第 14 节
作者:
管他三七二十一 更新:2021-10-16 18:45 字数:9322
and waving dimly In the grey and misty air; Saw blazoned on a carriage
Once more the well…known shield; The stars and azure fleurs…de…lis Upon
a silver field。
He lookedwas that pale woman; So grave; so worn; so sad; The child;
once young and smiling; The bride; once fair and glad? What grief had
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dimmed that glory; And brought that dark eclipse Upon her blue eyes'
radiance; And paled those trembling lips?
What memory of past sorrow; What stab of present pain; Brought that
deep look of anguish; That watched the dismal rain; That watched (with
the absent spirit That looks; yet does not see) The dead and leafless
branches Upon the Judas Tree。
The slow dark months crept onward Upon their icy way; 'Till April
broke in showers And Spring smiled forth in May; Upon the apple…
blossoms The sun shone bright again; When slowly up the highway Came
a long funeral train。
The bells toiled slowly; sadly; For a noble spirit fled; Slowly; in pomp
and honour; They bore the quiet dead。 Upon a black…plumed charger One
rode; who held a shield; Where stars and azure fleurs…de…lis Shone on a
silver field。
'Mid all that homage given To a fluttering heart at rest; Perhaps an
honest sorrow Dwelt only in one breast。 One by the inn…door standing
Watched with fast…dropping tears The long procession passing; And
thought of bygone years;
The boyish; silent homage To child and bride unknown; The pitying
tender sorrow Kept in his heart alone; Now laid upon the coffin With a
purple flower; might be Told to the cold dead sleeper; The rest could only
see A fragrant purple blossom; Plucked from a Judas Tree。
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VERSE: VOICES OF THE PAST
You wonder that my tears should flow In listening to that simple strain;
That those unskilful sounds should fill My soul with joy and pain … How
can you tell what thoughts it stirs Within my heart again?
You wonder why that common phrase; So all unmeaning to your ear;
Should stay me in my merriest mood; And thrill my soul to hear … How can
you tell what ancient charm Has made me hold it dear?
You marvel that I turn away From all those flowers so fair and bright;
And gaze at this poor herb; till tears Arise and dim my sight … You cannot
tell how every leaf Breathes of a past delight。
You smile to see me turn and speak With one whose converse you
despise; You do not see the dreams of old That with his voice arise … How
can you tell what links have made Him sacred in my eyes?
Oh; these are Voices of the Past; Links of a broken chain; Wings that
can bear me back to Times Which cannot come again … Yet God forbid that
I should lose The echoes that remain!
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VERSE: THE DARK SIDE
Thou hast done well; perhaps; To lift the bright disguise; And lay the
bitter truth Before our shrinking eyes; When evil crawls below What
seems so pure and fair; Thine eyes are keen and true To find the serpent
there: And yetI turn away; Thy task is not divine … The evil angels look
On earth with eyes like thine。
Thou hast done well; perhaps; To show how closely wound Dark
threads of sin and self With our best deeds are found。 How great and noble
hearts; Striving for lofty aims; Have still some earthly cord A meaner spirit
claims; And yetalthough thy task Is well and fairly done; Methinks for
such as thou There is a holier one。
Shadows there are; who dwell Among us; yet apart; Deaf to the claim
of God; Or kindly human heart; Voices of earth and heaven Call; but they
turn away; And Love; through such black night; Can see no hope of day;
And yetour eyes are dim; And thine are keener far … Then gaze till thou
canst see The glimmer of some star。
The black stream flows along; Whose waters we despise … Show us
reflected there Some fragment of the skies; 'Neath tangled thorns and
briars; (The task is fit for thee;) Seek for the hidden flowers; We are too
blind to see; Then will I thy great gift A crown and blessing call; Angels
look thus on men; And God sees good in all!
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VERSE: A FIRST SORROW
Arise! this day shall shine; For evermore; To thee a star divine; On
Time's dark shore。
Till now thy soul has been All glad and gay: Bid it awake; and look At
grief to…day!
No shade has come between Thee and the sun; Like some long
childish dream Thy life has run:
But now the stream has reached A dark; deep sea; And Sorrow; dim
and crowned; Is waiting thee。
Each of God's soldiers bears A sword divine: Stretch out thy trembling
hands To…day for thine!
To each anointed Priest God's summons came: Oh; Soul; he speaks to…
day And calls thy name。
Then; with slow reverent step; And beating heart; From out thy joyous
days; Thou must depart。
And; leaving all behind; Come forth; alone; To join the chosen band
Around the throne。
Raise up thine eyesbe strong; Nor cast away The crown; that God has
given Thy soul to…day!
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VERSE: MURMURS
Why wilt thou make bright music Give forth a sound of pain? Why
wilt thou weave fair flowers Into a weary chain?
Why turn each cool grey shadow Into a world of fears? Why say the
winds are wailing? Why call the dewdrops tears?
The voices of happy nature; And the Heaven's sunny gleam; Reprove
thy sick heart's fancies; Upbraid thy foolish dream。
Listen; and I will tell thee The song Creation sings; From the humming
of bees in the heather; To the flutter of angels' wings。
An echo rings for ever; The sound can never cease; It speaks to God of
glory; It speaks to Earth of peace。
Not alone did angels sing it To the poor shepherds' ear; But the
sphered Heavens chant it; While listening ages hear。
Above thy peevish wailing Rises that holy song; Above Earth's foolish
clamour; Above the voice of wrong。
No creature of God's too lowly To murmur peace and praise: When the
starry nights grow silent; Then speak the sunny days。
So leave thy sick heart's fancies; And lend thy little voice To the silver
song of glory That bids the world rejoice。
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VERSE: GIVE
See the rivers flowing Downwards to the sea; Pouring all their
treasures Bountiful and free … Yet to help their giving Hidden springs arise;
Or; if need be; showers Feed them from the skies!
Watch the princely flowers Their rich fragrance spread; Load the air
with perfumes; From their beauty shed … Yet their lavish spending Leaves
them not in dearth; With fresh life replenished By their mother earth!
Give thy heart's best treasures … From fair Nature learn; Give thy love
and ask not; Wait not a return! And the more thou spendest From thy little
store; With a double bounty; God will give thee more。
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VERSE: MY JOURNAL
It is a dreary evening; The shadows rise and fall: With strange and
ghostly changes; They flicker on the wall。
Make the charred logs burn brighter; I will show you; by their blaze;
The half…forgotten record Of bygone things and days。
Bring here the ancient volume; The clasp is old and wor