the complete poetical works-第6节
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
That faint and far the glen sent out；
Where； answering to the sudden shot； thin smoke；
Through thick…leaved branches； from the dingle broke。
If thou art worn and hard beset
With sorrows； that thou wouldst forget；
If thou wouldst read a lesson； that will keep
Thy heart from fainting and thy soul from sleep；
Go to the woods and hills！ No tears
Dim the sweet look that Nature wears。
THE SPIRIT OF POETRY
There is a quiet spirit in these woods；
That dwells where'er the gentle south…wind blows；
Where； underneath the white…thorn； in the glade；
The wild flowers bloom； or； kissing the soft air；
The leaves above their sunny palms outspread。
With what a tender and impassioned voice
It fills the nice and delicate ear of thought；
When the fast ushering star of morning comes
O'er…riding the gray hills with golden scarf；
Or when the cowled and dusky…sandaled Eve；
In mourning weeds； from out the western gate；
Departs with silent pace！ That spirit moves
In the green valley； where the silver brook；
From its full laver； pours the white cascade；
And； babbling low amid the tangled woods；
Slips down through moss…grown stones with endless laughter。
And frequent； on the everlasting hills；
Its feet go forth； when it doth wrap itself
In all the dark embroidery of the storm；
And shouts the stern； strong wind。 And here； amid
The silent majesty of these deep woods；
lts presence shall uplift thy thoughts from earth；
As to the sunshine and the pure； bright air
Their tops the green trees lift。 Hence gifted bards
Have ever loved the calm and quiet shades。
For them there was an eloquent voice in all
The sylvan pomp of woods； the golden sun；
The flowers； the leaves； the river on its way；
Blue skies； and silver clouds； and gentle winds；
The swelling upland； where the sidelong sun
Aslant the wooded slope； at evening； goes；
Groves； through whose broken roof the sky looks in；
Mountain； and shattered cliff； and sunny vale；
The distant lake； fountains； and mighty trees；
In many a lazy syllable； repeating
Their old poetic legends to the wind。
And this is the sweet spirit； that doth fill
The world； and； in these wayward days of youth；
My busy fancy oft embodies it；
As a bright image of the light and beauty
That dwell in nature； of the heavenly forms
We worship in our dreams； and the soft hues
That stain the wild bird's wing； and flush the clouds
When the sun sets。 Within her tender eye
The heaven of April； with its changing light；
And when it wears the blue of May； is hung；
And on her lip the rich； red rose。 Her hair
Is like the summer tresses of the trees；
When twilight makes them brown； and on her cheek
Blushes the richness of an autumn sky；
With ever…shifting beauty。 Then her breath；
It is so like the gentle air of Spring；
As； front the morning's dewy flowers； it comes
Full of their fragrance； that it is a joy
To have it round us； and her silver voice
Is the rich music of a summer bird；
Heard in the still night； with its passionate cadence。
BURIAL OF THE MINNISINK
On sunny slope and beechen swell；
The shadowed light of evening fell；
And； where the maple's leaf was brown；
With soft and silent lapse came down；
The glory； that the wood receives；
At sunset； in its golden leaves。
Far upward in the mellow light
Rose the blue hills。 One cloud of white；
Around a far uplifted cone；
In the warm blush of evening shone；
An image of the silver lakes；
By which the Indian's soul awakes。
But soon a funeral hymn was heard
Where the soft breath of evening stirred
The tall； gray forest； and a band
Of stern in heart； and strong in hand；
Came winding down beside the wave；
To lay the red chief in his grave。
They sang； that by his native bowers
He stood； in the last moon of flowers；
And thirty snows had not yet shed
Their glory on the warrior's head；
But； as the summer fruit decays；
So died he in those naked days。
A dark cloak of the roebuck's skin
Covered the warrior； and within
Its heavy folds the weapons； made
For the hard toils of war； were laid；
The cuirass； woven of plaited reeds；
And the broad belt of shells and beads。
Before； a dark…haired virgin train
Chanted the death dirge of the slain；
Behind； the long procession came
Of hoary men and chiefs of fame；
With heavy hearts； and eyes of grief；
Leading the war…horse of their chief。
Stripped of his proud and martial dress；
Uncurbed； unreined； and riderless；
With darting eye； and nostril spread；
And heavy and impatient tread；
He came； and oft that eye so proud
Asked for his rider in the crowd。
They buried the dark chief； they freed
Beside the grave his battle steed；
And swift an arrow cleaved its way
To his stern heart！ One piercing neigh
Arose； and； on the dead man's plain；
The rider grasps his steed again。
L' ENVOI
Ye voices； that arose
After the Evening's close；
And whispered to my restless heart repose！
Go； breathe it in the ear
Of all who doubt and fear；
And say to them； 〃Be of good cheer！〃
Ye sounds； so low and calm；
That in the groves of balm
Seemed to me like an angel's psalm！
Go； mingle yet once more
With the perpetual roar
Of the pine forest dark and hoar！
Tongues of the dead； not lost
But speaking from deaths frost；
Like fiery tongues at Pentecost！
Glimmer； as funeral lamps；
Amid the chills and darn ps
Of the vast plain where Death encamps！
****************
BALLADS AND OTHER POEMS
THE SKELETON IN ARMOR
〃Speak！ speak I thou fearful guest
Who； with thy hollow breast
Still in rude armor drest；
Comest to daunt me！
Wrapt not in Eastern balms；
Bat with thy fleshless palms
Stretched； as if asking alms；
Why dost thou haunt me？〃
Then； from those cavernous eyes
Pale flashes seemed to rise；
As when the Northern skies
Gleam in December；
And； like the water's flow
Under December's snow；
Came a dull voice of woe
From the heart's chamber。
〃I was a Viking old！
My deeds； though manifold；
No Skald in song has told；
No Saga taught thee！
Take heed； that in thy verse
Thou dost the tale rehearse；
Else dread a dead man's curse；
For this I sought thee。
〃Far in the Northern Land；
By the wild Baltic's strand；
I； with my childish hand；
Tamed the gerfalcon；
And； with my skates fast…bound；
Skimmed the half…frozen Sound；
That the poor whimpering hound
Trembled to walk on。
〃Oft to his frozen lair
Tracked I the grisly bear；
While from my path the hare
Fled like a shadow；
Oft through the forest dark
Followed the were…wolf's bark；
Until the soaring lark
Sang from the meadow。
〃But when I older grew；
Joining a corsair's crew；
O'er the dark sea I flew
With the marauders。
Wild was the life we led；
Many the souls that sped；
Many the hearts that bled；
By our stern orders。
〃Many a wassail…bout
Wore the long Winter out；
Often our midnight shout
Set the cocks crowing；
As we the Berserk's tale
Measured in cups of ale；
Draining the oaken pail；
Filled to o'erflowing。
〃Once as I told in glee
Tales of the stormy sea；
Soft eyes did gaze on me；
Burning yet tender；
And as the white stars shine
On the dark Norway pine；
On that dark heart of mine
Fell their soft splendor。
〃I wooed the blue…eyed maid；
Yielding； yet half afraid；
And in the forest's shade
Our vows were plighted。
Under its loosened vest
Fluttered her little breast
Like birds within their nest
By the hawk frighted。
〃Bright in her father's hall
Shields gleamed upon the wall；
Loud sang the minstrels all；
Chanting his glory；
When of old Hildebrand
I asked his daughter's hand；
Mute did the minstrels stand
To hear my story。
〃While the brown ale he quaffed；
Loud then the champion laughed；
And as the wind…gusts waft
The sea…foam brightly；
So the loud laugh of scorn；
Out of those lips unshorn；
From the deep drinking…horn
Blew the foam lightly。
〃She was a Prince's child；
I but a Viking wild；
And though she blushed and smiled；
I was discarded！
Should not the dove so white
Follow the sea…mew's flight；
Why did they leave that night
Her nest unguarded？
〃Scarce had I put to sea；
Bearing the maid with me；
Fairest of all was she
Among the Norsemen！
When on the white sea…strand；
Waving his armed hand；
Saw we old Hildebrand；
With twenty horsemen。
〃Then launched they to the blast；
Bent like a reed each mast；
Yet we were gaining fast；
When the wind failed us；
And with a sudden flaw
Came round the gusty Skaw；
So that our foe we saw
Laugh as he hailed us。
〃And as to catch the gale
Round veered the flapping sail；
Death I was the helmsman's hail；
