On Confrey rushed, their triumph to beguileAgain To arms! the circling watchword passed.

From troop to troop with talismanic powers,
Then waved a thousand swords again on high;
While arrows flew in death-commissioned showers,
Till piles of carnage rose beneath the eye.

'Twas here brave Wallace, with his chosen band,
Through rank and file victorious cleared their way,
And, like destroying angels, sword in hand,
Spread death and ruin, terror and dismay.

Dire was the conflict, horrible the scene,
In mortal combat host encountered host;
Revenge and death their weapons rendered keen,
And do or die each faithful to his post.

But here again presiding Mars decreed

Another gein for Freedom's hallowed crown: From yonder glen the Scotch reserve in speed Closed on their foes, in columns cut them down.

The shattered remnant, baffled and dismayed,
In wild disorder from the scene withdrew,
And scoured yon plains the carnage to evade—
As sheep before devouring wolves they flew,

And o'er yon rocks in headlong fury fell,
In mangled masses ere they were aware;

And the red current murmured through the dell Three days, which told the dreadful havoc there.

Here Confrey also shared a kindred fate,
And lay entombed amidst a sea of gore,
Crestfallen among those, with soul elate,
He proud commanded but a breath before.

Thus though the foes of our beloved land

Again were vanquished, scattered and undone, Fresh toils and troubles rose on every hand, Another prize was destined to be won.

But certs, our heroes were but ill prepared
Hostilities at present to resume;

For long both famine and fatigue they shared, Which damped their zeal, and wrapt each soul in gloom.

Two bloody battles they already gained,

Brave, undismayed there to a man they stood, Firm as a rock their honoured cause maintained, 'Midst storms of anarchy and seas of blood.

Upon that dreadful memorable day,

Despite these triumphs gloriously secured, Through woods and wilds they trudged their pathless

way,

Till by fell inanition overpowered.

Here princely Sinclair, emulous to shine

As benefactor of that noble band,
In flowing goblets circled round the wine,

And other meads dealt with a bounteous hand.

While martial eloquence in volumes rose

From gathered chieftains who harangued the brave, To further triumph o'er exulting foes, Abjuring all attempting to enslave.

Here also stood the patriotic prior,

Who, eulogising, blessed the list'ning throng— Urged, in the name of Heaven, both son and sire On foul oppression to avenge their wrong:

"To buckle on their armour, and defend

The cause and honour of the King of kings; That on this step their freedom would depend, The rights and blessings independence brings.

“Your king, your country plundered and oppressed,
Your friends and families summon you to rise;
Faith be your breastplate, do or die your crest;
O list," he added, "to such claims and ties."

But ere he finished, on Cairnethy's height

The holy Cross in ambient glory shone, Inspiring valour, augured all was right,

And signalled still to conquest to go on.

Then in the distance, proudly on the view,
Appeared bold Neville with his bannered host:
To arms, to arms, again they boldly flew,
And yonder met the foe, to Edward's cost.

To vengeance new both armies fierce disposed,
Their troops, as maddened billows of the main
When lashed by tempest, on each other closed,
With sword and spear and battle-axe again.

Amid the bustling din the pibroch pealed,

And clamoured with the yells of triumph there, While parting groans and tears and sighs revealed A scene of carnage, havoc and despair.

For vengeance rolled her devastating flood
O'er Scotia's haughty and exulting foe;

Long flamed the sword there in the strife of blood-
Death followed death as blow succeeded blow.

And here again the desolating blade

Of dauntless Wallace swept whole ranks away; On right and left, in wreck and ruin laid

The flower of England on that dreadful day.

But in the zenith of Herculean power,

Plodding through blood to freedom and to fame, Here fell his steed in that untoward hour,

While haughty Neville up exulting came.

On lightning's wing, with vengeance in his eye,
Fierce as a thousand furies forth he flew,
Wielding his blood-stained battle-axe on high,
To level Scotia's hero stanch and true.

But Heav'n, that ever eyes and shields the brave,
Though death and peril menace and abound,
Stretched forth his arm omnipotent to save;
Thus peerless valour ample succours found.

As Sinclair with his chosen few advanced,
And circled round him as a wall of fire,
Soon on another charger there he pranced,
Dealing destruction with avenging ire.

On right and left bold Neville was assailed,
But like a shattered bark at length gave way
Before the stemless tide which here prevailed-
A tide of blood, of terror, and dismay.

Though broke the lines, troops scattered here and there,

Yet they again resumed a partial form,

And host on host once more were brought to bear, In all the dreadful vengeance of the storm.

At length, as bends the oak beneath the blast,
The English yielded to impending fate;

In wild confusion fled they at the last,
As fugitives before the good and great;