Poems By William Bell Scott. Ballads, Studies from Nature, Sonnets, etc. Illustrated by Seventeen Etchings by the Author and L. Alma Tadema |
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SECOND.
SAINT CUTHBERT'S PENANCE.
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242
SECOND. SAINT CUTHBERT'S PENANCE.
This bield of Melrose wide and tall,
Whereof we four are freres,
Was at the time established first
When Cuthbert grew in years.
Whereof we four are freres,
Was at the time established first
When Cuthbert grew in years.
And so he joined the banded few
Who left their cares and strife,
With vows eschewing shows and gear,
To live a cloistered life.
Who left their cares and strife,
With vows eschewing shows and gear,
To live a cloistered life.
I ween he was more humble than
The lowliest brother there,
Scarce would he dare to look up to
The great gilt rood at prayer
The lowliest brother there,
Scarce would he dare to look up to
The great gilt rood at prayer
Scarce would he take his turn to read
Aloud at the midday meal,
Although he was so learnèd,—
He would the same conceal.
Aloud at the midday meal,
Although he was so learnèd,—
He would the same conceal.
243
Scarce would he speak with fewest words
Of Jesu's love and dole,
But ever and anon the tears
Over his eyelids stole.
Of Jesu's love and dole,
But ever and anon the tears
Over his eyelids stole.
The man whom Jesu died to bless
He sometimes looked like too,
But then his gladness suddenly
To woful sadness grew.
He sometimes looked like too,
But then his gladness suddenly
To woful sadness grew.
Oft would he scan from day to day
Saint Chrysostom's great book,
And all this watching-time no food
Within his lips he took.
Saint Chrysostom's great book,
And all this watching-time no food
Within his lips he took.
Oft by the night, the winter night,
When all are fain to cower,
And other monks their rosaries laid
Aside till matin hour,
He went forth on the crispèd frost
Right through the snow or shower.
When all are fain to cower,
And other monks their rosaries laid
Aside till matin hour,
He went forth on the crispèd frost
Right through the snow or shower.
Then gathered some with whisperings
And twinklings of the eye,
Who went about from cell to cell
Saint Cuthbert to decry.
And twinklings of the eye,
Who went about from cell to cell
Saint Cuthbert to decry.
244
But still their spite he noted not,
So byeward and so meek,
And when that night was deepest dark
The door was heard to creak.
So byeward and so meek,
And when that night was deepest dark
The door was heard to creak.
Then from his pallet suddenly
A cunning frere arose;
‘I'll see,’ quoth he, ‘where in the mirk
Our stalwart Cuthbert goes.’
A cunning frere arose;
‘I'll see,’ quoth he, ‘where in the mirk
Our stalwart Cuthbert goes.’
So saying from his couch he slid
And softly followèd him,
Across the wood into the haugh,
Led by the snow-marks dim.
And softly followèd him,
Across the wood into the haugh,
Led by the snow-marks dim.
Late at sunset the sleet had blown
Into the eye of day;
Their slow steps verily were cold,
Imprinted in the clay.
Into the eye of day;
Their slow steps verily were cold,
Imprinted in the clay.
He followed to the river's edge;
But soon repented he
That ever he did on such a chace
With the other freres agree.
But soon repented he
That ever he did on such a chace
With the other freres agree.
For fear came like an icicle
Into his curdled brain,
And sure he felt the cold more keen
Than earthly frost or rain.
Into his curdled brain,
And sure he felt the cold more keen
Than earthly frost or rain.
245
But from the stars shot arrowy sparks
As if alone to him;
Till he waxed more wrothful than afraid,
All woebegone but grim.
As if alone to him;
Till he waxed more wrothful than afraid,
All woebegone but grim.
Quoth he, ‘The youth must have some nook
Wherein to bait him soon;
I'll find him out although I die
I' the sedges in a swoon.’
Wherein to bait him soon;
I'll find him out although I die
I' the sedges in a swoon.’
Upon the sand he set his foot,
He sank up to his thigh,
And further in, hands raised in prayer,
He saw sweet Cuthbert lie.
He sank up to his thigh,
And further in, hands raised in prayer,
He saw sweet Cuthbert lie.
And a voice in his ear
Said clear and low,
‘Until my servant press his bier
What thou hast seen let no man hear;
Thy steps are loosened, go!’
Said clear and low,
‘Until my servant press his bier
What thou hast seen let no man hear;
Thy steps are loosened, go!’
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