Literary Collections

The Fians

Name: The Fians
Author: John Gregorson Campbell
ISBN: 9781231224595

by John Gregorson Campbell

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Synopsis

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1891 Excerpt: ...sea-bent, and is to be found in marshy ground throughout Mull and in that direction. It is used for thatching houses, and thatch made of it is said to last seven years. Oss1an1c Ballads. The following ballads are also given, to make this work as complete as possible, so far as the writer's opportunities enable him. They exhaust all the materials connected with the Fians that have been fallen in with by him, and if in some parts fragmentary, they are at least free from the obscurity and uncertainty that clog and detract from the merits of all compositions to which the word "doctoring" or "cooking", i.e., interpolating, can be attached. These ballads and poems were sung or recited in a melodious tone peculiar to themselves which was called Cronan na Ftinne (the melody or purling of the Fians). It might originally have been accompanied by the music of a harp, but, as the writer heard it, it was entirely vocal. It would depend very much on the character of the reciter whether the " 0 tha" repeated three times after each stanza was the remains of an older melody, or only an attempt at mimicry. The verse of the purling (cronan) which the writer heard is: Cronan Na Feinne. "Is lionar cutral, 's lionar sgiath, Is lionar liiireach is lann gharbh, Is lionar Tbiseach's mac righ 6 'S cha robh aon diu sin gun airm O tha, o tha, o tha." Manus. "Cleric! who chantest the psalms, I am convinced your judgment is not sound, Why should you not listen for a short time to a tale About the Fians--you never heard before?" "For your authority, son of Fionn, And though you highly esteem the Fians, The voice of the psalms throughout my mouth, That is music enough for me." "Do you compare your psalms To Fionn-recitations...