642: Na h-Amhaisgean (2)
Litir sheachdaineach do luchd-ionnsachaidh le clàr-fuaime, tar-sgrìobhadh is mìneachadh. A weekly letter to Gaelic learners with audio, transcription and explanation.
Tha an litir ag obrachadh leis an fhaclair. Tagh an taba ‘teacsa Gàidhlig’ agus tagh facal sam bith san teacsa agus fosglaidh am faclair ann an taba ùr agus bidh mìneachadh den fhacal ann. The letter is integrated with the dictionary. Select the tab ‘Gaelic text’ and choose any word and the dictionary will open and you will see the English explanation of the Gaelic word.
Na h-Amhaisgean (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; sàmhach: quiet; dol-às: escape; smèid: 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?
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Litir do Luchd-ionnsachaidh
This letter corresponds to Tha an Litir seo a’ buntainn ri An Litir Bheag 338
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