Upland, and dale, and down: A thousand did I say? I ween, Thousands on thousands there were seen, That chequered all the heath between The streamlet and the town; In crossing ranks extending far, Oft giving way, where still there stood Some reliques of the old oak wood, And tamed the glaring white with green : A martial kingdom's vast array. XXVI. For from Hebudes, dark with rain, To eastern Lodon's fertile plain, To farthest Rosse's rocky ledge; Scotland sent all her warriors forth. Marmion might hear the mingled hum And see the shifting lines advance, While frequent flashed, from shield and lance, The sun's reflected ray. XXVII. Thin curling in the morning air, And dire artillery's clumsy car, a Seven culverins so called, cast by one Borthwick. Ill-omened gift! the guns remain The conqueror's spoil on Flodden plain. XXVIII. Nor marked they less, where in the air Various in shape, device, and hue, Highest, and midmost, was descried The staff, a pine-tree strong and straight, a Each of these feudal ensigns intimated the different rank of those entitled to display them. With toil, the huge and cumbrous fold, XXIX. Lord Marmion viewed the landscape bright, He viewed it with a chief's delight, Until within him burned his heart, And lightning from his eye did part, Such glance did falcon never dart, When stooping on his prey. "Oh! well, Lord-Lion, hast thou said, Thy King from warfare to dissuade Were but a vain essay; For, by Saint George, were that host mine, Not power infernal, nor divine, Should once to peace my soul incline, Till I had dimmed their armour's shine, In glorious battle fray!" Answered the bard, of milder mood: "Fair is the sight,—and yet 'twere good, That kings would think withal, When peace and wealth their land has blessed, "Tis better to sit still at rest, Than rise perchance to fall.” XXX. Still on the spot Lord Marmion stayed, When sated with the martial show That peopled all the plain below, The wandering eye could o'er it go, For on the smoke-wreaths, huge and slow, The morning beams were shed, And tinged them with a lustre proud, |