Page:Two old historical Scots poems, giving an account of the battles of Harlaw, and the Reid-squair.pdf/9

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BATTLE OF HARLAW. 9

Without all feir or ony aw,
  right bauldlie battill did abyde,
Hard by the town of fair HARLAW.
                    XVII.
The armies met, the trumpet founds,
  the dandring drums alloud did touk,
Baith armies byding on the bounds,
  till ane of them the feild ſould bruik.
  nae help was thairfor, nane wald jouk,
Ferſs was the fecht on ilka ſyde,
  and on the ground lay mony a bouk
Of them that thair did battill byd.
                       XIX.
With doutſum victorie they dealt,
  the bludy battill laſtit lang,
Each man his nibours forſs thair ſelt;
  the weakeſt aft-tymes gat the Wrang:
  thair was nae mowis thair them amang,
Naithing was hard but heavy knocks,
  that eccho maid a dulefull ſang,
Thairto reſounding frae the rocks.
                      XX.
But Donalds men at laſt gaif back;
  for they war all out of array.
The Erle of MARRIS men throw them brak,
  purſewing ſhairply in thair way,
  thair enemys to tak or ſlay,