legends and lyrics - second series(传奇和抒情歌谣2)-第7节
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many hours of pain。
What must I leave you； my Alice？ Nothing； Love； to do or bear；
Nothing that can dim your blue eyes With the slightest cloud of care。 I will
leave my heart to love you； With the tender faith of old； Still to comfort；
warm； and light you； Should your life grow dark or cold。 No one else； my
child； can claim it； Though you find old scars of pain； They were only
wounds； my darling； There is not； I trust； one stain。
Are my gifts indeed so worthless Now the slender sum is told？ Well； I
know not： years may bless them With a nobler price than gold。 Am I
poor？ ah no； most wealthy； Not in these poor gifts you take； But in the true
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LEGENDS AND LYRICS … SECOND SERIES
hearts that tell me You will keep them for my sake。
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LEGENDS AND LYRICS … SECOND SERIES
VERSE： KING AND SLAVE
If in my soul； dear； An omen should dwell； Bidding me pause； ere I
love thee too well； If the whole circle； Of noble and wise； With stern
forebodings； Between us should rise。
I will tell THEM； dear； That Love reignsa King； Where storms
cannot reach him； And words cannot sting； He counts it dishonour His
faith to recall； He trusts；and for ever He givesand gives all！
I will tell THEE； dear； That Love isa Slave； Who dreads thought of
freedom； As life dreads the grave； And if doubt or peril Of change there
may be； Such fear would but drive him Still nearer to thee！
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VERSE： A CHANT
〃Benedictus qui venit in nomine Domini。〃
I。
Who is the Angel that cometh？ Life！ Let us not question what he
brings； Peace or Strife； Under the shade of his mighty wings； One by one；
Are his secrets told； One by one； Lit by the rays of each morning sun；
Shall a new flower its petals unfold； With the mystery hid in its heart of
gold。 We will arise and go forth to greet him； Singly； gladly； with one
accord； … 〃Blessed is he that cometh In the name of the Lord！〃
II。
Who is the Angel that cometh？ Joy！ Look at his glittering rainbow
wings … No alloy Lies in the radiant gifts he brings； Tender and sweet； He
is come to…day； Tender and sweet： While chains of love on his silver feet
Will hold him in lingering fond delay。 But greet him quickly； he will not
stay； Soon he will leave us； but though for others All his brightest treasures
are stored； … 〃Blessed is he that cometh In the name of the Lord！〃
III。
Who is the Angel that cometh？ Pain！ Let us arise and go forth to greet
him； Not in vain Is the summons come for us to meet him； He will stay；
And darken our sun； He will stay A desolate night； a weary day。 Since in
that shadow our work is done； And in that shadow our crowns are won；
Let us say still； while his bitter chalice Slowly into our hearts is poured； …
〃Blessed is he that cometh In the name of the Lord！〃
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IV。
Who is the Angel that cometh？ Death！ But do not shudder and do not
fear； Hold your breath； For a kingly presence is drawing near。 Cold and
bright Is his flashing steel； Cold and bright The smile that comes like a
starry light To calm the terror and grief we feel； He comes to help and to
save and heal： Then let us； baring our hearts and kneeling； Sing； while we
wait this Angel's sword； … 〃Blessed is he that cometh In the name of the
Lord！〃
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VERSE： DREAM…LIFE
Listen； friend； and I will tell you Why I sometimes seem so glad； Then；
without a reason changing； Soon become so grave and sad。
Half my life I live a beggar； Ragged； helpless； and alone； But the other
half a monarch； With my courtiers round my throne。
Half my life is full of sorrow； Half of joy； still fresh and new； One of
these lives is a fancy； But the other one is true。
While I live and feast on gladness； Still I feel the thought remain； This
must soon end；nearer； nearer Comes the life of grief and pain。
While I live a wretched beggar； One bright hope my lot can cheer；
Soon； soon； thou shalt have thy kingdom； Brighter hours are drawing near。
So you see my life is twofold； Half a pleasure； half a grief； Thus all joy
is somewhat tempered； And all sorrow finds relief。
Which； you ask me； is the real life； Which the Dreamthe joy； or woe？
Hush； friend！ it is little matter； And； indeedI never know。
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VERSE： REST
Spread； spread thy silver wings； oh Dove！ And seek for rest by land
and sea； And bring the tidings back to me For thee and me and those I love。
Look how my Dove soars far away； Go with her； heart of mine； I pray； Go
where her fluttering silver pinions Follow the track of the crimson day。
Is rest where cloudlets slowly creep； And sobbing winds forget to
grieve； And quiet waters gently heave； As if they rocked the ship to sleep？
Ah no！ that southern vapour white Will bring a tempest ere the night； And
thunder through the quiet Heaven； Lashing the sea in its angry might。
The battle…field lies still and cold； While stars that watch in silent light
Gleam here and there on weapons bright； In weary sleepers' slackened
hold； Nay； though they dream of no alarm； One bugle sound will stir that
calm； And all the strength of two great nations； Eager for battle； will rise
and arm。
Pause where the Pilgrim's day is done； Where scrip and staff aside are
laid； And； resting in the silent shade； They watch the slowly sinking sun。
Ah no！ that worn and weary band Must journey long before they stand；
With bleeding feet； and hearts rejoicing； Kissing the dust of the Holy
Land。
Then find a soul who meets at last A noble prize but hard to gain； Or
joy long pleaded for in vain； Now sweeter for a bitter past。 Ah no！ for
Time can rob her yet； And even should cruel Time forget； Then Death will
come； and； unrelenting； Brand her with sorrowful long regret。
Seek farther； farther yet； oh Dove！ Beyond the Land； beyond the Sea；
There shall be rest for thee and me； For thee and me and those I love。 I
heard a promise gently fall； I heard a far…off Shepherd call The weary and
the broken…hearted； Promising rest unto each and all。
It is not marred by outward strife； It is not lost in calm repose； It
heedeth neither joys nor woes； Is not disturbed by death or life； Through；
and beyond them； lies our Rest： Then cease； oh Heart； thy longing quest！
And thou； my Dove； with silver pinions Flutter again to thy quiet nest！
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VERSE： THE TYRANT AND
THE CAPTIVE
It was midnight when I listened； And I heard two Voices speak； One
was harsh； and stern； and cruel； And the other soft and weak： Yet I saw no
Vision enter； And I heard no steps depart； Of this Tyrant and his
Captive； 。 。 。 FATE it might be and a HEART。
Thus the stern Voice spake in triumph：… 〃I have shut your life away
From the radiant world of nature； And the perfumed light of day。 You； who
loved to steep your spirit In the charm of Earth's delight； See no glory of
the daytime； And no sweetness of the night。〃
But the soft Voice answered calmly： 〃Nay； for when the March winds
bring Just a whisper to my window； I can dream the rest of Spring； And to…
day I saw a Swallow Flitting past my prison bars； And my cell has just one
corner Whence at night I see the stars。〃
But its bitter
