[DA 1] GAELIC SONGS OF MARY MACLEOD [DA 2] BLACKIE & SON LIMITED 50 Old Bailey, LONDON 17 Stanhope Street, GLASGOW BLACKIE & SON (INDIA) LIMITED Warwick House, Fort Street, BOMBAY BLACKIE & SON (CANADA) LIMITED TORONTO [DA 3] GAELIC SONGS OF MARY MACLEOD EDITED WITH INTRODUCTION, TRANSLATION, NOTES, ETC. BY J. CARMICHAEL WATSON BLACKIE & SON LIMITED LONDON AND GLASGOW 1934 [DA 4] Printed in Great Britain by Blackie & Son, Ltd., Glasgow [DA 5] Orain agus Luinneagan Gàidhlig le Màiri nighean Alasdair Ruaidh [DA 6] [Blank] [DA 7-8] Preface [Beurla] [DA 9] CONTENTS Page INTRODUCTION xi LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS xxix NOTES ON THE SOURCES xxx TABLE OF SOURCES OF THE TEXT xxxi NOTES ON THE MACLAGAN MSS. xxxii NOTES ON THE NAT. LIB. MS. xxxiv SONGS— Pòsadh Mhic Leoid 2 Mairearad nan Cuireid 12 Marbhrann do Fhear na Comraich 14 An Talla am bu Ghnàth le Mac Leoid 20 Marbhrann do Iain Garbh 26 Tuireadh 32 Luinneag Mhic Leoid 36 Crònan an Taibh 44 An t-Eudach 50 Cumha do Mhac Leoid 52 An Crònan 60 Fuigheall 72 Do Mhac Dhomhnaill 76 Oran do Iain mac Shir Tormoid 82 [DA 10] Page Marbhrann do Shir Tormod 88 Cumha do Shir Tormod 96 LAMENT FOR IAIN GARBH OF RAASAY 100 ANONYMOUS ELEGY ON SIR NORMAN MACLEOD OF BERNERA, FROM NAT. LIB. MS. 102 GENERAL NOTES 109 NOTES ON THE METRES 142 RELEVANT DATES 145 VOCABULARY 147 INDEX OF PERSONS AND PLACES IN THE TEXT 157 [DA 11-28] INTRODUCTION [Beurla] [DA 29] List of Abbreviations BGh., Bàrdachd Ghàidhlig: Specimens of Gaelic Poetry; W. J. Watson; Stirling, 1932 (2nd ed.). Celt. Scot., Celtic Scotland; W. F. Skene; Edinburgh, 1886 (2nd ed.). CPNS., The History of the Celtic Place-Names of Scotland; W. J. Watson; Edinburgh, 1926. D., An Duanaire, a New Collection of Gaelic Songs and Poems; Donald Macpherson; Edinburgh, 1868. Dinn., Irish-English Dictionary; Rev. P. S. Dinneen; Irish Texts Society; Dublin, 1927. E., Comh-chruinneachidh Orannaigh Gaidhealach; the Eigg Collection; Ranald MacDonald; Edinburgh, 1776. GB., The Gaelic Bards from 1411 to 1715; A. Maclean Sinclair; Charlottetown, 1890. M., The Maclagan Collection of Gaelic Manuscripts, made in the latter half of the eighteenth century by the Rev. James Maclagan (1728–1805); in the Library of Glasgow University. (See Prof. Mackinnon’s Catalogue, p.302 ff.). MC., MacD. Coll., The MacDonald Collection of Gaelic Poetry; Rev. Angus MacDonald and Rev. Archibald MacDonald; Inverness, 1911. McN., The Manuscript of the Rev. MacDonald MacNicol (1735–1802), for which see Rev. Dr. George Henderson’s paper in Transactions of the Gaelic Society of Inverness, xxvii, 340, whence the text of “Do Mhac Dhomhnaill” is taken. RC., Reliquiae Celticae; the Rev. Alexander Cameron, ed. A. Macbain and J. Kennedy; Inverness, 1892 (I), 1894 (II). [DA 30] S., Cochruinneacha Taoghta de Shaothair nam Bard Gaelach; A. and D. Stewart; Edinburgh, 1804. SO., Sar-Obair nam Bard Gaelach: or the Beauties of Gaelic Poetry; John Mackenzie; Glasgow, 1841 (1st ed.). T., Comhchruinneacha do Dh’Orain Taghta Ghaidhealach; Patrick Turner; Edinburgh, 1813. Wardlaw MS., entitled “Polichronicon seu Polcratia Temporum, or, the True Genealogy of the Frasers”; Master James Fraser, minister of Wardlaw (Kirkhill), begun in 1666, ed. Wm. Mackay for Scottish History Society; Edinburgh, 1905. Notes on the Sources The footnotes on the text do not give all the variations of the printed and MS. sources; the omission by any source of a line or stanza is not noted save in one or two cases; nor are the orthographical minutiæ of the MS. versions recorded, as this would serve no useful purpose. The simple priniciple has been followed of noting variants only when they seem to furnish a clue to the genuine text; and in the formation of the text the few departures made on MS. evidence from printed versions, when they do not depend on matters of fact, as in ll. 840 and 819, depend on the principle that, other things being equal, the more unusual word is the less likely to be corrupt. E. and S. are generally preferable to SO., since the latter is to a large extent a work of transcription and has a tendency to regularize any unusual feature. In one poem T. has been preferred to GB., the version of MC. being printed in full in the notes with amended spelling. In four poems the text of BGh. has been followed with two or three trivial variations. The fusion of different versions has been avoided. [DA 31] TABLE OF SOURCES [Beurla] [DA 32-33] Notes on the Maclagan MSS. [Beurla] [DA 34] Notes on the Nat. Lib. MS. [Beurla] [TD 1] GAELIC SONGS OF MARY MACLEOD [TD 2] Pòsadh Mhic Leoid Conaltradh eadar Màiri nighean Alasdair Ruaidh agus Nic Dhomhnaill á Trondairnis. Hó lail oho Hóireann ó. (1) MAIRI A Mhairearad chridhe Nic an Tòisich, Is bliadhna an t-seachdain O na phòs thu; Is ann gu d’ bhaile 5 Thriall am mór shluagh: Thriall Mac Coinnich Le Mac Leoid ann: Thriall Mac Fhionghain Ann ’s Mac Dhomhnaill. 10 NIC DHOMHNAILL An cluinn thu, Mhàiri So na ceil orm: Ciodh i an long ud Seach an eirthir? (1) Aithris so an déidh gach rainn. [TD 3] [Beurla] [TD 4] MAIRI Don-faighneachd ort! 15 Cuime an ceilinn? Ciodh i tha sud ach Long mo leinibh? Tobar fìona Shìos ’na deireadh, 20 Is tobar fìor-uisg’ ’Na Ceann eile. Shìn i taobh ri Long Mhic Coinnich, Chuir i bòrd á 25 Long an Eilein. Don-faighneachd ort! Cuim’ nach innsinn? Ciodh i sud ach Long nan rìghrean, 30 Air an seinnear Na trì pìoban: Ruairidh òg Mac Leoid nam pìosan: Guala dheas mu’n 35 Iadh an sìoda: Guala thoisgeal Mu’n iadh na mìltean. Dhìreadh mo leanabh Mullach mhóirbheann, 40 [TD 5] [Beurla] [TD 6] Pìob ’ga spreigeadh Leat ’san tòrachd: Claidheamhna geala Dhèanadh feòlach: Targaidean donna 45 Tollta stròicte. A Ruairidh Ruairidh Ruairidh an Dùin ud, Is tù mo mhire Is mo cheòl sùgraidh: 50 Is tù mo phaidirean, Mo chìr-chùil thu: Mo ghàradh mheas Am bi na h-ùbhlan. Càite a bheil 55 A h-aon riut coltach, O nach maireann Fionn no Oisean, Diarmaid donn no Goll no Osgar? 60 Mi ’nam shuidh Air chaolas rònach M’aghaidh air Hirt Nan ian gorma; Thàinig bleidean, 65 Bleidean leòmach, D’fharraid dhìomsa, Le càil chomhraidh, 62. ’Chaolas-rònach, D.; shligeadh, D. [TD 7] [Beurla] [TD 8] Ciod e bu bheus Do shìol Leoid ud. 70 Fhreagair mi è Mar bu chòir dhomh: (Dhomhsa b’aithne Beus nan Leòdach:) “Fìon ’ga ligeadh, 75 Beoir ’ga h-òl ac’, Is treas-tarruing ’Ga cur an stòpa, Cobhair fheumach, Riarach’ beòshlaint’”. 80 A bhean ud thall A chòir an uisge, A Trondairnis ’s ann Thàinig thusa: ’S e sin a dh’fhàg 85 Thu an diugh gun trusgan. NIC DHOMHNAILL Air do làimh A chaile bhusdubh, Chan ’eil mi Gun òr gun usgar. 90 Tha mo ghùn dubh Ur ’nam chiste, Is mo sgòid-bhràghad, Chan fhaigh thusa i! [TD 9] [Beurla] [TD 10] MAIRI Is iomadh bodach 95 Leathann ceòsach Agus cailleach Rògach leòmach Thigeadh a nall A cùirt Dhomhnaill, 100 Dh’innseadh gun do Thriall am mòd air: Gun do ghlais na Gaill e an seòmar. Chugaibh chugaibh 105 Phrasgain ghealtaich Thàinig a nall A Gleann Shealtainn; Chugaibh ’sa’ chuan Mar na farspaich; 110 Chugaibh ’san fhraoch Mar na glaisein, D’eagal deagh Mhac Leoid ’gur faicinn. A’ ghlas-ghuib ort, 115 Is air do sheòrsa! Fàg an tìr so, Tìr nan Leòdach! Is rach ’gad ghearan Do chùirt Dhomhnaill! 120 [TD 11] [Beurla] [TD 12] Mairearad nan Cuireid Oran a rinn Màiri nighean Alasdair Ruaidh, is Mairearad nan cuireid a’ togail oirre gun robh i leatromach. Ach, a Mhairearad nan cuireid, Cuime a chuir thu orm breug: Hi riri o hiri o hi o. Gun robh leanabh gun bhaisteadh Fo aisne mo chléibh’, Ann an làraich mhic tighearn’ 125 Far nach bithinn ’s tu fhéin. Cuim’ nach innseadh tu an fhìrinn Cho cinnteach rium fhéin? Cha b’ionann do m’athair Is do t’athair-sa, éisg! 130 Cha b’ionann do m’ bhràithrean Is do d’ ghàrlaich gun spéis. Cha b’ionann do ar tighean An ám laighe do ’n ghréin: Gum faighte an tigh m’athar-s’ 135 Sitheann ’s cnàimhean an fhéidh: Is e gheibhte an tigh t-athar-s’ Sùgh is cnàimhean an éisg. An ám dìreadh o’n bhaile Is trom ’s gur h-annamh mo cheum. 140 Gur a diombach mi ’n chaile Thog sgannal nam breug; Dubh iomall na tuatha, Buinneag shuarach gun spréidh, [TD 13] [Beurla] [TD 14] Le farmad ’s le mìorun 145 Chuir mìchliu orm fhéin; Thog ormsa an droch alladh, Is ortsa, a Chaluim nam beus, Air an d’fhàs an cùl dualach Tha ’na chuaileanan réidh, 150 Is e sìos mu d’ dhà shlinnean Mar an fhidheall fo theud. Marbhrann do Fhear na Comraich Tha mise air leaghadh le bròn O’n là dh’eug thu ’s nach beò Mu m’fhiùran faidhidneach còir 155 Uasal aighearach òg As uaisle shuidheadh mu bhòrd: Mo chreach t’fhaighinn gun treoir éirigh. Is tu an laoch gun laigse gun leòn Macan mìngheal gun sgleò; 160 Fearail fìnealta an t-òg De shliochd nam fear mór D’am bu dual a bhith còir, ’S gum b’fhiù faiteal do bheoil éisdeachd. Is tu clann na h-irghinn a b’fheàrr, 165 Glan an fhriamh as an d’fhàs, Càirdeas rìgh anns gach ball, Bha sud sgrìobht’ leat am bann Fo làimh duine gun mheang Ach thu lìonta de àrdan euchdach. 170 [TD 15] [Beurla] [TD 16] A Ruairidh aigeanntaich àird O Chomraich ghreadhnaich an àigh, Mhic an fhir bu mhór gàir Nan lann guineach cruaidh garg, Ort cha d’fhuaradh riamh cearb, 175 Iarogha Uilleam nan long bréidgheal. Fhuair mi m’àilleagan ùr Is e gun smal air gun smùr, Bu bhreac mìndearg do ghnùis, Bu ghorm laghach do shùil, 180 Bu ghlan sliasaid is glùn, Bu deas daingeann an lùb ghleusta thu. A lùb abhall nam buadh, Is mairg a tharladh ort uair Mu Ghlaic Fhionnlaigh so shuas 185 Air each crodhanta luath, Nàmhaid romhad ’na ruaig, Air dhòigh buille cha b’uair éis e. Ach fhir as curanta làmh Thug gach duine gu cràdh, 190 Is truagh nach d’fhuirich thu slàn Ri uair cumaisg no blàir Thoirt tilleadh as do nàmh; Bu leat urram an là cheutaich. Bu tù an sgoilear gun dìobradh, 195 Meoir as grinne nì sgrìobhadh, Uasal faidhidneach cinnteach, Bu leat lagh an tigh-sgrìobhaidh, Is tu nach mùchadh an fhìrinn; Sgeul mo chreiche so! shil do chreuchdan. 200 185. Fhionnlaidh, SO.; Iolaidh, S., M. 188. air dhoigh buille, S., M; air dhaibh buille, SO.; éis, M.; eìs, S., SO. 193. so S.; a thoirt cìs dheth do nàmh, SO.; om. M. 195. gun diobradh, S., SO.; ’s an sibhrainn, also spelt phonetically in the margin, M. [TD 17] [Beurla] [TD 18] Stad air m’aighear an dé; Dh’fhalbh mo mharcanta féin; Chuir mi an ciste an teud; Dhiùlt an gobha dhomh gleus; Dh’fhairtlich sud orm ’s gach léigh, 205 Is chaidh m’onoir, is, mo rìgh, dh’eug thu. Thuit a’chraobh as a bàrr, Fhrois an gràinne gu làr, Lot thu an cinneadh is chràdh Air an robh thu mar bhàrr 210 ’Gan dìonadh gach là, Is mo chreach, bhuinig am bàs teum ort. An ám suidhe ’nad sheòmar Chaidh do bhuidheann an òrdugh, Cha b’ann mu aighear do phòsaidh 215 Le nighean Iarla Chlann Domhnaill As do dhéidh mar bu chòir dhi; Is ann chaidh do thasgaidh ’san t-sròl fo d’ léine. Ach gur mise tha bochd truagh, Fiamh a’ ghuil air mo ghruaidh; 220 Is goirt an gradan a fhuair, Marcach deas nan each luath, Sàr cheannard air sluagh, Mo chreach, t’fhàgail ri uair m’fhéime. Ach fhuair mi m’àilleagan òg 225 Mar nach b’àbhaist gun cheòl, Saoir ri càradh do bhòrd, Mnài ri spìonadh an fheoir, Fir gun tàilisg gun cheòl; Gur bochd fulang mo sgeoil éisdeachd. 230 203. nan teud, S., SO., M. 205. dhaltruich sud orm, S., M.; dhiult sud mi, SO. 207. barr, M.; bharr, S.; thun a bhlàir, SO. 212. bas teum, M.; bàs treun, S., SO. 218, fudh d’leine, S.; fo na leintin, M.; ghle-gheal, SO. 221. gradan, S., SO.; bradan, gl. bruise lump M [TD 19] [Beurla] [TD 20] An uair a thionail an sluagh Is ann bha an t-iomsgaradh cruaidh Mar ghàir sheillean am bruaich An déidh na meala thoirt uath; Is ann bha an t-eireadh bochd truagh 235 Is iad mu cheannas an t-sluaigh threubhaich. An Talla am bu ghnàth le Mac Leoid Gur muladach thà mi, Is mi gun mhire gun mhànran Anns an talla am bu ghnàth le Mac Leoid. Tigh mór macnasach meadhrach 240 Nam macaomh ’s nam maighdean, Far am bu tartarach gleadhraich nan còrn. Tha do thalla mór prìseil Gun fhasgadh gun dìon ann, Far am faca mi am fìon bhith ’ga òl. 245 232. ’n t iom-sgaradh, M.; ’n tiom sgaradh, S.; ’n tioma-sgaradh, SO. 235. ’n t-eireadh, M., SO.; ’n teireadh, S. 236. After this, the last line in S. and SO., M. has: Ach ga h e tathair bu treis’ 236 a Chuir sud mail’ air am feisd b Bha do bhrath’ren fo leatrom c Piob do dheidhse ga greasadh d Ag mo ghradh mar bu deas leis e ’s ceinn-fheadhna gan spreigeadh re toighreachd. f 237. So E., BGh. Righ! gur muladach, &c., S., SO. ’S mor mo mhulad ’s mo phramhan. ’S mi gun mhacnus gun mharan M. 245. After this verse M. has: Aig oighre shiol Tormaid Fear heaguis cho ’n eol domh Cha ’n i ’n fhoill a chuir as duit no ’n stroth. Cuid ga tabhaist ’s ga d’bheusan A bhi gu fuiltieach tric beun dearg Air a chuideachda cheir-gheal nan croc. Leat bu mhian na coin luthmhor, &c. [TD 21] [Beurla] [TD 22] Och mo dhìobhail mar thachair, Thàinig dìle air an aitribh: Is ann is cianail leam tachairt ’na còir. Shir Tormoid nam bratach, Fear do dhealbh-sa bu tearc e, 250 Gun sgeilm a chur asad no bòsd. Fhuair thu teist is deagh urram Ann am freasdal gach duine, Air dheiseachd ’s air uirghioll beoil. Leat bu mhiannach coin lùthmhor 255 Dhol a shiubhal nan stùcbheann, Is an gunna nach diùltadh ri h-ord. Is i do làmh nach robh tuisleach Dhol a chaitheamh a’ chuspair Le do bhogha cruaidh ruiteach deagh-neoil. 260 Glac throm air do shliasaid An déidh a snaidheadh gun fhiaradh, Is bàrr dosrach de sgiathaibh an eoin. Biodh céir ris na crannaibh Bu neo-éisleanach tarruing, 265 An uair a leumadh an taifeid o d’ mheoir. 248. After this, SO. has the verse: Chi mi a’ chliar is na dàimhich A’ tréigsinn na fàrdaich O nach éisd thu ri fàilte luchd-ceoil. 262. An déidh a snaidheadh after E., S., SO., BGh. ’S i gun ghaiseadh gun fhiaradh (ghiomh int), M. [TD 23] [Beurla] [TD 24] An uair a leigte o d’ làimh i Cha bhiodh òirleach gun bhàdhadh Eadar corran a gàinne is an smeoirn. Ceud soraidh le dùrachd 270 Uam gu leannan an t-sùgraidh: Gum b’e m’aighear ’s mo rùn bhith ’nad chòir. An ám dhuit tighinn gu d’ bhaile Is tu bu tighearnail gabhail, An uair a shuidheadh gach caraid mu d’ bhòrd. 275 Bha thu measail aig uaislean, Is cha robh beagan mar chruas ort: Sud an cleachdamh a fhuair thu ad aois òig. Gum biodh farum air thàilisg Agus fuaim air a’ chlàrsaich, 280 Mar a bhuineadh do shàr mhac Mhic Leoid. Gur h-e bu eachdraidh ’na dhéidh sin Greis air ursgeil na Féinne, Is air chuideachda chéirghil nan cròc. 269. After this, M. has: ’S ann’s a chlachan so shios uam Tha mo chairdin ’s mo dhislin Cia mar theid mi na’m fiadhnais aig bron? ’S ann na luighe a’s teampull Tha m’aighir is m’annsachd Chaoidh’ cha teid mi fhein ann ’s gun thu beo. Thereafter the air is noted in ten bars. 278. ad t aois òig, E.; and so S., SO. [TD 25] [Beurla] [TD 26] Marbhrann do Iain Garbh Mac Ghille Chaluim Ratharsaidh a chaidh a dhìth le ainneart mara. Mo bheud is mo chràdh 285 Mar a dh’éirich dà An fhear ghleusta ghràidh Bha treun ’san spàirn Is nach faicear gu bràth an Ratharsaidh. Bu tù am fear curanta mór 290 Bu mhath cumadh is treoir O t’uilinn gu d’ dhòrn O d’ mhullach gu d’ bhròig: Mhic Mhuire mo leòn Thu bhith an innis nan ròn is nach faighear thu. 295 Bu tù sealgair a’ gheoidh, Làmh gun dearmad gun leòn Air am bu shuarach an t-òr Thoirt a bhuannachd a’ cheoil, Is gun d’fhuair thu na’s leoir is na chaitheadh tu. 300 Bu tù sealgair an fhéidh Leis an deargta na béin; Bhiodh coin earbsach air éill Aig an Albannach threun; Càite am faca mi féin 305 Aon duine fo’n ghréin A dhèanadh riut euchd flathasach? 295. Innis nan Ròd, M. 306. Re shireadh fuidh ghrein / Aon ni air nach gleusta ghabhadh tu, M. [TD 27] [Beurla] [TD 28] Spealp nach dìobradh An cath no an strì thu, Casan dìreach 310 Fada fìnealt: Mo chreach dhìobhail Chaidh thu a dhìth oirnn Le neart sìne, Làmh nach dìobradh caitheadh oirre. 315 Och m’eudail uam Gun sgeul ’sa’ chuan Bu ghlé mhath snuadh Ri gréin ’s ri fuachd, Is e chlaoidh do shluagh 320 Nach d’fheud thu an uair a ghabhail orra. Is math thig gunna nach diùlt Air curaidh mo rùin Ann am mullach a’ chùirn Is air uilinn nan stùc: 325 Gum biodh fuil ann air tùs an spreadhaidh sin. Is e dh’fhàg silteach mo shùil Faicinn t’fhearainn gun sùrd, Is do bhaile gun smùid Fo charraig nan sùgh, 330 Dheagh mhic Chaluim nan tùr á Ratharsaidh. Mo bheud is mo bhròn Mar a dh’éirich dhò, Muir beucach mór Ag leum mu d’ bhòrd, 335 Thu féin is do sheoid An uair reub ur seoil Nach d’fheud sibh treoir a chaitheadh orra. 326. an tus an spreithidh sin, M.; air tùs na spreidh-sin, S.; SO. omits the verse. [TD 29] [Beurla] [TD 30] Is tu b’fhaicillich’ ceum Mu’n taice-sa an dé 340 De na chunnaic mi féin Air faiche nan ceud Air each ’s e ’na leum, Is cha bu slacan gun fheum claidheamh ort. Is math lùbadh tu pìc 345 O chùlaibh do chinn An ám rùsgadh a’ ghill Le ionnsaigh nach till, Is air mo làimh gum bu chinnteach saighead uat. Is e an sgeul cràiteach 350 Do’n mhnaoi a dh’fhàg thu, Is do t’aon bhràthair A shuidh ’nad àite: Di-luain Càisge Chaidh tonn-bhàidhte ort, 355 Craobh a b’àirde de’n abhall thu. [TD 31] [Beurla] [TD 32] Tuireadh A rinn Màiri nighean Alasdair Ruaidh goirid an déis a fàgail an Sgarbaidh. Hóireann ó ho bhì ó Hóireann ó ho bhì ó Hóireann ó ho bhì ó Ri hóireann ó o hao o! Is muladach mì, hì ó Hóireann ó ho bhì ó O cheann seachdain, hì ó Ro hóireann ó o hao o, Is mi an eilean gun Fhiar gun fhasgadh. 360 Ma dh’fhaodas mi Théid mi dhachaidh; Nì mi an t-iomramh Mar as fhasa, Do Uilbhinnis 365 A’ chruidh chaisfhinn, Far an d’fhuair mi Gu h-òg m’altrum, Air bainne chìoch Nam ban basgheal, 370 Thall aig Fionnghail Dhuinn nighean Lachainn, Is ì ’na banchaig Ris na martaibh Aig Ruairidh mór Mac 375 Leoid nam bratach. [TD 33] [Beurla] [TD 34] ’S ann ’na thigh mór A fhuair mi am macnas, Danns’ le sunnd air Urlar farsaing, 380 An fhìdhleireachd ’gam Chur a chadal, A’ phìobaireachd Mo dhùsgadh maidne. Thoir mo shoraidh, hò ó 385 Hóireann ó ho bhì o, Gu Dùn Bheagain, hì ó Ro hóireann ó o hao o. [TD 35] [Beurla] [TD 36] Luinneag Mhic Leoid Is mi am shuidhe air an tulaich Fo mhulad ’s fo imcheist, Is mi ag coimhead air Ile, Is ann de m’ iongnadh ’s an ám so; 390 Bha mi uair nach do shaoil mi, Gus an do chaochail air m’aimsir, Gun tiginn an taobh so Dh’amharc Dhiùraidh á Sgarbaidh. I hurabh o i hoiriunn o, i hurabh o i hoiriunn o, I hurabh o i hogaidh ho ro, hi ri ri rithibh ho i ag o. Gun tiginn an taobh so 395 Dh’amharc Dhiùraidh á Sgarbaidh; Beir mo shoraidh do’n dùthaich Tha fo dhubhar nan garbhbheann, Gu Sir Tormod ùr allail Fhuair ceannas air armailt, 400 Is gun cainte anns gach fearann Gum b’airidh fear t’ainm air. Gun cainte anns gach fearann Gum b’airidh fear t’ainm air, Fear do chéille is do ghliocais, 405 Do mhisnich ’s do mheanmain, Do chruadail ’s do ghaisge, Do dhreach is do dhealbha, Agus t’fholachd is t’uaisle Cha bu shuarach ri leanmhainn. 410 394. a, BGh.; a’, E.; a’s, SO. 396. a, E. 409, So BGh., after E.; t-òlachd, SO. [TD 37] [Beurla] [TD 38] Agus t’fholachd is t’uaisle Cha bu shuarach ri leanmhainn; D’fhuil dìrich rìgh Lochlainn B’e sud toiseach do sheanchais. Tha do chàirdeas so-iarraidh 415 Ris gach Iarla tha an Albainn, Is ri h-uaislean na h-Eireann: Cha bhreug ach sgeul dearbhta e. Is ri h-uaislean na h-Eireann: Cha bhreug ach sgeul dearbhta e. 420 A Mhic an fhir chliuitich, Bha gu fiùghantach ainmeil; Thug barrachd an gliocas Air gach Ridir bha an Albainn Ann an cogadh ’s an sìothshaimh, 425 Is ann an dìoladh an airgid. Ann an cogadh ’s an sìothshaimh, Is ann an dìoladh an airgid. Is beag an t-iongnadh do mhac-sa Bhith gu beachdail mór meanmnach, 430 Bhith gu fiùghant’ fial farsaing, O’n a ghlac sibh mar shealbh e: Clann Ruairidh nam bratach, Is e mo chreach-sa na dh’fhalbh dhiubh. Clann Ruairidh nam bratach, 435 Is e mo chreach-sa na dh’fhalbh dhiubh; Ach an aon fhear a dh’fhuirich Nìor chluinneam sgeul marbh ort; Ach, eudail de fhearaibh, Ge do ghabh mi uat tearbadh 440 Fhir a’ chuirp as glan cumadh, Gun uireasbhuidh dealbha. 425. sìothshaimh, BGh.; sìo’-chaibh, E.; sio’-chainnt, SO. [TD 39] [Beurla] [TD 40] Fhir a’ chuirp as glan cumadh, Gun uireasbhuidh dealbha; Cridhe farsaing fial fearail, 445 Is maith thig geal agus dearg ort. Sùil ghorm as glan sealladh Mar dhearcaig na talmhainn, Làmh ri gruaidh ruitich Mar mhucaig na fearradhris. 450 Làmh ri gruaidh ruitich Mar mhucaig na fearrdhris. Fo thagha na gruaige Cùl dualach nan camlùb. Gheibhte sud an ad fhàrdaich 455 An càradh air ealchainn, Miosair is adharc Is rogha gach armachd. Miosair is adharc Is rogha gach armachd, 460 Agus lanntainean tana O’n ceannaibh gu’m barrdhéis. Gheibhte sud air gach slios dhiubh Isneach is cairbinn, Agus iubhair chruaidh fhallain 465 Le an taifeidean cainbe. Agus iubhair chruaidh fhallain Le an taifeidean cainbe, Is cuilbheirean caola Air an daoiread gun ceannaichte iad; 470 Glac nan ceann lìomhta Air chur sìos ann am balgaibh O iteach an fhìreoin Is o shìoda na Gailbhinn. 454.So SO., BGh.; Chuil dualaich, E. 463. Gheibht’ air gach slias dhiu’ sid, E. 465. iubhair chruaidh, SO., BGh. (pl.); iubhar cruaigh, E. 470. air an daoirid, SO.; air a dhaoirid, E. 471. ? crann. [TD 41] [Beurla] [TD 42] O iteach an fhìreoin 475 Is o shìoda na Gailbhinn; Tha mo chion air a’ churaidh, Mac Mhuire chur sealbh air. Is e bu mhiannach le m’ leanabh Bhith am beannaibh na sealga, 480 Gabhail aighir na frìthe Is a’ dìreadh nan garbhghlac. Gabhail aighir na frìthe Is a’ dìreadh nan garbhghlac, A’ leigeil nan cuilean 485 Is a’ furan nan seanchon; Is e bu deireadh do’n fhuran ud Fuil thoirt air chalgaibh O luchd nan céir geala Is nam falluingean dearga. 490 O luchd nan céir geala Is nam falluingean dearga, Le do chomhlan dhaoine uaisle Rachadh cruaidh air an armaibh; Luchd aithneachadh latha 495 Is a chaitheadh an fhairge Is a b’urrainn g’a seòladh Gu seòlaid an tarruinte i. 480. na sealga, E.; nan sealga, SO., BGh. [TD 43] [Beurla] [TD 44] Crònan an Taibh Ri fuaim an taibh Is uaigneach mo ghean; 500 Bha mise uair nach b’e sud m’àbhaist. Ach pìob nuallanach mhór Bheireadh buaidh air gach ceòl, An uair a ghluaiste i le meoir Phàdraig. Gur mairg a bheir géill 505 Do’n t-saoghal gu léir: Is tric a chaochail e cheum gàbhaidh. Gur lìonmhoire a chùrs Na’n dealt air an driùchd Ann am madainn an tùs Màighe. 510 Chan fhacas ri m’ ré Aon duine fo’n ghréin Nach tug e ghreis féin dhà sin. Thoir an t-soraidh so bhuam Gu talla nan cuach, 515 Far am biodh tathaich nan truagh dàimheil. Chun an tighe nach gann Fo an leathad ud thall, Far bheil aighear is ceann mo mhànrain. Sir Tormod mo rùin, 520 Olgharach thù, Foirmeil o thùs t’àbhaist. A thasgaidh ’s a chiall, Is e bu chleachdamh duit riamh Teach farsaing ’s e fial fàilteach. 525 499. an Taibh, S.; an Taif E.; an t-shăimh, SO. [TD 45] [Beurla] [TD 46] Bhiodh teanal nan cliar Ré tamaill is cian, Dh’fhios a’ bhaile am biodh triall chàirdean. Nàile, chunnaic mi uair Is glan an lasadh bha ad ghruaidh, 530 Fo ghruaig chleachdaich nan dual àrbhuidh’. Fear dìreach deas treun Bu ro-fhìrinneach beus, Is e gun mhìghean gun cheum tràilleil; De’n linnidh b’fheàrr buaidh 535 Tha ’s na crìochaibh mun cuairt, Clann fhìrinneach Ruairidh lànmhoir. Chan ’eil cleachdainn mhic rìgh No gaisge no gnìomh, Nach ’eil pearsa mo ghaoil làn deth. 540 An tréine ’s an lùth, An ceudfaidh ’s an cliù, Am féile is an gnùis nàire. An gaisge is an gnìomh, Am pailteas neo-chrìon, 545 Am maise is am miann àillteachd. An cruadal ’s an toil, Am buaidh thoirt air sgoil, An uaisle gun chron càileachd. Tuigsear nan teud, 550 Purpais gach sgéil, Susbaint gach céill nàduir. Gum bu chubhaidh dhuit siod Mar a thubairt iad ris, Bu tu an t-ubhal thar mios àrdchraoibh. 555 546. miann BGh., after E.; miagh, S., SO. [TD 47] [Beurla] [TD 48] Leòdach mo rùin, Seòrsa fhuair cliù, Cha bu tòiseachadh ùr dhàibh Sir. Bha fios có sìbh Ann an iomartas rìgh, 560 An uair bu mhuladach strì Theàrlaich. Slàn Ghàidheil no Ghoill Gun d’fhuaras oirbh foill, Dh’aon bhuaireadh gun d’rinn bhur nàmhaid. Lochlannaich threun 565 Toiseach bhur sgéil, Sliochd solta bh’air freumh Mhànuis. Thug Dia dhuit mar ghibht Bhith mórdhalach glic; Chrìosd deònaich do d’shliochd bhith àghmhor. 570 Fhuair thu fortan o Dhia, Bean bu shocraiche ciall, Is i gu foistinneach fial nàrach: A bheil eineach is cliù, Is i gun mhilleadh ’na cùis, 575 Is i gu h-iriosal ciuin càirdeil: I gun dolaidh fo’n ghréin Gu toileachadh treud, Is a folachd a réir bànrighinn. Is tric a riaraich thu cuilm 580 Gun fhiabhras gun tuilg: Nighean oighre Dhùn-tuilm, slàn duit. 570. Chrìosd deònaich, E., BGh. Criosd dheonach’, S.; Chriosd deonaich’, SO. [TD 49] [Beurla] [TD 50] An T-Eudach Duanag a rinn Màiri nighean Alasdair Ruaidh mar gum biodh i ag eudach ri ban-Ilich a mheall a leannan oirre, nam b’fhìor i. Hìrirì ohù robhó, Roho ì ohì o. Gur a mise tha iar mo chlisgeadh, Tha loch uisge fo m’ chluasaig. Ged a théid mi do m’ leabaidh 585 Chan e an cadal as dual domh, Is a’ bhean tha an Ile Sìor mhiadachadh m’euda; Bhean thug uamsa mo roghainn, Is gun taghainn thar cheud e. 590 Ach nam bithinn ’na fianuis, Gum biodh spìonadh air bhréidean. Chì mi an Fhionnairigh thall ud Is ì gun earras fo’n ghréin oirr’. Gum faca mise uair a 595 Bha daoine-uaisle mu d’réidhlean. Rachadh cuid do’n bheinn-sheilg dhiubh, Cuid a mharbhadh an éisg dhiubh, Air Linne na Ciste Am bi na bric anns an leumraich. 600 Tha mo chean air an lasgair, Saighdear sgairteil fo sgéith thu. An uair a thig thu do’n chaisteal Bheir thu dhachaidh do cheud ghràdh. 599. Linge, D. [TD 51] [Beurla] [TD 52] Ged a tha mi air m’aineol 605 O’n bhaile fo éislean, Chan ion do’n bhan-Ilich Bhith strìth rium mu d’dhéidhinn. Cumha do Mhac Leoid Gur e an naidheachd so fhuair mi A dh’fhuadaich mo chiall uam 610 Mar nach bitheadh i agam Is nach fhaca mi riamh i; Gur e abhall an lios so Tha mise ag iargain, E gun abachadh meas air 615 Ach air briseadh fo chiad-bhàrr. Gur e sgeula na creiche Tha mi nise ag éisdeachd, Gach aon chneadh mar thig orm Dol an tricid ’s an déinid; 620 Na chunncas ’s na chualas Is na fhuaradh o’n cheud là, Creach nid an t-seabhaig, Air a sgathadh ri aon uair. Ach a chlann an fhir allail 625 Bu neo-mhalairtich beusan, Ann an Lunnainn ’s am Paris Thug sibh bàrr air na ceudan; Chaidh nur cliù thairis Thar talamh na h-Eiphit, 630 A cheann-uidhe luchd-ealaidh Is a leannain na féileachd. 615. So SO.; I gun abuchadh meas oir, S. 619. orm, S.; oirn’, SO. 621. na chunnadh, S.; na chunnaic, SO. 628. om. S. [TD 53] [Beurla] [TD 54] Ach a fhriamhaich nan curaidh Is a chuilein nan leóghann Is ogha an dà sheanair 635 Bu chaithreamaich lòisdean, Càite an robh e ri fhaotainn Air an taobh-s’ an Roinn Eòrpa?— Cha b’fhuras ri fhaighinn Anns gach rathad bu dòigh dhuibh. 640 Ach a Ruairidh mhic Iain, Is goirt leam fhaighinn an sgeul-s’ ort; Is e mo chreach-sa mac t’athar Bhith ’na laighe gun éirigh; Agus Tormod a mhac-san, 645 A thasgaidh mo chéille! Gur e aobhar mo ghearain Gun chailleadh le chéile iad. Nach mór an sgeul-sgrìobhaidh Is nach iongnadh leibh féin e, 650 Duilleach na craoibhe Nach do sgaoileadh e meanglain, An robh cliù agus onoir Agus moladh air deagh bheairt Gu daonnachdach carthannach 655 Beannachdach ceutach. Ge goirt leam an naidheachd Tha mi faighinn air Ruairidh, Gun do chorp a bhith as dùthaich Anns an tuama bu dual duit, 660 Sgeul eile nach usa Tha mi clàistinn ’san uair so, Gar nach toir mi dha creideas, Gur beag orm ri luaidh e. 659. ’s Dùthaich, S.; ’san Dùthaich, SO. 663. gar, S.; ged, SO. [TD 55] [Beurla] [TD 56] Gur rò bheag a shaoil mi 665 Ri mo shaoghal gun éisd’mid, Gun cluinneamaid Leòdaich Bhith ’gam fògradh á’n oighreachd, Is á’n còraichean glana Is á’m fearainn gun déidh air, 670 Is ar ranntannan farsaing Nan rachte ’nam feum sud. Gun éireadh ’nad aobhar Clann Raghnaill ’s Clann Domhnaill Agus tigh Mhic Ghille Eathain 675 Bha daingeann ’nur seòrsa, Agus fir Ghlinne Garadh Nall thairis á Cnòideart, Mar sud is Clann Chamshroin O champ Inbhir Lòchaidh. 680 Is beag an t-iongnadh Clann Choinnich Dhèanamh oireachd mu d’ ghualainn Is gun robh thu ’nam fineachd Air t’fhilleadh trì uairean. Is e mo chreach gun do chinneadh 685 Bhith mu chruinneachadh t’uaighe, No glaodh do mhnà-muinntir, Is nach cluinntear ’san uair-s’ i. Tha mo cheist air an oighre Tha a staoidhle ’sna Hearadh, 690 Gar nach deach thu ’san tuam ud Far am bu dual duit o d’ sheanair. Gur iomadh fuil uaibhreach A dh’fhuaraich ad bhallaibh De shloinneadh nan rìghrean 695 Leis na chìosaicheadh Manainn. 682. eireachd, S.; eiridh SO. 691. gar, S.; ged, SO. [TD 57] [Beurla] [TD 58] Is e mo ghaol-sa an sliochd foirmeil Bh’air sliochd Olghair is Ochraidh, O bhaile na Boirbhe Is ann a staoidhleadh tu an toiseach; 700 Gur iomadh fuil mhórdha Bha reòta ’s a’ chorp ud: De shliochd àrmunn Chinn-tìre, Iarla Ile agus Rois thu. Mhic Iain Stiùbhairt na h-Apunn, 705 Ged is gasda an duine òg thu, Ged tha Stiùbhartaich beachdail, Iad tapaidh ’n ám fòirneirt, Na gabh-sa meanmna no aiteas Anns an staid ud nach còir dhuit: 710 Cha toir thu i dh’aindeoin Is chan fhaigh thu le deoin i. Cuime an tigeadh fear coigreach Do thagradh ur n-oighreachd? Gar nach ’eil e ro dhearbhta 715 Gur searbh e ri éisdeachd; Ged tha sinne air ar creachadh Mu chloinn mhac an fhir fhéilidh, Sliochd Ruairidh mhóir allail, Is gur airidh iad féin oirr’. 720 715. gar, S.; ged, SO. [TD 59] [Beurla] [TD 60] An Crònan An naidheachd so an dé Aighearach è: Moladh do’n léigh Thug malairt do m’ chéill: Nis teannaidh mi féin ri crònan. 725 Beannachd do’n bheul Dh’aithris an sgeul Dh’fhàg fallain mo chré; Cha ghearain mi féin Na chailleadh ’s na dh’eug 730 Is mo leanabh ’nan déidh comhshlàn. Nam biodh agamsa fìon Gum b’ait leam a dhìol Air slàinte do thighinn Gu d’ chàirdean ’s gu d’ thìr; 735 Mhic àrmuinn mo ghaoil, B’e m’àrdan ’s mo phrìs Alach mo Rìgh thogbhail. Is fàth mire dhuinn féin Is do ’n chinneadh gu léir 740 Do philleadh o’n eug; Is milis an sgeul, Is binne na gleus orghan. 721 ff. So E., SO.; M has: Chualas nuaidheachd an de ’S aighir leom fhein (corr. from aighireach) Moladh d’n leigh Thug cobhair do d’chreidh. 725. ’Nis teannaidh, SO.; nois o theannas, E., M. 728. om. SO.; mo chrè, E.; do chreadh, M. 731. So E.; na dheidh, SO.; nan deis (written above deidh) ’s beo shlaint, M. [TD 61] [Beurla] [TD 62] Is e m’aiteas gu dearbh Gun glacar grad shealbh 745 An grunnd farsaing nan sealg Is an caisteal nan arm Leis a’ mhacaomh d’an ainm Tormod. Tha mo dhùil-sa ann an Dia Gur mùirneach do thriall 750 Gu dùn ud nan cliar Far am bu dùthchas do m’ thriath Bhiodh gu fiùghantach fial foirmeil. Gu dùn turaideach àrd, B’e sud innis nam bàrd 755 Is nam filidh ri dàn Far am bu mhinig an tàmh: Cha b’ionad gun bhlàths dhoibh sud. Gu àros nach crìon Am bi gàirich nam pìob 760 Is nan clàrsach a rìs Le deàrrsadh nam pìos A’ cur sàraidh air fìon Is ’ga leigeadh an gnìomh òircheard. Buadhach am mac, 765 Uasal an t-slat D’an dual a bhith ceart Cruadalach pailt Duaismhor am beachd Ruaimneach an neart Leòdach. 770 756. So E. SO.; M. has: Far ’m bu mhinig leo tamh gabhail iomairt re daimh, cha b’iongantach dhaibh Righ! bu ro mhor do chairdeas leo sin. 796. So E., SO.; ruaismhor, gl. grand, M. 770. Ruaineach, explained by làidir, E. [TD 63] [Beurla] [TD 64] Fiùran na cluain Dhùisg ’san deagh uair, Is dùth dhuit dol suas An cliù ’s ann am buaidh: Is dùthchas do m’ luaidh 775 Bhith gu fiùghantach suairc ceoilbhinn. Fasan bu dual Fantalach buan, Socrach ri tuaith, Cosgail ri cuairt, 780 Coisionta cruaidh Am brosnachadh sluaigh, A’ mosgladh an uair fòirneirt. Lean-sa ’s na tréig Cleachdamh is beus 785 T’aiteim gu léir, Macanta sèimh, Pailt ri luchd theud, Gaisgeil am feum, Neartmhor an déidh tòrachd. 790 781. ff. So E., SO.; M. has: Tosach dol suas Cosgaradh cruaidh Cosant ann uair doruinn. Tha thu shliochd nam fear ùr, Tha fo lic ann san uir; ’S e dh’fhag shilteach mo shuil, Ge do rigeadh mi ’n crun, Nach fhaic mi fear dhiubh Ach ann gliocas an cliuth sa’ mhorchuis. Sliochd Olgair nan Lann, &c. [TD 65] [Beurla] [TD 66] De shliochd Olghair nan lann Thogadh sròiltean ri crann: An uair a thòisich iad ann Cha bu lìonsgaradh gann, Fir a b’fhìrinneach bann, 795 Prìseil an dream, Rìoghail gun chall còrach. Tog colg ort a ghaoil! Bi ro chalma is gum faod; Gur dearbhtha dhuit, laoich, 800 Do chinneadh nach faoin Thig ort as gach taobh gu d’ chomhnadh. Uasal an treud, Deas cruadalach treun Tha an dualchas dhuit féin, 805 Théid mu d’ ghuaillibh ri t’fheum De shliochd Ruairidh mhóir fhéil; Cuir-sa suas, a Mhic Dé, an t-òg rìgh. Tha na Gàidheil gu léir Cho càirdeach dhuit féin, 810 Is gur feairrde thu gu t’fheum Sir Domhnall a Sléit’, Ceannard nan ceud, Ceannsgalach treun ròghlic. Is maith mo bharail ’s mo bheachd 815 Air na fiùrain as leat Gu carantach ceart: Is ann de bharrachd do neirt Mac mhic Ailein is dà mhac Dhomhnaill. 819. Mac Mhic Ailein is da Mhac Dhonuill, M.; Mac mhic Ailein ’s a mhac Thig le faram am feachd Go d’ charaid a chasg t fhoirneart, E. and so SO. [TD 67] [Beurla] [TD 68] A Gleann Garadh a nuas 820 Thig am barantas sluaigh Nach mealladh ort uair: Cha bu charantas fuar Na fir sin o chluain Chnòideart. Is leat Mac Shimidh o’n Aird, 825 Is Mac Coinnich Chinn tSàil, Théid ad iomairt gun dàil Le h-iomadaidh gràidh; Cha b’iongantach dhàibh Is gur h-iomadh do phàirt dhoibh sin. 830 Is goirt an naidheachd ’s gur cruaidh Mac Ghille Eathain bhith uainn, Gun a thigheadas suas: Bha do cheangal ris buan, T’ursainn-chatha ri uair dòrainn. 835 B’iomad gasan gun chealg Bu deas faicheil fo arm Bheireadh ceartachadh garbh Is iad a chlàistinn ort fearg Eadar Breacachadh dearg is Bròlas. 840 Tha mi ag acain mar chall Iad a thachairt gun cheann Fo chasaibh nan Gall Gun do phearsa bhith ann: Mo chruaidh-chàs nach gann 845 Thu bhith fad anns an Fhraing air fògradh. 836. gasan, explained by “a young man”, E.; garsan, gl. fleasgach laidir, M. 837. faicheil M.; faicsin E.; faicinn SO. 838. ceartacha(dh) E., SO.; ceartachdain M. 840. Breacachadh (corr. from Breacaisidh) dhearg, M.; gu dearbh is inserted above the line, evid. to replace dhearg, which is not erased; Breacachadh thall E.; Bràcadal thall SO. 846. Do bhi’, E. [TD 69] [Beurla] [TD 70] A Chrìosd, cinnich thu féin An spionnadh ’s an céill Gu cinneadail treun An ionad na dh’eug, 850 A mhic an fhir nach d’fhuair beum Is a ghineadh o’n chré ròghlain. A Rìgh nan gràs Bi féin mar ghàrd Air feum mo ghràidh, 855 Is dèan oighre slàn Do’n teaghlach àigh Bu mheamhrach dàimh, D’an robh coibhneas air bhàrr sòlais. [TD 71] [Beurla] [TD 72] Fuigheall Théid mi le m’ dheoin 860 Do dhùthaich Mhic Leoid, M’iùl air a’ mhór luachach sin. Bu chòir dhomh gum bi M’eòlas ’san tìr Leòdach mur pill cruadal mi; 865 Siùbhlaidh mi an iar Troimh dhùbhlachd nan sian Do’n tùr g’am bi triall thuathcheathairn, O’n chualas an sgeul Buadhach gun bhreug 870 Rinn acain mo chléibhe fhuadachadh. Chì mi MacLeoid, Is prìseil an t-òg Rìomhach gu mór buadhalach, Bho Olghar nan lann 875 Chuireadh sròiltean ri crann, Is Leòdaich an dream uabharra. Eiridh na fuinn Ghleusta air na suinn, Is feumail ri ám cruadail iad, 880 Na fiùranan garg, An ám rùsgadh nan arm Is cliuiteach an t-ainm fhuaras leibh. Sìol Tormoid nan sgiath Foirmeileach fial, 885 Dh’éireadh do shluagh luathlàmhach; 862. Mo iūl air a bhord luath-bhineach, M. 867. O yousach nan bian M. 868. n’duil gun raibh mian toirmalach, M. 869 ff. M. has: Chualus an de sceul luathbhineach gun bhreig ’S buaghthail an t eud coinbhailach. [TD 73] [Beurla] [TD 74] Dealradh nam pìos, Torman nam pìob, Is dearbh’ gum bu leibh an dualachas. Thàinig teachdair do’n tìr 890 Gu macanta mìn, Is ait leam gach nì chualas leam, O Dhùn Bheagain nan steud Anns am freagair luchd-theud Bheir greis air gach sgeul buaidh-ghlòireach. 895 An uair chuireadh na laoich Loingeas air chaol Turus ri gaoith ghluaiste leibh, O bharraibh nan crann Gu tarruing nam ball 900 Teannachadh teann suas rithe; Iomairt gu leoir Mar ri Mac Leoid Chàraich fo shròl uain-dhaite i, Bho Aros an fhìon 905 Gu talla nam pìos: Gum beannaich mo rìgh an t-uasal ud. 905. Aros by conjecture; àrois SO.; om. M. [TD 75] [Beurla] [TD 76] Do Mhac Dhomhnaill Tha ulaidh orm an uamharrachd, Mo ghibhte phrìseil uasal thu, Mo leug bu lìonmhor buadhan thu, 910 Chan fhaigh an rìgh ri t’fhuasgladh thu: Air m’fhocal fìor o’n fhuair mi thu Cha tugainn uam air òr thu. Tha tasgaidh ann an dìomhaireachd O chionn an fhad-s’ de bhliadhnachan; 915 Cha b’airgiod glas ’s cha b’iarann e Ach Ridire glic riaghailteach Fhuair meas is gliocas iarlachan: O’n fhuair mi nis ri t’iarraidh thu Mathadh Dia dhuit e, Shir Domhnall. 920 Bu chuid mhór de m’araichdean thu, Mo phreasan snuadhach dealbhach thu, Mo long bu lìonmhor seanchas ort Bu mheasail buadhail ainmeil thu; Nan leiginn féin air dearmad thu 925 Gu dearbhtha cha b’i chòir i. O’s craobh de’n abhall phrìseil thu, De’n mheas bu ghasda brìoghalachd, O ghrunnd na fala fìrinnich D’am b’fhasan riamh an rìoghalachd: 930 Nam b’ann do lorg do shinnsir mi Gun innsinn-se na b’eòl domh. Gu meal thu féin do staoidhlichean Is gach fearann tha an oighreachd dhuit, Dùn-tuilm an talamh deagh-mhaiseach 935 Am biodh céir ’ga las’ an coinnleiribh Is fìon ’ga òl gu saoibhir ann Am pìosa glasa soillsichte An tigh farsaing meadhrach ceòlmhor. 924. Bha measail, MS., acc. to Henderson. [TD 77] [Beurla] [TD 78] Do chùirt a b’ fhìorghlan foidearachd 940 Is bu mhath làmh-sgrìobhth’ air paipearan; Bha cuid do mhiann air maighdeannan Bhiodh an gùintean sìoda fraoidhneiseach Is iad dùinte sìos mu’n staighisean, Is gun toir iad cìos gun fhaighneachd 945 Do aon strainnseir thig air fògradh. Tha deagh ghàrd air th’ainmealachd, Do chàirdean an t-Iarl Earra-Ghàidhealach, Mac Coinnich is Morair Tairbeirt leat, Fir a’ Bhealaich is Bhràid Albann leat, 950 Gleann Garadh ’s fir nan Garbhchrìoch leat, Is an Colla is cha bu chearbach e, Is na Camshronaich o Lòchaidh. Mac Aoidh nam bratach meanmnach leat, Siol Airt is Chuinn is Chormaic leat, 955 Na Collanan cìosail armailteach Le’n loingeis luchdmhoir ghealbhréidich Air fairge is iad a’ seòladh. An codal no bhith an dùsgadh dhuit Bu leat an Caiptein Mùideartach 960 Is na dh’éireadh leis de fhiùranaibh, Is cha bu neart gun dùrachd e, Is gur beachd leam gum bi biùthas anns A’ chùis mu’m bi sibh deònach. Ghléidhinn prasgan fathast duit: 965 Sìol Torcuill na tha air ghléidheadh dhiubh, Clann Fhionghain ’s fir an t-Stratha leat; Bu dìleas duit na tighean ud: Mur cumadh crùn no claidheamh iad Gum faighinn-sa na’s leoir dhuit. 970 941. So by conjecture, or less likely, lamh-sgiath air saighdearan. MS. has lamh sgrìobh air saighdearan, acc. to Henderson. 942. Bu chuid, MS. 943. an not in MS. 969. iad not in MS. [TD 79] [Beurla] [TD 80] Aig lìonmhorachd do chàirdeis riu Cha sgrìobhar iad air phaipearan; Bidh Frisealaich, bidh Granndaich leat, Bidh Rothaich a thaobh nàduir leat Nan cumadh iad an àbhaist riut 975 ’Gad chur ’san àite an còir dhuit. Dh’éireadh leat na Dubhghlasaich A thaobh do mhàthar chùramaich: Bidh cóig ciad gaisgeach cùirteil ann Is gum b’e fàth mo dhùrachd dhaibh 980 Iad bhith dhuit cho dùbailte Is nach diùltadh iad do chomhnadh. Nan tigeadh airc no éiginn ort Gun éireadh feachd á Eirinn leat; Iarl Antruim nan each ceumnach leat 985 Is an sliochd sin Mhic Féilim leat, Nan cluinnte foirm air fheumalachd Gun éireadh leat am mór-shluagh. Gun éireadh leat gun amharus Feachd Iain Mhóir ’s Iain Chathanaich 990 Is an dream dhìreach Leathanach Is fir Chinn-tìre is Latharna, Is gur mairg luchd beurla chaitheadh ort Is na maithean ud an tòir orr’. Gur cian ’s gur fad an aimsir 995 O’n chuala mi aig seanchaidhibh Nar thàinig sibh do na talmhaintean-sa Gur gnìomh a chaidh a dhearbhadh gun Robh tigh is leth na h-Albann air A shealbhachadh an còir dhuibh. 1000 987. Probably for air th’ fheumalachd. 997. do, -sa suppl. Henderson. [TD 81] [Beurla] [TD 82] Luinneag do Iain mac Shir Tormoid Mhic Leoid air dhi bràth thombaca fhaotainn uaidh. Hithill uthill agus ó hithill ó horiunnan hithill uthill agus ó hithill óhó horiunnan hithill uthill agus ó hithill ó horiunnan faillill ó hullill ó hó ri ghealladh ill an. Ged a théid mi do m’ leabaidh Chan e cadal as miannach leam Aig ro mheud na tuile Is mo mhuileann gun iarann air; Tha a’ mholtair ri pàidheadh 1005 Mur cailltear am bliadhna mi, Is gur feumail domh faighinn Ged a gheibhinn an iasaid i. Tha mo chean air a’ chlachair Rinn m’aigne-sa riarachadh, 1010 Fear mór a’ bheoil mheachair, Ge tosdach gur briathrach thu: Gum faighinn air m’fhacal Na caisteil ged iarrainn iad: A cheart aindeoin mo stàta, 1015 Gun chàraich sud fiachan orm. Ged a thubhairt mi riut clachair Air m’fhacal cha b’fhìor dhomh e; Gur rìoghail do shloinneadh Is gur soilleir ri iarraidh e: 1020 1001. So S., SO.; Ga do reach mi ’m leabuidh, E.; Ge socair mo leaba M. 1007. So E., S., SO.; gu’m bu mhianach leom agam, M. [TD 83] [Beurla] [TD 84] Fìor Leòdach ùr gasda Foinnidh beachdail glic fialaidh thu, De shliochd nam fear flathail Bu mhath an ceann chliaranach. Ach a mhic ud Shir Tormoid 1025 Gun soirbhich gach bliadhna dhuit A chur buaidhe air do shliochd-sa Agus piseach air t’iarmadan; Is do’n chuid eile chloinn t’athar Anns gach rathad a thriallas iad, 1030 Gu robh toradh mo dhùrachd Dol an rùn mar bu mhiannach leam. An uair a théid thu do’n fhireach Is ro mhath chinneas am fiadhach leat, Le do lomhainn chon ghleusta 1035 Ann do dhéidh ’n uair a thrialladh tu: Sin is cuilbhir caol cinnteach Cruaidh dìreach gun fhiaradh ann; Bu tù sealgair na h-éilde, A’ choilich is na liath-chirce. 1040 Tha mo chean air an Ruairidh, Gur luaimneach mu d’ sgeula mi; Fìor bhoinne geal suairc thu, Am bheil uaisle na peucaige, Air an d’fhàs an cùl dualach 1045 Is e ’na chuachagan teudbhuidhe; Sin is urla ghlan shuairce: Cha bu tuairisgeul breugach e. 1024. chliaranach, E., S., SO.; chliaran iad, M. 1039. na h-eilid, S., SO. and so E. M. transposes eilid and choilich. The rime seems defective. [TD 85] [Beurla] [TD 86] Slàn iomramh dhuit Iain, Guma rathail a dh’éireas duit, 1050 Is tu mac an deagh athar Bha gu mathasach meadhrachail, Bha gu furbhailteach daonnairceach Faoilteachail déirceachail; Sàr cheannard air trùp thu 1055 Nan cuirte leat feum orra. Gur àlainn am marcach Air each an glaic diollaid thu, Is tu conbhail do phearsa Ann an cleachdamh mar dh’iarrainn duit: 1060 Thigeadh sud ann ad làimh-sa Lann Spàinteach ghorm dhias-fhada Is paidhir mhath phiostal Air crios nam ball snìomhaineach. 1056. So E., S., SO.; nan cuirte mar fhiacha e M. 1061. So E., &c.; Thigidgh (sic) sud ort o’n cheardaich, M. [TD 87] [Beurla] [TD 88] Marbhrann do Shir Tormod Mac Leoid a dh’eug air an treas là de’n Mhàirt, anns a’ bhliadhna 1705 Cha sùrd cadail 1065 An rùn-s’ air m’aigne, Mo shùil frasach Gun sùrd macnais ’S a’ chùirt a chleachd mi Sgeul ùr ait ri éisdeachd. 1070 Is trom an cudthrom so dhrùidh, Dh’fhàg mo chuislein gun lùth, Is tric snighe mo shùl A’ tuiteam gu dlùth, Chaill mi iuchair mo chùil: 1075 An cuideachd luchd-ciuil cha téid mi. Mo neart ’s mo threoir Fo thasgaidh bhòrd, Sàr mhac Mhic Leoid Nam bratach sròil, 1080 Bu phailt mu’n òr, Bu bhinn caismeachd sgeoil Aig luchd-astair is ceoil na h-Eireann. Có neach d’an eòl Fear t’ fhasain beò 1085 Am blasdachd beoil Is am maise neoil, An gaisge gleois An ceart ’s an còir, Gun airceas no sgleò féile? 1090 1072. So BGh., after SO.; an lùs E. 1075. chùil BGh., SO., E.; ? chiuil. [TD 89] [Beurla] [TD 90] Dh’fhalbh mo shòlas: Marbh mo Leòdach Calma cròdha Meanmnach ròghlic; Dhearbh mo sgeoil-sa 1095 Seanchas eòlais Gun chearb foghluim: Dealbhach ròghlan t’éagasg. An treas là de’n Mhàirt Dh’fhalbh m’aighear gu bràth; 1100 B’i sud saighead mo chràidh Bhith ’g amharc do bhàis, A ghnùis fhlathasach àilt, A dheagh mhic rathail An àrmuinn euchdaich. 1105 Mac Ruairidh reachdmhoir Uaibhrich bheachdail, Bu bhuaidh leatsa Dualchas farsaing, Snuadh ghlaine pearsa, 1110 Cruadal ’s smachd gun eucoir. Uaill is aiteas Is ann bhuat gu faighte, Ri uair ceartais Fuasgladh facail 1115 Gun ghruaim gun lasan Gu suairce snasda reusant’. Fo bhùird an cistidh Chaidh grunnd a’ ghliocais, Fear fiùghant miosail 1120 Cuilmeach gibhteil, An robh cliù gun bhristeadh: Chaidh ùr fo lic air m’eudail. 1118. So E., BGh.; na ciste, SO. [TD 91] [Beurla] [TD 92] Gnùis na glaine Chuireadh sunnd air fearaibh, 1125 Air each crùidheach ceannard Is lann ùr thana ort Am beairt dhlùth dhainginn Air cùl nan clannfhalt teudbhuidh’. Is iomadh fear aineoil 1130 Is aoidh ’s luchd ealaidh Bheir turnais tamall Air crùintidh mhalairt Air iùl ’s air aithne: Bu chliù gun aithris bhreug e. 1135 Bu tu an t-sìothshaimh charaid Ri ám tighinn gu baile, Ol dian aig fearaibh Gun strì gun charraid, Is bu mhiann leat mar riut 1140 Luchd innse air annas sgeula. Bu tric uidh chàirdean Gu d’ dhùn àghmhor Suilbhir fàilteach Cuilmmhor stàtail 1145 Gun bhuirb gun àrdan, Gun diùlt air mhàl nan déirceach. Thu á sliochd Olghair Bu mhór morghail, Nan seòl corrbheann 1150 Is nan còrn gormghlas, Nan ceòl orghan Is nan seòd bu bhorb ri éiginn. 1125. sunnd, SO.; sùnt, E.; sùrd, BGh. 1144. fàilteach, SO., BGh.; àilteach, E. [TD 93] [Beurla] [TD 94] Bha leth do shloinnidh Ri sìol Cholla 1155 Nan cìos troma Is nam pìos soilleir, Bho chóigeamh Chonnacht: Bu lìonmhor do loingeas bréidgheal. Is iomadh gàir dhalta 1160 Is mnài bhasbhuailt’ Ri là tasgaidh: Chan fhàth aiteis Do d’ chàirdean t’ fhaicsin Fo chlàr glaiste: 1165 Mo thruaighe, chreach an t-eug sinn! Inghean Sheumais nan crùn, Bean-chéile ghlan ùr, Thug i ceud-ghràdh d’a rùn, Bu mhór a h-aobhar ri sunnd 1170 An uair a shealladh i an gnùis a céile. Is i fhras nach ciuin A thàinig as ùr, A shrac ar siuil Is a bhrist ar stiuir 1175 Is ar cairt mhaith iuil Is ar taice cùil Is ar caidreabh ciuil Bhiodh againn ’nad thùr éibhinn. Is mór an ionndrainn tha bhuainn 1180 Air a dùnadh ’san uaigh, Ar cùinneadh ’s ar buaidh, Ar cùram ’s ar n-uaill, Is ar sùgradh gun ghruaim: Is fada air chuimhe na fhuair mi féin deth. 1185 1158 So BGh.; Coinneachd, E.; Coinneach, SO. [TD 95] [Beurla] [TD 96] Cumha do Shir Tormod Mac Leoid. Mo chràdhghal bochd Mar a thà mi nochd Is mi gun tàmh gun fhois gun sunnd. Gun sùrd ri stàth Gun dùil ri bhith slàn, 1190 Chaidh mo shùgradh gu bràth air chùl. Chaill mo shusbaint a càil, Fàth mo thùrsaidh gach là, Is mi sìor-ursgeul air gnàths mo rùin. Mu dheagh mhac Ruairidh nan long, 1195 Lamh lìobhraigeadh bhonn, Is bha measail air fonn luchd-ciuil. Is e bhith smuainteachadh ort A chràidh mi am chorp Is a chnàmh na roisg bho m’ shùil. 1200 Mi ri smuaintean bochd truagh Is ri iomradh baoth buan Is mi ’gad ionndrainn-sa uam: ’s tu b’fhiù. Ag ionndrainn Leòdach mo ghaoil Bhith ’san t-sròl-anart chaoil 1205 Gun chomhdach r’a thaobh ach bùird. O’n là ghlasadh do bheul Gun deach airc air luchd-theud An uair sgapadh tu fhéin na crùin. Thog na filidh ort sgeul 1210 Fhad ’s a dh’imich an ceum Nach fhaca iad na b’fhéile gnùis. [TD 97] [Beurla] [TD 98] Gun robh maise ann ad fhiamh, Sin is tlachd ort measg chiad, Rud nach cuala mi riamh air triuir. 1215 Tha am Mac Leoid-s’ air ar ceann Is e fo thùrsadh nach gann; Is beag an t-iongnadh ’s e chaill a stiuir. Chaill e maothar a threud ’San robh fradharc nan ceud 1220 Is tagha de dheagh chairt-iuil. Deagh shealgair am frìth, Bha gun cheilg do thigh Rìgh, Agus seirbhiseach dìleas crùin. Tha do chinneadh fo ghruaim 1225 Is gach aon fhine mun cuairt O’n là ghrinnicheadh t’uaigh ’s a’ chrùist. Mu’n t-sàr ghaisgeach dheas threun Ann am batail nan ceud, Cha bu lapach ’san leum ud thù. 1230 Làmh churanta chruaidh Ann an iomairt ’s gach buaidh, Chan urrainn domh t’uaisle, a rùin. Do thigh-talla fo ghruaim, Is e gun aighear gun uaill, 1235 Far am bu mhinig a fhuair sinn cuirm. [TD 99] [Beurla] [TD 100] This lament for Iain Garbh of Raasay is in Còisir a’ Mhòid (I. 50) ascribed to Mary MacLeod, on what authority is not stated. Raasay tradition, as I am told by Mr. Alexander Nicolson and others, unhesitatingly ascribes it to Iain Garbh’s sister, and this fact, along with the style of the song itself, makes it, I think, certain that Mary was not the author. Mr. Nicolson has collected in Raasay a less complete version. The free rendering is in the metre of the original. Och nan och ’s mi fo léireadh mar a dh’éirich do’n ghaisgeach; Chan ’eil sealgair na sìthne an diugh am frìth nam beann casa. Bha mi uair nach do shaoil mi, ged is faoin bhi ’ga agradh, Gun rachadh do bhàdhadh gu bràth air cuan farsaing; Fhad ’s a sheasadh an stiuir dhith ’s tu air cùl a buill bheairte, Dh’aindeoin ànradh nan, dùilean agus ùpraid na mara; Fhad ’s a dh’fhanadh ri chéile a cuid dhealgan ’s a h-acuinn, Is gum b’urrainn dhi géilleadh do d’ làimh threun air an aigeann. Ach b’i an doineann bha iargalt, le gaoth á’n iar-thuath ’s cruaidh fhrasan: Thog i a’ mhuir ’na mill dhùbhghorm ’s smuais i an iùbhrach ’na sadan. Hù o ro hó io hó hùg oireann o, hó a o hù, éile e hó, hù o ro hó io hó bhà, hó ro bha, hiu ra bhó, hiu o ró, hú o ro hó io hó hùg oireann o, faill ill ó laill io hó. [TD 101] [Beurla] [TD 102] The following anonymous elegy on Sir Norman MacLeod of Bernera has been edited and translated by Professor Watson (see Northern Chronicle for 19th April, 1922) from a manuscript in the National Library of Scotland. It is included as a specimen of classic poetry for comparison with the style of Mary MacLeod’s composition on the same theme. For its vocabulary Dinneen should be consulted. In Rel. Celt. (II, 264) is another classic elegy on Sir Norman, of which a better version is found in Nat. Lib., Box No. 3. Marbhrainn sior Tormóid Mic Leoid ar n-a sgríobhadh ann so, do ég an treas lá do’n mhí Mháirt, ar ndeich(el?) a cluig, ano dom 1705 Rug an fheibhe a terme as teach, ag sin go léir ar loimchreach; amhghar ar éigsibh gach fhóid: an t-adhbhar tréigsin Tormóid. A seal féin fuair an t-eineach, ag so an díle dheireadhach; a dhrud fá chré do chadal rug a ré go Roghadal. Sior Tormód do thaobh tréighe, ’s é lá do chlú a céidfhréimhe; caoineadh budh ceart da áirmhibh: aoinfhear go seacht subhailcibh. Mac Ruaidhri do riar dáimhe riamh aoinfhear dob iomláine; mo thogha-sa do bhraith bladh: urusa air mhaith a mholadh. A thoirbheartas le teas ngráidh, eólus go n-eagna lomláin; ceart nár cham do thuath tire: neart ann le fuath fairbhríghe. [TD 103] [Beurla] [TD 104] Mar táid dúile agus daoine ’s na Hearadh d’a égcaoine, ó’n mhuir-si a bhfoltaibh na bhfiodh, ’s gan tuigsi ar foclaibh fileadh. Slán le h-eólus Innsi Gall ar tteasdóil d’ fhéinnidh Fhionnghall; ar lén tré éaludh anma ’s gan léghudh sgéla sgolardha. O nach maireann mac MhicLeoid, ná h-iarrthar ’n-a nduais deighsheoid ’s gan fiadhain ar cham tar cháir, nó ar riaghail rann tar rabháin. ’S é le h-ég no gur athruigh as an bhaile, a Bearrnathraigh, a Dhé mhóir, ag riarudh rann dob é grianbhrugh óil Fhionnghall. Fáth bróin diombuaine an duine, fa lór d’ adhbhur eólchuire; fir domhuin ’s a ngnaoi d’a ngad, ’s nach foghain faoi acht f . . . . Fuair mac MhicLeoid, lór a mét, clú tar laochaibh a leithéid; ó fhuil a thoirm i ngach tír, do chur a ainm a n-imhchín. Do líon a bhrón-sin gach brugh a ccrích cinnidh a mháthar; ó fuil fóir Cuinn a cceasaibh: guil slóigh an fhuinn Uibhisdigh. Dóibhsion is doirbh an deadhail, gan súgradh ’n a sein-treabhaibh laoich as buirbe ag bualadh bhos: duilghe is luathghal an Leódhus. [TD 105] [Beurla] [TD 106] Ré fearuibh Sgí do sgaradh an tréighe ’s an tromaradh; mur do ghéd an chumha a ccáil, ’s ní lugha a béd a mBarráigh. Atá a ccláruibh na comhra ceann na foirneadh feasamhla; ’s an uaigh-si, ’ga cor a cceilt, uaisle fhola agus airmbheirt. Aiceacht múinte gach mhic óig ’n a luighe fá lic Thormóid; inn an tomus lán time; mar sanas an suaidh-fhile. O fhuil Leoid lór do ceileadh d’a saoitheacht, d’ ar sáir-cheineal; ’s gach gnás budh dualghus do’n druing, tré bhás gach suachus seachuinn. Seacht gcéad dég ’s a cúig gan chol, ég Thormóid, doirbh an deadhol; é comháireamh is é sin annáladh Dé go deimhin. Ní fhuil trénfhear ag toidheacht do mhaicne nó mór-oireacht, o’n bhás tré luathchar nach lag: uathmhar an cás comhrug. Rug. [TD 107] [Beurla] [TD 108] [Blank] [TD 109] NOTES [NOTE.—For the information in the notes the chief sources are the well-known and indispensable histories and clan histories, especially Browne’s History of the Highlands and Clans, Mitchell’s History of the Highlands and Gaelic Scotland, Mackenzie’s History of the Mackenzies, of the MacLeods, and of the MacDonalds, and the great Clan Donald of the Rev. Dr. Archibald MacDonald and the Rev. Dr. Angus MacDonald. Outside these the source is generally specified; and I trust that where the number of the page has not been given the passage will be easily found by a list of contents, index, &c.] POSADH MHIC LEOID This so-called “Conversation between Mary MacLeod and Nic Dhomhnaill” presents some puzzling problems. First, a section of it closely resembles part of the “Tàladh Dhomhnaill Ghuirm le a Mhuime” contributed to the Gael (V. 68) by Dr. Alexander Carmichael and printed in BGh. with some improvements from Dr. Carmichael’s later and much fuller version. The two poems should be compared, and contrasted, in their entirety, but especially with ll. 13 ff. of the text cf. BGh. 6516 ff.: Nàile nàile hò nàile gu triall Moch a màireach gun d’fhaighnich a’ bhean De’n mhnaoi eile: na, có i an long ud Siar an eirthir ’s a’ chuan Chananach? Don-bìdh ort! c’uim an ceilinn? Có ach long Dhomhnaill long mo leinibh Long mo rìgh-sa long nan Eilean. Is mór leam an trom atà ’san eathar. Tha stiuir òir oirr’ trì chroinn sheilich. Gu bheil tobar fìona shìos ’na deireadh Is tobar fìoruisg’ ’s a’ cheann eile; [TD 110] and with ll. 75 ff. cf. BGh. 6542: Ol fìona is beoir ad champa. What may be the relation between the two will be considered later. Next we have the difficulty of the second line (Nic an Tòisich) and the heading (Nic Dhomhnaill á Trondairnis); how can the same woman bear both designations? It seems probable, indeed almost certain, that the lady meant is Marjory (Mairearad of l. 1), daughter of Macintosh of that ilk, who married Domhnall Gorm of Sleat in or immediately before 1614; if then ll. 3 and 4 are to be taken literally, the first section of the poem was composed in or before 1615 and not by Mary MacLeod. This section seems to end at l. 10. We then come to a section which shows the closest correspondence with the Tàladh, but which is in praise not of Donald Gorm but of a Ruairidh òg Mac Leoid, who is said, apparently, to have equalled Mackenzie and surpassed MacDonald. In view of that correspondence we can say quite definitely that Mary was not the author, in the proper sense, of this section. As we have no clue to the date, we cannot say which Roderick MacLeod is meant, or whether he was a contemporary of Mary MacLeod. If she had any hand in the composition as it stands, she was adapting to her own use the lines we find in the Tàladh. It is very likely, as the Rev. Malcolm Maclean points out to me, that the Conaltradh, the Tàladh and many other poems have embedded in them much older fragments, which are akin in spirit to the old tales; these fragments formed the stock in trade of the poets, which they did not hesitate to use, and among them are the lines common to the Conaltradh and the Tàladh. This section ends at l. 60. The rest of the poem is in baser style; it is inferior in language and versification, its spirit is that of a tàmailt or an aoir, and its taste is doubtful—altogether a declension from the heroic fervour of the central part of the poem. Its style is by no means that of Mary MacLeod, and it was clearly composed at a time when MacDonald and MacLeod were at bitter enmity, which was the case during Sir Roderick Mór’s time (d. 1626) but not during Mary’s poetic career. 1. Mairearad: Marjory, daughter of the chief of Macintosh, was the third wife of Domhnall Gorm Mór VII of Sleat; in [TD 111] 1614, no doubt on his marriage or soon after, he made provision for her by granting her a charter of lands in Sleat. It is unusual but not impossible that the wife of MacDonald should be styled Nic Dhomhnaill; we should rather have expected Bean Mhic Dhomhnaill. Again, the usual Gaelic equivalent for Marjory is Marsaili; but Marjory, Margery, and Margaret are the same name. There seems little doubt of the identification. This Donald Gorm is the same whose name is associated with the Tàladh. 23 ff. Shìn i taobh, &c.: “She drew alongside Mackenzie’s boat,” i.e. she was the equal of the other in sailing, and MacLeod was the equal of Mackenzie, no small boast in the days when Mackenzie’s power was paramount over all the northwest—“có bheireadh geall ri Mac Coinnich?” Such seems to be the secondary meaning, though Mary may be speaking of friendship and alliance. Chuir i bòrd, &c.: We may take bòrd to mean a tack in sailing, though it appears not to be used in this sense in Scotland now; “she outsailed the island boat by a tack, outstripped her by the distance covered in a tack.” Or we may take bòrd in its ordinary meaning of a plank: “she knocked a plank out of the island boat,” perhaps by some such feat as “bumping”. In any case the meaning is that she outsailed or surpassed the island boat. What then is long an Eilein? An t-Eilean is Skye, and in view of this and of long Dhomhnaill … long nan eilean in the Tàladh it seems certain that the island boat symbolizes MacDonald of Sleat. MacLeod then surpassed MacDonald, and was equalled only by Mackenzie—the same championship of MacLeod against MacDonald as we find in the last section of the poem. 33. Ruairidh: who this Ruairidh chief of MacLeod was is uncertain. 48. an Dùn: Dunvegan. 58. Fionn: the leader of the Fiann, of whom Diarmaid Ua Duibhne was one, flourished in the third century A.D. His son was Ossian, and Ossian’s son was Oscar. Goll mac Morna was the chief warrior of the Clann Morna, and a frequent opponent of Fionn. Cuchulainn (fl. c. A.D. 1), the Fiann, Ossian and Oscar are mentioned in the Tàladh Dhomhnaill Ghuirm. 62. Caolas rònach: if this is a place-name it is a curious [TD 112] one, and I have not been able to find it; more likely “a seal-haunted strait”. 80. Supply do before the verbal noun riarachadh: “a useful help towards completing one’s sense of satisfaction at a meal.” 83. Trondairnis: i.e. from Dùn-tuilm, the principal residence of MacDonald at this time. 100. Domhnall: almost certainly Donald Gorm Mór who died in 1616 or 1617. The Sir Donald who died in 1643 was summoned to appear before the Covenanting Parliament in Edinburgh in 1641, to answer for rendering assistance to Charles I; while Sir Donald the tenth chief continued his resistance to King William’s government even after Killiecrankie, and only submitted after his castle of Sleat had been bombarded by two government ships of war. It does not appear, however, that either of these was actually imprisoned; and the reference in ll. 103, 104, is no doubt to the imprisonment of Donald Gorm Mór by the King and Privy Council of Scotland in 1589 and 1608. 108. Gleann Shealtainn, anglicized Glen Haultin, in Trotternish, east of Snizort. MAIREARAD NAN CUIREID A specimen of the Tàmailt. MARBHRANN DO FHEAR NA COMRAICH This is the earliest poem of certain date ascribed to Mary. Its subject is Roderick Mackenzie of Applecross, who died on 6th July, 1646. His father, Alexander Mackenzie of Coul and Applecross, was an illegitimate son of Colin Cam of Kintail, and brother of Kenneth first Lord Mackenzie of Kintail and Sir Roderick of Cóigeach, the Tutor of Kintail. Roderick died before his father (ll. 236 a and b), and never succeeded to the estate of Coul, but received Applecross as his patrimony during his father’s lifetime. 165. Clann na h-irghinn: Roderick’s mother was Annabella, daughter of Murdoch Mackenzie I. of Fairburn, who was the illegitimate son of Roderick Mór Mackenzie I. of Achilty and a daughter of William Dubh MacLeod of Harris and Dunvegan. [TD 113] 172 A’ Chomraich, “the sanctuary” of St. Maelrubha (A.D. 642–722) who founded the monastery of Applecross in A.D. 673. The sanctuary had a radius of six miles, and appears to have been marked by stone crosses (CPNS.). The Gaelic for “in Applecross” is still “air a’ Chomraich”. 173. gàir is the accus. of respect, limiting the sphere in which adj. is to be understood; “great in respect of shout;” the other exx. of this acc. are in ll. 274, 318, 339, 441, 447, 533, 535, 572, 626, 636, 795, 910, 928, 940, 1212. 176. Strictly, great-great-grandfather. 185. Glaic Fhionnlaigh is beside the shore between Milton and Camusterrach, on the other side of the road from Milton loch at a distance of 30 or 40 yards. An old wall running from the loch to the glaic is called gàradh Fhionnlaigh. There is no local tradition of a battle, but a piece of level ground 150 or 200 yards away is called Blàr Dubh. 203. I owe the reading in the text to Dr. D. J. Macleod: “I laid by my harp in a coffer” makes excellent sense, especially in view of the following line. Taking ciste nan teud of all the sources, ciste is coffin, and the teudan are the ropes by which it is lowered. The other seems distinctly better. 204. an gobha: “the smith,” (who possibly nailed up the coffin), “denied me gleus,” i.e. the mood appropriate to music; the sense is obscure. 216. nighean Iarla Chlann Domhnaill: the reference, if we are to take it literally, is obscure; but the expression is probably a figurative one. Roderick’s wife was Fionnghal, daughter of Murdoch Mackenzie of Redcastle. 224. t’fhàgail: note subjective use of the pronoun, “thy leaving (of me)”; contrast “Is neo-roghainn leam t’fhàgail,” “I am reluctant to leave thee.” 228. ? as a sign of grief. 236c. Roderick had no full brothers; he had, however, three half brothers, sons of his father’s second marriage. These lines, though clearly corrupt, seem to be genuine. AN TALLA AM BU GHNATH This famous song, which in E. is headed Le Nighein Alastair ruaidh do Shir Toramaid Mac Leoid, was composed, says [TD 114] John Mackenzie, “on the Laird being sick and dying. He playfully asked Mary what kind of a lament she would make for him. Flattered by such a question, she replied that it would certainly be a very mournful one. ‘Come nearer me,’ said the aged and infirm chief, ‘and let me hear part of it.’ Mary, it is said, readily complied, and sung, ex tempore, that celebrated poem.” We have no reason to disbelieve the substantial truth of this tradition; yet it seems probable from the whole tone of the poem that it was composed on the occasion of a minor illness rather than when Sir Norman was actually on his deathbed. Again, it seems likely that there was some considerable interval between its composition and Sir Norman’s death; for the only obvious reason for the survival of a tradition that the elegy was composed before his death would be that the poem became fairly widely known while its subject was known to be alive and well. 239. Mac Leoid: it seems almost certain that here for once Mary improperly applies this style to an other than the chief; yet the reference may be to the castle of Dunvegan and not to Sir Norman’s own house in Bernera. 263. bàrr is probably the duine-uasal’s crest of one eagle’s feather, but may refer to the feathered or bushy (dosrach) arrow-butts protruding from the mouth of the quiver. 267. Cf. Eachann Bacach do Shir Lachlann Triath Dhubhaird: Cha bhiodh òirleach gun bhàthadh Eadar smeoirn agus gàinne. 283. An Fhiann: see note on l. 58. 286. Note how the line merges into the following one. MARBHRANN DO IAIN GARBH Mr. James Fraser, in his Polichronicon under the year 1671, writes as follows (I owe this reference to Mr. A. Nicolson): “This April the Earle of Seaforth duelling in the Lewes, a dreedful accident happened. His lady being brought to bed there, the Earle sent for John Garve M‘kleud, Laird of Rarzay, to witness the christning; and, after the treat and solemnity of the feast, Rarsay takes leave to goe home, and, after a rant of drinking uppon the shoare, went aboord off his birling and sailed away with a strong north gale off wind; and whither [TD 115] by giveing too much saile and no ballast, or the unskillfulness off the seamen, or that they could not mannage the strong Dut(ch) canvas saile, the boat whelmd, and all the men dround in view of the cost. The Laird and 16 of his kinsmen, the prime, perished; non of them ever found; a grewhound or two cast ashoare dead; and pieces of the birling. One Alexander Mackleod in Lewes the night before had voice warning him thrice not to goe at (all) with Rarsey, for all would drown in there return; yet he went with him, being infatuat, and drownd (with) the rest. This account I had from Alexander his brother the summer after. Drunkness did the (mischeife).” We may take it, therefore, that Iain Garbh died at Easter (l. 354), 1671; and as he was served heir to his father in 1648, the tradition that he died at the age of twenty-one must be discarded. From l. 352 it is clear that he was succeeded by his brother; in Origines Parochiales (II, i, 348) it is stated that “in 1688 Janet and Giles MacLeods, alias MacAlasdair mhic Ghille Chaluim (sisters of Iain Garbh) were served heirs of line, conquest, and provision to their father Alexander Macleod”; and we may suppose that it was on the death of this brother that the representation of the family devolved upon Alexander, son of John, brother of Iain Garbh’s father. Iain’s size and strength are still a tradition in Skye, and especially in Raasay; among several songs composed upon him are two elegies by his sister, one of which (Och nan och ’s mi fo léireadh) is in Còisir a’ Mhòid ascribed to Mary MacLeod; (1) the other, a magnificent lament, begins: Mi am shuidh air an fhaoidhlinn Is mi gun fhaoilte gun fhuran, Cha tog mi fonn aotrom O Dhi-haoine mo dhunaidh, with which cf. l. 354. Pàdraig Mór’s pìobaireachd, Cumha Iain Ghairbh, is well known. The tradition that witchcraft brought about his drowning is related in Clàrsach na Coille, p. 290, and in J. Gregorson Campbell’s Witchcraft and Second-sight in the Highlands, p. 25. 297. “a hand unerring and unblemished, undamaged.” (1) I accept as conclusive the Raasay tradition which, I am told, ascribes the song to Iain Garbh’s sister and not to Mary MacLeod; see p. 100. [TD 116] The sense is like that of “gun leòn làimhe gun laige,” (Eachann Bacach, do Shir Lachlann Triath Dhubhaird). 315. oirre refers to the boat; “a hand that would not cease from causing her to speed.” 321. a ghabhail orra: “to reach them.” 329. do bhaile gun smùid, &c.: we might be tempted to take this as referring to Iain Garbh’s house in Clachan, Raasay, though the description by no means suits the place; but the “homestead without smoke under the wave-lashed rock” is Iain’s watery grave: cf. the lament mentioned above: Nochd gur h-ìosal do chluasag Fo lic fhuaraidh na tuinne; Is ann an clachan na tràghad (or gun tràghadh) Tha mo ghràdh-sa ’na uirigh. The verses quoted I owe to Mr. Samuel Maclean of Raasay; they and others will be found in Songs of the Hebrides, II, 102. 347. rùsgadh a’ ghill: geall, a wager, stake, pledge, is common in poetry, and is used in several idiomatic phrases of which this is perhaps the commonest of the promise or pledge made by a warrior to do good execution in battle. Rùsgadh here seems to have the meaning of “make known, announce”; cf. “an àill leat mise a rùsgadh ceoil duit?”; an alternative meaning would be “make a clean sweep of”, in reference to the pledge or promise of the opponent. Cf. S. 498: Gun leòn gun sgìos, gu bràth cha phill Gus an téid na gill a chur leo; Iain Lom, Oran do Dhomhnall mac Dhomhnaill mac Thriath Shléite: Dol a shiubhal nan stùcbheann, Anns an uidhe gun chùram Leis a’ bhuidhinn roimh ’n rùisgte na gill. Further examples are collected and discussed in BGh., whence the above explanation is taken. 352. In Maclean Sinclair’s Gaelic Bards (I, 95) it is said that Iain had two brothers; Mackenzie (History of the [TD 117] MacLeods, 369) says that he was an only son. The tradition of Raasay supports the former; one brother perished with him, and one remained to succeed him. TUIREADH The heading given to this song in the Duanaire is a strong confirmation of the tradition, vouched for by the Rev. Kenneth MacLeod among others, that a part of Mary’s exile was spent in Scarba. The heading in turn is perhaps confirmed to some extent by the third and fourth lines, which certainly suit Scarba better than Mull whose traditional claim is better known. Unfortunately we get no precise information from the poem either on this point or regarding Mary’s early history. 365. Uilbhinnis, Ullinish, a district in Bracadale in Skye. The following lines are not incompatible with the tradition that Mary was born in Harris. 375. As Sir Roderick Mor died in 1626, these lines are not inconsistent with the tentative suggestion of 1615 as the year of Mary’s birth; a slightly earlier date would perhaps suit them better, however, while any later date is to be rejected. Tradition records that she was in service in Dunvegan Castle, and it is quite possible that she entered that service when she was eleven or less, before Sir Roderick’s death. LUINNEAG MHIC LEOID This is among the best known of all Mary’s songs. It is addressed to Sir Norman of Bernera (l. 399), and was of course composed during her exile. Why it should be known as “MacLeod’s Lilt” is not very clear, as Sir Norman was never MacLeod, a style reserved for the chief. 394. Dhiùraidh á Sgarbaidh: the decision between the various readings is an important one. I have followed BGh. because (1) it seems clear that for a part of her exile Mary was in Scarba (see notes on Tuireadh and introduction); (2) a of E. is not nearly so likely to be the result of corruption as is or agus; (3) á is still heard from traditional singers, for example in Raasay, as Mr. John Maclean tells me. 397. do’n dùthaich, i.e. Harris, as appears from l. 399. 400. A reference to Sir Norman’s Lieut.-Colonelcy of the [TD 118] force of 700 men raised by Sir Roderick of Talisker in 1650 in response to a proclamation issued by King Charles II on his arrival in Scotland. 413. For the MacLeods’ Norse descent see note to l. 696. 416. We need not trouble to take literally this poetic exaggeration; cf. S. 113, Oran do Lochiall, le Gille-easbuig Domhnallach: Chan ’eil fineadh feadh Alba am bheil buaidh Nach ’eil Camshronaich fuaight’ riu gu beachd. 417. A reference to the Irish connexions of the MacDonalds, to whom Sir Norman was related through his second wife, the daughter of Sir James MacDonald of Sleat, and through his mother, Isabel, daughter of Donald MacDonald of Glen Garry, after whom Sir Roderick Mór’s five sons were called “cóignear mhac uasal Iseabail”. Éire, f. gen. Éireann, dat. Éirinn. 433 ff. We do not know when Sir Norman’s two younger brothers, William of Hamer and Donald of Greshornish, died; his elder brothers, Iain Mór and Sir Roderick of Talisker, died in 1649 and 1675 respectively; the poem is therefore later than 1675. 438. Note nìor with pres. subj. expressing a negative wish; now obsolete. Nìor is nì (neg.) and the particle ro. 459 ff. It is noticeable that the place given to the bow is now secondary to that of firearms. Mr. James Fraser, who was born in 1634, died in 1709, and commenced his Polichronicon in 1666, notes there that “that manly art” (of archery) “is wearing away by degrees, and the gun takeing place”. The last battle fought in Scotland in which bows are recorded to have been used was also the last clan battle, that of Maol Ruadh (Mulroy) in Lochaber, between the MacDonalds of Keppoch, under Colla nam bó, and the Mackintoshes of Moy (see T., p. 142, 143 ff.); it took place in 1688. See further BGh. 310. 471. The translation adopts the conjecture crann. 474. Commerce between Galway and the western isles may have been direct, or through the Lowland ports. It is interesting to note that sìoda na Gailbhinn is still known in Skye and Lewis as applied to a delicate kind of grass. [TD 119] 497. g’a seòladh: the obsolete construction of urrainn with gu illustrates the original meaning of urrainn, a guarantor, security, hence an authorized or competent person; urrainn gu, a fit person to. See vocab. CRÒNAN AN TAIBH From ll. 504 and 514 ff. it seems that Mary was not in either Skye or Harris when she composed this poem. From this and the general tone we may conclude that the poem belongs to the period of her exile; yet we cannot be precise as to its date, and it therefore affords no valuable evidence in that connexion. It is clear only that it was composed after 1666 (l. 582 n.); and no poem of her exile can be shown to be earlier than that date. A fragment was sung to Miss Tolmie in Bracadale and is printed in her Collection (98). 504. Pàdraig Mór Mac Cruimein, the famous piper of Sir Roderick Mór, on whose death he composed the Cumha Ruairidh Mhóir: Tog orm mo phìob is théid mi dhachaidh, Is duilich leam fhéin, mo léir mar thachair; Tog orm mo phìob ’s mì air mo chràdh Mu Ruairidh Mór, mu Ruairidh Mór. Tog orm mo phìob, tha mi sgìth, Is mur faigh mi ì théid mi dhachaidh; Tog orm mo phìob, tha mi sgìth Is mì air mo chràdh mu Ruairidh Mór. Tog orm mo phìob, tha mi sgìth, Is mur faigh mi ì théid mi dhachaidh; Clàrsach no pìob cha tog mo chrìdh, Cha bheò fear mo ghràidh, Ruairidh Mór. Pàdraig is said to have accompanied Roderick of Talisker to London after the restoration of Charles II, and to have composed there the pìobaireachd “Thug mi pòg do làimh an Rìgh” on being allowed to kiss the King’s hand on that occasion (e.g. Mackenzie’s Hist. of the MacLeods, p. 103). From the Polichronicon, however, a contemporary account, it appears that the incident occurred in May, 1651, when [TD 120] the King’s army, a few weeks before the battle of Inverkeithing, was gathering at Stirling, and that the MacCrimmon concerned was not Patrick but John. The passage runs as follows (Wardlaw MS., p. 379): “It was pretty in a morning (the King) in parad viewing the regiments and bragads. He saw no less than 80 pipers in a crould bareheaded, and John M’gyurmen in the midle covered. He asked What society that was? It was told his Majesty: Sir, yow are our King, and yonder old man in the midle is the Prince of Pipers. He cald him by name, and, comeing to the King, kneeling, his Majesty reacht him his hand to kiss; and instantly played an extemporanian part Fuoris Pōōge i spoge i Rhī (Fuaras pòg o spòg an Rìgh), I got a kiss of the Kings hand; of which he and they all were vain.” The MacCrimmon family are fully discussed in Mr. Fred. T. MacLeod’s recent “The MacCrimmons of Skye”. 513. nach tug e, &c.: a sentiment very common in Gaelic poetry. 518. an tigh: The walls of Sir Norman’s house, in the north-east of Bernera, are still standing; see introd., p. xiv. 521. Olgharach: see note to l. 791. 548. “in winning victory in respect of scholarship”, “in pre-eminence of scholarship”; cf. l. 195. 551. For a similar expression cf. l. 1085. 558. Sir: “the dignity of knighthood is no new beginning for them”; Sir Norman’s father, Roderick Mór, was knighted in 1613. 561. Teàrlach: Charles II. Some account of the part played in the second civil war by Sir Norman and Sir Roderick is given in the notes to Marbhrann do Shir Tormod. 562. Slàn is rightly explained in a footnote in E. by “defiance”; “I defy Gael or Saxon (to show) that deceit was found on you” (BGh.). 564. dh’ is for do, used idiomatically in the sense of despite; cf. Seumas MacShithich (?), Oran Gaoil: Sruth d’a chaisid cha chum air m’ais mi,” “the stream despite its swiftness will not hold me back”. 565. Lochlannaich: see note to l. 696. 567. Mànus: the MacLeod genealogy according to Irish [TD 121] MSS., printed in Skene’s Celt. Scot., has: “Manus óg mac/Magnus na luingi luaithe mic/Magnus Aircin mic/Iamhar uallach.” “The period of Manus óg would be the early part of the ninth century, when the Norse settlements in the Isles were in progress” (BGh.). 568 ff. These stanzas added in praise of Sir Norman’s lady are in the manner of the classic panegyric; see introduction p. xxvi. Sir Norman married in 1666 as his second wife Catherine eldest daughter of Sir James MacDonald IX of Sleat; her sister Florence was the wife of Iain Breac of Harris and Dunvegan. AN T-EUDACH 593. an Fhionnairigh: on the coast of Morvern, lying across the sound of Mull from Aros (thall ud); and we may suppose Mary composed the poem while in exile in Aros (l. 905). 599. Linne na Ciste is a deep pool about three miles up the Fiunary burn, and lying beneath a fall. Immediately below this pool is a ford, and close by are a number of cairns on which in former days, when conveying a funeral across the ford, they were accustomed to rest the coffin (ciste). The path followed on these occasions is still partly traceable. (I owe this difficult identification to Miss C. M. MacVicar, Loch Aline.) CUMHA DO MHAC LEOID The formal subject of the lament is Roderick, seventeenth chief of Harris and Dunvegan, who succeeded his father Iain Breac in 1693; in fact, however, it deals also with his younger brother Norman, who, as Roderick had no son, was his prospective heir and did actually succeed him. We must suppose that news reached Mary, whether during her exile or later, of the death of both Roderick and Norman, by what cause we have no information. Roderick’s character, his abandonment of the traditional mode of life of a Gaelic noble, and his neglect of Dunvegan castle and its inmates made him an unpopular chief and were strongly censured by his father’s bard, Roderick Morrison, an Clàrsair Dall, in the famous Òran Mór Mhic Leoid; whether or not it was Roderick that caused Mary’s exile, she received his death without much regret. She praises [TD 122] his ancestors, and her praise of them and of Norman serves as a signal contrast to her silence regarding his personal qualities. Of her much warmer feeling towards Norman there is further proof in the following poem, which she composed on hearing that he had not after all shared his brother’s fate. Roderick died in 1699, and the poem can be assigned with certainty to that year. 615. gun abachadh meas: Roderick’s only child was a daughter; Norman was not yet married; William, the third and only other brother, was probably already dead. 620. Note the idiom: “becoming more frequent and more severe”, lit., “going into frequency, &c.”; cf. dol am feabhas, improving. 621. chunncas, 3 sg. past passive of faic; so chualas; except in a few cases, this termination is now replaced by -adh; chunnadh of S. is a barbarous formation in this termination. 624. aon uair, pron. éan uair, as often; so éan fhear, &c. 625. a chlann: this and the following plurals are to be noted. an fhir allail: Iain Breac. 635. ogha, addressed to Roderick only. an dà sheanair: his father’s father was Iain Mór, his mother’s Sir James MacDonald IX of Sleat. 637 ff. The construction is loose, and of the nature of an aposiopesis; the noun or relative to which e refers is not expressed, but easily understood. 641. Iain Breac Mac Leoid. 645. Tormod a mhac-san: Norman his i.e. Iain Breac’s son, not as has been supposed Roderick’s own son. 659. as: a form of anns an (occurring before t and d in Scottish Gael., but Dinneen, s.v. i (in), quotes other cases for Irish). 661. nach usa: an understatement; the Crònan shows how much stronger was her feeling for Norman than for Roderick. 668. ’gam fògradh: the reference is to the accession of Stewart of Appin to the estates of MacLeod which might follow the extinction of the male line; cf. below. 671. is ar ranntannan: the absolute construction. 672. sud refers back to am in ’nam: lit. “if it should be gone into need of those”; rachte is the pass. subj. impersonal. [TD 123] 674. Clann Domhnaill simpliciter are here the MacDonalds of Sleat. The term usually includes the clan in all its branches. 677. Gleann Garadh, Glen Garry, in Inverness-shire; distinguish Gleann Garadh in Perthshire. 683. ’nam fineachd, &c.: Roderick was nephew of Margaret daughter of Sir John Mackenzie of Tarbat (wife of his uncle Roderick), grandson of Sibella daughter of Kenneth first Lord Mackenzie of Kintail (wife of Iain Mór his grandfather), and husband of Lady Isabel Mackenzie daughter of Kenneth third Earl of Seaforth and of Isabel daughter of Sir John Mackenzie of Tarbat and sister of the first Earl of Cromarty. 685. From this and l. 691 it seems that Roderick died away from home. The burial place of the MacLeods of Harris and Dunvegan was in Harris (cf. the heading of the lament for Sir Roderick Mór mentioned on p. xxxii). It has always been regarded in the Highlands as a misfortune to die and be buried away from home; the case of Thomas Lord Fraser, who was buried in Kilmuir as a sign of “the great love he bore the family of MacLeod”, is mentioned in the note to l. 825. Sir Roderick Mór was buried in the Chanonry of Ross (Fortrose Cathedral), where his recumbent grave-stone is still legible. 689. air an oighre: i.e. Norman, Roderick’s prospective heir. 690. staoidhle ’sna Hearadh: as stated in the note to l. 696, Harris was, whether rightly or wrongly, regarded by tradition as the original possession of the Sìol Tormoid or MacLeods of Harris and Dunvegan, though they had also held Glenelg since about 1343. Mackenzie, in discussing claims to the chiefship (History, p. 7) says that “in several royal charters, and other authentic documents, where the heads of the families are mentioned, the representatives of Tormod (are) usually styled MacLeods of Harris”, and this is the case in literature. Now that Harris no longer belongs to the MacLeods the chief is generally known as MacLeoid Dhùn Bheagain. 696. Manainn: Harald, lawful king, under Hacon, king of Norway, of the Norwegian kingdom of Man and the Isles after 1265, was succeeded in that kingdom by his only son Leodus. Leodus married Adama d. of Ferquhar earl of Ross [TD 124] (cf. l. 704) and had two sons, Torkell and Dormeth. To Torkell, the elder, he gave Lewis and Waternish; to Dormeth he gave Harris and his other lands in Skye, which was about the fourth part of what he gave to his eldest son. All their descendants “toock ther patronimick from Leod, sone to Harald, both thos who descendit of Torquill, . . . as thos who descendit of Dormeith, or, as the Highlanders pronunced, Tormett, heritor of the Herries.” Such is the account of the genealogy of Clan Leod given in the History of the Family of Mackenzie, written by the first Earl of Cromarty, Mary’s contemporary; and there is little doubt that this represents the tradition on which Mary is touching. The MacLeods of Harris and Dunvegan are still commonly called Sìol Tormoid, those of Lewis Sìol Torcuill. A variation of this tradition is that Leod married the d. of Mac Raild, a Danish knight, and through her acquired her father’s lands including Dunvegan. The whole of this account is rejected by Skene as the fabrication of the Earl, owing to the absence of literary evidence for such a genealogy before the writing of his work in 1669; the Chronicle of Man, a document of the greatest importance because contemporary with the events it narrates, makes no mention of Leod, although up to the year 1265 the Earl’s history is in close agreement with it; but the Chronicle is at this stage meagre; between 1265 and 1274 it records only (1266) the transference of the kingdom of Man and the Isles to Alexander king of the Scots; this the Earl places in 1270 or immediately after, saying that Alexander “gave to Harald . . . the Illes of Lewis, and that pairt of the Sky which he found then in the Norwegiane possessioun, viz. Vaternes, Meignanes, and the Herries, to be holdin in wassalladge of him and his successores, Kings of Scotland.” The absence of positive statement in the Chronicle is not to be taken as proof of the contrary; early poems dealing with the genealogy of MacLeod, did we possess them, might well show what is most likely to be the case, that the Earl is recounting current tradition. In the present context we are concerned not with the truth of that tradition, but with the fact that Mary was well acquainted with and used it (see Celt. Scot. and Highlanders; Chron. of Man, i, 110; Sir Wm. Fraser’s Earls of Cromartie, ii, 509 ff.). Another account is given in Mr. James Fraser’s Polichronicon, commenced in 1666 (Ward. MS., p. 40): “Duncan (son of [TD 125] King Malcolm) enjoyed the crown but a very short time, with great trouble from England, quhen he is killed by M‘kpeudar (MacPeter), Thain of Merns, by the former Donalds procurement, who, to strengthen himselfe in his kingdom, conduced with Sueno 2, King of Norrowy, for assistance to recover the crown, he gave him the north and west Isles, which his race possesses to this day, viz. the Mackleuds. For Leodus, the sone of Oliverius Norwegie, possessed the Lewes, called so from Leodus, who had 4 sones, Torcil, Tormoid, Teah, and Teascil, who divided the country among them, Torcil possessing the Lewis, Tormoid the Haris, and the other two, parcells among them; upon them 4 the poet in that language gives this distich on Schlichd Oliver shin nach duair baistig, tha buon maslig; Ta Tormodich, agus Torkil, Teah, is Teaskill. (Sliochd Olbhair sin nach d’fhuair baisteadh, tha buan masladh; Ta Tormodaich, agus Torcuill, Teah agus Teascuil.) “The clan Torkil in Lewis were the stoutest and prettiest men, but a wicked bloody crew whom neither law nor reason could guid or moddell, destroying one another, till in end they were all expelled that country, and the M‘Kenzies now possess it. The poet gave them this satyr: She mi varrell er Chland Leod gir cossvil ead re Poir i Duse The shin mis i is mo, Ichis i te is Oig Tuse. Is e mo bharail air Chlann Leoid, gur cosmhail iad ri pòir … (?) An té is sine, ma’s i as mó, itheas i an té as òige an tùs.” The Norse descent of the Clan Leod is a favourite theme with Mary; cf. l. 791 and note. 698. Olghar: see note to l. 791. Ochraidh: not identified. 699. Boirbhe, Beirbhe (N. Björgvín), Bergen, one of the principal cities of Norway. This is perhaps the only name of a place in Scandinavia which survives in modern Sc. Gaelic, and it has the article in Gaelic, an unusual feature in Norse names. 703. De shliochd àrmunn Chinn-tìre: a poetically general [TD 126] reference to Norman’s descent on his mother’s side from the MacDonalds of Sleat. To understand what was in Mary’s mind we must recall the struggles of Somerled, grandfather of Donald the eponymus of the Clan, to assert Gaelic sway in Argyll and the Isles against the Norse. Somerled, whose capacity for leadership put him in a position of such power that the Chronicle of Man credits him with the intention of conquering the whole of Scotland, and who met his death by treachery at Renfrew in the year 1164 while leading an army against the King of Scotland, defeated Godred the feudal King of Man and the Isles in a sea-fight off the north shore of Islay in 1156. The result of this was a brief peace between Gael and Norseman, on condition of Somerled receiving the Isles south of the point of Ardnamurchan, a territory which included Kintyre, and which was the ancient patrimony and earliest possession of the Clan Cholla in Scotland. On Somerled’s death these central territories of Islay and Kintyre went to his son Reginald, on whose death, in 1207, they passed to Donald the eponymous progenitor of Clan Donald. I do not think we have here any special reference to the family of MacAllister of Loup in Kintyre, said to be descended from Alasdair, second son of Donald and therefore an early cadet branch of Clan Donald. Islay and Kintyre remained central possessions of the Lords of the Isles, though at intervals in their history they acquired very large additions of territory. The most important of these was the Earldom of Ross. A legitimate claim to it was advanced by Donald, fifth in descent from Donald son of Reginald, on behalf of his wife, Lady Mary Leslie, who became Countess of Ross in her own right. This claim Donald vindicated at the battle of Harlaw, in Aberdeenshire, in 1411, against an army sent to meet him by the Duke of Albany and led by the Earl of Mar. The united forces of Scotland, however, were too strong to permit him to take possession of Ross; the Earldom was bestowed by Albany in his capacity of regent of Scotland on his son the Earl of Buchan; it reverted to the crown in 1424; and it was probably not until soon after the death of James I, in 1437, that Donald’s son, Alexander, was granted possession of the title and estates of Ross, probably by the regents of the young king James II, in right of his mother, Countess of Ross. Alexander’s son John, the last Lord of the Isles, in consequence of many acts of war by himself and his son Angus against [TD 127] the crown of Scotland, was divested of the Earldom of Ross, and, in 1493, of all his other titles and estates. There was then no earldom of Islay, but the Lords of the Isles being designated “de Ile”, “of Islay”, and being, as we have seen, Earls of Ross, Mary combines the two; so does Iain Lom, “Do Dhomhnall Gorm Og Mac Dhomhnaill Shléite”: “Aig ogha Iarla Ile Agus Chinn-tìre, Rois is Innse Gall.” The MacDonalds of Sleat are descended from Hugh, son of Alexander the first to enter into possession of the Earldom of Ross. 705 ff. Mhic Iain Stiùbhairt: the patronymic of the chief of Appin, at that time Robert Stewart of Appin, to whom was married Isabel, sister of Roderick and Norman, and to whom, through his wife, the estates of MacLeod might pass in the event of the death of Roderick and Norman, their only brother, William, having died unmarried. Alexander Mackenzie, in the belief that the poem was composed on the death of Roderick the fifteenth chief, gives that Roderick a son and daughter, against the evidence of Douglas’s Baronage, and marries the daughter out of hand to Stewart of Appin. The case of that Roderick does not meet the requirements of the poem. an Apuinn, Appin, a district north of Loch Creran in Argyll: Apuinn Mhic Iain Stiùbhairt; distinguish from Apuinn a’ Mhèinnearaich, Appin of Menzies, which is Dull in Perthshire. 718. an fhir fhéilidh: Iain Breac. The reference no doubt includes William as well as Roderick and Norman. 719. Ruairidh Mór: Sir Roderick Mór, who died in 1626, the great-great-grandfather of Roderick and Norman. AN CRÒNAN Mary’s joy at finding the report of Norman’s death to be false finds full expression in An Crònan; besides being personally attached to him, she welcomed the prospect of a change of régime. Though Roderick is not mentioned, his degeneracy from the hereditary qualities of his house is indicated plainly [TD 128] enough in constant reminders to Norman of what is due to tradition, and in expressions of joy that the old order of hunting, feasting and open-handedness to the household will be renewed. Norman was, as the language of the poem would of itself show, a young man at his accession, but Mary’s hopes were not fulfilled for long; Norman married in 1703 Anne Fraser, daughter of Hugh Lord Lovat, and died before the birth of his son Norman in 1706. It is clear that the poem was composed very soon after the Cumha do Mhac Leoid. A fragment of it was sung to Miss Tolmie in Bracadale in 1862; see her Collection, No. 99. 723. The physician, i.e. God, says Miss Tolmie; perhaps rather the bearer of the message. 725. The reading of E. and M., theannas, is the relative fut., used commonly enough, though ungrammatically, in colloquial speech in place of the independent fut. 736. àrmunn: Iain Breac. 751. dùn ud nan cliar: Dunvegan. 779. socrach ri tuaith: a common sentiment; cf. Iain Lom to Mackinnon of Strath: “Cha b’e am fasan bh’aig càch / So ghlac e mar ghnàth / Bhith smachdail mu’n mhàl air tuaith.” 791. Olghar: cf. ll. 521, 698, 875, 1148. “In the classic bardic poetry the name is Olbhur, and occurs frequently, e.g. in the elegy on Sir Norman aicme Olbhuir (thrice).—RC., II, 264; a poem in Nat. Lib. MS., addressed to William MacLeod, son of Sir Norman, has— Mac í Olbhuir mur thuinn thoruidh (rann 12), Triath do ríoghfhuil aicme Olbhuir (rann 23). Olghar, Olbhur is perhaps to be equated with Oilmor of the MacLeod genealogy as printed in Celt. Scot., III, 460, where he appears as great-grandfather of Leod, the eponymus of the clan. The name is obviously the Norse Olver: seven men of that name are mentioned in Landnámabók.”—BGh. 807. Sliochd Ruairidh, the race of Sir Roderick Mór. The descendants of his eleven children are too many to enumerate. The most prominent at this date were Sir Norman of Bernera, and the representatives of the houses of Talisker, Hamer, and Greshornish, founded respectively by Sir Roderick of Talisker, Tutor of MacLeod, William, and Donald, Sir [TD 129] Roderick Mór’s second, third and fourth sons. Besides these, through Sir Roderick Mór’s daughters Norman had marriage ties with, among others, the houses of Maclean of Duart, Maclean of Coll, MacDonald of Clan Ranald, MacDonald of Glen Garry, MacLeod of Raasay; and through the daughters of John, Sir Roderick’s eldest son and successor, with these and other houses. 812. Sir Domhnall a Sléite: Mary, daughter of Iain Mór of Dunvegan, married Sir James MacDonald IX of Sleat; Florence, Sir James’s daughter, was wife of Iain Breac and mother of the present Norman. This Sir Donald is Sir James’s grandson, XI of Sleat, who succeeded in 1695 and died in 1718. 819. Mac mhic Ailein: this must refer to Alan, chief of Clan Ranald since 1686, who was mortally wounded at Sheriffmuir. The version of E. and SO. seems impossible, for it is apparently certain that Alan had no son: so Mary’s younger contemporary, Sìlis na Ceapaich: Beir soraidh gu h-Ailean o’n chuan Bha greis anns an Fhraing uainn air chuairt; Is e ro mheud do ghaisge Chum gun oighre air do phearsa. The lines in E. and SO. may arise from contamination with some other poem. The version of M. has, as noted, “Mac Mhic Ailein is da Mhac Dhonuill”, which, written thus, is an extraordinary phrase, as Mac Dhomhnaill is the style of the chief of that name only, and is therefore not applicable to more than one man at a time. Capital letters, however, are used indiscriminately in M., and we should perhaps read “dà mhac Dhomhnaill”, “the two sons of Donald”. There remains to identify these; we may suppose them to be James of Orinsay, who was later for a short time chief of the house, and William of Vallay, sons of Sir Donald who died in 1695, and brothers of the Sir Donald mentioned in the previous stanza. The latter had only one son. With this identification we may compare again Sìlis na Ceapaich: Beir soraidh gu Domhnall o’n Dùn, Gu h-Uilleam ’s gu Seumas ’nan triuir. [TD 130] 825. Mac Shimidh: Fraser of Lovat. It is probable, though we cannot be certain, that the Crònan was composed after May, 1699. In that month died Thomas Lord Fraser, and was succeeded by his son Simon, who erected in the churchyard of Kilmuir a monument to his father bearing an inscription which is quoted in Mackenzie’s History of the MacLeods. Lord Thomas married Sibella, daughter of Iain Mór, and, says the inscription, “for the great love he bore the family of MacLeod, he desired to be buried near his wife’s relations, in the place where two of her uncles lay. And his son, Lord Simon, to show to posterity his great affection for his mother’s kindred, the brave MacLeods, chooses rather to leave his father’s bones with them than carry them to his own burial place near Lovat.” Lord Simon was beheaded in 1746 for his share in the ’45. an Aird, Aird Mhic Shimidh, the Aird, a district near Beauly in Inverness-shire. 826. Mackenzie of Kintail: see note on l. 683. Ceann tSàil Mhic Coinnich, Mackenzie’s Kintail, in Ross-shire; distinguish Cinn tSàil Mhic Aoidh, Mackay’s Kintail, which is Tongue in Sutherland. 831 ff. Sir John, chief of Maclean, a strong supporter of the Jacobite cause, was in exile at the court of St. Germains from 1692 until the accession of Queen Anne in 1702; cf. Mairearad nighean Lachlainn, a younger contemporary of Mary MacLeod: Is goirt leam gaoir nam ban Muileach, Iad ri caoineadh ’s ri tuireadh, Gun Sir Iain an Lunnainn No ’san Fhraing air cheann turuis, &c. 834. do cheangal ris: see note to l. 807. Sir John’s mother was Julian, daughter of Iain Mór and aunt of Norman. 840. Breacachadh: the seat of the Macleans of Coll, often mentioned by John Maclean, the Maclean Bard; a description of the old castle, written towards the end of the sixteenth century, is printed in Skene’s Celt. Scot. In regard to the reading adopted, I am indebted to Mr. Hector M. MacDougall, Glasgow, a native of Coll, for the information (1) that the place-name is masculine; (2) that to the north-west of the old castle is [TD 131] some elevated ground where the rock is all of the red quartz variety, a rare thing in Coll, where grey gneiss with dykes of basalt predominates. This part is thus so red in appearance that the region is called “na creagan dearga”. The dhearg of M., which preserves the rime, has therefore been adopted, with change of gender. Donald, the tenth Maclean of Coll, who died in 1729, married first Isabella, daughter of Sir Roderick of Talisker, and secondly Marian, daughter of Sir Norman of Bernera. FUIGHEALL “On her passage from Mull to Skye,” says John Mackenzie (i.e. at the end of her period of exile), Mary “composed a song, of which only a fragment can now be procured”. Once again, we are disappointed to find that we can extract no certain information from this fragment. The question must arise whether her destination was Dunvegan, the seat of the chief, or Bernera, the residence of Sir Norman. The words of l. 866 constitute the only tangible evidence for the latter, and we are probably safe in accepting Mackenzie’s statement that her passage was to Skye. Dunvegan would be her natural destination, and especially the abode of the chief is indicated by dùthaich Mhic Leoid (l. 861) and ll. 872 and 903, for Mary is consistent in applying the proper style MacLeod to the chief alone. The title of the song Luinneag Mhic Leoid is no disproof of this, for it was probably not given by Mary. The expression in l. 866, therefore, referring to her passage westward, probably does not mean that she was bound for Harris. If this is so, we can give only a poetic interpretation to the phrase. So far as we know, she set out for Dunvegan from either Sgarbaidh or as Mackenzie says from Mull. If from the former, the expression can be taken literally only if we suppose it to apply to the first part of the voyage to Dunvegan by way of the Sound of Iona. If we are content to concede to her a poetic licence, the phrase is as well used of a voyage from Aros as of one from Sgarbaidh north through the Sound of Mull; in either case it can only loosely describe the first part of the voyage, which is of course on the whole northwards and not westwards. 872. MacLeoid: probably Norman; see over. [TD 132] 873. an t-òg: this well suits the supposition that the MacLeod who recalled Mary was Norman the eighteenth chief, who as we know was a young man at his accession. 875. see 791 n. 884. Sìol Tormoid: the MacLeods of Harris and Dunvegan; see note on l. 696. 905. Aros: àrois of SO. is certainly wrong, for the dative of àros, dwelling, mansion, is àros; if we suppose the word to be simply a common noun, the phrase àros an fhìon is certainly not such as we should associate with Sgarbaidh, which, so far as is known, was never the abode of any person of importance. As the text stands, there is a pun on Aros, the place-name, àros, mansion, and talla, hall. DO MHAC DHOMHNAILL Headed in the MS. “Le Mairi nighean Alasdair Ruaidh mhic Leòid, an té sheinn An Crònan” The poem is addressed to Sir Donald MacDonald of Sleat, who succeeded his father, Sir Donald, in 1695. He was known as Domhnall Gorm Og, or more particularly as Domhnall a’ Chogaidh from the part he played in the war on behalf of James VII. At the Battle of Killiecrankie he commanded the forces of the clan in place of his father, who fell ill after setting out; in reference to this Iain Lom, in a poem on Cath Raon Ruairidh, says: Mo ghaol an Domhnall Gorm Og O’n Tùr Shléiteach ’s o’n Ord; Fhuair thu deuchainn ’s bu mhór an sgeula e. Mo ghaol an Tàinistear ùr Is a gheur Spàinneach ’na smùid: Cha b’e an t-ùmaidh air chùl na sgéithe e. Nor did the resistance of Sir Donald and his son to the government of King William end at Killiecrankie. They united with the other Jacobite chiefs in a refusal to submit on any terms (1), and Sir Donald’s house in Sleat, like those of other (1) Cf. a letter printed in Browne’s History of the Highlands, ii, 183. [TD 133] of the island chiefs, suffered bombardment by two government frigates. The Earl of Argyll received a commission “to reduce him if he does not speedily surrender”, referring to which a letter in the Sleat charter chest from the chief’s cousin, Hugh MacDonald, captain in General Mackay’s regiment, quoted in Clan Donald, urges the chief to signify his submission in “a very obliging letter” to General Mackay. “Lord Morton (see note on l. 977) appears in your interest, and advises you to write to Argyll an obliging letter, for he assures me that Argyll professes much kindness for you. This will not only keep Argyll from invading your country, but likewise make him befriend you at Court. I beseech you not to bring ruin upon yourself by papists and desperat people that resort to your island. Lord Morton would go on foot to London on condition that your peace was made.” The terms of Sir Donald’s ultimate surrender we do not know. The younger Sir Donald, subject of the present poem, appears to have taken an active part in the Jacobite rising of 1715, and his estates were forfeited. He died in 1718. We do not know at what stage in his career the poem was composed, but as he is already Sir Donald it must have been after 1695. The poem affords Mary a good opportunity for the conventional but spirited enumeration of MacDonald’s allies; some of them would have done less for Sir Donald than Mary would have us believe. In Alex. MacDonald’s Story and Song from Loch Ness-side (p. 288) we are told that the following stanzas were well known in that district, and that the tradition concerning them was that they were a part of a composition by Màiri nighean Alasdair Ruaidh, when she discovered, pretty well advanced in years, that she was the daughter not of one Alexander MacLeod but of a distinguished MacDonald of the time: Thoir tasgaidh bhuam an dìomhaireachd O chionn an fhad so bhliadhnaichean— Chan airgiod glas ’s chan iarann e Ach Ridire glic riasanach Fhuair meas is misneachd iarlaichean; Is o’n fhuair mi nis gu m’iarraidh e Gun riaraich mi Sir Domhnall. Mo chuid mhór gun airceas tu, Mo chleasan snuadhmhor dealbhach thu, [TD 134] Mo ghibht ro phrìseil ainmeil thu; O’n chuimhnich mi air seanchas ort B’e an dìochuimhn’ mur a h-ainmichte thu, Is nan leiginn bhuam air dearmad thu Gu dearbhtha cha b’e chòir e. Is gur craobh de’n abhall phrìseil thu, De’n mheas is blasda brìoghalachd, Is is dosraiche an ám cinntinne ’S a’ choill ’s nach biodh na dìonagan, (1) De’n fhìor fhuil uasail fhìonanaich; Is gum bi mi dhoibh cho dìchiollach Is gun inns’ mi nis n’as eòl domh. Thig sliochd mhór Mhic Cathain leat Is an dream rìoghail Leathanach, Bha uasal uaibhreach aighearach, Is bu chruadalach ri labhairt riu Fir Chinn-tìre is Latharna; Is gur mairg luchd-beurla bhraitheadh tu Is na maithean sin an tòir ort. This extraordinary tradition of Mary’s parentage seems to be quite unknown in Skye or Harris, and was in all probability the result of a misinterpretation of the somewhat curious wording of the poem itself. 935. Dùn-tuilm, in Trotternish, was at this time the principal residence of MacDonald. It was inhabited as late as 1715 (Pennant’s Tour, ii, 303). 949. Mac Coinnich: Mackenzie of Kintail, no doubt Coinneach òg, an active Jacobite, who succeeded his father in 1678 and died in Paris in 1701. With Mackenzie of Kintail, as with most of the other families mentioned, the house of Sleat was connected by marriage; Sir Donald himself was the grandson of Margaret, daughter of Sir Roderick Mackenzie of Cóigeach, the Taoitear Tàileach. Morair Tairbeirt: Sir George Mackenzie, Viscount Tarbat and first Earl of Cromarty, one of the most powerful men of his time in Scotland, and the great advocate of the Union. (1) ? for dìoganan, a dialectic form of gìoganan, thistles. [TD 135] He was the author of, inter alia, the History of the Family of Mackenzie. 950. Fir a’ Bhealaich, &c.: the followers of Campbell of Breadalbane. am Bealach: Taymouth; the use of the article shows unfamiliarity with local usage, which is Bealach simply, or Bealach nan laogh. 951. Gleann Garadh: MacDonald of Glen Garry. fir nan Garbhchrìoch are probably Clan Ranald, whose ancient patrimony is the country between Loch Shiel and Loch Hourn, to which the term na Garbhchrìochan, the Rough Bounds, is generally applied. 952. an Colla: Coll MacDonald of Keppoch, Colla nam bó, who was born in 1664, succeeded in 1682, and died about 1723. His wife was Barbara, sister of the subject of the poem, and his sister was the great poetess Sìlis na Ceapaich, Mary MacLeod’s contemporary. 955. The MacDonalds in general, “the seed of Art and Conn and Cormac”. Conn Ceudchathach, Conn of the Hundred Battles, was High King of Ireland, according to the Annals, from 123 to 157 A.D. He was father of Art, who was father of Cormac. Cormac’s great-grandsons were the three Collas, who were banished from Ireland to Scotland and there acquired territory. “Téid arís Colla Uais go n-a bhráithribh i nAlbain agus gabhaid fearann mór innte; gonadh ón gColla Uais sin tángadar clann nDomhnaill na hAlban agus na hEireann” (see Keating, ii, 382). See note on l. 1155. 956. Collanan is a name formed on Colla, “the descendants of Colla”. 960. An Caiptein Mùideartach: Alan of Clan Ranald succeeded his father in 1686 at the age of thirteen, and at the age of sixteen accompanied his cousin and guardian, MacDonald of Benbecula, to the Battle of Killiecrankie at the head of five hundred men. The poem being probably after 1695, Alan had by now become reconciled to the government of King William, two of the sureties for his good behaviour being Argyll and Viscount Tarbat. 966. Sìol Torcuill: the MacLeods of Lewis, who had lost their land and been nearly extirpated at the hands of the Mackenzies; hence “na tha air ghléidheadh dhiubh”. [TD 136] 967. Mackinnon of Strath in Skye. 977. na Dubhghlasaich, &c.: Sir Donald’s mother was Lady Mary Douglas, daughter of Robert third Earl of Morton. 985. Antrum: the great house of MacDonald of Antrim, sprung from Somhairle Buidhe son of Alasdair of Dùn Naomhaig and the Glens of Antrim; the Earl is no doubt Randal, who succeeded in 1696 and died in 1721. 986. MacFéilim, i.e. Conn Ceudchathach (see l. 955 note), son of Feidhlimidh (Feidhlim) Reachtmhar, “F. the Lawmaker,” king of Ireland. By “these descendants of Felim’s son” Mary means a general reference to the MacDonalds in Ulster. (Cf. “Mac Feighlimigh mhoir mheir,” Rel. Celt. II, 254.) 990. Iain Mór ’s Iain Cathanach, Sir John Mór of Dùn Naomhaig and his son; along with three sons of the latter, they were hanged on the Borough Muir of Edinburgh in 1499 for storming the castle of Dunaverty, in which King James IV had placed a garrison; see RC. ii, 164. 992. fir Chinn-tìre: a part of Kintyre, with the castles of Dunaverty and Saddell, as well as Dùn Naomhaig in Islay, were the patrimony of Iain Mór, second son of John Lord of the Isles and of Princess Margaret, daughter of Robert II. With Kintyre also we associate the MacAllisters of Loup, who derive their name from Alasdair, son of Donald, the progenitor of Clan Donald. fir Latharna: the MacDougalls of Lorne, descended from Somerled. 995 ff. There are many parallels to this claim on behalf of the premier clan of Scotland; cf. MacCodrum’s “Moladh Chloinn Domhnaill” (MacDonald’s Uist Bards; BGh.): Alba, ge bu mhór r’a innse e, Roinn iad i o thuinn gu mòintich: Is iomadh urra mhór bha innte Fhuair an còir o làimh Chloinn Domhnaill. Fhuair iad a rithis an Rùta, Cunntaidh Antrum ge bu mhór i; Sgrios iad as an naimhdean uile, Is thuit MacUibhilin ’san tòrachd. Bhuidhinn iad baile is leth Alba: Is e an claidheamh a shealbhaich còir dhoibh. [TD 137] The tigh referred to (l. 999) seems to be Tigh nan teud, three miles north-west of Pitlochry; cf.: B’ann diubh Art agus Cormac, Sìol Chuinn a bha ainmeil, Sliochd nan Collaidhean garga Le’n do chuireadh Cath-gailbheach (-Gairbheach) Is Domhnall Ballach nan Garbhchrìoch, Rinn Tigh nan teud aig leth Alba ’na chrìch. (MacDonald’s Story and Song from Loch Ness-side, p. 2). The expression is an ancient one; cf. Acallamh na Senórach (Stokes) (MSS. of fifteenth cent.), l. 1837: “gu ngébadh tech ar leth Eirenn”, “that he would get half of Ireland and a house over”; also Glenmasan MS. (? c. 1500) (Mackinnon), Celtic Review, I, 14: “gur cosain nert a láime fén treab ar leth Alpan dó”, “so that the might of his own hand won for him half Scotland and a stead over”. LUINNEAG DO IAIN MAC SHIR TORMOID This song is still known in part in Harris. It is addressed to John, eldest son of Sir Norman of Bernera, sometimes called Iain Taoitear, as guardian of Norman, the nineteenth chief of MacLeod, who was born after his father’s death. John was an advocate at the Scottish bar. The occasion of the poem is the presentation to the poetess of a snuff-mull (bràth), or, as some in Harris say, a quern, and the first two stanzas deal playfully with this subject. 1004. gun iarann air: “unshod”; the iron parts of a mill are a square block of iron (dealgan) let into the iron socket (dual) in the centre of the upper millstone; and the cylindrical iron bolt (torghann) inserted in the iron lunn, on which the propellor rests and rotates. A Lewis ballad runs: Tha an dealgan ’s an torghann Air meirgeadh ’san dual, Is tha a h-uile rud cearbach cearr oirr’. (All from Mr. H. M. Maciver). 1029. By his second marriage (to Catherine, daughter of Sir James MacDonald of Sleat) Sir Norman had two other sons, William and Alexander, and four daughters. de is to be understood before chloinn. [TD 138] 1041. Ruairidh: perhaps John’s second son, Roderick. MARBHRANN DO SHIR TORMOD This poem is entitled in E. Oran le Inghin Alastair ruaigh do Mac Leod, and in SO. simply Cumha Mhic Leoid. Sir Norman MacLeod of Bernera, to whom it is addressed, was the third son of Sir Roderick Mór of Harris and Dunvegan, and born in Bernera. His contract of fosterage, between Sir Roderick and “Eoin mac mic Cainnigh”, is among the National MSS. of Scotland, dated 8th October, 1614; at that date he was probably about five years old. Of his early life little is known. When in 1650 Charles II crossed to Scotland, Roderick of Talisker, Norman’s brother, raised a regiment of about 700, most of them MacLeods, to support the King; and Norman received the Lieut.-Colonelcy of this force. Both brothers fought at Worcester (1651), where the MacLeod forces were so reduced that, it is said, by common consent the clan was absolved from military service until it should recover. Norman was taken prisoner, confined for eighteen months, and tried for his life; owing to the similarity of his name to the Welsh Llwyd, Lloyd, he was stated in the indictment to be a Welshman, and through this flaw the trial was held up and Norman sent again to prison. Thence he escaped, and afterwards returned to Skye. After the defeat of Worcester Charles retired to the Continent; but his supporters in the Highlands were not idle, and in 1653 Norman was dispatched to him at Chantilly with a letter signed by the chiefs of the loyal clans informing him of affairs in the Highlands. It is a sign of the eminent place occupied by the MacLeods among the Jacobite clans that the message which Charles sent in reply was addressed to Sir Roderick of Talisker. After the defeat of General Middleton at Loch Garry in 1654, the royalist leaders and chiefs decided that no more could at present be accomplished for the cause; Norman opened his house in Bernera to the defeated generals, and from there they escaped to the Continent. In 1659 he undertook a mission on behalf of Charles to the court of Denmark, which procured a promise of no less than 10,000 troops; these however were never called upon; General Monk abandoned his support of Richard Cromwell, and the Restoration was accomplished. Roderick and Norman immediately gave their allegiance to the King in [TD 139] London, and were knighted, as they well deserved to be. Mary’s tribute to his loyalty, then (ll. 1223–4), is no more than the truth. Sir Norman died on the third day of March, 1705, as appears from the dating verse in an elegy upon him from the Book of Clan Ranald, printed in RC. II, 264 ff.: Seacht ccéd dég sa dó re ríom strí bliadhna aois a nairdríogh órslath budh cneasda do chí go teasda romhac ruaidhrí, translated there: Seventeen hundred and two to be reckoned and three years the age of the supreme king, a gold wand the purest to be seen, to the death of the excellent son of Rory. So also an anonymous elegy: Seacht gcéad dég ’s a cúig gan chol, ég Thormóid, doirbh an deadhol; ré comháireamh is é sin annáladh Dé go deimhin; (see p. 106.) Mary mentions the day but not the year. The poem can thus be ascribed with certainty to the year 1705. 1075. iuchair mo chùil: The exact meaning seems to me uncertain Iuchair possibly means not key but keystone, as in Irish; “the keystone of my support (cùl).” Cùil may be gen. not of cùl but of cùil, nook, secret place, pantry, in the sense of store-house, treasure-house, by confusion with cuile of that meaning. Perhaps we should read chiuil, “the key of my music”; cf. a eochracha éigse, his keys of poesy (Dinn.); iuchair ghliocais; iuchair nam bàrd, rìgh nam filidh (BGh. vocab.). 1095. Here and at l. 1130 ff. the translation is derived from BGh. 1106. Sir Roderick Mór of Harris and Dunvegan. 1115. Fuasgladh facail: “solving the knot of a case for decision”; cf. the Cumha do Mhac Leoid mentioned on p. xxxii: [TD 140] “Mu mhàthair fhuasglaidh nan ceistean”; and Pòl Crùbach’s Iorram na Truaighe: “Ceann réite gach facail Gus an uair an deach stad air do chainnt.” 1130. These lines are difficult, especially in view of the tense of bheir. “Many a stranger, many a guest and man of song, will for a space be ready to part with wealth (lit. crowns), for his guidance and his acquaintance.”—BGh. 1148. Olghar: see note to l. 791. 1155. sìol Cholla: the Clan Donald. “Is follus fós gurab ré linn Mhuireadhaigh Tírigh do chuadar na trí Cholla go n-a mbráithribh ó Chonnachtaibh do dhéanamh gabháltais ar Ulltaibh, gur bheanadar roinn mhór do Chúigeadh Uladh dhíobh ar éigin, mar atá, Modhairn Uí mac Uais is Uí Chriomhthainn go bhfuilid drong mhór dhíobh da haitiughadh aniú, mar atá Raghnall mac Samhairle Iarla Antruim nó nAondroma ó Cholla Uais; &c:” “It is also well known that it was in the time of Muireadhach Tìreach (d. A.D. 335) that the three Collas with their kinsmen left Connaught to win conquests from the Ultonians, and wrested by force from them a large portion of the province of Ulster, namely Modhairn, Ui Mac Uais and Ui Chriomhthainn; and many of their descendants hold possession of these to-day, as Raghnall son of Samhairle, Earl of Antrim, or Aondrom, descended from Colla Uais; &c.” (Keating, ed. Dinneen, Vol. II, p. 100). Colla Uais, the most famous of the three, was the alleged progenitor of the Clan Donald (see note on l. 955); and the reference here is to Sir Norman’s mother, Isabel daughter of Donald MacDonald of Glen Garry. Mary MacLeod’s knowledge of tradition is notable. Further information about the three Collas is given in the Book of Clan Ranald (RC. II, 151 ff., given also in Celt. Scot. III, appendix 1, in translation); for the clans supposed to be descended from Colla Uais, see Celt. Scot. index. 1167. Inghean Sheumais nan crùn: Catherine, eldest daughter of Sir James MacDonald IX of Sleat (Seumas Mór), married Sir Norman as his second wife in 1666. Her sister Florence was wife of Iain Breac of Harris and Dunvegan. “Nan crùn” holds the same idea as is more fully expressed in l. 1209. [TD 141] CUMHA DO SHIR TORMOD 1216. am Mac Leoid-sa: the reference is certainly to the chief, no doubt Norman, to whom the Crònan, who died shortly afterwards, before the birth of his son in 1706. Sir Norman, in virtue of his age and capacities, naturally held a position of great authority in the councils of his clan, especially since the death of Sir Roderick of Talisker, the Tutor, in 1675. The following version of the Cumha do Shir Tormod was taken down in 1861 from Mairi bheag nighean Domhnaill mhic Ruairidh, Ebost, Skye, by Miss Tolmie, and is printed in the MacD. Coll., p. 150. It bears clear signs of having been curtailed and corrupted by oral transmission, though it contains some lines that may be closer to the original than the received text. The first four verses are in Miss Tolmie’s Coll. Sàthghal Màiri nighean Alasdair Ruaidh. MARBHRANN DO MHAC LEOID 7 ma’s fìor gun robh e marbh Mo shàthghal goirt Mar atà mi nochd Is mi gun tàmh gun fhois gun sunnd. Is mi gun sunnd air stàth, Gun mo dhùil ri bhith slàn, Tha mo shùgradh gu bràth air chùl. Is ann tha Leòdach mo ghaoil ’San t-sròl-anart (1) chaoil Is gun chomhdach r’a thaobh ach bùird. Is e bhith smaointinn ort A chràidh mi am chorp Is a chnàmh na roisg bho m’ shùil. Tha Mac Leoid ata ann Fo ghruaman ’san ám: Is beag an t-ioghnadh, ’s e chaill an stiuir. (1) “’San Ol anart,” MacD. Coll. [TD 142] Chaill e meamhair air féin Nach bu chladhair measg cheud Is duine thaghadh na deagh chairt-iuil. Chaill e sealgair na frìth Nach bu chearbach do’n Rìgh Agus seirbhiseach dìleas a chrùin. Thog na filidh ort sgeul, Air na chunnaic iad féin, Gun robh eireachdas ceud ’nad ghnùis: Gun robh thuigse ’nad ghnìomh Is de thlachd ann ad bhian Nach faca (1) mi riamh aig triuir. In their note to the above the editors say rather strangely that its subject is Roderick, the fifteenth MacLeod of Dunvegan, of whom they say Mary sang, on his death in 1664, the fragment printed on p. xxxiii. It is clear that the subject is Sir Norman, who died in 1705. NOTES ON THE METRES 1. Regular Strophe: (a) (2) Consisting of a phrase of two stresses, thrice repeated, and with end-rime, followed by a half-phrase containing a rime which is carried throughout the poem. The full phrases, which may be stressed on the ultimate or the penultimate syllable, sometimes contain internal rime, but this is irregular. The poems in this metre are: An Talla am bu Ghnàth le Mac Leoid, Crònan an Taibh, Cumha do Shir Tormod, Fuigheall. In the first three the final half-phrase consists of two syllables with the stress on the second; in the Fuigheall it consists of three syllables with the stress on the first, giving the entire strophe a fine rolling swing very different from the mournful effect of the other. These are briefly expressed as, e.g.: 3 (Ri fuaim an taibh) m’ àbhaist. (1) “’N a chunnaic,” MacD. Coll. (2) The metre which Mary MacLeod has been wrongly thought to have invented. [TD 143] (b) Consisting of a phrase of two stresses, six times repeated, with end-rime and inconstant internal rime, followed by a half-phrase of two syllables with stress on the penultimate and carrying its rime throughout the poem. This is found in Marbhrann do Fhear na Comraich: 6 (Tha mise air leaghadh le bròn) éirigh. 2. Irregular Strophe: (a) Marbhrann do Shir Tormod, which contains two types of strophe, (1) a phrase with two stresses, the second being on the penultimate syllable, six times repeated, with end-rime and usually internal rime, followed by a half-phrase of two syllables with one stress on the penult and carrying its rime throughout the poem: 6 (Cha sùrd cadail) éisdeachd; and (2) a phrase of two stresses, the second being on the ultimate syllable, six to eight times repeated, followed by a half-phrase of three syllables with one stress on the penult: 6–8 (Is trom an cudthrom so dhrùidh) cha téid mi. (b) An Crònan, which consists of the type last mentioned, the double-stressed phrase being repeated from five to seven times: 5–7 (An naidheachd so an dé) ri crònan. (c) Marbhrann do Iain Garbh is of the same type, except that the final half-phrase is of three or four syllables, with stress on the penult or antepenult; but two strophes are of the type of Marbhrann do Shir Tormod (1), save that the double-stressed phrase is repeated seven and eight times, and is followed by a four-syllable half-phrase with one stress: 5–7 (Mo bheud ’s mo chràdh) an Ratharsaidh. (d) Do Mhac Dhomhnaill. This is a rather unusual metre, consisting of a phrase with two chief stresses, the second being on the antepenultimate syllable, repeated from four to six times, with end-rime and inconstant internal rime, followed by a single-stressed phrase in the end-rime, followed in turn by a three-syllable phrase stressed on the penult and carrying its rime throughout the poem: Tha ulaidh orm an uamharrachd Mo ghibhte phrìseil uasal thu [TD 144] Mo leug bu lìonmhor buadhan thu Chan fhaigh an Rìgh ri t’fhuasgladh thu Air m’fhocal fìor o’n fhuair mi thu Cha tugainn uam air òr thu. 3. Cumha, in the form of quatrains. The structure is one of four long lines (printed for convenience as eight short lines), each with four stresses, the second and third stressed words riming within each line, and the final stressed word riming throughout the rann. There are three poems in this metre, the Cumha do Mhac Leoid, Luinneag do Iain, and Luinneag Mhic Leoid. The last is peculiar in its repetition of the final line of the rann as the first line of the next rann; “this may be regarded as an extension of conchlann, ‘a grasp’, a term used to denote the repetition of the final word of a rann as the first word of the next” (BGh.). Ex. (as usual the internal rime is not quite constant): Is mi am shuidhe air an tulaich fo mhulad ’s fo imcheist Is mi ag coimhead air Ile is ann de m’iongnadh ’san ám so Bha mi uair nach do shaoil mi gus an do chaochail air m’aimsir Gun tiginn an taobh so dh’amharc Dhiùraidh á Sgarbaidh. 4. Amhran, in the form of single long lines, printed for convenience as a couplet. (a) Each long line has four stresses, the second and third stressed words riming, and the final stressed word carrying its rime throughout the poem. The two examples are Mairearad nan Cuireid and An t-Eudach. Ex.: Tha mo chean air an lasgair, saighdear sgairteil fo sgéith thu. (b) Pòsadh Mhic Leoid and Tuireadh. Each long line has four stresses, and in the Tuireadh the rime of the last stressed syllable is continued throughout the poem. In the Pòsadh the rime of the last stressed syllable is changed frequently. [TD 145] RELEVANT DATES 1613 Sir Roderick Mór of Harris and Dunvegan knighted. 1626 Sir Roderick Mór died. 1646 Roderick Mackenzie of Applecross died; Marbhrann do Fhear na Comraich, Mary MacLeod’s earliest poem of certain date. 1648 Iain Garbh mac Ghille Chaluim of Raasay served heir to his father. 1649 John of Harris and Dunvegan, Iain Mór, fourteenth chief, died. 1650 Charles II landed in Scotland. 1651 Battle of Inverkeithing; Battle of Worcester. 1653 Norman of Bernera dispatched to Charles in France. 1654 (July) Battle at Loch Garry. 1655 Roderick of Harris and Dunvegan, fifteenth chief, accepted protection of Cromwell. 1659 Norman of Bernera dispatched to court of Denmark. 1660 The Restoration; Norman of Bernera and Roderick of Talisker knighted. 1664 Roderick of Harris and Dunvegan, Ruairidh Sgaiteach, died. 1666 Sir Norman of Bernera married Catherine, d. of Sir James MacDonald of Sleat. Mr. James Fraser’s Polichronicon (The Wardlaw Manuscript) begun. 1671 Iain Garbh mac Ghille Chaluim of Raasay drowned at sea; Marbhrann do Iain Garbh. 1675 Sir Roderick of Talisker died. 1688 Battle of Mulroy (Maol Ruadh in Lochaber) fought between the Mackintoshes of Moy and Colla nam bó of Keppoch; the last clan battle. 1689 Battle of Killiecrankie (Cath Raon Ruairidh). 1693 John of Harris and Dunvegan, Iain Breac, sixteenth chief, died; succeeded by his son Roderick. [TD 146] 1699 Roderick of Harris and Dunvegan, seventeenth chief, died; Cumha do Mhac Leoid; succeeded by Norman; An Crònan. 1705 Sir Norman of Bernera died; Marbhrann do Shir Tormod; Cumha do Shir Tormod, Mary MacLeod’s last poem of certain date. 1715 Battle of Sheriffmuir. 1718 Sir Donald MacDonald of Sleat, Domhnall a’ Chogaidh, to whom “Do Mhac Dhomhnaill”, died. [TD 147] VOCABULARY n. after the number of the line refers to a footnote on the tex. acain, 871, f. bemoaning, lamenting. adharc, 457, f. horn for holding shot. aghmhor, 570, prosperous, fortunate; 1143, magnificent. aigeanntach, 171, form of aigeannach, spirited, mettlesome. àilleagan, 177, 225, m. jewel; metaph. handsome man; often used as a term of affection for a child. àillteachd, 546, f. beauty, excellence; form of ailleachd. àilt, 1103, noble, stately. aineol, 605, unacquaintance, want of knowledge; air m’aineol, in a land I know not; opposed to air m’eòlas. “Shiubhail mi cian leat air m’eòlas, Agus spailp de’n stròic air m’aineol” (Alex. MacDonald); 1130, fear aineoil, stranger. aiteam, 786, m. and f. folk, people. aitreabh, 247, f. dwelling, residence (elsewhere masc.). àlach, 738, m. race, family. alladh, 147, fame, renown, whence foll. allail, 719, illustrious, renowned. aoidh, 1131, m. stranger, guest. araichd, 921, precious thing acquired, godsend, boon; same as Ir. aireag, O.Ir. airec, inventio. àrbhuidhe, 531, for òrbhuidhe, gold-yellow. àrmunn, 736, 1105, m. hero, warrior. àros, 759, m. dwelling, mansion. bàdhadh, 268, act of sinking deeply in. balg, 472, m. quiver; generally, a bag. ball, 900, m. part of rigging, rope; 1064, stud, nail or boss. banchag, 373, f. a woman cowherd, dairymaid. barrdhias, 462, f. point of a sword (bàrr, dias). basbhuailte, 1161; bean bh., a woman who claps her hands (in grief); old gen. of basbhualadh, hand-clapping, used as adj. basgheal, 370, white of palm, white-handed. batail, 1229, Eng. battle. bean-mhuinntir, 687, f. maidservant. beart, 654, f. deed; 1128, sword-sheath. beòshlaint, 80, f. livelihood, sustenance. bian, pl. béin, 302, m. skin, hide. biùthas, 963, m. glory, reputation. bleidean, 65, m. wheedler, cajoler, importunate bothersome person. boinne, m. drop; 1043, a metaphor for beauty of form and colour; cf. “Is i (Deirdire) boinne-fala bu chaoine cruth”, [TD 148] “(Deirdire) was the blood-drop of finest form”.—Deirdire (Dr. Alexander Carmichael), p. 24. bonn, 1196, m. coin. bòrd, 25, perhaps a tack in sailing; cf. bòrd, to tack, bòrdadh, tacking (Dw.); Ir. bórd, space advanced by a boat in two tacks (Dinn.); see note; 227 board (of coffin); 335 board (of boat), gunwale. bradan, 221 n. swelling on the skin, ridgy tumour on the surface of the body.—Dw. bréid, 592, m. three-cornered kertch or coif formed of a square of fine linen, worn by married women; gen., piece of cloth, sail, from which foll. bréidgheal, 176, 1159, white-sailed. brìoghalachd, 928, f. juiciness, fullness of sap. buadh, 910, f. virtue, quality, excellence, whence foll. buadhail, 924, full of good qualities, excellent. buadhalach, 874, same meaning as buadhail. buaidh-ghlòireach, 895, choice-worded, of choice speech. buaireadh, 564, m. disturbance, provocation, temptation. buannachd, 299, f. maintenance, emolument. buinneag, 144, f. lass, young woman. buirb, 1146 (better buirbe) rudeness, arrogance. busdubh, 88, black-muzzled; bus, a muzzle, snout, mouth. caidreabh, 1178, m. society, companionship. càil, 68, f. appetite, desire; c. chomhraidh, a desire for conversation. càileachd, 549, f. genius, natural endowment, disposition. cainbe, 466, f. hemp. cairbinn, 464, carbine. cairt-iuil, 1221, f. mariner’s compass. caisfhionn, 366, white-footed. caismeachd, 1082, f. corresponding to Ir. caismirt; meaning, inter alia, “a discussion”: hence, theme of story-telling. caith, 496, traverse, speed over. caithreamach, 636, of joyful or victorious noise; caithream, joyful or warlike noise, shout of victory. calg, 488, m. bristle, short stiff hair. carantach, 817, affectionate, loving. carantas, 823, m. affection; c. fuar, a proverbial phrase. carthannach, 655, same meaning as carantach. ceannard, 1126, high-headed. ceannas, 400, m. authority; 236, (concrete) chief. ceannsgalach, 814, authoritative, masterful. ceann-uidhe, 631, m. end of a journey, objective. ceartachadh, 838, m. adjustment, putting to rights. céir, 264, 936, f. wax; 489, a deer’s buttock, whence foll. céirgheal, 284, 245 n., white-buttocked. ceòsach, 96, big-rumped. ceumnach, 985, pacing, with stately pace. ceudfaidh, 542, f. sense, mental faculty. chugaibh, 105, away with you, avaunt; (chum, chun, in pronominal compound, 2nd. pl. “The combination is based on the analogy of agam &c.,” Dinn.) A worse spelling is thugaibh &c., from thun (phonetic.) ciodh, 13, 17, what is? cìos, 945, 1156, f. tax, tribute. cìosail, 956, exacting tribute, rich in tributes. ciste, 203, f. box; 1118, dat. cistidh, coffin. [TD 149] clannfhalt, 1129, m. clustering hair (clann in the sense of a lock of hair). cliar, 248 n., 526, 751, f. company or train of bards, poetic band. cliaranach, 1024, m. bard, minstrel, one of a cliar. clisgeadh, 583, m. act of startling, alarming. cluasag, 584, f. pillow. cneadh, 659, f. wound, hurt. cóigeamh, 1158, m. province, lit. a fifth part. coisionta, 781, industrious, overcoming, hardy. colg, 798, m. wrath, fierce aspect. conbhail, 1059, older form of cumail, holding; Ir. congbháil. còraichean, 669, pl. of còir, f. rightful possessions, property; titles. còrn, 242, 1151, m. drinking-horn. cosgail, 780, lavish, liberal. corran, 269, m. small tapering point. corrbheann, 1150, with tapering points or corners (còrr, beann, a horn). cràdhghal, 1186, m. painful sobbing. crann, 792, 876, 899, m. mast; 264, arrow. cròc, 284, f. deer’s antler. cròdha, 1093, valiant. crodhanta, 186, strong-hoofed, strongly shod; crodha, crudha, horse-shoe, hoof; crodhan, a parted hoof. crònan, 725, m. crooning, humming. crùidheach, 1126, well-shod. crùist, 1227, f. burial-vault; form of crùidse, crùisle. crùintidh, 1133, pl. of crùn. crùn, 1167, 1209, m. crown piece; 1224, the Crown. cuachag, 1046, f. small curl, ringlet. cuailean, 150, m. lock of hair, curl. cuairt, 780, f. a circuit, progress, here a circuit of bards. cùil, 1075, f. store-house, closet; see note. cuilbhir, 1037, m. gun, fowling-piece. cùinneadh, 1182, m. wealth; coin. cuireid, 121, f. trick, prank, wile. cùl, 149, 454, 1045, 1129, m. hair of the back of the head, then in general, the hair, tresses. cumasg, 192, m. fray, tumultuous battle. curanta, 189, 290, 1231, heroic (curaidh, hero). cuspair, 259, m. mark, target. dalta, 1160, m. foster-child. daoiread, 470, m. dearness (daor); air and., despite their dearness, however dear they are. daonnachdach, 655, liberal, hospitable. daonnairceach, 1053, same meaning as daonnachdach. dearbhta, 418, 715; dearbhtha, 800, 889, 926, proven, tried, certain; past part. of dearbhaim, I prove, show. dearcag, 448, f. small berry; d. na talmhainn, blaeberry. déidh, 670, f. fondness, eagerness. déinead, 620, f. keenness. dìobhail, 246, 312, f. loss, want. dìol, 733, m. act of draining (a glass). dòigh, 188, m. likelihood; air dh. buille, by reason of the likelihood of being smitten; 640, manner, method, wont. dolaidh, 577, f. defect, injury. don-faighneachd, 15, 27, d. ort, “evil of asking upon you, a plague on your asking”; cf. don-bìdh, dìth-bìdh, don-dòchais (BGh. vocab.). [TD 150] duaismhor, 769, liberal, bounteous. dùth, 773, natural, hereditary, befitting one’s ancestors and oneself. éagas, 245 n.; éagasg, 1098, m. form of aogas, countenance, appearance. ealadh, 631, 1131, f. song, music, artistic production; luchd ealaidh, minstrels. ealchainn, 456, f. rack for weapons. earras, 594, m. wealth, property. eineach, 574, m. honour; generosity; lit., face, countenance. eireadh, 235, form of eire, burden. (Given as éire(adh) in some Sc. Gael. dictt., but e is short.) eirthir, 14, f. sea-coast. éis, 188, f. delay, hindrance. éisg, 130, f. satirist, reviler. éislean, 606, m. debility, grief. eòlas, 864, f. knowledge of, or familiarity with, the way. faiche, 342, f. an exercising green or parade ground near a house; generally, a green. faicheil, 837, of martial appearance. faiteal, 164, breath; speech. falluing, 490, f. garment, cloak. fantalach, 778, lasting, enduring. farspach, 110, f. blackbacked gull. feachd, 984, 990, m. warlike expedition, host. fearrdhris, 450, f. red wild rose, dog-rose. feòlach, 44, m. carnage. fiabhras, 581, m. fever, feverish confusion. fiadhach, 1034, m. hunting of deer. fìreun, 473, m. eagle. fiùran, 155, 771, 816, 881, 961, m. handsome youth; lit. sapling; cf. craobh, gasan, slat, sonn, all used by Mary MacLeod metaphorically of persons. flathail, 1023, princely, noble. flathasach, 307, 1103, same meaning as flathail. foidearachd, 940, pastime, according to MacNicol (Henderson). foirm, 987, m. noise, outcry; f. air fheumalachd, a cry of need for service. foirmeil, 522, 697, 753, stately, magnificent; foirm, form, pomp. foirmeileach, 885, same meaning as foirmeil, above. fòirneart, 708, 783, 819 n., m. force, violence. foistinneach, 573, calm, sedate. folachd, 409, 579, noble lineage, noble blood (from fuil, blood). fonn, 878, m. tune, air. fraoidhneiseach, 943, fringed, embroidered. freasdal, 253, m. waiting on, attending; ann am f. gach duine, in serving every man, in attending to his needs or requests; cf. 1115-7. fuasgladh, 1115, m. act of solving, explication. furbhailteach, 1053, courteous, affable. gàbhaidh, 507, dangerous, perilous; gen. of gàbhadh used as adj. gabhail, 274, f. carriage, bearing, behaviour. gàinne, 269, f. arrow-head. gàir, 1160, f. shout, cry. gàirich, 760, f. roaring noise. gaiseadh, 262 n., m. blemish, defect. gar, 663, 691, 715, although (regularly changed to ged in SO.); more often gar an, though not. gàrd, 947, m. Eng. guard. garbhghlac, 482, f. rough hollow. [TD 151] gàrlach, 132, m. starveling child, bastard, term of contempt. gèadh, 296, m. wild goose. gealbhréideach, 957, white-sailed. geall, 347, m. pledge, promise, wager. glac, 261, f. quiver; 471, a handful of arrows, dòrlach; 1058, hollow of a saddle. glaisean, 112, m. finch, linnet, sparrow. glas-ghuib, 115, f. muzzle, gag to prevent speech. gleadhraich, 242, f. loud rattling noise. gleus, 204, m. and f. possibly the key of the harp, usu. crann; if so, cf. 1075 n.; 1088, fighting trim, activity; gaisge gleois, valour of action. gleusta, 287, trim, accomplished, polished, deft; 879, tuneful; 1035, trim, in order, eager. gnìomh, 764, m. handiwork; elsewhere, a deed of prowess. gradan, 221, m. pain, bitter sorrow, anguish; cf. greadan, Ir. greadán, heat, torture, etc. greadhnach, 172, majestic, magnificent. greis, 283, 895, f. space of time, spell; 513, a ghreis féin, the world’s (or possibly his) own spell (of prosperity and adversity in turn); cf. “Fear gun dà là, fear gun là idir”. gruag, 453, 535, f. head of hair. iarmad, 1028, m. offspring, race. innis, 295, f. haunt of seals, i.e. the sea; 755, haunt, haven or resting-place of poets; (cf. ròd nan cliar, anchorage of poets, BGh. vocab.); both from the meaning “pasture, resting-place for cattle”. iomadaidh, 828, f. great quantity, abundance. iomairt, 827, 1232, f. contest, conflict; 902,, bustle? gaming? iomall, 143, m. refuse; dubh i. na tuatha, the very dregs of the population. iomartas, 560, m. affairs, bustle, trouble. iomsgaradh, 232, m. mutual separation, sad parting; O. Ir. imm-scarad (Windisch); see also tiomsgaradh. ion, 607, fit, befitting, proper. irghinn, 165, f. dialectic form of inghinn, dat. of inghean (nighean), used as nom. (Dw. misspells ireann). isneach, 464, f. rifled gun. iùl, 862, m. bearings, landmark, course (of a ship); 1134, knowledge, guidance. làmh-sgiath, 941 n., f. hand-shield, targe. làmh-sgrìobhtha, 941 n., m. hand-writing; (old gen. of sgrìobhadh). lànmhor, 537, complete, perfect. lapach, 1230, slow and awkward, soft; meata. làrach, 125, f. house, dwelling; site of a dwelling. lasadh, 530, m. flush, kindling of the face (not here of anger). lasan, 1116, sudden kindling, blaze. lasgair, 601, m. fine young man. leannan, lover, sweetheart, 271, 632, m. (figuratively) one given to, one who constantly practises. leigeadh, 764, m. act of letting run, broaching. leac, 1123, f. grave-stone, slab. leòmach, 66, 98, conceited, pert. leug, 910, m. precious stone, jewel. ligeadh, 75, form of leigeadh, q.v. linn, 535, f. brood, family; cf. deireadh linne, the youngest of a family. lìobhraigeadh, 1196, m. act of [TD 152] delivering, bestowing (based on Eng. deliver). lìonsgaradh, 794, m. resources (in a very wide sense); cf. Rosg Gàidhlig p. 136, where liansgaraidh means genealogy, extraction. Mr. John N. Macleod gives examples of the idiomatic use of this word: nach ann aice (aige) tha an l., applied to a gossip who returns from a céilidh with all the goileam of the place; to a minister who has much freedom in preaching; to a man thoroughly versed in any sphere. This sense may be defined as “a wide range, a wide field of operations,” and seems appropriate in Alex. Macdonald’s Aoir Eile do Bhan-bhàrd an Obain (1924 ed. p. 336). The word is sometimes used in the sense of scattering, e.g. of sheep on a hillside. lòisdean, 636, m. lodging, residence; Ir. lóiste, lodge, booth; entertainment. Or poss. a form of lòiseam, pomp, magnificent assemblage: “gum b’uallach do lòiseam, T. 54, explained in a footnote “a great company of gentry”. lomhainn, 1035, f. leash of hounds. luachach, 862, precious, excellent; mór luachach forms a noun, “that man of great worth”. luaimneach, 1042, restless, aflutter. lùb, 182, f. young man, carried on in 183 as a scion, shoot. macaomh, 241, 748, m. goodly youth, gallant; mac (adjectival), caomh (used as noun), lit. a lad dear one. macnas, 378, 1068, m. sport, mirthfulness, whence foll. macnasach, 240, sportive, mirthful. mairg, 184, 505, 993, f. object of pity; is mairg an duine, woe to the man. maith, 994, n. a noble; mith is maith, peasant and noble, gentle and simple (Alex. MacDonald). màl, 1147, m. payment, subsidy. malairt, 724, f. change (from sickness to health); 1133, exchange, barter. mànran, 238, 519, m. tuneful sound, melody. maothar, 1219, coll. noun; the young, the tender; m. na treuda, the young of the flock (MacLennan). marbh, 438, sgeul marbh, either “news of thy death”, lit. “a dead tale of thee”; cf. marbhrann: or “news that thou art inactive”; cf. fuar-scéal, a dead or uninteresting story (Dinneen). marcanta, 202, m. horseman, knight. mathasach, 1052, benevolent, benign, or perhaps “giving without condition”; cf. Ir. maithim. meachar, 1011, tender, kindly. meadhrach, 240, 939, cheerful, merry, festive. meadhrachail, 1052, same meaning as meadhrach. mìndearg, 179, smooth and ruddy. mìngheal, 160, smooth and bright. miosair, 457, m. measure for powder; Ir. miosúr mòd, 102, m. court of justice, council. moltair, 1005, f. mill-dues. mórdha, 701, noble, great. mórdhalach, 569, magnificent, majestic. morghail, 1149, sea-prowess, sea-fighting; (mor-, compositional form of muir, gal, gail, valour). [TD 153] mucag, 450, f. berry of the dog rose. neo-chrìon, 545, liberal, abundant. neo-éisleanach, 265, not feeble, strong, sound. neo-mhalairteach, 626, not changeable, réidh. neul, 260, 1087, m. hue, complexion. nuallanach, 502, loud-sounding, roaring. nur, 629, dialectic form of bhur, your. òg, 873, m. young man (adj. used as noun). òircheard, 764, m. goldsmith. oireachd, 682, f. gathering, assembly; usually eireachd in Sc. Gael, but here the other is required by the rime; Ir. oireacht. òirleach, 268, f. inch. Olgharach, 521, of the race of Olghar. òrd, 257, m. hammer, dog-head of a gun, which strikes fire from the flint. orghan, 743, 1152, m. organ. paidirean, 51, m. rosary. pàirt, 830, f. kindred, relationship. pìc, 345, f. bow; cf. Pòl Crùbach: “Agus pìc mheallach Air a tarruing o chluais gu dòrn.” pìos, 34, 762, 887, 906, 938, 1157, m. silver vessel, cup. pràmhan, 237 n. heaviness, dejection. prasgan, 106, 965, m. rabble, gang, group of people. preasan, 922, m. little bush or thicket. purpais, 551, m. theme; Eng. purpose. ranntannan, 671, pl. of rannt m. partisan, supporter, ally; from rann, a part, division.—Dw. coins “title-deeds, deeds of conveyance; chattels”. reachdmhor, 1106, commanding, authoritative, puissant; Ir. reachtmhar, legislative, giving laws; from reacht, law, power, authority. riarachadh, 80, 1010, m. act of satisfying. riaraich, 580, serve, distribute. réidhlean, 596, m. green level plain, lawn for games, etc. ròd, 295 n., perhaps has the sense of a “quantity of sea-ware cast on the shore”—Dw.; but ròn is the correct reading. rògach, 98, roguish; from Eng. rònach, 62, full of seals. ruaimneach, 770, glossed in E., “làidir”; robust, active. ruiteach, 260, 449, ruddy. sàradh, 763, m. act of broaching. sealbh, 478, m. prosperity, good fortune; 745, possession, enjoyment. seòd, 336, 1153, m. man of valour, warrior; form of seud. seòlaid, 498, f. harbour, anchorage. sgannal, 142, m. scandal, slander. sgeilm, 251, f. boasting, vain talk. sgleò, 160, 1090, m. boasting; 1090, vapour, mistiness, dimness of the eyes; cf. “na ríoghbhrugh ní h-aisling ól”, in his kingly mansion drinking is no dream;—RC., II, 286 (BGh.) and in Eng., “not with umbrages, but a substantiall entertainment” (Wardlaw MS., p. 482). sgòid-bhràghad, 93, f. square neck-kerchief, stomacher. sibhrainn 195 n., m. ? sìothshaimh, 425, 1136, f. peace, tranquillity. slacan, 344, m. bludgeon, club, wand. [TD 154] slàn, 562, m. defiance, challenge (see note); “I defy Gael or Saxon (to show) that deceit was found on you.” (BGh), so dubh-shlàn, dùbhlan, defiance. slat, 766, f. wand, rod; metaph. handsome youth. sligeadh, 75 n., m. “drinking from shells”.—Dw. quoting this passage; but ?; ligeadh is the correct reading. smeoirn, 269, f. butt end of arrow, notch to fit the bowstring. so-iarraidh, 415, easy to ascertain. solta, 567, vigorous, comely. sonn, 879, m. post, stake; hence, stalwart man, champion, sonn catha. spealp, 308, m. active trim young man. spreadhadh, 326, m. report of a gun, loud sound of bursting. spreigeadh, 41, m. act of playing briskly and spiritedly; so Ir. spreagadh. sròl, 1080, m. satin; 904, pl. sròiltean, 792, 876, satin pennon, or possibly sail. staoidhle, 690, 933, m. title, style; the passive of the verb is found in 700. stàth, 1189, m. good purpose or end, benefit, advantage. stòpa, 78, m. stoup, flagon. stròicte, 46, hacked, sundered, shivered. stròth, 245 n., m. extravagance. sùgh, 138, m. juice, broth. susbaint, 552, 1192, f. substance. tabh, 499, m. ocean. (Norse haf, n. the high sea, ocean); used by Alex. MacDonald, and still in Harris and Barra for the open sea, the Atlantic, opposed to An Cuan, the Minch. The outermost rock of the Flannan Isles is Sgeir an Taibh (A. Nicolson); Camus cùil an Taibh is on the west side of Iona. taifeid, 266, 466, f. bowstring. tàileasg, 229, 279 (in pl.), m. chess or backgammon. tarruing, 900, f. halyard. tasgadh, 1162, m. act of bestowing, burying. tasgaidh, 523, 646, 914, f. what is bestowed, deposit, treasure; 1078, bestowal; 218, in sense of tasgadh. teach, 525, m. house, mansion. teanal, 526, m. gathering; form of tional. teannachadh, 901, m. act of holding close to the wind. tearbadh, 440, m. separation. teist, 252, f. repute, fame. teud, 152, m. fiddle-string; 203, harp (Armstrong); 550, harp-string. teudbhuidhe, 1046, 1129, yellow as harp-strings, which were gold-gilt (BGh.); yellow-stranded. t tigheadas, 833, m. household. tiomsgaradh, 232 n., given as “a parting for time” (tìom, sgaradh) in a paper on “Some Rare Gaelic Words and Phrases” by Alex. MacDonald, Trans. Gael. Soc. Invss. xxix, 30. Questionable. togbhail, 738, older form of togail, raising, rearing; Ir. tógbháil. toisgeal, 37, left, opposed to deas; (?also right, opp. to cearr: cf. “Is mairg … thigeadh cearr no toisgeal air,” S. 235). tolg, 581, f. pride, ostentation. tonn-bhàidhte, 355, f. a wave that drowns, lit. a wave of drowning; bàidhte, old gen. of verb. noun bàdhadh. tòrachd, 42, 790, f. pursuit. treas-tarruing, 77, f. thrice-distilled whisky; foreshot. [TD 155] trusgan, 86, m. garment, clothes, mantle. tuam, tuama, 660, 691, m. tomb, grave. tuath, 143, 779, f. people of a country, population, peasantry. tuathcheathairn, 868, m. f. tenantry, peasantry. tuigsear, 550, m. one who understands, a connoisseur. tuilg, 581, see tolg. tuisleach, 258, unsteady, fallible. turaideach, 754, turreted. turnais, 1132, a job, a smart turn (Skye). (BGh. Vocab.) uabharra, 877, prideful, haughty. uamharrachd, 908, f. lit. frightfulness; excessiveness, excessive measure; “I have a treasure great exceedingly.” uidh, 1142, f. journey, way. uirghioll, 254, m. speech, the faculty of speech. ulaidh, 908, f. treasure, especially a treasure lit upon more or less unexpectedly. (BGh. Vocab.). urla, 1047, f. face, countenance. urrainn, 1233, m. guarantee, authority, security; whence the ordinary usage, “is urrainn mi”, etc. “Thy nobility is no longer my security.” ursainn-chatha, 835, f. pillar of battle, a conspicuous hero. ursgeul, 283, m. tale, narrative, 1194, act of narrating. usgar, 90, m. jewel. [TD 156] [Blank] [TD 157-8] INDEX OF PERSONS AND PLACES IN THE TEXT [Beurla]