Marmion

XXI.

‘Dire dealings with the fiendish race 
Had mark’d strange lines upon his face;

Vigil and fast had worn him grim, 
His eyesight dazzled seem’d and dim, 
As one unused to upper day;               
Even his own menials with dismay 
Beheld, Sir Knight, the grisly Sire, 
In his unwonted wild attire;

Unwonted, for traditions run, 
He seldom thus beheld the sun.-

“I know,” he said,-his voice was hoarse, 
And broken seem’d its hollow force,- 
“I know the cause, although untold, 
Why the King seeks his vassal’s hold:

Vainly from me my liege would know 
His kingdom’s future weal or woe; 
But yet, if strong his arm and heart, 
His courage may do more than art.

XXII.

‘“Of middle air the demons proud, 
Who ride upon the racking cloud,   
Can read, in fix’d or wandering star, 
The issue of events afar;

But still their sullen aid withhold, 
Save when by mightier force controll’d.

Such late I summon’d to my hall;  
And though so potent was the call, 
That scarce the deepest nook of hell 
I deem’d a refuge from the spell, 
Yet, obstinate in silence still, 
The haughty demon mocks my skill.

But thou,-who little know’st thy might,
As born upon that blessed night
When yawning graves, and dying groan,
Proclaim’d hell’s empire overthrown,-
With untaught valour shalt compel       
Response denied to magic spell.”-

“Gramercy,” quoth our Monarch free,
“Place him but front to front with me,
And, by this good and honour’d brand,
The gift of Coeur-de-Lion’s hand,       
Soothly I swear, that, tide what tide,
The demon shall a buffet bide.”-

His bearing bold the wizard view’d,
And thus, well pleased, his speech renew’d:-

“There spoke the blood of Malcolm!-mark:   
Forth pacing hence, at midnight dark,
The rampart seek, whose circling crown
Crests the ascent of yonder down:

A southern entrance shalt thou find;
There halt, and there thy bugle wind,
And trust thine elfin foe to see,
In guise of thy worst enemy:

Couch then thy lance, and spur thy steed-
Upon him! and Saint George to speed!

If he go down, thou soon shalt know       
Whate’er these airy sprites can show:-
If thy heart fail thee in the strife,
I am no warrant for thy life.”