r. f. murray-第9章
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In the golden blaze of noon； ‘Surely she is coming soon。' In the twilight； ‘Will she come？' Then my heart with fear is dumb。
When the night wind in the trees Plays its mournful melodies； Then I know my trust is vain； And she will not come again。
THE LIFE OF EARTH
The life of earth； how full of pain； Which greets us on our day of birth； Nor leaves us while we yet retain The life of earth。
There is a shadow on our mirth； Our sun is blotted out with rain； And all our joys are little worth。
Yet oh； when life begins to wane； And we must sail the doubtful firth； How wild the longing to regain The life of earth！
GOLDEN DREAM
Golden dream of summer morn； By a well…remembered stream In the land where I was born； Golden dream！
Ripples； by the glancing beam Lightly kissed in playful scorn； Meadows moist with sunlit steam。
When I lift my eyelids worn Like a fair mirage you seem； In the winter dawn forlorn； Golden dream！
TEARS
Mourn that which will not come again； The joy； the strength of early years。 Bow down thy head； and let thy tears Water the grave where hope lies slain。
For tears are like a summer rain； To murmur in a mourner's ears； To soften all the field of fears； To moisten valleys parched with pain。
And though thy tears will not awake What lies beneath of young or fair And sleeps so sound it draws no breath； Yet； watered thus； the sod may break In flowers which sweeten all the air； And fill with life the place of death。
THE HOUSE OF SLEEP
When we have laid aside our last endeavour； And said farewell to one or two that weep； And issued from the house of life for ever； To find a lodging in the house of sleep …
With eyes fast shut； in sunless chambers lying； With folded arms unmoved upon the breast； Beyond the noise of sorrow and of crying； Beyond the dread of dreaming； shall we rest？
Or shall there come at last desire of waking； To walk again on hillsides that we know； When sunrise through the cold white mist is breaking； Or in the stillness of the after…glow？
Shall there be yearning for the sound of voices； The sight of faces； and the touch of hands； The will that works； the spirit that rejoices； The heart that feels； the mind that understands？
Shall dreams and memories crowding from the distance； Shall ghosts of old ambition or of mirth； Create for us a shadow of existence； A dim reflection of the life of earth？
And being dead； and powerless to recover The substance of the show whereon we gaze； Shall we be likened to the hapless lover； Who broods upon the unreturning days？
Not so： for we have known how swift to perish Is man's delight when youth and health take wing； Until the winter leaves him nought to cherish But recollections of a vanished spring。
Dream as we may； desire of life shall never Disturb our slumbers in the house of sleep。 Yet oh； to think we may not greet for ever The one or two that； when we leave them； weep！
THE OUTCAST'S FAREWELL
The sun is banished； The daylight vanished； No rosy traces Are left behind。 Here in the meadow I watch the shadow Of forms and faces Upon your blind。
Through swift transitions； In new positions； My eyes still follow One shape most fair。 My heart delaying Awhile； is playing With pleasures hollow； Which mock despair。
I feel so lonely； I long once only To pass an hour With you； O sweet！ To touch your fingers； Where fragrance lingers From some rare flower； And kiss your feet。
But not this even To me is given。 Of all sad mortals Most sad am I； Never to meet you； Never to greet you； Nor pass your portals Before I die。
All men scorn me； Not one will mourn me； When from their city I pass away。 Will you to…morrow Recall with sorrow Him whom with pity You saw to…day？
Outcast and lonely； One thing only Beyond misgiving I hold for true； That； had you known me； You would have shown me A life worth living … A life for you。
Yes： five years younger My manhood's hunger Had you come filling With plenty sweet； My life so nourished； Had grown and flourished； Had God been willing That we should meet。
How vain to fashion From dreams and passion The rich existence Which might have been！ Can God's own power Recall the hour； Or bridge the distance That lies between？
Before the morning； From pain and scorning I sail death's river To sleep or hell。 To you is given The life of heaven。 Farewell for ever； Farewell； farewell！
YET A LITTLE SLEEP
Beside the drowsy streams that creep Within this island of repose； Oh； let us rest from cares and woes； Oh； let us fold our hands to sleep！
Is it ignoble； then； to keep Awhile from where the rough wind blows； And all is strife； and no man knows What end awaits him on the deep？
The voyager may rest awhile； When rest invites； and yet may be Neither a sluggard nor a craven。 With strength renewed he quits the isle； And putting out again to sea； Makes sail for his desired haven。
LOST LIBERTY
Of our own will we are not free； When freedom lies within our power。 We wait for some decisive hour； To rise and take our liberty。
Still we delay； content to be Imprisoned in our own high tower。 What is it but a strong…built bower？ Ours are the warders； ours the key。
But we through indolence grow weak。 Our warders； fed with power so long； Become at last our lords indeed。 We vainly threaten； vainly seek To move their ruth。 The bars are strong。 We dash against them till we bleed。
AN AFTERTHOUGHT
You found my life； a poor lame bird That had no heart to sing； You would not speak the magic word To give it voice and wing。
Yet sometimes； dreaming of that hour； I think； if you had known How much my life was in your power； It might have sung and flown。
TO J。 R。
Last Sunday night I read the saddening story Of the unanswered love of fair Elaine； The ‘faith unfaithful' and the joyless glory Of Lancelot； ‘groaning in remorseful pain。'
I thought of all those nights in wintry weather； Those Sunday nights that seem not long ago； When we two read our Poet's words together； Till summer warmth within our hearts did glow。
Ah； when shall we renew that bygone pleasure； Sit down together at our Merlin's feet； Drink from one cup the overflowing measure； And find； in sharing it； the draught more sweet？
That time perchance is far； beyond divining。 Till then we drain the ‘magic cup' apart； Yet not apart； for hope and memory twining Smile upon each； uniting heart to heart。
THE TEMPTED SOUL
Weak soul； by sense still led astray； Why wilt thou parley with the foe？ He seeks to work thine overthrow； And thou； poor fool！ dost point the way。
Hast thou forgotten many a day； When thou exulting forth didst go； And ere the noon wert lying low； A broken and defenceless prey？
If thou wouldst live； avoid his face； Dwell in the wilderness apart； And gather force for vanquishing； Ere thou returnest to his place。 Then arm； and with undaunted heart Give battle； till he own thee king。
YOUTH RENEWED
When one who has wandered out of the way Which leads to the hills of joy； Whose heart has grown both cold and grey； Though it be but the heart of a boy … When such a one turns back his feet From the valley of shadow and pain； Is not the sunshine passing sweet； When a man grows young again？
How gladly he mounts up the steep hillside； With strength that is born anew； And in his veins； like a full springtide； The blood streams through and through。 And far above is the summit clear； And his heart to be there is fain； And all too slowly it comes more near When a man grows young again。
He breathes the pure sweet mountain breath； And it widens all his heart； And life seems no more kin to death； Nor death the better part。 And in tones that are strong and rich and deep He sings a grand refrain； For the soul has awakened from mortal sleep； When a man grows young again。
VANITY OF VANITIES
Be ye happy； if ye may； In the years that pass away。 Ye shall pass and be forgot； And your place shall know you not。
Other generations rise； With the same hope in their eyes That in yours is kindled now； And the same light on their brow。
They shall see the selfsame sun That your eyes now gaze upon； They shall breathe the same sweet air； And shall reck not who ye were。
Yet they too shall fade at last In the twilight of the past； They and you alike shall be Lost from the world's memory。
Then； while yet ye breathe and live； Drink the cup that life can give。 Be ye happy； if ye may； In the years that pass away；
Ere the golden bowl be broken； Ere ye pass and leave no token； Ere the silver cord be loosed； Ere ye turn again to dust。
‘And shall this be all；' ye cry； ‘But to eat and drink and die？ If no more than this there be； Vanity of vanity！'
Yea； all things are vanity； And what else but vain are ye？ Ye who boast yourselves the kings Over all created things。
Kings！ whence came your right to reign？ Ye shall be dethroned again。 Yet for this； your one brief hour； Wield your mockery of power。
Dupes of Fate； that treads you down Wear awhile your tinsel crown Be ye happy； if ye may； In the years that pass away。
LOVE'S WORSHIP RESTORED
O Love； thine empire is not dead； Nor will we let thy worship go； Although thine early flush be fled； Thine ardent eyes more faintly glow； And thy light wings be fallen slow Since when as novices we came Into the temple of thy name。
Not now with garlands in our hair； And singing lips； we come to thee。 There is a coldness in the air； A dulness on the encircling sea； Which doth not well with songs agree。 And we forget the words we sang When first to thee our voices rang。
When we recall that magic prime； We needs must weep its early death。 How pleasant from thy towers the chime Of bells； and sweet the incense breath That rose while we； who kept thy faith； Chanting our creed； and chanting bore Our offerings to thine altar store！
Now are our voices out of tune； Our gifts unworthy of thy name。 December frowns； in place of June。 Who smiled when to thy house we came； We who came leaping； now are lame。 Dull ears and failing eyes are ours； And who shall lead us to thy towers？
O hark！ A sound across the air； Which tells not of December's cold； A sound most musical and rare。 Thy bells are ringing as of old； With silver throats and tongues of gold。 Alas！ it is too sweet for truth； An empty echo of our youth。
Nay； never echo spake so loud！ It is indeed thy bells that ring。 And lo； against the leaden cloud； Thy towers！ Once more we leap and spring； Once more melodiously we sing； We sing； and in our song forget That winter lies around us yet。
Oh； what is winter； now we know； Full surely； thou canst never fail？ Forgive our weak untrustful woe； Which deemed thy glowing face grown pale。 We know thee； mighty to prevail。 Doubt and decrepitude depart； And youth comes back into the heart。
O Love； who turnest frost to flame With ardent and immortal eyes； Whose spirit sorrow cannot tame； Nor time subdue in any wise … While sun and moon for us shall rise； Oh； may we in thy service keep Till in thy faith we fall asleep！
BELOW HER WINDOW
Where she sleeps； no moonlight shines No pale beam unbidden creeps。 Darkest shade the place enshrines Where she sleep
