Marmion, whose steady heart and eye
Ne’er changed in worst extremity;
Marmion, whose soul could scantly brook, 220
Even from his King, a haughty look;
Whose accents of command controll’d,
In camps, the boldest of the bold—­
Thought, look, and utterance fail’d him now,
Fall’n was his glance, and flush’d his brow:  225
  For either in the tone,
Or something in the Palmer’s look,
So full upon his conscience strook,
  That answer he found none. 
Thus oft it haps, that when within 230
They shrink at sense of secret sin,
  A feather daunts the brave;
A fool’s wild speech confounds the wise,
And proudest princes vail their eyes
  Before their meanest slave. 235

XV.

Well might he falter!—­By his aid
Was Constance Beverley betray’d. 
Not that he augur’d of the doom,
Which on the living closed the tomb: 
But, tired to hear the desperate maid 240
Threaten by turns, beseech, upbraid;
And wroth, because, in wild despair,
She practised on the life of Clare;
Its fugitive the Church he gave,
Though not a victim, but a slave; 245
And deem’d restraint in convent strange
Would hide her wrongs, and her revenge,
Himself, proud Henry’s favourite peer,
Held Romish thunders idle fear,
Secure his pardon he might hold, 250
For some slight mulct of penance-gold. 
Thus judging, he gave secret way,
When the stern priests surprised their prey. 
His train but deem’d the favourite page
Was left behind, to spare his age; 255
Or other if they deem’d, none dared
To mutter what he thought and heard: 
Woe to the vassal, who durst pry
Into Lord Marmion’s privacy!

XVI.

His conscience slept—­he deem’d her well, 260
And safe secured in yonder cell;
But, waken’d by her favourite lay,
And that strange Palmer’s boding say,
That fell so ominous and drear,
Full on the object of his fear, 265
To aid remorse’s venom’d throes,
Dark tales of convent-vengeance rose;
And Constance, late betray’d and scorn’d,
All lovely on his soul return’d;
Lovely as when, at treacherous call, 270
She left her convent’s peaceful wall,
Crimson’d with shame, with terror mute,
Dreading alike escape, pursuit,
Till love, victorious o’er alarms,
Hid fears and blushes in his arms. 275