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！
brought from some well…won field； Where thou wouldst only faint and
yield。
The look； the air； that frets thy sight； May be a token； that below The
soul has closed in deadly fight With some infernal fiery foe； Whose glance
would scorch thy smiling grace； And cast thee shuddering on thy face！
The fall thou darest to despise … May be the angel's slackened hand
Has suffered it； that he may rise And take a firmer； surer stand； Or； trusting
less to earthly things； May henceforth learn to use his wings。
And judge none lost； but wait； and see； With hopeful pity； not disdain；
The depth of the abyss may be The measure of the height of pain And love
and glory that may raise This soul to God in after days！
19
… Page 20…
LEGENDS AND LYRICSFIRST SERIES
VERSE： FRIEND SORROW
Do not cheat thy Heart and tell her； 〃Grief will pass away； Hope for
fairer times in future； And forget to…day。〃 … Tell her； if you will； that sorrow
Need not come in vain； Tell her that the lesson taught her Far outweighs
the pain。
Cheat her not with the old comfort； 〃Soon she will forget〃 … Bitter truth；
alasbut matter Rather for regret； Bid her not 〃Seek other pleasures； Turn
to other things：〃 … Rather nurse her caged sorrow 'Till the captive sings。
Rather bid her go forth bravely。 And the stranger greet； Not as foe；
with spear and buckler； But as dear friends meet； Bid her with a strong
clasp hold her； By her dusky wings … Listening for the murmured blessing
Sorrow always brings。
20
… Page 21…
LEGENDS AND LYRICSFIRST SERIES
VERSE： ONE BY ONE
One by one the sands are flowing； One by one the moments fall； Some
are coming； some are going； Do not strive to grasp them all。
One by one thy duties wait thee； Let thy whole strength go to each； Let
no future dreams elate thee； Learn thou first what these can teach。
One by one （bright gifts from Heaven） Joys are sent thee here below；
Take them readily when given； Ready too to let them go。
One by one thy griefs shall meet thee； Do not fear an armed band； One
will fade as others greet thee； Shadows passing through the land。
Do not look at life's long sorrow； See how small each moment's pain；
God will help thee for to…morrow； So each day begin again。
Every hour that fleets so slowly Has its task to do or bear； Luminous
the crown； and holy； When each gem is set with care。
Do not linger with regretting； Or for passing hours despond； Nor； the
daily toil forgetting； Look too eagerly beyond。
Hours are golden links； God's token； Reaching Heaven； but one by one
Take them； lest the chain be broken Ere the pilgrimage be done。
21
… Page 22…
LEGENDS AND LYRICSFIRST SERIES
VERSE： TRUE HONOURS
Is my darling tired already； Tired of her day of play？ Draw your little
stool beside me； Smooth this tangled hair away。 Can she put the logs
together； Till they make a cheerful blaze？ Shall her blind old Uncle tell her
Something of his youthful days？
Hark！ The wind among the cedars Waves their white arms to and fro；
I remember how I watched them Sixty Christmas Days ago： Then I dreamt
a glorious vision Of great deeds to crown each year … Sixty Christmas
Days have found me Useless； helpless； blindand here！
Yes； I feel my darling stealing Warm soft fingers into mine … Shall I
tell her what I fancied In that strange old dream of mine？ I was kneeling
by the window； Reading how a noble band； With the red cross on their
breast…plates； Went to gain the Holy Land。
While with eager eyes of wonder Over the dark page I bent； Slowly
twilight shadows gathered Till the letters came and went； Slowly； till the
night was round me； Then my heart beat loud and fast； For I felt before I
saw it That a spirit near me passed。
Then I raised my eyes； and shining Where the moon's first ray was
bright Stood a winged Angel…warrior Clothed and panoplied in light： So；
with Heaven's love upon him； Stern in calm and resolute will； Looked St。
Michaeldoes the picture Hang in the old cloister still？
Threefold were the dreams of honour That absorbed my heart and
brain； Threefold crowns the Angel promised； Each one to be bought by
pain： While he spoke； a threefold blessing Fell upon my soul like rain。
HELPER OF THE POOR AND SUFFERING； VICTOR IN A
GLORIOUS STRIFE； SINGER OF A NOBLE POEM： Such the honours
of my life。
Ah； that dream！ Long years that gave me Joy and grief as real things
Never touched the tender memory Sweet and solemn that it brings … Never
quite effaced the feeling Of those white and shadowing wings。
Do those blue eyes open wider？ Does my faith too foolish seem？ Yes；
my darling； years have taught me It was nothing but a dream。 Soon； too
22
… Page 23…
LEGENDS AND LYRICSFIRST SERIES
soon； the bitter knowledge Of a fearful trial rose； Rose to crush my heart；
and sternly Bade my young ambition close。
More and more my eyes were clouded； Till at last God's glorious light
Passed away from me for ever； And I lived and live in night。 Dear； I will
not dim your pleasure； Christmas should be only gay … In my night the
stars have risen； And I wait the dawn of day。
Spite of all I could be happy； For my brothers' tender care In their
boyish pastimes ever Made me take； or feel a share。 Philip； even then so
thoughtful； Max so noble； brave and tall； And your father； little Godfrey；
The most loving of them all。
Philip reasoned down my sorrow； Max would laugh my gloom away；
Godfrey's little arms put round me； Helped me through my dreariest day；
While the promise of my Angel； Like a star； now bright； now pale； Hung
in blackest night above me； And I felt it could not fail。
Years passed on； my brothers left me； Each went out to take his share
In the struggle of life； my portion Was a humble oneto bear。 Here I dwelt；
and learnt to wander Through the woods and fields alone； Every cottage in
the village Had a corner called my own。
Old and young； all brought their troubles； Great or small； for me to
hear； I have often blessed my sorrow That drew others' grief so near。 Ah；
the people needed helping … Needed love（for Love and Heaven Are the
only gifts not bartered； They alone are freely given） …
And I gave it。 Philip's bounty； （We were orphans； dear；） made toil
Prosper； and want never fastened On the tenants of the soil。 Philip's name
（Oh； how I gloried； He so young； to see it rise！） Soon grew noted among
statesmen As a patriot true and wise。
And his people all felt honoured To be ruled by such a name； I was
proud too that they loved me； Through their pride in him it came。 He had
gained what I had longed for； I meanwhile grew glad and gay； 'Mid his
people； to be serving Him and them； in some poor way。
How his noble earnest speeches； With untiring fervour came； HELPER
OF THE POOR AND SUFFERING； Truly he deserved the name！ Had my
Angel's promise failed me？ Had that word of hope grown dim？ Why； my
Philip had fulfilled it； And I loved it best in him！
23
… Page 24…
LEGENDS AND LYRICSFIRST SERIES
Max meanwhileah； you； my darling； Can his loving words recall …
'Mid the bravest and the noblest； Braver； nobler； than them all。 How I
loved him！ how my heart thrilled When his sword clanked by his side。
When I touched his gold embroidery； Almost SAW him in his pride！
So we parted； he all eager To uphold the name he bore； Leaving in my
chargehe loved me … Some one whom he loved still more： I must tend
this gentle flower； I must speak to her of him； For he fearedLove still is
fearful … That his memory might grow dim。
I must guard her from all sorrow； I must play a brother's part； Shield