PIBROCH OF DONALD DHU. Written for Albyn's Anthology. AIR-Piobair of Dhonuil Dhuibh.” * This is a very ancient Pibroch belonging to the Clan Mac-Donald, and supposed to refer to the expedition of Donald Balloch, who, in 1431, launched from the Isles with a considerable force, invaded Lochaber, and at Inverlochy defeated and put to flight the Earls of Mar and Caithness, though at the head of an army superior to his own. The words of the set, theme, or melody, to which the pipe variations are applied, run thus in Gaelic: Piobaireachd Dhonuil, piobaireachd Dhonuil; Piobaireachd Dhonuil Dhuidh, piobaireachd Dhonuil; * The pibroch of Donald the Black. The pipe-summons of Donald the Black, The pipe-summons of Donald the Black, The war-pipe and the pennon are on the gathering place at Inverlochy. PIBROCH of Donuil Dhu, Pibroch of Donuil, Wake thy wild voice anew, Summon Clan-Conuil. Come away, come away, Hark to the summons ! Come in your war array, Come from deep glen, From mountain so rocky, The war-pipe and pennon Are at Inverlocky: Come every hill-plaid, and True heart that wears one, Come every steel blade, and Strong hand that bears one. Leave untended the herd, The flock without shelter; Leave the corpse uninterr'd, The bride at the altar; Leave the deer, leave the steer, Leave nets and barges; Come with your fighting gear, Broad-swords and targes. Come as the winds come, when Forests are rended; Come as the waves come, when Navies are stranded: Faster come, faster come, Faster and faster, Chief, vassal, page, and groom, Tenant and master. Fast they come, fast they come; Wide waves the eagle plume, Blended with heather. Cast your plaids, draw your blades, Forward each man set! Pibroch of Donuil Dhu, Knell for the onset ! NORA'S VOW. AIR" Cha teid mis a chaoidh.”* Written for Albyn's Anthology. In the original Gaelic, the lady makes protestations that she will not go with the Red Earl's son until the swan should build in the cliff, and the eagle in the lake-until one mountain should change places with another, and so forth. It is but fair to add that there is no authority for supposing that she altered her mind-except the vehemence of her protestation. I. HEAR What Highland Nora said, Should all the race of nature die, And none be left but he and I. "I will never go with him." |