LXXVI. EDINBURGH AFTER FLODDEN.

WILLIAM EDMONDSTOUNE AYTOUN.

[William Edmondstoune Aytoun was born in Scotland, in 1813, and died August 4, 1865. In 1845 he was elected to the professorship of rhetoric and belleslettres in the University of Edinburgh, which he held till the time of his death. The battle of Flodden was fought in the year 1513, between the Scotch army under King James IV., and the English, commanded by the Earl of Surrey. The defeat of the Scotch was most disastrous. Their king was killed, and the greater part of their army destroyed. The loss of life among the gentry was especially severe, so that there was hardly a noble family in the kingdom that was not thrown into mourning.]

1. NEWS of battle!-news of battle!
Hark! 'tis ringing down the street:
And the archways and the pavement
Bear the clang of hurrying feet.
News of battle! - who hath brought it?
News of triumph!- who should bring
Tidings from our noble army,

Greetings from our gallant King?

2. All last night we watched the beacons'
Blazing on the hills afar,

Each one bearing, as it kindled,
Message of the opened war.

All night long the northern streamers
Shot across the trembling sky:
Fearful lights, that never beckon
Save when kings or heroes die.

8. News of battle! who hath brought it?
All are thronging to the gate;

"Warder warder! open quickly!

Man - is this a time to wait?

And the heavy gates are opened:

Then a murmur long and loud,

And a cry of fear and wonder

Bursts from out the bending crowd.

For they see in battered harness 3
Only one hard-stricken man;
And his weary steed is wounded,
And his cheek is pale and wan:
Spearless hangs a bloody banner
In his weak and drooping hand-
What! can that be Randolph Murray,
Captain of the city band?

4. Round him crush the people, crying, "Tell us all-O, tell us true! Where are they who went to battle, Randolph Murray, sworn to you?

Where are they, our brothers - children?
Have they met the English foe?
Why art thou alone, unfollowed?
Is it weal or is it woe?"

5. Like a corpse the grisly warrior

Looks from out his helm of steel;
But no word he speaks in answer
Only with his arméd heel
Chides his weary steed, and onward
Up the city streets they ride;
Fathers, sisters, mothers, children,
Shrieking, praying by his side.
“By the God that made thee, Randolph!
Tell us what mischance hath come."

6. The elders of the city

Have met within their hall

The men whom good King James had charged
To watch the tower and wall.

"Your hands are weak with age,” he said,

"Your hearts are stout and true;
So bide ye in the Maiden Town,*
While others fight for you.
My trumpet from the Border-side
Shall send a blast so clear,
That all who wait within the gate
That stirring sound may hear.

7. Or, if it be the will of Heaven
That back I never come,
And if, instead of Scottish shouts,
Ye hear the English drum,-

Then let the warning bells ring out,
Then gird you to the fray,

5

Then man the walls like burghers stout,

And fight while fight you may.
"Twere better that in fiery flame

The roof should thunder down,
Than that the foot of foreign foe
Should trample in the town!"

8. Then in came Randolph Murray,-
His step was slow and weak,

And as he doffed his dinted helm,
The tears ran down his cheek:
They fell upon his corselet",
And on his mailéd hand,
As he gazed around him wistfully,
Leaning sorely on his brand'.

9. And none who then beheld him

But straight were smote with fear,
For a bolder and a sterner man
Had never couched a spear.

* Edinburgh.

They knew so sad a messenger
Some ghastly news must bring,
And all of them were fathers,

And their sons were with the King.

10. And up then rose the Provost A brave old man was he,

8

Of ancient name, and knightly fame,
And chivalrous degree.

O, woful now was the old man's look,
And he spake right heavily:
"Now, Randolph, tell thy tidings,
However sharp they be!

Woe is written on thy visage,
Death is looking from thy face:
Speak! though it be of overthrow —
It cannot be disgrace!"

11. Right bitter was the agony

That wrung that soldier proud:
Thrice did he strive to answer,

And thrice he groaned aloud.
Then he gave the riven banner

To the old man's shaking hand,
Saying, "That is all I bring ye
From the bravest of the land!

Ay! ye may look upon it

It was guarded well and long,
By your brothers and your children,
By the valiant and the strong.
One by one they fell around it,
As the archers laid them low,
Grimly dying, still unconquered,
With their faces to the foe.

12. Ay! ye well may look upon it

-

There is more than honor there,
Else be sure, I had not brought it
From the field of dark despair.
Never yet was royal banner

Steeped in such a costly dye;
It hath lain upon a bosom

Where no other shroud shall lie.
Sirs! I charge you, keep it holy,
Keep it as a sacred thing,
For the stain ye see upon it

Was the life-blood of your King!"

13. Woe, woe, and lamentation !

What a piteous cry was there!
Widows, maidens, mothers, children,
Shrieking, sobbing in despair!

14. O, the blackest day for Scotland
That she ever knew before!

O our King! the good, the noble,
Shall we see him never more?
Woe to us, and woe to Scotland!
O our sons, our sons and men!
Surely some have 'scaped the Southron,*
Surely some will come again?"

Till the oak that fell last winter

I BEA CON. A fire lighted on a height | 6 CÖRSE'LET. A breastplate or light as a signal.

• WARD'ER. Keeper; guard.

• HÄR NESS. Defensive armor; equip

ment of an ancient knight.

RIV'EN. Torn or rent asunder.

armor for the fore part of the body.

7 BRAND. Sword.

8 PRŎV'OST. The chief or head. In Scotland, a provost corresponds to a mayor elsewhere.

BURGH'ER (bür'ger). A townsman. 9 VIS'AGE. Face.

* SOUTH'RON. Englishman. † DUN-ED'IN. Gaelic name for Edinburgh.