St Mary! but we'll light a brand, Shall warm your hearths in Cumberland." XXIII. A wrathful man was Dacre's lord, But calmer Howard took the word : May't please thy Dame, Sir Seneschal, To seek the castle's outward wall, Each chief around leaned on his spear, To see the pursuivant appear. All in Lord Howard's livery dressed, The lion argent decked his breast; He led a boy of blooming hue- And thus his master's will he said. XXIV. "It irks, high Dame, my noble Lords, 'Gainst ladye fair to draw their swords; That he may suffer march-treason pain: + It was but last St Cuthbert's even He pricked to Stapleton on Leven, And slew his brother by dint of glaive. These restless riders may not tame, * An asylum for outlaws. + Plundered. † Border treason. Either receive within thy towers Two hundred of my master's powers, And this fair boy, to London led, Shall good King Edward's page be bred.”— XXV. He ceased-aud loud the boy did cry, And dark and sad each warrior frowned: *Note of assault. Unaltered and collected stood, And thus replied, in dauntless mood: XXVI. "Say to your Lords of high emprize, Who war on women and on boys, That either William of Deloraine Will cleanse him, by oath, of march-treason stain, Or else he will the combat take 'Gainst Musgrave, for his honour's sake. No knight in Cumberland so good, But William may count with him kin and blood. When English blood swelled Ancram ford; And bare him ably in the flight, Himself had seen him dubbed a knight. God be his aid, and God be mine; Through me no friend shall meet his doom; Here, while I live, no foe finds room. Then, if thy lords their purpose urge, Take our defiance loud and high; Our slogan is their lyke-wake* dirge, Our moat, the grave where they shall lie." XXVII. Proud she looked round, applause to claim Then lightened Thirlestane's eye of flame; "St Mary for the young Buccleuch !" The English war-cry answered wide, And forward bent each southern spear; Each Kendal archer made a stride, * Lyke-wake, the watching a corpse previous to interment, |