The Highland monthly - National Library of Scotland

Skye Bards. 691
Bu tu mac an laolch s^hasda
Nach do dhearbh a bhi gealtach ;
'S trie a thogadh leibh creach bho Chlann Domhnuill.
In " An Talla 'm bu ghna le Mac-Leoid," there are
some excellent specimens of poetry. I shall quote one
verse of three lines, which for terseness cannot be surpassed.
Taigh mor macnasach, meaghrach,
Nam macaibh 's nam maighdean,
Far 'm bu tartarach gleadhraich nan corn.
Her chief seems to have been displeased at her for her
poetic effusions. He evidently thought that his personal
and family history was brought too much into public prominence
by her songs, and in a fit of anger he banished her
to Scarba, an island to the north of Jura. It was while
here that she composed Luinneag Mhic-Leoid, a transla-
tion of the first four verses of which I take from Pattison.
Alone on the hill top, sadly and silently
Downward on Islay and over the sea
I look, and I wonder how time hath deceived me
A stranger in Scarba, who ne'er thought to be.
; —
Ne'er thought it, my island, where rest the deep daik
shade
The grand mossy mountains for ages have made
God bless thee ! and prosper thy chief of the sharp
blade
— —
All over these islands his fame never fade !
Never fade it. Sir Norman !
for well 'tis the right
Of thy name to win credit in council or fight
By wisdom, by shrewdness, by spirit, by might.
By manliness, courage, by daring, by sleight.
In counsel or fight, thy kindred know these should
be thine
Branch of Lochlin's wide-ruling and king-bearing line!
And in Erin they know it, far over the brine;
No earl would in Albin thy friendship decline.
&c.
Professor Blackie translates this song also, and I give
one verse of his translation.
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