THE LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES THE B R U C I A D. A N EPIC POEM, IN SIX BOOKS. LONDON: Printed for J. DODSJ, E Y, in Pull-mall; and J, MURRAY (Succcffor to Mr. SANDBY) No. 32, Fleet-Itreet; T. and J. M E R R i L, at Cambridge ; and A. KiNCAioandJ. BELL, at Edinburgh. MDCCLXIX. O) 1X3 xi $0 io T O ARCHIBALD DOUGLAS, OF DOUGLAS, ESQUIRE. S I R, A N ingenious Poem, now intitled the BRUCIAD, has lain about forty years in obfcurity, waiting, as it would feem, for that happy aera, when (next to that of the hero) the two moft renowned names of antiquity, (and of the poets eulogy) STUART and DOUGLAS, uniting in one perfon, might, by an aufpicious patronage, in- vite her to unveil, with greater fplen- dour, her fo long negledbed beauties. A 2 THIS 789606 vi DEDICATION, THIS poetical, but faithful regifter of ancient Caledonian heroifm, wherein the STUARTS, DOUGLASSES, GRIMES, the WALLACE, and many other diPiin- guifhed names, appear to have emu- lated for fame the noble BKUC.E him- felf, looks fupplicating to you, Sir, for protection. As the hero ROBERT BRUCE, fuffer- ed long under a moft unj ft invafion of his right, as he ftrugg^ed with the moft unexampled foitit.de to recover " it, and a* he at length glorioufly pre- vailed againft moft inveterate and po- tent enemies 5 fo, Sir, to the entire fatisfaclion of the whole impartial world, have you, through the juft de- ciuon DEDICATION, v ci^on of the fupreme judicatory of thefe kingdoms, arrived at the polTef- i of your birthright. As ROBERT BRUCE, after having triumphed over thr deep and ini- quitous defigns of enemies, foreign as well as domeftic, reigned many years with dignity, reputation and honour, fo may you, Sir, who have defeated confpiracies almoft as alarm- ing, enjoy, but for a much longer time, the peaceful effects of your victory, and at laft tranfnut to pofie- rity your name and family with BRU- CIAN luftre, PERMIT, vi DEDICATION, PERMIT, that I have the honour to conclude myfelf, with unaffefled refpea, SIR, * a Your moft obedient, and moft humble fervant, - The EDITOR. perly expofed. As to the number of books, it is pre- fumed there are no rules fixed. If there are, and if Homer be the ftandard, then Vir- gil is in the wrong. But Homer, although juftly efteemed as at the head of all heroic productions, cannot be the ftandard j be- caufe, if we give credit to hiftory, his ma- terials for the Iliad, in place of being regu- larly P R E F A C E. Kiii Jarly divided by him into books, were ori- ginally fung or recited in little broken, iketches, then called by the Greeks rhapft- dies ; and they continued to be fb published until, as containing the moft excellent max- ims both civil and military, they were firft ' collected into fqme 'form by Lycurgus the Spartan lawgiver, and after him digefted by Solon and others into that order we now have them. MACHINES are parts of a poern intro- duced only upon extraordinary occasions. When any difficulty occurs which admits of no probability of being unravelled by human means, the poet has recourfe to feme fuper- natural power, by whofe fuppofed inter- vention the embarrafTment is removed ; in this poem, however, they are introduced very fparingly. As 'rfv PREFACE. As to the manners and chara&ers, it is hoped, they are not unhappily preferved ani fupported. Upon the whole, it is left to the reader to judge of the merit of this work, from his own feelings, and to pro- nounce from thence, whether or not the PRUCIAD may be admitted of as an EPIC ' POEM ' ' ' . " ' A LIST :O A LIST of NAMES and TITLES celebrated in the following Poem. AIRLY Alexander Glocefter Gordcin Nairn Neil \rgentine Grant Newbigging A.rundeJ GRAEME Oliphant ^.thole Gray Omphraville \uchinleek Guthric O'Neil Badenock Halibartoa Oxford Saird Haftings Panmure Barclay Hay Pembroke Beik Hertford Percy Binny Slair ttolliday Hume Perth Philorth Sohuri Huntingtoun PitUigo Jothwell Boyd Johnfton Inchmartin Ramfav Randolph mucE. Keith Ray inchan Kennedy Renfrew Bute Kent Rofs Caithnefs Ker Rothfay CAERNARVON Kilpatrick RuflTel 21an Chatton. Kinnaird Rutherford Cleland JLauder Ruthven Clifford Lennox Scot Dorfpatrick Crawford Lindfay Little Serimzeour Seton Camming Longovilie Sinclair Defmont Lundie Sommervillc Dickfpn Lvfle Southelk DOUGLAS Macdonald 5trathmore )undas Macdougald St. John Dundee MacdufF STUART Lglingtoun Mackay Stewrt End- Makenzie Sutherland Falconer iVlaclean Thirfwal Fergus Mar Tho. of Chirtiw FitzgeralcJ Marfhall Tinto Fleeming Maule Turnbull porbes Mill Vanes Francis Monmouth Udny Frafer Gaudefer de Lyle Gilchrift Montgomery Moubray M unroe WALLACE Weemys Young. Giles Murray X R R A T A. P. i. 1. M. for ro/? r. /re/? 5 p. 32. J. 13. r. The; 1. 19. r. rrfarsj ; p. 54, 1. 2. r. 'tnidft ; \. 18. r. bleeds ; p. 43. for check r. r,Me ; p. ico ,. 3. for de- crees, I. dtgrces; p. 102. 1. 13. r. launch} p. 106. 1. 14. r. tviihih ; p. 143. 1. 8. for 7t'/nj t, oww ; p. 145. J. i. r. a ^i/?ar ; p. 146. J. laft, for forttndt t. frotutdf ; p. 234. end w;>/6 j p. 213. 1. 13. for otben r. -, T H E A R G U M E N THIS, the firft bcok, introdudive of the then dif- tra&ed fituation of Scottish affairs, opens with a fhort in- vocation ; relates the untimely death of king Alexander IIF. and afcribes the confufions of the country to that fatal event ; Caledonia reprefented pouring forth her lamentations at a facred altar ; a piece of poetical machinery is introduced in the figure of the angel Ariel ; Ariel accofts the hero Sir William Wallace, and infpires him to undertake the pro- tection of his country ; Wallace prepares to oppofe the Englifh invafions; the Engliih and Scottifh armies aflemble near Falkirk ; a difpute for the command arifes amongli the Sects chiefs ; Gumming, one of the moft powerful, abandons the field with 10,000 men ; Wallace in refentment retires with as many ; and Stuart the third chieftain is left with his 10,000 to oppofe the fcrce of the whole Englifh army. Stuart is flain, and his troops difcomfited : Wallace ad* vances in hopes to recover the field; he perceives BRUCE, the father of our here, warmly engaged on the Engliih fide; a defperate battle enfues ; Wallace fights his way through the enemy to a neighbouring wood ; the battle is renewed ; the Sects are worfted ; the gallant Graeme is flain, and Wal- lace, with renewed fury, endeavours to revenge his death, but is overcome by numbers ; and obliged again to quit the field. T H B R U C I A I). BOOK I. TTTHILST I, unequal, tempt the mighty theme, And rife, advent'rous, to the BRUCIAN name ! Whilft in my foul a filial ardour reigns, To fing the hero fweating on the plains ; Immers'd in ills, and long with foes befet. By caution now, now defperately great -, Be prefent, Phoebus ! in the opening fcenes, Infpire my thoughts, and regulate my flrains -, Tell how the hero triumph'd o'er his foes, Grew in diftrefs, and on his dangers rofe : B 2 Reftor'd 4 T fi B R U C I A D. [Book I. . Reftor'd his country to her priftine pow'r, Confirm'd her honour, and enrich'd her ftore. IN former ages, and in ancient reigns, When flrength unpolifh'd, mark'd lerne's plains; (a) Dauntlefs her monarchs, and her heros flood, In flreams of Cimbrian (b] and of Saxon blood ; Proud of her fons, old Caledonia dar'd Her rivals pow'r, nor foreign infult fear'd , Then, did her kings for martial honour glow, And conqueft grac'd each hero's awful brow. In thofe remoter times (as fame ham faid) A prince renown'd, (c) th' Albanian (d) fceptre fway'd -, Well (a) lerneYrom the old Galican word Eryn, or Heryn fignifies a country lying towards the weft : it is commonly taken for that part of Scotland called Strathern, and figu- ratively for the whole nation. () Cimlrian Cimbri was the ancient name of the wa> like people now called the Danes, who over-run many nations, and conquered England ; but met with fo many overthrows in Scotland, that Caledcn was faid to be the Danorum tumulus, ' The grave of the Danes.' ( ) Alexander HI. who died of a fall from his horfe at Kinc-orn, a fea port town on the Forth. ( Like piles in ruin, (lately in decay, Sunk in diftrefs, the facred matron lay t Deep in a grot, upon a mofly bed, Mournful reclines her venerable head : Solemn in grief, majeftic in defpair, Attends, and thinks, thefe accents touch her ear ; " The pow'rful foe now triumphs on thy fhore ! " Shall then fam'd Caledonia rife no more ?" Heart rending found ! the matron's mournful cries Afiail th' immortals, and fatigue the ikies ! At length, Omnipotence beheld her ills, And pity ftraight, th' eternal bofom fills. 'Twas night, but (till, beyond the azure bow, Empyreal domes on flaming columns grow ; Kigh-arch'd with gold, with blazing em'rald 8 bright, Far thro' the void diffufe a purple light ; There fhining regions feel no fading ray, Loft in the fplendors of eternal day : Enthron'd amidft the pure effulgence, fat The pow'r fupreme ! furrounding fpirits wait ! B 4 Summon'd, 9 THEBRUCIAD. [Book I, Summon'd, the guarcfian of the Scottish race, Swift, Ariel, hailes, thro' unrefifting fpace. Awful the God ! immortal filence broke ! (Trembled the folid heavens as he fpoke !) Fly, Ariel, fly, and let a guardian hand (a) Prevent the ruin of yon fav'rite land ; Old Caledonia, once thy pious care, O'er-run with blood, with ravage and defpair ; Old Caledonia ! funk beneath her ills, With ftriking cries, th' eternal manlions fills. Hafte, and the youth, (b] whom heav'n hath chafe infpire With filial duty, and with martial fire ; Arm (a] Fly, Ariel, fj, &c.] Tis hoped the reader will sllow the juftice of this piece of machinery, becaufe of its ncceffity. Scotland was now reduced, in a manner, beyond all human means of recovery. Nothing could fave it but the inter- vention and influence of fome fuperior power. This, the author, with fubmiffion, thought a dignus >i\Kifice r.ndus, a dif- ficulty that required fuch an interpofal, and conicqucntly - introduced the machine. (1) Hafte, and the youth, &c.] Sir William Wallace of Ellerfly, who Hood for the liberties of Scotland, in oppo- fitiun Book I.] THE PR Ue I AD. g Arm his intrepid foul to fave the ftate, Preferve his mother, and reverfe her fate. He fpoke. The feraph bows, and wings his way., And cuts the yielding unextinguim'd day ; Thro' fpheres below, directs his willing flight. And fails, incumbent, on inferior night. Where Tay, thro' verdant rallies rolls his waves, And fair ^Eneia's (#) fruitful borders laves; R.ear'd on its margin old (b] Aleclum Hands, "VVhofe rifing fpires o'erlook the neighb'ring lands : fition to the invafions of Edward I. The reader will pleafe to obferve here, that the author defigns not a. particular de- tail of the aclions of Sir William Wallace, but 'to far as they immediately concern the affairs of Robert Bruce. And. therefore he brings Wallace direftly to the battle of Falkirk, where, in a conference with that prince, he lays before him the ungenerous defigns of the Engiilh king, and convinces him of his own Ipyalty to his country, and the Brucian intereft, , (a) A part of the county now known by the name of Angus. (6} The ancien; name of a town now called Dundee. -:The > T H E B R U C I A D. [Cook i The thoughtful hero here revolving lay, And tries in (lumbers to forget the day. "With fpeed th' immortal nuncio hither flies, And Fergus' (c) air and fhape his form difguife. Approaching foft, his wond'ring eyes he fix'd On rii-.ng bloom, with manly vigour mix'd ; But faw, while {lumbers thus his limbs invert, Shore fighs and groans, alternate, heave his breast; His country's wrongs full in his bofom roll, Invade his dreams, and rack his gen'rous foul. 'Twas now, th' aerial minifter began, And in great Fergus' voice addrefs'd the man. Arife, my fon, thy dauntlefs arm oppofe To this vaft deluge of thy barb'rous foes ; Involv'd in blood, fee Caledonia lies, Her wailings loud have reach'd the pitying fkies. To thee, O youth divine ! whom fate decrees Reftorer of thy country's liberties ; (r) The name of the firft king of Scotland* Ta Book I.] T H K B R U C I A D. n To thee, this facred charge from heav'n I bring, CommifTion'd by the heav'ns eternal king. Roufe then, my fon, exert thy warlike pow'r, And drive the foe from this unhappy fhore ; Date thy renown from this aufpicious day, And fave from ruin the Fergufian fway. He faid, and mounting in a blaze of light, 'I'he feraph re-afcends th' empyreal height. By this Aurora, in her chariot drawn, Had ting'd the ruddy eaft, and blufli'd the dawn ; When, call'd by heav'n, to manage heav'n's de- figns, In glitt'ring Heel th' Ellerflian hero mines. Born to chaftife the lawlefs pride of kings, Quick to the field the youthful warrior fprings ; While- higher names (a bafe degen'rate crowd,) (a Stain their proud titles, and difgrace their blood : (a) The author here points at the Cummings, Mont- teeths, and fome. other confiderable chiefs, who would not acknowledge the fuperiority of Wallace. 12 THEBRUCIAD. [Book. I. : For faction's ends their country's rights forego, Treach'rous retire, or, impious, aid the foe. Others more honell, but by pow'r opprefl, Had lamely purchas'd an inglorious reft ; Only a few, whofe thoughts by heav'n infpir'd, And with the facred love of freedom fir'd, Bravely difdain'd a proud ufurper's fway, Nor fraud nor force their gen'rous fouls betray , Thele on their country's freedom fix their eyes, And threats and promifes alike defpife. Iinmortal chie/s ! who (if my artlefs rhyme Can gain upon the injuries of time) Shall live, to late pofterity renown'd, "With wreaths of everlafling laurel crown'd. Among the firft, the brave Limonian Thane, () And Hay and Lauder glitter'd on the plain. The daring Seton, and the faithful Boyd, Dauntlefs approach, and clofe the hero's fide. Earl of Lennox. Jlarnfay, Book I.] T H E B R U C I A D. ,3 Ramfay, and Lyfle, and Stuart (a^ of race divine^ In awful pomp, and dreadful honours fhine. Crawford, and Campbell (long a loyal name !) Array 'd in Heel, to that affembly came. Then Keith and Murray, with their mining fliield, And Baird and Barclay, loyal, grace the field. Each warrior led a fmall, but honeft band, Fix'd to the interefts of his native land. - dimming () approach'd, ten thoufand in his train, The fatal ruin of the future plain. The Gordon, to a length of honours born, Ruthven and Ker, the rendezvous adorn. Cleland and Auchinleck, a faithful pair, Hafte to the field, and, gen'rous, aid the war. Now lad of all, appears upon the plain, The love and wonder of the warlike train, Intrepid Grseme ! (Y) the martial pomp to crown* Array'd in burnifh'd fteel, intently mone. The (a] Lord of Bute. (t>) See pag. 20. (c) The families of this name who have been accuftomed to write it Graham, or Grahame, will excufe, it is hoped, the :4 T H E B R U C I A D. [Book I, /The chiefs, as one, the Godlike man accoft, And fondly welcome to the loyal hoft. Frofn out the throng, the leader quickly ran, And to his bofom preft the gallant man : Hail, deareft brother ! welcome to my arms, Born to redrefs thy ruin'd country's harms ; Straight, at thy prefence, vanifli all my cares, And ev'ry anxious dread of future wars. He faid. The chief, advancing on the plain, "With graceful mien, falutes the warrior train. By this, the fun had mot a fainter ray, And down the weftern fteep had roll'd the day ; Then to Falkirk, inclos'd with verdant meads, The gen'rous hoft th' ELLERSLIAN hero leads; The Torwood near, a nat'ral camp they chofe, And mid'll its fhades enjoy a foft repofe. the editor, for preferring Graeme, for which he thinks there is not only equal authority, but, this being no place to enter into that queflion, as, for certain, it looks fmoother in poetry. Now Bock I.] TH^fcUCIAD. ,5 Now o'er the Ochel-heights (a] the rifmg beam, Darts thro' the milling leaves a wavy gleam ; When from the wood, advancing to the plain, In martial honours fhone the Grampian train. The daring leader, waves his awful hand, And lift'ning chiefs in filent order ftand. . Approaching fquadrons next inclofe the man, While from a rifmg ground he thus began. * Immortal fons of Albion's ancient race, * Whom faith unfcain'd, and loyal honours grace ! * Whofe noble ancestors, undaunted, Hood * In ftreams of Cimbrian and of Saxon blood -, ' Whom Rome's imperial arms efiay'd in vain, ' Her eagles fhrinking on the bloody plain. * Behold, iny friends, your ruin'd country's woes, ' And view the triumphs of ambitious foes. * Gasping in death, fee Caledonia lies, * And to the heav'ns, and you, for fuccour cries, (/?) No-w o'ei- the Ochel-heigbti, &c.] Occelli Mantes, the O:hcl-hii!s lye betwixt Strathern, Clackmannan and Kin- rofs Ihircs, and ibr the raoft part are all green. ' You ! t6 THEBRUCIAD. [Book I. e You ! whom, of all her progeny, fhe owns * Her genuine offspring, and her duteous fons. * Behold your aged fires in fetters pin'd, * Or to the dungeon's noifome depth confin'd 5 c With upcaft eyes implore your filial aid, And feebly fink again the hoary head. c Behold our virgins ravifh'd, fee our youth, c Thefpoils and victims of the perjur'd fouth ; (a) e Yourfelves ! from all your deareft pledges torn, c With want oppreft, and infamy and fcorn ; * Thro* woods, and wilds, and lonely deferts tofl^ ' Expos'd to fummer's funs, and winte^roft : 4 The race of Saxons, by no pow'r withftood, ' Pillage your fortunes, and debauch your blood. (a) The perjur'd foutb, &c.] Edward I. of England had /worn to determine impartially in the competition betwixt Bruce and Baliol ; but in place of obferving his oath, hp endeavoured to ufurp the fovereignty himfelf. * Unhappy Book I.j T H E -'i-'irtf C I A D. * Unhappy Scots ! are all our heroes fled ? .' Our Fergus', Kenneths, (a) and our Mdlcolm* dead? (5) * Our Hays and (r) Keith's, and our immortal Grime's e And all our glorious lift of ancient names ? ' Was it for this, thofe mighty heroes fought, * Thro' ftorms of death, their deathiefr honour* bought ? * Did thofe ftern patriots in battle mine, c 1fo fave their country, and feciire their line 2 (a) Our Fergus s t Kenneths, &c/] The Pifts having joinM the Romans and Britons againft the Scots, defeated them in the field, flew their Icing, art'd threatened a total con- queft : but at laft, by the valour, and condudl of Fergus .If. the Scots were reilored, and afterwards engaged the Pifts under the leading of M'Alpin, alias Kenneth More, they overthrew them, and purfued their vidlory to the extir- pation of their name. b] Kenneths, Maltolrtts , &c.] Kenneth III. and Malcolm II. famous for thofe dreadful overthrows they gave the Danes. ., . ..... (r) Hays ana Keiths, See.] A rnort account will be given df them in their proper places. THEBRUCI^D. [Book L ' When Tay beheld them, and the trembling Forth, * In conflict dire, mix with the warlike north ? ' And fhall no fon confefs his gen'rous fire ? 'No bofom kindle with the glorious fire ? 6 See ! yonder Locarty's and Barry's (a) plain, ' Still red with carnage of the flaughter'd Dane ! See thofe fame fields, where your great fathers ftrove, ' 'Midft waftes of death, your freedoms to improve v Roufe then, and let thofe names your bread in- fpire 1 With manly ardour, and with loyal fire. Let your great fathers all your fouls poflefs, ' And arms, vindictive, now their wrongs re> drefs. 4 See where the haughty South in bright array, 1 From yonder mining plains reflects the day. t Behold Plantagenet () with awful pride, * In burnim'd gold amidft his fquadrons ride f (a) The fields of two remarkable battles. () King Edward, fo fir-named. 'Come / fcook I.] THEBRUCIAD. - * Come, gallant friends, attack the daring hoft, * And drive th' infulting legions from our coaft.* He faid : The chiefs, obedient, hail the man, And thro* the hoft, confenting murmurs ran. By this the Saxon trumpets from afar, In fhriller notes proclaim th' advancing war. The hardy Scots, return the martial found, And from the hills, the loud alarms rebound^ &**-&*LS^C^.' Approaching, now th' embattl'd fquadrons fland* And in ftern order, glitter on the ftrand. The thick'ning war, around, obfcures the fields, JVith groves of lances arm'd, and bofTy fhields. As when fome dulky cloud o'erfhades the main, The breeze but whifp'ring o'er the liquid plain, Scarce heave the lurges, ocean feems to fleep, And, (till, a horror fettles on the deep. Thus filent, crowded legions form around, And dread battalions, blacken all the ground. C 2 But 4e. tHEBRUCIAD. [Book t. But here, alas ! How fhall a Seottifh mufe Thy fatal crime, O ! Cumbernald, excufe ? (a) Fain would the mufe tH r ungrateful theme decline, Or wipe the tarnifh, from the tainted line. Fain wou'd in filence pafs th' ill omen'd fcene, The chiefs embroil'd, and the deferted plain. What direful woe from wild ambition fprings ? The wreck of empires, and the bane of kings. Difcord, with hideous grin and livid eyes, Swift, thro' the hoft, on footy pinions flies. Difcord () ambition's fpiteful brood ! beheld Ten .thoufand fadious Scots forfake the field , A race (a) Thy fatal crime, Cumlernald, &c.] Gumming, earl of Cumbernald, had joined the army at Falkirk with ten thoufand men. But having himfelf an eye to the crown, and either fufpcfling or difdainiftg the fuceefs of Sir William Wallace, a private gentleman, much inferior to him in rank, but theti guardian of Scotland, irifligated Stuart Lord Bute to quarrel with him about leading the van of the Scots itrmy ; alledgtng that pnft was rather due to one of their family. Wallace infilled on the privilege of his office, and they parted from one another in high chaff. (l>) Cumraing, as if difdaining to difpute the point, led off hi* followers , and Wallace after fome altercation with Stuart, Book I.] THEBRUCIAD. 31 A race to glory loft ! which from that hour, Fell from their fame, and dwindled from their pow'r. Worfe the effects ! for Wallace, fearing fraud, Taftes of the poifbn, jealoufy had laid ; Of fancied wrongs, and with refentment fir'd, The hero, alfo, from the plain retir'd. Ten thoufand Scots in tears their chief attend, The Sun hirnfelf, ne'er faw a braver band* So great Achilles, on the Phrygian ftrand, Injur'd, by Atreus* fon's unjuft, command, Full of his wrongs, deferts his country's caufe, And from the fiege, his myrmidons withdraws. Left in the field, the noble Stuart, alone, 4 Before his few, but faithful, fquadrons flione. And now great Hertford thunders on the plain And twice ten thoufand glitter in his train. Stuart, unhappily quitted the field alfo, by which ill-timed divifion Stuart was left an eafy prey to the enemy t C 3 The 2z THEBRUCIAD. [Book I, The hardy Stuart abandon'd to his foes, Dauntlefs, to meet that dreadful battle, goes. Ten thoufand Scots (no more had fate allowed To guard their lord) around the (landard crowd, The war begins, the blended clamours rife, And fhouts and groans, promifcuous, rend the ikies. The glorious Bute, undaunted fcours the flanks, And blows unerring, thin the wond'ring ranks ; O'er Saxon necks he hews a horrid way, While, roll'd in heaps, expiring fquadrons lay v Hertford beholds his fainting legions yield, And Edward's glory fading in the field ; Amaz'd, he views the chiefs unbounded might.^ Defpairs fuccefs, and meditates his. flight. The Scots, by fuch a leader's pattern taught, Advance, and with redoubled fury fought. Back to the camp lord Hertford wings his way, While on the plain ten thoufand victims lay. Immortal Stuart ! O were my bofom fir'd \Vith ardour like to that thy foul infpir'd, The Boole I.] THEBRUCIAD. 23 The mufe fhou'd raife a trophy to thy fame, Great as thy worth, and deathlefs as thy name. But fee ! where BRUCE, array'd in martial pride, And crafty Beik before their fquadrons ride. Againft the Scots they vengefully advance, And forty thoufand helms reflecting glance. Waving in air the gilded lion flies, And loud the trumpets eccho thro' the fkies. Tir'd with late toils, the noble Bute beheld The fwarming legions crowd the bloody field ; Anxious and doubtful, view'd their mighty pow'r, And firm their ranks, extended on the fliore. Amaz'd at firft, his fpirits backward roll. And by degrees forfake his gen'rous foul. He cafts his eyes around, but fees no aid, Wallace is injur'd, and the Gumming fled. O deadly guft of pailion 1 direful heat ! Dang'rous to all but fatal to the great ! In grov'iing minds but low refentment dwells, For blood that's grofs, rare, o'er its channel fwells ; C 4 Spirits 24 T H E B R U C I 4 I}. Spirits high-born, like meteors in the fky ? Ferment in ftorms, and round in ruin fly. Relentlefs ELLERSLY ! ah, canft thou ftand, And fee the hero butcher'd on the ftrand ? The hero ! whom fo recent laurels bleft, By numbers, and fuperior force oppreft ! O fend the god-like Gramme (and lave thy vow,) Or fend the faithful Boy'd to his refcue j Or let the gen'rous Seton's tears prevail To fhare ^he day, and turn the fatal fcale. Behold the chiefs, all fuppliant beg around, Unwonted tears, flide, trickling to the ground, In vain. Unchang'd the injur'd leader ftands, Feels much, and yet denies their warm demands, With eager hafte approach the Saxon lines, And irj the front the (a\ rev'rend warrior ihines, - (a) ttc re"jrtntl warrior Jhints\ Anthony Beik, bifhop rf Durham, a great enemy to the Scots, more famous for his ikill in the arts of war than in the gofpel of peace, as a certain githor remarks. Tim prelate headed 10,000 men at the Battle of Falkirk, raided by his own influence and authority. The Book I.] THE B R U C I A D. fe j The noble Bute beheld the num*rous bands, Whilft recollected in himfelf he ftands ; Then rous'd his little hoft with frefh alarms. And ftirill the trumpet founds again to arms. Secure of glory, and a deathlefs name a jLavifh of life, he rufties into fame, The fignal giv'n, inflam'd with mutual rage, Th* unequal fquadrons furioufly engage. Tfrro' hurnjfh'd Heel, faft burlts theftreaming gore, And rplls a purple current on the more. The cautious Beik each various fcene beheld, I Mankind immortal ! innocent ! firfl flray'd, By thee, thou hellifh principle betray'd ! Unfated fince, thou fpread'ft thy pois'nous reign, Infpifft th' ambitious, aud delud'fl the vain. This WALLACE found. Not all his gen'rous, toils, His glorious conquefts, and triumphant fpoils ; Not all. his brave attempts to free the flate, Cou'd fcreen the patriot, from the jealous great. Bbfet Book II. J T H E B R U C I A D, 55 Befet by malice, and by fraud oppreft, (Yet green with laurels, and with triumphs bleft ') The godlike leader to Edina came, Renounc'd his pow'r, difclaim'd a guardian's name j 'Midft tears of loyal ftates, refign'd his truft, And plans an exile, from his native coaft. His caufelefs wrongs deep in his bofom fat, And deeper flill the ruin of the ftate. Yet, forc'd by faction, he forfakes the land, His friends attend him to the briny ftrand ; A homely veflel bears him to the main, And flowly, bounding, plows the watry plain j Aloft, infpiring gales, propitious blow, Obfequious, rolling, roars the tide below ; Till fafe from dangers of the liquid reign, The warlike crew the Rochel harbour gain, .Farewel, thou gallant man ! a long adieu To wretched Albion's fafety, and to you, In arms, who now, fhall dare fupport her right ? hardy chief fhall lead her fons to fight ? E Her $6 THEBRUCIAD. [Book II. Her once brave fons ! now terrified and aw'd, At home by faction, and from home by fraud ; To woods and wilds and lonely deferts go, Forfake her caufe, nor will to meet the foe. Again the foe, fwarms on her crowded ftrand, And frefh definition fweeps her wafted land ! Farewel, brave injur'd man ! thou boaft of fame ! At once thy country's glory, and her fhame ! Nor fljall the mufe thy farther a#s explore, 0n Scotia's plains, or on the Gallic (hore. The weary mufe here refts her dropping wing, s AncJ confcious of thy fate, forbears to fing, Some other genius may the tafk attend, And paint the villain in the perjur'd friend. Nor (hall the BRUCE'S fate her notes infpire, Or tune to elegy the mournful lyre. Secret, (he weeps the lucklefs father dead, The fcene o'er-veiling with a filent fhade. But fits the harp to a fublimer ftrain, The godlike fon ! and his immortal reign I THE EKD OF THE SECOND THE B R U C I A D o K m. THE R G U M E N * TO THE THIRD BOOK. THIS book introduces our hero, Robert Bruce, (his fa- ther now dead) mournfully attending the king of England with a formidable army upon a frefh invafion againft the Scots ; the Englifh upon this occafion over-run almoft the whole country ; king Edward removes from Scoon the coro- nation chair, with fooje other Scots archives; the chief of the Ctmmings mortifiJtd to f^e fuch an overturn cf Scots affairs, addrefles Bruce on the occafion ; they enter into a fort of agreement, the conditions of wh'ch Gumming be- trays to the Fnglifh ; it is debated in the Englifli council, whether Bruce fhould not be tried and condemned ; which is diverted by a prepofal of Pembroke's, that it woukl bs more political to ^y^r-look-tim for the prefect, until an op- portunity fhould. offer of extirpating all the race ; in the meantime Montgomery fends Bruce a fignal to make his ef- cape ; Bruce profits of the hint and efcapes into Scotland ; a meffenger carrying difpatches from Gumming to England is intercepted by fome of the loyalifls ; Bruce, after exami- nation of the courrier and his letters, pofts to Dumfries, finds Gumming in the church, upbraids and flays him ; Douglas, feeking an opportunity to relieve his country and recover his pofTefiions, is met by Bruce ; the firft interview between thefe two heroes ; they proceed with their train to Scoon, where Bruce is crowned ; they march 'to Perth, then, in the hands of the Englifh, commanded by Pembroke, and, fummon it to furrender ; a battle cnfues ; the Scots are de- feated ; and make their retreat towards Aberdeen. THE B R U C I A D f BOOK III. HP H E Saxon trumpets found the dread alarrn^ The war rekindles, and the legions arm. The younger BRUCE is call'd from Gallia's more, For now the haplefs father was no more. Jn warlike pomp array'd, the crowded hoft Moves, fable, onward to the Scottifh coaft. As cranes, embody'd, fhade th* aetherial plains, Stretch'd on the wing, to fhun impending rains 3, The airy hoft on founding pinions flies, (A. living cloud) along the darken'd ikies j So, wrap'd in duft, the Saxons Ihape their way^ Obfcure the fun, and intercept the day. Great in the van the mighty monarch fhone, And by his fide in armour blaz'd the fon. Next, mournful BRUCE, before th' embattl'd crowcl Full of his fire, in filent grandeur rode. Thick 6 THEBRUCIAD. Book III.} Thick fwarm the hoftile bands on Scotia's fhore, And fword and fire her poor remains devour. To hills and dales her trembling fons retreat, Their homes abandon, to avoid their fate. Mothers and infants mare the common woe. And, feebly flying, fall before the foe. From Sol way's ftream, to Caithnefs ftormy flrand, One difmal face of ruin fweeps the land. As when fome torrent fwell'd with wint'ry rains, Rolls from the mountains, and o'erfpreads the plains ; The fwains and flocks o'erwhelm'd confus'dly roar, And woods and harvefts float along the more. JS"ow fraught with fpoils, from fair (a) Pomona's coaft, To Perth returns the () Trinobantian hoft. (a") Pomona, The largeft of the Orkney iflinds, {b} Trinobantian bo/?.] Trinobantes were the people of' ^liddlefex, &c. takea here for the Englifh in general. Book III.] T-HEBRUCIAD. 6f From thence to Scoon the victor takes his way, The facred feat of Scotia's ancient fway ; Where twice ten centuries her monarchs fat, w On fated marble, venerably great. Imperial Scoon ! how is thy pomp defac'd ; Thy archives rifl'd, and thy glories raz'd ! Thy facred monuments (the prize of war,) And fpoils of ages, grace proud Edward's car 5 The deeds and records of great Fergus' line, The fatal ftone torn from its hallo w'd fhrine ; The learned, and their works, in triumph born,' Agufta's (a] tow'r, and libraries adorn. This Gumming faw, and fpite of jealous hate, With anguifh, feels the ruin of the ftate : Touch'd with the woeful fcene, the BRUCE addreft, And thus, in tears, unfolds his lab'ring breaft. c c Ah Huntington ! how long fhall rival ire, Divide our int'refts, and our country tire ? * Thou feeft our country, by her foes opprefr, * One heap of ruin, one abandon'd wafte ! (a) London. 'Her 6* T H E B R U C I AD. [Bcoklli; * Her Jaws and rights and liberties forlorn, ' By foreign force, but more by fafHon torn. * Since you and I an equal right pretend, * Let both our claims in mutual friendihip end ;. ' Shou'd you to me convey your right, then I * To you make o'er my lands and property. * Or, if to you my title I refign, Then your perpetual heritage be mine.' The BRUCE accepts the laft ; and thus agreed ; They fign, and feal, and interchange the deed. Meantime his rout again great Edward bends Back to Augufta, and the BRUCE attends. .Wrapt in his hopes, impatient for the day T* aflert his right, and vindicate his fway. But now, fell Ate, (a} fource of human woes^ Difmal from depths of Tartarus arofe. Fir'd at the 'treaty, the black fury fped, And, direful, hovers round the Cumming's head : (a) ^,'figuifies guilt. She was the goddefs of revenge, clifcord, ambition, paffions fo definitive to human kind. Any Deader will eafily fee the profopopccia, and likewife unde'rftand" the machinery. Book III.] . T H E B R U C I A D. In vifionary fcenes he hears her howl, Settles th' ambitious venom in his foul. The footy 'f|>e&re died a noxious fleam, And red/her eye- balls flaih'd a hellifh Full of the dsmon, ftariing from his bed, Difclaims his oath, and the conditions made j To Edward fends the writing feal'd and fign'd, And fhows, malicious, what the BRUCE defign'd. Edward in council reads the hated fcroll, And fudden vengeance kindles in his foul ; Straightway the noble BRUCE is doom'd to bleed,- But fate forbade, and heav'n oppos'd the deed. Bright Ariel, anxious for his facred care, Shoots downward in a veil of thicken'd air ; Mix'd with th' affembly unperceiv'd he fat, Direds their thoughts, and guides the Brucian fate > 3 In fecret whifpers heav'n's behefcs conveys, Breathes in each heart, and all the council fways. The facred motion touch'd fly Pembroke's breaft. The peer arofe, and thus the King addreft. Sov'reign ! Not Huntington alone muft bleed',- f His kindred alfo muft atone the deed, f Til! ^4 T H E B R U C I A >. [Book ill. * Till thefe are feiz'd, the punimment decline, < u Then wreck your wrath on all the Bruciari line, * His brethren, allies, and his friends mult fall, ' And one dire ruin overwhelm them all. ' 'Tis thus you are fecure.' The peers aflentj And Edward, fullen, owns the fentiment ; Nor knows the fix'd eternal voice of fate Had doom'd him fafe, and fpoke the hero great 5 For him immortal honours had decreed, And endlefs glories fhed around his head : Bid him thro' danger ftruggle to renown, And rife the theme of ages not his own. 'Twas night ; and now the great afTembly Each peer retiring to his late repofe. Not fo bright Ariel his great charge difmift, But, watchful, hovers o'er Montgom'ry's bread j His heart with tendernefs for BRUCE he fires, And to prevent the doom, his foul infpires : Bids foft the motion in his bofom roll, And breathes the friend, in whifpers, to his foul/ Fufi Book III. T H E B R U C I A D. 65 Full of the vifions of the night, firft fear Then love awoke, and rais'd the friendly peer. A faithful fervant foon his lord attends, Whom fraught with prefents to the BRUCE he fends, No charge in words the trufty menial bore. But in his hand a purfe of mining ore. Two glitt'ring fpurs of filver polim'd bright* The certain emblems of a fpeedy flight. The charge deliver'd, and the man difmifs'dj BRUCE rolls the myftic meffage in his bread : By heav'n inftructed, foon the meaning clears", Calls his attendants, and for flight prepares. 'Two's when bleak Boreas' fu'llen gufts arife, And bear the fleecy winter thro' the fkies ; When bellying clouds defcend in fpreading fno'w, : And form a mining wildernefs below ; By night the prince, two fervants in his train, On horfe-back mounting, fcotfrs the tracklefs plain t - But left the foe mould trace his fudden flight, Along th* impreflion on the fnowy white, f * 66 THEBRUCIAD. [Book III By fecret hands his courfers backward fhod, Elude the fearch, and falfify the road. Thro' dreary (hades of night, and tracks of fnow, Where winds and ftorms in ftrugglingtempeftsblow : Where hills and dales, the foreft and the field, One tirefome undiftinguilh'd profpect yield ; Where roaring torrents roll their wat'ry fway, The Noble BRUCE purfues his reftlefs way, Till pad the dangers of the hoftile plain, And tirefome horrors of the wintry reign, Lochmaben's gates a fafe retreat afford, (j) Unfold obfequious, and receive their Lord. By two attendants led, the royal gueft His great anceftors antient pavement prefl : There found his brother, and Kilpatrick wight, Fleming arid Lindfay, and the Reever-knight. () His eye, with wonder and confufion mix'd, The royal Edward (c) on the ftranger fix'd. (a) Lecbnabtiftgatts, &e.] Lochmaben belong'd here- tably to B RUCK'S family, as they were Lords of Annandale. (b) ?"/:e Reefer-knight . The Red-reever, alias Thomas of Chartre?, or Longoville, whom WALLACE took at fea. (r) Edward BRUCE the king's brother. He in.] THEBRUCIAD. $? He gaz'd aftonifh'd ! then his brother knev% And, wing'd with joy, to his embraces flew. Each chief faliites his fov'reigh in his turn, And all their hearts with mutual tranfports burn; The menials next with victuals load the board^ And chiefs attending entertain their Lord. His hunger foon allay'd* the royal gueft (As men of war are us'd with Ihort repaft,) Begun his late adventures to relate, And runs the feries of his former fate j Till, fleep approaching, all the chiefs arofe; To guard their fov'reign to his wifh'd repofe. Now Opes the wintry dawri, and Cynthia's ray A twilight dim, flioots thro' the low'ririg day, When loyal friends in bonds a courier bring, Fraught with difpatches to the Englifh king, By dimming fent. The hardy Kdward rofe,' And foftly to the king's apartment goes. tie found the monarch ftarting from his bed, And foon the captive to his prefence led, F 2 The 68 T H E B R U C I A D. [Book III* The man at once produc'd the traitorous writ ; The monarch read, and fhudder'd at the fight. He views, and wonders at the black defign, His eyes, indignant, rolling o'er each line. The purport bore ' To hafte the BRUCE'S fate ; ' For kings mou'd dread the pop'lar and the great.* Fir'd with revenge, his courfer quick he calls, And, furious, leaves Lochmaben's ancient walls. His friends, all ready now, their fteeds beftrode, And iwiftly follow thro' the marfhy road. Straight to Dumfries advances all the train, And find the dimming in the facred fane. Rage, and fwift vengeance, rolling in his breaft, BRUCE furious enter'd, and the man addreft, * Villain ! (meantime he fhows the trait'rous fcroll,) * Read this, and learn to hate thy perjur'd foul.' Nor more but pull'd a poinard from its fheath, And in his heart deep drove the mining death. Lord Gumming falls, a tide of crimfon gore Burfls from the wound, and ftains the hallow'd floor, .Book III.] T H E B R U C I A D, fy His coufm Edward, hafting to his aid, Prone at his fide by Lindfay's hand is laid. This done, the BRUCE attended by his train, Swift to Lochmaben meafures back the plain : Thence round, his royal manifeflo fends, To warn his fubjects, and invite his friends : High rais'd, in gold the glitt'ring lions glare, And round the flandard crowds the loyal war. The king appears, his noble mien imparts Love to their fouls, and courage to their hearts. They view their prince, in arms a glorious name ! And ev'ry breaft beats high with future fame. The monarch, mounting, foremoft trac'd the plain, Glitter the loyal fquadrons in his train. Straight to imperial Scoon they bend their way, The facred feat of Fergus' ancient fway ; When, o'er the lawns, as BRUCE directs his fight s A warlike courfer bore a fable knight. His clouded mail a dufky horror med, A bloody plume, blaz'd nodding o'er his head. As from fome nightly cloud's impregnant womb, The fudden light'ning glares along the gloom 5 F 5 THEBRUCIAD. [Book III. High on his helm, fo wav'd the blazy ftream, And o'er his armour caft a doubtful gleam. His flrenuous hand a lance upheld on high, And broad, a faulchion glitter'd at his thigh. Soon as the BRUC^ the warlike knight beheld, Foremoft, he fpeeds his courfer o'er the field 5 His beamy fpear advancing in his reft, Aloud he calls, a.nd thus the man addreft ; * Whoe'er thou art ir* arms tfyat tread'ft the plain, ' Difclofe thy purpofe, thy defigns explain ; * Whether a granger from fome foreign foil, * Thou cpm'ft to view old Caledonia's toil ; ' By heav'n directed, if thou com'ft from far, e Her fons to join, and aid her legal wa^. ' Or if thou com'It her freedom to oppoie, * Obflrucl: our right, and to aflift our foes j * Whoe'er thou art, obfcure, or known to fame,, ' Show thine intentions, and unfold thy name/ Thus fpoke the king, and now the warrior-ba,nd Approaching, round the gallant ftranger Hand. The courteous knight a low obeifance made, thus to royal BRUCE, fubmiffive, (aid : 'From Book III. THEBRUCIAD. 71 4 From foreign climes, and diftant tracts of earth, * I fought the foil where nature gave me birth -, ' Long fmce inform* d of this dear country's woes, 4 By home-bred faction torn, and foreign foes ; 4 Arriv'd, with tears I view'd her wafted more, 4 Horrid with (laughter, and deform'd with gore ; * One face of ruin, direful, fpread each pljan, * Her towns in afties, and her heroes (lain : 4 My much'd lov'd fire, a captive's life had tried, 4 In fetters pin'd, and in a dungeon died ! 4 Myfelf bereft of all his wide domains, 4 Where, now the haughty Clifford proudly reigns: 4 Mine eme addreft the king, addreft in vain, 4 Thefe rights paternal, trying to regain ; 4 His fuit preferr'd, the Saxon mov'd with ire, ' Difdainful check'd the venerable fire : * With pride rejected, lawlefs difpoffeft. 4 Griefs fwell'd to rage, indignant, tore my bread ! * Full of my country's wrongs, mine own difgrace^ I vow'd revenge on all the Saxon race. * Juft as the motion in my bofom roll'd, * A loyal friend, in friendly whifpers told, F 4 * The yz THEBRUCIAD. [Book III. f The noble BRUCE, efcap'd, purfues his way, 6 T' affert his title to the Scottifh fway. ? Rous'd with the thought, I arm, and foon pre- pare * To join my prince, and aid the loyal war. 6 If thou'rt that BRUCE, and thofe thy martial bands, ' A faithful fubject waits thy juft commands : 6 A ftranger I, a youth unknown to fame, 6 But loyal Douglas, was my father's name.' The BRUCE, revolving what the fire had done., Flew to embrace the gallant father's fon ; Clofc in his arms the godlike man he preft, And all the train falute the noble guefl. Thence to imperial Scoon they bend their way. The far fam'd feat of Albion's ancient fway. Arriv'd, they enter ; guards furrounding wait, Whilft BRUCE is feated on the throne of (late ; Then from the altar of the hallow'd fane, The facred officers the rites began. The regal oil, firft plac'd by pious hands,, Jn holy vafes on the altar Hands, The Book III.] T H E B R U C I A D. 7 j The tuneful choir their folemn voices raife, And heav'n refounds the confecrated lays. The royal fragrance on his head they pour ; In od'rous drops defcends the hallow'd fliowV." Th' imperial crown, with dazz'ling gems befet, Irradiant ! next, his manly temples fit. Meanwhile the chiefs, and whole attending train, Intently gazing on the awful fcene, With wonder faw a flame, innoxious, fpread Its lambent glories round the monarch's head ; Amaz'd, beheld unufual fplendors rife ! Play o'er his face, and fparkle in his eyes. Again the choir their notes in concerts join, And heav'nly anthems warble thro* the fhrine. The crowd in peals of loud applaufes rife ! Arxl, catch'd from vault to vault, the ecchoing noife Roll'd thrq' the dome, and rattl'd in the fkies. The rites perform'd, attended by his train, The facred monarch leaves the hallow'd fane. To 74 THEBRUCIAD. [Book III. To rooms of ftate afcends the royal gueft, Where boards ftood loaded with a rich repaft. Gay fparkling bowls the various banquet cheer, And mufic's charms again fulpend the ear. Done the repaft, fucceeds the gladfome ball, And Caledonian beauties grace the kail ; In rich attire attend their gen'rous prince, And foot in meafures juft, the num'rous dance. Now night, the boards again with goblets crown'd, Long live the King ! with cv'ry glafs goes round j Round, from repeated bowls rich nectar flows. Till eyes, reluctant, own they want repofe. Now rifing beams glow on the verge of day, And o'er old ocean's heaving bofom play. The noble BRUCE imperial Scoon forfakes, To Bertha's (a} tpw'rs a royal journey takes, With him fierce Edward iflues to the plain, Lennox the bold, and Athole's hardy thane: Randolf and Hay, two thunderbolts of war ! Seaton and Boyd, to guard their prince prepare. (a) The town of Perth. The JBook III.] THEBRUCIAD. 75 The daring Sommerville in armour Ihines, And hardy Frafer his battalions joins. Inchmartin, Barclay, on the field appear, And doughty Douglas glitter'd in the rear. Five hundred fpears advance in bright array, Gleam o'er the lawns, and doubly gild the day. In Bertha's tow'rs the crafty Pembroke ftay'd, And twice ten hundred his commands obey'd. Before the town, then girt with walls around, The king approaching, mark'd the proper ground. Near to the works encamp'd the fquadrons lay, Commifiion'd thence two trumpets take their way : Straight to the gates the martial heralds came, Requir'd the place in good king ROBERT'S name ; Summon'd the haughty Pembroke quick to yield, Or bravely meet their mailer in the field. Tl^e chief,, indignant, hears the bold alarm, Deigns no reply? but b,ids the legions arm. Throughout the troops the leader's orders run, Jnftant in arms the warlike Engljfh fhone. Back 76 THEBRUCIAD. [Book III. Back to the camp the heralds foon repair, And bid their monarch for the fight prepare : Soon from the walls the Scots hear loud alarms, Of ecchoing trumpets, and the din of arms, Repairs each leader to his fix'd command, And rang'd in firm array the legions ftand. The king on horfeback views th* embattled lines,' Then dauntlefs at their head in armour mines. Ready to fally, now, the Saxon train, The gates unfolding, haften to the plain ; When lo ! a chief before the ranks appears, Grave were his looks, and rev'rend were his years . In ev'ry martial art precifely fkill'd, Deep at the board, and daring in the field. Sir Ingram Omphraville, well known to fame, In peace and war a venerable name ! The ifiuing troops his awful prefence flay'd, And thus the chief to 'haughty Pembroke faid. ' High from the walls I view'd yon kvel ftrand, * Where Scots array'd in firm battalia (land j ' Compar'd to us, a fmall, -but dauntlefs train, 4 Inur'd to blood, and hardened to the plain. Their Book III.] T-HEBRUCIAD. 57 ' Their country's love a gen'rous warmth imparts, 5 Arms their intrepid hands, and fteels their hearts* ' See ! round the ranks great BRUCE exerts his care, ' Cheers ev'ry bofom, and inflames the war. ' Full of his fire ! his fire well-known of old, * In council fubtile, and in adtion bold, ' Thefe other chiefs oft have I feen before, ' Thunder thro' death, and fweep the bloody Ihore; * Glory and liberty their bofoms fill, " And ev'ry foldier boafts a gen'ral's fkill. ' Greater our numbers, but yon hardy train, c Long us*d to war, are matchlefs on a plain. * Therefore, my Lord, the doubtful field delay, ' And promife battle the fucceeding day. ' (Cautious, meantime, furprife the Scots by flight ^ Secure and guardlefs 'midft the fhades of night,* AfTents the leader, and the troops recalls ; Sudden proclaims a trumpet from the walls, ' This night each army to their reft repair, * And let to-morrow's fun decide the war/ He 78 THEBRUCIAD. [Book III* He faid. r The Scots, part on the field abode* And part to Methven's neighb'ring foreft rode, In foft repofe to lull each anxious care, Thoughtlefs of danger, undifturb'd by fear 4 Now Cynthia, filent, fheds a filver light* Gilds the expanfe, and azures all the night. The planets round in various orbits roll, Glows with unnumber'd fires the fpangled pole* A folemn horror fettles on the woods, And deeper roll the murmurs of the floods* Late to their reft retire the lab'ring fwains, And filence o'er the face of nature reigns. 'Twas then the Englim chiefs for fight prepare^ And from the walls lead forth th* embattl'd war. The waving lances moot a beamy light^ And doubly gild the glories of the night. To Methven, where the Scots fecurely lay,- The crafty leaders fhape their filent way'.' Swift as they march'd, by chance a watchful knight Defcrics the fquadrons thro' the gleamy night. Suddetf Book III.] THEBRUCIAD. 7$ Sudden he haftes to roufe the flumb'ring crowd : Ry then, fly Omphraville attacks the wood. The hardy king had fcarce his banner cry'd, When Pembroke thunder'd at the foreft fide. The narrow foreft no defence cou'd yield, Then rufh'd the daring monarch to the field. The Scottifh. chiefs to guard the ftandard ran, Furious commenc'd the combat on the plain. Together clos'd, the battle fiercer grew, Loud to the Ikies confounded clamours flew. From forged fteel thick flalh'd the ftreamy light, Mingl*d with air, and blazing o'er the night. The doughty king aloud his banner, cries, And furious 'midft the thickeft fquadrons flies.' His burniih'd brand was heavy, fharp, and long; With ireful force he hew'd amidft the throng. Thro' fhining armour burfts the crimfon gore, A crimfon deluge floats along the fhore. The chiefs advance their fov'reign to fuftain, And haughty Pembroke meets the loyal train. Fierce with a fhout the hofts together bound, Trembles the foreft, and the fkies refound. A walk So THEB"RTJ'C1AD. (Book lit A wafle of ruin, round the field is fpread, And heaps on heaps, lie roll'd the mangled dead - t The noble king exerts his awful might, . And "Edward's fury flam'd amidft the fight. There Somverville dealt round his deadly blows, And doughty Douglafs thunder'd on his foes. Bold'Lennox here, there Athole's hardy band Pour on the front, and fweep the deathful ftrand/ Pembroke with grief their awful force beheld, His troops all broke, and reeling in the field j Unable to fuftain their martial fire, Difmay'd he flood, and ready to retire ; When Omphraville (fome Scottilh commons tir'd) The Englifli rear, with Moubray re-infpir'd ; This Pembroke faw, and foon his pow'r recalls* And with frefh vigour in the front affails. The Scots o'erpowVd, and on the point to yield, With rage and grief, their glorious king beheld* Aloud his loyal banner calls again, And fiercely rufhes on the oppofing train. Thro* all the ranks he fcatters death around, Red roll the crimfon torrent o'er the ground. Book III. THEBRUCIAt). 81 To fave his friends, and to fecure the ftate, What wonders wrought he in the dire debate ! But vain the thought, thus fingly to fuftain The war's whole tide, and fury of the plain. Urg'd in the front, encompafs'd on the rear, His fainting fquadrons all for flight prepare. Their foes no longer able to withftand, Diverfe they fled, and left the bloody ftrand. The royal blood Hole oozing, thro* a wound, Unfelt, till noted, dropping on the ground. Randolf and Somerville proud Pembroke bore, Inchmartin, Barclay, captives from the fhore. And Frafer, long for martial deeds renown'd, And other chiefs the Englifh triumph crown'd. The- 1 hardy Moubray vent'rous to a fault, The BRUCE'S bridle, in his hand had caught; Loud, to his legions that bold warrior cries, Hafte to my aid, mine is the royal prize. But daring Seton fees the captive prince, And, fudden, ruflies to his lord's defence ; High, in his right, he bore a flaming brand, dn Moubray 's helm the thickening blows defcend -, G 'Till, *2 T HE B R U C I A D. Book III. 'Till, btnt .beneath his force, he quits the rein, And reels, and daggers, flunn'd, along the plain. The king, thus refcu'd, from the battle fied, And, Engliili chiefs to Perth their captives led. Difpateh'd, a courier fpecds o'er Solvvays more* And Pembroke's letters to great Edward bore. Joyful, he reads the action on the plain, The BRUCE'S rout, the captives, and the flamy Kach pris'ner foon a barb'rous death enjoins : The \yifer-leader baulks his lord's defigns. With crafty fpeeches their intentions' try'd, And bounty fix'd them to the hoflile fide : Their lives he granted^ liberties reflor'd, And ev'n (a) young Randolf own'd a Saxon lord. The commons all a joint obedience yield 4 Dif;uay'd and routed in the bloody field ; (a] T^ing P.ar.Jolf o-w;? J\ Thomas Randolf was the ki nephew by liis filler ; who being made prifoner here, uud dt^Hiirilig of his ur.clc's aftuirs, went heartily into the Eng- lifli iutercir !~Blit being fom^time after retaken by D.dus^'S, rcilorcd to the kin /s favour, and created Earl of Murray ; he proved o;ie of the rrcaiofi coininandcrs of his time." g&iufe Book III.] t H E B R U C I A D, 83 Forfake their homage fince the fatal flrife, And meanly barter liberty for life. Thus noble BRUCE by force and fraud overthrown, His hopes near ruin'd, arid his fuccours gone ; To mountains, wilds, and deferts now repairs, To fhun the danger of furrounding wars. Edward attends him on his lonely way, Athole, and Douglas, and the loyal Hay. Campbell and Haliburton with him ride, Names all devoted to the righteous fide. Three hundred peafants gath'ring to their lord, A weak, but voluntary aid afford. 'Midft barren rocks, and unfrequented ways, The royal Outlaw fpends his irkfome days. Wild roots his hunger, and his thirft allay'd The friendly flream that thro' the valley ftray'd. Green mofs, by night, affords his homely bed, 'Midft the dark foreft's hofpitable made. Thus, lonely, wander'd, overfet with pow'r, The royal exile on his native fhore : 'Till pinch'd with cold and want, the feeble train Their toils no longer able to fuftain j G 2 8 4 THEBRUCIAD. [Book III. Where fair Devana's friendly fortrefs lay, Thro' roads uncouth direct their fecret way. Thither the queen and beauteous ladies came, Brave Neil attending on the royal dame. END OF THE THIRD BOOK. THE < THE B R U C I A D BOOK IV. l a A . 3 - THE A R G U iM E N T TO THE FOURTH BOOK. ABERDEEN; the fecit of two univerfitier, in one- of which the author having received his education, he- opens this book with an eulogy upon that fituation ; BRUCE with his inccnfiderable train, pafs here a fhort inter/:,! of time in tranquillity ; the En.;lifh army advancing towards Aberdeen, BRUCE is under a neceffity of withdrawing' from it ; he marches into the country upon the river Avon ; part of this country being poflefled by one Macdou^al who was a fitter's On to Gumming ; Macdougal in revenge of his uncle's death, afomble-; all his force to annoy the king ; an engagement is the confequcnce; a moving invccat'on by the Queeo, who with her attendants, was not far off, is here in- troduced ; Bruce defeats Macdougal ; he is however in great extremity ; he leaves the Queen and other ladies at her father's feat called Kildrurnmy, a fortified rlacc utron the biViks of the river Don, while he and his followers retreat into the Weft Highlands ; the En t ;lifh under the King's fon defi^.n to attack Kildrurnmy ; the Queen is oblig- ed to retire frbm thence, but is betrayed into their hands by the 'I h.uie of Rofs ; KUJrummy is ftoutly defended by one of the King's brothers, &c. Young Edward r.dvifcs his f.ther of the refinance ; and King Edward liimfclf marches with another army, but dies en the march ; Ca- ernarvon, now King Edward the fecond, is ready to. abandon the fie t c, vvh'en he obfcrvcs the fortification in G 4 flames ; ARGUMENT. flames ; he renews the attack, and the befieged are all either deftroyed or mide prifoners ; King Edward is juried; Douglas, impatient for aftion, afks leave of the King to make an excurfion from the ifles, where they had for fome time fheltered themfelves ; he with a few friends lands on Arran, then, under the command cf Lord Haftings ; he makes a fucce."sful attack upon a detached efcort with provifions ; Haftings betakes himfelf to the fort, and Doug- las to the woods ; Bruce leaves Raclinda, and fails for Arran, where hefinds Douglas ; he next direfts his courfe for Carrick, the original lands of his family, but now pofleffed by Lord Piercy j Bruce on his landing is accofled by a fort of prophetefs ; her amufmg harrangue ; the town is attacked with fuccefs ; they next meditate an attempt on the caftle, and Piercy, cautious, fends difpatches into Nor- thumberland ; a reinforcement arrives, but fearing a re- volt from the natives, the Englifh avoid fighting, and re- tire from Carrick ; the King in the midft of confolation upon his fuccefs, is fadiy interrupted with the melancholy tidings of his Queen, his brother, and others being be/, trsyed into the hands of the Englifh. M H E . THE B R U C I A D. BOOK IV, E V A N A ! (a) boafted feat of arts divine, Renown'd by Phoebus, and the facred nine ' "With all th' immortal ftores of fcience grac'd, The Spoils of Rome, and trophies of the eaft : Since, driv'n by barb'rous bands, th' harmonious maids, From Thefpian bow'rs, and from the Latian fhades ; (a) De'vana.'] New Aberdeen, fituated towards the mouth of the river Dee. About a mile from thence, northward, lies Old Aberdeen, near the mouth of the river Don ; where flands a famous univcrfity, founded by James IV. king of Scots, 90 THEBRUCIAD. [Book IV, By Phoebus' care conducted o'er the main, Of old arriv'd on the () Tsezalian plain : Near where the Don^ facn'd for her fcaly brood, Her tide difgorges in the Grampian flood ; A fabrick ftands, whofe gilded tow'rs on high, Rear'd into diadems, invade the fky. Here met th' (f) Albanian prince the tuneful choir, And hails the patron of the founding lyre; Conducts the mufes to the gay retreat, Afiigns their manfion, and confirms their feat. O much lov'd feat ! nurfe of my tender days ! Accept this humble tribute of my lays : So may each art and fcience grace thy halls, And wealth and fplendor ftill adorn thy walk. May ev'ry mufe, and ev'ry grace be thine As love and gratitude mall ftill be mine. ' () TtezaHan.] 'The peop'.e of Mar, Buclian, and all about Aberdeen. (r) Allan' an prince, &c.] The forefaid James IV. founde-i the univerfity here. Thy pook IV.] T H E B R U C I A D. 91 Thy duteous fons fhall fmg thy glories round, And Dona's banks repeat the pleafmg found. To ev'ry lyre the rural pow'rs fhall crowd, The fylvan gods, and naiads of the flood ; With raptures lift'ning to the long divine, Infpir'd by Phoebus and the Cicred nine. Let Helicqn his fountains boaft no more, Nor Tyber glory in his vocal more , Ye Greek and Latin fprings refign your fame, Now loft in Dona's confecrated flream. Within the neighb'ring walls the monarch lay, Liv'd on delight, and lov'd the hours away. The other chiefs, amidft their conforts charms, Forge^ their toils, aad lull the din of arms. Short their delights, From all the adjacent lands, And neighb'ring ftrengths, arofe the Saxon bands. Afiemble to the war the gath'ring pow'rs, Advance and. gather near Devana's tow'rs. The king appris'd, nor able to fuftain Th' unequal force, withdraws his little train, prom Deva's mores to Avon's fpacious fource, The royal bands remenlurate their courie. There 9 2 THEBRUCIAD. [Book IV. There rode the Queen, and all the lovely fair, MVlidft barren climes expos'd to bleaky air. Near where (a) M'Dougal held his favage fway, The monarch with his thin battalions lay. M'Dougal nephew to the Gumming flain, Fir'd with revenge, advances to the plain. A thoufand ihields approaching to the fight, Dart from their bofiy orbs a glimrn'ring light. The hardy king near to a foreft ftands, And to array, calls forth his faithful bands. Three hundred lances glitter in the air, Move into ranks, and wait the barb'rous war. Swift as their native does, the hoflile train Arm'd with fell axes, bounded to the plain. By fierce M'Dougal violently led, On BRUCE'S hoft a furious onfet made, () M'Dougal of Lorn, was filler's fon to Gumming whom BRUCE had flain; and, as was natural, refented his uncle's death, whilft perhaps he did not know who had thejuft title to the crown. His honourable and loyal defcendants will pardon the author's being obliged to fol- low the courfe of the hiftory, and to treat him here as a rebel. Ye Book IV.] T H E B R U C I A D. 93 Ye gods ! bow dire, how dreadful was the fray ? How fierce the charge, how obftinate the day ? The bold M'Dougal's troops, a barb'rous crowd, Inur'd to rapine, and bred up to blood , Like wolves untam'd, or like the mountain boar, Their fury on the royal fquadrons pour, And with fell axes mow the bloody fliore. 'Twas here the noble king was hard eflay'd, At once his courage, force, and conduil try'd. He mark'd the fury of the barb'rous heft, And faw his friends beftrew the fanguine coaft j With grief beheld the havock of the day, Ev'n Douglas bleeding, and the gallant Hay. Each fympathetic ear, fad groans affail ; Pity., nor vengeance lefs, founds one dire wail : Pierc'd was his foul, with fuch a moving fight, He call'd up all the wonders of his might ! Awful in ire, his banner cry'd aloud, Then rulh'd refiftlefs on the favage crowd. "With force renew'd, into the war he broke, Trembl'd the nodding foreft at the (hock ! As 94- T H E B R U C I A D. [Book I V. As when ibme furious whirlwind fvveeps the plain, Sounds thro' the fkies, and fettles on the main j Mix'd in black temped rifing billows roll, Roars the vex'd ocean, and refounds the pole. Thus far'd the monarch 'midft the adverfe band, Thus burn'd the thick'ning combat on the ftrand'. The barb'rous foe, ftopt in their bloody courfe, Stood ftill, and gaz'd, aftoniib'd at his force. While pour'd in torrents rolls the favage gore, And ten fcore aXes ftrow the crimfon fhore ; Ev'n fierce M'Dougal dreads the monarch's might, Yet fir'd with rage ftill animates the fight. Meantime the Queen, and all the lovely crowd, From the fafe covert of the fhady wood, Viewing the fury of each adverfe train"; And all the various terrors of the plain, Amaz'd, and trembling at the face of war, Thus to the heav'ns their ardent vows prefer. ' Thou ! at whofe voice divine the thunders rolf, And iliake the folid bafis of the pole j Whofe Book IV.] THE B R U C I A D. 95 Whofe dreadful nod ev'n Gods and men obey, Thou fole, thou facred rector of the fky ! To our joint vows thine ear, propitious, bend, And thine anointed from his foes defend ; Bear him, thou mighty arbiter of fate, Far from the fury of the dire debate , Or crufh the hoilile war, or drive yon band, Difmay'd and wafted, from the bloody ftrand : The monarch's labours crown, reward his toils, And bid him triumph in the rebel fpoils.' They faid, and heav'n alien ts to half the pray'r, The half rejects, and mingles with the air. Juft as the foe again for fight prepare, Range in fierce ranks, to recommence the war ; The king with wifdom as with valour grac'd, His bands affembling, thus the chiefs audreft. ' You fee, yon rebel animates his tram, * His fquadrons rallies, and renews the plain ; ' Num'rous $6 THEBRUCIAD. [Book W. * Num'rous their troops, and well with weapbns ftor'd, ' A brutal people with a favage Lord ; ' Stock'd with provifions, in their native foil, ' We pinch'd with famine, and fatigu'd with toil. * Suffice it, then, we once have check'd their courfe, c Their fury blunted, and repeli'd their force. ' Nor let us further tempt our doubtful fate, ' But lave our friends, and cautioufly retreat. Renown'd the chiefs, whofe fouls, undaunted, dare c Face the Hern day, and meet the front of war ; * Can (laughter in each hideous form difdain, * Thunder thro' fate, and fweep the gaftly plain ! * The hero lives exalted into fame ; ' Nor Icfs the glory of that leader's name, 4 Who, preft with odds, can check his martial fire, Elude the foe, and cautioufly retire.* Thus fpoke the king ; and foon, in juft array, Retreat the legions from th' unequal day. The hoftile fquadrons for the chace prepare, But; bold the monarch, fternly guards the rear. / Douglas Bosk IV. THEBRUCIAD. 97 Douglas and Hay, and all the chieftains ftand In arms, an iron bulwark ! on the (brand ; Till by degrees retiring from the field, The loyal troops had gain'd the woody bield. His hopes all blafted, and his purpofe croft, To Lornj M'Dougal reconducls his hoft. Now to the wood the kirig and chiefs repair* Safe from the noife and danger of the war ; There found the Queen, and all the charming train And in their foothing arms fufperid their pain. By tender hands each fear and bleeding wound, With ftudious care is tented, bath'd, and bound. Not Phoebus felf, god of the healing art, Cou'd half fo foon, fuch fov'reign eafe impart; Her dittany no longer Crete mail boait, No more Arabia vaunt her balmy coaft ; The fair phyfieians fpeedier aid afford, Their touch was med'cine, and their iips reflor'd^ The weary chiefs, fecure from dire alarms, Feed on their eyes, and live upon their charms 5 In pleafmg colloquy confume the light, And melt in. fofter extafies the night. H Now,- 98 T H E B R U C 1 A D. [Book IV. Now, late in ocean bath'd, th' autumnal ftar Rears his red orb, and (hoots a keener glare. Around, his breath in fultry vapours flies, Glows the parch'd earth, and flame the middle Ikies. Long had the haft confum'd their irkfome time, 'Midft barb'rous foes, and in a horrid clime ; By hunger driv'n, purfu'd the hunter's toil, O'er craggy cliffs, and thro' a defart foil ; Spoil'd all the forefts of their favage game, Ranfack'd each den, and pillag'd ev'ry ftream i Now fpent with labour much, with famine more, At lad prepare to quit the rugged fhore. 'Bove all, the royal dame, and beauteous train, Strange to the hardfhips of a rough campaign ; By hunger pinch'd, and round with foes befet, Refolve to flee, and tempt their future fate. The king and chiefs their conforts forrows fhar'd, Moura'd their declining ftrength and charms im- pair'd ; With boding hearts the lovely fair embrac'd, And, bath'd in tears, the fad departure hafte. The Book IV.] T H fe B R U C I A D, 99 The noble Neil, (a} and Athole's loyal thane, )ire<5t the way, and guide the lovely train. On Dona's fertile banks a fortrefs flood, Stupendous pile ! the labour of fome God : Held by the father of the royal dame^ Impregnable ! Kildrumrriy is its name. Thither the watchful chiefs, with 16yal care; Thro* wilds, and paths unknown, conduct the faif. There at their eafe the tender beauties reft,' But ftill the monarch labours in their bread. The monarch ! who, meantime, thro* hills and: dales, 'Midft barren rocks, arid folita'ry vales, \Vith fates adverfe, with cold, and famine's pains, Superior ftrives; and heav'n his foul fuftains. ./ How deep the couhfels of th' eternal mind ! Man's thoughts how {tinted,- and his views hoW blind ! () Noblt Neil.'] Neil Bruce, one of the King's brothers, taken' aftifwirds by the Englifti and put to dath at Itildrutamy, H 2 Far xoo T H E B R U C I A D. [Book IV. Far in the womb of caufes, fix'd on high, Events in regular confufion lye ; Till heav'n mall by degrees each link unloofe, And ftep by ftep our future fate difclofe ; Not man, but angels, may explore in vain, The winding order of the myftic chain. Mortals, obedient to th' eternal nod, Muft hope, muft fuffer, and attend the God. Thus, long the monarch ftruggl'd with his fate, Glorious in patience, and refign'dly great , Means and events he weigh'd with proper care, In counfel wife, and terrible in war ; Through ev'ry fcene, and ev'ry act fedate, Bold to attack, and cautious to retreat : No toil refufing for the ftate's defence, A loving father, and a gen'rous prince. In mountain-wafles, thus long, diftreft he lay, . Yet undefponding, paft fad hours way : Nor durft, fore pinch'd with want, the loyal pow'r Forfake the heights, or tempt the champaign fhore. Now autumn pail, approach'd the wint'ry fway, And night's black fhades ufurp'd upon the day. The Book IV.] T H E B R U C I A D. 101 The gath'ring clouds defcending from on high, Low'r, fraught with ftorms, and threaten in the fky. The north's chill breath comes keener o'er the plain, And, thrilling fharper, feuds the thicken'd rain. The noble BRUCE, unable now to bear, Amidft a defart clime, th' inclement year j His legions warns, refolving to retreat, And in Canty re to tempt his future fate. Meanwhile, before, the gen'rous Campbell fends, To view the country, and apprife his friends, Then to Lochlowmond march the loyal band, And find a crazy Birlin (#) on the ftrand j They launch the boat, and, pair by pair the hoft, . In twice twelve hours attain the farther coaft. The hungry legions fcour the defart lawns, Jf Beat round the woods, and rouze the nimble fawns. Bold Lennox hears, amaz'd, the mingl'd founds Of cheering horns about, and op'ning hounds. Lennox ! who, here, fmce Methven's fatal ftrife, On roots and favage game fuftain'd his life, (a) A fort of ferry boat, H 3 He 102 T H E B R U C I A D. [Book IV. He knew the king, and warn'd his little pow'r, And, joyful, met him near the briny more. At once the monarch and the chiefs drew near, And, courteous, hail and hug the loyal peer. The loyal peer fupplies the hoft with food, The mountain-goat, and product of the wood. Of toils and dangers paft the various tale Mutual diverts, and cheers the welcome meal. Done the repaft, then rofe the royal train, And hailed to the margin of the main. By this had faithful Campbell gain'd the land, And mips with victuals fraught, obfcur'd the ftrand. The joyful hoft foon lauch into the* deep, And lab'ring oars the foamy billows fweep. Th' (a) Hebridian chief, who ftretch *d his ample reign Wide () o'er the daughters of the Weftern main, The monarch welcomes to his friendly coaft, And gen'rous entertains the loyal hoft. (a) Tb' Hebridian chief, &c.] ^Eneas, or Angus, lord of the Weftern illands. () Wideotr the daughters, bV] A poetical way. of ex- preiling thofe iflands frittered up and down through the Ca- Kklonian fea. H 4 Three Book IV.] THE B R U C I A D. 103 Three days they refted, then put out to fea, And to (a) Raclinda plow'd the liquid v/ay. Raclinda's boors their ready aid afford, Receive with joy, and own their righteous Lord* Gladly fuppiy the troops with needful ftorc : A friendly race, an hofpitable fhore. Thro* the bleak feafon here the monarch ftay'd Obfcure, and fame around proclaim'd him dead, Meanwhile his foes aflemble all their bands, Harafs his kindred, and ranfack their land*. No difference put 'twixt facred and profane, And ev'n the hallow'd mitre pled in vain. Glafgow's (b) old, loyal, venerable fire, In bonds and dungeons felt the faction's ire. The noble Seton, (c) ever dear to fame, A godli&e patriot, and a fpotlcfs name ^ (a) Pacliuda, sr.] Rauchrine, or Rauchline, one of the faid illands. (b) Gla/goiv's oU, loyal, venerabk fre.~] The bifhop of Glafgow our author does not mention his name) imprifoned, and put to death by the Cumminian faction. (c ) The noble Seton, fcfr.] Sir Chriflofher Seton, the noble j^nceftor of the Eari of Winton. H 4 .. By 104 THE BRUCIAD. [Book IV. By factious treafon in Lochdoun betray'd, And to Aiigufta's (