That wafts me off from Finary.
But apart from the artistic execution of the verses, the sweet, high-souled, and patriotic sentiments conveyed in them would always recommend them to the warm-hearted and emotional Gael. The history of “Fionnairidh” has always seemed to me something like that of “God Save the Queen,” or “The Address to the Cuckoo.” The names of Bruce and Lowe are connected with the last just as those of Macleod and Kelly are with the first. One of the few who could authoritatively decide the precise authorship of “Fionnairidh”—was that true and highly-gifted Highlander the late Dr John Macleod of Morven; and also his learned relative Dr Clerk of Kilmailie, who could write with accuracy of the different versions, English and Gaelic, of Eirich agus tiugainn, O.
The following Gaelic version—eight stanzas, there are four more—are given as they came through the hands of the late Archibald Sinclair, who had probably something to do with it. It was first printed on a leaflet, was then copied into the “Gael” in 1872, and has been several times published in whole or in part since:—
Tha ’n latha maith, ’s an soirbheas ciùin;
Tha ’n nine ruith, ’s an t-àm dhuinn-dlùith;
Tha ’m bat’ ’g am fheitheamh fo a siùil,
Gu’ m thoirt a null o Fhionn-Airidh.
Tha ioma mìle ceangal blath
Mar shaighdean ann am féin an sas;
Mo chridhe ’n impis a bhi sgaint’