Agnes who was caught praying at her grave. Emerita of Rome was a virgin martyr, killed in Valerian’s persecution. So the triplets recap the three major influences on Scotland’s history, which is amusing. Harris is the name of part of the Island of Lewis, out in the Hebrides it’s either an Anglicized Gaelicized version of hearath (district) or haerri (high place) in Old Norse. Hubert is the saint of hunters, which is probably why that name. “Elinor” and “Hubert” are French/English-influenced names, so clearly the Queen is from a more urban, port town, part of Scotland.
But to be fair, the sources for feminine Scottish Gaelic names in early medieval times are not very plentiful. Merida could be a Scottish form of the saint’s name “Merita”, or a form of Mhairi or Mairead, or a Spanish name, or…? Makes me feel better to know that others are puzzled, especially people from cities named Merida. Mor’du is obviously “Mor Dhu” (great black one, or Mor the Black). So the queen is mashing them together on purpose, which is clever. (And of course Sun and Moon are feminine, in Gaelic, and the association of light with a red-headed baby is pretty useful.) There’s also wordplay, because “bean uasal” (noblewoman or lady) and “ban maighdean” (white/fair maiden) are both common phrases. The Disney Wiki translator doesn’t really bring across that Queen Elinor is addressing her own child (in the bardic style) as “O Sun” and “O Moon.” She’s the only heir at that moment, the only light toward a future of glory and happiness. Since the Brave world goes by primogeniture instead of the election from male heirs (or because the king doesn’t have any male relatives left besides his young sons, which might well be the case with someone made king for heroic deeds), she was obviously anticipating Merida possibly having to become a ruling queen. Obviously in character, it is something her mother composed before Merida had any brothers.
Here’s the lyrics and a translation from the busy folks at the Disney Wiki.Īs you can see, it’s a lullaby that’s actually original to the film, but composed in a very old-fashioned style. Barring any songs in Disney live-action TV movies, that is.Īnyway, that song, “A Mhaighdean Bhan Uasal” (O Noble Lady/Fair Maiden) actually is sung by Emma Thompson (in dead-on authentic old style!) and the little girl voice actress, Peigi Barker.
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