Page:Fugitive Poetry 1600-1878.djvu/431

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CONQUER! OR FALL, LIKE TRUE HIGHLAND MEN.
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You may think him timid, so fast he flies,
 And speaks with a tone so mild;
You may deem that darkness has veiled his eyes,
 Or believe him a simple child!

But if she, whose beauty is love's delight,
 Be concealed from the beam of day,
Set a thousand guards on that lady bright,—
 Love will find out the way!

W ithout a guide, and without a clue,
 Through the realms of unmeasured space,.
Where the dove herself, that returns so true,
 Would be lost in her airy race;

Though the night-wind sweep, or the chill rain fall,
 Or the sun dart his fiercest ray,
Oh! love, unconquered, will speed, through all,
 Love will find out the way!

Conquer! Or Fall, like True Highland Men.
Brave sons of the mountain, to battle away!
Behold, they wait us, in haughty array!
   Though our number be small,
   We can conquer or fall,
   Like true Highlanders all!
      Then away! away!

Though the path may be gory, we'll on! we'll on!
Since it leadeth to glory, we'll on! we'll on!
   Bright though sabres be gleaming,
   And death-shots be beaming,
   And the red blood be streaming,
      We'll on! we'll on!

Say, where is the coward, who trembles or swerves?
Let him turn, and await the base death he deserves!
   As for us, or to live or die,
   Ours be the battle-cry,
   Vengeance and liberty!
      On, then! on!

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