The Praise of Clan Donald
Thanks to thee, Donald son of Finlay, thou didst awaken me with part of thy talk; though thou art but little known in the country, it is said thou art a worthy lad. Thou didst confer an obligation so great that it will always benefit thine affairs; 'tis certain our recompense is thine, our friendship is thine as long as thou dost live.
Thou didst praise our men and our land, our goodwives, and thou hadst reason; thou didst not make oversight or error, thou didst praise all their old and young; thou didst praise their gentle, thou didst praise their simple, thou didst deal with them alike; what is to be heard of the song, 'tis not lack of diligence that left it deficient.
Beginning to praise our people, 'twas not laborious for a poet: their spirit, their hardihood, and their skill in any matter that confronts them; showing their face against fire, there was no wilting in that race; fair fame and plenteousness, comeliness and worth — in what respect would they be found lacking?
Thou wouldst be none the worse of having me at hand at time of numbering the heroes, to tell of their comeliness and nobility, their might and hardihood in time of quarrel; those were the men who were manly, who would rudely turn back pursuit, and who would leave the battle-field befouled if an enemy stayed to fight them.
But if thou sawest those men in face of fire in battle order, fierce of look as they charged, pressing hard with little quietness, a naked sword in each one's hand, anger in their faces, full of whetted keenness, as deadly as the eagle and as wrathful as lions.
Not many to match those men could be found in Europe: they were manly in time of conflict, bloodthirsty, keen-edged and rending; if thou didst find them in wisdom as they were in courage and splendour, where was ever seen any clan to be counted better than Clan Donald?
They were gallant, manly, and handsome, unstinting with their goods, they were loyal to their promise, without deceit or trickery or wiles; though their ancestors were examined through the ages from the top of their heads to their brogues, devil the fault was to be told of them but the so-called fault of their loyalty.
But if thou didst praise our gentlemen why didst thou not mention MacDonald? God's one Son be his shepherd, keeping him in continuance of life and health; since he is a hero who wins victory, who always follows his family tradition, with whom no one ever quarrelled who gained anything on him in conflict.
Where didst thou leave Clanranald, when he gathered his mighty host? — the great men of great renown in the day of Alexander and Montrose. Woe to him who stirred up desire for dispeace in you, or who would turn out the rough side of your cloak, whatever eye was watching them descending to the river Lochy
But if thou didst undertake to deal with them, why didst thou not recount them aright? — the worthy family of Glengarry and the saplings from the glens of Knoydart. There is many a hero strong and proud who would stand firm and strike slashing blows between the head of Loch Hourn of cold mountains and Bun na Stuaighe in Morar.
Didst thou leave the family of Keppoch — great the loss that they are not together — who would rise and fight with us in strife with their pipes and their silken banners? Maclain from Glencoe, helpful men in time of conflict, handsome, manly, stout-hearted men, baring arms when anger faced them.
Thou didst omit MacDougall from Lorne, blithe would be the bearing of his company, along with the nobles of Kintyre, from the Rinns of Islay and the Mull of Oa; thou didst omit the Earl of Antrim in Ireland, who did the deed in the battle of the Boyne: when they gathered together who would reckon debts against Clan Donald?
When they came from Egypt in the day of Gathelus and Scota, they brought destruction on the people of Ireland, they made slaves of those who were alive of them; Alba, though 'tis much to say, they divided from sea to moor, many great nobles were there who received their right from the hand of Clan Donald
They won half Alba and a homestead to boot, 'tis the sword that earned their right for them; they won the day of Garioch's fight, they succeeded in proving the argument. With small help against trouble they made a breach on many; Maclean was there with his company, and stocky Lachlan Macintosh
If Sir James stood in need, they would all rise together, from the Rinns of Caithness to the Rinns of Islay, each to whom his ancestors gave their right; Mackenzie would come from Brahan, Mackay of Strathnaver and the Duke of Gordon, Dunbars would come and Bains would come, Munros and Kintail men and Roses.
Our friends and faithful kinsfolk would rise to fight with us in strife; the nobility of Clan Maclean would rally round as staunchly as thy coat; flushed with wrath in the hour of battle, steel in their hands hacking flesh, drawing strong polished Spanish blades that would split heads straight down to the brogues.
A death-dealing bright company of keen blades, the regiment of the MacLeods would come, the regiment of the MacNeils would come with numerous ships and sails. Forbeses and Frasers would rise, and Clan Reaver would come in order: when the men of the Yew-wood awakened, who would come first but Thomas?
Thou didst praise our men and our land, our goodwives, and thou hadst reason; thou didst not make oversight or error, thou didst praise all their old and young; thou didst praise their gentle, thou didst praise their simple, thou didst deal with them alike; what is to be heard of the song, 'tis not lack of diligence that left it deficient.
Beginning to praise our people, 'twas not laborious for a poet: their spirit, their hardihood, and their skill in any matter that confronts them; showing their face against fire, there was no wilting in that race; fair fame and plenteousness, comeliness and worth — in what respect would they be found lacking?
Thou wouldst be none the worse of having me at hand at time of numbering the heroes, to tell of their comeliness and nobility, their might and hardihood in time of quarrel; those were the men who were manly, who would rudely turn back pursuit, and who would leave the battle-field befouled if an enemy stayed to fight them.
But if thou sawest those men in face of fire in battle order, fierce of look as they charged, pressing hard with little quietness, a naked sword in each one's hand, anger in their faces, full of whetted keenness, as deadly as the eagle and as wrathful as lions.
Not many to match those men could be found in Europe: they were manly in time of conflict, bloodthirsty, keen-edged and rending; if thou didst find them in wisdom as they were in courage and splendour, where was ever seen any clan to be counted better than Clan Donald?
They were gallant, manly, and handsome, unstinting with their goods, they were loyal to their promise, without deceit or trickery or wiles; though their ancestors were examined through the ages from the top of their heads to their brogues, devil the fault was to be told of them but the so-called fault of their loyalty.
But if thou didst praise our gentlemen why didst thou not mention MacDonald? God's one Son be his shepherd, keeping him in continuance of life and health; since he is a hero who wins victory, who always follows his family tradition, with whom no one ever quarrelled who gained anything on him in conflict.
Where didst thou leave Clanranald, when he gathered his mighty host? — the great men of great renown in the day of Alexander and Montrose. Woe to him who stirred up desire for dispeace in you, or who would turn out the rough side of your cloak, whatever eye was watching them descending to the river Lochy
But if thou didst undertake to deal with them, why didst thou not recount them aright? — the worthy family of Glengarry and the saplings from the glens of Knoydart. There is many a hero strong and proud who would stand firm and strike slashing blows between the head of Loch Hourn of cold mountains and Bun na Stuaighe in Morar.
Didst thou leave the family of Keppoch — great the loss that they are not together — who would rise and fight with us in strife with their pipes and their silken banners? Maclain from Glencoe, helpful men in time of conflict, handsome, manly, stout-hearted men, baring arms when anger faced them.
Thou didst omit MacDougall from Lorne, blithe would be the bearing of his company, along with the nobles of Kintyre, from the Rinns of Islay and the Mull of Oa; thou didst omit the Earl of Antrim in Ireland, who did the deed in the battle of the Boyne: when they gathered together who would reckon debts against Clan Donald?
When they came from Egypt in the day of Gathelus and Scota, they brought destruction on the people of Ireland, they made slaves of those who were alive of them; Alba, though 'tis much to say, they divided from sea to moor, many great nobles were there who received their right from the hand of Clan Donald
They won half Alba and a homestead to boot, 'tis the sword that earned their right for them; they won the day of Garioch's fight, they succeeded in proving the argument. With small help against trouble they made a breach on many; Maclean was there with his company, and stocky Lachlan Macintosh
If Sir James stood in need, they would all rise together, from the Rinns of Caithness to the Rinns of Islay, each to whom his ancestors gave their right; Mackenzie would come from Brahan, Mackay of Strathnaver and the Duke of Gordon, Dunbars would come and Bains would come, Munros and Kintail men and Roses.
Our friends and faithful kinsfolk would rise to fight with us in strife; the nobility of Clan Maclean would rally round as staunchly as thy coat; flushed with wrath in the hour of battle, steel in their hands hacking flesh, drawing strong polished Spanish blades that would split heads straight down to the brogues.
A death-dealing bright company of keen blades, the regiment of the MacLeods would come, the regiment of the MacNeils would come with numerous ships and sails. Forbeses and Frasers would rise, and Clan Reaver would come in order: when the men of the Yew-wood awakened, who would come first but Thomas?
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