"We watch'd him in her secret bower, "Perhaps, my lord, ye'll truly say, In rage, from laws of arms we swerv'd Though Lairistan got double play, 'Twas fairer play than he deserv'd. "We might have kill'd him in the dark, "Come on, then, gallant Milburn cry'd, My single arm shall do the deed; Or heavenly justice is denied, Or that false heart of thine shall bleed. "Then to't they fell, both sharp and snell, With steady hand and watchful eye; Soon blood and sweat from either fell; And from their swords the sparkles fly. "The first stroke Milburn to him wan, He ript his bosom to the bone; Though Armstrong was a gallant man, Like Elliot living there was none. "His growth was like the border oak; His strength the bison's strength outvied; His courage like the mountain rock; For skill his man he never tried. "Oft had we three, in Border fray, "The first wound that brave Milburn got, "My sword I grip'd into my hand, “O turn thee, turn thee, limmer loun! "He turn'd with many a haughty word, And lounged and struck most furiouslye; But with one slap of my broad sword "Now take thou that, stout Armstrong cry'd, For all the pains thou'st gi'en to me; Though then he shortly would have died) And ran him through the fair bodye." Buccleuch's stern look began to change; Then every man for Milburn mourn'd, Till ten long years were come and gone. Then loud alarms through England ring, And friends to diff'rent parties ran. The nobles join the royal train, And soon his ranks with grandeur fill; They sought their foes with might and main, And found them lying on Edgehill. The trumpets blew, the bullets flew, "Who was the man," Lord Lindsey cry'd, "That fought so well through all the fray Whose coat of rags, together ty'd, Seems to have seen a better day? "Such bravery in so poor array, Then up there spoke a man of note, The king he smil'd, and said aloud, |