"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! "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, "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? "Or has that dame, so fair and sage, "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, Careless the Knight replied, "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." 66 XVIII. Nay, if with Royal James's bride "The lovely Lady Heron bide, "Behold me here a messenger, "Your tender greetings prompt to bear; "And pray you, of your grace, provide "I have not ridden in Scotland since "James back'd the cause of that mock prince, "Warbeck, that Flemish counterfeit, "Who on the gibbet paid the cheat. "Then did I march with Surrey's power, "What time we razed old Ayton tower." XIX. "For such-like need, my lord, I trow, Norham can find you guides enow; "For here be some have prick'd as far "On Scottish ground, as to Dunbar ; "Have drunk the monks of St Bothan's ale, "And driven the beeves of Lauderdale; "Harried the wives of Greenlaw's goods, "And given them light to set their hoods." XX. "Now, in good sooth," Lord Marmion cried, "Were I in warlike-wise to ride, "A better guard I would not lack, "Than your stout forayers at my back; "But, as in form of peace I go, "A friendly messenger, to know, "Why through all Scotland, near and far, "Their King is mustering troops for war, "The sight of plundering Border spears 66 Might justify suspicious fears, "And deadly feud, or thirst of spoil, "Break out in some unseemly broil : |