That e'en to stranger falls, Till he shall place her, safe and free, He spoke, and blushed with earnest grace; And Clare's worst fear relieved. The Lady Abbess loud exclaimed To curse with candle, bell, and book.- “ The Douglas, and the King,” she said, "In their commands will be obeyed; Grieve not, nor dream that harm can fall The maiden in Tantallon hall." XXXI. The Abbess, seeing strife was vain, For much of state she had,- Composed her veil, and raised her head, And-" Bid," in solemn voice she said, 66 Thy master, bold and bad, The records of his house turn o'er, And, when he shall there written see, Drove the Monks forth of Coventry, Bid him his fate explore! Prancing in pride of earthly trust, God judge 'twixt Marmion and me : And I a poor recluse ; Yet oft, in holy writ, we see Even such weak minister as me May the oppressor bruise : 66 For thus, inspired, did Judith slay And Jael thus, and Deborah," Here hasty Blount broke in: Fitz-Eustace, we must march our band; St Anton' fire thee! wilt thou stand All day, with bonnet in thy hand, By this good light! if thus we stay, Come, d'on thy cap, and mount thy horse; 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; In me were deadly sin: And if it be the king's decree, That I must find no sanctuary, Where even a homicide might come, And safely rest his head, Though at its open portals stood, Yet one asylum is my own, Where kings have little power. One victim is before me there.- Kind blessings many a one; Round patient Clare, the clamorous woes Of every simple nun. His eyes the gentle Eustace dried, And scarce rude Blount the sight could bide. Then took the squire her rein, And gently led away her steed, And, by each courteous word and deed, To cheer her strove in vain. XXXIII. But scant three miles the band had rode, Broad, massive, high, and stretching far, On a projecting rock they rose, And round three sides the ocean flows; And double mound and fosse. |