“According to promise, I send you two verses for the ‘Maids of Arrochar;’ perhaps they are little better than the last. I believe the language is too weak for the subject; however, they possess the advantage over the others of being founded on a real occurrence. The Battle of Falkirk was Wallace's last, in which he was defeated with the loss of almost his whole army. I am sensible that to give words suitable to the poignancy of his grief, on such a trying reverse of fortune, would require all the fire and soul-melting energy of a Campbell or a Burns.” [1]
[1] The song above referred to is the “Lament of Wallace after the Battle of Falkirk,” No. 94.—Ed.