第 7 节
作者:
大热 更新:2022-11-23 12:13 字数:9321
many hours of pain。
What must I leave you; my Alice? Nothing; Love; to do or bear;
Nothing that can dim your blue eyes With the slightest cloud of care。 I will
leave my heart to love you; With the tender faith of old; Still to comfort;
warm; and light you; Should your life grow dark or cold。 No one else; my
child; can claim it; Though you find old scars of pain; They were only
wounds; my darling; There is not; I trust; one stain。
Are my gifts indeed so worthless Now the slender sum is told? Well; I
know not: years may bless them With a nobler price than gold。 Am I
poor? ah no; most wealthy; Not in these poor gifts you take; But in the true
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hearts that tell me You will keep them for my sake。
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VERSE: KING AND SLAVE
If in my soul; dear; An omen should dwell; Bidding me pause; ere I
love thee too well; If the whole circle; Of noble and wise; With stern
forebodings; Between us should rise。
I will tell THEM; dear; That Love reignsa King; Where storms
cannot reach him; And words cannot sting; He counts it dishonour His
faith to recall; He trusts;and for ever He givesand gives all!
I will tell THEE; dear; That Love isa Slave; Who dreads thought of
freedom; As life dreads the grave; And if doubt or peril Of change there
may be; Such fear would but drive him Still nearer to thee!
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VERSE: A CHANT
〃Benedictus qui venit in nomine Domini。〃
I。
Who is the Angel that cometh? Life! Let us not question what he
brings; Peace or Strife; Under the shade of his mighty wings; One by one;
Are his secrets told; One by one; Lit by the rays of each morning sun;
Shall a new flower its petals unfold; With the mystery hid in its heart of
gold。 We will arise and go forth to greet him; Singly; gladly; with one
accord; … 〃Blessed is he that cometh In the name of the Lord!〃
II。
Who is the Angel that cometh? Joy! Look at his glittering rainbow
wings … No alloy Lies in the radiant gifts he brings; Tender and sweet; He
is come to…day; Tender and sweet: While chains of love on his silver feet
Will hold him in lingering fond delay。 But greet him quickly; he will not
stay; Soon he will leave us; but though for others All his brightest treasures
are stored; … 〃Blessed is he that cometh In the name of the Lord!〃
III。
Who is the Angel that cometh? Pain! Let us arise and go forth to greet
him; Not in vain Is the summons come for us to meet him; He will stay;
And darken our sun; He will stay A desolate night; a weary day。 Since in
that shadow our work is done; And in that shadow our crowns are won;
Let us say still; while his bitter chalice Slowly into our hearts is poured; …
〃Blessed is he that cometh In the name of the Lord!〃
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IV。
Who is the Angel that cometh? Death! But do not shudder and do not
fear; Hold your breath; For a kingly presence is drawing near。 Cold and
bright Is his flashing steel; Cold and bright The smile that comes like a
starry light To calm the terror and grief we feel; He comes to help and to
save and heal: Then let us; baring our hearts and kneeling; Sing; while we
wait this Angel's sword; … 〃Blessed is he that cometh In the name of the
Lord!〃
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VERSE: DREAM…LIFE
Listen; friend; and I will tell you Why I sometimes seem so glad; Then;
without a reason changing; Soon become so grave and sad。
Half my life I live a beggar; Ragged; helpless; and alone; But the other
half a monarch; With my courtiers round my throne。
Half my life is full of sorrow; Half of joy; still fresh and new; One of
these lives is a fancy; But the other one is true。
While I live and feast on gladness; Still I feel the thought remain; This
must soon end;nearer; nearer Comes the life of grief and pain。
While I live a wretched beggar; One bright hope my lot can cheer;
Soon; soon; thou shalt have thy kingdom; Brighter hours are drawing near。
So you see my life is twofold; Half a pleasure; half a grief; Thus all joy
is somewhat tempered; And all sorrow finds relief。
Which; you ask me; is the real life; Which the Dreamthe joy; or woe?
Hush; friend! it is little matter; And; indeedI never know。
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VERSE: REST
Spread; spread thy silver wings; oh Dove! And seek for rest by land
and sea; And bring the tidings back to me For thee and me and those I love。
Look how my Dove soars far away; Go with her; heart of mine; I pray; Go
where her fluttering silver pinions Follow the track of the crimson day。
Is rest where cloudlets slowly creep; And sobbing winds forget to
grieve; And quiet waters gently heave; As if they rocked the ship to sleep?
Ah no! that southern vapour white Will bring a tempest ere the night; And
thunder through the quiet Heaven; Lashing the sea in its angry might。
The battle…field lies still and cold; While stars that watch in silent light
Gleam here and there on weapons bright; In weary sleepers' slackened
hold; Nay; though they dream of no alarm; One bugle sound will stir that
calm; And all the strength of two great nations; Eager for battle; will rise
and arm。
Pause where the Pilgrim's day is done; Where scrip and staff aside are
laid; And; resting in the silent shade; They watch the slowly sinking sun。
Ah no! that worn and weary band Must journey long before they stand;
With bleeding feet; and hearts rejoicing; Kissing the dust of the Holy
Land。
Then find a soul who meets at last A noble prize but hard to gain; Or
joy long pleaded for in vain; Now sweeter for a bitter past。 Ah no! for
Time can rob her yet; And even should cruel Time forget; Then Death will
come; and; unrelenting; Brand her with sorrowful long regret。
Seek farther; farther yet; oh Dove! Beyond the Land; beyond the Sea;
There shall be rest for thee and me; For thee and me and those I love。 I
heard a promise gently fall; I heard a far…off Shepherd call The weary and
the broken…hearted; Promising rest unto each and all。
It is not marred by outward strife; It is not lost in calm repose; It
heedeth neither joys nor woes; Is not disturbed by death or life; Through;
and beyond them; lies our Rest: Then cease; oh Heart; thy longing quest!
And thou; my Dove; with silver pinions Flutter again to thy quiet nest!
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VERSE: THE TYRANT AND
THE CAPTIVE
It was midnight when I listened; And I heard two Voices speak; One
was harsh; and stern; and cruel; And the other soft and weak: Yet I saw no
Vision enter; And I heard no steps depart; Of this Tyrant and his
Captive; 。 。 。 FATE it might be and a HEART。
Thus the stern Voice spake in triumph:… 〃I have shut your life away
From the radiant world of nature; And the perfumed light of day。 You; who
loved to steep your spirit In the charm of Earth's delight; See no glory of
the daytime; And no sweetness of the night。〃
But the soft Voice answered calmly: 〃Nay; for when the March winds
bring Just a whisper to my window; I can dream the rest of Spring; And to…
day I saw a Swallow Flitting past my prison bars; And my cell has just one
corner Whence at night I see the stars。〃
But its bitter