The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1881-11-03
Unpublished Poem By sn walter Scott.

Ely tate Eafn9r 3t5ays o correspoEde1o was
friend Of Scott and helped him in tia dscbfa.
uon and fnishings OF Abbotsford. Scott Would
/ often dine with my father when IN London,
and was greatly interested in the garden. Ia
one corner there was soma roek-werk. in
which were inserted some fragments OF stone
ornaments from the ruins OF Kfiburn Priory;
aad GROWING sll was q large, frfegularlyS
shapea stone. having q deep re3 stain, no
doubt OF ferraginous- origin. This stone was
sent to my father By Lori Mulgrave IN ono OF
ais cement vessels, my father having been
ostFuck with fts appearance on the shofe at
Whithy; aad from thess simple, really suneon-
nected facts Scott made out the following
story, in verses, which might be regarded as q
kind OF friendly Offering in return for services
rendered:ses es4E4 8 e gff.f4stsa.sssf f-stf4E "
THE MCCKLR STAIN Or BLEEDING sToEE OF
II Sat4-J So KnBURN PRfoRY. @@itE So
Z For fhe blessed roed ofasir Gervase the good &
The nuns of KiIburn pray,
But for the wretch who shed his blood m
q 81 NO tongue prayer shall say. @-s5-s- .. #.
The bells shall ring and the nuns shall sing
Sir Gervase co the blest, @ 90 - -s.i
But holiest rites will never bring
his murderers soul 10 rest. i'Y
Nov tell me, pray, thou palmer err gray, 7io /
Why thou kneelest At this shrine, :,'aisf -,
Ann n1 %ny S eo Se snon cry 50 eagerly g,.7
Oh, tell me who the man may ba, oraF
Thstshe Cnurch's praye rsi Tor his soul despair
Inc mercy OF Christ may win. .s-4Tss =,
cry at this shrine ON the help divine :.
To save the soul OF one Sac
Who in death Hhall lie ere morning light
Upon this ancient stone 80
SirGervase rode forth fartin the North -
Z To w hitby's holy see sise Il 8rga sE III
In her bower alone his lady made moan.
a fairer could not be. : = 10 E5ffi@
Hisfalse brother came to the vveepfug dame;
Oh, love you dearer than life.
Hencei would You win to shame and sin
.@s Thy brother . welded wife? 81 sss5 4 g..
BE i far away, thou sweet ladie. a.5I -,
AND none may hear or see, -s
So lady bright. this very Night. 4e4s q
On, open your door u me.
Sir Gervase rides forth far in the North, -
Ills long ere he comes hack, es5s stz K.
And thine eyes shine out like stars BIZ night
From thy hair of raven black. ''f-'"fe+ -
Tho FIRE shall burn at the door stone a- 81
Ere open nay door to thee.r r--
And thy suit OF he'll TO Sir Gervase I'll tell -
Aud traitors death thou witt de- e "A
Then fare ye wei, Dame Isabel, So
Thou lady OF mickle pride; 90
Thou shaltrue the day thou slidst me nay 4
When back TO thee ride.
The day declined. the rising wind
With ear down laid aud ready blade,
Behind rock he stands p
Sir Gervase rode on in thought alone, SD
: Leaving his men behind;
But voice WIS n The wind
False brother. spnr thy flying steed,
Thou can5t not fly so fast
But on this stene where now bleed sa@~l =
3, ThyseH shalt breathe thy last. 80 .-e
That stone was then on Whitbys shore,
q Aud now behoidit herei 'i'''3''
And ever tina bloot Is Ia m ne eye, II ~t-4
And ever that voice in mine earl -
Now, thou palmer graz. now turn You pray
And let me look in thine eye, -
Alas 1t burns bright with fearful Light
Like guilt about to die. rs i' e-ef.ts
That stone ia oil, and Ger It has relEsd
The tempest of many years; -..+. -
But Hercer rage than OF tempest or age
s In thy furrowel facs appears .-tr
Oh, speak not thus, thou holy man. s..+-
But bend and pray by me,
And give me your aid in this hour OF neeo
Till my penance drie.
With book and beads with ave and creed,
On, help me while you may;
When the bell tolls one, oh, Leave me alone,
For with me You may not stay.
Sore prayed the friar by the gray palmer
AS both knelt Ger the stone,
And redder grew blood-red hue,
And they heard fearful groan.
Friar, leave me now, on my trembling brow
T2e drops OF sweat-run down,
And alone with his spirit must deal this night
My deadly guih to atone = g
Blythe morning light the good friar came j
By the Sinner's side t. pray;
But his spirit had flown and stretched on thu,
stone 49,
A corpse the palmer lay. = -.~ - \
And still from that Stone at thc hour of Que !.
Go visit it who dlre- -s,-..
The blood rum rcd and q Shrek of dread 3.
Pierce5 the midnight Dir.