The poetical works of Sir Walter Scott ... Notes & life of the author.

iNTO I.L MARMIOi.
For still, as squire and archer stared
On that dark face and matted beard,
Their glee and game declined.
All gazed at length in silence drear,
Unbroke, save when in comrade's ear
Some yeoman, wondering in his fear,
Thus whispered forth his mind:"Saint Mary! saw'st thou e'er such sigh.?
How pale his cheek, his eye how bright,
Whene'er the fire-brand's fickle light
Glances beneath his cowll
Full on our Lord he sets his eye;
For his best palfrey, would not I
Endure that sullen scowL"VII.
But Marmion, as to chase the awe
Which thus had quelled their hearts, who saw
The ever-varying ire-light show
That figure stern and face of woe,
Now called upon a squire:"' Fitz-Eustace, know'st thou not some la.,.
To speed the lingering night away?
We slumber by the fire."VII.
"So please you, thus the youth rejoined.
"O)ur choicest minstrel's left behind.
IU1 nmay we hope to please your ear,
Acclistomed Constant's strains to hear.
The harp full deftly can he strike,
And wake the lover's lute alike;
To dear Saint Valentine, no thrush
Sings livelier from a spring-tide bush;
No nightingale her love-lorn tune
More sweetly warbles to the moon.
Woe to the cause, whate'er it be,
Detains from us his melody,
Lavished on rocks, and billows stern,
Or duller monks of Lindisfarn.
Now must I venture as I may,
To sing his favourite roundelay."I.
A mellow voice Fitz-Eustace had,
The air he chose was wild and sad;