legends and lyrics - second series(传奇和抒情歌谣2)-第13节
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Heavens themselves look brighter； love； Since thy sweet soul is there。
And if my heart is once more calm； My step is once more free； It is
because each hour I feel Thou prayest still for me； Because no fate or
change can come Between my soul and thee。
It is because my heart is stilled。 Not broken by despair； Because I see
the grave is bright； And death itself is fair … I dread no more the wrath of
Heaven … I have an angel there！
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LEGENDS AND LYRICS … SECOND SERIES
VERSE： A LETTER
Dear； I tried to write you such a letter As would tell you all my heart
to…day。 Written Love is poor； one word were better； Easier； too； a thousand
times； to say。
I can tell you all： fears； doubts unheeding； While I can be near you；
hold your hand； Looking right into your eyes； and reading Reassurance
that you understand。
Yet I wrote it through； then lingered； thinking Of its reaching you；
what hour； what day； Till I felt my heart and courage sinking With a
strange； new； wondering dismay。
〃Will my letter fall；〃 I wondered sadly； 〃On her mood like some
discordant tone； Or be welcomed tenderly and gladly？ Will she be with
others； or alone？
〃It may find her too absorbed to read it； Save with hurried glance and
careless air： Sad and weary； she may scarcely heed it； Gay and happy； she
may hardly care。
〃Shall Idare Irisk the chances？〃 slowly Something；was it shyness；
love； or pride？ … Chilled my heart； and checked my courage wholly； So I
laid it wistfully aside。
Then I leant against the casement； turning Tearful eyes towards the far…
off west； Where the golden evening light was burning； Till my heart
throbbed back again to rest。
And I thought： 〃Love's soul is not in fetters； Neither space nor time
keep souls apart； Since I cannotdare notsend my letters； Through the
silence I will send my heart。
〃If； perhaps now； while my tears are falling； She is dreaming quietly
alone； She will hear my Love's far echo calling； Feel my spirit drawing
near her own。
〃She will hear； while twilight shades enfold her； All the gathered Love
she knows so well … Deepest Love my words have ever told her； Deeper
stillall I could never tell。
〃Wondering at the strange mysterious power That has touched her
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LEGENDS AND LYRICS … SECOND SERIES
heart； then she will say：… 'Some one whom I love； this very hour； Thinks of
me； and loves me； far away。'
〃If； as well may be； to…night has found her Full of other thoughts； with
others by； Through the words and claims that gather round her She will
hear just one； half…smothered sigh；
〃Or will marvel why； without her seeking； Suddenly the thought of me
recurs； Or； while listening to another speaking； Fancy that my hand is
holding hers。〃
So I dreamed； and watched the stars' far splendour Glimmering on the
azure darkness； start； … While the star of trust rose bright and tender；
Through the twilight shadows of my heart。
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LEGENDS AND LYRICS … SECOND SERIES
VERSE： A COMFORTER
I。
Will she come to me； little Effie； Will she come in my arms to rest；
And nestle her head on my shoulder； While the sun goes down in the
west？
II。
〃I and Effie will sit together； All alone； in this great arm…chair：… Is it
silly to mind it； darling； When Life is so hard to bear？
III。
〃No one comforts me like my Effie； Just I think that she does not try； …
Only looks with a wistful wonder Why grown people should ever cry；
IV。
〃While her little soft arms close tighter Round my neck in their
clinging hold：… Well； I must not cry on your hair； dear； For my tears might
tarnish the gold。
V。
〃I am tired of trying to read； dear； It is worse to talk and seem gay：
There are some kinds of sorrow； Effie； It is useless to thrust away。
VI。
〃Ah； advice may be wise； my darling； But one always knows it before；
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LEGENDS AND LYRICS … SECOND SERIES
And the reasoning down one's sorrow Seems to make one suffer the more。
VII。
〃But my Effie won't reason； will she？ Or endeavour to understand；
Only holds up her mouth to kiss me； As she strokes my face with her hand。
VIII。
〃If you break your plaything yourself； dear； Don't you cry for it all the
same？ I don't think it is such a comfort； One has only oneself to blame。
IX。
〃People say things cannot be helped； dear； But then that is the reason
why； For if things could be helped or altered； One would never sit down to
cry：
X。
〃They say； too； that tears are quite useless To undo； amend； or restore；
… When I think HOW useless； my Effie； Then my tears only fall the more。
XI。
〃All to…day I struggled against it； But that does not make sorrow cease；
And now； dear； it is such a comfort To be able to cry in peace。
XII。
〃Though wise people would call that folly； And remonstrate with grave
surprise； We won't mind what they say； my Effie； … We never professed to
be wise。
〃But my comforter knows a lesson Wiser； truer than all the rest：… That
to help and to heal a sorrow； Love and silence are always best。
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LEGENDS AND LYRICS … SECOND SERIES
XIV。
〃Well； who is my comfortertell me？ Effie smiles； but she will not
speak； Or look up through the long curled lashes That are shading her rosy
cheek。
XV。
〃Is she thinking of talking fishes； The blue bird； or magical tree？
Perhaps I am thinking； my darling； Of something that never can be。
XVI。
〃You longdon't you； dear？for the Genii； Who were slaves of lamps
and of rings； And II am sometimes afraid； dear； … I want as impossible
things。
XVII。
〃But hark！ there is Nurse calling Effie！ It is bedtime； so run away； And
I must go back； or the others Will be wondering why I stay。
XVIII。
〃So good…night to my darling Effie； Keep happy； sweetheart； and grow
wise：… There's one kiss for her golden tresses； And two for her sleepy
eyes。〃
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LEGENDS AND LYRICS … SECOND SERIES
VERSE： UNSEEN
There are more things in Heaven and Earth； than we Can dream of； or
than nature understands； We learn not through our poor philosophy What
hidden chords are touched by unseen hands。
The present hour repeats upon its strings Echoes of some vague dream
we have forgot； Dim voices whisper half…remembered things； And when
we pause to listen；answer not。
Forebodings come： we know not how； or whence； Shadowing a
nameless fear upon the soul； And stir within our hearts a subtler sense；
Than light may read； or wisdom may control。
And who can tell what secret links of thought Bind heart to heart？
Unspoken things are heard； As if within our deepest selves was brought
The soul； perhaps； of some unuttered word。
But； though a veil of shadow hangs between That hidden life； and what
we see and hear； Let us revere the power of the Unseen； And know a world
of mystery is near。
