"On Penchryst glows a bale of fire, And three are kindling on Priesthaughswire ; Ride out, ride out, The foe to scout! Mount, mount for Branksome, every man! Thou, Todrig, warn the Johnstone clan, Ye need not send to Liddesdale; For, when they see the blazing bale, Our kin, and clan, and friends, to raise." XXVIII. Fair Margaret, from the turret head, Heard, far below, the coursers' tread, While loud the harness rung, As to their seats, with clamour dread, The ready horsemen sprung; And trampling hoofs, and iron coats, And leaders' voices, mingled notes, And out! and out! In hasty route, The horsemen galloped forth; Dispersing to the south to scout, And east, and west, and north, To view their coming enemies, And warn their vassals, and allies. XXIX. The ready page, with hurried hand, Awaked the need-fire's slumbering brand, And ruddy blushed the heaven: For a sheet of flame, from the turret high, Waved like a blood-flag on the sky, All flaring and uneven ; And soon a score of fires, I ween, From height, and hill, and cliff, were seen; Each with warlike tidings fraught; Each from each the signal caught; Each after each they glanced to sight, They gleamed on many a dusky tarn, On many a cairn's gray pyramid, And Lothian heard the Regent's order, That all should bowne them for the Border. XXX. The livelong night in Branksome rang The ceaseless sound of steel; The castle-bell, with backward clang, Sent forth the larum peal; Was frequent heard the heavy jar, Was frequent heard the changing guard, Blood-hound and ban-dog yell within. XXXI. The noble Dame, amid the broil, Shared the gray Seneschal's high toil, And spoke of danger with a smile; Cheered the young knights, and council sage Held with the chiefs of riper age. No tidings of the foe were brought, Nor of his numbers knew they ought, Nor in what time the truce he sought. Some said, that there were thousands ten; And others weened that it was nought But Leven Clans, or Tynedale men, Who came to gather in black mail; And Liddesdale, with small avail, Might drive them lightly back agen. So passed the anxious night away, And welcome was the peep of day. CEASED the high sound-the listening throng And guide him on the rugged way?— |