第 11 节
作者:
管他三七二十一 更新:2021-10-16 18:45 字数:9322
show; distinct and quaint; The kneeling figure of some marble saint: Or
lighting up the carvings strange and rare; That told of patient toil; and
reverent care; Ivy that trembled on the spray; and ears; Of heavy corn; and
slender bulrush spears; And all the thousand tangled weeds that grow In
summer; where the silver rivers flow; And demon…heads grotesque; that
seemed to glare In impotent wrath on all the beauty there: Then the gold
rays up pillared shaft would climb; And so be drawn to heaven; at evening
time。 And deeper silence; darker shadows flowed On all around; only the
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windows glowed With blazoned glory; like the shields of light Archangels
bear; who; armed with love and might; Watch upon heaven's battlements at
night。 Then all was shade; the silver lamps that gleamed; Lost in the
daylight; in the darkness seemed Like sparks of fire in the dim aisles to
shine; Or trembling stars before each separate shrine。 Grown half afraid;
the child would leave them there; And come out; blinded by the noisy
glare That burst upon him from the busy square。
The church was thus his home for rest or play; And as he came and
went again each day; The pictured faces that he knew so well; Seemed to
smile on him welcome and farewell。 But holier; and dearer far than all;
One sacred spot his own he loved to call; Save at mid…day; half…hidden by
the gloom; The people call it The White Maiden's Tomb: For there she
stands; her folded hands are pressed Together; and laid softly on her breast;
As if she waited but a word to rise From the dull earth; and pass to the
blue skies; Her lips expectant part; she holds her breath; As listening for
the angel voice of death。 None know how many years have seen her so; Or
what the name of her who sleeps below。 And here the child would come;
and strive to trace; Through the dim twilight; the pure gentle face He loved
so well; and here he oft would bring Some violet blossom of the early
spring; And climbing softly by the fretted stand; Not to disturb her; lay it
in her hand; Or; whispering a soft loving message sweet; Would stoop and
kiss the little marble feet。 So; when the organ's pealing music rang; He
thought amid the gloom the Maiden sang; With reverent simple faith by
her he knelt; And fancied what she thought; and what she felt。 〃Glory to
God;〃 re…echoed from her voice; And then his little spirit would rejoice; Or
when the Requiem sobbed upon the air; His baby tears dropped with her
mournful prayer。
So years fled on; while childish fancies past; The childish love and
simple faith could last。 The artist…soul awoke in him; the flame Of genius;
like the light of Heaven; came Upon his brain; and (as it will; if true) It
touched his heart and lit his spirit; too His father saw; and with a proud
content Let him forsake the toil where he had spent His youth's first years;
and on one happy day Of pride; before the old man passed away; He stood
with quivering lips; and the big tears Upon his cheek; and heard the dream
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of years Living and speaking to his very heart … The low hushed murmur at
the wondrous art Of him; who with young trembling fingers made The
great church…organ answer as he played; And; as the uncertain sound grew
full and strong; Rush with harmonious spirit…wings along; And thrill with
master…power the breathless throng。
The old man died; and years passed on; and still The young musician
bent his heart and will To his dear toil。 St。 Bavon now had grown More
dear to him; and even more his own; And as he left it every night he
prayed A moment by the archway in the shade; Kneeling once more within
the sacred gloom Where the White Maiden watched upon her tomb。 His
hopes of travel and a world…wide fame; Cold Time had sobered; and his
fragile frame; Content at last only in dreams to roam; Away from the
tranquillity of home; Content that the poor dwellers by his side Saw in him
but the gentle friend and guide; The patient counsellor in the poor strife
And petty details of their common life; Who comforted where woe and
grief might fall; Nor slighted any pain or want as small; But whose great
heart took in and felt for all。
Still he grew famousmany came to be His pupils in the art of
harmony。 One day a voice floated so pure and free Above his music; that
he turned to see What angel sang; and saw before his eyes; What made his
heart leap with a strange surprise; His own White Maiden; calm; and pure;
and mild; As in his childish dreams she sang and smiled; Her eyes raised
up to Heaven; her lips apart; And music overflowing from her heart。 But
the faint blush that tinged her cheek betrayed No marble statue; but a
living maid; Perplexed and startled at his wondering look; Her rustling
score of Mozart's Sanctus shook; The uncertain notes; like birds within a
snare; Fluttered and died upon the trembling air。
Days passed; each morning saw the maiden stand; Her eyes cast down;
her lesson in her hand; Eager to study; never weary; while Repaid by the
approving word or smile Of her kind master; days and months fled on;
One day the pupil from the choir was gone; Gone to take light; and joy;
and youth once more; Within the poor musician's humble door; And to
repay; with gentle happy art; The debt so many owed his generous heart。
And now; indeed; was one who knew and felt That a great gift of God
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within him dwelt; One who could listen; who could understand; Whose
idle work dropped from her slackened hand; While with wet eyes
entranced she stood; nor knew How the melodious winged hours flew;
Who loved his art as none had loved before; Yet prized the noble tender
spirit more。 While the great organ brought from far and near Lovers of
harmony to praise and hear; Unmarked by aught save what filled every
day; Duty; and toil; and rest; years passed away: And now by the low
archway in the shade Beside her mother knelt a little maid; Who; through
the great cathedral learned to roam; Climb to the choir; and bring her
father home; And stand; demure and solemn by his side; Patient till the last
echo softly died; Then place her little hand in his; and go Down the dark
winding stair to where below The mother knelt; within the gathering
gloom Waiting and praying by the Maiden's Tomb。
So their life went; until; one winter's day; Father and child came there
alone to pray … The mother; gentle soul; had fled away! Their life was
altered now; and yet the child Forgot her passionate grief in time; and
smiled; Half wondering why; when spring's fresh breezes came; To see her
father was no more the same。 Half guessing at the shadow of his pain; And
then contented if he smiled again; A sad cold smile; that passed in tears
away; As re…assured she ran once more to play。 And now each year that
added grace to grace; Fresh bloom and sunshine to the young girl's face;
Brought a strange light in the musician's eyes; As if he saw some starry
hope arise; Breaking upon the midnight of sad skies。 It might be so:
more feeble year by year; The wanderer to his resting…place drew near。
One day the Gloria he could play no more; Echoed its grand rejoicing as
of yore; His hands were clasped; his weary head was laid; Upon the tomb
where the White Maiden prayed: Where the child's love first dawned; his
soul first spoke; The old man's heart there throbbed its last and broke。 The
grave cathedral that had nursed his youth; Had helped his dreaming; and
had taught him truth; Had seen his boyish grief and baby tears; And
watched the sorrows and the joys of years; Had lit his fame and hope with
s