UNMARKED, at least unrecked, the taunt, Careless the Knight replied: xvii "No bird, whose feathers gaily flaunt, Delights in cage to bide: Norham is grim, and grated close, 5 Hemmed in by battlement and fosse, And many a darksome tower; And better loves my lady bright, To sit in liberty and light, In fair Queen Margaret's bower. 10 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, 15 She'll stoop when she has tired her wing.”— "NAY, if with Royal James's bride, xviii The lovely Lady Heron bide, Behold me here a messenger, Your tender greetings prompt to bear; 5 I have not ridden in Scotland since James backed the cause of that mock prince, 10 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." "FOR suchlike need, my Lord, I trow, xix Norham can find you guides enow; For here be some have pricked as far On Scottish ground, as to Dunbar; Have drunk the monks of Saint Bothan's ale, 5 Harried the wives of Greenlaw's goods, And given them light to set their hoods." A better guard I would not lack, A friendly messenger, to know Why through all Scotland, near and far, XX 5 10 15 xxi And passed his hand across his face: "Fain would I find the guide you want, Since our last siege, we have not seen: 10 And prayed for our success the while. 15 Is all too well in case to ride. The priest of Shoreswood- he could rein The wildest war-horse in your train; But then, no spearman in the hall 20 255 30 Sans frock and hood fled for his life. 35 Yet, in your guard, perchance will go.”— xxii YOUNG SELBY, at the fair hall-board 5 And sweep at bowls the stake away. 10 The needfullest among us all, When time hangs heavy in the hall, And snow comes thick at Christmas-tide, And we can neither hunt, nor rido A foray on the Scottish side. 15 The vowed revenge of Bughtrig rude, Well hast thou spoke; say forth thy say."— “HERE is a holy Palmer come, xxiii From Salem first, and last from Rome; In Araby and Palestine; On hills of Armenie hath been, The Mount, where Israel heard the law, And of that Grot where Olives nod, 5 10 15 Where, darling of each heart and eye, Saint Rosalie retired to God. To stout Saint George of Norwich merry, xxiv Cuthbert of Durham and Saint Bede, 5 This were a guide o'er moor and dale; his meed, From hence to Holy-Rood, With song, romance, or lay: 10 XXV 5 10 Some lying legend at the least, They bring to cheer the way." "AH! noble sir," young Selby said, 15 xxvi And finger on his lip he laid, “This man knows much, perchance e'en more Than he could learn by holy lore. Still to himself he's muttering, And shrinks as at some unseen thing. Last night we listened at his cell; Strange sounds we heard, and sooth to tell, I cannot tell-I like it not Friar John hath told us it is wrote, No conscience clear, and void of wrong, 15 |