by Walter Scott, Sir (1771 - 1832)
Wasted, weary, wherefore stay
Language: English
Wasted, weary, wherefore stay, Wrestling thus with earth and clay? From the body pass away; — Hark! the mass is singing. From thee doff thy mortal weed, Mary Mother be thy speed. Saints to help thee at thy need; — Hark! the knell is ringing. Fear not snow-drift driving fast, Sleet, or hail, or levin blast ; Soon the shroud shall lap thee fast, And the sleep be on thee cast That shall ne'er know waking. Haste thee, haste thee, to be gone. Earth flits fast, and time draws on, — Gasp thy gasp, and groan thy groan, Day is near the breaking. Heaven cannot abide it, Earth refuses to hide it. Open lock — end strife, Come death, and pass life.
About the headline (FAQ)
Authorship:
- by Walter Scott, Sir (1771 - 1832), no title, appears in Guy Mannering or The Astrologer  [author's text checked 1 time against a primary source]
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- by Eliza Flower (1803 - 1846), "Meg Merrilies' chant", published 1831? [ chorus and piano ], from Musical Illustrations of the Waverley Novels, no. 5, London : Jos. Alfred Novello [sung text not yet checked]
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website: 2023-06-28
Line count: 21
Word count: 122