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An cuala sibh mun bhàrd Ghàidhlig, Seumas Mac an t-Saoir? Tha mi a’ meòrachadh air an duine seo air sgàth ’s gun robh mi a’ bruidhinn mu dheidhinn Shomhairle MhicIain an t-seachdain sa chaidh.

ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý Thig mi gu Seumas Mac an t-Saoir à Gleann Nodha an ceartuair. An toiseach, tha mi a’ dol a ràdh rudeigin mu ìomhaigheachd nan craobh ann am bàrdachd Ghàidhlig. Bha na seann Ghàidheil a’ tomhas nan craobh mar gum biodh ann an dà bhuidhinn – feadhainn bheannaichte agus feadhainn mhallaichte. Agus bha iad a’ dèanamh tuairisgeul de dhaoine a rèir na h-ìomhaigheachd sin.

ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý Ann an ‘Alasdair à Gleanna Garadh’ tha Sìleas na Ceapaich a’ moladh Alasdair, an dèidh a bhàis. Seo i a’ cur ìomhaigheachd nan craobh an sàs:

Bu tu ’n t-iubhar anns a’ choillidh

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Bu tu ’n darach daingeann làidir,

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Bu tu ’n cuileann, bu tu ’n droighinn,

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Bu tu ’n t-abhall molach blàthmhor;

Cha robh do dhàimh ris a’ chritheann

No do dhligheadh ris an fheàrna;

Cha robh bheag annad dhen leamhan;

Bu tu leannan nam ban àlainn.

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ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý B’ iad na craobhan beannaichte an t-iubhar, an darach, an cuileann, an droigheann agus an t-abhall no craobh-ubhail. B’ iad na craobhan mallaichte an critheann, an fheàrna agus an leamhan.

ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý Thàinig an t-Oll. MacIain chun na Gàidhealtachd. Dh’fhoillsich e droch bheachd air a’ Ghàidhlig. Bha Seumas Mac an t-Saoir air a mhaslachadh. Agus sgrìobh e fhèin dàn nimheil, a’ càineadh MhicIain. Seo agaibh Seumas a’ cleachdadh ìomhaigheachd nan craobh:

Cha bu tu ’n droigheann no ’n cuileann

No an t-iubhar fulannach làidir,

Chan eil mìr annad dhen darach

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No de sheileach dearg nam blàran;

Tha ’chuid as motha dhìot de chritheann,

Ìnean sgithich ’s làmhan feàrna –

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Tha do cheann gu lèir de leamhan,

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Gu h-àraidh do theanga ’s do chàirein.

ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý B’ iad na craobhan beannaichte aige – an droigheann, an cuileann, an t-iubhar agus an darach – ceithir de na còig a bha aig Sìleas. Agus an fheadhainn mhallaichte – an critheann, an fheàrna agus an leamhan – na trì a bha aig Sìleas. Agus an sgitheach is seileach dearg a bharrachd. ÃŒomhaigheachd àraidh de chraobhan na Gàidhealtachd.

Have you heard of the Gaelic poet, James MacIntyre? I’m pondering on this man because I was speaking about Samuel Johnson last week.

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ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý I’ll come to James MacIntyre of Glen Noe shortly. To begin with, I’m going to say something about arboreal imagery in Gaelic poetry. The old Gaels were assessing the trees, as it were, to be in two groups – blessed ones and cursed ones. And they were describing people according to that imagery.

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ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý In ‘Alasdair from Glengarry’ Sìleas na Ceapaich praises Alasdair, following his death. Here she is, employing arboreal imagery:

ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý You were the yew in the

ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌýforest,

ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý You were the strong, steadfast

ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý oak,

ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý You were the holly and

ÌýÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌýÌýblackthorn,

ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý You were the apple-tree, rough-

ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý barked, covered with blooms;

ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý You had no kinship with the

ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý aspen,

ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý Nor bonds with the alder;

ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý You had nothing of the lime-

ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý tree in you,

ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý You were the darling of the

ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý beautiful women.

ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý The blessed trees were the yew, the oak, the holly, the blackthorn and the apple [and its more modern name]. The cursed trees were the aspen, the alder and the elm (lime).

ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý Dr Johnson came to the Highlands. He published a bad opinion of Gaelic. James MacIntyre was horrified. And he himself wrote a venomous poem, criticizing Johnson. Here is James employing arboreal imagery:

ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý You’d not be the blackthorn or

ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý the holly,

ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý Or the tough enduring yew,

ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý There’s not a bit in you of the

ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý oak

ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý Or the red willow of the plains;

ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý Most of you is aspen

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ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý With hawthorn nails and alder

ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý hands –

ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý Your whole head is made of

ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý elm,

ÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýEspecially your tongue and

ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý gums.

ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý His blessed trees were the blackthorn, the holly, the yew and the oak – four of the five that Sìleas had. And the cursed ones – the aspen, the alder and the elm – the three that Sìleas had. And hawthorn and red willow also. Unique imagery of trees of the Gàidhealtachd.