Glenmoriston

• Glenmoriston
• • Bardachd
  • • Alasdair Mac Iain Bhain
    • • An Diugh 's Mi Fagail na Rioghachd
      • Is Cianail an Rathad 's Mi Gabhail a' Chuain
      • Marbhrann do Thighearna Ghlinne-Moireastuinn
      • Moch 's a' Mhaduinn Diciadain
      • Oran Air Gleann-Na-Moireasduinn
      • Oran an t-Saighdear
      • Oran an t-Siosalaich
      • Theid Mi le m' Dheoin
    • Alister MacDonald
    • Archie Tailleir
    • Coinneach 'us Coille
    • Gleann Nam Bard
    • Gleann nam Bard Reports
    • Moriston Matters
    • Orain a Thaobh Loch Nis
    • The Great Venture
  • An Cruinneachadh - The Gathering
  • Bardachd
  • Census
  • Contact
  • Links
  • Miscellaneous
  • Moriston Matters
  • Old Newspaper Articles
  • Old Photographs
  • Recollections
  • Whats New

Marbhrann do Thighearna Ghlinne-Moireastuinn

Le Alasdair Mac Iain Bhain.
(From Transactions of the Gaelic Society of Inverness, Volume 10, 1881-83). Translation by Iain MacLeod, courtesy of Murdo Grant of Fortrose and Lewiston.

To Colonel John Grant of Glenmoriston, who died in 1801.

Fhir-leughaidh an sgeoil Thoir eisdeachd do m' ghloir - Mo gheur latha broin Mu dheibhinn Iain Oig, Bho chaisteal a' cheoil, 'S bho ghleannan an fheoir - 'Chaidh thasgaidh fo'n fhod, Ann an clar chiste bhord; 'S ma's a leir dhomh a' choir Cha'n innis mi sgleo mearachdach. Fhir-leughaidh, etc.	Reader of the tale Give ear to my speech - My day of sharp sorrow concerning Young John, from the castle of music, and from the glen rich in grass - He has been laid under the sod, in a coffin of boards; And if I see any fault in him I will not tell a lying tale,
'S ann tha 'n t-aileagan bhuainn O' Dhimairt anns an uaigh; Gur a craiteach dha 'n tuath Thu dha m' fagail cho luath, 'N am a' mhail a thoirt uath' Bhiodh iochd 'us blaths le mor thruas an ceangal riut. 'S ann 'tha 'n etc.	It is a jewel that has been taken from us; he has been in the grave since last Tuesday. It is a sore thing for the tenantry that you have left them so soon. At the time when rents were being collected from them you showed humanity and warmth allied to compassion.
'N osag dhosguinneach fhuar, Lom nochdaidh gun truas, 'Fhrois an cruithneachd 'na sguaib Bhrist thu beam a's Taobh-Tuath Ann an aireamh dhaoin' uaisle, 'S gach aon aite mu 'n cuairt 's 'an teanail iad. 'N osag dhosguinneach, etc.	Cold destructive wind, that strips bare without pity, which has scattered the seed of the wheat from the sheaves, you have left a gap in the North in the ranks of the gentry, in every place where they gather together.
'S i 'n ruaig chaillteach gun chliu 'Thig air muinntir do dhuthch'; Bho'n chaidh 'n ceannard thoir dhiubh, Ataidh 'n dam leis a' bhurn, 'S gheibh e am air an cul, 'S bidh iad baite na'n duisg gun fhaireachadh. 'Si 'n ruaig chaillteach.	It is ignoble and destructive dispersal that the people of your estate will suffer. Since their leader has been taken from them, the dam will become swollen with water, and it will get the chance to take them unawares, and they will be drowned while awake and unsuspecting.
Ach gloir do 'n Ard Righ 'N t-oighre dh' fhag thu, Do 'n ainm Padruig Tha 'tighinn 'na d' aite, 'N fhior-fhuil aluinn, Rioghail, àghail, aighearaich. Ach gloir do 'n, etc.	But glory to the High King for the heir whom you have left, who is called Patrick, who is coming in your pjace, and who is of the beautiful, true blood, royal, auspicious and joyous.
'S tu 's na-Innseachan Shios Fhuair thu 'n onair, 's tu b' fhiach, 'S tu 'n commannd air leth chiad; Bho 'n bha 'n t-Ard Righ dha d' dhion Gu'n do shabhail do bhian; 'S thug e sabhailt' thu nios Gus an d' thainig a' chrioch air d' thalamh ort. 'S tu 's na h-Innseachan, etc.	When you were down south in the Indies you received an honour of which you were worthy, in that you were in command of fifty men. Since the High King was protecting you your life was preserved. He brought you safely home so that you died on your own land.