the home book of verse-1-第69节
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And tears take sunshine from thine eyes！
Life is but thought： so think I will
That Youth and I are house…mates still。
Dewdrops are the gems of morning；
But the tears of mournful eve！
Where no hope is； life's a warning
That only serves to make us grieve
When we are old：
That only serves to make us grieve
With oft and tedious taking…leave；
Like some poor nigh…related guest；
That may not rudely be dismissed；
Yet hath outstayed his welcome while；
And tells the jest without the smile。
Samuel Taylor Coleridge ＇1772…1834＇
THE OLD MAN'S COMFORTS
And How He Gained Them
〃You are old； Father William；〃 the young man cried；
〃The few locks which are left you are gray；
You are hale； Father William； … a hearty old man：
Now tell me the reason； I pray。〃
〃In the days of my youth；〃 Father William replied；
〃I remembered that youth would fly fast；
And abused not my health and my vigor at first；
That I never might need them at last。〃
〃You are old； Father William；〃 the young man cried；
〃And pleasures with youth pass away；
And yet you lament not the days that are gone：
Now tell me the reason； I pray。〃
〃In the days of my youth；〃 Father William replied；
〃I remembered that youth could not last；
I thought of the future； whatever I did；
That I never might grieve for the past。〃
〃You are old； Father William；〃 the young man cried；
〃And life must be hastening away；
You are cheerful； and love to converse upon death：
Now tell me the reason； I pray。〃
〃I am cheerful； young man；〃 Father William replied；
〃Let the cause thy attention engage；
In the days of my youth； I remembered my God；
And He hath not forgotten my age。〃
Robert Southey ＇1774…1843＇
TO AGE
Welcome； old friend！ These many years
Have we lived door by door：
The Fates have laid aside their shears
Perhaps for some few more。
I was indocile at an age
When better boys were taught；
But thou at length hast made me sage；
If I am sage in aught。
Little I know from other men；
Too little they from me；
But thou hast pointed well the pen
That writes these lines to thee。
Thanks for expelling Fear and Hope；
One vile； the other vain；
One's scourge； the other's telescope；
I shall not see again：
Rather what lies before my feet
My notice shall engage。 …
He who hath braved Youth's dizzy heat
Dreads not the frost of Age。
Walter Savage Landor ＇1775…1864＇
LATE LEAVES
The leaves are falling； so am I；
The few late flowers have moisture in the eye；
So have I too。
Scarcely on any bough is heard
Joyous； or even unjoyous； bird
The whole wood through。
Winter may come： he brings but nigher
His circle （yearly narrowing） to the fire
Where old friends meet。
Let him； now heaven is overcast；
And spring and summer both are past；
And all things sweet。
Walter Savage Landor ＇1775…1864＇
YEARS
Years； many parti…colored years；
Some have crept on； and some have flown
Since first before me fell those tears
I never could see fall alone。
Years； not so many； are to come；
Years not so varied； when from you
One more will fall： when； carried home；
I see it not； nor hear Adieu。
Walter Savage Landor ＇1775…1864＇
THE RIVER OF LIFE
The more we live； more brief appear
Our life's succeeding stages：
A day to childhood seems a year；
And years like passing ages。
The gladsome current of our youth；
Ere passion yet disorders；
Steals； lingering like a river smooth
Along its grassy borders。
But as the careworn cheek grows wan；
And sorrow's shafts fly thicker；
Ye Stars； that measure life to man；
Why seem your courses quicker？
When joys have lost their bloom and breath；
And life itself is vapid；
Why； as we reach the Falls of Death；
Feel we its tide more rapid？
It may be strange … yet who would change
Time's course to slower speeding；
When one by one our friends have gone
And left our bosoms bleeding？
Heaven gives our years of fading strength
Indemnifying fleetness；
And those of youth； a seeming length；
Proportioned to their sweetness。
Thomas Campbell ＇1777…1844＇
〃LONG TIME A CHILD〃
Long time a child； and still a child； when years
Had painted manhood on my check； was I； …
For yet I lived like one not born to die；
A thriftless prodigal of smiles and tears；
No hope I needed； and I knew no fears。
But sleep； though sweet； is only sleep； and waking；
I waked to sleep no more； at once o'ertaking
The vanguard of my age； with all arrears
Of duty on my back。 Nor child； nor man；
Nor youth； nor sage； I find my head is gray；
For I have lost the race I never ran：
A rathe December blights my lagging May；
And still I am a child； though I be old：
Time is my debtor for my years untold。
Hartley Coleridge ＇1796…1849＇
THE WORLD I AM PASSING THROUGH
Few； in the days of early youth；
Trusted like me in love and truth。
I've learned sad lessons from the years；
But slowly； and with many tears；
For God made me to kindly view
The world that I was passing through。
How little did I once believe
That friendly tones could e'er deceive！
That kindness； and forbearance long；
Might meet ingratitude and wrong！
I could not help but kindly view
The world that I was passing through。
And though I've learned some souls are base；
I would not； therefore； hate the race；
I still would bless my fellow men；
And trust them； though deceived again。
God help me still to kindly view
The world that I am passing through！
Through weary conflicts I have passed；
And struggled into rest at last；
Such rest as when the rack has broke
A joint； or nerve； at every stroke。
The wish survives to kindly view
The world that I am passing through。
From all that fate has brought to me
I strive to learn humility；
And trust in Him who rules above；
Whose universal law is love。
Thus only can I kindly view
The world that I am passing through。
When I approach the setting sun；
And feel my journey nearly done；
May earth be veiled in genial light；
And her last smile to me seem bright！
Help me till then to kindly view
The world that I am passing through！
And all who tempt a trusting heart
From faith and hope to drift apart； …
May they themselves be spared the pain
Of losing power to trust again！
God help us all to kindly view
The world that we are passing through！
Lydia Maria Child ＇1802…1880＇
TERMINUS
It is time to be old；
To take in sail： …
The god of bounds；
Who sets to seas a shore；
Came to me in his fatal rounds；
And said： 〃No more！
No farther shoot
Thy broad ambitious branches； and thy root。
Fancy departs： no more invent；
Contract thy firmament
To compass of a tent。
There's not enough for this and that；
Make thy option which of two；
Economize the failing river；
Not the less revere the Giver；
Leave the many and hold the few。
Timely wise accept the terms；
Soften the fall with wary foot；
A little while
Still plan and smile；
And； … fault of novel germs； …
Mature the unfallen fruit。
Curse； if thou wilt； thy sires；
Bad husbands of their fires；
Who； when they gave thee breath；
Failed to bequeath
The needful sinew stark as once；
The Baresark marrow to thy bones；
But left a legacy of ebbing veins；
Inconstant heat and nerveless reins； …
Amid the Muses； left thee deaf and dumb；
Amid the Gladiators； halt and numb。〃
As the bird trims her to the gale；
I trim myself to the storm of time；
I man the rudder； reef the sail；
Obey the voice at eve obeyed at prime：
〃Lowly faithful； banish fear；
Right onward drive unharmed；
The port； well worth the cruise； is near；
And every wave is charmed。〃
Ralph Waldo Emerson ＇1803…1882＇
RABBI BEN EZRA
Grow old along with me！
The best is yet to be；
The last of life； for which the first was made：
Our times are in his hand
Who saith 〃A whole I planned；
Youth shows but half； trust God： see all； nor be afraid！〃
Not that； amassing flowers；
Youth sighed； 〃Which rose make ours；
Which lily leave and then as best recall？〃
Not that； admiring stars；
It yearned； 〃Nor Jove； nor Mars；
Mine be some figured flame which blends； transcends them all！〃
Not for such hopes and fears
Annulling youth's brief years；
Do I remonstrate： folly wide the mark！
Rather I prize the doubt
Low kinds exist without。
Finished and finite clods； untroubled by a spark。
Poor vaunt of life indeed；
Were man but formed to feed
On joy； to solely seek and find and feast：
Such feasting ended； then
As sure an end to men；
Irks care the crop…full bird？ Frets doubt the maw…crammed beast？
Rejoice we are allied
To that which doth provide
And not partake； effect and not receive！
A spark disturbs our clod；
Nearer we hold o
