XXVI.
Then clamor’d loud the royal train,
And brandish’d swords and staves amain.
But stern the baron’s warning—“Back!
Back, on[313] your lives, ye menial pack!
Beware the Douglas.—Yes! behold,
King James! The Douglas, doom’d of old,
And vainly sought for near and far,
A victim to atone the war,
A willing victim, now attends,
Nor craves thy grace but for his friends.”—
“Thus is my clemency repaid?
Presumptuous Lord!" the Monarch said;
"Of thy mis-proud[314] ambitious clan,
Thou, James of Bothwell, wert the man,
The only man, in whom a foe
My woman mercy would not know:
But shall a Monarch’s presence brook
Injurious blow, and haughty look?—
What ho! the Captain of our Guard!
Give the offender fitting ward.—
Break off the sports!”—for tumult rose,
And yeomen ’gan to bend their bows,—
“Break off the sports!” he said, and frown’d,
“And bid our horsemen clear the ground.”