Yet did Saint Bernard's Abbot there Give Marmion entertainment fair, And lodging for his train, and Clare. Next morn the Baron climbed the tower, To view afar the Scottish power, Encamped on Flodden edge: The white pavilions made a show, Long Marmion looked :—at length his eye Amid the shifting lines: The Scottish host drawn out appears, The eastern sun-beam shines. Their front now deepening, now extending; Their flank inclining, wheeling, bending, Now drawing back, and now descending, The skilful Marmion well could know, They watched the motions of some foe, Who traversed on the plain below. XIX. Even so it was;-from Flodden ridge Leave Barmore-wood, their evening post, And heedful watched them as they crossed The Till by Twisel Bridge. High sight it is, and haughty, while They dive into the deep defile; By rock, by oak, by hawthorn tree, And rising from the dim-wood glen, And bending o'er the Gothic arch, And pressing on, in ceaseless march, To gain the opposing hill. That morn, to many a trumpet-clang, And many a chief of birth and rank, XX. And why stands Scotland idly now, And sees, between him and his land, Between him and Tweed's southern strand, His host Lord Surrey lead? What vails the vain knight-errant's brand?- Fierce Randolph, for thy speed! From Fate's dark book a leaf been torn, XXI. Ere yet the bands met Marmion's eye, “Hark! hark! my lord, an English drum! And see ascending squadrons come Between Tweed's river and the hill, Foot, horse, and cannon:-hap what hap, Lord Surrey's o'er the Till!- Yet more! yet more!-how fair arrayed With all their banners bravely spread, Saint George might waken from the dead, And listen to our lord's behest." With kindling brow Lord Marmion said,— "This instant be our band arrayed; The river must be quickly crossed, That we may join Lord Surrey's host. |