Boldly she spoke,--"Soldiers, attend! My father was the soldier's friend; Cheer'd him in camps, in marches led, And with him in the battle bled. Not from the valiant, or the strong, Should exile's daughter suffer wrong."-- Answer'd De Brent, most forward still In every feat or good or ill,-- "I shame me of the part I play'd; And thou an outlaw's child, poor maid! An outlaw I by forest laws, And merry Needwood[339] knows the cause. Poor Rose,--if Rose be living now,"-- He wiped his iron eye and brow,-- "Must bear such age, I think, as thou.-- Hear ye, my mates;--I go to call The Captain of our watch to hall: There lies my halberd on the floor; And he that steps my halberd o'er, To do the maid injurious part, My shaft shall quiver in his heart!-- Beware loose speech, or jesting rough: Ye all know John de Brent. Enough." [339] A royal forest in Staffordshire. IX. Their Captain came, a gallant young,-- Of Tullibardine's[340] house he sprung,-- Nor wore he yet the spurs of knight; Gay was his mien, his humor light, And, though by courtesy controll'd, Forward his speech, his bearing bold. The high-born maiden ill could brook The scanning of his curious look And dauntless eye;--and yet, in sooth, Young Lewis was a generous youth; But Ellen's lovely face and mien, Ill suited to the garb and scene, Might lightly bear construction strange, And give loose fancy scope to range. "Welcome to Stirling towers, fair maid! Come ye to seek a champion's aid, On palfrey white, with harper hoar, Like errant damosel[341] of yore? Does thy high quest[342] a knight require, Or may the venture suit a squire?"-- Her dark eye flash'd;--she paused and sigh'd,-- "Oh, what have I to do with pride!-- Through scenes of sorrow, shame, and strife, A suppliant for a father's life, I crave an audience of the King. Behold, to back my suit, a ring, The royal pledge of grateful claims, Given by the Monarch to Fitz-James." [340] Tullibardine was an old seat of the Murrays in Perthshire. [341] In the days of chivalry any oppressed "damosel" could obtain redress by applying to the court of the nearest king, where some knight became her champion. [342] Undertaking. X.