第 9 节
作者:
大热 更新:2022-11-23 12:13 字数:9321
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LEGENDS AND LYRICS … SECOND SERIES
VERSE: SENT TO HEAVEN
I had a Message to send her; To her whom my soul loved best; But I
had my task to finish。 And she was gone home to rest。
To rest in the far bright heaven: Oh; so far away from here; It was vain
to speak to my darling; For I knew she could not hear!
I had a message to send her。 So tender; and true; and sweet; I longed
for an Angel to bear it; And lay it down at her feet。
I placed it; one summer evening; On a Cloudlet's fleecy breast; But it
faded in golden splendour; And died in the crimson west。
I gave it the Lark next morning; And I watched it soar and soar; But its
pinions grew faint and weary; And it fluttered to earth once more。
To the heart of a Rose I told it; And the perfume; sweet and rare;
Growing faint on the blue bright ether; Was lost in the balmy air。
I laid it upon a Censer; And I saw the incense rise; But its clouds of
rolling silver Could not reach the far blue skies。
I cried; in my passionate longing:… 〃Has the earth no Angel…friend Who
will carry my love the message That my heart desires to send?〃
Then I heard a strain of music; So mighty; so pure; so clear; That my
very sorrow was silent; And my heart stood still to hear。
And I felt; in my soul's deep yearning; At last the sure answer stir:…
〃The music will go up to Heaven; And carry my thought to her。〃
It rose in harmonious rushing Of mingled voices and strings。 And I
tenderly laid my message On the Music's outspread wings。
I heard it float farther and farther; In sound more perfect than speech;
Farther than sight can follow。 Farther than soul can reach。
And I know that at last my message Has passed through the golden
gate: So my heart is no longer restless; And I am content to wait。
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LEGENDS AND LYRICS … SECOND SERIES
VERSE: NEVER AGAIN
〃Never again!〃 vow hearts when reunited; 〃Never again shall Love be
cast aside; For ever now the shadow has departed; Nor bitter sorrow;
veiled in scornful pride; Shall feign indifference; or affect disdain; … Never;
oh Love; again; never again!〃
〃Never again!〃 so sobs; in broken accents; A soul laid prostrate at a
holy shrine; … 〃Once more; once more forgive; oh Lord; and pardon; My
wayward life shall bend to love divine; And never more shall sin its
whiteness stain; … Never; oh God; again; never again!〃
〃Never again!' so speaketh one forsaken; In the blank desolate passion
of despair; … 〃Never again shall the bright dream I cherished Delude my
heart; for bitter truth is there; … The angel; Hope; shall still thy cruel pain
Never again; my heart; never again!〃
〃Never again!〃 so speaks the sudden silence; When round the hearth
gathers each well…known face; … But one is missing; and no future presence;
However dear; can fill that vacant place; For ever shall the burning
thought remain; … 〃Never; beloved; again! never again!〃
〃Never again!〃 sobut beyond our hearing … Ring out far voices fading
up the sky; Never again shall earthly care and sorrow Weigh down the
wings that bear those souls on high; Listen; oh earth; and hear that
glorious strain; … 〃Never; never again! never again!〃
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LEGENDS AND LYRICS … SECOND SERIES
VERSE: LISTENING ANGELS
Blue against the bluer Heavens Stood the mountain; calm and still;
Two white Angels; bending earthward; Leant upon the hill。
Listening leant those silent Angels; And I also longed to hear What
sweet strain of earthly music Thus could charm their ear。
I heard the sound of many trumpets In a warlike march draw nigh;
Solemnly a mighty army Passed in order by。
But the clang had ceased; the echoes Soon had faded from the hill;
While the Angels; calm and earnest; Leant and listened still。
Then I heard a fainter clamour; Forge and wheel were clashing near
And the Reapers in the meadow Singing loud and clear。
When the sunset came in glory; And the toil of day was o'er; Still the
Angels leant in silence; Listening as before。
Then; as daylight slowly vanished; And the evening mists grew dim;
Solemnly from distant voices Rose a vesper hymn。
When the chant was done; and lingering Died upon the evening air;
From the hill the radiant Angels Still were listening there。
Silent came the gathering darkness; Bringing with it sleep and rest;
Save a little bird was singing Near her leafy nest。
Through the sounds of war and labour She had warbled all day long;
While the Angels leant and listened Only to her song。
But the starry night was coming; When she ceased her little lay From
the mountain top the Angels Slowly passed away。
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LEGENDS AND LYRICS … SECOND SERIES
VERSE: GOLDEN DAYS
Golden dayswhere are they? Pilgrims east and west Cry; if we could
find them We would pause and rest: We would pause and rest a little From
our long and weary ways:… Where are they; then; where are they … Golden
days?
Golden dayswhere are they? Ask of childhood's years; Still
untouched by sorrow; Still undimmed by tears: Ah; they seek a phantom
Future; Crowned with brighter; starry rays; … Where are they; then; where
are they … Golden days?
Golden dayswhere are they? Has Love learnt the spell That will
charm them hither; Near our hearth to dwell? Insecure are all her treasures;
Restless is her anxious gaze:… Where are they; then; where are they …
Golden days?
Golden dayswhere are they? Farther up the hill I can hear the echo
Faintly calling still: Faintly calling; faintly dying; In a far…off misty haze:…
Where are they; then; where are they … Golden days?
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LEGENDS AND LYRICS … SECOND SERIES
VERSE: PHILIP AND
MILDRED
Lingering fade the rays of daylight; and the listening air is chilly;
Voice of bird and forest murmur; insect hum and quivering spray Stir not
in that quiet hour: through the valley; calm and stilly; All in hushed and
loving silence watch the slow departing Day。
Till the last faint western cloudlet; faint and rosy; ceases blushing; And
the blue grows deep and deeper where one trembling planet shines; And
the day has gone for everthen; like some great ocean rushing; The sad
night wind wails lamenting; sobbing through the moaning pines。
Such; of all day's changing hours; is the fittest and the meetest For a
farewell hourand parting looks less bitter and more blest; Earth seems
like a shrine for sorrow; Nature's mother voice is sweetest; And her hand
seems laid in chiding on the unquiet throbbing breast。
Words are lower; for the twilight seems rebuking sad repining; And
wild murmur and rebellion; as all childish and in vain; Breaking through
dark future hours clustering starry hopes seem shining; Then the calm and
tender midnight folds her shadow round the pain。
So they paced the shady lime…walk in that twilight dim and holy; Still
the last farewell deferring; she could hear or he should say; Every word;
weighed down by sorrow; fell more tenderly and slowly … This; which now
beheld their parting; should have been their wedding…day。
Should have been: her dreams of childhood; never straying; never
faltering; Still had needed Philip's image to make future life complete;
Philip's young hopes of ambition; ever changing; ever altering; Needed
Mildred's gentle presence even to make successes sweet。
This day should have seen their marriage; the calm crowning and
assurance Of two hearts; fulfilling rather; and not changing; either life:
Now they must be rent asunder; and her heart must learn endurance; For
he leaves their