Glen Collection of printed music > Printed text > Scottish ballads

25
The armies met, the trumpet sounds,
The dandering * drums aloud did tuik,
Baith arm yes bydand on the bounds,
Till ane of them the field sould bruik. f
Nae help was therefoir ; nane wald jouk ; :j:
Ferce was the fecht on ilka syde,
And on the ground lay mony a bouk §
Of them that there did battle byde.
With doubtsome victorie they dealt ;
The bluidy battle lestit lang ;
Ilk man his neebor's force there felt ;
The weakest aft times gat the wrang :
There was nae mowis |1 there them amang ;
Naething was heard but heavy knocks :
The Echo maid a dulefu' sang,
Thereto resounding frae the rocks.
But Donald's men at last gaif back ;
For they were all out of array :
The Earl of Mar's men through them brak,
Pursuing sharplie in their way,
Their enemies to tak or slay.
By dint of force to gar them yield,
Wha war richt blythe to win away,
And sae for fricht they tint the field.
Then Donald fled, and that full fast,
To mountains hich, for all his micht ;
For he and his men war all aghast.
And ran till they war out of sicht.
And sae of Ross he lost his richt,
Though mony men he with him brocht ;
* A word formed from the soimd ; rattling,
t Possess. t To escape by suddenly stooping. § Body.
il Jest, in opposition to earnest.
C