CANTO V.
THE COMBAT.
231
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 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 yeoman 'gan to bend their bows,—
"Break off the sports!"—he said, and frowned,
"And bid our horsemen clear the ground."—
Nor craves thy grace but for his friends."—
—"Thus is my clemency repaid?
Presumptuous Lord!" the Monarch said;
"Of thy mis-proud 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 yeoman 'gan to bend their bows,—
"Break off the sports!"—he said, and frowned,
"And bid our horsemen clear the ground."—
XXVII.
Then uproar wild and misarray
Marr'd the fair form of festal day.
Then uproar wild and misarray
Marr'd the fair form of festal day.
