Borber Ballad by Sir Walter Scott

March, march, Ettrick and Teviotdale,
Why the deil dinna ye march forward in order!
March, march, Eskdale and Liddesdale,
All the Blue Bonnets are bound for the Border.
Many a banner spread,
Flutters above your head,
Many a crest that is famous in story.
Mount and make ready then,
Sons of the mountain glen,
Fight for the Queen and our old Scottish glory.

Come from the hills where your hirsels are grazing,
Come from the glen of the buck and the roe;
Come to the crag where the beacon is blazing,
Come with the buckler, the lance, and the bow.
Trumpets are sounding,
War-steeds are bounding,
Stand to your arms, then, and march in good order;
England shall many a day
Tell of the bloody fray,
When the Blue Bonnets came over the Border.

This poem by Sir Walter Scott is an example of a traditional ballad. He is telling a story about a Scottish attack on England. There are many border ballads written by many different poets, several of which are about the Scotland-England conflict. This poem starts off talking about "Ettrick" and "Teviotdale" which were places in Scotland. Sir Walter Scott is telling the Scottish troops to march from their homes (the troops used to wear blue bonnets)and fight for the glory of their country. In the last few lines, he mentions how England will be talking for years to come about the attack of the Scottish warriors who came over the border. The literary devices used here include repetition of "march march" in lines 1 and 2. There is also alliteration used in "Blue Bonnets are Bound for the Border". There is allusion here to several places in Scotland (Teviotdale), the "blue bonnets" worn by Scottish soldiers, and the queen of England. The poet uses imagery in the sentence "Many a banner spread, flutters above your head" and the words "March, march, Ettrick and Teviotdale" is a form of personification. This poem fits into my theme because it talks about the nature of battles.