OF JOHN WILSON.
21
is attempted, and "the march of Douglas" heard at a distance; and in the following passages, the spirit of a young feudal chief is ably pourtrayed:
Chancellor.
This ponderous blade bears deep undoubted signs
Of long hard service to your valiant fires.
Douglas.
Thrice twenty times with this, the good Sir James
Returned triumphant from the glorious field.
At Annand, Halidon, and Otterburn,
And many a field in Britain and in France,
It strewed the plains with heaps of Scotia's foes.
From fires so brave descended, now from me,
It loudly claims the like illustrious deeds.
This ponderous blade bears deep undoubted signs
Of long hard service to your valiant fires.
Douglas.
Thrice twenty times with this, the good Sir James
Returned triumphant from the glorious field.
At Annand, Halidon, and Otterburn,
And many a field in Britain and in France,
It strewed the plains with heaps of Scotia's foes.
From fires so brave descended, now from me,
It loudly claims the like illustrious deeds.
When urged to save his life, by giving his sister in marriage to the Chancellor's son, he replies in the same style,
When men recount the heroes of the name,
The valiant Sholto, and the good Sir James;
William the hardy; William flower of chivalry.
Undaunted Tineman, my unyielding fire;
The daring Douglas, slain at Otterburn,
Whose name, when dead, brought victory from the skies———
In such a list to be design'd, the soft
Faint-hearted William, whom soft female tears
Melted to bow before his treacherous foe,
And prostitute his sister———
The daftard Douglas, who surviv'd his honour,
The first of all his race who fear'd to die———
The valiant Sholto, and the good Sir James;
William the hardy; William flower of chivalry.
Undaunted Tineman, my unyielding fire;
The daring Douglas, slain at Otterburn,
Whose name, when dead, brought victory from the skies———
In such a list to be design'd, the soft
Faint-hearted William, whom soft female tears
Melted to bow before his treacherous foe,
And prostitute his sister———
The daftard Douglas, who surviv'd his honour,
The first of all his race who fear'd to die———
