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THE PARTING OF MARMION AND DOUGLAS
SIR WALTER SCOTT

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 guide.

The train from out the castle drew,
But Marmion stopped to bid adieu:

"Though something I might 'plain," he said,

"Of cold respect to stranger guest,
Sent hither by your King's behest,
While in Tantallon's towers I stayed,
Part we in friendship from your land,
And, noble Earl, receive my hand."
But Douglas round him drew his cloak,
Folded his arms, and thus he spoke:
"My manors, halls, and bowers shall still
Be open, at my Sovereign's will,

To each one whom he lists, howe'er
Unmeet to be the owner's peer.
My castles are my King's alone,
From turret to foundation stone;
The hand of Douglas is his own,
And never shall, in friendly grasp,

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Such hand as Marmion's had not spared
To cleave the Douglas' head!
And, first, I tell thee, haughty peer,
He, who does England's message here,
Although the meanest in her state,
May well, proud Angus, be thy mate:
And, Douglas, more, I tell thee here,
Even in thy pitch of pride-
Here, in thy hold, thy vassals near,
I tell thee, thou'rt defied!
And if thou said'st I am not peer
To any lord in Scotland here,
Lowland or Highland, far or near,

Lord Angus, thou hast lied!"

On the Earl's cheek, the flush of rage
O'ercame the ashen hue of age;

Fierce he broke forth: "And dar'st thou then

To beard the lion in his den,

The Douglas in his hall?

And hop'st thou hence unscathed to go?
No, by Saint Bride of Bothwell, no!
Up drawbridge, grooms-what, warder, ho!
Let the portcullis fall."

Lord Marmion turned-well was his need,
And dashed the rowels in his steed;
Like arrow through the archway sprung;
The ponderous grate behind him rung-
To pass there was such scanty room,
The bars, descending, razed his plume.

The steed along the drawbridge flies,
Just as it trembled on the rise;
Nor lighter does the swallow skim
Along the smooth lake's level brim;

And when Lord Marmion reached his band
He halts, and turns with clinchéd hand

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And shout of loud defiance pours,
And shook his gauntlet at the towers.

"Horse! horse!" the Douglas cried, "and chase!"
But soon he reined his fury's pace:
"A royal messenger he came,
Though most unworthy of the name.
Saint Mary mend my fiery mood!
Old age ne'er cools the Douglas' blood;
I thought to slay him where he stood.
'Tis pity of him, too," he cried;
"Bold he can speak, and fairly ride-
I warrant him a warrior tried."
With this his mandate he recalls,
And slowly seeks his castle halls

NOTES AND QUESTIONS

Note. Marmion, an English nobleman, has been sent as an envoy by Henry the Eighth, King of England, to James the Fourth, King of Scotland. The two countries are on the eve of war with each other. Arriving in Edinburgh, Marmion is entrusted by King James to the care and hospitality of Douglas, Earl of Argus, who, taking him to his castle at Tantallon, treats him with the respect due his position as representative of the King, but at the same time dislikes him. The war approaching, Marmion leaves to join the English camp. This sketch describes the leave-taking.

Discussion. 1. In what part of the castle does this conversation take place? 2. Why did Douglas refuse to receive the hand of Marmion? 3. Read the lines that give a vivid picture of the defiant Douglas. 4. What distinction does Douglas make between the ownership of his "castle" and that of his "hand"? 5. How does Marmion answer the implied insult in "howe'er unmeet to be the owner's peer"? 6. What claim does Marmion make for one "who does England's message"? 7. What do we call one "who does England's message" at Washington? 8. What does Douglas mean by "to beard the lion in his den"? 9. What lines show Marmion's narrow escape? 10. Why do you think Douglas changed his mind? 11. Would you have admired him more if he had given chase to Marmion? 12. Which man appears to better advantage in this scene?

troop array, 325, 2

safe conduct, 325, 4

something I might 'plain, 325, 9

Phrases

pitch of pride, 326, 8
in thy hold, 326, 9

dashed the rowels, 326, 25

NOTES AND QUESTIONS

For Biography, see page 63.

Historical Note. Burns wrote this ode to fit an old air, said in Scottish tradition to have been Robert Bruce's march at the battle of Bannockburn. "This thought," he says, "in my solitary wanderings, has warmed me to a pitch of enthusiasm on the theme of liberty and independence." The story is told that Burns wrote this poem while riding on horseback over a wild moor in Scotland in company with a Mr. Syme, who, observing the expression on the poet's face, refrained from speaking to him. Doubtless this vigorous hymn was singing itself through the soul of Burns as he wrote it. The poem is considered the most stirring war ode ever written.

Discussion. 1. Who is supposed to speak the words? 2. To whom are they supposed to be addressed? 3. For what did Bruce contend? 4. What patriot before him had fought against great odds in the same cause? 5. In these lines, what choice does Bruce offer his army? 6. To what deep feeling does he appeal? 7. Does this poem represent truly Bruce's own feeling for his country, as history acquaints us with it? 8. Which are the most stirring lines? 9. What was Burns's purpose in writing it? 10. What influence does such a poem have?

traitor knave, 328, 9

servile chains, 328, 18

Phrases

dearest veins, 328, 19
proud usurpers, 328, 21