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Litir na seachdain aig Ruaraidh MacIllEathain. This week's letter for learners from Roddy MacLean.

5 minutes

Last on

Sun 6 Nov 2011 14:55

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Litir 642: Na h-Amhaisgean - Pàirt 2

Tha mi ag innse dhuibh na seann sgeulachd Na h-Amhaisgean no Na Trì Saighdearan. Thill am boireannach don t-seòmar leis an t-solas. Bha an dàrna saighdear air an ceathramh muilt a chur na mhàileid airson a chompanaich.

“Bu neònach e gun tug thu an solas air falbh,” thuirt an saighdear.

“Is neònach an duine nach amaiseadh air a bheul co-dhiù bhiodh e dorch no soilleir,” fhreagair i. “Chan fhaod e a bhith gun do dh’ith an coigreach beag an ceathramh muilt.”

Dh’iarr i an fheòil suas is sìos. Mu dheireadh, lorg i na mhàileid i. Bha i mì-thoilichte. Dh’iarr i gum biodh an saighdear air a thilgeil am measg nan con mòra. Cha d’ fhuair e ri ithe an sin ach cnàmhan.

Bha an treas saighdear fhathast ri taobh a’ chnuic a’ feitheamh ri a chompanach. An ath mhadainn chunnaic e an cù ruadh. Chaidh e às dèidh a’ choin. Cha robh e fad’ sam bith ga leantainn nuair a chunnaic e an caisteal. Chaidh e timcheall a’ chaisteil, a’ coimhead airson doras, nuair a chunnaic e am boireannach ciatach aig an uinneig. Smèid i air. Chaidh e don doras chùil agus leig i a-steach e.

Thugadh gu seòmar brèagha e far an robh biadh air a chur air a bheulaibh. Am measg a’ bhìdh, bha buileann cruithneachd – lofa mòr de dh’aran. Thug am boireannach an solas air falbh. Ach cha robh aig an t-saighdear ri duine sam bith a chuimhneachadh agus cha do chuir e dad na mhàileid. Nuair a thill am boireannach leis an t-solas, bha a h-uile rud ann an òrdugh.

Thàinig an oidhche agus chaidh an saighdear a laighe. Ach cha d’ fhuair e cadal. Bha fuaim mòr an ath dhoras de cheòl is aighear. An ath mhadainn, thuirt e ris a’ bhoireannach, “Cò iad na daoine siud a bha ri ceòl is aighear, nach do leig mi a dhol a chadal fad na h-oidhche?”

“Is iad sin na h-Amhaisgean,” fhreagair i. “Tha mi an seo airson latha is bliadhna. Ghoid na h-Amhaisgean mi agus thug iad an seo mi. ’S e nighean rìgh a th’ annam ann an Rìoghachd na Fuarachd.”

Air an oidhche sin, thòisich an ceòl is aighear a-rithist agus cha d’ fhuair an saighdear cadal sam bith. Dh’èirich e agus chaidh e far an robh na h-Amhaisgean airson gearan. Nuair a chunnaic iad aig an doras e, rinn iad uile gàire.

Dè fàth ur gàire?” ars esan.

“Tha gum bi do cheann fhèin na bhall-coise dhuinn a-nochd,” fhreagair iad.

Rinn an saighdear fhèin gàire. “Dè fàth do ghàire fhèin?” ars iadsan.

Thuirt esan gun gabhadh e am fear a bu mhotha aig an robh ceann agus a bu chaoil’ aig an robh casan agus gun gabhadh e dhaibh leis. Rinn e sin gus an robh an seòmar falamh is sàmhach. Chaidh an saighdear a laighe ach, an ceann greis, thòisich an ùpraid cheudna. Chaidh an saighdear an ath dhoras, fhuair e greim air an fhear a bu mhotha aig an robh ceann agus a bu chaoil’ aig an robh casan agus ghabh e dhaibh leis gus an robh an t-àite falamh.

Am measg na h-ùpraid, rinn am boireannach a dol-às. Mus do theich i, gheall i don t-saighdear gun tilleadh i le a h-athair is le maighdeannan coimheadach airson a phòsadh. Agus chì sinn de thachair an-ath-sheachdain.

Faclan na Litreach

amhaisg: awisk; ciatach: elegant; falamh: empty; à󲹳: quiet; DZ-à: escape; è: waved.

Abairtean na Litreach

bha X air an ceathramh muilt a chur na mhàileid: X had put the quarter of mutton in his bag; bu neònach e: it was strange; is neònach an duine nach amaiseadh air a bheul co-dhiù bhiodh e dorch no soilleir: strange is the man who couldn’t find his mouth whether it’s dark or light; chan fhaod e a bhith: it can’t be; cha d’ fhuair e ri ithe an sin ach cnàmhan: he got nothing to eat there but bones; chaidh às dèidh a’ choin: he went after the dog; cha robh e fad’ sam bith ga leantainn: he wasn’t following him long; smèid i air: she waved to him; am measg a’ bhìdh, bha buileann cruithneachd: amongst the food, there was a large wheaten loaf; bha a h-uile rud ann an òrdugh: everything was as it should be; chaidh an saighdear a laighe: the soldier went in order to sleep; ’s e nighean rìgh a th’ annam ann an Rìoghachd na Fuarachd: I am a king’s daughter in the Kingdom of Coldness; gum bi do cheann fhèin na bhall-coise dhuinn: that your own head will be a football for us; gun gabhadh e am fear a bu mhotha aig an robh ceann agus a bu chaoil’ aig an robh casan: that he would take the man with the largest head and the slenderest legs; gun gabhadh e dhaibh leis: that he would take to them with him (beat them with him); an ùpraid cheudna: the same commotion; le a h-athair is le maighdeannan coimheadach airson a phòsadh: with her father and attendant maidens to marry him.

Puing-chànain na Litreach

Cò iad na daoine siud a bha ri ceòl is aighear?: who were those people who were involved in music and merriment? The preposition ri is a very handy and flexible one – and easy to use for learners. In this idiomatic usage it means “engaged in, involved in, occupied in doing”. It is used informally a lot eg dè tha thu ris? (what are you up to?); bha i ri buachailleachd (she was herding [cattle]); bha e fhèin ’s a chàirdean ri smocadh cainb (he and his friends were involved in smoking marijuana); bha mi ri maorach an-dè (I was occupied in [gathering] shellfish yesterday); bidh e ri fealla-dhà gu tric (he’s often involved in fun, nonsense). Note that ri does not lenite the following noun.

Gnàthas-cainnt na Litreach

Dè fàth ur gàire?: what is the purpose of your laughter?

Tha “Litir do Luchd-ionnsachaidh” air a maoineachadh le MG ALBA

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