| Reference Number | 127 |
| Title | Marbhrann do ’n t-Shiosalach, Srathghlais, a Chriochnaich a Bheath so air a Bhliadhna 1838, a bha na Phrop Dileas do ’n Eaglais |
| Author | Friseal, Huistean |
| Editor | N/A |
| Date Of Edition | [1838] |
| Date Of Language | early to mid 19c |
| Date Of Language Ed | 1800-1849 |
| DateMacro | Mid 19th c. |
| Date Of Language Notes | |
| Publisher | NP |
| Place Published | [Inverness] |
| Volume | N/A |
| Location | National and academic libraries |
| Geographical Origins | Urray, Strathglass |
| Geographical Origins Ed | Various |
| GeoMacro | E Ross, E Sutherland and Caithness |
| GeoX | -4.5031 |
| GeoY | 57.5444 |
| Geographical Origins Notes | |
| Register | Literature, Verse |
| Register Ed | Literature, Verse |
| Genre | Literature |
| Medium | Verse |
| Rating | B Elegy on Alexander Chisholm of Strathglass. Religious tone, biblical references, references to Heaven and Judgement. The subject is praised using some specific panegyric motifs, e.g. the apple tree. |
| Alternative Author Name | Hugh Fraser |
| Manuscript Or Edition | Ed. |
| Size And Condition | 19cm (Gaelic Union Catalogue) |
| Short Title | Marbhrann do ’n t-Shiosalach |
| Reference Details | NLS: 5792(56) |
| Number Of Pages | 4 |
| Gaelic Text By | N/A |
| Illustrator | N/A |
| Social Context | The author of this poem is Hugh Fraser, of Urray in Strathglass. Fraser has a number of other publications to his name, including a number of elegies, e.g. Orain, maille ri Beagan Co’chruinneachadh and Oran Nuaidh (see EUL catalogue under ‘Fraser, Hugh, of Urray’). From the dates of his works and publications, he can be said to have flourished between 1827 and around 1841. This poem was written after the death of Alexander Chisholm of Strathglass. |
| Contents | A single poem of 17 eight-line stanzas. |
| Sources | |
| Language | This text contains a number of unusual linguistic features, some of which doubtless reflect Strathglass Gaelic from the early-to-mid nineteenth century. In general terms, this elegy contains a number of similes and images. It begins ‘Thuit an Eirchlais a Chaisteal, \ Neol madainn na gruaim; \ Thainig feasgar roimh ’nón orr’, \ ’S an oidhche ro luath— \ Mu’n oig-fhear is aillte, \ Bhi na shineadh ’san uaigh, \ Ceann-feadhna agus fine, \ Na Siosalaich bho thuath. \ Thuit prop as ’n eaglais, \ As a broilleach thuit bearn, \ Tha balla bruchdadh neo-sheasmhach, \ Feum taic ’chuir ri sal; \ Thi ghrasmhor dean seasamh \ Ann ’sa bheum-sa dheanamh ’n aird, \ A’s tairbh Bhashan ’ga h-upadh, \ Le buraich gle ard’ (p. 1). The elegy contains some biblical references, and Bashan is mentioned again in the third stanza: ‘Tha tairbh Bhashan a buraich, \ Anns na duthchann is faisg, \ Bho’n d’ fhuar cioch agus glun iad, \ ’S fodh curam gun bhaist’; \ Ghoid dheth seude a b’ fhiuthail, \ S reic air ruisg iad gun bhla, \ Ach mar mhic strothal, thig dlu iad, \ ’N uair theid gach cuis a chuir ceart’ (p. 1). Alexander’s fitness to go to Heaven after Judgement appears in the fourth stanza: ‘Cha d’ theid ni ’s fhaide oir an t-sheolsa, \ Cha ’n aill leam thoirt breith, \ Ach reir mo chreideamh mu ’n oig-fhears’, \ Bhi aige cor ’san ath-bhreth, \ ’Seinn moladh ro ghlormhoir \ Gun sgios dha mhorachd gu seth, \ Bhrigh olla na lochran, \ Dha fhear posd’ aig a bhreth’ (pp. 1-2). Fraser goes on to praise the attributes of the young Chisholm, using the metaphor of the apple tree: ‘’S mac-samhla dha ’n oig-fhears’, \ Craobh ubhal ’sa ghar, \ Le geuga gle dhluth orr’, \ ’S a lubadh gu lar; \ Diubhar seort oir a dh’ubhlan, \ Faighinn subh o’n aon sail, \ Bhridh ’n Gairneil an aonadh \ Ris a stoc gu gle thrath’ (p. 2). The next few stanzas continue in this vein, e.g. Bha geug oir bha giulan (p. 2), Bha geug air bha feuma (p. 2), and Bha’m bar aic air sineadh (p. 3). Most of this is fairly abstract, e.g. ‘’S air na h-ubhlan bha sgriobht \ Naigheachd aoibhnach na slainnt, \ Dha Cinnich a’s Iubhaich \ Ga’n tarruing dluth ris an gradh’ (p. 3). However, in the tenth stanza the language becomes progressively more concrete: ‘Bha geug air bha maiseach, \ ’S tlachdmhor am fiach, \ Thog e eaglais thlachdmhor, \ ’S tighean scoil air gach sliabh; \ Bha e eudmhor an ceartas, \ B’e thlachd e ’sa mhiann \ Aois a’s oig tharruing dachaidh, \ Le ’lion tarruing gu Criosd’ (p. 3). The elegy also touches on the young chief’s physical appearance, with special attention to his attire: ‘Mar bha anamaine Sardis, \ Ghleidh gu sar mhath an deis; \ Ghleidh e sud i troimh ’n fhasaich, \ Gun spot, gun smal, na gun phreas; \ Bhiodh i air air an t-shabaid, \ ’S air la na slainte bha i deas, \ ’S la phos i, oh! b’ aillt’ i, \ ’S nighinn an righ ann a dress \ O bu mhaiseach an deis ud \ Na fluran a ghar, \ Na lili a Mhaigh; \ ’N uair bhios cach ’nan cuid deisibh, \ Cha sheall iad ach bath, \ Bha mar dhaoimein an dorch e \ Feuchainn solus do chach’ (pp. 3-4). Towards the end of the elegy, Fraser refers to the young man’s family who are mourning him, and to his hopes that Alexander’s heir will come home safely to replace him as chief: ‘O gu ’n seoladh ’n t-ard Righ, \ Fear sheasadh t-ait’ a’ do rum, \ An t-oig-fhear thighinn sabhailt \ Thar bharraibh nan tonn; \ Ghabhail sealbh anns an aite, \ Ann an aros na sonn; \ Thogail misneachd do chairdean, \ ’S an luchd aitich tha trom’ (p. 4). |
| Orthography | The orthography is characteristic of the early to mid-nineteenth century. There are no accents. |
| Edition | First edition. |
| Other Sources | |
| Further Reading | |
| Credits | |
| Link Label | |
| Link | |
| Download File | 127.pdf |
| NumWords | 747 |
