Complete Songs Of Robert Burns - online book

360+ songs with lyrics, sheet music, historical notes & glossary.

	236           TONE-POETRY OF ROBERT BURNS
	Long quiet she reign'd, till thitherward steers A flight of bold eagles from Adria's strand : Repeated, successive, for many long years, They darken'd the air, and they plunder'd the land. Their pounces were murder, and horror their cry; They'd conquer'd and ravag'd a world beside. She took to her hills, and her arrows let fly— The daring invaders, they fled or they died. The fell harpy-raven took wing from the north, The scourge of the seas, and the dread of the shore; The wild Scandinavian boar issued forth To wanton in carnage and wallow in gore : O'er countries and kingdoms their fury prevailed, No arts could appease them, no arms could repel; But brave Caledonia in vain they assail'd, As Largs well can witness, and Longcartie tell. The Cameleon-savage disturb'd her repose, With tumult, disquiet, rebellion, and strife; Provok'd beyond bearing, at last she arose, And robb'd him at once of his hopes and his life. The Anglian lion, the terror of France, Oft, prowling, ensanguin'd the Tweed's silver flood, But, taught by the bright Caledonian lance, He learned to fear in his own native wood. Thus bold, independent, unconquer'd, and free, Her bright course of glory for ever shall run, For brave Caledonia immortal must be, I'll prove it from Euclid as clear as the sun:— Rectangle-triangle, the figure we'll chuse; The upright is Chance, and old Time is the base, But brave Caledonia's the hypothenuse; Then, ergo, she'll match them, and match them always! M-------- No. 259. Does haughty Gaul invasion threat? Tune : Push about the jorum Chappell's Popular Music, p. 685.