Cape Breton's Magazine

called Moladh a' Chladaich agus Di-moladh a' Chuil (Praise of the Shore and Dispraise of the Rear). Actually, although Dun? can's wife was a shore-dweller, the poet himself had no claim to the title, since he lived in the Margaree valley quite near Donald's own home; but he argues the case as if he were a fish? erman and with apparent seriousness sweeps the protagonist's claims aside. He assures us that a visit to Donald's country will soon dispel any false impression we may have gained from Donald's song: Chi thu coille ghoirid, cham, Mu'n cuairt air sgall de chhreadh ann, 'S ma chaidh a thrcabhadh leis a' chrann, Chan eil am fonn 'g a innseadh dhuinn. You'll see stumpy, crooked trees surrounding a bald patch of clearing, and if it was ever turned with a plough, the appearance of the ground wouldn't tell you so. He belittles every attraction that the rival poet had adduced. Donald had praised the beautiful flowers of the rear; Duncan unceremoniously disposes of them: Nuair a thig an geamhradh duint', Ged 's math na flurain, crionaidh iad; 'S mor gu'm b' fhearr bhith 'n taic an t-sail' Far 'm faicte traigh us lionadh leat Na cumail sail air duilleach dluth Air feadh nan lub 's nan leanagan. When the winter closes in, the flowers will wither, although they're fine; I'd far rather be beside the sea and watch the ebb and flow than be staring at dense leafage among the groves and meadows. He enumerates the advantages of the fisherman's environment and concludes with the good-natured wish that Donald will still be willing to visit his adversary on the shore. End of Selection from HIGHLAND SETTLER Moladh a' Chuil agus Di-Moladh a* Chladaich (Praise of the Rear and Dispraise of the Shore) Le Domhnall Mac Dhomhnaill (mac Thormaid), Cul Abhainn Mhargairi B' ann air mullach beinne bha dachaidh a' bhaird. Bliadhna bha an sud, ghabh e muinntearas aig tuathanach a bha fuireach air baile boidheach, reidh, taobh a' chladaich. Mhothaich e an t-socair a tha aig an fheadhainn a tha fuireach air na comhnardan nach 'eil idir aig muinntir nam beann; ach a dh' aindeion sin uile, bu mhath leis innseadh do 'n t-sluagh nach e aite gun toileachadh a tha ann an Cul na Beinne. 1 Ged tha mis' an so an drasd A' tamhachd air na criochan so, Taobh a' chladaich, 'n taic an t-sail'. Far a bheil graisg de dh' iasgairean, Cha b' ann thogadh mi as m' oig' Ach cul nam morbheann fiachail' ud. Far an goireadh riabhag 's smeorach Maduinn 6r-bhuidh', ghrianachail. 2 'S ann do 'n Chiil thug mise run, 'S gu 'n diiraiginn bhith 'n comhnuidh ann. Far am fas a' choille dhliith, Gu slatach, lubach, meoireanach; I cho dijbhghorm, maothbhog, sughmhor, 'S duilleach ur 'ga comhdachadh; Faileadh cdbhraidh thar gach fliir Th' air feadh nan liib 's nan sronagan. 3 Sud an t-aite iochdmhor, grasmhor, Grianail, gradhach, cluanagach; E cho cliithmhor, fasgach, blathmhor, Feurail, fasmhor, fuaranach; E cho measail, mills, tlath, Gur lionmhor agh tha fuaighte ris: Bidh coin nan speur gu pongail, reidh, A' seinn air gheig mu bhruachagaibh. 4 O sud an treud as binne gleus, 'S as grinne beus o 'n duanagan. Learn a b' eibhinn bhith 'g an eisdeachd Feasgar ceutach, duatharach; lad cho giort-gheal, uchdard, foirmeil, Gobcham, meanbhsgiath, luasganach, A' beicearsaich air feadh nan crann, 'S a' seinn nan rann neo-bhrtiailleanach. 5 'S mor am miadachadh d' a chliii Am poran ciiiin a ghluaiseas ann; 'S culaidh-ioghnaidh le luchd tiiir An cronan ciiiil thig bhuapasan; Nuair bheir binnead an cuid fheadan Air na creagan cluas thoirt dhaibh; Gus an toisich iad mu dheireadh 'G am freagairt mar a chual iad e. 6 'S ann ad ghlacan diomhair fhein A dh' fhas na seudan priseil', glan; Tha tur naduir ann gun eis, Is chan 'eil feum air innleachdan; Gheibhte biadh air bharr nan slatan, 'S gu 'm bu bhlasd' am milsean e; Gheibhte dion fo sgath nan stacan Ged bhiodh frasan fioruisg' ann. JOIN THE FUN! 4th Annual Get out and enjoy some of these events! A few of the regional activities for 1992 include: WmM IMamMsSi Concerts • Skating ??SiasMijpSoaisMjp Snowmobiling IF?ir&?(sss iys) and other traditional activities. If you or your group want further information or would lil

Cape Breton's Magazine