Have we forgotten William Ross?
An do dhìochuimhnich sinn Uilleam Ros?
Let's have a look at this discussion. By the end of this section, you will have learned some valuable phrases that you can use in lots of different conversations.
Ceart, ma-thà, bha sinn a' dol a bhruidhinn air Rob Donn is Uilleam Ros.
Right, then, we were going to talk about Rob Donn [Rob Donn Mackay] and Uilleam Ros [William Ross].
Am faod mise facal a ràdh an toiseach mu Dhùghall Bochanan agus na Laoidhean Spioradail aige?
Can I say a word first about Dugald Buchanan and his Laoidhean Spioradail [Spiritual Hymns]?
Gu dearbh. Bàrd eile le liut ann an sgrìobhadh nàdair, dealbhadh is mac-meanmna cuideachd: 'S mi 'm shuidh' aig an uaigh, Ag amharc mu bruaich, Feuch claigeann gun snuadh air làr.
Of course. Another poet with a gift for nature, illustrative and imaginative writing as well: I am sitting at the grave, looking around its edge/sides, behold a colourless skull on the ground.
Tha fhios agam air an fhear sin! 'S e 'An Claigeann', nach e?
I know that one! It's 'An Claigeann' ('The Skull'), isn't it?
'S e gu dearbh. Dè mu dheidhinn Rob Donn a-nis? Bha iad nan co-aoisean ach bhiodh esan a' dèanamh bàrdachd air cuspairean eile, leithid moladh, nàdar agus gaol ach gu sònraichte aoirean.
It is indeed. What about Rob Donn now? They were contemporaries but he would write poetry on other subjects, such as praise, nature and love but especially satire [satirical poems].
'S fheàirrde duine gàire! Tha aoir agus bàrdachd èibhinn uaireannan a' nochdadh mòran a bharrachd na gnèithean eile, saoilidh mi.
You have to laugh [Laughter is good for you]! Satire and humorous poetry sometimes reveal much more than other genres, I think.
An do dhìochuimhnich sinn Uilleam Ros?
Have we forgotten William Ross?
Cha do dhìochuimhnich! Bha mi gus tòiseachadh! Tha ainm an òrain as aithnichte a th' ann—a rèir cuid—gu math sìmplidh ach 's e òran cumhachdach a th' ann.
We haven't forgotten! I was just about to start! The name of the best-known song is, some say, very simple but it is a powerful song.
An e 'Òran Eile' a th' ann? Cha dìrich mi bealach nan àrd, Le suigeart mar bha mi 'n tòs, Ach triallam a chadal gu bràth, Do thalla nam bàrd nach beò.
Is it 'Òran Eile' ('Another Song')? I will not climb the path/pass of the heights, With the cheerfulness I once had, But let me journey to sleep forever, To the hall of the unliving poets.
Mo thruaighe! 'S e briseadh-cridhe a bha siud!
Dearie me! That was heartbreaking!
Chan eil math dhuinn a bhith an sàs san ochdamh linn deug ro fhada, a chàirdean! Feumaidh sinn gluasad air adhart chun na naoidheamh linn deug.
It's not good for us to be stuck in the eighteenth century for too long, my friends! We must move on to the nineteenth century.
An tug duine iomradh air Màiri Mhòr fhathast—Màiri Mhòr nan Òran? Moch 's mi 'g èirigh air bheagan èislein, Air madainn Chèitein 's mi ann an Òs …
Has anyone mentioned Màiri Mhòr yet—Màiri Mhòr nan Òran? Rising early, a little sorrowfully, on a May morning when I was in Ose …
Tha e agam! 'Nuair Bha mi Òg'—an t-òran as fheàrr leam!
I've got it! 'Nuair Bha Mi Òg'—my favourite song!