the three taverns(三家酒店)-第12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！
And found them arms again。 If he had struck me Not only with his eyes
53
… Page 54…
The Three Taverns A Book of Poems By Edwin Arlington Robinson
but with his hands； I might have pitied him and hated love； And then gone
mad。 I； who have been so strong Why don't you laugh？ might even
have done all that。 I； who have learned so much； and said so much； And
had the commendations of the great For one who rules herself why don't
you cry？ And own a certain small authority Among the blind； who see
no more than ever； But like my voice； I would have tossed it all To
Tophet for one man； and he was jealous。 I would have wound a snake
around my neck And then have let it bite me till I died； If my so doing
would have made me sure That one man might have lived； and he was
jealous。 I would have driven these hands into a cage That held a thousand
scorpions； and crushed them； If only by so poisonous a trial I could have
crushed his doubt。 I would have wrung My living blood with mediaeval
engines Out of my screaming flesh； if only that Would have made one man
sure。 I would have paid For him the tiresome price of body and soul； And
let the lash of a tongue…weary town Fall as it might upon my blistered
name； And while it fell I could have laughed at it； Knowing that he had
found out finally Where the wrong was。 But there was evil in him That
would have made no more of his possession Than confirmation of another
fault； And there was honor if you call it honor That hoods itself with
doubt and wears a crown Of lead that might as well be gold and fire。 Give
it as heavy or as light a name As any there is that fits。 I see myself Without
the power to swear to this or that That I might be if he had been without it。
Whatever I might have been that I was not； It only happened that it wasn't
so。 Meanwhile； you might seem to be listening： If you forget yourself and
go to sleep； My treasure； I shall not say this again。 Look up once more into
my poor old face； Where you see beauty； or the Lord knows what； And say
to me aloud what else there is Than ruins in it that you most admire。
No； there was never anything like that； Nature has never fastened such
a mask Of radiant and impenetrable merit On any woman as you say there
is On this one。 Not a mask？ I thank you； sir； But you see more with your
determination； I fear； than with your prudence or your conscience； And
you have never met me with my eyes In all the mirrors I've made faces at。
No； I shall never call you strange again： You are the young and
inconvincible Epitome of all blind men since Adam。 May the blind lead
54
… Page 55…
The Three Taverns A Book of Poems By Edwin Arlington Robinson
the blind； if that be so？ And we shall need no mirrors？ You are saying
What most I feared you might。 But if the blind； Or one of them； be not so
fortunate As to put out the eyes of recollection； She might at last； without
her meaning it； Lead on the other； without his knowing it； Until the two of
them should lose themselves Among dead craters in a lava…field As empty
as a desert on the moon。 I am not speaking in a theatre； But in a room so
real and so familiar That sometimes I would wreck it。 Then I pause；
Remembering there is a King in Weimar A monarch； and a poet； and a
shepherd Of all who are astray and are outside The realm where they
should rule。 I think of him； And save the furniture； I think of you； And am
forlorn； finding in you the one To lavish aspirations and illusions Upon a
faded and forsaken house Where love； being locked alone； was nigh to
burning House and himself together。 Yes； you are strange； To see in such
an injured architecture Room for new love to live in。 Are you laughing？
No？ Well； you are not crying； as you should be。 Tears； even if they told
only gratitude For your escape； and had no other story； Were surely more
becoming than a smile For my unwomanly straightforwardness In seeing
for you； through my close gate of years Your forty ways to freedom。 Why
do you smile？ And while I'm trembling at my faith in you In giving you to
read this book of danger That only one man living might have written
These letters； which have been a part of me So long that you may read
them all again As often as you look into my face； And hear them when I
speak to you； and feel them Whenever you have to touch me with your
hand； Why are you so unwilling to be spared？ Why do you still believe
in me？ But no； I'll find another way to ask you that。 I wonder if there is
another way That says it better； and means anything。 There is no other way
that could be worse？ I was not asking you； it was myself Alone that I was
asking。 Why do I dip For lies； when there is nothing in my well But
shining truth； you say？ How do you know？ Truth has a lonely life down
where she lives； And many a time； when she comes up to breathe； She
sinks before we seize her； and makes ripples。 Possibly you may know no
more of me Than a few ripples； and they may soon be gone； Leaving you
then with all my shining truth Drowned in a shining water； and when you
look You may not see me there； but something else That never was a
55
… Page 56…
The Three Taverns A Book of Poems By Edwin Arlington Robinson
woman being yourself。 You say to me my truth is past all drowning； And
safe with you for ever？ You know all that？ How do you know all that； and
who has told you？ You know so much that I'm an atom frightened Because
you know so little。 And what is this？ You know the luxury there is in
haunting The blasted thoroughfares of disillusion If that's your name for
them with only ghosts For company？ You know that when a woman Is
blessed； or cursed； with a divine impatience （Another name of yours for a
bad temper） She must have one at hand on whom to wreak it （That's what
you mean； whatever the turn you give it）； Sure of a kindred sympathy； and
thereby Effect a mutual calm？ You know that wisdom； Given in vain to
make a food for those Who are without it； will be seen at last； And even at
last only by those who gave it； As one or more of the forgotten crumbs
That others leave？ You know that men's applause And women's envy savor
so much of dust That I go hungry； having at home no fare But the same
changeless bread that I may swallow Only with tears and prayers？ Who
told you that？ You know that if I read； and read alone； Too many books
that no men yet have written； I may go blind； or worse？ You know
yourself； Of all insistent and insidious creatures； To be the one to save me；
and to guard For me their flaming language？ And you know That if I give
much headway to the whim That's in me never to be quite sure that even
Through all those years of storm and fire I waited For this one rainy day； I
may go on； And on； and on alone； through smoke and ashes； To a cold end？
You know so dismal much As that about me？ 。 。 。 Well； I believe you do。
56
… Page 57…
The Three Taverns A Book of Poems By Edwin Arlington Robinson
Nimmo
Since you remember Nimmo； and arrive At such a false and florid and
far drawn Confusion of odd nonsense； I connive No longer； though I may
have led you on。
So much is told and heard and told again； So many with his legend are
engrossed； That I； more sorry now than I was then； May live on to be sorry
for his ghost。
You knew him； and you must have known his eyes； How deep they
were； and what a velvet light Came out of them when anger or surprise； Or
laughter； or Francesca； made them bright。
No； you will not forget such eyes； I think； And you say nothing of
them。 Very well。 I wonder if all history's worth a wink； Sometimes； or if
my tale be one to tell。
For they began to lose their velvet light； Their fire grew dead without
and small within； And many of you deplored the needless fight That
somewhere in the dark there must have been。
All fights are needless； when they're not our own； But Nimmo and
Francesca never fought。 Remember that； and when you are alone；
Remember me and think what I have thought。
Now； m
