第 15 节
作者:
管他三七二十一 更新:2021-10-16 18:45 字数:9322
The half…forgotten record Of bygone things and days。
Bring here the ancient volume; The clasp is old and worn; The gold is
dim and tarnished; And the faded leaves are torn。
The dust has gathered on it … There are so few who care To read what
Time has written Of joy and sorrow there。
Look at the first fair pages; YesI remember all: The joys now seem so
trivial; The griefs so poor and small。
Let us read the dreams of glory That childish fancy made; Turn to the
next few pages; And see how soon they fade。
Here; where still waiting; dreaming; For some ideal Life; The young
heart all unconscious Had entered on the strife。
See how this page is blotted: Whatcould those tears be mine? How
coolly I can read you; Each blurred and trembling line。
Now I can reason calmly; And; looking back again; Can see divinest
meaning Threading each separate pain。
Here strong resolvehow broken; Rash hope; and foolish fear; And
prayers; which God in pity Refused to grant or hear。
NayI will turn the pages To where the tale is told Of how a dawn
diviner Flushed the dark clouds with gold。
And see; that light has gilded The storynor shall set; And; though in
mist and shadow; You know I see it yet。
Herewell; it does not matter; I promised to read all; I know not why I
falter; Or why my tears should fall;
You see each grief is noted; Yet it was better so … I can rejoice to…day
the pain Was over; long ago。
I readmy voice is failing; But you can understand How the heart beat
that guided This weak and trembling hand。
Pass over that long struggle; Read where the comfort came; Where the
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LEGENDS AND LYRICSFIRST SERIES
first time is written Within the book your name。
Again it comes; and oftener; Linked; as it now must be; With all the
joy or sorrow That Life may bring to me。
So all the restyou know it: Now shut the clasp again; And put aside
the record Of bygone hours of pain。
The dust shall gather on it; I will not read it more: Give me your hand…
…what was it We were talking of before?
I know not whybut tell me Of something gay and bright。 It is
strangemy heart is heavy; And my eyes are dim to…night。
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VERSE: A CHAIN
The bond that links our souls together; Will it last through stormy
weather? Will it moulder and decay As the long hours pass away? Will it
stretch if Fate divide us; When dark and weary hours have tried us? Oh; if
it look too poor and slight Let us break the links to…night!
It was not forged by mortal hands; Or clasped with golden bars and
bands; Save thine and mine; no other eyes The slender link can recognise:
In the bright light it seems to fade … And it is hidden in the shade; While
Heaven nor Earth have never heard; Or solemn vow; or plighted word。
Yet what no mortal hand could make; No mortal power can ever break:
What words or vows could never do; No words or vows can make untrue;
And if to other hearts unknown The dearer and the more our own; Because
too sacred and divine For other eyes; save thine and mine。
And see; though slender; it is made Of Love and Trust; and can they
fade? While; if too slight it seem; to bear The breathings of the summer air;
We know that it could bear the weight Of a most heavy heart of late; And
as each day and hour flew The stronger for its burthen grew。
And; too; we know and feel again It has been sanctified by pain; For
what God deigns to try with sorrow He means not to decay to…morrow;
But through that fiery trial last When earthly ties and bonds are past; What
slighter things dare not endure Will make our Love more safe and pure。
Love shall be purified by Pain; And Pain be soothed by Love again: So
let us now take heart and go Cheerfully on; through joy and woe; No
change the summer sun can bring; Or the inconstant skies of spring; Or the
bleak winter's stormy weather; For we shall meet them; Love; together!
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LEGENDS AND LYRICSFIRST SERIES
VERSE: THE PILGRIMS
The way is long and dreary; The path is bleak and bare; Our feet are
worn and weary; But we will not despair。 More heavy was Thy burthen;
More desolate Thy way; … Oh Lamb of God who takest The sin of the
world away; Have mercy on us。
The snows lie thick around us In the dark and gloomy night; And the
tempest wails above us; And the stars have hid their light; But blacker was
the darkness Round Calvary's Cross that day; … Oh Lamb of God who
takest The sin of the world away; Have mercy on us。
Our hearts are faint with sorrow; Heavy and hard to bear; For we dread
the bitter morrow; But we will not despair: Thou knowest all our anguish;
And Thou wilt bid it cease; … Oh Lamb of God who takest The sin of the
world away; Give us Thy Peace!
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VERSE: INCOMPLETENESS
Nothing resting in its own completeness Can have worth or beauty:
but alone Because it leads and tends to farther sweetness; Fuller; higher;
deeper than its own。
Spring's real glory dwells not in the meaning; Gracious though it be; of
her blue hours; But is hidden in her tender leaning To the Summer's richer
wealth of flowers。
Dawn is fair; because the mists fade slowly Into Day; which floods the
world with light; Twilight's mystery is so sweet and holy Just because it
ends in starry Night。
Childhood's smiles unconscious graces borrow From Strife; that in a
far…off future lies; And angel glances (veiled now by Life's sorrow) Draw
our hearts to some beloved eyes。
Life is only bright when it proceedeth Towards a truer; deeper Life
above; Human Love is sweetest when it leadeth To a more divine and
perfect Love。
Learn the mystery of Progression duly: Do not call each glorious
change; Decay; But know we only hold our treasures truly; When it seems
as if they passed away。
Nor dare to blame God's gifts for incompleteness; In that want their
beauty lies: they roll Towards some infinite depth of love and sweetness;
Bearing onward man's reluctant soul。
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VERSE: A LEGEND OF
BREGENZ
Girt round with rugged mountains The fair Lake Constance lies; In her
blue heart reflected Shine back the starry skies; And; watching each white
cloudlet Float silently and slow; You think a piece of Heaven Lies on our
earth below!
Midnight is there: and Silence; Enthroned in Heaven; looks down
Upon her own calm mirror; Upon a sleeping town: For Bregenz; that
quaint city Upon the Tyrol shore; Has stood above Lake Constance; A
thousand years and more。
Her battlements and towers; From off their rocky steep; Have cast their
trembling shadow For ages on the deep: Mountain; and lake; and valley; A
sacred legend know; Of how the town was saved; one night; Three
hundred years ago。
Far from her home and kindred; A Tyrol maid had fled; To serve in the
Swiss valleys; And toil for daily bread; And every year that fleeted So
silently and fast; Seemed to bear farther from her The memory of the Past。
She served kind; gentle masters; Nor asked for rest or change; Her
friends seemed no more new ones; Their speech seemed no more strange;
And when she led her cattle To pasture every day; She ceased to look and
wonder On which side Bregenz lay。
She spoke no more of Bregenz; With longing and with tears: Her Tyrol
home seemed faded In a deep mist of years; She heeded not the rumours
Of Austrian war and strife; Each day she rose contented; To the calm toils
of life。
Yet; when her master's chil