第 7 节
作者:
管他三七二十一 更新:2021-10-16 18:45 字数:9321
bleak and stormy shore。 Oh doubting heart! Far over purple seas; They
wait; in sunny ease; The balmy southern breeze; To bring them to their
northern homes once more。
Why must the flowers die? Prisoned they lie In the cold tomb; heedless
of tears or rain。 Oh doubting heart! They only sleep below The soft white
ermine snow; While winter winds shall blow; To breathe and smile upon
you soon again。
The sun has hid its rays These many days; Will dreary hours never
leave the earth? Oh doubting heart! The stormy clouds on high Veil the
same sunny sky; That soon (for spring is nigh) Shall wake the summer into
golden mirth。
Fair hope is dead; and light Is quenched in night。 What sound can
break the silence of despair? Oh doubting heart! Thy sky is overcast; Yet
stars shall rise at last; Brighter for darkness past; And angels' silver voices
stir the air。
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LEGENDS AND LYRICSFIRST SERIES
VERSE: A STUDENT
Over an ancient scroll I bent; Steeping my soul in wise content; Nor
paused a moment; save to chide A low voice whispering at my side。
I wove beneath the stars' pale shine A dream; half human; half divine;
And shook off (not to break the charm) A little hand laid on my arm。
I read; until my heart would glow With the great deeds of long ago;
Nor heard; while with those mighty dead; Pass to and fro a faltering tread。
On the old theme I pondered long … The struggle between right and
wrong; I could not check such visions high; To soothe a little quivering
sigh。
I tried to solve the problemLife; Dreaming of that mysterious strife;
How could I leave such reasonings wise; To answer two blue pleading
eyes?
I strove how best to give; and when; My blood to save my fellow…men
… How could I turn aside; to look At snowdrops laid upon my book?
Now Time has fledthe world is strange; Something there is of pain
and change; My books lie closed upon the shelf; I miss the old heart in
myself。
I miss the sunbeams in my room … It was not always wrapped in gloom:
I miss my dreamsthey fade so fast; Or flit into some trivial past。
The great stream of the world goes by; None care; or heed; or question;
why I; the lone student; cannot raise My voice or hand as in old days。
No echo seems to wake again My heart to anything but pain; Save
when a dream of twilight brings The fluttering of an angel's wings!
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LEGENDS AND LYRICSFIRST SERIES
VERSE: A KNIGHT ERRANT
Though he lived and died among us; Yet his name may be enrolled
With the knights whose deeds of daring Ancient chronicles have told。
Still a stripling; he encountered Poverty; and struggled long; Gathering
force from every effort; Till he knew his arm was strong。
Then his heart and life he offered To his radiant mistressTruth; Never
thought; or dream; or faltering; Marred the promise of his youth。
So he rode forth to defend her; And her peerless worth proclaim;
Challenging each recreant doubter Who aspersed her spotless name。
First upon his path stood Ignorance; Hideous in his brutal might; Hard
the blows and long the battle Ere the monster took to flight。
Then; with light and fearless spirit; Prejudice he dared to brave;
Hunting back the lying craven To her black sulphureous cave。
Followed by his servile minions; Custom; the old Giant; rose; Yet he;
too; at last was conquered By the good Knight's weighty blows。
Then he turned; and; flushed with victory Struck upon the brazen
shield Of the world's great king; Opinion And defied him to the field。
Once again he rose a conqueror; And; though wounded in the fight;
With a dying smile of triumph Saw that Truth had gained her right。
On his failing ear re…echoing Came the shouting round her throne;
Little cared he that no future With her name would link his own。
Spent with many a hard…fought battle; Slowly ebbed his life away; And
the crowd that flocked to greet her Trampled on him where he lay。
Gathering all his strength; he saw her Crowned and reigning in her
pride! Looked his last upon her beauty; Raised his eyes to God; and died。
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LEGENDS AND LYRICSFIRST SERIES
VERSE: LINGER; OH;
GENTLE TIME
Linger; oh; gentle Time; Linger; oh; radiant grace of bright To…day! Let
not the hours' chime Call thee away; But linger near me still with fond
delay。
Linger; for thou art mine! What dearer treasures can the future hold?
What sweeter flowers than thine Can she unfold? What secrets tell my
heart thou hast not told?
Oh; linger in thy flight! For shadows gather round; and should we part;
A dreary starless night May fill my heart; … Then pause and linger yet ere
thou depart。
Linger; I ask no more; … Thou art enough for everthou alone; What
future can restore; When thou art flown; All that I hold from thee and call
my own?
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LEGENDS AND LYRICSFIRST SERIES
VERSE: HOMEWARD BOUND
I have seen a fiercer tempest; Known a louder whirlwind blow; I was
wrecked off red Algiers; Six…and…thirty years ago。 Young I was; and yet
old seamen Were not strong or calm as I; While life held such treasures for
me; I felt sure I could not die。
Life I struggled forand saved it; Life aloneand nothing more;
Bruised; half dead; alone and helpless; I was cast upon the shore。 I feared
the pitiless rocks of Ocean; So the great sea roseand then Cast me from
her friendly bosom; On the pitiless hearts of men。
Gaunt and dreary ran the mountains; With black gorges; up the land;
Up to where the lonely Desert Spreads her burning; dreary sand: In the
gorges of the mountains; On the plain beside the sea; Dwelt my stern and
cruel masters; The black Moors of Barbary。
Ten long years I toiled among them; Hopelessas I used to say; Now I
know Hope burnt within me Fiercer; stronger; day by day: Those dim
years of toil and sorrow Like one long dark dream appear; One long day of
weary waiting … Then each day was like a year。
How I cursed the landmy prison; How I cursed the serpent sea … And
the Demon Fate that showered All her curses upon me; I was mad; I think…
…God pardon Words so terrible and wild … This voyage would have been
my last one; For I left a wife and child。
Never did one tender vision Fade away before my sight; Never once
through all my slavery; Burning day or dreary night; In my soul it lived;
and kept me; Now I feel; from black despair; And my heart was not quite
broken; While they lived and blest me there。
When at night my task was over; I would hasten to the shore; (All was
strange and foreign inland; Nothing I had known before;) Strange looked
the bleak mountain passes; Strange the red glare and black shade; And the
Oleanders; waving To the sound the fountains made。
Then I gazed at the great Ocean; Till she grew a friend again; And
because she knew old England; I forgave her all my pain: So the blue still
sky above me; With its white clouds' fleecy fold; And the glimmering stars;
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LEGENDS AND LYRICSFIRST SERIES
(though brighter;) Looked like home and days of old。
And a calm would fall upon me; Worn perhaps with work and pain;
The wild hungry longing left me; And I was myself again: Looking at the
silver waters; Looking up at the far sky; Dreams of home and all I left
there Floated sorrowfully by。
A fair face; but pale with sorrow; With blue eyes; brimful of tears; And
the little red mouth; quivering With a smile; to hide its fears; Holding out
her baby towards me;