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vassals: knights and others sub- razed: cut off; possibly grazed. mandate: the command to give

ject to Lord Douglas.

rowels: the little wheel of a chase to Marmion.

spur, with sharp points.

The main thing in the reading of the story is to see the pictures just as if the story were a moving picture on a screen, and to hear Marmion's bold defiance of Douglas, and also to hear Douglas's enraged reply.

You would enjoy reading the complete poem, "Marmion."

MARMION AND DOUGLAS

1

Not far advanced was morning day,
When Marmion did his troop array
To Surrey's camp to ride;

He had safe-conduct for his band
Beneath the royal seal and hand,
And Douglas gave a guide.

2

The train from out the castle drew,
But Marmion stopped to bid adieu :

"Though something I might plain," he said,
"Of cold respect to stranger guest,

Sent hither by your King's behest,

While in Tantallon's towers I staid,
Part we in friendship from your land;
And, noble Earl, receive my hand."
But Douglas round him drew his cloak,
Folded his arms, and thus he spoke :

"My manors, halls, and bowers shall still
Be open at my Sovereign's will

To each one whom he lists, howe'er
Unmeet to be the owner's peer.

My castles are my King's alone,
From turret to foundation stone
The hand of Douglas is his own,
And never shall in friendly grasp
The hand of such as Marmion clasp.'

3

Burned Marmion's swarthy cheek like fire
And shook his very frame for ire,

And "This to me!" he said,
"An 'twere not for thy hoary beard,
Such hand as Marmion's had not spared
To cleave the Douglas' head!
And first I tell thee, haughty Peer,
He who does England's message here,
Although the meanest in her state,
May well, proud Angus, be thy mate;
And, Douglas, more I tell thee here,
Even in thy pitch of pride,

Here in thy hold, thy vassals near,
I tell thee, thou'rt defied!
And if thou saidst I am not peer
To any lord in Scotland here,
Lowland or Highland, far or near,

Lord Angus, thou-hast-lied!"

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On the Earl's cheek the flush of rage

O'ercame the ashen hue of age:

Fierce he broke forth, "And dar'st thou then

To beard the lion in his den,

The Douglas in his hall?

And hop'st thou hence unscathed to go?

No, by Saint Bride of Bothwell, no!

Up drawbridge, grooms - what, warder, ho!
Let the portcullis fall."

Lord Marmion turned,

well was his need,
And dashed the rowels in his steed,
Like arrow through the archway sprung,
The ponderous gate behind him rung;
To pass there was such scanty room,
The bars descending razed his plume.

5

The steed along the drawbridge flies
Just as it trembled on the rise;
Not lighter does the swallow skim
Along the smooth lake's level brim :

And when Lord Marmion reached his band,
He halts, and turns with clenchéd hand,
And shout of loud defiance pours,

And shook his gauntlet at the towers.

6

"Horse! horse!" the Douglas cried, "and chase!" But soon he reined his fury's pace:

"A royal messenger he came,

5

Though most unworthy of the name.
Saint Mary, mend my fiery mood!
Old age ne'er cools the Douglas blood;
I thought to slay him where he stood.
'Tis pity of him, too," he cried;
"Bold can he speak and fairly ride;
I warrant him a warrior tried."
With this his mandate he recalls,
And slowly seeks his castle halls.

QUESTIONS AND SUGGESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION

1. From what long poem is this

well? What did he "plain" or complain about? Why did Douglas refuse to give his hand to Marmion? What did Marmion reply to Douglas's refusal of his hand? Read aloud Douglas's re

ply, saying the lines as you think Douglas said them. Do not be afraid to let your voice ring out. Describe the swift departure of Marmion as you see it in your mind.

What do you think of
Marmion? Of Douglas?

Sir Walter Scott, the great Scottish novelist and poet, was born

in Edinburgh, Scotland, in 1771. He wrote in all twenty-nine Scott died in 1832 at his beautiful

novels and many poems.

home called Abbotsford.