by Robert Burns (1759 - 1796)
Macpherson's farewell See original
Language: Scottish (Scots)
Our translations: FRE
Farewell, ye dungeons dark and strong,
The wretch's destinie!
McPherson's time will not be long,
On yonder gallows-tree.
Sae rantingly, sae wantonly,
Sae dauntingly gae'd he:
He play'd a spring, and danc'd it round
Below the gallows-tree.
O what is death but parting breath?
On many a bloody plain
I've dar'd his face, and in this place
I scorn him yet again!
Sae rantingly, sae wantonly...
...
I've liv'd a life of sturt and strife;
I die by treacherie:
It burns my heart I must depart
And not avenged be.
Sae rantingly, sae wantonly...
Now farewell, light, thou sunshine bright,
And all beneath the sky!
May coward shame distain his name,
The wretch that dares not die!
Sae rantingly, sae wantonly...
sturt = trouble
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
Composition:
- Set to music by (Franz) Joseph Haydn (1732 - 1809), "Macpherson's farewell", Hob. XXXIa:182, JHW XXXII/3 no. 203, stanzas 1-2,4-5
Text Authorship:
- by Robert Burns (1759 - 1796), title 1: "McPherson's Farewell", title 2: "Song - M'Pherson’s Farewell"
See other settings of this text.
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- CZE Czech (Čeština) (Josef Václav Sládek) , "Mac Phersonovo loučení"
- FRE French (Français) (Pierre Mathé) , "L'adieu de McPherson", copyright © 2014, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website: 2003-11-19
Line count: 28
Word count: 155