the complete poetical works-第32节

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blood…red

Moon　climbs　the　crystal　walls　of　heaven；　and　o'er　the　horizon

Titan…like　stretches　its　hundred　hands　upon　mountain　and　meadow；

Seizing　the　rocks　and　the　rivers；　and　piling　huge　shadows

together。

Broader　and　ever　broader　it　gleamed　on　the　roofs　of　the　village；

Gleamed　on　the　sky　and　the　sea；　and　the　ships　that　lay　in　the

roadstead。

Columns　of　shining　smoke　uprose；　and　flashes　of　flame　were

Thrust　through　their　folds　and　withdrawn；　like　the　quivering

hands　of　a　martyr。

Then　as　the　wind　seized　the　gleeds　and　the　burning　thatch；　and；

uplifting；

Whirled　them　aloft　through　the　air；　at　once　from　a　hundred

house…tops

Started　the　sheeted　smoke　with　flashes　of　flame　intermingled。



　　These　things　beheld　in　dismay　the　crowd　on　the　shore　and　on

shipboard。

Speechless　at　first　they　stood；　then　cried　aloud　in　their

anguish；

〃We　shall　behold　no　more　our　homes　in　the　village　of　Grand…Pre！〃

Loud　on　a　sudden　the　cocks　began　to　crow　in　the　farm…yards；

Thinking　the　day　had　dawned；　and　anon　the　lowing　of　cattle

Came　on　the　evening　breeze；　by　the　barking　of　dogs　interrupted。

Then　rose　a　sound　of　dread；　such　as　startles　the　sleeping

encampments

Far　in　the　western　prairies　or　forests　that　skirt　the　Nebraska；

When　the　wild　horses　affrighted　sweep　by　with　the　speed　of　the

whirlwind；

Or　the　loud　bellowing　herds　of　buffaloes　rush　to　the　river。

Such　was　the　sound　that　arose　on　the　night；　as　the　herds　and　the

horses

Broke　through　their　folds　and　fences；　and　madly　rushed　o'er　the

meadows。



　　Overwhelmed　with　the　sight；　yet　speechless；　the　priest　and　the

maiden

Gazed　on　the　scene　of　terror　that　reddened　and　widened　before

them；

And　as　they　turned　at　length　to　speak　to　their　silent　companion；

Lo！　from　his　seat　he　had　fallen；　and　stretched　abroad　on　the

sea…shore

Motionless　lay　his　form；　from　which　the　soul　had　departed。

Slowly　the　priest　uplifted　the　lifeless　head；　and　the　maiden

Knelt　at　her　father's　side；　and　wailed　aloud　in　her　terror。

Then　in　a　swoon　she　sank；　and　lay　with　her　head　on　his　bosom。

Through　the　long　night　she　lay　in　deep；　oblivious　slumber；

And　when　she　woke　from　the　trance；　she　beheld　a　multitude　near

her。

Faces　of　friends　she　beheld；　that　were　mournfully　gazing　upon

her；

Pallid；　with　tearful　eyes；　and　looks　of　saddest　compassion。

Still　the　blaze　of　the　burning　village　illumined　the　landscape；

Reddened　the　sky　overhead；　and　gleamed　on　the　faces　around　her；

And　like　the　day　of　doom　it　seemed　to　her　wavering　senses。

Then　a　familiar　voice　she　heard；　as　it　said　to　the　people；

〃Let　us　bury　him　here　by　the　sea。　　When　a　happier　season

Brings　us　again　to　our　homes　from　the　unknown　land　of　our　exile；

Then　shall　his　sacred　dust　be　piously　laid　in　the　churchyard。〃

Such　were　the　words　of　the　priest。　　And　there　in　haste　by　the

sea…side；

Having　the　glare　of　the　burning　village　for　funeral　torches；

But　without　bell　or　book；　they　buried　the　farmer　of　Grand…Pre。

And　as　the　voice　of　the　priest　repeated　the　service　of　sorrow；

Lo！　with　a　mournful　sound；　like　the　voice　of　a　vast　congregation；

Solemnly　answered　the　sea；　and　mingled　its　roar　with　the　dirges。

'T　was　the　returning　tide；　that　afar　from　the　waste　of　the　ocean；

With　the　first　dawn　of　the　day；　came　heaving　and　hurrying

landward。

Then　recommenced　once　more　the　stir　and　noise　of　embarking；

And　with　the　ebb　of　the　tide　the　ships　sailed　out　of　the　harbor；

Leaving　behind　them　the　dead　on　the　shore；　and　the　village　in

ruins。







PART　THE　SECOND



I



Many　a　weary　year　had　passed　since　the　burning　of　Grand…Pre；

When　on　the　falling　tide　the　freighted　vessels　departed；

Bearing　a　nation；　with　all　its　household　gods；　into　exile。

Exile　without　an　end；　and　without　an　example　in　story。

Far　asunder；　on　separate　coasts；　the　Acadians　landed；

Scattered　were　they；　like　flakes　of　snow；　when　the　wind　from　the

northeast

Strikes　aslant　through　the　fogs　that　darken　the　Banks　of

Newfoundland。

Friendless；　homeless；　hopeless；　they　wandered　from　city　to　city；

From　the　cold　lakes　of　the　North　to　sultry　Southern　savannas；

From　the　bleak　shores　of　the　sea　to　the　lands　where　the　Father　of

Waters

Seizes　the　hills　in　his　hands；　and　drags　them　down　to　the　ocean；

Deep　in　their　sands　to　bury　the　scattered　bones　of　the　mammoth。

Friends　they　sought　and　homes；　and　many；　despairing；

heart…broken；

Asked　of　the　earth　but　a　grave；　and　no　longer　a　friend　nor　a

fireside。

Written　their　history　stands　on　tablets　of　stone　in　the

churchyards。

Long　among　them　was　seen　a　maiden　who　waited　and　wandered；

Lowly　and　meek　in　spirit；　and　patiently　suffering　all　things。

Fair　was　she　and　young；　but；　alas！　before　her　extended；

Dreary　and　vast　and　silent；　the　desert　of　life；　with　its　pathway

Marked　by　the　graves　of　those　who　had　sorrowed　and　suffered

before　her；

Passions　long　extinguished；　and　hopes　long　dead　and　abandoned；

As　the　emigrant's　way　o'er　the　Western　desert　is　marked　by

Camp…fires　long　consumed；　and　bones　that　bleach　in　the　sunshine。

Something　there　was　in　her　life　incomplete；　imperfect；

unfinished；

As　if　a　morning　of　June；　with　all　its　music　and　sunshine；

Suddenly　paused　in　the　sky；　and；　fading；　slowly　descended

Into　the　east　again；　from　whence　it　late　had　arisen。

Sometimes　she　lingered　in　towns；　till；　urged　by　the　fever　within

her；

Urged　by　a　restless　longing；　the　hunger　and　thirst　of　the　spirit；

She　would　commence　again　her　endless　search　and　endeavor；

Sometimes　in　churchyards　strayed；　and　gazed　on　the　crosses　and

tombstones；

Sat　by　some　nameless　grave；　and　thought　that　perhaps　in　its　bosom

He　was　already　at　rest；　and　she　longed　to　slumber　beside　him。

Sometimes　a　rumor；　a　hearsay；　an　inarticulate　whisper；

Came　with　its　airy　hand　to　point　and　beckon　her　forward。

Sometimes　she　spake　with　those　who　had　seen　her　beloved　and　known

him；

But　it　was　long　ago；　in　some　far…off　place　or　forgotten。

〃Gabriel　Lajeunesse！〃　they　said；　yes！　we　have　seen　him。

He　was　with　Basil　the　blacksmith；　and　both　have　gone　to　the

prairies；

Coureurs…des…Bois　are　they；　and　famous　hunters　and　trappers。〃

〃Gabriel　Lajeunesse！〃　said　others；　〃O　yes！　we　have　seen　him。

He　is　a　Voyageur　in　the　lowlands　of　Louisiana。〃

Then　would　they　say；　〃Dear　child！　why　dream　and　wait　for　him

longer？

Are　there　not　other　youths　as　fair　as　Gabriel？　others

Who　have　hearts　as　tender　and　true；　and　spirits　as　loyal？

Here　is　Baptiste　Leblanc；　the　notary's　son；　who　has　loved　thee

Many　a　tedious　year；　come；　give　him　thy　hand　and　be　happy！

Thou　art　too　fair　to　be　left　to　braid　St。　Catherine's　tresses。〃

Then　would　Evangeline　answer；　serenely　but　sadly；　〃I　cannot！

Whither　my　heart　has　gone；　there　follows　my　hand；　and　not

elsewhere。

For　when　the　heart　goes　before；　like　a　lamp；　and　illumines　the

pathway；

Many　things　are　made　clear；　that　else　lie　hidden　in　darkness。〃

Thereupon　the　priest；　her　friend　and　father…confessor；

Said；　with　a　smile；　〃O　daughter！　thy　God　thus　speaketh　within

thee！

Talk　not　of　wasted　affection；　affection　never　was　wasted；

If　it　enrich　not　the　heart　of　another；　its　waters；　returning

Back　to　their　springs；　like　the　rain；　shall　fill　them　full　of

refreshment；

That　which　the　fountain　sends　forth　returns　again　to　the

fountain。

Patience；　accomplish　thy　labor；　accomplish　thy　work　of　affection！

Sorrow　and　silence　are　strong；　and　patient　endurance　is　godlike。

Therefore　accomplish　thy　labor　of　love；　till　the　heart　is　made

godlike；

Purified；　strengthened；　perfected；　and　rendered　more　worthy　of

heaven！〃

Cheered　by　the　good　man's　words；　Evangeline　labored　and　waited。

Still　in　her　heart　she　heard　the　funeral　dirge　of　the　ocean；

But　with　its　sound　there　was　mingled　a　voice　that　whispered；

〃Despair　not？〃

Thus　did　that　poor　soul　wander　in　want　and　cheerless　discomfort

Bleeding；　barefooted；　over　the　shards　and　thorns　of　existence。

Let　me　essay；　O　Muse！　to　follow　the　wanderer's　footsteps；

Not　through　each　devious　path；　each　changeful　year　of　existence；

But　as　a　traveller　follows　a　streamlet's　course　through　the

valley：

Far　from　its　margin　at　times；　and　seeing　the　gleam　of　its　water

Here　and　there；　in　some　open　space；　and　at　intervals　only；

Then　drawing　nearer　its　banks；　through　sylvan　glooms　that　conceal

it；

Though　he　behold　it　not；　he　can　hear　its　continuous　murmur；

Happy；　at　length；　if　he　find　the　spot　where　it　reaches　an　outlet。







II



It　was　the　month　of　May。　　Far　down　the　Beautiful　River；

Past　the　Ohio　shore　and　past　the　mouth　of　the　Wabash；

Into　the　golden　stream　of　the　broad　and　swift　Mississippi；

Floated　a　cumbrous　boat；　that　was　rowed　by　Acadian　boatmen。

It　was　a　band　of　exiles：　a　raft；　as　it　were；　from　the　shipwrecked

Nation；　scattered　along　the　coast；　now　floating　together；

Bound　by　the　bonds　of　a　common　belief　and　a　common　misfortune；

Men　and　women　and　children；　who；　guided　by　hope　or　by　hearsay；

Sought　for　their　kith　and　their　kin　among　the　fe