MAILI BHEAG ÒG

Nach truagh leat mi 's mi 'm prìosan,
Mo Mhaili bheag òg?
Do chàirdean a' cur binn orm,
Mo chuid de'n t-saoghal thu;
A bhean na mala mìne,
'S nam pògan mar na fìoguis,
Is tu nach fhàgadh shìos mi,
Le mìrun do bheòil.

Di-Dòmhnaich anns a' ghleann dhuinn,
Mo Mhaili bheag òg,
Nuair thòisich mi ri cainnt riut,
Mo chuid de'n t-saoghal mh+r,
Nuair dh'fhosgail mi mo shùilean,
'S a sheall mi air mo chùlthaobh,
Bha marcaich' nan eich chrùdhaich,
Tighinn dlùth air mo thòir.

Is mise bh'air mo bhuaireadh,
Mo Mhaili bheag òg,
Nuair thàinig sluagh mu'n cuairt dhuinn,
Mo ribhinn ghlan ùr;
Is truagh nach anns an uair sin
A thuit mo làmh o m'ghualainn,
Mu'n d'amais mi do bhualadh,
Mo Mhaili bheag òg.

Gur bòidhche leam a dh'fhàs thu,
Mo Mhaili bheag òg,
Na 'n lilidh anns an fhàsach,
Mo cheud ghràdh 's mo rùn;
Mar aiteal caoin na gréine
Am maduinn chiùin ag éirigh,
B'e sud do dhreach 'us d'eugais,
Mo Mhaili bheag òg.

Is truagh a rinn do chàirdean,
Mo Mhaili bheag òg,
Nuair thoirmisg iad do ghràdh dhomh,
Mo chuid dhe'n t-saoghal thu;
Nan tugadh iad do làmh dhomh
Cha bhithinn anns an àm seo
Fo bhinn air son mo ghràidh dhuit,
Mo Mhaili bheag òg.

Ged bheirte mi bho'n bhàs mi,
Mo Mhaili bheag òg,
Chan iarrainn tuilleadh dàlach,
Mo cheud ghràdh 's mo rùn;
B'annsa 'n saoghal-s' fhàgail,
'S gum faicinn d'aodann ghràdhach;
Gun chuimhn' bhi air an là sin,
'S na dh'fhàg mi thu ciùrt'.

Sources Alltan Dubh (includes audio) and A' Chòisir-Chiùl, The Saint Columba Collection of Gaelic Songs London & Glasgow: Bayley & Ferguson, n.d.

See also Mary Jane Lamond

She gives the following translation of verses 1-4 and background info., which says me some work:

Do you not pity here in prison, my little young Molly? Your friends are condemning me, you my whole world. O woman of the smooth eyebrows and kisses as sweet as figs, you would not degrade me with malice from your mouth.

It was on Sunday as we rode through the glen that I began conversing with you, all that I have on earth. When I opened my eyes and looked over my shoulder, the riders on shoed horses were drawing near in my pursuit.

I became confounded, my little young Molly, when we were surrounded by a host, my innocent, young girl. It's a pity that my arm did not then fall from my shoulder before I happened to strike you with a blow, my little young Molly.

You have grown to be lovelier than the wild meadow's lily, my first love and darling. In your hue and form, you were like a soft ray of sunshine on a still morning, my little young Molly.

The story goes that Maili bheag òg was the daughter of a Perthshire laird. She and a young officer eloped on a Saturday night and were pursued by her father and his house guards. The couple was overtaken on Sunday in a remote glen. During the ensuing skirmish, the officer accidentally killed his sweetheart with a sword blow. Waiting in prison for his execution, he made this song for her. The air of this setting is from the late Malcolm Angus MacLeod (Calum Thormaid Chaluim) of Skir Dhu, Victoria County, Cape Breton.