Burns (rousing): Listen—listen. It’s my volunteers—they’re going to the wars.
[The pipes come down the street.]
Burns: They’re marching away, and I’ll never see them come back.
[The pipers lead the regiment past the window.]
Burns (forcing himself up, and waving his muffler out of the window to them): God go with you, my lads—Scotland for ever.
[As they pass down the street, he sings.]
Scots, wha hae wi’ Wallace bled,
Scots, wham Bruce has aften led;
Welcome to your gory bed,
Or to victorie!
Now’s the day, and now’s the hour;
See the front of battle lour;
See approach proud Edward’s pow’r—
Chains and slaverie!
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 die!
Scots, wha hae wi’ Wallace bled,
Scots, wham Bruce has aften led;
Welcome to your gory bed,
Or to victorie!
[He sinks back exhausted into the arms of Hamilton and Jean, and]
THE CURTAIN FALLS
Transcriber’s Note