Such minstrel lesson to bestow
Be long thy pleasing task,—­but, O! 
No more by thy example teach,—­
What few can practise, all can preach,—­
With even patience to endure 170
Lingering disease, and painful cure,
And boast affliction’s pangs subdued
By mild and manly fortitude. 
Enough, the lesson has been given: 
Forbid the repetition, Heaven! 175

Come listen, then! for thou hast known,
And loved the Minstrel’s varying tone,
Who, like his Border sires of old,
Waked a wild measure rude and bold,
Till Windsor’s oaks, and Ascot plain, 180
With wonder heard the northern strain. 
Come listen! bold in thy applause,
The Bard shall scorn pedantic laws;
And, as the ancient art could stain
Achievements on the storied pane, 185
Irregularly traced and plann’d,
But yet so glowing and so grand,—­
So shall he strive, in changeful hue,
Field, feast, and combat, to renew,
And loves, and arms, and harpers’ glee, 191
And all the pomp of chivalry.

CANTO FIFTH.

The court.

I.

The train has left the hills of Braid;
The barrier guard have open made
(So Lindesay bade) the palisade,
  That closed the tented ground;
Their men the warders backward drew, 5
And carried pikes as they rode through,
  Into its ample bound. 
Fast ran the Scottish warriors there,
Upon the Southern band to stare. 
And envy with their wonder rose, 10
To see such well-appointed foes;
Such length of shafts, such mighty bows,
So huge, that many simply thought,
But for a vaunt such weapons wrought;
And little deem’d their force to feel, 15
Through links of mail, and plates of steel,
When rattling upon Flodden vale,
The cloth-yard arrows flew like hail.

II.

Nor less did Marmion’s skilful view
Glance every line and squadron through; 20
And much he marvell’d one small land
Could marshal forth such various band;
  For men-at-arms were here,
Heavily sheathed in mail and plate,
Like iron towers for strength and weight, 25
On Flemish steeds of bone and height,
  With battle-axe and spear. 
Young knights and squires, a lighter train,
Practised their chargers on the plain,
By aid of leg, of hand, and rein, 30
  Each warlike feat to show,
To pass, to wheel, the croupe to gain,
And high curvett, that not in vain
The sword sway might descend amain
  On foeman’s casque below. 35