 | Lyrical Poems |  |
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THE GLENS OF NITHSDALE.
O the bonnie, bonnie glens of Nithsdale,
Where the clear rock-water flows,
Where the light birch nods its fragrant plumes,
And the fair green breckan grows!
Glens, whose green folds were kind to hide
The prophets of the hill,
Then when the shepherd's arm defied
The monarch's godless will.
O the bonnie, bonnie glens of Nithsdale,
And O the bonnie green glens!
Where the clear rock-water flows,
Where the light birch nods its fragrant plumes,
And the fair green breckan grows!
Glens, whose green folds were kind to hide
The prophets of the hill,
Then when the shepherd's arm defied
The monarch's godless will.
O the bonnie, bonnie glens of Nithsdale,
And O the bonnie green glens!
Soft o'er the hill I hear the note
O' the peaceful, mild cuckoo!
Not now as then, when o'er the muir
Came the trooper's harsh halloo,
Hunting the good and the godly men,
Who preached the truth of God,
Splashing with murder the bonnie green glen,
And drenching with blood the sod!
O the bonnie, bonnie glens o' Nithsdale,
And O the bonnie green glens!
O' the peaceful, mild cuckoo!
Not now as then, when o'er the muir
Came the trooper's harsh halloo,
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Who preached the truth of God,
Splashing with murder the bonnie green glen,
And drenching with blood the sod!
O the bonnie, bonnie glens o' Nithsdale,
And O the bonnie green glens!
O few are the houses that smoke on the hill,
And the heirs of the godly are few!
How rare in the glen are the sons of the men
Whose hand to their heart was true!
There's pride in a Duke, and there's pomp in a lord;
But the glory of brave Scottish men
Is the plaided cottar, who drew the sword
For his faith, in the bonnie green glen!
O the bonnie, bonnie glens o' Nithsdale,
And O the bonnie green glens!
And the heirs of the godly are few!
How rare in the glen are the sons of the men
Whose hand to their heart was true!
There's pride in a Duke, and there's pomp in a lord;
But the glory of brave Scottish men
Is the plaided cottar, who drew the sword
For his faith, in the bonnie green glen!
O the bonnie, bonnie glens o' Nithsdale,
And O the bonnie green glens!
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