The Scotch poet, Robert Burns, pictured
to himself the national hero of Scotland, Robert Bruce, addressing
his soldiers before the battle of Bannockburn, and wrote what
he imagined Bruce might have said. The battle was fought near
Sterling in 1314, between the Scotch and the army of Edward II
of England. Bruce reminds his men of their history, of how they
had bled with Wallace, a Scotch leader of the thirteenth century
who had risen against the English when that people invaded the
Highlands, and of how they had followed Bruce himself in many
a battle. It is a fine appeal to the always ardent patriotism
of his countrymen.
The English army greatly outnumbered the
Scotch, but were decisively beaten, and Edward II narrowly escaped
being taken prisoner.
Related poems: Bruce
and the Spider, by Bernard Barton