And, by his order, I, your guide, Must lodging fit and fair provide, Till finds King James meet time to see IX. Though inly chafed at this delay, X. 175 180 185 190 At length up that wild dale they wind, Where Crichtoun Castle crowns the bank; For there the Lion's care assigned 195 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 You hear her streams repine. 200 The towers in different ages rose; The builders' various hands; XI. Crichtoun! though now thy miry court 205 210 Of mouldering shields the mystic sense, 215 Of fair hewn facets richly show Or, from thy grass-grown battlement, 230 Come sweeping back through Crichtoun-Dean. 'Twas a brave race, before the name Of hated Bothwell stained their fame. XIII. And here two days did Marmion rest, Such the command of Royal James, 240 245 250 255 260 Perchance he would not foeman's eye Here while they dwelt, did Lindesay's wit 265 And, in his turn, he knew to prize Lord Marmion's powerful mind, and wise, - 270 XIV. It chanced, as fell the second night, That on the battlements they walked, And, by the slowly fading light Of varying topics talked; And, unaware, the herald-bard 275 Said Marmion might his toil have spared, In travelling so far; For that a messenger from heaven In vain to James had counsel given And closer questioned, thus he told In Scottish story have enrolled: XV. SIR DAVID LINDESAY'S TALE. "Of all the palaces so fair, Built from the royal dwelling In Scotland, far beyond compare Linlithgow is excelling; 280 285 And in its park in jovial June, But June is to our sovereign dear Still in his conscience burns the sting. 290 295 300 King James's June is ever spent. XVI. "When last this ruthful month was come, And in Linlithgow's holy dome The King, as wont, was praying; While for his royal father's soul And eyes with sorrow streaming; 305 310 315 The Thistle's Knight-Companions sate, Their banners o'er them beaming. |