Part 10

Tumultuous noises filled the hall;[38] And scarcely could the Father hear That name--pronounced with a dying fall--[39][X] The name of his only Daughter dear, 65 As on[40] the banner which stood near He glanced a look of holy pride, And his moist[41] eyes were glorified; Then did he seize the staff, and say:[42] "Thou, Richard, bear'st thy father's name, 70 Keep thou this ensign till the day When I of thee require the same: Thy place be on my better hand;-- And seven as true as thou, I see, Will cleave to this good cause and me." 75 He spake, and eight brave sons straightway All followed him, a gallant band!

Thus, with his sons, when forth he came The sight was hailed with loud acclaim And din of arms and minstrelsy,[43] 80 From all his warlike tenantry, All horsed and harnessed with him to ride,-- A voice[44] to which the hills replied!

But Francis, in the vacant hall, Stood silent under dreary weight,-- 85 A phantasm, in which roof and wall Shook, tottered, swam before his sight; A phantasm like a dream of night! Thus overwhelmed, and desolate, He found his way to a postern-gate; 90 And, when he waked, his languid eye[45] Was on the calm and silent sky; With air about him breathing sweet, And earth's green grass beneath his feet; Nor did he fail ere long to hear 95 A sound of military cheer, Faint--but it reached that sheltered spot; He heard, and it disturbed him not.

There stood he, leaning on a lance Which he had grasped unknowingly, 100 Had blindly grasped in that strong trance, That dimness of heart-agony; There stood he, cleansed from the despair And sorrow of his fruitless prayer. The past he calmly hath reviewed: 105 But where will be the fortitude Of this brave man, when he shall see That Form beneath the spreading tree, And know that it is Emily?[46]

He saw her where in open view 110 She sate beneath the spreading yew-- Her head upon her lap, concealing In solitude her bitter feeling: [47]"Might ever son _command_ a sire, The act were justified to-day." 115 This to himself--and to the Maid, Whom now he had approached, he said-- "Gone are they,--they have their desire; And I with thee one hour will stay, To give thee comfort if I may." 120

She heard, but looked not up, nor spake; And sorrow moved him to partake Her silence; then his thoughts turned round,[48] And fervent words a passage found.

"Gone are they, bravely, though misled; 125 With a dear Father at their head! The Sons obey a natural lord; The Father had given solemn word To noble Percy; and a force Still stronger, bends him to his course. 130 This said, our tears to-day may fall As at an innocent funeral. In deep and awful channel runs This sympathy of Sire and Sons; Untried our Brothers have been loved[49] 135 With heart by simple nature moved;[50] And now their faithfulness is proved: For faithful we must call them, bearing That soul of conscientious daring. --There were they all in circle--there 140 Stood Richard, Ambrose, Christopher, John with a sword that will not fail, And Marmaduke in fearless mail, And those bright Twins were side by side; And there, by fresh hopes beautified, 145 Stood He,[51] whose arm yet lacks the power Of man, our youngest, fairest flower! I, by the right[52] of eldest born, And in a second father's place, Presumed to grapple with[53] their scorn, 150 And meet their pity face to face; Yea, trusting in God's holy aid, I to my Father knelt and prayed; And one, the pensive Marmaduke, Methought, was yielding inwardly, 155 And would have laid his purpose by, But for a glance of his Father's eye, Which I myself could scarcely brook.

"Then be we, each and all, forgiven! Thou, chiefly thou,[54] my Sister dear, 160 Whose pangs are registered in heaven-- The stifled sigh, the hidden tear, And smiles, that dared to take their place, Meek filial smiles, upon thy face, As that unhallowed Banner grew 165 Beneath a loving old Man's view. Thy part is done--thy painful part; Be thou then satisfied in heart! A further, though far easier, task Than thine hath been, my duties ask; 170 With theirs my efforts cannot blend, I cannot for such cause contend; Their aims I utterly forswear; But I in body will be there. Unarmed and naked will I go, 175 Be at their side, come weal or woe: On kind occasions I may wait, See, hear, obstruct, or mitigate. Bare breast I take and an empty hand."--[Y] Therewith he threw away the lance, 180 Which he had grasped in that strong trance; Spurned it, like something that would stand Between him and the pure intent Of love on which his soul was bent.

"For thee, for thee, is left the sense 185 Of trial past without offence To God or man; such innocence, Such consolation, and the excess Of an unmerited distress; In that thy very strength must lie. 190 --O Sister, I could prophesy! The time is come that rings the knell Of all we loved, and loved so well: Hope nothing, if I thus may speak To thee, a woman, and thence weak: 195 Hope nothing, I repeat; for we Are doomed to perish utterly: 'Tis meet that thou with me divide The thought while I am by thy side, Acknowledging a grace in this, 200 A comfort in the dark abyss. But look not for me when I am gone, And be no farther wrought upon: Farewell all wishes, all debate, All prayers for this cause, or for that! 205 Weep, if that aid thee; but depend Upon no help of outward friend; Espouse thy doom at once, and cleave To fortitude without reprieve. For we must fall, both we and ours-- 210 This Mansion and these pleasant bowers, Walks, pools, and arbours, homestead, hall-- Our fate is theirs, will reach them all;[Z] The young horse must forsake his manger, And learn to glory in a Stranger; 215 The hawk forget his perch; the hound Be parted from his ancient ground: The blast will sweep us all away-- One desolation, one decay! And even this Creature!" which words saying, 220 He pointed to a lovely Doe, A few steps distant, feeding, straying; Fair creature, and more white than snow! "Even she will to her peaceful woods Return, and to her murmuring floods, 225 And be in heart and soul the same She was before she hither came; Ere she had learned to love us all, Herself beloved in Rylstone-hall. --But thou, my Sister, doomed to be 230 The last leaf on a blasted tree;[55] If not in vain we breathed[56] the breath Together of a purer faith; If hand in hand we have been led, And thou, (O happy thought this day!) 235 Not seldom foremost in the way; If on one thought our minds have fed, And we have in one meaning read; If, when at home our private weal Hath suffered from the shock of zeal, 240 Together we have learned to prize Forbearance and self-sacrifice; If we like combatants have fared, And for this issue been prepared; If thou art beautiful, and youth 245 And thought endue thee with all truth-- Be strong;--be worthy of the grace Of God, and fill thy destined place: A Soul, by force of sorrows high, Uplifted to the purest sky 250 Of undisturbed humanity!"

He ended,--or she heard no more; He led her from the yew-tree shade, And at the mansion's silent door, He kissed the consecrated Maid; 255 And down the valley then pursued,[57] Alone, the armèd Multitude.

CANTO THIRD

Now joy for you who from the towers Of Brancepeth look in doubt and fear,[AA][58] Telling melancholy hours! Proclaim it, let your Masters hear That Norton with his band is near! 5 The watchmen from their station high Pronounced the word,--and the Earls descry, Well-pleased, the armèd Company[59] Marching down the banks of Were.

Said fearless Norton to the pair 10 Gone forth to greet[60] him on the plain "This meeting, noble Lords! looks fair, I bring with me a goodly train; Their hearts are with you: hill and dale Have helped us: Ure we crossed, and Swale, 15 And horse and harness followed--see The best part of their Yeomanry! --Stand forth, my Sons!--these eight are mine, Whom to this service I commend; Which way soe'er our fate incline, 20 These will be faithful to the end; They are my all"--voice failed him here-- "My all save one, a Daughter dear! Whom I have left, Love's mildest birth,[61] The meekest Child on this blessed earth. 25 I had--but these are by my side, These Eight, and this is a day of pride! The time is ripe. With festive din Lo! how the people are flocking in,-- Like hungry fowl to the feeder's hand 30 When snow lies heavy upon the land."

He spake bare truth; for far and near From every side came noisy swarms Of Peasants in their homely gear; And, mixed with these, to Brancepeth came 35 Grave Gentry of estate and name, And Captains known for worth in arms; And prayed the Earls in self-defence To rise, and prove their innocence.-- "Rise, noble Earls, put forth your might 40 For holy Church, and the People's right!"

The Norton fixed, at this demand, His eye upon Northumberland, And said; "The Minds of Men will own No loyal rest while England's Crown 45 Remains without an Heir, the bait Of strife and factions desperate; Who, paying deadly hate in kind Through all things else, in this can find A mutual hope, a common mind; 50 And plot, and pant to overwhelm All ancient honour in the realm. --Brave Earls! to whose heroic veins Our noblest blood is given in trust, To you a suffering State complains, 55 And ye must raise her from the dust. With wishes of still bolder scope On you we look, with dearest hope; Even for our Altars--for the prize In Heaven, of life that never dies; 60 For the old and holy Church we mourn, And must in joy to her return. Behold!"--and from his Son whose stand Was on his right, from that guardian hand He took the Banner, and unfurled 65 The precious folds--"behold," said he, "The ransom of a sinful world; Let this your preservation be; The wounds of hands and feet and side, And the sacred Cross on which Jesus died! 70 --This bring I from an ancient hearth, These Records wrought in pledge of love By hands of no ignoble birth, A Maid o'er whom the blessed Dove Vouchsafed in gentleness to brood 75 While she the holy work pursued." "Uplift the Standard!" was the cry From all the listeners that stood round, "Plant it,--by this we live or die." The Norton ceased not for that sound, 80 But said; "The prayer which ye have heard, Much injured Earls! by these preferred, Is offered to the Saints, the sigh Of tens of thousands, secretly." "Uplift it!" cried once more the Band, 85 And then a thoughtful pause ensued: "Uplift it!" said Northumberland-- Whereat, from all the multitude Who saw the Banner reared on high In all its dread emblazonry, 90 [62]A voice of uttermost joy brake out: The transport was rolled down the river of Were, And Durham, the time-honoured Durham, did hear, And the towers of Saint Cuthbert were stirred by the shout![BB]

Now was the North in arms:--they shine 95 In warlike trim from Tweed to Tyne, At Percy's voice: and Neville sees His Followers gathering in from Tees, From Were, and all the little rills Concealed among the forkèd hills-- 100 Seven hundred Knights, Retainers all Of Neville, at their Master's call Had sate together in Raby Hall![CC] Such strength that Earldom held of yore; Nor wanted at this time rich store 105 Of well-appointed chivalry. --Not both the sleepy lance to wield, And greet the old paternal shield, They heard the summons;--and, furthermore, Horsemen and Foot of each degree,[63] 110 Unbound by pledge of fealty, Appeared, with free and open hate Of novelties in Church and State; night, burgher, yeoman, and esquire; And Romish priest,[64] in priest's attire. 115 And thus, in arms, a zealous Band Proceeding under joint command, To Durham first their course they bear; And in Saint Cuthbert's ancient seat Sang mass,--and tore the book of prayer,-- 120 And trod the bible beneath their feet.

Thence marching southward smooth and free "They mustered their host at Wetherby, Full sixteen thousand fair to see;"[DD] The Choicest Warriors of the North! 125 But none for beauty and for worth[65] Like those eight Sons--who, in a ring,[66] (Ripe men, or blooming in life's spring)[67] Each with a lance, erect and tall, A falchion, and a buckler small, 130 Stood by their Sire, on Clifford-moor,[EE] [68]To guard the Standard which he bore. On foot they girt their Father round; And so will keep the appointed ground Where'er their march: no steed will he[69] 135 Henceforth bestride;--triumphantly, He stands upon the grassy sod,[70] Trusting himself to the earth, and God. Rare sight to embolden and inspire! Proud was the field of Sons and Sire; 140 Of him the most; and, sooth to say, No shape of man in all the array So graced the sunshine of that day. The monumental pomp of age Was with this goodly Personage; 145 A stature undepressed in size, Unbent, which rather seemed to rise, In open victory o'er the weight Of seventy years, to loftier[71] height; Magnific limbs of withered state; 150 A face to fear and venerate; Eyes dark and strong; and on his head Bright[72] locks of silver hair, thick spread, Which a brown morion half-concealed, Light as a hunter's of the field; 155 And thus, with girdle round his waist, Whereon the Banner-staff might rest At need, he stood, advancing high The glittering, floating Pageantry.

Who sees him?--thousands see,[73] and One 160 With unparticipated gaze; Who, 'mong those[74] thousands, friend hath none, And treads in solitary ways. He, following wheresoe'er he might, Hath watched the Banner from afar, 165 As shepherds watch a lonely star, Or mariners the distant light That guides them through[75] a stormy night. And now, upon a chosen plot Of rising ground, yon heathy spot! 170 He takes alone[76] his far-off stand, With breast unmailed, unweaponed hand. Bold is his aspect; but his eye Is pregnant with anxiety, While, like a tutelary Power, 175 He there stands fixed from hour to hour: Yet sometimes in more humble guise, Upon the turf-clad height he lies Stretched, herdsman-like, as if to bask In sunshine were his only task,[77] 180 Or by his mantle's help to find A shelter from the nipping wind: And thus, with short oblivion blest, His weary spirits gather rest. Again he lifts his eyes; and lo! 185 The pageant glancing to and fro; And hope is wakened by the sight, He[78] thence may learn, ere fall of night, Which way the tide is doomed to flow.

To London were the Chieftains bent; 190 But what avails the bold intent? A Royal army is gone forth To quell the RISING OF THE NORTH; They march with Dudley at their head, And, in seven days' space, will to York be led!-- Can such a mighty Host be raised 196 Thus suddenly, and brought so near? The Earls upon each other gazed, And Neville's cheek grew pale with fear; For, with a high and valiant name, 200 He bore a heart of timid frame;[79] And bold if both had been, yet they "Against so many may not stay."[FF] Back therefore will they hie to seize[80] A strong Hold on the banks of Tees; 205 There wait a favourable hour, Until Lord Dacre with his power From Naworth come;[81][GG] and Howard's aid Be with them openly displayed.

While through the Host, from man to man, 210 A rumour of this purpose ran, The Standard trusting[82] to the care Of him who heretofore did bear That charge, impatient Norton sought The Chieftains to unfold his thought, 215 And thus abruptly spake;--"We yield (And can it be?) an unfought field!-- How oft has strength, the strength of heaven,[83] To few triumphantly been given! Still do our very children boast 220 Of mitred Thurston--what a Host He conquered![HH]--Saw we not the Plain (And flying shall behold again) Where faith was proved?--while to battle moved The Standard, on the Sacred Wain 225 That bore it, compassed round by a bold Fraternity of Barons old; And with those grey-haired champions stood, Under the saintly ensigns three, The infant Heir of Mowbray's blood-- 230 All confident of victory!--[84] Shall Percy blush, then, for his name? Must Westmoreland be asked with shame Whose were the numbers, where the loss, In that other day of Neville's Cross?[II] 235 When the Prior of Durham with holy hand Raised, as the Vision gave command, Saint Cuthbert's Relic--far and near Kenned on the point of a lofty spear; While the Monks prayed in Maiden's Bower 240 To God descending in his power.[85] Less would not at our need be due To us, who war against the Untrue;-- The delegates of Heaven we rise, Convoked the impious to chastise: 245 We, we, the sanctities of old Would re-establish and uphold: Be warned"--His zeal the Chiefs confounded,[86] But word was given, and the trumpet sounded: Back through the melancholy Host 250 Went Norton, and resumed his post. Alas! thought he, and have I borne This Banner raised with joyful pride,[87] This hope of all posterity, By those dread symbols sanctified;[88] 255 Thus to become at once the scorn Of babbling winds as they go by, A spot of shame to the sun's bright eye, To the light[89] clouds a mockery! --"Even these poor eight of mine would stem"-- Half to himself, and half to them 261 He spake--"would stem, or quell, a force Ten times their number, man and horse; This by their own unaided might, Without their father in their sight, 265 Without the Cause for which they fight; A Cause, which on a needful day Would breed us thousands brave as they." --So speaking, he his reverend head Raised towards that Imagery once more:[90] 270 But the familiar prospect shed Despondency unfelt before: A shock of intimations vain, Dismay,[91] and superstitious pain, Fell on him, with the sudden thought 275 Of her by whom the work was wrought:-- Oh wherefore was her countenance bright With love divine and gentle light? She would not, could not, disobey,[92] But her Faith leaned another way. 280 Ill tears she wept; I saw them fall, I overheard her as she spake Sad words to that mute Animal, The White Doe, in the hawthorn brake; She steeped, but not for Jesu's sake, 285 This Cross in tears: by her, and One Unworthier far we are undone-- Her recreant Brother--he prevailed Over that tender Spirit--assailed Too oft alas! by her whose head[93] 290 In the cold grave hath long been laid: She first, in reason's dawn beguiled Her docile, unsuspecting Child:[94] Far back--far back my mind must go To reach the well-spring of this woe! 295

While thus he brooded, music sweet Of border tunes was played to cheer The footsteps of a quick retreat; But Norton lingered in the rear, Stung with sharp thoughts; and ere the last 300 From his distracted brain was cast, Before his Father, Francis stood, And spake in firm and earnest mood.[95]

"Though here I bend a suppliant knee In reverence, and unarmed, I bear 305 In your indignant thoughts my share; Am grieved this backward march to see So careless and disorderly. I scorn your Chiefs--men who would lead, And yet want courage at their need: 310 Then look at them with open eyes! Deserve they further sacrifice?-- If--when they shrink, nor dare oppose In open field their gathering foes, (And fast, from this decisive day, 315 Yon multitude must melt away;) If now I ask a grace not claimed While ground was left for hope; unblamed Be an endeavour that can do No injury to them or you.[96] 320 My Father! I would help to find A place of shelter, till the rage Of cruel men do like the wind Exhaust itself and sink to rest; Be Brother now to Brother joined! 325 Admit me in the equipage Of your misfortunes, that at least, Whatever fate remain[97] behind, I may bear witness in my breast To your nobility of mind!" 330