852: Sgiobair an t-Soithich Dhuibh (2)
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Sgiobair an t-Soithich Dhuibh (2)
Bha mi ag aithris na seann sgeulachd ‘Sgiobair an t-Soithich Dhuibh’. Bha iad anns an Tuirc. Bha an caiptean Albannach agus an t-òstair Turcach a’ reic sgadain, agus a’ dèanamh fortan, oir bha sgadain gu math daor anns an Tuirc.
Latha a bha seo, chunnaic an caiptean gun robh eallach air gach duine de bhiorain is fiodh is connadh. ‘Dè tha a’ dol?’ dh’fhaighnich e.
‘O, uill,’ fhreagair an t-òstair, ‘thàinig nighean air tìr cuide ri a bràthair. Bha iad ann am bàta beag agus chaidh an cur far an cùrsa le stoirm. Chaidh a bràthair a bhàthadh nuair a bha iad a’ tighinn gu tìr, ach bha an nighean ceart gu leòr. Agus abair gu bheil i brèagha. Tha i cho brèagha ’s gun robh ar rìgh ag iarraidh a pòsadh. Ach dhiùlt i. Agus tha iad a’ dol ga losgadh gu bàs an-earar. Tha iad a’ togail teine leis a’ chonnadh.’
‘Tha sin uabhasach,’ thuirt sgiobair an t-Soithich Dhuibh. ‘Càite a bheilear a’ cumail na h-ìghne?’
‘Tha i sa phrìosan,’ thuirt an t-òstair, ‘ach tha mi eòlach air fear aig a bheil iuchair. ’S dòcha gum biodh teans againn a toirt a-mach an ath-oidhch anns an dorchadas.’
Chaidh an t-òstair a bhruidhinn ris an fhear leis an iuchair. Agus chuir e air dòigh gum faigheadh an nighean a-mach air an làrna-mhàireach. Bhiodh an criutha a’ dèanamh an t-Soithich Dhuibh deiseil airson falbh. Chuireadh iad an nighean air bòrd agus bhiodh iad a’ falbh gu muir.
Chaidh a’ chùis leotha agus dh’fhalbh iad gu muir. Bha an nighean bòidheach gu cinnteach. Bhruidhinn an caiptean rithe agus fhuair e a-mach gur e bana-phrionnsa a bh’ innte. B’ ise nighean Rìgh Lochlainn.
Chuir iad na siùil a bu mhotha air na crainn agus bha an Soitheach Dubh a’ gluasad aig astar a bha iongantach. Ach, a dh’aindeoin sin, nuair a thàinig solas an latha, bha a’ mhuir air an cùlaibh dubh le soithichean. Bha an rìgh air cabhlach mòr a chur a-mach às an dèidh.
Bha na seòladairean Albannach comasach, ge-tà, agus bha an Soitheach Dubh luath. Ro chiaradh an fheasgair, bha iad air a h-uile soitheach Turcach fhàgail air an cùlaibh.
Nuair a ràinig iad Alba, dh’iarr an nighean air an sgiobair a dhol a-null a Lochlann airson innse do a pàrantan gun robh i slàn sàbhailte. Rinn an sgiobair sin agus abair gun robh muinntir Lochlainn toilichte. Bha iad air gabhail ris gun robh i fhèin agus a bràthair marbh.
Chuir iad soitheach Lochlannach gu muir airson a’ bhana-phrionnsa a thoirt dhachaigh. Agus thill an Soitheach Dubh cuideachd. Nuair a ràinig an soitheach Lochlannach Alba, chaidh iarraidh air an nighinn a dhol air bòrd agus a dhol a Lochlann. Ach dhiùlt i – mura tigeadh sgiobair an t-Soithich Dhuibh cuide rithe.
Dh’aontaich e falbh cuide rithe agus rinn an soitheach Lochlannach air Lochlann. Nuair a bha iad ag muir, chaidh sgiobair an t-Soithich Dhuibh gu h-àrd air a’ chrann airson seòl a riofadh. Rinn iad doidseadh agus thòisich na siùil air crathadh. Bhuail seòl anns an sgiobair agus thuit e don mhuir. Chùm an soitheach Lochlannach air a slighe agus iad an dùil gun d’ fhuair iad cuidhteas an Albannaich.
Ach cha d’ fhuair. Shnàmh e gu eilean – agus innsidh mi dhuibh dè thachair an uair sin an-ath-sheachdain.
Faclan na Litreach: òstair: publican; Lochlann: Scandinavia.
Abairtean na Litreach: Sgiobair an t-Soithich Dhuibh: The Captain of the Black Ship; bha sgadain gu math daor anns an Tuirc:herring were very expensive in Turkey; gun robh eallach air gach duine de bhiorain is fiodh is connadh:that every person was carrying a load of kindling, wood and fuel; chaidh an cur far an cùrsa le stoirm: they were put off course by a storm; chaidh a bràthair a bhàthadh: her brother was drowned; cho brèagha ’s gun robh ar rìgh ag iarraidh a pòsadh: so beautiful that our king was wanting to marry her; a’ dol ga losgadh gu bàs an-earar: going to burn her to death the day after tomorrow; càite a bheilear a’ cumail na h-ìghne?: where is the girl being kept?; gum biodh teans againn a toirt a-mach an ath-oidhch: that there is a chance that we could take her out tomorrow night; chaidh a’ chùis leotha agus dh’fhalbh iad gu muir: they were successful and they went to sea; chuir iad na siùil a bu mhotha air na crainn: they hoisted the largest sails on the masts; bha a’ mhuir air an cùlaibh dubh le soithichean: the sea behind them was black with vessels; bha an rìgh air cabhlach mòr a chur a-mach às an dèidh: the king had sent a fleet after them; ro chiaradh an fheasgair: before dusk; bha iad air gabhail ris gun robh i fhèin agus a bràthair marbh: they had accepted that she and her brother were dead; dhiùlt i – mura tigeadh X cuide rithe: she refused – unless X came with her; gu h-àrd air a’ chrann airson seòl a riofadh: high on the mast to reef the sail; thòisich na siùil air crathadh: the sails began to slap; gun d’ fhuair iad cuidhteas an Albannaich: that they had got rid of the Scot.
Puing-chànain na Litreach: chaidh iarraidh air an nighinn a dhol air bòrd: the girl was asked to go on board. This is a useful passive construction and note that nighean is inflected (slenderized) to nighinn because it is in the dative singular case following the preposition air. Here are some other examples: Chaidh iarraidh orm a bhith ann ‘I was asked to be there’; chaidh iarraidh orra an ainmean atharrachadh ‘they were asked to change their names’; chaidh iarraidh air a’ Phrìomhaire a chead a thoirt ‘the Prime Minister was asked to give his permission’.
Gnàthas-cainnt na Litreach: Rinn iad doidseadh: they hove to (stopped the ship’s forward movement).
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Litir do Luchd-ionnsachaidh
This letter corresponds to Tha an Litir seo a’ buntainn ri An Litir Bheag 548
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