He halts, and turns with clenched hand, And shout of loud defiance pours, And shook his gauntlet at the towers. "Horse! horse!" the Douglas cried, "and chase!" But soon he reined his fury's pace: "A royal messenger he came, Though most unworthy of the name. A letter forged! Saint Jude to speed! Did ever knight so foul a deed! At first in heart it liked me ill, When the King praised his clerkly skill. So swore I, and I swear it still, Let my boy-bishop fret his fill. Saint Mary mend my fiery mood! I thought to slay him where he stood. "Bold can he speak, and fairly ride : I warrant him a warrior tried." With this his mandate he recals, And slowly seeks his castle halls. XVI. The day in Marmion's journey wore ; Yet, ere his passion's gust was o'er, They crossed the heights of Stanrig-moor. His troop more closely there he scann'd, And missed the Palmer from the band. "Palmer or not," young Blount did say, "He parted at the peep of day; Good sooth, it was in strange array.""In what array ?" said Marmion, quick. "My lord, I ill can spell the trick; But all night long, with clink and bang, Wrapped in a gown of sables fair, As fearful of the morning air; Beneath, when that was blown aside, A rusty shirt of mail I spied, 1 By Archibald won in bloody work, Old Cheviot forth, the Earl's best steed; I heard the Sheriff Sholto say, The Earl did much the Master * pray To use him on the battle day; But he preferred"—" Nay, Henry, cease! Thou sworn horse-courser, hold thy peace. Eustace, thou bear'st a brain-I pray, What did Blount see at break of day?". XVII. "In brief, my lord, we both descried (For I then stood by Henry's side) His eldest son, the Master of Angus. |