THIS VOLUME IS INSCRIBEB TO SIR CHARLES FORBES, M.P BY HIS MOST OBEDIENT AND MOST HUMBLE SERVANT. THE AUTHOR. M93764 PREFACE. SINCE my last publication of Scots Poems in 1812 (actuated by the spirit of patriotism), I have paid my addresses to Melpomone, in purpose to dramatize some of the most heroic actions and untimely ends of the most illustrious kings and captains of antiquity of my native land, and other striking events recorded in Scottish story, worthy of the tragic muse; therefore I gave the martial achieve ments of Sir William Wallace, as a first essay of this arduous undertaking, to the public some years ago, which proved a complete failure, owing (according to the partial opinion of my friends) to its enormous length, and number of scenes and characters, which rendered it unfit for theatrical representation. Notwithstanding my mortification at the failure of my first attempt, 1" strung the lyre again," and in my leisure Kours composed King Robert Bruce, or the battle of Bannockburn, and another historical five act play (pursuant to my plan), and pecuniary circumstances (a fate peculiar to poets) imperiously urged me to publish one of them, so I resolved upon Bruce; but many of my friends, and among those several literary gentlemen, to whom I communicated my intentions, who had previously perused some of the following pieces, advised me to publish a collection of my Scots poems rather, assuring me that |