66

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 't were 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 hand 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!"

O'ercame the ashen hue of age;

Fierce he broke forth: "And dar'st thou then

To beard the lion in his den,

The Douglas in his hall?

And hop'st 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;
Το pass there was such scanty room,
The bars, descending, grazed his plume.

The steed along the drawbridge flies,
Just as it trembles on the rise;

Not lighter does the swallow skim

Along the smooth lake's level brim ;

And when Lord Marmion reached his band,
He halts, and turns with clenchéd hand,

And shout of loud defiance pours,

And shook his gauntlet at the towers.

"Horse! horse!" the Douglas cried, "and cha But soon he reined his fury's pace.

"A royal messenger he came,

Though most unworthy of the name
A letter forged! Saint Jude to speed!
Did ever knight so foul a deed?

At first, in heart, it liked me ill,
When the king praised his clerkly skill.
Thanks to Saint Bothan, son of mine,
Save Gawain, ne'er could pen a line."

WALTER Sco

XXII. SWEDISH BATTLE SONG.

Fear not, O little flock, the foe

Who madly seeks your overthrow,

Dread not his rage and power;

What though your courage sometimes faints,
His seeming triumph o'er God's saints

Lasts but a little hour.

Be of good cheer,—your cause belongs
To him who can avenge your wrongs.
Leave it to him, our Lord.

Though hidden yet from all our eyes,
He sees the Gideon who shall rise
To save us, and his word.

As true as God's own word is true,
Nor earth, nor hell, with all their crew,
Against us shall prevail, -

A jest and by-word are they grown ;
"God is with us," we are his own,
Our victory cannot fail.

Amen, Lord Jesus, grant our prayer!
Great Captain, now thine arm make bare;

Fight for us once again.

So shall thy saints and martyrs raise

A mighty chorus to thy praise,

World without end. Amen.

ALTENBURG.

XXIII.

DOUBTING CASTLE.

1. Now I beheld in my dream that Christian and Hopeful had not journeyed far, but the river and the way for the time parted, at which they were not a little

sorry; yet they durst not go out of the way. Now the way from the river was rough, and their feet tender by reason of their travel; so the souls of the pilgrims were much discouraged because of the way. Wherefore, still as they went on they wished for a better way. Now, a little before them, there was on the left hand of the road a meadow, and a stile to go over into it; and that meadow is called By-path meadow. Then said Christian to his fellow, "If this meadow lieth along by our way-side, let us go over into it." Then he went to the stile to see, and behold a path lay along by the way on the other side of the fence. ""Tis according to my wishes," said Christian; "here is the easiest going; come, good Hopeful, and let us go over."

2. “But how if this path should lead us out of the way?"

"That is not likely," said the other. "Look, doth it not go along by the way-side?”

So Hopeful, being persuaded by his fellow, went after him over the stile. When they were gone over, and were got into the path, they found it very easy for their feet; and withal they, looking before them, espied a man walking as they did, and his name was VainConfidence so they called after him, and asked him whither that way led. He said, "To the Celestial Gate."

3. "Look," said Christian, "did not I tell you so?by this you may see we are right." So they followed, and he went before them. But, behold, the night came on, and it grew very dark; so that they that were behind lost sight of them that went before.