ROMANCE OF DUNOIS. FROM THE FRENCH. [1815.] The original of this little Romance makes part of a manuscript collection! French Songs, probably compiled by some young officer, which was found on the field of Waterloo, so much stained with clay and with blood, as sufficiently indicate what had been the fate of its late owner. The song is popular in Fra and is rather a good specimen of the style of composition to which it belongs. I translation is strictly literal. It was Dunois, the young and brave, was bound for Palestine, “And grant, immortal Queen of Heaven," was still the Soldier's prayer, "That I may prove the bravest knight, and love the fairest fair.' His oath of honour on the shrine he graved it with his sword, THE TROUBADOUR. FROM THE SAME COLLECTION. GLOWING with love, on fire for fame, [1815.] A Troubadour that hated sorrow, Befits the gallant Troubadour." And while he march'd with helm on head And harp in hand, the descant rung, As, faithful to his favourite maid, The minstrel-burden still he sung: "My arm it is my country's right, My heart is in my lady's bower; Resolved for love and fame to fight, I come, a gallant Troubadour." Even when the battle-roar was deep. With dauntless heart he hew'd his way, 'Mid splintering lance and falchion sweep, And still was heard his warrior-lay: "My life it is my country's right, My heart is in my lady's bower; For love to die, for fame to fight, Becomes the valiant Troubadour." Alas! upon the bloody field He fell beneath the foeman's glaive, But still reclining on his shield, Expiring sung the exulting stave :— "My life it is my country's right, My heart is in my lady's bower; For love and fame to fall in fight Becomes the valiant Troubadour." SONG, THE LIFTING OF THE BANNER OF THE HOUSE OF BUCCLEUCH, AT A GREAT FOOT-BALL MATCH ON CARTERHAUGH. [1815.] FROM the brown crest of Newark its summons extending, Our signal is waving in smoke and in flame; And each forester blithe, from his mountain descending, CHORUS. Then up with the Banner, let forest winds fan her, With heart and with hand, like our fathers before. A Stripling's weak hand to our revel has borne her, No mail-glove has grasp'd her, no spearmen surround; We forget each contention of civil dissension, And hail, like our brethren, HOME, DOUGLAS, and CAR: As welcome in peace as their fathers in war. Then strip, lads, and to it, though sharp be the weather, Then up with the Banner, &c. And when it is over, we'll drink a blithe measure To each Laird and each Lady that witness'd our fun, May the Forest still flourish, both Borough and Landward, Then up with the Banner, let forest winds fan her, In sport we'll attend her, in battle defend her, LULLABY OF AN INFANT CHIEF. [1815.] I. O, HUSH thee, my babie, thy sire was a knight, The woods and the glens, from the towers which we see, O ho ro, i ri ri, &c. II. O, fear not the bugle, though loudly it blows, Their bows would be bended, their blades would be red, O ho ro, i ri ri, &c. III. O, hush thee, my babie, the time soon will come, THE RETURN TO ULSTER. [1816.] ONCE again, but how changed since my wand'rings began― That wearies the echoes of fair Tullamore. Alas! my poor bosom, and why shouldst thou burn! That flow'd when these echoes first mix'd with my strain? It was then that around me, though poor and unknown, The land was an Eden, for fancy was new. I had heard of our bards, and my soul was on fire At the rush of their verse, and the sweep of their lyre : But a vision of noontide, distinguish'd and clear. Ultonia's old heroes awoke at the call, And renew'd the wild pomp of the chase and the hall; And the standard of Fion flash'd fierce from on high, Yet why at remembrance, fond heart, shouldst thou burn? But was she, too, a phantom, the Maid who stood by, Oh! would it had been so,-not then this poor heart JOCK OF HAZELDEAN. AIR-"A Border Melody." The first stanza of this Ballad is ancient. The others were written for PIBROCH OF DONALD DHU. AIR-" Piobair of Donuil Dhuidh.” This is a very ancient pibroch belonging to Clan MacDonald, and supposed to refer to the expedition of Donald Balloch, who, in 1431, launched from the Isles with a considerable force, invaded Lochaber, and at Inverlochy defeate and put to flight the Earls of Mar and Caithness, though at the head of an arz superior to his own. The words of the set, theme, or melody, to which the pe variations are applied, run thus in Gaelic : Piobaireachd Dhonuil Dhuidh, piobaireachd Dhonuil; The war-pipe and the pennon are on the gathering-place at Inverlochy. PIBROCH of Donuil Dhu, Pibroch of Donuil, Gentles and commons. True heart that wears one, The flock without shelter; Leave the corpse uninterr'd, The bride at the altar; Leave the deer, leave the steer, Come as the winds come, when Come as the waves come, when Faster come, faster come, Chief, vassal, page and groom, Fast they come, fast they come ; Cast your plaids, draw your blades, Knell for the onset ! These verses are adapted to a very wild, yet lively gathering-tune, used by the MacGregors. The severe treatment of this Clan, their outlawry, and the proscription of their very name, are alluded to in the Ballad. THE moon's on the lake, and the mist's on the brae, Our signal for fight, that from monarchs we drew, seful haloo ! 1 |