We give a free translation of the above into English, far inferior, however, to the Gaelic original:— MACDONALD SATIRISED. I like to see a niggard man, One of the great Macdonald clan; When others are in quest of gain This man the needy will sustain. Your mother, if an honest dame, Has not retained her wedlock fame; No part is Mac from top to toe, You're either Rose or else Munro. When to the house you turned your face, Let it be told to your disgrace, 'Twas for the dregs you had forgot, The Poet's curse be in your throat. The bridegroom, as we may well believe, smarted under the chastisement administered to him. He took an early opportunity of putting himself in the poet's way. Seeing Mr Macpherson riding past his place one day, he went to meet him with a bottle and glass, and importunately begged of him that he would have the goodness to say something now in his favour. Mr Macpherson complied with the request. Sitting on horseback, and taking the glass in his hand, he pronounced the ensuing eulogy on the bridegroom:— MOLADH AN DOMHNULLAICH. Bha na bàird riamh breugach, bòsdail, Beular sinn, gòrach, gun seadh, Lasgair gasd e Chloinn Dòmhnuill, Mac Ailein Mhòir as a Mhagh. Chuir e botul neo-ghortach a' m' dhorn, A chur iotadh mo sgòrnain air chùl, 'S bàrd gun tùr a bh' air a' chòrdadh Nach do sheinn gu mòr a chliù. Ach tha 'n seòrs' ud uile cho caillteach, Cho mi-thaingeil, 's cho beag ciall, 'S ma thig a' chuach idir o 'n ceann, Nach fiach e taing na fhuair iad riamh. The above may be thus translated:— MACDONALD EULOGISED. The bards, as we have ever seen, Liars and flatterers have been; Boasting, with little cause to glory, So empty is their upper storey. Of Clan Macdonald this is one, Of Allan Mor of Moy the son; He brought to me a sonsy vessel To satiate my thirsty whistle. The poet proved himself unwise When him he did not eulogise. The bards—I own it with regret— Are a pernicious sorry set, Whate'er they get is soon forgot, Unless you always wet their throat. Mr Macpherson had a dairymaid of the name of Flora, whom he described in abusive language in a poem beginning,— Flòiri mhùgach, bhòtach, ghlùn-dubh. He afterwards made amends for the offence he had given her by commending her in very flattering terms. He represents her as a most useful dairymaid, and as a young woman of surpassing beauty, who had many admirers, and, according to his description of her, such were her good qualities, and her personal attractions, that certain persons whom he names, among others the clergyman of the parish, expressed their desire to engage her in their own service. The poet rejects their solicitations, and informs them how unlikely a thing it is that Flora should engage with them, as she was intended for the King:— EULOGY ON FLORA.