Clan-Colla's dirge is pealing wide, They destine for the place of death. What thoughts, while, with a dizzy ear, He hears the death-prayer mutter'd near? And must he die such death accurst, But other witnesses are nigh, Who mock at fear, and death defy! Soon as the dire lament was play'd, It waked the lurking ambuscade. The Island Lord look'd forth, and spied The cause, and loud in fury cried, "By Heaven they lead the page to die, And mock me in his agony ! They shall abye it !"-On his arm Bruce laid strong grasp, "They shall not harm A ringlet of the stripling's hair; But, till I give the word, forbear. -Douglas, lead fifty of our force -Edward, with forty spearmen, straight Rush forward, and the passage win, Secure the drawbridge-storm the port And man and guard the castle-court. The rest move slowly forth with me, In shelter of the forest-tree, Till Douglas at his post I see." XXVIII. Like war-horse eager to rush on, Hid, and scarce hid, by green-wood bough, Now sinks the dirge's wailing sound, That slow and solemn company, While hymn mistuned and mutter'd prayer The victim for his fate prepare. What glances o'er the green-wood shade? The spear that marks the ambuscade ! "Now, noble Chief! I leave thee loose; Upon them, Ronald !" said the Bruce. XXIX. "The Bruce, the Bruce !" to well-known cry His native rocks and woods reply. "The Bruce, the Bruce !" in that dread word The knell of hundred deaths was heard. The astonish'd Southern gazed at first, Where the wild tempest was to burst, That waked in that presaging name. Before, behind, around it came ! Half-arm'd, surprised, on every side Hemm'd in, hew'd down, they bled and died. Deep in the ring the Bruce engaged, And fierce Clan-Colla's broadsword raged! Full soon the few who fought were sped, Nor better was their lot who fled, And met, 'mid terror's wild career, XXX. Not on their flight press'd Ronald's brand, A gentler duty claim'd his hand. He raised the page, where on the plain His fear had sunk him with the slain: And twice, that morn, surprise well near Once, when, with life returning, came |