anthology of massachusetts poets(马萨诸赛诗人)-第3节
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III
HIS 〃DAUBER〃
O Masefield's 〃Dauber！〃 You； who being dead； Yet speak： heroic；
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dauntless； flaming soul； Too suddenly snuffed out！ Here take fresh toll
Of cognizance； and； in your ocean bed； Serenely rest； assured that who has
read What you would fain have pictured of the Pole Would gladly match
your part against the whole Of many a modern artist； Paris…bred。
And more than this： if you； indeed； are his； Then； by a dual truth； he；
too； is yours； For； marked and credited by what endures； Were it the only
thing； which bears his name； （O deathless Soul； I speak you true in this！）
〃The Dauber〃 has brought Masefield to his fame。
IV
HIS 〃GALLIPOLI〃
〃Small wonder；〃 speaks my pensive self； 〃that he Whose passion 'tis to
sing of men who fail； （Belabored； broken by The Unseen Flail） Small
wonder that be makes Gallipoli
His fervent text； for could there be A costlier failure in Earth's
shuddering tale？ Think of heroic Sulva's bloody swale； Of Anzac's
tortured thirst and agony！〃 But as I read； protesting voices cry： 〃Not we；
Not we； who fell among the daffodils； Who conquered Death among those
blistered hills； And found our glory after mortal pain； Not we； who failed
and lost Gallipoli； The sad； strange failure theirs who mourn in vain！〃
V
HIS MEAD
So； Masefield； have your royal words once more Called forth the
praise of men； where praise is due； Your great elegiac； tragically true；
Must leave all Britain prouder than before； And； in spite of all that
breaking hearts deplore； And all that anguished consciences must rue； One
arrowed gladness surely pierces through 》From London's centre to
Canadian shore：
When England； sobbing； mourns Gallipoli； When warm tears flow for
Rupert Brooke And all the splendid Youth her error took As hostage from
the fields of daffodils； Let this a present； living solace be： You are not
sleeping in those cruel hills！
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AMY BRIDGEMAN
1620…1920
BEFORE him rolls the dark； relentless ocean； Behind him stretch the
cold and barren sands； Wrapt in the mantle of his deep devotion The
Pilgrim kneels； and clasps his lifted hands；
〃God of our fathers； who hast safely brought us Through seas and
sorrows； famine； fire； and sword； Who； in Thy mercies manifold hast
taught us To trust in Thee； our leader and our Lord；
〃God； who hast send Thy truth to shine before us； A fiery pillar；
beaconing on the sea； God； who hast spread thy wings of mercy o'er us；
God； who hast set our children's children free；
〃Freedom Thy new…born nation here shall cherish； Grant us Thy
covenant； changing； sure： Earth shall decay； the firmament shall perish；
Freedom and Truth； immortal shall endure。〃
Face to the Indian arrows。 Face to the Prussian guns； 》From then till
now the Pilgrim's vow Has held the Pilgrim's sons。
He braved the red man's ambush； He loosed the black man's chain； His
spirit broke King George's yoke And the battleships of Spain。
He crossed the seething ocean； He dared the death…strewn track； He
charged in the hell of Saint Mihiel And hurled the tyrant back。
For the voice of the lonely Pilgram Who knelt upon the strand A
people hears three hundred years In the conscience of the land。
Daughter of Truth and mother of Courage； Conscience； all hail！ Heart
of New England； strength of the Pilgrims； Thou shalt prevail。 Look how
the empires rise and fall！ Athens robed in her learning and beauty； Rome
in her royal lust for power… Each has flourished for her little hour； Risen
and fallen and ceased to be。 What of her by the Western Sea； Born and
bred as the child of Duty； Sternest of them all？ She it is and she alone Who
built on faith as her corner stone； Of all the nations none but she Knew
that the truth shall make us free。 Daughter of Courage； mother of heros；
Freedom divine。 Light of New England； Star of the Pilgrim； Still shalt thou
shine。 Yet even as we in our pride rejoice； Hark to the prophet's warning
voice： 〃The Pilgrim's thrift is vanished And the Pilgrim's faith is dead； And
the Pilgrim's God is banished； And Mammon reigns in his stead； And work
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is damned as an evil； And men and women cry； In their restless haste； 'Let
us spend and waste； And live； for to…morrow we die。'
〃And law is trampled under； And the nations stand aghast； As they
hear the distant thunder Of the storm that marches fast； And we；whose
ocean borders Shut off the sound and the sight； We will wait for marching
orders； The world has seen us fight； We have earned our days of revel； 'On
with the dance'！ we cry。 It is pain to think； we will eat and drink！ And live；
for to…morrow we die。〃
〃We have laughed in the eyes of danger； We have given our bravest
and best； We have succored the starving stranger； Others shall heed the
rest。' And the revel never ceases； And the nations hold their breath； And
our laughter peals； and the mad world reels； To a carnival of death。
〃Slaves of sloth and the senses； Clippers of Freedom's wings； Come
back to the Pilgrim's Army And fight for the King of Kings； Come back to
the Pilgrim's conscience； Be born in the nation's birth； And strive again as
simple men For the freedom of the earth。 Freedom a free…born nation still
shall cherish； Be this our covenant； unchanging； sure： Earth shall decay；
the firmament shall perish； Freedom and Truth immortal shall endure。〃
Land of our fathers； when the tempest rages； When the wide earth is
racked with war and crime； Founded forever on the Rock of Ages； Beaten
in vain by surging seas of time；
Even as the shallop on the breakers riding； Even as the Pilgrim
kneeling on the shore； Firm in thy faith and fortitude abiding； Hold thou
thy children free forever more。
And when we sail as Pilgrims' sons and daughters The spirit's
Mayflower into seas unknown； Driving across the waste of wintry waters
The voyage every soul shall make alone；
The Pilgrim's faith； the Pilgrim's courage grant us； Still shines the truth
that for the Pilgrim shone。 We are his seed； nor life nor death shall daunt
us。 The port is Freedom！ Pilgrim heart； sail on！
LE BARON RUSSELL BRIGGS
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THE CROSS…CURRENT
THROUGH twelve stout generations New England blood I boast； The
stubborn pastures bred them； The grim； uncordial coast；
Sedate and proud old cities； Loved well enough by me； Then how
should I be yearning To scour the earth and sea。
Each of my Yankee forbears Wed a New England mate： They dwelt
and did and died here； Nor glimpsed a rosier fate。
My clan endured their kindred； But foreigners they loathed； And
wandering folk； and minstrels； And gypsies motley…clothed。
Then why do patches please me； Fantastic； wild array？ Why have I
vagrant fancies For lads from far away。
My folk were godly Churchmen； Or paced in Elders' weeds； But all
were grave and pious And hated heathen creeds。
Then why are Thor and Wotan To dread forces still？ Why does my
heart go questing For Pan beyond the hill？
My people clutched at freedom。 Though others' wills they chained；…
… But made the Law and kept it； And Beauty； they restrained。
Then why am I a rebel To laws of rule and square？ Why would I
dream and dally； Or； reckless； do and dare？
O righteous； solemn Grandsires； O dames； correct and mild； Who
bred me of your virtues！ Whence comes this changing child？
The thirteenth
