the complete poetical works-第113节
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An eager listener unto stories told
At the Round Table of the nursery；
Of heroes and adventures manifold。
There will be other towers for thee to build；
There will be other steeds for thee to ride；
There will be other legends； and all filled
With greater marvels and more glorified。
Build on； and make thy castles high and fair；
Rising and reaching upward to the skies；
Listen to voices in the upper air；
Nor lose thy simple faith in mysteries。
CHANGED
From the outskirts of the town
Where of old the mile…stone stood。
Now a stranger； looking down
I behold the shadowy crown
Of the dark and haunted wood。
Is it changed； or am I changed？
Ah！ the oaks are fresh and green；
But the friends with whom I ranged
Through their thickets are estranged
By the years that intervene。
Bright as ever flows the sea；
Bright as ever shines the sun；
But alas！ they seem to me
Not the sun that used to be；
Not the tides that used to run。
THE CHALLENGE
I have a vague remembrance
Of a story； that is told
In some ancient Spanish legend
Or chronicle of old。
It was when brave King Sanchez
Was before Zamora slain；
And his great besieging army
Lay encamped upon the plain。
Don Diego de Ordonez
Sallied forth in front of all；
And shouted loud his challenge
To the warders on the wall。
All the people of Zamora；
Both the born and the unborn；
As traitors did he challenge
With taunting words of scorn。
The living； in their houses；
And in their graves； the dead！
And the waters of their rivers；
And their wine； and oil； and bread！
There is a greater army；
That besets us round with strife；
A starving； numberless army；
At all the gates of life。
The poverty…stricken millions
Who challenge our wine and bread；
And impeach us all as traitors；
Both the living and the dead。
And whenever I sit at the banquet；
Where the feast and song are high；
Amid the mirth and the music
I can hear that fearful cry。
And hollow and haggard faces
Look into the lighted hall；
And wasted hands are extended
To catch the crumbs that fall。
For within there is light and plenty；
And odors fill the air；
But without there is cold and darkness；
And hunger and despair。
And there in the camp of famine；
In wind and cold and rain；
Christ； the great Lord of the army；
Lies dead upon the plain！
THE BROOK AND THE WAVE
The brooklet came from the mountain；
As sang the bard of old；
Running with feet of silver
Over the sands of gold！
Far away in the briny ocean
There rolled a turbulent wave；
Now singing along the sea…beach；
Now howling along the cave。
And the brooklet has found the billow
Though they flowed so far apart；
And has filled with its freshness and sweetness
That turbulent bitter heart！
AFTERMATH
When the summer fields are mown；
When the birds are fledged and flown；
And the dry leaves strew the path；
With the falling of the snow；
With the cawing of the crow；
Once again the fields we mow
And gather in the aftermath。
Not the sweet； new grass with flowers
Is this harvesting of ours；
Not the upland clover bloom；
But the rowen mired with weeds；
Tangled tufts from marsh and meads；
Where the poppy drops its seeds
In the silence and the gloom。
THE MASQUE OF PANDORA
I
THE WORKSHOP OF HEPHAESTUS
HEPHAESTUS （standing before the statue of Pandora。）
Not fashioned out of gold； like Hera's throne；
Nor forged of iron like the thunderbolts
Of Zeus omnipotent； or other works
Wrought by my hands at Lemnos or Olympus；
But moulded in soft clay； that unresisting
Yields itself to the touch； this lovely form
Before me stands； perfect in every part。
Not Aphrodite's self appeared more fair；
When first upwafted by caressing winds
She came to high Olympus； and the gods
Paid homage to her beauty。 Thus her hair
Was cinctured； thus her floating drapery
Was like a cloud about her； and her face
Was radiant with the sunshine and the sea。
THE VOICE OF ZEUS。
Is thy work done； Hephaestus？
HEPHAESTUS。
It is finished！
THE VOICE。
Not finished till I breathe the breath of life
Into her nostrils； and she moves and speaks。
HEPHAESTUS。
Will she become immortal like ourselves？
THE VOICE。
The form that thou hast fashioned out of clay
Is of the earth and mortal； but the spirit；
The life； the exhalation of my breath；
Is of diviner essence and immortal。
The gods shall shower on her their benefactions；
She shall possess all gifts： the gift of song；
The gift of eloquence； the gift of beauty；
The fascination and the nameless charm
That shall lead all men captive。
HEPHAESTUS。
Wherefore？ wherefore？
（A wind shakes the house。）
I hear the rushing of a mighty wind
Through all the halls and chambers of my house！
Her parted lips inhale it； and her bosom
Heaves with the inspiration。 As a reed
Beside a river in the rippling current
Bends to and fro； she bows or lifts her head。
She gazes round about as if amazed；
She is alive； she breathes； but yet she speaks not！
（PANDORA descends from the pedestal。）
CHORUS OF THE GRACES
AGLAIA。
In the workshop of Hephaestus
What is this I see？
Have the Gods to four increased us
Who were only three？
Beautiful in form and feature；
Lovely as the day；
Can there be so fair a creature
Formed of common clay？
THALIA。
O sweet； pale face！ O lovely eyes of azure；
Clear as the waters of a brook that run
Limpid and laughing in the summer sun！
O golden hair that like a miser's treasure
In its abundance overflows the measure！
O graceful form； that cloudlike floatest on
With the soft； undulating gait of one
Who moveth as if motion were a pleasure！
By what name shall I call thee？ Nymph or Muse；
Callirrhoe or Urania？ Some sweet name
Whose every syllable is a caress
Would best befit thee； but I cannot choose；
Nor do I care to choose； for still the same；
Nameless or named； will be thy loveliness。
EUPHROSYNE。
Dowered with all celestial gifts；
Skilled in every art
That ennobles and uplifts
And delights the heart；
Fair on earth shall be thy fame
As thy face is fair；
And Pandora be the name
Thou henceforth shalt bear。
II
OLYMPUS。
HERMES （putting on his sandals。）
Much must he toil who serves the Immortal Gods；
And I； who am their herald； most of all。
No rest have I； nor respite。 I no sooner
Unclasp the winged sandals from my feet；
Than I again must clasp them； and depart
Upon some foolish errand。 But to…day
The errand is not foolish。 Never yet
With greater joy did I obey the summons
That sends me earthward。 I will fly so swiftly
That my caduceus in the whistling air
Shall make a sound like the Pandaean pipes；
Cheating the shepherds； for to…day I go；
Commissioned by high…thundering Zeus； to lead
A maiden to Prometheus； in his tower；
And by my cunning arguments persuade him
To marry her。 What mischief lies concealed
In this design I know not； but I know
Who thinks of marrying hath already taken
One step upon the road to penitence。
Such embassies delight me。 Forth I launch
On the sustaining air； nor fear to fall
Like Icarus； nor swerve aside like him
Who drove amiss Hyperion's fiery steeds。
I sink； I fly！ The yielding element
Folds itself round about me like an arm；
And holds me as a mother holds her child。
III
TOWER OF PROMETHEUS ON MOUNT CAUCASUS
PROMETHEUS。
I hear the trumpet of Alectryon
Proclaim the dawn。 The stars begin to fade；
And all the heavens are full of prophecies
And evil auguries。 Blood…red last night
I saw great Kronos rise； the crescent moon
Sank through the mist； as if it were the scythe
His parricidal hand had flung far down
The western steeps。 O ye Immortal Gods；
What evil are ye plotting and contriving？
（HERMES and PANDORA at the threshold。）
PANDORA。
I cannot cross the threshold。 An unseen
And icy hand repels me。 These blank walls
Oppress me with their weight！
PROMETHEUS。
Powerful ye are；
But not omnipotent。 Ye cannot fight
Against Necessity。 The Fates control you；
As they do us； and so far we are equals！
PANDORA。
Motionless； passionless； companionless；
He sits there muttering in his beard。 His voice
Is like a river flowing underground！
HERMES。
Prometheus； hail！
PROMETHEUS。
Who calls me？
HERMES。
It is I。
Dost thou not know me？
PROMETHEUS。
By thy winged cap
And winged heels I know thee。 Thou art Hermes；
Captain of thieves！ Hast thou again been stealing
The heifers of Admetus in the sweet
Meado
