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01/04/2013

Tha litir bheag na seachdain aig Ruaraidh MacIllEathain.
This week's short letter for learners is introduced by Ruaraidh MacLean.

3 minutes

Last on

Mon 1 Apr 2013 19:00

Clip

An Litir Bheag 412

Seo agaibh stòiridh – MacLeòid Dhùn Bheagain agus Iain Garbh Ratharsair.

ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý Bha Iain Garbh a’ fuireach ann an Ratharsair. Bha e air leth làidir. Cha robh e a’ pàigheadh màl do MhacLeòid Dhùn Bheagain. Ach bu chòir dha. Bha an t-eagal air MacLeòid a dhol a dh’iarraidh an airgid.

ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý Latha a bha seo, thàinig burraidh a Chaisteal Dhùn Bheagain. Bha e a’ dol a chur cìs air MacLeòid. Bha sin mura faigheadh MacLeòid cuideigin a dhèanadh a’ chùis air ann an sabaid.

ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý ‘Uill,’ arsa MacLeòid. ‘Tha duine agam a nì a’ chùis ort, ach chan eil e aig baile.’

ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý ‘Cuin a thilleas e?’ dh’fhaighnich am burraidh.

ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý ‘An ceann trì latha,’ fhreagair MacLeòid.

ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý ‘Fanaidh mi an seo, ma-thà,’ thuirt am burraidh. Agus dh’fhan e sa chaisteal.

ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý Chuir MacLeòid gille le litir a Ratharsair. Bha e ag iarraidh air Iain Garbh a dhol a Dhùn Bheagan. Bha rudeigin ann a bha cudromach. Cha robh beachd aig Iain gu dè a bha ann.

ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý Dh’fhalbh Iain a Dhùn Bheagain. Ràinig e an caisteal. Bha MacLeòid a’ feitheamh ris. Chuir e fàilte air. ‘Thig a-steach,’ thuirt e.

ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý ‘Carson a chuir sibh fios thugam?’ thuirt Iain.

ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý ‘Gheibh thu sin a-mach fhathast,’ fhreagair MacLeòid.

ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý Bha Iain amharasach. Dhiùlt e a dhol a-steach don chaisteal.

ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý ‘Thig a-steach agus innsidh mi dhut mun ghnothach,’ thuirt MacLeòid.

ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý ‘Mura faigh mi fios a-muigh,’ fhreagair Iain Garbh, ‘tillidh mi dhachaigh.’ Thionndaidh Iain air a shàil. Thill MacLeòid a-steach don chaisteal. Bha am burraidh a’ feitheamh ris.

ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý ‘An tàinig e?’ thuirt am burraidh.

ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý ‘Cha tàinig,’ fhreagair an ceann-cinnidh, ‘ach tha bleigeard a-muigh sin air an rathad. Ma bheir thu deidhseag dha air a thòin, bheir mi duais dhut.’

ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý ‘O, bheir mi deidhseag mhath dha,’ fhreagair am burraidh.

ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý Chaidh am burraidh sìos an rathad. Ràinig e Iain Garbh. Thog e fèilleadh Iain agus thug e deidhseag mhath dha air a thòin.

ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý Thionndaidh Iain Garbh le fearg. Dh’fhàisg e am fear eile le ghàirdeanan. Bhris e a h-uile cnàimh na bhodhaig. Thuit am burraidh marbh.

ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý ’S ann nuair a fhuair Iain dhachaigh a thuig e gun robh MacLeòid Dhùn Bheagain air brath a ghabhail air. Agus sin mo stòiridh dhuibh.

The Little Letter 412

Here is a story for you – MacLeod of Dunvegan and Iain Garbh of Raasay.

ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý Iain Garbh was living in Raasay. He was extremely strong. He wasn’t paying rent to MacLeod of Dunvegan. But he should [have been]. MacLeod was afraid to go and ask for the money.

ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý One day, a bully came to Dunvegan Castle. He was going to levy a cess on MacLeod. That was unless MacLeod could find somebody who could defeat him in a fight.

ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý ‘Well,’ said MacLeod. ‘I have a man who’ll defeat you, but he’s not at home.’

ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý ‘When will he return?’ asked the bully.

ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý ‘In three days’ time,’ replied MacLeod.

ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý ‘I’ll stay here, then,’ said the bully. And he stayed in the castle.

Ìý

ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý MacLeod sent a servant with a letter to Raasay. He was wanting Iain Garbh to go to Dunvegan. There was something that was important. Iain didn’t know what it was.

ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý Iain left for Dunvegan. He reached the castle. MacLeod was waiting for him. He welcomed him. ‘Come in,’ he said.

ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý ‘Why did you send for me?’ said Iain.

ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý ‘You’ll find that out presently,’ replied MacLeod.

ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý Iain was suspicious. He refused to enter the castle.

ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý ‘Come in and I’ll tell you about the matter,’ said MacLeod.

ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý ‘If I don’t find out outside,’ replied Iain Garbh, ‘I’ll return home.’ Iain turned on his heel. MacLeod returned inside the castle. The bully was waiting for him.

Ìý

ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý ‘Did he come?’ said the bully.

Ìý

ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý ‘No,’ replied the clan chief, ‘but there is a scoundrel out there on the road. If you give him a slap on the backside, I’ll give you a prize.’

ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý ‘Oh, I’ll give him a good slap,’ replied the bully.

ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý The bully went down the road. He reached Iain Garbh. He lifted Iain’s kilt and gave him a good slap on the backside.

ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý Iain Garbh turned in [with] anger. He squeezed the other man with his arms. He broke every bone in his body. The bully fell dead.

ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý It’s when Iain got home that he understood that MacLeod of Dunvegan had deceived him. And that’s my story for you.

Broadcast

  • Mon 1 Apr 2013 19:00

All the letters

Tha gach Litir Bheag an seo / All the Little Letters are here.

Podcast: An Litir Bheag

The Little Letter for Gaelic Learners

An Litir Bheag air LearnGaelic

An Litir Bheag is also on LearnGaelic (with PDFs)

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