When merry hearts were gay, Careless of aught but play, Poor Flora slipt away, Sadd'ning to Mora;[17] Loose flow'd her yellow hair, Quick heaved her bosom bare, As to the troubled air She vented her sorrow. II. "Loud howls the stormy wist, Cold, cold is winter's blast; Haste, then, O Donald, haste, Haste to thy Flora! Twice twelve long months are o'er, Since on a foreign shore You promised to fight no more, But meet me in Mora." III. "'Where now is Donald dear?' Maids cry with taunting sneer; 'Say, is he still sincere To his loved Flora?' Parents upbraid my moan, Each heart is turn'd to stone: 'Ah, Flora! thou 'rt now alone, Friendless in Mora!' IV. "Come, then, O come away! Donald, no longer stay; Where can my rover stray From his loved Flora! Ah! sure he ne'er can be False to his vows and me; Oh, Heaven!--is not yonder he, Bounding o'er Mora!" V. "Never, ah! wretched fair!" Sigh'd the sad messenger, "Never shall Donald mair Meet his loved Flora! Cold as yon mountain snow Donald thy love lies low; He sent me to soothe thy woe, Weeping in Mora. VI. "Well fought our gallant men On Saratoga's plain; Thrice fled the hostile train From British glory. But, ah! though our foes did flee, Sad was such victory-- Truth, love, and loyalty Fell far from Mora. VII. "'Here, take this love-wrought plaid,' Donald, expiring, said; 'Give it to yon dear maid Drooping in Mora. Tell her, O Allan! tell Donald thus bravely fell, And that in his last farewell He thought on his Flora.'" VIII. Mute stood the trembling fair, Speechless with wild despair; Then, striking her bosom bare, Sigh'd out, "Poor Flora! Ah, Donald! ah, well-a-day!" Was all the fond heart could say: At length the sound died away Feebly in Mora. [16] This fine ballad was written by Macneill, to commemorate the death of his friend, Captain Stewart, a brave officer, betrothed to a young lady in Athole, who, in 1777, fell at the battle of Saratoga, in America. The words, which are adapted to an old Gaelic air, appear with music in Smith's "Scottish Minstrel," vol. iii. p. 28. The ballad, in the form given above, has been improved in several of the stanzas by the author, on his original version, published in Johnson's "Museum." See the "Museum," vol. iv. p. 238. [17] Mora is the name of a small valley in Athole, so designated by the two lovers. MY LUVE'S IN GERMANY.[18] TUNE--_"Ye Jacobites by name."_