| William Stanley Braithwaite, ed. The Book of Georgian Verse. 1909. | | | | Wasted, Weary, Wherefore Stay | | By Sir Walter Scott (1771–1832) |
| | | WASTED, 1 weary, wherefore stay, | |
| Wrestling thus with earth and clay? | |
| From the body pass away;— | |
| Hark! the mass is singing. | |
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| From thee doff thy mortal weed, | 5 |
| Mary Mother be thy speed, | |
| Saints to help thee at thy need;— | |
| Hark! the knell is ringing. | |
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| Fear not snow-drift driving fast, | |
| Sleet, or hail, or levin blast; | 10 |
| Soon the shroud shall lap thee fast, | |
| And the sleep be on thee cast | |
| That shall ne’er know waking. | |
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| Haste thee, haste thee, to be gone, | |
| Earth flits fast, and time draws on,— | 15 |
| Gasp thy gasp, and groan thy groan, | |
| Day is near the breaking. | |
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