r. f. murray-第10章

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BELOW　HER　WINDOW



Where　she　sleeps；　no　moonlight　shines　No　pale　beam　unbidden　creeps。　Darkest　shade　the　place　enshrines　Where　she　sleeps。

Like　a　diamond　in　the　deeps　Of　the　rich　unopened　mines　There　her　lovely　rest　she　keeps。

Though　the　jealous　dark　confines　All　her　beauty；　Love's　heart　leaps。　His　unerring　thought　divines　Where　she　sleeps。



REQUIEM



For　thee　the　birds　shall　never　sing　again；　Nor　fresh　green　leaves　come　out　upon　the　tree；　The　brook　shall　no　more　murmur　the　refrain　For　thee。

Thou　liest　underneath　the　windswept　lea；　Thou　dreamest　not　of　pleasure　or　of　pain；　Thou　dreadest　no　to…morrow　that　shall　be。

Deep　rest　is　thine；　unbroken　by　the　rain；　Ay；　or　the　thunder。　　Brother；　canst　thou　see　The　tears　that　night　and　morning　fall　in　vain　For　thee？



THOU　ART　QUEEN



Thou　art　queen　to　every　eye；　When　the　fairest　maids　convene。　Envy's　self　can　not　deny　Thou　art　queen。

In　thy　step　thy　right　is　seen；　In　thy　beauty　pure　and　high；　In　thy　grace　of　air　and　mien。

Thine　unworthy　vassal　I；　Lay　my　hands　thy　hands　between；　Kneeling　at　thy　feet　I　cry　Thou　art　queen！



IN　TIME　OF　DOUBT



‘In　the　shadow　of　Thy　wings；　O　Lord　of　Hosts；　whom　I　extol；　I　will　put　my　trust　for　ever；'　so　the　kingly　David　sings。　‘Thou　shalt　help　me；　Thou　shalt　save　me；　only　Thou　shalt　keep　me　whole；　In　the　shadow　of　Thy　wings。'

In　our　ears　this　voice　triumphant；　like　a　blowing　trumpet；　rings；　But　our　hearts　have　heard　another；　as　of　funeral　bells　that　toll；　‘God　of　David　where　to　find　Thee？'　　No　reply　the　question　brings。

Shadows　are　there　overhead；　but　they　are　of　the　clouds　that　roll；　Blotting　out　the　sun　from　sight；　and　overwhelming　earthly　things。　Oh；　that　we　might　feel　Thy　presence！　　Surely　we　could　rest　our　soul　In　the　shadow　of　Thy　wings。



THE　GARDEN　OF　SIN



I　know　the　garden…close　of　sin；　The　cloying　fruits；　the　noxious　flowers；　I　long　have　roamed　the　walks　and　bowers；　Desiring　what　no　man　shall　win：

A　secret　place　to　shelter　in；　When　soon　or　late　the　angry　powers　Come　down　to　seek　the　wretch　who　cowers；　Expecting　judgment　to　begin。

The　pleasure　long　has　passed　away　From　flowers　and　fruit；　each　hour　I　dread　My　doom　will　find　me　where　I　lie。　I　dare　not　go；　I　dare　not　stay。　Without　the　walks；　my　hope　is　dead；　Within　them；　I　myself　must　die。



URSULA



There　is　a　village　in　a　southern　land；　By　rounded　hills　closed　in　on　every　hand。　The　streets　slope　steeply　to　the　market…square；　Long　lines　of　white…washed　houses；　clean　and　fair；　With　roofs　irregular；　and　steps　of　stone　Ascending　to　the　front　of　every　one。　The　people　swarthy；　idle；　full　of　mirth；　Live　mostly　by　the　tillage　of　the　earth。

Upon　the　northern　hill…top；　looking　down；　Like　some　sequestered　saint　upon　the　town；　Stands　the　great　convent。

On　a　summer　night；　Ten　years　ago；　the　moon　with　rising　light　Made　all　the　convent　towers　as　clear　as　day；　While　still　in　deepest　shade　the　village　lay。　Both　light　and　shadow　with　repose　were　filled；　The　village　sounds；　the　convent　bells　were　stilled。　No　foot　in　all　the　streets　was　now　astir；　And　in　the　convent　none　kept　watch　but　her　Whom　they　called　Ursula。　　The　moonlight　fell　Brightly　around　her　in　the　lonely　cell。　Her　eyes　were　dark；　and　full　of　unshed　woe；　Like　mountain　tarns　which　cannot　overflow；　Surcharged　with　rain；　and　round　about　the　eyes　Deep　rings　recorded　sleepless　nights；　and　cries　Stifled　before　their　birth。　　Her　brow　was　pale；　And　like　a　marble　temple　in　a　vale　Of　cypress　trees；　shone　shadowed　by　her　hair。　So　still　she　was；　that　had　you　seen　her　there；　You　might　have　thought　you　were　beholding　death。　Her　lips　were　parted；　but　if　any　breath　Came　from　between　them；　it　were　hard　to　know　By　any　movement　of　her　breast　of　snow。

But　when　the　summer　night　was　now　far　spent；　She　kneeled　upon　the　floor。　　Her　head　she　leant　Down　on　the　cold　stone　of　the　window…seat。　God　knows　if　there　were　any　vital　heat　In　those　pale　brows；　or　if　they　chilled　the　stone。　And　as　she　knelt；　she　made　a　bitter　moan；　With　words　that　issued　from　a　bitter　soul；　…　‘O　Mary；　Mother；　and　is　this　thy　goal；　Thy　peace　which　waiteth　for　the　world…worn　heart？　Is　it　for　this　I　live　and　die　apart　From　all　that　once　I　knew？　　O　Holy　God；　Is　this　the　blessed　chastening　of　Thy　rod；　Which　only　wounds　to　heal？　　Is　this　the　cross　That　I　must　carry；　counting　all　for　loss　Which　once　was　precious　in　the　world　to　me？　If　Thou　be　God；　blot　out　my　memory；　And　let　me　come；　forsaking　all；　to　Thee。　But　here；　though　that　old　world　beholds　me　not；　Here；　though　I　seek　Thee　through　my　lonely　lot；　Here；　though　I　fast；　do　penance　day　by　day；　Kneel　at　Thy　feet；　and　ever　watch　and　pray；　Beloved　forms　from　that　forsaken　world　Revisit　me。　　The　pale　blue　smoke　is　curled　Up　from　the　dwellings　of　the　sons　of　men。　I　see　it；　and　all　my　heart　turns　back　again　From　seeking　Thee；　to　find　the　forms　I　love。

‘Thou；　with　Thy　saints　abiding　far　above；　What　canst　Thou　know　of　this；　my　earthly　pain？　They　said　to　me；　Thou　shalt　be　born　again；　And　learn　that　worldly　things　are　nothing　worth；　In　that　new　state。　　O　God；　is　this　new　birth；　Birth　of　the　spirit　dying　to　the　flesh？　Are　these　the　living　waters　which　refresh　The　thirsty　spirit；　that　it　thirst　no　more？　Still　all　my　life　is　thirsting　to　the　core。　Thou　canst　not　satisfy；　if　this　be　Thou。　And　yet　I　dream；　or　I　remember　how；　Before　I　came　here；　while　I　tarried　yet　Among　the　friends　they　tell　me　to　forget；　I　never　seemed　to　seek　Thee；　but　I　found　Thou　wert　in　all　the　loveliness　around；　And　most　of　all　in　hearts　that　loved　me　well。

‘And　then　I　came　to　seek　Thee　in　this　cell；　To　crucify　my　worldliness　and　pride；　To　lay　my　heart's　affections　all　aside；　As　carnal　hindrances　which　held　my　soul　From　hasting　unencumbered　to　her　goal。　And　all　this　have　I　done；　or　else　have　striven　To　do；　obeying　the　behest　of　Heaven；　And　my　reward　is　bitterness。　　I　seem　To　wander　always　in　a　feverish　dream　On　plains　where　there　is　only　sun　and　sand；　No　rock　or　tree　in　all　the　weary　land；　My　thirst　unquenchable；　my　heart　burnt　dry。　And　still　in　my　parched　throat　I　faintly　cry；　Deliver　me；　O　Lord：　　bow　down　Thine　ear！

‘He　will　not　answer　me。　　He　does　not　hear。　I　am　alone　within　the　universe。　Oh　for　a　strength　of　will　to　rise　and　curse　God；　and　defy　Him　here　to　strike　me　dead！　But　my　heart　fails　me；　and　I　bow　my　head；　And　cry　to　Him　for　mercy；　still　in　vain。　Oh　for　some　sudden　agony　of　pain；　To　make　such　insurrection　in　my　soul　That　I　might　burst　all　bondage　of　control；　Be　for　one　moment　as　the　beasts　that　die；　And　pour　my　life　in　one　blaspheming　cry！'

The　morning　came；　and　all　the　convent　towers　Were　gilt　with　glory　by　the　golden　hours。　But　where　was　Ursula？　　The　sisters　came　With　quiet　footsteps；　calling　her　by　name；　But　there　was　none　that　answered。　　In　her　cell；　The　glad；　illuminating　sunshine　fell　On　form　and　face；　and　showed　that　she　was　dead。　‘May　Christ　receive　her　soul！'　the　sisters　said；　And　spoke　in　whispers　of　her　holy　life；　And　how　God's　mercy　spared　her　pain　and　strife；　And　gave　this　quiet　death。　　The　face　was　still；　Like　a　tired　child's；　that　lies　and　sleeps　its　fill。



UNDESIRED　REVENGE



Sorrow　and　sin　have　worked　their　will　For　years　upon　your　sovereign　face；　And　yet　it　keeps　a　faded　trace　Of　its　unequalled　beauty　still；　As　ruined　sanctuaries　hold　A　crumbled　trace　of　perfect　mould　In　shrines　which　saints　no　longer　fill。

I　knew　you　in　your　splendid　morn；　Oh；　how　imperiously　sweet！　I　bowed　and　worshipped　at　your　feet；　And　you　received　my　love　with　scorn。　Now　I　scorn　you。　　It　is　a　change；　When　I　consider　it；　how　strange　That　you；　not　I；　should　be　forlorn。

Do　you　suppose　I　have　no　pain　To　see　you　play　this　sorry　part；　With　faded　face　and　broken　heart；　And　life　lived　utterly　in　vain？　Oh　would　to　God　that　you　once　more　Might　scorn　me　as　you　did　of　yore；　And　I　might　worship　you　again！



POETS



Children　of　earth　are　we；　Lovers　of　land　and　sea；　Of　hill；　of　brook；　of　tree；　Of　all　things　fair；　Of　all　things　dark　or　bright；　Born　of　the　day　and　night；　Red　rose　and　lily　white　And　dusky　hair。

Yet　not　alone　from　earth　Do　we　derive　our　birth。　What　were　our　singing　worth　Were　this　the　whole？　Somewhere　from　heaven　afar　Hath　dropped　a　fiery　star；　Which　makes　us　what　we　are；　Which　is　our　soul。



A　PRESENTIMENT



It　seems　a　little　word　to　say　…　FAREWELLbut　may　it　not；　when　said；　Be　like　the　kiss　we　give　the　dead；　Before　they　pass　the　doors　for　aye？

Who　knows　if；　on　some　after　day；　Your　lips　shall　utter　in　its　stead　A　welcome；　and　the　broken　thread　Be　joined　again；　the　selfsame　way？

The　word　is　said；　I　turn　to　go；　But　on　the　threshold　seem　to　hear　A　sound　as　of　a　passing　bell；　Tolling　monotonous　and　slow；　Which　strikes　despair　upon　my　ear；　And　says　it　is　a　last　farewell。



A　BIRTHDAY　GIFT



No　gift　I　bring　but　worship；　and　the　love　Which　all　must　bear　to　lovely　souls　and　pure；

Those　lights；　that；　when　all　else　is　dark；　endure；　Stars　in　the　night；　to　lift　our　eyes　above；

To　lift　our　eyes　and　hearts；　and　make　us　move　Less　doubtful；　though　our　journey　be　obscure；　Less　fearful　of　its　ending；　being　sure　That　they　watch　over　us；　where'er　we　rove。

And　though　my　gift　itself　have　little　worth；　Yet　worth　it　gains　from　her　to　whom　‘tis　given；　As　a　weak　flower　gets　colour　from　the　sun。　Or　rather；　as　when　angels　walk　the　earth；　All　things　they　look　on　take　the　look　of　heaven　…　For　of　those　blessed　angels　thou　art　one。



CYCLAMEN



I　had　a　plant　which　would　not　thrive；　Although　I　watered　it　with　care；　I　could　not　save　the　blossoms　fair；　Nor　even　keep　the　leaves　alive。

I　strove　till　it　was　vain　to　strive。　I　gave　it　light；　I　gave　it　air；　I　sought　from　skill　and　counsel　rare　The　means　to　make　it　yet　survive。

A　lady　sent　it　me；　to　prove　She　held　my　friendship　in　esteem；　I　would　not　have　it　as　she　said；　I　wanted　it　to　be　for　love；　And　now　not　even　friends　we　seem；　And　now　the　cyclamen　is　dead。



LOVE　RECALLED　IN　SLEEP



There　was　a　time　when　in　your　face　There　dwelt　such　power；　and　in　your　smile　I　know　not　what　of　magic　grace；　They　held　me　captive　for　a　while。

Ah；　then　I　listened　for　your　voice！　Like　music　every　word　did　fall；　Making　the　hearts　of　men　rejoice；　And　mine　rejoiced　the　most　of　all。

At　sight　of　you；　my　soul　took　flame。　But　now；　alas！　the　spell　is　fled。　Is　it　that　you　are　not　the　same；　Or　only　that　my　love　is　dead？

I　know　notbut　last　night　I　dreamed　That　you　were　walking　by　my　side；　And　sweet；　as　once　you　were；　you　seemed；　And　all　my　heart　was　glorified。

Your　head　against　my　shoulder　lay；　And　round　your　waist　my　arm　was　pressed；　And　as　we　walked　a　well…known　way；　Love　was　between　us　both　confessed。

But　when　with　dawn　I　woke　from　sleep；　And　slow　came　back　the　unlovely　truth；　I　wept；　as　an　old　man　might　weep　For　the　lost　paradise　of　youth。



FOOTSTEPS　IN　THE　STREET



Oh；　will　the　footsteps　never　be　done？　The　insolent　feet　Thronging　the　street；　Forsaken　now　of　the　only　one。

The　only　one　out　of　all　the　throng；　Whose　footfall　I　knew；　And　could　tell　it　so　true；　That　I　leapt　to　see　as　she　passed　along；

As　she　passed　along　with　her　beautiful　face；　Which　knew　full　well　Though　it　did　not　tell；　That　I　was　there　in　the　window…space。

Now　my　sense　is　never　so　clear。　It　cheats　my　heart；　Making　me　start　A　thousand　times；　whe