# File rexml/element.rb, line 943
    def Element.base_parser source
      # Get the next tag
      md = source.match(TAG_MATCH, true)
      raise ParseException.new("malformed XML: missing tag start", source, self) unless md
      attrs = []
      if md[2]
	attrs = md[2].scan( Attribute::PATTERN )
	raise ParseException.new( "error parsing attributes: [#{attrs.join ', '}], excess = \"#$'\"", source, self ) if $' and $'.strip.size > 0
      end
      return [md[1], md[6], attrs]
    end