legends and lyrics- first series(传奇和抒情歌谣1)-第16章
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dim and darkened air； One shaded lamp； with softened ray； Scarce showed
the gloomy splendour there。 The dull red brands were burning low； And
yet a fitful gleam of light； Would now and then； with sudden glow； Start
forth； then sink again in night。 I gazed around； yet half in fear； Till Walter
told me to draw near： And in the strange and flickering light； Towards the
Lady's bed I crept； All folded round with snowy white； She lay； （one
would have said she slept；） So still the look of that white face； It seemed
as it were carved in stone； I paused before I dared to place Within her cold
white hand my own。 But； with a smile of sweet surprise； She turned to me
her dreamy eyes； And slowly； as if life were pain； She drew me in her
arms to lie： She strove to speak； and strove in vain； Each breath was like a
long…drawn sigh。 The throbs that seemed to shake her breast； The
trembling clasp； so loose and weak； At last grew calmer； and at rest； And
then she strove once more to speak： 〃My God； I thank thee； that my pain
Of day by day and year by year； Has not been suffered all in vain； And I
may die while he is near。 I will not fear but that Thy grace Has swept away
my sin and woe； And sent this little angel face； In my last hour to tell me
so。〃 （And here her voice grew faint and low；） 〃My child； where'er thy life
may go； To know that thou art brave and true； Will pierce the highest
heavens through； And even there my soul shall be More joyful for this
thought of thee。〃 She folded her white hands； and stayed； All cold and
silently she lay： I knelt beside the bed； and prayed The prayer she used to
make me say。 I said it many times； and then She did not move； but seemed
to be In a deep sleep； nor stirred again。 No sound woke in the silent room；
Or broke the dim and solemn gloom； Save when the brands that burnt so
low； With noisy fitful gleam of light； Would spread around a sudden glow；
Then sink in silence and in night。 How long I stood I do not know： At last
poor Walter came； and said （So sadly） that we now must go； And
whispered； she we loved was dead。 He bade me kiss her face once more；
Then led me sobbing to the door。 I scarcely knew what dying meant； Yet a
strange grief； before unknown； Weighed on my spirit as we went And left
her lying all alone。
We went to the far North once more； To seek the well…remembered
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home； Where my poor kinsman dwelt before； Whence now he was too old
to roam； And there six happy years we past； Happy and peaceful till the
last； When poor old Walter died； and he Blessed me and said I now might
be A sailor on the deep blue sea。 And so I go； and yet in spite Of all the
joys I long to know； Though I look onward with delight； With something
of regret I go； And young or old； on land or sea； One guiding memory I
shall take … Of what She prayed that I might be； And what I will be for her
sake！
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VERSE： A CROWN OF
SORROW
A Sorrow； wet with early tears Yet bitter； had been long with me； I
wearied of this weight of years； And would be free。
I tore my Sorrow from my heart； I cast it far away in scorn； Right
joyful that we two could part … Yet most forlorn。
I sought； （to take my Sorrow's place；） Over the world for flower or
gem … But she had had an ancient grace Unknown to them。
I took once more with strange delight My slighted Sorrow； proudly
now； I wear it； set with stars of light； Upon my brow。
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VERSE： THE LESSON OF THE
WAR （1855）
The feast is spread through England For rich and poor to…day；
Greetings and laughter may be there； But thoughts are far away； Over the
stormy ocean； Over the dreary track； Where some are gone； whom
England Will never welcome back。
Breathless she waits； and listens For every eastern breeze That bears
upon its bloody wings News from beyond the seas。 The leafless branches
stirring Make many a watcher start； The distant tramp of steed may send A
throb from heart to heart。
The rulers of the nation； The poor ones at their gate； With the same
eager wonder The same great news await。 The poor man's stay and
comfort； The rich man's joy and pride； Upon the bleak Crimean shore Are
fighting side by side。
The bullet comesand either A desolate hearth may see； And God
alone to…night knows where The vacant place may be！ The dread that stirs
the peasant Thrills nobles' hearts with fear … Yet above selfish sorrow Both
hold their country dear。
The rich man who reposes In his ancestral shade； The peasant at his
ploughshare； The worker at his trade； Each one his all his perilled； Each
has the same great stake； Each soul can but have patience； Each heart can
only break！
Hushed is all party clamour； One thought in every heart； One dread in
every household； Has bid such strife depart。 England has called her
children； Long silentthe word came That lit the smouldering ashes
Through all the land to flame。
Oh you who toil and suffer； You gladly heard the call； But those you
sometimes envy Have they not given their all？ Oh you who rule the nation；
Take now the toil…worn hand … Brothers you are in sorrow； In duty to your
land。 Learn but this noble lesson Ere Peace returns again； And the life…
blood of Old England Will not be shed in vain。
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VERSE： THE TWO SPIRITS
（1855）
Last night； when weary silence fell on all； And starless skies arose so
dim and vast； I heard the Spirit of the Present call Upon the sleeping Spirit
of the Past。 Far off and near； I saw their radiance shine； And listened while
they spoke of deeds divine。
The Spirit of the Past。
My deeds are writ in iron； My glory stands alone； A veil of shadowy
honour Upon my tombs is thrown； The great names of my heroes Like
gems in history lie； To live they deemed ignoble； Had they the chance to
die！
The Spirit of the Present。
My children； too； are honoured； Dear shall their memory be To the
proud lands that own them； Dearer than thine to thee； For； though they
hold that sacred Is God's great gift of life； At the first call of duty They
rush into the strife！
The Spirit of the Past。
Then； with all valiant precepts Woman's soft heart was fraught； 〃Death；
not dishonour；〃 echoed The war…cry she had taught。 Fearless and glad；
those mothers； At bloody deaths elate； Cried out they bore their children
Only for such a fate！
The Spirit of the Present。
Though such stern laws of honour Are faded now away； Yet many a
mourning mother； With nobler grief than they； Bows down in sad
submission： The heroes of the fight Learnt at her knee the lesson； 〃For
God and for the Right！〃
The Spirit of the Past。
No voice there spake of sorrow： They saw the noblest fall With no
repining murmur； Stern Fate was lord of all。 And when the loved ones
perished； One cry alone arose； Waking the startled echoes； 〃Vengeance
upon our foes！〃
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The Spirit of the Present。
Grief dwells in France and England For many a noble son； Yet louder
than the sorrow； 〃Thy will； Oh God； be done！〃 From desolate homes is
rising One prayer； 〃Let carnage cease！ On friends and foes have mercy； Oh
Lord； and give us peace！〃
The Spirit of the Past。
Then； every hearth was honoured That sent its children forth； To
spread their country's glory； And gain her south or north。 Then； little
recked they numbers； No band would ever fly； But stern and resolute they
stood To conquer or to die。
The Spirit of the Present。
And now from France and England Their dearest and their best Go
forth to succour freedom； To help the much oppressed； Now； let the far…off
Future And Past bow down to…day； Before the few young hearts that hold
Whole armaments at bay。
The Spirit of the Past。
Then； each one strove for honour； Each for a deathless name； Love；
home； rest； joy； were offered As sacrifice to Fame。 They longed that in far
ages Their deeds might still be told； And distant times and nations Their
names in honour hold。
The Spirit of the Present。
Though nursed by such old legends； Our heroes of to…day Go
cheerfully to battle As children go to play； They gaze with awe and
wonder On your great names of pride； Unconscious that their own will
shine In glory side by side！
Day dawned； and as the Spirits passed away； Methought I saw； in the
dim morning grey； The Past's bright diadem had paled before The starry
crown the glorious Present wore。
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VERSE： A LITTLE LONGER
A little longer yeta little longer； Shall violets bloom for thee； and
sweet birds sing； And the lime branches where so
