The poetical works of Sir Walter Scott, with memoir of the author.

CANTO I.] THE LAST MINSTREL. 57
Mount thee on the wightest steed;
Spare not to spur, nor stint to ride,
Until thou come to fair Tweedside;
And in Melrose's holy pile
Seek thou the Monk of St. Mary's aisle.
Greet the Father well from me;
Say that the fated hour is come,
And to night he shall watch with thee,
To win the treasure of the tomb:
For this will be St. Michael's night,
And, though stars be dim, the moon is bright;
And the Cross, of bloody red,
Will point to the grave of the mighty dead.
XXIII.
"What he gives thee, see thou keep;
Stay not thou for food or sleep:
Be it scroll, or be it book,
Into it, Knight, thou must not look;
If thou readest, thou art lorn!
Better had'st thou ne'er been born."XXIV.
"0 swiftly can speed my dapple-gray steed,
Which drinks of the Tevoit clear;
Ere break of day," the Warrior'gan say,
"Again will I be here:
And safer by none may thy errand be done,
Than, noble dame, by me;