Macpherson’s Farewell
Farewell, ye dungeons dark and strong,
The wretch’s destinie:
Macpherson’s time will not be long
On yonder gallows tree.
Sae rantingly, sae wantonly,
Sae dauntingly gaed he;
He played a spring and danced it round,
Below the gallows tree.
Oh, what is death but parting breath?
On mony a bloody plain
I’ve dared his face, and in this 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;
I die by treacherie:
It burns my heart I must depart
And not avengèd be.
Now farewell light, thou sunshine bright,
And all beneath the sky!
May coward shame distain his name,
The wretch that dares not die!
Sae rantingly, sae wantonly,
Sae dauntingly gaed he;
He played a spring and danced it round,
Below the gallows tree.