the complete poetical works-第110节
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But in summary manner shipped away；
In a vessel that sailed from Salem bay；
This splendid and famous cavalier；
With his Rupert hat and his popery；
To Merry England over the sea；
As being unmeet to inhabit here。
Thus endeth the Rhyme of Sir Christopher；
Knight of the Holy Sepulchre；
The first who furnished this barren land
With apples of Sodom and ropes of sand。
FINALE
These are the tales those merry guests
Told to each other； well or ill；
Like summer birds that lift their crests
Above the borders of their nests
And twitter； and again are still。
These are the tales； or new or old；
In idle moments idly told；
Flowers of the field with petals thin；
Lilies that neither toil nor spin；
And tufts of wayside weeds and gorse
Hung in the parlor of the inn
Beneath the sign of the Red Horse。
And still； reluctant to retire；
The friends sat talking by the fire
And watched the smouldering embers burn
To ashes； and flash up again
Into a momentary glow；
Lingering like them when forced to go；
And going when they would remain；
For on the morrow they must turn
Their faces homeward； and the pain
Of parting touched with its unrest
A tender nerve in every breast。
But sleep at last the victory won；
They must be stirring with the sun；
And drowsily good night they said；
And went still gossiping to bed；
And left the parlor wrapped in gloom。
The only live thing in the room
Was the old clock； that in its pace
Kept time with the revolving spheres
And constellations in their flight；
And struck with its uplifted mace
The dark； unconscious hours of night；
To senseless and unlistening ears。
Uprose the sun； and every guest；
Uprisen； was soon equipped and dressed
For journeying home and city…ward；
The old stage…coach was at the door；
With horses harnessed； long before
The sunshine reached the withered sward
Beneath the oaks； whose branches hoar
Murmured： 〃Farewell forevermore。〃
〃Farewell！〃 the portly Landlord cried；
〃Farewell！〃 the parting guests replied；
But little thought that nevermore
Their feet would pass that threshold o'er；
That nevermore together there
Would they assemble； free from care；
To hear the oaks' mysterious roar；
And breathe the wholesome country air。
Where are they now？ What lands and skies
Paint pictures in their friendly eyes？
What hope deludes； what promise cheers；
What pleasant voices fill their ears？
Two are beyond the salt sea waves；
And three already in their graves。
Perchance the living still may look
Into the pages of this book；
And see the days of long ago
Floating and fleeting to and fro；
As in the well…remembered brook
They saw the inverted landscape gleam；
And their own faces like a dream
Look up upon them from below。
FLOWER…DE…LUCE
FLOWER…DE…LUCE
Beautiful lily； dwelling by still rivers；
Or solitary mere；
Or where the sluggish meadow…brook delivers
Its waters to the weir！
Thou laughest at the mill； the whir and worry
Of spindle and of loom；
And the great wheel that toils amid the hurry
And rushing of the flame。
Born in the purple； born to joy and pleasance；
Thou dost not toil nor spin；
But makest glad and radiant with thy presence
The meadow and the lin。
The wind blows； and uplifts thy drooping banner；
And round thee throng and run
The rushes； the green yeomen of thy manor；
The outlaws of the sun。
The burnished dragon…fly is thine attendant；
And tilts against the field；
And down the listed sunbeam rides resplendent
With steel…blue mail and shield。
Thou art the Iris； fair among the fairest；
Who； armed with golden rod
And winged with the celestial azure； bearest
The message of some God。
Thou art the Muse； who far from crowded cities
Hauntest the sylvan streams；
Playing on pipes of reed the artless ditties
That come to us as dreams。
O flower…de…luce； bloom on； and let the river
Linger to kiss thy feet！
O flower of song； bloom on； and make forever
The world more fair and sweet。
PALINGENESIS
I lay upon the headland…height； and listened
To the incessant sobbing of the sea
In caverns under me；
And watched the waves； that tossed and fled and glistened；
Until the rolling meadows of amethyst
Melted away in mist。
Then suddenly； as one from sleep； I started；
For round about me all the sunny capes
Seemed peopled with the shapes
Of those whom I had known in days departed；
Apparelled in the loveliness which gleams
On faces seen in dreams。
A moment only； and the light and glory
Faded away； and the disconsolate shore
Stood lonely as before；
And the wild…roses of the promontory
Around me shuddered in the wind； and shed
Their petals of pale red。
There was an old belief that in the embers
Of all things their primordial form exists；
And cunning alchemists
Could re…create the rose with all its members
From its own ashes； but without the bloom；
Without the lost perfume。
Ah me！ what wonder…working； occult science
Can from the ashes in our hearts once more
The rose of youth restore？
What craft of alchemy can bid defiance
To time and change； and for a single hour
Renew this phantom…flower？
〃O； give me back；〃 I cried； 〃the vanished splendors；
The breath of morn； and the exultant strife；
When the swift stream of life
Bounds o'er its rocky channel； and surrenders
The pond； with all its lilies； for the leap
Into the unknown deep！〃
And the sea answered； with a lamentation；
Like some old prophet wailing； and it said；
〃Alas！ thy youth is dead！
It breathes no more； its heart has no pulsation；
In the dark places with the dead of old
It lies forever cold！〃
Then said I； 〃From its consecrated cerements
I will not drag this sacred dust again；
Only to give me pain；
But； still remembering all the lost endearments；
Go on my way； like one who looks before；
And turns to weep no more。〃
Into what land of harvests； what plantations
Bright with autumnal foliage and the glow
Of sunsets burning low；
Beneath what midnight skies； whose constellations
Light up the spacious avenues between
This world and the unseen！
Amid what friendly greetings and caresses；
What households； though not alien； yet not mine；
What bowers of rest divine；
To what temptations in lone wildernesses；
What famine of the heart； what pain and loss；
The bearing of what cross！
I do not know； nor will I vainly question
Those pages of the mystic book which hold
The story still untold；
But without rash conjecture or suggestion
Turn its last leaves in reverence and good heed；
Until 〃The End〃 I read。
THE BRIDGE OF CLOUD
Burn； O evening hearth； and waken
Pleasant visions； as of old！
Though the house by winds be shaken；
Safe I keep this room of gold！
Ah； no longer wizard Fancy
Builds her castles in the air；
Luring me by necromancy
Up the never…ending stair！
But； instead； she builds me bridges
Over many a dark ravine；
Where beneath the gusty ridges
Cataracts dash and roar unseen。
And I cross them； little heeding
Blast of wind or torrent's roar；
As I follow the receding
Footsteps that have gone before。
Naught avails the imploring gesture；
Naught avails the cry of pain！
When I touch the flying vesture；
'T is the gray robe of the rain。
Baffled I return； and； leaning
O'er the parapets of cloud；
Watch the mist that intervening
Wraps the valley in its shroud。
And the sounds of life ascending
Faintly； vaguely； meet the ear；
Murmur of bells and voices blending
With the rush of waters near。
Well I know what there lies hidden；
Every tower and town and farm；
And again the land forbidden
Reassumes its vanished charm。
Well I know the secret places；
And the nests in hedge and tree；
At what doors are friendly faces；
In what hearts are thoughts of me。
Through the mist and darkness sinking；
Blown by wind and beaten by shower；
Down I fling the thought I'm thinking；
Down I toss this Alpine flower。
HAWTHORNE
MAY 23； 1864
How beautiful it was； that one bright day
In the long week of rain！
Though all its splendor could not chase away
The omnipresent pain。
The lovely town was white with apple…blooms；
And the great elms o'erhead
Dark shadows wove on their aerial looms
Shot through with golden thread。
Across the meadows； by the gray old manse；
The historic river flowed：
I was as one who wanders in a trance；
Unconscious of his road。
The faces of familiar friends seemed strange；
Their voices I could hear；
And yet the words they uttered se
