Marmion - Canto Fourth - The Camp

Eustace, I said, did blithely mark
The first notes of the merry lark.
The lark sang shrill, the cock he crew,
And loudly Marmion’s bugles blew,
And with their light and lively call, 5
Brought groom and yeoman to the stall.
Whistling they came, and free of heart,
But soon their mood was changed;
Complaint was heard on every part,
Of something disarranged. 10
Some clamour’d loud for armour lost;
Some brawl’d and wrangled with the host;
‘By Becket’s bones,’ cried one, ‘I fear,
That some false Scot has stolen my spear!’-
Young Blount, Lord Marmion’s second squire, 15
Found his steed wet with sweat and mire;
Although the rated horse-boy sware,
Last night he dress’d him sleek and fair.
While chafed the impatient squire like thunder,
Old Hubert shouts, in fear and wonder,- 20
‘Help, gentle Blount! help, comrades all!
Bevis lies dying in his stall:
To Marmion who the plight dare tell,
Of the good steed he loves so well?’-
Gaping for fear and ruth, they saw 25
The charger panting on his straw;
Till one, who would seem wisest, cried,-
‘What else but evil could betide,
With that cursed Palmer for our guide?
Better we had through mire and bush 30
Been lantern-led by Friar Rush.’

II.

Fitz-Eustace, who the cause but guess’d,
Nor wholly understood,
His comrades’ clamorous plaints suppress’d;
He knew Lord Marmion’s mood. 35
Him, ere he issued forth, he sought,
And found deep plunged in gloomy thought,
And did his tale display
Simply, as if he knew of nought
To cause such disarray. 40
Lord Marmion gave attention cold,
Nor marvell’d at the wonders told,-
Pass’d them as accidents of course,
And bade his clarions sound to horse.

III.

Young Henry Blount, meanwhile, the cost 45
Had reckon’d with their Scottish host;
And, as the charge he cast and paid,
‘Ill thou deservest thy hire,’ he said;
‘Dost see, thou knave, my horse’s plight?
Fairies have ridden him all the night, 50
And left him in a foam!
I trust, that soon a conjuring band,
With English cross, and blazing brand,
Shall drive the devils from this land,
To their infernal home: 55
For in this haunted den, I trow,
All night they trampled to and fro.’-
The laughing host look’d on the hire,-
‘Gramercy, gentle southern squire,
And if thou comest among the rest, 60
With Scottish broadsword to be blest,
Sharp be the brand, and sure the blow,
And short the pang to undergo.’
Here stay’d their talk,-for Marmion
Gave now the signal to set on. 65
The Palmer showing forth the way,
They journey’d all the morning day.

IV.

The green-sward way was smooth and good,
Through Humbie’s and through Saltoun’s wood;
A forest-glade, which, varying still, 70
Here gave a view of dale and hill,
There narrower closed, till over head
A vaulted screen the branches made.
‘A pleasant path,’ Fitz-Eustace said;
‘Such as where errant-knights might see 75
Adventures of high chivalry;
Might meet some damsel flying fast,
With hair unbound, and looks aghast;
And smooth and level course were here,
In her defence to break a spear. 80
Here, too, are twilight nooks and dells;
And oft, in such, the story tells,
The damsel kind, from danger freed,
Did grateful pay her champion’s meed.’
He spoke to cheer Lord Marmion’s mind; 85
Perchance to show his lore design’d;
For Eustace much had pored
Upon a huge romantic tome,
In the hall-window of his home,
Imprinted at the antique dome 90
Of Caxton, or de Worde.
Therefore he spoke,-but spoke in vain,
For Marmion answer’d nought again.

V.

Now sudden, distant trumpets shrill,
In notes prolong’d by wood and hill, 95
Were heard to echo far;
Each ready archer grasp’d his bow,
But by the flourish soon they know,
They breathed no point of war.
Yet cautious, as in foeman’s land, 100
Lord Marmion’s order speeds the band,
Some opener ground to gain;
And scarce a furlong had they rode,
When thinner trees, receding, show’d
A little woodland plain. 105
Just in that advantageous glade,
The halting troop a line had made,
As forth from the opposing shade
Issued a gallant train.

VI.

First came the trumpets, at whose clang 110
So late the forest echoes rang;
On prancing steeds they forward press’d,
With scarlet mantle, azure vest;
Each at his trump a banner wore,
Which Scotland’s royal scutcheon bore: 115
Heralds and pursuivants, by name
Bute, Islay, Marchmount, Rothsay, came,
In painted tabards, proudly showing
Gules, Argent, Or, and Azure glowing,
Attendant on a King-at-arms, 120
Whose hand the armorial truncheon held,
That feudal strife had often quell’d,
When wildest its alarms.

VII.

He was a man of middle age;
In aspect manly, grave, and sage, 125
As on King’s errand come;
But in the glances of his eye,
A penetrating, keen, and sly
Expression found its home;
The flash of that satiric rage, 130
Which, bursting on the early stage,
Branded the vices of the age,
And broke the keys of Rome.
On milk-white palfrey forth he paced;
His cap of maintenance was graced 135
With the proud heron-plume.
From his steed’s shoulder, loin, and breast,
Silk housings swept the ground,
With Scotland’s arms, device, and crest,
Embroider’d round and round. 140
The double tressure might you see,
First by Achaius borne,
The thistle and the fleur-de-lis,
And gallant unicorn.
So bright the King’s armorial coat, 145
That scarce the dazzled eye could note,
In living colours, blazon’d brave,
The Lion, which his title gave;
A train, which well beseem’d his state,
But all unarm’d, around him wait. 150
Still is thy name in high account,
And still thy verse has charms,
Sir David Lindesay of the Mount,
Lord Lion King-at-arms!

VIII.

Down from his horse did Marmion spring, 155
Soon as he saw the Lion-King;
For well the stately Baron knew
To him such courtesy was due,
Whom Royal James himself had crown’d,
And on his temples placed the round 160
Of Scotland’s ancient diadem:
And wet his brow with hallow’d wine,
And on his finger given to shine
The emblematic gem.
Their mutual greetings duly made, 165
The Lion thus his message said:-
‘Though Scotland’s King hath deeply swore
Ne’er to knit faith with Henry more,
And strictly hath forbid resort
From England to his royal court; 170
Yet, for he knows Lord Marmion’s name,
And honours much his warlike fame,
My liege hath deem’d it shame, and lack
Of courtesy, to turn him back;
And, by his order, I, your guide, 175
Must lodging fit and fair provide,
Till finds King James meet time to see
The flower of English chivalry.’

IX.

Though inly chafed at this delay,
Lord Marmion bears it as he may. 180
The Palmer, his mysterious guide,
Beholding thus his place supplied,
Sought to take leave in vain:
Strict was the Lion-King’s command,
That none, who rode in Marmion’s band, 185
Should sever from the train:
‘England has here enow of spies
In Lady Heron’s witching eyes;’
To Marchmount thus, apart, he said,
But fair pretext to Marmion made. 190
The right hand path they now decline,
And trace against the stream the Tyne.

X.

At length up that wild dale they wind,
Where Crichtoun Castle crowns the bank;
For there the Lion’s care assign’d 195
A lodging meet for Marmion’s rank.
That Castle rises on the steep
Of the green vale of Tyne:
And far beneath, where slow they creep,
From pool to eddy, dark and deep, 200
Where alders moist, and willows weep,
You hear her streams repine.
The towers in different ages rose;
Their various architecture shows
The builders’ various hands; 205
A mighty mass, that could oppose,
When deadliest hatred fired its foes,
The vengeful Douglas bands.

XI.

Crichtoun! though now thy miry court
But pens the lazy steer and sheep, 210
Thy turrets rude, and totter’d Keep,
Have been the minstrel’s loved resort.
Oft have I traced, within thy fort,
Of mouldering shields the mystic sense,
Scutcheons of honour, or pretence, 215
Quarter’d in old armorial sort,
Remains of rude magnificence.
Nor wholly yet had time defaced
Thy lordly gallery fair;
Nor yet the stony cord unbraced, 220
Whose twisted knots, with roses laced,
Adorn thy ruin’d stair.
Still rises unimpair’d below,
The court-yard’s graceful portico;
Above its cornice, row and row 225
Of fair hewn facets richly show
Their pointed diamond form,
Though there but houseless cattle go,
To shield them from the storm.
And, shuddering, still may we explore, 230
Where oft whilom were captives pent,
The darkness of thy Massy More;
Or, from thy grass-grown battlement,
May trace, in undulating line,
The sluggish mazes of the Tyne. 235

XII.

Another aspect Crichtoun show’d,
As through its portal Marmion rode;
But yet ‘twas melancholy state
Received him at the outer gate;
For none were in the Castle then, 240
But women, boys, or aged men.
With eyes scarce dried, the sorrowing dame,
To welcome noble Marmion, came;
Her son, a stripling twelve years old,
Proffer’d the Baron’s rein to hold; 245
For each man that could draw a sword
Had march’d that morning with their lord,
Earl Adam Hepburn,-he who died
On Flodden, by his sovereign’s side.
Long may his Lady look in vain! 250
She ne’er shall see his gallant train,
Come sweeping back through Crichtoun-Dean.
‘Twas a brave race, before the name
Of hated Bothwell stain’d their fame.

XIII.

And here two days did Marmion rest, 255
With every rite that honour claims,
Attended as the King’s own guest;-
Such the command of Royal James,
Who marshall’d then his land’s array,
Upon the Borough-moor that lay. 260
Perchance he would not foeman’s eye
Upon his gathering host should pry,
Till full prepared was every band
To march against the English land.
Here while they dwelt, did Lindesay’s wit 265
Oft cheer the Baron’s moodier fit;
And, in his turn, he knew to prize
Lord Marmion’s powerful mind, and wise,-
Train’d in the lore of Rome and Greece,
And policies of war and peace. 270

XIV.

It chanced, as fell the second night,
That on the battlements they walk’d,
And, by the slowly fading light,
Of varying topics talk’d;
And, unaware, the Herald-bard 275
Said, Marmion might his toil have spared,
In travelling so far;
For that a messenger from heaven
In vain to James had counsel given
Against the English war: 280
And, closer question’d, thus he told
A tale, which chronicles of old
In Scottish story have enroll’d:

XV.

Sir David Lindsey’s Tale.

‘Of all the palaces so fair,
Built for the royal dwelling, 285
In Scotland, far beyond compare
Linlithgow is excelling;
And in its park, in jovial June,
How sweet the merry linnet’s tune,
How blithe the blackbird’s lay! 290
The wild buck bells from ferny brake,
The coot dives merry on the lake,
The saddest heart might pleasure take
To see all nature gay.
But June is to our Sovereign dear 295
The heaviest month in all the year:
Too well his cause of grief you know,
June saw his father’s overthrow.
Woe to the traitors, who could bring
The princely boy against his King! 300
Still in his conscience burns the sting.
In offices as strict as Lent,
King James’s June is ever spent.

XVI.

‘When last this ruthful month was come,
And in Linlithgow’s holy dome 305
The King, as wont, was praying;
While, for his royal father’s soul,
The chanters sung, the bells did toll,
The Bishop mass was saying-
For now the year brought round again 310
The day the luckless King was slain-
In Katharine’s aisle the monarch knelt,
With sackcloth-shirt, and iron belt,
And eyes with sorrow streaming;
Around him in their stalls of state, 315
The Thistle’s Knight-Companions sate,
Their banners o’er them beaming.
I too was there, and, sooth to tell,
Bedeafen’d with the jangling knell,
Was watching where the sunbeams fell, 320
Through the stain’d casement gleaming;
But, while I mark’d what next befell,
It seem’d as I were dreaming.
Stepp’d from the crowd a ghostly wight,
In azure gown, with cincture white; 325
His forehead bald, his head was bare,
Down hung at length his yellow hair.-
Now, mock me not, when, good my Lord,
I pledge to you my knightly word,
That, when I saw his placid grace, 330
His simple majesty of face,
His solemn bearing, and his pace
So stately gliding on,-
Seem’d to me ne’er did limner paint
So just an image of the Saint, 335
Who propp’d the Virgin in her faint,-
The loved Apostle John!

XVII.

‘He stepp’d before the Monarch’s chair,
And stood with rustic plainness there,
And little reverence made; 340
Nor head, nor body, bow’d nor bent,
But on the desk his arm he leant,
And words like these he said,
In a low voice,-but never tone
So thrill’d through vein, and nerve, and bone:-
“My mother sent me from afar, 346
Sir King, to warn thee not to war,-
Woe waits on thine array;
If war thou wilt, of woman fair,
Her witching wiles and wanton snare, 350
James Stuart, doubly warn’d, beware:
God keep thee as He may!”-
The wondering monarch seem’d to seek
For answer, and found none;
And when he raised his head to speak, 355
The monitor was gone.
The Marshal and myself had cast
To stop him as he outward pass’d;
But, lighter than the whirlwind’s blast,
He vanish’d from our eyes, 360
Like sunbeam on the billow cast,
That glances but, and dies.’

XVIII.

While Lindesay told his marvel strange,
The twilight was so pale,
He mark’d not Marmion’s colour change, 365
While listening to the tale:
But, after a suspended pause,
The Baron spoke:-‘Of Nature’s laws
So strong I held the force,
That never superhuman cause 370
Could e’er control their course;
And, three days since, had judged your aim
Was but to make your guest your game.
But I have seen, since past the Tweed,
What much has changed my sceptic creed, 375
And made me credit aught.’-He staid,
And seem’d to wish his words unsaid:
But, by that strong emotion press’d,
Which prompts us to unload our breast,
Even when discovery’s pain, 380
To Lindesay did at length unfold
The tale his village host had told,
At Gifford, to his train.
Nought of the Palmer says he there,
And nought of Constance, or of Clare; 385
The thoughts, which broke his sleep, he seems
To mention but as feverish dreams.

XIX.

‘In vain,’ said he, ‘to rest I spread
My burning limbs, and couch’d my head:
Fantastic thoughts return’d; 390
And, by their wild dominion led,
My heart within me burn’d.
So sore was the delirious goad,
I took my steed, and forth I rode,
And, as the moon shone bright and cold, 395
Soon reach’d the camp upon the wold.
The southern entrance I pass’d through,
And halted, and my bugle blew.
Methought an answer met my ear,-
Yet was the blast so low and drear, 400
So hollow, and so faintly blown,
It might be echo of my own.

XX.

‘Thus judging, for a little space
I listen’d, ere I left the place;
But scarce could trust my eyes, 405
Nor yet can think they serve me true,
When sudden in the ring I view,
In form distinct of shape and hue,
A mounted champion rise.-
I’ve fought, Lord-Lion, many a day, 410
In single fight, and mix’d affray,
And ever, I myself may say,
Have borne me as a knight;
But when this unexpected foe
Seem’d starting from the gulf below,- 415
I care not though the truth I show,-
I trembled with affright;
And as I placed in rest my spear,
My hand so shook for very fear,
I scarce could couch it right. 420

XXI.

‘Why need my tongue the issue tell?
We ran our course,-my charger fell;-
What could he ‘gainst the shock of hell?
I roll’d upon the plain.
High o’er my head, with threatening hand, 425
The spectre shook his naked brand,-
Yet did the worst remain:
My dazzled eyes I upward cast,-
Not opening hell itself could blast
Their sight, like what I saw! 430
Full on his face the moonbeam strook!-
A face could never be mistook!
I knew the stern vindictive look,
And held my breath for awe.
I saw the face of one who, fled 435
To foreign climes, has long been dead,-
I well believe the last;
For ne’er, from vizor raised, did stare
A human warrior, with a glare
So grimly and so ghast. 440
Thrice o’er my head he shook the blade;
But when to good Saint George I pray’d,
(The first time e’er I ask’d his aid),
He plunged it in the sheath;
And, on his courser mounting light, 445
He seem’d to vanish from my sight:
The moonbeam droop’d, and deepest night
Sunk down upon the heath.-
‘Twere long to tell what cause I have
To know his face, that met me there, 450
Call’d by his hatred from the grave,
To cumber upper air:
Dead, or alive, good cause had he
To be my mortal enemy.’

XXII.

Marvell’d Sir David of the Mount; 455
Then, learn’d in story, ‘gan recount
Such chance had happ’d of old,
When once, near Norham, there did fight
A spectre fell of fiendish might,
In likeness of a Scottish knight, 460
With Brian Bulmer bold,
And train’d him nigh to disallow
The aid of his baptismal vow.
‘And such a phantom, too, ‘tis said,
With Highland broadsword, targe, and plaid 465
And fingers red with gore,
Is seen in Rothiemurcus glade,
Or where the sable pine-tree shade
Dark Tomantoul, and Auchnaslaid,
Dromouchty, or Glenmore. 470
And yet, whate’er such legends say,
Of warlike demon, ghost, or lay,
On mountain, moor, or plain,
Spotless in faith, in bosom bold,
True son of chivalry should hold 475
These midnight terrors vain;
For seldom have such spirits power
To harm, save in the evil hour,
When guilt we meditate within,
Or harbour unrepented sin.’- 480
Lord Marmion turn’d him half aside,
And twice to clear his voice he tried,
Then press’d Sir David’s hand,-
But nought, at length, in answer said;
And here their farther converse staid, 485
Each ordering that his band
Should bowne them with the rising day,
To Scotland’s camp to take their way,
Such was the King’s command.

XXIII.

Early they took Dun-Edin’s road, 490
And I could trace each step they trode:
Hill, brook, nor dell, nor rock, nor stone,
Lies on the path to me unknown.
Much might if boast of storied lore;
But, passing such digression o’er, 495
Suffice it that their route was laid
Across the furzy hills of Braid.
They pass’d the glen and scanty rill,
And climb’d the opposing bank, until
They gain’d the top of Blackford Hill. 500

XXIV.

Blackford! on whose uncultured breast,
Among the broom, and thorn, and whin,
A truant-boy, I sought the nest,
Or listed, as I lay at rest,
While rose, on breezes thin, 505
The murmur of the city crowd,
And, from his steeple jangling loud,
Saint Giles’s mingling din.
Now, from the summit to the plain,
Waves all the hill with yellow grain; 510
And o’er the landscape as I look,
Nought do I see unchanged remain,
Save the rude cliffs and chiming brook.
To me they make a heavy moan,
Of early friendships past and gone. 515

XXV.

But different far the change has been,
Since Marmion, from the crown
Of Blackford, saw that martial scene
Upon the bent so brown:
Thousand pavilions, white as snow, 520
Spread all the Borough-moor below,
Upland, and dale, and down:-
A thousand did I say? I ween,
Thousands on thousands there were seen
That chequer’d all the heath between 525
The streamlet and the town;
In crossing ranks extending far,
Forming a camp irregular;
Oft giving way, where still there stood
Some relics of the old oak wood, 530
That darkly huge did intervene,
And tamed the glaring white with green:
In these extended lines there lay
A martial kingdom’s vast array.

XXVI.

For from Hebudes, dark with rain, 535
To eastern Lodon’s fertile plain,
And from the southern Redswire edge,
To farthest Rosse’s rocky ledge:
From west to east, from south to north,
Scotland sent all her warriors forth. 540
Marmion might hear the mingled hum
Of myriads up the mountain come;
The horses’ tramp, and tingling clank,
Where chiefs review’d their vassal rank,
And charger’s shrilling neigh; 545
And see the shifting lines advance,
While frequent flash’d, from shield and lance,
The sun’s reflected ray.

XXVII.

Thin curling in the morning air,
The wreaths of failing smoke declare 550
To embers now the brands decay’d,
Where the night-watch their fires had made.
They saw, slow rolling on the plain,
Full many a baggage-cart and wain,
And dire artillery’s clumsy car, 555
By sluggish oxen tugg’d to war;
And there were Borthwick’s Sisters Seven,
And culverins which France had given.
Ill-omen’d gift! the guns remain
The conqueror’s spoil on Flodden plain. 560

XXVIII.

Nor mark’d they less, where in the air
A thousand streamers flaunted fair;
Various in shape, device, and hue,
Green, sanguine, purple, red, and blue,
Broad, narrow, swallow-tail’d, and square, 565
Scroll, pennon, pensil, bandrol, there
O’er the pavilions flew.
Highest, and midmost, was descried
The royal banner floating wide;
The staff, a pine-tree, strong and straight, 570
Pitch’d deeply in a massive stone,
Which still in memory is shown,
Yet bent beneath the standard’s weight
Whene’er the western wind unroll’d,
With toil, the huge and cumbrous fold, 575
And gave to view the dazzling field,
Where, in proud Scotland’s royal shield,
The ruddy lion ramp’d in gold.

XXIX.

Lord Marmion view’d the landscape bright,-
He view’d it with a chiefs delight,- 580
Until within him burn’d his heart,
And lightning from his eye did part,
As on the battle-day;
Such glance did falcon never dart,
When stooping on his prey. 585
‘Oh! well, Lord-Lion, hast thou said,
Thy King from warfare to dissuade
Were but a vain essay:
For, by St. George, were that host mine,
Not power infernal, nor divine, 590
Should once to peace my soul incline,
Till I had dimm’d their armour’s shine
In glorious battle-fray!’
Answer’d the Bard, of milder mood:
‘Fair is the sight,-and yet ‘twere good, 595
That Kings would think withal,
When peace and wealth their land has bless’d,
‘Tis better to sit still at rest,
Than rise, perchance to fall.’

XXX.

Still on the spot Lord Marmion stay’d, 600
For fairer scene he ne’er survey’d.
When sated with the martial show
That peopled all the plain below,
The wandering eye could o’er it go,
And mark the distant city glow 605
With gloomy splendour red;
For on the smoke-wreaths, huge and slow,
That round her sable turrets flow,
The morning beams were shed,
And tinged them with a lustre proud, 610
Like that which streaks a thunder-cloud.
Such dusky grandeur clothed the height,
Where the huge Castle holds its state,
And all the steep slope down,
Whose ridgy back heaves to the sky, 615
Piled deep and massy, close and high,
Mine own romantic town!
But northward far, with purer blaze,
On Ochil mountains fell the rays,
And as each heathy top they kiss’d, 620
It gleam’d a purple amethyst.
Yonder the shores of Fife you saw;
Here Preston-Bay, and Berwick-Law;
And, broad between them roll’d,
The gallant Frith the eye might note, 625
Whose islands on its bosom float,
Like emeralds chased in gold.
Fitz-Eustace’ heart felt closely pent;
As if to give his rapture vent,
The spur he to his charger lent, 630
And raised his bridle hand,
And, making demi-volte in air,
Cried, ‘Where’s the coward that would not dare
To fight for such a land!’
The Lindesay smiled his joy to see; 635
Nor Marmion’s frown repress’d his glee.

XXXI.

Thus while they look’d, a flourish proud,
Where mingled trump, and clarion loud,
And fife, and kettle-drum,
And sackbut deep, and psaltery, 640
And war-pipe with discordant cry,
And cymbal clattering to the sky,
Making wild music bold and high,
Did up the mountain come;
The whilst the bells, with distant chime, 645
Merrily toll’d the hour of prime,
And thus the Lindesay spoke:
‘Thus clamour still the war-notes when
The King to mass his way has ta’en,
Or to Saint Katharine’s of Sienne, 650
Or Chapel of Saint Rocque.
To you they speak of martial fame;
But me remind of peaceful game,
When blither was their cheer,
Thrilling in Falkland-woods the air, 655
In signal none his steed should spare,
But strive which foremost might repair
To the downfall of the deer.

XXXII.

‘Nor less,’ he said,-‘when looking forth,
I view yon Empress of the North 660
Sit on her hilly throne;
Her palace’s imperial bowers,
Her castle, proof to hostile powers,
Her stately halls and holy towers-
Nor less,’ he said, ‘I moan, 665
To think what woe mischance may bring,
And how these merry bells may ring
The death-dirge of our gallant King;
Or with the larum call
The burghers forth to watch and ward, 670
‘Gainst southern sack and fires to guard
Dun-Edin’s leaguer’d wall.-
But not for my presaging thought,
Dream conquest sure, or cheaply bought!
Lord Marmion, I say nay: 675
God is the guider of the field,
He breaks the champion’s spear and shield,--
But thou thyself shalt say,
When joins yon host in deadly stowre,
That England’s dames must weep in bower, 680
Her monks the death-mass sing;
For never saw’st thou such a power
Led on by such a King.’-
And now, down winding to the plain,
The barriers of the camp they gain, 685
And there they made a stay.-
There stays the Minstrel, till he fling
His hand o’er every Border string,
And fit his harp the pomp to sing,
Of Scotland’s ancient Court and King, 695
In the succeeding lay.