Lairds of Glenlyon

THE LAIRDS OF GLENLYON. l6l
length, treating, in the first person, of the life of our hero.
Duncan, of course, never wrote a line of it, nor is the author
known. It was written, evidently, by a foeman of the clan
Gregor, probably by a Campbell ; but it has great merit
notwithstanding, and, except that Duncan's good qualities,
if he had any, are passed over in silence, the principal
passages of his exciting life seem faithfully enough pre-
served. Like a real will, the poem is divided into two parts,
narrative and testamentary. Like most poems of that age,
the Testament opens with allegorical personifications of the
virtues and vices, and a relation of how the latter prevailed,
till finally
" Falsehood said, he made my house right strong,
And furnished weill with meikill wrangous geir,
And bad me neither God nor man to feir."
And then, under the influence of this precious household,
Duncan tells us how
" First in my youthead I began to deal
With small oppressions and tender lambis,
Syne with Lawtie I brak baith band and seill,
Cleikit couplit kiddis with their damis ;
After, fangit beafe with great hammis ;
Then could I nocht stand content with ane cow,
Without I got the best stirk of the bow."
Duncan continuing in his evil courses, and to theft
adding manslaughter, his misdeeds were related in the
Court of that " royal prince," King James IV., who gave
orders for his capture.
" The loud corrinoch then did me exile,
Through Lome, Argyle, Menteith and Braidalbanc ;
But like ane fox with mony wrink and wyle,