AN UNPUBLISHED POEM BY SIR WALTER SCOTT.

Auckland Star, Volume XII, Issue 3546, 17 December 1881, Page 4 (Supplement)

AN UNPUBLISHED POEM BY SIR WALTER SCOTT.

(From the Athenmum.) THE MUCKLE STANK OH BLEEDING STONE OF KILHURN PRIORY. For tlio Mesaad rood of Sir Gervaso the good" Tha nuns of Kilbtirn pray; But for the wretch who fmoa his blood No tongue a prayer shall say. Tho bolls shall ring and the nuns shall aing Sir Gervase to tho blest, But holiest rites shall nevor bring His murderor'g soul to rest. " Now toll me, I pray, thou palmer (tray. Why thou kneolost at this shrine, And why dost thou cry so eagerly Upon the help divino I " Oh, tell mo who tho man may be, And what his deadly Bin, That the Church's prayer for his soul's despair Tho inorcy of Christ may winr " I cry at thin shrine on tho help divino To save tho soul of ono Who in death shall He ere morning light Upon this ancient stone." Sir Gcrvasc rode forth far in tho North To Whitby's holy see: In har bower alono his lady made moan, A fairer could not bo. His false brother carao to the weeping dame, " Oh, I lovo you dearer than life." Hence I would'at thou win to ahame and sin Thy brother's wedded wife?" " Ho is far away, thou sweet ladie, And nono may hear or boo ; So, lady bright, this very night, Oh, opon thy door to me. " Sir Gervaso rides forth far in tho North, Tis long ere ho comes back. And thine eyes shino out like stars by night From thy hair of ravenblack." " Tho flro shall burn at tho door stono Kro I opon my door to thee, And thy suit of hell to Sir Gervaso I'll tell, And a traitor's.death thou wilt die." " Then fare thoo well, Dame Isabel, T.hou lady of micklo pride: Thou shalt ruo tho day thou saidst mo nay When back to theo I rido." ™ Tho day declined, tho rising wind „ kun« shrill on Whitby's sands: With car down laid and ready blade. , Behind tho rock he stands. Sir Gervaso rode on in thought alone, ■ Leaving his men behind; The blow was sure, the flight secure. But a voice was in the wind: " Falso-brothor, spur thy flying steed, „ Thou canst not (ly so flist, But on this stone where now I bleed Thyself shull breathe thy last." " That stono was then on Whitbtfs shore, And now behold it hero I And ever that blood is in mine eye, And ever that voice in mine ear t" " Thou palmor gray, now turn theo, I pray, And let mo Took in thine eye. Alas 11 it burns bright with, a fearful light Like guilt about to die. •',..', " That stone is old, and o'er it has rolled Tho tempest of many years; But fiercer rage than of tempest or age In thy furrowed faoo appears." "Oh, speak not thus, thou holy man, But bend and pray by mo, Anil,B ivo mo th F uid in this hour of need. Till I my penance drie. : " With book and bends, with avo and creed Oh, help mo while you may ; When tho bolls tqll ono, oh, leave mo alone. For with me you may nbt stay;" Sore prayed tho the friar by the palmer gray As both knelt o'er tho stone, And redder grew the blood-red hue And they heard a fearful groan.

Friar, leave mo now; on my trembling brow ;• . The drops of sweat run down. ■ • And alone with his spirit I must deal this night . My deadly guilt to atone."

By the morning light the good friar came • . . By the sinner's side to pray; But the spirit had flown, and stretched on the stone

A corpse the palmer lay. AndstiU from that stone at the hour of one— ' m . Go visit it who daroihe blood runs red and a shriek of dread Piei-ccs tho midnight air.