Through this mix'd crowd of glee and game, The King to greet Lord Marmion came, 205 While, reverent, all made room. An easy task it was, I trow, King James's manly form to know, Although, his courtesy to show, He doff'd, to Marmion bending low, 210 His broider'd cap and plume. For royal was his garb and mien, His cloak, of crimson velvet piled, Trimm'd with the fur of marten wild; His vest of changeful satin sheen, 215 The dazzled eye beguiled; His gorgeous collar hung adown, Wrought with the badge of Scotland's crown, The thistle brave, of old renown: His trusty blade, Toledo right, 220 Descended from a baldric bright; White were his buskins, on the heel His spurs inlaid of gold and steel; His bonnet, all of crimson fair, Was button'd with a ruby rare: 225 And Marmion deem'd he ne'er had seen A prince of such a noble mien. IX. The Monarch's form was middle size; For feat of strength, or exercise, Shaped in proportion fair; 230 And hazel was his eagle eye, And auburn of the darkest dye, His short curl'd beard and hair. Light was his footstep in the dance, And firm his stirrup in the lists; 235 And, oh! he had that merry glance, That seldom lady's heart resists. Lightly from fair to fair he flew, And loved to plead, lament, and sue;-- Suit lightly won, and short-lived pain, 240 For monarchs seldom sigh in vain. I said he joy'd in banquet bower; But, 'mid his mirth, 'twas often strange, How suddenly his cheer would change, His look o'ercast and lower, 245 If, in a sudden turn, he felt The pressure of his iron belt, That bound his breast in penance pain, In memory of his father slain. Even so 'twas strange how, evermore, 250 Soon as the passing pang was o'er, Forward he rush'd, with double glee, Into the stream of revelry: Thus, dim-seen object of affright Startles the courser in his flight, 255 And half he halts, half springs aside; But feels the quickening spur applied, And, straining on the tighten'd rein, Scours doubly swift o'er hill and plain. X.