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The late Professor Blackie, who caught the spirit and rhythm of Highland songs in a remarkable manner, translated it also—about ihe best I have seen, and the nearest to the original Gaelic—a few stanzas of which are appended. His opinion of the song was that it was a simple air, and to his ear, uncommonly' beautiful. Chorus. Ho ! my bonnie Mary My dainty love, my queen, The fairest, rarest Mary On earth was ever seen. Ho ! my queenly Mary, That made me King of men. To call thee mine own Mary, Born in the bonnie glen. Young was I and Mary In the windings of Glensmeoil, When came that imp of Venus And caught us with his wile ; And pierced us with his arrows, That we thrilled in every pore. And loved as mortals never loved On this green earth before. Oft times myself and Mary Strayed up the bonnie glen, Our hearts as pure and innocent As little children then. Boy Cupid finely taught us To dally and to toy. When the shade fell from the green tree. And the sun was in the sky. If all the wealth of Albyn Were mine, and treasures rare. What boots all gold and silver, If sweet love be not there ? More dear to me than rubies, In deepest veins that shine. Is one kiss from the lovely lips That rightly I call mine. Thy bosom's heaving whiteness VV^ith beauty overbrims. Like swan upon the waters When gentliest it swims : Like cotton on the moorland Thy skin is soft and fine. Thy neck is like the sea-gull, When dipping in the brine. The locks about thy dainty ears I)o richly curl and twine ; Dame Nature rarely grew a wealth Of ringlets like to thine : There needs no hand of hireling To twist and plait thy hair ; But where it grew it winds and falls In wavy beauty there ! The remaining verses are in a similar strain, which accounts for the beauty and populaiity of the song, and its beauty is enhanced ten-fold by being sung, and so it is with all Highland songs : the charm is in the singing of them, hence my great grief at the numl)er of airs that have been lost. Mr MacDonald had eleven of a family, all of them born at Scorraig. As his children were growing up he removed to Stornoway, where his wife had some property. Afterwards he took the farm of Crobeg in the parish of Lochs, Lewis, where he died on the 16th of January, I860, in his 99th year. Rev. Mr Macrae says, " it was most interesting to listen—as it was my privilege to do—to his old Highland legends, which, if they had been preserved, would fill volumes." His sons were also men of mark. His second son, Roderick, was editor of the " Pictou Observer"; another, Alexander, was captain of an East India trader ; two were merchants in Stornoway, both of whom are dead. The youngest had the farm of Dun, Carloway, and was ground officer of the parish of Uig. He died in 1892. He was the father of Miss Maggie S. MacDonald, authoress of " My native hills for me" and other poems, of whom a sketch will appear later on. She is, therefore, a granddaughter of John MacDonald, the poet, and of Mairi Laghach, the subject of the famous second song. Several other descendants are also poetically inclined. " Mr John MacDonald was author of several other popular songs, one in particular on the then Laird of Tulloch, who was also proprietor of a great part of Lochbroom." His excellent poems and songs were full of nerve, tact, talent, intelligence, and wit. His wife, " Màiri Laghach"— Mary Maclvor—was born in Stornoway on 4th January, 1786, and died in the same place on 5th July, 1869, in her S3rd year. I hope the present generation of his descendants wont let all his songs die out. Subjoined is another beautiful translation of five stanzas of " Màiri Laghach " by a gifted Highlander, Mr D. MacPherson, bookseller, London. It is perha])S more poetical, but not so near the original as Professor Blackie's, or Evan MacColl's. Chorus. Sweet the rising mountains, red with heather bells, Sweet the bubbling fountains and the dewy dolls. Sweet the snowy blossom of the thorny tree. Sweeter is young Mary of Glensniole to me. Sweet, O sweet ! with Mary o'er the wilds to stray, When Glensmole is dressed in all the pride of May, And when weary roving through the greenwood glade. Softly to recline beneath the birken shade. Sweet the rising, etc. There te fix my gaze in raptures of delight. On her eyes of truth, of love, of life, of light. On her bosom purer than the silver tide, Fairer than the cana on the mountain side. Sweet the rising, etc. What were all the sounds contrived by tuneful men. To the warbling notes of the sylvan glen !
Here the merry lark ascends on dewy wing, There the mellow mavis and the blaclibird sing. Sweet the rising, etc. What were all the splendour of the prond and great To the simple pleasures of our green retreat, From the crystal spring fresh vigour we inhale. Rosy health does court us on the mountain gale. Sweet the rising, etc. Were I ottered all the wealth that Albin yields, All her lofty mountains and her fruitful fields. With the countless riches of her subject seas, I would scorn the change for blisses such as these. Sweet the rising, etc. IIAOGHALL DONULLACH, ARDNIS. (RANALD MACDONALD, OF ARDNESS). Ranald MacDonald, of Ardness, Arisaig—not the son of " Alasdair MacMhaighstir Alasdair " of the same name—was probably born towards the close of the last century. Very little is known about him except that lie published a collection of Gaelic songs in 1S21 (James Fraser, Inverness). The work has been long out of print, and extremely rare. The only copy I know of it is in the possession of Professor MacKinnon, of Edinburgli, who very kindly lent it to me for the purpose of making these extracts. It extends to 200 pages, and contains 48 songs and poems. The title of tlie work is as follows : " Grain Le RAOGHALL DONULLACH, An Ardnis, Arisaig, Siorruichd Inbhirnis. Maille Ri — Co - Chruinneachadh Dàin Grain, etc., Le Ughdairean Eugsamhuil. Inbhirnis : Dealbh-bhuailt' le Seumas Friseal, 1821." 12mo pp. 200. There are several songs in the work that I have never seen before, the respective airs of which I am afraid are lost, and there are also some old ones I knew, but had not seen in any other work. The lirst one is " Gran Do Mliac-Ic-Alastair (Jhlinnegaraidli," air fonn, " Och ! a Mhaire mo dliunaicii.". The next is " Moladh. Nan Gaidheal." Seisd (Chorus). Horinn o ho i u o, Horinn o ho i u o, Horinn o ho i u o, Ceum lùghor nan Gaidheal. I have no idea to what air this song was sung, but the song itself seems a good one, consisting of 12 verses of 4 lines in each verse. The first stanza of wiiich is as follows : — 'Se 'n diugh latha na coinneadh, Leam is bòidheach ùr sealladh ; Biodh sinn cridheil 'sa chomunn, Clieann air sloinneadh 'nar Gaidheil. — — There is also a very good one entitled " Gran do Mhac-Ic-Alastair Ghlinnegaraidh, air fonn " Tha tighinn fodham eirigh." There are numerous other songs also in the same work, the most uncommon of Avhich are tlie following:— "Gran Molaidh a Dh'Eithear a Bh' aig an Ughdair Re Mòran Uine Ri Gnionili: Faill ill i rinn G, na hug a's ho ro eile, Faill ill i rinn G, na luig a's ho ro eile, Faill ill i rinn G, na hug a's ho ro eile, Righlinn bhàidheach neo-chearbach, 'S trie a dh'fhalbh sinn le cheile. " Gran do Lachun a' Choire." Seisd (Chorus). Horinn o ho i u o, Horinn o ho i u o, Horinn o ho i u o, Ceum liighor nan Gaidheal. " Gran Rinneadh aim an Canai, Air do'n iighdair Bhi Ri Port, 's e an Droch Chairtealan." Seisd (Chorus). — : Teann, teann, teann a bhodaich, 'I'eann, teann, teann a bhodaich, Teann, teann, teann a bhodaich, 'S fhada am port a th' air breith oirnn. " Gran Do Nighean Araid." 1st stanza. Tha Sali 'na cailin cho ghrinn Nach urra domh innseadh ri m' bheò : Gu tarsada, banail, 'na ceum, Gu bioraltach binn 'na glòir, Gu iorganda, tarraganda, grinn, Gu cruinneagach cruinn gu 'n sgòil, (tU bradanda, sgadanda, seang Gun àrdan, gun mheang, gun bhùsd. 5 verses, 40 lines. " Gran Gaoil." 1st stanza. Fhir a shiùbhlas mu'n cuairt, Thoir an t-soraidh so uam thar chaol, Gu bean an fliuilt duinn, Na'n tilleadh i ruinn mar shaoil Thug mise dhuit gràdh, A mhaireas gu bràth, 's naoh sgaoil 'S biodh ni' aire ort gach uair, Le coniaine bhuan, 's le gaol. 10 verses, SO lines. :
Page 2 and 3:
O^ ^^l
Page 5:
MACDONALD BARDS MEDIEVAL TIMES. KEI
Page 8 and 9:
INDEX. Page. Alexander MacDonald, B
Page 10 and 11: Donald Donn p. 12, see also p. 95.
Page 13 and 14: MacDonald Bards from Mediaeval Time
Page 15 and 16: which stood the chapel and palace o
Page 17 and 18: Ann I was ever since I was born, In
Page 19 and 20: ander and Ronald. Alexander—Alasd
Page 21 and 22: ilaughter of the Earl of Gowrie. He
Page 23 and 24: nighean donn." poem, " 'S truagh, a
Page 25 and 26: GILLEASBUIG NA CEAPAICH. (ARCHIBALD
Page 27 and 28: Fonn (Chorus). 0, 'chruinneag, e 'c
Page 29 and 30: — 'S daingeann a bhuail iad às g
Page 31 and 32: Some of our minor Scotch poets take
Page 33 and 34: — ! — Bha Iain gun teagaibh Gu
Page 35 and 36: — went down with her and took awa
Page 37 and 38: 'S mairg a mhol a' Mhòrthir robach
Page 39 and 40: — The late Thomas Pattison of Isl
Page 41 and 42: so is " Tearlach Mac Sheumais " (Ch
Page 43 and 44: Ma chaidh thu nunn thar linntichean
Page 45 and 46: — Mhac Mhic Alastair," and said t
Page 47 and 48: Latin Verses. Verses written by Sir
Page 49 and 50: — after bidding farewell to the R
Page 51 and 52: Translation by Mr L. MacBean of som
Page 53 and 54: The Alex. MacDonald above referred
Page 55 and 56: t Mrs Grant translates the verse as
Page 57 and 58: Och, aluchd-àiteacluiidli iia h-ua
Page 59: He ultimately married a young girl
Page 63 and 64: 'Mhuintir dh' an suaicheantas fraoc
Page 65 and 66: KAONAILD NIUHEAN MHIC NEIL. (RACHEL
Page 67 and 68: Yet 'mid the drift, wert thou but n
Page 69 and 70: Donald swept onward, spreading havo
Page 71 and 72: MAIRI NIGHEAN IAIN BHAIN (MARY, DAU
Page 73 and 74: Tha ùrnuigh nam bochdan, Do 'n a n
Page 75 and 76: Loch Moidart, Loch-nan-uanih, Loch
Page 77 and 78: His pibroch is a long one, and, I t
Page 79 and 80: Bhagair ar eascaird eitidh borb, Ma
Page 81 and 82: Another fine hymn of tMenty-nine ve
Page 83 and 84: Oir thàinig oirnn naigheachd 'bha
Page 85 and 86: Dòmhnuill," 1896 (a poem); (2) " T
Page 87 and 88: Lo ])rasgan de Ghaidheil, Làn àrd
Page 89 and 90: IAIN DOMHNALLACH AN BALL, OBAN. (BL
Page 91 and 92: who was a grand-danghter of Charlot
Page 93 and 94: all subsequent documents the name a
Page 95 and 96: Maidens ! softly touch the clàrsac
Page 97 and 98: Let, the free-born sons of the moun
Page 99 and 100: — fought with his brother Donald
Page 101 and 102: Ach gu'n caisg an Righ Mor e, Hi ha
Page 103 and 104: 'Nuair a thàinig e as a colainn, '
Page 105 and 106: — NIGHEAN MHIC AONGHUIS OIG. Besi
Page 107 and 108: Nach co-ion da 'blii 'caig rium Is
Page 109 and 110: In this elegy there are 13 verses,
Page 111 and 112:
Gur a binn leam 'bhi leughadh Mu'n
Page 113 and 114:
Latha Sliabh-an-t-siona, Bu churaid
Page 115 and 116:
the silver-hilted sword—the windo
Page 117 and 118:
and imprisoned. His papers were car
Page 119 and 120:
On what she did, now many look, Won
Page 121 and 122:
IAIN DOMHNULLACH (John MacDonald).
Page 123 and 124:
10. " Spaidsearachd Dlionuill Ghrua
Page 125 and 126:
personal danger ; certainly not, fo
Page 127 and 128:
Another beautiful poem by " Fear Gh
Page 129 and 130:
De Chlann DòmhnuiU tlo-rireaclli,
Page 131 and 132:
9.—Because the great majority of
Page 133 and 134:
tional form, and as those who cheri
Page 135 and 136:
landers were accustomed to sing at
Page 137:
-^/
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