King Louis thought to cut it down, A wicked crew syne,3 on a time, Like beagles hunting game, man, For Freedom, standing by the tree, Her sons did loudly ca', man; She sang a sang o' liberty, Which pleased them ane and a', man. By her inspired, the new-born race Soon drew the avenging steel, man; The hirelings ran-her foes gied chase, And bang'd the despot weel, man. Let Britain boast her hardy oak, Her poplar and her pine, man, Without this tree, alake, this life Is but a vale o' woe, man; To feed the titled knave, man; Wi' plenty o' sic trees, I trow, The warld would leeve in peace, man; Wae worth the loon 4 wha wadna eat Sure plant this far-famed tree, man; He sang wi' joy this former day, THE DUMFRIES VOLUNTEERS O let us not, like snarling curs, And wi' a rung 2 decide it. Maun British wrangs be righted! Here's the memory of those on the twelfth that we lost That we lost, did I say? nay, by Heav'n, that we found; For their fame it shall last while the world goes round. The next in succession, I'll give you the King! Whoe'er would betray him, on high may he swing! And here's the grand fabric, our free Constitution, As built on the base of the great Revolution; And longer with politics not to be cramm'd, Be Anarchy curs'd, and be Tyranny damn'd; And who would to Liberty e'er prove disloyal, May his son be a hangman, and he his first trial! An' faith! thou's neither lag § nor lame, Nor blate nor scaur.10 9 4 Whyles,11 rangin like a roarin lion, For prey a' holes an' corners tryin; |