And there's no a man in all Scotland I've lived a life of sturt and strife; turmoil I die by treacherie : It burns my heart I must depart, And not avenged be. Now farewell light, thou sunshine bright, May coward shame distain his name, The wretch that dares not die! STAY, my charmer, can you leave me? Well you know how much you grieve me; By my love so ill requited, STRATHALLAN'S LAMENT. The individual here meant is William, fourth Viscount of Strathallan, who fell on the insurgent side at the battle of Culloden, April, 1746. Burns, probably ignorant of his real fate, describes him as having survived the action, and taken refuge from the fury of the government forces in a Highland fastness. THICKEST night, o'erhang my dwelling! Crystal streamlets gently flowing, Busy haunts of base mankind, In the cause of right engagèd, 1 Variation in MS. in possession of Mr. B. Nightingale, Priory Road, London: : "Thickest night, surround my dwelling! Howling tempests, o'er me rave! Turbid torrents, wintry swelling, Roaring by my lonely cave!" Honour's war we strongly wagèd, But the heavens denied success. Ruin's wheel has driven o'er us, THE YOUNG HIGHLAND ROVER. TUNE-Morag. LOUD blaw the frosty breezes, The snaws the mountains cover; Since my young Highland Rover 1 The trees now naked groaning, Soon shall wi' leaves be hinging, 1 The Highland Rover is evidently meant for Prince Charles Stuart. sadly The birdies dowie moaning, Shall a' be blithely singing, And every flower be springing. When by his mighty warden My youth's returned to fair Strathspey, RAVING WINDS AROUND HER BLOWING. TUNE- Macgregor of Ruara's Lament. "I composed these verses on Miss Isabella M'Leod of Raasay, alluding to her feelings on the death of her sister, and the still more melancholy death (1786) of her sister's husband, the late Earl of Loudon, who shot himself out of sheer heart-break at some mortifications he suffered owing to the deranged state of his finances." B. RAVING winds around her blowing, "Farewell hours that late did measure "O'er the past too fondly wandering, MUSING ON THE ROARING OCEAN. TUNE Druimion Dubh. "I composed these verses out of compliment to a Mrs. Maclachlan, whose husband is an officer in the East Indies." B. MUSING on the roaring ocean, Which divides my love and me, Hope and Fear's alternate billow |