legends and lyrics - second series(传奇和抒情歌谣2)-第19节
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that Love Should as soon pass away … What wonder I saw it Fade； fail； and
decay。
The Vow？why what was it； It snapped like a thread： Who cares for
the corpse When the spirit is fled？ Then I said； 〃Let the Dead rise And
bury its dead；
〃While the true； living future Grows pure； wise； and strong〃 So I cast
the gold heart； I had worn for so long； In the Lake； and bound on it A
Stoneand a Wrong！
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LEGENDS AND LYRICS … SECOND SERIES
III。
Look； this little golden Heart Was a true…love shrine For a tress of hair；
I held them； Heart and tress； as mine； Like the Love which gave the token
See to…day the Heart is broken！
Broken is the golden heart； Lost the tress of hair； Ah； the shrine is
empty； vacant； Desolate； and bare！ So the token should depart； When Love
dies within the heart。
Fast and deep the river floweth； Floweth to the west； I will cast the
golden trinket In its cold dark breast； … Flow； oh river； deep and fast； Over
all the buried past！
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LEGENDS AND LYRICS … SECOND SERIES
VERSE： TWO LOVES
Deep within my heart of hearts； dear； Bound with all its strings； Two
Loves are together reigning Both are crowned like Kings； While my life；
still uncomplaining； Rests beneath their wings。
So they both will rule my heart； dear； Till it cease to beat； No sway can
be deeper； stronger； Truer； more complete； Growing； as it lasts the longer；
Sweeter； and more sweet。
One all life and time transfigures； Piercing through and through
Meaner things with magic splendour； Old； yet ever new： This；so strong
and yet so tender； … Is 。 。 。 my Love for you。
Should it fail；forgive my doubting In this world of pain； … Yet my
other Love would ever Steadfastly remain； And I know that I could never
Turn to that in vain。
Though its radiance may be fainter； Yet its task is wide； For it lives to
comfort sorrows； Strengthen； calm； and guide； And from Trust and Honour
borrows All its peace and pride。
Will you blame my dreaming even If the first were flown？ Ah； I would
not live without it； It is all your own： And the othercan you doubt it？ …
Yours； and yours alone。
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LEGENDS AND LYRICS … SECOND SERIES
VERSE： A WOMAN'S LAST
WORD
Wellthe links are broken； All is past； This farewell； when spoken； Is
the last。 I have tried and striven All in vain； Such bonds must be riven；
Spite of pain； And never； never； never Knit again。
So I tell you plainly； It must be： I shall try； not vainly； To be free； Truer；
happier chances Wait me yet； While you； through fresh fancies； Can forget；
… And life has nobler uses Than Regret。
All past words retracing； One by one； Does not help effacing What is
done。 Let it be。 Oh； stronger Links can break！ Had we dreamed still
longer We could wake； … Yet let us part in kindness For Love's sake。
Bitterness and sorrow Will at last； In some bright to…morrow； Heal
their past； But future hearts will never Be as true As mine wasis ever；
Dear； for you 。 。 。 。 。 。 Then must we part； when loving As we do？
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LEGENDS AND LYRICS … SECOND SERIES
VERSE： PAST AND PRESENT
〃Linger；〃 I cried； 〃oh radiant Time！ thy power Has nothing more to
give； life is complete： Let but the perfect Present； hour by hour； Itself
remember and itself repeat。
〃And Love；the future can but mar its splendour； Change can but dim
the glory of its youth； Time has no star more faithful or more tender； To
crown its constancy or light its truth。〃
But Time passed on in spite of prayer or pleading； Through storm and
peril； but that life might gain A Peace through strife all other peace
exceeding； Fresh joy from sorrow； and new hope from pain。
And since Love lived when all save Love was dying； And； passed
through fire； grew stronger than before：… Dear； you know why； in double
faith relying； I prize the Past much； but the Present more。
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LEGENDS AND LYRICS … SECOND SERIES
VERSE： FOR THE FUTURE
I wonder did you ever count The value of one human fate； Or sum the
infinite amount Of one heart's treasures； and the weight Of Life's one
venture； and the whole concentrate purpose of a soul。
And if you ever paused to think That all this in your hands I laid
Without a fear：… did you not shrink From such a burthen？ half afraid； Half
wishing that you could divide the risk； or cast it all aside。
While Love has daily perils； such As none foresee and none control；
And hearts are strung so that one touch； Careless or rough； may jar the
whole； You well might feel afraid to reign with absolute power of joy and
pain。
You well might fearif Love's sole claim Were to be happy： but true
Love Takes joy as solace； not as aim； And looks beyond； and looks above；
And sometimes through the bitterest strife first learns to live her highest
life。
Earth forges joy into a chain Till fettered Love forgets its strength； Its
purpose； and its end；but Pain Restores its heritage at length； And bids
Love rise again and be eternal； mighty； pure； and free。
If then your future life should need A strength my Love can only gain
Through suffering； or my heart be freed Only by sorrow； from some stain …
Then you shall give； and I will take； this Crown of fire for Love's dear
sake。
Sept。 8th； 1860。
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