第 13 节
作者:
管他三七二十一 更新:2021-10-16 18:45 字数:9321
VERSE: THE UNKNOWN
GRAVE
No name to bid us know Who rests below; No word of death or birth;
Only the grass's wave; Over a mound of earth; Over a nameless grave。
Did this poor wandering heart In pain depart? Longing; but all too late;
For the calm home again; Where patient watchers wait; And still will wait
in vain。
Did mourners come in scorn; And thus forlorn; Leave him; with grief
and shame。 To silence and decay; And hide the tarnished name Of the
unconscious clay?
It may be from his side His loved ones died; And last of some bright
band; (Together now once more;) He sought his home; the land Where
they had gone before。
No matterlimes have made As cool a shade; And lingering breezes
pass As tenderly and slow; As if beneath the grass A monarch slept below。
No grief; though loud and deep; Could stir that sleep; And earth and
heaven tell Of rest that shall not cease; Where the cold world's farewell
Fades into endless peace。
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VERSE: GIVE ME THY HEART
With echoing steps the worshippers Departed one by one; The organ's
pealing voice was stilled; The vesper hymn was done; The shadows fell
from roof and arch; Dim was the incensed air; One lamp alone with
trembling ray; Told of the Presence there!
In the dark church she knelt alone; Her tears were falling fast; 〃Help;
Lord;〃 she cried; 〃the shades of death Upon my soul are cast! Have I not
shunned the path of sin; And chosen the better part?〃 What voice came
through the sacred air? … 〃My child; give me thy Heart!〃
〃Have I not laid before Thy shrine My wealth; oh Lord?〃 she cried;
〃Have I kept aught of gems or gold; To minister to pride? Have I not bade
youth's joys retire; And vain delights depart?〃 … But sad and tender was the
voice … 〃My child; give me thy Heart!〃
〃Have I not; Lord; gone day by day Where Thy poor children dwell;
And carried help; and gold; and food? Oh Lord; Thou knowest it well!
From many a house; from many a soul; My hand bids care depart:〃 … More
sad; more tender; was the voice … 〃My child; give me thy Heart!〃
〃Have I not worn my strength away With fast and penance sore? Have
I not watched and wept?〃 she cried; 〃Did Thy dear Saints do more? Have I
not gained Thy grace; oh Lord; And won in Heaven my part?〃 … It echoed
louder in her soul … 〃My child; give me thy Heart!〃
〃For I have loved thee with a love No mortal heart can show; A love so
deep; my Saints in heaven Its depths can never know: When pierced and
wounded on the Cross; Man's sin and doom were mine; I loved thee with
undying love; Immortal and divine!
〃I love thee ere the skies were spread; My soul bears all thy pains; To
gain thy love my sacred Heart In earthly shrines remains: Vain are thy
offerings; vain thy sighs; Without one gift divine; Give it; my child; thy
Heart to me; And it shall rest in mine!〃
In awe she listened; and the shade Passed from her soul away; In low
and trembling voice she cried … 〃Lord; help me to obey! Break Thou the
chains of earth; oh Lord; That bind and hold my heart; Let it be Thine; and
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Thine alone; Let none with Thee have part。
〃Send down; oh Lord; Thy sacred fire! Consume and cleanse the sin
That lingers still within its depths: Let heavenly love begin。 That sacred
flame Thy Saints have known; Kindle; oh Lord; in me; Thou above all the
rest for ever; And all the rest in Thee。〃
The blessing fell upon her soul; Her angel by her side Knew that the
hour of peace was come; Her soul was purified: The shadows fell from
roof and arch; Dim was the incensed air … But Peace went with her as she
left The sacred Presence there!
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VERSE: THE WAYSIDE INN
A little past the village The Inn stood; low and white; Green shady
trees behind it; And an orchard on the right; Where over the green paling
The red…cheeked apples hung; As if to watch how wearily The sign…board
creaked and swung。
The heavy…laden branches; Over the road hung low; Reflected fruit or
blossom From the wayside well below; Where children; drawing water;
Looked up and paused to see; Amid the apple…branches; A purple Judas
Tree。
The road stretched winding onward For many a weary mile … So dusty
foot…sore wanderers Would pause and rest awhile; And panting horses
halted; And travellers loved to tell The quiet of the wayside inn; The
orchard; and the well。
Here Maurice dwelt; and often The sunburnt boy would stand Gazing
upon the distance; And shading with his hand His eyes; while watching
vainly For travellers; who might need His aid to loose the bridle; And tend
the weary steed。
And once (the boy remembered That morning; many a day … The dew
lay on the hawthorn; The bird sang on the spray) A train of horsemen;
nobler Than he had seen before; Up from the distance galloped; And
halted at the door。
Upon a milk…white pony; Fit for a faery queen; Was the loveliest little
damsel His eyes had ever seen: A serving…man was holding The leading
rein; to guide The pony and its mistress; Who cantered by his side。
Her sunny ringlets round her A golden cloud had made; While her
large hat was keeping Her calm blue eyes in shade; One hand held fast the
silken reins To keep her steed in check; The other pulled his tangled mane;
Or stroked his glossy neck。
And as the boy brought water; And loosed the rein; he heard The
sweetest voice that thanked him In one low gentle word; She turned her
blue eyes from him; Looked up; and smiled to see The hanging purple
blossoms Upon the Judas Tree;
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And showed it with a gesture; Half pleading; half command; Till he
broke the fairest blossom; And laid it in her hand; And she tied it to her
saddle With a ribbon from her hair; While her happy laugh rang gaily; Like
silver on the air。
But the champing steeds were rested … The horsemen now spurred on;
And down the dusty highway They vanished and were gone。 Years passed;
and many a traveller Paused at the old inn…door; But the little milk…white
pony And the child returned no more。
Years passed; the apple…branches A deeper shadow shed; And many a
time the Judas Tree; Blossom and leaf; lay dead; When on the loitering
western breeze Came the bells' merry sound; And flowery arches rose; and
flags And banners waved around。
Maurice stood there expectant: The bridal train would stay Some
moments at the inn…door; The eager watchers say; They comethe cloud
of dust draws near … 'Mid all the state and pride; He only sees the golden
hair And blue eyes of the bride。
The same; yet; ah; still fairer; He knew the face once more That bent
above the pony's neck Years past at that inn…door: Her shy and smiling
eyes looked round; Unconscious of the place; Unconscious of the eager
gaze He fixed upon her face。
He plucked a blossom from the tree … The Judas Treeand cast Its
purple fragrance towards the Bride; A message from the Past。 The signal
came; the horses plunged … Once more she smiled around: The purple
blossom in the dust Lay trampled on the ground。
Again the slow years fleeted; Their passage only known By the height
the Passion…flower Around the porch had grown; And many a passing
traveller Paused at the old inn…door; But the bride; so fair and blooming;
The bride returned no more。
One winter morning; Maurice; Watching the branches bare; Rustling
and waving dimly In the grey and misty air; Saw blazoned on a