lucile-第4节
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the million to mark him； next moment The crowd sweeps him hurriedly out of your comment； And since we seek vainly （to praise in our songs） 'Mid our fellows the size which to heroes belongs； We take the whole age for a hero； in want Of a better； and still； in its favor； descant On the strength and the beauty which； failing to find In any one man； we ascribe to mankind。
IV。
Alfred Vargrave was one of those men who achieve So little； because of the much they conceive： With irresolute finger he knock'd at each one Of the doorways of life； and abided in none。 His course； by each star that would cross it； was set； And whatever he did he was sure to regret。 That target； discuss'd by the travellers of old； Which to one appear'd argent； to one appear'd gold； To him； ever lingering on Doubt's dizzy margent； Appear'd in one moment both golden and argent。 The man who seeks one thing in life； and but one； May hope to achieve it before life be done； But he who seeks all things； wherever he goes； Only reaps from the hopes which around him he sows A harvest of barren regrets。 And the worm That crawls on in the dust to the definite term Of its creeping existence； and sees nothing more Than the path it pursues till its creeping be o'er； In its limited vision； is happier far Than the Half…Sage； whose course； fix'd by no friendly star Is by each star distracted in turn； and who knows Each will still be as distant wherever he goes。
V。
Both brilliant and brittle； both bold and unstable； Indecisive yet keen； Alfred Vargrave seem'd able To dazzle； but not to illumine mankind。 A vigorous； various； versatile mind； A character wavering； fitful； uncertain； As the shadow that shakes o'er a luminous curtain； Vague； flitting； but on it forever impressing The shape of some substance at which you stand guessing： When you said； 〃All is worthless and weak here；〃 behold！ Into sight on a sudden there seem'd to unfold Great outlines of strenuous truth in the man： When you said； 〃This is genius；〃 the outlines grew wan； And his life； though in all things so gifted and skill'd； Was； at best； but a promise which nothing fulfill'd。
VI。
In the budding of youth； ere wild winds can deflower The shut leaves of man's life； round the germ of his power Yet folded； his life had been earnest。 Alas！ In that life one occasion； one moment； there was When this earnestness might； with the life…sap of youth； Lusty fruitage have borne in his manhood's full growth； But it found him too soon； when his nature was still The delicate toy of too pliant a will； The boisterous wind of the world to resist； Or the frost of the world's wintry wisdom。 He miss'd That occasion； too rathe in its advent。 Since then； He had made it a law； in his commerce with men； That intensity in him； which only left sore The heart it disturb'd； to repel and ignore。 And thus； as some Prince by his subjects deposed； Whose strength he； by seeking to crush it； disclosed； In resigning the power he lack'd power to support Turns his back upon courts； with a sneer at the court； In his converse this man for self…comfort appeal'd To a cynic denial of all he conceal'd In the instincts and feelings belied by his words。 Words； however； are things： and the man who accords To his language the license to outrage his soul； Is controll'd by the words he disdains to control。 And； therefore； he seem'd in the deeds of each day The light code proclaim'd on his lips to obey； And； the slave of each whim； follow'd wilfully aught That perchance fool'd the fancy； or flatter'd the thought。 Yet； indeed； deep within him； the spirits of truth； Vast； vague aspirations； the powers of his youth； Lived and breathed； and made moanstirr'd themselvesstrove to start Into deedsthough deposed； in that Hades； his heart。 Like those antique Theogonies ruin'd and hurl'd； Under clefts of the hills； which； convulsing the world； Heaved； in earthquake； their heads the rent caverns above； To trouble at times in the light court of Jove All its frivolous gods； with an undefined awe； Of wrong'd rebel powers that own'd not their law。 For his sake； I am fain to believe that； if born To some lowlier rank （from the world's languid scorn Secured by the world's stern resistance） where strife； Strife and toil； and not pleasure； gave purpose to life； He possibly might have contrived to attain Not eminence only； but worth。 So； again； Had he been of his own house the first…born； each gift Of a mind many…gifted had gone to uplift A great name by a name's greatest uses。 But there He stood isolated； opposed； as it were； To life's great realities； part of no plan； And if ever a nobler and happier man He might hope to become； that alone could be when With all that is real in life and in men What was real in him should have been reconciled； When each influence now from experience exiled Should have seized on his being； combined with his nature； And form'd as by fusion； a new human creature： As when those airy elements viewless to sight （The amalgam of which； if our science be right； The germ of this populous planet doth fold） Unite in the glass of the chemist； behold！ Where a void seem'd before； there a substance appears； From the fusion of forces whence issued the spheres！
VII。
But the permanent cause why his life fail'd and miss'd The full value of life was；where man should resist The world； which man's genius is call'd to command； He gave way； less from lack of the power to withstand； Than from lack of the resolute will to retain Those strongholds of life which the world strives to gain。 Let this character go in the old…fashion'd way； With the moral thereof tightly tack'd to it。 Say 〃Let any man once show the world that he feels Afraid of its bark； and 'twill fly at his heels： Let him fearlessly face it； 'twill leave him alone： But 'twill fawn at his feet if he flings it a bone。〃
VIII。
The moon of September； now half at the full； Was unfolding from darkness and dreamland the lull Of the quiet blue air； where the many…faced hills Watch'd； well…pleased； their fair slaves； the light； foam…footed rills； Dance and sing down the steep marble stairs of their courts； And gracefully fashion a thousand sweet sports； Lord Alfred （by this on his journeying far） Was pensively puffing his Lopez cigar； And brokenly humming an old opera strain； And thinking； perchance； of those castles in Spain Which that long rocky barrier hid from his sight； When suddenly； out of the neighboring night； A horseman emerged from a fold of the hill； And so startled his steed that was winding at will Up the thin dizzy strip of a pathway which led O'er the mountainthe reins on its neck； and its head Hanging lazily forwardthat； but for a hand Light and ready； yet firm； in familiar command； Both rider and horse might have been in a trice Hurl'd horribly over the grim precipice。
IX。
As soon as the moment's alarm had subsided； And the oath with which nothing can find unprovided A thoroughbred Englishman； safely exploded； Lord Alfred unbent （as Apollo his bow did Now and then） his erectness； and looking； not ruder Than such inroad would warrant； survey'd the intruder； Whose arrival so nearly cut short in his glory My hero； and finished abruptly this story。
X。
The stranger； a man of his own age or less； Well mounted； and simple though rich in his dress； Wore his beard and mustache in the fashion of France。 His face； which was pale； gather'd force from the glance Of a pair of dark； vivid； and eloquent eyes。 With a gest of apology； touch'd with surprise； He lifted his hat； bow'd and courteously made Some excuse in such well…cadenced French as betray'd； At the first word he spoke； the Parisian。
XI。
I swear I have wander'd about in the world everywhere； From many strange mouths have heard many strange tongues； Strain'd with many strange idioms my lips and my lungs； Walk'd in many a far land； regretting my own； In many a language groaned many a groan； And have often had reason to curse those wild fellows Who built the high house at which Heaven turn'd jealous； Making human audacity stumble and stammer When seized by the throat in the hard gripe of Grammar。 But the language of languages dearest to me Is that in which once； O ma toute cherie； When； together； we bent o'er your nosegay for hours； You explain'd what was silently said by the flowers； And； selecting the sweetest of all； sent a flame Through my heart； as； in laughing； you murmur'd Je t'aime。
XII。
The Italians have voices like peacocks； the Spanish Smell； I fancy； of garlic； the Swedish and Danish Have something too Runic； too rough and unshod； in Their accents for mouths not descended from Odin； German gives me a cold in the head； sets me wheezing And coughing； and Russian is nothing but sneezing； But； by Belus and Babel！ I never have heard； And I never shall hear （I well know it）； one word Of that delicate idiom of Paris without Feeling morally sure； beyond question or doubt； By the wild way in which my heart inwardly flutter'd That my heart's native tongue to my heart had been utter'd And whene'er I hear
