When each his utmost strength had shown,
The Douglas rent an earth-fast stone
From its deep bed, then heaved it high,
And sent the fragment through the sky,

A rood beyond the farthest mark ;-
And still in Stirling's royal park,

The gray-hair'd sires, who know the past,
To strangers point the Douglas-cast,

And moralize on the decay

Of Scottish strength in modern day.1

XXIV.

The vale with loud applauses rang,
The Ladies' Rock sent back the clang.
The King, with look unmov'd, bestow'd
A purse well fill'd with pieces broad.2
Indignant smiled the Douglas proud,
And threw the gold among the crowd,3
Who now,
with anxious wonder scan,
And sharper glance, the dark gray man;
Till whispers rose among the throng,
That heart so free, and hand so strong,
Must to the Douglas blood belong;

The old men mark'd, and shook the head

To see his hair with silver spread,
And wink'd aside, and told each son,
Of feats upon the English done,

1 MS.-Of mortal strength in modern day. 2 MS.-A purse weigh'd down with pieces broad MS.-Scatter'd the gold among the crowd.

do its utmost strength had shown, Site Aufles rent an earth-fast stone A se dorp Lod, then heaved it high, Aut sent the fragment through the sky, beyond the farthest mark ;

Al still in Stirling's royal park,

The gray-hair'd sires, who know the past,
To strangers point the Douglas-cast,
And morsim on the decay

Of Matlich strength in modern day.'

XXIV.

The vale with loud applauses rang,
The Ladies' Rock sent back the clang,
The King, with look unmov'd, bestow'd
A purse well fill'd with pieces broad.2
Indignant smiled the Douglas proud,
And threw the gold among the crowd,
Who now, with anxious wonder scan,
And sharper glance, the dark gray man; -
Till whispers rose among the throng,
That heart so free, and hand so strong,
Mest to the Douglas blood belong;

The old men mark'd, and shook the head

To see his hair with silver spread,
And wink'd aside, and told each son,

Of frater upon the English done,

mortal strength in modern day. A purse melaled down with pieces broad Sattend the gold among the crowd.