Can such a mighty Host be raised

Thus suddenly, and brought so near?

The Earls upon each other gazed,

And Neville's cheek grew pale with fear;
For, with a high and valiant name
He bore a heart of timid frame;

And bold if both had been, yet they

Against so many may not stay."

Back therefore will they hie to seize

A strong Hold on the banks of Tees;
There wait a favorable hour,

Until Lord Dacre with his power

From Naworth come; and Howard's aid

Be with them openly displayed.

While through the Host, from man to man,

A rumor of this purpose ran,
The Standard trusting to the care
Of him who heretofore did bear
That charge, impatient Norton sought
The Chieftains to unfold his thought,
And thus abruptly spake ;-"We yield
(And can it be?) an unfought field!—

How oft has strength, the strength of heaven,

To few triumphantly been given!

Still do our very children boast

Of mitred Thurston-what a Host

He conquered!-Saw we not the Plain

(And flying shall behold again)

Where faith was proved?—while to battle moved

The Standard, on the Sacred Wain

That bore it, compassed round by a bold

Fraternity of Barons old:

From the old Ballad.

And with those grey-haired champions stood,
Under the saintly ensigns three,

The infant Heir of Mowbray's blood—
All confident of victory!—

Shall Percy blush, then, for his name?
Must Westmoreland be asked with shame
Whose were the numbers, where the loss,
In that other day of Neville's Cross?
When the Prior of Durham with holy hand,
Raised, as the Vision gave command,
Saint Cuthbert's Relic-far and near
Kenned on the point of a lofty spear;
While the Monks prayed in Maiden's Bower
To God descending in his power.

Less would not at our need be due
To us, who war against the Untrue,
The delegates of Heaven we rise,
Convoked the impious to chastise:
We, we, the sanctities of old;
Would re-establish and uphold:

Be warned "His zeal the Chiefs confounded,
But word was given, and the trumpet sounded:
Back through the melancholy Host,

Went Norton, and resumed his post.
Alas! thought he, and have I borne,
This Banner raised with joyful pride,
This hope of all posterity,

By those dread symbols sanctified;
Thus to become at once the scorn

Of babbling winds as they go by,

A spot of shame to the sun's bright eye,

To the light clouds a mockery!

Even these poor eight of mine would stem-"

Half to himself, and half to them

He spake "would stem, or quell, a force
Ten times their number, man and horse;
This by their own unaided might,
Without their father in their sight,
Without the Cause for which they fight;
A Cause, which on a needful day
Would breed us thousands brave as they."
-So speaking, he his reverend head
Raised towards that Imagery once more:
But the familiar prospect shed
Despondency unfelt before:

A shock of intimations vain,
Dismay, and superstitious pain,

Fell on him, with the sudden thought
Of her by whom the work was wrought:-
Oh wherefore was her countenance bright
With love divine and gentle light?
She would not, could not, disobey,
But her Faith leaned another way.
Ill tears she wept; I saw them fall,
I overheard her as she spake
Sad words to that mute Animal,
The White Doe in the hawthorn brake;
She steeped, but not for Jesu's sake,
This Cross in tears: by her, and One
Unworthier far we are undone,
Her recreant Brother-he prevailed
Over that tender Spirit-assailed
Too oft, alas! by her whose head
In the cold grave hath long been laid :
She first, in reason's dawn beguiled
Her docile, unsuspecting Child:
Far back-far back my mind must go
To reach the well-spring of this woe!

While thus he brooded, music sweet
Of border tunes was played to cheer
The footsteps of a quick retreat;
But Norton lingered in the rear,

Stung with sharp thoughts; and ere the last
From his distracted brain was cast,
Before his Father, Francis stood,
And spake in firm and earnest mood.

"Though here I bend a suppliant knee
In reverence, and unarmed, I bear
In your indignant thoughts my share;
Am grieved this backward march to see
So careless and disorderly.

I scorn your Chiefs-men who would lead,
And yet want courage at their need:
Then look at them with open eyes!

Deserve they further sacrifice ?-
If-when they shrink, nor dare oppose
In open field their gathering foes
(And fast, from this decisive day,
Yon multitude must pass away);
If now I ask a grace not claimed

While ground was left for hope; unblamed
Be an endeavor that can do

No injury to them or you.

My Father! I would help to find
A place of shelter, till the rage
Of cruel men do like the wind
Exhaust itself and sink to rest;
Be Brother now to Brother joined !
Admit me in the equipage

Of your misfortunes, that at least,
Whatever fate remain behind,

I may bear witness in my breast
To your nobility of mind!"

"Thou Enemy, my bane and blight! Oh! bold to fight the Coward's fight Against all good"-but why declare, At length, the issue of a prayer Which love had prompted, yielding scope Too free to one bright moment's hope ? Suffice it that the Son, who strove With fruitless effort to allay That passion, prudently gave way; Nor did he turn aside to prove His Brothers' wisdom or their love-But calmly from the spot withdrew; His best endeavors to renew, Should e'er a kindlier time ensue.

CANTO FOURTH.

"T Is night: in silence looking down,
The Moon, from cloudless ether, sees
A Camp, and a beleaguered Town,
And Castle like a stately crown

On the steep rocks of winding Tees ;-
And southward far, with moor between,
Hill-top, and flood, and forest green,
The bright Moon sees that valley small
Where Rylstone's old sequestered Hall
A venerable image yields

Of quiet to the neighboring fields;
While from one pillared chimney breathes
The smoke, and mounts in silver wreaths.