legends and lyrics - second series(传奇和抒情歌谣2)-第9节
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LEGENDS AND LYRICS … SECOND SERIES
VERSE： SENT TO HEAVEN
I had a Message to send her； To her whom my soul loved best； But I
had my task to finish。 And she was gone home to rest。
To rest in the far bright heaven： Oh； so far away from here； It was vain
to speak to my darling； For I knew she could not hear！
I had a message to send her。 So tender； and true； and sweet； I longed
for an Angel to bear it； And lay it down at her feet。
I placed it； one summer evening； On a Cloudlet's fleecy breast； But it
faded in golden splendour； And died in the crimson west。
I gave it the Lark next morning； And I watched it soar and soar； But its
pinions grew faint and weary； And it fluttered to earth once more。
To the heart of a Rose I told it； And the perfume； sweet and rare；
Growing faint on the blue bright ether； Was lost in the balmy air。
I laid it upon a Censer； And I saw the incense rise； But its clouds of
rolling silver Could not reach the far blue skies。
I cried； in my passionate longing：… 〃Has the earth no Angel…friend Who
will carry my love the message That my heart desires to send？〃
Then I heard a strain of music； So mighty； so pure； so clear； That my
very sorrow was silent； And my heart stood still to hear。
And I felt； in my soul's deep yearning； At last the sure answer stir：…
〃The music will go up to Heaven； And carry my thought to her。〃
It rose in harmonious rushing Of mingled voices and strings。 And I
tenderly laid my message On the Music's outspread wings。
I heard it float farther and farther； In sound more perfect than speech；
Farther than sight can follow。 Farther than soul can reach。
And I know that at last my message Has passed through the golden
gate： So my heart is no longer restless； And I am content to wait。
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LEGENDS AND LYRICS … SECOND SERIES
VERSE： NEVER AGAIN
〃Never again！〃 vow hearts when reunited； 〃Never again shall Love be
cast aside； For ever now the shadow has departed； Nor bitter sorrow；
veiled in scornful pride； Shall feign indifference； or affect disdain； … Never；
oh Love； again； never again！〃
〃Never again！〃 so sobs； in broken accents； A soul laid prostrate at a
holy shrine； … 〃Once more； once more forgive； oh Lord； and pardon； My
wayward life shall bend to love divine； And never more shall sin its
whiteness stain； … Never； oh God； again； never again！〃
〃Never again！' so speaketh one forsaken； In the blank desolate passion
of despair； … 〃Never again shall the bright dream I cherished Delude my
heart； for bitter truth is there； … The angel； Hope； shall still thy cruel pain
Never again； my heart； never again！〃
〃Never again！〃 so speaks the sudden silence； When round the hearth
gathers each well…known face； … But one is missing； and no future presence；
However dear； can fill that vacant place； For ever shall the burning
thought remain； … 〃Never； beloved； again！ never again！〃
〃Never again！〃 sobut beyond our hearing … Ring out far voices fading
up the sky； Never again shall earthly care and sorrow Weigh down the
wings that bear those souls on high； Listen； oh earth； and hear that
glorious strain； … 〃Never； never again！ never again！〃
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LEGENDS AND LYRICS … SECOND SERIES
VERSE： LISTENING ANGELS
Blue against the bluer Heavens Stood the mountain； calm and still；
Two white Angels； bending earthward； Leant upon the hill。
Listening leant those silent Angels； And I also longed to hear What
sweet strain of earthly music Thus could charm their ear。
I heard the sound of many trumpets In a warlike march draw nigh；
Solemnly a mighty army Passed in order by。
But the clang had ceased； the echoes Soon had faded from the hill；
While the Angels； calm and earnest； Leant and listened still。
Then I heard a fainter clamour； Forge and wheel were clashing near
And the Reapers in the meadow Singing loud and clear。
When the sunset came in glory； And the toil of day was o'er； Still the
Angels leant in silence； Listening as before。
Then； as daylight slowly vanished； And the evening mists grew dim；
Solemnly from distant voices Rose a vesper hymn。
When the chant was done； and lingering Died upon the evening air；
From the hill the radiant Angels Still were listening there。
Silent came the gathering darkness； Bringing with it sleep and rest；
Save a little bird was singing Near her leafy nest。
Through the sounds of war and labour She had warbled all day long；
While the Angels leant and listened Only to her song。
But the starry night was coming； When she ceased her little lay From
the mountain top the Angels Slowly passed away。
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LEGENDS AND LYRICS … SECOND SERIES
VERSE： GOLDEN DAYS
Golden dayswhere are they？ Pilgrims east and west Cry； if we could
find them We would pause and rest： We would pause and rest a little From
our long and weary ways：… Where are they； then； where are they … Golden
days？
Golden dayswhere are they？ Ask of childhood's years； Still
untouched by sorrow； Still undimmed by tears： Ah； they seek a phantom
Future； Crowned with brighter； starry rays； … Where are they； then； where
are they … Golden days？
Golden dayswhere are they？ Has Love learnt the spell That will
charm them hither； Near our hearth to dwell？ Insecure are all her treasures；
Restless is her anxious gaze：… Where are they； then； where are they …
Golden days？
Golden dayswhere are they？ Farther up the hill I can hear the echo
Faintly calling still： Faintly calling； faintly dying； In a far…off misty haze：…
Where are they； then； where are they … Golden days？
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LEGENDS AND LYRICS … SECOND SERIES
VERSE： PHILIP AND
MILDRED
Lingering fade the rays of daylight； and the listening air is chilly；
Voice of bird and forest murmur； insect hum and quivering spray Stir not
in that quiet hour： through the valley； calm and stilly； All in hushed and
loving silence watch the slow departing Day。
Till the last faint western cloudlet； faint and rosy； ceases blushing； And
the blue grows deep and deeper where one trembling planet shines； And
the day has gone for everthen； like some great ocean rushing； The sad
night wind wails lamenting； sobbing through the moaning pines。
Such； of all day's changing hours； is the fittest and the meetest For a
farewell hourand parting looks less bitter and more blest； Earth seems
like a shrine for sorrow； Nature's mother voice is sweetest； And her hand
seems laid in chiding on the unquiet throbbing breast。
Words are lower； for the twilight seems rebuking sad repining； And
wild murmur and rebellion； as all childish and in vain； Breaking through
dark future hours clustering starry hopes seem shining； Then the calm and
tender midnight folds her shadow round the pain。
So they paced the shady lime…walk in that twilight dim and holy； Still
the last farewell deferring； she could hear or he should say； Every word；
weighed down by sorrow； fell more tenderly and slowly … This； which now
beheld their parting； should have been their wedding…day。
Should have been： her dreams of childhood； never straying； never
faltering； Still had needed Philip's image to make future life complete；
Philip's young hopes of ambition； ever changing； ever altering； Needed
Mildred's gentle presence even to make successes sweet。
This day should have seen their marriage； the calm crowning and
assurance Of two hearts； fulfilling rather； and not changing； either life：
Now they must be rent asunder； and her heart must learn endurance； For
he leaves their
