legends and lyrics- first series(传奇和抒情歌谣1)-第17章
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A little longer yeta little longer； Shall violets bloom for thee； and
sweet birds sing； And the lime branches where soft winds are blowing；
Shall murmur the sweet promise of the Spring！
A little longer yeta little longer； Thou shalt behold the quiet of the
morn； While tender grasses and awakening flowers Send up a golden mist
to greet the dawn！
A little longer yeta little longer； The tenderness of twilight shall be
thine； The rosy clouds that float o'er dying daylight； Nor fade till trembling
stars begin to shine。
A little longer yeta little longer； Shall starry night be beautiful for
thee； And the cold moon shall look through the blue silence； Flooding her
silver path upon the sea。
A little longer yeta little longer； Life shall be thine； life with its
power to will； Life with its strength to bear； to love； to conquer； Bringing
its thousand joys thy heart to fill。
A little longer yeta little longer； The voices thou hast loved shall
charm thine ear； And thy true heart； that now beats quick to hear them； A
little longer yet shall hold them dear。
A little longer yetjoy while thou mayest； Love and rejoice！ for time
has nought in store； And soon the darkness of the grave shall bid thee
Love and rejoice and feel and know no more。
* * *
A little longer stillPatience； Beloved： A little longer still； ere Heaven
unroll The Glory； and the Brightness； and the Wonder； Eternal； and divine；
that waits thy Soul！
A little longer ere Life true； immortal； （Not this our shadowy Life；）
will be thine own； And thou shalt stand where winged Archangels worship；
And trembling bow before the Great White Throne。
A little longer still； and Heaven awaits thee； And fills thy spirit with a
great delight； Then our pale joys will seem a dream forgotten； Our Sun a
darkness； and our Day a Night。
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A little longer； and thy Heart； Beloved； Shall beat for ever with a Love
divine； And joy so pure； so mighty； so eternal； No creature knows and
lives； will then be thine。
A little longer yetand angel voices Shall ring in heavenly chant upon
thine ear； Angels and Saints await thee； and God needs thee： Beloved； can
we bid thee linger here！
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VERSE： GRIEF
An ancient enemy have I； And either he or I must die； For he never
leaveth me； Never gives my soul relief； Never lets my sorrow cease； Never
gives my spirit peace … For mine enemy is Grief！
Pale he is； and sad and stern； And whene'er he cometh nigh； Blue and
dim the torches burn； Pale and shrunk the roses turn； While my heart that
he has pierced Many a time with fiery lance； Beats and trembles at his
glance： Clad in burning steel is he； All my strength he can defy； For he
never leaveth me … And one of us must die！
I have said； 〃Let ancient sages Charm me from my thoughts of pain！〃
So I read their deepest pages； And I strove to thinkin vain！ Wisdom's
cold calm words I tried； But he was seated by my side：… Learning I have
won in vain； She cannot rid me of my pain。
When at last soft sleep comes o'er me； A cold hand is on my heart；
Stern sad eyes are there before me； Not in dreams will he depart： And
when the same dreary vision From my weary brain has fled； Daylight
brings the living phantom； He is seated by my bed； Bending o'er me all the
while； With his cruel； bitter smile； Ever with me； ever nigh； … And either he
or I must die！
Then I said； long time ago； 〃I will flee to other climes； I will leave
mine ancient foe！〃 Though I wandered far and wide … Still he followed at
my side。
And I fled where the blue waters Bathe the sunny isles of Greece；
Where Thessalian mountains rise Up against the purple skies； Where a
haunting memory liveth In each wood and cave and rill； But no dream of
gods could help me … He went with me still！
I have been where Nile's broad river Flows upon the burning sand；
Where the desert monster broodeth； Where the Eastern palm…trees stand； I
have been where pathless forests Spread a black eternal shade； Where the
lurking panther hiding Glares from every tangled glade； But in vain I
wandered wide； He was always by my side！ Then I fled where snows
eternal Cold and dreary ever lie； Where the rosy lightnings gleam；
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Flashing through the northern sky； Where the red sun turns again Back
upon his path of pain； … But a shadowy form was with me … I had fled in
vain！
I have thought； 〃If I can gaze Sternly on him he will fade； For I know
that he is nothing But a dim ideal shade。〃 As I gazed at him the more； He
grew stronger than before！
Then I said； 〃Mine arm is strong； I will make him turn and flee：〃 I
have struggled with him long … But that could never be！
Once I battled with him so That I thought I laid him low； Then in
trembling joy I fled； While again and still again Murmuring to myself I
said； 〃Mine old enemy is dead！〃 And I stood beneath the stars； When a
chill came on my frame； And a fear I could not name； And a sense of quick
despair； And； lo！ mine enemy was there！
Listen； for my soul is weary； Weary of its endless woe； I have called
on one to aid me Mightier even than my foe。 Strength and hope fail day by
day； I shall cheat him of his prey； Some day soon； I know not when； He
will stab me through and through； He has wounded me before； But my
heart can bear no more； Pray that hour may come to me； Only then shall I
be free； Death alone has strength to take me Where my foe can never be；
Death； and Death alone； has power To conquer mine old enemy！
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VERSE： THE TRIUMPH OF
TIME
The tender delicate Flowers； I saw them fanned by a warm western
wind； Fed by soft summer showers； Shielded by care； and yet； （oh Fate
unkind！） Fade in a few short hours。
The gentle and the gay； Rich in a glorious Future of bright deeds；
Rejoicing in the day； Are met by Death； who sternly； sadly leads Them far
away。
And Hopes； perfumed and bright； So lately shining； wet with dew and
tears； Trembling in morning light； I saw them change to dark and anxious
fears Before the night！
I wept that all must die … 〃Yet Love；〃 I cried； 〃doth live； and conquer
death〃 And Time passed by； And breathed on Love； and killed it with his
breath Ere Death was nigh。
More bitter far than all It was to know that Love could change and die
… Hush！ for the ages call 〃The Love of God lives through eternity； And
conquers all！〃
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VERSE： A PARTING
Without one bitter feeling let us part … And for the years in which your
love has shed A radiance like a glory round my head； I thank you； yes； I
thank you from my heart。
I thank you for the cherished hope of years； A starry future； dim and
yet divine； Winging its way from Heaven to be mine； Laden with joy； and
ignorant of tears。
I thank you； yes； I thank you even more That my heart learnt not
without love to live； But gave and gave； and still had more to give； From
an abundant and exhaustless store。
I thank you； and no grief is in these tears； I thank you； not in bitterness
but truth； For the fair vision that adorned my youth And glorified so many
happy years。
Yet how much more I thank you that you tore At length the veil your
hand had woven away； Which hid my idol was a thing of clay； And false
the altar I had knelt before。
I thank you that you taught me the stern truth； （None other could have
told and I believed；） That vain had been my life； and I deceived； And
wasted all the purpose of my youth。
I thank you that your hand dashed down the shrine； Wherein my idol
worship I had paid； Else had I never known a soul was made To serve and
worship only the Divine。
I thank you that the heart I cast away On such as you； though broken；
bruised and crushed； Now that its fiery throbbing is all hushed； Upon a
worthier altar I can lay。
I thank you for the lesson that such love Is a perverting of God's royal
right； That it is made but for the Infinite； And all too great to live except
above。
I thank you for a terrible awaking； And if reproach seemed hidden in
my pain； And sorrow seemed to cry on your disdain； Know that my
blessing lay in your forsaking。
Farewell for ever now：… in peace we part； And should an idle vision of
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my tears Arise before your soul in after years … Remember that I thank you
from my heart！
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VERSE： THE GOLDEN GATE
Dim shadows gather thickly round； and up the misty stair they climb；
The cloudy stair that upward leads to where the closed portals shine；
Round which the kneeling spirits wait the opening of the Golden Gate。
And some with eager long
