Farewell be with thee, if thou hast left me,
Ne’er came an ebb-tide without a flow.
Mairi Laghach has become a great favourite, and has been translated more than once. The author was John Macdonald, latterly of Crobeg, in Lewis. He adopted the chorus of an inferior song which a Muracha nam Bo composed for his own daughter, who did not seem to elicit much admiration from the ungallant bachelors in the neighbourhood. Macdonald took up the air and composed the set of verses that are now so popular. It is worthy of remark that in his case also the subject of his song was a baby, and not a grown-up girl or woman. Steering his barque across the Minch his thoughts reverted to the friendly home he left behind him in Stornoway, and anxious to examine his poetic gifts he composed his song to Wee Mary, as it might be rendered, who then could not walk. Eventually she became his wife. Once on a visit to Ireland, the author was surprised to hear, while he himself was still a young man, his own song sung in an adjoining room, which shows how readily a song that catches the popular ear and taste will travel.
An endeavour is made to be as literal as possible in the following translation, which must necessarily want much of the aroma of the original:—
Early roved my Mary
With me through Glen-Smeoil,
When young love’s keen arrow
Pierced me to the soul.
With such living fervour
We together drew,