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A Specimen of the Original of Temora.

Book Seventh.

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It is thought proper to give a specimen of the original Galic, for the satisfaction of those who doubt the authenticity of Ossian's poems. The seventh book of Temora is fixed on, for that purpose, not from any other superior merit, than the variety of its versification. To print any part of the former collection was unnecessary, as a copy of the originals lay, for many months, in the bookseller's hands, for the inspection of the curious. Tho' the erroneous orthography of the bards is departed from, in many instances, in the following specimen, yet several quiescent consonants are retained, to shew the derivation of the words. This circumstance may give an uncouth appearance to the language, in the eyes of those who are strangers to its harmony. They ought, however, to consider, that a language is put to the severest test, when it is stripped of its own proper characters; especially, when the power of one of them requires, sometimes, a combination of two or three Roman letters to express it.

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A Specimen of the Original of Temora.

Book Seventh.

O Linna doir-choille na Leigo Air uair, eri' ceo taobh-ghórm nan tón; Nuair dhunas dorsa na h'oicha Air iulluir-shuil greina nan speur. Tomhail, mo Lara nan sruth, Thaomas du'-nial, as doricha cruaim: Mar ghlas-scia', roi taoma nan nial, Snamh seachad, ta Gellach na h'oicha. [ 228 ] View Page Image Le so edi' taisin o-shean An dlu'-ghleus, a measc na gaoith 'S iad leamnach, o osna gu osna, Air du'-aghai' oicha nan sian. An taobh oitaig, gu palin nan seoid, Taomas iad ceäch nan speur, Gorm-thalla do thannais nach béo, Gu ám eri' fón marbh-rán nan teud.
Ta torman, a machair nan crán Se Conar ri Erin at' án A taoma' ceo-tanais gu dlu' Air Faolan aig Lubhair nan sru' Muladach, suigha fo bhrón, Dh'aom an tais an ceach an loin. Thaom osna, essin an fein, Ach phil an cruth aluin, gu diän Phíl é le chrom-shealla mál Le cheo-leatain, mar shuibhal nan sian. 'S doilleir so! Ata na sloigh na nsuain, san ám An truscan cear na h'oicha: Dh' ilsich teina an ri, gu ard, Dh' aom é na aonar, air scia' [ 229 ] View Page Image Thuit codál, mo shuillin a ghaiscich, Thanic guth Fhaolan, na chluais.
An codal so, don' fhear-phosda aig Clatho? Am bail coni do m' athair, an suain? Am bail cuina, 's mi 'ntruscan nan nial? 'S mi m' aonar an ám na h'oicha?
Cur son ta ú, a m' aslin fein? Thubhart Fion-ghael, 's é'g eri grad. An dith-chuin, d'omse, mo mhac, Na shiubhal teina air Rethlan nan laoich? Ni marsin, air anam an ri, Thig gniomh seoid aluin na ncruai'-bheum. Ni ndeallan iadse, a theichas an dubhra Na h'oicha, 'snach fhág a lorg. 'S cuina liom Faolan na shuain: 'Ta m'anam aig eri' borb.
Ghluais an ri, le sleagh, gu grad, Bhuail e nscia' as fuaimnach cop, An scia' a dh' aom sa n'oicha ard, Bal-mosgla' do cháth nan lót. Air aomagh du' nan sliabh, [ 230 ] View Page Image Air gaoith, theich treud nan tais: O ghleanan cear nan ioma lúp, 'Mhosguil guth a bhais.
Bhuail é 'n scia, an darra cuairt, Ghluais coga, an aslin an t'shluaigh: Bhith comh-sri nan lán glas— A dealra' air anam nan seoid, Ciean-fheona a truita' gu cath, Slua' a teicha,—gniomh bu chruai', Leth-dhoilleir, an deallan na stalin.
Nuair dh' erich, an darra fuaim, Leum feigh, o chós nan cárn Chluinte a screadan scé', sa n' fhasich—— Gach Ean, air osna fein. Leth-erich siol Albin nam buaigh Thog iad suas gach sleagh, bu ghlas: Ach phíl sachir, air an t'shluaigh, Se bh' án scia' Mhorbhein na mfras. Phíl codal, air suilin na mfear: Bu dorcha, tróm a nglean.
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Ni mo chodal, duitse é, sa nuair, Nion shuil-ghórm Chonmor na mbuaigh,— Chuala Suil-mhalla an fhuaim Dh' erich i, sa n' oicha, le cruaim: Ta ceum gu ri Atha na ncolg: Ni mosguil cunart anam borb. Tróm a shési,——a suilin sios. Ta 'nspeur an losga nan reul.
Chualas lé sciath na ncòp. Ghluais;—ghrad shés an Oi:— Dh' erich a gu'—ach dh' aom é sios.—— Chuinic ís é, na stalin chruai, A dealra ri losga nan reul: Chuinic is é, na leatan thróm. Aig eri ri osna nan speur. Thionta i ceamna, le fiamh, Curson dhuisgimse Ri Erin na m Bólg, Ni n' aslin do chodal u-fein, A nion Inis-uina na ncólg.
Gu garg a mhosgul an torman; On' oi thuit a cean-bhért sios: Ta mforum, air carric nan sruth. [ 232 ] View Page Image Plaosga, o aslin na h'oicha, Ghluais Cathmor fa' chrán fein. Chuinic e n' Oi bu tla, Air carric Lubhair nan sliabh: Dearg reŭl, a sealla sios,— Measc siubhal a tróm chíabh.
Cia 'ta roi Oicha gu Cathmor An cear-amsair aslin fein? Am bail sios duit, air sri na ncruai-bheum? Cia ussa, mhic dubhra nan speur? Na shés u, am fionas an Ri, Do chaol-thannais, on n' am o-shean; Na nguth u, o neoil nam fras, Le cunairt Erin na ncolg sean?
Ni mfear siubhail dubhra mi-fhein, Ni nguth mi, o neol, na cruaim: Ach ta m' fhocul, le cunairt na h' Erin. An cualas duit coppan na fuaim? Ni ntais é, Ri Atha nan sruth, A thaomas an fhuaim air oicha.
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Taomagh an seod a ghuth fein, 'S fon clarsich, do Chathmor an fhuaim, Ta aitis, mhic dubhra nan speur, Losga air m' anam, gun ghruaim. Se ceoil chiean-fheona na ncruai-bheum, A m' oicha, air asri' nan siän, Nuair lasas anam nan són; A chlán an cruadal do miän. Ta siol-meata a nconi, na mfiamh, A ngleanan na n' osna tlá, Far an aom ceo-maidin, ri sliabh, O ghorm-shuibhal sruthan na mblár.
Ni meata, chean-uia nan són, An seans'ra', on thuit mi-fein, Bu choni doigh dubhra nan tón, An tir fhadda siol cholgach na mbeum. Ach ni nsolas do m' anam tlá Fuaim mhál a bhais on raoin, Thig essin nach geil gu bráth; Mosguil bard focuil a scaoin.—
Mar charric, 's sruthan ri taobh, 'M fasich na mfaoin bhean, [ 234 ] View Page Image Shes Cathmor, cean-feona nach maoin,— An deoir—— Mar oitag, air anam le brón, Thanic guth caoin na h'oi, Mosgla cuina talamh nan bean A caomh-choni aig sruthan na nglean; Roi n' ám an d' thanic é gu borb Gu cabhar Chonmor na ncolg fiar.
A nion coigrich nan lán, (Thionta i cean on d' shón) 'S fadda fa, m' shuil, an cruai, Cran flathal Inis-uina nan tón. Ta m' anam, do thubhairt mi-fein, An truscan nan sian cear, Car son a lassa an dealra so-fhein, Gus am pil mi, an sí', on d' shliabh?
Na ghlas m' aighai', na t' fhionas, a lamh-gheal, 'S tu togmhail do m' eagal an Ri? 'S ám cunairt, annir nan tróm chiabh, Am do m' anam, mór-thalla na sri! Attas e, tomhail mar sruth, A taomagh air Cael na ncruaí-bheum.
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An taobh carric chosach, air Lona, Mo chaochan, nan sruthan cróm, Glas, á nciabh na h' aose, 'Ta Claon-mhal, Ri clarsich nam fón. O s'cion ta cran-darrach na mfuaim, Agus siubhal nan rua-bhoc sliom, 'Ta forum na sri' na chluais 'S é 'g aomagh á nsmuina nach tiom. An sin bith do thalla, Shul-mhalla, Gus an illsich forum na mbeum: Gus ám píl mi, an lassa na cruai', O thruscan dubhra na bein: On cheäch do thrussas o Lona Ma choni mo ruin fein.
Thuit gath-soluis air anam na h'oi, Las i suas, fa' choir an Ri: Thionta i á h' aighai ri Cathmor, A ciabh-bhóg ans' na h' osna á sri?
Reupar iulluir nan speür árd, O mhór-srúth gaoith na nglean; Nuair chi' é na ruai-bhuic, fa' choir, Clán elid na mfaoin bhean, [ 236 ] View Page Image Mu ntionta Cathmor na ncruai-bheum, On d' srí mu n' erich dán.— Faicimse u, ghasgaich na ngeur lán, O thruscan an dubhra dú, Nuair thogas ceo mu m' choni fein, Air Lona na n' ioma srú? Nuair 's fadda, o m' shuil, u sheoid! Puail coppan na mfuaim árd. Pillé solas, do m' anam, 's é nceö 'S mi aig aoma air carric liom fein. Ach mo thuit u—mar ri coigrich ata mí! Thigga' do ghuth o neoil, Gu oi Inis-uina, 's i fán.
Og-gheug Lumoin an fheur, Com dh' aoma tu, 'nstrachda nan sian? 'S tric thionta Cathmor ó nbhlár Du'-thaomagh air aighai' nan sliabh. Mar mhellain, do m' fein, ta sleagh nan lót, 'S iad prunagh air cós nan sciath; Dh' erim, mo sholluis, ond' shrí; Mar thein-oicha, o thaoma nan niäl Na píl, a dheo-ghreina, on ghlean Nuair dhluthichas forum na ncolg: [ 237 ] View Page Image Eagal teachá do nabhad o m'lamh, Mar theich iad, o shiean' sra' na m Bólg.
Chualas le Sonmór air Cluanar, Thuit fa Chormac na ngeúr lán, Tri lo dhorch an Ri, Mu n' f hear, a gh' aom an sri na glean. Chuinac min-bhean, an són á nceo. Phrosnich sud d' i siubhal gu sliabh, Thog i bogha, fos n' iosal, Gu dol marri laoch nan sciath. Do n' ainir luigh dubhra air Atha, Nuair shuilagh á ngaisgach gu gniomh.
O cheud sruthan aonach na h'oicha, Thaom siol Alnecma sios. Chualas scia' chasmachd an Ri, Mhosguil a n' anam gu sri' Bha' an siubhal, a mforum nan lán, Gu Ullin, talamh na ncrán. Bhuail Sónmór, air uari', an sciath Cean-feona na mborb thriath. Na ndeabh, lean Sul-allin Air aoma na mfras, [ 238 ] View Page Image Bu sholus ís, air aonach, Nuair thaom iad air gleanta glas. Ta ceamna flathail air lóm, Nuair thog iad, ri aghai nan tóm. B' eagal d' i sealla an Ri— Dh' fhág i, 'n Atha na mfri'.
Nuair dh' erich forum na mbeum, Agus thaom iad, sa cheille, sa chath, Loifg Sonmor, mar theina nan speur, Thanic Sul-aluin na mflath. A folt scaoilta, sa n' osna, A h'anam aig osparn mon' Ri. Dh' aom é an t' shri' mu rún nan laoich, Theich nabhad fa' dhubhra nan speur Luigh Cluanar gun fhuil, Gun fhuil, air tigh caoil gun leus.——
Ni n'd' erich fearg Shon-mhor nan lán, Bha' lo gu dorcha, 's gu mál: Ghluais Sul-allin mu gorm-sru' fein, A suil an reachda nan deuir. Bu lionmhar a sealla, gu caoin Air gaisgach sabhach nach faoin. Ach thionta i a suillin tla, [ 239 ] View Page Image O shealla, an laoch thuatal. Mhosgul blair, mar fhorum nan nial, Ghluais doran o anam mór, Chunas a ceamna, le aitis, 'Sa lamh-gheal air clarsich na mfón. Na chruai a ghluais an Ri, gun dail, Bhuail é 'n sciath chosach árd; Gu árd, air darach nan sian, Aig Lubhair na n' ioma sruth. Seachd coppain a bh', air an scé, Seachd focuil an Ri' do shluagh; A thaomagh air osna nan speur, Air finachá mór na m Bólg.
Air gach copan ta reül do n'oicha; Cean-mathon nan ros gun scleo', Caol-derna, o neoil aig eri', Ul-oicho an truscan do cheö. 'Ta Caon-cathlin, air carric, a dealra Reül-dura' ar gorm-thón on iar: Leth-chellagh solus an uisce. Ta Ber-thein, las-shuil nan sliabh, Sealla sios, o choille sa n'aonach; [ 240 ] View Page Image Air mál shiūbhal, sélgair 's é triäl, Roi ghleanan, an dubhra bhraonach, Le faogh rua-bhuic nan leum árd.
Tomhail, a miän na scé, 'Ta lassa Ton-theina, gun neoil, An rinnac a sheal, roi n'oicha, Air Lear-thon a chuain mhoir; Lear-thon, cean-feona na m Bolg A nceud-fhear a shuibhail air gaoith.
Leathain scaoile seoil bhán an Ri. Gu Inis-fail nan ioma sru? Thaom oicha air aighai' a chuain, Agus ceäch nan truscan du'. Bha' gaoith a caochla dlu' sa nspeur. Leum loingheas, o thòn gu tón; Nuair dh' erich Ton-theina nan stuagh Caon-shealla, o bhrista' nan nial, B' aitis do Learthon tein-uil na mbuaigh, A dealra air domhan nan sian.
Fa' sleagh Chathmor na ncolg sean Dhuisge an guth, a dhuisga Baird. [ 241 ] View Page Image Thaom iad du', o thaobh nan sliabh, Le clarsich ghrin 's gach lamh. Le aitis mór, shés rompa an Ri, Mar fhear-siubhal, ri teas la 'nglean, Nuair chluinas é, fadda sa nréth, Caoin thorman sruthan na mbean: Sruthan a bhristas sa n' fhafich, O charric thaobh-ghlas nan rua-bhoc.
Cur son chluinim guth ard an Ri— N' ám codal, a n' oicha nan fras? Am facas tanais nach beo, Measc t'aslin aig aoma glas? Air neoil am bail an aitach fuar, Feaghai' fón Fhonair na mfleagh? 'S lionmhar an siubhal air réth, Far an tog an siol an t' shleagh. Na n' erich, ar cronan air thús, Mu n' fhear, nach tog on t' shlea' gu brath; Fear choscairt, air glean nan sloigh, O Mhoma nan ioma bad?
Ni dith-chuin do m' dorcha na mblár Chiean-fheona na mbard, o thús, [ 242 ] View Page Image Togar cloch do aig Lubhair na ncárn, Ait-coni dh' Fholdath 'sdo chliu. Ach taom m' anam, air ám nan laoich, Air na bliaghna', so n d' erich iad suas, Air tón Inis-uina na ncolg. Ni n' aitis, do Chathmor a bhain, Cuina Lumon inis uina na nsloi? Lumon talamh na nsruth, Caon-choni na mbán-bhroilach Oi,
Lumon na sruth! 'Ta u dealra, air m' anam fein, 'Ta do ghrian, air do thaobh, Air carric na ncràn bu tróm.
Τat' elid chear Do dhearg bar-mhor, a measc na mbad A faicin air sliabh. An colg-chu, a siubhal grad. Màl air an réth Ta ceamna nan Oi: Oi lamh-gheal nan teud 'S na bogha cróm, sa mhoi; [ 243 ] View Page Image Togmhail an gorm-shuil tlà, On leatain bhar-bhui, air sliabh na mflath, Ni bail ceamna Lear-thon sa bhein, Cean Inis na ngeug uina.
Ta ê togmhail du-dharach air tón, A ncamis Chluba, nan ioma stua', An du-dharach, bhuain é o Lumon, Gu siubhal air aighai a chuain. Thionta Oi an suillin tlá, On Ri, mo ntuitagh é sios. Ni mfacas leö riamh an long, Cear mharcach a chuain mhoir. Ghlaoi' anois, an Ri a ghaoith, Measc ceó na marra glais. Dh' erich Inis-fail gu gorm: Thuit, gu dian, oicha na mfrais. Bhuail eagal Clan-Bholga gu lua' Ghlan neoil, o Thon-theina nan stua' A ncamis Chulbin dh' atich an long Far am fregra' coille do thón. Bu chopach an sin an sru' [ 244 ] View Page Image O charric Duth-umha na ncós, 'San dealra tannais nach beo Le ncruith caochlach fein.
Thanic aslin gu Lear-thon nan long, Seachd Samla do nlina nach beo, Chŭalas a nguth brista, tróm: Chunas an siol an ceö. Chunas siol Atha na ncolg— 'San clán ciean-uia' na m Bolg. Thaom iad a mfeachda' fein, Mar cheach a terna on bhein, Nuair shiubhlas é glas, fa' osna, Air Atha nan ioma dos.
Thog Lear-thon talla Shamla, Ri caoin fhón clarsich nan teud. Dh' aom eilid Erin, o cheamna Aig aisra' glas nan sruth. Nin dith-chuin do Lumon uina, Na Flathal, gheal-lamhach na mbua'gh 'S í comhaid, air marcach nan tón O Thulach nan eilid ruagh.
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Lumon na sruth Ta ú dealra' air m' anam fein!
Mhosguil gath soluis on ear, Dh' erich árd-chiean cheäich na bein. Chunas air cladach na ngleanan A ncróm chaochan ghlas-sruthach fein. Chualas sciath Chathmor na ncolg, Mhosguil siol Erin na m Bolg. Mar mhuir dhomhail, nuair ghluisas gu geur Fuaim aitti, air aghai' nan speur: Taoma tuin, o thaobh gu taobh, Aig aomagh a nglas chiean bao; Gun eolas, air siubhal a chuain.
Trom is mál, gu Lon na sruth Ghluais Suil-mhalla nan rosc tlá; Ghluais as thionta n' Oi le brón: A gorm-shuil fa shilla blá. Nuair thanic i gu carric chruai' Du chromagh air gleanan an Lón [ 246 ] View Page Image Sheal i, o bristagh a ceil, Air Ri Atha——dh' aom i sios.
Puail teud, a mhic Alpain na mfón, Ambail solas a nclarsich na nieöl? Taom air Ossian, agus Ossun gu tróm, Ta anam a snamh a nceö.
Chualas u, Bhaird, a m'oicha Ach siubhla fón edrom uam fein! 'S aitis caoin thurra do dh' Ossian A mbliaghna chear na h' aoise.
Dhreun uaina thulloch nan tais A thaomas do chean air gaoith oicha, Ni bail t' fhorum na mchluais fein: Na faital tannais, na d' gheug ghlais. 'S lionmhar ceamna na marbh bu treun Air osna, dubh-aisra' na bein, Nuair ghluisas a ghellach, an ear, Mar ghlas-scia, du shiubhal nan speur.
Ullin, a Charril, a Raono Guith amsair a dh' aom o-shean: [ 247 ] View Page Image Cluinim siobh an dorchadas Shelma Agus mosglibhse anam nan dán!
Ni ncluinim siobh shiol na mfón, Cia an talla do neoil, 'mbail ar suain Na tribuail siobh, clarsach nach tróm, An truscan ceo-madin's cruaim. Far an erich, gu fuaimar a ghrian O stuaigh na ncean glas?