Page:Sir James the Ross.pdf/7

 And ruin'd by thoſe means,' ſhe cried,

'from whence I hop'd thine aid.'

By this the valiant knight awak'd,

the virgin's cry he heard,

And up he roſe and drew his ſword,

when the fierce band appear'd.

Your ſword laſt night my brother flew,

'his blood yet dims its ſhine;

And ere the riſing of the fun,

'your blood ſhall reek on mine.'

'You word it well,' the chief return d,

'but deeds approve the man,

'Set by your men and hand to hand

'we'll try what valor can.

'Oft boaſting hides a coward's heart,

'my weighty ſword you fear,

'Which ſhone in front in Floddon field,

'when you kept in the rear.'

With dauntleſs ſteps he forward ſtrode,

and dar'd him to the fight;

The Græme gave back and fear d his arm,

for well he knew its might.

Four of his men, the braveſt four,

ſink down beneath his ſword;

But ſtill he ſcorn'd the poor revenge,

and fought their haughty lord.

Behind him baſely came the Græme,

and wounded him in the ſide,

Out ſpouting came the purple gore,

and all his tartans dy'd.