Part 37 (1/2)

[_From the_ REPORT _of the Committee of the_ HIGHLAND SOCIETY _of_ SCOTLAND, _appointed to inquire into the nature and authenticity of the Poee which we the Gaeil of Scotland and Ireland labour under, beyond the rest of the world, that our Gaelic language has never yet been printed, as the language of every other race of e which is still greater than every other disadvantage, that we have not the Holy Bible printed in Gaelic, as it has been printed in Latin and in English, and in every other language; and also that we have never yet had any account printed of the antiquities of our country, or of our ancestors; for though we have some accounts of the Gaeil of Scotland and Ireland, contained in raphers, yet there is great labour in writing them over with the hand, whereas the hich is printed, be it ever so great, is speedily finished And great is the blindness and sinful darkness, and ignorance and evil design of such as teach, and write, and cultivate the Gaelic language, that, with the view of obtaining for themselves the vain rewards of this world, they are , lying, worldly histories, concerning the _Tuath de dannan_, and concerning warriors and chaal_ the son of _cu many others which {182} I will not at present enumerate or mention, in order to maintain or reprove, than to write and teach and maintain the faithful words of God, and of the perfect way of truth[121]

_From the Preface to a Metrical Version of the Book of Psalms in Gaelic_, by Mr ROBERT KIRK, Minister of the Gospel at Balquhidder; Printed in the year 1684

Ataid na Psallibh, Cill fhonnhort Eden, lionta do chrannaibh brioghmhoire na beatha, & do luibhennibh iocshlainteahais ar uile anshocair na nanach beo chreatuir da bfuil ann, na chlarsigh; an duine, se is Clairseoir & duanaire, chum hna u ceolhluhdairidh an uile chail, ar sheannos, phrioriobhta & clo-bhuailte: achd gu ba reula iuil & soluis dhamh, bridh na nSalm fein Anois maseadh a Chohadh na ngcorp ioch dardha gan rudadh & a ghnathughadh gu neiinh Griosaun {183} bheith i; achd le gcroidhibh daingne, dosgartha, deagh-fhreuhte, druididh re Firinn, Ceart, & Ceannsachd, mar fhuraileas na psalma: Ata clu & tarbha a nsdriocadh don choir; call & u dan, Le Dan glan diagha duisg iad thall; Cuir failte ar Fonn fial na bFionn, Ar Gharbh chriocha, 's Indseadh gall

_In English_

The Psal with sacred els As the Garden of Eden, replenished with trees of life of potent efficacy, and with medicinal plants, so is this Book of the Psalms of David, which contains a remedy for all the diseases of the soul The world and every living creature it contains are the Harp; reat wonder-working God; and David is ever one of the company who are thus ehty King I was assisted in this work by culling from authors of every kind, who have treated of the ancient ion, and the history of the Gaels, both in ht by which I steered was the sense of the Psalues, who as shi+ning luuide the inferior bodies, it becoarding the nificancy of the workree alike, that you be not, like weak silly creatures, tossed to and fro by false conceits; but with firm, resolute, well-established hearts, adhere to Truth, Justice, and Temperance, as these Psal hat is right, loss and disgrace in declining to what is wrong {184}

Little Volume, move boldly on; In pure Godly strains awaken yonder people; Salute the hospitable land of the Fingalians, The highland regions, and the Isles of strangers[122]

PRINTED BY NEILL AND COMPANY, EDINBURGH

Notes

[1] analysis of the Gaelic Language, by William Shaw, AM

[2] A few exaraiven from the Gaelic version of the Bible As the translation of the Prophetical Books underwent a revision, the exceptionable passages in those Books have been changed in the second edition froinal translator The criticises is, however, allowed to remain in this edition of the Grammar, because the first edition of the Gaelic Prophets is still in the hands of many, and because it often happens that ”we can best teach what is right by shohat is wrong”--_Lowth_

[3] It will iht difference between this and the common division into _ removed from the class of liquids to that of ht, but an intentional arrangement; as the _accidents_ of the letter _m_ are, in Gaelic, the same with those of the mute, not of the liquid consonants For a like reason, _s_ is included in the class of liquids

[4] Writers, who have touched on this part of Gaelic Grarammarians, have divided the consonants further into _iven to consonants which, in writing, have been occasionally combined with the letter _h_; and the latter na, been combined with _h_ But, in fact, both classes of consonants are alike _ht to have been h it has not This defect in Gaelic orthography has been often observed and regretted, though it has never been corrected Rather than continue a distinction which has no foundation in the structure of the language, I venture to discard the division of _mutable_ and _i tothe sounds of the letters I have availed myself of the very correct and acute remarks on this subject annexed to the Gaelic version of the New Testaht that this renders the language too monotonous, it uities and obscurities in rapid speaking, as the accent marks the initial syllable of polysyllables Declaie in this circuned to a

[8] The plural of la or latha _a day_, is sometimes written laeth; but it is doubtful how far this is a properit

[9] The effect of the vowels in qualifying the sound of the adjoining consonants will be explained in treating of the Palatals and Linguals

[10] This propensity is seen in the aspirating of consonants in Gaelic words, which have an evident affinity to words in other languages, where the sa list will sufficiently illustrate and confirm the truth of this remark:--

_Greek_ _Latin_ _Gaelic_ [Greek: Diabolos] Dia_b_olus Diabhol

Scri_b_o Scriobh, _write_

Fe_b_ris Fiabhrus, _a fever_

Ba_c_ulum Bacholl, _a staff_

[Greek: Deka] De_c_em Deich, _ten_

Lori_c_a Luireach, _a coat of mail_

Cleri_c_us Cleireach, _a clerk_

Mo_d_us Modh, _manner_

Gla_d_ius Claidheamh, _a sword_

[Greek: Kardia] } Cor_d_-is Cridhe, _the heart_