In the vast forest here, my gear, Fell I upon my spear, Oh, death was grateful ! 6 Thus, seamed with many scars, Bursting these prison bars, My soul ascended ! Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. THE FAREWELL It was a' for our rightfu' King We left fair Scotland's strand; My dear; Now a’ is done that men can do, And a' is done in vain ; My dear; a He turned him right and round about Upon the Irish shore ; And gae his bridle-reins a shake, My dear; The sodger from the wars returns, The sailor frae the main; My dear; When day is gane, and night is come, And a' folk bound to sleep; My dear; Unknown. ADAM O' GORDON It fell about the Martinmas, When the wind blew shrill and cold, Said Adam o' Gordon to his men, 6 We maun draw to a hold. “ And whatna hold shall we draw to, My merry men and me? We will go to the house of Rodes, To see that fair ladye.” The lady stood on her castle wall ; Beheld both dale and down ; There she was aware of a host of men Came riding towards the town. 66 Oh, see ye not, my merry men all, Oh, see ye not what I see? Methinks I see a host of men: I marvel who they be.” She had no sooner buskit herself, And putten on her gown, Were round about the town. The lady ran to her tower-head, As fast as she could hie, She could with him agree. 36 Give o'er your house, ye lady fair, Give o'er your house to me! Or I shall burn yourself therein, But and your babies three.” “I winna give o'er, ye false Gordon, To no sic traitor as thee; ye ain dear babes, My lord shall mak' ye dree. “ Woe worth, woe worth ye, Jock, my man ! I paid ye well your fee; Why pull ye out the grund-wa' stone, Lets in the reek to me? “ And e'en woe worth ye, my man! I paid ye well your hire; Why pull ye out the grund-wa' stone, To me lets in the fire ? “Ye paid me well my hire, ladye, Ye paid me well my fee ; Must either do or dee.” Oh, then bespake her little son, Sat on the nurse's knee; Says, “O mither dear, give o'er this house! For the reek it smothers me.” “I winna give up my house, my dear, To no sic traitor as he: Ye maun take share with me." Oh, then bespake her daughter dear, She was both jimp and small: Oh, row me in a pair of sheets, And tow me o'er the wall!' They rowed her in a pair of sheets, And towed her o'er the wall; But on the point of Gordon's spear She gat a deadly fall. Oh, bonnie, bonnie was her mouth, And cherry were her cheeks, Whereon the red blood dreeps ! Then with his spear he turned her o'er; Oh, gin her face was wan! I wished alive again. 6 Busk and boun, my merry men all, For ill dooms I do guess ; As it lies on the grass.” But when the ladye saw the fire Come flaming o'er her head, She wept, and kissed her children twain. Says, " Bairns, we be but dead." Oh, this way looked her own dear lord, As he came o'er the lea ; So far as he could see. “ Put on, put on, my mighty men, As fast as ye can dri’e! Shall ne'er get good of me!” |