[Tea-Table Miscellany Contents]
SOund, sound the musick, sound it,
Let hills and dales rebound it:
Let hills and dales rebound it,
In praise of archery:
Its origin divine is,
The practice brave and fine is,
Which generously inclines us
To guard our liberty.
–
Art by the Gods imployed,
By which heroes enjoyed,
By which heroes enjoyed
The wreaths of victory.
The deity of Parnassus,
The God of soft caresses,
Chaste Cynthia and her lasses,
Delight in archery.
–
See, see yon bow extended!
‘Tis Jove himself that bends it,
‘Tis Jove himself that bends it,
O’er clouds on high is glows.
All nations, Turks and Parthians,
The Tartars and the Scythians,
The Arabs, Moors and Indians,
With bravery draw their bows.
–
Our own true records tell us,
That none cou’d e’er excel us,
That none cou’d e’er excel us,
In martial archery:
With shafts our fires engaging,
Oppos’d the Romans raging,
Defeat the fierce Norvegian,
And spared few Danes to flee.
–
Witness Largs and Loncartie,
Dunkel and Aberlemny,
Dunkel and Aberlemny,
Rosline and Bannockburn,
The Chiviots – all the border,
Where bowmen in brave order,
Told enemies, if furder
They mov’d, they’d ne’er return.
–
Sound, sound the musick, found it,
Let hills and dales rebound it,
Let hills and dales rebound it,
In praise of archery.
Us’d as a game it pleases,
The mind to joy it raises,
And throws off all diseases
Of lazy luxury.
–
Now, now our care beguiling,
When all the year looks smiling,
When all the year looks smiling,
With healthful harmony:
The sun in glory glowing,
With morning dew bestowing,
Sweet fragrance, life, and growing,
To flowers and every tree.
–
‘Tis now the archers royal,
An hearty band and loyal,
An hearty band and loyal,
That in just thoughts agree,
Appear in antient bravery,
Despising all base kņavery,
Which tends to bring in slavery,
Souls worthy to live free.
–
Sound, sound the musick, sound it,
Fill up the glass and round wi’t,
Fill up the glass and round wi’t,
Health and prosperity,
T’ our great CHIEF and Officers,
T’ our President and Counsellors:
To all who like their brave forbears,
Delight in archery.
–
Largs, where the Norwegians, headed by their valiant King HACO, were in Anno 1263, totally defeat by ALEXANDER III. king of Scots; the heroick ALEXANDER, great-steward of Scotland, commanded the right wing.
Loncartie, near Perth, where king KENNETH III. obtained the victory over the Danes, which was principally owing to the valour and resolution of the first brave HAY, and his two sons.
Dunkel, here, and in Kyle, and on the banks of Tay, our great king CORBREDUS GALDUS in three battles overthrew 30000 Romans in the reign of the emperor Domitian.
Aberlemny, four miles from Brechin, where king MALCOLM II. obtained a glorious victory over the united armies of Danes, Norwegians, and Cumbrians, &c. commanded by SUENO king of Denmark, and his warlike son prince CANUTE.
Rosline, within five miles south of Edinburgh, where 10000 Scots, led by sir JOHN CUMIN and sir SIMON FRAZER, defeat in three battles in one day 30000 of their enimies, Anno 1303.
The battles of Bannockburn and Chiviot, &c. are so well known, that they require no notes.
