Deoch-Slàinte Mhic ‘Ic Raonaill – Colla Na Ceapaich Le Aonghais Domhnallach (Mac Alasdair Ruaidh

This health song, or toast, of Coll MacDonell, 16th Chief of Keppoch, known by the soubriquet of Colla nam Bo i.e. Coll of the Cows, was composed by Angus MacDonald – Aonghas Mac Alasdair Ruaidh, of the family of Glencoe, a renowned bard who flourished in the latter half of the 17th century. Only a few of his compositions have been preserved among which are his elegy on Iain Lom, the Bard of Keppoch and Gaelic Poet-laureate and Oran nam finneachan Gaidhealach. Coll was in continual conflict with Macintosh over his lands and at the outset of his career suffered imprisonment at the instance of that chief, the charter holder, for which he took sweet revenge on a number of occasions notably by his victory over the Clan Chattan at the Battle of Mulroy and subsequent capture of Macintosh in 1688. [Editor.]

Deoch slàinte Mhic ‘ic Raonuill,
Cha’n fhaod mi gun a h-òl;
Deoch slàinte ‘n fhir ghaolaich
Ris an glaodhar Coll’ Og;
Ach ma tha thu gu h-iosal,
Druim na rioghachd a’d’thòir,
A Mhic Muire nan gràsan,
Do thigh’nn sàbhailte beò.

Ur mhacan na féile,
Bu ghléusd air an tòir,
An robh misneach is cruadal,
‘N am bualadh nan sròn;
‘Bhi togail gach tìre
‘S bochd an lìnn thainig oirnn,
‘S gun thu againn ri fhaotainn,
‘S do dhaoin’ air an leòn.

Theann Lachlainn ri d’ dhiobradh,
‘S tu d’fhior leanabh òg,
Gu’n do spàrr e thu ‘m priosan,
Air ghaol do dhiobradh o d’ chòir;
Dh’drduich Dia as a lion thu,
Dh’aindeoin iarbhuil a sheòil
Gun do chum thu ris diorras,
Gus ‘n do dh’ islich thu shròn.

Leig thu as e gu suairce,
Dh’ fheuchainn uaisle ‘s a mhéin,
Iochd dha anam gun d’ fhuair e,
‘S cha b’ann le cruadal a laimh;
Ach ‘nuair fhuair e neart rioghachd,
Feadh do thire gun dàil,
Fear na Fearsaid, ‘s Fear Innse,
Thug e ris leis air laimh.

Righ! bu neimh-chiontach iadsan,
‘S an t-arbhar mòr béud,
Rinn sibh glacadh is marbhadh,
Gu dearbh, oir leibh féin:
‘Liuthad buille mòr claidhimh
Gun athadh fo’n ghréin,
A bhuail sibh ‘s a choirce,
‘S b’fheàrr an cosnadh ri féum.

‘S fad a lean sibh an sgrìob ud,
Leag sibh mìltean de shluagh,
Dà la taobh Ghlinne Spiathain,
‘S da bhial Ghlinne Ruaidh;
Air fear chosnadh ‘ur dùthcha,
Rinn sibh dioghaltas truagh,
Ceann na diasaig a ghearradh,
Air son na fala bha uaibh.

Thairg thu cumha dhomh ‘s ceannach,
Thairg thu bannan gu leòr,
Urras dionach gu toileach,
Gun d’thairg thu onoir Mhic Leòid;
Cha ghabhte uat cìs,
‘Dh’ fhaoidte sgriobhadh le còir,
Gun a Cheapach thoirt dhàsan,
Mar ghrainsich gu stòr.

Ach ‘s fhad o stad ann do shinnsreadh,
B’ e fàth na strìthe a bh’ ann,
Tha m’ earlaid an Criosda,
Nach ceann crìch air an t-am;
Ged a tha thu gu h-iosal,
Anns na rioghachdan thall,
Gun staidhlear a Cheapach,
Do Mhac Ghilleasbuig nan lann.

Ach mur faic mi gu bràth thu,
‘S gur geàrr mo laithean ro ‘n tim,
Dia thoirt m’ anam gu Pàrras,
‘S Righ nan Gràs thoirt dhomh dion;
Cuid de ‘n achuing’ a dh’ iarruinn,
A Thriath is a Chriosd,
Thusa Cholla na féile,
Thigh’nn le réite o’n righ.

Ged a dheanainn fein gàire,
Righ! ‘s bàit’ e measg sluaigh,
Ged a dheanainn féin sùgradh,
O chridhe brùite thig fuaim;
Ged a chàirear dhomh leaba,
Cha ‘n fhaigh mi cadal no suain
Gus an cluinn mi do thighinn
A chonnspuinn dhlighich Ghlinnruaidh.