A Treatise on the Language, Poetry, and Music of the Highland Clans: With ...

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I

HARVARD
COLLEGE
LIBRARY

FROM THE

Subscription Fund

BEOUN IN 1858

THE

LANGUAGE, POETRY, AND MUSIC

OF THE

HIGHLAND CLANS.

D. B. OOLLIl AKD SON, PRIITTBM, IDIKBOSOB.

'•-.

A TREATISE

OK TRB

LANGUAGE, POETEY, AND MUSIC

or THK

HIGHLAND CLANS :

WITH

ILLUSTRATIVE TRADITIONS AND ANECDOTES,

AHD mmEROUB

ANCIENT HIGHLAND AIRS.

BY DONALD ^AMPBELL, Bag.

EDINBUBGH :
D. R, COLLIE & SON, 19 ST DAVID STREET.

» •<!

HARVARD C0LLE6L UBtAflT

/

^'

/

PREFACE.

The religious dnd 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 handfiil of barbarians could, not 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

Yl 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 &irly 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 HigUandeis.
When modem wealth and relSnement created such a demand for all kinds ci
literature, it was naturally interpreted as unfstvouiable to the pretensions of the
Gael, that that literature was found apparently nil; nor, untQ 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 diat the Qael had been thus
placed in a state of transitioii and eviction, which was equally un&vourable to
the pursuit or the remuneration of literature.

The melodies, reels, and strathspe3rs of the Q^d met with no better fiy» than
the ''Ossian" of Macpherson, and the "Sean Dana" of theBev. 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 llieir oral kce 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 s^Mirate
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 imposnble to believe that the poetry and music of a
people, and the people themselves, should be of two di£Eerent and dktinct
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 basia 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, — ^bom
of the same parentage, nursed at the same bosom, and leared among the same
glens and mountains ; and that whoever believes in the one, is bovnd to believe
in the other. I therefore thoroughly agree with Doctor J<Anson, so br as he goes ;
but submit that die music forms sn inseparable dement in ihe question. The
state of society that could have produced, and have in its every day amuaementa
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 pubfidxers
of the music had by their own vile saobbeyy contributed to the scepticism on
the subject They deprived the melodies and tones of the signet of antiquity
contained in the hereditary names, and rebaptised them, in compliment to their
patrons and patronesses, and thus stamped them, exjiune, as modem instead of
ancient music.

PREFACE. Til

The tranBition state o! the Gael is now past. The feudal historians and
clearance-makers have done their worst ; but the Clans have their Lakquagb,
their Postst, and their Music still left, and in these they have ample materials,
if prqperly handled, to vindicate the memory of their noble ancestors against
the chai^ 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 fflibject BO prgudiced 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 liie eyes of Highlanders, as I
never doubted, shcmld my object be made generally known, that there are
thousands of Highlanders who are as anxious as I possibly can be, to remove
the chaige 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 llieir usual qpirit by a few worthy Highlanders in Ghreenock, Paidey, 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 die expenses ; and, in that case, my conviction is,
that the qpirit of fair play which has hitherto characterized, and which I trust
vrill ever continue to dieyracteriae the peoi^e 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 e|)6lling, I am sorry to find that all the
Highlanders whom I have ccHUuUed, excepting two literary gentiemen,t are
opposed to the " innovation." Sorely those who object to the phonetic spelling

* A HigUander who had Been one of these adtertiiements by mere acddent, wrote me (alihoagh
we were total itraii^ien) reoommendiBg tfiat I shovld advertise mora ezteBiiyely, expreuing hii coayio-
Hod. that there were thonaaiidfl of Highlanden that, like himself, would feel anziona to get subscribers for
the purpose of haying snoh a work pubUshed, who might never know anything about the proposal, unless
more eztenahrely advertised. Feeltng that I met here with a kindred spirit, I oandi^ told him that On
tide of pr^udice was so strong against Gaelic and Gaelio 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 beflsiiiig tiiait I would lay it out on additlooal adveitlsemantB.

f One of the Gentlemen above referred to is Mr M 'Nanghton, TiUyfourie, who delivered and published
a Lecture on the authenticity of Ossian's Poems, which for research, dear and impartial reasoning, and
good taste and sense, is superior to anything that had previoody appeared on the subject ; and flie other fs
Mr Maedonald, GnndtnUy, whose letter on the various dialeots and so-cailed races of Europe I ha^e
inserted with his kind permission, at page 27. Mr M'Naughton recommended that I should adopt the
principles of pronunciation as illustmted in Mr Walker's Dictionary for my phonetic spelling, and I
woidd have done so had my aim been merely to quote specimeiui of GaeKc poetry ; but Ihadanollierand
totally different ol^ect in view, namely , to enable the English reader to peruse the poems already in print.
I sutenit 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 beantiftil language
popokoiMd; and I have no doubt aeleotions of Gaelio poetry so written would be aooeptoble to
thousands of the English-speaking puUio.

414S4S4t SS194S4

A ne-an donn na bua]>e, Yyal hu me liad hug-ra,

414: S4 4444 S4 144f4flS

Ga vel ang g^luasad ikr-«sd-a, Liad vre-dal as liad chiun-e,

4,^4Sia4 191414

Ang gaol a hug me buan dfaut, Lub hu me mar yur-an,

s ■ t : S4a 4«a4 4144 144 4

Cha ve-ich cmai-dias yar-ich-an. Gha duch-as a vi fal-an dhov.

Vlll PREFACE.

forget that the Graelic 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 Soman garment, grotesquely shaped for the purpose of swad-
dling, and not of developing its noble lineaments I This has hitherto evidently
formed the stumbling-block to the study of the Gkielic language, for every
person who has already learned the English names of the Boman 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 fix)m 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 I Do my Highland fiiends 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 Gkielic 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 gentiemen 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 witii 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 tiiat 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 nan. 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,

PoTtrOhsgow, ^dJuly 1862.

INTRODUCTORY REMARKS.

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, A, 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
propec nse of the a&pirate is, therefore, the most important requirement of the
Gaelic student ; and this can, I think, be very easHy learned, by comparing
the present mode of spelling to 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 the 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 extremely few exceptions, were of the lower, 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, every way qualified to
conciliate the dispensers of Church patronage, but scarcely qualified to address
from the pulpit a congregation of intelligent Highlanders ; and thus, betweefi
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.
Three-fourths of the clergy of Presbyterian and Dissenting churches were
bom 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
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
callousness and coarseness of the plebeian, before the generality of clergymen
became 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,

4 INTRODUCTORY REMARKS.

can be attained on earth, a clergyman, when he is a placed minister, considers
himself a most lordly personage, and wants nothing, in his own opinion, to estab-
lish his dignity and fix his status, but a few lordly or at least lairdly acquaintances.
And although every branch of the Protestant Church furnishes men of heads,
hearts, and manners, which make them true specimens of scholars and gentlemen,
no intelligent person can regard the clergy as a body, otherwise than as pre-
suming, intermeddling, rude, and greedy. 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 be a pity
to exclude men of fine hearts and high talents from the Church, merely because
their parents were poor and low-born ; but such men are rare, and will push their
way up hill ; as for the common herd of plebeian ministers, they would be more
happy, and certainly more suitably employed and useful to their country, as
artisans and labourers, than in their present position. When so great a body of the
clergy showed a decidedly popular leaning, and proved their honesty by the Dis-
ruption, the Highlanders followed them in a body ; but if what is said about the
mission of a popular Free Church minister to the country of the great Clearance-
maker, be true, I am afraid that that section of the Presbyterian Church has not
left the whole spirit of snobbery and of time-serving policy behind them, at the
Disruption.

The bard and seannachie, who were guardians of the Gaelic, 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 GaelicHspeaking 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 subjected 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 that
really wished to qualify himself for the native pulpit, had another formidable
difficulty to surmount besides the want of Gaelic professors and schoolmasters,
namely, the hostility of the Reform Clergy, Episcopalian as well as Presbyterian,
to the poetry and tales, in which alone it 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 as to render
em subservient to the ** pious fraud" by which they sought to convert man-
kind 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 Bevivals of the Dissenting priesthood ; and in the witch-
crafts and prophecies of crazed old women, gipsies, and table-rappera

The class of Ursgeuls, or new tales, composed by the monks, bear intrinsic
evidence of being not the work of the Graelic 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 Gothio 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 Buaidh,
who lived until nearly the end of the sixteenth century, at page 159 ; and Mr
C Keemey'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

6 INTRODUCTORY REMABKS.

Carron, or Fintry, out of which few of the '' people of the kings of the world
escaped/' is especially mentioned. Iain Lom speaks of both Wallace and
Bruce ; but expresses no hatred of the English. Even the bards who wrote on
the massacre of Glencoe and CuUoden, 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 Gtielic 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 bom ;
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 Reformation 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 religioa 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 c(m 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 Macplierson, Strathmashie I 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

INTBODUCTOBY BEMABKS. 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 fnmished 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 diBtinguished 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 I 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, hut by tohom I cannot now telly 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 Bev. 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 bom> 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 circmnstance, 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
Bev. 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
enturely incapable of writing such poem& 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-bom from the press ; and clearly show
that Macpherson was not qualified to write Ossian's poems, Dr Graham gives
the original as publisAed 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,

8 INTRODUCTOBY 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 vnth any
expressions that might appear to coalesce easily with the context'* The Bev.
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 suhjecty

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 Macpherson'i own spelling, and clearly proves
Captain Morison's statement, that he ooold " not write or spell ((Helic) properly.*' It also proves, by
irresistible inference, that the Seventh Book of Temora was hot written by Mr Macpherson of Strath-
mashie ; for although he was a coarse and wretched bard, and could write nothing tender or refined, be
could both ** write and speU" Gaelic, while the Seventh Book of Temora is miserably misspelt.

THR

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 modem 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

THE LANaCAGE

patriotiBm, 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 Soman
and feudal corruption and oppression to which even the people of the moet
inaccessible districts had been more or less subjected. But the demeanor, if
not even the character of the EUghlander, 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 BitMuiseanean, — ^the life of plants, — being
compounded from the roots bith, life, luia, plants, and eon the plural affix.

A

B

C

D

E

F

G

I

L

M

N

O

P

B

S

T

U

Andent Names,
ailm, palm
beith, birch
caul, hazel
dair, oak
eadh, elm
feam, alder
gort. ivy
iogha, yew
luis, aspen
muiD, vine
nuin, ash
oir, broom
peith, pine
ruis, elder
seal, willow
teine, gorse
ur, myrtle

PranundaHon.
elim
beyth
kawl
dayr
ewgh
fema
gort
^ghsl
looysh
mooyn
nooyn
oyr

paeyth
rooysh
sheyl
tehnn6

Sounds in EngUah.
like a in far

'' lam Ml
ca in oat
da in dallt
e in th^me
fa in^l
ga in ^1
i in ptn
U in qniU
ma in madam
na in narrow
o in broke
pa in path
r in rare
«ain«allad
to in far
u in true

(C

a

a
a
ti
u
it
i<

(C

((

(C
(C

a
u
tt

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 modem 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 beantifiil and gentlemanly preface to the Gaelic Tales, ha^ found the
Gael a gentleman of Nature's own making ; bat he was travelling where the country is not yet wholly
inundated by the stranger.

OF THE HIGHLAND OLANS. 11

however, as to render it absolately necessary for any person who is desirous of
acquiring anything like an approximate knowledge of the pronunciation of
Craelic 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 firom the living voice ; but from the difficulty of
finding 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 firom a
competent teacher might be very useful in this case, and also in learning the
pecuUar sound of a few of the Gaelic consonants. A sbort 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 meims ; I can assure the reader that I have not done so from any
affectation of aristocracy, but because gents and Toems 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 can
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,) there
is no difficulty ; and I trust that a careful perusal of the following 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 it« 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 Jh in fall, but softer and deeper,
as in feda, 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 niir, 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 a 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
Bums, 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
wore, 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-aym)
turning. My esteemed friend, Finlagan, the nam de plume of the most fervidly
patriotic, yet the most calmly philosophic and gentlemanly of all the writers on
the untoise 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

\ i.

OF THE HIGHLAND 0LAN8. 13

the aboye iostructions for pronomiciDg t, to memory, and apply them practically,
not once but frequently, to the pronunciation of the Gteelic words beginning
with t, above quoted.

AH 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
immuta.ble 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 and 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 stoccato sign in
music ('), when in the act of parting the teeth, something su£Sciently 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 modems, 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.

Ta mi 'n de 'm beyn-doreyn

A Mhari bhan gur barrail u. Mary, fair surpassing art thou.

a van van gur barrayl u

Chaidh mi do'n choil 'n robh croin is gallain. I went to the wood in which were tall

chay* mi do'n choyl n rov croyn is gall-ayn young trees.

A dheanadh slan gach dochartas. Making heal every malady.

a ycna' slan gach do-chartas

14

THE LANQUAQB

Theid sinn thair na bealaichen.

heyd sinn hayr na belaych-en

Fhuair fasan is foghlum.

hu-ayr fasan is foghlum

Shiubhladh tu fasach airidh-glinne.
hi-uvla' tn fa-sach ayri'-gilinne

Gheibhte roinn ague orain is iomadh comh-

yeyr-te roynn agns orayn u i-oma' ooy-

radh* na measg.

ra' na meeg

Cha phill, cha phill, cha phill sin tuille.

cha fihll, cha fihU, . cha fihll tin tuylle

Go we (shall) over the defiles.

Beceived accomplishments and learning.

Travel you would the desert sheiling-glen.

Got would be (humorous) distiches, songs,
and anecdotes, them among.

Return, return, return shall we never.

The immutable consonantSy 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 : —

iS»

ngular.

Plural.

Masculine.

Fem.

Mas. & Fem

Nom. An, am.

an, a\

na.

Gen. An, a.

na.

nan, nam.

Dat An, a', *m.

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 Bomana 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 Bomans 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 Boman
Catholic successors ; nor have theirs, in their turn, escaped the priesthood of
the Beformation ; so true it is that '' priests of all religions are the same.*' But,

* This and similar words are in general contracted and pronounced thus, comhradh, co'ra, comh-
nuidh, co'nay, &c. &c.

t The vowels are always pronounced at the end of syllables or words. The English reader should
especially remember this. There are no silent letters in ray phonetic spelling.

OF THE HIGHLAND CLANS. 15

althongh the Culdees and their successors have thus shown that no reli^ous
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 afifection and
magnanimity, and so touc^ingly poetic as the sacrifice of the Son of God
to atone for the siiis 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 indifierent 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 efiects. 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 Bome, 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 undoubting
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 LANQUAGB

priest was the great and 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 Mend of
religious liberty and the bible as Enox, 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 Revolution, 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 egi* do luc heyt e

Gheibhte biobuil ga*n leughadh, Bibles are found there reading,

yevte bi-o-buyl gan ley'-a'

Le fior chreidimh na ceile, In a wise spirit of faith,

le fl-or chiejdeT na ceyle

Mar a dh-orduich Mac Dhe dhuinn. As was ordained by the Son of God,

mar a yorduych mao ye yuyn

Agus teagasg na cleire le sith. And the worship of the clergy in peace.

agus tegaag na cleyre le d'

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 firom 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 Boman 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 THB HIGHLAND CLANS. 17

hollow to be found in all the Druid . altar stones, to receive the blood of the
executed criminaK (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, &&, 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 tt, a great being, and eol^ knowledge ; dia^ from ii
and agh^ pronounced a', good ; and, i^hruUe^ abbreviated hdy from hith^ life,
and u%U^ 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 Gk)d. Hence, when a person dies, the
Highlander does not say, '* thuair (hu-ayr) e 'm has,'' as he would say of a
beast ; but " chai ah deo as," — ^the «oul 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 indolatrous 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 Grod from Nature. This is a reasonable inference
from these inscriptions, and from the significant and accordant fact, namely,
that they i^^bolised His diflferent 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., <t, the Great Being, £a, 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 symbolise 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 Jaiu) 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.

There is no evidence that natural theology, or the Druidal religion of

c

18 THE LANGUAGE

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 Revolution, 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 dii^ricts 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 fbr 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 Bev. Dr Blair, in his beautiful Dissertation on 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 believe in especial acts of Providence, and 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 Nature, reason, and common sense, could not be made
subservient to the real exigencies of man, much less to the imaginary exigencies
of poetry. On the contrary, the mixing up of God's name and power with
human affaii-s, would, in all probability, have been regarded as an impiety in
the days of Ossian, — ignorance and barbarity.

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 Ghielic, 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
Chahners' 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, A^ ; 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, folded.

I
i long, like ee in see ; as cir, a comb ; mir, a piec-e,
i short, like i in pin ; as inin, meal] bith, being,
i faint, like i in this ; as is, am.

20 THE LANOUAQE

O.

long, like o in oak ; as or, gold ; brdg, a shoe.

o Bfaort, like o in on ; as mo, my ; grod, roUen,

long, like o in how ; as tonn, a wave ; poll, a puiL

o short, like o in not ; lomadh, dipping ; connadh, fuel.

o long, like o in owl ; as sogh, luxury] foghlam, learning.

o short, like 6 in ndw ; as foghar, autumn ; roughuinn, choice.

U.

n long, like H in tube ; as ur, fresh ; tur, a tower.

u short, like u in bush ; as rud, a thing ; guth, a voice.

u faint, like a faint, or u in run ; as mur, if not.

'* 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 henoe
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 syllablea 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, firee of even the common points in use, to mark the
different sounds of the Gaelic 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.

DlPHTHONaS 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 vyright. En ; 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, flem. 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 L 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, (tred-yr) strength ; as geoidh, (keo-y) geese ; iai, as

OF THE HIGHLAND CLANS. 21

ciuin, (M-nyn) meek; fliuiche, (fli-iuch-e) wetter; uai, as fuaiui, (fua-ym)
sound ; cruaidh, (crua-y) hard." — Ibid.

There are I know not how many diphthongs and triphthongs, but I do not
consider it neoessary 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 (n 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, atrtkej is pronounced buyl; tuaisd, bungler^ tuyst;
buaidh, victory^ buy ; loidh, Aymn, 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, mUdy 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, oamplexion, tu-ar ; raud, greedy 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, Jlesh^ is pronounced fe-oyl ; theid, vnU ffo, 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 bheinn, (veynn) the mountain.

Nouns beginning with a vowel insert t after the prefixed article for the

22

THB LANGUAGE

sake of euphony ; as, an t-nan, (a-an) the lamb ; an t-iasg, (i-ask) the fish ; an
t-ubh, (iiv) the egg ; an t-olc, the eviL Many nocms beginning with s, which
is sUent before h, insert i after the article ; as, an saoghal, (sao'-al) the world,
is written in the genitive case, an t-shaoghail, (tao'-ayl) of the worid ; an
tHshlait, (tlayt) of the rod ; an t-shneachd, (tnechd) of the snow, &c.

The above rnles 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, (avnyn) the river ; an reul,
(reyll) the planet, &c

There is in Gkielic no accusative case difierent finom the nominative ; nor
is the ablative different fix>m the dative case.

Bard,

a poet) Masc.

With the Article.

Singular,

PltiraL

Smgukar.

PluraL

N. Bard.

baird.

N. am bard.

na baird.

bard

bayrd

am bard

na bayrd

G. Baird.

bhard.

6. a bhaird.

nam bard.

baytd

vard

vayrd

nam bard

D. Bard.*

bhardaibh.

D. do'n bhaird. do bhardaibh.

baid

vardayT

don vayrd

vardayr

V. Bhard.

bharda.

V. bhainL

bharda.

vayrd

Tarda

vayrd

varda

Beak, a woman. Fern

With the Article.

Sing^ikar.

PhtraL

Singular.

naral.

N. Bean.

mnai or mnathan.

N.

a bhean.

na mnai or na mnathan.

ben

mnay moa'-an

ven

mnay mna'-an

6. Mna.

ban.

G.

namna.

nam ban.

iDDa

ban

mna

nam ban

D. Mnaoi.

mnathaibh.

D.

do n mhnaoi.

do na mnathaibh.

nma-oy

mna'-iv

mn-oy

mna'-yv

V. Bhean.

mhnathan.

V.

bhean.

mhnathan.

Yen

mna'-an

ven

num'-AQ

The follovring rales 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

Nom.

Gm.

Earrach, spring
errach

Doras, door,
doms

earraich.
errayich

dorai&
dor-nyah

Damh, an ox.
dav.

Daol, a beetie.
daol

daimh.

dayv

daoil.
daoyl

Darag, an oak.
dar-ag

daraig.
daravk

Nom.

iath, a shield.

sfiatl
ski-a'

each, a horse,
ecfa

creag, a rock,
crek

fearg, wrath,
ferak

coileach, a cock,
coyl-ech

Gen.

sgeitL

ske'

eeich.

e-ich

creig.
creyk

feiiy

fe-nck

coilaich.
coy-lich

OF THE HIGHLAND CLAN8.

23

Fraoch, heather.

fraoch

Bas, death,
bas

Fuaran, a spring.

fu-aran

Laoch, a hero,
laoch

fraoich.
fraoych

bais.
bayish

fiiarain.
fu-a-rajn

laoich.
laoych

grian, the bud.

gri-an
iasg, fish.

lasff,
i-afik

dias, an ear of com.
di-as

fiadh, a deer,
fi-a'

greine.

gre-n^

eisg.
eysk

dels,
de-ish

feidh.
fe-i'

/^ Some nouns ending in ea are changed into i; and those ending eo or
into ui, — as :

Nam,
Breac, a trout.

brec

Fear, a man.
Ceann, head.

cenn

Preas, a bush.
pr^8

Breac, small-pox.
brec

Cearc, a hen.
cero

Leac, a flag,
lee

Gleann, a valley.

glenn

Gen.
brie.

fir.

cinn.

pris.

brice.

circe.

lice.

glinne.

Norn,
breac

brec

broc, a badger,
broc

ceol, music,
ke-ol

seol, a sail,
se-ol

cnoc, a knoll,
enoc

soc, a ploughshare.

800

lorg, a stick.

lorg

long, a ship,
long

Gen,

bhreac
vrec

bruic.
bru-ic

ciul.

8U-il

siuil.
shi-uyl

cnuic.
cnu-ic

suip.
su-ic

luirg.
la-rik

luing.
la-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, suflSce, — my chief reliance being
on phonic spelling and literal translations : —

Norn.

Neul, a cloud.

neyl
Ian, a bird.

i-an

Feur, grass.

feyr

Meur, a finger.

mhyr

Leus, a torch.

leys

Beul, a mouth,
beyll

Sgeul, a tale.

skeyll

Chn,
neoil, clouds.

n^-5yll

eoin, birds,
e-oyn

feoir, grasses.

fe-oyr

meoir, fingers,
me-oyr

leois, torches,
le-oysh

beoil, mouths,
be-oyl

sgeoil, tales.

ske-oyll

Nom,

feoil, flesh,
fe-oyll

sron, the nose.

eron

muir, the sea.

mtiyr

fuil, blood.
fdyU

druim, a ridge.

truym

suil, the eye.

Btiyll

Gen.

feola, of the flesh,
fe-ola

sroine, of the nose.

sroyne

mara, of the sea.

mara

fola, of the blood,
fola

droma, of the back.

droma

sula, of the eye.
aula

meala, of the honey.

mela

mil, honey,
ma

Bannais, a wedding, bainnse, wedding. duthaich,acountry.ducha, of the country.

bann-aysh ba3rnD8e du'-ayich du-cha

Coluinn, the body. coUa, coll. gualainn,the shoulder. guaille,of the shoulder,
coluynn colla gu-alaynn guylle

24 THE LAKaUAGB

' General Bule. — The nominative plural is formed by adding a or on to
the nominative singular ; as nom. sing, bard, a poet, plu. bardan or baird.

Piobair, a piper. piobairean.

pipftyr pipayren

Buachail, a shepherd. buaohaillean.

bu-achayl bn-achayllen

Aimsir, weather. aimsirean.

aymishir aymi-sir-en

Craobh, a tree. craobhan.

cra-ov craoyan

"Particular Rule. — ^Masculine nouns which insert % 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.&N.pl. clnarain.

fer fir cln-aran cla-aren

Bradan, a salmoa bradain. croman, a kite. cromain.

brad-an brfttayn crSman cromen

Cleireach, a clerk. cleirich. clacfaan, a village. clacbain.

cley-rech dey-rich clachan dachen

" 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 tiie reader should think that I am going to seduce him into the
study of Gaelic grammar, and thus stultifying myself.

The Gaelic bards of modem 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 works 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 Graelic bards, without devoting a lifetime — if
a lifetime would suffice for the purpose — to the study of GJaelic 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

THB HIGHLAND CLANS. 25

gender of inanimate objects ; bat 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 broach, (bm-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 fix)m 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 Ghielic poetiy ; but, unlike the
bards, the grammarians had all the advantages of what Uie 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^ (duyn^ 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 ciuin, (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

" thugive buidheachas do 'n Tigheam, oir tha e maith, oir gu brath

hogive bay'-chaa to 'n ti-^ni oyr ha e may' oyr ga bra'
5 4 2

mairidh a threocair.* ^*
majrri' a h-re-ocsyr

The role for spelling Gaelic is embodied in the following verse, which is
ascribed to the Draids, 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,

'i caol ri caol

26 THE LAVOUAGl

A chaoidh Bgriobh Ever write

a ehajT akriT

Le hrigh Gaelic. With meaning Gaelic.

le bri' gft-lic

Some grammariaos think the above rule were more honoured in the breach
than the obeervance, becanae it requires, that, if the hist vowel cS 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 dans,
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 dan 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 deaehda^ 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
chie& They were administered by a judge called Mdheamky (bri'-ev)
(modernised hrehon 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 Droids
constituted, not the civil but the criminal court of the clans. The chief and
chieftains were elected from the nearest in descent to ihBJbunier 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 dans of the north of Europe for
the conquest of the Roman 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, natnrally established their power over tliem
permanently, when territories were conquered and districts divided into estates
among their officers. In such cases, the ceannccUhf 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 Several^, 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 name& 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 fit)m 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 ftigitive
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 conroboration, 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 so kind as to send me. I have read it with much attention,
and with great pleasure indeed. With the exception of one point, you have
anticipated all my conclusions and deduction& It occasioned much surprise
and pleasure thus to find two individuals, wholly unknown to one another, and
pursuing the same studies quite independent of each other, arriving at conclu-

* H. Macdonald, Esq., GrnndtQlly, Dankeld.

28 THS LANOUAOS

Bions almost the same. The reaacHis yoa have giTcn for the differenoe in the
laDguages of Europe are precisely mine — ^preferably worded by you.

" I have studied to a certain extent the connexion of Latin and Greek witk
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 Borne, and that both Greek and Latin enter
largely iuto the Teutonic or Gothic dialects. I can say nothing of the Sclavonic,
though it is considered one of the Arian tongnesi Our own language ia now,
with apparent grudge, admitted to belong to this Indo^Iurqiean class of
language& We are told that Professor Hiiller, of Cambridge, has traced out
some seven or eight himdred words of Latin in the Gaelic, or vice vtrwi; and
we have been informed that Pezron, the antiquaiy, found that number in the
Greek, and from 1200 to 1400 words in Latin, though, like MiiUer, 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 woid& I
believe the Greek is replete with Gaelic, for its numerous aspirated pronuncia-
tions and consonant combinations bear great aflSnity to our language. The
German or Teutonic is said to aboimd 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 £r»e (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 Sa;xon 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 satisfactoiy. 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 &ncy 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 iEneas from Troy to
have some germs of truth in them, what was his language? Greek. The

OF TES 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 theie 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 Scythes were driven

by the MessagetsB from the south and eattt of the Araxes, and betook themselves

to the north of liie 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. Research has done away with the

Scy thse-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

tenned Scythse, 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 Geeti 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 Cs&sar'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 werq 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 er& 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 I2th 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 difiference 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 wiih
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 Boman 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 BeUt'' 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
tchite. 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 fonnd in Europe,
appear to be the descendants of the Gkiel 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.

Caesar 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 Caesar, be
accounted for separately altogether firom any supposed difference in the mental
and physical capacity of the German and Celtic races?

Is it pot 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 &ct, that, in the
bosom of the most active seats of enterprise and industry, whole fiEimilies are
to be found whose deficient education in the industrial virtues, stamps them
with all the characteristics of indolence and apathy ? Now, it wQl 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 districta Now, wealth is essential to, if not the parent of, com-
mercial and manufacturing industry. It creates artificial wapts, and searches for
« and rewards the enterprise and industry whereby they may be supplied. A people
living in a barren country, and who know no wants excepting those of nature,
are contented with milk and potatoes, Iroguea and hodden greysy and do not
possess within themselves the means nor the stimulus necessary for the creation
of commerce and manufacturing wealth and industry.

32 THE LAHOUAGS

The 80-called Saxon and Celtic inhabitantB of Great Britain and Ireland,
in addition to the great adyantages the former had over the latter, in tha
possession of rich and fertile plains, intersected with navigable rivers, bays, acl
estuaries, whereby the wealth and commerce of the whole worid was drawii
among them, have not set out on the career of commercial and mann&ctaring
enterprise on equal terms. The Saxons of Great Britain and Ireland wei^,|
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 eqaal to
their wants ; and they lived contented and happy. The acquisitiveness and
injustice of the stranger changed the scene. S% overturned the laws and
institutions of their country, and made others, regardless of their wants^ castomg,
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 dassy for the employment and enrichment of those of the people who had been
then accustomed to servitude and commerce ; and now Ae poor Celtic race,
dentided 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 jastice
be ascribed to anything inherent in the Celtic character, is proved by the iact,
that there is no part of these kingdoms in which persons of undoubted Celtic
lineage are not to be found, standing pre-eminenUy forward among the most
distinguished individuals of the Saxon race, in every department of Uterature
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 fiivourable 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 theie pages were written at the time of the potato failure.

OF THB HIGHLAND OLAMS. 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 mercantQe 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-
&cturing 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 fiimisb 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 witii 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 Oaledania^ as affording to every tribe the privilege
'' of being each independent of the whole.'" By this cleachda, the power ?f the
kings, chiefs, and chieftains, who constituted the patriarchs, was so bound down
a& 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 fix>m their
feuds and questions of succession among themselves) into the country ; at least

* That the Scots were the feudal, and the CaledoniaxiB the patriarchal people, is prored bj the Cact, that
the former had a king styled the King of Scots, that his^ns were styled princes, that he created from time
to time, dnkes, marquises, earls, &c. ; but the Caledonians never had Mugs or tides until they were created
for them by feudal historians and foreign priests. Theee, however, did not know their language. Hence
we have in Gaelic no words to express the titles which these sapient writers were pleased to oonfer on
our remote ancestors.

E

34 THE LANGUAGE

in ite 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 1 Douglas, Lorn &a
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 nobihty of those days to be exaggerated by the
vulgar error of supposing that the schtUrons, 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 anothpi>«»k ^H---..c;hen.j:pymis
of the m were form ed togetheL«>*a schfltron, or division, some neutral person-
^SfeSwWSPWgerthe 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, id
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 GLAN& 35

at least, exjacie 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 ofispring of the then recent
conquest of that kingdom by the Normana 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 nol)ility
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 Boman 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 opponentn

36 THE LAKGUAQS

of the Englighy 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 Gaula 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 representatiyes of the Celtic
Ghiuls 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 Saxon 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 efieminate by several
centuries of subjection to the Bomans, before he achieved that triumpk 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 ot
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 bom the half, if not wholly, Celtic and warlike Norman.
But to show the difierence 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 bis 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 Bannockbum, and, with one Celt against three Saxons, overthrew
them with a slaughter, to which that of Waterloo, — the Bannockbum 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, «i8suming them to be different races,

OF THB HIGHLAND OLAKa 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 Tndeed, I question if twenty families of
British-bom 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, true. 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 Gkielic 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 Csesar 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
Romans who first ascertained that Britain was an island I 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 iad, c in
cant, d in cMt, f in ^11, g in gM^ 1 in feek, m in mad, n in narrow, p in
path, r in rare, s in «alad, and t in ^ 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 LAKaUAQE

Tir-mhor, a contineDt.

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.

camaA

Calla, harbour,
calla

Geob, a creek,
ge-ob

Caolas, a strait.

caolas*

Loch, a lake.

Abhuinn, a river,
avayn

Alt, a rivulet.
Eas, a waterfall.

688

Linne, a pool

linn-e

Sruth, a current,
sru'

Dall-bhog, a quagmire.

dallavog

Frith, a deer forest,
fri'

Grianan, a sunny knoll, (a
gri-an-an fairy brugh.)

Sithean, a fairy knoll or
sbi'-en brugh.

Bniach or brugh, a bank
bru-ach bru'

or ridge ; also a clachan.

Cloadh, burying ground,
clo' or salmon spawn-
ingplace.

mor-shruth, a rapid,
more-ru'

adhadh, a ford,
ah'-ih'

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.

c6yre

bealach, a defile or pass.

belach
aisre, a steppe among rocks.

&j8hre

beinn, a mountain.

bSynn

cruach, a conical or stack-shaped mountain,
cni-acb

sliabh, a wold or inclined table-land.

ali-av

slios, the flank or side of a moontain.

slU

scur, a cliE
BcGr

mointeach, a moor.

moyntech
carr, a dry moor, rutted with winter water-courses.

Ion, a moist plain or meadow.

cos, a cleft

cnagan, a knag in a tree or rock.

cnagan

innis, an island ; also a roosting place.

i, an island (obsolete.)

airidh, a shieling or Highland summer residence.

ayri'

fasach, a deer-forest, or preserved pasture.
flEMach

* 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 HIQHLAND CLAKa

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'

Lao^h, a cal£
Arladh, a qney.

aria'

Gamhainn, a stirk.

gayayn

Damh, an ox.

dav

Tarbh, a bull,
tarv

Gearran^ a work-horse,
gerran

Steud, a war-horse.
BtSyd

Marc, a riding-horse.

marc

Falare, a riding-mare,
falare

Capuly a brood-mare,
capul

Caora, a ewe.

caord

Boc-earba, a roebuck,
boceraba

Sionnach, a fox.

shi-onach

Dorani an otter.

d5ran

Broc, a badger,
broc

Eoin-fhraoich, moorfowls.
e-oyn-roych

Coilleach-fraoich, a moorcock,
eoylech-froych

Cearc-fhraoich, a moorhen.

cerc-roych
Coillich-dhu, blackcocks.

coyllich-yn

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,
gevia-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'-yli-an-ach

cloimh, wool,
cloyv

gabhar, a goat.

gavar

boc, a he-goat
boc

laosboc, a wether goat,
laosboc

meann, a kid.

menn

fiadh, a stag,
fi-a'

maoisleach, a hind.

moyslech

minnean, a calf-deer.

mixmen

earba, a roe-deer,
eraba

banag, a grilse.

banag

geallabhreac, a salmon-trout
geUa-vrec

breac, a trout
brec

slatiasgaich, a fishing-rod.

slat-i-aiigich

morbha, a fishnspear or leister.

morva

clic, a gaff

clic

driamlach, a fish-line.

dri-am-Iach

dubhan, a hook.

duvan

cuilleag, a fly.
cuylli^

rodhan, a pirn.

ro'-an

40

THK LAVaUAOX

Lach^ a wQd-dack.

beb
Malard, a wQd-drake.

mlll-ard

Tnnnagy a dnck.
tnnn-ag

Drac, a drake,
dnc

Geadli^ a goose.
ge-»'

Ghmradhy a gander,
gao-ra'

Feadagi a plover,
fedag

Adharcag, a lapwing.

a-ar-cag

Ouilbneach, a curlew.

gaylebenach

Corr, a heron,
corr

Bndag, a snipe.

badag

Creothar, a woodcock,
cre'-ar

lafig, a fish.
Bradan, a salmon.

bradan

Leinne-chrio8,t a fihirt of mail
leyD^chri-Sa

S^ath, a shield or wing.

Dag, a pistol,
dag

Beudagy a dirk, literally, the little
Wydag deadly one.

Boghadh-shai^head, an arrow-bow.
bo'-a'-hayed

Taifead, a bow-string,
tayfed

Ganna, a gnn.

gunn-a

Claishneach, a rifle.

clayah-nech

Camus, a mould for casting bullets,
cimufl

leabhar-chnilleag, a fly-book.

lemr-cboyflag

claidheamh, a sword.

day'-er

daidh-mor, a broadsword.

day'-more

claidh-da-Iaimh, two-handed ^ord.

cky'-da-layY

cludh-cinn-ais-nich, a rib-hilted sw^d.

day'-cmo-ftyah-iiich

claidh-cuil, a backsword,
clay'-cnyl

claidhrcaol, a small sword.

day'-ca-ol

clogaid, a helmet

clogayt

clogaid stailin, a steel helmet.

dogayt rtalin

Inireach, a buff cloak,
layrech

dealg-gualain,* a shoulder pin or skewer,
tdag-ga-aleyn

braisd, a broocL
bnyad

Inirech mhaaleach, a mail-cloak.

layrech Tayledi

claidh-cinn-niich, an Islay hilted sword.

day'-cinn-iUioh

feile, a kilt,
feyl^

triubhas, trews worn by equestrians and
tri-n-yaa aged men.

brigis, short trews, buckled at the knee,
brigis

bonaid, a bonnet

bonayt

peiteag, a waistcoat

peytag

peitag-mhuillchen, a jacket, literally a
peytag-vnylidien waistcoat with sleeves.

brog, a shoe,
br^

cnaran, a sandal.

cn-anw

cuarag, a knapsack.

ca-ar-ag

* A akewer of gold or nlyer, with a head nsnally large and highly omamental, for fastening the
wanior's plaid on the sbonlder. The bioodi waa only used by women.

t Leine-chrioe was the diatingoiahing name of the cfaoeen waniors who attended the chief fn. battle,
moved with him from side to tide of the field, pnihing erery advantage, and aaataining the party
inclining backward or in Jeopardy.

OF THE HIGHLAND CLANS. 41

Fudar, powder. balgan-peallach, a goatskin haversack.

fadar balkgan-pellach

Carbat, a war-chariot. dornlach, a quiver.

carbat domlach

S^aD, a knife. diollaid, a saddle.

8gi-an di-ollit

Sporran, a purse. pillean, a pad.

spomui pQlen

OsaOi hose. summaCy a pack-saddle.

oaan sommac

BreacaOi a plaid,
brecan

Breacan am feile, a belted plaid.

t«ecaa am feyliS

The Lowland Caledonians, as well as the Lowland Scots, wore the trews,
both long and shorL The short trews ultimately degenerated into the hrigia
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 modem 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 and
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
WeUington turned their position, and made them retire before their stamina
was £Eurly 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 Biscayan 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.

F

42 THS LANGUAGK

The Bhort trews and hoBe, as above described, were worn by a few old men
in Strathspey and Straiherrick sixty years ago. The Biscayans, at the above
period, instead of tartan hose, wore a long worsted stocking folded down mid-
legy and tied with red tape, like some very fat-legged strangers whom I have
recently seen aping or caricatoring Highlanders, in a species of gaberlanzie
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 modem 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 broocL The old Caledonians
occasionally wore the belted-pldd, that is, the plaid divided at the waist by a
broad belt^ the upper part being wrapped round the shoulders, and fiistened 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
Belations of the most celebrated Nations," as the dress worn by Henry the
YIIL's Irish troops on his visit to France. It is a remarkable circumstance that
ihe Antiquarian Societies of Ireland have lost eight of this the ancient native
dress of the northern IrisL It is evident^ however, from the name of this dress,
which, in contradistinction to^/iiZe, is called breaccm am fetle, 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-^iUnUsy^ 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 battie, was to firm his bonnet on his head, by
an emphatic '^ acrug /" — 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 rifie ; — his fourth,
to iart forward till within twelve paces, discharge, and fling his ironnstocked
pistols at the foeman's head ; — ^his fifth, to draw claymore, and at him. This
was done by the Gael at the battle of E[illiecrankie, the moment Dundee fell,
and they found themselves at liberty to take their own course. Their conduct

OF THE HIGHLAND CLANS.

43

IB 80 described by one of Dnndas's officers, who published a short and interesting
memoir of the hero, which was published in London four years after his death.
[Lord Macanlay 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 minutea It lasted only two
minutes, according to this officer, and to the bard Ian Lom, after Dundee's
death. Had he not been killed, it might, like the battle of CuUoden, have been
protracted until two thirds of his clans had been killed or wounded.

Athair, father.
a'-»yr

Mathair, mother,
ma'-ayr

Brathair, brother,
bra'-ayr

Piuthair, sister.

pi-u'-ayr

Seannaer, grandfather.

8heD-ar

Seannamhair, grandmother,
flhena-yer

Mac, son.

mac

Nigheann, daughter.

ni'-en

Ceili, husband,
chey-fi

Banacheili, wife,
ban-a-dieyli

Tiechele,throughother, ^'helter-skelter.
trecheU

Lechele, together, '' hand-in-hand.''
ledieI6

Ochele, separately, from one another,
ocheld

Friomh-athair, patriarch,
pri-ov-a'-ayr

Gann, 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' clan, chiefcss.

»>

balaochan, a cow-boy, literally a cow-
ba-laochao hero, hence balach.

caile, a stout young woman,
cayl^

caileag, a lassie,
cayl-ag

boireineach, a woman, (pronoun.)

boyrenach

fireneach, a man, (pronoun.)

firenach

duine, a man.

duyn6

bean, a woman,
ben

bodach, an old boor.

bodach

cailleach, an old female boor.

cayllech

deo-dhuine, a good man, literally, a
de-o-yun^ god-man.

dorch-dhuine, a bad man, literally, a
dorch-yim6 man of darkness.

duine-coir, a kindly, honest man, liter-
duyn^-coir ally, a surpassing man.

duine-carrach, a quirW-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,
bnrray'

benmluagbael, a precious woman.

ben-vi-ayeU

benaillidh, a beautiful woman.

ben-ali'

44

THE LANQUAQE

Ceanntaigh, head of a house or branch,
cen-tar chieftaia

Bana-cheami-taighy female head of a
banachen-ta-i' house, chieftainesfi.

Ceauntealaich, head of a household.
ceEntelech

Banacheanntealoich, female head of a
banachentelaych household.

Uachdaran, the superior of the land,
a-achdaran the tamister.

Banuchdaran, a female superior of lands,
baD-u-achdaran or a female tainister.

Banathainister, a female tainister.

bana-haynister

oiseach, a sOly woman, literally a
oy-sech strayed young woman.

buidseach, a witcL
bayt-86ch

duineraitechael, a vain-glorious man.

dayne-raytechel

cladhaire, a coward,
cla'-ayr^

duinecrinn, a niggardly man.

duyn^-criim

duine fial, a social, hospitable man.

1, aon, or, a h-aon.
aon

2, da, a dha.

ya

3, tri, a tri.
tri

4, ceitheir, a ceitheir.

cey'-er

5, coig, a coig.
coyg

6, sia, a sia.

8hi-a

7, seachd, a seachd.
shechd

8, ochd, a h-ochd.
ochd

9, naoidh, a noidh.

Doy'

10, deich, a deich.
deych

Numbers.

11, aon-deug, or, a h-aon-deug, 21, aon thair fichead, one

aoD-deyg one over ten. oyer twenty.

12, dha-dheug, a dha-dheug. 22, dha thair fichead.

ya-yeyg

13, tri-deug, a tri-deug. 23, tri **

tri-deyg

14, ceiihir-deug, a ceithir- 24, ceitheir

cey-ir-deyg deug.

15, coig-deug, a coig-deug. 25, coig ''
coyg-deyg

16, Sia-deug, a sia-deug. 26, sia "
8bi-a>deyg

17, seachd-deug, a seachd- 27, seachd

Bhechd-deyg deug.

18, ochd-deug, a h^chd-deug. 28, ochd **

ochd-deyg

19, noidh-deug, a noidh-deug. 29, naoidh

noy'-dgyg

20, fichead, a fichead. 30, deich '^

fi-ched

(C

cc

li

((

((

u

((

u

40, da fhichead, two twenties,
da iched

41, da fhichead sa h-aon, two twenties and one.
da iched sa haon

50, da fhichead sa deich.
da iched sa deych

60, tri fichead, three twenties,
tri fiched

61, tri fichead sa h-aon.

tri fiched sa haon

70, tri fichead sa deich, three twenties and ten.

tri fiched sa deych

80, ceithir fichead, four twenties,
cey'lr fiched

90, ceithir fichead sa deich.
cey'-ir fiched sa d93rch

100, ceud.
ceyd

200, da cheud.

da ched

300, tri cheud*

tri ched

400, ceithir cheud.

cey'-ir ched

500, coig ceud.
coyg chdd

600, sia ceud.

sia chSd

OF THB HIGHLAND OLAN&

45

700, deachd ceud.

shechd chSd

800, ochd ceud.

ochd cSd

900, naoidh ceud.

noy' cSd

1000, mQe.

2000, da mhile.

da tU-^

3000, tri mile.

tri mil-^

4000, ceithir mile.

cey'-ir mil-^

5000, coig mile,
coyg mil-d

6000, Bia mile,
fihe-a mil-^

7000, seachd mile.

shechd mii-^
8000, ochd mile.

ochd mil-^

9000, noidh mile.

noy' mil-^

10,000, deich mile.

deych mil-^

Cabdikal Nuhbebs joined to a Noun.

Aon fbear, one man.

aon &

Da fhear, two men.
da ^

Tri fir, three men.

tri fir

Ceithir fir, four men.
cey'-fr flip

Coig fir, five mea

coyg fir

Sia fir, six men.
ihi-afir

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'-^

An dara latha, the second day.
an dJkC'i W'&

An treas latha, the thbd day.

an tree W-i

An ceithreamh latha, the fourth day.
an cey'-rey la'-d

An coigeamh latha, the fifth day.
an coyg-ev W-i

an cead fhear, the first man.

an cSd er

an dara fear, the second man.

an dSr-^ &r

an treas fear, the third man.
an tres fdr

an cearamh fear, the fourth man.

an c^r-ay fdr

an coigeamh fear, the fifth man.
an coyg-ey fdr

an siathamh fear, th sixth man.

an shi'-ay {4i

an seachamh fear, the seventh man.
an shechd-ay £§r

an t-ochdamh fear, the eigth man.

an tochd-ay fS§r

an noidhamh fear, the ninth man.

an noy'-ay Ut

an deicheamh fear, the tenth man.
an deych-ey Uir

an sdathamh latha, the sixth day.

an shi'-ay la -^

an seachdamh latha, the seventh day.
an shechday la'-^

an t-ochdamh latha, the eighth day.
an tochdav la'-^

an noidheamh latha, the ninth day.
an noy'-ey la'-£

an deicheamh latha, the tenth day.
an deych-ey W-i

Ban, fiur,
ban

Crion, little,
cri-on

Cruin, round,

cmyn

The Compabative.
baine, fiEiirer,

bayn-^

crine, less,
crin-^

cruinne, rounder,

(artlynd

bainead, &imes&
bayn-ed

ciined, littleness.

crin-ed

cruinnead, roundness,
cniyned

46

THE LANOUAGB

Daor, dear.

doiie dealer,

doiread, deamess.

daor

doyre

doy-red

JDearg, red.

deu-ge, redder,

deir^;ead, redness.

derag

derige

deynged

Geal, white.

gile, whiter,

gilead, whitenesa

gel

ga-6

giled

Trom, heavy,

trmme, heavier.

traimead, heaviness.

trom

trajm-^

trnymed

Eatrom, light,

eatmime, lighter.

eatmimead, lightness.

e-trome

e-trnym^

e-tniymed

Faom, vam,

faoine, vainer,

faoinead, vainness.

ia-oyn

fkojni

fiu>yned «

Binn, sweet.

binne, tweeter.

binnead, sweetness.

binn

hinnA

binn-ed

Ibbegulab Compabison.

Borb, fierce.

buirbe, fiercer.

buirbead, fierceness.

borb

bayrb^

bayrbed

01c, bad.

miosa, worse,

miosad, badness.

olc

mi-B^

mis-ad

Beag, litde,
be-ag

laffha, less,

laghad, littleness.
1^-ad

Dnilich, difficult,

duiliche, more difficult.

duilichead, more difficult

dnyl-ich

daylich-i'

dnyliched

Farasda^ eai^.

fasa, more easy.

fasaid, easinesa

fiuMda

filM

£uayd

Gtearr, short,

giorra, shorter,

giorrad, shortness.

gerr

gi-rr-a

girrad

Qenr, shaip,

geire, sharper.

geiread, sharpnesa

geyr

geyre

geyred

Laidear, strong.

treasa, stronger.

treasad, strongness.

Uyder

tres^

tresad

Math, good,

feothas, better,

maitheas, goodness.

ma'

feyo'-as

may'es

Mor, big.

motha, bigger,

mothad, bigness.

more

mo'-a

mo'-ad

Teih,hot,

teotha, hotter.

teothad, hotnesa

te'

te-o'-^

te-o'-ad

Se, ye&

moran, much.

daonan, alwaya

•e

mono

daonaa

Cha 'n e, no, not him.

osoeann, above, overhead.

feasda, forever.

cha 'n h

5sC6Ui

fesda

Haiih, good.

fo, under.

diugh, to-day.

ma/

fo

di-u'

Donadh, bad, evlL

roimh, before.

maureach, to-morrow.

don-a'

royv

mayrech

Fallain, healtihy, well.

deigh, behind.

moch, early.

ftllen

dey'

moch

Began, few, a little.

gle, very.

anmoch, late.

b^^

gi6

anamoch

Suas, up, ascend.

trie, often.

SO, here.

BU-as

trie

sho

OF THB HIOHLAND CLANS.

47

EIrich, get up, arise.

tearc, rare.

sin. thera

eynch

te-aro

aUn

SioB, down.

ainmig, seldom.

stigh, within.

ahi-os

ajn-8-mig

Btr

Mach, oat.

sith, peace.

caite, where.

iffi^rfi

ai

oajto'

Bith, paoe.

fada, long.

solasach, happy.

n'

fiida

a&laaaoh

Cian, remote.

muladach, fiorrowfal.

pailteas, plenty.

d-an

mikladaoh

payltaa

Fc^hlamta, learned.

mnmta

oha mhor, not mnch.

oha Tore

taitneach, delightfaL
tayineofa

Deigh, after.

gealtach, oowaidly.

gdl-aoh

fearr, better.

fan

Sgathadby timid.

mise, worse.

gaolach, lovely

aga'-aoh

mi-a^

gaolaoh

Careon, why.

baighealy compassionate.

rithisty again.

oanon

bay-el

ri'-iat

Geartyjnst

ciamer, how.

lag, feeble, also, a hollow.

cot

oomer

lag

GreaSy haste.

malL slow.

tra, early.

pw

maU

tra

Grad« quick.

cnine, when.

saibhear, wealthy

griU

cnjn-^

aayrer

Cia-as, whence.

ainnis, want

cinnteach, certain.

oe-aa

aynnia

oinn-teoh

Modhafl, mannerly.

£alamh, empty.

falbh, walk off.

mo'-ayl

&]av

fair

Mimhodhail, unmannerly.

duin, shut.

foil, broil,

mi-TO-ayl

dnjn

%1

E[ch,'eat

foill, gently.

ol, drink.

eych

%U

ol

Falach hid.

caidil. sleep.

folais, seen.

fidadh

oayd-il

folayih

Doifig, awak&

foras, assamption.

eirich, rise.

dajag

fixraa

eTiioh

Fosgail, open«

bi mach, be onb

dean cabhag, make haste.

ibagd

bi maoh

de-an c&-Tig

Ma se air toil e, if it is your will.

ma 86 ayr toyl 6

Thn^bh dhomh, give ye me.

bnk-iv JOY

Ha se do thoil e, if it be thy will.

ma 86 do boy] 6

Thoir da mi aran, give to me bread.

boyr da mi aiaa

Thoir dhomh cS, give me cream.

boyr yo7 oi

Thoir da mi im is caise, give to me butter and cheese.

boyr da mi im

Thoir dhoin gmth is nachdar, give as cords and cream.

boyr ynyn gro' ia a-ioiid-ar

48 THE LANGUAQB

Ab crninne ce, the round earth.

an crajim^ c^

Bainne blath is aran coirce, warm milk and oat-cake.

bayiine blath is aran ooirod

A ghaoil mo chridhe, love of my heart
a yaojl mo chri'-^

A chuiale mo chridhe, pulse of my heart

a choyahle mo ohri'-^

Mo leannan fallaich, my secret sweetheart

mo lennan f^Qlajoh

Mo chuid dhe'n t-shaoghal, my share of llie waAd.

mo ohnyd yen tao'-U

Thoir da mi (or dhomh) iasad, ^ve to me the loan.

hoyr da mi yov i-a-sad

Ni mi sin gu toilleach, I'll do that willingly.

ni mi rin ga toyUeoh

Moran taing dhoibh, many thanks to you.

moran tajng yoyy

Se air beatha gu dearbh, ye are welcome certsSnly.

86 ayr be'-e gn de-arv

Tha sibh aig moran dragh, you are at much trouble,
ha ahiv ayg m6-r^ dra'

Tha mi moran na 'r comain, I am much to you obUged.

ha mi moran nar oomajn

Tha sibh tuille *s coineal, ye are too kind.

ha ahiv tayU^ aooynd

Cha dragh leom idir e, that is no trouble with me at alL

oha dnr le-ome i-dir e

Tha mi aig air seirbheis, I am at your service.

ha mi ayg ayr sherv-eBh
Tha mi duilich trioblaid a thoirt dhoibh, I am sorry trouble to give ye.

ha mi dnjlioh triob-lajt a hoyrt 707Y

An coimhneas thig bho^n chridhe paidh e fhein, the kindness that comes from

an oojY-nea hig toVi ohri'-^ pa-i' e heyn
the heart pays itself

A bheil cuimhne agibh air Donnacha ban nan oran, have you (a) recoUectioD

a Yeyl ooyn^ ag-iy ayr Donna-cha bBn nan oritk

of Duncan fieur of the songs.
Tha gun teagaibh, 's b-ann aige a bha'n aigne shaibhir *8an guth binn,

ha gun tegiy ib bann eg'6 a Ya*n ayg-nd hay^ sa*n ga' binn

yes, without doubt ; and 'twas he who had tlie wealthy mind and sweet voice.

De tha dhith oirbh a cho-lionadh gach uireasaibh nadurraal, what lack ye to
de ha ye' oyrv a cho-li-ona' gaoh nyr-eBeyy nadanel
supply all natural wants ?

Bannarcheile aillidh, beusach, maith, a spouse beautiful, modest, good.

bini-oheyle ahli, bey-saoh may'

'S aineamh sin ; ach sir is gheibh u i 'n tir nam beann, nan gleann 's nam breacan,

18 ayney shin aoh shir is yeyv a 1 'n tir nam benn nan glenn 'a nam breo-an

That is rare ; but seek and you'll find her in the land of mountains, glens,
and (tartan) plaids.

BheO eolas agaibh air uaishleann a bhraigh, have you knowledge of the

veyl e-o-hu ag-iv ayr n-ayah-lenn a m-i

gentlemen of the braes (of Lochaber.) .

OF THB HIGHLAND CLANS.

49

Thath, 's b-ann a sin a bha na h-tiaisleann an laidhimh m' oige ; yes, and in that

W '8 b-ann a shin a Ta na hu-ayaUenn an la'-iv mojg-4

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.

oe as a haynig fer fi-a' na arajii

Thainig a duthaich Mhic C-aoidh-tir Bob-dhuin, came from the district of

haynig a dn'-kh tio oaoy-tir rab jnynn

Mackay, the country of Bob-dona
Tha na speuran a sile gu trom an diugh, the skies are filtering heavily to-day.

ha na spejran a afl^ ga trome an di-u'

A sile I tha iad a taomadh, filtering I They are pouring.

a ahil^ ha i-ahta taoma'

Cha taomadh e ach fras an aigh, (it is) not a pouring, but a shower genial (good.)

cha taoma' h ach fras an ah-i'

Chi mi, air leom, na duilleagan ogadh is milse aineal, I see, as it were, the
ohi mi ayr le-ome na dnyUa^ og-a' is milsh^y aynel

young leaves of sweetest breath,
A fosgladh a billibh maoth le fiamh gaire, opening their tender lips with a

a foBgla' a Inlliv mao' le fi*av gfiyr^

smile (literally, the image of a laugh,)
Is a toirt dha failte mhin le sanas maighdeannael, and giving him a gentle

is a toyrt ya fhyllte yinn le tXixiia mSy'-dennel

welcome, with a whisper maidenly.

Ob, ob,* mo laochan am bard I a ni boireannaich do na preasan, a bheir billibh
ob ob mo la-o-ohan am bard a oi boyr-en-ioh do na prossan a yep bill-iT
maoth do na duilleagan gonna, 's a ni sanas maighdeannel de m mona-

ma-o' do na dnyllagan gonna s a ni sanas ma-i'-den-el de 'm mon-a-

mhor cadalacL
vor eadalaoh

Ob, ob, my hero the bard ! who makes women of bushes, gives tendet lips to

blue leaves, and makes a whisper maidenly of their murmur sleepy.

Rionnag, a star.

li-onn-ag

Beul, a planet

reyl

Dubhar-gealaiche, an eclipse of the

da-vai-gd-aych moon.

Dubhar^greine, an eclipse of the sun.

da-Tar-greyn4

Taladh, attraction,
tala'

Aisil, axle.

aysii

La, day ; oidhche, night.
la oy'-che

Gaoth-malairt, trade-winds.

gaoth-mal-ayrt

Lan, flood ; traigh, ebb.

Lm traigh

reothart, spring-tide.

re-o'-art

contraigh, neap-tide.

con-tray'

reultagan, small stars.

reylt-agan

reultan uaireach, na seachranach, comets.

reyltan n-ayr^eoh sbechranach

latha,day; seachduin, week; mios, month.

la'-a shecdid'tiin mios

raidhe, quarter of a year.

ray'-e

mios reultail, the lunar month.

mi-OS reylt-ayl

mios gealachail, this month is five hours
mi-OS yel-aoh-ayi longer than the former.

mios chitmanta, the common month.

mi-OS chnm-an-ta

* An ambignout, untranslateable Barcasm.

a

50 THE LANGUAGE

Bliadhna ghrianal, the sun year. Diluain-an-t-BhaiDseil, Hanfiel-Monday.

bli'-na yri-and dile-a-ayn-an-tayn-icyl

Bliadhna, the common year. Latha-feil-Bride, Candlemas-day.

bli-a'-na la'-a fejl bride

Bliadhna leum, the leap-year. Dimairt Inid, ShroTe Tuesday.

bli-a'-na lejm di-mayrt in-id

Latha nallaig, Christmas-day. Dirdaoin a bhrochain mhoir, Wednesday

la'-a nallayg dir-daoyn a yroch-ajn voyr

Latha coinnle, New-year's-day. of the porridge feast

la'-a ooyn-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 ; for the fundamental doctrines
of his pulpit oratory are merely those of the Church of Rome, and are no more to
be found in the Bible than in the Koran, — ^if he make plain common sense bis
interpreter. The last half of December and first half of January, were called,
a mhios mharbh, (a vi-os varv) the dead month. The mios faoiltich (mi-os fa-
oyl-tich) was the first half of January and the first half of March.

Seachdain feadaig coig-la-deug gerrain, tri latha sguabaig, suas e t-earrach,

sheohd-aTn fedayg cojg-la-dejg gerrajrn tri la'-a sgu-a-bayg su-aa e tearradi

are Lochaber sayings on this subject ; but the Bev. Gregor Macgregor, Lismore,

has &voured 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-ioh u-ajr

Marbhaidh caoirich agus uain ; Kills ewes and lambs,

manray' cao^rrioh agna a-ayn

Thig an sm an gearran gearr. Then comes the gearran sharp,

hig an ain an gerran gerr

Is ni easan rud nach fearr ; Which will do things that are no better ;

18 ni esan md nach ferr

Cuiridh e mart caoileadh am poll. He will put the lean cow in a bog,

oayri' e mart caojl-e' am poll

Gus an tig tonn thair a ceann. Until the wave comes over its head.

gas an tig toon hajr a oenn

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.

oha tig a maoh 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 Ja'-a feyl e-oyn summer.

OF THE HIQHLAND CLANS.

61

Latha-feil-MartaiDiiy Martinmas-day.

la'-a feyl mar-taynn
Samhain, feil-Bride, Bealtain, and

sa-vayn fey 1- bride bel-tayn

Lunasdal, are the beginning of

lanas-del

the four quarters.

Lunasdali Lammas, first of August.

limas-dal

Damhair, (deer-routing) Mid-harvest

da-vajr

Latha-feil-Michael, St Michael's day,
la'-a feyl mi-ohd 29th September.

Latha Samhnadh, Halloween-day.

la'-a sav-na'

There was a week only of the feadag and gearran, according to Mr
Macgregor, and the catlleach^ (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 aisgean^ 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 ;

fiiojlteoh faoylteoh lay an ens

Is mor an fhaoilde bu choir bhi ris ;

IB mor an aoyl-de ba ohoyr yi ria

Faoilteach, faoilteach, crobh air theas ;

finoylteoh faoyltech orov ajr hes

Gul is gaoir bi daonnan leis.

gal is gaoyr bi daonnan leys

Tri latha do'n fhaoilteach san luchar

Faoilteach, faoilteach, 'tis right to resist

it;
Faoilteach, &oilteach, cows (racing) in

heat;

Crying and lamentions are often hi&
Three days of faoilteach in the dog-days ;

tri la'-a do*n aoylteoh ean i*n-char

Is tri latha do'n luchar san fhaoilteach. And three days of the dog-days in

18 tri la'-a' do*n i-a-cbar san aojltech faoilteach.

Thunder in the afternoon, the thunder
of plenty,

Taimeineach an deidh tra neoin,

taymeTneoh an dey' tra nojn

Taimeineach an torraidh mhoir,

tajrnejnedi an torra/ voyr

Taimeineach roimh thra neoin,

tajincTnech roj h-ra noyn

Taimeineach gort is fuachd.
taynieynech gort u fii-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.

Thunder in the forenoon, the thunder of
scarcity and conflict

^

THE POETRY OF THE HIGHLAND CLANS.

It is a fact corroborative of the tradition that Oolumba destroyed all the
manuscriptB 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 efiectually subjected and plundered
by enemies. The barbarous policy of the Norman despots of England ultimately,
no doubt, robbed tbese 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 b^land, 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 Lqgan 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 Lish 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 re8earche&
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 Jcnow^
would make a very lai*ge 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 wa3 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 POETBY

M^as 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 tiie 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 Boman 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 Bome, 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, hateftd alike to the Boman 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 CLAKS. 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, and
the EuBHATES* These names being descriptive, in accordance with the genius
of the language, supply the place of records, in defining the difierent depart-
ments of Druid literature. Let us, then, resolve each of these names into its
primitive elements or roots, that we may clearly ascertain the meaning of it —
for alleged synonymous words, jumped at haphazard, as if it did not signify a
single pin whether they originaUy meant "preserving or pickling," 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 hiik^ life, pronounced it, and
ard^ higL His duty, therefore, was to elevate the lives of the people. Eubhates
is compounded of eXbh^ proclaim, pronounced eyv^ and aiuaa^ joy, pronounced
ayUa. His duty, therefore, was to proclaim the joyous discoveries of the Druid
to the people. There is no ambiguity or mystery here. The Dnrid 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, fi*om 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 Gkielic bard. His subject must be substantially
true, but in the treatment of it he ,was left to his feelings and his 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
and testament^ and their names for God and the soul, and for good and bad

* Gobhith, pronoonoed Go-vi, is oomponnded of the roots, co^ who or what, and M(A, (bi') life,
the name impliea that Biology waa the study of the Arch-Draid. Hia names for God, the soul, the
g«M>d, the bad, show, so fiur, the saooess of his researohes. He does not represent God as a being of
almighty power with the passions and failings of a man.

56 THK POETBT

men, shpw that they did not render theology sabservient to priestcraft. Their
name, e{hh-<dtesy shows what was the object of their mission, namely, to proclaim
foy, or joyous tidings to the people ; and joy 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
such a scheme of infinite benevolence as can leave no doubt on any rational mind,
that every being endowed with reason, by conforming in his character and con-
duct to that scheme of benevolence, must be happy both here and hereafter.

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 fix>m Irish
authorities, the time occupied in acquiring the necessary bardic instruction, wae
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 tiieir 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 llie 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 aU com^
parison, above that of any nation I have ever seen ; for llieirs 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 efiect 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 Bubtilty, 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 then: art appears in the perfect concealment of the means by which
it is accomplished." — " In the opinion of many, however, Scotiand 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 countiy they now resort who
wish to attain proficiency in music, as the genuine source of the art."

OF THE HIGHLAND CLANS. 67

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 fix)m any Latin or Italian work of the twelfth century, such a proof of the
civilization of the Boman 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. "Tour 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 1

The Boman 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 Anglesey 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

H

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 goTem-
mentfi; and the Highlanders maintained theirs down to the period of the
disastrous battle of CuUoden. In the reign of James IL of Scotland, it was
enacted that '^ Gif there be ony that inakis them fuiles, and are bairdes, they
be put in the king's waird, or in his irons, for their trespasses, as lang 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 I By a
statute of James YI. in 1579, those who were gamesters, tale-tellers, &a,
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 Lom, AUastair M'Mhaighstear,
Allaster, Bob 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 m
Scotland as a class, down to the period at which the kings of the Scots or
Scuits succeeded to the supreme authority over the Pfcts 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 ofScers 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 tiirough Caledonian chie&, 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 inU'oduction of feudalism. Nor
does that history detail as it should, the step-bynstep means by which feudalism
-was insidiously substituted amongst the Scottish Lowlandens 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 Beuda, This
addition to his name {Re^ida)^ 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
Graelic 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 Qothic
spelling of Eochaid's additional name of retVe, or, of the peace. Dalriada, in the
Gothic dialect, therefore means the district of Epchaid of the peace. Erra^
again, means a part or district, in the Gaelic of the Caledonians, and galU 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 Oall^ by the
Caledonian, from the day he landed in Kintyre until this day, when his descend-
ants occupy the whole Lowlands of Scotland. Hepce, if it be the Scot or Gall
who landed at Kintyre under Eochaid Reite, 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 Boman province, from the Clyde to Stamford in England, as well

* See ** The GaledoDiAng and Scots, or the Highlanders and Lowlandert of Scotland," a lecture
delivered before the Young Men's Literary and Scientific Association of Oban, by D. Oampbel], lat«
Lieutenant 57th Begiment. Edinburgh, London, and Publin.

60 THE POETRY

as the CaledoDians w&o occupied die 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 Catnul,
(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 Cruitfani
or Caledonians of Galloway (originally of Ulster) from their neighbours.

Beasoning 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-p^th are still
visible near Dalmellington, not fiu: 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
warUke boundaries between the districts of the separate clans or peoples who
divided the Boman 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 tiie quiver) ancient Britons, and Roman progeny of the Lowlands of England,
Anglo-Saxons. And it is still more difficult to see how the Caledonians ot the
glens and mountains of Albin can be made Scoto-Irish, especially as the
difibrence between the Scoto-Irish and both the Caledonians and so-called
Anglo-Saxons, in language, manners, and customs, continued not only distinct
but irreconcilable, firom the day that Eochaid Keite (or Eochaid of the peace)
and his Scots landed at Eintyre, until the last oi his representatives in Scotland
ascended the throne (^England.

* M 7 mndi «8l«em«d friend. Mr Patenon, in the new edition of his Tnlvnble and moEt interettiBg
kbIoiT of ** Aynhire Fnauliee/' will irery lilLely throw wome light on the isbject.

OF THE HIGHLAND CLANS. 61

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 weie 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 Ein-
tyre. Both these colonies were established by Eochaid, and under the same
name, spelt by historians, Dalriada or Dalreada. As all Graelic 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
histoiy of Ireland, as of writers on the history of Scotland, seems to have arisen
from the ignorance of modem 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
cearmcath or war-chief was elected out of each clan in successioa The clan,

* It is a singTiIar 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
Qnns, Hacraes, ftc., show that they are of the same pedigree with the Campbells. I have not had time
to extend my researches on this subject so fiu 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 inquiiy should embrace the antiquity
of the leading daa-tartana, and on the state of the manufacturing arts among the Highland Olans at the
probable date of their invention. Mr Hair, the most successful manufacturer of fancy tartans Sn
Paisley, told me that nothing could be more perfect in colour and pattern than the ancient dan-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
spirited manufacturer in the most spirited manufacturing town in Scotland, to exceed, either for the
elegance of the pattern or the harmony of the coburs. Surely the penny-«rline historians of Highland
ignorance and barbiaity, have been veiy remiss in not finding some heavy-headed Fleming ancestors for
tiie tartans, as well as for the Douglasses and other old and noble Scottish familie9 !

62 THE POETBY

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 tinae, in
the same way in which Greek and Boman 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 modem 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 E versus, ^* that an Eirimonian, 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, Eildare, 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 Lemster 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 Belgaa, 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 Belgse 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 iJiouaand 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 Belgse ; 5thly, that the Firbolg Gamonradii are
expressly styled the ' great Milesians ;' finally, that the soldiers of the three
CoUas, 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 0*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 Belgse 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 €is
their own the genealogy of another race settled with them in Ireland. Thus,
because the Romans, who conquered Britain, were descended from iEneas, 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 cpntinued 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 difierent 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 Beiges of Leath-Ouin, 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 Belgae 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 Tighemac could not
find a regular succession of Eirimonian kings before the Christian era, though
be gave a list of Irians from the foundation of Omania, A.C. 305, 226."

64 THE POETBY

The foUowiDg were the qualificaiioiis required for the different ranks of the
order of the Bards. The FocalaOy being the youngest student, was required
to repeat twenty historical poems and tales. The Macfuinni, forty tales : the
Doe, fifty ; the Canaith, also fifty ; the Clith, one hundred and seventy compoei-
tioDS ; the Ollamh, three hundred and fift^ ; the Aos-dona, an equal number.
The Aos-dona led the Bards and Minstrels into the circle; but when the
meetiDg 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 gra^e, were all of the order and rank of the Barda 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 baud of choristera
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*8, 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
formed 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 Culdees, the Bards were

OF TH£ HIGHLAND CLANS. 66

no longer an organized order under collegiate discipline, and became the
creatures of the Church, less strict in their morals. Hence, Gruffadd and his
'* Gaelic Mends'' 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 cf 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. Accordmgly, 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. Byhs ap Gruffiidd, 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 YIIL 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 profesedon, according to the old statute of Grufiudd ap Cynan,
prince of Aberfiraw.'* 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 mythok^ and
bardic learning," according to the Grentieman*s Magazine, L. xiL ^nce then, the
Cynuodorian 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 aJl countries, in some
central locality, to revive andent customs, and renew ancient ties and associa-
tions among tiie now scattered, but still attached and warm-hearted remnants of
the gresft Celtic claiffi.

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 IL, 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 the
King 1 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 Fingal, fell in Ayrshire, in a battie fought
between himself and Momi, 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

Bev. Dr Memes, then Sector of the Ayr Academy, and other gentlemen, had
it opened, when it was found to verify Ossian's description. The nm 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. Ronald
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 ho 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 ite 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
contended,- 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 60 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. Lucemius, king of the Avemi,
was wont to court popularity by *' extraordinaiy muniJScence." 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 Lucemius' 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 Hibemia. 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. Toma,
Dubbach, 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 THE POETRY

Ireland, at least within the Pale, by a penal statute ; bnt they came down in
the Highlands to the days of Dr Johnson ; who, while denying the existence
of Gaelic poetry, mentions that I(»narba were at that time held in the Highlands,
as eisted-vodas are now held in Wales, to recite and celebrate this non-exttting
poetry ! In Anglia Sacra, mention is made of a Scot who was acquainted with
a hundred different measm:es of verse ; and GinJdna, 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 Barda They required that the subject of all poems
should be stricfly true, and told by the Bards in accordance with the troth ; but
they were not only allowed, but required, to relate these events in a maimer
worthy of men of genius, feeling, and good taste. The strict exclusion oS fiction
from Celtic poetry was no doubt unfiekvourable 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 ^^ upthrough'* 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 modem taste substituted harmony for melody, and,
by smothering the song in singing, devorced feeling firom music, after a long life
of wedded happiness. Was it only in Hibemia and the Highlands (where the
best players on the harp known to learned musicians and antiquaries like
Giraldus and Mcgor 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 TJllin,
Orran, and Ossian, three of our most celebrated bards, I beg leave to premise
that the poems fi'om which I quote have been before the public, in print, and in
the native language, those of UUin 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 pubHshed
in that perodical, —

1. That poems bearing the same characteristic features with those after-
wards published and ascribed to Ossian by Macpherson, had been nniversally
known for time immemorial in the Highlands ; and that they were referred to

OF THB HiaHLAKD CLANS. 69

in innumerable poems (many of the verseB of which I translated and quoted m
English) by the Gaelic Bards, ages before Macpherson was bom, in ^e same
manner in which Greek and Boman poems are referred to by the contemporary
poets of England.

2. 1 showed, from Irish and Northern historians, whose works could scarcely
hare been seen by Macpherson, because they were not then published, although
the materials existed in manuscript, and m 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-
fflcally, 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 pubUdied
by the Bev. 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
eridence 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, whidi form a contrast miost 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 fi^m various editions, they may, perhapi, appear
in some places inelegant or abrupt ; it being sometimes necessary to take half
a stanza, or perhaps half a line, firom one edition, to join to so much of another.
As the poems were, for the most part, taken down fi^m oral recitation, firequeut
mistakes may have been made in the proper division of the lines, and in the
assigning of its due quantity to eacL Those who recited ancient poems took,
frequendy, the opportunity of mibeUMi^ such wards as ihty were hwt aequauUed
totlfA, in the room of aueh as were more Jbreign or obeoUte. 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 poema being uniformly

70 THE POETRY

of such a character as legitimately to lead to the conclusion, that ihe 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 Eev. 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. The^
remarks apply only to the Gaelic version; for the Rev. 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-dh&na 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 fiy 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 modem 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 Gkiel 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 HlOHLAin) 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 ti'anslation
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 bom in
Erin or Albin. 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 THB POETBT

minds, aud corrupt the taste of the people, and so prepare them for swallowiDg
the monkish legends, however extravagant and marvellona Nay, more, these
XJrsgeuls show that the fabricators of them were the monkish dabblers in Grreek
and Boman literature, and not the Celtic bards ; for they have their allegories,
monsters, and metamorphosis, — ^although rude, maudlin, feeble, unnaturally Can-
tastic, obscene, and ludicrous.

Mr O'Eierney, one of the editors of the Ossianic Society, who calls
these alleged poems of Ossian ^' Ursgeuls," — or, new tales, states, that '^ thej
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 Borne, -
the wars between the Fingalians and the kings of Erin about the feudal tribute
of mulier merchetc^ &a &c. But Mr O'Kiemey has not submitted the originals
from which the XJrsgeuls 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'Eiemey, perhaps, takes for granted that
his readers have undergone the process of emasculation which his Ursgeub
are so well calculated to produce, and that they will believe his curious paradox
without requiring any evidence of its truth I 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 pubtication of these
(JiSgeuls, 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 I 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 fieict, that,
along with it they have published works by St Benean, Dr Lynch, &c.,
containing a whole mass of evidence, which csxx 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, &a ; 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 claos,
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 sumamea 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, >yhich 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
Dames 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 Soman 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 serva

Ptolomy, Geo. Hib. states, that the Minapee and the Canaeci were " nati-
ones Teutanici originea /* 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 Scota 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 bom 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 G2.

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 dia1ect&
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, and 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 reciptoy — ^Ware s ** Vita Sancti Columbae" 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
Teutonid origtnes" The Editor of an edition of Cambrenses Eversus shows
that the soldiers of the three CoUas were Firbolg, and that the Firbolg and Belga*
were identical in Ireland. The people of Leth-Cuinn were never called Firbolg,
Belgs, &c. &c. in Ireland, but they are uniformly called Cruithni, 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 and
northern clans of Ireland : —

TEMORA.

Chruinich cinnicheadh mor Uillin, Gathered the great clans of Ulliu,

'S chuir iad cuireadh gu righ nan lann, And sent an invitation to the king of

swords, —

Righ do shinnsreadh mor nam beann, A king of the race of their mountain

ancestors, —

Siol Shealma nan cniaidh gu'n f haillein, The race of Selma, 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 OMhorbhein?" The race hostile of strangers from

Morven ?"

Thainig iad mar shruthaibK shliabL 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 vei'ses to Cormac, grandson of Conn. The verses show that the
people of Leth-Cuin, or Temora, and their ancient kings, were (Jaidheil, 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 fhear Theamhair chruinn ; High king of the men of the circuit of

Temora ;

6

THE POETEY

Bo f beallasacfa orm rinneadh foil, Very treacherously I have been betrayed

Le mo mhnaoidh *s le m' reachdadair. By my ^ife and judge.

'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.

I know three things without a flaw,—
Three things that ruin women : —
A husbemd 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.

Mo mhallachd an diugh is gu brath. My curse to-day and for ever

Air duine uasal na air flatb, On the gentleman or chief

A gheileas do las mhnadh, Who yields to woman's flame,

Mar bith iad beusach nan ghniomhadh. Unless she be modest in her conduct

Cearthar gu'n bheud ri 'n linn,
Thainig na Gaidheil ghrinn,1
Conn oilleil ceud-chathach,
Art, mi fein, is Cairbeir.

Four have in their generations
Descended from the sprightly Gael,
Illustrious Conn of a hundred battles,
Art, myself, and Cairbear.

Dan an fhir leidh le Obran. — (The first duan only.)

Aig ceuma mall a chaochain chiuin,
eg ceyma mall a chaochayn chi-uyn

Le d' chruit, gu 'n ghleus, na tosd,
led chmyt gu 'n yleys na toad

Tha usa, mhic Arair nan tend,
ha usa vio 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 tayysen ti-avi' a tri-al

Mu *n cuairt air nialaibh nan speur,

mun ca-ayrtayr ni-aliv nan speyr

Dh-eisteachd am molaidh 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 din

A mhic Arair c'om a d' thosd,
a vie ar-ayr com ad hosd

Is taibhsean nan treun co dluth ?
is tayv-8en nan trdyn co din'

'' Co is fhearr fios na u fein,
CO is err fios na u feyn

Orrain, air beus na fhalbh ?
orr-ayn ayt bSys na yalv

At the slow steps of the mild streamlet.

With thy harp untuned, silent,

Art thou, son of Aiair of strings.

Without a note of music from thy
hand to-night ?

Melancholy ghosts are travelling

Around on the clouds of night,

To listen to their praise from thy lipe,

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,

Orran, of the habits of those that are
gone?

/

OF THE HIGHLAND CLAKS.

77

Tha 'n cnimhnte a dearse air t-anatn.

ha'n cuyn^ a d^raa ayr tan-am

Call an dain chianael aa teiAhachd,
can ail dayn chi-a-nel an te'-avachd

Guir an cliu gn linnte cein,

cuyr an cliu gu linnt^ ceyn

Mar dheo-greine air anam nam bard,

mar ye-o-gren^ ayr anam Dam bard

Tra bhios Orran sa chlarsach nan suain.
tra vis orr-an sa chlarsach nan sa-ayn

Caidlidh Orran sa chlarach,

cayd-li' orran sa chlar

Ach mairjdh a dhain na dheigh.'*
ach man' a yayn na yey'

An so thamh Dumoir nan sleagh,

an BO hay dumor nan slegh

'Sna theach, mar sholns, ani^hean chaoin,

'sna hech mar holos a ni'-en chaoyn

B* aillidh a cruth 's bu bhinn a ceol,
baylli' a era' aba yinn a ceol

Thag Lamha do'n oigb a ghaol.
hag lava don oy' a yaol

Am feachd Dhumoir bha Lamha treun.
am fechd yny-moyr ya laya treyn

Is Min-shnil an rij^h dha cha d'enr, —

is min-huyl an n' ya cha dSyr

Cha d'enr an ri^h ach dh-eur i fein,

cha dSyr an n' ach ySyr i f^yn

Aig miad a speis do Bonan ailtidh,

ayg mi-ad a speys do ronan ayli'

Bonan bho Shrath-thorman nan stead.
ronan yo ra'-horman nan steyd

Chuir fio6 air a cheili bhaiffheil ;
chayr fioB ayr a cheyli yay^yl

Dh-imich ise le fear iuil.
yi-mich ish-^le ferr i-nyl

Bha Lamha dlu air an raon.
ya laya din ayr an raon

Cheangael a 'm fear iuil ri craoibh, .
chengel am ferr i-nyl ri croyy

'S thng 6 leis na luing a ghaol.
's hog e les na luyng a yaol

Chlainti air stuidhean ard a glaodh, —

chloynti ayr stay'en ard a glao'

'^ A Ronain^ mo ghaoil, thig le cobhair !^'

a Tonen mo yaoyl hig le coyayr

Cha chluinn e t-eibh air cuan annrach,
ha chlaynn e teyy 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, s^eet 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
Bonan, the handsome

Bonan from the Struthormon of steeds.

He sent a messenger to his chosen,
the afifectionate ;

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 srutbaD ad luaidh an oran : —

^86 ajg Bru'-an ad lay' an orkn

'* 'S mall do chenmaibh a ghaoil, —

*8 mall do cheymiv a yaojl

'8 cian o 'm chaochain mo leannan.

^8 ci-an *m chochayn mo lenan

Cha chluinn do chemn air an raon,

cha chluyB do cheym ayr an raon

'S tha ghaoth fuaimer 's na meangain.

'sha yao' fuymer 's na meangen

Thig, a Shiiil-mhina, mo ghaoil,

hig a huyl-min^ mo yaoyl

Mar eilid an aile san eibhneas ;
mar ellid an ayl^ 8an eyvnes

C om a bbeil do cheuma co mall

com a veyl do cheym& co mall

Air Gk)rm-mheall nan gleann eildeach ?
ayr gorm-vel nan glenn eyltech

'S cian an oiche, *8 mi m-onar.

's ci-an an oych^ *8 mi monar

A lucbd iomachd nan speara gorma,

a lachd i-omachd nan speyra gorma

BheU sibhse feithibh r' ar annsachd?

▼eyl shivse fey-iv rar ann-sachd

*S do chail sibh eolas ar cursa?

^8 do cha-il siv e-olas ar cursa

Ciod a rug ort, a gbrian na maidne,

ced a rug ort a yri-an Da mad-n^

Noir tba u co fada gu 'n eiridh?

noyr ha a co fada gun eyri'

'N do cboinnicb u Minsbail do ghraidh.

'n do choynnich n minhuyl do yra-i'

Noir dbi-chuimhnich a aird nan speuran?

noyr yichuynnich a ayrd nan 8pSyran ?

A shoillsean aillidh le'r teaghlacb deal-
a hoylshen ayli' ler telach tel-

rach,
rach

Is maiseacb sligbe sa 'n iarmailt aigb,

is maysy'ech sli -^ 8an iarmelt a'

A bbeil sibh ga'r falach nar paillin
a veyl siv gar falach nar payllyn

's na neoil,
'sua ne-oyl

A chionn gur gearr libh an oiche?
a chi-onn gur gerr liv an oyche

Ach leamsa cha n'eil i gearr,
ach leamsa cha neyl i gerr

At the side of the stream praisiDg
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 yom* 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 vinhayl yonn ayr secharan

Tog tror-cheann a ghrian eibhinn,

tog tor-chenn a yri-an eyvinn

Is feach dhomh gu luadh, a ceumadh."

is fe-ach yov ga lu-a' a ceyma'

Dhealraich a nhaduinD aobhach,

yelrich a yaduynn aovach

Ach cha *n f haicear leis a h-aoga&

ach chaa aycer leys a h-aogos

Dh-eirich ceo aillidh dlu dha,
yeyrich ce-o ayli' dlu ya

A giulan samhla gaolach Shuilmin,

a guylan savla gaolach huylmin

Sgaoil e ghlacaibh na comhail.
Bgoyl e ylachiv na covel

Ach threig e air an aile dhobhaidh.
adi h-reyg e ayr an ilh-le yovi'

Dh-imich Bonan Ian do dhoruinn,

yi-mich ronan Ian do yorayn

Gu fear aosda nan creag casach.

ga fer aosda nan creyg cosach

Fhuaireas e *n taice ri luirg fein
hnyres e 'n tayce ri luyrig feyn

Sa 'n doire dhoillear fo sgail gheug,

aan doyr^ yoyller fo sga-il yeyg

Lan oglnchd, a crom-aomadh,
lao og-luychd a crom-a-om-a'

Le fheusalg ghlais mu bhroilleach aosda.
le ey-sayg ylaysh ma yroyll-ech a-os-da

Air an lar bha- shuil a dearca,

ayr an lar ya hayl a derc-c^

Ach anam bha'n comhnuidh, thaibhsean.

ach anam ya'n cov-nuy' hayy-sen

" Ciod arsa Ronan," a chi u
ci-od, ar-sa ronan, a chi u

" Mu Chulmina mo leannan gaolach ?"

ma cholmina mo lenn-an ga-ol-ach

'^ Macan ceangailte ri craoibh,
macan ceng-aylt-^ ri croyy

Barca na deann thair cuan.
harc-a na de-ann hayr cn-^

A Shuilmina 's cruaidh leam do ghlaodh,
* hnyl-mina 'a cmy' iem do yla-o'

A taomadh air, luin gn'n chomhnadb,"
a taom-a' ayr tuynn gun choy-na

And my brown-haired Snlmina 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.

But his soul was in the land of spirits.

" What know you," said Ronan,

** Of Sulmina, my sweetheart, be-
loved ?"

** A little youth," he replied, " tied to
a tree,

A ship speeding over the sea ;
Sulmina, sad is thy cry.

Pouring on the waves without help.

»»

80

THE POETRY

" 'S deacair a shean-f hir do Bgeul/*

'8 dec-ayr a ben-ir do Bgeyl

" 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 tor-sach d^y-rach

Toirt bhuillean borb do'n chopan bheom-

toyrt bayll-en borb don chop-an y^ym-

nach,

nach

Ghrad phill bho raonaibh nan eilteaD,

yrad fill yo raon-iy nan eyl-ten

Prasgau corr do dh-ogain threubhach.
prasg-an corr do yog-ay n h-reyv-ach

Dh-f ban iad mar ris an laocb,

yan i-ad mar ris an laoch

Toedach teamhaidh 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 bin leinn.
fie na tejm-e cha b-i-a-linn

Fuar, fiiucb gu'n cbeol gu'n eibhneas,

fa-ar flench gun chy-ol gnn eyv-nes

^Cbaith, sinn ann sa bbein an oiche,

* chay' sinn ann bsl veynn an o-i-che

Sa mbaduinn leum sin air lear.
sa va-duynn leym sin ayr ler

Ar n-oigbean gu'n gbean air an trai^b.

a noy'-en gnn yen ayr an tra-i'

Bu cbo-ambluidb, a Dbumoir docbor-sa
ba cho-av-luy' a yu-moyr do chor-sa

Sa mbaduin an am dbuit eiridb ;
sa ya-dnynn an am yuyt ey-ri'

Minsbuil bboidbeacbnan ciabb orbbuidb,
min-huyl YO-i'-ech nan ci-aY or-Yuy

Cba 'n f baic na d' tballa dorcb gab-eide,
chan ayo na halla d-orch ga hey-de

Cbruinnicb na b-oigbean le'n iugbair,
chniynn-ich na hoy'-en len i-ir-ayr

Sa mbaduinn a sbealg nan sleibbtein ;
sa Ya-dnynn a helg nan sleyy-ten

Db-iar iad Suilmina na teacb dimbair,
yi-ar i-aht sayl-mina na tech di-yeyr

Db-iar 's .cba do cbud i 'n eibbidb.

yi-ar *s cha doh chu-al i Vieyy-i'

'^ I^bean Dbumboir is cian do cblos.
I'-en yuy-moyr is oi-an do chlos

" Severe, old man, is tby tale f"

?ir»

"Tbou bast not beard tbe whole evil!
Tbe bero retired sorrowful, tearful,

Striking fierce blows on the boss of
alarms.

Quick from tbe heath of deer returned,

His band surpassingof youths, warlike.

They remained, along with tbe hero,

Silent, sad, during the long night ;

The music of tbe 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 Suhnina of the golden hair,

Is not seen in tby dark halls dressing.

Gathered tbe maidens for the chase
with their arrows,

In tbe morning to hunt over the wolda

They sought Suhnina in her secret
bower,

They sought, but she heard not their
cry;

" Daughter of Dumor I long is thy sleep;

OF THE HIGHLAND CLANS.

81

It

Duisg a shealg nan earba ciara ;
Aujtg a helag nan er-ba ki-ar-a

Cha b-abhaist dhnit bhith air dheire,

cha b-ay-aayht yuyt vi' ayr yiy-rt

Duisg, duisg tha ghrian ag eiridh.
dujsg duysg ha yri-an ag ^y-ri'

Duisg 's na h-eiltean a mosgladh ;
daysg sua heyl— ten a mosg-la

Crath a nighean Dhumoir do chiabhan,
era' a ni'en yny-moyr do chi-av-an

A shealg nan sliabh, gairm do ghaothar.
a helg nan Bli-av gayrm do yao'-ar

Och tha *n oigh-ghraidh air ioundrain/'

och han oy-yra-i ayr i-on-trayn

Chaidh mar shaighead tre chluais Dhu-

chay' mar hay'ed tre chlaysh ya-

moir.
moyr

Bu tursach Dumor san lo sin,

ba tur-sach du-mor san lo sin

Ach bu tursaich gu mor Bonan.
ftch bu tur-saych ga mor ronan

Chruinnich an oiche mu 'n cuairt dhith,
chraynn-ich an oycbe man cuyrt yi'

Dall-bhrat ceo air traigh gu 'n leirsinn

dall-Traht ce-o ayr tray' gon leyrsinn

Gu toedach, tiamhaidh f haair sin cala,
gu tost-ach ti-ay-ay' hayr sin oala

A falach an taobh an t-shleibhe.
a fsl-aoh an ta-ov an tleyr-^

Doiller gu'n f hasgadh chaidh sin,
doyll-er gnn asg-a' ohay' sin

An oiche f badadb san tir chein.
an o-i-obe ad-a' san tur oheyn

Bha soluis nan speur air uaireabh,

V8 so-lnys nan speyr er a-aynr

A sealtuinn truaillidh tre na neultaibh ;

a sel-tnynn truylU' tre na neyl-tayv

Bu dobhnidh neo-choineal an dreach,

ba do-vny' ne-o-choyn-el an drech

'S bha chomhachag bho chraig ag eibh-

▼a cho-vaohag to ohra-lg ag ey?-

each.

tch

'S chite air uair taibhsean tiamhaidh,
'b chik-e er n«ayr layT*shen ti-av-i'

Ag amharc ciar tre cheo na h-oiche

ag a-YSTO ci-ar tre ebe-o na ba>oyohe

Shuidh Ronan samhach air lie coinich,
hu}' ronan saT-ach er lio ooy-nich

Awake to hunt the dun roes ;
Thou art not wont to be the last, —
Awake, awake, the sun is rising I
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

Bonan sat in silence on a mossy stone,

82

THE POETRY

A sgia air geug oscionn an trein-f hir.

a 8gi-a er gejg os-ci-onn an treyn-ir

Chluinnt'na h-iallaibh fead na gaoithe,

chlnynt na hi-all-ayv fed na goy-e

'S mise ri thaobh gu cianael.

'fl mishe ri haov gu ci-a-nel

Thog mi, a monmhur dan athar,

hog mi a mon-vur dan a'-jr

A ghleachd an Ullan ri Coniiar.

a ylechd an ullan ri cor-mar

Leig dhiot, area 'n laoch an dan,

lejg ji-ht arsan laooh an dan

Gus am pill a mhaduinn lia-ghlas ;

gu8 am pill a Taduynn li-a-ylass

Oir tog a d' sgeul mo chorruich fein,

oyr tog ad ageyl 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^n chov-rag yorb

Sa lean e 'n Snithorman an rua-bhoc,

aa len e 'n sro'-honn-an an rn-a-voo

Bha thi air mise a sgrios ;
va hi er mise a egris

^'S nach d' thaining mo chlaidheamh a

'g nach dayn-ig mo chla-ey a'h

thruaill.

rayll

Ghabh aon da laoich truas ri 'm oige,

yav a-on da loych truas rim oyg-e

Is shoar e mi o bbeum nan eleagh,
is hoar e mi o veym nan slea'

Ar 'n airm tha fathasd aig Lamha,

a naynn ha fa'-ast ag la-va

Le bas neo-thrathail m' athar ghaolaich.

le bas ne-o-ra'-el ma'ar ya-ol-iob

Ach ciod tha monmhur thair an raon ?
aoh ced ha mon-vur h-ayr an raon

Chi mi laoch a tarruinn dlu,

chi mi laoch a tarr-uyn diu

Lennibh ga stiuradh air leth-laimh,

lenn-OY ga sti-u-ra' er le'-layv

Sa shleagh nach h-eatrom san laimh eile.

sa le-a' nach he-trome san layv eyl-e

Tha chas a failneacha san f hraoch,

ha chas a fiiyUnach-a san roach

San caochan da mar thuil-bheum gail-
san co-ach-an da mar huyl-yeym yayl-

bheach.
yach

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 Ullin agaimt
Cormar.

*' Drop," said the hero, '* the lay,
Until the dark-grey mornings return;
Or exalt my own indignation in thv

lay;

My soul is rising to destroy."

When Cormar (the bard speaks as
Bonan) 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.

OF THE HIGHLAND CLANS.

83

" Coim a shiubhlas t-u an oiche a t-oanar, Why travellest thou in the night alone,
ooym a hi-nv-Ias ta an 07-che a ton-ar

Le'dcheumaibhaosdaairraon tiamhaidh? With thy aged steps through the dis-

led cheyayv aos-da ayr roan ti-avi' inal moor ?

Am bheil u mar mise fo bhron ?

am veyl n mar mise fo vron

'N do chail u t-oige do bhean ?"

'n do chayl u tojg^ do ven

** A sheannair," are an leannaibh caoin,

a hen-ayr ars an lenn-ay^ coyn

** An e guth m' athair ghaoil a th' ann.

an e ga' ma'jr yoyl a hann

Ga'r gairm o dubhradh an raon,

ga'r gayrm o dav-ra' an raoyn

Far nach tarrain, ar namhaid lann..

far nadi tarr-uyn ar na-vayd lann

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-alrm ud 's airm m'athair. His arms are like the arms of my

^8 avnyl na haynn nd seyrm ma'yr
Ach 's eug-samhuil an guth,"

ach seyg-say-uyl an gn'

** A fiiic u'n airm ? a leinnibh teich !
a fayo un eynn a lenn-iv tcyoh

Fag mise gun ghalt, am oanar ;

&g miahe gnu yeylt am onar

Deanadh Lamha rium na 's aill ;
den-a' lava rnym nas ayll

Si'm iarrtas bas air uaigh mo mhic."

sem i-ar-taa baa ayr n-ay' mo vio

Theich an leannaibh gu luath,

heych an lenn-iv go la- a'

Le uamhunn ri uchd an raoin.

le n-a-ynynn ri nchd 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 ahenna-laoch
Chuir Bonan failt air an aosda,

chnjr Tonan faylt yr an aos-da

'S ghlac mise gu caoin an leannabh ;
's ylao miad gn caoyn an lenn-av

" Cha bhuin sinne do Lamha nam blar,

cha vnyn sinne do lava nam blar

S cairdean sinn do shuidh na eigin,

's cajr-den sinn do hny na eyginn

Na laig air cul ar sgia tha sabhailt ;
^ ^7g ayr col ar sgi-a ha sav-aylt

Gabhsa tamh, is innis dhuin t-iarguin."
gav-sa tav is innis ynyn ti-ar- gnyn

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
hiU,

Trembling with age, in his place,
Stood firm and daring the aged hero.
Bonan saluted the aged.

While I pursued, and kindly caught
the child.

" We do not belong to Lava of bat-
tles ;" (Bonan speaks)

" We are the friends of the distrest ;
The weak are safe behind our shields :
Best, and tell us thy need."

84

TH£ FOETBY

'' Suidheam air an leabaidh chre,

aaj'em ayr aa leb'ay obre

Far an caidel seamh mo mhac.

fiir aacaydgb-el shev mo vac

Cia iofidach e'n drasd* fo 'n lie,

oe toed-adh e*n drasd fo*n lie

Bn trie sa chath e mar ehuairt-ghaoith.

bu trie Ba cba' e mar ehu-aTrt joy'

's balbh a noehd 's a ghairden lag,

ob 'a ballv a nocbd 'b a yayr-den lag

An suidh nach meatfaadh 'n am cruadail.

aD sny' naeb me-a' nam cni-a-del

I.

Cha rnig e na feidh *8 na gleannaibh,

cba myg e na fey' 'a na glenn-ayv

'S cha dirieh e fraoeh fo armaibh.

'a cba du'-ich e fr5ach fo arm-ayr

C'ait a bheil aobhar nail

ca-yht a Teyl ao-var n-ayl

Is Lamhor san naigh na ehineadh?

is layer san n-ay' na bin-e'

Bi iomacbd aonach na greine,

ti i-o-machd aon-aob na greyn-^

B-eibhinn do chrath a laoieh liomhaidh,

b-ey-Tinn do cbm' a laoyeb llv-a/

Toirt solus fan do sbmllean t-athar,

toyrt solos fiuin do bnyll-en ta'-ar

Tha 'n diu^h gnn latha gun leirsinn.

ban di-ir gon la'-k gon leyr-sinn

Pillidh a ghrian gu h-ait a ritbist,

pill'-i a yri-an ga ba-yt a ri'-ist

Sa gruag oir na stioma dualach ;

sa gm-ag oyr na sU-o-ma da-a-lacb

Ach *8 cian, cian an oiehe fo*n lie ;

aoh 's oi-an d-an an oy-die fi>*n lie

Cha d' thig crioch, a mhic, air do

eba d-ig ori-ocb a yio er do

shuainsa.

ba-ayn-sa

Aeh tha t-iomaehd an saoghail ehein,

acb ba tim-acbd an sa-o'yl cbeyn

'S tn eibhinn le laoieh nan aracL

'stn ey-vinn le loyeb nan ar-aob

Aeh 's muladach sinne ar son an laoieh,

acb 's mnl-a-daob sinn^ ar son an loych

Bha teagh-ehridheach ri sgeul anrach/^

va te-a'-cbri'-edi ri sgeyl an-raob

** Innis,*' arsa Ronan, " f hir-aosda,

innis arsa ronan ir-aos-da

" Let me sit on the bed of clay,

Where ealmly 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 eonflict

He will not chase the deer in the glens,

Nor ascend the mountain in arms.

Where is there cause for exaltation,

When Lamor is stretched in the grave?

Travelling in the sunshine of the
mountain,

Beautiful wert thou, hero liUie,

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 b'ghtlj,
(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 Bonan, '' aged man,

OF THE HIGHLAND CLANS.

86

Aobhar a bhais ? — ^Am b'e Lamha ?"

«o-var a vajs am be lava

'^ Be Lamha a mharbh e gon chas,

be lava a varv e gan cbaa

Ach feotfaas a ruin do 'a lag :

ach fe-o'-as a rayn don lag

Be HOB a fihinnsear, 'a gach linn,

be Dte a hiim-sir 'a gaoh linn

Gun bhi tiomadh a chasgairt foirneart ;

gon vi ti-om-a' a chas-ga-irt fojr-neart

Bu chomhla phrais ar sgia gu *n dian,

ba ohov-la frajsh ar sgi-a ga^n di-an

'S bu chrann-dionaidh dhoibh ar sleagb.
aba ohnum-di-on-ay' yo'v ar sle-a'

Tia bha mi fein am og-«ide,

tni va mi fejn am og-ey-de

Mar bha 'n de an laoch iha*n dorchas,

mar va 'n de an laoch Wn dor-chas

Le athar Lamha chaidh mo cbemna,
le a'-ar lava cbaj' mo diejm-a

Gu creach tigh eibhinn Struthormoin.
ga ore^ ti' ey-vinn m'-hor-men

Chronnnich mi fein an gniomh,

Ghronn-uydi mi feyn an gni-av

'S gun neach aig eiridh nar h-aghaidh,

8guQ nech eg ey-ri' nar ha-i'
Ach leannaibh bha 'g iomairt saighde,

ach lenn-iy va ag i-om-brt aayt-e

'S ga tilge mar lann nar comhail.

6ga tilig-e mar lann nar co-vel

Thuit an t-ehaighead gu faoin

hnyt an ta'-ed gu fii-oyn

Air cois Chomair na'm baoth-bhcus.

er coys cho-moyr nam bao'-veya

Sheal e air an leannaibh le gruaim, —

hd e ayr an lenn-iv le gmym

" Sa'n Eillean XJaigneach bith do chomh-

8a*n eyll-en n-aygneoh bi' do chov-
nnidh.'

ni'

Thugus an Irog do 'n Eillean XJaigneach.

hogaa an tog don eyllen n-aygneoh

Bha deagh Chomair shuas os a chionn

va de-a' eho-moyr hn-as oe a chi-on

Leth-thoghta trie. '

1e-hog-te liio

Bu deacair leam bas an leinnibh chaoin ;

bn deo-ayr le-am bas an lenn-iv choyn

The cause of his death? — ^Was it
Lava?"

" 'Twas Lava who killed him,
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 diu *n tra chnal e m' osnadh,

hajn-ig cDa 'n tra oha-al e moe-na

B-iogna leis m' airm a dearsa :

bi-ogn-a leys mayim a der-sa

Glais e laimh gu teann mu m' chosabh,

ylayah e lajv ga teon mam cho6-av

'S aheal e 'm ghnuis le ghonn sbuil

8 hd e 'm ynnjs le jonn hnyl
dheuraick

yeyr-ich

Mheataich mo chridhe le baigh ;

ve-tajoh 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-ay-an sa ohenn fo m sgey

Mar gboideas earba le minDein ciar

mar yoyd-es e-ar-bale minn-en ci-ar
Bho shuil an t-8hea]gair tre 'n fhraocb,

TO huyl an te-la-gayr tre *d roach

Na iolaire gu carraig dhiamhair

na i-olayr-^ ga oarr.ig yi-a-vir

A h-al gu 'm falach san oiche,

a ball gam fal-aoh san oy-che

'S arohail a gbiulain mi tre thuinn

'aay-il a yayl-en mi tre haynn

An leannaibh gu mbathau: san oiche.

an lenn-iv ga va'-ir sao 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,
8 do ra'i raym feyn ga bayt

" 'So dhuit sleagh (an t-shleagh tha'm

sho yayt deagh (an tleagh ha'm

laimh)
la-iv

*S theirir Ronan gu brath ri'm mhac.*'

'a her-ir ronan ga bra' ri'm yao

Air Bonan, cha chulas Bgeula,

ayr ronan cha cha-a-las sgeyUi

Gus *n do chluinn an deigh bho Lamha,

gas 'n do ohlayn an dey' to laya

Gu 'm be f hagail na thir leonte

ga *m be ag-ayl na hir le-on-te

Fa bron oigh nan ciabhan aillin

fa bron oy' nam d-ay-an ah-linn

An speis thug mise do Bonan,

an speysh hag mi-ae do ronan

B'aithne do'm mhac. Esa dhuraichd,
bay'-ne dom yac esa yay-iichd

He came close to me, bearing my sigh,

Wondering at my aims shining :

He locked his arms around my legs,

And looked in my face with his bine
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 b^ood 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 Bonan, for ever, will my son be
called."

Of Bonan I received no news,

Until I heard yesterday from Lava,

That, leaving him wounded in bis
country,

Was the cause of the grief of the
maiden of the beautiful hair.

My friendship for Bonan

Was known to my son. He wished

OF THE HIGHLAND CLANS. 87

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 R<man."

Gu'n robh e lathair ga chomhnadh,

gun rov e la'-ajr ga chov-na'
Le sleagh mhor Sruththormain.

3e de-a vor sru'-hor-maja

Chuladh Lamha a chomhradh,

cha-al-a' lava a obov-ra'

'S chruinnich ashloigh mu'm aon mhac.

^8 chraynii-ich a loy mam o-an vac

Feach uaigh I L^'r deoir a sile,

feych u^ay' le'r de-ojr a sQe

Abraibh-'an sin iha leaba Laimhoir !

ab-riv an sin ha leba lajvojr

Si cuideachd leaba athair,

81 cayt-achd leba a'-a/r

. Oir 's gearr gus an caidil Bunmath.

ojr Bger gns an cjd-il run-ma

Ach. cuiream comraich oirbh a sheotaibh,

ach cayrem oom-rich ojnr a he-ot-ajy

Mo leannabh *s ma shleagh thoirt do

mo knn-ay sma le-a' hoyit do

Eonan.'*

ronan

" 'S mise Bonan," ars an laoch,

fl mi-ae ronan an an loaoh

'S e g' aoma tiamhaidh gu Bunmath.

B e gaoma ti-a-vay' ga ron-ma^

Gail iad mar aon air uaigh Lamhoir.

yoyl i-ad mar oan ayr n-ay^ lav-voyr

Ach ciod tha tighinn mar f huaim chao-

ach ced ha ti'-inn mar nym oho-

chan,

chan

Tia bhruchdas doinnean a neulaibh ?

tra Ymchd-aa doynn-en nan ni-al-ayv

Feachd Lamhale'n shleagheanliomhaidh,
fechd lava len alea'-en li-ovay'

^S iad lionar a taoma na'r comhail,

ai-ad ti*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 neulaibL

tra yeyr-es a yri-an a ni-al-ayv

Chualadh Bonan copan nan cath,

> chu^ila' ronan oopan nan ca'

'S learn e gu tapadh le eibhneas.

8 lem e ga tapa' le eyy-nes

Am beum sgeithe thionail a shlugh,

am beym agey-e hi-o-nel a la-a

Marnialgruamachmu'ndaraiggheugaich; Like an angry cloud round the
mar dUI gra-a-mach man darr-ayg yeyg-ioh branchy oak ;

^* I am Bonan," said tie hero,

Bending in grief over Bunma.

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 cloud&
Struck Bonan the boss of battle,
As he sprang to deeds with joy.
The alarm-stroke gathered his people,

88

THE POKTBY

Mar thannas na h-aoiche ag imeachd,

mar bannas na boy-che ag im*echd

An co-thionneal nan doinnean eite,

ao co-bi-onn-el nan dojDnen ^jte

Gn dortadb air doireachan Ardbhein,

ga dor-ta' er doyr-ech-ao ard.veyn
San darach fairrel ga h-eisteachd ;

flan darr-ach fayrrd ga heys-techd

B-amhuil Bonan dol sios do'n araicb.

bav-il ronan dol si-os don ar-aych

'Sa locbri laidir na cbenmadh.

*8a lo-chri lajdir na cheym-a'
• • * «

'Sa reir sin, le neart 's le fuathas,

aa reyr sinn le nert tie fn-a'«aa
Sbiubhail, is lean a shbiagb, Lamba

hi«av-ayl is len a lu-a' lava

Mar tbam buaireal a neal dorcba,
mar ham bajiel a ni-al dor-cha

Tra 's dnaicbnaidb faicbe na Lara,
tra *0 dn-ayoh-naj' faych-e na lara

Tba mile clogaid is sbleagb ard,
ha mil«e dogayd b sle-a' ard

A dealradb mar dboire na cbaoiribb.

a dd-ra' mar yojrh na cboy-ri?'

Acb CO db'innseas citb a cbatbadb?
acb CO a yinn-aea ci' a d>a'.a'

Tba sgiatban leatban ga'n sgolta

ha 8gi-ft'-an lo'-an gan Bgolta

Le neart gabbaidb, nan claidbean ;

le nert ga-vay nan clay '-an
Cinn is cinn-bbeirt a tuiteam,

cinn ifl dnn-y^yrt a tnyt-em

'S na mairbb a mncbadb nan leonte.

ana mayrv a mu-cba' nan le-on-te

Fuil a niitb mar mbile caocban,

fnyl a my' mar vil-e caoch«an

'S anama Laocb dol suas an smuidibb.

18 anama loach dol sn-as an BmoyUir

Acb CO iad 'n da iolaire sgiatbacb,

aob 00 i-ad an da i-ol-er-e Bgi-a'*acb

Tba gleacbda co fiadbaicb san roan ?

ha gleohd«a oo-fi-a'-idi Baa roan

Cba mbinnean og, na coileacb fraoicbe,

oba Tinn-en og na ooy»lacb fo-a-che

Mu bbeil an stri len lannaibb bas-mbor.

mn yeyl an Btri le lannayr bae-Tor

f eucb fear dbiu air a gblun ag aoma,
feych fer yi-o er a yloa ag aom-a

Like the spirit of night, careering

Amid tbe congregated gbosts in a
tempest dismal,

To pour on tbe groves of Ardven,

Witb tbe monarcb oak watcbfally
listening ;

So descended Bonan to battle
Witb bis cbivalry strong in bis steps.

Equal in strength, and in dreadfal
appearance,

Lava led, and bis people followed.

Like fierce thunder in a dark cloud,

When gloom rests on^ tbe plain of
Lara,

A thousand helmets and spears shone
on high.

Blazing like a grove on fire.

But who can relate the tug of battie?

Broad shields are being split

By tbe wonderful strength of swords :

Heads and helmets falling,

And the dead smothering the wounded.

Blood is running like rivulets.

And tbe souls of heroes ascending in
steam.

But who are they, tbe two eagles,

broad winged,
That are wrestling so wildly on the

heath?
^is not for a young kid nor tbe poult

of tbe moor-cock
They contend witb tlieir deadly

weapons.
Behold, one on bis knee stooping,

;

Sa thaice laba a shieagha.
sa liajo^ loba a lea'-a

" Gefl," area Ronan, " do shleagh,

g^jl ana ronan do lea'

Is mar rithidh Salmipa ;

is mar ri-i' anyl-mina

Bas mo naimb cha mhian leam fein,

bas mo nayr cha yi-an le-am fSjn

Noir chi mi fo chreuchd e na shine."

nojr du mi fo ohrejo e na hin-e

'' Tha m' uilsa taomadh mar shruth ;

ha mnyl-fla toama mar m'

Dh-aindeon beiream dhuit do gbaol.
yajD-en beyr-am juyt do yoal

Air cul na carraig ud tha uaimh,

ayr col na carrayg nd ha n-ajr

Air bmaich chlnanean ghiurm a cha-

ayr broyoh cUn-an-en ynyrm a cho-

ochain ;
ach-en

Ach togadh, an ainnir mo leac,
adi toga an ayn-ir mo leo

Oir ge bu deacair thug mi gaol dhith."

oyr ge ba decayr hug mi goal yi'

Ohreis Bonan a dh-iarruidh a ghaoil.

yreys ronan a yi-ar-uy' a yaoyl

Fhuair e'n caochan 's f huair e'n uaimh,

ha*ayr en oaooh-an 'shu-ayr en n-ayv

Ach ainnir a ghaoil cha d' fhuair.
ach a-inn-ir a yaoyl oha du-ayr

Cha chluinnte ach fiiaim na h-osaig,

cha ehlaynnte aoh fb-aym na hoeayg

Is monbhm: an duillich sheargte. .

is mon-bnr an duyU-ich berg-t^

" CTait a ghaoil abheil do thamh ?
cayt a yaoyl a veyl do hav

C*oim nach d' ig u dian am chomhail ?

ooym nach dig n di*an am cho-vel

Thig a ghoil 'o d' ionad diamhair,

big a yoyl o din-ad divayr

Cloinn a Shuilmina do Bonan.'*

dajmn a hnyl-mina do ronan

Och 'b diomhain a laoich do ghuth,

och adi-ovayn a loyoh do yu'

Cha toir ach na creagan dhuit eistiachd.

cha doyr aoh na cr^-an yuyt fey-etechd

Climm sgal cuilean sa'n arich,

doynn sgal cny-Ien san ar-ich

Sud an Jrait 'n do thuit Suilmina.

fihnd an tayt 'n do hnyt snyl-mina

OF THE HIGHLAND CLANS.

Sustained on his bending spear.
" Yield," said Ronan, " thy spear,
And with it Salmina ;

89

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 ipck 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."
Bonan 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 Bonan, Sjihnma/'

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 POITBT

Dh-iar i'n ar a chomhnadh Bonain ;

yi-ar i n ar a chov-na' ronayii

'S choinnich a h-uchd corran saighde.

'a dioyiiii-ioh a huohd oorran say'-de

Ohaochail an solns na suil,

chaoohayl anflol-na na sajl

*S shearg na gnnis ros na h-aille.

*a her-ag na gnajs ros na hayll^

Thrdt Bonan gu'n tnar, ga*n deoir,

hoyt ronan gan ta-ar gon de-ojr

Air a muineal leth-f huar fo'n eng,

ajr a majn-el le'-n-ar fon ejg

Amhoil eitheann a dh-aomas gn lar,

avnyl ej'-en a yom-aa gn lar

Noir thniteas a dharag gheugach.
noyr huyin a yarag y^-gaoh

Thug Suilmina plaoeg air a sailean,

hog soyl-mina ploag ayra saj-len

'S ghrad dhoin iad le aiteas sa bhas.
's yrad yuyn i-ad le ayt-aa la vaa

Ba chian thug Binne ri bron,

ba ohi-an bug rinn^^ ri bion

'Sar deoir a smthadh mu'n coidrt dhoibh,

's ar de-oyr a sra'-a' man oa-ayit yoyy

Gns 'n do labhair Bunma gu ghlic,

gna 'n do laT-er nm*ma ga glic

'8 e tighinn dluth, le mhall cheumaibh :
'a e ti'-inn din le mall ohejmaTy

*'An gairm cumhadh air daimhich o'n eug?

an geyrm cn-va' ajr dayr-ioh o*n ejg

An cluinn iad nan snain air caoineadh ?

an oluyn i-ad nan mayn ajr oaoy-ne'

Ach 's geur gas an lean sin an ceum,

aob 'a geyr gns an len sin an oeym

Do thalabh an clos 's nan neoil,

do bal*ay an doe 'snan ne-oyl

Tra leagheas ar laidhean tearc

tra l?-ei ar lay'-en tero

An sruth nam bliadhn' tha bras ga*r

an era' nam bli-a'-n ha bras gar

treigsinn.
tzeyg-sin

Nach faic sibh cheannadh an f haUuing

naoh &yo Ay obenn-a an ailing

cheo
ob^o

Feathamh ri Bunma 's na neoil deas?
fe'-ay ri nm-ma 'sua neoyl dea

She had sought the field in aid ot
Bonan;

She was met by a barbed sbaCL

The light fiuied in her eye,

Beauty fled from her fiice.

Bonan 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 loy, then closed,

pleased in deatn.
Long did we remain in grief,

Our tears falling around .them.

Until Bunma 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 cahDci 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 Bunma ready in the dcy ?

OF THB HIGHLAND CLANS.

91

*S cha 'n f hada Uiios Bonan na dbeigh,

^8 cha 'n a-da vis ronan na yey *

!Ma gheighleas e do bhron a feasd.

mu yey'-les e do vron a fesd

Tha 'm broB mar an arothan diamhair,

ha m bron mar an ara'-aQ di-vayr

Dh-iaras fo iochdar na bniaiche ;

yi-ar-as fo i-ochd-ar na bniy-che

Tha'n galUm cheanadh ag aomadh

ban *gallan chen-a' ag oam-a'

Thog ri thaobh a gheugan aillidh.
hog ri hac? a yeyg-an aylli'

Bimin am bron, dieadh ar cliu ;

vnyn am bron ej-rh ar cli-a

^S ar uioe midh air sgiathan gabbaidh."

'sar nyn^ ray' ayr sgi-a'-an gav-i'

Dh-ekich Bonan, sa ohneas fo bhron ;

yey-rich ronan sa chnes fo Tron

'S thug teach a naimh do^ og 'a do'n
's bag tedi a Ba3r? don og *b don

aosda,

o-as-da •

Dh-f hag e f hirnofihor a dhion an toir ;

yag e ir-vor a yi-on an tuyr

Mar sin is fear iul na h-oiche.

mar sin is fer i-ul na bo-ich^

Ghaireas an oigh an king an laoich ;
cbuyr-es an oy' an luyingan laoych

Is thogair, caointeach, an so a leac.
is bogayr ooyn-tecb an 85 a lee

Ah so tha leaba Bonain faraon,
an sd ha leb-a ronan £ur-oan

An laoch bu treune 'sa b-aillidh.
an laoch ba treyn-5 'sa ba^ylli'

Bn tursach a laithean san xaon ;
bn tnr-sach a lay'^en san roan

Ach 'n deigh a gbaoil cha b-f hada beo e.
ach 'n d^' a yoyl cha ba-da be-o h

Nis tha leaba, fo'n chloioh choinich,
nis ha leb-a fon chloycb choyn-tich

Bi taobh a ghoil,
ri taoT a yoyl

Tha feusag a cUaairean aosda
ha fey-aag a ohla-ar-en oasnla

A taomadh tiambaidh mii'n onairl dhoibh.
a toam-a' ti-ayay' man (m-ayrt yoyv

'» trie mise, ri solus nan reul,
'stric mi-se ri sol-us nan reyl

.Nor will Bonan be long after him,

If he yields to endless ^ef.

Sorrow is like a secret streamlet,

Undermining its flourishing bonks ;

Making the young trees bend oy»,

That exalted their blooming boughs
by its sida

Dismiss sorrow, earn fame ;

Our days are flying on matchleas
wings."

Bonan arose with a bosom sad ;

He gave the house of his foe to the
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, weef>ing, we reared her '
tomb.

Here also is the grave of Bonan,

The hero strong and baautifiiL

Sad were his days on the heath ;

But he did not live long after his
beloved.

Now his head is under the mossy stone,
By the side of his love,
The beard of the aged thistle
Pouring moumtfuily around.
Often am I in the light of the stars.

92

THE POBTBY

Ag eisteacbd ri comhradh an taibhse%n.

ag eyst-achd ri cov-ra* an ta-iv-shen

'S eibhein air na neoil an imeachd,

's eyy-ejn ayr na ne-oyl an im-achd

Tra chluinneas iad fonn mo chlarsaich.

tra chluynn-es i-ad fonn mo chlar-saych

A mhic Arair, tha'n taibhsean dlutb,

a yic ar-er han tayy-sen dlu'

Na ceil orra t-oran tiamhaidh !
na c^yl orra tor-an ti-av-ay

Listening to their spirits convemng.
Joyous is their course in the clonds,
When they hear the sound of nay harp.
Son of Arair, their spirits are nigh.
Deny them not thy song pensive !

DAN AK DEIBG, — THE LAY OF DABQO, BY ULLAIN.
(From the Bey. Dr Bmith'i Seaoaona Dhana. — The flnt Dnon only.)

^San la ad bha Comhal na'm buaidh,
'san la ad va coval nam buy

Le cheol 's le shlua^h air an leirg —
le che-ol ^s le la-a ayr an leyrig

Qe iosal an cluainean an f heidh,

ge i-o-sal an duy-nen an ey'

An diugh an laoch nach b-f haoin 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 fasg^ 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 say-len layste san a'ay oymte

Ag eisteacbd ri sgeula gaisge,

ag eystec ri sgeyla gaysg^

Air Comhal is righ Innsefail ;
ayr coval is ri' innae-fftyl

'N tra sguab iad an arach le cheile ;
'n tra sgn-ab i-ad an arach le chey-l^

Noir chunnacas linn luadh bharca

noyr chuma-cas linn lu-a' varca

Seola gu traigh na neul-eide.

seo-la ga tray' na neyl-§yde

Dh-f hainaich Comhal an long,

yanich coval an long

'S an copan o'n bhnail an beum-sgeithe*
's an copan bn vuyl an beym sgey'-^

'^ Grad leumaibh air aigeal nan tonn,

grad leymayv ayr aygel nan tonn

A chomhair righ tha na eigein."

a cho-ver n' ha na eyginii

Bu gharbh an doinnean o dheas,
ba 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 Innes&il ;

While, together, they swept the battle-
field;

When seen was a svrift 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.

*' Quickly (he cried) leap on the
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 duaiohnidh ri'r suil

a glee gu duych-ni' rir royl

bhreid-gheal,*
▼reytyil

Oir thaom an oiche na'r comhail,

oyr haom an oychd. nar ooveyl

Air cuam dobhuidh nan tonn beuchdael.

ayr ca-«n dovay' nan tonn beychdell

'' Ciod," arsa Comhal na'm buaidfa,
ci-od ana coval nam buy'

'* Am & dhnin bhi 'g oadal caain,

am & ynyn yi gadal cuyn

Is eillean fuar nan camus crom,

1b eyllen fu-arnan camns crom

A sgaoileadh a sgiathan foil,
a agoyle' a sgi-a'-an foyl

Gu'r dion 'o dhoinnean na h-oiche.

gar di-on o yoynen na hoyche

Tha e crom mar bhogh' air ghleos,

ha e crom mar to ayr yleys

Tha e seimh mar nchd ma ghaoiL
ha e Bheyy mar nchd ma yaoyle

Caitlieadh mid an oiche fo sgeith,

cay* . mid an oych^ fo sgey'

lonad eibfaeinn nan aisling ciuin.''

i-onayd eyrinn nan ayshlin d-ayn

Chualas comhacbag a creig,

cha-alas coTachag a creyg

^S gath broin ga freagaurt a uaimL

Bga broyn ga freygayrt a u-ayv

^*J3e guth Dheirg," arsa Comhal,

86 ga' yey'ng ar-sa coval

Wrestling with our sails, kerch-white/

u

a

a

For the night ponred in our faces,
On a fierce sea of bellowing waves.
" Why," said Coval of victories,
'* Should weremainrockingon 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,
Thepleasingisland of peaceful dreams."

Ab owl IB heard from a rock.
And a mourofiil voice fix)m a cave.
^' It is the voice of Dargo," says Coval,

thann,
hann

Chail sinn sa chuan onf bach,

chayllsinn sa cha-an on-a-Tach

^N tra tbiU sinn o Lochlan nan crann,

^n tra hill sinn o lochlan nan crann

^S gach doinnean gu teann gar rnctgadh.

Bgach doynnen ga tenn gar mga'

Thog na tumn an cinn *s na. neoil|

hog na taynn an cinn *8 na noyl

Dh-as sleibhtean ceo air an lear^

yaa slave-ten ce-o ayr an ler

Bha mhuir mholach le stuaidh ^hlas,
Ta yayr volach le stay' ylas

Fo bhuaireadh bho iar gu ear.

fo yayi^ yo i-ar ga err

* The head-drefls of Highland fenulee was called " breid,^ a kerchief. Being snowy-white, the brdd
is often used as a simile, as in the aboye case, for snowy-whiteneBS.

'' 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

d4

THl FOBTBT

Bha Dearg ga h-ard aDn sa chrami ;

va dejrag ga hard anD 8a chrann

Is bhrist an ial ris an d* earb e ;
IB vrist an i-al ris an d-erab h

Morbhein cha'n f hide e gu brath ; —

morvejn chan aye e ga bra'
Dh-f halaich tonna-gaireach bh'uin e.*'

yalaych tonn-garrech Tuyn h

Dh-aithnich Geallachos guth an Deirg,
yayn'ich gella-chos ga* an deyreg

'S mar bu ghna leis air an leir^,

8 mar bu yna leys ayr an leyng

Rinn e miolaran 's thug leum gabhaidh,

rinn e milaran '8 hug leym gavay'

Le mor oibhneas, ghios na traigb, —
le mor oyynes yi-OB na tray'

Mar shaighead a glaic an iughair,
mar hay'd a glyc an i-u'-ayr

Tha chasan ag suibhal tre bhar-thninn :

ha chasan ag si-uval tre Tar huynn

B-aite leis na mac na h-eilde,

b-ayht^ leys na mac na heyl-t^

A Dheirg a bhith leum ri d' bhraigh.
a yeyrig a yi* leym ri d yra-i'

Chunnacas liennedh an aoibhneas,

chunnac-as linne' an oyy-nes

Le solus bristeach nan reultan,

le solus bristach nan reyltan

A caidreamh ri cheile mar cbairdean,

a caydrev ri cheyle mar chayrden

A thachair gu'n duil an tir naimbdean.
a hach-ayr gu*n duyl an tir nayyten

'S noir f haichte le Dearg ar loingeas

'snoyr aych-te le deyrag ar loyngas

Aig ro-mhiad aighear s'a sholais,
ayg ro vi-ad ay'er sa holays

Mar tugadh Gealchossa air Icdmh 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 c6val

" A chail sinn an cuan salach gharbh-
a chayl sinn an cu-an salach yarv-

thonn?
honn

*S ioghna do thiamadh o'n Bha-shrath,
8 i-o'-na do hi-ama' o*n Taru'

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 wavea"

Q^allachos knew the voiee 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 scm of
the hind.

In leaping oa 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 oa

" Art ihou living, Dargo," said Ooval,

'^ Whom we lost amid drumUe rough
waves ?

Thy escape from Ba-ru was wonderfnl,

OF THE HIOHLAND CLANS.

95

A shlaig le gamdch a suas u/'

a heujg le garr-aych a suaa a

" Le tulga thoim/' tbuirt Dearg, *' ga'm

le tulga honn huryt deyrag gam
luasga,

aoD
aon

mar

mar

Bha mise an oich f huar sin ga latha,

▼a miae an oych u-ar sin ga W-a'

Seachd geaUachain, 'egach

sechd gellaohayn sgach

bhliadhDa,

yli-a'-na

Le'n tragha 's le'n liona chaidh tharum.

len tn/a 'a len li-o-na cfaa-i' harom

Chaidh mi 'n latha a sealg a chuim ;
chay mi n la'-i a selag a ohuyrn

'San oich be manran ciul mo mhian ;

Ban oyoh be-manran ci-ul mo yi-an

Ach V ei^in iala, mar thaibhse,
ach beygmn i-ala mar hayyse

Le ceil^,* air eunlaidh na h-oiche.
le ceylig ayr eynlay' na hoyche

Sa'n tirsa 's neo ait a ghrian,
saa tina *8 ne-o ayt a yri-an

*S gur mall a ghealach do thriall.

'a gar mall a yelach do h-ri-al

Ach ciod 80 aobhar air broin ?
ach cy-od so aovar ayr broyn

Chi mi air deoir a srutha.

chi mi ayr de-oyr a ara'-^

Nach beo Crimora mo ghaoil,
nach be-o crimora mo yaoyl

An aiUeag chaoin bu tlathaidh cruth?
an ayl-eg choyn ba tla-i' cru'

Chunna mi i seola na'n nial
channa mi iae-o-la nan ni-al

A dh-iadh ma sholus na h-oiche,

a yi-a' ma holoa na hoycb^

Tra dh-amhairc i nuas ro'n f hrois,
tea yaT-ayrc i na-aa ron roya

Air gnnis thiamhidh na doine.
ayr goa-ia hi-av-i' na doyne

Bha i ann an caochla dreach,
ya i ann an caochla drech

That swallowed thee up with a roar."

"Floating on waves," said Dargo,
^* that tossed me (about,)

I was during that cold night until
morning.

Seven moons, each of them like a year,

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 on 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 andent Higlilaiider pnnaed his aporta on the manly pzindploB of detexmined pene-
Tennoe and daring intrepidity. He foUowed the stag for days and weeks, deeping in hia plaid among
the heather, and snatched the sahnon, between the linn and the aky, ataading on tiie dizzy ledge of the
rock with hia long gaff, in a podtion daogeroua and magnificent; but aothiag ahoit of atarration would
make fatal take part in the fanital Genaan battne, or in any mode of fishing or killing game, which did
not maka it a sporting and ohivalKHia afiair, worthy of a gentleman, and inconsistent with the greed
and blood-thiiatiness of the yenison-butcher or game-poulterer, who degrades sport into a mercantfle
tranaaotioB of profit and loss, in the present day.

96

THE POBTBT

A snilean graidh a sile dhenr ;

a sayll-en gray' a al4 yeyr

Ach dh-aithnicb mi crath mo ghaoil,
ach yayn'ich mi cm' mo yaoyl

*S an taobhar thair cuan i dh-ebidh.
Ban taovar hayrcha-ani yeyri'

• • • •

^* Nach troagb leat mise, a Chrimora ?
nach (ra-a' let mise a chrimora

Och ! na fag mi so am oanar."

och na fig mi so am oan-ar

Oigh-thaibsean chaartaicb i le 'n orain,
oy' hayysen chn-artaych i len oren

Is db-fhag iad mise tursacb, bronacb.
18 yag i-admi.8e tnnaoh bronach

** Thig le d' cbeol bimi, a Cbritb-mora,

hig led che-oi bimi a chrimora

Gu talla nan oigbean fial,
ga tiUU nan oy'-en fi-al

'Sa bbeil Soil-mbalda is Trennmor,
Ba yeyl suyl-Talda is treyn-mor

A sealg feidh dboillear nan nial.

a sel-ag fey' ^yoyll-er nan ni-al

Cbualas i le b-osna leointe,
chn-alas i le hosna le-oynte

*S i sealtam bronacb na deigb."

18 i seltayn bron-ach na dey'

Sguir an ceol, an taibbse a tbreig,

Bguyr an ce-ol an tayy-se a hreyg

'S dbag iad mise a site dbeur,
*B yag i-ad mi-se a si-le yeyr

Air traigb ainel ^s mi leom fbein.

ayr tray' ayn-el '8 mi le-om feyn

O'n og-mbadain gu dall-oicbe,

o'n og-vadayn ga dall-oyche

Mo cboidb o sin cba do sgair.
mo choy' o sin cha do sguyr

C'uin a cbi mi n, a Cbrimora ?
cnyn a ohi mi n a chrimora

Bi ^m bbeo bidb mise fo eislean !
rim Te-o bi' mi-se fo eys-len

Tba m* anam a snamb an ceo :

ha man-am a snav an ce-o

Inn^bb fior an doigb a db-eug i ?"

innsiy fi-or an doy' a ySyg i

*' An sgeula truagb tra f buair do bbean,
an sgeyk tni-a' tra huyr do ven

Tri latbain bba i na tosd gu 'n gbean :
tri la'-ayn ya i na tosd iru^n yen

Her eyes of love sbedding tears ;
But I knew ber lovely face,
And wby sbe rose over tbe sea.

• •••«-

** Dost tbou not pity me, Crimora ?

11

Ocb ! leave me not alone.

Maiden gbosts gatbered around her
with songs,

And tbey left me, grief-struck,
lamenting.

** Come witb tby sweet music, Cri-
mora, (tbey sung)

To tbe ball of tbe social maidens,

Wbere is Sul-malla and Trenmore,

Coursing dusky deer in cloud&

I beard ber, witb a wound-dgb,

Wben looking witb sorrow behind

ber."
Tbe music ceased, tbe spirits vanished,

And tbey left me sbedding tears.

On a strapge shore by myself.

From tbe young morning until the

blind night,
My lamentations have not ceased since

then.

Wben shall I see thee, Crimora ?
While living, sorrow must be mine !
My soul is swinuning in mist :
Tell me truly bow died she ?"

" When the woful news came to thy

wife.
She was three days incapable of speech

or motion :

OF THE HIGHLAND CLANa

97

Ao ceathramb dh-fhiar i a mhuir gu'n
an ce'rav yi-ar i a Tttyr gun

bbaigb,
vay'

^S fbaaras i ga'n deo air traigb :

's hu-aras i gun de-oayr trft-y'

Mar sbneacbda sa'n f hireacb f buar,

mar nechda' san irech n-ar

Na eala air Lanna, gu*ii tuar.
na ella ayr lanna gun tu-ar

Fhuaras i le b-oigbibb gaoil,

ha-aras i le hoyiv' gaoyl

A theirinn o cbaocbain nan sliabb,

a her-inn o chaochen nan ali-av

Le 'm basaibh min a siabadb dbeur,
lem basayv min a si-aba' yeyr

'S le*n osnicb a seide an ciabb.

»Ien osnich a sheyt^ an ci-av

Le lie is gorm-fhoid na traigh,

le lie is gorm-oyd na tray'

Thog sinne combnuidb do mbnoi.

hog 8inn^ covni' do vnoy

B' iomad bba 'n latba sin dubbacb,
bi-omad va'n la'-^ sin duvach

'S bu tiambaidb cumbadb gacb aon.
's ba ti-avi' cuya' gacb aon

Mar aile a seinn an cuilc na Leige,

mar ayll a seynn an cuylc na ley-g^

Dh-eiricb mall is fann a cliu.
yey-rich mail is fann a di-ii

Ach ciod so 'n solus an Innse-fail ?
ach ci-od so'n solus an ionse-fayl

Feucb crann-taraidb* an fbuatbais !

feych craun-taray' an u'-aysh

Togaibb air siuil, tarnaibb ur raimb,
togiv' ayr si-uyl tarn-ayv ur rayv

Sgiursaibb a bbarc tre cbaaintaibb.
sgi-ursir a varc tre chu-ayntayv

Sheid gaotb dbileas na'm beann,
heyd gao' yil-es - nam beynn

On tbe fourtb, sbe sougbt tbe sea, cold
and pitiless,

And was found on tbe sbore soulless :

Like a wreatb of snow on tbe bleak
bill,

Or like a swan on Lanna, breatbless.

Sbe was found by ber maidens beloved,

As tbey descended from tbeir mountain
streams,

Wltb tbeir soft bands wiping away
tears,

And tbeir sigbs lifting tbeir locks.

Witb flags and the green turf of tbe
sbore,

We raised tbe dwelling of tby wife.

Many on tbat day were in grief.

And melancboly were tbe lamentations
of all.

Like a soft breezein tbe reeds of Lega,

Slowly and faintly was raised ber
elegy.

But wbat ligbt is tbat in Innesfail ?

Bebold tbe cross of speed and battle !*

Exalt our sails, draw your oars,

Scourge tbe bark tbrougb tbe seas.

Tbe faitbful wind blew from our
mountains,

'S chab-fbann airbuillean gu combnadb ; Nor faint were our strokes to aid it ;
'8 cha bann ayr buyllen gu cov-na'

Thug siun muigb air braigb nan tonn,

hug sinn mlly ayr bray' nan t5nn

'S gacb sonn is a sbuil ri combraig.
8 gadh Bonn is a huyl ri covrig

Bba uilean Dbeirg air slios a sgeitb,

va uyllen yeyrig ayr slis a sgey'

«

• "Ctmui," asbaft of wood; ("tar," ahould bo
beam or shaft of lurpiuuiDg running or speed.

»4

We cburned tbe tops of tbe waves,
Every bero's eye looking for battle.
Tbe elbow of Dargo was on his sbield,

Har,") surpassing ; and " ruith," runniog : viz., the

K

i '

98

THE POETIIY

^8 a dheoir a erutha sios ri taobh.

Ba yoyr a sro'-ii si-os ri taoY
" Chi mi Dearg gu tiamhaidb, tosdach ;

obi mi deyrg ga ti-avi' tosdach

Tog UUainn nan teud Bprochd an laoch.

tog ullayn nan tSyd sprochd an laoych

»i

And his teais sta-eamed dowo by its
Bide.

" I see Dargo in sorrow, and silent,
(said Coval ;)

Ullain of the chords, lift tiie grief uf
the hero.**

»»

DAN CHAOILTE.

Ki linn Threin-mhoir nan sgiath,

ri limi hrSyn-YOjr nan Bgey'-^

Buaig Caoilte am fiadh ma Eite ;

rayg oaoylt^ am fi-a' ma ejt^

Thuit leis daimh-chabrach nan cnoc ;
bnyt leys dayv-obabraoh nan cnochd

'S cho-fhreagair gach slochd da eighe.

'a cho-regayr gach slochd da ej'-h

Chunnaic Min-bheul, a gaol,

dmnnajo minYoyl a gad

'S le curach faoin chaidh na choel.

sle curach fii-oyn chay' na cho-el

Sheid osna choimheach gu'n bhaigh,

heyd osna ohoyvech gun vay

'Chuir druim an aird air a bharca.

ehnyr dmym an ayrd ayr a varca

Chualas le Caoilte a glaodh, —

chu-alas le ooylt^ a glao'
"A ghaoil,a ghaoil, dean mo comhnadh!

a yaoyi a yaoyl den mo chovna'

Ach ihuirling dalla-bhrat na h-oiche,

ach huyrling dallkvrat na bojche

^S dh-fhailnich air a chluis a comhradh :
'b yaylxdoh ayr a chluys a oovra'

Mar fhuaim sruthain an cein,

mar u-aym sru'-en an ceyn

Michinteach thain a h-eibh na choail.

mi-ohinnteeh hayn a heyy na eho-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,
bog e *n coys na tra/ a lee

Aig anithan bronach nan glas-gheugan :

aig em'-an bronach nan glas-yeygan

*S eol do'n sealgair an traite ;

■ eol don eel-ager an tayt^

*Se baigheal an teas na greine.
ae^ bay'el an tea na greynb

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 !

•t

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 nxm is high.

OF THE HIGHLAND CLAKS.

99

Ba chian do Chaoilte ri bron,

ba cbi-an do cliaojlt^ ri brdn

Na aonar an coille Eite.

na oanar an ooyli^ eyth

Ach bhnail Trenn-mor beum-sgeithe :

ach Tuayl treynmore beym-sgey'-^

'S le lochraidh ghluabCaoilte na threune.

ale lochray' ylu-ajsh coylt^ na hreyn^

High air uigh pbill a sholas.

ay' ayr ny' fill a holSa

Chual 6 cUiu is lean e an Irsheilge.

cha-al e chli-u la len e an teyleg^

**'Sciiimlmleom," arsaDearg, "anlaoch,

^8 cuyn le-om ana deyrag an laooh
Mar aisIiDg choiinhneil a threig ;

mar aa-Iing ohoyv-neyi a hreyg

'N tra stuir e gu h-og mi air Eite,

'n ira sti-nyr e gu hog mi ayr eytfe

Sa dheoir a fliucbe a sgeitbe.
sa ye-oyr a fli-ncha a agey'-^

** Ciod fa do thuireadh, a Chaoilte ?

d-od fa do hnyr^ a chaoylt^

Com' a bheil t-aois bronacb, dubhach?"
oom a T«yl toya bronaoh dn-aoh

" Mo ghaol tha fo 'n f hold na sineadh."

mo yaol ha ib\i 6ghd na am^
" ! dean an t-aite so tbaogbal

oh den an tayt^ ao ha'-ol

Marroghainn do chuairtaibh na frithe ?"
mar ro'-aynn do chn-ayrt-iv na fn'-h

Na dh-iarradb do Chaoilte thugadh ;
na yi-ara' do chaoylt^ huga'

A chunnie bu trie am oran.

a choynn^ ba trie ain oran

nach ro' mo chliusa co marionn,

nach rb mo chli-naa co mar-inn

'S mi le Crimora 's na neuil chairdel."
imi le crimora ana ne-oyl chayr del

"*8 dearbh gu'm bith do chliu mairionn,"
8 dcrv gnm bi' do chK-a mayrina

Area Comhal bu chaoin labhairt ;
area coval bu chaoyn kvayrt

" Ach CO Slid le'n sgiathaibh gabhaidh,
ach CO and le'n sgia'yv gavi'

Toirt a sholuis bho'n cheud fhaire ?

toyrt a holuya von cheyd ayr^

Lochlan, ma 's maitb mo bheachd,
lochlan mai laay' mo yeehd

A cuartach Innse-fail le'm feachd.

a ea-ar-tach innse-fayl lem ftchd

Long was Caoilte under sorrow,

Alone among the woods of Eite.

But Trenmor struck the shield (of
alarms :)

With his chivalry came mightj
Caoilte.

By degrees returned his tranquillity.

He won f&me, 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

0ODg.

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 m
army.

100

THE POETRY

'S aa rigb, bho ard uinneig stuadhaich,

san ri TO ard ayn-eyg Bta-a'ych

Ag amharc air sod a cbairdean buadhacli,

ag aT-arc ayr son a chayrden buy'ach

Tbeir e, le aigbear na sbuil :

heyr e le ay'-er na hayl

" Tba Combal am fagus le shiuil !'*

ha caval am fagus le hi-uyi

Fench Locblan a nuas nar codhail,

feych locblan a no-aa nar oo'-ayl

Is Armour ro' pa mar dhamh croice ;

ia armor ro pa mar yav croyc^

Air traigh Eirein, a Iamb ge bras,

ayr tray' eyreyn a lav ge brass

Mise dh-f huasgail a teann-gblais.

mise yu-asgayl a tenn-ylays

Taimibb, mo gbaisgeicb, o 'r leis

taymiv mo yaysgich or leys

An lann gblas, 's air cladach leumaibh ;
an lann ylas sayr da-dach leymiv

Le suil 's ]e cridbe laiste, eucbdail,

le soyl sle cri'-^ layst^ eyohdel

An diugb dearbbar neart na Feinne.

an d-i-a' dervar nert na feynnd

Tog, a Dbeirg, do sgia leatban ;
tog a yeyrig do sgi-a le'-an

Cratb, a Cbonaill, to cbraosnacb ;

era' a chonayl to chraosnaoh

Buail,aCbaoirill, beamleMcblaidheamh;

bnyl a oharyll beym led chlay-ev

Is seinnsa, Ullainn, dan chatb-baoisge/**

is seynn-sa nlaynn dan oha'-boysge

Cboinnich sinn Locblan, 's cha b-agb

ohoynnich sinn locblan *s cha ba'

dbuinn ;
yvynn

Sbeas iad rombain daingean, laidir,

hes i-ad rov-aynn dayng-en lay-dir

Mar dhoire daraich air ucbd Mbeall-

mar yoyr^ daraych ayr ucbd vell-
mboir,

voyr

Nach lub do db-ailgbeas nan siataibb.
nach lub 6» yayl-yes naa shi-at-ayv

And tbe king, from the highest
turret,

Looking for bis friends Tictorious,
He exclaims with joy in his eye :

^' Yonder approaches Coval with his
ships!"

Behold, Locblan descends to meet
us,

Armor before them like the antlered
stag;

On the shore of Erin, though bold
his band,

Twas I that relieved it out of a tight
lock.

Draw, my heroes, from your ihigha

Your grey blades, and spring on shore ;

With eyes and hearts kindling for
deeds illustrious,

This day prove the strength of the
Feinn.

Exalt, Dargo, thy broad shield ;
Connal, shake on high thy crosnach ;
Strike, Carril, with thy deadly sword ;

Ullin, sing thou the battle-eong* of
boisge."

We met Lochlin, and not for our
weal;

They stood before us, compact aod

strong
As a grove of oak on the breast of

Melmor,

Which bends not at the pleasure of
the storms.

* ** The GermaoB," says Tacitus, " have poems which are rehearsed in the field, and kindle the booI
into flame. The spirit with which these songs are sung predicte 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 months, that the yoice may swell and be rendered more load and scmoioQi bj
repercussion.

OF THE HIGHLAND CLANS.

101

Chunnaic Innse-fail* sinn an sarach,

chunn^ic innae-fayl sin an sa-rach

Is bhruchd iad gu'n dail ga'r comhnadh.

ia ynichd i-ad gun dayl gar coT-na'

Chaidh Lochlan a sgapa o chiele,

cbay' loohlan a sgap^ o cbeyle

'S cha mhor gu'u chreuchdan bha beo

8 oha Tor gun ohrejchdan va be-o

dhiiL
yuy

Choinnich Armour 's righ Innse-faile,

choynn-ioh armor sri innse-fiiyl

'S bn duaichnidhy gabhaidh an iomairt.

abn dn-ayoh-ni' gav-i' an i-om-irt

Chaidh sleagh an righ an uchd a mhor-

chay' de-a' an ri an uchd a vor-

fbir,

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,

ir

Ged bu tiugh a sgia 's i laidir.

ged bu ti-n' a agi-a 'a i ladir

Ghuil Lochlan is Innse-fail,

ynyl lodilan is innshe-iayl

*S thuit deor le baigh o shuinn na Feinne.

's buyt de-oyrle bay' o huyn na feynn^

Is sheinn am bard an t-oran tursaoh,

is heynn am bard an toran tnr-saoh

Tra chunnas gu'n deo an ceann-feadhna.

tra cbnnnaa gun de-o an oen-feyna
CUMHADH AN FHIB-MHOIB.

Bha airde mar dharaig sa ghleann,

va ayrd4 mar yarayg aa yie-ann

A luas mar iolair nam beann, gun gheilt,

a In-as mar i-ol-ayrnam benn gun yeylt

A spionna mar Loda na fheirg,

a apionna mar loda na eyrig

A bhuille gun bhaigh, gun leigheas.
a Yuyllfe gun vay' gun ley-aa

O's moch do thuras gu d* neoil,

o'a moch do hnras gu d* ne-oyl
Is og leinn, a laoich a thuit u.

is og Ujnn a Uoyoh a buyt n

Co dh^innseas an sgeula do'n aosda ?

00 yimues an sgeyla don a-os-da

Co do'n og-mhnaoi gu'n d' eug u ?

00 don og-ynoy gun deyg u

♦ Inn«5.fidL-ItiiWoittiyofwmark.tiuitttieldngoroeann.a^
eaUed by hi. temtorial tiUe, whUe the king or ceMm^»thof the CaledonianB ia imiply caUed by hit
proper name, like any of hia men.

(Though) thick and strong was his

shield.
Lochlan wept and so did Innesfail,

And tears of pity fell itom the heroes

of the Feinn.
Their bard sung the song of sorrow,

When was seen the head of the people
had fallen.

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?

102

TH£ FOSTRY

Chi mi t*athair fo eithir na h*aoise,

chi mi ta'yr fo ey'-er na ha-ojse

Gu faoin an dochas ri thigheachd ;

go faoyn an dochas ri hi-achd

A lamh air an t-BhIeagh *s i air chridh,

a lav ajr an tle-a' 's i ayr chri'

Sa cheann mar chrithean *n am sine ;

ia cheon mar chri-en an am ain^

Meallaidh gach nial a shuil,

mellay' gach ni-al a hayl

*S e*n duil gu faic e do bhata,

a e'n dajl ga fayc c do vata

Seallaidh a chlann air an lear,

aell-ay' a cblann ajr an Igr

'S chi iad an ceatheach a seala.

a chi i-ad an o^-ech a ae-o-la
Crathaidh easan a cheann liadh,

cra'-ay' eaan a chenn li-a'

Osna tiamhaidh *8a ghnuis bronack

oana ti-avay' aa ynuja brOnaoh

Tha Crimin fo f faiamh a ghaire,

ha crimin fo i-ay a ytLjih

A bmadar bhith air trai^h a'd chomhail :
a bra-adar vi' ajr traj ad oho-ajl

A bilibh fosgailt a cuir failt ort,

a bill-iv foK^jlt a cnjr fajlt ort

*8 lamhan sgaoilte gn d' ghlachadh,

a lavan aga-ojlte gn d ylaoboa'

Och, a bhean-ghaoil, 's faoin do bhraadar ;
ooh a Ten yaoyl 'afaoyn do Tru-a-dar

An t-uasal gu brath cha'n f haic u ;

an tu-a-aal gn bra' chan ajo n

Fad dhachaidh thuit do ghradh,

lad o jaohay' hujht do jra'

An Innse-fail fo smal tha mhaise.

an innae-fayl fb amSl ha vaya^

Dnisgidh t-nsa a Chrimine,

dnjagi' tnaa a ohrimin^
*S chi a gn'n robh Iraisling mealta ;

a ohi u gnn rov tayah-ling-melta

Ach c^uin a dhuisgeas a shuain,

ach onjn a ynysgea a hu-ayn

An laoch thuit gu'n tuar san arich ?

an laoch hnyt gnn tn-ar aan arich

Gnth nan gaotbar na beum-figeithe^

gn' nan ga'oar na beym-agey-^

Chachluinnerleatsa chria-thighfhiurain.
ofaa chloynner let aa chri<-a hi' i-njren

A shiol na leirge fagaibh an treun,
a bi-ol na leyr^ fagi? an treyn

I see thy fether 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 penfidvOy his face sorrovfuL

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 is
fantasy,

The (thorough) gentleman wilt thou
never see !

Far from home thy love has fallen ;

In Innestail, 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,

Gath seamh oa maidue cba chluimi e ;

gu' aa-v Da mayyd-ne cba chlayn e

Cba dean e air oomhnadb le ainn,

cba dea h ajr covna le ayrni

Is coiaig nan deagh cba duisg e.

is oor-ajg nan sle-a' cba ynysg^

Beannacbd do dh-anam an laoicb,

bennao do yan-am an laoycb

6u gbarg colg a dol an gbniomb,

bu yarg colag a dol an gni-av

Ard rigb Locblas, ceann an t-sbluaigb ;

ard ri' lochlan oenn an tla-ay'

^S ioma ruig a tbug a riamb.

B i-oma niyg a hag a ri-av

Bba airde mar dbaraig sa ^leann,

va ayrde mar yarayg sa ylenn

A luas mar iolair na'm beann gu'n gbeilt,

a la-as mar i-olayr nam beann gun yeylt

A spioDna mar Loda na f beirg^

a spi-ona mar ' loda na eyrig

A bbuille ga'n bbaigb gu'n leagbeas.

a vnylle gun yay' gon le'-aa

OF THB HIGHLAND CLANS. 103

Tbe mild voiceof momiDghe bears not;
He will not assist you in battle ;

Tbe conflict of spears will not awake
bim.

Blest be tbe soul of the hero,

Wbose aspect was firm wben inaction,

Tbe bigb king of Lochlan, head of
tbe people ;

Many a victory did he achieve.

He was in height tbe oak of tbe vale ;

In speed the mountain-eagle, without
fear;

In strength, Loda in his rage, —
His strokes pitiless and cureless.

The following, being tbe first duan of tbe Poem of Temora, by Ossian, is
called Catbgarva, both in Albin and Erin. I consider it as &ir an average
specimen of Ossian's style, as tbe foregoing is of the poetry of Ullin and Orran.
I regret that want of i^aoe puts it out of my power to give similar specimens
from tbe other ancient bards, especially Carril, tbe sweetest of them all ; but his
poems are too lengthy for my space, as tbe phonetic spelling takes up so much
room, and adds so greatly to the expense.

Thagorm thonna na h-Eirinn an soilse,

ha gonn bonna na bey-rin an soyl-te

A beannaibb am boillsge an la,

a bennayv am boyhge an la

Croibb chiara ag aomadh fo ghaoidh,
eroyy cbi-ar>a ag soma' fo yftoy'

Liatb-shruthain a taomadh o cbaim ;
li-a'-m-'ayn a taoma' o cbayrn

Feuch ! da thom aillidh le^n darach uaine,

fe'ch da bom ayB len darach n-ayn^

Og aoma mu'n cuairt do chaol-ratb,
og aoma mon eoayrt do chaol-ra'

Tha tarruin a chocbain rd gbleannaibh.
ha taimyn a cbocbayn ro ylenntv

Air bruaich an u'ilt tha Cairber fein,
ayr bniayofa an aylt ba oayiher %n

A sbleagh, fo chomas an treun, ri thaobb,
a jte-a' fo chomas n tmyn ri botr

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 vde.
That draws its streamlet from glens.

On the bank of tbe burn is Cairber of
Atha,

His spear ready by bis side ;

104

THE POETBY

A dhearg shuil fo ghiorraig, 's e bron.

a yerag huyl fo yirrayg te bron

Dhe-eirich Connag an anam an righ,

yeyrich

cormao

n

an anam an

Gun chli, is a lot na thaobh.

gun chli 18 a 16t na hauv

Le f haichte, bha 'n t-og an diibbra,

le aychte va'n tog an davra

Fbuil cbraobbach a srutha bho chliabb,

uyl chrovach a sru'-a to obli-av

Thog Cairber a shieagb tri uairen,

hog cayrber a le-a' tri nayren

Tri uairen chuir e f heusag fo laimh ;

tri n-ayren ohuyr e eysag fo layv

Cbaisg e tri uaireau a cheum,

chaysg e tri n-ayren a cheym

'S chrath e ruigh na'm bend gu b-ard.

• chra' e rny nam bSyd ga hard

Mar niol am fasach a mor thriath,

mar ni^ol am fasaoh a mor ri-a'

A caocbladh fo'n gbaoidh a dheaibb,

a oaochla' fo^n yaoy' a yel-av

Na gleannaibh a bron fo*n f hirich,

na glenni? a bron fo'n iricb

Ma seach fo ghiorraig nam braon.

ma aech fo yirrig nam braon

Ghabb an rigb a mbor anam dha fein,

yav an ri' a vor anam ya fgyn

Gblac e sleagh nan treun na laimh,

ylac e sleagh nan treyn na layv

Thiondaidh e shuil air cul magh Lena,

hi-onday' e hnyl ayr onl ma' lena

Far a bheil luchd faire nan gorm thonn.

far a veyl Inchg fayrrd nan gorm honn

Thainig iad Ie*n ceumaibh fo f hiamh,
haynig i-ad len oeymayv fo i-av

A coimhead trie air slios an t-shaile :
a coyved trio ayr alia an tayl^

Dh-aithnich Cairber gu*n d* thainig

yaynioh cayrber gun daynig

an ri^h.
an ri

Ghairm e dorchadh na triadh gu laimh.

yayrm e doroha' na tri-ay' ga lay?

Grad thainig ceum f huaimer nan sonn,

yrad haynig ceym n-aymer nan sonn

An ghlas-lannaibh lomadh nan laimhibh.

an glasa-Iannayy loma' nan l&y'iv

An sin bha Morla uaibh-riach ciar,
an ain va morla a-ayr-rich d-ar

His red eye is cowed ; he is in grief.

Cormak 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 boeom.

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 i*esounding steps
of the warriors.

With their grey blades bare in their
hands.

There was Morla, fierce and swarthy,

OF THB HIGHLAND CLANS.

105

An sin Dalla le chiobhan sa ghoidh ;

an sin dalla le obi-av-an sa yay'

Cormar raadh ag aomadh air sleagh,

oonnar in-a' ag oama' ajr ale-a'

A sealtain o thaobh borb fo gbroaim.

a seltajn o hoav borb fo Tra-ajm

B-alluidh do shuil chrom a Mhalthnis,

balliiy' do buyl chrom a' valhnys

Fo f haileas do mhor f habhraid,

fo ajles do vm avrayd

Sheas Foldath mar charraig an srath,

hea folda' mar charrayg an 0ra'

A falach fo chothar a dubh^chrath,

a fidaoh fo cho'-ar a ynv-chra'

A shleagh f hada mar ghiubhas an

a le-a' iaSk mar yvjyu an

tHshleibby

tleyv

A thachras ri doinnean nan spetxr ;

a baoh-raa ri dojnnen nan sp^yr

A sgiath dearcach le benmibh oomhraig ;

a 8gi-a' dercaoh le beymiy ooY-rayg

A dhear^-shuil riamh ga^n f hiamh.

a yerag-huyl ri-av gun i-av

lad sin is triath eille gu^n chontas,

i-ad Bin is tri-a' eylle gun ohnntas

Thionail dluth mu righ Eirinn,

hi-nel din' mn ri' Syrinn

Noir thainig fear faire a chuain,

noyr haynig fer fayrre a chnyn

Mor-aineal bho chruach Moilena,

mor-aynd to chm-aoh moHena

A shuilean sealtinn claon o chean,

a hnylen seltinn daon o obenn

A ghnth air chrith, gu'n tuar a bhenl.
a yn' ayr cbri' gun tn-ar a Teyl

*' An seas triadhaith na h-Eirinn air chul,

an sea tri-a'-ay na heyrinn ayr obul

Balbh mar bbadain san oiche chinin,

baly mar vadayn san oyohe chnyn

Na mar gbarbh-choille fo mhnig ;

na mar yar?-oboyn^ fo vnyg

Is Fionngbal air an traigh a boilsge, —

IB fionn-yal ayr an tray' a

Fionn is namhasaicbe beum,
fionn ia n-av-aflsycb^ beym

Ard righ nan treun bho shruthaibh

ard ri' nan treyn to

Morbheinn?*

morreynn

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,

hm'-iv

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 JSrin apart,

Silent as a grove in a calm night,

Or like a rough forest under a cloud ;

And Fingal on the beach gleaming,

Fingal of dreadftil sword-cuts.

The lofty king of the heroes of Mor-
ven of streams ?"

106

THB POETBY

^' Am facadh t-u an gaisgeach nach fann," '^ Hast thou seen the hero that is not

feeble,"
Said Cairber from his labouring breast ;

am

faca' ta an gajBh-gech nach &nn

Arsa Cairber o spairn a chleibh ;

arsa cajrber o spajra a chlejy

'' A bheil a laoich lionar air an traigh ?

a vhjl a laoych H-o-nar ayr an tra-i

An tog e sleagh comhraig o dheigh,
an tog e sle-a' oov-rig o yey'

No'n d' thainig an treun an sith?''

non d-ajnig an trejn an si'

''An sith cha d'thainig e, a righ

an fii' cha daynig e a ri'

Eirinn,

eyrinn

Bha roinn a shieagh roi' 'n treun a suas, The point of the spear was before him

*'Are his warriors numerous on the
shore ?

Does he advance the battle^ear,
Or comes the mighty in peace ?"
'' In peace he comes not, king of Eria,

▼a rojnn a le-a' roy an trejn a ni-as

Mar mhall dhreag* a bhais ag eiridh,

mar vail jreg a vaysh ag eyri'

'S fuil mhiltean a taomadh mu chruaidh.

' 8 fuyl Tilten a taoma' ma chrny

B-es' a leum an tus air tir,

bei a leym an ttLs ayr tir

Laidir fo leadan liadh na h-aois.

la-dir fo ledan li-a' na haoys

*S Ian, feitheach, garbh-<;hallapanach an

'8 Ian fey'-eoh ganr chaUa-pan-aoh
righ,

an

ri'

Ach 's eatrom gu'n strith a cheum.

aoh 8 e-trom gnn 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 be3rm a choy' nach i-arr

A sgiath leathan uamhasach na laimh,

a 8gi-a le'-an n-a-vas-ach na layv

Mar chearcal fuileach re 's i Ian,

mar cher-cal fiiyl-ech re si Ian

Geiridh gu dana tre stairm.

gey-ri' ga dana tre stayrm

Lean Oissian, righ caoin nam fonn,

len oiflsian xi' caoyn nam fonn

'S mac Mhoimi sonn oscion nan triath.

8 mac momi sonn os-d-on nan tri-a'

Leum Coxmal air shieagh o thuinn ;

leym connal ayr le-a' o hnynn

Is Diarmaid donn nan trom chiabh.

18 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 fall-orbed

planet.
Advancing daringly through the storm.

Ossian followed, mild king of lays,

And the son of Momi, a hero above

chiefs.
Connal leaped on his spear over the

waves.
And brown Diarmid of the heavy

locks.

• A meteor which, when seen on any road leading to a biuying-ground. ia raperstitiouBly ammned to
portend the death of wme one, who will soon be carried on that path to his or her grare.

OF THE HIGHLAND CLANS.

107

Lub Fillean a bhogfaa le morchuis,
lab fillen a to' -a le mor-choys

Og shealgair Mhora nan sliabh ;

og he-lager Toni nan sli-av

Ach CO sud air ceann nan treun,

ach 00 sod ayr oenn nan treyn

Mar gharbh-shiubhal shruth o bheinn ?

mar yarv-hi-uval hrn' o veynn

Co ach mac Oissean an triath ;

CO ach mao oiasean an tri-a'

Mar bboisge teine misg a chiabh,

mar Toyag^ t^jn^ nuag a ohi-a^

A leadan fada tha Ian chuach,

a led-an fa-da ha Ian chn-ach

Fhabhaid dhubh le chielt' an cruaidh,
a-ayd yw le oheflt an crGj'

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-a-val boyl-sge' bao'

Theich mi o gharg shuil an t-sheoid,

heych mi o yarg hnyl an te-oyd

A righ Thiffhmora is mor cliu."

a ri' hi -mora la mor di-n

"Teich usa, fhir dhonadh, gu'n

teych iwa ir yona' gun

fheum,'*

eym

Arsa Foldatb, gruamach am feirg ;
ana fd-da' gra-am-aoh am feyrig

** Teich-sa gu d' liath-shrutbaibh f hein,

fiych-sa gu d' li-a'-hm'ayv heyn

Anamain is goinne, is meirg an diamhair.

an-am-ayn is gSynn^ is meyrig an di-yar

Nach facar linn an t-Oscar donn ?

naoh fiic-ar linn an toe-oar donn

Chunnaic mise an triath an comhraig.

chmm-io mis an tri-a' an cov-rayg

An cunnart, dheth na trein tha'n sonn ;

an connart ye' na treyn han sonn

Ach 's iomadh sleagh is sonn an Eirinn.

aoh si-oma' sle-a' is sonn an eyrinn

A righ Thighmora nan ard chraobh,

a ri' hi'-mora nan ard ohra-ov

Leig dhomhsa tachairt ris an t-sheod ;

leyg yoYsa taoh-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 fail,
ma le-a' ha ni'-te am fnyl

Fillan bent with pride his bow.

The youthful hunter of Moru of wolds.

But who is he that is at the head of
the hosts,

Moving impetuous as a spate from the
hUls?

Who but the son of Ossian, the hero ;

Glowing amid his locks

His long hair is fall 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 Wood,

108

THE POETBT

'S tha mo sgiath mar bhalla Thuradh."

8 ha mo 8gi-a' mar valla hor-a'

''An coumich Foldath na aonar na

an oojmi-ich fol-da' na o-anar na

daimh?"

da-iv

Area Malthas Da fabhrad ciar ;

ana mal-thas na fiEty-rad oi-ar

'' Nach 'eil iad cho laidir air an txaigh

naoh eyl i-ad oho lajd-ir ayr an tra-i

Ri co-thional garbh-shrath nan sliabh ?

ri oo-binal garv-hm' nan eli-ay

Nach iad sud na trein thug boaidh

nach i-ad sad na trejn hng boy'

Thair Snaran nan craaidh-bheum,

hayr sn-ar-an nan cray'-Teym

Noir ghabb sliochd Eirinn an maig ?

noyr yav shliochd eyrinn an ra-ayg

'S an tachair Foldath ri'n corr-threun ?

san tachayr fol-da' rin oorr-hreyn

A chridhe bhosdail is ciar bens,

a ohri-e' yoadayl ia d-ar beya

Gabh spionnadh dluthach an t-luaigh, —

gay api-onn-a' dln'-ach an tla-ay'

Gabh Malthas maille ri threnn.

gay malthaa mayU^ ri hreynn

Bha mo chlaidheamh le beumaibh madh,

ya mo chla'-ey le beym-eyy rn-a'

Ach CO a chualadh gu fear mo ghuth ?"

ach 00 a oha-al-a' gu fi-ar mo yn'
" A shliochd Eirinn is naine raon/'

a hll-ochd eyrinn ia n-ayne roan

Thuirt triath Ghlaonrath nan caoin

hnyrt tri-a' chlaon-ra' nan ca-oyn

shmth,

hrn'

" Na cluinneadh Fion air briaraibh faoin ;

na daynn^' fi-onn ayr bri-arayv fo-oyn

Na biodh soLu air naimhdean an diugh,

na bi-o' aolas ayr nayy-den an di-n'

A cnir spionnadh nan laimh san tir.

a onyr spi-onna' nan layy aan tir

'S treun siUi fein a shiol na'm blar,

atr^yn dy feyn a hi-ol nam Uar

Mar ghaillen o ghair a chaain, —

mar yayllen o yayr a din-ayn

Mar stairm a thachrais ri sgeir aird,

mar atayrm a hach-ria ri ageyr ayrd

A bheir a coille ga lar 'o cruaich ;

a yeyr a choyllfe gu lar o ohm-ayoh

My shield is like the wall of Tara.*"

''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 snrpasabg
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,'

«9

Said the chief of Clonrath of mild
streams,

" Let not Fingal hear your words vain ;

Let not the enemy rejoice to-day,

And be stren^ened 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 THB HIGHLAND CLANS.

109

Ach glauiseadh mid nar neart 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 mbac nam beum,

bi' girrag ayr sar yac nam beym

Is tuitidh a shleagh gu'n fheum 'o'n

ifl tuyti' a hle-a' gan eym on

triadb.
tri-a'

' Chi sinn dubb nial a bbais/

chi sinn day ni-al a Tayis

Their iad, is failas a fas m' an tuar.

heyr i-ad is faylas a fas man tu-ar

Bidh bron air Fionn aoeda na baigb,
bi' bron ayr fi-onn aos-da na bay'

Sa chlia a doladb air traigb ga*n bbuaidb:

sa chli-u a si-ol-a' ayr tray' gan va-ay'

Cha'n fbaicear a Morbbein ceum an

cban ayo-er a mor-yeynn ceym an

triatb,
tri-a'

'S bidh coineach na 'm bliadhnadb an

B bi' coynech nam bli*an-a' an

Selma."

selma

An sambcbair dh-eisd Cairber roadb,

an say-chir yeysd cerber ra-a'

Mar dhatb-nial nan stnadb air raon, —

mar ya'-ni-alnan stu-a' ayr raon

Nial a sheasas dorcb air Cromleac,

ni-al a hesas dorch ayr crom-lec

6u8 am brist dealan a tbaobh.

guB am brist dellan a haoy

Laiseaidh gleanna ri boilsge nan speur,

^yv-i' glenna ri boilsge nan speyr

Bidh tannais gu'n fheum fo sbolas.
bi' tann-ayshgan eym fo hol-aa

Mar ^n an sambcbair sheas an ri^b,
mar sin an say-chir hes an n'

Gob 'n do gbluais le bri^b a gbuih :
gtts n do yla-aysh le bn' a ya'

" Sgaoilear a diuirm an: Moilena ;
sgoyler a cbayrm ayr moilena

Thi^eadb mo cbeud bard a nail
bige' mo cheyd bard a nail

Olla, nan ciabb dubb-ruadb, eiricb,
olla nan ci-ay day-ra-a' ey-rich

Oabh clarsacb ri^b Eirinn a'd laimb ;
gay darsach n' eyriim ad la-iy

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 bis
hand.

' We see tbe dark cloud of death,'

Tbey will say, while a shade spreads
over their faces.

Sorrow will overtake Fingal tbe com-
passionate and aged,

While his fame melts away without
victory :

In Morven will not be seen tbe steps
of tbe bero,

The mess of years will coVer Selma."

Bed Cairber listened in silence,

Like a dark cloud, from tbe waves, on
the heath, —

A cloud that stands darkly on Cromlay

Unto tbe lightning breaks from its
side.

The glens are lighted by the flash,

And deedless spirits under rejoicing.

Thus in silenoe stood the king,

Until his voice was heard significantly :

'' Spread the feast on Moilena ;

Approach my hundred bai^fL

Bise, Olla of the dark-brown locks,

Take the harp of Erin's king in thy
hand;

110

THE POETRY

Siubhail gu Oscar nan lann,

Bi-uv-ayl gu Ofloar nan lann

'S thoir caire dha gu fleagh an righ.

8 hojT cnjre ya ga fle-a' an n'

An diugh biodh cuirm is fonn sa ghleann,
an di-u' bi-o' cujrm is fonn sa jlenn

A maireach bristear linn na sleaigh.

a mayrech blister 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,
a-ay' cha'-ayl fo la-ay' nam bard

Thug mi cbaraid truagh do'n ghaoith.
hog mi charid tru-a' don yaoy'

Innis dha gu'n chaalas mu'n bhuaidh
innis ya gun chu-al-as mun yn-ay'

A choisinn e aig fiiar-^hruth Charuinn.
a choysin e ayg fu-ar-hm' charuynn

Cha'n f haic mi 'n so mo bhrathair
ohan aye min so mo yra'yr

treun,
treyn

Cha* neil Cathmor le cheudaibh ri'm
cha-neyl ca'-mor le oheydayy rim

thaobhi
ha-or

Tha air lamhan gann fo airm.
ha ayr lavan gann fo ayrm

'S namhaid Cathmor do strith nam fteagh,
8 nav-id ca'-mor do stri' nam fle-a'

Tha anam mor mar dhearsadh greine ;
ha anam mor mar yersa' greymi^

Ach bristeaidh Cairber sleagh ri Oscar,
ach brist-i' cerber sle-a' ri oscar

A ihriathaidh Thighmora, air comhnard

a hri-a'-ay' hi-mora ayr coY-nard

Lena.

lena

Labhair e dana ma Chathnl,
layayr e dana ma cha'-ol

'S tha manam a lasadh le feirg.

8 ha manam a lasa' le feyrig

Tuitidh Oscar air Moilena,

tnyti' oscar ayr moylena

*S eiridh na f huil mo chliu.'*

8 eyri' na uyl mo chli-u

Shoilsich solas an aghaidh nan trean,

hoylsich solas an a'-ay' nan treyn

Is sgaoil iad misg crianach Moilena.
is Bgoyl i-ad misg cri-aynach moylena

Go to Oscar of swords,

Invite him to the kmg'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 Caihul amid the songs

of bards.
I have ^ven 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 aQ 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 &me 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 cainn is slige ga deasachadh shiias,

ha cnyrm is slig^ ga desacha' hu-as

'S fonn nan clar 's nan duan ag eiridh.
s fonn nan clar s nan dn-an ag eyri'

Chnala triathaidh Shelma an solas,

cha-al-a tri-a'-ay' helma an soIsub

*S shaoil Cathmor coir gu'n d'thainig,
8 haoyl ca'-mor corr gun dayn-ig

Cathmor corr, ceann-nidhe nan daimh,
ca'-mor corr cenn-ny' nan dayy

Brathair Chairber nan madh chiabh ;
bra'ayr cayr-ber nan ra-a' chi-av

Cha bn choimeas an da anam.

cha ba choymes an da anam

Bha solus nan speur an ucbd Chathmoir.

ya solus nan speyr an uchd cha'-moyr

Do dh-Atha na'm bmach, a thuir ard,
do ya'-a nam bmach a hnyr ard

Tha seachd aisereann a sine,
ba sechd ayseren a sin^

'S air gach aisra bard na sheasaibh,

s ayr gach aysh-re bard na hesayr

A cuireadh dhaimh do thalla na fial ;
a cuyr^ yayr do halla na fi-al

Ach shoidh Cathmor an naigneas,

ach buy' ca'-mor an a-ayg-nes

A seachnadh bhi ag eisteachd ri chlia.
a sech-na' tI ag eyst-achd ri chli-a

Thainnig 011a roadh le dhain.

haynig olla ra-a' le yayn

Ghluais Oscar ga*n dail ga cnirm,

ylays oscar gun dayl ga cuyrm

Le tri cend gaisgeach, ri laimh,

le tri ceyd gaysgech ri layy

Roi Lena nan lan-shruth gonna,

roy lena nan lan-hm' gorma

A liath-choin a leum san fhraoch,
a U-a'-ohoyn a leym san ^raoch

'S tre^n garbh-chonas a sgaoile thaU.

stren yary-chonas a sgoyle hall

Chunnaic Fionn an sonn a trial,

channayc fi-onn an sonn a trl-al

'S thnit anam an treun fo bhron,

8 hnyt aaam an treyn fo Tron

Neo-chinteach ma Chairber cealgach,

ne-o-chinntech ma chayrber ce-la-gach

Le smuaintean fiar misg cairm is oil.

le smn^ten fi-ar misg cnyrm is oyl

The feast and the shell are preparing
above,

And the sonnd 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 souk

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.

Bed Olla came with his lays.

Oscar went without hesitation to the
feast,

With three hundred warriois in his
train,

Through Lena of blue and ample
streams,

His ^ey dogs boundmg 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 POETBT

Thog mo mhac sleagh Chormaic na My son carried the spear of Cormak

in his hand ;

There were a hundred bards anging
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,

hog mo vec sle-a' chormayc na

laimfa ;
la-iv

Bha ceud baird a seihn air sliabh,

va ceyd bayrd a sejnn ayr sli-av
Ach cheil Cairber am has bha snamh

ach cheyl cayrber am has va snav

Fo dhubhradh san am, na chliabh.

fo yuvra' Ban am na chli-av

Fleagh tha sgailte, sligean a fuaim,

fle-a' ha sgaylt^ slegen a fa-aym

'S eudain an t-shluagh an solus dealrach : And the faces of the people are in a

8 eydayn an tluy' an solus delrach blaze of light :

Ach chitear solus* mall is fann But a light* slow and faint is seen

ach chiter solas mall is feinn

A dearsadh fada thall air Lena,
a dersa' fada haU 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 yra-ay'

Chaisg fonn chlarsaichean nan teud,

chayig fonn chlarsaychen nan teyd

Chualas screadan nan sgiath m'an cuairt

chu-al-as scredan nan sgi-a' man oa-ayrt

Fada thall air uchd an t-shleibh,
fada hall ayr uchd an tleyr

Thog 011a dubh-ruadh guth a bhroin.
hog oUa duT-m-a' gu' a Troyn

Dh-aithnich Oscar comhara bhais :

yay'nich oscar covara vays

Ghluais is ghlachd gu'n dail a shleagh.
yla-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,

heyrion

Sleagh f hada Thighmora nan stuadh,
sle-& ada hi' -mora nan stu-a'

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 OUa 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,

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

* See a preyioiu note on the death-meteor.

The long spear of Timora of waves,
Shining in thy hand, when thou arose.
Son of Morven of dusky woods,

OF THE HIGHLAND CLAKS.

113

Sleagh dhuchais nan cead ri^h,

sle-a' 3rachay8 nan ceyd n'

Bas'an strith do threin 'o shean ;
baB an stri' do hrSyn o hen

Geil i, a mhic Oissian, gu'n spaim, —

geyl i a vie oyshen gun spayrn

Geil i do Chairber nan carabad/'
geyi i do cayrber nan carabad

**An geil mi," fhreagair an treun,

an geyl mi regayr an treyu

" Sleagh ri Eirinn na'm beim cruaidh ;

sle-a' ri eyrinn nam beym cruy'

An t-shleagh a thug Cormac dhomh fein,

an tie-a' a hug cormac yov feyn

Noir sgap sin a naimhdean *o thuath ?
noyr sgap sin a nayvden o ha-a'

Tbainig mi gn talla na feile,

haynig mi gu talla na feyl^

Noir theich iad 'o Fhionn na'm buadh.

noyr heych i-ad o i-onn nam bu-a'

Dh-eirich solas an aghaidh na h-oige ;
yeyrich solas an k^' na hoyg-^

Chair e*m laimh sleagh Thi^hmora.

chuyr em layv sle-a' himora

Cha d'thug e i do lag fo dhoruin, —
cha d hng e i do lag fo yoniyn

Do dh-anam ni basd gu'n ghniomh.

do yanam ni basd gun yni-ov

Cha'n eagal dhomhsa do ghruaim,
chan egal yov-se do yruym

Cba theine bais do shuil dhomh fein :
cha heyn^ bays do hayl yov feyn

A Cairber cuir giorrag air traill, —

a chayrber cnyr giorag ayr trayl

Tha anam Oscar mar charraig."

ba anam oscayr mar charrayg

" Geil dhomsa an t-shleagh gu'n dail,"
geyl yoYsa an tle-a' gun dayl

Thuirt Cairber, is ardan ag eiridh,

hnyrt cayrber is ard-an ag eyri'

" Bheil t-f hocail morchuiseach ard,
yeyl tocayl morchuysheoh ard

Chionn Fiohn bhith air traigh na
chi-onn fi-onn Ti' ayr tra-i na

h-Eirinn,

hSyrinn

Fionnghal nan leadan h'adh,

fi-onnyal nan ledan li-a'

chailltean ciara na Morbheann ?
cfaaylten 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 straggle,

Yield it to Cairber of the cars.

If

** 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
Fingal ;

Joy arose in the face of the youth :

He placed in my hand the spear of
Timora.

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."

It

" 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 of Morven ?

114

THE POETRY

Bha chogadh riamh ri doine fann ;
va choga' ri-ay ri doyn^ fann

Ach thi^eadh e nail gu Cairber !

ach hig-e' e nail gu cayrber

Mar f haileas a snamh an gleann,

mar aj-lui a snav an glenn

Na ceathach a leu^hadh 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 aloyn ayr cayrber

Bheiridh e Eirinn uaine nan gleann

y^yr^ e Syrinn uynb nan glenn

Air son sabhalath 'o laimh an ri^h.

ayr son eayala' o layy an n'

Na labhair ma Fbionn a Chairber,

na layayr ma i-onn a cayrber

Tog do 8giath *b do chlaidheamh riumsa.
tog do 8gi-a' a do ohlayey ri-umsa

An spionnadh theagaibh gu'n coimeas

an spi-onn-a' hegayy gun coym-as

sinne ;

sinn^

Ach tha righ na Morbheann cliutach, —

ach ha ri' na mor-yenn di-n-taoh

Ceannard flathail nan ard thriatL''

cennard fla'-ayl nan ard ri-a'

Chunnaic an cairdean maraon,

dinnoio an cayrden maroan

Dubhradh ag eiridhnan ghruaidhean,

duyra' ag Syri' nan gruay'-en

Dh-aom iad an comhair a cheile.

yoam i-ad an ooyayr a cheyl^

An Builean laiste, an ceumaibh du-

an saylen layst^ an oeym-ayy dn-

aichnidh.

ayoh-ni'

Leum-claidhean 'o mhile alios,

leym chlay'-en o yi-le bUs

Chaisg 011a na fios a fonn, —
chaysg oUa na fis a fonn

011a ruadh na'm brosnachadh dana ;
oUa m-a nam bros-nacha' dana

Chrith anam Oscair le solas,
chri' anam oacayr le lolas

He ever fought against the feeble ;

But let him come to meet Curber!

Like a shadow swimming in a glen.

Or Uke 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 ;
Bise thy shield and 6W<»rd against me.
Our strength may, perhaps, be equal,

n

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 6t«ps
threatening :

Swords sprang from a thousand thighs,
OUa, the prophetic, ceased the song,
Bed OUa, of daring war-songs ;

The soul of Oscar swelled

OF THE HIGHLAND CLANS.

115

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,

Leis an t-sholas bu ghna do'n triath,

leys an tokB ba yna don tri-a'

Noir bhuail com-caismachd an righ.

noyr vuyl oorn-cajs-mao an ri'

Mar thuinn a taomadh air traigh gu'n

mar hujun a (aoma ayr tray' gun
fhnaim,

nym

Mu'n cluinnear gairich cuain fo ghaoidh, Before is heard the roar of the sea

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 ;

Conacher slowly bent down in his

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.

mnn dnynner gayrich cnyn fo yaoy

Thional ma Chairber a shluagh,

hi-o-nel ma chayrber a h-la-a'

Samhach dorcha, dur is baoth ;

savach dorofaa dnr U bao

A nighean Thoscair, c'iume do dheoir ?

a ni'en hosgayr ohnym^ do ye-oyr

Cha do thuit an triath nach faoin ;

cha do hnyt an tri-a' naoh tuojn

'S iomadh has a dh-iadh mu'n tor,

Bi-oma' baa a yi-a' man tor

Ma*n d'aom a fear corr air a thaobh.

man dacnn a fer corr ayr a haov

Faic iad a tuite roimh 'n triath,

fayc i-ad a tuyt^ loyv n tri-a'

Mar choille air sliabh san f hasach,

mar choylle ayr ali-av san aaach
Noir thig taibhse nan sian na f heirg,

Doyr hig tayvs^ nan si-an na eyr-ig

A chuir giorraig air cloinn na h-airidh,

a chayr girrayg ayr cloynn na hayri'

A glachdadb baraibh nan crann,
a glao-a' barayy nan crann

'S ga'n sgaradh le neart gu lar.

sgan sgara le nert gn lar

Thait Morla 's Mathronan fo bhas,

hayt morla s ma'-ronan fo yaa

Dh-aom Conachair gu lar na f huil,

yaom chonachayr gu lar na nyl

Theich Cairber 'o lain an t-shair,
heych cayrber o layn an tayr

Cra f halach fein san dubhrodh,

ga alach feynsan davra'

Air calabh cloiche nan cruth crom.

ayr culay cloych nan cm' crom

*N sin thog e gu diamhair an t-shleagh,

'n sin hog e ga di-avayr an tle-a'

* The worshipping altar, or pillar of the Gothic clanB, it always called fhe stone of bending ghost by
Oasian. This battle must therefore have been foaght in the territory of the southern or Gothic dans of
Ireland.

116

THE POETBT

Is Lhuail niiuhael i 'n taobb Oecair.

is YUjl niv-el i'n taov oscayr

Thnit an gaisgeach air a gluD,

hayt an gaysgach ayr a ylun

A sgiath fo uillin, a shleagh na laimh ;
a 8gi-a fo nyllin a hle-a'^ na la-iv

Faic Cairber na sbine 'san smnir,

fayc cayrber na hine san smnyr

Bar genr na cruaidb cbaidb tre cheann,

bar geyr na cruay' cbay tre chenn

Is sgoilt an ruadb-cbiabh air a cbul.

is Bgoylt an ra-a'-chi-av ayr a chnl

Mar cbarraig a bristeadb bbo shliabb

mar cbarr-ayg a brista' to li-ay

crom,
crom

Tbnit an sonn bu dorchadh gniomh.
bayt an sonn ba dorcha' gni-ay

Noir chratbas Eirinn uain i fein,

noyr chra'-as eyrinn ayn^ i feyn

bheian gu beinn 's o mbuir ga muir :

o veyn gu beyn 'a o vttyr gu mtiyr

Cba^n eirich Oscar donn a choidh !

chan eyrich oscar donn a choy'

Tha e ag aoma n taic a sgeitbe,

ha e ag aoma ri tayc a 0gey-'e

Is sleagb nan ceud bas na laimb.

is sle-a' nan ceyd bas na layy
Sheas Eirinn tball air an t-shliabh,

hes eyrinn ball ayr an tli-av

Le fuim mar mbonbbar nan srutb ;

le fuym mar yonyar nan sru'

Fhreager Lena nan cmth fo'n cenm.

reger lena nan cm' fon ceym

Chnala Fionnghal thall an toum,

chu-ala fi-onnyal ball an toyrm

Ghlac e sleagh Shelma nam beam,
ylac e sle-a' helma nam beym

Sgaoil a cheum ri ucbd an t-shleibh.
Bgoyl a cbeym ri uc an tleyy

Gu broin a taomadh o bheol :
gu broyn a to-ama' o yeyl

'' Cluinneam iargail is comhrag,

cluynnam i-argayl is coy-rag

Tba Oscar na oanar sa bhlar ;

ha oscar na o-anar sa ykr

Gluaiseabh f hearaibh na Morbheann,

glu-aysey erayy na mor-yenn

'S buailibh an comhnadh a lainn/'
s buyliy an coyna' a kynn^

And struck it fiercely into the side uf
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 die 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 pand.

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 :
** I hear the sound of conflict, —

Oscar is alone in battle :

Move, men of Morven,

And strike in aid of his sword."

/

OF THB HIGHLAND CLANS.

117

Bu luadh mo cheum ris an raon,
bu la-a' mo cheym ris an raon

Leum Fillan thair fraoch Moilena,

leym fillan hayr fraoch moylena

Na neart ffhluis Fonnghal nach faoin :

Da nert yluysh fionn-yal naoh fiioyn

B-namhain an dealradh bha 'g eiridh,

bn-ayayn an delra' ya geyri'

O'n Bgeith air guaillin an laoich ;
on sgey' ayrga-aylin an laoych

Cbunnaic »ol Eirinn fada thall,
chunnayc d-ol eyrinn &da ball

Dealradh mall 'o cheann na leir^,

ddra' mall o cbenn na l^yng
Dh-aithnich iad nach d'eirich gann,

yaynich i-ad nach deyrich gann

Bigh nan lann na^throm f heirg.

ri' nan lann na r5m eyr-ig

Bha'm has ag iadhadh mall ma smu-
Tam bas ag i-a-ya' mall mu smu-

aintibh.

ayn-tiv

Bainig sinne ; bhuail sin comhraig ;

raynig ainn^ ytiyl sin cov-rayg

Chaisg triathaibh na h-Eirinn air cursa ;

chaysg tii-a'y-iv na beyrinn ayr cona

Ach noir thainnig an righ na neart,

ach Doyr hayn-ig an ri' na ne-art

Chlisg an cridhe bu danaidhbho chruaidh.
chlisg an cri'-^ bn danay' vo cbra-ay

Theich iad *o chruachaibh Moilena,

heych i-ad o ehra-aoh-ayy moylena

Am bag a beumadh nan raaig.

am bas a bSym-a' nan ni-ayg

Fhuair mnn Oscar air a ageith,

ha-ayr sinn oecar ayr a sgey'

Fhial ag iadhadh ma thaobh.

nyl ag i-a'-ha' ma haov

Trom iomaguin laidh air na treadha ;

trom i-oma'-guyn lay' ayr na tri-a-i

A tiondadh an cuFaobh fo dheoir.

a ti-onda' an colay fo yoyr

Bha'n righ a ceiltein a dhenr fein,

Tan ri' a oeyltayn a yeyr feyn

Sa ghaoth 'o'n bhein na fhiasaig leidh.

sa yao' on yeyn na i-as-ayg ley'

Dh-aom oscion an oig laoich

yaom oe-ci-on an oyg laoydi

Le guth broin 's le osnadh chianaeL
le gu' broyn a le oana' chi-a-nel

Swift were my steps on the hill ;

Fillin cleared the heath of Moilena
m 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 pensif e
sigh.

118

THE POBTBY

*' *N do thait Oscar sar nau lann,

'a do hajt oscar sar nan lann

A meadhain astair dhealraich fein !

a me'-ajn aa-tayr jelraych feyn

Tha cridhe na h-aoise fo spairn,

ha ori'-^ na haoys fo apayni

A faicain na'm buaidh nach d'thainig

a (ajdn nam buy' nach dayn-ig

do'n treun, —

do'n treyn

Na blair a thigheadh a nail,

na blajr a hig-a' a nail

'S a ghearradh gu gann o chliu.

sa yerra' ga gann o ohlin

O'uin a dh-eires solas an Selma ?

cuyn a yeyres aolaa an selma

C*uin a ghluaises broD a Morbhein ?

cayn a ylayses bron a morveynn

Mo chlann thuit 'o am ga am ;

mo ohlann hnyt o am ga am

Biodh Fionn an deireadh a shliochd !

bi-o' fii-onn an deyr^' a hlio

Mo chliu siolaidh sios 'o laaidh,

mo chli-n Bi-oUy' si-os o In-ay'

Bidh m*aois fo thruaighe gQ*n chairdean.

bi' maoys fo hrn-ay' gnn chayrden

Mar Dial do cheo am thalla fein,

mar ni-al do ohe-o am halla feyn

Cha chluinn mi tuille ceum mic,

cha chlaynn mi tnyll^ oeym mio

A teamadh le morchuis 'o 'n bheinn,

a te*ar-na' le morchuys on veynn

Le chomhlaen nan airm fo smachd.

le covlen nan aynn fi> smao

Toiteadh air deoir 'o ghaisgech Morbhem,

tayt^ ayrde-oyr o yaysgioh morveyn

Cha *n eirich Oscar og a choidh."

cha n eyrich oecar og a ohoy'

Thuit an deoir a righ nan lann,

hnyt 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 lann,

noyr yla-aysh e ga oovrayg nan lann

Cha bu dion do namhaid sgiath.

cha bu di-on do navayd sgi-a'

Measg solais thiUeadh e le sith.
^esg sol-aysh hill-e' e le si'

Cha bhith bron athair ma mhac,

cha yi' bron a'-ayr ma vac

" Has Oscar, the surpassing, fallen

In the midst of his own iUustrious
course !

The heart of the aged is distressed,

Seeing the victories that have m
come to the mighty, —

The battles that would have come,

Bat which are cut off short from his
£Bune.

When will joy rise in Selma ?

When will grief depart from Morven?

My children Ml from time to time ;

Fingal will be the last of his race !

My fame is ebbing away from notioe,

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,

Returning in splendour from the hill,

With a band of armed warriors ander

his command.
Let your tears fall, heroes of MorveD,

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 d

swords,
The foe found no safety in his shield.

He returned amid rejoicings, with

peace.
No &ther lamented his son,

OF THE HIGHLAND CLAN8.

119

Thait Ban ar an tlachd oige ;

hayt aan ar an tlao oygb

Chaidb iadsan gu'n bhron fo'n f hail,

chaj' i-ad-san gan vron fon ayl

'0 'd thill an og cheann fo bhuaidb.

on hill an og chenn fo vn-ay'

Bha Bran a donnaldch ri thaobh,

VI bran a donnal-ajoh ri hoav

Laalh groamach *s an fhraoch fo bhron ;

la-a' gra-amach 8 an raooh fo vron

Is minic a ghlnais iad maraon,

is minnio a jlojs i-ad mar-oan

A shealg nan ruadbaibh leis an laoch.

a belag nan m-a'yy leys an loaoh

Noir chunnaic Oscar bron a chairdean,

noyr chnnnayo ofloar bron a cbajrden

Labhair e an spaim a chleibh :

lavajr e an apaym a oblejv

'^ Osnaich nan ard-thriadh fo aois,

osnaych nan ard-ri-a' fo aoya
Caoine nan con, is a fonn

caoyn^ nan oon ia a fonn

A bristeadh trom 'o bheul nam bard,

a bziat-d' trom o veyl nam bard

Leagh iad manam le bron, —

leagh i-ad manam le bron

Manam nach do leagh riamh,

manam naoh do le-a ri-ay

An comhstri nan sgiath 's nan lann.

an QOYStri nan sgi-a' a nan lann

Bha coltach ri cruaidh mo laine.

va ooltach ri cm-ay' mo layne

Guilainibh mi gu'm chruaich,athreinibh ;

gaylayn-iy mi gum ohru-aych a hreyn-iv

Togaibh clach sa bheinn do'm chliu,

togayy daoh aa yeynn dom ohli-u

Coiribh cabar san uaigh leam fein,

cuyriv caber aan u-ay' le-am feyn

'S lann thana na'm beum ri'm thaobh.

sUnn hana nam beym ri*m haoy

Togaidh sruth am an cein an uir,

togay' ani' am an ceyn an nyr

Chi an sealgaer gu cul a chruaidh,

chi an aellager gn cnl a chni-ay'
" So cljddheamh Oscair, fo smuir,

BO chlayey oacayr fo amnyr

Suidh mor na'm bliadhna chaidh uainn."

say mor nam bli-a'-na chai' uynn

'N do thuit u mhic a thug dhomh cliu?
ndo huyt u vie a hug yoy diu

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.

When Oscar saw the sorrow of his
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

mou&s 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 fame,
fallen ?

120

THE POETBY

Nach faic mi u Oscair a choidh ?

naoh fajo mi a oscajr a chojr'

Noir cUuinneas triathain m'an cloinn,

Dojr ohlajDnes tri-a'-en man dojn

Nach cluinn mise luaidh ort Oscair?

Daoh dajmi mi-se lo*ay' ort osoajr

Bidh coineach air do chlachaibh liadh ;
bi' oSjnech ayr do cblach-ajv li-a'

*S gaoth a measg mo chiabh fo bhron ;

ga'a a mesg mo chi-ay fo vron

Cuirer cath gu'n us' air sliabh ;

cnjrer ca' gan ns ayr ali-ay

'S cha lean u eillid chiar iian torr.

8 cha' len n eyllid chi-ar nan torr

Noir thilleas na gaisgich o'n stri,

noyr hillas na gajsgich on atri
'G imasidh sgeul ma thir nan gall,

ginnsi' sgeyl ma hir nan gall

Chunnachas, their iad, uaigh aig sruth ;

ohmmao-aB b^yr i-ad n-ay' ayg ara'

A thaom a nuas bho thaobh nan earn,
a baom ann-aa to baov nan cam

Comhnuidh gu'n leus do thriath,

ooT-nny' gon leys do ri-a'

A thuit le Oscair nan carabad.

a bnyt le osoayr nan carabad

Theagamh gu'n cluinneam a ghuth,

heg-av gnn duynnem a yn'

'S gu'n eirich solas air dubbar mo

B gnn eyr-ioh solas ayr davar mo

chleibh.

chleyv

Chaidheadh mid an oiche fo bhron,

obayV mid an oyche fo Tron

'8 cha'n eireadh le solas a ghrian,
B cfaan eyra' le solas a yri-an

Sheasadh na triatha mar scorra,

hesa' na triay mar soorra

Air Moilena nan torr fo mhuig.

ayr moylena nan torr fo viiyg

Ou'n f harraid, gu'n luaidh air comhrag.

gon arrayd gnn In-ay' ayr coTrayg

Sgaoil an righ gu caoin am bron,

sgoyl an ri' gn cOyn am bron

'S thog e le treoir a ghuth ;

s hog e le tre-oyr a yn'

Mhosgail na treuna na choir,
Tosgd na trqma na oboyr

Mar gu'm b-ann a uamhainn bruadair.
mar gam 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 withoutthee,

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 cara

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

clif!s
On Moilena of dusky woods,

Unasking for, unmindful of war.

The king mildly banished our grief.

And raised his voice with firmness :

The heroes started and drew near.

As from a horrid dream.

OF THE HIGHLAND CLANS.

121

Gia fada thuiteas na deoir,

cia fada haytes na d-oyr

Balbh, bronach, air Moilena ?

baly bron-ach ajr mojlena

Cha till dhuin na trenna ni's mo,

cha till yuyn na trejna nis-mo

Neart Oscair a cfaoidh cha*n eirich.

nert osoayr a ohoy' chan eyr-ioh

Taitidh gaisgich can laithibh fein,

tayti' gayabgich nan la'-iv fejm

'S cha'n f baicer sa bheinn an trial.

8 chan ayoer sa vejnn an tri-al

Cait a bheil air 'n athraichean treana,

cayt a Tejl ajr na'-rajch*en treyna

Siol na'm beum o'n am a dh-iadh ?

U'Ol nam bejm on am a yi-a'

Thnit iad mar renltan air cul thorr,

htijt i-ad mar reyltan ayr cnl horr

A bha nan soluis mhor da'n tir fo mbuig.

a va nan aolnys vor dan tir fo vnyg

Cha chlninn sinn ach faaim an din,

cha chloynn sinn ach faym an cfi-n

'S bu cbliuteach iad nan am fein,

8 ba ohH-a-tech i-ad nan am feyn

Am blianaibh nan gniomh an cein.

am bli-an-ayv nan gni-oy an ceyn

'S uabbasach is baoth na dh-f balbh ;

8 n-a-vasach is bao' na yaly

Theid sinne mar iadsan o'n raon,

heyd nnne mar i-adean on raon

Do leabanan caola na*m marbb.

do leb-anan caola nam marr
Bith mid na'r latha fo chliu,

hi' mid nar W'& fo chli-u

'S fagadh mid air 'n ainm na'r deigh ;

8 £iga mid ayr nayn-im nar day'

Mar dhealradh greiu an speur gu'n smuir,

mar yel-ra' greyn an apeyr gnn smnyr
Noir cheiller fo dhubhradh i fein,

noyr cheyller fo ynv-ra' i feyn

Fear astair fo bhron a trial,

fer aatayr fo vron a tri-al

Cuinicbidh an miiamhadli dealrach.

del-rach

caynichi' an gni-ava'

UUin, ma bhard fein fo aois,

nll-ayn ma vard feyn fo oysh

Gabh long is tboir dbachaidh an righ ;
ga long b hoyr yach-a/ an -'

Thoir Oscar gu Selma nan raon.

hoyr oBC-ar ga fldma nan raon

an n

How long will ye sbed 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 iheir 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 the^narrow 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 POETBY

Sileadh deoir *o oigfaean na frith, —

Bile' de-oyr o oy'-en na fri'

oigheanan aillidh na MorbheaniL

o ojmnen Ajlli' na mor-venn

Buaille sinne a'n comhraig na h-EirinD,

bujUi Burne an ooy-rayg na bey-rinn

Mu 8hiol nan treun a thuit le Cairber.

mn hi-ol nan treyn a hoyt le cajrber

Tha laithean mo bhlianaibh fo nial ;

ha lay' -en mo vli-an-ayy fo ni-al

Tha mo ruigh aosda fas fann,

ha mo ray' a-oe-da fiu iann

'8 m athrichean a sealtain 'o nial,
B ma'-rioh-en aBe-altayn o ni-al

Air faoin astar an liadh-mhic ;

ayr iaoyn astar an U-a'-vic

Ach cha treig e'n aiach gu'n bhuaidb,

aoh oha treyg en araoh gon Tny'

6u*n dealradh f hagail ma chliu, —

gm dehra' agayl ma chli-n

Gu*n ainm fhagail mar sholus nan speur,

gun ayn-em agayl mar holoB nan Bpeyr

Do bhardaibh nan tend cuin."
do yard-ayr nan teyd oi-uyn

Let tears fall horn the maidens of
the forest,

The beautifol maidens of Morvea

We most 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 froDi their
clouds

On the feeble course of their grey-
haired son ;

But I will not resign without Tictory,

Without leaving a blaze of fame,—

Without leaving my name like die
light of heaven,

To the bards of tuneful strings.'*

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 encourage the over-
matched division of GuaL This prosnachadh or war-song has been carried
down by oral recitation more fally 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 yaicaych-an nan Bteyd

Is airde leum 'sas fiate srann,

18 ayr-d^ leym sas fi-a-t^ srann

Arighnan claidheamhgeur'snan sleagh;

a ri' nan day'v geyr *b nan ale-a'

A lamh threun an cruaidh-chas,

a lav hreyn an cni-ay'-chaB

A chridhe aird nach eur bas,

a chii'-d ayrd naoh eyr bas

A cheannaird shonn is euchdar toirt ;

a chenn-ayrd hOnn ia eyc-ar toyrt

Cuir sgrios air marachean nan stuadh,

cayr sgria ayr mara-ohen nan Bta-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 illustrioas ;
Destroy the mariners of the waves.

OF THE HIGHLAND CLANS.

123

The bloody foe from the north,

The navy and the people of Inniatore.

Be thine eye fire in thy head,

Thy sword the h'ghtning's flash,

And the bolt, before the thunder, to
wound.

Exalt thy victorious shield.

Blood-edged crot?i*-coloured.

Like the star of death, to doubting
foemen.

Bace of the riders of steeds

Of the highest bounds and wildest
snorts,

Cut down the foe to death.

Air naimhdean fuileach o'n tir thuadh,

ajr nayv-den fnjl-eoh on tir ha -a'
Air cabhiach is sluagh Innistor.

ayr cav-laoh ia aln-a' inmstor

Biodh do shuil mar choar a'd' cheann,

bi-o' do hnyl mar choar a*d chenn
Mar chith 'o'n dealan do lann,

mar chi' o^n dd-an do lann

'S mar bheithir', ro' tharn, gu lot.

*8 mar vey'-ir ro ham gu lot

Ardaich gu buaidh do sgiath,
ard-ayeh ga boy' do 8gi-a'

Is fuileach tnar 's as crobhui* neul,
is fnyl-ech tn-ar sSs ctoyuj neyl

Mar real a bbais do naimh fo sprochd.

mar re-al a Tays do nayy fo sproc

A shiol mharcaichean nan steud,

a hi-ol varoajoben nan steyd

Is airde leum 's as fiate srann,
'u ayrde leym sas fi-a-t^ Brann

Sgrios naimhdean sios gu has.

sgris na-iv-den si-os gn 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 othera 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
pifUnreao for the vocal war-song. The pic^eac^ (peeb-rec) a name compounded
from ptbJ, pipe, and reoc, 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
bnmourous pieces, were wretched satirists. Domhnul Mac-raonuil, Rob Donn,
and AiUean Ball, 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 blade& With these exceptions, I scarcely can at
this moment remember a Gtielic satire that does not degenerate more or less
into scurrility. Even Iain Lom 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.

* Thi0 word ieema to be obiolete.

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 plebeian 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 lieatenant
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 hang
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 pnt in
the way of the approaching Birlins, while he posted a strong party in ambush
to fcdl 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 cdl 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-reaca
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 fiiend& The warning
notes, seachain an dutij avoid the castle ; and the lamenting notes, tha smne an
latmh, 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.

!
I

OF THE HIGHLAND CLANS.

125

A GHOLLA MA BUIN, SEACHAIN AN DUN.

A Cholla, cuir umad ; bi uUamfa, bi Falbh ;
Bi ullarah, bi falbh ; bi uUamh, bi falbh ;
A ChoUa, cuir umad; bi uUamh, bi falbh;
Tha sinne an laimh, tha sinne an laimh.

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.

Samh is taoman, ramh is taoman,

Hamh is taoman, ramh is taoman,
Bamh is taoman, ramh is taoman ;
Tha sinne an laimh, tha sinne an laimh.

(Wordfl symbolical of embarkiiig quickly.)

Lamh dhearg, lamh dhearg, lamh
dhearg,

Lamh dhearg, lamh dhearg, lamh
dhearg,

Lamh dhearg, lamh dhearg, lamh
dhearg ;

Tha sinne an lahnh, tha sinne an laimh.

(Waniing to call the Macdonalds 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, —
Baidhinn an ath, buidhinn an ath.

(Warning to keep aloof from the strait, and
hasten to secure a landing on MnlL)

Cholla, mo rain, seachain an dan,
Seachain an dan, seachain an dun,
Cholla, mo ruin, seachain an dun ;
Tha sinne an laimh, tha sinne an laimh.

(Warning not to attempt to sare the prisoners
in the castle.)

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.

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 Bobbi 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, cus he is

\

\

126

THE POETRY

pilloried in the satire, with the ever-recurring, sneering notes, seed a n£r m*,
(*' 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-Callum,<'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 BobbL The total abstainer could
hardly find a better text for his lecture than Daorach Bobbi ; while the temper-
ance lecturer would not be far wrong in adopting Oillie-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 Bobbi, 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 baid,
William Boss, 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

MAO-AN-TOSAIOH,— THE SON OF THE VAN.

Co a shamhladh fear do bheusan,

00 a hAvla' fer do YejBan

Bi fion, tanadh, geur na Fraing?

li fi-on tana' geyr na frayng

Na dhi-moladh Mac-an-Toisaich,

na yi-mola' mao-an-toysaych

Ach leibid nach oladh dram ?
ach lebid naoh ola' dram

Fonn: —

Glac an t-shearrag, lion a ghloinne,

glao an teiag: li-on a jloynh

Bh-uain am balach, gruamach, gann ;
▼n-ayn am balach gru-am-ach gann

Gille gasda, mac-na-bracha,

gilli gasda mao-na-bra-cha

'S ioma gaisgeach ort an geaL

*8 i-oma gajBg-eob ort an geU

logain crabhaidh bidh dhat dhiteadh,

i-og-ayn cravay' bi' yat yite'

Le cul-chaint tha daicheal feall ;
le col-ohaynt ha day-chel fell

Ged a chaineas iad le'm beoil u,
ged a chaynes i-ad lem be-oyl a

Olaidh iad u mar an t-alt. — Glac, &c.

ohiy' i-ad u mar an talt

A chleir fein ge seunt' an cota,

a chleyr f eyn ge seynt an oota

Tha na's leoir dhiu ort an geall,
ha nas le-oyr yi-n 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?

Chonta: —

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.

/

OF THE HIGHLAND CLANS. 127

'S tha cuid ac' a ghabhas froileadh And some of them enjoy a bouse

's ha cajd aca yavas froyl^

Chomathrisaighdearsachamb.-GlaCjiSMX As well as any soldier in the camp.rr-

cho ma' ri say'-der sa oham Seize, &C.

C'oim mar a nitear dhuin banais, How could we wake a wedding,

e'oym mar a nitoar ynjn l>an-ay8

Cnmhnanta na eeangal teann ? Or a binding contract ?

eaynanta na oengal tenn

Mar bi dram againn do'n chleireach, Unless we have a dram for the clerk,

mar bi dram agajn don ohley-rech

Chabhimoran8preignapheann.-Glac,&c. There will be little vigour in his

cha ▼! moran epnji; na fenn pen. — Seize, &c.

B\\ mhian leam fein, fhir mo chridhe, It is my own desire, son of my heart,

ba Ti-an le-am feyn ir mo ohri'-d

A bhi na d' chomunn nach gann ; To be in thy generous company ;

a vi na d* ohomnnn nach gann

'S trie a bha sinne nar dithis. Often have we two been together,

^strio a va sinne nar di'-ia

Ounphiobgunfhideil,adanns.-GIac,&a Without a pipe or fiddle, dancing. —

gm fi-ob gun i'-eyl a danna 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 difierent remote points, where they were <»)ncealed 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 fnends, and determined to
anticipate the enemy. He dispatched the celebrated Aillen Mac Baoil (ayllen
mac raoyl) against tibe 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 cautions or particular in his inqniries, 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, diflFer in
details creditable or discreditable to individusJs. For instance, there was
nothing more natural than that the indignant foes of Aillean Mac Baoil, 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 yersion of
the tradition ; but with this explanation, the versions of the tradition publidied
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"
firom 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 bearing this noble
tune played by John MacdoneU, 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

independeooe of spirit that could recognise no superiors exo^ptiBg in the officials
elected by themselyes. But I greatly suspect, since the piper has become a
domestic musician^ that he finds it lus 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 muricians 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 smotliering 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 aD 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, wil] enable the English reader
to form a pretty &ir idea of the diversity of measures and styles cultivated by
the barda 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 praise of the
different clans* Each of these pieces was usually called

OBAN NA*M JINEACHAD. — A 80N6 OV THB CLANS.

Si so'n aimsir an dearbhar Now is the time to prove

n io*n aym«rir an der^TSr

An targanach dhuin, Tl^ stability of the goYemsient,

an taraganaoh jvyn

B

130

THE POETRY

'S bras meamneacli fir Alba

'8 bras memenach fir alaba

Fo'n armaibh, 's nan luth ;

fon arm-ayv 'a nan lu'

Noir dh-eires gach treun laoch

noyr yeyres gach treyn laoch

Na eide glan ur,
na eyd-i gian tir

Le nm feirge is gairge

le run feyrigd U gairgd

A thearmuin a chruin.

a her-majn a chruyn

Theid maithabh na Galltachd

hejd maj'-av na gall-tac

Gle sbanntacb an gleus ;

gld hann-taoh an glejs

Gur lionar steud sheang-mbear

gur li-on-ar stejd heng-ver

A dbannsas le speis.
a jann-saa le spejB

Biodh Sassanaicb cailte,

bi' sasaan-ayoh cayltd

Is tboil iad an tein,

is bojl i-ad an teyn

'S bidb na Frangaicb le'n cambaibb

'a bi' na frang-ajch len camb-ayv

Gle theann air an deigb.

gle henn ajr an dey'

Tbe men of Alba baving risen

Under arms, and in tbeir vigour and
migbt ;

Now, wben every strong hero
Is in bis clean, new costume,
Indignantly and fiercely zealous
For tbe restoration of tbe crown.

Tbe good men of tbe Lowlands
Enter eagerly into action ;

Many is tbe steed slender and meny

Tbat will prance under tbem.

Tbe Englisb will be losers,

And deserve to be put to an extremity,

And tbe Frencb in tbeir encampments

Will be closely after tbem.

Before quoting tbe otber two or tbree verses, wbicb is all I can make room
for of tbis song, I cannot belp remarking, tbat tbe feeling toward tbe English
expressed in tbe above verses, came down, at least among tbe adberents of the
Stuart family, to my own time, — tbe commencement, I mean, of tbe war
resulting from tbe Frencb Revolution. Tbis was sbown by tbe 79tb regiment,
at a critical moment, on its first meeting witb tbe Frencb, under its illustrious
founder and cbief, Aillean of Earracbt. Tbis splendid oflScer beard a murmur
passing tbrougb tbe ranks of tbe regiment as tbe Frencb advanced, — "The
Frencb are tbe friends of our clan. Tbey covered our retreat at Culloden. Let
us figbt tbe Red Coats." Tbe colonel did not say a word ; but he made a slight
movement, wbicb brougbt tbe Locbaber men witbin range of a distant volley
from tbe Frencb, wben be exclaimed, in bis own tbundering voice, — ** There tbey
are, my lads ; and if you don*t kill tbem, by Gl — , they'll kill you.'* " Diol!"
(ran with equal speed through tbe ranks,) " they have attacked our clan !" The
Camerons, on finding themselves thus used, gave a speedy account of their
French friends ; and, from tbat day, there has not been in tbe 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 CLAKS. 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 editoi*s 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 oflFensive, 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-Dhomhnuil Clan-Donuill will rise

eyri' oUn-yov-nnyl

Mar leoghainn am fearg, Like lions enraged,

mar le-o-inn am ferag

132

THE POBTBT

Na 'm beo-bhethir ; mor leathunn

na'iii be-o-ve-ir mor le'-ann

Connspanach garg.

ooim-8pan-ach gang
Lochd a sbeasaibh na corach,

lao a hes-ajT na oorach

Ga'n ordngh lamb-dbearg.

gan ord-a' lav-yerag

Mo-dhoigh ! bhiodh iad gorach
mo-yoy' vi' i-ad gor-aoh

A thoisicheadh ovbh.
a boya-ioh-a' oyrr

Or live tbnndei^bolte ; tall and etont

Are the heroes fierce.

They are the men to stand by the
right,

Whose cognizance is the red hand.

Mo yoy I they would be mad

Who should begin the battle bj
attacking you.

6ur liouar lamh theoma

gnr li*o-iiar lav be-o-ma

Thaig Eoghan Lochial.

hayg e'-o-an loob-i-al

For cholganta, bhorganta,

fir oholag-anta Torg-aota

Is oirdheirce gniomh.

18 oyr-yejro-d gni-av

lad mar thuil-bheum, air chorr-ghleus,

i-ad mar bDyl-Tejm ajr obonr-yleys

Air chonfbadh ro dhion.

ajr obona-ba' ro yi-on

Se mo dhuilsa 'n am msgaidh,

86 400 jayl-sa nam mig-^'

Naoh diult sibh dot sios.

nacb di-idt ny dol u-ob

Many are the warriors

Of Owen of Lochiel.

Bough and broad

Are the heroes of deeds illustriQtt&

Like the spring-tide, or a mountaio-
spate,

They advance to T)atile.

It is my opinion that, at stripping-
time,

They will not hesitate to descend.

The Highlanders of Druidal times placed something like a religious valoe
on the orations delivered over their graves by the bards. Hence, as they always
fought stripped to the kilt, they used to paiut 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 agaiost
the Bomans, and at Eilliecrankie against the Lowlanders and the English.
Hence the bardic expression, ** nam rusgaidh," stripping-time, which is synony-
mous with the command to charge. The Bomans, on whose ignorance or
dishonesty as regarded their enemies, modem philology is beginning to throw
a light that will stagger some of their school-boyish admirers, represent the aimy
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 and the

OF THE HIGHLAND CLANS.

133

breeae," are, in all probability, only traditional relics of the old chivalrons
Caledonian custom. I have known a young Highland gentieman 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.

Our guineach na Duimhnich,

gar guyn-eoh na doy-moh

'Nam rusgadh nam lann,

luun inB-ga' luun lann

Bidh naimhdean ga'n ruagadh

bi' najv-din gao ni-a-ga'

Le'n cruadal nach fann ;

kn cni-ardal naeh fium

Dream nasal ro uaibhreach,

drem n-a-Ml ro n-ajv-reoh

Dh-fhag dual ann ean Fhraing ;
yag dn-al ami san nyng

'S ann Dhiarmaid a shiolaich

aann o yi-ar-majd a hi-ol-ajoh

«

'M por miaghael nach gann.

'm por mi-a'-yel naoh gann

Fierce are the Campbells,

When swords are drawn frmi their
sheaths,

Enemies will be scattered
By their hardihood and might ;
The tribe high-blooded and illustrious,
Has left a branch in France ;
From Diarmdd are descended
The clan noble and numerous.

Ayrshire was the original district in Scotland of the CampbeUs, or, as
they were called, Clan DuibhnidL 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 Cill Dhuibhnidh, (kill yuyv-ni) the grave of Duibhnidh, corrupted
into Eirk-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 duiHfiivi. Bums, 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," Domhnul Mac-Innlaidh, and Iain Lom, 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 tiie present day. I regret the necessity of so limiting
my quotations as to do a manifest injustice to tliese three Brae-lochaber bards.

MIAN A BHAIBDB THUAIB AOIS. — THE DEBIBE OF THE BARD WHO BBCKIVBD AGE.

6u socair sin san fheur mo thaobh. Lay me gently on my side in the grass,

ga 8004jr sin lan ejr mo baor

Airbruachnandithean*snangaodh-tlath, On a bank of flowers and soft winds,
air bni-aoh nan di-en 'i nan gao'Ua'

134

THE POETRY

Mo chas ga slioba sa bhraon mhaoth,

mo cho0 ga ilib-a m Traon yao'

A lubas mal is caoin tre'n bhiar.

a labas mal is oaojn tre'n vlar.

My feet laved by the mild streainkt

That winds slowly and genially throogb
the meadow.

Aig iadhadh mu bhraaichaibh mo ghlinn,

ayg i-a'-a' mn yni-ach-ajT mo ylum

Biodh luba gheugan 's orra blath ;

tn-o' laba yejg-aa *8 orra bla'

*S clann bheag nan preas a tabhairt seinn,

's dami veg nao pres a tav-ayrt seynn

Air creagan aosd' le 'n orain ghraidL

ajr creg-aa aoed le 'n o-rajn jray'

Bidh ard oscion dosan na *m beann,

bi ard oe-d-on dosan na m benn

Le cumhadh do ghaoil na d' mhin bheul,

le cava' 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 707 oe-ol an ayrd nan speyr

Tog na 's airde t-oran cinin,

tog na 8 a3rrd^ t-or-an ct-njn

*S cuir sgeala do bhroin an ceil,

8 cnjr sgey-Ui do vroyn an oejl

'S glacaidh mactallaidh* gach ciuil,

's glac-ay' mac-tall-ay' gao oi-njl

Gach sgeul tursach d' bhinn-bheul.

gach sgeyl tor-saoh d' yinn-veyl

Tog do sgiath is trial their cuan,

tog do Bgi-a' is tri-al hayr cu-an

Glac do luathas bho neart na gaoidh.

glao do lu-a'-as to nert na gaoy'

'S taitneach, ce bronach am chluais,

's tayt-neoh oe bronach am chla-ays

d' chridhe leointe t-oran gaoil.

d* chri'-^ le-oynt^ t-oran gaoyl

Cairibh mi dluth do'n Eas-mhor,
oayr-iv mi dlu' do'n es Tor

Bhristeas ann an tarn o*n chreig,

yiis-tes ann an tarn on chreyg

Biodh emit agus slige ri *m thaobh,

bi-o dirayt agns sleg-^ ri m haov

^S an sgiath dhion mo shinnsir sa chath.

's an sgi-a' yi-on mo hinn-sir sa cha'

Around the lofty borders of my glen,
Be the bending of boughs in full leaf,

And the little children of the coppice,

■
Making the aged rocks reusing their

lays of love.

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 clouda

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 tbe

wind.
Pleasant, though mournful, to my ear

Is the song of love from thy wounded
heart.

Lay me by the side of Eas-mor,

That bursts in thunder over the rock,

Let the lyre and shell be by my side,

And the shield that covered my sires
in battle.

# " Hac-tallaidli," echo ; literally, &e fascinator.

Thig le cairdes thair a chnan,

hig le oayr-des thayr a chu-an

Osag mlun a ghluaises, mall,

08-ag yin a ylo-ajs-es mall

Tog mo cheo air sgiath do luathais,

tog mo ch^-0 ajr sgi'-a' do In-ajs

'S dian trivH gu eillean nam flath,

^8 di-an U-al gu eyllen nam fla'

Far bhiel na sain bn chrnaidh o shean,

bar yeyl na sajn ba chra-aj o hen

Air cul nan lann a dhionadh slaaigh, —

ajT col nan lann a yi-on-a' aln-aj'

Oissian, Oscar, GoU, is Fion. —

oj88-en oecar goll is fi-on

Thig am feasgar 's cha bhi *m bard air
hig am fe8g-ar 'a cha vi m bard ajr

bhradh.
vra'

OF THE HIGHLAND CLANS. 135

Oome in kindness over the sea,
MDd 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 Gk)ll. —

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 SBALGAB 'S A CHOMHACHAG. — THE HUNTEB AND THE OWL.

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.

A chomhachag bhochd na Sroine,

a obo-ach-ag too na sroyn^

Gar a bronach loom do leabadh,

gar a bion-ach le-om do lev-a'

Ma tha u ann bho linn Donnaghaill,

ma ha n ann bho linn donn-yayll

Chan ioghnadh leam ge trom u t-aig-
cfaan i-o'n-a' le-am ge trom a tayg-

neadh, &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 Terses 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 introdnotioii of Christianity to
Lochaber.

136

THE POETBY

'S mi *m shuidhe air sith-bhrogh Ba'm

'a mim haj'-i ajv si'-vra' nam

beann,

benn

Aig amharc air ceann Locha-treig,

ajg av-aro ajrr oenn locha-trejg

Creag-uaine am biodh an t-shealg,

oreg-a-ajn^ am bi-o' *ii tei-ag

Grianan ard am bidh na feigh.
gri-an-an ard am bi' na fey'

Chi mi braigh Bhidean nan dos,

chi mi bray' vid-en nan doe

An taobhsa bhos do Sgurra-lidh,

an taoY-sa yo8 do sgnra-fi'

Sgurra-chointich nan damh seang. —

Bgnrra-choyn-tioh nan day leng

'S ionmhuin leam an dingh na chi !

's i-on-Yoyn le-am an di-u' na ohi

Chi mi Strath-farsuin a chraidh,

ahi mi stra'-fiHr-sayn a ohray'

Far an labhm- guth nan sonn»

fitf an la-vnr ga' nan sonn

Is coire creagach a Mhaim.

is ooyr^ creg-ach a vaym

^Sa *n trie a leag mo lamh damh donn.

sa'n trio a leg mo lav day donn
Soirridh gu Bein-alta bh-uam,

Boyrr-i' ga beyn-alta vu-am

O'n si fhnair urram na'm beann,
o'n n hn-ayr niram nam benn

Gu slios Locherroch an fheidh. —

ga dia looh-errooh an ey'

Ga*m ionmhuin leam fein bhi ann.

gam i-oa-ynyn le-am feyn vi ftnn

'S tiamhaidh trom mo chridhe fein ;

'a ti-av-ay' trOm mo chri'-6 feyn

Chuir an aois mo cheum fo lot,

ohayr an aoys mo cbeym lb lot

Cha dirich mi tulach an fheidh,
oha &-ioh mi tnl-aoh an ej'

'S gu la bhrath cha leig mi coin,
^a ga la via' oha leyg m ooyn

Mise is t-usa ghaodhair bhain,

uM 18 tos-a yao'ayr vayn

'S tUTsach dhnin an diugh na threig ;
'a tnnaoh ynyn an di-n' na h-reyg

I am sitting on the fuxy-hill of Ae
mountains.

Gazing at tfie bead of Lochtreig,

Craig-uaine, sacred to the chase,—

The lofty sunny residence of the deer.

I see the crest c^ wooded Bidean,
This side of Scurra-li,
Sgurra-chointich of slender stags.—
Dear to me are all I this day see !

I see Strath-fiursun of milk-kine,

Where loudest is the bay of the gallant

hound,
And the rocky corrie of Mam,

Where my arm often struck down the
brown stag.

Bear my salute to Benalta,
The praised aboTe 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 d(^.

Me and ihee, my white hound,

Soorrowful is all we have this day fo^
saken;

OF THE HIGHLAND CLANS.

137

Cliail sinn an tathunn 's an dan,

chayl rinn ao ta'-ann san dan

Ged bha am a b-ard air gleus.

ged ya am a b-ard ajr gleys

We have lost the baying voice and the

lay,
Though the day has been when lofty
was our condition.

The wood from thee has taken the roe,

The heights from me have taken the
stag;—

But that is no reproach, my hero,
Since age has settled on us alike.

Thug a choille dhiotsa'n earb\

bog a choylle yi-ot-aan erab

'S an airde dhiom 'sa na feidh ; —

's an ayr-de yi-om aa na fey'

Cha'n eil naire dhuin a laoich,
cha'n eyl nayre ynyn a laoyeh

O'n laidh an aois oim le chul.

OD lay' an aoya oyrn le chuyl

As we have in " The Ancient Bard's Desire," " The Hunter and the Owl,"
Iain Lom, &c.y 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 Macdonell'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 MacdonelPs 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 MHAIGHDEAKN SHITH *S AN S^ALGAIB. — THE FAIBY-MAIDEN AND THE HUNTER.

An Sealgair.
an aella-ger

A mhaighdeann shith is milse tend,

a Tay'den hi ia mUae teyd

Air tolman min a frith nan trend,

ayr toloman min a fri' nan treyd

Leis a mian a bhiolair uaine, —

lejs a mi-an a vil-ayr u-ayne

Solar buain na fuaran fas ;

solar bn-ayn na fti-ar-an fti

The Hunter.

Maiden &iry of the w^eteat chords,

(When) on a hillock smooth, in the
forest of the herd.

Whose delight is the cresses green, —

The bounty lasting of springs in the
desert;

s

138

THE POETRY

Thainig mi a tir nan stuaidh,

bayn-ig mi a tir nan stu-ay'

Is gairge sgread air sgearraen criiaidh,

is gajrege sgred ayr sgerren cra-ay'

A dh-asla sgeul air am nan cian

yasla sgejl ayr am nan ci-an

a

'0 d' bheulan seante 's miaghail dain.

od Toylan se-ante 'a mi-a-yayl dayn

Fonn: —

Seinn da mi oran cianael,

sejnn da mi oran d-an-el
Shith-bhrugfa aillidh nan tend sianael ;

hi' Vni' ayli' nan tejd ai-an-el

Seinn da mi oran cianael,

Bejnn da mi oran d-an-el

Shith-bhrugh aillidh nan tor* ard.
hi' vm' 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.

vajden hi'

a

Noir thionaeles a mhaighdeann shith

noyr heneles a yay'den hi'

Treud a gaoil air raon san f hrith,

treyd a gaoyl ayr raon san ri'

Gu mire-chleas an comhstri mhin,

gn mire-ddes an ooY-stri vin

Se 'm bas a bhinn bheir airm nan dail.

sem bas a vinn veyr ajrm nan dayl

Tilg air lar gorm lann na'm beum,

tilig ayr hir gorm lann nam bejm

A bheudagt ghlas is sgaiteach teum,

a veyd-ag ylas is sgayt-ech tejm
'S do shaighead bhorb is trie, a leum,

8 do hay-ed vorb is trie a leym

An cridhe feil, ceann-treud mo ghraidh.
ori'-e feyl oenn-treyd mo yray'

Fonn : —
Cha sheinner leom oran cianael,

dia heynner le-om oran d-an-d
Shith-bhrugh aillidh nan tend sianael ;

hi'*vru' ayli nan teyd d-on-d

Cha sheinner leom oran cianael,
dia heynner le-om oran d-an-d

Gus an tilg u t-airm air lar.

gas an tilig n tayrm ayr lar

The Fairy Maiden.

When gatners the maiden faiiy

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.

Ohorua: —

I sing not the song plaintive

Of the fairy knowe b6autifiil,of channed
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 aboye spdt.

OF THB HIGHLAND CLANS.

139

An Sealgair.
Na tairg a mhaighdeann riomhach tair,

na tajr-ig a vayden ri-yach tajr

Do f hriamh de ihealach Chainn nan air,

do ri-av de hel-ach chajnn nan ayr

Cha dual gu'n gabh e fiamh na fath,

cha da-al gnn gav e fi-av na fa'

'S fo bhagradh choidh cha treig e lann ;

8 fo vag-ra' choy oha treyg e lann

Ach bu trice a gheil bho'n chein,
ach ba trice a jeyl Ton oheyn

Do chumhachd graidh an t-armunn trein,

do chn-ao gray an tannann trejn

A bhuail an ioma gabhadh steinn,

a Yn-ajl an i-oma gava' stejnn

Na'm balach breun 's an ceillean fann,

nam balaoh breyn aan cejUen fann
Seinn da mi, et cetera.

A Maighdeann Shith.
Oh 's taitneach loom do cholg 's do

oh a tayt-nech le-om do cholg a do

shnuadh,

nn-a'

A shealgaer bhuirb bho thir nan stuadh I

a hellager ynyrb yo bir nan stn-a'

Ach fear fo aim 8{m diorohair reidh,

adi fer fo ajrm aan di-yayr rey'

Tha siant am f heith cha'n f haidh mo

ha Bi-ant am ey' chan ay' mo

ghradh.
yra'

T31 ga'n dail do'n eillean Sgiathach,*

tfll gun dayl don eyllen agi'-ach

Far am bith na roin 'g easgach,

far am bi' na royn ag i-as-gaoh

'S ceigagan na cota stiallach,

8 oeyg-ag-an na cota sti-al-aoh

Tional maorach liadh air traigh.
tenal maor-ach li-a' ayr tray'

Cha sheinner loom, et cetera.

The Hunter.

Oflfer not, maiden queenly, an in-
dignity

To a root of the family of Conn of
battle-fields.

It is not natural that he 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 1 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 shellfish on the beach.

I sing not, &c.

An Sealgair. The Hunter.

Si anacain 's ionmhain ghuidh mi riamh, It is the dearest wish I ever prayed,

si an ao-ayn a i-on-yayn yny' mi ri-ay

U thighinn a ghaoil le d' bhaidean That you should come, love, with your
n hi'nn a yaoyl le d yayden parcel of deer

fhiadh,

i-a'

* Tho lale of Skye ; literally, the isle of wingp, m 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-jar tra'

Sa bheil ioma coire baadhar,

sa vejl i-oma oojre bn-a-yar

'S torrach cluain 's as airde fdarain,

8 toxrach ola-ayn sas ajide fb-a-rajm

Sgeideachte le biolair uaine,
sgejd-ech-te le bil-ayr n-ajne

Is blaiste sugh sas uire sgiamh.

ia blayste ea' sas njrre s^-ay
Seinn da mi, et cetera.

A MhaighdeaDQ ShitL

'S mor a b-annsa Buachail-eite,
8 mor a bann-sa bu-a-chayl-eyte

'N Coire-ba, Ba'm Binnein eatrome,

n oojre-ba sam binn-ejm e-trom

Craach-nam-beunn is airde nan Creisein,

cra-ach-nam-beynn ia ajrd nan creyseyn

'S Beinn-na-doirrean * mian nam bard ;

8 beynn-na-doyrren mi-an nam bard

'S cha bu diubfaaidh Beinn-a-cbrulaist,

8 cha bu di-nvay beynn-a-chm-layst

Na Beinn-bhreacnan aigheanlndhmhor,

na beyn-vreo nan ay'-en lu'-vor

Strath-Oissian nan luban curaidh,

sra'-oys-oyn nan Inban cur-ay'

'S Creagaaine nan uigean tlath.

8 creg-n-ayne nan uygen tla'

Cha sheinnear, et cetera.

An Sealgair.
Oh, thig do dh-namh Strathard nan send,

oh big do yn*ay Btra'ard nan seyd

Far am binne ceol nan teud,

far am binne ce-ol nan teyd

A dh-eisteachd sgeul air deuchaingraidh,

a yeysteo Bgeyl ayrdey-chayn gray'

A thiondas cridhe caoin gu baigh,

a hi-on-daa cri'-e caoyn ga bay'

A leaghaes is a laises suil,

fa le-as is a laysee snyl

A bheir air cuisle eridh dluth,
a veyr ayr cnysle 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 wry,

Cruch-nam-ben and tlie heights of
Creisen,

And Bendoran,* the delight of die

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 geras,

Where sweetest is the music of the
chords.

To listen to a tale of ill-&ted love,

That will turn the tender heart to

pity,
Melt and kindle the eye,

Make the pulse beat quick,

* Bendoran ; literally, the mountain of stormB.

OF THE HIGHLAND CLANS.

141

Air maighdeaia f hiata cinntinn tlatfa,

ajr maj'dayn i-a-ta ointiiin tla'

Is geiltein foil do bhoidean blath.
IS geylt-eyn Ibjl do vojden bla'

Seinn da mi, et cetera.

The maiden shy become sympathetic,
And yield kindly to vows warm.

Sing to me, &c.

A Mhaighdeann Shith.

B-annsa leom rith-bhmgh Lochtreig,
b-amin le-om ri'-ym' loob-trayg

Far a bbeil na suinn a threig,
&r a veyl na soyn a h-rejg

Euchd nam blar is tart nam buaidh,
ejo Dam blar is tart nam bn-aj

Fo gheisean* gaoil a maoin san laaidh ;

fo jreys-^n gaoyl a maojn san la-ay

lad gu*n uidh air frith na raoin,

i-ad gnn vf ajr fin' na raoyn

Gach suidh air uchd a leannean chaoin,

gach any ayr no a lennan chaoyn

A claisteinn comhstri dhan is theud,
a chlayrteynn oov-stri yan la heyd

Fo sgail-bhrat laist le mile send.

to Bgayl-yrat layat la mile aeyd
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,
witn the music of chords,

Under a canopy lighted with a thou-
sand gema

I sing not, &c.

* The idea of heioea being put under enchantment by malignant or amorona sapematnial beings,
8eema familiar to the lore of aU conntries, since the days of Homer and the Syrens ; bat it is not in the
biiigh of lioebtreig, bat in that of Tom-na-hiuirioh that the Feinn were pat onder enchantment Alex-
ander Gillies, the great Olengarry tale-reciter, ased to recite a touching romance of the Feinn ; who,
cms day, when hunting on Meal-fnar-mhonaidh, had been enticed on an adTenture of exploration into the
Sith-bhmgh of Tom-na-hioirich, near Inyemess, by a sorceress c£ Lochlin, and were there placed under
enchantment. Here they were doomed to lie stretched aroond the cave, side by side, in a profound sleep,
arreyed in their full costume and arms, with the hand of each warrior on the hilt of his swoid« ready for
action, the moment the charm should be torminated ; which, howeyer, 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 MwM»lf, on a Halloween-night, when ail fairy-
knowes are open, to attempt the adventure of setting the Feinn free. He entered the brugh of Tom-na-
hinirich, 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 fleroe
Bcowl 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 dfr-
tennined at least to soand one blast of the trumpet, and have a parley with them. He blew a blast,
and 80 loud and terrific was the sound, that Tom-na-hiuirich shook to its base, and the distant mountains
reveiberated. The great warriors opened their eyes, and stared at the tailor with an incomprehensible
look ; but they did not move. He was greatly frightemed, 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 elbowa, their hands grasping the hilts of their half-
onsheathed swords, and cast eager but indefinable glances at the tailor, who felt himself impelled by a
radden panic, dadied the trumpet to the ground, and sprang out of the cave. Here he stood for a moment
in compassion and doubt, hearing a moan spreading through the cave, whOe the following words were
nttered in a voice in which scorn struggled with sorrow, ** A leabeadean 's mise dh-f hag na thuir;" —
poltroon, wone you left than found (us.)

142

THE POETRY

An Sealgair.
B-annsa seasabh leat a ruin,

b-annsa sesav let a rayn
Gu allail ard air braigh an duin,

ga allayl ard ayr bray' an dayn

Noir dh-eires muir na morachd f hein
Doyr yeyres mayr na mor-ac feyn

Thoirt dubhian do na dailean trein ;
hoyrt daylao do na duylen treyn

Noir laises dealan slios a chnain,
noyr layses delan bUs a chu-ayn

Sa mhosglas tarn le beucan buain,

sa YOBglaa tarn le beyc-an bu-ayn

Sa ruaigeas tuinn na cabhUich aigh,

aa ru-ayges taynn na cav-laych ay'

Air sgearraen cruaidh gun toar gun
ayr Bgerren cm-ay' gun ta-ar gun

bhaigh.
vay'

Seinn da mi, et cetera.

A Mhaighdeann Sfaith.
B-annsa a bhith an sgjort na stairm,

b-annsa a vi' an sgirt na staynn

Air uchd Sgureilt is uamhain gainn,

ayr uc sgoreylt is n-av-ayn gayrm

Noir chluinnear, sior san dubhradh, tarn

noyr chluynner si-or san duvra' tarn

Nach caomhain le bheathir creag na caiii,
nach oovayn le ve'-ir creg na cam

Noir theid an dealan dearg na thein,

noyr heyd an delan derag na beyn

Sa labhras reachdar beinn ri beinn,
sa layras rec-ar beynn ri beynn

Toirt caismeachd ghairbh do thaibhsean

toirt cays-mec yayrv do hayv-sen

fuar,
fa-ar

Is gairge siann sas oiltel tuar.

is gayrge si-ann sas oyltel ta-ar

Cha sheinnear, et cetera.

An Sealgair.

Oh, thig a thuni leom a ghaoil,
oh big a huni le-om a yaoyl

Do'm bhuthean seal aig taobh a chaoil,

do m Tu'-an sel ayg taov a cbaoyl

Bho faicer dluth is fada bh-uain,
YO fayc-er din' is fada va-ayn

Sealla bheann, is ghleann, is chuain.
sella veynn is ylenn is chu-ayn

The Hunter.

Bather 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 treast 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.

OP THE HIGHLAND CLANS.

143

'S noir theid a ghrian na pailluinn shiar,

8 noyr heyd a yri-an na paylluynn hi-ar

Sa che fo Bgail an f heasgair chiair,

sa chS fo sgayl an esgayr dii-ayr

Clninnear linn ceol binn nan tend,

clajnner linn ce-ol binn nan teyd

Is eachdridh shair am blair nam bend,
is ec-ri' hayr am blayr nam beyd

Seinn da mi, et cetera.

A Mhaighdeann Shitk
'S tuille 's fada 'n diugh air ceiUidh,

8 tuylle 8 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 tlatL
gu loch-treyg nan reylen tla'

Siabfaladh mid fiamhaidh, fairrel,
ai-av-la' mid fi-avi' fayrrel

Fiamhaidh, fairrel, fiamhaidh, fairrel,

fi-ayi' fayrrel fi-avi' fayrrel

Shiubhladh mid fiambaidh, &]rrel,
ai-QY-W mid fi-aTi' &yrrel

Go Locbtreig nan reidblein tlath,
ga loch-treyg nan rey'-leyn tla'

Far an seinnear orain cbianael,
fiur an seynner o-rayn chi-an-el

Shith-bhrugb aillidh nan tend seunael ;
hi-vm ayli' nan teyd seynnel

Far an seinnear orain chianael,

far an seynner o-rayn cbi-anel

Shith-bhrugh aillidh nan tor ard.
hi-yra' ayle nan tor wrd

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 beautifiil, 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 modem 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.

COIBE-A-CHKATHAICH. — ^LITERALLT, THE COBRIE OP THE MIST.

Sa mhadain chiun-gheal an am dhomh In the morning mild and bright,

sa vad-ayn chi-nn-yel an am yov when

dusgadh,
dnsg-a'

144

THE POBTBY

Aig bun na stuice be 'n sugra leom, Kising at the foot of a rock, it was my

ayg ban na Btxtyc-h be'n sn-gra le-om delight

A chearc le sgiucan a gabhail tuchain, To hear the heath-hen plaintivdv
a ohero le sgi-nc-an a ga-vayl to-chayn murmuring her carrol,

'S an coileach curtail a durdail trom ; And the black-cock courteously croon-
'san ooylfich cnrt-ayl a durd-ayl trom ing his response deep ;

An dreathan surdail 's a ribhid chiuil aige, The wren merrily tuning her chanter

an dre'-an sard-ayl sa ri-vid chi-uyl ayg-^ mUsical

A cuir nan smuid dheth gu luthar binn ; And piping (" with might and main")

a cuyr nan smayd ye' gu lu'-ar binn nimbly and sweetly ;

An truid 's am bru-dhearg le moran The linnet and the red-breast oeten-

an truyd sam bru-yerag le moran tatiously,

unaich,

nn-aych

Bi ceileir sundach bu shiubhlach rann. Breathing joyous lays in flowing

ri oeyleyr Bondach ba hi-al-aoh rann numbers.

Thamaladhghruamachdobhiolairuaine There is a shaggy brow of green

ha mal-a' ym-a-maoh do vil-ayr n-ayn^ cresses

Mu na h-uile fuaran a tha san fhonn, Around every spring in the forest,

mn na h-nyle fh-a-ran a ha aan onn

Is doire shealbhag am bun nan garbh- A grove of sorrel around the rough

18 doyr hela-yag am bun nan garv stones,

chlach,
chlach

Is grinneal gainbhich gu minibh-gheal And in every channel a thick covering

18 giinnel gaynv-ich gu min-W-yel of powered sand,

pronn,

pronn

Nan glugabh plumbach air ghoil gun With basin-like hollows, in wlucli,

nan glug-av plum-baoh ayr yoyl gun boiling without heat,

aon-teas,
aon-tes

Ach coileach buimtighin a grundeas-lom; Bubbles up a cock of water from its
ach ooyleoh buym ti'-in a grand es-lom polished fountain ;

Gach sruthan uasal le chuailean* du- Eveiy gentle streamlet, with its dark-

gaoh arn'-an u-a-sal le ohn-ayl-en dn blue cuy-len,*

ghorm,
yorm

A ruith tre luib na thair stuic nan steall. Meandering through meadows, or leap-
• ray' tre Inyb na hayr atnyo nan ste-all ing over rocks in mimic waterfall&

* There are some Gaelic words that cannot be translated into English without a violatioD of the
characteristic delicacy and refinement of feeling which they imply. It would occupy too much ipsce to
Illustrate here a question of philology which invoWes a peculiarity in the character of a people. I maj
obserre, howeyer, that it would shook the delicacy of an ancient Highlander to designate the natunJ
oorering of a woman's head and a cow's tsil by the same name. Nay, more : he could not caU the hair
of a grey-headed harridan and of a modest and beautiful woman, by the same name. His genersi namd
for the human hair is "* fdt," and for the hair of animals, *" fiouna ;** 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 Bnglish, vithoat
doing violence to the good taste of the bard and the genius of the lang^uage. I must» therefore, beg to
be excused for retaining a few of these peculiar words, and leaving the text to explain their mesnisg.

i

s.,

OF THE HIGHLAND CLANS.

145

Tha 'm bradan tara-gheal sa choire

ha'm bradan tara-yel w ohojre

gharbhlaich,

yarv-lajch

A tighiH bho'n fhairge bu ghailbheach

a ti'-in tod ayrg-^ ba yaylv-eoh

tonn.
tonn

Le Imnneas meamneach a ceapa mhenibh*

le luyimeB mema-nech a oepa veniy

chnilleag,

chajU-ag

6u neo-chearbach le chamghob crom.

gu n6-o-chai)-aoh le ohama-yob crom

Air bhoinne borb is e learn gu foirmel,

ayr yojnn^ borb is e lem gu fbjrm-el

Na eideadh cholgail bu ghorm-ghlas ligb,
na eyd-e' cholg-ayl ba yorm-ylaa li'

Le shoilsein airgid gu h-iteach menibh-

le hoyl-aen ayrg-id ga hit-ech meniy

bhreac,
vpec

Gu lannach dearg-bhallach earrgheal

ga lannadi derag-vallach erra-yeal

sliom.
atim

The white-bosomed salmon is seen in
the come 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 faoine
yeyy-te daooan ma d'ylac-ayv fiioyn^

Na h-aighean maoladh, na laoigh 's na

na .hay'-en maol-a' na laoy' 'a na

maing ; —
mayng

Se bu mhian linn a madainn ghrianaich,

86 ba yi-an linn a ma-^ynn yri-an-ich

Bhi dol ga'n ialadh miasg shliabh is

▼i dd gan i-al-a' mesg li-av is

ghleann ;

ylenn

Qed thigeadh siantan oim an dile,

ged l^-e' n-an-tan oym an dile

Bhiodh seol gar didean sa chrioch nach

Ti-o' se-ol gar ^d-en sa chiich naeh

gann,—
An uibheig iosail am bun na frithidh,

an ny-yeyg i-sayl am ban na fri-i'

Le leobain diomhjdr gu sineadh teann.

le leb^yn fi-ov-ayr ga sin-e' tenn

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.

146

THE POETBT OF THE HIGHLAND CLANS.

Biodh eoin an tHshleibhe nan ealtain

Ti*o' e-ojn an ileyv-^ nan elt-ayn

ghle-ghloin,
yk-yloyn

A claich air geugaibh 's a seinn sa choil ;

a dnyoh ayr jeyg-ayr sa seynn sa ohoyl

An uiseag cheutach'saluinneag fhein aic\

an nys-ag che-taoh sa Injrnn-eg ' bejn aye

An fheadag speiseil gu reidh a seinn ;

an ed-ag Bpeys-eyl ga rvf a aejmi

A chnach 's an smeorach a'm bar nan

a chn-aoh aan sme-or-aofa am bar nan

ogan;
ogan

A gabhail orain gu ceolar bion ;

a gav-ayl or-ajn gu oe-ol-ar binn

Noir gboireas baileach an cuanal tairis,

noyr joji-m bayl-ech an on-an-al tajiis

Ni creagan sanas is gleannaibh failt I

ni cragan sanas is glenn-ajy hy\l

The birds of the wolds forming i
pure eltayn,

Sport and sing among the boughs of
the wood ;

The tuneful lark smgs 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 gleoB
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, — ^ihose of the Scot or Lowlander are akeady, 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 melodie& 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 aa
have been effectually changed into Lowland melodies ; the single note bein^
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
modem times, had revolutionized the whole materials out of which has beea
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 eccentricitiei
and ethereal vagaries methodized and combined into musical pieces by the
great masters; and, when listening to them in the modem 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 instmment, 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 aud
loud or shrill-voiced ladies, who set themselves down with such complacency to
conjure thunder-storms, earthquakes, and other convulsions q£ Nature, oat
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
corrapted 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 nunaUe-
barikishy so estranged from all natural and hereditary feeling, as to forget that
poetry is her twin-sister, and of equally divine birth with hersel£ Hence, die
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 ofiBspring of (renins, 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 mto
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 modem music, and may well be excused for bendmg
with pleasure over the fair creatures who ply the piano with a self-satisfied dr,
on the assiurance of their lisping foreign teachers, that they have attained per-
fection in musical science, — of which they, of course, constitute themselves and

* The Pxince of Gamno wrote to a Mend in Italy.in the days of James I., a letter descriptiTe of Seottiih
or Lowland melody, and expressing his intention of introducing that style of mndc, on his return home, u
an improYement on that of his native land. Tassoni also describes Scottish music as of a touching sad
melancholy or lamenting character, and states that he had himself adapted and composed many pieces in thst
style. It does not, therefore, seem presomptoons to say that Scottish Melody had been bonowed fay Hanuny
tQ improve the music of Italy, and that modem music is the result of tiiis iU-avorted maniage between the
natural and the artiflciaL

s

OF THE HIGHLAND CLANS. 149

their pupils the sole judges, — laughing or sneering at the ignorance of all who
differ from them : yet the &ct is, that the sound of the piano has a regularly
Buirs-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 modem 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 Bev. Mr Macdonald, and to
Messrs Grow, Marshall, and 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.

NIGHBAN DONN NA BUAILE.*

A nighean donn na buaile. Brown-haired maiden of the fold,

a ni'-en donn na bn-ayle

G€k bheil an gluasad farasda, Whose movements are so graceful,

ga vqrl an gla-as-ad iaraada

* FoT the melody of " Nighean Donn na Buaile/* and many otihen, I am indebted to Mn MacdoneU,
Keppoch, whoM exquisite taete for Gaelic musio worthily represents the genius of the House of Eeppoch,
which has been so long the residence of music, poetxy, 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 £sToured me, but for the unwearied kindness with which they consulted my wishes, and cheer-
foUy met the incteasing demands their possession of the same sets of the melodies with which I was
acquainted in my youth, made mo Yentaxo to make on their indulgence ; and I beg their aoceptanoe of
my liBeei* and giateAU thanks.

150

THE UUSIO

Thug mi gaol ro-bhuan dhut

hag mi gaol ro-ya-ajn jut

Nach dian le cruidh-chas meathachadh.

naoh di-an le oniy'-chas me'-a-cha'
Mheall n mi le d' shugradh,

veil a mi le d' hn-gra'

Le d' bhriodal is le d' chiune ;
le d' vri-dal is le d* chi-n-ne

Lub u mi mar iuran, —

lab a mi mar i-a-ran

Cha duchas a bhi fallain dhomh.
cfaa da-chas a vi fidlayn joy

Do chul doD, maiseach ordail,

do cbol doa majBh-aoh ordajl

Gu bachlach, boidheach, camaga^h ;
ga bach-lach boy-ech oama-gach

T-aghaidh flathail, comhnard,

ta'-ay' fla'-ayl cov-nard

Mar itean loin do mhalaichean ;

mar iten lojn do yal-aych-en

Do shuillean gorma miogach,

do hajll-en gorma mi-gaoh

Boisg fhada cumail dionn orr ;
fojBg ada camajl dionn ozr

Do bheulan meachair maoth-dhearg ;

do yeylan me-chayr mao'-yerag

Do ghruaidh mar chaoran mheaganaD.

do yrn-ay' mar ehaoran yeng-an-an

Mar reul a measg an t-Bhluaighe u,

mar re-ol a me-asg an da-ay a

Nam glaasad a chum lionalaidh ;
pa m glu-a-Bad a cham tinal-ay'

Tha trailleachd a toirt buaidh,

ba tayll-echd a toyrt ba-ay'

Air each uille an snuadh 's an ceanaltas ;

ayr each nylle an mu-a' san oenaltas
Do chiochan, mingeal, arda,

do ohi-o*6ban min-yel ard-a

Fo sgaile sroil a deahradh ;

fo Bgayle sroyl a del-ra'

'S mar eala snamh air Baile,

smar ella snav ayr aayle

Tha ceumaibh graidh na h-ainnire.
ha oeym-ayy gray' na haynnire

0' d' bheul gur binn hig orain,
o' d' yeyl gnr binn lug or-ayn

Manran, ceol, is ceilerean.
man-ran oe-ol ia oeyleren

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 OLANS.

151

Gar binne leom do chomhiadh

gor binne k-em do ohov-ra'

Na'n smeoil a *m bar na meanganan.

nan ame-oyl am bar na mengaoan

0*n chnir mi 'n tos ort eolas,

00 diiijr mi Hi toB ort e-o-laa

Gn'n d'thng mi gaol cbo mor ort,

gun dog mi gad oho mor ort

Mar fbaidh mi a ri phosadb,

mar faif mi u ri fosa'

Ga*n cair do bhroD fo'n talamh mL

gnn cayr do vroo fon talav mi

Sweeter to me is thy conversation

Than the thrash on the topmost
branchea

Since I first made thy acqaaintance.

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 Buaidh, (Mary the Daughter of Bed Alexander,)
&t)m 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
moBt exquisite remains of our sixteenth century poems, without excepting those
of the Piobaire Dall 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 bom in the Island of Harris,
about the beginning of the sixteenth century.

CUMHA HHIO LEOID.

'S trom a mulad a shugh
8 trom a mulad a Imy

'M aiteas, 'm aille, 's mo lugh ;

maytee mxyXh 'a mo la'

'S trie snithe bho'm shuil

*8 tiic 8iii'-^ vom hajl

A tnitam gu dlu ;
a tnytam ga dla

Chail mi altraman m' iuil,

cfaayl mi altmman mi-oyl

Fear deacidh mo chiuil ;
fer dec-ay' mo chi-ojrl

Ou mire na muim cha teid mi.

go mii^ na muyni cha teyd mi

Si'n fhras nach ciain,

sin raa naoh d-ajn

A chreach air muir,

a chreoh ajr mnyr

A ^hiac air siuil,

a h-rac ayr n-nyl
Sa bhrist air stiuir,

sa Trist ajr iti-njrr

Ib cairt air iuil,
ia cayrt ayr i-nyl

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 cnil,

sayr tftjc^ cajl

Bha again san Dun eibhinn.

ya agen san dan ey-vlnn

THE MUSIC

The Stay at oar bark,
We bad at the Dan of joy.

Mo mhisneach 's mo tbreoir,
mo Tuneoh 's mo h-re-oyr

Fo thasgadh a bhord,

fo hasg-a' a Tord

Sar mhac mhic Leoid
sar Tao vie le-oyd

Na'm bratach sroil,

nam biatach srojl

Bha fial le or,
▼a fi-al le or

'S bu bhinne sgeoil

'a ba Tiun^ age-ojl

Na clarsach is ceol Erin.

na olar-Mch is oe-d ejr-rin

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

Than 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 fendal
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 chie& 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 Olanranald'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, Man received a pension from her chief, Sir Norman Macleod, and lived
in compcSftiti^e wealth. Her house was always open to, and formed t^e 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 Mari in the more inaccessible island of Scarba;
exacting from her, at the same time, a promise that she would compose no
more orotn, 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,
DO 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,

TEA MI 'm SHUIDHE AIR AN TULAICH.— 1 AM SITTING ON THE HEIGHT.

Tha mi 'm shuidhe air tulaich, I am sitting on an eminence,

ha mrm huy' ayr tulaych

Fo mhulad 's fo imecheist. In sorrow and perplexity,

fo Yolad' sfo ime-cheyst

A coimhead air Isla, Gazing at Islay,

a ooyv-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 naoh do haoyl mi expect

Gu *a caochladh air m aimsir My condition would be so changed

go 'a caochla' ayr m^aymeair

'S gu 'n Aighinn an taobh so. As to make me come in this direction,

'sgon tig-inna n taov 00

A dh-amharc lura a Sgarba. To look at Jura from Scarba.

a yav-aro i-ora a soaraba

FmtL—l h-urabh 0, i horinn 0, The object of the Gaelic chorus

i hu-rav o i horinn (which in this instance may be con-

I h-urabh 0, i horinn ; sidered as a corranach, and is untrans-

I hn-rav i horinn lateable) was to make the audience

I hu-uirabh 0, i-hogaidh ho ro, realize the emotions the song was

i hu-ray o i-hogay' ho ro . . -x i. 1 • at.

® ^ meant to excite, by making them

Hi ri-rithibh 0, jag 0. ^j^^ ^^^ j^^ ^^lq singing. The songs

mtended 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 joined
by means of bonnets and scarfs, which they 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 leaves no doubt on my mind that the

u

154

THE MUSIC

Draid system of cultiyating the hearts of the people by meaus of poetiy and
music, was bfinitely superior, in so far as the masses were concerDed, to a
lettered education.

With these remarks, I submit to the reader one or two more yeises 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,

ga 'n dig-inn an taov ao

A dh-amharc lura a Scarba !

a yayaro i-ura a soaraba

Thoir mo shoraidh do'n dnthaich,

hojr mo horay' do*n dn-'ajoh

Tha fo dhubhar nan garbh-bheunn,

ha fo TQvar nan gEurv-veyxm

6u Shir Tormaid ur ailleal,
gn dr toro-mayd or ajllel

Fhuair ceannais air armailt ;
h-n-ajr oennas ayr ann-ayh

'S gu'n caint ann 's gach fearann*

a gu*n oaynt anns gach ferrann,
Gu*m b-airidh fear t-ainm air.

ga^m bayr-i' fer taynim ayr

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 d
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.

Gu'n caint ann *s gach fearann,

ga'n caynt anna gaoh ferrann

Gu 'm b-airidh fear t-ainm air :
ga 'm b-ayri' fer t-aynim ayr

Fear do cheille do ghliocais,

fer to oheyll^ do yli-ocayBh

Do mhisnich do mheamneadh,
do Tianich do vemene'

Do chruadail do ghaisge,

do chro-atayl do yoysge

Do dhreachadh 's do dhealbha,
do yrech-a' a do yel-ava

Is t-olachd is t-uaisle,
18 tolac is t-n-ayale

Gha bu shuarach ri leanamhuin.
cha bu hu-a-racb ri lena-ynyn

Hi iurabh, eta

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 witboat quoting a verse or two of the ^^ croon,
or chaunt : —

AN CKONAN. — THS OBOON.

Gu don turaideach ard,

gn dun tnrajdaoh ard

Am bidh tnnaidh nam bard,

am bt' tmMf nam bard

'S na fillidh 's binn dain,

a na filli' a binn dayn

'S na'n cupaichean Ian,

a nan oapayohen lann

Aig ol slainte mo ghraidh, Tormaid.

njg ol alajnt^ mo yray' tonnajd

Aig ol, eta
B'e sin arcs nach crion,

b'e ain aros nadi ori-on

Am biadh gandch na 'm piob,

am bi' garajch na *m pi-ob

'S nan clarsach a stridh,

a nan daraaoh a atri'

Is dearsa na 'm pios,

18 dersa na 'm pi-oa
Air in strachdadh, le fion,

ajr in straca' le fi-on

Ni soils' ann an ghniomh or-<^eard.

ni soylah ann an gni-oy or-oherd

Ni, etc.

B'e do dhnchas 's do dhual,
be do jnchaa s do yn-al

Bhi gu fantalach bnain,

yi gu fimtalaoh bn-ayn

Ann an carraid 's an cruadhas ;

ann an oairayt a an cni-a'as

Qsrg a profinachadh sluaigh ;

garag a proa-naoha' slu-ay'

Baighael am bnaidh ;

bay'el am bnay'

Mosglach an uair foimeart.
moeglaoh an a-ajrr fojrrnert

Mosglach, eta

Leansa, 's na treig,
lenaa a na tieyg

Cleachda is beus,
dechda' ia beya

To the castle tnrreted, 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,

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,
Badiant in the work of the goldsmiths.

Badiant, etc.
It is thy native and hereditary right
To be patient, stedfast,
In extreme conflicts ;
Fierce when excitmg 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 ;

tajtem gu lejr

Macanta seamh,

maoanta sejr

Pailt ri luchd theud,
pajit ri lao heyd

Ghaigeal an gleus,
gay^ an gleys

Neartmhor an deigh torachd.
nertvor an dej torao

Neartmhor, etc.

Of thy race, unfailingly ;
Modest and mild,
Liberal to the tunefiil profession.
Heroic in deeds,

Strong in the pursuit of spoilers.
Strong, etc.

I cannot aflford 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.-

Beir an t-shoraigh so bh-uam

beyr an to-ray' so vn-am

Gu talla nan cuach,

ga talla nan cn-aoh

Far'm bi tathaich nan truadh daimhail. —

fiir'm bi ta'-ayoh nan tru-a' dajT-ajl

Far, etc.
Thun an taighe nach gann,

hnn an tay'-e nach gann

Fo'n leathad ad thall,
fo*n le'-ad ad hall

Far bheil aighear is ceann mo mhanrain.

far veyl aj'-er it oenn mo van-rayn

Far, etc.
Tormaid, mo ruin,

tor-mayd mo myn

Ollaghaireach u,

oUa-yayr-eoh n

Foirmeil o thus t-abhaisi — Foirmeil, etc.

fojr-mejl o hns tav-ajit

Cha'n 'eil cleachdadh bheil bri^h
cha'n ejl deo-a' yeyl bn'

Gaisge na gniamh
gaysg-e na gni-av

Nach eil aigneadh mo ghaoil Ian deth. —

nach eyl ayg-ne' mo jaoyl Ian de'

Nach, etc.

■THE VOICB OF SILENCE.

Bear this salute from me

To the hall of (social) cups,

Where the needy find a friendly
welcome. —
Where, etc.

To the house where there is no
scarcity,

Under the opposite declivity,

Where dwells my delight, the inspirer
of my minstrelsy.—
Where, etc.

Norman, beloved.

Learned art thou.

And energetic in thy every action.—
And, etc.

There is nothing excellent

That is not inherent in his mind

Or realized in his actiona —
Or, etc.

OF THE HIGHLAND CLANS.

157

Ann an treine san lugb,

ann an treyDe san la'

Ann an centaidh 's an cliu,

ann an oej-taj' 'a an di-n

Ann am feile *s an gnuis naire.-
ann am fejle aan gnuya nayr^

-Ann, etc.

Ann an gaisge 's an cial,

ann an gaya-ge aan d-al

Ann am pailte neo-chrion,
ann am payl-te ne-OHsbri-on

Ann a maise 'sa migh ailleachd.- Ann, etc.

ann a mayaa aa mi-a' ayll-ec

Ann an cmadal 's an toil,

ann an oni-a-dal aan toyl

Ann am buaidh thoirt air sgoil,
ann am bn-ay' hoyrt ayr agoyl

Ann an naisle gu'n chion caileachd. —

ann an n-ayale gnn ohi-on oayl*eo

Ann, etc.
Fhuair n fortan Dhia

hn-ayr a fortan o yi-a

Ben bu shocraiche cial,

ben bn hoc-rayoh-e d-al

Si gu foisteanach iSal narach. — Si, etc.

a gn fbyat-en-aoh fi-al naraob

'S bheil cannaich is fin,

^1 Teyl oannayoh la fi-n

Gu'n sgaile na gnuis,

gnn agayle na gnuya

Suairce, ioriosail, cinin, cairdeil —

sn-aypoe ir-ia-al d-uyn cayr-deyl

Suairce, etc.
I gun dolaidh fo'n ghrein,

i gnn dol-ay' fon yreyn

Gu toileachadh trend ;

gn toyl-eoh-adh treyd

8a h-olachd a reir ban-rigk — Sa, etc.

aa hol-ao a reyr ban-ri'

'8 trie a riaraich n cuilm,

Bfcrio ari-ar-ayoh u cnylem

Gun trioblaid, gnn tuilg,

gun tri-o-blayd gnn tnylig

A nighean tainist Dun-tuilm, slan leat.—

a ni'-en tayniat dun-tnylfim slan le-at

A nighean, etc.

Daring, strength,

Elegance, pure fame,

Hospitality unpretending. —
Hospitality, etc.

Warriorism, wisdom,
Social liberality,

*

Grace, beauty. — Grace, etc.

Hardihood, activity,

The conquest of knowledge,

High breeding, without eflfeminacy.-
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.—
AflEable, 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 fuBsiness, without confusion,

Daughter of the tainister of Duntuilm,
fare-thee-welL— Daughter, etc.

158

THE HUSIC

My quotations from Mari Nigbean Alisdair Buaidh have already trenched on
the space intended for other bards, her equab 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 nomeroos class d[
triads that seem to have been such favourites with the bards.

GUB MULADACH TEA HL — B0BB0WFX7L AH I.

Thy delight was swift dogs

and

Leat bu mheanach coin luthmhor

let ba yi-anaoh oojn la'vor

Dhol a shiubhal nan stuc-bheinn,

70I a hi-H-yal nan stao-veynn

'Sa gunna nach diulta ri ord, —
sa gnnna nach di-olta ri oid

Leat, etcw
Si do lamh nach robh tuisleach

a do lay nach iot tnjBhleoh

Dhol a chaitheamh a chuspair,
70I a chay'-ev a chnspayr

Le d' bhoghadh caol ruiteach deo neoil.
le d* to' -a' caol roTtech de-o ne-oyi

Si, etc.
Olac chrom air do shliosaid,

glao chrom ayr do h-li-asayd

Do shaighdean snaighte gu'n iaradh,

do bay'-den anay'te gun i-ar-a'

'M bar dosrach le sgiathain an fheoin.* —

'm bar doeraoh le sgi-a'-ayn an e-oyn

Glac, etc.
Bhiodh ceir ris na crannaibh,

vi' c^ ris na crann-ayv

Bu neo-eisleanach tarruinn, ,

ba neo-eyalenech tarraynn

Noir a leamadh an taifead d' mheoir. —
noyr a lem-a' an tayf-ed od* ye-oyr

Bhiodh, eta
Noir a leigte bho d* laimh i,

noyr a leygte to d* layv i

Cha bhiodh oirleach gu'n bhathadh

oha yi' oyr-ledi gnn va'-a'

Eader corran a gaine sa ^n smeoim. —

eder corran a gayn^ san sme-oym

Nair, etc.
Nam dhuit tighinn gu d' bhaille,

nam yayt ti'-mn ga d' vaylle

peaked

Among the rough
mountains.

And the gun that denies not the
hammer, (never misses fire.)

Thy, etc.
Thy hand is not erring

In the competition (of archery,)

With ihy bow slender, ruddy, beanti-
fuL— Thy, etc.

The bending quiver on thy hip.

Of arrows polished and straight.

Their tops rough with the wing of
the eagle. — The, etc.

The waxed shaft

Is not dubious in its flight

When the bow-string springs from
thy fingers. — The, etc.

When released from thy hand,

Not an inch remains uninserted

Between the barbed point and the
cleft. — When, etc.

On coming to thy residence.

* The eagle is, par ezcellenoe, called ** eoin,** or ** flar^ian,'*— the bhrd, or true bird,— in (Gaelic poetry.
Iti other name if deecriptiYe, ** eolaire ;" being compounded of the roots " eol, "or ** iul/* knowledge, and
** athar," pronounced a'-«r, sky.

OF THB HIQHLAND CLANS. 159

'S du bu tighearnail gabhail, Chief-like is thy hospitality,

^8 da ba ti'-ernajl g^vayl

Noir bhiodh tionneal gach caraid mu As gathers every friend around thy

noyr vi' ti-o-nd gach oarayd iinu table. — On, etc.

d' bhord. — ^Nan, eta
d' vord

Gu'm biodh farum air thaileasg, There will be the rattling of back-

gum K' fiumm ayr haylesg gammon,

Agus fnim air a chlarsaich, And the sound of the harp,

agnsfii-aymayr a chlanaych ^'

Mur bu dhuchas do shar-mhac Mhic Leoid. As hereditary (custom was) of the sur-
iDor ba yafOias do har-yao vio le-oyd passing son of Leod.— There, etc.

Gu'm, etc.

Se bu chleachda na dhei^h sin The custom was afterwards

80 ba ohleo-a na yey' sin

Bhi seinn uir-sgeul na Feinne, To sing the new tales of the Fin-

vi sheynn nyr-sgeyl na feynnfe galians,

Is eachdraidh graigh cheir-ghil nan And anecdotes of wild adventures

ia eeh-ray' gray cheyr-yil nan after the race of white badges,

crochd. — Se, eta (the deer.) — The, etc.

croc

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 Lom, 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 and production of Iain Lom 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 Lom 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 MD810

the bard in a dongeoD, 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 varioos 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 assame, —
placed it between his legs, — and snatching the golden skewer which fasteoed 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 ocmcilitate 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 Graelic
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 Lom
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 CLAMB.

161

MOCH 'S HI 'a SIBIDH 8A HHADUINN. — AS I AB08S IN THE HOBNING.

On rising in the morning,

Moch 's mi 'g eiridh sa mhaduinn,

mooh 's mi gejri' sa vadaymi

'S trom euslainteach m' aigne,
's trom ejs-layn-tech majgne

'O nach t-eibh iad mi'n caidreamh nam Since they ^ did not call me to the

o nach teyv i-ad min oaydrev nam

braithrean. — nach, etc
braj^ren

Heavy and sorrowful was my mind,

fellowship of the brethren. —
Since, etc.

Leom is aith-ghearr a cheillidh

le-om is ay'-yerr a cheyll-i'

Binneas mar ris an t-Sheumas,*

rinnes mar ris an teymas
His 'n do dhealaich mi'n de moch la

ris *n do yel-aych min de moch la

caisge. — Bis, etc,
Dia na stiuir air an darach

di-a na ati-nyr ayr an daradi

A dh-f halbh air tus an t^hiuil mhara,

a yalv ayr toa an ti-uyl vara

Seal mu'n tug i cheud bhoinne de
ael mnn tog i cheyd voynnd de

Ihraghadh. — Seal, etc.
tia'-a'

Qe Ve am cuir a choiro e,
ge be am cayr a choyrc e

*S mi nach tille o stoc uat,

'a mi naoh tUle o stoc n*at

'S ann a shuidhinn an toiseach do bhata.

'a ann a hny'-inn an toys-eeh do vata

'S ann, etc.
Nuair bhiodh each cuir ri gniamhadh,

nn-ayr vi'-o each cuyr ri gni-a-va'

Bhiodh mo chuidsa dheth diomhain,

vi-o' mo chuyd-sa ye' di-o-vayn

'G ol na'n gucagan fion air a faradh.
gol nan guc-ag-an fi-on ayr a fera'

'G ol, etc.
An Dubh-chnoideartach riabhach,

an dav-chnoydertach ri-a-vach

Luchdmhor ardghuailleach dhionar,
luc-yor ard-yu-aylleoh yi-onar

Too short has been the time

I remained on my visit to James,*

With whom I parted yesterday, on
the morning of Easter-Sunday. —
With, etc.

May God guide the helm of the oak
That sailed on the sea,
Before it began to ebb. —
Before, etc.

Although it had been seed-time,
I would not have returned bom thee ;
I should sit in the bow of thy boat—

I should sit, etc.
When, the rest would be in action,
My employment would be a pastime,
Drinking bumpers of wine in the cabin.

Drinking, etc.
The Duv-cnoydertach, swarthy.
Broad, high-shouldered, tight,

* The Highland chief was always addreesed hy hia Chmtian name by hia own clanamen.

X

162

THE MUSIC

'S ioma sleagh is lann iaruinn na h-earach. With many spears and iron blades in

'ai-o-mo ale-a' is lann i-aruyn na her-ach [j^r bosom.

'S ioma, etc. With, etc.

Cha b'e marcaich na'n steudain It is not the rider of steeds

oh a be marc-aych naa steydayn

A bhuineadh geal reis ort, That would gain the racing bet of

a vny-ne' gel reye ort thee,

Noir is ard do shiuil bhreid-gheal air When thou spreadest thy curch-white*

nojr ia ard do hi-uyl vreyd-yel ayr sails over the sea. —

saile. — Noir, etc. When, etc.

aayle

Noir is ard do shiul bhronnach When high are the bellying sails

noyr ia ard do hi-nyl Yronuach

Air cuan meamnach nan dronng, Over the ridges of the proud ocean,

ayr ca-an memenach naa dronnag

'S tuinn uaibhreach a stealladh ma And numerous waves are spouting

'a tuynn n-ayvrech a steUa' ma beneath the keel. —

h-erach. — 'S tiunn, etc. And, etc.

herach

Gur mor mo chion fein ort Great is my love to thee,

gar mor mo chi-on feyn ort

Car an cuirin an ceil e, Though I will not make a di^lay

car an cayrin an oeyl e of it

Mhic an fhir leis an eiridh na Braigh'ich. Son of the man with whom the

vie an ir leya an eyri' na bray'-ich Breabreans would rise (in arms.)

Mhic, etc. Son, etc.

Ceist na'm ban 'o Lochtreig u Beloved of thQ women of Lochtreig

oeyat nam ban o looh-treyg n

'S 'o Strath-Oissian nan reidhlean. And Strath-Ossian of pleasant

'a Btra'-oyaai-an nan rey'len meadows,

Gheibhtebroicagusfeidhairamf-aruinn. Who have badgers and deer in their

yeyv-te broyc agoa fey' ayr am fa-rnynn pantries. —

Gheibhte, etc. Wno, etc.

Dh-eireadh buidhean 'o Buaidh leat, A band would arise with thee from

yeyre' buy'-cn o ni-ay' let Roy,

A lubas iudhar mu'n guaillean. With the bent yew on their shoulders,

a labaa i-a'-ar mon ga-ayllen

'S 'o bhruighean fuar Cham-na-Iairge. — And from the cold hills of Cam-na-

*fl o vruy'-cn fu-ar cham-na-layrge lairge. —

'S 'o, etc. And, etc.

Dream eile dhe d' chinnidh, — Another tribe of the clan, —

drem eyle ye d* chinne'

Clann Iain 'o 'n Innean, The Clan-Iain from Innin (the anvil,)

clann i-ayn on innen

* See note page 93.

OF THE HIGHLAND CLANS.

163

'Siadarachfldhsa'niomairtneosgathach. They are the men that would go into

8i-ad a raoh-a' aan imayrt ne-o aga'-ach the conflict feai'lessly. —

'S iad, etc. Who, etc.

'S ioma oganach treubhach,

si-oma ogaa-aoh treyv-ach

'S glac-chrom air cul sgeith air,
's giac-chrom ayr cul sgej' ayr

Thig a stigh ort o shleibh Meal-na-larig.

big a 8ti ort o h-hyv mel-na-larig

Thig, etc.
'S iad a fhreagradh an t-eibheidh

ffl-ad a h-reg-ra' an teyvey'

Gu'n eagal, gu'n eislean,

gun egal gun eys-len

Noir a thogaer gu euchd do chroistaraidh.

Doyr a hogar gu eyo do chroyB-taray'

Noir, etc.

Many a youthful hero,

With the quiver behind his shield,

Will come to thee from the wings of
Mel-na-larig. —
Will, etc.

That would answer thv call

Without fear, without ailment,

When thou risest the fiery cross for
deeds illustrious. —
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 Graelic 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 and 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 Lom, 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 Lom
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 efibrts 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. I will quote the chorus in
Gaelic, but will not attempt to render it into English.

164

THE MUSIC

'Nam eridh sa mhaduinn,

nam eri' aa vad-ajrnn

Gur beg m-aitea 's mo shugradh,

gnr beg m-aytea 's mo hugra'

Bho'n dh-f halbh Uachdaran fearael,

▼on yalv n-aoh-anm ferel

Gblinne-garraidh air ghiulan ;

jlinne-garray' ayr yi-olan

'S ami am flaitbeas na slainte,
sann am flay'-es na alaynte

Tba ceannart aillidb na dutbcbadb,

ha oennart aylli' na dn'-cha'

Sar Cboiroealair soilleur,

sar choyrnel-ayr soylleyr

Nach robb foilleal do'n chrun u.

nach rov foyllel don ohnm n

Fonn: —
'S cianael trom agas fada,

's ot-an-d trom agns fada

'S cianael fada mo bbron,

'fl ci-an-ei &da mo yron

O'n la charadb gu b-iosal,
on la cfaara' gu hi-o-sal

Do pbersa phriesail fo'n fboid,

do fersa fri-seyl fon oyd

Tba mo cbridbsa ciairte,

ha mo cri'-sa ci-nyrt^

Cba dean mi sngradb ri*m bheo,

cha de-an mi Bn-gra' rim ve-o

0*n db-fbalbb ceannart nan uaislean
on yaly oennart nan n-ayalen

Oigbie dnalcbais na Troim.

oyie dn-al-cbays na troym

'S mairg a tharladb roi d' dbaoine,

8 mayrg a haria' roy d ya-oynd

Noir thagte fraoch ri do bhartaich,

noyr hag-te fra-ooh ri do yra-tayoh

Ph-eireadb staadh an clar t-aodainn,

yeyre' sta-a' an dar t-aod-ayn

Le neart feirge is gaisge ;

le nert feyreg^ is gaysgd

Sad a pbearsa neo sgatbacb,
Bod a fena neo sga'-ach

A gbnnis ba bhlaithidb gu'n taise,
a ynnys bn vlay'-i' gan tayee

Wben in tbe morning I arose.
Pleasure was not my aim.
Is tbere no end to Albin's woes,
To deatbs 'mong men of fiEune?
Tbe manly leader of tbe race
Wbo own the Garrian-glen,
Is off to bis last resting-place,
Borne bigb by sorrowing men,-
Tbe cbieftain lofty, true, and bold,
Wbo never bis allegiance sold.

Not safe were tbey wbo rasbly met
Tby warriors stem and true,
Wben tbe proud beather-badge was

set
In all tbeir bonnets blue ;
Wben tby brave banner waved on

bigb,
And thou thyself wert seen,
With battle kindling in thine eye,
To draw thy broadnsword keen ;—
Then, then 'twas time for Albin's

foes

OF THB HIGHLAND CLANS.

165

Ga 'm bi maoim air do naimlidean,

gnm bi ma-oym ajr do nayv-den •

Noir ni u 'n spamte€u;h a ghlachadh.
uoyr ni a n spayn-teoh a ylaac-a'

Ho, etc.
Fhuair u 'n cliu sin o' thoiseach,

hu-ajr a 'n di-o sin a hojseob

'S cha *n olc e ri innseadh,

8 chan olc e ri innae'

Craobh a cosgairt sa bhlair u,

craoy a ooegairt sa vlayr u

Nach gathadh sga roi lac phicean ;

nach gava' sga roj luo fio-en

Na roi 'shaighdearean deargadh,

na roy hay^-deran de-arg-a'

Ged a b*armailtean righ iad,
ged a bar-maylten ri' i-ad

Le'n ceannardan fuileach,

lea oennardan fbylach

'S le'n gannaichean cinnteach. — Ho, etc.

8 len ganna-ohaii oiimteoh
Gur ainmeul do shinnsridh,

gnr ayninel do hinns^ri'

Ri innsidh 's ri shlainneadh,

ri iim-ae' s ri h-loynna'

'S tu oighre an larl Isleaich,

s tQ oy're an i-arl i-lich

Nact togadh cis an cuis f hoilleil,

nsch toga' cu an cays oylleyl

Marcaich ard nan steud lughmhar,

marc-aych ard nan stcyd lu'-var

Ceannard shninn nan lann soilleir,

cennard hnynn nan lann soyUeyr

Gaisgaich threinn an cruaidh-ghabhadh,
gays-gaych hreynn an crn-ay'-yava

Le'm b-annea stail na airm-theine.

lem bannaa stayl na ayrm-heyn4

Ho, etc.
'8 goirt an t-earcal a thachair,

8 goyrt an teroal a hacb-ayr

0*n chaidh an iomairt so tnadhal,
o*D chay' an i-o-mayrt bo tn-a'-al

To fly their fierce, their deadly
blows.

That praise, that early praise was

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 voUies

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 Albinos 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.

Since some in battle* have forgot
How their brave fathers plied their

steel.
No refuge has our country got

* Sbireff-muir.

166

THE MUSIC

0' latba blar sliabh an t-Shiarradh,

U'-a blar 8li-av an hirra'

Chail air cinneadh an uaislean,

chajl ayr cinne' an u-ajslen

6ed a sheasaibh Clanndombnuill,

ged a hes-ayy dann-dov-nnyll
Mar bu cboir dhaoibh 8a chruadal,

mar ba choyr yoyv sa chm-a-dal

Chail sinD roghuinn nan cairdean,

chayl sinn ro'-iann nan cayr-den

An fheul ard 's i gun truailleadh. — Ho,

an nyl ard b i gun tm-aylle'

From ruthless Fortune's crushing wheel,
Although Clanndonnill on that day,
As ever, clothed them with renown ;
Our heroes have been toede 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 ohiechd mar av-ayst an n-aylae

Triadh Ghlinn-garraidh nam bradan,

tri-a' ylinn-garray' nam bradan

'S caibtein smachdail na buaidhean,

B cayb-teyn Bmaohd-ayl na bu-ay-en

Domhnul morchuiseach Shleibhte,
dovnnl mor-chuysech leyv-te'

Fear na ceile 's na suairce,

for na oeyle b na su-ayrce
Chabhith gu brath aig Clann-dhomhnuill,

cha vi' gu bra' ayg clann-yov-nuyll

Triuir chonn-spunn cho cruaidh riu. — Ho, etc.

tri-uyr chonn-spunn cho cruaidh riu

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.

Noir threig each an cuid fearainn,

noyr h-reyg each an ouyd fer-aynn

'S nach d-f ban iad san rioghachd,

B 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,

8 cha b-ann le Bgaynnel a bin i-ad

Chuir iad fuaradh na froyse,

chuyr i-ad fu-a-ra' na ' froya^

Seach air dorsaibh gar dianadh ;

sech ayr dor-sayv gar di-an-a'

Na flaith bu chiunne na maighdeann,

na flay bu chi-uyn^ na may-deun

'S bu ghairge nan lasair. — Ho, etc.
B bu yayrg-e nan las-ayr

When other chiefs fled from their

lands,
Our heroes, stern and unsubdued,
Rallied 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 Lom
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
Lom, 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 stem 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 Lom, 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.

Slan fo d' thrial, a Chiarain Mhabaich,

dan fo d' li-all a obi-aren vab-ajoh
Shiubhlas sliabh gu'n bhiadh gu'n chadal,

hi-avlas sli-av gun vi-a' gon cha-dal

Fraoch fo d' shin, gu'n bhosd, gu'n

fraoch fod hin gnn yoad gan

bhagradh.

vagra'

Chuir u ceo fo'n roisheal ladam'.

chayr n oe-o fon roysel la-dam

Diciadain chai e na uidheam

di-ci-a-deii chay e na nj'em

Le bhrataich ard do ghillean dubha.

le Tratych ard do yillen duva

Sgriob Ghilleaspuig ruaidh a Uist

8gri-ob yillespeyg ra-ay' a nyst

Bhuail e meal an ceann na h-uidhe.

Ta-ayl e mel an oeon na bny'

Cha d' iar e bata na long dharaich
cha di-ar e TatA na long yar-aych

Bi am geamhraidh an tus na gaillean.

ri am ge-av-ri' an tna na gayllen

An triubheas teann feadh bheann is

an tri-n-Tes tenn fe-a' venn is

bhealach,
Telach

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.

8ttt b-6-trom boon ge trom do Tellag
A Sheumais nan tur 's Da*m baideal,

a heymajsh nan tar 'b nam bajdel

Gheibhluchd muirne cuirm a t-aitreabh ;

yejy lac mnyrn^ oajrm a tajtrev

Ged do rinD n 'n duiseal cadail,

ged do rinn a 'n daj-sel oadajl

'S eibhinn leom do dfausgadh maiduinn.

'a eyvinn le-om do jusga' majdajnn

Light were thy footsteps though great
thy might.

James of towers and battlements,

Thy tuneful race will in the hall Sod
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 amcmg
those who understood his language than Dryden. The following is a free
imitation of one specimen of his poems on political subjects. The imitatioD is
so free as not to pay the least attention to die order of words and lines; but it
is true to his thoughts and feelings, and makes him express them in the sane
style and spirit in English as in the Gkelic. I cannot afford space for the
original, but versions of it, less or more correct, will be found in every ooUectioD
of (laelic poetry.

8 MI so AIR M UILLIN. — ON CBOWKING OHABLES THE SECOIH).

Upon my elbow calmly leaning, Wtich, through the royal bard im-

Within the lovely mountain glen, parted,

My mind indulged itself in dreaming Should warn him to respect the

Of the strange deeds and lives of men ! laws ;

And wherefore should my voice be silent,
While my heart bounds with pride
and joy,

ilor tell the Whigs, the base and violent,
Their greedy, rampant reign is bye ?

Their reign who fidsely 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,

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.

Eemember, Charles Stuart, ever,
The lesson taught thee by the past,

Forgetting truth and justice never,
If thou wouldst that thy reign ma;
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.

169

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 h^ve made their road so even,

Dismiss them while accounts are

square

f

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.

i

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 Lom kept a poetical journal of
Dundee's route from Keppoch to Killiecrankie, of which the following is an
imitation — a tnie 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 T 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 MABSA.

'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.

— IT IS TIME TO MARCH.

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?

Y

170

THE MUSIC

Would Ualan fierce, or royal Bruce,

Find pastime among woods and wolds.
And yield the base usurper truce
That seized, and still their country
holds ?
Would great Mac-CoUa 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, subdufe the wrong,

And earn hereditary fame,
Begardless 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 tomouth the highconmiand,

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, ar<j
drawn.

Lochlochy's camp we leave behind,

Where high to Heaven we Ruaed
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 firet-
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 ft*

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 hisproud andmettled 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 had be tospare ;
But stood aU foaming and distressed,

And gasping for the mountain air.
Then laughed the gay, the gallant
Graham,

As lightly on his feet he sprung,
** Come, Fm 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 and rocks 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 Athole 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 stem 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 Bomans 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 stem 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 and glens, resound again I

172

THE MUSIC

Then, oh then was felt and seen

The potence of our dear claymores,
When heads, legs, arms, cut ofif 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 chiefthatcouldourcause sustain,

When, in the hour of triumph, sought,
Was found among a heap of slain!

The chief whose prestige and who^e
power

Were only equalled by his mmd,
And who, alas, in danger's hour,

Has no successor left behind !
His eric would not be complete,

Though all who thrive byAlbin'swoe
On a funereal pile were set,

Or hung suspended from a taw.

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 Boo-ayr me leba'

B'annsa cadal air fraoch,

bannsa cadal ayr firaoch

Ann an lagan beag uaigneach,

ann an lagan beg n-ayg-neoh

Is bad do'n luachair ri*m thaobh,

is bad don la-a-chayr rim baov

'S noir a dh-eirinn sa mliaduinn,

'fl noyr a yej-rinn sa va-dnynn

Bhi siubhal ghlacagan caol,

yi si-val ylac-ag-an caol

Na hi trial thun na h-Abaid,

na bi tri-al bun na ha-bayd

A dh-eisdeachd glagraich na saor.

a ' yeysd-eo glag-raydi na saor

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.

gleusda,
vu»» vu ,m^wnM* v» gleysda

'S cha'n 'eil feum agam dha,
's cha^n ell feym agam ya

Cha'n 'eil agam cu g*v.^««,,

cba^n ell agam ca gleysda

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 HIOHLAMD 0LAN8.

17!6

Cha suidh mi air bachdan,

cfaA say' mi ajr bac-an

Si faire fada o chach,

ri &7r^ fada o chadi

. Cha leig mi mo ghaothar,

cba lejg mi mo yaor

Ad aghaidh no Mam,

an a'-ay' no mam

*S cha loisgear leam fiidar,

's cba loysgar le-am fiidar

An Gleann-Ruthain gu brath.

an g^emi-ra-a7mi ga bra'

But I encounter sights and smells, ,
That almost stop my breath : —

Would that I were on Buthan's fells,.
Upon my own sweet heath,

m

Graigh mo ghraidhsa a ghraigh ullach,

gray' mo yray'-aa a jray' u-allaoh

Thogadh suae ris na h-aird,

hoga' sa-as ria na hayrd

Dh-itheadh biolair an fhuarain,
yith-a' bilayr an n-ar-ayn

'S le'm bu shuarach an cal,

'a lem ba ha-araoh an oaU

'S trie bba mise mu'n cuairt dhuibh,

strio y& nis^ mun cu-ayrt ynyy

Dh-aineon fuarachd an la,

yap-enn fh-arao an la

'S trie a dh-fhuilig mi cruadal,

stric a ynyl-ig mi om-ad-al

A tialadh chruach air ur sgath.

a ti-a-la' chrn-aoh ayr nr 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 faU,

When slipped at deer or roe,
Whether in corrie, wold, or vale,

To lay the quarry low.

Fear mo ghraidh a'm fear buidhe,

far mo yra-i' am for bay'

Nach dean suidhe aig bord,

nach de-an say' eg bord

Nach iarradh ri cheannach,

nadi i-a-ra' ri ohenn-ach

Pinnt leanna na beoir,

pinnt le-anna na be-oyr

Uisge-beatha math dubailt,
^T^gey-be'-k ma' dn-baylt
Cha'n fhiu leat ri ol,

cha^n i-n let xi oil

B'fhearr leat sugh glan an fhuarain,
b'eiT let Bu' glan an n-areu

An cluain na'm beann mor.

an da-ayn nam 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.

^ .74 THE

-^•ean mo ghraidh a bhean uasal,

ben mo jraj' a ven u-a-sal

Uha nach d'fhuaradh riamh lochd,

jtL nach da-a-ra' ri-ay loo

Kach iarradh mar chlaasaig,

nach i-a-ra' mar chla-a-sajg

Ach lom-ghuallain nan cnoc,

ach lom-ya-alayn nan cnoo

^S nach fuiligeadh an t-sradag,

^8 naoh fa-il-ge' an trad-ag

A lasadh ri corp —
a laa-a' ri corp

Och a Mhoire mo chruaidh-chas,
ooh a Toyre mo ohra-ay'-obas

Nach dh-fhuair mi u nochd.
naoh d-n-ayr mi n noo

MUSIC

The one would scarce excel in speed,

Nor would the other ride
Upon his proud and vaunted steed,

Against Glenibaran'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 oeyl^

'Nam eiridh fo dhriuchd,

nam eyri' fo ymyc

Gha'n fhaigheadh tu beud dha,
ohan ay'-e' tn beyd ya

'S cha bu leir leis ach u,

'b cha ba leyr leys ach n

Sibh an glacaibh a cheile,

sly an glao-ayv a cheyl^

A fior eadeann nan stuc,

a fi-or ed-enn nan Btno

'S an am eiridh na greine,

Ban am eyri' na greyne

Bu gheur leirsinn air sul.

ba yeyr leyrsinn ayr sol

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,

nn-a-ir a hig-e' a fo'-ar

Bu bhinn leom torrunn do chleibh,
ba yinn le-ome tomm do dileyv

Toirt dulan na comhstri,

toyrt dolan na ooy-stri

Air a mhointich chaoin reidh,

ayr a voyntich chaoyn rey'

And while they sing, their hunters gay,

Peering through glen and grove,
With pleasure listen to the lay

That speaks of faithiiil love ;
Then bounding forward, proud and tight.

Each youth lays down his spoil
Before his sweeUieart fond and bright,

And feels her conscious smile.

• Hilk-paiL

i

OF THE HIGHLAND CLANS.

176

Na dol an coinneamh do leannan,

oa dol an ooynnev do leniiaa

Ge bheil sneachda mar cheir,

ge yeyl snechda mar cheyr

Bi sin a bhana-cheilidh bhoidheach,
bi ain a yana-cheyli' voy'eoh

Is etrom moralach ceum.

is e-trom mor-alaoh oeym

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

Afiford 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-bom race,

Of beauteous gait and form,
When after them, in headlong chase.

My Oscar and my Storme
Straineverynerve,andmakethemstrain

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 bum was selected, where a
platform of plaited wattles was erected, on the centre of which the cloth to
be fuDed 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
relaj of generally an equal number, took their position in attendance, supplying
water to sock the cloth, and changing places at intervals with their Mends 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 movementa The sight of so
many merry girls, turning labour into mirth, was exceedingly oiUre and pic-
turesque, and the opportunity of getting a sly peep at them was eagerly sought
by such Highland Tam 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 OHIATACH. — MORAG BEAUTIFUL.

A Mhorag cheataich a chuil dhualaich,

a Yorag chet-ajch a obuyl ^yu-al-ajch

Gur h-e do luaigh a th'air m'aire.

gur he do la-aj' a bajr majre

Fonn. — Beir mi ho Mhorag,

beyr me ho yorag

Ho ro na horo gheallaidh,

ho ro na horo jell-ay'

Beir mi ho Mhorag,
beyr me ho vorag

Mo dh-imich u nun thair chnain oim,

mo yimioh n mm hajre ohn-ayn ojm

Gu 'm bu luadh a thig u dhachaidh.

ga m ba la-a' a big a yach-aj'

Beir, etc.
'S cuimnich thoir leat bannal ghruagach,

8 cnyn-ioh hojrr let bamial jm-a-gacb

Luaigheas an clo ruadh gu daingean.

lu-aj'-ea an do ra-adh gu dayngen

Beir, etc.

Graceful Morag of the curling ringlets,

Thy love is the cause of my solicitude.

Chorus. — Beyr mi ho vorag,

Ho ro na horo yellay,
Beyr mi ho vorag.

If thou art gone from us over the sea.

May thy return be speedy.

Beyr, etc.

Remember to bring with thee a band
of maidens.

Who will tightly fuller the red cloth.

Beyr, etc.

/■

OF THE HIGHLAND CLANS.

177

Gur h-i Morag ghrinn mo ghuamag,

gur hi morag yrinn mo yu-*-n**g

Aig a bheil an cuailean barr-fhionn.

&yg s ▼cy^ '^ oa-ayUen barr-i-oim

Beir, etc.
Do chul bachlagach na dhoalabh,

de chal bach-lag-ach na ju-al-av

Dhalladh e 'n sluagb le lannir.

jiUa' en ala-a' le laynnir

Beir, eta
'S ge nach iarr mi u ri phusadh,

sge nach i-arr mi a ri fd-aa'

Gu 'm be mo run a bbi mar riut

gam be aso ran a yi mar ri-nt

Beir, etc.
'S ma thig u rithist am lubaibh,

gma big a ri'-iat am lab-ajr'

Se an t-eug a ruin ni air sgarradh

86 an teyg a niyn ni ayr agarr-a'

Beir, etc.
Leannaidh mi cho dluth ri d' shailean,

lenn-ay' mi oho dlii' ri d haykn

'S ni baimeach ri sgeir-mara.

8 ni yaymecb ri ageyr-mara

Beir, etc.
Shiabhail mi cian leat air m-eolas,

W-ny-ayl mi d-an let ayr me-o-laa

Agus astar mor air 'm aineal.

agos aatar mor ayr m aynel

Beir, etc.
Gu 'n leanainn u feadh an t-shaoghail,

gn n lenn-aynn n fe' an t-ao'-ayl

Na'n d' thigidh tu ghaoil ga m' f harraid.
nan dige' tn yaoyl ga m arr-ayd

Beir, etc.

Mhorag nan iomadb ciatadh,
▼orag nan i-oma' oi-a-ta'

'S glan a fiaradh thair do mhalaidh.

8 glan a fi-a-ra' hayr do valay

Beir, etc.

Moi-ag 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.

I will adhere to thee as closely
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.

I would follow thee to the extremity

of the worid,
Should thou come, my love, to invite

me.
Beyr, etc.

Morag of many attractions,

Beautiful is the inclination of thy
eye-brows.

Beyr, etc.

z

178

THE MUSIC

Do shuil shiulbhir, shochdrach, mhodhar,

do hajl buyl-vir hoo-raoh yo'-ar

Mhireagach, chomlmard, 's i meallach. —

▼ir-6g-ach choy-nard *b i mellach

Beir, etc.

Thy eye is cheerful, slow, kindly,

Merry, well-shaped, and large.—
Beyr, etc.

Deud cailce shnasda na ribhinn,

deyd oajl-oe hnasda na ri-vinn

Mar dhisinean air an gearradh.—

mar yisineii ayr an gerra'

Beir, etc.

The chalk- white teeth of the queenly
maiden

Are like dice (skilfully) carved.—
Beyr, etc.

A mhaighdeann bhoidheach na'm has
a vay'-denn Toj'-eeh nam bas

caoine,

oaoyne

'S iad cho maoth ri cloimh na h-eala, —

'0 i-ad oho mao' ri dojr na hda

Beir, etc.
'S iomadh oigear a tha'n toir ort

fli-o-ma' oyger a han tojr ort

Eadar Morthir agus Mannuinn. —

edar mor-hir agos mann-njnn

Beir, etc.

BeautiAil maiden of the polished
hands,

(That are) as smooth as the down of
the swan, —
Beyr, etc.

Many are the youths who are after
thee

Between Morir and Mannuynn.—
Beyr, etc.

'S iomadh gaisgeach uasal daicheil,

'a i-o-ma' gajsgeoh n-asal day-ohejl
Nach obadh le'm ghradhsa tarruinn. —

nacb oba' lem yra'-aa tarmynn

Beir, etc.

Many are the warriors high-blooded
and stately

That would not hesitate to draw (Uieir
swords) for my love. —
Beyr, etc

A rachadh le sgiath *s le claidheamh,
a rach-a' le agi-a' ale day'-ev

Air bheag sgath gu bial nan cannan.-
ajr veg sga' ga bi-al nan cannan

Beir, etc.

That would advance with sword and
target.

Without fear, to the muzzle of the
cannon. —
Beyr, etc.

Nach biodh mall a dol an ordugh
nach bi' mall a dol an ordn'

A thoirt a mach do choir a dh-aindeoin. —

a hoyrt a maoh do ohoyr a yayn-de-oyn

Beir, etc.

That would not be slow to fall in,

And vindicate thy right, defyingly.—
Beyr, etc.

'S iomadh armunn lasdail treubhach,

'a i-o-ma' armann laa-dayl treyvach

Ann an Duueidean, am barrail. —

ann an don-eyden am barr-aj4

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,

nan dig-a' ta ri'-ist le dej-ri'

Ga'n dubladh natrenn mn d' bhratich. —

gnn dabla' na treyn ma d* vra-tioh

Beir, eta

Shouldst thou come again with thy
rising,

That double the number of heroes
would surround thy standard. —
Beyr, etc.

Thigeadh da mhile a Sleibhte,
h^-e' da vile a eleyvte

'S reisiamaid a Gleanne-garraidh. —

'a reTB-i-niayd a gleanna-garr-ay'

Beir, etc.

Two thousand would come from Sleat,

And a regiment from Glengarry. —
Beyr, etc.

'S dheanadh gu'n taise leat eiridh,
's yena' gun tayse let eyri'

Do chaibtein fhein, Mac-mhic-Aillean. —

do chayb-tejn heyn mac-vic-ajll-en
Beir, etc.

With thee would rise, without timidity,

Thy own captain, Mac-vic-Aillein. —
Beyr, etc.

Thainig e an tus roi* chach leat,

hajnig e an toe rqy ohaoh let
'S cha'n fhailnich e ma thig u thairis. —

^B cha'n ayl-oioh e ma hig u hay-ns

Beir, etc.

He was the first to join thee before,

And will not fail thee, shouldst thou
come across. —
Beir, etc.

Le suinn Uidhist agus Mhuideart,

le nynn ny-ist ague vny-dert

'S Arasaig dhu-ghorm a bharraich. —

's ara-Bayg yn-yorm a Tarr-aych

Beir, etc.

With the warriors of Dist and Moidart,
And green Arisaig of leafy branches. —
Beyr, etc.

Ghana, Eige, is Mhorthir —

ciuuma eyge is Tor-hir

Do ghaisgeaich chorr do shiol-Aillein.-

do yaysg-aych cborr do hi-ol-ayll-eyn

Beir, etc.

Of Cana, Eig, and Morir —

All the surpassing heroes of the race
of Allan. —
Beyr, etc.

'Nam Shir Alisdair 's Mhontros,

nam hir alia-dayr *8 vontros

Bq bhocain iad do na gallaibh. —

bo Yoc-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. —
gon rov i-ad eK>-laoh ayr lannay?

Beir, 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, eta

180

THE MUSIC

Am Peairt, Cill-Soidh, is Alt-Eireann,

am peayrt dU-aoy' h alt-eyriim

Dh-fhag iad reubalaich gu'n anam. —

yag i-ad reb-al-ajch gun anam

Beir, etc.

In Perth, Kilsyihe, and Auldearn,

They left the rebels soulless.—
Beyr, etc.

Eiridh leat a Ghlinne-chomhan,
eyri' le-at a glume-oovao

Bratach choimheach nan geur-lannaibL

bratach chojvech nan gOTr-lannajy

Beir, etc.

With thee will rise the Glencoe meD,

The fierce standard of sharp swords.—
Beyr, etc.

'S eiridh leat a nail Budha

'a eTri' le-at a nail ro'-a

Antrim lu-chleasach nan seang-each. —

antrim la-cfalesaoh nan seng-eoh

Beir, etc.

And wiU rise with thee in Badha

Antrim of deicterous swordsmen and
shapely steeds. —
Beyr, etc.

Druideadh na Gkidheil gu leir nut,

drnjd-e' na gaj'-el ga leyr ri-nt

Ge b*e dh-eiridh leat na dh-f hannadh.-

go 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

hnj deyoh mile ayr de yi-n

An cogadh righ Seumas, nach maireann.

ooga' ri' Beym-aa naoh mayrenn

an

Beir, etc.

Ten thousand of them sat on tbe
wattle platform

In the days of king James, who is no
more. —
Beyr, etc.

*S iomadh clo air an tug iad Caiten

'a i-o-ma' do ayr an tng i-ad cayten

Eadar Cat-aobh agus Anuin. —

edar cat-aoY agns anayn

Beir, etc.

On many cloths did they bring a
rufiSed surface

Between Caithness and Anuyn.^
Beyr, etc.

Ge d* dhiult cacha dol a luagh leis,

ge d* yi-nlt oa-cha dol a In-a' lee
Cha robh gruaman air a bhannal. —

dia rov grn-a-man ayr a vannal

Beir, etc.
Bigh ! bu mhaith a luagh a chlo iad,

n' ba yay' a In-a' a cblo i-ad

'S ga dheannadh comhnard le'n lannan.

'b ga yeyna' eoy-naid lea lannan

Beir, etc.

And although others refused to go

with thee.
Nor ffloom nor hesitation did they
snow. —
Beyr, etc.

Bi I but they were good at fnlleriiig
cloth.

And shaping it with their blades.—
Beyr, etc. -

PF THE HIGHLAND CLANS.

181

H-uile clo a luaigh iad riamh dhat

hoyle do a In-aj i-ad ri-aY ynt

Dh-fhag iad e na stiallan meanadh. —

yag i-ad e na sti-all-an meira'

Beir^ etc.

Teann, tiugh, daingean, fite, luaighte,
tean d-a' dajmg-en fi-te la-aj'-te

Daite ruadh le suaicht^ fala. —

dajte ra-a' le sn-ayoht faU

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, eta

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.

B'fhearr learn breacan uallach,

bezr le-am breoan n-all-ach

HO AN CLO DUBH.

I prefer the plaid airy

Ma m' ghnaillean 's ga chuir fo^m achlais, Bound my shoulders, or under my arm,

mam ya-ayllen 8g;a chajr fom aehlais

Na ged gheibhein cota

na ged yeTv-eyn oota

De 'n chlo is fearr a thig a Sassunn.

den chlo is feir a hig a aatsnnn

Fonn.
He an clo-dubh, ho an clo-dubh,

he an donlaT ho an olo-day

He an clo-dubh ; V-fhearr leam breacan ; Hey iheblack cloth; give me the plaid;

he an do-dav berr le-am bre-ao-an

He an clo-dubh, ho an clo-dubh,

he an do-dav ho an do-dav

He an clo-dubh ; b'-fhear leam breacaa Hey the black cloth; give me the plaid.

he an do-dnv berr le-am bre-ao-an

To a coat of the best cloth
That ever came from England.

Chorw.
Hey iheblack cloth, ho the black cloth,

Hey the black cloth, ho the black cloth.

Mo laochan fein am feile,

mo lao-dian feyn am feiyM

Nach feumadh ach crios ga ghlasadh,

oflch feyma' adi cria ga ylas-a'

Cuaicheanach, deis, eatrom,

CD-ay-ohen-adi days e-trom

'Nam euidh gu dol air astar. —

nam eyri' ga dol ajr aatar

He, etc.
'S eibhinn *san dol sios u,

's eyy-inn aan dol d-oa a

Nob sgriobair a truail an claidheamh,

w>yr Bgrib-ajrr a tni-ayl an day'-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

THE MUSIC

A chasgairt Dan naimhdean,

a ohas-gayrt nan najv-den

Fo shraDDt pbiob is stairn nam bratach.—

fo b-rannt fi-ob is stayrn nam bratach

He, etc.
Bu mhath gii sealg an fheidh u,

bn ya' ga seig an ey' u

'Nam eiridh do'n ghrein air creachan ;
nam ejri' don jreyn ayr creoh-an

'S dh'fhalabhain leat gu lothar,
's yalv-ayn let ga lo'-ar

Di-domhnaich a dol do'n chlachan. —
di-doF-najch a dol don ohlaohan

He, etc.
Laidhinn leat gu h-earbsail,

lay'-inn let ga h-erb-sayl
'S mar earba gu'n eiridh 'n grad leat,

's mar erb-a gan eyri'-n grad let

Na beallamh am armachd
na bell-av am arm-ao

Na dearganach 's musgaidh ghlagach. —

na deraganaoh 'a mosga' ylagach

He, etc.
Air t-nachdar gur sgiamhach

ajrr ta-aohd-ar gar agiav-ach

A laidheas sgiath na'm ball breacadh,

a laj'-es agi-a' nam ball brec-a'
Glaidheamh air crios sniamhain

day'-ev ayr cria ani-a-vayn

A'm fiaradh oscion do phleatan. —
am fi-a-ra' os-ci-on do flet-an

He, etc.
Laidhean air an fbraoch leat,

lay'-en ayr an raooh let

Gu gaolach mar aodach-leapa ;
ga gaol-ach mar aod-ach-l^a

'Sa dh-aindeoin uisge, is urchaid,

aa yayn-de-oyn aysg^ is or-chayd

Na tuil-bbeum gu'm biodh orm fasgadh.
na tayl-veym gnm bi-o' orm faag-a'

He, etc.

'S baganta, grinn, boidheach,
a bag-an-ta grinn boy^-eoh

Air bannais 's air mod am breacan.

ayr bann-ays 'a ayr mod am breo-an

To CQDquer 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,

r

And start with the quickness of the
roe.

More ready in arms

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.

Sonsiey tight, and bonny,

At a wedding or court is the plaid.

OF THE HIGHLAND CLANS.

183

Suas am feile crudchean,

811-as am fejU cn-ajchen

'S dealg-gaalainn a cuir air &staidb ! —

*8 delg-gn-al-aynn a cnyr ayr fiut-aj'

He, etc.

Up with the encircling feyle, (belted
plaid)

With the shoulder skewer to fasten it
(on high.) —
Hey, etc.

?c«

S math a la 's a dh-oich n :

^8 ma' a la Ba yojoh n

Tha loinn ort am beinn ^s an cladach ; —

ha loynn ort am bejmi 'san dad-aph

'S math am feachd 's an sith u. —

'8 ma' am feo san ai' a

Cha righ am fear a chuir as u. —

cfaa ri' am fer a obayr aa o

He, etc.

(}ood 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.

ShaoU leo gun do mhaolaich-so
haojl le-o gmi do yaol-aydh-ao

Faobhar nan Gaidheal tapaidh,
iao7-ar nan gay' -el tap-ay'

Ach 's ann a chuir e'n gleus iad,

ach aann a ohayr 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.

Gred bheireadh sibh an cridh' asainn,
ged veyr-e' dv an ori' aa-aynn

'S air broiUechean sios a shracadh,

sayr brqyll-ech-en ai-oa a h-rao->a'

Cha toir sibh asainn Tearlach
cba toyr aiy aa-aynn ter-lach

Fhad sa bhios an deo nar pearsa. —
ad aa Tia an de-o nar peraa

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 remaina —
Hey, etc.

Ged chuir sibh oime buarach,*
ged ohoyr ai? oyme bn-ar-ach

Tingh duaichnidh gur falbh a bhacadh,

ti-n' dn-aych-ni' gar fiJv a vao-a' •

Leannaidh sin cho luadh e

lenn-ay' nn cho In-a' e

'8 cho buain ri feidh air a ghlasraidh. —
^8 cho bn-ayn ri fey' ayr a ylaa-ray'

He, etc.

Although they have put a shackle*
on us.

Dark, ugly, to trammel our motions,

We will follow and stick to him as
closely

And enduringly as the deer to his
mountains. —
Hey, etc.

* A hair thackle put on the hind legs of restiff cows when being milked in the open fieldi.

184

Tha sinn san tHsheann nadar,

ha sum san tenn nadar

Saa trfhas sinn ro am an ActUy

san tas sinn ro am an aoa

Nar pearsanan nar 'd inntinn,

nar persanan nam inn-tinn

'S nar rioghalachd cha teid taise. —

*s nar ri'yal-ao cha teyd tayse

He, etc.

THE MUSIC

We are of the hereditary natare,

In which we grew before the Act was
passed,

In our persons and minds,

And in oar loyalty there is no softness.
Hey, etc.

The blood in the pulse of our anceston,

And the instinct of their minds,

Si an fhuil bha'n cuisle air sinnsir,

si an uyl va'n oayal^ ayr sinn-sir

'S an innsginn bha nan aigne,

san inn-sgin Ta nan aygne

A dh-f hagadh dhuinn mar dhileab, — Left us as a bequest, —

a yag-a' ynynn mar yil-eb

Bhi rioghail — sin air paidir I —

ri-yayl o sin ayr pay-dir

Loyalty— oh, that is our creed !—

VI

He, etc.

Ge d' f huair sibh lamh an uachdar,

ged hn-ayr sit lay an n-ao-ar

Aon uair oirn le seorsa tapaig,

aon Q-ayr oyn 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 ohoysin fe-ol-a-dayr do hass-nnn

He, etc

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
England.
Hey, etc.

battle for

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 Oleachda, into a quarrel with some powerful feudal
neighbour, who could, either by his own strength or by means of alliances witb
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 charactei,
unusual pains were taken to make the Country believe that they had provoked
their doom, by acting wifh great treachery and cruelty toward their oppcmeuts.
It was alleged, that during the battle of Glenfruin, 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 CLAMS. 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 Buadhro*' 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
Graelic 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 Gki.elic 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 *^ dioF^ (which is their
only word for revenge) means," to pay the lawing : " Ge be dh-olas 's tu dhtolasj^
(whoever drinks, yon pay) '^ge be brandai, beoir, na fion e, dian an stopsa dhomhsa
liona ; 's mis am fear nae sor' a Mioladh ge 'd chosta fhiach an dhomh suim,"
(let it be brandy, beer, or wine, fill me this stoup ; I am the man that will not
grudge to pay, though its price would cost a sum.) Now, let the reader
consult the Bev. 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 BoJlexibU as to be thus translated by the Beverend

Aa

186

THE MUSIC

Doctors : — " Diol^ avenge, revenge ; pay ; render ; fill ; satisfy ; reason. Did,
recompence, satisfiswtion, 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 modem Highlanders, imless they vindicate that
character against the cruel and unjust charge of lawless barbarity. Even
assuming, in accordance with the vulgar (but most erroneous) impressioD, that
the people of the Britisli Empire are of two different races, surely each of these
races, if honesty will feel it a duty to do justice to ita 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-GREAGAIB RUADHBO.

Tha mulad, tha mulad,
ha mnlad ha mulad

Tha mulad am lionadh ;

ha mnlad am li-o-na'

Lion mulad bochd truagh mi,

li-on mnlad boo tra-a' mi

'S cha dual dhomh dheth direadh ;

'a cha du-al 707 jt' 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-oQ mnlad boo tra-a' mi

Cha dual dhomh dheth direadh,
oha dn-al yov ye' dir-e'

Mu Mhac-Greagair o Buadhro,

mn vac-gre-gayr rn-a-io

Ga'm bu dual bhi 'n Gleannlion ;

gam ba dn-al Ti^n glenn-li-oa

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-Gieagair o Buadhro,

mn vao-gre-gajrr ra-a-ro

Ga'm bu dual bhi *n Gleannlion ;

gam bn dn-al yi^n glenn-H-on

Macgreogair na'n gaisgeach,

mao-gre-gayr nan gays-geoh

Na*m bratach, 's na'm piobain ;
nam brat-aoh 's nam pt-ob-ayn

About Macgregor of Buadhro,
Whose right is Glenlyon ;
Macgregor of the warriors.
The banners, and war-pipes ;

OF THE HIGHLAND CLANS.

Macgreagair na'n gaisgeach,

mao-gre-gSTr nan gays-gech

K'a'm bratach, 's na'm piobain,

nam brat-acb 's nam pi-ob-ajn

Oa'm bu shuadhcheantas giubhas,

gam ba ba-a-chen-taa gi-n-yas
Ri bmdhach ga dbireadh ;

bru'-ach ga yir-e'

187

n

Macgregor of the warriors,
The banners, and war-pipes,
Whose badge was the fir,
When ascending the mountains ;

G^a'm bu shuadhcheanteas giubhas,

ba ha-a-chentas gi-a-vas

brudhach ga dbireadh ;
n brn'-aob ga yir-e'

Saighdean caol air an deagh lochdradh,
say-den caol ajr an de-a' looh-xa'

Is itean dosrach an f hirean ;

is it-en dos-rach an ir-en

Whose badge was the fir,

When ascending the mountains ;

Who loved the slender arrows, well
plained,

Tipped with the feathers of the eagle ;

Saighdean caol air an deagh lochradh,

aaj-den caol ajr an de-a' loch-ra'

^S itean dosrach an fhirean ;

^8 it-en do8-raob an ir-en

Saighdean caol air an deagh shnaigheadh

flfty-den caol ajr an de-a' naj-e'

'B-ann do dh-aigher mhic righ e.

b*ann do yeyer vie ri' 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.

«

Ged a bhuaileadh mi 'm balach
ged a Toajl-e' mim bal-ach

Gra ghearran cha bhi mi ;

ga ye-airan cha vi mi

'S luchd a ghabhail mo leith-sgeulf

's loo a ya-Tayl mo le'-sgeyl

Ann san t-cheapal nan sineadh ;

ann san tep-al nan sin-e'

Though a boor should strike me
I will not complain ;
(For) those that would take my partf
Are stretched in the chapel ;

Luchd a ghabhail mo leithsgeul
lac a ya-Tayl mo le'-sgeyl

Ann san t-cheapal nan sineadh ;

ann san tep-al nan sin-e'

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 LdthHBgeul, literally, ez parti statement. That is, they would take her own word for the truth of her
grievance, and address themselves, off-^iand, to doing her justice. Queiy : 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 members, 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

THE MUSIC

Luchd a sheasaibh mo chorach,

loo a hes-ajy mo ohor-ach
'S mor mo leon iad bhi dhith orm ;

*8 mor mo le-on i-ad yi yV orm

Luchd a sheasaibh mo chorach,

luo a hes-ayr mo chor-aoh

'S mor mo leon iad bhi dhith orm ;

*fl mor mo le-on i-ad vi yi' orm

Qed a nitear orm eacoir,

ged a ni-ter orm e-ooyr

Co ni m' eiric a dhioladh ?

00 ni meyrio 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

Gred is ainmic an f heorag

ged 18 ayn-mic an e-o-rag

Gheabhar seol air a faotain ;

yevar se-ol ayr a faotayn

Ged is ainmic an fheorag

ged 18 ayn-mic an e-o-rag

Gheabhar seol air a faotain ;

yeyar se-ol ayr a faotayn

'S ged is naibhreach an seobhag,

'8 ged is Q-ay-yrech an se-o-yag

'S trie a ghlacar le foil e, &c.

*8 trio a ylac-ar le foyl e

Those that would stand by my righte,
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 erid* (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 treacherouslr,
&c.

William Boss, whose romantic love, disappointment, and early death,
attaches more interest to his poetry than it of itself is capable of inspiriog,
wrote one of his love songs to &e 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 Soa"
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 Around Lochcrerain I will go neyer,

gu brath,

Gu'n bhogadh gu'n saighead gu'n Without a bow, an arrow, and a two-

chlaidheamh da laimh. handed sword.

* I have Btaftd elsewheie that there was no oapital pcmiahmenti among the polxiaicfaAl choi,
exceptiiig for crimes tteaoheroiis or infamons, which placed the criminal beyond the power of the Brditt
oonit, and ander the exolnriye jnrisdictian of the Dmids. How coold revenge be a ohaiacteiutic of i
people who were trained and brought np for thousands of yean under a law and a religioa utterly
incompatible with such a spirit ?

OF THE HIGHLAND CLAN8.

189

The only verses of this song I can find room for is sung to the air of
" Mu'n cuairt do Lochcrearain."

a graceful tree,

CHUMHABH A BHAIBD AN DEIGH A LEANNAN. — THE BABD's LAMENT AFTER

HIS LOYE.

Our gille mo leannan nan eaV air an Whiter is my love than a swan when

gor giUe mo len-an nan el ayr an swimming

t-shnamh, *'

t-nay

Gut binne i nan smeorach 'm barraibh Sweeter is her voice than a thrush on

gor biiin i nan sme-or-ach 'm ban-ajT
ro-chrann sa mhaigh,

ro-chrann sa vay'

Tha i pailt ann an ceutddh, an ceil, is She is rich in beauty, in wisdom, in

ha i paylt ann an oey-tay^ an oeyl is
an uaill;

an nayl

'Se chuir iuadach air m' eibhneas,
86 ohnjr fn-a-dadi ajr meymes

Bhi a t-eugmhais 'san uair.

▼i a teyg-vays san n-ayr

dignity ;

It has banished my happiness
To be without her at this time.

Fatm: —
Seinn eibhinn, seinn eibhinn, seinn

seynn eyvinn seynn eyrinn seynn
eibhinn gu'n dail ;

eyrinn gun dayl

Seinn eibhinn, seinn eibhinn, seinn

aeynn eyrinn s^nn eyvinn seynn

eibhinn gach la ;
eyvinn gach hi

Seinn eibhinn, binn eibhinn, seinn

aeynn eyvinn binn eyvinn seynn

eibhinn a ghnath ;
eyvinn a yna'

Seinn eibhinn, binn eibhinn, a chuir

seynn eyvinn binn eyvinn a chnyr

m' eislein gu lar.

meylenn gn hur

Chorus: —

Sing joyously, sing joyously, sing
joyously without delay ;

Sing joyously, sing joyously, sing
joyously every day ;

Sing joyously, sweetly-joyously, sing
joyously cJways ;

Sing joyously, sweetly-joyously, to
banidi my grief

Se do mhanran bu mhian leam 's e gun Thy endearments, without fitful ex-
86 do vanran bo vi-an le-am 'se gon citements or gloom, are my delight;

fhiaras gu'n ghruaim ;

i-a-zas gnn yrn-aym

'S noir a sheinneas tu oran, 's tu binne And when singing thine is the sweetest

's noyr a beynnes tn oran 'stn Innne melody ;

cheolaireadh fiiaim ;
ehe-o-Uyre' fn-aym

190

THE HUSIO

Dh-eireadh m' inntinn ga abhachd, aig

yeyra' mmntinn gn av-ao ayg

aireamh gach buidh,

ayrer gaoh bn-aj'

A tha coilionte am leaDnan, baindith,

a ha ooyli-ODt^ am lennan bajndi'

farasda suairc.
faraada su-aTro

'S binn cnach agus smeorach an ogain

'fl binn ca-ach ague Boie-o-raoh an og-ayn

nan gleann,

nan glenn

Noir bhios ceo tiamhaidh doiler air doire

nojrr vis oe-o ti-av-aj dojier ayr doyre

na mang ;
na numg

Acb 's binne mo leannan, coimhneal,

acha binne mo lennan ooynel

farasda, ciuin,

fanuda oi-nyn

A lasadh eibhneis le h-orain, le comhradh,

a lasa' eyy-uis le hor-ayn le oovra'
's le m' muirn.

ale mnyrn

Ge do bhithinn an eugail, '8 an leigh a

ge do Ti'-inn an ejgail 'ean ley' a
toirt duail

toyrt dn-ayl

Nach bith comhair an dan dhomb acb

nach bi' oovayr an dan yov ach

bas an gearr uinn,

bas an gerr nyn

Chuireadh sealladh dbe m' ribhinn mo

choyre' aella' ye m' ri-vinn mo

mhigean air cbul,

vi-gen ayr chnl

Ghlacbain binneas na smeoraich

ylao-ayn binnee na sme-o-raych

gheibbinn solas as ur.

yeyy-inn solas as nr

S
's

My mind rises Yrith joy when nninber-
ing every virtue

Combined in my love, who bae
easiness, delicacy, and modesty.

Sweet is the cushet and the thmsh on
the saplings in the glens,

When mist silent and shadowy winds
aromid the grove of roes ;

But sweeter is my love, kind, afibble,
mild,

Kindling joy with her songs, her con-
verse, her cheerfulnesa

Thouffh 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 Bevenue sent me the following verse
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 ; l^ut I insert '* Buain na Rainich," (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 nse at present ; but
that does not lessen my sense of his kindness and attention ; and I beg his
aeceptance of my sincere thanks.

BUAIN NA RAINICH, — CUTTING THE FERNS.

Tha mi sgith 's mi leam f bin,

ha mi 8gi' *0im le-am hia

H-nille latha a buain na rainaich ;
hajUe la'-a a bu-ajn na rajn-aych

Tha mi sgith 's mi leam f bin,

ha mi sgi' 'nni le-am bin

H-uiUe latha m' onar;

hnylle la'-a monar
Cul an tomain, braigh an tomain,

col an tom-ajn braj' an tom-ayn

«

Cul an tomain bhoidhich ;

cnl an tom-ayn voy-ich

Cul an tomain, braigh an tomain,

cnl an tom-ayn bray' an tom-ayn

H-nille latha m' onar.

hnyUe la'-a monar

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.

OBAN LUAIDH, NA BALGAIBEAN. — THE FOXES, (LITERALLY, PLUNDERERS.)

Mo bheannachd aig na balgairean

mo Tonnao ayg na balg-ajr-en

A chionn bhi sealg nan caoraclu

a chi-onn tl sealag nan oaorach

Ho hu, ho ho, na balgairean,
ho hn ho ho na balg-ayr-en

O's ainmig iad ri f haotain ;

08 aynimig i-ad ri ao-tayn

Ho hu, ho ho, na balagairean.

ho ha ho ho na balg-ayr-en

My blessing on the foxes
That hunt (and kill) the sheep.
Ho hu, ho ho, the foxes,
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

^8 i-ad na caor-ayoh chenn-ri-ach

Binn aineart feadh an t-shaoghail. — That have oppressed the wold.—

rinn ayn-ert fe' an tao'-ayl

Ho, etc.

Am fearann chuir iad fas oirn,

am fer-ann chnyr i-ad fiu oym

'Sa mal chuir iad an daoraid. —
sa mal ohnyr i-ad an daor-ayd

Ho, etc.

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 neji ayt ga hn-an-aoh-a'

Tha chair sa bhaain air claonadh. —

ha chnjr sa Tu-ajn ayr daoo-a'

Ho, etc.

There is not sach a thing as culti?a-
tioD;

Sowing and reaping have ceased.—
Hoy etc.

'S eigin dhuinn bhi fagail

's eyg-ia juyn yi ia-gayl

Na tir aillidh an robh air daoine. —

na tir ajli' an iot ayr daoyoe

Ho, eta

We most of necessity leave

The beantifnl country in which om
people were reared. —
Ho, eta

'S na sraithean is na h^^airidhean,

na sray'-ea is na hay'ri-en

Am faighte blath 's is fitoileachd,-
am fiiyte Ua' 'sis fiu>yl-6c

Ho, etc.

The strath and shieling,

In which were found a warm hospi-
tality,—
Ho, etc.

Cha 'n 'eil a nis ach laraichean

cha neyl a nis ach hir-aych-en

*N ait* nan taighean aoidheil.—

nayt nan tay'-en aoy'-eyl

Ho, etc.

Contain only crumbling ruins

Instead of social dwelling-hous^—
Ho, etc.

Cha 'n 'eil sunnd air aiteachadh

cha neyl sonnd ayr ayt-coh-a'
Aig traigh na air na raointean. —

ayg tray na ayr na raoyn-ten

Ho, eta

There is no vigorous cultivation

On shore or wold. —
Ho, eta

Tha h-uile seol a b' abhaist

ha hnyle se-ol a bav-ayst

Ann sa Ohaidheallachd air caochladh.
ann sa yay'-d-tao ayr caoch-hi'

Ho, etc.

Every custom that was

In the Highlands is changed.-
Ho, etc.

Air cinntinn cho mi-nadurra

ayr dnn-tinn cho mi-na-dorra

*S na h-aiteau a bha aoidheal. —

*s na hayt-enn a va aoy'-d

Ho, etc.

The people have become unnatural
In places that were so hospitable.—
Ho, etc.

Cha 'n 'eil capul tacarach,

cha neyl capnl taoara'

Is serrach aig a taobh ann, —

is serrach ayg a taov ann

Ho, etc.

There is no fruitful brood-mare

Seen with a foal by her side, —
Ho, etc.

OF THE HIOHLANB CLANa

193

Cha 'n 'eO boin 's aigheaD aillidh,

cha neyl hoja *8 «j'-en ayll-i'

'G arach an cuid laogh aDD. —

gar-ach an cayd lao' ann

Ho, etc.

Nor cows nor beautiful queys,

Rearing their calves there. —
Ho, etc.

Cba 'n 'eil feum air gruagaichean,

cha neyl feym ayr gra-ag-ayoh-en

Tha h-uile buail air sgaoileadL —

ha hayle ba-ayl ayr sgaoyle'

Ho, etc.

There is no demand for young women,

For every fold is dispersed. —
Ho, etc.

Cha'n fhaigh gille tuarasdal

eha'n ay' gfll4 to-ar-as-dal

Ach buachaille nan caorach. —

ach ha-a-ohaylle nan oaoraeh

Ho, etc.

No lad will get employment

Excepting to herd sheep. —
Ho, eta

Dh-f halbh na gabhair riomhach

yaly na gav-ayr ri-o-yaoh

'S bu pherseil is bu shaor iad. —

'a bo fii-aeyl is bn baor i-ad

Ho, etc.

The pretty goats are banished,

That were bo valuable and cheap. —
Ho, etc.

Earba bheag nan duslain

eiaba veg nan dns-layn

Cha duisgear i le bla(^han. —

oha dnyag-er i le blao'-an

Ho, etc.

The little roe of dark coverts

Will not be waked by the fawn-cry. —
Ho, etc.

Cha *n 'eil fiadh air fuaran,

cha neyl fi-a' ajrr fa-a-ian

O'n thagh na h-uislean caoirich.-
on ha' na hoys-len caoyrich

Ho, etc.

No deer are to be found among the
springs.

Since gentlemen have given the
preference to sheep. —
Ho, eta

Tha gach frith' ear fuasgailte,

ha gaoh M er fti-as-gaylt
Gu'n duals air son a shaothreach.-

gim dn-aysayr son a haoy'-rech

Ho, etc.

Every forester is dismissed.

Receiving no reward for his trouble. —
Ho, etc.

'S diombach air an duine mi

*8 di-om-bftoh ayr an dayne mi

Ni na sionnaich aoireadh, —

ni na si-oon-ayoh aoyr-e'

Ho, eta

My displeasure to the man

That would cry down the foxes, —

Ho, etc.

Bb

194

THE MUSIC

Chuii'eas cu ga*n ruagadh,

chnyr-ea ca gan ru-a-ga'

Na thilgeas luaidhe chaol orr\-

bilg-es la-ay' chaol orr

Ho, etc*.

na

Who would send a dog to chase them,

Or would fire at them with small shot
Ho, etc.

Gu^m bu slan na cuileanan

gam bu slan na cayl- en-en

Tha fuireach an san tnshaobhaidh. —
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 foy'-e' i-ad mo yar-ao

Cha churam dhoibh cion saoghail. —

oha oharam yoyv cm sao'-ayl

Ho, etc.

If they receive my desire,

There is no danger but they will long
live. —

Ho, etc.

They will have good luck,

Bhiodh piseach air an oigridh,

▼i-o' pia-eoh ayr an oyg-ri'

Is bhiodh beo gus a marbh aois iad. — And live till age kills theuL —
is Ti-o' be-o gas a marv aoys i-ad

Ho, etc.

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 baid, a pretty
good set of which I can submit

CHUNNAIC MI'n DAMH DOKN 's 'n H-EILDEN. — I HAVB SEEN THE BROWN

STAG AND THE HINDa

Though arms have been put dowD,

Ged tha bacadh air na h-armaibh,

ged ha baca' ayr na har-mayy

Ghleidh mi Spainteach thun na seilge ;

yley' mi spayn-teoh ban na seylg^

Ge do rinn i orm cho cearbach,

ge do rinn i onn cho oerb-ach

*S nach do mharbh i mac na h-eilde.
's naoh do Tarv i mao na heyl-dd

I have retained a Spanish piece for
stalking ;

But it has used me shabbily, *
In not killing the son of the hind.

Fonv.
Chunnaic mi *n damh donn *s na h-eilden,

chann-ayo mi'n dav donn 'sna heyl-den

A direadh a bhealaich le cheile ;

a dir-e' a vel-ayoh le cheyld

Chunnaic mi 'n damh donn's na h-eilden.
ohonn-ayo mi'n dav donn ^sna heyl-den

Ghorvs.
I saw the brown stag and the hinds

Together ascending the defile ;

I saw the brown stag and the hinds.

OF THE HIGHLAND CLANS.

195

'Nuair a dh-eirich mi sa mhaduin,

na-ajr a yeyr-ich mi sa vad-nyn

Chair mi innte fudar Ghlascho,

chnjr mi inn-te fudar ylas-oho

Peiller tenn, is tri puist Shass'nach,

peyU-er tenn is tri pnjst hass-naoh

'S cuifein asgairt air a dheidh sin. —

's cayf-en as-gayrt &yr a yey' sin

Chunnaic, 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.

Bha'n spor ur an deigh a breacadh,

van spor or an dey' a brec-a'
Ghuir mi uille ris an acuin,

cbnyr mi ujll^ ris an ac-ayn

'S eagal driuchd bha mudan craicin

's eg-al dri-acbd ya mu-dan crayc-in

Oumail fasgaidh air mo cheile. —

com-ayl fas-gay' ayr mo ohey-1^

Chunnaic, 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.

Laidh an eillid air an fhuaran ;

lay' an eyll-id ayr an a-a-ran
Chosd mi rithe mo chuid luaidhe ;

ohoed mi ri'-i' mo chayd In-ay'-d

'S noir a shaoil mi i bhi buailte,

^8 noyr a haoyl mi i vi bu-aylt^

Sin an uair a b-aird' a leum i. —

an an n-ayr a bayrd a leym i

Chunnaic, 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.

Bi dnn beo an dochas ro-mhath

bi dnn be-o an do-ohas ro-va'

Gu'm bi chuis ni 's fhear a t-ath la ;

gam bi ohnys ni's er a ta' bi

Gu'm bi gaoth is grian is talamh,
gam bi gao' is gri-an is talav

Mar is maith linn air na sleibhtein. —

bar is ma/ linn ayr na siyv-teyn

Chunnaic, etc.
Bitbidh an luaidh ghlas na deannaibh,

bi'-i' an In-ay' ylas na denn-ayv

Siubhal reith aig gaothair sheangadh,

8i-ttval rey' ayg gao'-ayr beng-a'
Na daimh dhonn a sile faladh,

na dayy yonn a sii-^ fa-la'

'S abhachd aig na fearaibh gleusda. —
*8 av-ac ayg na fer-ayv gleys-da

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 wund
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

THK MUSIC

OUB FAOIN MO LUAIDH AIB CHADAL. — ^VAIN IS MT THOUGHT OF 8LSEP.

Vain is my hope of sleep,

Gar faoin mo laaidh air cadal,

gnr ftoyn mo lu-a/ ajr cadal

'S mi sior acain na bheil bh-uam, —

'i mi si-or ao-ajn na yejl m-am

Comunn is deo-choimhneas

oo-mmm la de-o-chojT-nes

Na te dh-fhag mi*n raoir fo ghmaim :
oa te yag min royr fo jni-aym

Tha mi ami an aisling leat,

ha mi ami an ayaliog let

Gach uair a ni mi suain,

gach n-ayr a ni mi sa-ayn

'S trom m' osnadh noir a dhuisgeas mi,

itrom mos-na' nojr a jnjsg-es mi

Air bhi dhomh d' iondrain uam.
ajr ?i jov d' i-on-drayn n-am

While continually yearning for that
which is afar, —

The ccHnpanionship and bUst kindoesB
Of herwhom I left yesterday in soirow:
I am in dreams with thee,
Whenever slumber takes me,
And deep are my sighs when I wake
On missing thy presence.

Ach coim* mo luaidh air osnadh,
aoh 007m mo la-ay' ayr oa*na'

0* na choisinn mi do dheoin,

o na ofaoysinn mi do ye-oyn

'S an gaol a thug sin aontachail,

san gaol a bog suk aontacb-ayl

Nach caochail e ri'r beo ?

naoh caoch-ayl e ri'r be-o

'S ioma latha aonarach

ri-oma la'-a aonar-ach

A shaor u mi 0* bhron,

a haor a mi yron

Lead mhanran baigheal maighdeannael,-
led Yannmn bay'-el maydennel

Mo roghainn thair gach ceol.

mo ro'-inn hayr gach oe-oi

But why do I mention sighs,

Since I have gained thy consent,

And the Ioyo 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.

Thug mise gaol da riridh dhut,

hog mi-8e gaol da ri-ri' yat

Noir bha u d* nionaig og,

noyr Ta u d' ni-on-ayg og

'B air mo laimh cha dhibrinn e,
'aayr mo lav cha yib-rimi e

Air ionmhas na Roinn-Eorp' ;

ayr i-on-vaa na royn-e-orp

Ged a dhiante a chuntas dhomh,

ged a yi-an-le a ohnntaa yoy

Gu dubailt air a bhord,
ga dn-bayU ayr a vord

I have given thee my love truly,

When thou wert a young lasde.

And, on my hand, I would not re-
nounce it,
For the treasures of Europe ;

Although they should be counted down

tome.
Doubled upon the table,

OF THE HIGHLAND CLANS.

197

Cha thieiginn gaol na ribhinue
cha trejg-inn gaol na ri-Tiime

Tha'n He ghlas an f heoir.

han i-le ybs an e-ojr

I woold not forsake the love of the
queenly maiden

Of gray and grassy Iday.

I have not been able to procure a copy of the beautiful verses I have
beard 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 vrhat the
immortal Bums did for the Lowland Scotch poetry, otherwise many a highly
interesting volume might soon be made up.

OCH MAB THA MI FO PHBAHH 's FO EI8LEIN.

Oich, mar tha mi fo phramh 's fo eislein ; Alas I I am ailing and sorrowful ;

rch mar ha mi fo firav '0 fo e/Bleyn

rnuair mi sgeuladh a leir 's a leon mi, —
ha-ajr mi agojla' a leyr 'a a le-on mi

Mo chreach *s mo dhiobhail nach ro*
mo chraoh 'amo yiyayl naeh ro

mi*n He,

mi^n i-]^

'S mo chruinneag dhileas adol a phosadh.

amo ohrnynneg yi-les a dol a foaa'

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 doyie gey-gaoh

Tha eibhneas diomhair a t-aite comh-
ha eyy-nw di-o-vayr a tayt^ oot-

nuidh :

nny'

An dieach, an aillidh, an cliu, 's an

an drech an aylfi' an di-a 'a an

ceutabh :
oey-tav

Cha d'fhuair mi leirsin air te thug corr ort.

cha do-ajr mi leyr-sin ayr te hog corr ort

As the breath of May in a leafy grove,

Thy presence breathes a secret joy
tnrough 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 ao/-el ori'-el bay'-el

'S h-inntinn saibheir le tur 's le foghlum ;

sa hinn-tinn fiayveyr le tnr 'de fo'-lam

A caint mar cheol tigh'n inneal

a caynt mar die-ol ti'n innel

neamhaidh,
ne-vay'

Ni*n cridhe a thalladh 's mulad fhogradh.

ni'n cri'-e a halla' 'a 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 banishiug
grief.

198

THE MUSIC

'8 truagh a' d' dheigh mi le bh)n 's le

fitru-a' ad yef mi le bron de

eislein ;
ejs-leyn

Mo shuilean deurach, 's mo chridhe

mo hayl-en dej-rach 'smo chri'-e

leointe ;

le-oynt^
Cha*n fhiugh learn ionmhas, cha*n fhiugh

chan i-tt' lem i-oa-vas ohan i-a'

learn eibhneas,

lem eyy-nee

A tha fo'n ghrein ach u fein a d' onar.

a ha foa yrejoi ach a feyn ad onar

Miserable am I after thee, with sorrow
and pain;

Mine eyes tearful, my heart woonded ;

I value no wealth, no joy

Under the sun, but thyself alone.

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. L^
it bear testimony of the rudeness and barbarity which gave his truthful and
philosophic lordship such a detestation of the revengeful and filthy Highlanders!

QU'm BU BLAN a CHI HI. — HAPPT HAT I SEE THEE.

Happy may I see thee,

6u ma slan'a chi mi,

ga ma slaxi a obi mi

Mo chailin dhilis dhonn, —

mo ohayllin yilia jonn

Ben a chuailein reidh,

ben a dm-ayllin rej'
Air a deise a dh-eireas fonn ;

ayr a deyae a yeyres fonn

Se caint do bhoil is binn leam ;

ee oajnt do voyl is binn lem

Nair bhios m* inntinn trom,
nayr vis minn-tinn trom

'S tu thogadh suas mo chridh\

8ta hoga' sn-aa mo ohri'

Noir a bhiodh tu bruidhinn rium.

noyr a yi' tn bray' -inn ri-om

Gur muladach a tha mi

gnr mnladach a ha mi

'S mi nochd air aird a chuain ;

'a mi noc ayr ayrd a ohn-ayn

'S neo-shunndach mo chadal

*8 ne-o-hnndach mo chadal

Is do chaidribh fada nam ;

ia do chayd-riv fada n-am

'S trie mi ort a smaointeach, —

strio mi ort a smaoynteoh

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 ;—

OF THE HIGHLAND CLANS.

199

'S roar dean mi t-fhaotainn,

'b mar di-an mi taotayn

Cha bhi mo sgaoghal baain.

cha vi mo hao'-al ba-ayn

Do.sbuil mar an dearcag,

do hnyl mar an dero-ag

Fo'n rosg a dh-iadhas dlu,
fon rosg a ji-a'-as dlu

Do gfaruaidhean mar chaoran,

do jm-ay'-en mar chaoran

Fo'n aodan bhoidheach chiuiD.

fon aodan Toj'-ech obi-Dj^n

Aidicheam le eibhneas

ajd-ech-em le eyr-nes
Gu'n d-thug mi fein dhmt run,

gon dog mi fejn ynji ran

'S gur bliadhna leam gach la

agar bli-a'-na le-am gach la

0*n uair a dh-fhag mi u.

on Q-ayr a yag mi a

Tacan mu'n do sheol sinn,

tac-an man do he-ol ainn

^S ann tboisich lachd mi-gbraidh,

aann hoysich lao mi-yray'

Bi innseadh do'm chruineighsa,

ri inn-ae' dom ohrayn-eyg-sa

Nach tillinsa ga brach ;

nach tillinaa ga brach

Na cnireadh sid ort groaman ;

na oayre' aid ort gro-a-man

A luaidb ; ma bbios mi elan,

a In-ay' ma via mi elan

Cha chum dad idir uat mi

dia chnm dad idir n-at mi

Ach saighead chruaidh a bhais.
aoh aay'-ed dura-a/ a vaya

Unless thou art mine,
My life will not be long.

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 deatL

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 feehngs 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 traditiona But although such was the general
character of these " songs of labour," there were exceptions ; and the boat song
of DornhnuU Buadh Gaolach, as I have heard it snog by an old seaman when

200

THE MUSIC

I was a boy, was one of these. Uofortunately, however, although I remember
the subject of the song,— (an expedition of loyal Highlandeis 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 Ruadhro, the whole
crew joining in singing the choms.

A Dhomhnuil ruaidh ghaolaich,
a yovnayl ra-ay yaol-ayoh

Horin ova, ro huvo,
horin ova ro hnvo

Sheases dur ri stiuir dharaich,

heses dor ri sti-nyr yar-aych

Horin eile, ova hi,
horin eyl^ ora hi

Hi ri oiri, nan hi ri u.
hi ri oyri nao hi ri n

DOMHNUL BUADH GAOLACH.

Donald red-haiied 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,

hesefl dor ri sti-ayr yar-ayoh

Horin ova, ro huvo,
'S uaibhreach astar do bhata,

's a-ayy-reoh 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 eyl6, ova hi,
Hi ri oyri, nan hi ri u.

'S uaibhreach astar do bhata,

'a Q-ayy-rech astar do vata

Horin ova, ro huvo,
Ni mhuir ghairreach a sgarradh,

ni ynyr yayreoh 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.

(

OF THB HIGHLAND CLANS.

201

Ni mhair ghairreach a sgarradh,

ni Yujr jayiech a sgar-ra'

Horin ova, ro huvo,

Com suil gheur air sgeir Bharu,
cum mj\ jejr ayr sgeyr va-iu

Horin eile, ova hi,

Hi ri oiri, nan hi ri u.

Gam suil gheur air sgeir Bharu,

com sayl jeyr ayr sgeyr ya-ni

Horin ova, ro huvo,
Seol air aird nan tonn lannair,

8e-ol ayr ayrd oan tonn lann-ajr

Horin, eile, ova hi,

Hi ri oiri, nan hi ri u, &c.

Cleaving the roaring sea,

Horin ova, ru huvo.
Keep a sharp eye on the sea-rock Baru,

Horin eyl6, ova hi.
Hi ri oyri, nan hi ri u.

Keep a sharp eye on the sea-rock Baru,

Horin ova, ro huvo.

Sail on the crest of the phosphoric
waves,

Horin eyle, ova hi,

Hi ri oyri, nan hi ri u, &c.

The following song hy Alexander Macdonald, the royal Celtic hard of
Prince Charles, is also an '' oran iomraidh," or rowing song, 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.

MOOH 6A MHADAIKN.

Early as I awaited in the morning,

Moch sa mhadainn 's mi dusgadh,

moch fla vadaynn '0 sii diuga'

'S mor mo shunnd 's mo cheol gaire,

*8 mor mo hiumda mo clie-ol gayr^
O'n na chualadh mi'n Prionnsa

on na oha-a-la' min pri-onsa

Thighinn do dhuthaich Chlann-Ba*ill.

fai'-inn do yn'-ayoh ohlann ra'-31

Elated I was and full of hilarity.

On hearing that the Prince

Had landed in the country of Clan-
ronald.

Chorus.

Hug ho layll ho.
Hug ho ro nayU liv ;
Hug ho layll ho,
Seymi ho ro nayll liv.

Noir a chairair an crun ort,
noyr a ohayrer an cnm ort

Bi muim air do chairdean,

bi mnym ayr do chayr-den

'S Lochiel mar bu choir dha,
's loch-i-al mar ba ohoyr ya

Cuir an ordugh nan Gael. —
eayr an or-da' nan ga-el

Hug, etc.

When thou art crowned.

Joyful will thy friends be,

With Lochiel, as is right,

Marshalling the Highlanders-
Hug, etc.

cc

202

THE MUSIC

Thig Clandomhnuill a chruadail,

hig dan-dov-nayll a chra-a-dayl

Choisinn buaidh ann *s na blaraibh,

choy-sinn ba-ay' ann sna blar-ayr

A chumail cruaidh cho'-strigh

a ohum-ajl cru-aj' cho-stri'

Ri luchd chotaichean madair. —

Ino cho-tajohen madajr

Hug, etc.

n

Come will Olandonell the hardy,

Who gained victory in battles,

To meet in conflict

The race of the red coats. —
Hug, etc.

Sud a chuideachd bhios foirmeil,

sad a chuyd-e(/ vis foTr-meyl

Boineid ghorm is coc ard or,

boyned yorm is ooo ard or

Le'm breacanan maiseach,

lem brec-aoan maysech

*S le'n gartanan scarlaid. —

's lea gartaoaa scarlayd

Hug, etc.

They are the sprightly clan,

Of blue bonnets and cockades.

With showy plaids,

And scarlet garters. —
Hug, etc.

OBAN DO'N MHISG. — ON DRUNKENNESS.

LX AILKAjr DAXL.

Noir a shuidh sinn san tigh-osda,

noyr a hay' sina saa ti'-osda

Chaidh na stoip thair cuntas,

obay' na stoyp hayr cantas

Gu trie a tighinn, cha bu ruighinn,

ga trio a ti'-inn oha ba ri'-inn

lad nan ruith am ionnsuidh.

i-ad nan roy' am i-on-say'

Gun irraidh dalach, a sior phaigheadh,

gan i-a-ray' dalach a ai-or fey-e'

'G ol deoch-slainte a Phrionnsa,

gol de-och-alayntd a fri-on-sa

'S mo chridhe learn le aites ard,
*8 mo ofari'-e lem le aytes ard

Chion Raonull bhi toirt cliu dhomh.

cbi-oa raonoll vi toyrt oli-u yov

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.

Ach noir ghluais mi gu dol dhachaidh,

ach noyr yla-ays mi ga dol ya-ohay'

Lagaich mu na gluinn mi,

lag-aych ma na gluynn mi

Nunn 's an nail gun leirsinn cheart,

nann san nail gan leyr-sinn chert

Le iomadh beachd am shuillean.
le i*oma' bee am hayllen

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 soilsearm,

fe' na hoj'-ohe *a mi gan aojlaen

Air mo shloic a dubladh,

ayr mo loyo a dabla'

'S ea^all leom gun droin mi arrusg,

'aeg-aU le-om gun droynn mi arr-OBg

Bha mo chardain diumbacL

▼a 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,

nojr a yey-rich mi sa va-dajnn

Cha robh m' aigneadh sundach,

cha roy majg-oe' sundach

Mo cheann gun sgoin, ma chom na lasair,

mo chenn gun sgojn ma chom na laa-ayr

Truaillidh dearg mo shuillean.

trn-ai-li' de-arg mo huyilen

Se mac-na-brachadh rinn mo leagadh

86 mao-na-brach-a'' rinn mo leg-a'

Ann an leabaidh dhiombaidh —
ann an leb-ay' yi-om-baj'

Sud an ghleachdair thug fo smachd mi,

snd an glec-ayr hng fo smac mi

'Sa dh-fhag mi lag is bruite.

sa yag mi lag is brajt^

When I arose next morning,

My mind was little disposed to merri-
ment.

My head was without efiicacy, 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-aj' rajnn is cay' -rem

'S amaideach an turn, a bhi

samaj-dech an turn a vi

Suidh' aig bord a glaodhaich ol,
my' a^g bord a glao'-aych oyl

'S mo phocannan ga'n tiondadh,

smo foc-annan gan ti-onda'

A Bgapadh storais le meadmhoir,

a sgapa' stor-ays le me-ad-voyr

*Sa 'g iarraidh phog 's na cuiltean ;

sa gi-air-ay' fog sna cnyl-ten

'S f had sa mhaireadh mo chuid oir,

sad sa Tayre' mo chnyd oyr

Cha chuireadh osdair cul rium.

cha ohnyr-e' osd-ayr oul 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 neulcs
(recesses ;)

But while the money lasted,

No landlord turned his back on me.

'S coir dhomh nis a thoirt fos near,

's coyr yoY nis a hoyrt fos ner

An t-aithreachas a dhubladh,
an tayr'-e-chas a yub-la'

But time it is to reflect.
And doubly to repent.

204 THE MUSIC

Mo bhoid gu gramail thoirt do'a eala,* And vow by the swan,*

mo Toyd ga gramayl hojrt don ella

Dh-f heuch an lean mo chlia rium, So as my reputation may adhere to me,

jeyoh an leo mo chli-a ri-nm

Cha teid deur a stigh fo m' dhendaich. That not a drop shall pass my teeth.

oha tejd deyr a sti' fom jejd-ayoh

'S f hendar tighinn as iunais, Of necessity I must eschew drink,

'b ey-dar ti'-inn sa i-a-nays

Cha'n fhaigh fear falamh seol air aran For a moneyless man can only make

ohan ay fer falav se-ol ayr aran his bread

Ach le fallas gnuise. By the sweat of his brow.

ach le fidlas gnnyse

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 MacthearlaicL 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 M
air chuairt mi," (though long on my rounds) — ^visiting and paying the
companies at their dififerent detached station: — words entirely military, and
which could not be used by a country proprietor, who was his own master,
like Aillean MacthearlaicL 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 : —

* NoTer haTing before met ^th this expreision in GaeKe Poetiy, to far m I can recollect, I
begged of my iriend Mr Patorson, whose vobiminouB worki ahow so much intimacy with the poetiy,
history, and antiquities of the Lowlands, to favour me with some explanation on the subject ; and I nor
submit his Tery interesting

** Note. — The tow was made orer a roasted swan. Dunbar refers to it in his verses to the king caUed
' Johan Tamson'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 num.*

' 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 fonn, thogain fonn, I will raise a tune,

hog-ajn fonn hog-ayn fonn

Thogain fonn gu foirmeil, I wiD raise a tune,

hog-ajn fonn gn fojr-meyl

Thogain fonn gu faramach, I will raise a tune merrily,

hog-ayn fonn gn faram-ach

Air lasgairean Bhraidealbain. I will raise a rattling tune to the fiery

ayr laa-gayren vray-dcU-ban warriors of Breadalbane.

Dh-inns' latha Sliabh-an-t-Shiorram, The day of Sheriflf-muir told

yinna la'-a ali-av-an-ti-ornun

Nach robh sibh sian iomairt cearbach — That you were not awkward in the

nach roY jnv aan i-om-ayrt oerabach conflict —

6u'n do theich na bleiderean, The mannikins fled,

gnn do heych na bleyd-eren

Ach sheas iad fir Bhraidealbain. But ilie men of Breadalbane stood.

aoh hes 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 CuUoden, 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 Johh 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 8 MI LAN AIBTEAL.

Moch sa mhadainn 's mi Ian airteal,

moch sa Ta-dajn 'b mi Ian ayrtel

Cian 'o chaidreamh m' ionndrainn,

oi-an chayd-rev mi-on-drajnn

Gu'm bu bheg mo luaidh air leabaidh,

gam ba Teg mo la-ay' ayr leb-ay

Carachadh sa tiondath.

eara-oha' sa ti-on-da'

Na faighinn cead gu'n rachainn grad,

oa &y'-inn oed gon raoh-ayn grad

Na m* still gun stad gun aon-tamh,

nam still gon stad gun aon-tav

A dh-ios an ait sa bheil mo ghradh,

a yi-OB an ayt sa veyl mo yra'

Og mhaighdean ailidh Gheambail.

og yay'-den ayli' yem-bayl

Ge fad air chuairt mi tamuU bhuat,

ge fad ayr oha-ayrt mi tamol va-at

Si*n aisling uail a dhuisg mi

a'n aysling a-ayl a yosg mi

Thu bhi agam ann am ghlacaibh,

a yi agam ann am ylac-ayy

Lan do thiachd 's do shugradh.

Ian do h-lac 's do bag-ra'

Dh-aindeon buinig's cianael m' fhuireach

yayn-en bnynig 'a d-an-el mnyreoh

Ann an iomal duchaidL —

ann an i-omal da-cha'

Ochoin, a chiall gu'm be mo mhian,

och-oyn a chi-all gam be mo vi-an

Bhi 'n diugh a triall a t-ionnsaidh.

yi*n di-a' a tri-all a t-onn-say'

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 sportivenesa

Despite advantages, pensive is my
residence

On the border of the country.

>0h, my love, it is my desire.

To travel quickly this day where thou
art

At-ionnsaidhtheidminuairadh-eireasmi, To thee will I go so soon as permitted,

a ti-onn-say' heyd mi na-ayr a yeyree mi

Gu h-eatrom sunndach. Lightly and cheerfully.

gu he-trom ennndach

OF THE HIGHLAND CLANS.

207

Gach ceum do'n t-shlighe, dol ga d*

gaoh ceym don tli'-e dol gad

raidhinn

ruy'-inn

Bi'dh mo chridhe sugach.

bF mo ohri'-e sngach

Mo mhiaim 's mi'n cearter air bheg cadail,

mo Ti-ann 's min certer ayr veg cadajl

A bhi na d' chaidridh ghreannair,

a vi na d' chajd-ri' jre-anajr

Mo dhuil gn'n chleith, le durachd mhath,

mo ynjl gon chlej^ le dar-ao

Giir h-6 mo bheatha teann ort

gar he mo ye'-a teim ort

va'

At every step of the journey

My heart will be leaping joyously.

My desire this moment is not for sleep,

But to be in thy charming company,

In the unconcealed hope, with wishes
good

That I am welcome near thea

Oigh na maise is orbhuidh fait,

oy' na mayse is onmy' iaXt

'S do ghruaidh air dhreach an neoinein ;

ado yru-ay' ayr yrech an ne-oyn-eyn

T-uchd corrach min, do dhead-gheal

tnc oorraoh min do yed-yel

ghrinn,
yrinn

'S do bheul o'm binn thig oran,

's do yeyl om binn big oran

Suil mheallach chaoin fo d' mhalaidh

any] vellacb chaoyn fod yal-ay'

chaoil,
chaoyl

Boisg fhada mhaodh ga'n comhdach,

roysg ada vao' gan oov-dach

An t-sheirc tha d'eadainn bheir do'n

an teyro ha de-dayn veyr don

eug mi,

eyg mi

Mar faigh mi cheud-ghraidh coir ort

mar &y' mi cbeyd-yray' ooyr 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.

Gn'n choir air t-fheutainn oigh na feile,

gon choyr ayr teytaynn oy' na %j\i

Is uaisle beus is giulan,

is n-aysle beys is gi-n-lan

A fhuair os-iosal scire bho Dhiarmad,*
a hn-ayr os-i-osal sero vo yi-ar-mad

A chuir clad an geall ort.

a chnyr d-ad an gell ort

A right to thee, generous maiden.

Of gentle manners and bearing,

Who has received, in secret, a charm
from Diarmid,*

That has made hundreds thy captives.

*. There is much in the Ursgenls 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, dwarfii, and giants, they inspired and nourished a loye of fiction.

208

THE HUSIO

Oiochan geala air uchd meallai^h,

ci-och-an gela ajr uc meH-ay'

Lan de stuaim 's de choimhneas,

Ian de stu-ajm 's de oboyy-nes

Bhi ga d' aireamh 's gu'n thn lathair,

vi ga dajrr-ey 's gun n la'-ayr

Thug bh-uam cail is oibhneas.
hng Tu-am cayl is ojv-neB

Beautifiil 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 71m a fUach

Seang-chorp fallain sundach ;

aeng-cfaorp fell-ayn anndach

Slios mar eala, cneas mar chana,
ali-oa mar ela cnes mar chana

Eadainn banail muimeach.
ed-ayn ban-ajl mnymech

Noir theid coisir-chiuil an loinn,

noyr hejd ooTsir-chi-nyl an loynn

*S tu snamh san danns* air urlar,

8ta snay san danns ayr urlar

Gu'm bidh gach cridhe leam air aird',
gam bi' gach cri'-^ lem ayr ayid

'S gach suil a dealradh an iongnadh.

'8 gaoh 807! a delra' an i-ona'

The delight of man is hid beneath thy
robes, —

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 admiratioa

'S tearc ri aireamh trian de'n ailleachd,

stero ri ayrey tri-an den aylleo

Dha 'm bu dhan dhamh geilleadh,

yam bu yan yay geyle'

Difficult it is to name a third of the
charms

That, as fate, made me yield

and fubBtitated for the oral lore, oontainlng the histoiy of paat ages, a eystem of tnition as cormptiiig to
good taste, and mmatoral as the musical education of the present day. In the superstitions thus iiib-
stitnted, they laid the foundation of the spiritual despotism that rode like a nightmare oyer the soals of
men during the dark ages. The proneness to superstition resulting from these Ursgeuls continneB to in-
fluenoe and mentally enslaye the more ignorant and unintelligont among the Irish and the Higfalanden
eyen till the present day.

The Ursgeuls also contain many charming little gossiping episodes, like the aboye about Diaimid, to
extenuate or excuse the loying frailties of the fair sex. Diazmid was obliged to wear a mask, to hide the
*' ball-eeirc" or beauty spot that was in his face from the eyes of the susceptible Fingalian ladies, as so
w<»nan could behold it without falling in loye with him, and showing the frailty of her nature. Onine
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 (he ** baO-
seiro** was fate 1 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 eyen of Joseph himself, until Graine*s impuMye exclamation
about " Spiorad an lobain," put him in such a position as would haye made it a reproach to his manhood
to hold out any longer. In short, the Ursgeuls famish so many fascinating excuses for these amoronf
peccadilloes as to leaye no doubt that they brought a good monitor to ayery indulgent confessional. We
need feel no wonder, therefore, that the test applied to the yirtue of the Fingalian ladies, according to the
Ursgeuls recently published in Edinburgh, proyed that there was only one fiedthful wife among the
married Fingalian ladies 1 To be " a light o' loye" was eyidently no great reproach in the eyes of the
monkish authors of the Ursgeuls.

OF THE HIGHLAND CLANS.

209

Do'n mhaighdean chiuin, is beusach,

don TKy'-dea ohi-nyn is be-saoh

mnimeach,

mnyrneoh

'S cend fear nr an deigh oir.

'fl oejd fer ur an dej' ojr

Bidh cridhe ciurt' aig pairt de'n chuntes,

bi' ori'-e oi-ort ajg pajrt den chontes

Bhios air chul gu'n f haighneachd ;
Tis ayr ohol gon ay'-neo

Ach oibhneas thig mar cho-sheirm chiuil,

ach oyy-neB hig mar oho-heyrm chi-njl

O^n f hear ga*n lub i an coimhneas.

on er gan lab i an ooy-nes

To the maiden mild, virtuous, in-
teresting,

After whom a hundred youths are
pining.

Some of them will be 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 haye 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 Graelic 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 Bums, 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 FAILLBBIN ILLEBINN, ETC.

Three events come unsought,

Thig tri nithean gu*n iarraidh,

big tri ni'-en gon i-arr-ay'

An t-eagal, an t-iadach 's an gaol ;
an legal an ti-ad-aoh lan gaol

'S gnr lugha chuis mhaslaidh,

flgnr la'-a ohnja vas-lay'

Gred* a ghlachadh leo mis' air a h-aon ;

ged a ylac-a' le-o nua ayr a ha-on

'Sa liughad bean-uasail

aa fi-n'-ad ben-u-a-sal

A fhuaradh sa'n kigse a bheil mi,

a bn-ar-a' san laygse a yeyl mi

A thug a gaol fuadainn,

a bng a gaol fa-a-daynn

Air ro bheagan duaise ga chionn.
ayr ro yegan dn-ayae ga ohi-onn

Fonn: —
Air faillerinn illerinn,

ayr &yllermn illermn

Uillerinn o ho ro loi' ;
nyUerinn 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 fiayllerinn illerinn,

Uyllerinn o ho ro loy ;

Dd

210

THE tfUSIC

Cruaidb ortan gun f hioe

Cray' ortan gun is

A dh-fhag mise fo chuing a ghaoil.

yag mise fo choyng a yaoyl

A hard and stealthy chance
Has made me the captive of love.

a

Fhir na'n gorm-Bhuillen meallach,

ir nan gorm-hnyUen mellach

O'n ghleannan am bi an smuid,

on ylennaQ am bi an smnyd

Far an siubhlach ghraigh eagach,

far an si-uylaoh gra/ eng-aoh

Aig ionnaltradh shleibh fo dhrinchd,

ayg i-onnailtradh h-Uyv fo ym-ao

Noir theid u air t-uillinn,
noyr heyd n ayr tnylAn

Bitfa fail air mac luadh na fear stnc ;

bi' ihyl i^ mso In-i^' na fb-ar sMt

Na'm bi tu ghaoil mar rium,

nam bi tn yaoyl mar ri-nm

Cha V an-air an ceile leom u.

cha ban-ayr an oeyle le-om u

Youth of the fall Uue eyes,

Of the glen of mist,

Where airy are the herd nimble,

Orasing on the dewy wolds,

When thou leanest on thy elbow,

Blood will be on the swift son of the
cold diffs ;

Wert thon with me, my love,

An unmeet husband I would not deem
thee.

Fhir a dhireas am bealach,
ir a yires am belaoh

Sa thearnas an gleann ma thuadh,
sa henea an den ma bo-a'

Thoir sormidh gu'm leannan,

hoyr soirny' gam knnan

Is innis mar thachair 's an nair.

IB innia mar baob-ayr san n-ayr

Fear eile cha ghabh mi,

fer ^1^ oha yav mi

'S cha*n fhuillig mi leom a hiaidh.

'a oban nyllig mi le-om a la-ay'

Gus an dean e fein m' aicheadh,

gas an den e feyn ma-ehe'

Cha chreid mi o chaeh gar fbadh.

dis obieyd mi o chaob gnr fii-a'

Toir, who ascendest the defile

And goest down the glen to the norths

Bear my salate 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
hatea

Ach ma nith e orm tailceas,
ach ma ni e orm taylo-ea

Gur taitneach a tha mo chliu ;

gar taytneeh a ba mo obli-a

Cha d' roinn mi nut coinneamh,
oba droinn mi ri-nt ooynnev

Cha do thachair sinn riamh ann an cuil.
oba do baob-ayr ainn ri-ay ann an coyl

But if he will slight me,

My reputation remains unstained ;

I never made an appointment with
him.

We never met in a nentk (recess.)

OF THE HIGHLAND CLANS. 211

Cha gbabhain riainh maslacUi I would receive an indigDity

O fhear a ctuiir boinneid ^r crun ; From no maa that ever covered bis

o er a chayr boyiii;ieyd ayr crun head with a bonnet ;

Bha m' inntinn cho beacbdail^ My mind was sufficiently self-sustained

va nunntinn cho beo-ayl
^Sga*n smacbdaicbjin gaol nacb b-f hiudh. To rebuke (subdue) an unworthy love.

sgiui Bmao-ajchin gaol naoh 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 Qothic 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-
lowejrs 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, CsBsar, Tacitus, Ptolemy, Orasius, &c. show that
they fon;ned 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,
^tis&ctorily 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
famflies 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 hi* intiodnctioii to tbe Dean of Liflnuve^B book, this Ie«niQd and able writer xuanly
Agreee with me as, to )^e boundary bo^tween tbe CWtpnitu^e and jlibe Scota ; be xnakiiig it by laijid, and to
tbe notth of I^ochlinne, wMcb is certainly leas natural and satisfactory. His word3 are, " In the Island of
Ckdoneay tbere is a cairn caUed Gajm-cul-ri-£rin. In Blean's Atlas, tiie map of the Island of Mull marks,
on the Ugb moantain wbiok aeparaibes the north frop the somth of the island, tmo caiyns caUed Clain-cnl-
ri-£rin and Oam-oul-i^-AUabyn. These aoem to ma>rk some ancient boundary, but they are exactly on a
line wi^ lonat which seems to have lain so nearly on tiie boundary as to be claimed by both races, and also
with the Ibie which separates the aaotent parishes of KiUintach and KillchoHumkill in Morvem ; and
KilMntach^s said, in an tAd document, ,to be in Qaivomoyeian, a distxict which extended as far north a3
Loeh Houm, while KillchoHumkill is said to be in Kinelbadon, which belong^ to the ancient kingdom of
Lorn, — ^there seems much reason to conclude that this may have been the line of the boundary between
die Dftlriad Soots fixim Brin and the Gmilhne of Alban/' There is no doubt that cairns were ancient iand-
mnki between different districts belonging to the sane dauB or people, bui I think they xx>uld not have
been at any time a boundary between two separate and distinct kingdoms, not always at peace with one
another. Indeed, it is extremely improbable that, with such a boundary as Lochlinne, the Scots could
have even wished to divide their strength by occupying a narrow stripe of hill and shore at such a distance
fixnn 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,) poetiy, 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
eettied in GhiUoway, were also divided from their neighbours by a catrail or
war-path, drawn from the head of Lochryan, by Eempshill, Sanquhar, and
Carlisle ; and I have been assured, on good authority, that tiiere 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 acquamted with a clergy-
man, Mr Inglis of Eirkoswold, 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 simUar resemblance, especially in personal appearance, is perfectly
visible between the Scottish Lowlanders and tiie people of the south and west
of Ireland. There is in topographical names and ancient poetiy 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 poetiy and music of Caledonia and Wales have at this
day a clear affinity the one to the other. '

OF THE HIGHLAND CLANS.

213

CODUD YB HEDTDD. — THE SONG OF THE LARK.

Cwyd, cwyd, ehedydd lion,

oooid oodd ajhedhh thlon

O'th ddedwydd nyth ar ael y fron,
olh thedwith neeth ar ael a Txon

I gann yn y nen :

e gaoj im u nen

Mwyn, mwyn, y tonati mfil,

iDooin moom n tonay mel

O'th beraidd big a'th galon ddel,
o'th beraith beeg ath galon thel

I ByntiV byd uwch ben :

e Binmir beed yueh ben

Pawb a hofiant sw]p dy gsln,

pawb a bofimt aooin dn gan

Sy*n nifo'n ffirwd o fiwsig flfri :

ae^rn tUivon frood a yewrig free

Nwyfiis fawl dy galon Ian,

noohna yawl da galon laan

Enjma dan fy awen i :

ennna daan ya awen e

An wylaf wyt o*r adar m&n,

an wQay ooit or adar maan

Boed bendith Dduw i ti !
boed bendith Thew e te

Lion, lion, yw'r ddaear lawr,

thlon thlon ner thayar laoor

Mae'r haul yn gwenu ar y wawr

mier hayl nn gwene ar n waoor
Yn ngwrid y dwyrain der ;

nn ngwreed n dooyrine dair

Dring, dring, ehedydd mwyn,

dring dring ayhedith mooin

Dyhidla odlau llawn o swyn

dnhidla odlai thlaoon o aooin

O groesaw i dy Nfer :

o groisaoo e da nair

Can yn Eden yn dy gryd

caao nn Eden on da greed

A roist i*r greadigaeth hardd ;

a loist ir greadigaith harth

Iddi'n awr, o bryd i bryd,
ithin noor o br^ e breed.

Alawaidd dfin o'th big a dardd ;
alawith doan oth beeg a darth

Else, 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 wDl

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 ihy heart clean

Shall kindle the fire of my muse :

Dearest art thou of the small birds,

Be the blessing of QoA 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 ohan-e oond o heed o hSoA

Tra haul a byd a bardd
Ira hajl a beed 9 barth

THE MUSIC

And sing thou wilt through all time,

While BUD, and world, and bard (ex-
ist)

BUQEILIO'r GWKNITH GWYN. — SHEPHERDING (OE WiTCpiNO) THB WHEAT.

Mi sydd fachgen ieuangc ffol,

me sith yaohgen yeyanc fall

Tn caru'n ol fy flFansi ;

im carina ole vn Uaacj

Mi yn bugeilio'r gwenith gwyn,
me on begylior gwenith gwjn

Ac eraill ynei fedi;
ao erailth nnd vedee

Pam na ddeui ar fy ol

pam na thy-e ar yu ole

Byw ddydd ar ol el gilydd ?

reew theeih ar o) ei gilith
Gwaith r'wy'n dy weVd y feinir fach,

gwaith t'ooVn da welM a T^nir vaoh

1 glanach, lanach beunydd !

ol glanaoh lanach bynith

I am a young foolish hoy.

Making love according to my &ncy ;

I watching the white wheat,

And others reaping it :

Why do you not come after me

Some day or i^nQther ?

Because I see the^, beautiAil darling,

Oh I lovelier and lovelier daily !

Tra & dwr yn y mor hallt,

tra TO dwr on n more haltht

A thra fo ngwallt yn tyfii,

a thra vo ngooaltht un iavj

A thra fo calon yn fy mron,

a thia ^0 calon nn yu mron

Mi fydda'n fiyddlon itti:
m vatha'n futhlon Hte

Dywed imi'r gwir dan gel,
dawed immeV gweer dan gale

A rho dan sel attebion ;
a rho dan sale attebyon

Fun ai myfi nen arall, Gwen,

p'an ajmuyee nj aralth gwen

Sydd orau gandy galon !
leeth oral gandii galon

While there is watier iii the briny sea,

And while my hair does grow,

And while th^re 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 !

NOB QALAN. — NEW YEAR 8 EVE.

Goreu pleser ar nos galan, — Fa, la, &c.

gorei pieaaer ar nos galan

Ty a th&n a theulu diddan, — Fa, &c.

tn a thaan a thilej dithan

The best pleasure on new year's eve,
— Fa, la, &c.

Is house and fire and a pleasant family,
— Fa, la, &c.

OF THE HIOHLAITD CLANS.

215

Calon Ian a chwrw melyn, — Fa, &o.

oaloo Uum a ohooroo meUn

A pure heart and brown* ale, — ^Pa, la,

PenniU mwyn a Itaie y delm— Pa, &c. A gentle som and the voice of the

pemith mooin a thlaia u de&n harp. — Fa, la, &C.

Hyfryd gweled ar yr aelwyd, — Fa, &c. It is pleasant to see round the hearth,

hurrid gweled ar nr a^lodd — Ya^ la, &C.

Hen ac ieuangc mown ded wyddyd, — Old and young m happiness ;- — Fa, la,

hain ao yeyangc meoon dedwithid £c.

Fa,&c.

Pawb ddymunant o lawenydd, — ^Fa, &c, AH wish from joy, — ^Fa, la, &c.

pawb thomiiiant o la-wenith

Groesaw llawn i'r flwyddyn newydd. — A fall welcome to the new year. — Fa,

groiaaoo thiaoon ir Tlooithin newith ]a, &c.

Fa,&c.

USRCH MSQAK. — MSQAN's DAUQHTSIL

Tsblenydd yw'r haul wrth euro y

neUeniih ioor hayl oorth eiro u

wawrdd^dd,

waoorUuth

A glandeg yw gwliih ar felUion a rhds ;
a glaandeg loo gooleeth ar veilUiioii a riioee

TryloeW y w rhiih y Boer mewn albnydd,

treeloioo ioo rbeeth n Ithoer mewn ayooyth

A disglaer yw'r ser yn nyfitider y noa

a dlqglair ioor eair on nuTnder ii nos

Disgleirfwyn ]rwV hafddydd ei geinion

&g)airvooiii ioor hayethith i gdnion
ynburlan,

nn biriaii

A dicfglaer y w llewyrch yr awvr aV lU ;
- ^— i-s- ioo Idieooaroli nr awir a'rlflie

IKsgleiriach i'm serch yw Morvvdd
^flglauriaoh I'm attth leo nomifc

merch Megan.
neroli meuen

Anwylach ei phryd na roywyd i mi.
aawuadi i fieed na mowid e me

Beautifal » the mm in gilding the
day dawn.

And comely fair ike dew oa clover
and rose;

Transparent is the dialdow of the
moon in riy^s,

And bright are the stars in ike depth
of the night

Clear and mild is the sommet day
its rays pure amd dean.

And bright is the light of the air and
the flood;

Brighter to my afifbction is Morvydd,
Megan's daughter,

Dearer is her countenance than life
unto me.

Mae Morvvdd yn l&n a'l gwSn fel yr Morvydd is handscxne, and her smile

mai morvith on laan a'i gooen vel ur Uke tibe sunshine,

heulwen,

heylwen

Ei chalon yn bur, a dedwydd ei bion ; Her heart is pure and happy in her

i dudon nn boir a dedwith i bron breast;

* literally,* yellow ale," bnt the idea fa aiabore.

216

THE HUSIO

Mae miwsig ei Ilais yn fy wyd i Tawen,

mae mndg i Ithais an vowid e v*aweQ

Mae cariad yn by w'n ei Uygaid gwi w lion ;

mae cariad un bioon i Ithugaid gweew Ithon

Mae mwynder a rhinwedd yn pnro ei

mae mooinder a rhinwath on peero i

dwyfron,

dooiTTon

A glendid a gwylder yn gloywi ei phryd;
a glendeed a gwilder on gloiwee i freed

Mi garaf ei llun tra cura fy nghalon,

me gaiav i Ithin tra cheera Ydi ngalon

Mi garaf fy mun tra bwyf yn y byi

me garav veh mnn 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 ;

m love her image -while my heart
shall beat,

I'll love my hands full while I remain
in the world.

RHTFELGYBOH GWYB HABLECH, — THE WAB-BONG OP THE MEN OF HABLBCH.

Harlechy raise thy banners ;

Harlech, cyfod dy faneri ;

harieoh cavod da vaneri

Gwel y gelyn. Ennyn ynni

gwafl n geun emran nnni

Y Meirionwys oil i waeddi,
n myrionwis dthe waethe

Cymru fo am byth I
omnri YO am byth

Aed y waedd, ac aed y weddi,

ajd u wailh ac ayd n wethe

I bob cwrr o'n gwlad uchelfri,

e bob ooor on goolaad echdvie

Nes ad seinia yr Eiyri,

DOB ad flinea nr emre

Cymru fo am byth !
comri YO am bytU

Arwyr, sawdwyr, sydyn

arwyr aaoodwyr sndien

Ehuthrwn ar y gelyn ;

ibythroon ar a gdin

Gyrrwn ef i flFoi o nant

gonooa ev e foi nant

A bryn, a phant, a dvfiryn.
a biyn a fimt a dofreen

Chw3rfiwn faner goruchafiaeth ;
ohwyvioon Taner gomohayiaeih

Qorfoleddwn yn ei alaeth ;
goTYolethoon nn i alayth

Clywir lief ein buddugoliaeth,

dawir lihev ine bithigoliaeth

Cymru fo am byth I

comii vo am byth

See the enemy. Kindle the vigour

Of the Merioneth men, aU to cry,

Wales be for ever !

Gk> the cry, and go the prayer,

To each comer of our highly honoured

land,
^Till Snowden re-echoes,

Wales be for ever I

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 I

OF THE HIGHLAND CLANS.

217

Gwaed sy'n gwrido y cleddyfau ;

gwayd sa'n goorido o dethuvai

Twrw mawr a thingcian arfan ;
tooroo maoor a thinkian arvai

Uwch na'r twrw ceir bonllefau,

eoooh naa'r tooroo kier bonlthevai

Cymra fo am byth !

omnri TO am byth

Saethau a phicellau wibiant,

saythai a phekelthai wibeant

Cym Hdganant, meirch weryrant,

kiera idganant myerch werurant

Mflwyr ruthranty rhengau floeddiant,

TOitwjT rnthrant rhengai ybytbyant

Cymru fo am byth I

cumii TO am byth

Blood reddens (causes to blush) the
swords ;

Great tumult and clashing of arms ;

But higher than the tumult is the
shout,

Wales be for ever I
Arrows and darts fly,
Horns sound loudly, horses neigh,
Soldiers rush, ranks shout,

Wales be for ever !

Tanbaid y w calonnau,
ianbayd ya oalonai

Giymiis ydyw breichiaa

gmmia ncuw bieiohiai

Gwyr yn ymladd dros eu gwlad, —

gweer oo nmlath dros d goolad

Orenwog wlad eu tadau.

orenwog oolad i tadai

Gwyllt a flFymig yw'r ymladdfa,

gwfltht a firnig eoor unlaihya

Gwangcus yw y cleddwrth wledda ;
gwangcos yn a dethoorth wletha

Duwies buddugoliaeth floeddia,

denyci bithigoliaith vloithea

Cymru fo am byth !

comri TO am byth

Fervent are the hearts,

Strong are the arms

Of men fighting for their land, —

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 BHUDDLAN. — THE MARSH (OR PLAIN) OF RHUDDLAN.

CwmypoddCaradog,dyryswyd eifyddin,
oo(nmpoth caradog durnaooid ei vnthin

Cwympodd blaenoriaid a dewrion y gad ;
oooimpoth blaynoryayd a dewryoa a gaad

Gwynedd lesmeiriodd pan gollodd ei

gwyneth lesmyrioth pan gothloth ei

Brenin,

bremiin

Cwmol dristwch a huliodd y wlad :
ooomool dristoooh a hiUoth a oolaad

Fallen is Caradog, his army is con-
founded,

Fallen are the leaders and heroes of
the battle ;

North Wales fainted when it lost its
king,

A cloud of sorrow has covered the
country :

£e

218

THE MUSIC

Bhely w anffodus y rhengau wrth gilio

rhelu anfodns u rhengan oorth gOyo

'Sgubwyd gan angau i grombil y don ;

Bgibnid gan anghi e grombil u don

Duodd y cwmwl a thorodd i wylo,

deoth n ooomool a thoroth e weelo

Congcwest y gelyn a ysodd pob bron.

oonqaest a gelin a agsoth pobe bron

The remnant unfortunate of tbe 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 budduffol,

gwaj e me weled a gelin yithigol
Ehwysg a gorfoledd yn Uoni ei bryd ;

rhooiflg a gorvoleth • nn Ithone i breed

Llethir fy monwes gan loesau angeuol,

Itbetheer yj monooes gan loisai angeyol

Gwell i mi farw na byw yn y byd :

gwelth e me varoo na beoo on n beed

Eilia fy nhelyn leddf don iV gyfla&n,
ile-ja yn nhelm leibv doan ei'r gnvlayan

Collwyd ein breintiau, ein rhyddid, a'n

oolthooid ine brineliai ine rhnthid a'n

hedd;
lieth

Todded fy nghalon i gwyn "Morva

tothed va ngalon e gooin monra

Rhuddlan,"

rhnthlan

Cuddier fy ngofid yn nyfhder y bedd.

CQthyer yu ngOTid mi navnder n 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, oar
peace ;

Let my heart melt to the wail of
" Morva Rhuddlan,"

Let my grief be hidden in the depths
of the grave.

QLAN MBDDWDOD MWYN. — PURE, KIND DRUNKEN NBSS.

Ein gwydrau gorlenwn mwyn yfwn

ine gooidrai gorlenoon mooin nvoon

mewn hedd,
mewn heath

gwrw a gwirod, gwin, neithdar, a
o gooroo a gweerod gween nylhdar a

medd,
meath

Nes bo ein calonau dan e£faith y

nee bo ine calonai dan efiuth u

swyn,
sooin

Tn wresog gan gariad a

un ooreaog gan gariad a

medd'dod mwyn."
meath'dod moom

** glan
glan

Our glasses let us overfill, drink
kindly in peace,

Of ale and liquor, wine, nectar, aud
mead.

Until our hearts, vuider the effect of
the charm.

Are fervent with love and pure kind
drunkenness.

\

OF THE HIGHLAND CLANS.

219

Ckarua: —

Anwylaf hen Walia, mwyn noddfa

aDooilaye baoe walia mooin nothva

i ni,
e nee

Yw ceinwlad y dewrion henFry thon

100 kine-oolad a dewrioo haae yrithoa

fri,
o Tree

Byth bythoedd yn ddedwydd a

bith bathoeih on thedwith a

hylwydd bo hi.

bnlooitb bo he

Chorus: —

Dearest old Wales, kind refage
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 yediid eir galon a chainion a ohaan

Wrtb rodio'i dyflFrynoedd a'i glynoedd
oorth rodio*-i dofrinoeth a'-i gUnoeth

mwyn glan,

mooin glan

Gain flodau awenydd ar gynydd a gawn,

kain ylodai awenith ar gonith a gaoon

A diliau y delyn yn dilyn ei dawn.

a diliai a deUn on 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 MUSIO

The two following specimens of the poetry and muac 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 VIBQIN, WIFE, AND WIDOW.

AiB.— ** The Hnmonn of Olyn/*

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 mom saw me wedded in God's

tiomchioU mo nuanchain ;

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

Ta smuaintean mo chridhe-ei na egaoil-

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

Bigh Seumas.

ever lies sleeping.

On my heart Ues a cloud, and will he

there for ever.
Hark, hark to the death-knell that

dooms us to sever I
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.
! 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 ;

• CTeidliill,~-death.ben, kneU.

OF THB HIGHLAND CLANS.

221

D' fheach ta tar ais orm a dhiaiiHsradh
le truagh dhaiu,

Achd d' smrigheag an feall an mo ann-
rachd an naim ud.

He glanced at me fondly, to comfort
and cheer me,

But his friends love me not, and they
never come near me.

Mo mhallachd bhearfainn d*aoin-bhean
na m-l)idheach hurt f hear da h-ionnadh ;

Na dian fach a dithchiol gan aon aca
riaradh,

Mar is ^illean fir cailec chaill me mo
chial leis,

'S fear briaga-deas na grana ni ghaidh-
fead ad dhiaig-si !

Accursed be the maid who can smile
on two lovers ;

Around me the shade of my last
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

SAMONN A CHNOIO. — EDMUND OF THE HILL.

*• Cia h-e sin a muith,
'17a bh-fuil faobhair ar guith,
Ag raobadh mo dhoruis duntadh ?"

^* 'S mise Eamonn an'chnoic,

Ta baidhte, fiiar, fliuch,

fhior-shiubhal sleibhite 's ghleann-
tadhr

'' A laoigh ghil 's a chuid ?

dread 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 comer.

Ah, they'll soon find you out ;

They'll shoot you, never doubt.
And it's I that will then be a mourner I"

'* '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 liom san.
Do ghlacfach me moch na deanach ;

'8 go g-caith feadh me dul,

Tan £Eiinge soin, —
Os aon 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 t"

222

THE MUSIC

*' A chuisl alninn deas;

Na bh-faingidh cas,
Is breagha 'gas as glas do fuile,

Go bh-fiiil chreidhe da shlad,

Man do shniomthaoi gad,
Le bliaghin mor fhada ag tnuth leat.

Da bh-faghainD-si le ceart, —

Cead sine sios leat,
Is eadtrom *s as dear do shiubhal fainn,

Gk) bh-fuil mo smoaiDte a bhean,

Air ealoghadh leat,
Faoi choilltibh ag spealadh an druchtadh !"

" thou of nect 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.

could we but both, —

Tou 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,

Bachamaoid-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 I"

" 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, the patriotic and spirited writer on the
Highland and other Clearances, under the name of *' Finlagan," sufficiently
exemplifies the relationship between the northern Irish and the Highlanders.

AN OHUIL-FHIONN. — THE COOLEEN.

A bh-facadh til an chuil-fhionn 's i ag
a yaoa' too an chooleen see a

siubhal ar na boithre,

ahoo-nll ayr na boh-re

Maidion gheal druchta 's gan smtit ar a
maijin gall drooohta s gan smooit ayr a

broga?

broga

Is iomdha oganach siil-ghlas ag tnuth
18 imo oganaoh sooil-ghlas ag tnooch

le i phosadh,
lay ee fosa

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 her
in marriage.

OF THE HIGHLAND CLANS.

223

Achd ni bh-fagbadh siad mo run-sa ar
ach nee toj sbeead mo rooiue ajr

an g-cuntas is doith led

an goontaa is do lo

But they sba'nH have my own love on
their calculation.

A bh-facadh tu mo bhaban la bre%h Saw you my darling, a fine dav bv

u Taca to mo vawbawn law biyaw herself

's i na h-aonar,

see na h-ajrnar

A cul dualach, dris-leanach, go slinnean Her twining hair shimmering down to
n oooll dooallaoh droeah-laynach gu ableenawn l^^j. shoulders ?

BIOS leithe ?
ahees le-ha

Mil ar an oig-bhean, 's ros breagh na Sweet is the maiden, a fine eye in her

medajr nn og-yan 's roa brja na face

h-eadan,

hajdin

'S as doith le gach spriosan gur leanan And every brat fancies that she is his

aaa do lay gach apreesawn gurlyannaum own love!

leas fein i I
layah fiiynee

A bh-facadh tu mo speirbhean 's i taobh

u Yaca too mo spajrrvan see tajy
leis an toinn,

lays an tayn

Fainnidhe oir ar a mearaibh'si reidhtiach
£uenye oirayra mayriy see raytyaoh

a cinn ?

n keen

Is 4 dubhairt an Paorach bhidh 'na
ia e doort an pa-raoh vee na

mhaor ar an loing,

▼n-r ayr an layng

Go m' fhearr leis aige fein i na Eire gan
ga m'ar laysb ayge fityn ee na ayre gun

roinn !

lyn

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 Galium'' are
assumed by a witty bard to have been danced and sung by Father Noah, when
first hilarious under the inspiring efiects of his successful distillation from the
fruits of his newly planted vineyard. Gillidh Galium 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 firom a boor dead drunk, the
swords seem to be, if not the more appropriate, at least the sharpest test of
the two.

GILLIDH

Binn mi fion a brigh ghallain,

rinn mi fi-on a bri' ghallain

Dh-fhas an lios nan dossain fhallain.

yas an lifl nan do88-ayn all-ajn

C'aite a bheil u GhiUidh Challum ?

oayt^ a bhejl n illi ohallam

Nuas da chlaidheamh 's seid a phiob I
nn-aa da cblaj-ev' *s seyd a fi-ob

Oed a mhoidheadh Dile eile,

ged a Yoy-e' dil eyle

Co ach leabadan a theireadh,

00 aoh lebadan a heyre'

Nach dian fion is ceol gach eagal

oach den fi-on is oe-ol gac eg-al

Bron, is teagabh, chuir do*n chill !

bron ifl teg-ay choyr don chill

GALLUM.

I have made wine from the juice of
plants

That grew in the orchard of wholesome
clusters.

Where art thou, Gillie Galium ?

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.

Fhad sa mhaireas dossain mhearradh, While the mirth-making clusters last^

ad «a yayres doss-ayn Terra'

Oladh mid deoch-slaint air leannain ; Let us drink healths to our sweet-

ola' mid de-och-slaynt ayr lenn-ayn hearta

Nuasdachlaidheamhcruaidhledeannaibh, Down quickly with two sharp swords,

nn-aada ohlay^-ev om-ay' le den-ayy

Is seid gu smiorail-suas i phiob. And, with spirit, blow up the pipe !

18 seyd ga smir-ayl-Bua i fi-ob

Gleus an fhidhle, sliob am boghadh,
gleys an i'-'el sleeb am bo'-a'

Bron is tuireadh cuirem fodhadh ;

bron is tayre' cayr-em fo'-a'

na rinn mi fion a bhleadhan,

o na rinn mi fi-on a yle-o'-an

Damhsa is meadhail *8 iad mo mhiann !
davsa ia me-ayl 'a iad mo yi-ann

Bhuain an diblidh, spideil, aineamh,
vn-ayn an dib-li' spid-eyl ayn-ev

Bhitheas air sloic measg oil is aighear ;

▼i'-s ayr doyo mesg oyl in ay'-er
Am fear a dhamhsas Gillidh Callam,

am fer a yav-sas gillie callum

Se mhain is airidh air an fhion.
^ae rayn Lb ayri' ayr an i-on

Tune the fiddle, rosin the bow,

We'll put down grief and wailing ;

Since I have distilled wine.

Dancing and stirring joys are my de-
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

AchlannnanGaidhealjfior-shliochdNoah, Clans of the Gael, true descendauts

a ofalana nao ga-el fior lio no-ah of Noah

Bithibh dileas, cairdeil, comh'rail, Be faithful, friendly, social,

bi-ev diles oayrd-eyl oov-rayl

Coimhneil, cridheil, dligheach, ceolar, — Kind, hearty, natural, musical, —

ooy'-neyl cri'-eyl dli'-ech ce-o-lar

Seinnibh orain 's olaibh fion. Singing songs and drinking wine.

Bejnmy or-ajm b ol-ayv fi-on

THK MABCH 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 Begiment, 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 t^icton 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
illnstrious of all professions, and regarded flogging as not only barbarous and
inhuman, but as destructive of the pride and dignity that ought to be iticulcated
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 lasL 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 traitied by the martinet
and the lash. The coloneFs 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 stndiously
concealed from him the fact, that the whole regiment, excepting a few men of his
own company, were innocent Macdonald was dismissed the service, withont
having been allowed the benefit of a court of inquiry or a court-martial I 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 I The Duke discovered that the report on which he
unfortunately proceeded in this case was substantially false ; and the ColoneFs
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 Begunent 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 grotmd, 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 untfl
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 pOgrimages 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 DomhnuU Mac Baonuill, my
maternal grandfather. He was a distinguished warrior in the wars of Montro^
and Dundee, and is known in the traditions relative to these wars as *' Baonall
na Sgeidh," that is, " Bonald 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 tramed to use the sword without the target, despised
their swordmanship. He said in Ronald's presence, that, if he bad not been a

OF THE HIGHLAND CLANS. 227

prisoner, he would fight the b6st Highlander in Montrose's army with the sword
alone, against sword and target '^ Man/' exclaimed Bonald, indignantly, ^' do
you think any Highlander would take sach an advantage in fighting you? I
have not been taught to use the sword without a target, but I will fight you dirh
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." " Gkt me a promise
to that effect from the General," said the dragoon, joyously, " and our wager
of battle is complete." '* Montrose is a disciplinariaD," 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 dvbh na fiadh^ the celebrated Dalnes deer-stalker, who
hearing of the duel, hastened to take the place of Bonald, and fight the English-
man on equal terms. The deer-stalker was, next to Alisdair Mac CoUa,
reputed to be the best swordsman in Montrose's army. Bonald 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, RaonuU 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
RaonuU 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 RaonuU 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 reUable, in this
case, than history, — ^for Ronald is a very common Macdonald name, but a very
uncommon one for a Maclean.

I I'egret giving broken extracts of this poem, but cannot afford space for
the whole.

228

THE MUSIC

LATHA RAOKBUARI.

Se lathadh Baonruaridb,

raon-ru-a-ri

Be la' -a

Dh-fbag laaimbneach mo dhasgadh,

jag la-ajrv-neoh mo jvutg-af

Mo na thuit do chlann Dbomhauilly

mo na hayt do chlann yov-nnjli

'8 cha b-ann le leonadh nan cul-thaobb,

8 cha bann le le-on-a' nan col-haoT

Thug Sinn macb an ratreuta,

hng sinn mach an ra-trejta

Choisin ceitibh le diubhail,
ohoysin oejt-iy le di-n-yayl

'S ged a tbearnadh gu leir einn,
8 ged a be-ar-na' gn leyr sinn

Bha bas Chleibhir ri chunnta&

ya bas cfaleyy-ir ri chnntaa

An leogban urramach rioghail,

an le-o'-an urram-aoh ri-yayl

Nach d* roinn f hirin a mhuthadh,

nach droynn ir-inn a ya'-a'

Chum daingean a dhilseachd,

chnm dayng-en a yil-aeo-
Ga righ is ga dhuthaich ;

ga ri' 18 ga yn'-ayoh

Oha d* thug or air na eagal,

oha d ng or ayr na egal

Gun seasaibh ri chumhnant,
gnn see-ayv ri ehuynant

'S ged a thuit e le onair,
8 ged a huyt e le on-ayr

Qe mi-shonas na cuis e !

be mi-honas na cays e

Gaisgeach garg an am cruadail,

gayag-eoh garg an am om-a-dayl

Ceannard sluaigh ann an teugbhail

cennard sln-ay' ann an teyg-yayl

Ge b-f huileach bu bhaigheal e,

ge buyl-ech bn yay-yel e

Toirt tlas. dhoibh is reidhlein ;
toyrt ilas yoyy is re^-leyD

^Se nach cuireadh ri balP iad,
•6 naioh ooyr-e' ri biaU i-ad

Toirt tacar a' 'n eiginn,

toyrt taoar a 'n eyg-inn
Dh-innis latha Dhun-chaillean,

yinnis la'-a' ynn-ohayllen

Nach ro anamsa an creubhaig.

nach ro anam-sa an crey-yayg

Cha b-ann leis na claidhean,

cha bann leys na day'-en

Fhuir air h-armuin an leonadh,

hnyr ayr harm-oyn aa le-on-a'

Ach gun dVoinne an cumail,
aoh gon droynne aa oom-ayl

Gun dol dainneal so choimhraig ;

gun dol daynneL so ohoy-rayg

^S mairg a chunnaic na suighean,

8 mayrg a chnnayc na sny'-en

An iorgail na doirin,
an i-or-gayl na doy-rin

Ga 'n spada le luaithe,

gan spada le lu-ay'

'S gun titigeadh buachaille bho i !

8 gnn til-ge' bn-aoh-ayll^ yo i

Gur e mheudaich mo champar,
gnr e yeyd-ayoh mo ob«m*par

A liuthad banntiach tha 'm dhnthich,
a li-a'-ad ban-trach ha m ya'-kh

Agns oganach treubhach,

agns oganaoh trey-yaoh

Nach teid oibhach am pusadh,
nach teyd eyr-ach am pnsa'

Thuit le luaithe san am ad,

hnyt le la-a/ san am ad

Bualadh lann mar bn da dhaibh,
bn-al-a' lann mar bu da yayy

Bud an cluicheadh bha cailteach,

sod an duyohe' ya oayltech

'S iad aig radh gu*m bu bhuaidh e !

8 i-ad ayg ra' gu*m bn yn-a/ e

A thigheam oig Ghlinne-gairidb,

a hi' -era oyg ylinne-gayri'

Luidh smal air do shuigradhy

lay' smal ayr do hng-ra'

'S mor do chall le righ Seumas,
8 mor do chall le ri' seymaa

'S goirt a leireadh na chuis u ;
8 goyrt a leyre' na ohnyi n

Bha Domhnull gorm gaolach,

ya doynnl gorm gad-aoh

'S fhuil chraobhach a brachdadh,

8 nyl chraoy-aoh a bnioa'
'S eigin fhulang na thainig,

8 eygin nlang na haynig

Dh-fhalbh do bhrathair na ur-fhas.

ydy do yra'-ayr na nr-M

OF THE HiaHLAND CLANS.

229

Bha e curranta seolta,

▼a e ourranta ae-olta

Bu chiaobh-chomhraig tbair cend e,

bu chraoY-chov-rajg hajv ceyd e
Do fheaivmor ba mbath cuma,

do yer-mor ba va' cuma

Bh-aig gach duke mar spenclair.

▼ayg gaoh dajne mar speje-layr

GMi thug ro mhiad ua h-aireamh,

ged hag ro yi-ad na hajrev

Brais is Arden le cbeile,

brajB ifl arden le cheyle

Ort gun bhi sgatbach mud phearsa,
ort gan ti sga'ach mad fersa

Oig gbasta na feile.
oyg yasta na fejle.

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 cbms earnest^ «iitreated Dimdee not to engage in pertoa, and told bis lordship
that their method of fi^^ttng was quite difiSsrent from th^ 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 prewi with him, nothing could dissuade him from
engaging at the b«id of his troops. General Mackay's army outwioged Dundee's nearly &

Suarter of a mile, which obfiged the clans to leaye large interrals between each clan, and, by
edinine towards the wings, they wanted troops to charge the centre, where a detachment oif
the Les^y and Hastings English regiments were. The Highlanders threw away their plaids,
haversacks, and all other ineumbrances, and marched resolutely and deliberately, in their
shirts and kilts, with their fusils, swoxds, pistols, and tai;gets ready, down the lull on the
enemy, and received Mackay*s ihird fire before they pierced his line, in which many of the
Highland army fell, particularly Lord Viscount Dundee, their genend, the terror of the
Whiga, the supporter of King Janes, and the glory of his countnr. Then the Highlanders
fired, threw down their fusils, rushed on, dischai^d and threw their pistols in the fitces of
their opponents, drew their swords, and fell on t The enemy did not maintam their ground
two minutes after the Highlandera were amongst them, and 1 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 eut down through the skull and neck
to the very breast, others had their sculls cut off above their ears Uke nightcaps ; some
soldiers had both their bodies and cross-belts cut through at one blow, fikes 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
Dimdee did not understand or appreciate Uie mode of attack of the Highlanders^
any more than it has been understood by the feudal historians or the modem
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 Claverfaouse did not understand
their practice, is seen by the fact, that the Highlanders received threa volleys
" befiyre 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 Claveriiouse did not
lead his army into the field in accordance with their accustomed tactics.

Baonruari's day has chased away my rest, Full well their trenchant swords, with
And roles the mixed emotions of my. breast, cleaving blows,

For there, alas, my high aud noble race, Avenged the iron hail-showers of their
Have met a loss the age will not replace. foes ;

230

THE HUBIO

But, ah, though all had 'scaped, since

ClaveiB fell,
Our much-WTonged kiog may bid his

throne farewell.

Well may we sing his deeds, his pun

swell,
For, when he fell, alas, his oonntiy 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 I while standing at the hero's tomh,
I feel the cause he loved must share hisdoom.

In glory's path, with faith unstain'd he

moved,
He spurn'd ambition — love of gold he

proved
Beneath his thoughts. [Jndaunted, 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 Bonald Mac Ailean's
devotion to, and admiration of Claverhouse ; but, while condemning the absurd
attack on the fortified position of the Cameronians, at Dankeld, by Gleneral
Gannin, without either artiUery 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 Eilliecrankie, by him called Baonruari. 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.
Bushing through volleyed flames, with

scaithless scorn I —
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,

♦ ♦ « 4! 4c *

Young chieftain of Glengarry, clouds

descend
Deep o'er thy land. Thou scarce art

left one friend I —
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 HI6HLAKD GLANB.

231

Prudent, yet fervid ; cautious, yet bold,
He fired his clansmen, yet their fire

controlled ;
But, ah, the danger that has caused their

grief
He never saw — ^the danger of their chief I
Mild as a maid, fierce as a beacon's

flame,
Well has he earned, and well sustained

his fame.
And must we mourn that thus his bright

career
Too soon was closed — ^because he knew

not fear ?

Chief of the Gamerons, clothed with

early fame.
Who can thy deeds record,thy lossesname ?
When others changed their fealty, thou,

alone,
Stoodbythycountiy'scause,thyoountry'8

throne.
The battles of three kings have seen thy

steel,
But who for royal favours saw thee kneel?
Thy country's weal, thy clansmen's proud

regard.
Were all thou sought'st of glory or

reward 1

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! —

Ciirsed be the wars that clothe them-
selves in shades I —

Clans of my love, let daylight see your
blades

When to your country's battles you

descend ;

Night is the hero's foe, the coward's
friend.

Alas I 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

broadnswords 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 I
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 Boy,
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 mentioQed, 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 oripnal 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 roofe 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 MASSACRE OF QLfiKCOE.

Gpd, whose gospel revealeth,

As thy children may daily behold,
Truth, benevolence, mercy,

In lessons affectingly told ;
In their strait, be Thou aiding

To the good and the brave of the
glen,
Brought to grief and despairing.

By a treachery rare among men.

On their orphans look kindly,

Who have ever been kindly and true.
Who could not, in baseness,

E'en traitors and rebels pursue :
Though unyielding and deadly,

When their country demanded their
steel,
To humanity faithful,

For the foes they had slain they could
feel.

Had they known, when the stranger

They welcomed, and hailed as a friend,
That their homes were in danger —

That among them he came to this end ;
Had they armed and been watchful,

Fierce and stern as the conflict might be,
Their defeat I would question,

Though their foesmen were twenty to
three.

'Twas not by genius and valour

The band of my heart have been slain,
But by boors, in aught mental

More than matched by the team in their
wain;
But to bloodshed apprenticed,

And to treach'ry and cruelty trained,
They stole on their victims

When by sleep all their senses were
chained.

* Among the smgolar escapea from the massacre, was that of the two little boys of Bonald of the
Shield, Donald and Alexander, who had stolen away a few days previously, after a servant from Glenlochy,
to visit their amt, who was manied to CampbeB of AcHariaefa. Donald, on his retmn, foond his fa&er
murdered, and his home bumed down and desolate. The succeeding pages wiU show that he was both
spirited and poetic ; yet where did he leave behind a line or verse breathing hatred or revenge againrt
the English, or even against the perpetrators of this treacherous and inhuman massacre ? But such will
be found by tiie rsader of CN^tic poetry to have been the uniformly dignified and fiorbearing dutmcter of
the ancient Gael.

OF THE HIGBLAND CLANS.

233

From the chosen apartmeats,
Amigned 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 deliyered, in safety,

The volley that robhed 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 hae 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 I

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,
ForeigD armies coeiee theO'—

A foragner 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 Grod'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 t 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 g^yhcnmd wm equaUy remarkable for hii tagaoity and the itrength o( his
attachment to hit master. His howl is the most solemn and melancholy imaginable. Hence, perhaps,
tlie reason why it has long been regarded as ominons and predictive of death or some other calamity in
the Highlands. He laments his master's death by wandering over his old hannts, slon^ing at regular
itttervak, and settiBg np his dirge-^like howl, than which it Is difficult to conceive anything more touching.

234

THE MUSIC

By the gifts of the hero,

And gentleman early en4owed,
He, for wisdom and eloquence.

Shone 'mong his race like a god ;
Caustic wit he thought paltry,

Common sense was his f(yrU and his
plea,
And with that for his country

He enlisted the brave 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^eat soul exulted —

There his arm extended the ring,
Proudly deeming his broad swords

Gould 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 tunslatn* would gather ;
There none but the base were deepiged.

On the chess-board and tailisg,

Mimic warfare they playfully tried,
The chieftains kind hearted,

Who in dexterous moyements took
pride;
Not with views of aggression.

To subjugate, rule, and enthral,
But to fit them for action

When their king and their coontiy
should call.

God, who reignest and rulest

From Thy throne of pure wisdom aboTe.
Deign to look on our people

In the spirit of mercy and loye,
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 sufferiogs, 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 iMTOUght to him by a friend. On this occasion, he wrote what is called
" Cumhadh Righ Tearlach," — Lament for King Charles, — which I heard often
fiung 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 new^ 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 tlie
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 pen£cle 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

* DoBcent from the founder of the clan was the only mazk of aristocimcy amang the HigUaaden.
AU clansmen, whoee pedigree was genuine, were caUed '* naislain,** or gentiemen, and when off doty.
associated with their oUefs and chieftains on eqnal texms. The distance between them now is of arti-
ficial feudal descent, the patriarchal being the natural aad God-approving system of goyemment

OF THB HIGHLAND CLANS.

235

HigUand (the repeated line or lines being snng 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 FOB PBINCE ALBERT.
AiB.— ** Cumhadh Bigh Tearlach a b-Aon ;"-~or. Lament for Charles the First

An cualadh sibh sgeula an leiridh sa
an oB-al-a' nv ^fgV^ ^ lejr-i' sa

chraigh,
ohray'

Chuir an rioghachd fo bhron o scuir

ehnyr an ri'-ao fo tioq o soajr
mhor-bheann gu traigh?

Tor-ven ga tray'

Dh-fhalbh Prionnsa bha saibhir an ealain

jalav pri-onn-fla ya saTY-ir an d-ajn

*8 an iuil,

san i'Ujl

'S tha Bhan-righ a cumhadh 's an deur

'b ha van-ri' a oa-yaf san deyr

na suil. — *S tha, etc.
na 8117I

Dh-aom nial air an sugradh, le dubhradh

yaom ni-al ayr an sa-gra' le dnv-ra'

gu'n bhaidh,

gon ▼ay'

An talla mor diomhair teaghlach rioghail

an taJla mor di-yayr te-laoh ri-yayl

air ghraidh ;
ayr gray'

A smal an t-athair, an ceile, *m flath
a anal an ta'-ayr an oeyl-^ 'm fla' '

feile, 's an soidh,

fyjU aan soy'

Dh-f hag do'n Bhan-righ suil-dheuradh,

yag don yan-ri' snyl-yeyra'

cridhe leireadhjis coidh.— Dh-fhag,etc.
cri'-^ kyr-e' is coy'

Heard ye the news of grief and pain,

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
Boyal Family ;

It has put out the light of the father,
the husband, the generous chief,
the worthy,

And left to the Queen a tearftd eye,
a sore heart, and lamentation. —

And, etc.

236

THE MUSIC

Bba BbaO'righ 'b am Prionnsa 'eaa

Ta ynn-tV 'sam prioon-ta san

duthaich mar aigh^
dn'-ayoh mar ay'

Nan buaidhean, nan comhradh, nan

oaD bn-ay'-ea xiaa oor-ra' nan

OFcheas, nam baigh, —

or-obea nam bay'

Bha sith, gaol, is eibhueas, le'n ceumaibh

va mf gaol 10 eyr-nes leu oeym-ayr
's gach trath, —

'sgach tra'

Bu rioghail nan ^ulain paidbir ionraic

ba ri'-yayl nan gi-n-layn pay'^ir i'^n-nyo

air graidh 1 — Bu, etc,

ayr gray'

Tbe Qneen and the Prioee wen to-
tekiy (spirits) in their coantry,

In their virtues, their converse, their
bountifuhiess, their compassion ;

Peace, love, and happiness, aocom-
panied their st^s ;

Bight royal in their bearing was the
blameless and beloved pair !—
Bight, etc.

Gabh dochas a'd' eislean, a Bhan-righ

gay do-ohas ad eyslen a ya'^rinn
air graidh,

ayr gray'

Dean dheth d' rioghachdan speiseil an
den ye' dri'-ao-an epeys-eyl an

t-eibhneas nach traigh.

leyv-nes naoh tray'

'S iomadh prionnsa ard treubhach a

ai-o-ma' pri-onn-sa ard treyr-aoh a

dh-eireas d'afl,

yeyres o dayl

Bhios nan Albaert am beusan, an ceil,

Tis nan albert am beysan an oeyl

is an caiL — ^Bfaios, etc.

is an oayl

Take hope in thy bereavment, oar
Queen beloved.

And make thy never-to-be-diminiiBhed
spaciouskingdomsthyhappiDeB&—

Many a prince lofty and poweiM will
arise of thy posterity,

That will be an Albert in virtue, in
wisdom, in dispositioa —
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 misDame
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 Quelic 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 tbe former J was supposed to have been the
work of some poIitiG and di^uised friend of the Stuart family, who found bis
way into the Hanoverian camp. It had the effect of prodadng universal
indignation against the new dynasty, and a renewal of sympathies and lies
among the Highland clans, which leave little doubt, had the Prince knded a
second time, as was periodically predicted and reported, that they would have
risen almofst unanimously in his favour ; althoiugh their confidence in his heioism

OF THE HIQHLAKD CLANS. 237

and ooDStancy had been sadly shaken by his obstinate refusal to continae at
their head (m the day after the battle of Cnlloden^ when the fioe clans who
were absent from that engagement, on leave, had joined, and they mustered, at
Buthven nearly 4000 strong. He was urged to remain with them, even sup-
posing he should give up the object of the Bising, that they might conquer
terms of peace, as they did in the reign of William and Maiy ;* but he left
them to their fate. DomhnuU Mac Baonuil, son of Bonald 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 firiend Acha Triachaden, on an
honest weaver yclept Iain Mac-a-Ghibbidh (layn Mac-a-Tippi), 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 ab»9nt ?" '' 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 firenzy 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 Baonuil.

CLAIDHEAMH AIB IAIN SAN T-8HEARMA1N.

Noir chualadh an gaisgeach. When the hero heard

nojr oha-al-a' an gajs-gaoh

Am prionn's bi fo airsneal, That the Prince was disheartened,

am pri-onDB H fo ayrs-nel

Chuir e litier, gun taise, a taiigsinn. He sent a letter, not timid, saying,

ehoTT 6 litir gon ti^ae a tajreg-sum

Na 'n deuntaedh, le reachd e. That if he were made

nan den-te' le reo e

Na dhiuc is na dheachdair, ' A duke and dictator

na yi-no is na yec-ayr

Gu'n togadh e Sassunn is Albin. He would raise England and Scotland

gon toga' e Bafls«>nnn la ala-bin (in his favour.)

Fonn. Chorus.

Bha claidheamh air Iain, air Iain, air Iain, There was a sword, a sword, a sword,

va day-ev' ayr i-ayn i^ i-ayn ayr i-iyrn

Bha claidheamh air Iain, san t-shear- There was a sword on John at the

▼a day'-ev ayr i-ayn san t-ahera- sermon,

main,

mayn
* Trmtj of Aefaakder between tbe loytJ cdani and King William, negotiated bj 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

THB MUBIO

Bha claidheamh air Iain air deas-Iamh

TA cU/-ey ajr i-ayn bjt dm-lxf
mo chridhe,

mo ohii'-^

Se deanadh an fhighe neo-chearbach.

M yen-a' an i'-e no-o-oherabaoh

There was a sword on John, righW
handed man of my hearty

He that can make the weaving not
awkwardly.

Bha Iain gun teagaibh

▼a i-ayn gim teg-ay

Gu faidheadh a freagairt

ga &7'-e' a fregayrt

Mu'n deach e do'n eaglais na armaibh,

moo decb e do'n egUys na arm-ayv

Is mhosgail na mnathan le iollach 's le

18 voBg-ajl na mna'-an le illach s le

aigheur,
ay'-ejrr

Noir dhealraich a chlaidheamh san

noyr yel-rajoh a chlay*ev

tHshearmain !

teia-DiaTn

Bha, etc.

John neyer 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,

chaj' lit*-iioben fid-ayoh
A nun do Lochaber,

a non do lodiaber

A dh-innseadh gu*n dech* e na armaibh,

a yinn-se' gon dech e na arm-ayv

Ghabh an govaemer curam,

yay an go-Ter-ner oonun

Bha gach geard air an duUadh,

▼a gaoh gerd ajr an da-Ua'

Ag eagal gu'n duisgeadh e Albin.
ag egal gon dnysg-a' e alabyn

Bha, etc.

Letters went privately

Over to Lochaber,

Telling of this demonstraticm 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 db-eirich na phorabh,
kji na yeyrioh na fimv

De dh-ardan Chlann-Domhnuil,

te yaidan chlann-tOT-nytt

Na ^m bitheadh a phoca Ian argaid,
nam bi'-e' a foc-a Ian aragayd

Gu'n tugadh e dhachaidh dhuinn,

gu'n daga' e yaob-ay ynynn

Bigh f hear na h-Appun,

ri' for na happwi

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 THB HIQBLAND CLANS.

239

A dh-aindeon fir h-Shassunn — ^mar In defiance of the men of England —

« yiyn'-en fir haaMinii mu

marbh't e, anless killed.

manr't e

Bha, etc. There was, etc.

^S iomadh oganach nllamh,

ai-oma' ogan-aoh nllay

Nach eisdeadh an cumasg,

naoh fijsd-a' an oamaag

Bba gu'n chlaidheamh, gu'n ghnnna,

va gun ohlay'-ey gun jmiiia

ga*n targaid,
gun tara-gajd

Gu'n nrad na biodaig,

gon, aiad na bi-dajg

'M falacfa fo cfarioslaieh,
am iUaoli fo chris-layoh

6e d' bba mac a Ghiobaich 'n Ian armachd.

ged ra mao a yikM/-aj *n Ian armao

. Bba, etc.

Many are tbe ready yontbs

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 i^n of Gibbie went under
full arms.

There was, etc

Great diGqparagement to thy person
Was thy excess of harness,

^S mor an diobhail do d' phersa

mor an di-yayl do d' fena

Na bh-agad de dh-acuinn,

na yag-ad de yao-aynn

Noircbaidheuchospailpeilnatarmaibh-^ When thou went mi^ificently under
D<^ ehi^' n oho spaylpeyl na tannajry arms —

Do shlinngean, do bheirtean. Thy reeds, thy looms,

do hlinng-en do yeyrten

Do spalamn, do cfaear'slean. Thy shuttles, thy clews,

do ipal-a^ do ohen-len

Do bhuilg do chraicean 's do mharachunn.* And thy skin-bags full of fnarachunn.*

do ynylig do orayo-en ^a do yarachnnn

Fonn:'

Chorus,*-

Bhaclaidheamh air Iain, air Iain, air Tain, A sword was on John, on John, on

ya

John,

day'-ey ayri-ayn ayri-ayn ayri-ayn

Bhaclaidheamhairlainsa'nt-shearmain; A sword was on John at the sermon;

ya olay'-ey ayri-ayn san tera-mayn

Bba claidheamh air Iain, air deas-lamh A sword was on John, the right-handed
ya eiaZ-ey ayr i-ayn ayr das-lay man of my heart,

mo chridhe,
mo ehri'-^

'S e dheanadh an fhighe-neo-chearbach. Who makes the weaving not awk-

86 yena^ aa i'-e ne-OH)hefbach

wardly.

* This word baa no repreaentatiye in Engliah. It meana ihe wool of aheep that died and were left
to rot or be oonamaed with birda and beaaia of proy on the hiD, after haying been gathered and hoarded
earefolly.

240 THB 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 aQ but unequalled, as a
burlesque, in the original, but it is reduced to the common place ui 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 regretfufly
sensible of the injustice to which I am subjecting my grandfather Domhnnll
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 tutor 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 o£f on the old woman as a great foreign gentlemaa 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 Baonuil 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 ''inexpresmbW* 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 EQghlands. Callart sent them to Lundavia,
Lundavra to Glenevis, Glenevis to Letterfinlay, and so on. In dhort, the unlucky
" breeks" travelled from chieftain to chieftain, and clan to clan, through evety
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
Baonuil, 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.

BRIG18 MHIO BUARAIDH. — BOBTSON's BBEECHB&

A bhrigis a bh-agad an am dol a chadal. The ^' breeks" he had when he went

a Yiigis a Tagad an am dol a chad-al tO sleep,

Noir dhuisg usa mhaduinn cha d'fhuair u i, When he awoke in the morning he did

noyr jnyBg u aa Ta-doTzm ofaa d n-ajr a i not find *

OF THE HIGHLAND CLANS. 241

'S cha d' f hag iad na h-aite ach seorsa They left in its place but a sort of

B oha dag i-ad na hayt^ acfa se-or-sa magan*

do mhagan,*

do yagan

Sa fjEkighte fear spagach a shuaineadh- In which a splay-shaped man might

sa feyte fer epag-aoh a hu-ayne'- be swathed.

chadh,
aha'

Fonn : — Chorus : —

Ob bo, oh ho, oh be, oh he, Oh ho, ob ho, oh he, oh he,

Ant-fhisrich,ant-fharaid,nancaaladhsibb, Searched ye, asked ye, or beard ye,

an tia-rich an tar-ayd nan oa-al-a' siv

Ob bo, oh ho, ob he, ob he, Oh ho, oh ho, ob be, ob be,

Co idir thug brigis mbic Buaraidh leis ? For the wandering breeks of Borison ?

€o i-dir bug bri-gis vie ra-a-ray' leys

'S ioma bracbdiacht 's cuil ghabhadh 'n Many were the lairs and queer recesses
d-oma brac-lach 'b ouyl ya-vay' 'n that were visited by the breeks

robb brigis an taileir of the tailor

lov bri-gb an tayl-eyr

Mu'n d' thainig i 'n Charnaich ga fiiar- Before they came to cool themselves

mim dayn-ig in char-naych ga fu-ar- at Camach *

achadh;
aoh-a'

Nan innsinn a h-eachraidh, a slainneadh, Were I to tell their history, their

nan inn-ann a beo-ray' a ilaynna' lineage, their habits,

*s a cleacbda,

BugbradchuirteaSbassunairfuadachi! Quickly would they be bamshed to

bu yiad chnyrt a baasonn ayr fii-a-daofa i England.

Ob bo, etc. Ob bo, etc.

ThoirannHnantrius-balcacbdoCballart Carry the splay-sfaaped trews to

hoyr an son an traa-bale-aoh do ohallart bountiftll Callart,

a phailteis,
a fayl-^ys

Is abir ri'm charraid, le suairceadas, And say to my friend modestly,

18 abtr rim charr-ayd la su-ayro-ed-aB

Ga bbeil i mar bbalcach o stairsnich gu That it is on a foraying expedition

ga veyl i mar valoach o Btayi8-nicb ga from door-step to door-step,

stairsnich,
Btayra-moh

A solar rainn tharsuinn 's na tuadh- To gather oblique rhymes in the
a lolar laynn bar-saynn ana ta-a' nortb country. —

chriocbamL-— Ob, bo, etc. Ob, bo, etc.

wttiauHaoD

* The AraweiB,— 4mt meuing anytfaing toad-ibaped, or ugly.

f Bracbdlacb was anoient]^ the name of a wolf e lair ; it now means tiie caimi in which foxes breed.

Hb

242

THE MUSIC

I regret that I cannot repair the injury done to my 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, howeyer)
before parting with DomhnuU Mac Raonuill, submit the chorus and a single veiBe
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 efiect to the chorus as involuntarily
provokes a burst of laughter. Indeed, this chorus is a whole satire in itself!

Fonn: —
Ho ro agus ho ! ho ro an teagal !
Mile mallachd nar deigh,
6u leir o'n theich sibh !

Fir^, fair6, Lochial I
'S clisg thair sliabh do bhratach !
*M bu chleachda dhith riamh
Sealtain fiatadh 's sgapadh?

Ob, ob, na " fir-mhor"
O Shrath-lochaidh bhradain !
Dhoch-an-assaidh chruidh-mhin,
Luib is ghlinn Lochaircaig !

Chorus: —
Ho ro and ho ! ho ro the panic!
(May) a thousand curses pursue.
Since all of you have fled !

Fi-re, fai-re,* Lochiel !

How swiftly thy banner (clan)

Has cleared the heath !

Is it always their wont

Thus to shy and scatter ?

Ob, ob,* the " big warriors"

Of Strathlochy of the salmon!

Of Doch-an-assay of milky kine,

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 fiilsomely, perhaps, praises the '* fir-mhor" of these
parts of the clan district The poem on Sheriffinufr has never been published,
but stray verses of it are to be found in the districts of the clans who distingoished
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

* MookiBg and lareMtic exckunatioDi which have no equivalent! in Engliih.

OF THE HIGHLAND CLANS. 243

also remark that this humouroas satire was the less calcalated to give offence,
because the retrograde movemeDt of the left wing of the Highlanders was
palpably caused by mismanagement, — ludicrously accelerated by the conduct of
a noblemau, 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 DomhnuU Mac BaonuilPs humourous description of the blunders
of '^ Latha Sliabh an t-8hirradh.*' Bonald 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 Baonuill'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 Mends, 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
Sherifimuir 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 desked 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 Boss 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 Baonuill and Donnacha-ban-nan-oran were great firiends,
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 eoine AthdenoieD at Altoafe,
in which the wairior-hards played-off some hamoaroas practical jokes on the
)ionest Oisgeanj whidi they made the salgect of two graphic and spirited je^
<r esprit^ but I cannot repeat them. On this occasion^ they had a bet, which
resulted in two of the best deecriptire poems in the language, the subject being
their favourite forests — Coirreachan, Ghlinne-Comhan and Beindoraia The
former will be found in the first editicm of Ailkin DaU's works, and the latter
in every Gaelic song book.

I had told my son, William D. Campbell, author of the " Eaid of Albyn,"
since deceased, and a young and talented relative, D. B. Macdonald, that the
single and double emphatic notes, (see page 144) fcHined, 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 \diich I had written some verses in Tait's Magazine, in 1849, ^' Begone,
hope," as showing that English words could be adapted veiy happily to these
emphatic notes, and expressed my regret, that by overlooking this diaracterietio
of Highland melodies in his Scottish songs, even Bums 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 Mow-
ing verses from my son in a few days afterwards, as the resnlt of my adricei
They are not an imitaticm of the Gaelic words sung to the same air ; but th^
folly illustrate this subject, and may perhaps interest the reader, though on a
subject already abundantiy 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 tiie young gentiemen are descended from Ronald of the
Shield, through a son and daughter of Domhnuin Mae-RaonuilL

LAMENT FOB PBINCZ OHABLBS.

The battie is lost, the clansmen are Foremost, where wildest raged warfare

scattered, and danger.

The shield of our country by treachery Fierce rush*d the QwH 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, Tiie daughters of Albyn, distracted
Illeriim o na ho hi, with sorrow, wail,

Illerinn o na ho ro, Coranachs echo from Etive to Bono-
I-uro-vi-o na ho hi. dale ;

OF THE HIQHLAKD CLANS.

245

Glenooe, and Glenmoidart, and distant The red deer lies safe by the lone

Strathallan,

moonlit fountain ;

Bepeat the sad wail, for their bravest But though tempests should rave as

are lUlen. —
lUerinn, etc.

The eagle finds rest in his eyre on the
mountain,

the night round him gathers,
Our Prince finds no home in the land
of his fathers. —
nierinn, eta

The verses to the following tune are commemorative of the surprise of a
party of English soldiers firom the castle of Lochandorb, by the Macdonalds.
King Edward having in one of his Scottish Baids, 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 Icahj {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 taQs of all the horses, and sent them in this state to join the main army,
then in ftdl retreat. The tradition is thus adverted to in a Macdonald parody
on the Gaelic verses to ^^ The Campbells are coming." —

'SiadClan-^onnuillthami'gaireamh, — It is the Macdonalds I am com-
memorating, —
Buidhean ga'n ordugh sroil isarmaibh, — The party to whom has been decreed

banners and arms —
Buidhean dheas ullamh fhuir uiram an The ready, active party that are famed

AUabin, in Albyn,

Dh-fhag an trup shallach air cumachd Who left the infamous troop trimmed
na h-earb& like roes, (without taOa)

''Call aDhollaidh" 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 tunea 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 mufflc.

SUD ICAB GHAIDH AN OAL DHOLAIDH.— 80 WAS THB KALE SPOILED.

Sud mar chaidh an cal a dholaidh,

nd mar ohay' an cal a yol-a/'

Bad mar chaidh an cal a dholaidh,
nd mar fAasf an Ml a yol-aj'

That was the way that the kale was
spoiled.

That was the way that the kale was
apoiied.

246

Sud mar cbaidh an cal a dholaidh,

Bad mar chay' an cal a jol-aj'

Air na bodaich ghalda.
ajrr na bo-daych yalda

THB MUSIC

That was the way that the kale wai
spoiled,

On the boorish strangers.

The gallant seaman has a somewhat light reputation in Gttelic 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-heaited
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 solm^
the^^n 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 saUing his own ship in the Highlands) are strikingly pathetic
and beautiAil, both for sentiment and imagery.

FHEAB A BHATA.

'S trie mi sealtinn *o'n chnoic is airde,

strio mi seldim on ODoyo b ayrde

Dh-f hiach a faic mi fear a bhata ;

yi-aoh a fayo mi for a vata

Ach 's ann a tha gach aon ag raitean

ach Mum a ha gaoh aoa ag rayten

Our mi bha gorach noir thug mi gradh

gnr mi va gorach noyr hug mi gra'
dhath.

Often do I look from the highest
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 ejM

Fhear a bhata, na horo eile ;

er a vata na horo eyl^

Fhear a bhata, na horo eile,

er a vata na horo eyl^
A ruin 's luaidh gur a truagh na

a myn 'a In-ay' gnr a tm-a' na

d* dheidh ml
d' yey' mi

Chorus: —
Man of the boat, horo eyie,

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 ga trio ag inn-se'

Gufeum mit-aogaisachuirair di-chuinn' ; That I must give thy image to forget-

ga feym mi taog-ays a chayr ayr di-ohayn fulness ;

OF THE HIGHLAND CLANS.

247

Ach tha'n comhairle dhomhchodiamhain. But their advice to me is unayaOiDg

ach ban oo'-ayrie joy oho di-a-yayn

^8 tilleadli mara *8 i toirt a lionaidh. — As attempting to turn the tide when

atille' mara d toyrt a K-o-na/ flowing. —

Fhear, etc. Man, etc.

Thug mi gaol dhut 's cha'n fhoad mi
hog mi gaol jut 'a chan aod mi

aicheadh ;
ayeh-a'

Cha ghaol bliadhnadh, 's cha ghaol raidh,
cha yaol bli-a'-na *8 oha yaol ray'

Ach gaol a thoiseich noir bha mi am

acfa gaol a hoy-sicb noyr va mi am

phaisdean,
fitjB-den

*S nach searg a choidh gus an cloidh

snach serag a ohoy' gos an doy'

am has mL — ^Fhear, etc.

am baa mi

I have given thee my love, and cannot
recal it;

It was not love for a year, nor love
for a quarter,

But love which began when I was a
child.

And which will not fade until death
has conquered. —
Man, etc.

Tha mo chridhe briste, bruite,

ha mo chri'-e briste brayte

'8 trie na deoir a ruidh o'm shuilean,

Btric na de-oyr a my' om hoy-len

An tig u nochd nam hi mo dhuil riut ?

an tig a noo nam hi mo yayl ri-nt

Na'n duin mfn dorus le osnadh thursaich?

nan doyn min dorna la oana' har-aaych

Fhear, etc.
Qe do their iad gu bheil u eatrom,

ge do heyr i-ad ga yeyl a e-trom

Cha do lughdaich sin mo ghaolsa ;
cha do lu'-daych tan mo yaol-aa

Bithidh tu *m aisling ann 's an oiche,

bi'-i tu^m ayslmg ann san oy-che

'8 ann sa mhaduinn bith mi ga d'fhoi-

aann sa va-daynn bi' mi ga d oy-

neachd. — ^Fhear, etc.

nee

Bidhidh mi tuille gu tursach, deurach,

M'-i' mi tnylle ga tnr-saoh der-ach

Mar eala bhain an deigh a reubadh,

mar dUa vayn an dey' a reyba'

Guilleag bais aic air lochan feurach,

gayll-ag bays ayo ayr loohan &yr-aoh

Is each uille an deigh a treigeidh. —

is oaoh nylle an dep a treyg-ey'

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.

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

THX MUSIC

The following verses are of considerable antjqdtj, and have been always
admired.

MABI BHOIDHEACH. — BOSTSTT ICABT.

A Mhari bhoidheach, gur mor mo Bonny Mary, great is my love to thee;

a van voyeoh gar mor mo

ghaol ort,
yaol ort

'S trie mi cuimhneachadh ort 's mi Often do I think of thee when alone ;

strio mi cajBecha' ort ami

m'aonar;

maonar

Ge do shiubhlainn gach ceum de'n Although I should wander the world

ge do hi-a-Iaymi gaoh oeym den over

t-saoghal,
tao'-al

Bi t-iomhaigh bhoidheach tigh'n beo Thy beautiful image would come alive
bi tiv-ay' voyech ti'o be^ on every side.

gach taobh dhiom.

gaoh taoT yi-om

Fann : — CkoruM : —

A Mhari bhoidheach, 's Mhari ghaolach, Maiy beautiful, Mary lovely,

a yaii Toj'-ech *• yari yaol-aoh

A Mhari bhoidheach, gur mor mo Mary beautiful, grei^ is my love to

a yari yoj'-eoh gnr mor mo thee *

ghaol ort ;
yaol ort

A Mhari bhoidheach, gur tu chloidh mi, Mary beautiful, thou afflictest

a yari yojr'-eoh gar ta chloj' mi

'S dh-fhag mi bronach gun doigh air And makest me sonowful, Binoe I

'a jag mi bron-ach gan doy' ajr kuow not how to WOn thee.

t-fhaotuinn.

taot-ajn

'S mor a b'anns* bhi le Mari bhoidheach. Much more would I desire to be with

mor a banns yi le mari yoy'-ecb bonny Mary,

Ambothanairidhfo^ath,namorbheann, In a bothy under the shadow of the
am bo^-an ayri' fo Bga' na mor-yenn great mountains,

Na bhith 'm ri^h ann 's an Boinn-Eorpa, Than to be a king in Europe,
na yi'm n' ann san royn-e-inpa

Gun choir air Mari mo ghraidh am Without a i^t to my beloved Maiy.

gnn ofaojr ajr mari mo yra/ am Maiy, &C.

poeadk-A Mhari, etc.

pO0-a'

Chithear feidh air sgeith *8 na speuran, Deer will be seen on their wings in
ohi'-er ft/ ayr 9gdf oka «pejrni the sky,

Chithear iasg a falbh nan sleibhtean, Fish wfll be seen walkiiig cm the

ofai'-er i-aag a fiJy nan al^yyten wolds.

OF THE HIGHLAND CLANS.

249

Chithear sneachda dabh air gheagan,

ohi'-er sneac-a day bjt jejgan

Mu faicer caochladh air mo speis dbuit. —

ma &70-er caoch-la' ajr mo spe/s ynyi

A Mhari, etc.

Snow will be seen black on the trees,

Before a change is seen in my love to
thee.^-
Mary, &c.

6ur it flur is boidhche an garadh,

gar ta flar is boj'-che an gara'

'A faillean ailail nach lub le faillinn ; —

a fikjUeo allajl naoh lab le fayllin

Mar shoilse greine air sleibhtean arda,
mar hojlfle grejn^ ajr slejTten arda

Tha coltas, ceutadh is beosan, Mari. —

ha Goltas oejta' is bejsan mari

A Mhari, etc.

Thou art the flower most beautiful in
the garden.

The noble sapling that will not bend
with a flaw, —

Like sunshme on the highest wolds,

In appearance, purity and virtue is
Mary. —
Mary, &a

Bo shuil ghorm mheallach fo d' mhalaidh

do hajl jorm yellaoh fo d* val-ay'

bhoidhich,
▼oy'-aych

Do bheulan tana air dhath nan rosain,
do veylan tana ayr ja' nan roe-ayn

Do shlios mar chana an gleamian

do lis mar chana an glennap
mointich,

mojntich

'S do ghruaidh mar chaoran fo sgiadfa
^8 do Tm-aj' mar ehaoran fo sgey

na morbheanou^-A Mhari, eta
na mor-veon

Thy eye blue and large, beneath a
graceful eyebrow.

Thy lips slender and of the colour of
tne rose.

Thy bosom like cana in a sequestered
glen.

Thy cheeks like the rowan-berry under
the wing of the high mountain. —
Mai7> &c

Cha dean eala air slios na mor-thonn,

dia den eHa ayr slis na mor-hoon

Cha dean smeoil ann an doire ceothar ;

cha den sme-oyl ann an doyrd ce^o'-ar

Cha dean cruit nan theud bion ach

eha den orayt am teyd binn aoh

cronan,

cK)nan
Noir a sheinneas mo Mhari bhoidheach.

noyr a heynnes mo van Toy'-eoh

A Mhari, etc.

The swan makes not over the majestic
waves.

The thrush in a mist envel(^d grove,

The harp of sweetest chords, but a
murmur

When sings my beautiful Mary —

Mary, &c.

A ohoisir bhega nan oran cianael,

a choyair vega nan oran 4a-an>>el

Ambar nangeagannan airdnah-iarmailt,

am bar nan gegan nan ayrd na hi-ar-maylt

Little choir of the pensive minstrelsy,

Whether in the tops of the boughs
or in the height of the skies,

II

250 THE MUSIC

Na biodh lathadh ann sa bhlianadh, Let no day pass during the year,

na bi' la' -a' ann sa vli-a-na'

Nacb seinn sibh ceol do mo Mbari In which you do not sing to comely

nacb sejnn siv oe-ol do mo yari Mary.

chiataich. — ^A Mbari, etc.

cbi-a-tayoh

Noir abbidbis mi gu tursach, tiamhaidh, When I am heavy, melancholy,

noyr a vi'-is mi gu tursacb ti-a-vay'

Mo chridh* fo iomagain 's le curam , My heart anxious and full of care,

mo cbri' fo i-o-ma-gajn ale coram

lionteadb,

Unte'

*

Ni do ghnuis a tha mar gbrian dhomb, Thy face, which is as the sun to me,

ni do yna-is-sa ha mar yri-an yov

M' eibbneas coimbliont' noir tbig u 'm Completes my joy when in my

meyy-nes ooyv-lont noyr big n'm presence. —

fbianuis. — ^A Mbari, etc. Mary, etc.

i-an-nys

I happened, .many years ago, to be asked by a friend, the editor of a
provincial newspaper, to attend a concert which be could not attend himself,
and supply the necessary notipe 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 bis 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 bis subject. Thus, when tlie 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 oflben 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^ hecause 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 vyouJtdSi^ "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 be was much pleased. As I expressed my regret that we had no Highlander
to illustrate the songs of the Grael, 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 bis concerts in London. I got the music copied by a precentor, fiom

OF THE HIGHLAND CLANS.

251

my own voice ; and, although I was anything bnt 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 Juimself 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

mo cbaytin donn og 8 mo ni'-en duy

thogarrach,
hoga-rach

Thogainn ort fonn 's neo throm gu'n

hog-ayn ort fonn 8 ne-o hrom gnn

togainn,

tog-aynn

Mo nighean dubh gu'n fhiaraidh mo

mo ni'-en duv gon i-ar-aj' mo

bhriadhar gu'n togainn,

vri'-ar gnn tog-aynn

'S gun innsinn an taobhar nach ealaer

8 gnn inn-ainn an ta-o-var nach der

gad thogradh,
gad hog-ra'

Mo chailinn donn og.

mo cbaylin donn og

My auburn-haired maid, so fair and
comely,

So sprightly and gay, so kind and
lovely.

Of thee I would sing, the cause re-
lating

Why thou art not wooed, when others
are mating.

My auburn-haired maid.

6a bheil u gu boidheach baindidh
gn veyl n gu boy'-ech bayn-di'

bannael,

ban-nel

Gun chron ort fo'n ghrein gu'n bheum

gnn chron ort fon yreyn gun veym

gu'n sgainnir,

gnn sgaynnir

Gur gili u fo*d leine na eiteag na mara,

gur gQ' n fo'd leyn^ na ey-teg na mara

'8 tha choir agam fein gu'n cheile bhi
's ha cboyr agam feyn gnn cheyle vi

mar riut,
mar ri-nt

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.

J52

THE MUSIC

Noir bhios mi air feil *s na ceudnan

ooyr ▼» mi ayr feyl $ na oey-dan
mar rium,

mar ri-um

Do chuideachadh choir a db-olas drama,

do ohujd-ac-a' ehojr a jolas drama
Gu'n suidh mi mu'n bhord 's gun traigh

gmi Buy' mi man yord b gmi tray'

mi mo eherreag,

mi mo herrag

'S cha d' thuirt mo bhen riamh rium

s cha d hayrt mo yen ri-av ri-nm

ach " Dia leat a Challum !"

ach di-a let a challum

Mo chailinn donn og.

mo chaylin donn og

Ged tha mi gu'n or le ol 's le iomairt,

ged ha mi gun or le ol b le iomayrt

'S air bheagan do ni le pris na mine,

8 ayr vegan do ni le pris na min^

Tha 'm ortan aig dia 's e fialaidh uime,

ha mortan ayg di-a 8 e fi-a-lay' uym^

'S ma gheibh mi mo shlainte gu'm paidh

8 mo yeyy mi mo olaynt^ gum pay

mi na shir mi,

mi na hir mi

Mo chailinn donn og.

mo chaylin donn og

*S ioma bodachan gnu nach duirig

8 i-oma bo-dach-an gnu naoh duyrig

m'aithris,
may'-ris

Le thional air spreidh 's iad ga threigsin
le lii-oD-al ayr sprey' Bi-ad ga fa-reyg-sin

san earracb,
Ban errach

Nach ol ann sa bhliadhna trian aghallain,
nach ol ann aa yli-a'-na tri-an a yaU-ayn

'S cha toir e fo'n uir nas mu nabheir Galium,

8 cha toyr e fo'n nyr nas mu na beyr callnm

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 ccMan^

Yet my wife's harshest phrase is but
" God sam 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.

Ton sour-hearted boor who scorns my
example.

Who gruis and who mails, though his
means are ample,

Who spends in the year scarce tbe

price of a gaUan,
Will bring 'neath the mooh 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 netiJe yont my haUan,
And I've scorn for the knave who deems slightly of Allan,*
My auburn-haired maid.

* Thii line was luggeited by the tradition introductory to this song in Tait*a Maganne of May 18^9-

OF THE HiatiLAND CLANS.

253

OVMHADH UHIO CBUIMEN.—

Dh-iadh ceo nan stuc mu aodan Chuilinn,
yi-a' oe-o nao fttno ma aodan obajlizm

Is sheinn a bhean shith a torgan mulaid ;

18 beynn a yen hi' a torogan mnlayd

Tha soil ghorm chiain san dun a sile,

ha Buyl yonn chi-ayn san dan a sil^

Bhon thriall e bh-uain sadbiult e tilleadL
▼on h-ri-ali e vn-ayn sa ynylt e Ulle'

Fonn : —
C3ia mieadh, cba tilleadh, cha tilleadh

cha tille' oha tille' cha tiUe'

Mac-Cruimen !

mao oroymen

O cbogadh is iomaul cba tilleadh an

o ohoga' 18 im-ayrt oha tQle' an

cniridb I

cayr-i'

Cba tilleadb, cba tilleadb, cba tilleadb
cha tille' cha tille' cha tille'

Mac-Cmimen !

mac oniymen

Cha till e gu brath, gn la na cruinneadh !
cha till 6 ga bra' ga la na craynne'

Tha osag an t-sbleibh misg gheug a

ha osag an tieyv misg yeyg a

cnmbadh,
ca-va'

Gach srutban is alt a bron air brntbaich,

gach sni'-an is alt a bron ayr brn'-ayoh

Thafillidbeannangengaseinngadubbacb,

ba filli'-en nan geyg a aeynn ga daTSch

O^n dh-fhalbh ebb-uain'snacb till e tuille.
on yal? e To-ayn ^snach till e toyll6

Cba till, etc.
Tha^n oiche fo neoil, Ian broin is mulaid,

ban o-i-chefo ne-oyl Lm broyn ia ma-layd

A bhirlinn fo sbeol, 's cba*n fbeorich
a Tir-linn fo he-ol 'b chan e-o-rich

siubhal ;

si-n-val

Tha gair nan tonn ri fonn neo-sbubbach,
ha gayr nan tonn ri fonn ne-o-bnyaoh

A coidh gun t-albh 's nach till e tuille.
a coy' gon talav 'anach till e tayll^

Cba till, etc.

Cha thionael lucbd ciuil san dun mu
cha hi-on-ayl Incfad d*ayl san don ma

fheasgar,

eflgar

-MAO CBUIMEH*8 LAHBKT.

The mountain mist flows deep on
Cullin,

The fay sings her elegy sorrowful ;

Mild blue eyes in the dun are in tears,

Since he departed, and refused to
return.

ChoTtia: —

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 I

The wind of the wold among the
boughs is wailing.

Each streamlet and bum is sad on
the hills.

The minstrels of the boughs are sing^
ing mournfully.

Since he departed, and will never
return. —
Betum, etc.

The night is clouded, sorrowful, and

mgt
sad,

The birlin under sail but reluctant
to depart ;

The waves of the sea have a sound
not happy.

Lamenting that he departed, and will
never return. —
Betumy etc.

Gather will not the tuneful race of
the dun in the evening,

254

THE MUSIC

'Smacta11a,foBhu]xl,lemuirngafreagairt; While Echo, with alacrity and joy,

answers them ;

The youths and maidens are without
music, lamenting

*fliiuiO-talla fo hard le majni ga freg-ajrt

Gach fleasgach 's gach oigh, gun cheol,
gach flesg-adi 's gaoh oj' gun che-ol

a tuireadh

a tuyr-e'

Gun d' f halbh e bh>uain, *8 nach till e tuille.

gnn dalav e vn-ajn 'snaoh till e taj\\6

Cha tilleadh, cha tilleadh, cha tilleadh,

cha tille' oha itille' oha tille'
Mac-Cruimen,

mao oraymeii

O chogadh is iomairt cha tilleadh an
choga' ia im-ayrt cha tille' an

cuiridh!

onyr-i'

Cha tilleadh, cha tilleadh, cha tilleadh
oha tille' oha tiUe' oha till'

Mac-Cruimen !

mao omjmeii

Cha till e gu brath, gu la na cruinneadh!

oha till e ga bra' ga la na crujnne'

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 I

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 sioging
his ballad beginning " come with me, and be my love," to the air of Mail
Bhan. I heaxd 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 choni&
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 m
every thing honourable to the Gael, Colin Campbell, Esq., Collector of Inland
Revenue, 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 Benfrewshire Volunteers.

A HHAIGHDEAN HHODHAB.

A mhaighdean mhodhar is boidh'che
a vay'-den vo'-ar is boy'-ohe

dealbh,
de-alv

Tha do ghruaigh mar an caoran dearg,

ha do yni-ay' mar an oaoran derag

Maiden tender of the most beautiful
(symmetrical) figure.

Thy cheeks are as rowan red.

Thy eyes like (blae) berries in morn-
ing dew,

Do shuil mar dhearcaig fo dhriuchd so

do hnyl mar yero-ayg fo yri-ac so

mhaduinn,

yad-nynn
Doshliosmareala,marshneachddolaimh. Thy bosom like the swan, thy hands

do h-lis mar ella mar neohd do lajv snow.

* The laat of this noble race of minetrek ii a blind and renerable old gentleman liTiDg at Goarock.

OF THE HIGHLAND CLANS. 255

^onn :— Chorus :—

Paillill oh ro, air Mari bhain, FayllUl oh ro, ayr Man bhain,

fayllill oh ro ajr mari vajn

Faillill oh ro, gur tu mo ghradh ; Fayllill oh ro, gur tu mo yra' ;

fiijilill oh ro gar ta mo jn!

Faillill oh ro, na hu-ill o ro, Fayllill oh ro, na h-uill o ro,

fiijUill oh ro na hn-ill o ro

Gu'n togain fonn, air mo Mhari bhain. Gun togain fonn, air mo Mari

gan tog-ayn fonn ayr mo yari yayn bhain.

DUANAG CEITEIN. — MAY LILT.

Noir chuireas an Ceiten na geugan fo When May clothes the boughs with

noyr chnj-res an cejten na geyg-an fo bloom

bhlath,
Tla'

Biodh na h-eoin a seinn a la 's dh-oiche And the birds sing in them night and

hi' na he-oyn a seynn a la*8 yoy-ohe day

sa la,
sa la

Bidh gobhair, bidh caoirich is crodh- There will be goats, sheep, milk cows,

W govayr bi' caoyrich is cro'-

loigh le'n a1,

loy' len al

Aig Mari oig ga^Q saodachadh ri aodan And young Mary driving them a^inst

ayg mari oyg gan saod-a-cha ri aodan the breast of the hills.

cham.
ebam

Fonn : — Chorus : —

Ho, mo Mhari laghach, 's tu mo Mhari Ho, my bonny Mary, ho, my Mary

ho mo yari la'-aoh 'etn mo yari trim,

ghrinn,

yrinn

Ho, mo Mhari laghach, 's tu, mo Mhari Ho, my bonny Maiy, ho, my Mary

ho mo yari la'-ach 'stn mo yari melodious ;

bhinn ;

yinn

Ho, mo Mhari laghach, 's tu, mo Mhari Ho, mjr bonny Mary, ho, my Mary

ho mo yari la'-ach 'atu mo yari trim,

ghrinn,

yrinn

Mari lurach bhoidheach ga'n comhnuidh My Marv bonny, lively, who dwells

man Inr-ach yoy-ech gan ooy-nny' intheglens.

na glinn.

na glinn

Cha'n *eil inneal ciuil a thuirling riamh No instrument has ever sounded under

cha-noyl inn-d d-nyl a hnrlmg ri-av the SUn

fo'n ghrein,

fon yreyn

256

THE MUSIO

A dh-airisis air choir gach ceol bbios That can adequately imitate eyeiy

a yajfia-is ayr choyr gach ce-ol via kind of music we have, —

again fein, —
agayn feyn

Uiseag air gach lonan, smeorach air A lark on every meadow, a thrush on

nj-Beg ayr gach lo-nan sme-o-raoh ayr

gach geig,

gach geyg

*S cuag seinn le muim a loidh do'n chiuin- And the cnckoo sin^ng joyously her

'flcu-ag seynn le mnym a loy' don ohi-nyn-

mhios cheit — Ho, etc.

vi-os cheyt

every branch,

hymn to the mild month of May.
Ho, &c.

Tha do eheang shlios fallain mar eala

ha do heng hlis &Uayn mar ella

air snamh ;
ayr snay

Muineal mar an canach, beul o*m banail

maynel mar an oanach beyl om ban-ayl

failt,
&ylt

Gruaidh air dhath an t-shiris, suil-ghorm

gm-ay' ayr ya' an tir-is sayl-yorm

mhilis thiath,
Tills hla'

Mala-chaol gu'n ghruaman, gnnis ghlan,

mala-chaol gan ym-a-man gonys ylan

'b cuach-fhalt ban. — Ho, etc.

'b ca-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 bine, sweet,
warm,

A slender eye-brow, without a frowD, a
white forehead, hair curly and fair.
Ho, &c.

Oed bu leamsa Albaiun, 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 yi'-mn sona' gon do cho-mnnn

gaoil?
gaoyl

B* annsa Mari bhoidheach le deo choir

bannsa mari voy'-eoh le 4e-o choyr

dhomh fein,

yov feyn

Na ged gheibhinn storas na Boin-Eorp

na ged yeyv-inn storas na royn-eorp

gu leir. — ^Ho, etc.

ga leyr

Although mine were Albin, and her
wealth and power,

How could I be happy, without thy
loved companionship ?

Bather would I have bonny Mary,
witii a good right, to myself,

Than a title to Europe with all her
wealtL —
Ho, etc.

The following verses were written by William Boss, to the original of the
ah: known in the Lowlands as " O'er the muir amang the heather." Both seta
are very beautiful; but the Highland set has certainly more tendemess,
simplicity, and dignity, at least to my taste.

OF THE HIGHLAND CLANS.

267

S CIANEL m' FHUIREAOH AN DUNBIDIN. — PENSIVE IS MY RESIDENCE IN

DUNEIDIN.

Pensive is my residence in Duneidin,

Keeping company with English-speak-
ing men;

'S cianel m' fhuireach an Duneidin,

'ad-and majreoh an diin-e7diii

Cumail comnnn ri luchd Beurladh ;

cumajl oommm ri Inc bejrla'

Thoir mo shoraidh bhiath gun treigsin, Bear my unchanged salute

hojr mo horay' via' gan trqrgun

Dh-ionnsaidh 'm eibhneis anns 's na To my joy, among the glens.
yi-im-wy' meTv-neys anns

glennaibh.
gleon-ayv

Fann : —
E ho ro, mo run a chailinn,

e ho ro mo nm a ohajlin

E ho ro, mo nm a chailinn ;
e ho ro mo ran a ohajlin

Bun a chailinn, suairce manran,
ran a obajlio sa-ayro^ man-ran

Db-oich 's la tha tigh'n fo m' aire.

joych *sla ha ti'-n fo mayre

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.

Tha mo cridhe dubhach, ciurte,

ha mo ohri'-e dn-yach d-nrte

'S trie na deoir a midh o'm huillean ;

strio na de-oyr a ray' om hayllen

An tig a an diugh na 'm bith mo dhuil riut,

an tig a an di-u' nam bi' mo ynyl ri-nt

Na'n dian mi an t-iul tbair na beannaibh?

nan di-an mi an ti-nl hayr na bennayv

E ho ro, etc.

My heart is sad, wounded.

Tears run frequently from my eyes ;

Wilt thou come to-day, or may I ex-
pect thee,

Or shall I make my way over the
mountains ? —
E ho ro, etc.

Tha mo chridhe mar na cuainten,

ha mo ohri'-e mar na cn-aynten

Na duilleach nan crann fo luasgain ;

na dnyUeoh nan crann fo la-asgayn

Na mar fhiadh fo thart an fhuaraen,

na mar i-a' fo hart an n-a-ren

'S mo shuillean ruaimleach le faire. —
■mo hoyll-en ra-aym-lach le &yre

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, eta

Gur binne na smeorach ceiten,
I me na Bina-or-acb o^yten

C obheoil*stac(Hnhradhreidbrium,

6 ve-oyl 8tm oov-ra' rey' ri-nm

Sweeter than the thrush in May

Are the words of thy mouth in kindly
converse with me,

Kk

258

THE MUSIC

*S mo chliabh a lasadh le eibhneas,

smo ohli-aT a laaa' le eyy-nes

Tabhairt eisdeachd dha d' bbeul tains,
tav-ajrt eye-dec ya d* veyl tayria

E ho ro, etc.
'S ta mo Ion, mo cheol, mo chlarsach,

eta mo Ion mo che-ol mo chlar-sach

Mo leng phrieseil, rimheach, aghmhor,
mo leng fri-aejl rivech agh-vor

Bi an t-sheun a chumadh o*n bbas mi,
bi an tejn a ohnma' on Tas mi

Maigbdeami mo ghraidh bhi mar rium.

may^-den mo jny* yi mar ri-nm

E ho ro, etc.
Gar h-etrom mo ghlens is m' iompaidh,

gnr hetrom mo yleys is mi-ompay'

'S neo lodail mo cheum o*n fhonnsay

*8 ne-o lo-dayl mo oheym on onnsa

Gu tir ard nan sar fhear sundach,

gn tir ard nan ear er enndaoh

'S mi treigsin na galltachd nam dheann-

emi treyg-rin na galltao nam yenn-

aibh. — ^E ho ro, etc.

ayv

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.

Diridh mi ri tulach Armuin,

diri' mi ri tnlach armnyn

Air leth-taobh strath min na Lang,

ayr le'-taov era' min na larig

'S teamaidh mi gu Innis-bhla-choil,

flteniay' mi ga innie-vla-ohoyl

*S ghibh mi Sine bhan gun sma11an« —
'e yey mi sine van gun emallan

E ho ro, mo ruin a chailinn,

e ho ro mo nm a ohaylin

E ho ro, mo ruin a chailmn ;

e ho ro mo ran a ohaylin

Buin a chailinn, suairce manran,

nm a chaylin sn-ayroe man-ran

Dh-oich 's la tha tigh'n fo m' aire,
yoyoh 'sla ha ti'-n fo mayre

I will ascend the hill of Armoin,
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.

Bums 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 Bums into the land of Nod aloog with

OF THB 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-haiml swarthy youth. I heard it sung in the true spirit
by one of her descendants, MissMacdonald of Drimnantorran, who inherits the taste
of heV 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 QILLIDH DUBH CIAB DUBH.

I ascend not a hill,

Cha dhirich mi brudhach,

eha dirich mi bra'-aoh

Cha shiubhail mi mointeach,

cha hi-nyayl mi moyntech

Dh' fhalbh mo ghuth binn,

yaly mo 7a' biui

Cha sheinn mi oran,

oha heyn mi oran

Cha chaideal mi uair,

cha ohaydel mi u-xyr

luain gu domhnach,
lu-ajn ga dovnaoh

I cross not a heath,
I tune not my voice,
I sing not a song,
I sleep not an hour,
From Monday till Sunday,

Gu*n an gillidh dubh ciar dubh thighinn Without being conscious (in my heart)
— -.« ^11:1 ;!.,-, ^... A^^ u:>^:.- of the black-haired swarthy youth.

Without, etc.

gnn an gilli' duv oiar dav hi -inn

fo'm uidh. — Gu'n an gillidh, etc.

fo*m nj'

Briodal beoil u, gradh bhan og u,

bridal be-oyl n gra' van og u

Cruaidh-bhuilleach, fearra-bhuilleach,

cra-ay'-vajUach ferra-vayllach

Sealgaer air mointich,

selager ajr mo-in-tioh

Lamh a leagadh nan damh cabarach,

lay a lega' nan tay oabaraoh

*S na'm bradan leis a mhorbhadh,

'0 nam bradan leys a yonra

An gillidh dubh ciar tha tighinn fo'm

an gilli' dny d-ar ha ti'-inn fom

uidh. — ^An pllidh, etc.

ny'

B-eibhinn leom coir air a ghillidh dhubh

beyyinn le-om oojrr ayr a yilli' yuy

chiar-dubh,

cbi-ar-day

Fhaotain ri phasadh na'n deonaichidh
aotayn ri fiwa' nan de-on-ioh-e'

dia e.
di-a 6

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.

'T were joy to have a right to the
black-haired swarthy youth.

To get him in marriage, should God
ordain it.

260

THE MUSIC

Bachain leat do'n t-Holaint,

rach-ayn let don t-ol-aynt

Mo dheo ! be mo mhian e ;

mo je-o be mo vi-aa e

'S cha ghabhain fear liadh 's tu tighinn

8 oha jay-ajn fer li-a' s ta ti'-um

fo'm uidh. — 'S cha, etc.

fom ny*

I would go with thee to HoUand,

Indeed, it were my delight to do so ;

And I will not haye a grey-headed
man, while conscious of thee.
And I, eta

The air to which the following verses are sung I received from my daughter,
Mrs Lang. Logan, in the " Scottish Oael," 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
firom fragments, excepting the first verse of each, which begin with the same words.

OICH MAB TEA MI 's MI NA *M AONAB.

Oich mar tha mi 's mi na *m aonar,

oyoh mar ba mi 8 mi na m aonar

Cha chadal aobhach a gheabhain ann,

oha chada aov-aoh a yev-ayn ann

Aig boidhchead t-aodainn, is miad mo

ayg boy-obed t-aod-ajnn is mi-ad mo

ghaoil ort ;
yaoyl ort

Gu'm b-ait leam fhaotainn dhiot guth
gnm bayt le-am aot-aynn ji-ot ga'

an chaint.

an cbaynt

Farm: —
na bith guidhe an gaol a threigsin,

o na bi' gnj'-e an gaol a breyg-sinn

Bha chein dhuinn na eibhneas aigh ;

Ta cheyn ynyn na eyv-nes ay'

Qei scar air cairdeann gun iochd o
ged soar ayr cayrd-enn gan i-oo o

cheir sinn,

cheyl Binn

Na fag gu leir mi gun speis gun bhaigh.

na (ag galeyr mi gan speys gan vay

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 obnyr-eB oeyt-en gaoh doyre geyg-ach

A sheinn le eibhneas fo ceumaibh graidh.

a beynn le eyv-nes fo oeym-ayv gray'

'S ann bhios mi 'm aonar, gu tursach,

B ann yiB mi m aonar ga tursaob

deurach,

deyracb

A strith ri eislean nach geil 's nach traidh.

a Btri' ri eyslen nach geyl 8 naob tray'

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-iomhaidhdhteachairachoidhadearca, On thy beautiful image for ever

ayr ti-o-yay' yreoh-ajr a choy' a deroa dwelling,

Cha 'n fhiudh leam bearteas na staid an Worthless (in my estimation) is the

cha'n i-n' lem bertes na aUyd an wealth and state of kings ;

righ;

ri'

Guth fuar a ghliocais, suil uaibhreach The cold voice of wisdom, the lofty

ga' fti-ar a yli-oo-ays suyl n-ayr-reoh eye of the SCOmful,

tailceis,

taylo-eys

Cha chluinn, cha 'n fhaic is cha bhith I hear not, I mark not ; there is no-
cfaa ohlaynn cha'n aye b cha tI' thing real to me save thee ! —

'm bheachd ach i I — na, etc. Oh, etc.

m yeo aoh i

■

Domhnull Donn mac fear Bhoshuintainn, (Dovnul donn mac fer Yo-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 lawfid 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 Lom, who was
royal Oeltic bard to three of the Stuart kings. I have shown elsewhere that
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 Lom
was a convert to feudalism, and wanted the chiefs to take feudal charters^ until
be 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 ch€ai;erB 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 except
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 catn-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.

* Galpa was the old name of th« young stook in which the fixed rests of the dans were paid. The
clans were in the first ages of feudalism, allowed to pay their calpa (" caupe'* in feudal enactments) either t<o
the chief or feudal giantee. 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 tenantcy, with a limited
duration.

262 THS MUSIC

Donald held that the tenants of the grantees of feudal charters were boond to
pay to the native chief the calpa paid by the eyicted 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 Lom ; 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 Lom, 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 ro/al bard almost descends to scurrility.
Domhnull Donn was in love with a daughter of the chief of the Granta
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 matcL 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 Baonuill,t 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 bam. 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 W^igton to the tonn o* Air,
And all be-doun the Unka o' Gree,
No man need think to tarry there,
Union he oouit Saint Kennedy.— Old Aphobism.

f See the New Monthly Magazine of, I think, 1829, for the article " Gm-«-Ghiio«i;'

OF THE HIGHLAND CLAN8.

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 ga bra
Air a ghunna mar arm,

ayr a jnnna mar arm

'N deigh a mheallaidh 's an tair a

'n dey' a yellaj' Ban tayr a

f huair mi. — Mile, etc.

ku-ayr mi

6ed a gheabhain dhomh fein

ged a jev-ayn jot feyn
Lan buaile de spreidh,

Ian ba-ayle de sprey'

B* annsa claidheamh le sgeidh 's an

bannsa day'-ev le age' aan

uair ad. — Gte, etc.

n-ayr ad

Bha tri fiched is triuir

ya tii fich-ed is tri-nyr

6a 'm ruidh feadh nan lub,

gam my' fe' nan lab

Gus 'n do bhuin iad mo lus le luathas nam.

giu 'n do ynyn i-ad mo Ina le la' -as n-am

Bha, etc.

Bigh I gar mise a bha nar

n gar mise a ya nar

Noir a ghlachd iad mi slan

noyr a ylac i-ad mi slan

*S nach tug mi fear ban na ruadh dhiu.

snach tog mi for ban na ra-a' yi-u

Righ, etc.
Na *m biodh fios mi bhi 'n laimh,

na m bi-o' Bb mi yi*n layy

'S iomadh Domhnalach ard,

si-oma' doynalaoh ard

A ghabha mo phairt *s an uairsa.

a yaya mo fayrt s an n-ayrsa
Na, etc.

AguB maighdhean dheas ur,

agos mayden yes or

Is ard beachd 's as caoin gnuis,
is aid beo s as caoyn gnnys

A thousand curses for ever

On the gun as a weapon.

After the deception and degradation
I have met with. —
A thousand, etc.

Had I been oflfered

A fold of cattle,

I would have preferred a sword and
target at that moment. —
Had, etc.

There were three-score and three

Chasing me along the windings of the
river,

Until they won my strength from me
by speed. —
There, etc.

Bigh I but I was ashamed

When they caught me alive

Without losing a man, fair or red. —
Bigh, etc.

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 fisu^e.

264

THB MUSIC

A chuireadh na cruin* ga 'm fhusgladh.

a dtmyn' na orajn gam u-as-gla'

Agus, etc.

Would give crowns* to release me.
And, etc.

Iain duibh tog a mach,

i-ajn dn^v tog a mach

'S thoir na fhaodas tu leat —

• hoyr na yaodas tu le-at

Cum cuimhneadh air a bheart bu dual

cam cuTv-ne' ajr a veyrt ba da-al

dhut — Iain, etc.
yut

Black-haired John, arise, and come
forth

With as many as you can gatheiv-

Remember the wont of your ancestors.
Black, etc.

Na'm biodh tusa fo ghlais,

nam bi-o' tofla fo ylajs

Agus mise a bhi as,

agns miM a bhi as

Naile chumain mo chas gle luaineach.

nayU ohamayn mo ohaa gle la-ayneoh

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,

▼i-o' an tHMan gle jerr

'S a feile gle ard,
8 a feyl^ gle aid

'S balgan peallach oscean na cruachain,

8 balagan pellaoh os-oen na eni-a-chaTn

&C. — ^Bhiodh, etc.

The hose would be very short,

The kilt very high.

And the shaggy haversack above the
haunch, &c
The, etc.

Domhnull Donn 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 Baonuill, nor with the great clan bard Iain Lom, whose only sod 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 hercHO 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

* AH excepting capital crimes, rach as treachery to one's clan or oonntry, mnzdeis, or inAanoai
crimes, could be compensated by an eric under the oleachda, or use and wont — which was tiie only law
recogn|aed or Tallied by the palsdaMhal dans. The eric of this warrior could not have beea refused
if offered by the clan. The chief of the Grants had demanded and receiTed eric Cram the OameroD*
not many centuries before then.

/

OF THE HIQHLAKD CLANS.

265

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,
althongfa it could not siibdne his conrage. '' Bidh mi maireach" he says bitterly,
" air cnoc gu'n cheann, 's cha bhi mo chairdean fiiireachail ;^* I will be to-mor-
row on a hillock withont my head, and my friends wOl not be watchful. An-
other couplet is equally expresdve of his agitation and conscious power to do
something very dangerous — ^probably to his guards, for efiecting his escape, —
something which his heart did not approve, but to which he might be tempted
in his desperation. '' Ochoin a Dhia T* he exclaims, " cum leom mo chiol, cha
robh mi riabh cho cunnartach ;" Oh God I keep with me my wisdom ; I never
was so dangeroua These lines are sufficiently expressive of his agitation, and
give a lively idea of the stem 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 Buarodh 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 TBUAGH, A RIQH I MO NIGHSAKN DHOMN.

'8 truagh, a ri^h I mo ni^hean donn, Would, a ri I my brown-hcured maid,

stnt-a' a n' mo m'-e-ao doDo

Nach robh mi thall a Muile leat ;

naoh lOY mi ball a muyl^ let

Far am faighein iasg is sithean fhiadh,

fiur am fay'-ejrn i-aag ia n'-e-an i-a'

'Sa chial cha bhiodh oim uireasaibh.

aa ofai-al oba ti-o' oyrn ayr-es-ayv

Far am faighein iasg is sithean fhiadh,
ftr am hf^ejn i«aag ia Bi'-e-ao i-a'

'Sa chial cha bhiodh oim uireasaibh ;

aa ohi-al ofaa vi-o' 07111 nyr-aa-ayv

Mharbhidn breac air boinne cas,
varv-ayn brae ayr boymie cat

Far nach deanadh casan grunnaehadh.
fiff nach den-a' oaaan gnmiiaHsha'

Hharbhain breac air boinne cas,

▼arv-ayn brec ayr boynne cas

Far nach deanadh casan grunnachadh ;

(kr naoh den-a' easan granna-oha'

'S an coileach dubh air luth a sgeidh,

aan ooyleoh doT ayr la' a ascy'

Mu*n d' theid na eidith ioma fear.

mm deyd • na eyd-i' i-oma fer

That I was over in Mull with thee ;

Where I would get fish and deer
venison,

And, my love, we should not want

Where I would get fish and deer
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 rapid,

Where feet would not sound ;

And the black-cock on the speed of
his wing,

Before many could dreas themselves.

lI

266

THE MUSIC

'S an coileach dubh air Inth a sgeidh,

san ooyleoh day ayr la' a agey'

Mu'n d' theid na eidith ioma fear ;

man dejd na ejd-i' i-oma fer

'S an earba bheag am ban na*m preas,

Ban er-ba yeg am ban nam pres

6e deas a chi sa chluinneas i.
ge des a chi sa chlajnn-e-as i

'S an earba bheag am bun na'm preas,

san er-ba yeg am ban nam pros

Ge deas a chi sa chluinneas i.

ge des a chi sa chlaynnee i

Ochoin, a Dhia I cum learn mo chial,

och-ojn a yi-a cam le-am mo chi-al

Cha robh mi riamh cho cunnartach.

cha roy mi ri-ay cho conn-art-ach

And the black-cock on the speed of
his wing,

Before many could dress themselyes;
And the little roe in the coppice,
Though quick her sight and hearing.

And the little roe in the coppice,
Though quick her sight and hearing.
0, God I keep my wisdom with me,
I never was so dangerous.

Ochoin, a Dhia ! cum leam mo chial,

ooh-oyn a yi-a com le-am mo cbi-al

Cha robh mi riamh cho cunnartacL

dia roy mi ri-ay oho cann-art-aoh

Bidh mi maireach air cnoc gu'n cheann,

In' mi mayr-eoh ayr onoo gon chenn

'S cha bhith mo chairdean fuireachail.

'a cha yi' mo obayrd-e-an fityr-aok-ayl
* * * 4c 4k

0, God I 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 nigheann donn, Would, a ri ! my brown-haired maid,

8tra-a' a rr mo ni'-e-an donn

Nach robh mi thall a Muile leat ;

nach roy mi hall a mnyl^ let

Far am faighinn iasg is sithean fhiadh,
fiur am fky'-inn i-asg ia si'-e-an i-a'

'Sa chial cha bhiodh oim uireasaibh.
ea chi-al oha yi-o' oym nyr-ee-ayy

That I was over in MuU 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 ofif, the words, *^ a Cheit, tog an
ceann," Eate, 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; bat
it cannot be doubted, that, ascribing to DomhnuU Donn the anxiety lest his
body should meet with neglect or indignity after death, which the tradition
implies, proves that he preserved the demecmour 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 HIQHLAKD OLANa

267

The following fragment has been dressed np like the two beginning '* Oich
mar tha mi," already mentioned. The melody is called '^ Oran sith,*' by Mrs
MacdoneU, 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-sM, or fairy music, and few even of this
class are more wUd 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 theii: 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 horn 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 die feeling of the
bereaved Highland maiden.

THA DHBIUCHD FEIN AIR BHAB GACH MEANGAIN. — ITS OWN DEW IS ON

EVERY BOUGH.

Thadhriuchdfeinairbhargachmeangain, Its own dew is on every bough,

ha jri-uo feyn ayr var gach meDgayn

Tha gach gleannan a dol an guirmead,

ha gaoh glennan a dol an gajnned

Tha 'n ceo ag iadhadh mu na bealaich,

han oe-o ag i'-a' mu na bel-ajoh

'S tha mo leannan a tighinn a shuireadh.

'0 ha mo lenoan a ti'-inn a hny-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 ;

Huvo i na horin ova.

Thug mi comneamh dha sa choil.

hng

nu coynn-ev ya aa

ohoyi

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 rinn mo mhealladh, False sister, who betrayed me,
a fi-n'-ar eLnch a riim mo yella'

Noir a leig mi riut mo run. When I disclosed to thee my love,

noyr a leyg mi ri-nt mo nm

Shaoil leam nach bu luaidhaidh 'n I thought my secret would as fast

haoyl lem naoh ba In-ay'n

sgeuladh
0geyl-a'

Tre do bheul na tre do ghlun. —

ire do Y^l na tre do ylon

Huvo, etc.

come

Through thy knee as through thy lips.
Huvo, etc.

268

TH£ MUSIC

'8 iomadh cluichidh, mireadh is aighear,

u^mnti' eh-ich-e' mine' is a/-er

*SaD robh aim tairis measg ghleann is

MO rov nim ta7r-it mesg jleon is

chluainean^
ddo-Aj-nen

Noir cheangail gaol sinn an laith air

uoyt obea-gftji gaol aim aa lay' ayr

h-dge,
bojg-4 .

MaT dha roa air aon mheangaip aoairce. —

mar ja jxm ajr aon Tengan ao-ayr-o^

HuYOy eta

Many ware the sports, much the mirth
and happinesSy

In which we lovingly sympathized
with 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, etd

'S trie a thuit ann an doiie diamhair

•trio a huyt ann an doyr^ di-a-vayr

An earbag mheaghail le saighead fnadain ;
an efbag vi«a-yayl le la'-ed fo-a-dayn

Ach CO a sheaoileadh gu'n tuiteadh

ach 00 a haoyle' gnn tnyte'

leannain,

lenn-ayn

Le foil na peathaer a roinn mo cluasag?

le foyl na pe'-er a roynn mo 6hln-a-fag
HuT0> etc;

Often has iallen in its secret grove

The innocent roe by a wandering
arrow ;

But who could think that my loTcr
should fall

By the treachery of the sister who
shared my pillow ?

Huvo, etc.

Chaidh a seachad mo thriuir bhraidhrean,
ohay a aeofa-ad mo ri-uyr vray'-ren

Air an steudaibh loma luadhadh,
ayr an ateyd-ayy loma In'-a-a'

Biodag paisgtedh ris gaoh nittin,*

bi-d^^ payag-te' ria gaoh nyllin

*8 am fail fein a taomadh bh-uapa.
a am fuyl ftyn a iaoma' vn-apa

Huvo, etc.
Ghail mi Domhnull 's chail mi Aillein,

obayl mi doTnnl a ohayl mi ailleki

Mo dha brathair bha reachd mhor nasal,
mo ya Tsa-ayr Ta leo ver n-a-ial

'8 cha do lughdaich e mo leireadh
a oha do In'-daych e mo leyr-a'

Ou'm be mo Seumas a roin am bualadh.

gum be mo h^mas a royn am bn-a-la'
Huvo, etc.

Past went my three brothers

On their steeds sleek and swift^

Their dirks folded against eachelbow,*

And their own blood pouring from
them.

Huvo, etc.
I have lost Donald, I have lost AUao,
My two brothers haughty (but) noble,
Nor has it lessened my distress
That my James it was who slew them.
Huvo, etc.

* When the dirk ie need in fencing by a ikilfiil person, the hilt is grasped in tuch a eray as t0 fnm
the point towards the elbow. The expression aboTe describes it aa folded back along the sleere, so ss (b«
point may touch the elbow-joint.

OF THE HIGHLAND CLANS.

269

'8 coma leom ged threig an ktha,

8 ooma le-om ged h-reyg an U'-a

'S ged chuireadh Dilin a ohe fo cbu-

8 ged ohnyre' di-lin a che fo cha

amtean —

aynten

'S coma learn gaeh Di fo'n athar,

8 ooma le-am gach ni fon a'-ar

'S mo chead leannaen fo reachd na hu-

8 mo obed lemian fo reo na hn-

aighidh. — Huvo, etc.
ay'i

A chraobh chaoiain din do'n doruSi

a ehraoY chaor-ayn dlu don doroa

Theid mo ghiukn leat air guaillibb, *

hejd mo yi-n-lan let ayr ohill'

Btud mo cbasain ri Dan-dealgain,

bonn mo ohae-an ri dun-de-la-gayn

Sinte an carbad dealbbach nallacL

ainnta an caraktad del'-vaoh yoaUa

Hqyo i, na borin ova,

Hnrin i, na borin o ;

Hnvo i, na borin ova,

Tbng mi coinneamb dba sa cboiL

I care not tboagb tbe day sbould for^
sake,

Or a deluge sbould put tbe world
under tbe sea ; —

I ca^ for nothing under the sky,

Since my first love is in tbe power of
tbe grave.
Huvo, etc.

Bowan-tree near tbe doori

On thee I will be carried on shoulders,

Tbe soles of my feet toward Dun-^
dalgan,

Stretched in a bier, shapely and light

Huvo i, na borin ova,

Hurin i, na borin o ;

Huvo i, na borin ova^

I gave him a meeting in tbe wood.

Iain Garbb Mac Gille-Cballum, of Bathsay, who was lost on Hesgair, was a
bold and adventurous seaman, and, being veiy popular, his death was much re^
gretted. It is the subject of many a ** cumbadh,'' one of them even by Man
Nigbean Alastair Buaidh ; 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 fidloWBig verses
to the reader.

OOH NAN OOB, HO LEia GHBA1)H.-K>B ITT FAINFUL 0OBBOW.

Och nan och, mo leir chradh

och nan ooh mo leyr ohra'

Mar dh-eirich do'n ghaisgeach !
mar jcgrrioh do^n jayigech

Cha'n eil sealgaer na sinne,

cha'n eyl selager na sinne

'N diugh a frith na 'm beann casa.

n ti-n' a fri' nam benn oasa

Fonn: —

Hu-a ho, io bo, bug orin o,
Hu-a ho, io ho, iu ri o,
Ho ro, io ho, bug orin o.

Och nan och, my painful sorrow

At the fate of the warrior !

Tbe hunter of the deer

Is not to-day in the forest of tbe steep
mountains.

Chorus:-^

Hu-a bo, io bo, hug orin o,
Hu-a bo, io bo, in ri o,
Ho ro, io bp, hug orin o.

270

Bha mi aair nach do Bhaoil mi,

ya mi n-ayr nach do haoyl mi

Qed is faoia bhe ga agradh,

god 18 fiu>7n vi ga agra'

Gn'n rachadh do bhathadh,
gon lacha' do ya'-a'

Ou brath air cuan farBainn.

ga bra' ayr oa-an fanayn

Hu-a ho, etc.
Fhad sa sheasadh a stiuir dhi,

ad sa heaa' a ati-uyr yi

'S tu air cul a bull bhearte,

sta ajr onl a boyl verte

Dh-amdeon am'adh nan duilleaB,

jayn-eo an-ra' nan 4ayUcu

Agas nbraid na mara. —

agoB nb-rayd na mara

Hu-a ho, etc.

THE MUSIC

^e day has been that I did not think,
Althoagh it is vun to repeat it,
Thoa ever couldst have been drowned
In an open sea. —
Hu-a ho, etc.

While the hehn should endure,

And thou shouldst be in the com-
mand,

Despite the fierce war of the elemeDts,
And the angry tumult of the ocean.—
Hu-a ho, eta

Fhad sa fhanadh ri cheile

ad aa yan-a' ri cbeyl^

A dealean 's a h-achuiim,

a ddea aa haoh-nynn

'S b-urrainn di geilleadh

'fl bnrxayn di geylle'

Do d' laimh threin air an aigeal, &c. —

do dlayr hreyn ayr an aygel

Hu-a ho, etc.

So long as should remain together
The planks and the glaring,
And she could obey
Thy strong arm on the deep, &c.—
Hu-a ho, etc.

I submit a few verses of '' GiUidh Guanach" for the same reason, namely, ^
more for the sake of the air than the versea In Tait's Magazine of June 1^»
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 QILLIDH GUANACH. — THE GAY OB VOLATILB YOUTH.

'S ann di-donaich a dol do'n chlachan.
Ban di-dooaych a ^dol don ohlaohan

Aghabh mi beachd ort a measg nan ceud ;

a yay mi beobd ort a mesg nan oeyd

Ge be goraich e na faoineachd,

ge be gorayoh e na fiumecfad

'N sin cheangail gaol sinn an snaim nach

*n sin cbengayl ga-ol sinn an anaym nach
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

Farm: —
Mo ghillidh guanach, thng iri oro,

mo yilli' ga-an-ach hog iri oio

Mo ghillidh guanach, ho robha hi ;
mo yilli' ga-an*aoh ho rova hi

Fhleasgaich uasail an leadean dhuallaich,

les-gajch a-as-ajlaii ledea yn-aU-aych

Tha mi fo ghruaim bho 'na dh-f hag ti*n tir.
ha mi fo jru-aym vo na jag a*a tir

Tha do bhilibh ga milis blath'or,

ha do yiliy ga miliB bla'-or

Mar ro8 an garadh do dha ghniaidh ;

mar ros an gar-a' do ya ymj'

Mar choillean cheire measg coillean creise,

mar ohoyllea cheyrd mesg. ooyllen oreys^

Ha coltaa Sheumais a measg an t-sluaigL

ha coltaa heymaya a mesg an tlay'
Mo, etc.

Tha do challapanan foinneidh dealbhach,

ha do ohalla-pan-an foynoey' delayaoh
Gun bhi garbh is gun bhi caol ;

gm vi gary is gan yi caol

Gur a boidheach glan a dh-fhas u,

gar a boy'-eoh glan a yaa a

"S gur h-iomadh ailleachd a h-air mo
'a gnr i-oma' ayll-ec a bayr mo

ghaol. — ^Mo, etc.
yaol

Thuirt iad rium gu bheil u baigheal,

hnyrt i-ad ri>am ga veyl n bay'-el

Gu bheil do ghradh air a h-uile te ;

gn veyl do yra' ayr a hnyl^ te

Gus a faic mi e na d' abhaist,

go8 a fayo mi e na davayst

Mise a ghraidh cha chreid an sgeul.
misd a yray' cha ohreyd an sgeyl

Mo, etc.
Noir a theid u do Dhuneidin,

Doyr a heyd n do yun-cydin

Fear do cheum cha'n fhalbh an t-shraid;

fer do obeym chan alv an trayd

Bidh na baintiemean nile an deigh ort,

bi' na bayn-tir-nen ayl^ an dey' ort

'S bidhidh mi fhein mar the do chach.

'a bi'-i' mi feyn mar he do chach

Chorus: —
My volatile youth, hug iri oro.

My volatile youth, ho rova hi ;

My gentlemanly youth, with the flow-
ing ringlets,

I am in sorrow since you left our land.

Sweet and blooming are thy lips,

Thy cheeks like garden roses ;

Like wax among tallow-candles,

Is James among the people.

Mo, etc.

Thy legs are polished and symmetri-
cal.

Neither (too) thick nor (too) small ;

Clean and beautiful is thy form,
Many are the charms of my love.
Mo, eta

They said to me that thou art sush
ceptible,

And lovest every lady ;
Buty until I see it in thy conduct,
I, my love, will not believe the tale.
Mo, etc.

When thou goest to Duneidin,

Another man of thy carriage walks
not the street;

The ladies will follow thee in admira-
tion,

And I myself will be like one of the
rest

272 THE HUSIO

Mo ghillidh guanach, thug iri oro. My volatile youth, hug in oro,

mo yW ga-aa-aoh hog iri oro

Mo ghillidh guanach, ho robha hi ; My volatile youth, ho rova hi ;

mo yflli' gn-aa-aoh ho rova bi

Fhleasgaich uasail an leadean dhuallaich. My gentletnauly youth, with the flow-
lesgayoh a-as-ayl an le-dea ya-all-ajoh iQg nngletfi,

Tha mi fo ghruaim bho *na dh-fhag u'n tir. I am in sorrow since you left our land,
ha mi fo Tm-aym vo na jag ii*a tir

Mrs Macdouell 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 ai)d 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 mUking and other labour songs
calculated to interest strangers to the associations they were intended to call Tip.

The object of the milking song was to soothe and beguile the cows while
being milked, and I have seen them listening to such sopgs 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 hefi)re the country entered on the agricultural, manu&cturing, 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 oonditioD
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 fann-
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

f

OF THE HIGHLAND CLANS. 273

day by the sheep farmers of the Highlands to their landlords. Macintosh,
Ai^gonr, and Glenmoriston, preserved some farms under the old commmiity
system, but on money (not the old calpa) rents, and these small fanners have not
in the management of their farms &llen 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 Dall 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
Ohlinnichen, the melody of which was sent me by Mrs MacdoneU, 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."

MAOLBUAINIDH QHLINNIOHEN.— MAOLBUAINI OF THE GLENS.

Ho ro, Maobruainidh Ghlinnichen, Ho ro, Maokuaini of the glens,

ho 10 maol-ra-aym' jlimie-dieQ

Ho ro, Maolruainidh, Ho ro, Maolniaini,

bo ro maol-ni-ayiii'

Dh-f halbh do mhaithir, 's thug i am Thy mother is awav ; she has taken

yahr do vay'-ir 'a hng i am her course to lie hill,

firich oir,

fir-ioh oyr

Ho ro, Maolruainidh. Ho ro, Maolruaini. *

lio 10 maol-ra-ajni'

Thug i 'm balg an robh do chuid mine le, She has taken the skin-bag in which

hog Vm balg an rov do ohnjd min^ le thy meal was kept.

Ho ro, Maobuainidh, Ho ro, Maokuaim,

bo 10 maol-ra-ayni'

'S thug i an curasan san robh do chuid And she has taken the curoMn (a

'a hng i an carasan san rov do ohnyd wooden dish) in which thy butter

imedh le, was kept,

ime' le

Ho ro, Maolruainidh, etc. Ho ro, Maolruaini, etc.

ho ro mad-m-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 recdved from Mrs MacdonelL It gave its cognomen to a club of which.
Bums became a member when in Edinburgh.

Mm

274

THE MUSIC

Gu'n d' thugadh crodh Cbaillean

gun dnga' cro' ohayilen

Dhomh bainne air an f hraoch,

yov bayDne ayr an raoch

Gu'n chuman, gu'n bhuarach,*
gun chamaQ gnn vn-ar-aoh

Gu'n laircean,t gu'n laogh.

gun layroea gun lao'

Fann :—
Orodh Ghaillean mo chridfae,

oro' ohajrtten mo ohri'-e

Crodh Ghaillean mo ghaoil ;
oro' chajllen mo yaoyl

Ga'n d* thugadh crodh Ghaillean

gm dnga' oro' chajUen

Dhomh bainne air an fhraoch.

JOT bajnn^ ajr an raooh

CRODH CHAILLBAN.
(Probably because the owner need to nng the lilt)

The milk-cows of Golin

Would give me milk on the heather,
Without a pail or a shackle,
A layrcen or a calf.

Chartu: —
The cows of Golin of my heart,

The cows of Golin 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 1
have received from Mrs Lang.

TILL AN CBODH A' DHONNACHAIDH. — TURN THB EINB, DUNCAN.

Till an crodh, Dhonnachaidh,

till an oro' jonna-ohay'

Till an crodh, Dhonnachaidh,

tin an cro' yonna-chay'

Till an crodh, Dhonnachaidh,

till an oro' yonna-ohay'

'S gheibh u bean bhoideach.

'a jvyy a ben yoy'-eoh

Fann: —
Till an crodh drimean dubh,

till an oro' diimen day

Odhar dubh ceannean dubh,
o'-ar duv oennen dnv

Till an crodh drimean dubh,

till an oro' drimen dnv

'S gheibh u bean bhoidheach, &c.

*s yeyv a ben voy'-eoh

* ** Bnarach,** a hair ihackie for tying the hind legi of iwtiTe or fierce tempered oowi whfle
a-milking.

t " Laircean" or ** tnlachan/' a wicker basket shaped like a calf, and covered with a oalf-skin, pb^^
before a cow to soothe her with the well recognised scent of her calf, after it is kiUed.

Turn the kine, Duncan,
Turn the kine, Duncan,
Turn the kine, Duncan,
And you will get a bonny wife.

Chortu: —
Turn the white-ridged black co\^,

Dark-dun white-£skced cows,

Turn the white-ridged black cows,

And yon will get a bonny wife, etc.

OF THB HIQHLAKD 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 choru& The late Mr Chapman, Gorstorphine, 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 AUoway, 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 stUl 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 AUoway and 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.

FAILTB NA MORTHIR. — HAIL TO MORAR.

Failt' ort fein a Mhorthir bboidheach,

faylt ort feyn a vore-liir voy'-eoh

Anns an og-mhios bhealltainn.
anns an og-vi-00 vel-tayDn

Fonn : —
Heiter-inn arinn, i-uirinn, oh ho ro,
Heiter-inn arinn, ho ro.

Griann-thir orbhuidh 's uaine cota,

^-an-hir or-vny' 's n-ayne cota

Is froinidh ros ri h-altaibh. —

is froyn-i' roe r halt-ayv

Heiter-inn, etc. •

All hail to thee, lovely Morar,
In the young month of May.

Chorus : —
Heyter-inn arinn, 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. —

Heiter-inn, etc.

276

THE MUSIC

'S alninn a beinnean 's a sraithean,

Bal-ayim a bejnneii 'aa sny'-ea

'S eibhein dath a gleanntain. —

's eyreyn da' a glenn-tajm

Heit, etc.
Barr gach tolmain fo bhrat gorm-dhearc,

barr gacb tolo-mayn fo vrat gorm-yero

Air gach borrochainn attain.

ayr gaoh Yorra-ohaTii al-tajn

Heit, etc.
Lusain churaidh mach a bracbdadh,

luBajn ohnr-ay' mach a bmo-a'

'S cuid dhiubh cul-ghorm bain-dhearg.

• oayd yi-ay cnl-jonn bajn-jerag

Heity etc.

Beautifal are thy mountains and
Btrathsy

JoyouB the aspect of thy glens.—
Heyt, etc.

The brow of every hillock has a cover-
let of blae-berries,

Winding down to the hollows of thy
streamlets.

Heyt, etc.

Fragrant shrubs, bursting forth,

Many of them blue-leaved and red-
girdled.

Heyt, etc.

Crodh ga'n strachadh air bar fasaich,

oro' gan Btrao-a' ayr bar fa-saych

Am fiar nach d-f has gu crainntidh.
am fi-ar nach das go crayn-ti'

Heit, etc.

Milk cows browsing in the desert,
Among grass of growth luxmiaDt
Heyt, etc.

lad air theas a ruidh le 'm buaraich,

i-ad ayr bes a my' le^m ba-ar-ioh

'S te le cuaich ga'n teann-ruith.

8 te le ca-aych gan tenn-my'

Heit, etc.
A choill gu h-uile fo Ian ula,

a choyll ga hnylle fo Ian nla

'S i na culaidh bhainnse. —
d na ool-ay' yaynn-se

Heit, etc.

'S ceolar eibhein barr nan geigean
*8 oe-d-ar eyyeyn bair nan geygen

*Sa h-eoin fein a damhs orra. —

sa he-oyn feyn a davB orra

Heit, etc.
lad air bhoile seinn le coilleig,

i-ad ayr yoylle seynn le ooylleyg

Ann san doire chranntail.

ann san doyre chrann-tayl

Heit, etc.

In heats racing off with their shackles,

And women with their milk*pail8 run-
mg after them.

Heyt, etc.

The woods are wholly arrayed
In their marriage garments.-^
Heyt, etc.

Musical and joyous are all the boaghs,
With their own birds dancing in them.
Heyt, etc.

Rapturously and lustily sing^,
In the grove of mast-like copeewood.
Heyt, etc.

OF THE HIQHLAKD CLANS.

277

Morthir bbeg na'm bradan tarra-gheal,

mor-hir yeg nam bradan tana-yel

^S airgead a cuir lann orra.

8 ajrged a cajr lann orra

Heyt, etc.
Brie le salas learn a buinne,

brio le solas lem a bnynne

IS deigh oan cuilleag greannar.

an dey' nan eaylleg grennar

Heyt, etc.
'S lionach, slatach, cligeach, beirteacb,

8 li-on-aoh slat-aeh dig-eoh beyrteoh
*S eile ghlas nan Sambnan.

s ejll^ jlas nan say-nan

Heyt, etc.
Greidhean dbearg a tamb mu'*m fireach,

grey^-en jerag a tay mn*m fir-soh

Eiltean, daimb is mangaibb.

eylten dajnr is mangajnr

Heyt, etc.
Guaineacb, carracb feadb an daraicb,

gn-ajn-ach carraoh fe' an dar-aych

'S brisg na leannain cbeann-deirg.

8 brisg na lennayn chenn-deyrag

Heyt, etc.
*S na mein-bbeagadb cuir ri beadradb,

8 na minn-yeg-a' onyr ri bsd-ra'

Anns na creagan teann orra.

na oregan

Heyt, etc.

tenn orra

Orian ag eiridb air na sleibbtean,

gri-ao ag eyri' ayr na slejy-ten

San tir cbeutaicb sbeannsail.

san tir ohey-taych henn-sayl

Heiter-inn arinn, i-nirinn, bo bo ro,
Heyter-inn arinn, bo ro.

Morar sweet, of tbe wbite-bosomed

SilverHScaled sabnon.

Heyt, eta

Witb trout sportively springing among
tby currents,

After tbe merry flies.

Heyt, etc.
With nets, gaffis, (fisbing) rods, pirns,
Ricb is tbe gay dwelling of Savnan.

Heyt, etc.

Bed berds (of deer) dwell in thy
mountains,

Roes, stags, and binds.

Heyt, etc.
Sprightly, warily among the oaks.

Sport tbe smart red-beaded wooers.

Heyt, etc.

Tbe little kids lovingly playing,

Among tbe rocks near them.

Heyt, etc.
The sun rises on the wolds,

Of the countiy pleasant and fortunate.

Heyter-inn arinn, i-urinn, oh bo 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 tbe patriarchal clans were the
best of all human institutions for cultivating tbe 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 tbe calpa with which they supported their

278 THB MUSIC

officials, was not only on an adequate, but a liberal scale, as is proved by the
hospitality for whicb the Highland chiefis and chieftains have been proverbially
characterized. The curse that banished population, comfort, and happine^
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 eould
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 seifish
spirit of the clans, have, in thus writing, Ubelled 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 CuUoden, 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
clana 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 " Gtentlemen 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 I 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 Gktel, *' 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.

OBAN NAN OIOBAIBEAN. — THE BONO OF THE SHEEP-FABHEBS.

Thainig orin do dh-Alabin crois !
Tha doine bochd nochdte nis.
Gun bhiadh gun aodach gun chluain ;
Tha'n airde taath 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 Albin !

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.

Pag«

1. A Cbolla mo Buin, — 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 Faiiy Maiden and the Hunter, 137
^' Nighean Donn na Buaile, — The Brown-haired Liaiden 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, — Morag Beautiful, - - - - 176
« Ho an Clodh Dubh,— Hey the Black Cloth, - - - - 181

4. Mao-greagair Buadhro, — Macgregor Bu-a-ro, - - - 186
" Cumhadh Baird,— The Bard's Lament, - - - - 189
6. Buain na Bainich, — 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. Gu'm bu Slan a chi mi, — Happy may I see, .... 198
" Moch 'sa Mhaduinn, — Early in the Morning, .... 206
« Air FaiUerin Hlerinn, 209

7. Gillidh Galium, .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 Cal 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 Maiy, . . . . . 248
" Callum a Ghlinne, — Malcolm of the Glen, - - - * 251

10. Cumhadh Mhic Cruimen, — M^Cruimen's Lament, ... 253

'' ,A Mhaighdean Mhodhar, — Maiden Gentle, .... 254

" Duanag Ceiten, — A Idfij Carol, . . . . . 255

'' 'S Cianal 'm Fhuireach an Dun-eidin,— Pensive is my Besidence in

Edinburgh, ....... 267

11. An GnUdh Dubh Ciar Dubh,— The Black-haired Swarthy Youth, - 259
" Oich mar tha mi 's mi na'm aonar, — ^Alas my Fate, - . - 260

282

11. Gred a Gheabhain, — Though I Bhould get, &c. referred to at page 263

12. 'S Truagh a Righ I— Would, a ri ! - - - - - 265
" Tha Dhriuchd Fein, — Its own Dew, &c. - - - - 267
" Och nan Och, mo Leir Chradh, — Alas, alas, my Painful Sorrow, - 269
" An Qillidh Quanach,— The Volatile Youth, - - - - 270

13. Maolruainidh Qhlinnichen, — Maol-ru-ayni of the Olens, - - 273
*' Ciodh Chaillean,— The Milk-kine of Colin, - - - - 274
" Till an Crodh a Dhonnachaidh, — Turn the Eine, Duncan, - < 274
" Failte na Morthir Bhoidheach, — Hail to Thee, Bonnie Morar, - - 275

WELSH MELODIES.

14. Codiad yr Hedydd,— The Song of the Lark, - - - 213
16. Bugeilior Owenith Gwyn, — Watching the Wheat, - - - 214
" Nos Galan,— New Year's Eve, .... - 214

16. Merch Megan, — Megan's Daughter, ..... 215
« Bhyfelgyrch Gwyr Harlech,— War Song of the Men of Harlech, - 216

17. Morva Bhuddlan,— The Marsh of Buthkn, - - - - 217

18. Glan Meddwdod Mwyn,— The Joy of the Mead Cup, - - - 218

IBISH MELODIES, &c.

18. A Maighdeon, a Bhean, 's a Bhantraech, — The Maid, Wife, and Widow, 220
" An Chuil-fhionn,— The Cooleen, - - ... 222

19. Graisgich Chluain Tharhh, — Heroes of Clontarf, - - (Celtic)
" Guisgich Chluain Tharhh, — 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 oUigingly Mat me, thnragh Mr M nrdodi, thii iMt ** renion of the Battle of Clontarf;*'
but it if eyidently not » different yerrion, but altogether a different tune from the aboye. The
peofde of Ireland, like the people of the Lowlands and Higfalanda of Scotland, differed in dialeet, in
musio, and dandng, aa weU aa in their institutions. Although I have not Dr White's authority for saying
so, I haTe no doubt that it !■ the March of the Gothic Olans of Ireland to Clontarf, and that tiie 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 Caledoniaa
Marches breathe a kindred spirit, and differ widely from Dr White's ** Battle of ClontarC*

A CHOLLA MO RUIN.

AM SEAliGAlR *S A CHUMHACUAG.

Slow with expression .

A MHAIGHDEAN SHITH 'S AN SEALGAIR. /Tn C\

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FUAIM ANT-SHAIMH.

HO AN CLODH DUBH.

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Allegretto Boderatu.

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CALLUM A GHLINNE.

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OICH MAR THA Ml 'S MI NA'M AONAR.

«EO A GHEABHAIN.

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S TRUAGH A RIGHl

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Andaate con Esq.

Chorus.

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MAOLHUAIMDH GHLINN1CH£N

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TILL AN CRODH A DHONNACHAIDM.

FAILTK \A MORTHIK.

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CODIAD TR HEDTDD.

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BUGEILIOR GWENITH GWYN.

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