Marmion

V.

Along the bridge Lord Marmion rode, 
Proudly his red-roan charger trode, 
His helm hung at the saddlebow; 
Well by his visage you might know

He was a stalworth knight, and keen, 
And had in many a battle been; 
The scar on his brown cheek reveal’d 
A token true of Bosworth field;

His eyebrow dark, and eye of fire, 
Show’d spirit proud, and prompt to ire; 
Yet lines of thought upon his cheek 
Did deep design and counsel speak.

His forehead by his casque worn bare, 
His thick mustache, and curly hair, 
Coal-black, and grizzled here and there, 
  But more through toil than age;

His square-turn’d joints, and strength of limb, 
Show’d him no carpet knight so trim, 
But in close fight a champion grim, 
  In camps a leader sage. 

VI.

Well was he arm’d from head to heel, 
In mail and plate of Milan steel; 
But his strong helm, of mighty cost, 
Was all with burnish’d gold emboss’d;

Amid the plumage of the crest, 
A falcon hover’d on her nest, 
With wings outspread, and forward breast; 
E’en such a falcon, on his shield, 
Soar’d sable in an azure field:

The golden legend bore aright, 
Who checks at me, to death is dight. 
Blue was the charger’s broider’d rein; 
Blue ribbons deck’d his arching mane; 

The knightly housing’s ample fold 
Was velvet blue, and trapp’d with gold.  

VII.

Behind him rode two gallant squires, 
Of noble name, and knightly sires; 
They burn’d the gilded spurs to claim: 
For well could each a warhorse tame,

Could draw the bow, the sword could sway, 
And lightly bear the ring away; 
Nor less with courteous precepts stored, 
Could dance in hall, and carve at board,

And frame love-ditties passing rare, 
And sing them to a lady fair. 

VIII.

Four men-at-arms came at their backs, 
With halbert, bill, and battle-axe: 
They bore Lord Marmion’s lance so strong,