Glen Collection of printed music > Printed text > Collection of ancient and modern Scottish ballads, tales, and songs > Volume 2

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to see these men pursued to their hiding-places, dragged forth, an»l
ignominiously put to death, must have excited the most poignant
grief in every bosom not deadened by party prejvidices, which, when
the iirst transports were over, would settle into a hate against the
power that sanctioned sftch proceedings. I'he poets of the time
took the side of the unfortunate, and produced a multitude of songs,
several of which are among the finest specimens of lyrical composi-
tion : they were necessitated to conceal their names for fear of pro-
secution, but their lays were eagerly sought after, and treasured
up in the memory of the peasantry. It is somewhat remarkable,
that all the songs of both periods which have been recovered, breathe
the same strain of invective, passion, and hatred against the reigning
family, or of pity and tender sympathy for the miseries of their per-
secuted countrymen.
We have selected a few of the most popular from the Collections
of Ritson and Cromek, the latter of whom, by his indefatigable
but praiseworthy exertions, has recovered from oblivion many songs
composed during the Rebellions of 1713 and IT 45.
TO DAUNTON ME.
-[There are se^'cral variations of this song, all bearing the same
stamp of desperate resolution. One of the yer&es is charactei-
iitic of the noble Lochiel :■ —
«' Up came the gallant chief Lochiel,
An' drew his glaive o' nut-brown steel,
Says, ' Charlie, set your fit to me.
An' shaw me wha wiU daunton thee !"]
To daunton me an' me sae young.
An' gude King James's auldest son !
O that's the thing that ne'er can be.
For the man's unborn that will daunton me !
O set me ance on Scottish land,
An' gie me my braid-sword in my hand,
Wi' my blue bonnet aboon my bree.
An' shaw me the man that will daunton mc !