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They burned the gilded spurs to claim;
For well could each a war-horse tame,

Could draw the bow, the sword could sway,
And lightly bear the ring away ;

Nor less with courteous precepts stored,
Could dance in hall, and carve at board,

And frame love ditties passing rare,

And sing them to a lady fair.

VIII.

Four men-at-arms came at their backs,
With halbard, bill, and battle-axe :

They bore Lord Marmion's lance so strong,
And led his sumpter mules along,
And ambling palfrey, when at need
Him listed ease his battle-steed.
The last, and trustiest of the four,
On high his forky pennon bore ;
Like swallow's tail, in shape and hue,
Flutter'd the ́streamer glossy blue,

Where, blazoned sable, as before,

The towering falcon seemed to soar.
Last, twenty yeomen, two and two,
In hosen black, and jerkins blue,
With falcons broider'd on each breast,
Attended on their lord's behest.
Each, chosen for an archer good,
Knew hunting-craft by lake or wood;
Each one a six-foot bow could bend,
And far a cloth-yard shaft could send ;
Each held a boar-spear tough and strong,
And at their belts their quivers rung.
Their dusty palfreys, and array,

Shewed they had marched a weary way.

IX.

'Tis meet that I should tell you now, How fairly armed, and ordered how,

The soldiers of the guard,

With musquet, pike, and morion,
To welcome noble Marmion,

Stood in the Castle-yard;

Minstrels and trumpeters were there,
The gunner held his linstock yare,
For welcome-shot prepared—
Entered the train, and such a clang,
As then through all his turrets rang,

Old Norham never heard.

X.

The guards their morrice pikes advanced,
The trumpets flourished brave,
The cannon from the ramparts glanced,
And thundering welcome gave;

A blythe salute, in martial sort,
The minstrels well might sound,
For, as Lord Marmion crossed the court,

He scattered angels round.

"Welcome to Norham, Marmion,

Stout heart, and open hand!

Well dost thou brook thy gallant roan,
Thou flower of English land.”-

XI.

Two pursuivants, whom tabards deck,
With silver scutcheon round their neck,
Stood on the steps of stone,

By which you reach the Donjon gate,
And there, with herald pomp and state,
They hailed Lord Marmion :
They hailed him Lord of Fontenaye,
Of Lutterward, and Scrivelbaye,

Of Tamworth tower and town;

And he, their courtesy to requite,
Gave them a chain of twelve marks weight,

All as he lighted down.

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"Now largesse, largesse, Lord Marmion,

Knight of the crest of gold!

A blazon'd shield, in battle won,

Ne'er guarded heart so bold.”

XII.

They marshall'd him to the Castle hall,
Where the guests stood all aside,
And loudly flourished the trumpet-call,
And the heralds loudly cried,

—“ Room, lordings, room for Lord Marmion, With the crest and helm of gold!

Full well we know the trophies won

In the lists at Cottiswold :

There, vainly Ralph de Wilton strove

'Gainst Marmion's force to stand;

To him he lost his ladye-love,

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And to the king his land.

The cry by which the heralds expressed their thanks for the bounty of the nobles.

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