BALLADS

OF

BATTLE AND BRAVERY.

BANNOCKBURN.

At Bannockburn the English lay,
The Scots they were na far away,
But waited for the break o' day
That glinted in the east.

But soon the sun broke through the heath,
And lighted up that field o' death,
When Bruce, wi' saul-inspiring breath,
His heralds thus addressed:

"Scots, wha hae wi' Wallace bled!

Scots, wham Bruce has often led!
Welcome to your gory bed,

Or to victory!

"Now's the day, and now's the hour;
See the front o' battle lour;

See approach proud Edward's power-
Chains and slavery!

"Wha will be a traitor knave?
Wha can fill a coward's grave?
Wha sae base as be a slave?
Let him turn and flee!

"Wha for Scotland's king and law
Freedom's sword will strongly draw,
Freeman stand, or freeman fa',
Let him follow me!

"By Oppression's woes and pains!
By your sons in servile chains!
We will drain our dearest veins,
But they shall be free!

"Lay the proud usurpers low!
Tyrants fall in every foe!

Liberty 's in every blow!
Let us do or die!"

ROBERT BURNS.

THE HEART OF THE BRUCE.

It was upon an April morn,

While yet the frost lay hoar,

We heard Lord James's bugle-horn

Sound by the rocky shore.

Then down we went, a hundred knights,

All in our dark array,

And flung our armor in the ships

That rode within the bay.