XXIX. "Abbot !" The Bruce replied, "thy charge It boots not to dispute at large. This much, howe'er, I bid thee know, No selfish vengeance dealt the blow, For Comyn died his country's foe. Nor blame I friends whose ill-timed speed Fulfill'd my soon-repented deed, Nor censure those from whose stern tongue The dire anathema has rung. I only blame mine own wild ire, By Scotland's wrongs incensed to fire. Heaven knows my purpose to atone, Far as I may, the evil done, And hears a penitent's appeal From papal curse and prelate's zeal. Fair Scotland from her thrall relieved, 1 Shall many a priest in cope and stole And expiate this unhappy chance, In Palestine, with sword and lance. But, while content the church should know My conscience owns the debt I owe, Unto De Argentine and Lorn The name of traitor I return, Bid them defiance stern and high, And give them in their throats the lie! These brief words spoke, I speak no more. Do what thou wilt; my shrift is o'er." XXX. Like man by prodigy amazed, Upon the King the Abbot gazed; Then o'er his pallid features glance Convulsions of extatic trance. His breathing came more thick and fast, And from his pale blue eyes were cast Strange rays of wild and wandering light; Uprise his locks of silver white, Flush'd is his brow, through every vein In azure tide the currents strain, And undistinguish'd accents broke The awful silence ere he spoke. XXXI. "De Bruce! I rose with purpose dread To speak my curse upon thy head, And give thee as an outcast o'er To him who burns to shed thy gore ; But, like the Midianite of old, Who stood on Zophim, heaven-controul'd, I feel within mine aged breast A power that will not be repress'd. It prompts my voice, it swells my veins, It burns, it maddens, it constrains !— De Bruce, thy sacrilegious blow Hath at God's altar slain thy foe: O'er-master'd yet by high behest, I bless thee, and thou shalt be bless'd!"He spoke, and o'er the astonish'd throng Was silence, awful, deep, and long. XXXII. Again that light has fired his eye, Again his form swells bold and high, is gone,. The broken voice of age 'Tis vigorous manhood's lofty tone :"Thrice vanquish'd on the battle-plain, Thy followers slaughter'd, fled, or taʼen, A hunted wanderer on the wild, On foreign shores a man exiled, Disown'd, deserted, and distress'd, I bless thee, and thou shalt be bless'd! Bless'd in the hall and in the field, Under the mantle as the shield. Avenger of thy country's shame, Restorer of her injured fame, Bless'd in thy sceptre and thy sword, De Bruce, fair Scotland's rightful Lord, Bless'd in thy deeds and in thy fame, In distant ages, sire to son Shall tell thy tale of freedom won, And teach his infants, in the use Of earliest speech, to faulter Bruce. Go, then, triumphant ! sweep along The Power, whose dictates swell my breast, Hath bless'd thee, and thou shalt be bless'd ! Enough-my short-lived strength decays, And sinks the momentary blaze. Heaven hath our destined purpose broke, Not here must nuptial vow be spoke; Brethren, our errand here is o'er, Our task discharged.-Unmoor, unmoor !" |