They spur'd their steeds, and furious flew They reach'd Lord Buchan's lofty tow'rs Matilda stood without the gate Upon a rising ground, And watch'd each object in the dawn, All ear to every sound. 'Where sleeps the Ross? (began the Græme) Or has the felon fled? This hand shall lay the wretch on earth And now the valiant knight awoke, The virgin shrieking heard: Straight up he rose, and drew his sword, Your sword last night my brother slew, And, ere the sun shall gild the morn, Your blood shall reek on mine.' Your words are brave,' the chief return'd; 'But deeds approve the man : 166 Set by your men, and hand to hand With dauntless step he forward strode, And dar'd him to the fight: The Græme gave back, and fear'd his arm, Four of his men, the bravest four, Behind him basely came the Græme, But yet his hand not drop'd the sword, Till through his enemy's heart his steel Græme, like a tree by winds o'erthrown, Fell breathless on the clay; And down beside him sunk the Ross, And faint and dying lay. 'O spare his life! (she cried) Lord Buchan's daughter begs his life, Her well-known voice the hero heard; • In vain Matilda begs a life, The sword, yet warm, from his left side, With frantic hand she drew: I come, Sir James the Ross, (she cried) I come to follow you.' The hilt she lean'd against the ground, THE CONSULTATION OF PHYSICIANS. AN EPISTLE FROM BATH. [ANSTEY.] DEAR mother, my time has been wretchedly spent, My stomach all swell'd, till I thought it would burst, I dream'd of the devil, and wak'd in a fright: And the nurse was so willing my health to restore, So they all met together, and thus began talking: Good doctor, I'm your's-'tis a fine day for walking Sad news in the papers-G-d knows who's to blame ! This stamp act, no doubt, might be good for the crown, From the ill blood and humours of Bourbon and Spain.' Says I- My good doctors, I can't understand But at present my bowels have need of physicians : And pity the state of my stomach and nerves.' But a tight little doctor began a dispute About administrations, Newcastle, and Bute, Talk'd much of economy, much of profuseness: Says another This case, which at first was a looseness, Is become a Tenesmus, and all we can do Is to give him a gentle cathartic or two; |