Classic Poem

Although I am crouching here
in an old, gloomy, lonely house,
I was erstwhile with a party
though they happened to dismiss me;
oft do I scan the moor, if haply
I may see thy form, John, son of Roderick;
and if I saw thy form approaching,
my heart would rise out of depression.

My heart would rise from melancholy,
were I with thee, John, son of Roderick;
I would tell thee all I had in mind
and ask for all the news I lacked.
On that day they struck the blows,
'tis I saw them being given;
King George's side was put to flight,
'twas we that were terror-stricken.

'Twas a tale of terror to relate
how the king and his people fled;
they were frightened of the blows
as soon as they observed the Prince;
none of them waited for the others
between Edinburgh and Stirling;
there's many a town where some of them
rested when the night came.

We were confident and bold
as we went up to the moor,
and before we were properly disposed
the rebels had come upon us;
not long had we possessed the field
when we scattered from each other;
and there, indeed, was rough treatment
meted to all red-coats present.

It was an advantage to our foes
that our command was defective:
we received no order to shoot,
while the enemy closed with us;
indeed, we fled at utmost speed,
nor waited to be all together;
the like of it was not seen before
since the day of Inverlochy.

I and Calum, Patrick's son,
were tramping through bog and moorland;
and unless we had fled at that time,
'tis certain we had suffered ruin;
our English-speaking contingent
took to flight before Clan Donald;
'tis this would have cut short their lives,
to face up to the mighty men.

'Tis this would have cut short their lives,
to go to strive against that race,
who came to contest the kingdom
on behalf of the king and the right.
There's many a hero, unflinching in action,
between Kintail and Strath Lochy,
who would go shoulder to shoulder,
and would avail much in the conflict.

Of much avail in the conflict
were the tall men who were not timid,
including Camerons and Clan Donald,
and all fighters allied with them.
Given the Fiann's fair play
as between themselves and their foes,
they would drive King George from his station,
in spite of all who were in Europe.

All the Gaels who were in Scotland
would drive King George from his station,
if they were all as they had been
in the year the army took the field;
if they were all united
they would be the mighty, stout men,
to whom valour was a heritage,
and who were dwelling in the Roughbounds.

That day they fought at Culloden,
bitter to us was the outcome;
Duke William won in the evil hour—
'twas a great misfortune to our friends:
the chieftains lost their estates
and the tenantry their weapons;
we shall wear only hat and long coat
instead of the scarlet tartans.

Instead of the vivid tartans,
we shall wear only hat and long coat,
stocking and grey breeches
which constrict us round the knees;
when we lose our arms and garb,
how can we be jubilant
with our clumsy, light grey, long coats
that were never before in our country?

There were never before in our country
but vivid and gorgeous garments,
and we never had to change them
till we lost the nation's honour;
by this we lost our earthly portion,
by this we lost our men and wealth,
we lost our jollity and joy,
a painful tale for us to tell.

Painful is the tale to tell
how many folk are lost to us,
how many of them fell on the day of Culloden,
and how many were maimed in the conflict;
the squadron attacked them from the rear,
while three to one confronted them;
if they had obtained fair conditions,
they had inflicted loss ere they scattered.

The Highland clans were not respected
since Charles went from us into exile;
he left us like motherless lambs,
without cause of hilarity or comfort;
and we are submitting to England
and enlisting in King George's army:
'tis part of our request and petition
that he should go home to Hanover.

We shall still have expectation
that young Charles will invade the country,
and were he to come presently,
our boldness and spirit would rise;
every man would rise with thee
and we should all be so loyal to thee;
on occasion of battle or scene of tumult,
there would be no risk of our failing.

We should never, never fail thee:
the prayer we should best like answered
is that the French would descend on us,
and that Charles would be the army leader.
With thee would rise Camerons from Lochy,
the MacDonalds and the Macintyres;
there was none like them in these bounds,
since Clan Baoisgne passed away.

Clan Macnab would rise with thee,
powerful, mighty, militant, royal,
with targe and arms, and loud commotion,
well equipped with flags and guns;
in the hour of baring the grey blades
of hewing edge, and the pikes—
hard-hitting, wounding, smiting, numerous,
they were strong and renowned in the onset.

Clan Gregor, faultless in hardihood,
were ever noble and royal;
in time of war, quarrel or tumult,
where was aught heard to their discredit?
Advancing against fire and lead
in time of rout, 'twas not they that would yield;
and as long as you cleave to your tradition,
your foes will never overcome you.

Each northern clan will rise with thee,
both gentlemen and common folk,
with their hearts' goodwill and earnestness,
since thou hadst regard for truth;
we shall all be of one mind towards thee,
for we have the same objective,
in thy cause, O Charles Stuart,
for 'tis thy crowning will bring us peace.