already there."

Weeping and wailing arose round patient Clare. Eustace hid his tears,
and even the rude Blount could scarce bear the sight. Gently the squire
took the rein and led the way, striving to cheer the poor fainting girl,
by courteous word and deed.

They had passed but a few miles, when from a height, they saw the vast
towers of Tantallon. The noble castle was enclosed on three sides by the
ocean, and on the fourth by walled battlements,

"And double mound and fosse,
By narrow drawbridge, outworks strong,
Through studded gates, and entrance long,
To the main court they cross.
It was a wide and stately square:
Around were lodgings, fit and fair,
And towers of various form."

Here they rested, receiving from the host cold, but princely attention.
By hurrying posts, daily there came varying tidings of war. At first
they heard of the victories of James at Wark, at Etall, and at Ford; and
then, that Norham castle had been taken; but later, news was whispered
that while King James was dallying the time away with the wily Lady
Heron, the army lay inactive. At length they heard the army had made
post on the ridge that frowns over the Millfield Plain, and that brave
Surrey, with a force from the South, had marched into Northumberland and
taken camp.

At this, Marmion exclaimed: