573: An t-Urramach Alexander Pope (2)
Litir sheachdaineach do luchd-ionnsachaidh le clàr-fuaime, tar-sgrìobhadh is mìneachadh. A weekly letter to Gaelic learners with audio, transcription and explanation.
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An t-Urramach Alexander Pope (2)
Thòisich An t-Urr Alexander Pope mar mhinistear ann am Meaghrath ann an Gallaibh ann an seachd ceud deug, trithead ’s a ceithir (1734). Bha e anns an dreuchd sin fad ceathrad ’s a h-ochd bliadhna.
Mar a bha mi ag innse dhuibh an t-seachdain sa chaidh, ’s e duine foghainteach làidir a bh’ ann. Bhiodh e a’ toirt bata leis airson daoine a “bhrosnachadh” a dh’ionnsaigh na h-eaglaise. ’S e “am bàillidh” a chanadh e ris a’ bhata.
Bha fear anns an sgìre aig an robh baile fearainn. Bha boireannach a’ fuireach aige agus bha dithis chloinne aca, ach cha robh iad pòsta. Latha a bha seo, nochd e mu choinneamh Seisean na h-Eaglaise. Thuirt Mgr Pope ris gun robh e na pheacach. Dh’iarr am ministear air a pheacaidhean aideachadh anns an eaglais air an ath Shàbaid. Agus dh’iarr e air gealltainn gun cuireadh e e fhèin fo lagh is ùghdarras na h-Eaglaise.
“Mus dèan mi càil dhen t-seòrsa,” thuirt an duine, “faodaidh sibh m’ fhiacail mu dheireadh a spìonadh às mo bheul.”
“Chì sinn,” thuirt am ministear.
Dh’aontaich an Seisean gun rachadh triùir de na h-èildearan as làidire gu taigh an tuathanaich madainn na Sàbaid. Bheireadh iad air dhol don Eaglais.
Nuair a thàinig madainn na Sàbaid, rinneadh sin. Chuir na h-èildearan an tuathanach fo smachd. Chuingealaich iad e le ròpan, agus thug iad air dhol don eaglais.
Nuair a ràinig iad an eaglais, dh’iarr Mgr Pope air na h-èildearan an tuathanach a cheangal ri being. Aig deireadh an t-searmoin thuirt e ris an duine bhon chùbaid, “Thuirt thu gum faodamaid an fhiacail mu dheireadh a spìonadh às do bheul mus biodh tu far a bheil thu. Ach, a bhleigeird bhochd, càite a bheil thu a-nis?!” ’S e ministear cruaidh a bh’ ann.
Bha Alexander Pope fada an aghaidh deoch làidir. Latha a bha seo, thàinig an tè a bha a’ ruith an taigh-sheinnse thuige. Bha sianar choigreach a-staigh aice. Bha iad air cus òl agus bha iad a-nise a’ sabaid. Bha an t-eagal oirre gun dèanadh iad sgrios.
Dh’iarr am ministear oirre àradh a chur ri balla an taighe agus cuinneagan a lìonadh le uisge. Chaidh e suas air a’ mhullach leis na cuinneagan, thug e air falbh gu leòr dhen tughadh agus dhòirt e an t-uisge air na drongairean a bha fodha. Thàinig na drongairean a-mach, deiseil airson sabaid leis. Ach bha am ministear a’ feitheamh riutha air an talamh, agus “am bàillidh” na làimh. Cha robh aon duine aca deònach aghaidh a thoirt air a’ mhinistear agus theich iad.
Tha stòiridh eile ann cuideachd mu thuras a bha feadhainn ag òl ann am bothan faisg air an eaglais air an t-Sàbaid. Dh’iarr Mgr Pope orra sgaoileadh ach dhiùlt iad. Bha dusan neach anns a’ ghràisg agus thilg fear dhiubh botal a dh’ionnsaigh ceann a’ mhinisteir. Thug am ministear slaic mhòr leis a’ bhàillidh air ceann an fhir eile agus thuit e don talamh. Rinn e an aon rud air ceathrar no còignear eile mus do sgaoil iad.
Tha e coltach gun do thagh Mgr Pope èildearan a rèir cho làidir ’s a bha iad, chan ann a rèir cho diadhaidh ’s a bha iad! ’S e sin, co-dhiù, an cliù aige. Ach dh’fhàg e dìleab Ghàidhlig Ghallach a tha inntinneach. Bheir sinn sùil air sin an ath sheachdain.
Faclan na Litreach: Meaghrath: Reay (parish); Gallaibh: Caithness; dreuchd: job, position; foghainteach: brave, valorous; bata: stick; being: bench; cùbaid: pulpit; cuinneagan: water pails; gràisg: gang, mob.
Abairtean na Litreach: aig an robh baile fearainn: who had a farm; bha dithis chloinne aca, ach cha robh iad pòsta: they had two children, but they weren’t married; mu choinneamh Seisean na h-Eaglaise: in front of the Church Session; gun robh e na pheacach: that he was a sinner; a pheacaidhean aideachadh: to admit his sins; air an ath Shàbaid: on the next Sabbath; dh’iarr e air gealltainn gun cuireadh e e fhèin fo lagh is ùghdarras na h-Eaglaise: he asked him to promise that he would place himself under the law and authority of the Church; mus dèan mi càil dhen t-seòrsa: before I do anything of the like; faodaidh sibh m’ fhiacail mu dheireadh a spìonadh às mo bheul: you can pull the last tooth out of my mouth; triùir de na h-èildearan as làidire: three of the strongest elders; bheireadh iad air dhol: they would make him go; chuingealaich iad e le ròpan: they restrained him with ropes; deireadh an t-searmoin: the end of the sermon; a bhleigeird bhochd: you pitiful scoundrel; fada an aghaidh deoch làidir: strongly opposed to alcoholic drink; an tè a bha a’ ruith an taigh-sheinnse: the woman who ran the pub; sianar choigreach: six strangers; àradh a chur ri balla an taighe: to put a ladder against the wall of the house; thug e air falbh gu leòr dhen tughadh: he took away enough of the thatch; dhòirt e an t-uisge air na drongairean a bha fodha: he poured the water on the drunkards who were below him; cha robh X deònach aghaidh a thoirt air Y: X wasn’t willing to stand against Y; chan ann a rèir cho diadhaidh ’s a bha iad: not according to how devout they were; dìleab Ghàidhlig Ghallach: a Caithnessian Gaelic legacy.
Puing-chànain na Litreach: Thòisich An t-Urr Alexander Pope mar mhinistear...: Rev Alexander Pope started as a minister... Gaelic writers are often unsure as to whether or not to put a full stop to indicate an abbreviation, as there seems to a lack of unanimity on the matter in the English-speaking world (one sees Rev. and Rev). The latest edition of the Gaelic Orthographic Conventions (Oct 2009 – or is it Oct. 2009?!) gives us some guidance. All the examples they give, with one exception, omit the full stop eg An t-Oll, An Dr agus Mgr – the exception being àir. for no. (number), presumably to ensure there is no confusion with the preposition air.
Gnàthas-cainnt na Litreach: a rèir cho làidir ’s a bha iad: according to how strong they were.
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Litir do Luchd-ionnsachaidh
This letter corresponds to Tha an Litir seo a’ buntainn ri An Litir Bheag 269
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