Marmion

XXI.

Ere yet the bands met Marmion’s eye, 
Fitz-Eustace shouted loud and high, 
‘Hark! hark! my lord, an English drum! 
And see ascending squadrons come 
  Between Tweed’s river and the hill, 
Foot, horse, and cannon:-hap what hap, 
My basnet to a prentice cap, 
  Lord Surrey’s o’er the Till!-

Yet more! yet more!-how far array’d 
They file from out the hawthorn shade, 
  And sweep so gallant by! 
With all their banners bravely spread, 
  And all their armour flashing high, 
Saint George might waken from the dead, 
To see fair England’s standards fly.’-         

‘Stint in thy prate,’ quoth Blount, ‘thou’dst best, 
And listen to our lord’s behest.’- 
With kindling brow Lord Marmion said,- 
‘This instant be our band array’d; 
The river must be quickly cross’d, 
That we may join Lord Surrey’s host.

If fight King James,-as well I trust, 
That fight he will, and fight he must,- 
The Lady Clare behind our lines 
Shall tarry, while the battle joins.’ 

XXII.

Himself he swift on horseback threw, 
Scarce to the Abbot bade adieu; 
Far less would listen to his prayer, 
To leave behind the helpless Clare.

Down to the Tweed his band he drew, 
And mutter’d as the flood they view, 
‘The pheasant in the falcon’s claw, 
He scarce will yield to please a daw: 
Lord Angus may the Abbot awe, 
  So Clare shall bide with me.’   
Then on that dangerous ford, and deep, 
Where to the Tweed Leat’s eddies creep, 
  He ventured desperately: 
And not a moment will he bide, 
Till squire, or groom, before him ride; 
Headmost of all he stems the tide, 
  And stems it gallantly.

Eustace held Clare upon her horse, 
  Old Hubert led her rein, 
Stoutly they braved the current’s course, 
And, though far downward driven per force, 
  The southern bank they gain; 
Behind them, straggling, came to shore, 
  As best they might, the train: 
Each o’er his head his yew-bow bore, 
A caution not in vain; 

Deep need that day that every string, 
By wet unharm’d, should sharply ring. 

A moment then Lord Marmion staid, 
And breathed his steed, his men array’d, 
  Then forward moved his band, 
Until, Lord Surrey’s rear-guard won, 
He halted by a Cross of Stone, 
That, on a hillock standing lone, 
Did all the field command.         

XXIII.

Hence might they see the full array