Scottish Poetry Selection
- McLean's Welcome

James Hogg (1770-1835), the Ettrick Shepherd, who wrote this poem, must have known the disastrous consequences arising from the arrival of Bonnie Prince Charlie to rally support fot the 1745 Jacobite Uprising. But the poem focuses on the rapturous wwelcome the Young Pretender received.


McLean's Welcome


Come o'er the stream, Charlie, dear Charlie, brave Charlie;
Come o'er the stream, Charlie, and dine with McLean;
And though you be weary, we'll make your heart cheery,
And welcome our Charlie, and his loyal train.
We'll bring down the track deer, we'll bring down the black steer,
The lamb from the braken, and doe from the glen,
The salt sea we'll harry, and bring to our Charlie
The cream from the bothy and curd from the pen.

Come o'er the stream, Charlie, dear Charlie, brave Charlie; Come o'er the stream, Charlie, and dine with McLean;
And you shall drink freely the dews of Glen-Sheerly, That stream in the starlight when kings do not ken, And
deep be your meed of the wine that is red,
To drink to your sire, and his friend the McLean.

Come o'er the stream, Charlie, dear Charlie, brave Charlie; Come o'er the stream, Charlie, and dine with
McLean; O'er heath-bells shall trace you the maids to embrace you, And deck your blue bonnet with flowers of
the brae; And the loveliest Mari in all Glen M'Quarry Shall lie in your bosom till break of the day.

Come o'er the stream, Charlie, dear Charlie, brave Charlie;
Come o'er the stream, Charlie, and dine with McLean;
If aught will invite you, or more will delight you,
'Tis ready, a troop of our bold Highlandmen,
All ranged on the heather, with bonnet and feather,
Strong arms and broad claymores, three hundred and ten!

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