Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, ed. Poems of Places: An Anthology in 31 Volumes.
Scotland: Vols. VI–VIII. 1876–79.

Introductory

Gathering of the MacGregors

By Sir Walter Scott (1771–1832)

THE MOON ’s on the lake, and the mist ’s on the brae,

And the Clan has a name that is nameless by day;

Then, gather, gather, gather, Grigalach!

Gather, gather, gather.

Our signal for fight, that from monarchs we drew,

Must be heard but by night in our vengeful halloo!

Then, halloo, Grigalach! halloo, Grigalach!

Halloo, halloo, halloo, Grigalach.

Glen Orchy’s proud mountains, Coalchurn and her towers,

Glenstrae and Glenlyon, no longer are ours:

We ’re landless, landless, landless, Grigalach!

Landless, landless, landless.

But doomed and devoted by vassal and lord,

MacGregor has still both his heart and his sword!

Then, courage, courage, courage, Grigalach!

Courage, courage, courage.

If they rob us of name, and pursue us with beagles,

Give their roofs to the flame, and their flesh to the eagles!

Then, vengeance, vengeance, vengeance, Grigalach!

Vengeance, vengeance, vengeance.

While there ’s leaves in the forest, and foam on the river,

MacGregor, despite them, shall flourish forever!

Come then, Grigalach, come then, Grigalach!

Come then, come then, come then.

Through the depths of Loch Katrine the steed shall career,

O’er the peak of Ben Lomond the galley shall steer,

And the rocks of Craig Royston like icicles melt,

Ere our wrongs be forgot or our vengeance unfelt.

Then, gather, gather, gather, Grigalach!

Gather, gather, gather.