legends and lyrics- first series(传奇和抒情歌谣1)-第20节
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children； Long silentthe word came That lit the smouldering ashes
Through all the land to flame。
Oh you who toil and suffer； You gladly heard the call； But those you
sometimes envy Have they not given their all？ Oh you who rule the nation；
Take now the toil…worn hand … Brothers you are in sorrow； In duty to your
land。 Learn but this noble lesson Ere Peace returns again； And the life…
blood of Old England Will not be shed in vain。
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LEGENDS AND LYRICSFIRST SERIES
VERSE： THE TWO SPIRITS
（1855）
Last night； when weary silence fell on all； And starless skies arose so
dim and vast； I heard the Spirit of the Present call Upon the sleeping Spirit
of the Past。 Far off and near； I saw their radiance shine； And listened while
they spoke of deeds divine。
The Spirit of the Past。
My deeds are writ in iron； My glory stands alone； A veil of shadowy
honour Upon my tombs is thrown； The great names of my heroes Like
gems in history lie； To live they deemed ignoble； Had they the chance to
die！
The Spirit of the Present。
My children； too； are honoured； Dear shall their memory be To the
proud lands that own them； Dearer than thine to thee； For； though they
hold that sacred Is God's great gift of life； At the first call of duty They
rush into the strife！
The Spirit of the Past。
Then； with all valiant precepts Woman's soft heart was fraught； 〃Death；
not dishonour；〃 echoed The war…cry she had taught。 Fearless and glad；
those mothers； At bloody deaths elate； Cried out they bore their children
Only for such a fate！
The Spirit of the Present。
Though such stern laws of honour Are faded now away； Yet many a
mourning mother； With nobler grief than they； Bows down in sad
submission： The heroes of the fight Learnt at her knee the lesson； 〃For
God and for the Right！〃
The Spirit of the Past。
No voice there spake of sorrow： They saw the noblest fall With no
repining murmur； Stern Fate was lord of all。 And when the loved ones
perished； One cry alone arose； Waking the startled echoes； 〃Vengeance
upon our foes！〃
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The Spirit of the Present。
Grief dwells in France and England For many a noble son； Yet louder
than the sorrow； 〃Thy will； Oh God； be done！〃 From desolate homes is
rising One prayer； 〃Let carnage cease！ On friends and foes have mercy； Oh
Lord； and give us peace！〃
The Spirit of the Past。
Then； every hearth was honoured That sent its children forth； To
spread their country's glory； And gain her south or north。 Then； little
recked they numbers； No band would ever fly； But stern and resolute they
stood To conquer or to die。
The Spirit of the Present。
And now from France and England Their dearest and their best Go
forth to succour freedom； To help the much oppressed； Now； let the far…off
Future And Past bow down to…day； Before the few young hearts that hold
Whole armaments at bay。
The Spirit of the Past。
Then； each one strove for honour； Each for a deathless name； Love；
home； rest； joy； were offered As sacrifice to Fame。 They longed that in far
ages Their deeds might still be told； And distant times and nations Their
names in honour hold。
The Spirit of the Present。
Though nursed by such old legends； Our heroes of to…day Go
cheerfully to battle As children go to play； They gaze with awe and
wonder On your great names of pride； Unconscious that their own will
shine In glory side by side！
Day dawned； and as the Spirits passed away； Methought I saw； in the
dim morning grey； The Past's bright diadem had paled before The starry
crown the glorious Present wore。
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VERSE： A LITTLE LONGER
A little longer yeta little longer； Shall violets bloom for thee； and
sweet birds sing； And the lime branches where soft winds are blowing；
Shall murmur the sweet promise of the Spring！
A little longer yeta little longer； Thou shalt behold the quiet of the
morn； While tender grasses and awakening flowers Send up a golden mist
to greet the dawn！
A little longer yeta little longer； The tenderness of twilight shall be
thine； The rosy clouds that float o'er dying daylight； Nor fade till trembling
stars begin to shine。
A little longer yeta little longer； Shall starry night be beautiful for
thee； And the cold moon shall look through the blue silence； Flooding her
silver path upon the sea。
A little longer yeta little longer； Life shall be thine； life with its
power to will； Life with its strength to bear； to love； to conquer； Bringing
its thousand joys thy heart to fill。
A little longer yeta little longer； The voices thou hast loved shall
charm thine ear； And thy true heart； that now beats quick to hear them； A
little longer yet shall hold them dear。
A little longer yetjoy while thou mayest； Love and rejoice！ for time
has nought in store； And soon the darkness of the grave shall bid thee
Love and rejoice and feel and know no more。
* * *
A little longer stillPatience； Beloved： A little longer still； ere Heaven
unroll The Glory； and the Brightness； and the Wonder； Eternal； and divine；
that waits thy Soul！
A little longer ere Life true； immortal； （Not this our shadowy Life；）
will be thine own； And thou shalt stand where winged Archangels worship；
And trembling bow before the Great White Throne。
A little longer still； and Heaven awaits thee； And fills thy spirit with a
great delight； Then our pale joys will seem a dream forgotten； Our Sun a
darkness； and our Day a Night。
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A little longer； and thy Heart； Beloved； Shall beat for ever with a Love
divine； And joy so pure； so mighty； so eternal； No creature knows and
lives； will then be thine。
A little longer yetand angel voices Shall ring in heavenly chant upon
thine ear； Angels and Saints await thee； and God needs thee： Beloved； can
we bid thee linger here！
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VERSE： GRIEF
An ancient enemy have I； And either he or I must die； For he never
leaveth me； Never gives my soul relief； Never lets my sorrow cease； Never
gives my spirit peace … For mine enemy is Grief！
Pale he is； and sad and stern； And whene'er he cometh nigh； Blue and
dim the torches burn； Pale and shrunk the roses turn； While my heart that
he has pierced Many a time with fiery lance； Beats and trembles at his
glance： Clad in burning steel is he； All my strength he can defy； For he
never leaveth me … And one of us must die！
I have said； 〃Let ancient sages Charm me from my thoughts of pain！〃
So I read their deepest pages； And I strove to thinkin vain！ Wisdom's
cold calm words I tried； But he was seated by my side：… Learning I have
won in vain； She cannot rid me of my pain。
When at last soft sleep comes o'er me； A cold hand is on my heart；
Stern sad eyes are there before me； Not in dreams will he depart： And
when the same dreary vision From my weary brain has fled； Daylight
brings the living phantom； He is seated by my bed； Bending o'er me all the
while； With his crue
