Macfadden And Macfee Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: A BCDC EFEF GHIH HFJF CFKF BHLH HMCM FHNH HFOF FCHC CCFC CFCF HCHC PCQC RFSF| This ballad is of great interest and as far as we know has not hitherto appeared in print It is certainly not in Child's Collection It was taken down from the singing of an aged man of years in Glen Kennaquhair Internal evidence would tend to show that the incidents recorded in the ballad occurred in the seventeenth century and that Sir Walter Scott had heard at least one verse of it The aged singer now alas no more sang it to the air of Barbara Allen | A |
| - | |
| It was an' aboot the Lammas time | B |
| In sixteen forty three sirs | C |
| That there fell oot the awfu' fecht | D |
| 'Twixt Macfadden an' Macfee sirs | C |
| - | |
| Macfadden wha was gaun to kirk | E |
| Upon the morn's morn | F |
| Had washed his kilt an' cleaned his dirk | E |
| An' combed his Sabbath sporran | F |
| - | |
| An' bein' for the time o' year | G |
| Remarkably fine weather | H |
| These articles o' dress were laid | I |
| To air upon the heather | H |
| - | |
| Waes me Macfee while dandrin' owre | H |
| The bonnie braes o' Lorne | F |
| Maun gang an' pit his muckle fit | J |
| Upon Macfadden's sporran | F |
| - | |
| A piece o' carelessness like this | C |
| The brichtest heart would sadden | F |
| An' when he saw the caitiff deed | K |
| It fair gaed owre Macfadden | F |
| - | |
| For he was shavin' at the time | B |
| An' when the sicht he saw sir | H |
| Wi' rage he shook an' nearly took | L |
| His neb aff wi' his raazor | H |
| - | |
| A while he swore and staunched the gore | H |
| An' ere Macfee got ae lick | M |
| Macfadden cursed him heid an' heels | C |
| In comprehensive Gaelic | M |
| - | |
| Syne when his breath was a' but gane | F |
| An' when he couldna say more | H |
| He lat a muckle Heelant yell | N |
| An' at him wi' his claymore | H |
| - | |
| What sweeter sound could warrior hear | H |
| Unless it was the daddin' | F |
| That echoed oot when'er Macfee | O |
| Got hame upon Macfadden | F |
| - | |
| Nae sweeter soond I weel could ween | F |
| Exceppin' it micht be sirs | C |
| The soond that hurtled oot when'er | H |
| Macfadden hit Macfee sirs | C |
| - | |
| An awfu' fecht it was to see | C |
| A fecht baith fell an' dour sirs | C |
| For ere the tuilzie weel began | F |
| The glen was fu' o' stour sirs | C |
| - | |
| An awfu' fecht again I say't | C |
| And on each auld clay biggin' | F |
| The freends o' baith like hoodie craws | C |
| Were roostin' on the riggin' | F |
| - | |
| And aye they buckled till't wi' birr | H |
| In combat sair an' grievous | C |
| They glanced like lightnin' up Strathyre | H |
| An' thundered doon Ben Nevis | C |
| - | |
| Wha won the fecht or whilk ane lost | P |
| Was hid frae mortal e'e sirs | C |
| Nane saw the fearsome end o' baith | Q |
| Macfadden an' Macfee sirs | C |
| - | |
| But still they say at break o' day | R |
| Upon the braes o' Lorne | F |
| Ye'll hear the ghaistly rustlin' o' | S |
| Macfadden's Sabbath sporran | F |
David Rorie M.d.
(1)
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