When many a day had come and fled, When grief grew calm, and hope was dead, When mess for Kilmeny's soul had been sung, When the bedes-man had prayed, and the dead bell rung, Late, late in a gloamin when all was still, When the fringe was red on the westlin hill, Late, late in the gloamin Kilmeny came hame! 66 Kilmeny, Kilmeny, where have you been? Yet you are halesome and fair to see. And these roses, the fairest that ever were seen? N Kilmeny looked up with a lovely grace, A land of love, and a land of light, A still, an everlasting dream. In yon green-wood there is a waik, And in that waik there is a wene, And in that wene there is a maike, That neither has flesh, blood, nor bane; And down in yon green-wood he walks his lane. In that green wene Kilmeny lay, She 'wakened on couch of the silk sae slim, All striped wi' the bars of the rainbow's rim; And lovely beings round were rife, Who erst had travelled mortal life; And aye they smiled, and 'gan to speer, "What spirit has brought this mortal here ?”— "Lang have I journeyed the world wide,” A meek and reverend fere replied; "Baith night and day I have watched the fair, Eident a thousand years and mair. Yes, I have watched o'er ilk degree, But sinless virgin, free of stain As the spirits that sojourn this countrye. I have brought her away frae the snares of men, That sin or death she never may ken." They clasped her waiste and her hands sae fair, They kissed her cheek, and they kemed her hair, And round came many a blooming fere, 66 Saying, Bonny Kilmeny, ye're welcome here! Women are freed of the littand scorn: O, blessed be the day Kilmeny was born! Now shall the land of the spirits see, Now shall it ken what a woman may be ! Many a lang year in sorrow and pain, Many a lang year through the world we've gane, Commissioned to watch fair womankind, For its they who nurice th' immortal mind. We have watched their steps as the dawning shone, And deep in the green-wood walks alone; By lilly bower and silken bed, The viewless tears have o'er them shed; Have soothed their ardent minds to sleep, Or left the couch of love to weep. We have seen! we have seen! but the time must come, And the angels will weep at the day of doom! "O, would the fairest of mortal kind Aye keep the holy truths in mind, That kindred spirits their motions see, Who watch their ways with anxious ee, |