按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
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
65
… Page 66…
LEGENDS AND LYRICSFIRST SERIES
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。
66
… Page 67…
LEGENDS AND LYRICSFIRST SERIES
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！
67
… Page 68…
LEGENDS AND LYRICSFIRST SERIES
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！
68
… Page 69…
LEGENDS AND LYRICSFIRST SERIES
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！
69
… Page 70…
LEGENDS AND LYRICSFIRST SERIES
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。
70
… Page 71…
LEGENDS AND LYRICSFIRST SERIES
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。
71
… Page 72…
LEGENDS AND LYRICSFIRST SERIES
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