Such transports wake, severe and high, Scarce less, when, after battle lost,. And as each comrade's name they tell, Warriors! — and where are warriors found If not on martial Britain's ground? And who, when waked with note of fire, Blame ye the Bruce? - his brother blamed. '["Ours are the tears, though few, sincerely shed, And the brief epitaph in danger's day, When those who win at length divide the prey, BYRON'S Corsair.] The kind, and yet fiery character of Edward Bruce, is wel XXI. 'Tis morning, and the Convent bell An aged Sister sought the cell And hurriedly she cried, "Haste, gentle Lady, haste- there waits Saint Bride's poor vot'ress ne'er has seen painted by Barbour, in the account of his behaviour after the battle of Bannockburn. Sir Walter Ross, one of the very few Scottish nobles who fell in that battle, was so dearly beloved by Edward, that he wished the victory had been lost, so Ross had lived. "Out-taken him, men has not seen Where he for any men made moaning.' And here the venerable Archdeacon intimates a piece of scandal. Sir Edward Bruce, it seems, loved Ross's sister, par amours, to the neglect of his own lady, sister to David de Strathbogie, Earl of Athole. This criminal passion had evil consequences; for, in resentment of the affront done to his sister, Athole attacked the guard which Bruce had left at Cambuskenneth, during the battle of Bannockburn, to protect his magazine of provisions, and slew Sir William Keith, the commander. For which treason he was forfeited. In like manner, when in a sally from Carrickfergus, Neil Fleming, and the guards whom he commanded, had fallen, after the protracted resistance which saved the rest of Edward Bruce's army, he made such moan as surprised his followers: "Sic moan he made men had ferly,* For he was not customably Wont for to moan men any thing, Nor would not hear men make moaning." * Wonder. Such are the nice traits of character so often lost in general his tory. His errand, as he bade me tell, Is with the Lady Isabel." The princess rose,- for on her knee Debate his will, his suit deny."— 66 XXII. No, Lady! in old eyes like mine, Gauds have no glitter, gems no shine; Nor grace his rank attendants vain, One youthful page is all his train. It is the form, the eye, the word, The bearing of that stranger Lord; His stature, manly, bold, and tall, Built like a castle's battled wall, Yet moulded in such just degrees, His giant-strength seems lightsome ease. Close as the tendrils of the vine His locks upon his forehead twine, Jet-black, save where some touch of grey Has ta'en the youthful hue away. Weather and war their rougher trace Have left on that majestic face;But 't is his dignity of eye! There, if a suppliant, would I fly, Secure, 'mid danger, wrongs, and grief, That glance, if guilty, would I dread More than the doom that spoke me dead!"—— Enough, enough," the princess cried, 66 ""Tis Scotland's hope, her joy, her pride! How long, O Heaven! how long delay'd!- XXIII. They met like friends who part in pain, But when subdued that fitful swell, XXIV. "Now lay these vain regrets aside, For Heaven the erring pilot knew, Poor Nigel's death, till, tamed, I own, 66 XXV. Nay, Isabel, for such stern choice, No softer thoughts might intervene Hath caught that blush's passing dye,- |