Song of Death

Air--"_Oran an Aoig._"
["I have just finished the following song," says Burns to Mrs. Dunlop,
"which to a lady, the descendant of Wallace, and herself the mother of
several soldiers, needs neither preface nor apology."]
_Scene_--A field of battle. Time of the day, evening. The wounded and
dying of the victorious army are supposed to join in the following
song:
I.
 Farewell, thou fair day, thou green earth, and ye skies,
 Now gay with the bright setting sun;
 Farewell loves and friendships, ye dear tender ties--
 Our race of existence is run!
II.
 Thou grim king of terrors, thou life's gloomy foe!
 Go frighten the coward and slave;
 Go, teach them to tremble, fell tyrant! but know,
 No terrors hast thou to the brave!
III.
 Thou strik'st the dull peasant--he sinks in the dark,
 Nor saves e'en the wreck of a name;
 Thou strik'st the young hero--a glorious mark!
 He falls in the blaze of his fame!
IV.
 In the field of proud honour--our swords in our hands,
 Our king and our country to save--
 While victory shines on life's last ebbing sands,
 Oh! who would not die with the brave!
 


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