The darkness of thy Massy More ;* Or, from thy grass-grown battlement, May trace, in undulating line, The sluggish mazes of the Tyne. XII. Another aspect Crichtoun shewed, As through its portal Marmion rode; For none were in the castle then, But women, boys, or aged men. With eyes scarce dried, the sorrowing dame, To welcome noble Marmion, came; Her son, a stripling twelve Proffered the Baron's rein to hold; For each man, that could draw a sword, * The pit, or prison-vault.-See Note. Earl Adam Hepburn, he who died She ne'er shall see his gallant train "Twas a brave race, before the name Of hated Bothwell stained their fame. XIII. And here two days did Marmion rest, With every rite that honour claims, Such the command of royal James; Till full prepared was every band To march against the English land. Here while they dwelt, did Lindesay's wit Oft cheer the Baron's moodier fit; And, in his turn, he knew to prize Lord Marmion's powerful mind, and wise,— Trained in the lore of Rome, and Greece, And policies of war and peace. XIV. It chanced, as fell the second night, That on the battlements they walked, And, by the slowly fading light, Of varying topics talked; And, unaware, the Herald-bard 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: And, closer questioned, thus he told In Scottish story have enrolled : XV. Sir David Lindesay's Tale. "Of all the palaces so fair, Built for the royal dwelling, In Scotland, far beyond comprae Linlithgow is excelling; And in its park, in jovial June, How sweet the merry linnet's tune, How blithe the blackbird's lay! 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 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 • An ancient word for the cry of deer.-See Note. The princely boy against his King! 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 The King, as wont, was praying; While, for his royal father's soul, The chaunters sung, the bells did toll, For now the year brought round again In Katharine's aisle the Monarch knelt, And eyes with sorrow streaming; Around him, in their stalls of state, Their banners o'er them beaming. |