To MacDonald
I have treasure exceeding great; my precious noble guerdon art thou, my jewel of many virtues thou; the king himself shall not sunder us, for since I have won thee, by my word I would not part with thee for gold.
There hath been a hoard these many years bestowed in secrecy; it was not wan silver nor yet was it iron, but a Knight wise and sedate, dowered with the renown and wisdom of earls; now that I have won thee as thou wouldst wish, may God make it good to thee, Sir Donald!
A boon not among the least wert thou to me, my shapely beauteous little copse; my ship, the theme of many a history, renowned, victorious, and famous; of a truth it were injustice were I to leave thee in neglect.
For thou art a bough of the precious apple-tree, of fruit right good and sappy, uprising from the pure true blood whose fashion loyalty ever was; if it were tracing thine ancestry I were, what I knew I should declare.
Mayest thou have joy of all thy titles and all the land that is thine heritage; the lovely country of Duntulm, wherein waxen candles blaze, and wine is drunk right freely there from wan and gleaming cups of silver in a mansion wide and joyous and full of music.
Right noble was the pastime of thy court, and fair thy handwriting upon paper. Part of thy desire was in maidens, whose fringed gowns of silk would be gathered close about their bodices; and they will not be slow to welcome every exiled stranger.
Well fenced about is thy renown, for all thy friends are with thee, the Earl of Argyll, and Mackenzie, the lord of Tarbat, the men of Taymouth and Breadalbane, Glen Garry and the men of the Rough Bounds, and the great Colla, 'tis not he would fail, and the Camerons from Lochy.
With thee is Mackay of warlike banners, with thee the seed of Art and Conn and Cormac; the race of Colla of vast armies and heavy tributes, with their full-laden white-sailed fleet as they sail upon the ocean.
Be thou waking or be thou sleeping, with thee the Captain of Moydart would be, and every warrior youth that would rise with him; his might were backed with good intent, and I warrant there will be glory in the cause that these embrace!
Another host I'd furnish thee, the seed of Torquil — as many as remain of them; the Mackinnons and the men of Strath, to thee these houses were right faithful; should crown or sword not keep them back, I'd find enough of hosts for thee.
For the number of those that are thy friends, they cannot be chronicled on paper; the Frasers and the Grants will be with thee, the Munros ('tis their nature) will be with thee, did they maintain their wont towards thee and set thee in thy rightful place.
With thee would rise the Douglases, kin of thine honoured mother; five hundred courtly heroes will be there, and it were the pith of my wish for them that they be so firmly knit to thee that they will not deny thee succour.
Were straits or stress to trouble thee, a host from Ireland would rise with thee; Antrim's earl of pacing steeds would join thee; and MacFelim's noble race, should they hear it said thou wert in need, their mighty force would come to aid thee.
Assuredly would rise with thee the host of Iain Mor and Iain Cathanach, and the true race of Maclean, and the men of Kintyre and Lorne; and woe to the lowlanders that should aim at thee when these nobles are in pursuit of them!
Full long is the time since I heard historians relate, when first to these lands ye came, that then it was proven how all Scotland and a house to boot were possessed by you of right.
There hath been a hoard these many years bestowed in secrecy; it was not wan silver nor yet was it iron, but a Knight wise and sedate, dowered with the renown and wisdom of earls; now that I have won thee as thou wouldst wish, may God make it good to thee, Sir Donald!
A boon not among the least wert thou to me, my shapely beauteous little copse; my ship, the theme of many a history, renowned, victorious, and famous; of a truth it were injustice were I to leave thee in neglect.
For thou art a bough of the precious apple-tree, of fruit right good and sappy, uprising from the pure true blood whose fashion loyalty ever was; if it were tracing thine ancestry I were, what I knew I should declare.
Mayest thou have joy of all thy titles and all the land that is thine heritage; the lovely country of Duntulm, wherein waxen candles blaze, and wine is drunk right freely there from wan and gleaming cups of silver in a mansion wide and joyous and full of music.
Right noble was the pastime of thy court, and fair thy handwriting upon paper. Part of thy desire was in maidens, whose fringed gowns of silk would be gathered close about their bodices; and they will not be slow to welcome every exiled stranger.
Well fenced about is thy renown, for all thy friends are with thee, the Earl of Argyll, and Mackenzie, the lord of Tarbat, the men of Taymouth and Breadalbane, Glen Garry and the men of the Rough Bounds, and the great Colla, 'tis not he would fail, and the Camerons from Lochy.
With thee is Mackay of warlike banners, with thee the seed of Art and Conn and Cormac; the race of Colla of vast armies and heavy tributes, with their full-laden white-sailed fleet as they sail upon the ocean.
Be thou waking or be thou sleeping, with thee the Captain of Moydart would be, and every warrior youth that would rise with him; his might were backed with good intent, and I warrant there will be glory in the cause that these embrace!
Another host I'd furnish thee, the seed of Torquil — as many as remain of them; the Mackinnons and the men of Strath, to thee these houses were right faithful; should crown or sword not keep them back, I'd find enough of hosts for thee.
For the number of those that are thy friends, they cannot be chronicled on paper; the Frasers and the Grants will be with thee, the Munros ('tis their nature) will be with thee, did they maintain their wont towards thee and set thee in thy rightful place.
With thee would rise the Douglases, kin of thine honoured mother; five hundred courtly heroes will be there, and it were the pith of my wish for them that they be so firmly knit to thee that they will not deny thee succour.
Were straits or stress to trouble thee, a host from Ireland would rise with thee; Antrim's earl of pacing steeds would join thee; and MacFelim's noble race, should they hear it said thou wert in need, their mighty force would come to aid thee.
Assuredly would rise with thee the host of Iain Mor and Iain Cathanach, and the true race of Maclean, and the men of Kintyre and Lorne; and woe to the lowlanders that should aim at thee when these nobles are in pursuit of them!
Full long is the time since I heard historians relate, when first to these lands ye came, that then it was proven how all Scotland and a house to boot were possessed by you of right.
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