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！
Its painful joy； its happy pain； And live it over yet once more； And say；
113
… Page 114…
LEGENDS AND LYRICSFIRST SERIES
〃But few more years remain。〃
And then； when I had striven my best； And all around would smiling
say； 〃See how Time makes all grief decay；〃 Would lie down thankfully to
rest； And seek thee in eternal day。
II。
But if the day should ever rise … It could not and it cannot be … Yet； if
the sun should ever see； Looking upon us from his skies； A day that took
thy heart from me；
If loving thee still more and more； And still so willing to be blind； I
should the bitter knowledge find； That Time had eaten out the core Of love；
and left the empty rind；
If the poor lifeless words； at last； （The soul gone； that was once so
sweet；） Should cease my eager heart to cheat； And crumble back into the
past； And show the whole a vain deceit；
If I should see thee turn away； And know that prayer； and time； and
pain； Could no more thy lost love regain； Than bid the hours of dying day
Gleam in their mid…day noon again；
If I should loose thy hand； and know That henceforth we must dwell
apart； Since I had seen thy love depart； And only count the hours flow By
the dull throbbing of my heart；
If I should gaze and gaze in vain Into thine eyes so deep and clear； And
read the truth of all my fear Half mixed with pity for my pain； And sorrow
for the vanished year；
If not to grieve thee overmuch； I strove to counterfeit disdain； And
weave me a new life again； Which thy life could not mar； or touch； And so
smile down my bitter pain；
The ghost of my dead Past would rise And mock me； and I could not
dare Look to a future of despair； Or even to the eternal skies； For I should
still be lonely there。
All Truth； all Honour； then would seem Vain clouds； which the first
wind blew by； All Trust； a folly doomed to die； All Life； a useless empty
dream； All Lovesince thine had faileda lie。
But see； thy tender smile has cast My fear away： this thought of mine
114
… Page 115…
LEGENDS AND LYRICSFIRST SERIES
Is treason to my Love and thine； For Love is Life； and Death at last
Crowns it eternal and divine！
115
… Page 116…
LEGENDS AND LYRICSFIRST SERIES
VERSE： RECOLLECTIONS
As strangers； you and I are here； We both as aliens stand； Where once；
in years gone by； I dwelt No stranger in the land。 Then while you gaze on
park and stream； Let me remain apart； And listen to the awakened sound
Of voices in my heart。
Here； where upon the velvet lawn The cedar spreads its shade； And by
the flower…beds all around； Bright roses bloom and fade； Shrill merry
childish laughter rings； And baby voices sweet； And by me； on the path； I
hear The tread of little feet。
Down the dark avenue of limes； Whose perfume loads the air； Whose
boughs are rustling overhead； （For the west wind is there；） I hear the
sound of earnest talk； Warnings and counsels wise； And the quick
questioning that brought Such gentle calm replies。
Still the light bridge hangs o'er the lake； Where broad…leaved lilies lie；
And the cool water shows again The cloud that moves on high； … And one
voice speaks； in tones I thought The past for ever kept； But now I know；
deep in my heart Its echoes only slept。
I hear； within the shady porch； Once more； the measured sound Of the
old ballads that were read； While we sat listening round； The starry
passion…flower still Up the green trellice climbs； The tendrils waving seem
to keep The cadence of the rhymes。
I might have striven； and striven in vain； Such visions to recall； Well
known and yet forgotten； now I see； I hear； them all！ The Present pales
before the Past； Who comes with angel wings； As in a dream I stand；
amidst Strange yet familiar things！
Enough； so let us go； mine eyes Are blinded by their tears； A voice
speaks to my soul to…day Of long forgotten years。 And yet the vision in my
heart； In a few hours more； Will fade into the silent past； Silently as
before。
116
… Page 117…
LEGENDS AND LYRICSFIRST SERIES
VERSE： ILLUSION
Where the golden corn is bending； And the singing reapers pass；
Where the chestnut woods are sending Leafy showers upon the grass；
The blue river onward flowing Mingles with its noisy strife； The
murmur of the flowers growing； And the hum of insect life。
I； from that rich plain was gazing Towards the snowy mountains high；
Who their gleaming peaks were raising Up against the purple sky。
And the glory of their shining； Bathed in clouds of rosy light； Set my
weary spirit pining For a home so pure and bright！
So I left the plain； and weary； Fainting； yet with hope sustained； Toiled
through pathways long and dreary Till the mountain top was gained。
Lo！ the height that I had taken； As so shining from below； Was a
desolate； forsaken Region of perpetual snow。
I am faint； my feet are bleeding； All my feeble strength is worn； In the
plain no soul is heeding； I am here alone； forlorn。
Lights are shining； bells are tolling； In the busy vale below； Near me
night's black clouds are rolling； Gathering o'er a waste of snow。
So I watch the river winding Through the misty fading plain； Bitter are
the tear…drops blinding； Bitter useless toil and pain … Bitterest of all the
finding That my dream was false and vain！
117
… Page 118…
LEGENDS AND LYRICSFIRST SERIES
VERSE： A VISION
Gloomy and black are the cypress trees； Drearily waileth the chill
night breeze。 The long grass waveth； the tombs are white； And the black
clouds flit o'er the chill moonlight。 Silent is all save the dropping rain；
When slowly there cometh a mourning train； The lone churchyard is dark
and dim； And the mourners raise a funeral hymn：
〃Open； dark grave； and take her； Though we have loved her so； Yet we
must now forsake her； Love will no more awake her： （Oh； bitter woe！）
Open thine arms and take her To rest below！
〃Vain is our mournful weeping； Her gentle life is o'er； Only the worm
is creeping； Where she will soon be sleeping； For evermore … Nor joy nor
love is keeping For her in store！〃
Gloomy and black are the cypress trees； And drearily wave in the chill
night breeze。 The dark clouds part and the heavens are blue； Where the
trembling stars are shining through。 Slowly across the gleaming sky； A
crowd of white angels are passing by。 Like a fleet of swans they float
along； Or the silver notes of a dying song。 Like a cloud of incense their
pinions rise； Fading away up the purple skies。 But hush！ for the silent
glory is stirred； By a strain such as earth has never heard：
〃Open； oh Heaven！ we bear her； This gentle maiden mild； Earth's
griefs we gladly spare her； From earthly joys we tear her； Still undefiled；
And to thine arms we bear her； Thine own； thy child。
〃Open； oh Heaven！ no morrow Will see this joy o'ercast； No pain； no
tears； no sorrow； Her gentle heart will borrow； Sad life is past； Shielded
and safe from sorrow； At home at last。〃
But the vision faded and all was still； On the purple valley and distant
hill。 No sound was there save the wailing breeze； The rain； and the rustling
cypress trees。
118
… Page 119…
LEGENDS AND LYRICSFIRST SERIES
VERSE： PICTURES IN THE