legends and lyrics - second series(传奇和抒情歌谣2)-第18节
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not！ For on her small hand There glitters plain The first sad link Of a life…
long chain； … And she needs his guiding Through paths of pain。
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LEGENDS AND LYRICS … SECOND SERIES
VERSE： THE ANGEL'S
BIDDING
Not a sound is heard in the Convent； The Vesper Chant is sung； The
sick have all been tended； The poor nun's toils are ended Till the Matin
bell has rung。 All is still； save the Clock； that is ticking So loud in the
frosty air； And the soft snow； falling as gently As an answer to a prayer。
But an Angel whispers； 〃Oh； Sister； You must rise from your bed to pray；
In the silent； deserted chapel； You must kneel till the dawn of day； For； far
on the desolate moorland； So dreary； and bleak； and white； There is one；
all alone and helpless； In peril of death to…night。
〃No sound on the moorland to guide him； No star in the murky air；
And he thinks of his home and his loved ones With the tenderness of
despair； He has wandered for hours in the snow…drift； And he strives to
stand in vain； And so lies down to dream of his children And never to rise
again。 Then kneel in the silent chapel Till the dawn of to…morrow's sun；
And ask of the Lord you worship For the life of that desolate one； And the
smiling eyes of his children Will gladden his heart again； And the grateful
tears of God's poor ones Will fall on your soul like rain！ …
〃Yet； leave him alone to perish； And the grace of your God implore；
With all the strength of your spirit； For one who needs it more。 Far away；
in the gleaming city； Amid perfume； and song； and light； A soul that Jesus
has ransomed Is in peril of sin to…night。
〃The Tempter is close beside him； And his danger is all forgot； And the
far…off voices of childhood Call aloud； but he hears them not； He sayeth no
prayer； and his mother … He thinks not of her to…day； And he will not look
up to Heaven； And his Angel is turning away。
〃Then pray for a soul in peril； A soul for which Jesus died； Ask； by the
cross that bore Him； And by her who stood beside； And the Angels of God
will thank you； And bend from their thrones of light； To tell you that
Heaven rejoices At the deed you have done to…night。〃
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LEGENDS AND LYRICS … SECOND SERIES
VERSE： SPRING
Hark！ the Hours are softly calling； Bidding Spring arise； To listen to
the raindrops falling From the cloudy skies； To listen to Earth's weary
voices； Louder every day； Bidding her no longer linger On her charmed
way； But hasten to her task of beauty Scarcely yet begun； By the first
bright day of summer It should all be done。 She has yet to loose the
fountain From its iron chain； And to make the barren mountain Green and
bright again； She must clear the snow that lingers Round the stalks away
And let the snowdrop's trembling whiteness See the light of day。 She must
watch； and warm； and cherish Every blade of green； Till the tender grass
appearing From the earth is seen； She must bring the golden crocus From
her hidden store； She must spread broad showers of daisies Each day more
and more。 In each hedgerow she must hasten Cowslips sweet to set；
Primroses in rich profusion； With bright dewdrops wet； And under every
leaf； in shadow Hide a Violet！ Every tree within the forest Must be decked
anew And the tender buds of promise Should be peeping through； Folded
deep； and almost hidden； Leaf by leaf beside； What will make the
Summer's glory； And the Autumn's pride。 She must weave the loveliest
carpets； Chequered sun and shade； Every wood must have such pathways
Laid in every glade； She must hang laburnum branches On each arched
bough； … And the white and purple lilac Should be waving now； She must
breathe； and cold winds vanish At her breath away； And then load the air
around her With the scent of May！ Listen then； Oh Spring！ nor linger On
thy charmed way； Have pity on thy prisoned flowers Wearying for the day。
Listen to the raindrops falling From the cloudy skies； Listen to the hours
calling Bidding thee arise。
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LEGENDS AND LYRICS … SECOND SERIES
VERSE： EVENING HYMN
The shadows of the evening hours Fall from the darkening sky； Upon
the fragrance of the flowers The dews of evening lie： Before Thy throne；
O Lord of Heaven； We kneel at close of day； Look on Thy children from
on high； And hear us while we pray。
The sorrows of Thy Servants； Lord； Oh； do not Thou despise； But let
the incense of our prayers Before Thy mercy rise； The brightness of the
coming night Upon the darkness rolls： With hopes of future glory chase
The shadows on our souls。
Slowly the rays of daylight fade； So fade within our heart； The hopes
in earthly love and joy； That one by one depart： Slowly the bright stars；
one by one； Within the Heavens shine； … Give us； Oh； Lord； fresh hopes in
Heaven； And trust in things divine。
Let peace； Oh Lord； Thy peace； Oh God； Upon our souls descend；
From midnight fears and perils； Thou Our trembling hearts defend； Give
us a respite from our toil； Calm and subdue our woes； Through the long
day we suffer； Lord； Oh； give us now repose！
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LEGENDS AND LYRICS … SECOND SERIES
VERSE： THE INNER
CHAMBER
In the outer Court I was singing； Was singing the whole day long；
From the inner chamber were ringing Echoes repeating my song。
And I sang till it grew immortal； For that very song of mine； When re…
echoed behind the Portal； Was filled with a life divine。
Was the Chamber a silver round Of arches； whose magical art Drew in
coils of musical sound； And cast them back on my heart？
Was there hidden within a lyre Which； as air breathed over its strings；
Filled my song with a soul of fire； And sent back my words with wings？
Was some seraph imprisoned there； Whose voice made my song
complete； And whose lingering； soft despair； Made the echo so faint and
sweet？
Long I trembled and pausedthen parted The curtains with heavy
fringe； And； half fearing； yet eager…hearted Turned the door on its golden
hinge。
Now I sing in the court once more； I sing and I weep all day； As I
kneel by the close…shut door； For I know what the echoes say。
Yet I sing not the song of old； Ere I knew whence the echo came； Ere I
opened the door of gold； But the music sounds just the same。
Then take warning； and turn away Do not ask of that hidden thing； Do
not guess what the echoes say； Or the meaning of what I sing。
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LEGENDS AND LYRICS … SECOND SERIES
VERSE： HEARTS
I。
A trinket made like a Heart； dear； Of red gold； bright and fine； Was
given to me for a keepsake； Given to me for mine。
And another heart； warm and tender； As true as a heart could be； And
every throb that stirred it Was always and all for me。
Sailing over the waters； Watching the far blue land； I dropped my
golden heart； dear； Dropped it out of my hand！
It lies in the cold blue waters； Fathoms and fathoms deep； The golden
heart which I promised； Promised to prize and keep。
Gazing at Life's bright visions； So false； and fair； and new； I forgot the
other heart； dear； Forgot it and lost it too！
I might seek that heart for ever； I might seek and seek in vain； … And
for one short； careless hour； I pay with a life of pain。
II。
The Heart？Yes I wore it As sign and as token Of a love that once
gave it； A vow that was spoken； But a love； and a vow； and a heart Can be
broken。
The Love？Life and Death Are crushed into a day； So what wonder
that Love Should as soon pass away … What wonder I saw it Fade； fail； and
decay。
The Vow？why what was it
