He saw her where in open view 110 She sate beneath the spreading yew-- Her head upon her lap, concealing In solitude her bitter feeling: [47]"Might ever son _command_ a sire, The act were justified to-day." 115 This to himself--and to the Maid, Whom now he had approached, he said-- "Gone are they,--they have their desire; And I with thee one hour will stay, To give thee comfort if I may." 120
She heard, but looked not up, nor spake; And sorrow moved him to partake Her silence; then his thoughts turned round,[48] And fervent words a passage found.
"Gone are they, bravely, though misled; 125 With a dear Father at their head! The Sons obey a natural lord; The Father had given solemn word To noble Percy; and a force Still stronger, bends him to his course. 130 This said, our tears to-day may fall As at an innocent funeral. In deep and awful channel runs This sympathy of Sire and Sons; Untried our Brothers have been loved[49] 135 With heart by simple nature moved;[50] And now their faithfulness is proved: For faithful we must call them, bearing That soul of conscientious daring. --There were they all in circle--there 140 Stood Richard, Ambrose, Christopher, John with a sword that will not fail, And Marmaduke in fearless mail, And those bright Twins were side by side; And there, by fresh hopes beautified, 145 Stood He,[51] whose arm yet lacks the power Of man, our youngest, fairest flower! I, by the right[52] of eldest born, And in a second father's place, Presumed to grapple with[53] their scorn, 150 And meet their pity face to face; Yea, trusting in God's holy aid, I to my Father knelt and prayed; And one, the pensive Marmaduke, Methought, was yielding inwardly, 155 And would have laid his purpose by, But for a glance of his Father's eye, Which I myself could scarcely brook.
"Then be we, each and all, forgiven! Thou, chiefly thou,[54] my Sister dear, 160 Whose pangs are registered in heaven-- The stifled sigh, the hidden tear, And smiles, that dared to take their place, Meek filial smiles, upon thy face, As that unhallowed Banner grew 165 Beneath a loving old Man's view. Thy part is done--thy painful part; Be thou then satisfied in heart! A further, though far easier, task Than thine hath been, my duties ask; 170 With theirs my efforts cannot blend, I cannot for such cause contend; Their aims I utterly forswear; But I in body will be there. Unarmed and naked will I go, 175 Be at their side, come weal or woe: On kind occasions I may wait, See, hear, obstruct, or mitigate. Bare breast I take and an empty hand."--[Y] Therewith he threw away the lance, 180 Which he had grasped in that strong trance; Spurned it, like something that would stand Between him and the pure intent Of love on which his soul was bent.