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And gave his battle-axe the swing. Right on De Boune, the whiles he pass'd,

Fell that stern dint - the first - the last!

Such strength upon the blow was put,
The helmet crash'd like hazel-nut;
The axe-shaft, with its brazen clasp,
Was shiver'd to the gauntlet grasp.
Springs from the blow the startled horse,
Drops to the plain the lifeless corse;

First of that fatal field, how soon, How sudden, fell the fierce De Boune!

XXI.

Now onward, and in open view,
The countless ranks of England drew,
Dark rolling like the ocean-tide,
When the rough west hath chafed his
pride,

And his deep roar sends challenge wide
To all that bars his way!
In front the gallant archers trode,
The men-at-arms behind them rode,
And midmost of the phalanx broad

The Monarch held his sway.
Beside him many a war-horse fumes,
Around him waves a sea of plumes,
Where many a knight in battle known,
And some who spurs had first braced

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THE NEW YCLE PUBLIC LIBRARY

ACTOR, LENIX AND
TEN FOUNDATIONS

Upon the spot where they have kneel'd, These men will die or win the field."

Then prove we if they die or win! Bid Gloster's Earl the fight begin."

XXIII.

Then spurs were dash'd in chargers' flanks,

They rush'd among the archer ranks,
No spears were there the shock to let,
No stakes to turn the charge was set,
And how shall yeoman's armor slight,
Stand the long lance and mace of
might?

Or what may their short swords avail,
'Gainst barbed horse and shirt of mail?
Amid their ranks the chargers sprung,
High o'er their heads the weapons
swung,

And shriek and groan and vengeful shout

Give note of triumph and of rout!
Awhile, with stubborn hardihood,
Their English hearts the strife made
good.

Borne down at length on every side, Compell'd to flight, they scatter wide. Let stags of Sherwood leap for glee, And bound the deer of Dallom-Lee! The broken bows of Bannock's shore Shall in the greenwood ring no more! Round Wakefield's merry May-pole

now,

The maids may twine the summer bough,

May northward look with longing glance,

For those that wont to lead the dance, For the blithe archers look in vain! Broken, dispersed, in flight o'erta’en, Pierced through, trode down, by thousands slain,

They cumber Bannock's bloody plain.

XXVI.

Unflinching foot 'gainst foot was set,
Unceasing blow by blow was met;

The groans of those who fell
Were drown'd amid the shriller clang
That from the blades and harness rang,
And in the battle-yell.

Yet fast they fell, unheard, forgot,

Both Southern fierce and hardy Scot;
And O! amid that waste of life,
What various motives fired the strife!
The aspiring Noble bled for fame,
The Patriot for his country's claim;
This Knight his youthful strength to

prove,

And that to win his lady's love;
Some fought from ruffian thirst of
blood,

From habit some, or hardihood.
But ruffian stern, and soldier good,
The noble and the slave,

From various cause the same wild road,
On the same bloody morning, trode,
To that dark inn, the grave!

XXVIII.

Bruce, with the pilot's wary eye,
The slackening of the storm could spy.
"One effort more, and Scotland's free!
Lord of the Isles, my trust in thee
Is firm as Ailsa Rock;

Rush on with Highland sword and
targe,

I with my Carrick spearmen charge;
Now, forward to the shock!"
At once the spears were forward
thrown,

Against the sun the broadswords
shone;

The pibroch lent its maddening tone,
And loud King Robert's voice was
known -
"Carrick, press on-they fail, they
fail!

-

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O give their hapless prince his due!
In vain the royal Edward threw

His person 'mid the spears,
Cried, "Fight!" to terror and despair,
Menaced, and wept, and tore his hair,

And cursed their caitiff fears;
Till Pembroke turn'd his bridle rein,
And forced him from the fatal plain
With them rode Argentine, until
They gain'd the summit of the hill,
But quitted there the train:
"In yonder field a gage I left,
I must not live of fame bereft;
I needs must turn again.

Speed hence, my Liege, for on your

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