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Gur h-ì as crìoch àraid do gach cainnt fo'n ghréin,
gu ar smuainte fhàsmhor a phàirteachadh r'a chéil';
ar n-inntinn a rùsgadh, agus rùn ar crì,
le'r gnìomh 's le'r giùlan sùrd chur air ar dith.
Is gu laoigh ar beòil dh' ìobradh do Dhìa nan dùl;
is i h-ard chrìoch mhór gu bhith toirt dòsan cliù.
Is e an duine féin as aon chreutair reusanta ann:
gu'n d'thug toil Dé dha gibht le bheul bhith cainnt.
Gu'n chum e so o'n uile bhrùid gu léir;
o ghibht mhór phrìseil-s' dheilbh na iomhaigh féin!
Na'm beirte balbh e is a theanga marbh 'na cheann,
b 'i an iargain shearbh e; b'fhearr bhith marbh no ann.
Is ge h-iomadh cànain o linn Bhabeil fhuair
an sliochd sin Adhaimh, is i Ghàidhlig a thug buaidh.
Do'n Iabhradh dàicheil an urram àrd gu tuairm's,
gun mheang gun fhàillinn as urra cach a luaidh.
Bha a' Ghàidhlig ullamh 'na glòir fior-ghuineach cruaidh
air feadh a' chruinne mu'n thuilich an Tuil-ruadh.
Mhair i fòs is cha téid a glòir air chall
dh'aindeoin gò is mìoruin mhóir nan Gall.
Is i labhair Alba is gall-bhodach féin,
ar flaith, ar prionnsaidhe, is ar diùcanna gun éis.
An tigh-comhairle an rìgh an uair shuidheadh air binn a' chùirt
is i a' Ghàidhlig lìomhta dh'fhuasgladh snaidhm gach cùis.
Is i labhair Calum allail a' chinn mhóir,
gach mith is maith bha an Alba, beag is mór.
Is i labhair Goill is Gàidheil, neo-chléirich is cléir,
gach fear is bean a ghluaiseadh teanga am beul.
Is i labhair Adhamh ann a phàrras féin
is bu shiubhlach Gàidhlig o bheul àluinn Eubh.
Och tha bhuil ann! Is uireasbhach gann fo dhìth
glòir gach teanga a labhras cainnt seach ì.
Tha Laidionn coimhliont torrach teann na's leoir,
ach sgalag thràilleil i do'n Ghàidhlig chòir.
'S an Aithne mhóir bha a' Ghreugais còrr 'na tìm,
ach b'ion di h-òrdag chur fa h-òirchrios grinn.
Is ge mìn slìm bòidheach cùirteil ro-bhog lìomht'
an Fhraingis lògmhor am pailis mór gach rìgh,
ma thachras cach oirre pàirt de'n ainbheach féin
is ro-bheag a dh'fhàgas iad de àgh na cré.
Is i an aon chànain am beul nam bàrd 's nan éisg
as fearr gu càineadh o linn Bhabeil féin.
Is is as fearr gu moladh is as torrunnaiche gleus
gu rann mo laoidh a tharruing gaoth troimh bheul.
Is is as fearr gu comhairl' is gu gnothuch chuir gu feum
na aon teanga Eòrpach, dh'aindeoin bòsd nan Greug.
Is i as fearr gu rosg is air chosaibh a chur duain,
is ri cruaidh uchd cosgair bhrosnachadh an t-sluaigh.
Mu choinne bàir is i as tabhachdaich bheir buaidh,
gu toirt a' bhàis do'n eucoir dhàicheil chruaidh.
Cainnt làidir ruithteach as neo-liotach fuaim;
is i seaghail sliochdmhor briosg-ghlorach mall luath.
Cha'n fheum i iasad is cha mhó iarras uath';
o, an t-sean mhathair chiatach, làn de chiada buaidh!
Tha i féin daonnan saoibhir maoineach slàn,
a tighean-taisge dh'fhaclaibh gasda làn.
A' chànain sgapach thapaidh bhlasda bhinn,
thig le tartar neartmhor a beul cinn.
An labhairt shiolmhor lionmhor, 's mìlteach buaidh;
shultmhor brìoghmhor fhiorghlan, chaoidh nach truaill!
B'i an teanga mhilis bhinnfhoclach 'san dàn,
gu spreigeil tioram ioraltach, 's i làn.
A' chànain cheòlmhor shòghmhor, 's glòrmhor blas,
a labhair móirshliochd Scota is Gaidheil ghlais;
is a réir Mhic Comb, an t-ughdar mór ri luaidh,
is i as freumhach òir is ciad ghràmair glòir gach sluaigh.
Date: Tue, 7 May 1996 19:33:14 -0400
Sender: Gaelic Language Bulletin Board <GAELIC-L@IRLEARN.UCD.IE>
From: Micheal MacThómhais <Eomot@AOL.COM>
Subject: Moladh na chànain [GA]
Here's something for learners to test their reading skills on. A poem written about 1750 in praise of the Gaelic language. Mythical persons mentioned are Gaidheal Glas, the supposed ancestor of the gaels; Scota, wife of his descendant Milidh Easpáinne, from whom the Irish and Scottish gaels are supposedly descended; and Adam and Eve, their ancestors. Historical figures are Calum (king of Scots in 1057 and again in 1058-93); and James Thomson (MacComb), an 18th century poet. Babeil is the Tower of Babel. Apart from those references, it should all be fairly easy going if you can use a dictionary. Lines 19 and 20 are often quoted, and are relevant today - lets ensure it continues to survive, despite what the Scottish Office anglophiles are trying to do to Gaelic-medium education. (As usual, if any SG learner needs help with this text, ask and I'll try to provide it.)
[...] B' e Alasdair MacDhomhnaill (a.d.e. Alasdair Mac Mhaighistir Alasdair) am bàrd, "Alexander MacDonald" a tha an comhnuidh air 'sa bheurla.
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