154 THE JOURNEYMAN. 



were beings of no great potency, and that he was in a 

 state of blessedness. The following stanzas are evidently 

 a version of the episode of the apparition in ' Jack 

 Grant's Tale/ 



' Oh ! all was dark as dungeon gloom : 



Still louder swelled the roar 

 That rushed above, and howled behind, 



And dashed and raged before, 

 When gleamed a light, shadeless and bright, 



On cordage, mast, and oar. 



* Now mock me not ; our stern upon 



I saw a lady stand ; 

 A waxen taper straight and tall 



She held in either hand : 

 Her lightly flowing garb appeared 



Of shining silvery green, 

 Her face was calmly pale, her eyes 



Were stars of dazzling sheen. 



' High rose our bows ; when passed the wave, 



Again as low they fell ; 

 Yet all unmoved that lady stood ; 

 No sailor man, of flesh and blood, 

 Had kept her berth so well.' 



The scene of the apparition of Walter was also on 

 ship-board, but the vessel had evidently never been on 

 the stocks at Cromarty or elsewhere. 



' Her sails were white as summer cloud, 



Her mast a boreal ray, 

 A fiery star bedecked her prow, 

 Begemmed with light her stern below 



The circling eddies play. 

 * * * # 



' Now mark me ; on her silver deck 



Unharmed did Walter stand ; 

 And on each side, and round behind, 

 There watched a seraph band. 



' The rainbow of the shower ye've seen, 



The dazzling sun ye see ; 

 Oh ! orbs and hues of heaven alone 



To the good may likened be, 

 When they doff their garb of fragile clay 

 To bathe in eternity. 



