THE LAY OF THE LAST MINSTREL. CANTO SECOND. I. Ir thou would'st view fair Melrose aright, Go visit it by the pale moon-light; For the gay beams of lightsome day When the broken arches are black in night, And each shafted oriel glimmers white; When buttress and buttress, alternately, Seem framed of ebon and ivory; When silver edges the imagery, And the scrolls that teach thee to live and die; When distant Tweed is heard to rave, And the owlet to hoot o'er the dead man's grave, Then go but go alone the while- Was never scene so sad and fair! II. Short halt did Deloraine make there; He struck full loud, and struck full long. The porter hurried to the gate "Who knocks so loud, and knocks so late?" "From Branksome I," the Warrior cried ; And strait the wicket opened wide; For Branksome's chiefs had in battle stood, To fence the rights of fair Melrose; And lands and livings, many a rood, Had gifted the shrine for their souls' repose. The porter bent his humble head; To hail the Monk of St Mary's aisle. * Aventayle, visor of the helmet. IV. "The Ladye of Branksome greets thee by me; Says, that the fated hour is come, And that to-night I shall watch with thee, From sackcloth couch the Monk arose, With toil his stiffened limbs he reared; A hundred years had flung their snows V. And strangely on the Knight looked he, What heaven and hell alike would hide? With shirt of hair and scourge of thorn, Yet all too little to atone For knowing what should ne'er be known. Would'st thou thy every future year In ceaseless prayer and penance drie, Yet wait thy latter end with fear Then, daring Warrior, follow me!" VI. "Penance, Father, will I none; Prayer know I hardly one; For mass or prayer can I rarely tarry, Save to patter an Ave Mary, When I ride on a Border foray: Other prayer can I none; So speed me my errand, and let me be gone." VII. Again on the Knight looked the Churchman old, And again he sighed heavily; For he had himself been a warrior bold, And fought in Spain and Italy. |