"Geir fèidh air a ghabhail 'n ad bhroinn, 's air a shuathadh ri d' dhruim 's ri d' thaobh-- Am fear nach leighis sid, cha'n 'eil leagheas ann."
That is--the fat of deer applied internally and externally, the invalid whose sickness that does not heal, why, then, there is no healing for him. The old Highlanders, you see, knew the value of deer: they hadn't a good word to say of sheep.
A few days ago we went into a cottage where a woman was sitting spinning, and singing a song we had not heard for many years, though we recollect hearing it frequently sung in boyhood. The soft and plaintive air was an old favourite, and her style of singing pleasing. With a very sweet voice and much feeling, she sang it all on requesting her to do so; and after tea in the evening we threw the verses into English, as follows. It is, however, rather an imitation than a translation. The original, which is probably known to many of our readers, beginning--
"Tha'n oidhche dorcha, dubh, gun reult Tha aibh's na speur fo ghruaman," &c.
is old; how old we know not. Nor have we any clue to the name of the author, or more probably authoress. Of the authors, indeed, of many of our very finest Gaelic songs may be said what was said of the old nameless border-bard, that they--
"Nameless as the race from whence they sprung, Saved other names and left their own unsung."
The song in Gaelic has no particular title. It is known by the two first lines quoted above, just as we say, "Of a' the airts the wind can blaw," and "Ye banks and braes o' bonnie Doon." In default of anything better, our English version may perhaps appropriately enough be entitled--
Dark and dreary is the world to me, No sun, no moon, no star; Vainly I struggle on my midnight sea, No beacon gleams afar; A wilderness of winter, frost and snow, Sad and alone I hang my head in woe.
'Tis vain to strive against the will of fate (No sun, no moon, no star); Where I had looked for love, I found but hate (No beacon gleams afar); I gave my heart, my all, to one who cares Now nought for me--no one my sorrow shares.
Cares not my love though I were dead and gone (No sun, no moon, no star!) God help me, I am weak and all alone (No beacon shines afar): I dare not reveal my grief, I dare not tell; The fire that burns my heart no tears can quell.
