Knew hunting-craft by lake or wood;
Each one a six-foot bow could bend,
And far a cloth-yard shaft could send ;
Each held a boar-spear tough and strong,
And at their belts their quivers rung.
Their dusty palfreys, and array,
Show'd they had march'd a weary way.

IX.

'Tis meet that I should tell you now,
How fairly arm'd, and order'd how,
The soldiers of the guard,
With musket, pike, and morion,
To welcome noble Marmion,

Stood in the Castle-yard;

Minstrels and trumpeters were there,

The gunner

held his linstock yare,

For welcome-shot prepar'd:

Enter'd the train, and such a clang,

As then through all his turrets rang,
Old Norham never heard.

X.

The guards their morrice-pikes advanc'd,
The trumpets flourish'd brave,
The cannon from the ramparts glanced,
And thundering welcome gave.

A blithe salute, in martial sort,

The minstrels well might sound,

For, as Lord Marmion cross'd the court,
He scatter'd angels round.

"Welcome to Norham, Marmion !

Stout heart, and open hand!

Well dost thou brook thy gallant roan,
Thou flower of English land."

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XI.

Two pursuivants, whom tabarts deck,
With silver scutcheon round their neck,
Stood on the steps of stone,

By which you reach the donjon gate,
And there, with herald pomp and state,
They hail'd Lord Marmion :

They hail'd him Lord of Fontenaye,
Of Lutterward, and Scrivelbaye,
Of Tamworth tower and town;

And he, their courtesy to requite,

Gave them a chain of twelve marks weight,

All as he lighted down.

"Now, largesse, largesse, Lord Marmion,

Knight of the crest of gold!

A blazon'd shield, in battle won,

Ne'er guarded heart so bold."

XII.

They marshall'd him to the Castle-hall,
Where the guests stood all aside,
And loudly flourish'd the trumpet-call,
And the heralds loudly cried,—

"Room, lordings, room for Lord Marmion,
With the crest and helm of gold!
Full well we know the trophies won

In the lists at Cottiswold:

There vainly Ralph de Wilton strove 'Gainst Marmion's force to stand;

To him he lost his lady-love,

And to the King his land. Ourselves beheld the listed field,

A sight both sad and fair ;

We saw Lord Marmion pierce his shield,
And saw his saddle bare;

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We saw the victor win the crest
He wears with worthy pride;
And on the gibbet-tree, reversed,
His foeman's scutcheon tied.
Place, nobles, for the Falcon-Knight!

Room, room, ye gentles gay,

For him who conquer'd in the right,
Marmion of Fontenaye!"

XIII.

Then stepp'd, to meet that noble Lord,

Sir Hugh the Heron bold,
Baron of Twisell, and of Ford,
And Captain of the Hold.

He led Lord Marmion to the deas,
Raised o'er the pavement high,
And placed him in the upper place-
They feasted full and high :
The whiles a Northern harper rude

Chanted a rhyme of deadly feud,

"How the fierce Thirwalls, and Ridleys all Stout Willimondswick,

And Hardriding Dick,

And Hughie of Hawdon, and Will o' the Wall,
Have set on Sir Albany Featherstonhaugh,

And taken his life at the Deadman's-shaw.”
Scantly Lord Marmion's ear could brook

The harper's barbarous lay ;

Yet much he praised the pains he took,
And well those pains did pay :

For lady's suit and minstrel's strain,
By knight should ne'er be heard in vain.

XIV.

"Now, good Lord Marmion," Heron says, "Of your fair courtesy,

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I pray you bide some little space,

In this poor tower with me.

Here may you keep your arms from rust,
May breathe your war-horse well;
Seldom hath pass'd a week but giust

Or feat of arms befell:

The Scots can rein a mettled steed,
And love to couch a spear ;—
St. George! a stirring life they lead,
That have such neighbours near.
Then stay with us a little space,
Our northern wars to learn;
I pray you for your lady's grace!".
Lord Marmion's brow grew stern.

XV.

The Captain mark'd his alter'd look,
And gave a squire the sign;

A mighty wassel-bowl he took,

And crown'd it high with wine.

"Now pledge me here, Lord Marmion :
But first I pray thee fair,

Where hast thou left that page of thine,
That used to serve thy cup of wine,

Whose beauty was so rare?

When last in Raby towers we met,

The boy I closely eyed,

And often mark'd his cheeks were wet

With tears he fain would hide ;

His was no rugged horse-boy's hand,
To burnish shield or sharpen brand,
Or saddle battle-steed;

But meeter seem'd for lady fair,
To fan her cheek or curl her hair,

Or through embroidery, rich and rare,

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The slender silk to lead :
His skin was fair, his ringlets gold,
His bosom-when he sigh'd,
The russet doublet's rugged fold
Could scarce repel its pride!

Say, hast thou given that lovely youth
To serve in lady's bower?

Or was the gentle page, in sooth,
A gentle paramour?"

XVI.

Lord Marmion ill could brook such jest ;
He roll'd his kindling eye,

With pain his rising wrath suppress'd,
Yet made a calm reply:

"That boy thou thought'st so goodly fair,
He might not brook the northern air.
More of his fate if thou wouldst learn,

I left him sick in Lindisfarne :
Enough of him.—But, Heron, say,
Why does thy lovely lady gay
Disdain to grace the hall to-day?
Or has that dame, so fair and sage,
Gone on some pious pilgrimage?"—
He spoke in covert scorn, for fame
Whisper'd light tales of Heron's dame.

XVII.

Unmark'd, at least unreck'd, the taunt,
Careless the Knight replied,

No bird, whose feathers gaily flaunt,

Delights in cage to bide:

Norham is grim and grated close,

Hemm'd in by battlement and fosse,

And many a darksome tower;