- It is right to welcome a man of thy news,
man with whom it has come from the shore;
I have news privately from him
Over which my pride should excel all.- Sweeter than music of harps thy tale,
Young man without wound, without blemish;
Thou art like organs when we are over wine,
If true be the statement of thy lips.- It is most agreeable to me during my life to hear
That news with which you have come;
Justice has more abounded every day with me,
Powerful is my strength to-day.
- I delight in thy coming, in my condition,
To listen to thy words attentively;
From thy story of peace I do not dissent,
Through it I sleep rightly to-night.- Thou hast brought with thee thy recent news,
Young man of the most skilful countenance;
A seal by which my breast is confirmed,
News from the personage by which I have been gladdened.- Donald, son of John, the defender of the trenches,
Is the secret of the excellent news which you have,
The safe arrival of the hero over the sea,
Love to tell it is due from me.- His safe arrival armed and young
Is a cause of increase to my pleasure;
A scion of the united house, a tree that does not bend,
I will take delight in him unto my death.- To visit him I go at once
By the rule if I follow custom;
I am in haste to his society without restraint,
His beauty will bloom in accordance with my expectation.- I behold him opening his eyes,
The personage by whom my substance was bestowed;
I recognise him at a distance beyond the sea,
His countenance flushed with blood like wine.- Why should I not know his ringleted hair
Corresponding with my expectation as I judged?
The deeply beloved of the daughters of the queens of Ross,
With round hands and beautiful brown nails.- I will know the words of his mouth.
And his teeth like pearls in brightness,
Which are not disclosed uncivilly to us,
And the cheerful eye of mild lustre.- I know, though a gun-shot from me,
His eyebrow neat, shapely, narrow;
A free young man with whom it is difficult to contend,
And his smooth side like the floating of lime.- I would know the steps of his feet
While leaping nimbly over the fence;
The heart of him of the victorious bands has taken away
The lock of my mind from me secretly.
- Donald, thou art my great courage,
My supporter in combat when at my back;
My jewel in whom I take delight,
Thou art my full star and my new apple.- My victorious tree who art esteemed,
My own heart is that elegant man with curled hair;
The son of a prince from whom knowledge was not concealed,
My battle belt is that intrepid fair drop.- Our water fountain that never runs dry,
Our arms of war to subdue,
The cause of our mirth, our freedom of joy.
The precious ale which is drunk out of gold [goblets].- He is my sword and my rare slender spear,
My choice of the Gael and the Gall;
He has in keeping a good disposition towards me,
And the desire of my eyes is to see him there.- By hereditary descent we have been with his people,
We have done our best endeavours through hope;
I deny not that my strength is from thine ancestry,
Through thee I obtain right and justice.It is right to welcome a man of thy news.