Slow her step, and heavy her breast,
And never an arm whereon to rest.
The old kirk-porch when Karin spied,
The postern-door was open wide.
"Wae's me!" she said, "I'll enter in
And shrive me from my every sin."
'Twas silence all within the kirk;
The aisle was empty, chill, and mirk.
The chancel-rails were black and bare;
Nae priest, nae penitent was there.
Karin knelt, and her prayer she said;
But her heart within her was heavy and dead.
Her prayer fell back on the cold gray stone;
It would not rise to heaven alone.
Darker grew the darksome aisle,
Colder felt her heart the while.
"Wae's me!" she cried, "what is my sin?
Never I wrongèd kith nor kin.
"But why do I start and quake wi' fear
Lest I a dreadful doom should hear?