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—<br />
Mhac Mhic Alastair," and said to have been composed<br />
<strong>in</strong> the days of Donald Mac Anghais INIhic<br />
Alastair of Glengarry, <strong>in</strong> whose ve<strong>in</strong>s the Ross<br />
branch had conjo<strong>in</strong>ed with the chief of the<br />
MacRonalds by the marriage of his grandfatlier<br />
and grandmother. Campbell is said<br />
to have been the satirist's name, and the mother<br />
of the poetess was a MacDonald. There are only<br />
two stanzas of the poet's, the rest of tiie song is<br />
ascribed to the poetess :<br />
AN T-ATIIAIR (THE FATHER).<br />
Thig Mac Shomhairle bho'n Rùta<br />
Le 'chliabhan duilisg, 's le 'liiirich,<br />
Air ghearran ban bacacli frùbach,<br />
'Se 'riiith gu h-oitir nam niùsgan.<br />
Thig larl Eura romh chial Dùragh,<br />
Cho daondacli 's nach faodar a channtas ;<br />
Cha stad e'n taobh so do'n Rata,<br />
'S bheir e maidhni* air larla Hounntaidh.<br />
AN NIGHEAN (THE DAUGHTER).<br />
Thig Mac Shomhairle bho'n Rùta,<br />
'Marcach nam fàlairean crùitheach,<br />
Nan steud falla<strong>in</strong>, meadhrach, sunntach,<br />
Strian òir 'nan ceann air a lùth-ehleas.<br />
Thig Mac-Mhic Alastair air thus ann,<br />
'S Raonallach g'an coir 'bhi cliùiteach,<br />
("eannard bhàrd is chearach rùisgte,<br />
Chuir<strong>in</strong>n geall gu'm b' fheàird a' chùis sibh.<br />
Gheibht' 'ad bhaile beùir gun ehunntas,<br />
loraairt thric air phiosan dliitha,<br />
Mac-na-Braich' air bhlas an t-shiùcair,<br />
Air bhòrd aca 's aiseag dlùth air.<br />
Thig Mac-Mhic- Aile<strong>in</strong> a Mùideart,<br />
Le dheich cewd do dh'fhearaibh clii\iteacli<br />
Nan clogaid 's nan sgiath 's nan h'lireach,<br />
'S nan lann glas nach tais ri rùsgadh.<br />
Thig Mac Athic'Raonnuillbho'nCheapaich,<br />
Cùirt-fhear air 'fliaolum 'an Sasonn,<br />
Nan steud h'lthor nu-Mdlirach gasta,<br />
'8 grcùdhnach a rachadli nan astar.<br />
Dh' eirgheadh leat bho'n Ghleann-an-Chumhann<br />
Oighreachan deas nan cùl buidhe,<br />
C<strong>in</strong>n-fheòdhna nach ciiirt' am niughadh,<br />
'8 greòdhnach 'dh' fhalbhadh a' bhuidheann,<br />
'Aile<strong>in</strong> ruaidh, le d' theangadh liiibte !<br />
Theid mi 'd bhian, is chi do shùil e ;<br />
Bho'n threig thu na facaill bu chliùiteach,<br />
Gu earras 'thoirt leat, 's nach b' fhiùighe e.<br />
Ma ghearras tu slat 's dlùth-choill,<br />
Togar do mhart anns an nbhladh ;<br />
Bidh agad sreang air do chùlaobh,<br />
'S tu 'marcachd air chnagaibh dlùtha.<br />
'S b<strong>in</strong>n leam an langan 's am btiireadh,<br />
Miol-cho<strong>in</strong> 'an ceangal ri d' lùithean,<br />
'Bhi 'gad tharru<strong>in</strong>g as an di\thaich,<br />
Gu cits<strong>in</strong> a' Bhaile mhiiraich.<br />
* Mao<strong>in</strong>.<br />
Chunnaig mi long seach an rugha,<br />
Crith air a biiird 's 'na siubhal,<br />
Gaoth 'ga seòladh roimh chaol cnmhann,<br />
Clann-Dòmhnaill-an-fhraoicli, a' bhuidheann.<br />
Translated by Mr Ewan MacLachlan, Aberdeen.<br />
THE FATHER (POET).<br />
See Sumerled's great child from Rutlia speed<br />
With his dilsc-pannier, and rag-flutter<strong>in</strong>g weed.<br />
He trots on the lame, lifeless lazy beast,<br />
To dig for spoilt fish, his luxurious feast.<br />
But Erra's Earl, who makes the valiant yield,<br />
Shall br<strong>in</strong>g his countless armies to the field<br />
To Rutha's towers the hero bends his course,<br />
And Huntly soon shall prove his mighty force.<br />
THE DAUGHTER (POETESS).<br />
Great Sumerled's great son, from Rutha speeds,<br />
Illustrious rider of high-mettled steeds,<br />
With thund'r<strong>in</strong>g prance they beat the smoky pla<strong>in</strong>s<br />
And sunbeams glitter from their golden re<strong>in</strong>s.<br />
Glengarry's chief shall lead the warlike throng,<br />
With brave MacRanalds, famed <strong>in</strong> lofty song.<br />
Oft cheers, thy boon, the bard and shiv'r<strong>in</strong>g swa<strong>in</strong>,<br />
And threat'n<strong>in</strong>g foes defy thy might <strong>in</strong> va<strong>in</strong>.<br />
Oft near thy mansion, round the jovial crowd.<br />
Health foU'w<strong>in</strong>g health, the barmy beverage flowed.<br />
While Malt's delicious son with virtues stored<br />
In silver cups quick crossed the lib'ral board.<br />
See Muidart's capta<strong>in</strong> comes with soul on fire,<br />
A thousand warriors march beh<strong>in</strong>d their sire,<br />
With helmets, shields, and radiant mail display'd<br />
Dire scene !<br />
where these unsheath the azure blade _<br />
The branch of Ronald comes from Keppoch's<br />
groves.<br />
With easy grace the court-bred warrior moves,<br />
His fiery coursers dart with lightn<strong>in</strong>g's pace.<br />
Pant<strong>in</strong>g with joy to run <strong>in</strong> glory's race.<br />
Near these the heirs of Cona's w<strong>in</strong>d<strong>in</strong>g vale,<br />
Their yellow tresses stream<strong>in</strong>g on the gale.<br />
Champions that never crouched to mortal foe,<br />
With rapid march around thy standard flow.<br />
Red-pated Allan ! loosely railed your tongue !<br />
My wrath shall scourge you for the <strong>in</strong>sult<strong>in</strong>g song.<br />
At spotless worth you aimed your vulgar jibe,<br />
Desert<strong>in</strong>g fame to ga<strong>in</strong> a jialtry bribe.<br />
If once you dare to touch our sacred grove.<br />
<strong>You</strong>'ll pay the forfeit from your folded drove.<br />
<strong>You</strong>r back-bound hands the felon's thongs shall<br />
tame.<br />
And iron pegs torment your guilty frame.<br />
How sweet to hear the yell of bark<strong>in</strong>g hounds.<br />
Strung to your houghs <strong>in</strong>flict<strong>in</strong>g wounds on wounds,<br />
And dragg<strong>in</strong>g from the land the Knave of Knaves,<br />
Doom'd, <strong>in</strong> some town, to toil with kitchen slaves.<br />
I saw the barge that passed yon headland mound.<br />
With belly<strong>in</strong>g sails, she skimmed the frothy sound,<br />
Her gallant crew Clann Domhnuill's matchless<br />
name.<br />
That weais the branchy heath <strong>in</strong> fields of fame.