Classic Poem

Now that I am alone and dwelling in the Bay, working at the songs, since that is better than to be idle—treating of the character of MacDonald, who is manly and valiant and stately: many a hundred made thine acquaintance and they would wish thee well.
My love the Allan who grew handsome and manly and tall; God's one Son protect thee from illness and from pain; excellent courtier, cheerful and blithesome, of bearing well-bred and urbane, who is hard through and through, if one encounter him when his harshness is aroused.
A knowing, expert, courteous man art thou, never seeking contention, in whom there is beauty and charm and hospitality, as good as bard could tell, magnificent and great of mind with no bent to meanness, without a trace of Clan MacQueeban in him secretly or openly.
A handsome, manly, tranquil man art thou, no dwarf among others; a man of thy mien were a means of lending grace to a hill or two: a stout-hearted, ferocious lion, as a champion stout in puissance: woe to those of ill-will who fell in with thee when thy hand was not under restraint.
Woe to those of ill-will who fell in with him when his hand was not under restraint, or who would cross or thwart him to goad him on to wrath; he bears a-slashing blade of truest steel in the sheath finely (?) spiral-embossed—it will not halt in flesh wherein 'tis struck till it reach the bones' marrow.
Not puny on the sward is he to see among the rest; a jocund, careful chieftain, delightful on the field; a humble, mild, sensible man art thou, without lack of pith or courage; one of thy demeanour were an adornment at the head of any men this side of France.
Black and red and white the hue of him of whom I sing; hardy, manly, resolute, most clannish to his friends; 'tis to me the best and sweetest music that thy mother brought forth a male; thou art accounted an excellent clansman wherever thou dost dwell.
'Twere no wonder that those who know thee should wish thee well, that poor folk and orphans are not held fast in straits; thou countenance princely and cheerful, where thou dost lie mayest thou rise in health; after the fair may good news that thy consort is better be thine.
Thou art the heir of the son of John's line, their likeness in every cause; kind and friendly and generous to one in straits; in mildness and reasonableness, in manliness as thou hadst need—inherited from thy father were those traits which were visible to all.
Thou art no trout at the edge of a pond without strength or skill to swim; thou art no fast-sprouting blade of rank grass with a great blight in its tip; a member sure and straight art thou of the royal race of Donald; woe to him who sought a quarrel with thee when thou wert willing to combat him.
For thou art of the seed of the warlike heroes who would not suffer contempt in face of insult, who would not bear idle arms when the land was going aflame; with the battle-shout of those great ones there would be savage cutting of limbs: dirty and bitter their cookery at time of beginning the slaughter.
God bestowed upon thee a choice consort who acted admirably and generously to a friend, who did the stoutest deed that woman did who is or was; with surpassing nobility and loyalty did she bear herself in those events which gave a lasting tale, in memory stored, to generations after her death.
'Twas no wonder to me that her nobility moved her (to action) in that desperate pass—the trunk of the tree from which she was hewn was without rot or disease or flaw: grand-child of Angus Og of the banners and Ranald Mor of the hosts—it were right good fortune if your enemies should hap to be in health.