poems and songs-第13节
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You fainting soul who could not see
That I was near。
‘‘Why vex me crying day and night? …
You call on me to hark!
But when I bless your world with light;
Who makes it dark?
‘‘Is there a ravelled riddle left
That you would have undone?
What other doubts are there to sift?''
I answered … ‘‘None。''
‘‘My son; look up; if you would see
The Promise on your way;
And turn a trustful face to me。''
I whispered … ‘‘Yea。''
GERALDINE
MY head is filled with olden rhymes beside this moaning sea;
But many and many a day has gone since I was dear to thee!
I know my passion fades away; and therefore oft regret
That some who love indeed can part and in the years forget。
Page: 63
Ah! through the twilights when we stood the wattle trees between;
We did not dream of such a time as this; fair Geraldine。
I do not say that all has gone of passion and of pain;
I yearn for many happy thoughts I shall not think again!
And often when the wind is up; and wailing round the eaves;
You sigh for withered Purpose shred and scattered like the leaves;
The Purpose blooming when we met each other on the green;
The sunset heavy in your curls; my golden Geraldine。
I think we lived a loftier life through hours of Long Ago;
For in the largened evening earth our spirits seemed to grow。
Well; that has passed; and here I stand; upon a lonely place;
While Night is stealing round the land; like Time across my face;
But I can calmly recollect our shadowy parting scene;
And swooning thoughts that had no voice … no utterance; Geraldine。
ACHAN
(From ‘‘Jephthah''。)
HATH he not followed a star through the darkness;
Ye people who sit at the table of Jephthah?
Oh! turn with the face to a light in the mountains;
Behold it is further from Achan than ever!
‘‘I know how it is with my brothers in Mizpeh;''
Said Achan; the swift…footed runner of Zorah;
‘‘They look at the wood they have hewn for the altar;
And think of a shadow in sackcloth and ashes。
‘‘I know how it is with the daughter of Jephthah;
(O Ada; my love; and the fairest of women!)
She wails in the time when her heart is so zealous
For God who hath stricken the children of Ammon。
‘‘I said I would bring her the odours of Edom;
And armfuls of spices to set at the banquet!
Behold I have fronted the chieftain her father;
And strong men have wept for the leader of thousands!
Page: 64
‘‘My love is a rose of the roses of Sharon;
All lonely and bright as the Moon in the myrtles!
Her lips; like to honeycombs; fill with the sweetness
That Achan the thirsty is hindered from drinking。
‘‘Her women have wept for the love that is wasted
Like wine; which is spilt when the people are wanting;
And hot winds have dried all the cisterns of Elim!
For love that is wasted her women were wailing!
‘‘The timbrels fall silent! And dost thou not hear it;
A voice; like the sound of a lute when we loiter;
And sit by the pools in the valleys of Arnon;
And suck the cool grapes that are growing in clusters?
‘‘She glides; like a myrrh…scented wind; through the willows;
O Ada! behold it is Achan that speaketh:
I know thou art near me; but never can see thee;
Because of the horrible drouth in mine eyelids。''
The End