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148 Gaelic Society of Inverness
Ghleidli mi be.igan dhetb mo thur,
Gus an d'thainig a pliios iir,
A thug Caitair as a bhuth,
'Si chuir rao chnuaic-sa luaineach.
Cha b' ioghnadh ise bhi grinn,
Uilleani is Caitair innte sgriobht',
Liughad fear dha 'n d'thug e dinneir,
'S dha 'n do shin e 'n t-uachdar.
So an geamhradh a tha taitneach,
Gheibhear cuilm an ceann gach seacain,
Reitichean is posadh aithghearr,
'S daoiue glau mu'n cuairt dhaibh.
Bha mi tacan air mo smaointean,
Cia mai- thaghainn comhdach aodaich,
'S an dannsainn air a bhanais aotrom,
Thug laimh sgaoilt Ian Ruaidh dhuinn.
The following song, to the air of " The Flowers of Edinburgh," is
one of Iain Mac Mhurchardh's best and most ]Jopular efforts. It was
written in America, and while he was engaged in the American War
of Independence. He comi)ares, in splendid vei-se, his wretclied i)Osition
there, a soldier in the King's army, to his former free and
happy state in Kintail. The poor bard bitterly regretted with
good cause, that he had ever left his native country, and his con-
trast of his experiences in the land of his adoption and in the
Scottish Highlands, is poweiful, poetical, and patriotic :
Gur muladach a tha mi,
'S mi 'n diugh gun aobhar ghaire ;
Cha b' ionnan 's mar a bha mi
'S an aite bha thall :
Far am faighinn manran
Mire, is ceol-gaire,
Agus cuideachd mar a b' aill learn
Aig ailleas mo dhream.
Nuair 'shuidheamaid mu' bhord ann
Bhiodli liotul agus stop ann ;
'S cha h' eagal duinn le comhstri.
Ged 'dh'olt' na bhiodh ann.
'S e th' againn anns an aite so,
Tarruing dhorn is lamh
Agus cleas nan con 'bhi sas
Anns gach aite le'n ceann
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