第 16 节
作者:
管他三七二十一 更新:2021-10-16 18:45 字数:9322
Of Austrian war and strife; Each day she rose contented; To the calm toils
of life。
Yet; when her master's children Would clustering round her stand; She
sang them ancient ballads Of her own native land; And when at morn and
evening She knelt before God's throne; The accents of her childhood Rose
to her lips alone。
And so she dwelt: the valley More peaceful year by year; When
suddenly strange portents; Of some great deed seemed near。 The golden
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corn was bending Upon its fragile stalk; While farmers; heedless of their
fields; Paced up and down in talk。
The men seemed stern and altered; With looks cast on the ground;
With anxious faces; one by one; The women gathered round; All talk of
flax; or spinning; Or work; was put away; The very children seemed afraid
To go alone to play。
One day; out in the meadow With strangers from the town; Some
secret plan discussing; The men walked up and down。 Yet; now and then
seemed watching; A strange uncertain gleam; That looked like lances 'mid
the trees; That stood below the stream。
At eve they all assembled; Then care and doubt were fled; With jovial
laugh they feasted; The board was nobly spread。 The elder of the village
Rose up; his glass in hand; And cried; 〃We drink the downfall 〃Of an
accursed land!
〃The night is growing darker; 〃Ere one more day is flown; 〃Bregenz;
our foemen's stronghold; 〃Bregenz shall be our own!〃 The women shrank
in terror; (Yet Pride; too; had her part;) But one poor Tyrol maiden Felt
death within her heart。
Before her; stood fair Bregenz; Once more her towers arose; What
were the friends beside her? Only her country's foes! The faces of her
kinsfolk; The days of childhood flown; The echoes of her mountains;
Reclaimed her as their own!
Nothing she heard around her; (Though shouts rang forth again;) Gone
were the green Swiss valleys; The pasture; and the plain; Before her eyes
one vision; And in her heart one cry; That said; 〃Go forth; save Bregenz;
And then; if need be; die!〃
With trembling haste and breathless; With noiseless step she sped;
Horses and weary cattle Were standing in the shed; She loosed the strong
white charger; That fed from out her hand; She mounted; and she turned
his head Towards her native land。
Outout into the darkness … Faster; and still more fast; The smooth
grass flies behind her; The chestnut wood is past; She looks up; clouds are
heavy: Why is her steed so slow? … Scarcely the wind beside them; Can
pass them as they go。
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〃Faster!〃 she cries; 〃Oh faster!〃 Eleven the church…bells chime: 〃Oh
God;〃 she cries; 〃help Bregenz; And bring me there in time!〃 But louder
than bells' ringing; Or lowing of the kine; Grows nearer in the midnight
The rushing of the Rhine。
Shall not the roaring waters Their headlong gallop check? The steed
draws back in terror; She leans upon his neck To watch the flowing
darkness; The bank is high and steep; One pausehe staggers forward;
And plunges in the deep。
She strives to pierce the blackness; And looser throws the rein; Her
steed must breast the waters That dash above his mane。 How gallantly;
how nobly; He struggles through the foam; And seein the far distance;
Shine out the lights of home!
Up the steep banks he bears her; And now; they rush again Towards the
heights of Bregenz; That tower above the plain。 They reach the gate of
Bregenz; Just as the midnight rings; And out come serf and soldier To
meet the news she brings。
Bregenz is saved! Ere daylight Her battlements are manned;
Defiance greets the army That marches on the land。 And if to deeds heroic
Should endless fame be paid; Bregenz does well to honour The noble
Tyrol maid。
Three hundred years are vanished; And yet upon the hill An old stone
gateway rises; To do her honour still。 And there; when Bregenz women Sit
spinning in the shade; They see in quaint old carving The Charger and the
Maid。
And when; to guard old Bregenz; By gateway; street; and tower; The
warder paces all night long; And calls each passing hour; 〃Nine;〃 〃ten;〃
〃eleven;〃 he cries aloud; And then (Oh crown of Fame!) When midnight
pauses in the skies; He calls the maiden's name!
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VERSE: A FAREWELL
Farewell; oh dream of mine! I dare not stay; The hour is come; and
time Will not delay: Pleasant and dear to me Wilt thou remain; No future
hour Brings thee again。
She stands; the Future dim; And draws me on; And shows me dearer
joys … But thou art gone! Treasures and Hopes more fair; Bears she for me;
And yet I linger; Oh dream; with thee!
Other and brighter days; Perhaps she brings; Deeper and holier songs;
Perchance she sings; But thou and I; fair time; We too must sever … Oh
dream of mine; Farewell for ever!
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VERSE: SOWING AND
REAPING
Sow with a generous hand; Pause not for toil or pain; Weary not
through the heat of summer; Weary not through the cold spring rain; But
wait till the autumn comes For the sheaves of golden grain。
Scatter the seed; and fear not; A table will be spread; What matter if
you are too weary To eat your hard…earned bread: Sow; while the earth is
broken; For the hungry must be fed。
Sow;while the seeds are lying In the warm earth's bosom deep; And
your warm tears fall upon it … They will stir in their quiet sleep; And the
green blades rise the quicker; Perchance; for the tears you weep。
Then sow;for the hours are fleeting; And the seed must fall to…day;
And care not what hands shall reap it; Or if you shall have passed away
Before the waving corn…fields Shall gladden the sunny day。
Sow; and look onward; upward; Where the starry light appears …
Where; in spite of the coward's doubting; Or your own heart's trembling
fears; You shall reap in joy the harvest You have sown to…day in tears。
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VERSE: THE STORM
The tempest rages wild and high; The waves lift up their voice and cry
Fierce answers to the angry sky; … Miserere Domine。
Through the black night and driving rain; A ship is struggling; all in
vain To live upon the stormy main; … Miserere Domine。
The thunders roar; the lightnings glare; Vain is it now to strive or dare;
A cry goes up of great despair; … Miserere Domine。
The stormy voices of the main; The moaning wind; and pelting rain
Beat on the nursery window pane:… Miserere Domine。
Warm curtained was the little bed; Soft pillowed was the little head;
〃The storm will wake the child;〃 they said:… Miserere Domine。
Cowering among his pillows white He prays; his blue eyes dim with
fright; 〃Father; save those at sea to…night!〃 Miserere Domine。
The morning shone all clear and gay; On a ship at anchor in the bay;
And on a little child at play; … Gloria tibi Domine!
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VERSE: WORDS
Words are lighter than the cloud…foam Of the restless ocean spray;
Vainer than the trembling shadow That the next hour steals away。 By the
fall of summer raindrops Is the air as deeply stirred; And the rose…leaf that
we tread on Will outlive a word。
Yet; on the dull silence breaking Wit