FRAGMENT,
OF A SCOTTISH BALLAD. Air—“ Fingal’s Lamentation.” ______ 1 “WILD drives the bitter northern blast, 2 Fierce whirling wide the crispy snaw, 3 Young Lassie turn your wand’ring steps, 4 For e’ening’s gloom begins to fa’: 5 I’ll tak’ you to my father’s ha’, 6 An’ shield you frae the wintry air, 7 For wand’ring thro’ the drifting snaw, 8 I fear ye’ll sink to rise nae mair.” 9 “Ah! gentle lady, airt my way 10 Across this langsome, lanely moor, 11 For he wha’s dearest to my heart, 12 Now waits me on the western shore; 13 With morn he spreads his outward sail, 14 This night I vow’d to meet him there, 15 To tak’ ae secret fond fareweel, 16 We may-be part to meet nae mair.” 17 “Dear Lassie turn—’twill be your dead! 18 The dreary waste lies far an’ wide; 19 Abide till morn, an’ then ye’ll hae 20 My father’s herd-boy for your guide.” 21 “No, Lady,—no! I maun na’ turn, 22 Impatient love now chides my stay, 23 Yon rising moon, with kindly beam, 24 Will light me on my weary way.” * * * * * * * * 25 Ah! Donald wherefore bounds thy heart? 26 Why Beams with joy thy wistful e’e? 27 Yon’s but thy true love’s fleeting form, 28 Thy true-love mair thou’lt never see; 29 Deep in the hollow glen she lies, 30 Amang the snaw, beneath the tree, 31 She soundly sleeps in death’s cauld arms, 32 A victim to her love for thee. |
Subtitle: A very slow, very old Gaelic air composed for the fiddle. 2. crispy: uncertain. Possibilities include the Eng. (firm but easily broken); referring to a thin textile fabric, gauze or crepe; or making a crackling or rasping sound. 6. frae: Sc. form and use of Eng. from. 7. snaw: Sc. form and usage of Eng. snow. 8. mair: Gen.Sc. form of Eng. more. 9. airt: To direct, to guide, to set in motion in a specific direction. 10. langsome: Sc. form and use of Eng. longsome (long, length, protracted, tedious) 10. lanely: Sc. for Eng. lonely. 21. maun: Auxiliary verb, present tense only: must. Expressing necessity. 21. na': not, by no means. 30. Amang: Among; chief difference from Eng. appears to be that in Sc. the meaning more often resembles that of amid, amidst, or in. 31. cauld: cold, in various physical applications. |