With toil, the huge and cumbrous fold,

And gave to view the dazzling field,

Where, in proud Scotland's royal shield,

The ruddy Lion ramped in gold.

XXIX.

Lord Marmion viewed the landscape bright,-

He viewed it with a chief's delight,-

Until within him burned his heart,

And lightning from his eye did part,

As on the battle-day ;-

Such glance did falcon never dart,

When stooping on his prey.

"Oh! well, Lord-Lion, hast thou said,

Thy King from warfare to dissuade

Were but a vain essay;

For, by Saint George, were that host mine,

Not power infernal, nor divine,

Should once to peace my soul incline,

Till I had dimmed their armour's shine,

In glorious battle fray !"—

Answered the bard, of milder mood:

"Fair is the sight,—and yet 'twere good,

That kings would think withal,

When peace and wealth their land has blessed,

"Tis better to sit still at rest,

Than rise, perchance to fall."

XXX.

Still on the spot Lord Marmion stayed,

For fairer scene he ne'er surveyed,

When, sated with the martial show

That peopled all the plain below,

The wandering eye could o'er it go,

And mark the distant city glow

With gloomy splendour red;

For on the smoke-wreaths, huge and slow,

That round her sable turrets flow,

The morning beams were shed,

And tinged them with a lustre proud,

Like that which streaks a thunder-cloud.

Such dusky grandeur clothed the height,

Where the huge castle holds its state,

And all the steep slope down,

Whose ridgy back heaves to the sky,
Piled deep and massy, close and high,

Mine own romantic town!

But northward far, with purer blaze,

On Ochil mountains fell the rays,
And as each heathy top they kissed,
It gleamed a purple amethyst.

Yonder the shores of Fife you saw;

Here Preston-Bay, and Berwick-Law;

And, broad between them rolled,
The gallant Firth the eye might note,

Whose islands on its bosom float,

Like emeralds chased in gold.
Fitz-Eustace' heart felt closely pent;

As if to give his-rapture vent,
The spur he to his charger lent,

And raised his bridle-hand,

And, making demi-volte in air,

Cried, "Where's the coward that would not dare

To fight for such a land!"

The Lindesay smiled his joy to see;

Nor Marmion's frown repressed his glee.

XXXI.

Thus while they looked, a flourish proud,

Where mingled trump, and clarion loud,

And fife, and kettle-drum,

And sackbut deep, and psaltery,

And war-pipe with discordant cry,

And cymbal clattering to the sky,

Making wild music bold and high,

Did up the mountain come;

The whilst the bells, with distant chime,
Merrily tolled the hour of prime,

And thus the Lindesay spoke :

"Thus clamour still the war-notes when

The King to mass his way has ta'en,

Or to Saint Catherine's of Sienne,
Or chapel of Saint Rocque.

To you they speak of martial fame;
But me remind of peaceful game,

When blither was their cheer,
Thrilling in Falkland-woods the air,
In signal none his steed should spare,
But strive which foremost might repair

To the downfall of the deer.

XXXII.

"Nor less," he said," when looking forth,

I view yon Empress of the North

Sit on her hilly throne;

Her palace's imperial bowers,

Her castle proof to hostile powers,

Her stately halls and holy towers—
Nor less," he said, "I moan,

To think what woe mischance may bring,
And how these merry bells may ring

The death-dirge of our gallant King;