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Old Gaelic Songs. 137
was l)orn in the Island of Lewis in tlio yoar 1G46. Ho liad two
brothers, Mr An^us Morrison, the funious wit, wlio was minister at
Contin, and Mr Malcohn Monison, minister at Poolewe. Tlieir
father, an Episcopalian clergyman in Lewis, was a descendant of
the celebi-ated Brit]ipanih Leoyltctudch. Rory, the minstrel was
deprived of his eyesigiit by smallpox while he was at school in
Inverness. In consequence of this he followed the bent of his
inclination as a musician, a profession in which it is said he
excelled. He was engaged as a family harper by Jolin lireac
]\lacleod, the Laird of Harris, in whose service he remained until
John lireac died. After the demise of his worthy patron, changes
took place. Both the harper and the family piper were dismissed,
and the echo was heard no more in the Dun. The blind liarper
imagines lie has discovered his old friend "the Echo" astray in the
hills, and the following song was composed between them. In
sori'ow, but in prophetic mood, they expatiated on the extravagance
of lluairidh Og, successor of the wise John Breac. The song was
sent as a remonstrance to the young Laird of Harris. Sir A.lex.
Mackenzie of Gairloch said that every landed proprietor in the
Highlands ought to study the song.
Miad a mhulaid tha 'm thaghall
Dh' fhag treoghaid mo chleibh gu goirt
Aig na rinn mi ad dheighidh,
Air m' aghairt 's mo thriall gu port.
'Sann bha mis' air do thoir,
—
'S mi meas gun robh coir agam ort,
A dheagh mhic athair mo ghraidh
B tu m' aighear, is m' adh, is m' olc.
Tha Mac-talla fo ghruaim,
Anns an talla 'm biodh fuaim a cheoil ;
'S ionad taghaich nan cliar,
Gu'n aighear, gu'n mhiagh, gu'n phoit.
Gu'n mhire, gu'n mhuirn,
Gu'n iomracha dlu nan corn ;
Gun chuirm, gu'n phailteas ri daimh,
Gu'n mhacnas, gun mhanran beoil.
Chaidh a chuibhle mu'n cuairt,
Gu'n do thionndaidh gu fuachd am blaths,
Naile chuna' mi uair.
Dun flathail nan cuach a thraigh.