Tweed loves them well, and turns again, VI. How just that, at this time of glee, My thoughts should, Heber, turn to thee! For many a merry hour we've known, And heard the chimes of midnight's tone. Cease, then, my friend! a moment cease, And leave these classic tomes in peace! Of Roman and of Grecian lore Sure mortal brain can hold no more. These ancients, as Noll Bluff might say, "Were pretty fellows in their day; But time and tide o'er all prevail On Christmas eve a Christmas tale Of wonder and of war- -Profane! What! leave the lofty Latian strain, Her stately prose, her verse's charms, To hear the clash of rusty arms: In Fairy Land or Limbo lost, To jostle conjurer and ghost, Goblin and witch!"— Nay, Heber dear, Before you touch my charter, hear: Though Leyden aids, alas! no more, My cause with many-languaged lore, This may I say: — in realms of death Ulysses meets Alcides' wraith, Eneas upon Thracia's shore The ghost of murder'd Polydore; For omens, we in Livy cross, As grave and duly speaks that ox VII. All nations have their omens drear, Their legends wild of woe and fear. To Cambria look - the peasant see Bethink him of Glendowerdy And shun " the spirit's Blasted Tree." He fears the vengeful Elfin King, He walks among the sons of men. VIII. Didst e'er, dear Heber, pass along Beneath the towers of Franchémont, Which, like an eagle's nest in air, Hang o'er the stream and hamlet fair? Deep in their vaults, the peasants say, A mighty treasure buried lay, Amass'd through rapine and through wrong By the last Lord of Franchémont. The iron chest is bolted hard, A huntsman sits its constant guard; Around his neck his horn is hung, Whose withering glance no heart can brook, As bugle e'er in brake did sound, To chase the fiend and win the prize Since 'twixt them first the strife begun, IX. Such general superstition may Excuse for old Pitscottie say, That warn'd, in Lithgow, Scotland's King, May pass the Monk of Durham's tale, May pardon plead for Fordun grave, Your treasured hoards of various lore, Yet who of all who thus employ them, NOTES ON MARMION. CANTO FIRST. The Castle. STANZA 1. Norham. A ruined castle on south bank of the Tweed, not far from Berwick, and where the Tweed marks the boundary between Scotland and England. Edward I. lived at Norham while umpire concerning the Scottish succession. The donjon, or keep, or prison, was added in 1164 by the Bishop of Durham. The ruins of Norham "consist of a large shattered tower with many vaults and fragments of other edifices enclosed within an outward wall of great circuit." ST. 2. Donjon. The donjon of a feudal castle was the strongest part, and was placed in the centre of the other buildings. The donjon contained the great hall, principal staterooms, and the prison: hence the modern word dungeon. ST. 2. Saint George. Patron saint of England. ST. 3. ST. 3. Plump of spears. Body of men-at-arms. Sewer. An ancient officer who served a feast. ST. 3. Squire. "The shield-bearer of a knight." ST. 3. Seneschal. Principal officer of the household. A euphuistic word limited to poetry. ST. 4. Pipe. Large cask for liquors. ST. 4. Malvoisie. Malmsey. A delicious white wine prepared in Madeira. It came originally from Malvoisia in the Morea. ST. 4. Salvo. A salute by firing guns. A military salvo. ST. 4. Portcullis. Framework of timbers pointed with iron, hung in grooves in the chief gateway of a fortress, and let down to stop passage when there is not time to shut the gates. ST. 5. Stalworth. Stalwart. 241 |