what I had observed of transitions in character, and the reflections I had been led to make, during the time I was a witness of the changes through which the French Revolution passed.—­I.  F.]

‘The Borderers’ was first published in the 1842 edition of “Poems, chiefly of Early and Late Years.”  In 1845, it was placed in the class of “Poems written in Youth.”—­Ed.

DRAMATIS PERSONAE

MARMADUKE. \
OSWALD.     |
WALLACE.    |- Of the Band of
LACY.       |    Borderers. 
LENNOX.     |
HERBERT.   /

WILFRED, Servant to MARMADUKE. 
Host. 
Forester. 
ELDRED, a Peasant. 
Peasant, Pilgrims, etc.

IDONEA. 
Female Beggar. 
ELEANOR, Wife to ELDRED.

SCENE—­Borders of England and Scotland

TIME—­The Reign of Henry III.

ACT I

SCENE—­Road in a Wood

WALLACE and LACY

LACY The Troop will be impatient; let us hie
              Back to our post, and strip the Scottish Foray
              Of their rich Spoil, ere they recross the Border.
             —–­Pity that our young Chief will have no part
              In this good service.

WALLACE Rather let us grieve
              That, in the undertaking which has caused
              His absence, he hath sought, whate’er his aim,
              Companionship with One of crooked ways,
              From whose perverted soul can come no good
              To our confiding, open-hearted, Leader.

LACY True; and, remembering how the Band have proved
              That Oswald finds small favour in our sight,
              Well may we wonder he has gained such power
              Over our much-loved Captain.

WALLACE I have heard
              Of some dark deed to which in early life
              His passion drove him—­then a Voyager
              Upon the midland Sea.  You knew his bearing
              In Palestine?

LACY Where he despised alike
              Mohammedan and Christian.  But enough;
              Let us begone—­the Band may else be foiled.

[Exeunt.]

[Enter MARMADUKE and WILFRED]

WILFRED Be cautious, my dear Master!

MARMADUKE I perceive
              That fear is like a cloak which old men huddle
              About their love, as if to keep it warm.

WILFRED Nay, but I grieve that we should part.  This Stranger,
              For such he is—­

MARMADUKE Your busy fancies, Wilfred,
              Might tempt me to a smile; but what of him?

WILFRED You know that you have saved his life.