Come as the winds come, when Forests are rended; Come as the waves come, when Navies are stranded; Faster come, faster come, Faster and faster! Chief, vassal, page, and groom! Tenant and master! Fast they come, fast they come; See how they gather! Wide waves the eagle plume Blended with heather. Cast your plaids, draw your blades, Forward each man set! Pibroch o’ Donuil Dhu, Knell for the onset!” “_IS FADA MAR SO THA SINN_,” which may be translated “Too Long in this Condition,” is an old pibroch, dating from about 1712. It was composed either by Donald _Mòr_ Mac Crimmon or by Patrick, his son. Donald was compelled at one time, because of some depredations of his own, to flee for his life into Sutherlandshire. There he put up unrecognised at the house of a relative named Mac Kay, who was getting married that day. Mac Crimmon sat down in a corner almost unnoticed, but when the piper began to play he unconsciously fingered his stick as if it were the chanter. The piper of the evening noticed this, and asked him to play for them. Donald said he could not, and the whole company asked him, and he again refused. At last the piper said: “I am getting seven shillings and sixpence for playing at this marriage. I’ll give you one-third if you will play.” Donald then took up the pipe and began:— “Too long are we thus, too long are we thus, Too long in this condition, Too long lacking meat or drink, At Mac Kay’s marriage am I.” These lines he repeated three times, and concluded by adding— “At the house of Mac Kay am I.” He played so well that all present knew him to be the great Donald _Mòr_ Mac Crimmon, and as he made his pipes speak to them they understood his complaint, and he was then royally entertained. The pibroch is also said to have been composed by Patrick _Mòr_ Mac Crimmon on his being taken prisoner, along with many others, at the battle of Worcester, and being left in a pitiable state. It is also associated with the same piper and the battle of Sheriffmuir, where he was left stripped of all his clothing, but it is impossible to say which, if either, is right. Want of hospitality towards a piper gave rise to another tune. It is called “THE MISERLY, MISERABLE ONE’S HOUSE,” and its origin, as told to the late “Nether Lochaber” by an old Loch Awe-side piper, was as follows:—