The Language and Literature of the Scottish Highlands |
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Page 1
... seem to flow from one common cause , of which the positive side is an excess of individual freedom , and the negative a defect of social organisation . We are in the habit of leaving too many things to shift for them- A selves , till ...
... seem to flow from one common cause , of which the positive side is an excess of individual freedom , and the negative a defect of social organisation . We are in the habit of leaving too many things to shift for them- A selves , till ...
Page 12
... seems to have forgot his Gaelic also , and in all likelihood can read neither his Gaelic nor his English Bible without labour and sorrow . This is the natural result of the stupid system of neglecting the mother tongue , and forcing ...
... seems to have forgot his Gaelic also , and in all likelihood can read neither his Gaelic nor his English Bible without labour and sorrow . This is the natural result of the stupid system of neglecting the mother tongue , and forcing ...
Page 15
... seem scarce worthy of answer to a person who knows anything . A large number , indeed , of current fallacies sported on all public questions might be conveniently ticketed under the cate- gory - apologies for doing nothing . It is so ...
... seem scarce worthy of answer to a person who knows anything . A large number , indeed , of current fallacies sported on all public questions might be conveniently ticketed under the cate- gory - apologies for doing nothing . It is so ...
Page 23
... seem to have swarmed off from the great central tableland of Persia , one half eastward , forming fruitful settlements on the banks of the Indus and the Ganges , known in the book- world as the creators of the great Sanscrit literature ...
... seem to have swarmed off from the great central tableland of Persia , one half eastward , forming fruitful settlements on the banks of the Indus and the Ganges , known in the book- world as the creators of the great Sanscrit literature ...
Page 27
... seem to have proceeded on a principle exactly the reverse of what Aristotle lays down as the guiding motive of great political reformers ζητοῦσιν οὐ τὸ πάτριον ἀλλὰ τἀγαθόν , " They seek not what is patriotic , but what is good . " And ...
... seem to have proceeded on a principle exactly the reverse of what Aristotle lays down as the guiding motive of great political reformers ζητοῦσιν οὐ τὸ πάτριον ἀλλὰ τἀγαθόν , " They seek not what is patriotic , but what is good . " And ...
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Common terms and phrases
admiration ancient ballads bard beautiful belongs blood boatie bonnie brae brave Campbell Celt Celtic character Clan classical deer Donald Dorain doubt Dugald Buchanan Duncan Ban Edinburgh English fashion father Fingal Gael Gaelic language Gaidheal Gairloch genius German glen Greek green grey heart heather Highland Homer Iain Lom intellectual island James Macpherson John Kilmallie lairds land Latin learned literary living Loch Loch Maree Loch Nell look Lord Lowland lyric poetry lyrical M'Donald Mackenzie Macleod Macpherson Mary matter modern mountain native natural Neath never noble North Uist notable O'er original Ossian persons pibroch poems poet poetical poetry popular praise present rich Rob Donn roots Ross-shire Sanscrit Saxon Scotland Scottish sing Skye song sorrow soul stout Teutonic thee things thou tion tongue translation verb verses vowel wise words young
Popular passages
Page 204 - I suppose my opinion of the poems of Ossian is already discovered. I believe they never existed in any other form than that which we have seen. The editor, or author, never could shew the original; nor can it be shewn by any other; to revenge reasonable incredulity, by refusing evidence, is a degree of insolence, with which the world is not yet acquainted ; and stubborn audacity is the last refuge of guilt.
Page 205 - The Scots have something to plead for their easy reception of an improbable fiction : they are seduced by their fondness for their supposed ancestors. A Scotchman must be a very sturdy SECOND SIGHT 177 moralist, who does not love Scotland better than truth : he will always love it better than inquiry ; and if falsehood flatters his vanity, will not be very diligent to detect it.
Page 205 - It would be easy to shew it if he had it ; but whence could it be had ? It is too long to be remembered, and the language formerly had nothing written. He has doubtless inserted names that circulate in popular stories, and may have translated some wandering ballads, if any can be found ; and the names, and some of the images, being recollected, make an inaccurate auditor imagine, by the help of Caledonian bigotry, that he has formerly heard the whole.
Page 177 - Tis a life-restoring flood To repair the wasted blood, The cheapest and the best in all the land ; And vainly gold will try For the Queen's own lips to buy Such a treat. From the rim it trickles down Of the mountain's granite crown Clear and cool ; Keen and eager though it go Through your veins with lively flow, Yet it knoweth not to reign In the chambers of the brain With misrule ; Where dark water-cresses grow You will trace its quiet flow, With mossy border yellow, So mild, and soft, and mellow....
Page 216 - I inquired the success of his journey, and he produced several volumes, small octavo, or rather large duodecimo, in the Gaelic language and characters, being the poems of Ossian and other ancient bards. "I remember perfectly...
Page 131 - ... thereof by the oath of one or more credible witness or witnesses...
Page 130 - Majesty's forces, shall, on any pretence whatsoever, wear or put on the clothes commonly called Highland Clothes (that is to say) the plaid, philebeg or little kilt, trowse, shoulder belts, or any part whatsoever of what peculiarly belongs to the highland garb; and that no tartan or party-coloured plaid or stuff shall be used for great coats, or for upper coats...
Page 299 - Cullen's peak the mist is sailing, The banshee croons her note of wailing, Mild blue eyne with sorrow are streaming For him that shall never return...
Page 84 - Kesists the foe, In house or field. Marble his skin, The rose his cheek, Blue was his eye, His hair like gold. All men's trust, Of noble mind. Of ready deeds, To women mild, A giant he, The field's delight.
Page 221 - ... received from his predecessors ; that some of the parchments were made up in the form of books, and that others were loose and separate, which contained the works of other bards besides those of Ossian. " He remembers that his father had a book which was called the Red Book...