the complete poetical works-第212节

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old　man：

Such　was　the　glance　of　his　eye；　and　such　were　his　tresses　of

silver。

All　the　congregation　arose　in　the　pews　that　were　numbered。

But　with　a　cordial　look；　to　the　right　and　the　left　hand；　the

old　man

Nodding　all　hail　and　peace；　disappeared　in　the　innermost

chancel。



　　　Simply　and　solemnly　now　proceeded　the　Christian　service；

Singing　and　prayer；　and　at　last　an　ardent　discourse　from　the

old　man。

Many　a　moving　word　and　warning；　that　out　of　the　heart　came；

Fell　like　the　dew　of　the　morning；　like　manna　on　those　in　the

desert。

Then；　when　all　was　finished；　the　Teacher　re…entered　the

chancel

Followed　therein　by　the　young。　The　boys　on　the　right　had

their　places；

Delicate　figures；　with　close…curling　hair　and　cheeks　rosy…

blooming。

But　on　the　left　of　these　there　stood　the　tremulous　lilies；

Tinged　with　the　blushing　light　of　the　dawn；　the　diffident

maidens；

Folding　their　hands　in　prayer；　and　their　eyes　cast　down　on

the　pavement

Now　came；　with　question　and　answer；　the　catechism。　In　the

beginning

Answered　the　children　with　troubled　and　faltering　voice；　but　the

old　man's

Glances　of　kindness　encouraged　them　soon；　and　the　doctrines

eternal

Flowed；　like　the　waters　of　fountains；　so　clear　from　lips

unpolluted。

Each　time　the　answer　was　closed；　and　as　oft　as　they　named　the

Redeemer；

Lowly　louted　the　boys；　and　lowly　the　maidens　all　courtesied。

Friendly　the　Teacher　stood；　like　an　angel　of　light　there　among

them。

And　to　the　children　explained　the　holy；　the　highest；　in　few

words；

Thorough；　yet　simple　and　clear；　for　sublimity　always　is　simple；

Both　in　sermon　and　song；　a　child　can　seize　on　its　meaning。

E'en　as　the　green…growing　bud　unfolds　when　Springtide

approaches。

Leaf　by　leaf　puts　forth；　and　wanued；　by　the　radiant　sunshine；

Blushes　with　purple　and　gold；　till　at　last　the　perfected　blossom

Opens　its　odorous　chalice；　and　rocks　with　its　crown　in　the

breezes；

So　was　unfolded　here　the　Christian　lore　of　salvation；

Line　by　line　from　the　soul　of　childhood。　The　fathers　and　mothers

Stood　behind　them　in　tears；　and　were　glad　at　the　well…worded

answer。



　　　Now　went　the　old　man　up　to　the　altar；and　straightway

transfigured

（So　did　it　seem　unto　me）　was　then　the　affectionate　Teacher。

Like　the　Lord's　Prophet　sublime；　and　awful　as　Death　and　as

Judgment

Stood　he；　the　God…commissioned；　the　soul…searcher；　earthward

descending

Glances；　sharp　as　a　sword；　into　hearts　that　to　him　were

transparent

Shot　he；　his　voice　was　deep；　was　low　like　the　thunder　afar　off。

So　on　a　sudden　transfigured　he　stood　there；　lie　spake　and　he

questioned。



　　　〃This　is　the　faith　of　the　Fathers；　the　faith　the　Apostles

delivered；

This　is　moreover　the　faith　whereunto　I　baptized　you；　while　still

ye

Lay　on　your　mothers'　breasts；　and　nearer　the　portals　of　heaven；

Slumbering　received　you　then　the　Holy　Church　in　its　bosom；

Wakened　from　sleep　are　ye　now；　and　the　light　in　its　radiant

splendor

Downward　rains　from　the　heaven；to…day　on　the　threshold　of

childhood

Kindly　she　frees　you　again；　to　examine　and　make　your　election；

For　she　knows　naught　of　compulsion；　and　only　conviction

desireth。

This　is　the　hour　of　your　trial；　the　turning…point　of　existence；

Seed　for　the　coming　days；　without　revocation　departeth

Now　from　your　lips　the　confession；　Bethink　ye；　before　ye　make

answer！

Think　not；　O　think　not　with　guile　to　deceive　the　questioning

Teacher。

Sharp　is　his　eye　to…day；　and　a　curse　ever　rests　upon　falsehood。

Enter　not　with　a　lie　on　Life's　journey；　the　multitude　hears　you；

Brothers　and　sisters　and　parents；　what　dear　upon　earth　is　and

holy

Standeth　before　your　sight　as　a　witness；　the　Judge　everlasting

Looks　from　the　sun　down　upon　you；　and　angels　in　waiting　beside

him

Grave　your　confession　in　letters　of　fire　upon　tablets　eternal。

Thus；　then；believe　ye　in　God；　in　the　Father　who　this　world

created　？

Him　who　redeemed　it；　the　Son；　and　the　Spirit　where　both　are

united？

Will　ye　promise　me　here；　（a　holy　promise！）　to　cherish

God　more　than　all　things　earthly；　and　every　man　as　a　brother？

Will　ye　promise　me　here；　to　confirm　your　faith　by　your　living；

Th'　heavenly　faith　of　affection！　to　hope；　to　forgive；　and　to

suffer；

Be　what　it　may　your　condition；　and　walk　before　God　in

uprightness？

Will　ye　promise　me　this　before　God　and　man？〃With　a　clear

voice

Answered　the　young　men　Yes！　and　Yes！　with　lips　softly…breathing

Answered　the　maidens　eke。　Then　dissolved　from　the　brow　of　the

Teacher

Clouds　with　the　lightnings　therein；　and　lie　spake　in　accents

more　gentle；

Soft　as　the　evening's　breath；　as　harps　by　Babylon's　rivers。



　　　〃Hail；　then；　hail　to　you　all！　To　the　heirdom　of　heaven　be　ye

welcome！

Children　no　more　from　this　day；　but　by　covenant　brothers　and

sisters！

Yet；for　what　reason　not　children？　Of　such　is　the　kingdom　of

heaven。

Here　upon　earth　an　assemblage　of　children；　in　heaven　one　Father；

Ruling　them　all　as　his　household；forgiving　in　turn　and

chastising；

That　is　of　human　life　a　picture；　as　Scripture　has　taught　us。

Blest　are　the　pure　before　God！　Upon　purity　and　upon　virtue

Resteth　the　Christian　Faith：　she　herself　from　on　high　is

descended。

Strong　as　a　man　and　pure　as　a　child；　is　the　sum　of　the　doctrine；

Which　the　Divine　One　taught；　and　suffered　and　died　on　the　cross

for

Oh；　as　ye　wander　this　day　from　childhood's　sacred　asylum

Downward　and　ever　downward；　and　deeper　in　Age's　chill　valley；

Oh；　how　soon　will　ye　come；too　soon！and　long　to　turn

backward

Up　to　its　hill…tops　again；　to　the　sun…illumined；　where　Judgment

Stood　like　a　father　before　you；　and　Pardon；　clad　like　a　mother；

Gave　you　her　hand　to　kiss；　and　the　loving　heart　was　for　given

Life　was　a　play　and　your　hands　grasped　after　the　roses　of　heaven！

Seventy　years　have　I　lived　already；　the　Father　eternal

Gave　rue　gladness　and　care；　but　the　loveliest　hours　of

existence；

When　I　have　steadfastly　gazed　in　their　eyes；　I　have　instantly

known　them；

Known　them　all　again；the　were　my　childhood's　acquaintance。

Therefore　take　from　henceforth；　as　guides　in　the　paths　of

existence；

Prayer；　with　her　eyes　raised　to　heaven；　and。　Innocence；　bride　of

man's　childhood

Innocence；　child　beloved；　is　a　guest　from　the　world　of　the

blessed；

Beautiful；　and　in　her　hand　a　lily；　on　life's　roaring　billows

Swings　she　in　safety；　she　heedeth　them　not　in　the　ship　she　is

sleeping。

Calmly　she　gazes　around　in　the　turmoil　of　men；　in　the　desert

Angels　descend　and　minister　unto　her；　she　herself　knoweth

Naught　of　her　glorious　attendance；　but　follows　faithful　and

humble；

Follows　so　long　as　she　may　her　friend；　oh　do　not　reject　her；

For　she　cometh　from　God　and　she　holdeth　the　keys　of　the　heavens。

Prayer　is　Innocence'　friend；　and　willingly　flieth　incessant

'Twixt　rhe　earth　and　the　sky；　the　carrier…pigeon　of　heaven；

Son　of　Eternity；　fettered　in　Time；　and　an　exile；　the　Spirit

Tugs　at　his　chains　evermore；　and　struggles　like　flame　ever

upward。

Still　he　recalls　with　emotion　his　Father's　manifold　mansions；

Thinks　of　the　land　of　his　fathers；　where　blossomed　more　freshly

the　flowerets；

Shone　a　more　beautiful　sun；　and　he　played　with　the　wingM　angels。

Then　grows　the　earth　too　narrow；　too　close；　and　homesick　for

heaven

Longs　the　wanderer　again；　and　the　Spirit's　longings　are　worship；

Worship　is　called　his　most　beautiful　hour；　and　its　tongue　is

entreaty。

Aid　when　the　infinite　burden　of　life　descendeth　upon　us；

Crushes　to　earth　our　hope；　and；　under　the　earth；　in　the

graveyard；

Then　it　is　good　to　pray　unto　God；　for　his　sorrowiug　children

Turns　he　ne'er　from　his　door；　but　he　heals　and　helps　and

consoles　them；

Yet　is　it　better　to　pray　when　all　things　are　prosperous　ti　ith

us；

Pray　in　fortunate　days；　for　life's　most　beautiful　Fortune

Kneels　before　the　Eternal's　throne；　and　with　hands　interfolded；

Praises　thankful　and　moved　the　only　giver　of　blessings。

Or　do　ye　know；　ye　children；　one　blessing　that　comes　not　from

Heaven？

What　has　mankind　forsooth；　the　poor！　that　it　has　not　received？

Therefore；　fall　in　the　dust　and　pray！　The　seraphs　adoring

Cover　with　pinions　six　their　face　in　the　glory　of　him　who

Hung　his　masonry　pendent　on　naught；　when　the　world　be　created。

Earth　declareth　his　might；　and　the　firmament　utters　his　glory。

Races　blossom　and　die；　and　stars　fall　downward　from　heaven；

Downward　like　withered　leaves；　at　the　last　stroke　of　midnight；

millenniums

Lay　themselves　down　at　his　feet；　and　he　sees　them；　but　counts

them　as　nothing

Who　shall　stand　in　his　presence？　The　wrath　of　the　judge　is

terrific；

Casting　the　insolent　down　at　a　glance。　When　he　speaks　in　his

anger

Hillocks　skip　like　the　kid；　and　mountains　leap　like　the　roebuck。

Yet；why　are　ye　afraid；　ye　children？　This　awful　avenger；

Ah！　is　a　merciful　God！　God's　voice　was　not　in　the　earthquake；

Not　in　the　fire；　nor　the　storm；　but　it　was　in　the　whispering

breezes。

Love　is　the　root　of　creation；　God's　essence；　worlds　with