Robert Burns: Scots Wha Hae

(http://www.scotsindependent.org/features/tartan_day2002.htm)
no copyright infringement intended

Robert Burns wrote this in 1793 in the form of a speech given by Robert the Bruce before the Battle of Bannockburn in 1314, where Scotland maintained its sovereignty from the Kingdom of England (wiki)

Scots, wha hae wi Wallace bled,

Scots, wham Bruce has aften led,

Welcome tae yer gory bed,

Or tae victorie.

Now's the day, an now's the hour:

See the front o battle lour,

See approach proud Edward's power -

Chains and Slaverie.

Wha will be a traitor knave?

Wha will fill a coward's grave?

Wha sae base as be a slave?

Let him turn an flee.

Wha, for Scotland's king and law,

Freedom's sword will strongly draw,

Freeman stand, or Freeman fa,

Let him on wi me.

By Oppression's woes and pains,

By your sons in servile chains!

We will drain our dearest veins,

But they shall be free.

Lay the proud usurpers low,

Tyrants fall in every foe,

Liberty's in every blow! -

Let us do or dee.

(wiki)

(video by TheClememclean)

Here is the rendering in English:

Scots, who have with Wallace bled,
Scots, whom Bruce has often led,
Welcome to your gory bed
Or to victory.

Now is the day, and now is the hour:
See the front of battle lower,
See approach proud Edward's power -
Chains and slavery.

Who will be a traitor knave?
Who will fill a coward's grave?
Who's so base as be a slave? -
Let him turn, and flee.

Who for Scotland's King and Law
Freedom's sword will strongly draw,
Freeman stand or freeman fall,
Let him follow me.

By oppression's woes and pains,
By your sons in servile chains,
We will drain our dearest veins
But they shall be free.

Lay the proud usurpers low,
Tyrants fall in every foe,
Liberty is in every blow,
Let us do or die!

(wiki)

(video by celtispirit6604)

(Robert Burns)

Robert Burns

Robert Burns (1759 - 1796)
portrait by Alexander Nasmyth, 1787
Scottish National Portrait Gallery
(wikimedia)
no copyright infringement intended

known also as Scotland's Favorite Son, The Ploughman Poet, Robden of Solway Firth, The Bard of Ayrshire, or simply The Bard, he is the national poet of Scotland; best known of the poets who have written in the Scots language, although much of his writing is also in English and a light Scots dialect, accessible to an audience beyond Scotland; also wrote in standard English, and in these writings his political or civil commentary is often at its bluntest (wikipedia)

this half-length portrait of Burns, framed within an oval, was to be engraved for a new edition of his poems; he is shown fashionably dressed against a landscape, evoking his rural background in Alloway, Ayrshire; Nasmyth, pleased to have recorded Burns' likeness convincingly, decided to leave the painting in a slightly unfinished state (wikimedia)

• Scots Wha Hae

(A Life in Books)