XXVII. The Seneschal, whose silver hair The foe to scout! Mount, mount for Branksome†, every man! *Bale, beacon-faggot. ↑ Mount for Branksome was the gathering word of the Scotts. XXVIII. Fair Margaret, from the turret head, As to their seats, with clamour dread, And trampling hoofs, and iron coats, 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, * Need-fire, beacon. 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 from each the signal caught; They gleamed on many a dusky tarn*, On many a cairn's ‡ gray pyramid, That all should bownes them for the Border. * Tarn, a mountain lake. 1 Cairn, a pile of stones. + Earn, a Scottish eagle. S Borone, make ready. XXX. The livelong night in Branksome rang The castle-bell, with backward clang, Was frequent heard the heavy jar, 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, Some said that there were thousands ten; And others weened that it was nought, But Leven clans, or Tynedale men, Might drive them lightly back agen. CEASED the high sound-the listening throng * Protection-money exacted by free-booters. M |