LITERAL TRANSLATION, BY ALEXANDER SON of STEWART, A. M. my son; thus said the king; Oscar, chief of our noble youth! I beheld the gleaming of thy sword Like the lightning of the mountains in the storm. Be as a rapid spring-tide stream in winter To resist the powerful enemies of the Feinni; But be like the gentle breeze of summer To those that are weak, and in distress. And such has Trathal ever been, In their fair steps Comhal trod, With cheerfulness would I go to receive them, A's gheibheadh iad fasga, a's caird, Air laigid a neart anns an strì. Na'm bu mhiann leis triall an sìth. Ach cuim' an cuireadh righ nam fàsach A'ni tha lathair glas fo aois Feuchaibh e nach b'fhaoin mi'n sin. And they should find shelter, and friendship, No man did I ever despise, However weak his strength might be. If he chose to depart in peace. But why should the king of the desert Boast of the strength of his arm in former days? This which remains, gray with age, Shews I was not weak in my youth. The daughter of Craca's king the virgin was. With few of my people in my train; Calm, I said, "daughter of beauty," Why heaves that broken sigh within thy breast? Can I, though young in years, Defend thee, daughter of the ocean? Some there may be that can match my sword in battle But this heart is strong, and void of fear. "To thee I fled, O chief of men! To thee of fairest hue and noblest mien ! Whose hand supports the weak, and needy! Dh'amhairc righ Chraice orm air àm D'fheudainn do chuir an còs uaingneach, A'leum gu bras thar an tsàl Air cùl nam breid ban mar shneachd. A's onais mara fo ard fhuaim. The king of Craca beheld me once As a beam of the sun at the head of his race. Often did the hills of Gealmal hear I was seen by the chief of Sora, And he loved the maid of Craca. His wasting sword, like a beam of light, And fierce the storm that rages in his soul. I sought the waves of the ocean to shun him: I said, "O thou branch of beauty! I meet the storm of the pointed spears." The strength of the great and stormy Borbar; The fallen heroes side to side on the field of battle." I saw the tears on her cheek, Pity and love seized me at once. Now, like a dreadful wave from afar, Appeared the fierce warrior's vessel, Bounding swiftly over the sea, Behind her snow white sails. A white stream rolled by her side, The murmur of the toiling ocean is heard afar. |