Page:Marmion - Walter Scott (ed. Bayne, 1889).pdf/43

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INTRODUCTION TO CANTO FIRST.
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But that a ribald King and CourtBade him toil on, to make them sport;Demanded for their niggard pay,Fit for their souls, a looser lay, 280Licentious satire, song, and play;The world defrauded of the high design,Profaned the God-given strength, and marr'd the lofty line.
Warm'd by such names, well may we then,Though dwindled sons of little men, 285Essay to break a feeble lanceIn the fair fields of old romance;Or seek the moated castle's cell,Where long through talisman and spell,While tyrants ruled, and damsels wept, 290Thy Genius, Chivalry, hath slept:There sound the harpings of the North,Till he awake and sally forth,On venturous quest to prick again,In all his arms, with all his train, 295Shield, lance, and brand, and plume, and scarf,Fay, giant, dragon, squire, and dwarf,And wizard with his wand of might,And errant maid on palfrey white.Around the Genius weave their spells, 300Pure Love, who scarce his passion tells;Mystery, half veil'd and half reveal'd;And Honour, with his spotless shield;Attention, with fix'd eye; and Fear,That loves the tale she shrinks to hear; 305And gentle Courtesy; and Faith,Unchanged by sufferings, time, or death;And Valour, lion-mettled lord,Leaning upon his own good sword. Well has thy fair achievement shown, 310A worthy meed may thus be won;Ytene's oaks—beneath whose shadeTheir theme the merry minstrels made,
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