THE LAY OF THE LAST MINSTREL. CANTO SECOND. I. Ir thou would'st view fair Melrose aright, Go visit it by the pale moon-light; For the gay beams of lightsome day Gild, but to flout, the ruins gray. When the broken arches are black in night, And each shafted oriel glimmers white; When the cold light's uncertain shower When buttress and buttress, alternately, Seem framed of ebon and ivory; When silver edges the imagery, And the scrolls that teach thee to live and die; When distant Tweed is heard to rave, And the owlet to hoot o'er the dead man's grave, Then go but go alone the while- And, home returning, soothly swear, Was never scene so sad and fair! II. Short halt did Deloraine make there; He struck full loud, and struck full long. The porter hurried to the gate "Who knocks so loud, and knocks so late?"— "From Branksome I," the Warrior cried; And straight the wicket open'd wide; |