rson's time will not be long
On yonder gallows tree.

Sae rantingly, sae wantonly, [jovially]
Sae dauntingly gaed he;
He played a spring and danced it round, [lively tune]
Below the gallows tree.

Oh, what is death but parting breath?
On mony a bloody plain
I've dared his face, and in his place
I scorn him yet again!

Untie these bands from off my hands,
And bring to me my sword,
And there's no a man in all Scotland,
But I'll brave him at a word.

I've lived a life of sturt and strife; [trouble]
I die by treacherie:
It burns my heart I must depart
And not avenged be.

Now farewell light, thou sunshine bright,
And all beneath the sky!
May coward shame distain his name,
The wretch that dares not die!

THE HIGHLAND BALOU

Hee balou! my sweet wee Donald, [Lullaby]
Picture o' the great Clanronald;
Brawlie kens our wanton chief [Finely knows]
Wha got my young Highland thief.

Leeze me on thy bonnie craigie! [Blessings on, throat]
An thou live, thou'll steal a naigie: [If, little nag]
Travel the country thro' and thro',
And bring hame a Carlisle cow.

Thro' the Lawlands, o'er the border,
Weel, my babie, may thou furder: [succeed]
Herry the louns o' the laigh countree, [Harry, rascals, low]
Syne to the Highlands hame to me. [Then]

Distinct from either of the foregoing groups are several songs in
narrative form, told as a rule from the point of view of an onlooker,
but hardly inferior to the others in vitality. In them the personal or
dramatic emotion is replaced by a keen sense of the humor of the
situation.

DUNCAN GRAY

Duncan Gray came here to woo,
Ha, ha, the wooing o't,
On blythe Yule night when we were fou, [drunk]
Ha, ha, the wooing o't.
Maggie coost her head fu' heigh, [cast, high]
Look'd asklent and unco skeigh, [askance, very skittish]
Gart poor Duncan stand abeigh; [Made, aloof]
Ha, ha, the wooing o't.

Duncan fleech'd, and Duncan pray'd; [wheedled]
Ha, ha, the wooing o't,
Meg was deaf