the complete poetical works-第40节
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Comprehend its mystery！〃
In each sail that skims the horizon；
In each landward…blowing breeze；
I behold that stately galley；
Hear those mournful melodies；
Till my soul is full of longing
For the secret of the sea；
And the heart of the great ocean
Sends a thrilling pulse through me。
TWILIGHT
The twilight is sad and cloudy；
The wind blows wild and free；
And like the wings of sea…birds
Flash the white caps of the sea。
But in the fisherman's cottage
There shines a ruddier light；
And a little face at the window
Peers out into the night。
Close； close it is pressed to the window；
As if those childish eyes
Were looking into the darkness；
To see some form arise。
And a woman's waving shadow
Is passing to and fro；
Now rising to the ceiling；
Now bowing and bending low。
What tale do the roaring ocean；
And the night…wind； bleak and wild；
As they beat at the crazy casement；
Tell to that little child？
And why do the roaring ocean；
And the night…wind； wild and bleak；
As they beat at the heart of the mother；
Drive the color from her cheek？
SIR HUMPHREY GILBERT
Southward with fleet of ice
Sailed the corsair Death；
Wild and fast blew the blast；
And the east…wind was his breath。
His lordly ships of ice
Glisten in the sun；
On each side； like pennons wide；
Flashing crystal streamlets run。
His sails of white sea…mist
Dripped with silver rain；
But where he passed there were cast
Leaden shadows o'er the main。
Eastward from Campobello
Sir Humphrey Gilbert sailed；
Three days or more seaward he bore；
Then； alas！ the land…wind failed。
Alas！ the land…wind failed；
And ice…cold grew the night；
And nevermore； on sea or shore；
Should Sir Humphrey see the light。
He sat upon the deck；
The Book was in his hand
〃Do not fear！ Heaven is as near；〃
He said； 〃by water as by land！〃
In the first watch of the night；
Without a signal's sound；
Out of the sea； mysteriously；
The fleet of Death rose all around。
The moon and the evening star
Were hanging in the shrouds；
Every mast； as it passed；
Seemed to rake the passing clouds。
They grappled with their prize；
At midnight black and cold！
As of a rock was the shock；
Heavily the ground…swell rolled。
Southward through day and dark；
They drift in close embrace；
With mist and rain； o'er the open main；
Yet there seems no change of place。
Southward； forever southward；
They drift through dark and day；
And like a dream； in the Gulf…Stream
Sinking； vanish all away。
THE LIGHTHOUSE
The rocky ledge runs far into the sea；
And on its outer point； some miles away；
The Lighthouse lifts its massive masonry；
A pillar of fire by night； of cloud by day。
Even at this distance I can see the tides；
Upheaving； break unheard along its base；
A speechless wrath； that rises and subsides
In the white lip and tremor of the face。
And as the evening darkens； lo！ how bright；
Through the deep purple of the twilight air；
Beams forth the sudden radiance of its light
With strange； unearthly splendor in the glare！
Not one alone； from each projecting cape
And perilous reef along the ocean's verge；
Starts into life a dim； gigantic shape；
Holding its lantern o'er the restless surge。
Like the great giant Christopher it stands
Upon the brink of the tempestuous wave；
Wading far out among the rocks and sands；
The night…o'ertaken mariner to save。
And the great ships sail outward and return；
Bending and bowing o'er the billowy swells；
And ever joyful； as they see it burn；
They wave their silent welcomes and farewells。
They come forth from the darkness； and their sails
Gleam for a moment only in the blaze；
And eager faces； as the light unveils；
Gaze at the tower； and vanish while they gaze。
The mariner remembers when a child；
On his first voyage； he saw it fade and sink；
And when； returning from adventures wild；
He saw it rise again o'er ocean's brink。
Steadfast； serene； immovable； the same
Year after year； through all the silent night
Burns on forevermore that quenchless flame；
Shines on that inextinguishable light！
It sees the ocean to its bosom clasp
The rocks and sea…sand with the kiss of peace；
It sees the wild winds lift it in their grasp；
And hold it up； and shake it like a fleece。
The startled waves leap over it； the storm
Smites it with all the scourges of the rain；
And steadily against its solid form
Press the great shoulders of the hurricane。
The sea…bird wheeling round it； with the din
Of wings and winds and solitary cries；
Blinded and maddened by the light within；
Dashes himself against the glare； and dies。
A new Prometheus； chained upon the rock；
Still grasping in his hand the fire of Jove；
It does not hear the cry； nor heed the shock；
But hails the mariner with words of love。
〃Sail on！〃 it says； 〃sail on； ye stately ships！
And with your floating bridge the ocean span；
Be mine to guard this light from all eclipse；
Be yours to bring man nearer unto man！〃
THE FIRE OF DRIFT…WOOD
DEVEREUX FARM； NEAR MARBLEHEAD
We sat within the farm…house old；
Whose windows； looking o'er the bay；
Gave to the sea…breeze； damp and cold；
An easy entrance； night and day。
Not far away we saw the port；
The strange； old…fashioned； silent town；
The lighthouse； the dismantled fort；
The wooden houses； quaint and brown。
We sat and talked until the night；
Descending； filled the little room；
Our faces faded from the sight；
Our voices only broke the gloom。
We spake of many a vanished scene；
Of what we once had thought and said；
Of what had been； and might have been；
And who was changed； and who was dead；
And all that fills the hearts of friends；
When first they feel； with secret pain；
Their lives thenceforth have separate ends；
And never can be one again；
The first slight swerving of the heart；
That words are powerless to express；
And leave it still unsaid in part；
Or say it in too great excess。
The very tones in which we spake
Had something strange； I could but mark；
The leaves of memory seemed to make
A mournful rustling in the dark。
Oft died the words upon our lips；
As suddenly； from out the fire
Built of the wreck of stranded ships；
The flames would leap and then expire。
And； as their splendor flashed and failed；
We thought of wrecks upon the main；
Of ships dismasted； that were hailed
And sent no answer back again。
The windows； rattling in their frames；
The ocean； roaring up the beach；
The gusty blast； the bickering flames；
All mingled vaguely in our speech。
Until they made themselves a part
Of fancies floating through the brain；
The long…lost ventures of the heart；
That send no answers back again。
O flames that glowed！ O hearts that yearned！
They were indeed too much akin；
The drift…wood fire without that burned；
The thoughts that burned and glowed within。
BY THE FIRESIDE
RESIGNATION
There is no flock； however watched and tended；
But one dead lamb is there！
There is no fireside； howsoe'er defended；
But has one vacant chair！
The air is full of farewells to the dying；
And mournings for the dead；
The heart of Rachel； for her children crying；
Will not be comforted！
Let us be patient！ These severe afflictions
Not from the ground arise；
But oftentimes celestial benedictions
Assume this dark disguise。
We see but dimly through the mists and vapors；
Amid these earthly damps
What seem to us but sad； funereal tapers
May be heaven's distant lamps。
There is no Death！ What seems so is transition；
This life of mortal breath
Is but a suburb of the life elysian；
Whose portal we call Death。
She is not dead；the child of our affection；
But gone unto that school
Where she no longer needs our poor protection；
And Christ himself doth rule。
In that great cloister's stillness and seclusion；
By guardian angels led；
Safe from temptation； safe from sin's pollution；
She lives； whom we call dead。
Day after day we think what she is doing
In those bright realms of air；
Year after year； her tender steps pursuing；
Behold her grown more fair。
Thus do we walk with her； and keep unbroken
The bond which nature gives；
Thinking that our remembrance； though unspoken；
May reach her where she lives。
Not as a child shall we again behold her；
For when with raptures wild
In our embraces we again enfold her；
She will not be a child；
But a fair maiden； in her Father's m
