#brought each man I had; and chief, or earl,, LENNOX. Hear him, my lord; it is the noble SwintonHe hath had high experience. MAXWELL. He is noted The wisest warrior 'twixt the Tweed and Solway— I do beseech you hear him. JOHNSTONE. Ay, hear the Swinton-hear stout old Sir Alan; Maxwell and Johnstone both agree for once. REGENT. Where's your impatience now? Late you were all for battle, would not hear tumomance a word—and now you gaze a na wance, in his antique armour, we were vrisen from the dead, Laring as leace's counsel for the battle. -SWINTON. sa pruni word to speak; but he who fought Lent mir Ločen Bruce, may something guess, Can ananication with the dead, 1. WE DE WOORD ave counsell d. –Bruce had bidden y new tur barde-crder, marshall'd broadly Te de bare safe, and bidden you mark Va punts of schron archers, bearing down Ti de pe meatcw-lands which stretch beneathThe Irice was warn you, not a shaft to-day lar ani ing mark within a Scottish bosom, Fuas mar fest be order d. The callow boys, I'm are but four-foot bows, shall gall our frost, Tue aisward, and upon the rear, The shafts shall fall like death's own dare. ARL Dom bad men discharge them, find a mark This sail we be the death of slaughter'd deer, V dve into the toils, are shot at ease Ir jars and women, while they toss aloft LI xiy and la vain their branchy borns, As we -jai shake our unavailing spears. REGENT. Isi ti net me! If their shot fall like hail, Our men have Milan coats to bear it out. SWINTON. Ser 5 armourer temper steel on stithy That made sure fence against an English arrow; A entweb mossamer were guard as good Against a wasp-sting. We fears a wasp-sting? REGENT. SWINTON. I, my lord, fear none; Yet should a wise man brush the insect off, Or he may smart for it. REGENT. We ll keep the hill; it is the vantage-ground When the main battle joins. SWINTON. It ne'er will join, while their light archery LENNOX. This is the shortest road to bandy blows; At the close tug shall foil the short-breathed southron. SWINTON. do not say the field will thus be won; The English host is numerous, brave, and loyal; heir monarch most accomplish'd in war's art, skill'd, resolute, and wary—— REGENT. And if your scheme secure not victory, What does it promise us? SWINTON. This much at least,arkling we shall not die; the peasant's shaft, oosen'd perchance without an aim or purpose, hall not drink up the life-blood we derive rom those famed ancestors, who made their breasts his frontier's barrier for a thousand years. fe'll meet these southrons bravely hand to hand, nd eye to eye, and weapon against weapon; ach man who falls shall see the foe who strikes him. While our good blades are faithful to the hilts, nd our good hands to these good blades are faithful, low shall meet blow, and none fall unavengedWe shall not bleed alone. REGENT. And this is all our wisdom hath devised! SWINTON. ot all; for I would pray you, noble lords old feuds or struggles for precedence;— As well may chance) a debt of blood and hatred, That my old arm may achieve for the dear country [GORDON shows much emotion during this and You task me justly, and I crave his pardon, [Bows to the REGENT. His and these noble lords'; and pray them all Bear witness to my words.-Ye noble presence, Here I remit unto the Knight of Swinton All bitter memory of my father's slaughter, All thoughts of malice, hatred, and revenge; By no base fear or composition moved, But by the thought, that in our country's battle All hearts should be as one. I do forgive him As freely as I pray to be forgiven, And once more kneel to him to sue for knighthood. SWINTON (affected, and drawing his sword). Alas! brave youth, 't is I should kneel to you, And, tendering thee the hilt of the fell sword That made thee fatherless, bid thee use the point After thine own discretion. For thy boonTrumpets be ready-In the holiest name, And in Our Lady's and Saint Andrew's name, [Touching his shoulder with the sword. I dub thee Knight! Arise, Sir Adam Gordon! Be faithful, brave, and O be fortunate, Should this ill hour permit! cry, «Lar [The trumpets sound; the Heralds Beggars and flatterers! Peace, peace, I say! LENNOX. What of Swinton's counsel ? Essay the adventure if it pleases him, With his fair threescore horse. As for ourselves, We will not peril aught upon the measure. GORDON. Lord Regent, you mistake; for if Sir Alan VIPONT to GORDON). [Exit LENNOX. Then change the phrase, and say, that while we live, An ancient friend-A most notorious knave, Whose throat I've destined to the dodder'd oak Before my castle, these ten months and more. Was it not you, who drove from Simprim-mains, And Swinton-quarter, sixty head of cattle? HOB. What then? if now I lead your sixty lances Upon the English flank, where they ll find spoil Is worth six hundred beeves? SWINTON. Why, thou canst do it, knave. I would not trust ther FOR. There is a dingle, and a most discreet one SWINTON Bravely, bravely GOLDON. What ails thee, noble youth? What means this pause?-Mount, sirs, and cry my slogan. Let all who love the Gordon follow me [Looks as if towards the Scottish Army. KING EDWARD. Answer, proud abbot; is my chaplain's soul, If thou knowest aught on 't, in the evil place? CHANDOS. My liege, the Yorkshire men have gain'd the meadow. I see the pennon green of merry Sherwood. KING EDWARD. Then give the signal instant! We have lost But too much time already. ABBOT. My liege, your holy chaplain's blessed soul KING EDWARD. To hell with it, and thee! Is this a time [Flourish of Trumpets, answered by a distant sound See, Chandos, Percy-Ha, Saint George! Saint Edward' The storm of England's wrath-sure, swift, resistless, PERCY. The thick volley Darkens the air, and hides the sun from us. KING EDWARD. It falls on those shall see the sun no more. |