"I pray you bide some little space "In this poor tower with me. "Here may you keep your arms from rust, "May breathe your war-horse well; "Seldom hath pass'd a week but giust "Or feat of arms befel: "The Scots can rein a mettled steed, "And love to couch a spear ; "Saint George! a stirring life they lead, "That have such neighbours near. "Then stay with us a little space, "Our northern wars to learn; "I pray you for your lady's grace !"— Lord Marmion's brow grew stern. XV. The Captain mark'd his alter'd look, And gave a squire the sign; A mighty wassell bowl he took, And crown'd it high with wine. "Now pledge me here, Lord Marmion : "But first I pray thee fair, "Where hast thou left that page of thine, "That used to serve thy cup of wine, "Whose beauty was so rare? "When last in Raby towers we met, "The boy I closely eyed, "And often mark'd his cheeks were wet "With tears he vain would hide : "His was no rugged horse-boy's hand, "To burnish shield, or sharpen brand, "Or saddle battle-steed; "But meeter seem'd for lady fair, "To fan her cheek, or curl her hair, "Or through embroidery, rich and rare, "The slender silk to lead : "His skin was fair, his ringlets gold, "His bosom-when he sigh'd, "The russet doublet's rugged fold "Could scarce repel its pride! 66 Say, hast thou given that lovely youth "To serve in lady's bower? "Or was the gentle page, in sooth, "A gentle paramour ?”— XVI. Lord Marmion ill could brook such jest ; He roll'd his kindling eye, With pain his rising wrath suppress'd, Yet made a calm reply: "That boy thou thought'st so goodly fair, "He might not brook the northern air. "More of his fate if thou would'st learn, 66 66 "I left him sick in Lindisfarn : Enough of him.-But, Heron, say, Why does thy lovely lady gay "Disdain to grace the hall to-day? "Gone on some pious pilgrimage ?"— He spoke in covert scorn, for fame Whisper'd light tales of Heron's dame. XVII. Unmark'd, at least unreck'd, the taunt, "No bird, whose feathers gaily flaunt, "Norham is grim, and grated close, "And many a darksome tower ; "And better loves my lady bright "To sit in liberty and light, "In fair Queen Margaret's bower. "We hold our greyhound in our hand, "Our falcon on our glove; "But where shall we find leash or band, "For dame that loves to rove? "Let the wild falcon soar her swing, "She'll stoop when she has tired her wing." "Ourselves beheld the listed field, "A sight both sad and fair; "We saw Lord Marmion pierce his shield, "And saw his saddle bare; "We saw the victor win the crest, "He wears with worthy pride; "And on the gibbet-tree, reversed, "His foeman's scutcheon tied. "Place, nobles, for the Falcon-Knight! "Room, room, ye gentles gay, "For him who conquer'd in the right, "Marmion of Fontenaye !"— XIII. Then stepp'd to meet that noble Lord, Sir Hugh the Heron bold, Baron of Twisell, and of Ford, And Captain of the Hold. He led Lord Marmion to the deas, Raised o'er the pavement high, |