Marmion: Canto Iv. - The Camp Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis

Rhyme Scheme: A BBCCDDEFEEEEGGHHHHHH DDIIJJEEEKL A EEEEEEMEMEENN A EEEEEEOEEEOHHHHEEHHP QMM R EESSEEETTEEHHTTEEEEE OOOEUV T SSHWHHEEUEEUEEEU R XXEEHHYYZZTEET R A2A2B2RROA2A2A2OEEC2 EEEETD2TD2EERREEETET R ZZCCEEE2F2F2E2EEHHEE YYG2G2EETT T MMEEUEEUTTEEF2F2 T EH2EH2I2F2I2I2I2F2TT TTTT T EI2I2EETTETEHEEHHHHH J2HJ2HEHEF2F2 T EEEEF2F2YYEEEEEEF2F2 F2YY T ETETMMRREEEETTTT R EEEEEEHF2F2HEEE R K2 HZHZF2F2ML2L2L2MHHHH ZZZEE R B2OZM2M2ZF2F2EEZEEZI IIZIZEEHHEETTTF2EEEF 2 R HHEEEEF2F2HHMHHH N2F2N2F2EEETET R O2K2O2K2TTTTTYYEEEEE EF2EEF2HHTT T EEEEEEEEECCHHF2F2 T TTTHHHTMHMERRREHHE M IIIF2EEF2EEMN2N2N2P2 EEEHHEEEEQ2EEEQ2RHRH TT M EEEEEEEWWEEHEEEHMMF2 EEF2HHF2F2EEEEEEMME M EEF2F2HHEESSS M EF2EEF2EEF2F2F2N2F2N 2F2F2 M F2F2F2F2F2F2F2F2F2F2 F2HHEEF2F2MM M F2F2R2R2S2S2B2B2N2N2 MMMM M HHEEF2F2HHF2F2F2F2 M HHHHHHHEEEF2F2EEEEEE M EEEEEEEEEEF2F2F2F2EE EHEEH E EEF2F2F2F2EF2F2EEEEE F2N2N2F2EEEEEEEEEEEE EEHHEEE E EEB2HHHHB2T2T2N2F2F2 F2N2YYHHHHH E S2S2F2EEEF2N2N2N2HEE HEEF2EEF2HHN2HN2F2F2 F2N2N2N2N2F2

I	A
	-
Eustace I said did blithely mark	B
The first notes of the merry lark	B
The lark sang shrill the cock he crew	C
And loudly Marmion's bugles blew	C
And with their light and lively call	D
Brought groom and yeoman to the stall	D
Whistling they came and free of heart	E
But soon their mood was changed	F
Complaint was heard on every part	E
Of something disarranged	E
Some clamoured loud for armour lost	E
Some brawled and wrangled with the host	E
By Becket's bones cried one I fear	G
That some false Scot has stol'n my spear	G
Young Blount Lord Marmion's second squire	H
Found his steed wet with sweat and mire	H
Although the rated horse boy sware	H
Last night he dressed him sleek and fair	H
While chafed the impatient squire like thunder	H
Old Hubert shouts in fear and wonder	H
Help gentle Blount help comrades all	D
Bevis lies dying in his stall	D
To Marmion who the plight dare tell	I
Of the good steed he loves so well	I
Gaping for fear and ruth they saw	J
The charger panting on his straw	J
Till one who would seem wisest cried	E
What else but evil could betide	E
With that cursed Palmer for our guide	E
Better we had through mire and bush	K
Been lantern led by Friar Rush	L
	-
II	A
	-
Fitz Eustace who the cause but guessed	E
Nor wholly understood	E
His comrades' clamorous plaints suppressed	E
He knew Lord Marmion's mood	E
Him ere he issued forth he sought	E
And found deep plunged in gloomy thought	E
And did his tale display	M
Simply as if he knew of nought	E
To cause such disarray	M
Lord Marmion gave attention cold	E
Nor marvelled at the wonders told	E
Passed them as accidents of course	N
And bade his clarions sound to horse	N
	-
III	A
	-
Young Henry Blount meanwhile the cost	E
Had reckoned with their Scottish host	E
And as the charge he cast and paid	E
Ill thou deserv'st thy hire he said	E
Dost see thou knave my horse's plight	E
Fairies have ridden him all the night	E
And left him in a foam	O
I trust that soon a conjuring band	E
With English cross and blazing brand	E
Shall drive the devils from this land	E
To their infernal home	O
For in this haunted den I trow	H
All night they trampled to and fro	H
The laughing host looked on the hire	H
Gramercy gentle southern squire	H
And if thou com'st among the rest	E
With Scottish broadsword to be blest	E
Sharp be the brand and sure the blow	H
And short the pang to undergo	H
Here stayed their talk for Marmion	P
Gave now the signal to set on	Q
The Palmer showing forth the way	M
They journeyed all the morning day	M
	-
IV	R
	-
The greensward way was smooth and good	E
Through Humbie's and through Saltoun's wood	E
A forest glade which varying still	S
Here gave a view of dale and hill	S
There narrower closed till overhead	E
A vaulted screen the branches made	E
A pleasant path Fitz Eustace said	E
Such as where errant knights might see	T
Adventures of high chivalry	T
Might meet some damsel flying fast	E
With hair unbound and looks aghast	E
And smooth and level course were here	H
In her defence to break a spear	H
Here too are twilight nooks and dells	T
And oft in such the story tells	T
The damsel kind from danger freed	E
Did grateful pay her champion's meed	E
He spoke to cheer Lord Marmion's mind	E
Perchance to show his lore designed	E
For Eustace much had pored	E
Upon a huge romantic tome	O
In the hall window of his home	O
Imprinted at the antique dome	O
Of Caxton or De Worde	E
Therefore he spoke but spoke in vain	U
For Marmion answered nought again	V
	-
V	T
	-
Now sudden distant trumpets shrill	S
In notes prolonged by wood and hill	S
Were heard to echo far	H
Each ready archer grasped his bow	W
But by the flourish soon they know	H
They breathed no point of war	H
Yet cautious as in foeman's land	E
Lord Marmion's order speeds the band	E
Some opener ground to gain	U
And scarce a furlong had they rode	E
When thinner trees receding showed	E
A little woodland plain	U
Just in that advantageous glade	E
The halting troop a line had made	E
As forth from the opposing shade	E
Issued a gallant train	U
	-
VI	R
	-
First came the trumpets at whose clang	X
So late the forest echoes rang	X
On prancing steeds they forward pressed	E
With scarlet mantle azure vest	E
Each at his trump a banner wore	H
Which Scotland's royal scutcheon bore	H
Heralds and pursuivants by name	Y
Bute Islay Marchmount Rothsay came	Y
In painted tabards proudly showing	Z
Gules argent or and azure glowing	Z
Attendant on a king at arms	T
Whose hand the armorial truncheon held	E
That feudal strife had often quelled	E
When wildest its alarms	T
	-
VII	R
	-
He was a man of middle age	A2
In aspect manly grave and sage	A2
As on king's errand come	B2
But in the glances of his eye	R
A penetrating keen and sly	R
Expression found its home	O
The flash of that satiric rage	A2
Which bursting on the early stage	A2
Branded the vices of the age	A2
And broke the keys of Rome	O
On milk white palfrey forth he paced	E
His cap of maintenance was graced	E
With the proud heron plume	C2
From his steed's shoulder loin and breast	E
Silk housings swept the ground	E
With Scotland's arms device and crest	E
Embroidered round and round	E
The double tressure might you see	T
First by Achaius borne	D2
The thistle and the fleur de lis	T
And gallant unicorn	D2
So bright the king's armorial coat	E
That scarce the dazzled eye could note	E
In living colours blazoned brave	R
The lion which his title gave	R
A train which well beseemed his state	E
But all unarmed around him wait	E
Still is thy name in high account	E
And still thy verse has charms	T
Sir David Lindesay of the Mount	E
Lord Lion King at Arms	T
	-
VIII	R
	-
Down from his horse did Marmion spring	Z
Soon as he saw the Lion King	Z
For well the stately baron knew	C
To him such courtesy was due	C
Whom royal James himself had crowned	E
And on his temples placed the round	E
Of Scotland's ancient diadem	E2
And wet his brow with hallowed wine	F2
And on his finger given to shine	F2
The emblematic gem	E2
Their mutual greetings duly made	E
The Lion thus his message said	E
Though Scotland's king hath deeply swore	H
Ne'er to knit faith with Henry more	H
And strictly hath forbid resort	E
From England to his royal court	E
Yet for he knows Lord Marmion's name	Y
And honours much his warlike fame	Y
My liege hath deemed it shame and lack	G2
Of courtesy to turn him back	G2
And by his order I your guide	E
Must lodging fit and fair provide	E
Till finds King James meet time to see	T
The flower of English chivalry	T
	-
IX	T
	-
Though inly chafed at this delay	M
Lord Marmion bears it as he may	M
The Palmer his mysterious guide	E
Beholding thus his place supplied	E
Sought to take leave in vain	U
Strict was the Lion King's command	E
That none who rode in Marmion's band	E
Should sever from the train	U
England has here enow of spies	T
In Lady Heron's witching eyes	T
To Marchmount thus apart he said	E
But fair pretext to Marmion made	E
The right hand path they now decline	F2
And trace against the stream the Tyne	F2
	-
X	T
	-
At length up that wild dale they wind	E
Where Crichtoun Castle crowns the bank	H2
For there the Lion's care assigned	E
A lodging meet for Marmion's rank	H2
That castle rises on the steep	I2
Of the green vale of Tyne	F2
And far beneath where slow they creep	I2
From pool to eddy dark and deep	I2
Where alders moist and willows weep	I2
You hear her streams repine	F2
The towers in different ages rose	T
Their various architecture shows	T
The builders' various hands	T
A mighty mass that could oppose	T
When deadliest hatred fired its foes	T
The vengeful Douglas bands	T
	-
XI	T
	-
Crichtoun though now thy miry court	E
But pens the lazy steer and sheep	I2
Thy turrets rude and tottered keep	I2
Have been the minstrel's loved resort	E
Oft have I traced within thy fort	E
Of mouldering shields the mystic sense	T
Scutcheons of honour or pretence	T
Quartered in old armorial sort	E
Remains of rude magnificence	T
Nor wholly yet had time defaced	E
Thy lordly gallery fair	H
Nor yet the stony cord unbraced	E
Whose twisted knots with roses laced	E
Adorn thy ruined stair	H
Still rises unimpaired below	H
The courtyard's graceful portico	H
Above its cornice row and row	H
Of fair hewn facets richly show	H
Their pointed diamond form	J2
Though there but houseless cattle go	H
To shield them from the storm	J2
And shuddering still may we explore	H
Where oft whilom were captives pent	E
The darkness of thy massy more	H
Or from thy grass grown battlement	E
May trace in undulating line	F2
The sluggish mazes of the Tyne	F2
	-
XII	T
	-
Another aspect Crichtoun showed	E
As through its portal Marmion rode	E
But yet 'twas melancholy state	E
Received him at the outer gate	E
For none were in the castle then	F2
But women boys or aged men	F2
With eyes scarce dried the sorrowing dame	Y
To welcome noble Marmion came	Y
Her son a stripling twelve years old	E
Proffered the baron's rein to hold	E
For each man that could draw a sword	E
Had marched that morning with their lord	E
Earl Adam Hepburn he who died	E
On Flodden by his sovereign's side	E
Long may his lady look in vain	F2
She ne'er shall see his gallant train	F2
Come sweeping back through Crichtoun Dean	F2
'Twas a brave race before the name	Y
Of hated Bothwell stained their fame	Y
	-
XIII	T
	-
And here two days did Marmion rest	E
With every rite that honour claims	T
Attended as the king's own guest	E
Such the command of royal James	T
Who marshalled then his land's array	M
Upon the Borough Moor that lay	M
Perchance he would not foeman's eye	R
Upon his gathering host should pry	R
Till full prepared was every band	E
To march against the English land	E
Here while they dwelt did Lindesay's wit	E
Oft cheer the baron's moodier fit	E
And in his turn he knew to prize	T
Lord Marmion's powerful mind and wise	T
Trained in the lore of Rome and Greece	T
And policies of war and peace	T
	-
XIV	R
	-
It chanced as fell the second night	E
That on the battlements they walked	E
And by the slowly fading night	E
Of varying topics talked	E
And unaware the herald bard	E
Said Marmion might his toil have spared	E
In travelling so far	H
For that a messenger from heaven	F2
In vain to James had counsel given	F2
Against the English war	H
And closer questioned thus he told	E
A tale which chronicles of old	E
In Scottish story have enrolled	E
	-
XV	R
	-
SIR DAVID LINDESAY'S TALE	K2
	-
Of all the palaces so fair	H
Built for the royal dwelling	Z
In Scotland far beyond compare	H
Linlithgow is excelling	Z
And in its park in jovial June	F2
How sweet the merry linnet's tune	F2
How blithe the blackbird's lay	M
The wild buck bells from ferny brake	L2
The coot dives merry on the lake	L2
The saddest heart might pleasure take	L2
To see all nature gay	M
But June is to our sovereign dear	H
The heaviest month in all the year	H
Too well his cause of grief you know	H
June saw his father's overthrow	H
Woe to the traitors who could bring	Z
The princely boy against his king	Z
Still in his conscience burns the sting	Z
In offices as strict as Lent	E
King James's June is ever spent	E
	-
XVI	R
	-
When last this ruthful month was come	B2
And in Linlithgow's holy dome	O
The King as wont was praying	Z
While for his royal father's soul	M2
The chanters sung the bells did toll	M2
The bishop mass was saying	Z
For now the year brought round again	F2
The day the luckless king was slain	F2
In Katharine's aisle the monarch knelt	E
With sackcloth shirt and iron belt	E
And eyes with sorrow streaming	Z
Around him in their stalls of state	E
The Thistle's knight companions sate	E
Their banners o'er them beaming	Z
I too was there and sooth to tell	I
Bedeafened with the jangling knell	I
Was watching where the sunbeams fell	I
Through the stained casement gleaming	Z
But while I marked what next befell	I
It seemed as I were dreaming	Z
Stepped from the crowd a ghostly wight	E
In azure gown with cincture white	E
His forehead bald his head was bare	H
Down hung at length his yellow hair	H
Now mock me not when good my lord	E
I pledged to you my knightly word	E
That when I saw his placid grace	T
His simple majesty of face	T
His solemn bearing and his pace	T
So stately gliding on	F2
Seemed to me ne'er did limner paint	E
So just an image of the Saint	E
Who propped the Virgin in her faint	E
The loved Apostle John	F2
	-
XVII	R
	-
He stepped before the monarch's chair	H
And stood with rustic plainness there	H
And little reverence made	E
Nor head nor body bowed nor bent	E
But on the desk his arm he leant	E
And words like these he said	E
In a low voice but never tone	F2
So thrilled through vein and nerve and bone	F2
'My mother sent me from afar	H
Sir King to warn thee not to war	H
Woe waits on thine array	M
If war thou wilt of woman fair	H
Her witching wiles and wanton snare	H
James Stuart doubly warned beware	H
God keep thee as he may '	-
The wondering monarch seemed to seek	N2
For answer and found none	F2
And when he raised his head to speak	N2
The monitor was gone	F2
The marshal and myself had cast	E
To stop him as he outward passed	E
But lighter than the whirlwind's blast	E
He vanished from our eyes	T
Like sunbeam on the billow cast	E
That glances but and dies	T
	-
XVIII	R
	-
While Lindesay told his marvel strange	O2
The twilight was so pale	K2
He marked not Marmion's colour change	O2
While listening to the tale	K2
But after a suspended pause	T
The baron spoke Of Nature's laws	T
So strong I held the force	T
That never superhuman cause	T
Could e'er control their course	T
And three days since had judged your aim	Y
Was but to make your guest your game	Y
But I have seen since passed the Tweed	E
What much has changed my sceptic creed	E
And made me credit aught He stayed	E
And seemed to wish his words unsaid	E
But by that strong emotion pressed	E
Which prompts us to unload our breast	E
E'en when discovery's pain	F2
To Lindesay did at length unfold	E
The tale his village host had told	E
At Gifford to his train	F2
Nought of the Palmer says he there	H
And nought of Constance or of Clare	H
The thoughts which broke his sleep he seems	T
To mention but as feverish dreams	T
	-
XIX	T
	-
In vain said he to rest I spread	E
My burning limbs and couched my head	E
Fantastic thoughts returned	E
And by their wild dominion led	E
My heart within me burned	E
So sore was the delirious goad	E
I took my steed and forth I rode	E
And as the moon shone bright and cold	E
Soon reached the camp upon the wold	E
The southern entrance I passed through	C
And halted and my bugle blew	C
Methought an answer met my ear	H
Yet was the blast so low and drear	H
So hollow and so faintly blown	F2
It might be echo of my own	F2
	-
XX	T
	-
Thus judging for a little space	T
I listened ere I left the place	T
But scarce could trust my eyes	T
Nor yet can think they served me true	H
When sudden in the ring I view	H
In form distinct of shape and hue	H
A mounted champion rise	T
I've fought Lord Lion many a day	M
In single fight and mixed affray	H
And ever I myself may say	M
Have borne me as a knight	E
But when this unexpected foe	R
Seemed starting from the gulf below	R
I care not though the truth I show	R
I trembled with affright	E
And as I placed in rest my spear	H
My hand so shook for very fear	H
I scarce could couch it right	E
	-
XXI	M
	-
Why need my tongue the issue tell	I
We ran our course my charger fell	I
What could he 'gainst the shock of hell	I
I rolled upon the plain	F2
High o'er my head with threatening hand	E
The spectre took his naked brand	E
Yet did the worst remain	F2
My dazzled eyes I upward cast	E
Not opening hell itself could blast	E
Their sight like what I saw	M
Full on his face the moonbeam strook	N2
A face could never be mistook	N2
I knew the stern vindictive look	N2
And held my breath for awe	P2
I saw the face of one who fled	E
To foreign climes has long been dead	E
I well believe the last	E
For ne'er from vizor raised did stare	H
A human warrior with a glare	H
So grimly and so ghast	E
Thrice o'er my head he shook the blade	E
But when to good Saint George I prayed	E
The first time e'er I asked his aid	E
He plunged it in the sheath	Q2
And on his courser mounting light	E
He seemed to vanish from my sight	E
The moonbeam drooped and deepest night	E
Sunk down upon the heath	Q2
'Twere long to tell what cause I have	R
To know his face that met me there	H
Called by his hatred from the grave	R
To cumber upper air	H
Dead or alive good cause had he	T
To be my mortal enemy	T
	-
XXII	M
	-
Marvelled Sir David of the Mount	E
Then learned in story 'gan recount	E
Such chance had happed of old	E
When once near Norham there did fight	E
A spectre fell of fiendish might	E
In likeness of a Scottish knight	E
With Brian Bulmer bold	E
And trained him nigh to disallow	W
The aid of his baptismal vow	W
And such a phantom too 'tis said	E
With Highland broadsword targe and plaid	E
And fingers red with gore	H
Is seen in Rothiemurcus glade	E
Or where the sable pine trees shade	E
Dark Tomantoul and Auchnaslaid	E
Dromunchty or Glenmore	H
And yet whate'er such legends say	M
Of warlike demon ghost or fay	M
On mountain moor or plain	F2
Spotless in faith in bosom bold	E
True son of chivalry should hold	E
These midnight terrors vain	F2
For seldom hath such spirit power	H
To harm save in the evil hour	H
When guilt we meditate within	F2
Or harbour unrepented sin	F2
Lord Marmion turned him half aside	E
And twice to clear his voice he tried	E
Then pressed Sir David's hand	E
But nought at length in answer said	E
And here their farther converse stayed	E
Each ordering that his band	E
Should bowne them with the rising day	M
To Scotland's camp to take their way	M
Such was the King's command	E
	-
XXIII	M
	-
Early they took Dunedin's road	E
And I could trace each step they trode	E
Hill brook nor dell nor rock nor stone	F2
Lies on the path to me unknown	F2
Much might it boast of storied lore	H
But passing such digression o'er	H
Suffice it that their route was laid	E
Across the furzy hills of Braid	E
They passed the glen and scanty rill	S
And climbed the opposing bank until	S
They gained the top of Blackford Hill	S
	-
XXIV	M
	-
Blackford on whose uncultured breast	E
Among the broom and thorn and whin	F2
A truant boy I sought the nest	E
Or listed as I lay at rest	E
While rose on breezes thin	F2
The murmur of the city crowd	E
And from his steeple jangling loud	E
Saint Giles's mingling din	F2
Now from the summit to the plain	F2
Waves all the hill with yellow grain	F2
And o'er the landscape as I look	N2
Nought do I see unchanged remain	F2
Save the rude cliffs and chiming brook	N2
To me they make a heavy moan	F2
Of early friendships past and gone	F2
	-
XXV	M
	-
But different far the change has been	F2
Since Marmion from the crown	F2
Of Blackford saw that martial scene	F2
Upon the bent so brown	F2
Thousand pavilions white as snow	F2
Spread all the Borough Moor below	F2
Upland and dale and down	F2
A thousand did I say I ween	F2
Thousands on thousands there were seen	F2
That chequered all the heath between	F2
The streamlet and the town	F2
In crossing ranks extending far	H
Forming a camp irregular	H
Oft giving way where still there stood	E
Some relics of the old oak wood	E
That darkly huge did intervene	F2
And tamed the glaring white with green	F2
In these extended lines there lay	M
A martial kingdom's vast array	M
	-
XXVI	M
	-
For from Hebudes dark with rain	F2
To eastern Lodon's fertile plain	F2
And from the southern Redswire edge	R2
To farthest Rosse's rocky ledge	R2
From west to east from south to north	S2
Scotland sent all her warriors forth	S2
Marmion might hear the mingled hum	B2
Of myriads up the mountain come	B2
The horses' tramp and tingling clank	N2
Where chiefs reviewed their vassal rank	N2
And charger's shrilling neigh	M
And see the shifting lines advance	M
While frequent flashed from shield and lance	M
The sun's reflected ray	M
	-
XXVII	M
	-
Thin curling in the morning air	H
The wreaths of failing smoke declare	H
To embers now the brands decayed	E
Where the night watch their fires had made	E
They saw slow rolling on the plain	F2
Full many a baggage cart and wain	F2
And dire artillery's clumsy car	H
By sluggish oxen tugged to war	H
And there were Borthwick's Sisters Seven	F2
And culverins which France had given	F2
Ill omened gift the guns remain	F2
The conqueror's spoil on Flodden plain	F2
	-
XXVIII	M
	-
Nor marked they less where in the air	H
A thousand streamers flaunted fair	H
Various in shape device and hue	H
Green sanguine purple red and blue	H
Broad narrow swallow tailed and square	H
Scroll pennon pensil bandrol there	H
O'er the pavilions flew	H
Highest and midmost was descried	E
The royal banner floating wide	E
The staff a pine tree strong and straight	E
Pitched deeply in a massive stone	F2
Which still in memory is shown	F2
Yet bent beneath the standard's weight	E
Whene'er the western wind unrolled	E
With toil the huge and cumbrous fold	E
And gave to view the dazzling field	E
Where in proud Scotland's royal shield	E
The ruddy lion ramped in gold	E
	-
XXIX	M
	-
Lord Marmion viewed the landscape bright	E
He viewed it with a chief's delight	E
Until within him burned his heart	E
And lightning from his eye did part	E
As on the battle day	E
Such glance did falcon never dart	E
When stooping on his prey	E
Oh well Lord Lion hast thou said	E
Thy king from warfare to dissuade	E
Were but a vain essay	E
For by Saint George were that host mine	F2
Not power infernal nor divine	F2
Should once to peace my soul incline	F2
Till I had dimmed their armour's shine	F2
In glorious battle fray	E
Answered the bard of milder mood	E
Fair is the sight and yet 'twere good	E
That kings would think withal	H
When peace and wealth their land has blessed	E
'Tis better to sit still at rest	E
Than rise perchance to fall	H
	-
XXX	E
	-
Still on the spot Lord Marmion stayed	E
For fairer scene he ne'er surveyed	E
When sated with the martial show	F2
That peopled all the plain below	F2
The wandering eye could o'er it go	F2
And mark the distant city glow	F2
With gloomy splendour red	E
For on the smoke wreaths huge and slow	F2
That round her sable turrets flow	F2
The morning beams were shed	E
And tinged them with a lustre proud	E
Like that which streaks a thunder cloud	E
Such dusky grandeur clothed the height	E
Where the huge castle holds its state	E
And all the steep slope down	F2
Whose ridgy back heaves to the sky	N2
Piled deep and massy close and high	N2
Mine own romantic town	F2
But northward far with purer blaze	E
On Ochil mountains fell the rays	E
And as each heathy top they kissed	E
It gleamed a purple amethyst	E
Yonder the shores of Fife you saw	E
Here Preston Bay and Berwick Law	E
And broad between them rolled	E
The gallant Frith the eye might note	E
Whose islands on its bosom float	E
Like emeralds chased in gold	E
Fitz Eustace' heart felt closely pent	E
As if to give his rapture vent	E
The spur he to his charger lent	E
And raised his bridle hand	E
And making demivolte in air	H
Cried Where's the coward that would not dare	H
To fight for such a land	E
The Lindesay smiled his joy to see	E
Nor Marmion's frown repressed his glee	E
	-
XXXI	E
	-
Thus while they looked a flourish proud	E
Where mingled trump and clarion loud	E
And fife and kettle drum	B2
And sackbut deep and psaltery	H
And war pipe with discordant cry	H
And cymbal clattering to the sky	H
Making wild music bold and high	H
Did up the mountain come	B2
The whilst the bells with distant chime	T2
Merrily tolled the hour of prime	T2
And thus the Lindesay spoke	N2
Thus clamour still the war notes when	F2
The King to mass his way has ta'en	F2
Or to St Katharine's of Sienne	F2
Or chapel of Saint Rocque	N2
To you they speak of martial fame	Y
But me remind of peaceful game	Y
When blither was their cheer	H
Thrilling in Falkland woods the air	H
In signal none his steed should spare	H
But strive which foremost might repair	H
To the downfall of the deer	H
	-
XXXII	E
	-
Nor less he said when looking forth	S2
I view yon empress of the North	S2
Sit on her hilly throne	F2
Her palace's imperial bowers	E
Her castle proof to hostile powers	E
Her stately halls and holy towers	E
Nor less he said I moan	F2
To think what woe mischance may bring	N2
And how these merry bells may ring	N2
The death dirge of our gallant king	N2
Or with the 'larum call	H
The burghers forth to watch and ward	E
'Gainst Southern sack and fires to guard	E
Dunedin's leaguered wall	H
But not for my presaging thought	E
Dream conquest sure or cheaply bought	E
Lord Marmion I say nay	F2
God is the guider of the field	E
He breaks the champion's spear and shield	E
But thou thyself shalt say	F2
When joins yon host in deadly stowre	H
That England's dames must weep in bower	H
Her monks the death mass sing	N2
For never saw'st thou such a power	H
Led on by such a king	N2
And now down winding to the plain	F2
The barriers of the camp they gain	F2
And there they made a stay	F2
There stays the minstrel till he fling	N2
His hand o'er every Border string	N2
And fit his harp the pomp to sing	N2
Of Scotland's ancient court and king	N2
In the succeeding lay	F2

Walter Scott (sir)

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