Glen Collection of printed music > Printed text > Songs of Scotland prior to Burns

TRANENT MUIR. 91
Menteith the great, where Hersell sate,
Un' wares d'd ding her ower, man ;
Yet wadna stand to bear a hand,
But aff fou fast did scour, man :
Ower Soutra Hill, ere he stood still,
Before he tasted meat, man :
Troth, he may brag of his swift nag,
That hare him aff sae fleet, man.
' And Simson keen, to clear the een
Of rebels far in wrang, man,
Did never strive wi' pistols five, .
But gallop'd wi' the thrang, man :
He turn'd his back, and in a crack
"Was cleanly out of sight, man ;
And thought it best ; it was nae jest-
Wi' Highlanders to fight, man.
'Mangst a' the gang, nane bade the bang
But twa, and ane was tane, man ;
For Campbell rade, but Myrie staid,
And sair he paid the kain, man :
Fell skelps he got, was waur than shot,
Frae the sharp-edged, claymore, man ;
Frae many a spout came running out
His reeking-het red gore, man.
But Gard'ner brave did still behave
Like to a hero bright, man ;
His courage true, like him were few,
That still despised flight, man :
For king and laws, and country's cause,
In honour's bed he lay, man ;
His life, but not his courage, fled,
While he had breath to draw, man.