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Oran an t-Siosalaich

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.

Oran an t-Siosalach	A Song to the Chisolm
'S i so deoch-slaint an t-Siosalaich, Le meas cuir i mu'n cuairt; Cuir air a' bhord na shireas sinn, Ged chosd' e moran ghinidhean, Lion botal lan de mhir' an t-sruth, 'S dean linne dhe na chuaich - Olaibh as i, 's e bhur beath', A's bithibh teth gun ghruaim!	Here's a health to the Chisholm; circulate it to show our regard; put as much as we require on the table, though it should cost many guineas, fill a full bottle of the merry stuff from the stream, and make a loch of the drinking cup - Drink it down, you're welcome to it, and be cheerful, without gloom.
'M beil fear an so a dhiultas i? Dean cunntas ris gun dàil! Gu 'n tilg sinn air ar culthaobh e, 'S a' chuideachd so cha 'n fhiu leinn e, An dorus theid a dhunadh air Gu druidte leis a' bharr, 'S theid 'iomain diombach chum an dùin Mas mill e 'n rum air cach!	Is there a man here who would refuse to drink it? Take account of him without delay! We'll throw him out of our company; We don't want his companionship; the door will be closed on him and tightly barred, and he will be driven unhappily to the midden in case he spoils the room for other people!
Is measail an àm tionail thu, Fhir ghrinn is glaine snuadh, Le d'chul donn, 's suil ghorm cheannardach, Cha toirear cuis a dh-aindeoin diot, A's cha bu shùgradh teannadh riut An ain-iochd no 'm beairt chruaidh - Is mi nach iarradh fear mo ghaoil Thighinn ort a's e fo d' fhuath!	You are loved at gatherings, fine man that you are, of fresh-faced appearance, with your brown hair, and authoritative blue eyes; you are not easily taken advantage of, and it would be no joke to tangle with you in an aggressive or threatening manner - I would not like any of my friends to meet you when he has earned your dislike!
Na 'n tigeadh forsa namhaid Air a' chearnaidh so 'n Taobh-Tuath, Bhiodh tusa le do phairtidh ann, Air toiseach nam batàilleanan, Toirt brosnachaidh neo-sgathaich dhaibh, Gu càch a chur 's an ruaig - Is fhada chluinnte fuaim an làmhach Toirt air an làraich buaidh.	If an enemy army were to come to this part of the North, you would be there with your clan, in the forefront of the battalions, urging them on fearlessly, to rout the enemy - The sound of their volleys would be heard far away as they won the day.
'S na'n eireadh comhstri ainmeil, A's na 'n gairmeadh oirnn gu buaidh, Bhiodh tusa le do chàirdean ann - Na Glaisich mhaiseach, làideara - A's cha bu chulaidh-fharmaid leam Na thachradh oirbh s' an uair - Le luathas na dreige' 's cruas na creige, A' beumadh mar bu dual!	And if a great war should occur, and we were called to win a battle, you would be there with your kin - the stout and handsome men from Strathglass - And I would not envy those who encountered you on that occasion- striking as always, with the speed of the meteor and the hardness of the rock!
Is sealgar fhiadh san fhireach thu; Le d' ghillean bheir thu cuairt, Le d' cheum luthmhor, spioradail, Le d' ghunna ur-ghleus, innealta, Nach diult an t-sradag iongantach Ri fudar tioraim cruaidh - 'S bu tu marbhaich damh na croic' A's nàmhaid a bhuic ruaidh.	You are a hunter of deer in the deer forest; it is your habit to go on hunting trips with your lads, walking with powerful, spirited steps, with your well-made gun newly primed, a gun which will respond readily to the marvellous spark on hard dry gunpowder - You are a slayer of the antlered stag and an enemy of the roebuck.
Cha mhios an t-iasgair bhradan thu Air linne chas nam bruach; Gu dubhach, driamlach, slat-chuibhleach, Gu morghach, geur-chaol, sgait-bhiorach. 'S co-dheas a h-aon a thachras riut Dhe 'n acfhuinn s' tha mi luaidh, 'S cha 'n eil innleachd aig mac Gaidheil Air a' cheaird tha bhuat.	You are just as notable a salmon fisher on the steep-banked, fast-flowing river; well equipped with fishing hooks, lines and reels, with slender-sharp, deadly-pointed fishing spears; equally suitable for use is each of the items of equipment I have mentioned, and you do not lack any part of the gear, which any other Gael possesses for the task.
Is iomadh buaidh tha sinte riut Nach urrar innse n' drasd; Gu seimhidh, suairce, siobhalta, Gu smachdail, beachdail, inntinneach, Tha gradh gach duine chi thu dhuit, 'S cha 'n ioghnadh ged a tha - Is uasal eireachdail do ghiùlan, A's fhuair thu cliu thar chach.	You possess many a virtue which cannot be mentioned at the present time; You are restrained, civil and peaceable, authoritative, lively and judicious; you are liked by everyone that you meet, a fact which is not surprising - Your bearing is noble and handsome and you have a reputation which is higher than that of most people.
A's ghabh thu ceile ghnathaichte Thaobh naduir mar bu dual; Fhuair thu aig a' chaisteal i, S ga ionnsuidh thug thu dhachaidh i, Nighean Mhic 'Ic Alasdair Bho Gharaidh nan sruth fuar - Slios mar fhaoilinn, gruaidh mar chaoruinn, Mala chaol gun ghruaim!	And you took as a wife one equal to yourself as is customary for one of your rank; you found her in one castle, and you took her home to another, the daughter of Mac 'ic Alasdair (patronymic of MacDonell of Glengarry) from Glengarry of the cold streams - A girl with a side like the swan, a cheek like the rowan, eyebrows never knitted in gloom!