by Gilbert Elliot, 3rd Baronet of Minto, Sir (1722 - 1777)
Barbara Allan
Language: English
'Twas at the hour of dark midnight, Before the first cock's crowing, When westland winds shook Stirling's tow'rs, With hollow murmurs blowing; When Fanny fair, all woe begone, Sad on her bed was lying, And from the ruin'd tow'rs she heard The boding screech-owl crying. "O dismal night!" she said, and wept, "O night presaging sorrow, "O dismal night!" she said, and wept, "But more I dread tomorrow. "For now the bloody hour draws nigh, "Each host to Preston bending; "At morn shall sons their fathers slay, "With deadly hate contending. Aghast, she started from her bed, The fatal tidings dreading; "O speak," she cry'd, "my father's slain! "I see, I see him bleeding!" -- 'A pale corpse on the sullen shore, 'At morn, fair maid, I left him; 'Even at the thresh-hold of his gate, 'The foe of life bereft him. Sad was the sight, and sad the news, And sad was our complaining; But oh! for thee, my native land, What woes are still remaining! But why complain? the hero's soul Is high in heaven shining: May Providence defend our isle From all our foes designing.
Written on the death of Colonel Gardiner at the Battle
of Preston, in 1745.
Researcher for this page: Ferdinando Albeggiani
NOTE: Colonel Gardiner served in the Hanoverian army under
General Sir John Cope. Cope's men were heavily
defeated by Bonnie Prince Charlie and his Jacobite army
at the Battle of Preston Pans, on 21 September 1745.
Authorship:
- by Gilbert Elliot, 3rd Baronet of Minto, Sir (1722 - 1777), "Barbara Allan" [author's text not yet checked against a primary source]
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- by (Franz) Joseph Haydn (1732 - 1809), "Barbara Allan", JHW XXXII/3 no. 166, Hob. XXXIa no. 11bis [text verified 1 time]
Researcher for this page: Ferdinando Albeggiani
This text was added to the website: 2010-01-10
Line count: 32
Word count: 187