legends and lyrics - second series(传奇和抒情歌谣2)-第12节
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thou wilt profit by her smart。
But bitter hours come to all： When even truths like these will pall； Sick
hearts for humbler comfort call。
Then I would have thee strive to see That good and evil come to thee；
As one of a great family。
And as material life is planned； That even the loneliest one must stand
Dependent on his brother's hand；
So links more subtle and more fine Bind every other soul to thine In
one great brotherhood divine。
Nor with thy share of work be vexed； Though incomplete； and even
perplex； It fits exactly to the next。
What seems so dark to thy dim sight May be a shadow； seen aright；
Making some brightness doubly bright。
The flash that struck thy tree；no more To shelter thee；lets Heaven's
blue floor Shine where it never shone before。
Thy life that has been dropped aside Into Time's stream； may stir the
tide； In rippled circles spreading wide。
The cry wrung from thy spirit's pain May echo on some far…off plain；
And guide a wanderer home again。
Failyet rejoice； because no less The failure that makes thy distress
May teach another full success。
It may be that in some great need Thy life's poor fragments are decreed
To help build up a lofty deed。
Thy heart should throb in vast content； Thus knowing that it was but
meant As chord in one great instrument；
That even the discord in thy soul May make completer music roll
From out the great harmonious whole。
It may be； that when all is light； Deep set within that deep delight Will
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be to know WHY all was right；
To hear life's perfect music rise； And while it floods the happy skies；
Thy feeble voice to recognise。
Then strive more gladly to fulfil Thy little part。 This darkness still Is
light to every loving will。
And trust；as if already plain； How just thy share of loss and pain Is
for another fuller gain。
I dare not limit time or place Touched by thy life： nor dare I trace Its
far vibrations into space。
ONE only knows。 Yet if the fret Of thy weak heart； in weak regret
Needs a more tender comfort yet：
Then thou mayst take thy loneliest fears； The bitterest drops of all thy
tears； The dreariest hours of all thy years；
And through thy anguish there outspread； May ask that God's great
love would shed Blessings on one beloved head。
And thus thy soul shall learn to draw Sweetness from out that loving
law That sees no failure and no flaw；
Where all is good。 And life is good； Were the one lesson understood
Of its most sacred brotherhood。
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VERSE： A CHANGELING
A little changeling spirit Crept to my arms one day： I had no heart or
courage To drive the child away。
So all day long I soothed her； And hushed her on my breast； And all
night long her wailing Would never let me rest。
I dug a grave to hold her； A grave both dark and deep； I covered her
with violets； And laid her there to sleep。
I used to go and watch there； Both night and morning too：… It was my
tears； I fancy； That kept the violets blue。
I took her up： and once more I felt the clinging hold； And heard the
ceaseless wailing That wearied me of old。
I wandered； and I wandered； With my burden on my breast； Till I saw
a church…door open； And entered in to rest。
In the dim； dying daylight； Set in a flowery shrine； I saw the Virgin
Mother Holding her Child divine。
I knelt down there in silence； And on the Altar…stone I laid my wailing
burden； And came awayalone。
And now that little spirit； That sobbed so all day long； Is grown a
shining Angel； With wines both wide and strong。
She watches me from Heaven； With loving； tender care； And one day
she has promised That I shall find her there。
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VERSE： DISCOURAGED
Where the little babbling streamlet First springs forth to light；
Trickling through soft velvet mosses； Almost hid from sight； Vowed I with
delight； … 〃River； I will follow thee； Through thy wanderings to the Sea！〃
Gleaming 'mid the purple heather； Downward then it sped； Glancing
through the mountain gorges； Like a silver thread； As it quicker fled；
Louder music in its flow； Dashing to the Vale below。
Then its voice grew lower； gentler； And its pace less fleet； Just as
though it loved to linger Round the rushes' feet； As they stooped to meet
Their clear images below； Broken by the ripples' flow。
Purple Willow…herb bent over To her shadow fair； Meadow…sweet； in
feathery clusters； Perfumed all the air； Silver…weed was there； And in one
calm； grassy spot； Starry； blue Forget…me…not。
Tangled weeds； below the waters； Still seemed drawn away； Yet the
current； floating onward； Was less strong than they； … Sunbeams watched
their play； With a flickering light and shade； Through the screen the Alders
made。
Broader grew the flowing River； To its grassy brink Slowly； in the
slanting sun…rays； Cattle trooped to drink： The blue sky； I think； Was no
bluer than that stream； Slipping onward； like a dream。
Quicker； deeper then it hurried； Rushing fierce and free； But I said； 〃It
should grow calmer Ere it meets the Sea； The wide purple Sea； Which I
weary for in vain； Wasting all my toil and pain。〃
But it rushed still quicker； fiercer； In its rocky bed； Hard and stony was
the pathway To my tired tread； 〃I despair；〃 I said； 〃Of that wide and
glorious Sea That was promised unto me。〃
So I turned aside； and wandered Through green meadows near； Far
away； among the daisies； Far away； for fear Lest I still should hear The
loud murmur of its song； As the River flowed along。
Now I hear it not：… I loiter Gaily as before； Yet I sometimes think；and
thinking Makes my heart so sore； … Just a few steps more； And there might
have shone for me； Blue and infinite； the Sea。
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VERSE： IF THOU COULDST
KNOW
I think if thou couldst know； Oh soul that will complain； What lies
concealed below Our burden and our pain； How just our anguish brings
Nearer those longed…for things We seek for now in vain； … I think thou
wouldst rejoice； and not complain。
I think if thou couldst see； With thy dim mortal sight； How meanings；
dark to thee； Are shadows hiding light； Truth's efforts crossed and vexed；
Life's purpose all perplexed； … If thou couldst see them right； I think that
they would seem all clear； and wise； and bright。
And yet thou canst not know； And yet thou canst not see； Wisdom and
sight are slow In poor humanity。 If thou couldst TRUST； poor soul； In Him
who rules the whole； Thou wouldst find peace and rest： Wisdom and sight
are well； but Trust is best。
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VERSE： THE WARRIOR TO
HIS DEAD BRIDE
If in the fight my arm was strong； And forced my foes to yield； If
conquering and unhurt I came Back from the battle…field … It is because thy
prayers have been My safeguard and my shield。
My comrades smile to see my arm Spare or protect a foe； They think
thy gentle pleading voice Was silenced long ago； But pity and compassion；
love； Were taught me first by woe。
Thy heart； my own； still beats in Heaven With the same love divine
That made thee stoop to such a soul； So hard； so stern； as mine … My eyes
have learnt to weep； beloved； Since last they looked on thine。
I hear thee murmur words of peace Through the dim midnight air； And
a calm falls from the angel stars And soothes my great despair … The
Heavens themselves look brighter； love； Since thy sweet soul is there。
An
