Walter Scott - Marmion

And smooth and level course were here,
In her defence to break a spear.

Here, too, are twilight nooks and dells;
And oft, in such, the story tells,
The damsel kind, from danger freed,
Did grateful pay her champion’s meed.’

He spoke to cheer Lord Marmion’s mind;
Perchance to show his lore design’d;
For Eustace much had pored
Upon a huge romantic tome,
In the hall-window of his home,
Imprinted at the antique dome
Of Caxton, or de Worde.

Therefore he spoke,-but spoke in vain,
For Marmion answer’d nought again.

Now sudden, distant trumpets shrill,
In notes prolong’d by wood and hill,
Were heard to echo far;
Each ready archer grasp’d his bow,
But by the flourish soon they know,
They breathed no point of war.

Yet cautious, as in foeman’s land,
Lord Marmion’s order speeds the band,
Some opener ground to gain;
And scarce a furlong had they rode,
When thinner trees, receding, show’d
A little woodland plain.
Just in that advantageous glade,
The halting troop a line had made,
As forth from the opposing shade
Issued a gallant train.

First came the trumpets, at whose clang
So late the forest echoes rang;
On prancing steeds they forward press’d,
With scarlet mantle, azure vest;

Each at his trump a banner wore,
Which Scotland’s royal scutcheon bore:
Heralds and pursuivants, by name
Bute, Islay, Marchmount, Rothsay, came,

In painted tabards, proudly showing
Gules, Argent, Or, and Azure glowing,
Attendant on a King-at-arms,
Whose hand the armorial truncheon held,
That feudal strife had often quell’d,
When wildest its alarms.

He was a man of middle age;
In aspect manly, grave, and sage,

As on King’s errand come;
But in the glances of his eye,
A penetrating, keen, and sly
Expression found its home;
The flash of that satiric rage,
Which, bursting on the early stage,
Branded the vices of the age,
And broke the keys of Rome.
On milk-white palfrey forth he paced;
His cap of maintenance was graced
With the proud heron-plume.

From his steed’s shoulder, loin, and breast,
Silk housings swept the ground,
With Scotland’s arms, device, and crest,
Embroider’d round and round.

The double tressure might you see,
First by Achaius borne,
The thistle and the fleur-de-lis,
And gallant unicorn.

So bright the King’s armorial coat,
That scarce the dazzled eye could note,
In living colours, blazon’d brave,
The Lion, which his title gave;

A train, which well beseem’d his state,
But all unarm’d, around him wait.
Still is thy name in high account,
And still thy verse has charms,
Sir David Lindesay of the Mount,
Lord Lion King-at-arms!

Down from his horse did Marmion spring,
Soon as he saw the Lion-King;

For well the stately Baron knew
To him such courtesy was due,
Whom Royal James himself had crown’d,
And on his temples placed the round
Of Scotland’s ancient diadem:
And wet his brow with hallow’d wine,
And on his finger given to shine
The emblematic gem.

Their mutual greetings duly made,
The Lion thus his message said:-

‘Though Scotland’s King hath deeply swore
Ne’er to knit faith with Henry more,
And strictly hath forbid resort
From England to his royal court;

Yet, for he knows Lord Marmion’s name,
And honours much his warlike fame,
My liege hath deem’d it shame, and lack
Of courtesy, to turn him back;

And, by his order, I, your guide,
Must lodging fit and fair provide,
Till finds King James meet time to see
The flower of English chivalry.’

Though inly chafed at this delay,
Lord Marmion bears it as he may.

The Palmer, his mysterious guide,
Beholding thus his place supplied,
Sought to take leave in vain:
Strict was the Lion-King’s command,
That none, who rode in Marmion’s band,
Should sever from the train:

‘England has here enow of spies
In Lady Heron’s witching eyes;’

To Marchmount thus, apart, he said,
But fair pretext to Marmion made.

The right hand path they now decline,
And trace against the stream the Tyne.

At length up that wild dale they wind,
Where Crichtoun Castle crowns the bank;
For there the Lion’s care assign’d
A lodging meet for Marmion’s rank.

That Castle rises on the steep
Of the green vale of Tyne:
And far beneath, where slow they creep,
From pool to eddy, dark and deep,
Where alders moist, and willows weep,
You hear her streams repine.

The towers in different ages rose;
Their various architecture shows
The builders’ various hands;
A mighty mass, that could oppose,
When deadliest hatred fired its foes,
The vengeful Douglas bands.

Crichtoun! though now thy miry court
But pens the lazy steer and sheep,
Thy turrets rude, and totter’d Keep,
Have been the minstrel’s loved resort.

Oft have I traced, within thy fort,
Of mouldering shields the mystic sense,
Scutcheons of honour, or pretence,
Quarter’d in old armorial sort,
Remains of rude magnificence.

Nor wholly yet had time defaced
Thy lordly gallery fair;
Nor yet the stony cord unbraced,
Whose twisted knots, with roses laced,
Adorn thy ruin’d stair.

Still rises unimpair’d below,
The court-yard’s graceful portico;
Above its cornice, row and row
Of fair hewn facets richly show
Their pointed diamond form,
Though there but houseless cattle go,
To shield them from the storm.

And, shuddering, still may we explore,
Where oft whilom were captives pent,
The darkness of thy Massy More;
Or, from thy grass-grown battlement,
May trace, in undulating line,
The sluggish mazes of the Tyne.

Another aspect Crichtoun show’d,
As through its portal Marmion rode;
But yet ‘twas melancholy state
Received him at the outer gate;

For none were in the Castle then,
But women, boys, or aged men.
With eyes scarce dried, the sorrowing dame,
To welcome noble Marmion, came;

Her son, a stripling twelve years old,
Proffer’d the Baron’s rein to hold;

For each man that could draw a sword
Had march’d that morning with their lord,
Earl Adam Hepburn,-he who died
On Flodden, by his sovereign’s side.

Long may his Lady look in vain!
She ne’er shall see his gallant train,
Come sweeping back through Crichtoun-Dean.
‘Twas a brave race, before the name
Of hated Bothwell stain’d their fame.