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

THE VISION OF DON RODERICK
Their changing rounds as watchful horsemen ride,
To guard the limits of King Roderick's camp,
For, through the river's night-fog rolling damp,
Was many a proud pavilion dimly seen,
Which glimmer'd back; against the moon's fair lamp,
Tissues of silk and silver twisted sheen,
And standardsproudlypitch'd, and warders arm'd between.
IIL
But of their Monarch's person keeping ward,
Since last the deep-mouth'd bell of vespers toll'd,
The chosen soldiers of the royal guard
Their post beneath the proud Cathedral hold:
A band unlike their Gothic sires of old,
Who, for the cap of steel and iron mace,
Bear slender darts, and casques bedeck'd with gold,
While silver-studded belts their shoulders grace,
Where ivory quivers ring in the broad falchion's place.
IV.
In the light language of an idle court,
They murmur'd at their master's long delay,
And held his lengthen'd orisons in sport:
"Whatl will Don Roderick here till morning stay,
To wear in shrift and prayer the night away?
And are his hours in such dull penance past
For fair Florinda's plunder'd charms to pay?"
Then to the east their weary eyes they cast,
And wish'd the lingering dawn would glimmer forth at last
V
But, far within, Toledo's Prelate lent
An ear of fearful wonder to the King;
The silver lamp a fitful lustre sent,
So long that sad confession witnessing:
For Roderick told of many a hidden thing,
Such as are lothly utter'd to the air,
When Fear, Remorse, and Shame, the bosom wring.
And Guilt his secret burthen cannot bear,
And Conscience seeks in speech a respite from Despair.
VL
Full on the Prelate's face,' and silver hair,
The stream of failing light was feebly roll'd;