“For soon Lord Marmion raised his head,
And, smiling, to Fitz-Eustace said—
‘Is it not strange, that, as ye sung,
Seem’d in mine ear a death-peal rung,
Such as in nunneries they toll
For some departing sister’s soul?
Say, what may this portend?’
Then first the Palmer silence broke
(The livelong day he had not spoke),
‘The death of a dear friend.’ ”