ENGLISH
Last night I lay dreaming
What I'd sooner see waking,
That thou, O Gill' Easbuig,
Hadst come to succour thy country;
But when I awakened
Out of my vain vision,
I could not find thee near me,
Thou wast far from thy country.
Thou wast far from thy country,
Thy home was Kilmallie,
The beasts did beset thee
From Inversnaid tower;
They took with them captive
A famed father's offspring,
A branch of apple unbending,
A hero fearless in battle.
'Twas thy boldness destroyed thee,
So great in all placed,
When the banners were hoisted
Thou wouldst be in the battle;
And oft did go homewards
Ill-used to their dwelllings,
The folk of ...*
And of coats coloured madder.
Many a grace that was worthy
To thy nature was woven,
Thou wast of the nobles
From the Braes of Lochaber,
From Kingussie of the thickets,
And Lochy of the salmon,
From Glen Loy and Loch Arkaig,
Torcastle was thy dwelling.
How I loved the youth kindly
Of cheeks and brows fairest,
Of bright blue eye shining
Like the dew on the branches;
Despite William and his forebears
Thou wast of royal honour,
Though the beasts have undone thee,
Set a vile net around thee.
Set a vile net around thee,
Dearly boughtst thou Prince Tearlach,
No guile didst thou think of
When thou camest to Moidart;
But standing forth bravely,
With thy grandsire's own nature
That won fame for his clansmen.
Who are now few in number.
Who are now few in number,
For thy land is a desert,
Of thy folk, the survivors
Are oppressèd by Mungo;
Though I live but a year more
One prayer I'd be asking -
May the beasts meet destruction
And Lochiel return homewards. |
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GAELIC
An raoir bhruadir mi 'm chadal,
'S b' f hearr gum faicinn e 'm dhusgadh,
Gun robh thus', a Ghilleasbig,
Air tigh 'nn a sheasamh do dhutheha.
Ach 'nuair 'dhuisg mi 'sa mhaduinn
A faoin bhruadar a chadil
Cha d' f huaras tu agam,
B' f hada, b' f hada bho t' uir thu.
B f hada, b' f hada bho t' uir thu;
B' e do dhuthchas Cill-Mhailidh.
Thug na biastan ort ionnsidh
'Mach a tur Ionar-Snathaid.
Thug iad leo air dhroch ghiulan
Mac an athar 'bu chliuitich',
Craobh de 'n abhall nach lubadh.
Laoch gun churam 'sna blaribh.
Gur h-e sud a chuir as duibh,
Meud bhur braisid 's gach aite;
An am togail 'nam bratach
'S sibh a rachadh 'sna blaribh.
Gum bu tric a dol dachidh,
Air dhroch cunntas gu 'n aitribh,
Luchd nan cadaran-daise
Is nan casagan madir.
'S iomadh buaidh nach robh suarach
A bha fuaighte ri d' nadar;
Bha thu 'shiol nan daoin' uasal
A bha shuas ann sa Bhraighe;
'Thig bho Ghiusich nam badan
Is bho Lochidh nam bradan,
Bho Ghleann-Laoigh 's bho Lobh-Airceig;
'S Torra-Chaisteil b' e t' ait e.
B' e mo cheist an t-og suaire'
'Bu bhoidhche gruaidh agus mala;
Na sul' guirm 'bu ghlan lainnir
Mar dhriuchd air bharribh a bharrich.
'Dh-aindeoin Uilleim 's a shinnsridh
B' ann de dh-onair an righ thu,
Ged chuir na biastan gu dith thu,
'Chuir umad lion nach bu mhath leinn.
Chuir umad lion nach bu mhath leinn. -
'S daor a cheannich thu 'm Prionnsa.
Cha b' i 'n fhoill a bh air t' aire
'N uair a thanic thu Mhuideart;
Ach seasamh gu dearail,
Mar bu dual dhuit o d' sheannair,
'Choisinn buaidh dha na fearibh
'Tha 'n diugh tana ri 'n cunntas.
'Tha 'n diugh tana ri 'n cuntas. -
Tha do dhuthich 'na fasach;
'Chuid a dh' f huirich de d' mhuinntir
Tha aig Mungo fo 'raidhe.
Gar am beo mi ach bliadhna,
'S aon achanich 'dh' iarrinn, -
Guidheam sgrios air na biastan,
Is Lochiall 'thigh' nn gu 'aite. |
