And here two days did Marmion rest, 255 With every rite that honour claims, Attended as the King's own guest;-- Such the command of Royal James, Who marshall'd then his land's array, Upon the Borough-moor that lay. 260 Perchance he would not foeman's eye Upon his gathering host should pry, Till full prepared was every band To march against the English land. Here while they dwelt, did Lindesay's wit 265 Oft cheer the Baron's moodier fit; And, in his turn, he knew to prize Lord Marmion's powerful mind, and wise,-- Train'd in the lore of Rome and Greece, And policies of war and peace. 270 XIV. It chanced, as fell the second night, That on the battlements they walk'd, And, by the slowly fading light, Of varying topics talk'd; And, unaware, the Herald-bard 275 Said, Marmion might his toil have spared, In travelling so far; For that a messenger from heaven In vain to James had counsel given Against the English war: 280 And, closer question'd, thus he told A tale, which chronicles of old In Scottish story have enroll'd:- XV. Sir David Lindsey's Tale. 'Of all the palaces so fair, Built for the royal dwelling, 285 In Scotland, far beyond compare Linlithgow is excelling; And in its park, in jovial June, How sweet the merry linnet's tune, How blithe the blackbird's lay! 290 The wild buck bells from ferny brake, The coot dives merry on the lake, The saddest heart might pleasure take To see all nature gay. But June is to our Sovereign dear 295 The heaviest month in all the year: Too well his cause of grief you know, June saw his father's overthrow. Woe to the traitors, who could bring The princely boy against his King! 300 Still in his conscience burns the sting. In offices as strict as Lent, King James's June is ever spent. XVI.