Deirdire, and the Lay of the children of Uisne, orally collected in the island of Barra [Scotland, in 1867] and literally translated by Alexander Carmichael

by Alexander Carmichael

Unlike some other reproductions of classic texts (1) We have not used OCR(Optical Character Recognition), as this leads to bad quality books with introduced typos. (2) In books where there are images such as portraits, maps, sketches etc We have endeavoured to keep the quality of these images, so they represent accurately the original artefact. Although occasionally there may be certain imperfections with these old texts, we feel they deserve to be made available for future generations to enjoy.

Nook

First published November 30, 2005

About the author

Alexander Archibald Carmichael (Gaelic: Alasdair Gilleasbaig MacGilleMhìcheil) was a Scottish exciseman, folklorist, antiquarian, and author. Between 1860 and his death Carmichael collected a vast amount of folklore, local traditions, natural history observations, antiquarian data, and material objects from people throughout the Scottish Highlands, particularly in the southern Outer Hebrides where he lived, worked, and brought up his family between 1864 and 1882. Alexander Carmichael is best known today for Carmina Gadelica, an influential compendium of Highland lore and literature published in six volumes between 1900 and 1971.

Reviews

[dragonhelmuk · Rating 4 out of 5]

Leubh mi an sgeul seo bho 'Club Leabhar reprint' agus tha e gu fìor math. Bha mi ag leughadh e ann an obair. Tha e da-cananach (ged a tha na beurla beagan aosta), agus tha e gu math feumail airson na pìos no dha bàrdachd tron leabhar. Tha a' Ghàidhlig beagan doirbh àm gu àm, agus tha ghnàthan-cainnte mar 'a-ta' anns an àite 'ma-tha' ach air sgath gu bheil e da-cananach, tha e ceart gu leòr.

'S e pìos beag spòrs a th' ann 'Deirdire', ma tha fios agad an sgeul anns a' Ghàidhlig na h-Éireadh. Tha a h-uile pàirtean ainmeil ann, agus cuideachd pios no dha far is docha nach bhiodh fios agad.

{Sin agad earrainn bàrdachd 'o teacs gus do bheachd a dh' fhaigh:}

"Shin iad an taobh ri sruth
'S bu cho-ionann leo muir 'us tìr,
An fhairge mholach ghlas,
Ris a' mhachaire ghorm mhin.

(They stretched their sides to the stream,
Indifferent to them was sea or land;
The grey, shaggy sea,
Or the green, smooth machair)


{bheil e èibhinn no nach eil?}
'Cha lugha na facal righ agus feachd rìoghachd a chuireas mis as mo bhothan fhein an nochd.' ;Fosgail thus, agus mur fosgail thu dhe do dheoin fosgaidh tu dhe d'aindeoin,' ors' an righ, agus e fas feargach. 'An ta bhithinn na'r comain,' ors am boirionnach, 'na 'n tugadh sibh brath dhomh co tha sireadh orm dorus mo bhothain fhosgladh.' 'Tha mise, Conachar, righ Ulla, agus na biodh a' chuis an dalla-chrannachd ort na 's fhaide.' An uair a chuala bhean bhochd co bha 's an dorus, dh'eirich i le cabhaig, agus leig i stigh an righ agus na thoilleadh a stigh d'a choisir.


{Gu deiseil, tha cuid mòr de'n iomhaidheachd ainmhidh cuideachd, ach tha e sgoinneil gus a chluinntinn:}

Triuir maghamhna Innse Breatuinn
Triuir sheobhag shliabh a Chuillinn
Triuir da’n gèilleadh gaisgich
Triuir da’n tiubhradh amhuis urram

(Three bears of the isles of Britain
Three hawks of the hill of cuilinn,
Three to whom heroes would yield
Three to whom hirelings would pay homage