Note 4 — THE BATTLE OF DRYFFE SANDS.
Reading edition
"The music of the most accomplished singer," says Goldsmith, in his "Essays," "is dissonance to what I felt when an old dairymaid sang me into tears with 'Johnnie Armstrong's Last Good-night.'" Of this ballad only two stanzas (which are subjoined) have survived till modern times. The beauty of these only deepens the feeling of regret at the loss of the rest.
"This night is my departing night, For here nae langer must I stay; There's neither friend nor foe o' mine But wishes me away. "What I have done, through lack o' wit, I never, never can recall: I hope ye're a' my friends as yet— Good-night, and joy be with you all!"