On milk-white palfrey forth he paced; With the proud heron-plume. From his steed's shoulder, loin, and breast, With Scotland's arms, device, and crest, Embroidered round and round. The double tressure might you see, First by Achaius borne, The thistle and the fleur-de-lis, And gallant unicorn. 15 20 So bright the king's armorial coat, And on his temples placed the round Of Scotland's ancient diadem; And wet his brow with hallowed wine, Yet, for he knows Lord Marmion's name, Must lodging fit and fair provide, Till finds King James meet time to see Strict was the Lion-King's command, That none who rode in Marmion's band, Should sever from the train: "England has here enow of spies For there the Lion's care assigned A lodging meet for Marmion's rank. Of the green vale of Tyne; You hear her streams repine. The towers in different ages rose; The builders' various hands; When deadliest hatred fired its foes, Of mouldering shields the mystic sense, Remains of rude magnificence: Nor wholly yet hath time defaced Nor yet the stony cord unbraced, Whose twisted knots, with roses laced, To shield them from the storm. Where oft whilom were captives pent, And, shuddering, still may we explore, The darkness of thy Massy More; Or, from thy grass-grown battlement, 25 May trace, in undulating line, The sluggish mazes of the Tyne. xii 5 But women, boys, or aged men. With eyes scarce dried, the sorrowing dame, Her son, a stripling twelve years old, 10 For each man, that could draw a sword, Had marched that morning with their lord, 15 Come sweeping back through Crichtoun-Dean. 'Twas a brave race, before the name Such the command of Royal James, xiii 5 10 And policies of war and peace. Xiv Ir chanced, as fell the second night, And, by the slowly-fading light, Of varying topics talked; And, unaware, the Herald-bard Said, Marmion might his toil have spared, 5 For that a messenger from heaven And, closer questioned, thus he told 10 SIR DAVID LINDESAY'S TALE. Or all the palaces so fair, Built for the royal dwelling, How blithe the blackbird's lay! To see all nature gay. The saddest heart might pleasure take 10 But June is, to our Sovereign dear, The heaviest month in all the year: Too well his cause of grief you know,— June saw his father's overthrow. 15 Woe to the traitors, who could bring The princely boy against his King! Still in his conscience burns the sting. In offices as strict as Lent, King Jame's June is ever spent. 20 WHEN last this ruthful month was come, xvi And in Linlithgow's holy dome The King, as wont, was praying; While, for his royal father's soul, The chaunters sung, the bells did toll, 5 |