J. F. Campbell Collection > Minstrelsy of the Scottish border

THE GRAY BROTHER.
Deep sunk in thought, I ween he was,
Nor ever raised his eye.
Until he came to that dreary place.
Which did all in ruins lie.
He gazed on the walls, so scathed with fire,
With many a bitter groan —
And there was awai'e of a Gray Friar,
Resting him on a stone.
" Now, Christ thee save !" said the Gray Brother;
" Some pilgrim thou soemest to be."
But in sore amaze did Lord Albert gaze.
Nor answer again made he.
" come ye from east, or come ye from west.
Or bring reliqucs from over the sea.
Or come ye from the shrine of St. James the divine.
Or St. John of Beverly ? "
" I come not from the shrine of St. James the divine.
Nor bring reliques from over the sea ;
I bring but a curse from our father, the Pope,
Which for ever will cling to me."
" Now, woeful pilgrim, say not so !
But kneel thee down by me,
And shrive thee so clean of thy deadly sin.
That absolved thou may'st be."
" And who art thou, thou Gray Brother,
That I should shrive to thee.
When he, to whom are giv'n the keys of earth and heav'n,
Has no power to pardon me ? "
"01 am sent from a distant clime.
Five thousand miles away.
And all to absolve a foul, foul crime.
Done here 'twixt night and day."
The pilgrim kneel'd him on the sand,
And thus began his saye —
When on his neck an ice-cold hand
Did that Gray Brother laye.