埃文·麦科尔

诗人的传记

埃文·麦科尔，作为盖尔语和英语诗人而闻名于世，于1808年9月21日出生在苏格兰费恩湖畔的肯莫尔，在那里他被称为“克拉萨尔-南-比恩”或“山地吟游诗人”。他的父母出身贫寒，虽然他的祖先是麦科尔家族的后裔。Glasdruim Glencreran。他的母亲属于卡梅伦家族，麦科尔的诗歌才能是从她那里继承来的。埃文接受了公平的教育，他的父亲虽然负担不起费用，但还是为他请了一位家庭教师，以便他能获得比乡村学校所能提供的更好的教育。他很快就对文学产生了浓厚的兴趣，遇到什么书就如饥似渴地读。彭斯的诗歌和一些标准的英语经典的细读给了他的文学倾向一个明显的动力，当他还没有走出他的童年，他开始写诗。他年轻时从事农业和渔业，虽然他的业余爱好的性质阻碍了他的智力发展，但他们并没有抑制他的智力发展。埃文·麦科尔注定不会成为一个沉默的不光彩的弥尔顿，寒冷的贫困并没有“冻结他灵魂中温暖的水流”。1837年，他成为当时在格拉斯哥出版的盖尔杂志的撰稿人。他的诗引起了人们的兴趣，并很快为这位年轻作家赢得了声誉。 Before long a collection of his Gaelic poems was published under the title, of "Clarsach nam Beann," or "Poems and Songs in Gaelic." This was followed by another collection under the title of "The Mountain Minstrel, or Poems and Songs in English." This publication won him fresh laurels and many competent literary authorities were loud in his praise. Dr. Norman McLeod, editor of Good Words, wrote as follows: "Evan MacColl’s poetry is the product of a mind impressed with the beauty and the grandeur of the lovely scenes in which his infancy has been nursed. We have no hesitation in saying that the work is that of a man possessed of much poetic genius. Wild indeed and sometimes rough are his rhymes and epithets, yet there are thoughts so new and striking—images and comparisons so beautiful and original—feelings so warm and fresh that stamp this Highland peasant as no ordinary man." Mr. MacColl’s family emigrated to Canada in 1831 but he remained behind, and in 1837 procured a clerkship in the customs at Liverpool. Here he remained until 1850, when his health having became impaired he visited his friends in Canada. Here he met with Hon. Malcolm Cameron, then in office and was by him offered a position in the Canadian Customs at Kingston which he gladly accepted. He remained in this post for thirty years being superannuated about the year 1880. He had written numerous poems, mainly of a lyrical character, during his residence in Canada, one of the most noted of which is his "Robin", written for the occasion of the Burns Centennial celebration in Kingston. The easy and melodious expression of which is in excellent imitation of Burns’ own style. He had been for many years the bard of the St. Andrew’s Society of Kingston, and his anniversary poems are greatly appreciated by all Scotsmen. Mr. MacColl is a thorough Scot in his tastes, sympathies and characteristics. His nature simple and sincere and his many amiable qualities have won the sympathy and esteem of a wide circle of friends. His poetic gifts have been transmitted to his daughter, Miss Mary J. MacColl, who recently published a meritorious little volume of poems entitled "Bide a wee," highly commended for their sweetness and delicacy.