"'Twas in spring, when winter tide With his blasts, terrible to bide Was overcome; and birdies small, As throstle and the nightingale, Began right merrily to sing, And to make in their singing Sundrie notes, and varied sounds, And melody pleasant to hear, And the trees began to blow With buds, and bright blossom also, To win the covering of their heads Which wicked winter had them riven, And every grove began to spring." It was in spring that Bruce and his men gathered to the island of Arran, off the west coast of Scotland, and there Bruce made up his mind to make another fight for the crown. A messenger was therefore sent over to the mainland, and it was arranged that if he found friends there, if he thought it was safe for the King to come, he should, at a certain place, light a great fire as a signal. Anxiously Bruce watched for the light, and at last he saw it. Then joyfully the men launched their boat, and the King and his few faithful followers set out. "They rowéd fast with all their might, Till that upon them fell the night, That it wox mirk* in great manner So that they wist not where they were, For they no needle had, nor stone, But rowéd always in one way, Steering always upon the fire That they saw burning bright and clear. It was but adventure that them led, And they in short time so them sped That at the fire arrived they, And went to land but** mair delay." *Dark. **Without. On shore the messenger was eagerly and anxiously awaiting them, and with a "sare hert" he told the King that the fire was none of his. Far from there being friends around, the English, he said, swarmed in all the land. "Were in the castle there beside, Full filléd of despite and pride." There was no hope of success. "Then said the King in full great ire, 'Traitor, why made thou on the fire?' 'Ah sire,' he said, 'so God me see That fire was never made on for me. No ere this night I wist it not But when I wist it weel* I thoecht That you and all your company In haste would put you to the sea. For this I come to meet you here, To tell the perils that may appear.'" *Well. The King, vexed and disappointed, turned to his followers for advice. What was best to do, he asked. Edward Bruce, the King's brave brother, was the first to answer. "And said, 'I say you sickerly, There shall no perils that may be Drive me eftsoons into the sea; Mine adventure here take will I Whether it be easeful or angry.' 'Brother,' he said, 'since you will so It is good that we together take Disease and ease, or pain or play After as God will us purvey.'" And so, taking courage, they set out in the darkness, and attacked the town, and took it with great slaughter.