The Modern Scottish Minstrel Volume Iii Part 36

SONG OF THE ROYAL HIGHLAND REGIMENT.

For success, a prayer, with a farewell, bear To the warriors dear of the muir and the valley-- The lads that convene in their plaiding of green, With the curtal coat, and the sweeping _eil-e_.

In their belts array'd, where the dark blue blade Is hung, with the dirk at the side; When the sword is at large, and uplifted the targe, Ha! not a foe the boys will abide.

The followers in peril of Ian the Earl, The race of the wight of hand; Sink the eyes of the foe, of the friend's mounts the glow, When the Murdoch's high blood takes command.

With Loudon to lead ye, the wise and the steady, The daring in fight and the glorious, Like the lightning ye 'll rush, with the sword's bright flash, And return to your mountains victorious.

Oh, sons of the Lion! your watch is the wild-lands, The garb of the Highlands is mingled with blue, Though the target and bosses are bright in the Highlands, The axe in your hands might be blunted well, too.

Then forward--and see ye be huntsmen true, And, as erst the red deer felling, So fell ye the Gaul, and so strike ye all The tribes in the backwoods dwelling.

Where ocean is roaring, let top-sails be towering, And sails to the motion of helm be flying; Though high as the mountain, or smooth as the fountain, Or fierce as the boiling floods angrily crying, Though the tide with a stroke be a.s.sailing the rock; Oh, once let the pibroch's wild signal be heard, Then the waves will come bending in dimples befriending, And beckoning the friends of their country on board.

The ocean-tide 's swelling, its fury is quelling, In salute of thunder proclaiming your due; And, methinks, that the hum of a welcome is come, And is warbling the Jorram to you.

When your levy is landed, oh, bright as the pearls Shall the strangers who welcome you, gladly and greeting Speak beautiful thoughts; aye, the beautiful girls From their eyes shall the tears o'er the ruby be meeting, And encounter ye, praying, from the storm and the slaying, "From the stranger, the enemy, save us, oh save!

From rapine and plunder, oh tear us asunder,-- Our n.o.ble defenders are ever the brave!"

"If the fondest ye of true lovers be,"

So cries each trembling beauty, "Be bold in the fight, and give transport's delight To your friends and the fair, by your duty."

"Oh, yes!" shall the beautiful hastily cry; "Oh, yes!" in a word, shall the valiant reply; "By our womanly faith we pledge you for both, For where'er we contract, and where'er we betroth, We vow with the daring to die!"

Faithful to trust is the lion-like host Whom the dawn of their youth doth inure To hunger's worst ire, and to action's bold fire, And to ranging the wastes of the moor.

Accustom'd so well to each enterprise snell, Be the chase or the warfare their quarry; Aye ever they fight the best, for the right To the strike of the swords, when they hurry.

END OF VOL. III.