Marmion: Canto V. - The Court Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: A BBBCDDCEEFFGHHIIJJ A DDKKLMMNOPPPQPPPQEEP NNNPNRMR A SSTRRTOLKOOKOKAAUVVV W D RXTYYTBBVZA2VNNB2C2C 2B2AAQD2BBZEE2E2E2EE 2E2E2E D F2F2PBBG2G2PEEG2EEG2 PPG2G2G2G2H2H2RQD2RI 2I2AAPPG2G2 A G2G2G2G2OOOQQJ2J2IIG 2G2F2F2G2F2G2VVG2G2G 2G2G2G2K2K2PL2L2L2P A DDWWWC2C2AM2G2G2G2M2 G2G2C2C2N2N2G2G2G2G2 G2G2PWWPAAAP A VVO2QQQQO2PG2G2PG2PP PG2G2IIEEPP L2 L2L2EAAEL2L2L2L2AAPP WP2P2WG2G2PPRWDDG2G2 G2G2PP L2 L2L2VG2G2G2VPPL2AAL2 G2G2G2L2G2G2EEG2G2TP PTWW D Q2G2R2R2Q2Q2G2WAS2S2 AG2G2N2N2N2G2G2G2DDT 2T2 W G2G2PPWW PPG2G2WW S2S2G2G2WW G2G2PPWW U2U2AAWW L2L2O2O2WW WWT2T2WW PPDDWW D T2T2WWG2G2WPWWPG2G2D DV2V2G2G2G2G2PPPPPP A G2G2WWAAAG2VVG2JJDWW DPPG2WWG2G2G2G2G2 A WG2G2WWWG2G2DDPPPPG2 G2G2G2G2DDPPWWPDDDDV VV A W2X2W2JV2V2J AAG2WG2G2WPPPG2G2G2G 2G2G2G2PPAA A G2G2DDDM2M2JJG2G2Y2Z 2G2G2G2A3A3PPG2G2DDJ JAJWW A JJPPG2G2G2WWWG2WWWG2 G2G2G2PDPDJJPPG2G2 D G2G2AAJJJJDG2DAG2Y2Z 2 D VVAAWWJN2N2JAAG2B3B3 G2DWDDWDD D PPG2G2JJAAG2G2VVAJG2 G2G2PPN2N2PPG2G2G2G2 G2G2G2G2G2G2AAG2G2JJ D DDPWWWPPPWWWPPG2G2G2 PDPDDVDDDVWWPDDPPPWW D G2G2G2C3C3C3G2G2G2G2 PG2PWWC3WC3WPPWG2JJG 2WWJ A JJG2WWG2PPPG2WWWG2N2 N2G2PPG2V2V2JPPJWWDW WD A PPG2J2G2J2G2G2G2DDPJ JJPWWWC3G2G2G2C3G2G2 C3 A WJWWWJPPG2G2WPPPPWDD C3JJJC3JJC3JJJG2B3JJ JB3C3C3PJJJPG2G2 J JPJPWWWWWWD3G2G2G2D3 PPWG2G2G2WB3E3B3G2PP G2 P C3WC3WG2G2G2G2G2G2G2 G2DDDG2G2G2G2G2PPDDP P D DDJJWJWC3C3G2G2WWDDP PPG2G2PG2G2DG2G2C3G2 G2WWW D G2G2G2G2G2G2G2PWWPG2 G2G2WG2G2WC3C3DC3DDD G2G2G2G2G2G2G2V2V2G2 G2JJ D PPG2G2G2G2WDDDWG2G2G 2WDDDDDDPPWPG2G2G2F3 PPF3DD D WWPPPPDDC3C3G2G2G2G2 PWPWWWWDPDDPG2G2PG2G 2P D G2G2G2G2WWDDDDM2M2DW WC3WWPPWC3 P WWWDC3C3DPPPPG2G2C3D DDC3G2DG2DG2G2PG2G2G 2PJJWG2G2WG2G2G2PDG2 G2G2I | A |
- | |
The train has left the hills of Braid | B |
The barrier guard have open made | B |
So Lindesay bade the palisade | B |
That closed the tented ground | C |
Their men the warders backward drew | D |
And carried pikes as they rode through | D |
Into its ample bound | C |
Fast ran the Scottish warriors there | E |
Upon the Southern band to stare | E |
And envy with their wonder rose | F |
To see such well appointed foes | F |
Such length of shaft such mighty bows | G |
So huge that many simply thought | H |
But for a vaunt such weapons wrought | H |
And little deemed their force to feel | I |
Through links of mail and plates of steel | I |
When rattling upon Flodden vale | J |
The clothyard arrows flew like hail | J |
- | |
II | A |
- | |
Nor less did Marmion's skilful view | D |
Glance every line and squadron through | D |
And much he marvelled one small land | K |
Could marshal forth such various band | K |
For men at arms were here | L |
Heavily sheathed in mail and plate | M |
Like iron towers for strength and weight | M |
On Flemish steeds of bone and height | N |
With battle axe and spear | O |
Young knights and squires a lighter train | P |
Practised their chargers on the plain | P |
By aid of leg of hand and rein | P |
Each warlike feat to show | Q |
To pass to wheel the croupe to gain | P |
The high curvet that not in vain | P |
The sword sway might descend amain | P |
On foeman's casque below | Q |
He saw the hardy burghers there | E |
March armed on foot with faces bare | E |
For vizor they wore none | P |
Nor waving plume nor crest of knight | N |
But burnished were their corslets bright | N |
Their brigantines and gorgets light | N |
Like very silver shone | P |
Long pikes they had for standing fight | N |
Two handed swords they wore | R |
And many wielded mace of weight | M |
And bucklers bright they bore | R |
- | |
III | A |
- | |
On foot the yeomen too but dressed | S |
In his steel jack a swarthy vest | S |
With iron quilted well | T |
Each at his back a slender store | R |
His forty days' provision bore | R |
As feudal statutes tell | T |
His arms were halbert axe or spear | O |
A crossbow there a hagbut here | L |
A dagger knife and brand | K |
Sober he seemed and sad of cheer | O |
As loth to leave his cottage dear | O |
And march to foreign strand | K |
Or musing who would guide his steer | O |
To till the fallow land | K |
Yet deem not in his thoughtful eye | A |
Did aught of dastard terror lie | A |
More dreadful far his ire | U |
Than theirs who scorning danger's name | V |
In eager mood to battle came | V |
Their valour like light straw on flame | V |
A fierce but fading fire | W |
- | |
IV | D |
- | |
Not so the Borderer bred to war | R |
He knew the battle's din afar | X |
And joyed to hear it swell | T |
His peaceful day was slothful ease | Y |
Nor harp nor pipe his ear could please | Y |
Like the loud slogan yell | T |
On active steed with lance and blade | B |
The light armed pricker plied his trade | B |
Let nobles fight for fame | V |
Let vassals follow where they lead | Z |
Burghers to guard their townships bleed | A2 |
But war's the Borderer's game | V |
Their gain their glory their delight | N |
To sleep the day maraud the night | N |
O'er mountain moss and moor | B2 |
Joyful to fight they took their way | C2 |
Scarce caring who might win the day | C2 |
Their booty was secure | B2 |
These as Lord Marmion's train passed by | A |
Looked on at first with careless eye | A |
Nor marvelled aught well taught to know | Q |
The form and force of English bow | D2 |
But when they saw the lord arrayed | B |
In splendid arms and rich brocade | B |
Each Borderer to his kinsman said | Z |
Hist Ringan seest thou there | E |
Canst guess which road they'll homeward ride | E2 |
Oh could we but on Border side | E2 |
By Eusedale glen or Liddell's tide | E2 |
Beset a prize so fair | E |
That fangless Lion too their guide | E2 |
Might chance to lose his glistering hide | E2 |
Brown Maudlin of that doublet pied | E2 |
Could make a kirtle rare | E |
- | |
V | D |
- | |
Next Marmion marked the Celtic race | F2 |
Of different language form and face | F2 |
Avarious race of man | P |
Just then the chiefs their tribes arrayed | B |
And wild and garish semblance made | B |
The chequered trews and belted plaid | G2 |
And varying notes the war pipes brayed | G2 |
To every varying clan | P |
Wild through their red or sable hair | E |
Looked out their eyes with savage stare | E |
On Marmion as he passed | G2 |
Their legs above the knee were bare | E |
Their frame was sinewy short and spare | E |
And hardened to the blast | G2 |
Of taller race the chiefs they own | P |
Were by the eagle's plumage known | P |
The hunted red deer's undressed hide | G2 |
Their hairy buskins well supplied | G2 |
The graceful bonnet decked their head | G2 |
Back from their shoulders hung the plaid | G2 |
A broadsword of unwieldy length | H2 |
A dagger proved for edge and strength | H2 |
A studded targe they wore | R |
And quivers bows and shafts but oh | Q |
Short was the shaft and weak the bow | D2 |
To that which England bore | R |
The Islesmen carried at their backs | I2 |
The ancient Danish battle axe | I2 |
They raised a wild and wondering cry | A |
As with his guide rode Marmion by | A |
Loud were their clamouring tongues as when | P |
The clanging sea fowl leave the fen | P |
And with their cries discordant mixed | G2 |
Grumbled and yelled the pipes betwixt | G2 |
- | |
VI | A |
- | |
Thus through the Scottish camp they passed | G2 |
And reached the city gate at last | G2 |
Where all around a wakeful guard | G2 |
Armed burghers kept their watch and ward | G2 |
Well had they cause of jealous fear | O |
When lay encamped in field so near | O |
The Borderer and the Mountaineer | O |
As through the bustling streets they go | Q |
All was alive with martial show | Q |
At every turn with dinning clang | J2 |
The armourer's anvil clashed and rang | J2 |
Or toiled the swarthy smith to wheel | I |
The bar that arms the charger's heel | I |
Or axe or falchion to the side | G2 |
Of jarring grindstone was applied | G2 |
Page groom and squire with hurrying pace | F2 |
Through street and lane and market place | F2 |
Bore lance or casque or sword | G2 |
While burghers with important face | F2 |
Described each new come lord | G2 |
Discussed his lineage told his name | V |
His following and his warlike fame | V |
The Lion led to lodging meet | G2 |
Which high o'erlooked the crowded street | G2 |
There must the baron rest | G2 |
Till past the hour of vesper tide | G2 |
And then to Holyrood must ride | G2 |
Such was the king's behest | G2 |
Meanwhile the Lion's care assigns | K2 |
A banquet rich and costly wines | K2 |
To Marmion and his train | P |
And when the appointed hour succeeds | L2 |
The baron dons his peaceful weeds | L2 |
And following Lindesay as he leads | L2 |
The palace halls they gain | P |
- | |
VII | A |
- | |
Old Holyrood rung merrily | D |
That night with wassail mirth and glee | D |
King James within her princely bower | W |
Feasted the chiefs of Scotland's power | W |
Summoned to spend the parting hour | W |
For he had charged that his array | C2 |
Should southward march by break of day | C2 |
Well loved that splendid monarch aye | A |
The banquet and the song | M2 |
By day the tourney and by night | G2 |
The merry dance traced fast and light | G2 |
The maskers quaint the pageant bright | G2 |
The revel loud and long | M2 |
This feast outshone his banquets past | G2 |
It was his blithest and his last | G2 |
The dazzling lamps from gallery gay | C2 |
Cast on the Court a dancing ray | C2 |
Here to the harp did minstrels sing | N2 |
There ladies touched a softer string | N2 |
With long eared cap and motley vest | G2 |
The licensed fool retailed his jest | G2 |
His magic tricks the juggler plied | G2 |
At dice and draughts the gallants vied | G2 |
While some in close recess apart | G2 |
Courted the ladies of their heart | G2 |
Nor courted them in vain | P |
For often in the parting hour | W |
Victorious Love asserts his power | W |
O'er coldness and disdain | P |
And flinty is her heart can view | A |
To battle march a lover true | A |
Can hear perchance his last adieu | A |
Nor own her share of pain | P |
- | |
VIII | A |
- | |
Through this mixed crowd of glee and game | V |
The King to greet Lord Marmion came | V |
While reverent all made room | O2 |
An easy task it was I trow | Q |
King James's manly form to know | Q |
Although his courtesy to show | Q |
He doffed to Marmion bending low | Q |
His broidered cap and plume | O2 |
For royal was his garb and mien | P |
His cloak of crimson velvet piled | G2 |
Trimmed with the fur of martin wild | G2 |
His vest of changeful satin sheen | P |
The dazzled eye beguiled | G2 |
His gorgeous collar hung adown | P |
Wrought with the badge of Scotland's crown | P |
The thistle brave of old renown | P |
His trusty blade Toledo right | G2 |
Descended from a baldric bright | G2 |
White were his buskins on the heel | I |
His spurs inlaid of gold and steel | I |
His bonnet all of crimson fair | E |
Was buttoned with a ruby rare | E |
And Marmion deemed he ne'er had seen | P |
A prince of such a noble mien | P |
- | |
IX | L2 |
- | |
The monarch's form was middle size | L2 |
For feat of strength or exercise | L2 |
Shaped in proportion fair | E |
And hazel was his eagle eye | A |
And auburn of the darkest dye | A |
His short curled beard and hair | E |
Light was his footstep in the dance | L2 |
And firm his stirrup in the lists | L2 |
And oh he had that merry glance | L2 |
That seldom lady's heart resists | L2 |
Lightly from fair to fair he flew | A |
And loved to plead lament and sue | A |
Suit lightly won and short lived pain | P |
For monarchs seldom sigh in vain | P |
I said he joyed in banquet bower | W |
But 'mid his mirth 'twas often strange | P2 |
How suddenly his cheer would change | P2 |
His look o'ercast and lower | W |
If in a sudden turn he felt | G2 |
The pressure of his iron belt | G2 |
That bound his breast in penance pain | P |
In memory of his father slain | P |
Even so 'twas strange how evermore | R |
Soon as the passing pang was o'er | W |
Forward he rushed with double glee | D |
Into the stream of revelry | D |
Thus dim seen object of affright | G2 |
Startles the courser in his flight | G2 |
And half he halts half springs aside | G2 |
But feels the quickening spur applied | G2 |
And straining on the tightened rein | P |
Scours doubly swift o'er hill and plain | P |
- | |
X | L2 |
- | |
O'er James's heart the courtiers say | L2 |
Sir Hugh the Heron's wife held sway | L2 |
To Scotland's Court she came | V |
To be a hostage for her lord | G2 |
Who Cessford's gallant heart had gored | G2 |
And with the king to make accord | G2 |
Had sent his lovely dame | V |
Nor to that lady free alone | P |
Did the gay king allegiance own | P |
For the fair Queen of France | L2 |
Sent him a turquoise ring and glove | A |
And charged him as her knight and love | A |
For her to break a lance | L2 |
And strike three strokes with Scottish brand | G2 |
And march three miles on Southron land | G2 |
And bid the banners of his band | G2 |
In English breezes dance | L2 |
And thus for France's queen he drest | G2 |
His manly limbs in mailed vest | G2 |
And thus admitted English fair | E |
His inmost counsels still to share | E |
And thus for both he madly planned | G2 |
The ruin of himself and land | G2 |
And yet the sooth to tell | T |
Nor England's fair nor France's Queen | P |
Were worth one pearl drop bright and sheen | P |
From Margaret's eyes that fell | T |
His own Queen Margaret who in Lithgow's bower | W |
All lonely sat and wept the weary hour | W |
- | |
XI | D |
- | |
The queen sits lone in Lithgow pile | Q2 |
And weeps the weary day | G2 |
The war against her native soil | R2 |
Her monarch's risk in battle broil | R2 |
And in gay Holyrood the while | Q2 |
Dame Heron rises with a smile | Q2 |
Upon the harp to play | G2 |
Fair was her rounded arm as o'er | W |
The strings her fingers flew | A |
And as she touched and tuned them all | S2 |
Ever her bosom's rise and fall | S2 |
Was plainer given to view | A |
For all for heat was laid aside | G2 |
Her wimple and her hood untied | G2 |
And first she pitched her voice to sing | N2 |
Then glanced her dark eye on the king | N2 |
And then around the silent ring | N2 |
And laughed and blushed and oft did say | G2 |
Her pretty oath By yea and nay | G2 |
She could not would not durst not play | G2 |
At length upon the harp with glee | D |
Mingled with arch simplicity | D |
A soft yet lively air she rung | T2 |
While thus the wily lady sung | T2 |
- | |
XII LOCHINVAR | W |
- | |
Oh young Lochinvar is come out of the west | G2 |
Through all the wide Border his steed was the best | G2 |
And save his good broadsword he weapons had none | P |
He rode all unarmed and he rode all alone | P |
So faithful in love and so dauntless in war | W |
There never was knight like the young Lochinvar | W |
- | |
He stayed not for brake and he stopped not for stone | P |
He swam the Esk river where ford there was none | P |
But ere he alighted at Netherby gate | G2 |
The bride had consented the gallant came late | G2 |
For a laggard in love and a dastard in war | W |
Was to wed the fair Ellen of brave Lochinvar | W |
- | |
So boldly he entered the Netherby Hall | S2 |
Among bride's men and kinsmen and brothers and all | S2 |
Then spoke the bride's father his hand on his sword | G2 |
For the poor craven bridegroom said never a word | G2 |
Oh come ye in peace here or come ye in war | W |
Or to dance at our bridal young Lord Lochinvar | W |
- | |
I long wooed your daughter my suit you denied | G2 |
Love swells like the Solway but ebbs like its tide | G2 |
And now am I come with this lost love of mine | P |
To lead but one measure drink one cup of wine | P |
There are maidens in Scotland more lovely by far | W |
That would gladly be bride to the young Lochinvar | W |
- | |
The bride kissed the goblet the knight took it up | U2 |
He quaffed off the wine and he threw down the cup | U2 |
She looked down to blush and she looked up to sigh | A |
With a smile on her lips and a tear in her eye | A |
He took her soft hand ere her mother could bar | W |
Now tread we a measure said young Lochinvar | W |
- | |
So stately his form and so lovely her face | L2 |
That never a hall such a galliard did grace | L2 |
While her mother did fret and her father did fume | O2 |
And the bridegroom stood dangling his bonnet and plume | O2 |
And the bride's maidens whispered 'Twere better by far | W |
To have matched our fair cousin with young Lochinvar | W |
- | |
One touch to her hand and one word in her ear | W |
When they reached the hall door and the charger stood near | W |
So light to the croup the fair lady he swung | T2 |
So light to the saddle before her he sprung | T2 |
She is won we are gone over bank bush and scaur | W |
They'll have fleet steeds that follow quoth young Lochinvar | W |
- | |
There was mounting 'mong Graemes of the Netherby clan | P |
Forsters Fenwicks and Musgraves they rode and they ran | P |
There was racing and chasing on Cannobie Lee | D |
But the lost bride of Netherby ne'er did they see | D |
So daring in love and so dauntless in war | W |
Have ye e'er heard of gallant like young Lochinvar | W |
- | |
XIII | D |
- | |
The monarch o'er the siren hung | T2 |
And beat the measure as she sung | T2 |
And pressing closer and more near | W |
He whispered praises in her ear | W |
In loud applause the courtiers vied | G2 |
And ladies winked and spoke aside | G2 |
The witching dame to Marmion threw | W |
A glance where seemed to reign | P |
The pride that claims applauses due | W |
And of her royal conquest too | W |
A real or feigned disdain | P |
Familiar was the look and told | G2 |
Marmion and she were friends of old | G2 |
The king observed their meeting eyes | D |
With something like displeased surprise | D |
For monarchs ill can rivals brook | V2 |
E'en in a word or smile or look | V2 |
Straight took he forth the parchment broad | G2 |
Which Marmion's high commission showed | G2 |
Our Borders sacked by many a raid | G2 |
Our peaceful liegemen robbed he said | G2 |
On day of truce our warden slain | P |
Stout Barton killed his vassals ta'en | P |
Unworthy were we here to reign | P |
Should these for vengeance cry in vain | P |
Our full defiance hate and scorn | P |
Our herald has to Henry borne | P |
- | |
XIV | A |
- | |
He paused and led where Douglas stood | G2 |
And with stern eye the pageant viewed | G2 |
I mean that Douglas sixth of yore | W |
Who coronet of Angus bore | W |
And when his blood and heart were high | A |
Did the third James in camp defy | A |
And all his minions led to die | A |
On Lauder's dreary flat | G2 |
Princes and favourites long grew tame | V |
And trembled at the homely name | V |
Of Archibald Bell the Cat | G2 |
The same who left the dusky vale | J |
Of Hermitage in Liddisdale | J |
Its dungeons and its towers | D |
Where Bothwell's turrets brave the air | W |
And Bothwell bank is blooming fair | W |
To fix his princely bowers | D |
Though now in age he had laid down | P |
His armour for the peaceful gown | P |
And for a staff his brand | G2 |
Yet often would flash forth the fire | W |
That could in youth a monarch's ire | W |
And minion's pride withstand | G2 |
And e'en that day at council board | G2 |
Unapt to soothe his sovereign's mood | G2 |
Against the war had Angus stood | G2 |
And chafed his royal lord | G2 |
- | |
XV | A |
- | |
His giant form like ruined tower | W |
Though fall'n its muscles' brawny vaunt | G2 |
Huge boned and tall and grim and gaunt | G2 |
Seemed o'er the gaudy scene to lower | W |
His locks and beard in silver grew | W |
His eyebrows kept their sable hue | W |
Near Douglas when the monarch stood | G2 |
His bitter speech he thus pursued | G2 |
Lord Marmion since these letters say | D |
That in the north you needs must stay | D |
While slightest hopes of peace remain | P |
Uncourteous speech it were and stern | P |
To say return to Lindisfarne | P |
Until my herald come again | P |
Then rest you in Tantallon Hold | G2 |
Your host shall be the Douglas bold | G2 |
A chief unlike his sires of old | G2 |
He wears their motto on his blade | G2 |
Their blazon o'er his towers displayed | G2 |
Yet loves his sovereign to oppose | D |
More than to face his country's foes | D |
And I bethink me by Saint Stephen | P |
But e'en this morn to me was given | P |
A prize the first fruits of the war | W |
Ta'en by a galley from Dunbar | W |
A bevy of the maids of Heaven | P |
Under your guard these holy maids | D |
Shall safe return to cloister shades | D |
And while they at Tantallon stay | D |
Requiem for Cochrane's soul may say | D |
And with the slaughtered favourite's name | V |
Across the monarch's brow there came | V |
A cloud of ire remorse and shame | V |
- | |
XVI | A |
- | |
In answer nought could Angus speak | W2 |
His proud heart swelled well nigh to break | X2 |
He turned aside and down his cheek | W2 |
A burning tear there stole | J |
His hand the monarch sudden took | V2 |
That sight his kind heart could not brook | V2 |
Now by the Bruce's soul | J |
- | |
Angus my hasty speech forgive | A |
For sure as doth his spirit live | A |
As he said of the Douglas old | G2 |
I well may say of you | W |
That never king did subject hold | G2 |
In speech more free in war more bold | G2 |
More tender and more true | W |
Forgive me Douglas once again | P |
And while the king his hand did strain | P |
The old man's tears fell down like rain | P |
To seize the moment Marmion tried | G2 |
And whispered to the king aside | G2 |
Oh let such tears unwonted plead | G2 |
For respite short from dubious deed | G2 |
A child will weep a bramble's smart | G2 |
A maid to see her sparrow part | G2 |
A stripling for a woman's heart | G2 |
But woe awaits a country when | P |
She sees the tears of bearded men | P |
Then oh what omen dark and high | A |
When Douglas wets his manly eye | A |
- | |
XVII | A |
- | |
Displeased was James that stranger viewed | G2 |
And tampered with his changing mood | G2 |
Laugh those that can weep those that may | D |
Thus did the fiery monarch say | D |
Southward I march by break of day | D |
And if within Tantallon strong | M2 |
The good Lord Marmion tarries long | M2 |
Perchance our meeting next may fall | J |
At Tamworth in his castle hall | J |
The haughty Marmion felt the taunt | G2 |
And answered grave the royal vaunt | G2 |
Much honoured were my humble home | Y2 |
If in its halls King James should come | Z2 |
But Nottingham has archers good | G2 |
And Yorkshire men are stern of mood | G2 |
Northumbrian prickers wild and rude | G2 |
On Derby hills the paths are steep | A3 |
In Ouse and Tyne the fords are deep | A3 |
And many a banner will be torn | P |
And many a knight to earth be borne | P |
And many a sheaf of arrows spent | G2 |
Ere Scotland's king shall cross the Trent | G2 |
Yet pause brave prince while yet you may | D |
The monarch lightly turned away | D |
And to his nobles loud did call | J |
Lords to the dance a hall a hall | J |
Himself his cloak and sword flung by | A |
And led Dame Heron gallantly | J |
And minstrels at the royal order | W |
Rung out Blue Bonnets o'er the Border | W |
- | |
XVIII | A |
- | |
Leave we these revels now to tell | J |
What to Saint Hilda's maids befell | J |
Whose galley as they sailed again | P |
To Whitby by a Scot was ta'en | P |
Now at Dunedin did they bide | G2 |
Till James should of their fate decide | G2 |
And soon by his command | G2 |
Were gently summoned to prepare | W |
To journey under Marmion's care | W |
As escort honoured safe and fair | W |
Again to English land | G2 |
The Abbess told her chaplet o'er | W |
Nor knew which saint she should implore | W |
For when she thought of Constance sore | W |
She feared Lord Marmion's mood | G2 |
And judge what Clara must have felt | G2 |
The sword that hung in Marmion's belt | G2 |
Had drunk De Wilton's blood | G2 |
Unwittingly King James had given | P |
As guard to Whitby's shades | D |
The man most dreaded under heaven | P |
By these defenceless maids | D |
Yet what petition could avail | J |
Or who would listen to the tale | J |
Of woman prisoner and nun | P |
'Mid bustle of a war begun | P |
They deemed it hopeless to avoid | G2 |
The convoy of their dangerous guide | G2 |
- | |
XIX | D |
- | |
Their lodging so the king assigned | G2 |
To Marmion's as their guardian joined | G2 |
And thus it fell that passing nigh | A |
The Palmer caught the Abbess' eye | A |
Who warned him by a scroll | J |
She had a secret to reveal | J |
That much concerned the Church's weal | J |
And health of sinner's soul | J |
And with deep charge of secrecy | D |
She named a place to meet | G2 |
Within an open balcony | D |
That hung from dizzy pitch and high | A |
Above the stately street | G2 |
To which as common to each home | Y2 |
At night they might in secret come | Z2 |
- | |
XX | D |
- | |
At night in secret there they came | V |
The Palmer and the holy dame | V |
The moon among the clouds rose high | A |
And all the city hum was by | A |
Upon the street where late before | W |
Did din of war and warriors roar | W |
You might have heard a pebble fall | J |
A beetle hum a cricket sing | N2 |
An owlet flap his boding wing | N2 |
On Giles's steeple tall | J |
The antique buildings climbing high | A |
Whose Gothic frontlets sought the sky | A |
Were here wrapt deep in shade | G2 |
There on their brows the moonbeam broke | B3 |
Through the faint wreaths of silvery smoke | B3 |
And on the casements played | G2 |
And other light was none to see | D |
Save torches gliding far | W |
Before some chieftain of degree | D |
Who left the royal revelry | D |
To bowne him for the war | W |
A solemn scene the Abbess chose | D |
A solemn hour her secret to disclose | D |
- | |
XXI | D |
- | |
O holy Palmer she began | P |
For sure he must be sainted man | P |
Whose blessed feet have trod the ground | G2 |
Where the Redeemer's tomb is found | G2 |
For His dear Church's sake my tale | J |
Attend nor deem of light avail | J |
Though I must speak of worldly love | A |
How vain to those who wed above | A |
De Wilton and Lord Marmion wooed | G2 |
Clara de Clare of Gloucester's blood | G2 |
Idle it were of Whitby's dame | V |
To say of that same blood I came | V |
And once when jealous rage was high | A |
Lord Marmion said despiteously | J |
Wilton was traitor in his heart | G2 |
And had made league with Martin Swart | G2 |
When he came here on Simnel's part | G2 |
And only cowardice did restrain | P |
His rebel aid on Stokefield's plain | P |
And down he threw his glove the thing | N2 |
Was tried as wont before the king | N2 |
Where frankly did De Wilton own | P |
That Swart in Gueldres he had known | P |
And that between them then there went | G2 |
Some scroll of courteous compliment | G2 |
For this he to his castle sent | G2 |
But when his messenger returned | G2 |
Judge how De Wilton's fury burned | G2 |
For in his packet there were laid | G2 |
Letters that claimed disloyal aid | G2 |
And proved King Henry's cause betrayed | G2 |
His fame thus blighted in the field | G2 |
He strove to clear by spear and shield | G2 |
To clear his fame in vain he strove | A |
For wondrous are His ways above | A |
Perchance some form was unobserved | G2 |
Perchance in prayer or faith he swerved | G2 |
Else how could guiltless champion quail | J |
Or how the blessed ordeal fail | J |
- | |
- | |
XXII | D |
- | |
'His squire who now De Wilton saw | D |
As recreant doomed to suffer law | D |
Repentant owned in vain | P |
That while he had the scrolls in care | W |
A stranger maiden passing fair | W |
Had drenched him with a beverage rare | W |
His words no faith could gain | P |
With Clare alone he credence won | P |
Who rather than wed Marmion | P |
Did to Saint Hilda's shrine repair | W |
To give our house her livings fair | W |
And die a vestal vot'ress there | W |
The impulse from the earth was given | P |
But bent her to the paths of heaven | P |
A purer heart a lovelier maid | G2 |
Ne'er sheltered her in Whitby's shade | G2 |
No not since Saxon Edelfled | G2 |
Only one trace of earthly strain | P |
That for her lover's loss | D |
She cherishes a sorrow vain | P |
And murmurs at the cross | D |
And then her heritage it goes | D |
Along the banks of Tame | V |
Deep fields of grain the reaper mows | D |
In meadows rich the heifer lows | D |
The falconer and huntsman knows | D |
Its woodlands for the game | V |
Shame were it to Saint Hilda dear | W |
And I her humble vot'ress here | W |
Should do a deadly sin | P |
Her temple spoiled before mine eyes | D |
If this false Marmion such a prize | D |
By my consent should win | P |
Yet hath our boisterous monarch sworn | P |
That Clare shall from our house be torn | P |
And grievous cause have I to fear | W |
Such mandate doth Lord Marmion bear | W |
- | |
XXIII | D |
- | |
Now prisoner helpless and betrayed | G2 |
To evil power I claim thine aid | G2 |
By every step that thou hast trod | G2 |
To holy shrine and grotto dim | C3 |
By every martyr's tortured limb | C3 |
By angel saint and seraphim | C3 |
And by the Church of God | G2 |
For mark When Wilton was betrayed | G2 |
And with his squire forged letters laid | G2 |
She was alas that sinful maid | G2 |
By whom the deed was done | P |
Oh shame and horror to be said | G2 |
She was a perjured nun | P |
No clerk in all the land like her | W |
Traced quaint and varying character | W |
Perchance you may a marvel deem | C3 |
That Marmion's paramour | W |
For such vile thing she was should scheme | C3 |
Her lover's nuptial hour | W |
But o'er him thus she hoped to gain | P |
As privy to his honour's stain | P |
Illimitable power | W |
For this she secretly retained | G2 |
Each proof that might the plot reveal | J |
Instructions with his hand and seal | J |
And thus Saint Hilda deigned | G2 |
Through sinners' perfidy impure | W |
Her house's glory to secure | W |
And Clare's immortal weal | J |
- | |
XXIV | A |
- | |
'Twere long and needless here to tell | J |
How to my hand these papers fell | J |
With me they must not stay | G2 |
Saint Hilda keep her Abbess true | W |
Who knows what outrage he might do | W |
While journeying by the way | G2 |
O blessed saint if e'er again | P |
I venturous leave thy calm domain | P |
To travel or by land or main | P |
Deep penance may I pay | G2 |
Now saintly Palmer mark my prayer | W |
I give this packet to thy care | W |
For thee to stop they will not dare | W |
And oh with cautious speed | G2 |
To Wolsey's hand the papers bring | N2 |
That he may show them to the king | N2 |
And for thy well earned meed | G2 |
Thou holy man at Whitby's shrine | P |
A weekly mass shall still be thine | P |
While priests can sing and read | G2 |
What ail'st thou Speak For as he took | V2 |
The charge a strong emotion shook | V2 |
His frame and ere reply | J |
They heard a faint yet shrilly tone | P |
Like distant clarion feebly blown | P |
That on the breeze did die | J |
And loud the Abbess shrieked in fear | W |
Saint Withold save us What is here | W |
Look at yon city cross | D |
See on its battled tower appear | W |
Phantoms that scutcheons seem to rear | W |
And blazoned banners toss | D |
- | |
XXV | A |
- | |
Dunedin's Cross a pillared stone | P |
Rose on a turret octagon | P |
But now is razed that monument | G2 |
Whence royal edict rang | J2 |
And voice of Scotland's law was sent | G2 |
In glorious trumpet clang | J2 |
Oh be his tomb as lead to lead | G2 |
Upon its dull destroyer's head | G2 |
A minstrel's malison is said | G2 |
Then on its battlements they saw | D |
A vision passing Nature's law | D |
Strange wild and dimly seen | P |
Figures that seemed to rise and die | J |
Gibber and sign advance and fly | J |
While nought confirmed could ear or eye | J |
Discern of sound or mien | P |
Yet darkly did it seem as there | W |
Heralds and pursuivants prepare | W |
With trumpet sound and blazon fair | W |
A summons to proclaim | C3 |
But indistinct the pageant proud | G2 |
As fancy forms of midnight cloud | G2 |
When flings the moon upon her shroud | G2 |
A wavering tinge of flame | C3 |
It flits expands and shifts till loud | G2 |
From midmost of the spectre crowd | G2 |
This awful summons came | C3 |
- | |
XXVI | A |
- | |
Prince prelate potentate and peer | W |
Whose names I now shall call | J |
Scottish or foreigner give ear | W |
Subjects of him who sent me here | W |
At his tribunal to appear | W |
I summon one and all | J |
I cite you by each deadly sin | P |
That e'er hath soiled your hearts within | P |
I cite you by each brutal lust | G2 |
That e'er defiled your earthly dust | G2 |
By wrath by pride by fear | W |
By each o'er mastering passion's tone | P |
By the dark grave and dying groan | P |
When forty days are passed and gone | P |
I cite you at your monarch's throne | P |
To answer and appear | W |
Then thundered forth a roll of names | D |
The first was thine unhappy James | D |
Then all thy nobles came | C3 |
Crawford Glencairn Montrose Argyle | J |
Ross Bothwell Forbes Lennox Lyle | J |
Why should I tell their separate style | J |
Each chief of birth and fame | C3 |
Of Lowland Highland Border Isle | J |
Foredoomed to Flodden's carnage pile | J |
Was cited there by name | C3 |
And Marmion Lord of Fontenaye | J |
Of Lutterward and Scrivelbaye | J |
De Wilton erst of Aberley | J |
The self same thundering voice did say | G2 |
But then another spoke | B3 |
Thy fatal summons I deny | J |
And thine infernal lord defy | J |
Appealing me to Him on high | J |
Who burst the sinner's yoke | B3 |
At that dread accent with a scream | C3 |
Parted the pageant like a dream | C3 |
The summoner was gone | P |
Prone on her face the Abbess fell | J |
And fast and fast her beads did tell | J |
Her nuns came startled by the yell | J |
And found her there alone | P |
She marked not at the scene aghast | G2 |
What time or how the Palmer passed | G2 |
- | |
XXVII | J |
- | |
Shift we the scene The camp doth move | J |
Dunedin's streets are empty now | P |
Save when for weal of those they love | J |
To pray the prayer and vow the vow | P |
The tottering child the anxious fair | W |
The grey haired sire with pious care | W |
To chapels and to shrines repair | W |
Where is the Palmer now and where | W |
The Abbess Marmion and Clare | W |
Bold Douglas to Tantallon fair | W |
They journey in thy charge | D3 |
Lord Marmion rode on his right hand | G2 |
The Palmer still was with the band | G2 |
Angus like Lindesay did command | G2 |
That none should roam at large | D3 |
But in that Palmer's altered mien | P |
A wondrous change might now be seen | P |
Freely he spoke of war | W |
Of marvels wrought by single hand | G2 |
When lifted for a native land | G2 |
And still looked high as if he planned | G2 |
Some desperate deed afar | W |
His courser would he feed and stroke | B3 |
And tucking up his sable frock | E3 |
Would first his mettle bold provoke | B3 |
Then soothe or quell his pride | G2 |
Old Hubert said that never one | P |
He saw except Lord Marmion | P |
A steed so fairly ride | G2 |
- | |
XXVIII | P |
- | |
Some half hour's march behind there came | C3 |
By Eustace governed fair | W |
A troop escorting Hilda's dame | C3 |
With all her nuns and Clare | W |
No audience had Lord Marmion sought | G2 |
Ever he feared to aggravate | G2 |
Clara de Clare's suspicious hate | G2 |
And safer 'twas he thought | G2 |
To wait till from the nuns removed | G2 |
The influence of kinsmen loved | G2 |
And suit by Henry's self approved | G2 |
Her slow consent had wrought | G2 |
His was no flickering flame that dies | D |
Unless when fanned by looks and sighs | D |
And lighted oft at lady's eyes | D |
He longed to stretch his wide command | G2 |
O'er luckless Clara's ample land | G2 |
Besides when Wilton with him vied | G2 |
Although the pang of humbled pride | G2 |
The place of jealousy supplied | G2 |
Yet conquest by that meanness won | P |
He almost loathed to think upon | P |
Led him at times to hate the cause | D |
Which made him burst through honour's laws | D |
If e'er he loved 'twas her alone | P |
Who died within that vault of stone | P |
- | |
XXIX | D |
- | |
And now when close at hand they saw | D |
North Berwick's town and lofty Law | D |
Fitz Eustace bade them pause awhile | J |
Before a venerable pile | J |
Whose turrets viewed afar | W |
The lofty Bass the Lambie Isle | J |
The ocean's peace or war | W |
At tolling of a bell forth came | C3 |
The convent's venerable dame | C3 |
And prayed Saint Hilda's Abbess rest | G2 |
With her a loved and honoured guest | G2 |
Till Douglas should a barque prepare | W |
To waft her back to Whitby fair | W |
Glad was the Abbess you may guess | D |
And thanked the Scottish Prioress | D |
And tedious were to tell I ween | P |
The courteous speech that passed between | P |
O'erjoyed the nuns their palfreys leave | P |
But when fair Clara did intend | G2 |
Like them from horseback to descend | G2 |
Fitz Eustace said I grieve | P |
Fair lady grieve e'en from my heart | G2 |
Such gentle company to part | G2 |
Think not discourtesy | D |
But lords' commands must be obeyed | G2 |
And Marmion and the Douglas said | G2 |
That you must wend with me | C3 |
Lord Marmion hath a letter broad | G2 |
Which to the Scottish earl he showed | G2 |
Commanding that beneath his care | W |
Without delay you shall repair | W |
To your good kinsman Lord Fitz Clare | W |
- | |
XXX | D |
- | |
The startled Abbess loud exclaimed | G2 |
But she at whom the blow was aimed | G2 |
Grew pale as death and cold as lead | G2 |
She deemed she heard her death doom read | G2 |
Cheer thee my child the Abbess said | G2 |
They dare not tear thee from my hand | G2 |
To ride alone with armed band | G2 |
Nay holy mother nay | P |
Fitz Eustace said the lovely Clare | W |
Will be in Lady Angus' care | W |
In Scotland while we stay | P |
And when we move an easy ride | G2 |
Will bring us to the English side | G2 |
Female attendance to provide | G2 |
Befitting Gloucester's heir | W |
Nor thinks nor dreams my noble lord | G2 |
By slightest look or act or word | G2 |
To harass Lady Clare | W |
Her faithful guardian he will be | C3 |
Nor sue for slightest courtesy | C3 |
That e'en to stranger falls | D |
Till he shall place her safe and free | C3 |
Within her kinsman's halls | D |
He spoke and blushed with earnest grace | D |
His faith was painted on his face | D |
And Clare's worst fear relieved | G2 |
The Lady Abbess loud exclaimed | G2 |
On Henry and the Douglas blamed | G2 |
Entreated threatened grieved | G2 |
To martyr saint and prophet prayed | G2 |
Against Lord Marmion inveighed | G2 |
And called the Prioress to aid | G2 |
To curse with candle bell and book | V2 |
Her head the grave Cistercian shook | V2 |
The Douglas and the King she said | G2 |
In their commands will be obeyed | G2 |
Grieve not nor dream that harm can fall | J |
The maiden in Tantallon Hall | J |
- | |
XXXI | D |
- | |
The Abbess seeing strife was vain | P |
Assumed her wonted state again | P |
For much of state she had | G2 |
Composed her veil and raised her head | G2 |
And Bid in solemn voice she said | G2 |
Thy master bold and bad | G2 |
The records of his house turn o'er | W |
And when he shall there written see | D |
That one of his own ancestry | D |
Drove the monks forth of Coventry | D |
Bid him his fate explore | W |
Prancing in pride of earthly trust | G2 |
His charger hurled him to the dust | G2 |
And by a base plebeian thrust | G2 |
He died his band before | W |
God judge 'twixt Marmion and me | D |
He is a chief of high degree | D |
And I a poor recluse | D |
Yet oft in Holy Writ we see | D |
Even such weak minister as me | D |
May the oppressor bruise | D |
For thus inspired did Judith slay | P |
The mighty in his sin | P |
And Jael thus and Deborah | W |
Here hasty Blount broke in | P |
Fitz Eustace we must march our band | G2 |
Saint Anton' fire thee wilt thou stand | G2 |
All day with bonnet in thy hand | G2 |
To hear the lady preach | F3 |
By this good light if thus we stay | P |
Lord Marmion for our fond delay | P |
Will sharper sermon teach | F3 |
Come don thy cap and mount thy horse | D |
The dame must patience take perforce | D |
- | |
XXXII | D |
- | |
Submit we then to force said Clare | W |
But let this barbarous lord despair | W |
His purposed aim to win | P |
Let him take living land and life | P |
But to be Marmion's wedded wife | P |
In me were deadly sin | P |
And if it be the king's decree | D |
That I must find no sanctuary | D |
In that inviolable dome | C3 |
Where even a homicide might come | C3 |
And safely rest his head | G2 |
Though at its open portals stood | G2 |
Thirsting to pour forth blood for blood | G2 |
The kinsmen of the dead | G2 |
Yet one asylum is my own | P |
Against the dreaded hour | W |
A low a silent and a lone | P |
Where kings have little power | W |
One victim is before me there | W |
Mother your blessing and in prayer | W |
Remember your unhappy Clare | W |
Loud weeps the Abbess and bestows | D |
Kind blessings many a one | P |
Weeping and wailing loud arose | D |
Round patient Clare the clamorous woes | D |
Of every simple nun | P |
His eyes the gentle Eustace dried | G2 |
And scarce rude Blount the sight could bide | G2 |
Then took the squire her rein | P |
And gently led away her steed | G2 |
And by each courteous word and deed | G2 |
To cheer her strove in vain | P |
- | |
XXXIII | D |
- | |
But scant three miles the band had rode | G2 |
When o'er a height they passed | G2 |
And sudden close before them showed | G2 |
His towers Tantallon vast | G2 |
Broad massive high and stretching far | W |
And held impregnable in war | W |
On a projecting rock they rose | D |
And round three sides the ocean flows | D |
The fourth did battled walls enclose | D |
And double mound and fosse | D |
By narrow drawbridge outworks strong | M2 |
Through studded gates an entrance long | M2 |
To the main court they cross | D |
It was a wide and stately square | W |
Around were lodgings fit and fair | W |
And towers of various form | C3 |
Which on the court projected far | W |
And broke its lines quadrangular | W |
Here was square keep there turret high | P |
Or pinnacle that sought the sky | P |
Whence oft the warder could descry | W |
The gathering ocean storm | C3 |
- | |
XXXIV | P |
- | |
Here did they rest The princely care | W |
Of Douglas why should I declare | W |
Or say they met reception fair | W |
Or why the tidings say | D |
Which varying to Tantallon came | C3 |
By hurrying posts or fleeter fame | C3 |
With every varying day | D |
And first they heard King James had won | P |
Etall and Wark and Ford and then | P |
That Norham Castle strong was ta'en | P |
At that sore marvelled Marmion | P |
And Douglas hoped his monarch's hand | G2 |
Would soon subdue Northumberland | G2 |
But whispered news there came | C3 |
That while his host inactive lay | D |
And melted by degrees away | D |
King James was dallying off the day | D |
With Heron's wily dame | C3 |
Such acts to chronicles I yield | G2 |
Go seek them there and see | D |
Mine is a tale of Flodden Field | G2 |
And not a history | D |
At length they heard the Scottish host | G2 |
On that high ridge had made their post | G2 |
Which frowns o'er Milfield Plain | P |
And that brave Surrey many a band | G2 |
Had gathered in the Southern land | G2 |
And marched into Northumberland | G2 |
And camp at Wooler ta'en | P |
Marmion like charger in the stall | J |
That hears without the trumpet call | J |
Began to chafe and swear | W |
A sorry thing to hide my head | G2 |
In castle like a fearful maid | G2 |
When such a field is near | W |
Needs must I see this battle day | G2 |
Death to my fame if such a fray | G2 |
Were fought and Marmion away | G2 |
The Douglas too I wot not why | P |
Hath 'bated of his courtesy | D |
No longer in his halls I'll stay | G2 |
Then bade his band they should array | G2 |
For march against the dawning day | G2 |
Walter Scott (sir)
(1)
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