Forward each man set!
Pibroch o’ Donuil Dhu,
Knell for the onset!”
“IS FADA MAR SO THA SINN,”
which may be translated “Too Long in this Condition,” is an old pibroch, dating from about 1712. It was composed either by Donald Mòr Mac Crimmon or by Patrick, his son. Donald was compelled at one time, because of some depredations of his own, to flee for his life into Sutherlandshire. There he put up unrecognised at the house of a relative named Mac Kay, who was getting married that day. Mac Crimmon sat down in a corner almost unnoticed, but when the piper began to play he unconsciously fingered his stick as if it were the chanter. The piper of the evening noticed this, and asked him to play for them. Donald said he could not, and the whole company asked him, and he again refused. At last the piper said: “I am getting seven shillings and sixpence for playing at this marriage. I’ll give you one-third if you will play.” Donald then took up the pipe and began:—
“Too long are we thus, too long are we thus,
Too long in this condition,
Too long lacking meat or drink,
At Mac Kay’s marriage am I.”
These lines he repeated three times, and concluded by adding—