Glen Collection of printed music > Printed text > Harp of Renfrewshire

107
Convinced by their ardour, they truly were brave,
Some few took the road — the rest brav'd the wave,
And left their neighbours to pad it alone
Who had not the spirit to sail again home ;
But their courage, alas ! had nearly fallen through,
For the bottom gave way of their war canoe.
Which spread dismay thro' the valorous corps,
And the riflemen threw into horrid uproar.
A shipwreck so dreadful, so far from the land.
Might sorely appal e'en the hardiest band ;
Such piteous confusion was ne'er seen before,
But they paddled it out and they waddled ashore.
And sturdily tramped the rest of the road,
'Neath the wondrous weight of the ponderous load
Of muskets, and pouches, and powder, and ball.
Till they came to the foot of the new castle wall.
And banners were flapping aloft on the towers ;
The front of the hall was bedecked with flowers ;
And the crown of our country encircled was there,
With chaplets of laurels and yellow flowers rare ;
While the loud bugle sung, and the bell went dong-ding,
But the people were glad to stand back in a ring.
For on young fellows' noddles it might truly be said,
That the batonmen's cudgels a symphony play'd.
And our nobles were met in the great castle hall,
With pastors and preachers, and bailies and all ;
They met for to hold the birth-day of our king,
And out to the rostrum the wine they did bring.
In loyal respect all their hearts did combine,
And they quaff'd his health in the rubicund wine,
Then merrily shouted a cheer and a half,
But the echoes flew back in a murmuring laugh.