legends and lyrics - second series(传奇和抒情歌谣2)-第5节
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！
heart of hearts was the magic Of days that will come no more； The manic
of joy departed； That Time can never restore。
That never； ah； never； never； Never again can be：… Shall I tell you what
powerful fairy Built up this palace for me？ It was only a little white Violet
I found at the root of a tree。
21
… Page 22…
LEGENDS AND LYRICS … SECOND SERIES
VERSE： TWO WORLDS
God's world is bathed in beauty； God's world is steeped in light； It is
the self…same glory That makes the day so bright； Which thrills the earth
with music； Or hangs the stars in night。
Hid in earth's mines of silver； Floating on clouds above； … Ringing in
Autumn's tempest； Murmured by every dove； One thought fills God's
creation … His own great name of Love！
In God's world Strength is lovely； And so is Beauty strong； And Light…
…God's glorious shadow … To both great gifts belong； And they all melt into
sweetness； And fill the earth with Song。
Above God's world bends Heaven； With day's kiss pure and bright； Or
folds her still more fondly In the tender shade of night； And she casts back
Heaven's sweetness； In fragrant love and light。
God's world has one great echo； Whether calm blue mists are curled；
Or lingering dew…drops quiver； Or red storms are unfurled； The same deep
love is throbbing Through the great heart of God's world。
Man's world is black and blighted； Steeped through with self and sin；
And should his feeble purpose Some feeble good begin； The work is
marred and tainted By Leprosy within。
Man's world is bleak and bitter； Wherever he has trod He spoils the
tender beauty That blossoms on the sod； And blasts the loving Heaven Of
the great； good world of God。
There Strength on coward weakness In cruel might will roll； Beauty
and Joy are cankers That eat away the soul； And LoveOh God； avenge it
… The plague…spot of the whole。
Man's world is Pain and Terror； He found it pure and fair； And wove in
nets of sorrow The golden summer air。 Black； hideous； cold； and dreary；
Man's curse； not God's； is there。
And yet God's world is speaking： Man will not hear it call； But listens
where the echoes Of his own discords fall； Then clamours back to Heaven
That God has done it all。
Oh God； man's heart is darkened； He will not understand！ Show him
22
… Page 23…
LEGENDS AND LYRICS … SECOND SERIES
Thy cloud and fire； And； with Thine own right hand Then lead him
through his desert； Back to Thy Holy Land！
23
… Page 24…
LEGENDS AND LYRICS … SECOND SERIES
VERSE： A NEW MOTHER
I was with my lady when she died： I it was who guided her weak hand
For a blessing on each little head； Laid her baby by her on the bed； Heard
the words they could not understand。
And I drew them round my knee that night； Hushed their childish glee；
and made them say They would keep her words with loving tears； They
would not forget her dying fears Lest the thought of her should fade away。
I； who guessed what her last dread had been； Made a promise to that
still； cold face； That her children's hearts； at any cost； Should be with the
mother they had lost； When a stranger came to take her place。
And I knew so much！ for I had lived With my lady since her childhood：
known What her young and happy days had been； And the grief no other
eyes had seen I had watched and sorrowed for alone。
Ah！ she once had such a happy smile！ I had known how sorely she
was tried： Six short years before； her eyes were bright As her little blue…
eyed May's that night； When she stood by her dead mother's side。
NoI will not say he was unkind； But she had been used to love and
praise。 He was somewhat graveperhaps； in truth； Could not weave her
joyous； smiling youth； Into all his stern and serious ways。
She； who should have reigned a blooming flower； First in pride and
honour； as in grace； … She； whose will had once ruled all around； Queen
and darling of us allshe found Change indeed in that cold； stately place。
Yet she would not blame him； even to me； Though she often sat and
wept alone； But she could not hide it near her death； When she said with
her last struggling breath； 〃Let my babies still remain my own！〃
I it was who drew the sheet aside； When he saw his dead wife's face。
That test Seemed to strike right to his heart。 He said； In a strange； low
whisper； to the dead； 〃God knows； love； I did it for the best！〃
And he weptOh yes； I will be just … When I brought the children to
him there … Wondering sorrow in their baby eyes； And he soothed them
with his fond replies； Bidding me give double love and care。
Ah； I loved them well for her dear sake： Little Arthur； with his serious
24
… Page 25…
LEGENDS AND LYRICS … SECOND SERIES
air； May； with all her mother's pretty ways； Blushing； and at any word of
praise Shaking out her sunny golden hair。
And the little one of allpoor child！ She had cost that dear and
precious life。 Once Sir Arthur spoke my lady's name； When the baby's
gloomy christening came； And he called her 〃Olgalike my wife！〃
Save that time； he never spoke of her； He grew graver； sterner； every
day； And the children felt it； for they dropped Low their voices； and their
laughter stopped While he stood and watched them at their play。
No； he never named their mother's name。 But I told them of her： told
them all She had been； so gentle； good； and bright； And I always took
them every night Where her picture hung in the great hall。
There she stood： white daisies in her hand； And her red lips parted as
to speak With a smile； the blue and sunny air Seemed to stir her floating
golden hair； And to bring a faint blush on her cheek。
Well； so time passed on； a year was gone； And Sir Arthur had been
much away。 Then the news came！ I shed many tears When I saw the
truth of all my fears Rise before me on that bitter day。
Any one but her I could have borne！ But my lady loved her as her
friend。 Through their childhood and their early youth； How she used to
count upon the truth Of this friendship that would never end！
Older； graver than my lady was； Whose young； gentle heart on her
relied； She would give advice； and praise； and blame； And my lady leant
on Margaret's name； As her dearest comfort； help； and guide。
I had never liked her； and I think That my lady grew to doubt her too；
Since her marriage； for she named her less； Never saw her； and I used to
guess At some secret wrong I never knew。
That might be or not。 But now； to hear She would come and reign
here in her stead； With the pomp and splendour of a bride： Would no
thought reproach her in her pride With the silent memory of the dead？
So； the day came； and the bells rang out； And I laid the children's black
aside； And I held each little trembling hand； As I strove to make them
understand They must greet their father's new…made bride。
Ah； Sir Arthur might look grave and stern； And his lady's eyes might
well grow dim； When the children shrank in fear away； … Little Arthur hid
25
… Page 26…
LEGENDS AND LYRICS … SECOND SERIES
his face； and May Would not raise her eyes； or speak to him。
When Sir Arthur bade them greet their 〃mother；〃 I was forced to chide；
yet proud to hear How my little loving May replied； With her mother's
pretty air of pride； … 〃Our dear mother has been dead a year！〃
Ah； the lady's tears might well fall fast； As she kissed them； and then
turned away。 She might strive to smile or to forget； But I think some
shadow of regret Must have risen to blight her wedding…day。
She had some strange touch of self…reproach； For she used to linger
day by day； By the nursery door； or garden gate； With a sad； calm； wistful
look； and wait Watching the three children at their play。
But they always shrank away from her When she strove
