TheWhistle—ABallad

thewhistle—aballad

isingofawhistle,awhistleofworth,

isingofawhistle,theprideofthenorth.

wasbroughttothecourtofourgoodscottishking,

andlongwiththiswhistleallscotlandshallring.

oldloda,stillrueingthearmoffingal,

thegodofthebottlesendsdownfromhishall—

“thewhistle'syourchallenge,toscotlandgeto'er,

anddrinkthemtohell,sir!orne'erseememore!”

oldpoetshavesung,andoldchroniclestell,

whatchampionsventur'd,whatchampionsfell:

thesonofgreatlodawasconquerorstill,

andblewonthewhistletheirrequiemshrill.

tillrobert,thelordofthecairnandthescaur,

unmatch'datthebottle,unconquer'dinwar,

hedrankhispoorgod-shipasdeepasthesea;

notideofthebaltice'erdrunkerthanhe.

thusrobert,victorious,thetrophyhasgain'd;

whichnowinhishousehasforagesremain'd;

tillthreenoblechieftains,andallofhisblood,

thejovialcontestagainhaverenew'd.

threejoyousgoodfellows,withheartsclearofflaw

craigdarroch,sofamousforwith,worth,andlaw;

andtrustyglenriddel,soskill'dinoldcoins;

andgallantsirrobert,deep-readinoldwines.

craigdarrochbegan,withatonguesmoothasoil,

desiringdownrightlytoyieldupthespoil;

orelsehewouldmustertheheadsoftheclan,

andoncemore,inclaret,trywhichwastheman.

“bythegodsoftheancients!”downrightlyreplies,

“beforeisurrendersogloriousaprize,

i'llconjuretheghostofthegreatroriemore,

andbumperhishornwithhimtwentytimeso'er.”

sirrobert,asoldier,nospeechwouldpretend,

buthene'erturn'dhisbackonhisfoe,orhisfriend;

said,“tossdownthewhistle,theprizeofthefield,”

and,knee-deepinclaret,he'ddieerehe'dyield.

totheboardofglenriddelourheroesrepair,

sonotedfordrowningofsorrowandcare;

but,forwineandforwelcome,notmoreknowntofame,

thanthesense,wit,andtaste,ofasweetlovelydame.

abardwasselectedtowitnessthefray,

andtellfutureagesthefeatsoftheday;

abardwhodetestedallsadnessandspleen,

andwish'dthatparnassusavineyardhadbeen.

thedinnerbeingover,theclarettheyply,

andev'rynewcorkisanewspringofjoy;

inthebandsofoldfriendshipandkindredsoset,

andthebandsgrewthetighterthemoretheywerewet.

gaypleasureranriotasbumpersrano'er: