第 10 节
作者:老是不进球      更新:2021-02-19 17:49      字数:9322
  Our seeming deviations all subserving
  The perfect orbit round the central throne。
  。    。    。    。    。
  The night wind moans。  The Austral wilds are round me。
  The loved who live  ah; God! how few they are!
  I looked above; and heaven in mercy found me
  This parable of comfort in a star。
  Day
  Linger; oh Sun; for a little; nor close yet this day of a million!
  Is there not glory enough in the rose…curtained halls of the West?
  Hast thou no joy in the passion…hued folds of thy kingly pavilion?
  Why shouldst thou only pass through it?  Oh rest thee a little while; rest!
  Why should the Night come and take it; the wan Night that cannot enjoy it;
  Bringing pale argent for golden; and changing vermilion to grey?
  Why should the Night come and shadow it; entering but to destroy it?
  Rest 'mid thy ruby…trailed splendours!  Oh stay thee a little while; stay!
  Rest thee at least a brief hour in it!  'Tis a right royal pavilion。
  Lo; there are thrones for high dalliance all gloriously canopied o'er!
  Lo; there are hangings of purple; and hangings of blue and vermilion;
  And there are fleeces of gold for thy feet on the diapered floor!
  Linger; a little while linger。  To…morrow my heart may not sing to thee:
  This shall be Yesterday; numbered with memories; folded away。
  Now should my flesh…fettered soul be set free!  I would soar to thee;
  cling to thee;
  And be thy rere…ward Aurora; pursuing the skirts of To…day!
  Night
  Hark how the tremulous night…wind is passing in joy…laden sighs;
  Soft through my window it comes; like the fanning of pinions angelic;
  Whispering to cease from myself; and look out on the infinite skies。
  Out on the orb…studded night; and the crescent effulgence of Dian;
  Out on the far…gleaming star…dust that marks where the angels have trod;
  Out on the gem…pointed Cross; and the glittering pomp of Orion;
  Flaming in measureless azure; the coronal jewels of God;
  Luminous streams of delight in the silent immensity flowing;
  Journeying surgelessly on through impalpable ethers of peace。
  How can I think of myself when infinitude o'er me is glowing;
  Glowing with tokens of love from the land where my sorrows shall cease?
  Oh; summer…night of the South!  Oh; sweet languor of zephyrs love…sighing!
  Oh; mighty circuit of shadowy solitude; holy and still!
  Music scarce audible; echo…less harmony joyously dying;
  Dying in faint suspirations o'er meadow; and forest; and hill!
  I must go forth and be part of it; part of the night and its gladness。
  But a few steps; and I pause on the marge of the shining lagoon。
  Here then; at length; I have rest; and I lay down my burden of sadness;
  Kneeling alone 'neath the stars and the silvery arc of the moon。
  Thomas Bracken。
  Not Understood
  Not understood; we move along asunder;
  Our paths grow wider as the seasons creep
  Along the years; we marvel and we wonder
  Why life is life; and then we fall asleep
  Not understood。
  Not understood; we gather false impressions
  And hug them closer as the years go by;
  Till virtues often seem to us transgressions;
  And thus men rise and fall; and live and die
  Not understood。
  Not understood!  Poor souls with stunted vision
  Oft measure giants with their narrow gauge;
  The poisoned shafts of falsehood and derision
  Are oft impelled 'gainst those who mould the age;
  Not understood。
  Not understood!  The secret springs of action
  Which lie beneath the surface and the show;
  Are disregarded; with self…satisfaction
  We judge our neighbours; and they often go
  Not understood。
  Not understood!  How trifles often change us!
  The thoughtless sentence and the fancied slight
  Destroy long years of friendship; and estrange us;
  And on our souls there falls a freezing blight;
  Not understood。
  Not understood!  How many breasts are aching
  For lack of sympathy!  Ah! day by day
  How many cheerless; lonely hearts are breaking!
  How many noble spirits pass away;
  Not understood。
  O God! that men would see a little clearer;
  Or judge less harshly where they cannot see!
  O God! that men would draw a little nearer
  To one another;  they'd be nearer Thee;
  And understood。
  Spirit of Song
  Where is thy dwelling…place?  Echo of sweetness;
  Seraph of tenderness; where is thy home?
  Angel of happiness; herald of fleetness;
  Thou hast the key of the star…blazon'd dome。
  Where lays that never end
  Up to God's throne ascend;
  And our fond heart…wishes lovingly throng;
  Soaring with thee above;
  Bearer of truth and love;
  Teacher of heaven's tongue  Spirit of Song!
  Euphony; born in the realms of the tearless;
  Mingling thy notes with the voices of Earth;
  Wanting thee; all would be dreary and cheerless;
  Weaver of harmony; giver of mirth。
  Comfort of child and sage;
  With us in youth and age;
  Soothing the weak and inspiring the strong;
  Illuming the blackest night;
  Making the day more bright;
  Oh! thou art dear to us; Spirit of Song!
  Oft in the springtime; sweet words of affection
  Are whispered by thee in thy tenderest tone;
  And in the winter dark clouds of dejection
  By thee are dispelled till all sorrow has flown。
  Thou'rt with the zephyrs low;
  And with the brooklet's flow;
  And with the feathered choir all the year long;
  Happy each child of thine;
  Blest with thy gifts divine;
  Charming our senses; sweet Spirit of Song!
  Ada Cambridge。
  What of the Night?
  To you; who look below;
  Where little candles glow
  Who listen in a narrow street;
  Confused with noise of passing feet
  To you 'tis wild and dark;
  No light; no guide; no ark;
  For travellers lost on moor and lea;
  And ship…wrecked mariners at sea。
  But they who stand apart;
  With hushed but wakeful heart
  They hear the lulling of the gale;
  And see the dawn…rise faint and pale。
  A dawn whereto they grope
  In trembling faith and hope;
  If haply; brightening; it may cast
  A gleam on path and goal at last。
  Good…bye
  Good…bye!  'tis like a churchyard bell  good…bye!
  Poor weeping eyes!  Poor head; bowed down with woe!
  Kiss me again; dear love; before you go。
  Ah; me; how fast the precious moments fly!
  Good…bye!  Good…bye!
  We are like mourners when they stand and cry
  At open grave in wintry wind and rain。
  Yes; it is death。  But you shall rise again
  Your sun return to this benighted sky。
  Good…bye!  Good…bye!
  The great physician; Time; shall pacify
  This parting anguish with another friend。
  Your heart is broken now; but it will mend。
  Though it is death; yet still you will not die。
  Good…bye!  Good…bye!
  Dear heart! dear eyes! dear tongue; that cannot lie!
  Your love is true; your grief is deep and sore;
  But love will pass  then you will grieve no more。
  New love will come。  Your tears will soon be dry。
  Good…bye!  Good…bye!
  The Virgin Martyr
  Every wild she…bird has nest and mate in the warm April weather;
  But a captive woman; made for love  no mate; no nest has she。
  In the spring of young desire; young men and maids are wed together;
  And the happy mothers flaunt their bliss for all the world to see:
  Nature's sacramental feast for these  an empty board for me。
  I; a young maid once; an old maid now; deposed; despised; forgotten
  I; like them have thrilled with passion and have dreamed of nuptial rest;
  Of the trembling life within me of my children unbegotten;
  Of a breathing new…born body to my yearning bosom prest;
  Of the rapture of a little soft mouth drinking at my breast。
  Time; that heals so many sorrows; keeps mine ever freshly aching;
  Though my face is growing furrowed and my brown hair turning white;
  Still I mourn my irremediable loss; asleep or waking
  Still I hear my son's voice calling 〃mother〃 in the dead of night;
  And am haunted by my girl's eyes that will never see the light。
  O my children that I might have had! my children; lost for ever!
  O the goodly years that might have been  now desolate and bare!
  O malignant God or Fate; what have I done that I should never
  Take my birthright like the others; take the crown that women wear;
  And possess the common heritage to which all flesh is heir?
  Honour
  Me let the world disparage and despise
  As one unfettered with its gilded chains;
  As one untempted by its sordid gains;
  Its pleasant vice; its profitable lies;
  Let Justice; blind and halt and maimed; chastise
  The rebel spirit surging in my veins;
  Let the Law deal me penalties and pains
  And make me hideous in my neighbours' eyes。
  But let me fall not in mine own esteem;
  By poor deceit or selfish