第 12 节
作者:
管他三七二十一 更新:2021-10-16 18:45 字数:9321
watched the sorrows and the joys of years; Had lit his fame and hope with
sacred rays; And consecrated sad and happy days … Had blessed his
happiness; and soothed his pain; Now took her faithful servant home
again。
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He rests in peace: some travellers mention yet An organist whose
name they all forget。 He has a holier and a nobler fame By poor men's
hearths; who love and bless the name Of a kind friend; and in low tones
to…day; Speak tenderly of him who passed away。 Too poor to help the
daughter of their friend; They grieved to see the little pittance end; To see
her toil and strive with cheerful heart; To bear the lonely orphan's
struggling part; They grieved to see her go at last alone To English
kinsmen she had never known: And here she came; the foreign girl soon
found Welcome; and love; and plenty all around; And here she pays it back
with earnest will; By well…taught housewife watchfulness and skill; Deep
in her heart she holds her father's name; And tenderly and proudly keeps
his fame; And while she works with thrifty Belgian care; Past dreams of
childhood float upon the air; Some strange old chant; or solemn Latin
hymn; That echoed through the old cathedral dim; When as a little child
each day she went To kneel and pray by an old tomb in Ghent。
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VERSE: THE ANGEL OF
DEATH
Why shouldst thou fear the beautiful angel; Death; Who waits thee at
the portals of the skies; Ready to kiss away thy struggling breath; Ready
with gentle hand to close thine eyes?
How many a tranquil soul has passed away; Fled gladly from fierce
pain and pleasures dim; To the eternal splendour of the day; And many a
troubled heart still calls for him。
Spirits too tender for the battle here Have turned from life; its hopes;
its fears; its charms; And children; shuddering at a world so drear; Have
smiling passed away into his arms。
He whom thou fearest will; to ease its pain; Lay his cold hand upon
thy aching heart: Will soothe the terrors of thy troubled brain; And bid the
shadow of earth's grief depart。
He will give back what neither time; nor might; Nor passionate prayer;
nor longing hope restore。 (Dear as to long blind eyes recovered sight;) He
will give back those who are gone before。
Oh; what were life; if life were all? Thine eyes Are blinded by their
tears; or thou wouldst see Thy treasures wait thee in the far…off skies; And
Death; thy friend; will give them all to thee。
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VERSE: A DREAM
All yesterday I was spinning; Sitting alone in the sun; And the dream
that I spun was so lengthy; It lasted till day was done。
I heeded not cloud or shadow That flitted over the hill; Or the
humming…bees; or the swallows; Or the trickling of the rill。
I took the threads for my spinning; All of blue summer air; And a
flickering ray of sunlight Was woven in here and there。
The shadows grew longer and longer; The evening wind passed by;
And the purple splendour of sunset Was flooding the western sky。
But I could not leave my spinning; For so fair my dream had grown。 I
heeded not; hour by hour; How the silent day had flown。
At last the grey shadows fell round me; And the night came dark and
chill; And I rose and ran down the valley; And left it all on the hill。
I went up the hill this morning To the place where my spinning lay …
There was nothing but glistening dewdrops Remained of my dream to…day。
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VERSE: THE PRESENT
Do not crouch to…day; and worship The old Past; whose life is fled;
Hush your voice to tender reverence; Crowned he lies; but cold and dead:
For the Present reigns our monarch; With an added weight of hours;
Honour her; for she is mighty! Honour her; for she is ours!
See the shadows of his heroes Girt around her cloudy throne; Every
day the ranks are strengthened By great hearts to him unknown; Noble
things the great Past promised; Holy dreams; both strange and new; But
the Present shall fulfil them; What he promised; she shall do。
She inherits all his treasures; She is heir to all his fame; And the light
that lightens round her Is the lustre of his name; She is wise with all his
wisdom; Living on his grave she stands; On her brow she bears his laurels;
And his harvest in her hands。
Coward; can she reign and conquer If we thus her glory dim? Let us
fight for her as nobly As our fathers fought for him。 God; who crowns the
dying ages; Bids her rule; and us obey … Bids us cast our lives before her;
Bids us serve the great To…day。
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VERSE: CHANGES
Mourn; O rejoicing heart! The hours are flying; Each one some
treasure takes; Each one some blossom breaks; And leaves it dying; The
chill dark night draws near; Thy sun will soon depart; And leave thee
sighing; Then mourn; rejoicing heart; The hours are flying!
Rejoice; O grieving heart! The hours fly fast; With each some sorrow
dies; With each some shadow flies; Until at last The red dawn in the east
Bids weary night depart; And pain is past。 Rejoice then; grieving heart;
The hours fly fast!
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VERSE: STRIVE; WAIT; AND
PRAY
Strive; yet I do not promise The prize you dream of to…day Will not
fade when you think to grasp it; And melt in your hand away; But another
and holier treasure; You would now perchance disdain; Will come when
your toil is over; And pay you for all your pain。
Wait; yet I do not tell you The hour you long for now; Will not come
with its radiance vanished; And a shadow upon its brow; Yet far through
the misty future; With a crown of starry light; An hour of joy you know
not Is winging her silent flight。
Pray; though the gift you ask for May never comfort your fears; May
never repay your pleading; Yet pray; and with hopeful tears; An answer;
not that you long for; But diviner; will come one day; Your eyes are too
dim to see it; Yet strive; and wait; and pray。
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LEGENDS AND LYRICSFIRST SERIES
VERSE: A LAMENT FOR THE
SUMMER
Moan; oh ye Autumn Winds! Summer has fled; The flowers have
closed their tender leaves and die; The Lily's gracious head All low must
lie; Because the gentle Summer now is dead。
Grieve; oh ye Autumn Winds! Summer lies low; The rose's trembling
leaves will soon be shed; For she that loved her so; Alas; is dead! And one
by one her loving children go。
Wail; oh ye Autumn Winds! She lives no more; The gentle Summer;
with her balmy breath; Still sweeter than before When nearer death; And
brighter every day the smile she wore!
Mourn; mourn; oh Autumn Winds; Lament and mourn; How many
half…blown buds must close and die; Hopes with the Summer born All
faded lie; And leave us desolate and Earth forlorn!
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LEGENDS AND LYRICSFIRST SERIES
VERSE: THE UNKNOWN
GRAVE