legends and lyrics - second series(传奇和抒情歌谣2)-第16节
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him： 〃My Herbertmine once more！〃
XVII。
Now Christmas Eve returning； Saw Alice stand beside The altar；
greeting Dora； Again a smiling bride； And now the gloomy evening Sees
Alice pale and worn； Leaving the house for ever； To wander out forlorn。
XVIII。
Forlornnay； not so。 Anguish Shall do its work at length； Her soul；
passed through the fire； Shall gain still purer strength。 Somewhere there
waits for Alice An earnest noble part； And； meanwhile God is with her； …
God； and her own true heart！
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LEGENDS AND LYRICS … SECOND SERIES
VERSE： THE WIND
The wind went forth o'er land and sea Loud and free； Foaming waves
leapt up to meet it； Stately pines bowed down to greet it； While the wailing
sea And the forest's murmured sigh Joined the cry Of the wind that swept
o'er land and sea。
The wind that blew upon the sea Fierce and free； Cast the bark upon
the shore； Whence it sailed the night before Full of hope and glee； And the
cry of pain and death Was but a breath； Through the wind that roared upon
the sea。
The wind was whispering on the lea Tenderly； But the white rose felt it
pass； And the fragile stalks of grass Shook with fear to see All her
trembling petals shed； As it fled； So gently by；the wind upon the lea。
Blow； thou wind； upon the sea Fierce and free； And a gentler message
send； Where frail flowers and grasses bend； On the sunny lea； For thy
bidding still is one； Be it done In tenderness or wrath； on land or sea！
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LEGENDS AND LYRICS … SECOND SERIES
VERSE： EXPECTATION
The King's three daughters stood on the terrace； The hanging terrace；
so broad and green； Which keeps the sea from the marble Palace； There
was Princess May； and Princess Alice； And the youngest Princess；
Gwendoline。
Sighed Princess May； 〃Will it last much longer； Time throbs so slow
and my Heart so quick； And oh； how long is the day in dying； Weary am I
of waiting and sighing； For Hope deferred makes the spirit sick。〃
But Princess Gwendoline smiled and kissed her：… 〃Am I not sadder
than you； my Sister？ Expecting joy is a happy pain。 The Future's
fathomless mine of treasures； All countless hordes of possible pleasures；
Might bring their store to my feet in vain。〃
Sighed Princess Alice as night grew nearer：… 〃So soon； so soon； is the
daylight fled！ And oh； how fast comes the dark to…morrow； Who hides；
perhaps in her veil of sorrow； The terrible hour I wait and dread！〃
But Princess Gwendoline kissed her； sighing； … 〃It is only Life that can
fear dying； Possible loss means possible gain。 Those who still dread； are
not quite forsaken； But not to fear； because all is taken； Is the loneliest
depth of human pain。〃
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LEGENDS AND LYRICS … SECOND SERIES
VERSE： AN IDEAL
While the grey mists of early dawn Were lingering round the hill； And
the dew was still upon the flowers； And the earth lay calm and still； A
winged Spirit came to me Noble； and radiant； and free。
Folding his blue and shining wings； He laid his hand on mine。 I know
not if I felt； or heard The mystic word divine； Which woke the trembling
air to sighs； And shone from out his starry eyes。
The word he spoke； within my heart Stirred life unknown before； And
cast a spell upon my soul To chain it evermore； Making the cold dull earth
look bright； And skies flame out in sapphire light。
When noon ruled from the heavens； and man Through busy day toiled
on； My Spirit drooped his shining wings； His radiant smile was gone； His
voice had ceased； his grace had flown； His hand grew cold within my own。
Bitter； oh bitter tears； I wept； Yet still I held his hand； Hoping with
vague unreasoning hope： I would not understand That this pale Spirit
never more Could be what he had been before。
Could it be so？ My heart stood still。 Yet he was by my side。 I strove；
but my despair was vain； Vain； too； was love and pride。 Could he have
changed to me so soon？ My day was only at its noon。
Now stars are rising one by one； Through the dim evening air； Near
me a household Spirit waits； With tender loving care； He speaks and
smiles； but never sings； Long since he lost his shining wings。
With thankful； true content； I know This is the better way； Is not a
faithful spirit mine … Mine stillat close of day？ 。 。 。 Yet will my foolish
heart repine For that bright morning dream of mine。
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LEGENDS AND LYRICS … SECOND SERIES
VERSE： OUR DEAD
Nothing is our own： we hold our pleasures Just a little while； ere
they are fled： One by one life robs us of our treasures； Nothing is our own
except our Dead。
They are ours； and hold in faithful keeping Safe for ever； all they took
away。 Cruel life can never stir that sleeping； Cruel time can never seize
that prey。
Justice pales； truth fades； stars fall from Heaven； Human are the great
whom we revere： No true crown of honour can be given； Till we place it
on a funeral bier。
How the Children leave us： and no traces Linger of that smiling
angel band； Gone； for ever gone； and in their places； Weary men and
anxious women stand。
Yet we have some little ones； still ours； They have kept the baby smile
we know； Which we kissed one day and hid with flowers； On their dead
white faces； long ago。
When our Joy is lostand life will take it … Then no memory of the
past remains； Save with some strange； cruel sting； to make it Bitterness
beyond all present pains。
Death； more tender…hearted； leaves to sorrow Still the radiant shadow；
fond regret： We shall find； in some far； bright to…morrow； Joy that he has
taken； living yet。
Is Love ours； and do we dream we know it； Bound with all our heart…
strings； all our own？ Any cold and cruel dawn may show it； Shattered；
desecrated； overthrown。
Only the dead Hearts forsake us never； Death's last kiss has been the
mystic sign Consecrating Love our own for ever； Crowning it eternal and
divine。
So when Fate would fain besiege our city； Dim our gold； or make our
flowers fall； Death the Angel； comes in love and pity； And to save our
treasures； claims them all。
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LEGENDS AND LYRICS … SECOND SERIES
VERSE： A WOMAN'S ANSWER
I will not let you say a Woman's part Must be to give exclusive love
alone； Dearest； although I love you so； my heart Answers a thousand
claims beside your own。
I lovewhat do I not love？ earth and air Find space within my heart；
and myriad things You would not deign to heed； are cherished there； And
vibrate on its very inmost strings。
I love the summer with her ebb and flow Of light； and warmth； and
music that have nurst Her tender buds to blossoms 。 。 。 and you know It
was in summer that I saw you first。
I love the winter dearly too； 。 。 。 but then I owe it so much； on a
winter's day； Bleak； cold； and stormy； you returned again； When you had
been those weary months away。
I love the Stars like friends； so many nights I gazed at them； when you
were far from me； Till I grew blind with tears 。 。 。 those far…off lights
Could watch you； whom I longed in vain to see。
I love the Flowers； happy hours lie Shut up within their petals close
and fast： You have forgotten； dear： but they and I Keep every fragment
of the golden Past。
I love； too； to be loved； all loving praise Seems like a crown upon my
Life；to make It better worth the giving； and to raise Still nearer to your
own the heart you take。
I love all good and noble souls；I heard One speak of you but lat
