XXIX.

And now, when close at hand they saw
North Berwick's town, and lofty Law,
Fitz-Eustace bade them pause a while,
Before a venerable pile,

Whose turrets view'd, afar,

The lofty Bass, the Lambie Isle,

The ocean's peace or war.

835

840

At tolling of a bell, forth came
The convent's venerable Dame,

And pray'd Saint Hilda's Abbess rest

With her, a loved and honour'd guest,
Till Douglas should a bark prepare
To waft her back to Whitby fair.

845

Glad was the Abbess, you may guess,
And thank'd the Scottish Prioress;
And tedious were to tell, I ween,

850

The courteous speech that pass'd between.
O'erjoy'd the nuns their palfreys leave;
But when fair Clara did intend,

Like them, from horseback to descend,
Fitz-Eustace said, 'I grieve,

855

Fair lady, grieve e'en from my heart,
Such gentle company to part ;—

Think not discourtesy,

But lords' commands must be obey'd;
And Marmion and the Douglas said,

860

That you must wend with me.

Lord Marmion hath a letter broad,
Which to the Scottish Earl he show'd,
Commanding, that, beneath his care,
Without delay, you shall repair

865

To your good kinsman, Lord Fitz-Clare.'

XXX.

The startled Abbess loud exclaim'd;

But she, at whom the blow was aim'd,

'They dare not tear thee from my hand, To ride alone with arméd band.'

Grew pale as death, and cold as lead,—
She deem'd she heard her death-doom read.
'Cheer thee, my child!' the Abbess said,

870

'Nay, holy mother, nay,'
Fitz-Eustace said, 'the lovely Clare
Will be in Lady Angus' care,
In Scotland while we stay ;
And, when we move, an easy ride

875

Will bring us to the English side,

Female attendance to provide

880

Befitting Gloster's heir;

Nor thinks, nor dreams, my noble lord,

Till he shall place her, safe and free,

Within her kinsman's halls.'

He spoke, and blush'd with earnest grace;

890

His faith was painted on his face,

And Clare's worst fear relieved.
The Lady Abbess loud exclaim'd
On Henry, and the Douglas blamed,
Entreated, threaten'd, grieved;
To martyr, saint, and prophet pray'd,
Against Lord Marmion inveigh'd,
And call'd the Prioress to aid,

To curse with candle, bell, and book.
Her head the grave Cistertian shook :
'The Douglas, and the King,' she said,
'In their commands will be obey'd;
Grieve not, nor dream that harm can fall
The maiden in Tantallon hall.'

895

900

XXXI.

The Abbess, seeing strife was vain,
Assumed her wonted state again,—

For much of state she had,—

Composed her veil, and raised her head,

And-' Bid,' in solemn voice she said,

'Thy master, bold and bad,

The records of his house turn o'er,

And, when he shall there written see,
That one of his own ancestry

Drove the monks forth of Coventry,
Bid him his fate explore!

905

910

915

Prancing in pride of earthly trust,
His charger hurl'd him to the dust,
And, by a base plebeian thrust,

He died his band before.

God judge 'twixt Marmion and me;
He is a Chief of high degree,

920

'Fitz-Eustace, we must march our band;

930

Saint Anton' fire thee! wilt thou stand

All day, with bonnet in thy hand,

To hear the Lady preach?

By this good light! if thus we stay,

Lord Marmion, for our fond delay,

935

Will sharper sermon teach.

Come, don thy cap, and mount thy horse;

The Dame must patience take perforce.'

XXXII.

'Submit we then to force,' said Clare,
'But let this barbarous lord despair

His purposed aim to win;
Let him take living, land, and life;
But to be Marmion's wedded wife
In me were deadly sin:

And if it be the King's decree,

940

945

Yet one asylum is my own
Against the dreaded hour;
A low, a silent, and a lone,

Where kings have little power.
One victim is before me there.-
Mother, your blessing, and in prayer
Remember your unhappy Clare!'

Kind blessings many a one :

955

Loud weeps the Abbess, and bestows

960

But scant three miles the band had rode,
When o'er a height they pass'd,

And, sudden, close before them show'd
His towers, Tantallon vast;

970

Broad, massive, high, and stretching far,
And held impregnable in war.

On a projecting rock they rose,

And round three sides the ocean flows,

975

The fourth did battled walls enclose,

And double mound and fosse.

980

By narrow drawbridge, outworks strong,

Through studded gates, an entrance long,
To the main court they cross.
It was a wide and stately square:
Around were lodgings, fit and fair,

985

Here did they rest.—The princely care

Of Douglas, why should I declare,

Or why the tidings say,

Or say they met reception fair?

995

Which, varying, to Tantallon came,

By hurrying posts, or fleeter fame,

With every varying day?

And, first, they heard King James had won
Etall, and Wark, and Ford; and then,
That Norham Castle strong was ta'en.

At that sore marvell'd Marmion ;—

And Douglas hoped his Monarch's hand
Would soon subdue Northumberland :

But whisper'd news there came,
That, while his host inactive lay,
And melted by degrees away,

King James was dallying off the day
With Heron's wily dame.-

1000

1005

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