XXII.

"His squire, who now De Wilton saw

As recreant doomed to suffer law,

Repentant, owned in vain,

That, while he had the scrolls in care,

A stranger maiden, passing fair,

Had drenched him with a beverage rare ;—

His words no faith could gain.

With Clare alone he credence won,

Who, rather than wed Marmion,

Did to Saint Hilda's shrine repair,

To give our house her livings fair,

And die a vestal vot'ress there:

The impulse from the earth was given,

But bent her to the paths of heaven.
A purer heart, a lovelier maid,

Ne'er sheltered her in Whitby's shade,

No, not since Saxon Edelfled;

Only one trace of earthly strain,

That for her lover's loss

She cherishes a sorrow vain,

And murmurs at the cross.

And then her heritage ;-it goes

Along the banks of Tame;

Deep fields of grain the reaper mows,
In meadows rich the heifer lows,

The falconer, and huntsman, knows

Its woodlands for the game.

Shame were it to Saint Hilda dear,

And I her humble vot'ress here

Should do a deadly sin,

Her temple spoiled before mine eyes,
If this false Marmion such a prize

By my consent should win

Yet hath our boisterous Monarch sworn,

That Clare shall from our house be torn; And grievous cause have I to fear,

Such mandate doth Lord Marmion bear.

XXIII.

"Now, prisoner, helpless, and betrayed

To evil power, I claim thine aid,

By every step that thou hast trod

To holy shrine and grotto dim,
By every martyr's tortured limb,

By angel, saint, and seraphim,

And by the Church of God!

For mark :-When Wilton was betrayed,
And with his squire forged letters laid,

She was,-alas! that sinful maid,

By whom the deed was done,

O! shame and horror to be said!

She was a perjured nun:

No clerk in all the land, like her,

Traced quaint and varying character.

Perchance you may a marvel deem,

That Marmion's paramour,

(For such vile thing she was,) should scheme

Her lover's nuptial hour;

But o'er him thus she hoped to gain,

As privy to his honour's stain,

Illimitable power:

For this she secretly retained

Each proof that might the plot reveal,

Instructions with his hand and seal;

And thus Saint Hilda deigned,

Through sinner's perfidy impure,

Her house's glory to secure,

And Clare's immortal weal.

XXIV.

""Twere long, and needless, here to tell,

How to my hand these papers

fell

With me they must not stay.

Saint Hilda keep her Abbess true!

Who knows what outrage he might do,

While journeying by the way?

O blessed Saint, if e'er again

I venturous leave thy calm domain,