the complete poetical works-第220节
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Speak of foul weather or of fair；
At every word the maiden smiles！
Thus the beguiler she beguiles；
So that； departing at the evening's close；
She says； 〃She may be saved！ she nothing knows！〃
Poor Jane； the cunning sorceress！
Now that thou wouldst； thou art no prophetess！
This morning； in the fulness of thy heart；
Thou wast so； far beyond thine art！
III
Now rings the bell； nine times reverberating；
And the white daybreak； stealing up the sky；
Sees in two cottages two maidens waiting；
How differently！
Queen of a day； by flatterers caressed；
The one puts on her cross and crown；
Decks with a huge bouquet her breast；
And flaunting； fluttering up and down；
Looks at herself； and cannot rest；
The other； blind； within her little room；
Has neither crown nor flower's perfume；
But in their stead for something gropes apart；
That in a drawer's recess doth lie；
And； 'neath her bodice of bright scarlet dye；
Convulsive clasps it to her heart。
The one； fantastic； light as air；
'Mid kisses ringing；
And joyous singing；
Forgets to say her morning prayer！
The other； with cold drops upon her brow；
Joins her two hands； and kneels upon the floor；
And whispers； as her brother opes the door；
〃O God！ forgive me now！〃
And then the orphan； young and blind；
Conducted by her brother's hand；
Towards the church； through paths unscanned；
With tranquil air； her way doth wind。
Odors of laurel； making her faint and pale；
Round her at times exhale；
And in the sky as yet no sunny ray；
But brumal vapors gray。
Near that castle； fair to see；
Crowded with sculptures old； in every part；
Marvels of nature and of art；
And proud of its name of high degree；
A little chapel； almost bare
At the base of the rock； is builded there；
All glorious that it lifts aloof；
Above each jealous cottage roof；
Its sacred summit； swept by autumn gales；
And its blackened steeple high in air；
Round which the osprey screams and sails。
〃Paul； lay thy noisy rattle by！〃
Thus Margaret said。 〃Where are we？ we ascend！〃
〃Yes； seest thou not our journey's end？
Hearest not the osprey from the belfry cry？
The hideous bird； that brings ill luck； we know！
Dost thou remember when our father said；
The night we watched beside his bed；
'O daughter； I am weak and low；
Take care of Paul； I feel that I am dying！'
And thou； and he； and I； all fell to crying？
Then on the roof the osprey screamed aloud；
And here they brought our father in his shroud。
There is his grave； there stands the cross we set；
Why dost thou clasp me so； dear Margaret？
Come in！ The bride will be here soon：
Thou tremblest！ O my God！ thou art going to swoon！〃
She could no more；the blind girl； weak and weary！
A voice seemed crying from that grave so dreary；
〃What wouldst thou do； my daughter？〃and she started；
And quick recoiled； aghast； faint…hearted；
But Paul； impatient； urges evermore
Her steps towards the open door；
And when； beneath her feet； the unhappy maid
Crushes the laurel near the house immortal；
And with her head； as Paul talks on again；
Touches the crown of filigrane
Suspended from the low…arched portal；
No more restrained； no more afraid；
She walks； as for a feast arrayed；
And in the ancient chapel's sombre night
They both are lost to sight。
At length the bell；
With booming sound；
Sends forth； resounding round。
Its hymeneal peal o'er rock and down the dell。
It is broad day； with sunshine and with rain；
And yet the guests delay not long；
For soon arrives the bridal train；
And with it brings the village throng。
In sooth； deceit maketh no mortal gay；
For lo！ Baptiste on this triumphant day；
Mute as an idiot； sad as yester…morning；
Thinks only of the beldame's words of warning。
And Angela thinks of her cross； I wis；
To be a bride is all！ The pretty lisper
Feels her heart swell to hear all round her whisper；
〃How beautiful！ how beautiful she is！〃。
But she must calm that giddy head；
For already the Mass is said；
At the holy table stands the priest；
The wedding ring is blessed； Baptiste receives it；
Ere on the finger of the bride he leaves it；
He must pronounce one word at least！
'T is spoken； and sudden at the grooms…man's side
〃'T is he！〃 a well…known voice has cried。
And while the wedding guests all hold their breath；
Opes the confessional； and the blind girl； see！
〃Baptiste；〃 she said； 〃since thou hast wished my death；
As holy water be my blood for thee！〃
And calmly in the air a knife suspended！
Doubtless her guardian angel near attended；
For anguish did its work so well；
That； ere the fatal stroke descended；
Lifeless she fell！
At eve instead of bridal verse；
The De Profundis filled the air；
Decked with flowers a simple hearse
To the churchyard forth they bear；
Village girls in robes of snow
Follow； weeping as they go；
Nowhere was a smile that day；
No； ah no！ for each one seemed to say：
〃The road should mourn and be veiled in gloom；
So fair a corpse shall leave its home！
Should mourn and should weep； ah； well…away！
So fair a corpse shall pass to…day！〃
A CHRISTMAS CAROL
FROM THE NOEI BOURGUIGNON DE GUI BAROZAI
I hear along our street
Pass the minstrel throngs；
Hark！ they play so sweet；
On their hautboys； Christmas songs！
Let us by the fire
Ever higher
Sing them till the night expire！
In December ring
Every day the chimes；
Loud the gleemen sing
In the streets their merry rhymes。
Let us by the fire
Ever higher
Sing them till the night expire。
Shepherds at the grange；
Where the Babe was born；
Sang； with many a change；
Christmas carols until morn。
Let us by the fire
Ever higher
Sing them till the night expire！
These good people sang
Songs devout and sweet；
While the rafters rang；
There they stood with freezing feet。
Let us by the fire
Ever higher
Sing them till the night expire。
Nuns in frigid veils
At this holy tide；
For want of something else；
Christmas songs at times have tried。
Let us by the fire
Ever higher
Sing them fill the night expire！
Washerwomen old；
To the sound they beat；
Sing by rivers cold；
With uncovered heads and feet。
Let us by the fire
Ever higher
Sing them till the night expire。
Who by the fireside stands
Stamps his feet and sings；
But he who blows his hands
Not so gay a carol brings。
Let us by the fire
Ever higher
Sing them till the night expire！
CONSOLATION
To M。 Duperrier； Gentleman of Aix in Provence； on the
Death of his Daughter。
BY FRANCOISE MALHERBE
Will then； Duperrier； thy sorrow be eternal？
And shall the sad discourse
Whispered within thy heart； by tenderness paternal；
Only augment its force？
Thy daughter's mournful fate； into the tomb descending
By death's frequented ways；
Has it become to thee a labyrinth never ending；
Where thy lost reason strays？
I know the charms that made her youth a benediction：
Nor should I be content；
As a censorious friend； to solace thine affliction
By her disparagement。
But she was of the world； which fairest things exposes
To fates the most forlorn；
A rose； she too hath lived as long as live the roses；
The space of one brief morn。
* * * * *
Death has his rigorous laws； unparalleled； unfeeling；
All prayers to him are vain；
Cruel； he stops his ears； and； deaf to our appealing；
He leaves us to complain。
The poor man in his hut； with only thatch for cover；
Unto these laws must bend；
The sentinel that guards the barriers of the Louvre
Cannot our kings defend。
To murmur against death； in petulant defiance；
Is never for the best；
To will what God doth will； that is the only science
That gives us any rest。
TO CARDINAL RICHELIEU
BY FRANCOIS DE MALHERBE
Thou mighty Prince of Church and State；
Richelieu！ until the hour of death；
Whatever road man chooses； Fate
Still holds him subject to her breath。
Spun of all silks； our days and nights
Have sorrows woven with delights；
And of this intermingled shade
Our various destiny appears；
Even as one sees the course of years
Of summers and of winters made。
Sometimes the soft； deceitful hours
Let us enjoy the halcyon wave；
Sometimes impending peril lowers
Beyond the s
