And vindicate De Wilton's name. Appeal to Heaven I judged was best, IX. "Now here, within Tantallon Hold, And women, priests, and gray-haired men; By law of arms, till midnight's near; Then, once again a belted knight, X. "There soon again we meet, my Clare! This Baron means to guide thee there: Douglas reveres his King's command, Will give De Wilton justice due. Firmer my limbs, and strung by toil, Once more"-"O Wilton! must we then Risk new-found happiness again, Trust fate of arms once more? And is there not an humble glen, Where we, content and poor, Might build a cottage in the shade, A shepherd thou, and I to aid Thy task on dale and moor?That reddening brow!-too well I know, Not even thy Clare can peace bestow, While falsehood stains thy name: Go then to fight! Clare bids thee go! Clare can a warrior's feelings know, And weep a warrior's shame; And belt thee with thy brand of steel, XI. That night upon the rocks and bay, The sober glances fall. Much was there need; though seamed with scars, Two veterans of the Douglas' wars, Though two gray priests were there, And each a blazing torch held high, You could not by their blaze descry A bishop by the altar stood, A noble lord of Douglas blood, With mitre sheen, and rochet white. More pleased that, in a barbarous age, He gave rude Scotland Virgil's page, Than that beneath his rule he held The bishopric of fair Dunkeld. Beside him ancient Angus stood, Doffed his furred gown, and sable hood: rocquet 142 O'er his huge form and visage pale, And leaned his large and wrinkled hand Upon the huge and sweeping brand His foeman's limbs to shred away, Some giant Douglas may be found So pale his face, so huge his limb, So old his arms, his look so grim. XII. Then at the altar Wilton kneels, And Clare the spurs bound on his heels; And think what next he must have felt, At buckling of the falchion belt! And judge how Clara changed her hue, While fastening to her lover's side A friend, which, though in danger tried, He once had found untrue! Then Douglas struck him with his blade: Arise, Sir Ralph, De Wilton's heir! See that thou fight." And Bishop Gawain, as he rose, Disgrace, and trouble; For He, who honor best bestows, May give thee double." De Wilton sobbed, for sob he must"Where'er I meet a Douglas, trust That Douglas is my brother!" "Nay, nay," old Angus said, "not so; To Surrey's camp thou now must go, Thy wrongs no longer smother. I have two sons in yonder field; And, if thou meet'st them under shield, Upon them bravely-do thy worst; And foul fall him that blenches first!' XIII. Not far advanced was morning day, When Marmion did his troop array |