Some to St Modan made their vows, Some to St Mary of the Lowes, Some to the Holy Rood of Lisle, Some to our Lady of the Isle; Each did his patron witness make, That he such pilgrimage would take, And monks should sing, and bells should toll, All for the weal of Michael's soul. While vows were ta'en, and prayers were prayed, "Tis said the noble Dame, dismayed, Renounced, for aye, dark magic's aid. XXIX. Nought of the bridal will I tell, Which after in short space befel; Nor how brave sons and daughters fair Blessed Teviot's Flower, and Cranstoun's heir: After such dreadful scene, 'twere vain To wake the note of mirth again; More meet it were to mark the day Of penitence and prayer divine, Sought Melrose' holy shrine. XXX. With naked foot, and sackcloth vest, And arms enfolded on his breast, Did every pilgrim go; The standers-by might hear uneath, Footstep, or voice, or high-drawn breath, Through all the lengthened row: No lordly look, no martial stride, Gone was their glory, sunk their pride, Forgotten their renown; Silent and slow, like ghosts, they glide And there they kneeled them down: Above the suppliant chieftains wave The banners of departed brave; Beneath the lettered stones were laid The ashes of their fathers dead; From many a garnished nich around, Stern saints, and tortured martyrs, frowned. XXXI. And slow up the dim aisle afar, With sable cowl and scapular, And snow-white stoles, in order due, The holy Fathers, two and two, In long procession came; Taper, and host, and book they bare, And holy banner, flourished fair With the Redeemer's name; Above the prostrate pilgrim band The mitred Abbot stretched his hand, And blessed them as they kneeled ; With holy cross he signed them all, And fortunate in field. Then mass was sung, and prayers were said, And solemn requiem for the dead; And bells tolled out their mighty peal, For the departed spirit's weal; And ever in the office close The hymn of intercession rose; And far the echoing aisles prolong DIES IRE, DIES ILLA, SOLVET SÆCLUM IN FAVILLA; While the pealing organ rung; Were it meet with sacred strain To close my lay, so light and vain, Thus the holy Fathers sung. HYMN FOR THE DEAD. That day of wrath, that dreadful day, What power shall be the sinner's stay? How shall he meet that dreadful day? When, shrivelling like a parched scroll, The flaming heavens together roll; Swells the high trump that wakes the dead; O! on that day, that wrathful day, Though heaven and earth shall pass away! HUSHED is the harp-the Minstrel gone. And did he wander forth alone? To linger out his pilgrimage? No:-close beneath proud Newark's tower, Arose the Minstrel's lowly bower; A simple hut; but there was seen |