Canto Fourth-The Camp.

VIGNETTE TITLE TO THE CANTO.
Gaping for fear and ruth, they saw
The charger panting on his straw.
There narrower closed, till over head
A vaulted screen the branches made.
Attendant on a King-at-arms,
Whose hand the armorial truncheon held.
At length up that wild dale they wind,
Where Crichtoun Castle crowns the bank.

STANZA

JOHN GILBERT.

JOHN GILBERT.

1

BIRKET FOSTER.

JOHN GILBERT.

BIRKET FOSTER.

10

High o'er my head, with threatening hand,
The spectre shook his naked brand.

VIGNETTE TITLE TO THE CANTO.

Their men the warders backward drew,
And carried pikes as they rode through.
Young knights and squires, a lighter train,
Practised their chargers on the plain.
Old Holy-Rood rung merrily,

That night, with wassell, mirth, and glee.
Through this mix'd crowd of glee and game,
The King to greet Lord Marmion came.
Dame Heron rises with a smile
Upon the harp to play.

Where Bothwell's turrets brave the air,
And Bothwell bank is blooming fair.

And to his nobles loud did call,
"Lords, to the dance-a hall! a hall!"

Dun-Edin's Cross, a pillar'd stone,

Rose on a turret octagon.

Introduction to Canto Sixth.

Mertoun-House, the seat of Hugh Scott, Esq.

The heir, with roses in his shoes,
That night might village partner choose.

That night, upon the rocks and bay,
The midnight moonbeam slumbering lay.
Then at the altar Wilton kneels.

And when Lord Marmion reach'd his band,
He halts, and turns with clenchéd hand.
And heedful watch'd them as they cross'd
The Till by Twisel Bridge.

Dark Flodden! on thy airy brow.

Eustace held Clare upon her horse,

Old Hubert led her rein.

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It is hardly to be expected, that an Author whom the Public have honoured with some degree of applause, should not be again a trespasser on their kindness. Yet the Author of Marmion must be supposed to feel some anxiety concerning its success, since he is sensible that he hazards, by this second intrusion, any reputation which his first Poem may have procured him. The present story turns upon the private adventures of a fictitious character; but is called a Tale of Flodden Field, because the hero's fate is connected with that memorable defeat, and the causes which led to it. The design of the Author was, if possible, to apprize his readers, at the outset, of the date of his Story, and to prepare them for the manners of the Age in which it is laid. Any Historical Narrative, far more an attempt at Epic composition, exceeded his plan of a Romantic Tale; yet he may be permitted to hope, from the popularity of The Lay of the Last Minstrel, that an attempt to paint the manners of the feudal times, upon a broader scale, and in the course of a more interesting story, will not be unacceptable to the Public.

The Poem opens about the commencement of August, and concludes with the defeat of Flodden, 9th September 1513.

Ashestiel, 1808.