The Scottish songs - National Library of Scotland

415
how deil, Tam, can that be true ?
The chase gaed frae the north, man ;
1 saw mysell, they did pursue
The horsemen back to Forth, man ;
And at Dunblane, m my ain sight,
They took the brig wi' a' their might,
And straight to Stirling wirig'd their flight
But, cursed lot ! the gates were shut,
And mony a huntit puir red-coat
For fear amaist did swarf, man.
My sister Kate cam up the gate,
Wi' crowdie unto me, man ;
She swore she saw some rebels run
Frae Perth unto Dundee, man :
Their left-hand general had nae skill,
The Angus lads had nae guid-will
That day their neebours' bluid to spill
For fear, by foes, that they should lose
Their cogs o' brose, they scared at blows,
And hameward fast did flee, man.
They've lost some gallant gentlemen
Amang the Highland clans, man ;
; ;
I fear my Lord Panmure is slain,
Or in his enemies' hands, man.
Now wad ye sing this double flight.
Some fell for wrang, and some for right
And mony bade the world gude night
Say pell and mell, wi' muskets' knell,
How Tories fell, and Whigs to hell
Flew aff in frighted bands, man.*
* Burns wrote this song upon the model of an old one, called " A Dialogue
between W ill Lick -ladle and Tom Clean-cogue, twa shepherds, wha
were feeding their flocks on the Ochil Hills, the day the battle of Sheriffmuir
was fought ;" which may be found in many ordinary collections.