Thick round the lists their lances stood,
Like blasted pines in Ettricke wood;
To Branksome many a look they threw,
The combatants' approach to view,

And bandied many a word of boast
About the knight each favoured most.

XV.

Meantime full anxious was the Dame;
For now arose disputed claim

Of who should fight for Deloraine,
"Twixt Harden and 'twixt Thirlestaine.

They 'gan to reckon kin and rent,
And frowning brow on brow was bent;
But yet not long the strife-for, lo!
Himself, the Knight of Deloraine,
Strong, as it seemed, and free from pain,
In armour sheathed from top to toe,
Appeared, and craved the combat due.
The Dame her charm successful knew*
And the fierce chiefs their claims withdrew.

* See p. 82. Stanza XXIII.

XVI.

When for the lists they sought the plain,
The stately Ladye's silken rein

Did noble Howard hold;

Unarmed by her side he walked,

And much, in courteous phrase, they talked Of feats of arms of old.

Costly his garb-his Flemish ruff

Fell o'er his doublet, shaped of buff,
With sattin slashed, and lined;
Tawny his boot, and gold his spur,
His cloak was all of Poland fur,

His hose with silver twined;

His Bilboa blade, by Marchmen felt,
Hung in a broad and studded belt ;

Hence, in rude phrase, the Borderers still

Called noble Howard, Belted Will.

XVII.

Behind Lord Howard and the Dame,

Fair Margaret on her palfrey came,

Whose foot-cloth swept the ground; White was her wimple, and her veil, And her loose locks a chaplet pale Of whitest roses bound; The lordly Angus by her side,

In courtesy to cheer her tried

;

Without his aid, her hand in vain

Had strove to guide her broidered rein.
He deemed she shuddered at the sight
Of warriors met for mortal fight;
But cause of terror, all unguessed,
Was fluttering in her gentle breast,
When in their chairs of crimson placed,
The Dame and she the barriers graced.

XVIII.

Prize of the field, the young Buccleuch,
An English knight led forth to view ;
Scarce rued the boy his present plight,
So much he longed to see the fight.
Within the lists, in knightly pride,
High Home and haughty Dacre ride ;

Their leading staffs of steel they wield,
As marshals of the mortal field;

Then heralds hoarse did loud proclaim,
In king, and queen, and wardens' name,
That none, while lasts the strife,
Should dare, by look, or sign, or word,
Aid to a champion to afford,

On peril of his life.

Then not a breath the silence broke,
Till thus the alternate heralds spoke.

XIX.

ENGLISH HERALD.

Here standeth Richard of Musgrave,

Good knight, and true, and freely born, Amends from Deloraine to crave,

For foul despiteous scathe and scorn.
He sayeth, that William of Deloraine
Is traitor false by Border laws;
This with his sword he will maintain,

So help him God, and his good cause!

XX.

SCOTTISH HERALD.

Here standeth William of Deloraine,

Good knight and true, of noble strain,

Who sayeth, that foul treason's stain,
Since he bore arms, ne'er soiled his coat,
And that, so help him God above,
He will on Musgrave's body prove,
He lyes most foully in his throat.

LORD DACRE.

Forward, brave champions, to the fight!

Sound trumpets

LORD HOME.

"God defend the right!"

At the last word, with deadly blows,

The ready warriors fiercely close.