Not far advanced was morning day When Marmion did his troop array, To Surrey"s camp to ride;He had safe conduct for his band, Beneath the royal seal and hand, And Douglas gave a guide.
The ancient earl, with stately grace, Would Clara on her palfrey place; And whispered, in an undertone," Let the hawk stoop, his prey is flown. "The train from out the castle drew; But Marmion stopped to bid adieu :-" Though something I might plain, " he said, "Of cold respect to stranger guest,Sent hither by your king"s behest, While in Tantallon"s towers I stayed. Part we in friendship from your land, And, noble earl, receive my hand. " But Douglas round him drew his cloak, Folded his arms, and thus he spoke :
" My manors, halls, and bowers shall still,
Be open, at my sovereign"s will,
To each one whom he lists, howe"er, Unmeet to be the owner"s peer:
My castles are my king"s alone, From turret to foundation-stone; The hand of Douglas is his own, And never shall in friendly grasp,The hand of such as Marmion clasp. " Burned Marmion"s swarthy cheek like fire, And shook his very frame for ire,And- " This to me ! " he said;" An "twere not for thy hoary beard, Such hand as Marmion"s had not spared To cleave the Douglas" head !
And, first, I tell thee, haughty peer,
He who does England"s message here, Although the meanest in her state, May well, proud Angus, be thy mate! And, Douglas, more I tell thee here, Even in thy pitch of pride,Here in thy hold, thy vassals near, (Nay, never look upon your lord,And lay your hands upon your sword),I tell thee thou"rt defied!
And, if thou saidst I am not peer, To any lord in Scotland here,Lowland or Highland, far or near, Lord Angus, thou hast lied! "On the earl"s cheek the flush of rage,O"ercame the ashen hue of age.
Fierce he broke forth :- " And darest thou then To beard the lion in his den,The Douglas in his hall ?
And hopest thou hence unscathed to go? No ! by Saint Bride of Bothwell, no!
Up drawbridge, grooms! What, warder, ho! Let the portcullis fall. "Lord Marmion turned-well was his need- And dashed the rowels in his steed,Like arrow through the archway sprung; The ponderous grate behind him rung. To pass there was such scanty room, The bars, descending, razed his plume !
"Horse ! horse ! " the Douglas cried, "and chase ! " But soon he reined his fury"s pace :
" A royal messenger he came,
Though most unworthy of the name; ... "Tis pity of him, too, " he cried;"Bold can he speak, and fairly ride, I warrant him a warrior tried ! "Sir Walter Scott, in Marmion.
Author.-Sir Walter Scott(see under "Rosabelle ").
General Notes,-The time is the year 1513. England under HenryVII. and Scotland under James IV. are on the verge of war. The Earl of Surrey is the English commander. marmion is supposed to be a wicked English noble, Douglas of Tantallon is a Scottish lord, Clara is an English heiress sought by Marmion. The poem Marmion gives a splendid and fairly accurate deion of events preceding and during the battle of Flodden. Read the whole poem in a volume of Scott. What does the extract reveal of the character of Marmion, the character of Douglas ? Find in a history book an account of the battle of Flodden. Write an essay on "The Battle of Flodden. "