Robert Burns

Macpherson’s Farewell

FAREWELL, ye dungeons dark and strong,
  The wretch’s destinie:
Macpherson’s time will not be long
  On yonder gallows tree.

  Sae rantingly, sae wantonly,
    Sae dauntingly gaed he;
  He played a spring and dauced it round,
    Below the gallows tree.

Oh, what is death but parting breath?
  On mony a bloody plain
I’ve dared his face, and in this place
  I scorn him yet again!

Untie these bands from off my hands,
  And bring to me my sword,
And there’s no a man in all Scotland,
  But I’ll brave him at a word.

I’ve lived a life of sturt and strife;
  I die by treacherie:
It burns my heart I must depart
  And not avenged be.

Now farewell light thou sunshine bright,
  And all beneath the sky!
May coward shame distain his name,
  The wretch that dares not die!