XVII.

’In brief, my lord, we both descried
(For then I stood by Henry’s side)
The Palmer mount, and outwards ride,
  Upon the Earl’s own favourite steed: 
All sheathed he was in armour bright, 510
And much resembled that same knight,
Subdued by you in Cotswold fight: 
  Lord Angus wish’d him speed.’—­
The instant that Fitz-Eustace spoke,
A sudden light on Marmion broke;—­ 515
‘Ah! dastard fool, to reason lost!’
He mutter’d; ’Twas nor fay nor ghost
I met upon the moonlight wold,
But living man of earthly mould.—­
  O dotage blind and gross! 520
Had I but fought as wont, one thrust
Had laid De Wilton in the dust,
  My path no more to cross.—­
How stand we now?—­he told his tale
To Douglas; and with some avail; 525
  ’Twas therefore gloom’d his rugged brow.—­
Will Surrey dare to entertain,
’Gainst Marmion, charge disproved and vain? 
Small risk of that, I trow. 
Yet Clare’s sharp questions must I shun; 330
Must separate Constance from the Nun—­
O, what a tangled web we weave,
When first we practise to deceive! 
A Palmer too!—­no wonder why
I felt rebuked beneath his eye:  535
I might have known there was but one,
Whose look could quell Lord Marmion.’

XVIII.

Stung with these thoughts, he urged to speed
His troop, and reach’d, at eve, the Tweed,
Where Lennel’s convent closed their march; 540
(There now is left but one frail arch,
  Yet mourn thou not its cells;
Our time a fair exchange has made;
Hard by, in hospitable shade,
  A reverend pilgrim dwells, 545
Well worth the whole Bernardine brood,
That e’er wore sandal, frock, or hood.)
Yet did Saint Bernard’s Abbot there
Give Marmion entertainment fair,
And lodging for his train and Clare. 550
Next morn the Baron climb’d the tower,
To view afar the Scottish power,
  Encamp’d on Flodden edge: 
The white pavilions made a show,
Like remnants of the winter snow, 555
  Along the dusky ridge. 
Long Marmion look’d:—­at length his eye
Unusual movement might descry
Amid the shifting lines: 
The Scottish host drawn out appears, 560
For, flashing on the hedge of spears,
  The eastern sunbeam shines. 
Their front now deepening, now extending;
Their flank inclining, wheeling, bending,
Now drawing back, and now descending, 565
The skilful Marmion well could know,
They watch’d the motions of some foe,
Who traversed on the plain below.

XIX.