the jefts of his young cotemporaries; each laughed at the coward in his turn-vowing revenge, he fled one evening, nor could any enquiry afterwards lead to the route he had chofen.

Alwyne, the younger, inherited the prudent. courage, and the virtues concomitant to his fire —ever forward in the cause of benevolence, and

open as the day to melting charity,' he gained the esteem of every one. The manly graces of his form, and the praises so oft bestowed on the youthful favourite of Earl Percy, gained him the endearing affection of the peerless Elwina, the daughter and heirefs of his noble kinfman, a lady rich in the fublimity of every virtue. Nor was her father unacquainted with the paffion of the enamoured pair-he encouraged, by his kindneffes, their affection, and the fon of Edric felt completely happy.

Previous to the folemnization of their nuptials, a fplendid tournament was announced, and knights, far fam'd in arms, attended at the hofpitable manfion.

Sir Alwyne was refolved to break his maiden fpear-the valour of his father accompanied him in his first exploit-Elwina held the prize-fhe fmiled upon him, and that fmile roufed every faculty into action-he bore away the prize,

and kneeling to the fair poffeffor of his heart, imprinted a foft tender kifs upon a hand, that far outvied the lily of the field.

Her

eyes, blue, languifhing, betrayed the fecret in her bofom, and the enamoured youth, clafped her, blushing as the morn, warmly to his bofom.

The coily yielded kiss

Charms moft, and gives the most fincere delight.
Cheapnefs offends-hence on the harlot's lips
No rapture hangs, however fair fhe feem,
However form'd for love. or am'rous play,
Hail modefty!-Fair female honour, hail!
Beauty's chief ornament, and beauty's felf-
For beauty muft with virtue ever dwell,
And thou art virtue, and without thy charm,
Beauty difgufts.-

CHAP. III.

Danger, whofe limbs of giant mould,
What mortal eye can fix'd behold,
Who talks his round, an hideous form,
Howling amidst the midnight ftorm;
Or throws him on fome ridgy fteep
Of fome loofe hanging rock, to fleep.

A day, an hour, of virturus liberty,
Is worth a whole eternity in bondage.

Collins.

Addifon.

The Summons-the Battle-Scottish Heroifm-Wallace, the Father of his Country-the fingle Combat-the Defeat-the Triumph of Liberty.

THE

HE uncertainty attendant on the ambitious career of war, is known to all, and the mighty leader of armies, who plumes himself in acts of valorous daring, may chance, from the very dregs of his antagonists, to meet with death. Where then is all his boaft-his power -his military atchievements?—the fhadow of an hour!!-his reward?—a towering monument! -Will the tears of the widowed wife and orphan children bedew his fhrine? No,his ambition murdered the husband and the father!

Wallace, of Elderflie, the pride of Caledonia, about this period led his troops against the impetuous Edward of England, furnamed Longbanks. The hatred of this monarch against the Scots, and his vow to exterminate their race, the page of history has unfolded to us. The

unprincipled advifers of fo impolitic a measure were certainly reprehenfible, and the inhumanity fhewn towards the immortal champion of Scotland, and of liberty, will forever mark the name of Edward with cruelty, unmerited feverity, and an infatiate defire of revenge.

The northern regions could boast of warriors famed as any in the marshalled host of England. The actions of a Grahame, a Lenox, and a Wallace, bear ample teftimony, and their memory fans the flame of national love, in the heart of every true Caledonian.

Edward, however, contrary to his expectation, found the Scots every where in arms against him; after repeated loffes, he offered terms of reconciliation- That Scotland should pay annual tribute to the crown of England!' This was indignantly refused on the part of the Scots; the fields of both nations were thinned, and blood, the certain iffue of the conteft, difcoloured the pure limpid streams of the Carron.

Sir Alywne, a title he inherited from his father, left the feat of love and innocence, to encounter

the hardships of the tented field, on receiving the mandate of his fovereign, and drew his retainers towards the camp of Edward.

That monarch knew how to prize the active spirit of the Northumbrians, and placed them near his perfon.

Wallace, the father of his country, drew up his faithful affociates in order of battle-he faw the fuperiority of the English, and rode from rank to rank, encouraging his partizans in the glorious struggle, that of the falvation of their native land.

• What stronger breast-plate than a heart untainted ?
Thrice is he arm'd who hath his quarrel juft;

And he but naked (tho' lock'd up in steel)
Whofe confcience with injuftice is corrupted.'

The mifts of early morn were fast retiring from the lofty fummit of the Grampian mountains, when the loud clangor of the warring trumpet called the chiefs to action. Sir Alwyne brought up his retainers by a private order, to flank the archers, and anxiously awaited the dread moment that was to decide the fate of Scotia. He pitied the fmall number of the enemy, and wifhed himself a Wallace, nor in this wish was the oath of allegiance prostituted in the youthful hero. Bufied in contemplation, he was interrupted by the fudden approach of the Caledonians.