Marmion: A Tale Of Flodden Field

WHEN dark December glooms the day, And takes our autumn joys away; When short and scant the sunbeam throws, Upon the weary waste of snows, A cold and profitless regard, Like pat...

Yet him whose heart is ill at ease Such peaceful solitudes displease; He loves to drown his bosom’s jar Amid the elemental war: And my black Palmer’s choice had been Some ruder...

HEAP on more wood! the wind is chill; But let it whistle as it will, We’ll keep our Christmas merry still. Each age has deemed the new-born year The fittest time for festal chee...

THE “Lay of the Last Minstrel,” Scott’s first romantic tale, was published in January, 1805, and won for its author his first great success. The writing of “Marmion” was begun i...

Fixed was her look, and stern her air: Back from her shoulders streamed her hair; The locks, that wont her brow to shade, Stared up erectly from her head; Her figure seemed to r...

Not far advanced was morning day, When Marmion did his troop array, To Surrey’s camp to ride; He had safe-conduct for his band, Beneath the royal seal and hand, And Douglas gave...

“A clerk could tell what years have flown Since Alexander filled our throne, Third monarch of that warlike name, And eke the time when here he came To seek Sir Hugo, then our lo...

Then stepped, to meet that noble lord, Sir Hugh the Heron bold, Baron of Twisell and of Ford, And captain of the hold. He led Lord Marmion to the dais, Raised o’er the pavement...

His giant form like ruined tower, Though fall’n its muscles’ brawny vaunt, Huge-boned, and tall, and grim, and gaunt, Seemed o’er the gaudy scene to lower: His locks and beard i...

Now sudden, distant trumpets shrill, In notes prolonged by wood and hill, Were heard to echo far: Each ready archer grasped his bow, But by the flourish soon they know, They bre...

By this, though deep the evening fell, Still rose the battle’s deadly swell, For still the Scots, around their king, Unbroken, fought in desperate ring. Where’s now their victor...