alas, my Painful Sorrow, r- 269 " An Gillidh Guanach,— The Volatile Youth, 270
13. Maolruainidh Ghlinnichen, — Maol-ru-ayni of the Glens, 273 " Crodh Chaillean,— The Milk-kine of Colin, . 274 " Till an Crodh a Dhonuachaidh, — Turn the Kiue, Duncan, 274 " Failte na Morthir Bhoidheach, — Hail to Thee, Bonnie Morar, - 275
WELSH MELODIES.
14. Codiad yr Hedydd,— The Song of the Lark, 213
15. Bugeilior Gwenith Gwyn, — Watching the Wheat, 214 " Nos Galan,— New Year's Eve, 214
16. Merch Megan, — Megan's Daughter, - 215 " Ehyfelgyrch Gwyr Harlech, — War Song of the Men of Harlech, 216
17. Morva Ehuddlan,— The Marsh of Kuthlan, 217
18. Glan Meddwdod Mwyn,— The Joy of the Mead Cup, . 218
IRISH MELODIES, &c.
18. A Maighdeon, a Bhean, 's a Bhantraech, — The Maid, Wife, and Widow, 220 " An Chuil-fhionn,— The Cooleen, 222
19. Gaisgich Chluain Tharbh, — Heroes of Clontarf, - (Celtic) " Gaisgich Chluain Tharbh, — Heroes of Clontarf, - (Irish)*
20. Eamonn a Chnoic, — Edmund of the Hill, - (Irish) 221 " Tha mi 'm shuidhe air an Tulaich, — I am sitting on the Height, (Celtic) 153
* Dr White obligingly sent me, through Mr Murdoch, this last " version of the Battle of Clontarf ;" but it is evidently not a different version, but altogether a different tune from the above. The people of Ireland, like the people of the Lowlands and Highlands of Scotland, differed in dialect, in music, and dancing, as well as in their institutions. Although I have not Dr White's authority for saying so, I have no doubt that it is the March of the Gothic Clans of Ireland to Clontarf, and that the first is the March of the Celtic Clans to the same battle. The two specimens contrast with one another as strikingly as Caledonian and Scottish melodies : indeed, the first and the Welsh and Caledonian Marches breathe a kindred spirit, and differ widely from Dr White's " Battle of Clontarf."
A CHOLLA MO RUIN .
£
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