‘Now here, within Tantallon Hold, To Douglas late my tale I told, To whom my house was known of old.Won by my proofs, his falchion bright This eve anew shall dub me knight.These were the arms that once did turn The tide of fight on Otterburne, And Harry Hotspur forced to yield, When the Dead Douglas won the field.These Angus gave-his armourer’s care, Ere morn, shall every breach repair; For nought, he said, was in his halls, But ancient armour on the walls, And aged chargers in the stalls, And women, priests, and grey-hair’d men; The rest were all in Twisel glen. And now I watch my armour here, By law of arms, till midnight’s near;Then, once again a belted knight, Seek Surrey’s camp with dawn of light.
X.
‘There soon again we meet, my Clare! This Baron means to guide thee there: Douglas reveres his King’s command, Else would he take thee from his band.And there thy kinsman, Surrey, too, Will give De Wilton justice due. Now meeter far for martial broil, Firmer my limbs, and strung by toil, Once more’-‘O Wilton! must we then Risk new-found happiness again, Trust fate of arms once more? And is there not an humble glen, Where we, content and poor, Might build a cottage in the shade, A shepherd thou, and I to aid Thy task on dale and moor?-That reddening brow!-too well I know, Not even thy Clare can peace bestow, While falsehood stains thy name: Go then to fight! Clare bids thee go! Clare can a warrior’s feelings know, And weep a warrior’s shame; Can Red Earl Gilbert’s spirit feel, Buckle the spurs upon thy heel, And belt thee with thy brand of steel, And send thee forth to fame!’
XI.
That night, upon the rocks and bay, The midnight moon-beam slumbering lay, And pour’d its silver light, and pure, Through loop-hole, and through embrazure, Upon Tantallon tower and hall; But chief where arched windows wide Illuminate the chapel’s pride, The sober glances fall.
