The Highland monthly - National Library of Scotland

Slyc Bards. 755
Andrais," which is a conglomeration of the song by Ronald
Macdonald, " Oran an Uisge-bheatha," and of one other, or
several others, evidently of a much inferior calibre. I shall
give as specimens one verse from " Oran a Rinneadh do
Choille," and two verses from " Oran an Acrais " :
ORAN A RINNEADH DO CIIOILLE, ETC.
Bu bhadanach, soilleir, sughmhor
An cruth a robh mi san am sin
Gu fluranach, duilleach, aluinn,
'S mi 'g eiridh ri blaths an t-shamhraidh,
Gu miarach, meanglanach, duilleach,
Gu h-ianach ribheideach, ceolmhor,
Gu bocach, maoiseagach, meannach
Nach iar 's an earrach an crodha.
ORAN AN ACRAIS.
Gur h-eolach air an acras mi,
Tha theachdaireachd neo-inntinneach,
Gur trie a thug e turraig orm,
An uiridh roimh am-dinnearach ;
Am fear a bhios na dhraghaire
Neo-adhartach nec-inntrigeach,
Cho luath 's a gheibh e eolas air
Cha deonach leis a chuidhteachadh.
Thug e na h-ochd seachduinean
Air fasdadh na mo theaghlach-sa,
Dh-fhiach e ri mo sporan,
Fhuair e cothrom math air fhaochadh
Thug e gach ni b' urrainn duine
A bhuileachadh dhe 'n t-saoghal dhiom.
Cha mhor nach d' thug e bas dhomh
Ach gu' n d' fhag e na mo Raonull mi.
Ronald Macdonald was not only a real poet, but a
great wit. One anecdote will suffice to carry out this
remark :—He and Fear an Rudha met one day. " Ma ta
Raonuill," arsa fear an Rudha, " 's e mo fhradharc fhin a
tha dol air ais." '' Ma ta," arsa Raonull, '' nach neonach
leibh e fhir an Rudha, 's ann a tha mo fhradharc-sa a' dol
ni's fhearr." " Tha sin neonach gu dearbh a Raonuill,"
arsa fear an Rudha, " tha tini pailt cho sean riumsa." " Ma
ta," arsa Raonull, " 's ann mar sud a tha. Am fear a
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