Classic Poem

A hound that they had them among,
In Gyllisland there was that brachell bred,
Sicker of scent to follow them that fled.
Sae was she erst on Esk and on Ledaill;
When she got blude nae fleeing micht avail.
Then said they all, Wallace micht nocht away,
He should be theirs for ought that he do may.
The Englishmen has missit him; in hy
The hound they took, and followit hastily.
At the Gask wood full fain he wald have been,
But this sleuth brach whilk sicker was and keen
On Wallace foot followit sae felon fast
While in their sight they 'proachit at the last.
Their horse was wicht, had sojourned well and lang;
To the next wood twa mile they had to gang
Of upwith yird; they gaed with all their micht,
Gude hope they had, for it was near the nicht.
Fawdoun tirit, and said he micht nocht gang,
Wallace was wae to leave him in that thrang.
He bade him gae, and said the strength was near,
But he therefore wald nocht faster him stir.
Wallace in ire on the craig can him ta
With his gude sword, and strak the head him frae,
Dreidless to ground derfly he dashit dead;
Frae him he leapt, and left him in that stead.
Some deemis it to ill, and other some to gude,
And I say here, into their termis rude,
Better it was he did, as thinkis me.
First, to the hound it micht great stoppin' be.
The power came, and suddenly him found:
For their sleuth-hound the straight gait to him gaed,
Of other trade she took as then nae heed
The sleuth stoppit, at Fawdoun still she stude,
Nor further she wald, frae time she found the blude.