legends and lyrics - second series(传奇和抒情歌谣2)-第6节
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look； and wait Watching the three children at their play。
But they always shrank away from her When she strove to comfort
their alarms； And their grave； cold silence to beguile： Even little Olga's
baby…smile Quivered into tears when in her arms。
I could never chide them： for I saw How their mother's memory
grew more deep In their hearts。 Each night I had to tell Stories of her
whom I loved so well When a child； to send them off to sleep。
But Sir ArthurOh； this was too hard！ … He； who had been always
stern and sad In my lady's time； seemed to rejoice Each day more； and I
could hear his voice Even； sounding younger and more glad。
He might perhaps have blamed them； but his wife Never failed to take
the children's part： She would stay him with her pleading tone； Saying she
would strive； and strive alone； Till she gained each little wayward heart。
And she strove indeed； and seemed to be Always waiting for their love；
in vain； Yet； when May had most her mother's look； Then the lady's calm；
cold accents shook With some memory of reproachful pain。
Little May would never call her Mother： So； one day； the lady； bending
low； Kissed her golden curls； and softly said； 〃Sweet one； call me
Margaret； instead； … Your dear mother used to call me so。〃
She was gentle； kind； and patient too； Yet in vain： the children held
apart。 Ah； their mother's gentle memory dwelt Near them； and her little
orphans felt She had the first claim upon their heart。
So three years passed； then the war broke out； And a rumour seemed to
spread and rise； First we guessed what sorrow must befall； Then all doubt
fled； for we read it all In the depths of her despairing eyes。
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LEGENDS AND LYRICS … SECOND SERIES
Yes； Sir Arthur had been called away To that scene of slaughter； fear；
and strife； … Now he seemed to know with double pain； The cold； bitter
gulf that must remain To divide his children from his wife。
Nearer came the day he was to sail； Deeper grew the coming woe and
fear； When； one night； the children at my knee Knelt to say their evening
prayer to me； I looked up and saw Sir Arthur near。
There they knelt with folded hands； and said Low； soft words in
stammering accents sweet； In the firelight shone their golden hair And
white robes： my darlings looked so fair； With their little bare and rosy
feet！
There he waited till their low 〃Amen；〃 Stopped the rosy lips raised for
〃Good night！〃 … Drew them with a fond clasp； close and near； As he bade
them stay with him； and hear Something that would make his heart more
light。
Little Olga crept into his arms； Arthur leant upon his shoulder； May
Knelt beside him； with her earnest eyes Lifted up in patient； calm surprise
… I can almost hear his words to…day。
〃Years ago； my children； years ago； When your mother was a child；
she came From her northern home； and here she met Love for love； and
comfort for regret； In one early friend；you know her name。
〃And this frienda few years oldergave Such fond care； such love；
that day by day The new home grew happy； joy complete； Studies easier；
and play more sweet； While all childish sorrows passed away。
〃And your motherfragile； like my May … Leant on this deep love；
nor leant in vain。 For this friend （strong； generous； noble heart！） Gave the
sweet； and took the bitter part； … Brought her all the joy； and kept the pain。
〃Years passed on； and then I saw them first： It was hard to say which
was most fair； Your sweet mother's bright and blushing face； Or the graver
Margaret's stately grace； Golden locks； or braided raven hair。
〃Then it happened； by a strange； sad fate； One thought entered into
each young soul： Joy for oneif for the other pain； Loss for oneif for the
other gain： One must lose； and one possess the whole。
〃And so thisthiswhat they cared forcame And belonged to
Margaret： was her own。 But she laid the gift aside； to take Pain and
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LEGENDS AND LYRICS … SECOND SERIES
sorrow for your mother's sake； And none knew it but herself alone。
〃Then she travelled far away； and none The strange mystery of her
absence knew。 Margaret's secret thought was never told： Even your mother
thought her changed and cold； And for many years I thought so too。
〃She was gone； and then your mother took That poor gift which
Margaret laid aside： Flower； or toy； or trinket； matters not： What it was had
better be forgot 。 。 。 It was just then she became my bride。
〃Now； I think May knows the hope I have。 Arthur； darling； can you
guess the rest？ Even my little Olga understands Great gifts can be given
by little hands； Since of all gifts Love is still the best。
〃Margaret is my dear and honoured wife； And I hold her so。 But she
can claim From your hearts； dear ones； a loving debt I can neither pay； nor
yet forget： You can give it in your mother's name。
〃Earth spoils even Love； and here a shade On the purest； noblest heart
may fall： Now your mother dwells in perfect light； She will bless us； I
believe； to…night； … She is happy now； and she knows all。〃
Next day was farewella day of tears； Yet Sir Arthur； as he rode away；
And turned back to see his lady stand With the children clinging to her
hand； Looked as if it were a happy day。
Ah； they loved her soon！ The little one Crept into her arms as to a
nest； Arthur always with her now； and May Growing nearer to her every
day： … … Well； I loved my own dear lady best。
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LEGENDS AND LYRICS … SECOND SERIES
VERSE： GIVE PLACE
Starry Crowns of Heaven Set in azure night！ Linger yet a little Ere you
hide your light：… … Nay； let Starlight fade away Heralding the day！
Snowflakes pure and spotless； Still； oh； still remain； Binding dreary
winter； In your silver chain：… … Nay； but melt at once and bring Radiant
sunny Spring！
Blossoms； gentle blossoms； Do not wither yet； Still for you the sun
shines； Still the dews are wet： … … Nay； but fade and wither last； Fruit
must come at last！
Joy； so true and tender； Dare you not abide？ Will you spread your
pinions； Must you leave our side？ … Nay； an Angel's shining grace Waits to
fill your place！
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LEGENDS AND LYRICS … SECOND SERIES
VERSE： MY WILL
Since I have no lands or houses； And no hoarded golden store； What
can I leave those who love me When they see my face no more？ Do not
smile； I am not jesting； Though my words sound gay and light； Listen to
me； dearest Alice； I will make my Will to…night。
First for Mabelwho will never Let the dust of future years Dim the
thought of me； but keep it Brighter still： perhaps with tears。 In whose
eyes； whate'er I glance at； Touch； or praise； will always shine； Through a
strange and sacred radiance； By Love's Charter； wholly mine； She will
never lend to others Slenderest link of thought I claim； I will； therefore； to
her keeping Leave my memory and my name。
Bertha will do truer service To her kind than I have done； So I leave to
her young spirit The long Work I have begun。 Well！ the threads are tangled；
broken； And the colours do not blend； She will bend her earnest striving
Both to finish and amend： And； when it is all completed； Strong with care
and rich with skill； Just because my hands began it； She will love it better
still。
Ruth shall have my dearest token； The one link I dread to break； The
one duty that I live for； She； when I am gone； will take。 Sacred is the trust
I leave her； Needing patience； prayer； and tears； I have striven to fulfil it；
As she knowsthese many years。 Sometimes hopeless； faint； and weary
Yet a blessing shall remain With the task； and Ruth will prize it For my
many hours of pain。
What must
