poems and songs-第7章
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Of gullies where waters eternally flow。
Oh！ the herds they will rush down the spurs of the hill
To feed on the grasses so cool and so sweet；
And I think that my life with delight will stand still
When we halt with the pleasant Barcoo at our feet。
Good…bye to the Barwon； and brigalow scrubs；
Adieu to the Culgo？ranges；
But look for the mulga and salt…bitten shrubs；
Though the face of the forest…land changes。
The leagues we may travel down beds of hot gravel；
And clay…crusted reaches where moisture hath been；
While searching for waters； may vex us and thwart us；
Yet who would be quailing； or fainting； or failing？
Not you； who are men of the Narran； I ween！
When we leave the dry channels away to the south；
And reach the far plains we are journeying to；
We will cry； though our lips may be glued with the drouth；
Hip； hip； and hurrah for the pleasant Barcoo！
BELLS BEYOND THE FOREST
WILD…EYED woodlands； here I rest me； underneath the gaunt and ghastly trees；
Underneath fantastic…fronted caverns crammed with many a muffled breeze。
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Far away from dusky towns and cities twinkling with the feet of men；
Listening to a sound of mellow music fleeting down the gusty glen；
Sitting by a rapid torrent； with the broken sunset in my face；
By a rapid； roaring torrent； tumbling through a dark and lonely place！
And I hear the bells beyond the forest； and the voice of distant streams；
And a flood of swelling singing； wafting round a world of ruined dreams。
Like to one who watches daylight dying from a lofty mountain spire；
When the autumn splendour scatters like a gust of faintly…gleaming fire；
So the silent spirit looketh through a mist of faded smiles and tears；
While across it stealeth all the sad and sweet divinity of years …
All the scenes of shine and shadow； light and darkness sleeping side by side
When my heart was wedded to existence； as a bridegroom to his bride：
While I travelled gaily onward with the vapours crowding in my wake；
Deeming that the Present hid the glory where the promised Morn would break。
Like to one who； by the waters standing； marks the reeling ocean wave
Moaning； hide his head all torn and shivered underneath his lonely cave；
So the soul within me glances at the tides of Purpose where they creep；
Dashed to fragments by the yawning ridges circling Life's tempestuous Deep！
Oh！ the tattered leaves are dropping； dropping round me like a fall of rain；
While the dust of many a broken aspiration sweeps my troubled brain；
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With the yearnings after Beauty； and the longings to be good and great；
And the thoughts of catching Fortune； flying on the tardy wings of Fate。
Bells； beyond the forest chiming； where is all the inspiration now
That was wont to flush my forehead； and to chase the pallor from my brow？
Did I not； amongst these thickets； weave my thoughts and passions into rhyme；
Trusting that the words were golden； hoping for the praise of after…time？
Where have all those fancies fled to？ Can the fond delusion linger still；
When the Evening withers o'er me； and the night is creeping up the hill？
If the years of strength have left me； and my life begins to fail and fade；
Who will learn my simple ballads； who will stay to sing the songs I've made？
Bells； beyond the forest ringing； lo； I hasten to the world again；
For the sun has smote the empty windows； and the day is on the wane！
Hear I not a dreamy echo； soughing through the rafters of the tree；
Like a sound of stormy rivers； or the ravings of a restless sea？
Should I loiter here to listen； while this fitful wind is on the wing？
No； the heart of Time is sobbing； and my spirit is a withered thing！
Let the rapid torrents tumble； let the woodlands whistle in the blast；
Mighty minstrels sing behind me； but the promise of my youth is past。
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ULMARRA
ALONE … alone！
With a heart like a stone；
She maketh her moan
At the feet of the trees；
With her face on her knees；
And her hair streaming over；
Wildly； and wildly； and wildly；
For she misses the tracks of her lover！
Do you hear her； Ulmarra？
Oh； where are the tracks of her lover？
Go by … go by！
They have told her a lie；
Who said he was nigh；
In the white…cedar glen …
In the camps of his men：
And she sitteth there weeping …
Weeping； and weeping； and weeping；
For the face of a warrior sleeping！
Do you hear her； Ulmarra？
Oh！ where is her warrior sleeping？
A dream！ a dream！
That they saw a bright gleam
Through the dusk boughs stream；
Where wild bees dwell；
And a tomahawk fell；
In moons which have faded；
Faded； and faded； and faded；
From woods where a chieftain lies shaded！
Do you hear her； Ulmarra？
Oh！ where doth her chieftain lie shaded？
Bewail！ bewail！
Who whispered a tale；
That they heard on the gale；
Through the dark and the cold；
The voice of the bold；
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And a boomerang flying；
Flying； and flying； and flying？
Ah！ her heart it is wasted with crying …
Do you hear her； Ulmarra？
Oh！ her heart it is wasted with crying！
THE MAID OF GERRINGONG
ROLLING through the gloomy gorges； comes the roaring southern blast；
With a sound of torrents flying； like a routed army； past；
And； beneath the shaggy forelands； strange fantastic forms of surf
Fly； like wild hounds； at the darkness； crouching over sea and earth；
Swooping round the sunken caverns； with an aggravated roar；
Falling where the waters tumble foaming on a screaming shore！
In a night like this we parted。 Eyes were wet though speech was low；
And our thoughts were all in mourning for the dear； dead Long Ago！
In a night like this we parted。 Hearts were sad though they were young；
And you left me very lonely； dark…haired Maid of Gerringong。
Said my darling； looking at me； through the radiance of her tears：
‘‘Many changes； O my loved One； we will meet in after years；
Changes like to sudden sunbursts flashing down a rainy steep …
Changes like to swift…winged shadows falling on a moony deep！
And they are so cheerless sometimes； leaving； when they pass us by；
Deepening dolours on the sweet； sad face of our Humanity。
But you'll hope； and fail and faint not； with that heart so warm and true；
Watching for the coming Morning； that will flood the World for you；
Listening through a thirsty silence； till the low winds bear along
Eager footfalls … pleasant voices；'' said the Maid of Gerringong。
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Said my darling； when the wind came sobbing wildly round the eaves：
‘‘Oh； the Purpose scattered from me； like the withered autumn leaves！
Oh； the wreck of Love's ambition！ Oh； the fond and full belief
That I yet should hear them hail you in your land a God…made chief！
In the loud day they may slumber； but my thoughts will not be still
When the weary world is sleeping； and the moon is on the hill；
Then your form will bend above me； then your voice will rise and fall；
Though I turn and hide in darkness； with my face against the wall；
And my Soul must rise and listen while those homeless memories throng
Moaning in the night for shelter；'' said the Maid of Gerringong。
Ay； she passed away and left me！ Rising through the dusk of tears；
Came a vision of that parting every day for many years！
Every day； though she had told me not to court the strange sweet pain；
Something whispered … something led me to our olden haunts again：
And I used to wander nightly； by the surges and the ships；
Harping on those last fond accents that had trembled from her lips：
Till a vessel crossed the waters； and I heard a stranger say；
‘‘One you loved has died in silence with her dear face turned away。''
Oh！ the eyes that flash upon me； and the voice that comes along …
Oh！ my light； my life； my darling dark…haired Maid of Gerringong。
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Some one saith； ‘‘Oh； you that mock at Passion with a worldly whine；
Would you change the face of Nature … would you limit God's design？
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Hide for shame from well…raised clamour； moderate fools who would be wise；
Hide for shame … the World will hoot you！ Love is Love； and never dies''
And another asketh； doubting that my brother speaks the truth；
‘‘Can we love in age as fondly as we did in days of youth？
Will dead faces always haunt us； in the time of faltering breath？
Shall we yearn； and we so feeble？'' Ay； for Love is Love in Death。
Oh！ the Faith with sure foundation！ … let the Ages roll along；
You are mine； and mine for ever； dark…haired Maid of Gerringong。
Last night； dear； I dreamt about you； and I thought that far from men
We were walking； both together； in a fragrant seaside glen；
Down where we could hear the surges wailing round the castled cliffs；
Down where we could see the sunset reddening on the distant skiffs；
There a fall of mountain waters tumbled through the knotted bowers
Bright with rainbow colours reeling on the purple forest flowers。
And we rested on the benches of a cavern old and hoar；
And I whispered； ‘‘this is surely her I loved in days of yore！
False he was who brought sad tidings！ Why were you away so long；
When you knew who waited for you； dark…haired Maid of Gerringong？
‘‘Did the strangers come around you； in the far…off foreign land？
Did they lead you out of sorrow； with kind face and loving hand？
Had they pleasant ways to court you … had they silver words to bind？
Had they souls more fond and loyal than the soul you left behind？
Do not think I blame you； dear one！ Ah！ my heart is gushing o'er
With the sudden joy and wonder； thus to see your face once more。
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Happy is the chance which joins us after long； long years of pain：
And； oh； blessed was whatever sent you back to me again！
Now our pleasure will be real … now our hopes again are young：
Now we'll climb Life's brightest summits； dark…haired Maid of Gerringong。
‘‘In the sound of many footfalls； did you falter with regret
For a step which used to gladden in the time so vivid yet？
When they left you in the night…hours； did you lie awake like me；
With the thoughts of what we had been … what we never more could be？
Ah！ you look but do not answer whi
