“To maintain what he had begun
    He wist, ere all the land was won,
    He should find full hard bargaining
    With him that was of England King,
    For there was none in life so fell,
    So stubborn, nor so cruel.”

Then began a long struggle between two gallant men, Robert of Scotland and Edward of England.  At first things went ill with the Bruce.  He lost many men in battle, others forsook him, and for a time he lived a hunted outlaw among the hills.

    “He durst not to the plains y-go
    For all the commons went him fro,
    That for their lives were full fain
    To pass to the English peace again.”

But in all his struggles Bruce kept a good heart and comforted his men.

    “‘For discomfort,’ as then said he,
    ’Is the worst thing that may be;
    For through mickle discomforting
    Men fall oft into despairing. 
    And if a man despairing be,
    Then truly vanquished is he.’”

Yet even while Bruce comforted his men he bade them be brave, and said:—­

    “And if that them were set a choice,
    To die, or to live cowardly,
    They should ever die chivalrously.”

He told them stories, too, of the heroes of olden times who, after much suffering, had in the end won the victory over their enemies.  Thus the days passed, and winter settled down on the bleak mountains.  Then the case of Robert and his men grew worse and worse, and they almost lost hope.  But at length, with many adventures, the winter came to an end.  Spring returned again, and with spring hope.

Chapter XXVII BARBOUR—­“THE BRUCE,” THE END OF THE STRUGGLE

    “’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.