# Five Excellent New Songs (c. 1800, "Monro's Tragedy")/Monro's Tragedy

Monro’s Tragedy.
When the ſons of North Britain were in uſe to range, To ſee foreign countries and lands that are ſtrange, Among that great number was Donald Monro, Who to America Likewiſe did go, Two ſons with his brother he cauſe to ſtay, Becauſe for their paſſage he could not then pay; But ſeven long winters being paſt and gone, They went to their uncle one day alone, And aſked the favour to croſs o’er the ſea, Where they with their parent in plenty might be; But their unce reply’d, and anſwer’d them no, That they had got no money therefore could not go. Being thus diſappointed no comfort could find, Till the thoughts of the army did run in their mind; So leaving their uncle, they came where they found A regiment of footmen for American bound. With whom they inſiſted and went to the main, In hopes for to ſee their dear arents again. But when they were landed in that country wide, Rebellion and murder in triumph did ride. With humble ſubmiſſion then both of them went One day to their Captain, and begg’d his conſent To go up the country their parents to ſee, To which the good Captain, was pleas’d to agree. So leaving the camp with a boy for their guide, They came to the place where their friends did reſide, And walking with pleaſure theſe words they did ſay, O could we but find our our parents to day. How would it ſurpriſe them to ſee us ſo near, As they of our liſting never yet did hear, So going on further they eſpy’d a grove, The trees and the buſhes all ſeemed to move
It being two revels who lurk’d in the wood. Who pointed their pieces where the two brothers ſtood, Soon lodged their bullets into their two breaſts, And ran to their prey like moſt ravenous beaſts, To take all their money and ſtrip off their clothes, Not being quite dead they gave them ſome blows, One of them expiring did lift up his eyes, And ſeeing the murderer approaching he cries. O cruel monſters! O blood thirſty hounds! How could you thus kill us till once we had found Our father, whom we have ſought with ſuch care, If he hears of our fate he will die with deſpair He left us in Scotland ſeven twelve months ago, Perhaps you may know him, his name is Monro, The old man on his perſon fixed his eyes, His heart was ſoon ſeized with grief and ſurpriſe. He cried with ſorrow what’s this I have done, O curs’d be theſe hands, for I have murder’d my ſon Then are you my father? the ſon then did ſay, I am glad that I’ve ſeen you before that I die. Being ſorely diſturbed, the old man reply’d What it he that youth that lies down by your ſide; He is my brother and your loving ſon, I our loſs would have been leſs had I fallen alone, O how is our mother, is ſhe yet well? If ſhe hears of our death her heart it will fail, But farewel dear father the ſon did reply Since you’ve been our ruin contented we die. When this he had ſpoken, down dropped his head, His father obſerv’d him, and found he was dead The ſight was ſo ſhocking, he fell to the ground, The thoughts of the murder his heart did confound. He curs’d his misfortune and fatal day, And kiſs their bodies as cold as the clay, O could I recal you and make you to live, My life for your ranſom I freely would give. But why join’d I theſe rebels to aſſiſt their bad cauſe
And murder my children againſt nature’s laws, I took you for others, O fatal miſtake, Since I was bewitched! my ſons for your ſake. I’ll ſink beneath ſorrow, give way to deſpair, I will breath my life out till death end my care, Then ſhall I meet you on a happier ſhore, Where I will be able to kill you no more.