310 



OWL 



*N uair ba blnnn guth gallain gaodh- 



air, 

 A cur graigh gu gabhail chumhaion. 



'S binn na h iolarain ma bruachabh, 

 'S binn a cuachaii 's binn a h eala, 

 A's binne no sin am blaoghan, 

 Ni an laoighein mean-bhreac ballach. 



A's binn leam toraman na'n dos, 

 Re uilinn na'n corri-bheann cas, 

 'San eilid bhiorach is caol cos, 

 Ni foise fuidh dhuilleach ri teas. 



Gun do ch^il aic ach an damh, 

 'S e 's muirae dhi ftbur a's cneamh, 

 Mathair an laoigh mhean'-bhric mhir, 

 Bean an fhir mhal-rosgaich ghlain. 



'Siiibhlach a dh' fhalbhas e raon, 

 Codal cha dean ann san smuir, 

 B' fhearr leis no plaide fui' thaobh, 

 Bkr an fhraoich bhadanaich iiir. 



Gur h aluinn sgeamh an daimh 

 dhuinn, 

 Thearnas o shireadh na'm beann, 

 Mac na h eilte ris an t shonn, 

 Nach do chrom le spid a cheann. 



Eilid bhinneach, mheargannt, 



bhallach, 

 Odhar eangach uchd re h ard, 

 Damh togbhalach croic-cheannach 



sgiamhach, 

 Cronanach ceann-riadhach dearg. 



Gur gasda a rithe tu suas, 

 Re leachduinn chruaigh a's i cas, 

 Moladh gach aon neach an cu, 

 Ach molaras 'n tru tha dol as. 



Creag mo chroidhe-se a chreag 

 mhor, 

 'S ionmhuinn an 16n tha fuidh ceann, 



Where melodious rose the cry of the 



noble hounds, 

 Driving the herds of deer in their 



fastnesses. 



Loud were the eagles round its preci- 

 pices. 

 Sweet its cuckoos and swans. 

 More cheering still the bleating 

 Of its fawns, kid-spotted. 



Sweet to me as the murmurs of the 



tufted wood 

 At the elbow of the steep craggy rock. 

 And the light -formed hind, with 



slender limbs 

 Reposing under the foliage, in the 



sultry heat 



She is nursed by the herbage of 



hart's tongue. 

 The stag is her beloved and only 



mate — 

 Mother of the sportive, small-spotted 



fawn — 

 Spouse of him that abides (or stands 



firm). 



Swiftly he scours the plain — 

 He makes not his bed in the dust. 

 The top of the fresh-tufted heather 

 He prefers to the softest couch. 



Graceful is the beauty of the brown 

 deer 



Descending from searching the moun- 

 tains. 



The son of the hind, and the excellent 

 one 



That bent not his head in disgrace. 



The hind sharp-horned, of quick 



movement. 

 Dun- speckled, of nimble step, her 



breast mountainwards. 

 The hart spirited, antler-headed, 



majestic. 

 Murmuring, as it were, an indistinct 



song — red, of brindled head. 



Admirably wouldst thou course it 

 Up against the hard and steep 



declivity. 

 Let every one praise the swift pursuer 

 Be mine to praise the speed and 



beauty that escapes. 



Rock of my heart ! the great rock ! 

 Beloved is the green plain under its 

 extremity. 



I 



