Wide waves the eagle plume, Cast your plaids, draw your blades, Pibroch of Donuil Dhu, Knell for the onset! NORA'S VOW. AIR-" Cha teid mis a chaoidh." 2 WRITTEN FOR ALBYN'S ANTHOLOGY, [1816.] 2 In the original Gaelic, the Lady makes protestations that she will, not go with the Red Earl's son, until the swan should build in the cliff, and the eagle in the lake - until one mountain should change places with another, and so forth. It is but fair to add, that there is no authority for supposing that she altered her mind- except the vehemence of her protestation. I. HEAR What Highland Nora said, I would not wed the Earlie's son." 2 'I will never go with him." [See also Mr. Thomson's Scottish Collection, 1822.] II. "A maiden's vows," old Callum spoke, The frost-wind soon shall sweep away III. "The swan," she said, "the lake's clear breast May barter for the eagle's nest ; The Awe's fierce stream may backward turn, IV. Still in the water-lily's shade Her wonted nest the wild swan made; Still downward foams the Awe's fierce river; -She's wedded to the Earlie's son! MACGREGOR'S GATHERING. AIR" Thain' a Grigalach."' WRITTEN FOR ALBYNS ANTHOLOGY. [1816] These verses are adapted to a very wild, yet lively gathering-tune, used by the Mac Gregors. 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, Glen Orchy's proud mountains, Coalchuirn and her towers, Glenstrae and Glenlyon no longer are ours; We're landless, landless, landless, Grigalach! "The MacGregor is come." [For the history of the clan, see Introduction to Rob Roy· Waverley Novels, vol. vii.] But doom'd and devoted by vassal and lord, If they rob us of name, and pursue us with beagles, Give their roofs to the flame, and their flesh to the eagles! Then vengeance, vengeance, vengeance, Grigalach! Vengeance, vengeance, vengeance, &c. While there's leaves in the forest, and foam on the river, MacGregor, despite them, shall flourish forever! Come then, Grigalach, come then, Grigalach, Through the depths of Loch Katrine the steed shall career, O'er the peak of Ben-Lomond the galley shall steer, And the rocks of Craig Royston' like icicles melt, Ere our wrongs be forgot, or our vengeance unfelt! Then gather, gather, gather, Grigalach! Gather, gather, gather, &c. 1 ["Rob Roy MacGregor's own designation was of Innersnaid; but he appears to have acquired a right of some kind or other to the property or possession of Craig Royston, a domain of rock and forest, lying on the east side of Loch Lomond, where that beautiful lake stretches into the dusky mountains of Glenfalloch.” -Introduction to Rob Roy, Waverley Novels, vol. vii. p. 31.] 30* DONALD CAIRD'S COME AGAIN." AIR-" Malcolm Caird's come again.” 2 1 CHORUS. Donald Caird's come again! Donald Caird can lilt and sing, Donald Caird's come again! Donald Caird can wire a maukin, Kens the wiles o' dun-deer staukin, [Written for Albyn's Anthology, vol. ii., 1818, and set to music in Mr. Thomson's Collection, in 1822.] 'Caird signifies Tinker. |