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MARMION.

l. 17. Cp. Coleridge's 'Ancient Mariner':—

"The fair breeze blew, the white foam flew, The furrow followed free.'

l. 20. For Saint Hilda, see below, note on l. 244.

Stanza II. l. 33. sea-dog, the seal.

l. 36. still. Cp. above, l. 430.

l. 44. A Novice is one under probation for a term extending to at least a year, and it may extend to two or three years, after which vows are either taken or declined.

Stanza IV. l. 70. Benedictine school. St. Benedict founded his order—sometimes, because of their dark garb, called Black Friars—in the beginning of the sixth century. Benedict of Aniana, in the eighth century, reformed the discipline of the order.

l..74. Cp. Chaucer's Prioress in the Prologue:—

'And sikerly sche was of gret disport, And ful plesaunt, and amyable of port.'

Stanza V. l. 90. Cp. Spenser's Una, 'Faery Queene,' I. iv:—

'A lovely Ladie rode him faire beside.*****As one that inly mournd, so was she sad, And heavie sat upon her palfrey slow.'

Stanza VI. With this 'brown study,' cp. Wordsworth's 'Reverie of Poor Susan.'

Stanza VII, l. 114. Reference to the lion of 'Faery Queene,' I. iii:—

'Forsaken Truth long seekes her love, And makes the Lyon mylde.'

l. 124. bowl and knife. Poisoning and stabbing.

Stanza VIII. Monk-Wearmouth. A monastery, founded here in 674 A.D., was destroyed by the Danes in the ninth century, and restored after the Norman Conquest. For Tynemouth, see below, 371. Seaton-Delaval, the seat of the Delavals, who by marriage came into possession of Ford Castle. Widderington. It was a 'squyar off Northombarlonde, Ric. Wytharynton,' that showed notable valour and persistent endurance at Chevy Chase:—

'For Wetharryngton my harte was wo, That ever he slayne shulde be; For when both his leggis wear hewyne in t_, He knyled and fought on hys kne.'

Butler, fully appreciating this doughty champion, uses him in a descriptive illustration, 'Hudibras,' I. iii. 95:—

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