Page:Great Men and Famous Women Volume 5.djvu/174

 110 WORKMEN AND HEROES The death of the great Edward for great he was, in spite of all his faults and the accession of his son, the feeble Edward II., left an open field to Bruce, who was as much superior to those that now opposed him, as he had been overcrowned by the genius of his late adversary. He marched from victory to victory, and would, no doubt, have brought the contest to a happy termina- tion, had he not been seized by an alarming sickness. At first, it threatened to be fatal ; things were again beginning to look gloomy for Scotland ; but in the moment of extreme peril, he shook off his disease by a strong effort, and once more led his followers through a series of triumphs, which were crowned by the great battle of Bannockburn. Though we cannot allow the ambition which seeks a crown to pass for patriotism, it is impossible to deny the highest praise to the courage, firmness, and ability displayed by Bruce through the whole of this trying period. None may deny that he deserved a crown, and when once obtained, it acquired a lustre from the talents of him who wore it. Bruce soon found himself in a condition to assist his brother Edward in the attempt to drive the English out of Ireland. But here the usual good fortune of the Scotch abandoned them. After a hard-fought campaign, attended by many vicissitudes, his sagacity saw that the attempt was hopeless, and he returned to Scotland. Shortly afterward, the turbulent and aspiring Edward Bruce was slain in battle. His wonted success attended Bruce in the field, in the midst of which, how- ever, a plot was formed against his life and government. Fortunately it was revealed in time by the Countess of Strathearn, to whom the conspirators had the weakness to confide their intentions ; and soon afterward, to crown his pros- perity, Edward II. was compelled by a series of defeats to conclude a peace. But Bruce's health began to be impaired, and when war again broke out between the countries, upon the deposition of Edward II. and the succession of his son, Edward III., he was unable to lead his projected expedition against England. It ended in failure, if not in defeat. A short interval of health and hope gleamed upon him after this attack, and peace was concluded between the two countries, greatly to the dissatisfaction of the English, who, justly enough, considered themselves sacrificed to the ambition of the queen-mother, Isabella, and of her favorite, Mortimer. But this momen- tary promise of health and vigor soon passed away, and it became plain to all that the life of this brave and sagacious monarch was drawing rapidly to a close. In expectation of the final event he had given orders to have a magnificent tomb made at Paris ; which was brought to Bruges, thence through England into Scot- land, and on its arrival erected in the church of the Benedictines at Dunfermline. Bruce died in his fifty-fifth year, and was buried in the abbey-church of Dun- fermline, as he had desired. In the prime of his life Bruce was upward of six feet high ; his shoulders were broad, his chest full and open ; the cheek-bones strong and prominent, and the muscles of the back and neck of great size and thickness ; his hair curled short over a broad forehead, and the general expression of his face was calm and cheer-