72
MARMION.
His thoughts I scan not; but I ween,
195That, could their import have been seen,
The meanest groom in all the hall,
That e'er tied courser to a stall,
Would scarce have wished to be their prey,
For Lutterward and Fontenaye.
195That, could their import have been seen,
The meanest groom in all the hall,
That e'er tied courser to a stall,
Would scarce have wished to be their prey,
For Lutterward and Fontenaye.
XIII.
200High minds, of native pride and force,
Most deeply feel thy pangs, Remorse!
Fear, for their scourge, mean villains have,
Thou art the torturer of the brave!
Yet fatal strength they boast to steel
205Their minds to bear the wounds they feel,
Even while they writhe beneath the smart
Of civil conflict in the heart.
For soon Lord Marmion raised his head,
And, smiling, to Fitz-Eustace said,—
210'Is it not strange, that, as ye sung,
Seem'd in mine ear a death-peal rung,
Such as in nunneries they toll
For some departing sister's soul?
Say, what may this portend?'—
215Then first the Palmer silence broke,
(The livelong day he had not spoke)
'The death of a dear friend.'
200High minds, of native pride and force,
Most deeply feel thy pangs, Remorse!
Fear, for their scourge, mean villains have,
Thou art the torturer of the brave!
Yet fatal strength they boast to steel
205Their minds to bear the wounds they feel,
Even while they writhe beneath the smart
Of civil conflict in the heart.
For soon Lord Marmion raised his head,
And, smiling, to Fitz-Eustace said,—
210'Is it not strange, that, as ye sung,
Seem'd in mine ear a death-peal rung,
Such as in nunneries they toll
For some departing sister's soul?
Say, what may this portend?'—
215Then first the Palmer silence broke,
(The livelong day he had not spoke)
'The death of a dear friend.'
XIV.
Marmion, whose steady heart and eye
Ne'er changed in worst extremity;
220Marmion, whose soul could scantly brook,
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,
225Fall'n was his glance, and flush'd his brow:
For either in the tone,
Or something in the Palmer's look,
So full upon his conscience strook,
Marmion, whose steady heart and eye
Ne'er changed in worst extremity;
220Marmion, whose soul could scantly brook,
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,
225Fall'n was his glance, and flush'd his brow:
For either in the tone,
Or something in the Palmer's look,
So full upon his conscience strook,
