the three taverns(三家酒店)-第2节
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what I saw； Before me there； was man or ghost。
He may have died so many times That all there was of him to see Was
pride； that kept itself alive As too rebellious to be free； He may have told；
when more than once Humility seemed imminent； How many a lonely
time in vain The Second Coming came and went。
Whether he still defies or not The failure of an angry task That
relegates him out of time To chaos； I can only ask。 But as I knew him； so
he was； And somewhere among men to…day Those old； unyielding eyes
may flash； And flinch and look the other way。
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The Three Taverns A Book of Poems By Edwin Arlington Robinson
Neighbors
As often as we thought of her； We thought of a gray life That made a
quaint economist Of a wolf…haunted wife； We made the best of all she bore
That was not ours to bear； And honored her for wearing things That were
not things to wear。
There was a distance in her look That made us look again； And if she
smiled； we might believe That we had looked in vain。 Rarely she came
inside our doors； And had not long to stay； And when she left； it seemed
somehow That she was far away。
At last； when we had all forgot That all is here to change； A shadow on
the commonplace Was for a moment strange。 Yet there was nothing for
surprise； Nor much that need be told： Love； with his gift of pain； had given
More than one heart could hold。
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The Three Taverns A Book of Poems By Edwin Arlington Robinson
The Mill
The miller's wife had waited long； The tea was cold； the fire was dead；
And there might yet be nothing wrong In how he went and what he said：
〃There are no millers any more；〃 Was all that she had heard him say； And
he had lingered at the door So long that it seemed yesterday。
Sick with a fear that had no form She knew that she was there at last；
And in the mill there was a warm And mealy fragrance of the past。 What
else there was would only seem To say again what he had meant； And
what was hanging from a beam Would not have heeded where she went。
And if she thought it followed her； She may have reasoned in the dark
That one way of the few there were Would hide her and would leave no
mark： Black water； smooth above the weir Like starry velvet in the night；
Though ruffled once； would soon appear The same as ever to the sight。
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The Three Taverns A Book of Poems By Edwin Arlington Robinson
The Dark Hills
Dark hills at evening in the west； Where sunset hovers like a sound Of
golden horns that sang to rest Old bones of warriors under ground； Far
now from all the bannered ways Where flash the legions of the sun； You
fade as if the last of days Were fading； and all wars were done。
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The Three Taverns A Book of Poems By Edwin Arlington Robinson
The Three Taverns
When the brethren heard of us； they came to meet us as far as Appii
Forum； and The Three Taverns。 （Acts 28：15）
Herodion； Apelles； Amplias； And Andronicus？ Is it you I see At last？
And is it you now that are gazing As if in doubt of me？ Was I not saying
That I should come to Rome？ I did say that； And I said furthermore that I
should go On westward； where the gateway of the world Lets in the
central sea。 I did say that； But I say only； now； that I am Paul A prisoner
of the Law； and of the Lord A voice made free。 If there be time enough To
live； I may have more to tell you then Of western matters。 I go now to
Rome； Where Caesar waits for me； and I shall wait； And Caesar knows
how long。 In Caesarea There was a legend of Agrippa saying In a light
way to Festus； having heard My deposition； that I might be free； Had I
stayed free of Caesar； but the word Of God would have it as you see it is
And here I am。 The cup that I shall drink Is mine to drink the moment or
the place Not mine to say。 If it be now in Rome； Be it now in Rome； and if
your faith exceed The shadow cast of hope； say not of me Too surely or
too soon that years and shipwreck； And all the many deserts I have crossed
That are not named or regioned； have undone Beyond the brevities of our
mortal healing The part of me that is the least of me。 You see an older man
than he who fell Prone to the earth when he was nigh Damascus； Where
the great light came down； yet I am he That fell； and he that saw； and he
that heard。 And I am here； at last； and if at last I give myself to make
another crumb For this pernicious feast of time and men Well； I have
seen too much of time and men To fear the ravening or the wrath of either。
Yes； it is Paul you see the Saul of Tarsus That was a fiery Jew； and
had men slain For saying Something was beyond the Law； And in
ourselves。 I fed my suffering soul Upon the Law till I went famishing； Not
knowing that I starved。 How should I know； More then than any； that the
food I had What else it may have been was not for me？ My fathers
and their fathers and their fathers Had found it good； and said there was no
other； And I was of the line。 When Stephen fell； Among the stones that
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crushed his life away； There was no place alive that I could see For such a
man。 Why should a man be given To live beyond the Law？ So I said then；
As men say now to me。 How then do I Persist in living？ Is that what you
ask？ If so； let my appearance be for you No living answer； for Time writes
of death On men before they die； and what you see Is not the man。 The
man that you see not The man within the man is most alive； Though
hatred would have ended； long ago； The bane of his activities。 I have lived；
Because the faith within me that is life Endures to live； and shall； till soon
or late； Death； like a friend unseen； shall say to me My toil is over and my
work begun。
How often； and how many a time again； Have I said I should be with
you in Rome！ He who is always coming never comes； Or comes too late；
you may have told yourselves； And I may tell you now that after me；
Whether I stay for little or for long； The wolves are coming。 Have an eye
for them； And a more careful ear for their confusion Than you need have
much longer for the sound Of what I tell you should I live to say More
than I say to Caesar。 What I know Is down for you to read in what is
written； And if I cloud a little with my own Mortality the gleam that is
immortal； I do it only because I am I Being on earth and of it； in so far
As time flays yet the remnant。 This you know； And if I sting men； as I do
sometimes； With a sharp word that hurts； it is because Man's habit is to
feel before he sees； And I am of a race that feels。 Moreover； The world is
here for what is not yet here For more than are a few； and even in Rome；
Where men are so enamored of the Cross That fame has echoed； and
increasingly； The music of your love and of your faith To foreign ears that
are as far away As Antioch and Haran； yet I wonder How much of love
you know； and if your faith Be the shut fruit of words。 If so； remember
Words are but shells unfilled。 Jews have at least A Law to make them sorry
they were born If they go long without it； and these Gentiles； For the first
time in shrieking history； Have love and law together； if so they will； For
their defense and their immunity In these last days。 Rome； if I know the
name； Will have anon a crown of thorns and fire Made ready for the
wreathing of new masters； Of whom we are appointed； you and I； And
you are still to be when I am gone； Should I go presently。 Let the word fall；
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Meanwhile； upon the dragon…ridden field Of circumstance； either to live or
die； Concerning which there is a parable； Made easy for the comfort and
attention Of those who preach； fearing th
