"Place in my hands a musket, then lie upon the

I'll stand before the soldiers, and open wide the

Popular British Ballads, Ancient and Modern, Vol. 4 (of 4) — Part 26

They'll pour into my bosom the fire of their array,

Popular British Ballads, Ancient and Modern, Vol. 4 (of 4) — Part 26

Then, while their guns are empty, dash through

Popular British Ballads, Ancient and Modern, Vol. 4 (of 4) — Part 26

He stood before his foemen, revealed amidst

From out their levelled pieces the wished-for

Up sprang the three survivors, for whom the

He baffled his pursuers, who followed like the

And swam the River Slaney, and left them far

But many a scarlet soldier he promised soon

For those, his gallant comrades, who died in

And her heart beat fast, when a sounding horn

Good faith, I would not wish me such bride,

One suitor there came from the Scottish shore,

"The chief that first can reach the strand

And his long day's ride shall bound his land,

And McDonald glanced over his rival again,

Where the white old rocks deep caves arch o'er,

Where the basalt breast of our isle flings back

'Tis summer--the long white lines of foam

The chief that first can grasp the strand

And his long day's ride shall bound his land,

Then he drew his skein from out its sheath,

And pale and fierce, as a chief in death,

"The chief that first can grasp the strand,

Oh, fleet is the steed which the bloody hand,

For the chieftain who proved his chieftainry

"Cheer up, dear Maud, for, thanked be God,

For something leaped from the gallows-tree!

"Give me your cloak, your knightly cloak,

Quick, quick, some prayers--the best that be!

Cling close!--Ah, heaven, she slips from me!"

Rode on that night from the gallows-tree.

And her looks are sweet, and her heart is gay,

For down in the lake the dead won't rest,

With her little babe at her pulseless breast,

And she calls at night her murderer's name,

Till the huge rocks melt in doomsday flame,

And he said, "O dove, what bring'st thou here

To his ice-cold heart in Molagga's grove,

|Mannix the coiner and Neville the Piper--

They lived in a lane where they had a great

That Mannix should share with him half the

And sent off the wife for a gallon of grog.

"Well done!" said the piper; "Play up!" said

"We've gold in our pockets and grog on the

The _law_ and the gallows are made in the

And Neville then _rasp'd_ up another gay tune,

As brisk as a bee in the meadows of June.

"Well done!" said the piper--"Play up!" said

"We are the _boys_ that can _live everywhere!_