40 ANGLING LITERATURE OF 



He bade his child, ' Give them of our waithing.* 



The Southron said, * As now of thy dealing 



We will not tak ; thou wald give us o'er small.' 



He lighted down and frae the child took all, 



Wallace said then, e Gentlemen gif ye be, 



Leave us some part, we pray, for charity. 



Ane aged knight serves our lady to-day : 



Gude friend, leave part, and tak not all away.' 



' Thou shall have leave to fish, and tak thee mae, 



All this forsooth shall in our flitting gae. 



We serve a lord ; this fish shall till him gang.' 



Wallace answered, said, c Thou art in the wrang.' 



' Wham thous thou, Scot ? in faith thou 'serves a blaw.' 



Till him he ran, and out a swerd can draw. 



William was wae he had nae wappins there 



But the poutstaff, the whilk in hand he bare. 



Wallace with it fast on the cheek him took, 



With sae gude will, while of his feet he shook. 



The swerd flew frae him a fiir-breid on the land. 



Wallace was glad, and hint it soon in hand ; 



And with the swerd awkward he him gave 



Under the hat, his craig 7 in sunder drave. 



By that the lave 8 lighted about Wallace ; 



He had no help, only but God's grace. 



On either side full fast on him they dang, 



Great peril was gif they had lasted lang. 



Upon the head in great ire he strak ane ; 



The shearand swerd glade to the collar bane. 



Ane other on the arm he hit so hardily, 



While hand and swerd baith in the field can lie. 



<* 



7 Neck. 8 Best. 



