Marmion: Canto Iii. - The Inn Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: A BBCCBDEEFFGGHIJKKLLE EE A LLKKGGMMMKNNKOOPPPQR A GGSSLLLLTTUEEUVVWXTT T S YYZZLLA2A2EELGLLRB2 L SC2SC2D2D2E2GGE2 S F2F2G2H2I2LLLI2J2J2J 2K2SSK2 S L2GHHLEEL S M2I2LLN2N2O2P2KKLLKK EE G Q2Q2UULLR2R2EEKKS2S2 T2T2KK G R2 YLYLSESE G EER2ER2R2LR2L G L G YLYLER2ER2 G R2 U2V2U2V2W2LW2L G L G S2S2ELELGUGUKKEELS G GGSSEEA2A2X2X2R2R2EE Y2R2R2Y2 S SGR2R2Z2Z2KKKR2R2KKK SGGS S ZZA3A3ZZLLSSB3C3LLZ2 Z2LLD3D3G2E3SG S EELLSSGGF3G3EEH3H3GG S KKGGGGSSKKGGSSNNEEGG GGI3I3J3J3X2X2 S SSLLE3E3LLSKKSSSZ2Z2 SSZ2Z2 G E KKI3I3K3K3SSEELLGGS2 S2L3L3LSEESS L M3M3RRTTN3N3N3EES2S2 B3B3J2J2SSSEEKKKKG2O 3 L LLN3N3LLSSKKLLZ2Z2KK A2A2 L F2F2SSZ2Z2EEEEEEJ2J2 KKE SSUUT NNR2R2KKI2I2SSP3P3KK S S R2R2S2S2SSSSKKJ2J2SS KKQ3Q3R2R2SSR3R3I3I3 KK K A2A2KKSSS2S2KKKKSR3R 3SSSJ2J2SSSSSSKK K KKJ2J2A2SS KKYR3R3YSSX2SSX2 K R2R2R2KSSKX2ZSSB3B3 K SSKKS3S3KKR2R2A3A3SS K YYNV2SSP3P3SSEET3T3Z X2 S EKEEKSSKKJ2J2SSR2R2B B S DBU3S2U3S2SSV3V3EJ2J 2EKKI2SSI2 S G2E3P3P3KP3P3P3KEESS SSSSSSSSKKR2R2| I | A |
| - | |
| The livelong day Lord Marmion rode | B |
| The mountain path the Palmer showed | B |
| By glen and streamlet winded still | C |
| Where stunted birches hid the rill | C |
| They might not choose the lowland road | B |
| For the Merse forayers were abroad | D |
| Who fired with hate and thirst of prey | E |
| Had scarcely failed to bar their way | E |
| Oft on the trampling band from crown | F |
| Of some tall cliff the deer looked down | F |
| On wing of jet from his repose | G |
| In the deep heath the blackcock rose | G |
| Sprung from the gorse the timid roe | H |
| Nor waited for the bending bow | I |
| And when the stony path began | J |
| By which the naked peak they wan | K |
| Up flew the snowy ptarmigan | K |
| The noon had long been passed before | L |
| They gained the height of Lammermoor | L |
| Thence winding down the northern way | E |
| Before them at the close of day | E |
| Old Gifford's towers and hamlet lay | E |
| - | |
| II | A |
| - | |
| No summons calls them to the tower | L |
| To spend the hospitable hour | L |
| To Scotland's camp the lord was gone | K |
| His cautious dame in bower alone | K |
| Dreaded her castle to unclose | G |
| So late to unknown friends or foes | G |
| On through the hamlet as they paced | M |
| Before a porch whose front was graced | M |
| With bush and flagon trimly placed | M |
| Lord Marmion drew his rein | K |
| The village inn seemed large though rude | N |
| Its cheerful fire and hearty food | N |
| Might well relieve his train | K |
| Down from their seats the horsemen sprung | O |
| With jingling spurs the courtyard rung | O |
| They bind their horses to the stall | P |
| For forage food and firing call | P |
| And various clamour fills the hall | P |
| Weighing the labour with the cost | Q |
| Toils everywhere the bustling host | R |
| - | |
| III | A |
| - | |
| Soon by the chimney's merry blaze | G |
| Through the rude hostel might you gaze | G |
| Might see where in dark nook aloof | S |
| The rafters of the sooty roof | S |
| Bore wealth of winter cheer | L |
| Of sea fowl dried and solands store | L |
| And gammons of the tusky boar | L |
| And savoury haunch of deer | L |
| The chimney arch projected wide | T |
| Above around it and beside | T |
| Were tools for housewives' hand | U |
| Nor wanted in that martial day | E |
| The implements of Scottish fray | E |
| The buckler lance and brand | U |
| Beneath its shade the place of state | V |
| On oaken settle Marmion sate | V |
| And viewed around the blazing hearth | W |
| His followers mix in noisy mirth | X |
| Whom with brown ale in jolly tide | T |
| From ancient vessels ranged aside | T |
| Full actively their host supplied | T |
| - | |
| IV | S |
| - | |
| Theirs was the glee of martial breast | Y |
| And laughter theirs at little jest | Y |
| And oft Lord Marmion deigned to aid | Z |
| And mingle in the mirth they made | Z |
| For though with men of high degree | L |
| The proudest of the proud was he | L |
| Yet trained in camps he knew the art | A2 |
| To win the soldier's hardy heart | A2 |
| They love a captain to obey | E |
| Boisterous as March yet fresh as May | E |
| With open hand and brow as free | L |
| Lover of wine and minstrelsy | G |
| Ever the first to scale a tower | L |
| As venturous in a lady's bower | L |
| Such buxom chief shall lead his host | R |
| From India's fires to Zembla's frost | B2 |
| - | |
| V | L |
| - | |
| Resting upon his pilgrim staff | S |
| Right opposite the Palmer stood | C2 |
| His thin dark visage seen but half | S |
| Half hidden by his hood | C2 |
| Still fixed on Marmion was his look | D2 |
| Which he who ill such gaze could brook | D2 |
| Strove by a frown to quell | E2 |
| But not for that though more than once | G |
| Full met their stern encountering glance | G |
| The Palmer's visage fell | E2 |
| - | |
| VI | S |
| - | |
| By fits less frequent from the crowd | F2 |
| Was heard the burst of laughter loud | F2 |
| For still as squire and archer stared | G2 |
| On that dark face and matted beard | H2 |
| Their glee and game declined | I2 |
| All gazed at length in silence drear | L |
| Unbroke save when in comrade's ear | L |
| Some yeoman wondering in his fear | L |
| Thus whispered forth his mind | I2 |
| Saint Mary saw'st thou e'er such sight | J2 |
| How pale his cheek his eye how bright | J2 |
| Whene'er the firebrand's fickle light | J2 |
| Glances beneath his cowl | K2 |
| Full on our lord he sets his eye | S |
| For his best palfrey would not I | S |
| Endure that sullen scowl | K2 |
| - | |
| VII | S |
| - | |
| But Marmion as to chase the awe | L2 |
| Which thus had quelled their hearts who saw | G |
| The ever varying firelight show | H |
| That figure stern and face of woe | H |
| Now called upon a squire | L |
| Fitz Eustace know'st thou not some lay | E |
| To speed the lingering night away | E |
| We slumber by the fire | L |
| - | |
| VIII | S |
| - | |
| So please you thus the youth rejoined | M2 |
| Our choicest minstrel's left behind | I2 |
| Ill may we hope to please your ear | L |
| Accustomed Constant's strains to hear | L |
| The harp full deftly can he strike | N2 |
| And wake the lover's lute alike | N2 |
| To dear Saint Valentine no thrush | O2 |
| Sings livelier from a spring tide bush | P2 |
| No nightingale her lovelorn tune | K |
| More sweetly warbles to the moon | K |
| Woe to the cause whate'er it be | L |
| Detains from us his melody | L |
| Lavished on rocks and billows stern | K |
| Or duller monks of Lindisfarne | K |
| Now must I venture as I may | E |
| To sing his favourite roundelay | E |
| - | |
| IX | G |
| - | |
| A mellow voice Fitz Eustace had | Q2 |
| The air he chose was wild and sad | Q2 |
| Such have I heard in Scottish land | U |
| Rise from the busy harvest band | U |
| When falls before the mountaineer | L |
| On Lowland plains the ripened ear | L |
| Now one shrill voice the notes prolong | R2 |
| Now a wild chorus swells the song | R2 |
| Oft have I listened and stood still | E |
| As it came softened up the hill | E |
| And deemed it the lament of men | K |
| Who languished for their native glen | K |
| And thought how sad would be such sound | S2 |
| On Susquehana's swampy ground | S2 |
| Kentucky's wood encumbered brake | T2 |
| Or wild Ontario's boundless lake | T2 |
| Where heart sick exiles in the strain | K |
| Recalled fair Scotland's hills again | K |
| - | |
| X | G |
| - | |
| SONG | R2 |
| - | |
| Where shall the lover rest | Y |
| Whom the fates sever | L |
| From his true maiden's breast | Y |
| Parted for ever | L |
| Where through groves deep and high | S |
| Sounds the far billow | E |
| Where early violets die | S |
| Under the willow | E |
| - | |
| CHORUS | G |
| - | |
| Eleu loro c Soft shall be his pillow | E |
| There through the summer day | E |
| Cool streams are laving | R2 |
| There while the tempests sway | E |
| Scarce are boughs waving | R2 |
| There thy rest shalt thou take | R2 |
| Parted for ever | L |
| Never again to wake | R2 |
| Never oh never | L |
| - | |
| CHORUS | G |
| - | |
| Eleu loro c Never oh never | L |
| - | |
| XI | G |
| - | |
| Where shall the traitor rest | Y |
| He the deceiver | L |
| Who could win maiden's breast | Y |
| Ruin and leave her | L |
| In the lost battle | E |
| Borne down by the flying | R2 |
| Where mingles war's rattle | E |
| With groans of the dying | R2 |
| - | |
| CHORUS | G |
| - | |
| Eleu loro c There shall he be lying | R2 |
| - | |
| Her wing shall the eagle flap | U2 |
| O'er the false hearted | V2 |
| His warm blood the wolf shall lap | U2 |
| Ere life be parted | V2 |
| Shame and dishonour sit | W2 |
| By his grave ever | L |
| Blessing shall hallow it | W2 |
| Never oh never | L |
| - | |
| CHORUS | G |
| - | |
| Eleu loro c Never oh never | L |
| - | |
| XII | G |
| - | |
| It ceased the melancholy sound | S2 |
| And silence sunk on all around | S2 |
| The air was sad but sadder still | E |
| It fell on Marmion's ear | L |
| And plained as if disgrace and ill | E |
| And shameful death were near | L |
| He drew his mantle past his face | G |
| Between it and the band | U |
| And rested with his head a space | G |
| Reclining on his hand | U |
| His thoughts I scan not but I ween | K |
| That could their import have been seen | K |
| The meanest groom in all the hall | E |
| That e'er tied courser to a stall | E |
| Would scarce have wished to be their prey | L |
| For Lutterward and Fontenaye | S |
| - | |
| XIII | G |
| - | |
| High minds of native pride and force | G |
| Most deeply feel thy pangs Remorse | G |
| Fear for their scourge mean villains have | S |
| Thou art the torturer of the brave | S |
| Yet fatal strength they boast to steel | E |
| Their minds to bear the wounds they feel | E |
| Even while they writhe beneath the smart | A2 |
| Of civil conflict in the heart | A2 |
| For soon Lord Marmion raised his head | X2 |
| And smiling to Fitz Eustace said | X2 |
| Is it not strange that as ye sung | R2 |
| Seemed in mine ear a death peal rung | R2 |
| Such as in nunneries they toll | E |
| For some departing sister's soul | E |
| Say what may this portend | Y2 |
| Then first the Palmer silence broke | R2 |
| The livelong day he had not spoke | R2 |
| The death of a dear friend | Y2 |
| - | |
| XIV | S |
| - | |
| Marmion whose steady heart and eye | S |
| Ne'er changed in worst extremity | G |
| Marmion whose soul could scantly brook | R2 |
| Even from his king a haughty look | R2 |
| Whose accent of command controlled | Z2 |
| In camps the boldest of the bold | Z2 |
| Thought look and utterance failed him now | K |
| Fall'n was his glance and flushed his brow | K |
| For either in the tone | K |
| Or something in the Palmer's look | R2 |
| So full upon his conscience strook | R2 |
| That answer he found none | K |
| Thus oft it haps that when within | K |
| They shrink at sense of secret sin | K |
| A feather daunts the brave | S |
| A fool's wild speech confounds the wise | G |
| And proudest princes veil their eyes | G |
| Before their meanest slave | S |
| - | |
| XV | S |
| - | |
| Well might he falter By his aid | Z |
| Was Constance Beverley betrayed | Z |
| Not that he augured of the doom | A3 |
| Which on the living closed the tomb | A3 |
| But tired to hear the desperate maid | Z |
| Threaten by turns beseech upbraid | Z |
| And wroth because in wild despair | L |
| She practised on the life of Clare | L |
| Its fugitive the Church he gave | S |
| Though not a victim but a slave | S |
| And deemed restraint in convent strange | B3 |
| Would hide her wrongs and her revenge | C3 |
| Himself proud Henry's favourite peer | L |
| Held Romish thunders idle fear | L |
| Secure his pardon he might hold | Z2 |
| For some slight mulct of penance gold | Z2 |
| Thus judging he gave secret way | L |
| When the stern priests surprised their prey | L |
| His train but deemed the favourite page | D3 |
| Was left behind to spare his age | D3 |
| Or other if they deemed none dared | G2 |
| To mutter what he thought and heard | E3 |
| Woe to the vassal who durst pry | S |
| Into Lord Marmion's privacy | G |
| - | |
| XVI | S |
| - | |
| His conscience slept he deemed her well | E |
| And safe secured in distant cell | E |
| But wakened by her favourite lay | L |
| And that strange Palmer's boding say | L |
| That fell so ominous and drear | S |
| Full on the object of his fear | S |
| To aid remorse's venomed throes | G |
| Dark tales of convent vengeance rose | G |
| And Constance late betrayed and scorned | F3 |
| All lovely on his soul returned | G3 |
| Lovely as when at treacherous call | E |
| She left her convent's peaceful wall | E |
| Crimsoned with shame with terror mute | H3 |
| Dreading alike escape pursuit | H3 |
| Till love victorious o'er alarms | G |
| Hid fears and blushes in his arms | G |
| - | |
| XVII | S |
| - | |
| Alas he thought how changed that mien | K |
| How changed these timid looks have been | K |
| Since years of guilt and of disguise | G |
| Have steeled her brow and armed her eyes | G |
| No more of virgin terror speaks | G |
| The blood that mantles in her cheeks | G |
| Fierce and unfeminine are there | S |
| Frenzy for joy for grief despair | S |
| And I the cause for whom were given | K |
| Her peace on earth her hopes in heaven | K |
| Would thought he as the picture grows | G |
| I on its stalk had left the rose | G |
| Oh why should man's success remove | S |
| The very charms that wake his love | S |
| Her convent's peaceful solitude | N |
| Is now a prison harsh and rude | N |
| And pent within the narrow cell | E |
| How will her spirit chafe and swell | E |
| How brook the stern monastic laws | G |
| The penance how and I the cause | G |
| Vigil and scourge perchance even worse | G |
| And twice he rose to cry To horse | G |
| And twice his sovereign's mandate came | I3 |
| Like damp upon a kindling flame | I3 |
| And twice he thought Gave I not charge | J3 |
| She should be safe though not at large | J3 |
| They durst not for their island shred | X2 |
| One golden ringlet from her head | X2 |
| - | |
| XVIII | S |
| - | |
| While thus in Marmion's bosom strove | S |
| Repentance and reviving love | S |
| Like whirlwinds whose contending sway | L |
| I've seen Loch Vennachar obey | L |
| Their host the Palmer's speech had heard | E3 |
| And talkative took up the word | E3 |
| Ay reverend Pilgrim you who stray | L |
| From Scotland's simple land away | L |
| To visit realms afar | S |
| Full often learn the art to know | K |
| Of future weal or future woe | K |
| By word or sign or star | S |
| Yet might a knight his fortune hear | S |
| If knightlike he despises fear | S |
| Not far from hence if fathers old | Z2 |
| Aright our hamlet legend told | Z2 |
| These broken words the menials move | S |
| For marvels still the vulgar love | S |
| And Marmion giving license cold | Z2 |
| His tale the host thus gladly told | Z2 |
| - | |
| XIX | G |
| - | |
| THE HOST'S TALE | E |
| - | |
| A clerk could tell what years have flown | K |
| Since Alexander filled our throne | K |
| Third monarch of that warlike name | I3 |
| And eke the time when here he came | I3 |
| To seek Sir Hugo then our lord | K3 |
| A braver never drew a sword | K3 |
| A wiser never at the hour | S |
| Of midnight spoke the word of power | S |
| The same whom ancient records call | E |
| The founder of the Goblin Hall | E |
| I would Sir Knight your longer stay | L |
| Gave you that cavern to survey | L |
| Of lofty roof and ample size | G |
| Beneath the castle deep it lies | G |
| To hew the living rock profound | S2 |
| The floor to pave the arch to round | S2 |
| There never toiled a mortal arm | L3 |
| It all was wrought by word and charm | L3 |
| And I have heard my grandsire say | L |
| That the wild clamour and affray | S |
| Of those dread artisans of hell | E |
| Who laboured under Hugo's spell | E |
| Sounded as loud as ocean's war | S |
| Among the caverns of Dunbar | S |
| - | |
| XX | L |
| - | |
| The king Lord Gifford's castle sought | M3 |
| Deep labouring with uncertain thought | M3 |
| Even then he mustered all his host | R |
| To meet upon the western coast | R |
| For Norse and Danish galleys plied | T |
| Their oars within the frith of Clyde | T |
| There floated Haco's banner trim | N3 |
| Above Norwayan warriors grim | N3 |
| Savage of heart and large of limb | N3 |
| Threatening both continent and isle | E |
| Bute Arran Cunninghame and Kyle | E |
| Lord Gifford deep beneath the ground | S2 |
| Heard Alexander's bugle sound | S2 |
| And tarried not his garb to change | B3 |
| But in his wizard habit strange | B3 |
| Came forth a quaint and fearful sight | J2 |
| His mantle lined with fox skins white | J2 |
| His high and wrinkled forehead bore | S |
| A pointed cap such as of yore | S |
| Clerks say that Pharaoh's Magi wore | S |
| His shoes were marked with cross and spell | E |
| Upon his breast a pentacle | E |
| His zone of virgin parchment thin | K |
| Or as some tell of dead man's skin | K |
| Bore many a planetary sign | K |
| Combust and retrograde and trine | K |
| And in his hand he held prepared | G2 |
| A naked sword without a guard | O3 |
| - | |
| XXI | L |
| - | |
| Dire dealings with the fiendish race | L |
| Had marked strange lines upon his face | L |
| Vigil and fast had worn him grim | N3 |
| His eyesight dazzled seemed and dim | N3 |
| As one unused to upper day | L |
| Even his own menials with dismay | L |
| Beheld Sir Knight the grisly sire | S |
| In his unwonted wild attire | S |
| Unwonted for traditions run | K |
| He seldom thus beheld the sun | K |
| 'I know ' he said his voice was hoarse | L |
| And broken seemed its hollow force | L |
| 'I know the cause although untold | Z2 |
| Why the king seeks his vassal's hold | Z2 |
| Vainly from me my liege would know | K |
| His kingdom's future weal or woe | K |
| But yet if strong his arm and heart | A2 |
| His courage may do more than art | A2 |
| - | |
| XXII | L |
| - | |
| 'Of middle air the demons proud | F2 |
| Who ride upon the racking cloud | F2 |
| Can read in fixed or wandering star | S |
| The issues of events afar | S |
| But still their sullen aid withhold | Z2 |
| Save when by mightier force controlled | Z2 |
| Such late I summoned to my hall | E |
| And though so potent was the call | E |
| That scarce the deepest nook of hell | E |
| I deemed a refuge from the spell | E |
| Yet obstinate in silence still | E |
| The haughty demon mocks my skill | E |
| But thou who little know'st thy might | J2 |
| As born upon that blessed night | J2 |
| When yawning graves and dying groan | K |
| Proclaimed hell's empire overthrown | K |
| With untaught valour shalt compel | E |
| Response denied to magic spell ' | - |
| 'Gramercy ' quoth our monarch free | S |
| Place him but front to front with me | S |
| And by this good and honoured brand | U |
| The gift of Coeur de Lion's hand | U |
| Soothly I swear that tide what tide | T |
| The demon shall a buffet bide ' | - |
| His bearing bold the wizard viewed | N |
| And thus well pleased his speech renewed | N |
| 'There spoke the blood of Malcolm mark | R2 |
| Forth pacing hence at midnight dark | R2 |
| The rampart seek whose circling crown | K |
| Crests the ascent of yonder down | K |
| A southern entrance shalt thou find | I2 |
| There halt and there thy bugle wind | I2 |
| And trust thine elfin foe to see | S |
| In guise of thy worst enemy | S |
| Couch then thy lance and spur thy steed | P3 |
| Upon him and Saint George to speed | P3 |
| If he go down thou soon shalt know | K |
| Whate'er these airy sprites can show | K |
| If thy heart fail thee in the strife | S |
| I am no warrant for thy life ' | - |
| - | |
| XXIII | S |
| - | |
| Soon as the midnight bell did ring | R2 |
| Alone and armed forth rode the king | R2 |
| To that old camp's deserted round | S2 |
| Sir Knight you well might mark the mound | S2 |
| Left hand the town the Pictish race | S |
| The trench long since in blood did trace | S |
| The moor around is brown and bare | S |
| The space within is green and fair | S |
| The spot our village children know | K |
| For there the earliest wildflowers grow | K |
| But woe betide the wandering wight | J2 |
| That treads its circle in the night | J2 |
| The breadth across a bowshot clear | S |
| Gives ample space for full career | S |
| Opposed to the four points of heaven | K |
| By four deep gaps are entrance given | K |
| The southernmost our monarch passed | Q3 |
| Halted and blew a gallant blast | Q3 |
| And on the north within the ring | R2 |
| Appeared the form of England's king | R2 |
| Who then a thousand leagues afar | S |
| In Palestine waged holy war | S |
| Yet arms like England's did he wield | R3 |
| Alike the leopards in the shield | R3 |
| Alike his Syrian courser's frame | I3 |
| The rider's length of limb the same | I3 |
| Long afterwards did Scotland know | K |
| Fell Edward was her deadliest foe | K |
| - | |
| XXIV | K |
| - | |
| The vision made our monarch start | A2 |
| But soon he manned his noble heart | A2 |
| And in the first career they ran | K |
| The Elfin Knight fell horse and man | K |
| Yet did a splinter of his lance | S |
| Through Alexander's visor glance | S |
| And razed the skin a puny wound | S2 |
| The King light leaping to the ground | S2 |
| With naked blade his phantom foe | K |
| Compelled the future war to show | K |
| Of Largs he saw the glorious plain | K |
| Where still gigantic bones remain | K |
| Memorial of the Danish war | S |
| Himself he saw amid the field | R3 |
| On high his brandished war axe wield | R3 |
| And strike proud Haco from his car | S |
| While all around the shadowy kings | S |
| Denmark's grim ravens cowered their wings | S |
| 'Tis said that in that awful night | J2 |
| Remoter visions met his sight | J2 |
| Foreshowing future conquests far | S |
| When our son's sons wage northern war | S |
| A royal city tower and spire | S |
| Reddened the midnight sky with fire | S |
| And shouting crews her navy bore | S |
| Triumphant to the victor shore | S |
| Such signs may learned clerks explain | K |
| They pass the wit of simple swain | K |
| - | |
| XXV | K |
| - | |
| The joyful King turned home again | K |
| Headed his host and quelled the Dane | K |
| But yearly when returned the night | J2 |
| Of his strange combat with the sprite | J2 |
| His wound must bleed and smart | A2 |
| Lord Gifford then would gibing say | S |
| 'Bold as ye were my liege ye pay | S |
| The penance of your start ' | - |
| Long since beneath Dunfermline's nave | K |
| King Alexander fills his grave | K |
| Our Lady give him rest | Y |
| Yet still the knightly spear and shield | R3 |
| The Elfin Warrior doth wield | R3 |
| Upon the brown hill's breast | Y |
| And many a knight hath proved his chance | S |
| In the charmed ring to break a lance | S |
| But all have foully sped | X2 |
| Save two as legends tell and they | S |
| Were Wallace wight and Gilbert Hay | S |
| Gentles my tale is said | X2 |
| - | |
| XXVI | K |
| - | |
| The quaighs were deep the liquors strong | R2 |
| And on the tale the yeoman throng | R2 |
| Had made a comment sage and long | R2 |
| But Marmion gave a sign | K |
| And with their lord the squires retire | S |
| The rest around the hostel fire | S |
| Their drowsy limbs recline | K |
| For pillow underneath each head | X2 |
| The quiver and the targe were laid | Z |
| Deep slumbering on the hostel floor | S |
| Oppressed with toil and ale they snore | S |
| The dying flame in fitful change | B3 |
| Threw on the group its shadows strange | B3 |
| - | |
| XXVII | K |
| - | |
| Apart and nestling in the hay | S |
| Of a waste loft Fitz Eustace lay | S |
| Scarce by the pale moonlight were seen | K |
| The foldings of his mantle green | K |
| Lightly he dreamt as youth will dream | S3 |
| Of sport by thicket or by stream | S3 |
| Of hawk or hound of ring or glove | K |
| Or lighter yet of lady's love | K |
| A cautious tread his slumber broke | R2 |
| And close beside him when he woke | R2 |
| In moonbeam half and half in gloom | A3 |
| Stood a tall form with nodding plume | A3 |
| But ere his dagger Eustace drew | S |
| His master Marmion's voice he knew | S |
| - | |
| XXVIII | K |
| - | |
| Fitz Eustace rise I cannot rest | Y |
| Yon churl's wild legend haunts my breast | Y |
| And graver thoughts have chafed my mood | N |
| The air must cool my feverish blood | V2 |
| And fain would I ride forth to see | S |
| The scene of elfin chivalry | S |
| Arise and saddle me my steed | P3 |
| And gentle Eustace take good heed | P3 |
| Thou dost not rouse these drowsy slaves | S |
| I would not that the prating knaves | S |
| Had cause for saying o'er their ale | E |
| That I could credit such a tale | E |
| Then softly down the steps they slid | T3 |
| Eustace the stable door undid | T3 |
| And darkling Marmion's steed arrayed | Z |
| While whispering thus the baron said | X2 |
| - | |
| XXIX | S |
| - | |
| Didst never good my youth hear tell | E |
| That on the hour when I was born | K |
| Saint George who graced my sire's chapelle | E |
| Down from his steed of marble fell | E |
| A weary wight forlorn | K |
| The flattering chaplains all agree | S |
| The champion left his steed to me | S |
| I would the omen's truth to show | K |
| That I could meet this elfin foe | K |
| Blithe would I battle for the right | J2 |
| To ask one question at the sprite | J2 |
| Vain thought for elves if elves there be | S |
| An empty race by fount or sea | S |
| To dashing waters dance and sing | R2 |
| Or round the green oak wheel their ring | R2 |
| Thus speaking he his steed bestrode | B |
| And from the hostel slowly rode | B |
| - | |
| XXX | S |
| - | |
| Fitz Eustace followed him abroad | D |
| And marked him pace the village road | B |
| And listened to his horse's tramp | U3 |
| Till by the lessening sound | S2 |
| He judged that of the Pictish camp | U3 |
| Lord Marmion sought the round | S2 |
| Wonder it seemed in the squire's eyes | S |
| That one so wary held and wise | S |
| Of whom 'twas said he scarce received | V3 |
| For gospel what the Church believed | V3 |
| Should stirred by idle tale | E |
| Ride forth in silence of the night | J2 |
| As hoping half to meet a sprite | J2 |
| Arrayed in plate and mail | E |
| For little did Fitz Eustace know | K |
| That passions in contending flow | K |
| Unfix the strongest mind | I2 |
| Wearied from doubt to doubt to flee | S |
| We welcome fond credulity | S |
| Guide confident though blind | I2 |
| - | |
| XXXI | S |
| - | |
| Little for this Fitz Eustace cared | G2 |
| But patient waited till he heard | E3 |
| At distance pricked to utmost speed | P3 |
| The foot tramp of a flying steed | P3 |
| Come townward rushing on | K |
| First dead as if on turf it trode | P3 |
| Then clattering on the village road | P3 |
| In other pace than forth he yode | P3 |
| Returned Lord Marmion | K |
| Down hastily he sprung from selle | E |
| And in his haste well nigh he fell | E |
| To the squire's hand the rein he threw | S |
| And spoke no word as he withdrew | S |
| But yet the moonlight did betray | S |
| The falcon crest was soiled with clay | S |
| And plainly might Fitz Eustace see | S |
| By stains upon the charger's knee | S |
| And his left side that on the moor | S |
| He had not kept his footing sure | S |
| Long musing on these wondrous signs | S |
| At length to rest the squire reclines | S |
| Broken and short for still between | K |
| Would dreams of terror intervene | K |
| Eustace did ne'er so blithely mark | R2 |
| The first notes of the morning lark | R2 |
Walter Scott (sir)
(1)
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About Marmion: Canto Iii. - The Inn
Marmion: Canto Iii. - The Inn is a poem by Walter Scott (sir). This page includes the poem text, poet information, related topics, comments, and similar poems.
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