第 3 节
作者:大热      更新:2022-11-23 12:13      字数:9322
  vague regret。 But still OUR PLACE IS KEPT; and it will wait; Ready for
  us to fill it; soon or late: No star is ever lost we once have seen; We always
  may be what we might have been。 Since Good; though only thought; has
  life and breath; God's lifecan always be redeemed from death; And evil;
  in its nature; is decay; And any hour can blot it all away; The hopes that
  lost in some far distance seem; May be the truer life; and this the dream。
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  LEGENDS AND LYRICS … SECOND SERIES
  VERSE:                 ENVY
  He was the first always:     Fortune Shone bright in his face。 I fought
  for years; with no effort He conquered the place: We ran; my feet were all
  bleeding; But he won the race。
  Spite of his many successes Men loved him the same; My one pale ray
  of good fortune Met scoffing and blame。 When we erred; they gave him
  pity; But meonly shame。
  My home was still in the shadow; His lay in the sun: I longed in vain:
  what he asked for It straightway was done。 Once I staked all my heart's
  treasure; We playedand he won。
  Yes; and just now I have seen him; Cold; smiling; and blest; Laid in his
  coffin。   God help me! While he is at rest; I am cursed still to live:… even
  Death loved him the best。
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  LEGENDS AND LYRICS … SECOND SERIES
  VERSE:                    OVER THE
  MOUNTAIN
  Like   dreary   prison   walls   The   stern   grey   mountains   rise;   Until   their
  topmost   crags   Touch   the   far   gloomy   skies:   One   steep   and   narrow   path
  Winds   up   the   mountain's   crest;   And   from   our   valley   leads   Out   to   the
  golden West。
  I dwell here in content; Thankful for tranquil days; And yet; my eyes
  grow dim; As still I gaze and gaze Upon that mountain pass; That leadsor
  so it seems … To some far happy land; Known in a world of dreams。
  And as I watch that path Over the distant hill; A foolish longing comes
  My heart and soul to fill; A painful; strange desire To break some weary
  bond; A vague unuttered wish For what might lie beyond!
  In that far world unknown; Over that distant hill; May dwell the loved
  and lost; Lostyet beloved still; I have a yearning hope; Half longing; and
  half pain; That by that mountain pass They may return again。
  Space   may   keep   friends   apart;   Death   has   a   mighty   thrall;   There   is
  another gulf Harder to cross than all; Yet watching that far road; My heart
  beats full and fast … If they should come once more; If they should come at
  last!
  See; down the mountain side The silver vapours creep; They hide the
  rocky cliffs。 They hide the craggy steep; They hide the narrow path That
  comes across the hill … Oh; foolish longing; cease; Oh; beating Heart; be
  still!
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  LEGENDS AND LYRICS … SECOND SERIES
  VERSE:                    BEYOND
  We must not doubt; or fear; or dread; that love for life is only given;
  And     that  the  calm   and   sainted   dead   will   meet   estranged    and   cold   in
  heaven:… Oh; Love were poor and vain indeed; based on so harsh and stern
  a creed。
  True that this earth must pass away; with all the starry worlds of light;
  With all the glory of the day; and calmer tenderness of night; For; in that
  radiant home can shine alone the immortal and divine。
  Earth's lower thingsher pride; her fame; her science; learning; wealth
  and power … Slow growths that through long ages came; or fruits of some
  convulsive hour; Whose very memory must decayHeaven is too pure for
  such as they。
  They are complete:        their work is done。      So let them sleep in endless
  rest。 Love's life is only here begun; nor is; nor can be; fully blest; It has no
  room to spread its wings; amid this crowd of meaner things。
  Just for the very shadow thrown upon its sweetness here below; The
  cross that   it   must   bear   alone;  and bloody  baptism  of   woe;  Crowned   and
  completed through its pain; we know that it shall rise again。
  So if its flame burn pure and bright; here; where our air is dark   and
  dense; And nothing   in this world   of night lives with a living so   intense;
  When it shall reach its home at lengthhow bright its light! how strong its
  strength!
  And   while   the   vain   weak   loves   of   earth   (for   such   base   counterfeits
  abound)   Shall   perish   with   what   gave   them   birththeir   graves   are   green
  and fresh around; No funeral song shall need to rise; for the true Love that
  never dies。
  If in my heart I now could fear that; risen again; we should not know
  What was our Life of Life when herethe hearts we loved so much below;
  I would arise this very day; and cast so poor a thing away。
  But   Love    is  no  such   soulless   clod:   living;   perfected    it  shall  rise
  Transfigured in the light of God; and giving glory to the skies: And that
  which makes this life so sweet; shall render Heaven's joy complete。
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  LEGENDS AND LYRICS … SECOND SERIES
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  LEGENDS AND LYRICS … SECOND SERIES
  VERSE:                    A WARNING
  Place your hands in mine; dear; With their rose…leaf touch: If you heed
  my warning; It will spare you much。
  Ah!   with   just   such   smiling   Unbelieving   eyes;  Years   ago   I   heard   it:…
  You shall be more wise。
  You have one great treasure Joy for all your life; Do not let it perish In
  one reckless strife。
  Do   not   venture   all;   child;   In   one   frail;   weak   heart;   So;   through   any
  shipwreck; You may save a part。
  Where your soul is tempted Most to trust your fate; There; with double
  caution; Linger; fear; and wait。
  Measure   all   you   givestill   Counting   what   you   take;   Love   for   love:
  so placing Each an equal stake。
  Treasure love; though ready Still to live without。 In your fondest trust;
  keep Just one thread of doubt。
  Build    on   no  to…morrow;      Love    has  but   to…day:   If  the  links   seem
  slackening; Cut the bond away。
  Trust no prayer nor promise; Words are grains of sand; To keep your
  heart unbroken; Hold it in your hand。
  That your love may finish Calm as it begun; Learn this lesson better;
  Dear; than I have done。
  Years   hence;   perhaps;   this   warning You   shall   give   again;   In   just   the
  self…same words; dear; Andjust as muchin vain。
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  LEGENDS AND LYRICS … SECOND SERIES
  VERSE:                   MAXIMUS
  Many; if God should make them kings; Might not disgrace the throne
  He gave; How few who could as well fulfil The holier office of a slave。
  I hold him great who; for Love's sake Can give; with generous; earnest
  will;   …  Yet  he  who   takes   for  Love's   sweet   sake;   I  think  I  hold  more
  generous still。
  I prize the instinct that can turn From vain pretence with proud disdain;
  Yet more I prize a simple heart; Paying credulity with pain。
  I bow before the noble mind That freely some great wrong forgives;
  Yet nobler is the one forgiven; Who bears that burden well; and lives。
  It may be hard to gain; and still To keep a lowly steadfast heart Yet he
  who loses has to fill A harder and a truer part。
  Glorious it is to wear the crown Of a deserved and pure success; … He
  who knows how to fail has won A Crown whose lustre is not less。
  Great   may   he   be   who   can   command   And   rule   with   just   and   tender
  sway; Yet is diviner wisdom taught Better by him who can obey。
  Blessed   are   those   who   die   for   God; And   earn   the   Martyr's   crown   of
  light … Yet he who lives for God may be A greater Conqueror in His sight。
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  LEGENDS AND LYRICS … SECOND SERIES
  VERSE:                    OPTIMUS
  There is a deep and subtle snare Whose sure temptation hardly fails;
  Which; just because it looks so fair; Only a noble heart assails。
  So all the more we need be strong Against this false and seeming Right;
  Which none the less is deadly wrong; Because it glitters clothed in light。
  When duties unfulfilled remain; Or noble works are left unplanned; Or
  when great deeds cry out in vain On cow