Marmion

Of either host, for deadly fray;

Their marshall’d lines stretch’d east and west, 
  And fronted north and south, 
And distant salutation pass’d    
  From the loud cannon mouth;

Not in the close successive rattle, 
That breathes the voice of modern battle, 
  But slow and far between.- 
The hillock gain’d, Lord Marmion staid:  
‘Here, by this Cross,’ he gently said, 
  ‘You well may view the scene.

Here shalt thou tarry, lovely Clare: 
O! think of Marmion in thy prayer!- 
Thou wilt not?-well, no less my care 
Shall, watchful, for thy weal prepare.- 
You, Blount and Eustace, are her guard, 
  With ten pick’d archers of my train; 
With England if the day go hard,

  To Berwick speed amain.-                
But if we conquer, cruel maid, 
My spoils shall at your feet be laid, 
  When here we meet again.’

He waited not for answer there, 
And would not mark the maid’s despair, 
  Nor heed the discontented look 
From either squire; but spurr’d amain, 
And, dashing through the battle-plain, 
His way to Surrey took.

XXIV.

‘-The good Lord Marmion, by my life! 
  Welcome to danger’s hour!- 
Short greeting serves in time of strife : 
  Thus have I ranged my power:

Myself will rule this central host, 
  Stout Stanley fronts their right, 
My sons command the vaward post, 
  With Brian Tunstall, stainless knight; 
  Lord Dacre, with his horsemen light, 
  Shall be in rear-ward of the fight, 
And succour those that need it most.

  Now, gallant Marmion, well I know, 
  Would gladly to the vanguard go;

Edmund, the Admiral, Tunstall there, 
With thee their charge will blithely share; 
There fight thine own retainers too,          
Beneath De Burg, thy steward true.’-

‘Thanks, noble Surrey!’ Marmion said, 
Nor farther greeting there he paid; 
But, parting like a thunderbolt, 
First in the vanguard made a halt, 
  Where such a shout there rose 
Of ‘Marmion! Marmion!’ that the cry, 
Up Flodden mountain shrilling high, 
Startled the Scottish foes.

XXV.

Blount and Fitz-Eustace rested still 
With Lady Clare upon the hill; 
On which, (for far the day was spent,) 
The western sunbeams now were bent.

The cry they heard, its meaning knew, 
Could plain their distant comrades view: