Each minstrel's war-note loud was blown ;

But, e'er a grey-goose shaft had flown,

A horseman galloped from the rear.

XXVIII.

"Ah! noble Lords!" he, breathless, said, "What treason has your march betrayed? What make you here, from aid so far, Before you walls, around you war? Your foemen triumph in the thought, That in the toils the lion's caught. Already on dark Ruberslaw

The Douglas holds his weapon-schaw;

The lances, waving in his train,

Clothe the dun heath like autumn grain;

And on the Liddle's northern strand,

To bar retreat to Cumberland,

Lord Maxwell ranks his merry-men good,

Beneath the eagle and the rood;

And Jedwood, Eske, and Teviotdale,

Have to proud Angus come;

And all the Merse and Lauderdale

Have risen with haughty Home. An exile from Northumberland,

In Liddesdale I've wandered long ;

But still my heart was with merry England,

And cannot brook my country's wrong;

And hard I've spurred all night, to shew
The mustering of the coming foe."-

XXIX.

"And let them come!" fierce Dacre cried;

"For soon yon crest, my father's pride,

That swept the shores of Judah's sea,

And waved in gales of Galilee,

From Branksome's highest towers displayed,

Shall mock the rescue's lingering aid !—

Level each harquebus on row;

Draw, merry archers, draw the bow;

Up, bill-men, to the walls, and cry,

Dacre for England, win or die !"

XXX.

"Yet hear," quoth Howard, " calmly hear,

Nor deem my words the words of fear :
For who, in field or foray slack,

Saw the blanche lion e'er fall back?

But thus to risque our Border flower

In strife against a kingdom's power,

Ten thousand Scots 'gainst thousands three, Certes, were desperate policy.

Nay, take the terms the Ladye made,

Ere conscious of the advancing aid:

Let Musgrave meet fierce Deloraine

In single fight; and if he gain,

He gains for us; but if he 's crossed,

'Tis but a single warrior lost :

The rest, retreating as they came,

Avoid defeat, and death, and shame."

XXXI.

Ill could the haughty Dacre brook

His brother-warden's sage rebuke;

And yet his forward step he staid,
And slow and sullenly obeyed.

But ne'er again the Border side

Did these two lords in friendship ride;
And this slight discontent, men say,

Cost blood upon another day.

XXXII.

The pursuivant-at-arms again

Before the castle took his stand;

His trumpet called, with parleying strain,
The leaders of the Scottish band;
And he defied, in Musgrave's right,
Stout Deloraine to single fight;

A gauntlet at their feet he laid,

And thus the terms of fight he said :—

"If in the lists good Musgrave's sword
Vanquish the Knight of Deloraine,
Your youthful chieftain, Branksome's lord,
Shall hostage for his clan remain :
If Deloraine foil good Musgrave,
The boy his liberty shall have.

Howe'er it falls, the English band,
Unharming Scots, by Scots unharmed,
In peaceful march, like men unarmed,
Shall straight retreat to Cumberland."-

XXXIII.

Unconscious of the near relief,

The proffer pleased each Scottish chief,

Though much the Ladye sage gainsayed;

For though their hearts were brave and true, From Jedwood's recent sack they knew,

How tardy was the regent's aid:

And

you may guess the noble Dame

Durst not the secret prescience own,