THE COMPLETE POETICAL WORKS OF SIR WALTER SCOTT. Walter Scott

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СКАЧАТЬ was the look, and told

       Marmion and she were friends of old.

       The king observed their meeting eyes

       With something like displeased surprise:

       For monarchs ill can rivals brook,

       E’en in a word or smile or look.

       Straight took he forth the parchment broad

       Which Marmion’s high commission showed:

       “Our Borders sacked by many a raid,

       Our peaceful liegemen robbed,” he said;

       “On day of truce our warden slain,

       Stout Barton killed, his vassals ta’en -

       Unworthy were we here to reign,

       Should these for vengeance cry in vain;

       Our full defiance, hate, and scorn,

       Our herald has to Henry borne.”

       XIV

      He paused, and led where Douglas stood,

       And with stern eye the pageant viewed -

       I mean that Douglas, sixth of yore,

       Who coronet of Angus bore,

       And, when his blood and heart were high,

       Did the third James in camp defy,

       And all his minions led to die

       On Lauder’s dreary flat:

       Princes and favourites long grew tame,

       And trembled at the homely name

       Of Archibald Bell-the-Cat;

       The same who left the dusky vale

       Of Hermitage in Liddisdale,

       Its dungeons and its towers,

       Where Bothwell’s turrets brave the air,

       And Bothwell bank is blooming fair,

       To fix his princely bowers.

       Though now in age he had laid down

       His armour for the peaceful gown,

       And for a staff his brand,

       Yet often would flash forth the fire

       That could in youth a monarch’s ire

       And minion’s pride withstand;

       And e’en that day, at council board,

       Unapt to soothe his sovereign’s mood,

       Against the war had Angus stood,

       And chafed his royal lord.

       XV

      His giant form like ruined tower,

       Though fall’n its muscles’ brawny vaunt,

       Huge-boned, and tall, and grim, and gaunt,

       Seemed o’er the gaudy scene to lower:

       His locks and beard in silver grew;

       His eyebrows kept their sable hue.

       Near Douglas when the monarch stood,

       His bitter speech he thus pursued:

       “Lord Marmion, since these letters say

       That in the north you needs must stay

       While slightest hopes of peace remain,

       Uncourteous speech it were, and stern,

       To say—return to Lindisfarne

       Until my herald come again.

       Then rest you in Tantallon Hold;

       Your host shall be the Douglas bold -

       A chief unlike his sires of old.

       He wears their motto on his blade,

       Their blazon o’er his towers displayed;

       Yet loves his sovereign to oppose,

       More than to face his country’s foes.

       And, I bethink me, by Saint Stephen,

       But e’en this morn to me was given

       A prize, the first-fruits of the war,

       Ta’en by a galley from Dunbar,

       A bevy of the maids of Heaven.

       Under your guard these holy maids

       Shall safe return to cloister shades;

       And, while they at Tantallon stay,

       Requiem for Cochrane’s soul may say.”

       And with the slaughtered favourite’s name

       Across the monarch’s brow there came

       A cloud of ire, remorse, and shame.

       XVI

      In answer nought could Angus speak;

       His proud heart swelled wellnigh to break:

       He turned aside, and down his cheek

       A burning tear there stole.

       His hand the monarch sudden took;

       That sight his kind heart could not brook:

       “Now, by the Bruce’s soul,

      Angus, my hasty speech forgive!

       For sure as doth his spirit live,

       As he said of the Douglas old,

       I well may say of you -

       That never king did subject hold

       In speech more free, in war more bold,

       More tender and more true:

       Forgive me, Douglas, once again.”

       And while the king his hand did strain,

       The old man’s tears fell down like rain.

       To seize the moment Marmion tried,

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